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20 Jul 2005 : Column 1772W—continued
Group 4 Securicor
Mr. Henderson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was spent by his Department and any public body or agency for which he is responsible on security contracts with Group 4 Securicor in the past year; and if he will list (a) the nature and location of services provided and (b) the start and end dates of any current such contracts. [13468]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no contracts with Group 4 Securicor to provide security services.
Gypsy/Traveller Sites
Julie Morgan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the Gypsy and Traveller sites that have benefited from a refurbishment grant since the scheme was introduced, broken down by (a) date, (b) cost, (c) number of pitches and (d) estimated number of individuals expected to reside there. [12739]
Yvette Cooper: Information which lists the authorities awarded Gypsy Site Refurbishment grant, their sites, the amount of grant awarded and the year in which grant was paid has been placed in the Library of the House. This year's grant has not yet been announced.
The published caravan count holds information on the number of pitches on authority sites and is available in the Library of the House.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold information on the estimated number of people expected to reside on each site.
Press Officers
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many press officers the Department and its predecessors employed in each year since 1997; and what the cost was in each year. [8133]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002.
On 1 April 2003, ODPM(c) employed 21.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) press officers. Pay costs for the period 1 June 2002 to 31 March 2003 were £0.86 million.
On 1 April 2004, 23 FTE press officers were employed. Pay costs for the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 were £1.036 million.
On 1 April 2005, 20 FTE press officers were employed. Pay costs for the period 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 were £1.059 million.
Figures for years prior to the creation of ODPM are not available.
Regional Emergency Control Centres
Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what role chief fire officers will have in signing off the safety case for the introduction of regional emergency control centres; and if he will make a statement. [13665]
Jim Fitzpatrick:
The Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) is working closely with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to ensure that the project will achieve its aim of improving public and firefighter safety. Its representative chairs the project's Senior Operations Group, which comprises officers at Principal and Chief
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Officer level. CFOA was fully engaged in drawing up the fire safety and protection strategy for the new control centres, set out in their circular 2005/1068 issued on 7 July.
Regional Housing Boards
Mr. Betts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the recommended investment strategy is for each regional housing board for 2006 to 2008. [13517]
Yvette Cooper: The submissions setting out recommendations on the allocation of Regional Housing Pot resources for 2006–07 and 2007–08 are, or will shortly be, available on Regional Housing Board or Government Office websites. The Government will set out its response in due course.
Standards Board for England
Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recompense for legal costs is available to individuals investigated by the Standards Board for England; and if he will make a statement. [12204]
Mr. Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 6 June 2005, Official Report, column 409W.
Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many complaints investigated by the Standards Board for England in each of the past three years have related to elected councillors. [12248]
Mr. Woolas: The Standards Board for England can consider allegations of misconduct against elected or co-opted members of relevant authorities. Its records do not differentiate between these types of members.
Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many complaints to the Standards Board for England about (a) Labour, (b) Conservative, (c) Liberal Democrat, (d) Independent and (e) other parties' councillors have been (i) referred for investigation and (ii) found to be in breach of the board's code of conduct. [12263]
Mr. Woolas: The Standards Board for England does not record information regarding the political affiliation of councillors who are the subject of allegations of misconduct.
Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department has undertaken research into the average cost of defending oneself in an investigation undertaken by the Standards Board for England. [12272]
Mr. Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has undertaken no such research.
Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people the Standards Board for England employs; and in what capacity each person is employed. [12273]
Mr. Woolas:
Information on the number of staff employed by the Standards Board for England and which Departments they work in is provided in the board's annual report and accounts, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
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Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people are eligible for investigation by the Standards Board for England. [12282]
Mr. Woolas: The code of conduct for members, alleged breaches of which are investigated by officers of the Standards Board for England, applies to over 100,000 members of local authorities, including parish councils, and of other public bodies, such as national park authorities, the Broads Authority, fire and civil defence authorities, police authorities, and passenger transport authorities.
Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of complaints made to the Standards Board for England have been about (a) elected representatives, (b) members of police authorities, (c) members of fire authorities, (d) members of park authorities and (e) members of the Broads Authority in each of the past four years. [12283]
Mr. Woolas: Information on the proportion of allegations of misconduct received each year by the Standards Board for England relating to members of police authorities, fire and civil defence authorities, national park authorities and the Broads Authority is given as follows. The board's records do not distinguish between allegations made in respect of elected and co-opted members.
The board does not keep separate records of the numbers of allegations received in respect of members of national park authorities and the Broads Authority, so combined figures are given for these bodies.
Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average time was for a case referred to the Standards Board for England to be resolved in each year since its inception. [12291]
Mr. Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 6 June 2005, Official Report, columns 407–08W.
Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what training investigating officers in the Standards Board for England receive in local government before starting employment; and how long such training lasts. [12292]
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Mr. Woolas: Training provided for staff in the Standards Board for England's investigations Department consists of a six-week induction programme, part of which focuses on the structure and functions of local government and on how decisions are taken in local authorities. The board also provides training seminars and investigative skills training as part of its professional development programme. All staff are included in continuing professional development, which includes a regular assessment of training needs and the provision of training as appropriate.
Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of investigations officers employed by the Standards Board for England have previously worked in local government. [12293]
Mr. Woolas: Of the staff currently employed by the Standards Board for England who investigate allegations of misconduct, 65 per cent. have experience of working in local government.
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