Written Answers to Questions
Monday 25 February 2008
Leader of the House
Departmental Official Hospitality
Following the machinery of government changes in May 2007, the Leader of the House of Commons office forms part of the Cabinet Office. Information prior to May 2007 is available only at disproportionate cost.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will be answering this question shortly on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Carbon Emissions: Business
(2) what steps have been taken to encourage FTSE 100 companies to include information on carbon dioxide emissions in their annual reports.
The Government require companies and industries to report on their Greenhouse Gas emissions, including CO2, in a standardised way. For example, all installations taking part in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme must monitor and report their CO2 emissions in accordance with guidelines produced by the European Commission.
The Carbon Reduction Commitment, which will come into force in 2010, will require companies involved in the mandatory trading scheme to monitor their energy use and report it annually in a standardised format. This will cover a large number of FTSE 100 companies.
In addition, from 1 October 2007, quoted companies have been required to ensure that their Business Review includes information on environmental matters to the extent necessary for an understanding of the development, performance or position of the company's business. The first reports under this new regime will not be published until later this year.
The Government have also supported the work of the Carbon Disclosure Project. This is a voluntary investor-driven approach aimed at encouraging companies to disclose greenhouse gas emissions data. In 2007, 91 per cent. of FTSE 100 companies disclosed to CDP. This is an increase from 83 per cent. in 2006.
Carbon Emissions: China
We have no plans to commission research to measure the level of global carbon emissions from the production of goods in China for the export market. Estimates of the carbon dioxide emissions from the Chinese economy as a whole are available from the International Energy Agency.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
While I have had no discussions, DEFRA officials are fully engaged on a cross departmental basis in taking forward initiatives to reduce the carbon and energy footprint of the Government’s information technology estate.
The Chief Technology Officer’s (CTO) Council Green Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Delivery sub group was set up in December to review our needs and produce actionable toolkits for both Government and its industry suppliers. DEFRA participates in the CTO Green ICT working group promulgating and promoting best practice across Departments, including a “Top Tips list for Green ICT” shortly to be placed on the DEFRA website.
All central Government Departments are currently mandated to purchase IT equipment to minimum energy efficiency specifications. These specifications are continually under review and we are carrying out an analysis of more rigorous sustainable standards that we aim to recommend as best practice to all Government Departments in the near future.
Eller Brook Stream
[holding answer 22 February 2008]: Eller Brook at this location is classified as an ‘ordinary watercourse’. Managing flooding from ordinary watercourses is the responsibility of the local council, in this case, Chorley borough council.
Chorley borough council has permissive powers to address flooding issues.
Environmental Action Fund: Finance
Natural England's budget for 2008-09 was announced on 21 February and final decisions on budget allocations for the Environmental Action Fund/Countdown 2010 have yet to be made. Figures for Natural England's budget in future years will be announced in due course.
I will ask Natural England's chief executive to write to the hon. Member when these figures have been confirmed.
Fuel Poverty: Standards
We remain committed to the eradication of fuel poverty. Our aim in England, restated in ‘Fuel Poverty in England: The Government's Plan for Action’, is to eradicate fuel poverty, as far as reasonably practicable, by 22 November 2016. The target for the UK as a whole is 2016-18.
Tackling fuel poverty is a priority for the Government. DEFRA will continue to discharge its duties and responsibilities under the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 with the aim of ensuring, as far as is reasonably practicable, that people do not live in fuel poverty by the set date.
As with any target with a statutory basis, failure to achieve this carries the risk of a legal challenge. We do not take this risk lightly and remain committed to achieving the 2016-18 target across the UK.
Genetically Modified Organisms: Crops
We have no specific plans to change the existing arrangements for publishing GM crop trial locations on the DEFRA website. We are, however, keeping this issue under general review, because there are a small minority of people who seem to be intent on destroying any GM trials. This is a concern if legitimate and potentially beneficial research is either being discouraged or not allowed to proceed.
Genetically Modified Organisms: EU Action
[holding answer 21 February 2008]: Decisions on proposals for the commercial cultivation of GM crops are taken at European Union level. Consistent with the EU legislation, the UK voting position is based on what the scientific evidence indicates about the safety of each crop in question for human health and the environment. DEFRA consults the relevant authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland before the UK position is finalised. There are no plans for the UK position to be determined on the basis of qualified majority voting.
Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
DEFRA has had no discussions with HM Treasury regarding this issue. DEFRA is continuing to actively assess the suitability of alternative low carbon technologies to integrate into Warm Front.
Home Energy Efficiency Scheme: Cost Effectiveness
DEFRA employs independent quality assessors, who have completed two reviews of Warm Front pricing. These reviews have shown that Warm Front charges provide value for money.
Home Energy Efficiency Scheme: Heating
Gas boilers installed or repaired under Warm Front receive two annual service visits. These are carried out approximately 12 and 24 months after the date of installation.
Warm Front customers who have received a gas boiler have access to a 24 hour breakdown line, which operates seven days a week and 365 days a year. In the majority of cases this service provides either a same day or next day response. Temporary heaters will also be provided under certain circumstances.
Home Energy Efficiency Scheme: Tamworth
Over the last three scheme years, the average cost of each grant approved is as follows:
Scheme year Average spend (£) 2005-06 1,211.59 2006-07 1,030.75 2007-08 1,788.31
National Bee Unit: Finance
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 30 October 2007, Official Report, column 1089W.
Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
Manures and manufactured fertilisers cannot be applied in nitrate-vulnerable zones during defined closed periods. Proposals set out in the recent consultation for redefining the closed periods for organic manures have been developed using a targeted approach based on soil type, land use (arable or grassland) and rainfall. Under those proposals, the average length of the closed periods would be just over four months. There are no proposals to redefine closed periods for manufactured fertilisers.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest: Standards
(2) what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the public service agreement target to ensure that 95 per cent. of sites of special scientific interest are in favourable condition by 2010.
We remain committed to achieving the public service agreement target to bring 95 per cent. of sites of special scientific interest by area into favourable or recovering condition by 2010. This target will become a departmental strategic objective under the new natural environment public service agreement.
Within the Major Landowners Group, my officials meet regularly with representatives of other organisations with a significant role in delivery of this target. This provides a mechanism for identification of emerging issues and ensures that they are discussed at the appropriate level.
Tree Preservation Orders: Guildford
As part of the preparation for a planning application at the Guildford site DEFRA has undertaken a joint survey with Guildford borough council of the trees and, under the guidance of the tree preservation officer has identified a number of trees that are worthy of retention (some having been identified as restricting the sustainable growth of others).
DEFRA has no objection to the principle of imposing a TPO but would not expect this to be undertaken while in the ownership of DEFRA, pending disposal.
DEFRA is awaiting confirmation from the council as to the identification of those trees to which an Order would relate.
Wildlife: Environment Protection
The Government believe that the current regime adequately covers any adaptation of wildlife habitats that may be required in response to climate change.
Last year we published “Conserving biodiversity in a changing climate: guidance on building capacity to adapt”, which is directed at those who plan and deliver conservation of terrestrial biodiversity.
The UK was also the first country to produce a national Biodiversity Action Plan in response to the Convention on Biological Diversity signed in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The UK Biodiversity Action Plan comprises both species and habitats action plans. In 2007, the UK Biodiversity Partnership published a new list of priority habitats, containing 65 habitat types. These priority habitats are a focus for conservation during the next decade and the impacts of climate change will feature in conservation actions.
The list of species to be removed from Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 has not been finalised and will be subject to further discussions with the devolved administrations. I hope the revised schedule will take effect from 1 October this year.
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Statutory Nature Conservation Agencies support a range of bird surveillance and monitoring schemes in the United Kingdom, usually in partnership with specialist non-government organisations. Surveillance schemes may include annual or periodic assessment of population size and distribution and allow trends in both to be derived. Schemes are tailored to provide comprehensive coverage of common and rare species in both breeding and non-breeding seasons. Monitoring is undertaken as part of the JNCC’s and Statutory Nature Conservation Agencies’ statutory obligations and would not incur any additional costs.
Transport
Dartford Tunnel
The figures requested are in the following tables.
Motorbikes Cars Vans HGVs/PSVs Total 2003 1,005 107,763 21,334 15,998 146,106 2004 981 109,430 22,420 16,795 149,631 2005 1,017 107,998 22,454 16,915 148,390 2006 1 ,024 107,101 22,689 16,607 147,426 2007 1,075 104,753 22,820 17,037 145,690
Motorbikes Cars Vans HGVs/PSVs Total 2003 366,849 39,333,500 7,786,829 5,839,418 53,328,599 2004 358,908 40,051,354 8,205,557 6,146,979 54,764,802 2005 371,024 39,419,306 8,195,879 6,174,141 54,162,355 2006 373,639 39,091,736 8,281,632 6,061,508 53,810,521 2007 392,340 38,234,700 8,329,418 6,218,527 53,176,992
Dartford Tunnel: Tolls
The Department for Transport received several thousand representations in response to the consultation on the Dartford Crossing charges that finished in March last year. These included representations from local residents, trade associations, local government and local MPs. The views expressed in these responses have been taken into account in the proposals for a local residents’ discount scheme, issued for consultation on 15 February 2008.
Driving: Licensing
We intend to consult on options for change to health and driver licensing arrangements later this year.
Motor Vehicles: Lighting
Research undertaken for the Department for Transport indicated that the requirement for new types of motor vehicle to be equipped with dedicated daytime running lamps would result in an increase of about 5 per cent. in fuel consumption.
Following EU decisions on daytime running lights (DRL) issues, a European Directive will require new vehicle types to be equipped with dedicated DRLs from early 2011 (cars, vans) and summer 2012 (other vehicles). Vehicles registered before these dates will not be required to be retro-fitted with DRLs or to use existing lights as an equivalent.
Roads: Repairs and Maintenance
Local highway authorities have a duty under the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the highways in their charge. As part of the Best Value regime, they are required to report annually on the condition of those highways. Guidance on the calculation of such Best Value Condition Indicators, including reference to the road surface condition parameters to be measured, is provided on the Department’s website.
Decisions on what maintenance should be undertaken, and when, is a matter for each individual highway authority. The Department endorses ‘Well-maintained Highways’ (TSO, 2005) produced by the UK Roads Board, which provides best practice guidance on maintenance management.
Sexual Harassment
Due to the low number of sexual harassment and sexual discrimination complaints in the Department for Transport and its agencies, this information is withheld on the grounds of confidentiality.
Transport: Finance
The conditions attached to the Department’s grants to local authorities, or other bodies, reflect the particular circumstances of each case. However, it is Government policy to reduce the proportion of total local authority funding which is given by means of ring-fenced grants to enable more decisions about local issues to be made locally.
The level and form of local authority support for community transport is a matter for local decision.
It is for each local authority to determine the conditions which apply to any grants they provide for community transport providers.
Travel: Concessions
Since 2003 there has been a half-fare concessionary travel scheme for older and eligible disabled people on long distance coaches. It is a voluntary scheme but the major providers of long distance coach services take part. The scheme will continue following the introduction of the England-wide free off-peak local bus travel concession in April. There are no proposals at present to extend statutory concessionary fares to forms of transport other than local buses.
House of Commons Commission
Department of Resources: Pay
As at 31 January 2008, the Department of Resources employed 136.28 full-time equivalent staff (FTE), broken down as follows:
Pay band FTE Band SCS2 1 Band SCS1A 1 Band SCS1 4 Band A1 3.21 Band A2 14.79 Band B1 21.18 Band B2 19.2 Band C 42.4 Band D1 27.5 Band D2 1 Sandwich Student 1 Total 136.28
An organisational chart detailing individual pay bands for staff can be found on the Department of Resources intranet site.
Members: Allowances
About one quarter of all departmental staff time is devoted to administering Members’ allowances. This equates to some 35 full-time equivalent staff.
Security
(2) how many non-European nationals hold a parliamentary pass.
There are currently 1,312 valid parliamentary passes issued to individuals whose nationality is other than British.
Records are not held in a form which distinguishes the number of non-European from European nationals.
Wales
Departmental Official Hospitality
My Department spent a total of £12,631.87 on entertaining in the last 12 months. The figures for entertaining are not split between alcohol and food, and these could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Pay
The amount claimed by senior civil service staff in the financial year 2006-07 was £2,582.79.
Departmental Property
The Wales Office was established in July 1999. Since 1999 our records show that we have lost:
£ Three mobile handsets 40 Ancillary cabling for a laptop 107 Two security passes 0 Digital camera 100 Train ticket 144
There have been no items reported stolen.
Departmental Sick Pay
The cost of sickness pay is not readily available in the format requested, and obtaining this could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.
However, in 2006-07, which is the latest year for which figures have been published, of all Government Departments the Wales Office had the lowest number of days lost due to sickness per member of staff, at just 1.6 days in the year.
Departmental Travel
My Department has spent the following amounts on first class travel in 2007:
£ Ministerial travel 2,836.32 Officials 89,606.73
The breakdown by staff grade can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
My Office is split over two sites, namely London and Cardiff, and staff are required to travel frequently between both offices. The Wales Office, however, makes good use of advanced ticket bookings to achieve value for money.
Fair Trade Initiative
My Department does not have any in-house catering facilities. Where possible, taking account of value for money, fair trade products are used.
To support Fair Trade Fortnight 2008, an e-mail, alerting all staff to the event, and linking them to the Fair Trade website, has been sent.
Olympics
Humanitarian Assistance Unit
The total cost of the unit and its work since it was established in 2005 is as follows:
£ 2005-061 663,000 2006-07 659,000 2007-082 420,500 1 Not full year 2 To date
Olympic Games 2012: Gun Sports
There are no plans to move the shooting event to an alternative venue.
The Royal Artillery barracks at Woolwich was selected as the venue for Olympic and Paralympic shooting events in 2012 following feedback from the International Olympic Committee and consultation with the International Shooting Federation and British Shooting (the national governing body). Woolwich has the advantage of being close to the Olympic Park and Village, which will improve the athlete and spectator experience. The decision to stage the event at Woolwich is now part of the Host City Contract with the IOC.
Olympic Games 2012: Wildlife
In parallel with ongoing site clearance and preparation works, the Olympic Delivery Authority continues its comprehensive ecology programme to ensure the preservation and protection of wildlife in the Olympic Park. Where possible, habitats are being safeguarded and will remain in place but, where wildlife cannot be protected sufficiently on-site, the ODA is working with the nearby Waterworks Nature Reserve and Hackney council to create alternative habitats in the local area. The ODA is also preparing a small nature reserve at East Marsh to become home to a variety of wildlife including birds, frogs, spiders and beetles with planting scheduled to commence in the spring.
To date, thousands of newts and hundreds of toads have been translocated to specially created ponds on the Waterworks Reserve and aquatics experts have moved fish away from the clearance and dredging works on the Pudding Mill river to the nearby river Lea. New nest areas suitable for the breeding and feeding patterns of kingfishers and sand martins have also been created at the Waterworks.
The ODA is also working with the Celia Hammond Animal Trust (CHAT) to ensure the well-being and safe capture of any feral cats remaining on the site. To date, around 170 cats have been safely taken off site for re-homing by the trust. The ODA continues to work closely with the trust to allow access to those areas safe from construction activities.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Embassies: Industrial Disputes
Our embassy in Dublin has regularly informed staff that it is committed to handling labour relations in accordance with good employer practice, local employment law and the (non-binding) procedural agreement signed in 2003 between our embassy and the Unite trade union.
Our embassy in Dublin and Unite, acting on behalf of the embassy's local Staff Association, reached a mutually satisfactory agreement on the consequences for staff of the restructuring of the UK Trade and Investment section on 21 February.
Embassies: Redundancy
Three compulsory redundancies were made recently at our embassy in Dublin, as a result of UK Trade and Investment's (UKTI) wider restructuring of their global network in line with their new strategic priorities.
Our embassy and Unite, acting on behalf of the embassy's local Staff Association, reached a mutually satisfactory agreement on the consequences for staff of the restructuring of the UKTI section.
Equatorial Guinea: Human Rights
[holding answer 22 February 2008]: The Government have serious concerns over Equatorial Guinea’s human rights record.
We are aware of recent reports that express concern over the situation in Equatorial Guinea as regards individuals' right to a fair trial and the country’s observation of human rights. Such reports include the Amnesty International Report 2007 and the report of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, available at:
http://thereport.amnesty.org/document/15
http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/E3F5F640A5C8217FC125731A002D604D?opendocument
While such reporting indicates that conditions in Black Beach prison are improving, following the introduction of a new block in 2005, the overall situation remains of concern.
Iraq: Asylum
[holding answer 5 February 2008]: I have been asked to reply.
The information on how many Iraqi locally employed staff were granted asylum in 2007 is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
It would not possible to speculate how many Iraqi locally engaged staff may be granted asylum in 2008 as every asylum application is considered on its individual merits in accordance with the criteria defined in the 1951 UN Convention relating to the status of refugees.
Kosovo
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Kosovo's declaration of independence with his colleagues from EU countries, including from Spain, Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia at the 18 February General Affairs and External Relations Council.
The Council unanimously agreed conclusions setting out a clear EU response to developments in Kosovo. The EU has agreed a range of political and practical assistance to Kosovo (deploying a police and rule of law mission and special representative; assisting with economic and political development). The conclusions noted that member states could decide on their relations with Kosovo in accordance with national practice.
I also refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on Kosovo on 19 February 2008, Official Report, columns 20-22WS.
Simon Mann
[holding answer 22 February 2008]: As stated in my written answer to the hon. Member on 18 February 2008, Official Report, column 180W, the Government’s main concern is for Mr. Mann’s immediate welfare.
Our objective in dealing with the Equatorial Guinean authorities is to maintain open lines of communication, with a view to regular access to Simon Mann and ensuring that he is treated in line with international standards.
We do not believe that sanctions would be conducive to facilitating dialogue with the Equatorial Guinean government.
[holding answer 22 February 2008]: The issue of the legality of Mr. Mann’s removal from Zimbabwe and its implications for any subsequent trial are a matter for Mr. Mann’s legal representatives to take forward in Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea.
We have expressed our concern to the Zimbabwean authorities following Mr. Mann’s transfer to Equatorial Guinea.
The Equatorial Guinean authorities have assured us that Mr. Mann will receive a fair trial, in accordance with international law, and that he will be free to appoint a lawyer.
We will make representations to the Equatorial Guinea authorities if Mr. Mann’s trial does not follow internationally recognised standards for a fair trial.
Timor Leste: Politics and Government
We were extremely concerned to learn of the attacks on President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Gusmao on 11 February and hope that Dr. Ramos-Horta makes a speedy recovery. A Foreign and Commonwealth Office official visited Dili last week and met with a variety of key interlocutors. He assessed the security situation to be calm, although outbreaks of violence could happen without warning.
There can be no justification for these attacks. We hope that law enforcement authorities will be able to bring those responsible for the outrage to justice and that stability will be maintained in East Timor. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has written to Prime Minister Gusmao, condemning the attacks.
We fully support the vital work of the UN Mission to East Timor and the International Stabilisation Force in their efforts to help bring about peace and stability.
UN World Conference Against Racism
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed this with his Libyan counterpart. UK officials in Geneva are engaged in talks with other delegations on the preparatory process.
The Government believe that it is vital to avoid a repeat of the disgraceful anti-Semitism that occurred at the 2001 World Conference Against Racism.
We want the Durban Review Conference to assess how states have implemented the 2001 Durban Declaration and Programme for Action. The agenda for the Conference is not yet clear. The UK was among a small number of countries that worked hard to ensure that the issue of anti-Semitism was included in the 2001 Declaration and Programme for Action. We will seek to ensure that anti-Semitism receives due attention at the Durban Review Conference.
The United Kingdom will be represented at the preparatory committee for the Durban Review Conference by our Mission to the Office of the United Nations in Geneva. There are no plans for Ministers to attend.
Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have been in discussions with their Canadian counterparts on the Durban Review Conference. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed this with the Canadian Government.
The Durban Review Conference has not yet been discussed at the level of European Union Foreign Ministers. It has, however, been a regular item on the agenda of meetings at official level.
Vietnam: Religious Freedom
Together with our EU partners, we regularly discuss human rights issues, including religious freedom, with the Vietnamese authorities. The biannual EU-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue is the main forum for raising our concerns. Our ambassador in Hanoi attended the last dialogue, which was held in Hanoi on 19 December 2007. We also discuss the issues with the Government of Vietnam, both bilaterally and with our EU counterparts.
We are aware of reports of the continued harassment of some religious groups in some areas. We have urged the Vietnamese authorities to increase awareness and capacity among local authorities, to guarantee the right of all religious groups to practise their faith freely in the community through full implementation of the appropriate legislation, and to adhere to their international human rights obligations. Regulations, in force since 2004, establish criteria for the recognition of hitherto non-sanctioned religious groups.
I raised our concerns on human rights with the Vietnamese Foreign Minister at the Association of South East Asian Nations summit in Singapore on 23 November 2007 and with the Deputy Foreign Minister during his visit to London on 29 November 2007. Additionally, I raised the issue with the Vietnamese ambassador on 9 October 2007.
We are concerned at the arrests and sentencing of a number of human rights defenders, including some campaigning for increased religious freedoms, in Vietnam and have made numerous representations to the Vietnamese authorities on the plight of these individuals.
We co-operate closely with our EU partners in Hanoi on human rights issues, including on the question of religious freedoms. The biannual EU-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue, which was established in 2003, is the main forum for raising our concerns. Our ambassador in Hanoi attended the most recent dialogue, which took place on 19 December 2007 in Hanoi.
I raised our concerns on human rights with the Vietnamese Foreign Minister at the Association of South East Asian Nations summit in Singapore on 23 November 2007 and with the Deputy Foreign Minister during his visit to London on 29 November 2007. Additionally, I raised the issue with the Vietnamese ambassador on 9 October 2007.
Northern Ireland
Departmental Correspondence
Although the Northern Ireland Office does not have a dedicated ministerial correspondence unit, there are staff within the Belfast and London private offices that act as correspondence clerks as part of their duties.
The measurement of the costs relating to the time spent completing correspondence duties could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Stationery
The following table shows the amount the Northern Ireland Office, excluding its Agencies and non-departmental public bodies, has spent on stationery in each of the last five years.
Financial year Stationery costs (£) 2002-03 315,435 2003-04 299,858 2004-05 297,183 2005-06 320,590 2006-07 314,784
Departmental Temporary Employment
The average hourly rate paid to employment agencies for agency staff used by the Department is not readily available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Historical Enquiries Team
The Historical Enquiries Team is to examine all deaths attributed to "The Troubles" from January 1969 to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998; this equates to 3,268 deaths which occurred in 2,516 incidents (an incident is described as a case). To date 1,039 cases have been allocated to the HET business process.
HET currently have a total of 175 staff.
Honours
Four members of staff in the Northern Ireland Office have received an honour.
International Development
Departmental Pay
The total claimed in reimbursable expenses by senior civil servants in DFID in the last 12 months was £111,005.
This figure relates to claims made directly through our UK systems. It is not possible to include reimbursable costs claimed through our local accounting sections overseas without incurring disproportionate cost.
All reimbursable expenses are made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
Departmental Visits Abroad
A list of countries visited, for years which information is readily available, has been placed in the Library of the House. The data reflect all overseas visits for UK-based officials. It is not possible to provide information on visits carried out by staff based overseas other than visits back to the UK, without incurring a disproportionate cost.
Honours
Of the 96 senior civil servants currently employed by the Department for International Development, four have received an honours award.
Overseas Aid
Both the Global Business Plan on MDGs 4 and 5 and the International Health Partnership aim to deliver more effective aid in support of national health plans and priorities. The European Commission is a signatory to the IHP and the UK continues to work closely with the Commission in ensuring the aid it provides is consistent with these principles. The EC does not have specific MDG ‘programmes’. Our main interest with regard to their support for the MDGs is at the country level.
In 2007, the EC published the majority of its country strategy papers for the period to 2013. Many of these were completed before donors agreed the GBP and the IHP. DFID considered these CSPs against a range of criteria, including their adherence to the legal and policy base and alignment with the priorities of the partner country as set out in their national plans—this is in line with the principles of the IHP. Our assessment is that those which have so far been presented have generally met these criteria.
Senegal: Mauritania
There are no plans to contribute to the appeal.
Scotland
Children: Poverty
The Government are considering the recommendations contained within the Committee’s report on Child Poverty in Scotland, and will respond in full in due course.
Ministers at the Department for Work and Pensions are aware of the report, and my officials are in regular contact with counterparts in DWP who are contributing to the content of the Government response.
We will work with other Government Departments to implement any necessary actions identified in our response.
Departmental Official Hospitality
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 19 October 2007, Official Report, column 1363W. The Scotland Office maintains records for expenditure on hospitality in each financial year but does not distinguish that part spent on alcohol.
Departmental Translation Services
The Scotland Office does not separately record any costs associated with translations.
The Scotland Office does not offer translation services to the public.
Honours
No member of the senior civil service at the Scotland Office has received an honour.
Electoral Commission Committee
Departmental Accountancy
The Electoral Commission informs me that it wrote in 2004 to all registered party accounting units to inquire as to whether their total income or gross expenditure was greater than £25,000 for the 2003 financial year; and to ask those whose income or expenditure was under this threshold to confirm this in writing. The purpose of the exercise was to confirm which accounting units should be submitting accounts to the Commission and which should not. No further work was carried out.
Departmental Visits Abroad
The Electoral Commission informs me that the purpose of the visits in question was as follows:
Countries visited Reason 2001 Australia Study visit to the Australian Electoral Commission Canada Elections Canada (Annual Conference) Croatia Association of Central and Eastern European Electoral Administrators (Annual Conference) New Zealand Study visit to the Electoral Enrolment Centre, Chief Electoral Office, and Electoral Commission Republic of Ireland Study visit on Referendum planning and working practices Spain Preparatory meeting for the Conference on European Electoral Management Bodies Sweden International IDEA Conference 2002 Mauritius Commonwealth Secretariat seminar on voter registration Poland OSCE/ODIHR Human Dimension Implementation Meeting Republic of Ireland Study visit on Referendums Russia Association of Central and Eastern European Electoral Administrators (Annual Conference) Spain Conference on European Electoral Management Bodies Sweden International IDEA Workshop: Toward the Development of Standards of Law and Practice to Promote Electoral Access for Citizens with Disabilities 2003 Australia Work placement: Department of Local Government and Regional Development, Western Australia Belgium European Parliament: Disability Intergroup Meeting Canada Conference on the State Funding of Political Parties Germany Study visit on voting Age India International IDEA Election Management Bodies conference Mexico Second Conference of the global electoral organisations network Switzerland IFES/IDEA/IPU/Inclusion International Conference on electoral rights for people for disabilities USA Study visit on political party funding 2004 Albania Study visit on voter turnout and first time voters Austria FCO-organised study visit on electoral standards and commitments Canada Study visit on political party funding Elections Canada Conference on monitoring the Iraqi elections Chile British Council Conference on election administration and political party funding Germany Study visit on political party funding Netherlands Study visit on political party funding 2005 Austria OSCE/ODIHR Human Dimension Implementation meeting Canada Meeting with Elections Canada France Second European Conference of Electoral Management Bodies in Strasbourg (Venice Commission) Hungary ACCEEEO-organised meeting of EU election experts India Commonwealth Secretariat Conference of Chief Election Officers Mexico Federal Electoral Institute Seminar on the Media and Elections Poland OSCE/ODIHR Human Dimension Implementation meeting Russia OSCE/ODIHR expert meeting on election observation USA International Mission for Iraqi Elections meeting Study of US Govt bodies COGEL (Council on Govt, ethics and law) Conference 2006 Canada IFES conference—Making Electoral Reform Real: Best Practices for managing an electoral system transition Latvia Association of Central and Eastern European Electoral Administrators (Annual Conference) Poland ODIHR Roundtable on election issues 2007 Canada Study visit to Elections Canada COGEL Conference Poland OSCE/ODIHR conference on e-voting Republic of Ireland Meeting with the Department for Foreign Affairs Meeting with the Standards in Public Office Russia Study visit to the Independent Electoral Commission South Africa Conference hosted by The Electoral Commission of South Africa on Democratic Momentum Sweden International IDEA Working Group USA Global Electoral Organization (GEO) Conference
Efficiency Savings
The resource budget agreed by the Speaker’s Committee for the Commission covering the four years 2007-08 to 20010-11 is a ‘cash flat’ amount of £23,995,000 (including the £2 million annual Policy Development Grant budget) in each of the four years. The Commission is required to absorb all pay and non-pay inflation over this period and to do so it will have to deliver efficiency savings of on average at least 2 per cent. or £480,000 in each year.
The Electoral Commission informs me that it has already secured recurrent savings of £625,000 in 2007-08 and as the first stage of its efficiency plan for 2008-09 has identified specific savings of £250,000.
Gershon Review
The Electoral Commission informs me that it takes into account the Gershon principles and findings when reviewing its expenditure and efficiency plans, which are discussed with the Speaker’s Committee.
Labour Party: Elections
The Electoral Commission informs me that its guidance to participants in the Labour party deputy leadership campaign was contained in the letters sent to candidates on 18 May 2007, copies of which are already in the Library.
Political Parties: Finance
The Electoral Commission informs me that it has no plans to commission consultants to assist this research, which is limited to considering the existing legislative framework and background information on how the political levy and political funds currently operate.
The Electoral Commission informs me that it has done so.
The Electoral Commission informs me that the cost of severance and redundancy pay incurred in each calendar year since its establishment was as follows:
Expenditure (£) Number of individuals 2001 0 0 2002 68,524 1 2003 0 0 2004 0 0 2005 61,642 2 2006 59,826 1 2007 203,905 11 2008 19,065 1
The Electoral Commission informs me that the research into trade union funding is limited to considering the existing legislative framework and background information on how the political levy and political funds currently operate.
The research will be completed following a meeting between Commission staff and the Certification Officer, expected to take place next month.
The Electoral Commission informs me that it has made arrangements to meet officials who performed research on trade unions for the review of party funding recently completed by Sir Hayden Philips.
The Electoral Commission informs me that it does not plan to obtain copies of constituency development plans made between the Labour party and trade unions as this is beyond the scope of the research.
The Electoral Commission informs me that 578 out of 690 accounting units of the Labour Party responded in 2004 to confirm that their total income and gross expenditure for the 2003 financial year were below the reporting threshold of £25,000. A full list of those who responded has been placed in the library.
The Commission has reviewed the canvass of registered accounting units performed in 2007. The results of the canvass are incomplete and the Commission intends to update its records by working with the parties and undertaking a new canvass of accounting units in 2008.
The Electoral Commission informs me that these documents are held in paper form and copies can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the accounts are available for inspection in the Electoral Commission’s London office on request.
The Electoral Commission informs me that it has no plans to invite contributions from interested external parties.
Trade Unions: Constituencies
The Electoral Commission informs me that it does not hold copies of Labour party trade union constituency development plans.
Trade Unions: Finance
The Electoral Commission informs me that it has no plans to undertake such research.
Work and Pensions
Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings
The Department introduced a new personnel computer system incrementally from November 2006, being fully implemented by April 2007. The following information reflects the number of staff with a written warning for (a) breaching standards of behaviour; or (b) unsatisfactory attendance recorded on that system from April 2007 in each month to December 2007.
Information prior to April 2007 is held on a number of legacy systems. The cost of extracting this information in the format requested from these, and clerical records, for the period prior to April 2007 would be at a disproportionate cost.
The percentage of DWP staff receiving written warnings is calculated on the total number of staff employed by DWP in each month.
As at 2007: Unsatisfactory attendance written warning issued Number of written warnings for unsatisfactory attendance as a percentage of all DWP staff Standards of behaviour written warning issued Number of written warnings for standards of behaviour as a percentage of all DWP staff April 137 0.11 46 0.04 May 165 0.13 34 0.03 June 167 0.14 41 0.03 July 175 0.14 47 0.04 August 172 0.14 29 0.02 September 165 0.14 32 0.03 October 167 0.14 41 0.03 November 185 0.16 42 0.04 December 114 0.10 33 0.03 Total 1,447 345
Pension Education Fund
DWP has commissioned an independent case study evaluation to:
Explore the impact of the fund initiatives on individuals’ knowledge and attitudes towards planning for retirement and on savings behaviour;
Provide evidence to help assess the potential role that a trusted third party can play in delivering pensions information; and
Explore providers’ experiences of setting up and running the initiatives.
Research has been conducted with 14 Pension Education Fund schemes selected to ensure coverage of a range of different types of initiatives. In-depth interviews were the main research tool in this study, through which the research organisation have collected detailed information on providers’ experiences of setting up and running particular initiatives, on employers’ experience of participating, and on the influence that funded activities have had on individuals’ attitudes to retirement planning and saving for retirement.
In addition, all 26 schemes are being monitored through contract management processes and PEF funded organisations are conducting their own evaluations to understand their perspectives on delivery.
A DWP research report on the evaluation will be published in spring 2008.
Notes:
1. The PEF offered funding to local and national not-for-profit organisations (such as trade unions, charities, trade associations and the voluntary sector) to use innovative ways to increase financial awareness and encourage working people to provide for their retirement, especially among those that might be at more risk of undersaving.
2. The principle is to provide impartial and accurate information on pensions and retirement planning via trusted third parties to individuals (employees and self-employed people) in the workplace, where practicable.
3. The projects are running between January 2006 and March 2008.
4. Closing date for applications was 2 September 2005.
5. 55 applications were received and examined against financial and quality criteria and the process overseen by an Independent Decision Panel.
6. 26 were accepted, covering all Government Office regions and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and a range of organisational types including charities, trade unions, employer groups and the voluntary sector.
7. Information is being delivered by the projects using a variety of methods including group events, one to ones, websites, CDs, information booklets/packs and by training intermediaries and union members who return to the workplace and cascade information.
Social Security Benefits: Offenders
[holding answer 29 January 2008]: Convicted offenders serving community service sentences are entitled to any benefits for which they qualify, in the same way as any other person.
In general, DWP benefits are not payable to convicted prisoners in custody. However, since 1995 and subject to certain qualifying conditions, those serving short sentences of 13 weeks or less may continue to receive housing benefit and council tax benefit. This ensures that people with very short sentences do not become homeless upon release.
Tax Allowances: Pensioners
The age addition is an automatic payment made to eligible pensioners. The cost of administering the age addition is a relatively small element of the administration costs of The Pension Service and is not separately available.
The latest available information as at March 2007 is that there are around 2,693,300 pensioners in receipt of the 25p age addition.
Notes:
1. Data is taken from a 5 per cent. extract of the Pension Service Computer System, therefore figures are subject to a degree of sampling variation. They are also adjusted to be consistent with the overall caseload from the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
3. This figure includes everyone who is eligible to receive the age addition in GB and overseas, not everyone who is aged 80 or over.
Source:
DWP Information Directorate
(2) how many people receive the over 80s age allowance.
[holding answer 25 January 2008]: The age addition is an automatic payment made to eligible pensioners. The cost of administering the age addition is a relatively small element of the administration costs of the Pension Service and is not separately available.
The latest available information as at March 2007 shows that there are around 2,693,300 pensioners in receipt of the 25p age addition. The estimate of the 2007-08 expenditure is £33 million.
Notes:
1. Data relating to the number of pensioners are taken from a 5 per cent. extract of the Pension Service Computer System, therefore the figure is subject to a degree of sampling variation. It is also adjusted to be consistent with the overall caseload from the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.
2. The figure relating to the number of pensioners is rounded to the nearest hundred.
3. The figure relating to the number of pensioners includes everyone who is eligible to receive the age addition in GB and overseas, not everyone who is aged 80 or over.
4. The figure relating to the value of age addition payments covers payments made to those in Great Britain and overseas.
5. The figure relating to the value of age addition payments has been rounded to the nearest million.
Source:
DWP Information Directorate; Comprehensive Spending Review 2007
Vocational Guidance: Carers
The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 25 February 2008:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what advice and support is available to those who wish to return to work after undertaking caring responsibilities and also that Department for Work and Pensions staff are trained to provide that advice and support. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as chief executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Everyone returning to work, and who is claiming jobseeker’s allowance, will discuss and agree the steps that will offer the best chance of finding work. This information is recorded in the jobseeker’s agreement, which is reviewed at regular intervals. Customers are given information and advice about the range of Jobcentre Plus services, including our telephony based job-matching service (Jobseeker Direct) and our internet job bank, and how to make best use of these and other vacancy sources.
People are usually required to attend their nearest Jobcentre Plus office on a fortnightly basis to discuss what they have been doing to find work and to see what further support, if required, can be offered in terms of jobsearch or training/re-training.
To continue to receive jobseeker’s allowance, people must usually be available for work for a minimum of 40 hours per week. However, restrictions on hours/days are allowed for customers who have caring responsibilities, which can be restricted to a minimum of 16 hours a week.
People who are particularly disadvantaged in the labour market can access additional help through early entry to the new deal, providing more intensive help through the support of a personal adviser and a range of opportunities to help overcome more significant barriers to employment. Similarly, early access is available to Programme Centre provision, which can provide additional help for those people who need to improve motivation and confidence, and their basic jobsearch skills.
With regard to staff training, Jobcentre Plus has a diverse customer base and a comprehensive programme of learning designed to equip advisers with the full range of knowledge and skills required to support all our customers. A new Adviser Skills Learning Routeway was introduced in September 2005, which is supported by an efficient learning routeway providing advisers with key knowledge and skills.
We work closely with external partners in the development of learning products and in the up-skilling of our advisers, ensuring that additional modules are designed and delivered when required to deal with specific customer needs. These partners are professionals and are recognised as experts in their field and are able to provide the specialised knowledge and understanding of specific customer groups.
I hope this information is helpful and assures you of our intent to provide people with the best possible service, aimed at helping them into work as soon as possible.
Defence
Advertising
While marketing activity occurs across the Department this is not as a discrete function, but rather as an integrated element of strategic communications, press, PR, internal communications or e-media.
As a result, information on departmental expenditure on marketing alone is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
Armed Forces Compensation Scheme: World War II
The then Under-Secretary of State announced on 26 June 2006, Official Report, columns 9-10, that the detailed rules of the Far Eastern Prisoners of War Scheme 20-year residence criterion, which allow applicants to demonstrate the required close link to the UK on the basis of post-January 1945 residence in the UK, were being published and implemented that day. The rules, which were the subject of consultation with the Association of British Civilian Internees—Far East Region, allow periods employed outside the UK—whether with the British Government or otherwise—to count towards the 20 years providing there is reasonable evidence of an intention to return to this country; this will most likely be the case with postings from the UK. There is, however, no requirement that the individual should have been in the UK when recruited; if a person’s employment was contracted on the basis that they would otherwise have been resident in the UK and that they would travel to the UK at its termination, that would qualify.
Armed Forces: Health Services
There are currently a hydrotherapy pool and five separate gyms (four in current use) at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court. One of the gyms needs to be refurbished. The unit also makes regular use of a local authority swimming pool at Leatherhead. These facilities are publicly funded.
A new charity, Help for Heroes, has offered to raise funds to build a swimming pool and gym, as part of a new rehabilitation complex at Headley Court. We warmly welcome this generous offer to enhance the unit's existing facilities. The rehabilitation of military patients on the site, which is itself owned by a charitable trust, has for many years benefited from charitable donations and it is entirely appropriate that such funding should be blended with public funding in this way. We shall work closely with the charity as its proposals are developed.
We would expect Headley Court to take charge of the management of the new rehabilitation complex, including the provision of military or civilian staff to man it.
We are also continuing to invest significantly from public funds in new buildings. We opened a new 30-bed ward annex last year (costing £1.7 million). Work is now starting on a 58-bed accommodation block for patients and staff (costing about £4 million). We are also considering a longer term development plan to improve accommodation and clinical facilities across the site, and thus maintain the first-class capability that Headley Court currently offers.
Armed Forces: Manpower
Targets for trained officers and soldiers, by capbadge, are given in the Army Monthly Manning Report, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Two Army Output Maps have been produced since 2005-06. I will place copies in the Library of the House.
Armed Forces: Military Decorations
We currently have no plans to introduce the practice of wearing a wound stripe or other honour for soldiers wounded in action.
Today all servicemen and women in Iraq and Afghanistan receive a medal once they have met the qualifying criteria, which reflects the risk to life and limb of the servicemen and women and the rigour of the operations upon which they are deployed. The medals are issued automatically in the event of death or injury that leads to evacuation from theatre, regardless of how long individuals have served on the operation.
In addition, a number of those wounded on operations have also received gallantry awards.
Our primary aim must be to provide the injured with the medical care that they require and to support them where appropriate via the War Pensions Scheme and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.
This is a complex issue which is kept under constant review by the Military Chiefs of Staff and they are the best placed to make the appropriate recommendations.
Capita
Ministers and civil servants meet many people as part of the process of policy development and advice. It is not the usual practice of Government to disclose details of such meetings.
Departmental Contracts
The information available from centrally held records is shown in the following table. Some information could be held under other names or outside central records. In addition, the information on objectives missing for a few of the older contracts quoted has been archived and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Contractor name Objective Maximum current contract value (£000) Financial year 2004-05 Deloitte and Touche LLP 130 KPMG LLP 40 KPMG LLP 40 PA Consulting Services Ltd. 1,500 PA Consulting Services Ltd. 125 PA Consulting Services Ltd. Provision of consultancy support to a restructuring project 3,900 PA Consulting Services Ltd. 49 PA Consulting Services Ltd. 11 PA Consulting Services Ltd. 2,000 PA Consulting Services Ltd. 194 PA Consulting Services Ltd. 123 PA Consulting Services Ltd. 67 PA Consulting Services Ltd. 94 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 37 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 123 Financial year 2005-06 Deloitte and Touche LLP Provision of secretariat support to reviews of non-competitive government contracts 830 Ernst and Young LLP Independent project assurance 145 KPMG LLP 43 KPMG LLP 5 KPMG LLP 3 KPMG LLP 70 KPMG LLP 42 PA Consulting Services Ltd. 153 PA Consulting Services Ltd. Consultancy support to an acquisition programme 280 PA Consulting Services Ltd. Provision of training modules Enabling Arrangement PA Consulting Services Ltd. The provision of consultancy support for catering, retail and leisure guide 74 PA Consulting Services Ltd. 250 PA Consulting Services Ltd. 150 PA Consulting Services Ltd. Use of a framework agreement by the MOD 2,000 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP External Assistance for independent financial advice 100 Financial year2006-07 Deloitte and Touche LLP. Provision of financial advice and related services to the MOD and its Agencies in support of PFI and Partnering Projects 6,900 Deloitte and Touche LLP Review of structural options for an MOD Trading Fund 42 Deloitte and Touche LLP External Assistance for the Maritime Industrial Strategy 2,100 Deloitte and Touche LLP Provision of financial advice in support of a commercially owned military registered company 2,000 Deloitte and Touche LLP External assistance to the Maritime Industrial Strategy Team 60 Deloitte and Touche LLP External assistance to the Project Rehabilitation Unit 13 Deloitte and Touche LLP Consultancy Support for the UK White Fleet 100 Ernst and Young LLP Provision of financial advice and related services to the MOD and its Agencies in support of PFI and Partnering Projects 6,900 KPMG LLP Provision of financial advice and related services to the MOD and its Agencies in support of PFI and partnering projects 6,900 KPMG LLP External Assistance for a Lines of Development Review 966 KPMG LLP External Assistance to the Maritime Industrial Strategy 654 KPMG LLP Pilot agreement: use of a framework agreement by the MOD 950 KPMG LLP Provision of Support for the Maritime Industrial Strategy 210 PA Consulting Services Ltd. Consultancy support to HQ army recruiting group 77 PA Consulting Services Ltd. Consultancy support to a programme management office 176 PA Consulting Services Ltd. External Assistance support for the development of the commodities cluster framework strategy and future business model 92 PA Consulting Services Ltd. External Assistance to submarine support 205 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Provision of financial advice and related services to the MOD and its Agencies in support of PFI and partnering projects 6,900 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Feasibility Review for an MOD Trading Fund 48 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Subscription for access to and use of a global best practices system 32 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Provision of advice and consultancy support on the potential sale of part of an MOD Trading Fund 921 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Specialist Negotiation Advice 78 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Use of a framework agreement by the MOD 950 Financial year 2007-08 Deloitte and Touche LLP Employment of consultant to assist a PFI Project 75 Deloitte and Touche LLP External assistance to the Project Rehabilitation Unit 51 Ernst and Young United Kingdom Military Flying Training System Change Management Programme Scoping Study 157 KPMG LLP External Assistance for streamlining 4,000 PA Consulting Services Ltd. Provision of catering, retail and leisure training and coaching 143 PA Consulting Services Ltd. External Assistance to support Naval lean transformation 699 PA Consulting Services Ltd. External Assistance to support the financial workstream for a future logistics project 34 PA Consulting Services Ltd. External Assistance for breakthrough and personal coaching 45 PA Consulting Services Ltd. Programme Management Delivery Improvement and Programme Assurance Management 48 PA Consulting Services Ltd. Programme Assurance and Technical Support to Defence Information Infrastructure implementation 232 PA Consulting Services Ltd. Programme Assurance and Technical Support to Defence Information Infrastructure implementation 252 PA Consulting Services Ltd. Technical Support to embed Project Management Controls 127 PA Consulting Services Ltd. Technical Support on support contracts 97 PA Consulting Services Ltd. Technical Support on support contracts 100 PA Consulting Services Ltd. Inter-Modal Transportation Technology Demonstrator Programme 2,500 PA Consulting Services Ltd. Technical Project Assurance 94 PA Consulting Services Ltd. Technical Services to support the Defence Information Infrastructure 106 PA Consulting Services Ltd. Technical Support for support contracts 288 PA Consulting Services Ltd. Technical Support for the Defence Information Infrastructure 248 PA Consulting Services Ltd. External Assistance to the Defence Information Infrastructure 162 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP External Consultancy Assistance for a review of MOD Employers Pension Contributions Payments 17 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP External Assistance for blueprint consultancy 550 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Modular Open Systems Architecture enterprise model study 420 Note: Excluded are contracts placed on behalf of Other Government Departments, joint venture/alliance contracts, contracts placed through collaborative projects such as the Typhoon/Euro fighter and those awarded by the Ministry of Defence’s Trading Funds.
Departmental Data Protection
Personal data, mainly on MOD employees and their dependents, for which the Department is responsible are stored and processed in permanent and deployed units overseas, but within UK jurisdiction. Similar data are also held on overseas based and locally employed staff by Defence Attachés in British embassies. The volume of personal data held outside the Defence overseas footprint is not currently held centrally. As part of the departmental response to the Cabinet Office-led Review into data handling procedures in Government, an internal review is currently establishing a more comprehensive assessment of personal data held and accessed overseas.
Departmental Hospitality
Information on alcohol expenditure is not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 April 2007, Official Report, column 1014W, to the hon. Member for Upper Bann (David Simpson).
As regards expenditure on hospitality and entertainment, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 October 2007, Official Report, column 11W, to the hon. Member for Upper Bann (David Simpson).
Expenditure on official entertainment is subject to departmental regulation and compliance with the principles of propriety set out in Managing Public Money and in the Treasury's handbook on Regularity, Propriety and Value for Money.
Departmental Manpower
Individual defence installations do not routinely publish personnel data, as different organisations and agencies are responsible for the same location or site. Figures for the stationed location of UK Regular Forces and civilian staff are only available at local authority level using centrally held data.
The number and percentage of military personnel stationed in MOD Main Building prior to 1 April 2007 are not centrally held and could not be collated without incurring disproportionate cost.
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 30 April 2007, Official Report, column 1462W, to the hon. Member for Forest of Dean (Mr. Harper).
Departmental Official Hospitality
[holding answer 20 February 2008]: The Government are committed to publishing an annual list of hospitality received by departmental board members. Information for 2007 will be published in due course. Hospitality received by Ministers over the registrable limits are declared as appropriate in the Registers of Members' or Peers' Interests. All Hospitality Books are subject to external compliance testing by the National Audit Office.
Departmental Official Residences
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Watson) on 19 February 2008, Official Report, column 688W.
Departmental Property
The information requested is not held centrally and it will take time to determine what information could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
I will write to my hon. Friend at the earliest opportunity.
Substantive answer from Derek Twigg to Jim Devine:
I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 30 January 2008, (Official Report, column 368W), about the number of Ministry of Defence (MOD) properties in Scotland that have been declared unfit for habitation.
I should explain that properties can be uninhabited for various reasons, such as they are awaiting demolition or undergoing major repair, modernisation or upgrade work. All occupied properties are regarded as being of a habitable standard. A record of all MOD property in Scotland that is uninhabitable is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. A summary of Losses and Special Payments has been published in the Notes to the MOD's Annual Report and Accounts since 2001-02 and, before then, in the MOD's Appropriation Accounts, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
Departmental Reports
The Army is the only one of the three services that currently operates a briefing team—the Chief of the General Staff’s Briefing Team—and a copy of its most recent report, that for spring 2007, is available in the Library of the House. I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence gave on 27 November 2007, Official Report, column 308W, to the hon. Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry).
Departmental Road Traffic Offences
Drivers are liable for payment of any fines while driving service vehicles and there is therefore normally no cost to the Department. There may, exceptionally, be cases when recovery of fines proved to be impossible, but these records are not held centrally.
Departmental Travel
The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All travel is conducted in accordance with the guidelines set out in the civil service management code.