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18 Nov 2010 : Column 923W—continued
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what criteria relating to biodiversity will be applied to determine the disposal and retention of Forestry Commission land in England in the period from 2011 to 2014; [22972]
(2) what criteria relating to biodiversity are applied to determine the disposal and retention of Forestry Commission land in England. [22982]
Mr Paice: Every woodland and forest managed by the Forestry Commission has a set of 27 characteristics that are applied to it. Of these characteristics, 13 relate specifically to biodiversity interests, including whether the land has a protective designation such as site of special scientific interest or the presence of significant species such as red squirrels, European protected species (e.g. bats, dormice or great crested newt), birds of prey (e.g. ospreys and goshawks) or priority butterfly species.
Using these characteristics a careful assessment is made of the potential impact of a sale on the biodiversity interest of the land before a decision is made on whether or not to include it in the disposals programme.
Forests
Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the net cost to the public purse of managing all the public forests in England in financial year 2009-10. [23820]
Mr Paice: For 2009-10, the cost relating to those forests managed by the Forestry Commission in England was £14,251,000. My Department does not collect information on the costs of managing other public forests.
Forests: Cycling
Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will take steps to ensure that cycling will continue to be encouraged in any public forest which is sold or transferred out of public ownership; [23779]
(2) if she will take steps to ensure (a) the maintenance of and (b) free access to purpose-built mountain bike trails in any public forest which is sold or transferred out of public ownership. [23780]
Mr Paice: I wrote to all hon. Members on 29 October about this issue. DEFRA and the Forestry Commission will consult the public on proposals for the public forest estate in England. We will invite views from a wide range of potential private and civil society partners on a number of new ownership and management options while protecting public benefits. When publishing proposals we will explore further the options for securing and increasing the wide range of public benefits currently delivered by Government ownership, and how they might be achieved at lower cost.
Genetically Modified Organisms
Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government plans to determine its policy on genetically modified organisms; and whether she plans to discuss that policy at the next Agricultural and Fisheries European Council meeting. [23651]
Mr Paice: The Government are currently considering their overall policy on genetically modified (GM) organisms. The next meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council is scheduled for 29 and 30 November, but there is no GM-related item on the current provisional agenda.
Milk: Prices
Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions there have been between her Department and the Office of Fair Trading on the price paid to dairy farmers for milk. [23869]
Mr Paice: DEFRA officials have had recent discussions with counterparts in the Office of Fair Trading concerning the EU High Level Group on Milk, including any potential benefits or impacts this may have on the price paid to UK dairy farmers for milk.
The High Level Group published its final report and recommendations on 15 June 2010 and called for a Commission response on contractual relations, the bargaining power of producers, provision for inter-branch organisations and transparency.
DEFRA officials continue to discuss outcomes which may follow the High Level Group process with the Office of Fair Trading.
Sustainable Development
Dr Whitehead:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion, of
27 July 2010, Official Report, column 1094W, on the Sustainable Development Commission, what enhanced departmental capability and presence she expects to establish following the withdrawal of funding from her Department to the Sustainable Development Commission. [23010]
Mr Paice: We are currently considering the implications of the spending review and how the departmental budget will be shared across our priorities. We are also in discussion with the Sustainable Development Commission to establish which of its existing staff will transfer to DEFRA with the functions we are also transferring. These functions include some aspects of the commission's stakeholder engagement and capability-building work.
Water: Prices
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the compatibility of a national social tariff for water bills with Exchequer rules on levy-funded subsidies. [23359]
Richard Benyon: Levy-funded subsidies are classified as "tax and spend" in the National Accounts by the Office for National Statistics. Any new subsidy provided through a national social tariff would also be likely to be classified as "tax and spend". Any national social tariff treated as such would need to be consistent with Exchequer policy, and decisions on taxation are made by the Chancellor in the round.
Energy and Climate Change
Biofuels
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans his Department has for the sustainable exploitation of bioenergy resources from the agricultural sector. [25004]
Charles Hendry: Biomass heat and electricity could provide about 30% of the UK's 2020 target of 15% renewable energy (about 4.5%) of overall energy demand). Increased bioenergy deployment offers commercial opportunities for the UK's agriculture sector, which the Government are keen to see realised. Biomass resources include wood fuel from undermanaged woodlands; crop residues such as straw; waste resources such as manures, slurries, sewage sludge, waste wood and food waste; and purpose-grown perennial energy crops, such as short rotation coppice willow and woody grasses such as Miscanthus.
We are working to reduce costs and overcome barriers to deployment. Support to produce and supply biomass fuel is available for farmers and rural enterprises through the Rural Development Programme for England. We support the deployment of biomass electricity through the renewables obligation, and through feed-in tariffs for anaerobic digestion. We will support biomass heat through the new Renewable Heat Incentive from June 2011. These measures provide long-term revenue stability for investors and developers alike. Working with DECC, DEFRA aims to publish shortly a framework document
for anaerobic digestion which will set out the steps Government consider need to be taken to increase deployment of this technology in England. This document will be the starting point for close collaboration between Government, industry and other interested parties.
It is essential that biomass fuel is produced sustainably. We intend to introduce sustainability criteria in April 2011 under the renewables obligation. The criteria will include minimum greenhouse gas emissions savings and restrictions to protect land important on carbon or biodiversity grounds.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the carbon footprint caused by the importation of biomass which has been cut, dried and transported from its country of origin by sea to the UK and then transported within the UK to biomass plants for combustion. [25389]
Charles Hendry: In 2008, the Environment Agency, the Biomass Energy Centre and DEFRA developed a Biomass Environmental Assessment Tool (BEAT) as an aid to assessing the likely environmental impact of a biomass energy project in the UK. This tool calculates the emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide over the whole lifecycle of a biomass transport of the biomass, to combustion at a power station or boiler and disposal of ashes.
This tool was used in the preparation of a report, 'Minimising greenhouse gas emissions from biomass energy generation', published in April 2009, that assessed the greenhouse gas (GHG) savings for biomass feedstocks used in heat and power schemes in the UK compared to fossil fuel. A copy of this report is available from the Environment Agency's website. This report showed that where imported biomass feedstocks were cultivated, processed and transported with due consideration for sustainability, significant GHG lifecycle savings compared to fossil fuel could be delivered. Good practices would include, for example, shipping the biomass in large container vessels and using renewable or low carbon energy to fuel the processing plant.
We are proposing to introduce sustainability criteria, under the renewables obligation, for the use of solid and gaseous biomass to generate electricity. These criteria include a GHG lifecycle emissions saving of 60% compared to fossil fuel and restrictions on the use of material from land important on carbon or biodiversity grounds. These criteria would apply to both UK and imported biomass feedstocks.
Biofuels: Feed-in Tariffs
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what levels of feed-in tariff he plans to adopt for the generation of (a) biogas, (b) biomethane and (c) electricity from anaerobic digestion. [25239]
Charles Hendry: We expect to be in a position to announce the details of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)scheme, including RHI tariffs and technologies supported, before the end of this year. This will include our decisions on biogas and biomethane.
Under the Renewables Obligation electricity generated by anaerobic digestion (AD) receives two Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) per MWh. The feed-in tariff for electricity from anaerobic digestion is 11.5p per KWh for schemes of up to 500 kW and 9p per KWh for those between 500 kW and 5 MW.
Carbon Emissions: Business
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the introduction of mandatory carbon reporting for businesses under section 85 of the Climate Change Act 2008. [24666]
Gregory Barker [pursuant to the reply, 6 July 2010, Official Report, c.147W]: I met my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley) (the Department responsible for policy on company reporting of greenhouse gas emissions) in October to discuss this issue.
Carbon Emissions: Housing
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will meet representatives of the heating and hot water industry to discuss the proposed Green Deal. [24093]
Gregory Barker: The ministerial team and my officials regularly meet a range of stakeholders on issues around heat demand and low carbon heat technologies including those representing the heating and hot water industry. During the past few months, the Green Deal has been part of these discussions. I and my officials will continue to meet a range of stakeholders as the Green Deal develops, including the heating and hot water industry.
Climate Change: International Cooperation
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress he expects to be made towards cutting carbon dioxide emissions at the 2010 Climate Change Conference in Cancun. [23206]
Gregory Barker: The Government are committed to working towards an ambitious global deal to tackle climate change. At Cancun, we want to see substantive progress made on a politically balanced package of decisions that help re-establish momentum towards that goal.
Our aim is that this package should include decisions on anchoring developed and developing country mitigation pledges into the formal UNFCCC process, agreement on the measurement, reporting and verification arrangements for emissions from both developed and developing countries, arrangements for the future governance of climate finance (including establishing the Green Fund), measures to reduce emissions from deforestation, as well as arrangements on market mechanisms, the technology mechanism and adaptation framework.
Departmental Postal Services
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the monetary value was of contracts between his Department and its predecessors and (a) Post Office Ltd. and (b) Royal Mail in (i) 1997-98 and (ii) each year since 2004-05. [24920]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) was created on 3 October 2008, merging functions previously undertaken by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
Because of the way information was held on the accounting systems of predecessor Departments, it is not possible to identify DECC's share of expenditure with specific suppliers prior to 2009-10.
Expenditure with the Post Office Ltd and Royal Mail for the financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11 are shown in the following table:
| £ | ||
| Supplier | 2009-10 | 1 April to 17 November 2010 |
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department has taken to identify those of its services that could be provided through the Post Office network. [24921]
Gregory Barker: The Department does not deliver services of the type that would be suitable for delivery by post offices. Much of what the Department delivers is quite technical in nature, is through the use of energy company licences or is via regional telephone and web-based advice centres.
Departmental Regulation
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what new regulations sponsored by his Department have been introduced through (a) primary legislation and (b) statutory instrument in the last six months. [24496]
Gregory Barker: There has been no DECC primary legislation introduced into Parliament in the period from 15 May 2010 to 15 November 2010.
The following statutory instruments have been made by DECC Ministers in that period:
The Energy Act 2008 (Consequential Modifications) (Offshore Environmental Protection) Order 2010 (SI 2010/1513)
The Energy Act 2008 (Commencement No. 5) Order 2010 (SI 2010/1888)
The Energy Act 2004 (Commencement No. 10) Order 2010 (SI 2010/1889)
The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/1893)
The Sale of Electricity by Local Authorities (Scotland) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/1908)
The Sale of Electricity by Local Authorities (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/1910)
The Electricity and Gas (Carbon Emissions Reduction) (Amendment) Order 2010 (SI 2010/1958)
The Aviation Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/1996)
The Radioactive Contaminated Land Regulations (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2145)
The Radioactive Contaminated Land (Modification of Enactments) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2146)
The Radioactive Contaminated Land (Enabling Powers and Modification of Enactments) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2147)
The Radioactive Contaminated Land (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2153)
The Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Licensing etc.) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2221)
The Electricity (Guarantees of Origin of Electricity Produced from Renewable Energy Sources) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/2715)
Not included are any regulations made by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority, or any regulations laid in draft but not yet made.
Fuel Poverty
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the effects of recent changes to (a) British Gas and (b) Scottish and Southern Energy tariffs on levels of fuel poverty. [24955]
Gregory Barker: The impact of recent changes in domestic energy prices on fuel poverty will lead to upward pressure on fuel poverty in 2011. However, the true effect will only be known when we have full information on prices from all suppliers, and full survey data used for compiling the estimates of fuel poverty, including the mix of domestic fuels used by households, the income of those living in the households and the energy efficiency of the housing stock. An assessment of the likely impact of all these changes will be made next summer when DECC publish 2011 projections of fuel poverty for England.
Fuel poverty projections for 2009 and 2010 for England were published in October in the annual report on fuel poverty statistics:
Institute for Fiscal Studies
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on services provided by the Institute for Fiscal Studies in each year since its creation. [23399]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has spent nothing on services provided by the Institute for Fiscal Studies since its creation on 3 October 2008.
Regulation
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what regulations sponsored by his Department have been revoked in the last six months. [24381]
Gregory Barker: In the last six months, the Department has not revoked any regulatory measures(1).
However, we have introduced two deregulatory statutory instruments which prescribe a power to allow local authorities to sell electricity generated from renewable as well as combined heat and power sources:
The Sale of Electricity by Local Authorities (Scotland) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/1908)
The Sale of Electricity by Local Authorities (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/1910)
Also, my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, responsible for the Department's regulatory agenda, wrote to 250 of the Department's key stakeholders asking for their views on ways to reduce DECC's regulatory burden. The response letter from my noble Friend and a summary of responses to this exercise was published 12 November on the DECC internet site:
My noble Friend's response announced plans to repeal 28 regulations. The exact process for repealing these is still being explored (a suitable vehicle for repeal needs to be found, and consultation with relevant parties such as the devolved administrations will need to take place for certain policies).
We will also be continuing to scrutinise our stock of regulation and pipeline measures inherited from the previous administration with a view to finding OUTs, for the one-in, one-out regulatory management system.
(1) Notes:
The Aviation Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2301) were revoked and replaced by the Aviation Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/1996). The 2009 regulations will however continue to have effect for some purposes.
We have not included any revocations of DECC legislation by other Departments, or any partial revocations of DECC legislation.
We have not included any regulations revoked by the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority.
Renewable Energy
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 2 November 2010, Official Report, column 722W, on renewable energy, what estimate he has made of the change in (a) domestic and (b) commercial electricity bills consequent upon the provision of around 30 per cent. of electricity from renewable sources in 2020. [23665]
Charles Hendry: Based on our last published estimates in July 2010, we estimate renewables policies will add £105 (26%) to the average annual domestic electricity bill in 2020 and £246,000 (25%) to the average medium-sized annual non-domestic user's electricity bill in 2020 (compared with a bill in the same year in the absence of these policies, but including other energy and climate change policies). These estimates do not account for the potential offsetting impact from higher levels of renewables reducing wholesale electricity prices, which we estimate could be of the order of £6/MWh on average in the years to 2020.
The above estimates are based on a fossil fuel price scenario consistent with an $80/bbl oil price in 2020. In a world of higher fossil fuel prices ($150/barrel in 2020) the impact of renewables policies would be to increase
domestic electricity bills by only £70 (13%) and add just £163,000 (12%) to the average electricity bill of medium-sized non-domestic users in 2020.
Wind Power: Coastal Areas
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of off-shore wind turbines which do not require direct anchoring to the sea bed. [24307]
Charles Hendry: Offshore wind turbines that do not require direct anchoring to the seabed, so-called "floating turbines", are a new and emerging renewable energy technology. We are aware of one in the world-in Norway-so cost estimates are highly uncertain.
A recent study on behalf of the Offshore Valuation Group(1) indicates a levelised cost in the range of £120 to £201/MWh for floating offshore wind turbines in 2015. By 2045, it predicts that costs will reduce to £66 to £116/MWh. For fixed offshore wind, the same report indicates levelised costs of £91 to £168/MWh in 2015 and £50 to £90/MWh in 2045.
(1) The Offshore Valuation: A valuation of the UK's offshore renewable energy resource. Public Interest Research Centre, 2010:
Home Department
Asylum: Finance
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long on average section 4 payment cards have been used by asylum seekers prior to (a) return to country of origin and (b) grant of UK immigration status. [23431]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not hold this information centrally. The UK Border Agency would incur a disproportionate cost in collating this information.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance for transportation costs is available for people in receipt of Section 4 support. [23481]
Damian Green: Under the Immigration and Asylum (Provision of Services of Services or Facilities) Regulations 2007 ("the 2007 Regulations") the Secretary of State may supply, or arrange for the supply of, facilities for travel for a qualifying journey to a supported person to (a) receive health care treatment, provided that the supported person has provided evidence that the qualifying journey is necessary; or (b) register a birth.
This is usually provided in the form of public transport tickets issued by the supported person's accommodation provider on behalf of the UK Border Agency.
Asylum: Glasgow
Mr Bain:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what future arrangements her Department plans to make for asylum seekers in Glasgow following the termination of the contract between the UK Border
Agency and Glasgow city council for the provision of accommodation and other services to asylum seekers. [24118]
Damian Green [holding answer 15 November 2010]: We will transfer those affected to an alternative provider operating in Glasgow by 3 February 2011. The affected service users are currently accommodated, under a sub contract arrangement, with Glasgow Housing Association. The other accommodation provider to whom we are transferring service users also uses Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) as a provider of accommodation, so no physical move of service users may be necessary.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department's policy is on the future dispersal of asylum seekers to Glasgow. [24119]
Damian Green [holding answer 15 November 2010]: Asylum seekers will continue to be dispersed to the remaining two housing providers in Glasgow, that is Angel Group and YMCA Glasgow.
Counter-terrorism
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation her Department undertook with (a) organisations and (b) individuals on the rapid review of counter-terrorism powers. [23050]
Nick Herbert: As part of the review of counter-terrorism and security powers, we have consulted civil liberty and human rights organisations, the police, prosecutors, the security and intelligence agencies, community groups, local authorities, victims' groups, organisations representing the legal profession, individuals who undertake statutory functions in relation to counter-terrorism and security legislation, organisations with an interest in photography and academics with an interest in counter-terrorism legislation. Consultations on the review have been held in Belfast, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester and London. A number of members of the public have contributed to the review through the dedicated e-mail address which was provided for contributions.
A summary of the consultation process and the responses received will be published in due course.
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which organisations have submitted responses to the Government's rapid review of counter-terrorism powers. [23052]
Nick Herbert: The following organisations have submitted written contributions to the review of counter-terrorism and security powers:
Amnesty International
The Association of Chief Police Officers
British Irish Rights Watch
Campaign Against Criminalising Communities
The Chamber of Shipping
Cheshire West and Chester Council regulatory services
The Crown Prosecution Service
Demos
Disaster Action
Engage
The Equality and Human Rights Commission
Hertfordshire County Council
Human Rights Watch
Justice
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
The Law Society
Liberty
Liverpool City Council
The Local Government Group
Metropolitan Police
National Policing Improvement Agency
National Union of Journalists
North Yorkshire Council
NUJ Parliamentary Group
Plymouth City Council
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Royal Photographic Society
SceneThat
Scotland Against Criminalising Communities
The security and intelligence agencies
The Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group
Surrey County Council
Trading Standards Institute
Trading Standards North West
West Yorkshire Police Authority
Wolverhampton City Council
A range of other Government Departments have contributed to the review as have a number of individuals.
Departmental Press: Subscriptions
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which local newspapers her Department had a subscription between June 2009 and May 2010; on what date each such subscription started; and what the cost to the public purse was of such subscriptions. [24432]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office subscribed to the Evening Standard 2009 between June and October 2009 (after which it became a free sheet) at a total cost of £37.50. No further subscriptions were taken out for any other local newspaper for the period specified.
Departmental Public Expenditure
David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much and what proportion of her Department's capital expenditure was allocated to (a) London and (b) the North West in each of the last five financial years. [21463]
Nick Herbert: The country and regional analysis is a yearly exercise in which departments participate. It allocates departmental spending to regions based on who benefits from that spending, not necessarily where the spending takes place.
On that, basis the proportion of Home Office capital expenditure per specified region was as follows:
| Percentage | ||
| London | North West | |
Departmental Regulation
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations sponsored by her Department have been revoked in the last six months. [24385]
Nick Herbert: The following regulations have been revoked in the last six months:
The Immigration and Nationality (Cost Recovery Fees) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/228) were revoked by the Immigration and Nationality (Cost Recovery Fees) (No. 2) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2226) which were made on 7 September 2010.
The Misuse of Drugs (Licence Fees) Regulations 1986 (S.I. 1986/416) and the Misuse of Drugs (Licence Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/611) were revoked by the Misuse of Drugs (Licence Fees) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2497) which were made on 12 October 2010.
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new regulations sponsored by her Department have been introduced through (a) primary legislation and (b) statutory instrument in the last six months. [24545]
Nick Herbert: No new regulations have been introduced by primary legislation in the last six months.
The following regulations have been introduced by statutory instrument in the last six months:
The Firearms (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1759) which were made on 6 July 2010
The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment No.2) (England, Wales and Scotland) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1799) which were made on 13 July 2010
The Immigration and Nationality (Cost Recovery Fees) (No.2) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2226) which were made on 7 September 2010
The Police Pensions (Additional Voluntary Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2235) which were made on 7 September 2010
The Police Authority (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2412) which were made on 30 September 2010
The Misuse of Drugs (Licence Fees) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2497) which were made on 12 October 2010
The Controlled Drugs (Drug Precursors) (Intra-Community Trade and Community External Trade) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2564) which were made on 19 October 2010
The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Guernsey) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2700) which were made on 8 November 2010
The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Jersey) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S. 1.2010/2701) which were made on 8 November 2010
The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2702) which were made on 8 November 2010.
Domestic Violence
Ed Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations her Department has received on the piloting of domestic violence protection orders. [24644]
Mrs May [holding answer 17 November 2010]: We have had representations from members of the Opposition, members of the public, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the National Society for the Prevention against Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). I will set out future policy in this area in due course.
International Organization for Migration: Finance
Mr Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding her Department allocated to the International Organization for Migration in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010. [24050]
Damian Green: The funding allocated by the Department to the International Organization for Migration in the financial years 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 was as follows:
| £ | |
| Note: These figures are of payments actually made during the financial years in question. | |
This is internal management information and is subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.
Internet
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress her Department is making on ending the storage of internet and email records without good reason. [19426]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 25 October 2010]: The Government will legislate to ensure that the ability of the security intelligence and law enforcement agencies to obtain communications data is proportionate to the natural security and law enforcement needs of the country and is accompanied by appropriate civil liberties safeguards.
Olympic Games 2012: Security
Ed Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether she (a) has made and (b) plans to make any changes to the London 2012 Olympics security budget as a result of the outcome of the comprehensive spending review; [23191]
(2) what funding her Department has allocated for security for the London 2012 Olympics in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13. [23325]
Mrs May
[holding answer 11 November 2010]: Detailed spending plans for the security of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are being considered in the light of the comprehensive spending review settlement
and the Government's recent audit and review of Olympics security planning. We intend to make a further announcement next month. Funding for the Olympics security will be prioritised within the Home Office budget and we will ensure sufficient funding is in place to deliver a safe and secure Olympic Games in 2012.
Police: Accountability
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost of elections for directly-elected police commissioners. [15152]
Nick Herbert: The Government's Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill will be accompanied with a legislative impact assessment which will set out the costed estimate for the election of police and crime commissioners.
Provision for the costs of electing commissioners was included in the police settlement announced on 20 October. This funding was specifically provided in order to prevent costs falling on force budgets.
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the election of a police commissioner for the Devon and Cornwall police force area. [21370]
Nick Herbert: The Government's Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill will be accompanied with a legislative impact assessment which will set out the overall cost estimates for police and crime commissioners.
Provision for the costs of electing commissioners was included in the police settlement announced on 20 October. This funding was specifically provided in order to prevent costs falling on force budgets.
Ed Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what voting system will be used in elections for police and crime commissioners. [23851]
Mrs May [holding answer 12 November 2010]: Our consultation document, "Policing in the 21st Century", published on 26 July 2010, set out the Government belief that a preferential voting system is the right option. The consultation exercise on these proposals closed on 20 September and a detailed response will be published shortly.
Ed Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which heading in her departmental budget funds will be provided for the costs of establishing police and crime commissioners. [23863]
Mrs May [holding answer 12 November 2010]: Provision for the costs of electing police and crime commissioners was specifically included in the police settlement announced on 20 October.
Police: Retirement
Ed Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers (a) retired, (b) resigned and (c) took voluntary redundancy in each of the last three years. [24012]
Mrs May [holding answer 15 November 2010]: The following table provides the available data which show the number of police officers retired and resigned as at 31 March 2008 to 2010, by police force area.
Retirement figures include those that have early medical retirement, medical retirement after 30 years of service and normal retirement.
Resignation figures include voluntary redundancies.
| Number of police officers who have retired and resigned between 2007-08 and 2009-10, by police force area( 1,2,)( )( 3) | ||||||
| 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | ||||
| Retired | Resigned | Retired | Resigned | Retired | Resigned | |
| (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 constituent items. (2) Retirement figures include those that have early medical retirement, medical retirement after 30 years of service and normal retirement. (3) Resignation figures include voluntary redundancies. | ||||||
Terrorism
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects her Department's review of counter-terrorism legislation to consult Lord Carlile of Berriew. [23676]
Nick Herbert
[holding answer 12 November 2010]: Home Office officials will continue to consult Lord Carlile of Berriew QC on the review of counter-terrorism and security powers. As set out in the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 13 July 2010, Official Report, columns 797-809, the review is
being conducted by the Home Office and proposals made by Lord Carlile QC will be fully considered as part of the review.
UK Border Agency: Glasgow
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with the chief executive of the UK Border Agency on the termination of the contract between the UK Border Agency and Glasgow city council for the provision of accommodation and other services to asylum seekers; and if she will make a statement. [24120]
Damian Green [holding answer 15 November 2010]: The Secretary of State for the Home Department has not discussed the termination of the contract between the UK Border Agency and Glasgow city council with the chief executive of the UK Border Agency. She does not intend to make a statement on this matter.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether compensation will be payable by the UK Border Agency to Glasgow city council following the termination of the contract between these bodies for the provision of accommodation and other services to asylum seekers. [24121]
Damian Green [holding answer 15 November 2010]: The UK Border Agency will be liable for early termination costs which have not yet been determined. These costs will be significantly lower than the financial savings that will be realised by moving service users to alternative providers already operating in Glasgow.
Visas
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date she plans to implement her proposal for entrepreneur visas; on what criteria applications for such visas will be assessed; how many such visas she expects to be granted in the first 12 months of the operation of that visa programme; and if she will make a statement. [23677]
Damian Green [holding answer 12 November 2010]: We will announce full details of our proposals for the entrepreneur category in due course.
Justice
Departmental Press: Subscriptions
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice to which local newspapers his Department had a subscription between June 2007 and May 2010; on what date each such subscription started; and what the cost to the public purse was of such subscriptions. [24431]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) subscribes to many different periodicals and professional magazines (hard copy and online via individual purchase and subscription) for both staff and the judiciary.
It would incur disproportionate costs to examine each transaction under the relevant accounting codes
and research whether it is a subscription or one off purchase, as well as to whether the publication in question is a local newspaper.
Accounting systems for the MoJ, HMCS, Tribunals Service and OPG do not differentiate between local papers, national papers or magazines and periodicals. The same account codes also include some books. The natural account codes for the National Offender Management Service do not differentiate between purchased publications and publications created for their organisation.
Departmental Regulation
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what regulations sponsored by his Department have been revoked in the last six months; [24386]
(2) what new regulations sponsored by his Department have been introduced through (a) primary legislation and (b) statutory instrument in the last six months. [24500]
Mr Djanogly: In the last six months, the Ministry of Justice has made one revocation instrument-the Local Land Charges (Amendment) Rules 2010 which revoked the fee paid for a personal search of the local land charges register and came into effect on 17 August 2010.
