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3 Dec 2007 : Column 799W—continued
Illegal Immigrants
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many illegal immigrants have been discovered working for his Department in the last year for which figures are available. [170476]
Prime Minister
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Prime Minister what the expected salary level of the Prime Minister's independent adviser on ministerial interests will be in the year commencing 1 January 2008. [170475]
The Prime Minister: The independent adviser on Ministers’ interests will publish an annual report, which will include information relating to his appointment and role.
Ministry of Defence
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister (1) when he last visited the Ministry of Defence's permanent joint headquarters; [169988]
(2) when he last visited the Ministry of Defence main building; and for what purposes. [169989]
The Prime Minister: I have regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and officials on a wide range of subjects, including within the Ministry of Defence.
Transport
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Prime Minister how many times he has met individuals representing (a) rail passengers, (b) the rail industry, (c) bus passengers, (d) bus companies, (e) coach passengers, (f) coach companies and (g) cyclists since he became Prime Minister. [170735]
The Prime Minister: My officials and I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a range of subjects.
Culture, Media and Sport
Alcoholic Drinks: Licensing
James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what terms of reference have been adopted for the review of the operation of the Licensing Act 2003; and when the review is expected to conclude. [167978]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Prior to the introduction of the Act on 24 November 2005, Ministers committed to evaluate the impact of the Act after sufficient evidence became available. This will review progress in achieving the aims of the reform and the impact of the Act on the four statutory licensing objectives: (the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; the prevention of public nuisance; and the protection of children from harm).
The evaluation will also consider the level of administrative burdens placed on business by the Act measured against a May 2005 baseline; the impact of the Act on the provision of live music; and the efficiency of various processes in the Act. A key element of the review will be the assessment of the impact of reform on crime and disorder which is being carried out by the Home Office.
The review brings together the various outputs and conclusions from a number of studies about whether any changes are necessary to: (a) statutory Guidance produced under section 182 of the Act; (b) regulations made under the Act; and (c) the primary legislation itself.
The studies are described as follows:
Scrutiny Councils Initiative;
Review of Statutory Guidance;
DCMS Simplification Plan;
Independent Fees Panel Report;
Live Music Forum Report;
National Statistics licensing data bulletin;
Analysis of actual on-trade closing hours;
Home Office Study into impact on Crime and Disorder.
We expect to conclude this work in the new year once the Home Office crime and disorder evaluation is published.
Arts Council of England: Finance
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to his Department’s press release of 12 October, how much funding the Arts Council England will receive from the comprehensive spending review settlement in (a) cash and (b) real terms until 2011. [168557]
James Purnell: Over the next three years Arts Council England will receive the following revenue Grant in Aid:
| Revenue GiA (£ million) | |
In real terms, the figures in 2007-08 prices would be:
| Real terms (£ million) | |
British Film Council: Ministerial Powers
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his oversight role under the Royal Charter establishing the British Film Council. [169366]
Margaret Hodge: The Secretary of State has oversight of the work of the British Film Institute through his Department’s sponsorship of the UK Film Council.
The only reference to the Secretary of State in the British Film Institute Royal Charter (as amended and in effect from 19 April 2000) relates to the appointment of the chairman, who shall be appointed, with the approval of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, by the Film Council.
British Film Institute: Public Appointments
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will ensure that the British Film Council publishes the short-list of candidates to be chair of the British Film Institute prior to his approving the Film Council’s choice. [169365]
Margaret Hodge: No. Publication of the shortlist would breach individuals’ rights to confidentiality. The UK Film Council has responsibility for appointing the chair of the British Film Institute and will ensure a fair and open competition. The Secretary of State must formally approve the appointment.
Broadcasting: Emergencies
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with Ofcom on their ability to waive licence fees and vary rules with regard to broadcasting in times of emergencies; and if he will make a statement. [169992]
James Purnell: None. The planning, licensing and regulation of radio (except BBC) is a matter for the independent regulator Ofcom.
Crimes of Violence
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what consultation took place on the Guidance on Expedited Licence Reviews under the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 before it came into force. [166200]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport produced non-statutory guidance to assist police forces and licensing authorities when considering using the provisions inserted at section 53A of the 2003 Act by the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006. Members of the Department’s stakeholder advisory group on licensing, which includes representatives of local authorities, the police and the licensed trade, were given an opportunity to comment on a draft of the guidance before it was finalised.
Cutty Sark: Finance
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been provided for the project to restore the Cutty Sark from (a) Government funds and (b) lottery funding. [169007]
Margaret Hodge: Between 1996 and 2006, the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded five grants totalling £13,457,216 to the project to restore the Cutty Sark. These were (1) £160,000 for urgent repairs (1996); (2) £48,216 towards a conservation plan (1997); (3) £198,000 for restoration of the Mizzen Mast (1998); (4) £50,000 towards phase one of the preservation project (2003); and £13,001,000 towards the conservation project (including £1,251,000 of development funding) (2006). Government do not directly fund such projects.
Delivery Services
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which companies are under contract to his Department to provide mail services. [170163]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has contracts for the provision of mail services with Pitney Bowes, the Government Car and Despatch Service and the Royal Mail.
Departmental Computers
Mr. Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of his Department’s (a) computers and (b) laptops have been stolen in 2007; and what the value of those items was. [168599]
Mr. Sutcliffe: My Department has not had any laptops or computers stolen in 2007.
Departmental Correspondence
Sarah Teather:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of inquiries received by his Department from the public were
responded to within (a) one week, (b) 14 days, (c) 28 days, (d) two months and (e) three months in the last period for which figures are available; and in what percentage of cases it took (i) over three months and (ii) over one year to respond. [167381]
Mr. Sutcliffe: DCMS takes very seriously its responsibility for responding to inquiries from members of the public. The Department does not hold the information requested in the format required, and to provide it in this format would incur disproportionate cost.
For the period 1 January 2007 to 23 October 2007, 90.58 per cent. of our responses to members of the public (8,624 of 9,521 cases) were answered within 20 working days and we aim to answer as high a percentage as possible within a significantly shorter timeframe. Additionally, 74.35 per cent. of responses to letters from MPs and Peers were answered within 20 working days for the same time period.
Departmental Data Protection
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what reviews have been undertaken of his Department’s rules on data protection in the last two years; if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the last review of his Department’s compliance with data protection laws; and if (a) his Department and (b) his Department’s agencies will undertake a review of their compliance with data protection laws; [168085]
(2) on how many occasions in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies confidential data have been downloaded on to compact discs (i) without and (ii) with encryption in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; how many of those discs have been posted without using recorded or registered delivery; what procedures his Department has in place for the (A) transport, (B) exchange and (C) delivery of confidential or sensitive data; what records are kept of information held by his Department being sent outside the Department; what changes have been made to his Department’s rules and procedures on data protection in the last two years; on how many occasions his Department’s procedures and rules on data protection have been breached in the last five years; what those breaches were; what procedures his Department has in place on downloading confidential data on to computer discs before its transfer; what technical protections there are in his Department’s computer systems to prevent access to information held on those systems which is not in accordance with departmental procedures; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each of his Department’s rules and procedures on the protection of confidential data on individuals, businesses and other organisations; [168251]
(3) how many employees of each grade in his Department (a) have access to confidential or sensitive data and (b) are authorised to download such data to disc; how many of his Department’s employees have undergone data protection training in the last 12 months; what the average length of time is that each employee of (i) his Department and (ii) his Department’s agency has spent on data protection training; how many investigations of employees of his
Department for improperly accessing confidential information have taken place in the last 12 months; how many such investigations resulted in cases of disciplinary action; and what the circumstances of each of those cases were. [168271]
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what procedures are in place in his Department to ensure that personal information relating to members of the public is (a) stored and (b) transported securely. [168479]
Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) on how many occasions the Information Commissioner was contacted by his Department to report breaches of data protection security in each of the last five years; [168819]
(2) how many breaches of data protection security there were in (a) his Department and (b) his Department’s Agency in each of the last five years; and if he will provide details of each breach. [168830]
Mr. Sutcliffe: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007, Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments’ procedures will be made on completion of the review.
Mr. Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether his Department's information technology and data management systems are BS7799 compliant. [168751]
Mr. Sutcliffe: My Department gained accreditation last year for part one (documentation) of BS7799 and is fully compliant with part two (processes) of the standard.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many requests his Department received from the National Audit Office for access to databases containing personal information on members of the general public in each year since 1997; [168971]
(2) how many times databases held by his Department and containing personal information on members of the general public were accessed in each month of the last five years; [168973]
(3) how many security breaches regarding access to personal data occurred within his Department in each year since 1997; [168975]
(4) when each electronic database held by his Department containing personal information on members of the general public was first created; [168976]
(5) how many electronic databases held by his Department contain (a) names, (b) addresses, (c) bank details and (d) other personal information on members of the general public. [168977]
Mr. Sutcliffe: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November, Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.
Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998 requiring investigation there have been in the last five years in his Department; what the nature of such breaches were; and what the results of the investigations were in each case. [169259]
Mr. Sutcliffe: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by right hon. friend the Prime Minister on 21 November, Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments’ procedures will be made on completion of the review.
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