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Millennium Dome (Athletics Facilities)
Mr. Stringer: To ask the Minister without Portfolio what are the funding arrangements for the proposed athletics facilities in the Millennium Dome. [49653]
Mr. Mandelson: There are no proposed athletics facilities in the Millennium Dome.
London City Airport
Mr. Spring: To ask the Minister without Portfolio what insurance costs are being borne by the New Millennium Experience Company in respect of London City Airport. [50742]
Mr. Mandelson: The presence of the Dome structure has implications for the alternative take-off and landing routes for London City Airport in certain rare weather conditions. The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) reimburses London City Airport for the insurance policy which covers the cost of redirecting aircraft in those rare circumstances. The costs of that policy are £22,000 until the end of 1998 and £17,500 per year thereafter.
Millennium Dome (Serious Play Zone)
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Minister without Portfolio what consultations his Department has had regarding the content of the serious play zone of the Millennium Dome. [47394]
Mr. Chris Smith: I have been asked to reply.
Officials in my Department provide support to the Minister without Portfolio in his capacity as sole shareholder of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) and are in regular contact on all issues relating to the Millennium Dome, including its content. My officials will continue to monitor the Dome's progress and will consult with other interested parties as and when necessary.
27 Jul 1998 : Column: 86
Departmental Reviews
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the reviews his Department and any predecessors, initiated in the years (a) 1974-75, (b) 1979-80 and (c) 1992-93. [48517]
Mr. Kilfoyle [holding answer 6 July 1998]: The information requested is not readily available. However a search of the Parliamentary Questions' database (which holds information from 1979 onwards) has revealed during 1979-80 (in the then Civil Service Department) a review of the Government statistical services; and during 1992-93 (in the then Office of Public Service and Science) a review of open government.
Government Staff
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of those in employment are employed by central Government or agencies of central Government in terms of (a) numbers and (b) percentages for (i) full-time and (ii) part-time employment. [50630]
Mr. Kilfoyle: The numbers and proportions of full and part time UK employees and Civil Servants at the start of 1998 are set out in the following table:
| All | Civil Servants | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| employees | Number | Per cent. | |
| Full-time | 17,564,000 | 446,000 | 2.5 |
| Part-time | 5,816,000 | 59,000 | 1.0 |
| Total | 23,380,000 | 505,000 | 2.2 |
Notes:
1. Civil Servant figures are on headcount basis and include both permanent and casual employees
2. Approximately 10,000 Civil Servants are located outside the United Kingdom. They are included in the Civil Service figures above
3. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is not included
Channel Tunnel
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the operations of the company managing the Channel Tunnel will be covered by the proposed Freedom of Information Act. [51213]
Mr. Kilfoyle: The proposed Freedom of Information Act is intended principally to cover the public sector but it will also extend to private sector companies where these companies are carrying out functions conferred on them by statute. The two companies which form Eurotunnel, the Channel Tunnel Group Ltd and France-Manche SA operating under the Channel Tunnel Concession Agreement are commercial organisations whose management of the Channel Tunnel does not fall into this category. Eurotunnel itself will not therefore come within the scope of the proposed Freedom of Information Act, although information relating to Eurotunnel held by the relevant public authorities will be within scope.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the consistency of Clause 33.3 of the Treaty of Canterbury with the Government's policy of open Government. [51373]
27 Jul 1998 : Column: 87
Mr. Kilfoyle:
Clause 33.3 of the Channel Tunnel Concession Agreement signed in 1986 states that each of the parties to that Agreement and the Intergovernmental Commission and the Safety Authority,
The reference to "law or procedural practices" ensures that the provision is consistent with the requirements of the current Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and, when it comes into force, our proposed Freedom of Information Act.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which Government departments and agencies are self-insured and which have insurance cover through the insurance market in respect of compulsory employers' liability insurance. [50632]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
Government departments and agencies are not bound by the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. Therefore departments and agencies are not statutorily required to insure the risks which may arise under the Act. Departments and agencies may decide to insure or not to insure on value for money grounds. That is a decision for each department and agency and no central record is kept.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total amount for each of the last three years paid by each Government department to Government staff in respect of claims brought by them for personal injury or occupational illness by way of (a) damages and (b) legal costs. [50629]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
This information is not held centrally.
"shall hold in confidence all Documents and other information whether technical or commercial supplied to them by or on behalf of any other party hereto relating to the Fixed Link and shall not save as required by law or procedural practices publish or otherwise disclose the same otherwise than for the purposes contemplated by [the Agreement]".
Training
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to minimise the bureaucratic burden on private sector employers participating in New Deal programmes, with particular reference to training contracts. [52346]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
New Deal was designed following consultation with a wide range of organisations including private sector employers. The administrative arrangements for employers participating in the New Deal are straightforward. Their obligations and the level of service they can expect from New Deal are set out in the Employer Agreement. Employers are free to make their own arrangements for securing the training the young people they recruit under New Deal are entitled to. Alternatively that training can be arranged on behalf of the employer by the Employment Service (ES). No contract with the employer, beyond the Employer Agreement, is involved in either case.
27 Jul 1998 : Column: 88
Mr. Boswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what further support he will offer to New Deal trainees in support of their Gateway activities after their initial period has elapsed. [52347]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
Throughout their time on New Deal young people will receive the support of a Personal Adviser. During Gateway, each young person will in addition have access to independent careers advice and specialist help to overcome the particular barriers to employment that they are facing. When a young person's difficulties are particularly serious or far-reaching or when a particular difficulty does not come to light until they have started on an option, then the young person can continue to have access to specialist Gateway services while they are on their chosen Option. The over-riding aim is to help young people into sustained employment through specialist services, counselling, advice, time on a New Deal Option, and, if necessary, further help as part of the Follow Through arrangements.
Mr. Luff:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to instruct schools to incorporate in their prospectuses a statement of the extra-curricular opportunities offered by that school; and if he will make a statement. [52650]
Ms Estelle Morris:
My Department has recently issued revised guidance to schools on the content of school prospectuses. All schools must include in their prospectus a statement on the ethos and values of the school. The guidance recommends that schools cover their main extra-curricular activities in the statement on ethos and values. The guidance also recommends that schools include in their prospectus a statement on the school's arts policy and provision.
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