13 July 2011 : Column 319W
13 July 2011 : Column 319W
Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 13 July 2011
Attorney-General
Human Trafficking
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Attorney-General what contribution he is making to Government action to combat human trafficking; and if he will make a statement. [65774]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) vigorously prosecutes defendants who have been charged with human trafficking offences. In addition, the CPS plays an important role in preventing harm from trafficking from reaching the UK, through prosecutors working with source countries to improve the ability of overseas investigators and prosecutors in case building and prosecution to disrupt human trafficking at source. The CPS is also working with source countries to improve international co-operation to assist in the provision of information and evidence to support prosecutions in the UK. The CPS published a new policy statement on the prosecution of cases of human trafficking on 2 June 2011 that explains the prosecution process to those who support victims of trafficking.
I am also a member of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking which takes a strategic interest in human trafficking issues across Government.
Rape: Prosecutions
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney-General (1) how many serial rape offenders were convicted in cases where the prosecution used records from the National DNA Database in each of the last five years; [65666]
(2) how many convictions for offences involving multiple rapes were secured where the prosecution used DNA evidence in each of the last five years; [65667]
(3) how many convictions for rape were secured where the prosecution used records from the National DNA Database in each of the last five years. [65668]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains no central record of the number of serial or multiple rape offenders prosecuted, nor does it record the number of these cases where National DNA Database or DNA evidence was used.
This information is held on individual case files and could be retrieved only by locating and examining every relevant file in each CPS office in England and Wales which would incur a disproportionate cost.
Official statistics in respect of the volume and percentage of rape convictions are held by the Ministry of Justice.
13 July 2011 : Column 320W
Justice
Alcoholic Drinks: Rehabilitation
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people subject to an alcohol treatment requirement were registered as (a) homeless or (b) of no fixed address in the last five years for which figures are available. [65567]
Mr Blunt: The following table presents, for the last five financial years, the number and percentage of offenders subject to an alcohol treatment requirement who were recorded as being of no fixed abode or in transient accommodation.
This information is recorded within the Offender Assessment System (OASys). The data are drawn from administrative IT systems and are subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale assessment and recording system.
| Currently of no fixed abode or in transient accommodation | |||
| Financial year | Number of assessments with ATR recorded | Number | Percentage |
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average cost to the public purse was of an alcohol treatment requirement in the latest period for which figures are available; how many such requirements were in force on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many such requirements made in respect of persons of each (a) sex and (b) age group were (i) made, (ii) completed in full and (iii) breached by non-compliance in each of the last three years. [65568]
Mr Blunt: The alcohol treatment requirement (ATR) of a community order or suspended sentence order is available to courts for offenders who are dependent on alcohol and whose dependency requires and is susceptible to treatment. Treatment costs are generally funded by primary care trusts (PCTs) in England and Substance Misuse Area Planning Boards in Wales and the costs of supporting delivery of the requirement are funded by NOMS through Probation Trusts.
Significant local variations in commissioning practice and costs of treatment modalities have made it difficult to establish the average cost of treatment delivered through an ATR.
Detailed work to cost the services funded by NOMS estimates the average direct cost of supporting delivery of an ATR at £373 per completion. This estimate is subject to a number of assumptions which are detailed in published information that has been placed in both Libraries.
The most recent analysis of the caseload found that on 31 December 2010 there were 5,391 community orders with an ATR and 2,733 suspended sentence orders with an ATR in force.
13 July 2011 : Column 321W
The following table shows the number of ATR commencements, successful completions, and revocations for non-compliance following breach proceedings broken down by age and gender in each of the last three years for which full information is available(1). Data on the number of applications made for a summons or warrant to return the offender to court for breach is not collected centrally by type of requirement.
72% of offenders successfully completed ATRs in 2009-10(2). This Government will create greater flexibility
13 July 2011 : Column 322W
for the provision of ATRs to ensure that people who meet the threshold receive the treatment and rehabilitation they need to tackle their substance misuse.
(1) These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. Although care is taken when processing and and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.
(2) Ministry of Justice (2011) National Offender Management Service Annual Report 2009-10: Management Information Addendum. London:
| Number of alcohol treatment requirements (ATRs) commenced, successfully completed and revoked for failure to comply 2008-10 | |||||||||
| Male | |||||||||
|
|
|
18-20 | 21-24 | 25-29 | 30-39 | 40-49 | 50-59 | 60+ | All |
| Female | ||||||||||
|
|
|
18-20 | 21-24 | 25-29 | 30-39 | 40-49 | 50-59 | 60+ | All | Total |
13 July 2011 : Column 323W
13 July 2011 : Column 324W
Bail
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was collected from people who breached their bail conditions where a surety was given in order for bail to be granted in the most recent year for which information is available. [64991]
Mr Blunt: During financial year April 2010 to March 2011, there were a total of 45 breaches of bail conditions (securities only) amounting to forfeiture of £179,560.86. There were no forfeitures of bail conditions where surety was given.
This was recovered in full from bail deposits (lodged) paid directly into the HMCTS Bail Deposit bank account.
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what estimate he has made of the number of people currently released on bail in (a) England, (b) the west midlands and (c) Dudley borough. [65214]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of people bailed between 19 May 2011 and 5 July 2011 in (a) England, (b) Dudley borough and (c) the west midlands. [65215]
Mr Blunt: The latest data on bail published by the Ministry of Justice are available up to December 2010. A quarterly update of the main findings up to March 2011 will be published on 25 August 2011.
The Court Proceedings Database held by the Ministry of Justice holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. It also holds information on whether those defendants were remanded in custody or granted bail during proceedings at magistrates courts and the Crown court. It is not possible to determine from these data how many defendants are released on bail at any particular point in time.
Birmingham Prison: Redundancy
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to enable those who lose their jobs at HMP Birmingham to access alternative vacancies at HMP Birmingham. [65979]
Mr Blunt: Staff at HMP Birmingham are subject to TUPE transfer to the new provider, G4S, with effect from 1 October 2011. Discussions with recognised trades unions on the detail of this transfer are on-going. For a time-limited period ahead of the transfer date, staff at HMP Birmingham are entitled to apply for any advertised vacancy in other public sector prisons or civil service locations. G4S is also discussing redeployment opportunities within G4S with staff and trades unions.
Courts: Manpower
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many court enforcement officers were employed by HM Courts Service in each year since 2005. [65227]
Mr Djanogly: The number of court enforcement officers employed in HM Courts Service in at the start of each financial year since 2005 is shown in the following table.
|
|
Number |
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2011, Official Report, column 1018W, on departmental carbon emissions, what the installed kilowatt capacity will be of the two solar photovoltaic installations at Leeds Combined Court Centre and Aberystwyth Law Courts. [64976]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice installed a solar photovoltaic installation at Leeds Combined Court Centre in 2010. The installed kilowatt capacity of the installation is 15.12 kW with a declared net capacity for the purposes of the feed in tariff of 13.5 kW. Between 1 June 2010 and 30 May 2011 Leeds Combined Courthouse has generated 9.5 MW of electricity, for onsite consumption, from its solar photovoltaic array.
13 July 2011 : Column 325W
The project situated in a city centre location, involved placing free standing self cleaning solar panels on a recently refurbished roof making use of areas not affected by shade.
The building at Y Lanfa, which is to become the new Aberystwyth Law Courts, is currently undergoing a period of extensive refurbishment. Because of the roof lights and dormer windows, we are unable to use solar capture but in order to minimise energy consumption, in conjunction with the preferred contractor, alternative sustainable options are being considered.
Departmental Dismissal
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many officials in his Department were dismissed for under-performance as a result of the procedures arising from his Department's staff appraisal system in each of the last three years. [64682]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The number of Ministry of Justice officials who have been dismissed for under-performance are as follows: 86 officials in financial year 2008-09; 97 officials in financial year 2009-10 and 59 officials in financial year 2010-11.
Business Regulation
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many regulations his Department has introduced (a) in the six months prior to 1 September 2010 and (b) in the six months after 1 September 2010 which it has determined do not impose costs on businesses; [65305]
(2) how many regulations that impose costs on businesses his Department has (a) introduced and (b) removed since 1 September 2010; what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was; and what regulations have been excluded from the one-in, one-out system because they address (i) emergencies and (ii) systemic financial risks since 1 September 2010; [65322]
(3) how many regulations that impose costs on businesses his Department (a) introduced and (b) removed in the six months prior to 1 September 2010; and what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was. [65345]
Mr Djanogly: In the six months prior to 1 September 2010 my Department neither introduced nor removed any regulations with regulatory impact.
In the six months after 1 September my Department introduced one regulatory measure with regulatory impact that imposes costs on business: The Legal Services Act 2007 (Levy) (No.2) Rules 2010.
The running costs of the Legal Services Board for 2010-11 are around £4.7 million. These costs are apportioned to approved regulators in accordance with the number of authorised persons they regulate. The funding of these costs is entirely at the discretion of the approved regulators, whether they treat it as a fixed overhead or recharge it to members.
The Office for Legal Complaints did not become operational until October 2010, annual costs are estimated to be £19.9 million.
13 July 2011 : Column 326W
The Ministry of Justice had no regulatory measures within the scope of the one-in, one-out regulatory management system.
Departmental Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions a request for a meeting by an hon. Member of each political party has been refused by (a) a Minister in his Department directly and (b) his Department on behalf of a Minister since May 2010. [64425]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: Ministers in the Ministry of Justice endeavour to accommodate requests to meet with hon. Members of the House wherever possible and appropriate. The Ministry of Justice does not centrally record instances where meeting requests have been declined and the work involved in searching records to attempt to assemble this information would exceed the cost limit for answering PQs.
Drug Interventions Programme
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effect of the Drug Interventions Programme on re-offending rates. [64159]
James Brokenshire: I have been asked to reply.
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has responsibility for the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP).
The most recently published research from 2007 showed that the level of proven offending of a selected cohort (of 7,727 individuals) identified through DIP declined by 26% when comparing the six months prior to contact with the six months following DIP contact.
More recent information looks at individuals entering the DIP following a positive drug test in police custody. Those testing positive for the Specified Class A drugs (heroin and or cocaine/crack) between January and March 2009 committed on average 1.9 offences during the 12 months following their drug test. This level of offending was 11% lower than for the equivalent group in 2008 (who committed 2.14 offences on average). The majority of those entering DIP do so following a positive drug test result.
European Court of Human Rights: Reform
Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects the Government to outline its proposals for reform of the European Court of Human Rights as part of the UK's chairmanship agenda for the Council of Europe. [64713]
Mr Kenneth Clarke:
The Government have stated its intention to make reform of the ECtHR a priority for the UK Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which it will assume in November 2011. In particular, as I stated at the Izmir Conference on the future of the ECtHR, we need to strengthen the principle of subsidiarity, recognising that States are primarily responsible for implementing the Convention, and to find better ways for the Court to focus quickly, efficiently and transparently on the important
13 July 2011 : Column 327W
cases that require its attention. The Government will set out its full proposals for the Chairmanship in due course.
Harassment: Prosecutions
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many people who breached an injunction under Section 3 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 were (a) proceeded against and (b) not proceeded against in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11; [65721]
(2) how many people proceeded against for breach of an injunction under Section 3 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 were (a) found guilty and (b) found not guilty in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11; and what the subsequent outcomes were for those offenders found guilty; [65722]
(3) how many people proceeded against under Section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 where a crime was recorded and subsequently proceeded with in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; [65723]
(4) how many people proceeded against under Section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 where a crime was recorded and subsequently not proceeded with in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; [65724]
(5) how many people proceeded against under Section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 where a crime was recorded were (a) found guilty and (b) found not guilty in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11; and
13 July 2011 : Column 328W
what the subsequent outcomes were of those offenders found guilty. [65725]
Mr Blunt: The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts, acquitted, found guilty and sentenced at all courts, by result, for offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in England and Wales for 2009 and 2010 can be viewed in the table.
Police recorded crime statistics come within the remit of The Home Office. Offences recorded under the Protection of Harassment Act 1997 are included within their offence classification of ‘Harassment’ and cannot be separately identified from other offences recorded within that classification. It is therefore not possible to identify those Section 4 offences which are recorded and subsequently not proceeded with.
Court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in the spring, 2011.
| Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts, acquitted, found guilty and sentenced at all courts, by result, for offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, England and Wales, 2009 and 2010 (1,2) | ||||
| 2009 | ||||
| Statute | ||||
| Protection from Harassment Act 1997 | Proceeded against | Acquitted (3) | Found guilty | Sentenced (4) |
| 2009 | |||||||
| Statute | Sentence breakdown | ||||||
| Protection from Harassment Act 1997 | Absolute discharge | Conditional discharge | Fine | Community sentence | Suspended sentence | Immediate custody | Otherwise dealt with (5) |
| 2010 | ||||
| Protection from Harassment Act 1997 | Proceeded against | Acquitted (3) | Found guilty | Sentenced (4) |
| 2010 | |||||||
| Statute | Sentence breakdown | ||||||
| Protection from Harassment Act 1997 | Absolute discharge | Conditional discharge | Fine | Community sentence | Suspended sentence | Immediate custody | Otherwise dealt with (5) |
| (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Acquitted includes: Discharged and Dismissed at magistrates courts and Acquitted at the Crown Court. (4) The found guilty and sentenced columns may be lower than those proceeded against as, excluding those acquitted, it may be the case that a defendant found guilty, and committed for sentence at the Crown court, may be sentenced in the following year or found guilty of a different offence than that proceeded against. (5) The category Otherwise Dealt With (ODW) includes: one day in police cells; disqualification order; restraining order; confiscation order; travel restriction order; disqualification from driving; recommendation for deportation; and other miscellaneous disposals. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice | |||||||
13 July 2011 : Column 329W
Human Trafficking
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what responsibility he has for contributing to Government action against human trafficking; and what recent action he has taken in this regard. [65303]
Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice shares responsibility with the Home Office for supporting adult victims of human trafficking.
We have contributed to the forthcoming Government strategy on human trafficking, which places particular emphasis on improving the care offered to victims of this abhorrent crime. Our commitment to this is demonstrated by the fact that funding to support adult victims of trafficking has been secured and set at £2 million a year for the next two years, funded equally between the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office.
We have also introduced a new model for supporting adult victims of trafficking, whereby a central contractor has responsibility for overseeing and co-ordinating the provision of care, contracting with specialist providers as appropriate. This new model, which came into operation on 1 July, will make it easier to provide tailored support to victims, taking account of their particular needs. It will also be easier to track victims through the system and monitor the quality of service provided.
Prison Service: Trade Unions
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff of HM Prison Service were entitled to work (a) full-time as trade union representatives and (b) part-time on trade union activities in the latest period for which figures are available; how many such staff received a salary greater than £25,900 per year; and what the total cost to the public purse was of employing such staff on such duties. [65985]
Mr Blunt: As at 1 July 2011, there are 17 employees of the National Offender Management Service (which includes HM Prison Service) that are entitled to work full-time as trade union representatives, of which 16 receive a salary of greater than £25,900. The total cost of employing these individuals is estimated to be £534,436.
Facility agreements between the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and each union outline the maximum hours to be made available for staff across NOMS in order to carry out their trade union duties and activities.
The current facility agreement with the Prison Officers Association provides paid facilities for up to eight hours each week for the Chair and Secretary of all local branches.
For the Public and Commercial Services Union, there are 14 employees who are entitled to work part-time on trade union activities for three days a week. There are also other local representatives who are entitled to work part-time on union duties on an ad hoc basis of a number of days a year.
Facility agreements with other unions allow up to 25 days per year for members of union executive committees.
All of these agreements have been recently reviewed and are being renegotiated with trade unions. This work will reduce the total spend on facility time to 0.2% of
13 July 2011 : Column 330W
the NOMS paybill in line with Cabinet Office guidelines and will reduce the number of full-time representatives to zero. These changes will take effect by the end of 2011.
Prisons: Employment
John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether a private company bidding for unpaid work will be required to honour existing trade union recognition agreements. [65726]
Mr Blunt: Regulation 6 of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 shall apply to any transfer of staff to a private company who is successful in bidding for work previously delivered by another provider.
John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether private sector providers will be required to provide placements for (a) women, (b) people with disabilities and (c) individuals from ethnic minorities in respect of bidding for unpaid work. [65727]
Mr Blunt: Successful bidders from both the private sector and probation trusts will be required to demonstrate that their proposed operating models are able to meet the particular needs of (a) women, (b) people with disabilities and (c) individuals from ethnic minorities who are sentenced to unpaid work.
The Specification and Community Payback Operating Manual contain mandatory actions and guidance in relation to the provision of Community Payback for women offenders, people with disabilities and individuals from ethnic minorities.
John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assistance the National Offender Management Service has provided to private sector providers in respect of bidding for unpaid work. [65728]
Mr Blunt: The competitions for Community Payback (unpaid work) are being run under Public Contracts Regulations 2006. As such care is taken to ensure that all bidders are treated fairly. Any material advice or information from the Ministry of Justice/NOMS to assist bidders understanding and response is published via the Emptoris Electronic Procurement Sourcing System.
Public Order Offences: Prosecutions
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were prosecuted for offences of insulting words or behaviour under Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 in each year since 2006. [65507]
Mr Blunt: Persons proceeded against at the magistrates courts for offences under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 in England and Wales, 2006 to 2010 can be viewed in the following table.
Court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in the spring, 2012.
13 July 2011 : Column 331W
| Persons proceeded against at the magistrates courts for offences under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 (1) , England and Wales, 2006-10 (2,3) | |||||
| Statute | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 (4) | 2009 | 2010 |
| (1) Offences include: Use threatening words/behaviour likely to cause harassment/alarm/distress Racially aggravated harassment—writing Religiously aggravated harassment/alarm/distress—words Racially/religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress—words (2) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice. | |||||
Unpaid Fines
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the monetary value of outstanding fines for criminal offences imposed by courts in England and Wales. [65228]
Mr Djanogly: As at the end of May 2011 the balance outstanding for financial penalties was £609,516,266.
This amount includes fines imposed in the magistrates and Crown courts, prosecutor costs, compensation orders, victims surcharge and the value of unpaid fixed penalty notices and penalty notices which are transferred to Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service for enforcement. The amount outstanding also includes the balance of accounts which are being paid by agreed payment plans.
Young Offenders: Death
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many young people have died while under supervision in the community by youth offending teams in (a) 2011 to date and (b) each of the last five years. [61457]
Mr Blunt: The number of deaths in the community during the period 2006 to 2011 are provided in the following table:
|
|
Deaths in England and Wales |
| (1) The figure for 2008 includes one individual who died over the age of 19 but had continued to be under the supervision of a youth offending team. | |
13 July 2011 : Column 332W
These figures relate to incidents reported to the YJB—Youth Justice Board—from youth offending teams (YOTs) across England and Wales where a young person has died in the community while under the supervision of a YOT.
We have sought information from the Office for National Statistics about the number of deaths of young people aged 10 to 18 in the general population in England and Wales over the same period. As a rough measure these figures indicate that the percentage of deaths of young people under YOT supervision as a proportion of the numbers of young people in the youth justice system and the number of deaths of 10-18 year olds as a proportion of the general 10-18 population are broadly similar.
However, the information provided by the ONS should be treated with caution and is provided by way of context only. It does not provide an exact comparison.
Culture, Media and Sport
Arts: Carbon Emissions
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has issued any advice to (a) cultural organisations (b) cultural venues, (c) media organisations, (d) sport organisations and (e) sport venues on the generation of low-carbon energy on their estates. [65414]
John Penrose: This Department has not issued any advice to cultural organisations, cultural venues, media organisations, sports organisations and sports venues on the generation of low-carbon energy on their estates.
Arts: Fund Raising
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he plans to take to increase the ability of arts organisations with no previous experience of fundraising to generate such funding. [65217]
Mr Vaizey: This Department is working in close partnership with Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund to boost fundraising skills across the culture sector. I welcome the Arts Council's announcement on 29 June of the Catalyst Arts fund, which will include £7 million to support arts organisations with less experience to build their fundraising capacity. Awards ranging from £15,000 - £25,000 will provide individual organisations, or those working together, with the tools and skills to begin to raise, or increase, their private income.
Broadband: Rural Areas
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the timetable for the roll-out of broadband in rural areas. [64696]
Mr Vaizey: The Government remain committed to stimulating commercial investment to provide the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015.
13 July 2011 : Column 333W
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the capacity of unused television spectrum devices to (a) provide broadband access to rural areas and (b) offload broadband demand in urban areas. [65263]
Mr Vaizey [holding answer 12 July 2011]:I have not made an assessment as this is a matter for Ofcom as the independent spectrum regulator. There are trials of devices that the hon. Member refers to, known as white space devices, which are under way to see if they can safely coexist with existing users. One recently launched in Cambridge. But it would be difficult for Ofcom to make any meaningful assessment of the use of white spaces in assisting with existing broadband coverage or capacity until the results of those trials become known.
Broadband: Satellite Communications
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what assessment he has made of the potential for satellite broadband technology to meet demand for high-speed internet access; [65815]
(2) what contribution he expects satellite broadband technology to make to the deployment of super-fast broadband. [65816]
Mr Vaizey: No assessment has been made. The Government's objective of having the best superfast broadband network in Europe, with superfast broadband to 90% of all UK premises, and standard broadband to virtually every community in the UK, would be delivered through a mixed technology solution including satellite.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department plans to assess the feasibility of low-carbon energy generation on its estate. [65416]
John Penrose: This Department has no current plans to assess the feasibility of low-carbon energy generation on its estate.
Media Ownership
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the contribution of the Attorney-General of 7 July 2011, Official Report, column 1542, what progress he has made on his considerations of News Corporation's proposed acquisition of BSkyB. [65593]
Mr Jeremy Hunt [holding answer 12 July 2011]:On 25 January 2011, Official Report, columns 3-4WS, I announced that I was minded to refer News Corporation's proposed merger with BSkyB to the Competition Commission in the absence of any specific undertakings in lieu. News Corporation duly offered undertakings on which I have consulted. On Monday, News Corporation withdrew those undertakings and as a result I have decided to refer the proposed merger to the Competition Commission.
13 July 2011 : Column 334W
Olympic Games 2012: Carbon Emissions
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether the plans for the London 2012 Olympics include the generation of low-carbon energy at any events or venues. [65415]
Hugh Robertson: The Games-time energy mix will come from mains electricity; on-site temporary power generation; and local low carbon energy sources, including photovoltaics (PVs), and small scale wind turbines.
The venues on the Olympic Park have been designed to be energy efficient in operation, maximising use of natural ventilation and lighting. The Park Energy Centre will provide low carbon cooling, heating and power in Games-time, and over the longer term post-Games, from biomass boilers and a combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) plant which can be converted to use lower and zero carbon fuels as these technologies develop.
Tourism: Coastal Areas
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to support the seaside tourism industry. [65223]
John Penrose: The seaside remains an important part of the visitor economy, accounting for some 24 million domestic overnight trips and almost £4.6 billion in overnight visitor spend across the UK in 2010. The VisitEngland website gives wide coverage to the coast, and the seaside also features in themed promotions through print and electronic media and related marketing activity. Government's tourism strategy includes the aim of growing the value of the domestic tourism market, and coastal destinations and attractions can contribute significantly to this objective. The British Resorts and Destinations Association and other industry members have been working with VisitEngland to develop a Coastal Resorts Action Plan. This will focus on transforming perceptions of product and experience; coastal resort infrastructure; co-ordinated activities and events to grow tourism value; and building better intelligence and data.
Tourism: North-East
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to promote tourism in the north-east. [65224]
John Penrose: I had the opportunity to visit the north-east in June, during which I held meetings with local industry representatives to discuss the opportunities for tourism growth and development.
Over the next four years VisitBritain will be running the “You're Invited” programme, which will capitalise on the international interest in the recent royal wedding, as well as next year's diamond jubilee and Olympic and Paralympic games, and showcase Britain to the world. The programme aims to attract four million extra visitors, spending £2 billion in the UK economy, which will support businesses, jobs and growth. The programme is backed by a £100 million marketing fund, funded by the public and private sector.
13 July 2011 : Column 335W
VisitEngland is working closely with local areas and destinations, in line with Government's localism agenda, to grow the value of local tourism economies. This is co-ordinated through the national strategic framework for tourism, which includes an action programme developed in consultation with the tourism sector. VisitEngland is currently working with destinations across the country, including in the north-east, on a campaign to deliver economic growth from the domestic market, and to support employment and job creation.
‘The time to be in England’ initiative will maximise the impact of the unique events of 2012, including the Queens diamond jubilee and the Olympic and Paralympic games, helping to spread the benefits of the games beyond London and maintain a legacy of domestic tourism growth. The campaign is the subject of a bid to the second round of the regional growth fund.
Tourism policy seeks to help improve the sector's productivity and competitiveness, in particular, to address the burden of regulation affecting the industry. The Government's Red Tape Challenge focused on the hospitality sector in May, inviting the industry and the public to identify regulations holding back the industry and stifling growth. Alongside this, the Government have set up an industry task force, led by senior industry figures, to identify rules, regulations and inspections impeding the sector, and which might be cut, modified or abolished.
The Government's plans for promoting the growth of the visitor economy are set out in detail in the paper, “Government Tourism Policy” published in March 2011, and available at:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/7896.aspx
Prime Minister
Andrew Coulson
Helen Goodman: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish each document relating to the appointment of Mr Andrew Coulson as Director of Communications at 10 Downing street. [65905]
The Prime Minister: Special advisers are appointed in accordance with the terms of the “Model Contract for Special Advisers and Code of Conduct for Special Advisers”.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Prime Minister (1) on what subjects Mr Andrew Coulson had access to classified material; [65990]
(2) whether Mr Andrew Coulson had access to (a) classified and (b) highly classified material relating to (i) defence matters, (ii) operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, (iii) domestic security matters and (iv) other foreign policy matters; [65991]
(3) what level of security clearance Mr Andrew Coulson had whilst working at Number 10 Downing street; and to what vetting he was subject prior to the issue of such security clearance; [65993]
(4) whether Mr Andrew Coulson attended any meetings at which classified material relating to (a) defence matters, (b) operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, (c) domestic security matters and (d) foreign policy were discussed. [65923]
13 July 2011 : Column 336W
The Prime Minister: Special advisers carry out their duties in accordance with the “Model Contract for Special Advisers” and “Code of Conduct for Special Advisers”. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson) on 16 June 2010, Official Report, column 423W.
Departmental Correspondence
Luciana Berger: To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many emails have been exchanged between officials in his Office and Richard Thaler and since September 2010; [65372]
(2) how many letters have been exchanged between officials in his Office and Richard Thaler since September 2010; [65373]
(3) how many meetings have taken place between officials in his Office and Richard Thaler since September 2010. [65374]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the list of official meetings by Ministers with external organisations. This list was published for the first time in October 2010 and is published on a quarterly basis, in accordance with the new ministerial code. Officials have meetings and discussions with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a range of subjects.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to answer the letter sent to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 12 May 2011 with regard to Ms R Hughes; and if he will cause an investigation to be conducted into the way letters to him from honourable Members are dealt with. [65673]
The Prime Minister: The Minister for Housing and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps), has replied on my behalf to the letter.
Correspondence received by my Office, including correspondence received from hon. Members, is dealt with in accordance with the Cabinet Office guidance on handing correspondence. A copy of this is available on the Cabinet Office website:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/guidance-handling-government-correspondence
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Bury South of 1 March 2011. [65992]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to my letter to him of 17 February 2011 which set out that I do not have a role in this merger.
Media Ownership
Helen Goodman: To ask the Prime Minister (1) whether he discussed with Mr Andrew Coulson the allocation of ministerial responsibilities relating to (a) media policy and (b) the proposed acquisition of BSkyB by News Corporation; [65988]
13 July 2011 : Column 337W
(2) whether he discussed (a) media policy and (b) matters relating to the proposed acquisition of BSkyB by News Corporation with Mr Andrew Coulson. [65989]
The Prime Minister: Special advisers carry out their duties in accordance with the “Code of Conduct for Special Advisers”.
Transport
Air Misses
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) collisions and (b) near-misses of aircraft above London there were in (i) 2009 and (ii) 2010. [65236]
Mrs Villiers: There were nil collisions and four near-misses above London investigated by the AAIB in 2009. There were nil collisions and two near-misses above London investigated by the AAIB in 2010.
Airports
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2011, Official Report, column 399W, on airports, what proportion of passengers are expected to transfer between flights at any given airport each year for it to be termed a hub airport. [65981]
Mrs Villiers: There is no single widely agreed definition of a hub airport. The Department has not sought to provide a precise definition of a hub airport. However, at Heathrow, 38% of terminal passengers in 2009 transferred between flights.
Airports: Retail Trade
Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effects on the economic value of the airport travel retail business in the UK of the refusal by certain airlines to allow passengers to take goods purchased at the airport onboard the aircraft in addition to their normal airline hand baggage allowance; and if he will make a statement. [65811]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport has made no such assessment. The size and amount of cabin or hold baggage that a passenger is permitted to take on board a commercial aircraft is a matter for airlines to decide as private commercial companies.
Aviation: Fuels
Mr Gyimah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assumptions his Department made in respect of the price of aviation fuel from 2011 to 2030 when making forecasts for air traffic in its 2003 Air Transport White Paper. [64017]
Mrs Villiers:
The air traffic forecasts underpinning the 2003 Air Transport White Paper were set out in “Air Traffic Forecasts for the United Kingdom” published
13 July 2011 : Column 338W
by the previous Government in 2000. Annex 2 of the report provides details of the assumptions used to produce the forecasts, including the assumed price of aviation fuel.
