Written Answers to Questions
Monday 21 April 2008
House of Commons Commission
Legal Costs
Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much was spent on legal advice and services in each year from 1997 to date; and how much in each such year was paid to Carter-Ruck and Partners. [195856]
Nick Harvey: The cost of legal advice and services has been as follows:
| £ | ||||
| Legal advice | Other legal costs | Total costs | Carter- Ruck and Partners | |
The other legal costs include fees paid in connection with the refurbishment of Norman Shaw South, and the construction of Portcullis House and the Visitor Reception Building. Details of similar costs prior to 2003 are not available.
Two previous answers on legal costs—4 June 2007, Official Report, column 23W, and 23 July 2007, Official Report, column 659W—included some costs that had been incorrectly allocated to particular years. The figures now provided, correct the earlier position.
Parking
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what air filtering, circulating or cleansing system services the hon. Members’ underground car park; when this system was last operational; and if he will make a statement. [198737]
Nick Harvey: The underground car park ventilation system was installed around 1977 when the car park was built. It services all car park levels using a supply and extract air plant with filters and duct work.
The system is maintained and inspected on a monthly basis. This was last done on 17 March 2008. Deep cleaning of the ducts was last completed during 2007. The system was last fully operational around 2001 when the original automatic system controls needed to be replaced with an interim manual controls arrangement. Since then a reduced level of air changes has been provided. However, the rate of air change will
be increased by 21 April 2008 to the original level. Major refurbishment of the system is planned currently for 2010-11.
Scotland
Departmental Domestic Visits
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what visits he made to (a) Harrogate International Centre, (b) International Conference Centre, Birmingham, (c) Manchester Central, (d) Scottish Exhibitional and Conference Centre, Glasgow, (e) Edinburgh International Conference Centre, (f) Bournemouth International Conference Centre, (g) the Brighton Centre, Brighton, (h) the Riviera Centre, Torquay, (i) Queen Elizabeth Centre, London, (j) Excel Conference Centre, Docklands, London, and (k) Business Design Centre, Islington, London, in the period 1st January 2005 to 31st December 2007; and what events he attended at each. [197162]
Des Browne: I have not visited any of the listed venues in a ministerial capacity between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2007.
Official Engagements
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his official engagements were between 25 February and 1 April 2008. [199486]
Des Browne:
Throughout the period 25 February and 1 April, I had various meetings in London and Scotland, including with ministerial colleagues and officials from the MOD and Scotland Office. In addition, on 26 February I had a video/telephone conference with the NATO Secretary-General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. On 28 February, I met the Australian high commissioner. On 29 February, I visited HMS Gannet and met with representatives of the Scottish Pensioners Forum in Edinburgh. On 3 March, I answered Defence questions in the House of Commons and, in the evening, attended the graduation reception of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. On 4 March I had separate meetings with the Dutch ambassador, with Dr. Paul Sender, the recently-returned head of the British Health Organisation in Afghanistan, and with a representative of the media. On 5 March, I answered Scottish questions in the House of Commons. On 6 March, had a meeting with Gerry Grimstone, the chairman of Standard Life. I also had meetings with the Albanian Defence Minister, with former Chiefs of the Defence Staff in the House of Lords, and with my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Grantham and Stamford (Mr. Davies) on the Armed Forces National Recognition Study. On 8 March, I attended a Veterans Badge presentation event in Edinburgh and the RBS six nations Scotland versus England rugby match at Murrayfield. On 19 March, I met representatives of the Scottish War Widows Association at 10 Downing Street. On 25 March, I met the bereaved mother of a serviceman. On 26 March, I gave an interview to a national newspaper and attended President Sarkozy’s parliamentary address at the House of Commons. On 27 March, I attended the Anglo-French Summit, which included a bilateral meeting with the French Defence
Minister. On 31 March, I attended the launch for Stephen Walker’s book, “Shot at Dawn”. On 1 April, I attended the Media Launch of TA100, the 100th anniversary of the Territorial Army, at the Tower of London and the fly past for the RAF 90th anniversary at MOD Main Building.
Official Visits
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what visits he has made in his capacity as Secretary of State for Scotland since July 2007. [190822]
Des Browne: My Ministry of Defence and Scotland Office diaries and public engagements are closely co-ordinated, it is therefore appropriate to cover both portfolios in the response for completeness.
On 10 July, I visited Berlin for a meeting with the German Defence Minister. On 12 and 13 July I was in Belgium to attend the Tyne Cot ceremony and for a meeting with Javier Solana. Between the 13 and 15 July, I visited Paris to attend Bastille Day celebrations. On 21 July, I was at the University of Strathclyde for the UK Youth Parliament annual sitting. On 1 August I visited Standard Life in Edinburgh, and on 2 August I visited Aegon and Selex Sensors in Edinburgh. On 3 August I went to visit Rolls Royce in East Kilbride, and on 4 August I had dinner with General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Edinburgh. The following day, I attended the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland performance in Glasgow. Between 6 and 10 August I was in Afghanistan. On 11 August, I attended the FEBA Highland Games event at Strathclyde country park, Motherwell, and then saw a performance of On Danfe at Edinburgh Playhouse. I visited WL Gore Co. Ltd. in Livingstone on 14 August, and on the 16 August I visited Seebyte in Edinburgh. The following day I visited Mahle Engine Systems in East Kilbride and watched the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela concert in Edinburgh. On Sunday 19 August I spoke at the Celebration of Indian Independence dinner in Glasgow. On Monday 20 August I visited Highland Spring. Later that day I visited the Diageo Bottling Plant in Glasgow and attended the Scottish Council for Development and Industry dinner in Glasgow. I was in Edinburgh on 22 August to visit a Waterfront regeneration project, and then travelled to Glasgow for an afternoon meeting with the STUC at their offices. On 23 August I visited REPower Aberdeen, and also visited a Scotch whisky distillery. Between 27 and 29 August I was in Greenland to meet the Danish Defence Minister.
On 12 September I hosted a Conflict Resolution Seminar at the University of Glasgow. On 13 September I visited 52 Brigade and a Medical Centre in Edinburgh. On 20 September I attended the opening of the new BBC building at Pacific Quay, Glasgow. On 25 September I paid a visit to the Royal Armoured Corps at Bovington. On 28 and 29 September I was in Lisbon for EU informal ministerial meetings. On 11 October I went to HMS Albion for a Project Compass dinner, and on 12 October I attended the armed forces memorial dedication ceremony in Staffordshire. On 13 October I was a guest at the Scotland versus Ukraine Euro 2008 qualifier at Hampden park. On 14 October I listened to the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland Futures performance in Glasgow. On 15 October I visited the UK Pinnacle
Course at the Defence Academy, Shrivenham, and on 18 October, I was in Crawley for a debate on Trident. On 19 October I visited 12 Mechanised Brigade at Tidworth and Bulford. On 20 October I attended the Trafalgar night dinner on HMS Victory. On 24 and 25 October I was at the NATO informal defence ministerial meetings in the Netherlands, and on 26 October I attended the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce business breakfast and I was at the launch of Stagecoach's bio-diesel coaches in Kilmarnock.
From 29 October to 2 November I was in Iraq. On 9 November I visited Diageo, in Ochil, Stirling, before attending the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on 10 November, and the Remembrance Sunday ceremony in Whitehall on 11 November. On 14 November I attended the SSAFA Corporate Friends reception at Chatham House. On 17 November I watched Scotland play Italy at Hampden park, Glasgow. On 19 November I visited Brussels for the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting. On Friday 23 November, I addressed the State of the City Economy conference in Glasgow.
On 1 December, I visited Longannet Power Station, Alloa, and the Scottish Interfaith Week Come and Play the Diversity Game event in Edinburgh. On 5 December I attended the SSAFA carol service in London. Between 7 and 10 December I was in Afghanistan. On 13 and 14 December I attended the RC South meeting in Edinburgh. On 20 December I visited Bassingbourne for the Army Training Regiment Pass off Parade.
On 3 and 4 January I visited Brussels for meetings with the UK Representative to NATO, and on 5 January I visited headquarters in Northern Ireland. I watched the Cirque du Soleil with Canadian high commissioner at the Royal Albert Hall on 8 January. On 22 January I opened the ‘Scots in Quebec’ exhibition at Canada house, London, with Premier Charest of Quebec. On 25 January I visited 51 Brigade, Stirling, the Solve It project in Falkirk and the Glasgow Works project in Glasgow. On 31 January I visited Headley court and the Cavalry Barracks in Hounslow. I was in Geneva on 5 February for the Nuclear Disarmament conference and SERA new year reception, and then from 6 to 8 February I attended the NATO informal defence ministerial meetings in Lithuania. On 11 February I visited Babcocks at Rosyth Dockyard, and on 12 February I visited the Defence Academy at Shrivenham. On 15 February I visited Thales Optronics in Glasgow. On 21 and 22 February I was in Slovenia for EU informal defence ministerial meetings.
Wales
Brabners Chaffe Street LLP
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2008, Official Report, column 1298W, on Brabners, Chaffe and Street, how much has been paid to Brabners, Chaffe and Street; what the estimated figure is to be paid on completion for its work; for what reasons this work was outsourced; and if he will make a statement. [198346]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I am informed by the Environment Agency Wales that as at 31 March 2008, the Environment Agency had paid £29,080 net of VAT to Brabners Chaffe Street LLP in respect of their legal fees. This work was outsourced to Brabners Chaffe Street LLP to provide advice on matters relating to defamation and issues of reputation. It is a firm recognised for dealing with such issues.
Brofiscin Quarry
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2008, Official Report, column 1302W, on Pollution: Brofiscin Quarry, what factors the Environment Agency will take into account when deciding when it is practicable to place the information on the public register. [198794]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I have been informed by the Environment Agency Wales that the legislation and statutory guidance do not specify what factors the Environment Agency should consider in deciding when it is practicable to place the prescribed information on the public register. The Government view is simply that it should be added as soon as reasonably practicable, so for example, the prescribed details of a Remediation Notice should be added as soon as reasonably practicable after the service of that notice.
Clear Communication
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what payments his Department has made to communications consultancy Clear in the last five years; and what the purpose of such payments was. [198160]
Departmental Internet
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent on the most recent redesign and implementation of his departmental website. [200032]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The Wales Office spent £10,500 to redesign and implement the new website and we pay £6,936 per annum for website hosting.
Departmental Legislation
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what criminal offences have been abolished by primary legislation sponsored by his Department since May 1997. [198325]
Departmental Public Participation
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what (a) surveys, (b) questionnaires and (c) other services were provided by polling companies for his Department in financial year 2007-08, broken down by company. [200015]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The Wales Office did not employ polling companies in the financial year 2007-08.
Douglas Gowan
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for what reasons Mr. Douglas Gowan’s original (a) witness statements and (b) evidentiary materials submitted to the Environment Agency were destroyed; and if he will make a statement. [198793]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I am informed by the Environment Agency Wales that the Environment Agency has not destroyed any original documents or evidentiary materials belonging to Mr. Douglas Gowan. Where original documents and evidentiary materials had been received by the Environment Agency from Mr. Gowan, they have been returned to him.
On 2 November 2007, Mr. Gowan requested that all copies of those originals be ‘shredded’. The Environment Agency has complied with that request.
JP Morgan
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department and its predecessors paid to JP Morgan in each year since 1997; and what the purpose of each payment was. [199691]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Since the Wales Office was established in 1999, we have not made any payments to JP Morgan.
Karian and Box
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the value was of each contract awarded by his Department and its predecessors to Karian and Box since 1997. [199638]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Since the Wales Office was established in 1999, my Department has not awarded contracts to Karian and Box.
Zurich Financial Services
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department and its predecessors paid to Zurich Financial Services in each year since 1997; and what the purpose of the payment was in each case. [199594]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Since the Wales Office was established in 1999, we have not made any payments to Zurich Financial Services.
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