| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
Written Answers
Thursday, 29th January 1998.
International Development Policy: Poverty
Lord Alderdice asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether it remains their policy to focus international development on the elimination of poverty and the encouragement of economic growth which benefits the poor.[HL203]
Lord Whitty: As my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development has made clear, the prime objective of our development policy is to help mobilise the public will in the international community to meet the agreed poverty eradication targets.
We are seeking to achieve this by refocusing our own programme and strengthening our efforts with the multilateral system to ensure that we halve the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015 and meet our other objectives.
Coal Mining Museums: Funding Report
Baroness Lockwood asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the report on the transitional funding of the three coal mining museums under the provisions of Section 61 of the Coal Industry Act 1994 will be available to Parliament.[HL45]
The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Clinton-Davis): The report is in preparation and will be laid before Parliament in due course.
Control of Exports Used for Torture
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What plans they have, including legislation, to prevent British companies trading, directly or indirectly, in goods and services which contribute to torture in foreign countries.[HL235]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given in another place on 28 July by my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary to the honourable Member for Portsmouth North.
As stated in the earlier Answer, the extent to which any new legislation should seek to control trafficking in undesirable goods and the brokering of such deals is being considered in HMG's review of strategic
export controls. HMG's proposals following this review will be set out during the current parliamentary Session, probably in the form of a White Paper.UNITA: UN Sanctions Enforcement
Lord Hughes of Woodside asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 11 December 1997 (WA 45), what action they are taking to enforce their representations made to the United Nations Sanctions Committee following the United Nations Security Council decision of 29 October 1997.[HL213]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: I refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave on 11 December 1997 and to the reply to the United Nations Angola Sanctions Committee which was placed in the Libraries of the House.
In addition, we have received the list provided by the Angola Sanctions Committee of those subject to travel restrictions imposed by UNSCR 1127. We have distributed this list to all entry clearance issuing posts and to all points of immigration into the UK.
Iran
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, as part of the human rights assessment they have asked diplomatic posts to undertake, there has been any evaluation of the strength of the clerical opposition to the velayat-e-faqih in Iran, and of the power of President Khatami to implement any changes which are not approved by Ayatollah Khamanei.[HL201]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We are following events in Iran with interest. We hope that the situation will evolve in such a way as to meet our often expressed concerns.
FCO: Central European Department
The Earl of Carlisle asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the composition by number and grade of the personnel in the Central and Eastern European Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and, in view of the increasing political, diplomatic, economic and cultural contact between the United Kingdom and the nations of Central and Eastern Europe, when they will substantially increase the size of the department.[HL174]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Central European Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently staffed as follows:
- 1 x Counsellor
- 3 x First Secretary
- 1 x Second Secretary
- 4 x Third Secretary
- 7 x Support Staff
Sir Dawda Jawara
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why Sir Dawda Jawara was not given the title "President" in references to him by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office until the expiry of his elected term of office in 1997, in conformity with the Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 12 January 1998 (WA 126); on what date this new practice was adopted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and how it is to be applied in the case of a deposed head of state who is President for Life, or a monarch.[HL176]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: There is no set practice for the way in which deposed heads of state are addressed.
Mobility Allowance
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What consultation they have had with the Disabled Drivers' Association in relation to the association's concern about proposals to tax the mobility allowance; and what assurances were sought and given.[HL211]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Baroness Hollis of Heigham): I met representatives from the Disabled Drivers' Association on 26 November 1997, when they expressed concern about press reports suggesting that disability living allowance, which incorporates a mobility component, might be taxed. I advised them that the review of benefits for sick and disabled people would thoroughly examine the current system and consider the full range of options for future change. They sought an assurance that there would be formal consultation once the Government announced their proposals. We have subsequently made it clear that we will consult on any proposals for change flowing from the review. Taxation will be a matter for my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his annual Budget.
Single Parents: Comparative Costs
Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the remarks of Baroness Hollis of Heigham on 15 January (H.L. Deb., cols. 1131 and 1210), whether they believe that childcare costs are the only costs which are higher for single parents than for couples.
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: Research on comparative costs is inconclusive, with the exception that some research suggests that lone parents in work tend to have higher childcare costs than couples in similar circumstances.
South Yorkshire: ERDF Allocations
Lord Mason of Barnsley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How much money has been made available from the European Regional Development Fund in the past five years to South Yorkshire giving details of each individual project for Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster and Sheffield.[HL273]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Baroness Hayman): Over £123 million was allocated between 1993 and 1997 to successful bids under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for projects in South Yorkshire. These were made under a variety of different programmes, and include a number of sub-regional projects covering more than one local authority area within South Yorkshire.
The South Yorkshire areas have also benefited from a share of over £42 million made available over the same period for projects which operated across all parts of Yorkshire and the Humber which were eligible for ERDF support.
As the number of individual projects involved is large, I am writing to the noble Lord with these details, and am placing a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Lord Mason of Barnsley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How much money from the European Regional Development Fund has been allocated to Prince's Youth Business Trust in South Yorkshire since 1993 under the heading of job creation for young people of which self-employment is an option; and whether such allocations may continue under the "Welfare to Work" scheme.[HL272]
Baroness Hayman: The Prince's Youth Business Trust has been successful in bidding for funds for two schemes under the Objective 2 programme for the Yorkshire and the Humber region. The schemes cover South Yorkshire and parts of West Yorkshire and Humberside and it is therefore not possible to provide separate figures for South Yorkshire.
Under the 1994-96 programme, the trust was allocated up to £462,000 for a scheme of assistance to young people which ran from 1 July 1994 (1 January 1995 in South Yorkshire) to 31 March 1997 and has created 484 new enterprises employing 541 people.
Under the 1997-99 Objective 2 programme, the trust has been allocated up to £514,400 for a scheme which is expected to create 309 new enterprises employing 346 people. This runs from 1 July 1997 to 31 December 1999.
Funding under the European Regional Development Fund will continue to be available for such schemes in parallel with the welfare-to-work initiative. Funding under the welfare-to-work initiative may also be used in some circumstances as match funding for projects funded under either the European Regional Development Fund or the European Social Fund.
Self employment is part of the Employment Option under the New Deal and will be introduced for 18-24 year olds from June 1998. Further details will be issued to potential applicants in February and the trust will be able to bid under this scheme if it so wishes.
Next Section
Back to Table of Contents
Lords Hansard Home Page