Housing: Construction
Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on measures to protect grade 2 agricultural land from residential development. [44595]
Robert Neill: We have announced a review of planning policy, designed to streamline existing policy statements into a single consolidated National Planning Policy Framework. We will look at the requirements relating to the protection of agricultural land as part of this process. We are considering the responses received to our invitation for suggestions on the priorities and policies we might adopt to produce a shorter, more decentralised and less bureaucratic National Planning Policy Framework, with a view to going out to consultation on a draft of the framework later in the summer.
The coalition agreement states that the Government will maintain the green belt, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and other environmental protections, and also create a new designation to protect green areas of particular importance to local communities.
Local Government Finance
Mr Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the likely effects of his
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Department's plans for local authority funding on private sector companies which hold contracts with the public sector. [44908]
Robert Neill: It is for local authorities to decide on commissioning and paying private sector companies, but we would expect councils to look for service providers who can offer high quality services at best value for the taxpayer—and that that this will include commissioning services from the private sector and the voluntary and community sector.
As part of the Government's transparency agenda, local authorities are now expected to publish information on all new tenders and contracts over £500. This, together with the £500 spend information that local authorities are now publishing, will allow people to see local authority contract spending with private sector companies and the voluntary and community sector.
Local Government Funding
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding Faithwise Ltd has received from his Department's Prevent funding allocation to local authorities since the programme's inception. [43865]
Andrew Stunell: From 2008 onwards, the Department funded local authorities to undertake Prevent work. This was funded by Area Based Grant which was not ring-fenced. The last Government did not require local authorities to inform Government Departments of their local funding decisions on Prevent.
We note the criticism of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee in March 2010 over the monitoring and evaluation of the Prevent programme.
My Department is currently developing a new approach to promote integration and participation.
Planning
Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanism he proposes for the resolution of a dispute over a planning issue between a county council and a borough council under his legislative proposals for the planning system. [45241]
Robert Neill: All local authorities are statutory consultees for planning decisions so county councils must consult district or neighbouring councils affected by minerals or waste planning decisions. Similarly, district or national park authorities must consult counties where they are affected by other planning decisions. In addition the Localism Bill includes a duty to cooperate when drawing up local plans which will apply to all local authorities.
Regeneration: Newcastle upon Tyne
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2011, Official Report, column 835W, and of 10 November 2010, Official Report, column 355W, on regeneration: Newcastle upon Tyne, what recent progress he has made in his meetings on delivering a sustainable long-term future for the Byker estate. [44919]
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Grant Shapps: 1 am pleased to be able to support Newcastle city council's proposals to transfer the Byker estate to a tenant-led housing trust with the aim of delivering a sustainable long-term future for the estate. I would also like to commend the local residents who have campaigned tirelessly for the control of their neighbourhood.
Prime Minister
Government Departments: Business Plans
Stella Creasy: To ask the Prime Minister which Secretaries of State he has met to discuss (a) implementation of the departmental business plans and (b) instances when actions stated in such plans as due for completion have not been completed by the due date since November 2010; and on what date each such meeting took place. [45355]
The Prime Minister: I have regular meetings with Secretaries of State to discuss progress including the implementation of areas in the departmental business plans. Updates are published on a monthly basis and can be found on the No. 10 website at:
http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/
Attorney-General
Departmental Food
Mr Bain: To ask the Attorney-General if he will estimate the proportion of the seafood procured for the Law Officers' Departments that (a) was on the Marine Conservation Society's list of fish to avoid and (b) complied with sustainability standards indicated by inclusion in either the Marine Conservation Society's list of fish to eat or by the list of fish species certified by the Marine Stewardship Council in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011 to date. [45042]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Treasury Solicitors department are the only Law Officers Departments which provide catering services to staff. Neither department sources or procures food directly. This task is undertaken by contracted catering service providers.
The caterers used by TSol have confirmed their commitment of working only with suppliers that focus on sustainable fishing practices and promote the consumption of seasonal and sustainable fish resources. It is not possible to confirm purchasing practice regarding the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) list, but there have been no recorded instances of species cited as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list having been purchased.
The CPS service provider operates a policy of not using seafood that is on the MCS list of fish to avoid whenever an alternative product can be sourced. In 2010 only 1.75% of the seafood purchased on behalf of the CPS was on the MCS's list of fish to avoid. The figure for 2011 was 2.25% as of 28 February 2011.
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Information is not recorded on the proportion of seafood purchased for CPS that complied with sustainability standards indicated by inclusion in either the MCS's list of fish to eat or by the list of fish species certified by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Departmental Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Attorney-General what regulations the Law Officers Departments revoked between 1 February 2011 and 28 February 2011. [45985]
Deputy Prime Minister
Government Departments: Business Plans
Stella Creasy: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which Secretaries of State he has met to discuss (a) implementation of the departmental business plans and (b) instances when actions stated in such plans as due for completion have not been completed by the due date since November 2010; and on what date each such meeting took place. [45356]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I have frequent meetings with Secretaries of States to discuss progress including the implementation of areas in the departmental business plan. I am also, with the Prime Minister, briefed regularly by the Chief Secretary and/or the Minister for Government Policy on policy implementation.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2011, Official Report, column 728W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, what discussions he has had with representatives of the International Committee for the Red Cross in Afghanistan on the recording of civilian deaths and injuries in Afghanistan as a result of (a) ISAF and (b) Taliban operations; and if he will make a statement. [44516]
Dr Fox: The Ministry of Defence has regular meetings with the International Committee of the Red Cross to discuss operations in Afghanistan. We respect the confidentiality of these discussions.
Aircraft Carriers
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to take a decision on which aircraft carrier to fit with cats and traps. [45336]
Peter Luff: Our investigations into the conversion of the Queen Elizabeth class are ongoing. We currently expect to take firm decisions on which carrier should be converted, the launch and recovery equipment to be fitted, and the overall conversion strategy in late 2012.
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Armed Forces: Redundancy
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 15 February 2011, Official Report, columns 815-22W, on armed forces (redundancies), to which Minister in his Department the section which was responsible for sending the 38 emails reports. [42842]
Dr Fox [holding answer 28 February 2011]:As Secretary of State I have ultimate responsibility for the Ministry of Defence.
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether armed forces personnel on maternity leave are exempt from redundancy. [44840]
Mr Robathan: Those who volunteer for redundancy while on or due to go on maternity leave will be considered alongside all other volunteers and maternity leave will not prevent their selection. Non-volunteers who are selected for compulsory redundancy will be given 12 months’ notice of discharge. Any non-volunteer who will be on maternity leave at the expected date of discharge will be re-considered on a case-by-case basis, as legal protection may apply. Current or previous maternity leave will not be a selection criterion.
