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13 July 2010 : Column 653W—continued
Renewable Energy: Heating
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to encourage the take-up of renewable heating systems. [7119]
Gregory Barker: The Government are committed to an ambitious agenda on renewable heat. Analysis by DECC has suggested that under one scenario in which the UK meets its target for 15% of total energy to come from renewable sources by 2020, around 12% of UK heat demand could be met by renewable heat. As of 2007 only around 1.1 % of UK heat demand was met from renewable sources.
The Government are therefore committed to tackling the financial and non-financial barriers faced by the renewable heat sector. In particular we are currently looking closely at the renewable heat incentive (RHI) proposals. We will look to make an announcement on the future of the proposed RHI scheme as soon as possible.
Treasury
Public Sector Pensions
17. David T. C. Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of public sector pensions in the next 25 years. [7708]
Danny Alexander: Gross Government expenditure on centrally administered public service pensions was £22.5 billion in 2008-09 and is expected to rise to £32.9 billion in 2015-16. These figures were published by the Office of Budget Responsibility in 'Budget 2010-The Economy & Public Finances-Supplementary Material'.
For the longer term, table 5.1, of the Office for Budget Responsibility's pre-Budget Forecast shows projected gross expenditure for all unfunded public service pension schemes remains stable as a share of GDP at around 2%.
Economic Growth
19. Stephen Metcalfe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the proposals in the June 2010 Budget intended to increase economic growth; and if he will make a statement. [7710]
Justine Greening: The Government have received representations on a range of proposals to increase economic growth. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such representations.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, other Treasury Ministers, including myself, and officials have held meetings with various businesses, and representative bodies, as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
25. Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to stimulate economic growth. [7716]
Justine Greening: The Budget set out a plan to rebuild the British economy, creating the conditions for sustainable economic growth.
Tackling the fiscal deficit is fundamental to this-giving the private sector the confidence that borrowing will be brought under control.
Also key is the action the Government have taken to restore the UK's competitiveness, including taking the first steps in creating the most competitive corporate tax system in the G20.
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the recent growth projections of the UK economy by the International Monetary Fund in its World Economic Outlook; and if he will make a statement. [8345]
Justine Greening: The IMF's forecasts are broadly in line with the Budget forecasts produced by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility.
Defence Manufacturing Sector
20. Mark Menzies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the contribution to the economy of the defence manufacturing sector; and if he will make a statement. [7711]
Danny Alexander: The UK Government value the important contribution of the defence manufacturing sector to the British armed forces and to the British economy. The companies that supply the Ministry of Defence have been, and will remain, a crucial factor in ensuring that we can provide our armed forces with the battle-winning capabilities they require, both for current operations and also for the future. I recognise however that this is a difficult time for many areas of the economy and we are committed to working closely with industry as they meet the challenges ahead.
As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, this Government have instigated a Strategic Defence and Security Review. This will provide a coherent long-term approach to security but it will also require some tough choices in deciding what defence capabilities we buy in the future. As part of that review, we will of course consider the contribution to the economy of the defence manufacturing sector and consult a wide range of stakeholders as appropriate, including industry.
Government Borrowing
21. Bob Blackman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with his G20 counterparts on efforts to reduce levels of Government borrowing. [7712]
Mr Hoban: The Chancellor enjoyed productive discussions with G20 colleagues in both South Korea and Canada. The agreements reached at those meetings are published in the respective communiqués.
The action that the Government are taking to reduce borrowing is in line with European and international agreement for the need for consolidation. The G20 communiqué signed in South Korea made clear that:
"those countries with serious fiscal challenges need to accelerate the pace of consolidation".
Budget Implications
22. Mr Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on levels of employment of implementation of the measures proposed in the June 2010 Budget. [7713]
Mr Hoban: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has published its assessment of economic prospects taking into account measures in the Budget. The OBR forecasts that employment will rise, reaching 30.1 million by 2015.
Reducing the deficit will mitigate risks to the recovery; create the conditions needed for growth and enable mortgage rates to be kept lower.
The Government are committed to supporting private sector job creation-cutting corporation tax and raising the employer National Insurance threshold to support the recovery.
Economic Growth: East Midlands
23. Nicky Morgan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to support economic growth in the East Midlands. [7714]
Mr Gauke: To support private sector enterprise throughout the UK and ensure all parts benefit from sustainable economic growth Government will:
use the National Insurance system to reduce the costs to new businesses of employing staff in all parts of the UK outside of London, south east and east of England;
establish a £1 billion Regional Growth Fund to support strategic, growth focused investment in the English regions; and
publish a White Paper later in the summer on a new approach to sub-national growth, including Local Enterprise Partnerships, local incentives and more powers for major cities.
Capital Projects
24. Andrew Selous: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether public opinion on capital projects is taken into account by his Department in deciding whether to authorise funding for such projects. [7715]
Danny Alexander: Where approval from the Treasury is required for Government Departments to undertake projects, the case for the project is considered under the standard guidance for business cases in central Government available at:
This may as appropriate include an assessment of public opinion.
In addition, the Government are undertaking a wide-ranging public engagement programme as part of the spending review. The most promising ideas from this will be fed into the decision-making process.
Departmental Regulation
Mr Anderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of his Department's regulations are under review; and if he will make a statement. [7153]
Justine Greening: In the Budget the Government announced plans for reducing the regulatory burdens on business, including the introduction of a one-in, one-out system for new regulations and a fundamental review of all regulation inherited from the previous Government scheduled for introduction over the coming year. These regulations will not be implemented until they have been reviewed and re-agreed by the Reducing Regulation Cabinet Committee.
The Your Freedom website, launched by the Deputy Prime Minister on 1 July 2010, will also give members of the public the opportunity to suggest existing regulations for removal, in order to reduce the burden on business.
The Money Laundering Regulations 2007 are currently under review by HM Treasury following a "call for evidence" undertaken last year.
Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks
Alan Johnson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account he takes of the health of consumers of alcohol as a factor in determining the application of taxes and duties on alcohol. [8356]
Justine Greening: HM Treasury receives representations from the Department of Health and from various health groups in advance of the Budget. The Chancellor gives due consideration to these in reaching his decision.
The Budget announced that the Government would review alcohol taxation and pricing to ensure they tackle problem drinking without unfairly penalising responsible drinkers, pubs or important local industries.
Green Investment Bank: Finance
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much funding for the Green Investment Bank will be drawn from the (a) public purse and (b) private sector. [8309]
Justine Greening: The Government are considering a wide range of options for the scope and structure of the Green Investment Bank and will put forward detailed proposals following the spending review.
Poverty: Children
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the combined effect of the proposed public spending limits and changes in taxation and benefit measures in the 2010 Budget on (a) household income levels per income decile of the population measures and (b) relative child poverty levels in (i) Glasgow North East constituency, (ii) Glasgow, (iii) Scotland, (iv) England, (v) Wales, (vi) Northern Ireland and (vii) the United Kingdom in fiscal years (A) 2011-12, (B) 2012-13, (C) 2013-14, (D) 2014-15 and (E) 2015-16. [7523]
Justine Greening: Budget 2010 announced various changes to taxation and benefits, and Annex A set out the impact of these changes on households. It also set out the overall path for the public finances to 2015-16.
However, it is not possible to analyse the combined effect of the proposed public spending limits and tax and benefit measures as expenditure limits have not yet been set for Departments and for the devolved administrations. In addition to these, the spending review will also announce plans for any further savings and reforms in significant elements of AME, including social security, tax credits and public service pensions.
The Government set out in their document "The Spending Review Framework" that they will:
"look closely at the effects of its decisions on different groups in society, especially the least well off, and on different regions." (2.4, page 7).
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the combined effect of the public spending measures in the 2010 Budget on the level of (a) household income per income decile of the population and (b) relative child poverty levels in (i) Glasgow North East constituency, (ii) Glasgow, (iii) Scotland, (iv) England, (v) Wales, (vi) Northern Ireland and (vii) the United Kingdom in fiscal years (A) 2011-12, (B) 2012-13, (C) 2013-14, (D) 2014-15 and (E) 2015-16. [7524]
Justine Greening: Budget 2010 announced various changes to taxation and benefits, and Annex A set out the impact of these changes on households. It also set out the overall path for the public finances to 2015-16.
However, it is not possible to analyse the combined effect of the proposed public spending measures as expenditure limits have not yet been set for Departments and for the devolved administrations. In addition to these, the spending review will also announce plans for any further savings and reforms in significant elements of AME, including social security, tax credits and public service pensions.
The Government set out in their document "The Spending Review Framework" that they will:
"look closely at the effects of its decisions on different groups in society, especially the least well off, and on different regions." (2.4, page 7).
Public Expenditure: Wales
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 26 May 2010, Official Report, columns 2-3WS, on savings (2010-11), whether changes have been made to the Barnett consequentials for Wales since 26 May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [7061]
Danny Alexander: The Barnett consequentials announced on 26 May 2010 have subsequently been adjusted to reflect subsequent confirmation of savings relating to expenditure on the Olympics. As a result the savings sought from the Welsh Assembly Government have been reduced to £185.5 million.
Public Sector: Pensions
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to table 48 of the Pre-Budget Forecast prepared by the Office for Budget Responsibility, on what planning assumptions relating to (a) wages and (b) levels of employment in the public sector the projections of the cost of public sector pensions are based. [4543]
Danny Alexander: The assumptions relating to wages and levels of employment assumed for the net public service pensions projections are consistent with the wider projections for public sector average earnings growth and levels of employment that are used in the pre-Budget forecast published on 14 June 2010.
Details of these assumptions were published on 30 June on the Office for Budget Responsibility website at the following web address:
Revenue and Customs: Northern Ireland
Mr Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed by HM Revenue and Customs in Northern Ireland in each year since 2005. [7170]
Mr Gauke: The number of staff in HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in Northern Ireland for each year since 2005 is shown in the following table:
| HMRC staff in Northern Ireland 1 April 2005 to 30 June 2010 | ||
| FTE( 1) | HC( 2) | |
| (1) FTE = Full-time equivalent. This is the equivalent number of full-time posts. (2) HC = Headcount. This is the total number of staff working in the organisation, irrespective of working patterns. | ||
Mr Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many local offices run by HM Revenue and Customs have been closed in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland in each year since 2005. [7173]
Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has closed five offices in Northern Ireland since 2005. The following table gives details of the parliamentary constituency in which each of the offices was located and the year of closure.
| Parliamentary constituency | Number of HMRC offices closed | Year of closure |
Tax Avoidance
Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what recent research he has commissioned on (a) current levels of tax avoidance and (b) measures to close loopholes used by those avoiding tax; [7669]
(2) if he will publish the (a) modelling and (b) assessments his Department has undertaken in the last six months on (i) the extent of tax avoidance and (ii) measures it has considered to close tax loopholes; [7670]
(3) what mechanisms his Department uses (a) to estimate the extent of tax avoidance and (b) to assess the effectiveness of measures to close tax loopholes; [7671]
(4) what assessment his Department has made of the extent of tax avoidance in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; [7672]
(5) what steps his Department takes to identify possible loopholes in the tax system which (a) companies and (b) individuals may use (i) to avoid paying and (ii) pay less tax. [7683]
Mr Gauke: The Emergency Budget set out the Government's intention to build in sustainable defences against avoidance opportunities when undertaking policy reform and by reviewing areas of the tax system in which repeated changes have been necessary to close loopholes.
Chapter 2 of Budget document also announced a number of specific measures to counter tax avoidance. Such measures are underpinned by HMRC's identification and assessment of avoidance risks.
The Disclosure of Tax Avoidance schemes rules place a requirement on the promoters and users of avoidance schemes to disclose details to HMRC. HMRC also uses other sources of information to identify risks from tax avoidance. From the information gathered, HMRC is able to tackle avoidance through operational work, identify where legislation could be strengthened to reduce the risk of avoidance, and evaluate the effectiveness of measures taken to reduce avoidance.
HMRC estimate that the overall tax gap was £40 billion in 2007-08. This estimate and the underlying methodology was published in "Measuring Tax Gaps 2009", available at:
This work will be updated and published annually as Official Statistics.
Alongside "Measuring Tax Gaps 2009", HMRC also published "Protecting Tax Revenues 2009"
which attributed the tax gap, using management assumptions, to the different behaviours driving it. Avoidance was estimated to account for 17.5% of the total tax gap.
Previously, in March 2008 HMRC published details of analysis from 2005 that attempted to derive broad-brush estimates of the direct tax gap at the start of the decade:
This publication contained an estimate of the tax gap for avoidance for direct taxes of £10 billion, within a range of £5 billion to £15 billion. The wide range around the estimate highlighted the inherent uncertainty in its production.
A list of the external research activities funded by HMRC is available at:
VAT: Channel Islands
Sajid Javid: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to end the sale of goods worth less than £18 free of value added tax by companies based in the Channel Islands to customers in the UK. [7044]
Mr Gauke: The Government are actively reviewing the operation of the VAT relief on imports from outside the EU, known as Low Value Consignment Relief. In assessing the case for change, the Government will take into account the need to balance often conflicting considerations including the impact on consumers, UK businesses and Royal Mail and other parcel operators, as well as the overall fiscal position and the practicality and cost of enforcing any changes to the operation of the relief.
VAT: West Midlands
Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects on the number of jobs in the economy in (a) the West Midlands and (b) Dudley borough of raising the rate of value added tax to 20 per cent. [8391]
Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member for Dudley North to the answer given by the Exchequer Secretary, the hon. Member for South West Hertfordshire (Mr Gauke) to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Andrew Gwynne) on 29 June 2010, Official Report, column 506W.
The Office for Budget Responsibility has not published forecasts on a sub-national level.
Welfare Tax Credits: Bristol
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households in Bristol East constituency receive tax credits. [7260]
Mr Gauke: The latest information on the number of families with children benefiting from child and working tax credits, by each parliamentary constituency, local authority and region is available in the HMRC snapshot publication 'Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Geographical Analyses. April 2010'. This can be found at:
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households in Bristol East constituency with an annual income of (a) less than £20,000, (b) between £20,000 and £24,999, (c) between £25,000 and £29,999, (d) between £30,000 and £34,999, (e) between £35,000 and £39,999 and (f) £40,000 or more are in receipt of the child care element of tax credits. [7295]
Mr Gauke: The information requested is shown in the following table.
| Table 1: Bristol East constituency families in receipt of the child care element of tax credits by income band | |
| Household income | Number |
This analysis is based on provisional information on families receiving tax credits as at April 2010. Further details about this data can be found in the HMRC snapshot publication "Child and Working Tax Credits. Geographical Analysis, April 2010". This is available at:
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families are in receipt of the baby element of tax credits in Bristol East constituency. [7496]
Mr Gauke: The number of families receiving the baby element in Bristol East constituency is 860.
This analysis is based on provisional information on families receiving tax credits as at April 2010. Further details about this data can be found in the HMRC snapshot publication "Child and Working Tax Credits. Geographical Analysis, April 2010". This is available at:
Welfare Tax Credits: Durham
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households in receipt of tax credits in City of Durham constituency have an annual income of over £30,000. [8461]
Mr Gauke: This information is published in the HMRC publication 'Household Income distribution of Tax Credits families by Westminster Constituency-April 2010', a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library. It will be published on HMRC's website shortly.
Deputy Prime Minister
Constituencies: Boundary Commissions
Mr Straw: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much funding he plans to provide for the boundary commissions in each of the next three years. [7895]
Mr Harper: As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 5 July 2010, Official Report, column 24, 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. Once the Bill is published the Government will work with the Boundary Commissions to ensure they have the funding they need to carry out the task set for them by Parliament.
Mr Straw: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether an equality impact assessment will be produced for his legislation to change parliamentary constituency boundaries. [7896]
Mr Harper: As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 5 July 2010, Official Report, column 24, 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. The Cabinet Office will follow the departmental policy of carrying out an initial screening exercise to assess whether the policy has any adverse equality impacts and, if this process establishes that an equality impact assessment is necessary, one will be produced.
Mr Betts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes there will be to the procedures and processes used by the Boundary Commission in its work reviewing constituency boundaries and reducing constituency numbers compared with past boundary reviews. [7904]
Mr Harper: As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 5 July 2010, Official Report, column 24, 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. Detailed provisions on the procedures and rules for the conduct of the review by the Boundary Commissions will be included in the Bill and Parliament will have the opportunity to debate it in full.
Departmental Reorganisation
John Mann: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to relocate officials working in his Office from central London to Bassetlaw. [6564]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 12 July 2010, Official Report, column 598W.
Departmental Training
Pete Wishart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what training has been provided for Ministers by his Office since the formation of the present administration; and at what cost. [6424]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson) on 3 June 2010, Official Report, column 51W.
Electoral Register
Mr Straw: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many eligible voters who are missing from the electoral register he estimates will have been added to the register by December 2010. [7897]
Mr Harper: The Government have not made such an estimate.
Electoral Systems
Mr Straw: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Electoral Commission on his proposal to speed up implementation of individual voter registration. [6349]
Mr Harper: The Deputy Prime Minister and I have had discussions with the Commission on a number of matters. The Government are currently considering the options for implementation of individual electoral registration and will inform the House of their plans in due course.
Electoral Systems: Referendums
Helen Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether Members of the House of Lords would be eligible to vote in a proposed referendum on the alternative vote system. [5986]
Mr Harper: Decisions on the conduct and procedure for the referendum, including the franchise, have not been finalised. Further details will be announced in due course.
Helen Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether prisoners would be eligible to vote in a proposed referendum on the alternative vote system; and if he will make a statement. [6086]
Mr Harper: Decisions on the conduct and procedure for the referendum, including the franchise, have not been finalised. Further details will be announced in due course. The Government are considering afresh the best way forward on the issue of prisoner voting rights more generally.
Mr Bain: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what information he has (a) sought and (b) received from the Electoral Commission on the simultaneous holding of the referendum on reform of the electoral system for the House of Commons in May 2011 with elections to the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales. [7548]
Mr Harper: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced the Government's proposals for a referendum on the alternative vote, on 5 July 2010, Official Report, columns 23-25, and has held discussions with the Commission on a number of matters.
Mr Bain: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what information he has (a) sought and (b) received from the Electoral Commission on the wording of the proposed question in the referendum on reform of the electoral system for the House of Commons to be held in May 2011. [7549]
Mr Harper: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced the Government's proposals for a referendum on the alternative vote, on 5 July 2010, Official Report, columns 23-25. Under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, the Commission has a statutory duty to comment on the intelligibility of any proposed referendum question. The Commission's assessment of the proposed question will begin after the Bill is introduced and their views shall be published in such manner as they may determine.
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Local Government Association, (b) the Scottish Executive, (c) the Welsh Assembly Government, (d) the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and (e) the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives on the timing of the proposed referendum on the alternative vote system. [6866]
Mr Harper: My right hon. Friend, the Deputy Prime Minister announced the Government's proposals for a referendum on the alternative vote, on 5 July 2010, Official Report, column 23-25.
Ministers and officials will work closely with all interested parties as these proposals are taken forward.
House of Lords: Reform
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2010, Official Report, column 478W, on House of Lords: reform, whether he plans to propose a power for electors to recall an elected peer; [6924]
(2) if he will include in his legislative proposals for elections to the House of Lords provisions for electors to recall a member of that House so elected. [7535]
Mr Harper: The cross-party Committee on House of Lords reform, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, will consider what options are necessary to bring about a more accountable wholly or mainly elected second chamber. The Government will publish their proposals in a draft Bill by no later than the end of this year.
Mr Bain: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his proposals for the reform of the House of Lords will be revenue-neutral. [7522]
Mr Harper: The cross-party Committee on House of Lords reform, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, is considering the size of the reformed second chamber and other issues which will determine the overall cost of a second chamber. The Government will publish an estimate of the costs alongside a draft Bill.
Members: Conduct
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will consider the merits of introducing a power for electors to recall (a) a Member of the London Assembly, (b) a local councillor and (c) a Member of the European Parliament. [7495]
Mr Harper: The Government have no plans at this stage to introduce a power for electors to recall Members of the London Assembly, local councillors, or Members of the European Parliament.
Photographs
Pete Wishart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his Office has spent on official photographs of Ministers since the formation of the present administration. [6425]
The Deputy Prime Minister: Nothing has been spent by my office on official photographs since the formation of the present Administration.
Cabinet Office
Childbirth: Wakefield
Mary Creagh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many live births there were in Wakefield constituency in 2009-10. [8146]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your request to ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many live births there were in Wakefield constituency in 2009-10.
Birth statistics for subnational areas from the registration system are published on a calendar year basis. The latest year for which figures are available is 2009. These are provisional.
On this basis the number of live births in 2009 for women living in Wakefield constituency was 1,243. This figure is based on the parliamentary constituency boundaries for 2010.
The final release of 2009 birth statistics for England and Wales is planned for 21 July 2010. Figures for 2010 will be published in 2011.
Civil Servants: Redundancy Pay
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of public sector employees in Wales who will be directly affected by the implementation of the proposed changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme announced on 6 July 2010. [7824]
Mr Maude: The selection of civil servants for redundancy or early departure schemes is a matter for individual civil service departments and agencies.
Construction: Self-employed
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the most recent estimate is of the number of people registered as self-employed and working in the construction industry. [6605]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the most recent estimate is of the number of people registered as self-employed and working in the construction industry. (6605)
For the three-month period January-March 2010 it is estimated that 850,000 self-employed people were working in the construction industry. The estimate of registered self-employed people is not available.
These estimates are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and are not seasonally adjusted. The LFS is a survey of residents in private households and therefore excludes people living in communal establishments such as hostels and residential homes.
As with any sample survey, the estimates provided are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
Departmental Electronic Equipment
Graham Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much (a) his Department and (b) its agency and non-departmental public bodies spent on televisions in each year since 1997. [7502]
Mr Maude: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Legal Costs
Graham Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much (a) his Department and (b) its agency and non-departmental public bodies spent on legal advice in each year since 1997. [7565]
Mr Maude: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Lighting
Graham Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much (a) his Department and (b) its agency and non-departmental public bodies spent on light bulbs in each year since 1997. [7622]
Mr Maude: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Location
Ian Austin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he plans to relocate (a) civil servants and (b) Government bodies for which his Department is responsible (i) out of London and (ii) to the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement. [8287]
Mr Maude: As part of the work of the Efficiency and Reform Group we are looking at the most efficient use of Government property. No decisions have yet been made on relocations.
Departmental Official Hospitality
Graham Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much (a) his Department and (b) its agency and non-departmental public bodies spent on hospitality in each year since 1997. [7440]
Mr Maude: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
All Cabinet Office expenditure on hospitality is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in 'Managing Public Money' and the Treasury handbook on 'Regularity and Propriety'.
Departmental Regulation
Mr Anderson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which of his Department's regulations are under review; and if he will make a statement. [7146]
Mr Maude: The Cabinet Office currently has the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and its associated regulations under review. The Charities Act 2006 contains a requirement that it is reviewed in 2011.
Departmental Stationery
Graham Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much (a) his Department and (b) its agency and non-departmental public bodies spent on stationery in each year since 1997. [7459]
Mr Maude: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Temporary Employment
Mr Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many staff in the Cabinet Office are on temporary civil service contracts. [6921]
Mr Maude: As at 7 July 2010, the Cabinet Office employs 90 staff on temporary civil service contracts recruited in accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment principles.
Departmental Training
Graham Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much (a) his Department and (b) its agency and non-departmental public bodies spent on employee away days in each year since 1997. [7314]
Mr Maude: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
All Cabinet Office expenditure on away days is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in 'Managing Public Money' and the Treasury handbook on 'Regularity and Propriety'.
Departmental Travel
Graham Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much his (a) Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on travel for employees in each year since 1997. [7421]
Mr Maude: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have been driven by the Government Car Service since the Government took office; and how much each of these persons has received in expenses for use of taxis, buses and underground trains in that period. [7995]
Mr Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 30 June 2010, Official Report, column 563W and 28 June 2010, Official Report, column 446W.
In addition, the Government publish on a quarterly basis the expenses incurred by the most senior officials which includes use of the Government car service and other travel expenses.
Developing Countries: Forests
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what work his Department's European and Global Issues Secretariat undertakes on international negotiations on the United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries. [6632]
Mr Maude: The Secretariat's role is to support the Prime Minister and the Cabinet in achieving collective agreement for the Government's EU and global policy objectives. This includes co-ordinating and agreeing policy positions for international negotiations including on the United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries.
Energy: Subsidies
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what work his Department's European and Global Issues Secretariat undertakes on global energy subsidy reform. [8011]
Mr Maude: The Secretariat's role is to support the Prime Minister and the Cabinet in achieving collective agreement for the Government's EU and global policy objectives. This includes co-ordinating and agreeing the UK's policy position for international negotiations for the energy subsidies reform workstream being pursued in the G20.
EU Law
Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will estimate the cost to his Department of compliance with regulations arising from EU obligations in the last 12 months. [6868]
Mr Maude: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Government Communications
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps the Government Communications Network plans to take to ensure communications from Government departments and other public sector organisations reach people who do not have access to the internet. [6927]
Mr Maude: The Government Communications Network (GCN) is a virtual, online network and best practice resource open to civil servants who have a role or interest in Government communications.
The GCN best practice communications framework actively encourages Government communicators to consider the appropriate range of on and offline channels to communicate effectively with all audiences.
In addition, Martha Lane Fox was recently appointed by the Prime Minister as UK Digital Champion with a remit to encourage as many people as possible to go online.
Lone Parents
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many lone parents there are in (a) Ashfield, (b) Argyll and Bute and (c) Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency. [6638]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your request to ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many lone parents there are in (a) Ashfield, (b) Argyll and Bute and (c) Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituencies. (6638)
The number and type of families in the UK can be estimated using the Annual Population Survey (APS). Estimates are provided for lone parent families that include at least one child aged under 16.
The latest available figures are for 2008 and are shown in the table below. These are based on 2008 parliamentary constituency boundaries and there have been no boundary changes since 2008 in the three areas requested.
| Geographical area | Number of lone parent families-with at least one child under 16 ( T housand) |
| Source: APS January to December 2008 | |
Lone Parents: Lewisham
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many lone parents there are in Lewisham East constituency. [6585]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your request to ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many lone parents there are in Lewisham East constituency. (6585)
The number and type of families in the UK can be estimated using the Annual Population Survey (APS). Estimates are provided for lone parent families that include at least one child aged under 16.
The latest available figure is for 2008 and is shown in the table below. This is based on the 2008 parliamentary constituency boundary. Lewisham East, as constituted in 2008, consisted of seven electoral wards. In 2010, Lewisham East also consists of seven wards, but one ward has changed, so the area covered is different. The breakdown of the data available is not sufficiently detailed to determine whether the newly constituted parliamentary constituency contains the same estimated number of lone parents as the 2008 constituency.
| Geographical area | Number of lone parent families-with at least one child under 16 ( T housand) |
| Source: APS January to December 2008 | |
Ministerial Policy Advisers: Conduct
Mr Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether any special advisers have been disciplined for (a) bullying, (b) breaching the law and (c) breaching of the code of conduct for special advisers since 12 May 2010. [7022]
Office of Government Commerce Common Minimum Standards for Construction
Mrs McGuire: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the outcome was of the review of Office of Government Commerce Common Minimum Standards for Construction; and if he will ensure that all Government contracts require workers on a construction site to be (a) Construction Skills Certification Scheme-carded and (b) able to prove their competence in another appropriate way. [8350]
Mr Maude: The Office of Government Commerce's Common Minimum Standards (CMS) mandate that departmental clients must ensure that their construction contracts require workers to be registered on CSCS or to be able to prove their competence in another appropriate way.
OGC's initial review (completed in December 2009) determined that the CMS document needs to be updated to ensure that it continues to include all relevant government policy that affects the procurement of built environments. That action has been programmed to take place later this year (2010-11).
Business, Innovation and Skills
Advantage West Midlands
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much Advantage West Midlands has spent on grants in (a) the West Midlands and (b) Stafford constituency in each year since 1999. [7755]
Mr Prisk: The Advantage West Midlands Regional Development Agency's grant in aid budgets in each year since 1999 are set out in the following table. The Department allocates budgets to regional development agencies. The agencies determine which projects to support, subject to the terms of the Accountability and Financial Framework and their delegated financial authorities. RDAs' investments have been guided by the Regional Economic Strategy and their Corporate Plans. The Department does not hold details of individual projects supported by the RDAs within their delegated financial authorities.
| Grant in aid budgets | |
| £ million | |
Advantage West Midlands: Finance
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much Advantage West Midlands has spent on (a) grants and (b) administration for grants in each year since 1999. [6819]
Mr Prisk: The Advantage West Midlands Regional Development Agency's grant in aid and administration budgets in each year since 1999 are set out in the following table. The Department allocates budgets to regional development agencies. The agencies determine which projects to support, subject to the terms of the Accountability and Financial Framework and their delegated financial authorities. RDAs' investments have been guided by the Regional Economic Strategy and their Corporate Plans. The Department does not hold details of individual projects supported by the RDAs within their delegated financial authorities.
| Grant in a id budgets (£ million) | Administration b udgets (£000) | |
Business Links
Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans his Department has for the future of (a) Business Link and (b) Business Link North West. [8256]
Mr Prisk: The coalition Government are committed to abolishing the Regional Development Agencies and establishing Local Enterprise Partnerships. Business Link is provided by the RDAs and we are currently reviewing all the functions of the RDAs to determine whether and how best to deliver them in future. Business Link including Business Link North West is being reviewed as part of this process.
Business: Bexley
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether any businesses in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) the London borough of Bexley have received loans from the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme in the last 12 months. [7856]
Mr Prisk: The Enterprise Finance Guarantee came into operation in January 2009. As of 7 July 2010, in the Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency eight businesses have drawn down loans totalling £518,491, and in the London borough of Bexley 17 businesses have drawn down loans totalling £1.47 million.
Business: Equality
Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps the Government Equalities Office is taking to reduce the gender gap between men and women in setting up new businesses. [6815]
Mr Prisk: The Government believe that much more needs to be done to encourage women to start their own businesses. If women started businesses at the same rate as men each year it would create an additional 150,000 start-up businesses. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox) to consider the best way of addressing the issues and challenges relating to women's enterprise.
Business: Females
Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps the Government Equalities Office is taking to establish female entrepreneurial role models. [6814]
Mr Prisk: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox) to consider the best way of addressing the issues and challenges relating to women's enterprise.
Business: Operating Costs
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the average costs of operating an office in (a) London, (b) Bassetlaw and (c) other places outside London. [7891]
Mr Davey: I refer the hon. Member to the Office of Government Commerce "State of the Estate" report for 2009, which can be found at the following link and includes property costs:
Business: Rural Areas
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to support rural businesses. [8246]
Mr Prisk: The coalition Government intend to modernise how support, information and advice are provided to all businesses everywhere. BIS is working with DEFRA to ensure that rural needs and interests are appropriately addressed in relevant Government economic programmes and initiatives, such as the roll-out of reliable and effective broadband access to rural areas.
Companies: Registration
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what market testing his Department undertook in relation to Form IN01, Application to Register a Company prior to its introduction in 2009. [8388]
Mr Davey: Companies House does not carry out market testing in the usual sense but it carried out consultations in relation to form IN01 with the Companies Act Programme Working Party and E-Filing/Forms Producers Working Party quarterly from 6 March 2008 to 2 February 2009 prior to its introduction in 2009. These working parties include 22 regional focus groups, primarily made up of the principal company formation agents, and 36 forms-producing companies.
Departmental Official Cars
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in his Department are entitled to the use of (i) a car with a dedicated driver, (ii) a car from the Government car pool and (iii) a taxi ordered through a departmental account. [3212]
Mr Davey: As was the case under previous Governments, all civil servants and special advisers may use an official car or taxi in properly defined circumstances.
Departmental Written Questions
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place in the Library a copy of the internal background note relating to each parliamentary question tabled by the hon. Member for Southend West and answered by his Department since June 2010. [5526]
Mr Davey: Where provided, internal background notes linked to written answers to parliamentary questions tabled by my hon. Friend since June 2010 will be placed in the Library. Supplementary information provided for the oral answer made by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Business and Enterprise to my hon. Friend on 3 June 2010, Official Report, column 559, will not be provided as to do so would be likely to prejudice the free and frank nature of the advice that Ministers receive from officials. It is in the public interest that officials are able to provide balanced and, where necessary, extensive briefing to ensure that Ministers are able to fully respond to questions and discharge properly their duties to account for Government policy to Parliament. If the content of briefings to Ministers and discussion of current policy issues were released, officials would be more circumspect in drafting such briefing and Ministers' ability to respond to questions would be compromised as a result. I am sending a copy of this answer to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann).
East of England Development Agency: Official Hospitality
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much the East of England Development Agency has spent on the provision of (a) live and (b) recorded music at hospitality functions in each year since its inception. [7131]
Mr Prisk: On the provision of music at hospitality functions, East of England Development Agency has spent £160 on live music in 2007 for a student string quartet at the Destination Growth business dinner; and on recorded music nothing has been incurred.
Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness of rules on the disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment and (b) level of compliance with those rules; what steps he is taking to ensure that such equipment is not shipped abroad for disposal; and if he will make a statement. [7559]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 12 July 2010]: Since the introduction of the UK's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations in 2007, the UK has consistently exceeded the annual target placed on member states by the European Commission to separately collect a minimum of 4 kg of WEEE per head of population. The UK achieved a collection rate of 7.633 kg in 2009, which compares with 7.06 kg in 2008.
The environment agencies regulate producer and treatment obligations under the WEEE regulations. There are currently 5,562 registered producers in the UK, 147 operators of approved authorised treatment facilities that undertake the treatment, recycling or reuse of waste equipment at 224 different sites and 45 approved exporters that can send waste equipment for treatment and recovery overseas.
EU Research Fund for Coal and Steel: North East
Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much has been allocated to the North East from the EU Research Fund for Coal and Steel in each of the last five years. [4741]
Mr Prisk: Her Majesty's Government do not hold the information requested. The Research Fund for Coal and Steel is administered solely by the European Commission and decisions on funding collaborative research proposals are made on a project-by-project basis by them.
Fossil Fuels: Export Credit Guarantees
Zac Goldsmith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 22 June 2010, Official Report, column 190W, on fossil fuels: export credit guarantees, when he plans to bring forward primary legislation to amend the Export and Investment Guarantees Act 1991 to end Export
Credits Guarantee Department plans to support dirty fossil-fuel energy production. [7386]
Mr Davey: As stated in my answer of 28 June 2010, Official Report, column 416W, I will be discussing with ministerial colleagues in BIS and in other Departments, and with officials in the ECGD and UKTI, how best to take forward the Coalition Programme commitment that:
"ECGD and UKTI should become champions for British companies that develop and export innovative green technologies around the world, instead of supporting investment in dirty fossil-fuel energy production."
The outcome will determine what steps will be necessary to implement this commitment.
Genetically Modified Organisms: Potatoes
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what research and development grants his Department has provided for the development of genetically modified potatoes resistant to late blight since May 1997, including for research into resistance genes and mechanisms; [4887]
(2) what research and development grants the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council has provided for the development of potatoes resistant to late blight using traditional breeding since May 1997; [4888]
(3) what research and development grants his Department has provided for the development of genetically modified potatoes resistant to potato cyst eelworm since May 1997; [4889]
(4) what research and development grants the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council provided for the development of genetically modified potatoes resistant to potato cyst eelworm since May 1997. [4890]
Mr Willetts: This Department has not directly funded research for the development of genetically modified potatoes resistant to late blight or for the development of genetically modified potatoes resistant to potato cyst eelworm.
The Department provides funding to the seven UK research councils, including the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Since May 1997, BBSRC has funded research to the value of £1,678,000 for basic and strategic bioscience of direct relevance to late blight resistance in genetically modified potatoes, and £1,286,000 for research into the biology of resistance genes and the underlying molecular and cellular mechanism. In addition, BBSRC has funded a number of research grants into the basic biology of pathogenicity of Phytophthora infestans (the infective agent of potato blight). These are not commercial trials of potential crop varieties.
Since May 1997, BBSRC has funded research to the value of £837,000 of direct relevance to late blight resistance in potatoes using traditional breeding methods. In addition, BBSRC has funded a number of research grants into the basic biology of pathogenicity of Phytophthora infestans (the infective agent of potato blight). These are not commercial trials of potential crop varieties.
Since May 1997, BBSRC has funded research to the value of £1,419,500 for basic and strategic bioscience of direct relevance to potato cyst eelworm resistance in genetically modified potatoes. In addition, BBSRC has funded a range of underpinning research, for example into identifying genes that potentially confer resistance to potato cyst eelworm. These are not commercial trials of potential crop varieties.
Northwest Regional Development Agency
Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received from local authorities in Merseyside on the abolition of the North West Development Agency. [8044]
Mr Prisk: Letters have been received from Sefton council and Wirral metropolitan borough council about abolition of the North West Development Agency. A letter has also been received from 4NW on behalf of north west local authorities, co-signed by other regional stakeholders.
Northwest Regional Development Agency: Wirral
Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assistance the North West Regional Development Agency has provided to businesses in Wirral West constituency in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010. [8259]
Mr Prisk: The Department allocates budgets to regional development agencies. The agencies determine what assistance to provide to business, subject to the terms of the Accountability and Financial Framework and their delegated financial authorities. RDAs' investments have been guided by the Regional Economic Strategy and their Corporate Plans. The Department does not hold details of all assistance given by the RDAs within their delegated financial authorities.
Overseas Trade: Iraq
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to increase trade between the UK and the Kurdistan region of Iraq. [7681]
Mr Prisk: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) staff in Baghdad and London, together with the British consulate general team in Erbil, support British companies wishing to trade with Iraqi Kurdistan.
UKTI works closely with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) representation in London and business support organisations such as the Iraq Britain Business Council and the Middle East Association, on trade missions and other events aimed at ensuring that British companies are aware of business opportunities in Iraqi Kurdistan and able to exploit them. In February this year, the KRG participated in UKTI's "Partner Middle East" road shows, giving access to over 300 companies in London and Manchester. In June, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, spoke at the "Kurdistan Trade & Investment Conference" in London. In October, UKTI will support the first ever official British presence at the Erbil International Trade Fair, to which UKTI's CEO, Sir Andrew Cahn, intends to lead a sizeable UK business delegation.
Post Offices: National Lottery
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what discussions his Department has had with the Federation of Sub-Postmasters and Postmistresses regarding Camelot's application to the National Lottery Commission to operate additional commercial services in partnership with the Post Office; and if he will make a statement; [7658]
(2) what discussions he has had with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the Post Office's involvement in Camelot's application to the National Lottery Commission to operate commercial bill payment and mobile telephone top-up services; and if he will make a statement. [7661]
Mr Davey: Following a public consultation, Camelot's proposal to provide commercial services through lottery terminals remains subject to the regulatory approval of the National Lottery Commission.
A clarification from Camelot published by the Commission on 8 April confirmed that there was currently no concluded agreement between the Post Office and Camelot in relation to the provision of commercial services.
I have not had discussions with the Department for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport about Camelot's application but my officials have discussed with the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters their views and consultation response on the Camelot application.
Qualifications
Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department plans to exempt professional degree programmes from the conditions of the Equal or Lower Qualifications policy. [6820]
Mr Willetts: Student finance issues are currently being considered by the Independent Review of Higher Education funding and Student Finance, chaired by Lord Browne, which we expect to report in the autumn.
Science: Government Assistance
Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to support (a) the engineering industry, (b) science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills and (c) the Institution of Engineering and Technology. [7166]
Mr Prisk: The information is as follows:
(a) The Government fully recognise the importance of the engineering industry, and its role in achieving a balanced economy. In developing our plans to rebalance the economy, we are keen to ensure that we provide the best environment for long-term sustainable growth in engineering.
(b) The Science Cluster of Sector Skills Councils is undertaking a strategic planning and review of activity to provide a fit between STEM skills provision and skills needs. Apprenticeships are a major contributor to the nation's STEM skills and this Government are committed to expanding Apprenticeships, in particular, Advanced and Higher Apprenticeship. In further education, the Learning and Skills Improvement Service is working to improve the content
and delivery of STEM skills. This Department also works closely with the Department for Education to encourage students to choose science and engineering subjects. The Government currently support a range of initiatives such as STEMNET, the Big Bang Fair, and HEFCE's strategically important and vulnerable subjects, and National HE STEM, programmes.
(c) The Government do not provide any support to the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).
Sheffield Forgemasters: Finance
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what factors he took into account in his review of the decision to provide Sheffield Forgemasters with an £80 million loan facility; and what representations his Department received as part of that review; [7246]
(2) whether third parties were invited to contribute to his review of the decision to provide Sheffield Forgemasters with an £80 million loan facility; [7247]
(3) whether any representations were received by his review of the decision to provide Sheffield Forgemasters with an £80 million loan facility on Sheffield Forgemasters funding the total cost of the investment commercially. [7407]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 12 July 2010]: On factors taken into account in the Government's review of the decision to provide Sheffield Forgemasters with an £80 million loan facility, I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to the hon. Member on 8 July 2010, Official Report, column 505.
On representations received during the review, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29 June 2010, Official Report, column 540W. The Department did not approach anyone outside of Government as part of the review of the decision on the loan facility to Sheffield Forgemasters.
Officials were asked to consider the possibility of Sheffield Forgemasters funding the total cost of the press project commercially. No assessment from outside of Government was commissioned.
Students: Finance
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to increase the level of the student maintenance loan in line with the increase in the rate of value added tax. [6724]
Mr Willetts: The student maintenance loan has been set for the 2010/11 academic year and we have no plans to change it. No decision has been made on the level of maintenance loan for future years.
UK Commission for Employment and Skills
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings Ministers in his Department have had with the (a) Chair and (b) Chief Executive of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills since 12 May 2010. [7280]
Mr Hayes:
The Minister of State for Universities and Science, met the chief executive of the UK Commission
for Employment and Skills, at the Labour Market Economists Seminars organised by the Department on 23 June and 5 July.
I attended part of a meeting of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills on 26 May, where I met both the chair and the chief executive. I also had a bilateral meeting with the chief executive on 23 June.
Work and Pensions
Children: Maintenance
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many absent parents were sent to prison for non-payment of child maintenance in each of the last three years. [7881]
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. As the Child Maintenance Commissioner is currently on annual leave I am responding on his behalf.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many absent parents were sent to prison for non-payment of child maintenance in each of the last three years. [7881]
When the CSA commences court proceedings for wilful refusal or culpable neglect to pay child maintenance the court decides what sentence shall be imposed. Committal to prison is one option available to them.
The number of non-resident parents committed to prison by the courts for non-payment of child maintenance in each of the last three years is provided in the table below.
| Committal sentences | |
| Year to date | Number |
| Note: Figures rounded to the nearest 5 due to data disclosure rules. | |
Information on the total volume of enforcement actions undertaken by the Agency is routinely published in the Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics. This is available through the following link:
Departmental Buildings
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many buildings his Department occupies in (a) London and (b) the UK. [6850]
Chris Grayling: As at 1 July 2010, the Department for Work and Pensions (including Jobcentre Plus, Directgov, The Pensions Regulator, Health and Safety Executive and The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission) occupies:
(a) 100 buildings in London; and
(b) 954 buildings in the remainder of the UK.
Through implementation of our estate strategies (covering 2003-11) we expect to have reduced our estates by 28% since the Department was formed, vacating over 800 buildings.
Departmental Official Cars
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the mileage travelled by each Minister in his Department in a Government car in (a) May and (b) June 2010. [8326]
Chris Grayling: The DWP does not routinely record the mileage travelled by each Minister in the Department in a Government car and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Speeches
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which (a) (i) civil servants and (ii) special advisers and (b) other individuals are employed in his Department to write speeches for each Minister in his Department. [7307]
Chris Grayling: No civil servants are employed by the Department solely as speechwriters for Ministers. Three private secretaries undertake this role as part of their normal duties.
In addition, two interns contributed to speechwriting for Ministers during their six-month contracts which have just expired.
Disability Living Allowance
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether there will be any changes to attendance allowance as a result of his proposed changes to disability living allowance. [8434]
Maria Miller: The commitments announced in the Budget to reform disability living allowance related specifically to the working age caseload.
Disability Living Allowance: Medical Examinations
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether a person whose condition worsens following a medical assessment for disability living allowance will be required to undergo a further such assessment; [8277]
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that a claimant's general practitioner is contacted prior to a medical assessment for disability living allowance, with particular reference to cases where the disability is not common; [8278]
(3) if he will bring forward proposals for the exemption from the medical assessment for disability living allowance for those diagnosed with (a) mental health and (b) learning disabilities; [8279]
(4) what alternatives to medical assessments are under consideration or part of his proposals for the reform of disability living allowance; [8280]
(5) what plans he has to consult (a) disabled people and (b) organisations representing disabled people on changes to the disability living allowance assessment form; [8281]
(6) what factors medical assessments for entitlement to disability living allowance will take into account once entitlement is not based on a particular disabling condition; [8282]
(7) what plans he has to revise the claim form for disability living allowance to assist claimants whose disabilities mean that they may have difficulty in completing the existing form; [8283]
(8) if he will assess the merits of introducing alternative methods of submitting a claim for disability living allowance in cases where a person finds it difficult to complete a claim form because of their disability; [8284]
(9) if he will assess the merits of introducing self-assessment questionnaires prior to a medical assessment for disability living allowance to determine whether such a medical assessment is necessary; [8285]
(10) what plans he has for the medical assessment of claimants of disability living allowance in cases where the person's disability makes it difficult for them to attend such an assessment; [8362]
(11) if he will issue guidance to those assessing claims for disability living allowance to require the consideration of all relevant (a) medical and (b) non-medical information. [8432]
Maria Miller: Commitments were made in the emergency Budget to reform DLA to ensure it supports those people who are most in need. We will introduce a more objective assessment and consider, as part of these reforms, how we can reduce the burden of long claim forms for applicants.
As we develop our proposals, we will talk to disabled people and a broad range of representative organisations to ensure support is effectively targeted on those with greatest need and distributed on a consistent basis, while continuing to tackle the inequalities that can arise from severe disability.
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether those in receipt of disability living allowance will be required to undergo a further medical assessment following his proposed reforms of that allowance. [8433]
Maria Miller: The June Budget red book made clear that we would develop a new objective assessment for disability living allowance and also apply that approach to people of working age already in receipt of disability living allowance starting from 2013-14.
EC Law
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to his Department of compliance with regulations arising from EU obligations. [6873]
Chris Grayling: Government Departments, as employers, are required to act in accordance with a wide variety of regulation both of EU origin and domestic.
There is no pre-existing breakdown of the costs imposed on Departments by EU regulations to draw on in
producing such an estimate. It is not standard accounting practice to distinguish regulatory compliance costs from overall running costs.
Producing such an estimate could not be undertaken without incurring disproportionate expenditure.
Employment and Support Allowance: Arthritis
Miss Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what employment and support allowance is payable to a person with rheumatoid arthritis. [7133]
Chris Grayling: ESA is not paid on the basis of a specific medical condition. It is paid at different rates depending on an individual's circumstances and where they are in the claim process.
Employment Schemes: Learning Disability
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made any estimate of the average annual cost of (a) supporting a person with learning disabilities into employment and (b) a local authority day-care placement for a person with learning disabilities. [3068]
Maria Miller: The Department offers a range of employment programmes depending on the needs of the customer. This includes specialist programmes such as Work Preparation and WORKSTEP, which are particularly suitable for some customers with a learning disability who may need specialist support to prepare for work and ongoing support once in employment.
In 2008-09, 13,680 customers were supported in employment through the WORKSTEP programme at a total cost of £69 million. There is no estimate of the individual cost of supporting someone with learning disabilities into employment.
Estimates of the cost of local authority day-care placements are a matter for my hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health.
Housing Benefit
Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2010, Official Report, column 110W, on housing benefit, how many households in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales were receiving the maximum local housing allowance payment in the most recent month for which figures are available; and for how long on average households in each such area had been in receipt of that benefit in that month. [8156]
Steve Webb: At March 2010 there were fewer than 100 customers who received the maximum local housing allowance rate. All these customers were located in the Central London Broad Rental Market Area. Information on durations for the receipt of housing benefit is not available yet.
Industrial Health and Safety
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what methodology his Department uses to estimate the cost to the economy of occupational illnesses; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the latest assessment produced by his Department using this methodology. [8018]
Chris Grayling: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates the costs to employers, individuals and to society of occupational illness (and also of workplace injury). Estimates are based on both the financial and non-financial costs associated with illness and the published HSE statistics on occupational ill health. Non-financial costs are estimated using a 'Willingness to Pay' methodology, in line with Treasury guidance.
The most recent estimates and details of the methodology are contained in the published report: 'Interim update of the Costs to Britain of Workplace Accidents and Work related Ill Health'. I have arranged for a copy of this report to be placed in the Library. Work is currently under way to update the estimates, which it is planned to publish in late summer 2010.
Industrial Health and Safety: Inspections
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what average percentage of a health and safety inspector's working time was spent inspecting workplaces in each year from 1997 to 2009. [7898]
Chris Grayling: Information is not available in the form requested and cannot be assembled without disproportionate cost.
Industrial Injuries: Sick Leave
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many days absent from work were caused by a workplace injury in each year from 1997 to 2009. [7900]
Chris Grayling: The estimated number of working days lost in 2000-01 and 2003-04 to 2008-09, as a result of workplace injury (in the previous 12 months), are given in the following table. These data are not available prior to 2000-01 or for 2001-02 and 2002-03.
| Year | Estimated full-day equivalent working days lost due to self-reported workplace injuries (thousands) |
Jobcentre Plus: Manpower
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what he expects the staffing level at Jobcentre Plus to be in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [7109]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what he expects the staffing level at Jobcentre Plus to be in the next 12 months. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
We continue to monitor workloads and economic forecasts and Jobcentre Plus staffing levels are reviewed on a regular basis as part of that. We currently expect our staffing to be around 76,500 full time equivalents at March 2011. Beyond that point, staffing and spending plans for Jobcentre Plus will be dependent on the levels to be announced on 20 October 2010 in the Spending Review settlement set out by HM Treasury.
I hope this information is helpful.
Jobcentre Plus: Temporary Employment
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's policy is on using temporary and agency staff in Jobcentre Plus front offices. [7110]
Chris Grayling: A recruitment freeze currently applies to all parts of DWP, with only very limited exceptions. For Jobcentre Plus these exceptions have to be agreed by the chief executive and reported regularly to myself as Minister for Employment.
The Department for Work Pensions policy allows short-term vacancies to be filled by a fixed term or temporary appointment. This includes their use in Jobcentre Plus front offices. Before considering recruiting fixed term or temporary appointments, all other sources of filling posts must have been explored.
In exceptional circumstances where there are no suitable internal applicants and businesses cannot recruit temporary or fixed term employees, consideration may be given to the use of temporary/interim employees supplied via an employment agency. All internal and external options must have been exhausted prior to seeking the appointment of agency supplied workers.
Jobseekers Allowance
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of jobseeker's allowance have had that allowance withdrawn following a failure to meet each condition attached to receipt of the allowance in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [6885]
Chris Grayling: The requested information can be readily obtained from the Department for Work and Pensions' website at:
and has been placed in the Library.
Jobseeker's Allowance: Bristol
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) lone parents and (b) others in Bristol East constituency who will have been on jobseeker's allowance for over 12 months by 2013. [7236]
Chris Grayling: The information is not available.
Jobseeker's Allowance: Clwyd
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) lone parents and (b) others who will have been on jobseeker's allowance for over 12 months by 2013 in Clwyd South constituency. [7002]
Chris Grayling: The information is not available.
Jobseeker's Allowance: East Lothian
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) lone parents, (b) people under the age of 24 years and (c) others in East Lothian constituency who will have been in receipt of jobseeker's allowance for more than 12 months by 2013. [7187]
Chris Grayling: The information is not available.
Jobseeker's Allowance: West Midlands
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the amount which will be paid in jobseeker's allowance in the next (a) 12, (b) 24 and (c) 36 months to residents in (i) the West Midlands, (ii) Dudley borough and (iii) Dudley North constituency. [8413]
Chris Grayling: The information is not available: the Department for Work and Pensions does not forecast benefit expenditure at sub-national level.
Lone Parents: Bristol
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents there are in Bristol East constituency. [7243]
Maria Miller: In 2008, there were estimated to be 4,200 lone parents in Bristol East. 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. In 2008 parliamentary constituency boundaries were different. The information given reflects the population in the current boundaries as closely as possible.
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.
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