Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 26 October 2010
Culture, Media and Sport
Olympics: Sporting Legacy
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans his Department has to secure a sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympics. [18957]
Hugh Robertson: In partnership with the Department for Education, my Department will seek to reverse the decline in competitive sport in schools through the creation of an Olympic-style school sport competition, allowing children in schools across the country to experience the incredible inspiration of the Games.
In addition, London 2012 will deliver a new generation of sports facilities for the country and increase the exposure and sponsorship opportunities for all Olympic sports.
Following the comprehensive spending review, we have been able to protect elite athlete funding for London 2012 and the start of the Rio cycle, increase funding to our major sports events budget, preserve the Whole Sport Plans and intend to announce next month how we will deliver a community legacy from London 2012.
BBC: Finance
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on what date his Department first held discussions with the BBC on the transfer of responsibility for (a) free television licences for those aged over 75 and (b) BBC World Service. [19281]
Mr Vaizey [holding answer 25 October 2010]: The Government began discussions with the BBC about the new licence fee settlement on 12 October.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has had with the BBC Trust on its estimate of savings required from the BBC budget consequent on (a) the six year TV licence fee freeze and (b) the transfer of responsibility for the World Service. [19283]
Mr Vaizey [holding answer 25 October 2010]: The BBC's new funding settlement will run from 2013-14 to 2016-17 and will be preceded by a freeze in the level of the licence fee at £145.50 in the remaining two years of the current settlement, 2011-12 and 2012-13. As part of the new settlement, the BBC will fund the BBC World Service from 2014-15 (not 2013-14, as incorrectly stated in paragraph 2.90 of the Treasury publication Spending Review 2010 [Cm 7942]).
The overall impact of the new settlement, which will continue to hold the level of the licence fee at £145.50, will require the BBC to achieve a 16% cash-releasing efficiency target, net of implementation costs, over the four years to 2016-17.
Departmental Sick Leave
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many days his Department has lost to staff sickness in each year since 1997; and what estimate he made of the cost to his Department of sickness absence in each such year. [18746]
John Penrose: The table shows the number of days the Department lost to staff sickness and the estimated cost of sickness absence in each year since 2003.
The cost of sickness absence data prior to 2003 could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
| Total number of working days lost | Cost of absence (£) | |
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he plans to reply to the letter of 6 September 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on Mr B. Webb. [19863]
Hugh Robertson: I responded to the letter of 6 September 2010 about football governance from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 29 September 2010.
The response was e-mailed directly to the parliamentary office of the right hon. Member.
Swimming: Concessions
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many people participated in free swimming for those under the age of 16 and over the age of 60 years; what the cost to the public purse was of those schemes; what estimate he made of the number of swimming sessions provided under the scheme; and whether he has made an estimate of the effect on the number of people who regularly swim of the ending of those schemes. [19304]
Hugh Robertson: Data on the number of free swims recorded by all 261 local authorities participating in the Free Swimming Programme are available on our website at:
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) was commissioned in April 2009 to undertake an independent evaluation of the Free Swimming Programme in England. It assessed:
The impact of the Programme, specifically the extent to which it had increased the number of swims and the number of swimmers;
The lessons learned, in particular evidence of what worked, how, in what context and for whom; and
The benefits and value for money of the Programme, focusing on the health and consequent economic benefits of swimming participation.
The report can be downloaded on the Department's website at:
A total of £25,951,788 from the £40 million resource funding allocated for 2010-11 has been saved by ending the Free Swimming Programme for the under 16s and over 60s.
An additional £25 million of capital funding allocated for the programme in 2010-11 has also been saved.
Scotland
British Summer Time
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated in the last 20 years on the potential effects on Scotland of changes in the use of British Summer Time. [19803]
Michael Moore: In January 1996 the Scotland Office published the interim report 'The effect of introducing Single/Double Summer Time on road safety in Scotland.' The Scottish Office also collaborated with the Department of Transport in the joint commissioning of research undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory to inform the report it published in October 1998, 'A new assessment of the likely effects on road accidents of adopting SDST.'
Devolution: Scotland
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent issues relating to the devolution settlement the Advocate-General has considered. [19144]
Michael Moore: The hon. Member asked a similar question of my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland on 21 July 2010, Official Report, column 340.
Since 21 July the Advocate-General for Scotland has received a total of 1,149 minutes notifying him of devolution issues of which 1,144 relate to criminal matters and five to civil matters.
The Advocate-General, along with myself and colleagues, has also been working on preparations for the forthcoming Scotland Bill which will deliver our coalition commitment and strengthen the devolution settlement for Scotland.
Green Investment Bank
Ann McKechin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on the creation of the Green Investment Bank; what estimate he has made of the proportion of
the bank's funds which is likely to be spent in Scotland in the next comprehensive spending review period; and if he will make a statement. [19619]
Michael Moore: I have regular discussions with the Scottish Executive on a range of matters including on the Green Investment Bank. Of the allocated £1 billion UK-wide funding, £250 million will be made available for investment in green infrastructure in Scotland on the basis that the Scottish Executive agrees to the drawdown of funds from the Scottish Fossil Fuel Levy surplus. No further funding commitment has been made as yet, as the precise nature of the Green Investment Bank is subject to further design and testing work.
Public Finance
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent assessment has he made of the effect on public services in Scotland of the outcome of the comprehensive spending review. [19299]
Michael Moore: For Scotland, the spending review provides a fair deal in tough times. The Scottish Government's budget over the spending review period will fall by less than the UK average in real terms. It is for the Scottish Government to decide how to allocate its budget across the public services it controls. The UK Government will cut waste and has made tough choices in order to put public services and the welfare system on to a sustainable footing, while protecting the most vulnerable.
House of Commons Commission
Parliamentary Education Service
Jo Swinson: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission if the House of Commons Commission will consider amending the objectives of the Parliamentary Education Service in line with recommendation 4 of the report of the Speaker's Conference on parliamentary representation. [19182]
Sir Stuart Bell: Recommendation 4 of the report of the Speaker's Conference on parliamentary representation recommended that the objectives of the Parliamentary Education Service should in future include encouraging a wider range of people to become candidates for election to Parliament.
The Management Board responded to this recommendation (in HC 449 2009-10) as follows:
School children visiting Westminster reflect a cross-section of society, and thus represent a powerful opportunity to encourage broader engagement with Parliament. It is not an objective of Parliament's Education Service (or the Parliamentary Outreach service) explicitly to encourage people to stand as candidates, but rather to explain the party system and the representational role in the context of effective engagement with parliamentary processes.
There are no plans to amend the objectives beyond this, but attention is drawn to the high-quality resources available which contribute directly to raising awareness and understanding of the role of Members. "MP For a Week" is an award-winning online game which explores the role of Members and features MPs describing their work. Also now available is a new film "The General
Election Explained" which follows the fortunes of prospective candidates in a specific constituency through to the results of the 2010 election. Other activities such as the Youth Parliament are also aimed at improving the understanding and appreciation of the work of Members and thereby encouraging a diverse range of people to consider a future role as a parliamentarian.
Leader of the House
House Business Committee
Mr Bone: To ask the Leader of the House what progress has been made on the establishment of a House Business Committee. [19297]
Sir George Young: The Government are committed to establishing a House Business Committee by the third year of this Parliament. The Backbench Business Committee has got off to a good start, and we shall seek its views on how the House Business Committee might operate.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Committee
Complaints
Helen Jones: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, pursuant to the answer of 27 July 2010, Official Report, columns 952-53W, on complaints, what criteria the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority uses to classify as an official complaint representations received (a) by correspondence and (b) by other means. [18421]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
As Interim Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking pursuant to the Answer of 27 July 2010, Official Report, columns 952-53W, on complaints, what criteria the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority uses to classify as an official complaint representations received (a) by correspondence and (b) by other means. 18421
IPSA's complaints procedure is published on IPSA's website under "Publications". The procedure sets out the criteria. Any official complaints need to be submitted in writing in order for IPSA to be able fully to investigate the complaint and provide a comprehensive response to the complainant.
Members: Allowances
Miss McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, in respect of how many claims submitted by hon. Members and due for settlement in (a) April and (b) September 2010 the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has yet to make payment; what the reasons are for the time taken to make payment in such cases; and if he will make a statement. [17689]
Mr Charles Walker: The answer requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
As Interim Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking in respect of how many claims submitted by hon. Members and due for settlement in (a) April and (b) September 2010 the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has yet to make payment; and what the reasons are for the time taken to make payment in such cases. (17689)
IPSA's expenses scheme came into force on 7 May 2010. No claims pre-dating 7 May therefore fall within IPSA's remit and no claims made before 7 May are therefore outstanding. It is for the House of Commons to reimburse expenditure prior to 7 May.
At present, 162 out of 5,256 claim forms submitted to us in September are still awaiting payment. In all cases this is because either the form has been completed incorrectly, or insufficient supporting evidence has been submitted or some other query has been raised with a Member.
Church Commissioners
Churches: Grants
Miss McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners what recent representations the Church Commissioners have made to the Government on heritage grants for churches; and if he will make a statement. [19409]
Tony Baldry: By way of a statement it is with great pleasure that I can confirm to the hon. Member that the DCMS has announced as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, that the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme will survive beyond March 2011, albeit in the reduced form which was announced as an interim measure on 7 October. This is very good news for all those volunteers who look after our churches. This was, in part, the result of representations made to Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Treasury by the Bishop of London, the chair of the Church Buildings Council, and the Church of England Parliamentary Unit and others over the last few months.
From 4 January 2010, listed places of worship will not be able to recover VAT on professional fees for works and repair works to organs, bells, clocks, and pews, but they will still be able to claim for repairs to their buildings, up to a capped total of just over £12 million in 2011-12, rising to just over £13 million in 2014-15. However, from 4 January, the scheme will match up to the full VAT paid out on those items which remain eligible including the increase to 20%.
We also note with great disappointment following the Comprehensive Spending Review, that English Heritage's grant from Government will be cut by 32%, considerably more than the DCMS's overall cut of 25%. We have offered to work closely with English Heritage staff to try and ensure that the invaluable support that our churches have received from English Heritage both in the form of technical expertise and grant-aid will be maintained at its current high standard and level.
The National Lottery good causes review is welcomed warmly which we hope means that heritage, arts and sport will again each get the share of total
proceeds originally set out when the Lottery was created in 1994-20% -amounting to an extra £50 million each every year. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has given great support to places of worship. Between April 1994 and March 2010, the HLF has awarded £390m to over 3,800 projects supporting over 3,200 individual places of worship. Altogether, HLF has awarded £519 million to 4,300 faith-related projects. We look forward to working with the Heritage Lottery Fund to look at ways that some of this extra money can be used to help those who look after our churches to maintain them and to open them up for the use of the wider community.
The Big Lottery Fund is launching a new Community Buildings Programme in later autumn 2010. This is building on the very successful Communities Buildings Programme run by the Big Lottery in 2008. The Cathedral and Church Buildings Division of the Church of England has been part of a stakeholders group made up of organisations that have responsibility for community buildings who have been consulted over the last few months on the aims and objectives of the programme as well as the criteria and application process. We have ensured that faith buildings that meet the criteria will be eligible under the programme.
The Cathedral and Church Buildings Division is also currently responding to a further DCMS consultation on the change to the direction of the Big Lottery. We welcome the proposal that the Big Lottery Fund should be directed to focus its funding on projects that benefit people and local communities in the voluntary and community sector, exactly the sort of projects that our churches are very experienced at running.
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing: North West
Mr Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes were built in (a) Bury North constituency and (b) the North West in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008 and (iii) 2009. [19247]
Andrew Stunell: The available information which is for Bury local authority and the north-west Government region is provided in the following table.
The Department's 'Affordable Housing in England' Statistical Release, containing information for 2009-10 will be published on 28 October.
Not all affordable housing is provided through new-build completions as supply can also come from the acquisition and refurbishment of private sector homes. For example, in the most recent period available, 2008-09, a total of 4,140 affordable homes were provided in the north-west Government region, of which 50 were in Bury.
| New-build affordable housing completions | |||
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
| Note: Data are rounded to nearest 10 homes. Source: Homes and Communities Agency and local authorities | |||
Aldermaston AWE: Fires
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what reports he has received on the support provided to the Ministry of Defence Fire Service by local fire services during the fire at Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment in August 2010. [19604]
Robert Neill: Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that information on the support provided by local authority fire and rescue services at this incident will be transmitted to the Department using the standard Incident Recording System.
Anti-Semitism
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations he has received from (a) hon. Members, (b) Members of the House of Lords, (c) representative organisations and (d) members of the public on the incidence of anti-Semitism; and if he will make a statement. [17383]
Andrew Stunell: The Department for Communities and Local Government regularly receives representations from hon. Members, representative organisations and members of the public of incidences of anti-Semitism and through the cross-Government working group regularly meets representatives of the CST, the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council. Recently I visited the Community Security Trust offices to discuss how the CST monitors incidents of anti-Semitism.
Council Housing: Rents
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what definition of market rent his Department uses in respect of the proposal to raise the rents of new council tenants to 80 per cent. of market rent. [19602]
Grant Shapps: We will publish more detail on the implementation of new 'affordable rent' tenure shortly.
Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many officials in his Department have been (a) subject to disciplinary action, (b) removed from post, (c) transferred to another position and (d) dismissed for matters relating to their (i) disciplinary record and (ii) performance in each year since 1997. [18739]
Robert Neill: The following table shows the figures for the number of staff in DCLG who have been subject to disciplinary action for each year since the establishment of DCLG in May 2006.
| Number of staff subject to disciplinary action | |
| Note: Data from 5 May 2006 to 21 October 2010 (financial years). | |
DCLG does not hold a central record of the number of staff who have been removed from post.
DCLG does not hold a central record of the number of staff who have been transferred to another position for any reason.
The number of staff who have been dismissed for matters relating to their disciplinary record since May 2006 is less than five.
No DCLG staff have been dismissed for matters relating to their performance.
Departmental Per Capita Costs
David Mowat:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what estimate he made of his Department's capital spending per head
in (a) London and (b) the North West in each of the last five years; [19037]
(2) how much and what proportion of his Department's capital spending was allocated to (a) London and (b) the North West in each of the last five financial years. [19038]
Robert Neill: The Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses published in July this year by HM Treasury at:
show central Government expenditure on services by country and Government office region for the last five financial year.
The following tables set out the data requested for London and the north-west.
| Capital spending by the Department per head | |||||
| £ per head | |||||
| Government office region | 2005-06 (outturn) | 2006-07 (outturn) | 2007-08 (outturn) | 2008-09 (outturn) | 2009-10 (plans) |
| Capital spending by the Department | |||||
| £ million | |||||
| Government office region | 2005-06 (outturn) | 2006-07 (outturn) | 2007-08 (outturn) | 2008-09 (outturn) | 2009-10 (plans) |
The outturn figures for 2009-10 will be updated at the next publication in 2011.
Empty Property: East of England
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) privately-owned and (b) social sector homes in (i) St Albans and (ii) the East of England were vacant in each of the last 12 quarters for which figures are available; and how many of those homes had been vacant for more than six months. [19668]
Robert Neill: The following tables show the total number and proportion of dwellings that were vacant (i) for any length of time and (ii) for more than six months in St Albans city and district council area and the East of England statistical region in each of the last three years. Separate figures are included for local authority-owned and registered social landlord (RSL) dwellings. Comparable information on the number of private sector vacant dwellings is not held centrally.
Figures for RSLs include 'general needs' self-contained stock and exclude bed spaces, 'supported housing' and 'housing for older people', for which vacancy estimates are not available below the England level. 'General needs' self-contained stock accounts for approximately 80% of the RSL sector in England.
| 2007 | |||||||
| All tenures | Local authority( 1) | Registered social landlord( 2, 3) | |||||
| Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | ||
| 2008 | |||||||
| All tenures | Local authority( 1) | Registered social landlord( 2, 3) | |||||
| Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | ||
| 2009 | |||||||
| All tenures | Local authority( 1) | Registered social landlord( 2, 3) | |||||
| Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | ||
| (1) These figures relate to stock owned by a local authority regardless of whether it is located within that local authority's boundaries. (2) 'General needs' self-contained RSL stock only, (3 )RSL vacancies of more than six months are based on a proxy measure-"RSL vacancies not available for rent". Sources: All tenures-CTB1 council tax form (completed by local authorities); local authority tenure-Business Planning Statistical Appendix (completed by local authorities); RSL tenure-Regulatory and Statistical Return (completed by RSLs). | |||||||
Fire Services: Foreign Nationals
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what advice his Department issues to fire control centres on assistance to those whose first language is not English who are reporting a fire. [19605]
Robert Neill: There is a legal requirement for all Fire and Rescue Authorities to make the necessary arrangements to ensure their services are delivered equitably, taking into account the varying needs in their community.
Floods
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has considered the merits of introducing a statutory requirement for making emergency planning arrangements for flooding. [18595]
Richard Benyon: I have been asked to reply.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in following the recommendation by Sir Michael Pitt in his Review of the 2007 floods, has worked to enhance the national capability for flood emergency response in conjunction with the main first responders to such events, including the Fire and Rescue Services.
While the Pitt Review is not categorical about the issue of statutory duty, the idea has not been ruled out. On its completion, the Flood Rescue National Enhancement Project will provide us with the means of assessing what shortfalls exist in our national capability, and also what statutory underpinning is needed, if any.
Housing Benefit: Landlords
Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department provides support for landlords dealing with tenants in receipt of rent allowance who fail to pay their rent. [19007]
Andrew Stunell: Payment of housing benefit can be made directly to landlords where there are rent arrears and landlords should approach their local authority in these circumstances. The issue of housing benefit being paid directly to tenants is being looked at as part of the Department for Work and Pensions review of the first two years' operation of the local housing allowance. The review is due to report by the end of the year. Landlords have powers to seek possession through the courts on the grounds of non-payment of rent.
Housing: St Albans
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of homes in St Albans were (a) owner-occupied, (b) privately rented and (c) in the social rented sector in the latest period for which figures are available. [19665]
Andrew Stunell: The number of dwellings in St Albans city and district council area in 2009 is shown in the following table, split by tenure. Figures for the privately rented and owner-occupied tenures are not held centrally.
| St Albans | Local authority | Registered social landlord( 1) | Other public sector | Private sector | Total |
| Sources: Local authority and other public sector reports as at 1 April 2009 by local authorities through the Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix; includes non-permanent dwellings. Registered Social Landlord figures as at 31 March 2009 collected in the Regulatory and Statistical Return. Total stock estimates from 2001: census dwelling count as a baseline and subsequent changes to the dwelling stock from the Housing Flows Reconciliation form. Private stock is calculated by the residual. (1)Includes 'general needs' stock, 'supported housing' and 'housing for older people', both self-contained and bedspaces. | |||||
Housing: Sustainable Development
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2010, Official Report, column 371W, on housing: sustainable development, what timetable he has set for the review of the future role of the Code for Sustainable Homes. [19034]
Andrew Stunell: The Government's plans to review the future role of the code are currently being considered, along with a wider rationalisation of housing standards following a consultation which focused on streamlining and simplifying the code, resolving problems which have arisen during its use, and upgrading it to align with revisions to part L of the Building Regulations. A further announcement about the way forward will be made soon.
Human Rights
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he made of the cost to his Department and its non-departmental public bodies of compliance with (a) domestic, (b) European and (c) other international human rights requirements in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [18736]
Andrew Stunell: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not collate information on the costs of compliance with human rights requirements. The Department takes account of the domestic and international human rights framework in developing all its policies and practices, as it does other relevant legal obligations; an accurate estimate of the total cost of compliance with human rights obligations could not be made without incurring disproportionate cost.
Local Government: Publicity
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Health the merits of broadening the scope of his consultation on the Local Authority Publicity Code to include NHS bodies. [19486]
Robert Neill: The Local Government Act 1986 provides that the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity is a statutory code applicable to local authorities.
We are currently consulting on a proposed new code containing provisions to stop unfair competition by local authority publications and lobbying at the taxpayer's expense. It will be for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health to decide if similar measures are needed for NHS bodies and, if so, how to achieve them.
Mayors: Referendums
John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will reduce the threshold for calling a local referendum on elected mayors from five per cent. to two per cent. [15348]
Robert Neill [holding answer 11 October 2010]: The Government's approach to promoting more elected mayors will be outlined shortly in the Localism Bill.
Minerals: Planning Permission
Mr Gyimah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will review the effectiveness of the targets for strategic minerals planning. [19581]
Robert Neill:
My Department publishes at intervals guidelines to inform the provision of aggregate minerals in England through the planning system. My Department monitors and reviews the implementation and operation of the guidelines in consultation with key partners. When we revoked regional strategies on 6 July we made it clear that mineral planning authorities have responsibility for continuing to plan for a steady and adequate supply of aggregate minerals to support economic growth. We
also indicated that we would work with the minerals industry and local government to agree how minerals planning arrangements should operate in the longer term.
Parish Councils
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals to encourage district councils to take into account the views of parish councils and parish meetings in making decisions at a local level. [18933]
Robert Neill: The Government are committed to a localism agenda where decisions are taken at the most appropriate local level, and expect all tiers of local government to work together constructively for the benefit of local communities. We expect our localism policies, such as our commitment to reform the planning system to give neighbourhoods far more ability to determine the shape of the places in which their inhabitants live, will provide real opportunities for an increased role for parish councils and parish meetings. Our forthcoming Localism Bill will make provision for such measures.
Social Rented Housing: North West
Mr Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of social homes in (a) Bury North constituency and (b) the North West which meet the criteria of the decent homes standard; and whether he plans to increase the number of decent homes in (i) Bury North constituency and (ii) the North West. [19246]
Andrew Stunell: The available data apply to the district of Bury. The proportion of social homes in Bury which meet the decent homes standard at April 2010 is 97%; and the proportion of social homes in the North West which meet the decent homes standard is 91%.
In the spending review, the Government announced that they will spend £2.1 billion tackling non-decent social homes over the next four years. The Homes and Communities Agency will be consulting local authorities on the process for allocating capital funding shortly.
South East England Regional Assembly
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the savings accruing to the public purse from the abolition of the South East England Regional Assembly. [19086]
Robert Neill: The South East England Regional Assembly ceased to exist on 1 April 2009 and its responsibilities passed to the South East England Leaders Board.
In June 2010 we announced the end of central Government funding for regional leaders' boards, saving £1.4 million in 2010-11 and £2.8 million in subsequent years. There will also be the potential for savings to local authorities from the abolition of the regional planning bodies.
Squatting
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent estimate is of the number of properties occupied by squatters. [19614]
Andrew Stunell: Information on the number of properties occupied by squatters is not held centrally.
Transport
Bus Services: Standards
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which bus operators serving Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire have been fined by the Traffic Commissioners for poor performance in the last 12 months; and what proportion of those fines have been paid to date. [19051]
Mike Penning [holding answer 22 October 2010]: No operator of local bus services serving Northamptonshire or Oxfordshire have had a penalty under Section 155 of the Transport Act 2000 imposed upon them by the Traffic Commissioner for poor performance in the last 12 months.
Bus Services: Visual Impairment
Mr Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to (a) increase the level of accessibility of public transport for those with visual impairment and (b) assist such people with access to information on timetables, changes of routes and discontinued services. [19244]
Norman Baker: The Department recognises the importance of helping disabled people, including those with visual impairments, to travel on public transport more confidently and independently. We are taking a number of steps to ensure that levels of accessibility continue to improve on public transport.
The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) as amended require buses to have accessibility facilities such as low floor boarding devices, visual contrast on step edges, handholds and handrails among others. Such improvements on buses are continuing, with all vehicles used on local or scheduled services required to be fully PSVAR compliant by 2015, 2016 or 2017, depending on the type of vehicle. All rail vehicles are required to meet modern standards by 2020.
Currently, 62% of buses and 45% of heavy rail comply with the regulations.
A large number of stations being funded from the Access for All Programme to make accessibility improvements will continue to have direct benefit to visually impaired passengers.
Audio-visual passenger information systems can be a key source of information to many disabled passengers. Such systems are already available on trains. On buses, however, the levels of provision vary outside London. The Department is therefore undertaking a project to consider ways of increasing the uptake of audio-visual systems. The project is due to report shortly.
We are currently working to improve the accessibility information available to the public; the Transport Direct journey planner enables disabled people and people of reduced mobility to plan their journeys and will do so,
for example, during the Olympic games. The Department also continues to work with the Association of Train Operating Companies to improve the Assisted Passenger Reservation Service for queries from disabled people on facilities and booking journey assistance.
For those who are not confident using public transport, the Department champions increased levels of travel training by local authorities, and is aiming to produce a website of good practice by the end of 2010.
In addition, we are working with industry to ensure that the training of transport staff continues to improve, as they are an obvious first point of contact for disabled people. To further this, we are extending the Certificate for Professional Competence (CPC) for driver training to include a disability module.
Departmental Sick Leave
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for how many days on average his Department's staff in each pay grade were absent from work as a result of ill health in 2009-10. [18577]
Norman Baker: The central Department and its agencies recorded the following in respect of staff sickness absence during the 2009-10 financial year:
| Staff sickness: 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 | |
| Grade | Average working days lost |
These figures are calculated according to guidance provided by the Cabinet Office, to whom we report on a quarterly basis and update our results on the Departmental external website:
Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much revenue the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency has received from the auction of personalised registration plates in the last 12 months. [19683]
Mike Penning: The revenue received from the Sale of Marks scheme for 2009-10, as published in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts, is £82,031,000.
Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the level of road tax payable on four wheel drive vehicles used by disabled drivers or their carers for the purpose of bringing forward proposals to reduce or remove road tax liability in respect of such drivers. [19043]
Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply.
Existing rates of vehicle excise duty were set and legislated for by the previous Government. The Chancellor keeps all taxes under review and vehicle excise duty will be considered along normal Budget timelines.
Railways: Finance
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding his Department allocated to each train operating company in each of the last 10 years. [18370]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 20 October 2010]: The net total funding allocated to franchised train operating companies in 2009-10 was £27.7 million. This is the last full year for which figures are available. A detailed breakdown by train operating company is in the following table.
Government subsidy by train operating company is published annually by the Office of Rail Regulation in the National Rail Trends Yearbook. Data for the year 2005-06 to 2008-09 are available at:
Data for the year 2000-01 to 2004-05 are available at:
| 2009-10 Net subsidy by train operating company | |
| £ million | |
| +ve = net payments -ve = net receipts (1) 2007-08 subsidy data for Arriva Trains Wales and First Scotrail have been updated to 127.4 and 252.5 respectively following updated figures from the Welsh Assembly and Transport Scotland. (2) Includes Virgin and Arriva. (3) 2008-09 data for Gatwick Express have been omitted as New Southern Railway Ltd began operating the service in June 2008. | |
Roads: Accidents
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries have occurred on roads in the London borough of Bexley in each of the last five years. [19535]
Mike Penning: The information requested is shown in the following table:
| Reported fatalities and serious injuries in road accidents in the London borough of Bexley, 2005-09 | |||||
| Number | |||||
| Casualty severity | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
Roads: Repairs and Maintenance
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what mechanisms are in place to ensure effective co-ordination between the Highways Agency and local authorities on their respective programmes of road repairs and maintenance. [19089]
Mike Penning: The New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA) 1991 and the Traffic Management Act (TMA) 2004 together oblige local highway authorities (LHA) to ensure repair and maintenance works are co-ordinated and planned to ensure the expeditious movement of traffic. The Highways Agency has been given an equivalent remit by the Secretary of State to manage better its existing network and to reduce the impact of congestion and congestion related delays.
Quarterly co-ordination meetings are held between representatives from LHA, the Agency and statutory undertakers (major utility companies) to discuss future programmes of work. This enables conflicts to be highlighted and whenever possible the duration, sequencing or timing to be adjusted to minimise the impact.
Speed Limits: Cameras
Mr Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fixed speed cameras there are in Bury North constituency; how much income was generated from fines levied as a result of evidence from those cameras; and to what projects and programmes that income was allocated. [19245]
Mike Penning: The Department holds only information about speed cameras operating under the National Safety Camera Programme, which started in 2001 and ended on 31 March 2007. Separate information about cameras operating in Bury North is not held. The number of camera sites operating at the end of the National Safety Camera Programme in Greater Manchester (which includes the Bury North area) was 108. During the lifetime of the programme these cameras generated £12,960,120-a portion of this was hypothecated to cover operating and administration costs, the surplus was passed to the Treasury Consolidated Fund. The number of cameras currently in place and income generated is a matter for the Greater Manchester road safety partnership.
Work and Pensions
Asbestos
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will bring forward proposals to transpose into UK law the classification of Chrysotile under EU Directive 97/69/EC as not requiring treatment as a carcinogen. [16564]
Chris Grayling: The relevant provisions originally in Directive 97/69/EC (and subsequently transferred to the direct-acting EU Regulation on Classification Labelling and Packaging EC 1272/2008 (CLP)) applied to man-made mineral fibres such as mineral wools and not to chrysotile asbestos. The classification of asbestos, including chrysotile asbestos is included in CLP. Such EU regulations apply directly in all member states and do not require transposition into domestic law. Directive 97/69/EC no longer has legal effect.
There is, at present, international scientific consensus on the classification of asbestos as carcinogenic, which informs Government policy. We will keep this under review and until the consensus changes, the Secretary of State has no plans to amend the regulations.
Departmental Asbestos
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will bring forward proposals to amend existing regulations governing the safe use of asbestos cement in line with the evidence cited in Health and Safety Commission Paper HSC/06/55. [18118]
Chris Grayling: The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 implement the European Codified Directive 2009/148/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work. Asbestos cement products are subject to that directive. All asbestos types found in asbestos cement are classified by the European Chemicals Agency as category 1 human carcinogens. There is, at present, international scientific consensus on the classification of asbestos which informs Government policy. We will keep this under review and until the consensus changes, the Secretary of State has no plans to amend the regulations.
The current regulatory approach is consistent with the evidence set out in the Health and Safety Commission paper.
Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials in his Department have been (a) subject to disciplinary action, (b) removed from post, (c) transferred to another position and (d) dismissed for matters relating to their (i) disciplinary record and (ii) performance in each year since 1997. [18715]
Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions records action that has been taken because of misconduct or unsatisfactory performance. The figures show the number of staff disciplined, downgraded, and dismissed.
Transferring staff compulsorily from their post is a sanction that is only available in misconduct cases.
The information is provided in the following tables:
| Discipline action-misconduct | ||||
| Number of employees: | ||||
| Disciplined | Downgraded | Compulsory transferred as a sanction | Dismissed | |
| Discipline action-unsatisfactory performance | |||
| Number of employees: | |||
| Disciplined | Downgraded | Dismissed | |
Employment and Support Allowance: Blaenau Gwent
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Blaenau Gwent constituency receive (a) employment and support allowance and (b) incapacity benefit. [19292]
Chris Grayling: The information is as follows:
| Employment support allowance (ESA) and incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance (IB/SDA) claimants in Blaenau Gwent parliamentary constituency at February 2010 | |
| Claimants | |
| Notes: 1. Incapacity benefit was replaced by employment support allowance (ESA) from October 2008. It is not possible to receive IBSDA and ESA at the same time. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Some additional disclosure has been applied. 3. Constituencies used are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. 4. IB/SDA 'claimants' include people in receipt of benefit and also those who fail the contributions conditions but receive a national insurance credit, i.e. 'credits only cases'. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data | |
Incapacity Benefit: Brighton
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people resident in Brighton, Kemptown constituency are in receipt of incapacity benefit; and what the equivalent figure was in each of the last 10 years. [19009]
Chris Grayling: The information is as follows:
| Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants in the Brighton Kemptown parliamentary constituency, in each of the last 10 years | |
| Date (February each year) | Brighton, Kemptown |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Incapacity benefit was replaced by employment support allowance (ESA) from October 2008. 3. IB/SDA 'claimants' include people in receipt of benefit and also those who fail the contributions conditions but receive a national insurance credit, i.e. 'credits only cases'. 4. Constituencies used for February 2010 are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. Prior to this, the constituencies used are for May 2005. 5. Figures do not include ESA claimants. 6. Data are published at http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=tabtool Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data | |
Members: Correspondence
Mr Woolas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to reply to the letter of 14 June 2010 from the hon. Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, transferred to his Department on 23 June 2010, regarding Mr Peter Brown. [19145]
Chris Grayling: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 7 July 2010.
Occupational Pensions: Public Consultation
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what questions will be included in his Department's proposed consultation on provisions for occupational pension schemes switching from uprating by the retail price index to the consumer price index; and what timetable he has set for that consultation. [19305]
Steve Webb: A consultation paper setting out the Government's position will be published shortly.
It would be inappropriate to disclose the contents of the paper in advance of publication.
Older Workers
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on employers' attitudes to employing older workers. [19468]
Chris Grayling: There are five separate research reports commissioned and published by DWP in the last five years, as part of their Research Report Series, which evaluate employers' attitudes towards employing older workers. These can be found on the DWP website:
"Survey of employers' policies, practices and preferences relating to age", 2006 (DWP Research Report Series 325) H Metcalf with P Meadows.
"Employer responses to an ageing workforce: a qualitative study", 2006 (DWP Research Report Series 255) S McNair, M Flynn and N Dutton.
"Review of the Default Retirement Age: Summary of the stakeholder evidence", 2010 (DWP Research report Series 675) W Sykes, N Coleman and C Groom
"Second survey of employers' policies, practices and preferences relating to age", 2010 (DWP Research Report Series 682) H Metcalf and P Meadows.
"Default Retirement Age: Employer qualitative research", 2010 (DWP Research Report Series 672) A Thomas and J Pascall-Calitz.
Remploy
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects his review of the role of Remploy Ltd to be concluded. [19272]
Maria Miller [holding answer 25 October 2010]: The review of Remploy Ltd was in connection with its status as a non-departmental public body. In the light of the spending review settlement I can confirm that the budget for Remploy Ltd remains unchanged. Remploy continues to be part of the Government's programme of support to help severely disabled people into work.
The status of Remploy as an NDPB also remains unchanged. I do, however, want to look at how we ensure continued improvements in the service provided by Remploy to disabled people. I will continue to work closely with Remploy and other key stakeholders in order to achieve this.
Retirement: Age
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of the likely effect on the (a) number of people in the workforce and (b) level of expenditure on unemployment and welfare benefits of the implementation of the proposed increase in the state pension age; [19465]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effect on people in each social and income group of the implementation of the proposed increase in the state pension age. [19466]
Steve Webb: The Government's full response to the review of the state pension age, which will include an impact assessment and an equality impact assessment, will be published shortly. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the merits of taking steps to (a) help people to stay in work longer and (b) assist those aged between 50 and 59 years to adjust to the implementation of the proposed increase in the state pension age. [19467]
Steve Webb:
People are living longer and healthier lives. Helping them to stay in work longer offers benefits to the economy, businesses and individuals themselves. Extending working life by one effective year could increase GDP by up to 1% (worth £13 billion). A single man who works a year beyond the current state pension age could increase his income in retirement by between 3 and 10%. Our Age Positive initiative is therefore
working with business lead organisations to provide employers with guidance on the benefits of employing older workers and offering flexible approaches to work and phased retirement. Many people over 65 still want to work and can provide a valuable contribution by doing so.
Additionally, we have consulted jointly with the Department for Business Innovation and Skills on the phasing out of the Default Retirement Age (DRA), which prevents some people from working for longer. The DRA consultation ended 21 October, with results due to be published late autumn. The Government's full response to the review of state pension age will be published shortly.
Sickness Benefits: Migraine
Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made an estimate of the number of people unable to work due to severe migraines and in receipt of sickness benefit who were declared fit to work after having their cases reviewed (a) in Manchester and (b) nationally in each of the last 10 years. [19461]
Chris Grayling: Figures on the result of the functional assessment are available for people who made a claim for employment and support allowance (ESA) which was introduced in October 2008. Equivalent historical figures for incapacity benefit claimants are not available.
Nationally, between October 2008 and November 2009 1,000 claims were made for ESA where the condition recorded at the start of the claim was migraine (ICD10 code G43). The result of the initial assessment for these people was as follows:
Support Group: 20
Work Related Activity Group (WRAG): 140
Fit For Work: 490
Left ESA before completing assessment: 330
Assessment in progress: 30.
Social Security Benefits
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to reduce the incidence of welfare dependency. [19010]
Chris Grayling: The Government are committed to fighting poverty; supporting the most vulnerable; and helping people break the cycle of benefit dependency that has blighted some communities.
We are developing a new back to work model that gives Jobcentre Plus managers and advisers the maximum flexibility to work with customers to give them the best available support. We are also simplifying the whole system by replacing an array of existing employment schemes, pilots and projects with one new Work Programme that is more capable of dealing with complex and overlapping barriers to work.
The Work Programme will be an integrated package of support providing personalised help. It will support a wide range of customers-from Jobseeker's Allowance recipients who have been out of work for some time, to customers who may previously have been receiving incapacity benefits for many years. The Government aim to introduce the Work Programme by summer 2011.
In addition we have announced plans for a universal credit which will merge out-of-work benefits with in-work tax credits and housing benefit into a single system. The universal credit will improve incentives to work, especially for low earners, by a combination of earnings disregards and a single withdrawal rate when earnings exceed the disregard. This will make it easy for people to see that it is always worth going to work. We expect significant numbers of people to move into work as a result. Further details will be set out in a White Paper to be published in the next few weeks.
Social Security Benefits: Widowed People
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to change entitlement for widowed parents allowance consequent on the proposed changes to child benefit; and if he will make a statement. [18386]
Steve Webb: We intend that entitlement to widowed parent's allowance is unaffected by changes to child benefit.
Television: Licensing
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with the BBC on future funding of free television licences for those over the age of 75 years; and if he will make a statement. [18996]
Steve Webb: The Government and the BBC discussed a range of options in the context of the new funding settlement for the BBC.
Welfare State: Reform
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effects of the proposed reforms to the benefits system on the disadvantaged and vulnerable in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [17049]
Chris Grayling: These are matters which are largely devolved to Northern Ireland Ministers. Section 87 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 provides for the securing of a single system of social security for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Executive Ministers discuss these matters with ministerial colleagues and me as part of the regular exchanges that Whitehall Ministers have with their Northern Ireland counterparts. The proposed reforms will be an important part of these discussions.
Work Capability Assessment
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what changes have been made to the work capability assessment since his appointment. [19662]
Chris Grayling:
No changes have been made to the work capability assessment since my appointment. The Department carried out a review of the WCA which reported in March 2010, and the Government have agreed to take forward the recommendations of that review. These changes will be introduced in spring 2011. We have also commissioned an independent review of
the WCA, which is being carried out by Professor Harrington. We look forward to receiving his report later this year and will give careful consideration to his recommendations.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many missions the MQ-9 Reaper has flown in Afghanistan since May 2008; and how many of those missions involved the release of each type of weapon. [18015]
Dr Fox: The primary role of the UK Reaper Remotely Piloted Air System is intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Since October 2007, it has flown 1,344 sorties and since May 2008 employed 36 laser guided bombs and 84 Hellfire missiles in support of UK and coalition forces in Afghanistan.
Air Forces Crosses
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Air Forces Crosses have been awarded in each of the last three years. [19682]
Mr Robathan: Nine Air Force Crosses have been awarded over the last three years:
| Number | |
| (1) As of 22 October 2010. | |
Aircraft Carriers
Mr Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether he expects both Queen Elizabeth-class carriers to be fitted with a catapult and arrester; [19374]
(2) what estimate he has made of the cost of fitting a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier with a catapult and arrester. [19378]
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he expects Queen Elizabeth-class carriers to be fitted with a catapult and arrester; [19390]
(2) which organisation he expects to fit the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers with a catapult and arrester. [19391]
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether he expects HMS Queen Elizabeth to be fitted with an electro-magnetic catapult system; [19723]
(2) what catapult and trap designs are being considered for the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers; and what aircraft are capable of using each such design. [19730]
Peter Luff:
As announced on 19 October 2010, we plan to deliver the carrier strike capability from around 2020 with the carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter
and Queen Elizabeth class carrier fitted with catapults and arrestor gear. We are investigating the optimum means of achieving this outcome, working with industry and our international partners. No decisions have been taken as to the type of system, delivery dates or procurement route, or whether both carriers will be converted.
Mr Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what methodology he plans to use to reach a decision on whether to decommission HMS Ocean or HMS Illustrious. [19377]
Peter Luff: We will reach our decision by determining which of HMS Illustrious or HMS Ocean delivers the landing platform helicopter capability most cost-effectively.
Atomic Weapons Establishment: Aldermaston
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to review and update the ten-year site-wide 2000 Decommissioning Plan for the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston. [19135]
Peter Luff: The 10-year 2000 Decommissioning Plan was reviewed and refreshed by two quinquennial reviews of the Atomic Weapons Establishment's nuclear liabilities at both the Aldermaston and Burghfield sites. The next quinquennial review is currently planned to be undertaken in 2012. I understand that the review of the 2007 quinquennial review will be plublished on the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate website soon once it is completed.
Ballistic Missile Defence
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the merits of NATO's proposal for an anti-ballistic missile shield. [18527]
Mr Gerald Howarth: The Government assess NATO ballistic missile defence to be an important capability which could contribute to the defence of the UK and our NATO allies against potential future ballistic missile threats. As stated in the strategic defence and security review, published 19 October 2010, we intend to support proposals to expand NATO's ballistic missile defence role.
Capita
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts his Department has with Capita; and how much it has paid to Capita under such contracts in 2010-11 to date. [18628]
Peter Luff: There are 21 contracts listed in the Ministry of Defence's Financial Management Shared Service Centre (FMSSC) contracts database, with the total payments of £8,170,414 for financial year 2010-11 to date, as shown in the following table:
| Contractor name | Pay in FY 2010-11 (£) |
| Note: Where a 0 appears in the pay column no payments have yet been made against these specific contracts. | |
Departmental Travel
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on travel by officials (a) in the UK, (b) overseas and (c) between the UK and abroad in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available. [17672]
Mr Robathan: This information is not held in the form requested as we do not routinely distinguish between UK and overseas travel expenditure and, in some expenditure areas, between travel by officials and travel by their military colleagues.
We do, however, hold information on rail and air tickets booked centrally for officials and on travel expenses reimbursed to them for accommodation, subsistence, taxi, bus and underground fares, parking charges, road tolls, rail and air fares not booked centrally and use of their own vehicle for duty journeys. Such expenditure has been as follows in each of the past 12 months:
| Expenditure (£ million) | |
We publish the business expenses incurred by our most senior officials quarterly, at the following website:
Etal Group
Jim McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions his Department has (a) terminated a contract with and (b) considered a bid for a contract from Etal Ltd. of Dundee since his appointment; and to whom his Department has awarded contracts since his appointment. [18078]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) Financial Management Shared Service Centre (FMSSC) contracts database does not show any contracts as having been placed with Etal Ltd. during the last three financial years. Information on potential bidders for MOD contracts is not held centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
The MOD has placed some 2,200 new contracts since the Secretary of State's appointment on 12 May 2010.
European Fighter Aircraft
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's 2004 report on marinisation of Typhoon aircraft. [16709]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence has no record of a 2004 report on marinisation of Typhoon aircraft. We have commissioned industrial and technical advice during the review of the future carrier-borne aircraft requirement, which also considered the adaptation of existing aircraft, including Typhoon. The Joint Strike Fighter was selected to fulfil this role. We have periodically reviewed with industry our present and future Typhoon capability requirements from a technological, industrial and commercial perspective and will continue to do so throughout the life of the aircraft.
Future Large Aircraft
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the in-service date is for the A400M aircraft. [19553]
Peter Luff: The current forecast in-service date for the A400M aircraft is March 2015, as published in the Major Projects Report 2010.
Germany: Military Bases
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who owns the land on which British bases are located in Germany. [19140]
Mr Robathan: The majority of the land on which British bases are located in Germany is owned by the German Federal Government. The remainder is leased by the German Federal Government on behalf of the British Forces.
Gibraltar: Military Bases
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who owns the land on which British bases are located in Gibraltar. [19139]
Mr Robathan: The land on which British bases are located in Gibraltar is owned by the Crown.
Members: Correspondence
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Veterans Minister plans to respond to the letters from the hon. Member for Ochil and South Perthshire of 3 July and 23 September 2010, on a constituency case. [19722]
Mr Robathan: The Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my hon. Friend the Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan) is currently overseas on business and I am responding on his behalf. He replied to the letter of 3 July 2010 advising that he needs to familiarise himself with the matter and had asked officials for the full background. He said he hoped to be able to offer a considered response by the end of August. We apologise for not yet being in a position to respond on this complex case, but the hon. Member will receive a reply shortly.
Nuclear Fuels: Storage
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what date rim-sealed containers for storage of special nuclear materials at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston will be replaced by new, long-term storage containers. [19133]
Peter Luff: There are no current plans to replace "rim-sealed" containers used for storage of special nuclear materials at the Atomic Weapons Establishment.
Nuclear Weapons
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a full historical inventory of the UK's nuclear arsenal. [19138]
Dr Fox: We have no plans to publish an historical inventory of the UK's nuclear arsenal.
RAF Chivenor: Rescue Services
Mr Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that the Helicopter Search and Rescue Service based at RAF Chivenor retains 24 hours a day cover. [18509]
Peter Luff: On 17 June 2010 the Chief Secretary to the Treasury announced a review of the approval of the search and rescue helicopters project in the context of the wider pressures on public spending. Until this review is complete it would be premature to comment on basing under the future service.
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