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8 Feb 2011 : Column 206W—continued
International Development
Bangladesh
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the likely effect of his Department's decision to retender for programme partnership agreements on operations in Bangladesh. [38539]
Mr O'Brien: We have not undertaken any formal assessment of the impacts of our retendering of programme partnership arrangements (PPA) on operations in Bangladesh. However, we do not expect our PPA decisions to have any negative impact on these operations.
These new PPAs will have an increased focus on value for money and lesson learning and will be better aligned to DFID's priorities.
Bangladesh: Dalits
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to support the rights of Dalits in Bangladesh. [38540]
Mr O'Brien: The UK funds community organisations in Bangladesh that provide help and advice to Dalit people so they can get access to health care, schooling and welfare benefits such as old age pension, education stipends for girls and subsidised food grain. UK funding also helps these organisations to tackle discrimination against Dalits.
Bangladesh: Family Planning
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to ensure access to family planning in Bangladesh. [38541]
Mr O'Brien: The UK is helping to fund a government programme which provides around 90% of all family planning commodities to Bangladesh. Approximately 17 million couples (56%) practice family planning each year, of which about 2.5 million can be attributed to the UK funding.
Bangladesh: Overseas Aid
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department provided to Bangladesh in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; and what support it intends to provide in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13, (iii) 2013-14 and (iv) 2014-15. [38542]
Mr O'Brien: In 2009-11, the Department for International Development (DFID) has supported the Government and civil society in Bangladesh to provide basic social and legal services; create jobs and improve livelihoods; strengthen public financial management; respond to disasters and adapt to climate change. Gender and aid effectiveness are key themes across the programme. As reported in our annual publication 'Statistics on International Development' (SID), in 2009-10 DFID provided £148 million in bilateral aid to Bangladesh. Expenditure in 2010-11 will reported in the next edition of SID later this year.
Detailed plans for future support will be determined by the conclusions of the bilateral aid review, which will be published shortly.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprentices were registered to train as a (a) plumber, (b) construction electrician, (c) carpenter, (d) bricklayer, (e) heating and ventilating engineer and (f) lift engineer in the latest period for which figures are available. [37840]
Mr Hayes: Information on the number of apprenticeship starts on each different apprenticeship framework is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 27 January:
Apprenticeship frameworks do not fall into the categories listed above. The following table shows the number of apprenticeship programme starts in 2009/10 by the most relevant frameworks to the categories listed above. A full list of frameworks can be found in the Statistical First Release.
| Apprenticeship programme starts by framework, 2009/10 | |
| Sector framework code | Apprenticeship starts |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 except for the total which is rounded to the nearest 100. 2. '-' Indicates a base value of less than five. 3. Full-year numbers are a count of the number of starts at any point during the year. Learners starting more than one framework will appear more than once. Source: Individualised Learner Record | |
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) apprenticeship starts, (b) advanced apprenticeship starts and (c) higher apprenticeship starts there were in academic year 2010-11; and how many such starts there were in each such category in academic year 2009-10. [38197]
Mr Hayes: The following table shows the number of apprenticeship starts by level for 2008/09 and 2009/10, the latest years for which full year data are available.
| Apprenticeship programme starts by apprenticeship (Level 2), advanced apprenticeship (Level 3) and higher level apprenticeship (Level 4+), 2008/09 and 2009/10 | ||||
| Apprenticeships (Level 2) | Advanced a pprenticeships (Level 3) | Higher level apprenticeships | Total | |
| Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Source: Individualised Learner Record | ||||
Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 27 January 2011:
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding he has allocated for (a) apprenticeship places, (b) advanced apprenticeship places and (c) higher apprenticeship places in 2011-12; and what funding was allocated in each such category in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. [38196]
Mr Hayes: The Apprenticeships programme is demand led. Government do not plan apprenticeship places by level but provides funding and forecasts the overall number of places that may be afforded. We rely on employers and providers to work together to offer sufficient opportunities to meet local demand, taking advantage of the greater freedoms and flexibilities that we have created in the further education system.
In 2009-10, the planned expenditure on participation in apprenticeship training was £1,042 million(1). The apprenticeship budget for the 2010-11 financial year is £1,328 million(2): £780 million for 16-18 year olds; £548 million for 19+. We expect to spend over £1,400 million in the 2011-12 financial year: £799 million for 16-18 year olds; £605 million for those aged 19 and over(3).
The total volume of apprenticeship starts in 2009/10 was 279,700. This is an increase of 16.6% compared to 2008/09. Of these there were:
190,500 apprenticeship (Level 2) starts-a 20.2% increase on 2008/09;
87,700 advanced apprenticeship (Level 3) starts-a 7.9% increase on 2008/09.
1,500 higher level apprenticeship (Level 4+) starts-a large increase on 2008/09.
We have ensured there is sufficient funding in place to train over 350,000 apprentices in England in the 2010/11 academic year. For the 2011/12 academic year, our indicative forecast is to fund over 360,000 apprenticeship places. The levels that these places are at will be determined by the level of skills employers actually need in their business.
Provisional data shows that there were 119,800 apprenticeship starts in the first quarter of the 2010/11 academic year. Of these there were:
76,300 apprenticeship (Level 2) starts;
42,300 advanced apprenticeship (Level 3) starts; and
1,200 higher level apprenticeship (Level 4 or higher) starts.
We are committed to improving, expanding and re-shaping apprenticeships so that Level 3 becomes the level to which learners and employers should aspire. We will also ensure there are clear routes into apprenticeships to widen access to the programme, and clear routes into higher level skills training including, but not exclusively, Level 4 apprenticeships.
(1) LSC grant letter for 2009-10
(2) 16-18 figs: DCSF 16-19 Statement of Priorities and Investment Strategy 2010-11; 19+figs: SFA Funding Letter
(3) 16-18 figures: 16-19 Funding Statement, YPLA (December 2010); 19+ figures: Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth, BIS (November 2010)
Business
Karen Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much and what proportion of his Department's comprehensive spending review settlement he has allocated to the promotion of (a) enterprise and (b) enterprise education in schools and colleges; and if he will make a statement. [38123]
Mr Prisk: Since May 2010 the Government have been actively encouraging enterprise, including by doubling the amount of small business rate relief for one year, launching the New Enterprise Allowance and initiating a new programme in universities, 'Enterprising Academics'.
We are currently allocating budgets following the spending review and we will be putting in place an approach to enterprise promotion and education to ensure that our funding will be targeted in the most effective way.
Construction: Co-operatives
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials in his Department are engaged in developing mutual and co-operative models within the construction industry. [38718]
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his Department's estimate is of the proportion of construction projects which have been delivered by co-operative or mutual organisations in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010. [38933]
Mr Prisk: The data that are collected around the sector do not identify them, and we would be unable to provide an estimate.
EU Grants and Loans
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many of the bids received for the first round of the regional growth fund in each region seek to use European regional development fund monies as match-funding. [39149]
Mr Prisk: I welcome the fact that there has been enormous interest in the regional growth fund with over 450 bids for support made in round 1. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) will place summary information about these bids on the regional growth fund page of the BIS website in due course.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether any new regional offices to be established by his Department will have responsibilities for the delivery and management of funds from the European regional development fund. [39275]
Mr Prisk: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) local offices in the regions will not have responsibilities for the delivery and management of funds from the European regional development fund. These functions will continue to be managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in line with the statement by the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove (Andrew Stunell), of 3 February 2011, Official Report, columns 48-49WS. BIS officials, including those from the BIS local offices in the regions will attend the local management committees.
Fuel Oil
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the future regulation of the domestic oil market. [38067]
Charles Hendry: I have been asked to reply.
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.
Further Education: Bexley
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many residents of (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) the London borough of Bexley enrolled in a further education course in the last three years for which figures are available. [38665]
Mr Hayes: The following table shows the number of learners participating in government-funded further education in Bexleyheath and Crayford parliamentary constituency, Bexley local authority in academic years 2007/08, 2008/09 and provisional data for 2009/10.
This includes participation across all further education learning routes, including further education, apprenticeships, Train to Gain, Adult Safeguarded Learning and University for Industry funding streams.
| Further education participation by geography in 2007/08 to 2009/10( 3) | |||
| 2007/08 | 2008/09( 1) | 2009/10( 1, 2)( ,) ( 3) | |
| (1) Figures for 2008/09 onwards are not directly comparable to earlier years as the introduction of demand led funding has changed how data are collected and how funded learners are defined from 2008/09 onwards. More information on demand led funding is available at http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/datadictionary/businessdefinitions/Demand+Led+Funding.htm (2) Provisional numbers for 2009/10 (full-year estimates) are not comparable with previous years. There can be significant variation between provisional and final estimates and typically these numbers can be expected to be revised upwards. (3) Provisional. Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Geography information is based upon the home postcode of the learner. 3. Information in this table is based on all government funded learners. 4. These data include FE, apprenticeships/work based learning, Train to Gain, Adult Safeguarded Learning and University for Industry funding streams. Source: Individualised Learner Record | |||
Information on further education and skills participation and achievement is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 27 January
Near final further education and skills participation data by geography for 2009/10 are due to be published in a supplementary table on the 10 February, available from the SFR at the above link.
