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10 Mar 2010 : Column 377W—continued
Cabinet Office
Bogus Charity Collections
9. Jeff Ennis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on reducing the number of bogus charity collections. [321246]
Angela E. Smith: The Government believe that this is a serious issue because the public give to charities to support their work not to help bogus collectors make money. On 12 February the 'Give with Care' campaign was re-launched to increase public awareness of bogus clothing collections, and explain how people can ensure that donations reach the charities that really need them.
I have not had any discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department but a key partner in this campaign is the Association of Chief Police Officers.
Civil Service Compensation Scheme
10. Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent representations she has received on changes to the civil service compensation scheme; and if she will make a statement. [321247]
Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Julie Morgan).
Census
Mr. Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the timetable is for the completion of the Beyond 2011 review into the way the Census is conducted; and what (a) research and (b) representations will be considered as part of the review. [320731]
Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 8 March 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the timetable is for the completion of the Beyond 2011 review into the way the Census is conducted; and what (a) research and (b) representations will be considered as part of the review. (320731)
The Beyond 2011 Project was established with the Registrars' General in Scotland and Northern Ireland to consider options to deliver population data for the UK of the required coverage and quality beyond the next Census. It is therefore not reviewing the way that the current 2011 Census exercise is conducted, rather it is looking at options and their feasibility beyond 2011.
A detailed work programme is currently being developed to enable a decision on a way forward to be taken by 2014.
Extensive technical and methodological research is planned. This is drawing on internal ONS expertise in population statistics, the use of administrative data, household survey and census taking, but also uses a number of external experts in the area of population statistics to help advise and peer review our work. We are also drawing on the expertise of other countries. The project outputs, including the research on the statistical feasibility and user requirements, will be made publicly available.
Formal consultation on options will take place after the 2011 Census, but we have already begun to discuss the issues with stakeholders and have established a website at:
Census (England and Wales) Regulations 2010
Mr. Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what her timetable is for the (a) laying before Parliament and (b) coming into effect of the Census Regulations. [320714]
Angela E. Smith: The Census (England) Regulations 2010 were laid before both Houses on 4 March and will come into force on 31 March.
Central Office of Information: Advertising
Mr. Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will place in the Library a copy of the Central Office of Information's internal guidance on advertising during election periods. [320729]
Tessa Jowell: I have asked the chief executive of the Central Office of Information to write to the right hon. Member.
Letter from Mark Lund, dated 3 March 2010:
As Chief Executive of the Central Office of Information (COI), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question [320729] asking whether COI can provide a copy of any internal guidance on advertising during the election period.
The Central Office of Information will adhere to guidance issued by the Cabinet Office applicable to advertising during an election. This guidance will be issued once an election has been called.
Departmental Internet
Tom Brake: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much has been spent on employing design consultants for websites operated by her Department in each of the last three years. [321235]
Ms Butler: It is not possible to separate out design costs as these are frequently costed as part of larger projects.
All of the commissioned design work has been utilised and published.
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many full-time equivalent staff of each grade are employed by her Department to assist special advisers. [321129]
Tessa Jowell: Two civil servants at B1 (EO) and C (AO) grade support my special advisers. The C (AO) grade is employed by DCMS.
Futurebuilders England: Consultants
Mr. Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much Futurebuilders has spent on (a) management consultants and (b) management fees. [320725]
Angela E. Smith: The Cabinet Office pays a fixed service charge to Futurebuilders for its running costs. The service charge is not broken down into management fees and other costs.
Futurebuilders England: Grants
Mr. Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much and what proportion of total funding provided to Futurebuilders has been given to charities in the form of grants since the programme began. [320724]
Angela E. Smith: The Futurebuilders Programme is delivered by Futurebuilders England Ltd, under contract to the Cabinet Office. Since the programme began, a total of £25.8 million has been given to third sector organisations in grants. This represents 16.7 per cent. of all investment offers. The vast majority of funding given to third sector organisations is in the form of loans.
Government Communications
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood of 5 February 2010, Official Report,
column 602W, on Government communications, what the title is of each best practice guidance note and entry published on the Government Communications Network intranet in the last 18 months. [320903]
Tessa Jowell: The GCN website makes extensive use of community tools (wiki and forums) to allow members to share best practice across all areas of Government communications. This detailed information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
Hotels
Mr. Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood of 3 February 2010, Official Report, column 410W, on hotels, what the total number of bookings made through the Expotel contract was by the (a) Cabinet Office, (b) Central Office of Information and (c) Charity Commission in 2009; and what number and proportion of hotel bookings were not made through the Expotel facility in each such case. [318326]
Angela E. Smith: All hotel bookings made by Ministers are in accordance with the Ministerial Code. Similarly, all hotel bookings made by civil servants are in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code.
(a) In the period January 2009 to December 2009 (inclusive), 1,676 bookings were made through the Expotel contract by the Cabinet Office.
Ascertaining the number of hotel bookings which were made outside the Expotel contract would require a full interrogation of Government Procurement Card (GPC) records and expenses claims for the specified period, and would therefore incur disproportionate costs.
(b) I will ask the chief executives of the Central Office of Information and the Charity Commission to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Mark Lund, dated 3 March 2010:
As Chief Executive of the Central Office of Information (COI), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question [318326] asking for the total number of bookings made through the Expotel contract in 2009.
In the period January 2009 to December 2009 (inclusive), 733 bookings were made through the Expotel contract by the COI.
The number of hotel bookings which were made outside the Expotel contract would require a full interrogation of Government Procurement Card (GPC) records and expenses claims for this period, and would therefore incur disproportionate costs.
Letter from Andrew Hind, dated 23 February 2010:
As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Question on the total number of bookings made through the Expotel contract by the Charity Commission in 2009; and what number and proportion of hotel bookings were not made through the Expotel facility in each such case (318326).
In the calendar year 2009, the Charity Commission made 962 bookings via Expotel.
The Commission uses Expotel for the majority of hotel bookings but a few are made by alternative means, either using a Government Procurement Card or a personal credit card. Where Commission staff book their hotel directly, generally when a booking is required at short notice, the cost is subject to a limit of £110 in London and £85 elsewhere. To gather information on non-Expotel booked hotel stays would require a manual review of all personal travel and subsistence claims and Government Procurement Card statements for the last year. This could not be undertaken within the time available or without incurring a disproportionate cost.
I hope this information is helpful.
Local Endowment Funds
Mr. Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the Prime Minister's speech at "Britain's Everyday Heroes" book launch of 24 July 2007, how much funding the Government have provided to local foundations for endowment funds since July 2007. [318356]
Angela E. Smith: The endowment funding is paid out retrospectively to match-fund donations raised in the local community.
At the end of September 2009, over £13 million had been received in donations from over 8500 businesses and individuals. This has been matched by an additional £11.3 million from Government match-funding, boosting the endowment to over £25 million. This £25 million will support important local community activity for many years to come.
Population: Greater London
Mr. Maude: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the (a) margin and (b) degree of error was in the population estimates in the 2001 Census for (A) Slough and (B) each inner London borough. [320727]
Angela E. Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Social Enterprises
Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment she has made of the effects on social enterprises of the recent recession. [321240]
Tessa Jowell: Data from the sector show that since the economic downturn began 56 per cent. of social enterprises saw their turnovers increase compared to just 28 per cent. of SMEs. However, the Government recognises that this is a difficult time for some social enterprises that have experienced an increase in demand for their services and face pressure as a result of the downturn.
That is why the Government provided a comprehensive package of support to the third sector worth nearly £60 million:
The £15 million Targeted Support Fund Grants element has provided additional support worth £1.55 million to 64 social enterprises.
The £17.5 million Hardship Fund has provided grants to 195 organisations, including social enterprises, to help them deliver vital front line services.
The £16.5 million Modernisation Fund is helping social enterprises become more resilient by facilitating merges, collaborative working and efficiencies. The Modernisation Fund has offered loans of £7.3 million to 40 organisations since April 2009.
An additional £20 million has been made available to social enterprise Community Development Finance Institutions through the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme.
This is in addition to Government support for social enterprises such as the first ever Social Enterprise Strategy ten years ago, to recent funds such as the Department
for Health £100 million Social Enterprise Investment Fund and £1.3 million for Social Enterprise Action Research projects across government.
Justice
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many full-time equivalent staff of each grade are employed by his Department to assist special advisers. [321139]
Mr. Straw: There are currently two members of staff employed to assist my special advisers: one full-time executive officer at band D and one part-time administrative officer at equivalent band E.
Health Services: Isle of Man
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will examine the matters raised by the Minister for Health and Social Security of the Isle of Man Government in Tynwald Court on 15 December 2009 in respect of the response of the Department of Health to written requests for information made by the Isle of Man Government on 7 September 2009, repeated on 15 October and 4 November 2009; what his duties are in respect of mediation between the administrations of the Crown Dependencies and Government departments; and if he will make a statement. [321493]
Mr. Wills: The Ministry of Justice is responsible for the relationship between the UK and the Crown Dependencies and provides the main channel of communication between the UK and the Crown Dependencies.
The termination of the bilateral health agreement and the matters raised by the Isle of Man Minister for Health and Social Security about bilateral health agreements are a matter for the Department of Health. There has been close examination of the issues at ministerial and officer level in my department and in the Department of Health. The Isle of Man Chief Minister has discussed the issue with the Secretary of State for Health and with Lord Bach.
The UK has committed to keep the situation under review with the Isle of Man Government in case of any unforeseen impacts after the end of the agreement.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what reasons his Department has not replied to the letter from the Isle of Man Government sent in 2009 requesting advice on the Isle of Man's wish to negotiate a bilateral health agreement with the Scottish Executive; and if he will make a statement. [321494]
Mr. Wills: I am not aware of a letter from the Isle of Man Government requesting advice from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) on the Isle of Man's wish to negotiate a bilateral health agreement with the Scottish Executive. I understand that the Isle of Man Department for Health and Social Security has been in contact with the Department of Health and with the Scottish Executive in connection with a new health agreement.
The development of any agreement between the Isle of Man and Scotland would, at this stage, be a matter for their respective administrations.
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