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Ministerial Code
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Prime Minister if the term spouse has been replaced or complemented by the word partner in the terms of reference in the (a) ministerial code and (b) internal guidance connected with the code; and when the change in interpretation was made. [24535]
The Prime Minister:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Guildford (Mr. St. Aubyn) on 20 January 1998, Official Report, column 483.
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Sir Teddy Taylor:
To ask the Prime Minister (1) when he intends to answer the letter sent to him by Mr. Graham Horwood of 66 St. Andrews Road, Shoeburyness on the subject of solar thermal projects on 17 August 1997; and if he will make a statement on the procedures which he adopts in dealing with correspondence from the general public; [24502]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 22 January 1998]: The letter was forwarded to my hon. Friend the Minister for Science, Energy and Industry for substantive reply. I understand a response has been sent.
Mr. Kirkwood:
To ask the Prime Minister what are the terms of reference and the membership of the new Cabinet committee on welfare reform; when the committee will have its first meeting; and if he will make a statement. [23953]
The Prime Minister:
I am chairing a group of Ministers considering welfare reform issues. My right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, the Secretary of State for Health, the Secretary of State for Social Security and the Minister for Welfare Reform and my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Housing are members of the group. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions will also attend as his other commitments allow. The group had its first meeting on 22 January. We had an excellent discussion.
Mr. Wilshire:
To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 19 January 1998, Official Report, column 402, if he will list the variety of factors he took into account when appointing the current Foreign Secretary. [25494]
The Prime Minister:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 19 January 1988, Official Report, column 402.
(2) when he received a letter from the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East about the absence of a reply to his constituent Mr. Graham Horwood's letter of 17 August 1997; and what action was taken in consequence. [24503]
Ministerial Visits
Mr. Maude: To ask the Minister without Portfolio what is his Department's policy in respect of the class and type of air fares to be used when (a) Ministers and (b) officials travel on official business abroad. [24731]
Mr. Mandelson:
In accordance with the practice of the previous administration, when travelling on official business Ministers of State normally use the best available class for flights lasting longer than 2½ hours. For shorter flights Ministers normally travel by Club or equivalent class, or economy class when an intermediate class is not
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available. The detailed rules covering officials' travel are set out in the Department's Management Code, but when travelling with Ministers on official business, officials will generally travel in the same class as the Minister they are accompanying.
Millennium Experience
Mr. Maude: To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will make a statement on the current state of plans to use the centre of the Millennium Experience Dome as a space for theatrical performances. [23231]
Mr. Mandelson: The content of the Dome will provide a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience for every visitor, on the theme that the millennium represents a "Time to Make a Difference". An integral part of this will be a central attraction which will provide an exciting multi-media event that can be shared by all who visit.
The centre of the Dome will be opened up to create a large, informal piazza with views across the Dome from every vantage point, utilising to the full the natural contours and scale of this impressive space. The New Millennium Experience Company are still developing and improving the design with the aim of ensuring that maximum resources go into the content rather than the internal structure of the Dome.
Earlier schemes involved creating an enclosed auditorium at the centre of the Dome, which would in effect have been a separate internal amphitheatre building. The revised plans will still offer people an uplifting central experience without the need for a large and costly central structure.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio what kind of outreach participation and by what medium will be available to (a) schools, (b) museums and galleries and (c) the general public from the Millennium Experience. [23709]
Mr. Mandelson:
The New Millennium Experience Company is in the process of establishing 12 regional offices whose staff will be responsible for developing and implementing a broad range of events, activities and programmes under the Millennium Experience theme "Time to Make a Difference". They will directly involve schools, museums and galleries and other agencies and groups across the country and will offer opportunities for everyone in the UK to participate in the Millennium celebrations.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio, pursuant to his answer of 15 January 1998, Official Report, column 286, what role he envisages for Norfolk within the Millennium Experience national programme on the theme, time to make a difference. [25281]
Mr. Mandelson:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 15 January 1998, Official Report, column 286, to his previous question on this subject.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will list the shortlisted candidates for the Board of the New Millennium Experience Company. [25554]
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Mr. Mandelson:
A range of candidates were considered for the Board of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC). All appointments have been announced; but to divulge the details of unsuccessful candidates would be a breach of confidentiality in respect of the individuals concerned.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will make a statement on the Millennium Experience national programme theme, Time to Make a Difference. [24823]
Mr. Mandelson
[holding answer 23 January 1998]: The New Millennium Experience Company is currently finalising the comprehensive range of events, programmes and activities which will comprise the national programme of Millennium celebrations under the theme that the Millennium represents a "Time to Make a Difference". Details will be announced in the spring.
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Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio what is the theme and purpose of the Millennium Experience. [23714]
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will issue a mission statement for the Millennium Experience. [24824]
Mr. Mandelson:
The overarching theme of the Millennium Experience and its associated national programme of events and activities will be that the Millennium represents "Time to Make a Difference".
The Millennium Experience will create a focus for Millennium celebrations on a national scale and put the UK at the centre of world celebrations. The Experience will engage, inspire and involve the whole nation in a celebration of which it can be proud, and which will leave a lasting legacy.
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Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the health spending per head of the population in the Greater London area in 1996. [24533]
Mr. Milburn:
Provisional data for 1996-97 show that health spending per head of population in Greater London was £730.
Mr. Stringer:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the impact on revenue costs to the NHS over the next (a) 10 and (b) 20 years of all PFI schemes. [25472]
Mr. Milburn:
We have prioritised 15 major Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes. The schemes at Dartford and Gravesham National Health Service Trust, Carlisle Hospitals NHS Trust, South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, and Norfolk and Norwich Health Care NHS Trust have reached financial close. Details of the unitary charge payable to the private sector in the remaining eleven schemes are being negotiated and therefore commercially confidential until financial close is achieved.
| Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust(17) | South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust(18) | Norfolk and Norwich NHS Trust(19) | Carlisle Hospitals NHS Trust(17) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-99 | -- | 3.7 | -- | -- |
| 1999-00 | -- | 5.0 | -- | -- |
| 2000-01 | 12.5 | 8.2 | -- | 9.1 |
| 2001-02 | 16.6 | 8.2 | 7.9 | 10.9 |
| 2002-03 | 16.6 | 8.2 | 31.7 | 10.9 |
| 2003-04 | 16.6 | 8.2 | 31.7 | 10.9 |
| 2004-05 | 16.6 | 8.2 | 31.7 | 10.9 |
| 2005-06 | 16.6 | 8.5 | 31.7 | 10.9 |
| 2006-07 | 16.6 | 8.5 | 31.7 | 10.9 |
| 2007-08 | 16.6 | 8.5 | 31.7 | 10.9 |
| 2008-09 | 16.6 | 8.5 | 31.7 | 10.9 |
| 2009-10 | 16.6 | 8.5 | 31.7 | 10.9 |
| 2010-11 | 16.6 | 8.5 | 31.7 | 10.9 |
| 2011-12 | 16.6 | 8.5 | 31.7 | 10.9 |
| 2012-13 | 16.6 | 8.5 | 31.7 | 10.9 |
| 2013-14 | 16.6 | 8.5 | 31.7 | 10.9 |
| 2014-15 | 16.6 | 8.5 | 31.7 | 10.9 |
| 2015-16 | 16.6 | 8.9 | 31.7 | 10.9 |
| 2016-17 | 16.6 | 8.4 | 31.7 | 10.9 |
| 2017-18 | 16.6 | 8.4 | 31.7 | 10.9 |
| 2018-19 | 16.6 | 8.4 | 31.7 | 10.9 |
(17) Figures in 1996 prices and are subject to indexation.
(18) Figures in 1997 prices and are subject to indexation. Figures assume that the scheme becomes operational during 1999-2000 with the delivery of facilities management service beginning in 1998.
(19) Figures in 1995 prices and are subject to indexation.
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