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19 Apr 2007 : Column 708W—continued

Valuation Office

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]

Mr. Woolas: None.

Constitutional Affairs

Bailiffs: Certification

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.

Census: Freedom of Information

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.

Employment Tribunals Service

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]


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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.

Freedom of Information

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.

Legal Aid Scheme

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:


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Number

2001-02

6,833

2002-03

5,846

2003-04

4,649

2004-05

4,943

2005-06

5,004

2006-07

3,989


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 LSC’s 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.

Culture, Media and Sport

Departments: Official Hospitality

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 Director’s approval. The monetary value of the overall lunch/dinner is subject to a limit of £30 per head.

Gambling: Advertising

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 children’s charity Tacade.

Gambling: Orders and Regulations

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 Department’s 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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19 Apr 2007 : Column 712W
Number Provisions of the G ambling A ct 2005 under which powers to be exercised Description Planned date for laying

1

Sections 7(5), (6), and (7)

To define the categories of casino

May 2007

2

Section 236

To define the four classes of gaming machine (A -D)

May 2007

3

Section 235(3)(f)

To define “domestic computer” and “dual use computer” for the purposes of the definition of a “gaming machine”

June 2007

4

Sections 266(2), 267(2), and Schedule 12, paragraph 10(3)

To prescribe types of gaming clubs which are to fall within the definitions of “members’ club” and “commercial club” for the purposes of Part 12, and which are prescribed for the purposes of fast-track applications for a club gaming or club machine permit

June 2007

5

Section 271(3)

To specify types of unequal chance gaming authorised by club gaming permits

June 2007

6

Section 282(2)(b)

To prescribe the notification fee for an automatic entitlement to two gaming machines in alcohol licensed premises

June 2007

7

Schedule 13, paragraphs 2(e), 7(1), 7(2), 9,11(2)

To prescribe the form of licensed premises gaming machine permits; to prescribe the application fee and various other fees in connection with the permits; to prescribe other matters relating to the permits

June 2007

8

Sections 269(2) and (4)

To specify conditions for exempt gaming in clubs

June 2007

9

Section 279(2)

To specify conditions for exempt gaming in alcohol licensed premises

June 2007

10

Section 78

To prescribe the Secretary of State’s conditions to be attached to operating licences

June 2007

11

Section 235(2)(d)

To set out the minimum time interval for the announcement of results by a lottery ticket vending machine

June 2007

12

Sections 293(2) and (4)

To prescribe conditions for prize gaming

July 2007

13

Schedule 12, paragraphs 2, 3(1), 4, 10 and (4), 11(1), 14, 15(2), 16(2).

To prescribe various matters with respect to applications for club gaming and club machine permits; to prescribe the form of the permits; to prescribe various fees and other matters

July 2007

14

Sections197, 200, and 203

To prescribe the forms and manner for applications for a review of a premises licence

July 2007

15

Section 215

To prescribe the activities for which a temporary use notice may be sought, the form, content and fee for a temporary use notice

July 2007

16

Section 33 1(4)

To specify a country or place to be treated as if it were an EEA State for purposes of section 331(1), prohibiting the advertising of foreign gambling

July 2007

17

Sections 216, 219, 224 and 227

To prescribe the form and content of a temporary use notice, and counter-notice, and to prescribe the fee for a temporary use notice

July 2007

18

Sections 300(4) and (5)

To prescribe conditions for non-commercial equal-chance gaming

July 2007

19

Schedule 11, paragraphs 3 and 4

To prescribe the limits on deductions in respect of costs of prizes and costs incurred in organising exempt lotteries

August 2007

20

Schedule 11, paragraphs 42, 44, 46 and 54

To prescribe the application form, fees and other matters in relation to the registration of non commercial societies

August 2007

21

Section 240

Regulations controlling the operation of gaming machines

August 2007

22

Section 241

Regulations controlling the supply and installation of gaming machines

August 2007

23

Section 235(5)

To make provision for a single piece of apparatus to constitute more than one gaming machine

August 2007

24

Schedule 9, paragraph 2

Regulations concerning the publication of invitations for competing casino applications and the timing of responses

(1)

25

Section 175(4)

To determine the geographical distribution of casino premises licences

(1)

26

Section 172(6)

To define ‘gaming table’ for the purposes of the machine to gaming table ratio in subsections (3) to (5) of section 172.

(1)

27

Sections 358(4) to (6)

Transitional provisions for the Tote and Levy

(1)

(1) Date to be decided.

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