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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 2 March 2011
Energy and Climate Change
European Union Third Package
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the European Union Third Package has been transposed into domestic legislation; and if he will make a statement. [43060]
Charles Hendry: The EU Third Energy Package has not yet been transposed into domestic legislation. The Government intend to lay the relevant regulations shortly and to ask Parliament to make the regulations by affirmative resolution.
Green Climate Fund
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the financing of the Green Climate Fund. [43380]
Gregory Barker: Establishing the Green Climate Fund at COP 16 in Cancun was a key outcome from the UNFCCC negotiations. The operational details of the Green Climate Fund, including its board membership and financing arrangements, will be considered by a transitional committee. This committee has been tasked with designing the fund and making its recommendations to COP 17 later this year. Terms of reference for the committee were annexed to the Cancun agreement.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effects of the proposed biofuels plant near Avonmouth on levels of greenhouse gas emissions. [43020]
Gregory Barker: The planning appeal under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 into W4B Bristol Ltd.’s proposal for a biofuel renewable energy plant at the former Sevalco site in Avonmouth was determined by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the right hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), following a public local inquiry.
Sustainability criteria for bioliquids (biofuels used to generate electricity) will be implemented in the renewables obligation from next month, subject to parliamentary agreement. The sustainability criteria require the generator to produce auditable information which demonstrates that significant greenhouse gas emissions savings have been made and that land which is highly biodiverse or of a high carbon stock was not used. The bioelectricity generated is not eligible for support under the renewables obligation unless the bioliquid meets the sustainability criteria.
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When the planning application was approved, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government set an extra condition that the plant will only use bioliquids that meet the sustainability criteria, regardless of whether RO support is claimed by the generator.
Wind Power
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the amount of electricity consumed by wind turbines when they are not generating electricity; and what consideration is given to such electricity consumption in determining the allocation of renewables obligation certificates. [42937]
Charles Hendry: Independent analysis commissioned by DECC estimates own power used by wind turbines ranges between 1.5% and 2.4%.
The renewable obligation is a generation-based subsidy. Renewable obligation certificates are therefore issued in respect of the renewable output of a generating station. However, the “renewable output” of a generating station is reduced to take into account “input electricity” if the input electricity it uses in generating the output electricity exceeds 0.5% of the total amount of the output electricity. This is set out in article 25(1) and (2) of the Renewables Obligation Order 2009.
Input electricity is defined in article 24(6)(a) of the Renewables Obligation Order 2009 as the total amount of electricity used by that station for purposes directly related to its operation, including for fuel handling, fuel preparation, maintenance and the pumping of water, whether or not that electricity is generated by the station or used while the station is generating electricity.
Justice
Departmental Relocation
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress has been made on his proposals for relocation of posts in his Department out of London by 2015. [42960]
Mr Blunt: In 2009 a total of 200 Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) posts were moved out of London. Around 240 further OPG posts are planned to move from London during 2011-12.
The approach to accommodating civil servants out of London (across all Government Departments) is being led by the Government property unit and we are working closely with it.
Home Department
Departmental Relocation
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward proposals to relocate (a) staff and (b) offices of her Department to Brighton; and if she will make a statement. [43478]
Damian Green: The Department has no plans to relocate staff to Brighton and open offices in Brighton.
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Detention Centres
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been held in immigration detention for a period of over six months owing to an inability to remove them from the UK in each of the last three years; and what the longest period was for which such an individual was detained in each of the last three years. [43520]
Damian Green: Information on all persons detained for more than six months by reason of detention and on the length of detention of individuals is not held centrally and would be available only through the detailed examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.
The following table shows the number of people detained for six months or longer, solely under Immigration Act powers, as at the end of each quarter, to the last year for which data are available.
| Persons recorded as being in detention (1,2) for six months (3) or longer, in the United Kingdom, solely under Immigration Act powers (including asylum seekers and children), as at end of quarter (4,5) | |
| As at: | Number of persons |
| (1) Figures rounded to the nearest five. Excludes persons detained in police cells, Prison Service establishments and those detained under both criminal and immigration powers and their dependants. (2) Figures include dependants. (3) Six months is defined as 182 days. (4) Relates to most recent period of sole detention. The period of detention starts when a person first enters the UK Border Agency estate. If the person is then moved from a removal centre to a police cell or Prison Service establishment, this period of stay will be included if the detention is solely under Immigration Act powers. (5) These figures are based on management information and are not subject to the detailed checks that apply for national statistics. | |
The Home Office publishes national statistics on length of detention solely under Immigration Act powers on a quarterly and annual basis, which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's research, development and statistics website at:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
Detention Centres: Children
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were detained in the immigration system in 2010. [43614]
Damian Green:
The requested information is not available. The latest published figures show that 405 children
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entered detention solely under Immigration Act powers in 2010; however, some of these children may have entered detention more than once.
Provisional 2010 figures on persons entering detention are available in Table 3.4 (ii) of the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary Fourth Quarter 2010, published on 24 February 2011, which is available from the Home Office’s research, development and statistics website at:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
On 16 December 2010, the Government announced the immediate closure of the family unit to children at the Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre. A new non-detained family returns process was also announced to deliver the coalition commitment to end the detention of children for immigration purposes.
The UK Border Agency will now follow a new four- stage process focused on engagement with families during the decision-making process, giving parents the opportunity to engage in when and how they return, when they have been found to have no legal right to stay in the UK. The new measures will ensure a family’s return home is safe and dignified. Most elements of this new approach will be in place from 1 March 2011.
International Development
Burundi: Overseas Aid
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department provides to Burundi; and what plans he has for (a) government-monitoring, (b) assisting in the repatriation of refugees and (c) providing aid in the areas of housing, health and education in that country. [41966]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) is providing £11 million to Burundi in the financial year 2010-11. As part of support to develop a poverty reduction strategy for 2011-14, DFID and other donors are helping the Government of Burundi put in place improved structures during 2011 to monitor and evaluate delivery. Because most Burundian refugees have now been successfully repatriated and reintegrated, DFID has recently phased out refugee assistance. DFID funding is focused on improving the delivery of services in health and education, increasing people’s access to justice and supporting Burundi’s integration into the East African Community (EAC).
From the financial year 2012-13, DFID will focus exclusively on supporting Burundi’s integration into the EAC, which the UK assesses to be the greatest single contributing factor to economic growth in Burundi over the medium term. DFID therefore has no plans to provide support in other areas, which are being addressed by other donors.
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid his Department is providing to local industries and natural resources projects in Burundi. [42427]
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Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) is providing £11 million to Burundi in the financial year 2010-11. This funding is focusing on improving the delivery of services in health and education, increasing people’s access to justice and supporting Burundi’s integration into the East African Community (EAC).
DFID’s support to EAC integration will focus on reducing the time and cost of transporting goods, and eliminating barriers to trade. The increased potential for regional trade provided by the EAC, and the improved conditions created through DFID’s support, will have a direct impact on the opportunities for local industries to flourish. DFID does not contribute directly to the management of natural resources in Burundi.
Developing Countries: Education
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department’s expenditure on overseas aid was spent on education in each of the last three years; and what the planned allocation is for 2010-11. [41802]
Mr O'Brien: Details of the Department for International Development (DFID) expenditure are published annually in “Statistics on International Development”, which is available online at:
www.dfid.gov.uk
and in the Library of the House. The relevant figures for each of the last three years are reproduced in the following table.
| DFID expenditure—education sector | ||||
| Financial year | DFID bilateral (£ million) | DFID multilateral (£ million) | Total DFID (£ million) | Percentage of DFID programme |
Expenditure figures for 2010-11 will be published later in the year.
Environment Protection: Innovation
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what timetable he has set for the development of his proposed innovation prizes for pro-poor environmental technologies. [41856]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) is currently assessing the evidence on innovation prizes and scoping out how we could support prizes for pro-poor environmental technologies. We will focus on technologies that could help poor people in developing countries to respond to the impacts of climate change and to gain access to low-carbon jobs, products and services. We aim to complete this work by mid-2011.
International Climate Fund
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what timetable he has set for the development of indicators to measure the effectiveness of the International Climate Fund. [41855]
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Mr Andrew Mitchell: The International Climate Fund (ICF) will enable the UK to help developing countries both adapt to the impacts of climate change and move on to a low-carbon growth path.
The Departments involved in the ICF—the Department for International Development (DFID), the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Her Majesty’s Treasury (HMT)—in consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), will develop methodologies and indicators to track the impact and value for money of the ICF. DFID’s business plan for 2011-15 commits my Department to developing methodologies and indicators on adaptation, low-carbon development and protecting forests by June 2011. These methodologies and indicators will inform the monitoring and evaluation framework of the ICF. This will help ensure that we best focus our aid to effectively tackle climate change.
Tuberculosis: Vaccination
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has provided for new TB vaccines in each of the last five years. [42329]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) awarded Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation a grant of £10.5 million for the financial years 2009-10 to 2013-14.
A sum of £4 million was disbursed in financial year 2009-10 and DFID expects to disburse £5.5 million in 2010-11.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
AIRE Centre: Finance
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding his Department has provided to the Advice on Individual Rights in Europe Centre in each of the last five years. [42838]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has funded rule of law projects, run by the Advice on Individual Rights in Europe (AIRE), in both Serbia and Montenegro in the recent past and continues to do so. The Government attach great importance to the development of effective rule of law in the countries of the Western Balkans, in particular in the area of judicial reform.
In Montenegro, the FCO will have allocated £132,500 over the 2008-12 period to fund two AIRE projects on rule of law and judicial reform. In Serbia, the FCO will have allocated, over the period 2004-12, £449,256 for a further two rule of law and judicial training projects.
We estimate that over the last five years (2006-11) the FCO has provided, in total, approximately £455,500 in funding to AIRE.
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Bahrain: Defence Equipment
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will investigate reports of the use by the Government of Bahrain of military equipment sold to them by UK companies; and if he will make a statement. [43572]
Alistair Burt: Export licenses are kept under constant review and every licence is scrutinised in light of changing facts on the ground. The Government have reviewed export licenses to Bahrain and any licences for equipment that could be used for internal repression have been revoked.
We are seeking clarification from the Bahraini Government over the potential use of British supplied equipment during these protests. However, to date we have seen no evidence of British supplied equipment being used by the Bahraini authorities during the recent protests.
British Nationals Abroad: Prisoners
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has estimated the number of British citizens serving custodial sentences in prisons overseas. [42965]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) takes a snapshot twice a year of the number of British nationals in detention overseas. At 30 September 2010 the FCO was aware of 2,594 British nationals detained overseas (both in custody pending trial or deportation, and serving custodial sentences).
Burundi: Diplomatic Relations
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for diplomatic engagement in Burundi. [42426]
Mr Bellingham: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office presence in Burundi is modest, consisting of one UK-based and two locally engaged staff. Our non-resident ambassador, based in Kigali, visits Burundi on a regular basis. The UK conducts much diplomatic activity through EU representation in Burundi, with our non-resident ambassador maintaining regular communication with other EU Heads of Mission in Burundi. Moving forward, one of the Government’s priorities is to assist Burundi to integrate into the East African Community. The Government of Burundi have signalled that they intend to open an embassy in London, a move which we would welcome.
Burundi: Overseas Aid
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent support his Department has given to post-conflict reconstruction in Burundi. [42430]
Mr Bellingham:
The UK has provided strong political and programmatic support to post-conflict reconstruction and the return of refugees in Burundi since the end of the civil war in 2003, including the work of the Department
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for International Development in the successful reintegration of over 500,000 refugees from Tanzania and other countries.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has complemented this through working closely with the international community to support Burundi in its return to stability. Through regular discussions in the UN Security Council, in particular around the renewal of the mandate of the UN mission in Burundi, and through active participation in the Peace Building Commission, the UK has promoted the protection of the human rights of vulnerable citizens, including returnees, and emphasised the importance of instituting an effective transitional justice mechanism. Our offices in Burundi and our ambassador based in Kigali have also encouraged the Government of Burundi to take these and other steps that we believe are essential in enabling Burundi to complete its post-conflict recovery. The Anglican Archbishop of Burundi recently praised the support of the Government for their engagement.
Costa Rica
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on (a) the San Juan river dispute between Costa Rica and Nicaragua and (b) the potential effects of that dispute on biodiversity; and if he will make a statement. [43371]
Mr Jeremy Browne: I have received a series of reports on the dispute from our ambassador in San José, from our permanent representative to the United Nations in New York (after his meeting with the Costa Rican Foreign Minister, Rene Castro) and from our embassy in The Hague, where the case has been referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In January the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the hon. Member for North West Norfolk (Mr Bellingham), met the Costa Rican Foreign Minister to discuss the matter, and I, too, recently discussed the dispute with a delegation of Costa Rican parliamentarians.
I am aware that the recent dredging of the River San Juan could affect the flow of water, the wetlands and areas protected for wildlife located in the region, but no formal independent studies have yet been made on the impact. We have asked our ambassador in San José (who is also accredited to the Nicaraguan Government) to continue to monitor the situation closely.
Departmental Conditions of Employment
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of his Department’s adherence to each of the principles of good employment practice set out in the Cabinet Office publication Principles of Good Employment Practice. [42629]
Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office routinely benchmarks its employment policies to ensure compliance with obligations under employment law and to follow best employment practice. Suppliers are also encouraged to follow the principles in any outsourcing or contracting-out of work or functions.
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Departmental Manpower
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff his Department employed at the latest date for which figures are available; [42382]
(2) how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff were employed by his Department in May 2010. [42398]
Alistair Burt: Approximately 5,000 UK-based staff currently work for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We also have approximately 10,000 locally-engaged staff working overseas. For operational and security reasons, we cannot provide a more detailed breakdown.
Iran: Baha'i Faith
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his counterpart in Iran on the detention of Mrs Fariba Kamalabdi and Mrs Mahvash Sabet of the Baha'i faith. [42754]
Alistair Burt: We are concerned by reports that Mrs Fariba Kamalabdi and Mrs Mahvash Sabet, two of the seven detained Baha'i leaders in Iran, were recently moved to less secure prison sections. Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials raised this issue with the Iranian chargé d'affaires on 17 February 2011 and made clear that while continuing to disagree with their detention, their safety while in custody is of primary importance. FCO officials requested further details as to why they were moved, and sought assurances they would receive adequate protection.
Iran: Human Rights
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the adoption of a resolution at the Human Rights Council on the state of human rights in Iran; and if he will make a statement. [42414]
Alistair Burt: We are extremely concerned about the human rights situation in Iran and want to see the UN respond to all serious human rights situations.
We supported the resolution on Iran human rights at the UN General Assembly last year and would give our full support to a resolution at the Human Rights Council as well. Such a resolution would require the majority support of Council members to pass.
David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his Iranian counterpart on Iran's human rights record; and what response he has received. [43445]
Alistair Burt:
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has not made representations directly to his new Iranian counterpart. However, the Secretary of State released a statement on 14 February 2011, Official Report, columns 714-16, condemning the violent suppression of protests in Iran and raised
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his concerns over the human rights situation in Iran when addressing the UN Human Rights Council on 28 February 2011. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials also raised human rights in a meeting with the Iranian Chargé d'Affaires on 17 February 2011. We will continue to take opportunities to highlight abuses where they occur, calling on Iran to fulfil its international and domestic human rights obligations.
Iran: Sanctions
David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the UN Sanctions Committee on reports of the discovery of a consignment of weapons in Apapa, Nigeria, suspected of having been smuggled from Iran. [43397]
Mr Bellingham: The UK drew the UN 1737 Sanctions Committee's attention to the discovery of a consignment of weapons in transit through Nigeria from Iran in late 2010. The Panel of Experts consequently travelled to Nigeria in January 2011 to conduct an investigation. It received full co-operation from the Nigerian authorities in the conduct of its inspections. The case remains under review until judicial proceedings in Nigeria are concluded. The UK strongly supports the work of the Panel of Experts, whose role is to investigate and report on the full and effective implementation of sanctions against Iran. This incident highlights the UK and the rest of the international community's concerns that Iran continues to defy multiple UN Security Council resolutions and is seeking to foster instability rather than play a constructive role in regional affairs. This also demonstrates the effectiveness of the Panel of Experts' work in responding to such cases.
Japan: Whales
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Japanese counterpart on whaling ahead of the International Whaling Commission meeting in July. [42364]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Ministers and senior officials regularly raise our concerns about Japanese whaling activities with the Japanese Government, most recently in January 2011. Both my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I raised it during our visits to Japan last year. The Japanese Government are in no doubt as to the strength of feeling in this country about all of Japan’s whaling activity. We will continue to challenge Japan’s position ahead of this year’s meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in July.
Middle East: Peace Negotiations
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his objectives are for his Department’s participation in the Quartet in the middle east peace process. [42194]
Alistair Burt:
The UK is represented on the Middle East Quartet by the EU. It is primarily through the EU, but also through our strong links with other Middle
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East Quartet members—the US, UN and Russia—that we focus our efforts in pushing for a more prescriptive approach to the middle east peace process.
Our goal, as stated clearly by the UK, France and Germany, following the 18 February 2011 vote on the Palestinian UN resolution on settlements, is to return the parties to negotiations on the basis of clear parameters. As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear in the House on 14 February 2011, Official Report, column 716, the entire international community, including the US, should now support 1967 borders as the basis for resumed negotiations. The result should be two states, with Jerusalem as the future capital of both, and a fair settlement for refugees.
Mohammed Junaid Babar
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the US Administration on the case of Mohammed Junaid Babar; and if he will make a statement. [43373]
Mr Hague: The prosecution and sentencing of Mohammed Junaid Babar was a matter for the US authorities and their independent judicial system. However, given that Mr Babar's release has caused pain and distress to those who lost family and friends on 7 July 2005, the Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), raised the importance of providing an explanation of what lay behind this decision with US officials during his visit to Washington on 23 February 2011.
Palestinians: Embassies
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will upgrade the Palestinian General Delegation in London to a diplomatic mission. [42192]
Alistair Burt: We are aware of the steps that some other EU states have taken to upgrade the status of the Palestinian Delegations in their capitals. The Palestinians have made the same request to the UK, which we are considering in accordance with our long-standing support for Palestinian state building.
The Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 and the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987 confer diplomatic privileges and immunities in the UK on accredited diplomats, their families etc. of other states.
As the UK does not recognise Palestine as a state, the Palestinian Authority in the UK is not entitled to the privileges and immunities provided for in the United Kingdom Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 and the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987. These Acts implement the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1964 in UK law, a convention that regulates the diplomatic conduct between states.
Tibet
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to review his policy on Tibet. [42977]
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Mr Jeremy Browne: The Government recognise Tibet as part of the People's Republic of China. There are no plans to review this policy.
Yemen
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed during his meeting with the Foreign Minister of Yemen; and if he will make a statement. [42747]
Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met the Yemeni Foreign Minister, Dr Al Qirbi, on 1 February 2011. During the meeting they discussed the importance of real progress in the Yemeni process for agreeing key electoral and political reforms—the National Dialogue—and objectives for the forthcoming Friends of Yemen meeting. They also discussed issues of mutual concern, such as the events in Egypt and international concerns in Somalia. The Foreign Secretary urged the Yemeni Government to practise restraint and pursue dialogue in the Yemeni handling of demonstrations.
Northern Ireland
Bill of Rights
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans to continue to seek agreement on a Northern Ireland Bill of Rights in addition to a UK Bill of Rights. [42902]
Mr Swire: The Government will continue to examine how best to reach agreement on the issue of supplementary rights for Northern Ireland in addition to any process relating to a UK Bill of Rights.
Defence
Armed Forces: Criminal Records
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether information on a criminal conviction of a member of the armed forces is automatically passed to the commanding officer concerned. [41021]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 16 February 2011]:Where the offence is purely of a service nature and dealt with by the service justice system, the commanding officer will be involved either in hearing the case summarily or being informed of the outcome of courts martial proceedings. Where a criminal conviction is incurred while off duty among the community, and dealt with by the civil authorities, the services are a notifiable occupation in accordance with Home Office circular 06/2006. The Service Police Crime Bureau is the recorded single point of contact for notification under the scheme and has in place a system whereby the commanding officer is formally notified of a conviction.
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further powers he plans to give to the Royal Military Police to investigate allegations of serious crimes by individual members of the armed forces. [41022]
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Mr Robathan [holding answer 16 February 2011]: Within the Armed Forces Bill currently before Parliament there are two clauses that will amend the powers of the service police. The clauses will expand, while retaining the requirement for an application to a judge advocate, those premises the service police may enter and search, and will enable access to excluded material on premises other than relevant residential premises. These amendments will provide the service police with provisions that more closely reflect those that already exist for Home Department police forces.
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on giving the Royal Military Police powers to overrule the ability of a commanding officer to prevent the investigation by that force of an allegation of a criminal nature against a member of the armed forces. [41023]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 16 February 2011]: Historically, the commanding officer has not had the power to prevent an investigation by the service police once commenced, though the commanding officer did have a power under earlier Acts to dismiss a charge at summary hearing. Since the introduction of the Armed Forces Act 2006, the commanding officer has a duty placed upon them to ensure the service police are made aware of serious offences. For other lesser offences, the duty to investigate rests with the commanding officer.
Armed Forces: Finance
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the savings to accrue to (a) his Department's budget and (b) the budgets of each of the armed forces attributable to (i) current and (ii) planned redundancies. [43461]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced significant reductions to both civilian and military personnel as part of the strategic defence and security review. Final savings figures on redundancies will depend on detailed implementation of these reductions, which will include early release and natural wastage, as well as redundancies. All three services are currently working through their redundancy processes and have yet to decide which posts will be made redundant. Estimates are subject to change and the MOD is therefore not prepared to release more detailed figures at this time.
Armed Forces: Food
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost was of providing a meal to members of the armed forces (a) based in Britain, (b) serving in Afghanistan and (c) serving in another country in the latest period for which figures are available. [42921]
Peter Luff:
Armed forces personnel are primarily catered for through outsourced catering, retail and leisure (CRL) contracts which are being introduced across military bases in the UK, Germany and Cyprus. Some 65% of armed forces personnel are catered for under these arrangements, whereby individuals pay for the meals they consume. Contractors are required to offer a
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core meal, covering breakfast, lunch and dinner, with set calorific and nutritional standards, in line with the prevailing daily food charge, which is currently capped by the armed forces pay review body at £4.13 per day. Service personnel can, however, choose an alternative retail offering if they prefer.
As part of a CRL contract, the contractor will customarily receive what is known as the service provision payment (SPP), which covers the costs of the civilian labour required to deliver the service, which the Ministry of Defence would otherwise have to provide. SPP varies from contract to contract, the competitions for which are run at individual unit, or group of units’ level.
For armed forces personnel stationed in bases not currently covered by CRL arrangements, including those serving on operations and overseas exercises, daily messing rates (DMRs) apply. DMRs are the cost of ingredients based upon bespoke ration scales; these rates are adjusted quarterly to reflect food cost inflation and are currently set as follows:
| Location | Daily Messing Rate |
These amounts cover the provision of three meals a day but exclude the cost of logistics, which for locations such as Afghanistan is significant—for financial year 2009-10 the cost of food provided to personnel in Afghanistan was £17.944 million, while the associated logistical operating costs excluding contractor’s profit was £46.595 million.
The corresponding figures for non-deployed personnel not covered by CRL arrangements were £50.440 million for food and £15.994 million for logistical operating costs.
Ballistic Missile Defence: Costs
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the UK of the NATO share of the contribution to the US missile defence system. [42436]
Mr Gerald Howarth: In November 2010 Alliance members agreed that they would develop a NATO ballistic missile defence capability, of which the US missile defence system will form an important part. The cost of developing the NATO system is estimated to be between €864-928 million over 10 years. The UK currently contributes 11.5% to the NATO security investment programme, from which this capability is funded.
Departmental Procurement
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimate he has made of the likely savings to his Department through contract renegotiations over the comprehensive spending review period; [38827]
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(2) how much money his Department has saved as a result of contract renegotiations since May 2010. [38828]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently examining 130 contracts relating to the strategic defence and security review (SDSR) decisions, which is expected to increase to some 500 contracts in due course. We expect the process of renegotiating these contracts to take around 18 months.
The MOD has made estimates of the cost savings that will accrue from contractual renegotiations, and from other measures in the SDSR, for the purposes of formulating policy. Some of these estimates have been published to help inform the public debate. Release of further detail may prejudice commercial interests. Final savings figures will depend on detailed implementation, which will generally be subject to full consultation with all relevant parties, including the trade unions and the devolved Administrations, as well as the results of mandatory assessments on the impact that the measures will have on sustainability, equality and diversity and health and safety. I am, therefore, not prepared to release more detailed information at present.
India: Official Visits
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology had on the arms trade treaty with Ministers and officials of the Indian Government on his recent visit to that country. [43257]
Written Questions: Government Responses
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to answer question 37369, on regulations removed by his Department, tabled on 26 January 2011 for answer on 31 January. [42699]
Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 February 2011, Official Report, column 75W.
Treasury
Private Rented Housing: Fines
Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer from the Secretary of State for Scotland of 17 February 2011, Official Report, column 893W, on private rented housing: fines, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on the use of funds received from fines rendered against private landlords in Scotland. [43410]
Justine Greening: As the Secretary of State for Scotland replied on 17 February 2011, Official Report, column 893W, I have recently written to the Scottish Minister for Housing and Communities on this matter. While policy on the Scottish private rented sector is a devolved matter for the Scottish Government, there are currently no plans to change the public spending treatment of fine income.
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Public Sector: Land
Ms Bagshawe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the (a) monetary value, (b) quantity in hectares and (c) number of locations of surplus public sector land; and if he will make a statement. [33841]
Robert Neill: I have been asked to reply.
The Department for Communities and Local Government has not made a recent estimate of the monetary value of surplus public sector land. Asset valuations are kept by each land owner. The Register of Surplus Public Sector Land (the Register) is maintained by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) on behalf of the Department.
In mid-February 2011, the Register contained details of 909 sites covering 8,118 hectares owned by the participating public sector organisations. Individual locations can be viewed on the HCA website at:
http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/Surplus_public_sector_land
Education
Children’s Centres: Finance
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what plans he has for the future level of funding to Sure Start children’s centres; [27713]
(2) what plans he has for (a) short-term, (b) medium-term and (c) long-term funding for Sure Start children’s centres. [27835]
Sarah Teather: Funding for Sure Start children’s centres will be maintained in cash terms over the next spending review period, including investment in health visitors. Funding for Sure Start children’s centres forms part of the new early intervention grant, which is worth £2,222,555,697 in 2011-12 and £2,307,196,996 in 2012-13. It is for local authorities to determine the most effective use of this money, but the grant ensures there is enough funding in the system to maintain the network of children’s centres.
Free Schools: Yorkshire and the Humber
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many applications his Department has received from (a) individuals and (b) groups in (i) north Yorkshire and (ii) York to establish a free school. [37386]
Mr Gibb: The Department for Education has received one proposal to date from a group in north Yorkshire and one proposal from a group in York. No proposals have been received to date from individuals in either local authority area.
Schools: Admissions
Lisa Nandy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education what mechanism he plans to put in place to handle complaints regarding school admissions after
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the implementation of his proposal to remove the requirement for local authorities to establish an admissions forum. [37962]
Mr Gibb: We believe that the vast majority of schools want to operate their admissions in a fair and open manner. Where there are issues, parents can, and do, discuss them directly with the schools themselves and this often resolves the issue before a formal complaint is necessary. Where informal dialogue cannot resolve the issue, parents and others can object about admission arrangements to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator, who will independently review the matter. His determinations are binding on both parties. In future the Schools Adjudicator will consider complaints for all schools, including academies and free schools, ensuring that the route of formal complaint for parents is simpler.
Schools: Sport
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what the status of existing agreements between his Department and school sport partnerships will be where funding for partnerships is withdrawn; and if he will make a statement; [37271]
(2) what the status of existing agreements between schools and school sport partnerships will be where funding for partnerships is withdrawn; and if he will make a statement. [37272]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 31 January 2011]: School sport partnerships are groups of schools that work together on physical education and sport; they do not have separate legal status. The Department pays an annual grant with 450 secondary schools who agree to act as 'hubs' for the schools in a partnership and who receive additional funding for a ‘partnership development manager’. The Department is in the process of finalising the grant for the financial year 2010-11 with the hub schools. This agreement will cover expenditure of around £114 million in 2010-11. The hub schools make subsequent agreements with the other schools in their partnership, on the basis of the Department's agreement with them. The Department wrote to the hub schools in October 2010 to say that the terms and conditions for this year would be changing, that schools would have new flexibility over how they spend the grant on PE and sport, and that funding beyond March 2011 was not guaranteed. The hub schools will have taken this into account in making further agreements with other schools. The Department has subsequently announced, in December 2010, that the final payment of school sport partnership grant in February 2011 will cover most costs through to the end of the summer term 2011. The additional flexibility that schools have in spending this considerable investment should mean that they can embed the good practice of the previous Administration's PE and sport strategy, as well as run more competitive sport for all pupils. The complexity, lack of transparency, and administrative demands on schools of this payment system set up by the previous Administration are part of the reason that we have decided not to continue with it. Schools will remain able to organise competitive sport in partnerships in future, if they wish.
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Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average number of sports was to which pupils in (a) secondary schools and (b) specialist sports colleges had access in each year since 2005. [39870]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 11 February 2011]: Information on sports provision has been published annually in the PE and sport survey. This survey shows the average number of sports provided in secondary schools in a school year. There is no breakdown for specialist sports colleges, or for secondary schools before 2006/07. This survey question does not cover the quality of each sport provided, nor the amount played during a year, nor the number of pupils who played.
2006/07: 21.7
2007/08: 22.3
2008/09: 25.0
2009/10: 25.6
Sure Start Programme: Walsall
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the future allocation of funding for Sure Start services in Walsall South constituency. [26686]
Sarah Teather: Sure Start will be maintained in cash terms over the next spending review period, including new investment in health visitors through Department of Health budgets. Funding for Sure Start will form part of the new early intervention grant. There is enough money in the early intervention grant to retain a network of Sure Start children's centres, whilst ensuring all children's centres focus on supporting families in greatest need. Details about the early intervention grant were announced on 13 December as part of the local government finance settlement. The Secretary of State wrote to local authorities with details of this announcement. A copy of this letter, including indicative allocations to individual local authorities, has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Deputy Prime Minister
Constituencies
Mr Bain: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Electoral Commission on the estimated cost to the public purse for each Parliamentary Boundary Commission of conducting parliamentary boundary reviews every five years. [43379]
Mr Harper: I have not discussed this matter with the Electoral Commission. The Parliamentary Boundary Commissions are responsible for conducting parliamentary boundary reviews.
General Elections
Mr Bain: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what discussions he has had with the Electoral Commission on the potential cost to the public purse of introducing the alternative vote electoral system for the 2015 General Election; [43378]
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(2) what discussions he has held with the Electoral Commission on guidance for the counting by hand of ballot papers cast in elections conducted under the alternative vote system. [44016]
Mr Harper: The Government have not had discussions on the costs of implementing the Alternative Vote system or on guidance for the counting of ballot papers under the Alternative Vote with the Electoral Commission.
Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill
Mr Bone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many amendments were tabled to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill in each House; and how many amendments proposed by hon. Members who are not members of the Government were accepted. [42472]
Mr Harper: The Bill team's records show that 1,169 amendments were tabled during the passage of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, 614 of which were tabled during the House of Commons stages of the Bill, 544 during the Bill's passage through the House of Lords and 11 during Commons Consideration of Lords Amendments and Lords Consideration of Commons Amendments.
The Government accepted two amendments tabled by Lord Rooker, which provided that the referendum would be held on 5 May 2011, subject to an alternative date, which must be before 31 October 2011, being set by the Minister tabling an Order. The Government also accepted: an amendment by Lord Rennard, which allows the Boundary Commissions to take into account existing constituencies when drawing new boundaries; an amendment by Lord Brooke, which allows the Boundary Commission for England to take into account the boundaries of the City of London; and an amendment by Lord Phillips enabling the chief counting officer to take steps to facilitate co-operation between the regional counting officers, counting officers and registration officers for the purpose of encouraging participation in the referendum.
In addition, the Government made a number of amendments in response to the recommendations of Select Committees and other bodies or to reflect debates on amendments tabled by non-Government Members of both Houses. These include changing the wording of the referendum question in response to recommendations made by the Electoral Commission, amending the rules on spending limits applying to the media and removing the Minister's power to modify the reports of the Boundary Commissions in response to proposals put forward by the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee, and amending the boundary review process to include public hearings in response to debate on an amendment tabled by Baroness D'Souza, the Convenor of the Crossbench Peers. In addition, following discussions with Lord Williamson and other Opposition and Crossbench peers, the Government introduced an amendment providing for a review of the impact of reducing the number of MPs to take place after the 2015 general election.
Finally, having listened to the views of Members of both Houses, the Government accepted the principle in Lord Fowler's amendment that constituencies on the
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Isle of Wight should not include parts of the mainland. The Government therefore tabled an amendment to this effect at Commons Consideration of Lords Amendments.
Public Bills
Natascha Engel: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the benefits to the legislative process of public reading stages for Bills. [41667]
Sir George Young: I have been asked to reply.
The public reading stage will improve public engagement with Parliament by giving individuals a chance to participate in the legislative process and improve the quality of legislation by taking into account the views of those who might otherwise not contribute. The current pilot public reading of the Protection of Freedoms Bill will provide the basis for a further assessment of the merits of the process.
Natascha Engel: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proposals he has for the (a) minimum and (b) maximum amount of time for public reading stages of Bills. [41668]
Sir George Young: I have been asked to reply.
Public reading stage will normally begin when a Bill is published and end in time for the points raised by members of the public to be taken into account during proceedings in the Public Bill Committee.
Cabinet Office
Small Businesses: Procurement
Mr Holloway: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to make Government procurement simpler for small and medium-sized enterprises. [42474]
Mr Letwin: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier.
Transport
Aviation: Security
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will permit UK airports to determine their own security procedures for air crew. [41507]
Mrs Villiers: Airports need to comply with the relevant European and domestic regulatory requirements, which currently contain a number of detailed processes. However, this does not prevent airports from determining some processes at a local level.
The Department for Transport is exploring how the UK's domestic requirements might be delivered via a more outcome-focused, risk-based regime, which would give airports more flexibility to determine local processes for delivering aviation security. A public consultation on this issue will be launched in due course.
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Cycling: Brighton and Hove
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has had discussions with Cycling England on the proposal of Brighton and Hove city council to remove cycle lanes funded by Cycling England. [42878]
Norman Baker: Neither the Secretary of State for Transport, the right hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), nor I have had discussions with Cycling England on the proposal of Brighton and Hove city council to remove cycle lanes funded by Cycling England, but I understand they are following up the issue with Brighton and Hove council.
Railways: Scotland
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on new high-speed rail services. [38861]
Mr Philip Hammond: The Minister of State for Transport, the right hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs Villiers), met with the then Scottish Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson MSP, in November 2010 and discussed high-speed rail links to Scotland. HS2 Ltd has also had a number of meetings with the Scottish Government. I also have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Scotland on this issue.
Shipping: Oil
Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents involving oil spillage during ship-to-ship transfers of oil off the UK coastline have been recorded in each year since 2000. [43261]
Mike Penning: Detailed records have been maintained of ship-to-ship transfers conducted outside harbour authority areas since 2008, which coincides with the beginning of the increase in this ship-to-ship transfer activity.
During that time, 767 ship-to-ship transfers have been undertaken in UK waters outside harbour authority areas, with no spills recorded.
Trams
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement on the tram-train pilot. [42980]
Norman Baker: I have been considering an initial business case for the Sheffield to Rotherham tram-train pilot proposal and expect to make an announcement shortly.
Culture, Media and Sport
Departmental Interpreters
Ian Austin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport for which services provided by (a) his Department and (b) its associated public
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bodies, interpreters provide services in a language or languages other than English; how many interpreters are employed or subcontracted for each non-English language; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of interpretation costs incurred in the latest period for which figures are available. [42224]
John Penrose: No interpreters have been used by the Department in the last financial year.
The Department does not collate this information for its agency or arm’s length bodies. Accordingly, I have asked their chief executives to write to the hon. Member.
Copies of the replies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff have left his Department's employment since May 2010. [42306]
John Penrose: Since May 2010, (a) 48 actual and (b) 38.5 full-time equivalent staff have left the Department.
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff his Department employed on the latest date for which figures are available. [42387]
John Penrose: As at 28 February the Department employed (a) 462 actual and (b) 447 full-time equivalent staff.
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff were employed by his Department in May 2010. [42403]
John Penrose: As at 31 May 2010 the Department employed (a) 481 actual and (b) 462 full-time equivalent staff.
Gambling
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the cost to the public purse of the Gambling Prevalence Survey 2010 was; whether his Department plans to provide funding for its continuance in the future; and whether he expects the gambling industry to fund future prevalence studies in addition to existing funding arrangements. [41758]
John Penrose: The cost to produce the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2010 and its distribution was approximately £560,000, funded through grant in aid provided to the Gambling Commission by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Following the 2010 spending review, all grant in aid funding provided to the Gambling Commission has been discontinued.
The Government intend to continue collecting and publishing information on gambling prevalence and problem gambling in future. The Commission is currently consulting on future methods and funding sources, including direct and indirect industry contributions.
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Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the (a) achievements and (b) costs of the responsible gambling strategy board and the mechanism for distributing funds raised voluntarily by the industry to fund research, education and treatment; if he will assess the effects of the board’s work; and if he will make a statement. [41760]
John Penrose: The responsible gambling strategy board receives annual funding of £250,000 from the Gambling Commission. It has made steady progress on a national strategy for research, education and treatment, but it is too early to make a full assessment of the mechanism for distributing funds raised by the industry.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether an impact assessment has been conducted by (a) his Department and (b) the Gambling Commission of the potential costs to the industry of establishing a new problem gambling helpline. [41805]
John Penrose: Neither the Department nor the Gambling Commission have assessed the impact of establishing a new problem gambling helpline, because the costs will not be finally known until the tender is complete. The decision to tender for such a service rests with the Responsible Gambling Fund (RGF), an independent charity accountable to its trustees.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Citizens Advice Bureaux: Wales
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of citizens advice bureaux that are likely to close in (a) Wales and (b) Aberavon constituency as a result of the outcomes of the comprehensive spending review. [42209]
Mr Davey: I can confirm that although a number of bureaux in Wales are currently expecting some cut to their core funding from their local authority, none are expecting to close as a result.
Many bureaux have yet to receive confirmation of their core funding but all are in contact with their funders and none of these are currently expecting any severe cuts.
In Aberavon constituency the core funding from Neath Port Talbot county council to the service is expected to be reduced by 1.7% (as yet unconfirmed), which reflects the cut which has been faced by the county across its budget. Neath and Port Talbot bureaux are currently undergoing a merger and see this as a way of strengthening their services for the future.
Departmental Procurement
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skill, pursuant to the answer of 15 February 2011, Official Report, column 737W, on departmental procurement, for what reasons the information requested on single tender contracts is not held centrally. [43333]
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Mr Davey: The Department’s central finance system does not record this information. Payments are recorded on a transactional basis.
Departmental Security
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for what reasons persons not employed by Government Departments or agencies are issued with passes entitling them to enter his Department’s premises. [43214]
Mr Davey: Passes are issued to those who have a need to enter the building in order to ensure the efficient running of the Department. Some functions are provided by staff who are employed by a contractor rather than directly by the Department or an agency. Such persons include specialist consultants, building maintenance staff, IT support, restaurant staff, cleaners and security guards. The pass is only issued following security checks.
Drugs: India
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2011, Official Report, column 381W, on trade: India, what evidence has been provided to his Department on the effects that the inclusion of data exclusively on patented and off-patent medicines in the EU-India free trade agreement would have on the supply of affordable generic drugs in (a) India and (b) other developing countries. [42982]
Mr Davey: Evidence of the likely impact of the potential inclusion of data exclusivity in the EU-India free trade agreement (FTA) on supply of affordable generic drugs has been provided to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) from civil society groups, including Médecins Sans Frontières and Oxfam, and representative bodies, including the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. BIS holds regular stakeholder consultations on FTAs. The Intellectual Property Office has written to both industry and the non-governmental organisations to request them to submit evidence. Officials have met with NGOs and industry to discuss a range of issues, including data exclusivity.
We have also examined relevant academic research and the EU and Indian positions. The European Commission has produced an impact assessment for this FTA which can be found at
http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2009/june/tradoc_143372.pdf
The EU and India’s negotiations are ongoing and we continue to welcome further submissions.
Export Credits Guarantees
Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which contracts entered into by UK companies in (a) Bahrain, (b) Democratic Republic of Congo, (c) Egypt, (d) Libya and (e) Saudi Arabia the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) has supported in each of the last five years; and what the monetary value of claims made on ECGD guarantees was in each such country in each such year. [43408]
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Mr Davey: ECGD supported export contracts in each of the following countries:
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|
|
Market | Exporter | Obligor | Project | Amount (£ million) |
ECGD has not supported exports to the Democratic Republic of Congo or Libya in the last five years.
ECGD paid a claim of £4.1 million in 2008-09 in respect of an export transaction to Saudi Arabia. No claims have been paid on Bahrain, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt or Libya.
Intellectual Property and Growth Review
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) when he expects to publish the final report of the independent review of intellectual property and growth; [41978]
(2) if he will consult on the findings and recommendations of the independent review of intellectual property and growth before issuing a response. [41982]
Mr Davey: The review is scheduled to report to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Chancellor of the Exchequer by the end of April. The Government will then consider the appropriate course of action in the light of its recommendations.
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which officials accompanied Professor Ian Hargreaves on his visit to the USA undertaken as part of the independent review of intellectual property and growth. [41988]
Mr Davey: Professor Hargreaves was accompanied by the head of the civil service team which supports the review and two other members of the team.
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of Professor Hargreaves' visit to the US undertaken as part of the independent review of intellectual property and growth. [42002]
Mr Davey: The cost is approximately £7,600.
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills who Professor Ian Hargreaves met during his visit to the US undertaken as part of the independent review of intellectual property and growth. [42003]
Mr Davey: During his visit to the US, Professor Hargreaves met with members of the following organisations: Duke University; Electronic Arts; Facebook; Google; Harvard University; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; the Motion Picture Association of America; the National Academies; NBC Universal; Neurosky; News Corporation; Novak, Druce and Quigg; Onlive; Osborne Clark; Pond Ventures; Quid; the office of the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee; Sony Pictures Entertainment; Silicon Valley Bank; SRI International; Stanford University; Time Warner; the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; the US Department of Commerce; the US Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator; the US Patent and Trademark Office; Viacom; Walt Disney Company; Yahoo!; Yelp; and Zynga. In addition, officials accompanying Professor Hargreaves also met with members of: Carnegie Mellon University; Greenberg Traurig; New York Law School; New Atlantic Ventures; Red Hat; and the US Copyright Office.
Local Enterprise Partnerships: Agriculture
Mr Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the representation of the agricultural sector in
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local enterprise partnerships; and if he will make a statement. [43553]
Mr Prisk: As set out in the White Paper on local growth, the Government will normally expect to see business representatives form half the board, with a prominent business leader in the chair. We would also expect business board members to be representative of key sectors in their area but it will be for partnerships themselves to determine their priorities for representation of particular sectors.
Postal Services: Leeds
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the operations of the new machinery in the Royal Mail sorting offices in Leeds. [41844]
Mr Davey: The effectiveness and performance of new machinery in sorting offices is an operational matter for Royal Mail.
I have therefore asked the chief executive of Royal Mail, Moya Greene, to respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Library of the House.
Radio Frequencies
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to ensure that sufficient radio spectrum is made available to support the development and deployment of machine-to-machine communications technologies for the purposes of applications including smart cities, advanced automotive systems and smart energy grids. [41768]
Mr Prisk: In the first instance, Ofcom has the powers to make spectrum available for use if that spectrum is not already available through the market. If private demand is not sufficient to acquire the spectrum, Government policy is that if spectrum is required to achieve Government policy goals, then Departments are expected to try to acquire this through the market. Should Departments be unable to acquire spectrum through the market, then there is a process in place which Departments can access.
Strode College: Prisons
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for what reason the single contract held by Strode college in relation to 13 prisons was replaced by two separate contracts; for what reasons one of the contracts was not awarded to Strode college; and for what reasons no feedback was offered to Strode college on that decision. [42771]
Mr Hayes: This information is held by the Skills Funding Agency.
I have asked the chief executive of Skills Funding, Geoff Russell, to write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.
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Trade Agreements
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress has been made on the liberalisation of trade in climate-friendly goods through the Doha Development Agenda Environmental Goods and Services negotiations. [43040]
Mr Davey: The Doha round remains the UK Government's overarching trade priority, and we will continue to work closely with our EU and international partners to try to secure a deal in 2011.
Since the Seoul G20 summit last year, the Doha round of trade negotiations have intensified. The liberalisation of trade in environmentally friendly goods and services is an important part of the negotiations, but progress has been incremental. Bilateral and small group meetings will take place this month to try to accelerate progress.
Venture Capital
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what future plans he has to encourage venture capital investments. [41752]
Mr Prisk: The Government’s Green Paper “Financing Business Growth”, published in November 2010, set out a comprehensive package of measures to support small business access to finance. This included £200 million for the Enterprise Capital Fund programme over the next four years to deliver £300 million of venture capital investment into small, innovative businesses in the UK. This additional investment will build on the existing Enterprise Capital Fund programme and the UK Innovation and Investment Fund of funds which are still investing; as well as venture capital and loan funds in the English regions totalling c.£450 million to December 2015.
“Financing Business Growth” also committed the Government to ensuring the Enterprise Investment Scheme and Venture Capital Trusts continue to meet their objective of incentivising investment in small companies, in particular encouraging more business angels to utilise these tax incentives.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Her Majesty’s Treasury are working together on the access to finance strand of the growth review, including exploring further measures to improve the contribution of venture capital to the funding of small, high-growth UK businesses.
House of Commons Commission
Pay
Caroline Flint: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the House of Commons Commission will take steps to ensure that the published organisational chart for the House of Commons Service includes the names and responsibilities of all staff paid over £58,200 per annum. [43529]
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John Thurso: The Commission publishes organisational charts of the House of Commons Service, and of individual House departments and PICT, in its annual report, available from the Vote Office and on the parliamentary website. There are currently no plans to alter the scope of these organisational charts.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Common Agricultural Policy
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on the reform of the common agricultural policy; and if she will make a statement. [43464]
Mr Paice: The Secretary of State recently attended the EU Agriculture Council where she met the Agriculture Commissioner and a number of EU Agriculture Ministers, to discuss reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP). The UK is continuing to work with the European Commission, Parliament and member states to ensure ambitious reform of the CAP which will deliver good value for farmers, taxpayers, consumers and the environment.
Dairy Farming
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to develop potential for commercial success in the dairy industry; what recent discussions she has had with dairy industry representatives on her Department's support for the industry; and if she will make a statement. [41879]
Mr Paice: We are working with the UK dairy industry to increase its commercial success in several ways. During the last month I have met privately and publicly with farming and processor representatives. On Thursday 20 January, I chaired the Dairy Supply Chain Forum, which includes representation through the supply chain from farming to retail and foodservice.
We have reinvigorated the Forum, challenging key representatives to address issues and opportunities through clear strategies, whether for the internal market or exports, to secure the long-term sustainability of the industry and of British milk supply
We are urging engagement in and supporting industry-led sustainability initiatives which should build upon the success of the Milk Roadmap.
We are engaged in negotiations on the Commission dairy proposal, which is a good opportunity to enhance producer bargaining power, but to ensure UK dairy's competitiveness we would prefer that this is in line with existing competition law.
We are working with BIS to bring in a Bill establishing the groceries code adjudicator to ensure that large retailers cannot abuse power by transferring excessive risks or unexpected costs onto their suppliers.
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Fisheries: Casualties
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fishermen have been reported as (a) lost and (b) injured at sea in each of the last five years. [41717]
Mike Penning: I have been asked to reply.
Fatalities and injuries to crew of UK-registered fishing vessels occurring at sea in each of the last five years that have been reported to the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, are:
|
|
Fatalities | Injuries |
These figures exclude fatalities and injuries which have occurred on fishing vessels in ports and harbours. 2010 data are provisional.
Food: Labelling
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps she has taken to improve the accuracy of food labelling; and if she will make a statement. [43458]
Mr Paice: The UK has been actively involved in EU negotiations on a new regulation for food labelling. Our aim has been to ensure there is clarity in food labelling for consumers, especially on country of origin labelling. A common position was reached on the text at the EU Agriculture Council in February. Discussions on this dossier are ongoing. Any changes to the labelling provisions would not be in place until early 2012.
In the meantime, we have been working with key food sector bodies to facilitate voluntary industry agreements to provide more and clearer labelling information.
Public Forest Estate: Access
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to take steps to ensure that (a) public rights of way in and (b) access for (i) walkers, (ii) horse riders and (iii) cyclists to woods and forests managed by the Forestry Commission will not be affected under any proposed ownership arrangements. [38806]
Mr Paice: The consultation on the future of the Public Forest Estate has been halted and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill will be removed. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.
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SSSIs
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many sites of special scientific interest there are in forests in England owned by (a) the Forestry Commission and (b) private owners (i) in total and (ii) per 100,000 hectares of forest under each category of ownership. [39047]
Mr Paice [holding answer 8 February 2011]: The Forestry Commission manages 67,615 hectares of sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) on the public forest estate in England. Of these, 41,406 hectares are classified as woodland SSSIs. The remaining 26,209 hectares comprise a wide range of open habitat such as moorland, heathland, bogs, fens, open water, coastal landslip and cliff.
The total area of woodland SSSI in England outside the Forestry Commission's management is 75,994 hectares.
The area of woodland on the public forest estate in England is 199,000 hectares and non-Forestry Commission woodland is 931,000 hectares. This means that there are approximately 21,000 hectares of SSSI per 100,000 hectares of woodland on the public forest estate and approximately 8,000 hectares of SSSI per 100,000 hectares of woodland under other ownership.
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will place in the Library a copy of the Forestry Commission staff consultation referred to by the hon. Member for Wakefield on 2 February 2011, Official Report, column 929. [39141]
Mr Paice [holding answer 8 February 2011]: I have placed a copy of the Forestry Commission's staff consultation in the House Library.
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) for what reasons (a) Rendlesham Forest and (b) Dunmid Forest have been designated small commercial forests in her Department's consultation paper on forestry; [41054]
(2) if she will provide a more detailed description of the model used to assess category of woodland referred to in her Department's consultation paper, the Future of the Public Forest Estate in England. [41207]
Mr Paice: The consultation on the future of the Public Forest Estate has been halted and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill will be removed. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.
Public Forest Estate: Biodiversity
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take to manage (a) existing rights to public access and (b) biodiversity in forests in England in respect of her proposals to sell land managed by the Forestry Commission in England; and if she will make a statement. [38856]
Mr Paice
[holding answer 9 February 2011]: The consultation on the future of the Public Forest Estate has been halted and all forestry clauses in the Public
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Bodies Bill will be removed. An independent panel of experts will now examine forestry policy in England and report back to Ministers in the autumn.
Gangmasters: Licensing
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any companies which were compliant with Gangmasters Licensing Authority regulations were required to cease operations because they were unable to afford the cost of licensing in the last five years. [40602]
Mr Paice: Figures are not available on the number of gangmasters who cease trading owing to the cost of a Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) licence.
While the GLA keeps records of licence holders in the regulated sectors who do not renew their licence, including whether they have ceased trading, it does not collect information on the reasons why a licence is not renewed.
Special Areas of Conservation
Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration her Department has given to the evidence and advice on the (a) Lyme Bay and Torbay and (b) Prawle Point to Plymouth Sound candidate special area of conservation. [42172]
Richard Benyon: The scientific basis for the selection of Lyme Bay and Torbay, and Prawle Point to Plymouth Sound and Eddystone as possible as special areas of conservation (SACs), were the subject of public consultation by Natural England, one of the Department's statutory advisers on nature conservation. Following this, Natural England advised DEFRA that these two sites met the criteria set out in the Habitats Directive for submission to the European Commission as candidate SACs. The advice was accepted by DEFRA and, following clearance within Government, the sites were submitted to the Commission in August 2010.
Decisions to submit candidate special areas of conservation (SACs) to the European Commission are supported by scientific evidence and advice provided by our statutory nature conservation bodies following public consultation. To help inform DEFRA of this process, its chief scientific adviser is commissioning an independent case study review to look at some examples relating to the selection of candidate/possible SACs. The review will consider the following case studies: Lyme Bay and Torbay, and Prawle Point to Plymouth Sound and Eddystone candidate SACs, and Prawle Point to Start Point possible SAC. The case study review will look at the evidence, advice and processes, as well as the Government's evaluation of such information.
Supermarkets: Competition
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has met the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to discuss her proposals to establish a groceries code adjudicator. [43571]
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Mr Paice: The Secretary of State has regular discussions with her opposite number in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on a range of topical issues, which includes the establishment of a groceries code adjudicator to monitor and enforce the groceries supply code of practice.
The Secretary of State has not discussed the specific powers and functions of the groceries code adjudicator, which were the subject of a Department for Business, Innovation and Skills consultation exercise last year. The Government published their response to the consultation on 3 August 2010, announcing their decision on these powers and functions.
Trapping
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 15 February 2011, Official Report, column 710W, on trapping (1) what the outcome was of the 39 of the 88 animals used in the trial that were not injured or killed; [42806]
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(2) how many animals of each species were used in her Department’s trial; how many were used (a) in pen trials and (b) in field work; and what the outcome was for each of these animals. [42807]
Mr Paice [holding answer 28 February 2011]: It would not be appropriate to release results or partial results of the research project “Determining the extent of use and humaneness of snares in England and Wales” prior to the project being peer-reviewed and finalised.
Work and Pensions
Departmental Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what regulations his Department introduced between 22 November 2010 and 8 February 2011. [42089]
Chris Grayling: The information is contained in the following table:
Employment Schemes
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many bids for Work Programme prime contracts he has received for each contract package area. [42823]
Chris Grayling: The deadline for bidding organisations to submit tenders for the Work Programme was 10am on 14 February 2011. The Department for Work and Pensions has received 177 tenders from 30 organisations.
The following table gives details of the contract package areas and the number of tenders received.
| Contract package area (CPA) | Contract package area name | Tenders received |
Housing Benefit
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of tenants of working age in receipt of housing benefit who were under-occupying their social rented property by (a) one bedroom or more, (b) two bedrooms or more and (c) three bedrooms or more in each region in the latest period for which information is available. [42777]
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Steve Webb: 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 estimates of the number of working-age housing benefit recipients living in social housing, under-occupying their home by one bedroom or more in each region 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
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 tenants of working age in receipt of housing benefit who were under-occupying their social-rented property by two bedrooms or more (part b) and three bedrooms or more (part c) in each region.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of widows and widowers in social rented housing who are of working age and on housing benefit and who were under-occupying their home in the latest period for which figures are available. [42778]
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 widows and widowers living in social-rented housing who are of working age, in receipt of housing benefit and who are under-occupying their home.
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 estimates of the number of 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
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to paragraph 34 of his Department's two-year review of the local housing allowance, page 111, showing that 45% of non-student, single, under 25s in the private rented sector, with no children and who have not declared any housing benefit receipt live in shared accommodation, what the equivalent figure is for people aged 25 to 34. [42991]
Steve Webb: It is estimated that 41% of non-student, single people, aged 25-34, who are renting in the private sector, have no children and have not declared housing benefit receipt are living in shared accommodation.
Notes:
1. Shared accommodation refers to households where there is no clear head, for example unrelated adults sharing a house or flat on an equal basis. This analysis therefore excludes other forms of sharing, for example lodging in an owner-occupied house, or adult children living with their parents.
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2. Housing benefit receipt has been analysed at household level, so some individuals not claiming housing benefit, but sharing accommodation with benefit claimants, have been treated as if they are in receipt. Only a small proportion of non-recipients share accommodation with claimants, so this does not have a significant impact on the estimate.
3. “Private renting” includes both furnished and unfurnished tenancies, but excludes rent free cases.
4. The family resources survey is a nationally representative sample of approximately 23,000 households in Great Britain. Data for 2008-09 were collected between April 2008 and March 2009.
5. The family resources survey is known to under-record benefit receipt so the estimates presented should be treated with caution.
6. The figures from the family resources survey are based on a sample of households which have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors which align the family resources survey to Government Office Region population by age and sex. Estimates are subject to sampling error and remaining non-response error.
7. Figures have been rounded to the nearest percentage point.
Source:
DWP analysis of 2008-09 family resources survey
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the savings to his Department from the changes to rules on properties in respect of which housing benefit claimants aged between 25 and 35 are entitled to claim benefit in each of the next four financial years. [43449]
Steve Webb: The information is in the table.
| Estimated savings from extending the shared accommodation rate to age 35 | |
|
|
Estimated savings (£ million, cash) |
| Notes: 1. Figures are in cash terms, rounded to nearest £5 million. 2. Estimates are as presented in the 2010 spending review. 3. The shared accommodation rate currently applies to single childless claimants under 25. In the 2010 spending review it was announced that from 2012 it will apply to people aged up to 35. There are exemptions for disability and recent care leavers, which will continue to apply. | |