House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 12 Sept 2005 (pt 10)

12 Sept 2005 : Column 2255W—continued

Remote Electronic Voting

Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 18 July 2005, Official Report, column 1306W, on remote electronic voting, what criteria the Government will use to decide whether or not to hold electronic voting pilots in the 2006 elections. [15115]

Ms Harman: The Government have decided not to invite applications from local authorities to conduct electronic voting pilots in the May 2006 local elections. We consider this position appropriate at the current time as we are concentrating on changes to enhance security for existing postal voting provisions and make changes to improve accessibility within the traditional voting system.

However, the hon. Member will be aware that we cannot stop applications for pilots being made as there is a legislative duty to consider any such application originated by a local authority.

Select Committee Report (Cemeteries)

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Environment, Transport and Regional Government Select Committee Report on Cemeteries which the Government accepted. [15102]

Ms Harman: Progress on many of the Select Committee's recommendations has been dependent on the work that has been undertaken to assess the capacity of existing burial grounds and to consult on possible changes to burial law and practice. I expect the results of the former to be available later this year. The results of the latter are being assessed, and I will announce in due

12 Sept 2005 : Column 2256W

course how we intend to proceed in the light of the helpful and wide-ranging views which have been received.

In the meantime, the advisory group which the Government said it would establish has met regularly over the last four years and has made a significant contribution to the work programme. One example is the draft guidance on burial ground management which we expect to publish later this year. Work on guidance regarding memorial safety is in hand.

Tax Returns

Mr. Wills: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs, which organisation collates information on the percentage of appeals against penalties imposed for late submission of tax returns upheld by the General Commissioners in (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002, (d) 2003 and (e) 2004 [16237]

Ms Harman: No organisation collates information centrally on the percentage of appeals against penalties imposed for late submission of tax returns upheld by the General Commissioners. The Department for Constitutional Affairs (which is the sponsoring Department for the General Commissioners) does collate information on the overall number of appeals across all categories upheld by the General Commissioners but it is not possible to extract from this figures on appeals against penalties imposed for late submission of tax returns.

Websites

Sarah Teather: To ask the Minister of State Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list websites that come under her Department's responsibility; and what the (a) cost and (b) number of visits was for each in the last year for which figures are available. [15770]

Bridget Prentice: The information requested is listed in the following table.
Websites

2004–05

Organisation Site address Costs⁽⁴⁾ (£) Visits

Asylum and Immigration Tribunal www.ait.gov.uk ⁽⁵⁾15,707 458,138

Civil Justice Council www.civiljusticecouncil.gov.uk ⁽⁵⁾— 576,670

Commission for Judicial Appointments www.cja.gov.uk ⁽⁵⁾— 13,228

Community Legal Service www.clsdirect.org.uk 443,000 901,930

Council on Tribunals www.council-on-tribunais.gov.uk ⁽⁵⁾— 54,314

Court Service www.courtservice.gov.uk ⁽⁵⁾288,000 6,044,725

Criminal Courts Review www.criminal-courts-review.org.uk ⁽⁵⁾— 57,529

Department for Constitutional Affairs www.dca.gov.uk ⁽⁵⁾— 3,186,965

Family Justice Council www.familyjusticecouncil.org.uk ⁽⁵⁾— n/a

Finance and Tax Tribunals www.financeandtaxtribunals.gov.uk ⁽⁵⁾15,962 189,135

Gender Recognition Panel www.grp.gov.uk ⁽⁵⁾4,930 30,052

General Commissioners of Income Tax www.tribunalsservice.gov.uk/gcit ⁽⁵⁾13,930 n/a

Hutton Inquiry www.the-hutton-inquiry.org.uk ⁽⁵⁾— 180,493

Immigration Services Tribunal www.immigrationservicestribunal.gov.uk ⁽⁵⁾15,962 24,544

Judicial Studies Board www.jsboard.co.uk ⁽⁵⁾— 222,566

Land Registry www.landreg.gov.uk 11,752 2,828,438

Lands Tribunal www.landstribunal.gov.uk ⁽⁵⁾15,962 79,829

Law Commission www.lawcom.gov.uk ⁽⁵⁾— 370,729

Legal Services Commission www. legalservices.gov. uk 33,000 896,081

Legal Services Research Centre www.lsrc.org.uk 118 n/a

Legal Services Review www.legal-services-review.org.uk ⁽⁵⁾— n/a

Magistrates Court Service Inspectorate www.mcsi.gov.uk ⁽⁵⁾— 69,481

National Archives www.nationalarchives.gov.uk 316,734 5,633,731

National Archives other sites: family records, learning curve, a2a,
Moving Here, Census Various ⁽⁶⁾— n/a

Northern Ireland Court Service www.courtsni.gov.uk 839,835 544,800

Office of Legal Services Ombudsman www.olso.org 2,316 103,172

Office of the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner www.olscc.gov.uk ⁽⁵⁾— 5,840

Official Solicitor and Public Trustee www.offsol.demon.co.uk 141 n/a

Pensions Appeal Tribunals www.pensionsappealtribunals.gov.uk ⁽⁵⁾15,962 40,645

Public Guardianship Office www.guardianship.gov.uk 297 n/a

Social Security and Child Support Commissioners www.osscsc.gov.uk ⁽⁵⁾17,632 288,426

Transport Tribunal www.transportthbunal.gov.uk ⁽⁵⁾15,962 30,025

Tribunals Review www.tribunals-review.org.uk ⁽⁵⁾— 4,112

⁽⁴⁾ Staff costs are not included (unless otherwise stated), and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
⁽⁵⁾ The sites hosted by Cable and Wireless under contract. The hosting element of this is £555,096 per annum.
⁽⁶⁾ Complex arrangements with various partners. National Archives contribution assessable only at disproportionate cost.

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		2004–05
Organisation	Site address	Costs⁽⁴⁾ (£)	Visits
Asylum and Immigration Tribunal	www.ait.gov.uk	⁽⁵⁾15,707	458,138
Civil Justice Council	www.civiljusticecouncil.gov.uk	⁽⁵⁾—	576,670
Commission for Judicial Appointments	www.cja.gov.uk	⁽⁵⁾—	13,228
Community Legal Service	www.clsdirect.org.uk	443,000	901,930
Council on Tribunals	www.council-on-tribunais.gov.uk	⁽⁵⁾—	54,314
Court Service	www.courtservice.gov.uk	⁽⁵⁾288,000	6,044,725
Criminal Courts Review	www.criminal-courts-review.org.uk	⁽⁵⁾—	57,529
Department for Constitutional Affairs	www.dca.gov.uk	⁽⁵⁾—	3,186,965
Family Justice Council	www.familyjusticecouncil.org.uk	⁽⁵⁾—	n/a
Finance and Tax Tribunals	www.financeandtaxtribunals.gov.uk	⁽⁵⁾15,962	189,135
Gender Recognition Panel	www.grp.gov.uk	⁽⁵⁾4,930	30,052
General Commissioners of Income Tax	www.tribunalsservice.gov.uk/gcit	⁽⁵⁾13,930	n/a
Hutton Inquiry	www.the-hutton-inquiry.org.uk	⁽⁵⁾—	180,493
Immigration Services Tribunal	www.immigrationservicestribunal.gov.uk	⁽⁵⁾15,962	24,544
Judicial Studies Board	www.jsboard.co.uk	⁽⁵⁾—	222,566
Land Registry	www.landreg.gov.uk	11,752	2,828,438
Lands Tribunal	www.landstribunal.gov.uk	⁽⁵⁾15,962	79,829
Law Commission	www.lawcom.gov.uk	⁽⁵⁾—	370,729
Legal Services Commission	www. legalservices.gov. uk	33,000	896,081
Legal Services Research Centre	www.lsrc.org.uk	118	n/a
Legal Services Review	www.legal-services-review.org.uk	⁽⁵⁾—	n/a
Magistrates Court Service Inspectorate	www.mcsi.gov.uk	⁽⁵⁾—	69,481
National Archives	www.nationalarchives.gov.uk	316,734	5,633,731
National Archives other sites: family records, learning curve, a2a, Moving Here, Census	Various	⁽⁶⁾—	n/a
Northern Ireland Court Service	www.courtsni.gov.uk	839,835	544,800
Office of Legal Services Ombudsman	www.olso.org	2,316	103,172
Office of the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner	www.olscc.gov.uk	⁽⁵⁾—	5,840
Official Solicitor and Public Trustee	www.offsol.demon.co.uk	141	n/a
Pensions Appeal Tribunals	www.pensionsappealtribunals.gov.uk	⁽⁵⁾15,962	40,645
Public Guardianship Office	www.guardianship.gov.uk	297	n/a
Social Security and Child Support Commissioners	www.osscsc.gov.uk	⁽⁵⁾17,632	288,426
Transport Tribunal	www.transportthbunal.gov.uk	⁽⁵⁾15,962	30,025
Tribunals Review	www.tribunals-review.org.uk	⁽⁵⁾—	4,112

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Maternity Leave

Lynda Waltho: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality if the Government will take steps to simplify the administration of maternity leave for employers. [14324]

Meg Munn: The DTI consultation, Work and Families Choice and Flexibility, looked at ways of helping employers plan ahead more effectively, such as increasing the notice periods for changing return dates an employee gives whilst on maternity leave and improving communication between women and employers before and during maternity leave. It also sought stakeholders' help in finding ways of simplifying the system of maternity and adoption leave and pay.

The consultation closed at the end of May and we are currently considering the responses.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Association of Trade Advisers

Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether international trade advisers employed by the regional development authorities are consulting the Association of Trade Advisers on export development opportunities; and if he will make a statement. [10447]

Ian Pearson: UK Trade and Investment has no knowledge of an Association of Trade Advisers and we are not aware of any contacts between UK Trade and Investment International Trade Advisers and such an organisation.

Company Legislation

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the additional administrative cost, per confidentiality order, of making the effects of section 723B of the Companies Act retrospective. [14789]

Barry Gardiner: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has considered the issue of making the effects of section 723B retrospective and has concluded that it is not feasible to do so. This decision was not reached on the basis of the additional administrative cost of doing so. The main reason was that once information has been entered on the public record at Companies House it is disseminated widely, not only to individual members of the public but also

12 Sept 2005 : Column 2258W

through large commercial business information providers. Therefore, even if it were possible for Companies House to expunge the historical information successfully, it would still be in the public domain and available from a wide range of sources.

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