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Electronic Red Boxes
11. Mr. Fabricant: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made with electronic red boxes. [86791]
Mr. Kilfoyle: A variety of secure technologies are available to link Ministers with their private offices.
Long-term Planning
12. Dr. Cable: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to ensure that Government policy takes account of the need for long-term planning. [86792]
Mr. Kilfoyle: The Modernising Government White Paper highlighted the need for policies to be better focused on the Government's long-term goals. The Performance and Innovation Unit is working with Departments to identify the key challenges that the Government will face in the medium to long term.
Next Steps Agencies
13. Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to appraise the effectiveness of the provisions for quinquennial review of the continued status of each next steps agency as a public sector body. [86793]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
The Modernising Government White Paper set out our commitment to change the approach to quinquennial reviews. In the future, reviews will be directed more closely through our drive for high quality public services. We will publish guidance on the new approach in the Autumn.
23 Jun 1999 : Column: 420
14. Mr. Amess:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent representations he has received about the procedures for making public appointments. [86794]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
I have received a small number of recent representations from hon. Members and others about the public appointments scheme.
15. Mr. Ian Bruce:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress he has made in co-ordinating the development of a system to enable Departments to deal with hon. Members' correspondence by e-mail. [86795]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
Through the Government Secure Intranet we are building up an infrastructure to enable services such as these to be developed. Twenty-six departments and agencies are now connected to the GSI.
16. Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the better government initiative. [86796]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
The Modernising Government White Paper clearly sets out our programme for the reform and renewal of public services. This is a long term programme with a significant package of initiatives designed to provide services to better meet the way people live their lives. We will publish the milestones for meeting the commitments in the White Paper, and the criteria against which to judge their success, this summer.
18. Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how he intends to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the Duchy of Lancaster. [86798]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
I will welcome Her Majesty The Queen, Duke of Lancaster and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh to Lancaster next month on the 600th anniversary of the Duchy's link with the crown.
20. Mr. David Heath:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects to publish the findings of the study by the performance and innovation unit on the role of Government offices in the regions. [86800]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
The Performance and Innovation Unit is studying the "Role of Central Government at the Regional and Local Level". The study is due to be completed in the Autumn. I expect decisions flowing from the study to be announced in due course.
21. Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has for the use of Archway tower, Junction road, London, N19; and if he will make a statement. [86802]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
Refurbishment of Archway Tower is almost complete. Marketing is currently underway to let the building within Government or the private sector.
23 Jun 1999 : Column: 421
22. Mrs. Ann Winterton:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what representations he has received following publication of the first annual report and national plan by the UK anti-drugs co-ordinator. [86803]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
I have received many favourable representations, some from hon. Members, following the publication of the UK Anti-drugs Co-ordination Report.
23. Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to encourage cross- departmental co-ordination on the presentation of Government policy. [86804]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
I hold regular meetings with Ministers and officials to improve the co-ordination and the presentation of Government policy.
Mr. Leigh:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects to make a decision on the future of the former Government buildings in Marsham street. [86797]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
The decision to demolish 2 Marsham street has already been made. However, immediate demolition has been deferred because re-use is one of the
23 Jun 1999 : Column: 422
options being considered by the Home Office under its PFI project. A final decision on the timing of demolition cannot be made until the Home Office has completed another round of bidding, the result of which is expected later this year.
Mr. Beith:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on progress on the transfer of services previously provided by the Security Facilities Executive. [87774]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
The Security Facilities Executive closed as an Agency on 30 June 1998 and became a Division of the Cabinet Office--Security Facilities Division (SFD).