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24 Nov 2010 : Column 343W—continued
Overseas Trade
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many trade missions his Department has led to each country in each of the last five years. [25445]
Mr Prisk: UK Trade and Investment funds national and regional outward trade missions which give companies the opportunity to visit overseas markets as part of a UK delegation. Information held on the UKTI Client Relationship Management (CRM) system on the number of missions funded since April 2007 is reflected in the following table. These figures do not include support for exhibitions or individual events overseas. Before that date, full records were not held centrally and could be retrieved only at disproportionate cost.
| Number of UKTI outward trade missions | |||||
| Country | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 (to date) | Total |
Regional Growth Fund
John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the closing date is for the second tranche of applications to the Regional Growth Fund. [24304]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 23 November 2010]: The first round of bidding for the Regional Growth Fund opened with the launch of the Local Growth White Paper (28 October), and will close on the 21 January 2011.
Following the closure of the first round and assessment of how that round progressed, the dates for the second round will be announced via the Regional Growth Fund webpage hosted by the BIS website.
It is envisaged that there will be at least three bidding rounds.
Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what mechanisms will be in place to ensure fairness in respect of the funding allocated to regions from the regional growth fund. [25288]
Mr Prisk: The regional growth fund is a challenge fund that is open to bids from the private sector, or public private partnership from any part of England. Bids will be expected to demonstrate how they meet the fund's two published objectives:
stimulate enterprise by providing support for projects and programmes with significant potential for economic growth and create additional sustainable private sector employment; and
support in particular those areas and communities that are currently dependent on the public sector make the transition to sustainable private sector-led growth and prosperity.
To help applicants, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has produced guidance that details the criteria that bids will be assessed against to meet the two objectives.
BIS has also published an outline of the fund's appraisal process, part of which includes an assessment by an independent advisory panel chaired by my noble Friend Lord Heseltine. All of these are available on the regional growth fund web page:
At all stages in the appraisal and approval process, the only criteria applications will be judged against are those that are published. However, this is a challenge fund, which will mean that some bids that meet the criteria will not be successful, as in that particular bidding round there were stronger bids that also meet all the criteria.
Students: Fees and Charges
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds for benchmarking purposes on the average tuition fees charged by state-funded universities in each other EU member state. [25692]
Mr Willetts: The Department does not hold any information for benchmarking purposes on the average tuition fees charged by state-funded universities in each EU member state other than the UK.
However, the Department recently published a study which it had commissioned to build the evidence base for the Browne review which contained information on the tuition fees charged in a number of EU and other countries. The study entitled "Review of Student Support Arrangements in Other Countries" by London Economics was published in September 2010:
Further information on the contributions for tertiary education made by individuals and Government are published by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), most recently in their Education at a Glance 2010 publication.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Harrow West of 17 November 2010, Official Report, column 888W, on students: fees and charges, whether part-time students receiving fees loans on the same basis as full-time students will be subject to the same (a) minimum and (b) maximum fee cap as full-time students. [25922]
Mr Willetts: Unlike full-time fees, part-time fees are currently unregulated. We are considering all the issues around support for part-time students in consultation with representatives of the part-time sector. We will announce the details in due course.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will publish an equality impact assessment of his proposal to increase the maximum level tuition fees before bringing forward his legislative proposals on that matter; and if he will make a statement. [26194]
Mr Willetts: We expect to publish an interim equality impact assessment relating to the Government's proposals for reforms to higher education funding and student finance at the same time as the first draft regulations relating to the these reforms are laid before Parliament. The interim equality impact assessment will include coverage of the proposed increase in the maximum level of charges which universities will be allowed to set. It will be published on the BIS website.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what account he plans to take of recent trends in respect of the number of (a) unsuccessful applicants reapplying and (b) students who are likely to seek to enter university in 2011-12 in formulating his proposals to increase the level of student fees from 2012-13. [26195]
Mr Willetts: The reforms to the system of higher education (HE) funding are aimed at producing a more sustainable environment in which our HE institutions will be able to flourish. We expect student numbers to be broadly maintained. Our plans for student numbers in 2011-12 will be set out in the Higher Education Funding Council for England's (HEFCE) grant letter which will be published shortly.
UK Trade and Investment
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of UK Trade and Investment activity which relates to (a) exports and (b) inward investment. [25411]
Mr Prisk: UK Trade and Investments 2009-10 Resource Accounts (HC 3) report that the total budget for UKTI was £350.4 million.
Of this, £270.2 million was spent on activity to enhance the competitiveness of companies in the UK through overseas trade and £80.2 million on activity to attract a continuing high level of quality foreign direct investment.
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses UK Trade and Investment has assisted with exports in the last 12 months. [25441]
Mr Prisk: The latest UKTI Performance and Impact Monitoring Survey (PIMS) reported in September 2010. PIMS results against all key performance measures are reported on a rolling four-quarter basis, enabling robust coverage across all UKTI trade services.
Latest results relate to service delivery mainly carried out between April 2009 and March 2010 and show that the number of trade clients helped by UKTI rose to 24,700 (up from 23,700) during the 12 months measured in the survey.
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of UK Trade and Investment's clients were small businesses in the latest period for which figures are available. [25442]
Mr Prisk: UKTI supported 24,700 companies during 2009-10; of which 86% of supported firms were SMEs (i.e. <250 employees).
UK Trade and Investment: ICT
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what client relationship management system is used by UK Trade and Investment; and what access other Government Departments have to that system. [25416]
Mr Prisk: UK Trade and Investment uses Infor's Epiphany Customer Relationship Management system. This system is accessible to UKTI staff in the UK and overseas and in addition to Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Ministry of Defence (MOD) staff who have a business need to access customer data.
UK Trade and Investment: Yorkshire
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many roadshows or other presentations promoting its activities UK Trade and Investment has undertaken in Yorkshire since May 2010. [25412]
Mr Prisk: UKTI organises events to communicate the importance of trading internationally to companies and to highlight the opportunities in particular markets and sectors. At each event UKTI will explain the support they are able to offer. Since May 2010 UKTI have organised 14 such events in Yorkshire.
Other organisations such as banks, accountants and legal firms organise events for clients and UKTI staff have spoken about international opportunities and support at 20 such events in Yorkshire since May 2010.
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much has been spent by UK Trade and Investment in (a) North Yorkshire and (b) Yorkshire in the last five years. [25437]
Mr Prisk: The money spent by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) on its trade delivery activity in Yorkshire and Humber over the past five years is as follows:
| £ | |
Expenditure on sub-regional activity across Yorkshire and the Humber (Y&H) is not available but will broadly reflect the business densities in different parts of the Y&H region. Based on previous activity contracted through Business Link North Yorkshire (up to 31 March 2008), we estimate that around 15% of UKTI's trade delivery expenditure is focused on North Yorkshire.
These figures exclude direct grants that companies obtained from UKTI for attendance at overseas trade fairs and exhibitions.
Workers' Educational Association: Finance
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for expenditure on (a) the Workers' Educational Association and (b) other special designated institutions; and if he will make a statement. [25932]
Mr Hayes:
'Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth' (16 November 2010) sets out the funding strategy for post-19 further education (FE) and skills. In 2011-12 financial year we will invest £3.9 billion to support an
expansion of adult (19+) apprenticeships, fully subsidise basic literacy and numeracy and first full level 2 and level 3 qualifications for young adults. We will also support individuals who are unemployed and on active benefits, and protect and reform spending on adult and community learning.
The allocation of funding for the 2011/12 academic year will be carried out by the Skills Funding Agency, over the coming months, in line with the overall post-19 FE and skills funding envelope. This will include making funding allocations for the Workers' Educational Association and other specialist designated institutions.
Yorkshire Forward: Assets
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions his Department has had on the sale of assets owned by Yorkshire Forward. [25433]
Mr Prisk: This Department has been having ongoing discussions on the principles and process for the disposal of all RDA assets and liabilities. Detailed guidance to RDAs is still being prepared and this will enable plans to be developed for transition. Until these plans are completed there will be no decisions on the sale or transfer of assets (outside ordinary course disposals) unless there are compelling time pressures which require an early decision be made. The plans will aim to secure maximum value for money for the taxpayer and optimum benefits to the region in question.
Energy and Climate Change
Coal
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate he has made of the amount of surface or near-surface coal available in the UK; and what assessment he has made of its potential contribution to meeting the UK's energy needs. [26131]
Charles Hendry: The following table provides a breakdown of identified surface coal reserves in the UK.
| Million tonnes | |
| Source: The Coal Authority, March 2010 | |
The Government's main policy objective in relation to the coal industry is to ensure that the United Kingdom is enabled to make best use of a valuable natural resource where it is economically viable and environmentally acceptable to do so.
In 2009 coal provided 28% of the UK's electricity supply.
Source:
Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2010, Department of Energy and Climate Change.
Energy: Housing
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in each electoral ward in the UK received assistance in respect of each measure delivered by each energy supplier under the Carbon Emission Reduction targets in each quarter from April 2008 to October 2010; and if he will make a statement. [26091]
Gregory Barker: Information on the regional distribution of measures installed under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) scheme was published for the first time on 16 September, demonstrating this Government's commitment to greater transparency. The provision of this information is possible due to a voluntary agreement negotiated by Government with energy suppliers and the Energy Saving Trust. Information on individual energy supplier activity at a regional level is not available.
The Energy Saving Trust report details the number of cavity wall and loft insulation measures installed in each local authority area in Great Britain (CERT is not delivered in Northern Ireland) for each of the first two years of CERT. The report is available at:
A copy is available in the Libraries of the House.
Energy: Prices
Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what provisions he plans to include in the Energy Security and Green Economy Bill to ensure that energy companies enable customers to compare tariffs easily; and if he will make a statement. [25654]
Gregory Barker: The Energy Security and Green Energy Bill will include powers to require energy suppliers to inform consumers through their bills about the cheapest available tariff to give customers greater control over their energy costs.
Heating
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will assess the carbon footprint of heat pumps; and if he will make a statement. [25378]
Gregory Barker:
The carbon footprint of a heat pump is dependent on a number of factors including its overall efficiency, whether it is providing space heating and/or hot water, temperature lifts, the refrigerant used, the size of the building, levels of insulation, the hours of operation, and various design, installation and
maintenance issues. The EU renewables directive requires that heat pumps must have a minimum Seasonal Performance Factor in order to qualify as a renewable source. The Commission are to issue guidance on how the Seasonal Performance Factor is to be calculated.
An SPF of around 2.7 would make CO2 emissions from gas condensing boilers and heat pumps more or less equivalent with today's grid intensity. At this level of performance the CO2 emissions associated with running a heat pump are considerably lower than those associated with using either oil or electric resistive heating. CO2 savings against all these fuels will improve further, as the electricity grid decarbonises. The Energy Saving Trust field trials are not complete, but, when they are, they will provide useful information on the actual system efficiencies, as well as information to improve installation and maintenance practice.
Nuclear Power Stations: Construction
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether loan guarantees constitute a public subsidy for the purposes of his policy on the construction of new nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement. [25630]
Charles Hendry [holding answer 22 November 2010]: The Government have not had cause to consider any specific proposal for loan guarantees in the context of its policy of no subsidy for new nuclear power. It would not be appropriate to speculate in the absence of any specific proposal, but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State set out the generality of the Government's policy in a detailed written statement on 18 October 2010, Official Report, column 44WS.
Radioactive Waste
Ms Bagshawe: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of capacity of low-level nuclear waste disposal sites. [26064]
Charles Hendry: An extensive review of low level waste (LLW) management practices was carried out for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in 2008, published as the LLW strategic review in January 2009 and made publicly available on the Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) website. This review considered all aspects of LLW management including disposal infrastructure.
The strategic review fully recognised that, without improvements in application of the waste hierarchy to avoid waste creation and promote recycling, volume reduction, better waste segregation and use of more appropriate waste disposal routes, the LLWR in Cumbria (which has in the past been the default destination for much LLW) will not provide the capacity required to manage the whole of the UK's projected inventory of LLW. A significant opportunity is to preserve capacity at LLWR for those wastes that require the levels of safety and environmental protection provided by the facility, and to develop better waste segregation and alternative disposal capacity for lower hazard LLW and very low level waste.
A revision of the LLW strategic review is currently underway and will be published in the next few months.
Wind Power
Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of energy in the UK will be supplied by wind technology by 2030. [25280]
Charles Hendry: There is currently no target for renewable energy in 2030. Estimates of how much electricity will be supplied by wind in 2030 differ greatly, reflecting high levels of uncertainty. The 2050 pathways analysis(1) has four trajectories for wind development, which have the following implications for wind deployment in 2030 (all shown in TWh/year in 2030):
| TWh/year in 2030 | Onshore wind | Offshore wind | Total wind |
Future electricity and energy demand is also uncertain. Under the 2050 alpha scenario, for example (seven pathways were published), onshore wind and offshore are both assumed to be at level 2, and total electricity generation around 563TWh (nearly 50% higher than in 2009). In this scenario (one of many possibilities), wind would represent around 34% of total electricity generation.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to the Committee on Climate Change asking them to consider the level of ambition for renewables for 2020 and possible pathways through to 2030. They should provide final recommendations by the end of March 2011.
(1) 2050 Pathways Analysis available at:
Northern Ireland
Departmental Written Questions
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what proportion of questions tabled to the Secretary of State for written answer on a named day were answered substantively before or on the day named for answer (a) in Session 2009-10 and (b) since May 2010; how many such questions tabled between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 had not received a substantive answer by 18 November 2010; and what estimate he has made of the average cost to his Department of answering a question for written answer on a named day on the day named for answer in the latest period for which figures are available. [25977]
Mr Paterson: The information is as follow:
(a) The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with sessional statistics in a standard format on the time taken to respond to written parliamentary questions for the 2009-10 session. This information will be submitted to the Procedure Committee shortly.
(b) In the period from May 2010 to 12 November 2010, the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) received a total of nine named day parliamentary questions, of which six (67%) were answered on or before the day named.
All questions tabled between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 have received a substantive answer.
An estimation of the costs in answering parliamentary questions was provided in a written ministerial statement on 20 January 2010, Official Report, column 15WS.
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what proportion of questions tabled to the Secretary of State for ordinary written answer (a) in Session 2009-10 and (b) since May 2010 were answered within (i) seven days and (ii) 14 days of tabling; how many such questions tabled between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 remained unanswered by 18 November 2010; and what estimate he has made of the average cost to his Department of answering a question for ordinary written answer within seven days of tabling in the latest period for which figures are available. [25978]
Mr Paterson: The information is as follows:
(a) The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with sessional statistics in a standard format on the time taken to respond to written parliamentary questions for the 2009-10 session. This information will be submitted to the Procedure Committee shortly.
(b) My Department does not hold this information in the format requested. In the period from May 2010 to 12 November 2010, the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) received a total of 111 ordinary written parliamentary questions, of which 81 (73%) were answered within five sitting days.
All questions tabled between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 have received a substantive answer.
An estimation of the costs in answering parliamentary questions was provided in a written ministerial statement on 20 January 2010, Official Report, column 15WS.
Eames-Bradley Report
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library a copy of each written representation received by his Department on the Eames-Bradley report since May 2010. [25733]
Mr Paterson: The public consultation on the Eames-Bradley report took place under the previous Government and I published a detailed summary of the responses in July of this year. I will place a copy of this summary in the Library. The Government have not received formal written representations on the report since May 2010, but continues to receive correspondence on the wider question of dealing with the past, some of which notes the contents of the Eames-Bradley report.
Historical Enquiries Team: Finance
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the funding allocated to the Historical Enquiries Team was spent on (a) staff accommodation and (b) staff transport costs, including flights, in each of the last three years. [25732]
Mr Paterson: Since the devolution of policing and justice on 12 April 2010, all matters relating to the work of the Historical Enquires Team rest with the Northern Ireland Department of Justice. The hon. Lady may therefore wish to write to the Justice Minister (David Ford) in relation to this matter.
Work and Pensions
Access to Work Programme
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was allocated for (a) sign language interpreters, (b) palantypists, (c) office adjustments and (d) other support for people with hearing impairment through the Access to Work scheme in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10. [23316]
Maria Miller: I am unable to answer this question as the Access to Work management information system does not categorise support provided down to this level of detail.
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people with hearing impairment participated in the Access to Work scheme in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10. [23317]
Maria Miller: Access to Work helped the following number of people in each year who said that their primary medical condition was "difficulty in hearing":
| Number | |
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was allocated to the Access to Work scheme in 2010-11; and how much he plans to allocate to the scheme in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14. [23333]
Maria Miller: Budgets for directly delivered programmes such as Access to Work are subject to in-year review and it is not possible to specify in advance the amounts that will be spent. Information on spend is however available after the end of a financial year.
Disability Living Allowance
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of people in receipt of the mobility component of the disability living allowance (a) were moved from the higher to the lower rate mobility component and (b) had that component of the allowance removed (i) in 2009 and (ii) since May 2010. [26144]
Maria Miller: The proportion of disability living allowance claimants with mobility component in payment who moved from higher to lower rate or had their allowance removed in 2009 is in the following table. This information is not yet available for the period from May 2010.
| Move d from h igher to l ower r ate | Had allowance removed | |||||
| Quarter to: | Higher mobility in payment | Number | Percentage | Mobility in payment | Number | Percentage |
| Notes: 1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding. Percentages are rounded to one decimal point. 2. "-" = Nil or negligible. 3. Totals show both the number of people in receipt of an allowance and those with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 4. 'Had allowance removed' are those with mobility in payment in the previous quarter who no longer receive a payment. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate | ||||||
Disability Living Allowance: Care Homes
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will reverse his decision to remove the mobility component of disability living allowance for adults in residential care and children in residential special schools. [25631]
Maria Miller: The spending review announced that the mobility component of disability living allowance would be removed from adults in residential care and children in residential schools.
Proposals for disability living allowance reform will be informed by responses to the consultation document which we will publish shortly.
We will be making clearer as we move towards the welfare reform Bill exactly how the measure to cease paying mobility component of DLA to people in care homes will affect particular groups.
Employment Schemes: Disability
Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to increase the level of access to employment opportunities of disabled people who are able and willing to work. [19584]
Maria Miller: The Department is committed to increasing access to employment opportunities for disabled people and others who experience complex barriers to employment, and to working closely with organisations which will help achieve this aim.
To this end, we will introduce the Work Programme which will be an integrated package of support providing personalised help to a broad range of individuals, including those who may previously have been receiving incapacity benefits for many years. We will offer providers differentiated levels of payment for supporting harder customers into work to ensure it is worthwhile for providers to provide them with support. We aim to have the Work Programme in place nationally by the summer of 2011.
Alongside the Work Programme, we will offer flexible support through Jobcentre Plus. The support Jobcentre Plus delivers to customers across all working age benefits will allow more flexibility to Jobcentre Plus managers and advisers to judge which interventions will help individual customers most cost-effectively and meet local need.
On 25 October 2010 we launched Work Choice, a new pan-disability supported employment programme for disabled people, which provides tailored support and targets those customers who face the most complex barriers in reaching or retaining employment, including self-employment. Under a new funding model in which prime providers work closely with their subcontractors, individuals get early, quality support that helps them progress at work and, where it is appropriate for the individual, helps them move into sustainable long-term employment.
In the coalition agreement we announced
"We will reform Access to Work, so disabled people can apply for jobs with funding already secured for any adaptations and equipment they will need".
We are developing plans for delivering this commitment and further details will be announced in due course.
Future Jobs Fund: Third Sector
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the name is of each third sector organisation funded directly by his Department to implement the future jobs fund; and for how many young people each provided a placement. [23043]
Chris Grayling: The table containing details of the third sector organisations which bid to the fund as lead accountable bodies will be placed in the Library. These organisations were awarded future jobs fund funding.
The future jobs fund was designed to provide temporary jobs for 18 to 24-year-olds and others, including older people, living in disadvantaged areas. Bidders to the fund were required to state how many of the jobs they would deliver were for 18 to 24-year-olds and how many would be for disadvantaged areas. Where this split is known it is reflected in the table.
Homelessness
Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy to publish each impact assessment undertaken by his Department on the effect on (a) homelessness, (b) persons living in supported accommodation and (c) other vulnerable groups of the public expenditure announcements in the June 2010 Budget and the spending review 2010 prior to the introduction of any relevant legislative proposals. [21323]
Steve Webb: In line with the Department's commitment to transparency, all measures in relation to the Budget and spending review have and will be equality impact assessed. Where the detail of policies is still being developed, we plan to publish at the same time as the Welfare Reform Bill or to accompany the Uprating Order. Some policies, such as the disability living allowance reform will be subject to consultation therefore the equality impact assessment would be published at a later date.
The equality impacts of Budget changes have been published where detail of the policy has been finalised and can be found through this link:
we will publish, on the spending review web oage, a fuller update on the current position for all relevant policies shortly.
Housing Benefit: Down's Syndrome
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make an assessment of the effects of the proposed changes in the provision of housing benefit for people who have been on jobseeker's allowance for 12 months or more on people with Down's syndrome; and if he will make a statement. [23077]
Steve Webb: The detailed design of the measure is being developed and we are carefully considering the impact on all benefit customers, including those people claiming jobseeker's allowance who have a degree of disability.
While the measure will not apply to people who are not required to seek work, we recognise the specific difficulties that some people face in getting work, and Jobcentre Plus has an integrated system in place to address these diverse needs.
We will publish an equality impact assessment to accompany the Welfare Reform Bill.
Institute for Fiscal Studies
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on services provided by the Institute for Fiscal Studies in each of the last 10 years. [23388]
Chris Grayling: The amount spent by DWP on services from the Institute for Fiscal Studies for eight of the last 10 years is shown in the following table. Data for 2001-02 and 2002-03 are not centrally available and would be obtainable only at a disproportionate cost. The 2010-11 value is for the period 1 April to 31 October 2010.
| Supplier | Spend (£) | |
Of the £35,235 spent since 1 May 2010, £29,990 was for analysis of the Wealth and Assets Survey and was committed to prior to the general election, £5,125 was paid to the IFS to validate the annual poverty statistics (this is a long standing commitment which uses the vast amount of expertise the IFS has in analysing these datasets) and £120 was for miscellaneous costs.
Public Sector: Pay
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many part-time workers who earn £20,000 or more pro rata annually will be affected by the public sector pay freeze; and how many of these part-time workers are women. [14383]
Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has 18,349 part-time workers earning £20,000 or more (pro rata) of whom 16,417 are female.
However the pay freeze covers employees who earn above £21,000. DWP has 16,184 employees who work part-time and earn more than £21,000 per annum (pro rata) and are therefore affected by the pay freeze. 14,424 of these employees are female. Of all part-time employees, 42% of women and 43% of men working part time are affected by the pay freeze.
Remploy
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by what date he plans to determine the future of Remploy. [24158]
Maria Miller: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Wrexham (Ian Lucas) on 26 October 2010, Official Report, column 195W.
Social Security Benefits: Disability
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the effect on disabled people of the proposed rise in the state pension age; what estimate he has made of the number of disabled people who will be affected; and if he will make a statement. [23344]
Maria Miller: The Government's full response to the review of State Pension age, "A sustainable State Pension: when the State Pension age will increase to 66" was published on 3 November. This contains an equality impact assessment including a disability impact.
Vacancies: North West and Flintshire
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job vacancies were advertised in jobcentres in (a) City of Chester constituency, (b) Cheshire, (c) Flintshire and (d) the North West in September 2010. [17061]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many job vacancies were advertised in jobcentres in (a) City of Chester constituency (b) Cheshire (c) Flintshire and (d) the North West in September 2010. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
The data requested for September is not available. The Jobcentre vacancy data for September 2010 has been withdrawn; this is due to problems identified with the source data, which we are currently investigating.
I am able to provide the data for August and October 2010 shown in the following table.
| Number of advertised vacancies in the areas shown | ||
| Area | August 2010 live unfilled vacancies | October 2010 live unfilled vacancies |
| Source: Jobcentre Plus Labour Market System 19 November 2010 | ||
Veterinary Services: Regulation
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what regulations govern the work of veterinary surgeons in (a) pig and poultry abattoirs and (b) meat-cutting plants. [22458]
Anne Milton: I have been asked to reply.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is responsible for official controls in all approved fresh meat establishments in Great Britain to verify that food business operators comply with hygiene and other legislation including animal welfare. Approved fresh meat establishments include abattoirs; cutting plants; game handling establishments; meat preparations and meat products establishments; and co-located cold stores.
Veterinary surgeons working in approved fresh meat establishments are employed either directly or indirectly, as contract staff, by the FSA.
The work which these veterinary surgeons carry out in fresh meat establishments is governed by EC Regulation 854/2004 and the United Kingdom Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.
Treasury
Banks: Finance
Mr Donaldson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of interest is charged on loans and guarantees made from the Exchequer to financial institutions in public ownership. [22828]
Mr Hoban
[holding answer 9 November 2010]: Details of the loans and guarantees provided by HM Treasury for financial stability purposes to financial institutions
partly and wholly owned by the Treasury are set out in the Treasury's Resource Accounts for 2008-09 (HC611) and for 2009-10 (HC261).
The interest rate on HM Treasury's loan to Northern Rock (Asset Management) plc (NRAM) is currently charged at Bank Base Rate plus 25 basis points. The outstanding loan as at 30 June 2010 was £22.5 billion.
NRAM has also been provided with a working capital facility of up to £2.5 billion by HM Treasury which is currently undrawn. Any drawdown on this is subject to a one off utilisation fee of 50 basis points on the amount drawn. NRAM pays HM Treasury a monthly fee of £1 million for HM Treasury's guarantee of its wholesale liabilities.
HMT has removed its retail and wholesale guarantees in place for Northern Rock plc, with the exception of certain fixed term retail and wholesale balances which are guaranteed to maturity. Northern Rock plc pays a fee of 50 basis points on guaranteed retail deposit balances, and a fee of 200 basis points on guaranteed wholesale balances.
The interest rate on the working capital facility provided by HM Treasury to Bradford and Bingley plc (B&B) is currently charged at Bank Base Rate plus 150 basis points. As at 30 June 2010 B&B had drawn £8.5 billion on the working capital facility. In respect of the guarantees provided by HM Treasury, B&B pays a fee of between 120 basis points and 300 basis points on guaranteed wholesale balances depending upon the class of liability.
The interest rate on HM Treasury's loan to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme is charged at 12 month LIBOR plus 30 basis points. This rate is subject to re-negotiation from March 2012.
Child Benefit: Scotland
Margaret Curran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made a recent estimate of the number of households with a higher rate taxpayer in (a) Scotland, (b) Glasgow and (c) Glasgow East constituency which receive child benefit. [16980]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 13 October 2010]: In 2010-11, the number of households with a higher rate taxpayer in Scotland which receive child benefit is 100,000.
Information on household income for child benefit claimants is not available at parliamentary constituency level.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2010, Official Report, column 614W, on child benefit in Scotland, what the evidential basis is for his estimate that 120,000 households will be affected by the withdrawal of child benefit in 2013. [25757]
Mr Gauke: The information provided in the answer of 15 November 2010, Official Report, column 614W, on child benefit in Scotland is based on data from the Family Resources Survey (FRS) from 2007-08. These data are used in the Inter-Governmental Tax and Benefit Model (IGoTM) to model household tax and benefit levels, projected to 2013.
Child Tax Credit
Mr Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of child tax credit on work incentives; and if he will make a statement. [25666]
Justine Greening: It is the impact of the tax and benefit system as a whole that is important for work incentives, rather than particular aspects of the system in isolation, such as child tax credit.
The new universal credit, introduced over two Parliaments, will replace the current complex system of means-tested working-age benefits with a simple streamlined payment. The universal credit will improve financial work incentives by ensuring that support is reduced at a consistent and managed rate as people return to work and increase their working hours and earnings.
Company Accounts
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on country-by-country reporting of company profits and tax liabilities. [25623]
Mr Gauke: The OECD informal taskforce on tax and development is examining the merits of country-by-country reporting by multinational enterprises, and Ministers are monitoring the progress of this work closely.
Corporation Tax: Financial Services
Mr Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total corporation tax receipts attributable to the banking, finance and insurance sector in each year from 1990 to 2010; and if he will make a statement. [25670]
Mr Gauke: Historical figures for corporation tax receipts since 2000-01 paid by the financial sector and several other broadly-defined business sectors are regularly updated and published in Table 11.1, on the Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs National Statistics website. The latest update is available here:
Equivalent information for years prior to 2000-01 is not available. Historical figures for annual corporation tax receipts were published in Table 1.2 on the HMRC National Statistics website (available here):
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax receipts/1_2_v2_dec05.pdf
Departmental Services: Post Office
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the monetary value was of contracts between his Department and (a) Post Office Ltd and (b) Royal Mail in (i) 1997-98 and (ii) each year since 2004-05; [25028]
(2) what services provided by his Department were the subject of a contract with Post Office Ltd in 1997-98 and have subsequently become the subject of a contract with another supplier; and what the monetary value was of each such contract in (a) 1997-98 and (b) the latest period for which figures are available; [25027]
(3) which services of his Department have been the subject of a contract awarded in a tender process in which Post Office Ltd submitted a bid since 1997-98. [25026]
Justine Greening: The total value of payments made by the Treasury each year to the Royal Mail and the Post Office are:
| £ | ||
| Spend (inc. VAT) in financial year | Royal Mail | Post Office Ltd |
| Note: Information prior to 2002-03 is not available due to the introduction of a new accounting system at that time. | ||
The Royal Mail provides external mail services to HM Treasury. In 2005 the Post Office provided services in support of a digital media and leaflet campaign.
Records of tenders, contracts and services from the Post Office Ltd from 1997-98 are not held centrally could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Dunfermline Building Society: KPMG
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what payments have been made to KPMG for work as administrators for those elements of the Dunfermline Building Society business not transferred to Nationwide. [25662]
Mr Hoban: KPMG, the administrators of Dunfermline Building Society, publish six-monthly progress reports. These reports include full details of costs charged by KPMG to Dunfermline. The third progress report was sent to all creditors on 26 August 2010. The progress reports are available from the KPMG website:
Between 30 March 2009 and 30 July 2010 the remuneration fee paid to KPMG was £13.4 million for their work as administrators.
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions were given to KPMG as administrators on the sale of those elements of the Dunfermline Building Society business not transferred to Nationwide. [25663]
Mr Hoban: On the application of the Bank of England, KPMG were appointed as the building society special administrators of Dunfermline Building Society (DBS) by virtue of an order of the Court of Session dated 30 March 2009.
The objectives of KPMG are set out in the Banking Act 2009 sections 137 to 140 as applied by the order made under section 158 of the Act (S.I. 2009/805).
The objectives are to provide support to the acquirer of assets and liabilities by virtue of an exercise of the resolution powers, and, once that objective has been
fulfilled, to achieve a better result for the building society's creditors (including all holders of shares in the society) as a whole.
No directions have been issued to KPMG by the Treasury.
Economic Growth
Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of economic growth for each (a) region and (b) country in the UK for each year of the comprehensive spending review period. [25201]
Danny Alexander: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for producing the official economic and fiscal forecasts. The OBR's Budget forecast does not include a sub-national forecast.
The current forecast, published on 22 June 2010, is available at:
The OBR will publish a new forecast on 29 November 2010.
While forecasts for economic growth are not made at a sub-national level, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) annually publishes data on gross value added for the English regions and the devolved countries. This is available at:
and the next publication is expected in December 2010.
Energy: Subsidies
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcomes were of his discussions with his G20 counterparts at the recent meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in Gyeongju on energy subsidy reform. [20724]
Justine Greening: G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors met on 22-23 October 2010 in Gyeongju, in the Republic of Korea. At this meeting they noted the progress made on rationalising and phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies and promoting energy market transparency and stability. They agreed to monitor and assess progress towards this commitment at the Seoul Summit.
EU Budget
Mr Nuttall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecast in pounds sterling he has made of the UK contribution to the EU budget in the period 2007-2013 that will result specifically from the application of Article 4(1)(g) of Council Decision 2007/436/EC, Euratom to the system of European Communities' own resources. [25699]
Justine Greening: The abatement disapplication was agreed by the previous Government in 2005, and means the UK no longer receives an EU budget rebate on non-agriculture spending in member states that joined the EU after 2004.
According to European Commission figures, the disapplication of the UK abatement referred to in article
4(1 )(g) of Council Decision 2007/436/EC costs the UK £286 million in 2009, £1.2 billion in 2010 and £1.98 billion in 2011.
Thereafter, with the abatement disapplication fully phased in, the cost to the UK is expected to be around £2 billion per annum.
This is being phased in as follows:
20% in 2009;
70% in 2010;
100% from 2011.
The total additional cost of the abatement disapplication is capped in the period 2007-13 to a total of €10.5 billion (expressed in 2004 prices).
Mr Nuttall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's most recent (a) outturn, (b) estimated and (c) forecast figures are in pounds sterling for the UK's gross contribution to the EU budget for the financial year (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10, (iii) 2010-11, (iv) 2011-12, (v) 2012-13 and (vi) 2013-14. [25700]
Justine Greening: Table 2.9 of the supplementary material to the June Budget 2010 (see page 27) provides the latest projections for the UK's "Net expenditure transfers to EU institutions" to the EU budget for the fiscal years 2008-09 (outturn) to 2015-16 (forecasts). This is the UK gross national income (GNI) contributions less the UK's abatement. New projections will be provided by the Office of Budget Responsibility in their autumn forecast at the end of November. The following table includes the figures presented in the latest forecast, and historical figures back to 2008-09.
Historical data on the total UK's gross contributions to the EU (net of the abatement) can be found in the table C.1 (page 176) of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses, published in July 2010.
The main reasons for the increasing profile of the UK's gross contributions are the increase in the size of the budget and the disapplication of the abatement to non-agricultural spending in the new member states. The EU budget for the period 2007-13 was agreed by the previous Government in 2005.
The Government are very concerned about the UK's growing contributions to the EU budget and are working hard to reduce them. In particular, in the negotiation of the 2011 EU budget, the Government have not reached an agreement with the European Parliament given their wider demands beyond the 2011 EU budget. The Government will continue to engage constructively in further negotiations aimed at securing taxpayers a fair outcome for the 2011 EU budget.
In addition, at the October meeting of the European Council, the UK secured an unprecedented and important new principle. From now on the EU budget will reflect the spending cuts being made by national Governments, including in the crucial 2014-20 EU spending round.
| Net expenditure transfers to EU institutions( 1) | |
| £ billion | |
| (1) "Net expenditure transfers to EU institutions" is the UK GNI contribution less the UK's abatement. | |
Mr Nuttall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's most recent (a) outturn, (b) estimated and (c) forecast figures are in pounds sterling for the UK's net contribution to the EU budget for the financial year (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011-12, (iv) 2012-13 and (v) 2013-14. [25702]
Justine Greening: Table 2.9 of the supplementary material to the June Budget 2010 (see p. 27) provides the latest projections for the UK's net contribution to the EU budget for the fiscal years 2008-09 (outturn) to 2015-16 (forecasts). New projections will be provided by the Office of Budget Responsibility in their autumn forecast at the end of November. The following table include the figures presented in the latest forecast, and historical figures back to 2009-10.
The main reasons for the increasing profile of the UK's net contributions are the increase in the size of the budget and the disapplication of the abatement to non-agricultural spending in the new member states. The EU budget for the period 2007-13 was agreed by the previous Government in 2005.
The Government are very concerned about the UK's growing contributions to the EU budget and are working hard to reduce them. In particular, in the negotiation of the 2011 EU budget, the Government have not reached an agreement with the European Parliament given their wider demands beyond the 2011 EU budget. The Government will continue to engage constructively in further negotiations aimed at securing taxpayers a fair outcome for the 2011 EU budget.
In addition, at the October meeting of the European Council, the UK secured an unprecedented and important new principle. From now on the EU budget will reflect the spending cuts being made by national Governments, including in the crucial 2014-20 EU spending round.
| Net payments to EU institutions( 1) | Net contribution to EU budget( 2) | |
| (1) "Net payments to EU institutions" is as below, less that part of the UK's contribution that is attributed to the external aid programme. (2) "Net contribution to EU budget" is the gross national income, VAT and traditional own resources contributions (gross contribution) less the UK's abatement, less public receipts. | ||
EU External Trade: Israel
Mr Slaughter:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2010, Official Report, column 549-50W, on EU external trade: Israel, how many incidents HM Revenue and Customs has
recorded of false declarations by importers in respect of the preferential origin of goods (a) in total and (b) under the EU-Israel Trade Agreement in each of the last five years. [25637]
Mr Gauke: The number of cases involving false declarations by importers in respect of preferential origin are as follows:
| Imports from all countries | Imports under the EU-Israel Agreement | |
| (1) To date. | ||
Each case may involve several import declarations. I am told by HMRC that because country information is maintained on a case by case basis, it would be an onerous task to extract and collate the information in respect of the number of incorrect origin declarations for all countries. However, it is able to provide figures for the number of incorrect origin declarations for goods imported under the EU-Israel Agreement.
| Number | |
| (1) To date. | |
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2010, Official Report, columns 548-9W, on EU external trade: Israel, whether the accompanying documentation indicates Israel as the place of origin; and whether he has received a response from the Israeli authorities. [25638]
Mr Gauke: The documentation accompanying the three consignments of products under Commodity Code 34013000 referred to in the previous answer, in each case showed Israel as the place of origin. HMRC confirms that a response is still awaited from the Israeli authorities.
European Financial Stability Mechanism
Mr Cash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the implementation of the regulation governing the procedure for the European Financial Stability Mechanism; and if he will make a statement. [25687]
Mr Hoban [holding answer 22 November 2010]: The regulation governing the European Financial Stability Mechanism is based on article 122(2) of the treaty on the functioning of the European Union. The regulation was immediately binding on all member states the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union on 12 May. It is activated by the Council acting by Qualified Majority Voting on a proposal from the Commission. The Commission has not yet made a formal proposal.
Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he plans to publish the outcomes of his Department's review of alcohol taxation and pricing; [25454]
(2) when his Department plans to publish the responses received to its review of alcohol taxation and pricing. [25455]
Justine Greening: The Treasury is considering all responses submitted to the review of alcohol taxation, and will report shortly.
Financial Inclusion Fund
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) initiatives and (b) projects the Financial Inclusion Fund has funded in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [20338]
Mr Hoban [holding answer 1 November 2010]: Since 2005 the Financial Inclusion Fund has supported a number of Government projects and initiatives including the following:
A face-to-face money advice project delivered by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills;
A debt advice project in prison locations across England and Wales, delivered by the National Offender Management Service;
A growth fund for credit unions and community development finance institutions, delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions;
A financial inclusion champions initiative, and a public campaign, 'now let's talk money', delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions;
A project to tackle illegal money lending, delivered by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills;
A 'Save Xmas' campaign, delivered by the Office of Fair Trading;
The Financial Inclusion Taskforce.
Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands
Mr Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the (a) gross and (b) net effect on tax revenues of the introduction of the 50% tax band; what behavioural assumptions underlie these estimates; and if he will make a statement. [25676]
Mr Gauke: The estimated revenue to be raised from the 50% rate of income tax on incomes over £150,000 was £1.3 billion in 2010-11, £3.1 billion in 2011-12, and £2.7 billion in 2012-13. These estimates are as shown in the March Budget 2010 report, table A11 on page 140, available at:
The 50% tax rate costings include an estimated behavioural response to allow for changes in work effort, tax planning, avoidance, evasion or migration motivated by the tax increase. These factors reduce the potential static yield from the measures by around two-thirds.
Monetary Policy
Steve Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much debt interest has been paid on Government securities held by the Bank of England and its subsidiaries in the last 12 months. [16314]
Mr Hoban: In the 12 months to end September 2010, the Bank of England and its subsidiaries have received the following interest on holdings of UK Government debt securities:
| £ million | |
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