Written Answers to Questions
Friday 19 November 2010
House of Commons Commission
House of Commons: Housing
Lorely Burt: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission, what recent estimate the House of Commons Commission has made of the (a) capital and (b) rental value of the accommodation owned by the House Service at (i) 2 Parliament Street, (ii) 3 Parliament Street, (iii) 2a Canon Row, (iv) 2b Canon Row, (v) 4 Canon Row, (vi) 102 Rochester Row and (vii) 22 John Islip Street. [23409]
Sir Stuart Bell: The capital valuation, using International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), for properties on the estate prepared by the Valuation Office Agency in October 2010 was:
| Property | Value (£000) |
| (1 )Freehold (2 )Leasehold, estimated capital value | |
The ground rent and service charge on 102 Rochester Row is £6,686-the rental value cannot be separated. The House does not presently hold market rental values for any of the above properties.
Lorely Burt: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the running costs of each of the residences provided for officials of the House of Commons Service were in the most recent year for which figures are available. [23460]
Sir Stuart Bell: The running costs allocated to each of the residences provided for officials of the House of Commons Service for 2009-10 were: 2 Parliament Street, £6,646; 3 Parliament Street, £7,817; 2a Canon Row and 2b Canon Row, £3,835; 4 Canon Row, £14,192; and a flat at 102 Rochester Row, £13,215. In all these cases running costs include maintenance, council tax and TV licence; in the case of Rochester Row they also include rent and service charges, utility charges and parking. The costs of 2a and 2b Canon Row cannot be separated. The cost of items aggregated with other properties on the estate, such as major infrastructure costs, are not included.
Motions: Audio Recordings
Mr Amess: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2010, Official Report, columns 353-4, on motions, what progress the House of Commons Commission has made on placing on the Parliamentary website a sound recording of the debate held on a motion of no confidence in the Government on 28 March 1979; and if he will make a statement. [25000]
Sir Stuart Bell: A site for the recording has been identified on the Living Heritage pages of the parliamentary website. The remaining work is to edit seven hours of recording down to a maximum of 15 minutes to create content suitable for website users. This work is in hand.
Recycling
Andrew Selous: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission, what procedures are in place for the separation and recycling of waste from offices on the parliamentary estate. [25472]
Sir Stuart Bell: Many waste materials from offices on the parliamentary estate are separated and recycled, including cardboard, paper, glass, metal, light fittings, fluorescent and sodium lamps, glass, plastic drinks bottles and drinks cans, unwanted office files and binders, printer and photocopier toner cartridges, batteries, television monitors, refrigerators, small electronic equipment and computer hardware.
Most of these are collected in recycling bins located across the parliamentary estate. The waste contractor for the House provides a recycling operative on the estate to further separate the waste collected from inside the buildings, since some waste which has been contaminated with other waste cannot be sent for recycling and has to be incinerated instead. This system has increased the quantity of waste sent for recycling and decreased the quantity of waste sent for incineration. Separate compactors for paper for recycling and other waste for incineration are provided in both Peers' Inner Court and Commissioner's Yard.
Attorney-General
Departmental Internet
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney-General if he will publish on the No. 10 Downing Street Transparency microsite details of Ministerial and special adviser meetings, hospitality, gifts and overseas travel in respect of the Law Officers' Departments. [25218]
The Solicitor-General: The latest available details of ministerial meetings, hospitality, gifts and overseas travel for the Law Officers have been made available on the AGO website at:
This information has also been supplied to the Cabinet Office for central publication.
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney-General if he will (a) publish a business plan for the Law Officers' Departments and (b) make that plan available on the No. 10 Downing Street Transparency microsite. [25219]
The Solicitor-General: The information requested is as follows.
(a) Departmental business plans as launched on 8 November 2010 are designed to be high-level documents which provide key milestones for the fundamental structural reforms being undertaken in a Department, as set out in the coalition programme for government. Where there are currently no plans to undertake major structural reforms, such as for the Law Officer's Departments, no formal requirements have been made to create a business plan.
Arrangements for annual reporting to Parliament on departmental performance are still under consideration by Ministers. Further information will be provided in due course.
The Law Officers' Departments have internal business plans and consideration is being given to the most appropriate form for publication.
(b) Where the Law Officers' Departments are required to comply with the Prime Minister's letter of 29 May 2010 to Cabinet Ministers with regard to transparency, the information is made available for all members of the public to see on the departmental website(s). Information has also been provided to Cabinet Office for central publication.
Transport
Conwy Valley Railway Line
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has had discussions with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers on the upgrading of the Conwy Valley railway line to Route Availability 10. [25194]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport Ministers have not discussed this subject with the Welsh Assembly Government. Our high level output specification and the comprehensive spending review announcement set the overall context for spending on the railway in England and Wales.
Crossrail Line
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the expected date is for the completion of Crossrail. [24459]
Mrs Villiers: The central tunnel section of Crossrail is expected to be complete in 2018 and we expect that phased introduction of Crossrail services will commence from 2018.
Office of Rail Regulation: Freight
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for (a) the Office of Rail Regulation and (b) its duties in relation to freight lines. [23382]
Mrs Villiers:
The Government are committed to ensuring that the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) becomes a passenger champion. We are discussing how best to take this forward with the ORR. We also fully recognise the importance of the work of the ORR in relation to freight. Holding Network Rail to account with regard to the quality of service it provides to freight operators is a key part of the remit of the ORR. In assessing the
best options for reform of the rail industry and its regulatory structure, the Government will pay proper regard to the impact of any change on efforts to create the right climate for a successful rail freight industry.
Office of Rail Regulation: Network Rail
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what mechanisms he has put in place to ensure that the Office of Rail Regulation undertakes its functions in respect of Network Rail (a) efficiently and (b) in a way that meets the needs of its users. [23514]
Mrs Villiers: The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) is independent of Government and conducts its activities in accordance with its statutory functions and duties under relevant legislation, principally the Railways Act 1993 (as amended) and the Railways Act 2005.
The Government are committed to making Network Rail more accountable to its customers and to that end the Department for Transport is working with the Office of Rail Regulation to consider the options for reform. A further announcement on this work will be made in due course.
Railways: Bexley
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of people in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) the London borough of Bexley who have a 16 to 25 rail card. [24765]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport does not hold information about the number of people who hold 16 to 25 rail cards and has made no estimation of the numbers of holders in either the Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency or the London borough of Bexley.
Railways: South West
Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to upgrade rail infrastructure in the South West. [24063]
Mrs Villiers: Annex E of the Office of Rail Regulation's determination of funding for control period 4 lists the enhancements that will be made to the railway between April 2009 and March 2014. However, this information is not broken down by region. The determination document can be found online at:
My hon. Friend may wish to contact Network Rail's acting chief executive at the following address for more detailed information on the planned programme of improvements:
Peter Henderson
Acting Chief Executive
Network Rail
Kings Place
90 York Way
London, N1 9AG.
A further announcement about other specific rail improvements will be made shortly.
Railways: Wales
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will take steps to ensure the Office of Rail Regulation regulates the maintenance of all railway lines in Wales, including diversionary and other routes used for carrying freight, to the Route Availability stated in the Sectional Appendix; and if he will make a statement; [25193]
(2) if he will take steps to ensure that the Office of Rail Regulation ensure that Network Rail maintains the Conwy Valley railway line to Route Availability 7 as stated in the Sectional Appendix. [25195]
Mrs Villiers: The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) is independent of Government and conducts its activities in accordance with its statutory functions and duties. This includes holding Network Rail to account for delivering its obligations under its network licence. The network licence requires Network Rail, among other things, to manage the railway network so as to satisfy the reasonable requirements of operators and funders, both current and potential.
Maintenance of the railway is governed by robust processes, which provide safeguards for industry stakeholders. The ORR sets a baseline for the capability of the network and Periodic Review determinations ensure that Network Rail is funded to operate, maintain and renew the network to that capability. However, this does not preclude changes to the capability of the network being made in accordance with agreed industry procedures where this is considered appropriate.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Committee
Mass Media
Helen Jones: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what meetings members of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) staff have had with representatives of press and media organisations since IPSA's inception; on what date each such meeting was held; where each such meeting was held; and what the names were of those who attended each such meeting. [22339]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
As Interim Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what meetings members of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) staff have held with representatives of press and media organisations since IPSA's inception; on what date each such meeting was held; where each such meeting was held; and what the names were of those who attended each such meeting. (22339)
In the course of their work, IPSA staff have meetings and conversations with a wide range of people, including from time to time with members of press and media organisations. Disclosure of details of such meetings would, in my view, inhibit free and frank discussions.
Members: Pay
Helen Jones: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how many staff of hon. Members have (a) not received salaries to which they are entitled and (b) received less than their full salary from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority in each month since May 2010. [21924]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
As Interim Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many staff of hon. Members have (a) not received salaries to which they are entitled and (b) received less than their full salary from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority in each month since May 2010.
We are not aware of members of MPs' staff not receiving either their full salary with a matching payslip, or an advance payment to cover any missing salary or significant underpayments.
The table below shows the number of advances made and the reasons why the employee was underpaid or did not receive a payslip. The table also shows the number of salaries paid in each month to provide some context.
| Reason for advance | ||||||
| Month | Number of salaries paid | Number of advances | Incomplete information received from MP | Information received post-payroll cut off date | Administrative error by IPSA | Not stated |
| (1) Payroll yet to run. | ||||||
Education
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to reply to the letter of 9 September 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on Miss G Persse, transferred from the Department for Work and Pensions. [19860]
Tim Loughton: My noble Friend Lord Hill of Oareford replied in a letter dated 24 October 2010.
Schools: Finance
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools have been supported by Youth Sport Trust funding in each of the last three years. [20167]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 28 October 2010]: The Youth Sport Trust does not fund schools directly. The Department has paid grant to the network of school sport partnerships since 2003. All primary, secondary and special schools have been part of this network since 2006 and have benefited from this support. While the network helped schools to increase participation rates in the areas targeted by the previous Government, the fact remains that the proportion of pupils playing competitive sport regularly has remained disappointingly low. Only around two in every five pupils play competitive sport regularly within their own school, and only one in five plays regularly against others schools. In removing the many PE and sport targets and requirements placed on schools by the previous Government, we are freeing them to take decisions about the competitive sport that they offer in the best interests of the pupils and parents they serve.
Defence
Armed Forces: Housing
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects all family accommodation to be fully modernised. [25164]
Mr Robathan: We place a high priority on the welfare of Service personnel and their families and will therefore look to modernise as much accommodation as possible from efficiencies found within the Ministry of Defence, subject to wider Defence needs.
Armed Forces: Private Education
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh West of 10 November 2010, Official Report, column 391W, on armed forces: private education, how many service personnel of each rank received financial assistance from his Department through the continuity of education allowance scheme in 2009-10; and what the monetary value was of such assistance provided to service personnel of each rank in that year. [24636]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 17 November 2010]: Continuity of education allowance (CEA) provides an important means of supporting accompanied service. However this allowance, along with all service allowances, is currently under review in order to ensure value for money.
The number of service personnel identified by Army rank or equivalent and the associated payments of CEA in financial year 2009-10 is provided in the following table:
In addition, as elements of CEA are subject to a pay as you earn settlement agreement with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, the Ministry of Defence also paid £66 million for tax and national insurance following the grossing up of the allowance.
Departmental Allowances
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long on average he spends managing expenses and allowances claims; and if he will make a statement. [24518]
Dr Fox: My ministerial colleagues and I follow the Ministry of Defence's Policy, Rules and Guidance on expenses and allowances in the course of our official duties. However, the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Regulation
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what regulations sponsored by his Department have been revoked in the last six months. [24384]
Mr Robathan: In the last six months, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not revoked any regulatory measures. However, we are currently reviewing our secondary legislation in two areas. Firstly, regulations governing the Service Pensions and Compensation Schemes are reviewed annually and updated where necessary. Also being reviewed are existing Defence byelaws and other local instruments in relation to land occupied for Defence purposes.
Although regulations made by the MOD rarely impact on business, our reviews are being conducted with a view to rationalise the regulatory burden within these policy areas.
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what new regulations sponsored by his Department have been introduced through (a) primary legislation and (b) statutory instrument in the last six months. [24499]
Mr Robathan: In the last six months, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not introduced any regulations through primary legislation. During this period, one general statutory instrument has been introduced to update the armed forces' and reserve forces' compensation scheme.
The MOD has also introduced one local instrument in the last six months as part of our long-standing project to update existing Defence byelaws, and two further local instruments relating to members of the reserve forces in the Isle of Man.
Met Office
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will assess the merits of offering a public tender for its meteorological services contract held by the Met Office. [25284]
Mr Robathan: A review of the Met Office will be undertaken which will consider, among other options, different contracting opportunities for the meteorological services. It will report on its findings by the end of March 2011.
RAF Lyneham
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether his Department has carried out a feasibility study into accommodating at RAF Lyneham service personnel and their families currently stationed in Germany; [25322]
(2) whether he has estimated the cost of converting RAF Lyneham into a base for service personnel and their families currently stationed in Germany; [25323]
(3) which locations in the UK he is considering as potential bases for armed forces personnel and their families currently stationed in Germany. [25324]
Nick Harvey: Detailed work is currently being undertaken to identify precisely how the re-basing will be implemented and this work will take into account costs and accommodation issues. It is too early to say where personnel returning from Germany will be based. The possibilities could include parts of the existing defence estate which will be vacated as a result of other strategic defence and security review decisions, but this will be considered as we work through the details.
Rescue Services
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the Soteria consortium on the demilitarisation of Search and Rescue services in the UK. [25327]
Mr Robathan: The Review of the Search and Rescue-Helicopter project, announced in June 2010, is extensive and looking at all aspects of the procurement. Discussions are taking place with the preferred bidder (Soteria) where necessary. Until the Review is concluded it would be inappropriate to comment on any specific aspects of the Review.
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether his Department has undertaken an impact assessment of the demilitarisation of Search and Rescue services in the UK; [25328]
(2) what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the Search and Rescue private finance initiative contract; [25330]
(3) when his Department expects the review of the search and rescue private finance initiative contract to conclude; and if he will make a statement. [25468]
Mr Robathan: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has discussed the review of Search and Rescue Helicopter (SAR-H) project with the Secretary of State for Transport on a number of occasions. Ministers and officials from both Departments continue to engage.
Until the review of the SAR-H project is concluded it would be inappropriate to comment on any specific aspects of the Review. I expect this to happen in the near future, when an announcement on the way forward will be made.
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Royal Navy, (b) RAF, (c) HM Coastguard and (d) civilian personnel are employed in roles related to search and rescue activities. [25329]
Mr Robathan: The number of personnel currently employed in roles directly related to search and rescue activities in each of the four categories are listed in the following table:
| Number | |
The figures exclude Royal Navy, RAF, Maritime Coastguard Agency and civilian personnel who are employed in roles which indirectly support search and rescue activities but which also carry out non-search and rescue tasks. The figures also exclude volunteers who support search and rescue activities.
Culture, Media and Sport
Arts: Education
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussion he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the withdrawal of teaching support funding from arts degree courses. [25178]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: I regularly meet with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovations and Skills to discuss cross-departmental issues.
Arts: Finance
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the effects on arts and culture funding of the abolition of regional development agencies prior to the announcement of the outcomes of the Comprehensive Spending Review. [25180]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: I regularly meet with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovations and Skills to discuss cross-departmental issues.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the effects on arts and culture funding of cuts to local authority grants prior to the announcement of the outcomes of the Comprehensive Spending Review. [25181]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: I regularly meet with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to discuss cross-departmental issues.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the funding provided by each local authority for arts and cultural organisations and activities in the last five years. [25182]
Mr Vaizey: This Department does not collate each local authority's funding for arts and cultural authority. Annual data of overall local authority expenditure on cultural provision, including arts development and support, are published by the Department for Communities and Local Government. Local Government Financial Statistics England publications are available for the last five years at:
Broadband
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the public purse of implementing his proposals for the roll-out of high-speed broadband by 2017. [23668]
Mr Vaizey: The cost to central Government comprises £530 million, allocated in the spending review to support the rollout of broadband, and a further £300 million available from the TV licence fee settlement in the years 2015-16 and 2016-17. We will seek to match these funds with contributions from other public sector bodies where possible although until local delivery models are confirmed we are unable to provide a firm forecast of how much this will amount to.
Departmental Press: Subscriptions
Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible spent on press cuttings services in each of the last 12 months. [25494]
John Penrose: The amounts spent by the Department on press cuttings in each of the last 12 months are set out in the table:
| Month | £ (including) VAT |
These costs include copyright charges to the Newspaper Licensing Agency paid via our press cuttings service provider.
The Department does not collate this information for its arm's length bodies. Accordingly, I have asked their chief executives to write to the hon. Member for Harwich and North Essex.
Copies of the replies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Departmental Regulation
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what regulations sponsored by his Department have been revoked in the last six months. [24374]
John Penrose: The following statutory instruments sponsored by the Department have been revoked in the last six months:
The Ecclesiastical Exemption (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (England) Order 2010 revoked The Ecclesiastical Exemption (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (England) Order 2004;
The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces (Amendment) (No. 2) etc. Regulations 2010 revoked The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces (Amendment) etc. Regulations 2010;
The Welsh Language (Gambling and Licensing Form) Regulations 2010 revoked The Welsh Language (Gambling and Licensing Form) Order 2007.
The first and third instruments are replaced by similar regimes provided for by the revoking instrument. The second instrument revokes provisions permitting charging for parking in Richmond and Bushey parks.
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what new regulations sponsored by his Department have been introduced through (a) primary legislation and (b) statutory instrument in the last six months. [24489]
John Penrose: The following regulations sponsored by the Department and contained in statutory instruments have been made in the last six months:
The Ecclesiastical Exemption (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (England) (Amendment) Order 2010;
The Olympics, Paralympics and London Olympics Association Rights (Infringement Proceedings) Regulations 2010;
The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport Order 2010;
The Legislative Reform (Licensing) (Interim Authority Notices etc) Order 2010;
The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces (Amendment) (No.2) etc. Regulations 2010;
The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2010;
The Safety of Sports Grounds (Designation) Order 2010;
The Safety of Sports Grounds (Designation) (No. 2) Order 2010;
The Safety of Sports Grounds (Designation) (No. 3) Order 2010;
The Audiovisual Media Services (Codification) Regulations 2010;
The Welsh Language (Gambling and Licensing Form) Regulations 2010.
The Department has not sponsored any primary legislation in the last six months.
Youth Sports: Finance
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he had with the Secretary of State for Education on funding for Youth Sport Trust before the announcement of the outcomes of the Comprehensive Spending Review. [25179]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: I regularly meet with the Secretary of State for Education to discuss cross-departmental issues.
Energy and Climate Change
Energy: Prices
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what assessment he has made of the compliance of energy suppliers with Ofgem's overarching standards of conduct in respect of the requirement to not supply products that are unnecessarily complex or confusing; and if he will make a statement; [24784]
(2) whether Ofgem has made an assessment of the number of energy products on the market that are deemed unnecessarily complex or confusing under its overarching standards of conduct; and if he will make a statement; [24785]
(3) whether Ofgem makes an assessment of the compliance of new energy products that enter the market with its overarching standards of conduct in respect of the requirement not to supply products that are unnecessarily complex or confusing; and if he will make a statement; [24786]
(4) what measure of (a) complexity and (b) confusion Ofgem applies in its assessment of the compliance of energy products with the requirement not to be unnecessarily complex or confusing under its overarching standards of conduct; and if he will make a statement. [24787]
Charles Hendry: It is for Ofgem to monitor compliance with its standards of conduct. To meet its principal duty, to protect the interests of consumers, Ofgem actively monitors the activities of licence holders, including compliance with their standards of conduct.
As part of this process Ofgem will review whether changes to the gas and electricity supply licences introduced as part of the energy supply probe have proved sufficient to help consumers understand and benefit from the range of tariffs available to them, and consider what further steps may be needed.
Ofgem has said that if suppliers do not meet the obligations they will consider more formal action.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department monitors the application of (a) exit fees in respect of and (b) penalties applied to energy suppliers' tariffs; and if he will make a statement. [24994]
Charles Hendry: Ofgem monitors compliance with energy supply licence conditions. To meet its principal duty, to protect the interests of consumers, Ofgem actively monitors the activities of licence holders, including compliance with licence conditions which regulate the circumstances in which termination fees may be charged by suppliers to domestic consumers.
Subject to concurrency arrangements with the OFT, Ofgem also has the power under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 to investigate complaints about the fairness of contractual terms (including terms relating to amount of exit/termination fees) used in standard form contracts with domestic consumers.
Wind Power: Planning Permission
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what mechanisms are in place to ensure that local communities are consulted on the location of land-based wind turbines. [22417]
Charles Hendry: The relevant local planning authority "Statement of Community Involvement" will set out the method, scope and timing for consulting communities on applications for significant development, including onshore wind farms up to 50 megawatts installed capacity. Pre-application consultation is good practice. All planning applications have to be advertised for 21 days during which period representations can be made to the local planning authority. However we are currently considering how our planning reforms can best improve the ways in which communities are engaged in planning matters.
Applications for consent for wind farm developments made under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 are required to be advertised in the national and local press and in the London Gazette. A copy of the application, with a plan showing the land to which it relates, together with a copy of the Environmental Statement, explaining the company's proposals in more detail and presenting an analysis of the environmental implications, and a non-technical summary are made available for inspection at locations in the vicinity of the development.
Finally under the Planning Act 2008, on applications for consenting wind farms of over 50 megawatts installed capacity, local communities are consulted at three different points in the process: during the public consultation on National Policy Statements (NPS); during the pre-examination consultation (when the developer consults the local community on its proposals) and during the examination period.
Communities and Local Government
Community Development: Finance
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what arrangements are in place to ensure that payments for schemes under Community builders programme are available where final invoices are not presented by the end of the financial year; and if he will make a statement. [24791]
Andrew Stunell: All Government Department budgets are set for each financial year and money must be spent by the year end to comply with government accounting requirements. In the past the overall financial position of the Department meant that we were able to offer some flexibility beyond the end of the financial year on disbursement timescales for Communitybuilders. The Government's priority must be to reduce the deficit, and this flexibility is therefore not available at present for new commitments. We are working closely with our delivery partner to consider ways of maximising the fund's potential.
Justice
Church Commissioners
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons the Church Commissioners have not been designated as a public body subject to provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [25401]
Mr Djanogly: The Church Commissioners are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act because they do not perform a public function. Rather, their duties relates to the administration of the Church.
Refugee and Migrant Justice
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assistance he provides to survivors of torture entering the UK from abroad following the ending of funding for the service provided by Refugee and Migrant Justice. [25470]
Mr Djanogly: The most important issue after Refugee and Migrant Justice (RMJ) decided to enter into administration was the arrangements for its clients. The Legal Services Commission (LSC) worked with the administrators of RMJ to transfer live cases to new legal aid providers.
I understand that all files were transferred or, if further work was unnecessary, closed by 13 August. All of those new providers are required to meet the same high standards, including an accreditation scheme for all advisers and supervisors and a quality assurance system.
So far as the longer term is concerned, the LSC recently ran a tender round for delivering asylum and immigration services under new contracts. An increased number of offices applied to do the work and bid for more than double the amount of cases available. Those contracts commenced on 15 November.
Health
Dental Services
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure that the dental expertise of primary care trust commissioning staff is preserved during the proposed reconfiguration of the NHS following the publication of the White Paper Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS. [24611]
Anne Milton:
Work is already under way to plan the transition from the current commissioning arrangements to those proposed in our White Paper, "Equity and
Excellence: Liberating the NHS". We are committed to introducing a new national dental contract based on registration, capitation and quality, which we are developing in consultation with representatives of patients, the dental profession and national health service managers, and which we will pilot. We will publish in December our proposals for pilots, and as part of the development work, will assess the resources and skills required for commissioning dental services under the new contract.
