| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Knowledge Economy
27. Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on progress in the Joint Ministerial Committee on developing the knowledge economy. [126720]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The subjects covered by the Joint Ministerial Committee on the Knowledge Economy includes both responsibilities which have been transferred to the Assembly and some which have not. The Committee provides a forum for the UK Government and the devolved administrations to exchange information and best practice.
The Committee's remit includes consideration of the level and availability of Information Technology training in the UK; the uptake by business of E-Commerce processes; and liaison between the administrations on electronic procurement. The Committee's remit also covers the employment opportunities created by the knowledge economy.
Transport Links
28. Mr. Ian Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary on improving transport links between Wales and continental Europe. [126721]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary regularly and discuss a wide range of transport issues. The Assembly, who have responsibility for the majority of transport policy in Wales, continue to consider transport links to continental Europe when formulating their policies.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April have not received substantive answers, citing as the reason that the information is (a) not held centrally, (b) not held in the form requested and (c) not available. [128012]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The information requested is as follows: (a) three, (b) nil and (c) two.
28 Jun 2000 : Column: 564W
In some of these answers we provided part of the information requested, while citing the above reasons for not providing all of the information requested.
Electoral System
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the working of the Government of Wales Act 1998 and the electoral system. [126700]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues.
CABINET OFFICE
Interactive Voice Response Systems
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many Government Departments and agencies use interactive voice response systems to deal with inquiries from the general public departments. [127116]
Miss Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
This matter comes under the responsibility of the Office of Government Commerce, which has been a Treasury Department since April 2000. Each Government Department is responsible for deciding the most appropriate telecommunications systems to meet its business requirements. Obtaining records from each of these on any use of interactive voice response systems to deal with public inquiries would be disproportionately costly.
Statistics
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what statistics relating to the responsibilities of her Department are collated by parliamentary constituency, indicating the dates covered in each case. [123848]
Mr. Stringer: My Department does not routinely collate any statistical data at parliamentary constituency level.
The Cabinet Office does, however, compile statistics in response to specific inquiries from hon. and right hon. Members at constituency level.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office for how many parliamentary questions tabled between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000 her Department has given advice on answers; how many of these questions were instances of the same question being tabled to different Departments by the same hon. Members; and how many such questions there were. [127105]
Marjorie Mowlam: Detailed information in the form requested is not held centrally. My Department issues advice to Departments on a range of issues including Parliamentary Questions where appropriate. This is the practice adopted over many years by successive Administrations.
28 Jun 2000 : Column: 565W
Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many parliamentary questions were tabled to her Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April which requested information, pursuant to her previous answers. [128008]
Mr. Stringer: Between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000 there were 18 parliamentary questions tabled to my Department which requested information pursuant to previous answers.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Judicial Appointments
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the report into QC and judicial appointments by Dr. Kate Malleson. [127727]
Jane Kennedy: Dr. Kate Malleson and Dr. Fareda Banda recently completed research into the factors that affect decisions to apply for judicial appointments and Queen's Counsel. A copy of their report has been placed in the Library.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the findings of the independent report commissioned by his Department from Dr. Kate Malleson into the system of appointment of QCs and judges. [127726]
Jane Kennedy: In December 1998, the Lord Chancellor's Department commissioned research into the factors that affect decisions to apply for judicial appointment and Queen's Counsel. Dr. Kate Malleson and Dr. Fareda Banda undertook the research and their report
28 Jun 2000 : Column: 566W
was published on 15 June 2000. The research found that there is a wide range of factors that affect decisions to apply for judicial appointment and/or Queen's Counsel. Some respondents did not have a judicial appointment in their career plan, while others were concerned about the consultation procedures for assessing candidates for judicial office; concerns based on largely inaccurate perceptions of how the system actually works. The report made no findings into the system of appointment of QCs and judges.
Conveyancing
Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on progress with the trials of the new system for home buying and selling. [127700]
Mr. Lock: The seller's information pack pilot project under way in Bristol is now two thirds complete. Citizens' workshops to test how packs might operate in relation to lower value properties have been undertaken in Burnley and Bradford. A summary of the interim research findings was published on 27 June and copies have been placed in the House of Commons Library. A final research report is expected to be published later in the year.
Family Law
Mr. Leslie: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Board on Family law plans to publish its Third Annual report. [128442]
Jane Kennedy: The Lord Chancellor's Advisory Board on Family Law has today published its Third Annual Report and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
28 Jun 2000 : Column: 565W