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15 Sep 2010 : Column 1063W—continued
Local Enterprise Partnerships
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how soon he expects local enterprise partnerships to be established once they have been approved by his Department. [15275]
Robert Neill: The closing date for submitting local enterprise partnership proposals to the Government was 6 September 2010. I am pleased to confirm that Government received 57 proposals from groups of councils and businesses from across the country. A joint press notice is available on the CLG and BIS websites.
The Government are keen to see partnerships remain proactive and maintain momentum. Over the coming weeks Ministers will consider the proposals in detail, looking at how they will support economic growth, before providing feedback to partnerships ahead of the publication of the White Paper on sub-national economic growth and the introduction of the Localism Bill.
Local Government Finance: Wigan
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) whether he has made an assessment of the impact on frontline services in Wigan of the spending reductions he announced in his written ministerial statement of 10 June 2010, Official Report, columns 15-17WS, on the local government savings package; [14963]
(2) what representations he has from individuals and organisations in Wigan on the effect of the spending reductions he announced in the written ministerial statement of 10 June 2010, Official Report, columns 15-17WS, on the local government savings package, on forthcoming services in Wigan. [14964]
Robert Neill: We asked local authorities to make a contribution of £1.166 billion to the £6.2 billion of cross-Government savings in 2010-11 to enable the Government to take immediate action to start to tackle the fiscal deficit. We have taken action to provide the flexibility needed to allow local authorities the freedom to make their own decisions about where savings are found without impacting on essential frontline services. The Government lifted restrictions on how local authorities spend their funding on grants totalling £1.2 billion. We also made no changes to the amount of formula grant which each council received this year. This is the main funding paid to local authorities with no strings on how they use that money. The impact on their area of the reductions in grants this year will be for local authorities to decide. We have received no representations from individuals and organisations in Wigan on the effect of these changes on services.
Non-domestic Rates
Ms Bagshawe: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average national non-domestic rate bill was in each (a) region and (b) local authority area in each of the last three years. [14984]
Robert Neill: I have today placed in the Library of the House a table containing details of the average national non-domestic rates bill in each (a) Government office region and (b) local authority area in England in each of the last three years.
The data, which refer to the local lists only, are taken from NNDR returns submitted by billing authorities in England.
Average non-domestic rates are calculated by dividing the net rate yield, after deductions for reliefs, from local authorities' lists by the number of hereditaments on local lists as at 31 December of the previous year. Comparisons across years should be treated with caution as figures will reflect changes in the number and type of hereditaments as well as changes to rateable values and multipliers.
Ms Bagshawe: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much each local authority collected in national non-domestic rate revenue in each of the last three years. [14985]
Robert Neill: I have today placed in the Library of the House a table containing details of the amount of national non-domestic rates collected in each local authority area in England in each of the last three years.
The data are taken from the national non-domestic rates (NNDR3) returns submitted annually by all local billing authorities in England.
Ms Bagshawe: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many national non-domestic rate hereditaments there were in each (a) region and (b) local authority area in each of the last three years. [14986]
Robert Neill: I have today placed in the Library of the House a table containing details of the number of national non-domestic rate hereditaments in each (a) Government office region and (b) local authority area in each of the last three years.
The data are as at 31 December and are taken from the national non-domestic rates (NNDR1) returns submitted annually by all local billing authorities in England.
Planning Inspectorate: Handbooks
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the Planning Inspectors' Handbook. [15080]
Robert Neill: A copy of the Planning Inspectors' Handbook is available in the Library of the House. The Government have announced and will continue to announce significant changes to planning policy and practice. On this basis, a decision has been taken to cancel and archive the Inspectors' Handbook and to ensure that all new advice to Planning Inspectors is provided through the PINS or CLG websites.
Referendums
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to give residents the power to instigate binding local referendums on any local issue. [14835]
Robert Neill: As we made clear in our coalition programme for government, published on 20 May, we will give residents the power to instigate local referendums on any local issue. We intend to include the necessary statutory provisions as part of the Localism Bill which was announced in the Queen's Speech for this parliamentary Session.
Smith Institute
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what strategic consultancy work was undertaken by the Smith Institute for his Department in 2009-10; what the cost was; and which Minister authorised the contract. [15062]
Robert Neill: The Smith Institute produced the monograph 'the thames gateway - where next?' in 2009-10. Communities and Local Government contributed £13,374.94 towards its cost and allied research. The then Minister for the Thames Gateway (Mr Shahid Malik) approved the contribution.
Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's press release of 5 August 2010, if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract and project brief for work undertaken for Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation by Connect Public Affairs; and how much was spent on the contract. [15054]
Robert Neill: I have arranged for a copy of the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation's contract with Connect Public Affairs to be placed in the Library of the House. In the last 12 months, the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation has paid £45,102 in professional fees to Connect Public Affairs to provide political monitoring and support their communications, stakeholder engagement and events strategies.
Waste Management: Departmental Responsibilities
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what responsibilities his Department has for the (a) development and (b) implementation of (i) policy and (ii) programmes relating to (A) waste and (B) recycling; which of these responsibilities are shared with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and what mechanisms are in place to ensure the effective co-ordination of such policies and programmes between the two Departments. [15156]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government works closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on cross-cutting issues, including helping rural communities, protecting our countryside and natural heritage, tackling flooding, promoting sustainable building and waste and recycling policy.
We ensure effective working through a number of mechanisms, including representation on relevant departmental programme boards, and the close working of Ministers.
This close working is illustrated by the press releases of 7 June 2010 and 19 July 2010 on the new Government's policy of scrapping bin taxes, issued jointly from the two respective Secretaries of State.
West Northamptonshire Development Corporate: Public Relations
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's press release of 5 August 2010, if he will place in the Library a copy of the contract and project brief for work undertaken for West Northamptonshire Development Corporation by Chelgate public affairs; and how much was spent on the contract. [15027]
Andrew Stunell [holding answer 13 September 2010]: West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) appointed Chelgate Ltd in November 2008 to deliver consultancy support as set out in the project brief, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House. The contract was terminated in May 2010. The total cost of the work under the contract was £133,803.
West Northamptonshire Development Corporation: Public Relations
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation had a contract with Chelgate public affairs. [15058]
Andrew Stunell: West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) appointed Chelgate Ltd in November 2008 to deliver consultancy support as set out in the project brief, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House. The contract was terminated in May 2010. The total cost of the work under the contract was £133,803.
Energy and Climate Change
Energy Supply
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make a statement on his Department's contribution to the Strategic Defence and Security Review with regard to the energy security of the UK. [14352]
Charles Hendry: The Government will publish its findings from the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) later in the autumn, in coordination with the outcome of the Spending Review. Energy Security is being considered as part of the review.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what requirements there are on (a) district and (b) county councils to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement. [14594]
Gregory Barker [holding answer 13 September 2010]: There are no requirements for local authorities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There are however three reporting requirements for local authorities.
National Indicators 185 and 186 measure percentage reductions in emissions from local authorities' own estate and operations and emissions from local authority areas respectively. They, and all national indicators, are currently under review by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
The Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA) places a duty on those local authorities with housing responsibilities to produce, publish and submit to the Secretary of State a report which sets out energy conservation measures that the authority considers practical, cost-effective and likely to result in significant improvement in the energy efficiency of residential accommodation in its area and to report progress made in implementing the measures.
From April 2010, the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme requires those qualifying local authorities to report their own estate emissions, and will incentivise them to improve their performance relative to other participants.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Business
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to introduce mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions by businesses; and if he will make a statement. [14438]
Mr Paice: I have been asked to reply.
The Climate Change Act 2008 requires that, by 6 April 2012, the Secretary of State either introduces regulations for mandatory reporting of greenhouse gases by companies or explains to Parliament why she has decided not to regulate.
Once the Government have considered the contribution that reporting makes to the UK meeting its climate change objectives, we will decide whether to introduce regulations.
Power Stations: Offshore Industry
George Freeman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what (a) planning regulations, (b) planning guidance and (c) other regulations there are on the location of power stations required to connect offshore energy to the national grid. [15083]
Charles Hendry: There is no specific guidance for the siting of onshore substations to deliver offshore renewable energy into the electricity network. But any proposal will need to be justified in a planning process in terms of acceptability from an environmental and planning perspective.
Together with Ofgem, we are currently consulting on the new competitive licensing regime to connect offshore windfarms to the onshore grid. This consultation seeks views on whether any further action is required to ensure a coordinated approach to the onshore and offshore grid within the regime. The consultation closes on 29 September 2010.
Renewable Energy: Electric Cables
George Freeman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his Department's plans are to support the installation of high voltage direct current cabling and infrastructure for the distribution of offshore and onshore renewable electricity generation. [15088]
Charles Hendry: We expect offshore windfarm developers and onshore transmission owners to select the most cost-effective technology for their particular projects, which could include HVDC cables. DECC is committed to ensuring delivery of new network infrastructure at reasonable cost to consumers that we need to meet our energy and climate change goals. As the energy regulator, Ofgem assesses options proposed by industry for new network infrastructure. Ofgem make their decisions on funding new investments based on the impacts on cost to consumers and the need to deliver new infrastructure to meet energy and climate goals.
Together with Ofgem, we are currently consulting on the new competitive licensing regime to connect offshore windfarms to the onshore grid. This consultation seeks views on whether any further action is required to ensure a coordinated approach to the onshore and offshore grid within the regime. The consultation closes on 29 September 2010.
