House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 24 May 2002 (pt 20)

Care Homes

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost of the increases in National Insurance rates on care homes. [59436]

Ruth Kelly: I regret that it would only be possible to provide a reliable estimate at disproportionate cost.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Volunteers

Mr. Allen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he has taken since May 1997 to invite members of the public to volunteer to serve on (a) taskforces and (b) other ad hoc advisory bodies; and how many such volunteers have been appointed. [52228]

Mr. Leslie: Task forces, ad hoc advisory groups and reviews are by their nature created to provide advice on a particular subject or subject area. Ministers can, and often do, seek participants from a wide range of backgrounds to provide the best possible advice. Many of them give their time and efforts freely, though precise details are not held centrally.

Public Appointments

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list members of local and national public appointments commissions, stating in each case (a) what other public appointments each has held and when, (b) what political affiliation each has recorded, and when, and (c) the postal district of their place of residence. [55291]

Mr. Leslie: The post of the Commissioner for Public Appointments was established by the previous administration in 1995, in response to a recommendation made by the Committee on Standards in Public Life in its

24 May 2002 : Column 670W

First Report (Cm 2580). The Commissioner is appointed by the Queen under the Public Appointments Order in Council 1995, as amended by the Public Appointments Order in Council 1998, and is independent of both the Government and the Civil Service.

The present Commissioner is Dame Rennie Fritchie, who was appointed for an original three-year term in 1999, and who has since been re-appointed to serve a further three-year term from March 2002 to February 2005.

Dame Rennie was previously Chair of Gloucester Health Authority from 1988–1992; South-Western Regional Health Authority from 1992–1994; South and Western Region NHS Executive (formerly South and Western Regional Health Authority) from 1994–1997. There is no requirement on holders of this office to record their political affiliation, if any. I am advised by the Commissioner's Office that the postal district of Dame Rennie's place of residence is GL1.

In April 2001, the Government established an independent NHS Appointments Commission. At present there are around 4,000 chairs and non-executives on NHS boards whose appointments are now the responsibility of the Commission. The Commission has a Chair, Sir William Wells and eight Regional Commissioners namely, Mrs. Gillian Camm, Mrs. Jane Isaacs, Dr. John Marshall, Sir Ian Mills, Mrs. Brenda Sills, Mr. Michael Taylor, Mrs. Rosie Varley and Mr. Bernard Williams. Details of previous public appointments that they have held are contained in the press releases announcing their appointments, copies of which are in the libraries of the House. There is no requirement on the Chair or the Regional Commissioners to record their political affiliation, if any.

I am advised by the NHS Appointments Commission that the Chair and the Regional Commissioners live in the following postal districts, Sir William Wells (TW10), Mrs. Camm (GL13), Mrs. Isaacs (WV1), Dr. Marshall (DL2), Sir Ian Mills (SE13), Mrs. Sills (NG31), Mr. Taylor (CH1), Mrs. Varley (IP33) and Mr. Williams (SL6).

Regional Observatories

Mrs. May: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what the estimated expenditure by regional observatories is in England in the current financial year; and what proportion of this expenditure will by financed by central Government; [55191] (2) which Government department has responsibility for overseeing the regional observatories and if he will make a statement on their purpose. [55190]

Mrs. Roche: Regional observatories are independent entities formed by partnerships of regional organisations, including academic institutions, regional assemblies, regional development agencies, and Government Offices for the Regions. They aim to share the production, analysis and dissemination of intelligence and research related to regional policy. No Government department has responsibility for overseeing them.

24 May 2002 : Column 671W

Each regional observatory has been established as a local initiative. Funding has to date been from a variety of sources and is often in kind. The table below shows the current progress of each observatory and sources of funding.

24 May 2002 : Column 672W

It has not been possible to itemise the amount of funding for each observatory, given the mix of funding from different sources. Government Office of the Region contributions have been in staff time rather than financial contribution and the table includes estimates. Some of the expenditure would have been incurred in any case by the various sponsor organisations.

