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15 Feb 2011 : Column 674W—continued
European Aviation Safety Authority: Passengers
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on potential risks to passenger safety arising from the adoption of new flight time limitations for pilots proposed by the European Aviation Safety Authority. [38772]
Mrs Villiers: None. The European Aviation Safety Agency published draft legislation for consultation on 20 December 2010. The consultation closes on 20 March. The Civil Aviation Authority is currently reviewing the proposals. We will seek to ensure that the final requirements maintain a high level of safety for UK airlines. If necessary we will discuss the legislation with our European counterparts at an appropriate stage in the legislative process.
Railways: Finance
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the future role of the private sector in financing the delivery of rail services. [38994]
Mrs Villiers:
The Government's intention to provide longer contractual terms in future for train operators will significantly increase the opportunity for private
sector investment in rail franchises. The investment planned by private sector train operators will be considered on a case-by-case basis when franchises are awarded.
Railways: Snow and Ice
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he made of levels of safety on rail freight services during recent severe weather conditions. [39181]
Mrs Villiers: Issues of operational rail safety are a matter for the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), as the independent health and safety regulator of Britain's railways, and relevant rail industry duty holders. The hon. Member may wish to contact the Office of Rail Regulation for further information at the following address:
Office of Rail Regulation
One Kemble street
London
WC2B 4AN
Railways: Toilets
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to encourage train operating companies to advertise the availability of toilet facilities on trains; and if he will make a statement. [39192]
Mrs Villiers: Train operating companies already provide this information. For example, the National Rail Enquiries website provides details for each operator. However, this is provided under the heading of information for passengers with disabilities.
I have asked Department for Transport officials to raise this issue with the Association of Train Operating Companies, to encourage the rail industry to make this information easier to find through all media.
Snow and Ice
Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has published the snow clearing guidance recommended in Lord Young's report, Common Sense, Common Safety. [41204]
Norman Baker: Guidance for households and traders who wish to clear snow and ice from paths in front of their property, pavements and other public spaces was published on 22 October 2010 and is available at:
Taxis: Licensing
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that the criterion for whether or not taxis can be licensed should be related solely to the condition of the vehicle. [40810]
Norman Baker
[holding answer 14 February 2011]: Responsibility for taxi licensing outside London rests with local authorities. The Department for Transport's Best Practice Guidance urges local authorities to consider vehicles on their merits rather than imposing an age
limit. Ultimately, though, the decision on whether to impose an age limit rests with local authorities. We have no immediate plans to change this.
Transport: Finance
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which schemes from the pre-qualification pool were not selected for the development pool of local major transport schemes. [39843]
Norman Baker: The following schemes from the pre-qualification pool were not selected for the development pool.
A38(M) Tame Viaduct (Birmingham)
Stafford Western Access (Staffordshire)
Watford Junction Interchange (Hertfordshire)
Tyne and Wear Bus Corridors (Nexus)
A24 Ashington to Southwater (West Sussex)
A338 Bournemouth Spur Road maintenance (Dorset)
A509 Isham Bypass (Northamptonshire)
A61 Penistone Road Smart Route (South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive)
Castleford Town Centre Integrated Transport Scheme (West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive).
Full details are available in the document "Investment in Local Major Transport Schemes: Update" published on the Department for Transport website on 4 February at:
Trust Ports
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what his policy is on the procedure for sale of trust ports; [37882]
(2) what his policy is on ownership of trust ports. [37889]
Mike Penning: The Ports Act 1991 sets out the statutory process that allows for the sale of a trust port. A guidance note concerning the procedure for sale of trust ports was published in January 2010 and a copy was placed in the Library of the House.
The Government will consider any proposal by a trust port for a sale on its merits.
Women and Equalities
UN Conference on Women
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities which (a) Ministers and (b) officials will attend the forthcoming UN Beijing follow-up conference; and who will lead the delegation. [40805]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 14 February 2011]: The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women meeting is being held in New York from 22 February to 4 March. The UK delegation is being led by the head of the Women's National Machinery and deputy director within the Government Equalities Office (GEO). She will be supported by two GEO officials (one per week) and by one Foreign and Commonwealth Office official. Ministers are not planning to attend.
Prime Minister
Competition Act 1998
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister whether his attendance at a private dinner with a senior representative of a company that is the subject of a Ministerial decision under the Competition Act 1998 is consistent with the Ministerial Code of Conduct published by the Cabinet Office in May 2010. [41226]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 February 2011, Official Report, column 885W.
Cabinet Office
Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of (a) active and (b) deferred members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme are aged between (i) 20 and 30, (ii) 31 and 40, (iii) 41 and 50, (iv) 51 and 55 and (v) 56 and 65 years. [40271]
Mr Maude: The proportions of (a) active and (b) deferred members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme who are aged between (i) 20 and 30, (ii) 31 and 40, (iii) 41 and 50, (iv) 51 and 55 and (v) 56 and 65 years are as follows:
| P ercentage | ||
| Age group | Actives | Deferreds |
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme there are; [40324]
(2) what proportion of members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme are (a) (i) part time and (ii) full time, (b) (A) male and (B) female and (c) (i) active members and (ii) deferred members/pensioners. [40277]
Mr Maude: Membership numbers for the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) and a breakdown between active, deferred and pensioner members can be found in Cabinet Office: Civil Superannuation Resource Accounts 2009-10, copies of which are in the Library.
The proportions of active members of the PCSPS who are part-time and full-time are 23% and 77% respectively. The proportion of all members of the PCSPS who are male is 45% and 55%o are female.
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the likely savings to the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme of the proposed indexation according to the consumer prices index (a) in 2010-11 and (b) in the next (i) 10, (ii) 20, (iii) 25 and (iv) 30 years. [40386]
Mr Maude:
The Government have not made any separate estimate of the change in central Government
expenditure over (a) in 2010-11 or (b) in the next (i) 10, (ii) 20, (ii) 25 and (iv) 30 years for the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme as a result of the change to indexation of public service pensions and benefits in line with the consumer prices index.
However, the overall estimated savings in annually managed expenditure over the forecast period for public service pension expenditure were made available in answers to the right hon. Member for Stirling (Mrs McGuire) on 27 July 2010, Official Report, column 1193W. The Office of Budgetary Responsibility, responsible for forecasting expenditure on public service pensions, has included the change to indexation in line with the consumer prices index in their methodology.
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the administration costs of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme are for 2010-11; and what the costs were in each of the last 12 years. [40396]
Mr Maude: Prior to 2010 the majority of day-to-day administration costs for the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme were met by individual employers and details are not held centrally. These costs covered all administration and record keeping for active members.
From 2010-11 civil service pensions administration has been consolidated. As a result the total administrative costs of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme will be reflected in future Resource Accounts for Cabinet Office: Civil Superannuation. Copies will be available in the Library.
Work and Pensions
Jobseeker's Allowance
Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to identify claimants of jobseeker's allowance affected by poor decision-making identified by Professor Malcolm Harrington's review; and if he will (a) amend the status of and (b) provide compensation to those affected. [38729]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question to ask the Secretary of State to (a) identify claimants of jobseeker's allowance affected by poor decision-making identified by Professor Malcolm Harrington's review; and if he will (i) amend the status and (ii) provide compensation to those affected. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Jobcentre Plus welcomes the first Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment, led by Professor Malcolm Harrington, and is committed to taking forward the Review's recommendations so that we can make the system fairer and more effective for the customer. We will not be retrospectively reviewing Employment Support Allowance (ESA) decisions in the light of Professor Harrington's recommendations. However, if a claimant disagrees with a decision in respect of their ESA claim, they can ask the Decision Maker to reconsider the original decision or appeal against that decision, in which case their appeal will be considered by the Tribunal Service.
Children: Maintenance
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) when he expects records of all Child Support Agency cases to have been transferred to his Department's latest computer system; [32883]
(2) when he expects the records of pre-2003 Child Support Agency cases which have been transferred to his Department's new computer system to have been modified in respect of post-2003 rates of payment. [32886]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your; recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects records of all Child Support Agency cases to have been transferred to his Department's latest computer system. [32883]; and
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects the records of pre-2003 Child Support Agency cases which have been transferred to his Department's new computer system to have been modified in respect of post-2003 rates of payment. [32886]
The problems encountered by the Child Support Agency following the launch of the Reforms in 2003 resulted in a decision to defer the bulk transfer of cases from the old scheme (launched in 1993), to the current scheme (launched in 2003). In the meantime, cases are only migrated from the old computer system to the new computer system where they had a link with a case on the new system that made this necessary.
This decision was kept under review and in February 2006 the previous Government asked Sir David Henshaw to review the entire system of child maintenance. His subsequent report led to the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008, which makes provision for a new system of child maintenance known as the "future scheme".
The Government continues to develop plans for a future scheme that is intended to replace both the existing schemes.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many parents without care pay 30 per cent. or net wages in Child Support Agency payments. [32884]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many parents without care pay 30 percent of net wages in Child Support Agency payments. [32884]
In the quarter to September 2010, 405,300 non-resident parents made child maintenance payments that were less than or equal to 30% of their net income for assessment purposes. 20,200 non-resident parents made child maintenance payments that were over 30% of their net income.
A further 144,200 non-resident parents made child maintenance payments although no net income rate was recorded on the administrative computer systems. In the majority of these cases, no net income rate was required as the non-resident parent may have been on income related benefits or had no ongoing liability to pay maintenance and only arrears of maintenance were being collected.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many parents without care have records on the post-2003 Child Support Agency computer system and make payments at pre-2003 rates. [32885]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many parents without care have records on the post-2003 Child Support Agency computer system and make payments at pre-2003 rates. [32885]
As at September 2010, there were 176,000 live and assessed cases on the post-2003 CS2 computer system operating under the pre-2003 assessment scheme rates.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of single parents (a) in Islwyn constituency and (b) nationally were not receiving child maintenance payments payable by their child's non-resident parent (i) in whole and (ii) in part in each of the last three years. [37055]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of single parents (a) in Islwyn constituency and (b) nationally were not receiving child maintenance payments payable by their child's non-resident parent (i) in whole and (ii) in part in each of the last three years.
The table below shows the proportion of cases in each quarter since December 2007 with a positive liability where parents with care nationally and in Islwyn constituency have received maintenance in full, maintenance in part and those that have not received any maintenance. The parents with care may or may not be a single parent as they could be with a new partner.
| Nationally | Islwyn Constituency | |||||
| Date | Percentage receiving maintenance in full | Percentage receiving maintenance in part | Percentage not receiving maintenance | Percentage receiving maintenance in full | Percentage receiving maintenance in part | Percentage not receiving maintenance |
| Notes: 1. Cases receiving maintenance in full include cases which are fully compliant over the quarter; cases with a maintenance direct agreement in place at the end of the quarter or where no maintenance has been requested in the quarter yet some maintenance was received. 2. Cases receiving maintenance in part includes those cases that have paid less than the requested amount each quarter. This will include cases that have paid in full but because of timing issues at the end of a quarter, the maintenance receipt has not been fully processed by quarter end. 3. Cases not receiving maintenance include cases with a maintenance liability that have not received any maintenance in the quarter. 4. Figures after March 2008 include the performance of cases administered off system. 5. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 6. Cases have been allocated to the Islwyn constituency by matching the residential postcode of the parent with care to the Office for National Statistics Postcode Directory. From the June 2010 Postcode Directory, the boundaries of Islwyn constituency changed meaning figures after this date are not comparable. | ||||||
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what change in the level of (a) scheme costs and (b) number of cases handled in the new statutory child support scheme he expects to arise from his assessment that 20 per cent. of the newer child maintenance scheme and a further 10 per cent. of all Child Support Agency cases are likely to be able to make family-based maintenance agreements in future. [39043]
Maria Miller: The change in scheme costs and number of cases handled in the new statutory scheme will depend on the complex interaction of many factors of which this is one. The Department for Work and Pensions will produce estimates of the numbers impacted when we publish detailed proposals in the form of draft regulations later in the year. The impact assessments for the draft regulations will set out the estimated impacts on volumes and individuals.
Disability Living Allowance: Scotland
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents in (a) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency and (b) Scotland in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) have had their DLA payments reassessed in the last 12 months; how many of these have had their payments (i) reduced, (ii) increased and (iii) revoked; how many appealed against their reassessment; and how many were successful in their appeal. [41157]
Maria Miller: We are not able to say how many residents of Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency receiving disability living allowance (DLA) have had their DLA payments reassessed in the last 12 months; how many of these had their payments (a) reduced, (b) increased and (c) revoked; how many appealed their reassessment; and how many were successful in their appeal. This is because our Management Information system for DLA does not enable us to provide details at that level.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency and (b) Scotland receive disability living allowance; and what the cost to the public purse of such allowances was in the last 12 months. [41227]
Maria Miller: The latest available 12 months is the 2009-10 financial year. This information is shown in the table.
| Great Britain 2009-10 | Case load (thousand) | Expenditure (£ million) |
| Source: DWP statistical and accounting data Parliamentary constituency expenditure data can be found at the following URL: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/pc_expenditure.xls Further benefit expenditure data can be found at the following URL: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/index.php?page=expenditure | ||
Social Fund: Television
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many social fund (a) budgeting loans, (b) crisis loans and (c) community care grants for the purpose of buying televisions sets over the value of (i) £500 and (ii) £1,000 were made in (A) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency and (B) Scotland in each of the last five years. [41078]
Steve Webb: In the case of budgeting loans, applicants are asked to tick which of seven categories they need help for, but are not asked to specify the items they require. Television sets would come under the category 'to buy furniture or household equipment'. Data are not available on the number of awards for each category.
The number of crisis loans or community care grants initially awarded for the purpose of buying television sets over the value of (i) £500 or (ii) £1,000 in (A) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency or (B) Scotland in each of the financial years 2005-06 to 2009-10 was extremely low, being recorded as nil or negligible.
Notes:
1. The information provided is management information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have management information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National Statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, the information given does not include applications which were processed clerically and had not been entered on to the social fund computer system by the end of the relevant financial year.
2. Data are available for initial awards only. No information is available on the number of awards of the type described which were made after review.
3. Exact numbers have not been given for data protection reasons. 'Nil or negligible' means less than five.
Source:
Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.
Unemployment Benefits: Drugs
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will bring forward proposals to introduce drugs testing for those in receipt of out-of-work benefits. [40970]
Maria Miller: The Government have no plans to introduce drug testing for claimants in receipt of out-of-work benefits.
Education
Students: Loans
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many applications for loans his Department received from students enrolled on the (a) Legal Practice Certificate and (b) Bar Professional Training course in the last 12 months; and how many applications were (i) granted and (ii) refused in each such case. [40151]
Mr Willetts: I have been asked to reply.
These courses are postgraduate professional courses and are not designated for student support in general, although they can be designated for the purposes of disabled students' allowance.
Professional and career development loans (PCDL) have been used to support study for the legal profession. Young People Learning Agency data illustrate that, in 2009-10, 611 learners had taken-up a PCDL in pursuit of study in the legal services sector. The lending banks do not collect data on specific qualifications, nor do they record information in regard to unsuccessful applications.
Defence
Air Force: Deployment
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions aircraft have been launched from both quick reaction alert bases in response to a single incident in each year since 2006. [41052]
Armed Forces: Pensions
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of (a) active and (b) deferred members of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme are aged between (i) 20 and 30, (ii) 31 and 40, (iii) 41 and 50, (iv) 51 and 55 and (v) 56 and 65 years. [40269]
Mr Robathan: The following table provides the proportion of active members of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) by age group:
| Age in years | Number | Percentage of total |
| Notes: 1. The breakdown by age group includes members of AFPS 75 and 2005. 2. Active members are personnel who are in service which is reckonable for pension purpose. 3. Deferred members are former active members, or their divorced spouses who have benefits due at a later date. | ||
A reliable breakdown by age group for deferred members of the AFPS could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However as at 31 March 2010 there were a total of 368,079 deferred members.
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of members of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme are (a) (i) part-time and (ii) full-time, (b) (A) male and (B) female and (c) (1) active members and (2) deferred members/pensioners. [40325]
Mr Robathan: The numbers of active and deferred members in the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) can be found within the AFPS Resource Accounts for Financial Year 2009-10, copies of which are held in the Library of the House. While the precise number of part-time active members is not known, there are 30 personnel within the Reserved Forces Pension Scheme who, from time to time, may serve on a part-time basis.
A reliable breakdown by gender is not available for deferred members of the AFPS. A breakdown for active or benefit in payment members can be found in the following table:
| Male | Female | |
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the administration costs of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme are for 2010-11; and what the costs were in each of the last 12 years. [40390]
Mr Robathan: The information for all of the dates requested is not held.
The direct administration costs of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme for 2009-10 was £7.28 million.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department 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. [40288]
Mr Robathan: Costs to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for offsetting its carbon emissions from air travel in 2007-08 and 2008-09 were £167,214 and £240,880 respectively (both excluding VAT). Payment was made through the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund administered by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The MOD will purchase offsets for 2009-10 using the facility now administered by 'Government Buying Solutions'.
Departmental Procurement
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2011, Official Report, column 516W, on departmental procurement, for what reasons his Department let each contract non-competitively. [39891]
Peter Luff: Many factors are taken into account in reaching these decisions and they vary from contract to contract. The detailed information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Responsibilities
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what engagements he has undertaken in (a) the UK and (b) overseas in the last three months. [40787]
Dr Fox: Details of my overseas travel, received hospitality and meetings with organisations external to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) are published on a quarterly basis on the MOD website as part of the Government's Transparency Agenda, at the following address:
The information regarding my engagements in the UK for the last three months is currently being collated and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available.
Devonport Dockyard
Mr Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when decisions about the base porting of frigates at HM Naval Base Devonport are likely to be (a) made and (b) announced. [40144]
Peter Luff: We anticipate a decision being made by the end of the year but no date has been set for any announcement.
France: Nuclear Weapons
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what his Department's projected budget is for operation of the UK area at the Teutates Epure facility in France from 2016; [40533]
(2) what spending commitments his Department will be subject to for the UK area at the Teutates Epure facility in France prior to 2016; [40534]
(3) how many UK staff will be employed in the UK area at the Teutates Epure facility in France; [40535]
(4) how much his Department plans to spend on its share of the costs of phase 2 building at the new Teutates Epure facility in France; [40536]
(5) how much his Department has budgeted for the construction of the new Teutates Technology Development Centre at AWE Aldermaston. [40537]
Peter Luff: Both the planned Teutates Technology Development Centre, to be built at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston, and the Teutates Epure facility, to be built in France, are in the project concept phase.
Cost estimates are currently being developed jointly by teams in the UK and France. Budget forecasts will be included in the final national investment approvals for the Teutates programme, which are scheduled to be sought by the end of 2012.
The operational model, including the number of staff required to support UK operations at the Teutates Epure facility in France, will be developed as part of the subsequent project assessment phase.
Italy: Military Alliances
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his Italian counterpart on defence co-operation; and if he will make a statement. [40316]
Dr Fox: I discussed defence co-operation with the Italian Defence Minister, Ignazio La Russa, when we met on 21 July 2010 in London, and at the NATO Lisbon summit on 20 November 2010.
The Under-Secretary of State for Defence, the Minister for International Security Strategy, my hon. Friend the Member for Aldershot (Mr Howarth) and the Under-Secretary of State for Defence, the Minister for Defence Equipment Support and Technology, my hon. Friend
the Member for Mid Worcestershire (Peter Luff) met with the Italian Under-Secretary of State, Guido Crosetto, at the Farnborough Air Show on 19 July 2010.
The Minister for Defence Equipment Support and Technology has also had meetings with the Italian Under-Secretary of State, Guido Crosetto, to discuss defence industrial co-operation on several occasions, and has also met with the Italian ambassador to London, Ambassador Economides, to discuss defence co-operation.
In addition to these face to face meetings there has been regular correspondence between the UK and Italy at ministerial and official level.
Rescue Services
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the reasons why the tendering process for the search and rescue contract undertaken by his Department did not proceed; and if he will make a statement. [40649]
Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made by the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), on 8 February 2010, Official Report, column 7WS, and correction to the Official Report on 10 February 2010, Official Report, column 16WS.
Treasury
Child Benefit
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to enable sanctions to be placed on higher rate tax payers who fail to disclose that their partner is in receipt of child benefit. [38178]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 3 February 2011]: Child benefit will be withdrawn from families containing a higher rate taxpayer from January 2013. This can be delivered within existing PAYE and self assessment systems. Legislative changes will be required to deliver this policy. Details of the changes to legislation will be outlined in due course.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Hazel Blears: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tax incentives there are to encourage businesses to engage in corporate social responsibility. [39849]
Mr Gauke: The primary aim of the tax system is to raise revenue to fund essential public services. However, the Government also recognise that the tax system can be used to support wider policy objectives. There are a number of targeted ways in which the tax system supports corporate social responsibility, for example through the deductibility of charitable expenditure from profits chargeable to corporation tax.
The Government are committed to encouraging businesses to improve the social and environmental impact of their activities-including in the way they treat their customers, suppliers and employees, and how they work with local communities.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department 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. [40523]
Justine Greening: The Treasury purchases carbon credits to offset emissions arising from official and ministerial air travel on an annual basis via the Government Carbon Offsetting Facility (GCOF). Financial spend and the companies to which payments were made over the past three financial years is shown in the following table.
| Financial year | Companies purchases made from | Total spend (£) |
Departmental Publications
Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of his Department's expenditure on printing (a) Command Papers, (b) papers presented to Parliament by Act, (c) consultation documents and (d) other papers in each of the last 10 years. [28381]
Justine Greening: We are unable to provide an estimate on the Department's expenditure on printing different types of reports/papers in each of the last 10 years, as to provide such information would involve disproportionate costs.
Economic and Monetary Union
Mr Carswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the maximum potential UK contribution to support for eurozone countries under the European Stabilisation Mechanism to 2013. [40645]
Mr Hoban: The UK will not be part of the European Stability Mechanism. The December European Council agreed that a permanent mechanism to safeguard the financial stability of the euro area as a whole (European Stability Mechanism-ESM) will be established by 'the member states of the euro area' from 2013.
Mr Carswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the maximum potential liability to the public purse under the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism to 2013. [40646]
Mr Hoban: At the 9 May ECOFIN meeting, EU Finance Ministers agreed that up to €60 billion of emergency finance can be provided to any EU member state under the European Financial Stability Mechanism (EFSM).
The EFSM is financed by the European Commission raising funds on capital markets, guaranteed by the EU Budget. There is no direct impact on the EU Budget from any such borrowing by the Commission. Only in the event that a beneficiary member state defaults on loan repayments would the EU Budget be affected.
In those circumstances, member states would be liable for a share based on their contribution to the EU Budget at that time. Contributions to the EU Budget vary over time, mainly driven by the member states' share in national income. For this reason, it is not possible to state exactly the UK liability in the event of a default by a member state. As an illustrative example, based on contributions to the 2010 EU Budget, the UK's share would be approximately 14% of the default amount.
Economic Situation
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects on economic growth of recent changes to the (a) Government's capital building programme and (b) rate of value added tax; and if he will make a statement. [38890]
Mr Gauke: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), and I have asked the OBR to reply.
Letter from Robert Chote, dated 4 February 2010:
As Chair of the Budget Responsibility Committee of the Office for Budget Responsibility I have been asked to reply to your recent question.
The OBR's November forecast incorporated the estimated impact of policy measures announced at or before the June Budget and October spending review.
The OBR applied a range of fiscal multipliers to help inform its judgement on the impact of policy measures on aggregate demand in the economy. These multipliers are set out in Table C8 of the interim OBR's June Budget document A figure of 0.6, for example, means that a measure which has a direct effect of raising revenue by 1 per cent of GDP is estimated to reduce aggregate demand in the economy by 0.6 per cent in the short run. A multiplier of 1 was judged to be appropriate for changes in capital expenditure, while a multiplier of 0.6 was applied to changes in VAT.
In the OBR's November forecast, reductions in capital expenditure were therefore assumed to have an initial impact of a one-for-one reduction in aggregate demand. The forecast also assumed that the increase in the standard rate of VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent would reduce the level of real GDP in 2011/12 by around 0.3 per cent. These immediate effects are reduced over time through a number of processes as the economy adjusts, including a monetary policy response and real wage adjustments.
Excise Duties: Fuels
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of adjusting levels of excise duty on fuel to stabilise petrol and diesel prices at 2009 levels in each of the next four financial years. [41075]
Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 1 November 2010, Official Report, column 665W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith). The Government are considering options for a fair fuel stabiliser. The Chancellor keeps all taxes under review along Budget timelines.
Exports: Forecasts
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecasts the Office for Budget Responsibility made of UK exports to different (a) countries and (b) regions of the world as part of the November 2010 Economic and Fiscal Outlook. [39931]
Justine Greening: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), and I have asked the OBR to reply.
Letter from Robert Chote, dated February 2011:
As Chair of the Budget Responsibility Committee of the Office for Budget Responsibility, I have been asked to reply to your recent question:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecasts the Office for Budget Responsibility made of UK exports to different (a) countries and (b) regions of the world as part of the November 2010 Economic and Fiscal Outlook.
The OBR's November 2010 forecast for total UK exports was based on our assessment of the prospects for aggregate UK export market growth and price competitiveness. However, the OBR does not currently produce a forecast for UK exports disaggregated to country or regional level.
Financial Services Authority: Qualifications
Karl McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) minimum qualification and (b) experience the Financial Services Authority requires of staff working on the formulation and implementation of policy in the (i) life assurance and (ii) pensions sector. [39299]
Mr Hoban [holding answer 8 February 2011]: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is an independent body and, as such, determines the appropriate qualification levels for its staff.
Financial Services: Disadvantaged
Stella Creasy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on the numbers of UK residents likely to be able to access independent and free debt advocacy services of the abolition of the financial inclusion fund. [40190]
Mr Hoban: The Government are committed to helping poorer households to access appropriate financial services, to improve their financial resilience and to avoid falling into unsustainable levels of debt.
The Government will maintain support for debt advice in 2011-12. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has allocated £27 million for debt advice in the next financial year, matching the level of support for the sector currently provided by the financial inclusion fund.
Financial Services: Fines
Julian Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the merits of using income from fines levied by the Financial Services Authority to support Citizens Advice services. [40730]
Mr Hoban: My Department has made no formal assessment of using income from fines to support Citizens Advice services.
Fiscal Policy
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the merits of using (a) a fiscal mandate and (b) fiscal rules. [38922]
Justine Greening: The forward-looking fiscal mandate addresses a key failing of the framework of fiscal rules that was in place from 1997 to 2008; the formulation of the golden rule adopted during this period required the Government to balance the current budget over the economic cycle. This resulted in an approach that was too backward-looking, especially at the end of the economic cycle, allowing persistent fiscal deficits when growth was strong, on the basis of past surpluses.
By contrast the Government's fiscal mandate is forward-looking and requires that the cyclically-adjusted current budget be returned to balance over the five-year forecast period. Moreover, the key forecast judgments as to whether the Government are on course to meet the fiscal mandate will be now determined by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, not HM Treasury. The choice of the fiscal mandate reflects the exceptional fiscal challenge the Government must address.
Income Tax: Investment Income
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on the level of revenue to the Exchequer of raising the level of income tax relief on investment for the Enterprise Investment Scheme. [33831]
Mr Gauke: The estimated costs of the Enterprise Investment Scheme are published in the HM Revenue and Customs main tax expenditures and structural reliefs table, available at:
The Government take all relevant factors into account when considering how to ensure that the EIS remains an effective incentive for investment in small companies.
Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands
Mr Raab: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of income tax revenue was derived from the (a) 1 per cent., (b) top 5 per cent., (c) top 10 per cent., (d) top 25 per cent., (e) lowest 50 per cent., (f) lowest 25 per cent. and (g) lowest 10 per cent. of earners in 1998-99. [38361]
Mr Gauke: The information requested is provided in the following table.
| Percentiles of total income for1998-99 | Share of total income tax (percentage) |
These figures are based on 1998-99 Survey of Personal Incomes data.
Similar estimates for 1999-2000 to 2007-08 and projections to 2010-11 are available on the HMRC website:
National Insurance Contributions
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many non-matched national insurance contributions were matched in each of the last five years. [37222]
Mr Gauke: The information on the number of non-matched national insurance contributions matched to national insurance accounts is given in the following table:
| Tax year | Volume |
Figures relating to 2009-10 are not yet available.
Over 97% of items are successfully matched as they come in. HMRC takes proactive steps to match unmatched items to the right account. This includes writing, where appropriate, to the employer and/or employee to obtain further information; writing to people who are in danger of not being able to acquire the 30 years of contributions necessary to quality for a basic state pension and immediately checking whether there are any unmatched items where any individual queries gaps in their contributions history.
HMRC also provides a statement, on request, showing an individual's contributions history so that they can check whether there are any unexpected gaps. HMRC is also working with employers to reduce the number of cases where incorrect or incomplete details are sent in.
National Insurance Fund
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to paragraph 34 of the national insurance fund account 2009-10, what the monetary value is of the 119 million items in the suspense file. [37224]
Mr Gauke: The information about the monetary value of all the 119 million items is available only at disproportionate cost.
Personal Income
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number and proportion of people in each region whose net income will be lower on 31 December 2011 than it was on 31 December 2010. [38453]
Mr Gauke: The Office for Budget Responsibility has not published forecasts on a sub-national basis. Changes in employment levels at a regional level would form part of any calculation of the number who could experience a reduction in net income in a region over the period. It is therefore not possible to provide a robust estimate in response to this question.
However, for the first time at the June Budget, and subsequently at spending review, the Government have published detailed information on the likely impact of tax and benefit reforms on households. This shows that the top 20% contribute most to the fiscal consolidation as a percentage of net income and benefits-in-kind. Further detail can be found in Annex B of the spending review, and Annex A of the June Budget.
Public Expenditure
Mr Meacher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what date he expects accounts to have been published relating to the total of general government expenditure in 2009-10. [36632]
Danny Alexander [holding answer 27 January 2011]: Full financial accruals based accounts for general government expenditure in 2009-10 (based on EU adopted IFRS as adapted for the public sector) will be published for the first time as part of the Whole of Government Accounts (WGA) by the end of December 2011, in line with the legislation set out in the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000. These accounts are subject to audit and can only be published once the audit has been completed. The publication date has not yet been set.
Provisional outturn for general government expenditure in 2009-10 was first published in the Treasury's July 2010 PESA National Statistics release, based on Treasury-defined spending frameworks. This included outturn data for central Government, consistent with the Public Expenditure 2009-10 provisional outturn command paper (PEOWP) and plans data for local government.
Updated outturn for general government expenditure in 2009-10 will be published in the PESA National Statistics release in April 2011. This will include full outturn for both central and local government.
Public Sector: Pay
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to implement the policy of requiring his approval for public sector salaries which are greater than that of the Prime Minister. [40783]
Danny Alexander [holding answer 14 February 2011]: The Government announced, on 24 May 2010, that I would approve pay and remuneration levels at and above £142,500 for all civil service appointments and appointments to public sector bodies which are subject to ministerial approval. The approval process has been ongoing since the announcement.
Revenue and Customs: Consultants
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many consultants are employed by HM Revenue and Customs; and what the average length of their contracts is. [37221]
Mr Gauke: The use of consultants within HMRC is spread across a number of disciplines. Appointments are restricted to engagements where the skills, expertise and professional views are required on complex matters, which are not available in-house or elsewhere within HMG.
