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WALES

Teachers' Pay

Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what talks he has had with (a) other departments and (b) the First Secretary concerning teachers' pay; and if he will make a statement. [108956]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary on a regular basis to discuss various issues including the importance of high standards of teaching in Wales. I have been involved in discussion with the National Assembly and the Department for Education and Employment on the implementation of the recommendations of the School Teachers Review Body in Wales.

New Public Bodies

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the new public bodies established by his Department since May 1997. [112666]

Mr. Paul Murphy: No new public bodies have been established by either the Welsh Office between May 1997 and 30 June 1999, or the Wales Office from 1 July 1999 to date.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of candidates for appointment to non-departmental public bodies since 1 May 1997 were not appointed due to their political affiliations. [113308]

Mr. Paul Murphy: Political affiliation is not taken into account when making appointments to non-departmental public bodies.

PRIME MINISTER

"Sharing the Nation's Prosperity"

Mr. Goggins: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to update the report entitled "Sharing the Nation's Prosperity". [112253]

The Prime Minister: There have been two reports published under the general heading "Sharing the Nation's Prosperity". The first, "Variation in Economic & Social

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Conditions Across the UK", was completed in December 1999; the second, "Economic, Social and Environmental Conditions in the Countryside", was completed in February 2000. Both reports were prepared by the Cabinet Office and reflected relevant conditions and statistics at their time of publication. The Government will keep their findings in mind in developing and delivering future policies, but have no immediate plans to produce updates.

Leaks

Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations he has received regarding leak inquiries in Government departments. [112265]

The Prime Minister: None.

Operation Horseshoe

Sir John Stanley: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 22 February 2000, Official Report, column 851W, on Operation Horseshoe, if he will place a copy of the statement made by the German Defence Minister on 9 April 1999 in the Library. [113365]

The Prime Minister: I have arranged to have placed in the Library a copy of the material concerning Operation Horseshoe made public by the German Defence Minister on 9 April, along with an English language translation.

CABINET OFFICE

IT (Public Services)

8. Mr. White: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent assessment she has made of how the use of information technology can improve the delivery of public services. [112263]

16. Mrs. McKenna: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what action is being taken to develop a strategic approach to the use of IT in delivering public services. [112272]

23. Mr. Sawford: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what action is being taken to develop a co-ordinated approach to the use of IT in delivering public services. [112280]

24. Kali Mountford: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps she is taking to develop a strategic approach to the use of IT in delivering public services. [112281]

25. Mrs. Gilroy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what studies her Office is carrying out into the scope for improving the use of information technology in the delivery of Government services. [112282]

Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans she has to increase communications between Ministers and members of the public by means of the Internet. [112277]

Mr. Ian McCartney: We set out proposals for improving public service delivery by information technology in our draft Corporate IT Strategy, of which I announced the publication in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, West (Valerie Davey) on 14 February 2000, Official Report, column 353W.

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Anti-drugs Strategy

9. Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement on the latest developments in implementing the Government's anti- drugs strategy. [112264]

Mr. Ian McCartney: The Government are making good progress towards the tough targets set out in their strategy document, "Tackling Drugs to build a better Britain".

On 3 February, my right hon. Friend announced the joint funding of over £500,000 with the Department of Health and the Home Office to recruit up to 300 extra specialist treatment workers. This will help to ensure we have enough properly skilled staff to provide a high quality treatment service to those who need it.

We are also providing a further £7.5 million of support this year and in 2000-01 to assist all schools to deliver effective drug education.

15. Ms Dari Taylor: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what role the drug action teams are playing in the delivery of the Government's anti-drugs strategy. [112271]

Mr. Ian McCartney: Drug Action Teams have a crucial role in the delivery of the National Drugs Strategy. They consist of agencies for Probation, Health, Education, Police authorities and local authorities. They are the main mechanism for delivery on the ground. All Drug Action Teams are required to plan and deliver an effective programme of anti-drug activities in their area, which is in line with the National Strategy.

13. Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she last met the Anti-drugs Co-ordinator to discuss future policy on the control of illegal substances entering the country. [112269]

Marjorie Mowlam: I met with the Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator at the Ministerial Steering Group for Drugs meeting on 23 February.

I hold regular meetings with the Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator to discuss all aspects of the Government's anti-drug strategy.

17. Mr. Coaker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment she has made of the Drug Awareness Resistance Education Programme; and if she will make a statement. [112273]

Mr. Ian McCartney: I am aware of the contribution made by the Drug Awareness Resistance Education Programme to drug education schemes in a number of areas. I know also that it has enjoyed strong support from a number of hon. Members, particularly in the Nottinghamshire area.

Social Exclusion

10. Mr. Hopkins: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement about the implementation of policies designed to tackle social exclusion. [112266]

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19. Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement about the implementation of policies designed to tackle social exclusion. [112275]

21. Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps she is taking to tackle social exclusion. [112278]

22. Mr. Salter: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make a statement about the implementation of policies designed to tackle social exclusion. [112279]

Marjorie Mowlam: I can confirm that good progress is being made towards achieving the Government's targets on the four reports from the Social Exclusion Unit that have been published. These of course are on School Truancy and Exclusion, Rough Sleeping, Teenage Pregnancy and Bridging the Gap, and 16 to 18-year-olds not in Education, Training or Employment.

A draft report for consultation, on the National strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal, is due to be launched in early April.

Better Government (Older People)

11. Ms Ward: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans she has to develop the Better Government for Older People projects. [112267]

Mr. Ian McCartney: The pilot phase of the Better Government for Older People programme comes to an end this month. We hope that, given the 28 pilots' great success in delivering better public services to older people, the local authorities leading them continue to support them and develop their work. The Government are looking forward to receiving the programme's final report in June and to putting its lessons into practice to deliver a marked and sustainable improvement in older people's experience of public services.

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