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25 Jun 2007 : Column WA77



25 Jun 2007 : Column WA77

Written Answers

Monday 25 June 2007

Agriculture: Seasonal Workers

Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The SAWS quota for 2007, which was announced on 24 October 2006, is 16,250. The Government have no plans to increase this quota. However, this is not the only source for agricultural workers. Migrants from a number of other routes, such as working holidaymakers and dependants of workers, are free to work in the UK. For example, 284,000 students, who are able to work for 20 hours a week in term-time and full time in holidays, came to the UK in 2005. The horticultural industry is also able to recruit workers from all over Europe, including Poland and the other seven states that acceded to the EU in 2004. From July 2004 to March 2007, 23,970 workers who registered with the worker registration scheme, required of workers from the 2004 accession states, registered as being employed in farm worker/farm hand occupations; over that same period, 62,900 workers in all registered to work in agriculture.

Agriculture: Year of Food and Farming

Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs provides the core funding for the Year of Food and Farming. Although the Department of Health has not made a direct financial contribution, it has supported the year by, for example, ensuring strong links with the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills Healthy Schools programme, for which £13 million has been allocated this year.

Autism

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The department has not issued any directive relating to routine testing to detect overgrowth of candida albicans in children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders.

One of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body which receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Innovation, part of the Department of Trade and Industry.

In 2005-06 the MRC spent over £1.1 million on research on autism and autistic spectrum disorders. None of the currently funded research relates directly to possible links between overgrowth of candida albicans and autism.

Autism research remains a priority for both the department and the MRC. However, despite holding a workshop on the gut and autism as part of a joint department/MRC initiative to stimulate activity, to date no applications for competitive study in this area have been received.

Although the MRC is not currently funding any research directly relating to the use of antibiotics in gut flora and fauna, it has received applications relating to host-pathogen interactions, development of antibiotic resistance and development of bacterial virulence.

Bangladesh: UN Special Rapporteur

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:



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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): Mrs Huda is currently on bail, having been charged with corruption. The caretaker Government's decision not to allow her to leave Bangladesh is connected to this case. We believe that the Bangladesh Supreme Court has upheld the decision. We understand that, although there is no connection to Mrs Huda's role as a UN special rapporteur, senior UN officials are discussing the issue with the Bangladesh authorities in the context of the UN Convention on Privileges and Immunities. In these circumstances, we do not think it appropriate to make specific representations to the Bangladesh Government.

Through our missions in Dhaka, we and EU partners have consistently urged the Bangladesh Government, the Armed Forces and the law enforcement agencies to act impartially, with respect for human rights, freedoms and the rule of law.

Barometers: EU Regulations

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): We are aware of three companies in the UK that manufacture new mercury barometers for sale to the public. Under the proposed directive, the sale of new mercury devices for scientific and industrial use will not be affected and there will still be a market for restoration and repair of all mercury instruments. We are aware of at least one UK company that provides parts, tools and supplies to barometer repairers. A two-year derogation will allow industry time to make changes.

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord Rooker: The Government initiated dialogue with UK barometer makers before and after the European Commission adopted its proposal for restrictions on the marketing of certain measuring devices containing mercury on 23 February 2006.

I also discussed the EC’s proposals with the noble Lords, Lord Glenarthur and Lord Boston, and industry experts at a meeting on 19 June.



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BBC: Middle East Coverage

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord Davies of Oldham: No. The BBC’s charter and agreement place a clear responsibility on the BBC trust to ensure due accuracy and impartiality in the corporation’s reporting.

Belfast Agreement

Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord Rooker: The Government remain committed to full implementation of the Belfast agreement and the St Andrews agreement. The Secretary of State meets the First Minister and Deputy First Minister regularly to discuss Northern Ireland matters. He also regularly meets the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs in the context of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and bilaterally.

Section 11 of the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 provided for the establishment of a committee to examine matters relating to the functioning of the Assembly and Executive Committee. This committee is required to make a report to the Secretary of State, Assembly and Executive Committee on the operation of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly by May 2015.

Border and Immigration Agency

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Border and Immigration Agency management information indicates that approximately 5,400 staff conduct interviews with people who are subject to immigration control, including screening and public caller interviews. Information about the gender of those based within Border Control, around 3,200 staff, is not collated. Of the remaining interviewers, just under 50 per cent are male and just over 50 per cent are female.

The number of freelance interpreters registered on the Border and Immigration Agency’s central database on 25 May 2007 was 2,063, of whom 46 per cent are male and 54 per cent female.



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British Citizenship

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): I will write to the noble Lord shortly explaining the details in this case.

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: It is recognised that there is potential to improve the timeliness and efficiency of the existing process for submitting applications for British citizenship to the Home Office via the British consulate-general in Hong Kong. The nationality team of the Border and Immigration Agency considers it a high priority and is working in partnership with colleagues in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to improve the process.

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: There are no plans to set up a dedicated unit in Hong Kong. We are confident that efficiency and consistency will be achieved by processing these applications within the Border and Immigration Agency nationality team.

Children: Physical Punishment

Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Lord Adonis): The relevant change in legislation introduced by Section 58 of the Children Act 2004 was debated thoroughly in both Houses.



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The Director of Public Prosecutions has issued strengthened guidance to Crown prosecutors on cases of assault. The guidance now includes the concept of disparity between the parties as an aggravating factor. This means that, where an adult assaults a child, this will often be prosecuted as assault occasioning actual bodily harm, even though the same act against an adult would have been prosecuted as common assault. The “reasonable chastisement” defence is not available for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The Government have now announced a review to seek the views of parents on physical punishment and evidence from those working with children and families on the practical consequences of the changes in the law brought about by Section 58 of the Children Act 2004. The review is due to report in the autumn.

Crime: Domestic Violence

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Data on domestic violence incidents where it is alleged that the crimes were sanctioned by religious authorities is not collected centrally.

However, the joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Home Office Forced Marriage Unit receives around 5,000 enquiries and handles approximately 300 cases of forced marriage a year. The unit also assists reluctant sponsors (those forced into marriage and subsequently forced to sponsor a visa application) and has dealt with more than 100 such cases since May 2006. The Forced Marriage Unit assists British and, where possible, dual nationals but does not handle cases involving foreign nationals.

Freely given consent is a prerequisite of all Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh marriages, and forced marriages are not sanctioned by any major world religion. The Forced Marriage Unit does not hold records relating to the religious affiliation of its cases. The unit is, however, committed to encouraging leaders of faith communities to speak out against forced marriage, and it runs a substantial programme of outreach and awareness-raising work with a wide range of faith communities across the UK.

Crime: Intercept Evidence

Lord Campbell of Alloway asked Her Majesty's Government:



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The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The Government have announced a review of intercept as evidence on privy counsellor terms. The review will consider all relevant material.

Crime: Public Officials

Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Records held within Home Office headquarters, the Border and Immigration Agency, the Identity and Passport Service and the Criminal Records Bureau show that 15 members of staff have been convicted in the past five years for offences relating to their public duties.

These were cases of serious or gross misconduct that had led to the breakdown of trust between the department and the employee; they included deception, facilitation and fraud.


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