11 January 2008
We received an impressive tally of high-scoring entries to our annual sprint through the year's public sector events. So very well done to our winner, Karen Franklin of Spalding in Lincolnshire, who will be receiving £100 of Oddbins vouchers shortly
1 Who hasn't resigned from office this year [2007]?
a) Tony Blair
b) Sir Ian Blair
c) Sir John Bourn
d) Paul Gray
2 Figures published by the Scottish Executive show that since 1996 council tax bills in Scotland have risen by:
a) 20%
b) 40%
c)60%
d) 80%
3 However, in 2007, Band D council tax bills in Scotland went up by an average of:
a) 1.9%
b) 3.9%
c) 5.9%
d) 7.9%
4 … and in England and Wales, by an average of?
a) 2.2%
b) 4.2%
c) 6.2%
d) 8.2%
5 The Office for National Statistics recently reclassified the debt of London Underground contractors Tube Lines and Metronet as public sector borrowing. How much was it?
a) £1.3bn
b) £7.7bn
c) £1.5bn
d) £2.4bn
6 Who was chosen as the Green Party's candidate for the London mayoral elections to be held this year?
a) Boris Johnson
b) Brian Paddick
c) Sian Berry
d) Ken Livingstone
7 According to the government white paper on The future of the UK's strategic nuclear deterrent, how much will it cost to replace the Trident missile system?
a) £10bn
b) £20bn
c) £30bn
d) £40bn
8 When did the smoking ban in public places come into force in Wales?
a) April 1
b) April 30
c) July 1
d) There isn't a ban in Wales
9 Council workers in which part of the UK take the most sickness absence?
a) England
b) Northern Ireland
c) Scotland
d) Wales
10 According to the Local Government Association, the UK buries the same amount of waste as the 18 European Union countries with the lowest landfill combined. How many million tonnes was that (2004/05 figures)?
a) 12.6
b) 22.6
c) 32.6
d) 42.6
11 Sir Michael Lyons eventually published his Inquiry into Local Government in March 2007. What did he not propose?
a) An end to capping
b) Relocalisation of business rates
c) Supplementary business rates
d) Additional council tax bands
12 How many public authorities were named by the Disability Rights Commission as not complying with their legal duty on disability?
a) 65
b) 115
c) 165
d) 215
13 Whom did Alan Johnson replace as health secretary in July?
a) Alan Milburn
b) John Reid
c) Patricia Hewitt
d) Frank Dobson
14 Which one of these is not a government department?
a) DCSF
b) DBERR
c) DIUS
d) DHSR
15 The London Olympic Games were originally budgeted at £3.4bn. According to the National Audit Office, what is the latest estimate?
a) £5.2bn
b) £6.8bn
c) £9.3bn
d) £11.1bn
16 Who is the youngest member of the Cabinet?
a) James Purnell
b) Ed Miliband
c) Andy Burnham
d) Ruth Kelly
17 Who described the three-year local government finance settlement as 'the worst in a decade'?
a) Sir Simon Milton
b) Sir Jeremy Beecham
c) Lord Bruce-Lockhart
d) Pat Watters
18 Which major transport infrastructure project finally got the go-ahead last year?
a) Crossrail
b) A third runway at Heathrow
c) International status for St Pancras station
d) Manchester Metrolink Upgrade
19 The Scottish National Party became the largest party in the Holyrood elections by how many seats?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
20 How much did David Abrahams donate to the Labour Party through intermediaries?
a) £664,000
b) £6.4m
c) £1m
d) £4,999
21 According to Home Office figures, how many immigrants from Romania and Bulgaria came to the UK in the first three months of 2007, in the wake of their European Union accession?
a) 7,935
b) 140,935
c) 280,935
d) 560,935
22 Which department has not lost confidential data in 2007 (as far as is known)?
a) Revenue & Customs
b) Department for Work & Pensions
c) Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency
d) Child Support Agency
23 Which character did Vince Cable compare Gordon Brown to in a recent Commons exchange?
a) David Brent
b) Basil Fawlty
c) Mr Bean
d) Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter
24 By November 30, the amount of public funds lent by the government to the troubled Northern Rock bank stood at:
a) £10.8bn
b) £12.8bn
c) £20.8bn
d) £29.8bn
25 Who described the public sector's take-up of shared services as 'pitiful' at the 2007 CIPFA annual conference?
a) John Butler
b) Steve Bundred
c) Rod Aldridge
d) Sir Gus O'Donnelll
PFjan2008
