2 May 2002 : Column 889W
Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 2 May 2002
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Regional Governance
Joyce Quin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will publish the White Paper on English regional governance. [54682]
The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and I intend to publish the White Paper on Thursday 9 May.
United Nations Equator Initiative
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if the UK supports the aims of the United Nations Equator Initiative. [48155]
Clare Short: I have been asked to reply.
The UK has not been directly involved in the United Nations Equator Initiative, which has been designed to support the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and the Convention on Biodiversity. However, we support its aim to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the equatorial belt by fostering, supporting and strengthening community partnerships. The initiative will highlight successful initiatives undertaken by communities in the equatorial belt who are using their biological resources in a sustainable way to improve livelihoods. The first Equator Initiative Awards for such initiatives will be presented at WSSD.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the written questions asked of him between (a) 1 to 30 June 2001, (b) 1 to 31 July 2001, (c) 1 to 30 September 2001, (d) 1 to 31 October 2001, (e) 1 to 30 November 2001, (f) 1 to 31 December 2001, (g) 1 to 31 January 2002, (h) 1 to 28 February 2002, (i) 1 to 31 March 2002 and (j) 1 to 30 April 2002 that had not received a substantive answer by 30 April; and if he will state (i) the name of the hon. Member asking the question and (ii) the reasons the question had not received a substantive answer. [54077]
The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) today.
As at 30 April my Department had one question from February and one question from March that had not received a substantive reply. These have since been answered.
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In addition 20 questions tabled in April had not received a substantive reply that were due for answer by that date.
PRIME MINISTER
Aga Khan
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Prime Minister when he last met (a) the Aga Khan, (b) the Aga Khan development network and (c) the Aga Khan Foundation; what the subject matter of the meeting was; and what discussions he had in advance of the meeting. [53807]
The Prime Minister: I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations it is not my practice to provide details of all such meetings.
St. Thomas's
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what recent representations he has received on the sale of the St. Thomas's old medical school site; [53806]
- (2) what recent discussions he has had on the St. Thomas's old medical school site. [53805]
The Prime Minister: I have received representations. I have made it clear that I am not in a position to intervene in the decision making on the St. Thomas's site. The site is owned by King's college London, and decisions on its future are a matter for them.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the written questions asked of him between (a) 1 to 30 June 2001, (b) 1 to 31 July 2001, (c) 1 to 30 September 2001, (d) 1 to 31 October 2001, (e) 1 to 30 November 2001, (f) 1 to 31 December 2001, (g) 1 to 31 January 2002, (h) 1 to 28 February 2002, (i) 1 to 31 March 2002 and (j) 1 to 30 April 2002 that had not received a substantive answer by 30 April; and if he will state (i) the name of the hon. Member asking the question and (ii) the reasons the question had not received a substantive answer. [54076]
The Prime Minister: Two ordinary written parliamentary questions tabled for answer on 24 and 29 April 2002 respectively have not yet been answered, but will be shortly.
My office aims to answer all ordinary written parliamentary questions within five working days, and named day written parliamentary questions on the day named.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Departmental Staff
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of the staff of his Department are part-time employees. [47414]
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Angela Eagle [holding answer 10 April 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr. Leslie), on 11 April 2002, Official Report, column 553W.
Special Advisers
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by departmental special advisers on food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for entertainment purposes in each of the last five years. [46836]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 10 April 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 348W.
Statutory Instruments
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 4 March 2002, Official Report, columns 42–45W, on statutory instruments, what assessment he has made of the cost effectiveness of each of the statutory instruments listed. [50014]
Angela Eagle: Costs associated with regulatory proposals are considered at the policy development stage. A regulatory impact assessment (RIA) is completed for regulatory proposals unless there are no or negligible costs, and sets out the impact, in terms of costs, benefits and risks of the proposed regulation which could affect businesses, charities or the voluntary sector. RIAs are available from the Library.
Drug Cases
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug cases were dealt with in magistrates courts in the Greater London area in each of the last three years. [50876]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The available information, from the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, provided in the table, shows the number of defendants proceeded against in magistrates courts within the Metropolitan police area for drug offences by outcome in the years 1998 to 2000.
Information on court proceedings for 2001 will be available in the autumn.
(1) For which a drug offence was the principal offence
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Correspondence
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 18 March from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Gul Hargus. [51794]
Angela Eagle: I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office replied to my right hon. Friend on 16 April 2002.
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 18 February from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. A Khilei. [51793]
Angela Eagle: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote to my right hon. Friend on 22 April 2002.
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 22 February from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Debbie Esho. [51792]
Mr. Blunkett: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 1 May 2002.
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