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Young People: Peterborough
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for the Youth Contract in the Peterborough constituency; and if he will make a statement. [85337]
Chris Grayling: The Youth Contract will provide more intensive support for all 18 to 24-year-olds including additional adviser time and weekly signing requirements. It will make available extra work experience and sector-based work academy places, including an offer of a work experience place for every unemployed 18 to 24-year-old who wants one, before they enter the Work programme. Work experience is delivered through local mechanisms based on demand and need. It forms just part of a range of flexible measures which the Jobcentre Plus district manager can put in place to address the specific needs and requirements of unemployed young people in Peterborough.
A new wage incentive scheme, delivered through the Work Programme, will make it easier for employers to take on young people aged 18 to 24. We are talking to providers and employers about the best way of delivering this new scheme and will make further information available to employers and others over the coming weeks as the design detail progresses.
Extra funding will also be made available for the Department for Education to support the most vulnerable NEET 16 and 17-year-olds into learning, an apprenticeship or job with training.
Young People: Scotland
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of funding for the Youth Contract will be allocated to applicants living in Scotland; and what proportion of such funding he expects to be spent on (a) work placements, (b) wage subsidies and (c) incentive payments. [86353]
Chris Grayling: The Youth Contract contains a number of elements including wage subsidies, extra support delivered through Jobcentre Plus, incentive payments for employers to take on apprentices and extra support for 16 to 17-year-olds. We are working on the detailed design decisions and the final distribution of resources will depend on future volumes of 18 to 24-year-olds claiming JSA. Therefore, the breakdown of spending for Scotland is not currently available. Where extra spending is earmarked for devolved issues, the Barnett formula will determine the allocation for Scotland.
International Development
Departmental Audit
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria (a) his Department and (b) its public bodies use when deciding whether and when to hold an internal audit; and if he will make a statement. [85641]
Mr Andrew Mitchell:
The Department for International Development (DFID) applies a risk based approach to planning its internal audit assignments. The annual
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audit plan is developed through a combination of a review of the Department’s high level risk registers and discussions with senior management and the audit committee. The audit plan is flexible to address the evolution of the risk environment and the emergence of new risks.
Parliamentary Written Questions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of written questions for answer on a named day received a substantive answer within five working days in each of the last six months. [85061]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the Session. Statistics relating to Government Departments’ performance for the 2009-10 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the Committee and are available on the Parliament website.
Between 1 June and 30 November 2011 the Department for International Development received 170 written questions for a named day. The number of written questions for a named day that were not answered within five working days, according to the month that the question was tabled, is as follows:
| Month (2011) | Named day questions answered after five working days |
Developing Countries: Climate Change
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress his Department has made in meeting the commitment to draw a maximum of 10 per cent. of funding for climate change finance from existing funding from his Department. [86351]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK Government's four-yearly spending review set a budget of £2.9 billion for climate finance for the period 2011-12 to 2014-15, known as the International Climate Fund. UK international climate finance is Official Development Assistance (ODA) and is being met from within the rising aid budget. The share of UK ODA devoted to climate finance accounts for less than 10% in every year of this spending period.
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) meetings, (b) discussions and (c) correspondence he has had with the (i) Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, (ii) Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and (iii) Prime Minister on formulating the UK's negotiating position for the Durban Climate Change Conference. [86352]
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Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK negotiating position for the 17(th) Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Durban was agreed by the European Affairs Committee, in which I actively participate.
I regularly discuss issues concerning UK policy on climate change with Cabinet colleagues, including the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Prime Minister.
Developing Countries: Population
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will consider the importance of population stabilisation for sustainable development in his preparations for the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development. [85517]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK supports the focus of the two themes of Rio+20: (a) green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; and (b) institutional frameworks for sustainable development. DEFRA is the Whitehall lead on Rio+20. DFID is working with DEFRA and other Government Departments to develop the UK position for the conference. In doing so, a range of sectoral and cross-cutting issues are being considered including the empowerment of women and girls.
Developing Countries: Water
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to attend the Sanitation and Water for All high-level meeting on 20 April 2012; and if he will make a statement. [85527]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) strongly supports the work of the Sanitation and Water for All partnership to increase accountability of both developing countries and donors for delivering results on the ground.
It will be important to have a strong UK presence at the next meeting and I intend to be there.
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to monitor the use of funds provided by his Department to ensure that people have access to clean water sanitation and other similar services. [85593]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) is focusing more than ever before on the results and value for money achieved through all our funding; the independent Commission on Aid Impact has been set up to monitor this. By including access to clean water and sanitation as a high-level indicator in DFID’s Business Plan, we will ensure that we monitor our progress very closely in this area, and remain accountable to the public for our results.
For more information on how DFID monitors its progress and results, please visit the DFID website at:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-us/How-we-measure-progress/
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Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will attend the high- level meeting of the Sanitation and Water for All Partnership in Washington on 20 April 2012; what steps his Department is taking to improve access to sanitation and water in developing countries; and if he will make a statement. [86021]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) strongly supports the work of the Sanitation and Water for All partnership to increase accountability of both developing countries and donors for delivering results on the ground.
DFID recognise that it will be important to have a strong UK presence at the next high-level meeting in April 2012 and I intend to be there.
The UK Government have committed to a series of challenging targets concerning water and sanitation. These include making sure 15 million more people have access to clean drinking water, 25 million more people have access to improved sanitation facilities and 15 million more people are reached by hygiene promotion.
Kenya: Asylum
Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government are taking to support the Government of Kenya in ensuring that additional camp sites within Kenya are approved and equipped; and what steps the Government are taking to provide assistance to host communities around Dadaab camps. [85470]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: I and other Ministers have regularly pressed the Kenyan Government to make sufficient camp space available for refugees in Kenya, including during my visit to Dadaab in July. The Kenyan Government have since opened news camps in Ifo and Kambioos. In July, I agreed a £6 million package to provide support to more than 130,000 refugees, including nutrition, health care, water, sanitation, tents and cooking equipment for refugees in existing and new camps. UK support focuses on refugees in the camps, where needs are greater than in the surrounding host communities. The UN and other donors are providing support to the host communities.
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support the Government is providing to the Government of Kenya to ensure that it (a) restarts registration of those Somalis fleeing conflict and seeking refugee status in Kenya and (b) fulfils its other obligations under international refugee law. [85487]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: My Department does not directly fund the Kenyan Government's Department for Refugee Affairs (DRA) which is responsible for registration of refugees, but DRA does receive support through UNHCR (the UN refugee agency, which the UK does fund) and other donors. I am very concerned about the suspension of registration of new refugees. Registration is important for the protection of refugees as well as in Kenya's own security interests.
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I have regularly pressed the Kenyan Government on the rights of refugees, including after my visit to the Dadaab refugee camp in July. When I last met Minister Saitoti, Kenyan Minister for Provincial Administration and Internal Security, on 21 November, I again acknowledged Kenya's generosity in hosting refugees, but also raised the importance of not forcibly repatriating refugees. The Prime Minister has also made the same points in a letter to President Kibaki. My officials are following up with the Kenyan Government on the need to restart registration.
Overseas Aid: Education
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has any programme to educate children on the contribution to overseas aid made by the UK. [84585]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: In 2010 I commissioned an independent review of the Department for International Development's (DFID) work to increase public awareness of global poverty. I also closed a number of programmes designed to promote awareness of global poverty in the UK that failed to demonstrate real development impact and value for money. Following the review, I decided that DFID would not fund any new development awareness projects and that funds would be redirected to front line programmes in developing countries.
The coalition Government believe that every child should learn about the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment which face children their own age in other countries, and about the potential of trade, wealth creation and economic development to build a freer, more prosperous world. DFID's work over the last decade to integrate development issues into the school curriculum has been successful in achieving this. DFID will continue to fund development education work in schools, and this work is now being put on a strategic footing.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan: Females
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what proportion of (a) hon. Members and (b) advisers included on the Government’s delegation to the Bonn conference will be women. [85277]
Alistair Burt: I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 28 November 2011, Official Report, columns 674-75W.
Bangladesh: Asylum
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the treatment of Rohingyan refugees in Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement. [86354]
Alistair Burt:
The UK has raised concerns on this matter with the Government of Bangladesh bilaterally and with EU partners. The Secretary of State for International Development raised concerns about the
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treatment of ethnic minorities with the President of Burma and senior officials during his visit to the country on 15-17 November.
Officials from our high commission in Dhaka have visited the camps for displaced Rohingyas. The Department for International Development provides core contributions to the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department and UN agencies that directly support the Rohingya community.
Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on UK accession to the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage; and if he will make a statement. [86052]
Mr Bellingham: The British Government have adopted the Annex of the Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage as best practice for marine archaeology but we do not believe that the case for ratification of the convention by the UK has been made. This position will continue to be kept under review.
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to ensure social value is included when services are commissioned by (a) his Department and (b) its public bodies; and if he will make a statement. [85657]
Mr Lidington: The information is as follows:
(a) The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has published a Sustainable Procurement Strategy:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/procurement/Sus_Proc_Strategy
which details how procurement will deliver value for money in its contracting for goods and services while also delivering benefit in sustainable terms, in the categories of environmental, economic and social and across supply chains. The FCO has published an SME Action Plan:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/working-for-us/contracts-procurement/sme
which will support SMEs by implementing promotion of procurement opportunities and removing any barriers to the use of SMEs in the UK.
(b) FCO Services, a trading fund of the FCO, addresses social value in procurement through sustainability. This is illustrated in the procurement of zero emission electric vehicles and fuel efficient HGV trailer units for the European Lorry Fleet. FCO Services also works with its logistics supplier to monitor and manage carbon emissions. More broadly in respect of procurement of materials and services it applies standard pan government contract terms, which reflect sustainability and equal opportunities/anti-discrimination requirements.
Wilton Park uses the FCO Sustainable Procurement Strategy mentioned above and is also currently developing a strategy to offer contracts to SME's which will be based on the FCO's.
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Departmental Secondment
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what secondments there have been to his Department from (a) industry and (b) the third sector since May 2010; what the (i) purpose and (ii) duration is of each secondment; and whether each secondment was to a policy development role. [86129]
Mr Bellingham: A small number of staff have been seconded to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from both industry and the third sector since May 2010. The majority of these loans have been ad hoc short term arrangements and we do not hold a central record of these informal secondments. A further seven staff from industry and the third sector have undertaken formal, longer term inward secondments to the FCO. We are however unable to provide more detail as this could identify individual staff, and potentially breach data protection principles.
Parliamentary Written Questions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what proportion of questions for ordinary written answer received a substantive response within (a) 10, (b) 20, (c) 30 and (d) more than 30 sitting days in the 2010-12 session to date. [85934]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office received 2,877 questions for ordinary written answer in this Session, tabled up to 31 October 2011. A total of 2,724 (94.7%) of these questions were answered within 10 sitting days; 126 (4.4%) within 11 to 20 sitting days; 23 (0.8%) within 21 to 30 sitting days; and 4 (0.1%) in more than 30 sitting days.
The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide this information to the Committee at the end of the Session. Statistics relating to Government Department's performance for the 2009-10 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the Committee and are available on the Parliament website.
Egypt: Exports
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on any cases of internal repression in Egypt; if he will impose an embargo on the export of all equipment subject to the UK export licence regime to Egypt; and if he will make a statement. [85168]
Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has made clear UK concerns about incidents of unrest and violence in Egypt in recent months. In his statement of 23 November he said that he was deeply concerned by the unacceptable violence that had taken place around Tahrir Square and other parts of Egypt, and called on the Egyptian authorities to respect the right of peaceful protest and immediately to cease the use of violence against protestors.
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We are aware of reports that UK manufactured tear gas has been used in Egypt. No licences for the export of tear gas to Egypt have been granted since 1999. Since that time UK export controls have been radically overhauled including through the passing of the Export Control Act 2002 and the adoption of the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. Under the consolidated criteria we will not issue licences for goods which will be used for internal repression or for aggravating existing tensions or conflicts. Export licence applications for Egypt, as for all countries, are kept under constant review and every licence is scrutinised in light of changing facts on the ground. We have no plans to impose an embargo on Egypt for all equipment subject to UK export controls.
Falkland Islands: Sovereignty
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the Government of Argentina in response to its (a) recent reassertion of that country's claim to sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and (b) interference with fishing vessels in the seas surrounding the Falkland Islands. [86386]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The UK Government have no doubt about their sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. There can be no negotiations on sovereignty unless or until the Falkland Islanders so wish. The fundamental principle and right of self determination, as set out in the United Nations Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, underlies this position. We have made this position clear both directly to the Argentine Government and at international forums.
The UK Government have repeatedly protested against Argentine Presidential Decree 256, which has purportedly been the basis for recent interference with fishing vessels in the vicinity of the River Plate basin. We have repeated this protest on several occasions bilaterally, publicly and in letters circulated at the United Nations General Assembly. We do not consider the decree to be compliant with international law, including the right of innocent passage through territorial seas under the United Nations convention on the law of the sea. There has been no interference with fishing vessels in Falkland Islands waters.
Fiji: Christianity
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of closures of Methodist churches in Fiji; and if he will raise the issue of religious freedom and freedom of speech with the Government of Fiji. [85465]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The British Government are deeply concerned by reports of restrictions on the rights of freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and freedom of association being placed upon members of the Methodist Church in Fiji. The right to assemble peacefully is at the heart of a functioning democracy and helps to improve long-term social, political and economic stability.
On 12 October, I expressed my dismay to the Fijian high commissioner to London at these developments and noted that this latest action by the authorities in Fiji could only serve to increase their isolation from the
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international community. The UK Government will continue to raise our concerns with the interim government, including the need to lift the public emergency restrictions in early 2012. We will continue to work closely with international partners to return Fiji to democracy.
Iran: Weapons
Michael Ellis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on shipments of arms and missiles by Iran to militant groups in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip. [85866]
Alistair Burt: We remain deeply concerned by Iran's support for militant groups in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip, including Hezbollah and Hamas. We have consistently stressed the negative impact this has on stability in the middle east and condemn it in all its forms.
We assess that since the 2006 conflict with Israel, Hezbollah has been rearmed to the extent that its capabilities exceed those in 2006. We assess that Iran is the most significant provider of weapons, training and funding to Hezbollah.
We judge that Hamas has rebuilt at least some of the capabilities it lost in the 2008-09 Gaza conflict. Since then, Hamas may have acquired from Iran both a number of longer range rockets with the potential to reach Tel Aviv and some advanced anti-tank guided weapons. We assess that Iran is a significant provider of weapons and funds to the group.
Iran also provides arms and funding to other rejectionist groups in the region, such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
We continue to monitor Iranian support to these groups closely. We will continue to push for full implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions, which call for the disarmament of these armed groups and prohibit weapons transfers, and support the UN sanctions committees pursuing and investigating sanctions violations.
Occupied Territories: Housing
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Israeli Government about the expansion of Israeli settlements. [85528]
Alistair Burt: We regularly make clear that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories are wrong, illegal under international law and deeply counter-productive to efforts to bring a lasting peace to the middle east conflict.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs I and our ambassador in Tel Aviv have all raised the issue of settlements with the Israeli authorities. The Foreign Secretary most recently condemned settlement activity publicly in his statements of 2, 9 and 28 November.
Oil: Canada
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Canadian counterpart on the environmental consequences of developing the Alberta tar sands. [85768]
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Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has not discussed the development of the Alberta oil sands with his Canadian counterpart.
We regularly raise our concerns over the environmental impact of oil sands extraction with the Canadian authorities, most recently in discussion between the Minister of State, my noble Friend Lord Howell of Guildford, and the Canadian high commissioner on 20 September.
The Prime Minister discussed the European fuel quality directive in relation to Canadian oil sands with the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, during his visit to Ottawa in September.
Palestinians: Politics and Government
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) his international counterparts and (b) representatives of international organisations about the situation in Gaza. [85530]
Alistair Burt: We are currently working closely with the Quartet, the UN and EU partners to raise more strongly the situation of Gaza with the Israeli authorities. We continue to call on Israel to ease restrictions on access including access to humanitarian and medical supplies.
Our ambassador in Tel Aviv raises these concerns regularly with Israeli authorities. It was also formally raised by the UK at the annual Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting of donors in New York on 18 September both in the plenary session and in bilateral meetings with the Israeli delegation in the margins of the main event.
As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs reiterated to the House on 28 November 2011, Official Report, column 691:
“We look to Israel to permit the further opening of Gaza so that all Palestinian people can see a pathway to a better future, living side by side with a secure Israel. It is vital that Israel takes that action.”
Palestinians: Prisoners
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) his international counterparts and (b) representatives of international organisations about the treatment of Palestinian prisoners by the Israeli authorities. [85529]
Alistair Burt: We regularly discuss the issue of treatment of Palestinian prisoners by the Israeli authorities with our international partners, including our EU counterparts. We also regularly meet international organisations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross.
I discussed this matter during my visit in June with the Minister of Justice, indicating the UK's concerns about both the detention and the treatment of Palestinian prisoners, including children. Our ambassador in Tel Aviv raised the issue on 26 October 2011 during his visit to the Israel Prison Service complex, at the invitation of the Public Security Minister. He raised concerns over visitation rights and the treatment of minors, particularly cuffing and shackling. In his discussions with the Public Security Minister, the ambassador stressed the importance the UK placed on Israel fulfilling its obligations under
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international law. On 28 November 2011, I stated to the House that the UK Government view the shackling of children in detention as wrong.
The Government of Israel have reaffirmed to us their commitment to treating prisoners in line with international human rights standards. The UK will continue to monitor the situation with regard to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons and encourage the Government of Israel to meet their stated commitments.
Sarath Fonseka
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Sri Lanka on the treatment of Sarath Fonseka. [85189]
Alistair Burt: On 18 November 2011, Sarath Fonseka, former head of the Sri Lankan army and rival of President Rajapaksa, was found guilty of spreading rumours likely to cause public alarm and disorder. The High Court sentenced Fonseka to three years in prison, which he will serve in addition to the 30-month sentence handed down in September last year after he was found guilty of misconduct by a military tribunal.
We have consistently urged the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure its judicial process meets international standards.
Shaker Aamer
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the oral answer of 25 October 2011, Official Report, column 172, on Shaker Aamer, when his case was last raised at ministerial level; and what progress has been made on returning Shaker Aamer to the UK. [85181]
Alistair Burt: Shaker Aamer's case was raised formally most recently at ministerial level by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, during President Obama's state visit to the UK in May this year. The Government remain committed to securing Mr Aamer's release and return to the UK and, as previously stated, we will continue to raise his case with the United States Government at both official and ministerial levels. His release remains a decision for the United States Government to make, but our own determination and our efforts to return Mr Aamer to the United Kingdom will certainly continue.
Somalia: International Assistance
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to encourage parties in Somalia, including the Kenyan armed forces, to facilitate humanitarian access in South Somalia. [85151]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: I have been asked to reply.
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I have regularly highlighted the importance of unhindered humanitarian access and actively pressed donors to step up their funding support to humanitarian organisations to meet priority needs wherever they are.
The Prime Minister has also written to President Kibaki on 10 November stating that the Kenyan incursion into Somalia must comply with international law and should not impede humanitarian operations. Officials have followed up directly with the Kenyan security forces. UK officials have also raised concerns over humanitarian access in Mogadishu with the Somali Government and African Union Mission in Somalia. The ability of the UK to influence other non-state actors inside Somalia is more limited, but we continue to explore ways of indirectly doing so.
South Africa: Freedom of Information
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the effect on the freedom of the media in the Republic of South Africa of the Protection of State Information Bill. [85624]
Mr Bellingham: Britain is aware of strong concerns that have been raised by media and other rights groups that the Protection of State Information Bill could limit media freedom in South Africa. Our diplomatic missions in Pretoria and Cape Town will continue to monitor the Bill closely through the remaining stages of the parliamentary process.
Sri Lanka: Politics and Government
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the progress of reconciliation in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement. [85190]
Alistair Burt: On 20 November, the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission sent their report to the Sri Lankan President. Many hope this report will mark a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s recovery from conflict. I have called on the Government of Sri Lanka to seize this opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to national reconciliation and accountability. I look forward to the Government of Sri Lanka setting out the steps they will take in response to the report.
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the progress of transitional justice in Sri Lanka since 2009. [85196]
Alistair Burt: The UK has consistently called for an independent, thorough and credible investigation into allegations of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law by both sides in the military conflict.
The Sri Lankan Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) presented their report to the Sri Lankan President on 20 November. We look forward to the Sri Lankan Government publishing the report in full and setting out the steps they will take in response.
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We believe that an inclusive political solution that addresses the underlying causes of the conflict is the best way to achieve lasting and equitable peace in Sri Lanka.
Sudan: Human Rights
Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will review his Department's promotion of trade with Sudan in the light of human rights abuses in that country. [86338]
Mr Bellingham: There are no international restrictions on trade with Sudan, other than an arms embargo imposed by the UN. At present we do not actively promote trade with Sudan, although assistance is provided by UK Trade & Investment in response to requests from British companies. We have made very clear to the Government of Sudan that the current conflicts and human rights abuses are an obstacle to any increase in our trade relationship, and it is their responsibility to resolve those conflicts peacefully.
Home Department
Biometrics: Entry Clearances
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when (a) she and (b) the Immigration Minister were first informed that their pilot programme was being used to stop biometric checks. [79849]
Damian Green: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 7 November 2011, Official Report, columns 44-61.
Dangerous Dogs
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dogs in England and Wales were placed on the register of exempt dogs under section 4(a) and (b) procedures under the Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Act 1997 in 2010. [78712]
Mr Paice: I have been asked to reply.
So far this year, we have placed 421 dogs on the Index of Exempted Dogs through either the 4A or 4B procedures. 42 of these were under the 4A procedure and 290 under the 4B procedure. In 89 cases it has not been possible to identify under which procedure the dogs have been placed on the index because this has not been stated on the contingent destruction order issued by the court.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been prosecuted under section (a) 1(3), (b) 3(1) and (c) 3(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in each year since 2007. [78752]
Mr Paice: I have been asked to reply.
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I will arrange for a table showing the number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts, under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, sections 1(3), 3(1) and 3(3), in England and Wales, from 2007 to 2010 (latest available) to be placed in the Library of the House.
Annual court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in the spring of 2012.
Departmental Manpower
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK Border Force staff were working on (a) customs and (b) immigration checks at Heathrow in each week between 1 July and 1 November 2011. [79888]
Damian Green: The total number of Border Force officers working at Heathrow from 1 July to 1 November 2011 is set out as follows. This table shows the number of officers deployed on front line checks at Heathrow throughout the period.
| Number | |
Deportation: Offenders
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her policy to remove foreign national prisoners on completion of their sentence was introduced. [79772]
Damian Green: Government policy is to deport foreign nationals where their presence in the United Kingdom is not conducive to the public good. The power to deport a person on the grounds that their presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good is provided by S3(5) of the Immigration Act 1971. S3(6)of the Immigration Act 1971 gave the courts the power to recommend the deportation of foreign national prisoners. These powers came into force on 1 January 1973.
The policy to remove foreign nationals who are liable to deportation dates from then. Although it has not been explicitly stated that we remove foreign national prisoners on completion of their sentence, as a matter of practice we aim to remove foreign national offenders at the earliest opportunity. Under the terms of the Early Removal Scheme, which was introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 2003, foreign national prisoners serving fixed term sentences can be removed from prison and the country up to a maximum of 270 days before the half-way point of sentence. In 2010-11 43% of removals of foreign national offenders (FNOs) who met the deportation criteria took place during the early removal period.
More generally we are improving performance by starting earlier, maximising Facilitated Returns Scheme,
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working with foreign governments, improving compliance and embedding staff in prisons ensuring that contact is made with FNOs where staff are embedded, within five days of their arrival.
Fraud: Shares
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to ensure that the Serious Fraud Office pursues investigations into boiler room fraud. [86490]
The Solicitor-General: I have been asked to reply.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is headed by the Director who acts under the superintendence of the Attorney-General. The SFO investigates and prosecutes the most serious and complex economic crime.
Where an alleged boiler room fraud that comes to the attention of the SFO meets the published selection criteria the SFO will consider the allegations. The selection criteria can be found on the SFO website at:
http://www.sfo.gov.uk/victims/individual-victims/can-i-report-a-fraud-or-corruption-directly-to-the-sfo.aspx
If an alleged boiler room fraud does not meet the SFO criteria it will be referred to another law enforcement organisation or regulator for investigation when appropriate.
Since October 2011 the SFO has successfully prosecuted 10 individuals involved in boiler room fraud.
Immigration
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will publish (a) the operational advice note and (b) details of the ministerial decision implementing the trial of risk-based processes at the border. [79887]
Damian Green: We are conducting an investigation into all the relaxation of border controls. It would be inappropriate to publish this information or comment further at this stage.
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) EU nationals and (b) non-EU nationals passed through border controls in the UK between 28 July and 4 November 2011. [79889]
Damian Green: Passenger arrivals figures for the third quarter of 2011 (July to September) are not yet available. The latest published data for the first quarter of 2011 along with figures for 2010 showing recent levels of EEA and non-EEA nationals arriving in the United Kingdom are given in the table. These figures are numbers of journeys and include passengers in transit who do not pass through immigration controls.
| Passenger arrivals to the United Kingdom including EEA and Swiss nationals, January 2010 to March 2011 | |||||
| Passengers admitted | Q1 2010 | Q2 2010 | Q3 2010 | Q4 2010 | Q1 2011 |
12 Dec 2011 : Column 611W
12 Dec 2011 : Column 612W
| Notes: 1. Provisional figures. 2. Includes airside transfer/transit passengers of all nationalities who did not pass through immigration control. Source: Home Office, Migration Statistics. Published in table ad.01.q of ‘Immigration Statistics April to June 2011’. | |||||
Information relating to the second quarter (April to June) of 2011 will be published on 24 November 2011 in the Home Office Science publication, ‘Immigration Statistics July to September 2011’ and the third quarter will be published on 23 February 2012. These data will be available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Science website at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/