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Withheld Records

Norman Baker: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many and what percentage of records relating to the Royal Family eligible for release under the 30 year rule in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000 and (e) 2001 were withheld. [57664]

Ms Rosie Winterton: It is estimated that the approximate number and percentage of records, which relate to the Royal Family and were subject to extended closure, was as follows for each of the years concerned.

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(a) 2 (2 per cent.)
(b) 4 (5 per cent.)
(c) 3 (4 per cent.)
(d) 4 (5 per cent.)
(e) 4 (6 per cent.)

Pensions

Mr. Webb: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much was spent by her Department on paying pensions to retired employees of her Department in 2001–02; if she will estimate the corresponding amounts to be spent in (a) five years' time, (b) 10 years' time, (c) 20 years' time and (d) 30 years' time; if she will estimate in each case the proportion of such liabilities which will arise from (i) unfunded pension schemes and (ii) pre-funded pension schemes; and in the case of pre-funded schemes, if she will estimate the value of the corresponding pre-funded funds in each of these years. [57358]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Civil servants are eligible for membership of an occupational pension scheme—the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS). Pensions of retired members of the scheme are paid centrally by the Cabinet Office, who have responded to this question, and I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the hon. Member for Shipley (Mr. Leslie) on 23 May 2002, Official Report, column 561W.

Jury Intimidation

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to her answer of 12 February 2002, Official Report, column 158W, on jury intimidation, when she intends to publish policy on the prevention of intimidation of jurors in Northern Ireland. [57161]

Ms Rosie Winterton: It is intended to publish the policy on countering intimidation of jurors, witnesses, victims and other members of the public on court premises in Northern Ireland by September 2002.

Green Travel Plans

Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what green travel plans are in place for the (a) Public Record Office and (b) the Northern Ireland Court Service. [33721]

Ms Rosie Winterton: I apologise for the delay in responding which was due to an administrative oversight.

(a) The Public Record Office does not have a formal green travel plan. However, in its publicity the PRO sets out the options for travelling to Kew and the Family Records Centre in Islington by public transport. The rapid development of online services means that the public are able to obtain much more information about PRO records via the internet, using computers at home or the nearest public library. A single rate motor mileage rate is paid to discourage the use of large engine vehicles, interest free loans are available for staff to purchase public transport season tickets and bicycles, and the PRO also provides facilities for its staff at Kew who wish to cycle to work, and these are currently being extended.

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(b) The Northern Ireland Court Service does not have a green travel plan in place, but its motor mileage rates discourage the use of large engine vehicles and Northern Ireland Court Service policy encourages officers to travel together when at all possible.

Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what green travel plans are in place for (a) the Official Solicitor's Office, (b) the Council on Tribunals, (c) the Statutory Publications Office, (d) the Judge Advocate-General's Office, (e) the staff employed on Domestic Legal Services in her Department and (f) the Legal Services Commission. [33665]

Ms Rosie Winterton: I apologise for the delay in responding which was due to an administrative oversight.

The Lord Chancellor's Department introduced a central green travel plan in March 1999 in respect of its main headquarters sites. There are a number of ways in which we promote greener transport, such as making interest free loans available for staff to purchase public transport season tickets and bicycles, making changes to our motor mileage rates to discourage the use of large engine vehicles, and incorporating a requirement to demonstrate vehicle journey planning and a well-maintained fleet within delivery contracts. These policies cover staff working in the Official Solicitor's Office; the Council on Tribunals; the Statutory Publications Office; and the Judge Advocate General's Office.

(e) It is not clear which organisation is envisaged in the term "Domestic Legal Services".

(f) The Legal Services Commission adopted an environmental strategy and policy statement in June 2001. The Commission is committed to reducing any harmful impact it may have on the environment, and in all its policy making and operational activities it has regard to sound environmental practices. It has in place a bicycle loan scheme, which provides a salary advance to full-time permanent staff in order to purchase cycle equipment and a bicycle to travel to work and/or use for business travel. Staff using a bicycle for company business may claim 20 pence per mile. The Commission also has a season ticket loan scheme to encourage staff to make use of public transport.

King Edward VIII

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what recent representations she has received about the release of official papers relating to the abdication of King Edward VIII; and if she will make a statement. [57217]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Apart from questions put by hon. Members, no representations on this subject have been received recently, either by the Lord Chancellor's Department or the Public Record Office.

Medical Examinations

Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what discussions she has had with the Appeals Service in North Wales about contractual arrangements for the provision of a medical assistant as chaperone for medical examinations. [52941]

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.

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There have been no discussions between my right hon. Friend and the Appeals Service in North Wales. However, this is a matter for Neil Ward, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. He will write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Neil Ward to Mrs. Betty Williams, dated 24 May 2002:

The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your question concerning contractual arrangements for the provision of a medical assistant as chaperone for medical examinations in North Wales.

The Appeals Service awarded a national contract to British Nursing Co-operations Ltd. to supply medical assistants at appeal hearings where a medical examination is required. This contract, which is for an initial 2 year period, commenced on 1 November 2000.

I hope this is helpful.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Civil Service

Mrs. Calton: To ask the Minister for Women what the Government are doing to decrease the pay differential between men and women in the Civil Service. [59082]

Ms Hewitt: The Government have committed itself to two key actions to address the difference in male and female earnings in the civil service. First, the Government have committed all Departments and agencies to undertake an equal pay review by April 2003 and to prepare action plans to close any equal pay gaps. Second, it has asked Departments and agencies to set targets to improve representation of women at all levels, including the senior civil service.

Gender Pay Gap

Mrs. Calton: To ask the Minister for Women what steps the Government have taken to decrease the pay differentials between men and women. [59078]

Ms Hewitt: The pay gap between men and women currently stands at 18 per cent., down from 20 per cent. in 1997. The Government are taking a number of steps to reduce the pay gap. As well as the introduction of the national minimum wage and the provisions in the Employment Bill, the fair pay champions and castle awards, are helping to spread good practice on equal pay. All Government Departments are committed to carrying out a pay review by April 2003 and we are also taking forward recommendations from the Kingsmill report.

Gender Sharing

Harry Cohen: To ask the Minister for Women what assessment she has made of the rehousing criteria of housing authorities with respect to gender sharing and the effect this has upon young women and their mothers; and if she will make a statement. [58751]

Mr. McNulty: I have been asked to reply.

Housing authorities must ensure that their allocation scheme is framed so as to give reasonable preference to certain categories of people. The categories are as set out in s167 (2) of the Housing Act 1996 and include people occupying overcrowded housing. Statutory overcrowding is defined in terms of the room standard and the space standard, which are set out in Part X of the Housing Act

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1985. The room standard is contravened when two persons of opposite sexes (over the age of 10), who are not living together as husband and wife, are required to sleep in the same room.

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