| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
8 Nov 2010 : Column 33W—continued
Fire Services: North East
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the work of Cleveland Fire Authority on local fire control arrangements. [21704]
Robert Neill: Under section 7 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, all fire and rescue authorities have a statutory duty to make arrangements for dealing with calls for help and for mobilising resources. Decisions about control rooms are a matter for individual fire and rescue authorities.
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department undertook a risk assessment in relation to industrial accidents when formulating its proposals for a reduction in the budget of Cleveland Fire Authority. [21996]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government is responsible for distributing central Government funding across the fire and rescue service in England. However individual fire and rescue authority budgets are made up of a number of elements in addition to central Government funding and all fire and rescue authority budgets are set by the individual authority, not by Government.
I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 October 2010, Official Report, columns 88-89W, outlining how fire and rescue authorities can make savings without impacting on the quality or breadth of services offered to their communities.
Fire Services: Rural Areas
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take account of (a) emergency response times for rural fire authorities and (b) the geographic spread of populations when making decisions on fire authority budgets. [21695]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government is responsible for distributing central Government funding across the fire and rescue service in England. However individual fire and rescue authority budgets are made up of a number of elements in addition to central Government funding and all fire and rescue authority budgets are set by the individual authority, not by Government.
Housing: Energy
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of homes in England which had residual current devices in place in the latest period for which figures are available. [22036]
Andrew Stunell: DCLG's "English Housing Survey-Housing Stock Report 2008", published in October 2010, estimates that 13,244,000 dwellings in England (59% of all dwellings) had residual current devices. By sector the percentages with residual current devices were:
| Percentage | |
The 2008 English Housing Survey can be viewed at:
Housing: Sales
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has made a recent estimate of the average time taken to complete a purchase on a residential property. [22404]
Andrew Stunell: No such estimate has been made, and central Government do not collect or hold data on time taken to complete a purchase on a residential property.
Local Development Frameworks
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable he has set for his review of the local development framework system. [22878]
Robert Neill: The Government are committed to reforming the planning system as set out in Open Source Planning. Proposals to change processes for producing local development frameworks will be contained in the Localism Bill which we hope to publish shortly.
Local Government Finance
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government from which local authorities he has received representations on the treatment by the Homes and Communities Agency of local authority borrowing requests in its determination of grant funding. [21952]
Andrew Stunell: The Department received representations from Southwark council regarding the treatment of local authority borrowing in the determination of grant funding for the local authority new build programme.
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to make a single announcement in respect of homelessness grant funding allocations to local authorities for all years of the spending review period; and if he will make a statement. [22119]
Grant Shapps: Over £400 million over the spending review period will be made available to local authorities and the voluntary sector through homelessness grant to tackle homelessness. Detailed allocations for local authorities will be published in December alongside the provisional local government settlement for 2011-12.
This Government are committed to tackling and preventing homelessness. I have already established a new cross-Government working group on homelessness bringing together Ministers from eight Government Departments to address the complex causes of homelessness and rough sleeping.
Ordnance Survey
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to sell Ordnance Survey in (a) part and (b) whole. [22285]
Robert Neill: Ordnance Survey is Great Britain's national mapping agency and its data underpin the delivery of many vital public services. Ministers are not currently considering changes to its ownership.
Public Footpaths: Maps
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether members of the public will be able to (a) inspect and (b) copy definitive footpath maps held by local authorities under the terms of the new Public Sector Mapping Agreement. [20510]
Robert Neill: The Public Sector Mapping Agreement covers the use of Ordnance Survey mapping information by public sector bodies in England and Wales. Members of the public will continue to be able to inspect definitive footpath maps held by local authorities, where these maps are based on Ordnance Survey data, under the terms of the new Public Sector Mapping Agreement.
Local authorities may produce copies of the definitive map where doing so is required to facilitate a surveying authority's duty to allow inspection of the definitive map, as set out in Section 57 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Members of the public will be able to take printed hard copies of definitive maps held by local authorities and based on Ordnance Survey data for personal and private use. Copying will be subject to the obligations on local authorities within the PSMA relating to sublicensing and commercial distribution, and subject to each print carrying an appropriate statement concerning the scope of permitted use. The wording of this statement will be provided to local authorities as part of the process of implementing the Public Sector Mapping Agreement.
Recreation Spaces
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent steps he has taken to promote the creation of community recreational spaces; and if he will make a statement. [22131]
Andrew Stunell: The Department's Structural Reform Plan includes the coalition Government's commitment to bringing forward a new designation to protect green areas of particular importance to local communities.
Government's key role in building the big society is about bringing power back to local level. We are therefore funding the Asset Transfer Unit to develop practical guidance for community groups wishing to take on the
management of their local public space, which could be used for recreational purposes. We anticipate this guidance will be published later in November. We are also including proposals in the forthcoming Localism Bill, which will give communities greater opportunities to identify and bid for assets, including recreational spaces that are important to them, and through the new neighbourhood plans system, help preserve open spaces of local significance.
The Department continues to support community use of urban green space, which involves a diverse range of recreational activities. The Green Flag Award scheme, currently funded by this Department, demonstrates some good uses of community recreational space. This year's winners were announced on 18 July and are featured on the scheme's website.
Repossession Orders: West Midlands
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent steps he has taken to reduce the number of home repossessions in (a) Coventry and (b) the west midlands. [22124]
Andrew Stunell: The coalition Government have acted decisively to tackle the record deficit and avoid the need for rapid increases in interest rates. There are a range of measures in place to help people struggling to pay their mortgage. These include access to free advice, support for mortgage interest (paid by the Department for Work and Pensions to unemployed homeowners), Homeowners Mortgage Support, and the Mortgage Rescue Scheme which enables the most vulnerable homeowners at risk of repossession to remain in their homes. These provisions are nationwide and not particular to Coventry or the west midlands. In July 2010, the Minister for Housing and Local Government announced changes to the Mortgage Rescue Scheme to secure better value for money, with a reduction in the grant rate paid to housing associations and tighter caps on property price and repair costs for new applications.
Right to Buy Scheme
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) social and (b) local authority-owned homes were sold under the right-to-buy scheme in each of the last four years; and how many such sales he expects to occur in each of the next four years. [21894]
Andrew Stunell: Information on the number of local authority and registered provider right-to-buy housing sales in England can be found in Table 2 of "Social Housing Sales to Sitting Tenants, England 2009-10":
The level of future sales under the right to buy scheme will be determined by the number of successful applications received from tenants.
Social Rented Housing
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the average rent in cash terms that would constitute 80 per cent. of market rents in each local authority area. [22610]
Grant Shapps: We will publish more detail on the implementation of new 'affordable rent' tenure shortly.
Social Rented Housing: Evictions
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many tenants of (a) council houses and (b) housing association properties were evicted on the grounds of rent arrears in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [22333]
Andrew Stunell: Information on tenants of council housing is not available.
Information on evictions from housing association housing is collected in terms of the number of households (rather than tenants). Information is collected by the Tenant Services Authority on their annual Regulatory and Statistical Return survey. Data are from housing associations that completed the long version of the Regulatory and Statistical Return survey and made a valid return, which in general includes those housing associations that own or manage 1,000 or more dwellings and/or bed spaces, including shared ownership dwellings. An eviction is a tenancy brought to an end by a court order and the execution of a bailiffs' warrant. Eviction does not include abandonment, even where a property is abandoned in the period between a court order being granted and a warrant being obtained or executed. The following table shows figures for the last three years:
| Housing association evictions by reason, 2007-08 to 2009-10 | |||||
| Reason for eviction | |||||
| Total evictions | Rent arrears | Antisocial behaviour (ASB) | Both rent arrears and ASB | Other | |
| Note: Information from housing associations are from those that completed the long version of the RSR and made a valid return, which in general includes those housing associations that own or manage 1,000 or more dwellings and/or bed spaces, including shared ownership dwellings. Source: Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR) survey 2010 (collected by the Tenant Services Authority) | |||||
The Ministry of Justice collect data on the number of evictions carried out by county court bailiffs for social landlords. An eviction is where a county court bailiff will have successfully been able to gain possession of a property following an order given by a judge. Eviction does not include abandonment, even where a property is abandoned in the period between a court order being granted and a warrant being obtained or executed. The reasons for eviction are not collected. The following table shows figures for the last three years:
| County courts (enforcement work). Number of evictions( 1 ) of social landlord properties by county court bailiffs( 2) in England( 3) , 2006-07 to 2008-09 | |
| Financial year | Social landlord evictions (number) |
| (1) The vast majority of warrant of eviction outcomes are eviction, the warrant being suspended by an order made by the court and the warrant being withdrawn. (2) Includes warrants issued in the County Court Bulk Centre and via Possession Claim Online. (3) Includes only warrants that have been executed in a county court that are in England. Source: HMCS CaseMan system and Possession Claim Online | |
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the legal costs incurred by (a) local authorities and (b) housing associations for eviction proceedings against tenants who were in rent arrears in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [22334]
Andrew Stunell: The information requested is not collected centrally.
Squatting
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require local authorities to report to his Department annually on the number of properties in their locality that are occupied by squatters; what recent discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with local authorities on squatters; and if he will make a statement. [21934]
Andrew Stunell: We have no plans to introduce a requirement for local authorities to report the number of properties occupied by squatters. No discussions have taken place with local authorities. However, we will be taking steps to help get empty homes back into productive and lawful use, reducing the scope for squatting. We are also providing more guidance to home owners on their legal rights against illegal squatting on their property.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on managing squatters in each of the last three years; what guidance his Department plans to issue in the next year; and if he will make a statement. [22006]
Grant Shapps: The Department has not issued any guidance to local authorities on managing squatters but has today made available on the DCLG website advice to home owners affected by squatters at:
Temporary Accommodation
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of the cost to each local authority of provision of bed-and-breakfast accommodation for homeless (a) individuals and (b) families. [21951]
Grant Shapps: The latest available local authority revenue outturn estimates are published at:
I have today placed in the Library of the House a table giving details of the cost of provision of bed-and-breakfast accommodation by each local authority in England in 2008-09.
A breakdown of costs by household type is not held centrally. Quarterly homelessness statistics, including number of households in bed-and-breakfast accommodation by local authority, are published by the Department on the DCLG website at:
Under homelessness legislation that applies to England, bed-and-breakfast accommodation cannot be used by a local housing authority to discharge a duty to secure accommodation for applicants who are pregnant, or whose household includes a pregnant woman or a dependant child, unless no other accommodation is available for their occupation, and then for no more than six weeks in aggregate.
Culture, Media and Sport
Arts: Finance
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) how much Arts Council England has spent on projects in North East Cambridgeshire constituency in each of the last three years; [22508]
(2) what estimate he has made of the Arts Council funding allocated per head in (a) the highest receiving region, (b) the lowest receiving region and (c) in North East Cambridgeshire constituency in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. [22562]
Mr Vaizey: The Department does not collate this information centrally.
Accordingly I have asked the chief executive of Arts Council England to respond to the hon. Member for North East Cambridgeshire directly.
A copy of the responses will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
BBC: Commonwealth Games 2014
Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with (a) the Scottish Executive, (b) Glasgow city council and (c) Commonwealth Games Scotland about the financial effects of the BBC's decision to withdraw as host broadcaster of the 2014 Commonwealth Games; and if he will make a statement. [22618]
Mr Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport has not had any discussions with the Scottish Government, Glasgow city council or Commonwealth Games Scotland on this matter.
BBC: Religion
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with the BBC Trust on the BBC's Charter obligations in respect of reporting on religious affairs; and if he will make a statement. [22512]
Mr Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport has not had any discussions with the BBC Trust on this matter.
Broadband
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions his Department has had on equivalence in access to broadband services. [21436]
Mr Vaizey: I have been asked to reply in my capacity as a Minister in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
This Department has regular discussions with telecoms providers and Ofcom on a wide range of issues aimed at ensuring that the UK has an open and competitive market for broadband services. BT's undertakings require them to offer equal access and they formed an "Equality of Access Board" on 1 November 2005 which adjudicates on any issues that might be raised in this connection by competitive providers.
Departmental Redundancy
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many staff of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have been offered enhanced early retirement packages in each of the last three years. [22020]
John Penrose: The total number of staff who were offered early retirement packages and left the Department is shown in the following table.
| Financial year | Total number of staff |
The Department does not collate this information for our agency, the Royal Parks.
Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of the Royal Parks to respond to the hon. Member for Shipley directly.
A copy of the response will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Horse Racing: Betting
Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect on the revenue received from the Horserace Betting Levy of bookmakers moving all or part of their operations offshore. [21248]
Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) whether his Department plans to reform the Horserace Betting Levy to take account of the relocation of British bookmakers that have moved all or part of their operation overseas; [21851]
(2) whether his Department has made an assessment of the level of funding that would be raised each year in circumstances in which offshore bookmakers that place bets on British horseracing contributed to the Horserace Betting Levy. [21852]
John Penrose: I have received advice from the Horserace Betting Levy Board about securing fair contributions from overseas operators towards the Horserace Betting Levy.
I am currently considering this advice and expect to make a further announcement in due course.
Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the revenue received from the Horserace Betting Levy of the threshold rules that exempt more than 60 per cent. of betting shops from paying the full rate of levy. [21249]
John Penrose: I have met representatives of the Horserace Betting Levy Board, racing and bookmaking industries, to discuss all the issues with the levy, and seek suggestions about how the levy might be improved or, if possible, suitably replaced.
No decisions have been taken yet and I will continue to discuss the options to ensure that funding for racing is fair, and collected from as broad a base as possible.
Horserace Totalisator Board
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he expects a proportion of the proceeds from the sale of the Tote to be used to support the horseracing industry; and if he will make a statement. [22240]
John Penrose: Over the coming months, the Government will look to resolve the future of the Tote in a way that secures value for the taxpayer while recognising the support that the Tote currently provides the racing industry. A decision on whether and how to use the value which is realised cannot be made until the precise structure of a final deal has been agreed.
Music: Finance
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the monetary value of overseas earnings attributable to the music industry in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009; and what proportion of GDP this represented in each such year. [20914]
John Penrose: Information is not collected by the Government on the monetary value of overseas earnings attributable to the music industry, but the UK remains the third largest market in the world for sales of music behind USA and Japan, and sales in the UK amounted to 10.0% of all music sold globally in 2008.
The BPI estimates that British artists account for as much as 15% of the global music market. In 2009, UK artists accounted for 10% of artist albums sold in the US, and 13.4% in Canada. They also fared well in Germany and France (the fourth and fifth biggest markets in the world), accounting respectively for 22.2% and 15.9% of artist album sales in 2008.
In 2006, the Creative and Cultural Skills Council reported that the music industry contributed £6 billion to the UK economy.
Olympic Games 2012: Children
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure that schoolchildren in areas outside London have the opportunity fully to participate in preparations for the London 2012 Olympics. [22410]
Hugh Robertson: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) official London 2012 education programme Get Set is the primary way for schools, colleges and other learning institutions, including Playing for Success Centres across the UK, to play their part in the London 2012 Games. Currently 15,166 schools and colleges are registered with Get Set, involving 2 million students. 13,281 are outside of London.
In partnership with the Department for Education, the Department are creating an Olympic and Paralympic style school sport competition, allowing children in schools across the country to experience the incredible inspiration of the games.
There are a number of initiatives in this area that use the power of the games to inspire young people across the country. The London 2012 Inspire Programme provides a way for community projects and events genuinely inspired by the games to be awarded the 'Inspire Mark', a non-commercial version of the London 2012 brand. Many of these projects involve young people across sport, culture, education and volunteering. 2,444 events have been held as part of London 2012 Open Weekend in communities across the UK in 2008, 2009 and most recently July 2010 to mark 2 Years To Go, with many young people taking part in the run-up to the games. 1,000 Young Ambassadors have been recruited together with the Youth Sports Trust to promote 2012 and sport in schools to their peers. LOCOG is also responsible for the volunteering programme at the games, and will launch a Young Games Maker programme especially for under 18s in summer 2011.
Departmental Redundancy
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 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. [21521]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: In response to the spending review settlement the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has committed to a reduction of its administration costs by 50% over the period of the spending review, as set out in my published ministerial written statement, 21 October 2010, Official Report, columns 59-70WS. As yet, no estimated number of redundancies has been settled on. Some reductions to the Department's administration costs will come through reducing accommodation and other non-pay costs, and the Department hopes to achieve a substantial proportion of reductions to staff costs through normal staff turnover.
The Department has not made an estimate of the number of redundancies within its non-departmental public bodies or other public bodies which are dependent on departmental funding. Any such decisions will need to be taken by the bodies themselves in the light of their spending review settlement.
S4C: Wales
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will take steps to ensure that S4C retains full programming independence following the implementation of a system for new independent funding. [22303]
Mr Vaizey: The Government are committed to the future of S4C as an independent service, retaining its editorial independence. The details of how S4C's independence will be safeguarded in its partnership with the BBC Trust are currently being developed.
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of 20 October 2010, Official Report, columns 319-22WH, what steps he plans to take to ensure that dedicated funding for S4C is retained under the new funding model. [22085]
Mr Vaizey: The future funding of S4C was set out by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, in his letter of 20 October to the Chair of the Welsh Authority.
From 2013-14, the cost of funding S4C will be met from a combination of continued Exchequer funding, advertising revenue and the television licence fee.
The funding figures are as follows.
| £ million | |||
| Total funding | From DCMS | From BBC | |
This means that S4C funding is secure for the next four years and will enable the channel to structure itself for the modern broadcasting environment.
This letter can be found using the link:
Education
Academies
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects Rainham Mark Grammar School to be able to apply for academy status. [18655]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 21 October 2010]: We want the benefits which academy status brings to be available to many more schools. Currently only those schools judged as outstanding by Ofsted can apply to convert to become academies, and fifty-seven schools have opened as academies via this route since 1 September 2010. Other schools can register an interest in converting through the Department for Education's website at
and I would encourage Rainham Mark Grammar School to register its interest, if it has not already done so. An announcement will be made shortly about when the next group of schools will be invited to apply.
Academies: Music
Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effects of implementation of the Academies Act 2010 on core funding for (a) Bromley Music Trust and (b) other independent music services funded through top-slicing of local authority education budgets. [18036]
Mr Gibb: No decisions about central funding for music education have been made in respect of Bromley or any other local authority. The overall level of funding for music education will be decided after the Spending Review settlement. On 24 September the Secretary of State announced that he had asked Darren Henley to carry out a review of music education and to report his conclusions towards the end of this year.
Children: Carers
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department's proposed regulations and guidance in respect of the duty to provide breaks from caring under section 25 of the Children and Young Person's Act will include a requirement for local authorities to a (a) conduct a multi-agency needs assessment and (b) provide evidence that they are meeting the terms of the full service offer on an annual basis. [16947]
Sarah Teather [holding answer 13 October 2010]: It had previously been intended that breaks for carers of disabled children would be assessed and published as part of the Children and Young People's Plan arrangements. The proposed regulations in respect of the duty to provide breaks from caring for carers of disabled children are currently being redrafted to take into account changes to the Children and Young People's Plan.
Contact Orders
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress the Children and Families Task Force has made towards providing greater access rights to non-resident parents and grandparents when couples separate. [17537]
Tim Loughton: The provision of greater access rights to non-resident parents and grandparents when couples separate will not be examined by the Children and Families Task Force. The question of child access rights following family separation is currently being considered by the Family Justice Review. The Review panel is due to produce an interim report in March 2011, which will be the subject of a public consultation. A final report is due to be published in autumn 2011.
Departmental Press: Subscriptions
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department and its predecessors spent on newspapers, periodicals and trade profession magazines in each year since 1997. [16230]
Tim Loughton: The Department, as a whole, spent £163,329 on journals between 2002 and 2004, which is outlined in Table A. Since 2004, the Department's Knowledge Management Team has spent a total of £346,331 on newspapers, periodicals and trade profession magazines, which is outlined in Table B. Individual teams in the Department have the option to subscribe to periodicals if they wish; however, to extract this information would involve disproportionate cost, as would going back before 2002.
| Table A | |
| Journals (£) | |
| Table B | |||
| £ | |||
| Journals | Newspapers | Total spend | |
Departmental Responsibilities
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department's Children's Rights and Participation team has provided briefings to Ministers or officials in (a) his Department, (b) the Department of Health, (c) the Ministry of Justice and (d) the Home Department on the Government's obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child since 12 May 2010. [17435]
Sarah Teather: The Government are committed to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Since May 2010, the Children's Rights and Participation team has provided briefings to Ministers in the Department for Education on the Government's obligations under the UNCRC, and has regular dialogue with officials across Whitehall Departments including the Department of Health, Ministry of Justice and the Home Office.
Departmental Written Questions
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what percentage of named day written parliamentary questions tabled to his Department in the present Session for answer on or before 2 November 2010 had not received a substantive answer by 3 November 2010. [22685]
Tim Loughton: There were 70 unanswered named day PQs tabled on or before 2 November that were due for reply on or before 3 November. This is 27% of all named day PQs received during this session.
Environment Protection: Curriculum
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how he plans to ensure children in (a) academies, (b) free schools and (c) maintained schools have a broad and balanced education, including environmental education, under his plans for the future of the school curriculum. [17306]
Mr Gibb: Academies are not required to follow the national curriculum because we believe that having flexibility in their curriculum design, within a broad and balanced context, is a core freedom which is at the heart of the academies programme. Free schools will have the same legal requirements as academies and will enjoy the same freedoms, including the ability to determine their own curriculum.
The planned review of the national curriculum, which will particularly impact on maintained schools, is intended to restore it to a core entitlement based on subject knowledge and informed by international best practice. More details about our plans for the review will be announced later in the year.
Foster Care
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to publish his response to the consultation on family and friends care guidance. [17173]
Tim Loughton: The intention is to publish the response to the consultation on Family and Friends guidance by the end of the calendar year 2010.
Free School Meals: Gateshead
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils in Gateshead constituency are in receipt of free school meals in (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) special schools. [19365]
Mr Gibb: Information on free school meal eligibility is shown in the table. This includes full-time pupils aged 0 to 15 and part-time pupils aged five to 15.
Information on the take up of free school meals has not been provided because it is not possible to exclude pupils who are below or over compulsory school age and far fewer of these claim for and take free school meals.
| Maintained primary( 1) , state-funded secondary( 1,2) and special( 3) schools: School meal arrangements( 4) As at January 2010 in Gateshead parliamentary constituency and England | ||||||
| Gateshead parliamentary constituency | England | |||||
| Number on roll( 5) | Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals( 4) | Percentage known to be eligible for free school meals | Number on roll( 5) | Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals( 4) | Percentage known to be eligible for free school meals | |
| (1) Includes middle schools as deemed, (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies. (3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. (4) Pupils eligible for free school meals who have full-time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part-time attendance and are aged between five and 15. (5) Includes pupils who have full-time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part-time attendance and are aged between five and 15. Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: School Census | ||||||
Free Schools
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many applications to establish a free school he has received. [15866]
Mr Gibb: We have received over 100 free schools applications, 16 of which have been approved to progress to the business case and plan stage. Details of the approved proposals can be found on the Department's website at:
Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many applications to establish free schools his Department has received from groups in the West Midlands. [18006]
Mr Gibb: To date the Department has received 16 proposals to set up free schools from groups in the West Midlands.
Free Schools: Disability
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent representations he has received on the adequacy of resources to be provided for disabled children in proposed free schools. [18084]
Mr Gibb: No representations have been received specifically on this matter. Free schools will be required to comply with the Equality Act 2010 which includes a prohibition on disability discrimination. As such, free schools will be required to make reasonable adjustments to cater for the needs of children with disabilities and will not be able to discriminate against disabled pupils.
A number of proposals have been received to set up free schools either wholly or partly catering for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
GCSE: GCE A-level
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of the merits of (a) modular and (b) terminal examinations at (i) GCSE and (ii) A-level. [18942]
Mr Gibb: The Government are determined to restore GCSEs and A levels to their proper place as valued and robust qualifications, which measure up against the most rigorous in the world, and to ensure that A levels prepare students properly for higher education. We will carefully assess the impact of the new A levels introduced in 2008, and the modular GCSEs introduced in 2009, on standards and on the continuing fitness for purpose of these vital examinations. Many universities think that students should have more time to study subjects in depth to prepare them for higher education, and we will establish new arrangements for developing GCSEs and A levels which give universities and learned societies a much stronger say in their design. We will announce our detailed proposals later in the year.
Home Education
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on home education; and if he will make a statement. [19203]
Mr Gibb: The Government respect the right of parents to educate their children at home. We recognise that most home educating parents do a very good job, some of them picking up the pieces where their children have had problems at school.
We have not yet been able to consider in detail the policy for home education. We will consider whether changes need to be made to the existing arrangements, given the strong views expressed by both home educators and local authorities.
Languages: Education
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the compulsory teaching of a modern foreign language. [19991]
Mr Gibb:
The Government believe that learning a language is important to the social and economic future of the country and to help children understand the world in which they live. We will be announcing more details about a review of the National Curriculum later this year. This review will consider the status of languages at both primary and secondary level. We plan to consult a wide range of academics, teachers and other interested
parties to ensure that our core curriculum can compare with those of the highest performing countries in the world.
On 6 September, in a speech at Westminster Academy, the Secretary of State announced an English Baccalaureat, to include a modern or ancient language as one of the core academic subjects that children should learn at GCSE level, along with English, maths, science and a humanity subject. Detailed proposals will be announced later this year.
Literacy: Primary Education
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness in increasing levels of literacy and (b) long-term benefits to the economy of the Every Child a Reader scheme. [20067]
Mr Gibb: The evidence available suggests the Every Child a Reader (ECaR) programme has a positive effect on attainment at key stages 1 and 2. However, the programme is currently undergoing a robust independent evaluation, to report late in 2010 or early in 2011, which will give a substantive view of its impact. The report will, of course, be made available publicly.
As a Government, we are very aware of the benefits of achieving a good standard in literacy at a young age and are therefore strongly committed to improving attainment levels in literacy and ensuring that no child falls behind. To support this aim, we will be strengthening the use of systematic synthetic phonics in teaching children to read. This will be backed up by a new age six reading test.
Offences against Children: Haringey
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what cost has been incurred by (a) Ofsted and (b) his Department on legal proceedings related to Sharon Shoesmith. [16138]
Tim Loughton: I understand from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector that Ofsted has incurred costs of £331,059 including payments to the Treasury Solicitor, counsel's fees and VAT. Ofsted has incurred other in-house staffing costs which are not readily identifiable.
The Department has so far incurred costs of £92,753.09 (including VAT) in respect of representation in the legal proceedings by the Treasury Solicitor, plus a further £57,425.25 (including VAT) in respect of Counsel. The Department has incurred other costs which are not readily identifiable, resulting from the involvement of in-house lawyers and policy officials.
In a ruling published on 1 September 2010, the judge indicated that he proposed to order Ms Shoesmith to pay £25,000 (including VAT) towards the Secretary of
State's costs. He also indicated that he would grant Ms Shoesmith permission to appeal his judgment. The position on costs may change depending on the outcome of any appeal.
Ofsted: Complaints
Mr Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many complaints Ofsted received through its complaints procedure in the latest year for which figures are available; how many such complaints were (a) at Stage 1, (b) at Stage 2 and (c) referred to the Independent Complaints Adjudication Service for Ofsted; and to how many such complaints Ofsted responded within (i) 25 working days at Stage 1 and (ii) 20 working days at Stage 2. [16662]
Mr Gibb: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries.
Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 13 October 2010:
Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
In order to provide the most up-to-date information, I have interpreted your request for the figures in the latest available year to run from 1 October 2009 to 30 September 2010. The figures you request are set out in three tables at the end of this letter.
Table A details the total number of stage 1 complaints about our work in this period and the number we responded to within 20 working days of receipt. Prior to 1 September 2010 and so for the majority of the period you have requested information on, our timescale for response was 20 working days from receipt of the complaint. As a result, we monitored our performance against this standard and so Table A has been compiled using this target deadline. I hope this is acceptable, but please do not hesitate to contact me further if you want the 25 day figure specifically. Following public consultation and the introduction of our new complaints process earlier this year, we now make a telephone call to the complainant to clarify the detail and assess the type and scope of the complaint in the first five days after we receive the complaint. We now aim to provide a substantive response to complainants within 20 working days of the initial contact telephone call, or within 25 working days of receipt of the complaint, whichever is earlier. The timescale for the investigation begins the day after the telephone call with the complainant or six working days after the complaint was received if no contact has been made.
Table B shows the total number of complaints about our work in this period that progressed to stage 2 and the number to which we responded within 20 working days of receipt of the stage 2 request from the complainant. The number of complaints is approximately 10% of the complaints received at stage 1.
Table C shows the total number of complaints that progressed to the Independent Complaints Adjudication Service for Ofsted in the last year. This figure represents approximately 2% of complaints received at stage one.
A copy of this reply has been sent to Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for Schools.
| Table A-Stage 1 complaints | ||
| Number of complaints | Completed in 20-day target | |
| Table B-Stage 2 complaints | ||
| Number of complaints | Completed in 20-day target | |
| Table C-Complaints to the Independent Complaints Adjudication Service for Ofsted | |
| Number of complaints | |
Pupil Exclusions
Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of (a) boys and (b) girls eligible for free school meals were given (i) permanent and (ii) fixed-period exclusions in each of the last five years in (A) Norfolk, (B) Norwich South constituency and (C) England. [19124]
Mr Gibb: Information for 2006/07, 2007/08 and 2008/09 is shown in the table.
To provide information for further years would incur disproportionate cost.
| Primary, secondary and special schools( 1, 2, 3) : Number and percentage of pupil enrolments receiving one or more fixed period exclusions or a permanent exclusion by gender for children eligible for free school meals, 2006/07 to 2008/09 | ||||||
| Boys | Girls | Total | ||||
| Number of pupil enrolments eligible for free school meals( 4) | Percentage of school population( 5) | Number of pupil enrolments eligible for free school meals( 4) | Percentage of school population( 5) | Number of pupil enrolments eligible for free school meals( 4) | Percentage of school population( 5) | |
| (1) Includes middle schools as deemed.( 2) Includes city technology colleges and academies.( 3) Includes maintained special and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools.( 4) Free school meal eligibility as at the time of the January School Census for each year. (5) The number of pupil enrolments who received exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of all pupils (excluding dually registered pupils) in January of each year. (6) Figures relating to permanent exclusions are estimates based on incomplete pupil-level data. (7) Fewer than 5 pupils. Note: Totals may not appear to equal the sum of component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: School Census. | ||||||
Schools: Lancashire
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many applications he has received to set up new schools in East Lancashire. [17461]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 14 October 2010]: The Department for Education has received one proposal to set up a new free school in East Lancashire.
Schools: Rotherham
Mr MacShane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent representations he has received
on the status of Brinsworth Comprehensive School in Rotherham; and if he will make a statement. [16076]
Mr Gibb: My right hon. Friend has received no representations regarding the status of Brinsworth comprehensive school. He has approved its change of status to an academy from 1 October 2010.
Schools: Vocational Training
Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent representations he has received on duplication in schools of vocational training provided by further educational colleges; and if he will make a statement. [17757]
Mr Gibb: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education asked Professor Alison Wolf to carry out an independent review of vocational education. Professor Wolf will consider the organisation, funding and target audience for vocational education, and the principles that should underpin the content, structure and teaching methods. She will report in spring 2011, and her findings will inform future developments to improve the standard of vocational education for 14 to 19-year-olds.
Sixth Form Education
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) whether his Department provides guidance to schools and colleges on a minimum number of teaching hours per subject for sixth form students; [18092]
(2) by what mechanisms his Department estimates the average number of weekly teaching hours sixth form students receive per subject. [18093]
Mr Gibb: [holding answer 21 October 2010]: The Department does not issue guidance to schools and sixth form colleges on a minimum number of teaching hours per subject for sixth form students, nor does it estimate the average weekly teaching hours sixth form students receive per subject. It is for institutions themselves to decide how much time they allocate to teaching in each subject for each group of students.
Awarding organisations present information on guided learning hours in their accredited specifications. These provide a guide to the total amount of time, whether as a fixed number of hours or a range, which the average student will need to complete the full qualification, and are based on a professional judgement of what is reasonable in each case.
Special Educational Needs: Finance
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the future funding of special educational needs. [19990]
Sarah Teather:
The Government published a consultation on 26 July proposing arrangements for funding schools in 2011-12, including for pupils with special educational needs or disabilities. The responses to the consultation are being considering currently. Further announcements on the future funding arrangements for pupils with special educational needs will be made in the Schools
White Paper and in the Green Paper on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, which we expect to publish later this year.
Specialist Schools: Finance
Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools his Department initially designated as specialist schools as a result of the most recent round of applications. [17377]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 18 October 2010]: 139 schools were initially designated as specialist schools in the most recent round of applications.
Teachers: Chemistry
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many maintained mainstream secondary schools do not employ a teacher with a specialism in chemistry. [20241]
Tim Loughton: Information on the qualifications and deployment of secondary school teachers in maintained schools in England is currently available from the Secondary Schools Curriculum and Staffing Survey (SSCSS). The most recent survey was conducted in 2007; however, a reliable estimate of the number of schools that did not employ any teachers with a chemistry specialism is not possible from this data source due to a small sample size of 327 schools.
In future this information will be available centrally from the new school work force census. The census will collect annual information on the qualifications of all teachers in maintained secondary schools in England and the subjects that they are teaching. The first full collection of the census is scheduled for November 2010 and the findings are due to be published in April 2011.
Independent research has been conducted on the distribution of chemistry specialist teachers throughout England. In particular:
The 2006 National Foundation for Educational Research report: "Mathematics and science in secondary schools"(1) suggested that of 12% of 11-16 schools had no specialist chemistry teachers (7% of all maintained secondary schools in England).
(1) Source:
"Mathematics and science in secondary schools", page 113, NfER 2006.
Teachers: Conditions of Employment
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the cost to schools of the introduction of the "rarely cover" guidelines for teachers in the 2009-10 academic year. [17235]
Mr Gibb: In September 2009, as part of "Raising Standards and Tackling Workload: a National Agreement", the previous administration introduced the provision that teachers should cover for other teachers only rarely, and only in circumstances that are not foreseeable by schools. I have made no estimate of the cost to schools of this provision for the academic year 2009-10.
This Government wants to reform our school system so that schools have the freedom and flexibilities to organise staff and resources in a way that reflects local priorities and needs.
Teachers: History
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many maintained mainstream secondary schools do not employ a teacher with a specialism in history. [20228]
Tim Loughton: Information on the qualifications and deployment of secondary school teachers in maintained schools in England is currently available from the Secondary Schools Curriculum and Staffing Survey (SSCSS). The most recent survey was conducted in 2007; however, a reliable estimate of the number of schools that did not employ any teachers with a history specialism is not possible from this data source due to a small sample size of 327 schools.
In future this information will be available centrally from the new School Workforce Census. The census will collect annual information on the qualifications of all teachers in maintained secondary schools in England and the subjects that they are teaching. The first full collection of the census is scheduled for November 2010 and the findings are due to be published in April 2011.
Teachers: Languages
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many maintained mainstream secondary schools do not employ a teacher with a specialism in a modern foreign language. [20236]
Tim Loughton: Information on the qualifications and deployment of secondary school teachers in maintained schools in England is currently available from the Secondary Schools Curriculum and Staffing Survey (SSCSS). The most recent survey was conducted in 2007; however, a reliable estimate of the number of schools that did not employ any teachers with a modern foreign language specialism is not possible from this data source due to a small sample size of 327 schools.
In future this information will be available centrally from the new School Workforce Census. The census will collect annual information on the qualifications of all teachers in maintained secondary schools in England and the subjects that they are teaching. The first full collection of the census is scheduled for November 2010 and the findings are due to be published in April 2011.
Teachers: Physics
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many maintained mainstream secondary schools do not employ a teacher with a specialism in physics. [20230]
Tim Loughton: Information on the qualifications and deployment of secondary school teachers in maintained schools in England is currently available from the Secondary Schools Curriculum and Staffing Survey (SSCSS). The most recent survey was conducted in 2007; however, a reliable estimate of the number of schools that did not employ any teachers with a physics specialism is not possible from this data source due to a small sample size of 327 schools.
In future this information will be available centrally from the new School Workforce Census. The census will collect annual information on the qualifications of all teachers in maintained secondary schools in England and the subjects that they are teaching. The first full collection of the census is scheduled for November 2010 and the findings are due to be published in April 2011.
Independent research has been conducted on the distribution of physics specialist teachers throughout England. In particular:
The 2006 NfER report: Mathematics and science in secondary schools(1) suggested that one quarter of 11-16 schools had no specialist physics teachers (16% of all schools);
(1) Mathematics and science in secondary schools, p. 113, NfER 2006
More recently, Smithers and Robinson wrote a report for the Gatsby Foundation in 2008 on physics teachers which included an estimate of the distribution across maintained schools(2). The report suggested that 24% of state schools do not employ a physics specialist, however, this percentage varied from between 0% of engineering specialist schools and 48% of non-specialist schools.
(2) Physics in Schools IV: Supply and Retention of Teachers, p. 62, CEER 2008
Voluntary Schools: Hartlepool
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to make a decision on the application for voluntary aided status from Ward Jackson primary school in Hartlepool constituency. [19500]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 25 October 2010]: The application is for consent to publish proposals for a new Church of England voluntary aided school outside a new school competition, to replace the current Ward Jackson community school. If consent is granted a full statutory process must still be followed and the decision on whether or not the new school is approved will be taken locally, under established local decision-making arrangements.
We are awaiting further information from the Diocese of Durham which is the applicant in this case as a school does not have the power to make an application. The application will be considered in full once this is received.
Witten Questions: Government Responses
Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to answer question 15590 on sixth form colleges and the Young Person's Learning Agency, tabled on 13 September 2010 for answer on 16 September; and if he will make a statement. [19101]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 22 October 2010]: PQ 15590 was answered on 25 October, Official Report, column 95W.
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to answer question 19500, tabled by the hon. member for Hartlepool (Mr Wright) on 20 October 2010 for named day answer on 25 October on the voluntary-aided application status of Ward Jackson primary school in Hartlepool constituency. [22621]
Mr Gibb: A response has been issued to the hon. Member today.
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to answer questions (a) 20044, (b) 20045, (c) 20046 and (d) 20146 tabled on 25 October 2010 for named day answer on 28 October 2010. [22745]
Tim Loughton: Responses to the hon. Member's questions will be issued shortly.
Justice
Corporate Information
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much the Office of the Information Commissioner spent on the provision of corporate information in the last 24 months. [21813]
Mr Djanogly: The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) does not have a specific budget for corporate entertainment. However, the costs of refreshments during meetings is set out as follows:
| Financial year | Cost (£) |
This information was provided by the ICO.
Court of Protection
John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many individuals are subject to a Court of Protection order determining that they do not have the capacity to decide where they may live. [21866]
Mr Djanogly: Applications to the Court of Protection cover a wide range of financial, health care and personal welfare issues, including where it is in the best interests of the person to live, and often the application will require the court to deal with a number of issues together. During the period from 1 October 2007 (when the current Court of Protection was created by the Mental Capacity Act 2005) to 31 October 2010, the Court of Protection made 420 orders in relation to its personal welfare jurisdiction, and in 294 of these cases, the court appointed a deputy to make personal welfare decisions on behalf of the person lacking mental capacity. Some of these orders may have involved decisions about where someone should live, but the court does not record this level of detail centrally and could obtain the information only by examining all the court files at disproportionate cost.
John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many persons resident in the UK and subject to (a) imprisonment or (b) orders of (i) the Court of Protection and (ii) other courts may not have their names published by virtue of legislative provision or court order. [21830]
Mr Djanogly: In response to parts (a) and (b) (ii) above, there is no information held centrally on how many UK residents subject to imprisonment or court order may not have their names published by virtue of legislation or court orders.
As far as part (b) (i) is concerned, the Court of Protection Rules 2007 provide that, as a general rule, proceedings are held in private, but the court has a general power to authorise publication of information about proceedings and to order that a hearing be held in public. It is contempt of court to publish any information about Court of Protection proceedings, unless the court has ordered otherwise. The Court of Protection received 20,936 applications in 2008-09 and 19,528 in 2009-10, and there are currently 35,000 court appointed deputies authorised to make decisions on behalf of persons who lack the capacity to make such decisions themselves.
Courts: Offenders
John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were serving a custodial sentence as a result of a contempt of court in respect of each division of court that sentenced them in the latest period for which figures are available. [21504]
Mr Blunt: As of 30 September 2010 there were 24 people recorded as being imprisoned for contempt of court.
There are no readily available data to separately identify each division of the sentencing court. This detailed information is held by the courts only on individual case files, which due to their size and complexity are not reported centrally to the Ministry of Justice.
Cruelty Against Children: Cruelty To Animals
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will commission research into possible links between convictions of individuals for offences involving cruelty to animals and subsequent convictions of the same individuals for offences involving acts of cruelty against children. [21688]
Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice collates administrative data via the Police National Computer (PNC) on the numbers of offenders convicted of a variety of offences. Analysis of an extract of data from the PNC shows that there were 10,617 offenders convicted of animal cruelty between 2000 and 2009 and recorded on the PNC. Of these, 32 (0.3%) were recorded as being subsequently convicted of cruelty to or neglect of children, under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.
Further research is not currently planned on this topic.
Departmental Alcoholic Drinks
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much the Office of the Information Commissioner spent on alcohol in the last 24 months. [21814]
Mr Djanogly: No figure is available for the amount spent on alcohol by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) in the last 24 months. Expenditure on refreshments is not recorded separately for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
This information was provided by the ICO.
Departmental Buildings
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the address is of each property (a) leased and (b) owned by the Tribunals Service; and what the annual rental costs of those buildings were in each of the last three years. [21832]
Mr Djanogly: I have arranged for the list of addresses requested by the hon. Member to be placed in the Library of the House.
The Tribunals Service currently has 41 leasehold properties; these are properties leased from private companies. There are 16 properties owned or leased by other Government Departments where the Tribunals Service is a minor occupier; these properties are known as properties held on a memorandum of terms of occupancy (MOTO). There are also 47 properties which are part of the PRIME contract with Department for Work and Pensions; this is a MOTO with the DWP for occupancy of space at DWP sites which was transferred to the Tribunals Service.
For the past three years the rental costs for buildings leased or held on a MOTO (excluding the DWP PRIME contract) by the Tribunals Service is shown in the following table.
| Rental cost (£ million) | |
The facility price for the buildings held on a MOTO within the DWP PRIME contract for the past three years is shown in the following table.
| Facility price (£ million) | |
The cost used is the facility price associated with the DWP PRIME contract. The rental element can be calculated only at a disproportionate cost due to the nature of the invoicing arrangement.
Departmental Communications
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how much the Office of the Information Commissioner has spent on external communications and marketing in each year since its inception; [21818]
(2) how much the Office of the Information Commissioner has spent on internal communications in each year since its inception. [21819]
Mr Djanogly: The expenditure for both internal and external communications and marketing is set out in the following table. Expenditure on internal communications was only recorded separately from 2006-07. Before that date that expenditure comprises part of the total reported expenditure on communications and marketing. The figures in the total expenditure column are extracted from published annual reports, although the description of this type of expenditure has varied over the years including Public relations, Education and Awareness, Communications and External Relations.
| £ | ||
| Financial year | Total expenditure on communications | Internal communications |
| n/a = Not available. Source: This information was provided by the Information Commissioner's Office. | ||
Departmental Conferences
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the expenditure from the public purse by the Office of the Information Commissioner on (a) attending and (b) hosting conferences in each of the last five years. [21812]
Mr Djanogly: No estimate is available for the cost of attending conferences hosted by other organisations. Staff from the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) routinely attend conferences to give presentations on information rights and to encourage good practice. Staff combine attendance or speaking at conferences with other meetings to make the best use of their time and travel costs.
The cost of conferences hosted by the ICO in each of the last years is set out in the following table.
| Financial year | Cost (£) |
| Note: In 2006-07 the ICO hosted the International Freedom of Information and Data Protection Conferences on behalf of the United Kingdom. Source: This information was provided by the ICO. | |
Departmental Official Hospitality
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each of its Ministers in (a) September and (b) October 2010. [21786]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The only expenditure of this nature incurred during this period was by me, as Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor on the following events:
| Event | Cost (£) | |
All hospitality is closely scrutinised and carefully monitored to ensure good value for taxpayers' money and that it stays within the appropriate rules and guidelines.
Departmental Pay
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the annual salary of the Information Commissioner was in the latest period for which figures are available; and what (a) expenses, (b) bonus, (c) car scheme and (d) pension payments were made. [21811]
Mr Djanogly: The Information Commissioner's salary for the period 2009-10 was set by Parliament at £140,000. The Information Commissioner is not eligible for a bonus and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) does not operate a car scheme. The current Information Commissioner's expenses for the financial year 2009-10 were £5,875 and cover the period from 29 June 2009 when he took up his appointment to 31 March 2010. His expenses for the financial year 2010-11 were £570 as at 31 October. The pension payments in respect of the current Information Commissioner were £25,704 for the period between 29 June 2009 and 31 March 2010.
The remuneration package and expenses for the Information Commissioner and members of the ICO executive team are included in the Information Commissioner's annual report 2009-10, which was laid before Parliament in July 2010.
This information was provided by the ICO.
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff are employed by the Tribunals Service; and how much was spent on salary costs in the last year for which figures are available. [21831]
Mr Djanogly: The average number of staff employed during the financial year of 2009-10 was 2,992.
The expenditure incurred as a result of this staffing level for 2009-10 was £76.993 million.
Departmental Policy
Mr Watson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what departmental policy reviews his Department has undertaken since 6 May 2010; on what date each such review (a) was announced and (b) is expected to
publish its findings; what estimate he has made of the cost of each such review; who has been appointed to lead each such review; to what remuneration each review leader is entitled; how many (i) full-time equivalent civil servants and (ii) seconded staff are working on each such review; from which organisations such staff have been seconded; and how much on average such seconded staff will be paid for their work on the review. [21878]
Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice has not established any external policy reviews since 6 May 2010. However, the Family Justice Review was announced in the Families and Relationships Green Paper from the then Department for Children, Schools and Families in January 2010.
The review is expected to publish its final report in autumn 2011 and is expected to cost £75,000 for the financial year 2010-11.
David Norgrove is heading up the review. He receives no remuneration, but is reimbursed for expenses incurred through his work for the review.
The review is staffed by 7.7 FTE civil servants and there are no seconded staff on the review.
Departmental Public Expenditure
David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what his Department's capital expenditure per head was in (a) London and (b) the North West in each of the last five years; [21459]
(2) how much and what proportion of his Department's capital expenditure was allocated to (a) London and (b) the North West in each of the last five financial years. [21469]
Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) does not centrally hold information on capital expenditure per head or by allocation on a regional basis. It would incur disproportionate cost to collate such information at a local level with full coverage of the Department including: the MoJ Headquarters, HM Courts Service, Tribunals Service, the Office of the Public Guardian, and the National Offender Management Service.
However, information on what the MoJ has incurred in terms of the total capital costs set under the Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) is available in the public domain. This can be found on p161 of the Department's 2009-10 Resource Accounts at the following link:
The MoJ capital outturn for the last five years is summarised in the following table:
| Financial year | Outturn (£000) |
The increase in expenditure in 2007-08 and in the following years is due to machinery of government change, which resulted in the transfer of additional funding for the National Offender Management Service and the Office for Criminal Justice Reform from the Home Office to the newly formed Ministry of Justice, and the implementation of Lord Carter's review of HM
Prison Service, which resulted in an increase in capital spend to take account of the additional prison capacity requirement.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |