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Written Ministerial Statements
Tuesday 16 March 2004
NORTHERN IRELAND
Water Cannon
The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Jane Kennedy): I have today placed in the Library guidance developed by the Association of Chief Police Officers on the deployment and use of water cannon, together with a medical statement on the use of water cannon by the independent medical panel. Copies of these documents have been placed in the Library of the House.
With the publication of this guidance and the final medical statement, the water cannon purchased by the Police Service of Northern Ireland can now be deployed operationally for use in appropriate circumstances.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
e-Innovations Fund
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Phil Hope): The Government will be announcing the first round of successful bids for matched funding to support e-Innovation in local councils. Some 34 councils will receive matched funding of £6.2m to deliver their innovative ideas by March 2005.
These projects complement the work of individual councils, pathfinders, national projects and partnerships that are already being carried out under the programme, in particular by driving forward "cutting edge" projects, which look beyond December 2005.
This round of support for e-innovations targets the following four themes:
- This includes the internal sharing of information and good practice, staff development and better use of e-government to assist service transformation (i.e. not mainstream education/schools).
- This includes using e-government in ways that help services to reach those socially excluded and in particular addressing the concern that e-government might lead to some people being further isolated from the support and services they need.
Emergent Technology for Better Government
- Innovative use of information and communications technologies (ICT) to improve services.
- Better use of ICT to improve internal business processes in councils, including service planning and performance management.
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A full list of the councils receiving funding is tabled below:
| Local Authority | Project Title | ODPM Grant Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Bridging The Digital Divide | ||
| Camden LB | Virtual Viewing—Extending Choice Through Virtual Tours | 200,000 |
| Chiltern DC | Seeing The Divide—A Picture Paints A 1000 Words | 62,000 |
| Derbyshire CC | Helping Older People Bridge The Digital Divide | 152,500 |
| Kings Lynn and West Norfolk BC | Community Heritage Stores—Engaging The Wider Community Online | 78,000 |
| Manchester CC | The Manchester E-Markets—Mems—Project | 100,000 |
| North Cornwall DC | Rural E-Champions—Bridging The Digital Divide | 50,000 |
| Preston CC | E-City Preston—Bridging The Digital Divide In England's Newest City | 300,000 |
| Sandwell MBC | Personalised Access Authentication | 250,000 |
| Sutton LB | Widening Community Access To Services | 125,000 |
| West Devon DC | SMS Access Channel In Rural Areas | 50,000 |
| Woking BC | Trusted Partner Access | 110,000 |
| e-Business | ||
| Cambridgeshire CC | Local Operational Partnership Scheme (Lops) | 200,000 |
| Caradon DC | Local Authority E-Business | 62,320 |
| East Sussex CC | East Sussex In Figures | 130,000 |
| Knowsley MBC | Exploiting Information Management | 75,000 |
| Lewisham LB | Electronic Invoicing | 135,000 |
| Uttlesford DC | Uniting Services For Our Community | 78,000 |
| West Sussex CC | The Mysociety Partnership | 250,000 |
| e-Learning | ||
| East Northamptonshire DC | Elp (E Learning Programme) | 75,000 |
| Lambeth LB | Web Wise And Web Watch | 150,000 |
| Lancaster CC | The Learning Ladder | 50,000 |
| Tameside MBC | Knowledge Management | 350,000 |
| Teignbridge DC | Prince2—Practitioner cE' & Distance Learning | 50,700 |
| New And Emergent Technology | ||
| Colchester BC | Questions On The Move | 90,000 |
| East Riding of Yorkshire Council | The East Riding Digital Learning Community (Die) | 125,000 |
| Hammersmith and Fulham LB | Using New Technology To Improve Parking Services | 335,000 |
| Liverpool CC | Text 2 City of Liverpool | 200,000 |
| Merton LB | Enhance The Level Of Domiciliary Monitoring And Emergency Support By Using Chromatic Technology In The Homes Of Elderly, Disabled And Newly Discharged People | 214,000 |
| Newham, LB | Regentv | 460,000 |
| Rossendale BC | Open Source Software | 502,500 |
| Somerset CC | Self-Service In Libraries Using RFID | 112,500 |
| South Lakeland DC | 3d GIS Virtual Town Planning Model | 66,000 |
| Test Valley BC | Local Services Link | 494,000 |
| Westminster LB | Soho Wireless Technology | 500,000 |
| TOTAL | 6,182,520 |
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ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Annual Report on Progress towardsSustainable Development
The Minister for the Environment (Mr. Elliot Morley): I am pleased to announce that the 2003 UK Government annual report on progress towards sustainable development, "Achieving a better quality of life" was launched today. This is the fourth and last annual report of progress against the 1999 Sustainable Development Strategy for the UK.
The report sets out the progress and key developments made towards sustainable development since the 1999 strategy, and brings together the latest data on the 15 headline indicators which comprise the 'quality of life barometer'. It also provides an overview of many of the initiatives and mechanisms that the UK Government have put in place that help contribute to 'a better quality of life for everyone'.
The headline indicators show that overall we are making progress across the three pillars of sustainable development: the economy, society and the environment. However we are doing better in some areas than others. It recognises that much more remains to be done—by Government, business and the individual—to put the UK firmly on a path towards sustainable development.
The UK Government, in partnership with the Scottish Executive, Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Administration, will soon be consulting to develop a new strategy for the UK to provide a strong basis for renewed action to deliver sustainable development.
The report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses, and is also available on the UK Government's sustainable development website.
CABINET OFFICE
Referendum Guidance
The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Douglas Alexander): The Government have today published guidance to civil servants and NDPB Board members and staff on their role and conduct during the referendum campaigns for elected regional assemblies and the accompanying referendums on local government structures.
The Government believe that people who serve in public life as members of public bodies should not be precluded from taking part in the referendum campaigns—whether for a yes or no vote—in their capacity as private citizens. However, where they decide to participate in such activity they should do so in accordance with the requirements of this guidance.
Copies of the guidance have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
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EDUCATION AND SKILLS
Degree Awarding Powers and University Title Criteria
The Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education (Alan Johnson): I am today publishing the results of the consultation on proposed new criteria for degree awarding powers and university title, which ended on 12 December 2003. The consultation followed a commitment in the White Paper "The Future of Higher Education" to modernise the criteria governing the granting of degree awarding powers (DAP) and to allow university title (UT) to be granted on the basis of taught DAP and student numbers.
There were mixed views on the proposal to allow teaching-focused universities, with universities generally opposed and other higher education institutions (HEIs) in support. Most respondents felt the proposed criteria for taught DAP were both clearer than the current criteria and strengthen the requirements staff have to meet. Most universities supported retaining the current student number criterion for UT with other HEIs divided on whether the level should be maintained or lowered. More respondents than not were in favour of allowing specialist institutions to be eligible for UT.
The proposal for DAP in future to be granted for six year terms, renewable subject to a satisfactory audit was opposed by most respondents. Two-thirds of universities and virtually all other HEIs expressing an opinion were against the proposal. The Standing Committee of Principals cited legal difficulties with the proposed changes. In light of these concerns, we will issue a discussion paper on renewable DAP shortly. We want to balance the concerns expressed with the Government's desire to ensure that the quality and reputation of higher education in England and Wales is maintained. The moratorium on new applications for degree awarding powers will remain in place whilst this matter is discussed further with the higher education sector and others. In the meantime, the moratorium on new applications for university title under the current criteria is lifted.
The consultation report has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and is available on the Department for Education and Skills website at:www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/conResults.cfm? consultationld=1226.
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