A copy of “Air Traffic Forecasts for the United Kingdom” can be found on the DFT website at:
http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/air-traffic-forecasts-uk-2000/air-traffic-forecasts-uk-2000.pdf
Cycling: Helmets
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to amend guidance in the Highway Code on the wearing of cycle helmets. [63486]
Mike Penning [holding answer 12 July 2011]: No.
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of procurement is for the introduction of free-flow charging on the Dartford Crossing. [65036]
Mike Penning: Decisions on the procurement of free-flow charging at the Dartford-Thurrock river crossing have yet to be taken, and therefore such costs are still to be determined.
Ports: EU Action
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to implement the European State Port Control Directive. [63960]
Mike Penning: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has implemented a risk-based inspection scheme for foreign- registered vessels calling at UK ports from 1 January 2011 when the directive took effect.
Regulations and supporting documents to transpose provisions of the directive that place duties on the shipping sector have been prepared for consultation with the industry which is expected to begin soon.
Rail Value for Money Review
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the long-term effects of the outcomes of the McNulty review on train lines between Brighton and London. [65720]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport has received Sir Roy McNulty's final report on the value for money of the railway. The Department will be working closely with the Office of Rail Regulation and the rail industry over the next few months to analyse Sir Roy's recommendations and to agree proposals for the reform of the industry. The Government plan to publish their proposals for the future of the rail industry in November.
Railways: Franchises
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make future bids for rail franchises subject to a demonstrable record of efficiency from prospective bidders. [65270]
13 July 2011 : Column 339W
Mrs Villiers: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), addressed this matter in a statement to the House on 19 May 2011, Official Report, columns 520-22, on Sir Roy McNulty's independent study into value for money in the rail industry.
It was made clear in this statement that as a matter of policy for all future franchise competitions that part of the assessment of bidders' capability at the pre-qualification stage will be evidence of success in collaborative working and driving down costs:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110519/debtext/110519-0002.htm#11051950001296
Shipping: Taxation
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contribution his Department has made to the European Commission's review of the European shipping tonnage tax regime. [63970]
Mike Penning: None to date as the Commission has yet to make its proposals known. We await the Commission's proposals with interest.
Congestion Charging
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of traffic congestion charging schemes. [64858]
Norman Baker: The Greater London Authority Act 1999 and Transport Act 2000 gave Transport for London (TfL) and the local London authorities the power to operate congestion charge schemes in London.
The Mayor of London established a congestion charging scheme in 2003. The Mayor is responsible for operational matters and continued assessment of the congestion charging scheme in London.
A local congestion charging scheme is also operational in Durham.
Northern Ireland
Ministerial Meetings
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department have attended which were also attended by (A) representatives, (B) journalists and (C) other employees of (1) News International and its subsidiary organisations including newspapers, (2) News Corporation and its subsidiary organisations and (3) BSkyB since 12 May 2010; [66008]
(2) what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department attended with Mr Andrew Coulson (A) between 12 May 2010 and 21 January 2011 and (B) since 21 January 2011. [66011]
Mr Paterson: I refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's statement to the House today.
13 July 2011 : Column 340W
As has been the practice of previous Administrations information relating to internal meetings, discussions and advice is not normally disclosed.
Independent International Commission on Decommissioning
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost to the public purse was of the work of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning since its commencement. [65197]
Mr Paterson: The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning running costs are shared equally between the British and Irish Governments. The total cost to the British and Irish Governments from inception to closure was £12,215,884 with the British Government contributing £6,107,942.
International Development
Support for Women: Developing Countries
8. Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department's aid was allocated to supporting women and girls in the developing world in the latest period for which figures are available. [65543]
Mr Duncan: The Government have put girls and women at the heart of international development. We are supporting girls and women through our 27 country programmes and we have announced £10 million each year core funding to UN Women, making us the second largest donor. Since achieving results for girls and women spans DFID’s entire portfolio, it is not possible to disaggregate a precise figure for aid allocated to supporting girls and women.
Somalia
9. Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will assess the humanitarian situation in Somalia; and if he will make a statement. [65544]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: 2.8 million people—one in three Somalis—are in need of emergency relief. There are around 725,000 refugees in the region. Over 3,000 refugees a day are arriving in camps in Ethiopia and Kenya, and acute child malnutrition among new arrivals is at more than double emergency levels.
13. Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department is giving to Somalia in relation to the drought in the horn of Africa. [65548]
Mr Andrew Mitchell:
This year in Somalia we are supporting treatment of acute malnutrition for 100,000 children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers, vaccinations to more than 1.3 million people; clean water for 350,000 people; shelter or non food items for 50,000 people; and emergency agricultural or livelihood
13 July 2011 : Column 341W
inputs for 250,000 people. We continue to monitor the situation very closely and are considering what further action is needed.
World Population Day
10. Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department took to mark world population day on 11 July 2011. [65545]
Mr O'Brien: On world population day I spoke at a reception organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Population, Development and Reproductive Health.
UNFPA are using this year’s population day to launch “7 billion actions” ahead of the world population reaching 7 billion on 31 October. Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, executive director of UNFPA will visit DFID next week to discuss the issues.
South Sudan
11. Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to ensure that aid continues to reach South Sudan. [65546]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: I opened the DFID office in Juba in November. Our programme will deliver education, health, infrastructure, capacity building and humanitarian support to the people of the Republic of South Sudan. We have committed £90 million a year to South Sudan for the next four years.
Post-conflict Planning: Libya
12. Mel Stride: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what work his Department is undertaking to support post-conflict planning for Libya. [65547]
14. Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what work his Department is undertaking to support post-conflict planning for Libya. [65549]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Post-conflict planning must be Libyan owned and UN led. The UK has taken steps to support this process by deploying an International Stabilisation Response Team to Benghazi. We stand ready to respond to the needs of the Libyan people working with international partners in a coordinated and effective way.
Palestine
15. James Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the provision of development support to the Palestinian Authority. [65550]
Mr Duncan:
The UK strongly supports the efforts of the Palestinian Authority to develop public institutions and deliver essential services to Palestinian people. I was therefore pleased to sign a Memorandum of Understanding last week. This makes a strong UK
13 July 2011 : Column 342W
commitment to supporting the Palestinian Authority, which is committed to non-violent pursuit of a negotiated two state solution.
Access to Work Programme
Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many disabled people are being supported in employment in his Department under its access to work programme. [65045]
Mr Duncan: None of our disabled staff members are being supported under the access to work programme within the Department for International Development.
Ministerial Government Departments are not eligible for access to work funding; all costs of reasonable adjustments to support disabled people are met from DFID's central administration budget.
Departmental Consultants
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether any external consultants have been engaged for his Department's aid reviews; and what the cost was of such consultants. [65035]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The panel of development experts who helped scrutinise the country offers for the bilateral aid review did so without payment as a public service. Two leading experts in international development were appointed as external peer reviewers for the multilateral aid review at a cost of £20,000.
The humanitarian emergency response review was an independent review chaired by Lord Ashdown who did not receive remuneration for his role. He was supported by an advisory board of 15 experts who did not receive remuneration. The external assistance that involved a cost was limited to a seconded staff member from the Development Assistance Research Associates working on the review 50% of their time at a cost of £52,500; a full-time humanitarian consultant to support the DFID Review Secretariat at a cost of £67,200 and a part-time assistant to Lord Ashdown at a cost of £21,000.
Business Regulation
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) how many regulations his Department has introduced (a) in the six months prior to 1 September 2010 and (b) in the six months after 1 September 2010 which it has determined do not impose costs on businesses; [65314]
(2) how many regulations that impose costs on businesses his Department has (a) introduced and (b) removed since 1 September 2010; what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was; and what regulations have been excluded from the one-in one-out system because they address (i) emergencies and (ii) systemic financial risks since 1 September 2010; [65331]
(3) how many regulations that impose costs on businesses his Department (a) introduced and (b) removed in the six months prior to 1 September 2010; and what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was. [65348]
13 July 2011 : Column 343W
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development has not introduced any regulations between 1 March 2010 and 1 March 2011. The Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), is not responsible for any regulations that are currently in force.
Developing Countries: Health Services
Mr McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has assessed the effects of implementation of proposed changes on Employment-Related Settlement, tier 5 and overseas domestic workers on medical trainees and practitioners in developing countries; and what recent discussions he has had on this matter with the (a) Secretary of State for the Home Department, (b) Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and (c) Secretary of State for Health. [64640]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) is aware of the proposed changes on Employment-Related Settlement, tier 5 and overseas domestic workers. The consultation document was published on 9 June and represents an agreed Government approach to reviewing the routes by which migrants can enter the UK to work. DFID is working with other Government Departments to consider the effects of implementation, and is liaising closely with the Department of Health who lead the consultation to assess potential impact on health professionals coming to the UK.
East Africa: Droughts
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of people affected by the drought in East Africa. [65439]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: According to UN estimates, around 10 million people in the horn of Africa are currently in need of humanitarian assistance and emergency levels of acute malnutrition are widespread. About half of those in need of assistance are in Ethiopia, 2.8 million are affected in Somalia and 2.5 million in Kenya. This is the most severe food security emergency in the world today.
Forests: Satellite Communications
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department is funding the use of earth observation satellite technology to monitor and tackle deforestation in the Congo Basin. [65814]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development is helping tackle deforestation in the Congo Basin through support to the African Development Bank managed Congo Basin Forest Fund (the CBFF) and the Congo Basin Forestry Start-up Fund.
The Congo Basin Forest Fund (CBFF) is currently funding one project that is using remote-sensing data from satellite technology to determine the carbon stocks of forests in the Republic of Congo. The project is led
13 July 2011 : Column 344W
by be World Resources Institute (WRI), in partnership with Republic of Congo Government and local institutions.
DFID established the Congo Basin Forestry Start-up Fund in 2008, before the CBFF became operational. It was originally intended that support to earth observation satellite technology would be included within its portfolio of activities. However this element of the programme has not been implemented.
HIV Infection: Tuberculosis
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to (a) integrate HIV and TB services and (b) support testing for HIV and screening for TB in countries where HIV and TB are prevalent. [64935]
Mr O'Brien: Scaling up access to HIV and TB diagnosis, treatment, care and support, including early infant diagnosis, within integrated services is listed as one of the UK's strategic priorities in the recently published position paper on HIV: “Towards zero infections”. We will continue to focus on both HIV and TB in countries where they are prevalent, and on strengthening the underlying health systems in order to improve the way health services diagnose and treat illnesses, including TB and TB-HIV co-infection.
Our multilateral support to the new UNAIDS Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework (UBRAF) will also promote the strengthening of country systems to increase access to antiretroviral therapy and implement collaborative TB/HIV activities, including HIV testing for TB patients and TB screening for people living with HIV.
Human Trafficking
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what responsibility he has for contributing to Government action against human trafficking; and what recent action he has taken in this regard. [65770]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID)'s contribution to the Government's action against human trafficking will be set out in the new human trafficking strategy. DFID's most important contribution is our work to tackle the root causes of human trafficking in poor countries such as poverty, lack of economic opportunities, and social exclusion. For example, DFID has one of the largest bilateral programmes on social protection, directly helping very poor people in over 15 developing countries.
DFID also supports projects which are specifically designed to prevent human trafficking. We support the Malawi Anti-Child Trafficking Project, run by the Salvation Army, which aims to improve knowledge of and access to rights for children in Malawi who have been trafficked or are vulnerable to being trafficked. In Bangladesh we have supported a police reform programme which has recently established a Human Trafficking Investigations Unit. In Uganda, we have supported UNICEF to help identify and support trafficked women and children in the northern Karamoja region. DFID is currently developing a new regional programme which will aim to reduce the numbers of women and girls trafficked in the south Asia region.
13 July 2011 : Column 345W
Japan: Earthquakes
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department has provided to Japan following the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. [65159]
Mr Duncan: Following the earthquake and tsunami DFID immediately deployed a 59 strong Search and Rescue team at a cost of £889,174. DFID also provided 100 tonnes of bottled water, sourced from Hong Kong, at a cost of £232,443. These responses helped to fill the gaps in humanitarian need that Japan found difficult to meet itself and were specifically requested by Japan.
Malawi: Overseas Aid
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact of the decision not to increase direct aid to Malawi on food security for that country's poorest citizens. [65205]
Mr O'Brien: In his announcement of DFID's Bilateral Aid Review to the House on 1 March 2011 the Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), indicated his intention to increase UK aid funding to Malawi over the four years to 2014-15.
Since then we have become increasingly concerned about economic management and governance in Malawi. The Secretary of State has raised these concerns with the Government of Malawi, and concluded that, until there are changes in Government of Malawi policy we can no longer justify the provision of general budget support to the Government of Malawi.
However, we are determined to continue funding programmes that protect the poor. DFID support has helped improve food security for over seven million people a year by providing them with high yielding maize and legume seeds via the Farm Input Subsidy programme. We are currently considering how best to continue support to improve food security in Malawi.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact of the decision not to increase direct aid to Malawi on the provision of health-care in that country. [65206]
Mr O'Brien: In his announcement of DFID's Bilateral Aid Review to the House on 1 March 2011 the Secretary of State indicated his intention to increase UK aid funding to Malawi over the four years to 2014-15.
Since then we have become increasingly concerned about economic management and governance in Malawi. The Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), has raised these concerns with the Government of Malawi, and concluded that, until there are changes in Government of Malawi policy we can no longer justify the provision of general budget support to the Government of Malawi.
13 July 2011 : Column 346W
However, we are determined to continue funding programmes that protect the poor. DFID support to strengthen the health service in Malawi has helped save the lives of 3,200 pregnant women and 40,000 children since 2004. We are currently considering how best to continue support to improve the provision of health-care in Malawi.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact of the decision not to increase direct aid to Malawi on the production of maize crops in that country. [65207]
Mr O'Brien: In his announcement of DFID's Bilateral Aid Review to the House on 1 March 2011, Official Report, columns 167-169, the Secretary of State for International Development indicated his intention to increase UK aid funding to Malawi over the four years to 2014-15.
Since then we have become increasingly concerned about economic management and governance in Malawi. The Secretary of State has raised these concerns with the Government of Malawi, and concluded that, until there are changes in Government of Malawi policy we can no longer justify the provision of general budget support to the Government of Malawi.
However, we are determined to continue funding programmes that protect the poor. DFID support has helped improve food security for over 7 million people a year by providing them with high-yielding maize and legume seeds via the Farm Input Subsidy Programme. We are currently considering how best to continue support to improve the production of maize crops in Malawi.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on direct aid to Malawi. [65208]
Mr O'Brien: The Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), has had regular contact with the Foreign Secretary in relation to the review of the UK's relationship with Malawi, including the aid programme.
Overseas Aid
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure that aid programmes are directed towards those countries who are in greatest need; and what plans he has for the future of the aid programme to India. [65154]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department has recently conducted a full review of bilateral aid. Future bilateral support will be focused on twenty seven countries where the need is greatest and we can make the most impact.
I have frozen the India programme at current levels (£280 million/year) until 2015. Over the next four years, the India programme will focus more tightly on the poorest states. Our goal will be to help the poorest women and girls get quality schooling, health-care,
13 July 2011 : Column 347W
nutrition and jobs to break the cycle of poverty for the next generation. We will also devote a progressively rising proportion of our programme to promoting pro-poor investment through the private sector.
Somalia: Refugees
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department is providing to those in the Dadaab refugee camp on the Kenya-Somalia border. [65440]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports there are now more than 394,000 Somali refugees in Kenya, 90% of them in the Dadaab refugee camps.
UK, helped to meet the basic relief needs of 20,000 refugees by providing £2 million, to UNHCR during 2010-11. Given the deteriorating situation we are urgently considering increasing our support in 2011.
Tuberculosis
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what targets his Department has set for reducing tuberculosis deaths of people with (a) HIV- and (b) non HIV-related tuberculosis. [64778]
Mr O'Brien: As highlighted in “UK aid: Changing lives, delivering results”, the coalition Government are committed to supporting global efforts to halve tuberculosis deaths by 2015, In relation to deaths from TB in people living with HIV, in the coalition Government's recently launched Towards zero infections: The UK's position paper on HIV in the developing world' we committed to contribute to the UNAIDS and Stop TB Partnership's goal of reducing HIV-related TB among people living with HIV by 50% by 2015. We will do this through multilateral and bilateral support to help deliver the Global Plan to Stop Tuberculosis 2011-15.
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has set to reduce multi-drug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in developing countries. [64933]
Mr O'Brien: The coalition Government recognises that drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis (TB) pose serious threats to achieving the goals of the Global Plan to Stop TB 2006-15. We are therefore working with our partners to ensure that prompt quality diagnosis and effective treatment is available to those who need it.
Our support includes a 20 year commitment to UNITAID, the international facility for the purchase of drugs against HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB, of up to €60 million per year subject to performance. UNITAID aims to triple access to rapid tests for multi-drug resistant TB and to significantly reduce the price of drug-resistant TB medicines. We also fund research to: develop easier to use diagnostics for drug resistant TB; new TB medicines; and in the longer-term, effective TB vaccines. We also fund operational research to improve health service delivery to diagnose and treat people with drug resistant TB.
13 July 2011 : Column 348W
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what strategies his Department has to (a) prevent and (b) treat non-HIV related TB. [64934]
Mr O'Brien: The coalition Government are committed to supporting global efforts to halve tuberculosis (TB) deaths by 2015, as highlighted in ‘UK aid: Changing lives, delivering results’. We will help increase access to effective prevention, diagnosis and treatment of TB through our bilateral and multilateral support, particularly through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which is the largest single provider of international funds to fight TB, and through supporting co-ordinated action through the Stop TB Partnership; through our investments in research and product development into more effective treatment and vaccines; through our support to countries to strengthen health systems to deliver quality TB programmes; and working with our partners to tackle the risk factors for TB, including poverty and malnutrition.