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9 Oct 2006 : Column 99W—continued
Social Enterprise
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if she will make a statement on Government support for social enterprise. [89178]
Edward Miliband: The Government have introduced a number of measures to enable social enterprises to prosper. In 2002 a strategy for social enterprise was published to help create a dynamic and sustainable social enterprise sector and to tackle barriers to growth of the sector.
The strategy has led to a number of significant developments for the sector, including the creation of the community interest company legal form, funding for the establishment of the social enterprise coalition and improvements to the financing environment, including the multi-million pound Futurebuilders Fund.
However, we have further to go in creating an environment in which social enterprises thrive. The next steps will be outlined in the Social Enterprise Action Plan, which will be published later this year.
Social Exclusion Unit
Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the work programme is of the Social Exclusion Unit and what work the Social Exclusion Unit has undertaken with the Strategy Unit. [91167]
Hilary Armstrong [holding answer 18 September 2006]: The Social Exclusion Taskforce, which comprises staff both from the former Social Exclusion Unit and the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, has been supporting me in developing ‘Reaching Out: An Action Plan on Social Exclusion’ which was published on 11 September. The Social Exclusion Taskforce is now following up the actions set out in that plan.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants worked in the Social Exclusion Unit in each year since 1997; and what the budget was of the Social Exclusion Unit in each year. [91168]
Hilary Armstrong [holding answer 18 September 2006]: Staff figures for civil servants only are not available for the Social Exclusion Unit. However, total headcount, which includes seconded and casual staff, is shown in the table.
| Total headcount | |
| Note: All figures include staff on loan and secondment | |
For details of the Social Exclusion Unit's expenditure since 1997, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Local Government (Mr. Woolas), on 8 May 2006, Official Report, column 94W.
House of Commons Commission
Commons Knowledge
Mr. Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many copies of “Commons Knowledge” are produced each week; at what cost; how (a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public can (i) obtain copies and (ii) be added to a circulation list; and if he will make a statement. [89676]
Nick Harvey: “Commons Knowledge” is a weekly newsletter setting out the forthcoming business of the House and is primarily designed for visitors to Parliament. It was initiated in response to a recommendation of the Modernisation Committee and endorsed by the House of Commons Commission.
Approximately 450 copies are produced each week, at a cost of £94 (or 21p per copy), and distributed to key public access locations such as Central Lobby, the Public Gallery, the Committee Corridor, the Parliamentary Bookshop and the Press Gallery. Members of the public can also access an electronic version which is published on the parliamentary website in PDF format. In addition, users of the website can subscribe to an email alert service that will notify them of changes to selected aspects of the website, including “Commons Knowledge”.
From the start of the next Session, “Commons Knowledge” will change its name to “This Week’s Business” and copies will be made available from the Vote Office for the convenience of Members.
House Staff
Sarah Teather:
To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many staff were employed by the
House in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) ethnicity and (b) sex. [87631]
Nick Harvey: The numbers of staff by ethnicity and sex at 31 March in each year was as follows:
| Ethnicity | Sex | |||||||
| Total | White | Asian | Black | Other | Unknown | Male | Female | |
Network Security
Margaret Moran: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many attempts have been made to breach the security of the Parliamentary Communications Directorate’s network in each of the last five years; and how many of these were successful. [90110]
Nick Harvey: As a matter of policy the House authorities (and Commission) do not comment on specific matters relating to ICT security.
Parliamentary Papers
Mr. Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will arrange for forthcoming House of Lords papers to be added to the Vote Office new papers list on the parliamentary intranet; and if he will make a statement. [89677]
Nick Harvey: I understand that the Deliverer of the Vote will do so from the beginning of the new Session of Parliament on 15 November 2006.
Recycling
Andrew Selous: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what steps the House authorities are taking to ensure that printer cartridges from Parliamentary Information and Communications Technology supplied printers can be easily recycled by hon. Members and staff. [89920]
Nick Harvey: The unified Parliamentary ICT service (PICT) came into existence in January 2006 and provides services to both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. All printers supplied by PICT have cartridges that can be recycled.
Members and their staff can return their empty printer cartridges for recycling in the return envelopes supplied with new cartridges. In addition the Department of the Serjeant at Arms arranges printer and toner cartridge recycling through the Parcel Service Office (PSO) who collect cartridges from offices. Customers are advised of this service when their cartridges are delivered.
Leader of the House
Consolidation Bills
Mr. Amess: To ask the Leader of the House which consolidation Bills (a) have been introduced and (b) are still to be introduced during the current Session; and if he will make a statement. [89779]
Mr. Straw: The following consolidation Bills have been introduced for the 2005-06 Session:
National Health Service Bill
National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Bill
National Health Service (Wales) Bill
Parliamentary Costs Bill
Wireless Telegraphy Bill.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Leader of the House which consolidation Bills were introduced in each session since 1976; and which in each year received Royal Assent. [89780]
Mr. Straw: The Bills which have been reported from the Joint Committee on Consolidation, or which have been introduced into the Commons, under the procedures laid down in Standing Orders Nos. 140 and 58, in each Session since 1975-76 are listed in the following table.
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