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7 July 2010 : Column 307W—continued
Prisoners' Transfers: Rehabilitation
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many prisoners were transferred between prisons to undertake rehabilitation as part of their parole conditions in the latest period for which figures are available; [5810]
(2) if he will take steps to enable all prisoners to undertake rehabilitation as part of their parole conditions without having to transfer between prisons. [5811]
Mr Blunt: Information on the number of prisoners transferred to undertake rehabilitation as part of their parole conditions is not centrally recorded, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost by checking the files of all prisoners at each establishment who may have been transferred.
Prisoners often present a broad range of risks and needs which potentially need to be addressed to reduce their risk of re-offending on release. Every prison provides a variety of services, but significant resources would be required if each prison were capable of holding every category of prisoner and to deliver all the required services to prevent prisoners being transferred. Prisoners are transferred for a variety of reasons including, for example, to access particular activities or specialised services, promote family ties, to provide an opportunity to demonstrate reduced risk in a lower category establishment, or to maintain good order and control. It is however recognised that transfers should be kept to a minimum where practicable to support continuity of care. The National Offender Management Service continues to routinely review the provision of services across the estate in order to provide the most effective use of resources.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Abdelbasit Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi
Daniel Kawczynski:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with the First Minister the question of whether to hold
a public inquiry into the decision to release Mr Al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds, in light of Mr Al-Megrahi still being alive. [5683]
Alistair Burt: Our thoughts remain with the families of the victims of Lockerbie. My right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary, made clear his view at the time, that Mr Al-Megrahi's compassionate release by Scottish Ministers was a mistake. However, the question of whether it was appropriate, including any public inquiry, is for the Scottish authorities. I note the Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee published a report on 5 February 2010 examining the process followed by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill MSP, in making the decision that led to Mr Al-Megrahi's release.
Afghanistan: Religious Freedom
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with his Afghan counterpart on the treatment of Afghan Christian converts. [6846]
Alistair Burt: We are aware of reports of the Deputy Secretary of the Afghan Lower House of Parliament's remarks regarding the execution of Christian converts from Islam. The remarks were made during a debate over a recent series of television reports, which showed video footage of Afghans converting to Christianity. Under Afghan law, proselytising is illegal and conversion from Islam is a capital offence.
The Government strongly support the right to freedom of religion or belief. We are working to support all individuals who face discrimination and persecution on the basis of religion, including Christians, wherever they are in the world. Article 2 of the Afghan constitution provides for freedom of religion, and we expect the Afghan Government to fully implement this. We have a regular dialogue with the Afghan Government on human rights, including on the need to ensure the security of all Afghans, regardless of religion. In addition, we will raise particular cases of concern with the Afghan Government. We have not received any confirmed reports of Afghan Christian converts being prosecuted or put on trial.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Politics and Government
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on the future of the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and if he will make a statement. [6164]
Mr Lidington: The Peace Implementation Council met in Sarajevo on 29-30 June. Officials discussed progress towards the objectives and conditions necessary for closure of the Office of the High Representative. As these have not been completed, no decision on closure was taken.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has encouraged Bosnian leaders urgently to address the outstanding conditions.
Counter-terrorism: Finance
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much is planned to be spent on his Department's Counter-Terrorism and Radicalisation Programme in 2010-11. [5696]
Alistair Burt: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs announced in his written statement to Parliament on 29 June 2010, Official Report, column 38WS, following his review of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's programme spend the budget allocation for the Counter Terrorism and Radicalisation Programme for the current financial year (2010-2011) will be maintained at £38 million.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent on (a) refreshments and (b) furnishings in his private office in each year from 2005 to 2010. [5622]
Alistair Burt: Expenditure on refreshments cannot be fully disaggregated from total spending on meetings and events. The majority of the furniture was replaced in 2007-08 as it either did not meet current health and safety regulations or was in a bad state of repair. The cost was £42,517 in 2007-08 and £598 in 2008-09, and nil other years.
Departmental Training
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what training has been provided for Ministers in his Department since the formation of the present administration; and at what cost. [6454]
Alistair Burt: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers attended the Ministerial Induction course run by the National School of Government at no cost to the office. Ministers will carefully consider the opportunity for constructive and cost effective training in the future.
Exports
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what services his Department provides to small and medium-sized enterprises wishing to export their products. [5875]
Mr Prisk: I have been asked to reply.
Government delivers services for exporters through UK Trade and Investment. UKTI organises its trade services under two headings: 'Developing your international trade potential' for new and inexperienced exporters taking their first steps in international business; and 'Accessing foreign markets' for experienced exporters who are seeking to expand into new markets. Full details of these services can be found on UKTI's website:
In 2009-10 UKTI's trade services helped 23,600 companies to export and compete in global markets.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to reply to the letter dated 20 May 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ghulam Sarwar. [6338]
Alistair Burt: We did not receive an original copy of the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton's letter of 20 May 2010. After speaking with the right hon. Member's office we have now received a copy and will reply as soon as possible.
Sri Lanka
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when officials from his Department last visited the Jaffna Peninsula. [6616]
Alistair Burt: Our acting high commissioner and other members of staff from our high commission in Colombo visited the Jaffna Peninsula on 28 and 29 June 2010. They met key government, military, political and religious figures, as well as businesses and humanitarian organisations. They assessed the security situation, humanitarian requirements and opportunities for investment and economic development.
Sri Lanka: Human Rights
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed human rights issues in Sri Lanka with his Sri Lankan counterpart. [6617]
Alistair Burt: I spoke with the Sri Lankan Minister of External Affairs, G L Peiris, on 16 June, when I raised the issue of human rights and in particular the role of the recently established "Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission".
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest assessment is of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. [6619]
Alistair Burt: Despite some improvement in the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, we are concerned about the situation of journalists and human rights defenders, the lack of adequate investigations of alleged violations of human rights concerning abductions and enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and extra-judicial killings. We continue to raise these concerns both bilaterally with the Government of Sri Lanka and through the EU. We repeatedly call upon the Government of Sri Lanka to investigate reports of human rights abuses wherever they occur.
Tracey Lee Ann Foley
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Secret Intelligence Service holds information on Tracey Lee Ann Foley. [5822]
Alistair Burt: It is the longstanding policy of successive Governments not to comment on security and intelligence matters.
Turkey: Politics and Government
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to seek to reduce the incidence of extremism in Turkey. [3988]
Mr Lidington: Turkey is a key partner on tackling counter terrorism and extremism. The UK discusses these issues with Turkey on a regular basis. Most recently the Turkish Interior Minister Atalay discussed counter terrorism with the Home Secretary during his visit to the UK on 28-29 June 2010.
Deputy Prime Minister
Constituencies
Chris Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he has estimated the number of seats held by an hon. Member from (a) the Labour party, (b) the Conservative party and (c) the Liberal Democrat party which would be lost under his plans to equalise the number of registered voters in each constituency. [5266]
Mr Harper: As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 5 July 2010, Official Report, column 24W a Bill will be introduced before the summer recess to implement the coalition agreement commitment to make provision for the creation of fewer and more equal sized constituencies. Parliament will have the opportunity to debate its provisions. The independent Boundary Commissions will carry out their task, as always, in a fair and thorough way.
Dissolution
Mr Bain: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to hold a consultation on proposals for a 55 per cent. threshold for the dissolution of a five-year fixed-term Parliament; and if he will publish all representations he has received on the proposals. [5063]
Mr Harper: As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced in the House of Commons on 5 July 2010, Official Report, column 23-25. The Government have listened carefully to what has been said on both sides of the House about its proposals for fixed-term Parliaments, and has decided that a majority of two-thirds will be needed to pass a dissolution motion, as opposed to the 55% first suggested.
Electoral Reform: Referendums
Helen Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to introduce restrictions on the publication of promotional material by (a) central and (b) local government in the period ahead of a referendum on electoral reform. [5471]
Mr Harper: Section 125 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 imposes a restriction on the publication of promotional material related to a referendum by either central or local government in the 28 days prior to the poll.
Helen Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to publish information on different voting systems in advance of his proposed referendum on electoral reform. [5473]
Mr Harper: It is clearly important that voters understand the voting systems that will be the subject of the referendum on electoral reform, in order to enable them to make an informed choice. The Government will consider the best means of ensuring that this is the case.
Electoral Register
Mr Straw: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the costs of implementing his policy of individual voter registration. [6351]
Mr Harper: The Government are considering different approaches to speeding up the implementation of individual voter registration. We will set out our plans in due course.
House of Lords
Chris Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government has to recommend the nomination of new members of the House of Lords during this Parliament. [5267]
Mr Harper: The Deputy Prime Minister is chairing the cross-party committee which will bring forward proposals for a wholly or mainly elected upper Chamber. The committee will come forward with a draft Bill by the end of the year. Until such time appointments to the House of Lords will continue in the usual way.
House of Lords: Reform
Mr Bain: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment has been made of the merits of the (a) open list and (b) partially open list system of proportional representation for use in electing a reformed second chamber of Parliament. [4968]
Mr Harper: The Committee on House of Lords reform, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, will consider the options for a proportional voting system for a wholly or mainly elected second chamber. The Committee will publish its proposals in a draft Bill by the end of the year.
Mr Bain: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received on the role of the Lords Spiritual in a reformed second chamber of Parliament. [4969]
Mr Harper: The Government have received a number of representations on the role of the Lords Spiritual within a reformed second chamber.
Chris Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he proposes to bring forward proposals for elections for the House of Lords. [5264]
Mr Harper: A committee chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister is charged with producing a draft Bill on House of Lords Reform by no later than the end of this year. The draft Bill will then be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny. The Government hope that this will be by a Joint Committee of both Houses.
It will then be for the Government to take a decision on introducing legislation.
Parliamentary Reform Bill
John Healey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Cabinet Office officials are working on preparations for the Parliamentary Reform Bill. [5116]
Mr Harper: The Government have an ambitious political and constitutional reform agenda. As the Deputy Prime Minister set out in his statement in the House of Commons on 5 July 2010, Official Report, column 23, the Government will shortly introduce legislation for fixed parliamentary terms and for a referendum on the Alternative Vote system and for a review of constituency boundaries. Final decisions have yet to been taken on the content, titles or timing of many of the Bills which will deliver the Government's parliamentary reform agenda. I am therefore unable to provide a precise figure for the number of staff who will work on the legislation.
However, the work on the legislation will form some of that undertaken by the officials transferred as the Cabinet Office's new Constitution Group from the Ministry of Justice, in the machinery of government change announced by the Prime Minister on 2 June 2010, Official Report, column 22WS. They are supported by legal advisers from the Constitutional Law team in the Ministry of Justice.
Primary Elections
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 15 June 2010, Official Report, column 321W, on primary elections, (1) what his estimate is of the cost of funding 200 all-postal primaries in this Parliament; [5237]
(2) whether the funding for all-postal primaries will be available for primaries other than open primaries in which every elector can vote; [5238]
(3) what discussions he has had with the political parties on take up of state funding for all-postal primaries. [5239]
Mr Harper: The Government have not made a detailed assessment of the cost of funding the 200 all-postal primaries, and no decisions have yet been taken on what conditions might attach to the funding. I have not held discussions with political parties on this issue. Further details will be announced in due course.
Royal Prerogative
Mr Bain: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will bring forward proposals to involve the House of Commons in the exercise of the prerogative powers of appointing a Prime Minister and other Ministers of the Crown. [4967]
Mr Harper: There are no plans to bring forward proposals in this area.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Animal Experiments
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the future of the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research. [4991]
Mr Willetts: The NC3Rs is mainly funded by the Medical and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Councils. It also receives some funding from the Home Office, and the charitable and private sectors.
The Government recognise the valuable contribution the NC3RS has made in advancing the 3Rs as detailed in a recent five-year review of the Centre. The results of the review will be used by the research councils to help decide on future funding levels for the Centre in the light of competing priorities for spending.
Business: Regulation
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his policy to remove one regulation when a new regulation is introduced applies to regulations in UK law deriving from EU obligations. [6280]
Mr Prisk: Officials are currently assessing the most effective method for applying the one-in, one-out rule to those European regulations and directives which affect businesses and the third sector in the UK.
Business: West Midlands
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises located in Coventry on access to credit. [6160]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 6 July 2010]: The Secretary of State has had no recent discussions with representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises located in Coventry on access to credit. However, Ministers are considering options for the best ways to engage key representative bodies and banks to discuss access to credit issues.
The Budget announced that a Green Paper will be published before the summer recess to consider the broad range of finance options for businesses of different sizes.
Company Finance
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to ensure that FTSE-listed companies' directors' social and environmental duties are adequately covered in company reporting. [6066]
Mr Davey:
The Government's commitment is to reinstate an Operating and Financial Review to ensure that directors' social and environmental duties have to be covered in company reporting, and investigate further ways of
improving corporate accountability and transparency. We intend to consult on this issue this summer with a view to publishing our proposals by the end of the year.
Connexions Service
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what timetable he has set for replacing the Connexions service with an all-age careers service; and if he will make a statement. [3989]
Mr Gibb: I have been asked to reply.
The Government are currently considering how to make sure that all young people have access to high quality careers education and information, advice and guidance that helps them to make choices about learning options and future careers.
Departmental Lost Property
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 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. [5966]
Mr Davey: During the period 1 June 2009 to 31 May 2010, 115 items were reported as missing on this Department's central London estate with an estimated replacement value of £28,500. Of these, 14 items were subsequently found with an estimated replacement value of £3,650.
The Department records items as missing, as it is not always possible to prove theft as the reason for the loss and some items reported are subsequently found.
The figure includes small, low value personal items as well as items of electrical equipment, such as ICT equipment, mobile phones and accessories (some of which may have been personal items) and multi media equipment.
Departmental Official Photographs
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department has spent on official photographs of Ministers since the formation of the present Administration. [6445]
Mr Davey: The Department has spent £800.00 plus VAT on initial photographs of six Business, Innovation and Skills Ministers shortly after they were appointed.
Higher Education
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to allow private for-profit higher education institutions to access Higher Education Funding Council for England funding. [5691]
Mr Willetts: I believe private for-profit higher education institutions have a role to play in the high education landscape of this country. Any consideration of whether there is scope for giving such institutions access to HEFCE funding should wait until after we have had the chance to see and reflect on the outcome of the independent review of higher education funding and student finance led by Lord Browne.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received on allowing private higher education institutions access to the student loans system. [5692]
Mr Willetts: No representations have been received on allowing private higher education institutions access to the student loans system. As in the past, higher education courses provided by private institutions may be specifically designated to attract student support on an individual basis and students attending these courses can access student loans.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to change the criteria a higher education institution must meet in order to be classified as a university. [5693]
Mr Willetts: There are no immediate plans to make changes to the criteria. This an area we will keep under review but changes would only be made after consultation with interested parties.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to review the role of private higher education institutions in the higher education system. [5694]
Mr Willetts: The private sector has an important role to play in higher education and I would like to see the opportunity for this type of provision to grow in this country. The independent review of higher education funding and student finance led by Lord Browne may also review the role of the private sector.
Higher Education: Admissions
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration he has given to the findings of the recent report by the Higher Education Funding Council of England, "student ethnicity: profile and progression of entrants to full-time, first degree study" on the achievement gap between white and ethnic minority students. [4895]
Mr Willetts: I have noted with interest HEFCE's publication "Student ethnicity: profile and progression of entrants to full-time, first degree study". Although much of the content of the report was already in the public domain through a range of research reports, it is helpful to draw together outcomes that include participation, progression and attainment.
The sector has acted on previous research evidence concerning degree attainment gaps between minority ethnic and white students. The work of the higher education academy and the equality challenge unit continues to contribute towards institutions better understanding the complex factors underpinning the gaps and developing initiatives to address them.
The need to attract more students from disadvantaged backgrounds into higher education and to increase social mobility is written into the coalition agreement. The coalition agreement is clear that future activity in these areas needs to be judged against the findings from Lord Browne's independent review of higher education funding and student finance.
Higher Education: Finance
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills from which budgets the £200 million in savings from the higher education budget announced by his Department on 24 May 2010 will be made. [4592]
Mr Willetts: The savings in the Higher Education Funding Council for England's budget for 2010-11 are made up of a reduction in the university modernisation fund of £118 million and further efficiency savings of £82 million to be split between the teaching grant and capital budgets. However, compared to the Grant letter issued in December 2009, HEFCE's revised overall budget will rise by £70 million for 2010-11.
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the effects on expenditure by the higher education sector of the Government's proposal to increase the normal rate of value added tax to 20 per cent. [4595]
Mr Willetts: The Department has not made an estimate of the additional costs to the higher education sector of the increase in the rate of VAT. Separately, we have introduced the £20 million shared services element of the university modernisation fund. It will support projects to increase collaboration in the sector. This will encourage behaviour which can go some way to mitigate the increase in VAT.
Postcomm: Public Appointments
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the extent to which the appointment of Jenny Block as Postcomm's legal director complies with Article 22 of the postal services directive on the independence of national regulatory authorities from postal operators; and if he will make a statement. [6314]
Mr Davey: Postcomm was established under the Postal Services Act 2000 as the independent regulator of the postal sector.
All of Postcomm's directors have declared and published their interests on its website:
Where there is a possible conflict of interest associated with any appointments made by Postcomm, appropriate procedures are put in place to deal with the potential conflict.
As a non-ministerial Department (NMD), Postcomm has direct responsibility for its administration and staffing. I have therefore asked the chief executive of Postcomm, Tim Brown, to provide a fuller reply to the hon. Member. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Sector Skills Council for Construction
Mr David Hamilton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress has been made on the Sector Skills Council for Construction's
review of qualifying the workforce; whether its terms of reference include competence card schemes; and if he will make a statement. [6626]
Mr Hayes: The Sector Skills Council for Construction is currently reviewing progress being made towards qualifying the work force in the construction industry. This includes the contribution made by competence-based card schemes. Construction Skills is also contributing to a review being carried out by the Health and Safety Executive. The governing body of the SSC will consider the outcome of these pieces of work later in the year.
Summertime
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations his Department has received since May 2010 on the introduction of daylight saving time throughout the year; and what consideration the Government are giving to its introduction on a permanent basis. [5892]
Mr Davey: The Department has received a number of representations on this subject since May, including written correspondence and a number of parliamentary questions. We are also aware of the 10:10 Lighter Later campaign and the recent petition that has been put forward. The Government continues to listen to all such representatives, but does not have any current plans to change the existing arrangements.
Termination of Employment
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the merits of simplifying legislation on terminating the contracts of employees. [6534]
Mr Davey: Under current employment legislation, there are five potentially valid reasons for dismissal. These are capability, conduct, redundancy, retirement, and that continued employment would breach a statutory requirement. The legislation also provides for "some other substantial reason", where an employer has a good reason for dismissing an employee which is not one of these five.
We have no current plans to change the law in this area, but if my hon. Friend wishes to write to me setting out his concerns, I will consider whether to include it in our review of employment law.
Work and Pensions
Children: Maintenance
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission was for each £1 of child maintenance arrears collected in the latest period for which figures are available. [4774]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is for each £1 of child maintenance arrears collected. [4774]
The latest published information shows that costs for the statutory maintenance scheme for 2009/10 were £499.0m. In the same period, £1,141m was collected and arranged in child maintenance. This gives an average cost of 44p for each £1 of child maintenance collected and arranged.
It is not possible to assign a separate cost to the collection of arrears as activity to collect regular maintenance and arrears is undertaken simultaneously on a case by case basis.
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications to the Child Support Agency for a departure or variation were by (a) a non-resident parent and (b) parents with care in the last three years; and how many such applications were (i) granted and (ii) rejected. [4775]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications to the Child Support Agency for a departure or variation were by (a) a non-resident parent and (b) parents with care in the last three years; and how many such applications were (i) granted and (ii) rejected.
Unfortunately there is no management information is available on the number of variation applications. Management information on new applications for a departure cannot be broken down by non-resident parent and parent with care. The table below therefore includes information on the total number of new applications for a departure, the number of applications granted and the number of applications refused.
| New applications/clearances for a departure | |||
| Departures | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| Notes: 1. Figures rounded to nearest 10. 2. The application intake may include more than one application or variation on the same case. 3. Other clearances include applications that are withdrawn as well as those under 'preliminary consideration'. 4. Applications granted, applications refused and other clearances are based on the actual granted, refusal or clearance date. Applications granted, refused or cleared in one year may have been from a previous year's intake. | |||
Departmental Conferences
Robert Halfon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of
expenditure by his Department and its predecessors on (a) organising and (b) attending conferences in each year since 1997. [5938]
Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 from the Department of Social Security (DSS), the Employment Service (ES) and some parts of the Department for Education and Employment (DFEE) and no information is available before that time.
The Department does not hold a central record of the total cost of organising and attending conferences. However, identifiable expenditure for management conferences and external meetings are provided in the following table:
| £ million | |
| (1) The accounts for 2009-10 have not been finalised therefore are subject to change. | |
These figures do not include expenditure incurred by the non-departmental public bodies:
Health and Safety Executive; or
Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, since its inception in 2008-09
Departmental Equality
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent (a) in total and (b) on staff costs on promoting equality and diversity in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many people are employed by his Department for this purpose. [5915]
Chris Grayling: The Department is fully committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and to ensuring that equality is built into the services it provides to the public. The Department therefore has in place a central diversity and equality team to ensure that it complies with all equality legislation. This team actively promotes equality and diversity in the development of policies, services, and in the treatment of staff.
Other staff throughout the Department are also responsible for promoting equality and diversity as part of their wider responsibilities. Staff across the Department have the opportunity to be involved in seven national staff networks which promote diversity awareness.
Information on the number of staff in the central team and how much has been spent in total and on staff costs by the central team in each of the last three years is in the following table. Information on the number of other staff in the Department working on equality and diversity cannot be disaggregated from their wider duties and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Information on the costs of promoting equality and
diversity outside the central team is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
| Figures for the central team | |||
| Total (£ million) | Staff costs (£ million) | Headcount (FTE) | |
| (1 )March 2010 (2 )March 2009 (3 )March 2008 | |||
Departmental Training
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training has been provided for Ministers in his Department since the formation of the present Administration; and at what cost. [6442]
Chris Grayling: Since the formation of the new coalition Government no training has been provided to DWP Ministers.
Disability Living Allowance
Mr Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans his Department has to consult with businesses on the implementation of the Pensions Act 2008. [6073]
Steve Webb: The Government are committed to introducing automatic enrolment as an effective means of increasing pension saving.
The Making Automatic Enrolment Work review, announced on 24 June will consider whether the approach inherited from the previous Administration strikes the right balance between cost, benefits and risks for individuals, employers, and the tax-payer. The review team will contact relevant stakeholders to let them know how they can participate in and contribute to the review.
The terms of reference for the review can be found on the DWP website:
Funeral Payments
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will increase the (a) component to cover the cost of funeral directors' expenses and (b) level of the funeral benefit payment; and if he will make a statement. [6343]
Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr Wright) on 24 June 2010, Official Report, column 307W.
Future Jobs Fund
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2010, Official Report, column 75W, on the future jobs fund, what categories of information his Department holds on the future jobs fund; and what data he has used to assess its effectiveness. [5130]
Chris Grayling: The Department holds information on the number of future jobs fund placements available, the number of customers who started a future jobs fund job and financial information on payments made, along with some demographical and geographical information. Information that has been quality assured under the UK Statistics Authority's code of practice is released as official statistics.
We have agreed to fund over 100,000 jobs. The Department is committed to implementing programmes that deliver value for money and deliver sustainable outcomes. At up to £6,500 per person the future jobs fund is five times more expensive than some other elements of the young person's guarantee. The fund does not ensure sustainable employment for young people: it creates short term jobs, and the grants do not include any incentives to move people into permanent posts. Reducing the scope of the programme will save £290 million and this will help the Government tackle the unprecedented £156 billion deficit.
The Government are committed to supporting young people. The 50,000 new apprenticeships announced in May and the forthcoming Work Programme will help move young people into sustainable employment.
Housing Benefit
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to review the local housing allowance system. [5293]
Steve Webb: The Department has been carrying out a review of the local housing allowance (LHA) scheme over a two-year period from the commencement of its roll-out in April 2008. The aim of the review is to monitor the impact of the LHA at a national level, against the original LHA policy objectives set out by the previous Government. We aim to publish a report later in the year.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate has been made of the proportion of landlords with properties for rent at below the 30th percentile of the market who let to housing benefit claimants. [5697]
Steve Webb: The information is not available.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level is of local housing allowance in each of the broad market rental areas; at what levels they will be set in each area when rates are set at the 30th percentile of local rents; and if he will make a statement. [5702]
Steve Webb: Local housing allowance (LHA) rates for all broad rental market areas in England, Scotland and Wales are published by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) on their website at:
The VOA has also published on their website indicative LHA rates at the 30(th) percentile based on data used to produce the June 2010 rates in England.
The Scottish Government have published indicative LHA rates at the 30(th) percentile based on data used to
produce the July 2010 LHA rates in Scotland. These are available on the Scottish Government website at:
This will be updated each month until LHA rates are set at the 30(th) percentile from October 2011.
Indicative LHA rates at the 30(th) percentile for broad rental market areas in Wales are not as yet published but are given in the following table.
| 30( th) Percentile calculation-Wales | |||||
| £ | |||||
| Broad rental market area | Shared 1 bedroom | 1 bedroom | 2 bedroom | 3 bedroom | 4 bedroom |
| Note: The rates are based on July 2010 data. Source: Rent Officers Wales | |||||
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the proposed cap on local housing allowance in relation to the housing benefit subsidy to local authorities on homeless households placed in temporary accommodation. [5841]
Steve Webb: Housing benefit subsidy for people in temporary accommodation is considered separately to mainstream local housing allowance rates and reviewed annually.
The proposed changes to local housing allowance rates from next year, including the introduction of upper cap limits in April 2011, would not affect housing
benefit subsidy levels for private sector leased temporary accommodation before April 2012. This is because, under existing legislation, housing benefit subsidy levels for this type of temporary accommodation are based on a formula that uses local housing allowance rates for the January preceding each relevant financial year. Therefore subsidy levels until April 2012 would be based on local housing allowance rates before the proposed changes take effect.
Subsidy levels from April 2012, including the method used to calculate them, have not yet been decided.
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the likely effects on (a) levels of homelessness and (b) demand for affordable housing of implementation of the proposed changes to the payment of housing benefit in each of the next five years. [6473]
Steve Webb: The Department for Work and Pensions undertakes rigorous assessments of all new policies and will fully consider the effects of changes to housing benefit on homelessness and the demand for affordable housing alongside the detailed policy design of these measures. The Department will work with Communities and Local Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Government to assess the wider housing implications of these policies. Information will be published in due course.
Housing Benefit: Tower Hamlets
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding for discretionary housing payments has been made available to the London borough of Tower Hamlets in each year since 1997. [5842]
Steve Webb: The discretionary housing payments (DHP) scheme was introduced in July 2001. The Government makes a contribution to each local authority's expenditure on DHP. The local authority is allowed to add to this contribution, as long as the total expenditure does not exceed 2.5 times the Government's contribution for that year.
The available information is in the following table.
| Government DHP contribution to the London borough of Tower Hamlets since 2001, and Tower Hamlets' reported expenditure | ||
| £ | ||
| Government contribution | Total expenditure | |
| (1) Not yet known. Source: Department for Work and Pensions allocations and Local Authority returns | ||
Jobseekers Allowance
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of (a) individuals and (b) lone parents in Wakefield constituency who will have been on jobseeker's allowance for over 12 months in 2013; [6772]
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of (a) individuals and (b) lone parents in Cynon Valley constituency who will have been on jobseeker's allowance for over 12 months in 2013; [6778]
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of (a) individuals and (b) lone parents who will have been on jobseeker's allowance for over 12 months in Birmingham, Erdington constituency in 2013. [6945]
Chris Grayling: The information is not available.
Lone Parents: Lancashire
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents there are in West Lancashire constituency. [5631]
Maria Miller: In 2008, there were estimated to be 1,600 lone parents in West Lancashire. This figure has been rounded to the nearest 100. The estimate is based on the Household Annual Population survey (HAPS). The latest available wave for the HAPS is 2008. It is important to note that as with any sample survey, estimates from the HAPS are subject to a margin of uncertainty as different samples give different results. At the constituency level the group in question is very specific and the estimate is based on very small sample sizes. Therefore, the margin of uncertainty is very large for this estimate and the figure is deemed unreliable and would not be used by the Department for Work and Pensions for practical purposes.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to change the system of payment of mortgage interest for those who claim jobseeker's allowance. [5812]
Chris Grayling: A two-year time limit for jobseeker's allowance customers was introduced in January 2009. There are no current plans to make further changes, but the Government are in the early stages of considering future policy on support for mortgage interest.
Pension Credit: Richmond Park
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Richmond Park constituency claim pension credit. [6930]
Steve Webb: The information available is in the table.
| Parliamentary constituency | Pension credit individual beneficiaries | Pension credit household recipients |
| Notes: 1. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Pension credit household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves or on behalf of themselves and a partner. Individual beneficiaries are the number of claimants in addition to the number of partners for whom they are claiming. 3. Parliamentary constituencies are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data as at November 2009 | ||
Pensioners
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in (a) Slough, (b) Salisbury and (c) Scarborough and Whitby constituency receive (i) the basic state pension and (ii) pension credit. [6009]
Steve Webb: The information available is in the following table.
| Parliamentary constituency | State pension recipients | Pension credit individual beneficiaries | Pension credit household recipients |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. State pension figures are for the total state pension caseload. Around 1% of state pension recipients are not in receipt of the basic state pension, but are receiving additional state pension only or graduated retirement benefit only. 3. Basic state pension only figures are not available by current 2010 parliamentary constituencies. 4. Pension credit household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves or on behalf of themselves and a partner. Individual beneficiaries are the number of claimants in addition to the number of partners for whom they are claiming. 5. Parliamentary constituencies are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data as at November 2009 | |||
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners receive (a) the basic state pension and (b) pension credit in (i) Glasgow North and (ii) Ealing Central and Acton constituency. [6149]
Steve Webb: The information available is in the following table.
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