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Regulatory Impact Assessments
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the (a) subject, (b) responsible Department and (c) date of each regulatory impact assessment on which his Department has been consulted since the publication of the "Modernising Government" White Paper. [6237]
Mr. Leslie: The degree of consultation with my Department varies from telephone conversations (which may not be recorded), to detailed exchanges in writing, depending on the nature of the issue raised. However, no central record is maintained of the number of regulatory impact assessments on which my Department is consulted.
Transport and Social Exclusion
Dr. Stoate: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Social Exclusion Unit will launch the consultation exercise for its prospect on transport and social exclusion. [6531]
Ms Keeble: I have been asked to reply.
The consultation exercise will be launched next week on Wednesday 25 July.
The consultation letter, copies of which will be placed in both Libraries, is aimed at anyone with an interest in transport and social exclusion issues and includes a wide-ranging questionnaire to help consultees frame their contributions. The SEU is keen to obtain the views of as wide a range of people as possible and the consultation period will include visits, interviews and focus groups.
The letter is also available on the SEU's website, which can be found at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/seu/ index.htm.
SCOTLAND
Departmental Events
David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what (a) national and (b) international awareness events her Department has participated in since June 1997
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in the form of (i) sponsorship, (ii) departmental attendance, (iii) similar departmental activities and (iv) a message of support. [5035]
Mrs. Liddell: The Scottish Office before July 1999 and the Scotland Office since July 1999 have participated in many such events. Details could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Absence
David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many days on average were lost per employee in her Department because of sickness; and how many officials retired early from her Department in each of the past 10 years. [R] [5060]
Mrs. Liddell: The numbers of early retirements from the core departments of the former Scottish Office in each year from 1 April 1994 to 30 June 1999 are:
| Year | FTE staff retiring |
|---|---|
| 1994–95 | 61.1 |
| 1995–96 | 99.7 |
| 1996–97 | 124.7 |
| 1997–98 | 16.8 |
| 1998–99 | 13.0 |
On average, the number of working days lost per permanent employee in the Scottish Office core departments was 6.7 days in 1997–98, and 8.1 days in 1998–99.
Information for earlier years for early retirements and sickness absence is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. No officials have retired early from the Department since that date. Information on sickness absence rates per employee is not available on a comparable basis.
ADVOCATE-GENERAL
Mr. Surjit Chhokar
Harry Cohen: To ask the Advocate-General if she will arrange to be made available to the family of Mr. Surjit Chhokar the documents presented to (a) the inquiry into the conduct of the Crown Office and (b) the inquiry under Dr. Jandoo into the treatment of the Chhokar family during the investigation into the murder of Mr. Chhokar; what representations have been received from the Chhokar family about (i) those two inquiries and (ii) the murder of Mr. Chhokar; what has been the response to them; and if she will make a statement. [5656]
The Advocate-General: This is a matter for the Scottish Executive and my hon. Friend may wish to write to the Lord Advocate about the case.
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PRIME MINISTER
Ministerial Visits
Mr. Patrick Hall: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list (a) Government expenditure on ministerial overseas visits for the financial years 1995–96 to 2000–01 and (b) all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001, including the cost, destination and purpose of the visit. [6180]
The Prime Minister: Expenditure on ministerial overseas visits for the periods requested is estimated as follows:
| Year | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1995–96(1) | 7.3 |
| 1996–97 | 7.9 |
| 2 May 1997 to 31 March 1998 | 6.4 |
| 1998–99 | 4.9 |
| 1999–2000 | 4.6 |
| 2000–01 | 4.7 |
(1) The figure for 1995–96 does not include some expenditure falling to the Ministry of Defence and the Welsh Office because the information was not recorded centrally or is incomplete. Full costs are available from 1996–96 onwards.
A list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during the period 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001 has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The list provides details of the date, destination and purpose of all such visits and the cost of Ministers' travel and accommodation where appropriate.
Special Advisers
Dr. Ladyman: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on special advisers. [6181]
The Prime Minister: I have today placed in the Libraries of the House copies of the new Code for Special Advisers, and the revised Model Contract for Special Advisers, together with details of the new pay arrangements for Special Advisers and a list of the Special Advisers currently in post.
Ministerial Travel Code
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to publish a revised Ministerial Code on Travel by Ministers. [6189]
The Prime Minister: I have today published a revised "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers". They provide guidance to Ministers on how they should conduct themselves in carrying out their official duties. The foreword to the Code makes it clear that I will expect all Ministers to operate within the letter and spirit of the Code. The revised Code takes account of recommendations made by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
Copies of both documents have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
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Hinduja Brothers
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if all papers under his control relating to the Hinduja brothers were made available to Sir Anthony Hammond as part of his inquiry. [5477]
The Prime Minister: I made it clear when I set up the independent review headed by Sir Anthony that all relevant information that he required would be made available to him. I also said that it was for Sir Anthony to decide on how he carried out the review, what papers and files he needed to see and to whom he needed to speak.
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will reopen the Hammond Inquiry into the application for passports by the Hinduja brothers. [5482]
The Prime Minister: Sir Anthony Hammond has already carried out a thorough review of the issues. I do not think any further inquiry would be fruitful.
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister (1) on what date (a) he and (b) another Minister last received a communication from one of the Hinduja brothers; [5475]
- (2) if he will made a statement on his meeting with the Hinduja brothers on 24 February 1998. [5478]
The Prime Minister: It is public knowledge that I and members of the Government have met members of the Hinduja family. Subject to that it is not the normal practice of the Government to release details of meetings or discussions with private individuals or companies.
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library copies of (a) the letter to him dated 25 February 1998 from the Hinduja brothers and (b) the minutes from Jonathan Powell to the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) relating to the conversation between the Prime Minister and the Hindujas on 24 February 1998. [5479]
The Prime Minister: Information relating to internal advice and consultation is not disclosed under Exemption 2, Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Prime Minister if his chief of staff wrote to the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) in order to communicate an offer of sponsorship for the millennium dome from the Hinduja Foundation. [5560]
The Prime Minister: It is not the normal practice of the Government to release details of meetings or discussions with private individuals or companies.
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