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5 Jun 2006 : Column 114W—continued
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/mws_837514.pdf
Water companies also have drought plans which set out how they will meet their duties to supply adequate quantities of wholesome water during drought periods with as little recourse as possible to drought orders and permits. The plans contain various triggers to initiate a range of actions at differing stages depending on the severity of a drought.
Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to assess the merits of (a) cloud seeding and (b) desalination as ways of meeting the UK water supply requirements. [74182]
Ian Pearson: Water companies are responsible for considering the need for increasing provision of water in fulfilment of their duties to maintain adequate supplies of water. The companies' plans for meeting demand were set out in their 25 year water resources plans, prepared in 2004. The Environment Agency reported on those plans in “Maintaining Water Supply”, which is available from its website.
No water company has plans to seed clouds in its water resources plan. The merits of desalination on a significant scale are currently the subject of a public inquiry following Thames Water's appeal against refusal of planning permission for a plant in the Thames estuary.
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of Thames Water's spending on the renewal of its water distribution network. [72852]
Ian Pearson: The Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) sets price limits for water companies. In the price limits for 2005-10, Thames Water was allowed £279 million to renew its water infrastructure. This will enable Thames to increase activity to maintain its pipes, including the renewal of about 1,400 km of water distribution mains.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what schemes are being promoted by his Department to provide (a) low cost water butts and (b) other water use reduction devices in areas of England subject to hosepipe bans. [69380]
Ian Pearson: Under the Water Industry Act 1991, water companies have a duty to promote the efficient use of water by their customers. As part of the activities they undertake to meet this duty, many water companies offer subsidised water butts to customers as well as other water saving devices, such as those that lower toilet flush volumes. This duty is exercised regardless of whether a hosepipe ban is in place, though publicity advertising the availability of water saving devices is likely to be increased during these periods.
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the impact of water saving regimes under drought orders in London and the South East on incoming tourism. [73637]
Ian Pearson: I have had no such discussions with the Secretary of State of Culture, Media and Sport; however drought orders are unlikely to impact to any significant extent on tourism in London and the South-East.
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what new water-saving measures have been introduced in departmental offices in London and the South East since 1 January. [73627]
Ian Pearson:
No specific new measures have been introduced within Defra offices in London and the South East since 1 January. However, water consumption at all sites is monitored on a regular basis and compared with targets set out in the framework for
Sustainable Development on the Government Estate (SDiG). Leaks and metering problems are taken up with suppliers and appropriate efficiency measures are put in place to deal with other causes of high consumption.
All refurbishment projects involving Defra offices have included water saving measures. Waterless urinal systems and low flush cisterns have been successfully installed at a number of sites to provide consistent savings in water consumption. Percussion or spray taps or taps with sensors are also delivering significant savings.
These initiatives will continue to be extended to other sites across the estate. Other issues under consideration are the sub-metering of areas where there is a high water use, for example in catering sites and crèches.
As part of the World Environment Day campaign, water hogs were made available for use within Defra sites and also for staff to take home.
Defra's published responses to SDiG targets are available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/sdstrategy/operations/partc.htm.
Written Answers to Questions
Monday 5 June 2006
Prime Minister
Bilateral Discussions
Mr. Hands: To ask the Prime Minister when he last held bilateral discussions with the Prime Minister of (a) Norway and (b) Belgium. [73628]
The Prime Minister: I last met the Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, for bilateral discussions in London in October 2005. I last met the Belgian Prime Minister, Guy Verhofstadt, for bilateral discussions in London in May 2004. We have talked on the telephone and met at European councils in the meantime.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Prime Minister when he last held bilateral discussions with the Prime Minister of (a) Latvia and (b) Canada. [74336]
The Prime Minister: I last met the Prime Minister of Latvia, Aigars Kalvitis, for bilateral discussions in December 2005. I have not held bilateral discussions with the new Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper. We have, however, spoken on the telephone.
Chevening
Mr. Brady: To ask the Prime Minister (1) which Ministers have had use of the residence of Chevening since 7 May; and if he will make a statement; [74300]
(2) whether he plans to make (a) the Chevening house and estate and (b) another similar facility available to the Foreign Secretary for the purposes of entertaining official overseas guests. [74492]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the press briefing given by my official spokesman on 25 May, a copy of which is available on the No. 10 website.
Committee on Standards in Public Life
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister when he last met the Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and if he will make a statement. [73864]
The Prime Minister: The position is as set out by the Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life in his evidence to the Public Administration Select Committee on 27 April.
Congressional Medal
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister whether he intends to collect his Congressional Medal before he leaves office. [74639]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Louth and Horncastle (Sir Peter Tapsell) at Prime Minister's questions on 14 December 2005, Official Report, columns 1301-02.
