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15 Dec 2010 : Column 772W—continued
Botswana: Climate Change
Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the effects of climate change on agriculture and food security in Botswana. [30371]
Mr Duncan:
Department for International Development's (DFID's) Southern Africa Regional Climate Change Programme has carried out an assessment of the effects of climate change on agriculture and food security in
Botswana. While the current climate is already contributing to low food production, the effects of future climate change are expected to be devastating-some of the highest warming rates in the region are projected for Botswana.
Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to assist farmers in Botswana to adapt to climate change. [30504]
Mr Duncan: As the Department for International Development (DFID) has no bilateral country programme in Botswana, our support to farmers facing climate change is indirect through regional, continental and global programmes.
The UK Government have committed to providing £1.5 billion in fast start finance over the period 2010-12, to help the developing world carry out the urgent work needed to adapt to climate change, adopt clean technology and reduce emissions from deforestation. This year, the UK is allocating approximately 41% of its fast start allocation for adaptation, a significant share of which has been designed to benefit smallholder farmers.
Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on climate change adaptation for smallholder farmers in Botswana in each of the last five years; and what proportion of his Department's expenditure on (a) climate change overseas, (b) climate change adaptation overseas, (c) climate change in the developing world and (d) climate change adaptation in the developing world this represents. [30505]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has had no bilateral country programme in Botswana since 2005. Botswana still benefits indirectly from a range of regional and continental initiatives tackling climate change adaptation. However, DFID recording systems do not routinely disaggregate country level expenditure under such programmes. Compiling the requested information would incur disproportionate cost.
DFID recognises that smallholder farmers are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The UK Government have committed to providing £1.5 billion in Fast Start finance over the period 2010-12, to help the developing world carry out the urgent work needed to adapt to climate change, adopt clean technology and reduce emissions from deforestation. This year, the UK is allocating approximately 41% of its Fast Start allocation for adaptation, a significant share of which has been designed to benefit smallholder farmers.
Botswana: Food
Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the food security situation in Botswana. [30369]
Mr Duncan:
According to the latest analysis carried out by the Southern Africa Development Community, cereal production has more than doubled in Botswana since last year, following good rains and the provision
of incentives to farmers, but the country still faces a national cereal deficit. This results in malnutrition, especially among poor families.
Departmental Billing
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many invoices his Department processed in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [30754]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) made a total of 45,816 payments during the period December 2009 to November 2010.
Overseas Aid
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to reduce the cost of administering overseas aid funded by his Department. [30569]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) will cut core administration costs by a third over the next four years of the spending review 2010 (SR10).
The key steps the Department plans to take are to:
(i) Drive efficiencies in back office functions;
(ii) Reduce consultancy costs;
(iii) Rationalise the floor space and increase rental opportunity for our London office;
(iv) Review our global footprint aligned with the Bilateral Aid Review;
(v) Drive efficiencies in travel, training and staff allowances costs; and
(vi) Reduce the number of senior civil servants.
The Department's annual operational planning process will confirm details of how we will meet the savings target.
Sierra Leone: Economic Growth
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to increase the rate of long-term economic growth in Sierra Leone. [30454]
Mr O'Brien: Sierra Leone is making a robust recovery from the economic downturn, with growth forecast to reach 5.2% in 2011 and 6% in 2012, which is comparable to the sub-Saharan Africa regional average.
The Department for International Development (DFID) is supporting Sierra Leone to increase the rate of economic growth. Following the outcome of the bilateral aid review (BAR), DFID will take forward work to improve the investment climate and stimulate private investment in Sierra Leone, thereby increasing economic growth. DFID will improve the investment climate by supporting macroeconomic stability and simplifying the tax regime. DFID will increase private investment and productivity by improving the country's energy infrastructure, as well as making complementary investments for developing human capital. The UK Government will also support the Government of Sierra Leone to maximise economic growth from investments in key sectors, including the minerals sector.
Sudan: Reconstruction
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to develop peacebuilding projects in Sudan. [30333]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK is working actively to prevent conflict and build peace in Sudan. We are a strong supporter of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and we are working intensively with partners to ensure a peaceful and credible Southern Sudan referendum in January 2011, whose outcome is respected by all and which lays the basis for peaceful relations between North and South. I visited Sudan in November to press for progress and the Foreign Secretary chaired a special Security Council session on Sudan on 16 November under our presidency to build international consensus. The UK also continues to support efforts for a comprehensive and inclusive settlement which ends the conflict in Darfur.
The UK also funds a number of programmes focusing on peacebuilding in Sudan. For example, our three year support to the Southern Sudan Peacebuilding Fund implemented by Pact Sudan, an international NGO, is helping over 100 local organisations of elders, youth, and women's groups in Southern Sudan to take early steps to prevent conflict, or intervene and mediate when conflicts erupt. Our £5 million contribution to the multi-donor Darfur Community Peace and Stability Fund has helped reduce tension between pastoralists and farmers. In its next phase, the Darfur Community Peace and Stability Fund will support the building of 60 new water systems to provide fairer access to water which will reduce conflict between communities.
UN Women
Mrs Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the executive director of UN Women on the development programme of the agency; and if he will make a statement. [30248]
Mr Duncan: The Secretary of State for International Development met the Head of UN Women, Michelle Bachelet, at the millennium development goals (MDG) summit in New York in September this year. The UK Government maintains close contact with Ms Bachelet's office and with her senior staff.
Mrs Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria he is applying in his Department's multilateral aid review to determine the UK's financial contribution to UN Women. [30295]
Mr Duncan: In July this year, the UK Government began a review of all the funding we provide to multilateral agencies. This review is using criteria that include results, value for money and how well agencies work with other partners in delivering for poor people.
The Department for International Development (DFID) strongly supports the establishment of the new United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, known as UN Women. UNIFEM, which is
the largest of the agencies that will be merged into UN Women, is being assessed according to the multilateral aid review criteria. It will be important to take these findings into account when making a decision on UK funding for UN Women.
Yemen: Overseas Aid
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) funds and (b) other resources his Department has allocated to Yemen in the last 12 months. [30571] [Official Report, 12 Janaury 2011, Vol. 521, c. 5MC.]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development has allocated £50 million of programme funding for development projects in Yemen for this financial year 2010-11. In financial year 2009-10 a total of £27 million was disbursed, as reported in "Statistics for International Development", available on DFID's website.
There are ten international staff and six local staff working full-time on the Yemen programme.
Attorney-General
Conferences: Finance
Robert Halfon: To ask the Attorney-General what the Law Officers' Departments' annual budget for conferences was on (a) 7 May 2010 and (b) 7 December 2010. [29965]
The Attorney-General: The information requested is detailed in the following table.
| £ | ||
| Conference budget | ||
| Department | 7 May 2010 | 7 December 2010 |
| (1) The cost of staff attending conferences as part of their ongoing training is met from the training budget. The training budget does not separately identify the amount allocated to conferences. (2) The SFO budget for conferences covers both internal staff conferences and attendance at external events by staff as well as other minor expenditure such as sponsorship. (3) This figure also covers staff attendance at external conferences. | ||
Ejup Ganic
Mr Whittingdale: To ask the Attorney-General what proportion of the Crown Prosecution Service's budget for 2010-11 has been accounted for by the case of Ejup Ganic. [30678]
The Attorney-General: The extradition proceedings on behalf of the Republic of Serbia in respect of Dr Ejup Ganic accounted for 0.015% of the Crown Prosecution Service's budget for 2010-11.
Mr Whittingdale: To ask the Attorney-General what expenses have been paid to prosecution witnesses or other employees for attending the extradition hearing of Ejup Ganic. [30680]
The Attorney-General: No witness expenses were paid by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for witnesses attending the extradition hearing of Dr Ejup Ganic. Travel and subsistence claims made by CPS staff are not recorded against individual cases. It is however estimated that claims for attending the extradition hearing did not exceed £150.
Mr Whittingdale: To ask the Attorney-General what translation costs have been incurred by the Crown Prosecution Service on the case of Ejup Ganic. [30681]
The Attorney-General: The total costs incurred by the Crown Prosecution Servicer (CPS) in respect of translation/interpretation in the extradition proceedings of Dr Ejup Ganic amounted to £1,600.
The CPS assigned a Serbo-Croat-speaking member of staff to liaise with the Serbian authorities to minimise interpretation and translation costs. The Serbian authorities appointed an English speaker to liaise with the CPS and counsel. All documentation provided in support of the request was translated prior to submission into English by the Serbian authorities, although on one occasion a document was translated into English by a translator paid by the CPS so that it could be given urgent consideration by counsel in advance of the official translation being submitted. The CPS also paid the costs of an interpreter attending the extradition hearing for one of its witnesses.
Human Trafficking: International Cooperation
Jim Shannon: To ask the Attorney-General what co-operation there is between the police and police forces in (a) other European countries and (b) non-European countries in respect of human trafficking. [30531]
Damian Green: I have been asked to reply.
Effective collaboration and co-operation with international law enforcement partners is an essential part of the United Kingdom's approach to tackling human trafficking.
As part of the overall programme to tackle organised immigration crime, including human trafficking, the Serious Organised Crime Agency runs programmes of activity which focus on source and transit countries. This involves co-operation with international law enforcement agencies bilaterally and through Interpol and Europol.
The Metropolitan police service in conjunction with the Romanian national police established a Joint Investigation Team. This led to a number of arrests in both the UK and Romania of an organised crime gang involved in trafficking children to the UK and within Europe.
Culture, Media and Sport
Arts: Education
Mr Ivan Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2010, Official Report,
column968W, on arts: education, whether he discussed the withdrawal of teaching support funding from arts degree courses with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills before the decision was announced. [30925]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: I did not discuss funding for arts degree courses with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills before the outcome of the spending review.
British Sky Broadcasting
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had recent discussions with (i) Ofcom and (ii) the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the News Corporation bid for BskyB. [30953]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: Ministers and officials at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) discuss a wide range of issues with Ofcom and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. DCMS has responsibility for the Media sector, including the Media Ownership rules: accordingly, it is important to understand the competition process that will be followed in the News Corporation bid for BSkyB. However, there is no DCMS role in the decision making process and I have no locus for intervention.
Creative Partnerships
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when the funding for Creative Partnership projects will end. [30922]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: Funding is in place to support the current round of Creative Partnership schools through to the end of the academic year in July 2011.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has to replace the work of creative partnerships in schools. [30951]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: Creative Partnerships are funded by Arts Council England which believes that every child should have the opportunity to experience the richness of the arts and has made this one of its strategic goals for the next decade. In addition to encouraging schools to raise standards of arts education through Arts Award and Artsmark, Arts Council England will support children and young people as part of its national portfolio funding programme.
Creative Partnerships: Young People
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many young people have participated in creative partnerships since their inception; what assessment he has made of the outcomes of such partnerships; and what evidence he evaluated to make that assessment. [30954]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: Over 1 million children have participated in Creative Partnerships since 2002. A number of independent research projects have been published, but my Department has not conducted its own assessment of the programme.
Departmental Press: Subscriptions
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on press cuttings services in each year since 1997. [28139]
John Penrose: The amounts spent by the Department on press cuttings in each year since 1997 are set out in the following table:
| Cost £ (exc. VAT) | |
These costs include copyright charges to the Newspaper Licensing Agency paid via our press cuttings service provider.
English Heritage
George Eustice: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) how much English Heritage spent on staffing in Cornwall in the latest year for which figures are available; [30621]
(2) how much English Heritage spent on external consultants for projects in Cornwall in the latest year for which figures are available; [30622]
(3) what the budget for English Heritage is in the South West for (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; [30623]
(4) how many employees English Heritage employed in (a) Cornwall and (b) the South West in the latest year for which figures are available. [30624]
John Penrose: The information requested is not held by this Department and relates to matters that are the responsibility of English Heritage.
Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of English Heritage to write direct to the hon. Member for Camborne and Redruth.
Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Football: World Cup
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with (a) the Football Association and (b) his Australian counterpart on support for the Australian bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. [30408]
Hugh Robertson: Over the last few months, the Secretary of State and I have had a wide range of meetings to discuss the World Cup bids for 2018 and 2022. However, which bid for 2022 received the support of the English bid was a question for the Football Association.
Libraries
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what consideration he has given to the merits of using his statutory powers in the event of a local authority not fulfilling its legal duty to maintain an acceptable level of library provision. [30952]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: The Department takes compliance with the statutory duty to provide a 'comprehensive and efficient' library service under the Public Libraries and Museum Act very seriously. The Minister for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries (Mr Vaizey) wrote to all local authorities recently to remind them of their statutory duties.
The use of the Secretary of State's statutory powers must be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Olympic Games 2012
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with (a) the Olympic Park Legacy Company and (b) the London borough of Newham on (i) bids for the use of the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Olympics and (ii) the effect of each bid on the development of (A) UK athletics, (B) UK sport and (C) the economy. [30513]
Hugh Robertson: The Olympic Park Legacy Company is responsible for determining the long-term legacy use of the Olympic Stadium and from time to time provides updates on progress to its founder members (the Mayor of London, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport).
Olympic Games 2012: Northern Ireland
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure in the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to the use of venues in Northern Ireland as training venues for the London 2012 Olympics. [30176]
Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport has not had discussions with the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure in the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to the use of venues in Northern Ireland as Olympic training venues for the London 2012 Olympics. However, I met my Northern Ireland counterpart at the Commonwealth games in Delhi.
There are 26 potential pre-games training camp (PGTC) venues in Northern Ireland listed in the pre-games training camp guide, and agreements for use of PGTC's are made directly between a National Olympic Committee or National Paralympic Committee and the facility.
Games-time training venues must be within a short travelling distance of athletes' accommodation, and there are no competition venues in Northern Ireland.
Sports: Parks
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many outdoor fitness parks for adults were built in each year since 2005. [30438]
Hugh Robertson: Neither this Department nor Sport England holds the information in the format requested.
Sports: Tickets
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the annual number of tickets for (a) sporting and (b) arts events which are sold on the secondary market. [31094]
Hugh Robertson: The Government have not made any estimates of the number of tickets sold on the secondary market.
Sportsgrounds
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what research his Department has evaluated on the number of stadiums used for athletic events at each Olympiad which are no longer capable of hosting athletic competitions. [30485]
Hugh Robertson: This Department has not evaluated specific research on athletics stadiums used for previous Olympic Games and their post-Games use.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Flag
12. Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will bring forward proposals for an officially-recognised flag for Northern Ireland. [29921]
Mr Swire: Flags are a devolved matter in Northern Ireland. The Union flag is the official flag of Northern Ireland.
Residual Terrorist Groups
13. Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the threat to security in Northern Ireland from residual terrorist groups; and if he will make a statement. [29922]
Mr Paterson:
The threat level in Northern Ireland is currently 'Severe', meaning an attack is highly likely. So far this year there have been 39 attacks against national security targets. But these groups also engage in civil
administration and many other criminal activities, and are a scourge on the community. They will not drag Northern Ireland back to the past.
Comprehensive Spending Review: Community Policing
14. Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the effects of the outcomes of the comprehensive spending review on the contribution of frontline community policing to tackling security threats in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [29923]
Mr Paterson: I meet regularly with the Minister of Justice to discuss policing the security threat. I am clear that we have secured a fair settlement for Northern Ireland as part of the spending review, which will allow the PSNI to carry out its duties. This Government will ensure that the PSNI are equipped to deal with the threat.
