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16 Oct 2007 : Column 956W—continued
Solicitors Regulation Authority
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to the public purse was of the Solicitors Regulation Authority in the latest period for which figures are available. [157849]
Bridget Prentice: The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is funded by the solicitors’ profession through the Law Society and incurs no cost to the public purse.
Some public funding is given, however, to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) which, although independent of both the SRA and the Law Society, is
an integral element of the profession’s disciplinary arrangements. This funding amounted to £55,569.47 in the financial year from April 2006 to March 2007; and £49,259.49 in the calendar year from January to September 2007. These figures include spends on SDT fees, social security contributions and travel and subsistence payments.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the full membership of the Solicitors Regulation Authority is; and when members were appointed. [157850]
Bridget Prentice: The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) board consists of 16 members—nine solicitors (one of whom chairs the board) and seven lay people. Board members were appointed for a term of four years from 1 January 2006.
The current board members are:
Peter Williamson (Chair); Alan Baker; Yvonne Brown; Duncan Gear; Sally Irvine; Alan Kershaw; Sir Stephen Lander; Andrew Long; Penelope Owston; Sally Ruthen; Edward Solomons; Dr. Jonathan Spencer; John Stoker; Richard Taylor; Stephen Walzer; and Stephen Whittle.
Full details about the board members can be found on the SRA’s website.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what representations he has received about the effectiveness of the Solicitors Regulation Authority. [157851]
Bridget Prentice: I am not aware of any formal representations received by this Department about the effectiveness of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). However, several Members of Parliament have explicitly endorsed the SRA’s efficiency and effectiveness in handling specific regulatory issues. In addition, this Department routinely receives general correspondence from Members of Parliament and from the public concerning the SRA.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he last met Mr. Antony Townsend, Chief Executive Officer of the Solicitors Regulation Authority. [157852]
Bridget Prentice: The Secretary of State has not met with Antony Townsend in his capacity as Chief Executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Mr. Townsend has, however, met with Ministers on several occasions since his appointment. I hosted the most recent of these meetings on 10 July 2007.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what representations he has received from ethnic monitoring firms about their treatment by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. [157853]
Bridget Prentice:
I am not aware of any representations received by this Department from ethnic minority firms about their treatment by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). However, as a result of internal concerns about a statistical disparity showing that black and minority ethnic solicitors were over-represented in regulatory decisions, the SRA commissioned an external analysis of this issue,
resulting in the publication in July 2006 of the report “The impact of regulatory decisions of the Investigations and Enforcement Unit on black and minority ethnic solicitors”. The SRA is now following a programme of action aimed at discharging its responsibility for protecting the public interest fairly and in a manner that is non-discriminatory.
Youth Offending Teams: Finance
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what future funding is planned for youth offending teams; and what change this represents compared with current levels. [157830]
Mr. Hanson: Youth offending teams are local authority multi agency teams made up of five statutory partners: police, probation, social services, education and health. YOTs are funded by these five statutory partners, the local authority chief executive and by the Youth Justice Board.
The existing funding arrangements by probation services will continue for 2008-09 and the options for funding beyond this are currently being explored in light of the new arrangements contained in the Offender Management Act. Probation services will remain a statutory partner in YOTs.
The Youth Justice Board provide a variety of grants to YOTs and decisions on future levels of payment have yet to be made.
Prime Minister
Cabinet Committee on London
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Prime Minister for what reasons the Cabinet Committee on London (MISC 26) has been abolished. [158072]
The Prime Minister: The Government remains fully committed to delivering high quality public services throughout London. On 23 July I announced a new Cabinet Committee structure ( Official Report, column 46WS), copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. There are now a smaller number of broader ranging, more cross-cutting Committees. Under the new structure, the delivery of public services in London will be considered by the Cabinet Committee with responsibility for the relevant policy area.
Committee on Standards in Public Life
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister (1) for what reasons and on what date it was decided to not invite Sir Alistair Graham to serve a second term as Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. [157801]
(2) what the recruitment process is for appointing a new permanent Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and on what date he expects to make such an appointment. [157802]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 17 September 2007, Official Report, column 2167W.
Departmental Responsibilities: Offshore Industry
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Prime Minister what consideration he gave when he last re-organised Government departments and their responsibilities to giving the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs responsibility for offshore oil, gas and energy consents; and if he will make a statement. [157243]
The Prime Minister: I announced changes to the Machinery of Government in a Written Ministerial Statement on 28 June 2007 ( Official Report, columns 36-40WS). Departmental responsibilities are kept under constant review.
Departments: Taxis
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister how much was spent by his Office on taxis in the last 12 months. [153161]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Gillian Merron) on 9 October 2007, Official Report, column 531W.
Foreign Relations: Video Recordings
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Prime Minister what record is kept of video conferences between him and the President of the United States; and if he will make a statement. [157066]
The Prime Minister: Records are kept in accordance with ‘Private Office Records Guidance’ prepared by the Cabinet Office and the National Archives. Copies of this guidance are available on the National Archives website.
Prime Ministerial Visits
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Prime Minister which NHS hospitals he has visited since 27th June. [158459]
Anne Main: To ask the Prime Minister when he last visited a tax credit office in his official capacity. [158569]
The Prime Minister: A list of my UK visits will be published in the usual way following the end of the financial year. My visits cover a range of matters including health, education, criminal justice and the economy, details of which can be found on the No. 10 website.
Martin Howard: Honours
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister who nominated Martin Howard for an honour. [157800]
The Prime Minister: In accordance with the practice of successive governments, the identities of those making nominations for honours, and the detailed handling of nominations, are kept confidential.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Prime Minister if he will expedite the reply to the letter to him dated 2nd August from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. C. Fairhurst, which he forwarded for reply to the Department for Communities and Local Government. [157302]
The Prime Minister: A reply has been sent.
Northern Ireland
Department Accountacy
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what accounts directions were issued by his Department in financial years (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07. [156616]
Paul Goggins: Under the Government Resource and Accounts Act 2000 HM Treasury issue accounts directions to departments, pension schemes and agencies, and under the Government Trading Fund Act 1973 to trading funds.
For the years 2005-06 and 2006-07 the Northern Ireland Office has issued accounts directions for the form and content of resource and other accounts to the following sponsored bodies:
Police Service of Northern Ireland
Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust
Northern Ireland Police Fund
Northern Ireland Election Office (Returning Officers Expenses)
Office of the Oversight Commissioner
Armed Conflict
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Office has provided any support to other national Governments dealing with community conflict. [155828]
Mr. Woodward: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 October 2007, Official Report , columns 451-52W.
From time to time embassies and high commissions engage with the NIO to learn more about the Northern Ireland peace process.
Departments: ICT
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of buying new (a) laptops, (b) mobile telephones and (c) personal digital assistant devices for new Ministers in his Department following each Cabinet reshuffle since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [156727]
Paul Goggins: The following table illustrates the cost of buying new (a) laptops, (b) mobile telephones and (c) personal digital assistant devices for new Ministers by the Northern Ireland Office.
| Financial year | Number of laptops purchased | Cost (£) | Number of mobile phones purchased | Cost (£) | Number of personal digital assistant devices (blackberries) purchased | Cost (£) |
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