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CABINET OFFICE
Access to Information
12. Dr. David Clark: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussions he has had with the Home Department on changes to the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. [83652]
Dr. Jack Cunningham: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department intends to publish the draft Freedom of Information Bill shortly. In the interim, he has no plans to amend the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Public Appointments
13. Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to extend the range of public appointments covered by the Public Appointments Commissioner. [83654]
Mr. Kilfoyle: The Government extended the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments last autumn. I have no plans to extend the Commissioner's remit further.
Public Sector Ombudsmen
15. Mr. Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the progress of the review of public sector Ombudsmen in England. [83656]
Mr. Kilfoyle: Wide consultation has now started. Views have been invited from those representing the public, government and others with an interest in the work of the Ombudsmen. The review is working with the Select Committee on Public Administration to canvass Members' views.
Biotechnology
16. Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to his oral answer of 21 April 1999, Official Report, column 896 on biotechnology, if he will make a statement on the research sponsored by the Government into cross-pollination from genetically modified crops. [83657]
19 May 1999 : Column: 397
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
The Government are currently funding studies into cross-pollination between oilseed rape and other species. The results of the work will be made available once the research is completed.
17. Helen Jones:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the work of the UK Anti-drugs Co-ordinator. [83658]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
The UK Anti-drugs Co-ordinator's first report and national plan will be published shortly.
18. Ms Moran:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what measures he plans to put in place to ensure that targets for the use of new technology announced in the Modernising Government White Paper are directed towards collecting views from the public on the quality of public services. [83659]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
Finding out what people want and expect from public services is an important part of the Government's approach to Modernising Government. Through research on electronic service delivery and from the People's Panel, we have begun that process. We will work closely with the public services in central and local government to ensure that services are developed in accordance with what citizens want.
19. Mr. Chope:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many meetings he has had with the Chairman of the Better Regulation Task Force this year. [83660]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
My right hon. Friend had five meetings with the Chairman of the Better Regulation Task Force.
20. Mr. Goggins:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to support one-stop shops for access to both local and national government services. [83661]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
The "Modernising Government" White Paper, launched on 30 March, contains a number of initiatives to encourage joint working between central and local government, including one-stop shops. There will be a drive to eliminate obstacles to joined-up working, including a more co-ordinated approach to property management, and a second round of the Invest to Save Budget to fund new projects that involve partnership working.
21. Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress he has made in recruiting and retaining black and Asian civil servants in higher grades. [83662]
19 May 1999 : Column: 398
Mr. Kilfoyle:
Black and Asian Civil Servants make up 5.7 per cent. of the Civil Service overall and 1.6 per cent. of the Senior Civil Service. The Government are committed to redressing under-representation in the higher grades and we are actively working to recruit and retain ethnic minorities at all levels in the Civil Service.
We have recently launched with Civil Service Trade Unions, a joint Charter to address under-representation of ethnic minorities at senior levels.
We have also set targets that by the year 2004-05, 3.2 per cent. of the Senior Civil Service will be from ethnic minority backgrounds.
22. Mr. Evans:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the total budget of all Departments for Special Advisers (a) in the current year and (b) in 1996-97. [83664]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
The pay bill for Special Advisers in 1999-2000 is estimated at £3.9 million. In 1996-97, when the Government employed 38 Advisers against the current 69, the pay bill was £1.8 million.
23. Mr. Fabricant:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to promote the use of electronic red boxes for ministers. [83665]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) on 16 March 1999, Official Report, column 651.
24. Mr. David Heath:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress he has made in investigating the case for a code of conduct on the use of public funds for the purpose of opinion research. [83666]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
My officials are looking at ways of bringing together the various existing sources of advice and expertise on Government public opinion research, in consultation with colleagues in other departments.
25. Mr. Leigh:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of the office space at the old Department of the Environment buildings at Marsham street is empty; and for how long such space has been empty. [83667]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
2 Marsham Street has been completely empty since 30 April 1998. Vacation occurred progressively over the previous two years as the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions relocated to new accommodation.
19 May 1999 : Column: 399
26. Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what forecast he has made of the date by which there will be a reduction in illegal drug use. [83668]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
Details will be published shortly in the Co-ordinator's first annual report and national plan.
19 May 1999 : Column: 400
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what independent auditing he plans of the Government's annual report. [83655]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
This year's Annual Report will be prepared in the same way as last year's, as set out in my reply to the hon. Gentleman on 13 January 1999, Official Report, columns 226-27.