Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 11 March 2010
Leader of the House
Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund
Simon Hughes: To ask the Leader of the House what recent discussions she has had with the trustees of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund on its exercise of shareholder voting rights during annual general meetings of those companies in which it invests. [321533]
Barbara Keeley: The Leader has not had any recent discussions with the Trustees on this subject. The investment of the assets of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund is a matter for the Fund's Trustees. The scheme regulations require the Trustees to have in place a Statement of Investment Principles and to consult with the Leader about it.
The current Statement of Investment Principles states that the Trustees have instructed their investment managers
"to exercise the rights attached to the Fund's investments in order to ensure, so far as is consistent with the Trustees' duty to act in the best financial interests of the beneficiaries, that the companies in which the Fund is invested adopt high standards"
"responsible approach to social, ethical and environmental issues".
Northern Ireland
Criminal Proceedings
Dr. Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how long on average it took the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service to bring a criminal case to court following the submission of papers by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in the last three years. [321465]
Paul Goggins: This is an operational matter for the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Gentleman and will arrange for a copy of the letter to be placed in the Library of the House.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the volume of carbon dioxide emissions from his Department's buildings in each year since 2005. [320567]
Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) contributes data annually to the NI Public Sector Energy Campaign (PSEC) regarding energy consumption.
The most up-to-date figures on carbon dioxide emissions are contained within the 2007-08 PSEC report and are shown in the following table:
| CO 2 total | |
| Tonnes | |
The Department has a Green ICT strategy in place, derived from the Cabinet Office "Greening Government ICT" strategy, to assist in reducing energy consumption and emissions.
The Department participates in Government Carbon Offsetting Fund (GCOF) to offset emissions relating to air travel by Ministers and staff on official business.
Departmental Internet
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many designs for its (a) internal website and (b) intranet his Department has commissioned since 2005; and what the cost was of each such design. [321982]
Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) maintains an internal intranet. Since 2005 the homepage has been redesigned at a cost of £7,040 and the content management system upgraded at a cost of £1,760. Two further updates were carried out by departmental ICT staff at no additional cost.
Prisoners: Ex-servicemen
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the Northern Ireland prison population formerly served in the UK armed forces. [321214]
Paul Goggins: While all prisoners are asked their occupation on committal, there is no requirement for prisoners to disclose this information. Of those currently in prison, 0.36 per cent. (five persons) have stated their occupation as being in the armed forces or protective services.
Work and Pensions
Children: Maintenance
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals paid off arrears to the Child Support Agency by credit card in each of the last three years. [318744]
Helen Goodman: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many individuals paid off their arrears to the Child Support Agency by credit card in each of the last three years. [318744]
Data on child maintenance arrears payments made only by credit card is not available as it is not possible to separate regular and arrears payments and it is not possible to break down payments made by credit or debit card.
I am sorry on this occasion I can not be more helpful.
Housing Benefit: Greater London
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average housing benefit paid to (a) local authority tenants, (b) housing association tenants and (c) private sector tenants was in each London borough in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the average rent level was in each of the three sectors in that period. [321076]
Helen Goodman [holding answer 11 March 2010]: The most recent available information is in the table.
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