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3 July 2006 : Column 787W—continued
Departmental Staff
David Simpson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many of his staff are (a) under and (b) over 55 years of age; [77320]
(2) how many people over the age of 55 years have been recruited by his office in each of the last three years. [77321]
The Deputy Prime Minister: The latest available figures are taken at 31 December 2005, for which I refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 26 June 2006, Official Report, column 127W by the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government My hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Angela E. Smith).
Training
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what training courses he has attended in the last 12 months to assist him in his ministerial role. [78224]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I have not attended any training courses in the past 12 months, but rely on my 10 years’ seafaring experience, five years’ experience as a union official, 36 years’ experience as a Member of Parliament and nine years as a Minister in the Cabinet to help me fulfil my role to the best of my ability.
Mr. Hands: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he has received diversity training since becoming a Government Minister. [70122]
The Deputy Prime Minister: New Ministers are offered an induction course following general elections or substantial reshuffles. These are run by the National School of Government in conjunction with the Cabinet Office and Her Majesty's Treasury. I also rely on my 10 years' seafaring experience, five years’ experience as a union official, 36 years' experience as a Member of Parliament and nine years as a Minister in the Cabinet to help me fulfil my role to the best of my ability.
I am fully committed to the principles of diversity. Since coming into Government in 1997, we have brought in the Civil Partnership Act 2004, Disability Discrimination Act 2005 and the Equality Act 2006, as well as the Work and Families Bill which is currently before the House. All of these measures are actively helping to promote diversity throughout our society.
Engagements
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) domestic and (b) foreign trips on official business he has undertaken since May; how much each trip has cost; and how many officials accompanied him on each trip. [81933]
The Deputy Prime Minister: All travel is undertaken in accordance with the “Ministerial Code”, “Travel by Ministers” and the “Civil Service Code”, copies of which are available in the Library.
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 and total costs of all ministerial overseas travel. The list for the current year will be published at the appropriate time. In addition, I have made three official visits within the United Kingdom since May 2006. Expenditure including all trips will be accounted for in the Department's annual report and accounts in the usual way.
I am usually accompanied by a private secretary, plus special adviser and Press Office support, as appropriate.
Ministerial Office and Staff
Mr. Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 22 May 2006, Official Report, column 1385W, on his ministerial office and staff, when he expects the administrative support arrangements to be finalised; if he will place in the Library the details of these arrangements when finalised, together with cost of the changes; and if he will make a statement. [78935]
Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff are employed in his private office; and whether he plans to increase the number. [81028]
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the planned annual staffing (a) budget and (b) level is of his office over the next three years; and how many posts are vacant. [81935]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I am being supported in my duties by a private office and a small secretariat, as well as officials from the Cabinet Office and other Government Departments as relevant to my role. Staffing and expenditure will be accounted for in the usual way.
Ministerial Residences
Mr. Robathan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on how many occasions he used Dorneywood for entertainment at public expense in each year since 1997. [75032]
The Deputy Prime Minister: The position remains as in the answer given to the hon. Member by the then hon. Member for Shipley (Christopher Leslie) on 28 March 2003, Official Report, column 484W. The total cost came to £40.
Mrs. May: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was spent on maintenance of his official residences in 2005-06; and what the market value is of each. [71066]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 21 June 2006, Official Report, column 1866W to the hon. Member for Wimbledon (Stephen Hammond).
The maintenance of Dorneywood is a matter for the Dorneywood Trust, whose accounts are filed with the Charity Commission as is required. There is no cost to the public purse for the maintenance of Dorneywood.
Northern Ireland
“A Shared Future”
Dr. Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the principles set out in “A Shared Future” were applied in (a) the Children and Young People Funding Package and (b) the rationalisation plans recently agreed by the South Eastern Education and Library Board. [77904]
Maria Eagle: The information is as follows:
(a) The principles of “A Shared Future” were applied in C&YPFP projects by: encouraging cross-sectoral clustering through extended schools; extending pre-school education; youth outreach to marginalized groups; and through cross-sectoral and cross-community arrangements in child protection.
(b) The rationalisation plans recently published by the SEELB, identify how the SEELB intends to manage its estate taking account of falling pupil numbers. The SEELB needs to develop these plans and any change in the provision of the schools involved will require the publication of a development proposal. As part of this process, the SEELB will be expected to take into account the principles set out in a shared future.
Academic Selection
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Department of Education in Northern Ireland has commissioned opinion research to ascertain the views of the people of Northern Ireland on academic selection; and if he will make a statement. [62608]
Maria Eagle: In May and June of 2002, a number of questions were included in the Northern Ireland Omnibus Survey to ascertain public opinion on the key recommendations of the Post Primary Review Body (the Burns Report), as part of the multi-stranded consultation exercise. These recommendations included ending the Transfer Test; ending academic selection, the development of a Pupil Profile for all pupils, common admissions criteria for all schools and the development of collegiates. The findings of the research were published in October 2002 and are available on the Department of Education's website at www.deni.gov.uk. Responses to the main questions asked were as follows:
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Department of Education in Northern Ireland has carried out an assessment of the findings of opinion research studies carried out by external organisations into the views of the people of Northern Ireland on academic selection as a criteria for admission to post-primary schools. [62610]
Maria Eagle:
The Department of Education has not carried out an assessment of the findings of opinion research studies on academic selection carried out by
external organisations. A number of consultation exercises have been carried out during the review of post-primary education to give the public and interested organisations the opportunity to make their views known and the range of views expressed is taken into account by the Government when making decisions.
Arioso Project
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) schools and (b) children have been involved in the Arioso project in Northern Ireland. [62497]
Maria Eagle: The Department is not aware of any schools or pupils in Northern Ireland taking part in this project.
Charities (Funding)
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many charities’ bank accounts are under investigation in Northern Ireland for possible money laundering linked to paramilitary organisations. [78732]
Paul Goggins: It is Government policy not to disclose any information regarding live police investigations for fear of prejudicing the judicial process.
Children (Strangford)
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2006, Official Report, column 1146W, on children (Strangford), if he will break down the number by electoral ward. [80209]
Maria Eagle: The ward of residence of the children is as follows:
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