Palestinians: Police
David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding his Department provided to the European Union Police Mission in the Palestinian territories in connection with training for the Palestinian police in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010; and what estimate he has made of the level of such funding to be provided by his Department in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012. [41298]
Mr Lidington: Funding for common costs of the European Union Police Mission in the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS), is met from the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy budget, which is itself part of the overall EU budget. The following table takes the estimated UK contribution pre-abatement to the EU budget as a whole, and applies it to the EUPOL COPPS budget to give an approximate indication of UK funding.
| Indicative UK contribution | |||
| Budget period | EUPOL COPPS budget (€) | Percentage | (€) (nearest 10,000) |
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EUPOL COPPS is currently mandated until 31 December 2011. Decisions on future budget levels will be made during discussions on the Mission’s future mandate.
David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials sponsored by his Department participated in the European Union Police Mission in the Palestinian Territories in connection with training of the Palestinian police in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010; and what plans he has for he number of such participants in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012. [41300]
Mr Lidington: The UK continues strongly to support the work of the European Union Police Mission in the Palestinian Territories, (EUPOL COPPS). The mission plays an important role in the international community's efforts to increase the effectiveness of the Palestinian Authority's police and wider rule of law institutions.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office employs technical experts mainly from the Stabilisation Unit's pools of civilian and police experts to work in EUPOL COPPS. The number of UK secondees fluctuates across the year due to tour dates, EU recruitment cycles and the selection of UK applicants by the mission. This is shown in the following table.
|
|
Number of UK secondees |
| Note: Figures for 2011 cover only January to March since detailed allocations among the various projects funded by the tri-departmental Conflict Pool for the financial year 2011-12 have not yet been published. They will, however, be announced by written ministerial statement in the next few weeks. | |
Palestinians: Security Forces
David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding his Department plans to provide to assist the US Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian territories in the training of Palestinian security forces in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012. [41299]
Alistair Burt: The Tri-Departmental (Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and Department for International Development) Middle East and North Africa Conflict Pool (MENA CP) funds the deployment of the British Support Team in Ramallah, to assist the US Security Coordinator in providing technical support and advice on governance, leadership and human rights issues to the Palestinian Security Sector, including the Civil Police, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Justice. Management of the British Support Team is led by the UK Ministry of Defence.
MENA CP funding per financial year is as follows:
2007-08: £347,474
2008-09: £1,925,610
2009-10: £2,690,823
2010-11: £2,450,000.
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Final funding for 2010-11 is not confirmed and is based on the provisional allocation. Funding for the 2011-12 financial year has yet to be confirmed, however financial support through the MENA CP will continue for the deployment of the British Support Team.
David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British officials assisted the US Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Territories in the training of Palestinian security forces in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010; and what estimate he has made of the number of such officials providing such assistance in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012. [41301]
Nick Harvey: I have been asked to reply.
The following number of British personnel formed the British Support Team which assisted the US Security Co-ordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
|
|
Number |
| (1) Estimate. | |
Press Freedom
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to promote the development of free and independent media in (a) Russia, (b) China, (c) Afghanistan and (d) Pakistan. [42047]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We have continuing concerns about media freedom in Russia. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised the unresolved murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya with Foreign Minister Lavrov on 15 February 2010. During the annual UK-Russia Human Rights Consultations in Moscow on 18 January 2010 we expressed concern about the low success rate in prosecuting perpetrators of assaults on journalists. We supported EU High Representative Baroness Ashton's statement on 17 November 2010 regarding assaults on journalists in Russia. In addition, we fund the work of the independent media agency Caucasian Knot which provides balanced and objective online reporting of news from across the Caucasus region. We will continue to raise issues relating to freedom of expression with Russia both bilaterally and with our EU partners.
We remain concerned about limits on freedom of expression in China. The Foreign Secretary raised the case of imprisoned author and Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo during his discussions with Chinese Vice-Premier Li in January. We continue to call for his release. During the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue on 13 January 2010 we raised our concerns about freedom of the media, citing cases of foreign journalists who have come under pressure from China for their reporting, and the blocking of some international and domestic websites. We will continue to work bilaterally and with the EU to raise our concerns.
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The Government’s support for free and independent media in Afghanistan includes supporting the development of the Government Media and Information Centre, which has improved the Afghan Government’s relationship and interaction with the independent media, as well as providing training in practical skills to members of the independent media. This support has also been replicated at provincial level in Helmand, through building the Governor’s communications capacity. We have provided funding of £837,570 for projects to support Afghan independent media to develop their infrastructure and content. We continue to monitor Afghan media freedom and work with the Afghan Government and international partners to ensure the free and independent media in Afghanistan is protected and strengthened according to the Constitution and Afghan law.
In 2010 media freedom in Pakistan continued to improve, though there were several high profile cases where journalists were attacked by unknown assailants. Several journalists were also killed in the border areas in terrorist incidents. Constitutional reforms passed last year include a new article which guarantees the right of every citizen to freedom of information. This was partly influenced by a UK-funded project to promote the value of improved freedom of information in support of better governance. We work closely with the Ministry for Information to support their work to formulate a freedom of information law by discussing the UK experience of such legislation. Where necessary we have lobbied at senior levels against media restrictions.
Southern Africa: Human Rights
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to take steps to increase his Department's monitoring of human rights abuses in southern Africa. [42813]
Mr Bellingham: The Government work closely with partners to monitor human rights abuses and are committed to working to address them wherever they arise including in southern Africa. In the last year we have raised a wide range of human rights issues; for example lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Malawi and the situation of the San (Bushmen) in Botswana. Zimbabwe continues to be of concern regarding human rights and we work closely with human rights organisations to monitor human rights abuses in that country. In the past year, the UK has actively participated in the UN's Universal Periodic Review of the human rights situations in Angola, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia and Sao Tome and Principe. Given this coverage, we have no plans to increase monitoring further.
Thailand: Cambodia
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will have discussions with his Thai and Cambodian counterparts on resolving disputed border area territories through negotiation and other peaceful means. [41422]
Mr Jeremy Browne:
I have been concerned by the outbreak of fighting on the Cambodia-Thai border and deeply regret the loss of life on both sides. We have urged both Governments to exercise restraint and to
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resolve the dispute through peaceful means. On 5 February our ambassador to Thailand met Thai Foreign Minister, Kasit Piromya and on 7 and 11 February our ambassador to Cambodia met Cambodian Foreign Minister, Hor Namhong, to discuss the dispute.
The UN Security Council met the Thai and Cambodian Foreign Ministers and the Indonesian Foreign Minister and Chair of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Marty Natalegawa, at a private session on 14 February. The UN Security Council made a press statement following that meeting, expressing its concern. It called on both sides to exercise restraint, to establish a permanent ceasefire and to resolve the situation through effective dialogue. The members of the UN Security Council expressed support for the active efforts of ASEAN and encouraged the parties to continue to co-operate with ASEAN in this regard.
Tunisia: EU Immigration
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his Italian counterpart the potential effects of the number of Tunisian migrants arriving in Italy on other EU member states. [42342]
Mr Lidington: We support collective efforts to secure the EU's frontiers and recognise the important role of FRONTEX (the EU external borders agency) in assisting the Italian Government. We note that recent actions taken by the Tunisian authorities may have helped stem the tide of migrants, at least temporarily. EU cooperation on this issue is key, and so it has been discussed both by EU Foreign Ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council on 21 February and by EU Interior Ministers at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 24-25 February.
Union for the Mediterranean: Finance
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the Government have made to the Union for the Mediterranean since its creation. [42797]
Mr Lidington: The Government have made no bilateral financial contribution to the Union for the Mediterranean and has not seconded staff to work at the Secretariat. However, we have contributed to the budget of the Secretariat through the European Union budget. The European Union funded the full costs of the Secretariat's interim budget for May-December 2010 (€780,000) and is expected to fund up to €3 million of the agreed budget for 2011 (€6.25 million). The remaining costs will be met by bilateral donations from Union for the Mediterranean member states.
Given the political difficulties faced by the Union for the Mediterranean, in particular those linked to the Middle East Peace Process, we have pressed for a focus on technical co-operation. We have insisted that the Secretariat be a small, project-focused body and we have encouraged the Secretariat to identify new sources of finance outside the EU budget, especially from private commercial sources.
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Zimbabwe: Sanctions
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the EU lifted restrictions on 35 people formerly affected by asset freezes and visa bans in Zimbabwe. [42343]
Mr Bellingham: The decision by EU member states to remove 35 people from the list of those affected by its Restrictive Measures on Zimbabwe follows an in-depth assessment of the situation in Zimbabwe. 163 people and 31 economic entities remain subject to the measures for a further 12 months unless all 27 member states unanimously agree to any further relaxation.
The 35 people removed from the list comprise three dead, seven spouses, nine former Ministers, eight miscellaneous officials and eight minor ZANU Politburo members. These people were initially included by virtue of their marriage or their position in a pre-Government of National Unity government and have now been removed on the grounds that they are no longer involved in human rights abuses or undermining democracy or the rule of law.
We have always said that we will be guided by progress on the ground in Zimbabwe. Since we last reviewed the restrictive measures in February 2010 the Government of Zimbabwe has continued to make progress on economic issues and in delivering public services. However this has not been matched by equivalent political and democratic reform and we are particularly concerned at the recent upsurge in politically motivated intimidation and violence. This has prevented us from agreeing to any more substantial amendments.
However, we and our EU partners have emphasised our willingness to revisit the measures at any time should there be further concrete developments on the ground in Zimbabwe. In this context, we fully support the Southern African Development Community and its member states in their effort to facilitate agreement among the parties in Zimbabwe on creating an environment conducive to the holding of free and fair elections.
Transport
Air Routes: Glasgow
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he has discussed with BMI the future of the Glasgow to London Heathrow route; [39390]
(2) what discussions he has had with BAA on the future of direct flights by BMI between Glasgow and Heathrow. [39785]
Mrs Villiers: I met Mr Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, the chief executive officer of BMI, on 6 September 2010; we discussed a range of issues including the structure of airport charges at Heathrow and domestic air services, but not specifically the future of BMI’s Glasgow service.
The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has also discussed this issue with the Scottish Transport Secretary (Keith Brown) on 10 February.
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Departmental Meetings: Aviation
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings Ministers in his Department have had with representatives of (a) airlines and (b) pilots since May 2010. [39784]
Mrs Villiers: Ministers in the Department frequently meet representatives of airlines and pilots. Details of all ministerial meetings with external organisations between May and September 2010 have been published on the Department's website:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/ministers/transparency/
Information for October 2010 to 31 December 2010 is being collated and will be released as soon as it is practical to do so.
Recent meetings with representatives of airlines and pilots include:
A meeting chaired by the Secretary of State for Transport involving airlines and freight cargo companies on 4 November following an air cargo security incident.
The Minister of State for Transport chaired a National Aviation Security Committee on 29 November. This included representatives from the British Airline Pilots Association.
The Minister of State for Transport also chairs regular meetings of the South East Airports Taskforce, which includes representations of BA, Virgin, easyJet and Ryanair. The most recent was held on 17 January.
Aviation: Holidays
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimate he has made of the number of British holiday-makers in each of the next two years who would (a) be eligible to claim within the scope of the proposed new Air Travel Organisers' Licensing insurance scheme and (b) not be eligible to claim within the scope of the proposed new scheme; [40727]
(2) what his most recent estimate is of the number of UK holiday-makers who purchased their holiday via a click-through arrangement. [40728]
Mrs Villiers: The term ‘click-through' arrangement is used to describe a wide range of ways to purchase a holiday. Determining the number of holidays which could possibly be described as ‘click-throughs' would be difficult and the Department for Transport has not made such an estimate.
Aviation: Pilots
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the maximum amount of time airline pilots should be expected to fly in one day. [38873]
Mrs Villiers: The Civil Aviation Authority’s policy is set out in its publication CAP 371: The Avoidance of Fatigue In Aircrews—Guide to Requirements. Airlines are required to have flight and duty time schemes which ensure that crew members are adequately rested at the beginning of each flying duty period so that they can perform at a satisfactory level of efficiency and safety in all normal and abnormal circumstances arising during flying.
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Aviation: Safety
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the potential effects of pilot fatigue on flight safety. [39680]
Mrs Villiers: We recognise that pilot fatigue can impact on aviation safety. UK airlines are therefore required to have robust flight time limitation schemes to prevent the onset of fatigue. These have to be approved by the Civil Aviation Authority.
In addition, the CAA reviews all available information, including newly available research, on the effects of fatigue in aviation and maintains an advisory group with its stakeholders to discuss the effect of crew fatigue on aviation safety.
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department’s policy is on flight time limitations for pilots; and if he will make a statement. [39682]
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the maximum amount of time airline pilots should be expected to fly in one day. [39755]
Mrs Villiers: The Civil Aviation Authority's policy is set out in its publication CAP 371: The Avoidance of Fatigue in Aircrews—Guide to Requirements. Airlines are required to have flight and duty time schemes which ensure that crew members are adequately rested at the beginning of each flying duty period so that they can perform at a satisfactory level of efficiency and safety in all normal and abnormal circumstances arising during flying.
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the European Aviation Safety Agency on the Notice of Proposed Amendment to flight time limitations. [39683]
Mrs Villiers: None. The European Aviation Safety Agency published the Notice of Proposed Amendment on 20 December 2010. The consultation closes on 20 March. The Civil Aviation Authority is currently reviewing the proposals.
Our aim is to ensure that the final requirements maintain a high level of safety for UK airlines. If the CAA review identifies any areas of significant concern we will discuss these with EASA at the earliest opportunity.
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what implications the implementation of the provisions of the European Union Bill will have for the transfer of authority over flight time limitations from the Civil Aviation Authority to the European Aviation Safety Agency. [39754]
Mrs Villiers: None. The EU already has competence in this area.
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he intends to respond to the European Aviation Safety Agency's Notice of Proposed Amendment for flight time limitations; [39756]
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(2) what assessment he has made of the effects on safety of the European Aviation Safety Agency's Notice of Proposed Amendment for flight time limitations. [39757]
Mrs Villiers: The Civil Aviation Authority is currently reviewing the proposals contained in the Notice of Proposed Amendment. We will respond to the European Aviation Safety Agency once the CAA has completed that review. Our aim is to ensure that the final requirements maintain a high level of safety for UK airlines.
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had at the Council of Ministers level on (a) the European Aviation Safety Agency and (b) flight time limitations. [39783]
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.
Our aim is 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.
Aviation: Security
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that air crew representatives are members of each airport security committee. [41508]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport is supportive of the general principle that airport security committees should have a broad representation by those parties involved in the delivery of aviation security. However, the final decision on the composition of the committees falls to the airport operator.
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on membership of airport security committees for air crew representatives. [42059]
Mrs Villiers: I have received representations on this subject from the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) suggesting that members should participate in airport security committees. The Department for Transport is supportive of the general principle that airport security committees should have a broad representation by those parties involved in the delivery of aviation security. However, the final decision on the composition of the committees falls to the airport operator.
Aviation: Working Hours
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the effects of pilot fatigue on flight safety. [39851]
Mrs Villiers: We recognise that pilot fatigue can impact on aviation safety. UK airlines are therefore required to have robust flight time limitation schemes to prevent the onset of fatigue. These have to be approved by the Civil Aviation Authority.
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In addition, the CAA reviews all available information, including newly available research, on the effects of fatigue in aviation and maintains an advisory group with its stakeholders to discuss the effect of crew fatigue on aviation safety.
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on flight time limitations for pilots. [39852]
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on flight time limitations for pilots; and if he will make a statement. [40306]
Mrs Villiers: The Civil Aviation Authority’s policy is set out in its publication CAP 371: The Avoidance of Fatigue In Aircrews—Guide to Requirements. Airlines are required to have flight and duty time schemes which ensure that crew members are adequately rested at the beginning of each flying duty period so that they can perform at a satisfactory level of efficiency and safety in all normal and abnormal circumstances arising during flying.
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effect on safety of replacing the Civil Aviation Authority's CAP371 Flight Time Limitations with the European Aviation Safety Agency's proposal. [40304]
Mrs Villiers: 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. It will respond to the consultation once it has completed its review. Our aim is to ensure that the final requirements maintain a high level of safety for UK airlines.
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions Ministers in his Department have had with the European Aviation Safety Agency on the Notice of Proposed Amendment to Flight Time Limitations in the last 12 months. [40305]
Mrs Villiers: None. The European Aviation Safety Agency published the Notice of Proposed Amendment on 20 December 2010. The consultation closes on 20 March. The Civil Aviation Authority is currently reviewing the proposals.
Our aim is to ensure that the final requirements maintain a high level of safety for UK airlines. If the CAA review identifies any areas of significant concern we will discuss these with EASA at the earliest opportunity.
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned on pilot fatigue in the last 10 years. [40307]
Mrs Villiers: In the last 10 years the Civil Aviation Authority has commissioned:
a study to investigate the fatigue implications of 12-hour shift patterns operated by police helicopter crews;
a study into in-flight napping strategies; and
continuing studies into sleep patterns which have lead to revisions of CAP 371, "The Avoidance of Fatigue in Aircrews"
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and the development of the System for Aircrew Fatigue Evaluation (SAFE) computer model. SAFE is used by the CAA to evaluate Flight Time Limitation scheme submissions by operators.
Biofuels
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to support the development of the bioethanol sector. [42989]
Norman Baker: The Government support the development of a sustainable biofuels industry, including bioethanol, through the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO). The RTFO requires fossil fuel suppliers over a certain size to supply a specified percentage of renewable fuel. Further information on the RTFO is available at:
www.renewablefuelsagency.gov.uk
Bus Services: Finance
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment his Department (a) has made and (b) plans to make of likely alterations to (i) rural and (ii) other bus services arising from changes to the funding of (A) Bus Service Operators Grant, (B) the concessionary fares scheme and (C) local government; [39285]
(2) what steps he plans to take to monitor the effects of reductions in public funding on the service level of (a) supported bus services supported by local authorities and (b) other bus services; [39286]
(3) if he will assess the effects of reductions in the level of public expenditure on the provision of local subsidised travel schemes. [39288]
Norman Baker: 78% of bus services are provided by operators on a commercial basis. The Department for Transport supports these services, including those operating in rural areas, through Bus Service Operators Grant, the funding for which has been maintained in its entirety for 2011-12.
With regard to monitoring the impact of changes in bus subsidy, concessionary travel reimbursement or local authority funding, this cannot be done in isolation. Any changes to the level of services, the cost of bus fares, or the number of deregistrations will reflect wider influences, including commercial decisions by operators and, where appropriate, local authority priorities.
The Department for Transport already publishes National Statistics on annual bus service mileage, passenger journey numbers and a local bus fares index. It plans to continue to publish these statistics in future years. The number of applications for new registrations and variations processed and accepted, and the number of registrations cancelled, is published annually in the Traffic Commissioners' Annual Report. However monitoring bus deregistrations would not be a good way of monitoring impacts in service provision, as it does not give any indication of why services have been deregistered.
I have regular discussions with the Confederation of Passenger Transport, which represents the bus industry, as well as the Local Government Association and the Passenger Transport Executive Group. They all provide a strategic overview of the impacts of any change.
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Departmental Carbon Emissions
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [40522]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has contributed to the Government Carbon Offset Fund each year since 2007-08. In years 2007-08 and 2008-09 the fund was administered by the Department for Energy and Climate Change, and no information is held by individual Departments relating to the companies to which payment was made. The Department for Transport paid £12,755.74 in 2007-08, and £13,645.24 in 2008-09.
In 2009-10 a new Government Carbon Offset Fund was introduced and under this provision Departments made payments directly to the credit providers. The payment from the Department for Transport, to EDF Energy, in 2009-10 amounted to £14,645.30.
Departmental Policy
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account he has taken of the Compact between the Government and Civil Society in policy development. [42606]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport continues to support the Compact as it forms an integral part of our commitment for successful partnership working with civil society organisations to ensure better outcomes for communities and citizens.
In light of the renewed Compact launched in December, 2010, we have taken account of Compact principles in our policy developments to ensure we build a stronger civil society. This includes our recent Local Transport White Paper, as seen in chapter 8—‘Local transport in society’.
Driving Offences: Insurance
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce the number of people who drive without insurance. [41745]
Mike Penning: On 4 February 2011 a new offence in Great Britain of keeping a vehicle with no insurance was introduced. Enforcement of the offence is planned to commence in the spring.
The scheme for continuous insurance enforcement (CIE) will identify uninsured vehicles by regularly comparing the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's (DVLA) vehicles database with the motor insurance database managed by the Motor Insurers' Bureau.
Unless a vehicle is declared off road, those who remain uninsured, in spite of warning, will receive a fixed penalty notice and fine of £100, their vehicles may be clamped and impounded and they may face prosecution by the courts.
This builds upon improvements in police enforcement, such as the use of ANPR cameras which have significantly reduced the level of uninsured driving.
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Electric Vehicles
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new ultra low-emission vehicles were registered in the latest period for which figures are available. [38763]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport uses the term ‘ultra-low emission vehicles’ to refer to vehicles with significantly lower levels of tailpipe emissions than conventional vehicles. In practice, the term currently refers to electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.
Data from the DVLA suggests that 1,277 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles were registered in Great Britain during 2010: 268 cars, four quadricycles, 547 motorcycles, mopeds, scooters and tricycles, six buses, coaches and minibuses, and 452 commercial vehicles, including light vans. Data for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are currently limited.
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many electric car charging points were operational in each region of England on the most recent date for which figures are available and what estimate he has made of the number in each such region that will be operational on (a) 31 December 2011 and (b) 1 May 2015. [42542]
Norman Baker: We do not have access to data on the numbers and locations of all EV charging points in the UK, many of which have been put in by businesses for use by employees or the public.
Data are available for installations made under the Government's Plugged-In Places (PIP) programme. The following table sets out data on the number of operational charge points installed by each project as part of this programme to 31 December 2010 and estimates of numbers expected to be installed by 31 March 2013, when the PIP funding ends. Forward forecasting is based on financial years so we do not have a forecast for 31 December 2011.
| Project | Points installed at 31 December 2010 | Planned installations by 31 March 2013 |
The last five projects are part of the Second Wave of PIP projects, which were awarded funding for 2011-12 and 2012-13, so could not have installed any posts by 31 December 2010.
Heathrow Airport
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2011, Official Report, column 825W, on Heathrow airport, what Government policies would be taken into account as material considerations in the decision of the Secretary of State for Transport on any (theoretical) application for a third runway at Heathrow airport. [40887]
28 Feb 2011 : Column 183W
Mrs Villiers: The coalition Government have made clear their opposition to a third runway at Heathrow and BAA announced in May 2010 that it had stopped work on a planning application for such a proposal.
Where a planning application is made for expansion of an airport, the relevant Government policies are taken into account as material considerations.
Lorry Drivers: Sleep Apnoea
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency provides to GPs on the identification of obstructive sleep apnoea for drivers of large commercial vehicles; and on which dates the guidance has been updated in the last 10 years. [41871]
Mike Penning: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency provides guidance to GPs in its twice yearly published ‘At a Glance Guide to the current Medical Standards of Fitness to Drive’. Since 2008, this publication has advised GPs to refer to the ‘Tiredness can Kill’ leaflet for more information on obstructive sleep apnoea. This leaflet was introduced in May 2004 and was updated May 2006, November 2008, September 2009 and June 2010.
Since March 2003, guidance on obstructive sleep apnoea has also been supplied to the examining doctors of drivers of large commercial vehicles required to undergo an examination. A guidance leaflet has accompanied the medical examination since June 2004 and has been updated in March 2005, May 2006, June 2007, April 2009 and October 2010.
Obstructive sleep apnoea guidance has also been sent direct to approximately 26,500 GPs who subscribe to the Electronic Medical Information System NHS Purchasing alerts in December 2008, June 2009 and in February 2010.
M54: Staffordshire
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much was spent on installing traffic lights at Junction 2 of the M54 (Coven Heath); [42374]
(2) how many accidents have occurred at Junction 2 of the M54 (Coven Heath) since the introduction of traffic lights at that junction. [42375]
Mike Penning: Current expenditure for the highway works at M54 Junction 2 stands at £2.9 million. There are minor defects to be rectified by the contractor, so the final account has yet to be agreed.
Validated accident data for this junction are available up until September 2010. Between the time that the traffic signals became operational in July 2010 and September 2010, there was one recorded accident at this junction. This was categorised as slight by the police.
Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to continue the provision of financial incentives for the purchase of ultra-low carbon cars following the end of funding for the current scheme in 2011-12. [42350]
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Norman Baker: The Government have made provision of over £400 million to promote the uptake of ultra-low carbon vehicle technologies including, provision of around £300 million to support consumer incentives for the life of the Parliament.
The Government are committed to reviewing the Plug-in Car Grant to asses its effectiveness in the context of emerging market conditions. Any changes from the first review will come into place in April 2012.
Network Rail
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the technological innovation and research undertaken by Network Rail since its inception. [38593]
Mrs Villiers: No formal assessment of technological innovation and research undertaken by Network Rail has been carried out by the Department for Transport. Sir Roy McNulty, as part of his study into value for money of the rail industry, is considering these issues in detail. His interim report has highlighted critical actions on innovation as being important to achieving sustainable cost-efficiency improvements.
Railways: Construction
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the proposed connecting line between High Speed 1 and High Speed 2 is intended for use by continental-sized freight trains. [41558]
Mr Philip Hammond: There are no plans to use the proposed connecting line between High Speed 1 and the proposed High Speed 2 for continental-sized freight trains.
Railways: Fares
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what response he plans to make to representations from the public on the level of rail fares. [39239]
Mrs Villiers: Following the spending review, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a significant programme of investment in rail including significant rolling stock to address overcrowding on commuter services. Prioritising such investment will generate economic benefits and improve conditions for passengers.
The delivery of this major upgrade programme, together with the pressing need to tackle the deficit has forced us to take some difficult decisions on fares. We have announced that, for most operators, rises in regulated fares will be capped at RPI+1% for 2011, and at RPI+3% for the subsequent three years.
Beyond this period, securing benefits for both taxpayers and fare payers through the reduction in the cost of running the railways is a priority. Sir Roy McNulty's report on value for money, to be delivered in April 2011, will be an important step in helping us to deliver this aim.
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Railways: Franchises
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2011, Official Report, columns 41-2W, on South Eastern Trains, and with reference to the answer of 4 November 2009, Official Report, columns 1002-3W, on railways: franchises, for what reason the information requested by the hon. Member for Islington North cannot be disclosed on grounds of commercial confidentiality; on what date his Department adopted its policy on non-disclosure of such information; and if he will make a statement. [41230]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 17 February 2011]: The Integrated Kent Franchise was let on 29 November 2005, and contains a confidentiality agreement, specifically schedule 7.1 of the National Rail Franchise Terms.
The Department for Transport discloses details of revenue support only once the supporting calculations which drive these numbers have passed the annual audit. Southeastern entered revenue support on 1 April 2010, therefore completing a full year in this mechanism on 31 March 2011. Details of revenue support payments are available for disclosure after this point, when the information is deemed to be no longer commercially or market sensitive.
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Railways: Snow and Ice
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to hold to account rail franchisees who did not meet performance objectives during recent periods of severe weather. [39171]
Mrs Villiers: Train operators are held to account through their franchise contracts. Each franchise agreement sets limits on delays and cancellations. In most cases, these are based on average performance over a rolling year.
Franchise agreements provide for penalties or other remedial action to be imposed where an operator exceeds the limits set on delays and cancellations.
The Department for Transport closely monitors emerging results and discusses performance with operators on a regular basis.
Railways: Standards
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of delay minutes on Southeastern Railway services were attributed to (a) Network Rail, (b) Southeastern Railway and (c) other train operating companies in each of the last three years. [37994]
Mrs Villiers: The information requested is shown in the following table, for the last three years for which data are held.
| Delay minutes suffered by Southeastern trains: total of delays and attribution of responsibility for them | |||||||
| Train delay (Minutes) | Proportion (Percentage) | ||||||
| Year (1) (As at January each year) | Network Rail | Southeastern | Other operators | Total | Network Rail | Southeastern | Other operators |
| (1) 13 four-weekly periods ending in early January each year. Source: Network Rail rail industry data. | |||||||
Rescue Services: Liverpool
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the Liverpool Coastguard Station was not included in the first draft consultation on the future of the Marine and Coastguard Agency; for what reasons it was subsequently included; and if he will make a statement. [42337]
Mike Penning: Any consultation document and sets of proposals will evolve and develop over a period of time before they are finally published. The final version of the consultation document we published on 16 December recognised that the consideration of factors between Liverpool and Belfast was finely balanced and so we decided that it would be best to allow the eventual decision to be informed by the process of consultation. The consultation document expressly invites views on the factors that should be taken into account in that decision-making process.
Roads: Snow and Ice
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what his most recent estimate is of levels of grit supplies held by (a) the Highways Agency and (b) local authorities; [35160]
(2) what his most recent estimate is of the amount of grit used by (a) the Highways Agency and (b) local authorities since 1 November 2010; [35161]
(3) what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of the strategic reserve of grit which has been drawn down for use by (a) the Highways Agency and (b) local authorities since 1 November 2010. [35162]
Norman Baker [holding answer 21 January 2011]: As of 17 January 2011, English local authorities held 384,889 tonnes and the Highways Agency held 124,766 tonnes of operational road de-icing salt. At the same date, 186,790 tonnes was held in the English strategic stockpile.
Overall, the amount used between 1 November 2010 and 17 January 2011 is estimated to be 963,999 tonnes. This figure consists of 150,223 tonnes used by the Highways Agency and 813,777 tonnes used by local highway authorities in England.
In estimating the amount of road de-icing salt used in England between 1 November and end January 2011, some estimation has had to be made in relation to the salt used by local authorities during November 2010.
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This is because the weekly collection of stockholding data commenced at the beginning of December 2010.
As at 17 January 2011, no road de-icing salt had been drawn down from the English strategic stockpile by the Highways Agency. As of the same date, 47,605 tonnes had been drawn down by English local authorities.
Shipping: Oil
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many ship-to-ship oil transfers were recorded in each year from 2006 to 2010; [42765]
(2) how many ships gave notice of ship-to-ship oil transfers in each year from 2006 to 2010. [42766]
Mike Penning: Each application to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) can be for a single ship-to-ship oil transfer or for a series of transfers, meaning that the number of transfers can be greater than the number of applications.
30 applications for permission to carry out ship-to-ship transfers in the UK territorial sea were processed by the MCA, resulting in 52 actual ship-to-ship transfers. (Five other applications were submitted but cancelled.)
13 applications for permission to carry out ship-to-ship transfers in the UK territorial sea were processed by the MCA, resulting in 33 actual ship-to-ship transfers. (One other application was submitted but cancelled.)
13 applications for permission to carry out ship-to-ship transfers in the UK territorial sea were processed by the MCA, resulting in 17 actual ship-to-ship transfers.
256 applications for permission to carry out ship-to-ship transfers in the UK territorial sea were processed by the MCA, resulting in 344 actual ship-to-ship transfers. (52 other application were submitted but cancelled.)
278 applications for permission to carry out ship-to-ship transfers in the UK territorial sea were processed by the MCA, resulting in 370 actual ship-to-ship transfers. (45 other applications were submitted but cancelled.)
Sustainable Transport Fund
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) names and (b) relevant experience is of the group of independent advisors who will form part of the assessment process for bids to the sustainable transport fund. [42912]
Norman Baker: Paragraph 3.20 of the White Paper ‘Creating Growth, Cutting Carbon’, published on 19 January, says “we will be inviting a small panel to help us in assessing Local Sustainable Transport Fund bids.”
Interested parties with experience in delivering sustainable travel measures should forward a short CV and covering letter to my Department by 11 March 2011. I then intend to select three or four individuals to assist in this process.
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Taxis: Greater London
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 15 February 2011, Official Report, columns 675-76W, on taxi licensing, who is responsible for taxi licensing in London; and whether his Department's best practice guidance extends to London. [42325]
Norman Baker: Responsibility for licensing taxis in London rests with Transport for London. The Department's Best Practice Guidance extends to London in the sense of offering assistance in formulating suitable licensing policies, but ultimately taxi licensing policies and decisions are a matter for the Mayor and TfL.
The Department's Best Practice Guidance urges licensing authorities not to set an age limit policy for taxis. Rather it suggests that they assess vehicles on an individual basis.
Transport for London has decided that it will impose an age limit on London taxis. From 2012 TfL will not license any taxis over 15 years of age.
This policy has been drawn up by the Mayor of London and TfL; they have responsibility for formulating suitable licensing policies. No doubt they have considered the advice in the Department's Best Practice Guidance but ultimately the decision is theirs to make.
Transport: Snow and Ice
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings on what dates since June 2010 (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had at which winter resilience was discussed; and if he will publish the minutes of those meetings. [28649]
Norman Baker [holding answer 3 December 2010]: Ministers in the Department for Transport have scheduled weekly meetings, as well as ad hoc discussions when required, to discuss departmental business. These meetings have included winter resilience issues as and when necessary.
The Secretary of State met with David Quarmby CBE, chair of the independent Winter Resilience Review, on 22 July 2010 to discuss the review’s interim report prior to publication on 26 July. The Secretary of State also met with David Quarmby CBE, and his fellow panel members, Brian Smith and Chris Green, on 7 October 2010 to discuss the review’s final report published on 22 October. I met with David Quarmby CBE, separately on the same day.
In light of the early and severe onset of winter, the Government asked David Quarmby CBE, in December 2010 to follow up his earlier review of winter resilience with an urgent audit of how well highway authorities and transport operators in England had coped with the severe weather between 24 November and 9 December 2010. The Secretary of State for Transport met with David Quarmby CBE, on 17 December 2010 to discuss the findings of this audit prior to the report being published on 21 December 2010.
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Work and Pensions
Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2011, Official Report, column 420W, on the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, how many items of correspondence were received by the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission from hon. Members in (a) each local authority area, (b) each region and (c) any sub-national area for which information is available (i) in total and (ii) as a proportion of population in 2009-10. [40162]
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.
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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, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2011, Official Report, column 420W, on Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, how many items of correspondence were received by the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission from hon. Members in (a) each local authority area, (b) each region and (c) any sub-national area for which information is available (i) in total and (ii) as a proportion of population in 2009-10. [40162]
Within the appropriate cost limit we can only provide details of correspondence by the business units which deal with them. Some of these operate regionally and others, for example, those dealing with cases managed off the main system, operate nationally. The table below shows the volume of correspondence from Members of Parliament dealt with by each business unit.
| Area | Child Support Agency Centre | 2009-10 | Percentage of total correspondence received in 2009-10 |
| Notes: 1. Figures include case specific correspondence but may exclude some general correspondence. 2. Figures include MP hotline data. 3. Multiple correspondence may be received for a single issue/complaint. 4. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Figures may not sum due to rounding. | |||
I am sorry I could not be more helpful.
Child Maintenance: Complaints
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints have been made in respect of the (a) Child Support Agency and (b) Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission in the latest period for which figures are available. [40951]
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, how many complaints have been made in respect of the (a) Child Support Agency and (b) Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission in the latest period for which figures are available. [40951]
The table below shows the number of complaints received in each of the last five years. The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission took responsibility for the Child Support Agency on 1 November 2008. Therefore, for 2008/2009, complaints received prior to 1 November were directed to the Child Support Agency and complaints received post 1 November were directed to the Commission.
|
|
Complaints received |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. From April 2007, the Agency introduced a new complaints resolution process, which simplified the process from three stages to two stages. | |
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Child Maintenance
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to review the calculation used by the Child Support Agency to determine levels of child maintenance entitlement. [36133]
Maria Miller: The Government have recently confirmed that a new child maintenance scheme will be introduced in 2012 in the consultation document “Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility: the future of child maintenance” published on 13 January 2011:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/strengthening-families.pdf
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The new scheme will make use of income data from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. We will consider whether further changes are required in consultation with interested groups. Once the new child maintenance scheme has been successfully introduced, the Government intend to commence a process of phased transition of cases from Child Support Agency.
There are no plans to change the calculation rules on the two Child Support Agency schemes currently in operation.
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission’s plans to create a single system of child support. [40871]
Maria Miller: The consultation document “Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility: the future of child maintenance” launched on 13 January 2011 sets out details of our intended strategy for the future and a future system of child maintenance.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/strengthening-families.pdf
Chapter 3 sets out the plans to move to a single new child maintenance system.
The problems with the two existing CSA schemes, particularly those relating to the current IT system introduced in 2003, are well documented. Consequently, we propose to move to a new scheme, replacing the two current schemes and using income data from HMRC tax records, supported by a new IT system. This will support a more efficient and effective scheme for those parents who cannot reach their own family-based arrangements.
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the proposals in the Green Paper, Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility, what support he plans to provide to enable separated parents to make reliable and sustainable private child maintenance arrangements which are mutually agreed; and what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the provision of such support in its first 12 months. [41898]
Maria Miller: The consultation document “Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility: the future of child maintenance”, published on 13 January 2011, sets out proposals to make it easier for parents to access information and support to reach family-based arrangements that are collaborative, flexible and based around the welfare of their children. This includes examples of existing good practice by voluntary and community sector organisations as well as the child maintenance options service, both in providing and integrating services for separating and separated parents.
This is in the consultation stage and various models are being considered for the design and delivery of services to support separated families to establish effective child maintenance arrangements. It is not possible to confirm the future costs of such support until the consultation and evaluation of all the options has been considered.
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what funding over what period he plans to provide for parents to receive help from trained, impartial advisers on child maintenance arrangements. [41899]
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Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission currently provides information and support on child maintenance issues through its child maintenance options service at a current forecasted annual cost of £4.4 million for the contact centre and £1.2 million for the face to face delivery arm to the end of March 2011.
The recent consultation document “Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility: the future of child maintenance” sets out proposals to make it easier for parents to access the information and support they need to reach family-based arrangements that are collaborative, flexible and based around the welfare of their children. This is in the consultation stage and various models are being considered for the design and delivery of services to support separated families to establish effective child maintenance arrangements. It is not possible to confirm the future costs of such support until the consultation and evaluation of all the options has been considered.
Comprehensive Spending Review
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the amount of savings his Department will make across the comprehensive spending review that will be retained within his Department’s budgets. [40189]
Chris Grayling: Over the course of the spending review period, the Department for Work and Pensions will increase resource spending by 2% in real terms.
While this settlement provides substantial additional resources to fund our welfare reforms, the Department’s core budget will be reduced by 26% in real terms and the corporate centre budget will reduce by 40% by 2014-15.
Departmental Official Cars
Mr McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the make and model is of each Government Car Service car used by his Department since May 2010; and which Minister used each one. [39564]
Chris Grayling: The Government Car Service provides a safe and secure transport for Government Ministers and their official papers.
The make and model of each Government Car Service vehicle used by the DWP Ministers' since May 2010 are as follows:
One Jaguar XJ 2.7 litre diesel
One Honda Civic Hybrid
Three Toyota Prius Hybrid.
The Government Car Service has a policy of not disclosing which make and model of vehicle is used by each Minister for security reasons.
Following a review of the Government Car Service, a revised operating model was introduced and has delivered a 54% reduction in expenditure.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr Davidson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the likely effects on the staffing levels (a) in each of his Department's offices in
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Glasgow and
(b)
of each service provided by his Department in Glasgow of the implementation of the outcomes of the Comprehensive Spending Review. [41482]
Chris Grayling: While the spending review settlement will result in the Department's core budget being reduced by 26% in real terms over the four years to 2014-15, the Department will receive substantial extra resources to deliver a range of new measures.
This outcome is likely to result in staffing being reduced in some areas of the Department and increased in others, and at different rates. More detailed work is under way to allocate the overall settlement to the different parts of our business and assess the resulting staffing levels. This detailed planning will take account of estimated staff turnover rates and the potential for internal and external redeployment.
The Department's detailed planning for 2011-12 will be made available in a one year delivery plan, which will be published closer to the beginning of the next financial year. Figures for 2012-13 to 2014-15 are not yet available as these are dependent on key decisions on welfare reform.
Departmental Travel
Mr McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on ministerial travel since May 2010. [39566]
Chris Grayling: The following table details this Department's spend on ministerial travel during the period May to December 2010; further data are unavailable at present. The Department is currently reviewing travel expenditure across the board with a view to further savings.
| Travel expenditure | 2009 (£) | 2010 (£) | % Reduction |
Disability Living Allowance
Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the personal independence payment will include an allowance for mobility requirements; and if he will make a statement. [41395]
Maria Miller: The Welfare Reform Bill, which had its First Reading on the 16 February 2011, makes clear that personal independence payment will comprise a daily living component and a mobility component. Both components will be payable at one of two rates.
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Hartlepool constituency receive the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance. [37776]
Maria Miller: The information requested is contained in the following table.
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| Recipients of the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance in Hartlepool parliamentary constituency, May 2010 | |
|
|
Number of recipients |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Data are for the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 3. These figures are published at http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 100%WPLS. | |
Disability Living Allowance: Bexley
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency receiving disability living allowance have had their payments (a) reduced and (b) increased upon re-assessment in each of the last three years. [41781]
Maria Miller: We are not able to say how many residents of Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency receiving disability living allowance have had their payments (a) reduced and (b) increased upon re-assessment in each of the last three years. This is because our management information system for DLA does not enable us to provide details at that level.
Disability Living Allowance: Care Homes
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure that people living in care homes can access appropriate and affordable transport to participate in activities following the proposed removal of the mobility component of disability living allowance for those in residential care. [37751]
Maria Miller: Local authorities contract with care homes to meet the assessed needs of disabled people that fall within its eligibility criteria and care homes must meet those contractual obligations. Assessed needs are set out in an agreed care plan and will cover activities of daily living which may include providing access to doctors, dentists and local services such as libraries and banks.
Care homes are also obliged to help residents pursue their independence including their individual religious beliefs.
In addition, the Access to Work scheme can pay towards equipment needed at work, adapting premises to meet needs, a support worker, and it can also pay towards the cost of getting to work if you cannot use public transport.
Dame Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 9 November 2010, Official Report, column 258W, on disability living allowance: care homes, when he plans to publish the impact assessments on the removal of the mobility component of disability living allowance from people in residential care. [38054]
Maria Miller:
Consideration was given to the equality impacts of the measure when the proposal was being developed. The equality impact assessment for removing
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the mobility component of disability living allowance from state funded care home residents after 28 days will be published with the proposed legislation.
Disability Living Allowance: Dartford
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Dartford constituency receiving disability living allowance have had their payments (a) reduced and (b) increased upon reassessment in each of the last 12 months. [41488]
Maria Miller: We are not able to say how many people in Dartford constituency receiving disability living allowance (DLA) have had their payments (a) reduced, (b) increased upon re-assessment in each of the last 12 months.
This is because our management information system for DLA does not enable us to provide details at that level.
Disability Living Allowance: Ex-servicemen
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many veterans receive (a) disability living allowance and (b) the low care component of disability living allowance. [42261]
Maria Miller: Entitlement to disability living allowance is determined by the level of care and/or mobility needs arising from disability. Information, therefore, regarding numbers of veterans receiving disability living allowance is not held by the Department for Work and Pensions as it is not required for the assessment of the claim.
Disability Living Allowance: Wrexham
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for the mobility component of disability living allowance have been made by residents of care homes in Wrexham constituency in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [41690]
Maria Miller: This information is not available because our management information system for DLA does not enable us to provide details at that level.
The number of recipients of either rate of the mobility component of DLA resident in care homes in Wales, is provided in the following table.
| Mobility component recipients in residential care | |
|
|
Number |
| Notes: Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest thousand. | |
Employment
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department plans to provide to contracted providers of the mandatory work activity programme on (a) tailoring activities to improve jobseekers’ employment prospects and (b) supporting jobseekers with disabilities or health problems to comply with the terms of the programme. [38172]
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Chris Grayling: The Department is currently preparing detailed guidance for Mandatory Work Activity providers. The activity undertaken by customers during a placement will be designed to help them develop the labour market discipline associated with employment. They will be expected to attend on time and regularly, carry out specific tasks and work under supervision, all of which will be useful to them and are valued by employers.
Contracted providers will be required to make any reasonable adjustments to ensure that customers who have been referred to Mandatory Work Activity are able to participate, taking the necessary steps to obtain and provide special aids or services that might be needed for participation.
Employment Schemes
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made for planning purposes of the expected level of unemployment at the time of the introduction of the Work Programme. [42993]
Chris Grayling: The Department does not produce forecasts of unemployment. The Department produces projections for business planning purposes which are aligned to the overall independent claimant count forecasts published by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) as part of the autumn forecast.
Neither the OBR claimant count forecasts nor the Department’s business planning projections contain any additional impact due to the Work Programme.
The Work Programme will begin in summer 2011. The Office for Budget Responsibility published its forecast of seasonally adjusted UK claimant count unemployment on 29 November 2010. In quarter three of 2011, the forecast is 1.51 million.
Employment Schemes: Derelict land
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of the Work Programme on former coalfield communities. [41467]
Chris Grayling: The Work Programme is due to launch during summer 2011. Whereas in the past we have prescribed the support that welfare-to-work providers should offer to our customers, we are giving Work Programme providers the freedom to innovate to find the best ways of supporting individual customers into sustained employment, within the context of the local labour market in which they are operating. We are also expecting providers to work actively with local partners, including local authorities, voluntary sector organisations and employers, to understand local needs, sources of support and employment opportunities.
We expect this approach to result in provision that is better able to deal with barriers to employment which are specific to localities, including those experienced by customers in former coalfield communities.
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Employment Schemes: Per Capita Costs
Dame Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average unit cost will be per participant for each of the different payment groups on the Work Programme. [41057]
Chris Grayling: The Work Programme will reward delivery partners for moving customers into work and keeping customers in work. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will be paying by results after they have occurred.
DWP are currently evaluating tenders for the Work Programme. DWP asked organisations bidding for the Work Programme to state in their bids the level of performance they expect to achieve and the price of their services across the range of customers. Forecast unit costs will therefore be established as part of the competitive process and actual unit costs will depend upon performance delivered.
Employment: Coventry
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent steps his Department has taken to assist young people in Coventry into employment. [41648]
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Chris Grayling: This Government are determined to deal with the legacy of youth unemployment. In all parts of the country our approach is to ensure that young unemployed people get the personalised help they need to find sustainable employment. Jobcentre Plus local offices will have more control to allow them to deliver in a way that is more responsive to local needs. Work Programme providers will be free to design support based on the needs of individuals and target the right support at the right time. Both Jobcentre Plus and Work Programme providers will work with local public, private, and third sector organisations where this delivers the best job outcomes for individuals.
Health and Safety Executive: Manpower
Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people the Health and Safety Executive employed in each region in each of the last 10 years; and what estimate he has made of levels of employment in each of the next five years. [43008]
Chris Grayling: The number of people employed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), by region, for the five years from 1 April 2006 to 1 February 2011 is provided in the following table. HSE does not hold readily accessible, reliable regional figures prior to 2006. It has still to determine its estimates for regional staffing levels in each of the next five years.
| Health and Safety Executive: people (1) employed by region | ||||||
| Region (2) at 1 April | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | At 1 February 2011 |
| (1) The figures are a headcount and include staff in the Health and Safety Laboratory, which is an in-house agency of HSE and staff on inward secondment where HSE meets the majority of their costs. (2) Staff are assigned to regions based on their permanent office address. However, some staff will work at any site across Great Britain depending on where their skills are required. | ||||||
Housing Benefit
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of tenants in social housing likely to claim housing benefit if rents for new tenants are let at 80 of market rates (a) in total and (b) in each region. [41858]
Steve Webb: The Department has not estimated the proportion of tenants in social housing likely to claim housing benefit if rents for new tenants are let at 80% of market rates. Work between DWP and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is ongoing on the impact on housing benefit of the proposals for affordable rent for social housing. DCLG plan to publish an impact assessment for the policy measure in March.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of social housing rental income supported by housing benefit (a) at current rent levels and (b) with new lettings at 80 per cent. of market levels (i) in total and (ii) in each region. [41859]
Steve Webb: A broad estimate of the proportion of social housing rental income supported by housing benefit in England in 2009-10 is about 60 to 70%.
No estimate has been made of the proportion of social housing rental income supported by housing benefit in each region.
No estimate has been made of the proportion of social housing rental income that will be supported by housing benefit with new lettings at 80% of market levels.
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Work between DWP and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is ongoing on the impact on housing benefit of the proposals for affordable rent for social housing. DCLG plan to publish an impact assessment for the policy measure in March.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average reduction in housing benefit for tenants of social-rented housing who are deemed to be under-occupying their homes in each local authority area. [42779]
Steve Webb: The Family Resources Survey provides information on the characteristics of housing benefit recipients under occupying their accommodation. However, the survey is not large enough to yield reliable estimates of the average reduction in housing benefit for tenants of social-rented housing who are deemed to be under-occupying their homes in each local authority area.
On 16 February 2011 the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) produced an impact assessment entitled “Under-occupation of social housing”, coinciding with the publication of the Welfare Reform Bill. The impact assessment included national and regional estimates regarding working age housing benefit recipients living in social housing, under-occupying their home and who were likely to be affected by the introduction of the size criteria in social-rented housing.
The impact assessment can be found at
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/social-sector-housing-under-occupation-wr2011-ia.pdf
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of working age households in receipt of housing benefit that are deemed to be under-occupying their properties and who are (a) local authority tenants and (b) registered social landlord tenants in each region in the latest period for which figures are available. [42780]
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Steve Webb: The Family Resources Survey provides information on the characteristics of housing benefit recipients under occupying their accommodation. However, the survey is not large enough to yield reliable estimates of the number of working-age households in receipt of housing benefit that are currently deemed to be under-occupying their properties and who are (a) local authority tenants and (b) registered social landlord tenants in each region.
On 16 February 2011 the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) produced an impact assessment entitled “Under-occupation of social housing”, coinciding with the publication of the Welfare Reform Bill. The impact assessment included national and regional estimates regarding working age housing benefit recipients living in social housing, under-occupying their home and who were likely to be affected by the introduction of the size criteria in social-rented housing. The impact assessment also included a national estimate of the number of local authority and registered social landlord tenants likely to be affected by the introduction of the size criteria.
The impact assessment can be found at
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/social-sector-housing-under-occupation-wr2011-ia.pdf.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of households in receipt of housing benefit in social rented accommodation where the claimant is (a) between the age of 60 years and retirement age, (b) part of a couple aged under 60 years with children, (c) a lone parent under the age of 60 years, (d) part of a couple without children under the age of 60 years and (e) under the age of 60 years and single in each region in the latest period for which figures are available. [42792]
Steve Webb: DWP estimates of the number of households in receipt of housing benefit in social-rented accommodation by the requested family types and age bands are given in the following tables:
| Housing benefit claimants in social rented accommodation, family type, aged under 60: November 2010 | |||||
| Government office region | All | Single, no child dependant | Single with child dependant(s) | Couple, no child dependant | Couple with child dependant(s) |
| 60-state pension age housing benefit claimants, social tenants: November 2010 | |
|
|
Claimants |
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| Notes: 1. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases. An extended payment is a payment that may be received for a further four weeks when they start working full time, work more hours or earn more money. 3. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data are available monthly from November 2008 and November 2010 are the latest available. 4. The age at which women reach state pension age will gradually increase from 60 to 65 between April 2010 and April 2020. This will introduce a small increase to the number of working age benefit recipients and a small reduction to the number of pension age recipients. Figures from May 2010 onwards reflect this change. 5. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 6. Age groups are based on the age on the count date (second Thursday in the month), of either: (a) the recipient if they are single, or (b) the elder of the recipient or partner if claiming as a couple. 7. State pension age (SPA) is 64 years for men and currently 60 for women under the incremental SPA equalisation. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) | |
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) one bedroom, (b) two bedroom, (c) three bedroom, (d) four bedroom and (e) five bedroom or greater properties in the social rented sector occupied by working age tenants in receipt of housing benefit in each region in the latest period for which figures are available. [42793]
Steve Webb: The Family Resources Survey provides information on the characteristics of housing benefit recipients including the sizes of the properties they occupy. However, the survey is not large enough to yield reliable estimates of the number of bedrooms in properties in the social-rented sector that are occupied by working age tenants in receipt of housing benefit in each region.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) one bedroom, (b) two bedroom, (c) three bedroom, (d) four bedroom and (e) five bedroom or greater properties in the social rented sector that are occupied by working age tenants in receipt of housing benefit in each local authority area in the latest period for which figures are available. [42794]
Steve Webb: The Family Resources Survey provides information on the characteristics of housing benefit recipients including the sizes of the properties they occupy. However, the survey is not large enough to yield reliable estimates of the number of bedrooms in properties in the social-rented sector that are occupied by working age tenants in receipt of housing benefit in each local authority area.