Progress of Regional Observatories and Current Funding

Region Status Lead Partners Funding Source Government Office Input

North East Planning Stage ONE North East, North East Regional Assembly, Government Office for the North East None as yet 8 per cent of 1 staff year

North West Operational as the North West Regional Intelligence Unit North West Development Agency Mainly North West Development Agency 7 per cent of 1 staff year

Yorkshire & the Humber Operational as Yorkshire Futures Regional Intelligence Network Yorkshire Forward, Government Office for Yorkshire & Humberside, South Yorks Learning & Skills Council, Yorkshire Universities, Northern & Yorkshire and Trent Public Health Observatories Yorkshire Forward, Skills Development Fund, European Social Fund Objective 3 5 per cent of 1 staff year

East Midlands Operational as East Midlands Observatory East Midlands Development Agency, Regional Assembly, East Midlands Local Government Association, Government Office for the East Midlands East Midlands Development Agency, Regional Assembly, East Midlands Local Government Association, European Social Fund Objective 3, Northants Chamber of Commerce 11 per cent of 1 staff year

West Midlands Planning Stage Advantage West Midlands *Advantage West Midlands, European Social Fund Objective 2, European Union Framework 6 20 per cent of 1 staff year

East of England Operational as East of England Observatory East of England Development Agency, Government Office for the East of England, County Local Economic Partnerships, Local Govt Conference, Eastern Region Public Health Observatory East of England Development Agency, Regional Innovation Fund 9 per cent of 1 staff year

London Not operational Greater London Authority None as yet Minimal

South East Not operational Government Office of the South East, South East England Development Agency, Regional Assembly None as yet 10 per cent of 1 staff year

South West Under Development South West Regional Assembly, South West Regional Development Agency, Department of Health, GOSW, Environment Agency, SW Higher Education Regional Development Association South West Regional Development Agency, Department of Health, Environment Agency, South West Regional Assembly 7 per cent of 1 staff year

Region	Status	Lead Partners	Funding Source	Government Office Input
North East	Planning Stage	ONE North East, North East Regional Assembly, Government Office for the North East	None as yet	8 per cent of 1 staff year
North West	Operational as the North West Regional Intelligence Unit	North West Development Agency	Mainly North West Development Agency	7 per cent of 1 staff year
Yorkshire & the Humber	Operational as Yorkshire Futures Regional Intelligence Network	Yorkshire Forward, Government Office for Yorkshire & Humberside, South Yorks Learning & Skills Council, Yorkshire Universities, Northern & Yorkshire and Trent Public Health Observatories	Yorkshire Forward, Skills Development Fund, European Social Fund Objective 3	5 per cent of 1 staff year
East Midlands	Operational as East Midlands Observatory	East Midlands Development Agency, Regional Assembly, East Midlands Local Government Association, Government Office for the East Midlands	East Midlands Development Agency, Regional Assembly, East Midlands Local Government Association, European Social Fund Objective 3, Northants Chamber of Commerce	11 per cent of 1 staff year
West Midlands	Planning Stage	Advantage West Midlands	*Advantage West Midlands, European Social Fund Objective 2, European Union Framework 6	20 per cent of 1 staff year
East of England	Operational as East of England Observatory	East of England Development Agency, Government Office for the East of England, County Local Economic Partnerships, Local Govt Conference, Eastern Region Public Health Observatory	East of England Development Agency, Regional Innovation Fund	9 per cent of 1 staff year
London	Not operational	Greater London Authority	None as yet	Minimal
South East	Not operational	Government Office of the South East, South East England Development Agency, Regional Assembly	None as yet	10 per cent of 1 staff year
South West	Under Development	South West Regional Assembly, South West Regional Development Agency, Department of Health, GOSW, Environment Agency, SW Higher Education Regional Development Association	South West Regional Development Agency, Department of Health, Environment Agency, South West Regional Assembly	7 per cent of 1 staff year

*Proposed Funding.

Overseas Visits

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people will accompany him at public expense on his forthcoming trip to Bali; and what the total cost of the visit will be. [57655]

The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State: I will not attend the Bali Preparatory Conference and have never intended to. This is a matter for the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who will lead the delegation in the normal way as I explained to the hon. Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale at Cabinet Office questions on 22 May, Official Report, column 282.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs estimated the cost of the UK delegation to be approximately £180,000, inclusive of air fares, hotel rooms, subsistence and office accommodation. This figure represents less than half of the total cost incurred in responding to questions tabled by the hon. Member since the 2001 election.

Legislation

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the Government's policy is on when it is appropriate for it publicly to consult on potential changes in legislation; and if he will make a statement. [59374]

Mr. Leslie: Other than statutory requirements, it is for individual government departments and agencies to decide when it is appropriate for them publicly to consult on potential changes to legislation. The Cabinet Office encourages departments undertaking public consultations to follow the principles set out in the Code of Practice on Written Consultation.

