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Information Technology

37. Barbara Follett: To ask the Leader of the House what recent discussions he has had about the provision of information technology equipment and access for hon. Members. [193523]

Mr. Woolas: My right hon. Friend has had discussions with both Members and officials of the House regarding the recommendations on information technology in the report of the Senior Salaries Review Body's review of parliamentary pay and allowances. He welcomes these recommendations and intends to propose to the House that IT equipment and support be increased as recommended.

Voters Guide

38. Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Leader of the House what proposals he has submitted to the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons on sending a new voters guide to every 18-year-old. [193524]

Mr. Woolas: In its report on "Connecting Parliament with the Public", the Modernisation Committee, which my right hon. Friend chairs, recommended that the House devise a new voter's guide to be sent to all young people around the time of their 18th birthday. It envisaged that this might contain information on how to register to vote; the role and function of an MP, local councillor and other elected officials; how politics affects people's lives and a brief history of Parliament. This proposal is now under consideration by the House of Commons Commission.
 
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September Sittings

39. Mr. Amess: To ask the Leader of the House what representations he has received regarding the September sitting of the House; and if he will make a statement. [193525]

Mr. Woolas: A number of Members have expressed views on September sittings in evidence to the Modernisation Committee's inquiry on the sitting hours of the House, and in response to the letter which my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House sent to all Members on 29 June. The Modernisation Committee is considering these responses as part of its inquiry.

Child Care

40. Julie Morgan: To ask the Leader of the House what proposals he has made to the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House of Commons on providing child care in the House of Commons. [193526]

Mr. Woolas: My right hon. Friend has made no proposals to the Modernisation Committee on child care in the House of Commons, but he has taken a close interest in discussions in the House of Commons Commission on this subject. He welcomes the increase in value in the child care vouchers paid to House staff, and their extension to Members' staff.

SCOTLAND

Pensions (Women)

6. Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has held with ministerial colleagues on the level of basic state pension received by women pensioners in Scotland. [192848]

Mrs. McGuire: My right hon. Friend and I are in regular touch with ministerial colleagues on a wide range of issues. The hon. Member will appreciate that pensions matters in general, and the particular position of women pensioners, are matters of great concern to the Government at the moment.

Army Recruitment

7. Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on Army recruitment to the Scottish regiments in Scotland. [192849]

Mr. Darling: Although this is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, Scottish soldiers have an important continuing role in the United Kingdom's defence plans.

9. Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last discussed recruitment to the Scottish regiments with the Secretary of State for Defence. [192851]

Mr. Darling: I am in regular contact with my right hon. Friend and discuss a wide range of issues.

Broadband

8. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will be making recommendations on rural broadband in Scotland during the telecommunications review. [192850]

 
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Mrs. McGuire: The Scotland Office works closely with the Ofcom team in Scotland on a range of broadcasting and telecommunications issues. I am aware of the detailed consultation response from the Scottish Executive which places emphasis on the importance of getting rural aspects right.

Economy

10. Mr. Savidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the Scottish economy. [192852]

Mr. Darling: I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor on a range of matters.

Disability Discrimination Act

11. Miss Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps the Scotland Office has taken since 1 October to highlight the new obligations on service providers following the introduction of part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [192853]

Mrs. McGuire: It has been Government policy to highlight new obligations on service providers as early as possible prior to the implementation date of 1 October. The Department for Work and Pensions has undertaken a major publicity campaign throughout the country to increase awareness of the Disability Discrimination Act and particularly the duties for employers and service providers, including a direct mailing to around one million small businesses.

In addition, in Scotland, the DRC worked closely with Scottish business organisations and my hon. Friend, the Advocate-General, addressed an awareness raising reception with guests representing disabled people, businesses and public sector organisations a few days prior to the implementation date.

Call Boxes (Rural Areas)

12. Sir Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet BT authorities in Scotland to discuss call boxes in rural areas. [192855]

Mrs. McGuire: My right hon. Friend and I are aware of the issues but have no current plans to meet BT authorities.

Army

13. Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the future structure of the Army in Scotland. [192856]

14. Mr. Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has held with the Secretary of State for Defence regarding the Scottish infantry regiments. [192857]

Mr. Darling: I am in regular contact with my right hon. Friend and we discuss a wide range of issues.
 
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Jobcentres (Lanarkshire)

Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has met the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to discuss closures of Jobcentres in Lanarkshire. [192854]

Mr. Darling: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my right hon. Friend the Member for Coatbridge and Chryston (Mr. Clarke).

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Crown Prosecution Service

Diana Organ: To ask the Solicitor-General when she will issue the strategic plan and guidance for the Crown Prosecution Service's resources as a result of successful confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. [191933]

The Solicitor-General: The 2004 Spending Review provided for a new scheme to incentivise criminal justice agencies to recover asset from criminals. The Crown Prosecution Service is working with colleagues from the Serious Fraud Office, the Customs and Excise Prosecution Office, the Home Office, and the Department of Constitutional Affairs to develop a scheme for agreement with the Treasury. Operational details of the new scheme have not yet been agreed, but it is proposed that it will become operative during 2006–07. At that stage guidance will be issued to the CPS and other agencies.

European Court of Human Rights

Tom Cox: To ask the Solicitor-General how many United Kingdom cases are awaiting hearing before the European Court of Human Rights. [191958]

The Solicitor-General: There are 351 cases against the United Kingdom pending before the European Court of Human Rights that have been declared admissible or partly admissible by the Court. There has been an oral hearing in five of these cases, but the Court has not yet delivered its judgment on the merits. None of the remaining cases is at present scheduled for an oral hearing; owing to the enormous backlog of cases before the Court, oral hearings are now the exception rather than the rule.

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