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10 Oct 2005 : Column 162W—continued
PRIME MINISTER
Afghanistan
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the President of Afghanistan on the illegal drug trade. [15506]
The Prime Minister: I met President Karzai on 19 July, and we discussed a range of issues including counter-narcotics work. I also refer my hon. Friend to the 'Joint declaration of an enduring relationship between the UK and Afghanistan'. This is available on the No. 10 website.
Aviation and Aircraft Fuel
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Prime Minister whether he raised with his colleagues in the G8 taxation of aviation and aircraft fuel. [14170]
The Prime Minister: At this year's summit, my G8 colleagues and I focused on addressing the challenges of African development and global climate change. On Africa, we agreed a set of measures to help Africa overcome the huge challenges it faces. This included a doubling of aid to the continent by 2010. In helping to achieve this, a group of the G8 countries agreed to continue to consider innovative forms of finance, such as the International Finance Facility and a levy on plane tickets. A working group will consider the implementation of these.
The G8 leaders also agreed to act with urgency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They agreed an action plan to help do this. One part of this wide-ranging plan is a programme of work to examine urgently the impact
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that aviation is having on the climate, and the scope for technological and operational solutions. We welcome the European Commission's announcement that it supports the inclusion of the aviation emissions in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
Climate Change
Colin Challen: To ask the Prime Minister what steps he plans to take to ensure that (a) hon. Members and (b) representatives of civil society are able to participate in the continuing dialogue on climate change referred to in his statement at the G8. [12836]
The Prime Minister: Climate change is the most important long-term challenge that the world faces. That means involving every section of society in action to tackle it. Throughout our G8 presidency we have held a number of events on climate change science and the first ever meeting of G8 environment and energy Ministers. I have held regular meetings with representatives of various environmental organisations and business leaders. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has also engaged with Members from both Houses, as well as other G8 countries, and emerging economy countries. We shall continue this dialogue.
We shall continue to engage with civil society and parliamentarians in the future. This will be fed in to the dialogue between the G8 and the rapidly growing economies including China and India which was agreed by the G8 leaders at Gleneagles and which will commence with a meeting in London this November.
Consultants
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list management consultants employed by his Office in each of the last three years. [14358]
The Prime Minister: For these purposes my Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him on 12 September 2005, Official Report, columns 2241–42W by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (John Hutton).
Correspondence
Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Prime Minister what his Office's policy is for dealing with and responding to correspondence received in (a) Welsh, (b) Scots Gaelic and (c) Irish Gaelic. [14730]
The Prime Minister: My office has arrangements with the FCO to translate letters received in languages other than English.
Departmental Staff
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Prime Minister how many staff were employed by his Office on (a) 1 May 2004 and (b) 1 May 2005. [14511]
The Prime Minister:
The total number of staff on the No. 10 payroll at the end of each of the financial years referred to is set out as follows.
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| Date | Number of staff |
|---|---|
| 1April 2004 | 214 |
| 1 April 2005 | 226 |
Equality and Diversity
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Prime Minister how much his office has spent promoting equality and diversity in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [14660]
The Prime Minister: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I have therefore asked my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to reply. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Library of the House.
Freedom of Information
Pete Wishart: To ask the Prime Minister how many Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests have been answered by his Office; and in how many cases (a) information was wholly exempted, (b) information was partly exempted and (c) the requests were answered in full. [14958]
The Prime Minister: For these purposes my Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2248W by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Harriet Harman).
Intelligence and Security Committee
Lynne Jones: To ask the Prime Minister what criteria are used to appoint members of the Intelligence and Security Committee. [16395]
The Prime Minister: The criteria for appointing the Intelligence and Security Committee are set out in Section 10 of the Intelligence Services Act 1994. I appoint the Chairman and other members of the Intelligence and Security Committee after consultation with the leaders of the main opposition parties. Membership of the Committee must be drawn from both Houses and cannot include a Minister of the Crown.
Management Consultants
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister whatthe total expenditure saved was in each of the last three years in his Department as a result of implementing recommendations by management consultancies. [13571]
The Prime Minister: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster today.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the five management consultancies which received the highest value of contracts awarded by his Department in each of the last three years and the total value of the contracts awarded to each. [13573]
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The Prime Minister: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2241W.
Media Relations
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Prime Minister how much his Office has spent on external media relations in each of the last 12 months. [14677]
The Prime Minister: For these purposes my Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 11 November 2004, Official Report, column 855W by my right hon. Friend the then Minister for the Cabinet Office (Ruth Kelly).
Muslim Faith (Meetings)
Mr. Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Prime Minister what the outcome was of his meeting with Muslim faith representatives on Tuesday 19 July. [14712]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to my opening remarks at the press conference I held with President Karzai and to the press briefing given by my official spokesman on Tuesday 19 July. Transcripts of each are available on the No. 10 website.
Opinion Surveys
Mr. Weir: To ask the Prime Minister what the (a) subject matter and (b) dates were of opinion survey research undertaken by his Office in the last 12 months; if he will place copies of the results of each survey in the Library; which companies were used in conducting the research; and how much each was paid. [14819]
The Prime Minister: My Office has conducted no opinion survey research in the past 12 months.
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