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Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 5 May 2004

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Serious Fraud Office

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Solicitor-General what recent discussions the Serious Fraud Office has had with its EU counterparts. [169969]

The Solicitor-General: The Serious Fraud Office has ongoing operational contact with its EU counterparts. The SFO uses its investigation powers under the Criminal Justice Act 1987 to provide mutual legal assistance to other EU member states.

The Serious Fraud Office's Head of Policy recently attended a meeting at Eurojust and there are regular contacts between SFO senior staff and senior OLAF officials.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Administration Estimate

Mr. Burnett: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the reasons were for the reduction in the Administration Estimate from 2000–01 to 2001–02, as indicated in Table 4 of the Commission's Annual Report for 2001–02; and what the final administration accounts outturn figure for 2002–03 was. [169406]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: The reduction in the net cash required was due, in the main, to the decrease in expenditure on Portcullis House following its completion.

The resource outturn for 2002–03 on the House of Commons Administration Estimate was £180.0 million and the corresponding net cash requirement was £138.3 million. Further information can be found in the published House of Commons: Administration Resource Accounts 2002–03 (HC67).

Electricity Consumption

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to his answer of 19 April 2004, Official Report, column 236W, on electricity consumption, what factors underlie the increase in consumption between 1997 and 2003; and what steps the commission is taking to reduce electricity consumption. [169864]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: Underlying factors include the increase in size of the Parliamentary Estate, increased use of office equipment and improvements in environmental controls, such as ventilation, air extraction and air-conditioning, to meet new
 
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regulations. Energy awareness and good housekeeping are regularly promoted and the estate is maintained to a high standard; for example the main Palace chillers were replaced recently with modern high efficiency plant.

Security of Communications

Mr. Dismore: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on security of communications in the House against eavesdropping in respect of developments in Bluetooth technology. [169801]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: The House of Commons authorities have taken a cautious approach to the introduction of wireless technology within Westminster because of security concerns. No services using wireless technologies will be offered until these concerns have been addressed.

I understand that the Bluetooth function available on some mobile telephones could allow access to data and services on such phones. If phone owners are concerned about this potential vulnerability, they should disable the Bluetooth option using the menus on the handset.

The Parliamentary Communications Department sent an e-mail with this advice to all network users on 30 April.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Expenditure (Entertainment)

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her latest estimate is of the amount spent by her Department on official entertainment in each year from 1996–97 to 2004–05. [168999]

Mr. Caborn: All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government guidance.

The following table shows expenditure on entertainment by the Department. In a change to previous practice, figures from 1997–98 onwards are presented on an accruals basis. In 2002–03 changes were made in the way entertainment expenditure was captured to include associated staff costs following the contracting out of the hospitality service. Figures for 2004–05 are not available at present.

	£
1996–1997	41,000
1997–1998	15,269.81
1998–1999	24,496.51
1999–2000	33,359.78
2000–2001	51,666.75
2001–2002	32,586.56
2002–2003	87,150.29
2003–2004(1)	78,144.29

Notes:
⁽¹⁾   Provisional, pending finalisation of annual accounts.

Departmental Procurement

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the
 
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(a) crockery, (b) cutlery and (c) glassware procured by her Department over the last five years is of British manufacture. [170796]

Mr. Caborn: Over the last five years, DCMS has procured the following;

(a) Crockery: 100 per cent. British Manufactured

(b) Cutlery: 100 per cent. British Manufactured

(c) Glassware: 80 per cent. British Manufactured

New Opportunities Fund

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much of the New Opportunities Fund is being provided to support children with special needs; and if she will make a statement. [170614]

Estelle Morris: The information is not collected in the way requested. However, a number of the New Opportunities Fund's programmes focus on children with special needs and I have asked the Chair of the Fund to write to the hon. Member with further details. I will arrange for copies of the letter to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Talented Athlete Scholarships

Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much public funding has been spent on the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme; what sums are committed for (a) the current year and (b) future financial years; how many students are expected to be supported in 2004–05; and if she will make a statement. [171043]

Mr. Caborn [holding answer 4 May 2004]: Exchequer funding of £3 million annually has been allocated to delivering the Talented Athletes Scholarship Scheme in 2004–05 and 2005–06. This year is the first round of the programme in which we are looking to help about 1,000 young talented athletes continue to develop in their performance sport alongside taking up employment or continuing with tertiary education. The first bursaries will be announced in early summer and the scholarships later in September.

WALES

European Structural Funds

9. Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had concerning the potential impact in Wales of changes in European structural funds after 31 December 2006. [169191]

Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with colleagues across Government and with the Assembly about a number of issues, including European Structural Funds.

Dredging (Dee Estuary)

10. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with English local authorities and environmental bodies regarding dredging in the Dee Estuary. [169192]

 
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Mr. Hain: Regulation of the Port of Mostyn's dredging proposals is a matter for the National Assembly, the Environment Agency, and the Department for Transport. The Environment Agency is advised in England by English Nature, and in Wales by the Countryside Council for Wales. English Nature has agreed that the Countryside Council for Wales should represent it in discussions on these proposals.

Civil Service

11. Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales concerning the relocation to Wales of civil service jobs. [169193]

Mr. Hain: The First Minister and I have had and will continue to have regular discussions.

We will be working closely to pitch for as many of the jobs allotted for relocation to come to Wales—where we have a record second to none in providing a home for civil service jobs.

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