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13 July 2006 : Column 1993W—continued
Polling Stations (Guidance)
Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will provide guidance in polling stations in languages other than English. [84535]
Bridget Prentice: The Electoral Administration Act 2006 will give Returning Officers a power to make prescribed election documents, including guidance in polling stations, available in languages other than English.
Postal Votes
Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she will make it an offence to make a false application for a postal vote. [84536]
Bridget Prentice: The Electoral Administration Act 2006 introduces a new offence of falsely applying for a postal vote. A person found guilty of this offence could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison, or face a fine, or both.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she will introduce a marked register of postal votes received. [84538]
Bridget Prentice: The Electoral Administration Act 2006 provides for a marked register of returned postal votes for future local and national elections. Our intention is that the secondary legislation setting out the detailed arrangements will be implemented in time for elections in 2007.
Deputy Prime Minister
Carbon Neutrality
Mr. Heald: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his (a) official residence, (b) official car and (c) official trips to foreign countries are carbon neutral. [83229]
The Deputy Prime Minister: Since 1 April this year, all flights taken by central Government Ministers and civil servants on official business are being carbon off-set under a scheme being operated by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. For information relating to the environmental performance of my official car, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on Thursday 6 July 2006, Official Report, column 1299W. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the guidance ‘Travel by Ministers’ and the Government's sustainable transport policy.
Admiralty House forms an integral part of the Cabinet Office estate and is included in work currently being undertaken in partnership with the Carbon Trust to consider the improvement of energy management practices, identify likely areas for potential energy savings and provide the Cabinet Office with a systematic approach to managing the risks and opportunities associated with climate change.
Engagements
Mr. Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which countries he plans to visit (a) before the end of 2006 and (b) in the first half of 2007; and if he will make a statement. [82562]
The Deputy Prime Minister: Since January this year I have visited a number of countries including Finland, the United States, Canada and China. I shall continue to undertake a range of international visits on behalf of my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister.
FIFA World Cup
Mr. Hands: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which matches he attended at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany in his ministerial capacity; at what cost to public funds; and with what contributions from third party organisations. [83623]
The Deputy Prime Minister: None.
Ministerial Visits
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on what date he decided to stay with Philip Anschutz at his Colorado ranch during his trip to the US in July 2005. [84175]
The Deputy Prime Minister: During the time the arrangements for the trip were being made.
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what briefings were given to the civil servants in his party during his visit to the US in July 2005 relating to (a) Mr. Philip Anschutz and (b) his business. [84259]
The Deputy Prime Minister: None. Neither I nor the civil servants had any such briefings or private meetings during the trip.
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) agendas and (b) minutes were produced relating to his meetings with Philip Anschutz at his Colorado ranch in July 2005. [84260]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I did not have any meetings with Philip Anschutz during that trip. Officials were present during all informal conversations during my stay there.
Principal Private Secretary
Mr. Heald: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who the Principal Private Secretary is for his new office. [83224]
The Deputy Prime Minister: My Principal Private Secretary has not changed.
Special Advisers
Mr. Heald: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who his special advisers are; what the salary grade of each is; and what the expertise is of each. [83223]
Angela Watkinson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2006, Official Report, columns 788-89W, on his ministerial office and staff, how many special advisers are employed in his private office, broken down by pay band; and what the expected annual cost of these advisers is for 2006-07. [85060]
The Deputy Prime Minister: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and overall costs of special advisers and the number in each pay band. Information for the current financial year will be published in the normal way.
Prime Minister
Chequers (Entertainment)
Mr. Francois: To ask the Prime Minister which guests have been entertained officially at Chequers since 25 June 2005. [83504]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 27 March 2006, Official Report, columns 652-53W.
Deputy Prime Minister
Mr. Amess: To ask the Prime Minister on which occasions the Deputy Prime Minister has been acting Prime Minister in each year since 1997; what the dates were between which he so acted on each occasion; and for what reason in each case. [83231]
The Prime Minister: The Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State deputises for me as required across the range of my responsibilities at home and abroad.
Dorneywood
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Prime Minister who is occupying Dorneywood; and what plans he has to offer it to another Minister. [83233]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 8 June 2006, Official Report, column 825W.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Prime Minister whether he personally uses an e-mail account in the course of his official duties. [83016]
Engagements
Kate Hoey: To ask the Prime Minister when he next plans to visit Northern Ireland. [84173]
The Prime Minister: For security reasons, my future engagements are announced as and when appropriate.
FIFA World Cup
Mr. Hands: To ask the Prime Minister which matches he attended at the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany in his ministerial capacity; at what cost to public funds; and with what contributions from third party organisations. [83622]
Honours Lists
Mr. Amess: To ask the Prime Minister what the procedures are for preparing honours lists; whom he consults prior to advising Her Majesty the Queen on the honours list; what guidance is published about nominating a person to receive an honour; if he will place in the Library a copy of such guidance; and if he will make a statement. [83232]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made on 23 March 2006, Official Report, column 34WS.
The procedures leading to the birthday and new year lists, and guidance for nominating potential recipients of honours, are set out on the Cabinet Office website (www.honours.gov.uk). The guidance and nomination forms are available in the Library of the House.
Ministerial Visits
Anne Main: To ask the Prime Minister on what date he last visited St. Albans on official business. [82811]
The Prime Minister: I last visited St. Albans on official business on 15 November 2000.
Prime Minister's Question Time
Anne Main: To ask the Prime Minister whether (a) he and (b) his officials contact Labour Members who have been successful in the shuffle for Prime Minister’s Question Time to ascertain the nature of their intended supplementary questions. [82889]
Special Advisers
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister which special advisers appointed since 1997 who have since left are (a) employed elsewhere within Government, (b) employed on contract to the Government and (c) employed within organisations which lobby the Government; and what mechanisms exist for monitoring their compliance with regulations pertaining to a cooling-off period with respect to working on relevant portfolios in the private sector. [84257]
The Prime Minister:
“The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers” makes clear that the Business Appointment Rules, as set out in the “Civil Service Management Code”, apply to special advisers for the first two years after leaving office. Applications which are referred to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments will be accounted for in the Committee’s
annual report. Information for 2005-06 will be provided shortly. The detailed information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
US-UK Extradition Treaty
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Prime Minister on what occasions and in what manner he has raised with the President of the United States the fact that the United States has not ratified the US-UK extradition treaty. [84998]
The Prime Minister: It is not the practice of the Government to make public details of all discussions with foreign Governments.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Afghanistan Compact. [84197]
Dr. Howells: The Afghanistan Compact, agreed at the London Conference on Afghanistan in January, established the Joint Co-ordination and Monitoring Board as the mechanism to oversee progress in its implementation. The Board consists of 28 members and is co-chaired by the UN and the Islamic Government of Afghanistan.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the findings were of the International Ministerial Conference on Drug Trafficking Routes from Afghanistan which took place between 26 and 28 June; and if he will make a statement. [84199]
Dr. Howells: The International Ministerial Conference on Drug Trafficking Routes from Afghanistan reconfirmed the importance of the Paris Pact process in further strengthening border control and law enforcement co-operation between countries affected by the Afghan drugs trade. The conclusions highlighted the need for greater international support for counter narcotics work in Afghanistan; firm action to control the diversion of precursor chemicals; increased efforts to tackle drugs related money laundering and the importance of tackling demand. Conference participants also recognised the importance of increasing the exchange of intelligence between regional partners, including through the deployment of law enforcement experts to the new Central Asia Regional Information and Co-ordination Centre, due to be established in Kazakhstan.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with the National Drug Strategy for Afghanistan agreed at the London conference; and if she will make a statement. [83244]
Dr. Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made today on Afghanistan: Counter Narcotics. This includes detail on progress made to date as well as the allocation of UK funding in support of the National Drug Control Strategy.
Arms Controls
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made on increasing the transparency and effectiveness of the UK’s arms controls. [84491]
Dr. Howells: The Government remain committed to ensuring that the United Kingdom’s export control system is as rigorous and effective as any in the world. This commitment is clearly reflected in the Export Control Act (2002), which was the first major legislative development in this area since 1939. We are continuing to take up the challenge of implementing these comprehensive new controls, some in areas which bring in activities not previously subject to control. On greater transparency, we have introduced quarterly reports (which are available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?page name=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page &cid=1089131553823, and provide detailed information on our export licensing decisions. The 2005 annual report on the UK’s Strategic Export Controls will also be published in a new format later this month. These initiatives illustrate our commitment to maintain, and expand, the high standard of transparency and accountability in the area of export controls that we established with the launch of our first annual report in 1997.
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