| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
16 Nov 2010 : Column 701W—continued
Mental Health
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of recommendations relevant to his Department's policy responsibilities contained in the Foresight report on Mental Capacity and Well-Being by the Government Office for Science; if he will ensure that his Department takes steps to promote well-being; if he will ensure that his Department's policy development process takes account of psychological research into subjective well-being; and if he will make a statement. [22754]
Norman Baker [holding answer 8 November 2010]: The Department for Transport will consider the recommendations of the Foresight report on Mental Health Capacity and Well-Being, and what this means for the organisation.
Our vision is for a transport system that is an engine for economic growth but one that is also greener and safer and improves quality of life in our communities. Our obligations under the Equality Act 2010 require us to consider the needs of eight vulnerable groups (age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation).
The Department for Transport is committed to using the best available evidence when developing policy. In considering the mental health and well-being of our staff, we acknowledge and support the need for the public sector to lead by example. We welcome the availability of centrally provided resources and practical tools for managers and staff on managing mental health and reasonable adjustments.
The Department for transport recognises the benefits of investing in employee health and well-being as a means to reduce both short and long-term sick absence levels, prevent ill health in the workplace, and promote healthier lifestyles.
Work is already taking place across the Department and its seven agencies to proactively respond to local needs by promoting health and well-being. Examples of initiatives already in place include:
Well-being strategies
Health and well-being programmes and targeted training on stress awareness and mental health in the workplace
Physical health screening packages which may help to reduce the risk of severe ill health in the longer term, and early diagnosis of potential health problems
Access to dental and medical health insurance
Learning and development support for managers and staff, including access to Workplace Option provision which provides confidential employee help and advice
Development of a common approach to attendance management across the Department and its agencies, which includes the management of sick absence.
Motor Vehicles: Testing
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he has made an assessment of the evidence compiled for his Department's 2008 MOT scheme review since his appointment; and if he will make a statement; [24538]
(2) what plans he has for the future of the MOT scheme; and if he will make a statement. [24539]
Mike Penning: Although I am aware of the 2008 evidence, I intend to review the MOT test scheme using the latest information available. However, the Department for Transport has no specific proposals at this stage and no preconceptions about the outcome. The aim of the review will be to strike the right balance between vehicle safety and the burden imposed on motorists by MOT test requirements.
I expect to make an announcement about the timing and scope of the review in due course and there will be an opportunity for anyone with an interest to contribute to the debate.
Parking: Disability
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward legislative proposals for the regulation and enforcement of the use of on-street and off-street disabled parking bays in England and Wales. [24099]
Norman Baker: Local authorities already have powers to enforce on-street disabled person's parking bays in England and Wales. Under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 they may designate by order an on-street parking place reserved for a disabled badge holder. If a disabled person's parking bay has been designated, it would be an offence for non-disabled people to use the space. These bays can be enforced with penalty charge notices or fixed penalty notices. In addition, if prosecuted, an offender faces a fine of up to £1,000. If the local authority chooses not to designate a bay, it remains 'advisory' and cannot be enforced.
The Blue Badge (Disabled Parking) scheme only applies on-street. Enforcement of off-street disabled persons' parking bays is a matter for the individual owner or operator concerned. In the case of local authority off-street car parks, traffic regulation orders made under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 are used to enforce the bays. In private off-street car parks, the charges and conditions of use are essentially a contractual matter between the owner and the motorist.
The Government have no plans to introduce further regulation.
Railways: Construction
Mr Leech:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his plans are for the future of High Speed Rail 2; whether his Department's public
consultation will assess (a) the route and (b) assistance for those whose properties are negatively affected; and if he will make a statement. [24263]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 15 November 2010]: The coalition Government support a truly national high speed rail network. The Government favour an initial line from London to the west midlands, followed thereafter by lines from the west midlands to Leeds and Manchester. The forthcoming consultation will cover the Government's strategy for high speed rail-including the proposed Y-shaped network-and the route for the initial line.
The Government have already consulted on and introduced the Exceptional Hardship Scheme to assist severely affected property owners who have an urgent need to sell their property. In respect of London to the west midlands I intend to consult on and introduce further arrangements to help people whose property would not be covered by the statutory blight regime, but may nevertheless suffer a significant diminution in value as a result of proximity of any new line. I also recognise that appropriate assistance will be needed when potential routes for the Leeds and Manchester sections are announced, and I will put arrangements for such assistance in place at that point.
Railways: Timetables
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department issues to train operating companies on their legal obligations in respect of the provision of timetable information to the public; and what plans he has to review those obligations to take account of technological developments. [24193]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 15 November 2010]: The obligation on train operators to provide timetable information to the public is contractual rather than statutory and is contained in train operating companies' franchise agreements with the Department for Transport.
Nothing within their franchise agreements prevents train operators from implementing technological developments to disseminate and publicise their timetables more widely and I would encourage them to do so.
Redundancy
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much funding to meet staff redundancy costs was identified in his Department's settlement letter in respect of the comprehensive spending review; [21550]
(2) 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; [21551]
(3) what estimate he has made of the costs to his Department of staff redundancy in each of the next four years. [21552]
Mr Philip Hammond: All pressures on Departments' budgets were taken into account as part of the spending review and settlements were allocated accordingly. The full costs of redundancies will be met from within the Department for Transport's spending review resource DEL settlement.
Determining optimal workforce reforms in order to live within the Department for Transport's spending review resource DEL settlement will be an ongoing process. Detailed decisions regarding the number of redundancies that may be required have yet to be finalised.
Roads: Accidents
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the application of legislation relating to cycle road deaths. [24074]
Mike Penning: There is a large amount of legislation in the Traffic Acts which could be used in prosecution proceedings. Additionally the rules in the Highway Code can also be used in court proceedings.
The investigation of road traffic collisions and the enforcement of road traffic law is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police. The police take very seriously all the issues arising from road traffic collisions, especially those where a life has been lost. The National Policing Improvement Agency has issued, on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers, a Road Death Investigation Manual to assist efficient and professional investigations.
Roads: Wales
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has plans for a link road between the M40 and the Heads of the Valleys road. [24516]
Mike Penning: I understand the hon. Member's question relates to whether there are any plans for a link road between the M4 and the Heads of the Valleys road.
Road improvement schemes in Wales are a matter for the devolved Administration.
Speed Limits: Cameras
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the (a) accuracy and (b) effectiveness of the ASSET new generation speed cameras; whether he has plans to introduce such cameras on roads; and if he will make a statement. [24189]
Mike Penning: Assessment of all enforcement equipment is subject to Home Office (HO) type approval, which may be granted after rigorous testing by the Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB). HO has confirmed that no application has been received by HOSDB for type approval for the ASSET enforcement camera.
The coalition has made clear that it is not for central Government to dictate how local authorities address their priorities and issues. Should this equipment gain type approval in the future, it will be for local authorities and police forces to decide if this equipment is appropriate for their needs.
Work and Pensions
Asbestos
John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Health and Safety Executive Hidden Killer campaign in raising awareness among construction workers about the risk of being exposed to asbestos. [23238]
Chris Grayling: Asbestos is Britain's biggest industrial killer. It is estimated there are around 4,000 asbestos-related deaths each year:
The audience for the campaign were maintenance workers. This group is currently at highest risk from asbestos-related disease and includes those such as plumbers, joiners, electricians, plasterers and general trades people who regularly disturb the fabric of buildings where asbestos is found, without realising it is there, and who may be working on construction sites.
A north-west pilot in March 2008 was assessed through independent pre- and post-campaign tracking carried out by Continental Research. This demonstrated a post-campaign awareness of 81% (from 33% before the campaign), among the target group of plumbers, electricians and general trades people.
The effectiveness of the first national campaign, which ran between October and November 2008, was also assessed pre- and post-campaign. This demonstrated an 80% awareness of the campaign (from 40% before the campaign) among the target group of plumbers, joiners, electricians and general trades people; with more than half saying they were learning something new about the risk associated with asbestos. Ongoing monitoring of HSE's website saw a 600% increase in visits to the pages relating to asbestos.
Assessment of the most recent phase of a national campaign (which in ran November and December 2009) showed an overall awareness post campaign of 85% by trades people, rising to 90% among electricians. In addition, 76% of the audience said they had taken, or planned to take, more safety precautions when working with asbestos.
Departmental Contracts
Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to announce the awarding of the contract to operate the giro cheque scheme. [24287]
Steve Webb: We will make an announcement on the outcome of the exercise to replace cheque payments once a decision has been made.
Departmental Reviews
Mr Watson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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. [21873]
Chris Grayling: The following information details the major reviews announced by this Department since 6 May. The Department, however, is a large customer facing delivery organisation with over 100,000 staff spread across a wide range of geographical locations. It is not possible, other than at disproportionate cost, to identify all the reviews which the Department may have undertaken into any aspect of its very wide range of policy responsibilities in this time frame.
(i) an independent review of how best to support the implementation of automatic enrolment into workplace pensions was launched on 24 June and reported by the planned deadline of 30 September. The outcomes of the review were set out in "Making Auto-Enrolment Work-A review for the Department for Work and Pensions" (Cm 7954) published on 27 October. This independent review was led by Paul Johnson of Frontier Economics, supported by David Yeandle of the Engineering Employers' Federation and Adrian Boulding of Legal and General. Frontier Economics are being recompensed for Paul Johnson's contribution to the review. The other members of the review team were entitled to claim expenses. The review was supported by a core team of three civil servants and drew upon wider policy, analytical and other expertise within the Department. No staff were seconded from outside Whitehall to work on the review. The cost of these staff were met from the Department's core budget with total additional costs, including the publication of the review team's report and seminars with key stakeholders, estimated at around £95,000;
(ii) an independent review of the work capability assessment was announced on 29 June and is being led by Professor Malcolm Harrington along with a Scrutiny Group chaired by Professor David Haslam, and with three other members: Paul Farmer, Olivia Carlton and Neil Lennox. Professor Harrington's work is being supported by five civil servants. There are no secondees from outside Whitehall. All are being paid, with the exception of Neil Lennox who is carrying out the work on a pro bono basis, and all are entitled to claim expenses. The estimated cost of this review is £125,000 and it is anticipated that it will report by the end of 2010;
(iii) a review of state pension age. A Call for Evidence on when the state pension age should increase to 66 was published on 24 June and the conclusions of the review were contained in "A Sustainable State Pension: when the State Pension age will increase to 66" (Cm 7956) published on 3 November. The cost of the review is being met from the Department's core budget. The review is being led by a core team of six staff, who also have responsibilities for other state pension policy work within the Department. They draw upon wider analytical and other expertise from within the Department. No staff have been seconded from outside Whitehall to work on the review.
Disability Living Allowance: Care Homes
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to provide assistance for mobility services for disabled people who are in full-time residential care homes. [24599]
Maria Miller: Local authorities contracts with care homes will cover services to meet a resident's assessed needs. These will cover activities of daily living which may include providing access to doctors, dentists and local services such as libraries and banks. Local authorities should also take into account the resident's emotional and social needs as part of the assessment.
Funeral Payments
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many funeral payment grants have been made in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland over the last three years. [23433]
Steve Webb: Information regarding funeral payment awards for Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
The available information is in the following table.
| Number of funeral payment awards by country and financial year | |||
| Scotland | England | Wales | |
| Notes: 1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, numbers given do not include claims which were processed clerically and had not been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System by the end of the relevant financial year. 2. The number of awards includes those made after re-consideration or appeal. 3. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System | |||
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for funeral payment grants have been refused in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland over the last three years; and how many such refusals were appealed against. [23434]
Steve Webb: Information regarding funeral payment awards for Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Information regarding funeral payment appeals is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Justice Secretary.
The available information is in the following table.
| Number of funeral payment initial refusals by country and financial year | |||
| Scotland | England | Wales | |
| Notes: 1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, numbers given do not include claims which were processed clerically and had not been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System by the end of the relevant financial year. 2. The numbers are for initial refusals only and do not include the impact of re-considerations or appeals. 3. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System. | |||
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average amount awarded to individuals receiving the funeral payment grant was in the latest period for which figures are available. [23435]
Steve Webb: The funeral payment average award for Great Britain for April to October 2010 was £1,209.
Notes:
1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, numbers given do not include claims which were processed clerically and had not been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System by the end of October 2010.
2. The average award includes awards made after re-consideration or appeal.
3. The amount has been rounded to the nearest £1.
Source:
Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many funeral payment grants have subsequently been recovered from the estate of the deceased by his Department in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the monetary value of such sums recovered was. [23437]
Steve Webb: The number of funeral payment awards on which some recovery from the estate of the deceased was made in Great Britain from April to October 2010 was 240 and the monetary value of the sums recovered was £120,000.
Notes:
1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, figures given do not include recoveries which had not been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System by the end of October 2010.
2. The figures are for funeral payment awards recovered in full or in part.
3. The number of funeral payment awards on which some recovery was made has been rounded to the nearest 10 and the monetary value of the sums recovered to the nearest £10,000.
Source:
Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.
Housing Benefit
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made a recent estimate of the number of housing benefit claimants in (a) England, (b) Birmingham and (c) Birmingham, Ladywood constituency who are in paid employment. [18544]
Steve Webb: The information is not available at the level of parliamentary constituency.
The most recent available estimates of non-passported housing benefit recipients in work are given in the following table for England and Birmingham:
| Housing benefit recipients by employment status, England and Birmingham local authority, July 2010 | ||||
| Number | ||||
| Non-passported in employment | Non-passported not in employment | All passported | All housing benefit recipients | |
| Notes: 1. Estimates of passported housing benefit recipients undertaking part-time work are not available. 2. People claiming housing benefit not in receipt of a passported benefit are recorded as being in employment if their local authority has recorded employment income from either the main claimant, or partner of claimant (if applicable), in calculating the housing benefit award. 3. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 4. Passported status does not include recipients with unknown passported status. 5. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases. An extended payment is a payment that may be received for a further four weeks when they start working full time, work more hours or earn more money. 6. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data are available monthly from November 2008 and July 2010 is the latest available. 7. Figures are at 10 July 2010. 8. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 9. Totals may not sum due to rounding. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract. | ||||
Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made a recent estimate of the number of households likely to be affected by the implementation of the housing benefit proposals in the comprehensive spending review in (a) Wansbeck constituency, (b) Northumberland and (c) the UK. [22922]
Steve Webb: We will publish a document on the impacts of the proposed changes to the shared room rate in due course. This will include information at the local authority level.
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the merits of direct payment of housing benefit to private landlords. [23332]
Steve Webb: We are conducting a review of the first two years' operation of the local housing allowance to monitor its impact at a national level. The review aims to cover a range of issues that are likely to be of interest to landlords, including direct payment to tenants and the operation of the safeguards for tenants who are unable or unlikely to manage their rental payments. An in-depth focus group study of landlords concerning their attitudes to, and experiences of, the local housing allowance scheme will be included. The review is due to report in the later in the year.
Housing Benefit: Brighton
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people resident in Brighton, Kemptown constituency are in receipt of housing benefit; what the equivalent figure was in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [19092]
Steve Webb: The information is not available.
At present geographic breakdowns are only available for local authorities and regions. However, an exercise is
being undertaken to add other geographical areas to the data: this will include parliamentary constituencies housing benefit caseload and average weekly amounts at local authority area level are published on the Department's website at:
Housing Benefit: East Sussex
Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in (a) East Sussex and (b) Hastings and Rye constituency were in receipt of housing benefit of more than £400 a week in the latest period for which figures are available. [18426]
Steve Webb: At July 2010, for housing benefit claims in the private rented sector, our records show that there are no households in the area covered by East Sussex county council receiving over £400 per week.
Source:
Single Housing Benefit Extract for July 2010.
Housing Benefit: Rents
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what modelling his Department has undertaken in respect of the likely effects on the housing benefit budget of proposed increases in social rents. [20466]
Steve Webb: The Department for Communities and Local Government have undertaken the work on affordable rents and will be publishing more information on this measure shortly. Estimates of impacts are not yet included in the forecasts made by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Institute for Fiscal Studies: Public Expenditure
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on services provided by the Institute for Fiscal Studies in the last 24 months. [20469]
Chris Grayling: During the 24-month period between 1 October 2008 and 30 September 2010, the Department for Work and Pensions spent a total of £409,307 on services provided by The Institute of Fiscal Studies,
Of the £35,235 spent since May 1 2010, £29,990 was for analysis of the Wealth and Assets Survey and was committed to prior to the general election, £5,125 was paid to the IFS to validate the annual poverty statistics (this is a long standing commitment which uses the vast amount of expertise the IFS has in analysing these datasets) and £120 was for miscellaneous costs.
Jobcentres: Compensation
Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many compensation payments were made for errors by job centres in (a) Norwich, (b) England and (c) each of the smallest geographical areas for which figures are available in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the monetary value of such payments was in each case. [20501]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is the responsibility of the chief executive, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Darra Singh, dated November 2010:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many compensation payments were made for errors by job centres in (a) Norwich, (b) England and (c) each of the smallest geographical areas for which figures are available in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the monetary value of such payments was in each case. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Compensation payments are made through our Special Payments scheme. There are six categories that Special Payments fall under, they are; loss of statutory entitlement, compensation for delay, actual financial loss, gross inconvenience, gross embarrassment and severe distress. An explanation of these categories is provided in Annex 1.
The Special Payments scheme is administered at a regional level, although certain Special Payments can be awarded locally. Special Payments made regionally and locally for Norwich are shown in Annex 1. Special Payments made regionally are shown for each region in Annex 2, which includes the overall figure for England. Locally awarded Special Payment data for each region and for England as a whole could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The information has been placed in the Library.
I hope this information is helpful.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the proportion of people claiming jobseeker's allowance who do not have access to a car. [23320]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the proportion of people claiming jobseeker's allowance who do not have access to a car. (23320).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles the number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) from the Jobcentre Plus administrative system. This system does not hold information on the number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance who do not have access to a car.
The Annual Population Survey (APS) collects information on the number of people who report obtaining JSA who have problems with transport which would stop them from taking a job and their reasons. In the 12 month period January 2009 to December 2009 the proportion of people who reported claiming JSA that had transport problems because they did not have personal transport (Car, motorcycle etc) was 5%.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what account his proposed restriction on the payment of jobseekers' allowance will take of the number of job vacancies at local level. [23507]
Chris Grayling: Our White Paper, 'Universal Credit: welfare that works' sets out our plans for fundamental welfare reform. We shall introduce a 'claimant commitment' to clearly set out what is expected of an individual. This approach will be introduced in existing benefits and Universal Credit.
In placing reasonable requirements on claimants, Jobcentre Plus advisers will take into account local labour market conditions and sanctions will only follow where a claimant has failed to meet those reasonable requirements.
There are around 450,000 unfilled vacancies in the economy at any one time, but this snapshot hides huge dynamism. In the last three months over one million new vacancies have been reported to Jobcentre Plus alone, which is over 10,000 every working day.
With new jobs coming up all the time, most people can leave unemployment quickly. Over 50% of new JSA claimants leave within three months and around three quarters leave within six months.
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of jobseeker's allowance claimants who have received benefit sanctions have also received hardship payments in the last 12 months. [24370]
Chris Grayling: The Department does not hold reliable data on the number of JSA claimants who have been sanctioned and also claimed hardship payments. Therefore the information requested is not available.
Private Rented Housing
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the level of (a) median private rented sector rents and (b) local reference rents in 2020. [23031]
Steve Webb: The Department is currently considering the detailed policy design of the 2013 housing benefit measures announced in the June 2010 Budget in preparation for introduction of the Welfare Reform Bill early in 2011. As part of this policy design, the Department will consider how to treat pre-local housing allowance cases in future. However, there is no intention at all that local reference rents will be used in the assessment of housing benefit by 2020, and the Department will therefore not carry out a comparison with median private rented sector rents for that time period.
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of private rented sector housing that will be available to housing benefit recipients in 2020. [23032]
Steve Webb: The Department is currently considering the detailed policy design of the 2013 housing benefit measures announced in the June 2010 Budget in preparation for introduction of the Welfare Reform Bill early in 2011. This will include provision to update local housing allowance rates according to the Consumer Price Index. This legislation will include provision for future governments to assess, and if necessary adjust, the level of rates.
Social Rented Housing
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of individuals in households in which at least one member works for at least 16 hours per week who will (a) have their income reduced and (b) fall below the equivalised poverty line of 60% of median household income as a result of his proposals for the rent to be charged to new tenants by social landlords; and what the average amount is by which the income of affected households will be reduced as a result of that measure. [21913]
Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the 4 November 2010, Official Report, column 942W.
State Retirement Pensions
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to maintain the level of pension payments made to people who currently receive payments of over £140 per week after the implementation of his Department's proposed £140 per week limit on such payments. [24320]
Steve Webb: The Government are currently considering a number of options for simplifying the state pension system but final decisions have not yet been made. Proposals would only affect pensioners who reach state pension age on or after any changes are introduced. Current state pension entitlement will not be affected by this reform.
Vacancies
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria are used to determine which companies can advertise through Jobcentre Plus; and whether payment is made by private companies when listing job vacancies through Jobcentre Plus. [24600]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your question asking what criteria are used to determine which companies can advertise through Jobcentre Plus; and whether payment is made by private companies when listing job vacancies through Jobcentre Plus. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Jobcentre Plus provides a free public employment service to assist people seeking employment and employers seeking employees. As part of this, we advertise all vacancies, providing they comply with civil and criminal law with the exception of some vacancies in the adult entertainment industry.
In terms of your specific question, no criteria are used to determine companies that may use our services, but we always require the following information before advertising any vacancies:
A full postal address;
A landline telephone number;
Contact name, position with the company and direct telephone number;
The type of business they are involved in;
The number of employees they have at the individual site; and
A verbal/written assurance that the job meets minimum wage requirements.
Over and above this we have a robust complaints process and fully investigate all complaints from employees and jobseekers and in a small number of cases Jobcentre Plus will refuse to advertise vacancies from companies where these complaints are upheld.
Our vacancies services are free of charge. The Employment and Training Act 1973 places a statutory duty on the Secretary of State to provide services to help employers seeking employees and expressly prevents charging.
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has made a recent estimate of the profit made by employment agencies in respect of the advertisement of vacancies through Jobcentre Plus on behalf of privately owned companies. [24601]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking whether a recent estimate has been made by the Department of Work and Pensions of the profit made by employment agencies advertising vacancies through Jobcentre Plus on behalf of private companies.
We have never attempted to make estimates of profits made by employment agencies from their work with Jobcentre Plus. To do so would not be of particular value to us and would be unlikely to be accurate unless we made requests to individual agencies for information about profits derived from particular activities. And seeking such information might undermine working relationships that are currently of real benefit to many of our customers.
We recommend to customers that they register with appropriate agencies and search for vacancies on the Internet.
I hope this information is helpful.
Welfare State: Reform
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to ensure that ill and disabled people are not adversely affected by the implementation of his proposed welfare reforms. [21709]
Maria Miller: The coalition Government are determined to reform the benefit system to make it simpler, fairer, more affordable and better able to tackle poverty and welfare dependency. To achieve this we will introduce an integrated working age universal credit.
Universal credit will ensure that all amounts of work will be more financially rewarding than inactivity and the improved incomes that flow from it will have beneficial effects for people's health and well-being. Detailed plans are set out in the White Paper 'Universal Credit: welfare that works', published on 11 November. We are also publishing an impact assessment of the changes, including an equality impact assessment. Further detail on the impacts of this and other measures will be provided with the Welfare Reform Bill.
In addition we continually review the best way to support disabled people to enter and remain in employment. We want to break down barriers that make it more difficult for disabled people to find work, access goods and services or participate fully in community life; and we want the benefit system to provide robust and credible support to those who face the greatest barriers and cost.
Winter Fuel Payments
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of winter fuel payments in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of that cost attributable to those (i) under the age of 65, (ii) between 65 and 70, (iii) between 70 and 75 and (iv) over the age of 75. [23304]
Steve Webb: Winter fuel payment expenditure for 2010-11 and 2011-12 is estimated to be £2.7 billion and £2.1 billion respectively.
The proportion of expenditure estimated to be in each of the age categories supplied is:
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
| Notes: 1. Expenditure figures are rounded to the nearest £100 million and proportions are rounded to the nearest 0.01. 2. Winter fuel payment rates for 2010-11 will be £400 for households with someone aged 80 and over and £250 for households with someone who has reached women's state pension age. This includes a temporary increase of £100 and £50 respectively. Rates for 2011-12 have been assumed to be £300 and £200 respectively. 3. Tables containing benefit expenditure by benefit, local authority and parliamentary constituency can be found at the following URL: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/index.php?page=expenditure Source: DWP June 2010 Budget forecasts | ||
Home Department
Animal Experiments: Primates
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 4 November 2010, Official Report, column 876W, if she will introduce a requirement to record whether primates imported into the UK for research are F1 or F2+ generation. [23899]
Lynne Featherstone: Our current requirements on records for non-human primates imported into the United Kingdom for scientific research are under review and I expect to receive advice and recommendations in due course. I will write advising of any change in current policy once a decision has been made.
Animal Welfare: Public Expenditure
Mr Gale:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effects of the outcomes of the comprehensive spending review on (a) her Department's funding of the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and
Reduction of Animals in Research and (b) the official scrutiny of laboratories licensed to use animals for research purposes. [24086]
Lynne Featherstone: I am not yet in a position to assess the effects of the outcomes of the comprehensive spending review on Home Office funding of the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research and the official scrutiny of laboratories licensed to use animals for research purposes.
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will make decisions on the delivery of budgets as part of the departmental business plan. No decisions have yet been taken over staffing.
Asylum: Finance
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Section 4 payment cards are in use by people in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland. [23479]
Damian Green: There are currently 358 Azure payment cards in use in Scotland, 3,452 in England, 300 in Wales and 27 in Northern Ireland.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which retailers participate in the Section 4 payment card scheme, and what plans the UK Border Agency has to extend the (a) number and (b) range of participating retailers. [23480]
Damian Green: The Section 4 payment card can be used at over 8,800 retail outlets throughout the UK. The Azure payment card is accepted at all Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys, Morrisons and Co-op Group supermarkets and local shops. The card can also be used at Boots and Peacocks clothing stores. Mothercare will shortly be joining the scheme and Sodexo is in discussions with low cost supermarkets Lidl and Aldi to reconsider their decision not to join the scheme.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much in unspent credit has been recovered from Section 4 payment cards in each month since the scheme was introduced. [23482]
Damian Green: The estimated amount of unspent credit recovered from the Section 4 payment card for the first year of its operation is £650,000. The figure is not collated monthly.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the operating costs for the Section 4 payment card scheme were in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [23483]
Damian Green: The Section 4 payment card scheme is cost neutral, costs being covered by commission from retailers and improved efficiency in UK Border Agency processes.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what rate calls to the automated balance check telephone line for users of the Section 4 payment card are charged. [23484]
Damian Green: The automated balance check telephone line for users of the Section 4 payment card is a free phone facility. There is no cost to the caller from BT landlines and other landlines provided by other telephone operators. Costs for calls made from mobiles may vary subject to the charges of the specific mobile operator.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is a multilingual option for users of the Section 4 payment card using the automated balance check telephone line. [23485]
Damian Green: There is no multilingual option for users of the Section 4 payment card using the automated balance checking telephone operators. The facility is accessed on average 12,000 times per week with an average call time of 37 seconds.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK Border Agency operates a helpline for participating retailers on the operation of the Section 4 payment card. [23486]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not operate a helpline facility for participating retailers on the operation of the Section 4 payment card. Each affiliate retailer manages their staff training with assistance from Sodexo.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what emergency facilities are available for users of the Section 4 payment card whose weekly resources have been exceeded. [23487]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not provide any emergency facilities for users of the Section 4 payment card whose weekly resources have been exceeded. The current rate of £39.39 per person, per week is considered to be sufficient to meet the essential living needs of the supported persons.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will consider the merits of increasing the weekly carry-over limit for the Section 4 payment card. [23488]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency currently has no plans to review the £5 carry-over limit for supported singles. The £5 carry-over limit does not currently apply to families with children under the age of 18 or expectant mothers.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether retailers are able to credit a Section 4 payment card where a user has returned a purchased item. [23489]
Damian Green: There is no provision for retailers to immediately credit a Section 4 payment card where a user has returned a purchased item. Credits appear on the supported persons Section 4 payment card account within 48-hours from the return of the item.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will assess the merits of extending the Section 4 payment card scheme to include charity shops. [23490]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency has held discussions with the Association of Charity Shops who canvassed their members on viability of extending the Section 4 payment scheme to include charity shops. The members did not ask to be included in the Section 4 payment card scheme. However, the UK Border Agency is currently in talks with the Red Cross who have indicated an interest in the scheme.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Section 4 payment cards have been reported (a) lost or stolen or (b) used without authorisation in each month since the introduction of the scheme. [23491]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not centrally record the numbers of Section 4 payment cards that have been lost or stolen. The UK Border Agency only tracks replacements, irrespective of the reason for the replacement.
Cards can be cancelled immediately in the case of loss or theft.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes were made to the Section 4 payment card scheme as a consequence of its trial in Scotland. [23492]
Damian Green: The Section 4 payment card scheme was not trialled in Scotland. Scotland was the first region in which the Section 4 payment card scheme was implemented. Therefore, no changes were made to the scheme following the first stage of the roll out in Scotland.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what budget advice is provided to individuals using Section 4 payment cards; in what language this advice is available; and if she will place in the Library a copy of such guidance. [23493]
Damian Green: Each Section 4 payment card is distributed by the accommodation providers on behalf of the UK Border Agency. The accompanying information is in English and does not contain any budget advice.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK Border Agency has received reports of restrictions which retailers have placed on the purchase of certain items by users of Section 4 payment cards. [23494]
Damian Green: Restrictions on the type of items that can be purchased with the Section 4 payment card are set by the UK Border Agency not the contracted retailers.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward proposals to allow the withdrawal of limited cash sums using the Section 4 payment card to enable payment for items or services not accessible through participating retailers. [23731]
Damian Green: There are currently no plans to allow the withdrawal of cash sums using the Section 4 payment card to enable payment for items or services not accessible through participating retailers.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the UK Border Agency will bring forward proposals to allow users of the Section 4 payment card to check card balances (a) online and (b) in-store at participating retailers. [23732]
Damian Green: There are currently no plans to allow users of the Section 4 payment card to check card balances either online or in-store at participating retailers. A free phone automatic balance checking facility is available to enable service users to manage their weekly support.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward proposals to enable individuals using Section 4 payment cards to use (a) supermarket loyalty cards and (b) discount coupons when making purchases. [23733]
Damian Green: The ability of individuals to use Section 4 payment cards in conjunction with supermarket loyalty cards and discount coupons is a matter for the participating retailers.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports she has received of adverse effects on asylum seekers of the operation of the Section 4 payment card system. [23734]
Damian Green: The Asylum Support Partnership has produced a report entitled 'Your inflexible friend: the cost of living without cash' dated October 2010. Although this report only sampled 1% of those who use Azure cards and the vast majority responded positively, it raises a number of points regarding the operation of the Section 4 payment card for failed asylum seekers. The Government are committed to ongoing monitoring of the operation of the system, including through dialogue with voluntary sector partners, but it does not accept that the results from the survey are indicative of the experience of the majority of users.
In October 2008, the Refugee Council produced a report entitled 'More Token Gestures: A report into the use of vouchers for asylum seekers claiming Section 4 support' dated October 2008.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when (a) Ministers and (b) UK Border Agency officials will arrange to meet representatives of the Asylum Support Partnership to discuss the operation of Section 4 payment cards. [23735]
Damian Green: There are no plans for Ministers to meet with representatives of the Asylum Support Partnership to discuss the operation of Section 4 payment cards. However, members of the Asylum Support Partnership regularly attend working level meetings with UK Border Agency officials at which Section 4 payment cards and other issues are discussed.
Asylum: Glasgow
Pete Wishart:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the decision to terminate the UK Border Agency housing contract with Glasgow City Council was taken; for what reasons the contract
was terminated; whether the UK Border Agency is liable for payments to Glasgow City Council as a result of the early termination of the contract; with what providers the UK Border Agency intends to rehouse asylum seekers following the termination of the contract; what type of accommodation will be provided; and what discussions the UK Border Agency had with Glasgow City Council on the housing contract before termination occurred. [23917]
Damian Green: A contract review allowed the UK Border Agency (UKBA) and Glasgow city council to review the terms of the contract. Discussions were held over a period of months but the two parties were unable to reach agreement on the costs of housing asylum seekers despite the UKBA offering an increase on what are, already, the highest accommodation charges in the UK outside London. I agreed with the final decision to terminate the contract with Glasgow city council just prior to the termination letter being issued on 5 November 2010.
Asylum seekers currently accommodated by Glasgow city council will be transferred to either Glasgow YMCA or to the Angel Group and will be provided with suitable housing to the equivalent standards as that supplied by Glasgow city council. We are hopeful that in many cases they will be able to remain in the same accommodation. The agency will be liable for early termination costs which have not yet been determined. These costs will be significantly lower than the savings that will now be realised by moving service users to alternative providers already operating in Glasgow.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what daily rate the UK Border Agency paid for asylum seeker accommodation with Glasgow city council. [23928]
Damian Green: This information is commercially sensitive and the disclosure of such rates would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of both the Home Office and those companies and local authorities with whom the Home Office enters into contracts but they are the highest in the UK outside London.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what daily rate the UK Border Agency will pay for asylum seeker accommodation with replacement providers following the Agency's decision to terminate its housing contract with Glasgow city council. [23929]
Damian Green: This information is commercially sensitive and the disclosure of such rates would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of both the Home Office and those companies and local authorities with whom the Home Office enters into contracts.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment the UK Border Agency has made of the costs incurred by asylum seekers in moving accommodation following the Agency's decision to terminate its housing contract with Glasgow city council. [23930]
Damian Green: The incoming accommodation providers will manage and pay the costs associated with moving asylum seekers to alternative accommodation.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) individuals and (b) families the UK Border Agency is housing in accommodation managed by Glasgow city council. [23932]
Damian Green: As of 8 November 2010 Glasgow city council were supporting 274 individuals and 334 families, a combined total of 1,271 individuals.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the timescale is for moving to alternative accommodation asylum seekers housed with Glasgow city council. [23933]
Damian Green: The contract with Glasgow city council will terminate on 3 February and we will transfer those affected to an alternative provider by this date. This may not require a physical move given that one of the other accommodation providers in Glasgow also uses Glasgow Housing Association as a provider of accommodation.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance the UK Border Agency plans to provide for asylum seekers with removal costs following the Agency's decision to terminate its housing contract with Glasgow city council. [23934]
Damian Green: Removal costs will be the responsibility of the incoming provider and not for the affected asylum seekers.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions the UK Border Agency had with (a) UK Ministers, (b) the Scottish Executive and (c) the Scottish Refugee Council prior to the Agency's decision to terminate its housing contract with Glasgow city council. [23936]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency advised Home Office Ministers of the intention to terminate the contract and also informed officials at the Scottish Government and the Scottish Refugee Council of the likelihood of termination and of the final decision to terminate the contract prior to the formal termination letter being issued on 5 November 2010.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any asylum seekers being re-housed from accommodation with Glasgow city council will be moved to accommodation outside (a) Glasgow city and (b) Scotland. [23937]
Damian Green: There are no plans to move asylum seekers currently supported by Glasgow city council either outside of Glasgow or Scotland.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice has been issued by the UK Border Agency to asylum seeker tenants of Glasgow city council regarding their re-housing. [23939]
Damian Green:
A letter has been issued to all service users currently accommodated by Glasgow city council
in Glasgow Housing Association properties advising them of the possibility that they may be moved to alternative accommodation and offering details of support available to them if they have any queries. Further communication is planned to keep the service users advised of future developments.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK Border Agency will be contracting with any organisations to assist tenants moving from Glasgow city council accommodation. [23940]
Damian Green: The responsibility for providing support and accommodation to service users moving from Glasgow city council rests with the incoming accommodation provider. The incoming accommodation provider will be one of our two remaining regional accommodation providers. The Scottish Refugee Council will be in a position to provide additional advice if required.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Ed Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates since 11 May 2010 she met (a) the Prime Minister, (b) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (c) the Chief Secretary to the Treasury to discuss the comprehensive spending review settlement for her Department. [22837]
Mrs May [holding answer 9 November 2010]: I had a number of conversations, meetings and telephone calls with the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury during the spending review.
Detention Centres: Children
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were held in detention awaiting deportation on the most recent date for which figures are available. [24095]
Damian Green: National Statistics on children detained solely under Immigration Act powers are published quarterly in the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom. The Statistical Summary for the second quarter of 2010, the most recent available, coupled with local management information, indicates that just one child was detained with its family awaiting removal as at 30 June 2010.
This figure is based on management information and is not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics. It is provisional and may be subject to change.
Information on people detained solely under Immigration Act powers as at 30 September will be available on 25 November in the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom, July-September 2010 on the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
Tom Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been
detained in each type of accommodation in each location in each of the last five years. [24096]
Damian Green: The information requested is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
National Statistics on children detained solely under Immigration Act powers are published quarterly in the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom. Information on people detained solely under Immigration Act powers as at 30 September will be available on 25 November in the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, United Kingdom, July-September 2010 on the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
The Government have made clear their commitment to end the detention of children and continues to work with its corporate partners to find an alternative that protects the welfare of children, without undermining UK immigration laws.
