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Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 5 July 2005

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

House Stationery

35. Mr. Dismore: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what plans the Commission has to relax the rules relating to the use of House stationery. [9204]

Nick Harvey: The Commission is currently considering the implications of rising levels of expenditure on House stationery and pre-paid envelopes, which falls on the Administration Estimate. The Commission will continue its deliberations on this issue at its next meeting later this month.

Communal Hairbrushes/Combs

Mr. Steen: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission (1)what the cost has been of undertaking the risk assessment of communal hairbrushes and combs in hon. Members' washrooms; [9413]

(2) how many cases of (a) communicable diseases and (b) infestations have been reported relating to the use of combs and hairbrushes in the hon. Members' washrooms in each of the last 10 years; [9414]

(3) what evidence the Health and Safety Executive provided to the Administration Committee of the risk of communicating (a) HIV and (b) hepatitis through the use of communal hairbrushes and combs. [9814]

Nick Harvey: The cost of conducting the risk assessment of communal hairbrushes and combs in Members' washrooms was staff time only. The assessment involved Serjeant at Arms staff and professionals from the Parliamentary Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Service and was undertaken as part of their normal duties. Advice was sought from other professionals in relevant enforcement authorities (i.e. Westminster Council's Environmental Health Department and the Health and Safety Executive) at no cost to the House.

There have been no reported cases of communicable diseases or infestations relating to the use of communal combs and hairbrushes in Members washrooms over the last 10 years. However health, safety and hygiene standards now mean that the House has a duty of care properly to control health and safety risks to those working at or visiting the House of Commons. A risk assessment was undertaken resulting in the removal of communal combs and hairbrushes as a preventative health measure, following submission of the matter to the Administration Committee in the last Parliament. The risks of communicating disease or infection was one of a number of risk factors highlighted that contributed to the overall risk assessment and decision, though it is acknowledged in the risk assessment that the likelihood
 
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of contracting HIV or hepatitis is extremely low. A copy of the risk assessment as provided to the Administration Committee has been placed in the Library.

Westminster Hall

Mr. Dismore: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission (1) what arrangements will be put in place to allow Westminster Hall debates and Question Time to continue once Westminster Hall closes for major works at the end of 2005; [9053]

(2) what arrangements will be put in place to replace the Jubilee Room facilities, including the ability to use outside caterers for receptions when Westminster Hall closes for major works at the end of 2005; [9054]

(3) what plans there are to provide additional small meeting rooms when the W rooms, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and Inter-Parliamentary Union rooms will cease to be available due to the major works in Westminster Hall at the end of 2005. [9055]

Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 June 2005, Official Report, columns 1179–80W.

PRIME MINISTER

Correspondence

Mr. Grieve: To ask the Prime Minister when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Beaconsfield of (a) 14 June and (b) 15 June. [9827]

The Prime Minister: The request for information set out in the hon. Member's letter of 14 June is being handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. A reply will be issued within the statutory 20 working-day limit set out in the Act.

Warwick Agreement

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements he is making for the implementation of the Warwick agreement with trade unions; and how much of the agreement has been implemented. [9652]

The Prime Minister: The policies agreed at the Warwick National Policy Forum, which range from the introduction of ID cards to the reform of public services and improving people's rights at work, are a programme for implementation over the life of this Parliament. We have already started making progress including, for example, consulting on a package of family-friendly proposals to be implemented by 2007, including an extra three months of maternity pay.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Legislative Scrutiny

34. Mr. Allen: To ask the Leader of the House which Bills the Government plan to submit for pre-legislative scrutiny in this parliamentary session. [9203]


 
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Nigel Griffiths: The Government have announced that they intend to publish the following bills in draft this session for pre-legislative scrutiny:

The draft Corporate Manslaughter Bill has already been published in draft. Other bills may be published in draft as the session progresses. My right hon. Friend the Leader of the House will ensure that the Liaison Committee is kept informed of developments.

37. Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Leader of the House if he will bring forward proposals to improve the effectiveness of House of Commons Committees in scrutinising legislation. [9206]

Nigel Griffiths: This is certainly a matter which my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House believes that the Modernisation Committee may wish to consider over the course of the Parliament.

House of Lords Reform

36. Bob Spink: To ask the Leader of the House what recent discussions he has had on the timetable for House of Lords reform. [9205]

Mr. Hoon: I have had a number of recent discussions with ministerial colleagues on the Government's plans for House of Lords reform.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Electoral Law

21. Michael Fabricant: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the Department's plans to reform the law on duress and undue influence on voters; and if she will make a statement. [9190]

Ms Harman: The Government plans to strengthen the laws against electoral offences. We are consulting on proposals to do so as set out in the Electoral Administration policy paper published in May 2005.

Voter Participation

22. Sandra Gidley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to take steps to increase voter participation. [9191]

Ms Harman: We have responded positively to recommendations made by the Electoral Commission for further improvements to the electoral system. We must recognise, however, the key role that politicians and political parties have to play in engaging the electorate to make them wish to turn out to vote at elections.

Freedom of Information Act

23. Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to review the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [9192]


 
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Bridget Prentice: The Freedom of Information Act has only been in operation for six months and represents a new way of working for public authorities. Already there is evidence of the beginnings of the long-term culture change that the Act was designed to drive forward. The Government will monitor the Act's progress on an on-going basis and take action as necessary.

Electoral Registration

24. Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure that electoral registration officers have adequate resources. [9193]

Ms Harman: It is for individual local authorities when setting budgets for electoral registration to weigh up their spending priorities against the resources they have available to them. The Government considers that there needs to be more transparency in the information that is available about the funding of electoral registration, and we are looking into ways of achieving this.

25. Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what her policy is on use of national insurance numbers as an identifier in electoral registration. [9194]

Ms Harman: I refer the hon. Member for Reading East to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Ludlow.

28. Mr. Leigh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what her policy is on use of national insurance numbers as an identifier in electoral registration. [9197]

Ms Harman: I refer the hon. Member to the answer Igave to the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr. Dunne) earlier.


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