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21 July 2010 : Column 364W—continued
Armed Forces: Housing
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much on average was paid by service personnel for (a) service family and (b) single living service accommodation in the last 12 months. [9626]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 19 July 2010]: The information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many families have been evicted from service family accommodation in each of the last five years; and for what reason in each such case. [9636]
Mr Robathan: Service family accommodation (SFA) is provided to accommodate entitled service personnel and their families.
When occupants cease to be entitled to SFA and do not vacate, the Department is required to take steps to recover possession in order for properties to be returned to their intended purpose. In the first instance, Defence Estates (DE) will write to occupants advising that they are required to vacate the property within 93 days. DE will be as flexible as possible, and will extend this so as to accommodate children's schooling, holidays, etc or to allow occupants as much time as possible to secure alternative accommodation arrangements.
Information on the number of eviction orders served on occupants of SFA in the last five years is set out in the following table by calendar year. Information is not
held centrally for the whole of the UK until 2008. Information relating to evictions in Great Britain only is provided for the earlier years:
| Period | Number of eviction orders |
Records showing the reasons why entitlement to SFA ceased in each case are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons eviction notices issued to tenants of service family accommodation use the term "violent trespass"; and if he will consider removing the reference. [9637]
Mr Robathan: So far as records show, the Ministry of Defence has not used the term "violent trespass" in any correspondence with occupants of service family accommodation.
We do however, recognise the term "violent profits", the Scottish legal equivalent of "damages for trespass", in regard to moneys owed by irregular occupants of service family accommodation in lieu of rental payments. For legal reasons we have no plans to cease using the term.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department provides to secure alternative accommodation for families vacating service accommodation. [9638]
Mr Robathan: All service personnel can access information held by the Joint Service Housing Advice Office (JSHAO) throughout the country and overseas. The JSHAO offers financial advice for future housing options including access to the Government's affordable housing schemes where most service personnel have priority status that continues for 12 months post discharge date. Guidance was issued in Scotland in 2009 to ensure that service personnel are not disadvantaged when applying for social housing. Housing legislation was amended in 2008 in England to enable service personnel to gain a local connection through employment or residence while still serving when applying for social housing.
In addition, within each local Defence Housing Information Centre, there is a Tenancy Officer who can signpost the options available for families vacating service accommodation.
For single personnel Single Persons Accommodation Centre for Ex Services (SPACES) aims to assist single service leavers with securing accommodation. Our latest project 'The Beacon' in Catterick complements Mike Jackson House in Aldershot and The Galleries in Richmond which helps us to reduce the potential of a single person leaving the armed forces and becoming homeless.
Armed Forces: Officers
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers left service in (a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Army and (c) the Royal Air Force in each of the last six years. [10445]
Mr Robathan: The numbers of officers that have left the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force (excluding Gurkhas, full-time reserve personnel and mobilised reservists) in each of the last six years are listed in the following table:
| Financial year | Royal Navy | Army | Royal Air Force |
Armed Forces: Parental Leave
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many serving members of the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force have taken paternity leave in the last 12 months; [8852]
(2) how many serving members of the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force have taken maternity leave in the last 12 months. [8853]
Mr Robathan: The number of armed forces personnel who have taken either maternity or paternity leave, during the period 14 July 2009 until 13 July 2010 inclusive, broken down by service, is detailed in the following table:
| Absence type( 1) | ||
| Paternity( 2) | Maternity( 3) | |
| (1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. (2) Personnel are only counted once if they have had more than one instance of paternity leave during the 12 months. Personnel have been counted if they have had one day or more of paternity leave during the 12 months. (3) Personnel are only counted once if they have had more than one instance of ordinary maternity leave and/or additional maternity leave during the 12 months. Personnel have been counted if they have had one day or more of either type of maternity leave during the 12 months. (4 )Includes Royal Marines. | ||
Armed Forces: Uniforms
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on service personnel paying insurance premiums for their uniforms; and if he will make a statement. [8698]
Mr Robathan: Personnel are eligible to claim compensation from Ministry of Defence (MOD) for loss or damage to their own personal effects resulting from the exigencies of the service or from MOD negligence.
A wide range of personal kit and uniform is issued to service personnel, both on joining and throughout their careers. Personnel are made aware of the importance and availability of a variety of private personal insurance policies covering circumstances of loss for which they may be held liable, outside of those situations already covered by the MOD.
