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19 Apr 2007 : Column 708Wcontinued
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans the Valuation Office Agency has to amend the type or number of (a) dwelling house and (b) value significant codes. [128544]
Peter Bottomley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what guidance she has issued on the disclosure by local authorities of the terms of contracts with bailiffs for the enforcement of debt and collection of arrears under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 relating to (a) greater transparency and (b) specific requests. [130860]
Vera Baird: My Department has not issued any guidance to local authorities on this issue.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many applications for Freedom of Information Act access to extracts from the 1911 Census were received by the National Archives (a) between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2006 and (b) between 1 January and 31 March 2007; and how many of those applications were successful in each period. [131973]
Vera Baird: The National Archives received 264 requests for information from the 1911 census under the Freedom of Information Act between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2006, none of which were successful and 456 requests for information from the 1911 census under the Freedom of Information Act between 1 January 2007 and 31 March 2007 of which 424 have been successful.
Philip Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights of the practice of employment tribunals in discrimination cases of placing the burden of proof on employers to prove there has been no breach of the principle of equal treatment. [125887]
Vera Baird: The UK introduced provisions to reverse the burden of proof in domestic discrimination cases (where a prima facie case has been established) to implement its obligations under the Burden of Proof Directive (97/80/EC), as extended to the UK by Directive (98/52/EC), the Race Directive (2000/43/EC) and the Framework Directive (2000/78/EC). These provisions apply only when a claimant has proved, at a hearing, facts from which the tribunal or court could conclude that an act of discrimination had taken place. In such circumstances, the respondent is required to prove that he did not commit an unlawful act.
The UK implemented the above provisions with respect to sex discrimination cases by way of the Sex Discrimination (Indirect Discrimination and Burden of Proof) Regulations 2001 SI 2001/2660. The provisions with respect to Race Discrimination were implemented by means of the Race Relations Act 1976 (Amendment) Regulations 2003 SI 2003/1626 (regs. 41 and 43).
The Government informed Parliament at the time that each set of regulations was compatible with the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms as incorporated in the Human Rights Act 1998.
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2007, Official Report, columns 113-14W, on freedom of information, if she will publish in full all responses to the consultation on the draft Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2007; and when her Department expects to make public the responses to the consultation. [130843]
Vera Baird: On 29 March 2007 my Department issued a supplementary paper to the consultation on draft Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2007. Responses to the supplementary paper and any further comments on the draft regulations contained in the consultation paper are invited by 21 June 2007. We will publish the responses to both papers within three months of this date.
Anne Milton: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people had charges levied by the Legal Services Commission on their property in respect of legal aid they had received in each year since 2001; and how frequently such people were sent statements of the initial value of the charge and the interest accrued. [131992]
Vera Baird: The number of new registrations of land charges securing civil debts recorded by the Legal Services Commission since 2001 are:
Number | |
Owing to changes to the system for managing the production of statutory charge statements, the Commission is unable to provide information on their frequency pre-2003. From September 2004, the Commission has, where possible, sent clients an automated statement annually.
In line with the LSCs corporate target for 2006-07, by 31 March 2007 all customers that had an LSC registered charge against their property had been sent a statement informing them of their liability.
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures are in place to limit the amount of money spent on alcohol for hospitality purposes by her Department. [132206]
Mr. Lammy: In the Department for Culture, Media and Sport the Gifts and Hospitality Guidance stipulates that any claims for alcoholic beverages with lunch/dinner must be limited to a half a bottle of wine per person. Claims for alcoholic drinks at any other time must have the Group Directors approval. The monetary value of the overall lunch/dinner is subject to a limit of £30 per head.
Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department has allocated to spending on advertising the dangers of problem gambling ahead of the implementation of the Gambling Act 2005. [131974]
Mr. Caborn: The Responsibility in Gambling Trust is currently developing a strategy for a national public awareness campaign to include signposting to help and information on responsible gambling.
The Trust has already funded an awareness campaign aimed at young people. The campaign is currently being rolled out to schools and youth clubs through childrens charity Tacade.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the Orders under the Gambling Act 2005 that have yet to be laid before Parliament; and what her Departments planned timetable is for doing so. [132229]
Mr. Caborn: The following table sets out which subordinate legislation making powers the Department currently expects to be exercised under the Gambling Act 2005, and the provisional dates by which relevant Statutory Instruments are currently expected to be laid.
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