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17 Feb 2011 : Column 920W—continued
Depleted Uranium
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many depleted uranium shells were fired into the Irish sea from ranges operated by his Department in each year since 2007. [40995]
Nick Harvey: 20 depleted uranium shells were test-fired from the Ministry of Defence-owned Kirkcudbright Range (in Scotland) into the Solway Firth, which feeds into the Irish sea, on 11 and 12 March 2008. No other depleted uranium test firings have taken place since.
Munitions
Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much his Department expects to spend on loitering munitions in 2010-11; [41046]
(2) whether he is reviewing his Department's contracts for loitering munitions; [41047]
(3) what discussions his Department is having with defence contractors responsible for loitering munitions; [41049]
(4) if he will make it his policy to announce any changes to contracts for procurement of loitering munitions between his Department and defence contractors. [41050]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence expects to spend some £50 million on loitering munitions during the financial year 2010-11.
As part of normal business, we conduct regular and ongoing engagements with prime contractors, including MBDA for the supply of loitering munitions.
There are currently no plans to review contracts for loitering munitions. However, as part of our wider contract renegotiating strategy, all major equipment procurements will be reviewed for possible savings measures.
The Department's approach to announcing any contractual changes relating to loitering munitions will continue to be subject to the usual processes and conditions governing the procurement of war-like stores.
Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimates his Department has made on potential cost savings in the procurement of loitering munitions equipment. [41048]
Peter Luff: The United Kingdom's loitering munition capability is currently being procured as part of the Department's wider portfolio approach towards acquiring complex weapons. This approach was launched in April 2010 and will secure significant efficiencies of some £1.2 billion across the breadth of the complex weapons portfolio over the next 10 years and is designed to meet the United Kingdom's military requirement and safeguard our operational sovereignty.
Nimrod Aircraft
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what airborne (a) electronic intelligence and (b) intelligence, surveillance, target co-operation and reconnaissance capability will remain to HM Armed Forces after the withdrawal of the Nimrod R1; when the Nimrod R1 will be withdrawn; and if he will make a statement. [39760]
Peter Luff: After the withdrawal of the Nimrod R1 on 31 March 2011 the following airborne intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance capabilities will remain available to assist our armed forces: Sentry, Sentinel, Tornado GR 4 when fitted with a RAPTOR or Litening III pod, Typhoon when fitted with a Litening III pod, Sea King Mk7, Reaper Remotely Piloted Air System and Hermes 450 UAS.
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many specialist RAF personnel formally employed on the MRA4 project will be (a) retained and (b) made redundant. [39761]
Peter Luff:
At the time of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) announcement there were approximately 242 RAF personnel directly involved in the MRA4 project. The number of Nimrod-related personnel to be made redundant under the Regular Armed Forces Redundancy Programme will not be known until the process has concluded. In line with normal practice, where a role comes to an end, the RAF will seek to reassign Nimrod-related personnel elsewhere
within the service. However, in order to sustain the long-term balance and structure of the RAF, while implementing personnel reductions planned as part of SDSR, some personnel may be made redundant. We will seek to achieve this through voluntary applications, but it may be necessary to make some reductions through compulsory redundancies.
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason the physical destruction of the MRA4 airframes was initiated; and by whom the decision was taken to release images of this process to the media. [39762]
Peter Luff: Having taken the decision not to bring the Nimrod MR4A into service, I considered a range of options and concluded that the most cost-effective one was for the nine aircraft to be disposed of following recovery of equipment and systems that can be used elsewhere.
Photographs of the dismantling process were not released by the Ministry of Defence to the media.
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to preserve the (a) airborne and (b) ground-based components of the EL/8300 Electronic Support Measures system, together with other equipment formerly intended for the MRA4; what assessment he has made of the possibility of using such equipment in conjunction with alternative platforms; and if he will make a statement. [39763]
Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 January 2011, Official Report, column 1024W, to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson).
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the cancelled MRA4 aircraft had been flown; and how many flights in total had been undertaken. [39764]
Peter Luff: At the time of the decision not to bring the Nimrod MRA4 into service, only two of the nine production aircraft (PA04 and PA05) had flown. PA04 had completed 16 flights and PA05 had completed two flights. Both aircraft were piloted by BAE Systems crew and the Ministry of Defence had yet to complete its formal scrutiny of the aircraft design to allow the aircraft to enter into RAF service.
Nuclear Submarines
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of items for propulsion for the first three boats to be purchased ahead of the Trident replacement main gate decision. [40546]
Nick Harvey: The programme to replace the Vanguard class of submarines has yet to enter the assessment phase. During this phase a number of long-lead items relating to propulsion will be ordered so as not to put at risk the in-service date of the Trident replacement. Final decisions on exactly what long-lead items will be required, and when, have yet to be taken.
The value of these long-lead items will be dependent on the work programme to be approved at initial gate. Moreover, we do not routinely publish figures for anticipated project expenditure as to do so would prejudice commercial interests.
Nuclear Weapons
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the status is of those contracts for long-lead items for the Trident replacement programme that were suspended in May 2010 pending the result of the value for money review. [40530]
Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence had no such contracts in place. An order worth approximately $3 million, placed on behalf of the United Kingdom between the United States Government and a United States supplier for materials related to propulsion, was deferred. Following the Value for Money review, which re-iterated our commitment to a replacement nuclear deterrent programme, the order was placed in November 2010.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by what date it will be necessary to make long-lead purchases prior to the Trident replacement main gate decision. [40550]
Nick Harvey: Contracts will be placed at the appropriate times throughout the assessment phase for those long-lead items that are included in initial gate to ensure we meet the in-service date of the Trident replacement.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for Parliamentary scrutiny of the Trident replacement programme prior to the main gate decision. [40551]
Nick Harvey: The Main Gate decision for the programme to replace the Vanguard class is expected to take place during the next Parliament. Therefore it will be for the next Government to decide on the parliamentary engagement required prior to Main Gate.
Strategic Defence and Security Review
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from whom his Department received written submissions to the Strategic Defence and Security Review. [41573]
Dr Fox: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 3 November 2010, Official Report, column 856W, to the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (Jonathan Edwards) and 20 December 2010, Official Report, column 993W, to the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones).
Deputy Prime Minister
Prime Minister
Mr Bone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what responsibilities he has in the event that the Prime Minister is incapacitated and unable to carry out his duties. [34017]
The Deputy Prime Minister: The Prime Minister remains Prime Minister at all times but arrangements, appropriate at the time, would be put in place as necessary, as has been the practice under successive Administrations.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Animal Products: Clones
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is on the use of the offspring of cloned animals in food production. [40835]
Mr Paice: The Food Standards Agency's (FSA's) current interpretation of the EU Novel Foods Regulation is that approval should be sought before food from the offspring of cloned animals can be sold for human consumption. However, the European Commission interprets the legislation as applying only to food from cloned animals themselves.
The Board of the FSA discussed animal cloning at its open meeting on 7 December and subsequently advised Ministers that there were no food safety grounds for regulating foods from the descendants of cloned cattle and pigs and that it was minded to change its interpretation of the legislation. The FSA sought the views of interested parties on changing its interpretation, with a closing date of 10 February, and is currently considering responses from interested parties.
For the future, the Government shares the Commission's view that there should be no restrictions on the use of offspring of cloned animals.
Animal Welfare
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on promotion of the neutering of cats and dogs by their owners. [39463]
Mr Paice: The statutory Codes of Practice on the Welfare of Cats and Dogs, made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and providing owners with information on how to meet the welfare needs of their animals, explain the benefits of having cats and dogs neutered and the drawbacks of not doing so. The Codes, together with the regular neutering promotion campaigns by animal welfare organisations, provide owners with ample opportunities to learn more about and take advantage of neutering their cat or dog.
Animal Welfare: Circuses
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to announce proposals arising from her Department's public consultation on the use of wild animals in circuses. [40268]
Mr Paice
[holding answer 15 February 2011]: We are currently considering the 13,000 or so responses to our consultation on the use of wild animals in circuses before we publish a summary. In the meantime, Lord Henley has been meeting with representatives of welfare
groups and the circus industry. An industry body has proposed a self-regulatory system, but no final decisions have yet been made.
Arctic Resources
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to call for (a) an end to the exploitation of Arctic resources and (b) no further resource extraction to be permitted in the Arctic region until the completion of research into the potential risks of such extraction; and if she will work with her European counterparts to develop a co-ordinated EU policy to this effect. [41578]
Charles Hendry: I have been asked to reply.
No. We fully recognise the need to ensure protection of the Arctic region, while also noting that environmentally sensitive exploitation of its oil and gas resources has the potential to play an important role in the UK's and wider global energy security. Decisions on resource extraction in the region are also primarily a matter for the Arctic states concerned. We therefore support such extraction so long as robust environmental and safety standards are applied.
Birds
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the (a) effects of and (b) factors underlying the decline in the size of the songbird population. [41500]
Richard Benyon: We have not commissioned a specific study to assess the effects of songbird population declines. Ecosystems and their constituent species provide human societies with 'ecosystem services', such as the regulation of pollution, provision of clean water, food, recreation and general well-being. Species interactions within ecosystems are complex and so declines in songbird populations may affect the services delivered. The UK's National Ecosystem Assessment is an independent assessment of the ecosystem services we get from nature, how they have changed over the last 50 years and how the choices we make may affect them in the future. The assessment is due to report in spring 2011 and will inform the development of the Natural Environment White Paper.
The reasons for the long-term declines in songbirds vary from species to species but in farmland habitats are relatively well understood and relate largely to the intensification of agriculture, such as the loss of spring-sown crops, weedy stubbles and hedges and the increased use of pesticides and fertilizers. These changes have reduced the availability of nest sites and food resources such as insects and seeds.
Declines in other habitats are less well understood and we are funding ongoing research on woodland birds. Also through our conservation advisers, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, in partnership with bird conservation and research charities, we fund the majority of the monitoring that is summarised in the annual publication of the State of UK Birds which gives an overview of the recent patterns of change and the latest research to understand the underlying factors.
Circuses: Animal Welfare
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to publish the conclusions of the review of the use of wild animals in circuses. [41117]
Mr Paice: We are currently considering the 13,000 or so responses to our consultation on the use of wild animals in circuses before we publish a summary. In the meantime, Lord Henley has been meeting with representatives of welfare groups and the circus industry.
Common Fisheries Policy
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she plans to have with the European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries on fish discards. [39387]
Richard Benyon: The UK is committed to reducing discards which are a clear waste of natural resources. This position is shared with Commissioner Damanaki (Maritime Affairs and Fisheries) who has publicly committed to tackling this unsustainable practice.
The UK is at the forefront of tackling discards, taking action domestically and by working to identify solutions at an EU level. We have undertaken a number of initiatives that have delivered excellent results. Project 50%, a collaborative project between fishermen and Government saw discards in the South West sole fishery reduced by over 50%. We are also pioneering an alternative "catch quota" management system which is based on managing and monitoring what is caught not just what is landed. Cod discards by those vessels in the trial have been reduced significantly as participants have been incentivised to fish much more selectively.
The common fisheries policy contributes significantly to the problem of discards and it is essential that it is fundamentally reformed. I have made this clear in my discussions with the Commissioner and am ensuring that crucial evidence gathered from the UK's discard reduction work is being used to influence and shape reform. I will be meeting the Commissioner and other European Ministers again on 1 March at a Discards summit; this will be another excellent opportunity for the UK to steer thinking and to pursue its aim of working to end this wasteful practice.
Dairy Farming
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dairy farms there are in England; and what the average subsidy paid to each farm was in the latest period for which figures are available. [41118]
Mr Paice: Data from the June survey indicates that there were 9,739 dairy farms in England in 2009.
Data from the Farm Business Survey for dairy farms in England shows that during the 12-month period ending February 2010, the average level of total support payment received by dairy farmers was £32,300. This figure includes an average 2009 single farm payment of £27,300 and agri-environment scheme payments which
averaged just under £4,000 per farm. The remaining £1,000 comprised compensation for bovine tuberculosis and some other smaller payments.
Dangerous Dogs
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the annual cost to her Department was of kennelling dogs seized (a) by Merseyside Police and (b) nationally in 2010. [40341]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 11 February 2011]: No costs are incurred by DEFRA in respect of kennelling seized dogs. These costs are borne by the relevant police authority.
Departmental Information Officers
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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) her Department, (ii) its agencies and (iii) each other non-departmental public body sponsored by her Department on the most recent date for which figures are available. [38954]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 9 February 2011]: Communication structures in DEFRA, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies are currently being reviewed and the sizes of teams are changing. For example, by 1 April 2011 the Environment Agency will have reduced communication directorate staff numbers by approximately 30%.
The information set out in the following table was provided for a cross-Government exercise co-ordinated by Cabinet Office and HMT in March 2010. Job descriptions will vary from organisation to organisation.
Detailed figures relating to smaller arm's length bodies are not held centrally and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.
| Number | |
|
Other communication positions includes managerial and support staff | |
Dogs: Electric Shock Equipment
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by what date she expects her Department's research project on the implications for the welfare of dogs of electric shock collars to be completed; and what plans she has to publish recommendations arising from the project. [39462]
Mr Paice: DEFRA's study into the effect of pet training aids, specifically remote static pulse systems, on the welfare of domestic dogs will be completed later this year. As with all research, findings must be subject to peer review before publication takes place.
Forests
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which sites sold by the Forestry Commission in each constituency have been sold since May 2010; what the size was of each such site; and how much funding was raised from each sale. [40424]
Mr Paice: In May 2010 Ministers inherited a programme of forestry sales from the financial year 2010-11 which had already commenced. Both the criteria and list were drawn up by the previous administration. The coalition Government has committed to review the safeguards that are in place in order to secure public benefits. Accordingly the coalition Government has suspended the 2011-12 sales programme in order to ensure adequate protections are in place.
The Forestry Commission does not record sales by constituency. The following table gives details, by county, of land sold by the Forestry Commission since May 2010.
| Date of Sale | Wood name | County | AREA (ha) | Selling price (£) |
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the contribution to biodiversity of established conifer plantations owned and managed by the Forestry Commission. [40899]
Mr Paice [holding answer 14 February 2011]: The publication 'Biodiversity in Britain's Planted Forests' (2003) brings together results from the Forestry Commission's Biodiversity Assessment Project to provide an in-depth assessment of the contribution of coniferous forests to biodiversity.
The Forestry Commission's Forest Design Planning process makes assessment of all areas of the public forest estate including many nationally and internationally important areas of coniferous forest.
Forests: Deer
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects on the welfare of deer of the implementation of her proposals for the disposal of Forestry Commission land. [39546]
Mr Paice: Deer occur in most woodland. The Deer Initiative, a broad stakeholder partnership, promotes best practice in deer management and offers advice to all landowners on this. The Forestry Commission England remains committed to continuing its support for the Deer Initiative.
Gangmasters Licensing Authority: Finance
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department has allocated to the Gangmasters Licensing Authority over the Comprehensive Spending Review period. [40601]
Mr Paice: The indicative annual funding(1) allocations notified to the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) for the spending review period total £4.2 million in 2011-12, £4.0 million in 2012-13, £4.0 million in 2013-14 and £3.9 million in 2014-15, as set out in the following table.
Indicative funding for 2011-12 remains at the same level as for 2010-11, and over the following three years, the proposed funding for enforcement carried out by GLA on behalf of Defra will remain at £2.6 million. However, the Grant in Aid provided to fund the cost of operating the GLA licensing scheme will be reduced annually so that by 2014-15 it will be approximately £0.35 million less than in 2011-12.
The notification to GLA is on the basis that the resource allocations may need to be adjusted in the light of circumstances over the spending review period; and that commitments for 2011-12 should for now be held to 95% of the indicated allocation.
| £ million | |||
| Financial year | Grant in Aid | Enforcement | Total |
This information is also available on the Defra website at:
(1 )All figures rounded to the nearest £100,000.
Inland Waterways: Avon
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent progress has been made in consideration of the application for cruiseway status for the Kennet and Avon Canal. [41562]
Richard Benyon:
British Waterways has applied for a ministerial order under section 104(3) of the Transport Act 1968 (the Act) to be made in order to reclassify the 'remainder' parts of the Kennet and Avon canal to become a cruising waterway. Following public consultation as required under the Act, two objections to the order were received. A response from British Waterways to the issues raised in the objections was sought, and this was sent by DEFRA on 20 January 2011 to the bodies who had objected, with a request for them to confirm whether they would be content to withdraw their objections or to make any further comments. Responses have only just been received confirming neither objection had
been withdrawn. A decision by the Secretary of State on whether to allow the application for an order by British Waterways will be made in due course.
Irish Sea: Pollution
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many incidents of ships illegally flushing their tanks in the Irish sea were reported to her Department in each of the past 10 years. [41036]
Mike Penning: I have been asked to reply.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has not received any direct reports relating to incidents of ships illegally flushing tanks in the Irish sea over the last 10 years.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many oil spills or leaks in the Irish Sea have been reported to her Department in each of the past 10 years; and what the type of leak was in each case. [41040]
Richard Benyon: Since 1 April 2010, the Marine Management Organisation has dealt with marine pollution incidents on behalf of DEFRA. DEFRA/MMO records for marine pollution go back to 2004, however, until January 2010 information such as location, quantity and source were not recorded for all spills. The following table shows data for the Irish sea from 2010:
| Date | Location | Source | Type | Quantity |
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), acting on behalf of the Department for Transport, collects more detailed data on marine oil spills. The MCA commission the Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea (ACOPS) to produce annual surveys of marine pollution attributed to shipping or offshore installations. These reports contain detailed information which is broken down by region (the Irish sea is one such region). The ACOPS reports are available online at:
National Nature Reserves
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had on the potential sale of National Nature Reserves. [41389]
Richard Benyon: Natural England has been investigating different management options for National Nature Reserves and Ministers have had a number of discussions with officials, Natural England and non-governmental organisations at which these have been covered.
Noise: National Policy Statements
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ilford North of 26 January 2011, Official Report, column 522W, on local authorities: antisocial behaviour, what progress her Department has made in implementing the Noise Policy Statement for England. [40314]
Richard Benyon: The Government's policy on noise is set out in the Noise Policy Statement for England (NPSE) which was published in March 2010. It contains the high level vision of promoting good health and good quality of life (well being) through the effective management of noise. It is supported by three aims and together they provide the necessary clarity and direction to enable decisions to be made in any particular situation, both nationally and locally, regarding what is an acceptable noise burden to place on society.
Implementation of the policy will increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the management of noise and will reduce the circumstances where noise has a significant adverse impact on health and well being.
To implement this, officials have been working closely with other Government Departments to ensure the NPSE is reflected in relevant policies. For example, the consultation documents for the Public Health White Paper, "Proposals for a Public Health Outcomes Framework" and the Local Transport White Paper all contain references to the NPSE.
Officials have also been working with other stakeholders to demonstrate how the NPSE can enable decisions to be made regarding what is an acceptable noise burden to place on society, at a local level.
Palm Oil Crops
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with Wetlands International on the effect of the growth of palm oil crops on biodiversity. [41253]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA records show that the Department has not held any discussions with Wetlands International on the effect of the growth of palm oil crops on biodiversity.
Pets
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the number of dogs and cats available for sale (a) through classified advertisements and (b) via online sources in the latest period for which figures are available. [41255]
Mr Paice: We have no current plans to assess the number of dogs and cats available for sale through classified advertisements or via online sources. The independent Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG), consisting of representatives from animal welfare organisations, media publishing companies, industry, DEFRA and the police, have provided sound advice for both advertisers of pets for sale (in the press and on the internet) and potential new owners. The group also facilitates enforcement action where appropriate. More information about PAAG can be found at:
Rabbits
Mr Bain:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her
Department plans to publish a code of practice on the welfare of pet rabbits. [41254]
Mr Paice: We have no current plans to publish a code of practice on the welfare of pet rabbits. We consider that the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to provide for the welfare needs of animals are sufficient to ensure the necessary protection for the welfare of pet rabbits.
Squirrels
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many licences were issued by Natural England for the release of grey squirrels into the wild in each year since 2008. [39904]
Richard Benyon: The number of licences issued by Natural England for the release of grey squirrels into the wild in each year since 2008 is given in the following table.
| Purpose | |||||
| Applications | Licences granted | Rehabilitation | Animal welfare | Scientific research | |
Waste Disposal: Devonport Dockyard
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish copies of written communications from her Department to the Ministry of Defence on the decision of the South West Waste Partnership (a) to site a waste to energy plant in Devonport Naval Base and (b) link the power so provided to Babcock Marine. [39857]
Richard Benyon: It is not normal practice to publish written communications between Government Departments (either on our website, or through other general media channels), although these are often released to the public as part of a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
In the interest of open Government, if the hon. Member informs me of any specific questions she has about the project, I will endeavour to answer them.
International Development
Sri Lanka: Internally Displaced People
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the development implications of the displacement of people in northern and eastern Sri Lanka following the creation of High Security Zones. [41060]
Mr Duncan: We are aware of the creation of high security zones in some parts of northern and eastern Sri Lanka which had originally been occupied by people displaced by conflict. It is important that effective arrangements are made to provide fair, adequate and timely compensation to displaced people who are unable to return to their original home and land.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of humanitarian conditions for internally displaced people in government-controlled camps in Sri Lanka. [41061]
Mr Duncan: Department for International Development (DFID) officials visited the camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Sri Lanka in November 2010. Since the end of the conflict in May 2009, the situation of IDPs has improved significantly. The number of people in the camps has reduced from about 300,000 to about 18,000. It is expected that most of those remaining will leave the camps during this year and return to their home.
Sudan: Overseas Aid
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what humanitarian assistance his Department is providing to northern Sudan. [41541]
Mr Andrew Mitchell:
There are serious humanitarian challenges in northern Sudan, particularly in the Darfur region, the three Eastern States (Red Sea, Kassala, and
Gedaref) and in the Three Areas (Blue Nile, Southern Kordofan, and Abyei). The UK's biggest contribution to humanitarian assistance in Sudan is through the UN-managed Common Humanitarian Fund. In 2009 (which is the last year for which we have confirmed results), the UK's assistance to the Common Humanitarian Fund provided emergency shelter and essential household items for two million people, sustained a water supply to 725,000 people, delivered antenatal care for 100,000 pregnant women in Darfur, and rehabilitated eight primary health care centres serving more than 500,000 people. The UK delivers further humanitarian assistance in northern Sudan through our partnerships with NGOs such as MedAir International. For example, in the last six months of 2010, MedAir delivered 4,291 Safe Delivery Packs for pregnant women in West Darfur and Southern Kordofan.
United Nations
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the steps taken by the UN to improve its response to natural disasters; and if he will make a statement. [41638]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK Government remain committed to supporting the further strengthening of the international humanitarian system. The Department for International Development (DFID) has commissioned two major reviews which will help establish the UK's future approach when responding to natural disasters. The Multilateral Aid Review (MAR) is assessing value for money of UK contributions to multilateral organisations, including UN agencies and others covering humanitarian and disaster risk reduction issues, while the Humanitarian Emergency Response Review (HERR), an independent review assessing the UK's own humanitarian emergency response capability, will offer some reflections on our partnership with UN agencies during emergency responses. The conclusions of the MAR will be announced in the coming weeks and those of the HERR by the end of March.
DFID has also supported the development and implementation of the Central Humanitarian Response Fund (CERF) five-year evaluation and the second evaluation of country level Common Humanitarian Funds (CHF) in Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic.
World Bank
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking with his international counterparts to reform the World Bank; and if he will make a statement. [41637]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Our close cooperation with international counterparts secured an International Development Association (IDA) replenishment that led to a number of commitments by the World Bank to reform its effectiveness. These include a stronger focus on results, improvements to the way in which the bank assists fragile and conflict-affected states, improving its approach to the needs of girls and women, and the establishment of a crisis response facility to help poor countries facing shocks.
The Multilateral Aid Review (MAR) that is being carried out by my Department is assessing the effectiveness and value for money provided by multilateral organisations including the World Bank. It is identifying additional areas for reforms. We have worked closely with our international counterparts on this, and will continue to do so in supporting the bank to make further progress in these areas. I will announce the results of the MAR in the coming weeks.
Home Department
Crimes of Violence: Females
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women who were the victims of (a) wounding and (b) grievous bodily harm had been previously stalked or harassed by the perpetrator in each year since 1998. [41493]
James Brokenshire: The information requested is not available centrally as police recorded crime data does not contain this level of detail.
The Government are committed to tackling all forms of violence against women and girls, including stalking, and published their vision and guiding principles in this area on 25 November 2010. A detailed range of supporting actions, including those on tackling stalking, will be published in the spring.
Drugs: Crime
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) cost and (b) outcomes for levels of drug crime in South Wales were of Operation Tarian. [40353]
James Brokenshire: Tarian's costs in 2009-10 totalled £5.3 million, £1.8 million of which was funded through direct grant from the Home Office.
Tarian has been responsible for a number of notable successes in recent years and for tackling increasing levels of criminality that exceed the capability and capacity of forces acting alone, making a substantial impact on the flow of drugs into South Wales and the finances of the organised crime groups operating within this area. Through its work there has been a substantial increase in understanding of the threat to South Wales from serious and organised crime. Tarian has reported that between 2005-06 and 2008-09, its Regional Task Force carried out over 100 operations/seizures, disrupted or dismantled over 70 organised crime groups and seized over 20 kg of heroin/cocaine. In 2010, Operation "Texas" tackled an organised crime group operating in South Wales, resulting in 11 defendants charged and 17.5 kg of heroin seized-the largest ever seizure of its kind in Welsh policing history.
Since the addition to Tarian of a Regional Asset Recovery Team, the value of confiscation and cash forfeiture orders made to date is in excess of £22.5 million, of which £13.4 million has been collected.
Police: Finance
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was allocated to police forces by central Government in each year since 2005-06. [37716]
Mrs May [holding answer 1 February 2011]: The information requested is shown in the following table.
| England and Wales | |||
| £ billion | |||
| Financial year | Revenue funding and specific grants | Capital grant funding | Total grant funding |
| (1) Totals are calculated with un-round numbers. In some cases they are not the sum of the rounded components. Note: From 2006-07 funding for pensions and security funding became specific grants, and no longer part of general grant. | |||
Figures comprise the Home Office police grant and certain specific grants and capital provision, and also the revenue support grant and national non-domestic rates (both provided by the Department for Communities and Local Government).
UK Border Agency: Peterborough City Council
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what services were provided to Peterborough City Council by the UK Border Agency at a cost of £27,000 as published on the Council's website on 10 February 2011; and if she will make a statement. [41639]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency funds local authorities for caring for unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) or, in certain circumstances, the same children once they reach 18 years of age. The payment referred to on the Peterborough city council website of £27,983 to the UK Border Agency relates to a repayment of UASC grant money following the end of year reconciliation for 2009-10. The payment was made on 11 January 2010.
Cabinet Office
Average Earnings
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average gap between the earnings per hour of a full-time (a) female and (b) male worker was in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii) 2000 and (iv) 2010. [40800]
Mr Hurd [holding answer 14 February 2011]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the average gap between the earnings per hour of a full-time (a) female and (b) male worker was in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii) 2000 and (iv) 2010. (40800).
Average levels of earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and prior to 1997 from the New Earnings Survey (NES). They are carried out in April each year and are the most comprehensive source of earnings
information. The coverage of the survey was extended in ASHE from Great Britain to United Kingdom.
ONS's headline estimates of gender pay differences are based on median hourly earnings excluding overtime, but this measure is not available prior to 1997. Prior to 1997, estimates are only available for mean hourly earnings (excluding overtime) of full-time employees in Great Britain. Therefore, in order to achieve continuity of the earnings estimates used over the time period requested, mean hourly earnings (excluding overtime) in Great Britain has been used to answer this question.
I therefore attach a table showing the gender pay gap in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii) 2000 and (iv) 2010 for mean hourly earnings excluding overtime for all full-time male and female employees on adult rates of pay, whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence, in Great Britain.
| Mean hourly pay excluding overtime earnings-gender pay gap for full-time employee jobs( 1) : April 1980,1990, 2000 and 2010 in Great Britain | |||
| All full-time male (£) | All full-time female (£) | Gender pay gap (percentage) | |
| (1) Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence. Source: 1980 and 1990, New Earnings Survey (NES), Office for National Statistics. 2000 and 2001, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), Office for National Statistics. | |||
Businesses: Bexley
Mr Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many new business start-ups there were in Bexley in each of the last three years. [39934]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many new business start-ups there were in Bexley in each of the last three years. [39934]
Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births are available from 2002 onwards in the ONS release on Business Demography at:
The table below contains the latest statistics, which show the number of enterprise births in Bexley for 2007, 2008 and 2009.
| Enterprise births in Bexley , 2007-09 | |
| Number | |
Infant Mortality
John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the (a) neonatal, (b) infant and (c) child mortality rates (i) at Doncaster hospital, (ii) at Bassetlaw hospital, (iii) in the Yorkshire strategic health authority area, (iv) at Huddersfield hospital and (v) nationally were in each of the last five years. [39875]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the (a) neonatal, (b) infant and (c) child mortality rates (i) at Doncaster Hospital, (ii) at Bassetlaw Hospital, (iii) in the Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority area, (iv) at Huddersfield Hospital and (v) nationally were in each of the last five years. [39875].
Table 1 attached provides the (a) neonatal, (b) infant and (c) child mortality rates for the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority and for England and Wales. Figures are for 2004-09, the most recent period for which figures are available.
Due to the sensitive nature of infant deaths and the risk of identifying individuals, ONS does not publish infant or child mortality figures by individual hospitals or groups of hospitals. Further it is not possible for ONS to calculate mortality rates for patients within individual hospitals or groups of hospitals, as there are no readily available data for the denominator populations.
Further information on infant and child mortality statistics is published on the Office for National Statistics website:
and
Life Expectancy: Females
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of women currently aged 56 are forecast to live to the age of (a) 65, (b) 70, (c) 80 and (d) 100. [41450]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what proportion of women aged 56 are forecast to live to the age of (a) 65, (b) 70, (c) 80 and (d) 100 (41450).
The Office for National Statistics publishes life tables for the United Kingdom and its constituent countries.
The table below gives the projected proportion for women aged 56 in 2010, resident in the United Kingdom, who will survive to ages 65, 70, 80 and 100 taking into account assumed future improvements in mortality.
| Age | Year attains age | Percentage |
Older Workers
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the labour market participation rate is for (a) women and (b) men aged (i) between 50 and 55 and (ii) between 56 and 60 years. [40177]
Mr Hurd [holding answer 11 February 2011]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the labour market participation rate is for (a) women and (b) men aged (i) between 50 and 55 and (ii) between 56 and 60 years. 40177
The labour market participation rate is measured using the Labour Force Survey and is the proportion of people who are economically active. The information requested is shown in the attached table. In accordance with the International Labour Organization (ILO) definition, people are classed as economically active if they are either in employment or unemployed.
| Economic activity rate, by age group and sex, three months ending September 2010, United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted | ||||
| Percentage | ||||
| Male | Female | |||
| Aged 50-55 | Aged 56-60 | Aged 50-55 | Aged 56-60 | |
| Source: Labour Force Survey. | ||||
Personal Income
Mr Meacher: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the level of household personal disposable income (a) at current prices and (b) in real terms in each year since 1981; and what the percentage change was in those figures in each such year. [39952]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what estimate he has made of the level of household personal disposable income (a) at current prices and (b) in real terms in each year since 1981; and what has been the percentage change in those figures in each such year. (39952)
Data is not available for all years since 1981. Available data is given in the tables below, with percentage changes given where we have two contiguous years of data. Estimates of median equivalised household disposable incomes are available in the Households
Below Average Income (HBAI) series. This uses disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. This data is at a household level.
Estimates of median equivalised household disposable incomes are available in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series, with figures for median household equivalised income in real 2008/09 prices from 1994/95 to 2008/09 published in Table 2. Its of the HBAI publication available at
| Table 1: Values of median weekly equivalised disposable household income, Before Housing Costs, 1981 to 2008/09, in current prices of the year in question and 2008/09 real terms prices | |||||
| Median income (cash terms) (£) | Percentage change since previous year (cash terms) (%) | Median income (real terms) (£) | Percentage change since previous year (real terms) (%) | ||
| Source: Households Below Average Income, DWP | |||||
Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of active members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme earn (a) between £10,000 and £15,000, (b) between £15,000 and £20,000, (c) between £20,000 and £25,000, (d) between £25,000 and £30,000 and (e) £30,000 and more. [40375]
Mr Maude: As at 31 March 2010 the proportion of active members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme earning (a) between £10,000 and £15,000, (b) between £15,000 and £20,000, (c) between £20,000 and £25,000, (d) between £25,000 and £30,000 and (e) £30,000 and more are as follows:
| Earnings range | Active membership (%) |
Prime Minister
Business: Community Development
Chris Ruane: To ask the Prime Minister which companies have informed him of their intention to participate in the Every Business Commits initiative. [40959]
Mr Davey: I have been asked to reply.
Our immediate priority has been to set about removing obstacles to businesses delivering on the commitments set out in the Every Business Commits initiative. Alongside this work, we are proactively working directly with businesses, and umbrella organisations such as Business in the Community, to identify specific actions businesses can take. For example, Sainsbury's is committed to paying for a number of senior managers to work full-time within their communities as business connectors, helping businesses and the voluntary sector work closer together, and bringing the knowledge, skills and expertise of the business community to good use locally. Fujitsu have committed to developing and running a new IT platform to support business connectors and link businesses to their local communities.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister (1) when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Bury South, dated 24 January 2011; [38789]
(2) when he plans to answer question 38789, on correspondence with the hon. Member for Bury South, tabled on 2 February 2011 for named day answer on 7 February. [41080]
The Prime Minister: A reply has been sent.
Treasury
Banks: Pay
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish a list of each attendee at each meeting which has taken place as part of Project Merlin; [39317]
(2) how many meetings relating to Project Merlin have involved small businesses in (a) the South West, (b) the South East, (c) the West Midlands and (d) London. [39318]
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings relating to Project Merlin have involved small businesses in (a) the East Midlands, (b) the North West, (c) the North East, (d) Wales and (e) Scotland. [39320]
Mr Hoban [holding answer 9 February 2011]: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. It is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) (i) discussions and (ii) meetings his Department had with and (b) representations he received from the Scottish Government on Project Merlin prior to 9 February 2011. [41200]
Mr Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. It is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
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