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Chechnya: Human Rights

Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:

What representations they have made to the Russian government about the continued resort to torture and other forms of ill treatment by members of law enforcement agencies and federal forces operating in the Chechen Republic, and the insufficiency of action taken to bring to justice those responsible, as stated by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Punishment on 10 July. [HL4054]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have repeatedly stressed the urgent need for the thorough, transparent and effective investigation of human rights violations in Chechnya, and for the prosecution and punishment of those responsible. The issues of ill treatment and torture were raised at our bilateral human rights talks in March 2003. We have emphasised that the failure to deal with this problem risks undermining Russian efforts to initiate a political process in the republic, and the prospects for securing a lasting solution to the conflict in Chechnya.

Togo: EU Relations

Lord Maclennan of Rogart asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their position in discussions about the future relations of the European Union with Togo, following the recent presidential election in that country. [HL4108]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We remain deeply worried about poor governance in Togo and have been active in ensuring that EU policy takes full account of this. We supported the most recent EU

8 Sept 2003 : Column WA19

statement issued on 4 July, which highlighted serious concerns about events during the run-up to the 1 June elections, their conduct and subsequent events. The statement also called on the Togolese Government to commit themselves to an effective inter-Togolese dialogue.

EU aid to Togo has been suspended since 1993. We believe that the Togolese authorities need to take positive action to promote democratic principles before EU aid is resumed.

US Senate and House of Representatives: Members' Passports

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any inquiries have been made in the past five years by any staff members of Her Majesty's Embassy in Washington about the numbers of members of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives holding valid passports for foreign travel; and, if so, what results the inquiries revealed. [HL4211]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have found no record of any formal inquiries of this nature in the past five years.

Iraq: Political and Physical Reconstruction

Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the British and United States Governments will produce a coherent plan, with a clear timetable, for the political and physical reconstruction of Iraq.[HL4218]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Coalition plans for political and physical rehabilitation are as follows:

The Iraqi Governing Council formed on 13 July is the principal element of the interim administration called for in Resolution 1483 and has been welcomed by the UN. The council has significant powers that will increase over time. An early task for the council is to determine how a new constitution should be prepared. Once adopted, it will pave the way for elections and an internationally recognised representative Iraqi Government to which the coalition will hand over its powers and responsibilities.

Our immediate priorities in securing the physical reconstruction of Iraq are the restoration of law and order and ensuring that basic public services are returned to a fully functioning state. The Iraqi police force is up and running and conducting patrols with coalition military and we are working on the rebuilding of a new Iraqi army. We are also working with the Iraqi ministries to enable them to improve on the social and physical infrastructure of Iraq and develop a robust economic policy, which will empower the Iraqi people to manage their own free market democracy.

8 Sept 2003 : Column WA20

Timing of both the political process and of reconstruction will depend on how quickly the interim administration can take these issues forward, with coalition/UN help.

Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:

What the Bremer administration is doing to restore the Iraqi police force, civil service, judiciary, armed forces and customs services; and what resources the Bremer administration has in Iraq to achieve these tasks.[HL4220]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) is working with the United Nations and the international community on all aspects of the reconstruction of Iraq, as called for in United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1483.

We are making progress. The Iraqi police force is up and running and conducting patrols with the coalition military. Prisons and courts are open to try those arrested. The new Iraqi army has started recruiting with the aim of recruiting and training a 40,000 strong force in the next two years. The CPA is working with 19 Iraqi ministries, including on the immigration and customs side, and civil servants are returning to work.

To pay for the reconstruction process, UNSCR 1483 enables the CPA to draw from the oil revenues and seized Iraqi assets transferred to the Development Fund for Iraq. The UK and other international contributors have also committed resources and specialists to help in the reconstruction process.

Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:

What resources Ambassador Bremer possesses to conduct the government of Iraq efficiently and effectively; what funds this requires; and where those funds will come from.[HL4221]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Ambassador Bremer has a staff of around 1,200 secondees.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483 enables the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to draw from the oil revenues and seized Iraqi assets transferred to the Development Fund for Iraq in order to pay for public expenditure in Iraq. The interim 2003 budget for Iraq makes provision for the restoration and upgrading of the administrative infrastructure of Iraq, in addition to the payment of public sector wages. Details of the budget for 2003 are available on the CPA website at www.cpa-iraq.org/Budget2003.pdf.

The 2004 Budget will be drawn up by the Iraqi Governing Council, formed on 13 July, together with the CPA and representatives of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and United Nations Development Programme. The Governing Council also has the right to consider substantial amendments to the 2003 interim budget.

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Small Retailers

Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to assist small retailers in deprived areas to improve the security of their business in the current year.[HL3437]

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): We are pleased to announce today the specific projects which will receive funding from the 2003–04 allocation from the Capital Modernisation Fund to assist small retailers in deprived areas to improve the security of their business.

Some £5.8 million has been distributed to regions in England and Wales according to the formula based on an equal share for each region, crimes impacting on retailers and percentage of people living in the most deprived wards. The remaining £200,000 of the third year funding has been set aside for administration and evaluation.

This year's funding will provide assistance to a minimum of 5,000 individual retailers and essential businesses. As in previous years, this funding will be spent on schemes identified by regional Home Office directors, in conjunction with crime and disorder reduction partnerships and a variety of interventions will be employed, including enhancing the security of individual premises and improving the environment of shopping parades. This will mean that over the 3 years of the initiative, since 2001, over 12,500 individual shops units will have directly benefitted from improved security measures.

We have placed in the Library a paper showing the allocations of funds to individual projects. The Home Secretary has also written to honourable Members in England and Wales who have projects in their constituencies.

Small Retailers in Deprived Areas: Specific Sites to Benefit From Year Three Funding (2003–04)

Name of Scheme	Funding (£)
Eastern Region
Shedding Light on Retail Crime in Basildon	27,405
St Andrews Retail Project, Colchester	21,202
Wisbech North Ward, Fenland, Cambridgeshire*	21,202
Operation Shop Safe, Great Yarmouth	58,416
Safer Gaywood Project, King's Lynn	33,607
Biscot and Dallow Small Retails Project, Luton	27,405
Kingsbrook Small Retailers Initiative, North Bedfordshire	21,202
Norwich SRDA 2003–04 (2 Schemes)	27,405
Peterborough Supports Small Retailers (3 Sites)	33,607
Bedwell and Rockingham Way Shops, Stevenage	21,202
Clacton Small Shop Scheme	33,607
Thurrock Assisting Small Retailers	27,405
Britten Centre & Battery Green Multi-Storey Car Park Safety and Environment Improvements Projects, Waveney	39,810
	393,475
East Midlands
Leicester Retail Crime Initiative	75,000
Nottingham Retail Crime Initiative	111,000
Bolsover Retail Crime Initiative	75,000
Bassetlaw Retail Crime Initiative	15,000
Derby Retail Crime Initiative	40,000
Mansfield Retail Crime Initiative	40,000
Erewash Retail Crime Initiative	10,000
Chesterfield Retail Crime Initiative	10,000
East Lindsay Retail Crime Initiative	45,000
Ashfield Retail Crime Initiative	10,000
Newark and Sherwood Retail Crime Initiative	10,000
West Lindsay Retail Crime Initiative	10,000
North East Derbyshire Retail Crime Initiative	10,000
South Kesteven Retail Crime Initiative	10,000
	471,000
London
Gale Street Lighting, Barking and Dagenham	25,544
Brent Target Hardening Scheme	34,587
Camden Small Retailers Initiative	57,194
Retail Crime Reduction & Regeneration Project, Croydon*	16,501
Ealing Small Retailers Project	16,501
Enfield Small Retailers in Deprived Areas	30,065
Greenwich Small Retailers	57,194
Hackney Target Hardening Scheme	114,000
Hammersmith and Fulham CCTV Scheme	21,023
Haringey Target Hardening Scheme	57,672
Islington Radio Scheme	66,236
Kensington & Chelsea Small Retailers Project	21,023
Lambeth Small Retailers Project	25,544
Shop Security Radio Scheme, Lewisham	30,065
Newham Small Retailers Scheme*	115,971
Southwark Small Retailers	79,800
Tower Hamlets Shops Scheme	93,534
Waltham Forest Small Retailers Scheme	30,065
Westminster Small Retailers 2003–04	21,023
	908,542
North East
Alnwick Small Retailers Scheme	10,000
Seahouses CCTV Scheme & Berwick upon Tweed Fraud Prevention Scheme	10,000
Business Crime Reduction Project, Blyth Valley	20,000
Castle Morpeth CCTV Scheme*	10,000
Small Retailer Scheme, Gateshead	24,000
Newcastle City Retailers	35,000
North Tyneside Small Retailers Project	20,000
South Tyneside CCTV Scheme	35,000
Digital Camera Safe Project, Sunderland	35,000
Tynedale Small Retailers Scheme*	10,000
Retail Crime Initiative, Wansbeck	20,000
Small Retailers Initiative, Derwentside	20,000
City of Durham Small Retailers Crime Prevention Scheme	10,000
Sedgefield Shop Fronts	20,000
Creating Safer Shops in Chester West and Grange Villa, Chester-le-Street	10,000
Small Retailers CCTV Scheme, Darlington	20,000
Billingham Shops Improvement Project, Stockton	35,000
Teesdale Safer Retailers	10,000
Wear Valley Safer Retailers Initiative*	24,000
Shop Watching, Easington	35,000
Whale Hill Shopping Centre, Eston, Redcar	24,000
Assisting Small Retailers, Middlesbrough	35,000
Hartlepool CCTV	24,000
	496,000
North West
Ellesmere Port and Neston Small Retailers Scheme	21,857
Warrington Security Fencing Scheme	14,743
Macclesfield Radio Equipment	10,000
Chester Radio Scheme and Improvements	14,743
Congleton CCTV Retailers Scheme	10,000
Halton Security Grants	33,713
Vale Royal Security Improvements	12,371
West Street Small Retailers Scheme, Crewe and Nantwich*	12,371
Eden/Carlisle Small Retailers Scheme	22,371
South Lakeland Small Retailers 2003–04	10,000
Central Barrow Retailers	24,228
Shop Security Initiative 2003–04 Allerdale and Copeland Areas	41,342
Bury Retail Security Initiative	12,371
Mocha Parade, Broughton, Salford	15,000
Whittle Street, Salford	10,000
Individual Repeat Victims, Salford	6,342
Gorton Villa Shops, Manchester	37,000
Brunswick Street, Ardwick	37,026
Newport Street, Bolton	26,599
South Trafford Small Business Security	7,372
Canterbury Road, Trafford	7,371
Hyde (Godley) CCTV, Thameside	14,743
Rochdale Small Retailers in Deprived Areas Project	28,971
Oldham Small Retailers Scheme	26,599
Reddish District Centre, Stockport	12,371
Smithy Green CCTV System, Wigan	19,485
Burnley Small Retailer Scheme	19,485
Small Retailers in Deprived Areas, Pendle	26,599
Eaves Lane CCTV System, Chorley	10,000
Target Hardening/Takeaway Watch, Rossendale	10,000
Small Retailers in Ribble Valley 2003–04	10,000
Royal Avenue Small Retailers Project, South Ribble	10,000
Inner Preston Retail Crime Initiative	24,228
Blackburn with Darwen Small Retailers Scheme	33,713
Small Retailers Loud and Clear, Hyndburn	19,485
Fylde Retail Crime Initiative	10,000
Blackpool Small Retailers Initiative 2003 (3 Projects)	26,599
Digmoor Parade, Skelmerdale	19,485
Operation Re-Glaze, Wyre	14,743
Target Hardening, Lancaster (2 Projects)	17,114
Kennelwood Avenue Shops Security Project, Knowsley	27,620
Kirby Town Centre Radio Link, Knowsley	13,014
Old Farm Road Shops, Knowsley	12,050
St Helens Small Retailers Security Project 2003–04	26,599
Neighbourhood Shops CCTV Initiative, Sefton	28,971
Old Chester Road/Rock Lane West Retailers Safety Project, Wirral	12,114
Twickenham Drive Retailers Safety Project, Wirral	12,114
Liverpool CDRP (CitySafe) Scargreen Avenue Alleygate Project	15,000
Muirhead Avenue/Eaton Road North Security Project, Liverpool	15,283
Muirhead Avenue Alleygate Project, Liverpool	10,000
Breck Road Radio Link, Liverpool	16,000
Broadway Shooping Centre Radio Link, Liverpool	13,000
	942,205
South East
Britwell and Others, Slough*	50,000
Blackbird Leys and Barton, Oxford*	150,000
Temple Hill, Dartford*	25,000
Westbrook Traders CCTV Scheme, Thanet*	70,000
Community Safety Improvements for Redbridge Retailers, Southampton	20,000
The Botley Drive Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, Havant	20,000
Battle Road Business & Retail Security, Hastings	20,000
Kestrel Retailers Safety Project, Medway	20,000
Old High Street—Crime Reduction Initiative, Shepway	47,580
Central Whitehawk Shops, Brighton & Hove	20,000
Kingsley Road Post Office, Maidstone	6,000
Somerstown Retailers Initiative, Portsmouth	35,000
Buckland Retailers Initiative, Portsmouth	10,000
	493,580
South West
Bristol Filwood Small Retailers Scheme*	64,770
Kerrier Small Retailers Scheme*	51,810
North Somerset Small Retailers 2003–04*	25,906
Project 'Open All Hours', Plymouth	38,860
West Cornwall Community Safety Team Small Retailers 2003–04	38,860
Year 3 Penhill—Hannington Close Parade—Crime Reduction	36,000
Boscombe Traders Project, Bournemouth	16,790
Small Business Security Support Scheme, Gloucester	25,906
Community Retail Initiative—North Devon 2003–04	25,906
Exeter Retail Crime Scheme (Fore Street)	12,954
Small Retailers Scheme for Weymouth and Portland— Littlemoor Shopping Centre	12,954
Penwerris Small Retailers Initiative 2003–04, Carrick	12,954
Priorswood Place Security Improvements 2003–04, Taunton	12,954
Westward Ho! Small Retailers Initiative	12,954
	389,578
Wales
Caernarfon Business Watch Scheme & Stryd Fawr, Deiniolen, Caernarfon	21,150
Ceredigion Partnership Security Scheme	38,396.50
Ynys Mon Radio Shopwatch Scheme, Anglesey	20,000
Caerphilly Small Retailers Crime Reduction Project	11,000
Plas Madoc Shops and Roads, Wrexham	25,000
West Rhyl Retailer Group, Rhyl	20,000
Ebbw Fach Crime Reduction Partnership, Blaenau Gwent	15,000
Brecon CCTV Scheme, Powys	20,000
Blaenymaes Shopping Area, Swansea	25,000
Vale of Glamorgan Small Retailers	18,273
Cardiff Small Retailers Project	30,000
Pembrokeshire Small Retailers	38,537.50
Rhondda Cynon Taff Small Retailers Initiative	40,000
Safer Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre Retail Crime	15,000
Broughton CCTV Scheme, Flintshire	37,400
Neath Port Talbot Small Retailers	6,500
	381,257
West Midlands
Broomhill, Cannock*	23,000
Dudley Safer Shopping*	75,000
Walsall Retail Crime Initiative*	70,000
Wolverhampton Neighbourhood Shop Watch*	120,000
Operation Neon, Birmingham	120,000
Camp Hill Retailers Phase 2, Nuneaton and Bedworth	35,000
Stanton Road Shopping Centre Security Improvements, Coventry	50,000
Severn Grove Regeneration Project, Wyre Forest	20,000
Brookside Safety Partnership, Telford and Wrekin	50,000
Hughes Avenue—Cross Heath Small Retailers Initiative, Newcastle under Lyme	20,000
Sandwell Traders Association Retail Crime Initiative	50,000
Solihull Security Improvements	20,000
Congleton Road Shops	13,182
	666,182
Yorkshire and Humber
Barnsley Business Crime*	72,927
Security for Shops, Bradford	72,927
Small Retailer Security Programme, Calderdale	24,309
Doncaster Small Retailers Scheme Phase 2*	89,133
Hull Small Retailers Scheme	81,030
Reducing Retail Crime and Disorder in Kirklees	24,309
Leeds Deprived Areas Modernisation Scheme*	56,721
Frodingham Road Radio Scheme, North Lincolnshire	20,000
Scheme to Assist Small Retailers in Deprived Areas, North East Lincolnshire*	24,309
Safer Shops Rotherham	48,618
Eastfield High Street Crime Reduction, Scarborough*	20,054
Sheffield First for Safety Small Retailers RD 2, Sheffield	81,030
Wakefield Shopwatch Crime Prevention Initiative	40,515
	655,882

* Funding already agreed in 2003–04 as a 2-year project.

8 Sept 2003 : Column WA24

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