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6 Mar 2009 : Column 1888W—continued
Bradford and Bingley
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the Bradford and Bingley business plan to be (a) finalised and (b) published. [260718]
Ian Pearson: The business plan will be completed by the end of March and a summary version will be published on Bradford and Bingley’s website shortly afterwards.
Departmental Correspondence
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters to his Department had not been replied to within 28 days as at 12 February 2009. [261411]
Angela Eagle: This information is not held in the form requested.
Departmental Data Protection
Paul Holmes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many civil servants in his Department have been (a) investigated, (b) suspended and (c) dismissed for (i) losing and (ii) deliberately disclosing (A) data stored on departmental equipment and (B) confidential information in each year since 1997; [242912]
(2) how many members of staff in his Department have been (a) investigated, (b) suspended and (c) dismissed for losing (i) memory sticks, (ii) laptop computers, (iii) desktop computers and (iv) mobile telephones belonging to his Department in each year since 1997. [248252]
Angela Eagle: In respect of deliberate disclosure of data and confidential information, there is a nil return for HM Treasury.
In respect of loss of data or confidential information and loss of departmental equipment, there have been less than five such cases within HM Treasury since 1997.
The equivalent information for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is contained in the following table and is for financial years 2007-08 and 2008-09. The figures given for loss include building and security passes as well as (i) memory sticks, (ii) laptop computers, (iii) desktop computers, (iv) mobile telephones, tapes
and discs, but the equipment concerned did not necessarily hold data. HMRC does not record loss of equipment or loss of data separately. Equivalent information was not recorded centrally by HMRC and its predecessor Departments for earlier periods.
| 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
Departmental ICT
Jenny Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) original expected cost, (b) original expected delivery date, (c) actual cost incurred and (d) actual delivery date was of each ICT project undertaken and completed by his Department in each year since 1997; who the contractors for each project were; what the (i) initial estimated and (ii) outturn payment to each contractor was; and if he will make a statement. [251140]
Angela Eagle: The following table provides the planned and actual costs and delivery dates for Treasury IT projects costing over £50,000 since 2007. Prior to that, this information was not collected centrally. None of these projects were contracted-out.
| IT project | Approved budget (£000) | Actual costs (£000) | Planned delivery | Actual delivery |
Departmental Internet
Mike Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many visits there have been to his Department’s euro website in each year since 1997. [261257]
Angela Eagle:
The euro website www.euro.gov.uk was established in 2001. For previous answers referring to visits to the euro website I refer the hon. Member to the
answers given on 13 November 2008, Official Report, column 1312W; 11 June 2007, Official Report, column 824W; 25 July 2006, Official Report, column 1350W; 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 280W; 24 June 2004, Official Report, column 1470W; 14 April 2003, Official Report, column 548W. Statistics for 2001-02 were not recorded.
Equitable Life: Compensation
Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that the ex-gratia payment scheme for Equitable Life policyholders is in accordance with the recommendation of the parliamentary ombudsman that the scheme should be simple and not impose undue burdens on those making claims. [249652]
Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 15 January 2009, Official Report, column 377.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the amount of compensation which will be paid to Equitable Life policyholders in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [260180]
Ian Pearson: The Government do not have the necessary information at present to make an assessment of payments to Equitable Life policyholders under the ex-gratia payment scheme it has announced.
The Government have asked Sir John Chadwick to consider several issues in relation to the relative losses suffered by Equitable Life policyholders. This work will be used to help inform the creation of a fair payment scheme for policyholders who have suffered a disproportionate impact, taking account of the position of the public purse, as well as practical considerations.
Financial Services Authority: Pay
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements are in place at the Financial Services Authority for the payment of bonuses to staff; and if he will make a statement. [260048]
Ian Pearson: This matter is the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority (FSA), whose day-to-day operations are independent from Government control and influence. Details of the FSA's reward and remuneration policy can be found at:
Government Departments: Procurement
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance his Department issues to other Government Departments on the consideration of the human rights records of contractors in relation to decisions on bids for procurement contracts. [260626]
Angela Eagle: All public procurement is subject to the principles of the EC treaty and the UK Public Contracts Regulations 2006, which implement the EC Public Procurement Directives.
International Business Advisory Council
Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times the International Business Advisory Council has met; what the cost of each meeting was; and who attended each meeting. [260549]
Ian Pearson: The International Business Advisory Council met at a breakfast meeting on 17 November 2006.
In addition to the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, the attendees were: Mr. Robert Rubin (Citigroup), Sir Li Ka-Shing (Hutchinson Whampoa), Sir John Rose (Rolls Royce), Dr. J P Gamier (then of GSK), Mr. Ratan Tata (Tata Group), M Bernauld Arnault (LVMH) and Ms Meg Whitman (then of ebay). The event cost £421.
In June 2007, Prime Minister Gordon Brown established the Business Council for Britain, which replaced the International Business Advisory Council, to advise on domestic and international business issues. Former members of the International Business Advisory Council are invited to attend formal meetings of the Business Council for Britain, and a number of them have done so.
For information on the current work of the Business Council for Britain please consult the BERR website:
Public Expenditure: Scotland
Mr. Ingram: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Barnett consequentials will be for Scotland of the recently announced funding to underwrite private finance initiative/ public-private partnership (PFI/PPP) schemes; and what mechanisms will be used to ensure that that funding is spent on PFI/PPP schemes in Scotland. [261383]
Yvette Cooper: There are no Barnett consequentials as the funding is not devolved and will be available on a UK wide basis. It is for the Scottish Executive to decide whether it wishes the Treasury to consider funding for any eligible PFI schemes in Scotland on the same basis as UK Government Departments.
Tax Havens
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in the review of the British offshore financial centres announced in the last pre-Budget report. [260680]
Ian Pearson: The independent review of British offshore financial centres will publish an interim report in time for the Budget in April 2009. The interim report will outline the key themes of the review, which will form the basis for consultation with interested parties.
VAT: Repairs and Maintenance
Mr. Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect a reduction in the rate of value added tax on repairs and maintenance would have on (a) the care and conservation of historic buildings and (b) the construction industry. [261465]
Mr. Timms: No such assessment has been made.
Northern Ireland
Departmental Marketing
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2009, Official Report, column 1415W, on departmental marketing, which advertising campaigns that were (a) launched and (b) maintained in 2007-08; and what the cost of each was. [257271]
Mr. Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office is unable to provide a breakdown in the format requested. However the following table illustrates the major expenditure relating to advertising by the Northern Ireland Office, excluding its agencies and Executive NDPBs:
| Advertising Campaign | 2007-08 Expenditure (£) |
Some of these figures may also include crime prevention initiative costs which are not part of the original advertising costs quoted in the answer of 5 February 2009, Official Report, column 1415W.
Campaigns such as the Fireworks Safety Campaign have had a positive effect in reducing incidents of accidents involving fireworks. In 2006 there were 69 injuries; in 2008 there were 32 injuries.
The Howsecureismyhome website is part of the Government's effort to reduce the numbers of households which fall victims to burglaries—down by 24.6 per cent. from 9064 in 2001-02 to 6831 in 2006-07.
All campaigns subject to evaluation to deliver best value.
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