Green Investment Bank
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what forms of energy he expects the Green Investment Bank to fund. [38554]
Mr Prisk: We are looking to build a bank with a wide remit, which is able to respond to long-term infrastructure challenges. Decisions around the bank's focus during its early years have not yet been taken.
The bank will tackle financing issues which stem from clear market failures. This Department is currently analysing and market testing a range of energy sectors, including offshore wind, waste, biomass and nuclear. We will make a further announcement in May.
Midwives: Education
Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of applications for places on midwifery courses were unsuccessful in each of the last five years. [38163]
Mr Willetts: The information is in the following table and has been provided by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Unplaced applicants are counted as those who did not enter a midwifery course, i.e. they include individuals who were accepted onto a course in a different subject.
Unplaced applicants can also include: individuals who did not receive any offer; individuals who received an offer (conditional or unconditional) but decided not to go to University; individuals who received a conditional offer and failed to meet the specific conditions (e.g. they did not achieve certain grades); and individuals who decided to withdraw from the UCAS system.
| Applicants and unplaced applicants to full-time undergraduate midwifery courses via UCAS 2006-10 | |||||
| Status | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| n/a = not applicable | |||||
For the 2008 cycle diploma courses that had formerly been recruited through the Nursing and Midwifery Admissions Service (NMAS) were integrated into the main UCAS scheme.
For the 2010 cycle nursing courses in Scotland that have formerly been recruited through the Centralised Applications to Nursing and Midwifery Training Clearing House (CATCH) were integrated into the UCAS scheme-prior to 2010 UCAS did not hold data on applications via CATCH as they did not manage this application system until the 2010/11 entry cycle.
For courses through NMAS, midwifery courses have been identified as those with a course code between 1800 and 1899. For UCAS courses midwifery courses have been identified as any course that has 'B720' as an element of the underlying full JACS four digit codes.
Applicants have been identified at those that have made at least one choice to a midwifery course. Acceptances are only for those that were accepted to midwifery courses; applicants who applied to midwifery courses but were accepted for entry to a different subject have been excluded.
Note:
For NMAS data acceptances have been calculated using the same method used for UCAS, i.e. including accepted applicants who deferred entry.
Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects on economic growth of the vehicle scrappage scheme; and if he will make a statement. [38891]
Mr Prisk: The Department originally estimated a short term stimulus to the value of UK vehicles sales worth approximately £2.1 billion. With the extension to the scrappage scheme with an additional £100 million (announced in September 2009), the revised cumulative figure was expected to be £2.8 billion by the time the scheme ended. This did not take into account the impact on other sectors (e.g. suppliers, the second-hand car market etc.).
An early assessment of the scheme is presented in the report by the National Audit Office: "Department, for Business, Innovation and Skills-Support to business during a recession", which was published in 2010.
New Business
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what barriers to increasing the dynamism of markets he has identified; and which of these barriers he has removed since his appointment. [39213]
Mr Prisk: Enabling private-sector and industry-led growth are the priority for this Government.
To achieve this, we have already taken a number of important steps-for example:
Stemming the flow of new regulation by introducing a One in, One out rule for new regulations;
Extending the Enterprise Finance Guarantee and launching a Green Paper on business finance, to ensure that small businesses have access to the finance they need to grow;
Reducing the small companies' rate of corporation tax to 20% from April this year and committing to cut general corporation tax to 24% by 2014, one of the lowest rates in the G20.
However, there is still more to do, which is why the Growth Review is currently looking at what BIS, and the Government as a whole needs to do, to create the positive business environment required to enable businesses to start-up, invest and grow.
Nuclear Power: Research
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what financial support his Department has provided for (a) the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and (b) its associated nuclear research laboratories to date; and what assessment he has made of the value for money of such support. [38436]
Mr Willetts: The university of Sheffield and the university of Manchester have received the following grants from BIS for the establishment of the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre:
University of Sheffield: £15 million
University of Manchester: £4 million with an additional £4 million from the North West Development Agency.
The grant was made under section 5 of the Science and Technology Act 1965. The centre was established to ensure that member organisations and wider industry in the UK develop their capability and maintain their ability to compete in the global civil nuclear supply chain. The Department will be monitoring the project to ensure value for money is delivered.
Private Sector
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he has taken since his appointment (a) to establish the conditions for further development of the private sector and (b) to remove barriers to industrial development. [39297]
Mr Prisk: The Government are committed to promoting growth creating the right conditions to support a private sector-led recovery. Among the actions we have taken are:
clear direction and certainty on deficit reduction;
creating a tax regime that is the most competitive corporate tax system in the G20;
creating the Office of Tax simplification to provide the Government with independent advice on simplifying the UK tax system and improving our international competitiveness;
reforming the regulation of the financial system to make the economy more resilient to future shocks;
getting the regulatory framework right, with a groundbreaking new One-in, One-out system began;
maintaining business investment by ensuring that our legal and institutional frameworks are fair, efficient and transparent and provide the necessary certainty for firms to conduct their business with confidence;
a reduction in the small business profits rate and the waiver national insurance contributions for new businesses in most areas of the country;
tackling real and perceived barriers faced by people wanting to start and grow a business including improving access to finance;
creating high-quality transport infrastructure-over £10 billion over the spending review to provide new road schemes and to maintain existing roads; and
rolling out superfast broadband access across the country.
Further details can be found in 'The path to strong, sustainable and balanced growth' published jointly by the Secretary of State and the Chancellor in November 2010:
The paper sets out a four part commitment to private sector growth, which includes:
providing the stability business needs to plan and invest;
making markets more dynamic by removing barriers to growth wherever possible;
focusing the Government's own activities on providing the conditions for private sector growth and investment; and
ensuring that strong growth is fairly shared and sustainable in the long-term.
The paper also launched the Growth Review, a rolling programme running the life of the Parliament, under which each part of Government will be challenged on what they are doing to address the barriers facing industry, both across the economy and within specific sectors.
Regional Development Agencies: Finance
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding allocated to each regional development agency was not legally committed for the financial year 2011-12 as at 1 January 2011. [38731]
Mr Prisk: The eight regional development agencies (RDAs) outside London were given indicative funding allocations for the financial year 2011-12 in December 2010. The indicative allocations for the RDA single programme included no funding for programme activities that were not legally committed. London Development Agency has not yet been given an indicative allocation.
Regional Government
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what his policy is on the establishment of regional offices for his Department; and if he will make a statement; [39292]
(2) what the (a) function, (b) remit and (c) responsibilities will be of any new regional offices for his Department. [39293]
Mr Prisk: It is important that BIS has a policy presence outside of Whitehall so that the Department can communicate effectively with local enterprise partnerships, businesses and other organisations.
The network is still in the early stages of development, but it is expected there will be six small teams in different parts of the country. Locations have not yet been confirmed.
The teams will support BIS's overall objectives, particularly those relating to growth, jobs and rebalancing the economy.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and (b) other ministerial colleagues on (i) plans to establish regional offices for his Department and (ii) any consequent staff transfers. [39294]
Mr Prisk: The proposals for ongoing functions have been developed as part of the Government's arrangements for the closure of the Government offices for the regions (and the closure of the regional development agencies). The transfer of staff from Government offices follows the process agreed by Departments and the relevant trade unions. The transfer of staff from the regional development agencies will follow the processes required to fulfil the Government's legal obligations under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE).
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what stakeholders he (a) has consulted and (b) plans to consult on the establishment of new regional offices for his Department. [39295]
Mr Prisk: The need for a BIS presence outside Whitehall has been discussed with business organisations and local enterprise partnerships. The Department will continue to work closely with stakeholders as the BIS teams are set up.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding he expects to allocate to any new regional offices for his Department. [39296]
Mr Prisk: There are no plans to allocate funding to the BIS offices in the regions beyond that required for administrative expenses.
Student Loans Company: Complaints
Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many complaints were made against the Student Loans Company in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010. [38200]
Mr Willetts: The Student Loans Company (SLC) records all the complaints it receives and in 2009 it received 2,566 complaints. By way of context, the number of applications received for the 2009/10 academic year cycle (up to mid October 2009), the SLC had received 914,000 applications for student financial support. In the same year (calendar year 2009), the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills received 3,070 pieces of correspondence about the SLC although there is a disproportionate cost to the Department to determine how many of these are specific complaints about the Company or how many of these have also complained directly to the Company.
By 14 October 2010, the SLC had received 967,000 applications for the 2010/11 academic year cycle. In 2010, the SLC received 4,491 complaints, while SLC related correspondence received by the Department was 4,198.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan: Politics and Government
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to improve the operation of institutions in Afghanistan. [38988]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office works closely with both the Afghan Government and the international community to strengthen institutions in Afghanistan through capacity building and reform programmes. We work in such sectors as governance, justice, rule of law and human rights. We provide specific support to the Ministry of Interior, the Attorney General's Office, the Ministry of Justice's Central Prisons Directorate and the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.
Australia: Floods
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the UK has provided to (a) the Australian Government and (b) the government of Queensland to provide relief from the recent floods. [38713]
Mr Jeremy Browne: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister spoke to Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on 12 January 2011 and offered UK assistance should it be required. Despite the scale of the floods, her advice was that they did not need international support at this stage.
My right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary met their Australian counterparts in Sydney on 18 January 2011, where it was agreed that the Government would provide experts in flood recovery management and in advanced flood forecasting methods to the Queensland task force.
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Portsmouth North of 24 January 2011, Official Report, column 16W, on Australia: floods, what requests for assistance he has received from his Australian counterpart since 19 January 2011; and what assistance he has provided. [38871]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The UK has received no requests for assistance from Australia since 19 January 2011. Officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in co-ordination with Whitehall departments, continue to engage with the Australian authorities on the delivery of the assistance already agreed.
Colombia: Human Rights
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on human rights in Colombia. [36935]
Mr Jeremy Browne: I regularly exchange views with Ministers in the region about Latin American politics and the challenges and opportunities those countries face.
We regularly raise human rights concerns with the Colombian Government. I represented the UK at the inauguration of President Juan Manuel Santos in 2010 and took the opportunity of a private meeting with the President to urge more progress on human rights. The President is committed to tackling human rights with determination. We welcome this renewed commitment and are working with his Administration towards this common end.
Last month I met both the Colombian Vice Minister for Defence Ms Yaneth Giha and the Colombian Deputy Foreign Minister Ms Patti Londoño. We discussed human rights, including ways in which the UK can support efforts to improve the situation.
Departmental Marketing
Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to the public purse was of the manufacture and distribution of Department-branded drinks coasters in the last financial year for which figures are available. [37240]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no central record of having produced branded coasters except as part of consular travel safety campaigns. These campaigns help ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens abroad. Consular work is not funded by direct taxation, but by consular fees and the passport premium. In 2009-10 the cost of these coasters worldwide was £6,042 for 110,000 units (average cost of 5p per unit).
Departmental Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what regulations his Department has removed since 6 May 2010. [37375]
Alistair Burt: Regulations are a specific type of statutory instrument. These are rarely sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and no regulations have been made or revoked by the FCO since May 2010.
However, the FCO have been responsible for the revocation or proposed revocation of the following items of secondary legislation since May 2010:
Geneva Conventions Act (Colonial Territories) Order 1959 (revoked on 15 January 2011)
Geneva Conventions (Amendment) Act (Overseas Territories) Order 2002 (revoked on 15 January 2011)
The Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution (Interim Amendment) (Amendment) Order 2009 (revoked on such date as the Governor of Turks and Caicos Islands, acting in his discretion, may appoint by proclamation published in the official Gazette of Turks and Caicos Islands)
The Montserrat Constitution Order 1989 (revoked on such date as the Governor of Montserrat, acting in his discretion, may appoint by proclamation published in the official Gazette of Montserrat)
The Montserrat Constitution (Amendment) Order 2000 (revoked on such date as the Governor of Montserrat, acting in his discretion, may appoint by proclamation published in the official Gazette of Montserrat).
EC Institutions: Secondment
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2011, Official Report, column 156W, on the European External Action Service, what his estimate is of the number of staff from his Department who will be required to be seconded to all European Union institutions in order for British representation to be proportionate to the size of the UK population. [37547]
Mr Lidington: We do not currently hold exact figures for permanent staff working within all EU institutions: indicatively however, there are approximately 23,000 staff members working at the European Commission, which employs the majority of those working for the EU institutions. Of these, 6% are UK citizens. The UK represents 12% of the total EU population.
The Government do not propose to make up this gap predominantly by means of secondments from this Department. We are undertaking a broad promotion drive communicating the benefits of a career in the EU to young UK professionals, graduates and undergraduates. This is part of the cross-Whitehall Success in the EU project launched in EU Careers Month on 7 February 2011, at a Foreign and Commonwealth Office event held for graduates interested in working within the EU institutions.
Egypt: Politics and Government
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effect of instability in Egypt on UK relations with Israel. [38307]
Alistair Burt: The UK remains a firm friend of Israel. The situation in Egypt does not change that. We remain of the view that there needs to be progress on the middle east peace process. We are working closely with the US and the EU to see a return to direct negotiations.
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the effect of the current political situation in Egypt on that country's ability to curb the smuggling of weapons to Hamas. [38366]
Alistair Burt: We are gravely concerned by the ongoing political unrest in Egypt. There has also been some unrest close to the Egyptian border with Gaza.
We are aware of reports that the Egyptian army, deployed to the Sinai with Israeli agreement, has acted to close down the tunnels to Gaza. We are unable to verify these reports and at present, it is unclear whether recent events in Cairo and Alexandria have impacted on the Egyptian Army's capacity elsewhere in the country.
European Parliament: Location
Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the coalition agreement, section 13, point 7, what representations he has made at the Council of Ministers to press for the European Parliament to sit only in Brussels. [39152]
Mr Lidington: I have raised this issue in bilateral discussions with ministerial counterparts in other EU member states, with the European Commission and the European Parliament, and will continue to press for the European Parliament to have only one seat, in Brussels.
European Union
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the repatriation of powers and competences from the European Union. [38899]
Mr Lidington: As I stated in the House on 1 February 2011, the Government are committed to examining the existing balance of competences and what they mean for Britain. We will continue to look at that issue. This review needs to be undertaken before we can determine the way forward or hold discussions at ministerial level.
France: Military Alliances
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the next bilateral summit with France to discuss defence co-operation will take place. [39198]
Mr Lidington: No date has yet been set for the 2011 annual UK-France summit, which is likely to cover a wide range of issues, including defence co-operation.
Iran: Nuclear Power
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the role of multinational institutions in curbing the development of a nuclear weapons capability in Iran. [38980]
Alistair Burt: International sanctions, including those adopted by the UN and the EU, show the strength of international concerns about Iran's nuclear programme. It is clear that sanctions are having an impact. Iran is finding it increasingly difficult to acquire access to goods of proliferation concern and is also finding it hard to access international finance, restricting its ability to fund its nuclear programme.
Inspections and reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) continue to reveal the progress of Iran's nuclear programme and highlight the areas where Iran is refusing to co-operate with the IAEA or comply with its safeguards obligations. This ensures that IAEA concerns over possible military dimensions to the Iranian programme are available for all to see.
Kosovo: War Crimes
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department received reports of incidences of organ trafficking during British involvement in Kosovo. [39078]
Mr Lidington: The Government are aware of public allegations of organ trafficking in Kosovo, including those in the book written by Carla del Ponte, former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), and those in the Council of Europe report written by Senator Dick Marty. I welcome the opening of preliminary investigations by the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) into these allegations and call on all relevant organisations and individuals to respond without delay to any EULEX request for evidence.
UK reporting during the requested period is not held centrally. Officials have been checking historical files and continue to do so. Nothing we have seen to date suggests that the Government of the day were aware of these allegations.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department offered assistance to the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo on issues relating to (a) war crimes and (b) organ trafficking in the last five years. [39079]
Mr Lidington: The UK fully supports the work of the European Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), including its investigations into war crimes and organ trafficking. Our assistance is provided through our contribution to EU funding of the mission and by British secondments, including the deputy head of Mission, prosecutors and judges.
Tibet: Human Rights
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect on the human rights situation in Tibet of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue since its inception. [38314]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Government continue to monitor the situation in Tibet carefully and use the dialogue to raise their concerns. The dialogue is one part of the Government's wider, comprehensive strategy of engagement with China on human rights issues, which includes our support for project work on the ground in China and ministerial engagement with the Chinese Government at the highest political levels.
UK Membership of EU
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to his Department was of the UK's membership of the Council of Europe in each year for which figures are available; and what proportion of such expenditure related to the (a) European Court of Human Rights and (b) Parliamentary Assembly for the Council of Europe. [38901]
Mr Lidington: The available figures from 2005-10 are shown in the following table.
| € | |||
| Total FCO/UK contribution to the Council of Europe general budget | Allocation to parliamentary assembly | Allocation to Court | |
Treasury
Government Debt
19. David Rutley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the level of Government debt. [38636]
Justine Greening: The latest public sector finance release shows that public sector net debt (PSND) as at 31 December 2010 was £889.1 billion.
Manufacturing Growth
20. Julian Sturdy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the prospects for growth of the manufacturing sector. [38637]
Mr Gauke: The independent Office for Budget Responsibility is responsible for the official economic and fiscal forecast. Returning the UK to sustainable economic growth is the Government's overriding priority and will form the basis of the Government's agenda for the rest of the Parliament. This includes a strongly performing manufacturing sector, helping to support growth and investment.
The CIPs Purchasing Managers' index survey for January showed the manufacturing index at a record high. This was accompanied by a rapid increase in manufacturing output and the fastest growth in new orders in the survey's history.
Gold and Foreign Currency Reserves
21. Mr Spencer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the level of gold and foreign currency reserves. [38638]
Justine Greening: The UK's official holdings of reserves are released on a monthly basis by HM Treasury. As of the end of January 2011 the UK's gross reserves stood at $82.04 billion (£51.23 billion).
25. Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the level of gold and foreign currency reserves. [38642]
Justine Greening: The UK's official holdings of reserves are released on a monthly basis by HM Treasury. As of the end of January 2011 the UK's gross reserves stood at $82.04 billion (£51.23 billion).
Private Sector Growth
22. Annette Brooke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to stimulate growth in the private sector. [38639]
Justine Greening: Last year's Budget and spending review set out a credible plan to tackle the deficit and ensure macroeconomic and financial stability. A programme of cutting corporation tax from 28 to 24% over the next four years will provide the certainty and stability that businesses need to invest in the UK. And the Growth Review, reporting at Budget, will aim to create the right conditions for businesses to succeed, removing barriers that prevent them from performing to their full potential.
Comprehensive Spending Review
23. Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review on levels of demand and output in the economy in the next four years. [38640]
Danny Alexander: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for producing independent economic and fiscal forecasts. The OBR's assessment of the effects of the comprehensive spending review on the economy was included in its November forecast. The forecast was for a sustained recovery in economic output.
Other independent forecasters agree with the OBR's assessment for continued economic growth over the next four years.
The Government are committed to providing the conditions for sustainable, private sector led economic growth.
Bankers' Bonuses
24. Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent progress he has made on limiting employee bonuses paid by large banks. [38641]
Mr Hoban: The Government have taken robust action to tackle unacceptable bank bonuses. The FSA Remuneration Code has been revised and now includes the world's toughest rules on deferral of pay and performance alignment and includes an explicit cap on the amount of cash payable upfront as part of a bonus. In addition, the new FSA disclosure rules will improve transparency of pay and facilitate better oversight. These new rules came into force on 1 January 2011 and will cover all payments and awards in the coming bonus round.
Banks: Regulation
Ed Balls: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish the agenda of each meeting that has taken place under Project Merlin; [39209]
(2) how many meetings between (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department and representatives of the banking sector as part of negotiations on Project Merlin have taken place; and at what location each such meeting was held; [39210]
(3) what the terms of reference are for his Department's discussions with representatives of the banking sector under Project Merlin; [39211]
(4) which (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have represented the Government during Project Merlin discussions with representatives of the banking sector. [39212]
Mr Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. It is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
The Government are seeking a new settlement with the banks. Any announcements will be made in due course.
Debts: Developing Countries
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to assess the effectiveness of the operation of the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010; and if he will make a statement. [39291]
Justine Greening: The Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill received Royal Assent on 8 April 2010 and the Act came into force on 8 June 2010. The legislation means that UK Courts of Law can no longer be used to pursue excessive claims against some of the poorest countries on their historic debts, ensuring that resources are available to tackle poverty. The sunset clause attached to this legislation means that the law will expire on 7 June 2011. The Government are reviewing whether or not to extend the Act.
Departmental Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what regulations his Department has removed since 6 May 2010. [37376]
Justine Greening: In the last six months my Department has revoked the following statutory instruments:
The International Monetary Fund (Limit on Lending) Order 2009 (S.I. No. 2009/1830)
The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Contribution to Costs of Special Resolution Regime) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 2009/807)
The Iran (European Community Financial Sanctions) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1374)
The Iran (European Community Financial Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2613).
The Terrorist Asset-Freezing etc. Act 2010 has revoked:
Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Order 2001 (S.I. 2001/3365)
Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Order 2001 (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1297)
Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Order 2001 (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1525)
Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2657)
Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1747)
Financial Restrictions Proceedings (UN Terrorism Orders) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1911).
Financial Inclusion Fund
Dr Huppert: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to extending the Financial Inclusion Fund debt advice service beyond the end of March 2011. [38358]
Mr Hoban: The Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF) has always been due to close in March 2011. However, the Government have not yet taken a decision on the future of the projects currently funded from the FIF, including the face-to-face debt advice service.
The Government remain committed to helping poorer households to access appropriate financial services, to improve their financial resilience and to avoid falling into unsustainable levels of debt.
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to support debt advice service providers to ensure that debt counselling is available following the closure of the Financial Inclusion Fund at the end of March 2011. [38359]
Mr Hoban: The Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF) has always been due to close in March 2011. However, the Government have not yet taken a decision on the future of the projects currently funded from the FIF, including the face-to-face debt advice service.
The Government remain committed to helping poorer households to access appropriate financial services, to improve their financial resilience and to avoid falling into unsustainable levels of debt.
Financial Services Authority: Qualifications
Karl McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements the Financial Services Authority has made to ensure that its staff formulating and implementing policy on the Retail Distribution Review have appropriate levels of qualification. [39300]
Mr Hoban: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is an independent body and, as such, determines the appropriate qualification levels for its staff.
Fuels: Prices
Naomi Long: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the Northern Ireland Assembly on the effects of fuel price increases on growth of the Northern Ireland economy. [38272]
Danny Alexander: The Chancellor routinely receives a range of representations from stakeholders such as the devolved Administrations and the general public on current and future rates of excise duty as well as other issues such as road fuel prices.
Immigration Controls
Dr Huppert: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence his Department provided to the Migration Advisory Committee on the likely economic effects of the immigration cap. [38432]
Danny Alexander [holding answer 4 February 2011]: The Treasury responded to the Migration Advisory Committee's consultation on the level of an annual limit on economic migration to the UK, through Tiers 1 and 2 of the points based system. The Treasury provided an analytical paper focused on three areas:
migration and GDP growth;
the public finance effects; and
the potential impact on trade policy.
Income Tax: Scotland
John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the change in the number of people paying income tax at 40% in (a) Glasgow North West constituency, (b) Glasgow City area and (c) Scotland from April 2011. [39206]
Mr Gauke: The number of taxpayers paying income tax at the 40% rate in 2011-12 in Scotland is projected to be 281,000, an increase of 47,000 compared with the published projection for 2010-11 (available on the HMRC website at the following address):
These estimates are based on 2007-08 Survey of personal incomes projected to 2010-11 and 2011-12 in line with the Office of Budget Responsibility's November 2010 economic and fiscal outlook.
The information requested is not available at city or parliamentary constituency level due to small survey sample sizes at these levels of geography, and because the information is based on the 2007-08 survey data which would not be reliable for this purpose.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to respond to the letters from the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire of (a) 26 July 2010, (b) 7 September 2010, (c) 27 October 2010, (d) 25 November 2010 and (e) 12 January 2011 on UK Air Traffic Control. [39146]
Justine Greening: I regret that the reply was late on this occasion. I confirm that the Commercial Secretary has now replied.
Mutual Societies
Jenny Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to encourage mutualisation in banks and building societies. [38308]
Mr Hoban: As set out in the coalition agreement, the Government are committed to promoting mutuals to foster diversity and competition within financial services. Building societies are already mutual. It is a commercial decision for the shareholders of banks whether to transfer to a mutual ownership model.
PFI: Worcestershire
Mr Robin Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what projects are being undertaken in (a) Worcester and (b) Worcestershire under the private finance initiative; and what the cost to the public purse of financing each such project was in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available. [38995]
Danny Alexander: A list of signed and in procurement PFI projects can be found on HM Treasury's website at:
For each PFI project, this list details the project name, the capital value, the constituency, the procuring authority and whether it is on or off balance sheet, as used by the ONS in calculating public sector net debt.
These data are currently being updated and revised data will be published at Budget 2011.
The following table details the five projects which have reached financial close in Worcester and Worcestershire:
| £ million | |||||
| Department | Commissioning body | Project name | Estimated capital value | Estimated unitary charge payment 2009-10 | Estimated unitary charge payment 2010-11 |
| (1) Project not yet operational. | |||||
Public Expenditure
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to which projects with a monetary value between £500 million and £600 million he has allocated funding since his appointment [37007]
Danny Alexander [holding answer 31 January 2011]: Budget allocations for the years 2011-12 to 2014-15 were set out in the 2010 spending review.
A small number of projects were announced and the detail of these can be found in the spending review document. However, Departments retain the flexibility to fund projects, subject to the usual value for money tests, in accordance with their funding allocations and will hold information on individual projects; more information will therefore be available through visiting departmental websites or through contacting Departments directly.
In addition, the Government have set out the need for greater transparency across their operations to enable the public to hold public bodies and politicians to account. This includes commitments relating to public expenditure, intended to help achieve better value for money. As part of the transparency agenda, the Government have made the following initial commitments with regard to public expenditure:
Have made more public spending data more accessible through the online publication of the COINS database.
All new items of central Government spending over £25,000 to be published online from November 2010.
All new central Government ICT contracts over the value of £10,000 to be published in full online from July 2010.
All new central Government tender documents for contracts over £10,000 to be published on a single website from September 2010, with this information to be made available to the public free of charge.
All new central Government contracts to be published in full from January 2011.
Public Finance
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the size of the budget deficit. [39229]
Danny Alexander: The latest outturn figure for the public sector net borrowing (PSNB) is 11.1% of GDP, or £156.5 billion in 2009-10. Outturn figures for PSNB can be found in the public finances databank on the Treasury website at:
In their 'Economic and Fiscal forecast', published on 29th November, the independent Office for Budget Responsibility forecast public sector net borrowing to 2015-16. This is available at:
Tax Collection
Sajid Javid: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is considering to simplify the tax collection system. [38548]
Mr Gauke: The Government aims to restore the UK tax system's reputation for predictability, stability and simplicity. To help achieve this, the independent Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) was established on 20 July to provide independent advice to the Chancellor on simplifying the UK tax system.
The Government will consider the recommendations made by the OTS when the final report is published.
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