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28 Oct 2003 : Column 135W

Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 28 October 2003

SCOTLAND

Electronics Industry

6. David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, recent discussions he has had with ministers in the Scottish Executive concerning the future of the Scottish electronics industry. [133811]

Mr. Darling: I have regular contact with Scottish Executive Ministers to discuss a wide range of issues affecting the Scottish economy.

Pension Rights

7. Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department for Work and Pensions about assistance for workers in Scotland whose companies are in receivership and whose pension rights might be jeopardised. [133813]

Mrs. McGuire: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a variety of issues of relevance to Scotland.

On 11 June, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced government proposals to introduce a range of measures on occupational pensions. In insolvency cases, the Pension Protection Fund will guarantee pension scheme members a specified minimum level of pension. The Government will also introduce a full buy-out provision for solvent companies who decide to wind up their schemes.

Pension Credit

8. Mr. Savidge : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the uptake of pension credit in Scotland. [133814]

10. Rosemary McKenna: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the take-up of pension credit in Scotland. [133816]

Mrs. McGuire: My right hon. Friend launched the Pension Credit in Scotland on 3 October. Around 201,000 pension credit awards have been made to pensioner households in Scotland, benefiting approximately 235,000 individuals.

We are making every endeavour to ensure that all those eligible for Pension Credit take up their entitlement.

9. Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to promote pension credit uptake in Scotland. [133815]

Mrs. McGuire: My right hon. Friend launched the pension credit in Scotland on 3 October 2003.

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The Pension Service will have written to every pensioner household by June 2004 to tell them about pension credit and help them decide whether to apply. To support this process, the Government are running a major TV and press advertising campaign.

Air Traffic Control

11. Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on proposed changes to the air traffic control infrastructure in Scotland. [133817]

Mr. Darling: I was pleased to be at Prestwick to welcome the recent announcement by National Air Traffic Services that they are to re-start works on the new Prestwick centre in the near future. Their two-centre strategy, based on Swanwick and Prestwick, will ensure that the UK continues to have one of the most modern, efficient and safe air traffic systems in the world.

Motoring Taxation

12. Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to meet (a) the Treasury and (b) the Scottish Executive to discuss motoring taxation as it affects Scotland. [133818]

Mrs. McGuire: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with both the Treasury and the Scottish Executive about a variety of issues affecting Scotland.

Carlisle Airport

13. Mr. Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with public sector bodies in Dumfries and Galloway about Carlisle airport and a possible financial contribution by them towards the airport's costs. [133819]

Mrs. McGuire: The Scotland Office has not taken part in any such discussions. Responsibility for economic development in Dumfries and Galloway rests with Scottish Ministers.

I understand that Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway are involved with the North West Development Agency in looking at the issues surrounding the financing of airport and route development at Carlisle.

Asylum Seekers (Dungavel)

14. Mr. Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Home Office about the continued use of Dungavel for the detention of asylum seekers' children. [133820]

Mrs. McGuire: I have regular discussions with Home Office Ministers on asylum issues, including the operation of Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre. I most recently visited Dungavel on 20 October 2003 and was impressed by the high quality of the facilities for the children there and the conscientious and caring attitude of the staff.

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Post Offices (Banking Services)

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has held with (a) the Royal Bank of Scotland, (b) Halifax Bank of Scotland and (c) Clydesdale Bank concerning the provision of banking services in the Post Office; and if he will make a statement. [133526]

Mrs. McGuire: No recent discussions have taken place between Scottish banks and the Scotland Office on this subject. Scotland Office Ministers have taken a specific interest in the provision of banking services in Scotland and have also had discussions with Post Office Ltd. in relation to this.

Discussions are on-going between the Post Office and the banks to improve the level of services currently offered.

Water Industry

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met members of the Scottish Executive to discuss employment in the water industry in Scotland. [134003]

Mrs. McGuire: Scotland Office Ministers have discussions from time to time with members of the Scottish Executive across a wide range of issues affecting Scotland. Management of the water industry is a devolved matter.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Aviation

37. David Taylor: To ask the Leader of the House what plans he has to bring forward proposals for pre-legislative scrutiny of a draft bill on aviation. [134533]

Mr. Woolas: My hon. Friend will be aware that I cannot reveal the Government's future legislative plans or pre-empt the contents of the Queen's Speech.

Information Technology

38. Kevin Brennan: To ask the Leader of the House what proposals he will put before the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons on the use of information technology in Standing Committees. [134534]

Mr. Woolas: My right hon. Friend is conscious of the benefits which information technology can bring to Members serving on Standing Committees, as in other aspects of our work, but has no immediate plans to put proposals to the Modernisation Committee on this subject.

Pre-legislative Scrutiny

39. Vera Baird: To ask the Leader of the House what criteria he proposes for selecting draft legislation to be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny. [134535]

Mr. Woolas: My right hon. Friend's wish is that bills should be published in draft for pre-legislative scrutiny

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whenever time and the preparedness of the bill permits, as long as this is consistent with the overall interests of the legislative programme.

Conservative Party Funding

Norman Baker: To ask the Leader of the House how much he estimates will be paid to the Conservative Party out of public funds in the year 2003–04. [135097]

Mr. Hain: Short Money is allocated under three headings: general funding, travel expenses and the costs of the office of the Leader of the Opposition. The amounts available in the first two categories are determined by a formula based on the number of votes cast and the number of seats won in the last general election. The amounts available in 2003–04 for general funding and the office of the Leader of the Opposition are £2,935,041 and £548,102 respectively. Full travel expenses have yet to be claimed.

Cranborne Money is the House of Lords equivalent of Short Money. It must be used by the Official Opposition exclusively in relation to their parliamentary business. The amount available to the Official Opposition in the House of Lords for the 2003–04 financial year is £402,662.

In addition, section 12 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 established a policy development grant, which is a grant to a represented registered political party which meets the qualifying conditions to assist the party with the development of policies for inclusion in any manifesto. The total fund for 2003–04 is £2 million, the amount stipulated in the legislation, of which the Conservative Party will be paid £438,603 1 . The fund is administered by the Electoral Commission.



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