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1 Nov 2010 : Column 518W—continued
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Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what definition of a short sentence his Department uses. [20085]
Mr Blunt: There is no legal definition of a short custodial sentence but for most purposes the Department categorises a short custodial sentence as one where the headline sentence is under 12 months.
Communities and Local Government
Anti-Semitism
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations the cross-Government working group to tackle anti-Semitism has received from the Jewish community; and if he will make a statement. [20255]
Andrew Stunell: The cross-Government working group to tackle anti-Semitism is made up of officials from across Government and senior representatives of the Jewish community and therefore is in regular receipt of representations from the Jewish community on issues of concern.
Audit Commission
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the National Audit Office assuming the Audit Commission functions regarding (a) value for money studies and (b) the exercise of public interest responsibilities by auditors. [20215]
Robert Neill: My Department is working with the Audit Commission, the National Audit Office and other partners to consider a range of options for the functions currently undertaken by the Commission, including value for money studies. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced on 13 August, district auditors will retain a duty for reporting issues in the public interest. It is not envisaged that the National Audit Office will assume any of the Audit Commission's functions in this respect.
My Department has not yet made any estimate of the cost and savings that would arise if the National Audit Office assumed any of the Audit Commission's functions. Any such cost and savings will be reflected in the impact assessment which we will publish when introducing any legislation to effect these changes.
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the purpose was of the Audit Commission's payment of £1,434 to SPA Landscaping in 2009-10; and what works were undertaken. [20427]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Peter Wilkinson, dated 1 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply on behalf of the Chief Executive who is currently on annual leave.
SPA Landscaping provided grounds maintenance services at Audit Commission offices at Littlemoor House in Eckington. The payment of £1,434 was in respect of services provided in accordance with the specification and contract for grounds maintenance at that site.
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) purpose, (b) date and (c) occasion was in respect of which the Audit Commission paid £1,897 to St Martin-in-the-Fields in 2009-10. [20428]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Andy McKeon, dated 1 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply on behalf of the Chief Executive who is currently on annual leave.
St Martin-in-the-Fields was used as a venue for a joint media launch of the Oneplace website and the publication of the first set of Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) reports. It took place on 7 December 2009. This was a joint event with the CAA partner inspectorates (Ofsted, Care Quality Commission, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, HM Inspectorate of Prisons and HM inspectorate of Probation) and was attended by members of the national and trade media.
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what the (a) purpose, (b) date and (c) occasion was in respect of which the Audit Commission paid £3,650 to the Science Museum in 2009-10; [20429]
(2) what the (a) purpose, (b) date and (c) occasion was in respect of which the Audit Commission paid £1,545 to Digby Trout Restaurants Ltd in the category of learning and development services in 2009-10. [20430]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Peter Wilkinson, dated 1 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Questions have been passed to me to reply on behalf of the Chief Executive who is currently on annual leave.
The questions relate to the same event so I am responding to them in the same letter.
In Spring 2009, the Audit Commission's Local Government and Assessment Directorate underwent a restructure as it took on responsibility for the new Comprehensive Area Assessment. A one day core team workshop took place on 12 May 2009 as part of the preparation for this major national initiative.
Workshop facilities at the Science Museum provided confidential discussion space and adjoining breakout rooms for working sessions. The figure quoted covered the cost of the venue and equipment hire.
Digby Trout Restaurants Ltd are the venue's in-house caterers and the payment was the total cost of catering at the basic day delegate catering rate.
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) purpose, (b) date and (c) occasion was in respect of which the Audit Commission paid £15,025 to Steps Drama Learning Development in 2009-10. [20431]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Peter Wilkinson, dated 1 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply on behalf of the Chief Executive who is currently on annual leave.
Steps Drama Learning Development are training specialists who work with a wide variety of clients in the public and private sectors, including HSBC, British Airways and the NHS. The Commission worked with Steps on a number of occasions in 2009-10.
(1) Steps ran four workshops on 15 & 17 July and 10 & 20 August for the Human Resources department. This was a programme developed to help staff understand and address areas of concern identified in our 2009 employee survey.
(2) Steps contributed to three development centres for potential Principal Auditors in February and March 2010. Steps staff developed realistic scenarios to test the auditors' client relationship skills.
Audit Commission: Conflict Management Plus
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) purpose, (b) date and (c) occasion was for which the Audit Commission incurred expenditure of £3,851 on Conflict Management Plus in 2008-09. [20105]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Andy McKeon, dated 1 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply on behalf of the Chief Executive who is currently on annual leave.
In September 2008, following a competitive tender, the Commission engaged Conflict Management Plus to assist us in developing our managers to resolve staff disputes and difficulties. Conflict Management Plus attended a one day review workshop and subsequently advised us on the best approach for managers.
Audit Commission: Connaught
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) purpose, (b) date and (c) occasion was for which the Audit Commission incurred expenditure of £19,545 on the New Connaught Rooms in 2008-09. [20111]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Andy McKeon, dated 1 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply on behalf of the Chief Executive who is currently on annual leave.
The Audit Commission incurred this expenditure for two events in 2008-09.
30 September 2008-A senior stakeholder briefing, bringing together local authorities and PCTs to discuss the new framework for Comprehensive Area Assessment.
1 December 2008-An internal staff briefing event to discuss restructuring. This venue was used to accommodate the large number of staff in attendance. The Commission does not have offices big enough to facilitate this kind of event.
Audit Commission: Consultants
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what programmes or projects undertaken by the Audit Commission strategic consultancy was provided by (a) Deloitte, (b) GFK NOP Limited, (c) Jodi Berg, (d) Lawson Wright Ltd, (e) OPM - London, (f) PA Consulting Services and (g) Ville and Company in 2009-10. [20421]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Peter Wilkinson, dated 1 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply on behalf of the Chief Executive who is currently on annual leave.
You asked for Information on consultancy work provided by a number of firms in 2009-10. These details are as follows:
(a) Deloitte LLP
Deloitte provided expert knowledge on treasury management for the review of local authority treasury management, Risk and Return: English Local Authorities and Icelandic Banks, published in March 2009.
(b) GFK NOP Ltd
GFK NOP is a leading market research organisation, it was appointed to undertake an employee attitude survey in January 2009.
(c) Jodi Berg
Jodi Berg, the independent Complaints Reviewer, provides the third stage of the Audit Commission's complaints process. Because the Commission does not come under the remit of an Ombudsman, the Commission's Board, which is responsible for the complaints process, decided that an independent stage was necessary.
Further information on the full complaints process is published on the Commission's website at:
and information on the services provided by the ICR on her website at:
(d) Lawson Wright Ltd
Lawson Wright Ltd is an HR consultancy company. It provided a confidential helpline service to staff.
(e) OPM - London
OPM carried out work assessing the costs to local authorities of meeting the requirements of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment and Comprehensive Area Assessment processes. Its report was published in March 2010.
(f) PA Consulting Services
PA Consulting Services was engaged to support the Commission's Continuous Improvement and Innovation Programme. This was designed to deliver efficiency savings. PA Consulting provided specialist skills and support.
(g) Ville and Company
Ville & Company provided a briefing on decision-making on the allocation of teaching resources by maintained schools. This was incorporated in Valuable Lessons, published in June 2009.
Ville and Company also scoped a potential study of local authorities' spending on energy, as part of the Commission's process for selecting its study programme.
Following the Commission's decision to end Use of Resources assessments, Ville local audit work could best help PCTs improve value for money.
Audit Commission: Exeter Golf and Country Club
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) purpose, (b) date and (c) occasion was for which the Audit Commission incurred expenditure on (i) Exeter Golf and Country Club, (ii) Malmaison Hotel, (iii) Hotel du Vin and Bistro, (iv) The Royal Horseguards and (v) South West Lakes in 2008-09. [20109]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Andy McKeon, dated 1 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply on behalf of the Chief Executive who is currently on annual leave.
The Audit Commission incurred expenditure in 2008-09 as follows:
(a) Exeter Golf and Country Club - This venue was used to hold a stakeholder briefing for Finance Directors from the Local Government and Health sectors. The event took place on 4/5 February 2009 and was part of the Final Accounts Local Government and NHS Conference.
(b) Malmaison Hotel - This venue was used for a staff training event held over a three day period, from 16-18 July 2008. The Commission does not have offices big enough to facilitate this kind of event.
(c) Hotel du Vin and Bistro - The Commission incurred this expenditure for two events. We hosted the Housing Excellence Awards Lunch at Hotel du Vin and Bistro on 17 June 2008 that was held during the Chartered Institute of Housing Conference. We also held a strategic studies development event at the Malmaison in Birmingham on 16 June 2008, which at the time was part of the Hotel du Vin group.
(d) The Royal Horseguards - The Audit Commission held Parliamentary Dinners for MPs from all three main political parties to brief them on our national reports and studies programme and on Comprehensive Area Assessment. It was also an opportunity for MPs to raise with us any areas of concern, or where they felt the Commission could assist. These dinners were held in October/November 2008 and February 2009.
In July 2008 we hosted a dinner for Chief Executives of Housing Associations to discuss the key changes affecting the housing environment, such the Housing and Regeneration Bill, the state of the housing market and the introduction of short life inspections on housing associations by the Audit Commission.
In November 2008 we hosted a CAA Cross Inspectorate dinner to discuss the development of the new performance framework for local authorities. We also hosted a seminar of senior representatives from the NHS, the Dept of Health, other national bodies and private sector providers of information to discuss data quality in the NHS and how it could be improved.
(e) South West Lakes - This venue was used for staff team meetings in November 2008 and January 2009. The Commission does not have offices big enough to facilitate this kind of event.
Audit Commission: Historic Royal Palaces
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) purpose, (b) date and (c) occasion was for which the Audit Commission incurred expenditure of £3,450 on Historic Royal Palaces Enterprise in 2008-09. [20107]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Andy McKeon, dated 1 November 20120:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me for reply on behalf of the Chief Executive who is currently on annual leave.
The Audit Commission paid a deposit of 30 per cent on 30 December 2008 (£3,450) to secure the Banqueting House as a venue for the Vil Eurorai Congress. The event took place on 4 October 2010.
Eurorai is a network of over 70 regional audit bodies in Europe and has been in place for nearly 20 years. It exists to enable practising auditors in different regions and countries to share experiences and learning.
A congress is held every three years and the Region of the President elect is the host for this event. In 2007, we agreed that we would act as the host and plans have been underway to organise the congress for the last three years. Following the Secretary of State's announcement on 13 August of the Audit Commission's abolition, we considered our position and agreed to go ahead with the congress and fulfil our commitment.
The congress was fully funded by Eurorai, and the dinner at Banqueting House by a small contribution from the Audit Commission and partner agencies including from the accountancy profession and some private sector audit firms. The Audit Commission's costs were in the region of £5,000.
Audit Commission: London Zoo
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) purpose, (b) date and (c) occasion was for which the Audit Commission incurred expenditure of £13,470 on Leith's at London Zoo in 2008-09. [20110]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Andy McKeon, dated 1 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply on behalf of the Chief Executive who is currently on annual leave.
The Audit Commission did not incur expenditure of this amount at Leith's at London Zoo.
The Audit Commission did make a payment of this amount to Leith's at The British Library. The occasion was a two-day Appointed Auditors Conference held on 29/30 April 2009.
Audit Commission: Marketing
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what marketing projects were undertaken for the Audit Commission by (a) Grant Riches, (b) HSAG Design and (c) Ocean Media Group in 2009-10. [20422]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Peter Wilkinson, dated 1 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply on behalf of the Chief Executive who is currently on annual leave.
The following marketing projects were undertaken:
(a) Grant Riches provided the Commission with additional support to help promote Comprehensive Area Assessment and the associated Oneplace website.
(b) HSAG Design helped us develop extensions to our visual identity guidelines. This is a document that prescribes how we produce everything from stationery through to exhibition signs. It provides guidelines on how to use corporate colours and design to comply with good practice on accessibility for partially sighted people.
