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11 Feb 2009 : Column WA185
Written Answers
Wednesday 11 February 2009
Afghanistan
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received representations from the government of Afghanistan or from Afghan non-governmental organisations about those people detained without trial at Bagram Air Base and other detention centres, including those at Khost, Kandahar and Jalalabad; whether the International Committee of the Red Cross is allowed full access to all detainees; and, if not, what action they will take. [HL1077]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The UK has not received representations from either the Afghan Government or from Afghan non-governmental organisations regarding detention facilities at Bagram airbase, Khost, Kandahar or Jalalabad. Access by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to detainees held by US authorities is a matter for the ICRC and the US.
Whenever UK forces detain an individual in Afghanistan, the ICRC is informed and has full access to these persons when in UK custody. The UK has an agreement with the Afghan Government that any person detained by UK forces and transferred to Afghan custody will be accessible to the ICRC and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission.
Aluminium
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether aluminium plants at (a) Wylfa and (b) Lynemouth will be closed as a consequence of European Union state aid rules and the large combustion plants directive; and what steps they will take to avert these closures and save the 1,100 jobs that could be lost. [HL911]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform & Cabinet Office (Baroness Vadera): Lynemouth—the large combustion plants directive requires operators of large combustion plants to reduce their emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and dust. The directive exempts those plants which make direct use of the products of combustion in manufacturing processes.
Aluminium smelting is an electrochemical process which requires large and uninterrupted quantities of electricity. For that reason, Alcan's Lynemouth smelter has its own dedicated, coal-burning combustion plant. The European Commission takes the view that this plant should be subject to the directive. The Government, and the owners of the plant, Rio Tinto Alcan, take a different view, arguing that it falls within the directive's
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Anglesey Aluminium—the Anglesey aluminium plant takes its electricity from the Wylfa nuclear power station and is therefore not directly affected by the large combustion plant directive.
Arms Trade
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to prevent British arms-brokers operating overseas from trading weapons and ammunition without effective control and supervision; and, if so, when. [HL1075]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Davies of Abersoch): Since their introduction in 2004, the UK's trade controls have covered trading by UK persons overseas in torture equipment and long-range missiles and in any military list goods for supply to an embargoed destination. The Trade in Goods (Categories of Controlled Goods) Order 2008, which came into force on 1 October 2008, extended these extraterritorial controls to small arms, MANPADs and cluster munitions. The trading activities of UK persons anywhere in the world are therefore now controlled for these goods and, where relevant, their ammunition.
The Export Control Order 2008, which comes into force on 6 April 2009, will further extend the extraterritorial trade controls to cover light weapons and will introduce controls on the transport of these and other similar goods of heightened concern and their ammunition between overseas countries.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will legislate to control arms transfers by British companies' subsidiaries which are located overseas. [HL1076]
Lord Davies of Abersoch: The Government gave careful consideration to the scope for introducing specific controls on the activities of overseas subsidiaries of British companies during the 2007 review of export controls. As noted in their responses to the review consultation, the Government concluded that to do so would not be legally viable and that such controls would be impossible to enforce. Furthermore, effective controls already apply to the export and trade from the UK of controlled goods and technology that an overseas subsidiary is likely to require. The Government are also pursuing, via the EU, further powers which, while not specific to overseas subsidiaries, would enhance our ability to control the export of goods that do not normally require a licence when they leave the UK but might be routed via overseas subsidiaries for use by the military in destinations of concern.
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British Citizenship
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many persons were granted full United Kingdom citizenship during 2008, broken down by country of origin. [HL1053]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The latest available data indicate that 90,555 persons were granted British citizenship in the period January to September 2008. This figure is provisional and rounded to the nearest five.
Summary statistics of persons granted British citizenship for October to December 2008 will be published on 24 February 2009.
Statistics on persons granted British citizenship by previous nationality are published in Home Office National Statistics statistical bulletins. Data for 2008 are scheduled for publication in May 2009. This annual publication will include details of previous nationality for persons granted British citizenship during 2008, after the necessary data quality assurance processes have been completed. Data for 2007 can be found in table 4 of Persons Granted British Citizenship United Kingdom, 2007. This publication may be obtained from the Library of the House and from the Home Office research, development and statistics website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
Broadcasting: Audio Description
Questions
Asked by Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase targets for audio description television services. [HL1069]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what evidence would be required to raise audio description targets to at least 20 per cent of television broadcasts. [HL1070]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting (Lord Carter of Barnes): The Communications Act 2003 sets minimum targets for audio description of programmes by broadcasters. However, it is the responsibility of Ofcom to ensure that these requirements are met.
Ofcom intends to investigate awareness, take-up and usage of audio description and will conduct an analysis of the social and financial implications of any possible increase in audio description quotas as part of its 2009 access services review, before considering recommending any increase in the audio description targets to the Government.
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BT: Debt Collection
Question
Asked by Lord Corbett of Castle Vale
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will instigate an investigation into the use by BT plc of different debt collection agencies to collect the same debt from the same customers or their relations for the non-payment of invoices due to complaints of poor quality of service. [HL1149]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting (Lord Carter of Barnes): The Office of Fair Trading has issued guidelines setting out the type of behaviour it considers to fall within the category of unfair business practices which will call into question fitness to be given or retain a consumer credit licence. Among the unfair practices identified in the guidelines are “using more than one debt collection business at the same time resulting in repetitive and/or frequent contact by different parties” and “not informing the debtor when their case has been passed on to a different debt collector”. All businesses engaged in debt collection are required to hold a consumer credit licence—as does BT itself. The Office of Fair Trading would consider any evidence it receives of consumer credit licence holders failing to adhere to its guidance and would take proportionate action if appropriate to do so.
