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6 Nov 2008 : Column 740W—continued
—continuedSuper Output Areas
Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a table listing the local government ward and the parliamentary constituency that each super output area (a) lower and (b) middle layer falls within. [232867]
Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated November 2008:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if a table could be placed in the Library listing the local government ward and the parliamentary constituency that each super output area (a) lower layer and (b) middle layer, falls within. (232867)
The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Wilf Stevenson
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the (a) job title and (b) job specification is of Mr. Wilf Stevenson in Downing Street. [233502]
Kevin Brennan: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer the Prime Minister gave the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 23 October 2008, Official Report, column 554W.
Innovation, Universities and Skills
Art Works: Royalties
Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on EU Directive 2001/84/EC. [233932]
Mr. Lammy: There have been no recent discussions of this EU Decision, which allowed the Republic of Cyprus to participate in the EU education, training and youth programmes in operation at that time, prior to its accession to the EU in 2004.
The EU Programmes referred to in the 2001 Decision were themselves replaced after 2006 by a Decision adopting the current EU Programmes for Lifelong Learning and Youth that run from 2007-13.
EU Ministers last discussed the current range of Lifelong Learning and Youth programmes when they were adopted in 2006.
Departmental Lost Property
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what (a) equipment and (b) data have been lost by his Department in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [231440]
Mr. Simon: The information requested is as follows.
(a) Our records for the last 12 months show that the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has lost three Blackberry devices.
(b) The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance, did not report any personal data related incidents for the period 2007-08.
Intellectual Property: EU Law
Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the Government's policy is on the proposed harmonising of the term of protection of copyright and certain related rights pursuant to Council Directive 93/98/EEC of 29 October 1993; whether such harmonisation and application of the resale right for the benefit of those entitled under the artist after their death is sought by the UK Government; and what assessment has been made of the preparedness of the UK's legal procedures to accommodate the application of the resale right for the benefit of those entitled under the artist after their death. [233931]
Mr. Lammy: The directive 93/98/EEC of 29 October 1993 harmonised copyright term throughout the EU. The UK has fully implemented this directive.
The Government will decide whether or not to seek to extend the derogation to artist's resale right for the work of deceased artists once the analysis of the responses to the recent consultation on the issue has been completed. The Government will then need to decide whether or not any amendments will need to be made to UK law.
Mentally Ill Staff
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what information his Department has gathered on the effect of its policies and practices on the recruitment, development and retention of employees with mental illnesses within (a) his Department and (b) the public sector bodies for which he has responsibility; and what use has been made of that information. [228554]
Mr. Simon: Under the Disability Equality Duty introduced by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, the Department and its public sector bodies listed in the associated Regulations are required to publish and implement Disability Equality Schemes. These are plans setting out how they will carry out the Disability Equality Duty, monitor, and report on progress. In particular this includes their arrangements for gathering information on the effect of their policies and practices on the recruitment, development and retention of their disabled employees, including those with mental health conditions, and making use of that information.
The Department makes reasonable adjustments for people with mental health related disabilities and has an occupational health service that advises managers on the steps they can take to help people with mental health related illnesses return to and stay in work. A confidential welfare service is also available for staff who may wish to discuss any health related issues. The Department uses the Guaranteed Interview Scheme when recruiting externally and for internal job filling.
In line with the Disability Equality Duty, a report is published every three years to show: progress towards disability equality in my policy sector; and proposals for co-ordination of future work by relevant public authorities
within my policy sector. These reports will show what impact, if any, policies have had on the recruitment and retention of disabled people including those with mental health conditions, and set out proposals to address any gaps identified when establishing the progress made across the policy sector. The first report must be published by December 2008.
The public sector bodies sponsored by my Department that are subject to these requirements are responsible for publishing and implementing their own disability equality schemes.
Students: Electoral Register
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps his Department is taking to assist universities in their efforts to encourage students to register to vote. [233724]
Mr. Lammy: The Department strongly supports the promotion of active citizenship among students in higher education, for example through increased opportunities for volunteering and other forms of community engagement.
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is funding a project involving 10 higher education institutions, designed to incorporate modern citizenship modules into programmes of study in a variety of disciplines. Led by the universities of Southampton, Keele and Liverpool John Moores, the project has developed innovative learning materials for one to two-week modules in 11 areas of citizenship.
Students: Finance
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage universities to use all of their available budgets for bursaries and scholarships to students needing financial support. [233431]
Mr. Lammy: Higher education institutions are not allowed to charge variable fees to undergraduates unless they have an access agreement approved by the Director of Fair Access, which covers the payment of bursaries. Once that access agreement has been approved, the Director monitors each institution's performance against the obligations in its access agreement, and has powers to impose penalties if there is a breach.
In 2006-07, the first year of the new fee and student support arrangements, around 25 per cent. of the additional income generated by variable fees has been recycled into bursary payments to students or into outreach work included as part of the access agreement. The Director concluded that all institutions had complied with their obligations. His report identified, however, that there was a minority of students who did not apply for a bursary and whose eligibility would not have been automatically apparent from information supplied by the Student Loans Company. We are working with institutions, the Director of Fair Access and the Student Loans Company to address this issue.
The Director of fair Access is currently examining institutions' payment of bursaries in 2007-08.
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that all higher education students are aware of the bursaries which exist to provide financial support. [233432]
Mr. Lammy: Higher education institutions provide information about the bursaries and scholarships they offer. The Office of Fair Access regulates their activities in this area and has provided additional guidance for institutions based on the findings of its Access Agreement Monitoring Report for 2006-07. The Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills continues to raise awareness of all elements of the higher education student finance package, including bursaries, via literature, the internet and campaign material. Information for prospective students on bursaries is also available via the Universities and Colleges Admissions System website.
Justice
Contact Orders: Grandparents
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consideration he has given to bringing forward proposals to remove the requirement in the Children Act 1989 for grandparents and other extended kin to seek leave to apply for contact in family court proceedings; and if he will make a statement. [232778]
Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
The Government have no plans to remove the requirement in the Children Act 1989 for grandparents and other extended kin to seek leave of the court to apply for contact in family court proceedings.
Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when his Department’s guidance relating to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 will be published. [233939]
Mr. Straw: The provisions of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act are being brought into force in stages. Of the 146 substantive sections, 64 (44 per cent.) are wholly, or partly, in force. The Ministry of Justice has issued two circulars providing guidance on a number of the provisions of the Act which have been commenced, these are available at:
Prison Service instructions have also been issued on specific provisions, where appropriate. Further guidance will be issued, as necessary, as further provisions are commenced over the coming months.
Departmental Databases
Mrs. Laing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what additional safeguards have been put in place to ensure data security in the (a) Libra, (b) Prison
Nomis, (c) ViSOR, (d) OASys, (e) Connectivity, (f) E-Asset and (g) Secure E-Mail IT systems following recent data losses. [228867]
Mr. Hanson: The Ministry of Justice, along with all Government Departments, takes its responsibilities for protecting the confidentiality of the information we handle very seriously.
The Data Handling Review—Final Report, published by the Cabinet Office in June 2008, summarises the work conducted in Departments to improve data handling following the data losses that occurred in late 2007. The report also sets mandatory minimum standards for Departments to follow, for example introducing new rules on the use of protective measures, such as encryption of removable media.
Departmental Liability
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies. [232735]
Maria Eagle: Government accounting rules require certain contingent liabilities to be reported to Parliament at the earliest opportunity, either by means of a Parliamentary Minute or via Supply Estimates. The dates on which the Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies first reported such contingent liabilities are recorded in the annual resource accounts and in Supply Estimates for as long as the liabilities continue to exist. The following specific liabilities have been reported in the last five years:
Indemnity to members of the 42 local area probation boards (Minute 6 June 2005);
Central Council of Magistrates' Courts Committees indemnity (Minute 27 June 2006);
Indemnity for chairman and members of the Mubarek inquiry (Minute 10 March 2006);
Prison Service indemnity for British Airports Authority (Home Office 2006-07 resource accounts).
In addition, the annual accounts of the Department and its non departmental public bodies report contingent liabilities in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 12 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets. These liabilities do not require specific parliamentary approval.
Departmental NDPBs
Mr. Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what funding has been agreed with each of his Department’s non-departmental public bodies for the period 2008 to 2011. [229146]
Maria Eagle: Funding for the Ministry of Justice non-departmental public bodies has been agreed for 2008-09 only. Funding for 2009-10 and 2010-11 has not been agreed at this time and will be discussed at a later stage.
The details for each body are in the following table:
| Ministry of Justice Non-Departmental Public Bodies | |
| Sponsored body | 2008-09 (£ million) |
| Notes: 1. Costs are rounded to the nearest £ million and include cash and non cash totals. 2. Bodies included are those with Executive NDPB status. | |
Drugs: Rehabilitation
James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many drug rehabilitation requirements have included an abstinence requirement in each of the last five years; [232885]
(2) what proportion of those in receipt of (a) a drug treatment and testing order and (b) a drug rehabilitation requirement tested positive for opiate use 12 months after receipt of their order. [232888]
Mr. Hanson: The drug rehabilitation requirement (DRR), successor to the Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO), does not impose a requirement of drug abstinence. Drug misuse is a chronic relapsing condition which can take many years to address successfully. The goal of the DRR is to move offenders through treatment toward abstinence and to manage episodes of relapse in a way which reduces harm to the individual and the community.
Information on the proportion of those in receipt of DTTOs/DRRs who tested positive for opiate use 12 months after receipt of their order is not collated centrally. Such information can only be obtained by undertaking a trawl of individual records which would be at a disproportionate cost.
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