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the use of bearskin pelts in ceremonial caps worn by service personnel; and if he will make a statement. [9644]
Peter Luff: The bearskin cap has been associated with the Guards Division since a Royal Warrant was issued by King George III in 1768. Ceremonial caps will continue to be manufactured from bearskin pelts until such time as a suitable or practical faux alternative is identified by industry. We welcome proposals from manufacturers for caps of the same design made from alternative materials. Indeed, two caps made from faux fur were subject to a full trial by the Guards Division in 2005, but their performance was disappointing and they were rejected as unsuitable. To be acceptable, any alternative would need to meet or exceed the affordability and performance standards of the natural bearskin cap.
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department plans to assess (a) export potential, (b) fire resistance and (c) the number of jobs likely to be created or retained in the UK as part of its evaluation of the new light protected patrol vehicle. [8641]
Peter Luff [holding answer 20 July 2010]: The objective of the light protected patrol vehicle (LPPV) programme is to meet the capability requirement of the armed forces and to do this by selecting the compliant tender which offers the best value for money. Fire resistance is one of many safety and legislative requirements that are assessed. Both of the current solutions for the contract are UK designed and developed and will be manufactured in the UK. It is anticipated, therefore, that whichever company is successful in winning the contract, it will create and sustain jobs in the UK. The LPPV will have strong export potential. HMG will provide maximum support to any export campaigns.
Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) residents of Arborfield and (b) Wokingham borough council on the relocation of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. [9720]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 19 July 2010]: Officials of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) are in regular discussions with Wokingham borough council and adjoining landowners to prepare a planning application for Arborfield Garrison that includes the redevelopment and re-use of the land in accordance with the council's core strategy vision.
However, the preparation and evaluation of options for a redevelopment scheme have meant that there have only been limited opportunities for discussion recently. Once the scheme has progressed to a suitable point, it is MOD's intention to hold an open exhibition at Arborfield Garrison as part of a wider consultation seeking public views on the emerging scheme. This will probably take place later this year.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on the use of Arborfield Garrison following the departure of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. [9721]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 19 July 2010]: Arborfield Garrison forms part of a wider area designated under current plans as a strategic development location in Wokingham borough council's core strategy, to accommodate a minimum of 3,500 dwellings as part of a mixed-use development.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers to vacate Arborfield Garrison. [9722]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 19 July 2010]: Under current plans for the Defence Training Rationalisation Project, elements of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers based at Arborfield Garrison will start vacating the site from 2014.
Defence Fire and Rescue Service
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the pay and benefit arrangements are for those employed by (a) his Department and (b) its contractors to provide fire protection services on his Department's estate. [9754]
Mr Robathan: Ministry of Defence (MOD) fire-fighters' pay has an analogous link to local authority fire and rescue service pay rates. Their benefits are in line with MOD civil service policy.
Royal Navy and Royal Air Force personnel are paid and receive benefits in line with single service policy.
Locally employed civilians' pay and benefits depend on where they are employed. In Cyprus this is an assimilated link to the Republic of Cyprus Fire Service. In Gibraltar the link is to the UK Fire and Rescue Service. In Germany a collective tariff agreement is negotiated between the legal employer and the Higher Level Works Council.
Pay and benefits arrangements for contracted staff are a matter between the individual and the contractor.
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what duty of care requirements there are upon his Department in respect of those employed to provide fire protection services by (a) his Department and (b) contractors engaged by his Department. [9755]
Mr Robathan:
The duty of care requirements placed upon the Secretary of State for Defence in respect of those employed to provide fire protection services to the Department are based on the principles of the Health
and Safety at Work Act and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations. This includes the provision of safe systems of work to personnel engaged in the delivery of Ministry of Defence (MOD) fire protection services, and is based on guidance and standards provided by Communities and Local Government, Chief Fire Officers' Association and what can be deemed to be best practice followed by the UK fire and rescue services. Some of these safe systems are developed to take account of the unique risks present across the MOD estate.
The duty of care to the contractor-provided fire protection services is primarily the responsibility of their employer, with the Department limiting its responsibilities to the standard of professional fire fighting training it provides to the contractor.
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure his Department incurred on its Fire Study in (a) 2000 and (b) 2005. [9757]
Mr Robathan: Fire Study 2000 was commissioned in 1999 to review the Department's fire services and to develop an optimum organisation in line with structural changes elsewhere in the Department. The study ran for two years and incurred approximate costs of £700,000 primarily covering both civil servant and contractor manpower.
Fire Study 2000 was then subsumed within the Airfield Support Service Project (ASSP) Private Finance Initiative, (PFI) which included fire services. Following the cancellation of the ASSP PFI, Fire Study 2000 was reviewed and updated in the form of Fire Study 2005, prior to its implementation. Fire Study 2005 incurred approximate costs of £10,000 entirely for manpower.
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fire incidents on his Department's property were attended by firefighters in each of the last 10 years. [9758]
Mr Robathan: The 10 years' worth of information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The following table shows figures which have been collated since the formation of the Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation.
| Number | |
A fire incident is defined as calls to buildings, vehicles, maritime vessels and outdoor structure, or any fire involving the rescue of people. These figures include false alarms.
Departmental Consultants
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the budget for payments to consultants to his Department is for 2010-11. [9209]
Mr Robathan:
Summaries of Ministry of Defence (MOD) expenditure on external assistance, of which consultancy is a part, are available in the Libraries of
both Houses for the years 1995-96 to 2008-09. The final spend for 2008-09 (the latest available figure) was £106 million. External assistance includes management consultancy, specialist lawyers, commercial bankers and IT expertise. Consultants can help to increase efficiency and effectiveness, but we employ them only when we cannot do the work ourselves and where we can demonstrate value for money.
The MOD's budget has a number of layers of delegated budgetary responsibility and budget holders make decisions as to their particular requirements to employ consultants on a case by case basis. All spend on consultancy will be in line with the tighter spending controls announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 May 2010 and is expected to be a great deal lower than previous years.
Departmental Marketing
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his (a) Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on logo design in each year since 1997. [7487]
Mr Robathan: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
As with all items of expenditure, what we spend on logo design must be necessary, appropriate, cost effective and an admissible charge to public funds. We are substantially reducing the number of logos, both to strengthen corporate identity and to save money.
Departmental Security
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on security in each year since 1997. [7379]
Mr Robathan: Defence security is a process of risk management to which all who work in or with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) contribute in some form, and which is increasingly embedded in the general management of the MOD. It is not therefore possible to assess its overall cost with meaningful precision.
However, the costs of providing guarding and policing services by the Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency (MDPGA), established on 1 April 2004, and of providing personnel vetting by the Defence Vetting Agency (DVA), have been as follows:
| Financial year | Net operating costs (£ million) |
The 2009-10 operating costs of both Agencies are intended for publication in their annual report and accounts, due to be laid before Parliament before the summer recess.
The role of the MDPGA is to combat the crime and security risks faced by the armed forces and the MOD. The Agency has responsibilities for: the protection of
the nuclear deterrent, business continuity, defensive armed policing, uniformed policing, guarding, crime investigation, international capability and policing and guarding policy.
The role of the DVA is to conduct national security vetting and risk-based personnel security assessments.
Departmental Temporary Employment
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many temporary employees work in (a) his Department and (b) bodies financed from its budget. [9210]
Mr Robathan: In November 2009, the Defence Board implemented restrictions on the engagement of agency staff, also called Manpower Substitutes. The People Pay and Pensions Agency (PPPA) provide a service to engage Manpower Substitutes for the Department, which covers:
Clerical and administration grades
Interim professional grades
Industrial and security grades
For other grades employed by the Ministry of Defence, individual business units are still making their own arrangements to engage agency staff in some circumstances. The number of temporary staff currently employed via the PPPA as of 15 July 2010 stands at 486.
The information for bodies funded by the Department is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Training
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on employee away days in each year since 1997. [7323]
Mr Robathan: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Travel
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [8329]
Mr Robathan: The Government Car and Despatch Agency does not collect data relating to the mileage travelled by individual Ministers in a Government car.
Ex-servicemen: Mental Health Services
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to provide psychological support to veterans who need it. [8699]
Mr Robathan: The Government are committed to providing effective, through-life health services for our service and ex-service personnel. The Prime Minister has asked Dr Andrew Murrison MP to conduct an independent study into the provision of Ministry of Defence (MOD) and national health service (NHS) support and services to the armed forces and ex-service personnel and to make recommendations for improvement particularly in the area of mental health.
NHS Veterans Community Mental Health Pilot schemes have also been established in six NHS trusts around the country. They are currently being evaluated with a report expected in the autumn. The findings of the evaluation report will inform broader roll-out of veterans' mental health services across the NHS in 2011-12. Additionally, the Medical Assessment Programme at St Thomas' Hospital in London is available to serving and former armed forces personnel who have deployed on operations since 1982.
The Government have also recently confirmed an additional £2 million to allow the Department of Health to work with strategic partners, including Combat Stress, to ensure the best possible treatment is available for veterans with mental health problems.
