Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 10 February 2011
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Common Land
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 14 December 2010, Official Report, column 704W, on common land, if she will assess the effects on the voluntary dedication of town or village greens of provisions in administrative law that prevent administrations acting in a way which is motivated by the desire to bind its successors; and if she will assess the merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to enable local authorities to designate town or village greens. [35074]
Richard Benyon: In our view, a local authority may apply under section 15(8) of the Commons Act 2006 to voluntarily register land in its ownership as a town or village green, but may not register land which it manages but does not own. In our view, registration under section 15(8) would be a disposal of land for the purposes of section 123 or 127 (as the case may be) of the Local Government Act 1972, and the authority must comply with the requirements of those provisions. We expect that most local authority proposals for voluntary registration are likely to fall within the terms of the General Disposal Consent 2003, set out in ODPM circular 6/03. However, an authority will also need to comply with the special requirements of section 123(2A) or 127(3), as regards the disposal of open space.
We will publish in due course updated guidance on voluntary applications for registration of land under section 15(8) of the Commons Act 2006, which takes account of these requirements.
Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to announce the outcomes of her Department's consultation on the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. [37855]
Mr Paice: We have been working closely with the Home Office on this issue. On 7 February they launched a consultation on a new antisocial behaviour framework in which dogs are included. This can be found on the Home Office website at:
A further announcement will be made by DEFRA shortly concerning other matters raised in our consultation.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the (a) sustainability and (b) contribution to net decreases in carbon and greenhouse gas emissions of (i) cellulosic ethanol, (ii) biofuels from algae and (iii) biofuels from wood chip; [34426]
(2) how much funding her Department allocated to research into biofuels from (a) woodchip and (b) algae in the last five years; and how much such funding she plans to allocate in each of the next four financial years; [34428]
(3) how much funding her Department has allocated to research into cellulosic ethanol in the last five years; and how much such funding she plans to allocate in each of the next four financial years. [34429]
Norman Baker: I have been asked to reply.
The renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) requires biofuel suppliers to report to the Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) both the greenhouse gas emissions consequences of, and the sustainability of, the biofuels they supply. None of the UK biofuel reported under the RTFO in the year 2008-09 came from cellulosic ethanol, algae or woodchip. Information for the year 2009-10 is due to be published shortly.
The Department for Transport has granted approximately £6 million to the Carbon Trust over the last two years to support their advanced bioenergy research accelerator which focuses on research into biofuels from microalgae and pyrolysis. A recent assessment by the Carbon Trust calculated the potential greenhouse gas savings of microalgae biofuel compared to diesel as 78% using the RTFO methodology.
£27 million of wider Government funding has also been committed to the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Centre. The centre runs a number of programmes, including one specifically on cellulosic ethanol.
Decisions on future funding will be taken in due course but Department for Transport have no plans for direct sponsorship of any further research into these areas at this stage.
Home Department
Animal Experiments
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2011, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA2, on animal experimentation, which minimum requirements of the new EU Directive 2010/63/EU on animal experimentation are lower than current UK requirements; in what ways such requirements are lower than current UK requirements; and if she will make a statement. [38791]
Lynne Featherstone:
Many of the provisions of Directive 210/63/EU are similar to current United Kingdom requirements; some are new and go further; and a few are potentially less stringent. For example, unlike the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, the directive does not provide special protection for cats, dogs and equids. In addition, some of the mandatory standards of care and accommodation set out in Annex III to the directive are lower such as cage height for rats, hamsters and gerbils; minimum floor areas for sheep, goats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, pigs, mini-pigs and equids. The directive also excludes from protection foetal forms of birds and reptiles and protects foetal forms of mammals from the last third of gestation rather than the halfway
point. The required membership and functions of the proposed animal welfare bodies in establishments are also less extensive in the directive than the current requirement for local ethical processes in the United Kingdom. This is not a full and final list of differences and further details will be included in the impact assessment currently in preparation which will be published in due course.
Data Sharing: Companies
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress her Department has made in encouraging data-sharing between companies engaged in animal testing. [39214]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 9 February 2011]: The Government support the work of the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) which promotes the replacement, reduction and refinement of animals (the 3Rs) in research and testing. Over the last six years, the NC3Rs has developed a model that enables pharmaceutical and chemical companies and contract research organisations that engage in animal testing to share data and expertise. An example of the success of this approach is the removal from the international regulatory guidelines of single dose acute toxicity testing for pharmaceuticals. In 2010, the NC3Rs has continued to facilitate this cooperation by co-ordinating data sharing between 23 companies in a wide range of areas related to the development of new medicines. Further information on these activities is published on the NC3Rs website.
Entry Clearances: Overseas Students
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effect of proposed reforms to the immigration system on the number of non-EU students applying to (a) all UK universities and (b) universities in (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland. [39369]
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effects of her proposed restrictions on the number of student visas on levels of income of universities with courses attracting overseas students in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the next four years. [39550]
Damian Green: A consultation on the student immigration system closed on 31 January 2011. The consultation sought the views of all respondents on the effect of the proposals. The results of the consultation and an impact assessment will be published in due course.
Immigration
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration legacy cases were (a) lodged and (b) dealt with in each of the last 24 months; and what the outcome of each was. [37738]
Damian Green
[holding answer 3 February 2011]: Cases dealt with under the "legacy" programme are asylum cases that were lodged with the agency on or
prior to 5 March 2007 therefore no new legacy cases were lodged in the last 24 months. In response to part (b) of the question, the agency provides regular updates on performance, including a breakdown into grants, removals and "other" cases such as duplicates or errors, to the Home Affairs Select Committee and is due to report in the spring.
On 1 November the agency reported to the Home Affairs Select Committee that it had concluded 334,500 cases.
Members: Correspondence
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Scotland and (b) Universities Scotland on the likely effect of her proposed reform of the immigration system on the number of non-EU students at universities in Scotland. [39370]
Damian Green: The proposals in the consultation on reform of the student visa system were agreed by the Government as a whole. Officials at the UK Border Agency arranged a series of events with key corporate partners throughout the consultation period and Universities Scotland participated in these discussions.
Migrant Workers
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visas under Tier 5 (religious workers) of the points-based visa scheme have been granted to applicants in each of the last three years. [39746]
Damian Green: Tier 5 of the points-based system (PBS) was introduced on 27 November 2008 to cover entry clearance visas for temporary workers and youth mobility. The following table shows the number of entry clearance visas issued under the Tier 5 (religious workers) category from 2008 to Quarter 3 2010.
Figures on entry clearance visas issued by category are published quarterly in table 1.1 of Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary available from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
Data for Quarter 4 2010 will be published on 24 February 2011 in Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary Q4 2010.
| Entry clearance visas( 1) to the United Kingdom issued under PBS Tier 5-Religious, 2008 to Q3 2010( 3) | |
| Visas issued | |
| (1) Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 ('-' = 0, * = 1 or 2). (2) Tier 5 of the points-based system (PBS) was introduced on 27 November 2008. (3) Management information. | |
Women and Equalities
Carbon Offsetting
Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how much the Government Equalities Office spent on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years; and to which companies payments for carbon offsetting were made in each such year. [40283]
Lynne Featherstone: Since its creation on 12 October 2007, the Government Equalities Office has not spent any money on carbon offsetting.
International Women's Day
Simon Kirby: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what plans she has to mark International Women's Day; and if she will make a statement. [36883]
Lynne Featherstone: This is a commemorative year for International Women's Day (IWD) as it marks the 100(th) anniversary. We remain committed to celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. A range of Departments including the Government Equalities Office and the Home Office are finalising plans to observe this centenary year. My Department is mapping the activity planned across Government including the devolved Administrations to mark IWD 2011.
Leader of the House
Prayers
Mr Winnick: To ask the Leader of the House if he will discuss with the Procedure Committee the holding of daily prayers at a location other than in the Chamber of the House. [39520]
Sir George Young: I have no plans to do so.
Attorney-General
Prosecutions
Mr Love: To ask the Attorney-General what powers he has to direct the Director of Public Prosecutions on individual cases under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1879. [38977]
The Solicitor-General: The Law Officers have no power to direct the DPP on individual cases under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1879 as it has been repealed.
Details of the current working relationship between the Attorney-General and the DPP can be found in the "Protocol between the Attorney General and the Prosecuting Departments", which was published in 2009. The Protocol can be found at the following website address:
http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.uk/Publications/Documents/Protocol%20between%20the%20Attorney%20General%20and %20the%20Prosecuting %20Departments.pdf
Public Expenditure
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Attorney-General whether he has made an assessment of the compliance of the outcomes of the comprehensive spending review with the provisions set out in (a) equalities legislation and (b) the Human Rights Act 1998 in respect of each Government Department; and if he will make a statement. [39523]
The Solicitor-General: The compliance of the outcomes of comprehensive spending reviews with equalities legislation and the Human Rights Act 1998 is a matter for the individual Government Departments concerned. There is a convention, reinforced by the ministerial code, not to disclose whether a Department has sought Law Officers' advice.
Culture, Media and Sport
Obesity: Children
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussion he has had with Ministers in the Department of (a) Health and (b) Education on the effects of activity levels on obesity in children. [39005]
Hugh Robertson: I have regular discussions with colleagues at the Department's of Health and Education on a range of issues.
This Department is currently working with the Department for Education developing the "School Games". The games will give every school (including mainstream and special) and every pupil the opportunity to get involved, by harnessing the power of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to inspire a generation of young people to participate in competitive sport. The main policy aim is to drive a long-term Olympic legacy of more children doing competitive sport which we believe will help tackle childhood obesity.
VisitEngland
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) whether VisitEngland has delivered to his Department a rural tourism action plan; [38997]
(2) whether VisitEngland has provided to his Department its review on seaside reports for the purposes of developing a seaside resort action plan; [38998]
(3) whether VisitEngland has provided to his Department a national research and intelligence programme for the purposes of understanding the performance of the industry. [39000]
John Penrose:
The Tourism Action Plans being developed by VisitEngland (VE) are on schedule and will be published as soon as the Department's planned Tourism Strategy has been officially launched. The first tranche of 11 VE plans includes the Rural Tourism Action Plan and the Coastal Resorts Action Plan. Both of these drafts will be submitted to public consultation from 11 February for five weeks. The Action Plans are being
produced by VE for the tourism industry and will involve their participation, both through the public and private sectors.
VE has not provided the Department with a separate review of seaside reports but various publications have been fully considered, including the 2010 Report by Sheffield Hallam university.
A National Research and Intelligence Programme is currently being developed along with the Action Plans and will follow their timetable.
VE does however provide bespoke intelligence reports (all of which are published on the VE website). It also participates in the English Tourism Intelligence Partnership (ETIP), and stakeholders recently attended a major conference in London to define priorities and check progress of the ETIP Programme.
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he expects VisitEngland to publish its English national marketing strategy for domestic and international markets. [39002]
John Penrose: VisitEngland's National Marketing Strategy will be published once this Department's Tourism Strategy is published shortly.
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether VisitEngland has provided its plan for major events including the diamond jubilee. [39001]
John Penrose: VisitEngland's Major Events Plan is linked to the National Marketing Plan and is on schedule. It will be published once this Department's Tourism Plan has been published. The plan will be aimed at maximising the opportunities offered through the diamond jubilee, Torch Relay, the 2012 Olympic games and Paralympic games and other major events taking place in England.
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much VisitEngland spent on internal industry marketing material in 2010. [39003]
John Penrose: Nothing, because VisitEngland does not promote itself to the industry. Its promotional activities are consumer-facing as part of its marketing activity.
Scotland
Universities
Tom Greatrex:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with
Universities Scotland on the likely effect of proposed reforms to the immigration system on the number of non-EU students in universities in Scotland. [39368]
David Mundell: The Secretary of State has had a number of discussions with Universities Scotland, most recently on 31 January, on the proposals contained in the Government's recent consultation paper on student immigration.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what logistical planning his Department is undertaking for the withdrawal of (a) British personnel and (b) military equipment from Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [38843]
Dr Fox: The Ministry of Defence is necessarily focused on how best we can achieve the transfer of security to the Afghan National Security Forces by the end of 2014. As part of this work we are considering the scope and shape of the UK's enduring relationship with Afghanistan and what the likely role and composition of forces should be beyond 2015, including the logistical implications. This advice will be presented to the National Security Council in due course.
Air Force: Military Bases
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which RAF bases have listed buildings and scheduled monuments within their grounds. [39226]
Mr Robathan: The following RAF bases have listed buildings and/or scheduled monuments within their grounds: RAF Benson, RAF Bentley Priory, RAF Brampton, RAF Cosford, RAF Cranwell, RAF Halton, RAF Henlow, RAF High Wycombe, RAF Honington, RAF Leuchars, RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Lyneham, RAF Neatishead, RAF Northolt, RAF Scampton, RAF Spadeadam and RAF Valley.
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which RAF bases in the UK are on (a) owned land, (b) leased land and (c) land with legal rights; and what the annual land cost is in each case. [39227]
Mr Robathan: The status of RAF bases in the UK for owned land, leased land or land with legal rights and annual land costs, are shown in the following table:
| Type of land holding | Annual land cost (£ per annum) | |
Defence: Procurement
Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on future involvement in multinational defence equipment acquisition; and if he will make a statement. [39715]
Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence's policy remains as set out in the strategic defence and security review. In working with other countries, we will generally favour bilateral equipment collaboration or off the shelf purchases because these are potentially more straightforward than multilateral arrangements.
Departmental Information Officers
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) press officers, (b) internal communications officers, (c) external communications officers, (d) communications strategy officers and (e) other positions with a communications remit were employed by (i) his Department, (ii) its agencies and (iii) each other non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department on the most recent date for which figures are available. [38958]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 9 February 2011]: Communication of defence is important to support the reputation of the armed forces, understanding of military operations and other activities and to support recruitment. These figures include both military and civilian posts throughout Defence, including armed forces' commands and operational theatres. Savings have been made across the communications area during the course of the current financial year and further substantial reductions are planned. The latest figures for the numbers involved in specialist communications roles are for financial year 2009-10 and were produced in support of a Cabinet Office led exercise to capture such information across Government. They are as follows:
| MOD/armed forces | Trading funds | Non-departmental public bodies | |
Departmental Security
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which persons not employed by Government departments or agencies hold passes entitling them to enter his Department's premises. [39270]
Mr Robathan: Passes may be issued to those who are required to make frequent visits to specific Government sites, subject to the usual security checks. For security reasons it would not be appropriate to provide details of individuals who hold such passes.
Nimrod Aircraft
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the state of airworthiness was of each dismantled Nimrod MRA4 aircraft prior to its dismantling; and what faults impacting upon airworthiness were found during the last refit of each such aircraft. [38920]
Nick Harvey: At the time of the decision not to bring the Nimrod MRA4 into service, none of the nine aircraft was airworthy.
During the development of the aircraft, a number of design issues had been identified and were being addressed by BAE Systems. The identification in September 2010 of a potential safety issue associated with an uninsulated
section of a hot air pipe, caused two of the aircraft (PA04 and PA05) to be grounded. None of the aircraft would have flown until this issue had been resolved.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeship places for people aged (a) 16 to 18 years and (b) 18 to 24 years he has allocated funding for in the academic year 2011-12. [39037]
Mr Hayes: Apprenticeships are funded by both the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (19+) and the Department for Education (16-18). The Government are strongly committed to investment in apprenticeships for people of all ages. We are determined to take real action to improve and expand the apprenticeships programme and create more apprenticeship opportunities than ever before.
Funding for apprenticeships will increase to over £1,400 million in the 2011-12 financial year: £799 million for 16 to 18-year-olds; £605 million for those aged 19 and over(1). For 16 to 18-year-olds, the YPLA document "16 to 19 Funding Statement" (December 2010) states that funding will be sufficient to have 133,500 apprentice starts in the 2011/12 academic year. For adults (19 years and over), our indicative forecast is for 227,100 starts in 2011/12(2). This means we are committed to have funding in place to train over 360,000 apprentices (at all ages) in the 2011/12 academic year.
Funding for adult apprenticeships (19+) is not further differentiated by age and there are no specific allocations for the 18-24 age group.
(1) 16-18 figures: 16-19 Funding Statement, YPLA (December 2010); 19+ figures: Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth, BIS (November 2010).
Business: Government Assistance
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in (a) Newcastle and (b) England received funding under the Grant for Business Investment scheme in each of the last five years. [39780]
Mr Prisk: Grant for Business Investment (GBI) was introduced in October 2008. The following table thus includes data for the Selective Finance for Investment in England scheme, its predecessor. For 'Newcastle' we have used the Newcastle local authority area. The table shows the number of offers made to businesses in Newcastle and the number of offers accepted in England over the last five financial years.
| Financial year | Awards in Newcastle | Awards in England |
Departmental Location
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for local offices of his Department in each region; where he expects each to be located; and if he will make a statement. [39321]
Mr Prisk: It is important that BIS has a policy presence outside of Whitehall so we 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, although locations have not yet been confirmed.
The teams will support BIS's overall objectives, particularly those relating to growth, jobs and rebalancing the economy.
This response replicates the response to PQ2010/3769 which asked a similar question.
Green Investment Bank
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2011, Official Report, column 620W, on the Green Investment Bank, when he expects the Government to announce decisions on the asset sales which will provide proceeds for the Green Investment Bank. [39330]
Mr Prisk: The Government are pushing forward their asset sale programme and expect to be able to launch new sales across a number of assets over the coming months, with proceeds expected towards the end of 2011. This should therefore fit with the timetable for the Green Investment Bank to be making its first investments during 2012. The £1 billion DEL funding allocation is for investments to be made in 2013/14.
To give information on expected proceeds from individual sales would prejudice the Government's commercial position in ongoing and future sale processes. However, at an aggregate level, the Government are confident that asset sales they are considering will be sufficient to provide significant additional funding above the £1 billion allocated from departmental budgets. They will make further announcements on this funding stream in due course.
Sheffield Forgemasters: Loans
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether any concerns were raised with him by (a) his officials and (b) other individuals and organisations in respect of the likely effects on the supply chain of his decision to withdraw the loan to Sheffield Forgemasters (i) before and (ii) after the loan was withdrawn. [38471]
Mr Prisk: Both before and after the Government's decision not to proceed with the loan to Sheffield Forgemasters, the Department received a small number representations from MPs, organisations and members of the public expressing concern about the Government's decision. Some, but not all, of these referred to the nuclear supply chain.
Tobacco: Sales
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the potential effects on businesses of removing tobacco point-of-sale displays from retail outlets. [36662]
Mr Prisk: Powers to prohibit the permanent display of tobacco products in retail outlets are contained in the Health Act 2009 and the Department of Health (DH) is the lead Government Department. DH are responsible for assessing the impact of the net cost to business. BIS is in discussions on the impact of DH's proposals subject to the independent scrutiny by the Regulatory Policy Committee and then consideration by the Reducing Regulation Committee.
UK Trade and Investment
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for what reason UK Trade and Investment did not include Israel in its promotional material about the forthcoming middle east trade initiative; what recent representations he has received on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [39736]
Mr Prisk: The first tranche of leaflets to market the Partner ME 2011 event listed those countries for which we had confirmed participation at the time of printing. We have since had confirmation that Israel will be represented and web marketing material has been updated. Israel's participation is now included on all marketing material for this event.
Education
Children's Centres: Finance
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent discussions his Department has had with Hammersmith and Fulham Council on funding for children's centres. [33290]
Sarah Teather: There is enough money in the recently announced early intervention grant (EIG) to maintain the existing network of Sure Start children's centres, accessible to all but identifying and supporting families in greatest need.
I am not aware of any direct communication between the Department for Education and Hammersmith and Fulham local authority on funding for children's centres. Our agents, Together for Children (TFC) report they have had routine discussions about the way in which Hammersmith and Fulham deliver its children's centre programme.
Children's Centres: Stoke on Trent
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding his Department has allocated to children's centres in Stoke-on-Trent in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11. [22834]
Sarah Teather [holding answer 9 November 2010]: In the years 2009-10 and 2010-11 the Department allocated revenue and capital funding for children's centres to Stoke-on-Trent as follows:
| £ | |||
| Financial year | Children's centres and ex-Sure Start local programme revenue | Sure Start children's centres capital | Total |
These funding strands are paid as part of the wider Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare Grant. Children's centre allocations are not individually ring-fenced within the grant and are therefore notional. Local authorities have the freedom to spend flexibly to best meet local objectives.
College of Social Work
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department has reached an agreement with UNISON on membership of the College of Social Work. [35708]
Tim Loughton: Government are supporting the establishment of a college of social work in line with the recommendations of the Social Work Task Force for an organisation to articulate and promote the interests of good social work. It will give the profession strong, independent leadership; a clear voice in public debate, policy development and policy delivery; and strong ownership of professional social work standards. The Department does not seek to influence any partnership agreements the college might establish once it emerges from the current development stage and has not entered into any agreements on membership with Unison or any other organisation.
College of Social Work: Social Care Institute for Excellence
Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the Social Care Institute for Excellence will have a role in the running of the College of Social Work. [36269]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 26 January 2011]: The Social Care Institute for Excellence has been asked to facilitate the establishment of the College of Social Work, providing administrative support and expertise in a developmental phase of two years. Neither Government nor SCIE seek to influence the form or function of the emerging college. SCIE will have no role in the governance of the college that emerges.
Departmental Temporary Employment
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many staff in his Department are employed on fixed-term contracts; and what the job title of each is. [34841]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 10 January 2011]: The number of staff in the Department employed on fixed-term contracts and their titles (by grade) is set out in the following table:
| Grade band | Total |
| (1) Less than five | |
Disability: Children
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the future status of ring-fenced funding provided to local authorities to support children with disabilities; and if he will make a statement. [27256]
Sarah Teather [holding answer 29 November 2010]: Funding for disabled children will be delivered to local authorities through the Early Intervention Grant. The Early Intervention Grant (EIG) is a new funding stream created for local authorities to invest in early intervention for the most vulnerable children, young people and families, bringing together funding for a number of early intervention and preventative services, including those which relate to disabled children.
We have announced that we will provide over £800 million through EIG to support short breaks for disabled children over the spending review period.
This figure represents a small increase in the levels of funding which were provided to local councils for this activity in 2010-11, and includes the previously announced funding to be provided from Child Trust Fund money.
There will be no ring-fenced funding for local councils to support children with disabilities in this coming spending review period. The Government previously committed to reducing the ring fences around central Government funding to allow local areas more autonomy and flexibility to prioritise services locally.
Pre-school Education: Disadvantaged
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to ensure the provision of 15 hours of free nursery education for disadvantaged children aged two years. [35532]
Sarah Teather:
Through the Education Bill we will seek to amend Section 7 of the Childcare Act (2006), so that through regulations we can introduce a statutory entitlement to 15 hours of free early education a week for disadvantaged two-year-olds. Funding of £64 million/£223 million is being provided to allow local authorities
to offer free places to disadvantaged two-year-olds over the next two years. This will enable authorities to build towards the statutory entitlement which we plan to introduce in 2013. Funding will rise to £380 million a year by 2014-15.
Communities and Local Government
Departmental Security
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which persons not employed by Government Departments or agencies hold passes entitling them to enter his Department's premises. [39272]
Robert Neill: Passes may be issued to those who are required to make frequent visits to specific Government sites, subject to the usual security checks. For security reasons it would not be appropriate to provide details of individuals who hold such passes.
EU Grants and Loans: North East
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2010, Official Report, column 382W, on EU grants and loans: North East, what the monetary value is of the funding to the North East England 2007-13 European Regional Development Competitiveness Programme that remains uncommitted. [39090]
Robert Neill: The North East has an ERDF allocation of €375.7 million. €236.6 million has been committed, leaving €139.1 million uncommitted as at 6 February 2011.
European Regional Development Fund
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who will chair the European Regional Development Fund programme monitoring committees in each region from March 2011. [39148]
Robert Neill: We are committed to giving localities and communities greater control and greater influence over the programmes and services delivered in their areas. To help achieve this, I have decided that we should restructure existing Programme Monitoring Committees as Local Management Committees which can ensure that, within the parameters already agreed with the EU, local people and businesses can influence the shape of the programme. These committees give strategic direction to the operational programmes and ensure that they are delivered compliantly and that outputs are delivered. I will be looking to ensure that the local representatives from across the public, private, voluntary and community and local authority sectors are represented on the Local Management Committees.
I am committed to ensuring my Department plays a key role in ensuring that the delivery of ERDF remains compliant with EU regulations. To deliver that, I have decided that a DCLG director will chair the Local Management Committees. But to underline our commitment to localism, I have also decided that a significant figure from the local community should be appointed as a deputy chair of the Local Management
Committee, to ensure that the ERDF programmes are overseen and shaped by local people. We will work with local communities to determine who should occupy this role.
We will be working closely with the existing membership of the Programme Monitoring Committees and other local representatives to determine the practical details of the changes I want to make. That will include the role of the Local Management Committees, how the deputy chair and membership will be selected and what underpinning arrangements they will need.
Housing: Armed Forces
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what representations he has received from local housing authorities on the likely effects of returning personnel from overseas military bases as a result of changes announced in the strategic defence and security review; [39056]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effects on local housing authorities of the return of military personnel as a result of proposals to close bases overseas announced in the strategic defence and security review; [39057]
(3) when he last had discussions with the Ministry of Defence on the effects on private and public housing sectors of the return of military personnel posted overseas as a result of changes announced in the strategic defence and security review. [39058]
Andrew Stunell: Responsibility for addressing current and future housing needs rests with individual local authorities; the Department made no assessment of the possible effects of the return of overseas military personnel on local housing authorities.
The Government are committed to increasing housing supply and seeing more of the homes that people want, in the places that people want them. The New Homes Bonus Scheme, announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Local Government on 12 November 2010, will create a simple, transparent and permanent incentive to increase the supply of new homes.
The Department and MOD continue to discuss matters of shared interest. We are not aware of representations from local housing authorities on the likely effects of returning personnel from overseas military bases, as a result of changes announced in the strategic defence and security review. We would not expect to receive such representations before MOD's plans on returning personnel have been developed and finalised. In considering relocation of military personnel from overseas military bases as a result of the review, accommodation would be taken into account.
Housing: Prices
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate his Department has made of the number of domestic dwellings valued at £2 million or higher in each (a) local authority, (b) parliamentary constituency and (c) region. [39167] [Official Report, 16 February 2011, Vol. 523, c. 5MC.]
Robert Neill: The Department has not made an estimate of the number of domestic dwellings valued at £2 million or higher. This estimate would require figures on the individual value of all domestic dwellings in each area. Such data are not held by the Department. Estimating the current capital value of individual domestic dwellings in each area would require a valuation/revaluation exercise. The Coalition Agreement rules out a domestic revaluation in this Parliament.
Housing: Sustainable Development
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what definition his Department uses for sustainable housing. [39020]
Andrew Stunell: There is no single definition of sustainable housing as many different factors will bear on the sustainability of any particular housing development. The Code for Sustainable Homes is the national voluntary standard for the sustainable design and construction of new homes, and applies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The code measures the sustainability of a new home against nine categories of sustainable design, and covers energy and carbon dioxide, water use, materials, surface water runoff, waste, pollution, health and well-being, management, and ecology.
Local Government Finance: Sunderland
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the change in (a) the amount of formula grant, (b) the amount of specific or area-based grants and (c) the total central government grant to Sunderland city council is between 2010-11 and 2011-12. [39394]
Robert Neill: Change in central Government funding to be provided to Sunderland city council in 2011-12 on a like for like basis is as follows:
Reduction in formula grant will be £20.1 million
Reduction in overall revenue spending power will be £28.0 million (8.8%) with a reduction of £12.2 million in specific/area-based grants.
Full information on the basis of these calculations can be accessed on the Department for Communities and Local Government website at:
Public Houses
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) if he will make an assessment of the (a) economic and (b) social factors leading to trends in the level of closure of (i) pubs and (ii) clubs; [39010]
(2) if he will assess the effects on social cohesion of trends in the frequency of visits to (a) pubs and (b) clubs. [39015]
Robert Neill: The Government support the development and maintenance of pubs that understand and respond to the needs of their local community, and my officials hold regular meetings with a variety of organisations form the pub and brewing trade to discuss their particular concerns.
Reports following Government research on alcohol taxation and pricing issues are available on the Treasury and Home Office websites respectively.
The Government have in place a package of measures designed to help community pubs, including:
aiming to ensure through the Localism Bill that community organisations have a fair chance to bid to take over and run assets and facilities that are important to them, including local pubs;
the Department will undertake a public consultation into the issue of restrictive covenants on pubs, with a focus on the impact they have on local communities. This will be completed in the summer of 2011;
communities interested in taking ownership of their local pub can seek advice from the Government-funded Asset Transfer Unit and the Plunkett Foundation;
helping firms with business rates: making small business rate relief automatic, introducing a more generous small business rate relief scheme for a year from October, and giving councils powers to levy discretionary business rate discounts-which could, for example, be used to support local pubs;
the Home Office announced on 18 January the Government's intention to ban the sale of alcohol below cost by setting a lower limit of duty plus VAT, as an important first step in delivering the Government's commitment to ban the sale of alcohol below cost;
scrapping the previous government's plans to introduce a 10% above inflation rise in the tax on cider; and
reforming licensing rules to make its easier to play live music in local pubs.
Runaway Children
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on dealing with children who run away from home. [39782]
Andrew Stunell: This Department has not provided any specific guidance to local authorities on dealing with children who run away from home. However, guidance has been provided by the Department for Education.
We are working closely with colleagues in the Department for Education to prevent and tackle youth homelessness and to support young people to live independently. In addition, the Department for Education is represented on the cross-government Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness which focuses on addressing the complex causes of homelessness and rough sleeping.
Treasury
Debts: Advisory Services
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the ending of the Financial Inclusion Fund on provision of debt advice after March 2011. [39024]
Mr Hoban: 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.
Departmental Photography
Kate Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on photography since May 2010. [34543]
Justine Greening: The Treasury spent £206 on photography between 1 May 2010 and 31 January 2011.
Departmental Security
Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which persons not employed by Government Departments or agencies hold passes entitling them to enter his Department's premises. [39266]
Justine Greening: Passes may be issued to those who are required to make frequent visits to specific Government sites for business purposes, subject to them having a minimum level of security clearances. For security reasons, it would not be appropriate to provide details of individuals who hold such passes.
Excise Duties: Gaming Machines
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the additional revenue that would be raised by the introduction of a machine games duty in each of the first three years following its introduction. [38510]
Justine Greening: The introduction of machine games duty is not intended to raise additional revenue. It will replace the revenue from amusement machine license duty and VAT currently charged on machines.
Food: Prices
Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is taking steps to curb commodity speculation for the purposes of limiting increases in food prices in the developing world. [39525]
Mr Hoban: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Streatham (Mr Umunna), by the Under-Secretary of State for International Development, the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr O'Brien), on 17 January 2011, Official Report, columns 528-29W.
Gold and Foreign Exchange Reserves
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the level of gold and foreign currency reserves. [39700]
Justine Greening: The level of the UK's official holdings of reserves is released on a monthly basis by HM Treasury and can be found at:
As of the end of January 2011 the UK's gross reserves stood at $82.04 billion (£51.23 billion).
Income Tax: Football
Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions HM Revenue and Customs has had with professional football clubs on the payment of income tax on payments to professional footballers for image-rights. [39713]
Justine Greening: HMRC has a statutory duty of confidentiality to its customers and does not comment on individual cases. However HMRC are well aware of attempts to use image rights to avoid tax and will challenge these arrangements where appropriate. The taxation of image rights is a complex area where the tax treatment will very much depend on the facts of the particular case.
Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount of income tax which would have been received by HM Revenue and Customs in each of the last 10 financial years had payments to professional footballers in respect of image-rights been treated as income. [39714]
Justine Greening: HMRC does not hold this data.
Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the number of taxpayers earning £100,000 and over in each (a) local authority, (b) parliamentary constituency and (c) region in 2011-12; [39179]
(2) how many taxpayers would be affected by lowering the threshold for the additional rate of income tax to £100,000 in each (a) local authority, (b)
parliamentary constituency and (c) region in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13, (iii) 2013-14, (iv) 2014-15 and (v) 2015-16; [39180]
(3) if he will estimate the effect on levels of revenue of lowering the threshold for the additional rate of income tax to £100,000 in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15 and (e) 2015-16. [39182]
Mr Gauke: The following table shows the estimated change to income tax liabilities from lowering the threshold for the additional rate of income tax to £100,000.
| Estimated change in income tax liabilities (£ million) | |
Estimates take account of behavioural responses, such as changes in work effort, increased tax planning, avoidance or migration motivated by tax rate changes. These effects, and associated revenue costs, are highly uncertain. It should be noted that the tapered withdrawal of the personal allowance occurs over an income range after deductions, starting at £100,000.
The figures refer to accrued liabilities and do not reflect the timing of receipts.
The number of UK taxpayers with total income in excess of £100,000 in each region in 2011-12 is shown in the following table. This table also shows the estimated number of taxpayers who would be affected by a reduction in the additional rate threshold to £100,000, where their income after deductions and allowances exceeds £100,000.
| Number ( thousan d) | ||
| Region | Total income greater than £100,000 | Income after deductions and allowances greater than £100,000 |
The number of taxpayers who would be affected in later years is likely to increase gradually over time, reflecting growth in incomes relative to a fixed additional rate threshold.
It is not possible to produce reliable estimates for local authorities and parliamentary constituencies due to small sample sizes at these levels of geography.
Estimates are based on the 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes and projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's autumn forecast 2010.
Income Tax: Tax Yields
Tessa Munt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income tax was generated from those with an income of (a) £6,475 to £7,475, (b) £7,476 to £8,475, (c) £8,476 to £9,475 and (d) £9,476 to £10,000 on each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [39050]
Mr Hoban:
The following table shows the estimated income tax liabilities generated from 2006-07 to 2010-11,
for the income bands specified above. Income after deduction is defined as total income minus pension contributions and charitable contributions.
| Total tax | |||||
| £ million | |||||
| Income after deductions | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
Tax liabilities decrease primarily due to increases in the personal allowance, from £5,035 in 2006-07 to £6,475 in 2010-11.
Estimated figures for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes. Estimated figures for 2008-09 onwards are based on the 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes and projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's autumn forecast 2010.
National Insurance Contributions
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions he has met representatives of the Federation of Small Businesses to discuss the regional national insurance contribution holiday. [39115]
Mr Gauke: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings. However, a list of meetings with external stakeholders is published on the Treasury website. This list can be found at:
Pensions
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the merits of raising the trivial pension threshold. [39451]
Mr Hoban: At present, an individual who is aged 60 or over and has less than £18,000 in total pensions wealth is permitted to take all of their pension savings as a lump sum, which is known as 'trivial commutation'.
As stated in a previous answer to my hon. Friend, the median pension wealth held by individuals aged 16 or over in 2006-08 was £6,500 for members of a defined contribution occupational pension scheme, and £12,000 for members of a personal pension plan(1). On this basis, the Government feel that the £18,000 limit for trivial commutation remains an appropriate threshold.
The Government published a call for evidence on early access to pension saving in December 2010, which also invited views on whether there was a case for introducing further flexibility in the trivial commutation rules. The call for evidence is open for submissions until 25 February 2011(2).
(1) "ONS Wealth and Assets Survey 2008/09", table 6.3.
(2) http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consult_early_access_pension _savings.htm
Public Expenditure
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library the underlying figures of Chart 1.1 published on his Department's flickr photostream on consolidation of the cyclically-adjusted current budget. [39104]
Justine Greening: Chart 1.1 on the Treasury flickr photostream
was published following the OBR's Economic and Fiscal Outlook in November 2010. The chart updates the same chart illustrating the forecast consolidation in the cyclically-adjusted current budget that was published as chart 1.3 in the June Budget and also by the previous Administration.
The data underlying the chart are the forecast for cyclically-adjusted current borrowing as at the March 2010 Budget, the June 2010 Budget and the OBR's Economic and Fiscal Outlook in November 2010:
Revenue and Customs
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects HM Revenue and Customs to publish its (a) change and delivery plan and (b) business implementation plan. [39504]
Mr Hoban: In response to part (a) of the question, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will publish its Change Plan in February 2011.
In response to part (b) of the question relating to the business implementation plan, HMRC will publish its business implementation plans in April 2011.
Stamp Duty Land Tax
John Stevenson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised from stamp duty land tax on residential properties (a) up to £150,000, (b) from £150,001 to £250,000, (c) from £250,001 to £500,000, (d) from £500,001 to £1 million, (e) over £1 million and (f) in total in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10. [37794]
Justine Greening: Estimates of revenue raised from stamp duty land tax on residential property by stamp duty land tax price bands are given at:
Taxation
Simon Kirby: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission a study on the effect on the economy of implementing a flat tax. [39245]
Mr Gauke: The Government have no plans to conduct a study on the implementation of a flat tax.
Taxation: Members
Mr Offord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the online submission facility for self-assessed tax returns is not available to hon. Members. [39315]
Mr Gauke: The vast majority of self-assessment taxpayers can take advantage of HMRCs online services to file their tax return via the internet. However, a small proportion of SA taxpayers (including MPs) need to complete special dedicated pages. These forms are not available online since it would be disproportionately costly to develop the links to departmental computer systems.
VAT: Charities
Karen Lumley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to bring forward proposals to bring charitable providers of health care services within the provisions of section 41 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994. [39508]
Mr Gauke: The Government have no plans to bring forward such proposals. Section 41 of the VAT Act provides limited recovery of VAT for Government Departments, including the NHS, in respect of certain outsourced services. The VAT which is refunded to the NHS and other bodies is fully taken into account as part of those bodies' overall funding arrangements, and the schemes that are in place represent the most efficient means of delivering this part of their funding.
VAT: Northern Ireland
Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultation he undertook with the business community in Northern Ireland in advance of the rise in value added tax. [34190]
Mr Gauke: Treasury Ministers consult Northern Ireland Ministers on a range of issues on a regular basis. Treasury Ministers and officials also have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of the policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Welfare Tax Credits
Kate Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether the estimated savings to be made from reforms of tax credits and housing benefit take account of the changes to housing benefit entitlement arising from reductions in tax credit entitlements; [32922]
(2) what plans he has to monitor the effects on levels of public expenditure on housing of reductions in expenditure on tax credits; [32923]
(3) what estimate he has made of the effects on levels of housing benefit expenditure of the reduction in the proportion of child care costs covered by the child care element of working tax credit. [32924]
Mr Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 10 January 2011, Official Report, column 212W. Full details of the savings from reforms to tax credits and housing benefit are available in the published document 'Spending Review 2010 policy costings', available on HM Treasury's website:
There are no plans to monitor and record expenditure on housing benefit which is attributable to changes in the budget for tax credits.
Justice
Arrest Warrants
David Cairns:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many arrest warrant applications were made to district judges by private individuals under laws relating
to universal jurisdiction between 1 January 1995 and 1 January 2010; how many such applications were granted; and how many prosecutions taken in consequence resulted in a conviction. [39344]
Mr Blunt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), to the hon. Member for Enfield North (Nick de Bois) on 9 November 2010, Official Report, column 204W, information about applications for arrest warrants in respect of universal jurisdiction offences is not recorded, but staff at the City of Westminster magistrates court are aware often such applications in the last 10 years. It is public knowledge that two applications were granted, but in neither case was the warrant executed.
Bribery Act 2010
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to implement in full the provisions of the Bribery Act 2010. [39095]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: I am working on the statutory guidance required to make that guidance practical and useful for legitimate business and trade. It will be published once I am confident that it addresses the legitimate concerns of all those who took part in the consultation process. The Ministry of Justice's guidance will be published alongside joint prosecution guidance issued by the Director of the Serious Fraud Office and the Director of Public Prosecutions. This will be followed by a three month notice period before full implementation of the Act.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what evidence he has evaluated on the effect of implementation of the Bribery Act 2010 on the competitiveness of British business; and if he will place in the Library a copy of such evidence he has evaluated. [39096]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: An impact assessment was published by the then Secretary of State for Justice in 2009 for the introduction of the Bribery Bill. We have obtained further representations on the subject in the course of the consultation process.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent meetings he has had with representatives of (a) business organisations and (b) businesses to discuss the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010; and who was present on each occasion. [39097]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: I met representatives of the CBI, Multi-National Chairmen's Group and the International Chamber of Commerce UK on 19 January, the Federation of Small Businesses on 31 January and the British Chamber of Commerce on 2 February to discuss the Bribery Act and the guidance under section 9 to commercial organisations about preventing bribery.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he last met representatives of charities to discuss the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010. [39098]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: I met representatives of Transparency International UK and the Bond Governance and anti-corruption groups which represent non-governmental organisations and charities working on international development on 24 January.
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) whether he sought legal advice on his decision to delay the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010; [39672]
(2) by what date he expects to complete his review of the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010; what criteria he plans to use in the review; what estimate he has made of the likely cost of the review; whether the review will receive submissions from external organisations; when he expects to inform Parliament of the conclusions of the review; and whether the report of the review will be published. [39705]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The Government are committed to the implementation of the Bribery Act. I am determined to ensure that it is implemented in a way which tackles corruption but does not impose unnecessary cost and uncertainty on legitimate business and trade. I am therefore working on the statutory guidance required to make that guidance practical and useful for legitimate business and trade. It will be published once I am confident that it addresses the legitimate concerns of all those who took part in the consultation process. As is usual, this work is informed by legal advice, where appropriate.
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions he has had with (a) the Confederation of British Industry, (b) the Institute of Directors, (c) the British Chambers of Commerce and (d) the Engineering Employers Federation on his decision to delay the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010. [39673]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: I have met a number of stakeholders including the CBI, the BCC and representatives of the NGO community to discuss the Bribery Act and the guidance we are producing. My decision to delay implementation of the Act was not taken as a result of these meetings, but because I was not yet satisfied that the guidance was sufficiently practical and comprehensive to be published.
Departmental Security
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which persons not employed by Government Departments or agencies hold passes entitling them to enter his Department's premises. [39261]
Mr Djanogly: Passes may be issued to those who are required to make frequent visits to specific Ministry of Justice sites, subject to the usual security checks.
This mainly applies to employees of firms contracted to provide services but also includes the Judiciary who are independent from and not employed by government.
For security reasons it would not be appropriate to provide details of individuals who hold such passes.
National Offender Management Service: Operating Costs
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to the public purse was of the National Offender Management Service headquarters in each of the last five years. [39233]
Mr Blunt: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Agency was established from April 2008. There are therefore no comparable figures for the financial years 2005-06 to 2007-08.
The NOMS Agency accounts for 2009-10 show, on a comparable basis, figures for both 2008-09 and 2009-10 for headquarters and policy as follows:
| £ million | |
The year on year difference includes £113 million which is due to the accounting treatment of the impairment of assets.
Prisons
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects to publish the results of the prison estates review; and if he will make a statement. [39232]
Mr Blunt: In 2009, an organisational review was begun of prison works departments. However, this review became part of a larger review following the merger of the National Offender Management Service Agency Estate Capacity Directorate and the Ministry of Justice Estates Directorate in April 2010. A new structure at national level has been announced.
No decisions have yet been made about regional or local structures or about the how the estate will be managed in the longer term. Current reporting lines for local works staff and regional estate managers remain unchanged. Staff and trade unions will be consulted about any proposals for change.
Prisons: Construction
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the (a) direct and (b) indirect costs to the public purse of the commissioning process for the suspended private finance initiative prison project at Runwell, Essex to date. [39234]
Mr Blunt: The information requested is set out as follows.
Approximately £0.6 million has been spent on financial and legal advice for the establishment of a PFI framework for potential new 1,500 place prisons, following the selection in April 2009.
In early 2008 and April 2009 other indirect costs included those related to the initial site search process and pre-application town planning meetings for both Runwell in Essex and Beam Park West in the London borough of Dagenham. The site search at that time was for locations for up to five 1,500 place prisons and site search costs relating to individual sites, such as Runwell, cannot be individually identified.
In addition to indirect costs, approximately £1.5 million has been spent on the Runwell project, on the town planning application, legal, consultation and technical advice since the site was identified in April 2009.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what estimate he has made of the (a) direct and (b) indirect costs to the public purse of the commissioning process for the previously planned 600-bed prison project at Maghull, Merseyside to date; [39235]
(2) what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of compensation due to the contractor for the previously planned 600-bed prison project at Maghull, Merseyside; and if he will make a statement. [39236]
Mr Blunt: Direct costs for the Maghull site since its purchase in 1998 are approximately £9 million. This includes site purchase costs, site security and obtaining planning consent for a prison. A further £7 million has been spent on obtaining detailed planning permission, discharging the planning conditions and demolishing the buildings that were on the site.
Indirect costs consisting of external professional advice (including legal, financial, insurance and technical advisors, as well as Partnerships UK), for the procurement of prisons at Maghull and Belmarsh West were approximately £2.4 million. As the tendering process for both prisons was run simultaneously, a breakdown of the cost of external professional advice for Maghull alone is not available.
Discussions about possible compensation are under way with the contractor of the former development at Maghull and related details are therefore commercial in confidence.
Social Impact Bonds
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what timetable the National Offender Management Service has set for the Social Impact Bond pilot. [39230]
Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice has commissioned Social Finance Limited to run the Social Impact Bond at Peterborough prison for a maximum period of six years.
The Social Impact Bond started working with offenders on 16 August 2010. The project will work with three 1,000-offender cohorts, and the final cohort will close when it numbers 1,000 offenders, or in August 2016 if the capacity is not reached. The assessment of reconviction rates for this cohort will begin 18 months after this point, and by February 2018 at the latest.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects to publish the evaluation of the National Offender Management Service Social Impact Bond pilot; and if he will make a statement. [39231]
Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice will publish an initial 'lessons learned' assessment of the Social Impact Bond pilot by May 2011.
An interim evaluation report will be published after the reconviction rate for the first cohort has been calculated. The first cohort will close when it numbers 1,000 offenders, or in August 2012 if the capacity is not reached. The independent assessment of reconviction rates will commence 18 months after the cohort closes, and by February 2014 at the latest.
A full evaluation of the Social Impact Bond will be published after the pilot has concluded, and the reconviction rate for the final cohort has been calculated. This assessment of reconviction rates will commence 18 months after the final cohort closes, and by February 2018 at the latest.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding has been allocated to the National Offender Management Service to date to pilot the Social Impact Bond. [39237]
Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice has allocated a total of £3 million of funding for the Social Impact Bond pilot, from which outcome payments will be made if the Bond has significant success in reducing reconvictions of offenders. The Big Lottery Fund, in its role of supporting innovation, will provide approximately £5 million of further funding.
All implementation and operating costs for the pilot will be met through social investment raised by Social Finance Limited. The Ministry of Justice will only fund outcome payments if the pilot achieves a sufficient reduction in reconviction events. If the required reduction is not achieved, no payment will be made.
Transport
Biofuels
Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to review his Department's policy on use of biofuels in the transport network; and what the (a) timing and (b) scope of the review will be; [37219]
(2) when he expects the EU directive on renewable energy to be transposed into domestic legislation; what timetable he has set for his Department's consultation on the Renewable Transport Obligation prior to this legislation; what the terms of reference of the consultation will be; and if he will make a statement. [37220]
Norman Baker [holding answer 3 February 2011]: I am clear that biofuels have a role in our efforts to tackle climate change particularly where there is no viable alternative fuel identified, as is the case with aviation. However it is a prerequisite that biofuels used must lead to a worthwhile reduction in carbon emissions and be sustainable. I am engaging with ministerial colleagues across government to ensure a coherent approach to the deployment of sustainable biofuels.
Amendments to the Renewable Transport Fuel Order (RTFO) 2007 are being considered to implement both the transport elements of the renewable energy directive (RED) and aspects of the closely related fuel quality directive (FQD).
We have taken additional time to consider how best to implement the RED and FQD and are working to transpose the directives in the second half of this year, and to implement by the end of 2011. The Department will publish consultation documents shortly.
As part of the consultation exercise we intend to set out a timetable for implementation and will share this with stakeholders. The consultation will include implementation proposals on the detail of the sustainability criteria to be transposed into the RTFO.
The RED contains a requirement that the European Commission undertake a wide ranging review of the directive by 31 December 2014 and propose amendments if appropriate. Any such proposal may lead to further revisions of the RTFO.
Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to implement provisions from the EU renewable energy directive prohibiting the import of biofuels which do not fulfil sustainability criteria. [38139]
Norman Baker: Amendments to the Renewable Transport Fuel (RTFO) Order 2007 are being considered to implement both the transport elements of the renewable energy directive (RED) and aspects of the closely related fuel quality directive (FQD).
Biofuels used towards meeting the RED and FQD targets must meet a number of mandatory sustainability criteria.
We have taken additional time to consider how best to implement the RED and FQD and are working to transpose the directives in the second half of this year, and to implement by the end of 2011.
The Department will publish consultation documents shortly.
Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the use of imported biofuels from areas at risk of (a) degradation of natural habitats, (b) indirect land use change and (c) loss of biodiversity. [38141]
Norman Baker: The Renewable Energy Directive (RED) requires the UK to ensure that 10% of energy consumed in transport comes from renewable sources by 2020 and to ensure that any biofuels used towards this target meet a number of mandatory sustainability criteria. These include that biofuels must deliver a greenhouse gas saving of at least 35%, and must not be sourced from areas of high biodiversity, from high carbon soils (such as rainforests or wetlands), or from nature protection areas.
We have taken additional time to consider how best to implement the RED and FQD and are working to transpose the directives and the sustainability requirements in the second half of this year, and to implement by the end of 2011. The Department will publish consultation documents shortly.
The UK Government responded to a European consultation on Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) in October 2010. The European Commission is now undertaking further assessment of whether and how to address ILUC in European legislation, which will conclude by July 2011.
Bus Services: Subsidies
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the number of bus routes which received a public subsidy in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [36919]
Norman Baker: Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) is paid to operators of all eligible local bus services. This includes the vast majority of local bus routes in England. In 2009-10, £430 million of BSOG was paid to operators of local bus services in England.
In London, Transport for London (TfL) tender for local bus services. Outside London, English local authorities tender for around 20% of local bus services. In 2009-10, around £1,070 million was spent by TfL and local authorities on tendered services.
As a result, the vast majority of local bus routes in England receive public subsidy. We do not hold information on the amount of subsidy per bus route.
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