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Lord Rooker: Equality-related consultations arising from Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 began after equality schemes were approved by the Equality Commission in 2001. Between 2001-02 and 2005-06, in the Department of Finance and Personnel there were approximately 26 equality-related consultations and a list of these can be found in the following table. The noble Lord may also wish to refer to the department's website at www.dfpni.gov.uk/index/about-us/publications where the department's statutory five-year review of its equality scheme and the department's annual reviews to the Equality Commission are publicly available.
For each consultation the department consults groups and individuals who have requested that they be included. The Department of Finance and Personnel Section 75 consultee database was established as part of the department's equality scheme for these purposes. This database is updated on a regular basis in consultation with those Section 75 groups.
In relation to whether and how groups respond to consultation, this information is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the noble Lord may wish to note that for every equality-related consultation issued, officials record to whom consultations were issued, who responded and what was said. A summary of consultation responses is published (usually on the department's website).
In relation to policy changes arising from consultation, when equality is mainstreamed effectively into decision-making throughout the policy development process, there may be no changes to the policy per se at a later stage following consultation.
Consultations arranged by the department of finance and personnel since 1999
Reform of Domestic Rating Non-Domestic Vacant Rating
Phased Removal of Industrial Rating
Location of Civil Service Jobs
Building Regulations Procurement
Modernisation of Registration Service
Implementation of EU Directives
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, how many consultations the Department for Regional Development in Northern Ireland has arranged in each year since 1999; what those consultations were; and what groups they consulted; and [HL7638]
Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, whether the groups consulted by the Department for Regional Development in Northern Ireland responded to any consultation; to what extent and in what form they addressed equality of opportunity issues; and whether any suggestions were made leading to a change in proposed policies.[HL7639]
Lord Rooker: Since the department's equality scheme was approved by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland on 15 February 2001, the department has undertaken 20 consultations on draft equality impact assessments (EQIAs). These are listed below. The groups consulted were drawn from the consultee list set out in the equality scheme, which is updated regularly. This information has been placed in the Library. In addition, each draft EQIA records the groups consulted.
The information requested on responses to consultations cannot readily be collated in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, all final EQIAs record the outcome of the consultation process, including any changes made to proposed policies. EQIAs may be accessed on the department's website at www.drdni.gov.uk/DRDwww_FOI/.
It is difficult to identify changes made to policies as a result of consultation as with the mainstreaming of equality pre-consultation with relevant groups helps to ensure that policy proposals take account of Section 75 issues from the outset. However, pages 28 to 30 of the five-year review of the equality scheme identify a number of changes made to policies as a result of consultation. These policies include: the regional transportation strategy, water reform, the regional planning policy statement on housing, the accessible transport strategy and the Blue Badge Scheme. The five-year review may be accessed on the department's website at www.drdni.gov.uk/DRDwww_FOISearch/document.asp?doc=9764.
DRD Draft Equality Impact Assessment Consultation Exercises
Proposed Regional Discontinuance of Services on Antrim Knockmore Railway Line Transportation Strategy
Regional Planning Policy Statement on Transportation and Land Use (PPS 13)
Provision of Pedestrian Facilities
Regional Planning Policy Statement on Housing (PPS 12)
Operation and management of car parks
Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan
Transport Programme for People with Disabilities
Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan
Regional Development Strategy—Housing Growth Indicators
Reform and Rationalisation of Water Service
Regional Planning Policy Statement on Retailing and Town Centres (PPS 5)
Regional Planning Policy Statement on Planning in the Countryside (PPS 14)
All-Ireland Free Travel Scheme
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, how many consultations the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland has arranged in each year since 1999; what those consultations were; and what groups they consulted; and [HL7640]
Regarding Section 75 groups recognised by paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 9 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, whether the groups consulted by the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland responded to any consultation; to what extent and in what form they addressed equality of opportunity issues; and whether any suggestions were made leading to a change in proposed policies.[HL7641]
Lord Rooker: The Equality Commission formally approved the Departments Equality Scheme in March 2001. Since then, the department has formally consulted on 14 equality impact assessments as follows:
Provision of relevant, accurate and timely information and advice about Social Security benefits.Private Sector Housing Grants.Accommodation for Travellers.Unauthorised Encampments.District Council's Community Support Programme.Child Support Northern Ireland Field Operations.41 Compact between Government and Voluntary and Community Sector.Urban Regeneration—Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.Urban Regeneration—Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy for Belfast.Urban Regeneration—Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy for other Regional Towns and Cities.Urban Regeneration—Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy for the North West.Uptake of Social Security Benefits.Customer Service (access to Social Security Benefits).Town/City centre reinvigoration.The department consults a variety of groups and individuals who have requested that they be included in our equality consultee mailing list. The list is available on the department's website at www.dsdni.gov.uk.
In relation to whether and how groups respond to consultation, this information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, for every equality-related consultation issued, policy makers record to whom consultation documents are issued, who responded and what was said. A summary of consultation responses and more lately an analysis of these are published at the end of each individual consultation exercise. Information on the department’s annual progress report to the Equality Commission and the five-year review of the equality scheme is available on the website at www.dsdni.gov.uk.
In relation to policy changes, consultation is just one stage in the equality impact-assessment process. When equality is effectively mainstreamed into decision-making from the outset of the policy development process, it is very difficult to attribute specific developments or changes to any particular aspect of the policy development process.
Electoral Law: Review
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the review of electoral systems will report before the end of 2006; and whether the report will be published.[HL7819]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): The Government review of the experiences of the new UK voting systems introduced for the devolved Administrations, the European Parliament and London Assembly elections being conducted by officials within the DCA is under way. Any decisions on any next steps, if necessary, will be taken in due course.
Electoral Registration: Postal Voting
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the following documents will be open to public inspection: (a) postal vote applications and the signatures provided as personal identifiers; and (b) the statements of identity, including signatures, provided by persons voting by post.[HL7701]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): The draft Representation of the People (England and Wales) (Amendment)(No. 2) Regulations 2006 that have been laid before Parliament include provisions that implement the absent voting personal identifiers provisions in the Electoral Administration Act 2006. The draft regulations do not provide for postal vote application forms and the signatures provided on them to be open to public inspection. However, under the draft regulations, postal voting statements may be made available for public inspection after the election, on similar terms to the inspection of certain other election documents.
Fire Services: Firelink and FiReControl
Baroness Hanham asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): The Firelink contract was signed on 29 March 2006 and extended to include Scotland and Wales in June. After completion of detailed implementation plans by the contractor, infrastructure work is expected to commence in the first region—the south-west—before the end of 2006. Firelink will then be rolled out on a regional basis over a two-and-half-year period. As fire vehicles are converted to Firelink they will be able to use the system for voice communications. Once FiReControl is in place in a region there will be an ordered transition by each fire and rescue service to the fully integrated system.
On FiReControl the construction of the first four regional control centres (RCCs) is well under way with contracts let for four others. Procurement of the London RCC site is in progress. Over the coming months we expect to appoint the prime contractor to deliver the IT solution and the first local authority controlled companies that will manage RCCs to be established. A draft of the full business case will be published in October and we will publish another version in the new year after contracts are signed with the IT suppliers.
Government Departments: Financial Reporting
Baroness Noakes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Cabinet Office has any arrangements to enable staff of that department to raise, in confidence, concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value for money; and, if so, whether they will give details of the arrangements.[HL7611]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: In line with the Civil Service Code the Cabinet Office has in place a process that enables members of staff to raise in confidence any issues of concern. That process extends to include concerns about financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value for money.
The Cabinet Office has a fraud and negligence policy that is clearly communicated to all staff and includes details of how to report concerns. The main point of reporting is the “central contact” that is located in the financial management division. On receipt of information raising a concern the central contact would take appropriate action to notify all concerned authorities.
Additionally, individual members of staff may approach the accounting officer or the finance director to raise concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value for money. The department routinely carries out a number of internal audits on a range of activities all of which members of staff may contribute to.
The Civil Service Code states:
“15. If you believe that you are being required to act in a way which conflicts with this Code, your department or agency must consider your concern, and make sure that you are not penalised for raising it.
“16. If you have a concern, you should start by talking to your line manager or someone else in your line management chain. If, for any reason, you would find this difficult, you should raise the matter with your department’s nominated officers who have been appointed to advise staff on the Code.
“17. If you become aware of actions by others which you believe conflict with this Code you should report this to your line manager or someone else in your line management chain; alternatively you may wish to seek advice from your nominated officer. You should report evidence of criminal or unlawful activity to the police or other appropriate authorities.
“18. If you have raised a matter covered in paragraphs 15 to 17, in accordance with the relevant procedures, and do not receive what you consider to be a reasonable response, you may report the matter to the Civil Service Commissioners”.
Government Departments: Special Advisers
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the total cost to departments incurred in answering individual Questions for Written Answer from the Lord Lester of Herne Hill on the support given to special advisers; and what would have been the cost of providing an answer based on information obtained centrally. [HL7602]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Cabinet Office does not hold the information requested in respect of the total cost to departments of answering individual Questions for Written Answer from the noble Lord on the support given to special advisers. The only information held centrally by the Cabinet Office related to its own special advisers.
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