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Media Allegations (Rebuttals)

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list (a) those units in his Department and (b) the number of departmental staff which are concerned with preparing rebuttals of allegations in the media; and what is (i) the total cost of their work, including salaries, and (ii) the number of rebuttals issued since May 1997. [71854]

Mr. Kilfoyle: In common with other Departments, the work of press officers in my Department includes responding to any misinformed allegations concerning Government policy or activity which are published in the media. They are supported in this work by other officials as necessary.

This is a routine part of a Department's work and it is not recorded separately from other tasks.

Women's Unit

Mr. Berry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the arrangements and mechanisms whereby the Women's Unit will ensure that women's interests are taken into account in the development and delivery of policies by all Government Departments in line with the performance targets. [71533]

Ms Jowell: I have been asked to reply.

"Policy Appraisal for Equal Treatment" was issued jointly by my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Women, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in November 1998. These guidelines, which were placed in the Library on 5 November 1998, show how to ensure that both policy making and service design consider the impact upon women and other groups. They have been sent to all Departments and agencies under cover of a note from the Cabinet Secretary emphasising their importance. This updated previous guidelines issued in 1992.

As set out in the Cabinet Office Public Service Agreement (PSA) (published as part of the "Public Services for the Future" White Paper in December 1998), the Women's Unit will develop further guidance for policy makers by the end of the year on how to consider the needs and requirements of women. This will

22 Feb 1999 : Column: 142

supplement the policy appraisal guidance. This will be circulated to all Government Departments and placed in the Library when complete.

The Women's Unit worked closely with Her Majesty's Treasury and other Departments in the development on PSAs which reflect women's interests. A performance target on tackling domestic violence against women has been included in the PSA for the Home Office and on the National Childcare Strategy in the PSA for the Department for Education and Employment. My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Women sits on the relevant Cabinet Committee which will be monitoring Departments' performance. Monitoring will cover the handling of cross-cutting issues, including women's interests.

The Women's Unit convenes a women's policy group of senior officials from Departments across Whitehall with responsibility for women's issues in their Departments. This group maintains an overview of activity to ensure that women's interests are taken into account coherently and consistently.

The Director of the Women's Unit is also responsible for the Women's National Commission (WNC), the advisory non-departmental public body on women. The WNC represents some 50 organisations with around 8 million members, and provides advice and comment on all aspects of Government policy.

SCOTLAND

Consultancies

Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate his Department's expenditure on (i) internal and (ii) external consultancy in (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99, (c) 1999-2000, (d) 2000-01 and (e) 2001-02. [69250]

Mr. Dewar [holding answer 4 February 1999]: It is not possible to provide the information for the Scottish Office and its Agencies in the time available. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible, placing a copy of my letter in the Library.

From 1 July, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

22 Feb 1999 : Column: 143

Departmental Advisers

Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the (a) salary costs and (b) other costs of special advisers in his Department in (i) 1996-97, (ii) 1997-98, (iii) 1998-99 and (iv) 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement. [69264]

Mr. Dewar [holding answer 8 February 1999]: Special Advisers' salaries are negotiated individually within the three-band range announced to the House by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 16 November 1998, Official Report, column 354. Individual salaries and pension contributions are confidential. Other costs of the Special Advisers in my Department since I took up office amounted to around £35,000 in 1997-98 and are estimated to amount to £57,000 in 1998-99. It is not possible to predict the costs for 1999-2000.

NHS Staff (Pay)

Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the cost of paying the proposed salary rises for NHS staff in Scotland, (a) in total and (b) by category; if he will estimate the additional cost of an additional 0.5 per cent. increase (i) in total and (ii) by category; how much extra each grade of Scottish nurse would receive if given the same percentage increase as the equivalent grade in London; and if he will make a statement. [69853]

Mr. Galbraith [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The total cost of the awards is £89 million. Details of cost for particular categories are as follows:

£ million
Nurses and Midwives49
PAMs7
Hospital Doctors and Dentists13
Ophthalmic Practitioners1
General Medical Practitioners15
General Dental Practitioners4

The estimated additional cost of an 0.5 per cent. increase in total by category would be as follows:

£ million
Nurses and Midwives4.5
PAMs0.6
Hospital Doctors and Dentists1.7
Ophthalmic Practitioners0.2
General Medical Practitioners1.2
General Dental Practitioners0.6
Total8.8

Each grade of Scottish nurse would receive between £398 and £750 per annum extra if given the same percentage increase as the equivalent grade in London.

From 1 July, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

22 Feb 1999 : Column: 144

Deer

Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to safeguard the public in West Sutherland from increased numbers of straying deer. [69597]

Mr. Macdonald [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The Deer Commission for Scotland is encouraging Deer Management Groups and estate owners to take measures as appropriate to reduce the numbers of deer straying onto roads or feeding on roadside verges, for example by introducing supplementary feeding as a method of drawing deer away from public highways. The Commission is also continuing to discuss with the roads authorities and the police matters such as road design, installation of warning signs, and use of wildlife roadside reflectors or fencing. These authorities also have discretion to introduce lower speed limits in certain circumstances.

Although deer numbers in the area have not increased, there is evidence to suggest that deer are spending more time on lower ground.

From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

Public Bodies

Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish (a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69954]

Mr. Dewar: The information requested is as follows:
























22 Feb 1999 : Column: 145


    Moredun Research Institute*


    National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting of Scotland


    National Galleries of Scotland


    National Library of Scotland


    National Museums of Scotland


    Rowett Research Institute*


    Royal Botanic Garden


    Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments in Scotland


    Scottish Arts Council*


    Scottish Conveyancing and Executory Services Board


    Scottish Council for Educational Technology*


    Scottish Crop Research Institute*


    Scottish Enterprise


    Scottish Environment Protection Agency


    Scottish Further Education Unit


    Scottish Higher Education Funding Council


    Scottish Homes


    Scottish Natural Heritage


    Scottish Sports Council


    Scottish Tourist Board


    Scottish Water and Sewerage Customers Council


    Those marked * do so under a statutory requirement; the other voluntarily.

From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings, (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards and (d) operate some form of appeal or complaints procedure; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69987]

Mr. Dewar: The information requested is as follows:





















22 Feb 1999 : Column: 146


    Scottish Homes


    Scottish Natural Heritage


    Scottish Screen


    Scottish Sports Council


    Those marked * do so under a statutory requirement; the others voluntarily.


    c) The following bodies have lay or consumer representatives on their boards:


    Accounts Commission for Scotland


    Crofters Commission


    Hannah Research Institute


    Macaulay Land Use Research Institute


    Moredun Research Institute


    Parole Board for Scotland


    Rowett Research Institute


    Royal Botanic Garden


    Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland


    Scottish Arts Council


    Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board*


    Scottish Council for Educational Technology


    Scottish Crop Research Institute


    Scottish Environment Protection Agency


    Scottish Further Education Unit


    Scottish Higher Education Funding Council


    Scottish Homes


    Scottish Legal Aid Board


    Scottish Medical Practices Committee*


    Scottish Screen


    Scottish Water and Sewerage Customers Council*


    Those marked * do so under a statutory requirement; the others voluntarily.


    d) The following bodies operate some form of appeal or complaints procedure:


    Accounts Commission for Scotland


    Crofters Commission


    Deer Commission for Scotland


    Highlands and Islands Enterprise


    National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland*


    National Galleries of Scotland


    National Library of Scotland


    National Museums of Scotland


    Royal Botanic Garden


    Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland


    Scottish Arts Council


    Scottish Children's Reporter Administration


    Scottish Community Education Council*


    Scottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board


    Scottish Council for Educational Technology


    Scottish Enterprise


    Scottish Environment Protection Agency


    Scottish Higher Education Funding Council


    Scottish Homes


    Scottish Legal Aid Board


    Scottish Natural Heritage*


    Scottish Qualifications Authority

22 Feb 1999 : Column: 147


    Scottish Screen


    Scottish Sports Council


    Scottish Water and Sewerage Customers Council


    Those marked * do so under a statutory requirement; the others voluntarily.

From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) admit members of the public to all board or committee meetings, (b) hold public meetings and (c) have lay or consumer representatives on their boards; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69969]

Mr. Dewar: The information requested is as follows:





















From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish (a) the minutes of meetings, (b) the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings and (c) a register of members' interests; and if in each case this is under a statutory requirement. [69941]

Mr. Dewar: The information requested is as follows:









22 Feb 1999 : Column: 148


    Those marked * do so under a statutory requirement; the others voluntarily.


    (b) The following bodies publish the agendas of meetings and documents for those meetings:


    Advisory Committee on Dental Establishment*


    General Teaching Council for Scotland


    Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Scotland


    Scottish Advisory Committee on the Medical Workforce*


    Those marked * do so under a statutory requirement; the others voluntarily.


    (c) The following bodies publish a register of members' interests:


    Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland


    Scottish Childcare Board


    Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum


    Secretary of State's (Electricity) Fisheries Committee


    Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on Scotland's Travelling People


    All do so voluntarily and not under a statutory requirement.

From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

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