Parliamentary Questions
Parliamentary Questions for Session 2007/2008
Most recent first
Tuesday 22nd January 2008
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convicted prisoners have been released early as a result of prison overcrowding.
David Hanson (Minister of State, Ministry of Justice)
On 19 June 2007 my noble Friend Lord Falconer of Thoroton the then Lord Chancellor announced the introduction of a presumption in favour of release from custody on licence for prisoners serving between four weeks and four years for the final 18 days of their sentence subject to meeting strict eligibility criteria and providing a release address.
Between 29 June when the scheme began and 30 November 2007 (latest available figures) about 13,750 prisoners were released on ECL.
The total number of releases by offence group, sentence length, age, gender, ethnicity and prison establishment have been published on the Ministry of Justice website for the first week of the scheme, the remainder of July, and every subsequent month since then.
The monthly published figures can be found on separate links under the following main link: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/endofcustodylicence.htm
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
Monday 21st January 2008
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what policies are in place to reduce overcrowding in prisons.
Jack Straw (Lord Chancellor, Ministry of Justice)
On 5 December in their response to Lord Carter of Coles' review of prisons the Government announced an additional 10,500 prison places. This is on top of the existing 9,500 capacity programme. Our aim is to achieve capacity of 96,000 places by 2014.
We have also established a working group chaired by Lord Justice Gage which will look at Lord Carter's proposal for a Sentencing Commission in England and Wales. Experience from other jurisdictions suggests that such an approach can mean the drivers behind the prison population can be addressed and managed in a transparent, consistent and predictable manner. The Working Group is expected to report to the Lord Chief Justice and to the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor by the summer of 2008.
Tuesday 18th December 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will change the gift aid rules under section 3.46.12 of the guidance to include grandparents of minors.
Jane Kennedy (Financial Secretary, HM Treasury)
Minors (those under the age of 18 who are not married) are the legal responsibility of their parents or legal guardians. Membership subscriptions paid on behalf of minors by their parents or legal guardians can be regarded as qualifying donations providing the usual Gift Aid conditions are met. There is no scope within the existing legislation to extend this treatment. The Government continue to look at ways of building on the success of the Gift Aid scheme and increasing donations to charity, and is currently considering responses to the recent consultation on Gift Aid to this end.
Monday 17th December 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely effect on levels of revenue from Gift Aid for UK charities arising from changes in the basic rate of income tax.
Jane Kennedy (Financial Secretary, HM Treasury)
The precise impact on charities income will depend on the behavioural changes to the recent tax changes of both donors and charities. The strong upward trend in Gift Aid is however expected to result in consistent year-on-year growth in charities' income from Gift Aid, including in the year 2008-09.
Parliamentary Questions for Session 2006/2007
Tuesday 3rd July 2007
Oral Answers to Questions - Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Gaza
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): What assessment he has made of the prospects for a viable Palestinian state following the Hamas action in Gaza.
David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate, Conservative)
If he will make a statement on the middle east peace process.
Kim Howells (Minister of State (Middle East), Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
The middle east peace process is one of our highest priorities. Our objective remains a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The two-state solution is the only realistic basis for a just and lasting peace, despite Hamas' actions in Gaza. That means a viable state of Palestine living in peace and security alongside the state of Israel. Both parties need to fulfil their obligations in order for that to become a reality. The international community has a key role to play in helping to secure that outcome, and the Government are fully committed to doing whatever they can to help.
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): I thank my hon. Friend for that answer, but does he not agree that it is a secure economic future for the Palestinians that will make a future Palestinian state viable? Will he tell the House what the Government are doing to help the economic development of the Palestinian people?
Kim Howells (Minister of State (Middle East), Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
I doubt whether there is a politician across the world who has paid more attention than my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to trying to find economic solutions to the problems in Gaza and the west bank as part of a peaceful solution to that long-running conflict. We will continue to do so, because we recognise that the lack of jobs and the fact that there is no sense of an economic future are a curse on the region. I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will continue to put the resources required into ensuring that we play our part in the rebuilding of the infrastructure of both Gaza and the west bank.
Tuesday 19th June 2007
Oral Answers to Questions - Transport
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): What steps he is taking to encourage cycling.
Tom Harris (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport)
The Government are committed to increasing cycling; it is a healthy, environmentally friendly transport mode. We doubled Cycling England's budget to £10 million last year and launched Bikeability cycle training earlier this year. The six cycling demonstration towns with which Cycling England is working have increased cycle trips by about 30 per cent. in just one year.
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour)
I thank the Minister for that answer. Does he agree that one thing that helps cycling is better cycle and rail integration-and that that is not helped by the attitude of some rail operators that do not encourage cycles on trains, and of some stations that prevent cyclists from bringing their bicycles into the ticket office?
Tom Harris (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport)
I accept my hon. Friend's concerns. Since late 2004, the Government have funded about 2,500 new cycle parking spaces at stations. However, there will always be constraints on the ability to accommodate non-folding bikes on trains at peak times. I believe that the train operating companies are the best placed to know where and when pressure on services exists, and they must be free to impose restrictions when necessary.
Monday 30th April 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps are taken by her Department to include (a) older people and (b) people with disabilities in strategic planning, policy making and the delivery of the services they use.
Yvette Cooper MP (Minister of State (Housing and Planning), Department for Communities and Local Government)
Involvement of older and disabled people is integral to the formation of Communities and Local Government policies that affect them. Examples of recent and forthcoming consultations on my Department's policies include those on the Supporting People programme, the review of Disabled Facilities Grants, and the National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society. Disabled people were also consulted in the formation of my Department's disability equality scheme, which sets out what we will be doing over the next three years to improve equality of opportunity for disabled people, and has been commended by the Disability Rights Commission.
In addition, the recently published Local Government White Paper encourages local authorities to target groups and communities who may in the past have been marginalised, including older and disabled people's groups, when discharging their new duty to 'inform, consult, involve and devolve'.
Monday 30th April 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps are taken by his Department to include (a) older people and (b) people with disabilities in strategic planning, policy making and the delivery of the services they use.
Anne McGuire MP (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government's strategy on older people and ageing, 'Opportunity Age', was first published in March 2005. A series of consultation events at which the views and ideas of older people were sought has been invaluable in shaping that strategy.
DWP is piloting a 'LinkAge Plus' programme, to test ways of building fully integrated services from health and benefits to leisure and learning. Eight pilots (led by local authorities) have been looking at ways of joining up government for older people. LinkAge Plus puts older people at the heart of the process in identifying effective models that meet their needs and aspirations and involves them in their design.
DWP also sponsors 'Better Government for Older People', comprising approximately 200 voluntary elected members from older people's forums and groups across the UK, which works to reflect the views of older people in policy making.
DWP engages in a range of ongoing involvement activities with disabled people to ensure that their needs and views are reflected in both policy making and service delivery. These are outlined in our disability equality schemes published on 1 December 2006.
The Department sponsored the creation of Equality 2025, a new non-departmental public body providing a mechanism through which disabled people can have direct communication with central Government to influence, at an early stage, Government policies and service delivery that affect disabled people's lives.
We also consult with disabled people to obtain their feedback on new policy proposals or changes as part of our diversity impact assessment process. The findings from such consultation help to influence the final decision on those proposals or changes.
Thursday 22nd March 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what matters the Government plan to raise at the UN Commission for Sustainable Development in New York in April.
Ian Pearson (Minister of State (Climate Change and the Environment), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I have been asked to reply.
The 15th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) takes place in New York from the 30 April to 11 May 2007. The topics under discussion were agreed in the 2003 multi-year programme of work, which operates in two-yearly cycles, with one review year and one policy year. We are currently in the second, policy year of discussions on the cluster of climate change, industrial development, energy for sustainable development, and air pollution and atmosphere.
