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19 Jan 2006 : Column 1443W—continued
Departmental Expenditure
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [40096]
Hilary Benn: DFID spent the amounts detailed in the UK as per the following table:
Information on these items of expenditure in overseas offices is not held centrally and cannot be obtained without incurring a disproportionate cost.
DFID is responsible for CDC (formerly Commonwealth Development Corporation), a self-financing public corporation, based in London. The relevant figures for CDC are:
| Fixtures and fittings | Office equipment | General office expenses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 219,400 | 5,400 | 301,900 |
| 2004 | 123,100 | 2,400 | 164,300 |
| 2005 (Forecast) | 99,000 | 7,000 | 58,000 |
| 2006 (Budget) | 100,000 | 8,000 | 69,000 |
Departmental Vehicles
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many cars are (a) owned and (b) leased by his Department; what models the cars are; what type of petrol each model requires; and what the fuel efficiency is of each model. [41360]
Mr. Thomas: DFID leases two ministerial cars from the Government Car Service. For vehicles provided to Government Departments by the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA), my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, has asked the chief executive of the GCDA to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
The permanent secretary's car is leased, details as follows:
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Information on vehicles held in overseas offices is not held centrally and cannot be obtained without incurring a disproportionate cost.
Zimbabwe
Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what discussions his Department has had with UN Habitat about temporary housing schemes for people whose homes were destroyed in land clearance in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement; [41942]
(2) what progress is being made in providing emergency shelter for people whose homes were lost in land clearance in Zimbabwe. [41943]
Mr. Thomas: DFID is in constant dialogue with the United Nations Country Team on the response to the land clearance (Operation Murambatsvina). DFID stands ready to support the efforts of the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN Habitat) to provide shelter for those affected by land clearance (Operation Murambatsvina) in Zimbabwe, should that organisation be able to implement transparent, equitable and cost-effective ways of doing so.
The Government of Zimbabwe has declared that the transitional shelter prototype designed by UN Habitat is sub-standard and has ordered that these shelters be demolished. UN Habitat is now involved in discussions with the Government of Zimbabwe over an acceptable form of shelter.
Meanwhile, there are serious concerns over the allocation of shelter. It is feared that the Government of Zimbabwe will prioritise civil servants, government supporters or those who can afford to pay for shelter over those who are in greatest need.
DFID has provided more than £1 million to the humanitarian response to Operation Murambatsvina. Further funds are being channelled through non-governmental organisations that are seeking creative ways to respond to the resulting problems of homelessness and overcrowding.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Audible Fire Alarms
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of the premises occupied by her Department is fitted with audible fire alarms. [42885]
Mr. Lammy: All buildings occupied by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are fitted with audible fire alarms.
Departmental Estate (Castle Point)
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) land and (b) property is owned by her Department in Castle Point. [42903]
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Mr. Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not own (a) land or (b) property in Castle Point.
Departmental IT Equipment
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) laptops and (b) mobile phones her Department bought in each year since 1997; and what the cost of each category of equipment was in each year. [41275]
Mr. Lammy: My Department does not record this information on a year-by-year basis.
The cost of each category in each year could be collated only at disproportionate cost.
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department has spent on IT systems in each year since 1997; what the purpose of each system is; what the out-turn against planned expenditure of each system was; and what the (a) planned and (b) actual date of completion was of each system. [41316]
Mr. Lammy: My Department does not hold the information in the format requested. The question could be answered only at disproportionate costs.
Departmental Targets
Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) targets, (b) advice and (c) guidance her Department has given to Executive agencies that fall under the remit of her Department on the reorganisation of their administrative functions on a regional basis; and if she will make a statement. [41645]
Mr. Lammy: None, since the eight parks managed by the Department's only agency, the Royal Parks, are all in London.
Digital Television (Wales)
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what percentage of television viewers in (a) Monmouthshire and (b) Wales have access to freeview signals; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that freeview access will be available in each area immediately following analogue switch-off; [42451]
(2) what steps are being taken to widen access to freeview in (a) Monmouth and (b) Monmouthshire. [42453]
James Purnell: Digital Switchover will enable digital terrestrial coverage to match the current 98.5 per cent. analogue level. Switchover for the HTV Wales region will happen in the second half of 2009.
Freeview signals are currently available to an estimated 35.7 per cent. of households in the Monmouth constituency. No equivalent figures are available for counties, although for Wales as a whole, 57 per cent. of households are predicted to be in areas served by the full range of digital terrestrial services.
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The Government have confirmed the regional timetable for the switchover to digital television and announced details of a support scheme to help the most vulnerable households to make the switch.
Digital UK, an independent, not-for-profit company set up by the broadcasters, commercial multiplex operators and involving the supply chain digital switchover will co-ordinate the implementation of digital switchover and ensure that consumers have timely and accurate information about the switch.
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