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what categories of personnel in (a) the Army, (b) the Royal Navy and (c) the Royal Air Force are to be exempt from consideration for redundancy under his Department's redundancy programme. [45249]
Mr Robathan: Those engaged in combat operations for which they are in receipt of operational allowance, are within six months of deploying on or are recovering from those operations, for example on post-operational leave, rest and recuperation, or those recovering from injuries, on the day when the redundancy notices are issued will not be made redundant unless they have volunteered for redundancy.
Each of the services may define selection criteria based upon their own needs but these would not be considered as exemptions.
Defence Vetting Agency: Manpower
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the potential savings resulting from reductions in personnel numbers at the Defence Vetting Agency in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15. [43979]
Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 January 2011, Official Report, column 477W, to the hon. Member for York Central (Hugh Bayley). In line with other areas of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the Defence Vetting Agency (DVA) is currently examining what reductions can sensibly be made as a result of the strategic defence and security review and the spending review. The outcomes of the both of these are being developed through the MOD’s annual planning round. This is expected to conclude in spring 2011. The final decisions on funding for the DVA will ensure that MOD can continue to provide an effective level of security vetting for its staff and contractors.
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Departmental Assets
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps he plans to take to maximise revenue to the public purse from future sales of parts of his Department's estate; [45214]
(2) what plans he has for sale of land and assets of his Department's estate occupied by each of the armed forces; and if he will make a statement. [45215]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) keeps its estate under constant review to meet present and planned future requirements. Surplus assets are disposed of as quickly as possible in accordance with Treasury Guidelines (Managing Public Money Annex 4.8). Each of the armed forces is currently identifying estate rationalisation opportunities reflecting the Strategic Defence and Security Review and the outcome will be known later this year.
Assuming there is no interest from other Government Departments or former owners, surplus MOD land and property is usually advertised for sale by open competition to achieve the best price (i.e. market value). Development potential of surplus land is first considered in consultation with the local planning authority and other stakeholders.
Departmental Food
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the proportion of the seafood procured for (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible that (i) was on the Marine Conservation Society's list of fish to avoid and (ii) complied with sustainability standards indicated by inclusion in either the Marine Conservation Society's list of fish to eat or by the list of fish species certified by the Marine Stewardship Council in (A) 2010 and (B) 2011 to date. [45027]
Peter Luff: There is no business requirement to centrally hold details about the quantity of seafood procured by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), its agencies and non-departmental public bodies and this could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the MOD's policy is to purchase only seafood from sustainable sources and our fish suppliers must comply with the Marine Conservation Society's list of fish to eat, those certified by the Marine Stewardship Council or from stocks that meet the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation's Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.
European Fighter Aircraft
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Typhoon aircraft to achieve full ground attack capability. [45006]
Peter Luff: Typhoon ground attack capability was achieved for the Tranche One aircraft in July 2008. A programme to integrate ground attack capability onto Tranches Two and Three aircraft from 2012 is also under way. Further weapon upgrades are under consideration to enable Typhoon to employ a greater variety of air-to-ground munitions in future.
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Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times cannibalisations of Typhoon aircraft occurred due to a parts supply shortage arising from a collaborative arrangement with partner nations in each of the last four years. [45009]
Peter Luff: Provision of parts for Typhoon is managed through a range of international and national supply chain contracts.
Cannibalisation is where one aircraft benefits from the removal of serviceable parts from another. It is a routine and temporary measure to ensure that the maximum number of aircraft is available for front-line duty. No record is made of the reason the part cannibalised was not available.
Harrier Aircraft
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the US Government on the sale of Harrier jets; and if he will estimate the per unit value of such aircraft. [45004]
Peter Luff: The Secretary of State for Defence has had no discussions with the US Government about the future of the Harrier aircraft. It is too early to say what the final disposal arrangements will be or to provide an indication of the unit value of the aircraft.
RFA Largs Bay
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the government of (a) Australia and (b) Chile on the purchase by those countries of RFA Largs Bay. [45005]
Peter Luff: During his visit to Australia in January 2011, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, discussed the future of RFA Largs Bay with his Australian counterpart during discussions that covered a number of defence related matters. In addition, officials from a number of governments, including Australia and Chile, recently visited the ship as part of an ongoing competition being carried out to offer RFA Largs Bay to another government.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Bankruptcy: Suffolk
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people have been declared bankrupt in Suffolk in each year since 1997. [45845]
Mr Davey: The number of bankruptcies in Suffolk for each year 2000-09 is shown in the following table.
Figures prior to 2000 are not available on this basis. Regional insolvency figures are compiled annually, therefore data for 2010 will not be available until summer 2011.
| Bankruptcies in Suffolk (1) | |
|
|
Number |
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| (1) Where bankrupt has provided a valid postcode (from 87.6% in 2000 rising to 97.1% in 2009). | |
Business: Government Assistance
Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value is of guarantees (a) applied for and (b) granted under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme since October 2010. [45464]
Mr Prisk: Under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee, as of 2 March 2011, over 13,800 businesses have been offered loans with a value of almost £1.4 billion, of which over 12,000 businesses have drawn down loans totalling £1.2 billion.
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The Department plays no role in the application or decision making process. Businesses may apply for a loan from any one of the accredited participating lenders who will assess which form of lending, including an Enterprise Finance Guarantee backed loan, is appropriate. We do not hold figures for those businesses which are instead offered a normal commercial loan, or are rejected for failing to meet the lender’s commercial criteria.
A Government Guarantee of up to 75% of the outstanding balance of the loan is payable to the lender in the event that a business defaults on its loan repayments.
Community Interest Companies
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many community interest companies were registered in each region in each of the last 10 years. [44767]
Mr Davey: The community interest companies (CICs) were introduced in 2005. The following table covers from this period only.
The Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies holds information on the net increase to the public register each year, i.e. after dissolutions and conversions to charities have been taken out and the table reflects this.
| Regions | 2005/ 06 | 20 06/07 | 20 07/08 | 20 08/09 | 20 09/10 | 2010 /11 | Total |
| Note: This information is correct as at 28 February 2011 | |||||||
Departmental Food
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects his Department to meet the Government’s commitment to source food that meets British or equivalent standards of production. [43298]
Mr Davey: The Department adheres wherever possible to the five key objectives of the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI) and the Department will comply with any additional standards to improve the sustainability of food procurement.
The Department’s contracted catering and conference supplier Baxterstorey is accredited to the Red Tractor Farm Assurance Scheme and is fully compliant, demonstrating robust support for enhanced animal welfare, environmental responsibility, quality produce and supporting British producers. All eggs used on the departmental estate are British, Lion Brand standard and free range.
Employment Schemes
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what criteria will be used to determine whether successful employment has been secured as a result of education or training under the job outcome payment scheme; [44544]
(2) what his estimate is of the number of learners who will participate in the job outcome scheme pilots in the academic year 2011-12; [44545]
(3) whether learners referred to further education colleges as part of the skills conditionality scheme will be included in the assessment of the job outcome payment scheme pilots in the academic year 2011-12. [44546]
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Mr Hayes: As set out in “Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth”(1) on 16 November 2010 the total Skills Funding Agency programme budget will be £3.4 billion in 2011-12 financial year.
(1) Note :
http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/further-education-skills/docs/s/10-1272-strategy-investing-in-skills-for-sustainable-growth.pdf
As a part of the spending review tough decisions about departmental budgets have been taken and, like all other areas further education has made its contribution. We have had some difficult choices but we will prioritise funding support for learners with very low levels of skills and unemployed people actively seeking work who are recipients of jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) or employment support allowance (work related activity group; ESA (WRAG)) so that we can prepare them for work.
It is not for us to attempt to plan the delivery of further education and skills from the top down. Instead our simplification agenda will give colleges and training organisations the freedoms and flexibilities to respond to local need, giving Jobcentre Plus and employers a key role in shaping the volume and content of further education and skills provision. We expect that the availability of fee remission for those on JSA or ESA (WRAG) will make them an attractive client group for colleges and training organisations. In addition we are piloting an approach to give colleges and training organisations a financial incentive for helping learners who are unemployed through the piloting of new job outcome payments for further education colleges and training organisations.
We do not hold data relating to the questions that the hon. Member has asked about the Job Outcome Incentive pilots that will operate in the academic year 2011/12 centrally and so I have asked the chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency to write to the hon. Member to provide the details already agreed regarding the operation of the pilots.
Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 7 March 2011:
Thank you for your parliamentary questions addressed to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in which you asked:
1. What criteria will be used to determine whether successful employment has been secured as a result of education or training under the job outcome payment scheme (PQ 2010/4320);
2. What his estimate is of the number of learners who will participate in the job outcome scheme pilots in the academic year 2011-12 (PQ 2010/4321); and
3. Whether learners referred to further education colleges as part of the skills conditionality scheme will be included in the assessment of the job outcome payment scheme pilots in academic year 2011-12 (PQ 2010/4323)
Please be advised job outcome incentive payments will be piloted in the 2011/12 academic year as previously announced. The specific arrangements for how the payments will operate are still to be finally agreed. We expect the agreed process to reflect overall performance at provider level, in the context of local labour market conditions, rather than at the level of the individual learner. We will look to reward colleges and independent training providers for the work they undertake to help move individuals claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance and the Employment and Support Allowance (those who fall in the work-ready activity group) into employment. This will include learners who are referred under the skills conditionality regulations.
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English Language: Education
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the effects of reductions in funding for courses in English as a second or other language on community cohesion in Liverpool. [44583]
Mr Hayes: As part of the spending review tough decisions about departmental budgets have been taken and, like all other areas, further education has made its contribution. This has included reviewing the extent to which automatic fee remission for adult skills is provided, and in this context we have prioritised English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) funding to unemployed people in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance or in the employment and support allowance (work-related activity) group, where English language skills have been identified as a barrier to entering employment. We will continue to pay 50% of ESOL course fees for people who are settled here. Increased freedoms and flexibilities for providers will allow them to respond to the needs of their communities and determine within their funding where this is prioritised.
The Equality Impact Assessment published alongside Skills for Sustainable Growth (November 2010) found that, at the aggregate level, there are unlikely to be disproportionate impacts on protected groups. A separate assessment of how the changes may affect ESOL learners is currently being carried out by this Department. I expect to be able to publish the assessment in due course.
Export Credits Guarantees: Democratic Republic of Congo
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Export Credits Guarantee Department has received any applications for guarantees in respect of explorations in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last 12 months. [45465]
Mr Davey: The Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) has not received any applications for support of export transactions to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the last five years. ECGD is not able to offer any cover for this market.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Export Credits Guarantee Department has given guarantees to UK companies in respect of oil exploration in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last 12 months. [45466]
Mr Davey: The Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) has not supported any exports to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last 20 years. ECGD is not able to offer any cover for this market.
Export Credits Guarantee Department
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in what paragraphs of the Trade White Paper the role of the Export Credits Guarantee Department in development is addressed. [45162]
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Mr O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
The White Paper on Trade and Investment for Growth did not explicitly address the role of the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) in development. ECGD pilot schemes announced in the White Paper largely focus on supporting Small and Medium Enterprises in the UK. DFID will continue to fully engage with the ECGD by providing case-by-case assessments of these and ongoing ECGD transactions where they relate to the poorest countries. This practice is in line with Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines and ensures that ECGD-backed lending supports the financial future and long-term prospects of developing countries.
Gulf Region
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which officials of his Department accompanied the Prime Minister on his recent visit to the Gulf region. [45612]
Mr Prisk: A press officer and three other UK Trade and Investment officials accompanied the Prime Minister, my noble Friend the Minister with responsibility for trade and investment (Lord Green) and the business delegation on the recent visit to the Gulf region.
Public Sector: Homeworking
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on encouraging telecommuting in the public sector; and if he will make a statement. [39194]
Mr Maude: I have been asked to reply.
Telecommuting is one form of flexible working, which is a delegated matter across the public sector. Government Departments and individual organisations that make up the public sector have responsibility for developing their own approaches to telecommuting as part of their flexible working policies.
Cabinet Office supports measures to improve work/life balance, which include flexible working. Flexible working incorporates a wide variety of working patterns and other arrangements such as home working. Where appropriate, the Department supports those working away from the office with Information Communications Technology to facilitate flexible working arrangements.
More widely, the Government are committed to offering flexible working options, including telecommuting where appropriate, to their employees. In addition, the coalition agreement outlines a commitment to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees which is being taken forward by the Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Services, and has my support.
Royal Mail
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on the decision by Royal Mail to introduce an annual charge for customers of its collect service. [45582]
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Mr Davey: I have received no representations. Pricing structures of unregulated services are a matter for Royal Mail.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with Royal Mail on its decision to introduce an annual charge to customers using its collect service. [45583]
Mr Davey: I have not discussed this issue with Royal Mail. Pricing structures of unregulated services are a matter for Royal Mail.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with groups representing small businesses on the decision of Royal Mail to introduce an annual charge for customers using its collect service. [45584]
Mr Davey: I have received no representations nor held any discussions with groups representing small businesses on this issue. Pricing structures of unregulated services are a matter for Royal Mail.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Bahrain: British Nationals Abroad
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to ensure the safety of UK nationals in Bahrain. [44826]
Alistair Burt: The safety and security of UK nationals overseas is paramount. Our embassy in Bahrain is closely monitoring the security situation in that country, including how it might affect the safety of UK nationals. This situation is reflected in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice for Bahrain.
Updates are provided regularly to UK nationals in the country via the embassy webpage, Facebook site and Locate registration system. An advertisement has been placed in local English newspapers to encourage UK nationals to use these channels.
We also regularly review our contingency planning so it is as ready as possible to respond should a crisis escalate.
BBC World Service: Middle East and North Africa
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the work of the BBC World Service in supporting his Department's objectives in (a) Egypt, (b) Tunisia, (c) Yemen and (d) Jordan. [41941]
Mr Jeremy Browne [holding answer 28 February 2011]: The BBC World Service has editorial independence, but, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has said, they:
“play an invaluable role promoting British values overseas, reaching millions of people in the process. Their work helps maintain our country's reputation for openness, transparency and liberty...”.
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The BBC World Service has provided in-depth and balanced reporting of the events in the region, and has reported that there has been a large increase in its audiences for BBC Arabic. For example, its streamed TV coverage on the BBC Arabic website has had a 60% increase in viewing figures. Its network of reporters and stringers has been feeding coverage in Arabic and English.
We do not undertake assessments on a permanent and on-going basis of the effectiveness of the BBC's World Service in these countries. The next opportunity to do so will therefore be in our annual survey of heads of mission on the impact and effectiveness of the World Service in the countries to which they are accredited.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of his Department's full-time equivalent headcount working in each multilateral organisation in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12. [40128]
Mr Hague: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff taking up attachments with multilateral organisations do so on unpaid leave terms. Since they are not counted as FCO employees while on these secondments, we do not keep central records of their locations. Details of who has been seconded and to which organisation are not held centrally and to obtain them would incur disproportionate cost.
Diplomatic Relations
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the practice of his Department is in issuing (a) multiple identities and (b) false passports to members of diplomatic missions; and if he will make a statement. [45659]
Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the House on 7 March 2011, Official Report, columns 643-645.
Gaza: Defence Equipment
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the firing of an advanced rocket from Gaza into Beersheba, Israel on 23 February 2011; and if he will make a statement. [43820]
Alistair Burt: We are aware of reports that Hamas continues to acquire and test a variety of weapons. We have long made it clear that the arming and funding of Hamas, and other Palestinian Rejectionist Groups, is unacceptable.
We place great importance on the protection of Israel's legitimate security needs. We continue to underline the need for Hamas to end rocket attacks on Israel. We call on them to take immediate and concrete steps towards the Quartet principles and unconditionally to release Gilad Shalit, who has been held in captivity for over four years.
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Iran: Olympic Games 2012
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the likely participation of Iran in the London 2012 Olympics; and if he will make a statement. [45593]
Alistair Burt: The International Olympic Committee is responsible for inviting member National Olympic Committees to take part in the London 2012 Games. We currently have no information on proposed attendance by any countries.
Iran: Politics and Government
Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on proposals for the UN Human Rights Council to adopt a resolution to enable the creation of a mechanism to monitor the situation of the Bahá'i community in Iran. [45452]
Alistair Burt: The UK remains concerned by the ongoing persecution of the Bahá'i faith in Iran. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials and I continue to raise these concerns regularly with the Iranian embassy in London, most recently on 17 February 2011. Meanwhile, the UK is actively supporting the proposal to establish a Special Rapporteur on Iran at the Human Rights Council. Such a Rapporteur would report on the full range of abuses in Iran, including those relating to minority rights.
Israel: EU External Relations
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 February 2011, Official Report, column 716W, on Israel: EU external relations, whether he has received legal advice on the Israeli government's compliance with the human rights provisions of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. [42948]
Alistair Burt: The EU-Israel Association Agreement was discussed at the EU Israel Association Council meeting on 22 February 2011. The Council's statement makes clear in paragraphs 24-26 the importance it places on Israel complying with the human rights provisions of the EU-Israel Association Agreement:
“The EU welcomes the opportunity of a regular dialogue with the Israeli side on human rights issues of common concern, including the protection of the Palestinian population, respect for the Convention of the Rights of the Child, children affected by armed conflicts, the promotion of democracy, rule of law and respect for international humanitarian law, including in the context of the relevant informal working groups. The EU reiterates its call on Israel to establish a subcommittee on human rights, within the framework of the Association Agreement.”
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not sought specific legal advice on the Israeli Government's compliance with its human rights obligations under the Association Agreement as these are assessed in the European External Action Service's (EEAS) annual progress reports. In producing this report the EEAS conducts an analysis of the Israeli Government's compliance with the human rights provisions of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
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Libya: Diplomatic Relations
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he received from the Law Officers' departments prior to authorising the diplomatic mission to eastern Libya. [45653]
Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the House on 7 March 2011, Official Report, columns 643-45. By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact of, and substance of the advice from, the law officers of the Crown is not disclosed outside Government.
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which (a) individuals and (b) organisations the diplomatic mission to eastern Libya had planned to meet; and what the circumstances were that gave rise to their arrest and detention. [45654]
Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the House on 7 March 2011, Official Report, columns 643-45.
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons members of the diplomatic mission to eastern Libya were issued with (a) multiple identities and (b) false passports. [45655]
Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the House on 7 March 2011, Official Report, columns 643-45.
Work and Pensions
Children: Maintenance
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria he plans to use to determine which parents will be exempt from proposed charges for Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission services; and what estimate he has made of the number of parents who will qualify. [38720]
Maria Miller: On 13 January 2011 the Government launched ‘Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility: the future of child maintenance’. This consultation document sets out the changes that we propose to make to the child maintenance system to increase its effectiveness for all families and seeks views to inform our thinking as we outline the way forward.
At present only half of children living in families where parents have separated are supported with effective financial maintenance arrangements. The proposed charges are to enable more parents to take responsibility and to make effective maintenance arrangements. The proposals are based on the recommendations of Sir David Henshaw's 2006 review ‘Recovering child support: routes to responsibility’. The Government recognise the specific circumstances of victims of domestic violence, and it is
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proposed that these clients will be exempt from the application charge. Additionally, for parents on prescribed benefits, there will be reduced charges. The consultation also puts forward the option of fast-tracking other vulnerable families through the gateway and on to the statutory system.
The Government will develop detailed proposals in relation to these criteria and these will be outlined in draft regulations later in the year. The impact assessments accompanying the draft regulations will set out the estimated impacts on volumes and individuals who will be affected by the proposed new charges.
Council Tax Benefits
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the (a) range and (b) maximum amount payable to an individual in council tax benefit. [45129]
Steve Webb: Anyone who is liable for council tax may make a claim for council tax benefit. Depending on circumstances, they may be entitled to receive council tax benefit of £0.01 a week up to a maximum of their full council tax liability.
Crisis Loans: Domestic Appliances
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons he proposes to end the payment of social fund crisis loans for items such as cookers and beds; and which items will no longer qualify for such loans. [45645]
Steve Webb: As outlined in my written ministerial statement of 3 March 2011, Official Report, columns 45-46WS, we have had to take urgent action to bring spending on crisis loans back under control and ensure we can continue to meet genuine need. Crisis loans will still be available for items in the event of a disaster. They will also be available in an emergency or disaster for living expenses, rent in advance, board and lodging charges, residential charges for hostels, emergency travel when stranded away from home, and the cost of repaying emergency credit on a pre-payment meter.
Departmental Food
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the proportion of the seafood procured for (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible that (i) was on the Marine Conservation Society's list of fish to avoid and (ii) complied with sustainability standards indicated by inclusion in either the Marine Conservation Society's list of fish to eat or by the list of fish species certified by the Marine Stewardship Council in (A) 2010 and (B) 2011 to date. [45041]
Chris Grayling: None of the seafood procured for the Department is on the Marine Conservation Society's list of fish to avoid. 56% of the seafood procured for the Department complies with sustainability standards indicated by inclusion in either the Marine Conservation Society's list of fish to eat or by the list of fish species certified by the Marine Stewardship Council. The percentage is the same for 2010 and 2011 to date
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The Department has a private finance initiative contract with Telereal Trillium for the provision of fully-fitted and serviced accommodation. This includes the provision of catering, which is delivered by Eurest, a sub-contractor to Telereal Trillium.
Of the Department's non-departmental public bodies only the Health and Safety Executive procures seafood and is 100% compliant with sustainability standards indicated by inclusion in either the Marine Conservation Society's list of fish to eat or by the list of fish species certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, in 2010 and 2011 to date.
Departmental Manpower
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed by (a) the National Benefit Fraud Hotline, (b) the Fraud Investigation Service and (c) Customer Compliance in each of the last five years. [45467]
Chris Grayling: The information in the following table is set out in full-time equivalents and has been rounded to whole numbers. Unfortunately our records only go back as far as 2006-07. These are the latest published data as at September 2010.
| March | September | ||||
|
|
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2010 |
These data are drawn from internal departmental systems used to monitor staff deployment trends.
Departmental Telephone Services
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department has set for the maximum time taken for calls referred by the National Benefit Fraud Helpline to (a) the Fraud Investigation Service and (b) Customer Compliance to be (i) allocated to a caseworker and (ii) dealt with and closed. [45534]
Chris Grayling: The Department does not set maximum times for calls referred by the National Benefit Fraud Helpline to be allocated to caseworkers or for fraud investigations or customer compliance actions to be concluded.
Every call to the National Benefit Fraud Hotline is entered immediately on to the IT system and then automatically submitted to either the Fraud Investigation Service or Customer Compliance.
Investigators are expected to progress cases without undue delay and investigations are brought to a conclusion as soon as enough evidence is gathered to prove or disprove the allegation made. The time taken to do this will depend on the nature of the allegation and the avenues of enquiries that need to be pursued.
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Jobcentre Plus provides guidance to Customer Compliance staff that all referrals should be actioned as soon as possible. This is to ensure that claims are put right as quickly as possible and to limit the amount of any overpayment. This also helps ensure that the intended deterrent effect on the customer is maximised.
Disability Living Allowance
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are eligible for disability living allowance; and how many such people he expects to be eligible for his proposed personal independence payment. [45473]
Maria Miller: As at the end of May 2010, 3,157,310 people of all ages were in receipt of disability living allowance. We do not have an estimate of the number of people who may be eligible for disability living allowance. This is because eligibility is not established until entitlement is tested at the point of claim. The assessment of eligibility for disability living allowance is more complex than for other benefits, involving a detailed judgment of personal care and mobility needs.
We will replace disability living allowance for people of working age with personal independence payment, a new, more transparent and sustainable benefit with an objective assessment of individual need. Support through personal independence payment will be focused on those with the most need. The detailed criteria that will be used in the new assessment to determine eligibility are currently being developed and are being informed by the consultation which recently closed. At this stage it is not possible to provide an assessment of the impact of personal independence payment on existing disability living allowance, or future recipients, although we are working with disabled people and organisations who represent them on the design and delivery of personal independence payment to ensure that disabled people have a clear understanding of its eligibility criteria and claiming process.
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the likely effect on (a) mental health services, (b) primary care services and (c) employment levels of changes to entitlement for disability living allowance. [45474]
Maria Miller: From 2013 we will replace disability living allowance (DLA) with personal independence payment for new and existing working-age claimants. Personal independence payment will be a new, more transparent and sustainable benefit. Like DLA, personal independence payment will be a non-means-tested, cash benefit which contributes to the extra costs incurred by disabled people as a result of their health condition or impairment.
There is no information available on the number of DLA recipients accessing mental health services or primary care services. However we expect individuals to be accessing the relevant support services, regardless of benefit receipt. We therefore do not expect the reforms to DLA to impact mental health or primary care services.
The employment rate of 16 to 64-year-olds in receipt of DLA is 14%. Evidence suggests that DLA can act as a barrier to work and that receiving it appears to reduce
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the likelihood of being in employment, even after allowing for the impact of health conditions or impairments. Like DLA, personal independence payment will be available regardless of employment status. By giving people the right level of support through personal independence payment, we hope that many more disabled people will be able to work and enjoy the advantages that an active working life can bring.
The impact assessment for disability living allowance reform considers the impact of DLA reform on health and employment. The impact assessment can be found on the DWP website at:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dla-reform-wr2011-ia.pdf
Employment and Support Allowance
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason he has laid Statutory Instrument 2011 No. 228 in advance of the publication of reports from the review group led by Professor Malcolm Harrington considering (a) mental health conditions and (b) fluctuating conditions. [45470]
Chris Grayling: The reason we have done this is to offer greater protection to those undergoing chemotherapy, those in residential rehabilitation and those with particularly severe mental health conditions in the support group.
In addition, we do not believe those who have adapted to their condition should remain in the work related activity group (WRAG) but should be given the support to look for work. Under the current situation, those in wheelchairs automatically go into the WRAG. We do not believe in a “one size fits all approach” given our goal is to move as many people with disabilities into employment.
We believe reviewing and improving the work capability assessment (WCA) is an ongoing process so we have asked Professor Harrington to bring forward his recommendations and all will be in place for the national reassessment of incapacity benefit claimants.
Professor Harrington has been appointed to conduct a second independent review of the WCA and provide further recommendations as appropriate, ensuring continued scrutiny and refinement.
Employment and Support Allowance: Work Capability Assessment
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received from individuals and organisations in the West Midlands on the employment and support allowance work capability assessment. [44909]
Chris Grayling: Information on the number of representations received by the Department in the West Midlands specifically about the work capability assessment element of employment and support allowance is not available.
Employment: Disability
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance is available for people with disabilities to move from jobseeker’s allowance into paid employment; and if he will make a statement. [45669]
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Maria Miller: We are committed to ensuring that disabled people have the same employment opportunities and chances as everyone else to find and stay in paid employment, regardless of their disability or benefit status.
As part of this commitment, the Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for a range of employment provision specifically aimed at disabled people, including those receiving jobseeker’s allowance (JSA).
Work Choice, which was launched in October last year, provides tailored support to help disabled people who face the most complex barriers to employment find and stay in work and ultimately help them progress into unsupported employment, where it is appropriate for the individual. Work Choice is voluntary and available regardless of any benefits being claimed.
Access to Work provides practical advice and financial support to employed disabled people above and beyond what the employer could reasonably provide, to help them overcome obstacles resulting from disability and thus stay in work.
In addition, Remploy, an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions, delivers a range of employment and development opportunities for disabled people under the Work Choice programme.
The Department for Work and Pensions also funds residential training for unemployed disabled adults whose needs cannot be met through any other government-funded programmes.
From April 2011 the support that Jobcentre Plus delivers to customers across all working age benefits (including JSA) is changing. Jobcentre Plus managers and advisers will have more flexibility to judge which interventions will help disabled customers move towards paid employment in the most cost-effective way ensuring provision is tailored to personal and local labour market needs. To support this, Jobcentre Plus are introducing a suite of measures bringing together communities, the voluntary sector, business people and employers, to help get people back to work.
Jobcentre Plus will continue to work closely with local health services, supported by disability employment advisers and work psychologists.
Later this year, the Work Programme will be introduced which will provide more personalised back-to-work support for unemployed people, including disabled people.
I also commissioned an independent review of the support the Government provides to disabled people who want to work. This review is being conducted by Liz Sayce, chief executive of the disability organisation RADAR, and will report in summer 2011, with recommendations on how existing specialist employment support for disabled people can better serve the Department's wide-ranging customer base.
Incapacity Benefits
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether claimants who were assessed as being entitled to incapacity benefit in the last (a) 12 months and (b) 6 months will be required to participate in the new reassessment programme; [45019]
(2) whether individuals reaching their state pension age prior to April 2014 will be affected by the incapacity benefit reassessment programme; [45046]
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(3) what criteria will be used to decide which incapacity benefit claimants will be required to undergo a work capability assessment in order to determine their future benefit entitlement; [45047]
(4) what mechanism his Department plans to put in place to ensure that individuals who are severely disabled or terminally ill are not required to undergo incapacity benefit reassessment. [45048]
Chris Grayling: We have begun reassessing the benefit entitlement of all old-style incapacity benefits claimants. Those people who are assessed as capable of work will be moved on to jobseekers allowance where eligible. People who are assessed as having limited capability for work will be moved to employment and support allowance. We are reassessing everyone claiming old-style incapacity benefits, regardless of the date of their last incapacity benefit assessment.
We do not believe that it would be right to exclude claimants from the reassessment process as a result of a particular health condition or disability. Many people with health conditions are able to sustain and progress in employment if they are supported to do so. Those people being exempted from the reassessment are those incapacity benefits claimants who will reach retirement age during the reassessment process, as they will shortly be claiming benefits for pensioners.
Those claimants being reassessed need to undergo a work capability assessment (WCA) to allow us to understand their ability to engage in work or work-related activities. The work capability assessment is based on the premise that eligibility for employment and support allowance should not be based on a person's health condition or disability, but rather on the way their health condition or disability limits their functional capability. Therefore, claimants are not automatically exempted from the work capability assessment because they have a particular health condition or disability.
A face-to-face assessment by a trained health care professional is a standard part of the work capability assessment process. However, we recognise that asking claimants to attend an unnecessary face-to-face assessment is in no one's interests. People who unfortunately have a terminal illness do not need to undergo a face-to-face assessment as part of the reassessment of their incapacity benefit. These claimants will automatically be treated as having limited capability for work-related activity, and so will be placed in the support group of employment and support allowance, where they will not be expected to undertake work related activity. Some other claimants may also be exempted from a face-to-face assessment if we are able to make an assessment based purely on the evidence provided.
Terminal illness for these purposes means that a claimant is suffering from a progressive disease, and that death in consequence of that disease can reasonably be expected within six months.
Income Support: Lone Parents
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents on income support there were in (a) 1997, (b) 2005 and (c) 2010 in (i) Coventry, (ii) the West Midlands and (iii) nationally. [44910]
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Maria Miller: The figures requested are provided in the following table:
| May each year | |||
|
|
1997 | 2005 | 2010 |
| Notes: 1. May 2005 and May 2010 figures are based upon 100% data and have been rounded to the nearest 10. 2. May 2007 figures are based upon a 5% sample and have been rounded to the nearest 100. | |||
Pensioners: Personal Savings
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) women and (b) men aged 56 years who have no pension savings. [44655]
Steve Webb: The information is as follows:
(a) The proportion of women aged 56-years-old who have no private pension wealth is estimated to be 40%.
(b) The proportion of men aged 56-years-old who have no private pension wealth is estimated to be 22%.
Notes:
1. We interpreted the question to mean wealth held in private pensions. Private pensions are all pensions that are not state basic retirement or state earnings related. There are nine categories included in the estimates of private pension wealth: defined benefit (DB) pensions, defined contribution (DC) pensions and personal pensions to which the individual was contributing at the time of survey, additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) made to current pensions, retained rights in DB and DC schemes, pension funds from which the individual was drawing an income through income drawdown, pensions in payment and pensions expected in the future based on the contributions of a former spouse. The estimates quoted include those individuals with zero pension wealth. The private pension wealth figures provided here were not immediately available from the Wealth and Assets Survey report, and were obtained by carrying out in-house analysis of the data.
2. The wealth and assets survey (WAS) is a large scale nationally representative longitudinal survey of over 30,000 private households in Great Britain that provides comprehensive information on people's assets and net wealth. The first wave was conducted from July 2006 to June 2008. It collected detailed information on financial and non-financial assets, and wealth components such as savings, pensions, property, mortgages and debt as well as people's attitudes and savings behaviour over time.
3. Extensive analysis of pension wealth using the wealth and assets data is available in "Wealth in Great Britain 2006/08" at the following web link:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/wealth-assets-2006-2008/Wealth_in_GB_2006_2008.pdf
Source:
Wealth and assets survey 2006/08.
Pensions: Poverty
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to reduce pensioner poverty. [45051]
Steve Webb:
The Government have restored the earnings link for the basic state pension and given a triple guarantee that the basic state pension will increase by the highest of the growth in average earnings, price increases (as
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measured by the consumer prices index) 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 income over their retirement than they would have done under the old prices link.
The restoration of the earnings link and the triple guarantee will benefit both existing and future pensioners by providing a more generous state pension, giving a solid financial foundation from the state, which is essential as part of the pensions system.
In April 2011 it is proposed that the basic state pension will increase by 4.6%, in line with the retail prices index, to fulfil a commitment made at the Budget. After that the triple guarantee will apply.
This Government are 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. We have also made the temporary increase in the cold weather payment to £25 permanent.
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 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 5 million and 8 million people newly saving or saving more in all forms of workplace pension schemes.
We are conducting a research study to help build the evidence base on how the information that we routinely collect can be used more effectively to ensure pensioners get the help that is available through pension credit. This is a longer term aspiration and the study is a first step in seeing if this type of approach might be possible.
Personal Independence Payment: Autism
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what representations he has received from autism experts on the assessment process for his proposed personal independence payment; [45471]
(2) what steps he plans to take to ensure that the needs of people with autism are taken into account when designing the assessment procedure for his proposed personal independence payment. [45472]
Maria Miller: The assessment is being developed in collaboration with an independent group of specialists in health, social care and disability, including disabled people. Its membership encompasses a wide variety of relevant expertise and reflects a broad range of experience in the needs of disabled people. As well as representatives from RADAR and Equality 2025, the group includes individuals from professions such as occupational therapy, psychiatry, physiotherapy, social work, general practice and community psychiatric nursing. This approach ensures that the initial development work is being undertaken within a holistic view of the impact of disability.
This group is currently undertaking the early design work on the assessment criteria. Once the broad principles are in place, we will work with the assessment group,
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disabled people and their organisations on refinement and testing. We know it is essential that the assessment accurately captures the needs of disabled people with autistic spectrum disorders and this is something that the development group is considering. We are still considering the delivery model for the assessment and no decisions have yet been taken. We recognise the importance of providing adequate training and guidance for assessors and of ensuring that the assessment process is appropriate to individual's circumstances, including individuals with autistic spectrum disorders.
During the public consultation on DLA reform, we received responses from a number of disability organisations representing autistic spectrum disorders. Both I and departmental officials have also met with the National Autistic Society to discuss our reform proposals and to seek their views on how the new benefit can best support those with autism. We agree with many of the points raised in the National Autistic Society's recent report on DLA reform, ‘Who benefits?’, and we are looking closely at how these recommendations can be incorporated into its design. We will continue to work with disabled people and their organisations as the detail of the assessment criteria and its operation is developed and tested.
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to support people with autism who lose their eligibility for (a) his proposed personal independence payment and (b) disability living allowance. [45475]
Maria Miller: From 2013 we will replace disability living allowance for people of working age with personal independence payment, a new, more transparent and sustainable benefit with an objective assessment of individual need. Support through personal independence payment will be focussed on those with the most need. The detailed criteria that will be used in the new assessment to determine eligibility are currently being developed and are being informed by the consultation which recently closed. I am, therefore, unable at this time to comment on how the new assessment will work or make estimates of its impact on people with specific health conditions or impairments. However, we are committed to ensuring that it reflects the needs of all individuals effectively. We recognise that the current assessment criteria for disability living allowance can favour physical impairments and does not always fully reflect the needs of disabled people with mental, intellectual, cognitive and development impairments, including autistic spectrum disorders.
The Department remains committed to supporting the life chances of people with autism. They will continue to benefit from the delivery of more flexible services across government for people facing complex barriers; through the introduction of the universal credit; and through the Work programme and Work Choice.
Post Office Card Account: Livingston
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Livingston constituency have a Post Office card account. [45586]
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Steve Webb: The information is not available in the format requested as data held relate to benefit accounts rather than people. Customers may be in receipt of more than one benefit, pension or allowance which could be paid into one Post Office card account.
As at September 2010, the number of benefit and pension accounts being paid into a Post Office card account in Livingston constituency was 6,860.
Poverty: Disability
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect on levels of poverty of people with disabilities of the proposed removal of the mobility component of disability living allowance from those living in residential care homes. [37748]
Maria Miller: We are unable to provide an assessment of the effect on levels of poverty of the proposed removal of the mobility component of disability living allowance from those living in residential care homes. Information concerning levels of poverty is derived from the family resources survey. In common with other social surveys, it surveys private households and therefore excludes those in care homes.
Social Security Benefits
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people re-claimed (a) incapacity benefit, (b) income support and (c) severe disablement allowance as a result of linking rules in each quarter since 1999. [37194]
Maria Miller: The information requested is not available. This is because established management information systems that the Department uses for statistical analysis do not have any readily available and reliable indicators of use of linking rules. Estimates could be made by linking datasets over time and doing complex analysis, but this would incur disproportionate cost.
Social Security Benefits: Pay Methods
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will provide additional support to pensioners and other vulnerable customers to assist them in the change to their means of benefit collection from bank giro to collection via Paypoints; [45362]
(2) what assessment he has made of the potential effects on pensioners of ending the bank giro contract with the Post Office. [45363]
Steve Webb: No customer will be transferred to the new service until they have had an opportunity to discuss the move with an adviser and we are satisfied that they have all the information they need.
The Department has been writing to customers for the last three years preparing them for the phased transfer to the new service. There will be additional support for those customers who require it, to ensure that their needs continue to be met, which for some may include switching to the Post Office card account.
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Only 60,000 pensioners rely on cheques for all their payments. Throughout the UK there are fewer than 250,000 who rely only on cheque payments and this number is declining steadily.
The new service has been designed specifically for those people who are unable to make use of mainstream accounts. For those unable to use a bank account or the Post Office card account, the new service should work in much the same way for customers as cheques do now—they will still go to a convenient, local outlet to collect their cash. And we are satisfied that it will provide the same flexibility required for use by those who rely on someone else to collect their money for them.
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the public purse of providing the successor to the Green Giro service through Citibank and Paypoint in each year of the comprehensive spending review period. [45539]
Chris Grayling: The total cost to the public purse is estimated to be in the region of £20 million per year, dependant on volumes and when the services are fully implemented. Over the SR2010 period we expect that total costs will be between £40 million and £55 million.
For comparison, the current cheque service costs the Department around £30 million a year. The new service will therefore save the taxpayer around £10 million a year in administrative costs, plus another £5 million a year from eliminating cheque fraud and abuse.
Universal Credit
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what strategy he plans to use to migrate individuals to universal credit. [45135]
Chris Grayling: The current intention and provisional timetable is that transition to universal credit will take place between October 2013 and October 2017. The transition planning will include all new claims for out of work support, all new claims for in-work support and migration of existing caseloads. The order in which new claims and existing caseloads will be transitioned will be informed by considering all the evidence and a full option appraisal.
Welfare Reform Bill
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he expects to introduce further primary legislation on welfare reform following the implementation of the provisions of the Welfare Reform Bill. [44995]
Chris Grayling: No decisions have been made on whether the Government will introduce further primary legislation on welfare reform. This would be announced in the Queen's Speech.
Work Capability Assessment
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what bonuses are payable by Atos assessors in respect of their performance in undertaking work capability assessments; and if he will make a statement. [44681]
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Chris Grayling: The health care professionals employed by Atos Healthcare to conduct medical assessments on behalf of the Department do not receive bonuses related to the outcome of entitlement to benefit. The health care professional provides relevant reports to DWP Decision Makers who award or disallow benefit, but they play no part in the actual decision making process.
Justice
Assaults on Police: Sentencing
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many assaults on police officers resulted in (a) custodial and (b) non-custodial sentences in the latest period for which figures are available; [44933] [Official Report, 29 March 2011, Vol. 526, c. 3MC.]
(2) how many cautions were issued in each of the last three years for triable offences. [44934]
Mr Blunt: The number of defendants sentenced and given an immediate custodial sentence for an assault on a constable at all courts, in England and Wales for 2009 (latest available) is provided in table 1. This is a summary only offence which is charged where little or no physical harm is involved. Where there are more serious injuries this would result in a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and it is not possible to say how many convictions for this offence arise from assaults on police officers.
The number of offenders cautioned for indictable only offences in England and Wales, 2007 to 2009 (latest available) is provided in table 2.
Data for 2010 are planned for publication in the spring of 2011.
| Table 1: Number of defendants sentenced and given an immediate custody for assault on a constable (1) at all courts, England and Wales, 2009 (2,3) | ||||
| Statute | Offence | Sentenced | Custodial sentence | Other disposals (4) |
| (1) Police Act 1996 s.89(1)—Assault on a constable. (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort Is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their Inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Other disposals include: absolute discharge, conditional discharge, fine, community sentence, suspended sentence and otherwise dealt with. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice | ||||
| Table 2: Number of offenders cautioned1,2 for indictable only offences, England and Wales, 2007-09 (3) | |||
|
|
2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| (1) The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When an offender has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. (2) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice | |||
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Coroners
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what recent estimate he has made of the average waiting time for an inquest in each coroners’ district; [45268]
(2) what the longest waiting time was in each coroners’ district for an inquest held in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the reasons were for the time taken in each case; [45269]
(3) how many (a) inquests into deaths in custody and (b) other inquests requiring a jury are outstanding in each coroners’ district; and what the reasons are for the time taken to hold the inquests. [45270]
Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice collects statistical information on the length of time from death to the completion of inquest in aggregate form by asking coroners to report the number of inquests completed within specified time bands. The estimated average length of time between death and completion of inquest for inquests completed during 2009 for each coroner’s district in England and Wales is set out in the table. We do not, however, hold data relating to the length of time taken to complete any individual inquest, so do not have information about the inquest which took the longest time to complete in each coroner district, or why.
The table also sets out the total number of outstanding inquests in each coroner’s district as at 31 December 2009. However, we do not collect information on how many of these relate to deaths in custody or require a jury.
The latest published national statistics on the work of coroners relates to 2009 and is available on the Ministry of Justice website at:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/coronersannual.htm
Statistics for 2010 are due to be published on 19 May.
| Table: Number of inquests ongoing at 31 December 2009, and average time to process completed inquests, in weeks, for each coroner's district for year 2009 | ||
| Coroner’s district | Average time to process completed inquests (weeks) | Number of inquests open at the end of the year |
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| Notes on how timeliness of inquests is estimated: l. For the purpose of determining the timeliness of inquests, the time taken to conduct an inquest is deemed to be from the day the death was reported to the coroner until either (a) the day the inquest is concluded by the delivery of a verdict or (b) the day the coroner certifies that an adjourned inquest will not be resumed. 2. The average time for an inquest to be conducted is estimated in the following way: Coroners are asked in their annual return to state how many inquests were concluded within certain time periods. There are five time bands, which are: within one month; 1-3 months; 3-6 months; 6-12 months; and over 12 months. All the inquests falling within a time-band are then assumed to have been completed at or near the mid-point of the various time-bands for the purposes of calculating the average, although inquests within the “under one month” band are assumed to have taken 3 weeks for this purpose of this estimation, and those inquests taking over a year to conclude were deemed to have taken 18 months, although the time-band itself is open-ended. Numbers are then aggregated and the average figure (in weeks) calculated in the normal way. 3. Only deaths occurring within England and Wales are included in the calculation. Statistics are not collected on the time taken for inquests where the death occurred outside England and Wales. | ||