The UK will be working, through the EU, to secure action-oriented outcomes in each of the thematic sectors. In particular, the EU is looking to foster a transition to a global low carbon economy, with diversified energy policies included in national sustainable development strategies and plans by 2010, with priority to energy efficiency, renewable energies and improved access to sustainable and affordable energy services for all. The EU has also called for a basket of voluntary commitments on access to energy, energy efficiency and renewables, and a review mechanism to assess progress.
We are also working to ensure an integrated approach through including these issues in national sustainable development strategies, poverty reduction strategies and national development plans. We believe that full consideration of the interlinkages and cross-cutting issues is fundamental to good policy-making.
In addition, we want to ensure that the work of the CSD is complementary to and supports, rather than cuts across, the discussions and negotiations under the United Nations Forum Convention on Climate Change and its associated Kyoto protocol.
Thursday 22nd March 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to attend the 15(th) UN Commission on Sustainable Development in New York in April.
Gareth Thomas (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for International Development)
The 15(th) Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development will take place in New York from 30 April to 11 May 2007. The four main themes this year are, Energy for Sustainable Development, Air Pollution/Atmosphere, Industrial Development and Climate Change. We are currently considering ministerial attendance with DEFRA.
Wednesday 21st March 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she expects to ratify the United Nations convention on the non-navigational uses of international watercourses.
Ian McCartney (Minister of State (Trade & Investment), Department of Trade and Industry)
The UK did not sign the convention while it was open for signature, and the Government have no immediate plans to accede to it.
Tuesday 20th March 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make it his policy to raise the matter of the impact of indoor air pollution in the developing world at the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in New York in April.
Gareth Thomas (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for International Development)
The 15(th) Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 15) will take place in New York from 30 April to 11 May 2007. The four main themes this year are; Energy for Sustainable Development, Air Pollution/Atmosphere, Industrial Development and Climate Change.
The UK is working with the current EU presidency to agree EU priorities for CSD15, led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) with the support of DFID. These include reducing indoor air pollution due to the use of basic biomass fuels by households in developing countries for cooking and heating. The use of basic biomass arises from the lack of access to reliable, affordable and clean energy supplies. We will continue efforts to ensure this concern is included in the formal EU position and raised at CSD 15.
Tuesday 20th March 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to tackle deaths in the developing world caused by indoor air pollution.
Gareth Thomas (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for International Development)
Indoor air pollution is a considerable health hazard for approximately 2.4 billion people around the world relying on poorly designed wood, dung and coal burning stoves for their cooking and heating. DFID has funded research into the problem, with a current £253,000 programme due to end in July 2007. This is being carried out by Practical Action, a UK based non-government organisation active in many developing countries.
While raising awareness of the health risks may change behaviour to reduce exposure to smoke, the best solution is to improve access to reliable, affordable and clean energy supplies. DFID is supporting international efforts and programmes to improve access, including the EU Energy Initiative for Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development (EUEI), the World Bank's Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP) and the Global Village Energy Partnership (GVEP).
We are working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to ensure indoor pollution is raised at the forthcoming 15(th) Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 15) taking place in New York from 30 April to 11 May 2007.
Thursday 11th January 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): |To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider the merits of allowing failed asylum seekers who are too frightened to agree to support under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to continue to receive support from the National Asylum Support Service.
Liam Byrne (Minister of State, Home Office)
Parliamentary Questions for Session 2005/2006
Most recent first
Tuesday 22nd January 2008
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convicted prisoners have been released early as a result of prison overcrowding.
David Hanson (Minister of State, Ministry of Justice)
On 19 June 2007 my noble Friend Lord Falconer of Thoroton the then Lord Chancellor announced the introduction of a presumption in favour of release from custody on licence for prisoners serving between four weeks and four years for the final 18 days of their sentence subject to meeting strict eligibility criteria and providing a release address.
Between 29 June when the scheme began and 30 November 2007 (latest available figures) about 13,750 prisoners were released on ECL.
The total number of releases by offence group, sentence length, age, gender, ethnicity and prison establishment have been published on the Ministry of Justice website for the first week of the scheme, the remainder of July, and every subsequent month since then.
The monthly published figures can be found on separate links under the following main link: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/endofcustodylicence.htm
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
Monday 21st January 2008
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what policies are in place to reduce overcrowding in prisons.
Jack Straw (Lord Chancellor, Ministry of Justice)
On 5 December in their response to Lord Carter of Coles' review of prisons the Government announced an additional 10,500 prison places. This is on top of the existing 9,500 capacity programme. Our aim is to achieve capacity of 96,000 places by 2014.
We have also established a working group chaired by Lord Justice Gage which will look at Lord Carter's proposal for a Sentencing Commission in England and Wales. Experience from other jurisdictions suggests that such an approach can mean the drivers behind the prison population can be addressed and managed in a transparent, consistent and predictable manner. The Working Group is expected to report to the Lord Chief Justice and to the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor by the summer of 2008.
Tuesday 18th December 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will change the gift aid rules under section 3.46.12 of the guidance to include grandparents of minors.
Jane Kennedy (Financial Secretary, HM Treasury)
Minors (those under the age of 18 who are not married) are the legal responsibility of their parents or legal guardians. Membership subscriptions paid on behalf of minors by their parents or legal guardians can be regarded as qualifying donations providing the usual Gift Aid conditions are met. There is no scope within the existing legislation to extend this treatment. The Government continue to look at ways of building on the success of the Gift Aid scheme and increasing donations to charity, and is currently considering responses to the recent consultation on Gift Aid to this end.
Monday 17th December 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely effect on levels of revenue from Gift Aid for UK charities arising from changes in the basic rate of income tax.
Jane Kennedy (Financial Secretary, HM Treasury)
The precise impact on charities income will depend on the behavioural changes to the recent tax changes of both donors and charities. The strong upward trend in Gift Aid is however expected to result in consistent year-on-year growth in charities' income from Gift Aid, including in the year 2008-09.
Parliamentary Questions for Session 2006/2007
Tuesday 3rd July 2007
Oral Answers to Questions - Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Gaza
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): What assessment he has made of the prospects for a viable Palestinian state following the Hamas action in Gaza.
David Burrowes (Enfield, Southgate, Conservative)
If he will make a statement on the middle east peace process.
Kim Howells (Minister of State (Middle East), Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
The middle east peace process is one of our highest priorities. Our objective remains a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The two-state solution is the only realistic basis for a just and lasting peace, despite Hamas' actions in Gaza. That means a viable state of Palestine living in peace and security alongside the state of Israel. Both parties need to fulfil their obligations in order for that to become a reality. The international community has a key role to play in helping to secure that outcome, and the Government are fully committed to doing whatever they can to help.
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): I thank my hon. Friend for that answer, but does he not agree that it is a secure economic future for the Palestinians that will make a future Palestinian state viable? Will he tell the House what the Government are doing to help the economic development of the Palestinian people?
Kim Howells (Minister of State (Middle East), Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
I doubt whether there is a politician across the world who has paid more attention than my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to trying to find economic solutions to the problems in Gaza and the west bank as part of a peaceful solution to that long-running conflict. We will continue to do so, because we recognise that the lack of jobs and the fact that there is no sense of an economic future are a curse on the region. I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will continue to put the resources required into ensuring that we play our part in the rebuilding of the infrastructure of both Gaza and the west bank.
Tuesday 19th June 2007
Oral Answers to Questions - Transport
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): What steps he is taking to encourage cycling.
Tom Harris (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport)
The Government are committed to increasing cycling; it is a healthy, environmentally friendly transport mode. We doubled Cycling England's budget to £10 million last year and launched Bikeability cycle training earlier this year. The six cycling demonstration towns with which Cycling England is working have increased cycle trips by about 30 per cent. in just one year.
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour)
I thank the Minister for that answer. Does he agree that one thing that helps cycling is better cycle and rail integration-and that that is not helped by the attitude of some rail operators that do not encourage cycles on trains, and of some stations that prevent cyclists from bringing their bicycles into the ticket office?
