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29 Nov 2010 : Column 574W—continued
Armed Forces: Northern Ireland
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many citizens of the Republic of Ireland have been recruited into each of the armed services in each of the last five years. [26675]
Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24 November 2010, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA333, in another place, to the noble Lord, Baron Dubs of Battersea.
Armed Forces: Pensions
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign services personnel are affected by the post-1978 service rule relating to pension entitlements of post-retirement servicemen's widows; and what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of rescinding that rule in 2011-12. [26542]
Mr Robathan: The information on the number of widow(er)s who are not eligible for a pension is not held. Consequently we are also unable to estimate costs.
Armed Forces: Young People
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of regulations limiting the rights of discharge of under 18-year-olds from the armed services on the UK's compliance with the provisions of International Labour Organisation Convention No. 29 on forced labour. [27374]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence does not consider the regulations governing the rights of discharge for those under the age of 18 years to be in breach of the International Labour Organisation Forced Labour Convention.
Atomic Veterans and the Health Protection Agency's Mortality Study
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on atomic veterans and the Health Protection Agency's mortality study; and if he will make a statement. [26604]
Mr Robathan: Defence Ministers have held no recent discussions with the Department of Health on atomic veterans and the Health Protection Agencies (HPA) mortality study. Ministry of Defence Officials have recently discussed future options for renewal of the database contract it has with the HPA which supports this study.
I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 24 November 2010, Official Report, columns 325-26W, by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, the hon. Member for Guildford (Anne Milton).
AWE Aldermaston
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the proposed new hydrodynamic facility Hydrus at AWE Aldermaston. [26417]
Peter Luff: The recently signed treaty with France agreeing to the joint construction and operation of a new hydrodynamics facility at Valduc in France, and a technology development centre at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in the UK means that plans for a UK-only facility at AWE Aldermaston-project Hydrus-will not now proceed as originally envisaged. However, the full implications for Hydrus and the means of transitioning to the planned new joint facilities are under review.
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of building and operating the proposed new (a) EPURE nuclear warhead testing facilities at Valduc in France and (b) TEUTATES technology development centre at AWE Aldermaston. [26418]
Peter Luff: The design, construction, operating and dismantling costs of both EPURE and the technology development centre will be shared equitably by the UK and France. This co-operation has the potential to save considerable sums for both parties compared to developing separate national facilities. However, due to the immaturity of present cost estimates and the need to protect commercial sensitivities I am unable to be more specific at the present time on the potential cost to the public purse.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department plans to submit planning applications for (a) the proposed Anglo-French Teutates Technology Development Centre and (b) the new solid intermediate level waste treatment plant at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston to the local planning authority. [26597]
Peter Luff: Planning for the proposed Anglo-French Teutates technology development centre and the new solid intermediate level waste treatment plant at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston is at an early stage. It is, therefore, too soon to define what planning approvals will be necessary. The Ministry of Defence, however, will ensure compliance with all legislative requirements including the Town and Country Planning Act (1990).
Departmental Grants
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding his Department has allocated in grants for (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; and how much such funding he plans to allocate for 2011-12. [25814]
Dr Fox [holding answer 22 November 2010]: The departmental figures for FY 2009-10 are the outturn; for FY 2010-11 the figures are forecast payments to be made this financial year. The funding allocation for the forward year has still to be agreed.
| £ million | ||
| Name of grant/grant in aid | FY 2009-10 | FY 2010-11 |
|
Reserve Forces and Cadets Association-tri-service activities | ||
|
Council of Voluntary Welfare Work in Germany (Welfare Council) | ||
Departmental Pay
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average annual salary equivalent has been for Territorial Army (a) privates, (b) lance corporals, (c) corporals and (d) sergeants on operational deployments in each of the last five years. [26284]
Mr Robathan: Data on actual payments to all individual TA soldiers deployed over the last five years are not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The following table shows equivalent annual salaries based on the pay bands for Infantry personnel in the relevant ranks. For mobilised Territorial Army (TA) personnel, the pay bands are the same as for their Regular Army counterparts. There are a number of levels within each pay band, and the figures in the table represent broadly the middle of the range for a typical Regular soldier.
| £ | |||||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
The actual amount paid to each, individual would depend on a number of factors, including the length of mobilisation. Typically, a TA soldier will receive eight months' salary, based on a six-month deployment, one month of pre-tour training and one month of post-tour leave.
In addition to the basic salary, a mobilised TA soldier may also be entitled to claim the following allowances in accordance with the regulations applicable to Regulars, the sums for which are shown at daily rates:
| £ | |||||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
In cases where mobilised TA soldiers' military pay, less operational allowance, falls short of what they would be paid in their regular employment, they are entitled to claim the difference subject to an upper daily limit of £822 per day for medical consultants whose TA service is within the Defence Medical Services as a consultant, and £548 per day for all other reservists.
Departmental Redundancy
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many redundancies will arise as a result of the closure of the four regional divisional headquarters; and whether such redundancies are included in the 25,000 civilian staff redundancies announced in his Department's strategic defence and security review; [26296]
(2) how many regional brigade headquarters will close as a result of the implementation of the proposals of his Department's strategic defence and security review; how many redundancies will arise as a result of the closures; and whether such redundancies are included in the 25,000 civilian staff redundancies announced in the strategic defence and security review. [26298]
Nick Harvey: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 October 2010, Official Report, column 370W, to the hon. Member for Glasgow South West (Mr Davidson). The detailed work of the project team continues and is not due to conclude until the middle of next year. It is too early to say, therefore, what redundancies might arise as a result of the closures of four divisional headquarters and at least two regional brigade headquarters.
I can confirm, however, that any civilian staff redundancies that do arise will be included in the 25,000 civilian staff reductions announced in the strategic defence and security review on 19 October 2010, Official Report, column 797.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many redundancies will arise from reducing the communications and logistics support to Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps; and whether such redundancies are included in the 25,000 civilian staff redundancies announced in his Department's strategic defence and security review; [26299]
(2) how many redundancies will arise from the conversion of the second of the operational divisional headquarters to a force preparation role; and whether such redundancies are included in the 25,000 civilian staff redundancies announced in his Department's strategic defence and security review. [26300]
Nick Harvey: Implementation of the strategic defence and security review began in the autumn and will continue into 2011, using the strategy for defence and planning round processes and the work of the defence reform unit. Detailed planning and analysis is still under way, and it is too early to say how many redundancies might arise from the reduction in communications and logistics support to Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps or as a result of the conversion of the second of the operational divisional headquarters to a force preparation role.
I can confirm, however, that any civilian staff redundancies that do arise will be included in the 25,000 civilian staff reductions announced in the strategic defence and security review on 19 October 2010, Official Report, column 797.
Departmental Research
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 1 November 2010, Official Report, column 597W, on departmental research, what estimate he has made of his Department's expenditure on research and development in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14. [27133]
Peter Luff: At present, the Ministry of Defence expects that the research budget will rise slightly in cash terms over the comprehensive spending review period. However, no final decisions have been taken on the level of research and development funding in the Ministry of Defence's planning round 2011 programme which is expected to conclude in early 2011.
Nimrod Aircraft
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had on other countries fulfilling the role that would have been performed by Nimrod MRA4 aircraft. [27142]
Peter Luff: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 28 October 2010, Official Report, columns 450-51W, and to the hon. Members for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow (Mr McCann) and for North Durham (Mr Jones).
Nuclear Submarines
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the design life is in effective full-power years of the PWR2 (a) reactor pressure vessel and (b) nuclear steam raising plant. [26419]
Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 22 November 2010, Official Report, column 38W.
Nuclear Weapons: Finance
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) contracts have been signed and (b) other agreements have been made with (i) BAE and (ii) other companies in respect of the Future Submarine Programme. [26414]
Peter Luff: Contracts to support the Concept Phase of the Future Submarine Programme have been signed with BAE Systems Marine Ltd, Babcock (Devonport Royal Dockyard Ltd) and Rolls-Royce Power Engineering plc.
Other contracts to support the concept phase have been placed with companies including QinetiQ, Deloitte and Wragge & Co Limited Liability Partnership. It is not possible to provide details of all of the smaller value contracts placed by the Ministry of Defence as this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
In addition, contracts for the design of a common missile compartment have been placed with Electric Boat by the United States Government.
Public Expenditure
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much additional funding his Department plans to allocate for the purposes of enhancing simulated training, as referred to in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, in each year of the spending review period. [26680]
Nick Harvey: The strategic defence and security review announced that there would be enhancements to simulated training to produce a more efficient and cost-effective training environment. The Ministry of Defence is in the process of completing its annual planning round which will allocate programme budgets. This is expected to conclude in early 2011.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional funding his Department plans to allocate for the development of and use of (a) sensors and (b) nanotechnology in each year of the spending review period. [26682]
Peter Luff: The strategic defence and security review made clear that we will continue the most essential investment in science and technology, which will include focusing investment on developing capabilities in key areas, such as, sensors and nanotechnology. The Ministry of Defence is in the process of completing its annual planning round which will allocate programme budgets. This is expected to conclude in early 2011.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional funding his Department plans to allocate to increase the Government's capacity to respond to civil emergencies in each year of the spending review period. [26683]
Nick Harvey: As set out in the strategic defence and security review, the Government consider it a priority for the UK to be resilient to all kinds of emergencies. Defence has a long standing record of providing assistance in the event of a civil emergency, providing specialist capabilities which may not be available in the civil community or augmenting civil capacity if it is overwhelmed by the scale of an event. Military assistance is normally provided on a reimbursement basis at the request of, and in support of, other Government Departments.
Rescue Services
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what alternative options for meeting the search and rescue requirement his Department considered as part of its review of the search and rescue helicopter programme. [26659]
Peter Luff: The review of the search and rescue helicopter project is considering a full range of alternative options including extending the current capability, acquisition of capital assets, and shorter and longer term service arrangements to meet the UK helicopter search and rescue capability. Until this is concluded it would be inappropriate to comment further on any specific aspects of the review.
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of extending beyond 2016 the life of the Sea King helicopters currently used by the RAF and Royal Navy for search and rescue operations. [26660]
Peter Luff: Extending the current search and rescue Sea King helicopters is being considered as part of the Review of the search and rescue helicopter project. Until this is concluded it would be inappropriate to comment on any specific aspects of the review.
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on Sikorsky's programme to extend the life of the US variant of the Sea King helicopter; whether his review of the search and rescue helicopter programme took account of that information; and if he will make a statement. [26661]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence does not hold information on a Sikorsky programme to extend the life of the US variant of the Sea King helicopter. The UK Sea Kings were built and are supported by AgustaWestland and the review of the search and rescue helicopter project includes consideration of extending the life of these helicopters.
Michael Dugher:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the implementation of the proposal to de-militarise the search and rescue helicopter programme on (a)
RNAS Culdrose, (b) RAF Chivenor, (c) RAF Boulmer, (d) RAF Leconfield, (e) RAF Wattisham, (f) RAF Prestwick, (g) RAF Valley and (h) RAF Lossiemouth; and if he will make a statement. [26662]
Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister responsible for defence personnel, welfare and veterans the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my hon. Friend the member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan) on 19 November 2010, Official Report, column 968W, to the right hon. Member for Coventry North East (Mr Ainsworth).
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value was of contractual liabilities incurred by his Department in respect of Soteria at the time of the suspension of the search and rescue helicopter programme. [26666]
Peter Luff: Soteria is the Preferred Bidder for the search and rescue helicopter project and there are no contractual liabilities as no contract has been awarded.
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the range is of the helicopter selected by Soteria for the search and rescue (helicopter) requirement; and whether that helicopter has an in-flight refuelling capability. [26667]
Peter Luff: The maximum range of the Sikorsky S92 helicopter in search and rescue configuration is 634 nautical miles. This more than meets the search and rescue helicopter coverage requirement for the UK. Therefore an in-flight refuelling capability is not required.
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the likely effects of the withdrawal of Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft on the (a) required fleet mix for the search and rescue helicopter programme and (b) operational capabilities of the helicopter platform selected by Soteria. [26668]
Peter Luff: The search and rescue helicopter requirement is not dependent on the Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft and there are no plans to change it as a result of not bringing the Nimrod into service.
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft play in maritime search and rescue missions; and if he will make a statement. [26670]
Peter Luff: None. Although the Nimrod MR2 was designed to undertake a wide variety of roles including a long-range search and rescue capability, it was withdrawn from service in March 2010. Following the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the Nimrod MRA4 will no longer be brought into service. The UK will continue to provide search and rescue services using a range of assets depending on the response required.
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects his Department's review of proposals for helicopter search and rescue under the Private Finance Initiative to be concluded; and if he will make a statement. [27373]
Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister responsble for defence personnel, welfare and veterans the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, my hon. Friend the Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan) on 19 November 2010, Official Report, column 968W, to the right hon. Member for Coventry North East (Mr Ainsworth).
Special Forces: Public Expenditure
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what additional funding his Department plans to allocate to the Special Forces in each year of the spending review period. [26681]
Nick Harvey: The recently published strategic defence and security review highlighted the contribution of our Special Forces to a wide range of intervention operations and the vital support they provide to stabilisation operations and other commitments. We have taken the decision to provide further investment in this area to significantly enhance support capabilities. Following the long-standing precedent regarding Special Forces, no further details will be provided to help to protect operational capability.
Strategic Defence and Security Review
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the strategic defence and security review, whether his Department has made an estimate of the level of savings which will accrue from the rationalisation of wider equipment holdings in light of experience on operations and fleet management during the comprehensive spending review period. [26302]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) made estimates of the cost savings accrued from measures in the strategic defence and security review for the purposes of formulating policy. Some of these have been published to help inform the public debate. Release of further detail may prejudice the MOD's negotiating position with its commercial suppliers. Furthermore, final savings figures will depend on detailed implementation, which will generally be subject to full consultation with all relevant parties, including the trade unions and the devolved Administrations, as well as the results of mandatory assessments on the impact that the measures will have on sustainability, equality and diversity and health and safety. The MOD is therefore not able to release more detailed figures at this time.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many submissions to the strategic defence and security review his Department received from the general public; [26311]
(2) how many submissions to the strategic defence and security review from members of the public were (a) read, (b) acknowledged and (c) replied to substantively. [26960]
Dr Fox: The Ministry of Defence received over 1,000 letters from the public on aspects of the strategic defence and security review during the period of the review. All were read on receipt, and either have received or will receive replies.
These are in addition to over 6,000 responses from industry, public submissions to the Cabinet Office Coalition Partnership Agreement, academics, Members of Parliament, members of the armed forces, and public servants within and beyond Defence.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether all meetings on the strategic defence and security review attended by Ministers in his Department were minuted. [26313]
Dr Fox [holding answer 25 November 2010]: All meetings of the Defence Strategy Group, which I chaired, were minuted. There was also an ongoing dialogue between Ministers and service chiefs outside the Group which did not require a formal record.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what training schemes will be deleted to find efficiencies in military training, as referred to in the strategic defence and security review; [26678]
(2) what enhancements his Department plans to make to simulated training, as referred to in the strategic defence and security review. [26679]
Nick Harvey: We will enhance the training environment and use the most effective method of preparing our armed forces for what we ask them to do. This will mean that some outdated training methods will be replaced by modern simulators and training techniques, but we do not plan to delete whole training schemes unless there is no longer a need for them.
Surveillance
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions his Department has had with its US counterparts on co-operation on surveillance platforms. [26303]
Peter Luff: Ministers and officials from both countries regularly discuss co-operation on surveillance platforms.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment his Department has made of the UK's surveillance needs up to 2020; [26304]
(2) what arrangements his Department has put in place to ensure the UK can meet its surveillance needs up to 2020. [26305]
Peter Luff: The strategic defence and security review reviewed the UK's capability requirements, including airborne surveillance, through to 2020. To meet them a number of projects at various stages of maturity are currently under way. These include projects to deliver and/or support unmanned systems such as Watchkeeper, and manned platforms such as E-3D Sentry, Rivet Joint and the replacement for the Sea King Mk 7 Airborne Surveillance and Control helicopter. We are content that we have adequate surveillance capability up to 2020.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions his Department has had with its French counterparts on co-operation on surveillance platforms. [26306]
Peter Luff: Following the announcement at the UK-France Defence and Security Co-operation summit on 2 November that we had agreed to collaborate on the assessment phase of the next generation of Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Air Surveillance Systems; our officials are working together to agree joint requirements and plans.
Territorial Army
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2010, Official Report, column 565W, on the Yorkshire Regiment, what other roles have been suspended from Territorial Army infantry units. [26645]
Mr Robathan: In the light of current operational requirements, the Territorial Army Infantry's Javelin (anti-tank) role has also been suspended.
World War II: Anniversaries
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what preparations his Department has made in respect of the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain; and if he will make a statement. [24892]
Mr Robathan: In conjunction with Service charities, veterans' organisations and associations, the Royal Air Force developed a comprehensive series of events to commemorate and celebrate the 70(th) anniversary of the Battle of Britain culminating in September this year. The key tenet that underpinned these events was to allow veterans to participate as fully as possible in this anniversary. Events were held all over the country but the principal events of celebration were the unveiling of a memorial statue to Sir Keith Park in Waterloo Place on 15 September and a Service of Commemoration and Dedication held in Westminster Abbey on 19 September.
The RAF is considering the appropriate level of commemoration for the 75(th) anniversary of this historic event in 2015 but it is too early to confirm any plans at this point.
House of Commons Commission
Savings Programme: Consultation
Thomas Docherty: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, which representative bodies of (a) hon. Members, (b) hon. Members' staff and (c) staff of the House were consulted before the proposals in respect of the House's savings programme were communicated. [26723]
John Thurso:
Following the Commission's request to the Management Board to develop savings options, consultation on the Management Board's list of possible initial savings is currently under way involving all of the groups referred to in the hon. Member's question. The list was sent first to the Finance and Services Committee. The Chair of the Finance and Services Committee wrote to hon. Members on 15 November seeking their views and also wrote to the Administration, Liaison
and Procedure Committees; the Management Board has held all-staff meetings for House staff in addition to intradepartmental meetings; and views are actively being sought from trade unions and Members' staff representative bodies.
10:10 Campaign
Simon Hughes: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the House of Commons Commission plans to participate in the 10:10 campaign to reduce its carbon emissions by 10% in one year; and if he will make a statement. [26759]
John Thurso: The Commission applauds the aims of the 10:10 campaign, and recognises the significance of the targets it promotes, but does not plan to join it. In October 2009 the Commission agreed it should avoid lending the House's name to particular campaigns and should participate only in exceptional circumstances.
The House has set a target to reduce its carbon emissions from energy by 7% by 2010-11, relative to 2008-09. In the 12 month period to the end of October 2010 the House has recorded a 5.6% reduction in its carbon emissions.
Utilities
Ms Bagshawe: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the combined cost of heating and water utilities was for the House of Commons portion of the Parliamentary Estate in each year since 2005. [26015]
John Thurso: The cost of heating alone cannot be provided as electricity and gas charges include heating, hot water and catering usage and cannot be broken down into these categories.
The water and sewerage charges paid by the House of Commons for its portion of the Estate for each financial year since 2005 are as follows.
| £ | |
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Committee
Departmental Written Questions
Sir Paul Beresford:
To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how many and what proportion of questions tabled to the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority for written answer on a named day were answered substantively before or on the day named
for answer 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 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. [25987]
Mr Charles Walker: The Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority agreed on 30 June 2010 to accept questions for written answer with effect from 5 July 2010. The Speaker's Committee for the IPSA keeps statistics on the numbers of questions dealt with in order that the procedures of the Speaker's Committees should remain broadly consistent with each other.
Since 5 July there have been 41 named day questions to the Committee, of which 32 (78%) were answered substantively on or before the day named; all named day questions tabled between May and 12 November have received substantive answers.
Neither the Speaker's Committee nor the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has made an estimate of the average cost of answering a named day question on the day named for answer but it is noted that HM Treasury has established the cost of a written PQ as £149.00:
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how many and what proportion of questions tabled to the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority for ordinary written answer since May 2010 were answered within (a) seven days and (b) 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 of answering a question for ordinary written answer within seven days of tabling in the latest period for which figures are available. [25988]
Mr Charles Walker: The Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority agreed on 30 June 2010 to accept questions for written answer with effect from 5 July 2010. The Speaker's Committee for the IPSA keeps statistics on the numbers of questions dealt with in order that the procedures of the Speaker's Committees should remain broadly consistent with each other.
Since 5 July there have been 95 questions for ordinary written answer to the Committee. Of these, 42 (44%) were answered within seven days of tabling (one with additional material supplied 13 days later). 62 (65%) were answered within 14 days of tabling. These periods include non-sitting Fridays, weekends and parliamentary recesses. Two questions tabled between July and 12 November, on 11 November, did not receive substantive answers by 18 November but were both answered substantively on 19 November.
Neither the Speaker's Committee nor the Independent Parliamentary Standards authority has made an estimate of the average cost of answering a named day question
on the day named for answer but it is noted that HM Treasury has established the cost of a written PQ as £149.00:
Mr Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what procedure is followed in handling emails sent by hon. Members to the chief executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority; what arrangements are made to ensure that the chief executive sees such correspondence; and what target time is set for the provision of a response. [26780]
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 about the procedure for the handling of emails sent to the Chief Executive (26780).
The majority of correspondence sent to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority is dealt with by the Information Team, who have the information and the authority to deal with most queries. Members of this team pass on correspondence when appropriate.
Emails sent direct to me, as Chief Executive, are handled according to the nature of the query. Routine queries are passed to the Information Team for reply; complaints are handled under IPSA's complaints procedure; and, in a small number of cases, queries are dealt with either by my office on my behalf, or by me direct.
The overall target for correspondence within the organisation is to resolve 90% within five working days. Correspondence to be answered by me or by my office specifically is, by its nature, more complicated and tends to raise broader policy issues. Consequently, the expectation is that more items in this category will fall outside the overall five-day target.
I approve all letters sent under my name.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Adult Education: Greater London
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the future provision of adult education in (a) West Ham constituency, (b) Newham and (c) London. [26272]
Mr Hayes: The newly published strategy for skills, "Skills for Sustainable Growth", is based on the coalition principles of freedom, fairness and responsibility. Funding for adult education will be refocused on those who need it most. Employers and citizens will be asked to take greater responsibility for ensuring their own skills needs are met. And control will be devolved to communities so they can play a greater role in shaping services.
For the 2010/11 academic year, over £567 million has been allocated to further education (FE) colleges and providers based in the London region to support the delivery of post 19 FE and skills provision. This included
over £25.5 million for providers based in the West Ham constituency and £722,000 for providers based in the Newham constituency. These figures are drawn from allocations to individual providers based in these areas; the provider could choose to deliver provision in other areas of the country.
As set out in "Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth" (16 November 2010), in the 2011-12 financial year we will invest £3.9 billion in post-19 further education (FE) and skills. 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.
Agriculture: Research
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what research projects designed to assist (a) the development of organic agriculture and (b) farmers (i) mitigate the effects of and (ii) adapt to climate change have been funded by (A) each research council and (B) the Science and Technology Facilities Council since 1997; what the (1) research topic, (2) start date, (3) cost and (4) project code was of each such project; what the lead institution was in each case; and which such projects have been completed to date. [8039]
Mr Willetts: The Biotechnology and Biological Research Council (BBSRC) and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) have funded projects in both areas, and details of these will be placed in the Libraries of the House. Some of the data sets do not run for the full period since 1997; this is because data for the years which are not provided can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) funded two grants since 1997 whose research included GM plants. Details of these will also be placed in the Libraries of the House.
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Medical Research Council (MRC) and Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) have not funded any projects of the types listed.
Aimhigher Programme
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many interventions were made by Aimhigher UK in each local education authority area in England in the last year for which figures are available. [26653]
Mr Willetts: Information on the number of interventions made by Aimhigher is gathered by Aimhigher partnerships on an area basis. This information is not disaggregated by local authority area. Information provided by partnerships showing the number of activities in each partnership area in the 2009/10 academic year is summarised in the following table.
In addition, the national roadshow held 4,850 sessions for approximately 70,000 learners. It is not possible to disaggregate this to show the number of learners per partnership area.
The coalition Government are committed to providing a new impetus for social mobility in this country and will be investing in raising the attainment and aspiration of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Universities and schools have learned a lot from the Aimhigher programme about "what works" and can build on this in a way that best supports their pupils and students.
| Aimhigher: number of activities by partnership | |
| Partnership | Number of activities |
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the satisfaction level among schools participating in the Aimhigher programme. [26663]
Mr Willetts:
Research conducted by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) for HEFCE published earlier this year reported that evidence from
colleges, schools and academies showed that involvement in the activities provided through Aimhigher was associated with higher than predicted attainment at GCSE and greater confidence among learners that they were able to achieve.
In addition, HEFCE undertook a consultation with 20 schools and academies over the summer. The consultation found that schools and academies valued campus visits and summer schools as having the most impact on learners.
The coalition Government are committed to providing a new impetus for social mobility in this country and will be investing in raising the attainment and aspiration of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Universities and schools have learned a lot from the Aimhigher programme about "what works" and can build on this in a way that best supports their pupils and students.
Apprentices
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to take on apprentices. [25901]
Mr Hayes: We want to make it easier for businesses of all sizes to take on apprentices and access the benefits they can bring to the workplace, which is why one of our first announcements was to redeploy £150 million from Train to Gain to create 50,000 more apprenticeship places. Just last month, we built on this by confirming that we will boost spending on apprenticeships by up to £250 million above the funding inherited from the last Government, before the end of the spending review period.
Small businesses are the cornerstone of our economy and high quality training opportunities like apprenticeships are key to supporting their growth and success. I know that small businesses place great value on apprenticeships and are prepared to invest in them.
Group training models have an important role to play in helping us to reach more small and medium-sized businesses-providing them with a means of sharing the administrative burdens and costs. I am an advocate of the Group Training Association (GTA) model and recently asked the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) to look at what they could do to further support the GTA network in England.
Apprentices: Public Sector
Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to increase the number of apprenticeships available in the public sector; and if he will make a statement. [26289]
Mr Hayes: As set out in our recently published strategy Skills for Sustainable Growth, this Government are committed to expanding apprenticeships. By 2014-15, we will have in place sufficient funding to train 75,000 more adult apprentices than the previous Government were providing.
While Government funding supports training for apprentices, we rely on employers to make the opportunities available to their new and existing staff. As employer of
around one-fifth of the country's work force, the public sector will be a key part of this. Apprenticeships are now available in around 200 job roles and are no longer only about traditional trades in the private sector.
I want to see an increase in public sector apprenticeships because they improve productivity and offer a great way to meet the skills needs of the work force, which will ultimately result in better public service delivery.
However, I do not believe we should try to achieve that through arbitrary central Government targets. Instead, Government should encourage and enable public sector employers to take advantage of apprenticeships. That is why the National Apprenticeship Service has representatives in place in every region of the country to support public sector employers with advice and guidance. We have also ensured that within central Government apprentices are exempt from the civil service-wide recruitment freeze. I was also pleased to offer my support to the Department for Health who announced earlier this month that the NHS apprenticeship programme will receive £10 million to create around 6,000 new NHS apprenticeships.
Business: Departmental Co-ordination
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what mechanisms are in place for the (a) management and (b) cross-departmental co-ordination of the Government's relationship with UK FTSE 100 companies. [25417]
Mr Davey: Most day-to-day stakeholder engagement on specific areas of policy development, implementation and review is led by policy officials-this includes but is not limited to FTSE 100 companies. A central stakeholder engagement team is responsible for ensuring that BIS adopts a well co-ordinated approach to engaging with BIS stakeholders. The stakeholder engagement team gives the Department a strategic oversight, ensuring effective use of resource across the Department and its priorities, and identifying gaps and opportunities.
Ministers and senior officials have regular and appropriate contact through co-ordinated and effective visits and events, which CEOs and Chairs of FTSE companies regularly attend.
Across Whitehall, formal and informal networks exist to share information and co-ordinate where issues and policies impact on core stakeholders. This happens at policy level and across stakeholder engagement teams.
Ceramics: Trade Fairs
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if his Department will provide assistance to (a) Anderen Ltd in Stoke-on-Trent South constituency and (b) other ceramics companies to attend the Ceramics China Exhibition in May 2011. [26802]
Mr Prisk: Anderen Ltd is in contact with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), and a UKTI international trade adviser is currently working with them.
Staffordshire chamber of commerce has actively supported the development of international trade opportunities for the ceramics industry in certain key markets, including China. UKTI is currently considering
whether or not it will be able to offer support for UK companies to attend the Ceramics China Exhibition in light of the spending review outcome.
Commodities Trading
Mr McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on the regulation of commodities derivatives trading in the EU. [26402]
Mr Hoban: I have been asked to reply.
There are a number of EU initiatives under way relevant to the regulation of commodity derivatives. These include the review of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID), on which a consultation document is expected shortly from the European Commission, and the proposed Regulation on Over the Counter (OTC) Derivatives, Central Counterparties and Trade Repositories. The Government are actively engaged in these processes.
In addition I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 November 2010, Official Report, column 475W, to the hon. Member for Sefton Central (Bill Esterson).
Co-operatives
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress he has made in supporting the creation and expansion of co-operatives; and what his policy is on the provision of Government support for the establishment of new co-operatives. [24898]
Mr Davey: The Government are committed to encouraging new and existing businesses to consider the benefits of models, including co-operatives, which enable co-ownership and engagement by employees, customers or wider communities, while acknowledging that such models will not be appropriate for all businesses.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is currently examining the information made available on:
to ensure that businesses and other organisations are able to make appropriate choices about the legal forms and ownership structures that best suit their operations.
The Government are also developing a suite of new Rights to Provide for public sector workers to form employee-led mutuals to take over the services they deliver. The Cabinet Office is leading work with Departments to explore in detail how such rights can be applied across the public sector, including by building on the lessons emerging from 12 pathfinder mutuals launched in August. In support of this commitment a number of leading organisations in the mutual sector have now launched a freely available phone and web-based information service for those interested in taking this agenda forward. The Government will announce further progress with this policy in a White Paper on Public Service Reform in early 2011, and will continue to develop the necessary support and guidance in this context.
The Government are also committed to further modernisation of the legislative framework for co-operatives, including by bringing forward the necessary legislation
to implement the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies and Credit Unions Act 2010, and by relaying The Legislative Reform (Industrial and Provident Societies and Credit Unions) Order 2010.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what items of expenditure Ministers in his Department have authorised since his appointment. [21728]
Mr Davey [holding answer 4 November 2010]: Expenditure by my Department for both the current and previous Administrations was approved by Parliament through the parliamentary estimates process. Budgets are delegated to the accounting officers of departments by the Treasury in line with the approved estimates. Accounting officers are responsible for expenditure within departments. Some specific items of expenditure have to be individually authorised by Ministers under the legislation relating to that expenditure, or as an HM Treasury requirement.
Since my appointment, Ministers in my Department have authorised the following:
Additional Hours of Advice project-to extend the opening hours within the Citizen's Advice local offices.
Blackpool Leisure Assets-a joint public sector-led proposal to acquire Blackpool Tower and Winter Gardens involving the north west development agency.
Bristol and Bath Science Park-a proposal by the south west regional development agency to develop a science park on the home of the National Composite Centre.
The student support grant and loan regulations which are authorised in the summer preceding the academic year to which they apply.
The annual Skills Investment Strategy setting out the allocations for further education for the next financial year.
UK-China links.
Scholarships for service leavers.
Digital life skills.
All proposed consultancy expenditure and expenditure outside the freeze on recruitment and marketing, and remuneration above the Prime Minister's salary.
Departmental Regulation
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what regulations sponsored by his Department have been revoked in the last six months. [24383]
Mr Prisk: This Department has not yet revoked any significant regulatory measures. However, we have launched a review of employment law, and are conducting a major fundamental review scrutinising the overall stock of BIS regulation, alongside legacy measures inherited from the previous Administration.
Discretionary Learner Support Fund
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether further education institutions will be required to fulfil any statutory duties under his plans for the Discretionary Learner Support Fund. [26975]
Mr Willetts: As set out in, "Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth" strategy document, over the next few months we will engage with colleges, training organisations and other stakeholders on how a discretionary learner support fund should be managed in the future. This will ensure the fund recognises the characteristics of different types of learners and identifies the particular delivery arrangements appropriate for the FE and Skills sector. Statutory duties do not apply to this Fund and we have no plans that they will apply in the future.
FE institutions are not required to fulfil any statutory duties in relation to the Discretionary Learner Support Fund and we have no plans that they will be required to do so in the future.
Economic Growth
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on what date he expects his Department to publish its White Paper on growth. [27475]
Mr Prisk: Returning the UK economy to sustainable growth is the overriding priority of this coalition Government. BIS and HM Treasury are jointly leading work to explore routes to a more balanced and sustainable model for growth. "The path to strong, sustainable and balanced growth" published today (29 November 2010), launched a comprehensive review of the Government's work to encourage economic growth. The review will last the whole Parliament, with a first report by Budget 2011.
EU Emissions Trading Scheme
Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on ensuring that Phase 2 of the European Union Emissions Trading Regime allows for the expansion of carbon-efficient UK manufacturing companies. [26586]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 25 November 2010]: The Department had extensive discussions with the Department of Energy and Climate Change and its predecessor DEFRA when setting the UK National Allocation Plan for Phase 2 of the EU Emissions Trading System. The plan includes rules for allocating allowances to significant capacity extensions. The plan was approved by the European Commission prior to the commencement of Phase 2 in 2008.
My officials are in close discussion with DECC and the European Commission to ensure the needs and concerns of carbon-efficient UK manufacturing companies are taken into account in setting the rules for significant expansions in future phases of the EU Emissions Trading System.
Export Credits Guarantee Department
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps the Export Credits Guarantee Department is taking to support local businesses to compete in international export markets. [26171]
Mr Davey: ECGD engages directly with exporters, exporter representative bodies and banks that provide export finance to raise awareness of its services and products. ECGD also markets its facilities overseas so that projects sponsors and buyers are aware of the availability of export finance to assist the purchase of supplies from the UK.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the financial benefit to the UK of loans underwritten by the Export Credits Guarantee Department in 2010-11. [26175]
Mr Davey: No specific assessment has been made of the financial benefit to the UK economy of loans underwritten by ECGD in 2010-11, and there are no plans to do so. ECGD's statutory purpose is to support exports which it achieves by guaranteeing loans made available from eligible banks to finance export contracts obtained by UK exporters and insuring exporters against non-payment. Such export contracts benefit the exporters involved and also companies in their supply chains including SMEs. ECGD is tasked to operate so as to break even over time; presently, it is a net financial contributor to the Exchequer.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the total risk liability of overseas loans guaranteed by the Export Credits Guarantee Department is. [26178]
Mr Davey: The Export Credits Guarantee Department's contingent liability in respect of overseas loans it has guaranteed as at 31 October 2010 is £12,329 million.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much the Export Credits Guarantee Department has allocated to support loans from British banks in 2010-11. [26179]
Mr Davey: ECGD does not allocate any particular amounts to support loans from British banks. It guarantees loans made available by eligible banks to finance specific export contracts obtained by UK exporters according to its risk capacity for a particular country, the creditworthiness of the buyer/borrower and on terms and conditions that are appropriate to the export transaction being financed.
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will (a) review the operation of the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) and (b) ask that review to consider the merits of requiring future projects supported by the ECGD to be assessed in relation to environment sustainability and human rights standards. [26369]
Mr Davey: I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
The Government have no plans to change to ECGD's role and status.
It is ECGD's policy to comply with international agreements which apply to the operations of Export Credit Agencies. In this respect, ECGD applies the OECD Council Recommendation on Common
Approaches on the Environment and Officially Supported Export Credits that establishes the basis upon which the environmental, social and human rights impacts of projects must be addressed.
Flexible Working
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consultation his Department has undertaken with the public sector and private sector employers on his plans to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees. [27243]
Mr Davey: I will consult on the extension to the right to request flexible working to all employees in the new year.
Fulbright Commission
Mr Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of 22 November 2010, Official Report, House of Lords, column 959, what legal status the agreement signed on 22 September 1948 establishing the US-UK Fulbright Commission has; whether the agreement constitutes a legally binding treaty; and if he will make a statement. [26892]
Mr Willetts: I confirm that the agreement, as amended, constitutes a legally-binding treaty. While the terms of the agreement are binding, the level of annual funding of the Fulbright scholarship programme is not stipulated in the treaty. The Government support the programme and we are committed to providing it with the best possible settlement.
Further Education: Finance
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what estimate he has made of the likely effect of the proposed reduction in funding available to support students in further education on the number of students who will study at a further education institution in the next academic year; [26506]
(2) if he will undertake an equality impact assessment of the proposed reduction in funding for financial support for students in further education in academic year 2011-12. [26507]
Mr Hayes: As outlined in "Investing in Skills for Sustainable Success" published on 16 November 2010 the 2010-11 baseline for adult learner support was £144,398,000, this will increase to £151,398,000 in 2011-12. We have also published an indicative budget for 2012-13 of £163,768,000.
An equality impact assessment for "Skills for Sustainable Growth" and "Investing in Skills for Sustainable Success" was also published on 16 November 2010.
Teresa Pearce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) whether the methodology used to determine the level of payments from the Discretionary Learner Support Fund will take
into account the number of young people in a household who are in further or higher education in the academic year 2011-12; [26508]
(2) whether work-based learners will be eligible to access the Discretionary Learner Support Fund in the 2011-12 academic year; [26509]
(3) whether students who had not completed a course in a previous academic year will be eligible for support from the Discretionary Learner Support Fund in the 2011-12 academic year. [26510]
Mr Hayes: The Government are committed to providing targeted financial support to enable students to access learning and training. "Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth", published on 16 November 2010, announced that the current arrangements for learner support will start to change from the 2011/12 academic year. An enhanced discretionary learner support fund will be created within the next two years. We will work closely with the sector on these changes and will announce more detail on the allocation of funds in due course.
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely effects on equality of access to further education at (a) local and (b) regional level of further education institutions making available different levels of funding to assist students. [26512]
Mr Hayes: The equality impact assessment, recently carried out by BIS on the funding systems for 2011/12 and 2012/13, was published following a consultation on the funding process. This can be referred to at
Teresa Pearce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether there will be a central appeals system for students who wish to dispute a funding decision in respect of an allocation from
their institution's Discretionary Learner Support Fund in the 2011-12 academic year. [26513]
Mr Hayes: Currently, each college has a published policy on how discretionary learner support funds are distributed. Learners who are dissatisfied with that procedure can lodge an appeal using the college's own internal appeal system. If they are still dissatisfied with that outcome they can access/utilise the Skills Funding Agency appeals procedure. It is expected that the same or a similar approach will be adopted for the 2011/12 academic year.
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what audit procedures will be put in place in respect of the administration by individual institutions of the Discretionary Learner Support Fund in the 2011-12 academic year. [26514]
Mr Hayes: The Government have announced that the current arrangements for learner support will start to change from the 2011/12 academic year. Providers currently in receipt of Government support must have administrative procedures that record the details of learner applications for financial assistance. They are also required to submit information detailing how funds have been used. The data are used to demonstrate the efficacy of and to demonstrate probity in the use of public funds.
Further Education: Student Numbers
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of people who started a course of study at a further education college in January of each of the last five years. [26430]
Mr Hayes: The following table shows the number of learners participating on further education courses in England by provider type in 2004/05 to 2008/09, the latest year for which full year data are available. Information is not available specifically for starts in January.
| Participation on further education courses by provider type, 2004/05 to 2008/09 | |||||
| 2004/05 | 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | |
| Notes: 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. Information in this table is based on all Government-funded learners. 3.( )These data include FE, Apprenticeships/Work Based Learning, Adult Safeguarded Learning, Train to Gain and University for Industry funding streams. 4. All further education includes participation in general further education colleges, sixth form colleges, special colleges, private sector/public funded and other public funded providers i.e. local authorities and higher education institutions. 5. Figures for general further education colleges do not include sixth form colleges and special/specialist colleges. Source: Individualised Learner Record | |||||
Information on the number of learners participating in further education is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 16 November 2010:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statistical firstrelease/sfr_current
Further Education: Transport
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has made a recent estimate of the average cost of travel per day for a student at a further education institution in (a) England and (b) each region. [26434]
Mr Hayes:
Research published in 2003 estimated the average travel costs per month for all students (young people and adults) attending further education institutions as £42 for full-time students and £21 for part-time students (DFES (2003) A study of learners in further
education). No more recent estimate has been made, and no estimate has been made of average travel costs per day by region.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what financial assistance will be available to help students in further education meet travel costs in the academic year 2011-12. [26435]
Mr Hayes: As outlined in the strategy document 'Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth', published on 16 November 2010, the current arrangements for learner support will start to change from the 2011/12 academic year. An enhanced discretionary learner support fund will be created within the next two years. We will work closely with the sector on these changes to ensure funds are targeted on helping those learners facing financial difficulties. As with the current funding arrangements, this may include support for travel costs where local authority funding is not available.
Goldsmiths College
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on the governance of Goldsmiths College; and if he will make a statement. [26761]
Mr Willetts: The Department has not received any representations on this matter.
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what research grants has his Department given to Goldsmiths College in each of the last five years; and for what projects. [26762]
Mr Willetts: This Department does not directly provide research grants to Goldsmiths College. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Economic and Social Research Council and the Arts and Humanities Research Council provided 38 grants for a range of research at a value of £8,368,310 in the period 2005-10.
A full breakdown is as follows.
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much Goldsmiths College received from the public purse in each of the last five years; and how many (a) staff and (b) students it had in each such year. [26763]
Mr Willetts: The information is in the table.
Total public funding has been defined as: tuition fee categories which are predominantly publicly funded; all Funding Council grants-including grants from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Training and Development Agency (TDA) and the Skills Funding Agency (SFA); and other grants from central Government and public bodies such as local authorities and health authorities, and the EU Commission.
Higher education institutions have many other sources of income, such as research funding and donations so the total income of universities cannot be assumed from this table. More detailed breakdowns of income sources are published by HESA in volumes such as 'HE Finance Plus and Resources of Higher Education Institutions'.
| Public income (£000) | Academic staff | Non-academic staff | Total staff (excluding atypical) | Higher education students | |
| Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). | |||||
Higher education students includes postgraduates and undergraduates. Staff and student figures represent headcounts of students, rather than full-time equivalents.
Atypical staff are those whose working arrangements are not permanent, involve complex employment relationships and/or involve work away from the supervision of the normal work provider.
Graduates: Teachers
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to ensure that lectureships in further and higher education institutions remain an attractive career choice for graduates; and if he will make a statement. [27095]
Mr Hayes: Further education institutions are responsible for recruiting their own staff. Teaching in the FE sector is generally not a choice of first career for graduates. For the majority of teachers and trainers in the sector, it is a second or third career.
The sector requires highly skilled professionals from all walks of working life-plumbers, engineers, technicians, beauty therapists-to have reached the stage of their first career where they have the capability and capacity to train future generations.
Measures have been taken to enhance and recognise professional status. From September 2007 regulations have required all new teachers to the FE sector to be appropriately qualified in their own subject specialism and hold or work towards achieving the required teaching qualifications and gain qualified teaching learning skills (QTLS) status. Around 40% of FE teachers have a degree, but many hold a wide range of other qualifications that are relevant to their area of vocational expertise. Following the completion of their diploma in teaching, the teacher undergoes professional formation to demonstrate effective teaching practice in order to gain full professional status of qualified teacher learning and skills (QTLS) which is conferred by the Institute for Learning (IfL).
Higher education institutions are responsible for recruiting their own staff and promoting higher education as a positive career option, to graduates and others. The higher education sector has published a report outlining the benefits of working on the sector, which is available here
The report highlighted the quality of working life in higher education and indicated it compared well with other sectors.
However, the UK Government fund a number of dedicated postdoctoral fellowship schemes, notably national academy schemes, such as the University Research Fellowships, Newton International Fellowships, and Dorothy Hodgkins Fellowships, which seek to attract the best early career researchers from around the world to UK institutions. Research Councils UK (RCUK) are also working to ensure the quality of research skills is improved and that researcher training will become increasingly part of mainstream research practise.
RCUK remains fully committed to the maintenance of a high level skills agenda through its research careers activities, support for the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. RCUK also recognises significant progress made by the sector since 2002.
Higher Education
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people were in higher education in (a) England, (b) Lancashire and (c) Rossendale and Darwen constituency in each year from January 2005 to January 2010. [25262]
Mr Willetts: The latest available information on the numbers of enrolments from England, Lancashire local authority, and Rossendale and Darwen constituency on higher education courses at UK higher education institutions is shown in the table. Figures for the 2009/10 academic year will become available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2011. Comparable figures for students enrolled on higher education courses at further education colleges are not available.
The Department has recently received updated postcode information; therefore figures may not match those previously published.
| Enrolments( 1) from England( 2) , Lancashire local authority( 3) and Rossendale and Darwen parliamentary constituency( 3) : UK higher education institutions( 4) academic years 2004/05 to 2008/09 | |||
| Academic year | England | Lancashire | Rossendale and Darwen |
| (1) Covers enrolments to all levels and modes of study. (2) Covers English-domiciled enrolments. (3) Excludes those enrolments whose local authority or constituency information could not be established due to missing or invalid postcode information. (4) Excludes the Open University due to inconsistencies in their coding of students across the time series. Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) | |||
Higher Education: Admissions
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many young people (a) from low income families and (b) in total resident in (i) West Ham constituency, (ii) Newham and (iii) London attended (A) university and (B) a Russell Group university in (1) 2008, (2) 2009 and (3) 2010. [26492]
Mr Willetts: The latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is shown in the table. Figures for young people from low income families are not available, therefore figures for young people from the bottom four socio-economic classes (SECs) has been provided as an alternative. Figures for the 2009/10 academic year will be available in January 2011, and for 2010/11 in January 2012.
The Department has recently received updated postcode information therefore figures may not match those previously published. Due to issues with SEC data in 2008/09, figures in the answer are not comparable with SEC data for any earlier years.
| Young( 1) undergraduate enrolments by socio-economic class (SEC) and type of institution from West Ham parliamentary constituency( 2 ) , Newham local authority( 2) and London Government office region( 2) UK higher education institutions, academic year 2008/09 | ||||
| SECs 4-7( 3) | All enrolments | |||
| UK HEIs | Russell Group HEIs | UK HEIs | Russell Group HEIs | |
| (1) Covers enrolments under 21 years old. (2) Excludes enrolments whose local area could not be established due to missing or invalid postcode information. (3 )For all young undergraduate enrolments, 31% of data on SEC was missing. Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). | ||||
Higher Education: Pay
Dr Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the salary level of each vice-chancellor of a university. [24171]
Mr Willetts: The Department does not hold this information centrally. Higher education institutions are required to disclose remuneration of the head of institution in their financial statements.
Illegal Money Lending
Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the future funding of the illegal money lending project. [26384]
Mr Davey:
The future of the illegal money lending project is currently being considered as we work through the implications of the spending review. We have carried out an in-depth evaluation of the project and will work
to ensure any future funding builds on the report's recommendations, particularly in terms of securing even greater value for money and strengthen the governance of the project.
Industry: Academics
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his most recent estimate is of the contribution to gross national product generated by collaboration between industry and academia. [25458]
Mr Willetts: The Department does not undertake estimates along the lines requested. However, overall, universities are estimated to be worth £59 billion(1) to the economy, putting the higher education sector ahead of agriculture, advertising, pharmaceutical and postal industries.
(1) "The impact of universities on the UK economy, 4(th) edition, published in November 2009 by Universities UK"
Internet
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the Government's policy is on the principle of internet neutrality; and if he will make a statement. [26821]
Mr Vaizey: The Government are absolutely committed to an open internet. The internet has brought huge economic and social benefits across the world precisely because of its openness, and that must continue.
The Government expect all operators providing an internet access service-both fixed and mobile-to offer all legal content. Consumers should always be able to access any content or service they want to and content providers and applications should be able to access consumers. ISPs should not be able to discriminate unfairly against services or users. That means no blocking or discriminatory degradation of services or applications for commercial reasons.
There is not yet any evidence that discriminatory practices are emerging, or that there is a problem with regards to how ISPs or networks manage the traffic that flows over them (something they all engage in for technical reasons to deliver the best possible service to consumers). And this is enforced by the initial responses to Ofcom's recent consultation on the issue. In addition, under new provisions in the Electronic Communications Framework review operators must present information about their service, including the nature and extent of their traffic management policies and their impact on service quality in a clear, visible and easy to understand form for all their customers.
A contributing factor to the success of the internet has been the lack of legislative restraints that have been placed on it. It is our belief that improved transparency, along with a competitive market place and the ability to switch providers will mean that regulation in this area will be unnecessary. It is important that we give the market the opportunity to self regulate but Ofcom will closely monitor how the market develops and if it develops in an anti-competitive way it will intervene.
Manufacturing Industries: Qualifications
Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to meet demand for manufacturing skills through the Business Improvement Techniques National Vocational Qualification. [26287]
Mr Hayes: The National Vocational Qualification in Business Improvement Techniques is available on the Qualifications and Credit Framework and has been developed with SEMTA, the Sector Skills Council for Engineering, to meet the skills needs of the sector. The Skills Funding Agency has confirmed funding for this qualification for this academic year and plans to confirm future funding arrangements by January 2011.
Office of Fair Trading: Competition Commission
Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects of merging the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission on the time taken to complete investigatory procedures. [26881]
Mr Davey: In considering merging the Competition Commission with the competition functions of the Office of Fair Trading to create a single competition and markets authority, one of the Government's primary aims is to deliver more streamlined and consistent processes for businesses that are subject to its investigations. The Government will fully consult on their proposals in the new year and will also publish a draft impact assessment for consultation.
Overseas Companies: Taxation
Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) if he will bring forward proposals to require UK-based companies to report on their tax liabilities in developing countries; and if he will make a statement; [26288]
(2) what recent progress has been made on implementing country-by-country reporting on the financial affairs of multinational companies. [26290]
Mr Davey: The OECD's task force on tax and development is currently conducting a detailed examination of the issue of country-by-country reporting. This task force is expected to report within a year. The Government support this work and await the outcome. While this work is in progress we remain of the view that voluntary initiatives are effective tools.
In addition the EU Commission has recently launched a public consultation to gather views on financial reporting on a country-by-country basis by multinational companies.
Overseas Students
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many non-EU students studied in the UK in the latest year for which figures are available; what estimate he has made of the contribution to the UK economy of such students in that year; and how much funding universities received from fees paid by such students. [27175]
Mr Willetts: In 2008/09, the latest year for which student numbers data are available, there were 251,310 students. This figure relates to students studying in higher education institutions and comes from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). It does not include students at further education colleges, English language schools and independent institutions.
Limited data are available on the value of international (non-EU) students to the UK economy, particularly for students studying below higher education level. The Department has commissioned research seeking to address this, which is expected to be available early in 2011. Universities UK published a report entitled "The impact of universities on the UK Economy", in November 2009 which indicated that universities received £1.9 billion in funding from international student tuition fees in 2007/08 and estimated that international students contributed a further £2.3 billion to the economy in other expenditure.
A copy of this report has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
The £1.9 billion figure from tuition fee funding comes from data collected by HESA. In 2008/09, the latest year for which student numbers data are available, universities received £2.2 billion in tuition fees from non-EU students.
The figures for income from tuition fees and student enrolments refer to the academic year, and not the financial year.
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