| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
1 Mar 2004 : Column 665W—continued
Science Advisory Council
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the percentage of the membership of her Department's Science Advisory Council which has expertise in environmental matters. [154764]
Mr. Morley: Defra has established the Science Advisory Council as an independent, advisory NDPB to provide advice to the CSA and through him to Ministers on the scope, balance and direction of science that underpins the Departments policies. The full terms of reference were set out in the Defra News Release 34/04. The Council membership of 12 covers a wide range of senior, external expertise. Those Members who have a particular background in environmental science issues include:
Professor John Shepherd, FRS is Professor of Marine Sciences and Director of the Earth System Modelling Initiative at the Southampton Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton. He possesses broad professional/scientific knowledge of environmental science, especially marine ecology, climate management and fisheries management.
Professor Alan Thorpe is Director of the NERC Centres for Atmospheric Science and Professor of Meteorology at the University of Reading. As an atmospheric science research scientist he has a broad perspective of atmospheric science issues relevant to the environment including air quality and composition.
Professor Jeffrey Waage is Head of the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Imperial College and Provost of the Wye campus. His principal area of scientific expertise is ecology and the biological control of pests. He has a broad knowledge of the interactions between agriculture and the environment.
Professor Thomas Meagher is Professor of Plant Biology at the University of St. Andrews and a member of NERC's Environmental Genomics Steering Committee. He specialises in population genetics and its societal relevance of this.
Professor Richard Mithen is Head of plant food for the health protection programme at the Institute for Food Research. He has broad scientific background in plant and crop science and agricultural production including biodiversity.
Professor Philip Lowe is Director of the Centre for Rural Economy, University of Newcastle upon Tyne and Director for the Rural Economy and Land Use Programme of the UK Research Councils.
Dr. Andrew Stirling is a senior lecturer and research fellow within the Science and Technology Policy Research Department, University of Sussex. A social scientist, he also has a broad knowledge of environmental issues and was a board member of Greenpeace International.
1 Mar 2004 : Column 666W
In appointing Members, we looked for those able to contribute to the issues facing the Department not merely in their chosen areas of expertise but also the wider agenda of the Department. We expect the Council to carry forward much of its work through subgroups and will co-opt appropriate experts as required to bring to bear on the issues. We shall keep the Council's workings and membership under review.
Warm Front
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what procedures are used to deal with complaints relating to the Warm Front scheme; [154163]
- (2) how the Warm Front scheme is administered. [154164]
Mr. Morley: Warm Front is administered by two Scheme Managers, Eaga Partnership and Powergen Warm Front Ltd. The Scheme Managers are responsible for all day to day aspects of running Warm Front including marketing the scheme, processing applications and the appointment and management of installers.
As part of their role both Scheme Managers have in place procedures to handle complaints about Warm Front. Complaints should be acknowledged in writing within four working days of receipt and a written response provided within ten working days. In cases where it is not possible to adhere to these deadlines Scheme Managers are required to update the complainant with progress every ten working days.
The Department reviews the number of complaints received and time taken to deal with complaints as part of their regular monitoring of the Scheme Manager's performance.
In addition, the Department has its own complaints procedure.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Departmental Officials
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which former officials of the Department have asked for permission to join (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Deloitte & Touche, (c) Ernst & Young and (d) KPMG. [156911]
Mr. Caborn: There have been no requests by former officials of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for permission to join (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Deloitte & Touche, (c) Ernst & Young and (d) KPMG.
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what secondments (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Deloitte & Touche, (c) Ernst & Young and (d) KPMG has made to her Department since 2001; for what (i) periods and (ii) tasks the secondments were made; whether secondments of staff from her Department have been made to those firms; and for what (A) periods and (B) tasks. [157060]
1 Mar 2004 : Column 667W
Mr. Caborn: There have been no secondments from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Deloitte & Touche, (c) Ernst & Young and (d) KPMG for any period of time since 2001. Nor have there been any secondees from these organisations to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport since 2001.
Digital Television
Miss Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her Department's plans to encourage people to transfer to digital television. [157770]
Estelle Morris: The Digital Television Action Plan addresses the need to ensure that consumers are aware of the benefits of switching to digital television; that they
1 Mar 2004 : Column 668W
get clear authoritative information on the options open to them; and the right advice on equipment and installation. The Action Plan's Market Preparation Group and the Communications Strategy Group are taking this work forward. The Action Plan, together with details of the work undertaken to date, are available on the website: www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk.
Grants
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what grants have been made by her Department to support rugby league in (a) the North West, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley in each of the last five years. [156510]
Mr. Caborn: Details of Lottery support from Sport England for Rugby League are as follows:
| 1998–1999 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards for All | ||||||
| Awards in Chorley (Number) | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Total sum for Chorley (£) | — | — | — | — | 4,190 | 4,190 |
| Awards in Lancashire (Number) | — | 9 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 41 |
| Total sum for Lancashire (£) | — | 36,054 | 44,963 | 34,218 | 37,036 | 152,271 |
| Awards in North West (Number) | — | 12 | 37 | 20 | 30 | 99 |
| Total sum for North West (£) | — | 43,974 | 132,100 | 71,323 | 117,414 | 364,811 |
| Community Capital | ||||||
| Awards in Chorley (Number) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Total sum for Chorley (£) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Awards in Lancashire (Number) | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total sum for Lancashire (£) | — | — | — | 200,000 | 40,000 | 240,000 |
| Awards in North West (Number) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 12 |
| Total sum for North West (£) | 588,407 | 144,649 | 219,623 | 754,346 | 644,727 | 2,351,752 |
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what grants have been made by her Department to support rugby union in (a) the North West, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley in each of the last five years. [156511]
Mr. Caborn: Details of Lottery support from Sport England for Rugby Union are as follows:
| 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards for All | ||||||
| Awards in Chorley (Number) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Total sum for Chorley (£) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Awards in Lancashire (Number) | — | 2 | 9 | 4 | 16 | 31 |
| Total sum for Lancashire (£) | 2,375 | 34,405 | 18,695 | 64,174 | 119,649 | |
| Awards in North West (Number) | 8 | 19 | 11 | 38 | 76 | |
| Total sum for North West (£) | 23,675 | 75,700 | 45,465 | 159,750 | 304,590 | |
| Community Capital | ||||||
| Awards in Chorley (Number) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Total sum for Chorley (£) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Awards in Lancashire (Number) | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Total sum for Lancashire (£) | — | — | — | 501,876 | 172,445 | 674,323 |
| Awards in North West (Number) | 2 | — | 1 | 6 | 2 | 11 |
| Total sum for North West (£) | 752,199 | — | 30,575 | 699,661 | 1,167,445 | 2,649,880 |
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |