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Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 24 January 2006

PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Staff

Bob Spink: To ask the Prime Minister how many disciplinary actions against civil servants employed in his Office (a) were commenced and (b) resulted in a sanction being applied in each of the last five years. [43489]

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 by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office today.

SCOTLAND

Transport Links (England)

8. Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on improving road and rail links between Scotland and England. [43217]

Mr. Darling: Regular discussions are held with the Scottish Executive on a range of transport matters.

Undersea Pipeline (Norway)

9. Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the merits of an undersea oil and gas pipeline between Scotland and Norway. [43218]

David Cairns: My right hon. Friends have regular discussions on a wide range of issues.

Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act

10. Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish Ministers on the commencement of sections 25 to 29 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990. [43219]

David Cairns: My right hon. Friend has not discussed the commencement of sections 25 to 29 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990, which is a devolved matter, with Scottish Ministers.
 
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Population Decline

11. Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps the Government is taking to address the declining population of Scotland. [43220]

David Cairns: The Government are committed to implementing policies that will improve the social well being and economic prosperity of the people of Scotland. This includes our initiatives on managed migration that help to create economic migration routes into Britain that respond positively and flexibly to the needs of the labour market. The population figures published routinely by the Registrar General for Scotland are projections from past trends and cannot of course take account of future social or economic policy effects on population patterns at national or local level.

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

12. Sir Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposed closure of the Banchory station of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology on climate change research in Scotland. [43221]

David Cairns: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Competitiveness, Department for Trade and Industry, to the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth) on 10 January 2006, Official Report, column 471W.

I am sure that the Natural Environment Research Council will consider all evidence and views on the potential impact of the proposed re-structuring of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, including the proposed closure of the site at Banchory.

Arbuthnott Commission

13. Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received the report of the Arbuthnot commission; and if he will make a statement. [43222]

David Cairns: The Arbuthnott Commission published its report on 19 January. My right hon. Friend welcomed the report and said he would consider carefully the recommendations and respond in due course.

Nuclear Waste

14. John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of Scotland regarding the disposal of nuclear waste. [43223]

Mr. Darling: I have regular discussions with the First Minister on a wide range of issues.

Energy

15. James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister on Scotland's future energy needs. [43224]

Mr. Darling: I have regular discussions with the First Minister on a wide range of issues.
 
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CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Election Turnout

20. Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the estimated turnout at the last election was among voters from socio-economic groups D and E. [44684]

Ms Harman: May 2005 general election turnout in social class DE was 54 per cent. This compares with AB turnout of 71 per cent. The turnout of socio-economic groups D and E was up by 1 per cent. from the 2001 general election (53 per cent.). However this was still the lowest turnout based on social status. Socio-economic groups A and B had the highest turnout (70 per cent.). This was up 2 per cent. on the 2001 general election.

Legal Advice

21. Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will take steps to make it easier for the public to seek redress against lawyers for poor legal advice. [44685]

Bridget Prentice: I share my hon. Friend's concern hat people must be able to seek redress against lawyers where appropriate. In our White Paper The Future of Legal Services: Putting Consumers First" we set out proposals for an independent Office for Legal Complaints. This will be a direct point for all complaints about providers of legal services. Where things go wrong, it will provide full, fair and swift redress to the consumer.

House of Lords

22. James Brokenshire: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress has been made with plans to change the powers of the House of Lords. [44686]

Ms Harman: Our plans include clarifying the powers of the House of Lords to entrench the primacy of this House. We are seeking to set up a joint committee of both Houses to codify the powers of the second Chamber. We hope to be able to do so as soon as possible.

Electoral Registration

23. Ms Abbott: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of levels of electoral registration in London. [44687]

Ms Harman: London has the worst voter registration levels in the country. Young people, people in rented accommodation, black and minority ethnic group hardest to register. Estimate over half a million Londoners not registered to vote.

24. Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress is being made in increasing electoral registration rates in the UK. [44688]

Ms Harman: Electoral Administrators have carried out annual canvass and the results will be published in March when we will see the levels of registration in UK. The Electoral Administration Bill includes a new duty
 
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on electoral registration officers to take all necessary steps to ensure comprehensive registers and a number of other measures to improve registration

29. Jessica Morden: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what her estimate is of the number of 18 to 24-year-olds who are not on the latest electoral register. [44693]

Ms Harman: The Electoral Commission's Understanding Electoral Registration" report provides a comprehensive analysis of registration rates and a detailed analysis of non-registration by age group. The report estimates that on 15 October 2000—the date on which the report's analysis is based—the levels of non-registration among all eligible 18 to 24-year-olds in England and Wales was 16 per cent.

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