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23 Jan 2008 : Column WA47
- Source: HM Revenue and Customs as published in Table G.5 of the internet version of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2007 (www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/dukes/page39771.html)
HM Revenue and Customs' Regional Trade Statistics show that imports of coal, coke and briquettes into the Yorkshire and the Humber region over the same period were as follows:
| Year | Thousand tonnes |
EU: Structural and Cohesion Funds
Baroness Cohen of Pimlico asked Her Majesty's Government:
What administration costs were incurred by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in relation to the European structural and cohesion funds for the last financial year for which figures are available. [HL1383]
Lord Bach: The European regulations set out the arrangements for the administration of the structural funds in each member state. The Cohesion Fund does not operate in the UK.
The designated managing authorities in England are as follows:
Communities and Local Government, for the European Regional Development Fund
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), for the European Social Fund.
Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for the 2000-06 European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund.
In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the responsibility for managing the Structural Funds rests with the Devolved Administrations.
The Marine and Fisheries Agency of Defra are responsible for the 2000-06 Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance throughout the United Kingdom.
BERR has responsibility for co-ordinating the monitoring and reporting of the implementation of the structural funds programmes across the UK, and takes the policy lead for the United Kingdom on the structural and cohesion funds.
23 Jan 2008 : Column WA48
Foreign Office: Personnel
Lord Blaker asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) resource accounts for 2006-07 give the total number of full-time equivalent staff employed by the FCO in the UK and overseas as 17,107. This total includes locally-recruited staff employed by our posts overseas.
Government: Accountability to Parliament
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
In light of the Prime Minister's stated intention to make the Government more accountable to Parliament, whether he will now revert to the practice of responding to all correspondence from Members of both Houses addressed to him with a letter signed by him. [HL1056]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): Given the volume of correspondence received, it is not possible for the Prime Minister to reply to all correspondence from Members of both Houses. As has been the practice under successive Administrations, the responsible Minister may be asked to reply on his behalf.
Great Yarmouth
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Jones of Birmingham on 12 December 2007 (WA 64), in respect of the proposed new port at Great Yarmouth (a) what is the total estimated capital cost of the project; (b) what were the reasons that caused the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), having first required revenue commitments from a ferry operator, subsequently to withdraw this condition; and (c) what are the expected sources and amounts of revenue for the project that caused EEDA to decide that revenue from a ferry operator was not required to service £17.9 million of public investment, in addition to the private investment. [HL1114]
Lord Bach: The total estimated capital cost of the project for the construction of the outer harbour at Great Yarmouth as envisaged in the project appraisal carried out by EEDA in 2004, which includes the part-publicly funded maritime access works, is £54 million, as set out in my reply of 12 December. This does not take account of any further private development of the port by the private developer.
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The requirement for revenue commitments from a ferry operator at the outset of the project was imposed as a means of helping ensure viability of the project. This requirement was withdrawn by the RDA following responses to the procurement exercise for the outer harbour project. The requirement was waived on the basis that it was not judged commercially realistic in today's market to expect that a ferry company would commit to revenue guarantees at such an early stage, before construction of the outer harbour had begun. At the same time, the RDA judged that the proposal submitted in response to the procurement exercise by the developer who was eventually selected presented a sound and viable development without revenue commitments at the outset from a ferry operator.
The successful developer's proposal was based on enabling larger vessels for existing trades to call at Great Yarmouth and attracting a range of new trades, with port facilities and the commercial focus evolving over time in response to market trends. In addition to attracting ferry services, the proposal identified the following potential sources of revenue; expanding support for the oil and gas sector; expanding the scope and scale for importing aggregates; extending the support for existing trades such as forest products, fertilisers and agri-bulk; providing port and support facilities for the wind farm; catering for oil and gas de/recommissioning demand ; attracting containerised short sea and feeder trades; attracting car imports; attracting new technology projects. Release of information on the amounts of revenue expected would prejudice the commercial interests of the port developer.
Homelessness
Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of the number of rough sleepers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland during each of the past five years. [HL1278]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): A national estimate of the number of rough sleepers in England is published every September. The estimate is based on the results of local authority street counts in those areas where a known, or suspected, rough sleeping problem has been identified. The table below sets out the national rough sleeping estimate over each of the past five years.
The department does not hold statistics for the devolved administrations.
| Date | National rough sleeping estimate |
23 Jan 2008 : Column WA50
Housing: Thames Gateway
Lord Beaumont of Whitley asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much funding English Partnerships will provide to the London Thames Gateway development. [HL856]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): Expenditure by English Partnerships for the London Thames Gateway is, on present forecast, expected to be £65.328 million in the years 2008-09 to 2010-11.
Kenya: Elections
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they will make to the Government of Kenya with a view to achieving an independently audited recount of the disputed results of the presidential election held in Kenya on 27 December, or a re-election in the near future. [HL1416]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): We do not exclude any option that will return Kenya to the path of peace, stability and prosperity. With our international partners, we fully support the African Union's efforts, led by Kofi Annan, to agree a way forward between the parties. We also call for all allegations of election irregularities to be followed up through the appropriate democratic and legal channels. We call on all Kenya's political leaders to engage constructively to find a way forward.
Licensing: Alcohol Consumption
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answers by Lord Davies of Oldham on 4 December 2007 (WA 178) and by Lord West of Spithead on 26 November 2007 (WA 95) indicating that the majority of under-age drinking in Northern Ireland did not arise from purchases in licensed premises, whether they will reconsider the case for introducing in Northern Ireland the use of under-18-year-olds within test purchasing operations authorised by the police. [HL1335]
Lord Rooker: This is one of the measures contained within the proposed Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 which is currently out for consultation.
23 Jan 2008 : Column WA51
Malawi
Lord Williamson of Horton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of the World Food Programme's press release of 19 December 2007 indicating that it would be unable to help many vulnerable people in Malawi between January and June 2008 owing to lack of funds, they will make an emergency contribution to the programme in Malawi, particularly in January to March. [HL1232]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for International Development (Baroness Vadera): The World Food Programme (WFP) has appealed for support for its current three-year protracted relief and recovery operation (PRRO) which includes development programmes and life-saving support for victims of any floods during the forthcoming rainy season (January to March). We have told the Government of Malawi that we stand ready to respond to any immediate humanitarian need and will provide these funds through WFP's PRRO if required.
Northern Ireland: Speech by Peter Hain
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answers by Lord Rooker on 9 July 2007 (WA 202), 23 July 2007 (WA 74) and 1 October 2007 (WA 254), whether the publication and distribution of the Peter Hain speech “Peacemaking in Northern Ireland: A Model for Conflict Resolution” at the expense of the Northern Ireland Office was associated with the Labour Party's deputy leadership contest. [HL1334]
Lord Rooker: The speech, which was delivered on 12 June 2007, was given to mark the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland on 8 May 2007. It was explained in the text that, following the Belfast agreement, Northern Ireland had been an inspiration to other parts of the world and that it was timely to set out some of the factors guiding British Government policy in Northern Ireland and some of the lessons that had been learnt.
Pollution: Kitchen Cleaning Products
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will discuss with the manufacturers of kitchen cleansing products the need to replace chemical with vegetable-based ingredients to reduce health dangers and pollution. [HL1356]
Lord Bach: We have no plans currently to do so.
The safety of household products containing chemicals is governed by the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002, which is
23 Jan 2008 : Column WA52
Regulators: Criminal Prosecutions
Lord Lyell of Markyate asked Her Majesty's Government:
In respect of the Housing Corporation, how many criminal prosecutions were brought by that regulator for each of the last three years for which figures are available; and, of those cases, how many gave rise to a conviction. [HL1391]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): The Housing Corporation has limited powers under the Housing Act 1996 to prosecute. No criminal prosecutions have been brought by the corporation over the past three years. Criminal prosecutions are generally a matter for the police.
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