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had on the commissioning of (a) salaried primary care dental services and (b) secondary dental care. [24612]
Anne Milton: Ministers and departmental officials have had wide-ranging discussions, including meetings, at which the commissioning of these services was discussed, with the British Dental Association and representatives of the dental schools, dental hospitals and the salaried dental services.
Dental Services: Fees and Charges
Dr Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2010, Official Report, column 844W, on dental services: fees and charges, with whom Monitor will be expected to work collaboratively in setting price levels for the benefit of patients and taxpayers. [24687]
Anne Milton: We have consulted on proposals for Monitor and the NHS Commissioning Board to work collaboratively in setting prices for national health service services and we intend to bring forward legislation in this parliamentary session. We are not in a position to provide further details at this stage.
Drugs: Misuse
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the proposed payment by outcomes approach in respect of drug treatment and rehabilitation. [25449]
Anne Milton: Officials in the Department, along with cross-Government colleagues, are currently in the process of developing plans to pilot for improved recovery outcomes in the treatment of drug dependence. Further details will be announced as part of the drug strategy, which is due for publication in December.
NHS: Finance
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has for the proportion of the contract value linked to the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation payment framework for providers of acute services in 2011-12; [24698]
(2) what plans he has for the proportion of the financial value of the NHS Commissioning for Quality and Innovation payment framework which is linked to nationally-defined goals in 2011-12. [24706]
Anne Milton:
The scope and value of the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation payment framework are currently under review for 2011-12. The Government
plan to confirm any changes to the framework for 2011-12, including the financial value of schemes and whether there will be any nationally defined goals, later this year.
NHS: Manpower
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) nurses, (b) doctors and (c) midwives were employed in the NHS on 1 April 2010 and what estimate he has made of the number of each type of staff likely to be so employed on 31 March (i) 2011, (ii) 2012, (iii) 2013 and (iv) 2014. [25353]
Anne Milton: The number of nurses, doctors and midwives employed in the national health service are available from the NHS Information Centre for health and social care who publish the monthly work force statistics. The following tables show full-time equivalent and headcount staff in post as at 31 March 2010.
The precise numbers of nurses required over the next four years will not be known until the new organisations that will underpin the new system have been designed in more detail.
The Department has consulted on how the new organisations should be designed and is analysing responses. Information on how the new organisations should be designed will be announced in due course.
| England-March 2010 | Headcount |
| Note: Headcount totals are unlikely to equal the sum of components. Source: The NHS Information Centre | |
| England-March 2010 | Full-time equivalents (FTE |
| Source: The NHS Information Centre | |
Physiology: Regulation
Dr Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place for (a) NHS Trusts and (b) members of the public to make complaints about practising clinical physiologists. [24689]
Anne Milton: Clinical physiologists are not statutorily regulated. Employer concerns would therefore be dealt with through internal national health service clinical governance and human resources processes. They may also refer a clinical physiologist to the Registration Council for Clinical Physiology, if they are on the voluntary register. We are currently considering, within the context of the Government's wider health strategy, whether to regulate healthcare scientists, including clinical physiologists, and how this might be done.
Members of the public are able to make a complaint about practising clinical physiologists providing NHS services through the statutory NHS complaints arrangements. In the first instance, the complaint would be made to either the organisation providing the service or the local primary care trust.
Thromboembolism: Health Services
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 1 November 2010, Official Report, column 658W, on thromboembolism, what estimate he made of the cost to the public purse of treating patients included in the count of finished consultant episodes with a primary or secondary diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in each year between 2004-05 and 2008-09. [24697]
Anne Milton: The Department does not collect costs by diagnosis. It collects the costs to national health service providers of providing standard groupings of clinically similar treatments, known as health care resource groups (HRGs), the precise grouping of which may depend on the presence of other diagnosis and intervention codes and patient characteristics in the episode of care.
We are aware that venous thromboembolism events are generally under-reported and pulmonary embolism is significantly under-diagnosed before death. However, the following table shows the costs reported in HRGs for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolus by NHS providers in each year between 2004-05 and 2008-09.
| Costs to the NHS of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolus 2004-05 to 2008-09 | |||||
| £ million | |||||
| HRG description | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
| Notes: 1. Figures calculated from schedule 4 (NHS Trusts and PCTs combined) of the national schedules of reference costs for the financial years 2004-05 to 2008-09 published at: www.dh.gov.uk/nhscosting 2. 2004-04 and 2005-06 costs were collected on health care resource group version 3.5 (HRG3.5) and include: (a) D10 Pulmonary Embolis with complications and comorbidities (b) D11 Pulmonary Embolis without complications and comorbidities (c) E20 Deep Vein Thrombosis >69 or with complications and comorbidities (d) E21 Deep Vein Thrombosis <70 without complications and comorbidities 3. 2006-07 to 2008-09 costs were collected on health care resource group 4 (HRG4) and include: (a) DZ09A Pulmonary Embolus with major complications and comorbidities (b) DZ09B Pulmonary Embolus with complications and comorbidities (c) DZ09C Pulmonary Embolus without complications and comorbidities (d) EB11Z Deep Vein Thrombosis | |||||
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to make venous thromboembolism in the NHS a never event; and if he will make a statement. [24699]
Anne Milton: The Department has proposed an extended list of "never events" and is currently undertaking an open engagement exercise to seek comments on the proposals and to consider suggestions for additional events to include in this list.
A copy of the proposals has already been placed in the Library and is available at:
The engagement process will run until 19 November 2010, following which the Government will consider all suggestions for amendments and additions to the "never event" list. We will publish an expanded list of "never events" in due course.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding was allocated to the National Venous Thromboembolism Prevention programme in each of the last five years; and what such funding was allocated to that programme for 2011. [24700]
Anne Milton: The funding allocated to the National Venous Thromboembolism Prevention programme over the last five years was as follows:
| Venous Thromboembolism Prevention Strategy | |
| £ | |
The national programme did not commence until 2007-08.
Allocations for 2011-12 have not yet been finalised. The prevention strategy depends on clinical and managerial leadership, and is not reliant on the provision of specific funding to the national health service.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to include knowledge of nationally-endorsed venous thromboembolism prevention protocols as a basic patient safety and experience measure in the process of revalidation for doctors. [24701]
Anne Milton: The process of medical revalidation is currently being tested in pilots across a number of health settings. The intention is that it will require the doctor to demonstrate that they are up to date and fit to practise. Revalidation will be a continuing evaluation of a doctor's practice in the place or places in which the doctor works, rather than a point-in-time assessment of a doctor's specific knowledge and skills. It will be based on local systems of appraisal and clinical governance.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to take steps to ensure that venous thromboembolism prevention education is made a core element of undergraduate medical curricula; and if he will make a statement. [24702]
Anne Milton: The General Medical Council is the regulator for all stages of medical training. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention is currently included as an element of the patient safety aspects of curricula at undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing professional education programmes. We are currently working with the Three Professions Group-the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Royal College of Nursing and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society to ensure that the key issues of patient safety and quality of care relating to hospital acquired VTE, are embedded effectively in clinical practice.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking in response to the review undertaken by the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death in respect of its findings on the venous thromboembolism risk assessment and prophylaxis received by patients undergoing surgery (a) for a fractured neck or femur and (b) on the acute abdomen. [24703]
Anne Milton: Since April 2010 it has been mandatory for all adult patients, including those admitted for fractured neck of femur and an acute abdomen, to be risk assessed for venous thromboembolism (VTE) using the clinical criteria of national VTE risk assessment tool, and to be prescribed appropriate prophylaxis based on national clinical guidance.
We would expect this comprehensive approach to VTE risk prevention to have significant impact on reducing the number of adult patients suffering from fractured neck of femur and acute abdomen from acquiring a VTE as a result of their hospital admission.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of venous thromboembolism characterised by (a) deep vein thrombosis and (b) pulmonary embolism were recorded in patients in NHS psychiatric facilities in each of the last five years. [24707]
Anne Milton: The information requested is not collected by the Department.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether instances of hospital-acquired venous thromboembolism will be classified as emergency hospital readmissions in respect of the proposed policy not to reimburse trusts for additional treatment required during an emergency readmission within 28 days of discharge. [24708]
Anne Milton: The proposed policy is that from 1 April 2011 hospital trusts will not receive further payment for avoidable readmissions within 30 days of discharge. The policy is intended to apply to patients whose emergency readmission would have been preventable by better care either before or after discharge, and there will be some exclusions where readmission is an expected part of planned care. Further details of the policy will be announced later in the year.
Tobacco: Packaging
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department assessed the merits of bringing forward proposals to require plain packaging for cigarettes as an alternative to a ban on tobacco displays. [24670]
Anne Milton: The Government are looking at options around the display of tobacco in shops, recognising the need to take action both to reduce tobacco consumption and to reduce burdens on businesses. No decisions have yet been made. We are also developing our overall approach to tobacco control across a range of issues, which will be set out in the forthcoming public health White Paper.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Business
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his definition is of entrepreneurial culture with reference to page 42 of the White Paper Local growth: realising every place's potential. [25188]
Mr Prisk: Compared to other G7 countries, the building blocks for enterprise in the UK appear strong. Fear of failure is lower, and perception of having the necessary skills to start a business is higher, than any country other than the United States. However, while 47% of people think they have the skills to start a business, just 4% expect to do so in the next three years and the positive headline statistics mask wide variation by region, by gender and by ethnicity.
An entrepreneurial culture is one where people value entrepreneurs; where people have the aspiration, ambitions, skills and confidence to take the initiative and start an enterprise for themselves; where more people start a business or social enterprise.
The enterprise culture referenced in the White Paper aims to create a far more positive and facilitated approach to enterprise for all people in all locations-exactly the kind of attitudes to, and appetite for, enterprise we last saw generated in the 1980s.
Education: Merseyside
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Aimhigher in Merseyside in improving educational aspiration and attainment; and if he will make a statement. [24540]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 16 November 2010]: The Aimhigher programme is managed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and delivered through 42 partnerships of schools, colleges and universities in England. HEFCE ensures effective delivery of the programme through annual monitoring and approval of partnership delivery plans.
Analysis of data shows that, over the period 2004-09, the number of applicants from 11-18 schools in Greater Merseyside receiving intensive Aimhigher support increased more than twice as quickly as those from 11-18 schools receiving less Aimhigher support. Over the same period, accepted applicants from 11-18 schools receiving intensive Aimhigher support rose more than twice as quickly as those from 11-18 schools receiving less Aimhigher support. This analysis is not able to separate out the effect of Aimhigher from that of other factors.
Foreign Investment in UK
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what mechanisms will be in place for the (a) administration and (b) funding of programmes for inward investment to the regions following the closure of the regional development agencies. [25439]
Mr Prisk: Ministers have announced their intention to abolish the RDAs and transfer responsibility for delivery of inward investment to the national level. As set out in the Local Growth White Paper, UK Trade and Investment is currently developing a framework to deliver inward investment activity. The new framework will be organised around two operational principles. The first being the provision of national, sectoral support (effectively the front line, UK based sales force) and the second the provision of support around the local needs of investors. The people providing this support will be geographically dispersed around England and sited, ideally, near to key clusters of excellence. The full details are still being worked up. The overall budget has not yet been finalised.
Higher Education
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to enable universities to attract students and research funding; and if he will make a statement. [25525]
Mr Willetts: Universities in the UK are autonomous and develop their own strategies for competing in the global student market, and are extremely competent at doing so. The world-class reputation that the HE sector enjoys means that the UK attracts more students to study here than any country other than the US. The Government works with and supports the British Council overseas to promote the UK as a study destination.
But Government's most important role is in helping to ensure the HE sector maintains the reputation for excellence around the world which makes a UK degree such a valuable commodity. The changes to HE funding and student finance the Government announced on 3 November are intended to do just that.
Despite enormous pressure on public spending, the overall level of funding for science and research programmes has been protected in cash terms in a ring-fenced budget. The Government's key aims in funding science and research are to support research excellence and international competitiveness, to make best use of our science base and ensure the UK remains an attractive place to conduct research.
Higher Education: Business
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) men and (b) women completed MBAs at universities in each of the last three years. [24567]
Mr Willetts: The numbers of male and female Master of Business Administration (MBA) qualifiers at UK higher education institutions are shown in the following table for the 2007/08 and 2008/09 academic years. Information on MBA qualifiers became available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) for the first time in 2007/08 and is not available for earlier years. Figures for the 2009/10 academic year will become available from HESA in January 2011.
| Male and female MBA qualifiers( 1) UK higher education institutions | ||
| Academic years 2007/08 and 2008/09 | ||
| Academic year | Male | Female |
| (1) Covers qualifiers of all domiciles from full-time and part-time courses. Note: Figures are based on a qualifications obtained population and have been rounded to the nearest 5. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency Student Record | ||
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) men and (b) women studied for business degrees at undergraduate level at universities in each of the last three years. [24568]
Mr Willetts: The numbers of male and female undergraduate students enrolled on business and administrative studies courses at UK higher education institutions are shown in the table.
Figures are provided for the 2006/07, 2007/08 and 2008/09 academic years. However, due to an update of the Higher Education Statistics Agency subject coding frame, in the 2007/08 academic year, figures for 2007/08 and 2008/09 are not directly comparable with those for
2006/07. Information for the 2009/10 academic year will become available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency from January 2011.
| Male and female undergraduate enrolments( 1) in business and administrative studies UK higher education Institutions | ||||||
| Academic years 2006/07, 2007/08 and 2008/09 | ||||||
| 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | ||||
| Principal subject( 2) | Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female |
| (1) Covers full-time and part-time enrolments of all domiciles. (2) HESA updated their subject coding frame for the 2007/08 academic year. Figures for the 2007/08 and 2008/09 academic years are, therefore, not directly comparable with those for 2006/07. (3) This principal subject covered tourism, transport and travel in the 2006/07 academic year and was expanded to include hospitality and leisure from 2007/08 onwards. Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and are rounded to the nearest five, so components may not sum to totals. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record | ||||||
Higher Education: Dartford
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many young people normally resident in Dartford constituency continued to higher education in the last five years. [24354]
Mr Willetts: The numbers of young (aged under 21) undergraduate entrants from Dartford constituency to UK higher education institutions are shown in the table for the academic years 2004/05 to 2008/09. Figures for the 2009/10 academic year will become available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2011. Information on entrants to higher education courses at further education colleges is not available at constituency level.
Higher Education: Disadvantaged
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) the London borough of Bexley in receipt of free school meals started a higher education course in each of the last five years. [23690]
Mr Willetts: The latest available information on the numbers of maintained school pupils in Bexley local authority area who were in receipt of free school meals aged 15 and progressed to higher education by age 19 is shown in the following table.
Information is not available at constituency level.
| Estimates of the numbers of 15-year-old pupils at maintained schools in Bexley local authority area who were in receipt of free school meals in 2001/02, 2002/03 and 2003/04 and progressed to HE( 1) by age 19 in 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08 | ||
| Academic year | Number of pupils who were in receipt of FSM aged 15 | Number progressing to HE by age 19 |
| FSM = Free School Meals HE = Higher Education (1) Covers pupils who progress to higher education courses at English higher education institutions and further education colleges. Note: Figures in the table are rounded to the nearest five. Source: Matched data from the National Pupil Database, the Higher Education Statistics Agency Student Record and the Individualised Learner Record. | ||
Higher Education: Finance
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding he expects to be provided for higher education institutions through (a) student fees, (b) Higher Education Funding Council for England T-grant and (c) other routes for (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13. [24641]
Mr Willetts [ holding answer 17 November 2010]: Planned funding for tuition fee loans for English domiciled students to institutions in 2010-11 is £2,654 million. This figure is expressed in cash terms. This is not the same as the cost to Government which is measured in resource terms to cover the lifetime cost of the loan.
The Higher Education Funding Council for England's (HEFCE) teaching grant in 2010-11 is £5,107 million. In addition institutions will receive from HEFCE £1,785 million in funding for research. Institutions are also significant beneficiaries of the £3,917 million Science budget.
Figures for next year have not yet been finalised.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of funded higher education places available in each year of the comprehensive spending review; and what methodology he plans to use to determine (a) the number of funded higher education places and (b) the allocation of such places between institutions in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15. [24656]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 17 November 2010]: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) will determine the number of funded places available and the allocation to each institution in the context of the funding and priorities set for them by the Department, which will be announced for each year in due course.
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to introduce changes to his Department's funding for university courses in foreign languages as a result of the proposed reforms to higher education funding. [24824]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 18 November 2010]: We will set out our proposals for the funding of priority subjects, including modern foreign languages in the forthcoming Higher Education White Paper.
Higher Education: Oxfordshire
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the proportion of young people resident in Oxford West and Abingdon constituency who have entered higher education since 2000. [23236]
Mr Willetts: Figures relating to the proportion of young people resident in Oxford West and Abingdon who continued to higher education (HE) are not available. As an alternative, the available information on the proportion of 15-years-old from maintained schools in Oxfordshire local authority who progressed to HE by age 19 is shown in the table.
| Estimates of the proportion of 15-year-olds in 2001/02, 2002/03 and 2003/04 from maintained schools in Oxfordshire local authority area who progressed to HE( 1) by age 19 in 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08 | |
| Academic year | % who progressed to HE by age 19 |
| (1) Includes those who progress to Higher Education courses at English Further Education Colleges. Source: Matched data from the National Pupil Database, the Higher Education Statistics Agency Student Record and the Individualised Learner Record. | |
Innovation: Finance
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the average annual budget of each technology innovation centre in each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period. [24613]
Mr Willetts: Technology Strategy Board analysis and the Hauser review suggest that individual technology and innovation centres would require between £5 million and £10 million per annum.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the average start-up cost of a technology innovation centre. [24614]
Mr Willetts: Funding for the network of elite technology and innovation centres will further develop existing regional development agency funded centres which are excellent, and establish a limited number of new centres.
Start-up costs for existing centres will be negligible as they have already benefited from funding for infrastructure and equipment. Start-up costs for new centres will depend on the technology area on which they are focused, and will be assessed by the Technology Strategy Board in the context of its overall programme of work and objectives for the area of work.
Mobile Phones: Health Hazards
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department issues guidance on the safety of (a) handheld mobile telephones and (b) mobile telephone masts in respect of radiation. [25215]
Mr Vaizey: Advice on the availability of specific absorption rates (SAR) values from mobile phones was given in the May 2000 report from the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (Stewart Report) and an update was given in the Mobile Phones and Health 2004 Report from the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB), now merged into the Health Protection Agency. In addition, the UK's four Mobile Network Operators, namely Everything Everywhere (Orange, T-Mobile), 3UK, O2 and Vodafone, have resources within their customer service departments to provide information and advice to users regarding SAR values on handsets. Information about SAR values is available on manufacturers' websites and also on the MMF website
In 2001, International guidelines were adapted for mobile telephones (RF) technologies by industry, government and the then NRPB's Radiation Protection Division (HPA-RPD). Mobile phones and masts are designed to comply with the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The series of more than 500 measurements made by the regulator Ofcom (and its predecessor the Radiocommunications Agency) has consistently shown the public exposure around base stations to be well below the guideline levels. This measurement service is available free of charge on the request to Ofcom and the measurements to date are posted on its website
Royal Mail
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects on Royal Mail (a) of regulatory requirements to carry the mail of its commercial competitors and (b) the restrictions on the price applied. [25325]
Mr Davey: This is a matter for the independent regulator, Postcomm, who have direct responsibility for regulating the postal services market.
I have therefore asked the chief executive of Postcomm, Tim Brown, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
A copy of Postcomm's reply will be placed in the House of Commons Library in due course.
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects of regulatory requirements to give advanced notification to commercial competitors on future business changes in Royal Mail. [25326]
Mr Davey: This is a matter for the independent regulator, Postcomm, who have direct responsibility for regulating the postal services market.
I have therefore asked the chief executive of Postcomm, Tim Brown, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
A copy of Postcomm's reply will be placed in the House of Commons Library in due course.
Students: Fees and Charges
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the increase in the cap on tuition fees in 2012 will apply to students applying in 2010-11 for deferred entry to higher education in 2012; and whether he plans to provide transitional support to universities who choose to charge lower fees to such students. [23859]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 12 November 2010]: The new tuition charges we are proposing for the 2012/13 academic year will apply to all students starting university in that year, including those applying to go to university in 2011/12 who have deferred entry until 2012/13. Universities have been advised to ask students already holding offers for 2012/13 if they wish to be considered for entry in 2011/12.
The institutional funding arrangements that will apply to students entering higher education for the first time in 2012/13 will also cover students who have deferred entry until 2012/13. It is for the Higher Education Funding Council for England to determine grant allocations to individual institutions.
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the merits of a system of forgivable loans for medical students as an alternative to a requirement to pay tuition fees at an increased level. [25216]
Mr Willetts: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 November 2010, Official Report, column 750W.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to encourage young people from low income inner-city families to attend university; and if he will make a statement. [25524]
Mr Willetts: The Government have set out plans to reform higher education student finance in England which will offer a more generous package of financial support for low income students living in England wishing to attend university in 2012/13. No full-time student will need to contribute to their tuition costs up-front and students from families with incomes of £25,000 or less will be entitled to a more generous full maintenance grant of £3,250 a year. Students starting part-time courses in 2012/13 will be entitled to an up-front loan to meet their tuition costs so long as they are studying at an intensity of at least 33% of a full time course.
Universities or colleges wishing to charge students more than £6,000 a year, up to a ceiling of £9,000, will be expected to draw up an access agreement with the Office for Fair Access in order to widen participation in higher education. In addition, a new £150 million National Scholarships programme will guarantee bright potential students from poor backgrounds extra support to help them meet the costs of going to university.
The Government are also introducing a more progressive repayment structure. Students will only be expected to contribute when they have completed their learning and are earning over £21,000. Repayments will be 9% of income above £21,000 and all outstanding repayments will be written off after 30 years. The result will be that around a quarter of graduates on the lowest incomes will pay less than they would under the current system.
Students: Finance
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the average (a) student debt and (b) repayment period for student loans following the implementation of his proposed changes to student funding. [23411]
Mr Willetts: The exact levels of debt resulting from these changes will depend on how students and institutions respond to the Government's response to the Browne review on Higher Education Funding.
The repayment period will depend on the size of the debt.
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding arrangements will apply to a student applying for university in 2010 for a deferred place in 2012. [23678]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 12 November 2010]: The new funding arrangements we are proposing from the 2012/13 academic year would apply to all students taking up their place in 2012/13, including those who have deferred.
Students starting their courses in 2012/13 will be able to access up-front loans to meet their tuition costs and students from families with incomes of £25,000 or less will be entitled to a more generous full maintenance
grant of £3,250 a year; those from families with incomes up to around £42,000 will be entitled to a partial grant. There will also be increases in maintenance loans which will mean that most students should have more support for living costs than they do now.
The Government have been working alongside UCAS, Universities UK and SPA (Supporting Professionalism in Admissions) to ensure that all students who have applied for deferred entry in 2012/13 or are thinking about doing so, know how these changes will affect them. Higher education institutions have been advised to ask students already holding offers for 2012/13 if they wish to be considered for entry in 2011/12 rather than 2012/13.
Students: Loans
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the main real interest rate on student loans for new students from 2012-13 will be (a) fixed at 2.2 per cent., (b) tied to the Treasury discount rate and (c) variable for any other reason. [25217]
Mr Willetts: We will introduce a real interest rate on a progressive taper. For graduates earning less than £21,000, the real interest rate will remain at zero. For graduates earning between £21,000 and about £41,000, a real rate of interest will be tapered in to reach a maximum of inflation plus 3%. When graduates are earning more than £41,000, they will be making a full contribution to the costs of the system, but still incurring interest well below normal commercial rates. This will be subject to parliamentary approval.
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