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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 16 May 2011
Northern Ireland
Departmental Data Protection
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many contracts his Department holds which allow contractors to store personal data of UK citizens overseas; to which contracts this applies; in which countries the data for each such contract are held; and how many people have their data stored overseas under each such contract. [55745]
Transport
Car Hire: Young People
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential effects on the level of road safety of requiring car rental and leasing companies to hire vehicles to people aged under 23; and if he will make a statement. [52704]
Mike Penning: No assessment has been made. There are provisions in the Equalities Act 2010 banning age discrimination in services, public functions and associations. The Government Equalities Office has issued a consultation on proposed exemptions to the ban, which runs until 25 May 2011, with a view to new provisions coming into force in April 2012. It does not propose a specific exception for vehicle rental companies to deny services to drivers in high risk age groups, but accepts that they should be able to justify various proportionate measures to manage the risks, including requiring a minimum level of driving experience; not renting cars to people with adverse driving records; and charging higher prices to drivers in high risk groups.
Driving Offences: Fines
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of speeding fines issued to citizens of EU countries other than the UK were paid in each of the last five years. [51869]
Mike Penning: While there will have been overseas drivers caught by police for speeding, brought before the court, and fined at the time, the current system does not enable us to interrogate it sufficiently to record payments made by the nationality of the offender.
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High Speed 2 Railway Line
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department’s consultation on High Speed 2 assesses the potential economic effects of the project on the level of air passenger demand. [52746]
Mr Philip Hammond: The “Economic Case for HS2”, sets out the Government’s assessment of the impact of the proposed high speed rail network on air travel, available on the HS2 consultation website at:
http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/library/documents/economic-case
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the average house price within 1,000 metres of the route of High Speed 2 in Staffordshire in (a) February 2010 and (b) April 2011. [53015]
Mr Philip Hammond: My Department has not undertaken such an assessment. However, I recognise that owners of properties close to the proposed route may be experiencing blight. The exceptional hardship scheme is available now to assist those who urgently need to move but are unable to sell their property because of the high speed rail proposals. Further information on the exceptional hardship scheme can be found at:
http://www.hs2.org.uk/exceptional-hardship-scheme?pageid=1
Additionally, the current consultation on high speed rail includes information about the statutory provisions that would be available to people experiencing blight, as well as several options for additional discretionary assistance on which I would welcome people’s views. The high speed rail consultation document can be found at:
http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/
Motorcycles
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many motorcycle examiners have worked with the Transport Research Laboratory on trials of the proposed new motorcycle test since June 2010; [51574]
(2) how many trials of the proposed new motorcycle test the Transport Research Laboratory has conducted on the public highway since June 2010; at what location in each case; and how many more such trials he expects to be conducted before the proposals for a single motorcycle test event are put out to public consultation; [51587]
(3) what the total monetary value is of the contract between his Department and the Transport Research Laboratory for the trial of a new motorcycle test; how many motorcycle examiners are required to work on the trial at each stage; and what estimate he has made of the total number of working hours motorcycle examiners will have spent on the trial at its conclusion. [51589]
Mike Penning:
No contract between the Department for Transport and the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) for trials of changes to the motorcycle test has
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yet been let. TRL has not conducted any trials of the proposed new motorcycle test since June 2010, on or off the highway, so no motorcycle examiners have been involved in trials by TRL. We plan that such trials will be carried out before we proceed to public consultation on the proposed changes to the motorcycle test.
Railways: Standards
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Network Rail on recent signal failures; and if he will make a statement. [54296]
Mrs Villiers: I regularly meet Network Rail and other key industry bodies to discuss performance issues on the network. Network Rail has briefed me on the recent signal failures, and the measures taken to minimise the impact and likelihood of such failures.
Roads: Accidents
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential role of targets in achieving reductions in deaths and serious injuries on roads. [55811]
Mike Penning: We have concluded that the best way to build on the UK's enviable record on road safety and ensure a continuing decline in road deaths and seriously injured accidents is to set out a new policy framework for road safety, including a significant degree of devolution to local authorities, rather than a series of numerical targets.
Taxis: Disability
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 relating to taxis, private hire vehicles and accessibility for disabled persons and assistance dogs to be implemented; and when he expects to launch his Department’s consultation on the proportion of wheelchair accessible vehicles per local fleet that must be met before a licensing authority can refuse to grant a licence for a wheelchair accessible vehicle for the purpose of controlling taxi numbers. [53060]
Norman Baker [holding answer 28 April 2011]: The sections of the Equality Act 2010 which place duties on taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers to carry assistance dogs came into force in October 2010.
Section 166, which allows taxi and PHV drivers to be exempt from the duties to assist passengers in wheelchairs for medical reasons, or under certain defined conditions, also came into force in October 2010.
We are currently considering the commencement strategy for sections 165 and 167 which deal with the imposition of the duties on taxi and PHV drivers to assist passengers in wheelchairs. We are also considering the commencement strategy for section 161 which qualifies local authorities’ power to control taxi numbers. We will consult before making any regulations under this section, but we have not yet set a timetable for doing so.
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The Department has no immediate plans to implement those sections of the Equality Act which are associated with a requirement for all taxis to meet certain accessibility standards.
Thameslink: Rolling Stock
Margaret Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the successful bidder for the Thameslink rolling stock order. [54212]
Mrs Villiers: My officials are continuing to evaluate the bids from the two remaining bidders in the competition to build the new trains for Thameslink. We are planning to announce the preferred bidder shortly.
Culture, Media and Sport
BBC Trust
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Southend West (Mr Amess) of 3 May 2011, Official Report, columns 630-31W, on BBC, what the new arrangements are on which his Department is working with the BBC Trust. [55835]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: The new arrangements being negotiated are those which will enable the National Audit Office to have full access to the BBC’s accounts; and which will give the National Audit Office the discretion to decide in which areas of BBC expenditure it can undertake value-for-money investigations. This was announced by my Department on 22 September 2010 at:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/media_releases/7438.aspx
Broadcasting
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 21 March 2011, Official Report, column 764, on broadcasting, whether he proposes to hold a public consultation in advance of publication of his Communications Green Paper. [55834]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: The Green Paper will be the primary mechanism for public consultation prior to drafting a White Paper and a draft Bill. There will be a period of engagement with interested parties leading to the publication of the Green Paper. We will outline our approach to the review via an open letter which will be published shortly.
Creative Industries Council
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will make it his policy to publish the minutes of meetings of the Creative Industry Council. [55810]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: Minutes of Creative Industries Council meetings will be published via the DCMS website at:
www.culture.gov.uk
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what criteria he proposes to use to decide which organisations will be represented on the Creative Industries Council. [55833]
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Mr Jeremy Hunt: The group which met for the first time at the roundtable on 16 March was taken as the basis for the council membership. Following the model of the Automotive Council membership is comprised primarily of industry members with some representation from trade associations and other representative bodies.
Although it will not be possible to include all stakeholders with an interest in the membership of the council, this group provides cross-cutting representation from a wide spectrum of the creative and digital industries, as well as representation from smaller businesses, so each of the sub sectors and interests will have an opportunity to contribute.
Departmental Legal Costs
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department paid in (a) damages, (b) claimant costs and (c) defendant costs in respect of all civil claims brought against his Department in which the claimant was successful or the Department settled in each of the last three years. [54638]
Heritage Lottery Fund
Mr Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many charities in Crewe and Nantwich constituency have (a) applied for and (b) received awards from the Heritage Lottery Fund in each year since its establishment. [55515]
John Penrose: Since the Heritage Lottery Fund was established 15 applications have been received from, and seven awards made to, charities in the Crewe and Nantwich constituency. A breakdown can be found in the following table:
| Number | ||
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Applications | Awards |
National Lottery: Sports
Mr Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what financial assistance (a) his Department and (b) the national lottery has given to (i) amateur sports clubs and (ii) professional sports clubs in Crewe and Nantwich constituency since 2010. [55510]
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John Penrose: Sport England invests national lottery and Exchequer funding in community sport. Although Sport England does not record the amount of financial assistance specifically provided to amateur and professional sports clubs in constituency areas, £86,741 of lottery funding has been awarded to community sport in the Crewe and Nantwich constituency since January 2010. No Exchequer funding has been awarded during this time.
Scratch Cards: Gambling
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will assess the potential effect on levels of gambling (a) in general and (b) among vulnerable people of the introduction of a £5 National Lottery scratchcard. [55626]
John Penrose: The National Lottery Commission scrutinised Camelot's proposals for £5 scratchcard games, to ensure that they were safe for players and did not encourage excessive play, before allowing the first such product to be launched for sale in October 2003. No such concerns have been identified since their introduction but, as with all licensed games, the Commission will continue to monitor sales data from Camelot and will take appropriate action should any issues arise.
Scotland
Offshore Industry
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date he most recently met representatives of the Scottish oil and gas industry; and what the outcome was of those discussions. [55662]
Michael Moore: I last met representatives of the oil and gas industry on 31 March 2011. At this meeting we discussed concerns expressed about the impact of the fair fuel stabiliser on investment in the North sea oil and gas sector. The Government are listening to those concerns. We will work with the industry to ensure that the fair fuel stabiliser is implemented in a responsible way.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Allotments
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has any plans to make it easier for community groups to establish allotments. [55473]
Mr Paice:
The Government strongly support the need for more growing spaces to be made available for people to grow their own fruit and vegetables, as a contribution to helping people understand more about where food comes from and to eat a healthy, sustainable diet. Allotment authorities have a duty to provide plots for growing food to persons resident in the area and there are no plans to change this. In addition, my officials are in regular discussion with the Department
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for Communities and Local Government to develop initiatives to release land which could be used by community groups and individuals wanting to grow their own food.
The Government are funding the development of a ‘meanwhile lease' by DCLG, which would help provide access to land on a temporary basis for community groups and individuals wanting to grow food. DEFRA and DCLG have also jointly funded feasibility work into ‘community landbanks'—effectively a land brokerage advisory service that would facilitate agreements between landholders and community groups on releasing land for community growing.
Animal Welfare
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department has taken to improve the level of animal health and welfare in the (a) farming and (b) pet industry since May 2010. [55288]
Mr Paice: We are setting up a new Animal Health and Welfare Board for England to have responsibility for strategic animal health and welfare policy, and oversight of its delivery in relation to England. Groups within the new rural and farming network will be able to engage with Ministers on local animal health and welfare issues.
On 1 April we combined DEFRA's two key agencies for protecting animal health and welfare into a single body: the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency. This will enhance a joined up approach to responding to animal diseases and protecting the welfare of farmed animals.
A new Strategic Animal Health Policy Programme has also recently been launched, building on work done to minimise the impact of exotic diseases, through which we will be working closely with industry to promote activities which can help maintain animal health by preventing disease incursion.
We have placed increased emphasis on working with core groups of stakeholders to deliver better understanding and response to exotic notifiable disease incidents and emergencies and to develop new disease control strategies.
Working closely with farmers, the veterinary profession and others, we have made good progress towards improving the level of animal health and welfare:
We conducted a public consultation at the end of 2010 on the Government's approach to tackling bovine tuberculosis (TB) and a badger control policy, which also highlighted a number of planned changes to existing cattle measures to ensure that that they are better targeted on the basis of disease risk. We will be announcing a comprehensive and balanced TB eradication programme for England as soon as possible.
We have reviewed the implementation of the Veterinary Surveillance Strategy to ensure that risks and emerging threats are effectively identified and prioritised. We continually monitor and assess the global animal health situation to help inform risk-based controls on imports of animals and animal products.
We have continued to support the development of a surveillance system for diseases and issues in pet animals. This has been led by the University of Liverpool using a consortium approach and has now completed a successful pilot project, the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network, which is now accessing data from veterinary surgeons and veterinary laboratories across the United Kingdom.
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We have improved our arrangements for conducting veterinary risk assessments and prioritisation and established a standardised, peer-reviewed evidence base for policy development.
We have continued to work to improve the availability of veterinary medicines for farm and pet animals by, for example, allowing the importation of medicines from other member states when there is a supply problem in the UK.
We implemented EU Council Directive 2007/43, which lays down minimum standards to protect the welfare of conventionally reared meat chickens. The implementing regulations set a maximum stocking density of 39 kg/m(2), sets training requirements for all keepers and requires post mortem conditions and mortality rates to be assessed as an indicator of on-farm welfare.
The Code of Practice for the Welfare of Gamebirds Reared for Sporting Purposes came into force in January 2011.
DEFRA completed its review of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and presented its findings in the form of a Command Paper to the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in December 2010.
Carbon Emissions
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will include in the proposed Roadmap to a Green Economy a commitment to (a) measure and (b) reduce the UK's total carbon footprint, including (i) emissions from consumption and (ii) outsourced emissions embedded in imports. [54918]
Mr Paice: In 2008 DEFRA published an evidence study that measured UK embedded emissions: “Embedded carbon emissions indicator—EV02033”. We are now carrying out further work to update these findings.
DEFRA is involved in a range of actions that will be covered in the Green Economy Roadmap to tackle embedded emissions. These actions include mandatory efficiency standards for energy using products, helping businesses to improve the efficiency of their supply chains, establishing voluntary agreements with businesses, introducing mandatory Government Buying Standards, advising on environmental claims and labels, and encouraging pro-environmental behaviours.
Departmental Legal Opinion
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many veterinarians are employed in her Department's legal team. [55461]
Horse Passports
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps her Department has taken in respect of horse owners who do not possess a passport for a horse; and if she will make a statement. [55290]
Mr Paice: All horse owners are required by law to obtain a passport for each horse they own and it is the responsibility of the appropriate local environmental health and trading standards officers to enforce the horse passport regulations throughout England. Penalties can be applied by the courts for non-compliance.
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Ivory
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received on the illegal importation of ivory. [55236]
Richard Benyon: I announced on 2 March 2011 that the illegal trade in elephant ivory and all other species listed under the convention on international trade in endangered species is a UK wildlife crime priority, and it will continue to be tackled vigorously by the enforcement agencies.
Palm Oil: Labelling
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to support the mandatory labelling of palm oil on food packaging in negotiations on the revision of European regulations on food labelling; and if she will make a statement. [54981]
Mr Paice: Current food labelling law permits manufacturers to choose to label oils, when used as ingredients, under the generic name ‘vegetable oil' (which could include any mixture of refined oil, other than olive oil) to allow for variability of supply in the type of the oils used and avoid label changes. If the palm oil was to be sold on its own it would need to be sold using the term ‘palm oil' or any name that was sufficiently precise to indicate the true nature of the food and to distinguish it from any other food with which it could be confused, or a customary name.
Amendment 387 to the proposed food information regulation which will replace the existing food labelling directive (from which our legislation derives) has been proposed by the European Parliament. This would make it mandatory for all the specific types of vegetable oil, including palm oil, to be separately labelled in food ingredients. It is one of a number of amendments asking for more information to be provided about oils which are used as an ingredient in pre-packed foods. Discussions on the regulation are ongoing and it is unclear whether this provision will be included in the final regulation.
I consider that this requirement for mandatory labelling of all vegetable oils in foods is unlikely to be a cost-effective approach to improving the sustainability of palm oil production and consumption. It may be burdensome for businesses to identify all the individual oils given the high number of products affected, often containing only small quantities of oils, and it would not inform consumers about whether or not the palm or other oils were sustainably produced. There is nothing to prevent manufacturers providing further information on a voluntary basis.
Pesticides: Bees
Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many acres of arable cropland are regularly treated with neonicotinoid pesticides; where such croplands are located; and what studies her Department has (a) evaluated and (b) commissioned on bee population levels in those areas. [51050]
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Mr Paice: Information from the published 2008 Great Britain Arable Survey under the Government's Pesticides Usage Survey Programme shows that across England (898,455 hectares), Scotland (53,126 hectares) and Wales (6,034 hectares) a total area of 957,615 hectares was treated with neonicotinoid insecticides. More information on the Government's Pesticide Usage Survey programme is available on the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) website.
No specific study has been commissioned on honey bee population levels in areas treated with neonicotinoid insecticides.
Pets: Complementary Medicine
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department has taken to tackle the sale of unauthorised herbal and homeopathic pet remedies in 2011; and if she will make a statement. [55286]
Mr Paice: Where unauthorised herbal medicines have been brought to the attention of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), letters have been written to the suppliers with a view to ensuring these products are remarketed in compliance with the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2009. The VMD has entered into correspondence about five such products.
No similar action has been taken in relation to any specific homeopathic product, since complaints have not been received from interested third parties. However, the VMD is aware of general concerns about the safety of homeopathic nosodes and sarcodes and investigations are being considered.
When the need to enforce the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2009 is identified, the VMD's enforcement strategy is followed. The strategy can be found on the VMD's website at:
http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/public/enforcement.aspx
It lays out a step-wise and proportionate approach to enforcement, which begins with a letter to set out how compliance with the law has not been met. Only when the correspondence has been completed and enforcement actions continue to be required will penalties such as improvement notices be issued. If necessary, a subsequent resolution through the courts can be sought.
Pigeons
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department is taking steps to reduce the number of pigeons in England. [55240]
Richard Benyon: Pigeons are an agricultural pest and in more urban areas pigeons carry a range of diseases that can be harmful to humans. For this reason, Natural England issues a general licence, which allows authorised persons (e.g. owners/occupiers/local authorities or persons authorised by them) to kill or take these birds all year round. The licensing regime provides a legal framework within which local authorities and other authorised persons can take action to address a particular problem. The licence permits adult population control, egg control and nest clearance.
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DEFRA has no plans to instigate a national pigeon control programme.
River Rom
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps have been taken to improve, manage and maintain the River Rom in Essex. [55235]
Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency spends approximately £40,000 per annum in carrying out maintenance and programmed debris clearance of the River Rom and its tributaries.
The maintenance regime includes trimming vegetation growth annually on the River Rom during the winter months and on the main tributaries during the summer. The Environment Agency also inspects these rivers every month and removes any debris likely to obstruct flood flows.
This regime has been in place for many years, and will continue as long as priorities and funding allow. However ultimate responsibility for the maintenance and repair of any watercourse rests with the riparian owner.
Rural Areas: Community Development
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many bodies have participated in the LEADER programme in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [54757]
Mr Paice: There are currently 64 local action groups (LAGs) that implement the Leader approach under the Rural Development Programme for England. LAG membership is made up of representatives from a range of local organisations as well as individuals. These would usually include representatives of local authorities but actual membership will vary depending on local interests and businesses.
In each of the last three calendar years the number of projects proposed by local organisations and individuals and approved by LAGs is:
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Number |
Squirrels
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimates she has made of the number of black squirrels in England. [55241]
Richard Benyon: Black squirrels are a colour variant of the non-native American grey squirrel. Although no specific monitoring of their numbers is undertaken, they have been reported as being present in several areas in England, including Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Huntingdonshire.
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Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps her Department is taking to ensure the long-term survival of red squirrels in England; [55243]
(2) what recent steps her Department has taken to affect the number of red squirrels in England. [55244]
Richard Benyon: In England, the approach to red squirrel conservation is to secure long-term habitat and conditions favouring the red squirrel in areas which grey squirrels have not yet reached in significant numbers, and to limit grey squirrel expansion into these areas.
The Forestry Commission and Natural England are, on behalf of the Government, delivering this policy in partnership with the Red Squirrel Survival Trust, the Wildlife Trusts, landowners and volunteers, through the Red Squirrel North England Project. A project manager has been employed by the Red Squirrel Survival Trust with the remaining staff being hired by the Wildlife Trusts. Funding is being provided by all partners and volunteers will be taking a central role in the new project.
In the north of England 17 reserves have been identified where long-term survival of the species is considered most likely. Targeted control of grey squirrels is carried out in the reserves and surrounding buffer zones. In addition, the reserves and surrounding areas are being managed in ways that favour red squirrels. In the south-east, where there are secure populations on the Isle of Wight and Poole Harbour islands, there is an action plan in place to respond to the appearance of grey squirrels.
Tree Planting
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many voluntary groups in the west midlands have joined the Big Tree Plant scheme. [55289]
Mr Paice: The Big Tree Plant is helping communities in England to plant a million trees in areas where they live and work over the course of this Parliament. Civil society partners and volunteers have been very active in the west midlands.
Voluntary groups do not “sign up” but they are welcome to contribute to the Big Tree Plant by registering trees planted through the project website or by applying to the twice yearly Grant Scheme competition. About 70 groups or individuals (including several from the west midlands) have registered their trees through the website so far; while for the Grant Scheme we will announce the conclusion of the first round and the date of the next deadline soon.
UN Convention on Biodiversity's Nagoya Protocol
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by what (a) date and (b) process she intends to sign and ratify the UN Convention on Biodiversity's Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit sharing. [55610]
Richard Benyon:
The UK was highly influential in bringing the negotiations on access and benefit sharing to a successful conclusion in Nagoya. The resulting protocol to bring the agreement into effect was opened
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for signature in February, but many contracting parties have had to delay signature because of a translation problem. This is likely to be resolved in June and we expect to be able to sign soon afterwards. It will be signed by the British ambassador to the United Nations in New York, as the United Nations is the depositary for the protocol. The process of ratification will take longer.
International Development
Bangladesh: Special Educational Needs
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department has provided for the provision of education in Bangladesh to children with special education needs. [55605]
Mr Duncan: UK support to the Bangladesh second Primary Education Development Programme (PEDPII) helped benefit 78,000 children with special needs in government primary schools between 2004 and 2011. It also developed relevant policy and guidance. The largest non-government organisation in the world, BRAC, provided high quality primary school education to 28,000 children with special needs in 2010, mainly with UK Government support.
Burma: Overseas Aid
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid his Department provided to Burma in 2009-10; and how much it plans to provide to that country for (a) cross-border humanitarian aid, (b) education and (c) health care in each of the next four years. [55716]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) provided a total of £28 million in bilateral aid to Burma in 2009-10.
Over the next four years, we plan to focus our aid for Burma on health care, education, livelihoods, civil society and humanitarian assistance. A detailed breakdown by sector and year will appear in DFID's Operational Plan for Burma which will be published on our website at the end of this month.
Specific sums have not yet been allocated to cross-border aid. We plan to continue to deliver aid cross-border where that is the best way of reaching people in greatest need. Specific project allocations will be decided on the basis of detailed assessments of effectiveness, and value for money in achieving results.
Democratic Republic of Congo: Elections
Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the funding allocated by his Department to support the forthcoming presidential and legislative elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been allocated to support (a) the participation of female parliamentary candidates and (b) the registration of female voters. [55166]
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Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) is providing £30 million through the United Nations to support the 2007-13 electoral cycle in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Of this, £625,000 has been set aside specifically to improve the participation of women in voter registration, elections and candidacy to Parliament. Our support should ensure that at least 52% of citizens registered to vote and casting their vote are women. In addition, DFID is also providing £1.5 million of support through the International Foundation for Electoral Systems to improve public understanding of the electoral process, particularly among women and first-time voters.
Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has made to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on recent disruption by the Congolese national police of political opposition rallies in (a) Bukavu and (b) other parts of the DRC. [55167]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) works in close partnership with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in promoting free and fair elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Together we closely monitor reports of intimidation and harassment of opposition figures. We work with our EU partners to follow up cases of concern, and liaise regularly with the UN stabilisation mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) Joint Human Rights Office and local NGOs to assess the situation. We continue to press the Government of the DRC at the highest levels on these issues, including during recent meetings with the President, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister.
Additionally, we are working to support a transition towards democratic policing in DRC. Central to this is improving respect for human rights. We are actively engaging with the Government of the DRC, provincial governments and the police to promote adherence to democratic principles of policing during the elections process.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which overseas countries UK-employed staff of his Department are based; and how many such employees are based in each such country. [55504]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development does not publish the numbers of staff serving overseas by specific location as this may represent a security risk to such staff, especially those serving in fragile states or hostile environments.
As at the end of April 2011 we had 412 UK employed civil servants serving in 43 overseas countries: Afghanistan; Barbados; Belgium; Brazil; Burma; Burundi; China; Democratic Republic of Congo; Bangladesh; India; Indonesia; Nigeria; South Africa; Ethiopia; France; Ghana; Guyana; Iraq; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kosovo; Kyrgyzstan; Malawi; Montserrat; Mozambique; Nepal; Pakistan; Rwanda; Sierra Leone; St Helena; Sudan; Switzerland; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Uganda; USA; Vietnam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe.
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Developing Countries: Education
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to enable children who do not have access to education to do so. [55571]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development is working to support partner governments to overcome the barriers that children face in accessing education. We are investing in methods that are proven to work, such as reducing the cost of education, and we are pursuing flexible and responsive approaches to education in situations of fragility or conflict, including through partnerships with non-state providers.
As stated in the DFID publication ‘UK Aid: Changing Lives, Delivering Results’, we pledge to support at least nine million children in primary school, over half of whom will be girls, and two million children in secondary school by 2014.
Developing Countries: Food
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to assist the UN World Food Programme. [55268]
Mr Duncan: The UN World Food Programme was assessed as a strong performer in the Department for International Development's Multilateral Aid Review. The Government are currently considering UK support to the organisation in light of this review and our response to the Humanitarian and Emergency Response Review which will be announced shortly.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Committee
Security Certificate
Priti Patel: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, for what reason the security certificate for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority website has expired. [54873]
Mr Charles Walker: It has not been possible to provide a response to this question by the named day. An answer will be provided as soon as possible.
Substantive answer from Charles Walker to Priti Patel:
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Scott Woolveridge, dated May 2011:
As acting Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking for what reason the security certificate for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority website has expired.
The certificate purchased was valid for 12 months and it reached its expiry date. The certificate was purchased by the IPSA implementation team (which is no longer in place) in March 2010 and activated in April 2010 and the renewal notice was sent to the registered purchaser, not to IPSA or our managed service provider, Calyx. Future renewals will be managed by our IT contractor to ensure that this problem is not repeated.
The certificate has now been renewed.
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Priti Patel: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, on what date the security certificate for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority website expired; when the security certificate will be renewed; what assessment has been made of any risks resulting from the expiration of the security certificate; and who was responsible for permitting the security certificate to expire. [54874]
Mr Charles Walker: It has not been possible to provide a response to this question by the named day. An answer will be provided as soon as possible.
Substantive answer from Charles Walker to Priti Patel:
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Scott Woolveridge, dated May 2011:
As acting Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking when the security certificate for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority website expired; when the security certificate will be renewed; what assessment has been made of any risks resulting from the expiration of the security certificate; and who was responsible for permitting the security certificate to expire.
The certificate expired on the 20 April 2011 and was renewed on the 5 May 2011. An assessment of the risks was undertaken by our managed service provider, Calyx, at the time and the risk was deemed to be low and that security levels were not diminished during this period.
The certificate was purchased by the IPSA implementation team (which is no longer in place) in March 2010 and the renewal notice was sent to the registered purchaser, not to IPSA or to Calyx. Future renewals will be managed by our IT contractor to ensure that this problem is not repeated.
Attorney-General
David Kelly
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Attorney-General how many representations he has received on the need for a coroner's inquest into the death of Dr David Kelly. [55906]
The Attorney-General: There has been a large amount of correspondence received on this matter since the first request was made to the Attorney-General to apply to the court for an inquest to be ordered into the death of Dr David Kelly by the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) in 2008. Since then representations have been made by letter, e-mail and telephone. No complete record of the total number of representations made has been maintained. However, I can say that since July 2010 I have given 14 written replies in answer to letters from Members of Parliament. In addition, since January 2011, I have received 82 pieces of correspondence from 22 individuals making representations of some kind in respect of this matter.
Electoral Commission Committee
Absent Voting
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how many postal votes were issued for (a) the 2010 general election and (b) elections held in May 2011. [55594]
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Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that nearly 7 million postal votes were issued across the UK at the 2010 parliamentary general election.
The Electoral Commission is currently collecting data for the 5 May elections from Returning Officers, including the number of postal votes issued. The commission will include final figures for the number of postal votes issued in its report on the elections, which is due to be published in the autumn.
Alternative Vote
Mr Spellar: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, for what reason no counting of votes for the referendum on the alternative vote was permitted until 4:00 pm on 6 May 2011. [55438]
Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that the chair of the commission, as chief counting officer for the referendum, announced her decision on the timing of the count, and the reasons for it, in December 2010. This followed consultation with Members of Parliament, electoral administrators, potential campaigners —including political parties—and broadcasters across the UK.
The decision was taken because the commission believes it is important that voters should know who represents them, and who will form new governments and councils, as soon as possible. Starting the referendum count the next day meant that the counts for the scheduled elections could take place as soon as possible after the close of poll, while also allowing the result of the referendum to be counted on a UK-wide basis.
The commission further informs me that the chief counting officer's consultation and decision papers were published on its website and disseminated to a wide group of interested parties, including Members of Parliament. Copies of those papers have also been placed in the Library of the House of Commons.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan: Christianity
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the rights of Christians are observed in Afghanistan. [55790]
Alistair Burt: We work closely with international partners to monitor the situation of Afghan Christians and to raise this issue with the Afghan Government.
We continue to remind the Afghan Government of their duty to abide by their national and international commitments on freedom of religion and belief, and to respect the freedom of worship as enshrined in the Afghan Constitution.
Bahrain: United Arab Emirates
John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of (a) military personnel and (b) police officers that the United Arab Emirates contributed to the Gulf Co-operation Council force despatched to Bahrain in March 2011. [54828]
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Alistair Burt: On 14 March 2011 Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) forces were deployed to Bahrain in response to a Bahraini request for assistance under the GCC Peninsula Shield agreement. This included a military contingent from United Arab Emirates (UAE). No confirmed figures for the exact number of UAE personnel are available.
British Indian Ocean Territory
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on facilitating grave-tending visits to the Chagos Islands in each of the last 10 years. [55802]
Mr Bellingham: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The budget for the current year for visits of all kinds (grave-tending, heritage, environmental work, etc.) is £50,000.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials in his Department are stationed in the British Indian Ocean Territory. [55803]
Mr Bellingham: There are no Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials stationed in the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people illegally residing in the British Indian Ocean Territory were evicted in each of the last 10 years. [55806]
Mr Bellingham: The Clerk of the Court is only required to hold records for the last five years. During this period, there have been no evictions for illegally residing in the British Indian Ocean Territory.
British Indian Ocean Territory: Environment Protection
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Marine Protected Area around the Chagos archipelago is enforced. [55804]
Mr Bellingham: Enforcement is led by a marine protection officer working on board the Pacific Marlin patrol boat. The British Indian Ocean Territory Administration operates a system of permits to control access to and activities within the Marine Protected Area. We also work closely with the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission to limit illegal fishing.
Departmental Pay
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what additional pay he plans to provide to officials in his Department in the period from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013 to reflect (a) seniority, (b) promotion and (c) performance. [55413]
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Mr Bellingham: The Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) plans to provide the following additional pay to officials in the period from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013. All payments adhere to central guidance issued by the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury.
(a) Seniority—The FCO does not make additional payments to any staff based on seniority.
(b) Promotion—For staff below the senior civil service (SCS) we plan that promotion between grades within a payband will continue to attract a salary increase of 7.5% or an increase to the higher grade minimum. Promotion to a higher payband will continue to attract a salary increase of 10% or an increase to the higher grade minimum.
Staff being promoted to or within the SCS will continue to attract a salary increase of 10% or to the higher grade minimum.
(c) Performance—Staff below the SCS enter the 2-year public sector pay freeze for the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013, so there will be no base pay increases for those earning over £21,000. We will continue to pay performance related pay linked to the annual appraisal process. The amounts paid will range from £720 to £2,990.
Performance related pay (PRP) for staff in the SCS follows central guidelines issued annually by the Cabinet Office, following recommendations by the Senior Salaries Review Body. For 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012 we will pay PRP to the top 25% of performers only. This relates to performance in the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011. The amounts paid will be according to guidance from Cabinet Office.
We do not yet know what will be paid from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013.
Hamas: Guided Weapons
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the acquisition by Hamas of long-range rocket and high-specification anti-aircraft missiles; what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [55348]
Alistair Burt: We are concerned by reports that Hamas continue to acquire and test a variety of weapons. This is a continuing picture and we are not able to comment further on the detail. However, we have long made it clear that the arming and funding of Hamas and other Palestinian rejectionist groups is unacceptable.
Ilois: Resettlement
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to enable Chagos Islanders to return to the British Indian Ocean Territory. [55809]
Mr Bellingham: This Government believe that, on the grounds of feasibility and defence security, there are clear and compelling reasons to oppose the resettlement of British Indian Ocean Territory. However, we have facilitated a number of visits to the islands for former inhabitants and their descendants, including to assist with environmental projects, and will continue to do so.
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Israel: Terrorism
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on Israel's security concerns since 14 February 2011; and if he will make a statement. [55296]
Alistair Burt: We have regular dialogue with the Government of Israel at both ministerial and official level. The Prime Minister met with the Israeli Prime Minister on 4 May. I visited Israel and the Occupied Territories in January 2011 and met Foreign Minister Lieberman. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs also visited in November 2011. Foreign Minister Lieberman met with the Foreign Secretary and myself when he visited London on 24 January 2011. Officials will attend the rescheduled Strategic Dialogue talks in the summer 2011 in Israel. A wide range of issues will be discussed at these various meetings, including security.
Middle East: Anti-Semitism
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2011, Official Report, columns 395-6W, on Middle East: anti-Semitism, if he will place in the Library a copy of (a) the independent research from institutions such as Chatham House, Carnegie Middle East Centre and the Brookings Institute and (b) the report mapping Arab public opinion towards Israel, across six Arab states referred to in the answer; and if he will make a statement. [55299]
Alistair Burt: Chatham House has not produced any recent analysis specifically focused on anti-Semitism. However, I will place in the Library a copy of the 2010 report analysing Anti-Semitism Worldwide produced by the Steven Roth Institute at Tel Aviv University. An original copy can be found at:
http://www.tau.ac.il/Anti-Semitism/
I will also place a copy of the 2010 Arab Public Opinion Poll by the Carnegie Middle East Centre in partnership with the Brookings Institute in the Library as requested. An original copy may be found at:
http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2010/0805_arab_opinion _poll_telhami.aspx
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his UN counterparts on Judge Goldstone's recent comments on his report on the Gaza war; and if he will make a statement. [55349]
Alistair Burt: The Goldstone report outlines serious allegations of breaches of international humanitarian law during the Gaza conflict. Justice Goldstone stated in his recent comments that some aspects of his report would look differently in light of new evidence, correcting the allegation in the report that Israel intentionally targeted civilians.
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Justice Goldstone has made clear that there is no reason to reconsider the various other serious allegations contained in the report at this time. This is consistent with our longstanding policy of calling for full, credible and independent investigations by the parties into any and all allegations of breaches of international humanitarian law (IHL).
