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Euro Notes and Coins
Baroness Gould of Potternewton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What information they are providing to British travellers about the effect of the introduction of euro notes and coins.[HL1291]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Euro notes and coins will be introduced on 1 January 2002. They will replace national notes and coins in the 12 countries that participate in the single currency. We estimate that in 2002 British citizens will make 40 million visits to those countries. We have recently launched a leaflet that provides basic factual information for UK travellers on the transition to euro notes and coins in the relevant countries. Copies of the leaflet have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
The leaflet is a joint production with HMT and DTI. It will supplement the information already available on the FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk).
Contractors Tax: Inland Revenue Leaflet
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the new leaflet from HM Treasury, IR2003, adequately explains liability to the IR35 contractors tax.[HL1173]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The recently updated Inland Revenue leaflet, IR2003, Supplying Services. How to calculate the deemed payment, explains one element of the tax and national insurance provisions affecting those providing personal services through intermediaries. It is one of several sources of information the Inland Revenue has published about these provisions. The leaflet makes appropriate cross-references to these other sources where the information they provide may be of additional help. The other sources of information specific to this legislation include a section of the Inland Revenue website, at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/ir35; a dedicated helpline on 0845 303 3535; and a free opinions service as to whether a specific engagement is subject to the legislation.
Home Office: Race Equality Report
Lord Hoyle asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they will publish the second annual report on progress on their race equality employment targets for minority ethnic staff in the Home Department and its service areas.[HL1364]
Lord Rooker: We have today published a report entitled Race Equality—The Home Secretary's Employment Targets—The Second Annual Report on Progress. Copies have been placed in the Library. The targets cover recruitment, retention and career progression for minority ethnic staff in the Home Office, the prison, the police, the fire and probation services.
Mr Alun Evans
Baroness Blatch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 24 October (WA 132) (a) when Mr Alun Evans took office as Director of Information at the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions; and when he was informed that he would be removed from his duties; and (b) what is the meaning of the phrase "in due course" in the answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on the 18 October (H.L. Deb., col. 707); and whether any term of service was ever discussed with Mr Alun Evans on his appointment; and[HL1068]
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 24 October (WA 132) (a) who decided that Mr Alun Evans should work with Dr Iain Anderson as head of the secretariat on the enquiry into the foot-and-mouth outbreak; and how and when the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, Mr Byers, and his special adviser, Miss Moore, first became aware of this decision; and (b) whether Mr Byers was consulted on this decision; and; if so, when; and whether Mr Byers was ever informed by Miss Moore, or by officials of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, of the circumstances set out in (a) above; and[HL1069]
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 24 October (WA 132) (a) whether the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions informed Mr Alun Evans that he was to be removed from his duties; and, if not, who did; and (b) whether the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, Mr Byers, or his special adviser, Miss Moore, were involved in any discussions or correspondence with the Permanent Secretary, the Establishment Officer or Mr Evans relating to the timing of Mr Evans' removal from his duties; and, if so, when; and[HL1070]
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 24 October (WA 132), when the press secretary to the Prime Minister and the Head of the Government Information Service was first informed that Mr Alun Evans would be leaving his post; and[HL1072]
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 24 October (WA 132), when the post of Director of Communications at the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in succession to Mr Alun Evans was (a) first advertised, (b) interviewed for, and (c) offered.[HL1073]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): As is already known, Alun Evans took up appointment on 28 February 2000 as Director of Communication, Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, having been acting director from December 1999.
The post of Director of Communication, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions was advertised on 9 September 2001. This is an open competition being handled in the normal way, including the full involvement of the Civil Service Commission.
In relation to all the other issues raised by these questions, it is not appropriate to give detailed information about personal decisions or details of individual civil servants, which are exempt from disclosure under paragraph 12 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Baroness Blatch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 24 October (WA 132) whether Mr Alun Evans, or any other information officer at the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, ever declined to act on a request from Miss Moore, the special adviser to the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, to publish information relating to Mr Bob Kiley or his assistants; and, if so, on what grounds. [HL1071]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I refer the noble Baroness to the Answer given by my right honourable Friend the Secretary of State on 22 October 2001 [Official Report, Commons, 22/10/01 94W] in another place.
Baroness Blatch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 24 October (WA 132), whether, in the light of the remarks of the Lord Peyton of Yeovil on 23 October (HL Deb, col. 921), they have any intention of revising their answer.[HL1111]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: No.
District Council Elections
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Which district councils in England usually hold elections for a third of the council but will hold an all-out election next May as a result of the introduction of new ward boundaries.[HL1085]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Forty-four district councils in England which usually hold elections for a third of the council in May next year will hold an all-out election as a result of the introduction of new ward boundaries. We are presently consulting eight other district councils which usually hold elections for a
third of the council on whether to implement new ward boundaries in 2002 which would necessitate holding an all-out election. The district councils involved are:
- Essex
- The District of Harlow
- The District of Basildon
- The Borough of Brentwood
- The Borough of Colchester
- The District of Epping Forest
- The Borough of Rochford
- Gloucestershire
- The Borough of Cheltenham
- The City of Gloucester
- The District of Stroud
- Hampshire
- The Borough of Eastleigh
- The Borough of Fareham
- The Borough of Gosport
- The District of Hart
- The Borough of Havant
- The City of Portsmouth
- The Borough of Rushmoor
- The City of Southampton
- The Borough of Basingstoke and Deane
- The City of Winchester
- Kent
- The Borough of Maidstone
- The Borough of Swale
- The Borough of Tunbridge Wells
- Lancashire
- The Borough of Burnley
- The Borough of Chorley
- The Borough of Hyndburn
- The Borough of Pendle
- The Borough of Preston
- The Borough of Rossendale
- The District of West Lancashire
- North Yorkshire
- The District of Craven
- The Borough of Harrogate
- Nottinghamshire
- The District of Bassetlaw
- Somerset
- The Borough of Shrewsbury and Atcham
- Staffordshire
- The District of Cannock Chase
- The Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme
- The City of Stoke on Trent
- The Borough of Tamworth
- Suffolk
- The Borough of Ipswich
- The District of Waveney
- Warwickshire
- The Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth
- The Borough of Rugby
- The District of Stratford on Avon
- Unitary authorities
- The City of Derby
- The City of Kingston-upon-Hull
- The following are being consulted at present:
- Bedfordshire
- The Borough of Bedford
- The District of South Bedfordshire
- East Sussex
- The Borough of Eastbourne
- The Borough of Hastings
- Oxfordshire
- The City of Oxford
- The District of Cherwell
- The District of West Oxfordshire
- Unitary authorities
- The Borough of Milton Keynes
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