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13 Nov 2008 : Column 1308W—continued
These estimates are based on a number of assumptions the Department has made around the number of lone parents who will be on income support when entitlement ceases, and the destination of lone parents when they lose entitlement.
We have commissioned a comprehensive evaluation of the changes and will monitor their impact over time. These estimates are sensitive to the particular assumptions made and will be fully tested in the evaluation.
Social Security Benefits: Reform
Mr. Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has received a response from the Scottish Executive to its consultation on the Welfare Reform Green Paper. [235539]
Kitty Ussher: Yes, we have received a response from the Scottish Government.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to answer Question 228497, on carers, tabled on 15 October 2008. [235622]
James Purnell: I replied to the hon. Member’s question on 10 November 2008, Official Report, column 925W.
Prime Minister
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr. Heald: To ask the Prime Minister what the total cost of his Office between 27 June 2007 and 27 June 2008 was. [231135]
The Prime Minister: The overall running costs of Downing street for the financial year 2007-08 were £22.78 million.
The figure for 2007-08 includes the exceptional costs of £810,000 for essential renovation to the exterior of the Downing street estate undertaken in accordance with the requirements of English Heritage
International Development
Algeria: Overseas Aid
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on aid to Saharawi refugees in Algeria in each of the last three years; and how much is planned to be spent in 2009-10. [235124]
Mr. Michael Foster: The Department for International Development provides aid indirectly to Saharawi refugees in Algeria through the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the European Commission's Humanitarian Office's (ECHO).
DFID is the sixth largest donor to the UNHCR. Since 2006, DFID has provided up to £19 million per year of unearmarked funds with plans to continue this in 2009-10. In 2007 alone, UNHCR spent $6 million on programmes in Algeria; almost all of this on providing protection and assistance to Saharawi refugees. DFID's unearmarked funds support the organisational capacity building and operations of UNHCR to enable it to effectively carry out its work with refugees.
The UK Government currently provide approximately 15 per cent. of the European Commission's Humanitarian Office's (ECHO) core budget. In 2005, ECHO provided €9.3 million to assist the Saharawi refugees in Algeria. In 2006, ECHO provided €10,900,000 (including an exceptional primary emergency response of € 900,000 to the February 2006 floods). In 2007 ECHO provided a further €10 million.
Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what sanctions are available in cases of departmental staff found to have committed disciplinary offences; and how many times each has been used in each of the last three years. [230206]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: Staff working for the Department for International Development (DFID) who have been found to commit disciplinary offences are subject to DFID's disciplinary procedures. This may lead to (i) a written warning, (ii) a final written warning, (iii) dismissal, dependant upon the actual offence and any previous disciplinary action.
Further sanctions available include “short touring” (early departure from an overseas posting), restrictions to applying for promotion opportunities and restrictions on applying for overseas postings. Such sanctions are considered on a case by case basis.
Action on confirmed disciplinary offences in the last three years were:
| First written warning | Final written warning | Dismissal | |
Departmental Lost Property
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) equipment and (b) data was lost by his Department in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [231438]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) can confirm the following information:
(a) Equipment loss—Nine laptops were stolen during the period 2007-08. All DFID laptops have secure encryption technology and no data have been put at risk.
(b) The Department for International Development, in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance, did not report any personal data related incidents for the period 2007-08.
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which countries his Department has representation on the ground. [232844]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The countries which have Department for International Development (DFID) representation on the ground are as shown in the following list:
Afghanistan
Albania
Armenia
Bangladesh
Barbados
Bolivia
Bosnia
Brazil
Burma
Burundi
Cambodia
China
Congo, Dem Rep
Ethiopia
Georgia
Ghana
Guyana
India
Indonesia
Iraq
Jamaica
Jordan
Kenya (covers Somalia)
Kosovo
Kyrgyzstan
Malawi0
Moldova
Montserrat
Mozambique
Nepal
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Pakistan
Palestinian Territories
Russia
Rwanda
Serbia
Sierra Leone (covers Liberia)
South Africa
St. Helena
Sudan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Uganda
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Treasury
Banks: Compensation
Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2008, Official Report, column 776W, on banks: compensation, what steps he plans to take to ensure that banks which have sought recourse to the banking rescue package are not commercially disadvantaged. [234945]
Ian Pearson: The banks which have sought recourse to the bank recapitalisation package will be more strongly capitalised and therefore better placed to serve the best long term interests of their shareholders, including the taxpayer.
Council Tax: Wales
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2008, Official Report, column 716W, on council tax: Wales, what the web address of the page with the updated information is. [235049]
Mr. Timms: The information is accessed via:
by clicking on the Council Tax tab/Information for Wales only/Details of Council Tax List alterations.
Departmental Internet
Mrs. May: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for which Government websites his Department is responsible; how many visitors each received in the last period for which figures are available; and what the cost of maintaining each site was in that period. [235025]
Angela Eagle: Maintenance costs and visitor statistics in 2007-08 for websites which come under responsibility of the Chancellor of the Exchequer are as follows:
| Website address | Maintenance costs 2007-08 (£) | Unique visits in 2007-08( 1) |
| (1) Unless otherwise indicated. (2) Unavailable. | ||
Maintenance costs includes direct costs, for example web hosting, support and infrastructure.
Staff costs are not included as they could be established only at disproportionate cost.
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