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Power Stations

10. Anne Picking: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will discuss with the Minister for Energy the introduction of location charging to Scottish power stations. [180239]

Mrs. McGuire: Scotland Office and DTI Ministers have had a number of discussions on the Energy Bill and I am aware of the concerns raised over the introduction of location charging in Scotland. The increase in transmission charges needs to be seen in the context of a package of reforms that make up BETTA. Any increase must be seen alongside the removal of charges for access to the England and Wales market and for use of the Interconnector.

Small Businesses (Taxation)

12. Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from Scottish small business organisations about the tax treatment of dividends. [180241]

Mrs. McGuire: The Scotland Office maintains contact with all business representative organisations in Scotland at both official and ministerial level and received a copy of the Federation of Small Businesses Scottish survey results published at the beginning of this month. I note this makes no mention of the tax treatment of dividends. The Government and the Scottish Executive are committed to creating an environment in which businesses small and large can flourish.

Housing Supply

14. Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive regarding the Barker Review. [180243]

Mr. Darling: I have had no discussions with the Scottish Executive regarding the Barker Review. The Scottish Executive are conducting a review of affordable housing in Scotland, considering many of the issues and proposals raised by the Barker Review.

Inverclyde (Regeneration)

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to visit Inverclyde to discuss regeneration. [180238]

Mr. Darling: I have no plans at present to do so.

Manufacturing Industry

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on manufacturing industry in Scotland. [180240]

Mr. Darling: The Government fully recognise the substantial role that manufacturing continues to play in Scotland's economy.

We have put in place a wide range of measures to support the sector such as R and D tax credits and measures to support the commercialisation of academic research. These, along with the macroeconomic stability delivered by this Government and the devolved
 
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measures implemented by the Scottish Executive, mean that manufacturing in Scotland is well placed to benefit from the improved global trading conditions.

Road Fuel Taxation

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has held with (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) the Scottish Executive on the effect of fuel duty levels on rural Scotland. [180236]

Mr. Darling: I have regular meetings with my right hon. Friend and with Scottish Ministers.

Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the recent publication of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. [180242]

Mrs. McGuire: We are committed to tackling poverty and deprivation and welcome the publication of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation which will be a useful tool in the further development of polices to tackle deprivation.

Seamounts

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw) of 26 May 2004, Official Report, column 1621W, on seamounts, what the involvement of the Scotland Office has been in the work to identify and agree management measures for the seamounts. [180402]

Mrs. McGuire: The United Kingdom's interest in the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR) is co-ordinated by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which consults other departments of Government and the devolved administrations as appropriate.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Electronic Voting

35. Chris Bryant: To ask the Leader of the House if he will introduce electronic voting in the lobbies of the House. [180774]

Mr. Woolas: My right hon. Friend has no plans to propose the introduction of electronic voting. However, he is strongly in favour of using information technology where it can make the House operate more effectively, and he would be interested to know Members' views on the potential merits of electronic voting in the Lobby.

Awareness of Parliament

Ann Winterton: To ask the Leader of the House what plans he has to encourage awareness of the work of Parliament among school children. [180768]

 
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Mr. Hain: Following the publication of the Modernisation Committee's report on Connecting with the Public, I plan to discuss with the Speaker and with my colleagues on the House of Commission how best to address the Committee's recommendations on connecting with young people.

Sitting Hours

Bob Spink: To ask the Leader of the House what recent representations he has received on the House's sitting hours. [180771]

Mr. Hain: I have so far received 83 responses to the letter I sent all Members on 8 January asking for views on our sitting hours. In addition, I have spoken to many Members about this matter.

Mr. Viggers: To ask the Leader of the House what consideration he is giving to a revision of the House's sitting hours. [180773]

Mr. Woolas: The Modernisation Committee has now embarked on its inquiry into the sitting hours of the House. My right hon. Friend (the Leader of the House) intends to write to all Members of the House outlining the options that are currently available and seeking further views, building on the evidence gathered by the Procedure Committee.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Organic and UK Produce

Norman Baker: To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what percentage of (a) fruit and (b) vegetables available for sale within the House are (i) organic and (ii) sourced within the UK. [179923]

Mr. Dennis Turner: The Refreshment Department uses organic produce when it represents value for money, is of an appropriate quality and can be delivered in sufficient quantities. However, it is generally a premium product and as such is not used as a matter of course. The organic nature of produce is recorded only if it is purchased specifically for a promotion of organic food and so no figures are available on the percentage of organic produce for sale in the House.

By law, the Refreshment Department cannot discriminate in favour of or against the produce of any EU member state. It does not, therefore, maintain a record of the country of origin of the fruit and vegetables purchased for sale in Refreshment Department facilities.

TREASURY

Illegal Cigarettes (Northern Ireland)

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated value was of illegal cigarettes seized in Northern Ireland in 2003. [180978]

John Healey: The location of a seizure does not necessarily indicate the illicit market for which those goods are bound. Specifically in Northern Ireland in
 
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2002–03, Customs seized 31.5 million cigarettes. At average retail prices these would have been liable to £5.6 million in tobacco revenue (based on excise duty and VAT).

Customs and Excise

Mr. Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the official title is of the unit in Customs and Excise that deals with human intelligence policy; where this unit is based; how many people the unit employs; and what its operating costs are in 2004–05. [180502]

John Healey: Responsibility for policy issues relating to human intelligence in HM Customs and Excise rests with the National Source Unit. The National Source Unit is based in London and is part of the Law Enforcement directorate of HM Customs and Excise. It would not be appropriate to give details of the numbers and costs of staff engaged at specific locations, as provided for under Exemptions 4 and 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

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