Written Answers to Questions
Monday 26 July 2010
Culture, Media and Sport
London Olympics
13. Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he plans to take to ensure that people from all parts of the UK volunteer for the London 2012 Olympics. [10682]
Hugh Robertson: LOCOG will launch its London 2012 'Games Makers' volunteer scheme tomorrow. The scheme will be marketed across the UK. A roadshow in September will follow, and then selection and training events will be held across the country.
The Department is working with local authorities to enable them to provide volunteers to welcome visitors in 2012.
BBC's Accounts
18. Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what progress has been made on implementation of the proposals set out in the coalition agreement to give the National Audit Office full access to the BBC's accounts. [10688]
Mr Vaizey: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington South (David Mowat).
Arts: Finance
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with officials and Ministers in HM Treasury on future levels of arts funding. [11444]
Mr Vaizey: This Department meets regularly with the Treasury. The future arts funding settlement will be decided in the spending review, the outcome of which will be known in October this year.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he plans to ring-fence Arts Council England funding. [11445]
Mr Vaizey: There are no plans to ring-fence arts funding. Our priority is putting the economy back on its feet and restoring the nation's finances. This is in the interests of all our sectors, particularly the arts and culture sectors which receive significant amounts of private finance. Any budget reductions will be made while protecting frontline services as far as possible.
Betting
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the sums in dormant betting accounts. [11184]
John Penrose: It has not yet been possible to make an informed estimate of the sums that may be held in dormant betting accounts as such figures are not generally published by betting operators. The Tote has, however, previously advised that the gross figure for uncollected winnings recorded during the financial year 2008-09 was £1.04 million.
I have asked the hon. Member for Bath (Mr Foster) to compile a report for me into abandoned betting accounts and other unclaimed winnings. The report will seek to consider how much money may be left abandoned in betting accounts and the value of unclaimed winning tickets. The hon. Member for Bath will be meeting interested parties throughout the autumn to gather views and information. He expects to present his findings, along with a possible proposal of new legislation, to me by the end of the year.
Betting Shops: Greater London
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what representations he has received from the Mayor of London on licensing of betting shops in London since his appointment. [10925]
John Penrose: I have not received any representations from the Mayor of London on licensing of betting shops in London.
Big Lottery Fund: Scotland
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had on the effects on Scotland of the proposed changes to the criteria for the Big Lottery Fund with (a) the Secretary of State for Scotland, (b) the Lottery Fund in Scotland, (c) Scottish Executive Ministers, (d) the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations and (e) the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. [11068]
John Penrose: We propose to consult on this shortly, and will include the Big Lottery Fund, the Secretary of State for Scotland, Scottish Ministers, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. Initial discussions have already taken place between DCMS officials and officials at the Big Lottery Fund, the Scotland Office and the Scottish Executive and the Secretary of State for Scotland recently met the Chief Executive and Scotland Chair of the Big Lottery Fund about this and other lottery proposals.
Big Lottery Fund: Voluntary Organisations
Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what proportion of grant money awarded from the Big Lottery Fund went to organisations in the community and voluntary sector in each of the last three financial years. [10270]
John Penrose [holding answer 21 July 2010]: In 2004, the Big Lottery Fund gave an undertaking to direct between 60-70% of funding to the voluntary and community sector (VCS). This undertaking has since been increased to 80% of grants. This commitment reflects the view that the VCS is frequently best placed to make funding work for those communities and people most in need.
The following table sets out the percentage of grants committed to the VCS for the last three financial years.
| Financial year | Percentage of grants committed to the VCS( 1) |
| (1) These percentages include grants awarded though the Awards for All programme. Prior to April 2009, Awards for All was delivered by the Big Lottery Fund and funded by Big Lottery Fund, Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England. Since April 2009, Awards for All has been delivered and solely funded by the Big Lottery Fund. | |
Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what grants were awarded by the Big Lottery Fund to (a) community and voluntary organisations and (b) other organisations in each constituency in each of the last three financial years. [10271]
John Penrose [holding answer 21 July 2010]: A list containing details of each grant awarded in each constituency could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Big Lottery Fund have, however, provided a table that details the total amount of grants committed as proportions of grants committed to the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and non-VCS grants in each constituency for each of the last three financial years. This table will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
The table includes grants awarded through the Awards for All programme. Prior to April 2009 Awards for All was delivered by the Big Lottery Fund and funded by Big Lottery Fund, Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England. Since April 2009 Awards for All has been delivered and solely funded by the Big Lottery Fund.
Bolton and Quinn
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much (a) his Department and (b) Arts Council England has paid to Bolton and Quinn in each year since 1997. [11185]
Mr Vaizey: This Department has not paid Bolton and Quinn since 1997. In 2004-05 Arts Council England paid them £11,750 and in 2005-06 £14,363.38.
Broadband: West Yorkshire
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans his Department has to roll out superfast broadband to rural areas in Colne Valley constituency. [10708]
Mr Vaizey: On 8 June, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport set out the Government's plans for ensuring the UK has the best superfast broadband network in Europe. A transcript of this announcement in its entirety can be accessed via the DCMS website at:
The Government are committed to making a service level of 2 Mbps available in towns and villages still without a basic level of access. The office charged with delivering this universal service commitment, Broadband Delivery UK, held an industry event on 15 July to provide further information on this commitment. Roll-out of broadband is first and foremost a matter for private sector investors. However, 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, and pilots will be held in three areas to test the roll-out of superfast broadband in rural areas. The locations of these pilots will be announced later in the year.
Departmental Billing
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what percentage of payments made by his Department to (a) small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers and (b) all suppliers were made (i) within 10 days of receipt of invoice and (ii) on the agreed payment terms in the last three months for which information is available. [11159]
John Penrose: The Department's performance for payment of invoices within 10 working days and within agreed terms to all suppliers in each month from April-June 2010 is set out in the table.
| Percentage of payments made within 10 working days | Percentage of payments made within agreed terms | |
To disaggregate performance by small and medium sized enterprise suppliers would incur disproportionate cost, as the DCMS systems do not record payment data in this way.
Departmental Degrees
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many officials in his Department have a BSc degree in a science or engineering subject. [11258]
John Penrose: At this time, DCMS does not record the degree qualifications held by officials.
Departmental Official Cars
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) how much his Department has spent on the Government Car Service since the Government took office; [7990]
(2) which (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have been driven by the Government Car Service since the Government took office; and how much each of these persons has received in expenses for use of taxis, buses and underground trains in that period. [7991]
John Penrose: The Secretary of State has cancelled contracts for personal Government Car Scheme (GCS) cars for this Department's Ministers. Ministers have made use of green cars, which are provided by the Government Car and Dispatch Agency, on an ad hoc basis and we are currently negotiating a final cancellation fee with the GCS.
The costs Ministers have incurred for taxi, bus and underground train travel for the months they have been in office, are shown in the table:
| Minister | Travel expenses post appointment (£) |
The only expense claimed directly by a Minister is £30.00 for a taxi to/from an event at the Australian high commission by the Minister for Sport and the Olympics.
Departmental Operating Costs
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to reduce the running costs of his Department to date. [9601]
John Penrose: The Department has taken steps to reduce its costs in 2010-11 by cutting £800,000 across administrative and pay budgets (including travel and subsistence, ministerial cars, consultancy, training, publicity and overtime); and £750,000 of its own capital expenditure (mainly software upgrades). In addition, it has also reduced by 3% the grants it makes to most of its arm's length bodies and other institutions and programmes funded by the Department.
We will be taking further steps to reduce administration costs as part of the spending review.
Football
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what criteria he plans to use to assess progress on reforms of football governance; [10806]
(2) what timetable his Department has set for bringing forward proposals for the reform of football governance. [10807]
Hugh Robertson: While it is not for Government to run football, I have made it clear that I want to see the three football authorities working together to address various issues in the game, including the implementation of the Burns Review.
I will be meeting with the authorities again in the near future to see what progress has been made.
Gambling
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on what date the Gambling Commission plans to publish the Gambling Prevalence Study 2010. [10983]
John Penrose: The Gambling Commission plans to publish the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2010 in February 2011. Further details are available on the Commission's website at:
http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/research __consultations/research/bgps/bgps_2010.aspx
Gambling: Licensing
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps the Gambling Commission takes to monitor (a) the annual number of gambling premise licences issued and (b) the locations in respect of which such licences are granted. [10984]
John Penrose: Under the Gambling Act 2005, local authorities are required to inform the Gambling Commission of the grant of an application for a premises licence. This includes details of the location of the premises.
Gaming Machines
Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent representations his Department has received from the British Amusement Catering Trade Association on (a) the proportion of category B3 arcade machines in amusement arcades and (b) the stake on category B3 machines; and if he will make a statement. [10890]
John Penrose: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 21 July 2010, Official Report, column 333W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Philip Davies).
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many B2 gaming machines there were in the UK in each year since 2001. [10986]
John Penrose: Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) were reclassified as B2 gaming machines in September 2007 when the Gambling Act 2005 came into effect. No central records of the number of gaming machines were held prior to that, although the Gambling Commission's 2006-07 annual report did contain figures that included an industry estimate of 24,500 FOBTs.
Since 2007 the Gambling Commission has published figures for all categories of gaming machines, based on industry estimates. For B2 machines these were: 2007-08 27,000; 2008-09 27,500. Figures for 2009-10 are not yet available. This data is available on the Gambling Commission's website at
Horserace Totalisator Board: Manpower
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many staff are employed by the Tote in Wigan constituency. [11306]
John Penrose: The Tote currently employs 540 staff in the Wigan area, based in the Tote Park head office and the retail shops in the area.
Local Broadcasting: West Yorkshire
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has for local television in West Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement. [10709]
Mr Vaizey: The Government want to see commercially sustainable local television emerge across the UK. The Government recently appointed Nicholas Shott of Lazard Ltd. to look at the necessary conditions for this to happen and consider the ways in which major cities and other areas might sustain local television services. His findings will inform the Government's proposed approach due to be published later this year.
London Review of Books
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much funding the London Review of Books has received from the Arts Council in each year since 2000. [10891]
Mr Vaizey: Arts Council England has supplied the information in the following table for funding the London Review of Books each full financial year since 2000.
| £ | |||
| Financial year | Grant in aid | Lottery | Total |
National Lottery: Scotland
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of current recipients in (a) Scotland and (b) Glasgow of funding from the Big Lottery Fund which would not meet the new proposed criteria for eligibility for such funding. [10233]
John Penrose [holding answer 22 July 2010]: I have made no such estimate. I am proposing to consult shortly on a policy direction that would require the Big Lottery Fund to take account of the need to focus funding on the voluntary and community sector in respect of its UK non-devolved and England expenditure. The Big Lottery Fund's devolved expenditure in Scotland would not be covered by such a direction.
Olympic Games 2012: VAT
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the likely effect on Olympic construction and procurement projects of the increase in the standard rate of value added tax. [9634]
Hugh Robertson: The impact of the increase in the rate of VAT, as announced in the June 2010 Emergency Budget, is that the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) will be required to pay approximately £45 million in additional VAT. As of 30 June 2010, and taking this additional cost into account, the anticipated final cost for the ODA programme is reduced £6 million since the previous quarter, due to savings achieved by the ODA.
Performing Arts
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will bring forward proposals to place a statutory duty on local authorities to fund performing arts. [11442]
Mr Vaizey: It is our view that regulation is not the best way to deliver cultural services at a local level. We want to empower local communities and local authorities to make the decisions that are most appropriate for their area, rather than imposing a one size fits all model of cultural provision. Imposing a statutory duty would also add to burdens placed upon local government at a time when deregulation is a priority.
Theatre
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has to provide support for the theatre sector. [11443]
Mr Vaizey: We are wholly committed to a strong future for the arts, including support for the theatre sector.
In 2009-10 Arts Council England invested over £104 million into regularly funded theatre organisations and more than £13 million into theatre through grants for the arts.
Arts Council England carried out an extensive assessment of the theatre sector in 2009. The findings of this assessment fed into Arts Council England's recent consultation 'Achieving great art for everyone' to help develop a strategic framework for its future investment in the arts, including theatre. The framework will be published in late 2010.
Theatre: Government Assistance
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the contribution to the economy made by subsidised repertory theatre in each year since 1997. [11281]
Hugh Robertson: This Department and Arts Council England have made no such estimate, however the Society of London Theatre published the Wyndham Report in 1998. This explored the economic impact of London Theatre.
Scotland
Departmental Billing
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of payments made by his Department to (a) small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers and (b) all suppliers were made (i) within 10 days of receipt of invoice and (ii) on the agreed payment terms in the last three months for which information is available. [11389]
Michael Moore: The Scotland Office does not differentiate between suppliers and endeavours to pay all valid invoices as promptly as possible. The Scotland Office's performance is shown in the following table:
| Percentage | ||
| 2010 | Paid within 10 days | Paid within 30 days |
Electricity: Meters
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his most recent estimate is of the number of households in Scotland which use pre-payment electricity meters. [11425]
Michael Moore: Ofgem monitors the performance of domestic electricity and gas suppliers in relation to payment methods. Information is collected from suppliers on a quarterly and annual basis and the data received from suppliers are set out in tables and published on the Ofgem website. The latest information for September 2009 shows there were 485,412 households with pre-payment electricity meters in Scotland.
