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16 Mar 2005 : Column 285W—continued
Postal Voting
Mr. Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people had applied to vote by post (a) in June 2001, (b) in December 2004 and (c) on the latest date for which information is available, broken down by (i) local authority area and (ii) parliamentary constituency; and if he will make a statement. [221726]
Mr. Raynsford: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Electoral Commission's report on the 2001 general election shows 1,738,055 issued for that election.
Southend
Mr. Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Minister for Local and Regional Government has to visit Southend on official business. [222259]
Mr. Raynsford:
The Minister of State for Local and Regional Government currently has no plans to visit Southend on official business.
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CABINET OFFICE
Sikh Employees
David Taylor: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the Office's policy is on the wearing of the Kirpan by Sikh employees. [221665]
Mr. Miliband: Cabinet Office policy is that there is no reason that Sikh civil servants or members of the public should not wear the Kirpan in Cabinet Office buildings, except in places where security policy might dictate otherwise and where items such as pen knives or letter openers might be banned. In such cases, the Kirpan would be stored in a secure place at the work location during working hours.
Cabinet Office does not discriminate unfairly on any grounds, including religion and belief. This commitment is set out clearly in our equal opportunities policy, including in our dignity at work statement. In support of this, the Department provides guidance and advice to staff and managers about the use of prayer rooms and on making and handling requests for time away from the office for religious observance. There is one designated prayer room on the Cabinet Office estate and other rooms can be made available for staff to use on request.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Regional Development Agencies
Mr. Mudie: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future of regional development agencies. [221853]
Jacqui Smith: England's Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) will continue to play a lead role in delivering sustainable improvements in the economic performance of all English regions, acting as strategic leaders in their regions to develop a region-specific economic development and regeneration agenda. In line with our current policy, where it is appropriate to do so, we will look to increase the flexibilities and freedoms available to RDAs to enable them to fulfil this role effectively.
Sellafield
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on advice given by Euratom inspectors to BNFL in respect of the weighing of cans of plutonium nitrate at Sellafield. [221677]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I am assured that plutonium nitrate is not stored in cans at Sellafield and so the weighing by BNFL of such cans has not been the subject of advice from European Commission safeguards inspectors.
HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION
Bottled Water
Norman Baker:
To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of
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25 January 2005, Official Report, column 247W, on bottled water, what the names and addresses are of suppliers of bottled water to the Refreshment Department; and what estimate has been made of the number of (a) lorry journeys and (b) lorry miles generated by these companies in order to meet orders placed by the Refreshment Department in each year. [222154]
Sir Archy Kirkwood: Bottled water is supplied to the House of Commons by Hildon Ltd. at Broughton, Hampshire. The Refreshment Department keeps no record of the number of lorry journeys or lorry miles generated by Hildon Ltd. in supplying bottled water to the House of Commons, but is aware that the vehicle dispatched will make deliveries to several other customers on the same journey.
Catering Food Waste
Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2005, Official Report, columns 247–48W, on catering food waste, if he will estimate the (a) weight and (b) percentage of food purchased which is (i) disposed of by the Refreshment Department in the general refuse and (ii) re-used for human consumption on an average working day. [222155]
Sir Archy Kirkwood: The information is as follows:
(b) In the 11 months to the end of February 2005, the Refreshment Department estimates that approximately 2 per cent. of food purchases by value have been written off as wastage. No records are kept of the amount of left-over food re-used at a later time or date within the catering operations of the Refreshment Department.
Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2005, Official Report, columns 247–48W, on catering food waste, what discussions have been held with charitable organisations on the possibility of donating food to such organisations since 1997; and what progress has been made since 25 January in reaching an agreement with such organisations to donate food which otherwise would be disposed of by the Refreshment Department. [222156]
Sir Archy Kirkwood:
The Refreshment Department last made inquiries about the possibility of donating waste food from the House of Commons catering operations to charitable organisations in April 2002. At that time, only three of 20 charities contacted in central London confirmed that they accepted food donations from catering establishments. None of these three organisations were prepared to accept unpackaged food prepared from fresh ingredients in our own kitchens and the Refreshment Department has minimal levels of wastage of packaged foods. All charities contacted in 2002 concluded that the nature, frequency and unpredictable quantity of food waste from the House of Commons Refreshment Department was unsuitable for their needs, but that they would contact us if their policy changed. No further discussions have been held since then.
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Cycling
Norman Baker: To ask the hon. for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission how many cycle parking places are provided for the use of hon. Members and staff of the House of Commons estate; and what plans there are to increase the number of cycle parking places available. [222093]
Sir Archy Kirkwood: There are at present some 100 cycle parking spaces on the parliamentary estate. There are plans to re-organise the parking arrangements in Star Chamber Court which will create some 15 additional cycle parking spaces.
Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission for what reasons members of the public are prevented from parking their bicycles on the parliamentary estate; and if he will provide secure parking places on the parliamentary estate for such a purpose. [222094]
Sir Archy Kirkwood: It is undesirable for visitors to bring bicycles on to the estate for security reasons; there are therefore no plans to provide spaces for the public. Cycle parking is available nearby outside 7 Millbank.
Repairs (Vehicle Emissions)
Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will estimate the total financial cost of repairing damage caused to House buildings by emissions from motor vehicles on the parliamentary estate in each of the last five years. [222074]
Sir Archy Kirkwood: No such estimate can be made.
Transport
Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission how many hon. Members use (a) rail, (b) bus, (c) bicycle, (d) car, (e) aeroplane and (f) foot as their predominant means of transport to the parliamentary estate. [222091]
Sir Archy Kirkwood: The Commission has no responsibility for how hon. Members choose to come to Parliament.
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