HC Deb 19 June 2002 vol 387 cc417-8W
Ian Stewart

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to work together in partnership to meet the Government's target for all services to be electronically enabled by 2005. [63770]

Mr. Raynsford

We are keen to promote and support local authorities in developing local partnerships with each other, and across the public sector. Such partnerships will be crucial in building services around the needs of citizens and customers, and in realising the economies of scale in terms of the investment requirement to see the objectives of e-government realised.

As part of our commitment to spend £350 million over three years to support local government online, we have made provision for £75 million over the next two years to support the development of e-government partnerships. From this amount we intend to provide some £47 million over the next two years to 64 local partnerships that submitted proposals to my Department. Details of the individual allocations will be placed in the Library.

Number of men and women leaving the Fire Service and Wales in England
1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01
Retained
Men 1,375 1,357 1,376
Women 35 35 52
Total 1,410 1,392 1,428

Note:

For 2000–01 wholetime data are not available for two brigades and retained data for one brigade.

Number of white and ethnic minority firefighters leaving the Fire Service in England and Wales
1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01
Wholetime
Men 1,327 1,305 1,356
Women 26 8 9
Total 1,353 1,313 1,365
Retained
Men 1,385 1,383 1,423
Women 25 9 5
Total 1,410 1,392 1,428

Note:

For 2000–01 wholetime data are not available for two brigades and retained data for one brigade. One wholetime leaver was of undetermined ethnic origin

We will also provide a £2 million programme of practical support over the next two years, to ensure that these partnerships are successful in achieving their aims and that the lesson learned from them are disseminated.

It is our intention to make available the remaining funds (£26 million) for further partnership proposals later in the year.

We will accordingly lay a Special Grant report before the House setting out this intention, in the near future.