Written Answers to Questions
Monday 29 October 2007
Wales
Agriculture: Compensation
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Assembly Government on policies in England and Wales on sharing the costs of outbreaks of animal diseases between the agricultural industry and the public purse. [160635]
Mr. Hain: I have had discussions with ministerial colleagues at both the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Assembly Government over this issue to ensure Welsh farmers’ interests are represented fully.
Certain functions under the Animal Health Act 1981, including disease control functions were transferred to the National Assembly for Wales under the Transfer of Functions Order 2004 (SI 2004/3044).
DEFRA have agreed to make payments on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales for animals killed and property seized due to foot and mouth disease. However, this does not extend to specific Welsh schemes to protect animal welfare or to support farmers during disease outbreaks. Such schemes remain the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government.
Departments: Catering
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of each type of food served in his Department in the last 12 months was of (a) British and (b) Welsh origin. [160734]
Mr. Hain: The Wales Office does not have any in-house catering services, external caterers supply food at our events. While we ask them to supply food that is either British or Welsh in both origin and theme we do not gather information on the proportion. This could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departments: Cost Effectiveness
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what efficiency savings his Department was required to make as part of its Spending Review 2004 (SR04) targets; what efficiency projects have been undertaken in the Department in pursuit of those targets; on what date each was initiated; and how much each was predicted to contribute to the SR04 target. [160605]
Mr. Hain: The Wales Office position in relation to SR 04 is set out in chapter 5 of my 2005 departmental annual report, a copy of which is available from the Library.
Progress since then is detailed within subsequent annual reports, which can be accessed from the Library or via our website:
Departments: Disabled
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which buildings occupied by his Department (a) are and (b) are not fully accessible to disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [161164]
Mr. Hain: The Wales Office fully occupies one building in London and leases office space in Cardiff. Both buildings have disabled access.
Departments: Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether any of his Department’s special advisers have declared a conflict of interest. [160777]
Mr. Hain: Neither of the special advisers in the Wales Office have declared a conflict of interest.
Departments: Retirement
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many employees in his Department applied to continue to work beyond state retirement age in the latest year or part thereof for which figures are available; and how many of those applications were successful. [161281]
Mr. Hain: The Wales Office has a few staff at retirement age. For reasons of privacy no details are given, in line with Cabinet Office guidance.
Departments: Written Questions
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what percentage of Questions tabled to his Department for answer on a named day received a substantive reply on the day named in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [161352]
Mr. Hain: The Wales Office have received 21 named day questions in the last 12 months and all have received a substantive reply on the day named.
House of Commons Commission
Departments: Fish
Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what consideration the Refreshment Department has given to introducing a sustainable seafood procurement policy. [160952]
Nick Harvey: As stated in a previous reply of 20 February 2007, Official Report, columns 575-6W, the Refreshment Department is committed to responsibly sourcing fish from well-managed and sustainable fisheries, and is developing firmer procurement policies in this area. The contract for the supply of fresh fish and shellfish is scheduled to be re-tendered early in the new year and assessment of the sustainable seafood sourcing and supply policies of bidders will be included among the evaluation criteria. The Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) is advising the department in the development of the contract specifications relating to sustainability.
Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what quantity of cod from the North Sea or Eastern Baltic was procured by the Refreshment Department in 2006. [160953]
Nick Harvey: No record is kept of the country or region of origin of produce purchased by the Refreshment Department, so it is not possible to answer the question in the terms asked. However, the department’s standing instructions to its nominated fish suppliers is that cod should not be sourced from stocks that are depleted and fishing levels are unsustainable. Suppliers have confirmed that no cod from the North Sea or Eastern Baltic is currently supplied to the Refreshment Department.
Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission which companies have contracts to supply fish to the Refreshment Department; and when those contracts will end. [160954]
Nick Harvey: The Refreshment Department currently holds contracts with three fish and shellfish suppliers: Chamberlain and Thelwell Ltd., Howes Brothers Ltd., (both operating out of Billingsgate, London) and H. Forman and Sons (London). In accordance with EU procurement regulations, these supply contracts were awarded following a competitive tender. Contracts were awarded for an initial three year period until May 2006, extended for a maximum period of two years while the contract is re-tendering in early 2008.
Church Commissioners
Stipends
33. Michael Jabez Foster: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what the average stipend is for (a) male and (b) female incumbents; and whether male and female incumbents in the same diocese receive the same stipend. [160987]
Sir Stuart Bell: The overall average stipend for male clergy of incumbent status is £20,952; the overall average for female clergy of incumbent status is £20,878.
Each diocese sets its own policy on the application of national recommendations.
Public Accounts Commission
National Audit Office
Norman Baker: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission if he will make a statement on the progress of the Commission's investigation into the National Audit Office's compliance with best corporate practice. [160986]
Mr. Alan Williams: The Commission's review is into the corporate governance of the NAO, and will take account of the need to retain the Comptroller & Auditor General's independence. The Commission announced terms of reference for the review on 11 October, and arrangements are being made for the review to be carried out. The Government announced on Thursday last its willingness to include statutory changes in the forthcoming Constitutional Reform Bill if necessary. Further details of the review will be announced shortly.
Leader of the House
Departments: Retirement
Andrew Selous: To ask the Leader of the House how many employees in her Office applied to continue to work beyond state retirement age in the latest year or part thereof for which figures are available; and how many of those applications were successful. [161292]
Helen Goodman: The Leader of the House of Commons Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 25 October 2007 by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Departments: Written Questions
Mr. Harper: To ask the Leader of the House how many and what percentage of questions tabled to her for answer on a named day received a substantive reply on the day named in the last 12 months. [161363]
Helen Goodman: The figures of the Leader of the House of Commons Office for the 2005-06 Session show that 100 per cent. of the 71 named day questions tabled were answered on the date specified.
In the last 12 months (since 24 October 2006) 48 named day questions (100 per cent.) were answered on the named day.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Leader of the House when she will reply to the letter sent to her in her capacity as Lord Privy Seal dated 20 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Dr. Yasmin Zalzala. [161193]
Ms Harman: My office has no record of having received my right hon. Friend’s letter dated 20 September 2007. I understand that another copy is being sent and I will ensure it receives my urgent consideration.
Recess
Mr. Pope: To ask the Leader of the House (1) on what basis the week commencing 11 February 2008 was chosen as the constituency recess week; [161024]
(2) what estimate she has made of the number of schools which have half-term breaks during the constituency recess week commencing 11 February 2008; [161025]
(3) what discussions she had with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Children, Schools and Families before choosing the week commencing 11 February 2008 as the constituency recess week. [161026]
Helen Goodman: School holidays are taken into account when preparing the Commons calendar as far as is possible in the absence of a standard school year. A sample of half term dates from across the UK were analysed to ensure that the calendar reflected these factors. Other time demands, including the dates of the party conference season, are also considered. No discussions have been held with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Children, Schools and Families but the calendar was subject to consultation through the usual channels.
Electoral Commission Committee
Minimum Voting Age
34. Simon Hughes: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission what consideration the Electoral Commission is giving to measures to ensure that electoral registers are kept up to date. [160988]
Peter Viggers: The Commission informs me that it issues guidance to Electoral Registration Officers on this matter, and will, in 2008, set performance standards for Electoral Registration Officers to support best practice in the delivery of electoral registration functions.
Information: British Citizens Abroad
35. Mr. Evans: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission what steps the Electoral Commission has taken to inform British citizens living abroad about their rights to vote in UK general elections. [160989]
Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it is currently running a campaign to encourage British citizens living abroad to register to vote. The campaign includes online advertising, public relations activity, a mailing to British people living overseas and the distribution of information via British embassies and high commissions.
Scotland
Absent Voting
Mr. Charles Kennedy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland why he advised DRS of a change in design in respect of ballot papers on 17 April 2007; what assessment was made at the time of the likely impact
on the timescale involved for the subsequent issuing of postal ballots; what steps he took to advise returning officers of the changes and of the potential impact on the issuing of the postal ballot packs; and if he will make a statement. [161410]
David Cairns: There was no involvement by Scotland Office Ministers in any change to the design of ballot papers on 17 April 2007. The message sent to Returning Officers on 17 April by officials reported a technical point from the e-counting supplier about the system’s capacity to meet the statutory requirements and to advise Returning Officers on the exercise of their legal discretion to adjust one aspect of the design feature of the ballot paper, namely the type-case to be used for candidates names.
Departments: Press
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department has spent on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each year since 1997. [154635]
David Cairns: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. The Office provides corporate services, such as the payment of invoices, to the Office of the Advocate General. Separate figures for newspapers and magazines for each Office are not recorded; and the cost of periodicals is subsumed within the overall library costs, such as the purchase of books. Expenditure by both Offices on newspapers and magazines was:
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