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Age Discrimination
Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the Prime Minister what steps he has taken since May 1997 to combat age discrimination; and if he will make a statement. [107145]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 28 January 2000]: The Government undertook a year long consultation on age discrimination in employment. The results were set out in the report "Action on Age" which was published in August 1998. One of the conclusions of the consultation was that a non-statutory Code of Practice could provide a useful tool for tackling age discrimination in employment.
A draft Code of Practice was developed with the help and advice of key partners including the CBI, TUC, Age Concern, IPD, and the Institute of Management. Consultation on the Code took place from November 1998 and the final version was launched in June 1999. The Code covers all aspects of employment, including recruitment, selection, training, development, redundancy and retirement, and provides detailed guidance and case studies to help employers to tackle age discrimination in their organisations. Over 40,000 copies have been distributed since its launch. It is being backed by a publicity campaign to promote good practice and practical help for employers wanting to adopt the principles set out in the Code. The effectiveness of the Code is being evaluated through a large scale research project which looks in detail at employer policies and practices in recruitment and employment and the impact this has on age diversity in their workforce. The results of the evaluation will be published in 2001.
Cabinet Committees
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish an updated list of Ministerial Committees of the Cabinet and their membership. [107624]
The Prime Minister: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) on 21 December 1999, Official Report, column 504W.
Correspondence
Mr. Field:
To ask the Prime Minister how many letters on (a) Government policy and (b) constituency matters
31 Jan 2000 : Column: 410W
Government Departments have received since 1 May 1997 from those Members of the House who have refused to take the oath of allegiance. [107630]
The Prime Minister:
The information requested is not held centrally.
Mr. Lansley:
To ask the Prime Minister how many letters he received from members of the public in 1999; and how many of these were replied to by (a) his office and (b) him personally. [107631]
The Prime Minister:
During 1999 my office received 465,432 letters and cards from members of the public--an increase of 84 per cent. over the previous year. The response to any correspondence is considered on an individual basis.
EU Enlargement
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has had with European Commissioner Poul Nielson concerning the effect that enlargement will have on the European Union aid budget. [106434]
Clare Short: I have had several discussions with Commissioner Nielson about the EC aid budget, but not about EU enlargement.
In July 1999, EU Foreign ministers agreed that the Commission should table proposals for the overall division of the EC external assistance budget, to allow Council discussion of development priorities as a whole and an opportunity to focus more EC resources on the poorest countries. I have pressed Commissioner Nielson on this and on other EC development issues and will continue to do so. The disproportionate amount of EC aid going to richer countries, and the inertia of the EC in rectifying this, are unacceptable.
When the EU is enlarged to include new member states during the period 2000-06, the European Parliament and the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, will jointly adjust the multi-year budget ceilings to take account of expenditure requirements arising from the enlargement. Such adjustments are not expected to affect the aid budget.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many cases of computer (a) fraud, including fraudulent use of computer chips, and (b) theft her Department has recorded in the last five years. [106212]
Clare Short:
(a) We are not aware of any recorded cases of computer fraud in DFID over the last five years.
(b) Since 1995, there have been eight cases recorded of computer equipment being stolen from DFID. Of these, seven were thefts of laptop computers, and one was a case of memory chips being stolen from a number of PCs during a break in at DFID's London Headquarters building.
31 Jan 2000 : Column: 411W
| Year | Item | Value £ |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Laptop stolen from a vehicle in Bosnia | 1,000 |
| Computer memory chips stolen from 94VS | 10,000 | |
| 1997 | Three laptops stolen from AH | 3,000 |
| 1998 | Two laptops stolen from 94VS | 2,000 |
| 1999 | Laptop stolen from 94VS | 1,000 |
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on how many occasions in each of the past five years computer systems in her Department have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (a) within and (b) outside her Department. [106234]
Clare Short: There is no evidence of any illegal access to DFID computer systems over the past five years.
Kosovo
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department (a) promised and (b) provided to Pristina Hospital, Kosovo. [106437]
Clare Short: At the beginning of July 1999, a joint DFID/NHS assessment team visited Pristina University Hospital to identify key facilities that required immediate restoration, including infrastructure repair, provision of essential equipment, management support and training for health care professionals. We have agreed to carry out this programme of work and progress is well under way.
WALES
Computers
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of computer (a) fraud, including fraudulent use of computer chips and (b) theft his Department has recorded in the last five years. [106222]
Mr. Paul Murphy: From 1995 to 30 June 1999, the Welsh Office had no known cases of computer fraud, including fraudulent use of computer chips, but there was one incident of computer theft in 1996 when a portable computer was stolen.
From 1 July 1999 to date the Wales Office has had no known cases of computer fraud, including fraudulent use of computer chips, and no recorded cases of computer theft.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions in each of the past five years computer systems in his Department have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (a) within and (b) outside his Department. [106226]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
There have been no known instances of computer hackers illegally accessing the Department's computer system from either within or outside the Department, in any of the past five years. This relates to the Welsh Office from 1995 to 30 June 1999, and to the Wales Office from 1 July 1999 to date.
31 Jan 2000 : Column: 412W
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he was first informed of defects in the small arms carried by British troops on active service in Kosovo. [104406]
Mr. Spellar:
The SA80, carried by British troops on active service in Kosovo, is generally an effective weapon system and is currently planned to remain in service for the foreseeable future. We are, however, investigating potential improvements to the SA80 at present and I expect to receive recommendations in due course.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make funding available to British Forces Broadcasting Services to enable the temporary radio station for the Colchester Garrison to be made a permanent service. [107166]
Mr. Spellar:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave him in his reply on 21 July 1999, Official Report, column 533W. The trial will conclude later this year and the way ahead will then be assessed.
Mr. Ben Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he had made of the contribution air cadet organisations make to the public's perception of the RAF. [107405]
Mr. Spellar:
The Air Cadets are an integral part of communities nation-wide and make an important contribution to the public perception of the RAF.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the operation of Pristina airfield in Kosovo will be handed over to an ally; and to whom. [107087]
Mr. Spellar
[holding answer 27 January 2000]: British forces are scheduled to pass on their lead nation responsibilities for Pristina airfield in June 2000. It is currently expected that these responsibilities will be assumed by one or more of our NATO allies, although a final decision has not yet been taken.
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