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HOUSE OF COMMONS

First Aid

Mr. Steen: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will issue first aid equipment including treatment for burns to all areas where constant boiling water cisterns have replaced kettles on the Commons estate. [216244]

Sir Archy Kirkwood: The installation of instant boiling water dispensers to replace kettles gives a number of safety benefits that reduce the risk of scalds and burns, including elimination of steam hazard, no overturning of kettles, no cords or flexes, no hot surfaces, reduced risk of spillage, and the controlled dispensing of boiling water.

The dispensers also offer energy savings, improved hygiene and improved electrical safety.

First aiders and first aid equipment are readily available in all buildings. The Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Service advice is that the most effective treatment for a scald or burn is immediately to place the affected area under cool running water for aslong as it takes for the pain to subside. All dispensers are located close to a supply of cool running water. Arrangements are being made to provide first aid instructions for scalds and burns.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION

Public Sector IT Projects

26. Andrew Selous: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what assessment he has made of the resources available to National Audit Office staff to enable them to facilitate greater parliamentary scrutiny of public sector IT projects. [217014]

Mr. Alan Williams: The National Audit Office already examines IT programmes and projects as part of the annual programme of value for money studies. For example last year its report, Improving IT Procurement", examined the impact of the Office of Government Commerce's initiatives on departments and suppliers in the delivery of major IT-enabled projects. The cost implications of the National Audit Office's work are reflected in the resource bids submitted by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the head of the National Audit Office, for consideration by
 
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the Public Accounts Commission. The Commission will be examining the NAO's bid for 2005–06 at its meeting on 22 February.

PRIME MINISTER

BAE Systems

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the min Minister what meetings he has had with (a) board members and (b) staff of BAE Systems since 1 January 2004. [216823]

The min Minister: My officials and I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. Representatives from BAE Systems attended a business breakfast in Downing street on 10 February 2004.

Departmental Policies

Mr. Gordon Marsden: To ask the min Minister if he will set out, with statistical information relating as closely as possible to the constituency, the effect of his Office's actions and policies on Blackpool, South constituency since (a) 1997 and (b) 2001. [215684]

The min Minister: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. All Government Departments work closely together to ensure the coordination of policy and in collaboration with each other to improve delivery of improved public services. Since 1997, the Cabinet Office has played a major role in achieving Government objectives. The Cabinet Office Departmental Report 2004 describes how the work of management units within the Cabinet Office contributes to the achievement of the Department's objectives, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Structures

Norman Baker: To ask the min Minister whether he plans to change departmental structures, with particular reference to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. [217198]

The min Minister: I have no current plans to do so. The allocation of responsibilities across Government is kept under close review and changes to the machinery of government are made as and when necessary.

G8 Presidency

Dr. Kumar: To ask the min Minister what his priorities are for the Presidency of the G8. [215879]

The min Minister: The two main priorities for the UK Presidency of the G8 are Africa and climate change.

We shall also take forward the Broader Middle East and North Africa initiative from the US Presidency in 2004, and continue G8 work on counter-terrorism and non-proliferation.

Government Whips

Mrs. Lait: To ask the min Minister whether all Members of the Government Whips Office receive ministerial salaries. [216659]

 
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The min Minister: A full list of paid and unpaid Government Ministers including Government Whips is available from the Library of the House.

IBM

Mr. Gray: To ask the min Minister what the purpose was of his meeting at No. 10 on 2 December 1999 with Mr. Louis Gerstner Junior of the IBM Corporation of New York; which Department of Government suggested that he receive Mr. Gerstner; on what date it was first sought to arrange such a meeting; and which (a) departments of Government and (b) advisers were present at the meeting. [215746]

The min Minister: The meeting of 2 December 1999 with Mr. Louis Gerstner Junior of the IBM Corporation is a matter of public record. My officials and I have meetings and discussions with a wide range of organisations and individuals. All meetings are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code.

Iran

Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the min Minister what discussions he has had with President Bush regarding military options should Iran continue to develop its nuclear weapons programme; and if he will make a statement. [215997]

The min Minister: I regularly have discussions on a wide range of issues with President Bush, including on Iran. President Bush is fully aware of our policy on Iran, and made clear in his State of the Union Address on 2 February that the United States would continue to work for a diplomatic solution.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the min Minister if he will list the leading figures referred to by his official press spokesperson on 8 December 2004, other than those representing Her Majesty's Government or the Interim Iraqi Government, who dispute the estimate of civilian deaths in Iraq published in the Lancet. [215962]

The min Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Straw) on 17 November 2004, Official Report, columns 92–5WS.

Lynne Jones: To ask the min Minister whether the advice from the Attorney General on the legality of the war in Iraq published in the Official Report on 17 March 2003 was a summary of the advice received. [216365]

The min Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Stone (Mr. Cash) on 22 May 2003, Official Report, columns 914–15W.

Kyoto Protocol

Dr. Kumar: To ask the min Minister what assessment he has made of the long-term prospect of the US signing up to the Kyoto Protocol. [215880]

 
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The min Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave to the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) and to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) during my evidence to the Liaison Committee on 8 February.

Dr. Kumar: To ask the min Minister what assessment he has made of whether the UK will meet its Kyoto targets by 2010. [215881]

The min Minister: Current projections suggest that UK greenhouse gas emissions will be around 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010, which is well below our Kyoto target of 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels.

I also refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave to the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) and to the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth) during my evidence to the Liaison Committee on 8 February.

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