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13 Jan 2004 : Column 648W—continued
Costello Report
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will publish the Costello report on the future selection and transfer procedure between primary and secondary education in Northern Ireland. [147234]
Jane Kennedy: The Costello report deals with many complex issues and I am giving it careful consideration. I will make an announcement as soon as possible about the publication of the report and the shape of future transfer and post primary arrangements.
Dental Care
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many dental practices in each Northern Ireland health authority area have ceased providing general dental services in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [147383]
Angela Smith: The information requested is not available. The Department will be developing a new strategy for primary care dentistry, taking account of the recent reviews of the Dental Workplace and the Community Dental Service, and an important part of any new system of delivery will be to ensure that patients are able to access health service dental care.
Motorsport Circuit
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on publicly funded support for a motorsport circuit for Northern Ireland. [R] [146647]
Angela Smith: Publicly funded support for a motorsport circuit for Northern Ireland must be considered in the context of the development of motorsports in Northern Ireland.
Responsibility for the development of motorsports in Northern Ireland rests with the relevant governing bodies as represented by the 2&4 Wheel Motorsport Steering Group Ltd. This Group is currently engaged in
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an 'Expressions of Interest' exercise in relation to the development of motorsports facilities, including the possibility of a regional motorsports facility. It would be premature to comment on funding implications in advance of the completion of this exercise.
CABINET OFFICE
Departmental Relocation
Ms Walley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what assessment his Department has made of the benefits of relocation of staff to North Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement; [146868]
- (2) what assessment his Office has made of the effect of possible relocation of staff in his Office to North Staffordshire on (a) job creation, (b) sustainable development, (c) the local economy and (d) tackling regional economic disparities; and if he will make a statement; [146897]
(3) what plans he has to establish procedures for assessing the impact of possible re-location of staff in the Office to the regions; and if he will make a statement; [146928]
(4) what assessment he has made of the effect of proposals to relocate Government jobs on the Government's ability to meet (a) their policy objectives and (b) departmental public service agreements. [146987]
Mr. Alexander: I refer my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North to the answer that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury gave on 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 516W.
Illegal Drugs
Paul Flynn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether his Strategy Unit has produced reports in the last two years on a strategy for reducing harm resulting from the use of illegal drugs. [146752]
Mr. Alexander: The Strategy Unit has been working closely with the Home Office and other key Departments in undertaking a study on high-harm-causing drugs.
The study is a review of the impact of interventions on the drug supply chain from international production to distribution within the UK.
The study will report privately to the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary.
HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION
House Tours
38. Judy Mallaber: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what plans he has to improve access for tours of the House by constituents. [147113]
Sir Archy Kirkwood: A detailed report on the first year of operations since the introduction of the Central Tours Office and the new sitting hours in January last year is being prepared for the Administration
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Committee. The Committee will consider the report, taking into account views expressed by Members, and will then advise the Commission.
SCOTLAND
Oil and Gas Industry
6. Mr. Doran: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the impact of the North Sea oil and gas industry on the Scottish economy. [146396]
Mr. Darling: The Government recognise the continuing vital role of the North Sea oil and gas industry for the Scottish economy and to the UK as a whole in terms of jobs, investment and its contribution to the national income.
Cannabis
7. Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive regarding the reclassification of cannabis. [146397]
Mrs. McGuire: The legislation governing the classification of drugs is reserved to the UK Government and is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. The Home Office is working closely with the Scottish Executive to ensure a coordinated approach to the reclassification of cannabis, which will take effect from 29 January.
Elections
8. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the findings of the Electoral Commission in its report on elections in Scotland. [146398]
Mrs. McGuire: I met, in November, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission who briefed me on the official report on last year's Scottish Parliament and local government elections. I very much welcome this report. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, will consider very carefully all of the recommendations made by the Commission.
Pensioners (Means-tested Benefits)
9. Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pensioner households in Scotland are in receipt of means-tested benefits. [146399]
Mr. Darling: The latest figure indicates that 320,000 pensioners are receiving income-related benefits in Scotland.
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pensioner households in Scotland are in receipt of means-tested benefits. [147711]
Mrs. McGuire: The latest figure indicates that 320,000 pensioners in Scotland are receiving income-related benefits.
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Fisheries Council
10. Sir Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the outcome of last month's EU Fisheries Council and its consequences for the North Sea fleet in Scotland. [146400]
Mrs. McGuire: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to his question on 8 January. He may also like to refer to the record of a statement in the Scottish Parliament made by Mr. Ross Finnie MSP on 7 January.
Civil Service Jobs (Dispersal)
11. Mr. MacDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent steps the Government has taken to promote the dispersal of civil service jobs from central London to Scotland. [146401]
Mr. Darling: I am determined that Scotland will continue to get its fair share of posts created by UK Departments or dispersed from London, and I have encouraged Cabinet colleagues to consider what Scotland has to offer when they are reviewing relocation options.
Defence Establishments
12. Mr. Peter Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the contribution of defence establishments in Scotland to the economy of Scotland. [146402]
Mrs. McGuire: While my right hon. Friend and I are well aware that defence establishments make a significant contribution to the Scottish economy, such assessments are a matter for the Secretary of State for Defence and the Scottish Executive.
Type 45 Destroyers
13. John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has (a) received from stakeholders in Scotland and (b) made to the Ministry of Defence in connection with the orders for Type 45 destroyers. [146403]
Mr. Darling: I have neither received nor made any specific representations in connection with the Type 45 destroyer programme.
Defence White Paper
14. Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent meetings he has had with the Scottish Executive on the economic impact on Scotland of the Defence White Paper. [146404]
Mr. Darling: I regularly meet Ministers in the Scottish Executive to discuss a range of issues, including the Scottish economy.
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