Correspondence

Mr. Tony Clarke: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish figures showing (a) the volume of correspondence received by ministers and agency chief executives from hon. Members in 2001, (b) the target times set for replies and (c) the number of replies sent within target times. [60380]

24 May 2002 : Column 673W

Mr. Leslie: The attached table sets out Departments' and Agencies' performance in handling hon. Members' correspondence during the 2001 calendar year. It also sets out comparative figures for 2000 (first published on 6 April 2001, Official Report, columns 324W–327W). I am

24 May 2002 : Column 674W

pleased to report that the table continues to show a steady improvement in overall performance.

The footnotes to the table provide general background information on how the figures have been compiled.

Correspondence from MPs to Ministers and Agency Chief Executives⁽⁵⁾

2000 2001

Department or Agency Target set for reply (working days) Number of letters received per cent of replies within target Target set for reply (working days) Number of letters received per cent of replies within target

Cabinet Office 15 902 88 15 599 90

Leader of the House of Lord's Office⁽⁶⁾ — — — 15 53 80

Crown Prosecution Service⁽⁷⁾ 15 18 100 15 97 94

Department for Culture, Media and Sport 18 3,240 82 18 4,416 90

HM Customs and Excise⁽⁸⁾ 18 2,977 68 18 2,452 62

Ministry of Defence⁽⁹⁾ 15 4,592 78 15 5,350 85

Army Personnel Centre 15 38 95 15 34 97

DERA 15 21 91 — — —

Meteorological Office 15 16 94 15 20 80

Pay & Personnel Agency 10 31 43 — — —

War Pensions Agency⁽¹⁰⁾ 20 395 99 20 279 99

Department for Education and Skills⁽¹¹⁾ 15 22,318 72 15 18,237 76

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs⁽¹²⁾ 15 6,137 30 15 9,905 34

Foreign and Commonwealth Office 20 9,020 78 20 10,275 79

Joint Entry Clearance Unit — — — 15 8,276 78

Department of Health 20 18,621 50 20 19,665 60

Food Standards Agency — — — 20 770 70

NHS Pensions Agency 15 54 85 15 65 98

Medicines Control Agency 15 25 68 10 17 82

Home Office⁽¹³⁾

*Non Prison Service correspondence 15 18,748 41 15 *16,251 35

**Prison Service correspondence 20 1,289 79 20⁽¹⁴⁾ **1,210 78

HM Prison Service 20 2,306 75 20 1,272 75

UK Passport Agency 10 188 100 10 279 87

Inland Revenue

*All ministerial correspondence 18 5,770 72 18 *3,356 77

**Replies by departmental officials 23 533 53 18⁽¹⁵⁾ **382 75

Valuation Office 23 240 92 23 30 90

Department for International Development⁽¹⁶⁾ 15 1,769 82 15 1,740 87

Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers 15 204 93 15 284 96

Lord Chancellor's Department 20 1,844 74 20 1,737 74

Court Service⁽¹⁷⁾ 20 845 66 15 591 68

HM Land Registry 20 41 93 20 24 79

Public Records Office 20 26 100 10 11 100

Public Guardianship Office⁽¹⁸⁾ 15 124 88 15 120 62

Northern Ireland Office⁽¹⁹⁾ 10 594 71 10 358 49

Compensation Agency for NI 7 16 100 7 27 93

Northern Ireland Prison Service 10 37 70 10 27 78

Office for National Savings 10 154 86 15 63 62

Office for National Statistics 15 192 77

*Letters where Chief Executive replied on Minister's behalf 10 167 79 10 154* 63

President of the Council's Office 15 271 94 15 237 74

Scotland Office 15 125 64 15 96 75

Department for Trade and Industry⁽²⁰⁾ 10 18,858 60 10 9,260 49

Companies House 10 44 100 10 50 100

Employment Tribunals Service 10 30 97 15 12 100

Insolvency Service⁽²¹⁾ 10 334 87 10 292 80

Patent Office 10 311 99 10 154 95

Radiocommunications Agency 15 20 100 15 15 100

Small Business Service⁽²²⁾ — — — 10 47 96

Department for Transport, Local 15 19,636 69 15 14,375 84

Government and the Regions⁽²³⁾

Driving Standards Agency 15 91 99 15 82 100

DVLA 10 1,136 99 10 915 98

Highways Agency 15 314 78 15 322 96

Maritime and Coastguard Agency 15 19 100 15 21 95

Planning Inspectorate 8 310 90 8 364 94

Vehicle Inspectorate 15 13 100 15 32 94

HM Treasury⁽²⁴⁾ 15 4,061 60 15 4,039 78

Treasury Solicitor's Department 10 35 100 10 39 100

Wales Office 15 344 42 15 91 63

Department for Work and Pensions⁽²⁵⁾ 20 16,283 75 20 12,698 66

Appeals Service⁽²⁶⁾ — — — 15 87 64

Benefits Agency 20 2,642 45 20 2,529 90

Child Support Agency⁽²⁷⁾ 18 5,806 97 20 3,293 58

Employment Service⁽²⁸⁾ 15 592 98 15 520 94

	2000	2001
Department or Agency	Target set for reply (working days)	Number of letters received	per cent of replies within target	Target set for reply (working days)	Number of letters received	per cent of replies within target
Cabinet Office	15	902	88	15	599	90
Leader of the House of Lord's Office⁽⁶⁾	—	—	—	15	53	80
Crown Prosecution Service⁽⁷⁾	15	18	100	15	97	94
Department for Culture, Media and Sport	18	3,240	82	18	4,416	90
HM Customs and Excise⁽⁸⁾	18	2,977	68	18	2,452	62
Ministry of Defence⁽⁹⁾	15	4,592	78	15	5,350	85
Army Personnel Centre	15	38	95	15	34	97
DERA	15	21	91	—	—	—
Meteorological Office	15	16	94	15	20	80
Pay & Personnel Agency	10	31	43	—	—	—
War Pensions Agency⁽¹⁰⁾	20	395	99	20	279	99
Department for Education and Skills⁽¹¹⁾	15	22,318	72	15	18,237	76
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs⁽¹²⁾	15	6,137	30	15	9,905	34
Foreign and Commonwealth Office	20	9,020	78	20	10,275	79
Joint Entry Clearance Unit	—	—	—	15	8,276	78
Department of Health	20	18,621	50	20	19,665	60
Food Standards Agency	—	—	—	20	770	70
NHS Pensions Agency	15	54	85	15	65	98
Medicines Control Agency	15	25	68	10	17	82
Home Office⁽¹³⁾
*Non Prison Service correspondence	15	18,748	41	15	*16,251	35
**Prison Service correspondence	20	1,289	79	20⁽¹⁴⁾	**1,210	78
HM Prison Service	20	2,306	75	20	1,272	75
UK Passport Agency	10	188	100	10	279	87
Inland Revenue
*All ministerial correspondence	18	5,770	72	18	*3,356	77
**Replies by departmental officials	23	533	53	18⁽¹⁵⁾	**382	75
Valuation Office	23	240	92	23	30	90
Department for International Development⁽¹⁶⁾	15	1,769	82	15	1,740	87
Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers	15	204	93	15	284	96
Lord Chancellor's Department	20	1,844	74	20	1,737	74
Court Service⁽¹⁷⁾	20	845	66	15	591	68
HM Land Registry	20	41	93	20	24	79
Public Records Office	20	26	100	10	11	100
Public Guardianship Office⁽¹⁸⁾	15	124	88	15	120	62
Northern Ireland Office⁽¹⁹⁾	10	594	71	10	358	49
Compensation Agency for NI	7	16	100	7	27	93
Northern Ireland Prison Service	10	37	70	10	27	78
Office for National Savings	10	154	86	15	63	62
Office for National Statistics				15	192	77
*Letters where Chief Executive replied on Minister's behalf	10	167	79	10	154*	63
President of the Council's Office	15	271	94	15	237	74
Scotland Office	15	125	64	15	96	75
Department for Trade and Industry⁽²⁰⁾	10	18,858	60	10	9,260	49
Companies House	10	44	100	10	50	100
Employment Tribunals Service	10	30	97	15	12	100
Insolvency Service⁽²¹⁾	10	334	87	10	292	80
Patent Office	10	311	99	10	154	95
Radiocommunications Agency	15	20	100	15	15	100
Small Business Service⁽²²⁾	—	—	—	10	47	96
Department for Transport, Local	15	19,636	69	15	14,375	84
Government and the Regions⁽²³⁾
Driving Standards Agency	15	91	99	15	82	100
DVLA	10	1,136	99	10	915	98
Highways Agency	15	314	78	15	322	96
Maritime and Coastguard Agency	15	19	100	15	21	95
Planning Inspectorate	8	310	90	8	364	94
Vehicle Inspectorate	15	13	100	15	32	94
HM Treasury⁽²⁴⁾	15	4,061	60	15	4,039	78
Treasury Solicitor's Department	10	35	100	10	39	100
Wales Office	15	344	42	15	91	63
Department for Work and Pensions⁽²⁵⁾	20	16,283	75	20	12,698	66
Appeals Service⁽²⁶⁾	—	—	—	15	87	64
Benefits Agency	20	2,642	45	20	2,529	90
Child Support Agency⁽²⁷⁾	18	5,806	97	20	3,293	58
Employment Service⁽²⁸⁾	15	592	98	15	520	94

⁽⁵⁾The 2000 figures are taken from the 6 April 2001, Official Report, columns 324W–327W. Please refer to relevant footnotes regarding 2000 figures. Departments and Agencies who received a total of 10 letters or less from MPs during 2001 are not shown in this table.

⁽⁶⁾The figures relate to correspondence until General Election and are in connection with Baroness Jay's role as Minister for Women. Correspondence after Election refers to House business only, therefore, information on that is not included.

⁽⁷⁾Letters in 2001 addressed to the Law Officers, but subsequently replied to by the Director of Public Prosecutions. In addition the CPS received 480 letters direct from MPs in 2001. 92 per cent replied to within 15 working days.

⁽⁸⁾Includes all Ministerial replies, not only replies to letters from MPs.

⁽⁹⁾Figures include correspondence from Members of Devolved Legislatures, MEPs and Peers.

⁽¹⁰⁾Agency transferred across from the former Department of Social Security with effect from 11 June 2001.

⁽¹¹⁾2000 figures are for the Department for Education and Employment. 2001 figures reflect machinery of government changes at the General Election, include figures for former Department for Education and Employment.

⁽¹²⁾2000 figures are for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. 2001 figures reflect machinery of government changes at the General Election, include figures for former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Progress to improve MAFF/DEFRA's performance on correspondence in 2001 was severely hindered by the foot and mouth disease crisis, as well as convergence issues arising from the creation of the new Department. DEFRA's performance is now much improved, with most letters receiving responses within a month of receipt, and around 50 per cent of responses currently issuing within the Departmental target of 15 working days.

⁽¹³⁾Home Office is aware of the poor performance in 2001, however, the Home Secretary is taking the necessary steps to improve performance in 2002. This has had a positive impact on the performance for the first quarter of this year.

⁽¹⁴⁾The 20 working day target takes account of particular geographical circumstances. The target is the same whether replies are sent by Minister or by the Director General.

⁽¹⁵⁾Target has been reduced from 23 days to 18.

⁽¹⁶⁾If replies to letters about the Afghanistan crisis were excluded (Sept–Dec) overall per cent of replies within targets would be 92 per cent.

⁽¹⁷⁾Letters signed by the Agency Chief Executive of the Court Service, whether received direct or transferred from Ministers.

⁽¹⁸⁾Formerly the Public Trust Office, re-named as the PGO with effect from 1 April 2001.

⁽¹⁹⁾Reflects the impact of devolution and requirements for consultation with outside agencies.

⁽²⁰⁾2001 figures reflect correspondence from MPs only. 2000 figures reflect all Ministerial correspondence. DTI aware of poor performance in 2001 and are currently reviewing their correspondence handling system.

⁽²¹⁾94 per cent of letters were answered within agreed extended deadlines.

⁽²²⁾Response time recorded for 32 of letters received. No response time recorded for 15 letters.

⁽²³⁾2000 figures are for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. 2001 figures reflect machinery of government changes at the General Election, include figures for former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

⁽²⁴⁾Includes all Ministerial replies, not only replies to letters from MPs.

⁽²⁵⁾2000 figures are for the Department of Social Security. 2001 figures reflect machinery of government changes at the General Election, include figures for former Department of Social Security. In the period from June 2001, following the introduction of the Department for Work and Pensions, the average response time was reduced from 18 to 15 working days and 71 per cent of the replies were sent within target.

⁽²⁶⁾The average handling time, which covers all letters, was 14 working days. For the second half of the period 1 June to 31 December the percentage of replies within the target rose to 82 per cent.

⁽²⁷⁾The average handling time which covers all letters was 21 working days. CSA has now changed its complaints handling process. Senior managers are more responsible for the timeliness and quality of responses. The role of the Parliamentary Correspondence Unit has been changed to an active performance management and escalation function reporting directly to the Chief Executive.

⁽²⁸⁾An Agency of DWP following machinery of government changes at the General Election. 2001 figures also include letters received when an Agency of the former Department for Education and Employment.

24 May 2002 : Column 675W

Next Section

Index

Home Page