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Data Protection Act

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if his Department has plans to (a) amend and (b) seek the repeal of the Data Protection Act 1998. [43448]

Mr. Wills: The Government is continuing to keep the operation of the Data Protection Act 1998 under review. At present we have no plans to amend the Act. Repeal of the Act would be inconsistent with our international obligations.

Census (1901)

Mr. John Taylor: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he plans to include Birmingham in the number of centres providing 1901 Census Online availability. [43450]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The Public Record Office has provided Birmingham City Council with the necessary technical configurations so that its library service can access the 1901 Census online. Once work on compatibility issues has been completed by the City Council, Birmingham should be ready for operation as a service centre when the 1901 online census is relaunched.

PRIVY COUNCIL

Modernisation

48. Julie Morgan: To ask the President of the Council if he will consult the voluntary, business and trade union sectors on proposals to modernise the House of Commons. [41562]

55. Margaret Moran: To ask the President of the Council what plans he has to use electronic means of consultation on his proposals for reform of the House of Commons. [41571]

Mr. Gordon Marsden: To ask the President of the Council if he will consult the voluntary, business and trade union sectors on his proposals to modernise the House. [41568]

Mr. Stephen Twigg: I understand that the Modernisation Committee has taken evidence from a number of individuals and organisations as to how Parliament might be made more topical, relevant and effective. I have been working with the National Council of Voluntary Organisations to ensure that the voluntary sector has a full input into this consultation, and am hoping to do more in the coming months.

I know the Leader of the Commons is very keen to hear the views of as many people as possible on the contents of the memorandum he presented to the Modernisation Committee in December. To this end I understand the Modernisation Committee is exploring the possibility of an e-consultation.

49. Peter Bradley: To ask the President of the Council if he will consult right hon. and hon. Members on the need for reform of conventions in the House. [41563]

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Mr. Stephen Twigg: My right hon. Friend welcomes ideas for reform from all Members. Where there are outmoded or inappropriate conventions in the House, the Modernisation Committee will be happy to consider proposals for reform.

53. Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the President of the Council what consideration he has given to improving the links between young people and Parliament in his proposals for modernisation of the House. [41569]

Mr. Stephen Twigg: My right hon. Friend hopes that his proposals will make Parliament more accessible to all groups, including young people. In addition, the parliamentary education service does a great deal to inform and involve young people.

Private Members' Bills

51. Simon Hughes: To ask the President of the Council how many private Members' Bills introduced by (a) Government Back Benchers and (b) Opposition Members have been enacted in each of the last 10 years; and what proposals he has to give greater opportunity for Back-Bench legislative initiatives to become law. [41566]

Mr. Stephen Twigg: The information requested is as follows:

Session	Number of PMBs enacted	Introduced by Government Back Bencher	Introduced by Opposition Member
1991–92	13	11	2
1992–93	15	12	3
1993–94	16	11	5
1994–95	17	11	6
1995–96	17	12	5
1996–97	22	18	4
1997–98	10	7	3
1998–99	8	4	4
1999–2000	6	3	3
2000–01	0	0	0

My right hon. Friend has no such proposals at present.

House of Lords Reform

52. David Taylor: To ask the President of the Council if he will make a statement on progress on Lords reform. [41567]

54. Mr. George Osborne: To ask the President of the Council how many recent representations he has received calling for a wholly or substantially elected House of Lords. [41570]

56. Joyce Quin: To ask the President of the Council if he will make a statement on the response to the Government's White Paper on House of Lords reform. [41572]

Mr. Stephen Twigg: I refer the Members to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House to my hon. Friends the Members for Slough and Rhondda in the House today, Official Report, column 163.

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Council (1) when he will respond to the report of the Select Committee on Public Administration on Lords Reform; [43818]

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(2) how many responses were received to the White Paper on Lords Reform; and if he will make a statement. [43812]

Mr. Robin Cook: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Slough and Rhondda, Official Report, column 163.

Prime Minister's Questions

57. Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the President of the Council what recent representations he has received on the alteration of timing of questions to the Prime Minister. [41573]

Mr. Stephen Twigg: My right hon. Friend and I have received representations about the ability of those living in the north of England to attend Prime Minister's questions if it is brought forward significantly.

Traffic Disruption

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the President of the Council if he will make a statement on the level of consultation between his office and the House authorities with other bodies to ensure that traffic disruption is kept to a minimum while the House is sitting. [41833]

Mr. Robin Cook: At the beginning of each Session the House issues the Sessional Order which instructs the Commissioner of Police to keep the streets around the Houses of Parliament free from obstruction so that Members and Peers have a clear passage.

House officials liaise with the traffic authorities of Westminster city council and Transport for London. When problems, such as traffic congestion occur both bodies have been helpful in seeking to alleviate the problems.

If the right hon. Member has a specific point of concern, I would welcome further details.

Staff Numbers

Mr. Bercow: To ask the President of the Council how many staff have been employed by his Department in each of the last 10 years. [42468]

Mr. Robin Cook: The number of staff employed by the Privy Council in each of the last 10 years is shown in the table.

	Staff in post
1991	32
1992	32
1993	33
1994	33
1995	38
1996	37
1997	35
1998	33
1999	32
2000	35
2001	(1)40

⁽¹⁾ Four staff who worked in the Business Co-ordination Unit transferred to the Cabinet Office.

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Sitting Hours

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the President of the Council if he will make a statement on his proposals for changing sitting hours of the House. [41565]

Mr. Stephen Twigg: My right hon. Friend's proposals are contained in his memorandum to the Modernisation Committee. The Committee is undertaking an inquiry into the proposals and welcomes the views of MPs on reform.

Accommodation Costs

Mr. Bercow: To ask the President of the Council what the cost was of hotel accommodation for departmental staff working away from home in each of the last four years. [41064]

Mr. Robin Cook: This figure can be provided only at disproportionate costs, but the total amount would be modest as there is little requirement for travel in the Department.

Equipment Leasing

Mr. Bercow: To ask the President of the Council if he will list the equipment leasing arrangements entered into by his Department in each of the last four years; and what the cost is to public funds in each case. [39081]

Mr. Robin Cook: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Teignbridge (Richard Younger-Ross) on 11 February 2002, Official Report, column 45W.

The details of the other leasing arrangements in my Department are:

Financial year	Cost(2) (£)
Photocopiers
1998–99	13,216
1999–2000	16,770
2000–01	16,770
2001–02	17,455
Drinking water coolers
1998–99	363
1999–2000	480
2000–01	480
2001–02	480

⁽²⁾ Including VAT

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