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Parliamentary Proceedings (Webcast)
Mrs. Roe: To ask the Chairman of the Broadcasting Committee how the pilot project to webcast parliamentary proceedings on the internet may be viewed within the parliamentary estate. [26017]
Mr. Lepper: The House of Commons and House of Lords are starting to webcast coverage of some debates on the internet. This is a pilot project, to be assessed at the end of 2002, aimed at making the work of Parliament more accessible to people unable to visit Westminster. The webcasts largely duplicate the coverage already available on the internal Annunciator system and in this test environment, during the pilot project, they will not be accessible via the Parliamentary Data and Video Network (PDVN). However, from next week viewing facilities will be available in the e-library of the House of Commons and, I understand, also in the Queen's Room in the Library of the House of Lords.
Portcullis House (Water Feature)
Norman Baker: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee on how many days since Portcullis House opened the water feature has been (a) operational and (b) out of operation. [25383]
Derek Conway: A leak developed last summer after the water feature had operated successfully for some 12 months. This has resulted in the water feature being switched off for most of the time since the summer recess. Following protracted discussions a way to resolve the problem has now been agreed with the company that has
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taken over the responsibilities of the original contractor, who is no longer in business. This will lead to the leak being repaired at the least possible cost to the House.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Departmental Staff
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many employees of (a) his Department and (b) agencies sponsored by his Department work in (i) London, (ii) areas benefiting from EU Objective 1 status, (iii) areas with objective 2 status and (iv) other areas. [16116]
Jane Kennedy: As at January 2001, based on full-time equivalents, there were 1,539 staff from the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) employed by the Department and 195 staff from the Home Civil Service (HCS). These figures can be broken down as follows:
- (a) the Department
- (i) there were 8 NICS staff and 119 HCS staff in London;
- (ii) there were 727 NICS staff and 63 HCS staff in areas benefiting from EU Objective 1 status;
- (iii) there were no staff in areas benefiting from EU Objective 2 status;
- (iv) there were 2 NICS staff and 2 HCS staff in other areas
- (b) agencies sponsored by the Department
- (i) there were 0 staff in London;
- (ii) there were 622 NICS staff and 11 HCS staff in areas benefiting from EU Objective 1 status;
- (iii) there were no staff in areas benefiting from EU Objective 2 status;
- (iv) there were no staff in other areas.
Rubber/Plastic Bullets
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) rubber and (b) plastic bullets have been used since their introduction; how many have been purchased in each year and at what cost; and how many have been purchased since publication of the Patten report and at what cost. [17758]
Jane Kennedy: The tables give details of the number of baton rounds used by the police, since separate police recording began in 1981.
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The Chief Constable has informed me that details of the costs in relation to the purchase of baton rounds, and the number purchased prior to 1995, are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The following table gives details of the number of baton rounds purchased by the Royal Ulster Constabulary each year from 1995:
| Year | Baton rounds purchased by police |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 25,200 |
| 1996 | 60,875 |
| 1997 | 33,900 |
| 1998 | 75,227 |
| 1999 | 50,400 |
| 2000 | 76,320 |
| 2001 | 46,000 |
Since publication of the Patten Report the Royal Ulster Constabulary has purchased 122,320 baton rounds, and to date the Police Service of Northern Ireland has not purchased any baton rounds.
Omagh Bombing
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he has made in seeking to identify the source of the leak of the Northern Ireland police ombudsman's unfinished report into the Omagh bombing; and if he will make a statement. [23320]
Jane Kennedy: We have no plans for such an investigation.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Freedom of Information Act
Hywel Williams: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action he has taken to co-ordinate the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by Government Departments. [23469]
Mr. Wills: Overall responsibility for implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 rests with the Lord Chancellor as Head of the Department with lead responsibility for the legislation. The Lord Chancellor chairs the Cabinet sub-committee on Freedom of Information and Data Protection, of which Ministers from all central Government Departments are members.
Two interdepartmental officials groups have been set up to support the Ministerial committee. The Senior Group on Freedom of Information and Data Protection consists of those senior officials from across Whitehall, and the devolved Administrations, who have responsibility for implementing Freedom of Information and Data Protection in their organisations. The group meets every three months and has been set up to look at major implementation questions affecting central Government.
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The senior group is supported by the Practitioner's Group on Freedom of Information. It consists of officials with day to day knowledge of open Government and implementation of the Freedom of Information Act in their respective Departments. The function of this group is to address common issues related to the implementation of the legislation. The group also acts as a forum for sharing best practice and helps to ensure consistency in approach across central Government.
Private Landlord Evictions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what figures he has collated on how many people have been (a) legally and (b) illegally evicted by private landlords in each of the last 10 years. [25034]
Mr. Wills: Information concerning the number of evictions by private landlords, either legally or illegally, is not collected and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. For information purposes, figures concerning the number of possession orders granted by the courts to private landlords during the last 10 years are provided in the table. It should be noted however, that these orders would not necessarily have resulted in an actual eviction.
| Suspended | Immediate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5,116 | 8,265 |
| 1999 | 6,381 | 8,568 |
| 1998 | 8,753 | 8,586 |
| 1997 | 8,881 | 8,495 |
| 1996 | 8,296 | 8,970 |
| 1995 | 6,785 | 8,833 |
| 1994 | 5,553 | 8,258 |
| 1993 | 4,048 | 7,562 |
| 1992 | 4,094 | 9,739 |
| 1991 | 5,074 | 10,361 |
(3) Does not necessarily result in an eviction
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Staff Numbers
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people were employed in her Department in each of the last four years. [23800]
Dr. Howells: The average number of staff employed in the Department is set out in the table.
| Year | Staff employed |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 365 |
| 1999 | 388 |
| 2000 | 397 |
| 2001 | 420 |
The figures for 2001 include staff transferred from the Home Office and Cabinet Office as part of Machinery of Government changes.
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Public Libraries
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many libraries (a) nationally and (b) in the Buckingham constituency are linked to the National Grid for Learning; [23746]
- (2) how many library service points (a) nationally and (b) in the Buckingham constituency are internet connected; and what the figures were in 1997. [23745]
Dr. Howells: All public libraries connected to the internet have access to the National Grid for Learning. Currently 2,782 public libraries are connected to the internet, which constitutes 67 per cent. of all public libraries in the UK. 100 per cent. will be connected by the end of 2002. In Buckinghamshire library authority all 36 public libraries are connected to the internet, of which eight are in Buckingham constituency. Figures for Buckingham in 1997 are unavailable, but nationally 184 libraries had public internet access in that year.
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