| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Standards in Public Life Report
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Prime Minister when the Government intend to respond to the Sixth report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. [133414]
The Prime Minister: The Sixth Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, which focused on implementation of the Committee's First Report, was published in January. It concluded that the process of reform of standards of ethical behaviour in public life that had been set in train following the publication of its First Report had been a success and made a number of further recommendations. I am grateful to Lord Neill and his Committee for their continued work in this vital area.
I have published today the Government's response to the Committee's Sixth Report (Cm 4817) and copies are available in the Library.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions he has deposited papers in the Library in response to parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April. [132465]
Engagements
Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 26 July. [132363]
The Prime Minister: This morning I had meetings with Ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I will have further such meetings later today.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of the written parliamentary questions tabled to her 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. [132469]
Clare Short: Of the 574 written parliamentary questions tabled to my Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April 2000, one did not receive a substantive answer because the material was not held centrally, two because the information was not held in the form requested and four because the information was not available.
26 Jul 2000 : Column: 684W
SCOTLAND
Post Offices
Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on changes to the payment of benefits and pensions and the effect on post offices (a) in Glasgow and (b) in Scotland. [127716]
Dr. Reid: The Government are committed to investing £480 million in the automation of the entire post office network, allowing the move to paying benefits and pensions by automated credit transfer to start in 2003. This will not prevent people from continuing to collect their benefits in cash from their local post office if they prefer.
In addition, the Government have recently unveiled a further package of measures to modernise the post office network, giving opportunities for significant new business and securing its future. As an example, from 27 July Lloyds TSB customers will be able to carry out basic banking transactions at 2,000 post offices throughout Scotland free of charge, underlining the potential for post offices to provide an ever-increasing range of services to local communities.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions he has deposited papers in the Library in response to parliamentary questions tabled to his Department between 19 October 1999 and 20 April. [132466]
WALES
Spending Review
7. Mr. Donald Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the effect of the 2000 spending review on transport in Wales. [130883]
Mr. Hanson: I discuss many aspects of transport with the First Secretary during our regular meetings. The settlement announced for Wales last week has given Wales an extra £299 million transport consequential under the Barnett Formula. As my hon. Friend will be aware, any decisions on how the settlement is allocated within Wales will be for the Assembly to decide and will be announced in their budget plans later this year.
There will also be scope under European Structural funded schemes for ambitious transport infrastructure projects, which the National Assembly for Wales will evaluate alongside all other bids.
12. Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the effect of the 2000 spending review on police funding in Wales. [130888]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues.
26 Jul 2000 : Column: 685W
Last Wednesday's announcement by the Home Secretary of an extra £1.6 billion for police funding in England and Wales for the next three years is very good news. It represents an average annual increase in police funding of 7 per cent. and will mean a further 4,000 recruits for England and Wales, bringing the total to 9,000 extra recruits over the next three years. Police forces in North Wales, Dyfed Powys and Gwent will also benefit from extra funding in recognition of the special challenges which they face in policing sparsely populated rural areas.
14. Mrs. Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Assembly First Secretary about the effect of the 2000 comprehensive spending review on EU structural funds in Wales. [130890]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I have discussed this matter with the First Secretary on a number of occasions.
The settlement covers in full the increase in EU Structural Funds receipts, outside of the Barnett formula, and he welcomes it as much as I do.
15. Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the effect of the 2000 spending review on police chief constables in Wales. [130891]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary regularly to discuss a range of issues.
Last Wednesday's announcement by the Home Secretary of an extra £1.6 billion for police funding in England and Wales for the next three years is very good news. It represents an average annual increase in police funding of 7 per cent. and will mean a further 4,000 recruits for England and Wales, bringing the total to 9,000 extra recruits over the next three years. Police forces in North Wales, Dyfed Powys and Gwent will also benefit from extra funding in recognition of the special challenges which they face in policing sparsely populated rural areas.
It will be for individual chief constables in Wales to determine how they spend the funds allocated to them.
17. Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the effect of the 2000 spending review on education in Wales. [130893]
23. Mr. Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the effect of the 2000 spending review on education in Wales. [130899]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I met with the First Secretary on a regular basis in the run-up to the 2000 Spending Review.
I welcome the excellent settlement secured for Wales, which includes amounts consequential on allocations to the Department for Education and Employment.
18. Ms Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the effect of the 2000 spending review on health and social services in Wales. [130894]
Mr. Hanson: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State met with the First Secretary on a regular basis in the run-up to the 2000 Spending Review.
26 Jul 2000 : Column: 686W
The excellent settlement secured for Wales includes amounts consequential on allocations to the Department of Health which can be allocated by the National Assembly to improve healthcare.
Minimum Wage
8. Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has held with the First Secretary about the impact of the national minimum wage on the Welsh economy. [130884]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I regularly meet the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales and discuss a number of issues including the Welsh economy.
The minimum wage has brought substantial benefits to large numbers of people, especially women and part-time workers, without any indication of significant adverse effect on employment or economy in Wales.
Common Agricultural Policy
9. Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on progress on reform of the common agricultural policy in relation to upland farming in Wales. [130885]
Mr. Hanson: A major reform arising from Agenda 2000 CAP reforms was contained in the European Commission's Rural Development Regulation, relating to Less Favoured Areas (LFAs). The new scheme for the LFAs, which constitute 80 per cent. of Wales, was submitted to the European Commission last December by the National Assembly for Wales. Commission approval is expected in the near future.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |