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UK Trade & Investment: Nigeria

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the quality and performance of UK Trade & Investment support for UK-Nigeria partnerships in (a) financial services, (b) the creative industries and (c) educational services. [195048]

Michael Fallon: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) carries out an in-depth assessment of its overall impact each quarter via the Performance Impact Monitoring Survey (PIMS). Generic assessments of specific sectors are carried out externally on behalf of UKTI. The business impact of individual services and activities is also monitored by the teams delivering them.

UKTI delivers a range of services in relation to Nigeria in the sectors specified, both bespoke services for individual companies and broader activities. These are in line with sector strategies for the market. Some recent examples include a financial services mission to Nigeria in March organised by UKTI, in partnership with Nigerian Diaspora individuals working in the City of London. Also in March, UKTI Nigeria worked with UK and Nigerian stakeholders to deliver an SME event in Lagos focused on creative industries. This was followed in early April by a videoconference between UK and Nigerian companies engaged in fashion retail. UKTI was also involved in a local education event in Lagos in early April during which Nigerian requirements were successfully matched to UK companies offering relevant expertise.

All participants who commented on these events reported that they found their participation useful. All have identified follow up actions and UKTI will be monitoring successes which ensue.

Home Department

Asylum: Children

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many unaccompanied asylum-seeking children were placed in local authority care in each of the last 10 years; [193336]

(2) how many unaccompanied asylum-seeking children there were in the UK in each of the last 10 years. [193337]

James Brokenshire: Figures for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASCs) placed in local authority care are not available from published statistics.

In 2012 and 2013 there were 1,125 and 1,174 applications received from UASCs, excluding dependants.

Figures on a comparable basis are not available for previous years.

The Home Office publishes statistics on asylum applications from UASCs in tables as_08 and as_08_q (Asylum data tables Volume 2) of the release Immigration Statistics available from:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2013

This release is available from the Library of the House.

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Asylum: Syria

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Syrians have been brought to the UK under the Vulnerable Person Relocation Scheme to date. [194822]

James Brokenshire: The first group of Syrian refugees arrived in the UK on 25 March as part of the Government's Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) Scheme. The next group of refugees are expected to arrive this month, with further groups to follow on a regular basis. While there is no set quota we predict that the VPR scheme will support several hundred people over the next three years.

Borders: Personal Records

Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment she has made of report by the Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration of the critical system vulnerabilities in Semaphore and Warnings Index; and what steps she took in response to that report; [192032]

(2) what steps she has taken to implement changes as a result of the Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration report Exporting the border?: An inspection of e-Borders. [192034]

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has responded to the report on ‘Exporting the border?: An inspection of e-Borders’. This response can be found at:

http://icinspector.independent.gov.uk/inspections/inspection-reports/2012-inspection-reports-2/

Borders: Scotland

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of (a) the cost to set up and (b) annual running costs of full border control with Scotland. [194540]

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has made no estimate of (a) the cost to set up and (b) the annual running costs of full border control with Scotland.

Consultants

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which 10 consultancy firms were paid the most by her Department in the last financial year; and how much each of those firms was paid. [195578]

Karen Bradley: Information on the 10 consultancy firms that were paid the most by the Home Department for the last financial year and how much each of those firms were paid is set out in the following table:

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Domestic Violence

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of victims who took part in the research used in the report “Everyone's business; Improving the police response to domestic abuse” were (a) male and (b) female. [194674]

Norman Baker: As part of its inspection of the police response to domestic violence and abuse, which was the basis for the report “Everyone's business: Improving the police response to domestic abuse”, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) held focus groups and interviews with 80 victims, of which six were male.

HMIC also circulated an electronic self-completion victim survey to inform its inspection. 532 victims of domestic abuse completed the survey, of which 483 were female, 39 were male and 10 preferred not to disclose their gender.

Employment Agencies

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which five companies were used most often to provide temporary workers for her Department in the last financial year; and how much in agency fees was paid to each of them. [195556]

Karen Bradley: The five companies that were used most often to provide temporary workers for the Home Department in the last financial year and the total cost of these services are set out in the following table.

Entry Clearances: India

Mrs Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what comparative assessment her Department has made of the cost to Indian nationals of applying for a (a) UK and (b) US student visa. [194825]

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James Brokenshire: The Home Office assesses visa fees annually, to ensure the fees charged by the UK are competitive with similar endorsement types offered by other countries.

Mrs Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for study visas by Indian nationals were (a) granted and (b) refused in the year ending (i) September 2012 and (ii) September 2013. [194826]

James Brokenshire: The information requested is given in the following table:

The latest Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance study visas issued (by nationality) and refused, are published in the quarterly Immigration Statistics release, which is available from the Library of the House and on the Department’s website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to investigate the English language test results of students who completed English language tests organised by ETS in each of the last three years. [187807]

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has suspended acceptance of all ETS tests taken and used in the UK while the scope of the issue is ascertained and to determine the number of people who have taken a test and been involved in fraud. We have specialist teams in place to undertake this analysis.

We are looking at all current and past applications. Anyone who is found to have used or is currently trying to use evidence that they obtained dishonestly can expect to have their leave curtailed and be removed from the UK or have any outstanding application refused and leave the UK. We will also seek criminal prosecution where appropriate and use all of the measures that we have available.

Our reforms have curbed abuse by closing bogus colleges, making the application process more rigorous and imposing more rules on colleges to improve course quality. However, as the recent BBC Panorama programme highlighted, much more needs to be done.

The Government will take all necessary steps, but our approach also requires the education sector, particularly private or further education colleges and those providing secure English language testing, to take on their responsibility to tackle abuse.

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Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library a record of those institutions which have made a conditional offer to overseas students whose application for a visa is subsequently refused. [193015]

James Brokenshire: When a sponsor issues a student with an unconditional offer of a place on a course, it will assign a confirmation of acceptance of studies (CAS) via using the sponsorship management system.

The only time a sponsor can offer a conditional place is when a student holds B1 English and wishes to study B2 English on a pre-sessional course before their main course of study.

Full details relating to issuing of conditional offers to overseas students are set out in the tier 4 sponsor guidance which can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/270492/sponsor-guidancet4.pdf

As sponsors issue CAS on a daily basis, there are no plans to place any records in the Library.

EU Immigration

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to work with other EU member states to reduce the number of deaths of immigrants illegally coming to the EU via the sea. [194970]

James Brokenshire: The Government continue to have regular discussions with our EU partners in order to ensure that all member states operate effective asylum and border management systems, including through cooperation with countries of origin and transit beyond the EU. This includes the UK's participation in the EU's Task Force Mediterranean, established following the Lampedusa tragedy last year to develop actions to prevent further deaths at sea.

The Task Force involves member states, the European Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and key EU agencies {including Frontex, the European Asylum Support Office and Europol). It has developed a series of coherent actions, including cooperation with third countries and combating the organised criminals who facilitate many of these dangerous sea crossings.

The Government strongly support the Task Force proposal to develop information campaigns in countries of origin and transit as part of wider prevention efforts, and has shared our experience in this area with EU partners.

EU Justice and Home Affairs

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussion she has had with Ministers in the Scottish Government on transitional arrangements to cover the potential gap between the UK Government opting out of EU justice measures and negotiating its re-entry into specific measures; [194026]

(2) what assessment she has made of the potential effect on Scotland's justice system of the UK Government opting out of EU justice measures and then negotiating its re-entry into specific measures. [194027]

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Karen Bradley: The Government are clear that there is no need for there to be an operational gap after 1 December, and are negotiating on that basis. Other member states support the UK position and are keen for this process to be concluded as swiftly as possible to provide certainty for all involved.

The Government have engaged with the devolved Administrations throughout this process at ministerial and official level. The Minister for Security and Immigration, my hon. Friend the Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (James Brokenshire), visited Edinburgh last year, where he met the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill, representatives from the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland and the Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland QC. I plan to visit Edinburgh to discuss this matter further later this year.

Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vehicles were impounded under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 in each year since 2010. [195391]

James Brokenshire: The Home Office does not hold this information centrally.

Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil penalties were imposed on hauliers under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 in each year since 2010. [195392]

James Brokenshire: The number of civil penalties imposed on hauliers under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 in each year since 2010 is as follows;

The 2013-14 figure cannot be provided as penalties for this period will continue to be imposed as the process of evidence gathering and recommendations continue.

Immigration Controls

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2014, Official Report, column 821W, on immigration controls, what procedures are in place to ensure that immigration officers ensure the removal of any face coverings before authorising entry to the UK; how many incidents have been recorded where the correct procedures relating to the removal of face coverings have not been followed by immigration officers in each of the last three years; and what disciplinary action has been taken in such incidents in each of the last three years. [194471]

James Brokenshire: This information is not held centrally.

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LGBT People

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with chief constables in England and Wales about hate crimes against LGBT people; and if she will make a statement. [195369]

Norman Baker: The coalition Government are committed to tackling all forms of hate crime and works closely with the National Policing Lead on hate crime.

We will shortly publish our progress report on the Government's hate crime action plan, which will set out a range of activities that have been taken forward, including by the police.

New hate crime guidance, which includes information on dealing with cases of hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities will be issued by the College of Policing this Spring.

Motor Vehicles: Seized Articles

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many vehicles have been seized by police officers as a result of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency classification database errors since July 2013; [195535]

(2) how many seized vehicles have been released by police officers as a result of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency correction of database errors since July 2013. [195537]

Damian Green: The Home Office does not hold this information. The police have the power under the Road Traffic Act 1988 to seize vehicles driven without licence or insurance. Enforcement of vehicle seizures is an operational matter for the police.

Offenders: Deportation

Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people deported by the Border Agency since May 2010 have subsequently been convicted of a criminal offence in the UK. [187705]

James Brokenshire: This information is not held centrally and would be available only at disproportionate cost.

Private Sector

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many jobs have been transferred from the public to the private sector as a result of privatisations or outsourcing by her Department since May 2010. [195513]

Karen Bradley: Since May 2010, 77 posts have transferred from the Home Department to the private sector as a result of outsourcing.

Proceeds of Crime

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 1 April 2014, Official Report, columns 615-16W, on proceeds of crime (1) whether the requests for repatriation of assets arose from charges against public officials suspected of corruption offences or wider criminal charges; [195600]

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(2) how many requests from jurisdictions overseas to repatriate frozen assets the Government have received; and which jurisdictions made those requests. [195601]

Karen Bradley: It is the usual policy to neither confirm nor deny the existence, content or status of any individual requests to repatriate assets.

Refuges

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information her Department holds on the number of specialist refuge places for women from black and minority ethnic communities. [193806]

Kris Hopkins: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

This Department does not hold the information requested. Decisions on the provision of accommodation for victims of domestic abuse are for local authorities: we expect local authorities to build services based on the needs of their communities, taking account of locally available data sources.

The dynamics of domestic abuse mean that accommodation can play an important role in the resolution of interpersonal abuse and conflict. This is why the homelessness legislation in England provides one of the strongest safety nets in the world for families with children and for vulnerable people who become homeless through no fault of their own.

There is a range of support for victims of domestic abuse. Some victims will be accommodated in refuges, but Sanctuary Schemes and mainstream local authority accommodation may be an option for others, while some victims will pursue independent solutions with help and advice from support schemes as necessary.

This Department funds UKRefugesOnline, a UK-wide database of domestic violence services which supports the national 24-hour free phone domestic violence helpline. This service enables those working with victims of domestic violence to identify appropriate services and potential refuge vacancies around the country so that victims can get the help they need as quickly as possible.

This Government have ring-fenced nearly £40 million of stable funding for specialist local domestic and sexual violence support services until 2015. This funding is used to part-fund 54 multi-agency risk assessment conference co-ordinators and 144 independent domestic violence advisers. We have piloted and rolled out Clare's Law and domestic violence protection orders; extended the definition of domestic abuse to cover controlling behaviour and teenage relationships; run two successful campaigns to challenge perceptions of abuse; and placed Domestic Homicide Reviews on a statutory footing to make sure lessons are learned from individual tragedies.

Stalking

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in what proportion of cases where (a) an allegation of stalking was made or (b) a criminal conviction was obtained for stalking the victim was a woman and the perpetrator a man in the latest period for which figures are available; [194958]

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(2) in what proportion of cases where (a) an allegation of stalking was made or (b) a criminal conviction was obtained for stalking the victim was a man and the perpetrator a man in the latest period for which figures are available; [194959]

(3) in what proportion of cases where (a) an allegation of stalking was made or (b) a criminal conviction was obtained for stalking the victim was a man and the perpetrator a woman in the latest period for which figures are available; [194960]

(4) in what proportion of cases where (a) an allegation of domestic violence was made or (b) a criminal conviction was obtained for domestic violence the victim was a man and the perpetrator a woman in the latest period for which figures are available; [194961]

(5) in what proportion of cases where (a) an allegation of domestic violence was made or (b) a criminal conviction was obtained for domestic violence the victim was a man and the perpetrator a man in the latest period for which figures are available. [194962]

Norman Baker: The requested information is not available centrally.

Home Office police recorded crime only covers offences recorded by the police and not allegations. Furthermore, it is not possible to identify domestic violence cases from the recorded crime figures returned to the Home Office by police forces as these figures are based on counts of crime under the appropriate offence classification (e.g. GBH, ABH).

With regard to stalking, the police started recording offences on 1 April 2014. Stalking offences recorded by the police will be included as part of the regular crime statistics publications in due course.

The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. This database holds information on offences provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought but not all the specific circumstances of each case. This centrally held information does not specifically identify whether the crime was committed against males or females for the offences of stalking and domestic violence. This detailed information may be held on individual court files but is not reported to Justice Statistics Analytical Services due to its size and complexity. As such this information can only be obtained by the Ministry of Justice at disproportionate cost.

Stephen Lawrence

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the terms of reference are for the inquiry led by Mark Ellison QC announced on 6 March 2014 into whether undercover police officers caused miscarriages of justice; whether Mr Ellison will be given access to all documentation from Operation Herne for his review; whether members of the public will be able to give evidence to Mr Ellison during his review; and whether the review will cover cases involving the National Public Order Intelligence Unit. [194475]

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Damian Green: The scope and terms of reference for this review are being determined. The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), made it clear in her statement to the House on 6 March 2014, Official Report, column 1063, that

“Mark Ellison and the CPS will be provided with whatever access they judge necessary to relevant documentary evidence.”

Surveillance

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many warrants to undertake surveillance on British nationals were issued by her Department between 1989 and 1992. [189333]

James Brokenshire: As indicated in the debate on 12 February 2014, Official Report, column 858, both the Independent Police Complaints Commission and the Investigatory Powers Tribunal provide an avenue for investigating concerns in this area.

As a matter of long-standing practice, we do not routinely comment on the detailed use of interception and surveillance, or provide a breakdown of the number of warrants signed in relation to specific circumstances or nationalities.

Figures for the overall number of interception warrants authorised by the Secretary of State during the period 1989-1992 were published in the Annual Report to the Prime Minister by the Interception Commissioner under the legislation then in force (the Interception of Communications Act 1985). The published figures are as follows.

Figures for the overall number of interception warrants authorised by the Secretary of State under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 during the period 1989-1992 are shown in the following tables. They provide separate figures for warrants covering telecommunications (which exclude letters), warrants covering letters (letters were relatively more important as a mode of communication than they would be today), and a total for both categories of these warrants.

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Travel Restrictions: Uganda

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will implement travel bans against those who have been actively promoting the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act 2014. [194820]

James Brokenshire: The Secretary of State has a non-statutory power to exclude from the UK any foreign national whose presence is considered not conducive to the public good. The power to exclude is broad but is normally used in circumstances involving national security, 'unacceptable behaviour' (extremism), international relations and foreign policy and serious organised crime.

Where the Government identify or are made aware of any individual who may have crossed the threshold for exclusion, we will consider carefully the evidence in the case before the Secretary of State decides whether or not to take action.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has issued any authorisations under section 42(3) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 which permit intrusive surveillance by unmanned aircraft systems in the UK. [R] [194983]

James Brokenshire: As a matter of long-standing practice we do not comment on the operational use of covert surveillance, or provide a breakdown of the number of warrants signed by particular Secretaries of State, or in relation to specific circumstances or methods of surveillance.

Existing regulation relating to surveillance includes the surveillance camera code of practice issued under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, which provides a framework of good practice for surveillance camera operators and sets out obligations arising from other legislation including those for the processing of personal data under the Data Protection Act 1998 and a public authority's duty to adhere to the Human Rights Act 1998. Any covert surveillance undertaken by a public authority which is likely to obtain private information would be subject to authorisation under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has issued any exemptions pursuant to section 28 of the Data Protection Act 1998 which apply to data obtained via unmanned aircraft systems in the UK. [R] [194984]

James Brokenshire: It has been the position of successive Governments to not comment on national security issues.

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Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 19 March 2014, Official Report, column 607W, on unmanned air vehicles, whether any person, agent or public body has provided video imagery or other data to her Department obtained by unmanned aircraft systems in the UK; and for what purposes. [R] [195014]

James Brokenshire: I am advised that no imagery or other data from such sources is held by the Department.

Treasury

Flood Control

Maria Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 1 April 2014,

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Official Report,

column 595W, on flood control, what the extra sum allocated in Budget 2014 is for each of the devolved administrations for flood defence in

(a)

2014-15 and

(b)

2015-16. [194953]

Danny Alexander: The following table sets out the extra funding allocated to the devolved Administrations through the Barnett formula which reflected new funding provided to UK Government Departments for flood defence measures at Budget 2014.

Helius Energy

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider awarding a loan guarantee under the UK Guarantee Scheme to investors in Helius Energy's proposed biomass energy project in Avonmouth due to concerns surrounding the sustainability of biofuels. [195658]

Danny Alexander: The Helius Energy—Avonmouth biomass power generation project has prequalified under the UK Guarantees Scheme and is still subject to the necessary due diligence, commercial negotiation and financial restructuring before any offer of a guarantee is made.

Individual Savings Accounts

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2014, Official Report, column 12W, on individual savings accounts and with reference to HM Revenue and Custom's policy paper published on the new ISA and changes to Junior ISA and the Child Trust Fund, what assessment he has made of the consequences for (a) the economy, (b) capital markets and (c) business of a shift in savings portfolio composition away from securities towards cash. [193987]

Mr Gauke: From 1 July 2014 the overall annual New ISA subscription limit will be increased to £15,000 and can be used for either cash or stocks and shares investments, or any combination of the two, up to this limit. At the same time the annual Junior ISA and Child Trust Fund subscription limits will be increased to £4,000.

These measures were part of a wider Budget package aimed at supporting savers. These ISA measures will reduce income tax on savings for people constrained by the current limits, improving incentives to save and increasing real household disposable incomes. Over 6 million people each year are expected to benefit from these increases, including over 5 million adults currently constrained by the cash ISA limit, three-quarters of whom are basic rate taxpayers and a third are pensioners.

As HMRC's published Tax Information and Impact Note explains, the increase to real household disposable incomes resulting from the New ISA changes might feed through to higher consumption or savings in the household sector. There may also be a shift in the savings portfolio composition towards cash deposits. At the same time there may be an overall increase in savings invested in securities.

Stocks and shares, and cash offer very different risk and expected return profiles, and the tax treatment will be just one factor affecting investors' choice between them. In 2012-13, the FTSE All-Share Index grew by 5.6% (excluding dividend yield). In contrast bank and building society deposit returns averaged 1.95%.

For individuals who prefer to hold their savings portfolio in stocks and shares rather than cash, the New ISA will provide a significant increase to the amount that can be invested and held within the tax-advantaged ISA wrapper for 2014-15, from £11,880 to £15,000.

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people made the maximum allowed contribution to an ISA in each of the last three years; and how many he estimates will do so in each of the next three years as a result of changes announced in the 2014 Budget. [195422]

Mr Gauke: In 2010-11, around 1.2 million individuals made full use of their (£10,200) ISA allowance. Figures for more recent years are not yet available.

As announced at Budget 2014, from 1 July 2014 the overall annual New ISA subscription limit will be increased to £15,000 and can be used for either cash or stocks and shares investments, or any combination of the two, up to this limit. Over 6 million people are expected to benefit from these increases, including over 5 million adults currently making full use of the cash ISA limit.

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Estimates of the numbers of individuals expected to save at the new limit in each of the next three years are not available.

National Insurance Contributions

Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) to how many businesses the letter from the Prime Minister about the employment allowance was sent; what criteria were used to select those businesses; and how the addresses and other details of the businesses to which the letter was sent were obtained; [195622]

(2) what the total cost to the public purse was of the letter sent to businesses by the Prime Minister on the employment allowance. [195623]

Mr Straw: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many copies of the Prime Minister's recent letter concerning new tax cuts for businesses and charities were printed; what the total cost was of printing, distribution and postage in respect of these letters; and from which Vote this expenditure will be taken; [195468]

(2) whether, on previous occasions, the Chancellor of the day has written to taxpayers about new tax cuts; at what cost; and if he will place copies of such correspondence in the Library. [195469]

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) where the Prime Minister's Office obtained contact details of the businesses and charities to which he sent a letter about changes to national insurance contributions which took effect from 6 April 2014; [195627]

(2) whether the Prime Minister's Office used private companies to distribute to businesses and charities the letter he signed about changes to national insurance contributions which took effect from 6 April 2014; [195628]

(3) what the cost was of sending businesses and charities the letter the Prime Minister signed about changes to national insurance contributions which took effect from 6 April 2014. [195629]

Mr Gauke: The employment allowance was introduced to promote both growth and employment, particularly among small businesses, and its success is heavily dependent on ensuring that businesses know whether they are eligible, which they can check by visiting

https://www.gov.uk/employment-allowance

It is estimated to benefit UK employers by approximately £1.25 billion for employers in 2014-15.

The Prime Minister's letter was distributed by HMRC and its contractors and targeted c1.7 million current and potential employers most likely to benefit from the allowance.

It cost approximately £430,000 including the cost of postage, which equates to 25p per letter and its distribution is consistent with the Government's wider awareness raising campaign ensuring that employers are aware of the allowance and check their eligibility.

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Pensions

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an impact assessment of planned changes to pensions from 2015 as announced in the 2014 Budget. [195423]

Mr Gauke: The expected Exchequer impacts over the forecast period of the changes made to private pensions taxation as announced at Budget 2014 were included in the Taxes Information and Impact Note “Increasing Pension Flexibility” published on 19 March 2014 and can be found in Table 2.1 (p.56) of the Red Book.

The Treasury announced in paragraph 1.13 of “Freedom of Choice in Pensions” that

“it intends to publish draft legislation for a short technical consultation prior to the introduction of the legislation that will enact the changes from April 2015”.

A consultation impact assessment will be published alongside this draft legislation.

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what comparative analysis he has carried out of the effects of the changes to pensions set out in the 2014 Budget on men and women. [195427]

Mr Gauke: At Budget 2014 the Chancellor announced changes which increase the flexibility of pensions, some of which took effect on 27 March 2014.

The increases to the small pot and trivial commutation limits are believed to benefit women proportionately more than men, as they are more likely to have smaller pension wealth. Reducing the minimum income requirement for flexible drawdown is also expected to have a disproportionate impact on women, as they are less likely to have a large pension pot than men.

HMRC’s Tax Information and Impact Note presents further information on the estimated impacts of the 2014 changes:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/293844/TIIN_8070_8062_8202_ 8132_8133_increasing_pension_flexibility.pdf

The proposed 2015 changes will enable individuals to access their defined contribution pension savings as they wish at the point of retirement, subject to their marginal rate of income tax (rather than the current 55% charge for full withdrawal). The changes the Government propose will entitle everyone to full flexibility regardless of their gender.

Personal Income

Mr Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of individual taxpayers in each £1,000 band of gross income between £40,000 and £70,000. [191879]

Mr Gauke: The estimates requested are in the following table.

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Revenue and Customs

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for how long discussions have been ongoing between HM Revenue and Customs, Network Rail and others on the development of new parking facilities at the Customs House site adjacent to Dover Priory railway station. [195432]

Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs does not own the freehold interest in the Custom House site (also known as Priory Court) adjacent to Dover Priory railway station. HMRC occupies the site with the STEPS PFI agreement. While HMRC has been aware of approaches to the freeholder Mapeley for some time, formal discussions have commenced only recently in February 2014.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether HM Revenue and Customs supports in principle the sale of part of the Custom House site adjacent to Dover Priory Railway Station for the development of new parking facilities. [195498]

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Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs does not own the freehold interest of the Custom House site (also known as Priory Court) adjacent to Dover Priory railway station. HMRC occupies the site as part of the STEPS PFI agreement and will consider any proposals from the freeholder Mapeley that affect our rights of occupation.

River Thames: Bridges

Helen Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which parties have received the £30 million for the Garden Bridge announced in the National Infrastructure Plan. [195166]

Danny Alexander: The £30 million contribution to the Garden Bridge from Government is conditional on a business case being produced that demonstrates the project represents good value for money. The business case is expected to be complete by mid-2014.

Should the business case demonstrate that the project represents good value for money, Government will agree the detailed terms of funding with the Garden Bridge Trust.

Helen Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Department has responsibility for calculating the estimated cost of the Garden Bridge announced in paragraph 3.45 of the National Infrastructure Plan 2013. [195395]

Danny Alexander: The Garden Bridge Trust has been established to take responsibility for this project. This includes the responsibility to produce a reliable cost estimate.

Government have asked for a business case to be produced for the project in line with standard guidance. This will need to demonstrate that Government’s support represents good value for money before a contribution to the construction cost is made.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Baltic States

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the UK has offered through NATO to its Baltic allies since the Russian military incursion into Crimea. [195103]

Mr Hague: The UK, alongside our NATO allies, remains committed to the preservation of stability and security in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia and to the guarantee of collective defence under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), announced on 17 March the UK has offered to contribute four Typhoons to the Baltic Air Policing mission. NATO Foreign Ministers agreed on 1 April to consider further measures as necessary to fulfil NATO’s collective defence mission.

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Burma

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response his Department has made to the expulsion of Médicins Sans Frontières from Rakhine State by the Burmese Government. [195591]

Mr Swire: On hearing of the expulsion of Médicins San Frontières (MSF) on 26 February, the British embassy registered our concerns with the Burmese Government that same evening. Since then we have been liaising very closely with MSF tailoring our lobbying to their support, as they negotiate with the Burmese authorities. The British ambassador visited the MSF clinic in Sittwe during his visit to Rakhine State from 19-20 March to hear first hand the impact this decision has had on the local community.

I summoned the Burmese ambassador to London on 7 April to make clear our grave concerns about the situation in Rakhine State, including the expulsion of Médicins San Frontières. I called on the Burmese Government to urgently restore humanitarian access to all communities in need and to ensure the security of humanitarian aid workers and all communities in Rakhine State so that they can operate free of constraint and intimidation. We continue to make clear to the Burmese authorities that there must be no deterioration in the provision of health services in Rakhine State, which is already on the brink of crisis.

Central African Republic

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what level of engagement, support or resource the Government are contributing to the expected EU mission in the Central African Republic. [195102]

Mr Hague: I welcome the launch of the EU’s Central African Republic (CAR) military operation, EUFOR, on 2 April 2014. EUFOR will help the International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA) and French (Sangaris) forces to provide security in Bangui until a handover to MISCA or a possible UN Peacekeeping Operation can take place.

I encouraged the quick deployment of the mission when I attended the Mini-summit on CAR on 2 April in the margins of the EU-Africa summit. The UK will pay its share of the common costs for EUFOR, and has played a strong role in planning, including through provision of a military officer to EUFOR’s operational headquarters in Larissa. Discussions are currently under way about the possibility of providing strategic airlift assistance with countries that have contributed troops.

Diplomatic Service

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) male and (b) female (i) HM ambassadors and (ii) high commissioners there are from each region of the UK. [195617]

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Hugh Robertson: We are unable to breakdown the region that each and every one of our ambassadors and high commissioners was born in without incurring disproportionate costs. We are able to breakdown by the constituent country within the UK as follows:

There is also one post where the ambassador's role is shared by one male and one female, both from England.

The key principle of all FCO appointments is selection by merit through fair and open competition. Place of birth has no effect on our appointments system. All UK based members of staff have to be British citizens.

Egypt

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government’s latest assessment is of the security situation in Egypt following the recent suicide bombing outside Cairo university grounds. [195100]

Mr Hague: Our assessment, as published in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice, is that there is a high threat from terrorism in Egypt, including Cairo. We believe that terrorists continue to plan attacks, which could be indiscriminate and occur without prior warning. Attacks have mainly been aimed at the security forces, their facilities and other government buildings. However, attacks targeting foreigners cannot be ruled out. We continue to keep our travel advice under constant review.

During my meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy on 2 April, I condemned the recent attacks in Cairo and sent condolences to the family of the victim and those who have been injured.

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of his meeting with his Egyptian counterpart on 2 April 2014; and when the next meeting is planned. [195383]

Hugh Robertson: During the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague)’s meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy on 2 April, he discussed the political situation in Egypt, including the presidential elections scheduled for 26-27 May. The Secretary of State raised his strong concern over the death sentence imposed on 529 people on 24 March and the case of two British journalists who have been charged in Egypt and are currently being tried in absentia. He asked the Egyptian Government to review these issues as a matter of urgency and to ensure that the individuals’ human and legal rights are properly upheld.

The Secretary of State condemned the terrorist attacks of 2 April in Cairo and sent his condolences to the family of the victim and those who had been injured.

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He reiterated the importance of co-operation against the shared threat from terrorism. He also raised the UK’s concerns regarding the security situation in the South Sinai region. He urged the Egyptian Government to do all they could to protect British nationals in Egypt, including those visiting the Red Sea resorts over the holiday season, and to take further measures against the risk of terrorism.

The two Ministers also discussed recent events in the middle east, including the crisis in Syria and the importance of progress on the middle east peace process.

There has been no date set for their next meeting.

European Union

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his German counterpart on reform of the EU. [195233]

Mr Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed EU reform with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, on 3 February 2014 in London. They discussed the need to make the EU more competitive, flexible and democratically accountable, as well as the importance of the EU becoming more effective and more focused on economic development, in order to deliver the jobs and growth EU citizens want and need.

On 27 March 2014, I chaired a meeting of the European Affairs Sub-Committee with the German Committee of State Secretaries for European Affairs during which I and other Ministers discussed aspects of EU reform with our German counterparts.

GCHQ

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to promote the commercialisation of scientific and technical research undertaken by GCHQ. [195657]

Hugh Robertson: GCHQ works closely with business to release Intellectual Properties (IP) which are suitable for more general use in the outside world. For example through its information assurance arm, Communications-Electronics Security Group (CESG), it operates a number of schemes which enable individuals and companies to gain CESG endorsement of products and services via technical assessment.

GCHQ is additionally running a number of pilot cases looking at ways of improving its coordination with SMEs and larger industry partners including on Open Source publishing and licensing to SMEs and larger industry partners. GCHQ is also sponsoring research institutes in Cyber Security and running innovation calls aimed at SMEs. The latter initiative in partnership with organisations such as the Centre for Defence Enterprise and the technology Strategy Board.

Gender

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the gender balance is of his Department’s management board and its sub-committees. [195624]

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Hugh Robertson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) management board consists of eight executive (five male and three female) and two non-executive members (one male and one female).

The management board is supported by the four sub-committees which are each chaired by a member of the board; they are Audit and Risk Committee, Human Resources (HR) Committee, Operations Committee and Health and Safety Committee.

The gender breakdown of the committees is as follows:

Audit and Risk Committee (ARC): two male, one female;

HR Committee: nine male, 10 female; and the 20th position is currently filled by two people (one male, one female) in a job share;

Operations Committee: nine male and eight female; and

FCO Health and Safety Committee: 18 male and eight female members.

Gibraltar

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a Minister of his Department last visited Gibraltar. [195105]

Mr Hague: The Minister for Europe, my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington), was the last Minister from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to visit Gibraltar, in April 2011. My right hon. Friend hopes to visit again this year.

The Minister for the Armed Forces, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois), visited in December 2013.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times he has visited Gibraltar in an official capacity since taking up his present office. [195188]

Mr Hague: I have not yet had the opportunity to visit Gibraltar since taking up office. The Minister for Europe, my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington), visited in April 2011.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions he has met the First Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, since Mr Picardo became First Minister. [195189]

Mr Hague: I have met Mr Fabian Picardo three times since December 2011. I had discussions with him in the margins of the reception for Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee on 5 June 2012 and during the Conservative Party Conference in October 2012. We also had a substantive meeting in London on 28 August 2013. In addition to those meetings, the Chief Minister and I have spoken on a number of occasions by telephone about various policy issues concerning Gibraltar.

Gibraltar: Spain

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Government of Spain on the proposed twinning of the town of Algeciras in Spain with Rio Grande in Argentina. [195113]

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Mr Hague: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not made representations to Spain about the proposed twinning of Algeciras in Spain, and Rio Grande in Argentina. Any twinning arrangement between Algeciras and Rio Grande is a matter for the local authorities of those cities.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings the Minister for Europe has held with the European Commission to discuss incursions by Spanish Government vessels into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters in the last two years. [195140]

Mr Hague: We are confident of UK sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW) under international law, a matter over which the European Commission has no locus to intervene. As a result the Minister for Europe, my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington), has not had any meetings with them in the last two years where the sole purpose was discussing Spanish incursions into BGTW.

However, my right hon. Friend has raised on a number of occasions, at a senior level in the European Commission, the adoption by the European Commission of a proposal from the Spanish Government to designate a site of community importance (SCI) under the EU habitats directive (92/43/EEC). The SCI in question overlaps virtually the whole BGTW area. Spain has used this fact to justify certain incursions on the grounds that they are enacting obligations in relation to EU environmental legislation.

The British Government maintain that the purported site known as the Estrecho Oriental was unlawfully designated and, in any event, cannot have any legal effect in BGTW due to UK sovereignty over this territory. We have made our position on this clear to the European Commission and the Spanish Government.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings the Minister of State for Europe has held with the European Commission with the sole purpose of discussing incursions by Spanish Government vessels into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. [195190]

Mr Hague: We are confident of UK sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters (BGTW) under international law, a matter over which the European Commission has no locus to intervene. As a result the Minister for Europe, my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington), has not had any meetings with the EC in the last two years where the sole purpose was discussing Spanish incursions into BGTW.

However, my right hon. Friend has raised on a number of occasions, at a senior level in the European Commission, the adoption by the European Commission of a proposal from the Spanish Government to designate a site of community importance (SCI) under the EU habitats directive (92/43/EEC). The SCI in question overlaps virtually the whole BGTW area. Spain has used this fact to justify certain incursions on the grounds that they are enacting obligations in relation to EU environmental legislation.

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The British Government maintains that the purported site known as the Estrecho Oriental was unlawfully designated and, in any event, cannot have any legal effect in BGTW due to UK sovereignty over this territory. We have made our position on this clear to the European Commission and the Spanish Government.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many naval incursions there have been into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters by Spanish Government vessels in each month since June 2010. [195310]

Mr Hague: The numbers of unlawful incursions by Spanish Government vessels are as follows:

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India

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Government Minister took the decision that there were no grounds for a futher inquiry into the events in Amritsar in 1984. [195279]

Mr Hague: The Cabinet Secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, was asked by the Prime Minister to lead a review to establish the facts relating to the UK's involvement in Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple. The report was submitted to the Prime Minister and as I told Parliament in my statement to the House on 4 February 2014, Official Report, columns 139-42, it clearly showed the limited nature of UK advice on Operation Blue Star, and that there were no grounds for a further inquiry.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Cabinet Secretary was tasked with assessing whether there were grounds for a further inquiry into the events surrounding the storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar. [195280]

Mr Hague: The Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood's investigation looked at why the UK provided advice to the Indian authorities, the nature of the UK assistance and the impact of that assistance in Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple. As I told Parliament in my statement to the House on 4 February 2014, Official Report, columns 139-142, the report and the documents we published clearly show the limited nature of UK advice on Operation Blue Star, and that there were no grounds for a further inquiry.

Iran

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to his Iranian counterpart for the release of Shahrokh Zamani. [195491]

Hugh Robertson: We remain deeply concerned about the detention and treatment of labour activist Shahrokh Zamani. Unions and labour organisations have been heavily repressed in Iran, and many members have been arrested, jailed or harassed. We have called on Iran to fulfil its international and domestic obligations to allow freedom of expression to all Iranians.

North Korea

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of persecution of Christians in North Korea; what steps he is taking within the international community to address that issue; and if he will make a statement. [195499]

Mr Swire: I made clear in my response to oral questions on 8 April 2014, Official Report, column 109, that the UN Commission of Inquiry’s report documents a persecution of Christians which is truly shocking. The UK played a leading role in ensuring a strong Human Rights Council resolution in response to this report. My written ministerial statement on 31 March 2014,

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Official Report,

columns 66-67WS, sets out a summary of the concrete measures in the DPRK resolution to ensure the work of the COI continues in order that those responsible for human right violations and crimes against humanity will one day be brought to account.

Pakistan

Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he plans to make to the Government of Pakistan following the death sentence imposed on Sawan Masih as a result of an alleged offence of blasphemy; and whether he plans to raise that matter at a Commonwealth level. [195146]

Hugh Robertson: I am concerned to hear about the case of Sawan Masih and the imposition of the death penalty. We regularly raise the issue of blasphemy laws, and their misuse against both Muslims and religious minorities at the highest levels in Pakistan. During last week's adjournment debate on the blasphemy law the Minister for Europe, my right hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington) assured this House that

“we must continue to pursue this issue”

with the Pakistani authorities. We encourage interfaith dialogue and support those in Pakistan who are working for reform of blasphemy laws. We have also consistently pressed the Government of Pakistan on the issue of the death penalty and our principled opposition to it in all cases. We consistently strive to foster debate on the death penalty within the Commonwealth and hope that these issues will be discussed by Commonwealth Law Ministers at their meeting in Botswana in May.

Sri Lanka

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps his Department is taking to ensure that the international investigation into the human rights situation in Sri Lanka is carried out transparently, robustly and swiftly. [195202]

Mr Hague: On 27 March, the UN Human Rights Council passed a renewed resolution on Sri Lanka which establishes an international investigation into allegations of violations of international law on both sides of Sri Lanka's military conflict, and calls upon the Sri Lankan Government to make progress on human rights and reconciliation.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will now begin the process of establishing an investigation and assessing the evidence. It is expected that the investigation will draw on expertise from a range of fields and examine a broad range of information and evidence. The high commissioner will provide an oral update to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) this September, and will provide a comprehensive report to the UNHRC in March 2015.

The British Government fully support the Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. We will continue to work with them and international partners, and continue to encourage the Sri Lankan Government to ensure proper implementation of the resolution.

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Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions Ministers in his Department have met President Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka since May 2010. [195309]

Mr Hague: The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), and I met President Rajapaksa at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka in November 2013.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Minister of State, the hon. Member for East Devon, will next travel to Sri Lanka. [195359]

Mr Hague: There are no current plans for the Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), to visit Sri Lanka. We continue to engage regularly with the Sri Lankan Government at ministerial and official level on a wide range of issues.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has asked President Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka to resign as Chairperson in Office of the Commonwealth in the light of the decision to investigate potential human rights abuses in Sri Lanka. [195541]

Mr Hague: Any decision on the Chair-in-Office role is for all Commonwealth Heads of Government to take by consensus.

Syria

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government’s most recent assessment is of the likelihood of President Assad complying with the agreed Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons timetable for the removal and destruction of Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons. [195099]

Mr Hague: Good early progress was made toward putting both Syria’s chemical weapons manufacturing facilities and the weapons themselves beyond use. However, the programme has fallen behind schedule and the regime has missed a number of interim deadlines, including the 31 December target for the removal of priority I chemicals, and the 5 February deadline for the removal of priority II material. It is the regime’s responsibility to comply with the timetable set out by the UN-Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

The UN Secretary-General, the OPCW Director-General and the co-ordinator of the OPCW-UN joint mission have assessed that Syria has all the equipment it needs to ensure the expeditious removal of the chemicals concerned. To date, approximately 54% of the declared chemical stockpile has been removed from Syria. The regime must significantly accelerate the movement of the chemicals to port to enable their removal if the 30 June deadline for the elimination of the chemicals is to be achieved.

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Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific steps the UK has taken to encourage more opposition groups to join the Syrian National Coalition. [195625]

Hugh Robertson: We have publicly and repeatedly urged moderate Syrian opposition groups, inside and outside Syria, to join the National Coalition, underlining the importance of a unified, and effective organisation pressing for a democratic and pluralist Syria. We have consistently encouraged the National Coalition to broaden their membership, and they have made strenuous efforts to attract all sections of Syrian society, including ethnic and religious minorities, and women. They have made clear that they stand for all Syrians. We have worked through the London 11 group in support of the National Coalition, as well as providing practical support to develop its capacity.

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the Syrian National Coalition. [195641]

Hugh Robertson: We have daily discussions with the Syrian National Coalition, most notably with its leadership through the UK Special Representative to Syria, Jon Wilks, but also at ministerial level. We are in regular touch with the National Coalition representative in London. We have supported the National Coalition since its foundation in 2012 and have consistently encouraged it to reach out to all Syrians as a democratic, inclusive and unified organisation. This has included practical support to the National Coalition, including on strategic communications and design of internal structures and organisation. The UK is a leading member of the “London 11”, the core group of the Friends of Syria, who are the National Coalition's strongest supporters. Most recently we hosted a meeting of senior officials from the London 11 in London on 7 March.

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of how representative the Syrian National Council is of all Syrian opposition groups. [195644]

Hugh Robertson: The Syrian National Council is one part of the National Coalition. I have called for women, in particular, to be represented more in the National Coalition. I am pleased that the National Coalition has made strenuous efforts to broaden its membership to attract all sections of Syrian society, including ethnic and religious minorities and women, stating that it is a Coalition for all Syrians. The most recent organisation to join its ranks is the Kurdish National Council. We continue to work with the National Coalition in their efforts to deliver more services on the ground through the Interim Government.

Ukraine

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the UK Government plan to provide through the EU in advance of presidential elections in Ukraine in May 2014. [195104]

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Mr Hague: The UK will be sending 90 short term observers, in addition to the 10 long term observers already in Ukraine, to join the observer mission being mounted by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). This will allow for an objective assessment as to whether the required standards are met. We also welcome the announcement by the OSCE/ODIHR that they will be providing advice and training on running elections.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to increase the UK's bilateral financial support for Ukraine in the next six months. [195313]

Mr Hague: The UK has pledged £10 million in assistance to Ukraine from the Department for International Development bilateral programme. The Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), will keep this allocation under review. The UK also provides support to Ukraine through our core contributions to the EU, the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Monetary Fund and the UN.

Venezuela

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his Venezuelan counterpart on exercising restraint in response to protests in that country. [195311]

Mr Hague: I am concerned by reports of excessive use of force in protests, and reports of armed groups using violence. I condemn all acts of violence and call on all sides to show restraint. It is important that the Venezuelan Government respect the right to protest peacefully and ensure public security. The Government have called for all sides to take steps to avoid confrontation, reduce tensions and to create the right conditions for genuine dialogue to take place.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), has written to the Venezuelan Government emphasising the importance of respecting peaceful protest and the importance of dialogue to take place between the parties. He has offered the UK’s assistance in the reconciliation process and asked to speak to his Venezuelan opposite number. The British embassy in Caracas urges peaceful dialogue through its contacts with a range of actors in Venezuelan society.

International Development

Caribbean

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her future plans are for support to the Caribbean. [195229]

Mr Duncan: The UK is strongly committed to supporting development in the Caribbean. Helping the region tackle the risks posed by natural disasters is one of our top priorities, alongside supporting sustainable economic growth and addressing governance and security.

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The UK Government have increased their bilateral support to the Independent Caribbean by 50% (around £75 million in 2011 to 2015). We also make significant contributions though multilateral partners, for example providing 15% of the EU’s €1.4 billion support and 19 per cent of the Caribbean Development Bank’s Special Development Fund. Our funding runs until March 2015. We are currently reviewing our approach in the Independent Caribbean to ensure that the UK’s support responds to the countries’ needs and delivers the greatest positive impact in the next phase of support from 2015-16 onwards.

In addition, the UK provides assistance to the Overseas Territory of Montserrat by financing public services and investing in infrastructure. We are making these investments to facilitate economic growth and reduce long-term dependence on aid.

Developing Countries: Abortion

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Foyle, of 10 March 2014, Official Report, column 42W, on developing countries: abortion, for what reasons data on spend for individual components of sexual and reproductive health and rights policy are not compiled; and if she will estimate the cost of compiling that data. [195149]

Lynne Featherstone: DFID adheres to Development Co-Operation Directorate (OACD-DAC) expenditure coding requirements to allow comparison across donor spending towards attainment of the millennium development goal targets. This does not include the facility to calculate spend for individual components such as sexual and reproductive health and rights—only against coding titles as have been internationally agreed.

Only coding titles as have been internationally agreed can be individually disaggregated.

Developing Countries: Family Planning

Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make it her policy that UK public funds should not be used for the purposes of campaigning for more liberal abortion laws in another country. [195245]

Lynne Featherstone: In many countries abortion may be permitted only on limited or highly restricted grounds. In these circumstances, we can consider support to increase awareness among policy-makers, legislators, national health authorities and health personnel of the circumstances under which abortion is allowed. We can also work to highlight the consequences arising from the complications of unsafe abortion, such as the burden of maternal ill-health and high health service costs.

In addition we can also consider support to locally-led efforts to enable legal and policy reform in circumstances where the existing law and policy are contributing to high maternal mortality and morbidity; and to regional or international initiatives that are working to prevent unsafe abortion.

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Developing Countries: Females

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to Stepping up a gear for girls and women: updates to the Department for International Development's Strategic Vision for Girls and Women, what steps she is taking to promote girls and women as leaders in politics, peace processes, business and public life, and as active citizens with a voice in society; and if she will make a statement. [195590]

Lynne Featherstone: Increasing women and girls participation in politics, peace processes, business and public life, and as active citizens with a voice is central to achieving DFID’s Strategic Vision for Girls and Women and is crucial if we are to achieve gender equality. DFID works through a range of programmes to address the long term structural barriers to women’s political empowerment. For example, DFID is working with the BBC’s World Service Trust in 14 countries to enhance political accountability through the media. Women’s active and meaningful participation in all peace processes, as well as their representation in formal and informal decision making at all levels, is vital to international peace and security.

Development Aid

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assessment she has made of the role of early stage co-investment funds in assisting the achievement of development goals; [195035]

(2) what steps she is taking to work with CDC in delivering early stage investment funds in developing countries to better achieve development goals. [195036]

Lynne Featherstone: Investment funds that invest in early-stage businesses can provide risk capital, create jobs and provide access to services such as healthcare, energy, housing, education and sanitation. In December 2012 the Secretary of State for International Development, the right hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening), announced the DFID Impact Fund, which is managed by CDC. Through the DFID Impact Fund CDC is investing up to £75 million of DFID’s capital into Funds on a matched basis with other co-investors.

Nigeria

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what steps her Department is taking to increase the role of the UK further education sector in strengthening vocational education in Nigeria; [195047]

(2) what steps her Department is taking to strengthen vocational education in Nigeria. [195046]

Lynne Featherstone: DFID recognises the importance of vocational skills training for reducing poverty among young people in Nigeria, and is currently considering options on how best to support the sector to increase the economic opportunities available to marginalised groups of young men and women in six of the poorest states in northern Nigeria.

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Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent meetings she has had with representatives of the Nigerian diaspora in the UK on support for entrepreneurship in Nigeria. [195049]

Lynne Featherstone: I have not, as yet, had the pleasure of meeting representatives of the Nigerian diaspora in UK. My Department, however, is actively involved in helping improve the investment climate for entrepreneurs in Nigeria, including for Nigerians living abroad. An example of this was our recent support for a review of Nigeria's Investment Policy which was presented at President Goodluck Jonathan's Honorary International Investors' Council held in London last November and which was co-chaired by Baroness Chalker.

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will take steps to establish an early stage co-investment fund in Nigeria. [195050]

Lynne Featherstone: DFID supports a number of initiatives that help private sector development in Nigeria. These include work alongside CDC to fund investment opportunities in Northern Nigeria; technical assistance to increase lending by Nigerian banks to small and medium enterprises, through the International Finance Corporation (IFC); and start up grants for Nigerian firms through the Business Innovation Facility.

Energy and Climate Change

Biofuels

Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when work will begin on the bioenergy strategy review; and if he will make a statement. [195351]

Gregory Barker: As set out in the UK bioenergy strategy:

“it will be important to continue to monitor impacts and review policies and measures periodically in the light of information gained from monitoring policy impacts and the outputs of continuing research. .... We will review how the totality of UK bioenergy policies meets the direction and principles set out in this strategy in at least 5 year intervals.”

We will set out our intentions closer to the time.

Consultants

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which 10 consultancy firms were paid the most by his Department in the last financial year; and how much each of those firms was paid. [195573]

Gregory Barker: The table details the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s consultancy expenditure in 2013-14:

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