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8 Feb 2011 : Column 186W—continued
Fuel Oil
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of levels of competition in the domestic oil market; and if he will undertake a review of (a) pricing and (b) transport and delivery costs. [38736]
Charles Hendry:
I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I gave on 21 January 2011, Official Report, column 55WS, concerning the off-grid energy market. I am keen that the reasons for the high prices and supply issues affecting domestic consumers
are thoroughly investigated by an independent authority. I therefore wrote to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to ask it to bring forward its competition and consumer study into off-grid energy, and asked the OFT if the study could explore the longer term consumer issues such as lifetime payback, consumer standards and labelling for alternative energy sources or supplies. Such a study would provide an independent assessment of the off-grid market and establish what further action may be necessary to ensure it works properly.
I welcome the independent assessment of the off-grid market to be made by the OFT, and look forward to seeing its conclusions in advance of next winter so the lessons from this winter can be learned and any necessary changes made.
Home Department
Asylum
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum seekers of each sex were subject to the detained fast track asylum process in each year for which figures are available; and how many asylum seekers of each sex applied for asylum in each such year; [38147]
(2) how many asylum seekers of each sex subject to the detained fast track process were moved to the standard asylum process in each year for which figures are available. [38148]
Damian Green: The information requested is shown in the following tables:
| Total asylum intake and applications( 1) accepted into the detained fast track process broken down by gender by year of application 2006-10 | ||||||||||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | ||||||
| Total | DFT | Total | DFT | Total | DFT | Total | DFT | Total | DFT | |
| (1) Data provided is based on main applicant, first time applications | ||||||||||
| Applications( 1) rerouted from the detained fast tract process into the standard asylum process broken down by gender, by year of application 2006-10 | |||||
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
| (1) Data provided is based on main applicant, first time applications Note: All figures quoted are internal management information only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols. | |||||
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what interim benchmarks the UK Border Agency unit dealing with older unresolved asylum cases is using to ensure progress towards its summer 2011 target date. [38785]
Damian Green: The Agency uses benchmarks that come from the various throughput models that have been in place during Case Resolution Directorate's lifespan. These have evolved throughout the programme of work to conclude the legacy backlog alongside monitoring the types of outcomes and forecasts for the future. These have been updated at regular intervals.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of asylum seekers who have not immediately reported themselves to the authorities to claim asylum on entering the UK in each year for which figures are available. [38907]
Damian Green: The following table shows the number of in-country asylum applications received in the UK in each year for which figures are available. These figures may include:
applications which were not made immediately on arrival, but were made at the first practical opportunity; and
applications from individuals who held a valid immigration status when entering the UK.
The exact information requested could be obtained only by the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
Further information on asylum applications are published monthly, quarterly and annually in the Control of Immigration bulletins and monthly asylum applications tables available from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
Control Orders
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons are for the time taken to reply to question 33326, on control orders, tabled on 10 January 2011 for named day answer on 13 January 2011; and whether her Department routinely keeps statistics on (a) the number of control orders issued and (b) the number of those subject to control orders and subsequently charged with offences relating to terrorism. [38297]
Nick Herbert: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 7 February 2011, Official Report, column 35W.
Departmental Libraries
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) certified and (b) chartered librarians her Department has employed in each year since 2000. [37659]
Damian Green: The information requested is not held for each year since 2000. Our current records show that there are eight staff members in the Home Office who are employed as librarians.
These staff are required to have a Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) recognised qualification in library and information management, graduate or post-graduate qualification in library and information management or records management, it is not a requirement to have Chartered status.
The Home Office may also employ further staff members with these qualifications in roles that do not require these skills specifically and hence records are not kept of their numbers.
Departmental Security
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which persons not employed by Government Departments or agencies hold passes entitling them to enter her Department's premises. [39263]
Damian Green: Passes may be issued to those who are required to make frequent visits to the Home Office Headquarters, subject to the usual security checks. For security reasons it would not be appropriate to provide details of individuals who hold such passes.
Entry Clearances: Married People
Mr Frank Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many spouse visas were refused on grounds of failure to meet the maintenance requirements set out in paragraph 281 (section 8) of the Immigration Rules in each year since 1997; how many
spouse visas were refused as a result of implementation of the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 in each year since 2007; and what estimate she has made of the proportion of applicants who were interviewed by entry clearance officers before being granted a spouse visa in each year since 2005. [39027]
Damian Green: The information requested by the right hon. Member regarding unsuccessful spouse visa applications is not held centrally and could be obtained by checking individual records only at a disproportionate cost.
Entry Clearances: Overseas Students
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many students from outside the European Economic Area were (a) admitted into the UK on study visas and (b) granted post-study work visas in 2009-10. [38360]
Damian Green: The latest available information is given in the following table. The table shows statistics for a) student admissions (excluding dependants and student visitors) in 2009 and b) entry clearance visas issued and grants of leave to remain in the United Kingdom under the tier 1-post study route (excluding dependants) 2009 to Q3 2010.
Statistics for visas issued, admissions and grants of leave to remain are published in tables 1.1, 1.2 and 4.2 respectively in the "Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary United Kingdom July-September 2010". This Home Office statistical bulletin is available from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
A copy has been placed in the House Library.
Admission statistics for the first half of 2010 and statistics for visas issued and grants of leave to remain for the fourth quarter of 2010 are scheduled for publication on 24 February 2011.
Human Trafficking
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to share knowledge and resources with the relevant authorities in India in order to address human trafficking. [38854]
Damian Green: The UK Government are committed to working with international partners to address the problem of human trafficking. Through the EU, we continue to encourage India to ratify and implement the UN convention against transnational organised crime and its protocol on people trafficking. We will continue to raise the most pressing human rights issues through the EU-India human rights dialogue.
The EU has run three projects during the period 2000-10 on human trafficking in India, focusing on both inter-state trafficking in India and regional trafficking in South Asia.
Illegal Immigrants
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK Border Agency screens vehicles entering the UK for the purposes of detecting (a) illegal immigrants and (b) prohibited goods entering the UK where those vehicles have been screened or checked for such purposes in other EU member states prior to arriving in the UK; and if she will make a statement. [38909]
Damian Green: The strategic aim for the UK Border Agency is to protect our border and national interests by tackling border tax fraud, smuggling and immigration crime.
Within the BF South and Europe region, UK Border Force officers and their counterparts screen 100% of vehicles for the purpose of detecting illegal immigrants and preventing them from entering the UK. All UK bound vehicles are screened by means of a multi-layered regime, utilising a combination of detection technologies to ensure the security of the common border.
All vehicles entering the UK for the purpose of prohibited goods are screened on an intelligent risk-based analysis at the ports.
All our activities at our borders takes place with cognisance as to whether vehicles are pre-screened in other EU member states, as illegal immigrants can enter a vehicle at any point during their journey through any borders.
Illegal Immigrants: Asylum
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons who have been returned to their country of origin have subsequently (a) applied to enter the United Kingdom, (b) been granted permission to enter the UK and (c) been found to have entered the UK illegally in each year for which figures are available. [38930]
Damian Green: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained by checking individual records only at a disproportionate cost.
Immigration Controls
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to increase levels of immigration control at border entry points. [38326]
Damian Green: We are continually strengthening and modernising our border controls, to improve our ability to prevent those who do not qualify for entry to the UK from doing so, while continuing to welcome those who wish to travel to the UK legitimately to visit, work or study. Measures we have already taken include maintaining the strength of our visa regimes; maintaining immigration liaison officers at airports overseas and the juxtaposed immigration controls in France and Belgium; as well as the continued development of e-borders and evolution of the points based system. We will also create a dedicated border police command, as part of the new National Crime Agency, to enhance national security, improve immigration controls and crack down on the trafficking of people, weapons and drugs.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place at each port in the UK to detect (a) illegal immigrants and (b) prohibited items from entering the UK. [38913]
Damian Green: UK Border Agency (UKBA) officers carry out detection duties at ports and airports across the UK and at our juxtaposed controls in France and Belgium. Officers have at their disposal hi-tech search equipment.
Specially trained officers deploy an array of search techniques including the use of body detection dogs, carbon dioxide detectors and heartbeat monitors as well as visual searches to find those seeking to enter the UK clandestinely
UK Border Agency officers work at the frontier to detect and disrupt smuggling of a wide range of goods. UKBA take a targeted risk-based approach to intervention that is intelligence led and use a variety of detection technologies to scan and examine baggage, vehicles and freight. This includes up-to-date x-ray and trace detection technology coupled with the use of detector dogs.
Litigation
Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what payments (a) her Department's agencies and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible paid to persons other than employees in lieu of litigation in each of the last three years. [38589]
Damian Green: The information, at the requested level of detail, cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
The Department does disclose the total number and amount of special payments made within the published Resource Accounts. However, this disclosure includes all types of special payment (i.e. payments made in lieu of litigation as well as those directed by a court). Separately identifying payments made in lieu of litigation on an individual case basis would incur disproportionate cost.
The total of all special payments made throughout each of the years for the consolidated Home Office (core and agencies) is set out in the following table:
| Number of special payments | Value of special payments (£ million) | |
Police: Manpower
Ed Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the contribution by the Minister for Policing on 16 November 2010, Official Report, column 211WH, what definition her Department uses for (a) back office, (b) middle office and (c) frontline police roles; and what the title is of each role in each such category. [26080]
Nick Herbert
[holding answer 23 November 2010]: There is no formally agreed definition of frontline, middle office and back office services, although these are terms in relatively common use across the police service. Consideration is being given, with the police service, to the establishment of a common definition. Although no fixed definition exists, frontline officers and staff are generally those directly involved in the
public crime fighting face of the force. This includes neighbourhood policing, response policing and criminal investigation. Middle office services include a variety of functions which provide direct support to the frontline, such as police training and criminal justice administration. Back office services are those which keep police forces running smoothly such as finance and HR. Forces should focus on maintaining and improving frontline services, while reducing costs as much as possible in middle and back office support functions, consistent with supporting frontline services. Police forces can also maintain and improve frontline services by enabling frontline officers and staff to work more efficiently and effectively.
Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in each police force hold positions classified as (a) operational, (b) operational support and (c) organisational support. [32125]
Nick Herbert: The most recent figures, on the numbers of officers in these three categories in each police force area in England and Wales as at 31 March 2010, are contained in the following table. The functional group categories were introduced in 1999 and definitions of each category are provided in note 2 of the table. The functional group data have not been published as National Statistics; they are provisional and have not been confirmed with police forces.
| Police officer strength( 1) as at 31 March 2010 by functional group( 2) | ||||
| Operational( 2) | Operational support( 2) | Organisational support( 3) | Total strength( 3) | |
| (1) Full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between the totals and the sums of the constituent items. (2) Numbers of officers with predominant function in one of the three functional groups, which are defined (see below) according with how directly the officer's function is meeting the overarching aims of the police service. The functional group figures are not published, and should be treated as provisional as they have not been verified with police forces (unlike the total strength figures-see note 3 below). Operational: any member of staff, including covert staff, whose primary role (ie over 50% of their time) is directly to deliver the overarching aims of the police service. To 'directly deliver' the role must involve routine and immediate interface (either face to face or by telephone) with the public, including covert operational staff in such roles can be considered as frontline service providers. Operational support: any member of staff whose primary role is to support the delivery of the overarching aims of the police service. Organisational support: any member of staff whose primary role is to service the internal needs of the organisation. (3) The total strength figures have been verified with police forces, and are published in the Home Office statistical bulletin "Police Service Strength England and Wales, 31 March 2010", available online at: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/hosb1410.pdf Source: Home Office (from ADR 571 return received from police forces). | ||||
Roads: Accidents
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many road traffic accidents involving (a) serious injury and (b) fatality were recorded in each police authority area in each of the last five years. [37996]
Mike Penning: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested is given in the following table:
Sexual Offences: Bradford
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the adequacy of provision of specialist support for males (a) nationwide and (b) in Bradford who have been subject to rape. [32427]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 10 January 2011]: The Home Office does not assess specific provision of support services for male victims of sexual violence at either a national or local level.
In 2010-11, the Home Office has, in partnership with the Department of Health, allocated over £2.2 million to support the creation and operation of new and existing Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) around the country. These centres provide crisis support and medical care for victims in the immediate aftermath of rape and are open to men and women above 14 or 16 years of age with some centres also providing services for children. They enable victims to access services anonymously, including a forensic examination if they wish, and to consider making a report to the police in a supportive and caring environment. SARCs also provide follow-up care, and often refer victims on to other forms of specialist local provision.
In addition, the Home Office has made available £860,000 in 2010-11 to support Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs). ISVAs work with victims of recent and historic serious sexual crimes to enable them to access the services they need in the aftermath of the abuse they have experienced. They provide impartial advice to the victim on all options open to them, such as reporting to the police, accessing Sexual Assault Referral Centres, seeking support from specialist sexual violence organisations and other services like housing or benefits.
In launching the cross-Government vision for tackling violence against women and girls on 25 November 2010, the Secretary of State for the Home Department confirmed Home Office funding of more than £28 million for specialist services until 2015. Of this, £1.72 million will be available each year to support ISVAs in both the specialist voluntary sector and in SARCs.
Specialist services are provided for male victims. Details of these services can be accessed at:
Sojourner Fund
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding her Department has allocated to the Sojourner Fund pilot for (a) 2011-12 and (b) each subsequent year in which the pilot will be in operation. [38875]
Damian Green [holding answer 7 February 2011] : The Home Office has allocated £2.4 million for funding of the Sojourner Pilot for 2011-12. No specific amount of funding has been allocated beyond that date because work on a long-term solution is under way.
Education
Pupil Numbers
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on what modelling his Department's projections of school numbers in primary and secondary schools are based. [33172]
Mr Gibb: The Department makes projections for the number of pupils in primary and secondary schools in England. They are based on population estimates and projections from the Office for National Statistics together with actual pupil numbers collected as part of the school census.
The most recent set of projections for the number of pupils in schools was published in December 2010 in Statistical Release 31/2010-National Pupil Projections: Future Trends in Pupil Numbers. This includes technical notes which provide information on the projection method:
Schools: Asbestos
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what information his Department holds on the number of head teachers who have completed training on asbestos in schools in the last 10 years; [34642]
(2) what guidance his Department issues to schools on asbestos; [34643]
(3) what recent estimate he has made of the health risk to (a) teachers, (b) support staff and (c) pupils from asbestos in schools. [34658]
Mr Gibb: The Department does not hold any information on the number of head teachers who have completed training on asbestos in schools in the last 10 years. However, many local authorities, as duty holders under the Control of Asbestos Regulations, have provided training to school staff and governors. Those who have responsibility for the maintenance of school buildings must be aware and have knowledge of the effective management of any asbestos containing materials.
The Department's guidance to schools on asbestos management is located on the Teachernet website at:
There is extensive guidance and information on managing asbestos on the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) website, including a guide on the Management of Asbestos in Non-Domestic Premises, available at:
Partnerships for Schools is currently working with HSE and asbestos training providers to produce training for head teachers to make sure they are fully aware of their roles and responsibilities.
Asbestos containing materials should be managed in accordance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and HSE guidance. So long as asbestos is effectively managed there is no significant risk in leaving it in place. Asbestos which is in good condition and unlikely to be disturbed or damaged is better left in place and managed until the end of the life of the building as this presents less risk of exposure to the occupants than the process of removing it. Asbestos which is in poor condition, or which is likely to be damaged or disturbed should be sealed, enclosed or removed.
The Department has not commissioned any special study into the health risks to teachers, support staff and pupils from asbestos in schools. Evidence indicates that school teachers, as an identifiable occupational group, are no more at risk from contracting asbestos related diseases than the general population. Asbestos in the majority of local authority schools is being satisfactorily managed and HSE is continuing to promote the need for competence and vigilance on the part of those who have responsibility for the maintenance of school buildings, and take action where they find non compliance.
Sixth Form Education: VAT
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2010, Official Report, column 89W, on academies: VAT, whether sixth form colleges will be able to recover VAT incurred to support their non-business activities; and if he will make a statement. [35772]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 24 January 2011] : As independent institutions sixth-form colleges are liable to pay VAT but are not eligible to reclaim the VAT on goods and services. This is the same position as for further education colleges and we have no current plans to change this.
Cabinet Office
Civil Servants: Redundancy Pay
Alison McGovern: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether his Department has undertaken an equalities impact assessment in respect of his policy on tapered redundancy payments for civil servants over 60. [33381]
Mr Maude [holding answer 20 January 2011]: The purpose of the compensation scheme is to provide an appropriate and proportionate level of support for the loss of office or, where suitable, to cushion the transition to retirement. Those members of staff at or over their normal pension age (60 for most current members of the civil service) will have immediate access to an unreduced pension, the majority of which is funded by the taxpayer.
In designing the new scheme I have had due regard to its fairness and its impact in relation to equality. It is, of course, for individual employers to ensure that their
selection for exits-whether voluntary or redundancy-is carried out in a way which does not give rise to claims of unlawful discrimination.
Collective Worship
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of people participated in a regular weekly act of worship in each of the last 10 years. [38507]
Andrew Stunell: I have been asked to reply.
We are not aware of any source of data on the number or proportion of people who have participated in a regular weekly act of worship in each of the last 10 years. The Citizenship Survey, does, however collect data on the proportion of people aged 16 years and over in England and Wales who consider that they are practising a religion. Data are available for 2003, 2005, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10. Table 1 shows the proportion and estimated number of people aged 16 and over in England and Wales who considered that they were practising a religion.
| Table 1: The percentage and estimated number of people aged 16 and over who considered they were practising a religion, England and Wales, 2003 to 2009-10 | ||
| Percentage | Estimated number (Thousand )( 1) | |
| (1) Estimated numbers are calculated by applying proportions from the Citizenship Survey to the Office for National Statistics Mid-Year Population Estimates (England and Wales) for people aged 16 and over. (2) In the 2003 Citizenship survey all respondents were asked 'Do you actively practise any religion now'? (3) From 2005 onwards all Citizenship Survey respondents who said that they had a religion were asked, 'Do you consider that you are actively practising your religion?' The estimate shown is as a proportion of all people, including those with 'no religion'. | ||
In 2009-10, 29% of people were actively practising a religion in England and Wales. Levels are unchanged on all previous comparable years (back to 2005 when the new question format was introduced).
It should be noted that estimates on religious practice are derived from questions which ask respondents whether they consider that they are actively practising their religion. Respondents are not provided with any guidance on what constitutes 'actively practising' and they are not asked what their active practise consists of in terms of regularity or type of activity. The measure will include people who participate in a regular weekly act of worship but will also include other types of, and frequency of, religious practice.
Departmental Security
Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which persons not employed by Government Departments or agencies hold passes entitling them to enter his Department's premises. [39273]
Mr Maude: Passes may be issued to those who are required to make frequent visits to my Department's premises; subject to the usual security checks. For security reasons it would not be appropriate to provide detailed information about specific individuals who have been issued a pass.
Government Departments: Telephone Services
Alok Sharma: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance his Department issues to Government Departments and agencies on the use of (a) national and (b) premium rate telephone numbers as contact points for members of the public. [36401]
Mr Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 20 December 2010, Official Report, column 1058W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Mary Macleod), and 20 December 2010, Official Report, column 1059W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Alun Cairns).
In May 2009 the Cabinet Office Contact Council published a guide to number ranges for public sector organisations and updated this guide in February 2010. This guide includes a recommendation that Government Departments should consider the cost of accessing the service to make sure that citizens on low income can afford to make contact.
We will be looking into tightening procedures in the near future.
Internet
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate the Office for National Statistics has made of the number of households in each socio-economic group which have a home computer. [38369]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate the Office for National Statistics has made of the number of households in each socio-economic group which have a home computer. (038369)
The table provided shows the number of households with a home computer, by National Statistics Socio Economic Classification (NS-SEC) of the household reference person in 2009, the latest period for which data are available. These estimates are based on data from the Living Costs and Food Survey, an annual survey of approximately 5,000 households in the UK.
These estimates, as with any involving sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
Life Expectancy: Females
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the life expectancy is of a woman born in 1954. [39204]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Minister for the Cabinet Office asking what the life expectancy is of a woman born in 1954. (39204).
The Office for National Statistics publishes national life expectancy figures for the United Kingdom and its constituent countries.
The average life expectancy for a baby girl born in the UK, in 1954, was 72 years. However, this life expectancy figure ignores improvements in mortality rates since 1954. If improvements in mortality since 1954 and assumptions about future mortality are taken into account, then the average life expectancy for the baby girl would be 84 years.
Furthermore, the chance of survival increases as each successive year of age is reached. This means that a woman born in 1954 who has survived to age 57 in 2011 has an average 32 years of life remaining, giving an average life expectancy of 89 years.
Social Trust
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what information his Department holds on trends in the (a) number and (b) size of self help groups in the last 20 years. [38375]
Paul Burstow: I have been asked to reply.
The organisations Alcoholics Anonymous (Great Britain) and Gamblers Anonymous UK both run a number of nationwide 'meetings' for those with alcohol problems and addictions to gambling. We do not collect information of these meetings centrally.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what measures his Department uses to assess levels of social trust; and what assessment has been made of trends in levels of social trust in the last 20 years; [38376]
(2) what recent assessment he has made of levels of social trust in (a) adults and (b) teenagers. [38378]
Andrew Stunell: I have been asked to reply.
Data from the Citizenship Survey provide the percentage of all adults (aged 16 years and over) who trust institutions (Parliament, police, council) and who think that many people in their neighbourhood can be trusted, over the last 10 years. Citizenship Survey data also provide recent data on levels of trust by teenagers on these measures (aged 16 to 19 years).
| Table 1: Percentage of all adults (aged 16 years and over) in England who trust institutions (Parliament, police and local council) a 'lot' or 'fair' amount, by year | |||
| Percentage | |||
| Parliament | Local council | Police | |
| Table 2: Percentage of all adults (aged 16 years and over) in England who think that many people in their neighbourhood can be trusted, by year | ||||||
| Percentage | ||||||
| 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
| Table 3: Percentage of all teenagers (aged 16 to 19 year) in England who trust institutions (Parliament, police and local council) a 'lot' or 'fair' amount, 2009-10( 1) | |||
| Percentage | |||
| 2009-10 | Parliament | Local council | Police |
| (1) Figures are based on the 2009-10 full year data, rather than the most recent April to September 2010 data due to the small sample size for this age group. | |||
| Table 4: Percentage of all teenagers (aged 16 to 19 years) in England who think that many people in their neighbourhood can be trusted, 2009-10( 1) | |||
| Percentage | |||
| 2009-10 | Many of the people can be trusted | Some can be trusted | A few can be trusted |
| (1) Figures are based on the 2009-10 full year data, rather than the most recent April 2010 to September 2010 data due to the small sample size for this age group. | |||
Volunteering
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what information his Department holds on average levels of volunteering by teenagers in each of the last five years; [38367]
(2) what estimate he has made of the proportion of adults in each ethnic group who participated in voluntary activity in the latest period for which figures are available. [38379]
Andrew Stunell: I have been asked to reply.
Data from the Citizenship Survey provide information on the percentage levels of volunteering by teenagers (aged 16 to 19 years) over the last five years and information on the percentage of adults participating in regular voluntary activity by ethnic group for the latest period for which figures are available (April to September 2010), in England.
| Table 1: Percentage of teenagers (aged 16 to 19) participating in formal and informal volunteering (at least once a month) in England, by year | ||
| Percentage | ||
| Formal volunteering | Informal volunteering | |
| Table 2: Latest data (April to September 2010) on the percentage of adults (aged 16 years and over) who participated in formal and informal voluntary activity (at least once a month) by ethnicity, in England | ||
| Regular volunteering (at least once a month) | ||
| April to September 2010 | Formal volunteering | Informal volunteering |
The Citizenship Survey definition of formal volunteering is 'Giving unpaid help through groups, clubs or organisations to benefit other people or the environment'. This excludes giving money and activities related to job requirements.
Formal volunteers are those who have given unpaid help through any UK groups, clubs or organisations via the following activities:
raising or handling money/taking part in sponsored events;
leading the group/member of a committee;
organising or helping run an activity or event;
visiting people;
befriending or mentoring people;
giving advice/information/counselling;
secretarial, admin or clerical work;
providing transport/driving;
representing;
campaigning;
other practical help (e.g. helping out at school); and
any other help.
The Citizenship Survey definition of informal volunteering is 'Giving unpaid help as an individual to people who are not relatives'.
Informal volunteers are those who have given unpaid help to someone who is not a relative via the following activities:
keeping in touch with someone who has difficult getting out and about;
doing shopping/collecting prescription/ paying bills;
cooking/cleaning/laundry/gardening or other routine household jobs;
decorating or doing any kind of home or car repairs;
babysitting or caring for children;
sitting with or providing personal care (e.g. washing, dressing) for someone who is sick or frail;
looking after property or a pet for someone who is away;
giving advice;
writing letters or filling in forms;
representing someone (e.g. talking to a council department or a doctor); and
transporting or escorting someone (e.g. to hospital).
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