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19 July 2010 : Column 125W—continued
Disability Living Allowance: Carers
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of reductions in expenditure in (a) carer's allowance and (b) carer premium in relation to all benefits as a result of changing the disability living allowance system in the first four years of the operation of the new rules; [9302]
(2) whether he has made an evaluation of the effects of changes to the disability living allowance system on the amount of benefits paid to carers. [9303]
Maria Miller: The Emergency Budget made the commitment to reform disability living allowance to ensure it supports those people who are most in need and remains financially sustainable. We will introduce a more objective assessment process and, as part of these reforms, carefully consider how this impacts upon carer's allowance, the carer premium and other benefits.
As we develop our proposals, we will engage with disabled people and carers' organisations to ensure support is distributed on a consistent basis, while continuing to tackle the inequalities that can arise from severe disability.
Disability Living Allowance: Chester
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents of city of Chester constituency have been claiming disability living allowance for (a) less than one year, (b) between one and five years and (c) over five years. [9263]
Maria Miller: The information is as follows:
Disability Living Allowance: Fraud
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans his Department has to identify potentially fraudulent claims for disability living allowance. [9354]
Chris Grayling: The Department carries out various checks on a selection of disability living allowance live cases to ensure they are correct. Where appropriate, additional medical evidence may also be sought from a relevant health care professional. This may include a medical examination. We also match data both within and outside Government to identify inconsistencies in information.
As announced in the Emergency Budget on 22 June, the Government plan to reform DLA. This will include introducing a transparent, objective assessment to ensure it is received by those who it was originally designed to support.
Employment Support Allowance
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the weekly deduction of allowance is in respect of claimants of (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) employment and support allowance who have exceeded their allowable amount of assets; and for what reasons the deduction was set at that level in each case. [9539]
Chris Grayling: The weekly deduction for both income-based jobseeker's allowance and income-related employment and support allowance is £1 for each £250 or part of £250 over the lower capital threshold of £6,000 (or £10,000 for people living in a care home).
The deduction was set at this level in order to provide a simple method of calculating the weekly contribution which people with capital are expected to make from their resources to help meet their normal living expenses. The deduction is not intended to represent any rate of return that could be obtained from investing in capital.
There is no entitlement to income-based jobseeker's allowance or income-related employment and support allowance if capital exceeds £16,000.
The contributory element of jobseeker's allowance or employment and support allowance is not affected by capital assets.
Employment Support Allowance: Medical Examinations
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will commission an independent evaluation of the effectiveness of medical assessments for employment support allowance before introducing a medical assessment for disability living allowance. [9228]
Chris Grayling: We have a statutory commitment to arrange an independent review of the main elements of the work capability assessment every year for the first five years of operation. The review will be conducted by Professor Malcolm Harrington, acting as lead reviewer. Professor Harrington is a highly respected occupational physician and will be supported by a scrutiny group, who will review progress at intervals and peer review the final report. It is anticipated that a call for evidence will be made later this month.
As set out in last month's Budget Statement, a new objective assessment will not be introduced for disability living allowance until 2013-2014. This will draw on experience of the introduction of the work capability assessment as we develop the details of the new assessment for disability living allowance.
Nicky Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many medical assessments for
employment and support allowance have been (a) completed and (b) completed and later amended in the latest period for which figures are available. [9359]
Chris Grayling: The Department regularly publishes official statistics on the work capability assessment-the statistics were last updated in April 2010 and published in the report "Employment and Support Allowance: Work Capability Assessment: Official Statistics: April 2010", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. The information is also available on the internet at the following address:
Housing Benefit: Greater London
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people resident in the London borough of (a) Camden and (b) Brent and in receipt of housing benefit are (i) pensioners and (i) of working age and (A) in employment and (B) not in employment. [6488]
Steve Webb: The available information is in the table. Information on whether a claimant of housing benefit is in employment or not in employment is not available.
| The number of housing benefit (HB) claimants by age group - March 2010 | ||
| London borough of Brent | London borough of Camden | |
| (1 )Nil or negligible. Notes: 1. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month. 2. Data are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. March 2010 represents the latest data held. 4. Working age is defined as claimants in receipt of the following passported benefits, as recorded on the LA computer system: income support, jobseeker's allowance (income-based) or employment support allowance (income-based). If the claim is not passported then a claimant is counted as working age if they are aged under 60. 5. Elderly is defined as claimants in receipt of the following passported benefit, as recorded on the LA computer system: pension credit (guarantee credit). If the claim is not passported then a claimant is counted as elderly if they are aged 60 or over. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract 100% individual level data (SHBE). | ||
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families resident in London are in receipt of (a) housing benefit, (b) housing benefit of over £250 per week for a one bedroom property, (c) housing benefit of over £290 per week for a two bedroom property, (d) housing benefit of over £340 per week for a three bedroom property and (e) housing benefit of over £400 per week for a property with four or more bedrooms. [6723]
Steve Webb: At March 2010 our records show that there were 792,890 households in London receiving housing benefit. Of these, 548,660 were in the social rented sector and 242,850 were in the private rented sector.
Information on bedroom entitlement is only available for those housing benefit claims assessed under the local housing allowance arrangements. Of those in the private rented sector, 166,780 households in London received housing benefit under the local housing allowance arrangements, of which there were:
3,320 households with a one-bedroom entitlement receiving over £250 per week;
6,950 households with a two-bedroom entitlement receiving over £290 per week;
2,710 households with a three-bedroom entitlement receiving over £340 per week; and
1,900 households with a four-bedroom entitlement receiving over £400 per week.
Notes:
1. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 recipients.
2. The single housing benefit extract does not have bedroom entitlement recorded in 4% of the local housing allowance cases in the London Government office region so there may be some underestimation in the numbers reported.
3. Components may not sum to total due to independent rounding and exclusion of unknown and other small categories.
Source:
Single Housing Benefit Extract
Jeremy Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what his most recent estimate is
of the average (a) private sector rent level and (b) housing benefit paid to claimants in private sector accommodation in the London Borough of Islington for (i) four bedroom, (ii) two bedroom and (iii) one bedroom accommodation; [9767]
(2) what the average level of (a) private sector rent and (b) housing benefit paid to claimants in private sector accommodation was for (i) four bedroom, (ii) two bedroom and (iii) one bedroom accommodation in London in the last 12 months. [9768]
Steve Webb: The information requested on average private rented sector rents is not available.
At March 2010, in the London borough of Islington, the average housing benefit paid for customers assessed under the local housing allowance arrangements was:
£168 per week for those with a one-bedroom entitlement;
£291 per week for those with a two-bedroom entitlement; and
£482 per week for those with a four-bedroom entitlement.
At March 2010, in London, the average housing benefit paid for customers assessed under the local housing allowance arrangements was:
£156 per week for those with a one-bedroom entitlement;
£204 per week for those with a two-bedroom entitlement; and
£326 per week for those with a four-bedroom entitlement.
N ote:
Figures rounded to the nearest £.
Source:
Single Housing Benefit Extract
Housing Benefit: Homelessness
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the effect on the number of (a) homeless people and (b) those sleeping rough of the proposed changes to housing benefit. [9127]
Steve Webb: We are working closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government and the devolved Administrations to assess the impacts of the proposed changes to housing benefit, including looking at ways to minimise any risk of adverse impacts on local authorities' homelessness prevention strategies.
Housing Benefit: Local Government Finance
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he intends to provide additional funding to those local authorities where there is a difference between prevailing rent levels and the level of housing benefit. [9125]
Steve Webb: The Government will provide additional funding for discretionary housing payments. This will be an additional £10 million in 2011-12 and £40 million a year thereafter. The Department will consider how best to distribute this funding in conjunction with local authorities; however, one of the criteria we will consider is the projected levels of shortfalls between benefit and rents at local levels.
Jobseeker's Allowance: Warrington
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of (a) individuals and (b) lone parents in Warrington North constituency who will have been on jobseeker's allowance for over 12 months by 2013. [9122]
Chris Grayling: The information is not available.
Maternity Payments
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Sure Start maternity grants were made to mothers for their second or subsequent child in each Jobcentre Plus Social Fund Budget area in the South West in 2009-10. [8656]
Steve Webb: There is only one Jobcentre Plus Social Fund budget area in the south-west Government office region, namely South West Central. The exact number of Sure Start maternity grants awarded for a second or subsequent maternity in this budget area in 2009-10 is not available, but is estimated to be 9,800 (rounded to the nearest 100).
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to reply to the letter dated 11 June 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr B. E. Gareth, transferred to his Department from the Department of Health. [9351]
Steve Webb: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions replied to the right hon. Member on 18 June 2010.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received Support for Mortgage Interest in each (a) local authority area and (b) Jobcentre Plus district in the last 12 months; and how many of those in each such area were in receipt of (i) income support, (ii) jobseeker's allowance and (iii) pension credits. [9641]
Chris Grayling: Information is not available in the format requested; the available information has been placed in the Library.
John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the number of people in receipt of (a) income support, (b) jobseeker's allowance and (c) pension credits in each (i) local authority and (ii) Jobcentre Plus district who will no longer have their full mortgage interest payment covered by their Support for Mortgage Interest benefit payments under the proposals in the June 2010 Budget. [9745]
Chris Grayling: This information is not available because the Department does not collect management information on the actual interest rates that apply to Support for Mortgage Interest customers' loans.
Oil Rigs: Industrial Health and Safety
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions there have been between the Health and Safety Executive and the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group on safety on Transocean's oil rigs in UK waters; and if he will make a statement. [9655]
Chris Grayling: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a member of the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group (OSPRAG) and two of its specialist review groups: Technical (covering Well Engineering, Operations and Control) and European Issues. Transocean are represented on the main group and the technical group. HSE inspectors have attended both meetings of OSPRAG and all three meetings of its Technical Review Group. Transocean also attended these meetings and participated in the discussions.
OSPRAG's safety remit is to monitor and review information from the Deep Water Horizon incident to facilitate the implementation of pertinent recommendations on the UK continental shelf. HSE has been working alongside other members, including Transocean, to review emerging findings and benchmark relevant aspects of well design, examination and control.
Pensioners: Warrington
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Warrington North constituency receive (a) state pension, (b) pension credit and (c) winter fuel allowance. [9068]
Steve Webb: In winter 2008-09, the latest year for which information is available, 18,820 people received a winter fuel payment in Warrington North constituency.
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
Source:
DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent data.
The state pension and pension credit information is in the table.
| Parliamentary constituency | State pension recipients | Pension credit individual beneficiaries | Pension credit household recipients |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. State pension figures are for the total state pension caseload. Around 1% of state pension recipients are not in receipt of the basic state pension, but are receiving additional state pension only or graduated retirement benefit only. 3. 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. 4. Parliamentary constituencies are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent data as at November 2009. | |||
Pensions
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on his Department's proposals to change the state pension retirement age. [8761]
Steve Webb: As of 15 July 2010, over 160 responses have been received from individuals in response to the call for evidence. Many of these cover the three questions we asked in the call for evidence: changes in life expectancy and the economic context, the notice period and ensuring no group is disproportionately affected.
No responses have been received from organisations to date, but we are aware that a number are being prepared.
All the issues raised will be considered once the call for evidence period ends on 6 August.
Social Security Benefits: Appeals
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals against benefits decisions have been refused because they were not received within the one month deadline in the last 12 months. [8439]
Mr Djanogly: I have been asked to reply.
Between April 2009 and March 2010 the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) refused 672 of the 4,052 appeals referred from the Department for Work and Pensions as received outside the one month deadline to appeal. This is the most recent period for which figures are available.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals against benefits decisions have been (a) granted and (b) refused in the last 12 months. [8440]
Mr Djanogly: I have been asked to reply.
Between April 2009 and March 2010 the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) granted 74,622 and refused 116,049 appeals against benefit decisions made on behalf of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. This is the most recent period for which figures are available.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals against benefits decisions were determined without a hearing in the last 12 months. [8441]
Mr Djanogly: I have been asked to reply.
Between April 2009 and March 2010 the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) determined 55,019 appeals on papers without an oral hearing. This is the most recent period for which figures are available.
In addition, the tribunal disposed of 36,529 appeals which were withdrawn prior to hearing, 6,002 appeals that were superseded (that is, where the Department for Work and Pensions gave a new decision) and 21,760 that were struck out (that is, where the claimant failed to comply with a judge's directions).
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many decisions on benefits appeals in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) Wales are outstanding. [8442]
Mr Djanogly: I have been asked to reply.
The number of outstanding appeals with the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) against benefit decisions made on behalf of the Secretary of State as of 14 June 2010 are as follows:
| Number | |
This is the most recent period for which figures are available. These do not include appeals that have been lodged with the Department for Work and Pensions but have not yet been referred to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support).
The system for Social Security benefits in Northern Ireland is devolved and is the responsibility of the Civic Department for Social Development. Appeals are considered by the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service.
State Retirement Pensions: Foreign Nationals
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who receive a state pension by virtue of marriage are not UK citizens, have not made any national insurance contributions and have never lived in the UK; and how much has been paid to such recipients in the last 12 months. [7206]
Steve Webb: The information requested is not available because a person's citizenship does not determine whether a UK state pension is payable and so this information is not recorded.
International Development
Departmental Location
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [8286]
Departmental Official Cars
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [8323]
Mr Duncan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) on 13 July 2010, Official Report, column 624W, on Departmental Official Cars.
Departmental Travel
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate his Department has made of its expenditure on travel undertaken in an official capacity by each Minister in his Department in (i) May 2010 and (ii) June 2010. [8227]
Mr Duncan: Details of overseas travel by Ministers during May and June will be published in August on the Cabinet Office website. The Department for International Development (DFID) is unable to provide details of ministerial travel in the UK without incurring disproportionate cost. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
Developing Countries
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure that the UN Millennium Development Goals are met. [8474]
Mr O'Brien: Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is at the heart of the Government's development policy. We are reviewing all our programmes to determine how we can achieve better value for money and accelerate progress towards the MDGs.
At the United Nations Millennium Development Goals summit in September, we will press for international agreement on an action agenda to achieve the MDGs by 2015. The United Kingdom sees the summit as a key opportunity for both developed and developing countries to make results-based commitments, including on the most off-track MDGs such as maternal and child health. We are clear that any such commitments must be based on quantifiable outcomes in terms of changes on the ground.
Developing Countries: Health Services
Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's Working Together for Better Health strategy in achieving its objectives; and if he will make a statement. [8094]
Mr O'Brien: We are currently reviewing our aid programmes to determine how we can achieve better value for money for the taxpayer and accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. DFID's health portfolio will be included in the reviews.
India and China: Overseas Aid
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding he plans to allocate to projects in (a) India and (b) China in 2010-11. [8262]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Under the previous Government, the Department for International Development (DFID) allocated £280 million for India in 2010-11. I have commissioned a review of the bilateral aid programme. This will determine the size of the future India programme.
I announced on 3 June that the China programme will close as soon as is practical. DFID will spend £20 million completing programmes to which we are contractually committed in 2010-11.
Yemen
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he next plans to visit Yemen. [9169]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) is committed to supporting the Government of Yemen address its development challenges.
The security situation in Yemen means we cannot discuss ministerial travel plans.
Yemen: Overseas Aid
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will ensure that the UK's development assistance to Yemen is funded at a level commensurate with that country's importance to UK national security. [8460]
Mr Duncan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided on 8 July 2010, Official Report, column 421W, on Yemen: Overseas Aid.
Deputy Prime Minister
Departmental Manpower
Mr Watson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff are assigned to his private office; and what the civil service pay band of each is. [576]
Chris Bryant: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many full-time equivalent civil servants are working in his office. [1798]
The Deputy Prime Minister: The breakdown of staff employed in my private office as at 14 July, at each grade, showing full-time equivalents, is as follows:
| Cabinet Office grade | Civil service grade | Pay range | Full-time equivalents |
Electoral Register
Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many prosecutions there have been for an offence of failure to complete and return an annual electoral registration form in each region in each of the last 10 years. [9191]
Mr Harper: This information is not collected centrally. Electoral registration officers (EROs) have a statutory duty to maintain a complete and accurate electoral register. It is for individual EROs to decide what action to take in relation to non-completion of an individual annual canvass form.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make an assessment of the implications of the introduction of individual voter registration in Northern Ireland for the adoption of individual voter registration in the rest of the UK; and if he will make a statement. [9197]
Mr Harper: The Government are currently considering the options for implementation of individual electoral registration, including taking into account the experience in Northern Ireland, and will announce their approach to this in due course.
Electoral Systems: Referendums
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he received advice (a) in favour of and (b) against holding the alternative vote referendum on the same day as elections for the devolved legislatures and local authority elections. [7823]
Mr Harper: The Deputy Prime Minister set out the Government's reasoning in a statement to the House of Commons on 5 July 2010, Official Report , column 24:
"first... that all parties fought the general election on an absolute pledge to move fast to fix our political system, so we must get on and do that without delay; secondly, it is important to avoid asking people to keep returning to the ballot box; and finally, in these straitened times we must keep costs as low as possible."
Pete Wishart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with representatives of (a) the devolved Administration, (b) local government, (c) trades unions, (d) industry, (e) voluntary organisations and (f) the public in relation to the proposed referendum on electoral reform. [8443]
Mr Harper: It was right that the Government announced their proposals for the alternative vote referendum to Parliament first. Over the coming months we will be working closely with the Electoral Commission, devolved Administrations and others to make sure that the devolved elections, the local elections and the referendum are run effectively.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he sought advice from the Electoral Commission on the proposed date of the referendum on electoral reform. [8445]
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. He and I have had discussions with the Electoral Commission on a number of matters.
Freedom (Great Repeal) Bill
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will include repeal of the Act of Settlement in his proposals for a Freedom (Great Repeal) Bill. [9632]
Mr Harper: There are no current plans to repeal the Act of Settlement.
Cabinet Office
Business
Nick de Bois: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the five-year survival rate of small businesses was in (a) Enfield North constituency, (b) London and (c) the UK in the latest period for which figures are available. [8109]
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 what the five-year survival rate of small businesses was in (a) Enfield North constituency, (b) London and (c) the IJK in the latest period for which figures are available. [8109]
Annual statistics on business births, deaths and survival are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
The table below contains the latest statistics available on small enterprise five year survival in Enfield North parliamentary constituency, London and the United Kingdom.
| The count of births in 2003 and the count and percentage of five year survival for enterprises with less than 50 employment | |||
| 2003 | Five year | ||
| Geography | Births | Survival | Percentage |
A small business is defined as an enterprise with less than 50 employment.
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the five year survival rate of small businesses was in (a) Mid Bedfordshire and (b) the UK in the latest period for which figures are available. [9786]
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 16 July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what the five year survival rate of small businesses was in (a) Mid Bedfordshire and (b) the UK in the latest period for which figures are available. [9786]
Annual statistics on business births, deaths and survival are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
The table below contains the latest statistics available on small enterprise five year survival in Mid Bedfordshire parliamentary constituency and the United Kingdom.
| The count of births in 2003 and the count and percentage of five year survival for enterprises with less than 50 employment | |||
| 2003 | Five year | ||
| Geography | Births | Survival | Percentage |
A small business is defined as an enterprise with less than 50 employment.
Business: Enfield
Nick de Bois: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many small businesses in Enfield North constituency generated a turnover of (a) between £70,000 and £100,000 and (b) over £100,000 in the latest period for which figures are available. [8108]
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 Enfield North constituency generated a turnover of (a) between £70,000 and £100,000 and (b) over £100,000 in the latest period for which figures are available. [8108]
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 Enfield North 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 Enfield North in 2009 | |
| Turnover size | Number |
Nick de Bois: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many businesses (a) started up and (b) ceased in Enfield North constituency in each of the last five years. [8110]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many businesses (a) started up and (b) ceased in Enfield North constituency in each of the last five years. [8110]
Annual statistics on business births, deaths and survival are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
The table below contains the latest statistics available on enterprise births and deaths for Enfield North parliamentary constituency, the past five years.
| Count of enterprise births and deaths from 2004 to 2008 in parliamentary constituency of Enfield North | ||
| Births | Deaths | |
| (1) Not available. | ||
Cabinet Committees: Public Expenditure
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the annual operating costs of the proposed Star Chamber process for departmental expenditure reductions. [9451]
Mr Letwin: 'The Spending Review Framework' published on 8 June 2010 set out the Government's plans for the spending review. It included the announcement of a Cabinet Committee of senior Cabinet Ministers, the Public Expenditure Committee (PEX) or so called 'Star Chamber', to advise the Cabinet on high-level decisions that will need to be taken in the spending review.
It is not possible to isolate costs associated with operating individual Cabinet Committees; however, as a Committee of Cabinet, costs incurred by operating PEX will be met from the Cabinet Secretariat's existing resources. Ministers attending the Committee would be supported by existing resources within their Departments.
A copy of 'The Spending Review Framework' has been placed in the Library of the House.
Charities
Ian Lucas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many registered charities are based in (a) Wrexham, (b) Wales and (c) the UK. [7826]
Mr Hurd: Charity law is a devolved issue with each independent regulator having separate responsibility for the maintenance of a register of charities based in its territory. In Scotland this is kept by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) and in Northern Ireland it is kept by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI). The information requested for charities in Wales falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission for England and Wales. I have asked the Commission to reply to these aspects of the question.
Letter from Andrew Hind, dated 8 July 2010:
As the Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to respond to your written Parliamentary Question (7826) on how many registered charities are based in (a) Wrexham, (b) Wales and (c) the UK.
In England and Wales, registered charities are asked to nominate a named correspondent whose contact details are available via the online Register of Charities on our website at:
Many charities operate in small local areas and for them the contact address we hold is likely to correspond to the charity's area of operation. However many larger charities operate nationally or internationally and the address we hold may be for their head office only.
With this caveat, the Register of Charities as at 8 July 2010 shows that:
(a) there are 177 registered charities based in the Parliamentary constituency of Wrexham;
(b) there are 8,133 registered charities based in Wales; and
(c) there are 162,243 registered charities based in England and Wales.
Our website includes a facility to find charities based on the Parliamentary constituency or local authority area of the named contact, and this can be accessed at:
I hope this is helpful.
Deaths: Allergies
Jo Swinson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many deaths attributable to (a) anaphylaxis and (b) other allergic reactions there were in each of the last five years. [9017]
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 question asking how many deaths attributable to (a) anaphylaxis and (b) other allergic reactions there were in each of the last five years. (9017)
The attached table provides the number of deaths from (a) anaphylactic shock and (b) other allergic reactions in England and Wales, from 2005 to 2009 (the latest year available).
