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17 Nov 2010 : Column 814W—continued
Police
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the police have entered premises for which they did not possess an appropriate warrant during raids (a) nationally and (b) in Milton Keynes in each of the last three years. [23954]
Nick Herbert: The information is not available centrally.
Police: Demonstrations
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports she has received from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on (a) the estimated cost of the damage caused and (b) the estimated number of criminal offences committed in the course of the demonstration in London on 10 November 2010; how many arrests were made; how many people were stopped and searched in connection with the demonstration; what the cost to the MPS was of policing the demonstration; what the policy of the MPS is on recovering policing costs from organisers of demonstrations; and if she will make a statement. [24008]
Nick Herbert
[holding answer 15 November 2010]: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I gave to the House on 11 November 2010, Official Report, columns 457-468, on public disorder at the National Union of
Students rally. As of 11 November, 47 arrests were made by the Metropolitan Police Service and three arrests by the British Transport Police. The Metropolitan Police Service will be carrying out a comprehensive post-incident investigation and will report to the Metropolitan Police Authority on its findings.
Police: Helicopters
Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the likely effects of the relocation of the Police response helicopter based at Filton Airfield to RAF Colerne on the ability of the proposed National Police Air Service to reduce crime. [24167]
Nick Herbert: A helicopter is one of a number of assets that can be used by the police to tackle crime. The effects of relocating air support from Filton airfield to RAF Colerne have been carefully considered in the development of the proposed National Police Air Service.
The proposal will mean that the Western Counties aircraft is better placed to meet both urban and rural demand for air support, while offering better value for money for the taxpayer.
Police: Radiation Exposure
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) national and (b) local agreements there are in relation to the radiation dose uptake limitation system adopted by each police force when attending a radiation emergency at each of the nuclear powered submarine operational berths maintained by the Ministry of Defence as required by Regulation 14 of the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001. [23633]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not hold the information requested. The health and safety of police officers is the responsibility of the relevant chief officer. In relation to potential radiation exposure, local police operational response plans will be informed by appropriate national guidance including for example, that issued by the Health and Safety Executive (including the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001) and the Health Protection Agency, as well as advice provided to local forces by Ministry of Defence personnel regarding any relevant military facilities located within a particular force area.
Rape
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to reduce the incidence of (a) sexual assault on women and (b) rape. [16056]
Mrs May [holding answer 11 October 2010]: Reducing the incidence of rape and sexual assault requires effective prevention, the conviction of offenders and the robust management of perpetrators and serial offenders.
In addition, the Government's focus is on the rights and welfare of the victim and we are committed to ensuring that every victim of rape has access to appropriate support. In particular, we are looking at putting funding
for rape crisis services on a more sustainable basis and looking at establishing new rape crisis centres where there are gaps in provision.
Baroness Stern led an independent review into the way rape complaints are handled by public authorities in England and Wales. The Government will be responding fully to Baroness Stern's review in spring 2011.
The Government are working to support agencies in the criminal justice system to ensure that the effective investigation and prosecution of rape results in the conviction of offenders, in addition, HM Inspectorate Constabulary and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate are currently taking forward an inspection that focuses on the management of perpetrators, handling of intelligence on suspects and protection of victims from repeat offenders.
Rescue Services
Rory Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what division of her Department has responsibility for mountain rescue services; and if she will make a statement. [24027]
Nick Herbert: The Finance and Strategy Directorate has co-ordinating responsibility for queries on mountain rescue services across Government.
The following Departments retain responsibility of aspects of mountain rescue services:
Ministry of Defence
Department of Transport
Department for Communities and Local Government
Department for Culture Media and Sport
Cabinet Office
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
HM Treasury
Department for Health
Home Office.
Safer Neighbourhood Teams
Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to assist the work of Safer Neighbourhood teams in the current Parliament. [24062]
Nick Herbert: The Government support neighbourhood policing which provides a dedicated, consistent and visible presence in communities, tackling crime and antisocial behaviour. Neighbourhood policing strengthens the public's confidence that the criminal justice system is on their side, encouraging them to play their own part in keeping their communities safe. Police community support officers make an important contribution to the visible and available policing the public wish to see.
We will transfer power in policing, replacing bureaucratic accountability with democratic accountability. Police and Crime Commissioners will be directly elected by the public and hold the police to account for their performance, including the quality of neighbourhood policing.
Neighbourhood policing teams will hold regular beat meetings to provide residents with the opportunity to hold them to account and local crime maps will give the public information on crime in their area.
Sexual Offences: Registration
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department plans to take in response to the Supreme Court judgement on the Violent and Sex Offenders Register and Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. [24319]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 16 November 2010]: On 21 April 2010, in the case of R (on the application of F and Angus Aubrey Thompson) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department (2010) UKSC 17, the Supreme Court declared the present arrangements requiring the indefinite registration of offenders under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, without the prospect of review, to be incompatible with article 8 of the European convention on human rights (ECHR). The effect of a declaration of incompatibility is not to render the relevant primary legislation invalid. Rather, such legislation remains in force until such time as the Government amend it. Protecting the public is a priority for the Home Office and the Secretary of State is considering the judgment carefully and liaising with partners in order to ascertain how best to give effect to the Court's judgment.
South Yorkshire
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the visit to Penistone and Stocksbridge constituency by a Minister in her Department on 4 November 2010 was classified as an official ministerial visit. [23079]
Lynne Featherstone: There were no official visits to the Penistone and Stocksbridge constituency by Ministers on this date. I visited a local initiative in a private capacity.
Terrorism: Detainees
Alan Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the conclusions of the July 2010 report of the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation in respect of the effects on national security of a reduction to 14 days of the maximum permissible pre-charge detention period. [15418]
Mrs May [holding answer 14 September 2010]: The maximum period that terrorists suspects can be detained before charge, including how this period can be reduced below 28 days, is being considered as part of my review of six key counter-terrorism and security powers that I announced to the House on 13 July. The review is taking into account a wide range of contributions, including the reports of Lord Carlile, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation. The outcome of the review will be reported to Parliament.
Treasury
Charities: Finance
Chris Ruane:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much Government funding was allocated to charities in each of the last 10 years; and what estimate
he has made of the amount of funding to be allocated to charities in each of the next five years. [24211]
Justine Greening: Public funds reach charities through a variety of mechanisms, such as tax reliefs, grants, public service contracts, match-funding etc. It is therefore difficult to calculate total figures for Government allocation of funding to charities and information on this is not held centrally.
The spending review set out a £470 million package of support for the sector including funding for an endowment fund (Community First) to help support local organisations, in addition to a £100 million transition fund. In addition, the Big Society Bank, funded by dormant account funds, will provide a new source of finance for the sector and will leverage in additional private sector resources.
Corporation Tax: Redcar
Ian Swales: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on businesses in Redcar constituency of the reduction in the small profits rate of corporation tax. [23957]
Mr Gauke: No assessment is available on the effect on businesses in Redcar constituency of the reduction in the small profits rate of corporation tax.
Excise Duties: Beer
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue is raised from a pint of beer of average price sold in (a) a pub and (b) a supermarket; and whether he has plans to provide support for pubs through fiscal measures. [24313]
Justine Greening [holding answer 16 November 2010]: Beer duty is levied according to the alcoholic strength of the product, and the same duty rate applies to all products regardless of their point of sale. In addition to excise duty, alcohol products are subject to VAT. The following table shows average prices and tax revenue on a pint of beer of 4.2% abv.
| £ | ||||
| Average price | Duty | VAT | Total tax | |
At the June Budget a number of measures were announced to boost business, from which pubs will benefit. These include a reduction in corporation tax rates, and reduced employers' national insurance contributions.
Investment
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the annual change in the level of business investment was in each of the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the likely change in that level in each of the next five years. [24225]
Justine Greening: Business investment growth was 4.5% in 2005, 4.8% in 2006, 12.5% in 2007, -1.1% in 2008 and -18.8% in 2009. On 22 June 2010 the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast business investment to grow by 1.4% in 2010, 8.1% in 2011, 10.0% in 2012, 10.9% in 2013, 9.5% in 2014 and 8.2% in 2015. The OBR will publish an updated forecast on 29 November.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Christchurch of 4 October on Antony Bone. [24690]
Mr Hoban: I have replied to the hon. Member.
Child Poverty
Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether his assessment that the outcomes of the Comprehensive Spending Review would have no measurable impact on child poverty for the next two years was made in respect of the period ending in March 2012; [24030]
(2) whether his assessment that the outcomes of the Comprehensive Spending Review would have no measurable impact on child poverty for the next two years took account of the provisions relating to the (a) relative low income, (b) combined low income and material deprivation, (c) absolute low income and (d) the persistent poverty target in the Child Poverty Act 2010; and if he will make a statement; [24031]
(3) whether the tax and benefit microsimulation model used as the basis for his assessment that the outcomes of the Comprehensive Spending Review would have no measurable impact on child poverty for the next two years took account of the Government's proposed changes to (a) housing benefit, (b) council tax benefit, (c) disability living allowance, (d) employment support allowance and (e) in-year income change rules for tax credits; and if he will make a statement; [24032]
(4) what account he took of his estimate of likely reductions in the numbers of public sector jobs in determining that the outcomes of the Comprehensive Spending Review would have no measurable impact on child poverty for the next two years; and if he will make a statement. [24033]
Justine Greening: The estimate that the impact of spending review measures would have no measurable impact on child poverty over the next two years was made in respect of relative low income poverty, and covers the period April 2011 to end March 2013.
The data sources document accompanying the spending review sets out the measures which are included in this assessment.
There is no central target for public sector workforce reductions. Individual employers will determine exact work force implications in line with their overall settlements. In addition, the data underpinning the Treasury's microsimulation model do not record whether individuals work in the public or private sector, which means that it is not possible to allocate any changes in work force numbers to individuals in the data in a sufficiently
robust way. Accordingly, it was not possible to robustly estimate the impact of reductions in public sector jobs on child poverty at spending review.
Public Expenditure: Wales and Scotland
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Barnett consequentials for (a) Wales and (b) Scotland will be of his decision to limit the geographic scope of the Cycling England programme to England; and if he will make a statement. [24515]
Danny Alexander: Barnett consequentials are calculated at departmental, not individual programme, level. Full details of the Barnett formula, together with up to date comparability factors are set out in the 2010 edition of the Treasury publication 'Funding the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and Northern Ireland Assembly: Statement of Funding Policy'.
Public Sector: Employment
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many public sector jobs he expects there to be in each region in each of the next five years. [24229]
Danny Alexander: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) released, as part of its Budget forecasts on 22 June 2010, projections for whole economy employment to 2015-16.
Further information on its employment forecast, including projections for general Government employment, was released on 30 June 2010 in its document "OBR forecast: Employment", which can be found on the following webpage:
A revised forecast will be released on 29 November 2010.
The OBR has not published forecasts on a sub-national level.
Tax Evasion
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) individuals and (b) organisations HM Revenue and Customs has (i) investigated and (ii) prosecuted for offences related to tax evasion in each of the last five years. [13418]
Mr Gauke: HMRC does not hesitate to use its criminal investigation powers to pursue a prosecution, however, cost-effective civil settlement procedures are used in the majority of evasion cases. This represents excellent value for the Exchequer, as all undeclared tax is repaid and they also pay a penalty which can be up to 100% of the tax evaded. Every year we collect millions of pounds of evaded tax using these tried, well-established methods.
Compliance officers at all grades are engaged in a wide range of activities, which may include risk assessment, recovery of underpaid tax, the prevention of further tax losses, debt collection and the deterrence of tax evasion through, for example criminal investigation. The number of interventions these officers carried out in 2008-09 totalled approximately 400,000 excluding our education interventions.
A disaggregated breakdown of HMRC's investigations between individuals and organisations is available only at disproportionate cost.
Details of the number of cases prosecuted for income tax, corporation tax, VAT and excise evasion are:
| Number | |
Energy and Climate Change
Carbon Emissions
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his most recent assessment is of the effect on the reduction of UK greenhouse gas emissions of carbon sink failure. [23809]
Gregory Barker: As indicated in my response to the hon. Member's question on 15 November 2010, Official Report, column 601W, carbon sink failure at the global level is very unlikely. Any weakening of carbon sinks would reduce the global allowable emissions for a given temperature target, but projections for emissions reductions in accordance with a 2° C target take this factor into account. Because we do not expect that global carbon sink failure is a likely scenario it is not expected to have an impact on UK emissions reductions. The UK's carbon budgets under the Climate Change Act, combine both emissions and uptake from sinks. These are reported via the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory funded by my Department, and increases or decreases in sinks are taken into account in measuring how the UK is meeting its carbon budgets.
Departmental Computer Software
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment was made in developing the 2050 Energy Pathways calculator tool of the merits of making it operate using Open Source software; what factors underpinned the choice of Microsoft Excel for PCs 2007 and 2010 for the tool; and what evaluation was made of the effects of the cost of obtaining this software on the likely levels of use of the calculator tool. [23890]
Gregory Barker: The 2050 Pathways Calculator is open source: the full model is available for inspection, improvement and reuse by anyone. As a result, the Department has received useful suggestions about how to improve the model during the Call for Evidence period which ran between 27 July and 5 October 2010. The file format is .xlxs, which is documented in the ECMA-376 international standard and therefore could be implemented by an open source equivalent to Excel.
The only software that implements the file format sufficiently for the model to run is Microsoft Excel for PCs 2007 and 2010, and Microsoft Excel for Macs 2011. The reason is that the model includes "structured references" and these have not been implemented by
open source Excel alternatives. Structured references were implemented in the "Excel to Ruby programming language" convertor which was released by the Department under an open source licence as part of the source code for the web version of the 2050 Calculator.
In evaluating the consequences of the use of structured references, it was concluded that the benefit that structured references gave of allowing the model to be implemented and updated accurately within the time available outweighed the drawback of its inability to run on open source alternatives. This drawback was further mitigated by the availability of trial copies of appropriate versions of Microsoft Excel (which were free at the time of the Call for Evidence) and which meant that most people would be able to make use of the 2050 Calculator tool during the Call for Evidence period of the project.
EU Emissions Trading Scheme
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) whether he has made an assessment of the net effect of the implementation of the European Commission's proposed hybrid clinker benchmark for phase III of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme on environmental quality standards; [23591]
(2) what assessment he has made of the likely net contribution of the implementation of the European Commission's proposed hybrid clinker benchmark for phase III of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme to meeting his Department's UK carbon budget targets; [23592]
(3) whether he has made an assessment of the potential for carbon leakage as a result of the implementation of the European Commission's proposal for a hybrid clinker benchmark for phase III of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme; [23593]
(4) whether he has had discussions with the European Commission on the methodology it used to determine the reduction factors proposed in relation to the clinker benchmark to be adopted under phase III of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme; [23594]
(5) what estimate he has made of the cost to businesses of complying with the European Commission's proposed hybrid clinker benchmark for phase III of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. [23596]
Gregory Barker: The European Commission's proposal for the free allocation rules for phase III of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) was sent to member states on 22 October. My officials are working closely with colleagues in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to analyse the proposal in detail in order to assess its impact on UK industry. My officials have met with representatives of the UK cement sector in order to discuss the proposal to ensure that we have a full understanding of the implications of the proposed approach. They will also be having discussions with the European Commission on this issue and further discussions with industry before any conclusions are reached.
Feed-in Tariffs
Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether feed-in tariffs are guaranteed for 25 years for new installations; and what factors would lead to their withdrawal. [23721]
Charles Hendry: The recent announcements in the comprehensive spending review confirmed any changes to feed-in tariffs as a result of future reviews of the scheme will only affect new entrants to the scheme from that point forward. The Government have no intention of changing tariffs for those already receiving FITs.
Fuel Poverty: Meters
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to increase the level of awareness among prepayment meter users in or at risk of fuel poverty of the (a) availability of funding from energy efficiency programmes and (b) possibility of carrying out improvement works without a landlord's permission. [24504]
Gregory Barker: The Government are committed to helping those households who are in fuel poverty. We recognise the need to help more of the most vulnerable to keep their homes warm at an affordable cost. Current schemes, including Warm Front and the carbon emissions reduction target (CERT) promote awareness across all customers, including those who have prepayment meters.
In addition, from late 2012 the new energy company obligation, as part of our Green Deal initiative, will focus particularly on those households who need additional support, including the poorest and most vulnerable and those in hard to treat homes.
Energy efficiency improvement works under the Green Deal will require a landlord's permission. However, we are seeking to create powers in the Energy Security and Green Economy Bill which could require landlords to honour reasonable requests for energy efficiency improvements, where a financial support package, such as the Green Deal, is available.
Heat Pumps
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward proposals to establish a system of independent verification of the average service life of air-sourced heat pumps. [24695]
Gregory Barker: We have no plans to bring forward such proposals. As with other microgeneration technologies, heat pumps are dealt with under the microgeneration certification scheme but this does not cover average service life.
Service life is influenced by many factors including heat pump design, component selection, installation and maintenance, actual use against expected use, number of hours run, reliability of the sub-components and level of manufacturer support. Verification of average life taking account of all these variables would be an extremely resource intensive activity.
Heating: Fluorocarbons
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on the proportion of installed heat pumps which use the refrigerant fluorocarbon gas, R404A. [24691]
Gregory Barker:
The Department does not hold specific information on the proportion of heat pumps that use refrigerant R404A. A recent study, undertaken by AEA
into refrigerant emissions and forecasts, identified only one refrigerant gas emitted from heat pumps- HFC 134.
It might be concluded from this that only a very small proportion of heat pumps use refrigerant R404A. However the authors of the study indicated that it was not easy to locate information about the fluids and refrigerant charge size used in ground and air source heat pumps.
Nuclear Power
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the cost of hardening all UK civil nuclear installations against attack from land or sea-launched precision-guided penetrator weapons. [23897]
Charles Hendry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 15 November 2010, Official Report, column 609W. It is important that security measures adopted at civil nuclear installations are proportionate to the threat. Nuclear site licence companies are responsible for meeting the costs of security measures.
Renewable Energy
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to increase the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources. [22715]
Charles Hendry: The main financial mechanisms that the Government have to incentivise the generation of renewable electricity are the renewables obligation (RO) and the feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme:
RO supports large-scale generation of renewable electricity. Since its introduction in 2002, it has tripled the level of renewable electricity in the UK from 1.8% to 6.7%(1) in 2009, and is currently worth around £1.4(2) billion/year in support to the renewable electricity industry. The spending review of 20 October 2010 announced that this level of funding will continue, confirming the Government's commitment to the increase of renewable electricity. The Electricity Market Reform consultation document is due to be published next month and will set out proposals for changes to the existing market in order to meet our renewables and decarbonisation goals. But whatever the proposal, the Government understand the need for investor certainty, and are not looking to make retrospective changes.
The FIT scheme was launched on 1 April of this year and supports small-scale low carbon electricity generation up to 5MW (2kW for microCHP) in capacity. Initial figures for the first six months of the scheme (taken from Ofgem's online database) indicate that 8,960 installations commissioned since the announcement of the scheme in July 2009 were supported. This amounts to a total installed capacity of 35.8MW.
We are also addressing the non-financial barriers to deployment:
The spending review of 20 October 2010 included an announcement for over £200 million to support the development of energy technologies, of which £60 million has been earmarked for offshore wind manufacturing infrastructure at port locations. By supporting this manufacturing development, we are bringing forward industrial capacity that will help the UK meet its energy policy objectives. The Government are currently developing its detailed plans for the allocation of the remainder of this funding.
Alongside this, we are working to remove grid connection barriers for low carbon energy production. We have already implemented enduring grid access reform in the form of a 'Connect and Manage' regime, so that new generation will be able to connect to the grid as soon as their local connection is built
without waiting for wider network reinforcement. In addition, we have also been working to put in place the most effective regulatory regime for offshore electricity transmission, so that these connections can be delivered in a cost effective, timely and co-ordinated manner.
A fast and efficient planning system is critical for facilitating investment in new major energy infrastructure, including renewables. The Government want a planning system for such infrastructure which is rapid, predictable and accountable. The Government intend to abolish the Infrastructure Planning Commission and replace it with a major infrastructure planning unit (MIPU). Under the MIPU system, the fast-track examination system would be retained but MIPU would make recommendations to Ministers who would then take the final decision. The new system gives local residents and community groups opportunities to become involved in the nationally significant infrastructure projects development consents process.
We will publish our renewables delivery plan in the spring. This will set out the actions necessary to drive faster deployment of renewables through the decade.
(1) Department of Energy and Climate Change, June 2010 Energy Trends
(2) Ofgem:
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of likely sources of funding to meet the cost of reaching renewable energy targets by 2020. [23835]
Charles Hendry [holding answer 12 November 2010]: We expect funding to help meet our renewable energy target to come from a mix of sources including the renewable financial incentives, direct public funding to support innovation, and private investment.
The main financial mechanisms that the Government have to incentivise the generation of renewable electricity are the renewables obligation (RO) and the feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme, with the renewable heat incentive due to go ahead in June 2011 to support renewable heat.
We are due to publish the electricity market reform consultation document next month. This will set out proposals for changes to the existing market in order to meet our renewables and decarbonisation goals. But whatever the proposal, Government understand the need for investor certainty and protection of existing investments.
Renewable Energy: Israel
Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent steps he has taken to increase levels of energy efficiency; and whether he has assessed the merits of working together with Israel on the development of (a) solar and (b) other renewable energy systems for the purpose of increasing those levels. [24643]
Gregory Barker: The coalition Government have taken a number of significant steps to improve energy efficiency. Key policies include developing the Green Deal to drive major improvements in the energy efficiency of homes and businesses; committing to reducing carbon emissions from central Government by 10% by May 2011; and committing to the rollout of smart meters.
While DECC does engage with Israel through multilateral fora that seek to promote renewable energy-such as the International Renewable Energy Agency-and while
the UK and Israel are both members of the International Energy Agency's Photovoltaic Power Systems R&D collaboration programme, no specific work has been done by the Department to engage Israel further on either solar or other renewable energy technologies.
Warm Front Scheme
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for the future of the eligibility criteria for the Warm Front scheme; and if he will ensure that those who are eligible for assistance under the scheme on the sole ground that they may receive disability living allowance continue to be eligible for such assistance. [24483]
Gregory Barker: As announced in the spending review, DECC will fund a smaller, more targeted Warm Front scheme over the next two years as we transition to the full role out of the Green Deal.
We will shortly be consulting on proposed changes to Warm Front to ensure the eligibility criteria reflect our determination to focus on the most vulnerable households.
Warm Front Scheme: Fuel Poverty
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the likely effects on those in fuel poverty of the proposed reductions in funding for the Warm Front scheme in the next two financial years. [24482]
Gregory Barker: The spending review commits very significant resources to tackling fuel poverty. DECC will fund a smaller, more targeted Warm Front scheme over the next two years as we transition to the full roll out of the Green Deal and the energy company obligation. We will shortly be consulting on proposed changes to Warm Front to ensure the eligibility criteria reflect our determination to focus on the most vulnerable households. We have made permanent the increase to cold weather payments at £25 a week to help low income households during periods of cold weather. In addition, from April 2011, energy suppliers will provide greater help with energy bills to more of the most vulnerable fuel poor households, through social price support.
Work and Pensions
Care Homes: Boilers
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to ensure that hot water tanks heated by heat pumps comply with health and safety legislation designed to ensure control of legionella in (a) residential homes and (b) Government buildings. [24692]
Chris Grayling:
Existing health and safety legislation requires all employers who manage premises with a hot/cold water system to consider the risks from legionella bacteria that may affect their staff or members of the public and to take suitable precautions. These requirements extend to Government Departments. Commercial businesses or public services that provide residential accommodation have the same responsibility as employers
if, in general, they are responsible for the maintenance and repairs of the water system at the premises. The use of new energy saving technology to heat water, including heat pumps, does not in itself introduce a new legionella bacteria risk. HSE has published guidance to assist employers, which is freely available from HSE's website.
Carer's Allowance
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of allowing carers who are enrolled in courses designated as full-time or in training for more than 20 hours per week to receive carer's allowance in the first 12 months following such a change. [22637]
Maria Miller: No such estimate has been made.
Carer's allowance provides a measure of financial support for people who forgo the opportunity of full-time employment in order to provide care for a severely disabled person.
The educational maintenance system, via its range of loans and grants, provides financial support for full-time students, including carers. In consequence, people engaged in full-time study are generally precluded from entitlement to income-replacement and income-related social security benefits.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to extend the eligibility criteria for carers allowance to enable more carers who are studying or in training to claim the allowance. [22638]
Maria Miller: The Government recognise that the United Kingdom's 6 million carers play an indispensable role in looking after family members or friends who need support.
Carer's allowance provides a measure of financial support for people who forgo the opportunity of full-time employment in order to provide care for a severely disabled person.
The educational maintenance system, via its range of loans and grants, provides financial support for full-time students, including carers. In consequence, people engaged in full-time study are generally precluded from entitlement to income-replacement and income-related social security benefits.
We have set out our commitment to simplify the benefit system in order to improve work incentives and encourage responsibility and fairness. We will consider carefully the needs of carers as we develop our plans for welfare reform.
Child Benefit
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Erith and Thamesmead of 19 October 2010, Official Report, column 643W, on child benefit, whether there has been a re-assessment of the changes announced to child benefit in relation to the effects on national insurance credits towards state pension; and if he will make a statement. [24130]
Steve Webb: We are still considering the full implications of the changes announced to child benefit to ensure that those entitled continue to receive national insurance credits towards their state pension.
Departmental Early Retirement
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have been offered enhanced early retirement packages in each of the last three years. [22031]
Chris Grayling: The early retirement benefits that are available to civil servants are set out in the Civil Service Compensation Scheme. Currently there are two categories of enhanced early retirement benefits: flexible early retirement and compulsory early retirement.
Flexible early retirement provides an enhancement of up to six and two thirds years to the reckonable service used to calculate pension benefits. The enhancement cannot take the adjusted reckonable service beyond that which would have been earned by pension age (age 60) nor can it take the total enhanced reckonable service beyond the maximum of 45 years.
Compulsory early retirement benefits include the same enhancement applicable to the flexible early retirement pension calculation plus a lump sum compensation payment of up to six months' pay.
Central records are not kept of the number of packages offered, however, the following table sets out the numbers of employees who opted to leave the Department for Work and Pensions and its agencies in the last three years under enhanced early retirement packages.
| Agency | Flexible early retirement | Compulsory early retirement | Total enhanced retirements |
Departmental Pay
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid to officials in his Department and its non-departmental public bodies in bonuses and other payments in addition to salary in each year since 1997; how many officials received such payments; and what the monetary values was of the largest 20 payments made in each such year. [18713]
Chris Grayling: The information has been placed in the Library.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what allowances and payments in addition to salary were available to officials in his Department and its non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1997; and what the monetary value was of payments and allowances of each type in each such year. [18714]
Chris Grayling:
The Department for Work and Pensions was established in 2002 and information can be provided
only from that date. DWP has 16 allowances that can be paid in addition to salary, four of which are payable only to employees who hold reserved rights to those particular allowances.
Details of the individual rates of allowances and payments payable since the Department's first harmonised pay award in 2002 have been provided in a separate table which has been placed in the Library. The table also includes 14 allowances that have been abolished; many of which were abolished following a review held in 2005. The Department could provide details of the total amount spent on these allowances only at disproportionate cost.
The rates of allowances across DWP and NDPBs are frozen for two years (2010-11 and 2011-12) as part of the pay freeze. We are currently reviewing all departmental expenditure to drive out inefficiencies and deliver value for money for the taxpayer.
Non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs)
Details of the total amount spent on allowances and other payments for NDPBs are provided in the following table:
Departmental Sick Leave
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what programmes his Department and its agencies have to reduce the number of working days lost through sickness and absence. [23407]
Chris Grayling: The Department has cut average sickness absence by 25%, from 11.1 days per employee per year in 2007 to 8.3 days per employee per year currently. The latter figure is below the rate of 9.6 days per employee per year reported by the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development for the public sector in 2010.
The Department achieved this reduction by applying an ongoing programme to help employees maintain good health, such as providing stress counselling. Where employees do take sick leave, we use occupational health services to support rehabilitation. If, following the provision of all reasonable help, an employee is unable to maintain a satisfactory attendance record, action is taken to dismiss or retire them on ill health grounds.
Other types of unauthorised absence are investigated on a case by case basis. Where appropriate, disciplinary action is taken.
Employment
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of (a) men and (b) women between the ages of 21 and 60 years have been in employment (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) in total in each year from 1980 to 2009; and if he will make a statement. [24359]
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 what proportion of (a) men and (b) women between the ages of 21 and 60 years have been in employment (i) full-time, (ii) part-time and (iii) in total in each year from 1980 to 2009. (24359)
Estimates for people in employment are derived from the Labour Force Survey. The table provided shows the information requested from 1992 to 2009. Comparable estimates prior to 1992 are not available.
| Proportion( 1 ) of men and women aged 21 to 60 in full-time and part-time employment, three months ending June, 1992 to 2009, United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted | ||||||
| Percentage | ||||||
| Male | Female | |||||
| Full-time | Part-time | Total( 2) | Full-time | Part-time | Total( 2) | |
| (1) The proportion is the number of people in each employment status divided by the population. (2) Total includes those whose full-time and part-time status was not known. (3) Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates, as described below. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV-for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key: * 0 = CV<5%-Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise **5 = CV <10%-Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise ***10 = CV <20%-Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable ****CV ? 20%-Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation Note: It should be noted that the above estimates exclude people in most types of communal establishment (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels mobile home sites etc.) Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS). | ||||||
Employment and Support Allowance
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people are claiming contributory employment and support allowance in the work-related activity group; and how many of those cited a mental health condition as their primary reason for claiming; [23305]
(2) how many people are claiming contributory employment and support allowance; and how many of those cited a mental health condition as their primary reason for claiming. [23306]
Maria Miller: The information is provided in the following table.
| Number of contributory employment and support allowance claimants under the mental and behavioural disorders category by stage of claim-February 2010, Great Britain | ||
| Number | ||
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. ESA statistics by medical condition can be found at http://83.244.183.180/ESA/esa_additional_feb10.xls 3. Benefit type-The type of ESA is defined as pay status at the case load date-this may differ to the status at the start or end of the claim 4. Employment and support allowance (ESA) replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008 5. Stage of ESA claim-The stage of claim is derived from the amount of payment a claimant receives. There are a number of cases where the stage is unknown, these are claimants which do not receive any payment for ESA (those who receive national insurance credits only). 6. ICD (disease) code Causes of incapacity are based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision published by the World Health Organisation. Medical condition is based on evidence provided at the start of the claim, this in itself does not confer entitlement to employment support allowance and may not represent a claimants most recent medical condition. For ESA claimants, data on medical condition is only available from February 2010 onwards. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% | ||
Employment and Support Allowance: Birmingham
Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Birmingham, Hall Green constituency applied for and were refused employment and support allowance in each of the last two years for which figures are available. [23447]
Chris Grayling: This information is not available for individual constituencies.
The following table presents the outcome for all employment and support allowance (ESA) claims received in the Birmingham local authority area for the dates shown. The table presents data between October 2008, when ESA was introduced, to February 2010, the latest data available.
| Outcome of all ESA claims received in Birmingham local authority area, rounded to nearest 10 | ||||||
| Month of claim start | Support Group | Work Related Activity Group | Fit for Work | Claim closed before assessment complete | Assessment still in progress | Total |
| Source: Benefit claims data held by the Department for Work and Pensions and functional assessment data sourced from Atos Healthcare | ||||||
Employment: Public Sector
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of people were employed in the public sector in each region in the latest period for which figures are available. [24233]
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 recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many and what proportion of people were employed in the public sector in each region in the latest period for which figures are available. (24233)
Estimates of employment for the UK public sector are taken from the ONS release on Public Sector Employment at
The latest period for which figures are available is Quarter 2 2010.
The table attached provides the requested data.
Funeral Payments
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints his Department has received on the funeral payment in the latest period for which figures are available. [22762]
Steve Webb: Jobcentre Plus does not collate or record complaints about Funeral Payments separately.
From April 2010 to 9 November 2010 1,060 complaints relating to the Social Fund were received by Jobcentre Plus. This does not include any complaints that may have been made directly to the chief executive.
Source:
Jobcentre Plus Management Information; Date extracted: 9 November 2010
Notes:
1. The information provided is derived from operational processes and systems solely for the purposes of helping the department to manage its business. It has not been subjected to the rigorous quality assurance checks that our published Official Statistics are put through.
2. Scotland is not included in the total from August 2010 as the Scottish region is currently piloting a new method of recording customer feedback. Funeral Payment data will not be specifically recorded under this new method.
3. The figure includes Budgeting Loans, Community Care Grants, Crisis Loans and Sure Start Maternity Grant complaints as well as Funeral Payments.
4. The figure has been rounded to the nearest 10.
Government Ministers receive correspondence about Funeral Payments, to which Department for Work and Pensions Ministers or officials reply. (This does not include letters on purely operational issues which are passed to Jobcentre Plus for response by the chief executive.) Some of this correspondence will be complaints, but without investigating each individual case, it is not possible to say which were complaints. The number of such cases received about Funeral Payments from April 2010 to 9 November 2010 was 50.
Source:
Department for Work and Pensions records
Note:
The figure has been rounded to the nearest 10.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for the qualifying criteria for payment of funeral payment grant. [23432]
Steve Webb: Our plans for reforming the Social Fund were set out in the White Paper "Universal Credit: welfare that works" (Cm 7957) published on 11 November 2010. The reforms do not include any changes to the qualifying criteria for funeral payments.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to the public purse of the funeral payment grant scheme has been in each of the last three years. [23436]
Steve Webb: The available information is given in the table.
| Cost of the Funeral Payment scheme in Great Britain | |||
| £ million | |||
| Financial year | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| 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, gross expenditure does 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 administration costs are the total Jobcentre Plus costs, including re-considerations, but excluding work on appeals. 3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £0.1 million and may not sum due to rounding. Sources: Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System Jobcentre Plus Activity Based Management Models | |||
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what account he takes of the average cost of a funeral in determining the level of the funeral benefit payment. [24056]
Steve Webb: Social Fund Funeral Payments are not based on average funeral costs. The specific costs of burial or cremation are taken fully into account when each payment is made. In addition, up to £700 can be paid for other related funeral expenses.
Future Jobs Fund
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many young people in each (a) region and (b) local authority area have taken part in the Future Jobs Fund programme in each of the last six months. [23202]
Chris Grayling: The Young Person's Guarantee statistics were published on 13 October 2010 and cover the period from October 2009 to July 2010. The table shows the number of young people in each (a) region and (b) local authority area that have taken part in the Future Jobs Fund programme in each of the six months from February to July 2010.
The information has been placed in the Library.
Future Jobs Fund: Local Government
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which local authorities have taken part in the Future Jobs Fund programme in the last six months. [22858]
Chris Grayling: The local authorities, who have taken part in the Future Jobs Fund in the last six months are detailed in the following list. The local authorities are either the Lead Accountable Body, responsible for the co-ordination and administration of the approved bid on behalf of their partners, or have been communicated to the Department as being partners in a delivering a Future Jobs Fund grant.
Aberdeen City Council
Aberdeenshire Council
Angus Council
Argyll and Bute Council
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Bedford Borough Council
Birmingham City Council
Blackpool Council
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
Bolsover District Council
Bournemouth Borough Council
Bracknell Forest Council
Brighton and Hove City Council
Bristol City Council
Buckinghamshire County Council
Burnley Borough Council
Caerphilly County Borough Council
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough
Cambridge City Council
Cambridgeshire County Council
Camden Council
Cannock Chase District Council
Cardiff Council
Carmarthenshire County Council
Carmarthenshire County Council
Central Bedfordshire Council
Cheshire West and Chester Council
City of Bradford MDC
City of Edinburgh Council
Clackmannanshire Council
Colchester Borough Council
Copeland Borough Council
Coventry City Council
Cumbria County Council
Darlington Borough Council
Devon County Council
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
Dorset County Council
Dorset Police Force
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
Dumfries and Galloway Council
Dundee City Council
East Ayrshire Council
East Dunbartonshire Council
East Lothian Council
East Renfrewshire Council
East Sussex County Council
Epping Forest District Council
Erewash Borough Council
Exeter City Council
Falkirk Council
Fife Council
Fylde Council
Gamlingay Parish Council
Gateshead Council
Glasgow City Council
Halton Metropolitan Borough Council
Hambleton District Council
Hampshire County Council
Harlow District Council
Hartlepool Borough Council
Hastings Borough Council
Herefordshire Council
Hertfordshire County Council
Hinckley and Bosworth Council
Histon and Impington Parish Councils
Hull City Council
Inverclyde Council
Islington Council
Kent County Council
Kirklees Council
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Lancashire County Council
Lancaster City Council
Leeds City Council
Leicester City Council
Liverpool City Council
London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
London Borough of Merton
London Borough of Wandsworth
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
London Borough of Bromley
London Borough of Ealing
London Borough of Greenwich
London Borough of Hackney
London Borough of Haringey
London Borough of Havering
London Borough of Hounslow
London Borough of Lambeth
London Borough of Lewisham
London Borough of Newham
London Borough of Redbridge
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Longstanton Parish Council
Luton Borough Council
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Middlesbrough Council
Midlothian Council
Milton Keynes Council
Moray Council
Neath Port Talbot Council
Newport City Council
Norfolk County Council
North Ayrshire Council
North Dorset District Council
North East Lincolnshire Council
North Lanarkshire Council
North Lincolnshire Council
North Somerset Council
North Tyneside Council
North Yorkshire County Council
Nottingham City Council
Oxfordshire County Council
Pembrokeshire County Council
Pennine Lancashire MAA
Perth and Kinross Council
Peterborough City Council
Portsmouth City Council
Powys County Council
Preston City Council
RB Kingston upon Thames
Reading Borough Council
Redcar and Cleveland Borough LSP
Renfrewshire Council
Ribble Valley Borough Council
Richmondshire District Council
Rossendale Borough Council
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Salford City Council
Sandwell metropolitan Borough Council
Scarborough Borough Council
Scottish Borders Council
Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
Sheffield City Council
Shropshire Council County Training
Slough Borough Council
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
Somerset County Council
South Ayrshire Council
South Bucks District Council
South Gloucestershire County Council
South Lanarkshire Council
Southampton City Council
Stevenage Borough Council
Stirling Council
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Stoke on Trent City Council
Suffolk County Council
Surrey County Council
Sussex Police Force
Swansea Council for Voluntary Service
Swindon Borough Council
Telford and Wrekin Council
Thanet District Council
The Highland Council
Torbay Council
Torfaen County Borough Council
Torridge District Council
Trowbridge Town Council
Tyne and Wear City region
Uttlesford District Council
Vale of Glamorgan Council
Wakefield Council
Walsall Council
Warwickshire County Council
Wealden District Council
West Dorset District Council
West Dunbartonshire Council
West Lindsey District Council
West Lothian Council
West Sussex County Council
Westminster City Council
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council
Wiltshire Council
Wokingham Borough Council
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