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ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Payment of Bills
Mr. Betts: To ask the Attorney-General what percentage of bills to his Department for the financial year 1995 to 1996 were paid (a) in accordance with agreed contractual conditions and (b) within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice where no contractual conditions applied. [21208]
The Attorney-General: I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 18 July 1996, Official Report, columns 613-14. This gives figures of 94.3 per cent. for the Crown Prosecution Service and 92 per cent. for the Serious Fraud Office. In the case of the Treasury Solicitor's Department, 75 per cent. of invoices were paid within 30 days. The Government Property Lawyers paid all bills in accordance with contract.
Next Steps Principles
Mr. Elletson: To ask the Attorney-General how next steps principles are being applied in the Crown Prosecution Service and Serious Fraud Office. [21514]
The Attorney-General: As I announced on 27 October 1995, Official Report, column 797, to the hon. Member, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud Office are now both operating according to next steps principles. Each Department has agreed a management framework which explains how these principles, which include the introduction of new performance measures and devolution of responsibilities, are being applied in practice. Copies of the management frameworks have been put in the Libraries of the House.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Government Car Service
Mr. Peter Atkinson:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what performance targets he has set for the Government car service and interdespatch service; and if he will make a statement. [21643]
20 Mar 1997 : Column: 697
Mr. Freeman:
Following my announcement on 3 December, I have made arrangements for the establishment of a new agency from 1 April. It will comprise the Government car service and the interdespatch service and will be known as Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have set the following performance targets for the financial year 1997-98.
Financial
Achieve 100.5 per cent. cost recovery on an accruals basis.
Operate within a maximum deficit on the Vote of -£270,000 excluding payments for voluntary early retirement or severance.
Achieve a sales turnover of £10. 3 million.
Quality
Achieve a customer satisfaction rating of 92 per cent.
Maintain ISO 9002 accreditation for the Government car service pool, and extend it to the interdespatch service.
Efficiency
Achieve no less than 2 per cent. reduction in running costs in real terms.
Environment
Achieve an annual average of 25.5 miles per gallon for GCS and IDS fleets.
I am placing copies of the framework document for GCDA in the Libraries of the House.
Compliance Cost Assessments
Mr. Peter Atkinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list those compliance cost assessments published during the latest six month period. [21644]
Mr. Freeman: Since April 1993, the Government have required Departments to prepare and publish compliance cost assessments with all proposed legislation presented to Parliament to assess the impact on business costs. This includes a special test of the impact on small businesses. Since January 1996, the responsible Minister has had to certify that he has seen the CCA and is satisfied that the regulatory proposal strikes the appropriate balance between cost and benefit.
I have presented to Parliament today a Command Paper--Cmd 3593--listing 101 CCAs published between 1 July 1996 and 31 December 1996 plus two CCAs published in June 1996 which were omitted from the previous Command Paper. Copies of the CCAs listed are available in the Libraries of the House. This is the sixth such Command Paper.
Scott Inquiry
Mr. Peter Atkinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he will publish guidance for Crown servants involved in the investigation or prosecution of a criminal offence referred to in his answer of 22 January, Official Report, columns 600-01, summarising the Government's response to the recommendations made by Sir Richard Scott following his inquiry into the export of arms and arms-related equipment to Iraq. [21637]
Mr. Freeman:
I have today published two guidance booklets--"Giving Evidence or Information about Suspected Crimes: A Guide for Crown Servants" and "Giving Evidence or Information about Suspected Crimes: Guidance for Departments and Investigators".
20 Mar 1997 : Column: 698
The booklets provide advice on the responsibilities of Crown servants who believe that they have official information which may be relevant to the investigation or prosecution of a criminal offence. The booklets also set out comprehensive procedures for handling requests for such information from investigators, prosecutors or the defence. The availability of the booklets is being made known to all Crown servants. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Betts:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of bills to his Department for the financial year 1995 to 1996 were paid (a) in accordance with agreed contractual conditions and (b) within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice where no contractual conditions applied. [21196]
Mr. Freeman:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade on 18 July 1996, columns 613-14.
Mr. Allason:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations he has received concerning the purchase of Bletchley park by Admiral Sir Hugh Sinclair and its current ownership. [20674]
Mr. Freeman:
Responsibility for this matter has been delegated under the terms of its framework document to the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate under its chief executive, Mr. Neil Borrett. The agency is therefore responding to the question.
Letter from N. E. Borrett to Mr. Rupert Allason, dated 19 March 1997:
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to reply to your Question regarding Bletchley Park.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps she is taking to ensure that the Football Trust can resume its grant aid programmes for football at all levels of the game. [20992]
Mr. Sproat:
I have recently met representatives of the Football Trust to discuss its future funding programme. I am hopeful that a solution will be found soon that will enable the trust's grants programme to be resumed. The Government remain committed to delivering on schedule the essential football ground safety improvements agreed following the Taylor report.
20 Mar 1997 : Column: 699
Mr. John Marshall:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the lottery awards in excess of £100,000 which have been made to charitable bodies. [21177]
Mr. Sproat:
I have arranged for a list of all awards in excess of £100,000 to charitable bodies--as defined by each distributor--to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Luff:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the lottery awards in excess of £1 million which have been made for the arts. [21178]
Mr. Sproat:
To date, there have been 105 awards in excess of £1 million for the Arts. I have arranged for a list to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Richards:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the lottery awards in excess of £1 million which have been made for sport. [21176]
Mr. Sproat:
To date, there have been 79 awards in excess of £1 million for sport. I have arranged for a list to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Sir Terence Higgins:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement regarding the future provision of athletic facilities at Crystal Palace. [21350]
Mr. Sproat:
No decisions about the long-term investment in the future of Crystal Palace national sports centre will be taken without prior consultation with the relevant sporting governing bodies. The English Sports Council have decided that the needs of athletics should be included in consideration of plans for developing Crystal Palace. However, should it ultimately be decided after consultation to change or close the athletics facilities there, this would be only after ensuring that additional facilities are provided elsewhere in London.
PACE is responsible for the management and disposal of the part of Bletchley Park owned by the Secretary of State for the Environment.
PACE has not received any representations concerning the purchase of Bletchley Park by Admiral Sir Hugh Sinclair. We are not aware of any Government Department receiving such a representation.
The Land Certificate records that the title is registered at the Land Registry and is currently vested in the Secretary of State for the Environment and British Telecommunications Plc.
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