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26 Feb 2009 : Column 940W—continued
Valuation Office: Publications
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 14 May 2008, Official Report, column 1630W, on Valuation Office: Publications, whether the Valuation Office Agency has produced an in-house staff email bulletin or intranet equivalent since June 2007. [258478]
Valuation: Housing
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individual locality groups the Valuation Office Agency uses to classify domestic dwellings in England. [258496]
Mr. Timms: As at 1 February 2009, there were 3,886 locality groups covering England.
Valuebill
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which local authorities in (a) England and (b) Wales use the Valuebill interface to communicate with the Valuation Office Agency. [258502]
Mr. Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) on 19 June 2007, Official Report, column 1647W.
Olympics
Departmental Translation Services
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many language translators are employed in her Office; and what the cost of the translating services was in the most recent period for which figures are available. [257147]
Tessa Jowell: In this financial year to date my private office has not directly employed any translators or interpreters. The Government Olympic Executive has paid the following amounts on language translating services:
Olympic and Paralympic Legacy Report and Leaflet—Translation to Welsh £1,815 (plus VAT)
Business Cards—Translation to Mandarin £325 (plus VAT)—for use in Beijing during the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Translation of a letter into Portuguese £132 (plus VAT)
Total: £ 2,272 (plus VAT)
We are awaiting confirmation from the British embassy in Brazil of any interpretation costs arising from my visit to the International Inspiration Programme held there in November.
Olympic Games 2012: Construction
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics for what reason the necessity for alterations to (a) the roof and (b) the external wrap of the Olympic Stadium was not identified at an earlier stage in the Olympic budget process; and if she will make a statement. [256481]
Tessa Jowell: The decision to include the installation of the temporary structural enhancements required for the opening and closing ceremonies was taken in autumn 2008. This was done to reduce health and safety risks that would have arisen from doing this work after the main construction is complete, as was envisaged under the original plan. The detailed design of the stadium wrap is still being developed.
Olympic Games 2012: Contracts
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics when Lendlease's exclusivity agreement to build the athlete’s village expires. [258905]
Tessa Jowell: The exclusivity agreement between the Olympic Delivery Authority and Lend Lease expires on 31 March 2009. There is, however, an option to extend exclusivity by mutual consent.
Olympic Games 2012: Finance
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what costs arising from preparations for and hosting of the London 2012 Olympic Games are estimated to be incurred by (a) the Metropolitan Police, (b) the London Fire Brigade, (c) Transport for London and (d) the London Development Agency in each financial year until 2012-13; what proportion of these costs will be met by grants from the Olympics Delivery Authority in each case; and if she will make a statement. [257278]
Tessa Jowell: The cost of the games remains within the £9.325 billion funding package that I announced in March 2007.
(a) and (b): As already announced this includes a £600 million envelope of provision for policing and wider security, and £354 million for onsite security from within the Olympic Delivery Authority’s (ODA) budget. An additional £238 million (within the £9.325 billion funding package) will be made available for contingency if required. Work is continuing to finalise the security strategy and plans within these provisions. Decisions on funding will take account of operational needs of the police, fire and rescue and other agencies, affordability and the need to secure value for money. The ODA does not make grant payments to the Metropolitan Police or the London Fire Brigade.
(c) Within the funding package, there is a provision of £864 million for Olympic transport projects, which will be delivered by Transport for London (TfL) and other partners. The ODA and TfL have a funding agreement setting out the TfL-led transport projects, facilities, and services required for the 2012 games (in addition to TfL’s ongoing Investment Programme). ODA contributions relating to this activity are covered by the funding agreement. The amount of these contributions is subject to agreement on a project by project basis as each Business case is approved. The estimated total contribution is c. £370 million.
(d) Within the £9.325 billion funding package, the London Development Agency (LDA) is directly contributing £250 million of the total London contribution of £1.175 billion (comprising £925 million from GLA of which £625 million is from council tax precepts and £300 million from the LDA; plus the LDA’s direct contribution of £250m). The ODA does not make grant payments to the LDA.
The Government have recently published the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games annual report January 2009, which provides a detailed breakdown of the ODA budget. I have also committed to publishing a financial update on a quarterly basis.
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics for how long the £326 million grant from the Olympics Contingency Fund will enable construction of the athlete’s village to continue. [258903]
Tessa Jowell: The £326 million extra funding for the Olympic Village includes the £95 million announced last year. The £326 million will allow works to continue well into 2010 parallel to on-going negotiations and evaluation of the best value funding option for development of the Olympic Village.
Olympic Games 2012: Medals
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Minister for the Olympics (1) where the medals for the London 2012 Olympics will be struck; [258295]
(2) which firms tendered for the contract to create the medals for the London 2012 Olympics; [258296]
(3) where the raw materials for the medals for the London 2012 Olympics will be sourced; and if she will make a statement. [258297]
Tessa Jowell: The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is responsible for the provision of the medals for the London 2012 Games. No decisions have been taken yet in relation to the medals.
LOCOG is a private company which raises its income from a variety of commercial sources in order to host and stage the Games. LOCOG may choose to supply the medals for the 2012 Games through a value-in-kind sponsorship deal or through a procurement process. All medals sourced will conform to LOCOG's sustainable sourcing code, which is available on the 2012 website:
Olympic Games 2012: Wales
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether she has received a response from the Olympic Delivery Authority on the monetary value of contracts it has awarded to business organisations in Wales. [242297]
Tessa Jowell [holding answer 10 December 2008]: As set out in my letter dated 28 January to the hon. Member, I have received a response from the Olympic Delivery Authority and I have placed this in the House Library.
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Minister for the Olympics if she will place in the Library the response from the Olympic Delivery Authority on the monetary value of contracts awarded to business organisations in Wales. [242519]
Tessa Jowell [holding answer 11 December 2008]: As set out in my letter dated 28 January to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham, I have received a response from the Olympic Delivery Authority and I have placed this in the House Library.
Leader of the House
Departmental Internet
Mr. Harper: To ask the Leader of the House if she will publish a copy of her Office’s website accessibility plan. [257230]
Chris Bryant: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is currently reviewing the position of its office website, including accessibility of the site.
We shall publish any resulting accessibility plan to the House as soon as possible.
Prime Minister
Israel: Anniversaries
Mr. Amess: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2009, Official Report, column 2136W, on Israel: Anniversaries, whether he made a speech at the Israel Embassy’s 60th anniversary reception; and if he will make a statement. [259163]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 12 February 2009, Official Report, column 2136W.
Members: Surveillance
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Prime Minister whether any electronic surveillance of hon. Members by (a) the police and (b) the intelligence and security services falling within the terms of the Wilson doctrine has taken place in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [259033]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 8 December 2008, Official Report, column 15W.
Ministers: Pensions
Mr. Maude: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 28 January 2009, Official Report, column 541W, on Ministers: pensions, whether Lord Falconer of Thoroton is to receive (a) a pension equivalent to that received by other Secretaries of State in the House of Lords, (b) a pension entitlement derived from the provisions of the Lord Chancellor’s Pension Act 1832 as amended or (c) a pension settlement on another basis in respect of his service as Lord Chancellor; and if he will make a statement. [258692]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave the right hon. Member on 28 January 2009, Official Report, column 541W.
National Security
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Prime Minister with reference to the written ministerial statement of 22 July 2008, Official Report, columns 111-12WS, on the national security strategy, what progress has been made on the establishment of a joint committee on the national security strategy; and if he will make a statement. [258838]
The Prime Minister: The Government are committed to bringing proposals before the two Houses for the establishment of the new Joint Committee in time for it to consider the next iteration of the National Security Strategy which will be published before the summer recess. We have already had productive consultations with the opposition parties and relevant Select Committee chairs on those proposals and membership discussions are under way.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Prime Minister with reference to the written ministerial statement of 22 July 2008, Official Report, columns 111-12WS, on the national security strategy, whether any changes will be made to the Intelligence Services Act 1994 in relation to (a) the Intelligence and Security Committee, (b) the Defence Select Committee and (c) the Foreign Affairs Select Committee following the establishment of a joint committee on the national security strategy. [258840]
Official Residences
John Mason: To ask the Prime Minister (1) which ministerial residences were (a) occupied and (b) vacant in each month since May 2005; [259202]
(2) how many ministerial residences have been (a) sold and (b) identified for sale since May 2005; and what steps the Government have taken to identify the notional rental value of each property. [259336]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) on 8 October 2008, Official Report, column 618W.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan: Peace Negotiations
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his US counterpart about proposals for dialogue between the US and the Taleban in Afghanistan. [254682]
Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary recently met with the US Secretary of State, and had a wide-ranging discussion, including on the need for a comprehensive approach in Afghanistan, and a focus on the political as well as military agenda.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials regularly discuss with their US counterparts how best to support Afghan-led efforts to bring disaffected Afghans into society’s mainstream, providing they meet the Afghan government’s conditions and renounce violence, have no links to Al Qaeda and accept Afghanistan’s Constitution.
Africa: Human Rights
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the governments of (a) the Democratic Republic of Congo and (b) Rwanda on the serving of the International Criminal Court warrant on Bosco Ntganda; and whether MONUC has also been tasked to take part in such an operation. [253994]
Gillian Merron: The UK is strongly supportive of the International Criminal Court. We have reminded the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo of its obligations in respect of the warrant for the arrest of Bosco Ntaganda. As far as we are aware, the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) has received no instructions to act on the warrant. We have not held specific discussions on the warrant with the government of Rwanda, which is not a party to the Rome Statute.
Apprentices
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 2 June 2008, Official Report, column 697W, on apprentices, what progress has been made on increasing the number of apprentices in his Department; and how many apprentices his Department employs. [251957]
Gillian Merron: The government wide pathfinder apprenticeship scheme has been rolled-out from September 2008. In the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) 64 UK based staff are currently finalising their applications for advanced apprenticeships. The FCO will continue to promote apprenticeships to eligible staff as part of our wider commitment to staff development.
FCO Services, a trading fund of the FCO, runs an advanced apprenticeship scheme for electronic and IT engineers. They currently have 35 advanced apprentices. In September 2008, eight advanced apprentices graduated to substantive positions within technical sections. FCO Services currently plans to recruit an additional 20 advanced apprentices during the financial year 2009-10.
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