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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 3 March 2011
Leader of the House
Committee of Selection
Graham Jones: To ask the Leader of the House what recent discussions he has had with the Chair of the Committee of Selection on the operation of that Committee. [43627]
Sir George Young: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today during Oral Questions to the hon. Member for Lewisham East (Heidi Alexander).
I have occasional discussions with my hon. Friend the Member for The Cotswolds (Geoffrey Clifton-Brown) on the work of his Committee.
The House's arrangements for the appointment of select committee members and chairs have been significantly strengthened by changes introduced at the beginning of this Parliament.
Chair of the Committee of Selection
Bill Esterson: To ask the Leader of the House what recent discussions he has had with the Chair of the Committee of Selection on the operation of that Committee. [43622]
Chris Williamson: To ask the Leader of the House what recent discussions he has had with the Chair of the Committee of Selection on the operation of that Committee. [43626]
Sir George Young: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave today during Oral Questions to the hon. Member for Lewisham East (Heidi Alexander).
I have occasional discussions with my hon. Friend the Member for The Cotswolds (Geoffrey Clifton-Brown) on the work of his Committee.
The House's arrangements for the appointment of select committee members and chairs have been significantly strengthened by changes introduced at the beginning of this Parliament.
Church Commissioners
Voluntary Work and Charitable Donations
Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church Commissioners have a policy to encourage their employees to (a) volunteer and (b) donate to charity through payroll giving. [44193]
Tony Baldry:
The employees of the Church of England’s National Church Institutions (NCIs) include all staff working at Lambeth Palace, Lambeth Palace Library, Bishopthorpe Palace in York, the Archbishops Council, the Pensions Board, the National Society for Promoting Religious Education and the Church Commissioners.
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These staff members as of 2008 are able to take up to five working days charity leave. This work can only be undertaken for registered, recognised charities and does not include general voluntary work in the parish or community. Employees are also able to donate to charity through the ‘Give As You Earn’ scheme where money can be deducted straight from the individual’s pay-packet.
Scotland
Flexibility Drawdown: Finance
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland with reference to the Spring Supplementary Estimates 2010-11, HC 790, for what reasons there is proposed an increase of £1,900,000 in voted expenditure due to an end year flexibility drawdown. [43338]
Michael Moore: The comprehensive spending review (CSR) 2007 settlement determined under the previous Government was based on the presumption that the Scotland Office would be allowed to bank underspends where they occurred and for those underspends to be carried forward under the end year flexibility (EYF) scheme to be used to meet pressures in later years. The £1.9 million EYF drawn down in the Spring Supplementary Estimates allowed the Scotland Office to meet its spending commitments for 2010-11.
Scottish Parliament: Finance
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland with reference to the Spring Supplementary Estimates 2010-11, HC 790, for what reasons there is proposed an increase of £125,784,000 in grant to the Scottish Parliament. [43590]
Michael Moore: The increases to the Scottish Consolidated Fund are set out in the following table. How additional money provided by Parliament is spent is a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
| £ million | |||
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Revised position after 2010-11 Winter Supplementary | Changes | Revised position after 2010-11 Spring Supplementary |
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National Insurance Fund Payments towards Scottish National Health Service |
|||
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Details of changes to the Scotland Office departmental expenditure limit are set out in the written ministerial statement made on 14 February 2011, Official Report, column 64WS.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Committee
Calyx UK Ltd
Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what services and equipment Calyx UK Ltd provide to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority; and whether quotes from other suppliers were obtained before the contract with Calyx was signed. [40431]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated February 2011:
As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what services and equipment Calyx UK Ltd and Calyx Managed Services Ltd provide to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority; and whether quotes from other suppliers were obtained before the contract with Calyx was signed.
The scope of the contract with Calyx UK Ltd and Calyx Managed Services Ltd covers infrastructure and enterprise software support.
Infrastructure support includes server hardware, desktops and laptops, network hardware, office infrastructure, firewalls, anti-virus, web proxy and hosting services, Wide Area Network link, security solutions, email and telephony.
Enterprise support includes software support for financial accounting, the online expense system, payroll, human resources and a relationship management system.
IPSA selected Calyx as its ICT systems provider following a structured procurement exercise run through OGC Buying Solutions. A number of specialist ICT providers bid for the work and were evaluated against pre-agreed criteria by a selection panel made-up of IPSA Directors and ICT staff working for IPSA. The OGC maintained an oversight of the procurement.
Three responses were received to the invitation to tender for the Infrastructure Solution and three for the Enterprise Solution.
Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how much the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has paid to Calyx UK Ltd since its inception; what payments are likely to be made in the remainder of 2010-11; and what estimate has been made of the payments to be made in 2011-12. [40433]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Andrew McDonald, doted February 2011:
As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how much the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has paid Calyx UK Ltd since its inception; what payments are anticipated to be made in the remainder of the current financial year; and what estimate has been made of the payments to be made in 2011-12.
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IPSA has, from its inception to 14 February 2011, made payments totalling £2,219,000 to Calyx UK Ltd and Calyx Managed Services Ltd.
We will be able to confirm the total amount paid to these companies in 2010-11 after the end of the financial year.
We are still in the process of compiling our estimate for 2011-12, and this will be presented to the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority in due course.
Expenditure
Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, if he will request that the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority publish a list of the expenditure it has incurred for sums lower than £25,000. [40430]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Andrew McDonald, doted February 2011:
As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking whether IPSA will publish a list of expenditure it has incurred for sums lower than £25,000.
We have undertaken to publish details of expenditure on items over £25,000. This is consistent with the Government’s transparency agenda. There are no plans at this stage routinely to publish items below this threshold but we will keep this policy under review.
Communications Officers
Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what the job descriptions of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority’s communications officers are. [39156]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Scott Woolveridge, dated February 2011:
As acting Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the job descriptions are for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority’s communications officers.
As of 28 February, the communications team consists of two people. Copies of their job descriptions have been placed in the House of Commons library.
Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what the salaries of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority’s communications officers are. [39157]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Scott Woolveridge, dated February 2011:
As acting Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the salaries are of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority’s communications officers.
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The salaries of the members of the communications team have previously been published, in £5,000 bands, in answer to Parliamentary Questions 15729 and 15730, published in Hansard on 12 October 2010, column 260W.
Members: Allowances
Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how many expense claims from hon. Members have been rejected by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) on the grounds that insufficient evidence was provided in cases where IPSA was subsequently found to have lost the documentation provided. [39155]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated February 2011:
As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many expense claims from hon. Members have been rejected by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) on the grounds that insufficient evidence was provided in cases where IPSA was subsequently found to have lost the documentation provided. (39155)
Since 7 May 2010 IPSA has found, following requests from MPs for reviews of determinations not to reimburse a claim due to insufficient evidence being submitted, that in some 58 cases (of over 96,000 processed to date) sufficient evidence had in fact been submitted at the time the original determination was made. In each case, the original determinations were consequently overturned and the claims reimbursed. In none of these cases is it clear that the original determination was made as a result of a loss of documentation by IPSA.
Overtime
Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker’s Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how many staff of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority have worked overtime in each month since its inception; and how much has been paid in overtime payments in each such month. [40428]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated February 2011:
As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many staff of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority have worked overtime in each month since its inception; and how much has been paid in overtime payments in each such month.
We hold aggregate data on overtime payments made to permanent staff. Where temporary, seconded and contract staff work overtime, these costs are either included in their day rates or are charged alongside contracted hours, and so payments for overtime are not recorded separately from payments for contracted hours.
IPSA staff at grade E (equivalent to Civil Service grade 7) and above are not eligible for overtime payments.
The table below details the number of permanent staff working overtime each month and the amount spent.
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Number of employees working overtime | Total value of overtime payments for that month (£) |
Pay: Compliance Officer
Helen Jones: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what comparators the board of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority used to determine the salary to be offered to its incoming compliance officer. [38205]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Scott Woolveridge, dated February 2011:
As acting Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what comparators the board of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority used to determine the salary to be offered to its incoming compliance officer.
The recruitment process for the compliance officer is currently under way and the salary any successful candidate will be offered will be dependent on the skills and experience of the candidate.
The advertised salary range was determined following a market comparison which was undertaken by reviewing similar compliance roles currently being advertised and following advice from the recruitment consultancy.
Board Members: Expenses
Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how much members of the Board of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority have claimed under each category in each month since their appointment. [40437]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated February 2011:
As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how much members of the Board of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority have claimed under each category in each month since their appointment.
Details of expense claims made by IPSA Board Members in the first and second quarters of the current financial year (2010-11) are available on IPSA's website. Claims for the third quarter of the current financial year will be available on our website by no later than 4 March 2011.
The only claim made in the third quarter was as follows:
Rt Hon Sir Scott Baker: £57.50 for Travel to Board Meeting.
No claims have been made in the fourth quarter to date.
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Public Opinion Surveys
Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how many public opinion surveys the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) has commissioned; what the cost of each was; who composed the questions in each survey; and if he will arrange for IPSA to place in the Library a copy of the questions asked. [40429]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Scott Woolveridge, dated February 2011:
As Acting Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many public opinion surveys the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) has commissioned; what the cost of each was; who composed the questions in each survey; and if he will arrange for IPSA to place in the Library a copy of the questions asked. (40429)
IPSA has commissioned one public opinion survey, in November 2010. The survey was conducted by YouGov, who were selected following a competitive procurement process, at a cost of £2,600. The questions were composed by YouGov working from a brief provided by IPSA.
IPSA published the survey questions in its publication “Annual Review of the MPs' Expenses Scheme Consultation—January 2011”. This document was lodged with the Vote Office on 5 January 2011 who deposited copies in the Library.
Triumph Corporate Furniture and Storage
Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how many items of furniture of each type the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority purchased from Triumph Corporate Furniture and Storage; what the cost was of each item; and whether quotes from other suppliers were obtained before the order was placed. [40434]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated February 2011:
As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many items of furniture of each type the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority purchased from Triumph Corporate Furniture and Storage; what the cost was of each item; and whether quotes from other suppliers were obtained before the order was placed.
The total cost of furniture obtained from Triumph was £239,000 (excluding VAT). The number of items of furniture purchased, and the type and cost of each item is set out in a schedule, a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons library.
Triumph was selected to supply furniture to IPSA following a structured procurement exercise run through OGC Buying Solutions. Three suppliers who provide standard office furniture were approached and responded and, of those three, Triumph provided the best solution in terms of design, flexibility, and price, and was able to deliver against a tight timescale.
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Voluntary Work and Charitable Donations
Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, whether the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has a policy to encourage its employees to (a) volunteer and (b) donate via payroll giving. [43252]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Scott Woolveridge, dated March 2011:
As Interim Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking whether we have a policy to encourage employees to a) volunteer and b) donate via payroll giving.
IPSA employees may apply for reasonable time off for voluntary public duties. IPSA also enables employees to donate via the payroll system. IPSA will be developing these policies further over the coming months.
Culture, Media and Sport
Philanthropy: Arts
Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to encourage philanthropy in the arts. [43634]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: My Department is pursuing a 10 point action plan on philanthropy, which includes an £80 million match funding scheme to incentivise giving in the arts. We are also working closely with colleagues across Government to deliver the proposals set out in the recent Green Paper on Giving.
Community and Grass-roots Sports
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effects of the outcome of the comprehensive spending review on funding for community and grass-roots sports. [43638]
Hugh Robertson: In common with other Departments, this was a tough spending review for the Department. However, as a result of the Government’s changes to the national lottery, Sport England will see its funding for community sport rise by 14% over the spending review period, after a small fall in 2011-12.
Boxing: Young People
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of rates of participation of young people in boxing. [43631]
Hugh Robertson: The previous Government’s 2009-10 school sport survey showed that 10% of schools offered boxing to their pupils.
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Latest actual data show that the National Governing Body for Boxing, the Amateur Boxing Association of England, increased the number of 5 to 19-year-olds joining its accredited clubs, or receiving skills awards, or both, by 3,491 in 2009-10, to reach a total of 14,315 young people.
Broadband
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Aberconwy (Guto Bebb) of 26 January 2011, Official Report, column 281W, on broadband, when he decided to designate an area of North Wales as suitable for a broadband pilot area. [43705]
Mr Vaizey: My officials have been working closely with all three devolved Administrations over a number of months on the development of plans to roll out broadband in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and continue to do so. The announcement of support for a broadband project in North Wales on 10 February reflects the progress of discussions with the Welsh Assembly Government on their broadband plans. This is in keeping with the general approach that all areas of the UK should be working to develop local broadband plans and that these will form the basis for future support for broadband projects.
Broadband: Wales
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether the £10 million of funding for the superfast broadband pilot in North Wales will be disbursed by the Welsh Assembly Government. [43801]
Mr Vaizey: Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) is overseeing the expenditure of the £530 million of funds allocated to support broadband roll-out throughout the UK. The approach being taken to the disbursement of funds is that BDUK works with the relevant local authority or devolved Administration to define the precise project in detail. Pilots and projects will then be subject to procurement competitions run by the relevant local authorities or devolved Administration with BDUK support and advice. BDUK funds will be contributed together with other sources of public and private sector funds to finance the project. The North Wales project and the four pilot projects announced in October 2010 will be supported in this way.
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will define the geographical coverage of the North Wales superfast broadband pilot area announced on 11 February 2011. [43802]
Mr Vaizey: In keeping with the approach being taken for the four pilot projects announced in October 2010, precise details of the project, including geographical coverage will be set by the relevant local authority and devolved Administration, working closely with Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK). The North Wales area is included in the Welsh Assembly Government's next generation broadband procurement published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) on 25 February.
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National Lottery: Retail Trade
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will instruct the National Lottery Commission to examine the appropriateness of the actions of Camelot National Lotteries in promoting to retailers the sale of £5 scratchcards in the context of their regulatory obligations. [42805]
John Penrose [holding answer 28 February 2011]: The National Lottery Commission has already considered Camelot's proposals for £5 scratchcard games in line with its statutory duties and has approved them.
In addition the Commission will continue to monitor future sales data from Camelot to gain increased insight into scratchcard player behaviour. Appropriate action would be taken should any concerns about £5 games come to light.
Sports
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of future trends in levels of participation in seated volleyball. [43797]
Hugh Robertson: While no assessment has been made of future trends, I am confident Volleyball England is working to increase participation in Sitting Volleyball as part of their “Playground to Podium” programme. In addition to that, Volleyball England will manage the Great Britain Paralympic Programmes for the London Paralympic Games, and will be responsible for the training and promotion of Sitting Volleyball from entry point through to performance in the lead up to 2012.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Departmental Pay
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to ensure that her published departmental organisational chart includes the names and responsibilities of all staff paid over £58,200 per annum in her Department and in the non-departmental public bodies and agencies for which she is responsible. [43540]
Richard Benyon: The level of salary disclosure in organisational structure charts already helps enable the public to hold Departments to account for their use of public funds. There are no current plans to extend the scope of salary disclosure when structure charts are updated.
Flood Control: Finance
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2011, Official Report, columns 291-92W, on flood control: finance, how much she expects local authorities to spend on flood prevention and protection from the local authority formula grant in each of the next four financial years. [42880]
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Richard Benyon: It is not possible to predict how much local authorities will choose to spend on flood prevention and protection in each of the next four financial years. Formula grant is unhypothecated and unringfenced. This means each local authority has the flexibility to decide for itself the relative priority of spending on flood risk management versus its other roles and duties.
Public Forest Estate: Red Squirrels
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will assess the effects on the red squirrel population of her recent decisions on policy on the ownership and management of Forestry Commission land in England. [44011]
Richard Benyon: We are committed to the natural environment and will ensure that the protection of our most valuable forests and their biodiversity will not be compromised.
We are establishing an independent panel to consider forestry policy in England, which will report with its findings this autumn. The panel will advise on the future direction of forestry and woodland policy in England, on the role of the Forestry Commission, and on the role of the public forest estate. It will include representatives of key environmental and access organisations alongside representatives of the forestry industry.
Woodland Biodiversity
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the inclusion of requirements relating to biodiversity for wildlife in woodland and forests in that Department's review of planning guidance. [43064]
Mr Paice: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government are working closely together to look at the inclusion of requirements relating to biodiversity and woodland as part of the process for preparing the National Planning Policy Framework.
Nature Reserves
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the ownership and management of nature reserve land in England. [43418]
Richard Benyon: Officials and Natural England have been scoping a range of options but the Secretary of State has decided that DEFRA’s publicly owned National Nature Reserves (NNRs) will remain in public ownership.
Natural England manages about two thirds of England’s NNRs, while the remaining third are managed by organisations approved by Natural England, such as the Forestry Commission, the National Trust, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts and local authorities.
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Polar Bears
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the policy of her Department is on the status of the polar bear as an endangered species. [43043]
Richard Benyon: The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List is widely regarded as the most comprehensive and objective evaluation of the conservation status of the world’s animal and plant species. According to the Red List, the status of the polar bear is ‘vulnerable’ which means that it is considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
While it is generally accepted that the greatest threat to the survival of polar bears continues to be climate change, and the UK is playing its part in tackling that, other domestic threats such as those posed by oil development also exist. Addressing such national threats is the responsibility of the range states themselves. Where international trade in polar bears or their parts exists, however, the UK works through its membership of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to ensure that such trade is sustainable and does not further threaten the species’ survival in the wild.
Recycling: Business
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on incentives for recycling for small and medium-sized companies. [43417]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA is conducting a review of waste policies in England. The review is due to report in May and will set out the Government's policies to encourage and facilitate recycling by small and medium-sized companies.
Rights of Way
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2011, Official Report, column 922W, on cycling: access, what steps her Department has taken to encourage local authorities to develop new routes for cyclists and horse riders. [43330]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA introduced Rights of Way Improvement Plans to encourage local authorities to take a strategic view of their rights of way networks with the aim of better meeting the needs of all users—but particularly those that were not well served by existing access provision, such as horse riders and cyclists.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the change in distance of rights of way in England in each of the last four years. [43331]
Richard Benyon: No estimate has been made of the change in the quantity in distance of rights of way in England in each of the last four years. The measurement and recording of public rights of way is the responsibility of local highway authorities.
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Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2011, Official Report, column 922W, on cycling: access, what estimate she has made of the change in the distance of rights of way in England in each of the next five years. [43332]
Richard Benyon: No estimate has been made on the likely change in the quantity in distance of public rights of way in England for each of the next five years. The measurement and recording of public rights of way is the responsibility of local highway authorities.
Sewers: Housing
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward proposals to ensure that new housing developments are only built with sewers that are adopted by the relevant water authority. [43736]
Richard Benyon: A provision already exists in the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 that, once commenced, will provide for the automatic adoption by sewerage undertakers of newly built sewers and lateral drains that connect with the public sewerage system.
Sewers: Private Sector
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to lay before Parliament regulations on the transfer of private sewers and lateral drains to water and sewerage company ownership. [43189]
Richard Benyon: The regulations to effect the transfer of private sewers are currently being considered in accordance with the Government's principles for better regulation.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will report the outcome in due course.
Sharks: Conservation
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to prohibit the purchase of shark fin products. [43036]
Richard Benyon: The UK is committed to the sustainable management and conservation of sharks, and to bringing to an end the wasteful practice known as shark finning, where shark fins are removed at sea, and the rest of the carcass discarded.
The UK has no plans to bring forward legislative proposals on shark fin products. We consider that the most effective means of protecting these species is through working at an EU and international level to better manage fisheries, while, where necessary, seeking to ban the international trade in shark products through the convention on international trade in endangered species (CITIES).
The UK has already taken the strong and proactive decision to ban UK vessels from removing fins from sharks at sea. All UK vessels now have to land sharks with fins naturally attached—a measure that will prevent
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shark finning. We want this to be the case for all vessels worldwide, and so are leading work on the review of the relevant EU legislation, and will continue to seek international agreement on the issue.
We are also leading the way on shark management in both Europe, and international fisheries management bodies, by calling for appropriate limits to be set on the numbers of sharks that can be caught, and for total bans on catching endangered species.
Squirrels
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department provided for the conservation of the red squirrel population in the latest period for which figures are available. [43024]
Richard Benyon: Natural England is currently focusing red squirrel conservation effort in England on the Red Squirrel Northern England Project. This project was initiated by Natural England and partner organisations following a review of red squirrel conservation activity in northern England.
In 2010-11 Natural England provided funding of c£151,000 for this project which covers:
Setting up the core team.
The creation of a grey squirrel control strategy for each stronghold.
The development of a widely accepted methodology and protocol for monitoring squirrel populations, the efficacy of control and extent of squirrel pox virus.
Developing the partnership and supporting its longer term planning.
Under the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), the Forestry Commission awards funding for woodland management (including pest control) through the English Woodland Grant Scheme. DEFRA is the managing authority for the RDPE and is responsible for its implementation under EU law.
Figures for 2009-10 from the English Woodland Grant Scheme:
Woodland Management Grant: £95,250
Woodland Improvement Grant: £159,007
Both relate to expenditure in the Red Squirrel Reserves. Figures for 2010-11 are not currently available.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the conservation of the red squirrel. [43025]
Richard Benyon: In England, the approach to red squirrel conservation is to secure long-term habitat and conditions favouring the red squirrel in areas which grey squirrels have not yet reached in significant numbers and to limit grey squirrel expansion into these areas.
In the south-east, where there are secure populations on the Isle of Wight and Poole Harbour Islands there is an action plan in place to respond to the appearance of grey squirrels. In the north of England 17 reserves have been identified where long-term survival of the species is considered most likely. Targeted control of grey squirrels is carried out in the reserves and surrounding buffer zones. In addition, the reserves and surrounding areas are being managed in ways that favour red squirrels.
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The Forestry Commission and Natural England are, on behalf of Government, delivering this policy in partnership with the Red Squirrel Survival Trust, the Wildlife Trusts, landowners and volunteers through the Red Squirrel North England Project.
Swans
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the effects of illegal shooting on the size of the (a) whooper and (b) Bewick’s swan population in the UK during winter periods in each of the last five years. [43044]
Richard Benyon: No estimate has been made of the impact of illegal shooting on UK wintering populations of whooper or Bewick’s swan.
The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust has a programme of marking whooper and Bewick’s swans, which includes monitoring the extent to which these species carry embedded shotgun pellets in their body tissue and this provides an indication of the extent to which birds are being illegally shot. While there is no evidence to suggest the level of illegal shooting in the UK has a significant impact on populations, it is recognised that such shooting across the full migration range of these species may be significant.
The proportion of Bewick’s swans carrying embedded shot has declined in recent decades from 38.8% In the 1980s to 22.7% in the 2000s. The proportion of whooper swans carrying embedded shot has not declined significantly over time, being 14.9% in the 1980s and 13.2% in the 2000s.
For species of high conservation status that are protected throughout their world ranges, this evidence of continued illegal hunting is a significant concern especially given the Bewick’s swan population is declining globally and is now significantly below former levels of abundance. Accordingly, the UK is working with other Contracting Parties to the African-Eurasian Waterbirds Agreement (AEWA) as well as with other interested stakeholders, to raise the profile of the issue and work towards the elimination of this illegal activity. In particular, we are working towards the restoration of the Bewick’s swan population to its former level through participation in the development of an AEWA action plan for the species.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the size of the (a) whooper and (b) Bewick's swan population in the UK during winter periods in each of the last five years. [43045]
Richard Benyon: The most recent available estimates for numbers of whooper swan Cygnus cygnus and Bewick's swan Cygnus cygnus bewickii in the UK are 15,047 and 7,005 individuals respectively, and derive from a co-ordinated international swan census undertaken in January 2005. In the UK the census was undertaken by the Goose and Swan Monitoring Programme (a partnership between the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee) and the Wetland Bird Survey (organised by the British Trust for Ornithology, RSPB and JNCC in association with WWT).
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A further international census was undertaken in January 2010 but the results are not yet available. Monitoring of numbers at key sites through the annual Wetland Bird Survey shows that numbers of whooper swans (which largely migrate from Iceland) have increased since 2005, while numbers of Bewick's swans (which breed in arctic Russia) have continued to show a long-term decline. For these migratory species change in global population levels is an important context to the UK figures as the birds may change their wintering distribution within their wintering ranges. The most recently compiled international trends show that the Icelandic/UK whooper population is increasing, while the Bewick's swan is declining.
Third Sector
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department has taken to support the big society initiative. [42648]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA's delivery landscape means we are well-placed to work in partnership to build the big society.
We committed in our Business Plan to work across DEFRA and the delivery network to encourage and enable communities, civil society and public and private organisations to contribute further to the enhancement of the countryside, habitats and the environment.
For example, we have published proposals to increase the accountability of National Parks and we are reforming key public bodies to transfer more power to people and communities. As part of this, British Waterways is to be transferred from Government to a new charity for the waterways in England and Wales through the Public Bodies Bill, and the Environment Agency and Natural England will be reformed to make them more customer-focused.
In addition, in December, DEFRA launched a national campaign to increase tree-planting by the private sector and civil society, including a website where people and community groups can report trees planted.
Waste Management
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which organisations Ministers in her Department have met in connection with its review of waste policy in England. [43255]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 2 March 2011]: Ministers and officials have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders through the ongoing review of waste policies, and are continuing to do so as the review progresses. These include representatives of central and local government, environmental groups, businesses throughout the supply chain, the waste management industry and civil society organisations.
Water Charges
Mr Bain:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will estimate the number of households in (a) England, (b) each English region and (c) each local authority
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area in England which will pay 3% or more of their income to meet water costs in each of the next four financial years; [43050]
(2) if she will estimate the number of households in (a) England, (b) each English region and (c) each local authority area in England which paid 3% or more of their income to meet water costs in each of the last four financial years. [43051]
Richard Benyon: Ofwat has estimated the percentage of households that pay more than 3% of their income after housing costs on their water and sewerage bills. Estimates of the percentage of households that pay more than 3% of their total income before housing costs have been deducted on water and sewerage bills are not available.
These estimates are only available by water and sewerage company area and by geographical region, and only for the years 2007-08 and 2009-09.
| Water and sewerage company area | ||
| Proportion spending more than 3% of income on water and sewerage bills after housing costs | ||
|
|
2007-08 | 2008-09 |
| Geographical region | ||
| Proportion spending more than 3% of income on water and sewerage bills after housing costs | ||
|
|
2007-08 | 2008-09 |
Water Supply
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received on the merits of defining a measure for water poverty. [44002]
Richard Benyon:
There is no recognised definition of “water poverty” because domestic customers cannot be disconnected from supply. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has, however, received a range of representations on the merits of
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defining a measure for water affordability concerns. We will set out our policy on water affordability in the forthcoming Water White Paper.
Water Supply: Climate Change
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of climate change on the supply of water in each of the next four years. [43049]
Richard Benyon: Water companies in England and Wales are required to submit water resources management plans every five years and to describe how forecasts in those plans take into account the implications of climate change.
The Environment Agency's 2009 Water Resources Strategy concluded that total annual resources could reduce by up to 15% by the 2050s, with much greater reductions in summer. The Environment Agency encourages all abstractors to use water efficiently and, where new supplies are needed, to opt for flexible sources which are resilient to climate change.
The UK Climate Change Risk Assessment is in progress under the requirements of the Climate Change Act 2008. The risk assessment includes the water sector and is due to report in January 2012. Under the Adaptation Reporting Power of the Act, individual organisations, including the Environment Agency and water companies in England and Wales, have been making assessments of the current and future predicted impacts of climate change on their organisations, and of their proposals for adapting to climate change.
Whales
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the policy of her Department is on whaling for scientific purposes. [43042]
Richard Benyon: We believe so called ‘scientific’ whaling undermines the International Whaling Commission (IWC) moratorium on commercial whaling and contributes little or nothing to our knowledge of the size and structure of whale populations.
We do not believe that such lethal research is necessary—a great deal of information is already available on whale diets and further data, especially on stocks or populations, can be obtained by non-lethal means.
The UK takes every appropriate opportunity to make its opposition to ‘scientific’ whaling clear and has called for it to be phased out as quickly as possible.
Work and Pensions
Departmental Manpower
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff have left his Department’s employ since May 2010; [42295]
(2) how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff his Department employed at the latest date for which figures are available; [42376]
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(3) how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff were employed by his Department in May 2010. [42392]
Chris Grayling: The number of staff employed in the Department for Work and Pensions at 31 May 2010 and at the latest date for which figures are available, 30 September 2010. is shown in the following table. Also included in the table is the number of staff who left the Department from 1 May 2010 to 30 September 2010.
|
|
31 May 2010 | 30 September 2010 |
Departmental Security
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons persons not employed by Government departments or agencies are issued with passes entitling them to enter his Department's premises. [43212]
Chris Grayling: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer that I gave him on 11 February 2011, Official Report, columns 459-60W. On grounds of security it would not be appropriate to provide details of the reasons why persons not employed by the Department are issued with passes to allow entry into the Department's premises.
Disability Living Allowance
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what calculation his Department made to arrive at the figure of 20 per cent. as a target for the level of savings on disability living allowance expenditure for working age adults. [42735]
Maria Miller: The detailed criteria that will be used in the new assessment to determine eligibility for the rates of the benefit are currently being developed. Savings estimates will be updated accordingly as a more detailed design is developed. The Chancellor announced in June 2010 that he anticipated that the overall impact of reform will result in savings equivalent to 20% of forecast working age DLA expenditure.
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/junebudget_costings.pdf
Housing Benefit
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the maximum reduction in housing benefit for working age social tenants (a) nationally and (b) in each region as a result of his proposed changes to housing benefit. [43871]
Steve Webb: The information is not available.
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The impact of the proposed changes to housing benefit for working age social tenants has been estimated from data collected from the Department's Family Resources Survey. The data from the Family Resources Survey provide us with detailed information about a nationally representative sample of households, but do not collect information about all households. As a result it is not possible to provide an estimate of the maximum reduction in housing benefit that working age social tenants may experience as a result of the proposed changes, on either a national or regional basis.
An impact assessment for the proposed change to housing benefit for working age social tenants was published in February 2011 to coincide with the publication of the Welfare Reform Bill. 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 with reference to the June 2010 Budget Report, what methods his Department used to calculate the savings to the public purse arising from social tenants of working age leaving to occupy a larger property than their household size warrants. [43873]
Steve Webb: The method used to calculate savings from changes to housing benefit for working age social tenants contained within the June 2010 Budget Report was published by HM Treasury in the Budget 2010 policy costings document. The document can be found at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/junebudget_costings.pdf
Pensioners: Poverty
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received on the setting of a target for the eradication of pensioner poverty. [43291]
Steve Webb: My Department has not received any recent representations on setting a target for the eradication of pensioner poverty.
My Department publishes data on the number of pensioners who are in low income assessed against various income thresholds. The most commonly used measure of pensioner poverty relates to those with incomes below 60% of contemporary median income, after housing costs. The latest figures available show that in 2008-09 there were 16% of pensioners in poverty (1.8 million pensioners). Pensioners are less likely to be living in poverty than the population as a whole when incomes are measured after housing costs.
This measure of the rate of pensioner poverty is one of the proposed key measures in the Government's new transparency framework.
Although my Department does not have an explicit target to eradicate pensioner poverty, this Government want all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement as reflected in the Department's Business Plan.
We are introducing automatic enrolment into workplace pensions from 2012. This is a central element of our strategy to reinvigorate private pension savings and aims to harness inertia and bring about a change in
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people's behaviour in saving for retirement. We expect this to radically increase the number of people saving into a pension and to lead to between five million and eight million people newly saving or saving more in all forms of workplace pension schemes.
This is in addition to the measures we have already put in place, which include restoring the earnings link for the basic state pension and giving a “triple guarantee” that the basic state pension will increase by the highest of the growth in average earnings, price increases or 2.5%. It is estimated that the average person retiring on a full basic state pension in April 2011 will receive £15,000 more in basic state pension over their retirement than they would have done under the old prices link.
This Government are also protecting key benefits for pensioners. Free eye tests; free prescription charges; free bus passes; free television licences for the over 75s; and winter fuel payments will remain exactly as budgeted for by the previous Government—as we promised. We have also made the temporary increase in the cold weather payment to £25 permanent.
We want to ensure that older people receive the help that they are entitled to and we are conducting a research study into the feasibility of using existing data to help to improve the take-up of pension credit.
The changes that we have put in place will provide a more generous state pension giving a solid financial foundation from the state which is essential as part of the pensions system and will help make it easier for people to save into a pension.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance his Department provided to pensioners during the recent recession. [43292]
Steve Webb: We have introduced legislation providing for earnings up-rating of the basic state pension from April 2011. We are also providing a “triple guarantee” that the basic state pension will increase by the highest of the growth in average earnings, prices or 2.5%.
In April 2011 we will increase the basic state pension by 4.6% to fulfil a commitment made at the Budget, and increase the standard minimum guarantee in pension credit so that most recipients see the full benefit of the rise in the basic state pension.
We have also protected key support for older people, in recognition of the fact many have worked hard and saved all their lives, including free eye tests, prescriptions, free TV licences for the over 75s, winter fuel payments and free concessionary bus travel.
The Government have permanently increased the cold weather payment from £8.50 a week to £25 a week. Cold weather payments provide real help to those most vulnerable to the cold: disabled adults and children, the elderly and families with children under five who are in receipt of an income related benefit.
Social Security Benefits
Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many delays to benefit payments there were in (a) Gloucester, (b) the South West and (c) England in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [42712]
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Chris Grayling: As the administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question, how many delays to benefit payments there were in (a) Gloucester (b) the South West and (c) England in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to Darra Singh as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. As Darra Singh is currently on annual leave, I am replying in his absence.
Jobcentre Plus does not hold figures on delayed benefit payments; so we are unable to supply data for this. We do, however, have formally published targets for the average actual clearance time (AACT) taken to process benefit claims. This covers the main benefits of Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support and Employment and Support Allowance/Incapacity Benefit. Incapacity Benefit was not included in the published AACT target from 2009/10, because it was replaced by the introduction of the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). ESA went live on 28 October 2008 so AACT figures for this benefit are only available from October 2008.
The AACT target does not mean that all claims for that benefit are processed within that time as it is an average. We do expect some claims to take longer particularly if the customer’s circumstances are complex or there is a delay in the customer returning information required to enable us to process their claim.
For each benefit the target for the AACT in days is in the table below:
|
|
IS | JSA | IB | ESA |
| (1) No target. | ||||
The AACT data relating to Gloucester, The South West and England for ESA, IB, IS and JSA for the last 5 years can be found at Annex 1.
Annex 1
|
|
2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
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Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of the households affected by the proposed introduction of a maximum benefit entitlement will be tenants in social housing. [43872]
Steve Webb: If the benefit cap were applied in full, it is estimated that around 70% of those affected by the household cap on total benefit income will be living in social housing.
The estimated number of households affected by the benefit cap is based on survey data using the Department for Work and Pension's Policy Simulation Model. Small sample sizes for those estimated to be affected mean that further estimations of the characteristics of this group are uncertain and should be treated with caution.
Note:
Percentages have been rounded to the nearest 10%.
Social Security Benefits: Disability
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the potential effects of changes to disability benefits on individuals in North Swindon constituency. [38310]
Maria Miller: Within the Department for Work and Pensions, all budget and spending review measures will be equality impact assessed. Where the detail of policies is still being developed we will publish equality impact assessments at the most appropriate time, for example alongside the Welfare Reform Bill.
Changes to disability benefits are subject to consultation and, therefore, the equality impact assessments will be published at a later date, when policies are finalised.
Where detail of the policy has been finalised equality impact assessments of disability benefit changes have been published and can be found at
www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/impact%2Dassessments/equality%2Dimpact%2Dassessments/
We do not have the necessary data to assess the potential impact of change for individuals in North Swindon.
Social Security Benefits: Fraud
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what his estimate is of the monetary value of benefits claimed fraudulently in each month since May 2010; [43918]
(2) what his estimate is of the monetary value of benefits claimed fraudulently since 18 October 2010. [43905]
Chris Grayling: The information is not available in the format requested.
The Department publishes estimates of fraud and error in the benefit system twice yearly as National Statistics. The publications cover the rolling 12-month periods to either March or September. Statistics for the period from October 2008 to September 2009 were published on 27 May 2010. Monthly estimates are not available.
The estimates of fraud and error in the benefit system for the period to April 2009 to March 2010 were due to be published in November 2010. However, they have
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been delayed due to additional quality assurance checks. The Department's Head of Profession took the decision in line with the Code of Practice on Official Statistics. They will now be published on 29 March 2011.
The latest estimates of fraud and error in the benefits system can be found at:
http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd2/index.php?page=fraud_error_arc
Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice his Department gives to Atos Healthcare on the frequency of medical assessments for persons diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy. [43177]
Maria Miller: The Department does not give specific advice to Atos Healthcare on the frequency of medical assessments for people diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Healthcare professionals who carry out assessments for employment and support allowance are required to provide advice on when the person is likely to be able to return to work. This advice is based on the healthcare professional’s medical knowledge and varies according to the individual circumstances of the case. This advice is taken into consideration by Jobcentre Plus when setting a review period.
Cabinet Office
Departmental Interpreters
Ian Austin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office for which services provided by (a) his Department and (b) its associated public 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. [42222]
Mr Maude: The information is available only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what regulations his Department introduced between 22 November 2010 and 8 February 2011. [42090]
Mr Maude: The following statutory instruments have been made between 22 November 2010 and 8 February 2011:
Political Parties, Elections and Referendums (Civil Sanctions) Order 2010—SI 2010/2860;
Buying Agency Trading Fund (Amendment) Order 2010—SI 2010/2930;
Superannuation Act 2010 (Repeal of Limits on Compensation) Order—SI 2010/2996.
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Immigrants
Mr Raab: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office in which 10 countries the most permanent emigrants from the UK settled in the most recent year for which records are available. [43874]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to respond to your question asking in which 10 countries the most permanent emigrants from the UK settled in the most recent year for which records are available (43874).
The Office for National Statistics produces estimates of Long-Term International Migration which are primarily based on the International Passenger Survey (IPS). Detailed information on countries of next residence is available using the IPS component of these estimates.
The attached table shows the top 10 countries of next residence for all emigrants, both UK and foreign nationals. The latest figures included here are for the 2009 calendar year and relate to the number of migrants intending to leave the UK for a period of 12 months or more.
| Long-term international migration, estimates from International Passenger Survey: Annual data 2009—Top 10 countries of next residence of all migrants | |||
|
|
Country of next residence | Out-migrants (Thousand) | SE% |
| Note: Standard error percentages (SE%) indicate the robustness of each estimate. A migration figure with a standard error of >25% is not considered to be reliable. For any given estimate there is a 95% probability that the true figure lies in the range: estimate +/- 0.0196 x estimate x standard error %. | |||
NDPBs
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many non-departmental public bodies he expects to have been (a) established and (b) proposed to be established between 10 May 2010 and 31 December 2011; and if he will make a statement. [42156]
Mr Maude: New non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will only be set up as an absolutely last resort once all other delivery models have been rigorously explored. In addition, any new NDPB will need to meet one of the three tests which were set out in my statement of 14 October 2010, Official Report, 14 October 2010, column 505.
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Women and Equalities
Departmental Food
Mr Bain: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities when she expects the Government Equalities Office to meet the Government's commitment to source food that meets British or equivalent standards of production. [43308]
Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office (GEO) is accommodated in Eland house, the Communities and Local Government (CLG) headquarters building. CLG decide on food sourcing for the catering facilities in Eland house.
Pay
Caroline Flint: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities if she will take steps to ensure that the published organisational chart of the Government Equalities Office includes the names and responsibilities of all staff paid over £58,200 per annum. [43535]
Lynne Featherstone: The level of salary disclosure in organisational structure charts already helps enable the public to hold Departments to account for their use of public funds. There are no current plans to extend the scope of salary disclosure when structure charts are updated.
Northern Ireland
Departmental Food
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects his Department to meet the Government's commitment to source food that meets British or equivalent standards of production. [43314]
Mr Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office does not record the procurement of food by country of origin. To ascertain the standards of production would therefore only be available at disproportionate cost.
Where possible, my Department always aims to use local Northern Ireland produce.
Third Sector
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what account he has taken of the Compact between the Government and Civil Society in policy development. [42609]
Mr Paterson: The Compact is an agreement between the Government, their associated non-departmental public bodies, arm’s length bodies and executive agencies, and civil society organisations (CSOs) in England. It aims to ensure that the Government and CSOs work effectively in partnership to achieve common goals and outcomes for the benefit of communities and citizens. The Northern Ireland Executive has operational responsibilities for engagement with CSOs in Northern Ireland and has its own arrangements in place. However, where the UK Government have responsibility for funding services provided by CSOs in Northern Ireland, they will honour the commitments made in the Compact in relation to CSOs they fund.
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Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what steps his Department has taken to support the big society initiative; [42634]
(2) whether (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department are participating in volunteering activities as part of his Department's involvement in the big society initiative. [42653]
Mr Swire: The Northern Ireland Office has an ongoing partnership though its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative with the charity Centrepoint, which works with young homeless people. This partnership has involved a skill exchange between organisations in areas such as communication, policy development and the work of Parliament, as well as some mentoring and fundraising. The Secretary of State and I fully support this relationship and look forward to engaging more fully with it. Staff in the Department have also engaged in fundraising events for charities including MS Society and Depaul Ireland.
Transport
Aviation: Working Hours
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to respond to the European Aviation Safety Agency’s notice of proposed amendment for flight time limitations; and if he will make a statement. [41568]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Stephen Lloyd) of 28 February 2011, Official Report, columns 177-78W.
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the airline industry on the European Aviation Safety Agency’s proposals to change flight time limitations for pilots. [41629]
Mrs Villiers: I have not so far received any formal representations from the airline industry on this matter.
Buses: Disability Aids
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department issues on methods for the provision of information on buses in (a) audio and (b) visual form. [43172]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has commissioned research to assess the costs and benefits of installing audio visual systems on buses. The research project has brought together a cross section of stakeholders, including Guide Dogs, Royal National Institute of Blind People and Royal National Institute for Deaf People. We will be publishing the results, together with guidance, shortly.
Cycling: Accidents
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cyclists were killed in road accidents in (a) Birmingham, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England in each of the last five years. [43110]
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Mike Penning: The number of pedal cyclists killed in road accidents reported to the police in (a) Birmingham, (b) the West Midlands and (c)England in each of the last five years for which data are available is given in following table:
| Number of fatalities | |||
|
|
Birmingham | West Midlands | England |
Public Transport: Disability
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated research on the (i) prevalence and (ii) adoption of audiovisual announcement systems on public transport networks in other European countries. [43176]
Norman Baker: In 2005, the Department for Transport commissioned research on ‘On-board Information Systems for bus and tram passengers’, to establish how costs of audio visual systems could be met. This research covered a range of international countries, including a number of European ones. A copy of this report has been placed in the House Library.
Public Transport: Visual Impairment
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account his Department's plans for an integrated transport system will take of the needs of visually-impaired passengers. [43173]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport continues to seek to improve both access and safety to public transport, including for disabled people.
The Department aims to ensure disabled people, including those with visual impairments, are consulted on any policies that may affect them. In addition, from April 2011, the Department will be required under the Public Sector Duty of the Equality Act 2010 (“the Act”) to have due regard to the effect of any policies on the Act's protected groups, including disabled people. All policies will have to be accompanied by an equality analysis.
Safety Belts: Children
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on the level of seat belt usage among children travelling in (a) the front and (b) the rear of cars in (i) 1990, (ii) 1997, (iii) 2005 and (iv) the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [R] [43880]
Mike Penning: The percentage of child (aged 0-13) car occupants wearing a seatbelt or using another type of restraint is shown in the table. These figures are based on observational surveys of wearing rates in England which were last carried out in November 2009.
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| Percentage | ||
|
|
Front seat | Rear seat |
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of seat belt and child restraint use in reducing the severity of injury to children involved in car accidents; and if he will make a statement. [43881]
Mike Penning: The Department for Transport has made no recent assessment of the effectiveness of seat belts and child restraints at protecting children in cars. However, a study undertaken in the USA in 2002 concluded that a properly used child restraint reduced the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants less than one-year-old and by 54% for toddlers one to four-years-old.
The Government are committed to ensuring the safety of all road users, including children. Regulations in Great Britain require children up to 135 cm in height or 12 years of age, whichever is reached first, to use an appropriate child restraint system for their weight while travelling in most cars.
The number of killed or seriously injured children travelling in cars has reduced by 45% during the period 2003 to 2009.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to answer question 37390 on the removal of regulations tabled on 26 January 2011 for answer on 31 January 2011. [42365]
Mike Penning: The Under-Secretary of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) answered the hon. Member's question on 1 March 2011, Official Report, columns 332-333W.
Energy and Climate Change
Committee on Climate Change
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on the future independence of the Committee on Climate Change. [43992]
Gregory Barker: The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) is an independent, expert body playing a crucial role in advising Government on the level of carbon budgets and the preparedness for climate change in the UK, as required under the Climate Change Act 2008. The CCC's independent role ensures Government decisions on climate change are based on independent, expert advice, ensuring credibility and trust. The Government are committed to maintaining the CCC's independence and have no plans to amend the Climate Change Act.
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Departmental Security
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reasons persons not employed by Government Departments or agencies are issued with passes entitling them to enter his Department’s premises. [43211]
Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 February 2011, Official Report, column 181W.
Electricity
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will direct Ofgem to commission a study of the attitude of consumers to the costs of (a) providing infrastructure for (i) underground and (ii) electricity networks and (b) providing overhead electricity lines on towers. [43223]
Charles Hendry: The Government have no plans to direct Ofgem to commission a study. However, as part of its transmission price control (RIIO-T1) Ofgem is engaging with stakeholders across a range of matters. Following the publication of its December 2010 RIIO-T1 Initial Strategy Consultation document, Ofgem has been working with the Department and other stakeholders to consider how further guidance might be provided to help network companies and stakeholders consider the broader environmental costs and benefits of their potential investment decisions. The attitude of consumers to the costs through willingness to pay analysis is one tool that could play a role in this process. Ofgem will set out its views in this area in its end-March 2011 RIIO-T1 strategy document and would welcome further engagement on this issue both before publication and as the network companies develop their subsequent business plans.
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the prevalence of (a) electric and (b) magnetic fields from (i) overhead electricity lines, (ii) underground cables and (iii) sub-sea cables. [43224]
Charles Hendry: The Department of Health are responsible for the assessment of risks to health from electric and magnetic fields (EMFs), and they in turn advise other Departments including DECC, although DECC is responsible for technical issues regarding power lines. As an output to the Government response to the first interim report from the Stakeholder Advisory Group on extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields my Department published on 14 February 2011 two voluntary industry codes of practice about how optimally phasing high voltage lines can help reduce public exposure to EMFs, and setting out how industry can demonstrate compliance with the exposure guidelines for protection of public health. These are available on the DECC website at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/what%20we%20do/uk%20energy%20supply/development%20consents%20and%20planning%20reform/1255-code-practice-optimum-phasing-power-lines.pdf
3 Mar 2011 : Column 535W
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/what%20we%20do/uk%20energy%20supply/ development%20consents%20and%20planning%20reform/1256-code-practice-emf-public-exp-guidelines.pdf
The Department has not made any further recent assessments for underground or subsea cables.
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has discussed with Ofgem the account taken in the pricing regime for National Grid of the cost of (a) underground or sub-sea and (b) overhead line and tower electricity network infrastructure. [43344]
Charles Hendry: I have not discussed with Ofgem how it takes account of the cost of different forms of network infrastructure. The network companies are responsible for developing their networks in line with their licence obligations and Ofgem considers the costs (and other factors such as need) for electricity networks based on investment proposals put forward by network companies in line with its statutory duties. This would include, where relevant, the costs of undergrounding, and subsea and overhead lines.