---

13 Feb 2003 : Column 971W—continued

Waste Disposal

Harry Cohen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will establish a special fund for the allocation of resources to the most affected local authorities for dealing with fly tipping, tyres, obsolete refrigerators and abandoned cars; and if he will make a statement. [94517]

Mr. Meacher: I have been asked to reply.

The Government do not have any plans to establish a fund specifically targeted at local authorities most affected by fly tipping of tyres, since this would be against the polluter pays principle and may create a perverse incentive for people to fly tip tyres safe in the knowledge that the public purse will fund any clearance. However, the Environment Agency has set up the Tyre Watch campaign to help tackle the problem of fly tipped tyres and to support a sustainable recovery and disposal system. The DTI is also exploring alternative routes for disposing of tyres, given the forthcoming ban from disposal to landfill under the Landfill Directive.

We have provided additional finance of £46 million to local authorities to cover their costs of disposing of refrigerators. Also, interim funding has been agreed for local authorities to help with the implementation of the End of Life Vehicles Directive, which may lead to an increase in levels of abandoned cars. The DTI will meet the additional costs and have secured three years funding (£25 million for 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06) which was agreed in Spending Review 2002.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Lay Magistrates

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many lay magistrates there were in 1997; and what the most recent figure is. [95490]

13 Feb 2003 : Column 972W

Yvette Cooper: On 31 December 1997, our records showed that there were 26,018 magistrates in England and Wales excluding the Duchy of Lancaster (where the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is responsible for appointments). On 1 April 2002, there were 24,526 ¹ . However, the figures are not comparable because all records were re-validated in 2001 when a computer database was introduced and it became apparent that the previous figures had been inaccurate.

¹ Record-keeping changed to financial years in 2000–01.

Civil and Family Courts

Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she will launch the consultation on "Modernising the Civil and Family Courts". [97218]

Yvette Cooper: Consultation on "Modernising the Civil Courts", (which sets out the vision for civil and family business) took place between January and April 2001. A subsequent report entitled "Modernising the Civil and Family Courts" was published in May 2002. This report was a response to those who responded to the earlier consultation paper and also outlined the progress made.

Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (a) when and (b) how the local consultation in Dorset on modernising the civil and family courts will take place. [97223]

Yvette Cooper: Consultation on Modernising the Civil Courts, (which sets out the vision for civil and family business) took place between January and April 2001. A subsequent report entitled 'Modernising the Civil and Family Courts' was published in May 2002. This report was a response to those who responded to the Modernising the Civil Courts Consultation paper and outlined the progress made during that year.

My Department also plans to consult specifically on the proposed model of the estate set out in the May report. No timetable has yet been set, but the consultation document will be tailored specifically to the needs of local communities. The views of all those with an interest in the future status of civil justice in Dorset will therefore be canvassed. This will include Members of Parliament.

Departmental Consultations

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list consultations the Department has conducted since 1997; and when each consultation (a) opened and (b) closed. [97431]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultation applies to all formal written national public consultation documents issued by Departments from 1 January 2001 and the information requested is not available before that date. Listed as follows are the LCD Consultation Papers.

13 Feb 2003 : Column 973W

Name of Consultation Paper	Opening date	Closing date
Representative Claims—proposed new procedures	1 February 2001	1 May 2001
Community Legal Service—Financial Conditions for Funding by the Legal Services Commission	12 March 2001	1 May 2001
Pre-Action Protocol for Judicial Review	15 March 2001	7 June 2001
E-conveyancing—A draft order under section 8 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000	19 March 2001	25 June 2001
Distress for Rent	8 May 2001	3 August 2001
Report of the Review Group on the Royal Peculiars	18 July 2001	1 October 2001
Enforcement Review Green Paper	19 July 2001	12 October 2001
The Administrative Court: Proposed changes to Primary Legislation following Sir Jeffrey Bowman's Review of the Crown Office List	31 July 2001	23 October 2001
Payments into Court in Satisfaction of Claims	16 August 2001	12 November 2001
Report of the Review Tribunals by Sir Andrew Leggatt	16 August 2001	30 November 2001
General Pre-Action Protocol	12 October 2001	31 January 2002
The House of Lords—Completing the Reform	7 November 2001	31 January 2002
Payments to Witnesses	5 March 2002	31 May 2002
Damages for Future Loss: Giving the Courts the Power to Order Periodical Payments for Future Loss and the Care Costs in Personal Injury Cases	13 March 2002	7 June 2002
Electoral Registers—Access Supply and Sale	13 March 2002	13 June 2002
Freezing Injunctions and Search Orders in Civil Proceedings	21 March 2002	12 June 2002
Promoting Inter Agency Working in the Family Justice System	27 March 2002	5 July 2002
Selection Procedures for the Circuit Bench and Recordership	8 April 2002	5 July 2002
Making Decisions: Helping people who have difficulty deciding for themselves	10 April 2002	9 July 2002
'In the Public Interest'—Matters arising for the Government from the OFT report on Competition in the Professions	31 July 2002	22 November 2002
Third Parties—Rights Against Insurers	6 September 2002	29 November 2002
The Rule Against Excessive Accumulations	6 September 2002	29 November 2002
Execution of Deeds and Documents	9 September 2002	29 November 2002
Commonhold Proposals for Commonhold Regulations	7 October 2002	6 January 2003

Independent Appellate Authority

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Independent Appellate Authority notified the Home Office of its decision to reject the Home Office's appeal to the tribunal in the case of Mrs. T. B. (TH/22817/2001; B1010649). [97676]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Notification that Leave to Appeal to the tribunal had been refused was sent to the Home Office on 27 November 2002.

Libra Project

Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the costs of her Department's Libra project are (a) as originally estimated and (b) as currently predicted. [97711]

Yvette Cooper: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Online Sales/Purchases

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what (a) products, (b) goods and (c) services were (i) bought and (ii) sold online by her Department in each of the last five years. [97453]

Ms Rosie Winterton: My Department launched Money Claim Online on 4 February 2002. This service enables users to make claims online to recover money owed to them. Up to 28 January 2003, 16,659 claims had been issued using this service.

We do not currently purchase or offer other goods or services online. However, we intend to commence pilot projects for the procurement online of forms, stationery and rail tickets in the near future.

13 Feb 2003 : Column 974W

Special Advisers/Press Officers

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) special advisers and (b) press officers were employed (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) on a contract basis by her Department in (A) 2001–02 and (B) 2002–03. [97946]

Ms Rosie Winterton: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Timber

Ms Walley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which companies supply timber and timber products to his Department. [95701]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The major supplies of timber to my Department are for furniture, and the suppliers are with the following Office for Government Commerce contracts: Senator International, Interiors, Godfrey Syrett Ltd. and Fray Design Ltd.

---