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3 Apr 2008 : Column 1140W—continued
Iraq: Documents
Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) pursuant to the Answer of 29 February 2008, Official Report, column 2025W, on Iraq: documents, how the detailed comments passed on by Ann Taylor to John Scarlett on the draft dossier on Iraq on 19 September 2002 which were referred to in evidence to the Hutton inquiry (ISC/3/0003) were passed on; and whether John Scarlett or any other individual made a record of these comments; [193199]
(2) when he expects to answer Question 193199, on Iraqi documents, tabled on 5 March 2008. [197111]
Edward Miliband: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 29 February 2008, Official Report, column 2025W.
Liverpool
Mr. Wareing: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will make a statement on his visit to Liverpool, West Derby constituency on 1 February 2008; at whose invitation he attended; where he visited; and whom he met; [193825]
(2) when he plans to answer Question 193825, on his visit to Liverpool, West Derby constituency, tabled on 10 March 2008. [198699]
Edward Miliband [holding answer 13 March 2008]: The visit to Liverpool, West Derby on 1 February 2008 was not made in my ministerial capacity.
Non-profit Making Associations: Community Work
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to support the community work of social enterprises providing services for vulnerable user groups. [196851]
Phil Hope: Government are committed to creating an environment in which all social enterprises, including those providing services to vulnerable groups, can thrive. The social enterprise action plan, published in November 2006, sets out cross-departmental commitment to actions which aim to foster a culture of social enterprise; ensure the right information and advice is available to those running social enterprises; enable social enterprises to access appropriate finance; and enable social enterprise to work with government.
As part of this action plan, the Office of the Third Sector, within the Cabinet Office, provides core funding to umbrella organisations which support and represent social enterprise at a national level. Included among these is Social Firms UK which offers support to social enterprises which provide employment to disadvantaged groups.
The joint Cabinet Office and HM Treasury report on the Future Role of the Third Sector in Social and Economic Regeneration, published in July 2007 also sets out the commitments of the Cabinet Office in supporting the third sector as a whole.
Both of the social enterprise action plan and the report on the future role of the third sector are available in the Library of the house.
Non-profit Making Associations: Special Educational Needs
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the potential for third sector organisations to assist in the delivery of public services for those with learning difficulties. [196852]
Phil Hope: Third sector organisations working in partnership with the public sector play a valuable role in supporting people with learning difficulties. They bring an innovative, flexible approach tailored to people’s needs. In particular, as part of the Government’s wish to encourage independent living, we are keen to promote the role of user-led organisations of disabled people in supporting them to lead independent lives.
We expect third sector organisations to play an important role in the delivery of the new Socially Excluded Adults PSA (PSA 16). The PSA aims to increase the proportion of four socially excluded groups in employment and in settled accommodation; adults with learning disabilities known to councils are one of the target groups.
Public Participation
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2007, Official Report, column 1344W, on public participation: incentives, what other public participation events have been organised since the deliberative forum on the draft legislative programme. [198203]
Edward Miliband: The Cabinet Office has not organised any further public participation events since the deliberative forum on the draft legislative programme.
Electoral Commission Committee
Departmental Visits Abroad
Mr. Maude: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Chichester of 25 February 2008, Official Report, columns 1146-8W, on departmental visits abroad, which of the flights listed were carbon offset. [198096]
Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that none of the flights listed were carbon offset.
Electoral Commission: Grants
Mr. Maude: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2008, Official Report, columns 2241-2W, on Electoral Commission: grants, if he will place in the Library a copy of the terms and conditions of the scheme. [198093]
Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has done so.
House of Commons Commission
Freedom of Information: Requests for Data Held
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2008, Official Report, column 89W, on Freedom of Information to the hon. Member for Aberdeen North, what further steps the Members Estimate Committee plans to take regarding FoI requests for data held by the House. [199136]
Nick Harvey: The House has appealed to the High Court against the Information Tribunal decision that full details of the additional costs allowance for 14 Members should be disclosed, on the grounds that the tribunal had misdirected itself in law, in particular in ordering the disclosure of private addresses.
Further decisions by the Information Commissioner now need to be addressed. The Members Estimate Committee has taken the view that two such decisions,
which require that the House should disclose less detailed information about the allowances of seven Members should not be appealed. This information will be released to the requesters shortly.
The same principle will also be applied to requests for information on the claims of 14 Members about which the House has appealed to the High Court. Data on these 14 MPs will only be disclosed now to that lesser level of information (by category of expense but not down to receipt level). The appeal relates to more detailed information about addresses and receipts.
The same level of information (i.e. by category—not down to receipt level) will be released about the expenses of all Members in the autumn, for the years 2004-05 to 2007-08. For the future, information compiled on a similar basis will be released quarterly, starting with the information relating to the first quarter of 2008-09 (April to June). This release of information will also begin in the autumn.
The MEC remains committed to reviewing the allowance system and ensuring that there is probity and transparency
Olympics
Departmental Advertising
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what initiatives for which she is responsible have been advertised to the public; and at what cost. [192466]
Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Tom Brake) on 4 March 2008, Official Report, columns 2307-08W.
Legacy Action Plan
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics when she expects the Legacy Action Plan to be published. [198381]
Tessa Jowell: I intend to publish the Legacy Action Plan soon after purdah for the forthcoming local elections.
Olympic Delivery Authority
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics (1) for how long a paper copy of the Olympic Delivery Authority’s (a) register of interests and (b) register of gifts and hospitality has existed; and for what reason an electronic version has not yet been published; [198332]
(2) pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2008, Official Report, column 519W, on the Olympic Delivery Authority, when the Olympic Delivery Authority’s (a) register of interests and (b) register of gifts and hospitality will be published; when they were (i) first commissioned and (ii) originally due for publication; and what the reasons are for the time taken for the registers to be published. [198333]
Tessa Jowell:
The Olympic Delivery Authority’s (ODA) register of gifts and hospitality was published on the London 2012 website on 14 March 2008. A copy has also been placed in the House Library. The register of gifts and hospitality covers registrations up to
31 December 2007 and includes the period prior to April 2006 when the ODA was an interim Authority. The registrations for the first quarter of 2008 will be published in the coming weeks.
The current register of ODA Board Members’ interests is due to be published on the London 2012 website in the week beginning 31 March 2008 and a copy will also be placed in the House Library. Details of prospective ODA Board Members’ interests were required as part of the DCMS recruitment process and all ODA Board Members have signed the necessary ODA declaration of interest forms.
Paper copies of the ODA’s register of gifts and hospitality have existed for the period of the ODA’s formal existence and its period as an interim Authority. The ODA’s register of Board members interests has also existed since the ODA formally came into being.
The publication of both registers was foreshadowed in my answer to the hon. Member on 31 January 2007, Official Report, column 519W, in which I stated that the ODA intended to publish (a) its register of Board members’ interests, and (b) its gifts and hospitality register in the first quarter of 2008.
Olympic Delivery Authority: Disclosure of Information
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what guidance the Government has given to the Olympic Delivery Authority on openness, transparency and accountability in dealing with requests from members of the public for access to information it holds. [198331]
Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) was formally established on 30 March 2006 by the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006. It is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and is a public authority bound by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the FOI Act”). The ODA is subject to a Management Statement and Financial Memorandum, approved by the Minister for the Olympics and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, which sets out the rules and guidelines relevant to the exercise of the ODA’s functions, duties and powers.
The Management Statement makes clear the responsibility of the Chairman and Members of the ODA for ensuring that the ODA complies with its statutory duties, which would include its duties under the FOI Act. The ODA is committed to complying with its obligations under the FOI Act by fostering a culture of openness, transparency and accountability as appropriate.
Olympic Delivery Authority: Manpower
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many members of staff are employed by the Olympic Delivery Authority; and what teams they work in. [198330]
Tessa Jowell:
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) appointed a delivery partner (CLM) to programme and project manage the delivery of the venues and infrastructure for the 2012 games. The ODA has oversight and control of the venues and infrastructure programme, and directly manages transport, property, planning, communications
and interaction with Government in addition to managing engagement with a wide range of stakeholders and partners.
As of 31 March 2008 the Olympic Delivery Authority employed 164 permanent employees and 13 fixed term employees. The breakdown of employees is:
The ODA also has 21 staff seconded into the ODA from other organisations supporting directorates including Security, Construction, and Design and Regeneration.
Olympic Games 2012: Training
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Henley of 10 December 2007, Official Report, column 47W, on Olympic Games 2012: training, what the (a) level and (b) course title is of each of the 13 training places offered above level one. [195899]
Tessa Jowell: Provisional figures show that a total of 12 training courses (as opposed to 13 previously stated) were above Level 1. These courses are plant operation related and directly based on the needs of contractors on site. The 12 courses, all of which are level 2, break down as follows:
Five courses for slinger/banksmen
Three courses for 360° excavators operation
One course for telescopic forklift operation
One course for chainsaw operators
Two CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) Level Two courses (Blue card)
This local investment is part of a bigger National Skills Academy for Construction initiative led by the ODA. This partnership is likely to deliver a much larger proportion of training above Level 1.
Mr. Hoban:
To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Henley of 10 December 2007, Official Report, column 47W, on Olympic Games 2012: training, how many training places had been offered for (a) apprenticeships and
(b) level (i), one, (ii) two, (iii) three and (iv) four qualifications at the latest date for which figures are available. [195901]
Tessa Jowell: Since the launch of the Local Employment and Training Framework (LETF) in January 2007 until December 2007 (the latest period for which figures are available) 1,835 training places have been offered, the vast majority of which were at level 1, with 12 at level 2. Information on places offered since then is not yet available.
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