| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
The estimates are based on total numbers of new dwellings from the completions figures supplied by local authorities and proportions of new dwellings on previously developed land and on previously residential land from the department's land use change statistics.
Housing: Licensing
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many local authorities have applied for approval to declare areas for the selective licensing of landlords; which local authorities have applied for which areas and whether they have been approved or refused; and what are the reasons for each case of refusal. [HL7430]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): No local authorities have applied for approval to declare areas for selective licensing schemes.
Housing: Valuation
Lord Steinberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many, or what percentage of, houses in the United Kingdom are currently valued at over £285,000.[HL7354]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): There is no register of dwelling valuations for the United Kingdom. The most up-to-date information about the values of dwellings comes from sales data. According to information from the Land Registry, in 2005, the latest full year for which figures are available, 13.2 per cent of dwellings on the open market in England and Wales sold at over £285,000.
Iraq: Baghdad
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will encourage British officials in Iraq to make additional visits outside the green zone in Baghdad, bearing in mind that many Baghdad citizens do not enjoy comparable levels of protection. [HL7412]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): Our staff work hard to speak to a broad cross-section of Iraqi opinion. They undertake trips outside the green zone only when it is operationally essential for them to do so. It would be wrong to encourage them to take unnecessary risks with their personal security and we do not do so.
Official Gifts: Deputy Prime Minister
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
For each gift received overseas and subsequently purchased in a personal capacity by the Deputy Prime Minister over the normal travellers' allowance, how much tax and duty was paid.[HL6922]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: My right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister has not purchased any gifts received overseas.
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
What presents, gifts or mementoes purchased with public funds the Deputy Prime Minister has given to foreign dignitaries either while overseas or within the United Kingdom in each of the past nine years; and, in each case, what was the name of the recipient, the nature of the gift and its approximate value; and [HL7179]
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
What presents, gifts or mementoes purchased with public funds the Deputy Prime Minister has given to Mr Philip Anschutz or any of his associates during the course of their various meetings, including the Deputy Prime Minister's visit to Mr Anschutz's ranch in July 2005. [HL7181]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: Ministers give gifts as appropriate and in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
Official Gifts: Mr Philip Anschutz
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much tax and duty was paid on those gifts given to the Deputy Prime Minister by Mr Philip Anschutz in July 2005 that were over the normal travellers' allowance and that were subsequently brought back into the United Kingdom; and by whom any payment was made: and [HL7224]
Whether those gifts received by the Deputy Prime Minister from Mr Philip Anschutz while overseas, which were over the normal travellers' allowance, have been declared to HM Revenue and Customs.[HL7225]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: These items were retained by the department and therefore no tax or duty was payable.
Official Travel: Deputy Prime Minister
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which officials stayed with the Deputy Prime Minister at Mr Philip Anschutz's ranch in 2005; and what were their official responsibilities at that time.[HL6759]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: I refer the noble Lord to the letter written by my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister to the honourable Member for East Devon (Hugo Swire) on Tuesday 4 July 2006, a copy of which is appended to the memorandum from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to the Standards and Privileges Committee. The memorandum is available in the 13th report of the Standards and Privileges Committee which is available in the Library for the reference of noble Lords.
Police: Reorganisation
Lord Jopling asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which police authorities have put in a claim for expenditure incurred during the recent restructuring process initiated by the Home Office; which authorities have been refunded; and how soon the claims of other authorities will be settled and paid. [HL7457]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): At the Home Office's invitation, 41 of the 43 police forces and authorities have submitted claims to the Home Office for a contribution towards reimbursement of the additional costs associated with restructuring, the exceptions being the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police. No reimbursements have yet been made. An announcement on how much of the claims will be reimbursed will be made shortly.
Baroness Scott of Needham Market asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to reimburse police authorities for the costs incurred in the reorganisation consultation which was withdrawn by the Government. [HL7467]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Police forces and police authorities in England and Wales were invited by the Home Office on 24 July to submit claims for a contribution towards the additional costs incurred by them on the preparations for restructuring. These claims have now been received and we expect to make an announcement shortly on how much of the claims will be reimbursed.
Public Bodies: Sir Alistair Graham
Lord Foulkes of Cumnock asked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the current paid public appointments of Sir Alistair Graham and the remuneration in each case. [HL7484]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: Information regarding the current paid public appointments of Sir Alistair Graham and the remuneration in each case is shown in the table. The information relates to those bodies referred to in the annual Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies.
| Body | Position | Remuneration |
|
Appeals Panel for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, Learning and Skills Council | ||
Railways: Community Railways
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government pay for community rail services through the franchising system and provide core funding for the Association of Community Rail Partnerships. They also sponsor specific events such as a workshop for community rail officers in November and, within the Department for Transport, have a team of three working full time to implement the community rail development strategy. Twelve lines and services have been designated under the strategy, and three more are currently the subject of local consultation.
Revenue and Customs: Sir David Varney
Baroness Noakes asked Her Majesty's Government:
On what terms and conditions Sir David Varney was employed as chairman of HM Revenue and Customs; and in what respect those terms and conditions will change as a result of his new role as an adviser to the Government. [HL7415]
Lord McKenzie of Luton: Sir David Varney continues to be employed on Civil Service terms and conditions as the Chancellor's senior adviser on transformational government. Details of his remuneration will be included in the Treasury's 2006-07 resource accounts.
Shipping: Cruise Liner Crews
Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have had discussions with United Kingdom companies operating cruise liners about the welfare of their below-decks crews recruited from developing countries; and whether they have discussed with these companies the activities of manning agents who may charge such crew members to get such employment. [HL7446]
Lord Davies of Oldham: There have been no such discussions.
Speed Cameras: High Wycombe
Baroness Gardner of Parkes asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many fines have been levied in the past three years for infringements of speed restrictions by the Marlow Hill, High Wycombe speed camera. [HL7458]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Information on the number of fines from offences detected by individual speed cameras is not collected centrally.
Speed Limits: Carbon Savings
Lord Whitty asked Her Majesty's Government:
What carbon savings they estimate would result from (a) full compliance with current speed limits; and (b) a reduction of speed limits by 10 miles per hour. [HL7459]
Lord Davies of Oldham: We do not have estimates for the total carbon emissions from vehicles travelling in excess of 70 miles per hour for each of the past five years. As part of the review of the UK climate change programme, however, the Government have looked at the potential carbon savings that might result in the year 2010 under a wide range of different policy scenarios. These included one scenario under which no vehicles exceeded the speed limits on motorways and dual carriageways. Our estimates suggest that savings in the region of 0.5 million tonnes of carbon per annum could theoretically occur under such a scenario. In practice, however, it would be virtually impossible to enforce blanket compliance with the 70 miles per hour speed limit, and the Government have no intention of introducing such a policy. With regard to the effect of carbon emissions as a result of a reduction in speed limits, I would refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 5 July 2006 (Official Report, col. WA 43).
Sudan: Darfur
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress is being made on the implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions relating to Darfur; what is their current assessment of the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur; and what are their current assessments of total numbers of fatalities and displaced people since the conflict began.[HL7465]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): The UN Security Council has a range of resolutions to address the appalling situation in Darfur. The council adopted UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1591 in March 2005 to sanction individuals who are impeding the peace process and violating human rights in Darfur. It established a panel of experts to make recommendations in this respect. The council adopted UNSCR 1672 in April 2006 to impose sanctions on a first group of individuals. We strongly support the panel of experts’ continuing work. We agreed to extend its mandate in UNSCR 1713, adopted on 29 September 2006.
In UNSCR 1564, the council established an international commission of inquiry to investigate reports of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law in Darfur by all parties. This body reported in January 2005. In March 2005, we helped secure UNSCR 1593, referring the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC). We continue to work with our international partners to maintain pressure on all parties, including the Government of Sudan, to provide full co-operation to the ICC as it carries out its investigative work.
In May 2006, UNSCR 1679 called for the full and rapid implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) signed on 5 May in Abuja, and on the non-signatories to join the peace process. Progress here has been slow and insufficient. We are working actively in Darfur, with the Government of Sudan, and with our international partners to ensure the parties to the DPA implement their commitments and to bring non-signatories to sign the accord.
On 31 August 2006, the council authorised a UN Mission for Darfur to replace the current African Union (AU) Mission (AMIS). We are working with the UN Secretary-General, Security Council partners, the AU and the League of Arab States to secure Sudanese consent and co-operation for that mission. In the mean time, the United Nations will provide additional support to help bolster AMIS until a UN mission can deploy.
The security situation in Darfur remains critical. The Sudanese armed forces launched a major offensive against rebels in Darfur in late August, which has also resulted in civilian deaths and displacements. Rebel violence has also affected humanitarian operations. We are calling urgently for an end to these military offensives.
The humanitarian situation is precarious and has the potential to deteriorate very rapidly. Access for humanitarian agencies is already severely hampered by banditry, fighting and attacks on aid workers and hijacking of their vehicles. Any significant change in the security situation could result in a sharp decline in humanitarian conditions. For example, the withdrawal of agencies from Gereida in south Darfur, following prolonged interfactional fighting last weekend, has left an extremely vulnerable population of over 100,000. The number of persons displaced since the conflict began is estimated to be around 2 million. Since April 2004, we have contributed over £190 million in humanitarian assistance to Sudan. We are supporting the World Food Programme through the Common Humanitarian Fund, to which we have contributed £49 million in 2006, making up approximately 66 per cent of its total. £24 million of bilateral aid in 2006 is in support of the International Committee of the Red Cross and non-governmental organisations.
Estimates of the number of those who have died as a result of the conflict in Darfur vary widely. The most commonly cited figure is around 200,000 but this remains an estimate based on extrapolation from limited available data.
Terrorism: Attila Ahmet
Lord Steinberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have made any assessment of whether Abu Abdullah, whose real name is Attila Ahmet, should be prosecuted under laws concerning the glorification of terrorism. [HL7456]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The decision to prosecute any individual is a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. The Metropolitan Police press release of 13 September 2006 details the offences that Atilla Ahmet has been charged with, including encouragement of terrorism.
| Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |