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29 Jun 2010 : Column 482W—continued
Departmental Public Expenditure
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on (a) equipment, (b) non-equipment expenditure, (c) service personnel and (d) civil personnel in (i) England, (ii) Wales, (iii) Northern Ireland, (iv) Scotland and (v) overseas in (A) 2008-09 and (B) 2009-10. [4681]
Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence no longer compiles estimates of expenditure at the sub-UK areas described in (i) to (iv) on equipment, non-equipment, or personnel costs as they do not directly support policy making or operations. The last estimates relate to 2007-08.
As a result, the complex data analysis required to produce the underlying sub-UK expenditure data is no longer performed. A comparable time series beyond 2007-08 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Numbers of MOD personnel at sub-UK level are available but the associated expenditure is no longer assembled at this level. The personnel numbers are provided in an answer I have given you today.
In relation to (v), estimates for 2008-09 are not releasable until the publication of "UK Defence Statistics" in late September 2010.
The MOD continues to report spend on procurement in the "UK Defence Statistics"
This annual report presents the MOD procurement of goods and services in the UK broken out by industry sector and estimates of aggregate MOD equipment expenditure.
European Defence Agency
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the chief executive of the European Defence Agency on the UK's relationship with the agency; and if he will make a statement. [4006]
Mr Gerald Howarth [holding answer 24 June 2010]: The Secretary of State for Defence has not yet had any discussions with the chief executive of the European Defence Agency (EDA). The Ministry of Defence will continue to participate in the EDA but, as part of the work on the strategic defence and security review, is reviewing all aspects of defence engagement with international institutions, including the EDA, to ensure that it matches the UK's priorities and interests.
Navy: Officers
Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers at each rank of one star and above there are in the Royal Navy. [3568]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 23 June 2010]: As at 1 April 2010, the number of officers of one-star rank and above in the naval service, including the Royal Marines, was:
| Number | |
Red Arrows
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what forward contractual obligations for future public appearances the Red Arrows have undertaken; and what financial penalties are liable to be incurred for breach of each such contract. [3923]
Nick Harvey: The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team known as the Red Arrows, does not enter into a contractual obligation to display at any event. Therefore, no financial penalties can be incurred for non-appearance at events.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the running costs, excluding asset depreciation, of the Red Arrows were in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how much the Royal Air Force received in (a) sponsorship, (b) appearance fees and (c) other payments in respect of the Red Arrows in that period. [3924]
Nick Harvey: Officials are collating the information requested. I will write to the hon. Member when this work is complete and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to answer question 376, on departmental public appointments, tabled on 27 May 2010. [3796]
Dr Fox: I replied to the hon. Member today.
Women and Equalities
Trade Unions
Mr Anderson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what plans the Government Equalities Office has to consult trade unions concerning deficit reduction plans. [616]
Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office (GEO) has already informed, in writing, the trade union representatives within the GEO about possible deficit reductions.
Prime Minister
Afghanistan
Mr Spellar: To ask the Prime Minister how many journalists travelled with him on his recent flight to Afghanistan. [4191]
The Prime Minister: In line with established practice, all the main news organisations are invited to accompany me on official overseas visits as and when appropriate.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture: Subsidies
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) overpayments and (b) underpayments were made by the Rural Payments Agency in each of the last five years. [425]
Mr Paice [holding answer 2 June 2010]: Overpayments are defined as cases where farmers received more than their entitlement-identified through post-payment corrections, inspections or queries. Underpayments are defined as all instances where farmers did not receive their full, finally calculated entitlement prior to the 30 June closure of the payment window for each scheme year.
Individual claimants may have overpayments in some years and underpayments in others, so an overall position is calculated. As at 4 June 2010 there were 3,596 farmers with an overpayment across 2005 to 2009 scheme years (England only) that are being confirmed for recovery. Overpayments below £250 per scheme year are de minimis.
All outstanding underpayments are released on confirmation as a matter of policy and are not subject to a de minimis threshold. As at 4 June 2010 there were 6,159 farmers identified as being in an underpayment position across 2005 to 2009 scheme years (England only), with 4,013 less than £1,000.
Overpayments and underpayments made by the Rural Payments Agency in each of the last five years (England only) were:
| Scheme year | Overpayments | Underpayments | Number of farmers |
| (1) The 2009 scheme year payment window closes on 30 June; therefore this is a preliminary figure. | |||
Food: EU Trade
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Food Standards Agency has made representations to the European Commission to upgrade its TRACES import and export certification database to include data on foodstuffs not of animal origin. [4119]
Anne Milton: I have been asked to reply.
We have been advised by the Food Standards Agency that representations have not been made to the European Commission to include foodstuffs not of animal origin consignments on the trade control and expert system (TRACES) database. The current issue relating to the import of food of non-animal origin is the application of official controls to certain high risk products from certain third countries, for the purpose of public health protection. The list of countries and products requiring control is reviewed by the Commission quarterly. Where any food of non-animal origin, presents a major public health issue, then the rapid alert system for food and feed (RASFF) is used by member states. For other imported products not of animal origin, where routine official controls detect any problems, these will be reported to the Commission. Food exported from the United Kingdom should meet the requirements of European food law.
Water Charges: VAT
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate has been made of the effect of the proposed increase in value added tax on the water bills of an average earning household in (a) England, (b) the north-east and (c) Newcastle Central constituency. [4820]
Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply.
The supply of water to domestic properties is VAT zero-rated, and there will therefore be no impact as a result of the recently announced rise in the standard rate of VAT.
Education
Academies: Dudley
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent discussions he has had with Dudley metropolitan borough council on participation in the academies programme; and if he will make a statement. [2384]
Mr Gibb: The Secretary of State has not held any recent discussions with Dudley metropolitan borough council about the academies programme.
Building Schools for the Future Programme
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when his review of school capital funding will be completed; and if he will make a statement. [2156]
Mr Gibb: In the context of the budget deficit, the Government are reviewing all expenditure. The Department has not taken any decisions on the Building Schools for the Future programme.
Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) whether he plans to change the allocation of £26 million pounds to build a new academy in North West Durham constituency under the Building Schools for the Future programme; [2454]
(2) when he expects to answer question 2454, on the Building Schools for the Future Programme, tabled on 10 June 2010. [4655]
Mr Gibb [holding answers 16 and 28 June 2010]: In the context of the budget deficit, the Government are reviewing all expenditure. The Department has not taken any decision on the Building Schools for the Future programme.
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the Building Schools for the Future programme in Tamworth; and if he will make a statement. [2874]
Mr Gibb: In the context of the budget deficit, the Government are reviewing all expenditure. The Department has not taken any decision on the Building Schools for the Future programme.
Building Schools for the Future Programme: Coventry
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received on the Building Schools for the Future programme from (a) Coventry city council, (b) bodies and charities in Coventry and (c) residents of Coventry. [3850]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 23 June 2010]: In the context of the budget deficit, the Government are reviewing all expenditure. The Department has not taken any decision on the Building Schools for the Future programme.
Childline: Finance
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his plans are for future funding of Childline. [2440]
Tim Loughton: All Government spend will be reviewed as part of the spending review, announced by the Chancellor on 8 June 2010.
Children in Care: Cheshire
Mr Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children were in care in the former Cheshire county council area in each of the last five years. [3540]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 21 June 2010]: The requested information is available as part of Statistical First Release: Children Looked After in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2009. This can be accessed via the Department's website at:
Table LAA1 gives information on the number of looked after children aged under 18 for each local authority for the years 2005 to 2009. This can be found in the excel link titled (1st set of additional tables).
Departmental Contracts
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what contracts his Department has entered into with external consultants since the Government came into office; and what the (a) name of the consultants, (b) terms of reference of the work, (c) monetary value of the contract and (d) expected date of completion of the work is in each case. [3597]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 28 June 2010]: Using the Department's resource management system to identify consultancy purchase order information no consultancy contracts were identified as having been entered into since the Government came into office (11 May 2010). However, the Department operates in a devolved manner so information on those consultancy contracts which may have been entered into but not yet recorded on the resource management system is not held centrally.
In terms of the Department's NDPBs and agencies consultancy engagements, records of these were not retained centrally prior to the introduction of the freeze on consultancy spend. However, the Department has not approved any requests for consultancy from its NDPBs or agencies since the freeze came into effect on 24 May 2010.
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