Written Answers to Questions
Monday 8 June 2009
Wales
Departmental Publications
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what booklets have been produced for publication by the Wales Office since 1 January 2005; and what the (a) print run, (b) production cost, (c) distribution costs and (d) cover price was of each such booklet. [278392]
Mr. Hain: Since January 2005 the Wales Office has published two booklets for public distribution. These were in addition to parliamentary papers.
The first booklet from March 2007 was produced to mark the 200 year anniversary of the abolition of the Slave Trade Act and was entitled Slavery and Wales with a print run of 12,000 at a cost of £3,925. These booklets were sent to Welsh MPs, Lords with Welsh interests, Assembly members, all primary and secondary schools in Wales, all libraries in Wales, all National Trust sites in Wales, the Waterfront Museum, the Paul Robeson Trust and local history groups. There was no cover charge.
The second booklet from May 2009 entitled Real Help for Wales Now provides a guide to the UK Government and Welsh Assembly Government initiatives available to help businesses and people through the recession. It had a print run of 2,000 at a cost of £3,444. These booklets were distributed to all Welsh MPs and Assembly members, all Welsh local authorities and Jobcentre Plus in Cardiff. Copies were also provided when meeting with businesses throughout Wales and to attendees at economic summits. Again there was no cover charge.
Leader of the House
Departmental Dismissal
Chris Huhne: To ask the Leader of the House how many members of staff in her office were dismissed (a) for under-performance and (b) in total in each of the last 10 years. [278382]
Chris Bryant: No members of staff have been dismissed from the office since June 2007.
The office of the Leader of the House of Commons joined the Cabinet Office in 2007. Information from before this time can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Northern Ireland
Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland: Publications
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what publications Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland has made in the last five financial years; how much each publication cost; and to whom they were distributed. [277752]
Paul Goggins: This is an operational matter for Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, which operates independently of Government. I would encourage the hon. Lady to write to Dr. Michael Maguire, the Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland.
Community Safety Partnerships: County Down
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which organisations are represented on the North Down Community Safety Partnership; which organisations received funding from the partnership in each of the last three years; and how much each received. [277751]
Paul Goggins: Organisations represented on the North Down Community Safety Partnership membership are:
North Down PSNI; Northern Ireland Housing Executive; Age Concern; North Down Community Network; Bangor and Holywood Town Centre Management; North Down Victim Support; Northern Ireland Probation Service; South Eastern Education and Library Board; Supporting Communities Northern Ireland; North Down District Policing Partnership; Bangor and Holywood Clergy Fellowship; South Eastern and Social Care Trust and Elected Representatives from North Down borough council (four UUP, four DUP, four Alliance and one Independent).
Details of the organisations in North Down which have received funding from the Partnership over the last three years along with how much each received is set out in the following table.
| £ | ||||
| Funding | ||||
| Organisation | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | Total |
Crime: Wildlife
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of criminal offences involving wildlife. [277322]
Paul Goggins: The creation of criminal offences and penalties is a reserved matter under the Northern Ireland Act 1998, and an Assembly Bill containing a reserved matter requires the consent of the Secretary of State. However, it is in practice for the relevant Northern Ireland Minister to decide how best to raise awareness of criminal offences within devolved policy areas such as wildlife. In the case of offences involving the protection of wildlife, this would fall to the Environment Minister.
Departmental Reviews
Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) review and (b) taskforce projects his Department has commissioned in each of the last five years; what the purpose of each such project is; when each such project (i) began and (ii) was completed; what the cost of each such project was; and if he will make a statement. [275978]
Paul Goggins: Summary information on taskforces and other standing bodies is available in the annual Cabinet Office publication, ‘Public Bodies’. Copies of ‘Public Bodies 2008’ are available in the Libraries of the House. Detailed information on ad hoc advisory bodies is published in the annual Northern Ireland Office departmental report and also on the departmental website:
Information about reviews commissioned since the Department's creation is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Security
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many breaches of security have been reported at (a) the Compensation Agency, (b) the Forensic Science Northern Ireland, (c) the Northern Ireland Prison Service and (d) the Youth Justice Agency in the last five years; and what procedures each agency follows when a breach of security involves the disclosure of personal data. [276949]
Mr. Woodward: In the period specified, there were five security breaches in the Northern Ireland Prison Service, three in the Forensic Science agency and one in the Youth Justice Agency. There were no reported security breaches in the Compensation Agency.
When a breach of security involves the disclosure of personal data, the agencies follow the Northern Ireland Office incident response policy.
Departmental Stationery
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of office supplies purchased by his Department were recycled products in the latest period for which figures are available. [275340]
Paul Goggins: We do not keep a record of the proportion of office supplies purchased that are recycled products. Our stationery suppliers provide a range of products made from recycled materials some of which we purchase.
Economic and Monetary Union
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what activities have been undertaken by his Department's euro Minister in that capacity. [277163]
Paul Goggins: Euro Ministers are responsible for euro preparations in their Department and attend euro Ministers Steering Group meetings. Meetings are held only when necessary to discuss practical preparations to ensure a smooth changeover.
Industrial Health and Safety
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on compliance with requirements of health and safety at work legislation in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [274537]
Mr. Woodward: Expenditure to ensure compliance with health and safety at work legislation can include various costs, such as building related works and training for staff.
Details of building works related to health and safety compliance are not recorded separately from general building works and therefore could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
My Department strives to ensure compliance with health and safety at work legislation through training and development of staff. Expenditure on health and safety training and development in each of the last five years is as follows:
| £ | |
| (1) Staff costs only (training provided in-house). (2) Including the extension of a contract to enable health and safety e-learning training to be provided for all staff. | |
Mortgages
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate his Department has made of the number of home-owners in Northern Ireland who are in negative equity. [277323]
Paul Goggins: The Government do not hold this information. Such estimates may be available from commercial lenders or their representative bodies.
Culture, Media and Sport
Free Theatre Initiative
9. Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tickets have been distributed under his Department's free theatre initiative. [278196]
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tickets have been distributed under his Department's free theatre initiative. [278193]
Mr. Bradshaw: A Night Less Ordinary, which offers free theatre tickets to young people under 26, was launched by Arts Council England in February.
Data for the first quarter of the scheme are being collated and will be published by mid-July 2009.
Early feedback from participating venues and young theatre goers, alongside the impressive number of website visitors suggests that the scheme has proved immensely popular so far.
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