HMRC currently has four live consultancy contracts. The award of the contracts is based upon the delivery of business requirements by a specific date, not specifically the number of people the supplier will use to deliver it. The numbers of people working under these contracts can vary over time depending on the stage the work is at. It is not therefore possible to provide the information requested, but the number of current consultancy contracts at the end of January 2011 is given in the following table.
| Duration | Number of contracts |
Revenue and Customs: Manpower
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the HM Revenue and Customs employee headcount was for its (a) PSN and (b) information management services department in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007, (iii) 2008, (iv) 2009 and (v) 2010. [37330]
Mr Gauke: The HM Revenue and Customs headcount figures for PSN and information management services for the last five years are shown in the following table:
| As at 1 April each year | PSN (PAYE, SA and NIC) | IMS (information management services) |
Smuggling: Tobacco
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much his Department spent on its Tackling Tobacco Smuggling strategy in 2009-10; [40228]
(2) how many staff of his Department were assigned to implementing the Tackling Tobacco Smuggling strategy in 2009-10; and how many such staff were engaged in (a) detection, (b) intelligence-gathering and analysis, (c) investigations and (d) the provision of legal advice; [40229]
(3) what estimate he has made of the expenditure incurred by his Department on salaries for full-time investigation staff allocated to its Tackling Tobacco Smuggling strategy for staff (a) engaged in detection, (b) engaged in investigations, (c) working on intelligence matters and (d) in total in 2009-10; [40230]
(4) what expenditure his Department incurred on publicity campaigns intended to reduce tobacco smuggling in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10. [40231]
Mr Gauke: The full-time equivalents of staff employed on tackling tobacco smuggling in detection, intelligence gathering and investigation for 2009-10 are shown as follows.
| 2009-10 | |
| Number | |
These figures represent HMRC's best estimate of the way resources were used in the year specified, bearing in mind that the work of staff employed on anti-fraud and smuggling activity often covers a number of different taxes and commodities.
Expenditure incurred on salaries for full time equivalent staff allocated to tobacco smuggling is shown in the following table.
| 2009-10 | |
| £ | |
HMRC is unable to disaggregate time spent on the provision of legal advice on tobacco from time spent on other advisory work.
HMRC incurred no expenditure on targeted media campaigns to support their anti-tobacco smuggling strategy in 2008-09. HMRC funded £170,000 for targeted media campaigns in 2009-10.
Taxation
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the public purse under each budget heading of operating (a) pay-as-you-earn, (b) self-assessment and (c) national insurance in each of the last five years. [37253]
Mr Gauke: Estimated costs are shown as follows. They cover a period of significant change for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) following the merger of Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise, and the creation of the UK Border Agency. Such structural change, combined with regular improvements to our overhead attribution methods means, year on year, overhead allocations are not consistent.
| £ million | |||||
| HMRC administrative costs | |||||
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09( 2) | 2009-10 | |
| (1 )Likely to be understated because of a change in the way data was captured following departmental restructuring. (2) Costs for 2008-09 income tax self assessment and national insurance have been revised from previous estimates as a result of a further analysis of activities. | |||||
Taxation: Aviation
Henry Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport the effect of his policy on aviation taxation on the Government's forthcoming tourism strategy; and if he will make a statement; [41001]
(2) what estimate he has made of the likely cost to the Exchequer of re-designating all Caribbean countries as band B destinations for the purposes of air passenger duty; [41002]
(3) if he will assess the effects of the implementation of the German per passenger aviation tax as part of his review of aviation taxation. [41003]
Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bedford (Richard Fuller), on 1 December 2010, Official Report, column 838W.
Taxation: Multinational Companies
Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the net effect on Inland Revenue income likely to result from his Department's (a) proposed temporary and (b) full set of controlled foreign companies tax regime; [40301]
(2) what estimate he has made of the net effect on the level of investment in the UK likely to result from his Department's (a) proposed temporary and (b) full reform of controlled foreign companies tax regulation; [40302]
(3) what assessment he has made of the compliance of his Department's (a) proposed temporary and (b) full reform of controlled foreign companies tax regulation with EU competition rules. [40303]
Mr Gauke: The Government are committed to reforming the UK's current Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) rules and has just finished consulting on draft legislation for interim improvements to the CFC rules for introduction in this year's Finance Bill. A Tax Information and Impact Note (TUN) has been published on these proposals and is available here:
The Government expect to provide further details at the Budget.
The Government are also consulting on new full CFC rules for introduction in 2012. Final decisions on detailed aspects of reform have not yet been made although the Government expects to provide further details at the Budget. Once final proposals are developed, the Government will publish a TUN on full CFC reform in line with its new approach to tax policy making.
CFC rules are anti-avoidance measures and are permitted by the EU treaty fundamental freedoms. The new UK CFC rules will be compatible with the relevant treaty obligations.
VAT: Further Education
Damian Hinds:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2011, Official Report, columns 958-59W, on further education: value added tax, what level of use of college buildings at times when they are not in use for
educational purposes by (a) voluntary sector organisations with a charge levied on a cost-recovery basis only and (b) commercial organisations with a charge levied to generate income for the support of educational activities would be permissible without invalidating an earlier zero-rating of value added tax for the construction of the buildings being used. [40315]
Mr Gauke: The construction of buildings intended for use solely for a relevant charitable purpose enjoys a zero rate of VAT. If a building ceases to be so used within 10 years of its construction, VAT is payable.
When determining whether a building is used solely for a relevant charitable purpose, other use of up to 5% is disregarded. The proportions of qualifying and non-qualifying use can be calculated by any method that is fair and reasonable.
Permitting use of the college building by a commercial organisation in return for payment is a business activity by the college and is not use for a relevant charitable purpose.
Permitting use of the college building by a voluntary sector organisation in return for a payment based on cost recovery is also considered to be a business activity, and is not use for a relevant charitable purpose, in the majority of cases.
International Development
Developing Countries: Human Trafficking
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much overseas aid was committed to the prevention of human trafficking in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [41160]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) supports the Malawi Anti-Child Trafficking Project, run by the Salvation Army. In 2009-10 the budget for this project was £85,953 and in 2010-11 it is £125,537.
DFID has also supported developing country governments' and UN agencies' anti-trafficking efforts through other projects. For example, our Bangladesh Police Reform Project supported the establishment of a specialised police unit for combating human trafficking. DFID also works to tackle the root causes of human trafficking in poor countries such as poverty, lack of economic opportunities, and social exclusion.
DFID is currently reviewing all its bilateral and multilateral aid programmes to ensure UK aid represents value for money and brings real benefit to the world's poor. Support to reduce human trafficking is included in these reviews, which will conclude by the end of February.
Overseas Aid
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Justice the allocation of aid in countries with a large number of nationals in prison in England and Wales. [41159]
Mr O'Brien: The Secretary of State for International Development has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice. UK aid is allocated on the basis of poverty reduction. We have a clear responsibility to ensure that we target our aid where it is needed the most and where it will make the most significant impact. Allocations to each country and detailed plans will be determined by the conclusions of the bilateral aid review-to be published by the end of February.
Peru: Mining
Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's policy is on the right of communities in Peru to be consulted about development projects that affect them; and if he will make a statement. [40504]
Mr Duncan: The UK Government fully recognise the right of citizens in developing countries to be consulted and informed about development projects that affect them. The Department for International Development (DFID) consults relevant stakeholders during the design of projects to take account of their views.
In Peru, DFID supports development projects through multilateral and civil society organisations (CSOs). Many of these CSOs work in close partnership with community-based organisations, supporting poor rural and urban communities to make their voice heard, influence decision-making and improve their own life.
State Visits: Costs
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on which occasions his Department has contributed to meeting the costs of a state visit to the UK by a foreign head of state in each of the last 13 years. [39909]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) was one of a number of Government Departments that part funded the Pope's
visit to the UK in 2010. This money does not constitute official development assistance and is therefore additional to the coalition Government's historic commitment to meet the 0.7% UN aid target from 2013.
DFID's central records do not hold information at this level of detail and therefore further information cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Bees: EU Action
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on proposals at EU level to improve bee health. [39381]
Mr Paice:
The European Commission (EC) issued a paper on 6 December 2010 outlining a number of initiatives to improve bee health in the EU. These were presented to the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting which I attended on 24 January. Subsequently, my officials met with their counterparts in other member states to discuss the EC's proposals on 1 February. We welcome
these initiatives and look forward to continuing these discussions over the next few months. The Hungarian presidency has highlighted bee health as one of its priority areas and its response to the EC's paper is expected in May.
Bluetongue Disease
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likelihood of a bluetongue epidemic in livestock in the UK in 2011. [40898]
Mr Paice: Reports show that the bluetongue situation in Europe appears to be considerably improving. BTV8 was previously circulating in Northern Europe, but active BTV-8 circulation has not been reported from any northern EU member state in 2010.
The UK's surveillance has found no evidence of circulation of any bluetongue serotypes in 2009 or 2010.
The risk of bluetongue 8 introduction in the UK is therefore considered to be low. The risk of other BTV serotypes entering the UK is also considered to be low.
We will continue to monitor the disease situation in the UK and the rest of Europe, and will alert industry to any change in risk.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much Barnett consequential funding her Department has provided to each devolved administration in (a) 2010-11 to date and (b) each of the last three years; and with which programmes such funding was associated. [39396]
Richard Benyon: In the 2010 spending review changes in the DEL budgets of the devolved Administrations were determined by the Barnett formula in the normal way. The settlements for the years 2011-12 to 2014-15 were published in table 2.22 of the 2010 spending review document (Cm 7942).
Barnett consequentials relating to each of the devolved Administrations for the years 2008-09 to 2010-11 are published as part of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses Supplementary Material on the Treasury's website under the heading "House of Lords Select Committee on the Barnett Formula".
Updated tables taking account of adjustments since the publication of the 2010 edition of PESA will be published alongside the next edition of PESA later this year.
Information on the block grants paid by the territorial offices to the devolved Administrations is published alongside the main and supplementary estimates.
Departmental Redundancy
Barry Gardiner:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Wallasey of 9 November 2010, Official Report, column 184W, on departmental redundancy, what (a) proportion of and
(b) amount within her budget each year of the comprehensive spending review period she has allocated for redundancies. [39055]
Richard Benyon: In autumn 2010 the Department estimated that around £190 million (2% of the overall DEFRA budget for the four-year spending review period) would be required to fund voluntary exits and redundancies.
The terms of the new Compensation Scheme were announced in December 2010. DEFRA will shortly announce a voluntary exit scheme based on these terms. Once the outcome of the scheme is known, DEFRA will consider what redundancy action is necessary. It is not possible at this stage to determine in advance the exact amount needed or cost per year as the voluntary nature of the first two stages means that until applications are made and accepted, it is not possible to determine the cost based on the profile of applicants (grade and length of service).
However, due to changes to the terms of the Compensation Scheme announced in December 2010, DEFRA is confident that the original forecast of £190 million will turn out to be an overestimate.
Departmental Termination of Employment
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials of her Department at each grade have left the civil service since 17 May 2010. [39144]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 8 February 2011]: The following table shows the number of DEFRA employees who have left the Department between 17 May 2010 and 31 January 2011. The totals exclude staff who have transferred to other Government Departments as they have not left the civil service.
| Permanent and fixed-term appointments | Short-term appointments | |||
| Grade equivalent | FTE | Headcount | FTE | Headcount |
| (1) Departures in the 'Other' category relate to 19 individuals who were made voluntarily redundant from the Food and Environment Research Agency as part of a TUPE transfer and as such were never formally allocated grades. | ||||
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff of (a) Natural England, (b) the Environment Agency and (c) the Forestry Commission have left those bodies since 17 May 2010. [39145]
Richard Benyon
[holding answer 8 February 2011]: 142 people left Natural England and 889 people left the Environment Agency between 17 May 2010 and 31 January
2011. The figures include those staff who were on the payroll of the organisations and exclude employment agency temporary staff and contractors.
The Forestry Commission is a Great Britain cross-border non-ministerial department, not a DEFRA agency and is funded by and reports separately to the devolved administrations as forestry is a devolved matter. I will ask the Director General of the Forestry Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
Departmental Video Recordings
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on the production of video footage in which Ministers appear since 11 May 2010; what the cost of each video was; and for what purpose each piece of footage was used. [40293]
Richard Benyon: Since 11 May 2010 there has been no expenditure on the productions of video footage in which Ministers appear. Where videos have been produced they have used existing in-house resources and have been messages to staff-available through the Department's intranet-or ministerial speeches at events and in support policy announcements-available on YouTube.
Fisheries
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what financial assistance her Department plans to provide to increase the number of boats in the UK fishing fleet with on-board CCTV installed in each of the next four years; [39539]
(2) what her Department's policy is on the relative merits of (a) landing-based fish quotas and (b) a catch-based quota system. [39541]
Richard Benyon: The UK has been trialling a catch quota management system verified by on-board remote electronic monitoring. Under this system, all fish caught, including juveniles, count against quota and fishermen have to stop fishing once the quota is reached. Total mortality is fixed under this system, unlike a landings based quota which simply limits the amount of fish that can be landed. The results of the North sea cod trial run in 2010 were very promising and indicate that this system can significantly reduce discards. We are running a further trial this year with more vessels and different stocks, and the evidence collected is being used to influence the reform of the common fisheries policy.
The UK sees moving to a system of catch quotas as key in our fight against discards. We envisage this operating within a regionalised framework-where those closest to the fishery have the flexibility to use catch quotas, and a range of innovative discard measures appropriate to local conditions.
Presently, the cost of the catch quota technology is met by the Government. However, in future years, and as the scheme expands further, we will consider what part the industry should play in helping to meet these costs.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the proportion of fisheries within UK waters which are over-exploited. [39542]
Richard Benyon: The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) provides scientific advice on fish stocks in European waters. ICES classifies a stock's status by looking at the proportion of the stock removed each year through fishing, in comparison with agreed reference levels. These reference levels include the precautionary level (Fpa) and the level that produces the maximum sustainable yield (Fmsy).
Based on the most recent ICES advice (from 2010) for 52 stocks of UK interest, information on exploitation relative to precautionary reference points is available for 15 stocks, of which 67% are considered to be harvested sustainably. Information on exploitation relative to maximum sustainable yield criteria is available for 19 stocks, of which 42% are harvested at the level that will produce maximum long term yield.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the species of fish in UK fisheries which are over-exploited; and what assessment she has made of the extent of over-exploitation in each case. [39543]
Richard Benyon: The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) provides scientific advice on fish stocks in European waters. The extent to which any individual stock can be considered to be over-exploited can be described in terms of both whether it is being harvested sustainably (a measure of fishing pressure), and whether it is suffering reduced reproductive capacity (a measure of the number of mature fish). Based on the most recent ICES advice, this information is available for 23 stocks of UK interest, 12 of which are considered to be overexploited either due to the number of fish being below the precautionary level or fishing pressure being too high. The classifications of these stocks are indicated as follows:
Stocks which are at full reproductive capacity but are being harvested unsustainably
Sole, Eastern channel
Mackerel, North East Atlantic
Stocks which are at risk of suffering reduced reproductive c apacity
Herring, North sea
Sole, North sea
Plaice, Western channel
Plaice, Celtic sea
Stocks which are suffering reduced reproductive capacity:
Cod, North sea
Cod, West of Scotland
Haddock, West of Scotland
Cod, Irish sea
Sole, Irish sea
Blue Whiting, combined areas.
Fishing Catches
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the European Commission on the catch levels applicable to fishing vessels registered in the EU. [40686]
Richard Benyon: I led the UK delegation at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 13 to 14 December where catch limits for EU vessels in 2011 were discussed. The negotiations resulted in a number of significant gains for all four parts of the UK on the original Commission proposals, striking an appropriate balance between needing to conserve fish stocks for the future and maintaining the economic viability of the UK industry. I have prepared a detailed summary of the outcome, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
Fishing Vessels
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial assistance her Department plans to provide to increase the number of boats in the UK fishing fleet using netting which diminishes the levels of fish discards in each of the next four years. [39540]
Richard Benyon: The Government aim to continue reducing discards from the UK fishing fleet. We actively support and encourage innovation and uptake of more selective fishing gears by fishing vessels.
Fishermen are eligible to apply to the Marine Management Organisation for matched funding from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) in order to develop or purchase more selective gear types. Applications to the Fund should actively support the aims and objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy and fishing sustainably from the marine environment.
In addition, on the 15 November 2010, £1 million (EFF and matched funding) was made specifically available to the English inshore fleet to encourage innovative projects, with one theme being environmentally sustainable fishing. Applications for this fund should be made before 31 March 2011, although supporting innovation remains a key objective of the EFF.
Forestry Commission: Bristol
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the change in the number of posts in the Bristol office of the Forestry Commission as a result of Government proposals on the sale of forests. [39327]
Mr Paice: We are currently consulting on the future ownership and management of the public forest estate in England. The consultation document also sets out a future focus for the Forestry Commission in England. It is too early to say what the impact may be on staff based in the England National Office in Bristol. Quite separately, the Forestry Commission is also consulting staff on new structures in response to the spending review.
Forestry Commission: Land
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she proposes to introduce conditions to the sale of the forest estate to restrict its future use to arboreal purposes. [38582]
Mr Paice: I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State's written statement of 11 February 2011, Official Report, column 21WS.
To restrict future use of the public forest estate to arborial purposes would mean that facilities like mountain bike trails and visitor centres which provide considerable public benefits would no longer be permitted. Our commitment is to protect the public benefits that are currently provided by the public forest estate. The consultation on the future ownership and management of the public forest estate sets out and invites views on the proposals for protecting these benefits as well as for future ownership and management models. The protection of public benefits is a key factor in the criteria governing sales that are completed before the consultation is concluded.
Forests
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the volume of wood consumed in the UK was placed on the market from the public forest estate in the latest period for which figures are available. [39130]
Mr Paice [holding answer 8 February 2011]: The apparent consumption of wood in the UK in 2009 measured as wood raw material equivalent underbark (volume of wood excluding the bark) and reported in Forestry Statistics 2010 was 43.8 million cubic metres.
Production from the Forestry Commission public forest estate in England in 2009 was estimated as 1.26 million cubic metres underbark, in Scotland 2.72 million cubic metres underbark and in Wales 0.71 cubic metres underbark. In total 4.69 million cubic metres underbark, less than 11% of apparent UK consumption.
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what volume of timber (a) of each species and (b) from each forest in the public forest estate in England was placed on the market in the latest period for which figures are available; and what average price was achieved in each case. [39301]
Mr Paice [holding answer 8 February 2011]: The following table lists volume of timber harvested (by direct production and by standing sales), and the combined average price achieved in each Forestry Commission Forest District for the 2009-10 financial year. Figures are not held for individual species.
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