| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
26 Feb 2003 : Column 561W—continued
Laptops
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many laptop computers were used by (a) Ministers and special advisers and (b) officials in his Department in each year since 1995; how many were (i) lost and (ii) stolen; what their cost was; and if he will make a statement. [98706]
Peter Hain: Since the creation of the Wales Office in 1999 there have been no losses or thefts of laptops. During the time of the Welsh Office, there was the loss of ancillary cabling equipment for a laptop total cost of which was £107.00.
There are currently two laptops allocated to Ministers and special advisers; two allocated to officials and one available for use when the Cabinet Office Briefing Room COBR has been convened.
Ministerial Meetings
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which overseas delegations and overseas ambassadors met Welsh Office Ministers in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [89950]
Peter Hain: Since the Wales Office was established on 1 July 1999, Ministers have met the following overseas delegations or ambassadors:
26 Feb 2003 : Column 562W
2000
Belgium Ambassador
Delegation from Lower Saxony, Germany
Delegation from Nigeria
Delegate from the American Embassy
Bavarian State Minister for Euro Affairs
2001
Delegations from the Government of the Czech Republic
Delegate from American Embassy
Hungarian Ambassador
Delegation from the Spanish Government.
Delegation from Slovakia
2002
Spanish Ambassador
Danish Ambassador
Slovakian Ambassador
Delegate from American Embassy
2003
Canadian High Commissioner
Delegation of Polish MPs
Ministerial Travel
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his estimate is of the total expenditure by his Department on ministerial travel (a) in the UK and (b) abroad, in each year from 1995–96 to 2002–03 (estimated); and if he will make a statement. [92486]
Peter Hain: The information is as follows:
(a) Detailed information requested in respect of UK travel is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
(b) I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 334W.
Online Sales /Purchases
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what (a) products, (b) goods and (c) services were (i) bought and (ii) sold online by his Department in each of the last five years. [97447]
Peter Hain: None since the creation of my Department in July 1999.
Press Releases
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each (a) year and (b) quarter from 1995–96 to 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [92487]
Peter Hain: The Wales Office does not record its press release count on a quarterly basis.
26 Feb 2003 : Column 563W
In 1995–96, the Welsh Office issued 581 press releases; in 1996–97 549 press releases; in 1997–98 650 press releases; in 1998–99 774 press releases; in 1999–2000 776 press releases.
Since its creation in July 1999, the Wales Office has issued 30 press releases in 1999–2000; 100 press releases in 2000–01; 86 press releases in 2001–02; and 129 in 2002–03.
Public Spending
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his estimate is of the real rise in the total of public spending on the Welsh Office between 1999–2000 and 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [89959]
Peter Hain: Expenditure at 1999–2000 prices (as measured by the GDP deflator at market prices) was £1.485 million in 1999–2000 and £3.368 million in 2001–02, an increase of £1.883 million.
This increase primarily reflects the fact that the Wales Office was only in existence for three-quarters of 1999–2000 and was still recruiting its staff for much of the year.
Service Delivery Agreement
Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the Wales Office's Service Delivery Agreement for 2003 to 2006 will be published. [94107]
26 Feb 2003 : Column 564W
Peter Hain: Rather than producing a separate Service Delivery Agreement, the Wales Office will cover its main elements in its departmental reports, which are published each spring.
Statutory Instruments
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many statutory instruments have been issued by his Department in each calendar year since 1979. [89843]
Peter Hain: The Wales Office was formed on 1 July 1999. The information from 1999 onwards is as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 2 |
This excludes a number of Orders in Council the drafting of which is the responsibility of my Department and a number of statutory instruments of which my predecessor was a joint signatory.
Welsh Office Expenditure
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the expenditure of his Department on (a) the North Wales Child Abuse Tribunal and (b) the expenses of the Lord Lieutenant in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [89923]
Peter Hain: In 2001–02, expenditure on (a) the North Wales Child Abuse Tribunal was £66,000 and (b) Lords-Lieutenant's expenses were £17,000.
26 Feb 2003 : Column 565W
TREASURY
Aggregate Tax
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which quarries in Northern Ireland are paying aggregate tax, broken down by constituency. [99331]
John Healey: There are 112 quarry companies in Northern Ireland registered for aggregates levy. A breakdown by constituency is not available but these are broken down by county as follows:
- Belfast—4
Antrim—14
Armagh—12
Derry—15
Down—23
Fermanagh—9
Tyrone—35
Life Insurance
Mr. Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reports he has received on (a) the policy of insurance companies regarding people who have recovered from cancer and who are seeking life insurance and (b) the impact of such policies on securing a mortgage. [99343]
Ruth Kelly: None. But if the hon. Member has specific concerns perhaps he would he write to me.
Retread Tyre Industry
Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on discussions his Department has had with the retread tyre industry regarding the Climate Change Levy. [99232]
John Healey: As part of the normal process of contact with business, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Treasury ministerial team meet a variety of businesses and business organisations and hear a range of representations. As the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his answer of 11 February 2003, Official Report, columns 114–15, in line with previous Administrations, it is not this Government's practice to provide details of the meetings and discussions they routinely have with a wide range of organisations.
Student Finance
Mr. Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the additional cost to the Treasury in each of the five years from 2006 if all Universities in England and Wales implemented the proposed graduate contribution at the highest level of £3,000 per annum in respect of all eligible students assuming (a) that student numbers remain at the current level and (b) that the Government achieves its target of 50 per cent. participation in higher education. [98631]
26 Feb 2003 : Column 566W
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 6 February 2003, Official Report, column 396W, on higher education, what research his Department commissioned to conclude that the proposals included in the White Paper would have a positive impact on the economy; and if he will publish the research. [99127]
Mr. Boateng: The Treasury has not commissioned any external research as part of the formulation of the White Paper proposals. However as part of the process of policy development, the Government makes various analyses. In accordance with Exemption Two (internal discussion and advice) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information such advice is not usually disclosed.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |