here - United Kingdom Parliament

825W
Written Answers
1 DECEMBER 2010
Written Answers
826W
answer by 18 November 2010; and what estimate he has
made of the average cost to the Commission of
answering a question for written answer on a named
day on the day named for answer in the latest period
for which figures are available. [25991]
Mr Tyrie: In Session 2009-10, there was one question
tabled to the Public Accounts Commission for answer
on a named day. This received a substantive answer four
days after the day named, which was the next sitting
day. Since May 2010 there have been no named day
questions.
The Public Accounts Commission has not made an
estimate of the average cost of answering a named day
question on the day named for answer but it is noted
that HM Treasury has established the cost of a written
PQ as £154.00. See paragraph 7.27 at the following link:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/parliamentary-clerk-guide/
chapter7.aspx
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Chairman of the
Public Accounts Commission how many and what
proportion of questions tabled to the Public Accounts
Commission for ordinary written answer (a) in Session
2009-10 and (b) since May 2010 were answered within
(i) seven days and (ii) 14 days of tabling; how many such
questions tabled between May 2010 and 12 November
2010 remained unanswered by 18 November 2010; and
what estimate he has made of the average cost the
Commission of answering a question for ordinary written
answer within seven days of tabling in the latest period
for which figures are available. [25992]
Mr Tyrie: In Session 2009-10, there were two questions
tabled to the Public Accounts Commission for ordinary
written answer, of which both were answered within
seven days. Between May 2010 and 12 November 2010
there were no questions tabled for ordinary written
answer.
The Public Accounts Commission has not made an
estimate of the average cost of answering an ordinary
written question within seven days of tabling, but it is
noted that HM Treasury has established the cost of a
written PQ as £154.00. See paragraph 7.27 at the following
link:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/parliamentary-clerk-guide/
chapter7.aspx
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Akmyrat Rejepow
Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign
and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his
Department has made to the government of
Turkmenistan on the (a) fate and (b) whereabouts of
Akmyrat Rejepow. [27314]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office
has made no representations to the Turkmen Government
on the fate and whereabouts of Akmyrat Rejepow, nor
are we aware of a request for us to do so. We understand
that Mr Rejepow (a former general in the Turkmen
security apparatus) was sentenced to 20 years’imprisonment
in May 2007, having been convicted on charges of
corruption. We understand he is being held in secure
detention in Ashgabat or in a prison colony not far
from Ashgabat. Mr Rejepow’s son, Nurmurad—arrested
at the same time—was pardoned in 2007.
We continue to have a regular and constructive dialogue
with the Turkmen Government on human rights issues,
both bilaterally and through international fora such as
the European Union. Monitoring and raising individual
cases forms an important component of this dialogue.
British Council: Finance
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding
was provided by his Department to the British Council
in each year since 2005. [23459]
Mr Jeremy Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the
answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Mid
Sussex (Nicholas Soames) on 27 July 2010, Official
Report, column 970W.
Cayman Islands: Loans
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conditions
were placed on the loan of £217 million to the Cayman
Islands authorised in 2009. [27742]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Government gave permission
for the Cayman Islands Government to borrow Cayman
Island $275 million in October 2009, subject to the
Cayman Islands Government (CIG):
including further savings/efficiency measures in 2009-10 budget
plans;
undertaking an urgent independent impact assessment of the
community enhancement fee, alternative forms of payroll tax,
property tax and any other tax that would genuinely broaden
the revenue base;
introducing substantial new tax(es) or fee(s) as identified in the
impact assessment study as soon as possible and certainly no
later than financial year 2010; and
taking swift action to further cut expenditure and/or raise
additional revenue if a greater than expected deficit was recorded.
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conditions
he placed on the loans to the Cayman Islands authorised
in June 2010. [27743]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Government gave permission
for the Cayman Islands Government to borrow Cayman
Island $155 million in June 2010, subject to:
The measures in the Cayman Islands Government’s
(CIG) three year plan being fully implemented, which
included measures to make significant savings/efficiencies,
and raise revenue by increasing fuel duty over the three
years;
CIG using the proceeds of divestment activity to establish a
dedicated “sinking fund” within the next year to rebuild reserves
and offset debt attached to the recent bond issue;
CIG restructuring existing loans to put in place arrangements
to pay down debt over the longer term; and
CIG ensuring that the Cayman Islands have a full, up-to-date
set of audited accounts by the end of the next financial year;
and
No further requests for borrowing being made over the next
financial year.