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30 Jan 2006 : Column 151W—continued
Judges (Part-time)
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the part-time judges who sit for 20 days a year; and what factors she took into account when deciding not to update previously published lists of part-time judges. [45356]
Ms Harman:
There are approximately 6,700 fee-paid judicial postholders. It is the Lord Chancellor's policy that fee-paid judicial post holders, in the majority of jurisdictions, are offered and expected to complete a minimum of 15 sitting days a year provided that the work is available. The number of sitting days completed by each fee-paid judicial office holder is managed and recorded locally (within the circuits/regions or by the
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tribunal/judicial heads). There is no central record. Since its creation in 2003, my Department has not published a comprehensive list of fee-paid judges.
Judicial Appointments
Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the judicial appointments made since 1 January. [45444]
Ms Harman: In the period 1 January 2006 to 19 January 2006 my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor made the following appointments:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| District judges (magistrates courts) | 2 |
| Lay members of the Information Tribunal | 15 |
| Members of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission | 20 |
Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs in how many cases the Secretary of State has overturned the advice of officials concerning judicial appointments. [45447]
Ms Harman: None. Officials do not make decisions on judicial appointments.
Jury Service
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of hon. Members selected for jury service since the rules were changed to allow this. [45968]
Ms Harman: The employment of those summoned to jury service is not known. When an MP serves as a juror they do so as a private citizen so exact figures relating to the number of MPs called to jury service cannot be given. However, five MPs are known to have been called to jury service since section 321 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 came into force on 5 April 2004.
Legal Services Ombudsman
John Mann: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the most recent annual report of the Legal Services Ombudsman; and if she will make a statement. [45910]
Bridget Prentice: The Legal Service Ombudsman made an annual report to the Secretary of State which he laid before Parliament on 11 July 2005, as required by Schedule 3(5) of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990.
The Government welcome the continued work of the Legal Services Ombudsman in investigating the complaints handling of the professional bodies. The Government also welcome the progress being made by the professional bodies in the service they provide to consumers, as reflected in the Ombudsman's annual report, and looks forward to further improvements in the future.
Mediation Services
Mr. Cox: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much funding the Government have allocated to mediation and dispute resolution services in each of the last two years. [45423]
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Ms Harman: The Department spent a total of £287,922.59 during the financial year 2003–04 and £375,936.40 during the financial year 2004–05 on activities to promote the use of mediation and other alternatives to the court process.
Mr. Cox: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much public money was spent on Mediation Awareness Week, on 24 to 31 October 2005. [45424]
Ms Harman: The Department has spent a total of £70,707.78 on the Mediation Awareness Campaign. The breakdown is as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Publicity/launch | 66,516.89 |
| Travel and local funding | 4,190.89 |
Small Claims
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the Government's (a) review of the small claims limit and (b) consultation paper on the small claims track will be published. [44939]
Ms Harman: The Government plan to publish a consultation paper on the small claims limit. No date has been set.
Voting Systems
Mr. Laws: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2006 to question reference 41390, when the review of new voting systems began; who the members are of the review group; when their final report will be completed; whether the report will be published; and if she will make a statement. [44860]
Ms Harman: The review of voting systems began in February 2005. The review is being conducted by officials within my Department. Any decisions on any next steps, if necessary, will be taken in due course.
The review group is at official level within the purview of my Department and the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Electoral Policy. The Cabinet Sub-Committee's members are:
HEALTH
Agenda for Change Programme
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effects of the agenda for change programme in each grade of NHS staff in Gravesham constituency. [36953]
Caroline Flint: No assessment has been made of the effect of the agenda for change pay system by constituency. Local implementation of the system is a matter for the relevant local national health service organisations, subject to compliance with nationally agreed guidance.
Air Ambulances
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to make an announcement on the funding of air ambulances. [44139]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 20 January 2006]: Air ambulances are funded by charities. Since 1 April 2002, the cost of clinical staff on air ambulances has been met by the national health service on a continuing basis. It is for NHS trusts to decide whether they provide any additional funding to air ambulance charities.
Ambulance Service (Sussex)
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received on the proposed plans for the restructuring of ambulance services in the Sussex area. [45795]
Caroline Flint [holding answer 26 January 2006]: The consultation for the proposed configuration of national health service ambulance trusts in England is being led by strategic health authorities (SHAs). SHAs will co-ordinate consultation locally and ensure that relevant authorities and interested parties are able to express their views. A full analysis of the responses received by the SHAs and the Department will be undertaken at the end of the consultation. The consultation will conclude on 22 March 2006.
Barts and the London NHS Trust
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings officials from her Department have had with representatives of the Barts and the London NHS trust; when such meetings took place; what discussions took place at such meetings; and if she will make a statement. [43456]
Jane Kennedy: Since September 2005 departmental officials have met with representatives of the Barts and the London national health service trust on the following dates:
These meetings covered a range of general financial and operational issues, but principally the full business case for the trust's Private Finance Initiative project.
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