Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 6 July 2010
Northern Ireland
Departmental Official Cars
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which Ministers in his Department have used an allocated ministerial car to travel between the Department and the House of Commons on each day since 21 May 2010. [5554]
Mr Paterson: Ministers use cars provided by the Government Car and Dispatch Agency as and when necessary for official ministerial business under guidelines provided by the Cabinet Office.
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing: Lancashire
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of surplus one and two bed properties in the social sector in West Lancashire constituency. [5648]
Andrew Stunell: The number of surplus properties in the social sector is not collected centrally.
Information on the number of vacant general needs registered social landlord owned dwellings located in each local authority area as at 31 March is collected by the Tenant Services Authority via their regulatory and statistical return (RSR). However, the Government do not consider vacant dwelling information an appropriate proxy measure of surplus housing.
Community Land Trusts
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many community land trusts are registered in England; and how many new homes he expects such trusts to provide in the next four years. [6018]
Grant Shapps: There is no requirement to register to become a community land trusts (CLT). They are independent locally constituted bodies, which are contributing to the provision of affordable housing in areas of need. We have no estimate of how many homes CLTs will provide in the next four years.
Council Housing: Construction
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2010, Official Report, columns 374-5W, on council housing: construction, what criteria his Department uses to assess the value for money of schemes to support the construction of new local authority housing. [6504]
Grant Shapps: The Homes and Communities Agency would judge any local authority scheme put forward for grant support against the same criteria it would apply to housing association schemes; that is, value for money in terms of both total public subsidy and per person housed.
Departmental Official Photographs
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on official photographs of Ministers since the formation of the present Administration. [6433]
Robert Neill: Nil. There will be no cost to the public purse; costs of official ministerial photographs commissioned since 12 May 2010 are being personally met by Ministers.
In previous years for which costs are available, departmental spend on official ministerial photography, funded by the public purse, was as follows:
| £ | |
Housing Benefit: Homlessness
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate his Department has made of the likely effects of implementation of the proposed changes to the payment of housing benefit on (a) levels of homelessness and (b) demand for affordable housing in each of the next five years. [6536]
Grant Shapps: The Department for Work and Pensions undertakes an assessment of the impact on specific groups as part of the policy development process. DWP will publish formal impact assessments in due course.
Housing: Construction
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to bring forward further proposals on providing financial incentives to local authorities allowing residential development in their areas. [5839]
Grant Shapps: We are committed to increasing housing supply and seeing more of the homes that people want, in the places that people want them, to meet Britain's housing need. The coalition agreement set out our clear intention to provide incentives for local authorities to deliver sustainable development, including new homes and business. I will set out further details on incentives in due course.
Housing: Empty Property
John Healey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2010, Official Report, column 377W,
on housing: empty property, when he expects to complete his assessment of potential measures to bring empty homes back into use; and if he will make a statement. [6505]
Grant Shapps: We will complete our assessment and make an announcement shortly.
National Community Land Trust Network
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the cost of establishing the National Community Land Trust Network; how many people he expects the network to employ; and what effects he expects the establishment of the network to have on community land trusts. [6017]
Grant Shapps: Carnegie UK Trust was awarded funding through the Empowerment Fund in 2009 to support community engagement in planning matters. Their bid focused on their work facilitating community land trusts (CLTs). As part of their work, the trust has established the National Community Land Trust Network, which will be hosted by the National Housing Federation (NHF) with a grant of £100,000 over two years. The NHF will complement this funding with financial and in-kind support. One member of staff will be employed by the network, which will provide high quality legal, financial and development advice to CLTs. Key to its work will be to ensure experience and good practice is shared to assist communities to deliver more affordable housing, workspaces and community facilities using this model.
Property Development: Floods
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities not to grant planning permissions for residential dwellings on flood plains or areas at high risk of flooding; and if he will make a statement. [5482]
Robert Neill: The coalition programme states that the Government will radically reform the planning system to give neighbourhoods far more ability to determine the shape of the places in which their inhabitants live, based on the principles set out in the Conservative party publication "Open Source Planning". The programme also states that the Government will prevent unnecessary building in areas of high flood risk. We will publish and present to Parliament a simple and consolidated national planning policy framework covering all forms of development and setting out national economic, environmental and social priorities. We will make an announcement on how we propose to take forward the national planning framework and the implications for specific areas of planning policy shortly.
Social Rented Housing: Bishop Auckland
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent estimate is of the number of surplus (a) one and (b) two bedroom properties in the social sector in (i) Bishop Auckland and (ii) Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency. [5091]
Andrew Stunell: The number of surplus properties in the social sector is not collected centrally.
Information on the number of vacant general needs registered social landlord owned dwellings located in each local authority area as at 31 March is collected by the Tenant Services Authority via its Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR). However, the Government do not consider vacant dwelling information an appropriate proxy measure of surplus housing.
Social Rented Housing: Standards
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate his Department has made of the number of (a) local authority and (b) housing association properties remaining to be refurbished under the Decent Homes programme on 31 March (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011. [6537]
Grant Shapps: The latest estimate is that there were 282,000 local authority and 134,000 housing association homes failing to meet the Decent Homes standard at the end of March 2010 and there will be 205,000 local authority and 100,000 housing association non-decent homes at the end of March 2011. These figures would have been lower had funding reductions of £150 million not been made to the Decent Homes programme in July 2009.
Travellers: Caravan Sites
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals to increase the powers of local authorities to remove illegally camped Gypsies and Travellers; and if he will make a statement. [5483]
Andrew Stunell: The Government will ensure that, where local authorities have made appropriate provision for authorised sites in their area which reflect genuine local need and historic demand, those authorities will be given stronger enforcement powers to deal with unauthorised encampments. We are reviewing how this can be achieved but any changes to the law must be consistent with our other coalition agreement commitments; we will be looking in the first instance at options for enforcing existing civil law, such as the use of civil penalties.
Transport
Bus services
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to amend the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2000 to require all new buses to have audio and visual information systems. [4190]
Norman Baker:
Research is currently being undertaken to assess whether the challenges of widespread implementation of audio-visual equipment on buses can be overcome. This will assist the decision on whether to make amendments to the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations to include a requirement for such systems to be fitted to buses. The research project
has brought together a cross-section of stakeholders, including Guide Dogs, Royal National Institute of Blind People and Royal National Institute for Deaf People. The project is scheduled to report in autumn 2010.
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to offer bus services operator grant for the provision of local bus services in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13. [5452]
Norman Baker: The Government are considering bus service operators grant as part of the spending review. We will make an announcement once the spending review has concluded.
Bus Services: Leeds
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the liability to contractors would be if funding for the quality bus scheme on the A65 in Leeds were withdrawn. [4085]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has not made an estimate of these costs as we have no intention of withdrawing funding for this scheme.
Departmental NDPBs
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the address is of the head office of each non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible. [5712]
Norman Baker: The address of the head office of each non-departmental public body for which the Department for Transport is responsible is as follows:
British Rail Residuary Board, BRB (Residuary) Ltd, 4th Floor, 1 Kemble Street, London WC2B 4AN
British Transport Police Authority, The Forum, 5th Floor North, 74-80 Camden Street, London NW1 0EG
Cycling England, PO Box 54810, London SW1P 4XX
Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee, 2/23 Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR
Civil Aviation Authority, CAA House, 45-59 Kingsway, London WC2B 6TE
Commission for Integrated Transport, 2nd Floor, 55 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0EU
Directly Operated Railways Ltd, 4th Floor, 1 Kemble Street, London WC2B 4AN
High Speed 2 Ltd, 55 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0EU
Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, 83 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0HW
Northern Lighthouse Board, 84 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 3DA
Office of Rail Regulation, 1 Kemble Street, London, WC2B 4AN
Office of the Traffic Commissioner, Hillcrest House, 386 Harehills Lane, Leeds, LS9 6NF
Passenger Focus, Whittles House, 14 Pentonville Road, London N1 9HF and 5th Floor, Wellington House, 39/41 Piccadilly, Manchester M1 1LQ
Rail Heritage Committee, Zone 4/13, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6EB
Renewable Fuels Agency, Ashdown House, Sedlescombe Road North, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex, TN37 7GA
Trinity House Lighthouse Service, Trinity House, Tower Hill, London EC3N 4DH.
Departmental Reviews
Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2010, Official Report, column 137W, on Government Departments: reviews, what reviews his Department is undertaking; and what the (a) purpose and (b) timescale of each is. [2583]
Norman Baker: The coalition agreement sets out in detail the Government's future plans, including the key reviews they will be undertaking. This includes a reform of the way decisions are made on which transport projects to prioritise so that the benefits of low-carbon proposals (including light rail schemes) are fully recognised. The Department for Transport will bring forward detailed information about this and other reviews in due course.
Intercity Express
Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to publish the outcomes of Sir Andrew Foster's review of the Intercity Express contract; and if he will make a statement. [4097]
Mrs Villiers: The Government have published Sir Andrew Foster's report today and I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on rolling stock.
Merchant Shipping: Registration
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he plans to take to encourage more merchant naval vessels to register in the UK. [6033]
Mike Penning: The Government remain committed to a strong and high quality UK Ship Register.
The Ship Register is maintaining its strong position both in size (11th largest fleet in the world) and its commitment to maintaining high quality standards (5th on the Paris MOU white list).
We continue to explore opportunities for further development of the UK Ship Register.
River Wear: Bridges
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will expedite the decision on whether to retain planned funding to the new Wear bridge. [4130]
Norman Baker: As the Secretary of State explained in his written ministerial statement of 10 June 2010, Official Report, column 35WS on transport (local authority major schemes), funding decisions for this or any other local authority major transport scheme will not be taken at least until the conclusion of the spending review.
Road Traffic: Greater Manchester
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will visit the villages of Hollingworth and Mottram-in-Longdendale in Stalybridge and Hyde constituency to observe traffic congestion on the A59. [3700]
Norman Baker: I understand Tameside metropolitan borough council is currently looking at options to address congestion in the villages of Hollingworth and Mottram-in-Longdendale in the constituency of Stalybridge and Hyde.
I do not think it would be appropriate for me or the Secretary of State for Transport to visit the area to observe traffic congestion whilst this work is ongoing.
Roads: Lighting
Gavin Barwell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to inform Croydon and Lewisham councils of his decision on their joint bid for credit for their private finance initiative street lighting scheme. [4545]
Norman Baker: Croydon and Lewisham councils have not yet submitted a final business case to the Department for Transport on their proposed street lighting scheme to be delivered through the private finance initiative. This is not expected to be received until some time in late 2010/early 2011.
South East Airports Taskforce
Mr Gyimah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the responsibilities of the South East Airports Taskforce are; and what mechanism will be established to ensure that the taskforce takes account of representations from local residents and environmental groups. [3699]
Mrs Villiers: The South East Airports Taskforce will bring together key players from across the industry to explore the scope for measures to help improve reliability, reduce delay and create better conditions for all users.
I have invited representation from the Aviation Environment Federation to consider the environmental impact of any proposals.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Departmental Conferences
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the expenditure of her Department and its predecessor on (a) organisation of and (b) attendance at conferences in each year since 1997. [6120]
Richard Benyon: The Department runs conferences on specific issues where we feel benefit will be had. Where appropriate we send delegates to other organisations' conferences whose work is relevant to our own.
Statistics on conferences are not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Floods: North-East
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what expenditure her Department and its agencies have incurred on flood defences in the north-east in each of the last 13 years; and what estimate she has made of the equivalent figure in each of the next five years. [6187]
Richard Benyon: The following table shows Environment Agency expenditure within the Northumbria Regional Flood Defence Committee's boundary. Figures are available from 2000-01 and have been rounded to the nearest £100,000.
Expenditure on flood risk management includes investment in new defences and other assets, maintenance of existing defences, and all other flood risk activities such as flood warnings and mapping.
Figures have been sourced from Environment Agency outturn reports, which are now called stewardship statements, presented by the Environment Agency to the Northumbria Regional Flood Defence Committee each year.
| Total (£000) | |
Spending levels in future years are dependent on the conclusions of the spending review.
Whales: Conservation
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions Ministers in her Department had with their international counterparts at the 62nd annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission; and if she will make a statement. [5906]
Richard Benyon: I spoke with Ministerial colleagues from Australia, New Zealand and Brazil, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State discussed whaling and the IWC with her counterparts in Germany and France. Throughout, we stressed our strong support for the moratorium on commercial whaling, and the need to ensure the long-term conservation and protection of whales.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements Ministers in her Department attended as part of the 62nd annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission. [5907]
Richard Benyon: I was able to attend the first day of the annual International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting, to demonstrate our commitment to the work of the IWC and the importance that the UK Government and people attach to it.
I also had bilateral meetings with Ministers from Australia and New Zealand and met officials from the European Commission, EU member states, the Buenos Aires Group of South American countries and other IWC member countries.
Woodland
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to increase the amount of woodland in (a) England and (b) the west midlands. [5081]
Mr Paice [holding answer 1 July 2010]: The Forestry Commission's delivery plan for the 2007 strategy for England's trees, woods and forests includes the objective to plant trees and create new woodland in priority places. In addition our programme for Government includes a commitment to launch a new national tree planting campaign.
Under the Rural Development Programme for England 2007-13, there is a commitment to create 15,400 hectares of new woodlands with support from the English Woodland Grant Scheme administered by the Forestry Commission. This support is available in all regions including the west midlands. There will also be a contribution from smaller woodlands planted as part of Environmental Stewardship, the agri-environment grant scheme administered by Natural England.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to protect ancient woodland in (a) England and (b) the west midlands. [5082]
Mr Paice [holding answer 1 July 2010]: All woodland is protected in accordance with the felling regulations under the Forestry Act 1967 (as amended). Any felling carried out without a licence is an offence, unless it is covered by one of the exemptions specified in the legislation. Under the Forestry Act, the Forestry Commission usually attaches conditions to a felling licence in order to secure replanting of any area felled.
Where it is intended to fell trees and use the land for another purpose the proposals will be assessed under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) Regulations, and consent for felling under these regulations may also be required from the Forestry Commission.
Woodland is also at risk from pests and diseases, some of which have emerged or become more widespread over the last few years. The Forestry Commission has responsibility for the protection of forest trees and timber and is empowered to make orders to prevent the introduction and spread of tree pests and diseases.
Other measures to protect woodland, such as tree preservation orders, are available to local authorities in the west midlands and throughout England.
Scotland
Departmental Conferences
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of his Department's expenditure on (a) organisation of and (b) attendance at conferences in each year since 1997. [6119]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not separately record information on the organisation of or attendance at conferences. All expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of managing public money and the Treasury handbook on regularity and propriety.
Departmental Lost Property
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what property has been recorded as (a) lost and (b) stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what estimate has been made of the cost of the replacement of that property. [5976]
David Mundell: In the last 12 months one item of property has been recorded as lost. The Scotland Office incurred no cost as it was not replaced. No property has been reported stolen in the last 12 months.
Wales
Bosch: Location
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether she has discussed with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers (a) the effects on employment in companies supplying the Bosch factory in Cardiff of relocation of the factory outside the UK and (b) the effect on other Bosch factories in Wales of such a relocation. [4126]
Mrs Gillan: I have regular discussions with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers on the economic and employment situation in Wales. The closure of Bosch is indeed a blow to the south Wales economy and it will undoubtedly affect companies in the supply chain.
The Welsh Assembly Government have offered their support both to Bosch employees and to companies supplying the Miskin site and we will provide any assistance we can. In particular, it is vital that a new investor is found to make use of this well-located site just outside Cardiff so as to provide alternative employment for the skilled workers who are set to lose their jobs.
Indeed, I recently met German Industry UK representatives to discuss ways of encouraging German companies to see the potential of Wales as a great place to do business.
Electoral Commission Committee
Electoral Systems: Referendums
John Glen: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what estimate the Electoral Commission has made of the likely cost to the public purse of a referendum on the alternative vote system for general elections. [6401]
Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that the Cabinet Office is currently developing cost estimates for the running of a national referendum.
The Commission further informs me that the estimated cost of its own activities would be approximately £9.3 million. This includes the costs of its activities in fulfilling its statutory responsibilities and of making grants of public money, up to a maximum of £600,000 each, available to the designated organisations appointed as lead campaigners for each of the referendum outcomes.
Culture, Media and Sport
Departmental NDPBs
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the address is of the head office of each non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible. [5723]
John Penrose: This information is available on our website at:
Departmental Training
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what training has been provided for Ministers in his Department since the formation of the present Administration; and at what cost. [6426]
John Penrose: As at 6 July 2010, one Minister has attended an induction course run by the National School of Government, and subsequently had a follow-up session. Both were at no cost to the Department.
Mobile Phones: Fees and Charges
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many individual respondents there were to Ofcom's Wholesale Mobile Call Termination Review; when he expects Ofcom to report its recommendations to his Department; and if he will make a statement. [5686]
Mr Vaizey: The Wholesale Mobile Call Termination Review is a consultation conducted by Ofcom, who operate independently of Government.
I have therefore asked Ofcom's chief executive to consider the question raised by the hon. Member for West Bromwich East and to write to him direct.
Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Radio: Digital Broadcasting
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will delay or abolish the proposed switch-off of FM analogue broadcasting in light of its effect on poorer households. [5581]
Mr Vaizey [holding answer 5 July 2010]: Around a quarter of all radio listening is now to digital, so a future transition to digital radio continues to gain impetus. However, the Government's policy is not to switch off FM. We believe that FM will continue to provide a platform for local and community radio for the foreseeable future.
It would not be in anyone's interest to force stations on to DAB or to switch off FM at a time when it would leave any local stations without an appropriate broadcast platform. The assurance we can give, therefore, is that FM will continue for as long as it is needed and viable.
With reference to the effect on poorer households, digital radios are portable, easy to use and affordable, with the cheapest models available for about £25, and manufacturers are committed to developing even more affordable DAB sets.
Attorney-General
Young Offenders: Prosecutions
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Attorney-General how much the Crown Prosecution Service spent on the prosecution of offenders under the age of 18 years in each of the last five years. [6501]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not capture and report data by reference to the defendant's date of birth and costs incurred.
However, the CPS is able to estimate the approximate internal costs of prosecuting offenders under the age of 18 for each of the last three years as:
| £ | |
Equivalent earlier data for 2005-06 and 2006-07 are not available in a comparable format due to a change of process for recording data implemented in 2005.
The costs have been calculated using the number of finalised defendants identified as being young offenders on the CPS case management system and applying the broad average cost of prosecutions using activity-based costing data.
The CPS does not capture the actual cost of individual prosecutions; to do so would require a time recording system and that would significantly increase the cost of running the service. However, the service does calculate the average cost of prosecutions through the application of activity-based costing techniques.
Energy and Climate Change
Boilers: Government Assistance
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the boiler scrappage scheme in increasing energy efficiency; and if he will make a statement. [5859]
Gregory Barker: The boiler scrappage scheme was designed to help up to 125,000 households at a cost of £50 million. An initial assessment of the potential effectiveness of the boiler scrappage scheme indicated that the efficiency improvement from replacement of "G-rated" gas boilers with "A-rated" boilers was over 20%. Replacing a "G-rated" boiler with an "A-rated" boiler is calculated to save at least one tonne of CO2 per boiler per annum in an average home. When the scheme has completed its payments to householders, there will be a final evaluation of the scheme.
Carbon Emissions
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what timetable has been set for a reduction in the level of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions; and if he will seek a commitment at EU level for a similar reduction in other EU countries. [5070]
Gregory Barker: The Climate Change Act 2008 sets greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets of at least 34% by 2020 and at least 80% by 2050 (both from the 1990 baseline). The first three carbon budgets, running from 2008 to 2012, 2013 to 2017 and 2018 to 2022, are set in line with the 34% target. This is based on an EU-wide emissions reduction of 20% from 1990 levels by 2020. We are pushing to secure early EU agreement to move to a more ambitious emissions reduction target of 30% below 1990 levels by 2020. When this has been agreed, and the methodology for sharing the effort between EU member states has been decided, the UK will move to a more ambitious 2020 target, following advice from the Committee on Climate Change and taking into account the views of the devolved Administrations.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the introduction of mandatory carbon reporting under section 85 of the Climate Change Act 2008. [6003]
Gregory Barker: DECC Ministers have not had recent discussions on this subject, but expect to discuss the issue in due course with DEFRA, the Department responsible for environmental reporting.
Departmental Lost Property
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what property has been recorded as (a) lost and (b) stolen from the Department in the last 12 months; and what estimate has been made of the cost of the replacement of that property. [5968]
Gregory Barker: The following items have been recorded as lost or stolen from the Department in the last 12 months:
| Item | Lost | Stolen |
Estimated costs for replacement is £7,000.
Departmental NDPBs
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the address is of the head office of each non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible. [5720]
Gregory Barker: The information is as follows:
Civil Nuclear Police Authority: H280 Hinton House, Birchwood Park Avenue, Risley, Warrington, Cheshire, WA3 6AS
The Coal Authority: 200 Lichfield Lane, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire NG18 4RG
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Herdus House, Westlakes Science and Technology Park, Moor Row, Cumbria CA24 3HU
Committee on Climate Change: 4th Floor, Manning House, 22 Carlisle Place, London SW1P 1JA
Committee on Radioactive Waste Management Secretariat: Area 3D, 3 Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2AW
Fuel Poverty Advisory Group: Area 1D, 3 Whitehall Place SW1A 2AW
Renewables Advisory Board: 3 Whitehall Place SW1A 2AW
Office for Nuclear Development: Area 3D, 3 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2AW
UK Chemical Weapons Convention National Authority Advisory Committee: Bay 116, 1 Victoria St, London, SW1H 0ET
Gas and Electricity Markets Authority: 9 Millbank, London SW1P 3GE
Nuclear Liabilities Fund: Farringdon Place, 20 Farringdon Road, London EC1M 3AP
Electricity Generation: Planning Permission
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government the introduction of legislation to enable global environmental impact to be a consideration in deciding on planning applications for energy generating plants. [6241]
Gregory Barker: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to hold such discussions.
While the planning system can help to deliver mitigation of environmental impacts including climate change, it would not be proportionate to expect individual developers to consider global environmental impacts beyond the environmental assessments, including environmental impact assessments on major infrastructure projects, that they are already required to carry out.
Green Investment Bank
James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will meet business representatives from Teesside to discuss the possible location of the Green Investment Bank in that area. [5057]
Gregory Barker: The Government will put forward detailed proposals for the creation of a Green Investment Bank following the spending review and will engage interested parties about the implementation of these proposals in due course.
Housing: Insulation
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to retain the previous Government's target of insulating every home with cavity wall and loft insulation where technically possible by 2015. [5342]
Gregory Barker:
The new Green Deal initiative will help us achieve, or exceed, the binding targets for carbon reductions set during the previous Administration. We will introduce a new finance package to make it as easy and attractive as possible for householders to lag their lofts, fill wall cavities, and take further steps to reduce their use of energy in the home. Households will be able to install not only the basic cavity and loft insulation
measures, but go further to provide comprehensive packages for households that can deliver real energy, money and carbon savings.
In addition, the extension to the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), which was announced last week and is expected to deliver insulation to 3.5 million households between April 2011 and December 2012, will ensure a rapid and significant increase in the rate at which we insulate homes over the next couple of years.
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the level of payment of feed-in tariffs necessary to encourage take-up of the scheme; and if he will make a statement. [5654]
Charles Hendry [holding answer 5 July 2010]: The impact assessment of feed-in tariffs for small scale, low carbon, Electricity Generation published on 1 February, and available from the DECC website at:
considered the levels of payment necessary to encourage take-up of the scheme.
This assessment estimated that tariff rates realising an index linked rate of return of 5 to 8% would incentivise 750,000 small scale low carbon electricity generating installations.
The FITs scheme has been running since 1 April and we are continually collecting data on uptake. As we learn more, this information will be fed into the review process.
Wind Power
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effects of wind turbines on nearby wildlife populations. [6217]
Charles Hendry: The UK operates strict controls to protect the natural environment, and any planning application for a wind farm which is likely to have a significant effect on the environment by virtue of factors such as size, nature or location is subject to an environmental impact assessment. Statutory nature conservation bodies are consulted upon the scope and outcomes of the environmental impact assessment.
Local and national planning authorities can and do refuse planning permission for proposed wind farms where there are likely to be significant impacts on local wildlife populations which cannot be acceptably mitigated. Where appropriate, conditions can be placed on a wind farm to ensure that any impacts on local wildlife populations are minimised, avoided or compensated. This may include post-development monitoring of wildlife.
The wildlife impacts of offshore windfarms are also looked at strategically as part of DECC's offshore energy strategic environmental assessment process. The most recent 2009 report concluded that up to 33GW of offshore wind could be installed without unacceptable environmental consequences, providing that suitable mitigation measures are incorporated on a site by site basis.
House of Commons Commission
Air Conditioning Facilities
Mr Amess: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, answering for the House of Commons Commission how many complaints have been made about air conditioning facilities in the offices of hon. Members and staff in (a) 1 Parliament Street, (b) Norman Shaw North, (c) Norman Shaw South, (d) the Palace of Westminster, (e) 7 Millbank and (f) Portcullis House in each of the last three years. [5706]
Sir Stuart Bell: A summary of all temperature-related works requests as recorded by the Parliamentary Estates Directorate's computerised case management system is as follows:
| Number of cases received | |||
| January to December 2007 | January to December 2008 | January to December 2009 | |
The information recorded on the case management system does not distinguish between complaints about air conditioning and all other temperature-related requests for work. Nor does it distinguish between offices and other parts of the Parliamentary Estate.
Departmental Security
Mr Amess: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, answering for the House of Commons Commission how many (a) males and (b) females in each age group had a Palace of Westminster security pass (i) suspended and (ii) revoked in each year since 2007; and for what reason in each case. [5442]
Sir Stuart Bell: Data on gender and age are not collected as part of the pass issue process. It is not possible to distinguish numbers of males and females in each age group who had passes suspended or revoked without disproportionate work.
Information on passes suspended and revoked in each year since November 2007 is set out in the following table. In each case the reason for the suspension or revocation was an investigation instigated by the sponsor of the pass. The detailed reason in each case has not been provided because it could identify the individual concerned.
Mr Amess: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, answering for the House of Commons Commission how many security passes allowing access to the Parliamentary Estate were issued in each category in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [5443]
Sir Stuart Bell: The number of security passes allowing access to the parliamentary estate issued in each category from 2007 to date is set out in the following table:
| Pass category description | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 |
The figures above represent the number of passes printed in each category during each period and so include replacements for those that have been renewed, lost or have been reported faulty.
The figure of 1,027 passes issued in the Member category for 2010 includes 300 passes used during an exercise to test the New Members Reception Area prior to the general election.
The figures have been taken from the Pass Office database introduced in November 2007. Data prior to this date are archived and access would require modification to system software at disproportionate cost.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2010, Official Report, column 2W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, what proportion of the increase in the operational allowance will be met from (a) the Government reserve and (b) his Department's core defence budget. [4707]
Dr Fox [holding answer 28 June 2010]: The operational allowance, currently estimated to be a total of £114 million in 2010-11, is drawn equally from the Government reserve and the core defence budget. This reflects the priority that this Government place on both supporting our armed forces on operations and putting the military covenant on a proper footing. The contribution made from the defence budget also acknowledges that, although total Defence expenditure has been protected in 2010-11, it is vital that all Departments prioritise resources to the front line, and assist in the key task of reducing the debt inherited by the new Government.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral statement of 14 June 2010, Official Report, columns 663-66, on Afghanistan, what functions are to be supported by the £67 million for countering the threat from improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan. [5032]
Dr Fox: The allocation of an additional £67 million to support the campaign to counter the improvised explosive device (IED) threat in Afghanistan will result in a significant increase in the number of counter-IED teams in theatre. The additional capabilities they will be provided with, including protected vehicles and remote control vehicles, will increase the protection available to our armed forces, and will enhance their ability to defeat these devices. In this way, the additional capabilities will contribute significantly to the safety not only of our armed forces and our allies but also members of the Afghanistan National Security Forces and the local population, who are also victims of the indiscriminate use of IEDs.
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of expenditure on military operations in Afghanistan in each year from 2002-03 to 2010-11; and if he will make a statement. [6141]
Dr Fox
[holding answer 5 July 2010]: The net additional costs incurred on military operations in Afghanistan (Operation Herrick) are met by the HM Treasury-administered Government reserve and are in addition
to the core defence budget. The costs that the Department would have incurred regardless of the operation taking place, such as wages and salaries, are not included. Savings on activities that have not occurred because of the operation-training exercises, for example-are taken into account in arriving at the net figures.
The annual audited figures for the costs of operations in Afghanistan since 2002-03 are provided in the following table:
| £ million | |||||||
| 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
The Estimated Cost of Operations(1) in Afghanistan at Spring Supplementary Estimates (SSE) for Financial Year 2009-10 is in the following table:
(1) The outturn figures for Afghanistan have not yet been audited by the NAO and as such, I am only able to provide the figures at this time.
| SSE f orecast 2009-10 | |
| (£ million) | |
The Estimated Cost of Operations in Afghanistan at Main Estimate for FY 2010-11 is as follows:
| ME forecast 2010-11 | |
| (£ million) | |
The figures for 2010-11 exclude the costs of the doubling of the operational allowance (estimated to be in the region of £57 million) that are being paid by the core defence budget, reflecting the priority that this Government place on both supporting our armed forces on operations and rebuilding the military covenant. This also acknowledges that, although total defence expenditure has been protected in 2010-11, it is vital that all Departments prioritise resources to the front line and assist in the key task of reducing Government debt inherited from the previous Administration.
Army: Discharges
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of each regiment of the Army were discharged in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09; and if he will make a statement. [5728]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 5 July 2010]: Members of the Army can be discharged for a variety of reasons, including on medical grounds, as a result of administrative or disciplinary action, reaching the end of an engagement and when an individual leaves the Army voluntarily.
Due to the way in which information is captured on the Joint Personnel Administration system, discharge information by individual regiment is not available.
The number of discharges for each arm and corps in 2007-08 and 2008-09 is shown in the following table. The figures are for trained regular personnel only, and for 2007-08 include other categories of departure such as death and long-term absence.
| Arm/corps | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
| (1) denotes zero. (2) denotes fewer than five. 'n/a' denotes information is not available. Note: All figures are provisional due to Joint Personnel Administration system data validation issues. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not appear to be the sum of their parts. | ||
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which regiments in the British Army provide (a) psychiatric advice, (b) psychological advice, (c) advice on re-skilling and continued education, (d) advice on resettlement, (e) advice on debt management, (f) advice on alcohol misuse, (g) advice on drug misuse, (h) advice on re-employment and (i) advice on behavioural issues including anger management to soldiers who are being discharged. [5729]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 5 July 2010]: The Royal Army Medical Corps will provide psychiatric advice, psychological advice, advice on alcohol misuse, advice on drug misuse and advice on behavioural issues if it is needed. The Adjutant General's Corps (Education and Training Services) provides advice through specifically trained staff, or by practical workshops, on re-skilling and continued education, on resettlement, on re-employment, and the financial aspects of resettlement.
These arrangements are complemented by the Chain of Command and welfare staff. All service leavers are made aware of ex-service charities and welfare organisations as part of the process and are able to take advantage of career counselling services up to two years after having left. Lifetime job-finding support is available through either the Officers Association or the Regular Forces Employment Association.
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what resettlement advice is given before discharge to soldiers who have served fewer than four years; and if he will make a statement. [5730]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 5 July 2010]: All service leavers are entitled to some form of resettlement advice. For those early service leavers who have served for fewer than four years this advice is given by a specially trained unit interviewing officer. Issues such as access to ex-service welfare organisations, housing advice, job-finding support as well as financial matters are covered. Information is provided by a one-to-one discussion and a comprehensive information pack. If it is considered necessary, for example for those vulnerable to social exclusion, access to a Service Resettlement Advisor will be available.
For those service leavers, regardless of time served, who are medically discharged a full resettlement package is available through the Career Transition Partnership.
Clyde Submarine Base
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what shortfalls in the Clyde safety management arrangements have been identified by the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator at HMNB Clyde; what steps will be taken to address those shortfalls; and when he expects those shortfalls to have been addressed. [5350]
Peter Luff: Following an inspection, a demonstration exercise or permissioning of an activity, the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR) may identify and agree findings of non-compliance with authorisation conditions. Findings are tracked and reviewed monthly, quarterly or annually depending on their significance.
DNSR has identified one finding relating to the HMNB Clyde safety management arrangements, which is as follows:
"The process to define how Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde's Intelligent Customer role is fulfilled needs to be established within Safety Management Arrangements. This process must define the Intelligent Customer function and ensure that stakeholders, such as BAE Systems, MOD Project Teams and other suppliers of supporting services have adequate reciprocal arrangements."
As a result of this finding, the role of intelligent customer has been addressed through a wider review. The organisational change proposal associated with that review has been endorsed by the Clyde Nuclear Safety Committee and has now been delivered to DNSR for consideration, with the aim of resolving the issue within two to three months.
Defence
Kris Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what opportunities are available for hon. Members and Members of the House of Lords to contribute to the strategic defence and security review. [5367]
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what opportunities are available for (a) hon. Members and (b) Members of the House of Lords to contribute to the strategic defence and security review. [5373]
Dr Fox: The Government scheduled a debate on the strategic defence and security review (SDSR) on 21 June. In that debate I invited Members of both Houses to make submissions on the review formally to me. In addition, there will be further such opportunities in the House to debate the matter before the SDSR concludes.
Departmental Catering
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on catering in each year from 1997 to 2009. [4853]
Mr Robathan: Catering for Ministry of Defence civilian personnel employed at United Kingdom Defence establishments is provided through Regional Prime Contracts administered by Defence Estates or under multi-activity contracts. UK-based armed forces personnel are primarily catered for through catering, retail and leisure contracts (incorporating Pay As You Dine arrangements), which are being introduced across the UK. Some 62% of armed forces personnel are catered for under these arrangements. Information on the amount spent on catering under these contracts is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
For United Kingdom armed forces personnel "in barracks" (when personnel are not being fed under catering, retail and leisure contracts), and those serving on operations and overseas exercises, there is a single food supply contract with Purple Foodservice Solutions Ltd. The total value, including the cost of food, administration and transport, for financial years 2001-02 to 2008-09 was as follows:
| £ million | |
The Department has also procured Operational Ration Packs over the same period for which the cost was as follows:
| £ million | |
The figures for the period 1997 to 2000 are not available.
Departmental NDPBs
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the address is of the head office of each non-departmental public body for which his Department is responsible. [5722]
Mr Robathan: A copy of the information requested will be placed in the Library of the House.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many of his Department's contracts with its suppliers are under review as a result of the recently announced reductions in public expenditure; and what the monetary value is of all such contracts which are under review; [3635]
(2) how many officials in his Department are working on renegotiating contracts for the supply of goods and services to the Department as a result of recently announced reductions in public spending; what savings are expected to accrue to his Department from such renegotiations; how much expenditure his Department will incur on such renegotiations; and when such renegotiations will be completed. [3657]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently reviewing all aspects of defence activity as part of the Government's Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). The conclusion of the SDSR is likely to require MOD to renegotiate specific contracts, but no decisions have yet been made. In the interim, MOD is participating in the actions announced by the Chancellor on 24 May to reduce public spending.
Departmental Travel
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) name and (b) version is of each computer software package used by his Department to calculate its expenditure on travel. [3706]
Dr Fox: The Department currently uses two separate systems to calculate expenditure on travel.
The armed forces use a system called the Joint Personnel Administration System based on Oracle E-Business Suite version 11.5.10. The self-service element used by service personnel to input information is Oracle I-Expenses version 11.5.10. Some travel and subsistence costs are recorded via the payroll function, based on Oracle Payroll version 11.5.10.
For civilian personnel a system called Human Resources Management Systems, which is a customised version Oracle PeopleSoft version 8.8 is used to authenticate the user's identity and gain access to self-service e-forms. The e-forms provide an interface to the MOD's civilian expenses payments and accounting system known as Compact, which is an in-house developed system including Oracle database version 8.1.7.4.0 and exploiting Oracle Forms 9i and PL/SQL scripts.
Information from both these systems feeds into the Defence Financial Management Information System where the expenditure is recorded under MOD's Resource Accounting Codes.
Guided Weapons
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will propose an agreement with the governments of China, France and Russia to exchange and publish aerial and remote sensing photographs of missile sites in each country. [4795]
Dr Fox: The UK does not have any geographically permanent missile sites. The UK shares military information, including aerial imagery, with signatories of the open skies agreement, which includes Russia and France, but not China, to promote openness and transparency between treaty members.
NATO: Medals
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider the merits of allowing members of the armed forces to wear the NATO International Security Assistance Force Medal in public. [5371]
Mr Robathan: The official UK medal for Afghanistan is the Operational Service Medal-Afghanistan. Members of the armed forces do not have permission to accept the NATO International Security Assistance Force Medal, because the current policy on medals is that there should be no double medalling.
The Government will be reviewing the rules governing the award of medals in line with the commitment made in the coalition 'Programme for Government'.
RAF St Athan
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the likely effect on the morale of members of the armed forces and their families of the proposed transfer of naval engineering training facilities to RAF St Athan. [5372]
Mr Robathan
[holding answer 5 July 2010]: While all activity is subject to the Strategic Defence and Security Review, on current plans HMS Sultan is programmed to be one of the last units to relocate to St Athan, and
will do so by 2020. I am very aware how unsettling a move such as this can be, but I am confident that the chain of command will manage the change as smoothly as possible.
Trident Missiles
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will undertake not to seek an update of the Trident D5 system during the period of discussions between China, France, Russia, the UK and the US on future nuclear disarmament following the UN Review of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. [4794]
Dr Fox: The 2010 review conference was an important milestone for the UK's long-term vision for a world without nuclear weapons. The UK has made it clear that, as soon as it becomes useful for the UK to include its nuclear stockpiles in broader disarmament negotiations, we stand ready to participate and to act.
Maintaining the UK's nuclear deterrent beyond the life of the current system is fully consistent with our obligations as a recognised nuclear weapon state under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Therefore, the UK will continue to progress in replacing our existing nuclear deterrent.
Turkey: Military Bases
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to support the denuclearisation of the NATO air base at Incirlik. [4905]
Dr Fox: NATO's Strategic Concept (paragraph 63) states that:
"nuclear forces based in Europe and committed to NATO provide an essential political and military link between the European and the North American members of the Alliance. The Alliance will therefore maintain adequate nuclear forces in Europe."
It is NATO and UK policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at a given location.
Weapons
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on animal testing for the purpose of developing weapons. [5503]
Peter Luff: Dstl Porton Down undertakes the Ministry of Defence research programme that involves the use of animals. In accordance with Home Office guidance it is Dstl policy that living animals are not used to develop weapons.
Justice
Legal Aid
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of legal aid funding provided by his Department through Shelter UK to support vulnerable families in housing need. [5666]
Mr Djanogly:
Shelter UK, like all holders of the Legal Services Commission (LSC) contracts, undergoes a regular assessment of its performance against the contract. Shelter has also successfully undergone 'Peer
Review' which is a quality assurance tool developed and managed by the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in which an experienced practitioner trained in the peer review framework reviews a sample of a supplier's case files to measure the quality of the advice it offers.
Another indicator of effectiveness is the LSC's key performance indicator (KPI) recording the level of cases that accorded a 'Substantive Benefit' to the client. The purpose of the substantive benefit KPI is to ensure that the cases undertaken by providers are concluded with a definable benefit for the client. This is an indication of the quality of work of the supplier. In the case of cases conducted by Shelter UK, this figure has always been greatly in excess of the required minimum level of 40%.
By the very nature of legal aid eligibility, the LSC only pays Shelter to deliver cases that focus on and assist the most vulnerable of housing clients.
Care Proceedings
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much time was spent on court time on care hearings in (a) preparation and (b) court in each of the last five years. [5762]
Mr Djanogly: The information requested is unavailable. Information on the in-court time of cases is not collected centrally on administrative data systems. The only means to collect these data would be the inspection of each individual case file which would incur disproportionate cost.
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how much the Legal Services Commission spent on solicitors' and counsels' fees in care proceedings in the last 12 months for which figures are available; [5766]
(2) how much the Legal Services Commission spent on psychological and psychiatric assessments in care proceedings in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [5765]
Mr Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) spent £252.6 million on certificates in care proceedings on cases that closed in the 12 months ending 31 May 2010. This figure includes solicitor fees, counsel fees, and disbursements. The amounts paid under the disbursement includes the costs of psychiatric and psychological reports where commissioned by the legal service provider.
However, the LSC do not separately record the costs of psychological and psychiatric assessments from other disbursements incurred in care proceedings. Such assessments are commissioned independently by the solicitors which are, where appropriate, paid for by the LSC as part of the overall disbursements claimed by the solicitors.
Parents, children and those with parental responsibility are granted legal aid on a non means, non merits tested basis where the local authority issues proceedings for a care order to be made in respect of a child. For other parties who may become involved in the proceedings, such as relatives, funding is also available but a means and merits test will be applied.
In addition to the costs of solicitors and counsel, disbursements will also be incurred, for expert reports, interpreters etc.
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many care proceedings cases reached the threshold for high cost cases in each of the last five years. [5767]
Mr Djanogly: The following volume of all public law Children Act certificates have been approved for costs of above £25,000, which is the criterion for very high cost case. This covers care and supervision cases. Please note that the costs can cover several certificates where a solicitor is representing a number of siblings.
| Certificates | |
| (1) There was a change in operational procedures in 2006-07 which temporarily reduced the number of certificates approved with costs above £25,000 in advance of the final hearing. | |
Corruption: Public service
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice who the members are of the Foreign Bribery Strategy Board; and on what dates the Board has met. [5612]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The following Departments and agencies are regular members of the Foreign Bribery Strategy Board:
Attorney-General's Office, Association of Chief Police Officers, Cabinet Office, City of London Police, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Office, Crown Prosecution Service, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Department for International Development, Export Credit Guarantee Department, Financial Services Authority, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency, Office of Government Commerce, Serious Fraud Office and UK Trade and Investment.
Other Departments and agencies are invited as required by the agenda.
The Foreign Bribery Strategy Board has met five times; 11 September 2009, 22 October 2009, 17 December 2009, 27 January 2010 and 21 April 2010.
Council of Europe Prisoner Transfer Convention
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many prisoners he expects to return to (a) France, (b) Romania, (c) the Netherlands, (d) Lithuania, (e) Ireland, (f) Poland, (g) the Russian Federation and (h) Latvia to serve their sentences under the Council of Europe Prisoner Transfer Convention in 2010-11; [6035]
(2) how many prisoners he expects to return to the UK from (a) France, (b) Romania, (c) Netherlands, (d) Lithuania, (e) Ireland, (f) Poland, (g) Russia and (h) Latvia in 2010-11 to serve their sentences under the Council of Europe prisoner transfer convention. [6655]
Mr Blunt: The Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons provides for transfer on a voluntary basis. As transfer requires the consent of both states involved and that of the prisoner, it is not possible to estimate how many applications will be approved in 2010-11. However, applications have been received from 49 prisoners who are seeking transfer from the countries listed. See following table.
| Country | Number of repatriation applicants |
In addition, since 1 April 2010, five prisoners have been transferred to prisons in the Netherlands and one prisoner has been transferred to Lithuania.
Courts: Closures
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to take account of (a) socio-economic factors, (b) geographic factors and (c) the adequacy of public transport links in the south Wales valleys in his implementation of proposals for the closure of magistrates and county courts. [5870]
Mr Djanogly: The proposals are currently out to public consultation and an initial impact assessment has been produced. The impacts, costs and benefits of the proposed court closures will be considered more fully during the consultation phase and a full impact assessment will be produced alongside the consultation responses.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the likely effect of his proposals to (a) merge and (b) close courts on the workload of each remaining magistrates court. [6331]
Mr Djanogly: An initial impact assessment has been produced for the consultations. The impacts, costs and benefits of the proposed court closures and bench mergers will be considered more fully during the consultation phase and a full impact assessment will be produced alongside the consultation responses.
Utilisation rates currently average 64% across the magistrates courts. Courtroom utilisation is the time a courtroom is used, against the hours that a courtroom is available for use. The Government's aim is to increase utilisation of courtroom time to at least 80%. If the proposed closures went ahead and workload was transferred to surrounding courts it is estimated that it would result in a national utilisation rate in the magistrates courts of around 80%.
Additionally, there was an average of 130 sitting days per county courtroom per year in 2009-10. It is estimated that the proposed closures of county courts would result in an average of around 200 sitting days per county courtroom per year.
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