Wind Power
Edward Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent representations he has received from businesses on the financial situation of the offshore wind industry. [13965]
Charles Hendry: I am working closely with the offshore wind industry and receive representations on a range of issues, including finance. The next meeting of the Offshore Wind Developers Forum, where such issues will be discussed, will take place on 28 October 2010.
In addition, since August my officials have been conducting a series of one-to-one meetings with developers, as part of a proactive approach to stakeholder engagement.
There has been a strongly favourable response from industry parties, including offshore wind developers, to our decision to improve grid access arrangements for new generation by introducing an enduring 'Connect and Manage' regime.
Edward Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to encourage foreign investment in the UK's offshore wind industry. [13967]
Charles Hendry:
Offshore wind energy will make a key contribution to achieving our renewables targets. We will put in place a robust delivery plan which will take into account market and investor views. We are committed to comprehensive support for renewable electricity, through the establishment of a full system of feed-in tariffs-as well as the maintenance of banded renewables obligation certificates, with the aim of ensuring the most straightforward regime for investors. The Offshore Wind Developers Forum, which I co-chair, includes both domestic and international developers and has
been tasked to ensure the viability and deliverability of offshore wind in the UK through existing and future rounds of development, and to maximise the economic opportunities available for UK-based business. In addition, Offshore grids are a significant opportunity for foreign investment. Offshore transmission operators (OFTOs) will be appointed through competitive tenders to build and maintain transmission networks in UK waters, with an expected £15 billion of investment required to 2020. We have already announced the appointment of three OFTOs to manage £700 million of offshore grid assets, one of which is an overseas investor.
Edward Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to increase the amount of offshore wind energy produced nationally. [13969]
Charles Hendry: We are committed to increasing significantly the amount of energy which is generated from renewable sources for reasons of energy security and to mitigate climate change. We are fortunate in having an abundant wind resource in the UK and are advancing the deployment of offshore wind energy to meet renewables and low carbon targets. We will put in place a robust delivery plan. We are aiming to publish more details in spring 2011. We are discussing the development of a North Seas grid with other North European countries which would potentially enhance our energy security.
Wind Power: Noise
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what process his Department used to select Hayes McKenzie to oversee the investigation into the application of planning authorities of the ETSU R 97 method for the assessment and rating of noise from wind farms. [15392]
Charles Hendry: DECC selected Hayes McKenzie through standard Government procurement processes. We invited a number of expert organisations to bid for the contract, and assessed the bids received against standard procurement criteria. The Hayes McKenzie bid scored most highly against those criteria.
Home Department
Alcoholic Drinks: Prices
Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to bring forward legislative proposals to prohibit the sale of alcohol below cost price. [14921]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 14 September 2010]: The Government are committed to banning the sale of alcohol below cost price. We are considering all options and plan to introduce this measure at the earliest opportunity without unduly impacting on industry or responsible drinkers.
Anti-Semitism
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has (a) taken since July 2010 and (b) plans to take during the next three months to combat anti-Semitism; and if she will make a statement. [14260]
James Brokenshire: The Department for Communities and Local Government have the policy lead in tackling anti-Semitism.
A cross-government working group to tackle anti-Semitism, which the Home Office is part of, was set up to take forward the Government's response to anti-Semitism. The working group meets quarterly and last met in July 2010.
Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Gateshead
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many residents of Gateshead borough (a) are subject to antisocial behaviour orders and (b) have breached an antisocial behaviour order in the last 12 months. [13795]
James Brokenshire: Data collected centrally by the Ministry of Justice on the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued and breached are not available below Criminal Justice System (CJS) area level. A further breakdown could only be ascertained by reference to individual court files, which could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.
Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Hyndburn
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued to residents of Hyndburn in each year since 2002. [13988]
James Brokenshire: The latest available data on the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued covers the period 1 April 1999 to 31 December 2008. Data collected centrally by the Ministry of Justice on the number of ASBOs issued are not available below Criminal Justice System (CJS) area level. A further breakdown could only be ascertained by reference to individual court files, which could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.
Antisocial Behaviour: Public Opinion
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the findings of the July 2010 British Crime Survey in respect of public perceptions of levels of antisocial behaviour. [14049]
Mrs May: The 2009-10 British Crime Survey (BCS) shows that around one in seven adults in England and Wales (14%) perceive their local area suffers from high levels of antisocial behaviour (ASB).
The survey findings also reveal large variations between local areas with, for example, over one in four people in the most deprived areas perceiving a high level of ASB, nearly five times the level in the most affluent areas.
Previous findings have shown that around three-quarters of people who experienced ASB in their local area did not complain to any agency or individual. Incidents of drunk or rowdy behaviour were least likely to be reported (14%) whereas 49% of those who experienced noisy or nuisance neighbours complained to someone (2007-08 BCS).
Levels of antisocial behaviour remain too high which is why we are reviewing all of the tools and powers that are available to police forces and other agencies to deal with ASB, including the antisocial behaviour order, to ensure those tackling it have an effective toolkit that is quick, practical and easy to use.
Asylum
James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department provides assistance to asylum seekers with a professional or skilled background to retain their skills whilst awaiting determination of their claims; and if she will make a statement. [14901]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not provide assistance to asylum seekers with a professional or skilled background to retain their skills while awaiting determination of their claims.
Asylum seekers are entitled to apply for permission to work if they have not received a decision on their initial claim after 12 months, providing the delay is not their fault. Following an amendment to the Immigration Rules, asylum seekers who apply for permission to work on the basis of such a delay are restricted to employment in jobs on the Shortage Occupation List.
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers there are from each country of origin whose cases (a) were pending at the inception of the legacy cases scheme and (b) are still awaiting processing under that scheme. [15134]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency is unable to accurately report on the initial or outstanding volume of asylum cases being dealt with by the Case Resolution Directorate (CRD) by nationality. As reported in July 2010 to the Home Affairs Select Committee, 50% of the concluded cases were data errors and required no further or any administrative action. Therefore, any such report would be unable to accurately represent CRD cases by nationality.
The agency will be reporting on its current performance in clearing the backlog in the autumn. I am confident CRD are on track to clear the backlog of older asylum cases by summer 2011 or earlier.
Asylum: Pakistan
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women from Pakistan have applied for asylum in the UK in each year since 2000; and how many such applications were (a) granted and (b) refused. [15286]
Damian Green:
The accompanying table shows the number of asylum applications from female nationals of Pakistan and initial decisions broken down by grants
of asylum, grants of exceptional leave to remain (ELR), humanitarian protection (HP) and discretionary leave (DL) and refusals between 2001 and 2009 (figures for 2000 are not available). Figures only include initial decisions on asylum applications and exclude all subsequent decisions. Figures on initial decisions are shown by year of decision; initial decisions by year of application are not available.
Information on asylum is published annually and quarterly in the Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom bulletin which is available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
| Applications( 1 ) received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions on applications, female asylum applicants only, nationals of Pakistan, 2001 to 2009 | |||||
| Applications | Initial decisions( 2) | ||||
| Total initial decisions | Grants of asylum | Granted ELR/HP/DL( 3) | Total refusals | ||
| (1) Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 and may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding. (2) Initial decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period and exclude the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. (3) Humanitarian protection (HP) and discretionary leave (DL) replaced exceptional leave to remain (ELR) from 1 April 2003. (4 )Provisional figures. | |||||
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether an assessment of the human rights situation for women in Pakistan is made when determining asylum applications from such women. [15287]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency's Country of Origin Information (COI) Service produces COI reports focusing on the main human rights issues in countries that generate the most asylum claims in the UK. Each country report has a specific section which covers issues affecting women, including Pakistan.
All asylum and Human Rights claims, including those from Pakistan, are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN refugee convention and the European convention on human rights (ECHR) against the background of the latest available country information.
Borders: Personal Records
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions changes have been made to the specifications for the contract relating to the e-Borders programme. [12843]
Damian Green: There were 58 changes to the specifications for the contract formally agreed between the parties, many of which dealt with relatively minor changes.
Robert Halfon:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many consultants were employed by her Department on the e-Borders programme in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08, (c) 2008-09 and (d) 2009-10; how many have been employed in 2010-11 to date; what the cost to the public purse has been in each such case;
what the role of each consultancy was in respect of the programme; what assessment she has made of the (i) value for money of the use of consultants and (ii) contribution by consultants to the management of the programme; and whether she plans to retain the use of consultants in the next e-Borders procurement exercise. [12935]
Damian Green: The following table provides the numbers and costs of consultants and independent contractors employed by the e-Borders programme since 2006.
| Consultancy | |||||
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11( 1) | |
| (1 )3 months | |||||
Prior to contract award, the role of consultants was to manage and provide advice on the procurement process. Following contract award, consultants provided advice and support in a number of areas including business design, programme management, carrier and port liaison and testing activities.
(i) All work carried out by consultants was agreed in formal work packages which detailed the deliverables and activities required. Achievement of those deliverables was signed off by civil servants. Consideration of the value for money provided by consultants in carrying out these activities was an integral part of the process in agreeing each work package.
(ii) The e-Borders programme has been managed throughout by senior civil servants reporting ultimately to the senior responsible officer. Advice and guidance on specialist areas of expertise has been provided by consultants during this period to the senior management team and the e-Borders programme.
The current plan is to retain some consultants to advise on the next e-Borders procurement exercise, with consultancy expenditure in the year to March 2011 currently forecast to fall to £7 million.
The use of external consultants provides the UK Border Agency with specialist knowledge, skill, capacity and technical expertise that would not otherwise be available.
The periods covered saw the programme move from procurement of the strategic solution and provision of the Semaphore pilot system to the more complex activity to assure the design and delivery of the strategic solution. The fall in consultant and contractor headcount during this time did not deliver an equivalent reduction in cost since there was an associated change in the mix and type of consultancy support provided, along with a need to use more hours from individual consultants because of the pressures on the programme and the requirement for their specialist knowledge.
Crime: Theft
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of (a) burglary, (b) theft and (c) robbery were detected in each of the last nine years; and in respect of how many such offences suspects were proceeded against in each such year. [15705]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office is responsible for the police recorded crime statistics and data for the number of offences detected are given in the table.
However, it is not possible to track individual offences through to any conclusion at court and we therefore cannot provide information on the number of suspects proceeded against for these offences.
The collection of statistics on defendants proceeded against is the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice. However, data held by the Ministry of Justice are not directly comparable with the police recorded crime data shown in the table.
| Number of offences detected by the police in England and Wales( 1) | |||
| Period | Burglary | Theft( 2) ; | Robbery |
| (1) From 1 April 2007 the rules governing recording of non-sanction detections were revised to reduce the scope within which they can be claimed to a very small limited set of circumstances. This has significantly reduced the number of non-sanction detections which has been reflected in the overall detection numbers. (2) Includes offences against vehicles and other thefts. (3) Excludes British Transport Police. (4) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced in April 2002 and figures before and after that date are not directly comparable. (5) Includes the British Transport Police from 2002-03 onwards. | |||
Human Trafficking: Children
Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children referred to the National Referral Mechanism have been identified as trafficked and subsequently prosecuted for alleged criminal activity in which they have been involved as a result of being trafficked. [15123]
Damian Green: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been consulted but does not hold records which could identify young offenders prosecuted for criminal activity committed as a direct consequence of their being trafficked.
Licensing Laws
Ms Bagshawe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for temporary event notices there were in each local authority area in each of the last three years. [14981]
James Brokenshire: Data relating to the number of applications for temporary event notices (TENs) for each of the last three years are included in Tables 1-3. Copies of these tables will be placed in the Libraries of the House. Data for 2009-10 will be published on 29 September 2010.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department plans to reply to the letter of 30 July 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Waseem Shazad. [15179]
Damian Green: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 13 September 2010.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 20 July 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr M. I. Khan. [15181]
Damian Green: I replied to the right hon. Member on behalf of the Home Secretary on 8 September 2010.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 30 July 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr R. Boadi. [15183]
Damian Green: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 13 September 2010.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 2 August 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms L. T. Sithole. [15185]
Damian Green: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 8 September 2010.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 2 August 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr R. K. Mzwimbi. [15186]
Damian Green: I replied to the right hon. Member on behalf of the Home Secretary on 8 September 2010.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 2 August 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr C. Madzonayiko. [15187]
Damian Green: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 13 September 2010.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 2 August 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms S. Mpofo. [15188]
Damian Green: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 13 September 2010.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 2 August 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Miss B. A. Boasiako. [15189]
Damian Green: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 8 September 2010.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 15 July 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs H. Farhat. [15192]
Damian Green: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 13 September 2010.
Off-licences
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences for alcohol off-sales there are per head of population in each constituency. [13732]
James Brokenshire: On 31 March 2009 there were 44,432 premises licences with off sales only alcohol licences (as reported by 93% of all licensing authorities).
A full breakdown by licensing authority per thousand population has been placed in the Libraries of the House. Data have been provided at local authority level as they are not available by constituency.
Source:
Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Licensing, England and Wales, April 2008 to March 2009
Passports: Biometrics
Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has concluded commercial negotiations with suppliers of second generation biometric passport technology; and what level of savings she expects to accrue to the Exchequer as a result of the introduction of such technology. [13818]
Damian Green: It is estimated that Exchequer savings of approximately £134 million will be realised by halting the introduction of fingerprint biometric passports.
Commercial negotiations with suppliers of second generation biometric passport are nearing completion and the results of those negotiations will be announced in due course.
Schengen Agreement
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which EU proposals and initiatives other than those that seek to build upon the Schengen acquis have been presented to the Council pursuant to Title V of Part Three of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; what the date of presentation to the Council was of each; in respect of which such proposals and initiatives the UK has notified the President of the Council of its wish to participate in adoption and application; and on what date the UK made each such notification; [15306]
(2) which EU proposals or initiatives that seek to build upon the Schengen acquis and would, if adopted, apply to the UK, are under consideration at EU level; what the three month period in which the UK could notify the Council that it does not wish to take part in that proposal or initiative is in the case of each; what notifications the UK has made; and on what date in each case; [15307]
(3) which EU acts building upon the Schengen acquis that apply to the UK have been adopted following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon; and which of those have not yet entered into force; [15308]
(4) which EU acts which do not constitute part of the Schengen acquis or build upon that acquis which apply to the UK were adopted on the basis of Title IV of the Treaty establishing the European Community prior to the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon; which of those have not yet entered into force; and on what date the UK decided to (a) take part in the adoption and application of the proposal or (b) accept each such act; [15309]
(5) which EU acts and other legally binding EU provisions that constitute part of the Schengen acquis or which build upon that acquis apply to the UK and were adopted prior to the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon; and which of them have not yet entered into force; [15310]
(6) which EU acts, which do not build upon the Schengen acquis, which apply to the UK were adopted on the basis of Title V of Part Three of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon; which of them have not yet entered into force; and on what date the UK decided to (a) take part in the adoption and application of the proposal and (b) accept each such act. [15391]
James Brokenshire:
The tables placed in the House Libraries set out measures which have been presented to the European Council pursuant to Title IV on the Treaty establishing the European Community ("TEC pre-Lisbon measures") and Title V of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ("TFEU post-Lisbon measures") attracting the UK opt-in. It also presents measures pursuant to those elements of the Schengen acquis in which the UK participates (the police and criminal justice elements) since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, when our ability to opt out of such measures was created. The UK was automatically bound by any measure tabled pursuant to those elements of the Schengen acquis in which we participate prior to the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. There is only one measure currently under negotiation which builds on
those elements of the Schengen acquis to which we are bound: a Council Regulation to establish an Agency for the purposes of managing existing IT systems in the area of Justice and Home Affairs. The UK has notified its wish to participate in that measure.
The table shows the main Title IV TEC measures for which information is held centrally and to which the opt-in applied. Since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December 2009, more information has been held centrally.
There have been 25 measures to which the Title V TFEU opt-in has applied, to which the UK has opted-in to 15 and out of six and a further four published proposals where the Government will take a decision within the next three months. There have been four measures to which the Schengen opt-out applied (excluding the IT Agency). The UK is participating in all four.
Additional information on the dates when all these measures were presented, when the UK signalled its acceptance, when they were adopted and entered into force were not held centrally prior to the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, all decisions to opt into or out of JHA measures are notified to Parliament at the time they are made. The first annual report will be presented to Parliament in December providing retrospective information on the UK's application of the opt-in Protocol from 1 December 2009 to 1 December 2010, a year since the Lisbon Treaty came into force.
Terrorism: Intercept Evidence
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress her Department is making on determining ways to allow intercept evidence to be used in terrorism cases. [13920]
Mrs May: The Government are committed to seeking to find a practical way to allow the use of intercept evidence in court. An important first stage in doing so is ensuring that the previous analysis set out in the Privy Council review (Cm 7324), in 'Intercept as Evidence a report' (Cm 7760) and in the report by the Advisory Group of Privy Counsellors under cover of the right hon. Member's written ministerial statement of 25 March is assessed appropriately. We are currently doing so and will set out the way forward following that assessment.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to answer question 8166, tabled on 8 July 2010, on the Terrorism Act 2000 (section 44). [15290]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 14 September 2010]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given on 14 September 2010, Official Report, column 913W.
Cabinet Office
European Year of Volunteering
Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what activities have been funded by the European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship in the UK. [14460]
Mr Hurd: Policy related to volunteering is a devolved issue. Devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are developing separate plans for activity related to the European Year of Volunteering 2011.
The Office for Civil Society is currently developing a work programme for activity in England for submission to the European Commission. Further information on activity planned for the year in England will be made available in the autumn of 2010.
Industrial Disputes
Sajid Javid: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) collective and (b) individual trade disputes of each type in the (i) public and (ii) private sector were recorded in each class of economic activity under the 2007 Standard Industrial Classification in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [14106]
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 September 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many (a) collective and (b) individual trade-disputes of each type in the (i) public and (ii) private sector were recorded in each class of economic activity under the 2007 Standard Industrial Classification in each year since 1990; arid if he will make a-statement. (14106)
The Office for National Statistics compiles monthly labour disputes statistics for the UK. They exclude disputes which do not result in a stoppage of work and stoppages involving fewer than ten workers or lasting less than one day, unless the total number of working days lost in the dispute is 100 or more.
Figures on a public and private sector basis are only available from 1996 onwards. No breakdown is available by industry and by a public/private split. Figures are also only available for collective disputes.
Table 1 provides estimates of the number of stoppages for the public and private sector; in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2009. Table 2 provides figures on an industrial sector basis.
| Table 1: Stoppages for the public and private sector | ||
| Number | ||
| Public sector | Private sector | |
| Table 2: Stoppages on an industrial sector basis | ||||||
| Number | ||||||
| (SIC 2003) | Agriculture, forestry and fishing | Mining, quarrying, electricity, gas and water supply | Manufacturing | Construction | Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles | Transport, storage, information and communication |
Public Sector: Community Benefit Clauses
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps the Government is taking to encourage the use of community benefit clauses in the public sector. [13791]
Mr Hurd: Cabinet Office is developing work on the reform of the commissioning process which will look at the opportunity to encourage the building of social value into the purchasing of public services.
Social Enterprises: Tax Allowances
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps his Department takes to encourage social enterprises to adopt a legal model which entitles them to tax relief. [13792]
Mr Hurd: The Government are committed to creating an environment in the UK which enables social enterprise to thrive. Social enterprises are businesses and therefore choose a legal form which best suits their business needs. It is not for government to encourage one legal form over another.
Social enterprises are often eligible for tax breaks. For example, many are charities and benefit from the associated tax benefit. However, charity tax benefits come with associated regulatory burden which some businesses, CICs and many other social enterprises choose to avoid. More generally, for non-charitable social enterprises, it is also important that Government avoid giving unfair advantage to one type of business over another and maintain a level playing field between different types of organisations trading in the market.
Defence
Armed Forces: Boxing
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the participation of members of the armed forces in boxing; and if he will make a statement. [14415]
Mr Robathan: Sport, including boxing, makes a vital contribution to fighting spirit, morale, personal development and, therefore, operational effectiveness of the armed forces. It has a wide role and contributes to qualities such as teamwork, leadership, courage and competitive spirit. As a consequence all service personnel are encouraged to participate in the full range of sporting activities.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any members of the armed forces have been injured and rendered unfit for duty (a) for up to one week, (b) for up to one month, (c) for longer than one month and (d) permanently as a result of their participation in boxing in each of the last five years. [14416]
Mr Robathan: Information relating to reasons for being unfit for duty is not recorded in a format that allows for different forms of sporting activity to be distinguished. In order to determine how many individuals have been injured and/or rendered unfit for duty for any period of time due to boxing, a manual search of records on multiple sites would be required, and this would incur disproportionate cost.
Armed Forces: Compensation
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with The Royal British Legion to (a) increase the scope and monetary value of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and (b) to ensure a similar level of provision under the War Pension scheme in respect of claimants injured before 2005; and if he will make a statement. [14707]
Mr Robathan: We continue to consult with the Royal British Legion, who were members of the Independent Scrutiny Group, regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the recent review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) conducted by Admiral The Lord Boyce. We will also continue to engage with other interested groups on issues relating to the AFCS through the Central Advisory Committee on Pensions and Compensation.
In line with Lord Boyce's recommendation, there are no plans to review the War Pension Scheme provision for injuries before the AFCS was introduced in 2005.
Armed Forces: Drugs
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of each armed service were dismissed for using illegal substances in each of the last five years. [14766]
Mr Robathan: The number of service personnel dismissed for using illegal substances in the last five years is given in the following table. The armed forces drug misuse policy is that the misuse of drugs is inconsistent with service life and our policy can be described as 'zero tolerance'.
| Number | |||
| Royal Navy/Royal Marines | Army | RAF | |
These figures do not include dismissals at court martial or summary trial resulting from drug-related offences. To further classify the specific grounds in these cases, i.e. whether the individual actually used illegal substances, would involve scrutiny of individual cases which would incur disproportionate cost.
Armed Forces: Housing
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account his Department takes of (a) children for whom armed forces personnel do not have full custody, (b) children of armed forces personnel over the age of 18 years who wish to live with their families and (c) elderly relatives for whom armed forces personnel wish to care when allocating service families' accommodation. [14341]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 13 September 2010]: We take our responsibilities towards families seriously and will consider a range of individual circumstances when determining eligibility for Service Families Accommodation. This includes wider welfare needs such as maintaining contact with children or caring for an elderly relative.
Children under the age of 25, who are not married and are in full-time education, are considered to remain dependent upon parents and as such generate an entitlement for the parents. Where there are non-dependent young adults we will do all we can to allocate a property to reflect a specific need, but this is subject to availability.
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work his Department has undertaken on the Defence Housing Estate at RAF Brize Norton in preparation for the proposed closure of RAF Lyneham. [14452]
Mr Robathan: In anticipation of an increased requirement for accommodation at RAF Brize Norton, work is under way to demolish some 600 service family accommodation properties that are at the end of their serviceable life. We are currently planning to replace these with 788 new build properties.
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made on implementing recommendation 1, on strategic review, of the National Audit Office report of Session 2008-09 on Services Families Accommodation, HC 13. [14453]
Mr Robathan: We are currently undertaking a Strategic Defence and Security Review. The outcome will be announced in the autumn after the Government's spending review concludes.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will include in the proposed Military Covenant a commitment to first class accommodation for military personnel and their families. [14674]
Mr Robathan: In our programme for government we stated that we would look at whether there is scope to refurbish armed forces' accommodation from efficiencies within the Ministry of Defence. The ongoing Strategic Defence and Security Review is currently considering the rationalisation and development of future estates and the management of the defence infrastructure in order to address this commitment.
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many thefts from (a) unoccupied and (b) occupied houses owned by the Ministry of Defence were reported in 2009. [14732]
Mr Robathan: A complete record of thefts from Defence owned houses is not available as a number of these are reported to and therefore held by, local police forces. However, those recorded by the Ministry of Defence Police are as follows:
(a) In 2009 there were 96 thefts from unoccupied houses.
(b) In 2009 there were 51 thefts from occupied houses.
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in respect of which 50 substitute (a) service family and (b) single living accommodation properties the highest rents were charged in 2009. [14737]
Mr Robathan: Substitute Service Family Accommodation (SSFA) and Substitute Service Single Accommodation (SSSA) properties may be rented to accommodate Service families and single serving personnel respectively when no suitable Ministry of Defence accommodation is unavailable close or at the duty station. Substitute accommodation is only used as a last resort and often more than one Service person may occupy an SSSA property.
The 50 most expensive SSSA properties rented during 2009 were as follows:
| Location | Monthly rent (£) | Number of occupants |
The 50 most expensive SSFA properties rented during 2009 were as follows:
| Location | Monthly rent (£) |
Armed Forces: Medals
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on reviewing the (a) right of ex-service personnel to wear medals awarded by foreign governments and (b) practice of retrospective awarding of UK general service medals. [14602]
Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 September 2010, Official Report, column 172W, to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell).
Armed Forces: Mental Health
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the effects of loss of limbs in combat on the mental health of soldiers. [13345]
Mr Robathan: We recognise that all battle-injured personnel, including those suffering a traumatic amputation, could be at risk of mental health problems. All operational casualties who are admitted to the Royal Centre of Defence Medicine within the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust have access to a military mental health nurse team. In addition, all trauma survivors, including amputees, who are referred to the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) at Headley Court have a mental health assessment as part of their multidisciplinary team admission assessment. Mental health professionals are available to carry out further assessments and provide treatment as required.
Dr Andrew Murrison MP has been asked by the Prime Minister to carry out a study into the health of service personnel to see what more can be done to meet their needs.
Armed Forces: Prosthetics
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will undertake a review of the (a) quality and fit of prosthetic limbs and (b) level of counselling offered to former service personnel who lose limbs in combat. [13611]
Mr Robathan: Injured UK service personnel who have suffered traumatic amputation as a result of battle or non-battle injury attend the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) at Headley Court in Surrey, where they are supplied with tailor-made prostheses with state of the art componentry which is matched to their clinical needs. Quality and fit of prosthetic limbs are of paramount importance in the rehabilitation process, and as part of the routine clinical care every amputee case at DMRC is regularly assessed for the comfort and fit of their socket, and the alignment and functional quality of all components are checked every time the patient comes to DMRC as either an in-patient or out-patient.
The Department of Health (DH) and devolved Administrations have agreed that the level for limb fitting support for service personnel should be maintained by the NHS when the individual leaves the service, be it on medical discharge or after completion of their engagement. The DH has advised strategic health authority
chief executives of the need to ensure continuity of provision of prostheses subject to the clinical needs of individuals. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has discussed transitional arrangements for seriously injured personnel with key NHS providers for those leaving the armed forces and put in place a protocol to help ensure ease of transfer.
As part of the overall rehabilitation process, military patients at Headley Court also have access to trained mental health staff, psychologists and social workers who can provide treatment and advice to help them come to terms with their injuries. For amputees who are leaving the services and are assessed as requiring ongoing counselling, arrangements will be made for them to receive this through the NHS as part of the transfer of medical care. Transition protocols between MOD and DH have been developed and are aimed at ensuring an effective transfer of care from MOD to the NHS and other providers.
Armed Forces: Uniforms
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on replacing the ceremonial uniforms of the (a) Grenadier Guards, (b) Coldstream Guards, (c) Scots Guards, (d) Irish Guards and (e) Welsh Guards in each of the last 13 years. [14740]
Peter Luff: The expenditure over the last six financial years for replacing ceremonial uniforms, including hats, boots, belts, jackets, trousers and gloves, is provided in the following table. The expenditure for earlier financial years is no longer held.
| £ | ||||||
| Guard regiment | FY 2004-05 | FY 2005-06 | FY 2006-07 | FY 2007-08 | FY 2008-09 | FY 2009-10 |
Armed Offices: Driving
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel in each service were trained as drivers in each of the last five years for which figures are available; how many in each such year were trained by (a) military personnel and (b) private driving schools; and if he will make a statement. [14702]
Mr Robathan: Information on the number of trained drivers is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
However, the number of driving licences that have been issued to armed forces personnel as a result of centralised training by the Defence School of Transport, training in individual units across the UK and Germany and as a result of Urgent Operational Requirements is recorded. This information is shown in the following table:
| Trained by | Originating service | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
An individual may hold more than one licence, for example, a soldier must first hold a Category B driving licence before obtaining their Category C licence (Long Goods Vehicle).
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