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27 Nov 2007 : Column 289W—continued
Opinion Leader Research
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Opinion Leader Research in each year since 1997; and what was (a) the title and purpose, (b) the cost to the public purse and (c) the dates of (i) tender, (ii) award, (iii) operation and (iv) completion and report to the Department in each case. [165259]
Mr. Woodward: The NIO has awarded no contracts to Opinion Leader Research since 1997.
Police Service of Northern Ireland: Telephone Services
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many calls have been received by the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s 0845 600 8000 line; how many (a) arrests and (b) convictions have resulted from information received on this line; and how much it has cost to operate this service in the last 12-month period for which figures are available. [166726]
Paul Goggins: The number of calls made to the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s telephone number for non-emergency calls, 0845 600 8000, in each of the last 12 months is set out in the following table.
| Number of calls to 0845 600 8000 | |
As figures are not held on the outcome of the calls, I am not able to supply information on the number of arrests and convictions that have resulted from the use of the line.
The total cost to the PSNI of operating their non-emergency number, 0845 600 8000, from November 2006 to October 2007 was £2,043.
This line allows people to access the PSNI quickly in non-emergency situations and helps to reduce the demand placed by inappropriate calls to ‘999’.
Proscribed Organisations
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the security threat posed by Republican dissidents. [168484]
Paul Goggins: The latest IMC report assesses that dissident republicans continue to pose a threat. The recent gun attacks on police officers highlight the danger these groups still pose.
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Energy: Summertime
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect on UK domestic gas and electricity bills of maintaining British Summer Time in winter and introducing double British Summer Time in summer. [168762]
Mr. McFadden: We consider that the present situation is a satisfactory compromise between those who prefer lighter mornings and those who prefer lighter evenings and we are not convinced that a change to our wintertime and summertime arrangements would be in the best interests of the UK.
Portugal experimented with a move to central European time (1992-96) and we understand their Government concluded that there was insignificant energy saving to offset the negative impact of the change and reverted to Greenwich Mean Time.
Nuclear Power
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the evidential basis is for the figure of 7.5 per cent. of Britain's total energy coming from nuclear sources, with reference to the Prime Minister's speech to the Worldwide Fund for Nature forum at the Foreign Press Association on 19 November. [167915]
Malcolm Wicks: In terms of energy inputs (i.e. the quantity of fuels used directly or converted into other forms of energy such as electricity or petroleum products) nuclear accounts for 7.5 per cent. of the UK's demand for primary fuels (rounding to the nearest 0.5 per cent.). The figures behind this percentage are as follows. They can be found in this Department's National Statistics publication, “Energy Trends, September 2007”, Table 1.2:
| Primary fuel input basis equivalent | Million tonnes of oil |
In terms of energy consumed, nuclear accounts for 19 per cent. of the electricity generated in the UK and electricity accounts for 18.5 per cent. of the energy used in the UK. Hence nuclear accounts for 3.5 per cent. of the energy used in the UK (19 per cent. of 18.5 per cent.).
Post Offices: Closures
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether sub-postmasters whose post offices have been proposed for closure are permitted to speak publicly against that closure without putting their compensation package at risk. [163840]
Mr. McFadden: A sub-postmaster is able to respond to the consultation as much as any other member of the public and we would not look to reduce their compensation simply because they do not agree with the decision.
Wind Power
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of overall energy needs is met by wind power in (a) Ribble Valley, (b) Lancashire and (c) England. [168305]
Malcolm Wicks:
The Department does not hold statistics for wind power generation in (a) the Ribble Valley or (b) at a county level. However, according to the latest statistics published in the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics, 2007 (DUKES), 1.1 per
cent. of the electricity generated in the UK in 2006 was from onshore and offshore wind, up from 0.7 per cent. in 2005. The corresponding percentage for (c) England is not yet available for 2006, but in 2005 it was 0.2 per cent.
DUKES can be accessed online at:
Leader of the House
Ministerial Statements
Mr. Randall: To ask the Leader of the House on how many occasions Ministers gave oral statements on the introduction of Government consultation papers in each of the last five years. [168625]
Helen Goodman: This information is not held centrally in the form asked for. In the last five calendar years there have been a total of 350 oral statements made to the House.
| Number | |
The content of these oral statements is available as a matter of public record.
House of Commons Commission
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association: Finance
Mr. Marshall: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what estimate has been made of the monetary value of the accommodation, facilities and services provided to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association for its headquarters in 7 Millbank in each of the last five years; and what the figure is expected to be in 2007-08. [168346]
Nick Harvey: The resource cost of accommodation, facilities and services used by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association for its international secretariat in 7 Millbank is estimated to have been around £150,000 per annum since 2002-03. A similar cost is expected in 2007-08.
Influenza: Vaccination
Mr. Vara: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether doses of the antiviral drug Tamiflu have been purchased by the House authorities for use by their staff in the event of an influenza pandemic. [168379]
Nick Harvey:
No doses of the antiviral drug Tamiflu have been purchased by the House authorities for use
by their staff in the event of an influenza pandemic. There is, however, a project in place to co-ordinate and refresh the House's business continuity and disaster recovery plans. Flu pandemic planning is included in the scenarios that are being considered and arrangements are commensurate with the national framework for responding to an influenza pandemic.
Medical Equipment
Mr. Keetch: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission when defibrillators were installed at the Palace of Westminster; how many times they have been used; and if he will make a statement. [168637]
Nick Harvey: Defibrillators were installed in the Palace of Westminster in 2000, and introduced in other parliamentary buildings in 2002. They have been used six times to date.
Culture, Media and Sport
Departmental Standards
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what public service agreement targets were set in the latest Comprehensive Spending Review for (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies for which his Department has responsibility. [166657]
James Purnell: Within the new performance framework announced as part of the comprehensive spending review, all public service agreements (PSAs) will be cross-governmental. DCMS will act as lead department for PSA22, to
“deliver a successful Olympic Games and Paralympic Games with a sustainable legacy and get more children and young people taking part in high-quality PE and school sport”.
In addition, DCMS will contribute to the following PSAs led by other Government Departments:
Raise the productivity of the UK economy (PSA1)
Improve the health and well-being of children and young people (PSA12)
Increase the number of children and young people on the path to success (PSA14)
Address the disadvantage that individuals experience because of their gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief (PSA15)
Increase long-term housing supply and affordability (PSA20)
Build more cohesive, empowered and active communities (PSA21)
Copies of the delivery agreements underpinning these PSAs have been placed in the House Library and are available on HM Treasury’s website.
Gun Sports: Olympic Games 2012
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he last had a meeting to discuss the issue of Olympic target pistol shooters; and if he will make a statement. [168216]
Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 26 November 2007]: I have not had a meeting to discuss the issue of Olympic target pistol shooters. This issue is being taken forward by colleagues at the Home Office who have recently secured agreement in principle from the Ministry of Defence on use of their ranges by a small squad of elite pistol shooters. To enable this to take place, the Home Secretary will need to use her powers under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 and I understand she has written to the First Minister for Scotland about the proposed arrangements and to establish whether he intends to exercise his powers in respect of Scotland.
Health Insurance
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) each of its agencies have private health insurance provided as part of their employment package. [167935]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Neither the Department for Culture, Media and Sport nor our Agency (the Royal Parks) provide private health insurance for employees.
We provide information on two health care schemes available for civil servants to our employees (Benenden Healthcare and CS Healthcare), which they can join at their own cost.
Legacy Lives Conference
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 13 November 2007, Official Report, column 106W, on the Legacy Lives conference, what UK Sport’s involvement is in the 2008 Legacy Lives conference in Barbados; and at what cost to the public purse. [168516]
Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 26 November 2007]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey) on 14 November 2007, Official Report, column 240W.
UK Sport is an international partner of the Legacy Lives 2008 conference. As the UK agency for World Class Events UK Sport is providing £30,000 to support the 2008 conference.
Supporting Legacy Lives is part of an ongoing strategy to promote greater knowledge and debate about the legacy benefits that arise from public investment in major sporting events.
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