To ask the Solicitor-General how many appeals on the grounds of undue leniency were made in each of the last five years. (200203)

The Attorney-General's Office publishes annual statistics on unduly lenient sentence references on its website:

www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk

The following table shows the number of offenders whose sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient, the number of offenders whose references were subsequently withdrawn and the number of offenders who were therefore brought before the Court of Appeal in each of the last five years for which full statistics have been published.

To ask the Solicitor-General how many appeals on the grounds of undue leniency against the minimum tariff applied in cases of indeterminate sentences for public protection were made in each of the last three years. (200205)

The Attorney-General's Office publishes annual statistics on unduly lenient sentence references on its website:

www.attomeygeneral.gsi.gov.uk

The following table shows the number of offenders whose sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal on the basis that the minimum term attached to a sentence of imprisonment for public protection (under section 225 (3) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003) was unduly lenient in each of the years when the sentence was available to the court and for which full statistics have been published.

To ask the Solicitor-General whether the Attorney General has sought views from other Government Departments about providing consent for the Serious Fraud Office to pursue a prosecution relating to alleged corrupt activity in Bosnia by the UK-based company EFT. (200807)

I do not propose to comment on the details of a case currently under consideration.

To ask the Solicitor-General what the reasons are for the time taken by the Attorney General's Office to decide the application for consent for the Serious Fraud Office to pursue an overseas corruption prosecution related to an alleged corrupt activity in Bosnia by a UK-based company. (201993)

A decision whether to consent to a prosecution is not a rubber-stamping exercise. The time taken to process a case may depend on the nature and complexity of the issues, legal and otherwise, and any dialogue with the prosecuting authority that may be necessary. I do not propose to comment on an individual case that is currently under consideration.

To ask the Solicitor-General how many appeals on the grounds of undue leniency against sentences for rape were made in each of the last five years. (200206)

The Attorney-General's Office publishes annual statistics on unduly lenient sentence references on its website:

www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk

The following table shows the number of offenders whose sentences for offences including rape¹ were referred to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient in each of the last five years for which full statistics have been published.

¹ This includes attempted rape, conspiracy to rape and incitement to rape offences.

To ask the Solicitor-General (1) how many allegations of assault or professional misconduct brought against teachers by pupils were referred to the Crown Prosecution Service in each year since 1997; (202068)

The records maintained by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) do not identify defendants in criminal proceedings by their profession or by their professional relationship with victims. To obtain this information, by reference to individual case files, would incur disproportionate cost (Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, part 2, clause 9).

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much expenditure his Department has incurred in conducting (a) equality screening exercises and (b) equality impact assessments in each of the last three years. (200614)

The Northern Ireland Office has in each of the last three years only incurred normal staff costs in conducting (a) equality screening exercises and (b) equality impact assessments as no external resources were engaged to carry out these exercises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) equality screening exercises and (b) equality impact assessments his Department conducted in each of the last three years; and how many of each it proposes to conduct in 2008. (200621)

Details of (a) equality screening exercises and (b) equality impact assessments conducted by the Northern Ireland Office in each of the last three years are available in the Department’s Section 75 Annual Progress Reports which appear on the NIO website at:

http://www.nio.gov.uk/index/niopublication/niopubsearch esults.htm?category=Rights_and_Equality&keyword=Section+75&order=date&submitbutton.x=10&submitbutton. y=11

Information on the number of (a) equality screening exercises and (b) equality impact assessments the Department proposes to conduct in 2008-09 is being collated and will appear in the 2007-08 Annual Progress Report which will be published on the NIO website later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many public consultations have been held by his Department since March 2007; and how many respondents took part in each consultation carried out by his Department in the last three years. (198680)

In each of the last three years the Northern Ireland Office held the following number of public consultations:

The number of responses to these consultations varies greatly ranging from no responses in the consultation “Search Code of Practice issued under POCA 2002”, to several thousand responses in the consultation on "Review of Sexual Offences".

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2008, Official Report, column 2689W, on departmental translation services, how much his Department, associated agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on translation services into (a) Irish, (b) Welsh and (c) other languages in (i) 2003-04, (ii) 2004-05, (iii) 2005-06, (iv) 2006-07 and (v) 2007-08 to date. (197551)

The information requested is not held centrally and to provide this information would incur disproportionate costs. The Department, associated agencies and non-departmental bodies can provide the following information on translation services:

Spend on translation services into other languages mainly comprises ethnic minority languages.

As indicated in a previous question (187993) figures are not yet available for the period 2007-08 but we shall lay this information in the Library of the House as soon as it becomes available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people convicted of drink-driving related offences in Northern Ireland where a custodial sentence was not given were subsequently convicted of similar offences within 12 months of the original conviction in the last five years. (201507)

The table gives the number of convictions for drink/drug-driving related offences in Northern Ireland where a non-custodial sentence was given. Data in relation to the number of people who were subsequently convicted of similar offences within 12 months are not available. However, in 2004 (the latest year for which data are available) the two-year reconviction rate for all those sentenced to supervised community sentences was 33.7 per cent. compared with the predicted rate of 42.8 per cent. While we are not complacent, this is an encouraging sign and a clear indication that the measures and wide range of schemes put in place by the various criminal justice agencies to help reduce reconviction by offenders is having a positive impact.

Data in the following table cover the calendar years 2002 to 2006 (the latest available years) and are collated on the principal offence rule; so only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the percentage of 18 year olds in Northern Ireland on the electoral register. (201508)

The Secretary of State has not made an estimate of the percentage of 18-year-olds in Northern Ireland on the electoral register. This is a matter for the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland and the hon. Member may wish to contact the Chief Electoral Officer directly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many 999 calls turned out to be hoaxes in 2007; and how many such callers then involved a genuine 999 call in the same general vicinity. (201505)

The Chief Constable has provided the following answer:

“The total number of hoax calls using the reporting method of 999 to PSNI from 1 January to 31 December 2007 was 884. The information sought in the second half of the question is not recorded in the way requested but the total number of non hoax calls using the same method was 99,296.”

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria are used for the recruitment process to the Police Service of Northern Ireland of those who respond to advertisements in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) the Irish Republic and (c) Great Britain. (201353)

I am advised by PSNI that the criteria and assessment process for the recruitment of regular officers to the Police Service of Northern Ireland are exactly the same, regardless of origin of application.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the review into the escape from custody of the prisoner attending the Causeway hospital on Tuesday 15 April 2008 to be concluded. (201506)

Terms of reference for the review were issued by the Prison Service's Deputy Director, Head of Operations, on 16 April, and specified that the report should be completed within 14 working days, i.e. 6 May. The investigating officer started interviews on Monday 21 April and it is expected that the review will be completed on schedule.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics (1) how much and what proportion of the finance for the cost of the construction of the athletes’ village for the 2012 Olympic Games is planned to be raised on the debt markets; (201988)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 31 March 2008, Official Report, column 454W. The combined public sector budget for the IBC/MPC and the Olympic village remains at £492 million. However, the exact value of the overall public sector contribution will be finalised as sensitive commercial negotiations are closed out and, until then, we cannot disclose the further details requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department played a role in (a) Tartan Day and (b) other Scotland Week events in the United States in April 2008. (201833)

There was no Scotland Office involvement in events in the US in April.

To ask the Leader of the House what the reasons are for the time taken to set up regional select committees; and when she expects them to be appointed. (201016)

This matter is being considered by the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons and the Government await its report with interest. The Committee invited evidence from October last year and has subsequently held a number of oral evidence sessions. The Government will bring forward proposals in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his officials will next meet the European Commission to discuss the Energy-using Products Directive. (201012)

My officials held a teleconference with the European Commission on 24 April to discuss the draft implementing measure on boilers and water heaters under the Energy Using Products Directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration he has given to the safe disposal of compact fluorescent lamps. (201007)

Low-energy light bulbs should be disposed of responsibly and advice on their safe disposal has been made available on DEFRA’s public website.

From 1 July 2007, waste Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs—the most common type of energy efficient bulbs) have been subject to the requirements of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations. Those who sell items such as energy efficient bulbs must provide information to the public about where they can take waste bulbs and other WEEE. Some retailers will also take them back in store. However, most retailers have funded Designated Collection Facilities—the majority of these are at local authority civic amenity sites. From this point, producers of such equipment fund its transport, treatment and recycling.

CFLs contain a small amount of mercury (limited to 5mg by the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive) but it cannot escape from an intact bulb. Even if a bulb should break, the risks from such a small amount of mercury are minimal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to facilitate development of plastics recycling facilities. (202078)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 19 February 2008, Official Report, column 557W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much waste was recycled by each local authority in (a) Yorkshire and the Humber and (b) Lincolnshire in the latest period for which figures are available. (201969)

The tonnages of household waste recycled, reused or composted by each local authority in Yorkshire and the Humber and Lincolnshire in 2006-07 are listed in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what applications his Department has received from Gloucestershire county council in respect of private finance initiative projects for waste disposal. (201326)

DEFRA first received an application for private finance initiative (PFI) credits from Gloucestershire county council in 2003. Gloucestershire's proposed waste PFI project was approved by the Department and the Treasury's Project Review Group.

The procurement progressed to the Best and Final Offer stage. However, following a review of all major procurement schemes, the council decided to terminate the procurement and surrender the indicative allocation of PFI credits.

In May 2007 DEFRA received a new Expression of Interest (EoI) from Gloucestershire county council for PFI support. The project will be supporting the implementation of a long-term residual waste treatment solution.

On the basis of the EoI, DEFRA subsequently invited the authority to produce a detailed Outlined Business Case which represents the formal application for PFI credits. The deadline for this is 30 April 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he plans to take to achieve the 50 per cent. target for women on the boards of arts organisations; what funding his Department has allocated to such measures over the next 12 months; and when he expects the target to be met. (200293)

The Department is undertaking a range of measures to improve board diversity, and to work towards achieving the target of 50 per cent. representation of women on the boards of its NDPBs. These include widening departmental networks and contacts, encouraging NDPBs to produce diversity plans for appointments, and raising awareness about public appointments generally. It is not possible to predict when this target will be met, but we will continue to work energetically to achieve it. We plan to launch a targeted leaflet and publicity campaign this summer, specifically aimed at reaching and engaging people from under-represented groups, including women, members of ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities. The cost of this campaign is not yet confirmed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what consultation process his Department undertook to inform the process by which 50 per cent. was agreed as the target for women's participation in the boards of arts organisations. (200294)

The DCMS target for 50 per cent. representation of women applies to the boards of the NDPBs for which it is responsible, and to which DCMS Ministers make appointments. This target was agreed in consultation with the Cabinet Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether (a) arts and crafts and (b) museums and heritage initiatives will be prioritised under the Find Your Talent campaign. (201380)

When we announced the Government's plans for a Find Your Talent programme in February 2008, we published a prospectus setting out a core range of activities the pilots, as a minimum, should offer. This includes: learning a musical instrument; visiting and engaging with national and local exhibitions, galleries and museums; taking part in theatre and dance performances; making a piece of visual art or craft; and visiting heritage sites, significant contemporary buildings and public spaces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in which 10 areas the Find Your Talent programme will be piloted. (201379)

We are not yet in a position to announce which 10 areas will pilot the Find Your Talent programme.

The deadline for expressions of interest was 7 April. We are hoping to announce the pilot areas by the end of May, following a final decision from Ministers. This will be based on advice from a stakeholder group that includes members from key cultural and educational organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to assist older people in realising the benefits to be derived from the switchover to digital television. (201368)

The Government have announced a Help Scheme to assist the over 75s and those with significant disabilities, including people registered blind and partially sighted, to convert to digital television. The Help Scheme is an end-to-end package of support. As well as provision of a high quality set top box, the Scheme will provide practical assistance to install and use the equipment and the provision of an aerial if needed.

Digital UK has set up a digital outreach programme to deliver information and advice to older people who are under 75, those with sensory, mobility or dexterity impairments, people with learning difficulties and those who are socially isolated. Digital UK has a £2.9 million contract with Digital Outreach Ltd, a company set up by leading UK charities Age Concern England, Help the Aged, Community Service Volunteers and Collective Enterprises Limited, to commission support from local and regional voluntary sector organisations and charities, initially in the first four ITV regions to switch over (Border, West Country, Wales and Granada).

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the outcome of consultations on protection of fossils following the recommendations of the Quinquennial Review by the Committee on the Export of Works of Art in 2003. (201009)

My Department has undertaken no formal public consultation on this matter following the Quinquennial Review of the Reviewing Committee for the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest in 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether his Department provides health or social care services out of public funds, with reference to the Statement by the Minister of State, Department of Health, in the Health and Social Care Bill Committee, of 17 January 2008, Official Report, column 327. (200216)

My Department does not provide any medical health schemes out of public funds. However, we do provide an Employee Assistance programme, which includes a counselling service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to act against internet sites which encourage (a) suicide or (b) anorexia. (200680)

I am concerned about the potential harm of such internet sites. In March this year we accepted the recommendations of the Byron Review including that the new UK Council on Child Internet Safety look at whether the law around harmful and inappropriate material online could usefully be clarified, and explore appropriate enforcement responses. We expect this to be a key area of work for the council and that will make early recommendations for action if necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the budget is for each public library in Wirral, West constituency for 2008-09. (201617)

The budget for each public library in 2008-09 in Wirral, West constituency, as provided by the Metropolitan borough of Wirral, is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what arrangements are in place for auditing the accounts of regional cultural consortia (RCCs) accounts; and what audits have been conducted under these arrangements since RCCs were established. (200299)

The Regional Cultural Consortia (RCCs) are companies limited by guarantee, and audits are carried out under the Companies Act by external auditors appointed by each of the Consortiums. Since the RCCs became executive NDPBs in 2004 there have been audits on a yearly basis.

Following the Government’s decision to give the Comptroller and Auditor General (C and A G) statutory powers to carry out audits of companies, it is open to the C and A G to perform this function for the RCCs in future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the UK's national tourism deficit benchmarked against (a) France, (b) Germany, (c) the United States, (d) Australia, (e) Spain and (f) Portugal. (202087)

The UK's tourism balance of payments deficit for 2006 was £18.4 billion. According to the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), this compared to:

These figures have been converted to sterling at current exchange rates. The OECD does not hold the relevant figures for Australia and Portugal.

These figures show the obvious effects of climate and easier air travel. The Government are working with the tourism industry to make holidaying in this country more attractive to UK residents by improving the quality of our tourism offer in key areas, and this work has been brought together through the DCMS Tourism Strategy for 2012.

To ask the Prime Minister who the head of the Number 10 Downing Street Policy Unit is. (199061)

The information requested is available on the No. 10 website, at:

http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page12.asp

A copy of this webpage has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister how much was spent on the most recent redesign and implementation of his office's website. (200028)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 17 October 2007, Official Report, columns 1134-35W. Figures for 2007-08 will be available when the Cabinet Office Annual Resource accounts have been audited.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) what (a) procedures were followed and (b) steps were taken in (i) advertising and (ii) interviewing for the appointment to post in No. 10 Downing Street of (A) Stephen Carter, (B) Nick Stace, (C) Jennifer Moses and (D) David Muir; (199058)

Special advisers are appointed under the terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract and Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, copies of which are in the Library of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister who in his office has the status of special adviser; and how much each such staff member is paid. (199064)

Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and overall cost of special advisers and the number in each pay band. I refer the hon. Member to my written statement on 22 November 2007, Official Report, columns 148-150WS.

To ask the Prime Minister what the (a) salary, (b) status and (c) contract terms are of each member of staff at No. 10 Downing Street; when each was appointed; and what the purpose is of each unit and office within No. 10 Downing Street. (199057)

Information about the salary and contractual terms of individual members of staff is personal between the employer and employee and therefore not disclosed. The cost and number of No. 10 staff, including special advisers, are published annually.

To ask the Prime Minister which (a) Senators and (b) Members of Congress he met during his recent visit to the United States; where the meetings took place in each case; which Government Departments provided briefing materials for his use during the visit; and if he will make a statement. (201927)

During my recent visit to the United States I had meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a range of subjects. In addition, I held separate meetings with Senators McCain, Clinton and Obama at the ambassador's residence in Washington. Briefing was provided by the relevant Government Departments.

To ask the Prime Minister which (a) schools and (b) hospitals in Essex he visited in each month since January 2007; on what dates and for what purpose in each case; and if he will make a statement. (201928)

A list of my UK visits will be published in the usual way following the end of the financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the term of appointment of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Afghanistan is. (200627)

Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, announced the appointment of Kai Eide as his special representative for Afghanistan on 10 March 2008. The appointment is a one year renewable term.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times VIP facilities at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton and (d) Stansted Airport were hired by Her Majesty's Government in each month since May 2006; and what the expenditure on VIP facilities at each was in each of those months. (196874)

Based on Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) records since May 2006, there were 4,309 official FCO bookings at an estimated cost of £1,273,140. Actual costs, for the financial year 2007-08, will be available on receipt of BAA's final bill (trading statement) for that period.

A monthly breakdown of official usage is given as follows.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to mitigate the challenges arising from the volume of internally displaced people in Karenni state and other parts of eastern Burma; and which of these have been taken in co-operation with the Government of Thailand. (200347)

I visited Thailand from 28 February to 1 March and met several non-governmental organisations working in the refugee camps on the Burma/Thailand border. I also raised the plight of ethnic groups in the border region with the Thai Minister of Interior.

