Written Answers

Written Answers

Friday 16 May 2008

Civil Service: Special Leave

Baroness Byford
asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Exchequer Secretary, Angela Eagle, on 31 March (Official Report, Commons, 674–5W), whether all departments have the same special paid leave rules as HM Treasury; and [HL3527]

Further to the Written Answer by the Exchequer Secretary, Angela Eagle, on 31 March (Official Report, Commons, 674–5W), how many days, by department, of special leave for valuable public service were taken in (a) 1996, (b) 2001, and (c) 2006. [HL3528]

Lord Davies of Oldham
The arrangements for special paid leave are delegated to individual departments to determine.

The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Compensation: Pleural Plaque

Lord Dixon
asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 21 April (WA 227), what representations they have received since the Law Lords' judgment on pleural plaques on 10 October 2007; and whether they will announce their response to the judgment while the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill is before Parliament. [HL3392]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)
The Government have received a wide range of representations since the Law Lords' judgment on 17 October 2007 from people diagnosed with pleural plaques, trades unions, the legal profession, the insurance industry and others with an interest. We are committed to consulting on the way forward, and hope to be in a position formally to announce next steps in the next two or three weeks.

House of Lords: Public Petitions

Lord Norton of Louth
asked the Chairman of Committees:

How many public petitions have been presented to the House of Lords in the past 20 years; and when was the last occasion on which such a petition was presented. [HL3714]

The Chairman of Committees (Lord Brabazon of Tara)
Twenty-eight public petitions have been presented to the House of Lords in the past 20 years. The last occasion on which such a petition was presented was 13 December 2000.