Domestic Violence: Arrests
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of (a) arrests and (b) convictions for domestic violence offences in Dartford constituency in each of the last five years. [24147]
Lynne Featherstone: The available data are provided in the following table which shows the number of arrests and convictions for domestic violence offences in Kent between 2005-06 and 2009-10.
| Number of arrests and convictions for domestic violence offences in Kent between 2005-06 and 2009-10 | ||
| Number of domestic violence incidents where an arrest was made relating to the incident | Number of convictions of domestic violence offences( 3) | |
| (1) For 2005-06 and 2006-07 the number of convictions of domestic violence offences only includes incidents involving adult offenders and adult victims as data were not collected on incidents involving young victims or young offenders. (2) Data were not collected from forces in 2009-10 on the number of domestic violence incidents where an arrest was made relating to the incident. (3) Convictions data are provided by the Crown Prosecution Service. | ||
Immigration Controls: Northern Ireland
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the effects of implementation of the proposed immigration cap on the academic and research community in Northern Ireland. [23925]
Damian Green:
We have made it clear that we want to continue attracting the brightest and the best to the UK. As part of this commitment, the Secretary of State
for the Home Department launched a consultation over the summer to ensure that we gathered a wide range of views and evidence, before announcing our plans for the first full annual limit. The consultation is now closed and we have received a high volume of responses which are being carefully assessed. The Government will announce their decisions in due course.
Police Custody: Illegal Immigrants
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 2 November 2010, Official Report, columns 700-1W, on police custody: illegal immigrants, what records she holds on the action taken in those cases where (a) UK Border Agency officers did not attend a police station and (b) such an officer attended and the individual was not arrested. [23666]
Damian Green: The example given in the previous answer of 2 November 2010 related to police inquiries to the UK Border Agency's London and south-east region about possible clandestine entry to the UK in vehicles (known within UK Border Agency as "lorry drops").
Of the 286 "lorry drop" requests from the police within this region for the period April to September 2010, 253 were attended by UK Border Agency staff. Of the 33 that were not, 10 were dealt with by serving illegal entry papers by fax. The remaining 23 were not attended for various reasons including insufficient resources. There were 232 arrests in total during this period. The UK Border Agency took no further action against 22 individuals because an immigration offence was not identified.
Please note, this information is taken from management information tools; it has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols and should be treated as provisional.
Police: Finance
Ed Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to publish the funding allocations for each police authority for (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15. [22838]
Mrs May [holding answer 9 November 2010]: As my right hon. Friend the Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice told the House on 1 November 2010, Official Report, column 600, we intend to place provisional Home Office Police Grant funding allocations for 2011-12 and indicative funding allocations for 2012-13 to 2014-15 for all police authorities before the House of Commons in early December.
Police: Manpower
Ed Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will estimate the number of officers in each police force area with 30 years' service or more. [23024]
Mrs May [holding answer 9 November 2010]: The available data are provided in the following table which shows the number of police officers in each police force area with 30 years service or more, as at 31 March 2010.
| Number of police officers in each police force area with 30 years service or more, as at 31 March 2010( 1) | |||||||
| Number of years | |||||||
| 30 to 31 | 31 to 32 | 32 to 33 | 33 to 34 | 34 to 35 | Over 35 | Total | |
| (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items (2) Cheshire is unable to provide length of service figures | |||||||
UK Border Agency: Northern Ireland
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff were employed by the UK Border Agency in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years. [24107]
Damian Green: The available figures are set out in the following table:
| UK Border Agency staff( 1) in Northern Ireland | |||
| As at 31 March | Full -t ime | Part-t ime | All |
| (1) Full-time equivalent civil servants, excluding agency workers. Staff figures published after July 2010 include those on paid maternity leave, these are excluded from the above. | |||
Visas: Taiwan
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department plans to assess the merits of extending visa-free access to the UK for visitors from Taiwan. [24002]
Damian Green: The UK lifted its visa regime on visitors from Taiwan on 18 May 2009 as part of a global review of visitor visa regimes.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the name is of each location in Afghanistan from which Tornados are capable of operating; and how many of these have only a single runway suitable for operating Tornados. [23695]
Nick Harvey: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the ability of Harriers to operate in Afghanistan from runways which have been rendered partially unusable. [23696]
Nick Harvey:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) to
the noble Lord (Lord West of Spithead) in another place on 11 November 2010, Official Report, House of Lords, columns WA106.
Air Force: Military Bases
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) for how many hours (a) RAF Wainfleet, (b) RAF Donna Nook, (c) RAF Holbeach, (d) RAF West Freugh, (e) RAF Tain and (f) the Cape Wrath Range were in use for training operations for each aircraft type in the latest period for which figures are available; [22948]
(2) how many passes took place at (a) RAF Wainfleet, (b) RAF Donna Nook, (c) RAF Holbeach, (d) RAF West Freugh, (e) RAF Tain and (f) the Cape Wrath Range for each type of (i) RAF aircraft and (ii) non-RAF aircraft in each year since 2004; and from which airbase the flights originated. [22949]
Nick Harvey: The number of passes that have taken place at DTE Donna Nook, DTE Holbeach, DTE Tain and DTE Cape Wrath for each aircraft type since 2004 and the air base from which the flights originated are contained in the following tables:
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |