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24 Mar 2004 : Column 849W—continued

Tax Receipts

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total tax take has been in each of the last five financial years for which figures are available. [162455]

Dawn Primarolo: Historic data on net taxes and social security contributions are available in table C4 of the public finances databank on the HM Treasury website www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic data and tools/pubfinance/data pubfinance databank.cfm

Unclaimed Deposits

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many unclaimed deposits in banks and building societies have remained so for more than (a) 50 years and (b) 100 years; and what estimate he has made of the total value of such deposits. [162222]

Ruth Kelly [holding answer 24 March 2004]: There is currently no official estimate of the number of unclaimed deposits in banks and building societies or their total value.

CABINET OFFICE

Better Regulation Task Force

Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent cost-benefit analysis he has made of the Better Regulation Task Force; and if he will make a statement. [161958]

Mr. Alexander: The chairman and members of the Better Regulation Task Force are unpaid. The total running costs of the Task Force amount to about £0.5 million a year.

Since 1997 the Task Force has published 30 substantive reports and made around 400 recommendations to Government. All but 10 have been accepted.

Major reforms currently under way or recently enacted, that follow earlier recommendations by the Task Force include the reform of planning law, liquor licensing and fire safety.

The Task Force monitors the Government's implementation of its recommendations.

Computer Misuse

Mr. Webb: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many cases of computer misuse there were in his

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Department in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003, broken down by category of misuse; and how many of those cases resulted in disciplinary action. [163275]

Mr. Alexander: The information requested is not available for 1997. There were two cases of computer misuse in the Cabinet Office in 2003. Both cases involved inappropriate use of the internet and resulted in disciplinary action.

e-Government

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what powers the Head of e-Government will have to co-ordinate departmental database plans. [163156]

Mr. Alexander: A key responsibility of the Head of e-Government will be to develop a Government wide IS/ICT strategy, standards and technical architecture. Within that remit we would expect to define a data architecture to support all government operations.

In addition, the Office of the e-Envoy is currently working closely with the Office for National Statistics, who are leading the development of the Citizen Information Project.

Permanent Secretary ofGovernment Communications

Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what expenditure is planned to be incurred in the establishment of the Permanent Secretary of Government Communications; and if he will make a statement. [161951]

Mr. Alexander: The Permanent Secretary Government Communications will work to ensure a co-ordinated approach and interaction between government and citizens with regard to the development and delivery of the Government's communications strategy.

The budget for this remit has been set at £3.4 million for 2004–05.

This includes efficiency savings of £1 million by the centralising of communications functions from across Cabinet Office units; for existing GIGS central functions funding, and for expenditure linked to the establishment of the Permanent Secretary role.

Public Appointments

Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many nominations for public office were made in (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004; and how many of these were made online. [162808]

Mr. Alexander: This information is not held centrally. Individual departments are responsible for making appointments to their own public bodies.

In order to provide greater access to information about opportunities to serve on the boards of public bodies, my Department launched a new public appointments vacancy website www.publicappts-vacs.gov.uk in March 2003. People can search the site by area of interest, Government Department and by location to find details of the vacancies of most interest to them, including how and where to apply.

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WALES

University Students

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of students domiciled in Wales went on to university in each year since 1997. [160924]

Mr. Touhig: The only figures available for Welsh domiciled students entering university are for students leaving Welsh school sixth forms following Year 13 who entered a University or College of Higher Education. Figures are not collected for students entering University from other routes, such as further education, or mature students.

	Percentage
1997	63
1998	65
1999	65
2000	64
2001	67
2002	67

Source:

Careers Wales survey of pupil destinations from schools in Wales at 31 October of each year.

NHS Funding

11. Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had since 25 February with the National Assembly for Wales Government on NHS funding in Wales. [162552]

Mr. Touhig: I regularly meet the Assembly Health Minister concerning the health service in Wales: funding for NHS Wales is one of the topics that we frequently discuss.

The increased funding for health as a result of the Spending Review 2002 mean that in 2004–05 the Assembly Government have been able to allocate almost 95 per cent. more to the health budget than in 1996–97.

Welsh Development Agency

12. Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary about the work of the Welsh Development Agency. [162553]

Mr. Hain: I have regular meetings with the First Minister to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest to us, including the work of the WDA.

Wind Farms

13. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had on the (a) environmental and (b) health impact of wind farms in Wales. [162554]

Mr. Hain: I have regular discussions with a range of organisations on a wide variety of issues including on matters concerning the development of renewable energy projects.

24 Mar 2004 : Column 852W

Airbus

14. Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has held with (a) ministerial colleagues and (b) the National Assembly for Wales Government (i) to promote and (ii) to enhance the Airbus project at Broughton. [162555]

Mr. Hain: I have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues, the First Minister and other stakeholders about a range of issues including the aerospace industry in Wales.

The launch investment aid of £530 million provided demonstrates the Government's practical and political support for Airbus to build the wings for the super jumbo project at Broughton and is a significant part of what is being done for the aerospace industry in Wales.

Pensioners

15. Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales Government and Cabinet colleagues on targeted help for the poorest pensioners in Wales. [162556]

Mr. Touhig: Regular ones. We want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement and to share fairly in the rising prosperity of Wales.

National Lottery

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was raised from the National Lottery in Wales in each year since 1997. [160872]

Estelle Morris: I have been asked to reply.

The available information is set out in a table prepared by Camelot that was placed in the Libraries of both Houses in response to a written parliamentary question from the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones) on 18 November 2003, Official Report, column 764W. The table lists sales of National Lottery tickets by postcode area since the Lottery's launch up to November 2003.

Rail Passenger Council

Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met representatives from the Rail Passenger Council in Wales. [161647]

Mr. Hain: The Rail Passenger Council is the national body that co-ordinates the work of the regional committees. In Wales, the representative body is the Rail Passenger Committee.

Andrew Davies AM, the Assembly Minister for Economic Development and Transport, last met with the Committee's Chair and Secretary on 29 July 2003. I hold regular discussions with the Minister on all transport issues affecting Wales.

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