Graduates: Taxation
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the implications would be for funding of higher education under the Barnett formula in Scotland from introduction of a graduate tax in England. [11069]
Michael Moore: An independent review, led by Lord Browne, is currently looking at how universities in England will be funded in the future. Its terms of reference state that it will report in the autumn, before which it would be inappropriate to pre-empt the outcome.
Housing Benefit
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what meetings he has had with (a) housing associations in Scotland, (b) the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and (c) Citizens Advice Scotland on the effects of the proposed changes in housing benefit regulations. [11070]
Michael Moore: The Department for Work and Pensions has been in contact with the Scottish Government on this matter and published detailed impact assessments of the changes on its website on 23 July.
Merchant Shipping
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2010, Official Report, column 729W, on merchant shipping, what discussions he has had with the Under-Secretary of State for Transport on the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010. [11071]
Michael Moore: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Motherwell and Wishaw (Mr Roy) on 15 July 2010, Official Report, column 817W.
Minimum Wage
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the First Minister on the effect on those resident in Scotland and in receipt of the national minimum wage of the proposed change to the standard rate of value added tax. [9886]
Michael Moore: I have not discussed this issue with the First Minister. The decision to raise the standard rate of value added tax was part of a necessary plan to tackle the largest budget deficit in peacetime history, which this Government inherited. As a result of the action we are taking, basic rate taxpayers will gain from the £1,000 rise in the personal allowance for income tax, and families will gain from increases of £150 and £60 above indexation per year to the child element of the child tax credit in the next two years respectively. The Budget also commits to keeping everyday essentials such as food and children's clothing free from VAT.
Women and Equalities
Access to Work
8. Jane Ellison: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities if she will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on proposals to change the access to work programme to increase opportunities for disabled people to find employment. [10309]
10. Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities if she will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on proposals to change the access to work programme to increase opportunities for disabled people to find employment. [10311] [Official Report, 6 September 2010, Vol. 515, c. 1MC.]
Maria Miller [holding answer 22 July 2010]: I have been asked to reply.
The Government are committed to ensuring disabled people are given the support they need to get a job and remain in employment.
The coalition agreement made a commitment on Access to Work. The Government Equalities Office is developing plans for delivering this commitment and further details will be announced in due course.
Departmental Operating Costs
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps she has taken to reduce the running costs of the Government Equalities Office since her appointment. [9816]
Lynne Featherstone: The Minister for Women and Equalities has submitted plans for reductions to running costs for the GEO in her submission for the spending review. The Minister has already introduced stringent controls on expenditure in line with Treasury and Cabinet Office guidance on for example recruitment, communications, publishing and media. In addition controls have been introduced on the use of taxis and first class travel for GEO staff.
Departmental Pay
Tom Brake: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how much was paid in remuneration in total to civil servants in her Department in 2009-10. [10000]
Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office paid £5,361,000 in remuneration to civil servants in 2009-10.
EC Law
Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities if she will estimate the cost to her Department of compliance with regulations arising from EU obligations in the last 12 months. [6880]
Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office acts in accordance with a wide range of regulation of both EU and domestic origin and it is not standard accounting practice to distinguish regulatory compliance costs from overall running costs. This figure could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Equalities and Human Rights Commission: Manpower
Ann McKechin: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many (a) men and (b) women the Equality and Human Rights Commission employs in Scotland. [10488]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 22 July 2010]: The Equality and Human Rights Commission is independent and manages its own affairs; the following is based on information it has provided. The Commission employs 14 men and 32 women in Scotland.
Maternity Leave
Ann McKechin: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what the practice is of (a) the Government Equalities Office and (b) the Equality and Human Rights Commission on recruitment of staff to provide cover for female staff who are absent whilst on maternity leave. [11067]
Lynne Featherstone: Government Equalities Office's practice when maternity leave is taken is to manage the absence internally, from within the Department's existing staffing resource. Where a temporary replacement is business critical, the vacancy is advertised as maternity leave cover across the civil service, on loan terms.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is independent and manages its own affairs; the following is based on information it has provided. Where the vacancy cannot be filled internally, a temporary replacement is sought through the civil service and other non-departmental public bodies.
Women's National Commission
Sandra Osborne: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what plans she has for the Women's National Commission. [10932]
Lynne Featherstone: The coalition Government have made clear their commitment to increase the accountability of all public bodies and reduce their number and costs. The Women's National Commission (WNC) is included in this exercise along with many other non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs).
My Department, the Government Equalities Office, has written to the chair of the commission, Baroness Gould of Potternewton, inviting the WNC to respond to the three tests which all NDPBs are being assessed against. We are now considering the reply. I have also met with Baroness Gould to discuss the review and listen to her views.
The review will conclude in the autumn and the result will be made public.
Sandra Osborne: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what the budget for the Women's National Commission is for 2010-11. [10997]
Lynne Featherstone: The Women's National Commission budget for this financial year is £661,000.
Wales
Departmental Billing
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of payments made by her Department to (a) small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers and (b) all suppliers were made (i) within 10 days of receipt of invoice and (ii) on the agreed payment terms in the last three months for which information is available. [11383]
Mr David Jones: The Wales Office payment statistics do not make a split between small and medium-sized suppliers and other suppliers, this information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
The percentage of payments made within 10 days for all suppliers are:
| Percentage of payments made within 10 days | |
Although payment terms for suppliers range between 14 and 30 days, we aim to pay all invoices within 10 days.
Job Creation
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what recent estimate she has made of the number of new companies seeking to locate in Wales; [10452]
(2) what estimate her Department has made of the number of jobs (a) created and (b) safeguarded in the economy by inward investment into Wales in (i) 2009 and (ii) the latest period for which figures are available. [10343]
Mr David Jones: As the Prime Minister announced on 22 July 2010, this Government are committed to attracting as much inward investment as possible to the UK. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be focusing on commercial links with the global marketplace and this office is committed to playing its part in drawing as much new investment to Wales as possible.
The latest figures available published by UKTI show that the number of new jobs created from inward investment in Wales was 3,431 in the financial year 2009-10. The number of safeguarded jobs was 3,931.
Public Expenditure: Cuts
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on projected trends in employment in the public sector in Wales attributable to public expenditure reductions in the next five years. [9594]
Mr David Jones: As specific spending plans will be announced in the autumn, following the comprehensive spending review, it has not been possible to produce any forecasts in relation to the impact of public expenditure reductions on Wales.
In devolved areas of spending, it is for the Welsh Assembly Government to make its own decisions about the allocation of its block grant, including any reductions.
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if she will discuss with ministerial colleagues the provision of support to those employed in the public sector in Wales who will lose their jobs in the next five years as a result of reductions in departmental expenditure. [9595]
Mr David Jones: Both the Secretary of State for Wales and I will continue to have discussions with ministerial colleagues to ensure that any public sector workers affected by reductions in Wales receive all the support that they need.
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate she has made of the number of jobs to be lost in the public sector in Wales in the next five years. [9596]
Mr David Jones: I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 19 July 2010, Official Re port, column 10W. It is premature to make any estimates of the impacts on Wales of the Government's public sector expenditure plans.
Trade Unions
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much her Department and its predecessor has paid to trade unions in each year since 1997; and what estimate she has made of the monetary value of facilities provided by her Department and its predecessor for use by trade unions in each year since 1997. [11670]
Mr David Jones: No payments have been made directly by the Wales Office to trade unions and no estimate has been made of the value of facilities provided.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many paid manpower hours civil servants in her Department and its predecessor spent on trade union-related duties and activities in each year since 1997. [11671]
Mr David Jones: One member of staff had 11 hours trade union facility time during 2009-10, in line with the ACAS Code of Practice "Time Off for Trades Union Duties and Activities". We have no information relating to previous years.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many civil servants in her Department and its predecessor spent the equivalent of (a) five days or fewer, (b) five to 10 days, (c) 10 to 15 days, (d) 15 to 20 days, (e) 20 to 25 days and (f) 25 days or more on trade union-related activities or duties while being paid salaries from the public purse in each year since 1997. [11672]
Mr David Jones: One member of staff spent the equivalent of 1.5 days on trade union related activities or duties facility time during the 2009-10 period while employed by the Wales Office. We have no figures for previous years.
Defence
Afghanistan: Armed Forces
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Afghans from each ethnic group have been recruited to the Afghan National Army; and how many such recruits deserted or otherwise left that army in the last three years; [8251]
(2) what the (a) size and (b) ethnic composition of the Afghan National Army in (i) Afghanistan and (ii) Helmand province was (A) in 2007 and (B) on the latest date for which figures are available. [8252]
Dr Fox: There are currently 130,000 Afghan National Army (ANA) members of which approximately 10,500 are in Helmand Province. Accurate data on the size of the ANA nationally and in Helmand in 2007 is not available, as we did not start to verify strength figures for the ANA until late 2008.
The current ethnic composition of the ANA at the national level is detailed in the following table:
| Origin | Percentage of overall ANA |
We do not hold accurate current data for the ethnic composition of the ANA in Helmand.
ANA recruitment and retention are matters for the Government of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) uniformed armed forces personnel, (b) civilian support workers and (c) contractors were employed in security work in Afghanistan in each of the last 24 months. [9769]
Dr Fox: The Ministry of Defence keeps the number of armed forces and civilian personnel deployed to Afghanistan under constant review. Civil servants deploy to Afghanistan to support the armed forces but they are not directly involved in security operations.
The force levels over the last two years are as follows:
| Military | Civilian | |
The Department does not directly contract with private military security companies in Afghanistan.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many operations involving armed drones have been carried out by UK forces in each year of conflict in Afghanistan; and from which bases the operations were carried out. [10056]
Dr Fox: Reaper, operated by the Royal Air Force, is the UK's only armed remotely piloted air system. It entered operational service in October 2007 in Afghanistan and is flown from Kandahar airfield.
The primary role of Reapers operated by the UK remains intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance but they have had the capability to employ air-to-ground weapons since May 2008.
| Weapons use | |
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the effects of adoption of a more passive military stance by NATO in Afghanistan on levels of insurgency in Europe. [10457]
Dr Fox: NATO has not adopted a more passive military stance; it remains fully committed to the counter-insurgency mission in Afghanistan. International security assistance forces are in Afghanistan to protect our national security by preventing Afghan territory from again being used by al-Qaeda as a base from which to plan attacks on the United Kingdom and our allies.
We continue to train the Afghan national security forces so that they can assume responsibility for Afghanistan's enduring security as soon as possible.
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of casualties caused by enemy action in Afghanistan in the last 12 months were inflicted on routine (a) foot and (b) vehicle patrols. [10666]
Dr Fox:
Of the 134 service personnel killed due to enemy action between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2010, 115 fatalities occurred during foot patrols, operations to
dispose of Improvised Explosive Devices, and other dismounted operations; the remaining 19 fatalities were as a result of attacks on vehicles.
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) for what reasons the level of casualties inflicted on routine foot and vehicle patrols in Afghanistan has increased in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement; [10667]
(2) for what reason routine foot patrols in Afghanistan have not been discontinued; and if he will make it his policy to (a) reduce or (b) discontinue tasking of British service personnel to such patrolling duties. [10669]
Dr Fox: We are conducting a counter-insurgency operation in Afghanistan, a key part of which is for troops to interact with the local population, some of which can only be carried out by patrolling on foot or in vehicles. We will not implement a policy on foot patrols that limits the ability of commanders on the ground to fulfil the operation.
We constantly assess the security situation and try to adapt our tactics in response while trying to reduce the risk to our personnel through measures such as varying the patrol routes and performing drills to help locate improvised explosive devices.
Despite this, Helmand, where the majority of UK troops are based, remains one of the most violent provinces in Afghanistan. But as security conditions allow, and when the Afghan security forces are ready, international security assistance force troops will increasingly step back from the front line into a supporting role and, over time, will reduce in number. This will be a phased, gradual process and will be subject to careful assessment by commanders on the ground. It is only through close engagement and partnering with the Afghan authorities that we will be able to transfer responsibility for security to the Afghans to deliver a stable country in the long-term.
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether officers participate in most routine (a) foot and (b) vehicle patrols in Afghanistan. [10668]
Dr Fox: Officers share the same risks as the service personnel they command and routinely conduct foot and vehicle patrols with them.
Apache Helicopters
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department paid to the US administration for use of training facilities by UK Apache helicopter pilots in the latest period for which figures are available. [10471]
Nick Harvey: The amount to be paid to the US authorities for the use of training facilities by the UK Apache force during the most recent phase of Exercise Crimson Eagle in Arizona between April and July 2010 is estimated at approximately £770,000. This figure includes rates and rents, estate and facilities management, building maintenance and accommodation stores.
The hot and dry conditions in the West Arizona Aviation Training Site offer ideal preparation for the conditions UK Apache pilots face on operations in Afghanistan. Exercise Crimson Eagle is therefore an essential part of pre-deployment training for both aircrew and ground crew.
Armed Forces: Housing
Rebecca Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many properties his Department rented from the private sector or other providers for the purposes of housing service families in each of the last five years; [10195]
(2) how much his Department has paid to the private sector for rental of accommodation for service families in each of the last five years; [10196]
(3) how many service family accommodation units are in condition (a) one, (b) two, (c) three and (d) four; [10197]
(4) how many units of service family accommodation there were for armed forces personnel and their families as at 30 June 2010; [10198]
(5) how many single living accommodation units there were for serving personnel as at 30 June 2010. [10199]
Mr Robathan: As at 30 June 2010, there were 65,019 service family accommodation (SFA) properties worldwide and, as at 31 March 2010 (the latest date for which figures are available), there were 146,813 single living accommodation bed-spaces.
SFA is assessed for its Standard for Condition (SfC)-a detailed measure of the physical condition of a property with Standard one being the highest and Standard four the lowest. A survey to determine the SfC of SFA in England and Wales is currently being undertaken, with similar surveys planned for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Those UK properties so far surveyed and overseas SFA are at the following SfC:
| SfC | Number of UK SFA | Number of overseas SFA |
While the majority of SFA in Scotland and Northern Ireland are owned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), other UK properties are leased from the private sector through various arrangements, including private finance initiatives.
Where suitable SFA properties do not exist in an area or are temporarily unavailable (as a last resort) Substitute SFA (SSFA) is also rented from the local rental market.
The total numbers of SFA or SSFA properties in the UK provided through these arrangements and the total costs are only available for the last four years:
| Financial year | Number of SFA | Cost (£ million) | Number of SSFA | Cost (£ million) |
The MOD also currently rents 5,423 SFA properties overseas.
Information for earlier years regarding the total number of overseas SFA and rental costs is either not available or not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Caribbean: Warships
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reduction in his Department's expenditure arose from withdrawal of HMS Iron Duke and RFA Fort George from the Caribbean in December 2009. [10447]
Nick Harvey: The temporary withdrawal of the Royal Navy presence from the Atlantic Patrol Task (North) for the six month period outside the hurricane season (June to November), saved approximately £1 million.
Departmental Fire Services
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review his Department's provision of defence fire and rescue services through contractors. [10358]
Nick Harvey: At this time there are no specific plans to change the way in which the Ministry of Defence fire and rescue capability is delivered.
The cross-Government Strategic Defence and Security Review is undertaking a thorough examination of our force structure in order to provide the most effective defence of the UK's interests. This exercise will bring defence policy, plans, commitments and resources into balance, and produce over time a transformative change to British defence. This is a wide-ranging review that will examine all aspects of defence, including options for the future provision of fire services. Decisions will be made in the autumn.
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what minimum standards his Department sets in respect of the eligibility of his Department's staff and contractors to be employed for fire protection work. [10359]
Nick Harvey: Professional fire protection standards are laid down by the Department for Communities and Local Government (fire and rescue service development criteria and National Occupational Standards), legislative requirements and national best practice within the fire and rescue service sector.
Personnel recruited into the Defence fire and rescue service with no previous experience will undertake a 14 week fire fighter course at the Ministry of Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Manston, which includes a demonstration of competence within the workplace. Personnel with previous experience (e.g. in local authority fire and rescue service) will be subject to a training gap analysis to identify any shortfalls in their skills. The same criteria will apply to contracted personnel.
Departmental ICT
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 information and communication technology in each year since 1997. [7342]
Mr Robathan: The operating costs of operational, satellite and non-operational information technology and telecommunications, including the related Private Finance Initiative (PFI) service charges from 2005-06, have been as follows:
| £ million | ||
| Financial Year | Expenditure | PFI Service c harges |
These figures represent expenditure by the Department, the on-vote defence agencies and those advisory non-departmental public bodies we sponsor. The figures do not include expenditure by our Trading Funds as they lie outside the departmental accounting boundary. Included in expenditure are IT services, telephone line and equipment rental and minor equipment. The cost of the Defence Fixed Telephone Service is included in the figure for PFI service charges.
We have published this information in our Annual Report and Accounts since 2001-02, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House and are available on line at the following link:
The 2009-10 figures for expenditure and the PFI service charges are intended for publication in our Consolidated Departmental Resource Accounts, which were laid before the House on 26 July.
Merlin Helicopters
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his plans are for the eight Merlin helicopters which are exempt from the planned upgrade from Mark one to Mark two. [10444]
Peter Luff: The future use of those Merlin Mark one helicopters not upgraded under the Merlin Mark one Capability Sustainment Programme is under review as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Military Aid
Angus Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which countries receive military aid from his
Department; what the primary purpose of this aid is in each case; and how much has been given to each in each of the last five years. [9064]
Nick Harvey: Military Aid incorporates a broad spectrum of activity co-ordinated through our Defence Attaché network. The overarching aim of all military aid is to strengthen the international security environment through the development of bilateral relationships. The Ministry of Defence does not give cash grants to partner countries for military aid but does use departmental funding to offset the cost of activities to achieve these aims. I refer the hon. Member to the MOD Annual Reports and Accounts which can be found on the MOD website at:
and which provide information on the funding and the type of activities undertaken for the period requested.
Nuclear Submarines: Accidents
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what inquiry was held into the collision between HMS Vanguard and Le Triomphant in February 2009. [10933]
Dr Fox: The First Sea Lord commissioned a thorough review of the collision between HMS Vanguard and FS Le Triomphant. The report on the incident, dated May 2009, contains highly classified operational detail concerning the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent and for reasons of national security, it will not be published.
Nuclear Weapons: Finance
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the budget for any future nuclear weapons scheme will be ring-fenced within his Department's budget if it is accounted for in that budget. [10748]
Peter Luff: The Government are committed to retaining a minimum credible nuclear deterrent based on Trident. Spending review discussions continue until the autumn and consequently no final decisions have yet been taken on the Defence budget.
Rescue Services: Helicopters
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to the Statement by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury of 17 June 2010, Official Report, column 1047, on public spending, when he expects the review of the search-and-rescue helicopter replacement project to be completed; and if he will make a statement; [11430]
(2) what factors will inform his Department's review of the search-and-rescue helicopter replacement project; and if he will make a statement. [11431]
Peter Luff: The review of the search and rescue helicopter project is ongoing and is being conducted as a matter of urgency. It is extensive, and is looking at all major aspects of the project. The results of the review, which is being conducted jointly with the Department for Transport, will be announced in due course.
Strategic Defence and Security Review
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had on the inclusion of a future nuclear weapons programme in the Strategic Defence and Security Review. [10749]
The Government are committed to retaining a minimum credible nuclear deterrent based on Trident. Both the value for money review of the Trident programme and the re-examination of the UK's declaratory nuclear policy are being conducted within the framework of the Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Trident
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department's Investment Approvals Board will next discuss the Trident replacement Initial Gate; when the Board is due to reach a decision on the replacement programme; and if he will place in the Library and publish on his departmental website details of the decision. [10490]
Dr Fox [holding answer 22 July 2010]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for North Ayrshire and Arran (Katy Clark) on 12 July 2010, Official Report, column 447W.
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that parliamentary approval is obtained for any Main Gate decision to commit funds to building a successor system to Trident. [11152]
Peter Luff: Main Gate is not expected until around 2014. A decision on how best to consult will be made nearer the time.
United Arab Emirates
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Minister for Veterans travelled to the United Arab Emirates in the course of his official duties between October 2008 and May 2010; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost was of each visit. [8254]
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing: Greater London
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) discussions, (b) meetings and (c) exchanges of correspondence he has had with the Mayor of London on affordable homes in London since his appointment. [10928]
Andrew Stunell: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Local Government met the Mayor of London on 30 June 2010 to discuss a number of housing issues, including affordable housing.
The Mayor of London wrote to my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Robert Neill) on 17 May 2010 about the replacement London Plan, including a number of housing proposals in the Plan. My hon. Friend replied to the Mayor on 16 June 2010.
In addition there has been correspondence and meetings between the Mayor and Ministers about the further devolution of power to London, including the proposal that responsibility for the Homes and Communities Agency in London be transferred to the Mayor.
Central Heating: Building Regulations
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account he took of the specification of efficiency standards for central heating circulation pumps his Department undertook prior to the publication of revisions to Part L of the Building Regulations 2010. [10625]
Andrew Stunell: The amendments to Part L of the Building Regulations due to come into force in October 2010 were made by the previous Government following public consultation. The consultation document published in June 2009 contained a proposal that guidance be introduced that new and replacement stand-alone circulator pumps should have a minimum Band C rating. The final technical guidance published in April set out that circulator pumps should have an energy label only, on the basis that there will be a European requirement for all stand-alone circulator pumps placed on the market to be updated to Band A from 2013.
Council Housing
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) individuals and (b) households were assisted with housing by local authority social services, adult services and children's services departments in each of the last three years. [10561]
Andrew Stunell [holding answer 22 July 2010]: Data on the number of adults (aged 18 and over) in receipt of local authority funded registered residential and nursing care is collected and published by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.
The following table shows the number of adults aged 18 and over in receipt of local authority funded registered residential and nursing care as at 31 March 2007, 2008 and 2009.
| Total of all supported residents | |
| Notes: 1. Figures include registered unstaffed homes, voluntary and private registered residential care homes and general and mental nursing homes. 2. Data includes Boyd loophole residents and those clients formerly in receipt of preserved rights. | |
Information on the number of individuals aged less than 18 who are in receipt of local authority funded registered care is not available from this Department.
Council Tax: Exemptions
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department issues on the (a) publication of information about and (b) registration with local authorities of dwellings exempted from payment of council tax by virtue of being places of public religious worship. [10916]
Robert Neill: There is no exemption from council tax for places of public religious worship. However, properties used for public religious worship may be exempt from non-domestic rates.
Departmental Billing
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds on the time taken by contractors employed by it to pay the invoices of their sub-contractors under prompt payment arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [9260]
Robert Neill: The Department does not hold any information about the time taken by its contractors to pay invoices from their sub-contractors.
OGC is establishing a voluntary charter with suppliers in 2010 which will cover mutual commitments on a range of policy agendas that Government are pursuing through public procurement including SMEs. The charter will include commitments from signatory suppliers to open appropriate sub-contracting opportunities to SMEs and to pass on favourable terms, including prompt payment, in supply chains.
We will issue guidance to category managers in Corporate Procurement Division (CPD) encouraging this approach when the charter is in place.
Departmental Internet
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much (a) his Department and its predecessor and (b) its agencies spent on search engine biasing with (i) Google and (ii) other search engines in each of the last five years. [10012]
Robert Neill: The Department conducts its paid search activity through the Central Office of Information (COI). Their records indicate that the Department spent the following amounts on paid search over the last two financial years:
| £ | |
The costs were incurred on activity to promote the following campaign websites:
2008-09-Home Buying And Selling (including Home Information Packs), Fire Kills, Mortgage Help and Preventing Repossessions, HomeBuy, Eco-towns, Energy Performance Certificates.
2009-10-Mortgage Help and Preventing Repossessions, Fire Kills, Fire Careers.
COI do not maintain central records for paid search activity for the years prior to 2009-10, nor do their central records distinguish between search engines used.
The Department does not hold records for paid search activity conducted by its agencies.
Departmental Lost Property
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what property has been recorded as (a) lost and (b) stolen from the Department in the last 12 months; and what estimate has been made of the cost of the replacement of that property. [5971]
Robert Neill: The property recorded as either (a) lost or (b) stolen from the Department for Communities and Local Government in the last 12 months and the estimated cost of the replacement of that property is as follows:
Within the last 12 months, under the previous Government, the departmental property reported as lost or stolen was as follows:
Nil
Five BlackBerrys valued at approximately £1,000 (£200 each)(1)
Six laptop computers valued at approximately £6,000 (£1,000 each)(1)
Two mobile phones valued at approximately £250 in total
One mobile phone charger valued at approximately £10
One laptop log in key (stolen from staff home address) valued at approximately £70
One memory stick valued at approximately £20
Under the current Government departmental property reported as lost or stolen is as follows:
Nil
Six laptops valued at approximately £6,000 (£1000 each).
Employees' or contractors' property reported as lost or stolen during the period and under the previous Government was as follows:
One Apple I Phone
One bottle of aftershave
One purse
Two mobile phones
One mobile phone charger
One laptop
Two memory sticks
Two power leads
In no cases did replacement costs fall to the Department.
No employee or contractor's property has been reported lost or stolen since the general election of 6 May 2010
(1) None of the information contained on the laptop computers or BlackBerrys was classified. However, each laptop and the BlackBerrys were encrypted and password protected.
Departmental Marketing
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his (a) Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on logo design in each year since 1997. [7476]
Robert Neill: I refer my hon. Friend to the FOI disclosure of August 2009 listing spending on logo design over the last five years. Available via:
Departmental Official Cars
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on the Government Car Service since the Government took office. [7984]
Robert Neill: The Department has spent £62,136 with the Government Car and Dispatch Agency (GCDA) on car services. This figure relates to invoices posted since 12 May 2010 up to and including 12 July 2010. In the year 2009-10 the Department spent £488,276 with the GCDA. Pro-rota, this is less than the last Government, and my Department is taking further steps to deliver efficiency savings in this area.
Departmental Travel
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have been driven by the Government Car Service since the Government took office; and how much each of these persons has received in expenses for use of taxis, buses and underground trains in that period. [7985]
Robert Neill: The Department has spent £62,136 with the Government Car and Dispatch Agency on car services. This figure relates to invoices posted since 12 May 2010 up to and including 12 July 2010. In the year 2009-10 the Department spent £488,276 with the GCDA. Pro-rota, this is less than the last Government, and my Department is taking further steps to deliver efficiency savings in this area.
Disadvantaged: Hyndburn
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the relative level of deprivation in Hyndburn constituency; and if he will make a statement. [10549]
Robert Neill: The Indices of Deprivation 2007, combines a number of indicators into a single deprivation score for each small area in England, this allows each area to be ranked relative to one another according to their level of deprivation.
Since 2004 the Indices of Deprivation have been produced for all 32,482 neighbourhoods (Lower level Super Output Areas-LSOA) in England. With an average population of 1,500 people, LSOAs are smaller than constituencies thus allowing small pockets of deprivation to be identified.
The results for LSOAs which lie within the boundaries of Hyndburn local authority can be downloaded from the Department's website at:
Hyndburn local authority contains 53 LSOAs of which 10 areas have an overall IMD score that puts them among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. Table 1 shows the proportion of Hyndburn's LSOAs and population that fall into each of the IMD deciles.
| Neighbourhoods and population of Hyndburn LA in IMD 2007 deciles | |||
| IMD 2007 Deciles | Number of LSOAs | Mid 2005 population estimates | Percentage of population |
The Department also publish six summary indicators for local authorities. There are six measures because there is no single best way of describing deprivation across large areas, such as local authority districts. This is due to the difficulties associated with describing or comparing places with different population sizes and patterns of deprivation. The six summary measures cover various different aspects of multiple deprivation so when considered together give a good overall impression of deprivation in the district. The six summary measures are; Average Score, Average Rank, Extent, Local Concentration, Income Scale, and Employment Scale. A description of what these indicators represent can be found in the Indices of Deprivation 2007 Report available from the Department website at:
The local authority summary indicators are available at:
East of England Faiths Council: Finance
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what public funding has been provided for the East of England Faiths Council in each of the last three year for which figures are available. [10875]
Andrew Stunell: Communities and Local Government has made the following funding available to the East of England Faiths Council in the last three financial years:
in 2007-08 a grant of £12,000 from the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund;
in 2008-09 four grants totalling £21,362 towards specific projects and a core grant of £70,000;
in 2009-10 a core grant of £70,000 and a grant of £5,000 towards support for Inter Faith Week 2009.
A further core grant of up to £70,000 is available in the current financial year (a commitment made by the previous Government).
Fires
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many fires (a) in Harlow and (b) in private rented properties in England and Wales were attributable to faults in electrical installations and products in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available. [10340]
Robert Neill: Fire incident data are available up to September 2009, but only to Fire and Rescue Authority level, and dwelling tenure details are not collected under the Fire and Rescue Incident Recording System. Therefore the data in the table are for all dwellings and for Essex rather than Harlow.
| Fires in dwellings attributable to faults in electrical installations and products, October 2008-September 2009 | |
| Number | |
| Source: Fire and rescue incident records | |
Government Office for the North West
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has for the future of the Government Office for the North West; and if he will make a statement. [10755]
Greg Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement on regional Government made on 22 July 2010, Official Report, columns 27-8WS.
Homelessness
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of households applying to local authority housing departments as homeless were found to be intentionally homeless in each of the last five years. [10458]
Grant Shapps: Information about local authorities' discharge of their duties under homelessness legislation is collected on quarterly P1E returns. Quarterly statistical releases on statutory homelessness published by CLG present national and regional data for the last 10 years. Summary information at local authority level, including the number of households accepted as owed the main duty and the number of households in temporary accommodation, is also published each quarter in an associated supplementary table. The latest (10 June 2010) release and previous editions are available both in the Library of the House and via the CLG website. The next release is due to be published on 9 September 2010.
Information is collected by the Department on the number of applicant households found to be intentionally homeless and in priority need. The figures are provided in the following table. These do not include those that
are intentionally homeless and not in priority need. Percentages are given as a proportion of all homelessness applicants.
| Number and proportion of applicant households found to be intentionally homeless and in priority need, England, 2005-06 to 2009-10 | |||
| Applicant households found to be intentionally homeless and in priority need | |||
| Number | Percentage (%) | Total number of applicants( 1) | |
| (1) Excludes ineligible applicants. Note: Figures for 2009-10 are provisional. Source: Quarterly P1E form returns. | |||
Homelessness: Bexley
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people applying to the London borough of Bexley for local authority housing were found to be intentionally homeless in each of the last five years. [11176]
Grant Shapps: Information about local authorities' discharge of their duties under homelessness legislation is collected on quarterly P1E returns. Summary information about English local housing authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected at local authority level, and published by the Department in the quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, available both in the Library of the House and via the CLG website at:
A table has been placed in the Library of the House giving numbers for all local authorities in England, including the London borough of Bexley.
The Department only collects figures for the number of applicant households found to be intentionally homeless 'and' in priority need. Therefore the figures do not include those that are intentionally homeless and not in priority need.
Homelessness: Young People
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of the number of people aged 18 to 24 years old who are homeless. [11274]
Grant Shapps: Information about local authorities' discharge of their duties under homelessness legislation is collected on quarterly P1E returns. Summary information about English local housing authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected at local authority level, and published by the Department in the quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, available both in the Library of the House and via the CLG website:
Figures broken down by age of households are only available for applicants accepted as owed a main homelessness duty, that is eligible, unintentionally homeless and in priority need.
Figures can be provided only for the age bracket 16 to 24 rather than 18 to 24.
In 2009-10 there were 15,510 applicants aged 16 to 24 owed a main homelessness duty.
Housing: Construction
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what allocation his Department has made for Kickstart funding for the Anfield/Brookfield regeneration area. [9289]
Andrew Stunell: The coalition Government remains strongly committed to reducing the United Kingdom's budget deficit and the announcement by the Chief Secretary on the 5 July 2010 confirmed that the Department has agreed to a £220 million reduction in its claim for end year flexibility this year. Given public sector borrowing in 2010-11 was forecast to hit £167 billion such levels of spending on 'borrowed money' was unsustainable-contributing to the forecast £1.4 trillion of public debt by 2014. However, the Government remain committed to the provision of affordable housing and has been able to secure £1.25 billion of the previous administration's £1.5 billion housing pledge.
This will enable the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to meet all existing contractual commitments and will be able to progress some programmes that have been paused while the funding position was under review. The HCA's regional offices will be assessing which other schemes can be progressed, including the Kickstart project for the Anfield and Brookfield regeneration area, with the aim of maximising affordable housing and achieving best value for money. The objective is to give interested parties clarity as quickly as possible.
Housing: Dorset
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes in Mid Dorset and North Poole constituency (a) contain asbestos and (b) were built between 1950 and 1999. [10433]
Andrew Stunell: The information is not available from my Department.
Local Government Services: Tees Valley
James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will hold discussions to seek to ensure that all local government services in the Tees Valley sub-region identify themselves with reference to a single identity. [10341]
Robert Neill:
I am aware that Tees Valley has a well established history of partnership working across local government and business, and that it has been exploring potential to form a local enterprise partnership. The
Government will be very happy to receive such a proposal, if that is the wish of local authorities and local businesses in the area.
Local Government: Lobbying
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will issue guidance to local authorities on the retention and use of lobbying companies for the provision of lobbying and support services to campaign for increased funding. [9459]
Robert Neill: The Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity, to which councils are statutorily required to have regard, states that councils should ensure the greatest cost effectiveness in all their publicity and makes clear that public funds should not be used for publicity campaigns intended to persuade the public to hold a particular view on a question of policy.
The Code of Recommended Practice is shortly to be updated. Subject to consultation, we are minded to include stronger guidance to stop the wasteful and unhealthy practice of councils, funded by local or national taxpayers, paying for lobbyists to lobby Government. My Department has already issued guidance to its arms length bodies to cancel their contracts with lobbyists.
Migration Impacts Fund
Kris Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many grants were issued from the Migration Impacts fund in 2009-10; and how much was so distributed. [10581]
Andrew Stunell: 158 grant payments were made from the Migration Impacts Fund in 2009-10.
122 of these were made to local authorities, 20 to voluntary bodies, nine to Primary Care Trusts and seven to other bodies including further education colleges. Some local authority grants will have supported more than one project.
The total distributed was £28,223,279.
£25,466,648 of this went to local authorities, £1,762,518 to voluntary bodies, £493,000 to Primary Care Trusts and £501,113 to the remainder.
Multiple Occupation: Licensing
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to make provision in the Decentralism and Localism Bill for planning procedures for multiple occupancy housing. [11223]
Greg Clark: The Minister for Housing (Grant Shapps) announced on 17 June his intention to amend the planning rules relating to houses in multiple occupation. Any changes will be made by secondary legislation.
Non-Domestic Rates
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what the (a) cost and (b) net present value is of the policy in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rate bills eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme; [10506]
(2) how many businesses are covered by the policy in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rate bills for newly assessed properties that were split from a larger rateable property; how many are not covered by this definition but have received backdated bills; and what the total liabilities are of both categories. [10509]
Grant Shapps: Estimates published by HMT for the June 2010 Budget gave figures for the cost of waiving certain backdated business rate bills:
These costs will be assessed again, and the questions on the number of businesses affected and their liability addressed, in the impact assessment that will accompany the regulations for the cancellation of backdated business rates.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) businesses, (b) port-based businesses and (c) non port-based businesses (i) in each local government district and (ii) in total will receive assistance under the policy in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rate bills eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme. [10507]
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) businesses, (b) port-based businesses and (c) non port-based businesses (i) in each local government district and (ii) in total will receive assistance under the proposal in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rate bills eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme. [11352]
Grant Shapps: It is estimated that around 3,000 properties in England could benefit from the policy published in the Budget June 2010 to cancel backdated business rate bills eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme. No estimates of these figures are available at a local authority level. Informal inquiries with local authorities estimate that around 700 port-based properties could benefit from the policy published in the Budget June 2010 to cancel backdated business rate bills eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme. Available information for individual port areas was given in a press release issued on the 20 July 2010 at:
These unfair, retrospective rates bill threatened to devastate the export industry which would seriously impact the manufacturing sector. Businesses and their customers can look forward with confidence to the future, unburdened from and no longer distracted by the imposition of unfair taxes that have damaged the industry's competitive advantage.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many businesses which are eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme arising from the backdating of business rates are on a schedule of payments. [10510]
Grant Shapps: Information on how many properties have been granted a schedule of payments agreement is currently being collected from local authorities, and the results are planned to be published in September 2010.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of the businesses which are on the eight-year schedule of payments scheme arising from the backdating of business rates, what the total liability was (a) at the commencement of the schedule of payments and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available; and how much backdated business rate has been paid back. [10511]
Grant Shapps: Estimates for the total backdated liability for national non-domestic rates that could apply for a schedule of payments appear in the impact assessments for the initial schedule of payments and the subsequent payment freeze. Information on how much backdated liability is covered by a schedule of payments and how much has already been paid back is not currently available. Information on how many properties have been granted an eight-year schedule of payments and the reduction in liability due to the schedule of payments is currently being collected from local authorities, and the results are planned to be published in September 2010.
The links to the impact assessments referred to are:
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether businesses that have paid some or all of the backdated rates that are eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme will be (a) refunded and (b) refunded the full amount each business has paid to date under the policy announced in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rates. [10512]
Grant Shapps: Businesses that have made payments towards a qualifying backdated rates bill, that will be cancelled, will be entitled to a refund of all monies that have already been paid. It will need primary legislation to cancel these bills and before any refunds can be granted. We will find the earliest opportunity for taking forward the necessary legislation, this will provide a vital lifeline to struggling firms who were facing balance sheet insolvency because of the unfair, retrospective taxes. For example, in the right hon. Member's own local authority of Southampton, 26 properties will be saved from a cumulative backdated liability of £3 million.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much will be refunded to businesses that had already paid some or all of the backdated rates under the policy announced in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rates. [10513]
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much will be refunded to businesses that had already paid some or all of the backdated rates under the proposal announced in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rates. [11354]
Grant Shapps: Initial estimates for the June 2010 Budget suggested that around £50 million could be refunded. Further estimates will appear in the impact assessment that will accompany the regulations for the cancellation of backdated business rates in due course.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether businesses that have paid some or all of the backdated rates that are eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme will be (a) refunded and (b) refunded the full amount each business has paid to date under the proposal announced in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rates. [11349]
Robert Neill: Businesses that have made payments towards a qualifying backdated rates bill, that will be cancelled, will be entitled to a refund of all monies that have already been paid. It will need primary legislation to cancel these bills and before any refunds can be granted. We will find the earliest opportunity for taking forward the necessary legislation.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many businesses which are eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme arising from the backdating of business rates are on a schedule of payments. [11350]
Robert Neill: Information on how many properties have been granted a schedule of payments agreement is currently being collected from local authorities, and the results are planned to be published in September 2010.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |