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Prison and Probation Services

Mr. Pond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve arrangements for the strategic management of the prison and probation services and for future complaints arrangements for the two services. [128072]

Mr. Boateng: We think it right to recognise the substantial and growing overlap in the work that both services perform as we pursue our drive to reduce re- offending through proven and well-targeted programmes and re-settlement planning as set out in the correctional policy framework which we published last year.

We have established a new strategy board for correctional services, chaired by myself as the Minister with responsibility for prisons and probation, to advise the Home Secretary on giving strategic direction for the prison and probation services. This replaces the prison service strategy board. We will make formal amendments to the framework document of the Prison Service in due course.

We have also decided to extend the prisons ombudsman's remit to cover probation services. This joint ombudsman will be created initially on an administrative basis, as with the prisons ombudsman, but we plan to legislate as soon as practicable. We are giving careful consideration to what the ombudsman's terms of reference should be. We shall make a further statement to Parliament in due course.

CABINET OFFICE

Social Exclusion Unit

Mr. Field: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many of the members of the Policy Action Teams are resident in the neighbourhoods identified by the Social Exclusion Unit as especially disadvantaged; [127326]

(2) how many of the (a) members, and (b) advisers to the Social Exclusion Unit are residents of the 3,000 neighbourhoods that the Social Exclusion Unit has identified as being especially disadvantaged. [127327]

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Marjorie Mowlam: Policy Action Team members were chosen to reflect a wide range of backgrounds, knowledge and experience of issues affecting deprived areas. Information is not held about members' home addresses.

SEU reports have consistently pointed out that there is no universally agreed definition of a deprived area.

The members of the SEU, both its staff and its advisers, are drawn from a wide range of backgrounds, knowledge and experience, both within and outside Government.

Government Annual Report

Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) of 14 June 2000, Official Report, column 65W, for what reason the Government have no plans to involve the National Audit Office in the production of the Government's Annual Report. [127812]

Marjorie Mowlam: All the statistical data in the Government's Annual Report series are provided or checked by the Office for National Statistics or other reputable statistical sources such as Eurostat.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

House of Lords

49. Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Council what publications will carry the proposed advertisements from the Appointments Commission soliciting applications for membership of the House of Lords. [126385]

Mr. Tipping: That is a matter for the Appointments Commission.

Modernisation Committee

50. Mr. Miller: To ask the President of the Council what progress has been made in respect of the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons proposals on modernising the procedures of the House. [126386]

54. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on progress by the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons on reforming the procedures of the House. [126391]

Mrs. Beckett: 48 of the 54 recommendations of the Committee have been implemented. Apart from abolishing conventions, such as the use of the top hat, the work of Modernisation Committee has produced a clearer Order Paper, better explanatory notes for legislation, more effective Thursday sittings, more freedom for Standing Committees to meet when they wish, a new scrutiny reserve for European business, the introduction of a new forum for debate in Westminster Hall and some easing of restrictions on the Press Gallery and Lobby, which they have long sought.

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Oral Questions

51. Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the President of the Council what recent representations she has received on altering the cut-off time for tabling oral questions. [126387]

Mrs. Beckett: Other than those from the hon. Gentleman, none.

European Union Duties

52. Mr. MacShane: To ask the President of the Council what steps she is taking to provide resources for hon. Members to carry out duties relating to Parliament or their constituencies in the European Union. [126389]

Mr. Tipping: The House agreed to greater flexibility in the scheme for visits to European constituencies on 25 May last year. At that time we said the scheme would be reviewed after a year; the review has begun.

Ministerial Accountability

55. Mr. Baker: To ask the President of the Council what plans she has to improve the parliamentary accountability of Ministers during (a) adjournments and (b) prorogations. [126392]

Mr. Tipping: Ministers are accountable to Parliament at all times.

Select Committee Reports

56. Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the President of the Council if she will propose to the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons a new system for advance notification of the publication of Select Committee reports. [126393]

Mrs. Beckett: No. Arrangements for publication of reports and notification of publication are matters for the Select Committee concerned or for the Liaison Committee.

Written Questions (Recesses)

57. Mr. Quinn: To ask the President of the Council what proposal the Government have made to the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons on the tabling and answering of written questions during parliamentary recesses; and if she will make a statement. [126394]

Mrs. Beckett: The Government have made no such proposals.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Clergy Remuneration

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, (1) when he expects the General Synod to decide on the Archbishops' Council's review of the clergy remuneration package; [127123]

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(2) when he expects an announcement to be made following the Archbishops' Council's consideration of the clergy remuneration package. [127126]

Mr. Stuart Bell: The Review Group set up by the Archbishop's Council will consult widely by means of a survey to be sent to all stipendiary clergy and licensed layworkers, the purpose of which is to assess how clergy are managing financially. The Group has also prepared a consultation document for discussion within the Church.

It is hoped that an interim report will be made to the Council this November, but at this stage it is too early to say when the General Synod will discuss the review and be able to take a decision on its findings, or when an announcement will be made.

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the factors the Archbishops' Council will take into account in reaching a decision on the clergy remuneration package. [127125]

Mr. Stuart Bell: The factors comprising the Review Group's formal terms of reference are listed in answer to the previous question. Responses to consultation will be another key factor. In addition to the financial survey to be sent to all stipendiary clergy and licensed layworkers, the Group's consultation document for discussion within the Church asks for views on the concept of the stipend, its structure, the principle of differentials, other elements of the remuneration package, and the ability of the Church to fund any increases in stipends.

I have arranged for my hon. Friend to be sent a copy of the consultation document.

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will list the main components of the clergy remuneration package to be considered by the Archbishops' Council. [127124]

Mr. Stuart Bell: The principal elements of the remuneration package to be considered include the level and structure of the stipend itself, pension provision and housing. It will consider how stipends are to be funded as well as the level at which they should be set.

The Group's formal terms of reference are:

(i) To consider the concept and definition of the stipend;

(ii) To examine the content of the clergy remuneration package (including retirement provision) and its comparability with remuneration for other groups;

(iii) To ascertain, through a properly conducted large-scale survey of clergy and consultations with dioceses and charities, the financial circumstances of clergy;

(iv) To review the size of dignitaries' differentials;

(v) In conjunction with the Finance Committee, to evaluate the affordability and long-term financial sustainability of the present arrangements and any proposals for change;

(vi) To consider the implications for any proposals for:

clergy deployment and partnership between dioceses;

future numbers of stipendiary clergy and patterns of ministry

(vii) To consider whether the present structure for setting stipends should be retained and outline possible alternative structures;

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(viii) To consult with the Church Commissioners, the Pensions and Board and dioceses;

(ix) To consult with other national church bodies through the Churches Main Committee and government agencies on matters of fiscal and taxation policy which affect stipends, in particular the treatment of benefits in kind;

And to determine options for wide debate within the Church.

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