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16 Jan 2006 : Column 958W—continued

Violent Computer Games

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport if she will commission research on the impact of violent computer games on individuals. [41520]

 
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James Purnell: We commissioned research last year to determine whether there was any substance to allegations of a link between playing violent computer games and violent behaviour in real life. We will be publishing the results of the research shortly.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Brixham Council Proposal

Mr. Steen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he received draft proposals from Torbay council for the establishment of a town council for Brixham; if he will expedite his confirmation of receipt of the proposals to enable the town council to be established before 1 April 2007; and if he will make a statement. [40636]

Mr. Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received proposals from Torbay council for the establishment of a town council for Brixham on 1 December 2005. Officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister wrote to Torbay council confirming receipt of their recommendation on 2 December 2005.

For administrative and financial purposes new parishes are established on 1 April in any year. The earliest date that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to establish a town council for Brixham is 1 April 2007.

Business Rates (London)

Mr. Hands: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the change in the amount raised through business rates was in each London borough in 2004–05 compared to the previous year. [41603]

Mr. Woolas: Details of the amount raised through business rates in each London borough in 2003–04 and 2004–05 are published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at: http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/ctax/data/cp045tab4.xls

Correspondence

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Manchester Central sent on 16 August 2005, reference number FIRE01002/SKL. [42431]

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no record of receiving my hon. Friend's letter of 16 August 2005. However, I have replied to my hon. Friends letter of 30 August on 9 January, which quotes the same reference number.

Departmental Estate

Pete Wishart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the former (a) buildings and (b) land of (i) his Department and (ii) (A) non-departmental public bodies, (B) agencies and (C) independent statutory bodies for which his Department is responsible which have been sold since 7 May 1997; what the sale price of each (1) was at the time of sale and (2) is at current prices; and whether the money accrued was (x) retained by his Department and (y) claimed by the Treasury. [40142]

 
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Mr. Woolas: Since the formation of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in May 2002 no land or buildings for which it or its agencies are responsible have been sold. Information relating to non-departmental public bodies and independent statutory bodies is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

This answer does not include land and buildings occupied by Government offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Departmental Expenditure

Mr. Weir: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the annual expenditure on (a) fixtures and fittings, (b) general office expenses and (c) office equipment was of his (i) Department and (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) Executive agency and (C)other public body for which his Department is responsible in (1) Scotland, (2) Wales, (3) each English region and (4) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06 in each case. [40105]

Mr. Woolas: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no properties in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Departmental Jobs (Regional Distribution)

Mr. Weir: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many and what percentage of jobs in (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which his Department is responsible are located in (A)England, excluding Greater London and (B) Greater London. [39861]

Jim Fitzpatrick: The figures on permanent staff (FTE basis) in Departments and agencies are published in Table D of Civil Service Statistics. This information is available on the Cabinet Office Statistics website at:

http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_of_the_civil_ service/statistics/civil_service_statistics/index.asp

Information on staff in non-departmental public bodies on a regional basis is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Targets

Mr. Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with stakeholders about implementation of each of the targets in his Department's strategic priority (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four and (e) five. [41015]

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister works in partnership with all our delivery partners and stakeholders to deliver on our strategic priorities and public service agreement targets, and hold frequent discussions with them at the national, regional and local level.
 
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Mr. Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the progress of each of the targets in his Department's Strategic Priority (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four and (e) five. [41019]

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister publishes an assessment of progress against our priorities and public service agreement targets in our annual and autumn performance reports. The latest assessment published was in the autumn performance report published in December 2005 (Cmd. 6722). The next assessment will be given in the annual report for 2005–06, due to be published in spring 2006.

Engagements

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 254W on engagements, if he will list the meetings he had while in (a) Worthing and (b) Brighton; and whom he met in each case. [41916]

Jim Fitzpatrick: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister visited Worthing and Brighton as part of a regional visit to the South Coast on 17 December 2005. In Worthing, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister had a meeting to discuss regeneration initiatives in Shoreham and Worthing, at which council representatives and others involved in local regeneration projects were present.

In Brighton, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister visited the Brighton Jubilee Library, where he discussed economic development in the city. Representatives from the local council, Local Strategic Partnership, Economic Partnership and Regional Development Agency were present. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister also attended the Brighton and Hove Albion v. Hull City football match. Also present were a number of the directors of both clubs and their guests.

Home Information Packs

Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department will provide support for independents in the field of estate agents, surveyors and solicitors as home information packs become required by law. [41469]

Yvette Cooper: The Government are providing information, advice and other supporting material to all stakeholders, including the development and launch of a dedicated website targeting core stakeholder groups in spring 2006. This support will supplement industry initiatives including business solutions designed to meet the particular needs of small independent businesses.

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