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Advertising Campaigns
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent on press and advertising campaigns in 2001–02; and what the planned expenditure is for 2002–03. [60909]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 15 April 2002, Official Report, column 752W.
Entertainment Costs
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost was of the Department's 2001 staff Christmas party; and how many people attended. [61657]
Mr. Paul Murphy: There were two staff parties at Christmas 2001. Both were held outside core hours and neither involved any cost to the public purse.
Departmental Expenditure Limit
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much and what proportion of the departmental expenditure limit for 2002–03 will be accounted for by staff costs; what the figures were for 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [61034]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Running cost information for years up to 2001–02 is given at Annex 3 of the departmental report (Cm 5431). It is too early to provide a dependable forecast for 2002–03.
PRIME MINISTER
Hunting
Mr. Evans: To ask the Prime Minister how many representations he has received in support of hunting with hounds in the last 12 months. [63921]
The Prime Minister: I have received 4,770 campaign cards and 1,280 letters this year about the issue of hunting. My office has not broken them down into categories.
All representations to me on this issue since Thursday 21 March have been passed to my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs who will consider them as part of the process he announced to the House.
Special Advisers
Mr. Evans: To ask the Prime Minister how many special advisers he has had since June 1997; and what plans he has to alter the number of special advisers working for him. [63967]
1 Jul 2002 : Column 79W
The Prime Minister: The information requested is as follows:
- June 1997—18
June 1998—20
June 1999—23
June 2000—28
June 2001—22
June 2002—27.
Cabinet Sub-Committee of Green Ministers
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Prime Minister what changes have taken place to the Cabinet Sub-Committee of Green Ministers as a result of the governmental reorganisation; and if he will make a statement. [65028]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (John Cryer) on 24 June 2002, Official Report, column 722W.
Mr. Alastair Campbell
Mr. Collins: To ask the Prime Minister whether Mr. Alastair Campbell is the accounting officer for the Central Office of Information. [64873]
The Prime Minister: No. The chief executive of the Central Office of Information is the accounting officer.
Mr. Collins: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on recent changes in the role of Mr. Alastair Campbell. [64875]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 28 February 2002, Official Report, column 1448W.
Balkans
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral statement of 24 June 2002, on the Seville European Council, if he will itemise the assistance the EU has given to the Balkans to which he was referring in his reply to the hon. Member for Linlithgow. [64741]
The Prime Minister: Between 1990 and 2000, the UK provided £74 million of bilateral assistance for reconstruction and development in the Balkans. This was in addition to the £1.7 billion provided by the EC, to which we contributed £330 million. Together with the £3 billion provided by the remaining EU member states, this amounts to a total EU contribution of £4.8 billion. Since 2000, up to the present date, the EC has committed a further £1.2 billion. In addition, we have allocated £40.6 million as a bilateral assistance since 2000.
The EU has also offered generous trade preferences. These allow tariff free access into EU markets for 95 per cent. of industrial and agricultural products.
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Dublin Convention
Mr. Gale: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for North Thanet on 24 June 2002, Official Report, column 627, if he will indicate which article in the Dublin Convention supersedes the Sangatte Protocol; and if this assertion has been tested in law. [64871]
The Prime Minister: An agreement was signed with France dated 20 April 1995 in relation to the taking back of passengers who are refused admission on arrival in the UK ("the 1995 Agreement").
That agreement covers, among other things, the arrival of asylum seekers through the channel tunnel and therefore has the effect of qualifying the relevant provisions of the Sangatte Protocol of 25 November 1991.
The 1995 Agreement provided that, in relation to asylum seekers, it would be superseded by the relevant provisions of the Dublin Convention once that Convention entered into force. The Dublin Convention came into force on 1 September 1997. Therefore from that date, in relation to those claiming asylum, the provisions of the Dublin Convention prevail in so far as that Convention determines which state is responsible for deciding the claim.
We are not aware that this issue has ever been litigated.
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr. Howard: To ask the Prime Minister which officials within his Office have responsibility for strategy on the single currency and related issues; and what their remit is. [64969]
The Prime Minister: Work on European Policy in my Office is headed by Sir Stephen Wall, working with other officials as necessary.
Rail Journeys
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister what railway journeys he has taken, on official business, since 1997. [65580]
The Prime Minister: I last travelled by train on 1 June from Kings Cross to Darlington. I travel making the most efficient and cost-effective arrangements and will continue to use the railway service regularly when appropriate. My travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code, and the accompanying guidance document, Travel by Ministers.
Official Visits
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the (a) schools, (b) hospitals and (c) prisons which he has visited, with dates, since 1997. [65579]
The Prime Minister: Records of official visits are not held in this manner and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. I have undertaken a range of visits to schools, hospitals, universities, police stations, and visited a prison last year.
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WORK AND PENSIONS
Youth Unemployment
14. Phil Hope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the effect the new deal has had on youth unemployment. [63399]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: Since 1997 youth unemployment has fallen by more than 40 per cent. to around its lowest level since the mid-1970s, and long-term youth unemployment has been virtually eradicated.
The New Deal for Young People has played an important part in this success. Up to March 2002 the programme had helped over 360,000 young people off benefit and into work. Independent research has found that, without the New Deal, long-term youth unemployment would have been about twice as high.
In my hon. Friend's constituency, nearly 400 young people have moved into jobs through the New Deal.
Carers
15. Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what circumstances payments to carers for reimbursement of expenses for attending meetings are disregarded for benefit purposes. [63400]
Maria Eagle: All reasonable expenses incurred by a volunteer as a direct result of volunteering are disregarded.
A volunteer is defined as someone who performs a service and does not expect or receive payment other than expenses.
Disabled People
16. Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the new deal for disabled people. [63401]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: The new deal for disabled people is the first national employment programme to help people with disabilities move into and keep jobs, and is using innovative ways of helping them to achieve their full potential through work.
It is too early to make an assessment of the success of the programme. As new deal for disabled people progresses a comprehensive programme of evaluation will measure its effectiveness. This will include qualitative and quantitative research with all key stakeholders. A report of this evaluation will be published.
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