House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 14 Feb 2002 (pt 6)

Overseas Embassies

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in invoicing the number of scientific attachés in overseas embassies. [33431]

Mr. MacShane: I have been asked to reply.

The £3 million expansion of the FCO's Science and Technology (S&T) network over the three financial years from April 2001 is being implemented on schedule. New S&T staff have already taken up duties in Berne, Boston, Moscow, New Delhi, Ottawa, San Francisco, Shanghai, Taipei, Tel Aviv and The Hague. A further 22 new or upgraded slots will be filled, as planned, by April 2003. This will reinforce the network in key technology centres and more than double its geographical coverage. The expansion and management of the network are being co-ordinated by the FCO's Science and Technology Unit, established in April 2001.

E-Government

Mr. Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration she has given to making e-Government accessible for disabled people; and what actions have been taken as a result. [36242]

Mr. Leslie: I have been asked to reply.

Since December 1999 with the publication of the Guidelines for UK Government websites, Government web managers have been advised on how to make websites accessible to people with disabilities or impairments. On 1 February 2001 the then e-Government Minister the Minister for Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Makerfield (Mr. McCartney), announced that all central Government websites should conform to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) recommendations. The recently revised Guidelines for UK Government Websites

14 Feb 2002 : Column 535W

support WAI recommendations and will give detailed guidance on how to conform to these internationally recognised recommendations.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Equal Pay

33. Mr. Anthony D. Wright: To ask the Minister what steps she is taking to promote best practice in industry on equal pay. [33828]

Ms Hewitt: The Government have taken a number of steps already. As well as a questionnaire procedure for use in equal pay cases and other provisions in the Employment Bill, the Fair Pay Champions and the Castle Awards, created by my predecessor, are helping to spread good practice on equal pay. We are also taking forward recommendations from the Kingsmill report aimed at further reducing the pay gap. I have written to my Cabinet colleagues' union and will soon be writing to FTSE 100 companies, to gather examples of their good working practices, so that we can help spread these more widely.

Sex Discrimination Act

34. Mr. Edwards: To ask the Minister if she will propose legislation to make the Church of England and Church in Wales subject to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. [33829]

Ms Hewitt: There are no plans to review the relevant section of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, relating to organised religions generally.

Unmarried Mothers

35. Mr. Connarty: To ask the Minister what assessment she has made of the impact of the enactment of the Relationships (Civil Registration) Bill on unmarried mothers in long term partnerships. [33830]

Ms Hewitt: The Government are taking forward a cross-departmental exercise to examine all the issues relevant to civil partnerships in detail. It would be premature for the Government to commit themselves to making any changes in these areas before undertaking a comprehensive analysis of all the implications.

Flexible Working Practices

36. Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Minister what steps she is taking to encourage flexibility at work for women. [33831]

Ms Hewitt: The Government's Employment Bill will give mothers, and fathers, of young children a right to request to work flexibly and set out the procedure that employers will have to follow to ensure applications are considered seriously. This new right will apply from April 2003.

The Government's work-life balance campaign encourages all employers to introduce working practices, particularly flexible working arrangements, to enable mothers, and other employees, to balance better their work with other responsibilities. The fourth round of the Work-Life Challenge Fund, which provides consultancy

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support to employers looking to adopt such policies, is currently under way and employers are invited to submit applications by the closing date of 8 March.

Women in Public Life

37. Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Minister what consultations she has had on the departmental action plans for public appointments of women. [33832]

Ms Hewitt: We are determined that women should hold half of all public appointments. The Minister for Women in the Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche), has discussed with ministerial colleagues in other Departments efforts towards this, and other diversity targets. The Government's overall action plan, together with individual departmental action plans, will be published later this month.

Women Scientists

38. Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister what steps she is taking to increase the number of women scientists working in the United Kingdom. [33833]

Ms Hewitt: I recently allocated funding to ensure that the Promoting SET for Women Unit will continue to be in existence for another five years to stimulate progress. I have asked Baroness Greenfield to lead a new high-level group to report with recommendations for a stronger strategic approach to increase the participation of women in science and engineering. I have also recently published the report "Maximising Returns to Science and Engineering Careers".

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND

THE REGIONS

Departmental Leave Entitlements

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what has been the average annual leave entitlement of staff in his Department in each of the last four years. [31744]

Dr. Whitehead: The annual leave entitlement for all DTLR(C) staff outside of the senior civil service is 30 days, and has been in each of the last four years.

The annual leave entitlement for all members of the senior civil service within DTLR(C) is currently set by the Cabinet Office at 30 days, and has been for the last four years.

Public Appointments

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the people he has appointed to official bodies and non-departmental public bodies coming under the aegis of his Department in the last three years; and who they were. [33350]

Ms Keeble: Information about the numbers and remuneration of ministerial appointments to public

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bodies, including the names of chairpersons, is included in the annual Cabinet Office publication, "Public Bodies". Copies are available in the Libraries of the House and also published on the Cabinet Office's website at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango. The next edition of "Public Bodies", which will include information on appointments as at 31 March 2001, will be published shortly.

A list showing people appointed by Ministers in the last three years has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

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Public Bodies (Chairmen)

Mr. Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the appointments made by his Department since 1 May 1997 of chairmen of (a) non-departmental public bodies, (b) commissions, (c) inquiries, (d) agencies and (e) task forces; and if he will list their (i) term of office, (ii) salary and (iii) known political affiliation (A) past and (B) present. [33887]

Ms Keeble: Ministers in my Department have appointed or reappointed chairs since 1 May 1997 as follows:

Name (i) Term of office (ii) Salary (£)

(a) Non-departmental public body

Audit Commission Dame Helena Shovelton⁽²⁾ 17 December 1998 to 30 November 2001 34,880

Castle Vale Housing Action Trust Richard Temple Cox (reappointed) 30 June 1999 to 29 June 2002 32,680

Urban Regeneration Agency Lord Walker (reappointed) 10 December 1997 to 30 September 1998 0

Commission for the New Towns Dr. John Bradfield (reappointed) 1 April 1998 to 30 September 1998 37,223

English Partnerships Sir Alan Cockshaw⁽³⁾ 1 October 1998 to 30 September 2001 50,000

Housing Corporation Baroness Brenda Dean 6 November 1997 to 31 March 2001 43,131

(reappointed) 1 April 2001 to 30 September 2003

Health and Safety Commission Bill Callaghan 1 October 1999 to 30 September 2004 93,021

Liverpool Housing Action Trust Paula Ridley (reappointed) 8 February 1999 to 31 March 2004 32,680

Stonebridge Housing Action Trust Tony Wade (reappointed) 27 July 1997 to 31 October 1997 28,765

Ivan Weekes 1 November 1997 to 31 October 2000 (resigned 31 March 2000) 30,828

Caroline Pickering 7 July 2000 to 16 July 2003 32,680

Tower Hamlets Housing Action Trust Sheila Drew Smith 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2004 32,680

Waltham Forest Housing Action Trust John Chumrow (reappointed) 10 December 1997 to 31 December 2001 32,680

Standards Board for England (body created in 2001) Tony Holland 7 February 2001 to 6 February 2004 50,000

Strategic Rail Authority Sir Alastair Morton⁽⁴⁾ 15 January 2001 to 31 March 2002 (resigned 30 November 2001) 137,917

Richard Bowker 1 December 2001 to 30 November 2006 250,000

Civil Aviation Authority Sir Malcolm Field (reappointed) 1 June 1999 to 31 May 2002 (resigned 16 September 2001) 79,149

Sir Roy McNulty 17 September 2001 to 31 August 2004 90,640

Advisory Panel on Standards in the Planning Inspectorate Michael FitzGerald (reappointed) 2 August 1998 to 1 December 2000 0

Corinne Swain 1 February 2001 to 31 January 2004 0

Building Regulations Advisory Committee Jack Anderson (reappointed) 1 January 1998 to 31 December 1999 0

Pat O'Sullivan 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2001 0

Michael Finn 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2004 0

Commission for Integrated Transport (body created in 1999) David Begg 30 March 1999 to 29 March 2002 26,497

Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee Jane Wilmot 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2001 0

(reappointed) 1 January 2002 to 30 June 2003 0

Local Government Commission Malcolm Grant (reappointed) 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2002 21,400

Property Advisory Group Robin Broadhurst 1 July 1998 to 30 June 2003 0

Rent Assessment Panel Eastern Bruce Edgington 1 October 1998 to 30 September 2002 31,406

Rent Assessment Panel London Susan Lloyd (reappointed) 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2002 (resigned 19 July 2000) 56,670

Siobahn McGrath (reappointed) 1 December 2000 to 31 January 2003 57,201

Rent Assessment Panel Midland John Bettinson (reappointed) 1 January 2000 to 14 October 2002 31,406

Rent Assessment Panel Northern Martin Davey (reappointed) 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2004 47,110

Rent Assessment Panel Southern Robert Long (reappointed) 1 October 1997 to 30 September 2002 47,110

Traffic Area Eastern Geoffrey Simms 1 June 1998 to 2 August 2006⁽⁵⁾ 68,000

Traffic Area North Eastern Tom Macartney 28 February 2000 to 30 June 2012⁽⁵⁾ 68,000

Traffic Area North Western Beverley Bell 10 April 2000 to 7 December 2024⁽⁵⁾ 68,000

Traffic Area South Eastern and Metropolitan Chris Heaps 4 January 2000 to 15 November 2007⁽⁵⁾ 69,100

Traffic Area West Midland and Welsh David Dixon 1 May 1998 to 3 April 2007⁽⁵⁾ 68,000

Traffic Area Western Philip Brown 9 May 2000 to 16 April 2018⁽⁵⁾ 68,000

(b) Commission

Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission John Henes 4 January 2000 to 31 December 2002 Daily fee based on standard senior civil service rates

Commission for Local Administration Anthony Redmond 12 November 2001 to ⁽⁶⁾ 132,603

(c) Public inquiries

Thames Safety Inquiry Right Hon. Lord Justice Clarke Appointed 09/09, report published January 2000 No salary from the inquiry

Marchioness/Bowbelle Formal Investigation and Public Inquiry into the Identification of Victims following Major Transport Accidents Right Hon. Lord Justice Clarke Appointed February 2000, final reports published March 2001 No salary from the Formal Investigation

Reopened Formal Investigation into the loss of the MV Derbyshire Hon. Mr. Justice Colman Appointed April 2000, report published November 2000 No salary from the Reopened Formal Investigation

Reopened Formal Investigation into the loss of the FV Gaul Mr. Justice Steel Appointed May 2000, currently adjourned. Likely to reopen late February/early March No salary from the Reopened Formal Investigation

	Name	(i) Term of office	(ii) Salary (£)
(a) Non-departmental public body
Audit Commission	Dame Helena Shovelton⁽²⁾	17 December 1998 to 30 November 2001	34,880
Castle Vale Housing Action Trust	Richard Temple Cox (reappointed)	30 June 1999 to 29 June 2002	32,680
Urban Regeneration Agency	Lord Walker (reappointed)	10 December 1997 to 30 September 1998	0
Commission for the New Towns	Dr. John Bradfield (reappointed)	1 April 1998 to 30 September 1998	37,223
English Partnerships	Sir Alan Cockshaw⁽³⁾	1 October 1998 to 30 September 2001	50,000
Housing Corporation	Baroness Brenda Dean	6 November 1997 to 31 March 2001	43,131
	(reappointed)	1 April 2001 to 30 September 2003
Health and Safety Commission	Bill Callaghan	1 October 1999 to 30 September 2004	93,021
Liverpool Housing Action Trust	Paula Ridley (reappointed)	8 February 1999 to 31 March 2004	32,680
Stonebridge Housing Action Trust	Tony Wade (reappointed)	27 July 1997 to 31 October 1997	28,765
	Ivan Weekes	1 November 1997 to 31 October 2000 (resigned 31 March 2000)	30,828
	Caroline Pickering	7 July 2000 to 16 July 2003	32,680
Tower Hamlets Housing Action Trust	Sheila Drew Smith	1 July 1999 to 30 June 2004	32,680
Waltham Forest Housing Action Trust	John Chumrow (reappointed)	10 December 1997 to 31 December 2001	32,680
Standards Board for England (body created in 2001)	Tony Holland	7 February 2001 to 6 February 2004	50,000
Strategic Rail Authority	Sir Alastair Morton⁽⁴⁾	15 January 2001 to 31 March 2002 (resigned 30 November 2001)	137,917
	Richard Bowker	1 December 2001 to 30 November 2006	250,000
Civil Aviation Authority	Sir Malcolm Field (reappointed)	1 June 1999 to 31 May 2002 (resigned 16 September 2001)	79,149
	Sir Roy McNulty	17 September 2001 to 31 August 2004	90,640
Advisory Panel on Standards in the Planning Inspectorate	Michael FitzGerald (reappointed)	2 August 1998 to 1 December 2000	0
	Corinne Swain	1 February 2001 to 31 January 2004	0
Building Regulations Advisory Committee	Jack Anderson (reappointed)	1 January 1998 to 31 December 1999	0
	Pat O'Sullivan	1 January 2000 to 31 December 2001	0
	Michael Finn	1 January 2002 to 31 December 2004	0
Commission for Integrated Transport (body created in 1999)	David Begg	30 March 1999 to 29 March 2002	26,497
Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee	Jane Wilmot	1 January 1999 to 31 December 2001	0
	(reappointed)	1 January 2002 to 30 June 2003	0
Local Government Commission	Malcolm Grant (reappointed)	1 July 1999 to 30 June 2002	21,400
Property Advisory Group	Robin Broadhurst	1 July 1998 to 30 June 2003	0
Rent Assessment Panel Eastern	Bruce Edgington	1 October 1998 to 30 September 2002	31,406
Rent Assessment Panel London	Susan Lloyd (reappointed)	1 April 1999 to 31 March 2002 (resigned 19 July 2000)	56,670
	Siobahn McGrath (reappointed)	1 December 2000 to 31 January 2003	57,201
Rent Assessment Panel Midland	John Bettinson (reappointed)	1 January 2000 to 14 October 2002	31,406
Rent Assessment Panel Northern	Martin Davey (reappointed)	1 April 1999 to 31 March 2004	47,110
Rent Assessment Panel Southern	Robert Long (reappointed)	1 October 1997 to 30 September 2002	47,110
Traffic Area Eastern	Geoffrey Simms	1 June 1998 to 2 August 2006⁽⁵⁾	68,000
Traffic Area North Eastern	Tom Macartney	28 February 2000 to 30 June 2012⁽⁵⁾	68,000
Traffic Area North Western	Beverley Bell	10 April 2000 to 7 December 2024⁽⁵⁾	68,000
Traffic Area South Eastern and Metropolitan	Chris Heaps	4 January 2000 to 15 November 2007⁽⁵⁾	69,100
Traffic Area West Midland and Welsh	David Dixon	1 May 1998 to 3 April 2007⁽⁵⁾	68,000
Traffic Area Western	Philip Brown	9 May 2000 to 16 April 2018⁽⁵⁾	68,000

