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19 Apr 2004 : Column 243W—continued

Recycling

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of (a) copying paper and (b) paper for printed publications used by the Department in 2002–03 was from recycled sources; and how much post-consumer waste each amount contained. [165950]

Mr. Caborn: DCMS procures only 100 per cent. recycled copying paper, which meets the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs target of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content. Paper for printed publications sometimes needs to be of higher quality but in excess of 60 per cent. of all such paper is 100 per cent. recycled; the post-consumer waste content is not known.

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures she has put in place to ensure that her Department meets the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content. [165951]

Mr. Caborn: DCMS has purchased only recycled copier paper for at least the last five years. The paper of choice meets the stated content targets.
 
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Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when her Department expects to implement in full the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that (a) all copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content and (b) all paper for printed publications bought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled, of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post-consumer waste. [165953]

Mr. Caborn: DCMS already specifies all papers to meet the stated quick win targets. The current market is such that the specified paper cannot always be supplied in respect of printed publications.

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the Department's main suppliers of (a) copier paper, (b) stationery, (c) envelopes and (d) paper for reports, in each case stating (i) the name of each paper used and (ii) the (A) recycled and (B) post-consumer recycled content of each paper. [165954]

Mr. Caborn: Currently all copier paper, stationery and envelopes are supplied by Corporate Express. Copier paper is Evolve and is 100 per cent. recycled with at least 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content. Paper stationery items are from numerous manufacturers and content is not always published but at all times recycled products are specified. Paper for reports is supplied by the successful print tender but again recycled paper and high post-consumer waste content is specified by the Department.

SportScotland

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to review the maximum support available through SportScotland. [165974]

Mr. Caborn: I have no such plans. This is a matter for the Scottish Executive.

Sustainable Development

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to promote the delivery of sustainable development within Government. [165957]

Estelle Morris: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, covers a range of issues which contribute to people's quality of life. We intend that in achieving our strategic priorities we also fulfil sustainable development aims. The departmental strategy for sustainable development, published in February, refers to the three broad headings of our objectives in this area: sustainable policies, sustainable estate management and communicating sustainable development. The Department is currently working to promote sustainable development within Government especially with the Department for Education and Skills and with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. We are also disseminating awareness-raising videos and training courses for our own staff and will be offering to provide these to other Departments.
 
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Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on her Department's Sustainable Development Strategy. [165958]

Estelle Morris: The Department's Sustainable Development Strategy was published in February. Copies of the strategy are available from the Library of the House. We intend to review progress against the actions points listed early next year.

Tourism (Birkenhead)

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the work of regional development agencies in developing tourism in Birkenhead. [166507]

Mr. Caborn: The North West Development Agency (NWDA) is working closely with The Mersey Partnership (TMP), the nominated Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for Merseyside.

During 2003–04 TMP received £320,000 from the Agency's Marketing Image Budget for tourism and investment campaigns to promote Merseyside. £419,000 was also provided from the NWDA's Tourism budget for a variety of projects which will benefit Birkenhead.

The Mersey Waterfront Regional Park, which covers an area from Southport to Wirral, including Birkenhead.

£65,000 for new restrooms for the Birkenhead Historic Warships which include disabled access and enhanced visitor facilities. This will enable promotion to a wider audience including older and disabled visitors especially as D Day celebrations are planned for June 2004.

£90,000 towards the Landmark Monument feasibility study—the possibility of creating a signature type structure in the Mersey, which may be accessible to the public, a similar concept to the Statue of Liberty.

£400,000 for Hoylake/West Kirby Resort Improvements.

Birkenhead will also benefit in the longer term from the Festival of Light Study, which aims to provide world class permanent lighting across the Waterfront area to culminate in the year 2008 Capital of Culture. The Hotel Study will provide a review of expected demand and a forward plan for the development of hotels on the Waterfront and outer areas of Merseyside. The Woodside master plan is a blue print for future development at this key site. The restoration of the Wirral Way from West Kirby to Thurstaston will incorporate new cycle ways totalling £358,000.

The NWDA is also investigating the possibility of the Golf Open being held at the Royal Liverpool at Hoylake in the next few years.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Plastic Bags

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee if he will discontinue the use in food outlets in the House of plastic bags for carrying take-away products and replace these with paper-based carriers. [165924]

 
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Mr. Dennis Turner: The Refreshment Department will revert to the use of paper carrier bags for take-away food and drinks, except in the Debate restaurant in Portcullis House, where the use of clear plastic bags helps to reduce queues by allowing cashiers to see the contents without the need for carrier bags to be unpacked at the tills.

PRIME MINISTER

Accountancy Services

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Prime Minister what the (a) nature and (b) value was of all contracts, consultancies or other services placed with the accountancy firms (i) Deloitte and Touche, (ii) Ernst and Young, (iii) KPMG and (iv) PricewaterhouseCoopers since 2000–01 by his Office. [166099]

The Prime Minister: None.

Civil Servants

Bob Spink: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list for each civil service grade within his Office the total number of staff employed, broken down by (a) gender, (b) ethnic group and (c) age group; and how many are registered disabled. [166386]

The Prime Minister: For these purposes, my office is part of the Cabinet Office.

The information requested is published in "Civil Service Statistics", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House and at www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics

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