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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 15 December 2005
CABINET OFFICE
Christmas Presents
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the cost is of employing people to wrap Christmas presents for the Prime Minister's Office; and if he will make a statement. [37236]
Mr. Jim Murphy: No staff are employed to wrap Christmas presents for the Prime Minister's Office.
Ecovert plc
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what contracts have been entered into between the Cabinet Office and Ecovert plc in the last three years. [37237]
Mr. Jim Murphy: Following a competitive tendering exercise, the Cabinet Office entered into a contract with Ecovert FM Ltd. on 1 April 2002 for the provision of a total facilities management service covering its estate in London and Basingstoke. This includes ad hoc project works. The Cabinet Office has not entered into any other contracts with Ecovert FM Ltd.
Public Bodies
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to how many posts in public bodies he has the power to appoint individuals. [36617]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is responsible for making appointments to five advisory non-departmental public bodies. These are the Advisory Committee on Advertising; the Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information; the Better Regulation Task Force (which becomes the Better Regulation Commission on 1 January 2006); the Civil Service Appeal Board; and, the Security Vetting Appeals Panel. Further information about these bodies can be found on the Public Bodies database at http://www.knowledgenetwork.gov.uk/ndpb/ndpb.nsf/
Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the former hon. Members who left Parliament in 2005 who have since been appointed to public bodies by his Department, broken down by party; and who was responsible for making each appointment. [36679]
Mr. Jim Murphy:
No former hon. Members who left Parliament in 2005 have since been appointed to a public body sponsored by the Department.
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Prime Minister's Delivery Unit
Mr. Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff are employed by the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit; and at what grade. [35974]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The Prime Minister's Delivery Unit's agreed staffing profile for 2005–06 was 41.5 full-time equivalent staff, breaking down as the following mix of grades:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Senior Civil Service 3 | 1 |
| Senior Civil Service 2 | 3 |
| Senior Civil Service 1 | 14 |
| Cabinet Office Band A | 14.5 |
| Cabinet Office Band B2 | 4 |
| Cabinet Office Band B1 | 4 |
| Cabinet Office Band C2 | 1 |
In October 2005 the unit expanded, with seven posts transferring in from elsewhere in the Cabinet Office to work on an initiative to assess the wider capability of Whitehall Departments to deliver their objectives. Their grade breakdown is as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Senior Civil Service 2 | 1 |
| Senior Civil Service 1 | 2 |
| Cabinet Office Band A | 3 |
| Cabinet Office Band B1 | 1 |
As with any unit that actively manages its staffing complement through turnover and succession planning, at any given point PMDU may have slightly more or fewer staff than the profile quoted aforementioned.
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS
Clergy
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners how many retired Church of England clergy who are in receipt of a pension have subsequently returned to the ministry full-time. [37933]
Sir Stuart Bell: For the majority of clergy, ministry does not cease when they retire and start to receive a pension. Many retired clergy continue to make a vital contribution through honorary and assistant ministry. Occasionally they are licensed to a benefice and may even receive a part-stipend in addition to their pension. The Pensions Board has discretion to suspend or reduce pension if the recipient is in work which falls within the definition of pensionable service. The total they receive by way of pension and stipend should not exceed the National Minimum Stipend (currently £18,060 p.a.).
In 2004 there were two such cases and there have also been two cases so far in 2005. Aggregate figures for all retired clergy are not available.
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CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
Appeal Court Hearings
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many appeals were heard by the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) where there were (a) two Appeal Court judges and (b) one Appeal Court judge sitting in each of the last five years for which information is available. [36186]
Ms Harman: The number of appeals heard when there were two judges sitting in the full Court of Appeal is set out in the table. No appeals were heard by a judge sitting alone in the full Court of Appeal.
| December to November each year | Number |
|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 268 |
| 2001–02 | 623 |
| 2002–03 | 726 |
| 2003–04 | 607 |
| 2004–05 | 665 |
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the cases heard by the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in which all proceedings are complete where there were (a) two Appeal Court judges and (b) one Appeal Court judge sitting in each of the last five years for which information is available. [37541]
Ms Harman: A list setting out the names of cases where an application or appeal was heard by two judges sitting in the full Court of Appeal has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. No applications or appeals were heard by a judge sitting alone in the full Court of Appeal.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what guidance she issues about the number of judges required to hear an appeal in the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division); what the (a) maximum and (b) minimum number of judges required is to hear an appeal before that Court; and if she will make a statement. [37542]
Ms Harman: No guidance is issued by the Minister. The governing provisions in section 55, Supreme Court Act 1981 do not set a maximum number of judges; a court consisting of two judges may be duly constituted for the hearing of an appeal against sentence but cannot hear an appeal against conviction, for which a minimum of three judges is required.
Civil Legal Aid (Gravesham)
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the availability of civil legal aid to people living in Gravesham. [37620]
Bridget Prentice:
The Legal Services Commission contracts with service providers throughout England and Wales to provide a range of legal and advice services across different categories of law.
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There are currently six service providers with a contract to undertake civil legal aid work in Gravesham. Service providers in Gravesham may help people who live outside the area, and people who live in Gravesham may visit a service provider in a different area.
Any person residing in England or Wales can access free quality legal advice and information through Community Legal Service Direct. This service is available direct to the public through a telephone line, website and information leaflets.
Departmental Guidance (Evidence/Documentary Access)
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what her policy is with regard to (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department giving evidence to the (i) Scottish Parliament, (ii) National Assembly for Wales and (iii)Northern Ireland Assembly committees; and to what categories of document she gives (A) full access, (B)restricted access and (C) no access to the (1)Scottish Parliament, (2) National Assembly for Wales, (3) Northern Ireland Assembly and (4) House of Commons select committees. [37409]
Bridget Prentice: Requests for the attendance of Ministers or officials to give evidence to the devolved legislatures, and for the provision of information to the assemblies, will be considered on a case by case basis. This consideration will reflect the principles set out in the Cabinet Office guidance Departmental Evidence and Response to Select Committees (July 2005)" and the Department for Constitutional Affairs' Devolution Guidance Note 12, Attendance of UK Ministers and Officials at Committees of the devolved legislatures"; and the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act.
The principles underlying the provision of information to House of Commons Select Committee are set out in Departmental Evidence and Response to Select Committees", particularly sections 4B and 4C.
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