| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Press and Public Relations
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people were employed in a press or public relations function in her Department on 1 January in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002. [39935]
Dr. Howells [pursuant to his reply, 5 March 2002, column 264]: Due to a typographical error the table contained in my original answer was incorrect. The following table gives the correct information.
8 Mar 2002 : Column 577W
The number of press officers and publicity officers in my Department at 1 January in each of the last six years was as follows:
| Date | Press Officers | Publicity Officers |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 8 | 4 |
| 1998 | 19 | 14 |
| 1999 | 8 | 4 |
| 2000 | 9 | 25 |
| 2001 | 8 | 24 |
| 2002 | 8 | 25 |
1 Includes two officers working part-time.
2 Includes one officer working part-time.
Job No: 715993 Folios: 1005
Operator: op19. Date: 08/03/02
DEFENCE
PRISM System
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the development of the prototype remote illness and symptom monitor (PRISM). [39198]
Dr. Moonie: The prototype remote illness and symptom monitor (PRISM) is a system designed to be a simple and practical tool for collecting medical signs and symptoms relating to individuals by identifying unusual health trends. The concept has been developed into a handheld device consisting of a computer and Global Positioning System. Bespoke Software records time and location data, and analyses the output of the handheld devices to record unusual levels of signs and symptoms. Prototype devices have been built and tested in laboratory and field-based trials. Most recently, PRISM has been successfully tested during exercise Saif Sareea in Oman. PRISM has therefore been a successful research programme resulting in the demonstration of a concept. We are currently considering the extent to which further research and development work is desirable.
QinetiQ
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on consultants and other fees relating to the privatisation of QinetiQ. [40082]
Dr. Moonie: Since the DERA PPP was announced in July 1998 as part of the Strategic Defence Review, the Ministry of Defence has spent some £7.2 million on advice from consultants and other fees. This figure covers the cost of advice and fees relating to all stages of the DERA PPP including the detailed options study in 1998–99, vesting of QinetiQ as a company in July 2001 and recent work preparing the company for a transaction. These costs have been subject to scrutiny to ensure that they offer value for money.
Job Sharing
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the extent of job sharing in his Department. [41043]
8 Mar 2002 : Column 578W
Dr. Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 688W, to the hon. Member for Twickenham, (Dr. Cable).
Operator: op19. Date: 08/03/02
Defence Fire Service
(Golden Jubilee Medal)
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence of he will make it his policy that the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal should be awarded to serving members of the Ministry of Defence Fire Service. [41456]
Dr. Moonie: The criteria for eligibility of members of the emergency services working within Government departments to receive the medal are still being drawn up by the Cabinet Office, but I expect members of the Defence Fire Service to be among those who are eligible.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to answer the question of 13 February from the hon. Member for Buckingham regarding staff involvement in union duties. [41811]
Dr. Moonie: I replied to the hon. Member on 6 March 2002, Official Report, column 316W.
Skynet 5 Project
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what criteria Paradigm was selected as the preferred bidder for the Skynet 5 project; [41769]
- (2) pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2002 to the hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Hall) Official Report, column 1135W, on the Skynet 5 programme, if he will give the location by parliamentary constituency of the jobs that will be (a) created and (b) sustained. [41771]
Job No: 715993 Folios: 1007Operator: op19. Date: 08/03/02
Dr. Moonie: The decision to select the preferred bidder for the Skynet 5 programme was taken on value for money grounds.
On current plans we expect the majority of the jobs created or sustained by Skynet 5 to be located in the parliamentary constituencies of Stevenage, Portsmouth North, North Wiltshire, Macclesfield and Newport (South Wales).
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Job Advertisements
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the job advertisements placed by his Department in the last 12 months specifying where the advertisements were placed and the cost in each case. [39060]
Ms Rosie Winterton: In the last 12 months my Department has advertised over 400 posts externally to recruit staff. The total cost is over £400,000. The details requested have been placed in the libraries of both Houses.
8 Mar 2002 : Column 579W
Candidates for judicial offices are invited to apply through advertisements placed in the national press and legal journals. But judicial appointments do not constitute employment by the Lord Chancellor's Department and are therefore not included in the table.
Press Releases
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many press releases were issued by the Lord Chancellor's Department in the periods (a) between 1 May and 31 December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive. [40028]
Mr. Wills: The number of press releases that were issued by the Lord Chancellor's Department on behalf of LCDHQ, the Court Service, the Official Solicitor and members of the judiciary are:
| Number | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | 1 May–31 December 1997 | 219 |
| (b) | 1998 | 386 |
| 1999 | 387 | |
| 2000 | 452 | |
| 2002 | 463 | |
| Public Record Office (excluding releases of official documents): | ||
| (a) | 1 May–31 December 1997 | 3 |
| (b) | 1998 | 5 |
| 2000 | 5 | |
| 2000 | 11 | |
| 2001 | 17 | |
| Land Registry: | ||
| (a) | 1 May–December 1997 | 13 |
| (b) | 1998 | 26 |
| 2002 | 28 | |
| 2003 | 28 | |
| 2004 | 36 | |
| Northern Ireland Court Service: | ||
| (a) | 1 May–31 December 1997 | 11 |
| (b) | 1998 | 21 |
| 2002 | 25 | |
| 2003 | 14 | |
| 2004 | 27 | |
| Public Guardianship Office: | ||
| With effect from 1 April 2001 | 1 |
Press and Public Relations
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many people were employed in a press or public relations function in the Lord Chancellor's Department on 1 January in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002. [39924]
Mr. Wills: The number of people who were employed in press or publicity work (excluding internal communications, web site developers and administrative support) was as follows:
The Public Guardianship Office came into effect on 1 April 2001. Press and publicity work for the Court Service is handled by LCDHQ.
The increase in press and publicity staff in 2000 reflects new work connected with the Community Legal Service and the Court Service. The increase in 2002 reflects new responsibilities transferred to LCDHQ from the Home Office.
Job No: 715993 Folios: 1010Operator: op19. Date: 08/03/02
8 Mar 2002 : Column 580W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |