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28 Jan 2010 : Column 1063W—continued
Energy and Climate Change
Combined Heat and Power: Finance
Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his estimate is of the likely change in the number of jobs in the micro-combined heat and power industry if a feed-in tariff for the sector were to be introduced. [310717]
Mr. Kidney: The Government have not produced estimates of job creation in the microCHP industry. Any such estimates would depend on market size, which would depend in part on the nature and level of the support the technology was offered, as well as a range of commercial factors, and the nature of the manufacturing process for the different technologies relative to conventional boilers.
Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to make an announcement on the introduction of a feed-in tariff for micro-combined heat and power. [310718]
Mr. Kidney: Treatment of microCHP under the feed-in tariff will be announced as part of the Government's response to the feed-in tariffs consultation. This will be made shortly.
Fuel Poverty: Torbay
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in (a) Torbay constituency and (b) the UK were in fuel poverty in (i) 2003 and (ii) 2009. [314216]
Mr. Kidney: The estimated number of households in fuel poverty in the UK was around 2 million in 2003. The latest figures available show that there were around 4 million fuel poor households in the UK in 2007.
The most recently available sub-regional split of fuel poverty relates to 2006, and shows that there were around 7,600 fuel poor households in the Torbay constituency. In 2003 there were around 2,800 fuel poor households in the Torbay constituency. The methodology used for the 2006 work differs from that previously used, so care should be taken in comparing the fuel poverty levels in one area between 2003 and 2006.
Microgeneration
Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what products have received certification under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme. [314336]
Joan Ruddock: All MCS certified products are listed online at:
http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/Home+and+ Business+Owners/Microgeneration+Products
Fully MCS certified products are clearly distinguished by MCS serial numbers.
On these lists, a number of "MCS transition products" also appear which do not yet have MCS serial numbers. These transition products have access to grants and incentives, having met some of the necessary test criteria and are still undergoing MCS assessment.
Arrangements relating to these transition products will remain in place until the end of June 2010.
Warm Front Scheme: Birmingham
Mr. Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many applications from residents of Birmingham to the Warm Front Scheme for (a) heating, (b) insulation and (c) heating and insulation were approved in each of the last three years. [312784]
Mr. Kidney: The following table indicates the number of successful applications from residents of Birmingham to the warm front scheme for (a) heating, (b) insulation and (c) heating and insulation in each of the previous years.
| Number | ||||
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10( 1) | |
| (1 )Up to and including the 17 January 2010. | ||||
Treasury
Arm's Length Bodies
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to page 53 of Putting the Frontline First, Cm 7753, what the name is of each of the 750 arm's length bodies sponsored by the Government. [312300]
Mr. Byrne: Details of arm's length bodies sponsored by central Government are set out in the Cabinet Office publication, "Public Bodies". The 752 bodies referred to on page 53 of "Putting the Frontline First", CM 7753, includes all bodies named in this publication ("Public Bodies 2008") plus executive agencies, non-ministerial Departments and other relevant bodies (e.g. charities and independent bodies) outside the standard Cabinet Office classification. A list of executive agencies and non-ministerial departments can be found on the Cabinet Office website.(1) The 752 bodies referred to in "Putting the Frontline First", CM 7753 also excludes independent monitoring boards on the basis that these are multiple bodies, but are of a single type, locally constituted, and staffed by volunteers. Finally, the above lists of bodies will be subject to change as in-year fluctuations occur, which will include the abolition of bodies announced in "Putting the Frontline First" taking effect once the necessary consultation and legislation has been completed.
(1) These can be found at:
and
Bank Services
Mr. Cash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many retail bank branches there are per head of population. [313443]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Treasury does not collect these data.
Civil Servants: Location
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which recommendations of the 2004 review of public sector relocation undertaken by Sir Michael Lyons have been implemented. [312272]
Mr. Byrne: Over the last six years the Government have used Sir Michael Lyons' 2004 review to deliver significant relocation of civil service posts out of London and the south-east.
The Government have made strong progress in implementing the Lyons review's recommendations. At pre-Budget report 2009, it was announced that the relocations programme has moved nearly 21,000 civil service posts out of London and the south-east-nearly a year ahead of schedule. At Budget 2009, the Government illustrated their commitment to the relocations agenda by agreeing to relocate a further 4,000 posts by March 2010.
These relocations would not have been possible without the Government's willingness to implement the review's recommendations and to make the necessary investment.
To ensure that Departments engaged in the relocations programme, the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) published mandatory guidance. The guidance (DAO 05/05) ensures that Government Departments, their executive agencies and sponsored bodies, at appropriate property events, provide evidence that illustrates their business need to stay in London.
To take things further 'Putting the Front Line First: Smarter Government' announced that Ian Smith would lead an independent review on relocations. The review will report in time for Budget and will outline how at least 10 per cent. of all civil service posts currently based in London and the south-east can be relocated in the medium term.
Departmental Training
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the ministerial correction of 9 November 2009, Official Report, column 1MC, on the National School of Government, what courses representatives of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit attended at the National School of Government in each of the three listed years. [312434]
Mr. Byrne: With reference to the ministerial correction of 9 November 2009, the names of the courses that PMDU staff attended at the National School of Government in years 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 were:
| Name of training course | |
Non-domestic Rates: Garages and Petrol Stations
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will meet representatives of the petrol retail industry to discuss the 2010 rating revaluation. [312724]
Ian Pearson
[holding answer 25 January 2010]: Treasury and Communities and Local Government Ministers have corresponded with petrol stations' representatives over the 2010 business rates revaluation. Officials in the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) are continuing to meet with the industry to discuss the detail of the scheme
used to value petrol forecourts. I do not therefore intend to pursue a meeting at this stage, but remain open to doing so in the future.
Provident Societies: Northern Ireland
Mark Durkan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what directives the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has issued to non-FSA regulated industrial and provident societies in Northern Ireland on the undertaking of regulated activities by such societies. [313914]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, organisations of any kind which carry on regulated activities, as defined in the Act, anywhere in the UK, are required to seek formal permission from the Financial Services Authority (FSA) unless otherwise legally exempt. The FSA issues advice and guidance to organisations through its website and other means.
Public Sector: Pay
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what mechanism the Government plans to vet public sector employment contracts paying more than £150,000; and whether that mechanism will apply to existing contracts. [312165]
Mr. Byrne: As announced in the 2009 pre-Budget report (CM 7747) at paragraph 6.50, I shall approve pay levels in excess of £150,000 for appointments subject to ministerial approval (including those within the civil service). Where ministerial approval is not required the Government expect all organisations making appointments on salaries in excess of £150,000 to publicly justify this to the relevant Secretary of State.
This will apply to new contracts, including cases of reappointment or appointment to a new post.
Public Sector: Pensions
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what timetable has been set for the publication of the Long Term Public Finance Report's estimate of the liability of Pay-As-You-Go public service occupational pension schemes. [312274]
Mr. Byrne: The Long Term Public Finance Report published alongside the pre-Budget report on 9 December 2009 estimates the liability of pay-as-you-go public service pension schemes as at 31 March 2008 to be £770 billion.
Snow and Ice
Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the costs to his Department arising from the severe weather conditions in the period 4 January to 18 January 2010; and if he will make a statement. [313593]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: No estimate has been made of any costs arising from the recent severe weather conditions.
Stress
Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2010, Official Report, column 497W, on industrial health and safety, when his Department produced the document 'Introduction to Stress Awareness and Management'; and what the cost was of producing that document. [314032]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: HMT produced the document entitled 'Introduction to Stress Awareness and Management' in 2009 as part of a package of measures in response to an identified need to manage increased risk to employees from stress and related illnesses. The document cost £0.96p per copy to print, based on a single print run of 2,500 copies. The volume printed was to cover the Treasury Group with sufficient extra to cover new staff for the foreseeable future. The preparation of the content was part of the normal work of the welfare officer and preparation for printing was done in-house by the Department's publishing team. The document is also available to staff in electronic format on the Department's intranet.
VAT: Fuel Oil
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to regulate the price of domestic heating oil following the return in the rate of value added tax to 17.5 per cent. [313193]
Mr. Kidney [holding answer 25 January 2010]: I have been asked to reply.
There is a reduced VAT rate on heating oil for domestic or residential use, relative to the standard rate of 17.5 per cent. of 5 per cent.
Women and Equality
Human Trafficking
6. Mr. Pelling: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on policies to reduce levels of human trafficking for sexual exploitation. [313706]
Maria Eagle: I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues across Government, through an inter-departmental ministerial group on human trafficking. Measures to tackle trafficking for sexual exploitation include:
a new offence for buying sex with someone who is subject to exploitative conduct
work with the Newspaper Society to tackle small ads, resulting in an 80 per cent. decline in advertisements offering sexual services from foreign women since 2007
a national referral mechanism to improve identification and protection of victims.
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