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New Deal
Mrs. Gorman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the Environment Taskforce in the New Deal will be involved in any areas which are currently managed or maintained by local authorities.[8207]
Mr. Andrew Smith: Detailed discussions will begin shortly about the arrangements for delivering the New Deal, and the scope and nature of the work of the environment task force. Local authorities will have an important role to play in local discussions and planning.
Mrs. Gorman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what remuneration is to be paid to Sir Peter Davis for his work with the Advisory Task Force in the New Deal. [8205]
Mr. Smith:
None.
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Mrs. Gorman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment who will be responsible for the control of the Environment Taskforce in the New Deal. [8208]
Mr. Smith:
The Employment Service will be responsible for implementing the New Deal for those aged 18 to 24 who have been unemployed for six months or longer. Whilst the Department will retain overall responsibility for the New Deal, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions will play a major role in setting up and delivery of the environmental task force. The main responsibility for monitoring the activities of the task force will lie with the Department, but the DETR will also have a role, given its wider responsibility for environmental matters.
Mr. Colvin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what meetings he has held with local government representatives to discuss the audit of youth service provision; and if he will make a statement. [7658]
Dr. Howells:
The Department will shortly be consulting the Local Government Association about the form and content of the audit of youth service provision. I have also agreed to meet representatives of local authorities to discuss a number of matters including the youth service audit. Their views will be taken into account together with those of other organisations consulted before the audit request is sent to local authorities.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of his Department's publications have been available in (a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print in each year since 1992; and what percentage of the total number of publications this represents in each case. [7642]
Dr. Howells:
To identify and list publications that have been produced in these three formats within separate years would be very time consuming and possible only at disproportionate cost.
At the present time, the Department has approximately 3,290 separate publications available. Of these 72 are available in Braille, 56 in audio tape; and 19 in large print. Therefore 2 per cent. of the total are available in Braille, 1.7 per cent. in audio tape and 0.6 per cent. in large print.
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In recent years the Department's policy has been to make publications that will be of very wide public interest available in formats that are suitable for people with visual impairments. This will continue.
Mr. Don Foster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment by what date copies of "Excellence in Schools: A Summary" will be available in Hindi and Punjabi. [8513]
Mr. Byers:
Copies of the summary will be available to the public within the next two weeks.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the total annual cost of running the proposed Disability Rights Commission. [7739]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
Our manifesto commits us to supporting comprehensive, enforceable civil rights for disabled people. We are consulting interested parties on the best way to achieve this and we shall develop proposals in the light of our discussions. Estimated costs related to the proposals emanating from our manifesto commitment will be made available at the appropriate time.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the Adjournment Debate of 11 June, Official Report, columns 1253-60, if he will discuss with Chancellor Kohl (a) the recent statements made by the Public Prosecutor's office in Frankfurt on the role of Abgdol Hassam Mesbahi in respect of the destruction of PanAm 103 and (b) its consequences for UN sanctions against Libya. [8550]
The Prime Minister:
No. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East (Sir T. Taylor) on 11 July, Official Report, column 626.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent discussion with President Mandela relating to Libyan sanctions and Lockerbie.[7937]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 11 July 1997]: President Mandela and I agreed on the need to bring this tragic issue to a conclusion. I explained our position that to secure the lifting of sanctions, Libya must comply with the requirements of the Security Council Resolutions.
Mr. Kaufman:
To ask the Prime Minister what plans the Government have for the Department of National Heritage; and if he will make a statement. [8896]
The Prime Minister:
The Government have decided to refocus the Department of National Heritage to play a major part in the regeneration of our country for the future, working with the cultural industries, local
14 Jul 1997 : Column: 44
government and the private sector to support creativity and also to create wealth and employment. As an expression of this change, the Department will be renamed the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and its responsibilities widened to include the music industries, which contribute some £2.5 billion to gross domestic product each year.
My right hon. Friend, who will be known as the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, will develop a new and dynamic approach to the "creative industries". He will carry through the Government's commitment to a strategic vision for the British arts, media and cultural industries that matches their real power and energy.
The formal steps necessary to change my right hon. Friend's title are in hand are expected to be completed shortly.
Mr. Peter Bottomley:
To ask the Prime Minister when he first discussed with his colleagues reducing the value of corporate dividends to group and individual pension schemes; whom they consulted about the consequences; and when they first advised the general public of their intentions. [8565]
The Prime Minister:
We began our review of corporate tax two years ago while we were still in opposition. the review was mentioned on page 13 of our manifesto and on page 9 of our business manifesto. On taking office, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor started to put together his Budget taking advice as required. The details of the measures were announced in his Budget statement of 2 July.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will consider opening to public inspection the pages relating to "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" in classmark CAB 171 of the Public Record Office which are currently being reviewed by the Cabinet Office. [8010]
The Prime Minister:
All editions of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" have been published. In addition any papers in classmark CAB 171 relating to each published version have been released and are available in the Public Record Office.
Mr. Fallon:
To ask the Prime Minister what proportion of the time of the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe is spent on duties in (a) the Treasury and (b) the Department of Trade and Industry. [7432]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 9 July 1997]: The Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe expects to spend up to 20 per cent. of his time dealing with Treasury duties.
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the oral answers of 3 July, Official Report, column 409; that to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley), Official Report, column 427, and that of
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4 July Official Report, column 585, what factors led to the differences underlying each answer relating to the business interests of the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe. [7420]
The Prime Minister:
There are no such differences.
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the Prime Minister what are the duties of the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness in Europe. [7429]
The Prime Minister:
I refer the right hon. Member to the List of Ministerial Responsibilities, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
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