Economic Growth
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he plans to take to increase levels of economic growth in Northern Ireland. [29924]
Mr Swire: The Government are committed to creating a dynamic economy for the whole of the UK, based on higher levels of business investment and greater exports. The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for South West Hertfordshire (Mr Gauke) will publish a paper on rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy in the new year, following consultation with Northern Ireland Ministers.
Departmental Billing
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many invoices his Department processed in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [30757]
Mr Paterson: Since April 2010, 6,143 invoices have been paid by the shared service provider on behalf of the Department. Comparable figures prior to this date for the Department as it is now configured are not available, following the completion of devolution on 12 April 2010.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent estimate he has made of the effect of the increase in the standard rate of value added tax on his Department's annual expenditure. [31179]
Mr Paterson: No estimates have been made within the Department in respect of the forthcoming increase in the standard rate of value added tax. All business areas within the Department have been made aware of the impending increase and are required to live within their delegated budgets.
Going forward, departmental spending review settlements are set on a tax-inclusive basis, including the increase to the standard rate of VAT.
Terrorism
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with political parties in Northern Ireland on measures to deal with the past and its legacy in Northern Ireland. [30661]
Mr Paterson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Torfaen (Paul Murphy) on 7 December 2010, Official Report, column 133W.
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress he has made in the development of a strategy for dealing with the past and its legacy in Northern Ireland since May 2010. [30728]
Mr Paterson: Since May, I have met a range of political parties, victims groups and community organisations to seek to find a way forward on how to deal with the past in Northern Ireland. I shall set out my thinking next year. While considering what role the Government can play in any broader strategy to deal with the past, we have also adopted a consistent and open approach to the conclusions of reviews and reports into individual cases. Since May 2010, the Government have published and responded to the Bloody Sunday and Billy Wright Inquiry reports, and made a full statement in response to the police ombudsman's report into the Claudy bombings.
Treasury
Air Passenger Duty: Northern Ireland
Naomi Long: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the likely effects on the economy of Northern Ireland of the proposed increase in air passenger duty. [30325]
Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (Dr Poulter) on 22 November 2010, Official Report, column 83W.
Banks: Finance
Simon Kirby: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to sell the Government's bank shareholdings; and if he will make a statement. [30356]
Mr Hoban: UK Financial Investments Ltd (UKFI) manages the Government's investments in Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group on an arm's length and commercial basis. The Government have made it clear that it is not a permanent investor in UK banks and that its intention, overtime, is to dispose of all the investments.
UKFI's remit is to devise and execute a strategy for disposing of the Government's investments in an orderly and active way in line with its overarching objective to create and protect value for the taxpayer as shareholder. Because any decisions need to be taken in the context of changing economic and market conditions, UKFI
do not think that it is possible or desirable to state hard goals such as time that would drive the sale of the Government's shares. But circumstances under which UKFI are likely to be able to sell shares are likely to be those in which the economy-and investor confidence-is recovering and in which bank share prices are firm.
Banks: Manpower
Mr Mark Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people banks with headquarters outside the UK have employed in the UK in each of the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the revenue which has accrued to the Exchequer from taxation on such banks. [30293]
Mr Hoban: Responsibility for employment statistics rests with the independent Office for National Statistics.
The information required to estimate the revenue received by the Exchequer from taxation on banks with headquarters outside the UK is not currently available.
Departmental Official Cars
Mr Watson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in his Department are entitled to the use of (i) a car with a dedicated driver, (ii) a car from the Government car pool and (iii) a taxi ordered through a departmental account. [3204]
Mr Gauke: Under new arrangements announced on 21 May, all Treasury Ministers other than the Chancellor (for security reasons) cancelled their allocated car and driver and have been using the on demand ministerial car pool. No official or special advisor is entitled to an allocated car and driver and only Ministers are entitled to use the Government car pool service.
Civil servants and special advisers may only use an official car or taxi in properly defined circumstances.
A revised Travel and Expenses policy was introduced in July 2010 with stricter rules on travel, including taxis. Use of taxis is not an entitlement and official journeys should be made by public transport, particularly in London. Taxi fares may only be claimed where no suitable public transport is available, where travelling in an unknown locality, where public transport is infrequent or where the saving in official time is important. Taxi fares may also be reimbursed between home and the office where the journey is either early in the morning (before 6.30am) or late at night (after 10.00pm) and alternative methods of public transport are not available, for reasonable adjustment cases, welfare reasons and issues of personal safety.
All civil servants and special advisors working in the Treasury are entitled to order a taxi through a departmental account in accordance with this policy subject to prior approval from management.
Departmental Pay
Priti Patel:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid to officials in his Department and its non-departmental public bodies in bonuses and
other payments in addition to salary in each year since 1997; how many officials received such payments; and what the monetary value was of the largest 20 payments made in each such year. [18762]
Mr Gauke: Base pay was frozen for HM Treasury during 2010-11 and will be frozen again in 2011-12 in line with the Government's public sector pay freeze, except for those staff earning the full-time equivalent of £21,000 or less, who will receive payments of at least £250 in these years.
Bonuses are paid in two circumstances: performance bonuses are those linked to the annual staff appraisal system and are paid in the year following the year in which the assessment of performance is made. Special bonuses are those paid to recognise specific contributions to pieces of work during the year. Information in the form requested on bonus payments since 2006-07 is shown in the following table. More comprehensive information than that shown in the table for years between 2002-03 and 2005-06 inclusive is not available within the disproportionate costs threshold. Information for years prior to 2002-03 is no longer available due to the introduction of a new accounting system in that year.
| Bonus type | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 |
| '-' = A brace. (1) The two types of bonus were not separately identified in 2002-03 so an aggregated figure is given for that year. | ||||
| Bonus type | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| (1) Some staff may have received both types of bonus payment in a single financial year. | ||||
Economic and Monetary Union; EC Grants and Loans
Mr Carswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the agreement for the UK to contribute to the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism was concluded; which Minister in his Department signed it; what the date of that signature was; and from what date the provisions of the agreement took effect. [27832]
Mr Hoban: EU Finance Ministers agreed on contributions to the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism on 9 May 2010. 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 2010.
EU Grants and Loans: Republic of Ireland
Mr Cash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the members of the Economic and Financial Committee representing the UK have participated in discussions in that Committee on a mandate for the European Commission to negotiate a programme of support for the Republic of Ireland under the European Financial Stability Mechanism. [25893]
Mr Hoban [holding answer 23 November 2010]: The UK participated in discussions in the Economic and Financial Committee on the financial assistance package for Ireland. This package included support through the European Financial Stability Mechanism.
European Financial Stability Mechanism
Mr Cash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what legal advice he has (a) commissioned and (b) received on the European Financial Stability Mechanism in relation to its application to the UK; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the advice he has received. [29295]
Mr Hoban [holding answer 7 December 2010]: The European Financial Stability Mechanism (EFSM) was created following agreement by a qualified majority of member states at the ECOFIN meeting on 9 May 2010. The terms of the EFSM are set out in EU Council Regulation No. 407/2010. Treasury Ministers received advice on this issue, including legal advice, as part of the process of policy development.
Personal Savings: Interest Payments
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to require banks to pay interest on cash ISA transfers from the date an application is received. [30866]
Mr Hoban: In response to a Super-Complaint from Consumer Focus, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) published a report on the cash ISA market on 29 June 2010.
As part of the OFT's report, they recommended that cash ISA providers should ensure that consumers receive interest on every day during a cash ISA transfer and that the FSA consider the case for taking action under the Banking Conduct of Business Sourcebook (BCOBS) or for amending the BCOBS rules or guidance if providers do not follow this approach.
The British Bankers Association, Building Societies Association and Tax Incentivised Savings Association have agreed to publish revised industry guidance on cash ISA transfers. This is expected to be published shortly. It is also expected to include guidance on from what point providers should pay interest on cash ISA transfers.
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to require banks to provide customers with annual statements showing the interest rates received on savings deposits. [30867]
Mr Hoban: The Government are committed to increasing transparency in financial services as a means of improving customer outcomes. A number of steps have been taken recently to improve this.
The banking industry has agreed to provide interest rates on cash ISA statements by 2012 at the latest, following a super-complaint by Consumer Focus to the Office of Fair Trading. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) also plans to consult shortly on a requirement for firms to show interest rates for most types of savings accounts.
The FSA has also introduced improved transparency provisions, for example introducing a requirement to provide notice to consumers when an introductory or promotional rate of interest ends.
Public Sector: Employment
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the change in the number of (a) public and (b) private sector jobs in Ashfield constituency in the period to 2015. [31276]
Danny Alexander: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) was formed in May 2010 to make an independent assessment of the public finances and the economy.
On 29 November 2010, the OBR released the official forecast for total employment and general government employment, updated for the spending review announcements.
As the OBR sets out in paragraph 3.98, page 62 of its November 2010 Economic and fiscal outlook (Cm 7979), it expects total employment to rise by 1.1 million over the next five years, from 29.0 million in 2010 to 30.1 million in 2015. General government employment is projected to fall by just over 400,000
between 2010-11 and 2015-16, more than offset by a rise in market sector employment of around 1.5 million.
The OBR has not published forecasts at a sub-national level.
Revenue and Customs: Liverpool
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans HM Revenue and Customs has for its building at Queens Dock, Liverpool; and if he will make a statement. [30296]
Mr Gauke: During HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) Regional Review Programme between 2006 and 2008, it was decided to retain its building at Queens Dock, Liverpool. However, in November 2009 HMRC initiated a further review of its estate in Liverpool and is now considering a number of options arising from that review. Vacating the building at Queens Dock is the option that offers the greatest benefits to HMRC as well as substantial cost savings.
No firm decision has yet been made. HMRC will now consider how to gain best value from all of its buildings in Liverpool ensuring that the needs of taxpayers are at the forefront of its considerations. Where opportunities arise, HMRC will also work with other Government Departments to develop sharing of buildings. Like other Departments, HMRC is considering the impact of the comprehensive spending review and expects to be able to announce the final decision about Liverpool in spring 2011.
Social Security Benefits: Uprating
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of the estimated saving to the public purse arising from the implementation of the proposal in the June 2010 Budget to uprate pensions, benefits and tax credits by the Consumer Price Index which will be made in respect of (a) public sector pensions and (b) each main item of (i) benefit, (ii) tax credit and (iii) pension expenditure. [26257]
Mr Gauke: A breakdown of the savings for line 22 of table 2.1 of the June Budget is set out in the following table.
| £ million | ||||
| 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £5 million, and may therefore not sum to the totals recorded in table 2.1 of the June Budget. 2. All figures are on a UK basis, unless stated otherwise. Costs are shown as negative. | ||||
Taxation: Business
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many completed court actions HM Revenue and Customs has taken against (a) micro-businesses and (b) small and medium-sized enterprises for arrears of payments in the last year for which figures are available; and how many such actions resulted in the bankruptcy of the enterprise concerned. [30446]
Mr Gauke: The information is not centrally collated and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many communications received by HM Revenue and Customs from (a) micro-businesses and (b) small and medium-sized enterprises had not been responded to on 1 December 2010 . [30447]
Mr Gauke: HMRC does not collect this level of data.
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many communications HM Revenue and Customs received from (a) micro-businesses and (b) small and medium-sized enterprises on tax arrears in the last year for which figures are available; and what the average time taken was to respond to such communications. [30448]
Mr Gauke: The information requested is not centrally collated and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Wealth
Mr Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the proportion of gross financial wealth held in (a) private pensions, (b) ISAs, PEPs and TESSAs and (c) other accounts for each decile of gross financial wealth. [25675]
Mr Hoban: The Office for National Statistics' (ONS) Wealth and Asset Survey (WAS) collects information on total wealth, including financial wealth and private pension wealth. This can be found at;
The survey shows that total wealth held in the UK was £9 trillion in 2006-08, the latest period for which data are available. Of this, 39% (£3.5 trillion) was held in private pension wealth, and 11% (£1 trillion) was held in financial wealth. Further details on asset breakdowns and other accounts can be obtained through the ONS.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Capita
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many contracts his Department has with Capita; and how much it has paid to Capita under such contracts in 2010-11 to date. [18627]
Mr Davey: Central records indicate that the following amounts have been spent to date with Capita companies in the financial year 2010-11.
| £ | |
Further information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research
Mr Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much of the funding allocated by his Department for research into myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) was spent on (a) psychological research and (b) research into the physical causes of ME in the latest period for which figures are available. [30928]
Mr Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government supports medical and clinical research. The MRC is an independent body which receives its grant in aid from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The selection of projects for funding is determined through peer review.
The MRC does not classify its research projects using the terms 'psychosocial' or 'research into the physical causes' so a breakdown of funding on this basis is not available. In the last 10 years, total MRC expenditure on research relating to CFS/ME was as follows:
| £ | |
Projects included within these figures are as follows:
Professor R K Morriss, University of Liverpool-Exploratory RCT of training General Practitioners to manage patients with persistent Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS)
Professor P White, Queen Mary College, London-The PACE trial; A RCT of CBT, graded exercise, adaptive pacing and usual medical care for the chronic fatigue syndrome
Dr A Wearden, University of Manchester-Randomised controlled trial of nurse led self-help treatment for primary care patients with chronic fatigue syndrome
Dr K Bhui, Queen Mary College, London-Chronic Fatigue and Ethnicity
Professor F H Creed, University of Manchester-The feasibility of a population based study of CFS, IBS and CWP
Dr C Clark, Queen Mary College, London-General and specific risk markers and preventive factors for chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndromes
Further information about most of these projects can be found on the MRC's online research portfolio at:
Conditions of Employment
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the terms of reference of his Department's review of arrangements for workplace rights compliance and enforcement; [30558]
(2) when he expects to conclude his Department's review of arrangements for workplace rights compliance and enforcement; [30559]
(3) whether he plans to hold a public consultation (a) as part of and (b) on the results of his Department's review of arrangements for workplace rights compliance and enforcement. [30560]
Mr Davey [holding answer 14 December 2010]: I intend to place a copy of the terms of reference for the review of the Government workplace rights compliance and enforcement arrangements in the Library shortly.
The review will start in January, and conclude later in 2011. It is a part of a wider, rolling review of employment law being co-ordinated by my Department.
The first phase of the compliance review will be carried out internally within Government, but involve meetings with key interested parties to solicit views and test initial thinking. Following the first phase BIS will publish a statement of findings and intended next steps in the context of a progress report on the wider employment law review.
There will be a public consultation following the statement of initial findings if the nature and scale of any proposed changes makes this appropriate.
Debts: Advisory Services
Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proposals his Department has considered to ensure that advice offered by providers of debt management plans meets standards adequate to prevent vulnerable consumers from being sold inappropriate products. [30708]
Mr Davey: All who provide debt management services are required to be licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (the Act). Where the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has evidence of unfair practices, action can be taken to refuse or revoke or place conditions on the consumer credit licence of those concerned.
The OFT's Debt Management Guidance (the Guidance) sets out minimum standards for debt management companies. Following a review of the extent to which debt management companies comply with this guidance, enforcement action was taken in 2010 against 129 of these companies.
Work to update the Guidance and make the standards the OFT expects licensees to adhere to make sure the guidance addresses new developments in the market when providing debt advice is well underway and will be the subject of a public consultation in early 2011.
Debts: Developing Countries
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 22 July 2010, Official Report, columns 590-1W, on export credit guarantees, which of the Export Credits Guarantee Department recoveries from low and lower-middle income governments recouped since 2000 were (a) recouped directly from the relevant government and (b) recompensed from the Department for International Development under debt cancellation schemes. [24055]
Mr Davey: The answer of 22 July 2010, Official Report, columns 590-1W, provided details of recoveries of debts owed to ECGD as a result of claims paid under issued guarantees and insurance policies. Interest that had accrued while such debts were outstanding was not included because of changes to ECGD's recording systems in 2005 which meant that it is not possible to report interest received market by market prior to 2005.
The following table reports recoveries from low and lower middle income countries amounts from 2000/01 to 2004/05 without interest and from 2005/06 inclusive of interest received.
| £ million | ||
| Prior to 2005/06 | From 2005/06 | |
In accordance with HMG debt policy since 2000, Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs) have not been required to make any repayments owed to the UK. Amounts that fall due under debt agreements with HIPCs which cannot be written-off by ECGD for statutory reasons are paid to ECGD by the Department for International Development (DFID). Details of principal and interest paid by DFID to ECGD on behalf of the HIPCs since 2000 are set out in the following table.
Departmental Energy
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the cost was of (a) electricity and (b) gas supplied to his Department's offices at 1 Victoria Street in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available. [29670]
Mr Davey: In the last 12 months, for which figures are available, the Department spent the following on electricity and gas at 1 Victoria street:
| £ | ||
| Electricity | Gas | |
Departmental Manpower
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff in each age group his Department and its predecessors employed at each (a) grade and (b) location in (i) 1980, (ii) 1983, (iii) 1987, (iv) 1992, (v) 1997, (vi) 2001 and (vii) each year since 2005. [17411]
Mr Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) was created on Friday 5 June 2009 from the merger of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) which ceased to exist from that date.
The following two tables show the numbers of staff in each age group by grade, and by location from the formation of BIS until the end of that financial year. Asterisks in the tables indicate that the number in that category is fewer than 10, and therefore, this figure has not been included to avoid any potential identification of individuals.
Records are not held centrally for the predecessor Departments, but staffing information on the former BERR, DIUS and DTI Departments is available on the Office for National Statistics website, accessed via the following link:
| BIS staff in age group by location 5 June 2009-30 March 2010 | ||||
| Age band | London | Sheffield | Cardiff | Other |
| BIS staff in age group by grade 5 June 2009-30 March 2010 | |||||||||
| Grade | |||||||||
| Age band | AA | AO | EO | HEO | SEO | G7 | G6 | G5 | SCS |
| * = Fewer than 10 staff | |||||||||
Departmental Postal Services
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value was of contracts between his Department and its predecessors and (a) Post Office Ltd and (b) Royal Mail in (i) 1997-98 and (ii) each year since 2004-05. [24901]
Mr Davey: The Departments Facilities Management Team did not have a contract with Post Office Ltd or Royal Mail in 1997-98.
In April 2004 following an Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) competition contracts were awarded to; Royal Mail Group, to provide same day courier services and Parcelforce Worldwide, to provide next day/48-hour courier services to the Department.
Expenditure on the Royal Mail Group contract to provide same day courier services:
| £ | |
Expenditure on the Parcelforce Worldwide contract to provide next day/48-hour courier services:
| £ | |
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what services provided by his Department and its predecessors 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 in each case. [24903]
Mr Davey: The Departments Facilities Management Team did not have a contract with Post Office Ltd in 1997-98. Subsequently Royal Mail Group and Parcelforce Worldwide held courier contracts.
Since our current courier contract, with TNT UK Ltd, started in January 2010 the Department has spent:
| £ | |
Employment Law
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to review the effectiveness of employment law. [30795]
Mr Davey: Earlier this year the Government announced a Whitehall wide review of employment laws. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is coordinating this review across Government and all relevant departments that have a responsibility for developing, administering or enforcing employment law will be considering their areas of responsibility.
We are considering employment regulations area by area, over the long term, and have started to engage with interested parties as part of the review process. We have already set out that, as part of the Growth agenda, we want to make it easier for businesses to take on staff. To contribute to that, we will be launching improved web based tools on businesslink.gov to bring together help for employers taking on new employees.
The Government aim to ensure that employment laws provide the maximum flexibility for both employers and employees, within a competitive business environment without compromising fairness. We expect to make an announcement on progress in the new year.
Financial Services
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) whether his Department's review of consumer credit will assess the merits of use of a total cost of borrowing figure instead of an annual percentage rate as a measure of the value of a loan for consumers; [31199]
(2) if he will recommend to companies providing short-term loans that they display a total cost of borrowing for their customers instead of an annual percentage rate. [31200]
Mr Davey: Companies advertising credit products are required by regulations implementing the Consumer Credit Directive to display standard information about the cost of their loans, including a representative APR, in their advertisements where the advertisement contains an interest rate or an amount relating to the cost of the credit.
As part of the review of Consumer Credit and Personal Insolvency, BIS and HM Treasury issued a joint call for evidence in October. The call for evidence closed on 10 December and while it did not ask specifically for evidence on displaying the total cost of credit rather than an APR figure, a number of responses have highlighted it as a way of making it easier for consumers to calculate how much a loan will cost them.
This issue, as well as all the others raised, are being considered as part of the review.
Higher Education: Finance
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education in respect of the number of countries in the OECD who propose to reduce public expenditure on higher education; and if he will make a statement. [30462]
Mr Willetts: There have been no recent discussions between the two Secretaries of State on this subject.
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to provide targeted funding to enable teachers and health and social care professionals to enhance their skills through higher level studies. [30535]
Mr Willetts: We have set out our proposals that in future funding for higher education should largely follow the choices made by students rather than by direct grants. However, we have also recognised that high cost courses such as medicine should continue to receive such support in addition to fee income. In addition we recognise that there are lower cost subjects which are strategically important or vulnerable and also require some continuing support. We will set out priorities for residual grant in the forthcoming higher education white paper.
The funding of higher level continuing professional development for education and health employees is a matter for the Departments of Education and of Health respectively.
Insolvency
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) compulsory and (b) creditor voluntary liquidations commenced in each of the last five years. [30154]
Mr Davey [holding answer 14 December 2010]: Annual totals for both compulsory and creditors' voluntary liquidations in England and Wales are presented in Table 1 of the Quarterly Insolvency Statistics, the latest publication of which can be found on the Insolvency Service website here:
Quarter 4 figures for 2010 will be available in the next release of the Insolvency Statistics on 4 February 2011.
Policy responsibility for liquidation in Scotland and Northern Ireland lies within the devolved administrations. However, some information on these insolvencies is published in the Quarterly Insolvency Statistics on behalf of the devolved administrations, and may be found here:
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many liquidations which commenced (a) five, (b) 10, (c) 15 and (d) 20 or more years ago have not yet been finalised. [30155]
Mr Davey [holding answer 14 December 2010]: This information cannot be provided for all liquidations because the costs of retrieving it are disproportionate.
According to the case database maintained by the Insolvency Service, there are:
82 compulsory liquidations where the insolvency order was made five or more years ago;
15 compulsory liquidations where the insolvency order was made 10 or more years ago;
11 compulsory liquidations where the insolvency order was made 15 or more years ago;
No compulsory liquidations where the insolvency order was made 20 or more years ago where the Official Receiver has not applied for release as liquidator.
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many firms went into liquidation in each of the last 12 months. [30181]
Mr Davey: Information on the number of liquidations in England and Wales in each of the 12 months ending September 2010 can be found in the following table.
Figures after September are not available until after the publication of the Official Insolvency Statistics for quarter 4 on Friday 4 February 2011.
Policy responsibility for liquidation in Scotland and Northern Ireland lies within the devolved Administrations.
Insolvency Service
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans his Department has to review the governance arrangements for the Insolvency Service. [30157]
Mr Davey [holding answer 14 December 2010]: The Department is looking at the governance arrangements for all its partner organisations, including the Insolvency Service, with a view to having an updated governance framework in place for the new financial year. This work is being undertaken in the light of a number of factors, including the spending review settlement; the introduction across Government of spending controls such as those on pay and recruitment and on spending on marketing and advertising, IT, consultancy, estates; and the requirement to consolidate an increased number of partner organisation financial statements from 2011-12.
Intellectual Property and Growth Review
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what criteria were used to select members of the panel of experts for the Intellectual Property and Growth Review. [30650]
Mr Davey: The members of the independent panel which will advise Professor Ian Hargreaves have been selected in order to equip the review with a range of relevant expertise, including in business, innovation, economics and aspects of intellectual property.
Local Enterprise Partnerships
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects each of the proposed local enterprise partnerships to be fully operational. [30631]
Mr Prisk: To date 27 local enterprise partnerships have met the Government's expectations and have been asked to put their governance arrangements in place. Other partnerships continue to develop their proposals so they can be in a similar position. We will continue to engage with both groups of partnerships at a speed that is appropriate for them.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what processes he will put in place to ensure effective communication between his Department and each local enterprise partnership. [31206]
Mr Prisk: Both this Department and the Department for Communities and Local Government are committed to working with each new local enterprise partnership to enable them to establish their roles and functions. As set out in the White Paper on Local Growth the Government will enter into a discussion with partnerships about delivering the economic vision for their area. Partnerships will differ across the country in both form and functions in order to best meet local circumstances and opportunities. As such there will be no one process for this engagement.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place a duty on local enterprise partnerships to co-operate with each other. [31209]
Mr Prisk: In the White Paper on "Local Growth" we encourage cooperation between partnerships where this would result in a more efficient use of resources and secure a better outcome than operating in isolation. This cooperation need not be restricted to neighbouring partnerships and will be particularly important where partnerships share a common interest. We will not be prescriptive how this cooperation is achieved; local enterprise partnerships are not Government bodies and are being developed from the bottom up.
Local Enterprise Partnerships: North East
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills by what date he expects each proposed local enterprise partnership in the North East to be operational; and if he will make a statement. [31267]
Mr Prisk: The Tees Valley partnership has already been invited to develop their board and the other partnerships in the North East who put forward outline proposals have agreed to work together to form a single partnership; we are currently waiting for this new proposal to be submitted. It is for partnerships to work at a speed that is appropriate for them.
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