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14 Jun 2004 : Column 703W—continued
Computer File Formats
Mr. Allan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his Department's policy is in respect of the computer file formats used for the (a) distribution and (b) archiving of publicly available documents. [173357]
Mr. Alexander: The Cabinet Office's policy is to meet the Government Web Guidelines. This states that documents be made available on the Internet wherever possible in the following formats:
Hypertext Markup Language
Portable Document Format
Microsoft Word format
Rich Text Format
Plain Text Format
Comma Separated Variable format (for spreadsheets)
Microsoft Excel format (for spreadsheets)
The archiving of Cabinet Office web information has been addressed by the creation of an "archive section". This is now publicly available at http://archive. cabinetoffice.gov.uk and has been created in compliance with the latest version of the Office of the e-Envoy Guidelines. Again, wherever possible, documents are available in the formats listed above.
This archive is an extension of the National Archive's UK Central Government Web Archive initiative which deals with cross-Government "web harvesting". Further details on this can be found at http://www. pro.gov.uk/webarchive/default.htm
Departmental Responsibilities
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what mechanisms exist to distinguish between those matters which are his Department's responsibilities and those which are directly those of the Prime Minister. [176655]
Mr. Alexander: The allocation of ministerial portfolios is a matter for the Prime Minister. Details are set out in the "List of Ministerial Responsibilities", copies of which are available in the Library.
EU Legislation
Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the occasions when representations have been made to his Department highlighting possible over-implementation of EU legislation, stating in each
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instance (a) the EU directive, (b) the individual or organisation making the representation and (c) the aspect of over-implementation; and if he will make a statement on the Government's response. [177735]
Mr. Alexander [holding answer 10 June 2004]: The Cabinet Office maintains a close dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders on the handling of European legislation. The Cabinet Office does not hold records of all the discussions that have taken place, which might have included representations on over-implementation.
Representations on the possible over-implementation of individual EU directives would usually have been made to the Department responsible for consulting on and introducing the implementing legislation.
Ministerial Visits
David Davis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) if he will list the travel costs incurred by (a) his Department and (b) each Minister within his Department for each of the last 10 years; [175650]
(2) how many journeys were made by helicopter by each Minister in his Department and its predecessors in each of the last 10 years; and what the journey length was in each case. [175730]
Mr. Alexander: In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These reports contain information reaching back to 1995–96. Information for earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and in some cases will no longer be held. Information for 2003–04 will be published in due course
In respect of domestic travel, owing to changes in the accounting system within the Cabinet Office, the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Library.
Older People
Mr. Webb: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office for what (a) initiatives, (b) campaigns and (c) advisory bodies relating to older people his Department (i) is responsible and (ii) has provided funding since 2001; and what the cost in each year was for each one. [166239]
Mr. Alexander:
As part of its commitment to provide internet access to all the Office of the e-Envoy (OeE) ran a national 'Get Started' campaign in June 2003, to promote internet access among primarily disadvantaged groups including older people. Nearly 37,000 people took advantage of a free internet starter session and the OeE's partnership with Age Concern was particularly effective introducing over 11,000 older people to the internet. £1 million was spent on the Get Started Campaign.
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The Directgov site (www.direct.gov.uk), managed by the OeE, brings together information about government services into one place. There is a section with information especially targeted at the over 50s. These include information on health and well-being, employment, pensions and education.
Opinion Research
Norman Lamb: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will place in the Library Government guidelines on the publication and use of opinion research by Government Departments. [177670]
Mr. Alexander: Opinion research is used by Government Departments to assess public response to the policies or services for which the Department is responsible, to develop policy and track delivery. Publication is a matter for individual Departments.
The propriety of this work is covered by the Civil Service Code, and if appropriate, the Guidance on the Work of the Government Information Service which is available in the Library.
Good practice guidance on the technical aspects of social research and evaluation in policy making is currently being prepared and will be published on The Policy Hub (www.policyhub.gov.uk). Some chapters are available already. A full copy of the guidance will be placed in the Library once it is completed. Advice is also available from professional social researchers working in most Departments and where necessary they can consult the Government's Chief Social Researcher.
Parliamentary Questions
John Thurso: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many (a) ordinary written and (b) named day questions his Department received in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) this parliamentary session, broken down by month; [171174]
(2) what proportion of (a) ordinary written questions to his Department were answered within five sitting days of tabling, and (b) questions for written answer on a named day received a substantive answer on that day in (a) the 2002–03 parliamentary session and (b) this parliamentary session, broken down by month. [171175]
Mr. Alexander: The information requested is shown in the table.
We endeavour to answer all parliamentary questions within the parliamentary deadlines whenever possible. In addition I refer the hon. Gentleman to a reply given by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House on 3 March 2004, Official Report, column 907W.
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| Month | Number due for answer | Number answered within five working days | Percentage answered within five working days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary written parliamentary questions | |||
| Session 2002–03 | |||
| November 2002 | 6 | 6 | 100 |
| December 2002 | 30 | 24 | 80 |
| January 2003 | 54 | 29 | 54 |
| February 2003 | 26 | 14 | 54 |
| March 2003 | 50 | 31 | 62 |
| April 2003 | 41 | 18 | 44 |
| May 2003 | 37 | 9 | 24 |
| June 2003 | 31 | 17 | 55 |
| July 2003 | 25 | 9 | 36 |
| September 2003 | 19 | 13 | 68 |
| October 2003 | 19 | 12 | 63 |
| November 2003 | 17 | 13 | 76 |
| Total | 355 | 195 | 55 |
| Session 2003–04 | |||
| December 2003 | 15 | 11 | 73 |
| January 2004 | 43 | 23 | 53 |
| February 2004 | 25 | 21 | 84 |
| March 2004 | 117 | 90 | 77 |
| April 2004 | 31 | 9 | 29 |
| Total | 231 | 154 | 67 |
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