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HOUSE OF COMMONS

Catering Services

Norman Baker: To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee if he will make representations to the Director of Catering Services to implement a strategy to minimise food miles. [193095]

Mr. Dennis Turner: I am sympathetic to the hon. Member's wish to reduce food miles by sourcing as much produce as possible locally. The Refreshment Department uses a great deal of British produce, selected on the basis of its quality and value for money. I have asked the Director of Catering Services to investigate the feasibility of implementing a strategy to minimise food miles as part of the Refreshment Department's food procurement objectives, so far as is consistent with the legal procurement framework within which all public purchasing operates, and the various regional promotions run by the Department.

Norman Baker: To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee if he will make representations to the Director of Catering Services to increase the percentage of food sourced organically. [193103]

Mr. Dennis Turner: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 27 April 2004, Official Report, column 905–06W.

I have asked the Director of Catering Services to continue to be alert to opportunities to increase the percentage of food sourced organically, but I am aware that the Refreshment Department's ability to achieve this remains constrained by both supply chain limitations and by consumer price sensitivity.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Works of Art

36. Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission how many paintings and works of art are held in store by the House. [193522]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: The House of Commons Commission is responsible only for matters affecting this House. However, I understand that there are 6,791 works of art in the permanent collections of the House of Commons and House of Lords, of which approximately 1,900 are currently held in store. This number includes 35 paintings and 26 sculptures, which are in store only temporarily until they are relocated within the Parliamentary Estate. The other items in
 
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store are predominantly small prints and photographs. If the hon. Member wishes to visit the store, I am sure that the Curator would be delighted to arrange it.

Oriel Room

Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the cost of (a) consultants, (b) materials, (c) labour, (d) design and (e) supervision of work was for the changes to the Oriel Room; and where the high desks have been stored. [193105]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: The recent works in the Oriel Room were undertaken as part of two major projects: the tenth phase of the PDVN programme which includes the installation of automatic fire detection systems; and the installation of blast resistant glazing to the Principal Floor. These are extensive projects having total values of some £4 million and £1 million respectively; the latter being spread over three years. Owing to the complexities of both projects it is not possible to apportion the costs for the Oriel Room separately.

While the Oriel Room was disrupted, the opportunity was taken to introduce a new furniture layout. This was partly in response to adverse comments about the lighting and layout of the Members' Library in the "House of Commons Survey of Services in 2003", to underpin the Library's Change Project and to improve the ergonomic conditions for Library staff. The plans were reviewed by the Information Committee before the summer recess.

During the closure of the Library the Oriel and Reference Room ceilings were cleaned and other minor works undertaken.

The new furniture was designed by the PWSD Furnishings team after discussions with Library staff; no consultants were used.

The original desks, which were installed in 1986, have now gone into off-site storage.

Visitors

Lynne Jones: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission (1) what mechanisms are in place to ensure that the new visitor passes are retrieved from visitors when they leave the Parliamentary Estate; and if he will make a statement on their introduction; [193351]

(2) if the Commission will take steps to ensure that photographs on parliamentary passes are checked at all entry and exit points on the Parliamentary Estate; [193352]

(3) how many visitor passes have been issued to date; and how many have been returned. [193353]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: It is not the practice of the House of Commons Commission to publish details of the operation of security arrangements on the Parliamentary Estate. I have asked the Serjeant at Arms to contact the hon. Member.
 
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TREASURY

Child Accidents

Tom Cox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children died in accidents at home in the Greater London area in the last five years. [193156]

Mr. Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 26 October 2004:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many children died in accidents in the home in the Greater London area in the last five years. (193156)

The latest available data are for 2003. Figures for children aged under 16 are given in the following table.

Deaths from accidents in the home⁽¹⁾ London,⁽²⁾ 1999 to 2003 3

	Number of deaths
1999	18
2000	13
2001	9
2002	15
2003	10

⁽¹⁾ Selected using codes E849-E928 excluding E870-E879 from the International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision for 1999 and 2000 and codes W00-X59 from the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision for 2001 to 2003, where the place of accident was 'home'.
⁽²⁾ Residents of London Government Office Region.
⁽³⁾ Figures are for deaths occurring in each calendar year.

Corporation Tax

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been raised by the withdrawal of advance corporation tax credit on (a) pensions and (b) charities in each year since it was introduced. [193802]

Dawn Primarolo: The abolition of payable tax credits was an essential part of a wider package of Corporation Tax reforms, including cuts in CT rates, designed to encourage investment. The estimated impact of the abolition of payable tax credits for pension funds, charities and others is quoted in the Financial Statement and Budget Report, July 1997. A separate figure for charities is not available.

Hospices (VAT)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much VAT was paid by UK hospices in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [193364]

Dawn Primarolo: HM Customs and Excise data do not identify VAT registered hospices specifically and in any case would not identify any VAT incurred by hospices that could not be recovered. Therefore no figures for VAT paid by hospices are available.

Identity Card Scheme

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent research he has (a) conducted or (b) commissioned into the cost effectiveness of the proposed identity card scheme. [193996]

 
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Mr. Timms: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my predecessor on 21 April 2004, Official Report, column 505W.

Julie McEvoy

Mr. Steen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will investigate the handling of the tax credits award for Miss Julie McEvoy of Buckfastleigh for the 2003–04 and 2004–05 tax years; and if he will make a statement. [193953]

Dawn Primarolo: I understand that the Inland Revenue has made a thorough investigation of Miss McEvoy's case and wrote to the hon. Member on 25 October 2004.

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