Tom Harris (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport)
I accept my hon. Friend's concerns. Since late 2004, the Government have funded about 2,500 new cycle parking spaces at stations. However, there will always be constraints on the ability to accommodate non-folding bikes on trains at peak times. I believe that the train operating companies are the best placed to know where and when pressure on services exists, and they must be free to impose restrictions when necessary.
Monday 30th April 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps are taken by her Department to include (a) older people and (b) people with disabilities in strategic planning, policy making and the delivery of the services they use.
Yvette Cooper MP (Minister of State (Housing and Planning), Department for Communities and Local Government)
Involvement of older and disabled people is integral to the formation of Communities and Local Government policies that affect them. Examples of recent and forthcoming consultations on my Department's policies include those on the Supporting People programme, the review of Disabled Facilities Grants, and the National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society. Disabled people were also consulted in the formation of my Department's disability equality scheme, which sets out what we will be doing over the next three years to improve equality of opportunity for disabled people, and has been commended by the Disability Rights Commission.
In addition, the recently published Local Government White Paper encourages local authorities to target groups and communities who may in the past have been marginalised, including older and disabled people's groups, when discharging their new duty to 'inform, consult, involve and devolve'.
Monday 30th April 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps are taken by his Department to include (a) older people and (b) people with disabilities in strategic planning, policy making and the delivery of the services they use.
Anne McGuire MP (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government's strategy on older people and ageing, 'Opportunity Age', was first published in March 2005. A series of consultation events at which the views and ideas of older people were sought has been invaluable in shaping that strategy.
DWP is piloting a 'LinkAge Plus' programme, to test ways of building fully integrated services from health and benefits to leisure and learning. Eight pilots (led by local authorities) have been looking at ways of joining up government for older people. LinkAge Plus puts older people at the heart of the process in identifying effective models that meet their needs and aspirations and involves them in their design.
DWP also sponsors 'Better Government for Older People', comprising approximately 200 voluntary elected members from older people's forums and groups across the UK, which works to reflect the views of older people in policy making.
DWP engages in a range of ongoing involvement activities with disabled people to ensure that their needs and views are reflected in both policy making and service delivery. These are outlined in our disability equality schemes published on 1 December 2006.
The Department sponsored the creation of Equality 2025, a new non-departmental public body providing a mechanism through which disabled people can have direct communication with central Government to influence, at an early stage, Government policies and service delivery that affect disabled people's lives.
We also consult with disabled people to obtain their feedback on new policy proposals or changes as part of our diversity impact assessment process. The findings from such consultation help to influence the final decision on those proposals or changes.
Thursday 22nd March 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what matters the Government plan to raise at the UN Commission for Sustainable Development in New York in April.
Ian Pearson (Minister of State (Climate Change and the Environment), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I have been asked to reply.
The 15th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) takes place in New York from the 30 April to 11 May 2007. The topics under discussion were agreed in the 2003 multi-year programme of work, which operates in two-yearly cycles, with one review year and one policy year. We are currently in the second, policy year of discussions on the cluster of climate change, industrial development, energy for sustainable development, and air pollution and atmosphere.
The UK will be working, through the EU, to secure action-oriented outcomes in each of the thematic sectors. In particular, the EU is looking to foster a transition to a global low carbon economy, with diversified energy policies included in national sustainable development strategies and plans by 2010, with priority to energy efficiency, renewable energies and improved access to sustainable and affordable energy services for all. The EU has also called for a basket of voluntary commitments on access to energy, energy efficiency and renewables, and a review mechanism to assess progress.
We are also working to ensure an integrated approach through including these issues in national sustainable development strategies, poverty reduction strategies and national development plans. We believe that full consideration of the interlinkages and cross-cutting issues is fundamental to good policy-making.
In addition, we want to ensure that the work of the CSD is complementary to and supports, rather than cuts across, the discussions and negotiations under the United Nations Forum Convention on Climate Change and its associated Kyoto protocol.
Thursday 22nd March 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to attend the 15(th) UN Commission on Sustainable Development in New York in April.
Gareth Thomas (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for International Development)
The 15(th) Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development will take place in New York from 30 April to 11 May 2007. The four main themes this year are, Energy for Sustainable Development, Air Pollution/Atmosphere, Industrial Development and Climate Change. We are currently considering ministerial attendance with DEFRA.
Wednesday 21st March 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she expects to ratify the United Nations convention on the non-navigational uses of international watercourses.
Ian McCartney (Minister of State (Trade & Investment), Department of Trade and Industry)
The UK did not sign the convention while it was open for signature, and the Government have no immediate plans to accede to it.
Tuesday 20th March 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make it his policy to raise the matter of the impact of indoor air pollution in the developing world at the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in New York in April.
Gareth Thomas (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for International Development)
The 15(th) Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 15) will take place in New York from 30 April to 11 May 2007. The four main themes this year are; Energy for Sustainable Development, Air Pollution/Atmosphere, Industrial Development and Climate Change.
The UK is working with the current EU presidency to agree EU priorities for CSD15, led by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) with the support of DFID. These include reducing indoor air pollution due to the use of basic biomass fuels by households in developing countries for cooking and heating. The use of basic biomass arises from the lack of access to reliable, affordable and clean energy supplies. We will continue efforts to ensure this concern is included in the formal EU position and raised at CSD 15.
Tuesday 20th March 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to tackle deaths in the developing world caused by indoor air pollution.
Gareth Thomas (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for International Development)
Indoor air pollution is a considerable health hazard for approximately 2.4 billion people around the world relying on poorly designed wood, dung and coal burning stoves for their cooking and heating. DFID has funded research into the problem, with a current £253,000 programme due to end in July 2007. This is being carried out by Practical Action, a UK based non-government organisation active in many developing countries.
While raising awareness of the health risks may change behaviour to reduce exposure to smoke, the best solution is to improve access to reliable, affordable and clean energy supplies. DFID is supporting international efforts and programmes to improve access, including the EU Energy Initiative for Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development (EUEI), the World Bank's Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP) and the Global Village Energy Partnership (GVEP).
We are working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to ensure indoor pollution is raised at the forthcoming 15(th) Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 15) taking place in New York from 30 April to 11 May 2007.
Thursday 11th January 2007
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East, Labour): |To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider the merits of allowing failed asylum seekers who are too frightened to agree to support under Section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to continue to receive support from the National Asylum Support Service.
Liam Byrne (Minister of State, Home Office)
Asylum seekers whose applications have been refused and whose appeal rights are exhausted have been found not to require international protection. They are therefore required to leave the UK. Section 4 support is available to failed asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute and for whom there is a temporary barrier to leaving the UK. This includes the provision of accommodation where this is necessary for the purpose of avoiding a breach of a person's Convention rights, within the meaning of the Human Rights Act 1998.
Parliamentary Questions for Session 2005/2006
Most recent first
Wednesday 19th July 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has (a) taken and (b) plans to take to help improve access to hospice and palliative care in resource poor countries; and if he will make a statement.
Gareth Thomas (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for International Development)
The UK is committed to the development of health services that respond to the broad health needs of the population, and palliative care clearly has a vital place in this. DFID support is largely directed at countries where the health spend is less than $10 per person per year and often far less, the public spend in the Congo is $2, in Ethiopia $1.50 and in Burundi $0.70. Clearly these countries are not able to deliver the range of services that they would wish and realistically are unlikely to invest significant public budgets in palliative care. We support countries to deliver their health programmes and the priority interventions defined in their national health plan. Increasingly we provide resources through various forms of flexible budget support.
DFID officials have met staff from the hospice community on a number of occasions, most recently during a public consultation on a revised DFID health strategy. Many committed groups lobby DFID to make greater efforts on what they see as neglected areas in the international health response. Recent communications have challenged DFID to do more on palliative care, cancer services, neglected tropical diseases, blindness, disability, malnutrition and non-communicable diseases. DFID accepts that palliative care services need to be better reflected in national health plans and budgets and that realistically support needs to be provided through home based rather than institutional settings.
Thursday 6th July 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to include representatives of carers on the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights.
Meg Munn (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Women and Equality), Department for Communities and Local Government)
The new Commission for Equality and Human Rights will be an independent body, with a minimum of 10 and up to 15 Commissioners. The Commissioners will have to have a demonstrable commitment to, and understanding of, the wider context of the equalities, human rights and good relations agendas. They will need to deal authoritatively with issues of equality that affect different people in different ways, depending on their circumstances.
Monday 27th March 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the possible threat posed to Israel by Iran if Iran proceeds to develop nuclear weapons.
Kim Howells (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
The proliferation of nuclear weapons in the Middle East would be deeply damaging for stability and security in the region and beyond, and for the multilateral non-proliferation system.
We have serious concerns about the nature of Iran's nuclear activities, its history of concealment and inadequate co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and its failure to take the steps requested by the IAEA Board. These have all contributed to the international community's lack of confidence that the aims of the Iranian nuclear programme are, as Iran claims, exclusively peaceful.
These concerns must also be seen in the context of Iran's ballistic missile programme, its attitude to Israel and the Middle East Peace Process, its links to Lebanese Hizballah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other groups undermining peace through violence.
It is therefore essential that Iran should meet in full the requests set out in the 4 February IAEA Board Resolution, including reinstating a full suspension of all enrichment related and reprocessing activities. We will intensify our efforts, with our partners, to that end.
Tuesday 21st March 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effects on the Middle East peace process of rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip.
Kim Howells (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
All violence in Israel and the Occupied Territories acts as an obstacle to peace. Israel is entitled to defend itself from such attacks, but action taken should be in accordance with international law.
Tuesday 21st March 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to encourage Hamas to renounce violence and recognise Israel.
Kim Howells (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
In its statement on 30 January, the Quartet (EU, UN, US and Russia) agreed that all members of a future Palestinian government must be committed to non-violence, recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap. We have made this clear and support this approach.
Tuesday 21st March 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recommendations the Government plan to make to the UN on possible sanctions on Iran.
Kim Howells (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newark (Patrick Mercer) on 16 March 2006, Official Report, column 2464W.
Tuesday 21st March 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effects on regional stability of Hamas's opposition to the Israel-Palestinian peace process.
Kim Howells (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
On 30 January, the Quartet (UN, US, EU and Russia) reiterated their view that there is a fundamental contradiction between armed group and militia activities and the building of a democratic state. All members of a future Palestinian Government must be committed to non-violence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap. We support this approach.
We have made no specific assessment on the effects on regional stability if Hamas choose not to accept previous agreements and obligations. However, we are monitoring developments closely.
Tuesday 21st March 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to bring the perpetrators of the murder of Rafik Hariri to justice; and if he will make a statement.
Kim Howells (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
Following the bomb attack on 14 February 2005, which killed 23, including Rafic Hariri, and injured over 200, the United Nations Security Council adopted Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1595. This mandated the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) to assist the Lebanese authorities in their investigation of this attack, including helping to identify its perpetrators, sponsors, organisers and accomplices. On 15 March, Serge Brammertz issued his first report since his appointment as head of the UNIIIC in January 2006.
The Government remain committed to full implementation of UNSCR 1595, and calls upon all states to co-operate fully and unconditionally with the UNIIIC.
Tuesday 21st March 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to limit Syrian support of (a) Hezbollah and (b) Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Kim Howells (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
Both at ministerial and official level, we have repeatedly told Syria that it must cease its support for Hizballah and Palestinian rejectionist groups, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad. We continue to highlight the destabilising impact support for these groups has on regional security and the Middle East peace process.
Tuesday 21st March 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of compliance by (a) Syria and (b) Hezbollah with UNSC resolution 1559.
Kim Howells (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
Further to the second report by the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1559 (UNSCR 1559) on 25 October 2005, the UN Security Council agreed a presidential statement on 23 January, which noted that several provisions of UNSCR 1559 had yet to be implemented, in particular the disbanding and disarming of militias and free and fair Lebanese presidential elections.
The Government would like to reaffirm its support for the full implementation of UNSCR 1559. While the UN has confirmed that Syria has withdrawn its troops from Lebanon, Syria has yet to establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon or to demarcate its border with Lebanon. Syria also has a role to play in stopping arms transfers to Lebanese-based militias, including Hizballah. The UK stands ready to assist the Lebanese Government to implement the outstanding provisions of UNSCR 1559.
We await the next report of the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Implementation of UNSCR 1559, which is due on 26 April 2006.
Tuesday 7th March 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy that all dentists trained in the UK should have to participate in the provision of NHS dental services for a minimum period of time.
Rosie Winterton (Minister of State, Department of Health)
Before they may practise independently in the national health service, newly qualified dental graduates are required to undertake one year's vocational training in a dental practice under the supervision of a suitably experienced general dental practitioner. It is the Department's policy that these vocational trainers should have a significant commitment to the NHS.
NHS dentists already enjoy a wide range of benefits including membership of the NHS superannuation scheme and support given to their continuing professional development. The Department will continue to identify and promote good practice by primary care trusts in encouraging continued commitment to the NHS.
Thursday 2nd March 2006
Rosie Winterton (Minister of State, Department of Health)
Since 2003-04, the Department has invested an additional £250 million in National Health Service dentistry and supported the NHS in recruiting the equivalent of an extra 1,459 dentists to improve patient access. The Government is also funding an additional 170 training places per year from 2005.
From April 2006, the NHS will be implementing major reforms to dentistry to build upon this success. New contracts for dentists will abolish the fee per item remuneration system and support new ways of working with a greater focus on preventative care. Evidence from personal dental services pilot schemes is that these new ways of working free up significant capacity that dentists can then use in part to see a greater range of patients.
From April 2006, primary care trusts (PCTs) will also have devolved responsibility and ring-fenced budgets for commissioning primary dental services. This means that, if a dentist leaves the NHS or reduces their NHS commitment, the resources stay with the PCT to be reinvested in local dental services.
Monday 23rd January 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to visit Gaza and the occupied West Bank in the next four months.
Hilary Benn (Secretary of State, Department for International Development)
I have no current plans to do so.
Tuesday 17th January 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effect of the barrier dividing the West Bank from Israel on the Palestinian economy.
Gareth Thomas (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for International Development)
A preliminary analysis of the barrier's route, published by the UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in March 2005, identified that some 142,640 acres (10 per cent.) of West Bank land will lie between the completed barrier and the Green Line. This is some of the most fertile land in the West Bank and is currently home to 49,400 Palestinians. Where the Barrier has been constructed, Palestinians face economic hardship from being restricted from or not being able to reach their land to harvest crops, graze animals or earn a living. Residents have also been cut off from schools, universities and specialized medical care by the constructed Barrier.
Monday 16th January 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Government funding for the Palestinian Authority is made (a) through the World Bank Trust Fund and (b) directly to the Palestinian Authority.
Hilary Benn (Secretary of State, Department for International Development)
I have been asked to reply.
DFID provides support to the Palestinian Authority (PA) budget through the Reform Trust Fund managed by the World Bank. Since the fund's inception in January 2004 total DFID funding has amounted to £12 million. Funding is conditional on the achievement of benchmarks for reform, progress against which is carefully monitored. Through this process the Reform Trust Fund has helped the PA to improve its financial control and management.
DFID also provides financial aid and technical assistance to the PA in the areas of public administration and reform, budgeting and planning, security sector reform, statistics, and the water sector.
Monday 16th January 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department is giving to the Palestinian Authority (a) to ensure the efficient running of the forthcoming elections and (b) to reconstruct Gaza.
Hilary Benn (Secretary of State, Department for International Development)
The European Union (EU) has committed €14 million to enable the Palestinian Authority (PA) to prepare for elections. 18 per cent. of this expenditure is attributable to the UK. The core elements of the EU support are:
Assistance to the Palestinian Election Commission (€10 million);
Technical expertise on election operations (€1 million);
International observation of the election process (€2.5 million);
Assistance to voter and civic education (€350,000).
The UK Government are also assisting elections through the following projects:
Purchase of Ballot Papers (£45,000);
Media Monitoring of 2006 Palestinian Legislative Council Elections (£34,000);
Training of journalists and public awareness (£90,316).
The Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement, Mr. James Wolfensohn, has identified the key issues for Israeli disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank to be an economic success for the Palestinians and to assure Israeli security. DFID is working closely with Mr. Wolfensohn's team and is providing assistance to help the PA develop a medium-term development plan; one of the key issues identified by Mr. Wolfensohn. DFID is also providing substantial financial support (£15 million in 2005-06) to support Palestinian refugees in Gaza and elsewhere. This assistance, provided via the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), helps provide education, health, housing and social services to Palestinian refugees.
Monday 10th October 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Prime Minister, what the outcome was of his meeting with Muslim faith representatives on Tuesday 19th July.
The Prime Minister
I refer my hon. Friend to my opening remarks at the press conference I held with President Karzai and to the press briefing given by my Official Spokesman on Tuesday 19th July. Transcripts of each are available on the No. 10 website.
Monday 10th October 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development
(1) Whether poor countries which receive debt relief are expected to remove impediments to domestic and foreign investment;
(2) Whether poor countries which receive debt relief are expected to promote the development of their private sectors.
Hilary Benn (Secretary of State, Department for International Development)
Debt relief is provided to enable countries to make faster progress towards the millennium development goals. In providing debt relief under agreements such as the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative. The UK abides by the HIPC standards agreed internationally. The multilateral debt stock cancellation proposed by the G8 and recently agreed at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings also uses these standards.
Private sector, investment and trade regulation reforms are sometimes part of the above processes (for example, in a poverty reduction strategy or where derived from national plans and in-country debate), but such economic policy choices would not be imposed on countries.
Monday 10th October 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the adjustment of gross assistance flows by poor countries is taken into account when granting debt relief to them.
Hilary Benn (Secretary of State, Department for International Development)
In providing debt relief under agreements such as the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative, the UK abides by the HIPC standards agreed at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings also uses these standards. To be eligible for such relief, a country's gross national income per capita, debt levels and national export revenues are taken into consideration, along with its macroeconomic management and commitment to poverty reduction. The level or adjustment of gross assistance flows is not considered.
Thursday 23rd September 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of the level of abuse of methadone.
Caroline Flint (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Home Office)
There have been no formal assessments made on the level of abuse of methadone. However, the Department recognises the key role that effective substitute prescribing has to play in meeting our overall aim of offering high quality treatment to drug misusers. It is because of the commitment that the Department published Drug Misuse and Dependence - Guidelines on Clinical Management (1999), which is widely regarded as being extremely successful in assisting prescribers in offering appropriate treatment to their patients. Part of this also tackles the issue of diversion of methadone through advice on supervised consumption.
Building on this, the National Treatment Agency (NTA), which has a remit to improve the availability and quality of drug treatment, has just completed an audit of prescribing services in England which will be available shortly. The NTA will also be undertaking series of reviews of community prescribing services with the Healthcare Commission, later in 2005. The NTA has performance management structures in place to effectively tackle those drug action teams assessed as underperforming, as far as drug treatment is concerned.
One of the key measures used to assess the quality of substitute prescribing, including levels of diversion, is the number of drug related deaths associated with its use. In 2003, the latest year for which figures are available, 167 deaths associated with the use of methadone were reported. This compares with 286 in 1999, a reduction of 42 percent.
As part of our ongoing commitment to continue to develop improved practise in substitute prescribing, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will, within a comprehensive package of work that it will be undertaking on drug treatment, do a specific appraisal on the clinical effectiveness of methadone in the treatment of drug misuse.
Monday 12th September 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that UK citizens are prevented from travelling to terrorist training camps abroad.
Charles Clarke (Secretary of State, Home Office)
The forthcoming Terrorism Bill will contain a new offence of providing and receiving training in the use of hazardous substances and in other methods or techniques for terrorist purpose.
Monday 12th September 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the representations that he has received from Muslim community leaders in Leeds regarding their concerns over the recent London suicide bombers.
Paul Goggins (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office)
Following the events of 7 July, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary welcomes the statement of condolence, condemnation and reassurance of support made by the Muslim community leaders in Leeds.
The Home Secretary has had meetings with Muslim community leaders on several occasions since 7 July and is committed to continuing work with faith communities.
Monday 12th September 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will allow asylum seekers to work while their applications are being considered.
Tony McNulty (Minister of State, Home Office)
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 115W.
Thursday 1st September 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether conditions will be imposed upon countries in Africa following the agreement at the G8 summit to create fairer trade.
Ian Pearson (Minister of State for Trade, Department of Trade and Industry)
The outcome of the G8 summit will not impose conditions on Africa.
The G8 summit agreed a comprehensive plan to support the progress Africa has made in recent years. This includes helping to build Africa's capacity to trade, for which the EU have pledged €1 billion per year. Leaders also committed to provide resources and training to help Africa producers meet current and new health and safety standards for food exports and other products; to support Africa efforts to increase South-South trade and regional integration; and to improve utilisation of G8 preference schemes, reporting back on progress to future presidencies.
The G8 emphasised that a successful conclusion to the WTO Doha Development Agenda (DDA) will be one of the most effective ways to generate economic growth, create potential for development and raise living standards across the world. The World Bank estimates that completing these negotiations could lift 140 million people out of poverty. Leaders committed to continue to work towards ensuring there is appropriate flexibility in the DDA negotiations.
Thursday 11th August 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he will make an announcement on the Leeds Supertram proposal.
Derek Twigg (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State made clear the position on the Supertram scheme in his Oral statement last summer on 20th July 2004, Official Report, column 159. Since then we have been in discussions with WYPTE about their alternative proposals which we will decide upon in due course.
Wednesday 3rd August 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to ensure that UK citizens are prevented from travelling to terrorist training camps abroad.
Charles Clarke (Home Secretary)
The forthcoming Terrorism Bill will contain a new offence of providing and receiving training in the se of hazardous substances and in other methods or techniques for terrorist purpose.
Tuesday 26th July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support his Department offer asylum seekers who have failed in their applications but whose countries are too dangerous for them to return to.
Tony McNulty (Minister of State, Home Office)
Unsuccessful asylum seekers unable to leave the country immediately due to circumstances entirely beyond their control may be provided with support under section four of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. This support is provided in the form of accommodation and, where possible, food. Where food is not provided vouchers valued at £35 per week are issued to enable the supported person to buy food. Essential toiletries are also provided.
Tuesday 26th July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will allow asylum seekers to work whilst their applications are being considered.
Tony McNulty (Minister of State, Home Office)
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 4th July 2005.
Thursday 21st July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the representations that he has received from Muslim community leaders in Leeds regarding their concerns over the recent London suicide bombers.
Paul Goggins (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Home Office)
Following the events of 7th July, my Rt Hon Friend the Home Secretary welcomes the statement of condolence, condemnation and reassurance of support made by the Muslim community leaders in Leeds.
The Home Secretary has had meetings with Muslim community leaders on several occasions since 7 July and is committed to continuing work with faith communities.
Thursday 21st July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development, what conditions he has attached to debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries in Africa.
Hilary Benn (Secretary of State, Department for International Development)
Debt relief is provided to enable countries to make faster progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. It is essential therefore that the resources made available by the relief are used for poverty reduction. In providing debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, the UK abides by the standards agreed internationally. Under these standards, countries must demonstrate a sustained commitment to poverty reduction and macroeconomic stability is critical to provide a foundation for growth, avoid adverse effects of inflation on the poor and to protect government expenditure that benefits the poor. The debt stock cancellation recently proposed by the G8 would use these standards.
Thursday 21st July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development, what conditions were attached to the offer of aid to the poorest nations in Africa following the agreement at the G8 summit.
Hilary Benn (Secretary of State, Department for International Development)
The additional aid agreed for Africa by the G8 will be used to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and to help achieve the objectives agreed in the Communique. G8 leaders agreed that aid will be focused on countries where it will make a difference, particularly low-income countries which are committed to growth and poverty reduction, to democratic, accountable and transparent government, and to sound public financial management.
Thursday 14th July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to involve local communities in obtaining antisocial behaviour orders.
Hazel Blears (Minister of State, Home Office)
Antisocial behaviour orders are community-based orders designed to protect individuals or whole communities from behaviour that has caused, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to others. They involve local communities in the collection of evidence and in helping to enforce breaches. They also encourage local people to take an active role in protecting their communities and making them safer places in which to live.
Wednesday 13th July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Government support is available to financial advisers threatened with legal action for the alleged mis-selling of mortgage endowment policies.
Ivan Lewis (Economic Secretary, HM Treasury)
The Government does not provide support to financial advisors threatened with legal action for the alleged mis-selling of mortgage endowment policies. However, the Financial Services Authority requires all authorised firms to hold sufficient Professional Indemnity Insurance.
Wednesday 13th July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the criteria against which the relevant regulatory authorities make judgments on allegations of the mis-selling of mortgage endowment policies.
Ivan Lewis (Economic Secretary, HM Treasury)
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is an independent body that adjudicates consumer complaints against FSA authorized firms. It does not have a fixed set of criteria to use when determining whether a financial advisor has mis-sold a product. Rather, the FOS considers what is fair and reasonable to all parties, having regard to the individual circumstances of the case, the law, and any regulatory rules or advice in place at the time.
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) is the statutory compensation fund of last resort, which can provide compensation to eligible claimants where the investment firm responsible for the liability is itself unable to do so (usually because it has ceased to exist or is insolvent). With mortgage endowment claims, as with other mis-selling claims, FSCS looks to see whether there has been a breach of obligations giving rise to a civil liability for actual financial loss.
Wednesday 13th July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons the Financial Services Authority is advising mortgage endowment policy holders to take legal action against their financial advisers for mis-selling policies.
Ivan Lewis (Economic Secretary, HM Treasury)
The FSA is not advising policyholders to take any particular course of action. The FSA has provided information on its website and through its consumer factsheets about the options available to consumers if they currently face a projected shortfall on their endowment mortgage or if they believe they have been mis-sold an endowment policy.
Wednesday 13th July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria are used by the Financial Services Authority to determine whether a financial adviser has mis-sold a financial product.
Ivan Lewis (Economic Secretary, HM Treasury)
Financial advisers that are authorised by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) are required to comply with the FSA's Conduct of Business Rules with regard to the promotion of financial products. The FSA does not arbitrate on individual complaints made against financial firms.
Tuesda
Wednesday 19th July 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has (a) taken and (b) plans to take to help improve access to hospice and palliative care in resource poor countries; and if he will make a statement.
Gareth Thomas (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for International Development)
The UK is committed to the development of health services that respond to the broad health needs of the population, and palliative care clearly has a vital place in this. DFID support is largely directed at countries where the health spend is less than $10 per person per year and often far less, the public spend in the Congo is $2, in Ethiopia $1.50 and in Burundi $0.70. Clearly these countries are not able to deliver the range of services that they would wish and realistically are unlikely to invest significant public budgets in palliative care. We support countries to deliver their health programmes and the priority interventions defined in their national health plan. Increasingly we provide resources through various forms of flexible budget support.
DFID officials have met staff from the hospice community on a number of occasions, most recently during a public consultation on a revised DFID health strategy. Many committed groups lobby DFID to make greater efforts on what they see as neglected areas in the international health response. Recent communications have challenged DFID to do more on palliative care, cancer services, neglected tropical diseases, blindness, disability, malnutrition and non-communicable diseases. DFID accepts that palliative care services need to be better reflected in national health plans and budgets and that realistically support needs to be provided through home based rather than institutional settings.
Thursday 6th July 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to include representatives of carers on the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights.
Meg Munn (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Women and Equality), Department for Communities and Local Government)
The new Commission for Equality and Human Rights will be an independent body, with a minimum of 10 and up to 15 Commissioners. The Commissioners will have to have a demonstrable commitment to, and understanding of, the wider context of the equalities, human rights and good relations agendas. They will need to deal authoritatively with issues of equality that affect different people in different ways, depending on their circumstances.
Monday 27th March 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the possible threat posed to Israel by Iran if Iran proceeds to develop nuclear weapons.
Kim Howells (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
The proliferation of nuclear weapons in the Middle East would be deeply damaging for stability and security in the region and beyond, and for the multilateral non-proliferation system.
We have serious concerns about the nature of Iran's nuclear activities, its history of concealment and inadequate co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and its failure to take the steps requested by the IAEA Board. These have all contributed to the international community's lack of confidence that the aims of the Iranian nuclear programme are, as Iran claims, exclusively peaceful.
These concerns must also be seen in the context of Iran's ballistic missile programme, its attitude to Israel and the Middle East Peace Process, its links to Lebanese Hizballah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other groups undermining peace through violence.
It is therefore essential that Iran should meet in full the requests set out in the 4 February IAEA Board Resolution, including reinstating a full suspension of all enrichment related and reprocessing activities. We will intensify our efforts, with our partners, to that end.
Tuesday 21st March 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effects on the Middle East peace process of rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip.
Kim Howells (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
All violence in Israel and the Occupied Territories acts as an obstacle to peace. Israel is entitled to defend itself from such attacks, but action taken should be in accordance with international law.
Tuesday 21st March 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to encourage Hamas to renounce violence and recognise Israel.
Kim Howells (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
In its statement on 30 January, the Quartet (EU, UN, US and Russia) agreed that all members of a future Palestinian government must be committed to non-violence, recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap. We have made this clear and support this approach.
Tuesday 21st March 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recommendations the Government plan to make to the UN on possible sanctions on Iran.
Kim Howells (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newark (Patrick Mercer) on 16 March 2006, Official Report, column 2464W.
Tuesday 21st March 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effects on regional stability of Hamas's opposition to the Israel-Palestinian peace process.
Kim Howells (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
On 30 January, the Quartet (UN, US, EU and Russia) reiterated their view that there is a fundamental contradiction between armed group and militia activities and the building of a democratic state. All members of a future Palestinian Government must be committed to non-violence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap. We support this approach.
We have made no specific assessment on the effects on regional stability if Hamas choose not to accept previous agreements and obligations. However, we are monitoring developments closely.
Tuesday 21st March 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to bring the perpetrators of the murder of Rafik Hariri to justice; and if he will make a statement.
Kim Howells (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
Following the bomb attack on 14 February 2005, which killed 23, including Rafic Hariri, and injured over 200, the United Nations Security Council adopted Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1595. This mandated the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) to assist the Lebanese authorities in their investigation of this attack, including helping to identify its perpetrators, sponsors, organisers and accomplices. On 15 March, Serge Brammertz issued his first report since his appointment as head of the UNIIIC in January 2006.
The Government remain committed to full implementation of UNSCR 1595, and calls upon all states to co-operate fully and unconditionally with the UNIIIC.
Tuesday 21st March 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to limit Syrian support of (a) Hezbollah and (b) Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Kim Howells (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
Both at ministerial and official level, we have repeatedly told Syria that it must cease its support for Hizballah and Palestinian rejectionist groups, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad. We continue to highlight the destabilising impact support for these groups has on regional security and the Middle East peace process.
Tuesday 21st March 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of compliance by (a) Syria and (b) Hezbollah with UNSC resolution 1559.
Kim Howells (Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
Further to the second report by the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1559 (UNSCR 1559) on 25 October 2005, the UN Security Council agreed a presidential statement on 23 January, which noted that several provisions of UNSCR 1559 had yet to be implemented, in particular the disbanding and disarming of militias and free and fair Lebanese presidential elections.
