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Police: National Intelligence System
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress they have made with the preparation of a full business case for the national police intelligence system; and whether they still intend to publish it before the end of March 2006. [HL3645]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Good progress is being made and the Home Office group investment board will consider the business case by the end of March. Business cases are not, however, published until contracts have been finalised and signed as earlier disclosure could prejudice the successful outcome of any proposed procurements.
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Questions for Written Answer: Home Office
Lord Jopling asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the Home Office has not answered 21 of the 48 Questions for Written Answer which have been tabled between four and 11 weeks ago, when the target time for answers is two weeks; and whether, if invited, the Secretary of State for the Home Department would be prepared to appear before a committee of the House of Lords to explain these delays. [HL3542]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): I and other Ministers give serious attention and make every effort to answer Questions substantively and in accordance with the performance guidelines set. To emphasise this, my department has now actively reviewed the way that Members' Questions for Written Answer are handled with a view to improving our performance. I fully support these new working arrangements which should ensure that Questions are replied to within the given timescales wherever possible.
Railways: Sailsbury-Exeter
Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to make one of the conditions for companies bidding for the new South West rail franchises that the chosen undertaking makes the railway between Salisbury and Exeter double rather than single track, as at present. [HL3497]
Lord Davies of Oldham: No. The upgrade to the Salisbury-Exeter track constitutes a significant infrastructure investment which would need to be subject to business case and value for money assessments.
It is expected that bidders will be asked to submit a priced option for the operation of an enhanced service (hourly Waterloo-Exeter and hourly Axminster-Exeter) as part of the invitation to tender. Bidders would need to assume that the capital costs would be funded by a third party.
Roads: Funding
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 18 January (WA 122), how much funding each local transport authority has received, broken down per mile of road, within its area since 1997. [HL3566]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Table 1, which follows, shows the funding allocated to local authorities in the local transport capital settlements between 1998–99 and 2005–06 (inclusive) per mile of road.
The funding per mile of road varies between local authority areas for a number of reasons including because demands on funding (such as those related to
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public transport, congestion, road safety and capital road and bridge maintenance) vary between different types of area and road. Some figures are affected significantly by one-off major projects. The quality of local transport plans and their delivery also affects some capital funding allocations.
Notes:
Figures are the total local transport capital allocations (in £000s) made for 1998–99 to 2005–06 inclusive divided by road miles. 1997–98 is not included as some councils' boundaries were changed, and councils were abolished or created between 1997–98 and 1998–99.
London authorities and the Isles of Scilly council are not included as they are not in the local transport plan system. The Greater London Authority makes transport capital allocations to London boroughs.
Figures for metropolitan areas are county wide and relate to the sum of allocations made to district councils and passenger transport authorities.
Figures for a few other councils are combined as they produce joint transport plans.
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Stansted Airport
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assistance, financial, technical or otherwise, the Department for Transport has provided to BAA over its plans for the expansion of Stansted airport, including its proposals for a second runway, published on 9 December 2005. [HL3563]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The British Airports Authority (BAA) has brought forward proposals for the expansion of Stansted in line with the Government's support for a second runway at Stansted, as set out in the air transport White Paper. The Government are working with BAA to assess the impacts on road and rail networks associated with a second runway at Stansted airport. However, the plans for development of the airport itself, and the consultation on airport layout proposals for a second runway, is a matter for BAA as airport operator.
Sudan
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have made to the Sudanese Government about the arrest of Sudanese and foreign human rights activists, and threats made to the editor of the Citizen newspaper, in connection with the African Union summit in Khartoum. [HL3620]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): On 22 January 2006 the 35 participants in an open civil society forum on working with the African Union in Khartoum, organised by the Sudanese Organisation Against Torture, were detained for more than three hours at the conference venue by the Sudanese authorities. All were released unharmed. Our Ambassador in Khartoum raised this with the Government of Sudan and attended the scene during the detention. Other embassy staff were on hand to speak to the participants and provide consular assistance which, thankfully, was not needed. The editor of the Citizen newspaper was also subjected to threats after his newspaper vocally opposed Sudan taking chairmanship of the African Union.
Such harassment of civil society is unacceptable: the Government of Sudan must strictly uphold the freedoms of expression and association that are guaranteed under the constitution of Sudan. We are pressing the EU presidency to lead a formal high-level protest to the Government of Sudan in the coming days, and will continue to raise this matter with the Government of Sudan.
The UK strongly supports the development of civil society in Sudan. We are supporting a capacity building programme for civil society organisations and the media in Sudan including providing more than £200,000 over three years to support the work of the Sudanese Organisation Against Torture. We are also contributing to the multi-donor trust fund which is developing a civil society programme to support a civil society voice and advocacy.
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