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9 May 2006 : Column 183W—continued
Trust Schools
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether he plans (a) to establish a separate team and (b) to employ consultants to promote trust schools. [64683]
Jim Knight: There is a dedicated unit in the Department, comprising existing DfES staff, looking at the overall implementation of the trusts schools policy. We employ a consultancy firm to build and develop relationships between the Department and business across a range of education projects including trust schools. Once appointed the schools commissioner will undertake a wider matching role in relation to trust schools.
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what specific powers will trust schools have in determining and shaping their own curriculum. [67196]
Jim Knight: Trust schools will be required to deliver the National Curriculum in exactly the same way as other maintained schools in England.
The national curriculum sets out what must be taught, not how it is to be taught. Within this statutory framework, trust schools—like other maintained schools—will have considerable freedom to develop and shape a curriculum that responds to the personal learning needs of their children and to introduce new approaches to teaching and learning.
Culture, Media and Sport
Problem Gamblers (Tamworth)
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of problem gamblers in Tamworth constituency. [68354]
Mr. Caborn: The current estimate is that 0.6 per cent. of the adult population of Great Britain are problem gamblers. This figure is drawn from the most recent authoritative research: Kerry Sproston, Bob Erens and
Jim Orford (2000) “Gambling Behaviour in Britain: Results from the British Gambling Prevalence Study” (National Centre for Social Research, June 2000). This research was conducted using a sample of addresses selected at random. It is not possible therefore to give figures by constituency.
Sport England North West
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what role Ministers had in (a) devising and (b) approving the scheme for Sport England North West to distribute lottery funds to firms and organisations to enable them to encourage their employees to be healthier. [68533]
Mr. Caborn [holding answer 8 May 2006]: Ministers had no role in devising or approving the Sport England North West “£1 million Challenge” workplace health initiative. Sport England is a lottery distributor independent from government.
Ministers do, however, have a role in setting broad policy priorities through policy directions. Sport England's lottery policy directions, coupled with their strategic objectives, provide a focus on increasing participation in sport and physical activity.
References to my having been “fully involved in that [decision]” ( Sunday Telegraph 23 April) inaccurately inferred a role in devising or approving initiatives rather than the role I do have in setting the broad policy priorities.
Decisions on regional lottery investment are taken by the Regional Sports Boards, according to identified regional priorities.
The investments through the workplace health initiative form part of a targeted pilot programme in the North West to encourage employers to put more emphasis on sport and physical activity.
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what involvement (a) the Minister for Sport and (b) other Ministers in her Department have had with Sport England North West's pilot project to distribute funds to improve the fitness of employees. [68792]
Mr. Caborn [holding answer 8 May 2006]: The North West Sports Board has been proactive in trying to engage with the private sector in support of our drive to increase participation in sport. The North West Sports Board organised “private sector forums” to discuss sport and physical activity in the workplace with employers and the private sector. In order to attract some of the regions' major business leaders to the forums, I was invited to help host two of these events.
The aim of the first meeting on 6 September was to address:
what would encourage the private sector to invest in sport;
the benefits to industry of a fit and healthy workforce.
There was no discussion on specific programmes or initiatives, but over the following eight months, in the light of this debate, the North West Regional Sports Board devised and developed the workplace health initiative, which was launched in May 2005.
I attended a further meeting of this forum on14 November 2005 where Sport England updated the guests present on the progress that had been made in this area. Ministers had no role in devising or approving the Sport England North West “£1 million Challenge” workplace health initiative.
Decisions on regional lottery investment are taken by the Regional Sports Boards, according to identified regional priorities.
Cabinet Office
Guide to Legislative Procedure
Mr. Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) whether he plans to issue an updated version of the Guide to Legislative Procedure; when it was last updated; whom he consulted prior to publication; and if he will make a statement; [67163]
(2) what assistance (a) his Department and (b) the Legislative Programme Committee gives to departmental Bill teams; and if he will make a statement. [67165]
Hilary Armstrong: The “Guide to Legislative Procedures” is available on the Cabinet Office website and is intended to provide departmental officials with detailed guidance on all aspects of a Bill's preparation and parliamentary passage. A revised version was published by the Legislative Programme Committee Secretariat in the Cabinet Office in October 2004 following consultation with key official stakeholders within Government and parliamentary officials. Small and urgent updates are made from time to time, and another comprehensive revision is planned over the summer recess in time to publish before the beginning of the next session.
The Legislative Programme Secretariat, along with Parliamentary Counsel, works closely with the National School of Government in running a programme of seminars for Bill teams which cover the legislative process from policy formulation to Royal Assent.
Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill
John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations he has received on the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill. [68220]
Hilary Armstrong: As at Thursday 4 May, since the introduction of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill to Parliament on Wednesday 11 January, over 325 representations have been received from the private and public sectors as well as from individuals.
Recruitment
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies spent on recruitment, search and selection agencies in each of the last five years. [68348]
Hilary Armstrong: The information requested isnot held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Defence
Civilian Guard Force
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the civilian guard force have suffered gunshot injuries in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland, (c) England and Wales and (d) while serving overseas in the last 12 months. [67688]
Mr. Des Browne: The term ' civilian guard force' has been taken to include both the Ministry of Defence police, who are authorised to be armed, and the MOD's 'in house' guard services. The MOD's guard services in Germany and in Northern Ireland are authorised to be armed, but in England, Scotland and Wales Ministry of Defence guard service personnel are unarmed.
In the last 12 months one member of the Northern Ireland guard service was involved in a fatal shooting incident. In the same period in England and Wales one member of the Ministry of Defence police sustained a minor gunshot injury during firearms training. There have been no such incidents in Scotland or overseas.
Iran (Military Operations)
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Defence what his assessment is of the advancesin military technology claimed by Iran during recent military operations in the straits of Hormuz; and if he will make a statement. [69164]
Mr. Des Browne [holding answer 8 May 2006]: We continuously assess developments in military technology, including in relation to Iran, in order to draw any lessons that may be relevant to the capability and tactics of our own forces.
Iraq
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the level of infiltration by militias into the Iraqi security forces in Multi-National Division South East. [65443]
Mr. Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Member for Airdrie and Shotts (John Reid) gave on 19 April 2006, Official Report, column 672-73W to the hon. Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey).
Trident
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on the development and production of the Mark 98 Mod 7 Fire Control System for Trident; when the system is due to enter service; what the reason is for the upgrade; and if he will make a statement. [66678]
Mr. Des Browne: To date, the Ministry of Defence has spent £28.4 million on the acquisition of the Mk 98 Mod 7 Fire Control Subsystem update programme. The system is due to enter service in 2010. The Mk 98 Mod 7 programme is being undertaken to avoid equipment obsolescence.
Wales
Dentistry
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the oral answer from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, of 3 May 2006 , Official Report, column 957, on NHS dentistry, if he will clarify the sums spent on NHS dentistry in Wales in 2005-06 and 2006-07. [69484]
Nick Ainger: Pursuant to my oral answer on3 May 2006, the net spend on NHS dentistry in Wales was £81 million in 2004-05 and an estimated£88.2 million for 2005-06. An additional £30 million is being invested in NHS dentistry in 2006-07, bringing the total forecast spend to £118.5 million.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Ascension Island
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to question 63679, on Ascension Island, what the focus of discussions was on each of the seven meetings on issues related to Ascension Island to which reference was made. [66873]
Mr. Hoon [pursuant to the reply, 20 April 2006, Official Report, c. 778W]: The meetings with thehon. Member's constituent and Richard James International were to hear representations from those concerned about UK policy on Ascension Island.
The remaining meetings considered a variety of issues relating to the administration of the Island. The timing reflected the fact of a routine (leave) visit to the UK by the Administrator. Similarly, the Director of Finance paid a call on the Department during a leave visit to the UK.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent by the UK Government on infrastructure and services on Ascension Island in each year since 1997. [66960]
Mr. Hoon: The Government do not contribute directly to infrastructure and services on Ascension Island.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office programme funds have, however, contributed to a number of projects on the Island encompassing environmental issues (with the Department for International Development), economic diversification and prospects to enhance good government including law and order, as follows:
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Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the standard amount of time is that people who have ended their work contract with one of the main users on Ascension Island are given to leave the island. [66961]
Mr. Hoon: The Workmen's Protection (Ascension) Ordinance, Regulations Section 12, Paragraph 3, requires employers to repatriate any worker and their dependants within 30 days of the expiry of their contract of service.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how and where vacancies with the main users on Ascension Island are advertised; and whether (a) (i) current and (i) previous Ascension Island residents and (b) other groups are particularly encouraged to apply. [66962]
Mr. Hoon: We understand that vacancies are advertised as widely as possible, depending on the type and status of the job. Ascension and St. Helenian newspapers, Falkland Island newspapers, local notice boards on all three islands, UK press, Ascension Island Government website, employment agencies and UK job centres may be used.
Posts are equally open to everyone, including people currently working and living on Ascension, and people who have previously worked and lived there.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 14 March 2006, Official Report, column 2047W, on Ascension Island, what plans she has for further expenditure on researching animal, plant and geological features on Ascension Island. [67085]
Mr. Hoon: The Overseas Territories Environment Programme, which is a joint Department for International Development/Foreign and Commonwealth Office fund, has this financial year (2006-07) approved £49,910 for the continuation of the Ascension Environment Information Operations Utility, a project which began last year, and £29,500 for a new project to improve access to Green Mountain National Park.
Burma
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will take steps to place the situation in Burma on the agenda of the UN Security Council; and what assistance the UK Government offer to pro-democracy groups in Burma. [68643]
Mr. McCartney [holding answer 8 May 2006]: We fully support any action in the UN, including in the UN Security Council (UNSC), which would help to promote reform and positive change in Burma. Members of the UNSC last discussed the situation in Burma during informal consultations on 16 December. At present there is no consensus within the UNSC, including among the permanent members, to add Burma to the Council's formal agenda. We remain in regular contact with permanent members of the UNSC on this issue.
UK assistance in Burma includes programmes aimed at building the capacity of civil society groups and individuals who are working to build a democratic society.
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