HL Deb 01 July 2003 vol 650 cc79-80WA
Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the allocated budget for the North/South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat for 2003, broken down into detailed headings; who approved the budget; under what procedure; and on what date. [HL3251]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The 2003–04 budget allocation for the North/South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat (North) is £672,000. The budget allocation is not approved at a detailed level but as a total figure.

The budget is approved annually by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in accordance with the department's budget management arrangements, operating within the procedures for the management of public expenditure in Northern Ireland.

Lord Laird

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the North/South Ministerial Council Secretariat's policy towards inquiries from the public about its activities in terms of telephone calls, e-mails, letters, individual visits and deputations. [HL3277]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The North/South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat (North) is committed to dealing with telephone calls, e-mails, letters, individual visits and deputations in line with the six service standards for central government. These standards are set out below:

THE SIX SERVICE STANDARDS FOR CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

In serving the public, every central government department and agency will aim to do the following:

Standard 1

Answer letters quickly and clearly. Each department and agency will set a target for answering letters and will publish its performance against these targets. In OFMDFM this target is 15 working days.

Standard 2

See members of the public within 10 minutes of any appointment they have made.

Standard 3

Provide clear and straightforward information about services and at least one number for telephone inquiries to help members of the public or to put them in touch with someone who can. If a member of the public contacts the department using any of the telephone numbers that will be published in the charter, they can expect their call to be answered within 20 seconds.

Standard 4

Consult its users regularly about the services it provides and report on the results.

Standard 5

Have at least one complaints procedure for the services it provides and be able to provide information about a procedure if asked.

Standard 6

Do everything that is reasonably possible to make its services available to everyone, including people with special needs.