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LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Census 1901
Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the costs of enhancement of the 1901 Census website since 2 January will be met by QinetiQ; and if the contract with QinetiQ prohibits an increase in user fees from those already announced. [51562]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The costs of the enhancements to the 1901 census website, which are intended to make the site sufficiently robust to permit general internet access, are being met in full by the contractor QinetiQ. The user fees are fixed by a statutory instrument and therefore cannot be increased.
Family Visitor Appeals
Lynne Jones: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will provide a breakdown of the number of family visitor appeals (a) determined, (b) allowed and (c) dismissed by the Immigration Appellate Authority (i) at an oral hearing and (ii) on the papers only in each month since 1 January. [54061]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information is as follows:
| Month | Determined | Allowed | Dismissed |
|---|---|---|---|
| (i) Oral appeals: | |||
| January 2002 | 147 | 97 | 50 |
| February 2002 | 148 | 102 | 46 |
| March 2002 | 168 | 119 | 49 |
| (ii) Paper appeals: | |||
| January 2002 | 151 | 79 | 72 |
| February 2002 | 152 | 54 | 98 |
| March 2002 | 198 | 65 | 133 |
8 May 2002 : Column 252W
Lynne Jones: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will provide a breakdown of the number of (a) oral and (b) paper-only family visitor appeals received by the Immigration Appellate Authority in each month since 1 January. [54060]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information is as follows:
| (a) Oral appeals | (b) Paper appeals | |
|---|---|---|
| January 2002 | 172 | 196 |
| February 2002 | 184 | 172 |
| March 2002 | 285 | 213 |
Bailiff Law
Mr. Clapham: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made on the Green Paper "Towards Effective Enforcement—A Single Piece of Bailiff Law and Regulatory Structure for Enforcement". [55583]
Mr. Wills: I am pleased to announce the publication of (a) the post consultation report for the Green Paper "Towards Effective Enforcement—A Single Piece of Bailiff Law and Regulatory Structure for Enforcement", and (b) the summary of responses following the consultation paper on distress for rent procedures.
The Green Paper, published on 9 July 2001, invited comments on the structure for the regulation of enforcement services, a single piece of bailiff law, fees, information and data sharing and a partial regulatory impact assessment. The 84 respondents came from a wide variety of groups concerned with enforcement, including local authorities, public interest groups and enforcement agents. Consultation showed overwhelming support for most of the proposals in the Green Paper. Copies of both documents have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Delivery will require a legislative opportunity. We intend to publish a White Paper early next year bringing together proposals on both civil enforcement (including regulation of all enforcement agents) and distress for rent.
My noble Friend Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC today launched the publication 'National Standards for Enforcement Agents'. The 'National Standards' identifies duties and responsibilities which creditors and their enforcement agents share. It has been warmly welcomed and endorsed by the enforcement profession. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister by what criteria he judges whether the cost of a parliamentary question is disproportionate; and what guidance he gives to Departments. [52400]
Mr. Leslie: Decisions on whether to refuse to provide information on the grounds of disproportionate cost in response to parliamentary questions are taken in accordance with the requirements of the guidance issued by HM Treasury on "Costing Parliamentary Questions"
8 May 2002 : Column 253W
and "Guidance to Officials on Drafting Answers to Parliamentary Questions" issued by the Cabinet Office. Copies of both documents have been placed in the Library of the House. The final decision on how to answer the parliamentary question rests with the individual Minister concerned who may decide that a full answer should be provided irrespective of cost.
Age Equality Commission
Linda Perham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will establish an age equality commission; and if he will make a statement. [53116]
Mrs. Roche: The Government are committed to implementing the European employment and race directives by transposing the directives into UK law.
The recent consultation, 'Towards Equality and Diversity', sought views on the most appropriate arrangements for advice and support for all the new equality strands covered by the employment directive, including age. We are currently considering the strategic and practical issues for all these strands in the light of these responses.
Expenditure Authorisation
Mr. Bacon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on (a) the circumstances in which an accounting officer should seek a direction from a Minister before authorising expenditure, (b) the number of occasions since 1 May 1997 that such directions have been sought by accounting officers and (c) the Department and sum involved and the purpose of the expenditure for which a direction was sought in each case. [54833]
Mr. Andrew Smith: I have been asked to reply.
The circumstances in which an accounting officer should seek a direction from a Minister before authorising expenditure are set out in paragraphs 14–17 of the Treasury document, "The Responsibilities of an Accounting Officer", of July 2001. A copy of the document is available in the Library of the House. The number of occasions since 1 May 1997 that such directions have been sought by accounting officers is 13. The Departments concerned, together with the general subject matter of each direction, are as follows:
- 1998—DSS: Benefits Agency/Post Office Counters Ltd (BA/POCL Automation Ltd);
1998—DSS: Benefits Agency/Post Office Counters Ltd (BA/POCL Automation Ltd);
1998—Northern Ireland Court Service: an individual's personnel records;
1998—MOD: sale of cadet property in Moffat;
1998—DSS: benefits integrity project;
1999—DSS: benefits integrity project;
1999—DSS: benefits integrity project;
1999—ECGD: cashmere exporters;
1999—ECGD: ECGD cover Indonesia;
2000—ECGD: ECGD cover Romania;
2000—MOD: financial assistance to meet cost of flight to Croatia for member of public to attend trial of those accused of murder of his son, a British service man;
2001—MOD: RoRo ferries;
2001—DTLR: Silverstone bypass.
8 May 2002 : Column 254W
HEALTH
Digital Equipment
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many digital radios are owned by his Department for use in departmental buildings from which Ministers work; and what the (a) cost and (b) date of purchase of each radio was. [52861]
Ms Blears [holding answer 26 April 2002]: No digital radios are owned by the Department for use in the building from which Ministers work.
Three radio channels (BBC Radio 3, 4 and 5) are available on television receivers fed from the Central Office of Information cable television system.
Recombinant Factor VIII
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the charging mechanisms for providing recombinant factor VIII to haemophiliacs under the age of 20 but over the age of 16. [47846]
Yvette Cooper: If the product is supplied to a patient and administered at a hospital it is free of charge. If the product is supplied otherwise than for administration at a hospital normal prescription arrangements apply. No charge will be payable if the patient is under 19 and in full-time education, or qualifies for free prescriptions on other grounds, such as low income.
Patients who have to pay and need frequent prescriptions may benefit from purchasing a prescription pre-payment certificate.
Riding for the Disabled Association
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role his Department envisages for the Riding for the Disabled Association in the rehabilitative treatment of children with musculo-skeletal disorders. [47020]
Jacqui Smith: The decision on what treatment to offer an individual patient is one for the clinicians involved in the case. They are responsible for deciding the best treatment for the patient. Doctors are required to exercise their clinical judgment, in consultation with the patient and informed by a patient's medical history.
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