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1 Jul 2004 : Column 427W—continued
Jobcentre/Jobcentre Plus
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are employed (a) in the UK and (b) in each region in Jobcentre and Jobcentre Plus. [181382]
Jane Kennedy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from David Anderson to Mr. George Osborne, dated 1 July 2004:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning how many people are employed (a) nationally and (b) in each region in Jobcentre and Jobcentre Plus. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
On the 31 May 2004 Jobcentre Plus, nationally, employed 78,664 Whole Time Equivalent staff. A breakdown by Region is in the table below. National Tier (Head Office) staff, and those working in our Contact Centres, are counted within the Government Office Region in which they work.
| Jobcentre Plus | Total Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) 31 May 2004 |
|---|---|
| East Midlands | 4,582 |
| East of England | 4,966 |
| London | 9,887 |
| North East | 5,015 |
| North West | 12,166 |
| Scotland | 9,480 |
| South East | 6,969 |
| South West | 4,900 |
| Wales | 5,034 |
| West Midlands | 6,759 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | 8,906 |
| Jobcentre Plus Total | 78,664 |
I hope this is helpful.
New Deal for Lone Parents
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many women in the Tamworth constituency have benefited from (a) the New Deal for Lone Parents and (b) the New Deal for Partners since 1997. [179955]
Jane Kennedy: 670 women have started New Deal for Lone Parents in the Tamworth constituency since the beginning of the programme in October 1998, of whom, 440 have gained a job. Information on the number of women who have benefited from the New Deal for Partners is not available.
CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
Departmental Training Programmes
John Mann: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what training programmes have taken place for staff in his Department in (a) substance misuse and (b) drugs treatment in the last 12 months. [180165]
Mr. Lammy: There have been no specific training programmes in these areas in the last 12 months.
As part of their induction programme, all new staff in the Department are made aware of the availability of welfare services. There is a speaker from the welfare service on the induction course. Welfare service holds a variety of information leaflets on substance misuse and these are handed out on request.
In addition all new managers in the Department are required to attend three mandatory training programmes—Performance Management for New Managers, Leading a Team and Employment Law for New Managers. As part of these programmes managers are made aware of the Department's policies and procedures in relation to a range of potential disciplinary issues including drug and alcohol misuse. There is a speaker from Welfare service on the Leading a Team programme who outlines the support available to individuals and line managers.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
EU Constitution
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those areas of Government activity which will remain wholly and exclusively the responsibility of the British Government if the European constitution is ratified by the UK. [181226]
Mr. MacShane: Under the Constitutional Treaty for the EU, the Union would have exclusive competence in the areas of: monetary policy for member states which have adopted the euro; common commercial policy; customs union; the conservation of marine biological resources under the common fisheries policy; the establishing of the competition rules necessary for the functioning of the internal market; and for the conclusion of an international agreement when its conclusion is provided for in a legislative act of the Union or is necessary to enable the Union to exercise its internal competence or insofar as its conclusion may affect common rules or alter their scope. In these areas, the UK would only be able to legislate and adopt legally binding acts if empowered to do so by the Union or for the implementation of Union acts.
Member states and the EU would share competence in the following principal areas: the internal market; the area of freedom security and justice; agriculture and fisheries, excluding the conservation of marine biological resources; transport and trans-European networks; energy; social policy, for aspects defined in Part III of the Constitutional Treaty; economic, social and territorial cohesion; environment; consumer protection; and common safety concerns in public health matters, for aspects defined in Part III of the Constitutional Treaty. In these areas, the UK would be able to exercise its competence to the extent that the Union has not exercised, or has decided to cease exercising, its competence.
In the areas of research, technological development and space, the EU would have competence to carry out actions, in particular to define and implement programmes, and in the areas of development cooperation and humanitarian aid the EU would have competence to take action and conduct a common policy. In none of those areas however would the exercise of that competence result in the UK being prevented from exercising its competence.
There are also areas which would be the competence of the member states, but where the Union would be able to take supporting, co-ordinating or complementary action. These are: protection and improvement of human health; industry; culture; education, youth, sport and vocational training; civil protection; administrative cooperation; and tourism.
Special provisions would apply to the coordination of economic and employment policies and the Common Foreign and Security Policy, as detailed in Part III of the Constitutional Treaty.
Other areas of government activity would remain wholly and exclusively the responsibility of the British Government.
1 Jul 2004 : Column 430W
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) where the wording for the new EU constitution will be made available; [181299]
(2) where the wording for the European Constitution can be found; and if he will make it available (a) on the internet and (b) in every public library. [181456]
Mr. MacShane: CIG 86/04—a provisional consolidated version of the draft Constitutional Treaty—is available on the Britain and the EU section of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website www.europe.gov.uk. I have also placed copies in the Library of the House. This draft text will now be consolidated into a single document and drawn up in all the authentic EU languages. These will be scrutinised by specialist lawyer linguists to ensure that there are no discrepancies between the different language versions without making any substantive changes to the text adopted at the IGC. This is detailed technical work which is likely to take up to four months to complete. Once this process is complete and it has been signed by Heads of State or Government I will make the official Treaty available on the internet and place copies in the Library of the House.
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the URL is for the site where the European Constitution Treaty may be accessed; and where printed copies of the treaty will be made available to members of the United Kingdom public. [181390]
Mr. MacShane: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Leominster (Mr. Wiggin) today (UIN 181299).
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role (a) UK courts and (b) European courts will play in the UK in interpretation of the wording of the European Constitution; and where supremacy will lie. [181481]
Mr. MacShane: As now, under the new Treaty, the Court of Justice will ensure respect for the law in the interpretation and application of the Constitution in cases that fall within its jurisdiction. Similarly, as now, national courts will apply the Treaty as interpreted by the Court of Justice.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the contents of the articles of the EU Constitution on (a) energy and (b) public health. [181130]
Mr. MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to Presidency document CIG 86/04 Chapter III Section 10 page 185 for energy, and Chapter V Section 1 page 204 for public health. This document—a Provisional consolidated version of the draft Treaty—can be accessed at: www.europe.gov.uk and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.
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