The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year by sex, age and cause are published annually on the National Statistics website at:
| Table 1. Number of deaths where anaphylactic shock was the cause of death,( 1) England and Wales,( 2 ) 2005 - 09( 3, 4) | |
| Deaths (persons) | |
| (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes T78.0 (Anaphylactic shock due to adverse food reaction), T78.2 (Anaphylactic shock, unspecified), T88.6 (Anaphylactic shock due to adverse effect of correct drug or medicament properly administered) and T80.5 (Anaphylactic shock due to serum), where these codes were the secondary cause of death. (2) Figures include deaths of non-residents. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year (4) Figures for deaths registered in 2009 are provisional. | |
| Table 2. Number of deaths caused by other allergic reactions,( 1) England and Wales,( 2) 2005 - 09( 3, 4) | |
| Deaths (persons) | |
| (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes J30 (Vasomotor and allergic rhinitis), K52.2 (Allergic and dietetic gastroenteritis and colitis), L20 (Atopic dermatitis), L23 (Allergic contact dermatitis), J45.0 (Predominantly allergic asthma) and J45.8 (Mixed asthma), where these codes were the underlying cause of death. Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes T78.1 (Other adverse food reactions, not elsewhere classified), T78.3 (Angioneurotic oedema), T78.4 (Allergy, unspecified) and T88.7 (Unspecified adverse effect of drug or medicament) where these codes were the secondary cause of death. (2 )Figures include deaths of non-residents. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year (4) Figures for deaths registered in 2009 are provisional. | |
Departmental Official Cars
Ian Austin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 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. [8322]
Mr Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mike Penning) on 13 July 2010, Official Report, column 624W.
Departmental Travel
Ian Austin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate his Department has made of its expenditure on travel undertaken in an official capacity by each Minister in his Department in (i) May 2010 and (ii) June 2010. [8228]
Mr Letwin: As set out in the Ministerial Code Departments will publish, at least quarterly, details of all travel overseas by Ministers. Information for the first quarter will be published as soon as it is ready. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
Electronic Government
Mr Weir: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the effect on the number of Civil Service posts of his Department's plans to reduce the size of websites of individual Government Departments; and what assessment he has made of the effect on consumers of the consolidation of information from those Departments on the DirectGov website. [8386]
Mr Hurd: I have asked the chief executive of the Central Office of Information to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Mark Lund, dated 12 July 2010:
As Chief Executive of the Central Office of Information (COI), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question (8386) on government websites.
Individual departments are responsible for their own staffing levels including those working on websites.
The Central Office of Information recently published a report on the cost, usage and quality of government websites, this did not include recommendations for a reduction in the size of them.
No assessment has been made of on the consolidation of information to the DirectGov website as this is again a matter for individual depts.
Lone Parents: Edinburgh
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many lone parents there are in Edinburgh East constituency. [8187]
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 Edinburgh East constituency. (8187)
The number and type of families in the UK can be estimated using the Annual Population Survey (APS). Estimates are provided for tone 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 and there have been no boundary changes since 2008 in the area requested.
| Geographical area | Number of lone parent families with at least one child under 16 (thousand)( 1) |
| (1) As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty and are therefore presented rounded to the nearest thousand. Source: APS January to December 2008 | |
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust: Childbirth
Mrs Grant: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many births there were at (a) Maidstone hospital and (b) Tunbridge Wells hospital in the latest period for which figures are available. [9519]
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 16 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 births occurred at (a) Maidstone Hospital and (b) Tonbridge Wells Hospital in the latest period for which figures are available. (9519)
Figures for live births by hospital have been compiled from birth registration data. The latest year for which data on place of birth are available is 2008. The table below shows the number of live births in 2008 in the hospitals requested, according to this source. Information on place of birth is provided by the informant at registration rather than by the hospitals themselves.
| Live births occurring in selected hospitals in 2008 | |
| Communal establishment | Number |
NDPBs: Manpower
Mr Weir: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether his Department has issued guidance to non-departmental public bodies on the future employment of staff currently employed in policy roles; and if he will make a statement. [8384]
Mr Letwin: No such guidance has been issued by the Cabinet Office to non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs).
Public Sector: Public Consultation
Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps his Department is taking to implement the proposals in his Department's paper 'Mutual Benefit: Giving People Power over Public Services'. [8100]
Mr Hurd: The Government are committed to supporting the creation and expansion of mutuals, co-operatives, charities and social enterprises, including by enabling these groups to have much greater involvement in the running of public services.
The Cabinet Office is working closely with Departments to identify areas where mutuals and co-operatives could play a greater role in running services, in particular through public sector workers 'spinning out' to set up new employee-led organisations.
Public Sector: Recruitment
Mr Weir: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he has made an assessment of the merits of standardising the employment application forms used by the Home Civil Service and non-departmental public bodies. [8383]
Mr Letwin: We are progressing a range of initiatives to improve the efficiencies of recruitment processes following the publication of the National Audit Office report: 'Recruiting Civil Servants Efficiently' in 2009 a programme of work called Next Generation HR will deliver new technology, through a phased in approach starting July 2010, designed to standardise recruitment processes and application forms and remove cost and time from the recruitment process in Government Departments. This programme will also be made available to agencies and non-departmental public bodies over time.
Strategic Defence and Security Review
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the deadline is for unsolicited contributions to the Strategic Defence and Security Review from members of the public and organisations. [9939]
Mr Letwin: The Government expect to publish a National Security Strategy and the outcomes of the Strategic Defence and Security Review in the autumn, in coordination with the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR). Contributions and ideas from members of the public and organisations are welcome at any time during this process.
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2010, Official Report, column 732W, on defence, with which organisations the Government have begun engaging on the Strategic Defence and Security Review. [9950]
Mr Letwin: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 14 July 2010, Official Report, column 732W. The Government have begun engaging with key partners and representative organisations on the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). These organisations include a range of think tanks; academics; industry groups; trade union and staff associations; and international partners. I would be happy to write to the hon. Member with further details of the organisations involved.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Afghanistan
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many official visits Ministers in his Department have made to Afghanistan in the last 12 months. [9960]
Mr Davey: No Ministers have visited Afghanistan in the last 12 months.
Agriculture: Research
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what research on genetically-modified plants, food and feed have been funded by (a) each research council and (b) the Science and Technology Facilities Council since 1997; what the (i) topic, (ii) start date, (iii) cost and (iv) project code was of each such project; who the main contractor was in each case; and which such projects have been completed to date. [8037]
Mr Willetts: The Biotechnology and Biological Research Council (BBSRC) and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) have funded projects in both areas, and details of these will be placed in the Libraries of the House. Some of the data sets do not run for the full period since 1997; this is because data for the years which are not provided can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) funded two grants since 1997 whose research included GM plants. Details of these will also be placed in the Libraries of the House.
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Medical Research Council (MRC) and Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) have not funded any projects of the types listed.
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what research projects on the (a) sources and quantities of greenhouse gases, (b) water pollution and (c) air pollution arising from agricultural activity have been funded by (i) each research council and (ii) the Science and Technology Facilities Council since 1997; what the (A) research topic, (B) start date, (C) cost and (D) project code was of each such project; which the lead institution was in each case; and what such projects have been completed to date. [8040]
Mr Willetts: The Biotechnology and Biological Research Council (BBSRC) has undertaken research into the sources and quantities of greenhouse gases, water pollution and air pollution arising from agricultural activity, but the cost of collating all of the information in the form requested would be disproportionate. The BBSRC has been able to provide those details of research expenditure relating to greenhouse gases, water pollution and air pollution arising from agricultural activity. A copy will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) provided two grants for research into the sources and quantities of greenhouse gases. For water pollution, NERC has provided funding via its research centre, the British Geological Survey (BGS). Details will be placed in the Libraries of the House. NERC has not provided funding for research into air pollution.
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Engineering and Physical Research Council (EPSRC), Medical Research Council (MRC) and Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) have not provided any funding.
Apprentices
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many of the 50,000 apprenticeship places he has announced will be (a) reserved for those under the age of 25 years and (b) at level three or above. [9014]
Mr Hayes: Following our announcement to redeploy £150 million from the Train to Gain budget in England, we have asked the National Apprenticeships Service and the Skills Funding Agency to work with training providers to support the expansion of apprenticeships. Funding guidance for providers is now available on the Skills Funding Agency website. There is no specific target or allocation for those under the age of 25 or for those taking an advanced apprenticeship at level 3.
Balance of Trade
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the UK's trade in goods deficit was (a) in 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which information is available; and what steps he plans to take to reduce the deficit. [9279]
Mr Prisk: According to the Office for National Statistics, the UK's trade in goods deficit was £12.3 billion in 1997 and £81.9 billion in 2009 on a balance of payments basis.
The Department's priorities include stimulating growth and competitiveness by promoting open and fair global markets and improving UK Trade and Investment's focus on generating high-value inward investment and strengthening the capability of UK exporters. "The Coalition: our programme for government" states that the Government believe that business is the driver of economic growth and innovation; we need to take urgent action to boost enterprise, providing the competitive environment required for enterprise to thrive; we will consider the implementation of the Dyson Review to make the UK the leading hi-tech exporter in Europe; we will support pro-development trade deals; and we will ensure that UKTI and the Export Credits Guarantee Department become champions for British companies that develop and export innovative green technologies around the world.
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the UK's trade in goods deficit has been in each year since 1997. [9743]
Mr Prisk: The data requested are shown in the following table.
| UK deficit in trade in goods (£ billion) | |
| Source: Office for National Statistics, on a Balance of Payments basis | |
Banks: Finance
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many banks in (a) the West Midlands and (b) Dudley borough participated in the Working Capital Scheme. [9696]
Mr Prisk: The Working Capital Scheme (WCS) was launched last year to provide guarantees for banks; individual businesses were not eligible to apply for these guarantees. The banks participating in the WCS are Lloyds TSB and Royal Bank of Scotland. No geographic information is kept on the location of the loans in the guaranteed portfolios. No further guarantees will be available under the WCS although existing guarantees will be honoured.
Broadband
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what progress has been made on identifying the three rural market testing projects for superfast rural broadband announced on 8 June 2010; [9315]
(2) what progress has been made on the rollout of the superfast broadband project announced on 8 June 2010; what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Scotland on the implications of the project for Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [9316]
Mr Vaizey: As stated in the coalition's joint programme for Government, we will seek to introduce superfast broadband in remote areas at the same time as in more populated areas. On 8 June, the Secretary of State for Culture, the Olympics, Media and Sport set out the Government's plans for ensuring the UK has the best superfast broadband network in Europe by the end of the Parliament.
These plans include enabling access to existing infrastructure to reduce the cost of deployment, and we launched a discussion document on how best to do this on 15 July. Further, the Secretary of State has proposed three market testing projects for superfast broadband in rural areas, to be paid for with money left over from the Digital TV Switchover Help Scheme. The venues for these projects are currently under consideration. Candidates for these initiatives could be drawn from anywhere in the UK.
Officials from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, from the Scottish Government and the other Devolved Administrations will continue to work closely together to inform decisions on the location of projects. East Sutherland and Edderton ward, north of Inverness featured as a theoretical worked example at the Industry Day on 15 July.
Broadband: Bexley
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the extent of availability of broadband services in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency; and if he will make a statement. [9027]
Mr Vaizey: This Department has made no recent assessment. However, Broadband Delivery UK is assessing current broadband provision at community level in its work on delivery of Universal Service Commitment and Next Generation Broadband Access.
Business: Government Assistance
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of additional businesses able to access credit as a result of the extension of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee. [9292]
Mr Prisk: It is estimated that an extra 2,000 small and medium-sized enterprises could benefit from the £200 million extension of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) announced at the emergency Budget. The £200 million extension brings the EFG facility to a total of £700 million for this financial year.
Companies House
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has assessed the merits of bringing forward proposals to increase the power of Companies House to enforce the payment terms registered by large companies. [6730]
Mr Davey: There are no proposals to increase the powers of Companies House to enforce the payment terms registered by large companies.
Departmental Buildings
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many buildings his Department occupies in (a) London and (b) the UK. [6857]
Mr Davey: This Department occupies 1 Victoria street, Kingsgate House, Victoria street, and Westfield House, Earlsfield in London.
This Department also occupies space in the following buildings around the UK:
Companies House, Cardiff;
St Paul's Place, Sheffield;
St Mary's House, Sheffield (staff due to move to St. Paul's Place in October 2010);
Newtown House, Nottingham;
Exchange House, Watford;
Queensway House, Billingham;
Europa House, Glasgow;
3 Piccadilly Place, Manchester;
Mowden Hall, Darlington;
Castle View House, Runcorn.
Departmental Internet
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on website design in each year since 1997. [7600]
Mr Davey: The information is as follows.
(a) The original DTI website was launched in 1996 and designed in-house at no cost (except staff time).
The first redesign was in 1998. The cost incurred for this is not recorded in the Department's electronic document management system, and the paper files could be accessed only at disproportionate cost.
In 2006 the site was moved on to a content management system and re-launched with a new design. The cost of this project overall was an estimated £175,000, as noted in the response to a Freedom of Information request published 16 June 2006 on the BIS website, titled 'Accessibility of DTI website' at:
Detailed information about the costs of the Department's websites since June 2007, including redesigns, is readily available on the BIS website at:
The cost of the project to create the unified BIS website
launched March 2010, was £397,000. Taking these setup costs into account, the new service will save £2.5 million over the next four years compared to the cost of the contracts it replaces.
(b) I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office, the Intellectual Property Office and the Skills Funding Agency and they will respond to my hon. Friend directly.
The information on the Department's non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) is not held centrally and to provide this would incur disproportionate cost.
I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 6 July 2010, UIN 7600 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Companies House's financial records do not go back as far as 1997. However, Companies House spent £39,400 on website design in 2003.
Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 9 July 2010:
The Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, has asked me to reply to your question how much (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on website design in each year since 1997.
The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is unable to provide the information requested for each year since 1997 because accounting records are only available for the year 2003/04 onwards.
The Insolvency Service has not incurred any external costs on website design from 2003/04 onwards. Any costs incurred on website design from 2003/04 to date have been purely internal staff costs and it is not possible to quantify the cost to The Service of this work.
Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 13 July 2010:
I am replying on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 6 July (UIN 7600), to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, concerning spend on website design in the Department and its agencies.
The Skills Funding Agency was set up as an agency of BIS on 1 April 2010. Since that date we have not spent any money on website design as our website was constructed using existing BIS templates.
Letter from John Alty, dated 16 July 2010:
I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 06th July 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The Intellectual Property Office spent £355,000 on website design in 2008. Prior to this all web design was done in house.
Letter from Peter Mason, dated 15 July 2010:
I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question tabled 6 July 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, asking about expenditure on website design in each year since 1997.
All website design work has been carried out by an external web development supplier since 2001. NMO managed their own website internally before this time, but no costs are available for this activity in the period 1997 to 2001. Detailed data on annual spend is available from 2003 onwards. Similarly detailed data on annual spend for 2001 and 2002 is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost threshold.
The total amount spent by NMO each year on website design since 1 January 2003 and up to and including 31 December 2009 is as follows:
| Total spend on website design (£) | |
| (1 )Includes £45,000 in identifiable staff costs | |
For the purpose of compiling these figures, website design costs have been taken to include strategy and planning, design and build, hosting and infrastructure, content provision, testing and evaluation. Staff costs have been included only where available.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on maintaining its Twitter feed in the last 12 months. [8856]
Mr Davey: This Department has spent nothing on maintaining its Twitter account in the last 12 months.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department has spent on maintaining its YouTube channel in the last 12 months. [8857]
Mr Davey: In April 2010 the Department spent £250 on the page design of its YouTube channel. There has been no other spending on this channel in the last 12 months.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department has spent on maintaining its Flickr channel in the last 12 months. [8870]
Mr Davey: The Department has spent nothing on maintaining its Flickr account in the last 12 months.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff in his Department are primarily engaged in maintaining social media and networking sites; and what estimate he has made of the cost of employing such staff in the last 12 months. [8872]
Mr Davey: The Department does not employ anyone specifically to maintain its participation in social media and networking sites. The Digital Communications team supports policy officials and Ministers to engage and inform a broad range of audiences using digital channels which include social media. Currently three individuals are involved as a small part of their total duties in managing the Department's presence on social websites Twitter, Flickr and YouTube. On average the work is that of approximately 0.15 full-time equivalent staff. Taking into account the grades of the individuals, the total the cost of this staff time is estimated as £500 per month.
Departmental Lighting
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on light bulbs in each year since 1997. [7619]
Mr Davey: This Department's contracted maintenance service supplier does not keep a specific record for the purchase of light bulbs and it is not possible to separate spend on this item from the main contract fee.
Information for non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office, the Intellectual Property Office and the Skills Funding Agency and they will respond to my hon. Friend directly.
I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 6 July 2010, UIN 7619 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Companies House has only purchased very small amounts of light bulbs since 1997, as fluorescent strips, which are not classed as light bulbs, provide our main lighting. The small number of light bulbs we have purchased are part of larger, multi-product orders from more than one supplier, and we cannot determine the cost of this individual item.
Letter from Stephen Speed, dated July 2010:
The Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, has asked me to reply to your question how much (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on light bulbs in each year since 1997.
The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is unable to supply a figure for these costs. These particular items are replaced as part of a wider maintenance contract and are not specifically charged for.
Letter from Peter Mason, dated 12 July 2010:
I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 6 July 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills asking about expenditure on light bulbs in each year since 1997.
The cost of light bulbs forms part of the charges which the Agency pays for facilities management of its building and a separate figure for this element could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 13 July 2010:
I am replying on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 6 July (UIN 7619), to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, concerning spend on light bulbs in the Department and its agencies.
This information is not recorded separately and to determine this spend would incur disproportionate cost.
Letter from John Alty, dated 16 July 2010:
I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 06th July 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The Intellectual Property Office does not have any expenditure on light bulbs. The Office is fitted with fluorescent lighting throughout. Costs for this are included with our general electrical supplies.
Departmental Manpower
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff his Department employed in each year since 1997. [8869]
Mr Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) was created on 5 June 2009 from the merger of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) which ceased to exist from that date.
BIS figures for the financial year ending March 2009/10 show BIS with 3,291 full-time and 398 part-time staff. The latest return to ONS (end of June 2010) shows BIS currently has 3,258 full-time staff and 400 part-time staff.
Departmental Official Cars
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which Ministers in his Department have used an allocated Ministerial car to travel between the Department and the House of Commons on each day since 21 May 2010. [5547]
Mr Davey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson) on 7 June, Official Report, column reference 82W.
All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
Departmental Training
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what training has been provided for Ministers in his Department since the formation of the present administration; and at what cost. [6444]
Mr Davey: BIS has spent a total of £2,800 on providing training to help Ministers undertake their official duties.
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his (a) Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on training for its employees in each year since 1997. [7638]
Mr Davey: We are able to provide information on the Department's spend on training and development from 2004. Details of the training and development spend for the Department for the period 2004 to date are set out in the following table.
| £ | |
| (1) Spend to date. | |
The information requested for our agencies and non-departmental bodies is not held centrally as these groups have their own delegated training budgets. Information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 6 July 2010, UIN 7638 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Companies House's financial records do not go back as far as 1997. Companies House costs for training for each year for which figures are available are as follows:
| Financial year | £ |
While we do not have figures for individual years earlier than 2007/08, I can confirm that the total amount spent on training in the five years from 2002-2006 is £1,966,480.
Letter from Stephen Speed, dated July 2010:
The Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question how much (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on training for its employees in each year since 1997.
The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has no information on this expenditure for the years 1997 to 2003.
Between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2010, The Insolvency Service spent £11,088,567.79 on training. The yearly breakdown is as follows:
| £ | |
These figures relate only to the direct costs of training and do not include travel and subsistence costs.
Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 13 July 2010:
I am replying on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 6 July (UIN 7638), to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, concerning spend on employee training in the Department and its agencies.
The Skills Funding Agency was set up as an agency of BIS on 1 April 2010. Since that date we have spent £16,582 on training for employees.
Letter from Peter Mason, dated 12 July 2010:
I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 6 July 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills asking about expenditure on training in each year since 1997.
Information on such expenditure prior to January 2001 is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The National Measurement Office and its predecessor, the National Weights and Measures Laboratory, spent the following on training provided by either external training organisations or its parent department:
| £ | |
These figures do not include the internal costs of coaching, mentoring etc within the Agency.
Letter from John Alty, dated 16 July 2010:
I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 06th July 2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The Intellectual Property Office spent the following sums on training:
| £000 | |
Earlier years are not available in the timescale.
Departmental Written Questions
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of written questions for answer on a named day his Department has answered on the due date in the current session of Parliament to date. [8858]
Mr Davey: A total of 121 named day parliamentary questions were tabled to this Department requiring an answer by 12 July 2010. Of these 84 (69%) received a substantive reply on the date requested. The Department continues to monitor performance in answering named day parliamentary questions in line with the Government's response to the Procedure Committee report on written parliamentary questions-7 December 2009 - HC 129.
Further Education
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether (a) he and (b) the Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning has had formal meetings with the (i) Secretary of State for Education and (ii) Minister for Schools to discuss further education colleges; and if he will make a statement. [7539]
Mr Hayes: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, for Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has not yet met with the Secretary of State for Education or the Minister for Schools. The Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, meets regularly with the Secretary of State for Education and the Minister for Schools to discuss issues relating to the delivery of post-compulsory education and training opportunities in his role as sponsor of the further education system. This includes discussion about issues relevant to further education colleges as appropriate.
Further Education: Capital Investment
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much capital grant support each further education college in Merseyside will receive in 2010-11. [9546]
Mr Hayes: The following table sets out those colleges who will receive capital support from the Skills Funding Agency in 2010-11 in the Merseyside area. In addition Hugh Baird College, Knowsley College, Riverside College Halton and Southport College are all eligible for the Renewal and the Enhanced Renewal Grant as part of the additional £50 million capital funding announced by the Chancellor on 24 May.
| College | Total (£) |
Graduates: Employment
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department plans to take to improve the employability of graduates. [7218]
Mr Willetts: We are committed to increasing employment by cutting the burden of national insurance on new businesses employing new staff in areas such as South Northamptonshire. We are cutting corporation tax over the next four years, and we are easing the burden of regulation.
In addition, I have asked universities to provide public statements on what they do to promote employability, so as to encourage them to increase the job-readiness of their students and to do better at getting their students into internships and work experience.
Higher Education
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of new campuses to be established under the New University Challenge programme in (a) England and (b) the West Midlands in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012. [8402]
Mr Willetts: No estimate has been made of the number of new campuses to be established under the New University Challenge programme. The timescale for taking forward any new campuses will depend on decisions in the spending review about resources for 2011-12 and beyond.
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