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1 Sep 2009 : Column 1815W—continued
Transport
Departmental Electronic Equipment
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008, Official Report, column 1566W, on departmental electronic equipment, how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have spent on (i) flat screen televisions, (ii) DVD players and (iii) stereo equipment since November 2008. [289167]
Chris Mole: The information is as follows:
| £ | |||
| (i) Flat screen televisions | (ii) DVD players | (iii) Stereo equipment | |
This excludes spend at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency as the requested information is not recorded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Postal Services
Mr. Weir: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department spent on Royal Mail services in each of the last two years. [288743]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport spent £21,419,317.41 on Royal Mail services in 2007-08 and £22,348,405.74 on Royal Mail services in 2008-09.
This excludes spend at the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency as the information requested is not recorded.
Departmental
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on foreign language training for its officials in each year since 1997; [289175]
(2) how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on training in coping with traumatic incidents for its officials in each year since 1997; [289176]
(3) how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on pre-retirement courses for its officials in each year since 1997; [289177]
(4) how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on stress management training for its officials in each year since 1997; [289178]
(5) how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on training in mentoring for its officials in each year since 1997; [289179]
(6) how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on personal (a) development and (b) effectiveness courses for its officials in each year since 1997; [289180]
(7) how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on talent management training for its officials in each year since 1997; [289181]
(8) how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on health and safety training for its officials in each year since 1997; [289182]
(9) how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on avoiding harassment and anti-bullying courses for its officials in each year since 1997; [289183]
(10) how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on training relating to the European Union for its officials in each year since 1997; [289184]
(11) how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on absence management training for its officials in each year since 1997; [289185]
(12) how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on diversity awareness training for its officials in each year since 1997; [289186]
(13) how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on training in telephone skills for its officials in each year since 1997. [289187]
Chris Mole: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Work Experience
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what provision is made to enable students to undertake work experience in his Department; how members of the public may obtain information about work experience in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [288729]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport takes part in the Summer Development and the Summer Placement intern programmes which are administered by the Cabinet Office. These schemes are aimed (respectively) at ethnic minority and disabled undergraduates/graduates interested in the Fast Stream development programme.
The Department also employs a number of economist summer interns each year through the Government Economics Service central recruitment process.
The schemes are advertised on the civil service website, the Government Economic Service website and university and graduate websites. They are also promoted at career fairs.
Scotland
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department plans to make a submission to the Scottish Executive's National Conversation consultation on Scotland's constitutional future. [288949]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has not submitted evidence to the Scottish Government's National Conversation.
The Commission on Scottish Devolution was established by majority vote in the Scottish Parliament and with the full support of the UK Government. UK Departments submitted evidence to the Commission during its first phase of evidence gathering.
The Commission recently published its Final Report, which can be found at:
A steering group has been established under the chairmanship of the Secretary of State for Scotland to help the UK Government and the Scottish Parliament plan how to take forward the Calman recommendations and deliver stronger devolution within a stronger United Kingdom.
Wales
Departmental Electronic Equipment
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2008, Official Report, column 1066W, on departmental electronic equipment, how much his Department has spent on (a) flat screen televisions, (b) DVD players and (c) stereo equipment since November 2008. [289170]
Mr. Hain: Expenditure during this period amounts to £79.99 which was for a replacement digital radio. There has been no other expenditure on such equipment during this period.
Economic Situation
Mr. Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he next plans to meet the First Minister to discuss ways to deal with the economic downturn. [288798]
Mr. Hain: I have regular meetings with the First Minister to discuss the economic situation in Wales, continuing the dialogue and close working relationship that my right hon. Friend developed. Indeed, I last met the First Minister at the 7(th) All Wales Economic Summit on Friday 17 July 2009 in Bangor.
Employment Schemes
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the £5 billion of funding to create new jobs and assist people back into work, as referred to in paragraph 40 in chapter 2, page 43 of Building Britain's Future, Cm 7654, will be available in Wales. [288120]
Mr. Hain: We are investing an extra £5 billion to help people back into work across the UK. The £3 billion investment in Jobcentre Plus will enable the recruitment of 600 additional advisers in Wales by the end of the year.
The £1 billion Future Jobs Fund has already approved 10 bids for funding from organisations in Wales which were announced on 29 July 2009. These bids will create over 2,000 jobs and are a demonstration of our determination to deliver the help that people need where and when they need it most.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Mr. Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what schemes the Government has made available to families in Wales who face mortgage repossessions. [288900]
Mr. Hain:
The UK Government have a number of initiatives to help Welsh homeowners-the Support for Mortgage Interest Scheme and the Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme, both apply in Wales. In addition, we have also put in place a number of other measures, including new court protocols to protect homeowners, secured commitments from major lenders not to repossess homes within three months of arrears and have invested
a further £25 million to extend free debt advice. All of these measures are available to consumers across the country.
The Welsh Assembly Government also provides support to struggling homeowners, through the Mortgage Rescue Scheme.
Public Expenditure
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with (a) the Welsh Assembly Government and (b) the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Holtham Commission report. [287540]
Mr. Hain: The Welsh Assembly Government established an Independent Commission on Funding and Finance for Wales, headed by Gerald Holtham. The Commission published their first report 'Funding devolved government in Wales: Barnett and Beyond' on 7 July 2009. I have discussed the recommendations contained within the report with both the First Minister and Gerald Holtham.
As this is a Welsh Assembly Government commissioned review, we await their response to the report and look forward to the final report to be published next year.
Recycling
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proportion of his Department's waste was recycled in the latest period for which figures are available. [289670]
Mr. Hain: The last period for which figures are available covers January to March 2009. During this period, the Wales Office recycled 84 per cent. of its waste.
Women and Equality
Departmental Contracts
Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many contracts let by her Department were awarded to businesses with fewer than 50 employees in each of the last five years; and what the monetary value of such contracts was in each such year. [287807]
Michael Jabez Foster: During financial year 2008-09, the Government Equalities Office awarded 45 contracts to businesses with fewer than 50 members of staff. The total monetary value of these contracts was £526,460.96
The Government Equalities Office became a stand alone department in October 2007 so no data are available for previous years.
Travelling People
Robert Neill: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what assessment has been made of the effect of the new duties on public authorities in the Equality Bill on Travellers' access to public services. [288263]
Michael Jabez Foster: Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers are covered by the existing race duty as recognised ethnic groups, and will continue to be covered as part of that strand in the forthcoming Equality Duty. This should mean public bodies considering the needs of all groups, including Irish Travellers, when taking decisions and planning services.
When the Bill was published, Government Equalities Office officials assessed the potential impact of the provisions in the Equality Bill, including plans for the Equality Duty, upon stakeholders. The assessment and its conclusions were published. That assessment concluded that the introduction of the Equality Duty would not have any adverse impact on different racial groups.
The other public sector duty in the Equality Bill, covering socio-economic inequalities, should benefit travellers, many of whom suffer significant levels of socio-economic disadvantage.
Children, Schools and Families
Absenteeism: North East
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many cases of unauthorised absence from school were recorded in (a) the North East, (b) Tees Valley and (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in each year since 1997. [285325]
Dawn Primarolo: The available information is shown in the table. Further information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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