Allegations of breaches of IHL made against all parties to the Gaza conflict are not limited to the Goldstone report and have arisen from various other credible sources. We firmly believe that any and all such allegations must be met with credible and independent investigations by the parties to the conflict.
Middle East: British Nationals Abroad
Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has distributed guidance to British nationals in (a) Tunisia, (b) Egypt and (c) Libya during the recent political unrest in those countries on (i) consular arrangements which his Department has put in place to represent British interests through the embassies of other countries and (ii) their rights under Article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [54985]
Alistair Burt [holding answer 10 May 2011]:Our embassies in Tunis and Cairo remained functional throughout recent events and this question therefore did not arise there. In Libya, the Hungarian embassy remains open and British nationals can seek assistance there or from any other EU member state embassy that remains open. The Hungarians have already provided consular assistance to a number of unrepresented EU nationals in Libya. Arrangements for accessing consular assistance have been communicated to British nationals through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice, available on the FCO website.
We also distribute guidance to British nationals regarding their rights under Article 20. This is set out in the FCO publication “Support for British nationals abroad” which is also available on the FCO website. While the guide does not explicitly mention Article 20, it makes clear that if British nationals need help in a country where there is no British diplomatic or consular mission, they can receive help from the diplomatic or consular mission of another member of the European Union.
Middle East: Peace Negotiations
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what steps he is taking to press (a) Hamas and (b) other Palestinian terrorist organisations to renounce violence; what discussions he has had with (i) the government of Israel, (ii) the Palestinian Authority and (iii) the Arab League on this issue; and if he will make a statement; [R] [55295]
(2) what recent steps he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to press Hamas to accept the Quartet Principles; and if he will make a statement; [R] [55300]
(3) what steps he is taking with his international counterparts to press Hamas to accept the Quartet Principles and join the negotiations between the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority; and if he will make a statement. [R] [55301]
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Alistair Burt: As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has said publically, there is an urgent need for peace in the middle east. We hope that the announcement of reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas will advance that cause. To do so we expect to see a government that rejects violence and pursues a negotiated peace. President Abbas reaffirmed his commitment to those principles in Cairo. But the government has yet to be formed. When it is we will judge it by its actions and its commitment to non violence and working for peace.
Middle East: Politics and Government
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of comments by the leadership of Hamas on the attitude of the interim Palestinian government towards seeking peace with Israel; and if he will make a statement. [R] [54847]
Alistair Burt: The agreement was signed at a ceremony in Cairo on 4 May 2011, attended by President Abbas for the Palestinian Authority, Khaled Mishaal for Hamas and the Egyptian Foreign Minister, el Araby. A representative from our embassy in Cairo attended as an observer, along with key EU partners.
The Prime Minister met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on 4 May 2011 and discussed the announcement on Palestinian unity. We renew our calls on both sides to commit to peace talks, leading to a Palestinian state that exists in peace and security alongside Israel. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has been clear that Britain hopes that the announcement of reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas will lead to the formation of a government that rejects violence and pursues a negotiated peace, and we will judge a future Palestinian government by its actions and its readiness to work for peace.
We will continue to monitor and discuss with the Palestinian Authority, Arab League and US via our embassies.
Yemen: Humanitarian Aid
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what steps he is taking to address the humanitarian needs of Yemen; [55169]
(2) what support he is providing to the UN-administered Yemen humanitarian response plan. [55150]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: I have been asked to reply.
The Department for International Development (DFID) is finalising a contribution to UNICEF and the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in support of the 2011 UN Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan. I will announce further details of this support shortly.
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Yemen: Overseas Aid
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much aid the UK provided to Yemen in the latest period for which figures are available. [55269]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: I have been asked to reply.
The Department for International Development disbursed over £47 million of official development assistance through our bilateral country programme in the 2010-11 financial year.
Home Department
Alcoholic Drinks
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the alcohol industry on the alcohol content of their products. [55215]
Anne Milton: I have been asked to reply.
The Department of Health is in regular contact with a wide range of industry interests to discuss both the alcoholic content of specific products and alcoholic drinks more generally.
Most recently the Department of Health has been talking to industry within the context of the Public Health Responsibility Deal, which was launched on 15 March 2011. Among other things, we are looking at commitments from industry to foster a culture of
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responsible drinking, which will help people to drink within recommended limits. We will be publishing regular progress reports on this work, and other Alcohol Network workstreams, on the Department of Health's website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Publichealthresponsibilitydeal/index.htm
Asylum
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-asylum cases were granted settlement outside the immigration rules in each year since 1997. [55599]
Damian Green: The available information is given in the following table. It shows the number of people granted indefinite leave (settlement) outside the immigration rules, 2004 to 2010, either:
in non-asylum and non-protection cases where someone qualifies under one of the immigration policy concessions (indefinite leave outside the rules-concession); or
for other reasons (indefinite leave outside the rules-no concession).
The data provided for “other reasons” include asylum as well as non-asylum cases from 2007 as from that year they include persons granted indefinite leave outside the immigration rules under measures aimed at clearing the backlog of unresolved cases.
It is not possible to determine how many grants of “indefinite leave outside the immigration rules for other reasons” relate to non-asylum cases or to provide corresponding information prior to 2004 without detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
| Grants of settlement (1, 2, 3 ) by selected outcome, excluding EEA and Swiss nationals (4) , 2005 - 10 (5) | |||||||
| Number of persons | |||||||
| Recorded outcome | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 (6) | 2010 (6) |
| (1) Includes reconsideration cases and the outcome of appeals. (2) May include a small number of cases in which a decision is recorded twice, where an individual has dual nationality. (3) Includes dependants. (4) Nationals of EU accession countries are included or excluded according to their accession date. (5) Figures rounded to the nearest 5 ( - = 0, * = 1 or 2). (6 )Provisional figures. (7) Data from 2007 onwards include asylum as well as non-asylum cases as from that year they include persons granted indefinite leave outside the immigration rules under measures aimed at clearing the backlog of outstanding unresolved cases. | |||||||
Asylum: Housing
Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place to ensure that housing provided to asylum seekers meets the needs of its tenants. [55433]
Damian Green: Accommodation for asylum seekers is provided on behalf of the UK Border Agency by both private and public sector providers. Accommodation is designed to be safe and habitable and each contract contains a “Statement of Requirements” that dictate the minimum standards expected from each provider. UK Border Agency regional contract compliance teams regularly undertake audits of contract compliance and perform physical property inspections to ensure standards are maintained.
