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6 July 2006 : Column WA61
Written Answers
Thursday 6 July 2006
Afghanistan
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are planning significant new measures to assist the Government of Afghanistan in resisting the growth of the Taliban insurgency.[HL6627]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): Localised attempts by the Taliban to test the resolve of the nations deploying military assets into the south of Afghanistan, the coalition's current high tempo of activities across southern Afghanistan and the increased amount of reporting of incidents as a result of the UK presence in Helmand collectively give the impression of a growing insurgency. Overall, however, the security situation is broadly stable, if fragile, in certain areas and the insurgency, which we assess accounts for no more than about one-fifth of all incidents in Helmand, does not pose a credible strategic threat to the stability of Afghanistan.
The UK provides a variety of types of assistance to the Afghan Government's efforts to exercise their authority and to extend the rule of law. Our Armed Forces are undertaking operations in Helmand to help to create an environment in which institutional capacity can be built and development programmes put into effect. This activity forms part of an integrated strategy, involving the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence, designed to support Afghanistan's central and provincial institutions. We intend to accelerate this activity as the security situation improves. In addition, in Kabul, the UK supports the Afghan Government’s Taliban reconciliation programme in its attempts to draw former Taliban and other insurgents into the accountable, democratic process.
Autism
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 20 June (WA 67), how many children are awaiting assessment for autistic spectrum disorder in each of the areas covered by the seven early intervention teams operating within Northern Ireland; and what is the maximum waiting time in each area.[HL6623]
Lord Rooker: The information requested is not held centrally and will take some time to collate. I will write to the noble Lord with the relevant information as soon as it becomes available and place a copy in the Library.
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Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
What proposals they intend to bring forward to optimise and sustain the work of Autism Northern Ireland.[HL6624]
Lord Rooker: The Government value the services of Autism NI in working to promote the needs of those with autistic spectrum disorders. In 2005-06, the Government, through the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, provided Autism NI with funding of £46,148 to support its administration and management costs. Similar core funding will continue in 2006-07.
Benefits
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 20 June (WA 68), what would be the estimated annual cost of increasing the current family premium and dependent children's allowances by amounts that would raise income support and jobseeker's allowance to the same level as 60 per cent of the 2005-06 median equivalised weekly household income after housing costs.[HL6640]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): It is not possible to provide the information in the format requested. Financial support for children is now paid through the child element of the child tax credit and is administered by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). All families with children are also entitled to claim child benefit, which is also administered by HMRC.
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Diplomatic Representation
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans there are for the closure of the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina.[HL6674]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): At the meeting of the steering board of the Peace Implementation Council on 22 and 23 June, it was agreed that the Office of the High Representative should begin preparations to close on 30 June 2007. This decision will be subject to final review and confirmation in February 2007, to take into account the domestic and regional situations before closure goes ahead.
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Bosnia-Herzegovina: EU Agreement
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their assessment of the progress that Bosnia-Herzegovina has made towards signing a stabilisation and association agreement with the European Union.[HL6675]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): The negotiations between the EU and Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) on a stabilisation and association agreement (SAA) have been progressing well. There has been positive feedback from Brussels on the high standard of the negotiating team from Bosnia-Herzegovina.
If the political conditions that were agreed by the General Affairs Council in November 2005 are met, negotiations could potentially be concluded by the end of 2006. However, there has been little progress towards the implementation of the agreement of police restructuring, due largely to the obstruction of politicians from the Republika Srpska. Furthermore, there has been little indication of progress towards full co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. These two issues represent the greatest obstacles that BiH must overcome in order to conclude an SAA this year.
Drugs: Methamphetamine
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine causes environmental and pollution problems; and, if so, what are those problems.[HL6583]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Illegal manufacture of methamphetamine in so-called “illicit laboratories” carries with it risks of fire, explosion and chemical leakage. As such, implicit in the process are certain environmental hazards relating to exposure to toxic chemicals and exposure to fire or explosion. Anecdotal evidence from the USA suggests that the cost for law enforcement agencies of clearing up an illicit laboratory is high due to the requirement for protective clothing and decontamination equipment.
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which advises the Government on issues of drug misuse in the UK, has recently recommended that methamphetamine be reclassified as a class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. We have accepted the recommendation. Its status as a class A drug will enable law enforcement agencies to take a more proactive stance against this dangerous drug.
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Drugs: Police Targets
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have plans to define further and develop policing targets relating to the trade, distribution and use of illegal drugs beyond those referred to in the National Policing Plan 2005-08.[HL6585]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Work is ongoing to refine and develop the performance management framework for crime, drugs and policing. Part of this work will consider whether new or revised performance indicators relating to the trade, distribution and use of illegal drugs are needed and, if so, what if any targets should be set. The Home Office is progressing this work in consultation with partners including the Association of Chief Police Officers and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.
Electoral Registration
Lord Goodhart asked Her Majesty's Government:
With reference to the form set out in Part 1 of the Schedule to the Representation of the People (Form of Canvass) (England and Wales) Regulations 2006, (a) what are the details that have to be provided if the box labelled “All residents not entitled to vote due to their nationality” is ticked; (b) whether the space for providing those details is adequate; (c) whether the details that have to be provided include the names and nationality of the residents, and why that information is required; (d) why similar information is not required from persons who are not entitled to vote due to their nationality but are resident at an address where another resident is entitled to vote; and (e) whether that information will or may be made available to any person other than an electoral registration officer; if so, to whom; and for what purpose.[HL6566]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): (a)/(c) The purpose of this box is to allow the electoral registration officer to be satisfied that the form has been completed correctly. For example, if the form is returned with this section reading “All residents are French”, the registration officer could return the form with an explanation that EU citizens are, in fact, entitled to vote in local and European elections. Although the exact details required in this section are not specified, there is no requirement for a person to provide the names of non-eligible people.
(b) We believe that the space provided should be adequate, although a person could use a separate sheet if they wished to do so. In addition, registration officers have some flexibility in how they use the form set in regulations and so could choose to make this box larger if they felt that this was necessary.
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(d) The purpose of section 3 of the form is to ensure that a person may comply with their legal duty to respond to a request for information from a registration officer in circumstances in which no eligible electors are to be added to the form. For this reason, similar information is not required when at least one member of a household is entitled to register.
In previous years, the section did not include tick-boxes, but had the text, “No one eligible”: “If no one (including yourself) in your household should be included in part 2 above, please write ‘no one’ in part 2 above and give the reason”.
(e) In line with data protection principles, information provided will not be passed on to any other person or organisation.
EU: Council of Ministers
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Triesman on 26 June (WA 124-5) and in light of the reported statement by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 8 June that, “We want to be close to citizens, but we can't end up with less efficiency because decisions are not being taken”, what factors led to the withdrawal of their opposition to the opening of European Council meetings to the public.[HL6647]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): We believe it is important to ensure greater transparency in practice in the Council of Ministers, not just in theory, and that the right balance needs to be struck between efficiency and openness. We made real progress on transparency during the UK presidency of the EU. The European Council in June agreed both to increase the number of debates and deliberations open to the public, and to review the new practice in six months. We support that agreement and look forward to the outcome of the review.
Freedom of Information
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
On how many occasions Ministers or government departments, on receiving a draft decision notice from the Office of the Information Commissioner on a complaint under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, have asked to make representations on points of substance; in how many of those cases the Information Commissioner agreed to make alterations to the decision notice; and whether they have plans to review the process so as to ensure that in future complainants are made aware of draft decisions and of any alterations made at the behest of Ministers or departments.[HL6631]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): This information is not collected centrally. The Information Commissioner is responsible for the content of his decision notices.
Gulf War: Pensions
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 20 June (WA 74), which referred to the “wider interest in and importance” of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal's decisions in October and December 2005 in claims for Gulf War Syndrome, whether they will arrange for copies of the decisions to be placed in the Library of the House and to be sent to ex-service organisations helping veterans of the conflict and the families of those who have died.[HL6576]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): Arrangements will be made, subject to the agreement of the parties involved, for copies of the October and December 2005 Pensions Appeal Tribunal decisions to be placed in the Library of the House. Decisions made by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal are not routinely circulated, as they are particular to the case under appeal and should not be treated as a precedent for other appeals. However, given the wider interest in these cases, the Pensions Appeal Tribunal has agreed to arrange for the decisions to be placed on its website.
Hunting Act 2004
Lord Fearn asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The Hunting Act 2004 came into force on 18 February 2005. Data on the number of prosecutions in 2005 will be available in the autumn.
International Development: Global Opportunities Fund
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much has each of the priority countries been allocated from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Global Opportunities Fund in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 budget; and which of the six themes received a budget line in each country.[HL6415]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): In 2005-06, there were six programmes within the Global Opportunities Fund (GOF), each with its own priority countries. These are listed below, together with the amount spent in each of the priority countries. This does not include regional and multilateral initiatives that operated across a number of priority countries.
For 2006-07, the GOF has expanded to 10 programmes with the addition of the Afghanistan counter-narcotics programme, the overseas territories programme, the drugs and crime programme and the migration programme.
In many cases, there is no fixed allocation to priority countries at the beginning of the financial year. Decisions on allocation of programme funds are made by project selection boards, on the basis of project bids, which are assessed against programme strategies. Furthermore, initial allocations to projects within priority countries may change throughout the year for a range of reasons, such as activities being less expensive than anticipated. It is therefore not possible to give figures for allocations to priority countries at this stage in the financial year.
| Counter-terrorism | Total budget in 2005-06: £7.7 million |
| Country | Amount spent |
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