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SCOTLAND

Post Office Universal Bank

5. Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations she has made to the leading Scottish clearing banks about their participation in the Post Office Universal Bank. [113329]

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Mrs. McGuire: Universal Banking services have been available at Post Offices since 1 April. As a result of discussion between Government and the major banks, the banks are participating in the Universal Banking project by giving access to their basic bank accounts at Post Offices.

Pension Credit

6. Mr. Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps she is taking to publicise the new Pensions Credit in Scotland. [113330]

13. Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans her Department has to ensure that pensioners in Scotland take up the Pension Credit. [113343]

Mrs. McGuire: The Pension Service is writing to all pensioner households to explain Pension Credit and invite applications. This will be supported by extensive advertising.

10. Mrs. Irene Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pensioners in Scotland she expects will take up the Pension Credit. [113334]

Mrs. McGuire: Around 400,000 pensioner households in Scotland will be eligible for Pension Credit when it is introduced in October 2003.

Marine Issues

7. Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what environmental responsibilities she has in relation to marine issues. [113331]

Mrs. Liddell: As Secretary of State for Scotland I represent Scottish interests in reserved matters within the Government. Lead policy responsibility for reserved aspects of marine environment policy lies with DEFRA. Matters reserved to the Government are set out in Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998.

Euro

8. Mr. Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the implications of membership of the euro for the Scottish economy. [113332]

Mrs. Liddell: The determining factor underpinning any Government decision on membership of the single currency is the national economic interest. Any Government decision on the euro will be based on a thorough and rigorous assessment of the five economic tests and the implications of membership for the entire UK economy. The economic case must be clear and unambiguous before the Government will recommend membership.

Postal Services

9. Mr. Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has had with Ministerial colleagues concerning postal services and post offices in Scotland. [113333]

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Mrs. McGuire: I am in regular contact with ministerial colleagues in the DTI about a variety of issues relating to postal services and post offices in Scotland, including the programme of support for the maintenance of the rural post office network.

New Aircraft Carriers

11. Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will visit the shipyards on the Clyde and at Rosyth to discuss the awarding of the contract for the two new aircraft carriers. [113335]

Mrs. Liddell: I was pleased to visit the Clyde and Rosyth shipyards earlier this year, and also to participate with my hon. Friend the Minister for the armed forces in announcing the selection of the Prime Contractor for the Future Aircraft Carrier programme. I fully recognise the benefits the carrier programme will bring to the Scottish shipbuilding industry. I expect to make further visits to keep in touch with progress and to consider other opportunities for the industry.

Animal Carcase Disposal

12. Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she will discuss with members of the Scottish Executive the disposal of animal carcases on offshore islands. [113336]

Mrs. McGuire: I hope to have an early meeting with the relevant Scottish Executive Minister to discuss a range of agricultural issues.

Airport Planning Applications

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who will take the final decision on a planning application for a Scottish airport. [113328]

Mrs. Liddell: Land use planning in Scotland is a devolved matter.

Call Centres

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on prospects for employment in Scottish call centres. [113531]

Mrs. Liddell: The Government are already working with the industry to ensure the continuing development of this important business sector in Scotland. A number of initiatives are now in place to help companies improve their work force skills and assist the move into higher value-added services and to maintain and improve its competitiveness. I will be meeting the Chief Executive of the Call Centre Association shortly, to hear at first hand the industry's own assessment of its business growth potential in Scotland.

Constituency Boundaries

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has held with the Boundary Commission for Scotland regarding the review of Scottish constituency boundaries; if she will make a statement on progress of the review; and when she expects the recommendations of the review to be implemented. [113484]

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Mrs. Liddell: The Commission is wholly independent and I have had no discussions on its review of the Scottish constituencies.

The Commission must report to me by December 2006, and it is entirely a matter for the Commission when, within that timescale, it does so.

Scottish Parliament

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has to propose amendments to the number of Members of the Scottish Parliament. [113327]

Mrs. Liddell: As announced in my statement to Parliament on 18 December 2002, I intend to amend the Scotland Act 1998 to maintain the current number of

MSPs in the Scottish Parliament.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Broadcasting Rules (Parliamentary Estate)

Helen Jackson: To ask the honourable Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what assessment the Commission has made of the effects of changes to the rules on broadcasting within the parliamentary estate. [114245]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: I refer the hon. Lady to my answer today to the hon. Member for Gravesham (Mr. Pond), Official Report, 20 May 2003; Vol. 405, c. 841.

CABINET OFFICE

Ministerial Transport

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department was in 2002. [101541]

Mr. Alexander: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr. Nick Matheson to write to the hon. member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

The amount spent on taxis by the Cabinet Office in the calendar year 2002, was £181,910.15.

Regulatory Impact Assessments

Paul Clark: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he plans to publish a command paper listing the regulatory impact assessments published during the latest six-month period. [115022]

Mr. Alexander: The Government are committed to ensuring that regulations are necessary, give effective protection, balance cost and risk, are fair and command public confidence. In accordance with this, we require Departments to produce and publish Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) for all regulatory proposals likely to have an impact on business, charities and the voluntary sector.

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My right hon. and noble friend Lord Macdonald of Tradeston has today presented to Parliament a Command Paper listing RIAs published between 1 July and 31 December 2002. Copies of those listed have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. This is the eighteenth such Command Paper.

TREASURY

Insurance Companies

Mr. Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to amend the rules relating to the minimum solvency level of insurance companies; and if he will make a statement. [114385]

Ruth Kelly: Implementing rule changes affecting the solvency requirements for insurance companies is the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The FSA is currently consulting on the necessary rule changes to implement Directive 2002/12/EC and Directive 2002/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards solvency margin requirements for life and non-life insurers respectively. Later this year, the FSA will be consulting on their intention to implement new 'enhanced' capital requirements and to take forward the framework set out in CP136 (Individual Capital Adequacy Standards) to implement a Basel type 'three pillar' approach for insurers.

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