Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 9 November 2010
Wales
Departmental Publications
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment she has made of the recommendations relevant to her Department's policy responsibilities contained in the Foresight report on Mental Capital and Wellbeing by the Government Office for Science; if she will ensure that her Department takes steps to promote well-being; if she will ensure that her Department's policy development process takes account of psychological research into subjective well-being; and if she will make a statement. [22910]
Mr David Jones: I welcome the conclusions of the Foresight Project on Mental Capital and Wellbeing and will ensure that my Department acts on these as appropriate.
Transport
Cycling: Finance
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what cost-benefit ratios his Department uses to assess the merits of funding Cycling England programmes. [20716]
Norman Baker: The original Cycling England programme was proposed by the board and approved by Ministers on the basis of existing research and expertise. Many of the programmes were intended as demonstration projects and provide an evidence base for the potential of local cycle interventions.
Individual programmes are delivered via a variety of partners, with different criteria for selection, and are subject to ongoing evaluation.
Analysis of results of the first phase of funding for the initial six cycling demonstration towns has provided benefit cost ratios in the range 2.6 to 3.5.
Departmental Reorganisation
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons he has decided to implement the majority of the proposals for re-organisation of his Department before June 2011; and when he took that decision. [20353]
Mr Philip Hammond: The reorganisation timetable reflects the judgment of the Secretary of State and senior officials, and best practice in other organisations, that change is managed most effectively over a short period. A provisional decision that reorganisation should be undertaken swiftly was taken in the spring. Formal approval for that approach was conditional on the results of the comprehensive spending review. That formal approval was given by the Department's board on 29 October.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether an equality impact assessment was undertaken before his decision to implement the majority of the proposals for the reorganisation of his Department before June 2011. [20622]
Mr Philip Hammond: Yes. Completed equality impact assessments were presented to the Department board on 29 October.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisations he consulted before implementing the majority of the proposals for the reorganisation of his Department before June 2011. [20623]
Mr Philip Hammond: We continue to consult the trade union side and Department for Transport staff. We have discussed our proposals with a large number of other central Government Departments and a number of private sector organisations with experience in this area.
Driving: Licensing
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department takes to inform older drivers of the requirement to renew a driving licence at age 70; how many drivers eligible for renewal of their licence at age 70 did not renew their licence in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [22592]
Mike Penning: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency sends reminder letters 90 days prior to a driver reaching their 70 birthday to advise them how to renew their driving entitlement. Between 30 October 2009 and 29 October 2010, the number of drivers reaching the age of 70 was 499,901. Of these 141,722 drivers did not renew their driving entitlement.
Freight
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of arrangements to examine freight arriving at UK ports and airports. [21804]
Mr Philip Hammond: I refer the hon. Member to the oral statement made by the Home Secretary in the House on 1 November 2010, Official Report, columns 632-33.
The UK Government have temporarily banned all air cargo originating from Yemen and Somalia. I and officials will be meeting senior representatives of airlines, airports and the air cargo industry over the coming weeks to determine future aviation security strategy.
Liquid Petroleum Gas
Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with representatives of the liquid petroleum gas industry the contribution of liquid petroleum gas as a road fuel to meeting the Government's air quality targets. [22344]
Norman Baker: To date, I have not received any invitations from representatives of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry wishing to discuss air quality issues.
Testing conducted for the Department on recent petrol vehicles converted to run on LPG showed no reduction in air quality emissions when running on LPG, although CO2 emissions were slightly reduced. Data from other sources show similar results. Representatives of the LPG industry are in touch with the Department's officials and will no doubt keep them informed of any new evidence as it emerges.
Railways: Wiltshire
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the future of the Kemble to Swindon railway line. [20671]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 1 November 2010]: The Government recognise that re-doubling the railway between Swindon and Kemble could generate important passenger benefits and improve resilience by providing a diversionary route for the Great Western Main Line to Wales. Unfortunately, the need to address the deficit means that we are not able to commit Government funding to this project at present, but it remains our aspiration to take it forward in the future. However, this is the type of project that will be considered for funding in the next railway control period.
Taxis: Licensing
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to bring forward proposals for a national standardised licensing regime for (a) hackney carriages and (b) private hire vehicles. [23070]
Norman Baker: We have no plans to amend the legislation to impose standardised licensing policies. We publish Best Practice Guidance to assist licensing authorities in formulating suitable taxi and private hire vehicle licensing policies.
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to implement obligations under Article 9 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities regarding accessibility in relation to his Department's policy responsibilities. [21125]
Norman Baker: Department for Transport officials are working with officials at the Office for Disability Issues on preparing a report to the UN on what the UK is doing to implement the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. The report, which will be published next year, will set out what the Department is doing to meet its obligations under article 9 of the convention.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Departmental Official Hospitality
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each of its Ministers in (a) September and (b) October 2010. [21780]
Richard Benyon: Three events were hosted during October which all Ministers attended at a cost of £134.
Departmental Pay
Martin Vickers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many permanent staff in her Department received an annual salary greater than £25,428 in the latest period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [21174]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 2 November 2010]: There were 4,870 full-time equivalent permanent members of staff paid an annual salary greater than £25,428 out of a total of 10,061 staff in core-DEFRA and its Executive Agencies-Rural Payments Agency, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Food and Environment Research Agency, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Animal Health and Veterinary Medicines Directorate-during 2010.
Departmental Public Expenditure
David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what her Department's capital expenditure per head was in (a) London and (b) the North West in each of the last five years; [21455]
(2) how much and what proportion of her Department's capital expenditure was allocated to (a) London and (b) the North West in each of the last five financial years. [21461]
Richard Benyon: Capital expenditure is not currently recorded by the Department on a regional basis and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Redundancy
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding to meet staff redundancy costs was identified in her Department's settlement letter in respect of the comprehensive spending review. [21532]
Richard Benyon: All pressures on Departments' budgets were taken into account as part of the spending review and settlements were allocated accordingly. The full cost of redundancies will be met from within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' spending review resource departmental expenditure limit settlement.
Ms Angela Eagle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of redundancies arising
from the spending reductions proposed in the comprehensive spending review in respect of (a) her Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies. [21533]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA will make the reduction in headcount through natural wastage and voluntary departures wherever possible, with compulsory redundancies as a last resort. Until we know the numbers who take up voluntary departure, it will not be possible to estimate the number of compulsory redundancies. However, overall, we expect DEFRA and its arm's length bodies to have up to 8,000 fewer staff by 2015, from a total workforce of 30,000 across the network in 2010-11.
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of staff redundancy in each of the next four years. [21534]
Richard Benyon: The overall cost of exits is estimated to be around £190 million. Until workforce modelling has been completed across the network and the terms of the newly proposed Civil Service Compensation Scheme are approved, this can only be regarded as a planning assumption.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff of (a) her Department and (b) its agencies have been offered enhanced early retirement packages in each of the last three years. [22024]
Richard Benyon: The following table shows the total number of staff who were offered and accepted enhanced early retirement packages in each of the last three years.
| Number | ||
| Core/Agency | Exits | |
| (1) The Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) was formed on 1 April 2009. All data prior to this date relate only to the former Central Science Laboratory (CSL). | ||
Dogs: Breeding
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward amendments to the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs to include references on dog breeding and genetic health and welfare. [22424]
Mr Paice: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 14 September 2010, Official Report, column 934W.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and (b) the British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation on proposals for a standard puppy contract; and if she will make a statement. [22428]
Mr Paice: The potential value of the puppy contract has been raised with Lord Henley by the President of the British Veterinary Association at a recent meeting. DEFRA will assess the situation once it has been reviewed by the independent Dog Advisory Council as part of its wider programme for bringing forward a strategy to improve the health and welfare of dogs.
Fisheries
Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely effects on fishing communities of the proposed requirement on vessels in the under-10 metre fleet to complete a log book. [21682]
Richard Benyon: This requirement will not affect the vast majority of inshore fishermen in the south and south east of England, whose fishing trips are confined to single fishing areas, and no adverse effects on fishing communities is anticipated. It will, however, help to ensure that local inshore fishermen in each of the affected sea areas are not disadvantaged by having catches taken in adjacent sea areas wrongly attributed to their area, thus reducing the amount of quota available for them to fish.
Flood Control: Finance
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of her Department's capital expenditure was allocated to the Environment Agency for flood defence schemes in each of the last five years; how much she plans to allocate to such schemes in each of the next five years; and if she will make a statement. [22920]
Richard Benyon: Between 2006-07 and 2010-11, the Department allocated the following amounts to the Environment Agency for flood defence schemes:
| Allocation (£ million) | |
| 1 Actual spend figure including resource-capital switch (allocation figure unavailable). | |
DEFRA is currently considering capital allocations for the next four financial years (those covered by the recent spending review) across the DEFRA Network, including the Environment Agency. More information on allocations should be available in January 2011.
Food
Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the prospects for discussion of UK food security as part of the forthcoming negotiations on the future of the common agricultural policy. [21681]
Mr Paice: The Commission will soon publish its Communication which will set the framework for the common agriculture policy (CAP) in the new financial perspective.
DEFRA's UK Food Security Assessment concluded that the UK enjoys high levels of food security. It details that the best guarantor of UK food security is an open trading system with other countries, with farmers at home and overseas being able to respond to market price signals. The current CAP is an impediment to both and we will be seeking reform in the forthcoming negotiations.
Forestry Commission: Land
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many acres of land the Forestry Commission (a) owns, (b) manages and (c) otherwise has responsibility for. [22494]
Mr Paice: The public forest estate is owned by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and placed at the disposal of the Forestry Commissioners under section (3)1 of the Forestry Act 1967. It comprises 18% of total forest area in England; 13% is owned by other public bodies and 69% is in private hands.
As at 31 March 2010 the public forest estate in England comprised 198,298 hectares (490,005 acres) of freehold land and 57,692 hectares (142,560 acres) of leasehold land. In addition the Forestry Commission manages 1,701 hectares (4,203 acres) of land in England under long-term management agreements.
Landfill: Refrigerators
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to reduce the number of retail refrigerated display cabinets disposed of in landfill sites. [21226]
Mr Prisk: I have been asked to reply.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2006 already minimise the amount of discarded electrical and electronic equipment going to landfill.
The Regulations place obligations on the producers and business end-users of a wide range of waste electrical equipment, including retail refrigerated display cabinets. These include the financing of the separate collection, subsequent treatment, re-use, recovery, recycling and environmentally sound disposal of such equipment when it becomes waste. Treatment and recycling facilities are approved and regulated by the Environment Agency to ensure compliance with strict standards that minimise the environmental impacts of their operations and the maximisation of recycling rates.
National Parks Authorities
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions her Department has had on National Parks becoming responsible for economic development of the areas they cover. [22520]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA is currently conducting a consultation on the governance arrangements for the national parks. Following this I will be considering proposals for changes to the way these areas are looked after, which may include the future responsibilities of the authorities.
Nature Conservation: Crime
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were (a) cautioned, (b) proceeded against and (c) convicted of an offence under the (i) Protection of Badgers Act 1992, (ii) Deer Act 1991, (iii) Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 and (iv) Hunting Act 2004 in each police force area between 2004 and 2009. [22851]
Richard Benyon: I have placed the data requested in the Library.
Rural Areas: Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department has taken to encourage the use of liquid petroleum gas as a road fuel in rural areas. [21721]
Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
A reduced rate of duty is applied to liquid petroleum gas for road use in all parts of the country. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 October 2010, Official Report, column 149W, to the hon. Member for Glasgow North East (Mr Bain).
Rural Development Agency
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what transitional arrangements she plans to put in place for applicants for funds from the Rural Development Programme for England following the ending of regional development agencies. [21908]
Mr Paice:
DEFRA will ensure that delivery arrangements for the Rural Development Programme for England continue to be in place following the abolition of the
regional development agencies, based on a stronger national lead by DEFRA for the remainder of the programme period to 2013, and will minimise disruption for potential beneficiaries.
Home Department
Animal Experiments: Primates
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of overseas companies designated as breeding and supply establishments to supply non-human primates to the UK for the purposes of scientific research that use wild populations of non-human primates for breeding purposes. [22040]
Lynne Featherstone: Of the overseas breeding centres supplying animals to the UK during the past two years we understand that two use wild populations of non-human primates for breeding purposes.
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many companies in Mauritius are designated as breeding and supply establishments to supply non-human primates to the UK for the purposes of scientific research. [22047]
Lynne Featherstone: Of the overseas breeding centres supplying animals to the United Kingdom during the past two years two are located in Mauritius.
Crime: Statistics
Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms she plans to put in place for the collection of crime data for regular beat meetings. [19742]
Nick Herbert: The Government are committed to replacing bureaucratic accountability with democratic accountability. We are introducing Police and Crime Commissioners and we will ensure the public have the information they need to hold their force and Commissioner to account. The coalition agreement includes a commitment to ensuring that crime data are published at a level that allows the public to see what is happening on their streets from January 2011. These data are held locally by all police forces and the Home Office is working to develop an online platform which allows the public to easily access the data in an open and standardised format, alongside street-level crime maps.
Entry Clearances: Diplomatic Service
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans her Department has for the future of the diplomatic domestic visa system. [22418]
Damian Green: We plan to review next year the current immigration rules in relation to persons, including diplomats, who wish to bring individuals from overseas to the UK to work for them in their private household in a domestic capacity.
European Arrest Warrants
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people have been sent (a) from the UK to each other EU member state and (b) to the UK from each other EU member state under the European Arrest Warrant since its inception; [15105]
(2) how many people sent (a) from the UK to each other EU member state and (b) to the UK from each other EU member state under the European Arrest Warrant who were subsequently convicted have received a custodial sentence longer than (i) one year, (ii) five years, (iii) 10 years and (iv) 20 years; [15106]
(3) how many people sent (a) from the UK to each other EU member state and (b) to the UK from each other EU member state under the European Arrest Warrant were subsequently (i) acquitted and (ii) convicted. [15107]
Nick Herbert: The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (for Scotland) are the designated authorities in the UK responsible for processing European arrest warrants (EAWs). Extraditions under the EAW process are known as 'surrenders'.
The following tables show the total numbers of people (a) surrendered from the UK (excluding Scotland) and (b) surrendered to the UK (including Scotland) since 2004. It has not been possible to break these data down by member state prior to April 2009 as this would involve a manual examination of all SOCA case records for that period, which would incur disproportionate cost. In April 2009 SOCA introduced a new IT system and the number of surrenders has been broken down by member state for the financial year 2009-10.
It is not possible to answer questions 15106 and 15107. SOCA's involvement in an EAW case ceases at the point of surrender, and SOCA is not informed of the outcome of any subsequent criminal proceedings.
| European arrest warrants | |
| EAW surrenders from the UK, 2009-10 | |
| Totals | |
| By number | |
| EAW surrenders to the UK, 2009-10 | |
| Totals | |
| By number | |
European Investigation Order
Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the statement of 27 July 2010, Official Report, column 881, on the European Investigation Order, if she will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence on the European Investigation Order between her Department and (a) the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and (b) each police force which is a member of ACPO. [19186]
Nick Herbert: I have placed the following in the House of Commons Library:
correspondence received by the Home Office from the Association of Chief Police Officers;
an e-mail sent by the Home Office which requested the views of International Liaison Officers on the European Investigation Order; and
a summary table of e-mail correspondence received in response to this.
Identity and Passport Service: Newport (Gwent)
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether she has assessed the merits of short-time working for all staff at the Newport Passport Office as an alternative to the proposed reduction in the number of jobs at that office; [22287]
(2) whether the impact assessment for the closure of the Newport Passport Office will take into account the levels of unemployment in neighbouring areas from which the staff at the passport office are drawn; and if she will make a statement. [22288]
Damian Green: The offer of a shorter working week for staff would not absorb the excess capacity, in terms of both people and the physical estate, that exists within the Identity and Passport Service (IPS). In order for IPS to continue to deliver value for money, the proposed restructuring of the passport application processing centres requires that savings are achieved through the closure of the centre at Newport and the corresponding reductions in staff.
The Impact Assessment will make use of relevant data from the StatsWales website and the Longitudinal Labour Force Survey and the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings compiled by the Office of National Statistics. Data will be applied on a regional basis.
Illegal Immigrants: Deportation
Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants have been removed in each month since May 2010. [22393]
Damian Green: The following table shows the number of removals and voluntary departures for May and June 2010. Data for July 2010 to September 2010 will be available from 25 November 2010 when data for the third quarter of 2010 are published.
The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of persons removed or departed voluntarily from the UK on a quarterly and annual basis, which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
| Removals and voluntary departures( 1,2) | ||||||
| Number of departures( 2) | ||||||
| Enforced removals and voluntary departures | ||||||
| Enforced removals and notified voluntary departures( 4) | Assisted voluntary returns( 5) | Other voluntary departures( 6) | Total | Non-asylum cases refused entry at port and subsequently removed( 7) | Grand total | |
| (1) Figures are rounded to the nearest five and may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding. (2) Provisional figures. Figures will under record due to data cleansing and data matching exercises that take place after the extracts are taken. (3) Removals and voluntary departures recorded on the system as at the dates on which the data extracts were taken. (4) Includes persons leaving under facilitated return schemes. (5) Persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes run by the international organisation for migration. May include some on-entry cases and some cases where enforcement action has been initiated. (6) Persons who it has been established left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. (7) Includes removals performed by immigration officers at ports using enforcement powers and cases dealt with at juxtaposed controls. | ||||||
Immigration Controls
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place to ensure that the immigration cap does not adversely affect the capacity of companies to recruit staff from outside the EU with skills not available from the UK workforce; and if she will make a statement. [22227]
Damian Green: Under the current interim limit, we are monitoring each sponsoring employer's allocations closely and reviewing them as appropriate. Employers can request to sponsor additional migrant workers above their allocation. On 1 November, the UK Border Agency published refined criteria for handling these requests, to give employers greater certainty.
Regarding the full limit that will be introduced from next year, the Government carried out a full public consultation over the summer and are assessing the responses.
Immigration Controls: English Language
Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account her Department takes of the proficiency in English of the (a) spouses and (b) dependants of applicants for (i) British citizenship, (ii) leave to remain and (iii) asylum in determining the outcome of such applications. [22565]
Damian Green [holding answer 8 November 2010]: Those applying for naturalisation as a British citizen are expected to demonstrate that they have sufficient knowledge of English and of life in the United Kingdom. Those applying for citizenship through registration routes, which include children under 18, do not have to meet this requirement.
Those applying for settlement also need to demonstrate the knowledge of life requirement unless they are applying under a category for which this is not required.
A person can show that he or she meets this requirement by either passing a citizenship test, or attending a course which teaches English for Speakers of other Languages using citizenship-based materials. The proficiency in English of a person's spouse and dependents are not taken into account when considering an application, although if they wish to apply for citizenship in their own right they will need to demonstrate that they meet this requirement.
From 29 November 2010 we will require those applying to come to or stay in the UK as the spouse or partner of a British citizen or person settled here to meet an English language requirement.
For citizenship, settlement, and applying for entry as a spouse or partner there are exemptions to the language requirement, such as where the person has a mental or physical condition which would make it unreasonable to expect them to learn English or is aged 65 or over.
For spouses and dependants applying for leave to remain under the points based system routes, there is no English language requirement.
Similarly there is no English language requirement for spouses or dependants of refugees who want to join them in the UK.
Mental Health
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the recommendations relevant to her Department's policy responsibilities contained in the Foresight Report on Mental Capital and Wellbeing by the Government Office for Science; if she will ensure that her Department takes steps to promote wellbeing; if she will ensure that her Department's policy development process takes account of psychological research into subjective wellbeing; and if she will make a statement. [22202]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 8 November 2010]: Officials in the Home Office reviewed the report at the time of its publication in 2008 and noted that poor mental capacity or well-being could have serious ramifications for criminal behaviour, although causal linkages are not necessarily established. However, many of the solutions lie outside the Home Office remit and we will continue to work with other Departments in this area.
When developing policy we consider psychological research. For example in considering drug policy, the mental health of substance misusers, in particular young people, is particularly relevant. We seek expert advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to inform our policy development of the latest psychological
and mental health research and we include the impact upon victims when estimating the costs of crime and of terrorist incidents. These estimates are used within the Department and more widely as inputs into policy appraisal and evaluation (for instance, in impact assessments for new policy proposals and in business cases for procurement projects).
Earlier this year the Home Office appointed a psychologist, nominated by the British Psychological Society, to its Science Advisory Committee to help ensure that research in psychology is considered as it develops its science and research programmes.
Police
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate she made of the number and proportion of police officers aged (a) 18 to 21, (b) 22 to 25, (c) 26 to 29, (d) 30 to 39, (e) 40 to 49, (f) 50 to 55, (g) 56 to 60 and (h) over 60 years in the latest period for which figures are available; [20017]
(2) what the average age was of (a) male and (b) female police officers (i) nationally and (ii) in each constabulary who retired in the latest period for which figures are available; [20018]
(3) what the average age was of (a) male and (b) female police officers who joined the police force (i) nationally and (ii) in each constabulary in the latest period for which figures are available; [20019]
(4) what the average age was of police officers who joined the police force (a) nationally and (b) in each constabulary in the latest period for which figures are available; [20020]
(5) what the average age was of police officers (a) nationally and (b) in each constabulary who retired in the latest period for which figures are available. [20021]
Nick Herbert: The available data are provided in the tables. The latest available period is the financial year 2009-10. Figures are collected centrally in the following age categories: 25 and under, 26 to 40, 41 to 55 and over 55.
Figures are not collected centrally on average age or by gender. Figures are also not collected centrally on age of joiners or on age of officers who retired.
Police: Unidentified Bodies
Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unidentified bodies were held by police forces in England and Wales on the most recent date for which figures are available. [16338]
Nick Herbert: On 21 September 2010, the National Policing Improvement Agency's (NPIA) Missing Persons Bureau database Hermes held 847 open unidentified cases that are being investigated by English and Welsh police forces. This includes 636 unidentified body cases, 68 cases where the remains of bodies were found, or body parts were found, 49 cases where the persons were found alive but could not be identified, and 94 cases where articles are found indicating a disappearance, for example, tents, bicycles, and articles of clothing.
These figures reflect data held centrally on that date. In accordance with the code of practice on the collection of missing persons data, police forces are required to notify unidentified people, bodies and body parts to the bureau within 48 hours. Consequently bodies which are identified within 48 hours may not be reported to the bureau.
UK Border Agency: Airlines
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which airlines have declined to carry passengers being deported from the UK by the UK Border Agency. [22208]
Damian Green [holding answer 8 November 2010]: Airlines have a legal obligation to carry passengers being removed from the UK under the 1971 Immigration Act. This includes cases where the airline has been identified as the inbound carrier and cases where removal is to be carried out at public expense.
Historically, almost all airlines will have refused to carry an individual on the basis of highly disruptive behaviour and/or violence prior to take off. The captain of the aircraft has authority to take that decision under the Tokyo Convention. It is not possible therefore to provide an exhaustive list given the volume of enforced removals effected by UK Border Agency (UKBA) (19,570 during 2009). In cases where an individual is offloaded, UKBA will work with the airline to rearrange the removal, including looking at alternative carriers, additional escorts, or the use of charters.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration his Department has given to changing the rear wheels of the Wolfhound vehicle to a half-track for the purposes of increasing performance during the winter in Afghanistan. [22238]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence is continually evaluating the performance of all vehicle fleets. There currently is no requirement to adapt the Wolfhound's capability by designing a half-track variant which would not offer a performance advantage over the range of vehicles currently deployed on operations in Afghanistan.
Army: Northern Ireland
Mr Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has to transfer the Brigade Headquarters of the 19th Light Brigade from Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn, to Great Britain; and if he will make a statement; [22826]
(2) what plans he has to (a) withdraw soldiers from Ballykinler Army base and (b) relocate them to Great Britain; and what plans he has for the future role of the base. [22827]
Nick Harvey: As announced by the Prime Minister on 19 October 2010 as part of the strategic defence and security review the Army will undergo a major restructuring. The transformation over the next 10 years to Future Force 2020 will provide five self-supporting multi-role brigades and one specialist brigade, reducing by one the number of deployable brigades.
Detailed work is now under way to consider how this will be implemented. All areas of the Army and its estate requirements are being scrutinised, and it is therefore too early to say what the outcome will be for specific units, bases and individuals.
Atomic Weapons Establishment
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complete Chevaline warheads were manufactured at the Atomic Weapons Establishment; and what the maximum size was of the total stockpile of complete Chevaline warheads. [20128]
Dr Fox: We have no plans to publish historical information on the number of Chevaline nuclear warheads in the UK stockpile.
Chinook Helicopters
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of procuring the 12 new Chinook helicopters referred to in the strategic defence and security review. [20022]
Peter Luff: The cost of the 12 new Chinook helicopters will be determined at the project's main gate, the timing of which is subject to the ongoing planning round.
Defence Support Group: Redundancy
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 28 October 2010, Official Report, column 14WS, on staff reductions, by how many he expects the staff complement at each location to be reduced by 2013. [22296]
Peter Luff: Work is currently in hand to identify the number of staff reductions required at those Defence Support Group sites likely to be affected by the announcement. I will write to the hon. Member when this work is concluded.
Defence: Communication
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps he plans to take to reduce his Department's expenditure on media and communications; [19648]
(2) whether the steps he intends to take to reduce his Department's expenditure on media and communications will include redundancies. [19647]
Dr Fox: We are taking a number of steps to further reduce expenditure on Defence media and communications. These include reducing the amount we spend on marketing and advertising as part of a Government-wide freeze, merging some functions, reducing the number of websites and internal publications, and deleting posts dealing with lower priority work.
Details of the reductions in Defence manpower set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review White Paper, will be developed as part of the wider departmental implementation of SDSR and the work of the Defence Reform Unit.
The scale of post reductions across the Ministry of Defence will require redundancy or early release schemes for both military and civilian personnel. It is not possible at this stage to say whether it will be necessary to include media and communications personnel within those schemes.
Defence: Procurement
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the likely effect of reductions in his Department's budget on (a) Rolls-Royce and (b) other companies and their suppliers. [22487]
Peter Luff: The industrial implications of the key strategic defence and security review choices were given careful consideration. We have not made a specific assessment of the impact of the reduction in the Department's budget on Rolls-Royce or any other individual companies.
As part of the SDSR implementation process, we are now engaging in an extensive programme of commercial negotiations, some of which will lead to the cancellation of contracts. This work will focus on the areas where there have been the most significant changes in the SDSR, but it is expected to involve all of the Ministry of Defence's key suppliers.
European Strike Fighter
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) civil servants and (b) military personnel are assigned to the procurement of the Eurofighter Typhoon programme. [22580]
Peter Luff: As at 4 November 2010, the Defence Equipment and Support (DE and S) Typhoon Team has the following numbers of civil servants and military personnel assigned to management of the procurement and through-life support of the Eurofighter Typhoon.
| Number of personnel | |
Guided Weapons
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of adjustments to the D5 Missile extension programme consequent on the proposed reduction in the number of missiles. [19728]
Dr Fox: An assessment is under way of the financial implications for the D5 missile extension programme arising from the Strategic Defence and Security Review decisions. It is, therefore, too early to provide a meaningful estimate.
Nuclear Weapons: Expenditure
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under which budgetary headings he expects the proposed reduction in expenditure on the nuclear weapons programme to be made. [19578]
Dr Fox: The £750 million referred to in the Strategic Defence and Security Review is split between submarine platform costs and the nuclear weapons programme and is planned to occur across the first four financial years of the spending review period, financial years 2011-12 to 2015-16.
Service Personnel: Reductions
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions he has had with the First Sea Lord on (a) meeting current commitments and (b) the planned reduction in the number of Royal Navy personnel; [19540]
(2) what discussions he has had with Chief of the General Staff on (a) meeting current commitments and (b) the planned reduction in the number of Army personnel; [19541]
(3) what discussions he has had with the Chief of the Air Staff on (a) meeting current commitments and (b) the planned reduction in the number of Royal Air Force personnel; [19542]
Dr Fox: The full range of issues associated with the Strategic Defence and Security Review were discussed in the Defence Strategy Group, which included all five Chiefs, including the First Sea Lord, the Chief of the General Staff and the Chief of the Air Staff.
Strategic Defence and Security Review
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with (a) members of the armed forces, (b) representatives of the defence manufacturing industry, (c) academic institutions and (d) other organisations during the Strategic Defence and Security Review. [19580]
Dr Fox: I invited contributions to the Strategic Defence and Security Review in July 2010. The Ministry of Defence received over 6,000 responses from MPs, members of the armed forces, public servants within and beyond defence, industry, academics and the public.
The MOD also engaged a wide variety of external organisations during the SDSR, including NATO, principal UK and international think tanks and academic institutes, NGOs, industry organisations and service veterans' and families' organisations.
Trident Submarines
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of extending the life of the current fleet of Vanguard submarines to 2028. [19733]
Dr Fox: Detailed costings are at an early stage, but to accommodate the deferral of the successor submarine's in-service date from 2024 to 2028, we expect to spend around an additional £1.2 billion in maintaining the Vanguard Class.
The overall impact of the changes identified by the value for money study and reported in the strategic defence and security review will reduce costs by £3.2 billion over the next 10 years.
Warships
Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the likely effects of the proposed reduction of the number of hulls in the surface fleet on the Royal Navy's capacity to discharge current commitments. [22199]
Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology (Peter Luff) gave on 26 October 2010, Official Report, column 204W, to the hon. Member for Glenrothes (Lindsay Roy).
Justice
Driving Offences
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of prosecutions brought in respect of the death of a pedestrian in an accident involving a (a) bicycle and (b) motor vehicle resulted in a conviction in each of the last five years. [23022]
Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. Data reported centrally do not include the circumstances of each case. For example statistical information available on motoring offences do not identify if the victim was a pedestrian or, other than where specified in the statute, the type of vehicle involved in the offence.
Arrest Warrants
Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many arrest warrant applications were made to district judges by private individuals in the period 1 January 1995 to 1 January 2010 in respect of an offence under (a) section 1 of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 (endangering safety at aerodrome), (b) sections 9 to 14 of that Act (hijacking of ships etc) and (c) sections 1 to 3 of the United Nations Personnel Act 1997; and how many such applications were (i) refused and (ii) granted in respect of suspects of each nationality; [22281]
(2) how many arrest warrant applications were made to district judges by private individuals in the period 1 January 1995 to 1 January 2010 in respect of an offence under (a) section 1, 2 or 6 of the Aviation Security Act 1982 (hijacking), (b) sections 1 to 2A of the Nuclear Material (Offences) Act 1983 (offences relating to nuclear material) and (c) section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (torture); and how many such applications were (i) refused and (ii) granted in respect of suspects of each nationality; [22282]
(3) how many arrest warrant applications were made to District Judges by private individuals in the period 1 January 1995 to 1 January 2010 in respect of (a) offences relating to piracy or an offence under section 2 of the Piracy Act 1837 (piracy where murder is attempted), (b) an offence under section 1 of the Geneva Conventions Act 1957 (grave breaches of Geneva conventions) and (c) an offence under section 1 of Taking Hostages Act 1982 (hostage-taking); and how many such warrants were (i) refused and (ii) granted in respect of suspects of each nationality. [22286]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The information sought is not recorded. However, such applications are generally heard at the City of Westminster magistrates court, and staff there are aware of ten applications for arrest warrants in respect of universal jurisdiction offences in the last ten years. It is public knowledge that two applications were granted. Six of the applications related to allegations of grave breaches of the Geneva conventions under the 1957 Act, and four to allegations of torture under the 1988 Act.
Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) which (a) individuals, (b) organisations and (c) foreign Governments were invited to comment on his Department's note of 20 March 2010 on arrest warrants-universal jurisdiction; [22391]
(2) what (a) individuals, (b) organisations and (c) foreign Governments responded to his Department's note of 20 March 2010, on arrest warrants-universal jurisdiction; and whether he plans to publish those responses. [22406]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The following organisations and individuals were invited to comment on the note of March 2010:
the Lord Chief Justice
the Senior Presiding Judge
the Senior District Judge (Chief Magistrate)
the Justices' Clerks' Society
the Criminal Bar Association
the Law Society
Liberty
JUSTICE
Amnesty International
the District Bench (Magistrates Courts) Legal Committee
the Jewish Leadership Council.
the Justices' Clerks' Society
the Criminal Bar Association
Liberty
JUSTICE
the Jewish Leadership Council
Hickman and Rose, Solicitors
the Board of Deputies of British Jews
Labour Friends of Israel
Middle East Monitor
the Palestinian Forum of Britain.
The comments have not been published but have been made available on request.
No foreign Governments were invited to comment and none did so.
Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what meetings he has had with representatives of foreign Governments on universal jurisdiction and arrest warrants since 20 March 2010. [22407]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: I have had no such meetings.
Chief Coroner
Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent representations he has received on public opinion on his proposals to close the Office of the Chief Coroner; and if he will make a statement. [22597]
Mr Djanogly:
Following my statement of 14 October 2010, Official Report, columns 37-38WS, I met with organisations and charities that have an interest in the coroners system to discuss the proposals for reform and the abolition of the Office of Chief Coroner. I am committed to continue working with them in taking forward our proposals to improve the system for the
benefit of bereaved people. I have written to the hon. Lady in response to her letter to me of 21 October 2010 with further detail on our proposed reforms to the service. This was one of a number of letters I have received on this matter.
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