Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 21 December 2010
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Balkans: EU External Relations
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of progress on the EU Stabilisation and Association process in relation to (a) Serbia, (b) Montenegro, (c) Albania and (d) Bosnia and Herzegovina. [31336]
Mr Lidington: The EU Foreign Affairs Council on 14 June 2010 agreed that member states should proceed with ratification of Serbia's Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). UK parliamentary ratification is under way, alongside those of other EU member states. The EU General Affairs Council on 22 October 2010 agreed to refer to the Commission, for an Opinion, Serbia's application for EU membership, recalling that full co-operation with International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) remains an essential condition for Serbia's EU membership. The Commission's November 2010 Report on Enlargement welcomed progress made by Serbia in complying with its obligations under the SAA, but called for further effort in a number of key reform areas. The UK supports the Commission assessment.
Montenegro's SAA entered into force on 1 May 2010. In November 2010 the Commission issued an Opinion on Montenegro's application for EU membership. The Commission assessed Montenegro's track record in implementing its obligations under the SAA as positive overall. It recommended that the Council grant Montenegro EU Candidate Status, but set out seven key reform priorities which it recommended be addressed before the Council considers opening accession negotiations with Montenegro. The UK supports the Commission's assessment and its recommendation to grant EU Candidate Status to Montenegro, which will be considered by the December European Council.
Albania's SAA entered into force on 1 April 2009. In November 2010 the Commission issued an Opinion on Albania's application for EU membership. The Commission assessed Albania's track record in implementing its obligations under the SAA as positive overall. But it set out 12 key reform priorities which it recommended be addressed before the Council considers opening of accession negotiations with Albania. The UK supports the Commission assessment.
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)'s SAA was signed in June 2008 and to date has been ratified by 25 member states. The Commission's November 2010 Report on Enlargement assessed that BiH had made only limited progress in meeting its obligations under the SAA. BiH remains in breach of its Interim Agreement with the EU and the EU General Affairs Council of 14 December 2010 concluded that BiH needs urgently to align itself with its SAA obligations and speed up reforms essential for further progress towards EU membership.
Brazil: Exports
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his objectives are for increasing exports to Brazil; and what foreign policy measures his Department plans to take to increase Britain's commercial interest in that country. [31457]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The UK Government are prioritising their engagement with the world's emerging powers, including Brazil. Strengthening ties with Brazil will help to promote a range of UK interests, in particular trade and investment, where the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is working with UK Trade and Investment and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to build Britain's prosperity by increasing exports and investment, opening markets, ensuring access to resources, and promoting sustainable global growth.
The last three years have seen a 500% increase in the number of British companies looking for help with the Brazilian market from UKTI. There are particular opportunities in the infrastructure, energy and defence sectors, as well as commercial opportunities linked to Brazil's hosting of the 2014 football World Cup and 2016 Olympics.
The Government are playing a leading role to capitalise on these prospects. The Business Secretary visited Brazil in September 2010. In 2011 the Deputy Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and the Lord Mayor of London will also visit. This high-level engagement will include business delegations. During 2011, we will develop a UK-Brazil CEOs' Forum and work to deliver concrete outcomes to the annual Ministerial UK-Brazil Joint Economic Trade Committee (JETCO).
The UK Government are also working with Brazil through the EU in support of an ambitious EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement, which will benefit UK companies exporting to the region. In the G20, Brazil is a helpful partner in discussions on global economic governance, by supporting free trade and resisting protectionism.
Burma: Political Prisoners
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Burmese Government on the release of political prisoners in jail or under house arrest in Burma. [31333]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We remain deeply concerned about the continued imprisonment of over 2,200 political prisoners in Burma. Their immediate and unconditional release remains one of the international community's long-standing demands. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and I raised the plight of Burmese political prisoners at the October Asia Europe summit at which the Burmese Foreign Minister was present. We also raise the issue directly with the Burmese Government through our ambassador in Rangoon, with regional countries with influence and in the UN's human rights bodies. Most recently we secured a strongly-worded human rights resolution on Burma in the UN General Assembly which demanded the release of all political prisoners. We will continue to maintain international pressure for progress.
Commonwealth
Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 9 December 2010, Official Report, columns 41-3WS, on the UK's relationship with the Commonwealth, which states he has identified for potential (a) expanded membership and (b) partner and observer agreements; what progress has been made on developing the terms of such partner and observer agreements; and what discussions he has had to this end with his foreign counterparts. [32227]
Mr Bellingham: The Eminent Persons Group (EPG), established at Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2009 to review the work of the Commonwealth, is considering a wide range of issues including membership issues. Their recommendations will be considered at the 2011 CHOGM in Perth, Australia. Decisions relating to Commonwealth membership must be agreed by all heads. The British Government continue to work closely with the Commonwealth Secretariat and all member states on a wide range of issues.
Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the merits of a two-tier Commonwealth system for the purpose of allowing (a) multilateral trade agreements between (i) the UK, (ii) Canada, (iii) Australia, (iv) New Zealand, (v) South Africa, (vi) India and (vii) members of the Anglophone Commonwealth and (b) free trade agreements between the tiers. [32357]
Mr Bellingham: The UK, as part of its membership of the European Union, is party with all other 27 member states in a customs union with common arrangements for imports from and exports to third counties. These common arrangements are decided, discussed, agreed and administered through the Community's 'Common Commercial Policy' (CCP). The UK is therefore unable to enter into direct regional trade agreements with other members of the Commonwealth in exclusion of the EU.
The Government are pursuing an ambitious free trade agenda aimed at reducing barriers to trade and is committed to achieving an ambitious, pro-development outcome from the Doha Development Agenda. The UK is also working through the EU to pursue ambitious bilateral agreements with Canada and India, which we hope will conclude in 2011. The EU's trade relations with South Africa are governed by the EU South Africa Trade, Development and Co-operation agreement.
The Government are committed to helping the Commonwealth realise its potential. Trade and investment is an area where we would like to see greater impact. The Eminent Persons Group (EPG) is currently undertaking a review of the organisation to examine how it can best serve the needs of its citizens in the 21st century. Commonwealth Trade and Investment will feature in their deliberations. The EPG will publish their findings in March 2011.
Commonwealth Security Council
Mr David Davis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the merits of establishing a Commonwealth security
council to include (a) the UK, (b) Canada, (c) Australia, (d) New Zealand, (e) South Africa, (f) India and (g) other members of the Anglophone Commonwealth. [32352]
Mr Bellingham: The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) exists to uphold Commonwealth core values as set out in the Harare Declaration (1991) and to take action when a member state is deemed to have violated those values. CMAG is formed of nine member states, appointed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) for a two year term. The UK was last a member between 2007 and 2009. We hope that the review of CMAG, agreed to by heads at CHOGM 2009, and the work of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG), will strengthen this important group. It needs to have a more constructive approach when dealing with member states that infringe Commonwealth core values.
Departmental Conferences
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's annual budget for conferences was at (a) 7 May 2010 and (b) 7 December 2010. [30031]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not hold this information in the format requested. As budgets in the FCO are devolved to over 250 posts overseas and individual directorates and strategic programmes within the UK, this information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
However, all expenditure undertaken by the FCO is directly aimed at achieving our foreign policy priorities and is designed to ensure the Department achieves value for money and is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the HM Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [31184]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has not produced an estimate of how the change in the standard rate of value added tax (VAT) will affect the FCO's annual expenditure and such an estimate could be produced only at a disproportionate cost.
Departmental spending review settlements are set on a tax-inclusive basis, including the increase to the standard rate of VAT.
However, much of the FCO's budget is spent overseas and is therefore not liable to UK VAT. In addition, where FCO spend is with suppliers who are registered for UK VAT, this is reclaimed, wherever possible, in line with HM Revenue and Customs rules.
Departmental Sponsorship
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what expenditure (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies incurred on sponsorship in each year since 1997 for which figures are available. [27516]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and its non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) do not hold data centrally on specific instances of sponsorship where fees are paid for the right to be associated with an activity. The FCO and its NDPBs work to deliver the Government's Foreign Policy Priorities through over 250 posts worldwide through our strategic programmes and other operations. To ascertain the expenditure incurred since 1997 deemed as sponsorship would involve disproportionate cost.
Any expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
EU Enlargement
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of progress of on the EU accession negotiations of (a) Iceland, (b) Croatia and (c) the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. [31337]
Mr Lidington: Accession negotiations opened formally with Iceland on 27 July 2010. The Commission is currently working on screening reports for each of the 35 chapters. These will assess how closely Iceland is aligned with the EU acquis and will form the basis of negotiations. The first of these reports will be published early in 2011.
Croatia has made good overall progress towards meeting the membership criteria. Accession negotiations have reached their final stage and preparations for the drafting of the Accession treaty have progressed steadily. Croatia has opened all of the substantive chapters of the negotiations, and has provisionally closed 25 chapters. But Croatia still has work to do, particularly on judicial reform, public administration reform, tackling corruption and organised crime. Full co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) is a requirement for the closure of negotiations.
The European Commission has recommended, in its 2009 and 2010 enlargement strategies, that negotiations for accession to the European Union should be opened with Macedonia. The Government support this and expect a date for the opening of negotiations to be given once the European Council reaches a unanimous decision to endorse the Commission recommendation. The Council confirmed on 14 December that it is ready to return to the matter during the next presidency.
Haiti: Elections
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the violence in Haiti following the recent presidential elections in that country. [31597]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The violence that followed the first round of voting in the Haitian presidential and parliamentary elections was deeply regrettable. It hindered humanitarian work and further undermined the democratic process which is important to Haiti's stability, recovery and development. We understand the concerns of Haitian voters about the possibility of fraud and urge the political leaders and authorities to use legal constitutional means to resolve their differences.
Hungary: Council of Ministers
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Hungarian counterpart on the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of Ministers. [32088]
Mr Lidington: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary held a bilateral meeting with the Hungarian Foreign Minister, Janos Martonyi, on 7 December 2010 in London. They discussed the key issues for the Hungarian presidency, including the financial framework, enlargement and economic governance. The UK shares priorities with the Hungarians in a number of areas, including working towards Croatian accession and on generating economic growth. The Foreign Secretary also emphasised the need to maintain momentum during the Hungarian presidency on Iran, Pakistan and Burma.
North Korea
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his (a) EU and (b) UN counterparts on (i) North Korea's nuclear programme and (ii) the recent conflict in the Korean Peninsula. [31460]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We have held extensive discussions with both EU and UN counterparts since 23 November on North Korea's nuclear programme and the recent conflict in the Korean Peninsula. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has spoken to the UN Secretary-General, as well as to President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea. Our ambassador in Pyongyang, together with a visiting EU delegation, also made urgent representations to the North Korean Government immediately following the attack.
Palestinians: Economic Situation
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on levels of (a) financial and (b) security support provided to the West Bank by the government of Israel; and if he will make a statement. [31709]
Mr Duncan: I have been asked to reply.
The Government of Israel do not provide financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) or to projects which benefit Palestinians in the west bank. They do, however, transfer to the PA custom clearance revenues which they collect on behalf of the PA. According to the Government of Israel's report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting of 21 September 2010, it transferred 2,299 million New Israeli Shekels (NIS) in the first half of 2010. The Government of Israel also adopt a number of policies which result in financial benefit to Israeli settlements in the west bank.
The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is deployed across the West Bank in Area C (where Israel retains full security control) and Area B (which is under joint Palestinian and Israeli control). Area A is controlled by the Palestinian Security Forces (PSE). We assess that security in the west bank has benefited from improved cooperation between the PSF and IDF, although Israeli movement and access restrictions continue to act as a constraint on Palestinian economic growth.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on financial contributions from Israel to the Palestinian Authority; and if he will make a statement. [31710]
Mr Duncan: I have been asked to reply.
The Government of Israel do not provide financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA). They do, however, transfer to the PA customs clearance revenues which they collect on the PA's behalf. According to the Government of Israel's report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting of 21 September, it transferred 2,299 million New Israeli Shekels (NIS) in the first half of 2010.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the outcomes of international donor conferences on funding for the West Bank; and if he will make a statement. [31711]
Mr Duncan: I have been asked to reply.
The Government are not aware of any recent international donor conferences on providing funding for the west bank. An international donor conference for the Palestinian Territories was last held in Paris in December 2007. At this conference delegations from 87 countries and international organisations pledged $7.4 billion over three years to support Palestinian institution building and economic recovery, and for humanitarian assistance.
Palestinians: Overseas Aid
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what economic assistance his Department (a) has provided in the last five years and (b) plans to provide to the Palestinian authorities in Gaza; and if he will make a statement. [31719]
Mr Duncan: I have been asked to reply.
The UK does not provide any support, either directly or indirectly, to the de facto authorities in Gaza, as under European Union and British legislation it is illegal to provide financial assistance to Hamas. We provide budget support to the Palestinian Authority, via a World Bank Trust Fund, in order to support basic services and pay the salaries of public sector workers in both Gaza and the west bank. From 2006-08, the UK provided funding to pay public sector worker salaries through two European Union programmes known as the Temporary International Mechanism (TIM) and PEGASE. As this funding is for the whole of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, it is not possible to disaggregate funding specific to Gaza. The following table lays out total UK funding for these programmes.
| Calendar year | Programme | Amount (£ million) |
South Korea: Military Exercises
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of South Korea's recent long-fire military drills; and if he will make a statement on the security situation on the Korean peninsula. [31593]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We recognise that South Korea has a right to conduct such defensive exercises. However tensions are likely to remain high until North Korea abandons its provocative behaviour and violations of UN resolutions, and creates the conditions for the resumption of talks by making verifiable progress towards denuclearisation.
USA
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a communiqué was issued following his meeting with the United States Secretary of State in November 2010. [32269]
Wales
Departmental Pay
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff employed by her Department were not paid at a rate equivalent to or above the London living wage in the latest period for which figures are available. [31213]
Attorney-General
Departmental Lobbying
Robert Halfon: To ask the Attorney-General (1) how much the Law Officers' Departments' agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent from the public purse on influencing public policy through (a) employing external (i) public affairs companies, (ii) strategic consultancies and (iii) corporate communications firms, (b) external marketing and (c) other activities in each of the last 10 years; [23770]
(2) which of the Law Officers' Departments' non-departmental public bodies have undertaken activities to influence public policy for which they engaged (a) public affairs and (b) public relations consultants in each year since 1997; and at what monetary cost in each such year. [23793]
The Solicitor-General: The Law Officers' Departments include two bodies that fall within the ambit of the question-the National Fraud Authority and the Treasury Solicitor's Department. Neither has incurred any such expenditure since 1997.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Committee
Communication
Bob Russell:
To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority,
with which media organisations (a) the Director of Communications, (b) staff in the communications section and (c) other staff in the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority communicated in the two weeks prior to the publication on 2 December 2010 of information on hon. Members' expenses. [29687]
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 with which media organisations (a) the Director of Communications, (b) staff in the communications section and (c) other staff in the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority communicated in the two weeks prior to the publication on 2 December 2010 of information on hon. Members' expenses. (29687)
IPSA's policy is that any media enquiries are dealt with by the communications team. In the course of their work, staff in IPSA's communications team regularly speak to members of media organisations. During the two weeks prior to publication, communications team members responded to telephone enquiries from a large number of journalists from both the national and regional media. We do not keep records of calls received.
Offices: Rents
John Mann: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how much the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority spent on each type of office rental in the latest period for which figures are available. [29497]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how much the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority spent on each type of office rental in the latest period for which figures are available.
The MPs' Expense Scheme provides for two limits on constituency office rental costs: one for constituency offices in the London Area as defined by the Scheme, and one for constituency offices outside the London Area.
Taking both bands together, the lowest monthly office rental payment paid by IPSA since May 2010 was for £102.30 and the highest was for £1,117.50 per month.
Not all rental contracts are directly comparable. Some will solely cover the right to occupy the premises. Others will encompass ancillary services such as cleaning or may include provision for energy costs. Care should therefore be taken when making comparisons, and the highest figure quoted here includes cleaning and energy costs.
Women and Equalities
Conferences
Robert Halfon: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what the annual budget of the Government Equalities Office for conferences was at (a) 7 May 2010 and (b) 7 December 2010. [30022]
Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office does not hold a set budget for conference expenditure. Since its creation, the following amounts have been spent in this budget area:
| Conference expenditure | |
| Financial year | £ |
| (1) GEO was established in October 2007. | |
Most of this expenditure was for events held in preparations for new legislation, which culminated in the 2010 Equality Act. Another large element was for events which sought to improve the diversity of representation in public life.
Departmental Publications
Robert Halfon: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what estimate she has made of the expenditure of the Government Equalities Office on printing (a) Command Papers, (b) papers laid before Parliament by Act, (c) consultation documents and (d) other papers in each year since its inception. [28371]
Lynne Featherstone: No such estimate has been made. Expenditure on publications and printing since the Government Equalities Office was established are as follows:
| £ | ||
| Financial year | Printing | Publications |
| (1) From 12 October 2007. (2) Current to 30 November 2010. | ||
Discrimination
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities when she expects to make an announcement on the report commissioned by the Government Equalities Office on Caste Discrimination and Harassment in Great Britain. [32157]
Lynne Featherstone: The Government have recently published the National Institute for Economic and Social Research report on caste prejudice and discrimination in Great Britain.
The Government are considering the report carefully and will announce their conclusions in due course.
Equal Pay
Esther McVey: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what recent assessment the Government Equalities Office has made of the gender pay gap. [31489]
Lynne Featherstone:
The Government Equalities Office (GEO) does not make its own assessment of the gender pay gap, but instead uses figures published by The
Office for National Statistics (ONS). The most recent assessment by ONS shows that the gap between the median hourly earnings of men and women working full-time is 10.2% in 2010. If men and women working part-time are also included then this figure rises to 19.8%.
This Government are committed to tackling the barriers that women face in the workplace and are taking a range of measures including extending the right to request flexible working to all employees, consulting on a new system of parental leave, and promoting gender equality on company boards including responding to any recommendations from the current Lord Davies review that are targeted towards, and accepted by, the Government.
Equalities Bill
Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how much was spent under each budgetary heading on the eight regional road shows during the Equalities Bill consultation; and how many staff of the Government Equalities Office (a) attended and (b) were otherwise involved in work relating to the road shows. [23229]
Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office (GEO) spent £80,108 on eight regional road shows. Four of the events were about the equality duty and were held in September 2009. The other four events were consultations on the Equality Bill, held towards the end of 2008 and early 2009. The expenditure covered project and event management (event organisation and advertising) £41,549 and event and location hosting (venue hire) £38,559.
GEO has not kept a register of who attended these events. Numbers of GEO staff at the events varied but typically GEO sent two policy staff to capture delegate's view and introduce the subject matter and a member of the GEO's communications team. Organisation of these events was undertaken by the GEO communications team which at the time had four members of staff but these staff would have been involved intermittently on work relating to the road shows.
Females: Local Enterprise Partnerships
Esther McVey: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on the representation of women on the boards of local enterprise partnerships; and if she will make a statement. [32308]
Lynne Featherstone: I have had no discussions with ministerial colleagues on this issue. My ministerial colleagues in the Departments for Communities and Local Government and Business Innovation and Skills are taking forward the development of local enterprise partnerships.
Both Departments are represented on the Inter Ministerial Group for Equalities which I Chair and together with other ministerial colleagues have been instrumental in shaping the Government's recently published Equality Strategy.
The Strategy recognises that inclusive and diverse boards are better boards and that it is essential that we benefit from the talents of everyone in society. The
Government have appointed Lord Davies to undertake a review into the lack of female representation on corporate and business boards which will report back early next year.
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), is meeting you in the new year to discuss this issue.
Government Equalities Office: Personnel
Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what plans she has for the number of staff of the Government Equalities Office in each of the next five years. [24206]
Lynne Featherstone: Between financial year 2010-11 and the end of the spending review period in 2014-15 we expect to see Government Equalities Office (GEO) staff numbers fall from 120 to just below 100. How the numbers will change in particular years cannot be forecast precisely as it will depend on some factors outside GEO's control such as individual's career choices.
Politics: Females
Simon Kirby: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what her policy is on measures to increase the number of women in political life. [31674]
Lynne Featherstone: This Government recognises that increasing the number of women in politics has a real and constructive effect on the quality of decision making and is committed to tackling the barriers preventing women and under-represented groups from participating in political life.
The Equality Act 2010 includes a range of positive action provisions that allow political parties to take steps to encourage involvement amongst women and other underrepresented groups. These include extending the period that they can use women-only shortlists until 2030. The general positive action provisions will also enable political parties to create dedicated committees or groups, exclusively for women and broader shadowing, internship and mentoring opportunities for women.
Section 106 of the Equality Act 2010 also makes it possible to require registered political parties to publish anonymised data relating to the diversity of their candidate selections at a particular election and we are currently considering how this will be taken forward.
The Deputy Prime Minister is chairing a cross-party Committee, which is discussing proposals for a wholly or mainly elected second chamber. The Committee is considering how a reformed second chamber could more closely reflect the diversity of the society it serves.
Schools: Females
Esther McVey: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps the Government Equalities Office is taking to increase the number of female role models in (a) schools, (b) businesses and (c) public services. [31756]
Lynne Featherstone:
The Gender Equality Duty, which came into force in England, Scotland and Wales in April 2007, requires public authorities to promote equality
of opportunity between men and women and eliminate unlawful harassment and sex discrimination. This could include work to promote the number of female role models in schools and public services.
In regard to role models in schools, this Government are committed to encouraging girls and young women to make broader career choices and to open up opportunities for everyone, regardless of background and gender. It is important to recognise the part role models play in raising aspirations and helping young people to make informed choices.
We will be establishing a new all-age careers service to encourage informed choices, providing clear and transparent information to all learners about the options open to them. Good careers guidance is at the heart of ensuring opportunities are available to all.
The Government have also worked with Smallpeice Trust, an independent charity providing exciting programmes to promote engineering careers to the young. Girls, who are underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers, are particularly targeted.
In regard to role models in businesses, the Government have appointed Lord Davies to look at how obstacles can be removed to allow more women to make it to the boardroom. Lord Davies will deliver his recommendations for an effective business-led strategy in February 2010 and we will respond to his recommendations in due course. Measures that we are taking on positive action, on flexible working, and on parental leave will also help address some of the barriers to career progression that women face in the workplace.
In regard to role models in public services, the Government have set themselves the aspiration that by the end of the Parliament at least 50% of all appointees being made to the boards of public bodies will be women. We are currently looking at what steps need to be taken to achieve that aim and will be publishing a cross-Government action plan in March 2011.
International Development
Conflict Prevention: Finance
Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the commitment that just under a third of his Department's budget will be spent on conflict prevention by 2015 on his Department's (a) Millennium Development Goals priorities and (b) other priorities; and if he will make a statement. [32335]
Mr Duncan: Aid invested in fragile and conflict affected states will make a crucial contribution to progress against the range of the Government's Development priorities. No fragile country has yet achieved a single Millennium Development Goal (MDG). Half of children who die before their fifth birthday are in fragile states, as are half of the children who are not in primary school.
We will not meet the MDGs or meet the needs of the poorest unless we do more to deal with conflict and fragility directly. This means addressing the root causes of conflict and fragility; supporting an inclusive political system which builds a closer society; and strengthening
government's ability to deliver basic services, security, justice and economic opportunity. This is vital to improving the lives of the poorest.
Departmental Press Releases
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on how many occasions his Department has provided embargoed media briefings prior to an oral statement to the House since 26 May 2010; in respect of how many such briefings his Department was informed that the embargo had been breached; what steps were taken as a result of each such breach; and on how many occasions his Department has provided media briefings without an embargo prior to an oral statement to the House since 26 May 2010. [31924]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) has on no occasion provided an embargoed media briefing prior to an oral statement to the House since 26 May 2010.
Departmental Written Questions
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many and what proportion of questions tabled to the Secretary of State for written answer on a named day were answered substantively before or on the day named for answer (a) in Session 2009-10 and (b) since May 2010; how many such questions tabled between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 had not received a substantive answer by 18 November 2010; and what estimate he has made of the average cost to his Department of answering a question for written answer on a named day on the day named for answer in the latest period for which figures are available. [25941]
Mr Duncan: The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with sessional statistics in a standard format on the time taken to respond to written parliamentary questions (PQs) for the 2009-10 Session. This information will be submitted to the Procedure Committee shortly.
Between 18 May 2010 and 18 November 2010 the Department for International Development (DFID) received 136 named day PQs, of which 129 were answered substantively on the day named for answer. All named day PQs tabled between 18 May 2010 and 12 November 2010 had received substantive answers by 18 November 2010.
DFID has not made an estimate of the average cost to the Department of answering a named day PQ on the day named for answer. Her Majesty's Treasury estimates the average cost of answering a written question to be £154.
During the current parliamentary session, DFID has answered 95% of all named day PQ substantively on the day named for answer. Efforts are in place to achieve 100%.
Developing Countries: Climate Change
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the funding allocated to the Pilot Programme for Climate Resistance is to be provided in the form of (a) loans and (b) grants. [32336]
Mr O'Brien: As of 30 September 2010, the total finance pledged to the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience from all donors, which includes the UK, USA, Germany, Canada, Denmark, Australia, Norway and Japan, is $972 million (£626 million). Of this sum, $638 million (£411 million) is in the form of grant finance and $334 million (£215 million) is in the form of concessional loans.
Developing Countries: Insurance
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans there are to use funds from the Fast Start Fund to increase access to micro-insurance in developing countries. [32050]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) is looking at what works in setting up micro-insurance schemes in developing countries. This will address issues such as: how to get insurance companies engaged; how to make insurance affordable for poorer farmers; and, how to maximise value for money from such schemes. We are working with international partners, including the World Bank, the World Food programme and Oxfam, to help find answers to these questions, and to improve climate risk management for the poor. Some of the preliminary results of our analysis will be available in early 2011 and will inform our approach to micro-insurance and climate change, and our "Fast Start" funding decisions.
Developing Countries: Maternity Services
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his plans for improving maternal health in developing countries include the provision of technical and financial support in respect of user fees. [32347]
Mr O'Brien: Improving maternal health and women's rights are major priorities for the UK Government. The Department for International Development (DFID) will shortly be launching a new Framework for Results for Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health. This will set out how the UK aims to increase efforts to 2015 to save the lives of at least 50,000 women in pregnancy and childbirth, a quarter of a million newborn babies and enable 10 million couples to access modern methods of family planning. It includes action to remove financial barriers that prevent women accessing services.
The Government believe that nobody should die or suffer ill health because they are too poor to afford treatment. This is why we support international efforts to achieve universal coverage of basic health services. Evidence shows that removing financial barriers increases poor women's uptake of reproductive, maternal and newborn health services. Where appropriate, DFID will provide technical and financial support to countries that wish to remove fees at the point of use of services and replace them with more equitable health financing systems. This includes making essential health services free at the point of use, and supporting the poorest women to meet the indirect costs of health care by piloting innovative approaches like cash transfer programmes.
Developing Countries: Medical Treatments
Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has allocated funding to promote the use of tranexamic acid in reducing death in patients with significant haemorrhage; and whether he plans to take steps to enable tranexamic acid to be included in the World Health Organisation Essential Medicines pack. [32329]
Mr O'Brien: The UK Government do not make specific allocations for the use of particular medicines in developing countries.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) makes recommendations on the selection of medicines for a variety of purposes based on a thorough assessment of evidence of comparative effectiveness. It is important that these processes are based on objective review and not on the interventions of member states.
Developing Countries: Young People
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department's ring-fenced budget for conflict-affected and fragile states will be allocated to supporting children and young people. [32337]
Mr Duncan: The Government are committed to taking action to reduce the direct impact of war and violence on children, and to tackle the indirect effects of conflict-the toll on their health, education and chance of a decent life. Over half of children who are not in primary school and half of those who die before their fifth birthday are in fragile countries.
The 30% of Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocated to fragile and conflict affected states will be spent across the range of development activities. Allocations to Department for International Development (DFID) bilateral programmes, including for fragile states, are being determined by the Bilateral Aid Review, through which DFID country offices have been asked to set out the results they will achieve during the next four years in a range of areas, including support to children and young people such as health, education, and skills training and employment. The outcomes of the Bilateral Aid Review will be available in the spring.
Food: Textiles
Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he has made an assessment of the potential contribution to his Department's development objectives which could be achieved by increasing the proportion of ethically-sourced goods in Government procurement as part of the current review of Government buying standards for food and textiles; and if he will make a statement. [31477]
Mr Duncan:
The Department for International Development (DFID) has not made such an assessment. DFID conducts its formal procurement procedures within the best practise confines of the UK public sector procurement regulations and in line with European legislation. When procuring products and services we consider suppliers policies on corporate social responsibility,
sustainability, transparency and environmental protection. For example DFID and its agents aim to purchase timber and timber products that originated from sustainable and legal sources; and to procure consultancy services that ensure environmental implications are identified, and actions taken to address potentially adverse impacts and enhance environmental benefits.
International Assistance
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what new commitments the UK made at the Millennium Development Goals summit in September 2010 relating to reductions in the level of worldwide poverty by 2015. [32387]
Mr O'Brien: The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) summit was a crucial opportunity to secure concrete commitments to accelerate progress on the MDGs as the world approaches the deadline of 2015. The summit resulted in a global commitment to save 16 million women and children, reverse the spread of malaria and tackle hunger and under-nutrition.
The summit also ended with the formal adoption of the outcome document "Keeping the Promise: United to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals". This document offers us a path towards meeting the MDGs, giving a lifeline to millions of the world's poorest people.
Kenya: Agriculture
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Government has spent on climate change adaptation for smallholder farmers in Kenya in each of the last five years; and what proportion that amount represents of his Department's (a) total spending on climate change overseas, (b) total spending on climate change adaptation overseas, (c) total spending on climate change in the developing world and (d) total spending on climate change adaptation in the developing world in each such year. [32007]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Our central recording systems do not capture this level of detail for project expenditure. Compiling the requested information would incur disproportionate cost.
The Department for International Development (DFID) recognises that smallholder farmers are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and we take this into account in the design and implementation of a number of our development activities, including through our research programme and our adaptation programmes. In 2009 the Stockholm Environment Institute produced a study on the economic impacts of climate change in Kenya, including in the agriculture sector. This work is informing our approach to the design of programmes of support to climate adaptation in Kenya.
The UK Government have committed to provide £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. In 2010-11 the UK is providing approximately 41% of its Fast Start allocation for adaptation, a significant share of which
has been designed to benefit smallholder farmers. The Department is in the course of monitoring and evaluating the impact of these ongoing programmes.
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on agricultural development in Kenya in each of the last five years. [32011]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not directly supported agricultural development in Kenya over the last five years, for reasons of effective division of labour among donors.
DFID does centrally fund agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa, some of which benefits Kenya. Such multi-country support includes £7 million to the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and £37.5 million to the African Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), some of which relates to agricultural development.
Kenya: Food Aid
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on emergency food aid in Kenya in each of the last five years. [32013]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) provided £5 million in April 2008 and a further £5.5 million in March 2009 to the World Food Programme for emergency food aid in Kenya. This support contributed to the international response to severe drought and accompanying rise in food insecurity. We have not provided other funds for emergency food aid in the last five years.
North East
Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which Ministers in his Department have visited the North East since their appointment; and what the (a) date and (b) purpose was of each such visit. [31792]
Mr Duncan: No Department for International Development (DFID) Ministers have visited the North East since May 2010.
Private Sector
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) when he plans to publish the outcomes of his Department's consultation on private sector development; and if he will make a statement; [31797]
(2) when he plans to publish the results of his Department's consultation on private labour markets; and if he will make a statement. [31798]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has no plans to publish the results of these consultations. The purpose of the consultations is to obtain the views of a broad range of stakeholders on the development of DFID's research programme in these areas.
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the consultancy fees incurred in establishing its Private Sector Department. [31799]
Mr O'Brien: There were no consultancy fees incurred in establishing the Private Sector Department. The design and implementation of the changes for the new Department were carried out by Department for International Development (DFID) staff.
Western Sahara: Food
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2010, Official Report, column 447W, on Western Sahara: food, whether any of the support for Western Sahara provided through the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office is allocated to Saharawi in Western Sahara rather than the refugee camps in Algeria. [32219]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not have a bilateral aid programme in Western Sahara and has not provided direct emergency funds to the country in the last five years. We support Western Sahara through our share of the budget of the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO). ECHO'S funding currently goes to the Saharawi refugee camps in Algeria. ECHO has provided €165 million in humanitarian aid since it was established and allocated €10 million in October 2010.
Treasury
Deficit Reduction: Deprived Communities
21. Derek Twigg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effects of his deficit reduction policies on deprived communities. [31836]
Mr Gauke: It is for Departments to decide how to best prioritise resources within their departmental expenditure limits. The impact on communities will only become apparent once these decisions have been made. For the first time at spending review, Treasury undertook and published an indicative distributional analysis of public services spend. The estimates show that those in most need will continue to receive the most support from the state in absolute terms.
Financial Institutions: Remuneration
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department plans to bring forward proposals to require banks and other financial institutions to publish details of employees earning more than £1 million per year. [31814]
Mr Hoban: The FSA has published its revised Remuneration Code and Disclosure Rules, which incorporates provisions in the EU capital requirements directive (CRD3). These requirements are at the forefront of global practice, and include robust rules on remuneration disclosure.
Banks: Pay
Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps his Department has taken to hold a consultation on the remuneration disclosure scheme announced in the June 2010 Budget; [26327]
(2) by what mechanisms his Department's consultation on the remuneration disclosure scheme announced in the June 2010 Budget will be undertaken; what timetable he has set for publication of the outcome of that consultation; and if he will make a statement. [26329]
Mr Hoban [holding answer 25 November 2010]: A consultation document was issued by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) on 10 November 2010 outlining proposals to implement the remuneration disclosure provisions in the revised EU capital requirements directive (CRD3). The FSA intends to have this disclosure regime in place by 1 January 2011 and relevant firms will be required make disclosures in respect of the 2010 financial year. The Government support the principles set out in Sir David Walker's recommendations on disclosure of remuneration. We will continue to work towards an internationally agreed approach at both G20 and EU levels.
Credit Rating Agencies: EU Action
Mr Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likely effect of implementation of the European Commission's proposal to amend the EU Regulation on Credit Rating Agencies on UK national competence on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [11360]
Mr Hoban: The proposed regulation implements the June 2009 European Council decision to move supervision of credit ratings agencies (CRA) from national authorities to the EU level.
The regulation is directly applicable to UK law, although some minor implementation is required of member states. The regulation:
introduces a harmonised approach to the regulation of credit rating activities in the European Union;
creates a registration system for CRAs established in the EU, and a certification system for agencies established outside the EU;
requires registered agencies to comply with various provisions relating to independence, conflicts of interest, employees and analysts, methodologies and models, outsourcing, and disclosure and presentation of information; and
requires specified financial institutions to use credit ratings for regulatory purposes only if they have been issued or endorsed by a registered CRA, or issued by an overseas agency that has been certified in accordance with the regulation.
Demonstrations: City of Westminster
Mr Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what damage was caused to the HM Revenue and Customs building at 100 Parliament street during the demonstration on 9 December 2010; what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of repairing the damage; and if he will make a statement. [31649]
Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Custom's (HMRC) office at 100 Parliament street is occupied under a private finance initiative with Exchequer Partnership and is occupied under the terms of the contract with Exchequer Partnership rather than by the terms of a traditional lease. Damage was caused to building fabric: windows, doors and stonework of HMRC's building at 100 Parliament street during the demonstration on 9 December 2010.
The cost of the damage is still being finalised and will be submitted within insurance provisions as part of the Exchequer Partnership arrangement. Until the claim has been assessed by the insurers HMRC cannot quantify the cost to the public purse.
Mr Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to protect the buildings leased by his Department from damage during demonstrations; and if he will make a statement. [31650]
Mr Gauke: Internal physical security of HMT buildings is managed by the relevant security contractor for the individual building. External security is the responsibility of the police and the local authority.
During demonstrations, the Department maintains full liaison with police through the security contractor to assist in identifying and protecting areas at risk including during demonstrations. Protocols are activated with the PFI supplier/security contractor to protect entrances and increase manual guarding in any building identified as at risk.
Excise Duties: Fuels
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on negotiations with the European Commission on the proposed rural fuel duty rebate; and if he will make a statement to the House on the issue before 20 January 2011. [31302]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 16 December 2010]: Officials are undertaking discussions with the European Commission prior to submitting a formal application to the Commission for a fuel duty rebate, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions.
The Government will report back to Parliament prior to submitting a formal application.
Gift Aid
Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps he plans to take in response to the recent conclusions of the Gift Aid Forum; [28650]
(2) what proposals his Department has to reduce the administrative burden in respect of the Gift Aid scheme. [28624]
Mr Gauke:
Representatives from the charity sector have been working with officials on HM Treasury's Gift Aid Forum to consider a number of options for reform and simplification of Gift Aid. A report was submitted on behalf of the forum on 13 October and has now been published on HM Treasury's website along with the Economic Secretary's letter to Peter Fanning, the
author of the report. There is much in the report that can be taken forward and HM Revenue and Customs will be setting up a Charity Tax Forum to progress some of the recommendations.
Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to raise the level of public awareness of the Gift Aid scheme in respect of online donations. [30564]
Mr Gauke: On 3 December HM Treasury issued its response to Peter Fanning's report on behalf of the Give Aid Forum, which can be found online at:
The report made recommendations to simplify the administration of Gift Aid and to raise awareness. As set out in the response, the Government will take forward a number of recommendations, including looking into raising awareness of the Gift Aid scheme among donors and among young people.
HM Revenue and Customs: Overpayments
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress his Department has made in (a) repaying overpaid tax and (b) collecting underpaid tax as a result of recent miscalculations of tax liability made by HM Revenue and Customs in the PAYE system. [31701]
Mr Gauke: This information is not available. However, by 15 December 2010 HMRC had completed 72% of its forecast volume of end of year reconciliations for the years 2008-09 and 2009-10. HMRC plans to have completed 90% by the end of December.
Income Tax
John Stevenson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has plans to merge income tax and national insurance as a means of tax simplification. [32120]
Mr Gauke: The Government aim for a tax system which is more competitive, simpler, greener and fairer, and keeps the system under continual review with a view to meeting these objectives. While national insurance shares some of the characteristics of income tax. it is a system of social insurance which determines entitlement to state pensions and other benefits. Therefore the two cannot easily be merged.
Independent Financial Advisers: Qualifications
Jason McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether independent financial advisers will be able to opt out of markets for which they would otherwise be required to acquire a new qualification to practise from January 2013. [31936]
Mr Hoban: The Financial Services Authority's Retail Distribution Review will apply to all advisers in the retail investment market. Independent financial advisers will not require a new qualification to offer basic advice on stakeholder products such as pensions, as well as advice on savings, mortgages and insurance products that do not have an investment element.
Jason McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether exemptions will be made available to independent financial advisers of long standing from new qualifications that will be required for them to continue to practise from January 2013. [31937]
Mr Hoban: The Financial Services Authority's (FSA) Retail Distribution Review (RDR) will apply to all retail investment advisers including independent financial advisers, wealth managers, stockbrokers and banks. The FSA will recognise some higher qualifications that some long standing professional advisers have attained. It will publish further details of the future qualifications framework in January 2011.
Jason McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which qualifications held by independent financial advisers (IFAs) of long standing he expects will not meet the new examination benchmark for IFAs from January 2013. [31938]
Mr Hoban: The Financial Services Authority is responsible for developing the professionalism rules for the Retail Distribution Review and intends to publish a list of qualifications that will meet the required benchmark in January 2011.
Inheritance Tax
John Stevenson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for the reform of inheritance tax. [30815]
Mr Gauke: The Budget in June 2010 confirmed that the inheritance tax threshold will be frozen at £325,000 until 2014-15. As set out in the coalition agreement, the Government have decided that making changes to the personal allowances for income tax should take priority over other tax cuts including cuts to inheritance tax. Any changes to the inheritance tax regime will then have to be considered with due regard to the Government's priorities of reducing the fiscal deficit and ensuring economic recovery. Any decision would be made through the usual Budget process.
Mortgages: Regulation
Simon Kirby: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received recent representations from mortgage providers on new regulations proposed by the Financial Services Authority; and if he will make a statement. [32263]
Mr Hoban: The Government are committed to a healthy housing and mortgage market.
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is conducting a wholesale review of mortgage regulation in the UK, the 'Mortgage Market Review'.
The Government believe that it is right for the FSA to ensure that the UK mortgage market has responsible lending practices. We will continue to work with the FSA, mortgage lenders and intermediaries, and consumer groups to ensure a mortgage market that is sustainable for all participants.
The FSA published the 'Mortgage Market Review: Responsible Lending' in July. This paper forms one part of an ongoing consultation process.
The FSA has stated that they will fully assess the potential impact on the market before implementing any rule changes.
Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.
Non-domestic Rates: Retail Trade
David Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue would be lost to the Exchequer if retail units in England and Wales with a rateable value of less than (a) £5,000, (b) £10,000 and (c) £15,000 were exempted from business rates. [31517]
Robert Neill: I have been asked to reply.
No estimates of the revenue lost if retail units in England and Wales were exempted from business rates have been made. This information is not currently held in the form requested.
David Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many retail units with a rateable value of less than (a) £5,000, (b) £10,000 and (c) £15,000 there are in England and Wales. [31518]
Mr Gauke: The Valuation Office Agency identifies the various types of property contained in the rating lists by the use of a specialist (SCAT) code. These data are consistent with the statistical release titled: "Non-domestic rateable values; 2005 and 2010 Local Ratings Lists-England and Wales", published on 28 October 2010. A copy of the statistical release is available at the following link:
| Properties with a 'Retail' SCAT code of 021, 024, 088, 097, 098, 106, 139, 152, 154, 155, 210, 235, 243, 249, 251, 417, 425, 429, 442, 504, 507, 508 | |||
| Number heredita ments | |||
| Rateable value | England | Wales | Total |
Private Finance Initiative
John Stevenson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the private finance initiative. [32121]
Danny Alexander: At the spending review, the Government abolished the PFI credits system which provided Departments with a ring-fenced budget that could be used only to support local authority PFI projects. This change levels the playing field between PFI and other forms of procurement.
The most recent survey of the performance of operational PFI projects was commissioned by HM Treasury in 2008. This was conducted by Ipsos MORI.
Public Expenditure
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which unit of his Department is responsible for calculations on the implementation of the Barnett formula. [31271]
Danny Alexander: The Devolved Countries Unit in the Treasury is responsible for calculations on implementation of the Barnett formula.
Public Expenditure: Harlow
Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total spending from the public purse in Harlow constituency in each year since 2000. [32290]
Danny Alexander: The Government do not hold information about total public funding allocated within parliamentary constituency boundaries. Public funding from central Government revenue grants allocated to Harlow district council for the years 2000-01 to 2009-10 is set out in the following table:
| £000( 1) | |
| (1) Source: Department for Communities and Local Government, Revenue Outturn (RO) returns. | |
The lowest level at which total public expenditure information is available is the region. Total identifiable expenditure on services in the east of England can be found in Chapter 9 of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis 2010 (Cm 7890).
Public Sector: Borrowing
Simon Kirby: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Governor of the Bank of England on the relationship between changes in market interest rates and levels of Government borrowing. [31833]
Danny Alexander: The Chancellor has frequent discussions with the Governor of the Bank of England on a wide range of issues including prospects for the UK economy.
Fiscal policy is a competence of HM Treasury while the independent Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England has operational responsibility for monetary policy.
Public Sector: Pay
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an assessment of the effects on (a) men and (b) women of his proposals to freeze pay in the public sector. [8103]
Danny Alexander: The Emergency Budget announced a two year pay freeze from 2011-12 for public sector workforces, except for those earning £21,000 or less, who will receive an increase of at least £250 a year. This policy will help protect jobs and the quality of public services.
The Government have assessed the impact of the pay freeze on men and women using Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data.
The precise impact on individuals earning £21,000 or less will be determined by the relevant employer. However, compared with the previous Government's policy of a 1% pay cap for 2011-12 and 2012-13, it is likely that the emergency Budget policy will represent less income for public sector workers earning over £21,000-but an increase in income for those earning £21,000 or less.
It is estimated that 65% of those employed by the public sector are female. However, 78% of those employed in the public sector earning £21,000 or less are female and will therefore benefit from the Government's policy.
In addition, the £3.3 billion in savings from public sector pay restraint will help protect public sector jobs. Given that 65% of public sector employees are female around two thirds of jobs protected will be those of women. Pay restraint will also protect the provision of public services that are used by both women and men.
Taxation: Multinational Companies
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with European Commission representatives on amendments to the directive on the taxation of cross-border interests and royalty payments between associated companies. [31759]
Mr Gauke: The European Commission recently conducted a public consultation on extending the directive on the taxation of cross-border interest and royalty payments between associated companies. Treasury officials participated in discussions with representatives of the European Commission on this directive prior to the consultation. Treasury Ministers are engaged in dialogue with European Commissioners on a variety of issues, including tax.
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of whether existing double taxation treaties have a disproportionate effect and compliance cost on (a) the self-employed and (b) small businesses based in the UK which are earning income from the exploitation of their intellectual property rights overseas. [31760]
Mr Gauke: Double taxation agreements (DTA) benefit UK businesses by reducing the level of tax they have to pay to foreign governments when doing business overseas or receiving income from overseas. The requirements imposed by foreign governments to enable businesses to claim relief are a matter for them. The UK aims to ensure that the requirements imposed by foreign governments are kept to the minimum required to ensure adequate compliance with the terms of the DTA. Where necessary the UK will make representations to the foreign government regarding their requirements.
Walker Review
Mr Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has issued guidance to (a) Ofwat and (b) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the effect of Exchequer rules on levy-funded subsidies on the proposals of the Walker Review in respect of charging and metering for water and sewerage services. [31403]
Danny Alexander: We have not provided explicit guidance for DEFRA or Ofwat on the Walker Review's proposals in respect of charging and metering for water and sewerage services. However, the Treasury has provided DEFRA and Ofwat with "A quick guide to Levy-funded subsidies-Tax and Spend". This guide is intended as a brief outline of some of the issues that need to be considered with regard to levy-funded subsidies and the list of issues and questions it mentions is not exhaustive.
I am placing a copy of "A quick guide to Levy-funded subsidies-Tax and Spend" in the House Library.
Leader of the House
Departmental Press: Subscriptions
Robert Halfon: To ask the Leader of the House how much his Office spent on press cuttings services in each year since 1997. [28149]
Sir George Young: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons joined the Cabinet Office in 2007.
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 20 December 2010, Official Report, column 1058W.
Justice
Appeals
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many appeal cases relating to (1) bereavement benefit have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29563]
(2) carer's allowance have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29564]
(3) child support have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29565]
(4) discrimination on grounds of religion or belief have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29566]
(5) discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation,
(b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29567]
(6) age discrimination have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29568]
(7) managed migration have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29569]
(8) asylum have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29570]
(9) entry clearance have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29571]
(10) family visit visas have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29572]
(11) child benefit lone parent allowances have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29573]
(12) tax credits have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29574]
(13) the Compensation Recovery Unit have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29575]
(14) (a) housing and (b) council tax have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (i) with legal representation, (ii) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (iii) without legal representation were upheld; [29576]
(15) (a) pensions credit, (b) health in pregnancy grant, (c) incapacity benefit, (d) employment support allowance and (e) disability working allowance have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (i) with legal representation, (ii) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (iii) without legal representation were upheld; [29577]
(16) income support have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29578]
(17) industrial death benefit have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29579]
(18) attendance and disability living allowances have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29580]
(19) vaccine damage have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29581]
(20) the Social Fund have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29582]
(21) severe disablement benefits and allowances have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29583]
(22) retirement pension have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29584]
(23) maternity benefits and allowances have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29585]
(24) jobseeker's allowance have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29586]
(25) industrial injuries disablement benefit have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld; [29587]
(26) home responsibilities protection have been heard in each of the last three years; and how many such appeals (a) with legal representation, (b) with legal representation funded by legal aid and (c) without legal representation were upheld. [29632]
Mr Djanogly: The following table provides a breakdown, by subject matter requested:
The number of appeal cases heard;
The number of cases with legal representation that were successful; and
The number of cases without legal representation that were successful.
It is not possible to provide information on the number of cases that were funded through legal aid as that level of detail is not recorded. It should also be noted that there are some gaps in information in the table. I will write to the hon. Member with the outstanding information once it is available.
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