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12 Mar 2009 : Column 707W—continued
Leader of the House
Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings
David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House how many staff in her Office (a) were disciplined and (b) had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last 12 months. [262227]
Legislation
Mr. Baron: To ask the Leader of the House with reference to the answer of 6 November 2008, Official Report, column 731W, on legislation, how many pages of (a) primary and (b) delegated legislation were passed by the House in (i) 2007 and (ii) 2008. [263231]
Chris Bryant: The number of printed A4 pages for all Public Acts, taken from the PDF versions on the OPSI website, were as follows:
| Number | |
Figures for earlier years given in my previous answer were based on the bound volumes of legislation published by The Stationery Office. These volumes have not yet been published for the years in question and there may be a difference between the figures given and the bound volume figures.
Because of the volume of delegated legislation and because the bound volumes have not yet been published by TSO, page numbers could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Broadband
Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent assessment he has made of progress towards meeting his Department's target for broadband to be installed in every home by 2010; and if he will make a statement. [261005]
Ian Pearson: Currently, over 99 per cent. of UK households are connected to a broadband enabled exchange and satellite broadband is geographically available to 100 per cent. of the UK.
The Interim Digital Britain Report, which was published in January, outlined the Government's intention for a broadband universal service commitment by 2012, and we are currently looking at how this might work in practice in more detail. The final findings will be available in the Full Digital Britain Report in late spring/early summer.
Harry Cohen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the minimum cost for access to broadband communication under the Digital Britain plan will be. [261196]
Ian Pearson: Under Digital Britain, we will be looking at the service levels appropriate to provide internet services that offer benefits for citizens, consumers and the environment. We aim to facilitate a competitive market by setting a policy framework that balances commercial and consumer’s interests.
Defence Equipment: Procurement
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he has taken to ensure that small to medium-sized enterprises have information on and access to European procurement programmes for security and defence equipment technologies; and through what media his Department advertises such programmes. [262394]
Mr. Quentin Davies: I have been asked to reply.
We fully recognise the important part that small and medium-sized enterprises play in delivering capability to our front-line forces and the MOD's policy aims to promote a fair and healthy supply network which is robust, consistently delivers to time, cost and quality, is responsive to rapidly changing requirements and is customer focused.
When advertising contract opportunities on European procurement programmes, the MOD uses media such as the Defence Contracts Bulletin, Official Journal of the European Union, the European Defence Agency (EDA) Electronic Bulletin Board and the Supply2.gov.uk website.
Manufacturing Industries: Motor Vehicles
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations he has received following the West Midlands auto industry summit. [260451]
Ian Pearson [holding answer 3 March 2009]: BERR received an open letter dated 20 February from The Birmingham Post, the Birmingham Mail and the Coventry Telegraph enclosing the communiqué developed at the West Midlands auto industry summit. The hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Mr. Shepherd) tabled a parliamentary question on 24 February asking when a reply could be expected and the Minister for the West Midlands also emailed BERR to ask the same question. A reply was sent to The Birmingham Post on 2 March. Copies of both letters have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Motor Industry: Government Assistance
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent steps his Department has taken to support the UK car industry. [261429]
Ian Pearson: The Automotive Assistance Programme is now open for business. A seminar was held on 11 March to inform companies, banks and industry representatives about applying for help. Following demand from the automotive sector for support under the “Train to Gain” scheme, the budget of £65 million has been increased substantially up to £100 million. Automotive firms are also eligible for support from other Government programmes and details are available at:
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will bring forward proposals to enable car finance companies to access the Bank of England’s credit guarantee scheme. [261430]
Ian Pearson: My noble Friend, the Minister for Trade and Investment, is urgently exploring with the motor finance industry possible options to help improve the flow of liquidity to car finance companies. As part of this, he is considering industry proposals to access the Credit Guarantee Scheme (administered by the Debt Management Office) and other schemes administered by the Bank of England.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what plans he has to assist automobile companies owned or part-owned by foreign investors with manufacturing plants in the UK. [261148]
Ian Pearson: All automotive companies and suppliers with a turnover of at least £25 million recorded in their last published annual report and accounts and with a proposed investment of at least £5 million, who manufacture or propose to do so in the UK, and who meet the criteria can apply to the Automotive Assistance Programme announced on 27 January 2009. A range of other support is also available to companies based in the UK and details are available at:
Motor Vehicles: North East
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he is taking to support the motor manufacturing industry in the North East. [245804]
Ian Pearson: We are closely engaged with the automotive and other sectors in the UK, including companies in the North East. The Automotive Assistance Programme (AAP) which will support up to £2.3 billion of investment is open for applications. In addition to the AAP, we are helping the automotive sector secure support from the European Investment Bank, as well as providing support for low carbon R and D and up to £100 million for training. Wider help for business across the board is also applicable and further details are available at:
Children, Schools and Families
Children: Abuse
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will investigate allegations that child abuse has taken place in the production of the Channel 4 programme Boys and Girls Alone; what representations (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have made to Channel 4 on the matter; and if he will make a statement. [261530]
Beverley Hughes: The Department is fully aware of the programme ‘Boys and Girls Alone’ and the concerns that have been raised. Baroness Morgan has written to Channel 4 about the programme. She requested an explanation of how the production company assessed the safeguarding risks and the welfare issues concerning the children involved. This explanation has been received. We are currently considering what action might need to be taken in respect of the law relating to child performances.
Children: Protection
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many representations his Department has received from social workers on child protection issues in Doncaster since its was established; [248764]
(2) how many representations concerning child protection in Doncaster his Department has referred to (a) the Commission for Social Care Inspection and (b) Ofsted since it was established. [248765]
Beverley Hughes: The Department for Children, Schools and Families has no record of having received correspondence from any individual identifying themselves as a social worker, on child protection issues in Doncaster, nor of having referred any representations on child protection in that area to CSCI or Ofsted.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2009, Official Report, column 1116W, on children: protection, which staff of his Department are permitted to read anonymised full serious case reviews. [261072]
Beverley Hughes [holding answer 5 March 2009]: Copies of serious case reviews are seen by relevant members of the Department's Safeguarding Group when sent by Local Safeguarding Children Boards for the purpose of informing the biennial overview reports which analyse the key findings from SCRs as a whole and identify the implications for policy and practice. Members of the Government offices may also see relevant individual anonymised SCRs to inform their support and challenge role in relation to LSCBs and local authorities.
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what finance and support his Department provided for the production of series (a) one, (b) two and three of the Kids Taskforce Watch over me DVD. [262475]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department for Education and Skills contributed £75,000 towards the cost of producing the first series of Watch Over Me in 2003. The Department did not provide funding or support for the development of series two and three.
Departmental Data Protection
Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what auditing his Department undertakes to ensure that IT security policies are being followed; and on how many occasions (a) IT security policies have been breached by employees and (b) a member of staff has been sanctioned for a breach of such policies in the last 12 months. [259785]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handles and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.
The Department has a programme of regular and ad-hoc auditing in place to ensure policies are being followed, including audits of staff awareness/compliance and security sweeps of DCSF buildings.
For the period 1 March 2008 to 28 February 2009, the Department for Children, Schools and Families had two serious breaches of IT security policies, which resulted in one member of staff being dismissed and one member of staff having a laptop confiscated.
During the same period, the Department also had a number of less serious breaches, such as mobile IT equipment being stored in unlocked storage, which were dealt with in accordance with the Department’s security breach policy.
Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's IT security hierarchy. [259786]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handle and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.
It is not in the interest of the security of the Department, or that of the public, to disclose detailed information pertaining to the security of the Department's IT systems. Disclosing such information would enable criminals and those who would attempt to cause disruptive threats to the Department to deduce how to conduct attacks and therefore potentially enhance their capability to carry out such attacks.
Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what scanning for vulnerabilities his Department conducts of each of its IT devices; what method is used for IT device scans; and how many vulnerabilities have been detected as a result of such scans in the last 12 months. [259787]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handle and put in place a set of mandatory measures which departments must adhere to.
It is not in the interest of the security of the Department, or that of the public, to disclose detailed information pertaining to electronic breaches of security of departments’ IT systems. Disclosing such information would enable criminals and those who would attempt to cause disruptive threats to the department to deduce how to conduct attacks and therefore potentially enhance their capability to carry out such attacks.
Anne Main:
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what IT security policy his Department has; what procedures are in place to ensure the policy is being followed; what his Department’s
policy is on encryption of data when it leaves departmental premises; and what sanctions are in place for failure to comply with this policy. [259858]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handles and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families is compliant with the security policies contained in the Government Security Policy Framework including those for information security and assurance. Compliance arrangements comprise a system of self assessment, accreditation, assurance reporting, audit and review. Depending upon the circumstances, a range of sanctions are available including disciplinary or administrative action, and in extreme or persistent cases, termination of employment/services and, if appropriate, criminal proceedings.
Departmental Official Hospitality
Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his Department's entertainment budget was in each of the last five years. [261113]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department does not have a separate budget allocation for entertainment but forms part of the over all general administration budget.
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