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Rural Policy
12. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the co-ordination of rural policy. [15982]
Mr. Leslie: Rural policy is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with whom my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has on-going discussions.
E-Government Initiative
13. David Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the progress of the e-Government initiative. [15983]
Mr. Leslie: Delivery is at the heart of our agenda for transforming public services and e-Government is one of the most powerful catalysts we have for achieving that transformation. The Office of the e-Envoy produces both an annual report and regular monthly reports giving details of the progress that is being made. The next annual report will be published on 30 November. The latest figures on progress towards the target of making Government services available electronically by 2005 show that over 50 per cent. of Government services are "enabled" now. And Departments predict that 74 per cent. of services will be e-enabled by the end of 2002.
Civil Service Pay
14. Mr. Heath: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his policy on civil service pay. [15984]
Mr. Leslie: The Government policy on pay in the civil service is that effective reward and performance management systems are instrumental to the delivery of better public services. Together they should create a climate in which civil servants want to give of their best and strive for continuous improvement.
Civil Service
15. Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his oral statement of 31 October 2001, Official Report, column 866, what action he has taken to introduce legislation to give constitutional protection to the civil service; and if he will make a statement. [15985]
18. Tony Wright: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to introduce legislation on the civil service. [15989]
28 Nov 2001 : Column: 899W
Mr. Leslie: The Government are committed to legislation on the Civil Service and are putting in hand arrangements for wide consultation in advance of its introduction.
Agriculture
16. Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the regional co-ordination of assistance for the rehabilitation of the agriculture industry. [15986]
Mrs. Roche: The Government are committed to assisting the development of a sustainable, competitive and diverse farming and food sector within a thriving rural economy that advances environmental, health and animal welfare goals.
The rural recovery co-ordinator, Lord Haskins, and the Rural Task Force each published their reports on 18 October with recommendations for the short term survival of rural business, and mid term strategies for rural recovery after the foot and mouth disease outbreak. The Government will respond shortly to both reports.
My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has ongoing discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs on these and other matters.
Government Departments (Co-ordination)
17. Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent steps he has taken to improve co-ordination between Government departments in connection with the Better Regulation Task Force and the delivery unit. [15987]
Mr. Leslie: The Deputy Prime Minister is responsible for ensuring better co-ordination across Government in the delivery of a broad range of Government policies, not least through the work of Regional Co-ordination Unit, which reports to the Deputy Prime Minister.
The Better Regulation Task Force is an independent advisory body that makes recommendations to Government on the effectiveness and credibility of government regulation.
The Prime Minister's Delivery Unit has a key role in strengthening capacity across Whitehall to deliver the Government's priorities in the priority areas of health, education, crime and asylum, and transport. My right hon. and noble Friend, Lord Macdonald of Tradeston has day-to-day responsibility for the work of the Delivery Unit.
Ministerial Visits
19. Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what visits to Government regional offices Cabinet Office Ministers have made since 7 June. [15990]
Mrs. Roche: Since 7 June, I have visited the Government Offices for the East of England, East Midlands, South West, North East and North West. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has visited the Government Offices for the North East, South West
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and North West. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary visited the Government Office for Yorkshire and Humber.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on how many occasions the Cabinet Secretary has visited (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland since his appointment. [17235]
Mr. Leslie: Since his appointment in January 1998, the Cabinet Secretary has visited Northern Ireland once, Wales six times and Scotland five times.
Social Exclusion Unit
20. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the work of the social exclusion unit. [15992]
Mrs. Roche: The Social Exclusion Unit was set up by the Prime Minister to provide joined-up solutions to specific social exclusion problems. It delivers long-term strategies for change but has already demonstrated the effectiveness of its approach.
The unit has produced reports on five main areas:
- 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training;
teenage pregnancy;
rough sleeping;
truancy and school exclusions; and
a national strategy for neighbourhood renewal.
- re-offending by ex-prisoners;
young runaways;
educational attainment of children in care; and
transport and social exclusion.
Public Appointments
21. Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of public appointments made since 1997 have been women; and if he will make a statement. [15997]
Mr. Leslie: The information requested by my hon. Friend is not available in the form required. However, as at 31 March 2000, 33 per cent. of public appointments were held by women, compared to 32 per cent. as at September 1997 and 23 per cent. in 1992.
The Government are committed to the goal of achieving equal representation of men and women in public appointments. All Departments have individual plans containing details of the measures being taken to increase the representation of women and other currently under-represented groups on the boards of their public bodies. New departmental action plans for the period 2002 to 2005 will be published next year.
Access to Official Information
Mr. Robathan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will respond to the report from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration of 13 November on Access to Official Information. [15498]
Mr. Blunkett [holding answer 16 November 2001]: I have been asked to reply.
28 Nov 2001 : Column: 901W
The Government's position remains as set out in the Fourth Report of the Parliamentary Ombudsman on Access to Official Information. The Government have nothing further to add.
New Deal (Civil Service)
Mr. Shaw: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people have been employed in the civil service under the new deal for the young and unemployed. [19566]
Mr. Leslie: As at 1 October 2001 the information on civil service Departments (including their agencies) participating as employers in the new deal is as follows:
| Main department (including agencies) | Number |
|---|---|
| Cabinet Office | 32 |
| Privy Council Office | 1 |
| Charity Commission | 38 |
| Department for Culture, Media and Sport | 4 |
| Ministry of Defence | 146 |
| Department for Education and Skills | 140 |
| Office for Standards in Education | 1 |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 101 |
| Intervention Board | 4 |
| Export Credits Guarantee Department | 4 |
| Foreign and Commonwealth Office | 11 |
| Government Communications Headquarters | 2 |
| Department of Health | 72 |
| Home Office | 121 |
| Department for International Development | 7 |
| Law Officers' Departments | 23 |
| Lord Chancellor's Department | 64 |
| National Assembly for Wales | 39 |
| Northern Ireland Office | 14 |
| Scottish Executive | 98 |
| Registers of Scotland | 1 |
| Department of Trade and Industry | 72 |
| Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions | 108 |
| Health and Safety Executive | 28 |
| Office of the Rail Regulator | 1 |
| Office of Water Services | 1 |
| Ordnance Survey | 1 |
| Shadow Strategic Rail Authority (NDPB wef 1 February 2001) | 1 |
| HM Treasury | 7 |
| Office of Government Commerce | 1 |
| HM Customs and Excise | 129 |
| Board of Inland Revenue | 463 |
| Office for National Statistics | 11 |
| Royal Mint | 3 |
| Department for Work and Pensions | 3,693 |
| Total | 5,442 |
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