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17 July 2007 : Column 350W—continued
Students: Expenditure
Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the total cost was to the public purse of student maintenance support to (a) part-time undergraduate and (b) full-time undergraduate students in each of the last three academic years. [149086]
Bill Rammell: The cost to Government of student maintenance support for the last three financial years is shown in the following table. Figures exclude fee grants and fee loans paid to higher education institutions:
| £000 | ||
| Financial year | Full- time maintenance support—student loans in RAB terms( 1) and student grants | Part- time maintenance support |
| (1) The student loans RAB charge estimates the future cost to Government of subsidising and writing off student loans issued in that year. It does not show cash lent to students, which has risen each year since the introduction of student loans. | ||
Prime Minister
Business Council for Britain
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what the remit is of (a) the Business Council for Britain and (b) the Chancellor’s high-level group; [148468]
(2) how often he expects to meet the members of the Business Council for Britain; [148469]
(3) what steps he plans to put in place to ensure that the work of the Business Council for Britain does not overlap with that of the Chancellor’s high-level group; [148470]
(4) whether minutes of the meetings of the Business Council for Britain will be published. [148471]
The Prime Minister: As Chancellor, I announced in the Budget 2006 a commitment to work with the financial sector to establish a high-level group to develop and support a new strategy to promote London as the leading international financial centre. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor will continue this work with the high-level group.
On the Business Council for Britain, which will assist the Government in putting in place the right strategy to promote the long-term health of the UK economy, I refer the hon. Member to my written statement on 28 June 2007, Official Report, column 36WS.
Chequers
Norman Lamb: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 26 October 2006, Official Report, column 2036W, to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald), on Chequers, when he expects the information on guests who have been entertained at Chequers to be ready for publication; and what the reason is for the time taken to do so to date. [149398]
The Prime Minister: The information requested will be published in due course.
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the financial arrangements in place in respect of the continued occupation of Chequers by his predecessor; and how long he expects that occupation to continue. [150256]
The Prime Minister: My predecessor no longer has the use of Chequers.
Committees: National Security
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister what (a) matters were discussed and (b) decisions were taken at the first meeting of the new National Security Committee on 12 July. [150451]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the press briefing given by my spokesman on 12 July 2007. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website at http://pm.gov.uk/output/Page12436.asp and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
Departments: Official Visits
David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister how much was spent on overnight accommodation by civil servants within his office's areas of responsibilities in the last 12 months. [149053]
The Prime Minister: For these purposes, my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Gillian Merron) on 12 July 2007, Official Report, column 1641W.
Departments: Racial Harassment
David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister how many complaints of racial abuse relating to staff for which he is responsible have been (a) investigated and (b) upheld in the last 12 months. [149245]
The Prime Minister: For these purposes, my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Gillian Merron) on 12 July 2007, Official Report, column 1641W.
Members: Surveillance
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister whether it is his policy that no authorisation will be given for the interception of communications in respect of (a) hon. Members and (b) Members of the House of Lords; and if he will make a statement. [150253]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my predecessor, Mr. Blair on 27 November 2006, Official Report, column 330W.
Middle East: Special Envoy
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the (a) United States President, (b) Russian President, (c) UN Secretary-General and (d) presidents of the European Commission and European Council on the appointment of a special envoy on behalf of the Quartet initiative in the Middle East. [148717]
The Prime Minister: I have discussed the middle east peace process with a wide range of world leaders.
Ministerial Duties: Olympic Games
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what the reasons were for locating the Minister of State for the Olympics in the Cabinet Office. [149227]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the press briefings given by my spokesman on 28 June 2007. Transcripts of these are available on the No. 10 website (http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page12386.asp), and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.
Ministers: Official Residences
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the official residences occupied by (a) Ministers and (b) former Ministers. [150255]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the press briefing given by my spokesman on 12 July 2007. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website at http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page12448.asp and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
Ministers: Pay
Mr. Amess: To ask the Prime Minister what the total cost was of (a) ministerial salaries and (b) private offices in each Government Department in 2006-07. [149333]
The Prime Minister: A full list of ministerial salaries is available on the civil service website:
A copy of the list has been placed in the House Library. The information requested in respect of private offices is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Petitions: Internet
Margaret Moran: To ask the Prime Minister what examples of the practice known as astroturfing have been identified in respect of petitions on the No. 10 website. [149450]
The Prime Minister: Criteria on the acceptance and publication of e-petitions is available on the No. 10 website (http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/terms). A copy of this web page has been placed in the Library of the House.
Politics and Government
Mr. Amess: To ask the Prime Minister what (a) primary and (b) delegated legislation regulates machinery of Government changes; what changes have been made to each since enactment; what further amendments are planned; and if he will make a statement. [149334]
The Prime Minister: The main piece of legislation that is relevant to machinery of government changes is the Ministers of the Crown Act 1975, which consolidated the existing legislation in this area.
Since its enactment, the Act has been amended by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 and the Ministry of Overseas Development (Dissolution) Order 1979 (SI 1979/1451).
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