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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 14 January 2003
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Christmas Cards (Expenditure)
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much each ministerial office in her Department spent on the printing and posting of Christmas cards in 2002. [90111]
Dr. Howells: Ministers sent 1,120 of the 3,800 Christmas cards produced by my Department this year. The design and print costs totalled #1,985 and the majority of cards were sent by second class post.
Annual Report
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much producing her Department's latest annual report cost; how many copies were printed; how many copies of it were sold at its cover price; to whom copies of the report have been provided free of charge; and how many copies were provided free of charge. [90878]
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Dr. Howells: The cost of producing the Department's 2002 annual report was as follows:
| # | |
|---|---|
| Cost | |
| Design, typesetting, pdfs, etc. | 56,105 |
| Print (buy back of copies from The Stationery Office) | 24,774 |
| Proofreading | 570 |
| Total | 81,449 |
Design costs included the development of a new template which the Department plans to follow for the next two to three years.
1,400 copies of the final report were purchased at a discounted rate from The Stationery Office (TSO) for distribution to staff, the media and to key players within the Department's non-departmental public bodies and agencies.
TSO are responsible for the distribution of departmental annual reports and the number of reports printed and sold is a matter for them.
Capita Group
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by her Department. [89964]
Dr. Howells: The DCMS have used Capita in the past as shown but have had no dealings with that organisation since February 2002.
| # | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 (Jan—Apr 98) | Recruitment of Chairman and Members -New Opportunities Fund | 14,000 |
| 1998–99 (Jan—Apr 98) | Recruitment of Chairman and Trustees -National Endowment for | 13,000 |
| 1998–99 (Feb—Apr 98) | Recruitment for BBC Appointments | 12,000 |
| 2001–02 (Oct—Nov 01) | Training for Recruitment Scheme—Middle and Senior Managers | 17,000 |
| 2001–02 (Feb—Mar 02) | Providing and Marking Standard Civil Service Written Tests | 1,000 |
| 2001–02 (Nov 01—Feb 02) | Civil Service Junior Manager Recruitment Scheme | 8,000 |
| Total | 65,000 |
Includes Royal Parks (nil return)
Sporting Venues (Community Transport)
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to improve (a) availability of, (b) access to, and (c) use of community transport for children travelling to sports facilities and events; and if she will make a statement. [90002]
Mr. Caborn: As part of the PE, Schools Sports and Club links Project, DCMS are liaising with colleagues from the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Transport to address the transport problems that arise from school children needing to travel to sporting venues after school hours.
Fair Trade
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what fair trade criteria she sets when deciding upon what suppliers to use. [89907]
Dr. Howells: In all procurement, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport follows the requirements of Government accounting, Government procurement guidance and Office of Government Commerce advice. As with environmental considerations those of fair trade are given due consideration but the absence of fair trade credentials are not used to disqualify an otherwise suitable contractor. Where the demands of propriety and value for money can be met equally by all tenderers, the social impact of fair trade will be added to the balance.
National Endowment for Science,
Technology and the Arts
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the total of payments made by NESTA, since its creation, to external businesses and individuals involved in creating, upgrading and maintaining its web site. [90003]
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Dr. Howells: Total expenditure on the website in the four financial years from creation of NESTA to 31/03/02 has been #242,567. In addition, capital expenditure related to the website of #225,629 has been incurred.
Public-Private Partnerships
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many departmental minutes issued by her Department were outstanding on 30 November, that referred to public private partnerships as included in Table B14 of the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts; and what their value was. [89415]
Dr. Howells [holding answer 13 January 2003]: A Departmental Minute was issued on 6 December 1993, relating to the indemnity between the Royal Armouries, and the British Waterways Board, to the site of the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds. The amount was unquantifiable as at 31 March 2002. This Minute is still outstanding.
Television Licence Fee
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when consultations will be completed between officials and the BBC regarding amendments to the television licence fee regulations to introduce measures to preserve the rights of beneficiaries of the accommodation for residential care concessionary television licence scheme when the social mix and the level of warden cover in sheltered housing changes. [90221]
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Dr. Howells [holding answer 13 January 2003]: The purpose of the consultations currently in progress is to ensure that the regulations to introduce preserved rights to the accommodation for residential care concession do not create any new anomalies or unnecessary administrative burdens. We hope to be able to bring forward amending regulations shortly.
Tote
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to change the status of the Tote; when such proposals will be brought forward; and if she will make a statement. [90575]
Dr. Howells: We plan to bring forward a Bill which will include provision for the sale of the Tote. We have made it clear that our wish is to sell to a trust that represents relevant horseracing interests. The Bill will be introduced as soon as Parliamentary time allows.
ADVOCATE-GENERAL
Theft/Fraud
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Advocate General what her estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to her Department in 2002. [89868]
Dr. Lynda Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, at column 514W.
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SCOTLAND
Capita Group
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by the Office. [89976]
Mrs. Liddell: No contracts have been awarded to the Capita Group by my Department.
Population/Electorate Statistics
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what her latest estimates are of (a) the population and (b) the electorate in Scotland. [90005]
Mrs. Liddell: Population statistics in Scotland is a matter for the General Register Office for Scotland, an associated Department of the Scottish Executive. I understand, however, that revised population statistics will be published by the end of February.
The Office for National Statistics is responsible for the collection of electoral data. I understand that the figures for the electorate as at 1 December 2002 will be published on 27 February.
Economy
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which sectors of the Scottish economy are in recession; and if she will make a statement. [89473]
Mrs. Liddell [holding answer 13 January 2003]: Output in the agriculture, forestry and sector has fallen for the last three consecutive quarters (to Q2 2002). The service, production and construction sectors all grew in the last quarter for which data are available. The Scottish economy as a whole is performing well against a backdrop of difficult global economic conditions.
Public Expenditure
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what her estimate is of the real increase in spending at the Scottish Office between 1999–2000 and 2002–03; and if she will make a statement. [90440]
Mrs. Liddell: The Scottish Office ceased to exist on 30 June 1999 and the Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. Details of expenditure by the Scotland Office are set out in the departmental report and the accounts. As the department was set up during the course of financial year 1999–2000, and expenditure since then has reflected the fact that the department is still moving towards its agreed staffing and operational levels, it would therefore be premature to make estimates of real terms changes in expenditure.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what her estimate is of total public spending on the Scottish Office for each year from 1999–2000 to 2005–06; and if she will make a statement. [90441]
Mrs. Liddell: Details of expenditure from 1999–2000 to 2003–04 are set out in the most recent departmental report by my department. Details for the later years
will be published in future reports.
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