House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 11 Apr 2002 (pt 13)

Code of Practice on

Access to Government Information

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what the recommended time is for departments to decide the results of an internal appeal under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. [48611]

Mr. Wills: It is for individual bodies subject to the Code to make their own arrangements for the procedure used to review cases internally where information has been refused and the applicant has made a complaint. Appendix 5 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information Monitoring Report for the year 2000, published in September 2001, sets out the target times adopted by bodies subject to the Code for deciding the results of an internal appeal. The majority have adopted a target of 20 working days or less. The target for decision on an internal appeal within this Department is 20 working days.

Freedom of Information

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will place in the Library copies of each version of the guidance distributed to officials to advise them on how to answer subject access requests under the Data Protection Act 1998. [48612]

Mr. Wills: A circular (IT Security News) was issued to staff in November 1999 about the Data Protection Act. I have placed a copy of IT Security News, Issue 6 in the House Library. No separate guidance has been issued since then. I expect to be able to make an announcement on central guidance on handling subject access requests shortly.

Correspondence

Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor will reply to the letter to him dated 18 February for the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. A. Wellings. [47768]

Mr. Wills: The Lord Chancellor wrote in reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton's letter of 18 February on 27 March 2002.

11 Apr 2002 : Column 546W

Project Sponsorship

Mr. Beith: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which of his Department's projects have received sponsorship since 1997, including (a) details of the sponsor, (b) the nature of the project, (c) the date of the project, (d) the total cost of the project and (e) the amount of money involved in the sponsorship deal. [48406]

Ms Rosie Winterton: In line with the Government's commitment in its response to the Sixth Report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life, details of individual amounts of sponsorship valued at more than £5,000 will be disclosed in departmental Annual Reports.

Fraud (Dentists)

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many dentists have received custodian sentences since 1997 arising from a conviction for fraud against the NHS.[43813]

Ms Blears: I have been asked to reply.

Since 1997, of all National Health Service fraud and corruption cases involving dental contractors, there have been eight cases, which have been successfully prosecuted. Of these five received a custodial sentence. There are currently six cases awaiting court proceedings and 34 alleged cases of fraud and corruption under investigation by the NHS Counter Fraud Service.

Job No: CW0126 Folios: 000-000Operator: Operator Number 3. Date: 11/04/02

SCOTLAND

Catering Services

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the cost was of (a) in-house canteen and (b) other catering services provided by her Department in each of the last four years. [38929]

Mrs. Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.

In buildings where the department is the sole occupier, there are no in-house canteen or catering services. In accommodation shared with the Scottish Executive, catering services are provided by that department as the major occupier.

Equipment Leasing

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the equipment leasing arrangements entered into by her Department in each of the last four years; and what the cost to public funds in each case is. [38935]

Mrs. Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.

No equipment leasing arrangements have been made by the Department since that date.

11 Apr 2002 : Column 547W

Accommodation Costs

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the cost was of hotel accommodation for departmental staff working away from home in each of the last four years. [41063]

Mrs. Liddell: The information is not available in the form requested.

Accountancy Contracts

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the contracts agreed by her Department with the five largest accountancy firms since May 1997; and what was the total value of contracts with each. [42110]

Mrs. Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.

The Department has had no contracts with accountancy firms since that date.

Energy Costs

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on energy costs incurred by her Department in each of the last 10 years.[42435]

Mrs. Liddell: The information is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Job No: CW0126 Folios: 000-000Operator: Operator Number 3. Date: 11/04/02

PFI/PPPs

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the (a) private finance initiative and (b) public private partnership projects which have been delayed. [44882]

Mrs. Liddell: My Department has no private finance initiative or public private partnership projects.

Criminal Damage

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the cost has been of criminal damage to her Department's buildings in each of the last four years.[44828]

Mrs. Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.

There have been no cases of criminal damage to the Department's buildings since that date.

Secondments

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many members of staff were employed by her Department on secondment from the private sector in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001. [45259]

Mrs. Liddell: No staff employed by my Department were seconded from the private sector between 1999 and 2001.

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many members of staff were employed by the Scotland Office on secondment from non-Governmental organisations in (a) 1999, (b) 2000 and (c) 2001. [45223]

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Mrs. Liddell: One member of staff was seconded to the Scotland Office from a non-governmental organisation in 2001.

Project Sponsorship

Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which of her Department's projects have received sponsorship since 1997, including (a) details of the sponsor, (b) the nature of the project, (c) the date of the project, (d) the total cost of the project and (e) the amount of money involved in the sponsorship deal.[48394]

Mrs. Liddell: In line with the Government's commitment in its response to the Sixth Report from the Committee on Standards on Public Life, details of individual amounts of sponsorship valued at more than £5,000 will be disclosed in departmental Annual Reports.

Crèche Facilities

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what crèche facilities are provided by her Department; and at what cost. [44859]

Mrs. Liddell: No crèche facilities are provided by my Department.

PFI/PPPs

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Advocate-General if she will list the (a) private finance initiative and (b) public private partnership projects which have been delayed.[44889]

The Advocate-General: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Job No: CW0126 Folios: 000-000Operator: Operator Number 3. Date: 11/04/02

Crèche Facilities

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Advocate-General what crèche facilities are provided by her Department; and at what cost. [44857]

The Advocate-General: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Job No: CW0126 Folios: 000-000Operator: Operator Number 3. Date: 11/04/02

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