Crime: Domestic Violence
Question
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the provision of support services for victims of domestic violence in small towns and rural areas. [HL544]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): We have not made an assessment of the provision of support services for victims of domestic violence in small towns and rural areas. The provision of local services must be determined locally, by local authorities, based on local need and priorities.
Cyprus: Property
Questions
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answers by Lord Malloch-Brown on 12 January (WA 93), how they will monitor the measures to be introduced by the government of Cyprus to address the practice of property developers using title deeds of completed houses as collateral for future loans, in order that the interests of United Kingdom citizens with property in Cyprus are protected. [HL951]
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Lord Davies of Oldham: We await the measures by which the Cypriot Government will address the issue of property developers retaining the deeds of properties which have been purchased outright. Our high commission will maintain contact with the Cypriot authorities and action groups formed by British citizens, such as the Cypriot Property Action Group, and will make representations to the Cypriot authorities as appropriate in the interests of British citizens.
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answers by Lord Malloch-Brown on 12 January (WA 93), whether they will discuss with and provide assistance to the Government of Cyprus to ensure legislation is introduced to protect the interests of British citizens who have bought property in Cyprus and who are unable to obtain the title deeds to the properties they have purchased because property developers who hold the deeds have mortgaged the land on which their properties are built. [HL952]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government, through their officials in their high commission in Cyprus, will continue to raise the issue of retained title deeds with the Cypriot authorities. However, it is not for the Government to intervene in the Cypriot legislative process.
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answers by Lord Malloch-Brown on 12 January (WA 93), whether they will have further discussions with the Government of Cyprus to ensure British citizens who have bought property in Cyprus receive their title deeds immediately after purchase has been completed. [HL953]
Lord Davies of Oldham: We will continue to raise the issue of retained property deeds in our high commission's contacts with the Cypriot authorities.
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Malloch-Brown on 12 January (WA 93), whether, in their discussions with the Government of Cyprus, they will seek to ensure that United Kingdom citizens who have already completed their purchase of property in Cyprus receive their title deeds at the earliest opportunity. [HL962]
Lord Davies of Oldham: While the Government cannot get involved in individual cases they will continue to raise the issue of retained title deeds, through regular contact between their high commission in Nicosia and officials of the Cypriot Government.
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Democratic Republic of Congo: Rape
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are returning to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) women asylum applicants who say they have suffered rape or other sexual violence, particularly in the north-east of the DRC. [HL1023]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): All asylum and human rights claims, including those from nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), are considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. The independent courts have recently confirmed that there is no general risk to Congolese and that we should continue to examine claims on a case-by-case basis.
Fluoridation
Question
Asked by Earl Baldwin of Bewdley
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the South Central Strategic Health Authority, in conducting a public consultation on the desirability of a water fluoridation scheme under the Water Act 2003, should have followed the provision of Criterion 2.3 of the Cabinet Office guidelines on consultation that "as far as possible, consultation should be completely open, with no options ruled out", given that other approaches to improving dental health are available. [HL1282]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): In the document Public Consultation on the Proposal for Water Fluoridation in Southampton and Parts of South West Hampshire, South Central SHA indicates that Southampton PCT was prompted to request a consultation after alternative options such as “education on tooth brushing and using a fluoride toothpaste and the importance of having a healthy diet” had not proved successful. I consider this meets with the Cabinet Office guidelines.
Forced Labour
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ask the World Trade Organisation to establish a study group on the protection of workers, with particular reference to slavery, forced labour and the exploitation of children. [HL184]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform & Cabinet Office (Baroness Vadera): The International Labour Organisation, rather than the World Trade Organisation,
11 Feb 2009 : Column WA191
Gaza
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will seek an early meeting of the Middle East quartet to discuss possible war crimes committed against civilians in the recent military action in Gaza; and, if so, what follow up action will be needed. [HL562]
Lord Davies of Oldham: As my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary told the House of Commons on 19 January 2009 (Official Report, col. 501),
- “those allegations must be closely and speedily investigated. Obviously, the three key parties to that investigation are the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Government of Israel, and we are in touch with all of them”.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Israel concerning reparations for its action in Gaza. [HL912]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The UK would welcome an Israeli contribution to the wider reconstruction effort. The most essential Israeli contribution that we continue to press for is the immediate free and unhindered passage of humanitarian aid, reconstruction materials, and staff of UN agencies and international non-governmental organisations through the Gaza crossings.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they and the Middle East quartet are working (a) to create a permanent and effectively monitored cease-fire in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank; and (b) to achieve the opening of all crossings into and out of Gaza. [HL1122]
Lord Davies of Oldham: We, and the quartet members, are strongly supporting—both politically and practically—efforts to make the ceasefire sustainable by tackling smuggling and reopening the crossings. We are also backing ongoing Egyptian efforts to embed the ceasefire and address division in Palestinian politics.
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