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Ministerial Meetings
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which Ministers and officials had meetings with representatives of (a) the Confederation of British Industry, (b) the Engineering Employees Federation, and (c) the Engineering Marine Training Authority during the last year; who they met; and what the subjects and outcomes of their discussions were. [62206]
Clare Short: We have no record of any meetings with these organisations over the period in question.
Afghanistan
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding (a) her Department and (b) other G8 countries have (i) pledged for and (ii) spent on the return of refugee programmes in Afghanistan. [61754]
Clare Short: Since September 2001, my Department has contributed over £3 million to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) for their programme of assistance to Afghan refugees, and over £3.5 million to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees to Afghanistan. We are also supporting a number of other humanitarian programmes which will help to create an environment for the sustainable return of both refugees and IDPs, including the United Nations-led programme of mine clearance and mine awareness in Afghanistan. We are currently considering what further support to provide for refugees, IDPs and returnees.
At the Tokyo conference in January, international donors pledged funds for the overall reconstruction of Afghanistan, including humanitarian programmes. Pledges were not broken down by sector. Therefore we are not aware of specific amounts pledged by G8 nations for refugee return.
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations her Department has made on the reduction of World Food Programme projects in Afghanistan. [61758]
Clare Short: My Department is liaising with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) as it further targets and amends its activities in line with the developing situation on the ground and the availability
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of resources. Since September 2001, we have contributed £9 million towards WFP's programmes in Afghanistan, and are currently considering what further support to provide.
Sri Lanka
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance she has promised Sri Lanka following her meeting with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister on 28 May. [61864]
Clare Short: I agreed to provide additional funds for quick impact, fast disbursing programmes that will help nurture and build confidence in the peace process. We now await proposals from the Sri Lanka Government. In addition, I offered support from my Department in applying lessons and experience from other countries emerging from conflict.
Departmental Expenditure Limit
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much and what proportion of the departmental expenditure limit for 2002–03 had been spent by 31 May; what the figures were for 2001–02; and if she will make a statement. [60997]
Clare Short: I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury gave on 17 June 2002, Official Report (reference to follow when known).
Advertising Campaigns
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was spent on press and advertising campaigns in 2001–02; and what the planned expenditure is for 2002–03. [60902]
Clare Short: My Department did not manage any campaigns of this kind during the period in question.
PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Computers
Dr. Kumar: To ask the President of the Council what measures are (a) in place and (b) under discussion, in his Department in order to ensure compliance with the WEE Directive. [60729]
Mr. Robin Cook: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 12 June 2002, Official Report, column 1266W.
Modernisation
Mr. Allen: To ask the President of the Council if he will make proposals to the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons that the oral questions to be tabled on a particular day should appear on the front page of the Order Paper. [61623]
Mr. Robin Cook: I will consider this suggestion in the light of the Procedure Committee's report on parliamentary questions.
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Public Service Agreement Targets
Mr. Bercow: To ask the President of the Council what has been the (a) cost and (b) saving from the pursuit of the Department's Public Service Agreement targets in each year since they were introduced. [60885]
Mr. Robin Cook: I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 21 March 2002, Official Report, column 514W.
Staff Numbers
Mr. Bercow: To ask the President of the Council how many staff were employed by his Department on (a) 2 May 1997 and (b) 31 May 2002. [60892]
Mr. Robin Cook: Data are collected twice a year on 1 April and 1 October. Data for 1 April 2002 are currently being collected.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, on 13 June 2002.
Advertising Campaigns
Mr. Bercow: To ask the President of the Council how much was spent on press and advertising campaigns in 2001–02; and what the planned expenditure is for 2002–03. [60912]
Mr. Robin Cook: No expenditure has been incurred by my Department on press and advertising campaigns in 2001–02. There is no planned expenditure for 2002–03.
Staff Training
Mr. Bercow: To ask the President of the Council how much the Department has spent on staff training and development in each of the last five years. [61064]
Mr. Robin Cook: The information requested is as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 9,586.40 |
| 1998–99 | 9,388.34 |
| 1999–2000 | 14,462.87 |
| 2000–01 | 11,305.69 |
| 2001–02 | 16,362.78 |
Entertainment Costs
Mr. Bercow: To ask the President of the Council what the cost was of the Department's 2001 staff Christmas party; and how many people attended. [61661]
Mr. Robin Cook: My Department does not host parties for staff.
However, it has been the custom for the Leader of the House to host a Christmas reception to thank the staff who work in parliamentary sections in other Departments who provide advice for the business statement. Ministers, MPs and staff of the House and of my Department are also invited.
The total cost was £1,843.87 and approximately 200 people attended.
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SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Judicial Delays
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General what action has been taken relating to management information about committal proceedings which failed because the prosecution was not ready to proceed. [60213]
The Solicitor-General [holding answer 10 June 2002]: Since April 2002, the Crown Prosecution Service has recorded details of discharged committals in its quarterly Adverse Outcomes report. This will show the reason for the outcome against a list of 22 categories, but will not capture, as a distinct category, those discharged committals in which the prosecution was not ready to proceed.
The Compass Case Management system will be introduced in December 2003. This will provide a count of the number of discharged committals and an analysis of the reasons for the outcome. This will make available for the first time the number that occur because the prosecution is not ready to proceed.
Crown Prosecution Service
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General which CPS areas have been identified as sources of good practice; and what the nature is of their expertise. [60205]
The Solicitor-General [holding answer 10 June 2002]: HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate reports on individual CPS areas and highlights good practice which might usefully be adopted by other areas. Individual area inspectorate reports are circulated to all Chief Crown Prosecutors.
In addition, representatives of CPS HQ, areas, and the inspectorate meet to draw together identified good practice, which is then posted on the CPS intranet and also appears in the CPS weekly business publication.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Regional Organisation
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) which of the agencies and NDPBs sponsored by her Department have a regional organisation; and if she will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002; [58939]
- (2) what regional organisation her Department has; and if she will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002. [58938]
Dr. Howells: My Department does not have its own regional organisation, but works with and through the Government offices for the regions. Since summer 1999, one member of staff with the responsibility for my Department's agenda, has been based in each of the nine regional Government offices.
In 1997, most regions had a gathering of cultural agencies such as arts, sport and heritage, but there was no forum which brought together wider cultural interests such as local government, regional development agencies and key cultural players. Since December 1999, each of
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the eight regions outside London has had a regional cultural consortium, sponsored by my Department, which brings together representatives of all cultural sectors.
The following non-departmental public bodies sponsored by my Department have a regional organisation whose regional boundaries match those of the Government office regions: Sport England, English Heritage, Arts Council of England, New Opportunities Fund, The Community Fund and Awards for All—a joint lottery distributor programme. All have offices in each of the nine regions. In addition, the Film Council is in the process of bringing together regional screen organisations throughout England and they too will have an office in each region.
The National Heritage Memorial Fund is in the process of opening up regional offices which should be operational by July. They will have an office in each region except that the south-east and London regions will both be based in the London office.
The Independent Television Commission has four regional offices. The regions covered by these offices are as follows: north of England (this covers the north-west, north-east and Yorkshire Government office regions); midlands and east of England (this covers the west midlands; east midlands and east of England Government office regions as well as parts of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire); south and south-west England and the Channel Islands (this covers the London, south-east and south-west Government office regions; excluding parts of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Dorset and Somerset); Wales and the west of England (which includes parts of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Dorset and Somerset).
The English Tourism Council does not have a regional organisation of its own. However, much of its work is carried out by the 10 regional tourist boards, which are independent bodies. These are arranged as follows: Cumbria; east of England (this covers the east of England Government office region); heart of England (this covers the west midlands and east midlands Government office regions); London; Northumbria (this covers the north-east Government office region); north-west (this covers the north-west Government office regions except Cumbria); south-east of England (the counties of East and West Sussex, Kent and Surrey, and the unitary authorities of Brighton and Hove, and Medway); southern (the counties of Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, the unitary authorities of Bracknell Forest, Reading, Slough, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham, Portsmouth, Southampton, Isle of Wight, Milton Keynes, and East Dorset district); south-west (this covers the south-west Government office region, excluding the East Dorset district); Yorkshire (this covers the Yorkshire Government office region).
I am arranging for a list of the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002 to be placed in the House Library.
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