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26 Jun 1996 : Column: 119

Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 26 June 1996

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Contracts

Mrs. Roche: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list (a) the average value of contracts awarded by his Department (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded (c) the number of contracts with a value of (1) £0-£999, (2) £1,000-£9,999, (3) £10,000-£49,999, (4) £50,000-£99,999, (5) £100,000-£499,999, (6) £500,000-£999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995-96. [34153]

Mr. Willetts: The information is not held centrally in the form requested and is available only at disproportionate cost.

Compliance Cost Assessment

Mrs. Roche: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals he has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by his Department contains a compliance cost assessment (a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34152]

Mr. Freeman: The Government require a compliance cost assessment to be prepared for all legislative proposals which affect business or charities. Departments must consult small businesses about the impact of the proposal on them, and the results must be shown in the CCA. Full details of the arrangements for carrying out a CCA are set out in "Checking the Cost of Regulation: A Guide to Compliance Cost Assessment", a copy of which is in the House Library.

Occupational Health and Safety Agency

Mr. Tim Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make an announcement on the progress of the sale of the Occupational Health and Safety Agency. [34972]

Mr. Freeman: The House was informed on 23 November last year that it was the Government's intention to sell the Occupational Health and Safety Agency as a single viable business in a way which would ensure that it retained its reputation for the provision of high-quality occupational health services to Government Departments and the wider public sector while allowing it to benefit from the freedom and opportunities for attracting new customers to be gained outside the constraints of operating within Government.

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A large number of expressions of interest were received following the advertisement of the sale in May this year. These have subsequently been reduced through an indicative bid procedure. A final shortlist of four has now been selected. Those being invited to submit final bids are:


I believe that this shortlist will lead to final bids which maximise the prospects of securing good long-term value for money for the Government and taxpayer while meeting the objectives set for the sale of the business.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Immigration

Mr. Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will propose an amendment to the immigration rules in order to continue leave to take employment for a migrant who, having had leave to remain and work in the United Kingdom, applies in good time for a renewal of that leave and make interim provision for the period between the expiry of the old leave and any grant or refusal of new leave. [33319]

Mr. Kirkhope: No amendment is necessary. The Variation of Leave Order 1976 provides that, when a person applies for an extension of stay before the expiry of his leave, the conditions attached to that leave continue until the application is resolved.

Boundary Commission

Mr. Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce who will be deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England. [35047]

Mr. Howard: The Lord Chancellor has appointed Mr. Justice Michael Harrison to serve as the deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England. This appointment is effective until 31 December 1999.

Contracts

Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) the average value of contracts awarded by his Department, (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded, (c) the number of contracts with a value of (1) £0 to £999, (2) £1,000 to £9,999, (3) £10,000 to £49,999, (4) £50,000 to £99,999, (5) £100,000 to £499,999, (6) £500,000 to £999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995-96. [34127]

Mr. Howard: The information required to answer this question is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

26 Jun 1996 : Column: 121

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Compliance Cost Assessments

Mrs Roche: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has to ensure that each legislative measure put forward by his Department contains a compliance cost assessments (a) relating to small firms and (b) in respect of which small firms have been consulted. [34130]

Mr. Streeter: I refer to the written answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster setting out the Government's requirements for the preparation of compliance cost assessments.

Contracts

Mrs. Roche: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list (a) the average value of contracts awarded by his Department, (b) the value of (i) the smallest and (ii) the largest contract awarded, (c) the number of contracts with a value of (1) £0 to £999, (2) £1,000 to £9,999, (3) £10,000 to £49,999, (4) £50,000 to £99,999, (5) £100,000 to £499,999, (6) £500,000 to £999,999 and (7) above £1,000,000 and (d) the total number of contracts awarded in 1995-96. [34131]

Mr. Streeter: Details of every contract let by the Department are not held in central registers and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, analysis of the 617 contracts awarded in 1995-96 which are held in central registers is as follows:


OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

Sierra Leone

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the new Government of Sierra Leone concerning the restoration of human rights in that country and the bringing to justice of those guilty of the violation of human rights in that country. [24055]

Mr. Hanley: We are encouraging the civilian Government to carry forward the process of political reform and are giving support for good governance projects in areas such as the police and judiciary.

26 Jun 1996 : Column: 122

Orphans (HIV)

Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resources have been allocated to programmes addressing the care and support of orphaned children in countries affected by the HIV epidemic. [34443]

Mr. Hanley: The ODA does not provide funds specifically for the development of institutional care for children orphaned by HIV-AIDS, but prefers to support work which enables communities themselves to care for people affected by HIV-AIDS. Examples of this approach include ODA funding for a home-based care training programme in Chingola, Zambia and for an AIDS education, prevention and community care programme in Kenya. Through its grants to UNICEF, the ODA contributes to similar projects being implemented throughout the developing world. The percentage of ODA bilateral and multilateral resources applied exclusively to the care of orphans is not calculable.

PRIME MINISTER

Prime Ministerial Visits

Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list (a) the visits he has made to Wales to carry out official duties and (b) the dates of those visits. [34417]

The Prime Minister: I have visited Wales on official business on the following occasions since I became Prime Minister:


In addition to these, I have visited Wales on a number of other occasions.

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