(c) Ocean Media Group runs the Chartered Institute of Housing's (CIH) annual conference. The payment to it was for the Commission's presence at the 2009 CIH conference in Harrogate.
Audit Commission: Marks' Home and Garden
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) purpose, (b) date and (c) occasion was for which the Audit Commission incurred expenditure of £940 on Marks' Home and Garden maintenance services in 2008-09. [20102]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Andy McKeon, dated 1 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply on behalf of the Chief Executive who is currently on annual leave.
In July 2008, the Audit Commission used Marks' Home and Garden maintenance services to clear the driveway and surrounding area at our Ipswich offices.
Audit Commission: Nineteen Restaurant
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) purpose, (b) date and (c) occasion was for which the Audit Commission incurred expenditure at (i) Nineteen Restaurant, (ii) L'Oranger Restaurants Ltd, (iii) the London Hilton and (iv) 60 Hope Street in 2008-09. [20108]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Andy McKeon, dated 1 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply on behalf of the Chief Executive who is currently on annual leave. The Audit Commission incurred expenditure in 2008-09 as follows:
Nineteen Restaurant
The Audit Commission used to allocate funding for social events at Christmas and on this occasion staff in our North Yorkshire Office used this venue. Following a Board decision, this funding was subsequently withdrawn across the Commission from June 2009.
L'Oranger Restaurants Ltd
The Audit Commission hosted a dinner for senior stakeholders at L'Oranger restaurant on 8 December 2008 to discuss the development of the new performance framework for local authorities, Comprehensive Area Assessment. The purpose was to ensure that the design of the new framework took account of the views of senior figures in local government and the dinner formed part of a wider consultation process.
The London Hilton
The Audit Commission's Senior Management Team, which consists of the Chief Executive and Managing Directors, held a strategy meeting at the London Hilton on 10 March 2008. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the development of CAA following the consultation process with senior stakeholders.
60 Hope Street
The Audit Commission hosted a dinner for senior stakeholders at 60 Hope Street Restaurant on 19 January 2009 to discuss the development of the new performance framework for local authorities, Comprehensive Area Assessment. The purpose was to ensure that the design of the new framework took account of the views of senior figures in local government and the dinner formed part of a wider consultation process.
Audit Commission: Official Hospitality
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Audit Commission spent on (a) hospitality, (b) hotel accommodation and (c) communications, marketing and public relations in each of the last three financial years. [20158]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Peter Wilkinson, dated 1 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply on behalf of the Chief Executive who is currently on annual leave.
a) The Audit Commission spent the following sums on hospitality in each of the last three years. In order to be consistent with data previously provided for the Public Sector Procurement Expenditure Survey we have defined hospitality as the provision of food and beverages at our own premises.
| £ | |
2007-08 | 211,845 |
2008-09 | 229,134 |
2009-10 | 289,271 |
b) The Audit Commission spent the following sums on hotel accommodation in each of the last three years. This includes all expenditure booked through Expotel, which provides access to negotiated government hotel rates, for staff required to work away from their home base and stay overnight. In line with data previously published as part of the Public Sector Procurement Expenditure Survey this excludes expenditure on training and events.
| £ | |
c) The Audit Commission spent the following sums on communications, marketing and public relations in each of the last three years. This excludes staff salaries but includes all other expenditure undertaken by the Communications and Public Reporting function such as the production and publication of audit inspection and study reports, responding to media enquiries, website maintenance, conferences, exhibitions and internal communications.
| £ | |
2007-08 | 1,547,570 |
2008-09 | 1,301,354 |
2009-10 | 1,163,643 |
Audit Commission: Oval Events
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) purpose, (b) date and (c) occasion of the Audit Commission's expenditure on Oval Events was in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10. [20222]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Andy McKeon, dated 1 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply on behalf of the Chief Executive who is currently on annual leave.
The purpose of the spending on Oval Events was:
2008/09-6 one-day training events on non-cricket days
2009/10-1 one-day training event on a non-cricket day
The cost of each event was approximately £2,000. The number of attendees ranged from 24 to 32.
Audit Commission: Press Cuttings
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Audit Commission spent on (a) press cuttings and (b) opinion research in each of the last three financial years. [20112]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Andy McKeon, dated 1 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply on behalf of the Chief Executive who is currently on annual leave.
The Audit Commission's press cutting agency is Durrants and we use them for national, regional, local and trade cuttings and for media evaluation. The Commission spent £66,282 in 2007/08; £42,194 in 2008/09; and £52,758 in 2009/10.
The Commission has spent the following amounts on opinion research: £70,881 in 2007/08; £54,206 in 2008/09; and £73,192 in 2009/10. The Commission has defined opinion research as contact with its stakeholders to elicit views on the Commission as an organisation and on the services it provides.
Audit Commission: Progressive Resources Ltd
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) purpose, (b) date and (c) occasion was for which the Audit Commission incurred expenditure of £6,850 on Progressive Resources Ltd in 2008-09; and what the nature was of the teambuilding events that took place. [20106]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Peter Wilkinson, dated 1 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply on behalf of the Chief Executive who is currently on annual leave.
In October 2008, we decided to merge two sub-regions, South East and South Central. In doing so we reduced costs and increased productivity through economies of scale. The merger did, however, bring its own major challenges and it was recognised that the integration of the two former teams required substantial change.
We therefore held an event over two days on 10/11 December 2008, using Progressive Resources Ltd. We had major sessions on audit quality; connecting audit and Comprehensive Area Assessment; and values and expectations. We also included representatives from the accounting firms, who joined us on day two. Around 200 delegates attended the event.
Progressive Resources Ltd provides corporate team building events to large multi-nationals as well as public sector organisations.
Audit Commission: Public Finances
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has for the charging structure for local government audit work undertaken by private auditors following the end of the Audit Commission; what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of such work in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [20052]
Robert Neill: My Department is working with the Audit Commission, the National Audit Office and other partners to consider a range of options for the future of local audit following the disbandment of the Commission, including options for moving the Commission's in-house audit practice into the private sector. This work includes making estimates of the costs and savings of options, a process which is currently in progress. All such costs and savings will be reflected in the impact assessment which we will publish when introducing any legislation to effect these changes.
Audit Commission: Smith Institute
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what payments the Audit Commission made to the Smith Institute in each of the last three financial years; and for what purposes and projects. [20104]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Andy McKeon, dated 1 November 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply on behalf of the Chief Executive who is currently on annual leave.
The Audit Commission has made one payment of £10,000 to the Smith Institute (in August 2008) during the last three financial years. The payment was sponsorship for a project on the future of public sector regulation.
The Smith Institute was planning to conduct an expert round table and publish and launch a monograph of essays on the future of public sector regulation. The Smith Institute sought additional sponsorship for the event and publication. However, the project was subsequently cancelled and the Smith Institute agreed to refund £9,250 to the Audit Commission.
Carers: Public Expenditure
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make arrangements to ensure that local authorities do not reduce services essential to (a) carers and (b) disabled people following the comprehensive spending review; and if he will make a statement. [20058]
Paul Burstow: I have been asked to reply.
The spending review recognises the importance of social care in protecting the most vulnerable in society. In recognition of the pressures on the social care system in a challenging fiscal climate, the coalition Government has allocated an additional £2 billion by 2014-15 to support the delivery of social care. This means, with an ambitious programme of efficiency, that there is enough
funding available both to protect people's access to services and deliver new approaches to improve quality and outcomes.
the NHS transferring some funding from the health capital budget to health revenue, to be spent on measures that support social care, which also benefits health. This funding will be up to £1 billion in 2014-15; and
additional grant funding, rising to £1 billion by 2014-15, will be made available for social care. This funding will be allocated in addition to the Department's existing social care grants, which will rise in line with inflation. Total grant funding from the Department for social care will reach £2.4 billion by 2014-15. In order to support local flexibility and to reduce administrative burdens, this funding will go to authorities through the revenue support grant.
Coal: Mining
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what recent assessment he has made of the economic, social and cultural needs of former coalmining areas; and if he will make a statement; [20056]
(2) what recent research his Department has (a) evaluated, (b) commissioned and (c) undertaken on regeneration strategies for former coalmining areas; and if he will make a statement. [20059]
Andrew Stunell: The Department for Communities and Local Government commissioned a review of coalfields regeneration led by Michael Clapham. The Coalfields Regeneration Review Report was presented to Government in September 2010.
The review looked at all aspects of coalfields regeneration, including the economic, social and cultural needs of coalfield areas. The review considered data and evidence provided by delivery bodies, including the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, the Homes and Communities Agency, local authorities, Communities and Local Government analysts and other Government Departments. It also considered previous research, particularly the report from the Audit Commission ('A mine of opportunity: local authorities and the regeneration of the English Coalfields (2008)').
The Review Board also carried out a consultation exercise seeking views from a wide range of bodies on coalfields regeneration, including local authorities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises.
Government are considering the recommendations made in the report and intend to respond formally in November.
A full copy of the report, which includes all the data referred to above, is available on the Communities and Local Government website at:
Council Housing
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of geographical variations in market rents in formulating the proposal to raise the rents of new council tenants to 80% of market rent; and if he will make a statement. [20808]
Grant Shapps: We will publish more detail on the implementation of new "affordable rent" tenure shortly.
Council Tax: Medway
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many properties there are in each council tax band in the Medway Council area; and how many in each band are long-term empty dwellings. [20544]
Robert Neill: The numbers of properties and empty domestic dwellings in the Medway council area in each council tax band as at 5 October 2009 are shown in the following table.
| Of which: | ||
| Number of properties | Long term empty | |
The data are taken from the Council Tax Base and Council Tax Base (Supplementary) forms completed annually in October by all billing authorities in England and returned to the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Emergency Services
Mr Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the regional fire and emergency response programme. [20423]
Robert Neill: The current estimated cost of the FiReControl project is £423 million, initiated by the last Government.
The FiReControl project is over-budget and behind schedule. The new Government are committed to ensuring value for money for the taxpayer, improving resilience and stopping the forced regionalisation of the fire service.
Mr Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of (a) the likely date of commissioning of the new regional fire and emergency response centres and (b) the cost to the public purse of the construction programme for these centres. [20424]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government have activated a milestone in its contract with the main contractor EADS for the completed IT system to be delivered in the first three control centres by mid-2011. The first fire and rescue services would switch over their control room operations some time after this, when they had completed preparations to their satisfaction, including the final test of the system, training and data input.
The control centres were procured through a private developer scheme, so the total costs of the land, construction, fit-out and plant are paid through lease payments over a 20 or 25 year period.
As with all major Government projects FiReControl is being reviewed to ensure value-for-money for the taxpayer. We have been clear that EADS (now branded as Cassidian) must deliver to time, cost and quality. This Government are not prepared to pour any more taxpayers' money into funding their further delays, nor can they cut any corners in the quality of the system they deliver.
Mr Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the additional (a) costs of and (b) savings from an immediate termination of the regional fire and emergency response centre programme. [20425]
Robert Neill: We are currently working with the FiReControl project contractor EADS to ensure they deliver the main IT system to time, cost and quality.
If it were to become necessary to terminate the project, the only contracts to which significant cancellation charges could apply would be those awarded to EADS for the integrated system and Babcock for facilities management of the control centre buildings. These cancellation charges could vary significantly depending on the circumstances in which the contracts were cancelled. Specific arrangements set out in these contracts cannot be disclosed due to commercial confidentiality. Savings could also accrue from the cancellation of these contracts as well as from the cessation of national team staffing costs and local implementation costs paid to fire and rescue authorities which are currently funded for this work under New Burdens principles.
Savings generated would be offset by ongoing liabilities for the control centre buildings. If the project were cancelled the Department would seek to identify suitable third parties to make use of the accommodation and contribute to costs.
As with all major Government projects FiReControl is being reviewed to ensure value-for-money for the taxpayer. We have been clear that EADS (now branded as Cassidian) must deliver to time, cost and quality. This Government are not prepared to pour any more taxpayers' money into funding their further delays, nor can they cut any corners in the quality of the system they deliver.
European Regional Development Fund
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the implications for the current round of the European Regional Development Fund of the abolition of regional development agencies. [20116]
Robert Neill: We are currently considering the future arrangements for running European regional development fund programmes in the regions, after the abolition of the regional development agencies, and we will make an announcement when the decision has been reached.
Fire Services: North East
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for the establishment of the regional control centre for the fire service for the north-east. [21114]
Robert Neill: The control centre in the north-east, at Durham, is fully constructed and fitted out. The Department for Communities and Local Government has activated a key milestone in its contract with the main FiReControl contractor EADS (now branded Cassidian) requiring them to deliver the completed IT system in three control centres by mid-2011. The north-east control centre is one of these. The first Fire and Rescue Services would switch over after this, when they had completed their preparations, including data input, training and the final assurance testing test.
The FiReControl project, initiated by the last Government, is over-budget and behind schedule. As with all major Government projects it is being reviewed to ensure value for money for the taxpayers. We have been clear that EADS must deliver to time, cost and quality. The new Government are committed to ensuring value for money for the taxpayer, improving resilience and stopping the forced regionalisation of the fire service.
Fire Services: Nottinghamshire
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) full-time and (b) retained firefighters there are in each fire station in (i) Bassetlaw and (ii) Nottinghamshire. [20892]
Robert Neill: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The latest levels of staffing of wholetime and retained firefighters are collected for each Fire and Rescue Authority. Figures for Nottinghamshire and England are provided in the following table.
Fire Services: Strikes
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the Mayor of London on strike action by London fire crews; what assessment he has made of the adequacy of contingency arrangements in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement. [20162]
Robert Neill: As I indicated in my statement to the House on the 26 October, I am in regular contact with the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. They have reassured me that their contingency arrangements worked during the eight-hour strike on the 23 October and will work for any future strikes.
My Department is also working to ensure that in the event of a major incident, the National Co-ordination and Advisory Framework arrangements, overseen by the chief fire and rescue adviser, will ensure the deployment of any necessary specialist equipment.
Grants: Expenditure
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) purpose and (b) programme or project of each of the grants given under the LG-Interreg IIIA SE DTLR heading was in his published grant expenditure data for 2009-10. [20221]
Robert Neill: Details of the 11 projects and 13 payments, which relate to grants paid under the Franco-British Interreg IIIA programme co-financed by the European regional development fund, are given in the following table:
Homelessness
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he made of the number of (a) statutory homelessness acceptances and (b) households assisted with obtaining or retaining private sector accommodation under relief and prevention of homelessness powers. [20996]
Grant Shapps: Statutory homelessness data collected include the number of households accepted by local housing authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty (to secure that suitable accommodation is available). These are published by the Department in the quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness via the DCLG website:
The number of households accepted as owed a main homelessness duty was 10,100 during the second quarter of 2010 (April to June).
The latest information on local authorities' prevention and relief activities taking place outside the homelessness statutory framework can be found in the Department's Homelessness Prevention and Relief Statistical Release via the DCLG website:
In 2009-10 there were 50,700 cases of homelessness prevention or relief where the household was assisted to obtain alternative accommodation in the private rented sector and 200 cases where the household was assisted to find a low cost home ownership or other low-cost market housing solution.
Housing Benefit
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of people likely to be affected by the increase in the age threshold for housing benefit; what estimate he has made of the likely associated costs of providing bed and breakfast accommodation for such people; and if he will make a statement. [20762]
Grant Shapps: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) assesses that the increase in the age threshold for the shared room rate announced in the spending review will affect around 88,000 claimants. DWP are working closely with other Departments to assess the wider impacts for affected claimants and are to publish a full impact assessment when legislation is laid before Parliament.
An additional £130 million would be made available, via DWP, to local authorities to administer discretionary housing payments to provide extra support for households where needed. I have provided a further £10 million in this financial year to London local authorities to help support those families most at risk of homelessness.
The Government are committed to tackling and preventing homelessness. I have established a new cross-Government working group on homelessness bringing together Ministers from eight Government Departments to address complex causes of homelessness and rough sleeping.
Last week I announced that over the course of the spending review over £400 million of homelessness grant will be made available to local authorities and the voluntary and community sector to support the most vulnerable and tackle homelessness. We are also continuing to invest in the Places of Change hostel improvement programme, ensuring that those coming off the streets get the support they need.
Local Enterprise Partnerships: Essex
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to make an announcement on the formation of local enterprise partnerships involving local authorities in Essex. [19573]
Robert Neill: We have today written to the leaders of Essex, Kent and East Sussex county councils inviting them to proceed with the establishment of their proposed Essex, Kent and East Sussex local enterprise partnership.
Details of all the proposed local enterprise partnerships that have been given the go-ahead to proceed are set out in the White Paper "Local Growth" which was laid before Parliament on 28 October 2010.
Local Government
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the merits of proposals to establish joint chief executive posts for local authorities in (a) adjacent boroughs, (b) boroughs which propose to operate joint management teams and joint services and (c) other boroughs. [21014]
Robert Neill: As outlined in the Secretary of State's speech of 13 October 2010, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House, the Government are strongly supportive of councils sharing services and chief executives to deliver savings that will help protect frontline services; permission from the Department is not required. The local government sector is evaluating the opportunities offered by such approaches, including through the Local Government Group's Place Based Productivity programme. The Improvement and Development Agency has published reports on this subject in 2008 and 2009, at:
The evidence so far from this work is that joint chief executives or management teams can lead to financial savings, greater opportunities for joint procurement, and the ability to share the experience and expertise of specialist staff and other services.
Local Government Boundary Review
Mr Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will commission a local government boundary review by 2015. [20070]
Robert Neill: The Local Government Boundary Commission for England, an independent parliamentary body established in April 2010, is responsible for the review of local government boundaries. While the Secretary of State has no role in the review of electoral boundaries he may request that the Commission review administrative boundaries. There are no plans to make such a request.
Local Government Finance
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding each local authority received from (a) national non-domestic rates, (b) revenue support grant and (c) ring-fenced specific grants in each of the last five financial years; and what estimate he has made of the equivalent figures for each local authority in 2011-12. [20290]
Robert Neill:
I have today placed in the Library of the House a table that gives, by each local authority in
England, funding received from (a) redistributed non-domestic rates (b) revenue support grant and (c) ring-fenced specific grants for the financial years 2005-06 to 2008-09. Figures for the financial year 2009-10 are not yet available.
Details on the provisional local government finance settlement for 2011-12 will be announced in early December.
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will reverse his decision to (a) remove ring-fencing from grants to local authorities and (b) reduce the level of support grant by 26 per cent. in the next four years. [21005]
Robert Neill: No. The coalition Government's spending review provides a fair though challenging settlement for local government. It reflects the clear priorities for the spending review as a whole: to bring down the massive budget deficit and drive economic growth, while protecting the interests of hard-working families and the most vulnerable in society.
The review also provides significant new powers for local government. Councils have long argued that with more freedom and flexibility, they would be much better equipped to become more efficient and effective in delivering local public services. This settlement delivers that freedom and flexibility, as part of the new Government's decentralisation agenda.
Microgeneration
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to discharge his obligations under section 3 (4) of the Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Act 2009 on permitted development for microgeneration. [20435]
Robert Neill: The Government are committed to amending the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 to introduce permitted development rights for small-scale wind turbines and air source heat pumps on domestic properties, as part of our agenda to support renewable energy and low carbon technologies. There are a number of technical and practical issues that we are considering. We are aiming to resolve these, and to make key announcements and legislative changes as soon as possible.
Natural England: Planning Permission
Martin Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning applications Natural England has recommended for call-in since its establishment as a statutory consultee; and how many such applications have subsequently been called in. [20141]
Robert Neill [holding answer 28 October 2010]: There is no comprehensive record held of the number of call- in requests made by Natural England or its predecessor, English Nature, since the statutory consultation duties were introduced in 1994. The limited data available identify four occasions when a planning application has been called in following a request from Natural England.
Outdoor Advertising
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will include in his draft national planning framework the subject of controls on outdoor advertising. [20610]
Robert Neill: It is proposed to include key policy on advertising control in the national planning framework.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals to increase the powers of local authorities to determine the controls to be imposed on outdoor advertising in their areas. [20611]
Robert Neill: The Government announced on 25 May 2010 that they would bring forward a Decentralisation and Localism Bill as part of the current parliamentary Session. A list of the main elements of the Bill was published, which included planning elements. We have since confirmed on 11 October 2010 that planning enforcement measures will form part of the Bill. Further announcements on the details of these measures will be made in due course.
Silica: Quarrying
Mr Gyimah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what targets his Department has set for the extraction of silica sand; and when he next plans to review the adequacy of such targets. [20986]
Robert Neill: The Government have no central target for the extraction of silica sand. Minerals planning authorities are expected to make provision for silica sand extraction where the resource is found, taking into account relevant national planning policy including Minerals Policy Statement 1 and Mineral Planning Guidance 15. I also refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 20 July, Official Report, columns 220-221W.
Sky Lanterns
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions fire and rescue services have been alerted to incidents involving sky lanterns in each of the last three years. [21008]
Robert Neill: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Social Rented Housing: Arrears
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the total amount of rent arrears owned by tenants of registered social landlords in each of the last five years. [19964]
Andrew Stunell: The total amount of rent arrears owed by tenants of registered social landlords in each of the last five years is as follows:
| £ million | |||||
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
Social Rented Housing: Evictions
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of evictions by registered social landlords in each of the last five years. [19965]
Andrew Stunell: In the last five years the total number of evictions by registered social landlords from both general needs and supported housing is as follows:
| Total number of evictions | |
Social Rented Housing: Rents
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his proposals to set rents for social housing at 80 per cent. of market rates will apply to tenancies created by mutual exchange. [20211]
Grant Shapps: Existing tenants of local authorities and housing associations will retain their current tenancy and rent arrangements.
Supporting People Programme
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) highest and (b) lowest per capita Supporting People grant allocations were in England in 2009-10. [20523]
Andrew Stunell: The Supporting People programme is not allocated on a per capita basis. Funding is allocated to top tier local authorities using the Supporting People Distribution Formula which takes account of population, level of deprivations, people at risk and other relevant needs data.
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reason the Supporting People redistribution formula has not been implemented. [20583]
Andrew Stunell: No decision regarding the use of the Supporting People Distribution Formula to allocate the Supporting People budget going forward has been taken. The Supporting People allocations will form part of the local government settlement due to be announced in December.
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what Supporting People grant allocations he proposes in the period of the comprehensive spending review. [20841]
Andrew Stunell: The spending review minimised reductions to the Supporting People programme, with £6.5 billion investment secured over the next four years. This represents reductions in Supporting People funding totalling 12% staged gradually over the four-year period. National budget figures for the spending review period are provided in the following table. Individual local authority allocations are not yet available and will form part of the local government settlement due to be announced in December.
| Supporting People | |
| £ million | |
Supporting People Programme: Oxfordshire
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he plans to take to increase participation in Supporting People programmes for young carers in Oxford West and Abingdon constituency. [21055]
Andrew Stunell: The Supporting People programme provides housing-related support to a wide range of vulnerable clients to enable them to remain, or move towards, living independently. The design and provision of services is a matter for each local authority based on local needs and priorities.
Supporting People Programme: Wolverhampton
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department allocated to Wolverhampton city council under the Supporting People per capita grant allocation in 2009-10. [20522]
Andrew Stunell: The Supporting People programme is not allocated on a per capita basis. Funding is allocated to top tier local authorities using the Supporting People Distribution Formula which takes account of population, level of deprivation, people at risk and other relevant needs data. The Supporting People allocation for Wolverhampton city council in 2009-10 using the Distribution Formula was £7,997,826.
Temporary Accommodation: Homelessness
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) from which local authorities he has received representations on the use of temporary accommodation for homeless households; [20065]
(2) whether he has any plans to review the homelessness duty placed on local authorities. [20066]
Grant Shapps: The Government are committed to ensuring that there is an adequate safety net for people who are homeless. It has been argued that giving local authorities greater flexibility in how they are permitted to discharge the main homelessness duty could help to address these concerns. The Government are giving these representations careful consideration.
In addition we will be providing a further £12.25 million to local authorities and the voluntary sector to help those households that are affected by the proposed housing benefit reforms and to help improve access to the private rented sector for single homeless people.
Wind Power: Planning Permission
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to give local authorities the power to determine minimum distances between wind turbines and dwellings. [20732]
Robert Neill: Under current planning policy distances between wind turbines and dwellings are decided on a case by case basis so that local factors can be taken fully into account. Local planning authorities are already able to set out the criteria they apply in assessing applications for renewable energy development in their local plans provided this does not rule out or place constraints on development without sufficient reasoned justification.
Energy and Climate Change
Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Local Government Association and (b) local authorities on the allocation of funds from the sale of Carbon Reduction Commitment allowances; and if he will make a statement; [19960]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the effect on local authority services of the retention by central Government of revenue from sales of Carbon Reduction Commitment allowances; [19961]
(3) what consultation his Department has had on allocating revenue raised by the Carbon Reduction Commitment; and if he will make a statement. [19962]
Gregory Barker: The Government decided not to proceed with the recycling of CRC revenues proposed by the previous Administration in order to support the public finances and contribute to the spending plans set out in the spending review, which align the allocation of public resources with the Government's overall objectives as set out in the coalition agreement. The decision has the additional benefit of creating a clearer price signal in the scheme which participants have asked for.
The clearer and stronger price signal provided by this change should reduce uncertainty and administrative costs while maintaining energy efficiency measures among participants and the commensurate savings in energy bills.
Next month, the Government will begin a consultation with CRC participants on what further steps can be taken to simplify the scheme.
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to ensure that local areas benefit from the sale of Carbon Reduction Commitment allowances; and if he will make a statement. [19963]
Gregory Barker: Revenue from the sale of CRC allowances will be used to support the public finances and contribute to the spending plans set out in the spending review, which align the allocation of public resources with the Government's overall objectives as set out in the coalition agreement.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what his most recent estimate is of the gross revenue which will arise from the sale of allowances through the Carbon Reduction Commitment before the recycling of such moneys to scheme participants in each of the next five years; [20570]
(2) what plans he has for the future of the Carbon Reduction Commitment scheme. [20572]
Gregory Barker: Government have committed to keeping the operation of this scheme under active review with a particular eye to simplifying it and ensuring it properly incentivises those who do most to improve energy efficiency.
In order to clarify the price signal to participants and to support the public finances, including spending on the environment, as part of the comprehensive spending review the Government announced that revenue from allowance sales will not be recycled back to participants. As part of the commitment to simplify the scheme and reduce the burden on businesses, we also announced that the first allowance sales for 2011-12 emissions will now take place in 2012 rather than 2011. A public dialogue and consultation with participants on how to further simplify the scheme will begin shortly. The UK Government and devolved Administrations will consider the results of that consultation process and, subject to the views expressed, make legislative proposals to amend the CRC ahead of the second phase.
The spending review 2010 policy costings document:
sets out the impact on Government expenditure of not recycling the revenue to participants. A positive figure indicates a saving compared to previous plans, corresponding to the revenue expected to be generated from allowance sales each year.
| Annually Managed Expenditure (AME) | |
| £ million | |
The decision to delay the first sale of allowances will affect the timing of these receipts.
These estimates are based on significant assumptions, particularly with respect to the quantity of emissions covered by the scheme and the uptake of energy efficiency measures within the sector. We will not know the CRC emissions coverage accurately until participants have submitted their emissions data in July 2011.
Carbon: Prices
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has held with his EU counterparts on his plans to introduce a carbon floor price. [20437]
Gregory Barker: As part of Government duties, Ministers hold regular meetings with EU counterparts and other interested parties to discuss a range of issues. HM Treasury and HMRC will shortly publish proposals to reform the climate change levy to provide more certainty and support to the carbon price and encourage investment in low-carbon electricity generation. As part of this consultation, appropriate discussions will be held with EU counterparts, and other relevant parties.
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has assessed the merits of introducing mechanisms to underwrite the price of carbon as part of his plans to introduce a carbon floor price. [20438]
Gregory Barker: Building on the coalition's commitment to introduce a floor price for carbon, the Chancellor, with the support of the Cabinet, announced in the June Budget that HM Treasury and HMRC would publish proposals in the autumn to reform the climate change levy to provide more certainty and support to the carbon price and encourage investment in low-carbon electricity generation. My officials have been supporting HMRC and HM Treasury in developing these proposals as well as ensuring that they are factored into considerations for wider reform of the electricity market. Full details on proposals to support the carbon price will be published as part of the HM Treasury and HMRC consultation along with an impact assessment.
Climate Change
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding he plans to allocate to international climate finance programmes in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15. [19828]
Gregory Barker: The UK has committed to providing £1.5 billion in fast start finance over the period 2010-2012 for both mitigation and adaptation action. A total of £511 million has so far been approved for specific multilateral programmes (subject to demonstration of value for money and results). DECC's contribution to this figure is £250 million.
The spending review provides a total of £2.9 billion of international climate finance-called the International Climate Fund (ICF)-over the spending review period. The fund will be managed collectively by the relevant Departments. From DECC's budget, we will contribute £1 billion of the total. Ministers will decide on allocations from the ICF, including the specific programmes on which the ICF will be spent, at a later stage.
Climate Change: International Cooperation
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proposals he plans to table at the forthcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Cancun. [20571]
Gregory Barker: The Government are committed to working for an ambitious global deal to tackle climate change. At Cancun, we want to see substantive progress made on a politically balanced package of decisions that help re-establish momentum towards that goal.
Conferences
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which UK and international conferences staff of his Department have attended since October 2008; how many staff attended each conference; in what capacity such staff attended; and what the cost to the public purse under each category of expenditure was on each such occasion. [20478]
Gregory Barker: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Redundancy
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of redundancies arising from the spending reductions proposed in the comprehensive spending review in respect of (a) his Department, (b) its non-departmental public bodies and (c) other public bodies which are dependent on his Department for funding. [21527]
Gregory Barker: DECC has not made an estimate of the numbers of redundancies that may be required following the comprehensive spending review.
Reviews are currently under way to decide how the settlement will be implemented across the DECC family.
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the costs to his Department of staff redundancy in each of the next four years. [21528]
Gregory Barker: DECC has not currently made an estimate of the cost of any redundancies that may be required in each of the next four years.
Reviews are currently under way to decide how the spending review settlement will be implemented in DECC over the spending review period.
Energy Efficiency
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the performance of local authorities in rolling out local energy efficiency programmes; and if he will make a statement. [19958]
Gregory Barker: We expect and will encourage local authorities to develop stretching ambitions to tackle climate change.
Local authorities are closely involved in the roll-out of three main national energy efficiency programmes: first, the Local Carbon Frameworks pilot programme which challenges local authorities to work with individuals and other stakeholders on carbon reduction in their areas. There are nine pilot areas involving 30 local authorities.
Secondly, local authorities have a key role in delivering the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) which aims to drive energy efficiency improvements in low income areas. DECC is carrying out an evaluation of CESP which includes consideration of the role of local authorities in delivering the programme.
Thirdly, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) is an obligation placed on large energy suppliers to reduce carbon emissions from households. Most obligated CERT suppliers form partnerships with local authorities and others in helping to deliver their schemes.
We are working with the Local Government Group on its offer to DECC, which includes support for the roll-out of future energy efficiency programmes, including the Green Deal and smart meters programmes.
Energy: Housing
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what funding he plans to allocate to the Green Deal programme in each year of the comprehensive spending review period. [20869]
Gregory Barker: Announcements about allocations to particular DECC programmes will be made in due course. Details of the Department's overall settlement are available on the DECC website:
The most significant funding for Green Deal will come through private sector investment.
Energy: Tariffs
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will include in the Energy Security and Green Economy Bill proposals for minimum standards of energy tariffs requiring energy companies to provide a customer with 12 weeks notice of (a) a change in tariff and (b) the end of a discount tariff; and if he will make a statement. [20099]
Gregory Barker: The Bill will include measures to improve energy efficiency and energy security, measures to enable low carbon generation and measures to clarify liabilities and responsibilities. We have no plans to include the very specific measures the hon. Member asks about.
Ofgem already requires energy suppliers to give customers 30 working days' notice of when a contract is due to end, together with details of the deemed contract they will be moved to if they do not enter into a new contract or switch supplier.
Ofgem has also recently consulted on requiring suppliers to give advance notice of price increases or other adverse changes to energy contracts and should be announcing the way forward shortly.
In addition, Ofgem has recently introduced new over- arching standards to prevent the selling of products that are inappropriate to a customer's needs or products that are unnecessarily complex or confusing.
Energy: Western Isles
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the proposed 450MW HVDC interconnector linking Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency to the national grid will be operational by the end of this year. [19847]
Charles Hendry [holding answer 27 October 2010]: Decisions on the financing of the transmission link and allocation of associated risks are for the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority in line with their statutory duties. SHETL have been in discussion with Ofgem about securing sufficient developer commitment to enable the link to go ahead and will be making an announcement on the link in the near future.
High transmission charges have been cited as a possible barrier to developers of renewable generation on the Western Isles making the necessary connection commitments to finance the transmission link. That is why I have committed to look again at the case for a transmission charge adjustment scheme under section 185 of the Energy Act 2004 for the Scottish Islands alongside Ofgem's wider review of transmission charges with their Project TransmiT.
EU Emissions Trading Scheme: Carbon
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the price of carbon under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme in each of the next five years. [20436]
Gregory Barker: The following prices were published in June 2010, with estimates of the short-term traded price of carbon to be used for Government policy appraisals available at:
| Traded | |||
| £2009/tCO 2 | Low | Central | High |
These prices should not be seen as forecasts; rather they are estimates of the price given the current targets in the EU emissions trading scheme. Moving to a tighter target would result in higher prices.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on the emissions cap in Phase III of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. [20569]
Gregory Barker:
The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) was significantly revised as part of the EU Climate and Energy Package agreed by EU member states in 2008. The changes will take place from Phase III, which will run from 2013 to 2020, with a more
ambitious, EU-wide cap on emissions. This will bring with it more emission reductions, more predictable market conditions and improved certainty for industry.
The Government support an EU move to a 30% emissions reduction target, and a significant part of this reduction should come from sectors covered by the EU ETS. An EU move to 30% would therefore mean a lower cap level, in turn delivering a higher carbon price which will stimulate investment in low carbon jobs and technologies, and help to put the EU and UK on track to meet 2050 emissions reduction targets.
Fuel Poverty
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 16 September 2010, Official Report, column 1006, on fuel poverty, whether he plans to extend the energy rebate scheme to all low-income vulnerable households. [20504]
Gregory Barker: Energy suppliers will be required from April 2011 to provide greater help with the financial costs of energy bills to more of the most vulnerable fuel poor households, through Social Price Support-with total support of £250 million in 2011-12 rising to £310 million in 2014-15.
We anticipate that data-matching methods, similar to those which were used successfully in the Energy Rebate Scheme, will be used to target the assistance available through Social Price Support towards more of the most vulnerable households.
We intend to consult on the detailed policy design, including eligibility and targeting methods, later this year.
Offshore Industry
Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to complete the further assessments on the offshore oil and gas leasing of blocks in (a) Cardigan Bay and (b) the Moray Firth. [21035]
Charles Hendry: An environmental assessment of the potential impact of oil and gas licensing in Cardigan Bay was carried out in 2007. The assessment concluded that oil and gas licensing should not proceed at that time. The applications for a petroleum licence received during the 24(th) licensing round for three blocks in Cardigan Bay have been withdrawn. No applications were received during the 25(th) and 26(th) licensing rounds for blocks in Cardigan Bay. There are no further assessments planned at this time.
With regard to the inner Moray Firth, a revised environmental assessment in relation to an application for a petroleum licence for block 17/3 was issued for public consultation from 15 July to 12 October 2010. Officials are carefully considering the comments received during the public consultation and therefore I am not yet in a position to reach a decision concerning licensing of this block.
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