| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
Further detail on the proposed designation of assisted areas, including the draft assisted areas map (2007-13), can be found in the DTI document Review of Assisted Areas—Stage 2—The Government’s Response and Draft Assisted Areas Map and accompanying documents, available on the DTI website: www.dti.gov.uk/regional/assisted-areas/assisted-areas-review/page24618.html and in the Libraries of the House.
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty’s Government:
To what extent they have allocated assisted area status up to the permitted maximum allocation of 23.9 per cent of the population. [HL6918]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The draft assisted areas map published on 10 July 2006 uses the full allocation of 23.9 per cent of the UK’s population allowed under the European Commission’s regional aid guidelines.
25 July 2006 : Column WA275
British Citizenship
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Triesman on 14 July (WA 146), and having regard to paragraph 6.3.1.1 of the Home Office Nationality Instructions, why an application for British nationality made at a British consular post abroad cannot be accepted if it includes the necessary information to constitute a valid application and the applicant has paid or offers to pay the relevant fee but it is not made on an application form. [HL7060]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): It has traditionally been our practice in consular sections overseas to accept only British nationality applications made on the relevant application form. However, the Nationality Directorate of the Home Office has informed us recently that, although it prefers applicants to use the appropriate form, there is no requirement to do so provided that the applicant has provided all the necessary information on which a decision is based.
EU: Energy Market
Lord Rana asked Her Majesty’s Government:
What steps they are taking within the European Union to create an open market for energy supplies, and, in particular, gas. [HL6716]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): We strongly support moves to create a properly functioning internal energy market, which is essential if European consumers are to obtain sustainable, competitively priced and secure supplies of electricity and gas.
Existing EU legislation sets the legal framework needed for competition and vigorous action is being taken by the Commission to ensure its proper implementation in all member states. The Commission is also undertaking a sectoral inquiry into energy to consider whether structural issues are hampering the development of a proper market. In addition, the Commission published a Green Paper in March, seeking views on proposals on the development of future energy policy. This consultation is due to close in September, after which the Commission will consider whether further action may be required. A UK response to the Green Paper is on the DTI’s website at www.dti.gov.uk/files/file31659.pdf.
European Commission: Voting
Lord Harrison asked Her Majesty’s Government:
What is their response to the European Commission’s draft directive published on 10 January,
25 July 2006 : Column WA276
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): The Government support the Commission’s proposal for a directive on shareholder rights, which is currently before the Council and Parliament.
The Government believe that the proposal should be framed in a way that facilitates the exercise of voting rights across borders while offering practical solutions that do not impose unnecessary burdens on shareholders, companies and those who act for them.
Afghanistan: Helmand Province
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty’s Government:
What is the Department for International Development’s advisory role with the United Kingdom military in Helmand province, referred to in the Department for International Development interim strategy for Afghanistan 2005-06; and how this role has developed in recent weeks. [HL6707]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): DfID’s representative in Helmand is based in the provincial reconstruction team (PRT) in Lashkar Gah, Helmand province. The PRT also contains representatives from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the military and, arriving shortly, the British embassy drugs team. These four representatives work together as the Helmand executive group, which is responsible for the delivery of the UK joint plan for Helmand.
DfID leads in advising the civilian and military members of the Helmand PRT on the development implications of all interventions in the province. For example, the PRT supports a number of quick impact projects (QIPs) designed to demonstrate immediate progress to the people of the province and to help build a platform for longer-term activity. DfID’s advice helps maximise the developmental impact of these projects and ensures that they fit with national government priorities. The Helmand executive group jointly supervises identification, selection, implementation and monitoring of QIPs, which are funded from a range of departmental budgets.
In June, DfID increased the funding available for QIPs by £3 million, but the advisory role of the DfID representative remains the same.
Iraq: Official Visits
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty’s Government:
How much advance notice visiting heads of state should provide to the Iraqi President and Prime Minister. [HL7038]
25 July 2006 : Column WA277
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): Questions on Iraqi Government protocol should normally be referred to the Government of Iraq via their embassy in London. With the current security situation, the Iraqi Government have advised that there are no fixed rules for head of state visits.
Israel and Palestine: Casualties
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Whether they will request from the Government of Israel their estimate of the number of Palestinian and Lebanese civilians killed by Israeli military incursions since the Israeli general election at the beginning of 2006. [HL7039]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): We have no plans to request this information from the Government of Israel.
Israel and Palestine: Gaza
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty’s Government:
What action they are taking, either unilaterally or with the Government of Israel and the quartet, to restore full electricity supply to the 22 hospitals in Gaza and to provide food for the 30,000 children suffering from malnutrition. [HL6930]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): Following the Israeli attack on Gaza’s only power station, electricity supplies in Gaza remain limited. Restoring full and reliable electricity supplies is a humanitarian priority. This will require Israel to facilitate the passage of essential equipment.
Since 11 July, the European Commission has provided fuel for six hospitals in the Gaza Strip. The fuel is for back-up generators which allow hospital equipment to operate during power outages. This is being funded through the temporary international mechanism (TIM) for Palestinian basic needs. The UK intends to contribute up to £12 million to the TIM.
In June and July, the World Food Programme (WFP) provided food for 160,000 people in Gaza. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) also provides food, education, health and housing assistance to Palestinian refugees in Gaza and elsewhere in the Middle East. DfID provided £15 million to UNRWA in April. We continue to monitor the humanitarian situation closely.
25 July 2006 : Column WA278
Israel and Palestine: Hostages
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Whether they will consider a specific joint initiative with the Government of France to persuade the parties to the Israel-Palestine conflict to enter into immediate peace talks and the release of hostages and detainees. [HL7012]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): We are gravely concerned by the escalation of the situation. We continue to raise our concerns on a regular basis to both the Israelis and the Palestinians and call upon all parties in the region to make every effort possible to resolve the current situation by peaceful means. We call for the immediate, unconditional release of the abducted Israeli soldiers. We also continue to have concerns about the detention of members of the Palestinian Government and legislature on 29 June. Those detained should be accorded their full legal rights and either be charged or released.
As my right honourable friend the Prime Minister has made clear, negotiations are manifestly the best way to take this process forward. We will continue to work with both our quartet (EU, US, UN and Russia) and EU partners, including France, to this end.
Energy: Microgeneration
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty’s Government:
Whether current grants towards the upfront costs of installing micro-renewable energy systems provide a sufficient incentive to investors. [HL7136]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): The Low Carbon Buildings Programme is providing £80 million to reduce upfront capital costs for a range of microgeneration technologies, building on the support already provided under the PV Major Demonstration Programme and the Clear Skies Initiative. Uptake of the grants offered to date indicates that the level of support has given sufficient incentive to those considering investing in microgeneration for their premises.
The DTI commissioned a study from the Energy Saving Trust, published in November 2005, to predict the future uptake, costs and benefits of microgeneration technologies. The study demonstrated that some microgeneration technologies are currently cost-effective but are still not being taken up, indicating that cost is not the only factor that investors consider when installing microgeneration technologies.
The Government are working, with Ofgem and with industry, through their microgeneration strategy, to create conditions under which microgeneration becomes a realistic alternative or supplementary energy generation source for the householder, for the community and for small businesses.
25 July 2006 : Column WA279
Official Meetings: Gulam Noon
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty’s Government:
On what dates in 2006 the Prime Minister has met Sir Gulam Noon; where each meeting took place; and what topics were discussed; and [HL7025]
On what dates in 2006 the Deputy Prime Minister has met Sir Gulam Noon; where each meeting took place; and what topics were discussed. [HL7026]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: My right honourable friends the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a wide range of subjects. Information relating to internal meetings, discussion and advice is not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.
Overseas Development
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty’s Government:
To what extent their overseas development assistance policy has increasingly involved multilateral aid over the past 10 years; and when they will publish the first results of the Multilateral Effectiveness Framework. [HL6956]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): Over the past 10 years, the multilateral share of total DfID spend has ranged between 48 per cent (in 1995-96) and 39 per cent (in 2004-05). We are currently assessing what our multilateral spend will be during the Comprehensive Spending Round period.
The Multilateral Effectiveness Framework summary results report was published in 2005 and is available on DfID’s external website (www.dfid.gov.uk).
Tropical Rainforests
Lord Eden of Winton asked Her Majesty’s Government:
What discussions they are having with the World Bank, other international organisations and locally based non-governmental organisations to seek ways of protecting the rights and interests of the people who have been living in rainforests and whose livelihood is adversely affected by logging operations. [HL7106]
25 July 2006 : Column WA280
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): We have a range of opportunities to discuss the protection of the rights and interests of people living in rainforests, with the World Bank and others.
DfID supports the global partnership for rights and resources with a grant of £300,000. This is a new informal coalition of organisations dedicated to protecting the rights and interests of rainforest-dependent people. It provides a platform for engagement with Governments, other donors, local and international NGOs and research organisations.
DfID is providing £24 million to support the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) programme, which will support multi-stakeholder processes that will involve rainforest-dependent people in the development and implementation of trade and governance agreements between the EU and timber-producing countries.
In addition to those global initiatives, DfID supports numerous bilateral initiatives to support the rights and interests of rainforest-dependent people. Examples of DfID-funded bilateral initiatives include:
the multi-stakeholder forestry programme in Indonesia, where DfID is working with civil society groups and the World Bank on the resource rights of forest-dependent communities.
In Cameroon, DfID is working together with the World Bank, providing targeted budget support alongside the World Bank’s International Development Association and the Global Environmental Facility contributions.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), DfID supports the Rainforest Foundation to pilot participatory forest mapping and zoning, aiming to secure the rights and interests of rainforest-dependent people.
Lord Eden of Winton asked Her Majesty’s Government:
What are the most recent decisions taken by the World Bank with regard to logging operations in rainforests; which countries will be affected; what the impact on the forests concerned will be; and what share of the cost in forms of assistance will be borne by the United Kingdom. [HL7110]
Baroness Amos: Decisions taken by the World Bank which affect logging operations in rainforests have to conform to its policy on forests that was adopted in 2003. This states that the World Bank will only finance commercial harvesting in areas where strict environmental assessments or authoritative scientific surveys have demonstrated that the areas in question do not contain critical forest areas or other critical natural habitats.
HMG co-operates with the World Bank on a number of country programmes aimed at improving
25 July 2006 : Column WA281
The expected impacts of the above programmes include the empowerment of forest-dependent communities, enhanced economic opportunities for the poor and indigenous groups, increased revenues for the state, and improved conservation of biodiversity.
In Cameroon, HMG/DfID has committed £11 million for the Cameroon Forest Governance Programme. Commitments in support of the forest sector in the DRC and Cambodia are still being finalised.
There is a growing consensus that the traditional concession-based industrial logging model does not generate the desired economic, social and environmental benefits. DfID, together with the World Bank and a number of civil society and research organisations, is planning to support research into improved models for forest sector development.
25 July 2006 : Column WA282
| Next Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |