20 Dec 2005 : Column 2653W
Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 20 December 2005
PRIME MINISTER
Consultants
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister how many civil servants in each grade have left his Office in each of the last three years to join consultancy firms; and which firm each joined. [37361]
The Prime Minister: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I have therefore asked my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Murphy) to reply. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Library of the House.
Meetings
David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 6 December 2005, Official Report, column 1129W, on meetings, if he will list the dates of each meeting he has had with (a) each party and (b) the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland during the last 18 months. [38489]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to my answer of 6 December 2005, Official Report, column 1129W.
Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill
David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 5 December 2005, Official Report, columns 1038–39W, on Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill, on how many occasions he consulted (a) the political parties in Northern Ireland, (b) church representatives, (c) the Police Service of Northern Ireland, (d) victims groups and (e) healthcare professionals before the Government introduced the Bill. [38490]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to my answer of 5 December 2005, Official Report, columns 1038–39W.
Public Appointments
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Prime Minister (1) to what position in Government Departments (a) Mr. Ahmed Thompson and (b) Mr. Inyat Bungawala has been appointed; when the appointment was made; what the remit is; and what process was used in making the appointment; [37993]
(2) what advice the Government have been given by the unit Engaging with the Muslim World concerning (a) the Muslim Brotherhood, (b) the Muslim
20 Dec 2005 : Column 2654W
Association of Britain and (c) Hamas; and what the accountability arrangements for the unit are; [37995]
(3) what the Government's policy is on (a) employing and (b) appointing to public appointments people who may have made anti-semitic statements. [37994]
Paul Goggins: I have been asked to reply.
Neither Mr. Ahmad Thompson nor Mr. Inyat Bungawala has been appointed to any positions within Government Departments.
In the formulation of policy, the Government receives advice and information from a wide range of sources. The Engaging with the Islamic World Group is a part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). Like all departments, groups and teams within the FCO, the Group is accountable to Ministers and works to help achieve the international priorities, aims and objectives set out in the FCO Annual Report.
The Government adheres to the Commission for Public Appointments' code of practice when considering individuals for either employment or public appointments. Individuals from all sections of society and diverse backgrounds have much to offer public bodies. In consulting and working with a diverse range of people we inevitably deal with people with whose views we do agree. When this involves discriminatory statements by an individual decisions are made on a case by case basis, taking account of such factors as severity, context and the time elapsed since they were made.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Anschutz Entertainment Group
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport (1) when (a) Ministers and (b) officials have held meetings with the Anschutz Entertainment Group; where each meeting took place; and which potential sites for casinos were discussed; [38049]
(2) what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials have held in the last four months with casino operators interested in securing licences under the Gambling Act 2005. [38050]
Mr. Caborn:
DCMS Ministers and officials have met representatives of the Anschutz Entertainment Group and Kerzner International, its partner in the development of the Millennium Dome site, as they have representatives of many companies that may be interested in securing one of the 17 new casino licences permitted by the Gambling Act 2005. The meetings that have been identified are listed in table 1. All these meetings took place in the United Kingdom. Where available, minutes of meetings up to July 2005 have been published on the DCMS website, following requests made under the Freedom of Information Act.
20 Dec 2005 : Column 2655W
In addition to the meetings listed in table 1, DCMS Ministers and officials with responsibility for gambling issues have also held meetings with other casino operators or their representatives during the last four months. Relevant meetings that have been identified are
20 Dec 2005 : Column 2656W
listed in table 2. Competitions for the 17 new casino premises are not expected to begin until mid-2007, and the identities of the bidding companies will not be known until then.
BBC Charter
Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it a requirement under BBC Charter renewal that the BBC publish in its annual accounts (a) itemised costs, (b) overheads information and (c) average hourly (i)viewing figures and (ii) costs of production for each channel. [34511]
Tessa Jowell [holding answer 5 December 2005]: The Green Paper published in March this year makes clear that the new Trust will be expected to demand the highest standards of financial transparency from the BBC in its annual reporting to ensure that the BBC complies with best practice in other public and commercial bodies. Further detail on the new governance arrangements will be set out in the forthcoming White Paper.
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had on the BBC Charter Review. [38534]
Tessa Jowell: Throughout the Charter Review process, I have had various discussions with a wide range of stakeholders regarding all aspects of the BBC Charter Review.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |