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21 Apr 2009 : Column 610W—continued
Wildlife: Crime
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many wild reptiles have been seized as illegal imports at UK airports and ports in the last 12 months. [241474]
Mr. Woolas: The following table provides data sourced from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) central records, regarding seizures of live reptiles between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008.
These reptiles were seized using customs enforcement powers, in relation to live animals listed as endangered species under Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97, on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora.
The numbers quoted are the most recent published figures available for a complete financial year. Figures for seizures since 1 April 2008 remain provisional and will be subject to end of year quality assurance checks before they are released into the public domain by HMRC in their next annual report.
The total number of seizures of endangered species and related products made by Customs officers in 2007-08, can be found at annex F of HMRC’s published departmental report 2008.
| Live reptiles | |
| Number | |
Innovation, Universities and Skills
Beer: Measurement
Mr. David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure that full measures of beer are served in pubs. [267749]
Mr. Lammy: Weights and Measures law already applies to beer and it is an offence to serve short measure.
We have considered whether there is a need to strengthen the law in this area to allow for the specific characteristics of beer and have carried out three public consultations on this issue. However, there was no consensus among stakeholders on whether action was necessary or if so what action should be taken.
Currently the law provides that a pint of beer can include a frothy head. Given that industry guidelines provide that consumers can ask for and receive a top up, we are satisfied that drinkers are sufficiently protected. Therefore, on balance, given the scale of the issue and the costs involved, we believe there is no need for further regulation at present.
Departmental ICT
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many (a) printers and (b) multi-function devices with printing functions were in use in each division of his Department in each year since its creation; how many such devices had a function enabling two-sided printing; and if he will make a statement. [269612]
Mr. Simon: Currently the Department supports
(a) 13 HP2015 printers
(b) 25 Lexmark X854 multi-function devices and 18 Lexmark X945 multi-function devices.
These are provided on a per floor basis in our hot-desking environment, so it is not possible to allocate these devices to individuals divisions or business groups. All of these devices support two-sided printing.
Additionally, we support some small printers for occasional home use. These only support single sided printing. There is no central record of the number of these printers in use.
DIUS was created in June 2007. Our records do not show how many printers and multi-function devices were in use each year since that date.
Students: Loans
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) how many graduates were paying back a proportion of their student loans in each of the last five years; [269117]
(2) how much the Student Loans Company received in interest on student loans in each of the last five years; [269118]
(3) what the total amount of outstanding student loans was (a) in each of the last five years and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available; [269122]
(4) how much the Student Loans Company received in student loan repayments in each of the last five years; [269123]
(5) how many student loan debts were outstanding (a) in each of the last five years and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available; [269125]
(6) how many student loans were repaid in full in each of the last three years. [269127]
Mr. Lammy [holding answer 20 April 2009]: The Statistical First Release Student Loans for Higher Education in England, Financial Year 2007-08 (Provisional) includes figures of mortgage-style loan borrowers paying back loans and up to date or ahead with repayments, interest added to all loans and all loans repaid in full. This document is published by the Student Loans Company and available on the SLC website at:
The value of outstanding loans is shown in the following table:
| Student loans balance outstanding at end of financial year | |||
| £ million | |||
| England( 1) | Income-contingent | Mortgage-style | Total |
| (1) English domiciled students studying in the UK and EU students studying in England. Source: Student Loans Company. | |||
The value of outstanding income-contingent loans has increased year-on-year because these loans were first introduced in 1998, and tuition fee loans became available for the first time from 2006-07.
The Student Loans Company received the following repayments:
| Student loans repayments by financial year | |||
| £ million | |||
| England( 1) | Income-contingent | Mortgage-style | Total |
| (1) English domiciled students studying in the UK and EU students studying in England. (2) Split of income-contingent and mortgage-style loan repayments not available for 2003-04 and 2004-05. Source: Student Loans Company. | |||
The number of student loan debts outstanding are shown in the following table:
| Number of student loan borrowers at the end of each financial year( 1) | |||
| England( 2) | Income-contingent | Mortgage-style | All loans( 3) |
| (1) Includes those who are not yet required to make repayments. Consistent data are not available for earlier years. (2) English domiciled students studying in the UK and EU students studying in England. (3) Some borrowers have both types of loan, therefore the All loans column is not a sum of the preceding columns. Source: Student Loans Company. | |||
Figures on mortgage-style loans throughout the answer exclude the portfolios of loans sold to the private sector in 1998 and 1999.
Vocational Training: Accidents
Kelvin Hopkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many (a) fatalities and (b) serious injuries there have been on Government-funded training programmes in each year since the inception of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC); what the nature of each incident was; what the age of each individual involved was; whether any recommendations for the conduct of such programmes
that arose from inquiries into each incident were made; and whether any compensation payments were made by (i) the LSC and (ii) training providers consequent on each incident. [269779]
Mr. Simon: The Learning and Skills Council works with providers and employers to ensure that the health and safety of learners, including apprentices over the age of 19, is of paramount importance. The information requested is not held by the Department. I have asked Geoff Russell, the LSC's acting chief executive, to write to my hon. Friend with the information he has requested. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.
International Development
Departmental Computers
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many laptop computers have been provided to (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants in his Department in each year since 2005; and at what cost. [268277]
Mr. Michael Foster: Since 2005 the Department for International Development has provided the following laptop computers.
| Number of Laptops provided | ||||
| Ministers | Special Advisers | Civil Servants | Cost (£) | |
The figures in 2008 and 2009 reflect a programme to replace previously issued laptops.
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