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20 July 2009 : Column 768W—continued
Eastern Europe
Mr. Hands: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2009, Official Report, column 499W, on Eastern Europe, on what occasions since June 2007 he has met (a) President Václav Klaus of the Czech Republic, (b) President Lech Kaczynski of Poland and (c) President Dmitri Medvedev of the Russian Federation (i) in the UK, (ii) in each leader's home country and (iii) elsewhere. [287594]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 3 July 2009, Official Report, column 499W.
European Commission
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what criteria he plans to adopt in determining the Government's position on the selection of the next President of the European Commission; [287743]
(2) what criteria he plans to adopt in selecting the next UK candidate for the European Commission. [287744]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 June 2009, Official Report, column 1190W.
Former Ministers: Pay
Mr. Hurd: To ask the Prime Minister (1) whether Lord Carter of Barnes (a) has received or (b) will receive payment on leaving Ministerial office; [289076]
(2) which former Ministers (a) received and (b) elected to forego payments following their departure from Ministerial office in June 2009. [289077]
The Prime Minister: Severance pay is payable in accordance with section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.
Iraq Committee of Inquiry
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2009, Official Report, columns 104-8W, on the Iraq Committee of Inquiry: finance, how he plans to update the House on progress made during the summer adjournment on the work being taken forward by the Cabinet Office on the Government's support to, and liaison with, the Chilcot inquiry; and if he will make a statement. [288060]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 13 July 2009, Official Report, columns 104-8W.
Iraq: Armed Conflict
Lynne Jones: To ask the Prime Minister which of the matters referred to in his statement of 15 June 2009, Official Report, columns 21-24 on Iraq he would classify as containing the (a) costs and (b) benefits to the UK of participation in the Iraq war and occupation. [283730]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave her on 26 June 2009, Official Report, column 1190W. In addition on costs, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the then Defence Secretary (Mr. Hutton) on 23 February 2009, Official Report, column 33W.
Lord Carter
Mr. Maude: To ask the Prime Minister whether Lord Carter received a severance payment on relinquishing his role as chief of strategy and principal adviser at 10 Downing Street. [287292]
Lord Mandelson
Mr. Maude: To ask the Prime Minister what responsibilities Lord Mandelson has as First Secretary of State. [287293]
The Prime Minister: I refer the right hon. Member to the machinery of government press notice issued by my Office. Copies are available in the Library of the House and are also available on the No. 10 website at:
Members: Correspondence
Andrew Selous: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2009, Official Report, column 784, when he plans to write to the hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire following the meeting on 24 June 2009 to set out the steps he is taking to address the issues raised. [288071]
The Prime Minister: I have arranged for my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State for Health (Mr. O'Brien) to reply to the hon. Member following our meeting.
Official Gifts
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister, if he will publish a list of gifts valued at over £140 which were purchased by his predecessor on leaving office; and if he will make a statement. [287745]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made on 22 July 2008, Official Report, column 102WS.
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister, when he plans to place in the Library a copy of the list of ministerial gifts received and valued over £140 for 2007-08. [287746]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made on 16 July 2009, Official Report, column 66WS.
Official Residences
Robert Neill: To ask the Prime Minister whether the official residence in South Eaton Place has been sold. [286893]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for Borders and Immigration at the Home Office (Mr. Woolas) on 14 July 2009, Official Report, column 310W.
Robert Neill: To ask the Prime Minister what use will be made of the Ministerial residence in Admiralty House following Lord Malloch-Brown's departure from the Government. [286894]
The Prime Minister: A decision on this will be made in due course.
Public Expenditure
Tony Baldry: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2009, Official Report, column 294, what he meant by the phrase a zero per cent. rise in 2013-14. [285202]
The Prime Minister: Spending budgets and forecasts are set out in Budget 2009. I also refer the hon. Member to the press briefing given by my spokesman on 1 July 2009. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website at:
and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
Olympics
Olympic Park
5. Mr. Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what recent progress has been made on the construction of the Olympic park for the London 2012 Olympics. [287470]
Tessa Jowell: Construction of the Olympic park venues and infrastructure is progressing well.
Building work is well under way on the five main park venues: the stadium, aquatics centre, velodrome, the athletes' village and the international broadcast centre/main press centre, and is ahead of schedule in some cases.
39.2 per cent. of the Olympic Delivery Authority's programme is now complete.
Prostitution
7. Mr. Steen: To ask the Minister for the Olympics if she will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on policy to minimise levels of prostitution associated with the number of tourists expected to attend the London 2012 Olympics. [287472]
Tessa Jowell: I have regular discussions with Home Office Ministers on the London 2012 safety and security programme. This is one of many issues that have and will continue to be discussed.
We are currently seeing no evidence to suggest an increase in the sex industry or human trafficking in relation to the games. However, police services will continue to monitor and will respond to the situation should it change before or during the Olympics.
Cycling
8. Dr. Harris: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what progress has been made in constructing the facilities for cycling events at the London 2012 Olympics. [287473]
Tessa Jowell: Construction of the velodrome-designed to be the world's fastest track-commenced in March, is progressing as scheduled, and is on track to be completed in early 2011. The foundations of the venue are complete and work on the concrete slabs and ground to concourse columns has commenced.
Construction of the BMX facilities, adjacent to the velodrome will commence in 2010.
The more temporary facilities at Hadleigh farm for the mountain biking events and at Regents park for the finish of the road cycling events will be constructed nearer to 2012.
Housing
Mr. Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps are being taken to ensure that housing built for the London 2012 Olympics will be available for use by local people after the games. [287468]
Tessa Jowell: After the games the Olympic village, as planned from the outset, will be converted into a mix of private and social housing available for take-up by local people and others.
Nearly 50 per cent. of the 2,818 homes will be provided as affordable by Triathlon Homes, a consortium which includes a Stratford-based registered landlord, East Thames Housing Group.
The allocation of affordable homes will be agreed between Triathlon Homes and the London borough of Newham in the context of national housing policies and the London Mayor's housing strategy.
Legacy: Scotland
Mr. Hamilton: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what recent discussions she has had on the legacy for Scotland from the London 2012 Olympics. [287471]
Tessa Jowell: Construction of the Olympic Park venues and infrastructure is progressing well.
Building work is well under way on the five main Park venues: the stadium, aquatics centre, velodrome, the athletes' village and the international broadcast centre/main press centre, and is ahead of schedule in some cases.
39.2 per cent. of the Olympic Delivery Authority's programme is now complete.
Departmental Consultants
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Minister for the Olympics (1) how much (a) the Olympic Delivery Authority and (b) her Office spent on consultancy fees in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09; [274955]
(2) when she plans to answer Question 274955, tabled by the hon. Member for South-West Surrey on 7 May 2009, on consultancy fees. [280975]
Tessa Jowell [holding answer 12 May 2009]: The procurement of consultancy services by both Government Olympic Executive (GOE) and Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is a planned response to the need to deliver the Government's commitments and guarantees to deliver the London 2012 games on time and within a budget of £9.325 billion.
The consultants provide valuable short term support or key specialist skills and expertise not otherwise readily available.
The use of consultants has enabled us to make excellent progress across the many facets of the Olympic programme and in particular in the construction of the Olympic venues and development of legacy planning. As well as
rapid progress we have seen significant savings across the venues and infrastructure construction programme, whose anticipated final cost fell by £179 million from £7,413 million when we published the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games annual report in January 2009 to £7,234 million when we published our quarterly economic report in May 2009.
As the International Olympic Committee recently recognised, inputs such as these are continuing to transform the lower Lea valley and provide a lasting legacy for the people of London and the UK.
Spending by the Olympic Delivery Authority on consultancy fees reduced from £19.8 million (3.7 per cent. of total ODA spend) in 2007-08 to £16 million (1.2 per cent.) in 2008-09.
This reduction reflects the shift from the planning, design and preparation phase of the programme, where consultancy costs are traditionally concentrated, to the development phase.
Spending by the Government Olympic Executive (GOE) on consultancy was £0.4 million in 2007-08 and £0.3 million in 2008-09, 4.6 per cent. and 3.4 per cent. respectively of GOE's total budget.
Olympic Games 2012: Consultants
Bob Spink: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much the Olympic Delivery Authority has spent on consultants in each year since its creation. [279410]
Tessa Jowell: The procurement of consultancy services by both Government Olympic Executive and Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is a planned response to the need to deliver the Government's commitments and guarantees to deliver the London 2012 games on time and within a budget of £9.325 billion.
The consultants provide valuable short term support or key specialist skills and expertise not otherwise readily available.
The use of consultants has enabled us to make excellent progress across the many facets of the Olympic programme and in particular in the construction of the Olympic venues and development of legacy planning. As well as rapid progress we have seen significant savings across the venues and infrastructure construction programme, whose anticipated final cost fell by £179 million from £7,413 million when we published the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games annual report in January 2009 to £7,234 million when we published our quarterly economic report in May 2009.
As the IOC recently recognised, inputs such as these are continuing to transform the lower Lea valley and provide a lasting legacy for the people of London and the UK.
Spending by the ODA on consultancy fees reduced from £19.8 million (3.7 per cent. of total ODA spend) in 2007-08 to £16 million (1.2 per cent.) in 2008-09.
This reduction reflects the shift from the planning, design and preparation phase of the programme, where consultancy costs are traditionally concentrated, to the development phase.
Spending by the ODA on consultancy fees in each completed financial year since its creation has been:
| Consultancy fees (£ million) | |
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