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PRIME MINISTER
Downing Street Website
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the impartiality requirements which apply to the 10 Downing Street website in arranging ministerial discussions about politically controversial subjects with children at school. [135002]
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The Prime Minister: The team of civil servants in my office who support and operate the Downing street website work in full accordance with the rules on impartiality as set out in the civil service code.
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister what changes he has made over the past year to the frequency of his broadcasts on the Downing street website. [135004]
The Prime Minister: I continue to put out statements on the No. 10 website when there is a particular issue that needs to be addressed. There have been 16 broadcasts since February this year.
Environmental Reporting
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what consultations he has held with the business community in respect of the merits of environmental reporting. [135444]
The Prime Minister: Officials and Ministers in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and Department of Trade and Industry regularly meet companies to discuss a range of environmental issues, including environmental reporting. The Government have also undertaken several initiatives in consultation with business to help companies improve their environmental performance and reporting.
In particular the DETR has consulted the top 350 UK businesses and others on detailed guidelines on how to measure and report on greenhouse gas emissions and waste. Similar guidance on water use will follow in December 2000.
To help a wider group of businesses to make a start on reporting, the DETR relaunched the "Making a Corporate Commitment" (MACC 2) campaign in June this year, after consultation with a range of businesses.
The Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment--which reports to the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry--is currently looking at how to encourage businesses to make sustainability a key part of their decision making. ACBE has consulted with business and plans to publish advice to company board members on this issue. Reporting and communication with stakeholders will be included in this advice as part of the wider sustainability agenda.
Carbon Trust
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out each of the planned sources of funding for the new Carbon Trust. [135442]
The Prime Minister: The funding allocations for the Carbon Trust are still being finalised. However, initially it will receive, on an annual basis, £27 million for England from the Energy Efficiency Fund recycled from the climate change levy, up to £6 million for the Devolved Administrations from the same source and at least £17 million from the Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme.
Kyoto Mechanisms Office
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister which Government Department will be responsible for the Kyoto Mechanisms Office. [135443]
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The Prime Minister: The UK Kyoto Mechanisms Office will be an interdepartmental unit under the joint responsibility of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
Green Technologies
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what steps he has taken to encourage the development of green technologies as part of Government regeneration strategy. [135441]
The Prime Minister: The Government's strategy for tackling social exclusion and improving the environment in deprived areas is being delivered through a range of programmes that encourage and support sustainable regeneration.
Regional Development Agencies have a statutory duty to promote sustainable development. As well as promoting the development of green technologies generally, they are able to support specific projects through their administration of the Single Regeneration Budget. These may include:
- combined heat and power schemes;
- community based waste minimisation projects;
- energy efficiency measures; and
- innovative solutions and remediation techniques for dealing with contaminated land.
WALES
Unemployment Benefit
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of graduates were claiming unemployment benefit a year after completing their university courses in each of the past five years in Wales. [134907]
Mr. Hanson: Information is not available in the form requested. The latest available figures on unemployment rates of newly qualified graduates are given. These show the position six months after graduation from higher education institutions in Wales.
| Year of graduation | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 1994-95(2) | 9.1 |
| 1995-96 | 7.6 |
| 1996-97 | 7.1 |
| 1997-98 | 5.6 |
| 1998-99 | 5.1 |
(6) Data do not indicate whether graduates were claiming unemployment benefit or not.
(7) 1994-95 data were collected only for students obtaining qualifications in a 10 month period (1 October 1994 to 31 July 1995) whereafter from 1995-96 onwards, data relate to students qualifying in a 12 month period (1 August to 31 July).
Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency
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University Research
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much funding each university in Wales has received towards research in each of the past five years. [134905]
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Mr. Hanson: The figures set out include research income from all sources including Research Councils, charities, industry, commerce, Government and public bodies. Since 1 July 1999 this has been the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales.
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| Institution | 1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Glamorgan | 2,508 | 2,969 | 3,003 | 2,301 | 1,910 |
| University of Wales, Aberystwyth | 12,689 | 11,618 | 12,598 | 11,230 | 12,922 |
| University College Wales, Bangor | 12,092 | 12,765 | 13,790 | 13,100 | 15,067 |
| Cardiff University | 28,916 | 30,441 | 32,089 | 37,865 | 38,903 |
| University of Wales, Lampeter | 1,492 | 1,042 | 1,213 | 1,268 | 1,097 |
| University of Wales, Swansea | 17,371 | 17,284 | 16,646 | 16,303 | 17,339 |
| University of Wales College of Medicine | 14,900 | 14,898 | 15,305 | 15,933 | 17,536 |
| University of Wales Institute, Cardiff | 151 | 318 | 343 | 1,022 | 987 |
| University of Wales College, Newport | 233 | 246 | 255 | 278 | 501 |
| North East Wales Institute | 1,533 | 1,536 | 1,204 | 878 | 844 |
| Swansea Institute of Higher Education | 64 | 2 | 1 | 231 | 170 |
| Trinity College Carmarthen | 35 | 74 | 130 | 171 | 63 |
| Welsh College of Music and Drama | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Secondary Legislation
Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what discussions his Department has had with officials from the National Assembly for Wales on the development of common practice across Government when framing legislation which accords secondary legislation powers to the National Assembly for Wales; [134365]
- (2) what discussions his Department has had with officials from the National Assembly for Wales on the development of common practice across Government when framing legislation which accords secondary legislative powers to the National Assembly for Wales. [134366]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I recognise the importance of developing common practices in framing the Assembly's secondary legislative powers. Devolution Guidance Note (DGN) 9 on Post Devolution Primary Legislation Affecting Wales is currently being prepared and I expect it to be published by Cabinet Office shortly. Both my officials and those of the National Assembly for Wales have been involved in the discussions on its contents.
The framing of the Assembly's powers in current Bills will continue to be discussed thoroughly on a case-by-case basis by officials, including Assembly officials.
Home Improvement Grants
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average waiting time between application and completion of work involving mandatory home improvement grants for (a) Wales and (b) each council in Wales in each of the last two years. [135239]
Mr. Hanson: This information is not held centrally.
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