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10 Sep 2008 : Column 1924W—continued
Biofuels: Research
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what discussions he (a) has had and (b) plans to have with universities involved in biofuels research on the implications of the Gallagher review. [221387]
Ian Pearson: No specific meetings or discussions have been held between Ministers in this Department and universities about the Gallagher Review. The Research Councils are responsible for providing funding for research at universities, including energy related research and post graduate training. The councils are considering the outcome of the review and will use the review to guide the development and support for research related to biofuels. For instance, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) bioenergy strategy shares many of the conclusions of the Gallagher Review by placing importance on basic science underpinning second generation biofuels, such as those that can utilise marginal land or crop residues or non-food crops.
Carers: Disabled
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to paragraph 3.11 in the Carers at the heart of 21st-century families and communities report, how much of the £150 million funding for breaks for carers of disabled children will be provided by his Department over each of the next two years. [220299]
Bill Rammell: DIUS is not involved in making direct respite care payments to carers of disabled children. The Department of Health are the budget holders of the £150 million referred to therefore we would refer the hon. Gentleman to the response from the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, South (Mr. Lewis) (220304).
Departmental Alcoholic Drinks
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) what measures are in place in his Department to monitor expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes; [219597]
(2) what purchasing process is used by his Department for the procurement of alcohol for hospitality purposes. [219956]
Mr. Lammy: Any expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes is made in accordance with guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
Accordingly, alcohol is provided only as an exception. Where it is provided, it is generally purchased by the caterer for the event in question.
Departmental Buildings
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his Department's policy is on improving the energy efficiency of the buildings which it (a) rents and (b) owns; what changes there have been in the energy efficiency of such buildings in the last (i) five and (ii) 10 years; and whether his Department has adopted targets on energy efficiency improvements in the buildings it occupies over the next (A) five and (B) 10 years. [221086]
Mr. Lammy: Estate services for the main office accommodation occupied by the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills are provided by the Departments for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and Children, Schools and Families. Answers given by those Departments will therefore cover this Department as well.
The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills also manages an estate in Teddington, occupied principally by the National Physical Laboratory. The majority of activities undertaken on the estate have recently moved to new and very different accommodation, so historical comparisons would not be meaningful. However a number of tasks are underway to improve the energy efficiency of the new NPL building such as night-time set-back of environmental control, filming of windows and installation of the infrastructure for a ground source heat pump system.
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what account his Department takes of the level of energy efficiency of buildings before entering into agreements to (a) rent and (b) purchase those buildings. [221102]
Mr. Lammy: The Department at present has not rented or purchased any building outside the current civil estate. If we were looking to occupy a new building we would seek to obtain a building with the highest BREEAM rating available.
Departmental ICT
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the value of his Department's computer systems (a) was at the time of purchase and (b) is now. [214682]
Mr. Lammy: The Department compiles their accounts consistent with the Financial Reporting Manual (FreM). The value of the Department's computer systems are as follows:
| Value of computer systems (£000) | |
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what information technology projects initiated by his Department and its predecessors have been cancelled prior to completion in the last five years; and what the cost of each such project was to the public purse. [221709]
Mr. Lammy: DIUS is a new Department established in June 2007 substantially from parts of the former DTI and DfES. As far as we are aware, since June 2007 the Department has not cancelled any information technology projects.
No information technology projects were cancelled in the last five years for those functions brought over into DIUS from the former DTI.
It is not possible, without exceeding the disproportionate cost threshold, to determine if any information technology projects were cancelled in the last five years for those functions brought over into DIUS from the former DfES.
Departmental Overtime
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the cost of overtime payments paid to staff in his Department was in each of the last 12 months, broken down by pay grade. [221292]
Mr. Lammy: The cost of overtime payments in the Department by grade is set out in the following table(1). Overtime is not payable to members of the senior civil service.
(1 )Specialist grades are included in their grade equivalent. Grades 6 and 7 are entitled to an extra hours’ discretionary payment for long hours working and a weekend attendance allowance subject
to an overriding limit. Figures include BERR grade pay ranges: range 4 (EA); ranges 5-6 (EO); ranges 7-8 (HEO); range 9 (SEO); range 10 (Grade 7); range 11 (Grade 6).
| £ | |||||||
| Executive assistant (EA) | Executive officer (EO) | Higher executive officer (HEO) | Senior executive officer (SEO) | Grade 7 | Grade 6 | Total | |
Departmental Pay
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in his Department in each of the last 10 years. [215235]
Ian Pearson: Since the creation of DIUS in June 2007 Special Advisers have claimed £1,525.63 in reimbursable expenses.
Special advisers are temporary civil servants and are therefore entitled to claim expenses available to other civil servants. Guidance on claiming expenses can be found in chapter 8 of the Civil Service guide:
http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/iam/codes/csmc/online_report/8.asp
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department and its agencies in each of the last three financial years. [221176]
Mr. Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was created as a result of machinery of government changes in June 2007. During the 2007-08 financial year £168.73 has been claimed by press officers for reimbursable expenses.
Departmental Procurement
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his Department's policy is on requesting discounts from its suppliers in return for swift payment of invoices. [220432]
Mr. Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was established under Machinery of Government changes in June 2007 and currently operates two ledgers. Science and Innovation and Higher and Further Education have the following policies regarding swift payment of invoices:
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Science and Innovation)
The Department follows OGC best practice guidance in making payments to its suppliers within 30 days of a correctly submitted invoice. This is reflected in the provisions of our standard form of contract. The Department does not have a practice of requesting discounts in return for swift payment of invoices.
The Department is subject to the provisions of the Late Payments of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 which provides suppliers with rights to claim interest on late payments of a commercial debt.
Department for Children, Schools and Families (Higher and Further Education)
The Department follows OGC best practice guidance in making payments to its suppliers. The ‘Model invitation to tender letter’ states: “the successful tenderer should provide details of discounts for prompt payment”.
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