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Visitor Visas
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visitors visas were granted to citizens of (a) India, (b) Pakistan and (c) Sri Lanka in each of the last three years. [32901]
Mr. Bradshaw: We do not maintain overseas statistics on nationalities of applicants received at Posts. Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan nationals are free to apply at any Post.
The numbers of visitor category applications granted in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are:
| India | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 152,040 | 47,968 | 15,215 |
| 2000 | 154,081 | 82,099 | 14,471 |
| 2001(10) | 177,756 | (11)75,746 | 17,156 |
(10) The collection of annual statistics on the breakdown of applications by category is currently moving from a calendar year to a financial year basis. So the best available 2001 statistics are for the total number of non-settlement type visas issued in 2001.
(11) We still await November and December 2001 statistics from Islamabad.
Television Sets
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) integrated digital and (b) analogue television sets have been bought by his Department in each of the last 24 months; and if he will publish the guidance given to officials making decisions on television purchases. [33226]
Mr. MacShane [holding answer 4 February 2002]: Details of the television sets bought by UK Departments of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and overseas posts could be provided only at disproportionate cost since the FCO does not maintain a central record of such purchases.
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Standard FCO guidance applies to the purchase of television equipment. This is based on achieving value for money.
Israel
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral statement by the Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw), of 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 414, on Israel, what assessment he has made of the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Dr. Mustapha Barghouthi by Israeli forces. [32761]
Mr. Bradshaw: I replied to my hon. Friend by letter on 30 January. Copies of this letter have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Private Medical Insurance
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many employees in (a) his Department and (b) his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies have had private medical insurance provided for them in each year since 1997–98; what the total cost is; and if he will make a statement. [32320]
Mr. Bradshaw: The FCO does not provide private medical insurance for any of its staff. Staff serving overseas receive medical care in line with NHS standards via a contract with Guy's and St. Thomas's NHS Trust. In some countries where medical standards do not meet those in the UK, and it is not practicable to bring staff home, they are treated by private practitioners.
TREASURY
Refurbishment
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost of buildings refurbishment carried out by his Department in each of the last four years. [27916]
Ruth Kelly: The information is as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 275,569 |
| 1998–99 | 329,255 |
| 1999–2000 | 355,080 |
| 2000–01 | 303,525 |
The information relates to essential refurbishment and redecoration works in the two Treasury office buildings and in 11 Downing street. It excludes refurbishment works arising from the PFI contract for the Treasury's new office accommodation.
Environmental Appraisals
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many environmental appraisals have been published by his Department since 1 January 2001; and if he will list the last four. [28999]
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Mr. Boateng [holding answer 21 January 2002]: The Government publish an environmental appraisal and evaluation of Budget measures in each Budget and pre- Budget report. However, no stand-alone environmental appraisals have been published by my Department since 1 January 2001.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last requested an environmental appraisal before making a policy decision. [29000]
Mr. Boateng [holding answer 21 January 2002]: Where environmental considerations are relevant, they form an integral part of policy advice to Ministers.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedures his Department has to ensure environmental appraisals are undertaken prior to (a) administrative and (b) policy decisions being made. [29001]
Mr. Boateng [holding answer 21 January 2002]: Environmental considerations are taken into account in taking important administrative and policy decisions.
The Department's policy checklist includes a section on environmental appraisals.
Where relevant goods and services are procured, prospective suppliers are asked to include an assessment of the major environmental impacts of the contract, as part of the tendering and evaluation process.
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methods (BREEAM) assessments are undertaken for new buildings and for the major refurbishment of existing buildings within the Department's estate.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials from his Department have attended the Environmental Appraisal and Integration into Policy training course run by the civil service college. [29002]
Mr. Boateng [holding answer 21 January 2002]: No representative from HMT has attended the course referred to to date.
Ministerial Trips
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list each of the overseas trips made by himself and other members of his ministerial team in each of the last four years, specifying the purpose and cost of each trip. [30173]
Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Deputy Prime Minister on 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 707W.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether special advisers have sight of replies to written parliamentary questions from hon. Members before the replies are sent; and if he will make a statement. [32977]
Ruth Kelly: The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers states that the work of special advisers may include "reviewing papers going to the Minister" and that "they may give advice on any aspect of departmental business".
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Private Medical Insurance
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers working in his department are provided with private medical insurance; how many individuals have been covered by such insurance in each year since 1997–98 and at what total cost to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement; [32312]
- (2) how many employees in (a) his Department and (b) his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies have had private medical insurance provided for them in each year since 1997–98; what the total cost is; and if he will make a statement. [32319]
Ruth Kelly: Paragraph 7.1.7 of the Civil Service Management Code prohibits Departments from providing staff with private medical insurance. This condition also applies to special advisers.
Tax Receipts
Mr. Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish forecast receipts for (i) 2002–03, (ii) 2003–04 and (iii) 2004–05 from (a) income tax, (b) VAT, (c) corporation tax, (d) capital gains tax, (e) inheritance tax, (f) total taxation in Scotland and (g) North sea oil and gas revenues. [34311]
Mr. Andrew Smith: Projected receipts for 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05 from income tax, VAT, non-North sea corporation tax and North sea revenues are shown in Table B9 of the November 2001 pre-Budget report, expressed as a percentage of GDP. Receipts for 2002–03 from capital gains tax and inheritance tax are shown in Table B11 of the November 2001 pre-Budget report. No separate projections are made of tax receipts in Scotland.
Euro
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what work has been commissioned by his Department from outside Her Majesty's Treasury on the appropriate long-term exchange rate of the pound against the euro; and if he will make a statement; [33611]
- (2) if he will list those university academics and economic research establishments he has asked to carry out work relating to the technical preparations for the five economic tests for euro entry; what this work consists of; what cost to public funds is involved; and if he will make a statement. [32874]
Mr. Andrew Smith: The Treasury is in regular contact with academics and other outsiders on a wide range of issues, including aspects of the preliminary and technical work. However, the assessment of the five economic tests will be a Government assessment and the work will be undertaken by the Treasury.
The Treasury published a note in November 2001, "Preliminary and Technical Work to Prepare for the Assessment of the Five Tests for UK Membership of the Single Currency", which addressed the issues of content and timing of the preliminary and technical work to prepare for the assessment of the five economic tests for UK membership of the single currency. A copy can be found in the Library of the House.
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