Roger Godsiff

05.01.2007

Member Tabling Question: Godsiff, Roger
Topic: DNA Database
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the HomeDepartment how many DNA profiles on the DNA database as a result ofinvestigations 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 3,706,399individuals with a DNA profile on the National DNA Database takenby the police. It has been the policy of successive Governmentsneither to confirm nor deny in response to questions about theactivities 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 HomeDepartment what the average waiting time was for a police check tobe completed through the Criminal Records Bureau in the last periodfor which figures are available.
Answering Department: Home Office
Member Answering Question: Ryan, Joan
Answer: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) operates to apublished service standard (PSS) to issue 90 per cent. of StandardDisclosures within 10 days and 90 per cent. of Enhanced Disclosureswithin 28 days. For October 2006, the CRB issued 99.8 per cent. ofStandard Disclosures and 86.7 per cent. of Enhanced Disclosureswithin PSS.Enhanced Disclosures require an additional level ofcheck against local police intelligence databases. This work isconducted internally by each individual police force and the CRBpublishes 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 manynewly qualified nurses did not find work in the NHS in the last twoyears for which figures are available.
Answering Department: Dept of Health
Member Answering Question: Winterton, Rosie
Answer: Information relating to the number of newly qualifiednurses who do not find work in the national health service is notcollected 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 whichequipment 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 stillongoing, much information regarding operational equipment remainssensitive, and its disclosure would, or would be likely to,prejudice the security of our armed forces.The equipment on orderfor UK forces in Iraq and Afghanistan that is not operationallysensitive covers such a wide range of areas that the informationrequested is not held centrally and could be provided only atdisproportionate cost.

Date of Answer: 30.11.2006

Member Tabling Question: Godsiff, Roger
Topic: Banking
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industryif he will ask the Office of Fair Trading to investigate theintroduction 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 workswell for consumers if bank charges are transparent, subject toeffective competition and consistent with the principle offairness. The structure of individual banks' charges is a matterfor their own judgment, but the OFT may investigate and takeappropriate action if there is evidence that charges areincompatible with the requirements of consumer or competitionlaw.

Date of Answer: 29.11.2006

Member Tabling Question: Godsiff, Roger
Topic: 2012 Olympics
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media andSport whether the community charge premium paid by London residentstowards the cost of the 2012 Olympic Games will increase inabsolute terms if the projected cost of the games increases in linewith current estimates.
Answering Department: Dept for Culture Media and Sport
Member Answering Question: Jowell, Tessa
Answer: The 2003 Memorandum of Understanding between theGovernment and the Mayor of London provides for cost overruns to bemet in a sharing arrangement to be agreed as appropriate betweenthem. The memorandum makes no presumptions about the use of counciltax, which is the responsibility of the Mayor of London. We arecurrently exploring a range of options and will report toParliament 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 andSport whether the community charge premium paid by London residentstowards 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 gamesand Paralympic games will be developed over the coming years. Thepolicy will take into account the objective that tickets should beaccessible 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, Mediaand Sport what the Heritage Lottery allocation to the Olympics hasbeen to date; and what projections have been made for any futuretransfers from the fund.
Answering Department: Dept for Culture Media and Sport

Member Answering Question: Lammy, David
Answer: There has been no Olympic contribution from fundsdrawn down by the Heritage lottery fund (HLF) from the nationallottery distribution fund (NLDF), or from money held on behalf ofHLF in the NLDF. However, non-Olympic lottery distributors,including HLF, may see a reduction in income because of salesdiversion from non-Olympic lottery games over the period 2005-06 to2012-13, and the redirection of £410 million of non-Olympic lotteryproceeds between 2009 and 2012.The Memorandum of Understandingbetween the Government and the Mayor of London provides that in theevent of a shortfall in funds the Government, using lottery funds,and the Mayor may enter into an agreement to share the costs. TheGovernment are in discussion with the Mayor as to how theadditional increase in expenditure on the Olympic park, mentionedby my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the Culture,Media and Sport Select Committee on 21 November, will be met.