Accommodation providers are committed to providing such standards and if failures occur a number of measures are taken including financial penalties in the form of service credits and ultimately termination of contracts where there is evidence of persistent failures.
A copy of the “Statement of Requirements” is available from the House Library.
Crime: Foreign Nationals
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of crimes committed by nationals of other EU member states in the latest period for which figures are available. [54544]
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Nick Herbert: No estimates have been made centrally. The Home Office has two sources of crime statistics, namely the British Crime Survey and the police recorded crime statistics. However, neither source collects any information on the nationality of the alleged offenders.
Criminal Records: Disclosure of Information
Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans her Department has to implement the recommendations of the Mason Review of criminal record disclosures to remove old and minor conviction information from criminal records checks. [55519]
Lynne Featherstone: Careful consideration is being given to the extent to which this recommendation should be implemented and to the appropriate route for doing so. A full response to all Mrs Mason's recommendations will be made once she has completed phase two of her independent review of the criminal records regime, which is expected to be by the end of June 2011.
The Green Paper ‘Breaking the Cycle: effective punishment, rehabilitation and sentencing of offenders’ referred to the possibility of filtering old and minor convictions so that they need not be disclosed under criminal records checks. A formal Government response to that consultation paper will be issued shortly.
Detainees: Telephone Calls
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what comparison the UK Border Agency has made of the cost of calling cards for the new telephone system for detainees with the price of commercially available calling cards; [55430]
(2) who will be responsible for the payment for calling cards for the new telephone system for detainees. [55431]
Damian Green: As part of its contract with the UK Border Agency to operate Tinsley House Immigration Removal Centre, G4S is required to provide detainees with a telephone system that enables them to communicate with relatives and representatives.
G4S commenced a trial mobile phone system in February 2011 to address concerns about poor signal coverage from the existing DECT phone network and other mobile networks. It will be evaluated at the end of May 2011. G4S has had to provide substantive evidence to the UK Border Agency that any charges associated with the use of this system are broadly comparable to those charged by the main networks.
On arrival at Tinsley House each detainee is provided with a number of free minutes to ensure they have a means of making telephone calls. Subsequent costs for making calls are charged to each detainee via a personal account on a per second basis.
Departmental Refreshments
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on (a) bottled water and (b) coffee in each month of the last five years. [50400]
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Damian Green: Data for the Home Department, inclusive of the UK Border Agency (UKBA) and the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), for the period prior to financial year 2010-11 can be made available only at disproportionate cost.
| Period 1 April 2010 to 28 February 2011 | ||
| £ | ||
|
|
(a) bottled water | (b) coffee |
Driving Offences
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers were fined for speeding in England and Wales in each year since 2008 in each police force area. [53399]
James Brokenshire: There were 1.1 million fixed penalty notices issued by the 43 police forces of England and Wales for speeding in 2009 and 1.2 million issued in 2008.
A breakdown by police force area for 2009 can be found on page 67, table 3.01, column 16 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin “Police Powers and Procedures 2009/10”. The publication is available in the Library of the House and at the following weblink:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/police-research/hosb0711/
A breakdown by police force area for 2008 can be found on page 54, table 3.01, column 16 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin “Police Powers and Procedures 2008/09”. The publication is available in the Library of the House and at the following weblink:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110218135832/rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/hosb0610.pdf
Data for 2010 are due to be published in April 2012.
Marriage of Convenience: Arrests
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 18 January 2011, Official Report, columns 673-4W, on Operation Gomozia, how many arrests have been made of non-EU nationals who had been granted leave to remain. [55156]
Damian Green: Two non-EU nationals who had been granted leave to remain have been arrested. A further five who had not been granted leave to remain have also been arrested, together with 14 EU nationals. The UK Border Agency is still investigating the Operation Gomozia cases and anyone who has gained leave as a result of this scam will have that leave revoked and face removal from the UK.
Offences Against Children
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pornographic images of children were removed from the internet following investigations by (a) police forces and (b) her Department's agencies in each year since 2000. [53482]
James Brokenshire: The information requested is not held centrally.
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Overseas Students: Visas
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has held with interested parties on tier 4 student visas. [54921]
Damian Green: The Secretary of State has had a number of discussions with various interested parties relating to tier 4, including the Russell Group, and a number of vice-chancellors of prominent universities. I have also had recent discussions about tier 4 with the Russell Group and vice-chancellors, as well as other interested parties including the Association of Colleges, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and various Members of Parliament.
Police
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the (a) Gay Police Association, (b) National Black Police Association and (c) Christian Police Association received from her Department in each year since 2008. [53390]
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Nick Herbert: The following table shows the grant funding paid to each of the named staff associations in the 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 financial years.
| £ | |||
|
|
2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of (a) police community support officers and (b) police officers in each police force area were identified as members of each ethnic group in each police force area in the latest period for which figures are available. [53466]
Nick Herbert: Figures relating to 31 March 2010 are shown in the following tables:
| Table 1: Police community support officer ethnicity (1) by police force area as at 31 March 2010 | ||||||
| Percentage | ||||||
| Police force | White | Mixed | Black or Black British | Asian or Asian British | Chinese or Other ethnic group | Not stated |
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| (1) Percentage figures based on full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. | ||||||
| Table 2: Police officer ethnicity (1) by police force area as at 31 March 2010 | ||||||
| Percentage | ||||||
| Police force | White | Mixed | Black or Black British | Asian or Asian British | Chinese or Other ethnic group | Not stated |
| (1) Percentage figures based on full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. | ||||||