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Euro
25. Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last met the Board of Directors of the Scotland in Europe campaign to discuss the impact of the euro on Scotland; and if she will make a statement. [32356]
Mrs. Liddell: I meet regularly with a wide range of people and organisations to discuss issues relating to the Scottish economy. Scottish businesses that have trading links with the euro area, not just those who export or import, will be affected. The Government are therefore committed to working in partnership with the Scottish Executive and with business to ensure the right level of euro preparations in Scotland for working with the euro now.
Secondments
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the names of staff who have been seconded to her Department from the private sector since May 1997, indicating (a) the names of the organisation from which each has come, (b) their responsibilities and Civil Service grades within her Department, (c) the organisation responsible for paying their salary and (d) the start and end dates of their secondment. [35833]
Mrs. Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. No staff have been seconded to my Department from the private sector.
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Devolution Funding Policy
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on her role as the Minister responsible for the Government's financial relations with the devolved Administration in Scotland. [32894]
Mrs. Liddell: Details of the financial arrangements with the devolved Administration in Scotland were set out in "Funding the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and Northern Ireland Assembly: A Statement of Funding Policy". The second edition of the Statement was published in July 2000 by HM Treasury.
ADVOCATE-GENERAL
Devolution
29. David Cairns: To ask the Advocate-General if she will make a statement about (a) the subject matter and (b) changes in the number of devolution cases taken to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council since 1998. [32361]
The Advocate-General: Since May 1999, nine devolution issue cases have been taken to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. All nine cases have concerned points arising under the European Convention on Human Rights. Among the subject matters of the cases were section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, prejudicial pre-trial publicity, assumptions under the Proceeds of Crime (Scotland) Act 1995 as to whether property was the proceeds of crime, fixed legal aid payments, the competence of section 1 of the Mental Health (Public Safety and Appeals) (Scotland) Act 1999, temporary sheriffs, and delay in criminal proceedings. The number of cases in each year was: in 2000, three cases; in 2001, five cases; and so far in 2002, one case.
32. Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Advocate-General what devolution issues have been raised in the last month under the Scotland Act 1998. [32364]
The Advocate-General: Since 1 January 2002, 19 devolution issue cases have been intimated to me. They have all raised points under article 6 of the European Convention of Human Rights which protects the right to a fair trial.
Duties
30. Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Advocate-General pursuant to her answer of 25 January 2002, Official Report, column 1126W, on her duties, if she will make a statement, in light of the role she has developed under the Scotland Act, on the actings of the Scottish Executive with respect to which she has sought to ensure that the UK Government have early warning. [32362]
The Advocate-General: I encourage lawyers from my office to work together closely with Scottish Executive lawyers at an early stage in the development of legislation. Any difficulties will, where possible, be resolved through consultation between the Government and the Scottish Executive. The lawyers in my office will play a part in identifying difficulties and resolving them and I will advise as Advocate-General on occasion.
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European Institutions (Reform)
31. Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Advocate-General if she will make a statement on the implications of reform of European institutions on the operation of the Scotland Act 1998. [32363]
The Advocate-General: Sections 29(2)(d) and 57(2) of the Scotland Act 1998 ensure that the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Ministers cannot act incompatibly with Community law. Any changes in Community law which may result from reform of the European institutions would not change that position.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Portcullis House
50. Mr. Pickthall: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on the number of repairs required to the fabric and installations of Portcullis House since it was opened; and what is the estimated total cost. [32388]
Mr. Kirkwood: Contractors are responsible for repairing any faults in their work identified in the 12 months following the hand-over of Portcullis House in August 2000. During the first 12 months some 3,200 defects were identified, ranging from a missing screw to a cracked pane of glass. This is well within the expected norm for a new building of this size and complexity—the vast majority of defects were minor and have not affected the users of the building. The costs of these repairs do not fall to the House of Commons; they are borne by the contractors.
The repairs for which the House has been responsible have mostly been minor and have been carried out as part of the day to day maintenance of the building.
Select Committees
51. Jim Dobbin: To ask the President of the Council what proposals he has for reform of the system for the appointment of members to select committees. [32389]
Mr. Robin Cook: The Modernisation Committee published its first report on select committees this morning.
The committee recommends that a new Nominations Committee, chaired by the chairman of Ways and Means and including seven of the most senior members of the Chairman's Panel, should be responsible for overseeing the process of nominations to select committees.
We believe that the new committee will be provide an independent mechanism, placing nominations to all select committees in the hands of an independent authoritative body and ensuring that the nominations to the committees that scrutinise Government are in the hands of the Commons.
Private Members' Bills
52. Anne Picking: To ask the President of the Council what plans he has to make proposals to the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons to reform the system of Private Members' Bills. [32390]
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Mr. Stephen Twigg: I am aware many Members would like to see reform of the system of Private Members' Bills. My right hon. Friend has no proposals to make as yet, but we would welcome hon. Members' views.
Members' Pensions (Survivor Benefits)
53. Jane Griffiths: To ask the President of the Council if he will make a statement on the impact of the June 2001 decision to extend hon. Members' pension plans to their unmarried partners. [32391]
Mr. Stephen Twigg: My right hon. Friend has asked the Trustees of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund to consider the matter. I should remind the House that, should extension of survivor benefits to unmarried partners lead to increased costs to the scheme, we would expect these costs to be borne by scheme members.
Works of Art
54. Harry Cohen: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, how much is available to commission and acquire works of art for the Palace of Westminster. [32392]
Mr. Kirkwood: The House of Commons has an Acquisition Budget of £50,000 in the current financial year for acquiring works of art, supplemented by an Acquisition Budget of £100,000 in the current financial year for acquiring works of art specifically for Portcullis House. In the new financial year, 2002–03, the main budget will rise to £100,000 and a further £100,000 will be available for Portcullis House. Mr. Speaker's Advisory Committee on Works of Art is responsible for commissioning and acquiring works of art for the House of Commons. The House of Lords has separate acquisition funds.
Sitting Hours
55. Mr. Wyatt: To ask the President of the Council if he will make a statement on changes to the parliamentary timetable and calendar. [32394]
Mr. Stephen Twigg: I expect the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons may wish to report on changes to the parliamentary calendar.
The dates of periodic adjournments are always subject to vote by the House.
Timber
Ms Walley: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee how much has been spent on timber for the refurbishment of the Norman Shaw South building. [35681]
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Derek Conway: The cost of timber to be supplied under the contract for the refurbishment of Norman Shaw South is some £80,000.
Ms Walley: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee how much certified timber has been used in the refurbishment of the Norman Shaw South building; and what proportion of the total timber purchased for this refurbishment this represents. [35679]
Derek Conway: All the timber supplied for the refurbishment of Norman Shaw South is being certified as lawfully obtained from forests and plantations which are managed sustainably.
Ms Walley: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what action was taken by his Committee to ensure that timber procured for the refurbishment of the Norman Shaw South building was sourced both (a) sustainably and (b) legally. [35680]
Derek Conway: The General Specification used for parliamentary works contains the following clause:
- "Sources of timber: it is the employer's policy to purchase only timber and timber products from sustainably managed sources. When requested, the contractor must submit to the project manager documentary evidence (which has been or can be independently verified) that the timber supplied under this contract has been lawfully obtained from forests and plantations which are managed to sustain their bio-diversity, productivity and vitality and to prevent harm to other ecosystems and any indigenous or forest-dependent people. Such evidence may take the form of a certificate issued under a credible independent verification system, or such other documents which demonstrate the operation of an environmental management system incorporating forest management criteria that conform with internationally recognised principles such as the Helsinki guidelines."
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