---

Voting Procedures

Mr. Baker: To ask the President of the Council if she will propose to the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons that it examine changes to the House's voting procedures which would allow abstentions to be recorded. [121915]

Mrs. Beckett: The Modernisation Committee may examine this as part of its work on electronic voting.

CABINET OFFICE

Government Car Service

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of cars bought by the Government car service since May 1997 have been Rovers. [120862]

Mr. Ian McCartney: Since May 1997 the Government Car and Despatch Agency has purchased 16 Rovers. Six were purchased in the financial year 1996-97.

Civil Service Code

Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when it is intended to introduce a Bill to give statutory basis to the Civil Service Code. [123281]

Marjorie Mowlam: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley) on 8 May 2000, Official Report, column 215W.

People's Panel

Mr. Rooney: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the report of the first evaluation of the People's Panel will be published; and if she will make a statement. [123708]

Mr. Ian McCartney: I have today placed copies of the first report on the evaluation of the People's Panel in the Libraries of the House. The report is also available on the People's Panel website at www.servicefirst.gov.uk.

Business Regulation Costs

Mrs. Browning: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will make it her policy to undertake an annual audit of the cost to business of regulations and to publish the result. [123305]

Mr. Stringer: All regulatory proposals likely to have a significant cost or benefit to business are subject to Regulatory Impact Assessment. These assessments are

23 May 2000 : Column: 454W

published by Departments and placed in the Libraries of the House. In addition, a series of twice yearly Command Papers, entitled Regulatory Impact Assessments, list the assessments for each six month period.

SCOTLAND

Honours System

5. Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the honours system in Scotland. [121876]

Dr. Reid: I have received only one letter making representations about the honours system in Scotland.

New Deal

6. Mr. Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the most recent figures on the take-up of the new deal in Scotland. [121877]

Dr. Reid: Take-up of the New Deal in Scotland is good. 1,700 people joined the New Deal for Young People in February, bringing the number of starts to 48,400 since the introduction of the programme.

7. Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the impact of the new deal on employment in Clydebank and Milngavie. [121878]

Dr. Reid: The New Deal is making a significant impact, with employment in Scotland at its highest level since 1966.

9. Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had about the application of New Deal programmes in Scottish football clubs. [121880]

Dr. Reid: I have regular discussions about the New Deal. The New Deal is good news for all jobseekers including those who want to work within football clubs. Hearts, Hibernian, Kilmarnock, Dunfermline, Raith Rovers, Dundee, Livingston, Ross County and Dumbarton Football Clubs participate in the New Deal as employers.

Ferry Services

8. Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has made to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions regarding ferry services between Scotland and Northern Ireland. [121879]

Mr. Wilson: My right hon. Friend has frequent contact with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on a number of issues including ferry services between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

12. Mrs. Ray Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on the tender of Caledonian MacBrayne's ferry services under article 87.1 of the EC treaty and the 1992 European Regulations on Maritime Transport (Council Regulation 3577/92); and if he will make a statement. [121884]

23 May 2000 : Column: 455W

Mr. Wilson: My right hon. Friend has discussions with the Scottish Executive on a number of issues including issues relating to ferry services.

Unemployment

10. Mr. Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to assist the unemployed in Scotland to take up available jobs. [121881]

Mr. Wilson: The Secretary of State and I take a close interest in assisting unemployed people in Scotland find work and in the New Deal. We frequently carry out New Deal engagements and take every opportunity to publicise its success and to encourage employers to participate. The Secretary of State wrote on 4 May encouraging all Scottish Members to work closely with the Employment Service to help bring together jobseekers and employers with vacancies within their constituencies. The New Deal has helped nearly 23,000 young people into work since its introduction in April 1998.

Fuel Poverty

11. Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on fuel poverty issues in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [121883]

Mr. Wilson: My right hon. Friend and I have frequent discussions with Scottish Ministers on a wide variety of issues, including poverty. There will be a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee on Poverty, which brings together UK Ministers and ministers from the devolved administrations, on 26 May, in Edinburgh. UK Ministers and ministers from the devolved administrations also meet in a ministerial group on fuel poverty.

The UK Government are taking a number of practical steps to alleviate fuel poverty. This past winter around £70 million was paid in Winter Fuel Payments to over 900,000 Scottish pensioners: £944,000 was paid out in my hon. Friend's constituency to 10,964 people. The payment will be increased next winter to £150 per eligible household. In addition, the Government made almost 20,000 Cold Weather Payments in Scotland this past winter. The Scottish Executive are responsible for the Warm Deal in Scotland, which provides a package of energy efficiency measures of up to £500 for those on low incomes. The Warm Deal is a devolved matter for the Scottish Parliament.

Minimum Wage

13. Mrs. McKenna: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many enforcement actions have been taken in Scotland to ensure that employers meet their obligation to pay the national minimum wage. [121885]

Dr. Reid: As at the end of April this year, minimum wage inspectors in Scotland have received 356 complaints and served 14 enforcement notices. £13 million is being spent over three years in the United Kingdom on enforcement. The Low Pay Commission reported on 15 February that the Inland Revenue has made a successful start to enforcement and was working proactively to ensure compliance with the legislation.

23 May 2000 : Column: 456W

Shipbuilding Industry

14. Mrs. Fyfe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with bodies in the shipbuilding industry on raising the competitiveness of the industry. [121886]

Dr. Reid: This Government are firmly committed to improving the competitive position of the shipbuilding industry across the UK. Both the Department for Trade and Industry and the Scottish Executive chair industry forums which aim to address the issues involved. My regular contact with the Department for Trade and Industry and the Scottish Executive includes matters relating to the shipbuilding industry.

Freight Trains

15. Mr. Eric Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what meetings he has held with EWS Railway Freight Company to discuss the shortage of freight trains to meet the contracts with the Scottish coal companies over the last year. [121887]

Mr. Wilson: I had a very useful meeting with EWS on 13 April, together with representatives of coal producers and generators, to discuss issues relating to the transport of coal by rail.

I and my colleagues wish to ensure that the arrangements for transporting coal make the best use of the railway system, and provide a more secure future for all concerned.

Regional Selective Assistance

16. Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with representatives of manufacturing interests on the areas in Scotland to be covered by Regional Selective Assistance; and if he will make a statement. [121888]

Dr. Reid: My Department and I have received a wide range of representations since the 10 April announcement of revised proposals for the Assisted Areas map which determines the potential coverage of the Regional Selective Assistance scheme.

---