The UK provides support to people in Karenni state through several mechanisms:

funding for the UN Development Programme’s Human Development Initiative;

our significant contribution to the Three Diseases Fund, which supports work on HIV, tuberculosis and malaria in Karenni state;

support provided through local faith based organisations who are able to reach internally displaced people from inside the country; and

support from Thailand through the Thailand-Burma Border Consortium, which is providing assistance to the refugee camp bordering Karenni state, Ban Mae Noi Sae.

UK funding for projects in Karenni state is part of our effort to provide humanitarian assistance to people suffering poverty and deprivation across Burma. The Department for International Development’s programme in Burma is increasing from £9 million in 2007-08 to £18 million in 2010-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to invoke the UN Security Council principle of the responsibility to protect in relation to Burma. (200346)

We continue to support the concept of Responsibility to Protect, under which Governments have the responsibility to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

As a member of the UN Security Council, the UK has persistently stated that the military regime in Burma must account for the systematic and appalling human rights abuses it commits against Burma's people. We strongly support the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma and his work to gather evidence of the abuses that have taken place. We have called for his early return to Burma to be facilitated by the regime to enable the Rapporteur to continue his vital role.

The UK has helped to secure strong resolutions on Burma at the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly Third Committee, and worked to keep Burma on the Security Council agenda. The President of the UN Security Council's statement in October 2007 required a number of actions by the regime, including an inclusive transition to democracy. With the Burmese military rulers' failure to deliver any tangible outcomes despite the good work by the office of the UN Secretary-General, we will continue to consider options for further Security Council action with like-minded partners in New York.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people received funding under the Commonwealth Scholarships Programme in 2006-07, broken down by country of origin. (200285)

The number of scholars funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan in 2006-07, including those in their first, second or third year of study, was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Cuba. (202112)

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no current plans to visit Cuba.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) permanent Civil Service posts, (b) permanent non-Civil Service posts and (c) temporary or agency workers in employment in his Department there were in each month since May 2005. (199536)

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) has published civil service employment statistics, broken down by Department, in the Public Sector Employment First Release every quarter since January 2006. Prior to January 2006 the Cabinet Office published civil service employment statistics annually.

The following table sets out the Cabinet Office figures for permanent UK civil servants and permanent UK non-civil servants employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 2005 and the corresponding ONS figures for each quarter since January 2006.

Individual business managers are responsible for employing agency and temporary workers. The FCO does not hold central records of their employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the Government have taken to promote human rights in developing countries. (200976)

I have been asked to reply.

A reply to my hon. Friend’s question will be issued shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent UN report on the humanitarian situation in the Somali region of Ethiopia. (200345)

The UN published its report on the Somali Region of Ethiopia in September 2007. The UN has not published a further report since. We welcomed the Ethiopian Government’s acceptance of the UN assessment team’s appraisal and we continue to urge the Ethiopian Government to adhere to its commitments in relation to the report—opening-up of trade routes, lifting restrictions on movement, allowing food aid to reach all parts of the region and allowing non-governmental organisations greater access. However, we continue to be concerned at the risk of further human suffering and therefore look forward to full implementation of the report’s findings. The UK continues to raise this with the Government of Ethiopia at regular intervals. My noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown raised this issue when he met Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in late January. Most recently, our ambassador in Addis Ababa discussed ways to improve the situation in the Somali region with the Ethiopian Foreign Minister in March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Ethiopia about that country's relationship with Qatar. (201565)

[holding answer 25 April 2008]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not had any discussions with the Government of Ethiopia about their relationship with Qatar.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations his Department has made to the government of Egypt on the trafficking of people and weapons into Gaza from Egypt via under-border tunnels. (200350)

Arms and people smuggling into Gaza remain a great concern. The Quadrilateral Committee, which consists of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt and the US, has been working closely to address the issue of smuggling and border control. The EU commends and supports efforts by the Government of Egypt to contribute in finding a peaceful and orderly solution. Our embassy in Cairo regularly meet with Egyptian interlocutors to discuss various issues, including the situation in Gaza.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department's advice to UK citizens living in or travelling to Kenya has changed in the last month. (202159)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office keeps travel advice under close and constant review. Our travel advice for Kenya has been changed 50 times so far in 2008. We made 36 changes in January, 10 in February, two in March and two in April. The Kenya travel advice was last updated on 18 April to make factual changes relating to clashes between the Kenyan police and the outlawed criminal Mungiki sect, and the formation of the Kenyan Grand Coalition Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of the use of longer-range Katyusha rockets in attacks on Israel on the political situation in that country; and what representations he has received on options for the prevention of the use of such weapons. (200351)

In recent months Katyusha rockets have been fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel. These rockets have a longer range, which brings more Israeli towns, citizens and infrastructure facilities within striking distance. The Government continue to call on all Palestinian factions in Gaza to stop attacks, including rocket attacks. They aim to target civilians and to undermine the Annapolis process and escalate an already tense situation.

At the same time, Israel must ensure its actions are in accordance with international law. It is important that all parties find a way to restore calm for the sake of the populations on both sides.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of the recent increase in rocket attacks by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad on the security situation in Israel; and if he will make a statement. (200352)

The UK is deeply concerned by rocket attacks from Gaza against Israeli citizens. The launching of rockets against Israeli civilian targets and all forms of violence must stop. Violence serves only to undermine the prospects for peace and security in the region.

The Government continue to call on all Palestinian factions to stop attacks, including rocket attacks, which target civilians and only escalate an already tense situation. At the same time, Israel must ensure its actions are in accordance with international law. It is important for both sides to exercise the utmost restraint and refrain from the use of force.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular discussions on the security situation in Gaza, including most recently with Israeli Defence Minister Barak and with Israeli Foreign Minister Livni on 17 April. Our embassy in Tel Aviv and our consulate in Jerusalem regularly meet with Israeli and Palestinian interlocutors to discuss various issues, including the situation in Gaza.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) allowances, (b) travel costs and (c) accommodation have been provided to staff seconded from his Department to support the work of (i) James Wolfensohn and (ii) Tony Blair in their roles as Quartet Representatives; and if he will make a statement. (200833)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) did not second any staff to support the work of James Wolfensohn when he held the role of the Quartet Representative for Gaza disengagement.

The FCO has seconded three members of staff to work in the Quartet Representative’s office in London. The UK has provided £400,000 to a UN Development Programme Trust Fund which provides support to the Quartet Representative. The Quartet Representative’s office in London and Jerusalem draw from this trust fund to meet their costs.

We do not have figures for all expenses and costs associated with the Quartet Representative’s office in Jerusalem or in London. The right hon. Tony Blair has been appointed by, and reports to, the Quartet (US, EU, UN and Russia). It is a matter for the Quartet to determine whether to publish details of the right hon. Tony Blair’s team, costs and funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he (a) has taken in the last 12 months and (b) plans to take to promote effective dialogue between the Government of Indonesia and representatives of the people of West Papua on conflict resolution. (200301)

We believe that the complex issues in Papua can best be resolved through peaceful dialogue between the people of Papua, their elected representatives and the central Government of Indonesia. The dialogue is ongoing. Indonesian Vice President Kalla, along with a team of Ministers, visited Papua most recently in February to discuss economic and social development with representatives of the Papuan people. Papuan leaders regularly visit Jakarta. The Indonesian President has committed his Government to improving the situation in Papua, which we welcome. Governor Suebu, of Papua province, is pressing ahead with his development programmes, underpinned by the significant financial resources now being directed to Papua as a result of its special autonomy status.

We continue to encourage all sides to maintain a meaningful dialogue that focuses on implementing fully the existing special autonomy legislation. We judge that this is the best way to ensure the long-term stability and development of Papua and its people.

At the UN Human Rights Council examination of Indonesia under the Universal Periodic Review, in Geneva on 9 April, the UK welcomed Indonesia’s substantial progress on human rights since 1998, but noted ongoing concerns in Papua.

Our embassy in Jakarta follows the situation in Papua closely and is in regular contact with human rights organisations, non-governmental organisations and academics working in the region. Embassy staff also visit Papua regularly, most recently from 15 to 20 February 2008. While there, they held discussions with local officials, non-governmental organisations and representatives of religious organisations. The Department for International Development (DFID) is providing funding for four development advisers to the Governor of Papua. Their work focuses on poverty alleviation, public finance and infrastructure. DFID is also funding HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment activities in Papua, as well as focusing on improving forest governance livelihoods to address poverty reduction and deforestation in Papua. We continue to engage with Papuan leaders on a range of issues, including conflict prevention, and we fund several projects in Papua, including human rights training for the police.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take in the week beginning 28th April to monitor the (a) treatment and (b) risk of torture of Mr. Simon Mann in Black Beach Prison, Equatorial Guinea; and whether Mr. Mann is still being continuously shackled. (198172)

Our consul from the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos was refused consular access to Simon Mann during his last visit to Equatorial Guinea in March. We have expressed our concern to the Equatorial Guinea authorities and are urgently seeking another consular visit. His welfare remains our primary concern.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with Governments in Southern Africa following the elections in Zimbabwe on political and economic stability. (202158)

In the aftermath of the elections my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown have been in regular contact with heads of state and foreign ministers in the region and in the wider international community, in particular with President Mbeki. We will continue to speak to leaders in the region and encourage them to use their influence to bring about a swift resolution to the crisis.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports he has received on the effects of Global Coal Management Resources plc's open cast mining at Phulbari in north-west Bangladesh on development and poverty reduction in the area. (198831)

Global Coal Management Resources (GCM) does not currently have any mining operations in Phulbari, Bangladesh, but we are aware that plans exist. We have not received any reports on the potential effects of this, but we are aware that the Asian Development Bank (AsDB) has been assessing it. The bank has recently announced that they will not go ahead with the project proposal.

Some international and national organisations have raised concerns to us and AsDB about the environmental sustainability of the proposed project and possible negative effects for the population living in the area.

DFID's position on this has been that the social and environmental aspects of investments made by the bank need to be thoroughly considered and the bank's own procedures for project proposals must be followed.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of Constella’s compliance with the UN Aids guidelines on criminalisation, disclosure and testing in relation to HIV. (199695)

The UK Government have made no formal assessment as to whether Constella Futures Group complies with UNAIDS guidelines on criminalisation, disclosure and testing in relation to HIV. We understand that the issue of compliance has arisen with regard to legislation in a number of west African countries, which DFID has not financed. We are in discussion with UNAIDS about actions they can take to promote compliance with the guidelines.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost of (a) salaries for permanent civil service posts, (b) salaries for permanent non-civil service posts and (c) payments to temporary or agency workers in his Department was in each month since May 2005. (199533)

Due to the way historic records are held by the Department for International Development (DFID), the separate salary costs for permanent civil service posts and fixed term posts in each month since May 2005 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

DFID employs locally engaged staff, who work in more than 50 overseas offices. They are employed on local terms and conditions. Their salaries vary from country to country and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The following table covers the costs paid to the three suppliers of temporary administrative staff managed centrally since 2005.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) 0800, (b) 0845 and (c) 0870 telephone numbers for the public are used by his Department. (200129)

DFID has one 0845 number which enables members of the public to call the public enquiry point in East Kilbride from anywhere in the United Kingdom, charged at standard local rates. DFID does not use any 0800 or 0870 numbers.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to improve (a) the availability of therapeutic foods and medical supplies and (b) the capacity to respond to health and nutrition emergencies in rural areas in the Somali region of Ethiopia. (200401)

The Department for International Development has contributed £4 million in 2007 to the Humanitarian Response Fund, managed by the United Nations. With support from the fund, a number of non-governmental organisations have provided high nutrient food, immunisation and other basic health services through four mobile clinics.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking in co-operation with (a) Ethiopian authorities and (b) non-governmental organisations to provide humanitarian assistance in the Somali region of Ethiopia. (200402)

The Department for International Development channels funds for humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia, including assistance for Somali region, through the Humanitarian Response Fund, managed by the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The fund supports the work of non-governmental organisations and United Nations (UN) organisations in Ethiopia. In 2007 we provided the fund with £4 million and as a result about 12 non-governmental organisations and a number of UN agencies were able to respond to needs in the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what response he has made to the recent UN humanitarian assessment of the Somali region in Ethiopia. (200769)

The UK Government agree with the recommendations made in the United Nations assessment of the Somalia region in September 2007. We provided the UN-managed Humanitarian Response Fund with £4 million in 2007, to respond to humanitarian needs in Somali region and in other parts of Ethiopia. In response to an appeal from the Government and UN agencies in April 2008, we are considering a further contribution of £3 million for 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial support his Department has provided to (a) projects and (b) institutions involved in research into genetically modified species in each of the last five years. (200395)

In 2005-06, DFID contributed £1,553,000 to two programmes that included research using genetically modified (GM) techniques. These were the Plant Sciences Research Programme and the Aquaculture and Fish Genetics Research Programme. The main institutions that received grants included: Bangor University; Overseas Development Institute; Bath University; World Fish Centre; Stirling University; and, Asian Institute of Technology.

Since 2003 DFID has given £20 million per annum in unrestricted funding to the centres of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. A list of these, and other international organisations receiving DFID support, is shown as follows. Some of these use GM techniques. However, it is not possible to attribute DFID funding to specific activities.

From 2003 to 2008 DFID has provided £5 million to the African Agricultural Technology Foundation to facilitate access to both GM and conventional agricultural technologies. Last financial year DFID awarded £7.1 million of grants for research that will include the use of GM and non-GM biotechnologies. Details of these grants are provided in Table 1.

Names of international institutions receiving DFID support to conduct agricultural research

Africa Rice Center (formerly West African Rice Research and Development Authority)

World Vegetable Centre (formerly Asian Vegetable Research Development Centre)

Bioversity International (formerly International Plant Genetics Research Institute)

CABI—(formally Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux)

Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT)

Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)

Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo (CIMMYT)

Centro Internacional de la Papa (CIP)

International Centre for Development Orientated Research in Africa (ICRA)

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)

International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

World Agro forestry Centre (formerly International Centre for Research on Agroforestry)

World Fish Centre (International Center for Living Aquatic Resources Management)

Harvest Plus Challenge Programme

Water and Food Challenge Programme

Sub Saharan Challenge Programme

Genetic Diversity Challenge Programme

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's policy is on providing support for research into the development and use of genetically modified species variations. (200397)

DFID recognises that the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can have potential significant benefits for farmers in developing countries if applied safely and responsibly. At the same time, an over-riding objective is to safeguard human health and the environment and to give consumers informed choices. Our policy is that DFID will support research involving GMOs as long as international rules, including the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, are followed and it is targeted to help developing countries make their own informed choices about whether to use GM technologies.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services; and if he will make a statement. (198684)

Progress towards the goal of Universal Access to comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, care and support will be reviewed by the international community during 2008. Data being prepared for the United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on AIDS in June will inform the review process. UNAIDS will use these data to assess progress against the interim Universal Access targets (milestones), set by countries during 2006-07, in the final quarter of 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department paid to JP Morgan in each year since 1997; and what the purpose of each payment was. (199613)

The Department for International Development (DFID) paid JP Morgan a total of £672,784 in 2001 for work completed on the Andhra Pradesh (India) Power Sector Reform project.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 5 March 2008, on economic partnership agreements. (202161)

The reply to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire's letter of 5 March 2008 has been issued.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the Government's grant to the United Nations Development Trust Fund to support the work of Quartet Representative Tony Blair is included as part of the Government's Official Development Assistance budget; and if he will make a statement. (200836)

The UK grant of £400,000 to the office of the Quartet Special Representative, Tony Blair, is drawn from the DFID Palestinian aid framework and forms part of the UK development assistance budget. The mandate of Tony Blair to ‘facilitate the efforts of the international community to help Palestinians to build the institutions and economy of a viable state' is consistent with the objectives of the UK aid programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people are being given food and other humanitarian assistance in Sudan by (a) the World Food Programme and (b) other international humanitarian agencies to which the UK contributes. (199447)

The World Food Programme (WFP) provided food assistance to 5.8 million people in Sudan during 2007. The UK Government's bilateral partners in Darfur and southern Sudan provide humanitarian assistance across a range of sectors to a total of over 2.5 million people.

In addition, the UK Government provided £40 million to the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) for 2008. The CHF funds humanitarian agencies to address the most urgent of the humanitarian needs across Sudan that have been identified in the UN Workplan.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of children under 11 years of age in Zimbabwe were estimated to be enrolled in full-time education in (a) 1997 and (b) 2007. (202157)

Available data cover net enrolment of children aged 7 to 12 attending primary school in 1994, 1999 and 2006. Net enrolment was 86 per cent. in 1994, 65 per cent. in 1999 and 91 per cent. in 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will assess the effect of the addition of a five per cent. blend of biodiesel in fuel tanks to fuel on commercial bus operations on fungus growth in such tanks. (202484)

The Government are aware that in some circumstances the use of biodiesel blends can be associated with bacterial contamination in fuel tanks. The problem tends to arise particularly where the biodiesel does not meet the relevant fuel quality standards. The issue is not a new one: biodiesel blends have been used for many years by bus operators in the UK and other countries. It can generally be addressed through good housekeeping practices, such as regular tank cleaning, and by the use of various fuel additives. These are matters for the transport fuel industry to resolve: commercial bus operators and others should ensure that fuel quality requirements are covered in any fuel supply contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the adequacy of information contained in the sustainability reports of suppliers of biofuels. (202020)