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9 May 2008 : Column 1276W—continued
Northern Ireland
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years; and to which companies payments for carbon offsetting have been made in each such year. [204098]
Mr. Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office, along with the majority of central Government Departments, is a member of the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund (GCOF). The GCOF aims to fulfil the Government’s commitment to offset emissions attributable to all official and ministerial air travel in central Government. It is available to all central Government Departments and provides a simple and cost effective way to offset, as well as ensuring high environmental integrity. The GCOF runs for an initial period of three years (2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09).
The GCOF is being managed by EEA Fund Management Ltd, which won the contract to source and deliver 255,000 Certified Emission Reduction Credits, with a provision for a further 50,000 credits, over three years from a range of Clean Development
Mechanism (CDM) projects. Credits will be supplied from the project portfolio of Trading Emissions plc, to which EEA is the investment adviser.
My Department paid £11,384.56 into the GCOF for 2006-07, to offset some l,148 tCO2e from air travel. Data is currently being collected for the 2007-08 reporting year and will be available later in the year.
Departmental Manpower
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time employees there were in the Northern Ireland Office on (i) 1 April 2007 and (ii) 1 April 2008. [203435]
Paul Goggins: The following table shows the number of full-time and part-time staff in the Northern Ireland Office at 1 April 2007 and 1 April 2008. The figures have been taken from the figures published in the monthly manpower reports.
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Firearms: Licensing
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any person with a conviction for membership of a proscribed paramilitary organisation in Northern Ireland has been granted a licence to carry a personal firearm since 1998. [203660]
Paul Goggins: The Chief Constable of the Police Service for Northern Ireland has advised that the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Offensive Weapons
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what further steps he is considering to reduce the level of knife crime in Northern Ireland following previous amnesties; [203726]
(2) what plans he has for (a) a further amnesty and (b) other measures to seek to reduce the level of knife crime in Northern Ireland. [204662]
Paul Goggins:
A number of initiatives have been introduced since the last amnesty and are now in operation across Northern Ireland to reduce the level of knife crime. PSNI have rolled out the use of metal detectors and also introduced a stop and search policy. New legislation has been introduced to make it more difficult to obtain knives by raising the minimum age limit for purchase to 18. Last month, it became illegal in Northern Ireland to manufacture, sell, hire or import samurai swords. The recent Criminal Justice (NI) Order contains powers which double the penalties for
possessing a knife in public and also for selling/manufacturing/marketing knives to under 18s.
Knife disposal bins have been retained on site at civic amnesty locations and PSNI education officers continue to raise awareness in schools on a number of key issues, including the dangers of carrying a knife.
Knife crime is totally unacceptable. While the Government currently have no plan to re-run the knife amnesty, we will continue to consider a range of policies and initiatives to tackle knife crime in Northern Ireland.
Scotland
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years; and to which companies payments for carbon offsetting have been made in each such year. [204097]
David Cairns: The Scotland Office forms part of the Ministry of Justice. The Scotland Office has not spent anything in relation to carbon offsetting in the last three years. However, the Scotland Office is committed to playing its full part in the Ministry of Justice’s Sustainable Action Plan, published on 14 March 2008. The plan included details of how it intends to achieve carbon neutral status by 2012, which will involve carbon emissions offsetting.
Transport
Roads: Freight
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what volume of freight was carried by road between Felixstowe and Nuneaton in each of the last 10 years; and what volume is projected to be carried on the route in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011, (d) 2012 and (e) 2013. [204022]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not available.
Treasury
European Union Solidarity Fund
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) gross and (b) net amounts he expects the UK to receive from the EU Solidarity Fund to compensate for flood damage; what the reasons for the difference between the two figures are; and if he will make a statement. [204617]
Kitty Ussher:
The UK expects to receive €162.4 million from the EU Solidarity Fund, around £110 million at the exchange rate at the time of application. The net value to the UK of this receipt is around £31 million, calculated as the full benefit (around £110 million)
minus the UK contribution through the EC Budget (around £19 million) and the resultant reduction to the UK abatement (around £60 million).
Minimum Wage: Prosecutions
Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2008, Official Report, columns 143-4W, on minimum wage: prosecutions, how many employers have accrued minimum wage arrears in relation to (a) under five employees, (b) five to 15, (c) 15 to 30, (d) 30 to 50, (e) 50 to 100, (f) 100 to 200, (g) 200 to 500 and (f) over 500 employees in each year since the minimum wage was introduced, broken down by region. [203868]
Jane Kennedy: The information is not available in the format requested.
Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2008, Official Report, columns 143-4W, on minimum wage: prosecutions, how many employers have accrued minimum wage arrears of (a) under £5,000, (b) £5,000 to £25,000, (c) £25,000 to £50,000, (d) £50,000 to £75,000, (e) £75,000 to £100,000 and (f) over £100,000 in each year since the minimum wage was introduced, broken down by region. [203869]
Jane Kennedy: The information is not available in the format requested.
Northern Rock
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to issue an invitation to tender for the role of independent valuer in relation to Northern Rock; when he expects to appoint an independent valuer; and when the independent valuer will be required to report to him. [204552]
Kitty Ussher: The position of independent valuer to assess any compensation for those affected by the transfer of Northern Rock into public ownership will be advertised shortly. The valuer's remit is set out in the Northern Rock plc Compensation Scheme Order 2008. Under the order the independent valuer does not report to the Treasury (beyond copying to the Treasury any compensation assessment notices that he or she issues).
Northern Rock: Manpower
Mr. Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the headcount of Northern Rock bank was on (a) 21 February and (b) 30 April 2008. [204629]
Kitty Ussher: During this period of temporary public ownership, Northern Rock is managed by its board at arm’s length from Government on commercial principles. It is a matter for the company's management to release specific business updates or provide any required disclosures in their audited annual report and accounts.
Northern Rock: Republic of Ireland
Mr. Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the board of Northern Rock bank on the future of the bank’s Republic of Ireland operations. [204628]
Kitty Ussher: During this period of temporary public ownership, Northern Rock is managed by its board at arm’s length from Government on commercial principles.
Northern Rock published a business plan on 31 March 2008. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has approved the business plan and has placed a copy in the Library of both Houses. In the business plan, the Board announced that they would retain their savings operation in the Republic of Ireland.
Mr. Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the budgeted financial balance of Northern Rock Bank (Ireland) is for the financial year 2008-09. [204630]
Kitty Ussher: During this period of temporary public ownership, Northern Rock is managed by its board at arm’s length from the Government on commercial principles. It is a matter for the company’s management to release specific business updates or provide any required disclosures in their audited annual report and accounts.
Physical Activity Review
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the cross-Government Physical Activity Review. [203883]
Yvette Cooper: In the context of the Government’s commitment to deliver on the Comprehensive Spending Review, Olympics and Olympic Legacy, and provide a world-class community sports infrastructure, a number of Government Departments are considering the most efficient and effective way of maximising the impact of investment in sport and physical activity. Findings of this work will be integrated into a number of forthcoming announcements.
Poynter Review
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the final report of the Poynter Review will be published. [204468]
Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the Chancellor’s statement of 17 December 2007, Official Report, column 612.
Revenue and Customs: Correspondence
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when HM Revenue and Customs will reply to the letter of 12 July 2007 from the hon. Member for Aylesbury on the case of Mrs. H; and if he will make a statement. [204611]
Jane Kennedy: The hon. Member's constituent's tax credit award was affected by the administrative problem with certain claims as detailed in my written statement on 25 July 2007, Official Report, columns 62-63WS.
The Acting Chairman of HM Revenue and Customs replied to the hon. Member on 8 May 2008 and has apologised for the long delay.
Smoking
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many smoking shelters were built at each of his Department’s London buildings in each of the last five years. [205050]
Angela Eagle: One smoking shelter was built at Trevelyan house, Great Peter street when the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) was in occupation. The shelter was modified subsequently, in July 2007, to comply with changes in legislation. OGC vacated the building in September 2007.
Smuggling: Tobacco
David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the UK will sign the EU anti-smuggling agreement with Japan Tobacco International; and if he will make a statement. [204472]
Angela Eagle: The UK is not currently party to the agreement between Japan Tobacco International and the European Community and its member states ("the JTI Agreement"). Since the launch of the Government's Tackling Tobacco Smuggling Strategy in 2000, a comprehensive range of new measures has been introduced to counter the threats from tobacco smuggling. In particular, HM Revenue and Customs have Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with all major UK tobacco manufacturers, which form a strong framework for cooperation with the industry to tackle the illicit trade in tobacco. In 2006, when the strategy was refreshed, these MoUs were underpinned with the introduction of new supply chain control legislation, which places a legal obligation on tobacco manufacturers not to facilitate smuggling, along with penalties of up to five million for those who fail to comply.
The MoUs and the legislation cover many of the same issues contained in the JTI Agreement, though with some key differences in detail. For example, the legislation contains no significant exclusions, whereas the JTI Agreement does not cover products that have been duty paid in another EU member state and then smuggled into the UK. This would limit the Agreement's impact on the UK tobacco smuggling problem and could also cause legal difficulties if the Agreement and the UK legislation were to operate in parallel.
It is important also to note that the UK legislation and MoUs cover all major manufacturers. This ensures a level playing field for manufacturers, as well as guarding against the risk that smuggling is displaced to products not covered by an Agreement. We are committed to keeping our position on Agreements such as the JTI Agreement under review, to take account of any further Agreements that might be signed.
David Taylor:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the effect that the Memorandum of Understanding Gallaher signed with Customs and Excise on 23rd April 2002 had on the subsequent proportion of Customs and Excise's
seizures of smuggled tobacco products in 2003-04 that were genuine Gallaher brands; and if he will make a statement. [204536]
Angela Eagle: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes details of the cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco seized in its annual reports.
The Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) agreed between HMRC and leading UK tobacco manufacturers form one strand of the Government's “Tackling Tobacco Smuggling” strategy—a comprehensive package of measures which together have resulted in a steady decline in the size of the illicit tobacco market, from around 20 per cent. in 2001-02 to around 13 per cent. in 2005-06. Levels of seizures can be affected by a number of factors, so it is not possible to attribute changes in the proportion of seizures made up of a tobacco manufacturer's genuine brands directly to a MoU. Even if it were possible, the level of seizures would be only one indicator of the effectiveness of the Government's strategy. The key indicator is the size of the illicit market. HMRC publishes estimates of the illicit market share annually in the ‘Measuring Indirect Tax Losses’ report, which can be found in the Commons Library. In the last few years, seizures of genuine cigarettes made by HMRC have made up a progressively smaller share of total seizures, which is a further indicator of the positive effect of the MoUs.
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