§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is with regard to(a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department giving evidence to (i) Scottish Parliament, (ii) Welsh Assembly and (iii) Northern Ireland Assembly committees; and to what categories of document he gives (A) full access, (B) restricted access and (C) no access to (1) Scottish parliament, (2) Welsh Assembly, (3) Northern Ireland Assembly and (4) House of Commons Select Committees. [7054]
§ Mrs. RocheGeneral advice on attendance of UK Ministers and officials at Committees of the Devolved legislatures has been published under the Cabinet Office's series of Devolution Guidance Notes (available at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/constitution/devolution/ guidance/dgn12.htm.
1004Whis Department in (i) the current year and (ii) the next financial year; and what the costs will be of each project. [6599]
§ Mr. LeslieThe refurbishment programme, either currently under way or agreed to, for my Department for 2001–02 and 2002–03 are as listed. The table excludes projects that are either still being planned or are awaiting financial approval to proceed.
The guidance applies equally to invitations from Committees of the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and Northern Ireland Assembly.
The Government's aim is to respond promptly and courteously to such requests for information as they are received. The precise nature of requests could vary widely. The nature of the information provided in response will be judged subject to criteria as set out in the Devolution Guidance Note.
Requests are also assessed on a case-by-case basis under the terms of any relevant statutory provisions and under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (available at www.cfoi.org.uk/coptext.html), which also covers information requested by House of Commons Select Committees.