Government Departments: Carbon Emissions
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent meetings he has had with the (a) Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and (b) Minister for the Cabinet Office on the proposed 10 per cent. reduction in the level of carbon dioxide emissions from the central Government estate in the next 12 months. [9648]
Mr Robathan: The Secretary of State for Defence has not had any recent meetings with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change or the Minister for the Cabinet Office. The Defence Minister for International Security and Strategy (Mr Howarth) attended a Ministerial Working Group on 10 June 2010 chaired by Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Chris Huhne). The working group was set up at the Prime Minister's direction to oversee the delivery of the Prime Minister's commitment earlier in the year to reduce central Government carbon emissions by 10% in 12 months.
Merlin Helicopters
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many naval Merlin helicopters are not due to be upgraded; and for what purposes such helicopters are to be used. [9483]
Peter Luff: The naval Merlin fleet currently comprises 42 aircraft of which four are in storage pending a decision on future use or disposal. On current plans we have agreed a contract with Lockheed Martin to upgrade 30 Merlin Mk1 s through the Merlin Mk1 Capability Sustainment programme. Further Mk1s may be modified or upgraded subject to the outcome of the strategic defence and security review.
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many naval Merlin helicopters have been built; how many of these have been lost in (a) action or (b) accidents; and how many have been, or are to be struck off strength for any other reason. [9484]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence has taken delivery of a total of 44 naval Merlin helicopters: none of these aircraft has been lost in action; two of these aircraft have been lost in accidents; of the remaining 42 naval Merlin aircraft, four are in storage pending a decision on their future use or disposal.
Met Office
Mr Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has defined the public task of the Met Office. [8092]
Mr Robathan: Yes, the Ministry of Defence has defined the Met Office's public task and it is published on their website:
Service Personnel and Veterans Agency: Databases
George Hollingbery: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the database used by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency to communicate with its clients is available for use by third parties. [10101]
Mr Robathan: The Service Personnel and Veterans Agency administers a number of databases that contain information on serving and former service personnel. Direct access to these is not available to third parties, but within strict parameters the Agency will pass on information from third parties to its clients. All such transactions are carried out in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and information assurance procedures.
Cabinet Office
Cabinet: Bradford
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost to the public purse was of (a) travel and accommodation, (b) venues hire and associated costs, (c) printed materials and (d) security arrangements in respect of the recent Cabinet meeting in Bradford. [8747]
Mr Maude: The central cost of the Cabinet meeting in Bradford was £3,029.50 including venue hire and associated costs.
Ministers combined their attendance with visits to services and projects in the area. Departments will have incurred additional costs associated with travel to Leeds station but this information is not held centrally by the Cabinet Office.
The only security provision was that provided by the police and the question of cost is one for the relevant police force.
Civil Servants: Bristol
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants are employed by each (a) Department, (b) executive agency and (c) other employer in Bristol. [8670]
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 civil servants are employed by each (a) Department, (b) executive agency and (c) other employer in Bristol. (8670).
In order to provide the information requested for the number of civil servants employed by each department, executive agency and other employer in Bristol, ad hoc analysis has been required. This analysis is based on Civil Service Statistics 2009, the latest data available.
The requested data for Bristol are attached at Annex A.
Civil Servants: Redundancy Pay
Mr Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many civil servants have conditions of employment that would entitle them to six years' salary on redundancy; and what criteria need to be fulfilled by a civil servant to have such an entitlement. [8660]
Mr Maude: Compensation on redundancy is payable to civil servants under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme. The amount payable depends on age and length of service of the individual when they are made redundant. The Employers' Pensions Guide, issued by Cabinet Office to employers participating in the civil service pension arrangements, gives employers guidance on the current costs of redundancies, and shows the circumstances where packages worth six years' salary would be payable. The Employers' Guide is available on the civil service website
and a current copy has been placed in the Library. Information on the number of civil servants who would currently get a package worth six years' salary if made redundant can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
I refer the hon. Member to my written statement of 6 July 2010, Official Report, column 3WS, for information on how the Government intend to limit the costs of future compensation payments.
Civil Service: Conferences
Graham Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what the cost of (a) venue hire and (b) reimbursement of speakers for the Civil Service Live event was for the event in (i) 2008, (ii) 2009 and (iii) 2010; [8983]
(2) what the cost to the public purse of maintaining the Civil Service Live website has been since its establishment; [8984]
(3) what the cost to the public purse of organising and running Civil Service Live was in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010; [8985]
(4) how many employees of his Department attended Civil Service Live in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010; and what estimate he has made of the (i) employee working hours taken up by and (ii) cost to his Department of such attendance in each such year. [9045]
Mr Maude:
Civil Service Live events are owned and managed by Dods (the publisher of Civil Service World). This year's event focused on efficiency and value for money. In its first year, 2008, the venue hire cost was £211,588 including VAT. In 2009 and 2010 the venue hire costs were covered by Dods. The Cabinet Office does not, therefore, hold any information on the venue
costs for these years. The Cabinet Office has never paid speakers to speak at the event. The Civil Service Live website is owned and maintained by Dods and there are no costs to the public purse.
In terms of numbers of employees attending the event, the overall delegate numbers for Civil Service Live in 2008, 2009 and 2010 were approximately 6,000, 8,000 and 7,700 respectively. Delegate registration is managed centrally by Dods. The Cabinet Office does not keep a detailed record of every member of staff that attends.
Civil Service Live is a cost-effective way for civil servants of all grades to share ideas about innovative ways of working that will help them achieve more for less. It is free for all civil servants to attend. There will have been some travel and subsistence costs for delegates, which will have followed the travel and subsistence guidelines set by the Department.
Departmental Billing
Mr Anderson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what information the Department holds on the time taken by contractors employed by his Department to pay the invoices of its sub-contractors under prompt payment arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [9262]
Mr Maude: The requirement to pay sub-contractors within 30 days is passed on to all contractors through the Department's standard terms and conditions of contract. However, the Department does not routinely monitor the prompt payment of sub-contractors. To do so would require individuals to establish contact with all suppliers to the Cabinet Office in order to ascertain their prompt payment times.
Departmental Pay
Tom Brake: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much was paid in remuneration in total to civil servants in his Department in 2009-10. [9891]
Mr Maude: The total remuneration paid to civil servants during the financial year 2009-10 amounted to £80.668 million. This is reported in the staff costs note to the Cabinet Office Resource Accounts 2009-10.
Flexible Working
Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate he has made of the number of employees who work flexible hours in businesses which employ (a) up to 10, (b) up to 50 and (c) over 250 members of staff. [6726]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the recent estimate is of the number of employees who work flexible hours in businesses which employ (a) up to 10, (b) up to 50 and (c) over 250 members of staff. (6726)
Information on employees who work flexible hours by workplace size is provided in the attached table. These estimates are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and are not seasonally adjusted. Estimates of business size are not available from the LFS.
The LFS is a survey of residents in private households and therefore excludes people living in communal establishments such as hostels and residential homes. As with any sample survey, the estimates provided are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
| Number and percentage of employees( 1) by workplace size( 2) who work flexible hours-Three month periods ending December 2009: United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted | ||
| Level (Thousand) | Percentage | |
| (1) excluding those on college based schemes. (2) Refers to the total number of employees at the respondent's workplace, not the overall size of the employer. It should be noted that the above estimates exclude people in most types of communal establishment (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels mobile home sites etc.) Source: ONS Labour Force Survey | ||
Markets: Manpower
Ann Coffey: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his most recent estimate is of the total number of people employed in (a) street markets, (b) fixed markets, (c) occasional markets and (d) wholesale markets. [9906]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the most recent estimate is of the total number of people employed in (a) street markets, (b) fixed markets, (c) occasional markets and (d) wholesale markets. [9906]
The most recent estimates are for the three-month period January-March 2010 and estimate that 16,000 people were employed as market and street traders and assistants. A further breakdown of this occupation is not available.
These estimates are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and are not seasonally adjusted. The LFS is a survey of residents in private households and therefore excludes people living in communal establishments such as hostels and residential homes.
As with any sample survey, the estimates provided are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
Mortality Rates: Alcoholic Drinks
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the mortality rate was for alcohol-related conditions in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years. [8882]
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 what the mortality rate was for alcohol-related conditions in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years. [8882]
The table attached provides the age-standardised mortality rate per 100,000 population where the underlying cause was alcohol-related, in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland, from 1999 to 2008 (the latest year available).
The figures for alcohol-related deaths in the United Kingdom by sex and broad age group, are published annually on the National Statistics website and are available for the years 1991 to 2008 at:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=14496&;Pos&ColRank=l&.Rank=272
| Table 1: Age-standardised mortality rates per 100,000 population( 1) with an alcohol-related underlying cause of death( 2) , constituent countries of the United Kingdom( 3) , 1999 to 2008( 4) | ||||||||
| Persons | ||||||||
| England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | |||||
| Deaths | Rate | Deaths | Rate | Deaths | Rate | Deaths | Rate | |
| (1) Age-standardised mortality rates per 100,000 population, standardised to the European Standard Population. Age-standardised rates are used to allow comparison between populations which may contain different proportions of people of different ages. (2) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) for the years 1999 to 2000, and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) for 2001 onwards, for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and ICD-9 for the year 1999 and ICD-10 for the years 2000 to 2008 for Scotland. The specific causes of death categorised as alcohol-related, and their corresponding ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes, are shown in the following boxes. (3) Based on boundaries as of 2009. (4) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. | ||||||||
| Box 2: Alcohol-related causes of death- International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) | |
| Cause of death | ICD-10 code(s) |
NDPBs
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made on his review of non-departmental public bodies; and if he will make a statement. [8883]
Mr Maude: The Government are committed to reducing the number of public bodies to increase accountability and reduce costs. To this end, I am working with Departments to assess the public bodies that fall within their areas of responsibility against three tests: do they perform a technical function; do they require political impartiality; or do they act independently to establish facts. We expect to publish the outcome of this assessment in the autumn.
Perinatal Mortality
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many stillbirths were recorded in each local authority in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in the latest year for which figures are available. [9885]
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 stillbirths were recorded in each local authority in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in the latest year for which figures are available. [9885]
A stillbirth is defined as a child which has issued forth from its mother after the twenty-fourth week of pregnancy, and which did not at any time after becoming completely expelled from its mother breathe or show other signs of life.
The tables attached provide the number of stillbirths in 2008 (the most recent year for which figures are available) for each Local Authority in (a) England and Wales (Table 1); each Council Area in (b) Scotland (Table 2) and each Local Government District in (c) Northern Ireland (Table 3).
| Table 1: Number of stillbirths in each local authority in England and Wales, 2008 | |
| Region | Number |
| Table 2: Number of stillbirths( 1) by council area, Scotland, 2008 | |
| Council area( 2) | Number |
| (1) Stillbirths registered in 2008. (2) By mother's area of usual residence. Source: General Registrar Office for Scotland: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/annual-report-publications/ | |
Public Bodies Bill
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which public bodies will be affected by the proposed Public Bodies Bill; and whether he plans to undertake consultation on the proposals in that Bill. [9403]
Mr Maude: The proposed Public Bodies Bill will provide the legislative underpinning for the Government's commitment to increase the accountability of public bodies and reduce their number and cost. I am currently working with Departments to assess the public bodies that fall within their areas of responsibility against three tests: do they perform a technical function; do they require political impartiality; or do they act independently to establish facts. We expect to publish the outcome of this assessment in the autumn, and plan to introduce the Bill in October.
The House will have the opportunity to scrutinise reforms during the passage of any legislation to implement changes.
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what powers he would have to use delegated legislation to merge or abolish non-departmental public bodies under the provisions in his Department's proposed Public Bodies Bill. [9404]
Mr Maude: The proposed Public Bodies Bill will provide the legislative underpinning for the Government's commitment to increase the accountability of public bodies and reduce their number and cost.
I intend that the Bill will grant enabling powers to Secretaries of State to make orders to abolish, merge, transfer or modify the functions of named public bodies as well as to make consequential provision for staff, property and pensions liability.
Treasury
Academies: Finance
Mr Anderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to make specific tax arrangements in respect of the (a) revenue and (b) capital funds of academy schools. [9489]
Justine Greening: The Government keep all taxes under review and any changes are considered as part of the normal Budget process. Academy trusts are exempted charities that can claim exemption from corporation tax. However, they are not exempt from VAT.
Bank Notes
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to inform the public of the withdrawal from circulation of the old £20 note. [9774]
Justine Greening: At the time of the introduction of the £20 note featuring Adam Smith in 2007, the Bank of England indicated that the £20 note featuring Sir Edward Elgar would be withdrawn in due course. The Bank announced on 8 March 2010 that the Elgar note would be withdrawn on 30 June 2010 and has since then undertaken a range of national and regional publicity. Further information is available at:
Departmental Human Resources
Graham Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on human resources in each year since 1997. [5097]
Justine Greening: The HR profession across Whitehall has only collected the cost of Human Resources for Departments against standard definitions from 2008 onwards.
For 2008-09 Treasury HR costs were 2.6% of organisational running costs, equivalent to £3.99 million in that year. These figures were published in December 2009 in 'Putting the Frontline First: Smarter Government' (Cm7753). Figures for earlier years are not available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Official Residences
Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any domestic properties in the gift of the Government have been allocated to the use of Ministers in his Department. [1786]
Justine Greening: The Chancellor of the Exchequer will have the use of the flat above number 10 Downing street. This is an official residence, used in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
He also has the use of Dorneywood. Dorneywood is managed by independent trustees for use as an official residence, as has been the case under successive Administrations.
Departmental Pay
Tom Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid in remuneration in total to civil servants in his Department in 2009-10. [9898]
Justine Greening: Details of the Department's spending on remuneration of permanent staff will be shown in the Department's 2009-10 Resource Accounts, which are due to be published shortly and will be available from:
EC Budget
Mr Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to hold discussions at EU level on reducing the EU budget by the same proportion as reductions in member states' national expenditure over the next EU budgetary period. [7863]
Justine Greening: The Commission's initial proposal for the EU budget over the next Financial Perspective, which runs from 2014-20, is expected early next year.
At a time of fiscal consolidation across many EU member states, it is only fair the EU budget plays its part. For this reason, we have been pressing for a freeze in the 2011 budget, and the Government expect the Commission's proposal for the next Financial Perspective to take account of fiscal consolidation efforts made across member states.
At the negotiation of the EU budget for the period 2014-20, the Government will strongly defend the UK's national interests, and ensure the budget is focused on those areas where the EU adds value.
Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks
Angela Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the proportion of (a) wine and (b) beer in the UK sold without the value added tax and excise duty having been paid in the latest period for which figures are available. [9916]
Justine Greening: The Department has an internal estimate for revenue losses due to fraud in beer. For 2006-07 estimated losses were between 7 and 11%. The methodology is still under development and therefore this estimate may be revised. Estimates for wine are not currently available.
Estimates for spirits in 2007-08 were published by HMRC in "Measuring Tax Gaps-2009" in November 2009 which is available in the House of Commons Library and at
Estimates for spirits and beer in 2008-09 will be published before the end of the year.
Angela Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost of all types of alcohol fraud to the Exchequer in the latest period for which figures are available. [9917]
Justine Greening: Estimates of the cost of alcohol fraud across all alcoholic beverages are not available.
Estimates of the cost of spirits fraud in 2007-08 were published by HMRC in "Measuring Tax Gaps-2009" in November 2009, which is available in the House of Commons Library and at
Estimates for spirits and beer in 2008-09 will be published before the end of the year.
Financial Institutions: Maladministration
Ann Coffey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanism is in place to investigate alleged maladministration by a financial institution against companies with an annual turnover of £1 million or over. [9908]
Mr Hoban: Various organisations and Government Departments including the Financial Services Authority, the Serious Fraud Office, the City of London Police, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office all have functions in connection with ensuring confidence in the UK's business and financial institutions and combating financial malpractice and crime. These bodies have wide-ranging investigatory and enforcement powers to combat fraud and corruption. Although these bodies each have their own remit, they work closely together to achieve the Government's aim of ensuring confidence in the UK market.
Office for Budget Responsibility
Mr Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what role he plans to offer to the Treasury Select Committee in the appointment of the new Chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility. [10258]
Justine Greening: The Chancellor intends to provide in legislation for the Treasure Select Committee (TSC) to have the power of veto over the appointment of the Chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility. Before the legislation is passed, the Chancellor proposes that the TSC conduct a pre-appointment hearing of the proposed candidate and has committed to not appointing a candidate judged unsuitable by the TSC.
Office for Budget Responsibility: Public Appointments
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date Sir Alan Budd informed him of his intention to step down as Head of the Office for Budget Responsibility. [7945]
Justine Greening: The Chancellor's letter to Sir Alan Budd, which was published on 8 June, was clear that Sir Alan Budd had been appointed Chair of the Office for Budget Responsibility for an interim period.
Clause 6.1 of Sir Alan Budd's 13 May letter of appointment, which is available on the Treasury's website, states:
'You will begin the service on 13/05/2010 and will continue for a period of 3 months...'
Public Sector: Construction
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will establish with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills a working group to implement the recommendations on construction procurement in the public sector made in the National Audit Office report on Modernising Construction, HC (2000-01) 87. [8372]
Mr Maude: I have been asked to reply.
The National Audit Office report on Modernising Construction was published in January 2001. In its subsequent 2005 report 'Improving Public Services through Better Construction' the NAO concluded that there had been
"a considerable improvement in completing projects to time and cost and that real savings were being delivered, in particular, by departments and agencies which had adopted partnering and collaborative approaches to their construction work."
The Efficiency and Reform Group and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will continue to work closely with Government clients and their suppliers to identify and drive out waste and inefficiency in construction procurement.
Revenue and Customs: Closures
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the previous administration's programme for the closure of HM Revenue and Customs offices. [9653]
Justine Greening: The decisions to close 258 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) offices were made after extensive consultation and detailed feasibility work under the previous Government. There are no plans to revisit these decisions.
Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average cost to the customer of a telephone call to an HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) number with a 0845 prefix was in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of HMRC 0845 numbers have an alternative geographic number. [9749]
Mr Gauke: The information around the average cost to the customer of a telephone call to its 0845 helplines is not available.
the customer's tariff arrangements with their service provider;
the device they use for the call;
the location they call from; and
the length of the call.
At present, HMRC does not offer an alternative geographic number for customers telephoning its contact centres from within the UK.
HMRC is in the process of carrying out an in-depth review of its telephone numbering strategy, looking at ways to reduce the costs to customers whilst balancing the costs to HMRC and the performance of its contact centre network.
Tax Evasion
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the revenue lost to the Exchequer from tax evasion in each year since 2005; and what steps he is taking to reduce levels of tax evasion. [9907]
Justine Greening: HMRC estimates that the overall tax gap was £40 billion in 2007-08. In December 2009 HMRC published "Protecting Tax Revenues 2009":
which allocated this tax gap, using management assumptions, to different types of non-compliance. Evasion is shown to account for 17.5% of the tax gap. The hidden economy, a form of evasion where the source of income is unknown to HMRC, accounts for a further 7.5%. This document also sets out HMRC's compliance strategy and the approach to reducing the tax gap.
Estimates of the tax gap due to evasion for years prior to 2007-08 are not available.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide additional funding to HM Revenue and Customs to be used to reduce the level of tax evasion. [9910]
Justine Greening: The Government take tax evasion seriously. The Government's spending plans, including those for HM Revenue and Customs, will be set out in the spending review.
Unpaid Taxes
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much unpaid tax HM Revenue and Customs is owed. [9909]
Mr Gauke: Table 6 of HMRC's Trust Statement sets out the level of receivables owed to the Department, and is available on page 124 of:
Receivables represent amounts due from taxpayers or traders in respect of established liabilities for which, at the end of the reporting period, payments had not been received.
Receivables fell from £27.7 billion at 31 March 2009 to £26.1 billion at 31 March 2010-a fall of 5.8%.
VAT
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect of the planned increase in the rate of value added tax from 1 January 2011 on consumer prices index annual inflation in financial years (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13. [7390]
Justine Greening: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Sir Alan Budd, dated 20 July 2010:
As Chair of the Budget Responsibility Committee of the Office for Budget Responsibility I have been asked to reply to your recent question:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the effect of the planned increase in the rate of value added tax from 1 January 2011 on consumer prices index annual inflation in financial years (a) 2011 -12 and (b) 2012-13.
We have produced a Budget forecast, which incorporates the impact of policy measures announced at or before the Budget. The increase in the standard rate of VAT from 17.5.per cent to 20 per cent with effect from 4 January 2011 is one of the key policy measures affecting the economic and fiscal forecasts.
Drawing on evidence of domestic and international changes in VAT rates, we judge that around two thirds of the VAT increase will be passed on relatively quickly to prices, with further adjustment in the following year.
Chart C3 in the OBR Chapter of the Budget document published on 22 June shows the Budget forecast and the pre-Budget forecast for CPI.
The impact on the annual rate of CPI inflation is to add 0.7 percentage points to the annual rate in 2011/12 and 0.1 percentage points to the annual rate in 2012/13.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people in (a) Newcastle Central constituency, (b) the north-east region and (c) England started (i) an apprenticeship, (ii) an advanced apprenticeship and (iii) a higher apprenticeship in each of the last five years. [10175]
Mr Hayes: Table 1 shows the number of Apprenticeship starts by level for (a) Newcastle Central Constituency, (b) the north-east region and (c) England from 2005/06, the earliest year for which we have apprenticeship starts based on the new parliamentary constituency boundaries which came in to effect in May 2010.
| Table 1: Apprenticeship Programme Starts by Level and Geography, 2005/06 to 2008/09 | ||||
| 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | |
| (1) Indicates a base figure of less than fifty. Notes: 1. Figures by parliamentary constituency are rounded to the nearest 10. All other figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. For Newcastle upon Tyne Central constituency and the north-east region, any figures for Higher Level Apprenticeships are included within the Advanced Apprenticeships category, due to the low volumes. 3. Figures are based upon the home postcode of the learner and on constituency boundaries which came in to effect in ay 2010. Historic information on apprenticeship starts and achievements under the previous parliamentary constituency boundaries can be found at: http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_archive/ 4. The figure for England contains a small number of apprenticeship starts where the postcode of the learner is outside England or where the postcode is not known. Source: Individualised Learner Record | ||||
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