Written Answers to Questions
Monday 10 March 2008
International Development
Durban II
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what information his Department holds on which UK non-governmental organisations are (a) participating and (b) planning to participate in the Durban II process. [191576]
Meg Munn: I have been asked to reply.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has maintained informal contacts with a number of organisations expressing an interest in the conference. The list of non-governmental organisations that attended the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the Durban Review Conference from 27 to 31 August 2007 is set out in its report, available at:
http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/racism/groups/prep_ committee_durban/docs/prepcomdraft.doc
Iraq: International Assistance
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to the answer of 11 June 2007, Official Report, column 846W, on Iraq: international assistance, if he will place in the Library a copy of the three latest reports by the Iraq Compact Secretariat on progress made towards meeting Compact Goals. [192242]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The International Compact for Iraq (ICI) published their first mid-year progress report in July 2007. This was followed by a joint ICI/United Nations update in September 2007. A copy of these reports will be placed in the Library of the House. Their next progress report is due in April.
Scotland
Written Questions
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many written questions to his Department had not received an answer as at 25 February 2008 for (a) between two and four, (b) between four and six, (c) between six and eight and (d) more than eight weeks; and how many in each category were tabled for named day answer. [193394]
David Cairns: As at 25 February 2008, the Scotland Office had two written questions which had not received an answer for between two and four weeks. These were both ordinary written questions.
Official Engagements
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his official engagements were from 13 January to 24 February. [190445]
Des Browne: The information is as follows:
Throughout the period 13 January to 24 February, I had various meetings in London and Scotland, including with ministerial colleagues and officials from the MOD and Scotland Office.
In addition, on 14 January, I had a meeting with the mother of an injured soldier.
15 January, I met representatives of the Mull of Kintyre Group, spoke by telephone with the US Secretary of Defence and had dinner with Lord Glenarthur.
16 January, I attended a Veterans Day event for MPs in the House of Commons.
17 January, I met representatives of the Royal British Legion and gave evidence to the Quadripartite Committee of the House of Commons.
21 January, I answered Defence questions in the House of Commons and gave an oral statement to the House on the theft of a laptop containing personal information relating to service personnel.
22 January, I had meetings with the wife of a deceased solider and her local MP, the Macedonian Defence Minister and the Turkish Chief of Defence and I attended the opening of the ‘Scots in Quebec’ exhibition at Canada House.
23 January, I answered Scottish questions in the House of Commons.
24 January, I met Baroness Nicholson to discuss the situation in Iraq, attended receptions for UK4UTHANKS and SSAFA and spoke by telephone with the Danish Defence Minister.
25 January, I visited 51 Brigade in Scotland, met the First Minister of Scotland, and visited the Solve It project in Falkirk and the Glasgow Works project.
28 January, I met representatives of Shell UK, hosted a lunch in the Ministry of Defence with nine injured service personnel and subsequently gave a speech to the Senior Defence and Diplomatic Service Conference.
29 January, I gave evidence to the House of Commons Justice Select Committee on Devolution and met MPs from the Glasgow area to discuss our plans for the future aircraft carriers.
30 January, I met Michael Wareing, the UK's representative on the Basra Development Commission, and attended an EDS Defence Ltd reception at RUSI.
31 January, I visited injured service personnel in Headley Court and paid a visit to Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow, following which I had a video-telephone conference with the NATO Secretary General.
5 February, I gave a speech at a nuclear disarmament conference in Geneva and subsequently had a meeting with the Polish Chief of Defence.
6 February, I had lunch with a representative of the media.
7 to 8 February, I attended the NATO Defence ministerial meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania. On 11 February, I visited Babcocks Marine at Rosyth Dockyard.
12 February, I addressed the Higher Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham and had dinner with Ambassador Daithi O'Ceallaigh, Irish ambassador to the UN.
13 February, I had lunch with Ambassador David Cooney, the Irish ambassador to the UK, as well as meetings with Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, the Iraqi National Security Adviser and Sir David Richards, chairman of the Premier League.
15 February, I visited Thales Optronics in Glasgow to announce the award of a contract for the surveillance system and range finder.
16 February, I attended a presentation for veterans in Glasgow.
19 February, I had lunch with representatives of the media, and then a meeting followed by dinner with the families of deceased service personnel.
21 to 22 February, I attended the EU Defence ministerial meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
House of Commons Commission
Press Gallery
Mr. Kilfoyle: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much was paid by the House in subsidy to the Press Gallery (a) bar, (b) cafeteria and (c) restaurant in the last 12 months for which information is available; what rental was paid by the Press Gallery for its accommodation in the House over the same period; and what charges are made to the Gallery or its members for the use of telephones. [192621]
Nick Harvey: The total subsidy (the difference between income and costs) in the Press catering outlets in 2006-07 was £201,100. Separate figures for each outlet are not available. No rental is paid by the Gallery, nor are charges made to its members for the use of telephones for calls within London.
Television
Mr. Maude: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many plasma television screens have been purchased by the House, and at what cost, in the last 24 months. [191070]
Nick Harvey: Two 42 inch plasma screens have been purchased in the last 24 months for use in the Commons Chamber at a cost of £3,400.
Visitor Reception Building
Mr. Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission on what date the visitors reception building is expected to open; when the building was expected to open at the outset of the project; what the reasons are for the delay; and if he will make a statement. [192534]
Nick Harvey: The date for full opening of the building will be fixed after trials to test the technical equipment and the handling of visitors have been completed. Some trials have already occurred, and more are taking place at present. The project was originally planned on the basis of an opening date of autumn 2006 but delays were caused by unexpected problems with piling work and with services buried beneath the site, and later by difficulties with the construction of the building itself.
Women and Equality
Government Equalities Office
Mr. Harper: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what progress has been made in appointing a permanent secretary for the Government Equalities Office. [184390]
Barbara Follett [holding answer 4 February 2008]: I am pleased to announce that Jonathan Rees has been appointed as director-general in charge of the Government Equalities Office, and took up his new position on 25 February. He will also be the GEO’s accounting officer.
There are no plans to appoint a permanent secretary as well.
Official Hospitality
Mrs. May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many receptions she has hosted and funded in her capacity as Minister for Women and Equality; which individuals and organisations (a) were invited to and (b) attended each reception; and what the cost was of each reception. [190804]
Barbara Follett: Since 28 June 2007, I have hosted three receptions and co-hosted two. The details are as follows, in date order:
Black History Mon th 29 October 2007
This event marked Black History Month and encouraged Black, Asian and ethnic minority women to become local councillors, as they are under represented. It was attended by approximately 150 people in the House of Commons. The cost of this event was £4,414.06.
2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities 13 December 2007
This event marked the completion of the ‘2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All’ in the UK. Over 200 people were invited to the House of Commons including those who participated in case studies on equality and diversity issues. The event cost £12,285.63, half of which was paid for by the European Commission. The cost to the Government’s Equalities Office was £6,143.
Equality Commissioners Event 29 January 2008
This event marked the contribution made by the outgoing Commissioners of the Equal Opportunities Commission, Commission for Racial Equality and Disability Rights Commission, and provided the opportunity for representatives of organisations involved in equalities issues to meet the Commissioners of the
new Equality and Human Rights Commission. Approximately 200 people attended including organisations and parliamentarians with an interest in equality issues. The event was organised with and co-funded by the Government Equalities Office, Department for Work and Pensions and Communities and Local Government Department and the total cost of the reception was £3,970. The Government’s Equalities Office contribution was £1,323.
Marking the 90( th) Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage 6 February 2008
This event marked the 90(th) Anniversary of women’s suffrage at Lancaster House. It was co-hosted by the Government Equalities Office and the Fawcett Society. It was attended by approximately 200 people. The Government’s Equalities Office contribution for this event was £2,132.
Trade Union Women 18 February 2008
This event marked the work of trade union women and equality representatives to advance equality issues in the workplace. The event was attended by 120 people. The cost of the reception was £2,448.70.
Lists of those invited to these events and those who attended will be placed in the Commons Library. This will be subject to data protection requirements.
All figures are inclusive of VAT.
Wales
Departmental Advertising
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which of his Department's initiatives have been advertised to the public in each of the last 10 years; and what the cost of each such campaign was. [192220]
Departmental Data Protection
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether confidential or personal information has been compromised through the loss of property from his Department since 1997. [193431]
Departmental Plants
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on pot plants in each of the last five years. [192066]
Departmental Public Expenditure
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether consideration has been given to applying gender responsive budgeting to his Department’s budget. [192109]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The UK Government are supportive of efforts to achieve gender equality and continues to work very closely with both the Women’s National Commission and the Women’s Budget Group on promoting gender equality within the UK.
In 2004, HM Treasury undertook a pilot project on gender analysis of expenditure with the Women's Budget Group. The project demonstrated the value of gender analysis in some areas and identified what tools and expertise were necessary within government to carry out gender analysis, but that further work was needed before gender responsive budgeting could be implemented.
In 2008, HM Treasury will be conducting further work that will determine whether it is prudent and feasible to disaggregate departmental expenditure statistics by gender.
Departmental Written Questions
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many written Questions to his Department had not received an Answer as at 25 February 2008 for (a) between two and four, (b) between four and six, (c) between six and eight and (d) more than eight weeks; and how many in each category were tabled for named day answer. [193385]
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