The Government would like to reaffirm its support for the full implementation of UNSCR 1559. While the UN has confirmed that Syria has withdrawn its troops from Lebanon, Syria has yet to establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon or to demarcate its border with Lebanon. Syria also has a role to play in stopping arms transfers to Lebanese-based militias, including Hizballah. The UK stands ready to assist the Lebanese Government to implement the outstanding provisions of UNSCR 1559.
We await the next report of the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Implementation of UNSCR 1559, which is due on 26 April 2006.
Tuesday 7th March 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy that all dentists trained in the UK should have to participate in the provision of NHS dental services for a minimum period of time.
Rosie Winterton (Minister of State, Department of Health)
Before they may practise independently in the national health service, newly qualified dental graduates are required to undertake one year's vocational training in a dental practice under the supervision of a suitably experienced general dental practitioner. It is the Department's policy that these vocational trainers should have a significant commitment to the NHS.
NHS dentists already enjoy a wide range of benefits including membership of the NHS superannuation scheme and support given to their continuing professional development. The Department will continue to identify and promote good practice by primary care trusts in encouraging continued commitment to the NHS.
Thursday 2nd March 2006
Fabian Hamilton(Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps are being taken to ensure that all children are being covered by NHS dental care provisions.
Rosie Winterton (Minister of State, Department of Health)
Dentists working in the salaried primary care dental services examine schoolchildren at least three times in their school career. They also contribute to regular surveys, which have shown that the oral health of children is improving.
Where dentists advise that treatment is necessary, children under 16 and young people aged 16, 17 and 18 who are in full time education are exempt from charges for National Health Service dental treatment.
Recent and ongoing action to improve access to NHS dentistry, including the recruitment of the equivalent of over 1,450 additional dentists, the establishment of a new university dental school and the introduction of local commissioning responsibilities for primary care trusts, will benefit both children and their families.
Monday 27th February 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason asylum seekers are unable to apply for provisional driving licences; and whether he has any plans to seek to enable them to do so.
Stephen Ladyman (Minister of State, Department for Transport)
I have been asked to reply.
Asylum seekers are eligible to apply for a provisional driving licence provided they meet the requirements specified in legislation. This requires applicants to complete an application, provide a photograph and acceptable supporting evidence of identity.
Monday 13th February 2006
Rosie Winterton (Minister of State, Department of Health)
Since 2003-04, the Department has invested an additional £250 million in National Health Service dentistry and supported the NHS in recruiting the equivalent of an extra 1,459 dentists to improve patient access. The Government is also funding an additional 170 training places per year from 2005.
From April 2006, the NHS will be implementing major reforms to dentistry to build upon this success. New contracts for dentists will abolish the fee per item remuneration system and support new ways of working with a greater focus on preventative care. Evidence from personal dental services pilot schemes is that these new ways of working free up significant capacity that dentists can then use in part to see a greater range of patients.
From April 2006, primary care trusts (PCTs) will also have devolved responsibility and ring-fenced budgets for commissioning primary dental services. This means that, if a dentist leaves the NHS or reduces their NHS commitment, the resources stay with the PCT to be reinvested in local dental services.
Monday 23rd January 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to visit Gaza and the occupied West Bank in the next four months.
Hilary Benn (Secretary of State, Department for International Development)
I have no current plans to do so.
Tuesday 17th January 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effect of the barrier dividing the West Bank from Israel on the Palestinian economy.
Gareth Thomas (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for International Development)
A preliminary analysis of the barrier's route, published by the UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in March 2005, identified that some 142,640 acres (10 per cent.) of West Bank land will lie between the completed barrier and the Green Line. This is some of the most fertile land in the West Bank and is currently home to 49,400 Palestinians. Where the Barrier has been constructed, Palestinians face economic hardship from being restricted from or not being able to reach their land to harvest crops, graze animals or earn a living. Residents have also been cut off from schools, universities and specialized medical care by the constructed Barrier.
Monday 16th January 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Government funding for the Palestinian Authority is made (a) through the World Bank Trust Fund and (b) directly to the Palestinian Authority.
Hilary Benn (Secretary of State, Department for International Development)
I have been asked to reply.
DFID provides support to the Palestinian Authority (PA) budget through the Reform Trust Fund managed by the World Bank. Since the fund's inception in January 2004 total DFID funding has amounted to £12 million. Funding is conditional on the achievement of benchmarks for reform, progress against which is carefully monitored. Through this process the Reform Trust Fund has helped the PA to improve its financial control and management.
DFID also provides financial aid and technical assistance to the PA in the areas of public administration and reform, budgeting and planning, security sector reform, statistics, and the water sector.
Monday 16th January 2006
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department is giving to the Palestinian Authority (a) to ensure the efficient running of the forthcoming elections and (b) to reconstruct Gaza.
Hilary Benn (Secretary of State, Department for International Development)
The European Union (EU) has committed €14 million to enable the Palestinian Authority (PA) to prepare for elections. 18 per cent. of this expenditure is attributable to the UK. The core elements of the EU support are:
Assistance to the Palestinian Election Commission (€10 million);
Technical expertise on election operations (€1 million);
International observation of the election process (€2.5 million);
Assistance to voter and civic education (€350,000).
The UK Government are also assisting elections through the following projects:
Purchase of Ballot Papers (£45,000);
Media Monitoring of 2006 Palestinian Legislative Council Elections (£34,000);
Training of journalists and public awareness (£90,316).
The Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement, Mr. James Wolfensohn, has identified the key issues for Israeli disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank to be an economic success for the Palestinians and to assure Israeli security. DFID is working closely with Mr. Wolfensohn's team and is providing assistance to help the PA develop a medium-term development plan; one of the key issues identified by Mr. Wolfensohn. DFID is also providing substantial financial support (£15 million in 2005-06) to support Palestinian refugees in Gaza and elsewhere. This assistance, provided via the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), helps provide education, health, housing and social services to Palestinian refugees.
Monday 10th October 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Prime Minister, what the outcome was of his meeting with Muslim faith representatives on Tuesday 19th July.
The Prime Minister
I refer my hon. Friend to my opening remarks at the press conference I held with President Karzai and to the press briefing given by my Official Spokesman on Tuesday 19th July. Transcripts of each are available on the No. 10 website.
Monday 10th October 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development
(1) Whether poor countries which receive debt relief are expected to remove impediments to domestic and foreign investment;
(2) Whether poor countries which receive debt relief are expected to promote the development of their private sectors.
Hilary Benn (Secretary of State, Department for International Development)
Debt relief is provided to enable countries to make faster progress towards the millennium development goals. In providing debt relief under agreements such as the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative. The UK abides by the HIPC standards agreed internationally. The multilateral debt stock cancellation proposed by the G8 and recently agreed at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings also uses these standards.
Private sector, investment and trade regulation reforms are sometimes part of the above processes (for example, in a poverty reduction strategy or where derived from national plans and in-country debate), but such economic policy choices would not be imposed on countries.
Monday 10th October 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the adjustment of gross assistance flows by poor countries is taken into account when granting debt relief to them.
Hilary Benn (Secretary of State, Department for International Development)
In providing debt relief under agreements such as the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative, the UK abides by the HIPC standards agreed at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings also uses these standards. To be eligible for such relief, a country's gross national income per capita, debt levels and national export revenues are taken into consideration, along with its macroeconomic management and commitment to poverty reduction. The level or adjustment of gross assistance flows is not considered.
Thursday 23rd September 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment she has made of the level of abuse of methadone.
Caroline Flint (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Home Office)
There have been no formal assessments made on the level of abuse of methadone. However, the Department recognises the key role that effective substitute prescribing has to play in meeting our overall aim of offering high quality treatment to drug misusers. It is because of the commitment that the Department published Drug Misuse and Dependence - Guidelines on Clinical Management (1999), which is widely regarded as being extremely successful in assisting prescribers in offering appropriate treatment to their patients. Part of this also tackles the issue of diversion of methadone through advice on supervised consumption.
Building on this, the National Treatment Agency (NTA), which has a remit to improve the availability and quality of drug treatment, has just completed an audit of prescribing services in England which will be available shortly. The NTA will also be undertaking series of reviews of community prescribing services with the Healthcare Commission, later in 2005. The NTA has performance management structures in place to effectively tackle those drug action teams assessed as underperforming, as far as drug treatment is concerned.
One of the key measures used to assess the quality of substitute prescribing, including levels of diversion, is the number of drug related deaths associated with its use. In 2003, the latest year for which figures are available, 167 deaths associated with the use of methadone were reported. This compares with 286 in 1999, a reduction of 42 percent.
As part of our ongoing commitment to continue to develop improved practise in substitute prescribing, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will, within a comprehensive package of work that it will be undertaking on drug treatment, do a specific appraisal on the clinical effectiveness of methadone in the treatment of drug misuse.
Monday 12th September 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that UK citizens are prevented from travelling to terrorist training camps abroad.
Charles Clarke (Secretary of State, Home Office)
The forthcoming Terrorism Bill will contain a new offence of providing and receiving training in the use of hazardous substances and in other methods or techniques for terrorist purpose.
Monday 12th September 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the representations that he has received from Muslim community leaders in Leeds regarding their concerns over the recent London suicide bombers.
Paul Goggins (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office)
Following the events of 7 July, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary welcomes the statement of condolence, condemnation and reassurance of support made by the Muslim community leaders in Leeds.
The Home Secretary has had meetings with Muslim community leaders on several occasions since 7 July and is committed to continuing work with faith communities.
Monday 12th September 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will allow asylum seekers to work while their applications are being considered.
Tony McNulty (Minister of State, Home Office)
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 115W.
Thursday 1st September 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether conditions will be imposed upon countries in Africa following the agreement at the G8 summit to create fairer trade.
Ian Pearson (Minister of State for Trade, Department of Trade and Industry)
The outcome of the G8 summit will not impose conditions on Africa.
The G8 summit agreed a comprehensive plan to support the progress Africa has made in recent years. This includes helping to build Africa's capacity to trade, for which the EU have pledged €1 billion per year. Leaders also committed to provide resources and training to help Africa producers meet current and new health and safety standards for food exports and other products; to support Africa efforts to increase South-South trade and regional integration; and to improve utilisation of G8 preference schemes, reporting back on progress to future presidencies.
The G8 emphasised that a successful conclusion to the WTO Doha Development Agenda (DDA) will be one of the most effective ways to generate economic growth, create potential for development and raise living standards across the world. The World Bank estimates that completing these negotiations could lift 140 million people out of poverty. Leaders committed to continue to work towards ensuring there is appropriate flexibility in the DDA negotiations.
Thursday 11th August 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he will make an announcement on the Leeds Supertram proposal.
Derek Twigg (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State made clear the position on the Supertram scheme in his Oral statement last summer on 20th July 2004, Official Report, column 159. Since then we have been in discussions with WYPTE about their alternative proposals which we will decide upon in due course.
Wednesday 3rd August 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to ensure that UK citizens are prevented from travelling to terrorist training camps abroad.
Charles Clarke (Home Secretary)
The forthcoming Terrorism Bill will contain a new offence of providing and receiving training in the se of hazardous substances and in other methods or techniques for terrorist purpose.
Tuesday 26th July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support his Department offer asylum seekers who have failed in their applications but whose countries are too dangerous for them to return to.
Tony McNulty (Minister of State, Home Office)
Unsuccessful asylum seekers unable to leave the country immediately due to circumstances entirely beyond their control may be provided with support under section four of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. This support is provided in the form of accommodation and, where possible, food. Where food is not provided vouchers valued at £35 per week are issued to enable the supported person to buy food. Essential toiletries are also provided.
Tuesday 26th July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will allow asylum seekers to work whilst their applications are being considered.
Tony McNulty (Minister of State, Home Office)
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 4th July 2005.
Thursday 21st July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the representations that he has received from Muslim community leaders in Leeds regarding their concerns over the recent London suicide bombers.
Paul Goggins (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Home Office)
Following the events of 7th July, my Rt Hon Friend the Home Secretary welcomes the statement of condolence, condemnation and reassurance of support made by the Muslim community leaders in Leeds.
The Home Secretary has had meetings with Muslim community leaders on several occasions since 7 July and is committed to continuing work with faith communities.
Thursday 21st July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development, what conditions he has attached to debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries in Africa.
Hilary Benn (Secretary of State, Department for International Development)
Debt relief is provided to enable countries to make faster progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. It is essential therefore that the resources made available by the relief are used for poverty reduction. In providing debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, the UK abides by the standards agreed internationally. Under these standards, countries must demonstrate a sustained commitment to poverty reduction and macroeconomic stability is critical to provide a foundation for growth, avoid adverse effects of inflation on the poor and to protect government expenditure that benefits the poor. The debt stock cancellation recently proposed by the G8 would use these standards.
Thursday 21st July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State, Department for International Development, what conditions were attached to the offer of aid to the poorest nations in Africa following the agreement at the G8 summit.
Hilary Benn (Secretary of State, Department for International Development)
The additional aid agreed for Africa by the G8 will be used to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and to help achieve the objectives agreed in the Communique. G8 leaders agreed that aid will be focused on countries where it will make a difference, particularly low-income countries which are committed to growth and poverty reduction, to democratic, accountable and transparent government, and to sound public financial management.
Thursday 14th July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to involve local communities in obtaining antisocial behaviour orders.
Hazel Blears (Minister of State, Home Office)
Antisocial behaviour orders are community-based orders designed to protect individuals or whole communities from behaviour that has caused, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to others. They involve local communities in the collection of evidence and in helping to enforce breaches. They also encourage local people to take an active role in protecting their communities and making them safer places in which to live.
Wednesday 13th July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Government support is available to financial advisers threatened with legal action for the alleged mis-selling of mortgage endowment policies.
Ivan Lewis (Economic Secretary, HM Treasury)
The Government does not provide support to financial advisors threatened with legal action for the alleged mis-selling of mortgage endowment policies. However, the Financial Services Authority requires all authorised firms to hold sufficient Professional Indemnity Insurance.
Wednesday 13th July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the criteria against which the relevant regulatory authorities make judgments on allegations of the mis-selling of mortgage endowment policies.
Ivan Lewis (Economic Secretary, HM Treasury)
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) is an independent body that adjudicates consumer complaints against FSA authorized firms. It does not have a fixed set of criteria to use when determining whether a financial advisor has mis-sold a product. Rather, the FOS considers what is fair and reasonable to all parties, having regard to the individual circumstances of the case, the law, and any regulatory rules or advice in place at the time.
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) is the statutory compensation fund of last resort, which can provide compensation to eligible claimants where the investment firm responsible for the liability is itself unable to do so (usually because it has ceased to exist or is insolvent). With mortgage endowment claims, as with other mis-selling claims, FSCS looks to see whether there has been a breach of obligations giving rise to a civil liability for actual financial loss.
Wednesday 13th July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons the Financial Services Authority is advising mortgage endowment policy holders to take legal action against their financial advisers for mis-selling policies.
Ivan Lewis (Economic Secretary, HM Treasury)
The FSA is not advising policyholders to take any particular course of action. The FSA has provided information on its website and through its consumer factsheets about the options available to consumers if they currently face a projected shortfall on their endowment mortgage or if they believe they have been mis-sold an endowment policy.
Wednesday 13th July 2005
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East): To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria are used by the Financial Services Authority to determine whether a financial adviser has mis-sold a financial product.
Ivan Lewis (Economic Secretary, HM Treasury)
Financial advisers that are authorised by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) are required to comply with the FSA's Conduct of Business Rules with regard to the promotion of financial products. The FSA does not arbitrate on individual complaints made against financial firms.
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