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New Deal
20. Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the operation of the New Deal in Scotland. [109630]
Mr. Wilson: I am very pleased to say that the operation of New Deal in Scotland is proving very successful. We have reached the significant milestones of 20,000 young people now having gained jobs through the programme in Scotland, and the 10,000th employer signing up to participate in the programme.
The latest published figures provide further hard evidence of the significant impact the New Deal is having in Scotland. Over 43,000 young people have benefited from the New Deal. By the end of November 1999, a total of 28,000 young people had entered jobs, work experience or training.
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Mr. Luff:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the number of Special Advisers employed by his Department. [109620]
Dr. Reid:
My Department employs three Special Advisers to advise me on the development of government policy. One of the Special Advisers is unpaid and works part-time.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the future of the Air Traffic Control Centre at Prestwick. [109609]
Dr. Reid:
I welcome the announcement made by my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Transport on 14 February 2000. The agreement between National Air Traffic Services Ltd. and Lockheed Martin for the provision of air traffic control systems for the New Scottish Centre ends any uncertainty about its future. The 530 jobs at Prestwick will be secured and the construction phase for the new centre will create about 700 jobs during the three-year construction phase, which will begin next year.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the impact of a single European currency on the Scottish economy. [109614]
Mr. Wilson:
My right hon. Friend meets the Chancellor from time to time to discuss a range of issues about the Scottish economy.
The policy on membership of the single currency was set out by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the House of Commons in October 1997. The determining factor underpinning any UK Government decision on membership of the single currency is whether the economic case for the UK joining is clear and unambiguous. The interests of the Scottish Economy will be an integral part of that process.
Legislation
21. Dr. Godman: To ask the Advocate-General, pursuant to her oral answer of 25 January 2000, Official Report, column 137, if she will list the Bills introduced by the Scottish Parliament which she has considered to be (a) within and (b) outwith the legislative competence of the Parliament. [109631]
The Advocate-General for Scotland:
Thus far, two Bills have been passed by the Scottish Parliament and I have not considered it necessary to refer either to the Judicial Committee. They are now the Mental Health (Public Safety and Appeals) (Scotland) Act 1999 and the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000.
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25. Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Advocate-General what Bills introduced by the Scottish Parliament she has considered to be (a) within and (b) outwith its legislative competence. [109635]
The Advocate-General for Scotland:
Under section 33 of the Scotland Act 1998, when a Bill has been passed by the Scottish Parliament I have the power to refer it to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council for a decision on whether it is within the competence of the Scottish Parliament.
Thus far, two Bills have been passed by the Scottish Parliament, and I have not considered it necessary to refer either to the Judicial Committee. They are now the Mental Health (Public Safety and Appeals) (Scotland) Act l999 and the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000.
24. Mr. Browne:
To ask the Advocate-General what subjects have been raised with her as devolution issues in the context of applications to Scottish criminal courts. [109634]
The Advocate-General for Scotland:
Devolution issues raised by the defence in criminal cases have mainly focused on the right to a fair trial which is set out in Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Some of the principal matters raised include: the admissibility of evidence; delays in trials; the right to an "independent and impartial tribunal"; prejudicial pre-trial publicity; access to a solicitor; cases under the Road Traffic Acts; and legal aid questions. Devolution issues focusing on other Convention articles have also been raised but less frequently.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Advocate-General for Scotland what plans she has to increase the staffing of her Department. [109636]
The Advocate-General for Scotland:
Staffing levels in the Office of the Solicitor to the Advocate-General and my Legal Secretariat are presently under review.
Charities
Mr. Hope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to alter the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 1995. [111907]
Mr. Boateng: A clear framework for charity accounting is important for the public's confidence in the integrity of charity. In general, the 1995 regulations have worked well. I am today publishing a consultation document about how to keep the regulations up to date. The proposed changes reflect the new exposure draft of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) for accounting by charities, as well as proposals for some charities that follow other SORPs. I would welcome views by 30 April.
I have arranged for copies of the consultation document to be placed in the Library.
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Mr. Paul Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what level of support will be provided under the new asylum seeker support arrangements. [111908]
Mrs. Roche:
Subject to assessment on a case by case basis, the weekly levels of voucher support for asylum seekers under the new arrangements is given in the table:
| Amount of voucher support | |
|---|---|
| Person aged 18-24 | 28.95 |
| Person aged 25 or over | 36.54 |
| Couple | 57.37 |
| Lone parent | 36.54 |
| Child under 16 | 26.60 |
| Child 16 or 17 | 31.75 |
These amounts will be given in the form of vouchers, £10 of which will be redeemable for cash per person per week.
Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the first annual report of progress on the implementation of the Action Plan he published in March 1999 as the Government's response to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report; and if he will make a statement. [111909]
Mr. Straw: I will publish the first annual report tomorrow. It will set out details of progress made on each of the areas covered by the recommendations of the Inquiry and will identify action still to be taken. It will show that there has been substantial progress across the criminal justice and education systems. But there is much more to be done and it is vital that all the public services covered by the Inquiry's report maintain their determination to deliver the highest standards of service to all members of society regardless of their race.
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the measures police forces are taking to ensure that policies and practices formed in response to the Stephen Lawrence inquiry report are being effectively implemented across all ranks. [111318]
Mr. Charles Clarke: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will publish tomorrow the first Annual Report on progress on implementation of the Action Plan he published in March 1999 in response to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report. This will give details of progress made within the police service to give effect to the Inquiry's recommendations. A key element in ensuring that forces turn policies into action on the ground is the new Ministerial Priority to increase trust and confidence in policing among minority ethnic communities which will provide clear measurement of forces' performance on race equality.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those police forces in England and Wales that are undertaking an examination
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of their policies and practices to identify institutional racism as recommended by the Stephen Lawrence inquiry report; and if he will make a statement. [111317]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will publish tomorrow the first Annual Report on progress on implementation of the Action Plan he published in March 1999 in response to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report. The Action Plan amounts to a comprehensive programme to tackle institutional racism and the annual report will give a detailed picture of the steps which the police service is taking to implement it.
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