Written Answers to Questions
The following answers were received between Monday 1 September and Tuesday 9 September 2008
Scotland
Departmental ICT
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information technology projects initiated by his Department have been cancelled prior to completion in the last five years; and what the cost of each such project was to the public purse. [221706]
David Cairns: The Scotland Office shares an information technology system (SCOTS) with the Scottish Executive, which is responsible for the development, administration and maintenance of the system; consequently, the Office does not directly undertake IT projects.
Departmental Paper
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of paper used (a) for photocopying and (b) in printed publications by his Department was from recycled sources in each of the last two years. [220734]
David Cairns: The Scotland Office participates in a contract, let by the Scottish Executive, which allows for the purchase of photocopy paper from recycled sources. All areas with purchasing authority have been advised to procure recycled paper for the purpose of photocopying.
The Office obtains printed publications from a variety of sources. Figures are not held centrally of the percentage of recycled paper used in printed publications. However, the Office routinely requires that printers source paper that has a minimum of 75 per cent. recycled content.
Departmental Pay
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department in each of the last three financial years. [221187]
David Cairns: Direct payments to press officers in the last three financial years were.
| £ | |
Departmental Procurement
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his Department's policy is on requesting discounts from its suppliers in return for swift payment of invoices. [220425]
David Cairns: In 2007-08, the Scotland Office paid 99.53 per cent. of its invoices within 30 days.
The Office has few directly negotiated contracts and endeavours to utilise existing contracts of other government departments whenever possible; the prices negotiated under these contracts take into account the obligation to make prompt payment.
Departmental Public Buildings
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which organisations have received (a) free and (b) discounted room hire from his Department in each of the last five years; and what the commercial value of the discount was in each case. [221598]
David Cairns: The Scotland Office does not charge fees for the use of its premises for events held by external organisations. All events are held with the permission of the Secretary of State for Scotland. The external organisations meet all the catering and entertainment costs.
Departmental Public Participation
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what (a) listening exercises and (b) public forums his Department has held in each of the last two years; what the (i) purpose and (ii) cost was in each case; and what the private contractor was and how much it was paid in each case. [221344]
David Cairns: The Scotland Office has undertaken two targeted and time-limited public consultations; one entitled “Scottish Parliament Elections May 2007: Ballot Paper Design”, the other, “Sorting the Ballot”. The Office also participated in a joint consultation with the Ministry of Justice and the Wales Office on “Fees for the Marked Register of Electors produced at UK Elections”. The Office has undertaken no listening exercises or public forums in the last two years.
Hypothermia
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his most recent estimate is of the number of deaths from hypothermia and related conditions which will occur in Scotland between October 2008 and April 2009. [223365]
David Cairns: The registration of deaths in Scotland is a matter for the General Register Office for Scotland, part of the devolved administration.
Wales
Departmental ICT
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information technology projects initiated by his Department have been cancelled prior to completion in the last five years; and what the cost of each such project was to the public purse. [221747]
Departmental Official Hospitality
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on entertainment in each of the last five years. [219259]
Mr. Paul Murphy: My Department’s records are held by financial year. Typically, since 2006-07, Wales Office will hold a St. David’s day reception in London and summer and winter receptions in both London and Cardiff, for parliamentarians, Assembly Members and others prominent in Welsh affairs. No Cardiff receptions were held in 2003-04 and there was no summer reception in Cardiff in 2005. In each of the last five years, my Department has spent as follows:
| £ | |
Departmental Pay
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department in each of the last three financial years. [221168]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Wales Office press officers are appointed to work in both London and Cardiff offices, and elsewhere with Ministers, as required. They will be reimbursed for travelling and subsistence expenses incurred in their duties. The sums paid in each of the last three years were as follows:
| £ | |
Additionally, depending where they are based on appointment, their terms and conditions may include civil service detached duty allowances to reflect costs incurred in living away from home.
Departmental Procurement
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his Department’s policy is on requesting discounts from its suppliers in return for swift payment of invoices. [220421]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The Wales Office does not ask suppliers for discount, but aims to pay all invoices on time.
Departmental Public Buildings
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which organisations have received (a) free and (b) discounted room hire from his Department in each of the last five years; and what the commercial value of the discount was in each case. [221597]
Mr. Paul Murphy: In the last five years, the Wales Office has provided some very limited use of its premises to a number of organisations to host receptions. Records of this are not held centrally but include charitable and governmental bodies, such as the former Welsh Development Agency.
Departmental Public Participation
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what (a) listening exercises and (b) public forums his Department has held in each of the last two years; what the (i) purpose and (ii) cost was in each case; and who the private contractor was and how much it was paid in each case; [221343]
(2) what (a) reviews and (b) public consultations have been initiated by his Department since 27 June 2007. [221361]
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which projects his Department has commissioned from (a) think tanks and (b) charities in each of the last two years for which figures are available; what the aim of each project was; which think tank or charity was commissioned; and how much was paid. [221624]
Kurt Howard
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a response to the jury's narrative verdict in the inquest of Mr. Kurt Howard. [220907]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Justice issues in Wales are not devolved and are matters for the Secretary of State for Justice. In the case of Mr. Kurt Howard's tragic death, reflecting on the narrative verdict, I am advised that since 2002 there have been significant developments in clinical guidance, training and audit in respect of the management of violence and aggression across the NHS in Wales. This includes developing strategies that focus on preventing situations that result in patients being subjected to physical interventions.
I understand that following the narrative verdict the ABM University NHS Trust will now be reviewing its original 2002 Action Plan to see if any additional work can be done to improve the service still further.
Olympic Games 2012
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues in the last 12 months on securing benefits to Wales from the 2012 Olympic Games. [220552]
Mr. Paul Murphy: My hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State and I have had several discussions over the course of the last year with ministerial colleagues to highlight the world class facilities that Wales has to offer the 2012 Olympics.
Wales has already developed an international reputation as a nation capable of hosting, and winning, successful major sporting events. The Australian Paralympic Committee’s has expressed its intention of coming to Wales and Wales has secured Olympic football.
The Olympic Delivery Authority and London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games expect to directly procure £6 billion worth of contracts. The Government and the Welsh Assembly Government have actively encouraged small and medium-sized enterprises to register and compete for these contracts through the CompeteFor programme.
Leader of the House
House of Commons Members' Estimate Committee
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Leader of the House if she will place in the Library a copy of the full text setting out the responsibilities of the Accounting Officer for the House of Commons Members’ Estimate. [223289]
Helen Goodman: The House of Commons: Members Resource Accounts 2007-08 (HC 975) contain a short statement of the Accounting Officer’s responsibilities. This makes clear that the Accounting Officer is responsible for the House of Commons financial reporting arrangements and for safeguarding the assets, while Members are responsible for regularity and propriety of the claims submitted.
More detail on the duties of public sector Accounting Officers is set out in chapter 3 of HM Treasury’s guidance document “Managing Public Money”, which is available in the Library.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Admiralty House
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2007, Official Report, column 1079W, on Admiralty House, whether the provision of the official ministerial residences in Admiralty House to Lord Malloch-Brown includes the supply of (a) linen and laundry services, (b) porters, (c) internal plants, (d) catering services, (e) telephones, (f) cable or satellite television and (g) internet access at (i) public expense or (ii) the resident's expense. [219041]
Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
No internal plants or linen and laundry service are provided to the flat. The charge paid by occupying Departments to the Cabinet Office includes the provision of in-hours porter services. Catering services can be provided by the Cabinet Office's facilities management provider on a re-charge basis. Neither the Cabinet Office nor the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is providing telephone lines, internet access or cable or satellite television.
Prime Minister
Employment
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 22 July 2008, Official Report, columns 981-2W, on employment, what change there has been in the number of (a) UK citizens and (b) foreign nationals in employment in the UK since 1997. [223150]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 22 July 2008, Official Report, columns 981-2W.
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