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5 Jul 2005 : Column WA73
Written Answers
Tuesday, 5 July 2005.
Asylum Seekers: Detention
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many asylum seekers were detained for a period of six months or more between 1 January and 31 December 2004. [HL764]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): At present the Home Office does not hold information on the total number of asylum seekers who were detained for a period of six months or more between 1 January and 31 December 2004. It would be available only by examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost. Quarterly snapshots are published showing the number of asylum seekers detained under the Immigration Act powers on the last Saturday of each quarter. This information may be found in the Quarterly Asylum Statistics publications on the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
Asylum Seekers: Tribal Affiliations
Viscount Montgomery of Alamein: asked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the tribal affiliations of asylum seekers from Africa, compared with the tribal affiliation of the governments of each country mentioned in the Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 30 June. [HL902]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The ethnic origin or tribal affiliation of asylum seekers is not separately recorded. Nor do governments of particular countries necessarily have any particular tribal affiliations. The information requested is not therefore available.
Badgers
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Mr Jim Knight, on 26 May (HC Deb, 179–180W), why it is taking 18 months to analyse the responses to the consultation on the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. [HL693]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Bach): Other priorities have meant that officials have not had the time to take this issue forward as quickly as the department would have liked. A summary of results is, however, expected to be published by 21 July 2005.
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Nevertheless, the creation of Natural England may result in some changes to the internal administration of the current licensing process. Once we have a clearer understanding of its structure and exact responsibilities, we plan to implement any appropriate changes to the badger licensing regime which will also have regard to the consultation exercise.
Breastfeeding
Baroness Goudie asked Her Majesty's Government:
What research has been undertaken to evaluate the link between the availability of specialist breastfeeding advisers and the number of mothers breastfeeding their babies in neonatal units. [HL809]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Warner): We are not aware of any specific research undertaken to evaluate specialist breastfeeding advisers in neonatal units. However, the published reviews of current research found that a multi-faceted approach was most effective in increasing breastfeeding rates. The 2000 Infant Feeding Survey found a 3 per cent increase in breastfeeding rates in England and Wales in the past five years since breastfeeding promotion has increased.
Baroness Goudie asked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to make extra resources available to primary care trusts for the recruitment of specialist breastfeeding advisers in neonatal units. [HL810]
Lord Warner: Primary care trusts, as the local provider of services, determine the best way to use their resources in light of the local circumstances and needs. The Government have no plans to make extra resources available to primary care trusts for the recruitment of specialist breastfeeding advisers in neonatal units. Over the period of three years from 2003–06 PCTs will receive an average increase of 30.8 per cent revenue allocations and from 2006–08 it will be 19.5 per cent.
Capgemini
Baroness Noakes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the performance of Capgemini as a contractor to H M Revenue and Customs is satisfactory. [HL881]
Lord McKenzie of Luton: HM Revenue and Customs can confirm that the performance of Capgemini in the one year since it became its IT partner is satisfactory.
Channel Tunnel Rail Link
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 20 June (WA 157–158) (a) why the initial capital cost of the construction of the Channel
- Tunnel Rail Link phase 2 is "commercially sensitive"; (b) why the final cost is "commercially sensitive"; (c) what are the Government liability or guarantees in respect of the costs of this project; and (d) whether disclosure of a severe cost overrun on this project could adversely affect the prospects of the United Kingdom winning the 2012 Olympic Games. [HL782]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The construction of section 2 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link was originally forecast to cost £3.3 billion. LCR's current estimate of the final cost of the CTRL is commercially sensitive because release of its projections could undermine the negotiations with contractors as the project approaches completion.
The Government have the following liabilities and guarantees in respect of the CTRL project as a whole:
(i) £3.75 billion of Government Guaranteed Bonds issued by London and Continental Railways (LCR);
(ii) Guarantee of CTRL track access charges payable by Eurostar (UK) Ltd and providing the associated access charge loan facility;
(iii) Guarantee of LCR hedging arrangements;
(iv) Guarantee of rental payments in respect of Ashford International station; and
(v) Provisions for liabilities arising from grants payable to LCR which have been de-risked.
My previous Answer referred to the anticipated final cost and inflationary pressures. LCR calculates that if these inflationary effects were removed, then the outturn cost of section 2 would be within a few percentage points of the target price. This does not have any bearing on the UK bid for the Olympic Games.
Charities: Government Funding
Lord Christopher asked Her Majesty's Government:
What total funding, broken down by department, they provided to charities, whether by way of financial support or services, in the last five years. [HL574]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Total central government funding of voluntary and community organisations increased substantially between 1999–2000 and 2001–02. At current prices actual total funding was £2,238.4 million in 1999–2000; £2,755.3 million in 2000–01; and £3,323.7 million in 2001–02. Detailed information on central government funding to voluntary and community organisations by government departments has been published only for the financial years 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02. The information can be found in table one of Central government funding of voluntary and community organisations 1982–83 to 1999–2000 and table eight of Central government funding of voluntary and community organisations 1982–83 to 2001–02. Copies of these publications are available in the House of Lord's Library. Data collection for 2002–03 and 2003–04 is under way and I will write to my noble friend when the latest information is due to be published.
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City Acadamies
Lord Ouseley asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many city academies are in special measures or considered to be failing in the view of Ofsted. [HL831]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Lord Adonis): Of the 17 open academies, one, Unity City Academy in Middlesbrough, is deemed by Ofsted to require special measures.
HMI has conducted full inspections of two academies, Unity City Academy and the Greig City Academy in Haringey. The latter was judged to be "improving rapidly". HMI has also conducted monitoring inspections in 10 other academies. Of these, four were judged to be making good progress, five to be making satisfactory progress and one to have a mix of strengths and weaknesses.
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