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Written Answers to Questions

Friday 30 April 2004

CABINET OFFICE

Regulation

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many instances of gold plating have been brought to the attention of the Cabinet Office Regulatory Impact Unit, with particular reference to the Cabinet Office Transposition Guide, 2003, page 17. [168646]

Mr. Alexander: The Government's policy is to transpose Directives so as to achieve the objects of the European measure, on time and in accordance with other UK policy goals, including minimising the burden on business. It is Government policy not to over-implement ("gold-plate") directives unless there are exceptional reasons for doing so.

The Regulatory Impact Unit has regular discussions with departments concerning policy development, including, on occasion, possible over-implementation. Records of the number of times such discussions have taken place are not available. Since November 2001, Transposition Notes have normally accompanied all legislation laid before Parliament that transposes any European directive. These show how all the main elements of the directive have been or will be transposed into UK law.

In accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines, Departments discuss with the Regulatory Impact Unit the range of options that might be included in regulatory impact assessments. These include options that could go beyond the minimum necessary to comply with a European directive, bearing in mind that, particularly where the original directive is unclear, it is not always straightforward to know in advance whether a proposed method of implementation might represent over-or under-implementation.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Consultants

Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what sum has been expended on consultants by (a) the Department and (b) its predecessors since May 1997. [169848]

Mr. Lammy: From April 1997 until March 2003, my Department's net expenditure with consultants was as follows:
£ million
1997–980.7
1998–991.2
1999–20001.9
2000–012.6
2001–026.5
2002–035.7

 
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The recent increase reflects the wide-ranging and fast-paced programme to modernise the Department's work, to increase efficiency, and provide better customer service and value for money for the taxpayer.

Delivering such a programme in the most effective and efficient way has necessitated the use of external expertise and skills to supplement the Department's own resources.

Expenditure details for the financial year 2003–04 are not yet available.

Immigration

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Immigration Appeals Authority has received from the Home Office the papers relating to the case of Mr. S. M., husband of Mrs. S. K. of Aylesbury (GV100/86120; decision maker's reference: 643686; Gerrys/Fedex no: 90083389; appeal reference: 90063159); and if he will make a statement. [167245]

Mr. Lammy: The Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA) took receipt of the appeal papers of Mr. S. M. on the 14 April 2004. The appeal has been listed by the IAA for a substantive hearing before an Immigration Adjudicator on 3 June 2004. Notice to this effect was promulgated to the relevant parties to the appeal on 19 April 2004.

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will set a time limit on the maximum length of time between an appeal against the withdrawal of United Kingdom nationality being lodged with the Special Immigration Appeals Commission and the appeal being heard. [169811]

Mr. Lammy: It is important that appeals before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) are dealt with quickly and efficiently and the Government are keeping the position under very close review. But there are risks to setting rigid time limits that stipulate appeals must be heard within a defined period. The complexities of a case, and the need to ensure that SIAC has the full facts at its disposal, mean there are always instances where it would not be possible. We are committed to decide each appeal on its individual merits and give that appeal the necessary time for a fair decision to be given.

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what action he proposes to take to reduce delays in hearings before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission in cases of appeals against withdrawal of UK nationality; and if he will make a statement. [169813]


 
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Mr. Lammy: The administrative processes for appeals against Deprivation of Citizenship proceedings are subject to on-going review to ensure compatibility with both the public interest and the independence of the judicial process.

Interlocutory decisions in relation to individual proceedings are the preserve of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will name all hon. Members who, since 1 August 2003, have been sent a standard departmental reply concerning the 1911 Census returns in which the Department has advised them that the period of closure in Great Britain is normally 100 years; and if he will list the decennial population Census for (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) the whole of Ireland which have been released after less than 100 years of closure to public inspection. [167310]

Mr. Lammy: Between 1 August 2003 and 31 March 2004 the following hon. Members have received letters explaining why the 1911 Census returns for England and Wales are subject to a closure period of 100 years:

(a) The censuses for 1841 and 1851 in England and Wales, which contained less detailed information than 20th century censuses, were opened to public inspection in 1912. The 1861 to 1901 censuses were all released after 100 years.

(b) The opening of census returns in Scotland is a matter for the General Register Office for Scotland, an associated Department of the Scottish Executive. However, I can refer the right hon. Member to the answer of 24 February 2004, Official Report, column 347W which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Constitutional Affairs with responsibility for Scotland gave to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland on this subject.

(c) The returns for the all-Ireland censuses conducted in 1901 and 1911 can be consulted at the National Archives in Dublin, in accordance with decisions taken by the Government of the Republic of Ireland.
 
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CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

BBC (Commercial Advertising)

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to her answer of 31 March 2004, Official Report, column 1454W, on BBC (commercial advertising), how much the BBC spent in each of the last five years on (a) billboard advertising and (b) other commercial advertising. [168817]

Estelle Morris [holding answer 26 April 2004]: The cost of promoting BBC services is a matter for the BBC. However, the figures show the BBC's media spend over the last five years.

The BBC's total bought media spend for the last five years has been as follows:
£ millionOf which: billboard advertising
20008.6negligible
20019.6negligible
200214.710.85
200313.811.7
2004(1)12.0(1)11.5


(1)   Estimate.


I understand that the BBC made a significant change to its strategy in 2002 by developing a permanent holding of poster sites and switching much of its spending from other media, such as Press.

The BBC's spend has also of course risen significantly since 2002 in order to support the launches of its new digital TV and radio services and to promote digital take up in accordance with its commitments to the Secretary of State.

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