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CABINET OFFICE
Drug Misuse
7. Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans she has for consulting the public on future Government policy on drug misuse. [96786]
Marjorie Mowlam: I can assure the hon. Member that the Government will continue to consult widely at both national and local level on drugs policy.
12. Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress is being made towards achieving the Government's targets on combating drug misuse. [96792]
Marjorie Mowlam: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Islwyn (Mr. Touhig) today, Official Report, column 1115.
16. Mr. John Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress is being made in tackling the problem of drug taking among young people. [96796]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
The UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator set out the Government's objectives in his annual report and plan. £22.5 million has been made available over the next three years to assist schools to deliver effective drug education.
10 Nov 1999 : Column: 579
8. Mr. Brady:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the current inquiries being undertaken by the Independent Commissioner for Public Appointments. [96787]
Mr. Stringer:
In response to concerns raised with the Commissioner for Public Appointments, she is currently undertaking a scrutiny covering all aspects of the NHS appointments system. This will pay particular attention to the selection of politically active and politically nominated candidates.
9. Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made in recruiting black and Asian people into senior civil service posts. [96789]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
We have set targets in the Modernising Government White Paper that by the year 2004-05, 3.2 per cent. of the Senior Civil Service will be from ethnic minority backgrounds--double the current figure. We will report on the progress we have made against these targets next year.
10. Mr. Ben Chapman:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on progress towards meeting targets for recruitment of ethnic minorities into the Civil Service. [96790]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
The Modernising Government White Paper firmly establishes our commitment to achieving diversity in the Civil Service.
Departments will propose targets for ethnic minority recruitment by December 1999 and I will report on the progress next year.
11. Mr. Miller:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when progress has been made in improving liaison between Government services as set out in the "Modernising Government" White Paper. [96791]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
The Government secure intranet now enables 35 Government Departments to securely exchange electronic communications.
21. Mr. Amess:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what actions she has taken to implement the Government's White Paper on "Modernising Government". [96802]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
The actions we are taking are contained in the Modernising Government Action Plan published in July.
13. Mr. Wilkinson:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list her four most urgent priorities for the presentation of Government policy. [96793]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
My priority is to work with colleagues to deliver our manifesto commitments.
10 Nov 1999 : Column: 580
14. Mr. St. Aubyn:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what changes have been made in the Government's policy on genetically modified foods since 27 July; and if she will make a statement. [96794]
Marjorie Mowlam:
The Government's policy has not changed. Our primary role is that of balancing consumer choice with the protection of human health and the environment.
18. Dr. Starkey:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what meetings she has had since her appointment to discuss the Government's policy on genetically modified organisms. [96798]
Marjorie Mowlam:
I have received representations from a number of outside organisations and I am in the process of meeting with them.
15. Mr. Robathan:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the costs of Government Special Advisers. [96795]
Marjorie Mowlam:
The estimated cost of Special Advisers in 1999-2000 is £3.9 million.
17. Mr. Ian Bruce:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on her plans to reduce the time it takes Departments to reply to hon. Members' letters; and if she will publish a table showing the current performance of Departments. [96797]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
The Government are determined to improve their handling of correspondence from hon. Members. We have already set a new standard for replying to correspondence and are actively seeking out and promoting examples of good practice in correspondence handling across all Departments and agencies. A table detailing the performance of individual Departments was published by my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) in June.
19. Mr. Todd:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on progress made in developing and implementing a Government IT strategy. [96799]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
We have made a commitment in the Modernising Government Action Plan to publish a corporate IT strategy for Government in March 2000. We will publish a number of framework policies for specific technologies during November and December, which will be incorporated in the strategy.
10 Nov 1999 : Column: 581
22. Dr. Julian Lewis:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will set out the Government's policy on the neutrality of the civil service. [96803]
Marjorie Mowlam:
I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the right hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mrs. Bottomley) today, Official Report, column 1118.
23. Mr. Burns:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans she has to change the Cabinet Office rules governing the publication of ministerial memoirs. [96804]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
The Ministerial Code requires Ministers to conform to the principles set out in the Radcliffe Report of 1976 if, after leaving office, they publish books drawing on their experience in government. The same principles have been applied by successive administrations and the Government have no plans to change them.
24. Mr. Shaw:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what she is doing to warn young people about the dangers of ecstasy. [96805]
Marjorie Mowlam:
The UK Anti Drugs Co-ordinator is working with Departments to ensure that young people receive information on drugs appropriate to their age and experience throughout their school career and beyond. The Department of Health has contracted the Health Education Authority to deliver a national publicity campaign, which will include warning young people about the dangers of ecstasy.
25. Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what instructions she has given to the biotechnology presentation group. [96806]
Marjorie Mowlam:
I chair the group, which comprises other ministerial colleagues, to discuss the presentation of Government policy on Biotechnology.
26. Dr. Cable:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what role she plays in co-ordinating the working of different Government Departments in relation to e-commerce legislation in the UK and internationally. [96807]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
I am responsible for the effective co-ordination and presentation of the full range of the Government's policies, including e-commerce. The Prime Minister has appointed an E-Envoy, based in the Cabinet Office. He will report to the E-Minister and myself.
20. Sir Sydney Chapman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on genetically modified foods. [96801]
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