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Written Answers
Wednesday, 3 March 2004.
Belfast Agreement
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their view of the opinion of the Eire Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Brian Cowan, expressed on 3 February, that the Belfast agreement is "part of the Irish Constitution"; and whether any change to the Belfast agreement would require amendment of the Irish Constitution.[HL1195]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): The Belfast agreement is a political agreement between the British Government, the Irish Government and those Northern Irish political parties represented at the talks concluded on 10 April 1998. The nature of the relationship between the Belfast agreement and the constitution of the Irish Republic is a matter for the Irish Government.
Chad: Sudanese Refugees
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What requests they have received from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for additional resources to care for refugees from Darfur, Sudan, now on the territory of Chad; and in particular for resources to upgrade the airport and associated facilities at Abeche, in eastern Chad, to accommodate the volume of traffic needed by humanitarian agencies.[HL1439]
Baroness Amos: DfID is one of the largest donors to UNHCR operations in Chad for Sudanese refugees, having provided £1 million in October 2003 in response to the initial 16 million dollar (approximately £9 million) appeal. We are aware that the UNHCR is airlifting relief supplies to Abeche in eastern Chad for its operations there. We are not aware of any specific request from UNHCR for resources to upgrade the airport although there is no reason why funds given to UNHCR should not be used for this purpose. Last week a DfID humanitarian adviser visited Chad and held discussions with relief agencies including the UNHCR team working in Abeche. We remain ready to provide further assistance if necessary.
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will reallocate some development aid funds from Sudan to Chad.[HL1525]
Baroness Amos: As a result of the conflict in Darfur in western Sudan, refugees have been crossing the border into eastern Chad. It is estimated that there are now 110,000 Sudanese refugees in Chad and that over 650,000 people have been displaced within the Darfur region.
In response to this crisis, we have contributed over £6 million in humanitarian assistance to United Nations (UN) agencies and international non-governmental organisations. This includes £1 million for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' work in Chad. We are considering further contributions for organisations working on both sides of the Chad/Sudan border.
Uganda
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What talks they have held with the Acholi community and the Ugandan President following recent atrocities in northern Uganda, and with what results; and whether they have provided development assistance for monitoring and conflict resolution.[HL1534]
Baroness Amos: Resolution of the conflict in northern Uganda is a priority for the UK and this is an issue in which the Prime Minister is taking a close interest. The conflict was discussed in detail during the meeting between the Prime Minister and President Museveni, when the president visited London at the end of January.
The DfID office and British High Commission (BHC) in Uganda are in regular contact with representatives of the Acholi community, including religious, traditional and political leaders to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Immediately following the massacre in Lango region on 21 February, DfID was in contact with the leaders of the Acholi community and provided support for discussions between them and community leaders in other parts of northern Uganda focused on easing tribal tensions. It has not yet been possible for BHC and DfID to meet with President Museveni following the recent atrocities.
The UK recognise that although there has to be a security response against the brutalities of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), a sustainable peace is not possible through military means alone. For this reason, the UK together with the international community are supporting alternative conflict resolution strategies to the use of force. We are, for example, encouraging President Museveni to strengthen his Presidential Peace Team. We are also supporting amnesty activities and the Amnesty Commission, which encourages LRA combatants to
give up their arms. We are exploring a number of avenues for improving local dialogue about peace, including through local FM radio. Between 2001 and 2003 DfID spent £0.9 million in support of conflict reduction and peace programmes. We anticipate spending a further £1.6 million between now and March 2005.Numeracy
Baroness Seccombe asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the answer by the Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 23 February (HL Deb, col. 4), whether they will publish a table showing for each of the age groups 18–25, 26–35, 36–45, 46–55, 56–65,
- 66–75 and over 75 the number of adults who have numeracy skills below level 1, and the percentage that number represents for each of those age cohorts.[HL1471]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): The Skills for Life survey, which was published by the department last October, includes a full breakdown of numeracy level for different age groups in the working population. Table A below is an edited table, showing the number and percentage of those in each age group below level 1, equivalent to a lower grade GCSE, in numeracy. These figures are based on the 2001 census figures of 31.9 million adults aged 16–65. Figures for those aged over 65 are not currently available, as this kind of research focuses on the working population.
| Total | 16–19 | 20–24 | 25–34 | 35–44 | 45–54 | 55–65 | |
| (n=8040) | (n=461) | (n=631) | (n=1764) | (n=2092) | (n=1551) | (n=1538) | |
| % below Level 1 | 47 | 50 | 49 | 43 | 44 | 46 | 53 |
| Number below Level 1 (millions) | 15.0 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
The full table, which was published on page 179 of the survey, is reproduced below for information.
[queries]
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): At 1 January 2004, the overall shortfall of trained pilots in the Royal Navy was 25 1 (3.8 per cent). Pilots in the Army were near full manning with a shortfall of 10 1 (1.5 per cent), while in the Royal Air Force, the shortfall of junior officer pilots was 75 1 (4.8 per cent) of the requirement.
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Bach: The number of service personnel who were discharged from the Armed Forces over the last five calendar years for failing a compulsory drugs test is as follows:
(1) One sailor who tested positive in 2003 is awaiting a decision on discharge.
(2) Five RAF personnel who tested positive in 2003 are awaiting a decision on discharge.
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have asked its chief executive, Mr Nick Matheson to write to the noble Lord. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Letter from the chief executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency, Nick Matheson, to Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay, dated 3 March 2004.
Lord Bassam of Brighton has asked me in my capacity as the chief executive responsible for the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the average annual cost of providing ministerial transport for Cabinet and non-Cabinet ministers.
Overall, the average annual cost of ministerial transport, provided by GCDA, for all ministers is £59,901. For Cabinet ministers the average is £65,268 and for ministers outside the Cabinet the figure is £54,570. These figures are based upon the current contracted costs for 2003–04.
Total 16–19 20–24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–65
(n=8040) (n=461) (n=631) (n=1764) (n=2092) (n=1551) (n=1538)
% % % % % % %
Entry level 1 or below 5 6 4 4 5 6 8
Entry level 2 16 15 14 14 15 16 19
Entry level 3 25 29 30 24 24 24 26
All below Level 1 47 50 49 43 44 46 53
Level 1 28 27 27 28 29 27 27
Level 2 or above 25 23 24 29 27 26 20
What is the current shortfall in pilots in the Army, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.[HL1396]
1 Note that these figures are rounded to the nearest five.
3 Mar 2004 : Column WA104
How many servicemen or women were required to leave the armed services for failing compulsory drug tests over the past five years.[HL1442]
Year The Naval Service The Army The RAF
2003 (1)48 406 (2)19
2002 38 350 11
2001 47 540 15
2000 46 480 8
1999 30 255 7
What was the average cost of providing a car and driver to enable government Ministers to carry out official duties; and, if separate figures are available, what was the average cost for (a) a Cabinet Minister and (b) a Minister outside the Cabinet, for the latest year for which figures are available.[HL1319]
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