| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
12 July 2010 : Column 496W—continued
Local Government: Publicity
Mr Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he plans to take to prevent local authorities from publishing their own newspapers. [7690]
Robert Neill: We intend to implement the commitment in "The Coalition: our programme for government" to impose tougher rules to stop unfair competition by local authority newspapers by revising the statutory Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity. Before making such revisions, statute requires us to consult representatives of local government and any local authority with whom consultation appears desirable, which we intend to do as soon as practicable.
Mayors
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has for the future (a) number and (b) powers of elected mayors. [7113]
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to announce the date on which each planned city referendum on elected mayors is to take place. [7245]
Robert Neill: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham East (Chris Leslie) on 9 June 2010, Official Report, column 174W.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of people who have received support from the Mortgage Help website and telephone advice line in the last (a) three, (b) six and (c) 12 months. [7943]
Grant Shapps: From the launch of the website on 7 September 2009 to 8 July 2010 there were 164,657 absolute unique visitors to:
In the last six months, there were 89,435 visitors and in the last three months, 12,315 visitors.
Households are also able to access advice from a range of telephone advice line services promoted on the MortgageHelp website, including National Debtline, the Consumer Credit Counselling Service and Shelter.
National Policy Statements
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what national policy statements are under development by his Department. [6925]
Robert Neill: My Department holds policy responsibility for planning and is therefore co-ordinating the Government's work on National Policy Statements but the sectors covered by national policy statements fall in other departmental areas of responsibility. The Department for Transport, the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are responsible for developing national policy statements for their major infrastructure sectors.
Non-domestic Rates
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the merits of reviewing the thresholds for small business rate relief. [6995]
Robert Neill: The small business rate relief thresholds are set to target genuinely small businesses while ensuring that the costs are kept to a reasonable level for those businesses which pay for the scheme. The thresholds were uprated from 1 April 2010 in line with the general movement of rateable values at revaluation. In addition, we are doubling the level of small business rate relief in England for one year, from 1 October 2010.
Ordnance Survey
Mr Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to announce his decision on the Ordnance Survey's public task. [6402]
Robert Neill: The Government are continuing to think carefully about the Ordnance Survey's public task and will inform the House when a decision is made.
Mr Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account he plans to take of the recommendations of the Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information on the regulation of Ordnance Survey in its response to the consultation on the future of Ordnance Survey. [6403]
Robert Neill: The response to the consultation on "Policy options for geographic information from Ordnance Survey" received from the Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information has been carefully analysed and continues to be considered. Officials from CLG have met with the chair of the Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information a number of times to discuss the issues covered by the consultation.
Private Rented Housing
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans his Department has for the development of (a) local lettings agencies and (b) the implementation of the recommendations of the Rugg review of private rented sector housing. [7748]
Andrew Stunell: On 10 June, my right hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for housing and local government announced that the coalition Government did not intend to implement the regulatory proposals which emerged from the Rugg review. We continue to work on other issues highlighted by the review, including how local authorities can best engage with the private rented sector.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2010, Official Report, column 894W, on private rented housing, what further meetings of his Department's task and finish groups have been held since 12 May 2010. [7932]
Andrew Stunell: The task and finish groups were established as part of the consultation exercise on the previous Administration's response to the Rugg review. No meetings of the task and finish groups have, therefore, been held since 12 May 2010.
Social Rented Housing: Argyll and Bute
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of surplus one and two bedroom properties in the social sector in (a) Ashfield, (b) Argyll and Bute and (c) Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency. [6636]
Andrew Stunell: The number of surplus properties in the social sector is not collected centrally.
Local authorities and registered social landlords in England and Scotland report information on the number of vacant dwellings owned. However, the Government do not consider vacant dwelling information an appropriate proxy measure of surplus housing. Also, this information is not reported for constituencies and is not reported by number of bedrooms.
Social Rented Housing: Birmingham
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of surplus one and two bedroom properties in the social sector in Birmingham, Erdington constituency. [6947]
Andrew Stunell: The number of surplus properties in the social sector is not collected centrally.
Local authorities and registered social landlords in England report information on the number of vacant dwellings owned. However, the Government do not consider vacant dwelling information an appropriate proxy measure of surplus housing. Also, this information is not reported for constituencies and is not reported by number of bedrooms.
Social Rented Housing: Lambeth
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2010, Official Report, column 136W, on social rented housing: Lambeth, what eligibility criteria will apply to proposals for Decent Homes programme funding for arms-length management organisations once the outcome of the review is known. [6718]
Andrew Stunell: The criteria for the allocation of funding for ALMOs, including Lambeth, in future years will be dependent on the overall funding available to the Decent Homes programme, following the outcome of the comprehensive spending review.
Social Rented Housing: Lewisham
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of surplus one and two bedroom properties in the social sector in Lewisham constituency. [6597]
Andrew Stunell: The number of surplus properties in the social sector is not collected centrally.
Local authorities and registered social landlords in England report information on the number of vacant dwellings owned. However, the Government do not consider vacant dwelling information an appropriate proxy measure of surplus housing. Also, this information is not reported for constituencies and is not reported by number of bedrooms.
Social Rented Housing: Peterborough
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding has been allocated by the Homes and Communities Agency to social housing providers for each project in Peterborough in 2010-11; and if he will make a statement. [7249]
Grant Shapps: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer on funding that I gave to the hon. Member for Wigan (Lisa Nandy) on 5 July 2010, Official Report, columns 84-85W.
The Homes and Communities Agency has spent over £1 million in grant on new affordable housing schemes between April and the end of June 2010-11 in Peterborough. This funding can relate to starts on site or completions which may be from schemes starting on site in previous years.
International Development
Bangladesh: Overseas Aid
Mr Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will review the level of assistance provided by his Department to Bangladesh for education in the light of that country's levels of defence expenditure; and if he will make a statement. [7028]
Mr Duncan: The Government of Bangladesh's defence spending is relatively low, budgeted at 1.2% of gross domestic product for 2010-11 compared to the 2.4% of GDP allocated to its education budget for the same period.
The UK supports Bangladesh to reduce poverty and provide basic services, including health and education, because overall, Bangladesh's resources are very low relative to the investment needed. The UK's investment helped improve teaching training for 400,000 primary teachers in 2009 alone, improving the quality of education for millions of Bangladeshi children. This funding is supplementing Government investment, not substituting for it.
The Secretary of State for International Development has commissioned a review of the Department for International Development's (DFID's) aid programmes to determine how we can achieve better value for money for the taxpayer and accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. Future support to Bangladesh, including education, will be determined as part of this review.
China
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the value for money of his Department's work in China. [6624]
Mr O'Brien: The Secretary of State for International Development announced on 3 June that the bilateral development programme to China would end as soon as is practical. We want to work with China as partners, not as donors and recipients. My right hon. Friend will inform the House when any further decision is made regarding the closure of the programme.
Departmental Manpower
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many governance advisers are employed by his Department (a) in total and (b) in developing countries; and how many of these have (i) a degree in political science, politics or public policy and (ii) experience as an elected politician in national or local government. [6276]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) currently employs 96 governance advisers, 65 of whom work in developing countries. 44% of the total number of governance advisers work in fragile and conflict-affected states.
All governance advisers are expected to have a post-graduate degree in the relevant subject area such as political science, economics or public administration or comparable post-graduate or professional qualifications and must demonstrate extensive proven experience of working effectively on governance issues in practice. Experience as an elected politician in national or local government is not required for governance advisers.
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many economics advisers are employed by his Department (a) in total and (b) in developing countries; and how many of them have a degree in economics. [6277]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: There are currently (a) 110 economic advisers working in the Department for International Development (DFID), and (b) 52 of these are working in developing countries. All DFID economic advisers have a degree in economics.
Departmental Official Cars
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [5551]
Mr Duncan: Neither the Department for International Development (DFID) nor the Government Cars Service (GCS) hold a central record of ministerial travel between DFID and the House of Commons. This information cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. All travel by Ministers is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code
DFID has given notice to GCS that we are terminating our contracts for allocated ministerial cars and drivers for the Under-Secretary of State and myself and intend to use the new Government car pool for ministerial travel purposes as soon as this is in place.
Departmental Reorganisation
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will take steps to relocate officials working in his Department from central London to Bassetlaw. [6556]
Departmental Training
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what training has been provided for Ministers in his Department since the formation of the present administration; and at what cost. [6428]
Mr Duncan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude) to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson) on 3 June 2010, Official Report, column 52W. The National School of Government is funded through its Core Learning Programme to deliver induction and other training to Ministers, and there is no separate charge to Departments.
Along with Ministers from other Government Departments, the Under-Secretary of State and I attended the 'Induction Workshop for New Ministers' run by the National School of Government.
Developing Countries: Infant Mortality
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will estimate the number of children who died up to the age of seven in least developed countries in the latest period for which figures are available, whose deaths would not have occurred if medical facilities available in the UK had been available; and if he will make a statement. [7030]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) relies on the United Nations for data on international health. Under-five mortality data are collected rather than under-seven, as these data are required to measure progress on the child health Millennium Development Goal (MDG).
According to the United Nations Children Fund's State of the World's Children Report 2010, the under-five mortality rate in the UK is six deaths per thousand which equates to approximately 4,000 deaths. The comparable under-five mortality rate for the least developed countries is 129 deaths per thousand which equates to just over 3.5 million deaths.
Guinea: Overseas Aid
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will hold discussions with the new government in Guinea on provision of aid to that country. [7907]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has no bilateral programme in Guinea and has no current plans to hold discussions with the Guinean Government on provision of aid. DFID does provide multilateral contributions to Guinea, primarily through the United Nations and World Bank. In 2008-09, total UK multilateral contributions to Guinea were around £1.7 million.
The UK Government have instigated a full review of all DFID multilateral and bilateral spending.
International Assistance: Health Services
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will take steps to seek to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 4 and 5 prior to the MDG Summit in September. [7554]
Mr O'Brien: At the Muskoka summit the UK secured commitment by the G8 countries and others to save an extra 1.4 million lives of mothers and children, backed up by commitments of $7.3 billion of additional finance over the next five years.
The next step is to catalyse the wider international community in decisive action. In September at the MDG summit, the UN Secretary-General will launch a Joint Action Plan for Women and Children's Health. The UK Government will press world leaders to attend the summit and make new commitments to this plan to further reduce deaths of mothers, babies and children.
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will extend his Department's maternal health strategy to include children for the purposes of achieving Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5. [7555]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development is developing a new Business Plan on Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health. It seeks to increase women's ability to choose when and how often they have a child and increase the survival of women and babies during pregnancy and childbirth. This is intended to have a significant positive impact on families, economies and societies as well the health and empowerment of women themselves.
Nearly 40% of deaths of children under five occur in the first month of life. Preventing unintended pregnancies and ensuring pregnancy and child birth is safe for all women make a vital contribution to child health.
There is absolutely no intention to move away from our support to child health. This was demonstrated by the Prime Minister's recent commitments made at the G8 for women and children's health. There are numerous ways in which DFID demonstrates its commitment to child health. For example, we are increasing the number of children under five who are immunised against childhood diseases, backed by £150 million over 10 years to the GAVI Alliance. We work to tackle under-nutrition which contributes to one third of child deaths as well as one fifth of maternal deaths. We are increasing our support for the prevention and treatment of malaria. Some 90% of deaths from malaria are in children and malaria is the cause of one in five child deaths in Africa.
Palestinians: International Assistance
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to help reduce Gaza's dependence on food aid; and if he will make a statement. [6955]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK welcomes Israel's decision on 5 July to allow all goods into Gaza, except those on a prohibited list.
Enabling a greater range and volume of foodstuffs to enter Gaza, including raw materials for agriculture and food industries, should lessen Gaza's dependence on food aid by spurring local production and making food more affordable.
For this to happen, we are pushing all parties, including the Palestinian Authority, UN agencies, and international NGOs, to ensure that there is sufficient coordination and prioritisation of humanitarian and commercial goods entering Gaza, to best meet the needs of the population. We will also press the Government of Israel to ensure they deliver on their commitments.
Departmental Photographs
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on official photographs of Ministers since the formation of the present administration. [6429]
UN Millennium Development Goals: Meetings
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on progress in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in advance of the Millennium Development Goals Review Summit in September 2010. [6735]
Mr O'Brien: The Secretary of State for International Development has discussed progress on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in advance of the Millennium Development Goals Summit in September 2010 with a range of ministerial colleagues including the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor. The Secretary of State, Minister of State and I also hold regular meetings. The UK is fully committed to securing an ambitious action orientated outcome from the MDG Summit.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan
David Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he met opposition leader Abdullah on his recent visit to Afghanistan. [7874]
Mr Hague: I did not have the opportunity to meet Dr Abdullah Abdullah during my visit to Kabul on 22-23 May 2010, but I look forward to meeting him on a future occasion.
Anti-Semitism
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government plan to take to (a) monitor and (b) seek to reduce levels of anti-Semitism overseas; and if he will make a statement. [5517]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Combating all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism, remains an important part of the Government's human rights agenda. We condemn all instances of violence and discrimination against individuals and groups because of their race, faith or belief. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's overseas missions have a responsibility to monitor and raise human rights in their host countries and routinely raise our concerns with host governments. Where possible our embassies take action on individual cases where persecution or discrimination has occurred and lobby for changes in discriminatory practices and laws. The Government also support the All Party Parliamentary Group against anti-Semitism and their work on tackling anti-Semitism across Europe and encourage MEPs to get involved in tackling anti-Semitism in their own countries. We will continue to promote these issues within the EU, the UN, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and other multilateral fora.
Anti-Semitism: International Cooperation
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress his Department has made in implementing the provisions of the final declaration of the London Conference on Combating anti-Semitism, with particular reference to (a) establishing an international taskforce of internet specialists to measure anti-Semitism online and propose international responses and (b) exposing and isolating (i) governments and (ii) politicians engaging in anti-Semitism; and if he will make a statement. [5434]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The implementation of the provisions of the London Conference on Combating anti-Semitism falls within the remit of the cross-Government working group to tackle anti-Semitism which is made up of officials from across Whitehall and the chief executives of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council and the Community Security Trust. The working group is currently ensuring that the provisions within the declaration are taken forward and they plan to report back on progress at the second Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Anti-Semitism (ICCA) Conference in Ottawa in November 2010.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on implementation of the provisions of the final declaration of the London Conference on Combating anti-Semitism; what recent representations he has received on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [5435]
Mr Jeremy Browne:
We welcome the London Declaration on Combating anti-Semitism that was adopted in February 2009 and its important recommendations. We are committed to combating all forms of racism, including
anti-Semitism. The implementation of the provisions of the London Conference on Combating anti-Semitism falls within the remit of the cross-Government working group to tackle anti-Semitism which is made up of officials from across Whitehall and the chief executives of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council and the Community Security Trust. We look forward to the second Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Anti-Semitism (ICCA) Conference in Ottawa in November 2010 as an opportunity for all participants to assess the progress that has been made.
British Nationality: Prisoners
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK citizens were serving prison sentences in (a) each other EU member state and (b) each non-EU state in each year since 1997. [7526]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The following table shows a snapshot of British nationals in detention by country taken in March of each year from 2005. Figures were not collated centrally prior to 2005.
| March 2010 | |
| Number of British national prisoners | |
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of UK citizens serving prison sentences in (a) each other EU member state and (b) non-EU states for convictions which may be unsafe; and if he will make a statement. [7527]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We do not centrally collate statistics in cases where there are allegations of fair trial concerns.
If appropriate, we will consider approaching the local authorities if a prisoner is not treated in line with internationally accepted standards. This may include cases where a trial does not follow internationally recognised standards for a fair trial.
Central Asia
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a Minister next plans to make a visit to Central Asia. [6622]
Mr Lidington: I will visit Kazakhstan on 16-17 July for the informal meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. While there I expect to have a bilateral discussions with ministerial colleagues from the region and beyond.
College of Europe: Scholarships
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many scholarships to the College of Europe his Department funds. [6635]
Mr Lidington: None. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will be providing financial support for up to 11 eligible students to study at the College of Europe in 2010-11.
Colombia: Trade Unions
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the safety of trade unionists in Colombia; and if he will make a statement. [5022]
Mr Jeremy Browne:
The safety of trade unionists in Colombia remains of great concern to us. Our embassy in Colombia continues to visit those who are under
threat and we make representation to the Colombian authorities in cases of violence or intimidation against trade unionists. We are also working with the UN on a research initiative to help improve trade union human rights protection and the development of positive labour relations.
Departmental Written Questions
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the internal background note relating to each parliamentary question for (a) ordinary written answer and (b) written answer on a named day tabled by the hon. Member for Southend West and answered by his Department since June 2009. [7262]
Mr Lidington: In line with the practice of successive Governments, it is not normal practice to routinely publish internal advice to Ministers.
Embassies: Buildings
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2010, Official Report, columns 23-24W, on departmental public expenditure, which assets from his Department's overseas estates he intends to sell; and what estimate he has made of the likely contribution to the public purse of such a sale. [2108]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is planning to sell at least £25 million of assets in Financial Year 2010-11. We have identified 61 properties potentially surplus to requirements. The timing of any sales will suit operational requirements and in some cases will be dependent on a replacement property being secured either on lease terms or as purchases where this represents an overall capital gain and represents value for money.
Of those 61, the following properties are currently either under offer or have been sold and are expected to generate £11.4 million in capital receipts. A schedule of properties sold or under offer is as follows
| Schedule of properties sold or under offer | |
| Property | |
EU Law: Fines
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what total sum in financial corrections has been levied against the UK over the past 10 years for failing to implement European Community legislation; what sum is currently outstanding; and what sum was subsequently written off. [6243]
Mr Lidington: Article 260 of the treaty on the functioning of the European Union allows the European Court of Justice to fine member states for failing to implement European Community legislation.
No fines have ever been levied against the UK by way of Article 260 proceedings.
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which cases since 2001 the Council of Ministers meetings have decided to amend financial corrections levied by the Commission against member states. [6302]
Mr Lidington: The position in relation to infraction fines imposed under article 260 of the treaty on the functioning of the European Union (TFEU) depends on the nature of the infraction.
Where the infraction is for non-notification of transposition of a directive, then the Commission may specify in its application to the Court, a level of fine to be paid by a member state, but the final decision rests with the Court and the Court may not impose a fine which exceeds the amount specified by the Commission.
In relation to other infractions, when it applies to Court the Commission must specify a level of fine to be paid by a member state, but the final decision rests with the Court.
The Council of Ministers is not involved in this process.
European External Action Service
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to bring forward proposals for the accountability of the European External Action Service to Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [5419]
Mr Lidington: As a service, the European External Action Service (EEAS) will be accountable to both the European Parliament and the Member States in the Council in their roles as budgetary authority. In so far as it acts in the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) areas, the EEAS will be accountable, through the High Representative, to the Council. In so far as it acts in areas of EU policy, it will be accountable to the Commission (as a collegiate body), the European Parliament and the Council, in accordance with their respective competences and roles.
Parliament is able to scrutinise decisions taken in Council, some of which will mandate the High Representative, and hold the Government to account through, for example, ministerial evidence sessions and debates on the Floor of the House.
Ghana: Official Visits
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will extend an invitation to the President of Ghana to visit the United Kingdom. [7408]
Mr Bellingham: We are keen to look into all ways to further develop our bilateral relationship with Ghana and other partners in Africa. Visits are an integral part of that.
The President of Ghana's successful Guest of Government visit to the UK in 2009 strengthened our excellent bilateral relationship. This Government have quickly reinforced that success with the Vice-President of Ghana's visit to the UK from 6 to 8 July 2010. We will look at the possibility of a further visit at a future date.
Indonesia: Human Rights
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will support the request to the UN by the Republic of Vanuatu for the International Court of Justice to provide an advisory opinion on the legality of the agreement between the Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands affecting the civil rights of the people of West Papua. [7920]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The UK supports the territorial integrity of Indonesia. We do not support calls to ask the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on whether the New York Agreement was contrary to the UN Charter or the UN General Assembly Resolution 1514. The UN General Assembly took note of the New York Agreement between Indonesia and the Netherlands in Resolution 1752. This has been the policy of successive Governments and remains unchanged by the Government.
We will continue to monitor the situation, raise human rights concerns at both official and ministerial level, encourage the Indonesian authorities to address these concerns, and advocate meaningful devolution, appropriate security measures and greater transparency in Papua.
Israel: Passports
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Israel about the misuse of British passports. [7406]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We cannot accept the fraudulent misuse of British passports. The Serious Organised Crime Agency report into the misuse of British passports pointed to Israeli involvement. In March my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt) welcomed the previous Government's request for formal assurance that in the future the state of Israel would never be party to the misuse of British passports. We continue to seek these assurances from the Government of Israel.
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Mr Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has
received of Qassam rockets being fired from Gaza into southern Israel; whether he has had discussions with the Government of Israel on that matter since his appointment; and if he will make a statement. [7070]
Alistair Burt: The UK is aware of sporadic rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel and we have urged all militants to refrain from such attacks. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary underlined this in his statement of 2 June 2010.
We are in regular dialogue with the Israeli Government particularly on matters pertaining to the peace process and we continue to urge all parties not to change any facts on the ground which might undermine the peace process. Both the Foreign Secretary and I reiterated this to the House on 6 July 2010.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received recent reports of the vandalism of a UN summer camp for children in the Gaza Strip; and if he will make a statement. [7071]
Alistair Burt: According to the UN on 28 June, a group of masked gunmen entered a UN summer games camp. This is the second such attack against a UN summer camp in a month.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon condemned the incident and called on the local authorities in Gaza to combat any incitement against UN operations and ensure the safety of UN personnel and programmes, which serve the most vulnerable in Gaza.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the number of (a) rockets and (b) mortar bombs launched into Israeli territory from (i) Lebanon and (ii) Gaza since 1 January 2010; what reports he has received of the number of persons (A) killed, (B) seriously injured and (C) slightly injured; and if he will make a statement. [7288]
Alistair Burt: Since 4 January 2010 we have received reports of 263 rockets launched into Israeli territory, with one fatality in March. We condemn unequivocally the indiscriminate rocket attacks launched from Gaza.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take at the United Nations in respect of the reported Qassam rockets fired from Gaza into southern Israel during June 2010; and if he will make a statement. [7289]
Alistair Burt: We are extremely concerned by sporadic rocket attacks against southern Israel. As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear in his statement to the House on 2 June 2010, it is important for Hamas to take immediate and concrete steps towards the Quartet principles.
A number of issues related to the middle east are discussed on a monthly basis at the UN. The UK will continue to push for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1860 which aims to prevent the illicit trafficking of arms into Gaza. We will continue giving our full support to the UN Sanctions Committee in pursuing and investigating sanctions violations.
Nepal: Religious Freedom
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had discussions with the Government of Nepal on religious freedoms in that country under its new constitution; and if he will make a statement. [7558]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We have concerns about the impact of some of the draft proposals for inclusion in the new Nepalese constitution. It is important that the new constitution protects religious freedoms in a manner consistent with Nepal's international commitments. We already have a dialogue with the Government of Nepal and political parties where we stress the importance of ensuring that the new constitution is fully in line with the obligations of international human rights treaties, including on religious freedoms. We have also raised the matter with the chair of the Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles Committee, responsible for drafting the relevant constitutional provisions on religious freedom, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and with the National Human Rights Commission, among others. We will continue this dialogue.
Nigeria: Foreign Relations
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the President of Nigeria since the President's swearing-in. [7024]
Mr Bellingham: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not yet had any discussions with His Excellency President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria. However, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister spoke to the President on 28 May 2010 and they also met at the G8/G20 meeting in Toronto on 26 June 2010. Our bilateral relationship with Nigeria is important and we enjoy a close dialogue across a range of priorities.
Palestinians: International Assistance
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the Government has provided to British citizens who were aboard the Gaza Freedom Flotilla since they returned to the UK. [6713]
Alistair Burt: I invited those British nationals involved to meet me on 17 June 2010. 16 of them attended and I was able to listen to their experiences and set out what we were able to do. Consular officials have also spoken to many of those involved.
I have set out in PQ numbers 6785, 6787 and 6716 what we have done to assist the individuals in clarifying the whereabouts of, and retrieving, their possessions and the missing passports. The UK has spent significant time and resources assisting British nationals in this case, including exceptional assistance beyond our normal policy, in view of the specific circumstances.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the Israeli Government's willingness to grant consular access to British citizens detained on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. [6715]
Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House on 2 June 2010 that he was disappointed and dissatisfied with the Israeli response to the consular situation. He criticised their preparedness and the chaotic nature of the Israeli organisation. The Heads of EU missions in Israel have written jointly to the Israelis expressing their unhappiness at the consular provisions for a planned operation.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Israeli Government that evidence be taken in public from British citizens who were aboard the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in any inquiry into the matter. [6716]
Alistair Burt: The Israeli authorities have yet to set out the exact details on how the inquiry will be conducted. Broadly, the Commission's mandate states that it may request any individual or entity, whether Israeli (other than military personnel) or foreign, to testify before it or to provide information to it by other means, on matters which the Commission believes to be relevant to its proceedings.
As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary underlined in his statement on 21 June 2010 it is important that the Commission provide a full, credible, impartial and independent investigation that the international community can respect.
When I met with the returnees on 17 June I made it clear that we believe the inquiry should have access to the testimony of the British nationals involved. I have raised this issue with the Israeli ambassador.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps were taken by the UK Embassy in Israel to contact the next of kin of British nationals detained on board the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. [6785]
Alistair Burt: We had contact with a large number of family and friends before we were able to gain consular access to the British nationals who were detained, and provided them with as much information as we were able to on what was happening to reassure them. The Data Protection Act limits what we can discuss about an individual until we have received their consent.
UK consular staff visited the detained British nationals in Be'er Sheva Prison and saw most of them. From those they met they took contact details of the next of kin they wanted us to contact. Consular staff in London and on the ground telephoned those for whom we were given details. Consular staff offered phone facilities for the British nationals to call their next of kin when they arrived in Istanbul after being deported from Israel.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has estimated the value of possessions confiscated from British citizens on board the Gaza Freedom Flotilla by the Israeli authorities which have not yet been returned. [6786]
Alistair Burt: We have made no such estimate. We have set out clearly what we have done and will be doing to assist those whose possessions are still missing, and made clear to the returnees what next steps they might consider.
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in his Department's work with its international counterparts to secure progress towards peace, security and a higher quality of life for both Palestinians and Israelis. [6952]
Alistair Burt: We support a two-state solution created by negotiation and confidence-building on both sides, rather than the creation of facts on the ground that are intended ultimately to change the shape of such a solution.
We welcome the commitment shown by both the Israelis and the Palestinians towards proximity talks. We seek to buttress the diplomatic initiative of President Obama's Administration and the proximity talks currently underway and will be strong supporters of those building the institutions of a future Palestinian state, while actively exploring with our European partners the scope for further EU action in this area, building on the foundation of December's Foreign Affairs Council conclusions.
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to encourage Israel to allow Palestinians to travel to hospitals outside Palestinian-controlled territory. [6953]
Alistair Burt: The UK is in regular contact with the Israeli and Palestinian Governments and our international allies regarding the current humanitarian situation in Gaza and the wider issues relating to the peace process. Together with the EU and the Quartet we have called on Israel to ease restrictions on movement and access in the territories. It is essential that there be unfettered access to the Palestinian territories to meet the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people. This includes facilitating access to medical care outside of the Palestinian territories.
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in efforts to lift the Gaza blockade to allow the import of construction materials. [6954]
Alistair Burt: We welcome Israel's decision to move from a list of 120 permitted goods to a list of specific prohibited items. This step shows that it is possible to lift the pressure on ordinary Gazans without compromising the security of ordinary Israelis. All parties must now work together urgently to deliver real change on the ground. This will mean building capacity at the crossings, getting vital reconstruction projects up and running and ensuring that Gazans can export as well as import goods.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary underlined the importance in his statement of 5 July 2010 and I also reiterated this in the House on 6 July 2010, Official Report, column 159.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel on the blockade on Gaza since the agreement to substitute the list of allowed items for the list of banned items. [7058]
Alistair Burt: We are in regular contact and dialogue with the Israeli Government, on a number of matters related to the Middle East Peace Process-this includes the current humanitarian situation in Gaza.
We have made clear that the situation in Gaza is a tragedy and unsustainable. Together with the EU and Quartet, we have called on Israel to ease restrictions on access and enable a return to economic normality. I therefore welcomed Israel's decision to move from a list of 120 permitted goods to a list of specific prohibited items. As I said to the House on 6 July 2010, the pressure that has been exerted on Israel in recent times by the EU, the UK, the US and the Quartet for a relaxation on the restrictions in Gaza has had an effect.
It is now imperative that all parties work together urgently to deliver real change on the ground.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications for the security of British citizens detained following the raid on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla of the confiscation of their passports by the Israeli authorities. [7081]
Alistair Burt: All passports which were confiscated by the Israeli authorities were cancelled as soon as the British nationals in question were issued with temporary travel documents. I can further confirm that we have now received all three missing passports and they are being returned to their owners.
Russia: Extradition
Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made any recent representations to the Russian authorities on the extradition of Andrei Lugovoi. [6483]
Mr Lidington: We are committed to seeking justice in the Litvinenko case. This was a crime which took place in the UK and involved a British citizen. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised the death of Alexander Litvinenko at his meeting with President Medvedev on 25 June.
United Nations: Climate Change
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the merits of establishing a UN body to adjudicate on climate change disputes. [6634]
Mr Bellingham:
The UK is committed to working for an ambitious climate change deal through the UN that will give confidence that global action is sufficient to keep temperature rise within two degrees centigrade. There are a number of proposals, such as the establishment of a new World Trade Organisation style organisation, for helping to ensure the enforcement of such a deal. Like others we are currently giving them due consideration
within the UN negotiation and have not yet come to a settled view on which would be most effective. In coming to a conclusion with partners in the negotiation, it will be necessary to balance the need for a meaningful compliance mechanism with the importance of the deal being negotiable and acceptable so as to include all the major emitters.
Work and Pensions
Children: Maintenance
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much in child maintenance arrears is owed in each constituency. [4756]
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 arrange for a copy of the table to be placed in the Library. 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 if he will publish a table showing the amount of child maintenance arrears owed in each constituency. [4756]
The table, which has been placed in the Library, shows the amount of child maintenance arrears owed by non-resident parents as of March 2010, for cases administered on the Agency's computer systems, based on the parliamentary constituency of the non-resident parent.
It is not possible to allocate arrears on cases managed off the Agency's Computer System among constituencies so the figures will not sum to the total reported in the Quarterly Summary of Statistics published in March 2010.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Disability Living Allowance: Dartford
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were in receipt of disability living allowance in Dartford constituency in each of the last five years. [6843]
Maria Miller: Recipients of disability living allowance in the parliamentary constituency of Dartford.
| As at November each year | Total |
| Notes: 1. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Some additional disclosure control has also been applied. 2. Parliamentary constituencies used are for the Westminster Parliament for May 2005. 3. Figures show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended for example if they are in hospital. 4. This information is published on our website at http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/tabtool.asp Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data. | |
Future Jobs Fund: Greater London
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding has been allocated from the Future Jobs Fund to each London borough in the last 12 months. [6658]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available at borough level. However, in the London region, we have allocated £46.3 million.
Future Jobs Fund: Tower Hamlets
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobs in the (a) public, (b) private and (c) third sector have been created by the Future Jobs Fund in Tower Hamlets in the last 12 months. [6657]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available at borough level. The most recent official statistics, covering the period October 2009 to January 2010, show that there were 840 recorded future jobs fund starts in London.
Homelessness
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on specialist support for homeless people to return them to work in the last five years; and how much is planned to be spent in 2010-11. [5127]
Chris Grayling: The information available is as follows. It should also be noted that homeless people are also helped by mainstream employment provision such as Flexible New Deal:
(1) The London Homeless Partnership( 1)
| £ | ||
(2) The St Mungo's Single Homelessness Enterprise Invest to Save Project( 2)
| £ | ||
This programme helps people who are homeless, and also people for whom drug or alcohol misuse, or an offending background is a barrier to work. Figures on how much of the funding for this programme is spent on homeless customers are not available.
(1) The amounts shown are staff costs only. Other costs could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information prior to 2007-08 is not available.
(2) This is a three-year project that ends in September 2010.
Housing Benefit
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the (a) number of private sector tenants whose local housing allowance will be reduced and (b) average per week reduction in the level of local housing allowance paid to each for each broad rental market area in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15. [4814]
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of private sector tenants in West Lancashire constituency whose local housing allowance will be reduced from its current level in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; and what his estimate is of the average amount of reduction for such a tenant in each of those years. [5589]
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of private sector tenants in Stretford and Urmston constituency whose local housing allowance will be reduced from its current level in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; and what his estimate is of the average reduction in each of those years. [5862]
Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of private sector tenants in Makerfield constituency whose local housing allowance will be reduced from its current level in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; and what his estimate is for the average reduction in each of those years. [6052]
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of private sector tenants in Houghton and Sunderland South constituency whose local housing allowance will be reduced from its current level in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; and what his estimate is of the average reduction in each of those years. [6058]
Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of private sector tenants in Worsley and Eccles South constituency whose local housing allowance will be reduced from its current level in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; and what his estimate is of the average reduction in each of those years. [6093]
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of private sector tenants in (a) Glasgow North and (b) Ealing Central and Acton constituency whose local housing allowance will be reduced from its current level in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; and what his estimate is of the average weekly reduction in each of those years. [6150]
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of private sector tenants in (a) Slough, (b) Salisbury and (c) Scarborough and Whitby constituency whose local housing allowance will be reduced from its current level in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; and what his estimate is of the average reduction in each of those years. [6188]
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of private sector tenants in Lewisham East constituency whose housing benefit allowance will be reduced from its current level in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; and what his estimate is of the average amount of reduction for such a tenant in each of those years. [6592]
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of private sector tenants in (a) Ashfield, (b) Argyll and Bute and (c) Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency whose local housing allowance will be reduced from its current level in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; and what his estimate is of the average reduction in each of those years. [6649]
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of private sector tenants whose local housing allowance will be reduced from its current level in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; and what his estimate is of the average reduction among such tenants in each of those years. [6784]
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of private sector tenants in Birmingham, Erdington constituency whose local housing allowance will be reduced from its current level in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; and what his estimate is of the average amount of reduction for such a tenant in each of those years. [6944]
Steve Webb: We will publish an impact assessment for the housing benefit changes that will affect the calculation of local housing allowance rates on 23 July 2010.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made a recent estimate of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) people of working age who are (i) employed and (ii) unemployed, (c) social sector tenants and (d) private sector tenants who are in receipt of housing benefit in (A) Bishop Auckland and (B) Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency. [5181]
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) people of working age in work, (c) people of working age and unemployed, (d) social sector tenants and (e) private sector tenants receiving housing benefit in West Lancashire constituency. [5630]
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) people of working age in work, (c) people of working age who are unemployed, (d) social sector tenants and (e) private sector tenants receiving housing benefit in Stretford and Urmston constituency. [5854]
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) persons of working age in work, (c) persons of working age who are unemployed, (d) social sector tenants and (e) private sector tenants on housing benefit in (i) Slough, (ii) Salisbury and (iii) Scarborough and Whitby constituency. [6005]
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) persons of working age in work, (c) persons of working age and unemployed, (d) social sector tenants and (e) private sector tenants in receipt of housing benefit in Houghton and Sunderland South constituency. [6016]
Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) people of working age in work, (c) people of working age who are unemployed, (d) social sector tenants and (e) private sector tenants receiving housing benefit in Worsley and Eccles South constituency. [6090]
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) people of working age in work, (c) people of working age who are unemployed, (d) social sector tenants and (e) private sector tenants receiving housing benefit in (i) Glasgow North and (ii) Ealing Central and Acton constituency. [6146]
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) persons of working age in work, (c) persons of working age who are unemployed, (d) social sector tenants and (e) private sector tenants in receipt of housing benefit in Lewisham East constituency. [6586]
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) persons of working age in work, (c) persons of working age and unemployed, (d) social sector tenants and (e) private sector tenants in receipt of housing benefit in (i) Ashfield, (ii) Argyll and Bute and (iii) Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency. [6651]
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) persons of working age in work, (c) persons of working age and unemployed, (d) social sector tenants and (e) private sector tenants in receipt of housing benefit in Cynon Valley constituency. [6780]
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) persons of working age in work, (c) persons of working age and unemployed, (d) social sector tenants and (e) private sector tenants in receipt of housing benefit in Birmingham Erdington constituency. [6939]
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) people of working age who are (i) in work and (ii) unemployed, (c) social sector tenants and (d) private sector tenants in receipt of housing benefit in Clwyd South constituency. [7003]
Catherine McKinnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) persons of working age in work, (c) persons of working age and unemployed,
(d) social sector tenants and (e) private sector tenants in receipt of housing benefit in Newcastle upon Tyne North constituency. [7034]
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) people of working age who are (i) employed and (ii) unemployed, (c) social sector tenants and (d) private sector tenants in East Lothian constituency. [7180]
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) people of working age who are (i) employed and (ii) unemployed, (c) social sector tenants and (d) private sector tenants in receipt of housing benefit in Bristol East constituency. [7242]
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) pensioners, (b) people of working age in work, (c) people of working age and unemployed, (d) social sector tenants and (e) private sector tenants in receipt of housing benefit in Bristol North West constituency. [7790]
Steve Webb: The information is not available at the constituency level.
The available information on housing benefit recipients is published at:
An exercise is being undertaken to add other geographical areas to the housing benefit data: this will include parliamentary constituencies. It is hoped this exercise will be completed by early 2011.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in receipt of housing benefit were paying rent at or below the 30th percentile in their local area at the latest date for which information is available. [6320]
Steve Webb: We are currently updating our estimate of how many people in receipt of housing benefit were paying rent at or below the 30th percentile in their local area, so as to use the latest housing benefit and market evidence data. Following quality assurance, this updated estimate will be included in the impact assessment of the housing benefit changes that will affect the calculation of local housing allowance rates. The Department will publish this on 23 July 2010.
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of non-dependants living in households where the main occupier is in receipt of housing benefit in Lewisham East constituency. [6589]
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of non-dependants living in households where the main occupier is in receipt of housing benefit in (a) Ashfield, (b) Argyll and Bute and (c) Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency. [6647]
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of non-dependants living in households where the main occupier is in receipt of housing benefit in Cynon Valley constituency. [6783]
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of non-dependants living in households where the main occupier is in receipt of housing benefit in Birmingham Erdington constituency. [6940]
Steve Webb: The information is not available.
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he received from the Mayor of London on proposed changes to housing benefit (a) before and (b) after 22 June 2010. [6674]
Steve Webb: The Department has not received any representations from the Mayor of London in connection with the changes to housing benefit that were announced in the Emergency Budget.
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of private tenants who may not be able to afford their rents as a result of the reduction in housing benefit; and if he will make a statement. [7029]
Steve Webb: We will publish an impact assessment for the housing benefit changes that will affect the calculation of local housing allowance rates on 23 July 2010.
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of non-dependants living in households where the main occupier is in receipt of housing benefit in Newcastle upon Tyne North constituency. [7035]
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of non-dependents living in households where the main occupier is in receipt of housing benefit in East Lothian constituency. [7183]
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of non-dependants in households where the main occupier is in receipt of housing benefit in Bristol East constituency. [7239]
Steve Webb: The information is not available.
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to assess the effects of calculations based on broad market rental areas (BMRAs) on (a) Blackpool, (b) Cambridge and (c) other areas; what estimate he has made of the effect on the level of local housing allowance payments of the operation of BMRAs in those areas; and if he will adjust the BMRA for those areas to take account of the variation in rent levels within each BMRA. [7782]
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:
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:
This will be updated each month until LHA rates are set at the 30(th) percentile from October 2011.
Indicative LHA rates at the 30th percentile for broad rental market areas in Wales are not as yet published but are given in the following table. The rates are based on July 2010 data.
We will consider how best to set housing benefit areas in future as part of our longer term reform plans.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2010 to the hon. Member for Edinburgh North and Leith, Official Report, column 95W, on housing benefit, how many households receive maximum housing allowance of £104,000 annually. [7851]
Steve Webb: In June 2010 the highest local housing allowance rate was £2,000 a week which would be equivalent to 'receiving £104,000 a year in housing benefit' assuming the individual remains in receipt of the same level of benefit for 52 continuous weeks.
Information on housing benefit awards in June 2010 will be available in September 2010. The latest information the Department holds is for March 2010, when the highest local housing allowance rate was £1,800, and shows that there were some customers who received this rate.
The highest local housing allowance rate can vary each month and customers' awards will reflect the rate at the time of their claim. At March 2010 there were fewer than 100 customers receiving a housing benefit award based on the highest local housing allowance rate at the time their award was calculated.
Incapacity Benefit: Medical Examinations
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2010, Official Report, columns 364-5W, on incapacity benefit, whether further audit of a medical report subject to targeted or random audit ceases at the discovery of the first failure of contractual compliance; and if he will make a statement. [7816]
Chris Grayling: The whole report is audited and does not cease at the identification of a serious error.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance in Cynon Valley constituency. [6777]
Chris Grayling: In April 2010 there were 80 lone parents claiming jobseeker's allowance in Cynon Valley.
The figure has been rounded to the nearest five.
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of lone parents in receipt of jobseeker's allowance (a) Ashfield, (b) Argyll and Bute and (c) Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency. [6646]
Chris Grayling: In April 2010 there were 115 lone parents claiming jobseeker's allowance in Ashfield, 55 in Argyll and Bute, and 10 in Na h-Eileanan an Iar.
The figures have been rounded to the nearest five.
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance in Wakefield constituency. [6773]
Chris Grayling: In April 2010 there were 120 lone parents claiming jobseeker's allowance in Wakefield.
The figure has been rounded to the nearest five.
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance in Birmingham Erdington constituency. [6938]
Chris Grayling: In April 2010 there were 160 lone parents claiming jobseeker's allowance in Birmingham Erdington.
The figure has been rounded to the nearest five.
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of lone parents in receipt of jobseeker's allowance in East Lothian constituency. [7190]
Chris Grayling: In April 2010 there were 75 lone parents claiming jobseeker's allowance in East Lothian.
The figure has been rounded to the nearest five.
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of lone parents in receipt of jobseeker's allowance in Bristol East constituency. [7237]
Chris Grayling: In April 2010 there were 55 lone parents claiming jobseeker's allowance in Bristol East.
The figure has been rounded to the nearest five.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |