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22 Nov 2007 : Column 1093W—continued
Terrorism
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the Prime Minister’s oral statement of 14 November 2007, Official Report, columns 667-86, on national security, on what projects his Department’s share of the £400 million allocated to tackle radicalisation and promote understanding overseas will be spent; and if he will make a statement. [165837]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: Actions DFID undertakes as part of its mandate to reduce poverty also address the causes of radicalisation. Where appropriate, DFID will support:
Increased political participation, including strengthening civil society as a source of political accountability and as a means of representing excluded groups.
Improvements in the quality of education in both formal and non-formal systems.
More responsive government and the provision of public services in previously neglected areas.
High quality policing and access to justice for ordinary people.
A strengthened voice for women.
Independent media that can educate, inform and improve the quality of public debate.
In addition, DFID will introduce schemes to promote understanding of international poverty issues and seek to make development a common concern for diverse British communities.
Women and Equality
Opinion Leader Research
Mrs. May: To ask the Minister for Women what contracts relating to its policies on women and equalities the Government have granted to Opinion Leader Research since 1997; and what (a) the title and purpose of the project, (b) the cost to the public purse and (c) the dates at which (i) the project was put to tender, (ii) the project was awarded to Opinion Leader Research, (iii) the project was carried out, (iv) the project was completed and (v) the project's findings were presented to Government in each instance. [165039]
Ms Harman: On 21 September 2005, a contract was awarded to Opinion Leader Research to carry out a social research project, “Today's Woman: A picture of women in Britain today”, to explore the aspirations and concerns facing women in the UK. This award was based on expertise and value for money. The cost of the research came to £76,836.51.
The project had been put to competitive tender in August 2005 and four organisations had submitted proposals.
The research was conducted between October 2005 and January 2006, and analysis completed in June 2006. The findings were presented to Government and incorporated into a report, “Today's Woman: Your say in the Future”, published in June 2007.
Duchy of Lancaster
Departmental Alcoholic Drinks
Mike Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will take steps to ensure that English wine is served exclusively or at the request of guests at meals, parties and receptions hosted by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [164285]
Edward Miliband: The Government are committed to increase opportunities for small and local suppliers to tender for contracts, thus increasing competition and securing better value for money. The Cabinet Office ensures that in house catering providers include locally produced goods as part of their menus.
Departmental ICT
Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which manufacturers' software is used in his Department. [167217]
Gillian Merron: The operating system and office support software used on the corporate Cabinet Office IT network is supplied by Microsoft. This is complemented by products from other software suppliers such as Citrix, Adobe and Macromedia as business needs dictate.
Departmental Manpower
Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people aged (a) 30 to 39, (b) 40 to 49, (c) 50 to 59 and (d) 60 to 69 years have (i) applied for jobs, (ii) received interviews and (iii) gained (A) temporary and (B) permanent jobs in the Cabinet Office in 2007. [165114]
Gillian Merron: The Department does not ask for information on age or date of birth during the application process and it is not, therefore, seen by anyone involved in the decisions about whether to interview or appoint. It is, however, collected separately from applicants on the equality monitoring form.
Since January 2007, the Cabinet Office has conducted 45 external recruitment competitions. The following table provides the data on age groups for applicants and candidates invited to interview, using equality monitoring data collected for external recruitment exercises since January 2007:
| Age category | Applied | Invited to interview |
The following table provides information on all external appointees for that period and age category:
| Age category | Permanent | Temporary/fixed-term appointment |
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance he has issued on the relationship between special advisers and civil servants. [164529]
Edward Miliband: The “Code of Conduct for Special Advisers” sets out the responsibilities and standards of conduct expected of special advisers, including relations with the permanent civil service. Copies of the Code of Conduct are in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the office costs for his Department's special advisers for 2007-08 are expected to be, including costs of support staff; and how many full-time equivalent civil servants work in support of such special advisers. [164932]
Edward Miliband: One civil servant supports the special advisers in my office, providing administrative support of a non-political nature in accordance with the “Code of Conduct for Special Advisers”.
Individual civil servants' salary details are not disclosed in order to protect the privacy of the individual concerned. Office costs will be accounted for in the 2007-08 Cabinet Office Annual Resource Accounts.
Departmental Official Hospitality
David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what entertainment or hospitality members of his Department's management board received in each of the last three financial years; and if he will make a statement. [164740]
Edward Miliband: Paragraph 4.3.5 of the “Civil Service Management Code” sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality. The Government are committed to publishing an annual list of hospitality received by members of departmental boards. The first list for 2007 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current calendar year.
Departmental Sick Leave
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Cabinet Office keeps a record of sick days taken by (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in (i) his and (ii) other Departments. [164971]
Edward Miliband: Special advisers are temporary civil servants. The rules on sickness absence for civil servants are set out in the Civil Service Management Code, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House and online at:
Guidance on arrangements during ministerial absences from their Departments is set out in the Ministerial Code, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
European Union
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many EU flags are (a) held and (b) owned by his Department and its agencies. [164863]
Gillian Merron: The Cabinet Office holds and owns two EU flags.
Influenza
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he plans to issue guidance on the stock of home supplies over and above that which is already available contained in the Planning for Emergencies publication as a consequence of Exercise Winter Willow; and if he will make a statement. [164888]
Gillian Merron: The advice on stocking home supplies contained in the Government's Planning for Emergencies guidance is being reviewed by an officials working group considering the specific issues relating to an influenza pandemic, if necessary, the guidance will be updated accordingly.
Media Monitoring Reports
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library copies of the media monitoring reports produced for the Strategy Unit between the period 21 October to 26 October. [164309]
Edward Miliband: I have placed copies of the relevant reports in the Libraries of the House.
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street: Internet
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many staff are employed to translate material on the No. 10 Downing Street website; [164848]
(2) how much has been spent translating material on the No. 10 Downing Street website since 1 January 2007, including the cost of staff time. [164849]
The Prime Minister: Translation services are provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the costs for which are met from existing budgets.
Academies
Mr. Laws: To ask the Prime Minister what role is being played by officials in his Policy Unit in the review of the academies programme; and if he will make a statement. [165163]
The Prime Minister: My officials and I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a range of subjects.
Admiralty House
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Prime Minister which Minister occupies the official ministerial residence in Admiralty House previously occupied by the right hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull. [165878]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 17 October 2007, Official Report, column 1135W.
Departmental Assets
Dr. Cable: To ask the Prime Minister what assets of his Office are planned to be sold in each financial year from 2007-08 to 2010-11; what the (a) description and (b) book value of each such asset is; what the expected revenue from each such sale is; and if he will make a statement. [164235]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 30 October 2007, Official Report, columns 1069-70W.
Departmental Ministerial Duties
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Prime Minister who would (a) chair Cabinet meetings and (b) assume his other Prime Ministerial responsibilities in the event of his sudden incapacity. [166774]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Bone) on 12 September 2007, Official Report, column 2102W.
Departmental Opinion Polls
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister what opinion polls No. 10 Downing street has conducted of (a) the public and (b) staff since 27 June 2007; and what the (i) name of the firm employed to conduct the poll, (ii) purpose and (iii) cost to the public purse was in each case. [164941]
Foreign Workers
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister who was responsible for the inclusion of the phrase British jobs for British workers in his speech of 24 September. [164785]
The Prime Minister: This speech is a matter of public record. I am responsible for the content of my speeches.
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