05.01.2007
Member Tabling Question: Godsiff, Roger
Topic: DNA Database
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many DNA profiles on the DNA database as a result of investigations by (a) the police and (b) security services.
Answering Department: Home Office
Member Answering Question: Ryan, Joan
Answer: At 10 December 2006, there were an estimated 3,706,399 individuals with a DNA profile on the National DNA Database taken by the police. It has been the policy of successive Governments neither to confirm nor deny in response to questions about the activities of the intelligence and security agencies.
Date of Answer: 05.01.2007
Member Tabling Question: Godsiff, Roger
Topic: CRB Checks
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average waiting time was for a police check to be completed through the Criminal Records Bureau in the last period for which figures are available.
Answering Department: Home Office
Member Answering Question: Ryan, Joan
Answer: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) operates to a published service standard (PSS) to issue 90 per cent. of Standard Disclosures within 10 days and 90 per cent. of Enhanced Disclosures within 28 days. For October 2006, the CRB issued 99.8 per cent. of Standard Disclosures and 86.7 per cent. of Enhanced Disclosures within PSS.Enhanced Disclosures require an additional level of check against local police intelligence databases. This work is conducted internally by each individual police force and the CRB publishes police force performance on its website at:"www.crb.gov.uk"
Date of Answer: 06.12.2006
Member Tabling Question: Godsiff, Roger
Topic: Nurses
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many newly qualified nurses did not find work in the NHS in the last two years for which figures are available.
Answering Department: Dept of Health
Member Answering Question: Winterton, Rosie
Answer: Information relating to the number of newly qualified nurses who do not find work in the national health service is not collected centrally.
Date of Answer: 06.12.2006
Member Tabling Question: Godsiff, Roger
Topic: Outstanding Equipment Orders
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which equipment orders are outstanding for UK forces in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan; and when the orders will be delivered.
Answering Department: Ministry of Defence
Member Answering Question: Ingram, Adam
Answer: As the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are still ongoing, much information regarding operational equipment remains sensitive, and its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the security of our armed forces.The equipment on order for UK forces in Iraq and Afghanistan that is not operationally sensitive covers such a wide range of areas that the information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Date of Answer: 30.11.2006
Member Tabling Question: Godsiff, Roger
Topic: Banking
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ask the Office of Fair Trading to investigate the introduction of charges for bank accounts.
Answering Department: Dept of Trade and Industry
Member Answering Question: McCartney, Ian
Answer: The OFT considers that the retail banking market works well for consumers if bank charges are transparent, subject to effective competition and consistent with the principle of fairness. The structure of individual banks' charges is a matter for their own judgment, but the OFT may investigate and take appropriate action if there is evidence that charges are incompatible with the requirements of consumer or competition law.
Date of Answer: 29.11.2006
Member Tabling Question: Godsiff, Roger
Topic: 2012 Olympics
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the community charge premium paid by London residents towards the cost of the 2012 Olympic Games will increase in absolute terms if the projected cost of the games increases in line with current estimates.
Answering Department: Dept for Culture Media and Sport
Member Answering Question: Jowell, Tessa
Answer: The 2003 Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the Mayor of London provides for cost overruns to be met in a sharing arrangement to be agreed as appropriate between them. The memorandum makes no presumptions about the use of council tax, which is the responsibility of the Mayor of London. We are currently exploring a range of options and will report to Parliament when a resolution has been reached.
Date of Answer: 29.11.2006
Member Tabling Question: Godsiff, Roger
Topic: 2012 Olympics
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the community charge premium paid by London residents towards the cost of the 2012 Olympic games will be reflected in (a) preferential access and (b) discounted ticket sales.
Answering Department: Dept for Culture Media and Sport
Member Answering Question: Jowell, Tessa
Answer: The ticketing policy for the London 2012 Olympic games and Paralympic games will be developed over the coming years. The policy will take into account the objective that tickets should be accessible and affordable.
Date of Answer: 28.11.2006
Member Tabling Question: Godsiff, Roger
Topic: 2012 Olympics
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the Heritage Lottery allocation to the Olympics has been to date; and what projections have been made for any future transfers from the fund.
Answering Department: Dept for Culture Media and Sport
Member Answering Question: Lammy, David
Answer: There has been no Olympic contribution from funds drawn down by the Heritage lottery fund (HLF) from the national lottery distribution fund (NLDF), or from money held on behalf of HLF in the NLDF. However, non-Olympic lottery distributors, including HLF, may see a reduction in income because of sales diversion from non-Olympic lottery games over the period 2005-06 to 2012-13, and the redirection of £410 million of non-Olympic lottery proceeds between 2009 and 2012.The Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the Mayor of London provides that in the event of a shortfall in funds the Government, using lottery funds, and the Mayor may enter into an agreement to share the costs. The Government are in discussion with the Mayor as to how the additional increase in expenditure on the Olympic park, mentioned by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on 21 November, will be met.