The Ministry of Justice has not introduced any primary legislation during the last six months. However, it has made 22 statutory instruments in the last six months including the following which have regulatory impact:
The Legal Services Act 2007 (Commencement No.8 Transitory and Transitional Provisions) Order 2010.
The Legal Services Act 2007 (Legal Complaints) (Parties) Order 2010.
Fines: Insurance
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many fines were imposed for vehicle insurance offences in (a) Cambridgeshire constabulary and (b) North East Cambridgeshire constituency in the last 12 months; [24832]
(2) what estimate he made of the average monetary value of a fine imposed for a vehicle insurance offence in (a) Cambridgeshire constabulary and (b) North East Cambridgeshire constituency in the last 12 months. [24833]
Mr Blunt: In 2009 (latest available), there were 1,866 findings of guilt for vehicle insurance offences at all courts within Cambridgeshire police force area. Of these findings of guilt, 1,260 fines were imposed and the average fine imposed was £227.
Information is not available at constituency level; therefore it is not possible to supply data for the North East Cambridgeshire constituency.
Court proceedings data for 2010 are planned for publication in 2011.
Vehicle insurance offences can also attract a fixed penalty notice. Figures provided by the Home Office on the number of fixed penalty notices issued for vehicle insurance offences in Cambridgeshire in 2008-09 (latest available) is 321. Data held by the Home Office cannot separately identify tickets issued in North East Cambridgeshire.
Fixed penalty notices issued for this offence are of the value of £200.
Motoring offences data for 2010 are planned for publication by the Home Office in April 2011.
Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will estimate the effects on the budget of the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit of the proposed reduction in funding from the Legal Services Commission. [25037]
Mr Djanogly: Decisions made under the tender process for the award of legal aid contracts are a matter for the Legal Services Commission (LSC), which is responsible for administering the legal aid scheme.
In accordance with the Public Contract Regulations, when existing legal aid contracts were due to end in 2010, the LSC was required to run an open tender process for legal aid work. This meant using criteria that enabled both existing and new entrants to bid for their allocation of cases known as "New Matter Starts" (NMS). In all areas where the volume of NMS tendered for was greater than those available, as in the North West Area Greater Manchester Access Point, selection criteria were applied, and NMS were awarded according to the ranking of the bid.
In the financial year 2009-10 Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit started 381 Asylum and 143 Immigration NMS.
In the tender, Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit scored the same points as several other organisations, therefore NMS were allocated to them on a pro-rata basis. They were awarded 162 Asylum and 33 Immigration NMS when the new contracts commenced on 15 November.
As the LSC does not have detailed knowledge of Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit's accounts and other sources of funding they receive, it is not in a position to comment on their budget.
Information Commissioner's Office: Legal Action
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what material legal actions the Information Commissioner's Office has initiated against people or companies alleged to have broken UK law in each of the last 10 years; and how many such actions resulted in a conviction in each such year. [24401]
Mr Djanogly: Details of legal actions initiated by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) are set out in the following tables.
| Data Protection Act 1998 | ||||
| Prosecutions | Convictions | Undertakings | Enforcement notices | |
ICO prosecutions under the Data Protection Act have sometimes been for multiple offences.
| Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 200 3( 4) | ||||
| Enforcement notices | Convictions( 5) | Enforcement orders | Undertakings | |
| Freedom of Information Act 2000( 8) | ||
| Practice recommendations( 9) | Enforcements( 10) | |
| (1) In 2001-02 there were 16 withdrawals, nine offences lay on file, and there were eight acquittals. (2) There was one desertion in 2007-08. (3) In 2008-09 there were five withdrawals. (4) The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations came into force in December 2003. (5) Convictions for breach of Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations enforcement notices. (6) This includes three undertakings secured under part 8 of the Enterprise Act 2002. (7) The ICO assisted West Sussex Trading Standards in their successful application for an enforcement order obtained under the Enterprise Act 2002 for breaches of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations. (8) The Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into force in 2005, and the Commissioner's Office received its first Freedom of Information complaints at the end of the 2004-05 financial year. (9) A practice recommendation can be issued by the Information Commissioner where a public authority does not conform to the codes of practice associated with the Act. (10) An enforcement notice under the Freedom of Information Act is a legal order the Information Commissioner can make to require a public authority to address its failure to comply with part 1 of the Freedom of Information Act. In practice, this is most likely to be used where there is systemic or repeated non-compliance. Source: This information has been provided by the ICO. | ||
Office of the Information Commissioner: Personnel
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff of the Office of the Information Commissioner are employed solely to process complaints made to that office. [24400]
Mr Djanogly: 150 staff at the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) deal solely with complaints, and a further 83 staff deal with complaints in addition to other duties in enforcement or audit work, or answering inquiries.
This information has been provided by the ICO.
Prisons: Education
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners have received (a) degrees and (b) higher education qualifications in each year since 2007. [25089]
Mr Blunt: NOMS does not centrally hold data on the number of prisoners attaining degrees or higher education qualifications. Most Higher Education (HE) courses are provided by the Open University (OU) who have provided data, but there are likely to be some additional prisoners studying HE qualifications via distance learning with other providers.
The following table includes data provided by the OU and shows the number of prisoner attainments between 2006 and 2010(1).
(1) Data excludes students who received degree or HE qualifications following release from custody after starting their course in prison.
| Academic year | Diploma | Certificates | Post Grad. cert/diploma | BA/BSc | MA/ MSc | Total |
Prisons: Opinion Polls
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to allow political opinion polling to take place in prisons. [24807]
Mr Blunt: There are no plans for political opinion polling to take place in prisons.
Young Offender Institutions: Population
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the (a) population and (b) capacity is of young offenders institutions in (i) England and Wales and (ii) the South East. [24560]
Mr Blunt: Provisional custody population figures and capacity for young offenders (including 18-year-olds) in young offenders institutions (YOIs) are shown in the following table for September 2010.
| September 2010 | Beds occupied | Beds commissioned |
| Notes: 1. These figures are provisional until they are finalised in the Youth Justice Board (YJB) Annual Workload Statistics 2009-10. 2. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time. 3. The figures given for the South East of England relate to available capacity and population at HMYOIs Cookham Wood and Downview's Josephine Butler Unit-these being the primary locations for young people given custody within this region. | ||
Youth Justice: Greater London
Mr Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding his Department has allocated for youth crime provision in London in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what estimate he made of the amount of such funding allocated in respect of young people aged (a) 12 years and under, (b) between 13 and 17 years and (c) between 18 and 24 years in 2009-10. [24629]
Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice has provided the following amounts to youth offending teams in London over the last five years:
| £ | |
These figures are inclusive of the funding provided by the Home Office and Department for Education, the exact amounts could not be separated due to disproportionate costs.
The funding provided to youth offending teams in London in 2009-10 is £24,428,567. It is not known what proportion of this is allocated to different age groups.
The Ministry of Justice provided £4.65 million in funding to the Department for Education in 2009-10 for the implementation of the non-family element of the Youth Crime Action Plan, a portion of this funding would have been spent in the London area.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Browne Review
22. Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what international comparisons he made of university fees and student loans systems and their effect on disadvantaged groups in formulating his response to the recommendations of the Browne review. [24742]
Mr Willetts: The Department recently commissioned a study of 17 comparator countries and published a subsequent research report entitled "Review of Student Support Arrangements in Other Countries".
This showed that studies of the impact of student loans on participation generally indicate no adverse impact on participation of lower-income groups when an increase in tuition fees occurs alongside enhanced loan and grant provision.
Competition Policy
Mr Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the future of his Department's competition policy. [24730]
Mr Davey: The Government have announced they will consult on proposals to strengthen the competition regime and deliver more streamlined and consistent processes for businesses by bringing together the Competition Commission and the competition functions of the Office of Fair Trading to form a single competition and markets authority.
The aim is to enhance further an already world-class regime to the benefit of consumers, and to growth and productivity of the economy. We expect to issue the consultation document in the new year.
Broadband: Wales
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions Ministers and officials in his Department have had with Members of the National Assembly for Wales other than Ministers in the Welsh Assembly Government on a proposed pilot in Wales for high speed broadband services. [24846]
Mr Vaizey: BIS Ministers did not have any meetings with members of the National Assembly for Wales about the superfast broadband pilots prior to their selection but officials had regular dialogue with all the devolved Administrations and regional development agencies prior to the selection of the superfast broadband pilots. My officials continue to work with the Welsh Assembly Government on ways in which we can together help deliver broadband rollout.
Business
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds for benchmarking purposes on (a) industrial sector, (b) mean growth rate, (c) size and (d) formal links to scientific institutions of high growth businesses in other countries. [24480]
Mr Prisk: BIS does not hold its own information on high growth firms in other countries but makes use of material published by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), the European Commission, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) among other organisations, though this is not used primarily for benchmarking purposes.
The proportion of innovating businesses who collaborate, including with the science base, is available for some countries from the regular Innovation Surveys carried out in Europe and around the world. But these do not identify high growth businesses-a group that is likely to change over time.
Details on the group of businesses identified as being high growth in the UK is included in the research report published by NESTA entitled "Measuring Business Growth", available at
This includes comparisons with selected countries on the share of enterprises defined as high growth, although detailed comparisons by size, sector and growth rate are not available.
The OECD is about to publish the third annual publication of "Measuring Entrepreneurship: a digest of indicators" which includes data produced using its definition for high growth businesses from 15 OECD countries. The UK (Office for National Statistics) is yet to supply these data to the OECD, but once the report is available, it will enable the UK to benchmark with other countries.
Business: Finance
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to increase access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises. [24848]
Mr Prisk: The coalition Government are committed to ensuring that viable SMEs have access to the finance they need to support growth.
On 1 November we published our response to the consultation on business finance issues, "Financing a private sector recovery" which is available at:
We have also published our strategy "Backing small business", setting out new measures to help SMEs grow and to boost enterprise, available at:
There are various measures in place to support access to finance for businesses. The Government aim to continue to support and improve the diversity of sources and access to finance for SMEs and businesses through:
A four year extension to the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) making around £2 billion available to viable SMEs without a credit history or lacking sufficient collateral.
An increased commitment to the Enterprise Capital Fund programme of £200 million to support small businesses with the highest growth potential, providing more than £300 million of venture capital investment into the equity gap after both Government and private sector funding are combined.
Welcoming the banks' announcement of a new £1.5 billion Business Growth Fund, to provide equity funding of between £2 million and £10 million for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) with strong growth potential.
The Government will also work with the British Bankers' Association's Business Finance Taskforce and the banks on a range of commitments set out in their response to the Green Paper and which will assist SMEs with access to finance issues, including their commitments on improving the way they deal with complaints from SME customers.
Finally, the Government continue to monitor performance against the legally binding lending commitments agreed with The Royal Bank of Scotland Group and Lloyds Banking Group. These will deliver £50 billion and £44 billion of business lending this year respectively, providing businesses with capital for investment and growth.
Hairdressing: Licensing
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what steps his Department has taken to prevent private companies claiming to be licensing authorities in the hairdressing sector in the last five years; and if he will make a statement; [24800]
(2) if he will take steps against private companies which operate bogus licensing arrangements in the hairdressing sector; [24801]
(3) what his policy is on private companies issuing licences to trade without government backing in competition with existing regulatory bodies created by Act of Parliament. [24802]
Mr Davey: A person does not need a licence to operate as a hairdresser. However, to run a hairdressing business it may be necessary to register with the environmental heath department of the local authority if they have adopted local byelaws under the Public Health Act 1961.
It is an offence under existing legislation for private companies to mislead hairdressers that they require a licence to operate, or to falsely claim to be licensing authorities in the hairdressing sector. The Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008 prohibits misleading business-to-business advertising and marketing statements.
The regulations are enforced by local authority Trading Standards Services and the Office of Fair Trading.
Israel
Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on British-Israeli scientific co-operation; and if he will make a statement. [24639]
Mr Prisk [ holding answer 17 November 2010]: Through UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and the Science and Innovation Network (SIN), the British Government actively encourages British-Israeli Scientific Co-operation. It is a key area of bilateral co-operation between Israel and the UK.
During his recent visit to Israel, the Foreign Secretary was pleased to announce that 10 new joint British-Israeli research projects were to be funded through the Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership (BIRAX). The projects will develop innovative approaches to challenges in the Energy Sector and the Environment.
Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the (a) level of co-operation between British and Israeli industry and (b) effects of that co-operation on the British manufacturing and high technology sector. [24640]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 17 November 2010]: No assessment has been made on this particular issue. However the British Government thoroughly support the development of collaborative links between British and Israeli industry.
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of Israeli-UK trade relations within the science and technology sector; and if he will make a statement. [25303]
Mr Prisk: Collaboration between the UK and Israel in the area of science and technology is a priority for UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) who work closely with the active science and innovation team in the British embassy in Tel Aviv and their principals in the UK.
During his recent visit to Israel, the Foreign Secretary was pleased to announce that 10 new Israeli-British research partnerships are to be funded through the Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership (BIRAX). In addition, he announced the establishment of a new high level UK-Israel Life Sciences Council.
Local Enterprise Partnerships
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely effects on areas with high levels of public sector employment of not being within the geographical scope of a local enterprise partnership; and if he will make a statement. [24917]
Mr Prisk: Decisions have yet to be taken on where departmental cuts will be made and therefore the geographical impacts on public sector employment are not known. In addition, the local enterprise partnership map is not set in aspic. Discussions are still ongoing with prospective partnerships and we anticipate more to be invited to form their boards in the future.
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the potential involvement of community or voluntary sector organisations in the operation of local enterprise partnerships. [25190]
Mr Prisk: Local enterprise partnerships are locally developed organisations formed between local authorities and businesses. These partnerships have been encouraged to work closely with key economic stakeholders including social and community enterprises.
Local Enterprise Partnerships: North East
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of the North East region is currently covered by a Local Enterprise Partnership. [24971]
Mr Prisk: We anticipate full coverage in the north-east. The Tees Valley partnership has already been invited to develop their board and the other partnerships in the north-east who put forward outline proposals have agreed to work together to form a single partnership; we are currently waiting for this new proposal to be submitted.
Local Enterprise Partnerships: North Yorkshire
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress has been made on the selection of a local enterprise partnership for North Yorkshire. [25434]
Mr Prisk: The Government set out their expectations for local enterprise partnerships in the Local Growth White Paper. All partnerships that submitted initial outline proposals which did not meet our expectations were invited to reconsider them in light of these expectations and then resubmit, working with other partners as appropriate.
New Businesses: Females
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what schemes his Department (a) operates and (b) plans to operate to provide assistance to women to set up their own businesses; and if he will make a statement. [24571]
Mr Prisk: A number of measures are being undertaken with the purpose of stimulating growth which are particularly targeting support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These will assist women with setting up in business or help with improving the businesses already set up by women.
As the regional development agencies are decommissioned, I will introduce a new and flexible delivery system which will include a national website, a national contact centre and access to mentors which should help SMEs to grow. I also intend to establish a network of growth hubs in England to support businesses with high growth potential.
The Government will provide highly focused support to SMEs through a renewed and streamlined portfolio of business improvement products through Solutions for Business to be launched by this Department by April 2011.
We are establishing Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) as set out in the White Paper on Local Growth. This will involve local business and civic leaders working together to drive economic growth and create new jobs in their communities.
Overseas Trade: Asia
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills by what mechanisms UK Trade and Investment is encouraging British businesses to trade in emerging economies in Asia. [25415]
Mr Prisk:
Encouraging British business to trade with the emerging economies in Asia is a priority for the Government led by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, as seen through his visits to India and China. UK Trade and Investment has teams in all the major Asia economies which are tasked with drawing business opportunities to the attention of UK businesses and then helping them succeed internationally. UK Trade and Investment has a full programme of sectorally focused activity linked to Asian markets which, at its core, puts UK business in a position to trade successfully. Finally, the Asia Task Force, co-chaired by my right
hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, and the noble Lord Powell of Bayswater, has been running since 2009 a programme of outreach activity which, by the end of this year, will have encouraged more than 2000 businesses in the UK to look at business opportunities in Asia.
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