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15 July 2010 : Column 846W—continued
Prime Minister
Departmental Responsibilities: Armed Forces
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Minister within the Cabinet Office with overall responsibility for the welfare of current and former military personnel. [7802]
The Prime Minister: The Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my hon. Friend the Member for South Leicestershire (Mr. Robathan) is responsible for these issues. The Government consider the welfare of current and former military personnel as extremely important. The Coalition's programme for government sets out a number of concrete measures aimed at rebuilding the Military Covenant. All Government Ministers must ensure that their Departments do everything they can to support current and former military personnel and their families.
Official Gifts
Pete Wishart: To ask the Prime Minister which gifts over a monetary value of £140 Ministers in the (a) present and (b) previous administration (i) gave and (ii) received in the last 12 months; and which such gifts have been retained by former Ministers on leaving office. [8430]
The Prime Minister: The Government have published an annual list of gifts received by Ministers in an official capacity valued at more than £140 since 2001. The list was expanded in 2007 to cover gifts given by Ministers. A list of gifts valued at more than £140 received and given by Ministers in the previous Administration will be published in due course. As set out in the Ministerial Code, gifts valued at more than £140 received and given by Ministers in the present Administration will be published by Departments on at least a quarterly basis.
Public Sector
Luciana Berger: To ask the Prime Minister to how many public sector workers he and the Deputy Prime Minister sent their recent e-mail. [8099]
The Prime Minister: The e-mail from the Deputy Prime Minister and me about the 'spending challenge' was distributed across the public sector. In a two-week period, public sector workers submitted over 63,000 ideas to the website set up for them to send suggestions to.
Energy and Climate Change
Office for Renewable Energy Development
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the merits of establishing the Office for Renewable Energy Development as a non-departmental public body. [8428]
Gregory Barker:
Establishing the Office for Renewable Energy Deployment (ORED) as a non-departmental public body was considered as one of a range of options. It was decided that a co-ordinated approach to policy and deployment to develop low-carbon energy supplies could best be achieved by keeping ORED as a directorate within the Department of Energy and Climate Change
alongside the Offices for Nuclear Development, (launched 2008) and the Office of Carbon Capture and Storage, (launched 2010).
Oil Rigs
Edward Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many drilling inspections are planned to be carried out each year in the future on North Sea oil rigs. [8598]
Charles Hendry: All drilling rigs operating in UK waters are subject to safety inspections by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and environmental inspection by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) Offshore Environmental Inspectorate.
The number of drilling rig operations being conducted on an annual basis is dependent on the level and scope of exploration and production activity by operators, currently there are 22 mobile drilling rigs operating in UK waters. The number of offshore inspections by regulatory authorities may, therefore, change on an annual basis in line with activity and the regulators inspection and investigation strategies.
HSE have confirmed that their health and safety intervention plans propose at least one annual visit to every mobile drilling rig working in UK waters. DECC's Offshore Inspectorate undertake a series of prioritised environmental inspections to fixed installations and drilling rigs, subject to a risk based approach which takes into account operations being conducted. Over the past three years an annual average of nine drilling rig inspections have been undertaken and, subject to the above factors, it is DECC's intention to double this to a minimum of 18 drilling inspections annually, depending on the level of drilling activity taking place.
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to make an announcement on a feed-in tariff rate for biomethane injection into the grid. [8013]
Gregory Barker: The Government are committed to increasing the amount of renewable heat in the UK; this is a crucial part of ensuring we meet our renewables targets, cutting carbon and ensuring energy security. We are committed to introducing measures to promote a huge increase in energy from waste through anaerobic digestion. Central to this will be work to facilitate an increase in the number of anaerobic digestion facilities producing biomethane from waste, which can be injected into the grid.
We are currently looking at the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) proposals. Clearly there are benefits to the scheme, but we must also consider the impact of the costs, particularly given the financial constraints we must work within and the potential impact that funding options could have on vulnerable people.
We do want to provide certainty and clarity as quickly as possible but want to be sure that we are making the right decisions. We will look to make an announcement on the future of the proposed scheme as soon as possible.
Wind Power
Simon Reevell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many and what proportion of onshore wind turbine applications his Department has rejected in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8349]
Charles Hendry [holding answer 13 July 2010]: The information is as follows:
In 2005, the SoS consented two onshore wind farm applications and refused none, representing a 0% refusal rate.
Scout Moor (65 MW) Consented
Little Cheyne Court (78 MW) Consented
In 2006, the SoS made one decision on an onshore wind farm application. This was a refusal, representing a 100% refusal rate.
Whinash (67.5 MW) Refused consent
In 2007, the SoS consented one onshore wind farm and refused none, representing a 0% refusal rate.
Fullabrook Down (66 MW) Consented
During 2008, the SoS consented three onshore wind farms and refused none, representing a 0% refusal rate.
Keadby (85 MW) Consented
Tween Bridge (66 MW) Consented
Middlemoor (75 MW) Consented
In 2009, the SoS consented one onshore wind farm (jointly with the SoS for Communities and Local Government) and refused none, representing a 0% refusal rate.
Lynemouth (16.1 MW) Consented
To date in 2010, the SoS has made one decision on an onshore wind farm application. This was a refusal, representing a 100% refusal rate.
Steadings (66 MW) Consent refused
Work and Pensions
Allergies: Lost Working Days
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of working days lost due to allergies in the UK. [8765]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
A copy of their response will be placed in the Library of the House.
Disability Living Allowance
Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people resident in (a) Wansbeck constituency and (b) the UK made an appeal against a decision regarding a claim for disability living allowance in each of the last five years; and how many such appeals were upheld in each such year. [6088]
Maria Miller: The information is not available on a constituency basis. The number of DLA appeals for the UK as a whole and the number of appeals upheld is in the following table:
| DLA appeals | Total DLA appeals decisions heard by the Appeal Service | DLA appeals found in the customer's favour |
| Notes: 1. Each year covers decisions recorded on the DLA computer system within the period of 1 April to 31 March. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand. 3. The figures do not include DLA Appeals made by customers in Northern Ireland and handled by the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland. Source: Department for Work and Pensions-RDA60209, 60205 and 80123 reports-DLA Management Information Statistics. | ||
Appeals found in the customer's favour are appeal decisions that have either varied the existing award, increased the existing award or allowed an award of DLA following a previously disallowed decision.
Housing Benefit
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many local housing allowance recipients in (a) Bishop Auckland and (b) Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency are receiving (i) over £400 per week for a four or five-bedroom property, (ii) over £340 per week for a three-bedroom property, (iii) over £290 for a two-bedroom property and (iv) over £200 for a one-bedroom property in 2010-11. [5183]
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many local housing allowance recipients in West Lancashire constituency are receiving (a) over £400 per week for a four or five bedroom property, (b) over £340 per week for a three bedroom property, (c) over £290 per week for a two bedroom property and (d) over £200 per week for a one bedroom property. [5634]
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many local housing allowance recipients in Stretford and Urmston constituency are receiving (a) over £400 per week for a four or five-bedroom property, (b) over £340 per week for a three-bedroom property and (c) over £290 per week for a one-bedroom property. [5856]
Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many local housing allowance recipients in Makerfield constituency are receiving (a) over £400 per week for a four or five bedroom property, (b) over £340 per week for a three bedroom property, (c) over £290 per week for a two bedroom property and (d) over £200 per week for a one bedroom property. [6046]
Bridget Phillipson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many local housing allowance recipients in Houghton and Sunderland South constituency are receiving (a) over £400 per week for a four or five bedroom property, (b) over £340 per week
for a three bedroom property, (c) over £290 per week for a two bedroom property and (d) over £200 per week for a one bedroom property. [6060]
Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many local housing allowance recipients in Worsley and Eccles South constituency are receiving (a) over £400 per week for a four or five bedroom property, (b) over £340 per week for a three bedroom property, (c) over £290 per week for a two bedroom property and (d) over £200 per week for a one bedroom property. [6096]
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many local housing allowance recipients in (a) Glasgow North and (b) Ealing Central and Acton constituency are receiving (i) over £400 per week for a four or five bedroom property, (ii) over £340 per week for a three bedroom property, (iii) over £290 per week for a two bedroom property and (iv) over £200 per week for a one bedroom property. [6144]
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many local housing allowance recipients in (a) Slough, (b) Salisbury and (c) Scarborough and Whitby constituency are receiving (i) over £400 per week for a four or five bedroom property, (ii) over £340 per week for a three bedroom property, (iii) over £290 per week for a two bedroom property and (iv) over £200 per week for a one bedroom property. [6192]
Steve Webb: The information is not available at the constituency level.
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.
Housing Benefit: Greater London
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many London residents claimed (a) housing benefit and (b) housing benefit in excess of £100,000 in each of the last five years. [6101]
Steve Webb: Information available on receipt of housing benefit in London over the last five years comes from two different data sources and is shown in the following two tables.
| Housing benefit caseload in the London GOR, at each date shown | |
| Number | |
| Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. 4. Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data are available monthly from November 2008, and March 2010 are the most recent available. 5. Data from SHBE incorporate the local authority changes from 1 April 2009. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE). | |
| Housing benefit caseload in the London GOR, at each date shown | |
| As at August east year | Number |
| Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. Source: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 5% sample taken in August 2005-August 2007. | |
The information is published at:
We do not have information on annual payments to individual housing benefit recipients. We do hold information on customers' weekly housing benefit awards and weekly local housing allowance rates which can be used to make inferences about potential annual awards.
The latest information the Department holds is for March 2010, when the maximum local housing allowance rate was £1,800, and shows that there were customers who received this rate. All these customers would be located in the Central London Broad Rental Market Area.
In June 2010 the maximum local housing allowance rate rose to £2,000 a week which would be equivalent to "receiving housing benefit in excess of £100,000 a year, assuming the individual remains in receipt of the same level of benefit for 52 continuous weeks. Information on housing benefit awards in June will be available in September 2010.
Housing Benefit: Hampstead
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many of those resident in Hampstead and Kilburn constituency in receipt of housing benefit are in (a) local authority, (b) housing association and (c) private sector housing; [6486]
(2) how many of those resident in Hampstead and Kilburn constituency and in receipt of housing benefit are (a) pensioners and (b) of working age and (i) in employment and (ii) not in employment. [6487]
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.
Housing Benefit: Worcestershire
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals resident in West Worcestershire are in receipt of housing benefit (a) in total, (b) of over £280 per week for a one bedroom property and (c) of over £400 per week for a four bedroom property or larger. [4450]
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.
Jobseeker's Allowance: Lone Parents
Nicholas Soames: 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 in Mid Sussex constituency. [8813]
Chris Grayling: In May 2010 there were 35 lone parents claiming jobseeker's allowance in Mid Sussex.
The figure has been rounded to the nearest five.
Pensioners: West Sussex
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Mid Sussex constituency receive (a) the basic state pension and (b) pension credit. [8812]
Steve Webb: The information available is in the table.
| Parliamentary constituency: Mid Sussex | Number |
| Notes: 1. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. State pension figures are for the total state pension caseload. Around 1% of state pension recipients are not in receipt of the basic state pension, but are receiving additional state pension only or graduated retirement benefit only. 3. Basic state pension only figures are not available by current 2010 parliamentary constituencies. 4. Pension credit household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves or on behalf of themselves and a partner. Individual beneficiaries are the number of claimants in addition to the number of partners for whom they are claiming. 5. Parliamentary constituencies are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data as at November 2009 | |
Social Security Benefits: Disability
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are in receipt of (a) disability living allowance, (b) incapacity benefit and (c) employment and support allowance in Mid Sussex constituency. [8814]
Chris Grayling: The information is provided as follows:
| Employment support allowance, incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance, and disability living allowance claimants in Mid Sussex constituency: November 2009 | |
| Parliamentary constituency: Mid Sussex | Number |
| Notes: 1. Incapacity benefit was replaced by employment support allowance (ESA) from October 2008. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, some additional disclosure has been applied. 3. Case load for DLA 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. Constituencies used are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. 5. IB/SDA 'Claimants' include people in receipt of benefit and also those who fail the contributions conditions but receive a national insurance credit, ie 'credits only cases'. Source: DWP Information Directorate 100% Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study | |
Social Security Benefits: Motherwell
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of the working age population of Motherwell and Wishaw constituency are in receipt of (a) jobseeker's allowance, (b) unemployment allowance, (c) carer's allowance, (d) disability living allowance, (e) widow's and/or bereavement benefit and (f) other income support. [6532]
Chris Grayling: The information is provided in statistical groups
| Claimants of working age in the parliamentary constituency of Motherwell and Wishaw, as a percentage of the working age population, November 2009 | ||
| Motherwell and Wishaw | Percentage of working age population | |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Statistical groups are defined as follows: (a) Jobseeker-jobseeker's allowance. (b) Employment and support allowance and incapacity benefit-employment and support allowance, incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance. Employment and support allowance replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008. (c) Lone parent-income support with a child under 16 and no partner. Lone parent obligations were introduced from 24 November 2008 affecting the age of the youngest child. Further details available at: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/wa/tabtool_wa.html (d) Carer-carer's allowance. (e) Others on income related benefits-others on income support (paid on the grounds of incapacity and including the disability premium) or pension credit. (f) Disabled-disability living allowance, attendance allowance or industrial injuries benefit. (g) Bereaved-widow's benefit, bereavement benefit or industrial death benefit. 3. Figures for attendance allowance and disability living allowance represented in the disabled group and carer's allowance represented in the carers group include those cases with entitlement but where payment is currently suspended. 4. The constituency is as per Westminster Parliament of May 2005. 5. Statistical Group is a hierarchical variable. A person who fits into more than one category will only appear in the top-most one for which they are eligible. More detail available at: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/wa/tabtool_wa.html 6. Population estimates are taken from mid 2008 figures. 'Working age' is defined as males aged over 16 and under 65 and females aged over 16 and under 60. Source: Work and Pensions Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. | ||
Social Security Benefits: Uprating
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made an assessment of the effects on (a) men and (b) women of uprating benefits in line with the consumer prices index. [8105]
Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
Analysis of the impact of Budget measures is undertaken at the household level. Benefits and tax credits are awarded based on family income. There is significant variation in the way that households allocate their resources, and interactions between the tax and benefit system are complex. For these reasons any gender analysis based on a single set of assumptions would not be robust.
The above-indexation increases to the child tax credit announced at Budget will help support low-income families with children, and the Government will continue to work to eliminate unlawful discrimination and promote equality of opportunity.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture: Research
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research projects on public attitudes to the use of pesticides her Department has funded since 1997; what the (a) research topic, (b) start date, (c) cost and (d) project code was of each such project; who the main contractor was in each case; and which such projects have been completed to date. [8036]
Richard Benyon: The 1996-97 survey of public attitudes to the environment for England and Wales included two questions on pesticides. The work was carried out by MORI, fieldwork was carried out between November 1996 and January 1997 and the report was published in September 1998. The Survey of public attitudes to quality of life and to the environment 2001 included three questions on pesticides. The work was carried out by the Office for National Statistics, fieldwork was carried out between January and April 2001 and the report was published in October 2002.
The results of these surveys are available on the DEFRA website at:
No cost can be meaningfully ascribed to the pesticides questions within these surveys as these questions made up only a small part of the surveys. No questions on pesticides were included in the 2007 or 2009 attitude surveys.
Project PS2302 on the "acceptability of pesticide effects on non-target species" had scheduled start and completion dates of 1 November 2002 and 31 October 2004 respectively. The cost was £143,750 and the main contractor was Crane Consultants. The report can be found at:
http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&; Module=More&Location=None&ProjectID=11761&FromSearch =Y&Publisher=1&SearchText=PS2302&SortString=ProjectCode&Sort Order=Asc&Paging=10#Description
Bees
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research her Department has carried out on the effects of neonicotinoids on the honey bee population. [8494]
Mr Paice: As part of its pesticides research programme the Government fund a number of projects in support of the development of the pesticides risk assessment process. A number of these relate specifically to the potential impact of pesticides on honeybees, both from the wide scale professional use and home-garden use of insecticides. These projects were completed last year and final reports have been published. Previous work on the risk posed to honeybees by systemic insecticides, such as imidacloprid, has fed into the international risk assessment models for honeybees due to be adopted later this year by the European Plant Protection Office.
The rigorous EU scientific process for approval of pesticide active substances and the supporting national processes for individual products protect human health and the environment, including wildlife, provided products are used in accordance with the approval and any related conditions. This approval process takes account of the potential impact on bees. The Government will, of course, act immediately on any concrete evidence of adverse impacts of pesticides on bees in the UK.
Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research her Department has commissioned on the (a) possible links between badgers and bovine tuberculosis and (b) possible preventative measures; and what the results of such research have been. [8490]
Mr Paice: The information is as follows:
(a) The largest single piece of research on badgers and bovine TB is the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT), carried out by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB. The ISG's final report, published in 2007, explicitly states that badgers contribute significantly to the disease in cattle.
(b) The RBCT examined the impact of two different badger culling strategies on TB incidence in cattle. Results showed that annual proactive culling was associated with a 23% reduction in TB incidence in cattle herds in culled areas, but a 25% increase in TB incidence in herds in the surrounding 2 km un-culled ring. The increase in surrounding areas is thought to be due to changes in badger behaviour following social disturbance brought about by culling-the "perturbation effect". Since the end of the RBCT, regular monitoring of TB incidence has shown continued benefits of culling on TB incidence in proactively culled areas for at least 3.5 years after culling. A beneficial effect was also observed in the 2 km ring surrounding culled areas for 2.5 years immediately after culling stopped. Reactive, localised culling was stopped by Ministers in November 2003 as early interim results from the reactively culled areas showed an increase of 18.9% new confirmed TB cattle herd incidents when compared with survey-only areas.
DEFRA has been funding research into badger vaccines since 1998. An injectable badger vaccine has been shown to be both safe and effective in experimental studies and is now licensed for use. Research continues into an oral badger vaccine. Modelling work to help us understand the effect of vaccination, in isolation and in combination with culling, is ongoing.
In 2005, DEFRA commissioned a project to examine the effectiveness of biosecurity measures to prevent badger visits to farm buildings. This project finished in October 2009. It found that badger exclusion measures could, if properly employed and maintained, prevent 100% of badger visits to farm buildings, but that compliance varied widely among farmers.
Research into immunocontraception as a method of controlling badger numbers is being funded through programmes elsewhere in DEFRA. As the results will be relevant to TB control, DEFRA's TB Programme will review the findings of this study when they become available.
Departmental Private Roads
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the former Secretary of State's letters to the hon. Member for Ochil and South Perthshire dated 3 February and 19 April 2010, what progress has been made in discussions with the Scottish Executive on the maintenance burdens of access roads 5 and 6 in property owned by her Department in Almondbank, Perthshire. [8763]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA has proposed to Scottish Ministers that the roadway exclusively serving their retained land at Site 6 be formally transferred to the Scottish Government. Scottish Ministers have indicated a desire to explore the proposed transfer and are progressing their interest.
Domestic Waste: Recycling
Dr Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which 20 local authorities recycled the most domestic refuse in 2009. [8308]
Richard Benyon: The following table shows the 20 local authorities in England that sent the highest tonnage of household waste to be recycled, composted or reused between October 2008 and September 2009. This is the latest 12-month period for which published data is available.
| Tonnes of h ousehold waste sent for recycling/composting/reuse, October 2008 to September 2009 | |
| Local authority | Tonnes |
|
Bradford City Metropolitan District Council (Metropolitan Borough Council) | |
The amount sent for recycling is affected by many factors, such as the size of the population in each local authority. The following table shows which 20 local authorities in England had the highest household recycling, composting and reuse rate as a percentage of all waste collected in the period October 2008 to September 2009.
| Percentage of household waste sent for recycling/composting/reuse, October 2008 to September 2009) | |
| Local authority | Percentage |
| Source: WasteDataFlow. | |
Genetically Modified Organisms
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what projects on public attitudes to genetically-modified crops, food and feed her Department has funded since 1997; what the (a) topic, (b) start date, (c) cost and (d) project code was of each such project; who the main contractor was in each case; and which such projects have been completed to date. [8030]
Mr Paice: DEFRA part-funded the 'GM Nation' public debate that was planned and run by an independent steering board in 2002 and 2003. The board appointed the Central Office of Information as the prime contractor for the debate. The total cost was £562,000 of which DEFRA contributed £282,000. Other funding contributions were made by the former Department of Trade and Industry and the devolved Administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This was not a research project as such and therefore did not have a project code.
DEFRA also funded a research project, code CB02023, on the willingness of consumers to pay to reduce or eliminate GM products or derivatives from the supply chain. The contract started in April 2003 and ended in January 2004; it was carried out by the University of Manchester at a cost of £94,550.
GM Inspectorate: Expenditure
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what expenditure her Department has incurred on the GM Inspectorate for England and Wales in each year since 1997. [8028]
Mr Paice: Official inspections are carried out to ensure that authorised trial releases of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) comply with the conditions specified in the statutory consent. The Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) inspects GM crop trials and the Health and Safety Executive inspects GM vaccine trials, both on behalf of DEFRA. In addition, Fera will investigate and take action for DEFRA in relation to unauthorised releases of GMOs. Expenditure on this activity is given in the following table. Figures for earlier years are not readily available.
The figures for Fera inspections up to 2004-05 reflect the large number of sites involved in the farm scale evaluation trials of GM herbicide-tolerant crops.
| £ | ||
| Expenditure on GM crop trial inspections and unauthorised GMO releases (Fera) | Expenditure on GM vaccine trial inspections (HSE) | |
Inland Waterways: Dredging
David Heyes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what statutory navigations operated by (a) British Waterways canals and (b) the Environment Agency are closed to navigation pending dredging. [8455]
Richard Benyon: British Waterways and the Environment Agency currently have no statutory navigations closed pending dredging.
David Heyes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans for dredging (a) British Waterways and (b) the Environment Agency has for 2010-11. [8456]
Richard Benyon: British Waterways currently has plans to dredge between 30 kilometres (km) and 40 km of its waterways during 2010-11. This will take place at 18 locations, at an estimated cost of £4.5 million.
The Environment Agency plans to dredge a number of sites across its navigations in 2010-11; these will cover an equivalent length of 5 kms. Due to the fact that nearly all of the Environment Agency's navigations are heavily modified natural watercourses, with high flows naturally removing or re-profiling shoals and silt deposits, this greatly reduces the need for the agency to dredge extensive lengths of waterway.
David Heyes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what length of (a) British Waterways canals and (b) Environment Agency waterways have been dredged in each of the last 10 years. [8457]
Richard Benyon: British Waterways estimates that it has dredged the following lengths of waterways for each of the past 10 years:
| Length (km) | |
The Environment Agency does not maintain detailed records on the length of navigation dredging it has undertaken. However, it estimates that it has dredged a length of waterway equivalent to 5km per year, across its waterways over each of the past 10 years.
David Heyes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the length of (a) British Waterways canals and (b) Environment Agency waterways which require dredging. [8458]
Richard Benyon: British Waterways estimates that 291 kilometres (km) of their canals and rivers require dredging, and are prioritised accordingly out of the total of 3,283 km for which they are responsible.
The Environment Agency considers that the current dredging operations of around 5km per year meets the requirements of its navigations, and believes that this level best balances the cost/benefit for navigation with the needs of the environment.
David Heyes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of dredged material was removed from (a) British Waterways canals and (b) Environment Agency waterways in each of the last 10 years. [8459]
Richard Benyon: British Waterways estimates that it has removed the following volumes of materials from its waterways in each of the past 10 years:
| Volume cubic metres | |
The Environment Agency estimates that on average it dredges some 50,000 cubic metres of material from its navigations per year. Some of this material is not removed, but is re-distributed to other parts of the river bed within key sites.
Phytophthora Ramorum
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent estimate she has made of the rate at which phytophthora ramorum is spreading (a) nationally and (b) in the South West; [8125]
(2) what recent estimate she has made of the geographical extent of phytophthora ramorum. [8126]
Mr Paice: Since the first detection of Phytophthora ramorum in Sussex in May 2002, a systematic programme of surveys has been carried out by the Food and Environment Research Agency and the Forestry Commission covering nurseries, garden centres, woodland and other sites in the wider environment, with action being taken to destroy infected plants that posed a risk of further spread, especially Rhododendrons.
While the disease caused by the pathogen has spread, and is now found in much of the south-west of England and Wales, occasionally in other parts of the south of England, and to a much lesser extent in Scotland, the rate of spread and the intensity of infection has been slowed by the action taken.
In August 2009, the pathogen was found for the first time in Japanese larch, a commercial forestry tree species, at sites in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, and surveys have found a number of further sites where trees have been infected. These surveys have intensified and are ongoing, supported by aerial surveillance by helicopter. Infected sites totalling around 1,850 hectares have been found in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and in South Wales. The evidence suggests that all of the woodlands that have been found with dead and dying larch could have become infected as a result of a weather event causing aerial spread, possibly in 2008. The extent of subsequent spread is still being investigated.
Public Sector: Procurement
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to set up an advisory group to promote sustainable local procurement. [7811]
Mr Paice: The Government have no immediate plans to set up an advisory group to promote sustainable food procurement. The Government are however examining ways of promoting local procurement including the further development of local food hubs.
The procurement of food in the public sector is an area where the coalition Government is looking for progress both in terms of efficiencies and sustainability. The public sector must lead by example on this and DEFRA, with input from other Government Departments and external organisations, is already looking into how this can be achieved. For example, we are in the process of considering criteria for Government Buying Standards (GBS) to ensure the public sector procures sustainable food and catering services. GBS are mandatory for central Government Departments and their executive agencies and these standards will be promoted to the wider public sector.
Salmon
Mr Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much farmed Atlantic salmon was produced in the UK in each of the last five years; and what proportion was sold under the EU protected Geographical Indication Appellation Regulation for Scottish Farmed Salmon in each such year. [8568]
Richard Benyon: Farming of Atlantic salmon in the UK is dominated by Scotland, although a small production does occur in Northern Ireland. The following table shows the combined Scottish and Northern Ireland annual production from 2004 to 2008.
| UK Atlantic Salmon production | |
| thousand tonnes | |
DEFRA does not hold information on the proportion of Atlantic salmon sold under the EU Protected Geographical Indication Appellation Regulation for Scottish Farmed Salmon.
Attorney-General
Departmental Electronic Equipment
Graham Evans: To ask the Attorney-General how much (a) the Law Officers' Departments and (b) their agency spent on televisions in each year since 1997. [7498]
The Solicitor-General: Since launching in 2008-09, the National Fraud Authority has spent £1,335.98 on the purchase and installation of a television and DVD player. In 2007 the Serious Fraud Office purchased four plasma screen televisions at a total cost £9,240.
The Crown Prosecution Service's (CPS) records show that it has purchased one plasma television screen in the last five years. The screen was purchased during 2005-06 and cost £5,287, including installation costs.
CPS central records only hold items that cost over the capitalisation threshold of £500 and it is possible that televisions have been purchased throughout the CPS at a lower cost. To obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost.
The Revenue and Customs Prosecution Service (RCPO), which merged with CPS on 1 January 2010, previously purchased one plasma screen television during 2006-07 at a cost of £1,755, which included purchase and installation.
The Attorney-General's Office bought six televisions for the refurbishment of their new headquarters, 20 Victoria street in spring 2007, costing £5,376.67 plus VAT.
The Treasury Solicitor's Department purchased two televisions in each of the years 2005, 2006 and 2007, at a respective cost of £3,198 plus VAT (2005); £1,798 plus VAT (2006); and £3,302 plus VAT (2007). Five of the six are for use in in-house training and not for receiving television signals.
Departmental Official Cars
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Attorney-General which (a) Ministers and (b) officials in the Law Officers' Departments 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. [7999]
The Solicitor-General:
The Law Officers and the Director of Public Prosecutions have been driven by the Government Car Service (GCS) since the Government took office.
On some occasions a small number of officials in the Attorney-General's Office have accompanied the Law Officers on official business, but their names cannot be disclosed on the grounds of staff confidentiality.
The Treasury Solicitor has used the GCS on two occasions since 6 May. During this period the Solicitor-General has claimed £12 for a taxi journey and the Director of Public Prosecutions has claimed for four taxi journeys at a total cost of £108.60.
Departmental Training
Graham Evans: To ask the Attorney-General how much (a) the Law Officers' Department and (b) their agency spent on employee training in each year since 1997. [7637]
The Solicitor-General: The information requested is contained in the following table.
| Cost (£) | ||||
| NFA( 1) | SFO | CPS( 2) | Tsol( 3) | |
| (1) The training cost for 2009-10 reflects an increase in staff numbers and full year impact of NFA operations. (2) The figures for employee training provided from 2005-06 onwards include costs for the Revenue and Customs Prosecution Service (RCPO) who merged with the CPS on 1 January 2010. The data are taken from the Financial Management System and are only available from 2003-04 onwards, data for earlier years could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. The figures include road, rail and air travel-and also charges for car hire. (3) Figures cover the amount spent by the Treasury Solicitor's Department, Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate for each year. The figures prior to 1998-1999 are not retained on the Department's accounting system, and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate was not included within the Department until mid-2001. | ||||
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Anti-Semitism
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received reports on levels of anti-Semitism in (a) Ukraine, (b) Latvia and (c) Estonia since his appointment; and if he will make a statement. [7069]
Mr Lidington:
There are no significant problems with anti-Semitism in Latvia and Estonia. In recent years there have been a number of anti-Semitic incidents in Ukraine. We take a serious view of these incidents and continue to urge the Ukrainian authorities to tackle them in a determined way in accordance with Ukraine's
international commitments. At the EU-Ukraine Co-operation Council on 15 June 2010, the EU urged the Ukrainian Prime Minister to continue to take further steps to combat intolerance and discrimination against national and other minorities and in particular hate crimes.
Armenia: Genocide
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on recognition of the deaths which took place in the Armenian genocide in 1919. [6916]
Mr Lidington: The terrible suffering that was inflicted on Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century cannot be forgotten. The massacres and crimes that were committed were rightly and robustly condemned by the Government of the day. While we remember the victims of the past, our priority today should be to promote reconciliation between the peoples and governments of Turkey and Armenia. That is the best way to ensure a peaceful and secure future for everyone living in the region.
Cyprus
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his overseas counterparts on a political settlement in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [8842]
Mr Lidington: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the Cyprus settlement negotiations with the Cypriot Foreign Minister, Markos Kyprianou on 12 July 2010. He had also previously discussed the issue with the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on 8 July 2010. I have discussed the issues with my Turkish counterpart Egemin Bagis. We are committed to supporting the UN's efforts to achieve a settlement based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality. We want to see a settlement agreed and peacefully implemented by Cypriots for Cypriots to deliver a stable, prosperous and united Cyprus, operating as a valued partner within the EU.
Departmental Location
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [8288]
Alistair Burt: The location of public sector activity and plans for the Government's estate will be considered alongside other public spending issues over the course of the Spending Review.
Departmental Lost Property
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what property has been recorded as (a) lost and (b) stolen from the Department in the last 12 months; and what estimate has been made of the cost of the replacement of that property. [5963]
Alistair Burt: The information required is held separately in various Foreign and Commonwealth Office Departments, all of which hold records relating to various losses and thefts of both personal property and official furnishings, including IT equipment losses. This information is not held centrally, and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Departmental Offices
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to relocate officials working in his Department from central London to Bassetlaw. [6559]
Alistair Burt: The location of public sector activity and plans for the Government's estate will be considered alongside other public spending issues over the course of the spending review.
Departmental Sick Leave
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many days absence because of illness among his Department's staff were recorded in each month since 1997. [8840]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is committed to reducing sickness absence. The average number of days sick leave by UK staff has decreased from 8.9 days in 1997 to 3.5 days in 2009. Per capita sickness absence in the FCO has been consistently below the public sector average.
We do not keep records centrally of sick leave taken by locally-engaged staff members. This information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
Data collection since 1997 has been complicated by the introduction of new pay and management information systems. It is therefore possible that the figures given as follows do not reflect consistent recording methods.
All figures include staff in FCO positions working for UK Border Agency, and also include staff working for FCO Services, which became a Trading Fund on 1 April 2008.
Annual figures are available from 2000 and monthly figures from April 2006:
| Total number of days | Average number of days per officer | |
| n/a = Not available. (1) Estimated. | ||
| Number | |
Diplomatic Service: Redundancy
Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which overseas posts his Department is considering for possible closure. [6656]
Alistair Burt: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has stated, we will not secure the UK's economic recovery or our future security and prosperity without looking beyond our shores for new opportunities and new partners. There can be no suggestion that it is in our national interest for our role in the world to wither and shrivel away. The Government reject the idea of strategic shrinkage. Although we keep the size and scope of our network under constant review to ensure it is efficient and effective, any decisions to open or close posts will always take into account the crucial role our overseas network plays in serving the needs and protecting the interests of the British people.
Gaza
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to visit Gaza. [8240]
Alistair Burt: For security and operational reasons, we do not comment on or announce visits by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary significantly in advance.
Iran
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his overseas counterparts on the state of democracy in Iran. [8835]
Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary regularly discusses Iran with his EU counterparts, including the state of democracy, human rights concerns and developments in Iran's nuclear programme. The Foreign Secretary has also discussed Iran with a number of other overseas counterparts. We will continue to work with international partners to voice our concerns over democratic shortcomings in Iran and encourage the Iranian authorities to address the concerns raised by many within Iran following the disputed presidential election in 2009.
Iran: Baha'i Faith
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Iranian authorities to free the seven Baha'i leaders now in their third year in prison awaiting trial; and if he will make a statement. [7660]
Alistair Burt: The UK remains extremely concerned about the ongoing detention of the seven Baha'i leaders in Iran. In my statement of 10 June 2010, I made clear that the accused should be given due legal process and that their rights be fully protected, in line with international standards.
This is a case I am following closely and I again urge the Iranian Government to cease its harassment of the Baha'i minority, and to respect the rights of the many
members of minority groups who continue to face arrest and lengthy prison sentences, often on vaguely worded charges of acting against national security.
Iran: Capital Punishment
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he is making to the President of Iran on the death sentences on Ms Sakineh Ashtiani and others convicted for alleged adultery; and if he will make a statement. [8624]
Mr Jeremy Browne: In a statement on 7 July 2010 my hon. Friend Alistair Burt made clear our deep concern over the reports that Ms Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani would be executed by stoning. EU High Representative Catherine Ashton also issued a statement on 6 July 2010 calling on Iran to halt this and other executions. Following a statement by the Iranian embassy that Ms Ashtiani would not be stoned to death, my hon. Friend telephoned the Iranian ambassador on 9 July 2010the Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt) to express concern that Ms Ashtiani could still be executed by different means and urged the Iranian authorities to review her case. We will continue to follow this case closely and raise our concerns with the Iranian authorities.
Iran: Human Rights
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made an assessment of the human rights situation of Jewish people in Iran since his appointment; and if he will make a statement. [7068]
Alistair Burt: I am deeply concerned about the situation of Jewish people, and a number of other minorities, in Iran. The position of the three religious minorities recognised by the constitution-Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians-remains vulnerable. Although recognised minority groups have reserved seats in the Parliament, higher positions in state institutions are reserved exclusively for Shiite Muslims.
Further, government rhetoric and actions often create a threatening atmosphere for non-Shia religious groups. I have stated publicly our support for the rights of minorities in Iran and will continue to raise this issue with the Iranian authorities.
Iraq: Embassies
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for the British Embassy Office in the Kurdistan region of Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [7680]
Alistair Burt: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers continuously review the deployment of FCO resources, including our embassy office in Erbil, and align them with UK interests.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which companies sponsored the arrangements made by the British Embassy in Baghdad to celebrate HM the Queen's Birthday in 2010. [7054]
Alistair Burt: The Queen's Birthday celebration at our embassy in Baghdad was sponsored by the following companies: Shell, HSBC, BAE Systems, Cyril Sweett, ITT, Copperchase, Inanna Diyala, Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB), Mott McDonald and Standard Chartered.
Kyrgyzistan: Politics and Government
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the role of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe in responding to the security situation in Kyrgyzistan. [7164]
Mr Lidington: The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), working closely with the UN, EU and other international actors, is playing an important role in helping Kyrgyzstan take steps to ensure peace, institutional stability, open dialogue, rule of law and democracy for all of its people.
The Special Envoy of OSCE Chairman-in-Office and the OSCE Centre in Bishkek are at the forefront of this work. Their efforts are reinforced by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and by the OSCE's High Commissioner on National Minorities. I expect to discuss Kyrgyzstan during the informal meeting of OSCE Foreign Ministers in Almaty on 16-17 July 2010.
Michael Binnington and Luke Atkinson
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consular assistance his Department provided to (a) Michael Binnington and (b) Luke Atkinson in respect of legal proceedings in Cyprus. [8709]
Mr Lidington: The role of consular staff when a British national is detained overseas is essentially one of welfare. The Government are not able to interfere with the legal process of another country, nor are we able to give legal advice.
Our consular staff visited Mr Atkinson and Mr Binnington several times during their detention. Both men were given information about local legal systems and processes, together with a list of local Cypriot lawyers. They were advised to pursue their cases through the Cypriot legal system.
USA: Pakistan
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to his US counterpart to support the repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddiqui to Pakistan on humanitarian grounds. [8141]
Alistair Burt: Dr Aafia Siddiqui is a Pakistani national currently standing trial in the US on terrorism charges. As a Pakistani national, any representations would be made to the US by the Pakistani authorities on Dr Siddiqui's behalf.
Yemen: Counter-terrorism
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on countering terrorism in Yemen under each category of expenditure in each of the last three years. [7729]
Alistair Burt: Due to the sensitive nature of counter terrorism projects, we cannot provide details of the exact amounts allocated to projects in specific countries under the counter terrorism and radicalisation programme.
Cabinet Office
Business: Bexley
Mr Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many small businesses in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency generated a turnover of (a) between £70,000 and £100,000 and (b) over £100,000 in the most recent period for which figures are available. [7191]
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 recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many small businesses in Bexleyheath and Crayford generated a turnover of (a) between £70,000 and £100,000 and (b) over £100,000 in the most recent period for which figures are available. [7191]
Annual statistics on business counts are available from the ONS release UK Business: Activity, Size and Location at
Data are for enterprises in the constituency of Bexleyheath and Crayford with less than 50 employment and for the year 2009.
| Count of VAT and/or PAYE based enterprises with less than 50 employment for the constituency of Bexleyheath and Crayford | |
| Turnover size | Count |
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 26 May 2010, Official Report, columns 2-3WS, on savings (2010-11), under what budgetary headings the £79 million of savings allocated to his Department will be made. [6828]
Mr Hurd: The savings have been allocated as follows:
Administration budget: £4.25 million
Programme budget: £68.25 million
Capital budget: £6.5 million.
Departmental Speeches
Angela Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which (a) (i) civil servants and (ii) special advisers in his Department and (b) other individuals are employed to write speeches for each Minister in his Department. [7303]
Mr Maude: Cabinet Office staff will contribute to the drafting of ministerial speeches as appropriate. Special advisers also contribute to the preparation of speeches in line with their code of conduct.
Departmental Training
Graham Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much his (a) Department and (b) its agency and non-departmental public bodies spent on training for its employees in each year since 1997. [7641]
Mr Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 July 2010, Official Report, column 668W.
Jobseeker's Allowance: Norwich
Simon Wright: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people aged under 25 years old and resident in Norwich South constituency claimed jobseeker's allowance in (a) 1997, (b) 2007, (c) 2008 and (d) 2009. [7050]
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 how many people aged under 25 years old and resident in Norwich South constituency claimed jobseekers allowance in (a) 1997 (b) 2007 (c) 2008 and (d) 2009. (7050)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles the number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) from the Jobcentre Plus administrative system.
The Norwich South parliamentary constituency changed to new boundaries at the 2010 general election. Figures for the current Norwich South parliamentary constituency are only available from 2005.
Table 1 attached, shows the number of persons aged under 25 years claiming JSA, resident in the current Norwich South parliamentary constituency for May in each year since 2005, including May 2010, the latest period for which figures are available.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
| Table 1: Number of persons( 1) aged under 25 resident in Norwich South constituency claiming jobseeker's allowance | |
| Number | |
| (1) Age data are only available for computerised claims, which account for 99.7% of all claims. Note: Data rounded to nearest five. Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative system | |
Lone Parents: Birmingham
Jack Dromey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many lone parents there are in Birmingham Erdington constituency. [6937]
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 recent Parliamentary Question asking how many lone parents there are in Birmingham Erdington constituency. (6937)
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 which 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. Birmingham Erdington, as constituted in 2008, consisted of five electoral wards, one more than the current constituency. 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 (Thousand) |
| Source: APS January to December 2008 | |
Lone Parents: Milton Keynes
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many lone parents there are in Milton Keynes North constituency. [7064]
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 recent Parliamentary Question asking how many lone parents there are in Milton Keynes North constituency. (7064)
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 which 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. 'North East Milton Keynes', as constituted in 2008, consisted of 15 electoral wards, three more than the current constituency of 'Milton Keynes North'. 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 (thousand) |
| Source: APS January to December 2008 | |
National Citizen Service
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made in establishing a national citizen service. [7265]
Mr Hurd: Details of this programme will be announced by the Cabinet Office later this year, with a launch expected in 2011.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Advantage West Midlands
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the value generated for the West Midlands regional economy by each £1 spent by Advantage West Midlands in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8408]
Mr Prisk: An independent review conducted by PwC in 2006/07 found that RDAs on average generated a return of £4.50 for every £1 spent. The average return for AWM is just under £4 to £1. This ranges from £1:£1 for the 'People and skills' programme to £16:£1 for their individual enterprise support scheme. But, as the PwC analysis also revealed, much of RDAs' spending was of poor value. More than half the RDAs' economic benefits came from just 20% of their spending.
In these constrained times, we need to ensure that all spending is valuable and worthwhile. That is why this Government are creating local enterprise partnerships (LEPs), accountable to the people affected by the LEPs actions, so that money is spent on programmes that will make a difference, not to meet Whitehall targets.
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding Advantage West Midlands provided for businesses in the West Midlands in each of the last five years. [8409]
Mr Prisk: 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 funding for businesses given by the RDAs within their delegated financial authorities.
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to how many businesses Advantage West Midlands provided funding to in each of the last five years. [8410]
Mr Prisk: The number of businesses supported by Advantage West Midlands (AWM) over the last five years are set out within the RDA's annual reports and accounts and can be found at:
The annual reports are also available in the Libraries of the House.
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people were placed in training by Advantage West Midlands in each of the last five years. [8411]
Mr Prisk: Figures in Advantage West Midlands' (AWM) annual reports indicate that the RDA has assisted more than 100,000 people with training. The following figures provide the annual breakdown of the numbers of people assisted.
| Number | |
Apprentices
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many apprenticeships were taken up by people aged between 30 and 50 years in each of the last five years; [7930]
(2) what target he has set for the number of apprenticeships to be taken up by people aged between 30 and 50 years in each of the next five years. [7931]
Mr Hayes: Table 1 shows apprenticeship starts for learners aged between 30 and 50 years old. Figures are given for 2004/05 to 2008/09, the latest year for which full year data are available. The upper age limit of 25 was abolished in 2006.
| Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts for 30 to 50-year-olds, 2004/05 to 2008/09 | |
| Number | |
| (1) Indicates a base figure of less than 50. Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Figures are based on age at start of programme. Source: Individualised Learner Record. | |
Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 24 June:
167,000 adult apprenticeship starts are planned in the 2010/11 academic year. Our plans do not separately target those aged 30 to 50. Plans for adult apprenticeships for 2010/11 and 2011 /12 will be confirmed in the autumn. The Government's decision to redeploy £150 million of our savings for 2010-11, creating an additional 50,000 places, demonstrates our commitment to high-quality employer owned apprenticeships.
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