Darfur
Mr. Drew: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the outcome of his discussions with Alpha Konare, Chair of the African Union, on how to enhance peace-keeping operations in Darfur and help deliver the recently signed peace agreement. [74004]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the press conference I held with Alpha Konare on 23 May, and to the joint statement made after our discussions. Copies of these are available on the No. 10 website.
Dorneywood
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister what the cost to the public purse was of security at Dorneywood for the most recent year for which figures are available. [73878]
The Prime Minister: It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on security matters.
Energy Review
Lynne Jones: To ask the Prime Minister whether the first draft of the Energy Review received by him the day before his speech to the Confederation of British Industry on 16 May included an assessment of the total life-cycle carbon costs of nuclear power. [74692]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 23 May 2006, Official Report, column 1624W.
Expenditure
Chris Huhne: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the 10 non-public sector entities that have received the largest total sum of payments from his Office in each of the last five years. [71776]
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 the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, North (Edward Miliband) today.
House of Lords Nominations
Mr. Mudie: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those nominated by the public to the House of Lords Appointments Commission as non-party-political peers since the Commission was established; and which of those nominated were selected. [74538]
The Prime Minister: I understand that since the House of Lords Appointments Commission was established in 2000, it has received approximately 4,090 nominations from members of the public for non-party-political peerages. The Commission has undertaken to treat all information supplied by nominees in confidence. This also accords with the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998.
A list of those selected for appointments is available on the Commission's website. A copy has also been placed in the Library of the House.
Illegal Immigrants
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister how many illegal immigrants have been discovered to be employed by his Office in each year since 2001; in what capacities they were employed; how many were discovered as part of a criminal investigation; and what the nature of the charges brought against them were. [73959]
Ministerial Visits
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Prime Minister if he will visit Shrewsbury in summer 2006 to attend Shrewsbury Flower Show. [74765]
The Prime Minister: I have no current plans to do so.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Prime Minister how many times he has visited China since becoming Prime Minister. [73551]
The Prime Minister: Since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of these lists are available in the Library of the House. Information on the number of officials accompanying Ministers on overseas visits is included in the list. All Ministers’ travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in chapter 10 of the ministerial code, and the accompanying guidance document, “Travel by Ministers”. Information for the year 2005-06 will be published as soon as it is ready.
Mr. Hands: To ask the Prime Minister when he next plans to visit (a) Nigeria and (b) South Africa. [73629]
The Prime Minister: I have no current plans to do so.
David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister what discounts are available in relation to hotel accommodation used by (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in his Office. [69248]
The Prime Minister: All travel by civil servants and special advisers is conducted in accordance with Section 8,2 of the Civil Service Management Code, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
Official Residences
Mr. Heald: To ask the Prime Minister what the name is of the official residence recently vacated by the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett). [75282]
The Prime Minister: Government House, Pimlico.
Mr. Heald: To ask the Prime Minister what the (a) notional market rent, (b) estimated capital value and (c) total annual cost of (i) rent, (ii) security, (iii) utilities, (iv) facilities management and (v) general maintenance was for (A) Flat 1 Admiralty House, (B) Flat 2 Admiralty House, (C) Flat 3 Admiralty House, (D) Government House in Pimlico, (E) No. 1 Carlton Gardens, (F) Bute House, (G) the Chancellor of the Exchequer's residence in Downing street and (H) his residence in Downing street in the last year for which figures are available. [75283]
The Prime Minister: Expenditure on official residences is a matter for the relevant Ministers' Departments.
The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. For the cost of routine maintenance on the flat above 11 Downing street I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 10 March 2006, Official Report, column 1836-37W.
Pensions
David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister how many and what percentage of staff in his Department are making additional voluntary contributions to their pension. [73043]
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 right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Hilary Armstrong) on 1 June (73047).
Sovereign Strategy
Chris Huhne: To ask the Prime Minister on what dates over the last 12 months (a) he and (b) his officials have met a representative of Sovereign Strategy. [72345]
The Prime Minister: My officials and I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a wide range of subjects. Information relating to internal meetings, discussion and advice is not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.
Culture, Media and Sport
Antiquities (Illegal Trading)
10. Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures she is taking to tackle the illicit international trade in antiquities, with particular reference to the London art market. [74926]
Mr. Lammy: Since 2000, with support from other Government Departments, the police, HM Revenue and Customs, the art trade and the museums, libraries and archives communities, we have introduced a series of measures to combat the illicit trade in antiquities, in particular:
The Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act, which makes it illegal to deal in tainted cultural property; and
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