(b) Commission
Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission	John Henes	4 January 2000 to 31 December 2002	Daily fee based on standard senior civil service rates
Commission for Local Administration	Anthony Redmond	12 November 2001 to ⁽⁶⁾	132,603

(c) Public inquiries
Thames Safety Inquiry	Right Hon. Lord Justice Clarke	Appointed 09/09, report published January 2000	No salary from the inquiry
Marchioness/Bowbelle Formal Investigation and Public Inquiry into the Identification of Victims following Major Transport Accidents	Right Hon. Lord Justice Clarke	Appointed February 2000, final reports published March 2001	No salary from the Formal Investigation
Reopened Formal Investigation into the loss of the MV Derbyshire	Hon. Mr. Justice Colman	Appointed April 2000, report published November 2000	No salary from the Reopened Formal Investigation
Reopened Formal Investigation into the loss of the FV Gaul	Mr. Justice Steel	Appointed May 2000, currently adjourned. Likely to reopen late February/early March	No salary from the Reopened Formal Investigation

⁽²⁾ A new chair is currently being appointed to the Audit Commission. The deputy chair has been acting chair since Dame Helena stood down last November.

⁽³⁾ In May 1999, during Sir Alan Cockshaw's chairmanship, the Urban Regeneration Agency and Commission for the New Towns came together as a single operating entity with the name English Partnerships. A new chair is currently being appointed, the deputy chair has been acting chair since Sir Alan stood down.

⁽⁴⁾ Sir Alastair was appointed chair of British Railways Board—one of Strategic Rail Authority's predecessor bodies on 1 April 1999.

⁽⁵⁾ The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 provides for appointment of Traffic Commissioners until their compulsory retirement at age 65.

⁽⁶⁾ This post runs concurrently with the tenure of Mr. Redmond's appointment as a Commissioner for Local Administration. Commissioners may be relieved of office at their own request or may be removed from office on the grounds of incapacity or misbehaviour and shall vacate office on completing the year of service in which they attain the age of 65.

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(d) This Department does not designate a chair to head its agencies.
(e) Information on the number, remit and membership of task forces, ad hoc advisory groups and reviews has been published by the Cabinet Office on a regular basis. The first report was published on 11 January 2000 and gives information for the period between 1 May 1997 to 31 October 1999. A second report was published on 27 July 2000, and covered the period 1 November 1999 to 30 April 2000. A third report was published on 13 December 2000 covering the period 1 May 2000 to 31 October 2000. The most recent report, "Task Forces, Ad Hoc Advisory Groups and Reviews," issued in October 2001, covers the period of the financial year 2000–01. Copies of these reports have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
(iii) Information on chairs political affiliation is not collected.

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