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SCOTLAND

Retirement Ages

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the retirement ages that apply to the employees of her Department and its agencies, including how many and which categories of employees are affected by each; and if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on flexible retirement. [32830]

Mrs. Liddell: The normal retirement practice age in the Scotland Office for staff outside the senior civil service is age 60. Retirement age policy is currently under review with colleagues in the Scottish Executive, from where most Scotland Office staff have been loaned. Pending the outcome of the review, staff may be retained beyond age 60 on a yearly basis, provided there is a post available and performance, conduct and attendance are satisfactory.

The Cabinet Office is responsible for setting the retirement age for all members of the senior civil service. This is age 60. However, Heads of Departments and Agency Chief Executives have flexibility to retain members of the senior civil service beyond age 60 if they judge it in the public interest and they are satisfied about the fitness and efficiency of the individual to carry out his or her duties.

Fair Trade

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether fair trade products are sold in her Department. [39833]

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Mrs. Liddell: My Department has no facilities which would enable us to sell fair trade products.

Ministerial Meetings

Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she plans to (1) meet the Scottish Ambulance Service; and on how many times she has met them since becoming Secretary of State for Scotland; [40591]

Mrs. Liddell: I meet representatives of a wide range of public and private sector bodies in a variety of circumstances, both formal and informal, and I shall continue to do so.

Nuclear Power Stations

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Advocate-General, pursuant to her oral answer of 19 March 2002, Official Report, column 157, (a) what discussions she has had with the Minister of State, Scotland Office in the last two months on the issue of planning consent for new nuclear

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power stations in Scotland and (b) what account she took of section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989; and if she will make a statement. [45766]

The Advocate-General: I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues concerning a variety of issues. As I have explained to the House on several occasions it is a long-standing convention, adhered to by successive Governments, that neither the fact nor content of opinions or advice given by the Law Officers is disclosed outside Government (even in Parliament).

PFI/PPPs

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what the difference was between the price offered in reaching preferred bidder stage and the final contract price for PPP contracts let by her Department in each of the last four years; and if she will make a statement; [45612]

Mrs. Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. No PPP or PFI contracts have been let by my Department since that date.

Reserved Matters

Mr. Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the functions which she exercises in relation to Scotland in reserved matters. [46104]

Mrs. Liddell: I exercise certain statutory and other functions in relation to reserved matters, including under the Scotland Act 1998 in relation to the devolution settlement itself; in relation to elections in Scotland under the Representation of the People Act 1983, as amended; in relation to the Boundary Commission for Scotland under the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, as amended; in relation to the Crown Estate Commissioners under the Crown Estate Act 1961, and under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Statutory Instruments

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the statutory instruments issued by her Department in the last 12 months, indicating (a) the purpose of each and (b) the cost of each to (i) public funds, (ii) businesses and (iii) individuals. [36221]

Ms Hewitt: In the period, my Department made and issued 142 statutory instruments. During this time 33 Regulatory Impact Assessments were issued in connection with SIs.

The further information requested by the hon. Member could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sustainable Development

Mr. Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements she will put in place to ensure that in filling vacancies on the Gas and Electricity

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Markets Authority, account is taken of the Government's commitments to sustainable development and reduction of UK greenhouse gas emissions. [39382]

Mr. Wilson: When making appointments to the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority we seek to create a body with a range of skills and attributes which are relevant to the various duties and objectives of the authority.

Energy Costs

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on energy costs incurred by her Department in each of the last 10 years. [42436]

Mr. Wilson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Rural Affairs on 19 March 2002, Official Report, column 268W.

Entertainment Costs

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list for 1997–98 and each subsequent financial year the amount spent by (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies in respect of hotel and other similar privately-provided accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad for (A) Ministers, (B) staff and (C) other persons; if she will list the proportion of this cost incurred in respect of (x) food and (y) alcohol in each case; and if she will list the average cost per hotel room or similar unit of accommodation provided in each case. [34389]

Ms Hewitt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, on 14 February 2002, Official Report, column 560W.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list for 1997–98 and for each subsequent financial year, including the current year to date, the amount spent by (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on (i) food and (ii) alcohol, indicating how much was spent on guests, and how much in respect of (A) Ministers and (B) staff, broken down to show how much was provided directly by her Department and how much reclaimed. [34464]

Ms Hewitt: The information requested for the Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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