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Incapacity Benefits
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) minimum and (b) maximum period will be between an individual receiving notification of their incapacity benefit reassessment and the date of their initial reassessment. [45023]
Chris Grayling: The length of time it will take for a customer to have their incapacity benefits reassessed is dependent upon a range of factors. Among other things, this includes the speed with which the customer returns their medical questionnaire and whether the customer needs to attend a face to face assessment. On average this would normally take around 13 weeks but this may be quicker if a face to face assessment is not required.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what procedures are in place for incapacity benefit clients who wish to make a complaint about their reassessment. [45024]
Chris Grayling: Jobcentre Plus work in partnership with Atos Healthcare, the Department's medical services provider, to deliver the Incapacity Benefit Reassessment Programme.
A customer can raise a complaint about their reassessment through Jobcentre Plus or, where it refers to their medical examination, direct with Atos Healthcare, where the customer's complaint is investigated by Atos under their complaints process. If the customer is still dissatisfied with the outcome, having exhausted the Atos complaints process, they may escalate their complaint to the Jobcentre Plus Chief Executive, who will undertake a further investigation. If the customer is not satisfied with the outcome, they can approach the Independent Case Examiner if their complaint concerns departmental maladministration.
If the complaint refers to action taken by Jobcentre Plus, Jobcentre Plus’s own complaint process applies, which culminates in a response from the Chief Executive. If the customer remains dissatisfied, they may also escalate their complaint to the Independent Case Examiner.
Industrial Health and Safety: Prosecutions
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the effect on the number of prosecutions for health and safety offences of reductions in the budget of the Health and Safety Executive. [45511]
Chris Grayling: I do not expect there to be any significant effect on the number of prosecutions for health and safety offences because of reductions in the budget of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Almost all of the prosecutions for health and safety offences arise from the investigation of accidents, incidents and complaints. HSE has no plans to reduce the resources available for such investigations.
International Labour Organisation
Rushanara Ali:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding his Department provided to the International Labour Organisation in
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each of the last four years; and how much funding he expects to provide in
(a)
2011-12,
(b)
2012-13,
(c)
2013-14 and
(d)
2014-15. [45588]
Chris Grayling: Figures for past years are in the following table (rounded to the nearest thousand).
| Department for Work and Pensions funding to the International Labour Organisation, 2007-10 | ||
| Calendar year | Assessed contributions to the ILO regular b udget (£ million) | Payments to the UN/ILO/World Bank Youth Employment Network (£) |
The UK's assessed contribution for calendar year 2011 is around £16.5 million. The final figure my Department will pay in sterling depends on currency exchange rates as the contribution is paid in Swiss francs.
The UK's subscription for future years has not yet been determined and will depend on a number of variables including the ILO's biennial budget proposal, any return of ILO budget surpluses and refunds under the ILO's early payment scheme, and currency exchange rates.
Jobcentre Plus: Incapacity Benefits
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what order of precedence Jobcentre Plus has set for rolling out its incapacity benefits reassessment programme. [45018]
Chris Grayling: 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 for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your question asking what order of precedence Jobcentre Plus has set for rolling out its Incapacity Benefits reassessment programme. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Customers receiving Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid on the grounds of illness or disability, currently attend Personal Capability Assessments (PCA) to determine and review their entitlement for benefit. The order in which customers will be selected for IB(IS)reassessment will be based upon the date on which they would otherwise have been called for their next PCA. Customers currently claiming Severe Disablement Allowance will be reassessed at the end of the reassessment process.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether additional (a) staffing and (b) resources will be provided to Jobcentre Plus to undertake incapacity benefit reassessments in areas where a backlog of appeals exists. [45022]
Chris Grayling: 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 about whether additional (a) staffing and (b) resources will be provided to Jobcentre Plus to undertake Incapacity Benefit
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reassessments in areas where a backlog of appeals exists. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
In total around 1100 Jobcentre Plus staff will be allocated to Incapacity Benefit reassessment. These staff will be split across the Jobcentres, Contact Centres and Benefit Centres to deliver the end to end reassessment process. Of these staff, 150 will be allocated to appeals work, namely the preparation and referral of appeals to the Tribunal Service.
These staffing and resource allocations are in line with anticipated numbers of appeals arising from the reassessment of Incapacity Benefit.
Resources will be made available separately for the Tribunal Service to process Incapacity Benefit reassessment appeals.
Jobseeker's Allowance: Cancer
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cancer patients were found (a) still to have limited capability for work-related activity and retained in the support group, (b) to have limited capability for work and placed in the work-related activity group and (c) to be fit for work and placed on jobseeker's allowance following reassessment in each of the last four years. [45523]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is shown in the following table:
| Assessment quarter | Support g roup | Work related activity group | Fit for work |
This represents the DWP decision at initial assessment by the quarter in which the assessment was completed up to the end of August 2010. Repeat assessments and clerical assessments where the result cannot be determined from DWP benefits data are excluded from these figures.
The numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.
The cases have been selected where the primary condition of the person claiming is cancer. For most claimants this information is predominantly taken from the information recorded on the medical certificate provided by the GP when someone first makes a claim for employment and support allowance (ESA). It is based on the primary condition of the person claiming and represents what their GP considers to be the main reason the person cannot work at that time.
In 2010, this information was transferred to central administrative databases for all claims still live in November 2009 and new claims thereafter. For some claims that closed before November 2009 we have used other sources to determine medical condition such as that recorded at
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the WCA or that recorded by Jobcentre Plus at first contact. However, in some cases the information is missing, particularly for ESA claims that closed before November 2009.
The information presented is consistent with the information in Table 2 in the report ‘Employment and Support Allowance: Work Capability Assessment by Health Condition and Functional Impairment: Official Statistics: January 2011’, a copy of which can be found at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_wca/esa_wca_25012011.pdf
Motability
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for the future of the Motability scheme following introduction of the personal independence payment. [44819]
Maria Miller: While this Department works closely with Motability and facilitates the operation of the scheme, Motability it is an independent charity and DWP Ministers are not directly involved in determining scheme policy.
As stated in the recent consultation document on Disability Living Allowance Reform, we will work with Motability under the reformed system of personal independence payment.
Personal Independence Payment
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason he has proposed that six months must elapse before a person can claim the personal independence payment; and if he will make a statement. [46370]
Maria Miller [holding answer 14 March 2011]: We propose that in order to qualify for personal independence payment, the individual must have met the conditions of entitlement to a specific rate of the daily living or mobility component during the six months preceding the date they become entitled. This is intended to distinguish between a long-term impairment or health condition—for which financial support through this benefit may be appropriate—and shorter term conditions where other support mechanisms exist.
The first six months of a disability may well attract additional costs but those may be met through other mechanisms such as health care travel costs, free prescriptions or aids and adaptations provided by the NHS or the local authority. Individuals may also be entitled to a range of social security benefits depending on their circumstances during this period.
Remploy
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many public procurement contracts with each (a) Government department and (b) local authority have been awarded to Remploy since 2008; and what the monetary value was of such contracts. [41414]
Maria Miller:
Remploy Enterprise Businesses and Employment Services have a large number of contracts with a wide range of public bodies. The following tables provide details of contracts awarded to Remploy’s Enterprise Businesses and Employment Services since
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April 2008, either held directly with Government Departments (including bodies that they sponsor including non-departmental public bodies) and local authorities and also contracts held with third parties on behalf of public bodies.
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| (b) Local authorities | ||
| Local council | Number of contracts | Total value of contracts April 2008 to March 2011 (£000) |
| Notes: 1. All tables cover the period April 2008 to March 2011. The contract value represents the sales value derived within the period covered (with estimates for the last two months of this financial year) and not the full total contract value. 2. The tables include the public body that contract is now held with if the public body has changed through machinery of Government changes. 3. The tables include public bodies that no longer exist if the contract has been completed, for example, Learning and Skills Council. | ||
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many contracts Remploy have been awarded since 2008; what the monetary value of such contracts was; and what proportion of those contracts was subsequently passed to private companies. [41416]
Maria Miller: The information requested is provided in the following table. Remploy Enterprise Businesses and Employment Services have a large number of contracts with a wide range of organisations which support delivery of increasing the number of disabled people into work.
| Remploy area of business | Number of contracts | Total value of contracts April 2008 to March 2011 (£000) | Proportion sub-contracted to third parties (percentage) |
| Note: The total contract value represents the sales value derived within the period covered (with estimates for the last two months of this financial year) and not the full total contract value. | |||
Remploy: Pay
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the merits of awarding a pay increase to employees of Remploy. [44517]
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Maria Miller: Remploy, as a non-departmental public body, must live within the HM Treasury guidance on pay that is issued annually. Contractual arrangements between Remploy and individual staff, including the level of staff remuneration, are a matter for the company to decide.
This Government believe all Departments, including non-departmental public bodies, have to show pay restraint in the current economic climate. The approach to pay and bonuses for the current and previous years was negotiated by the previous Administration.
The 2010-11 pay remit will be agreed shortly. We have recently agreed that the company can discuss a pay increase of £250 for staff earning less than £21,000 with Trade Union representatives. This is in line with the current Treasury guidelines and payments are expected to be made shortly.
The Treasury guidance for 2011-12 has recently been issued to Departments. We are working with Remploy to ensure that appropriate pay restraint is applied in 2011-12 and for future years.
Social Security Benefits
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to encourage the take-up of benefits that are unclaimed by pensioners. [45050]
Steve Webb: We want to ensure that older people receive the help they are entitled to. The Pension, Disability and Carers Service (PDCS) works closely with local organisations to encourage and support people to take up the benefits they are entitled to.
They also target activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to encourage them to claim. For example, when a customer makes a claim to state pension or reports a change in their circumstances, a customer adviser will discuss a pension credit application with those who may be entitled.
In addition, we have developed a free pension credit ‘toolkit’ providing information guides and templates for people who work with vulnerable pensioners to encourage them to promote pension credit.
We are conducting a modest 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 study is a first step in seeing if this type of approach might be possible in the longer term.
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) women and (b) men were in receipt of (i) disability living allowance, (ii) income support and (iii) jobseeker’s allowance on the most recent date for which figures are available. [46680]
Maria Miller: The information is in the following tables.
| Total DLA and IS claimants, May 2010 | |||
| Benefit | Total | Female | Male |
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| Notes: 1. DLA and IS case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10, JSA case loads are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. DLA totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example, if they are in hospital. 3. DLA and IS figures are published at: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html 4. JSA figures are published at: http://www.nomisweb.co.uk Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 100% WPLS. | |||
| Total JSA claimants, January 2011 | |||
| Benefit | Total | Female | Male |
| Notes: 1. DLA and IS case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10, JSA case loads are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. DLA totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example, if they are in hospital. 3. DLA and IS figures are published at: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html 4. JSA figures are published at: http://www.nomisweb.co.uk Source: Seasonally adjusted count of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus computer systems. | |||
Social Security Benefits: Autism
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department takes to ensure that officials assessing entitlement to benefits are appropriately trained in (a) understanding and (b) communicating with people with autism. [44620]
Maria Miller: The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) policy is to develop its staff who have a wide variety of different roles in the skills required to support a range of customers and to respect their individual needs, including those related to their health conditions. This approach ensures that they are equipped to deal with a diverse set of circumstances whilst treating customers as individuals. For this reason, there is no single set of procedures to be followed which solely focus on understanding and communicating with people with autism.
The learning programme for Jobcentre Plus focuses on raising awareness of the customer's personal circumstances and also recognises that disabilities and health conditions can affect individuals in different ways and will change over time. Guidance is also available for Jobcentre Plus staff which includes background information on a number of conditions relating to hidden impairments such as: autistic spectrum conditions including Asperger’s syndrome; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; dyslexia and speech and language difficulties.
Furthermore, Jobcentre Plus run a seminar to support staff better understand the implications of current disability/diversity legislation in relation to their job roles when working with disabled customers, colleagues and employers. The ‘Raising the Game on Disability’ seminar aims to dispel the many myths and misconceptions around the disability agenda in a safe and supportive environment as staff are encouraged to ask questions and share their personal experiences of disability. Part of the seminar includes a discussion about communication,
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language and etiquette including working with customers with mental ill health, autistic spectrum conditions and learning disabilities.
Jobcentre Plus has also put in place a mental health co-ordinator in each district. Their role is to: improve and facilitate links between local mental health and employment services; identify the availability of local support that advisers may signpost customers to; provide a support role to advisers who are working with customers with mental health conditions, or learning difficulties; and influence local partners to consider whether the help currently available for those with mental health conditions or learning difficulties satisfies local needs and encourage them to address any gaps or shortfall in provision.
The Pension, Disability and Carers Service (PDCS) have specific learning provided by the Professionalism in Decision Making and Appeals (PIDMA) body. The course is Understanding Working Age and Child Customers which has a section on understanding the impact of a learning disability specifically covering autistic spectrum disorders. This course is for all appropriate disability living allowance and attendance allowance decision-making staff.
The above learning is being modified and updated to reflect the newly widened responsibilities of the Local Service Customer Liaison Managers (CLMs) to deal with visits, where required, to all of the Department's “vulnerable client groups”. The new course is intended to build on that by providing learning more specifically tailored to visiting officers and as part of whole suite on new learning products for local service to be delivered from late autumn 2011 onwards.
Since February 2010, DWP formed a National Hidden Impairment strategy group involving medical professionals and experts in the fields of hidden impairments; disability specific organisations such as the National Autistic Society; Autism Plus and Addept; and involving service users with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) conditions. The purpose of the group is to improve the customer service experience for individuals with these conditions. The group is currently producing a further series of guidance in the form of checklists to ensure that staff feel confident in their ability to anticipate appropriate reasonable adjustment solutions at relevant stages of the customer journey. These checklists have been written by medical experts and will be available by the end of March 2011.
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what steps the Government plans to take to consider the needs of people with autism when designing the assessment procedure for the proposed personal independence payment; [45948]
(2) if he will ensure that all personal independence payment assessors have the requisite multi-disciplinary knowledge to assess the needs of people with autism. [45949]
Maria Miller:
The assessment is being developed in collaboration with an independent group of specialists in health, social care and disability, including disabled people. 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 and disabled people and their organisations on
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the refinement and testing of the detail of the criteria. We know it is essential that it 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 most appropriate delivery model for the personal independence payment 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. Both I and departmental officials have 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 are keen to continue to work with disabled people and their organisations as the detail of the assessment criteria and its operation is developed and tested.
Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether any bonuses were paid to private companies engaged as part of the operation of the trial of the reassessments for customers receiving incapacity benefit and income support in north east Scotland. [37627]
Maria Miller: No bonuses have been paid to any private companies involved in the trial nor are there any plans to do so. Atos Healthcare, who were awarded the Department's medical services contract under the previous Administration, will continue to be funded under the existing contractual agreement to deliver the medical services in the trial areas.
Social Security Benefits: Older People
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to simplify the benefits claims process for pensioners. [45052]
Steve Webb: The claims process has already been simplified and pensioners can claim housing benefit and council tax benefit, alongside pension credit, in a single phone call without the need for a signed claim form. Calls to the 0800 claims number from a BT landline or from the six largest mobile phone networks are free.
Work is ongoing to improve the state pension “Invitation to Claim” pack. This includes introducing a better structure to make it easier to use, simplifying the content and adding a tier of signposting to Directgov, pension leaflets and relevant partner organisations to help customers find any further information they may need. An interim solution was delivered in November 2010 and further changes are planned from August 2011.
In addition, a number of significant improvements are planned for pension credit new claim, changes and annual uprating letters. These are currently under development and are expected to be in use by May 2011.
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Further changes are also being made to the information on Directgov with good results to date. Customer satisfaction is up by over 10 percentage points since the project started.
State pension online provides customers living in the UK, who wish to use the internet, with a swift and convenient way of claiming their state pension via Directgov. Where possible the service will present them with their state pension award details in real time. This service is available 24 hours a day. Customers who do not wish to complete their claim in one go are able to save their claim and return to complete it later.
Additionally, later this year, the majority of Jobcentre Plus customers who are eligible for the state pension will automatically transfer from working age benefits to their state pension without the need for a claim. This service will reuse information already held about them by DWP and will provide a much more effective customer service to approximately 200,000 people every year.
Social Security Benefits: Public Expenditure
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the likely savings to the public purse of the proposed cap on the annual level of benefits payments per household over the comprehensive spending review period. [44007]
Chris Grayling: The spending review 2010 announced that household benefit payments would be capped from 2013 at around £500 per week for couple and lone parent households and around £350 per week for single adult households. War widows, households which include a member who is receiving disability living allowance or constant attendance allowance, and working households claiming the working tax credit will be exempt from the cap.
If the benefit cap were applied in full, as described in the supporting documentation for the spending review 2010 the savings to the Exchequer are estimated to be £225 million in 2013-14 and £270 million in 2014-15.
We are looking at ways of easing the transition for families and providing assistance in hard cases.
State Retirement Pensions
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what methodology his Department uses to determine the level of contracted-out deductions from the state second pension; [45439]
(2) for what reason the level of contracted-out deductions from the state second pension of people whose occupational pension has not increased is increased annually. [45615]
Steve Webb: The additional state pension payable to a person contracted out of the state earnings-related pension scheme (SERPS) through a defined benefit (or salary-related) occupational pension scheme between 1978 and 1997 is reduced by a contracted-out deduction (COD) equal to the level of the guaranteed minimum pension (GMP), payable by the scheme at 60 for women and 65 for men (subject to the total deduction not being greater than the individual’s notional additional state pension accrued between 1978 and 1997).
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Each GMP is calculated in a broadly similar way to the additional state pension but based on earnings on which contracted-out national insurance contributions were paid.
A person who contracted out of SERPS under a defined contribution (or money purchase) arrangement from 1988 onwards does not accrue a GMP as scheme benefits are dependent on investment returns and annuity rates. The additional state pension paid to such a person is reduced by an amount equivalent to the GMP that would have accrued had he or she been contracted out through a defined benefit scheme, although the actual pension paid may be higher or lower than the contracted-out deduction. However, calculating the COD in this way ensures that people are treated in the same way, regardless of how they were contracted out.
GMPs, and therefore contracted-out deductions, accrued from 1988 onwards receive limited price indexation and so increase in most years. However, pensions or annuities bought from defined contribution contracted-out schemes since April 2006 do not have to provide for any indexation. Individuals can choose to buy a flat-rate annuity which will have a higher starting payment than an escalating annuity but not increase over time. This means that in these cases it would be possible for the COD to increase while the occupational pension remains the same.
State Retirement Pensions: Livingston
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many women in Livingston constituency will be affected by his proposals to raise the state pension age for women. [45647]
Steve Webb: This information is not available.
On the basis of the mid-2009 General Register Office for Scotland population estimates, we estimate that around 8,200 women in the West Lothian local authority area could be affected by the proposals to rise the state pension age.
Work Programme Contracts
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date he expects to announce the successful Work programme bidders for each contract package area. [45133]
Chris Grayling: This has been a very successful competition and we have received 177 bids.
The announcement of ‘preferred bidders’ will take place in the first part of April 2011: both successful and unsuccessful bidders will be notified and results will be posted on the DWP website. In addition, results will also be made available on ‘The Contracts Finder’ website which builds on the Department's commitment to transparency.
Public Accounts Commission
Environmental Audit Select Committee
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission how much National Audit Office resource was made available to support the work of the Environmental Audit Committee in the latest period for which figures are available. [45245]
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Mr Tyrie: In the 2009-10 financial year, the full cost to the National Audit Office of supporting the work of the Environmental Audit Committee was £283,000.
Communities and Local Government
Anti-Semitism
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will undertake a survey to ascertain the prevalence of anti-Semitism in each (a) age group, (b) socio-economic group and (c) region; and if he will make a statement. [45602]
Andrew Stunell: We have no plans to undertake a survey to ascertain the prevalence of anti-Semitism, as we believe this is not necessarily the best way to measure anti-Semitism. We do record anti-Semitic crime at the national level which is broken down by police force area. These figures were published in November 2010. Full details can be found at:
http://www.acpo.police.uk/asp/policies/Data/084a_Recorded_Hate_Crime_-_January_to_December_2009.pdf
Community Development
Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to initiate consultation on the introduction of regulations contemplated under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007. [46197]
Greg Clark: The Government will shortly publish a consultation seeking views on the contents of new regulations to be made under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007, and will make a statement in due course.
Community Relations: English Language
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to promote the use of the English language in the UK for the purposes of community cohesion; and how much funding he allocated to this objective in the latest period for which figures are available. [46134]
Andrew Stunell [holding answer 14 March 2011]:The Government recognise the role of good English language skills in enabling speakers of other languages to contribute to the economy and play a full part in society.
On 29 November the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), introduced a new language requirement for those seeking entry to the UK as either a spouse or civil partner, fiancé or proposed civil partner, unmarried partner or same sex partner of a British citizen or someone who is present and settled in the UK. Pre entry language requirements are also in place for migrants seeking visas for work or study purposes via the points based system. Migrants applying for settlement or citizenship are required to demonstrate knowledge of English language and life in the UK.
In 2008-09—the most recent data available—£225 million was spent by further education institutions on English as a Second Language (ESOL). From August
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2011, full Government funding will be provided for ESOL 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 also continue to pay 50% of ESOL course fees for people who are settled here. We will no longer fund ESOL courses delivered in the workplace.
The Government recently announced that over £7 million in match funding is available through the European refugee fund 2010 and European integration fund 2010. Projects for teaching English language are eligible for both funds.
In schools, newly arrived pupils are usually given additional help in learning English by specialist teachers or by bilingual classroom assistants. Since 1999, the Department for Education has made available an Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG) to help narrow achievement gaps for black and minority ethnic pupils and cover some of the costs of additional support needed for bilingual learners. In 2010-11 just under £207 million was paid to local authorities through the EMAG.
Jewish Community
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds on the number of (a) synagogues and (b) Jewish cemeteries in each local authority area that have been desecrated in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Jewish community on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [45604]
Andrew Stunell: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not hold any information as to the number of synagogues and Jewish cemeteries desecrated in each local authority. However, data are available in the three police force areas which have the largest Jewish communities. These data would classify the desecration of Jewish cemeteries and synagogues as criminal damage. Whenever a critical incident occurs related to either desecration of Jewish cemeteries or synagogues, the National Community Tension Team ensure that they link in with the Community Security Trust to reassure the Jewish community and ensure that each incident is investigated.
Private Rented Housing
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers local authorities have in relation to the management of private rented housing; and what information his Department holds on the use of such powers. [46519]
Andrew Stunell: Local authorities have extensive powers under the Housing Act 2004 to help improve the management of privately rented properties. They are under a statutory duty to license certain high risk privately rented houses in multiple occupation. They also have discretionary powers to extend licensing to other types of privately rented property.
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Local authorities also have powers to assess the risks and hazards in privately rented properties using the housing health and safety rating system. If a property is found to contain serious hazards, the local authority has a duty to take the most appropriate action. This system provides an important safety net, ensuring that homes are safe.
The Department does not hold information on the use of these powers centrally.
Town Centres
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent steps he has taken to promote (a) the regeneration of town centres and (b) high street shops; and if he will make a statement. [46500]
Greg Clark [holding answer 14 March 2011]: The Government are fully committed to supporting town centres. Town centres are at the heart of our communities and neighbourhoods and have an important role to play in the growth of local economies. Through our new approach to planning and regeneration we will provide residents and local authorities with local rewards and incentives to enable them to drive regeneration and growth that is right for their needs.
We are giving new powers and rights for local councils and communities to determine and influence what happens in their area, for example, through neighbourhood planning, local enterprise partnerships, the power of competence and community right to buy. We are increasing local control of public finance by de-ring fencing and enabling local pooling of budgets. We are offering powerful incentives for housing and business growth, through the new homes bonus and changes to the community infrastructure levy and we are considering options to enable councils to retain locally-raised business rates and to grant business rate discounts if they wish.
The “town centre first” policy will continue to be strongly expressed in national planning policy currently under review through the National Planning Policy Framework. The Government’s firm intention in reviewing the policy is to make it more accessible and clearer. We will publish, and present to Parliament, the National Planning Policy Framework by April 2012.
Treasury
Aggregates Levy: Northern Ireland
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sites subject to the aggregates levy are registered in Northern Ireland. [46877]
Justine Greening: Of approximately 680 registrations for the aggregates levy in the UK, around 150 operators are registered as having their principal place of business in Northern Ireland. Some operators registered elsewhere in the UK may also have sites in Northern Ireland.
Ms Ritchie:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which sites subject to the aggregates levy in Northern Ireland claimed relief for the extraction of shale material in each of the last four years; what
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confirmation has been sought from such sites that shale is being extracted; what estimate he has made of the number of false claims made by aggregate companies with respect to shale extraction in the latest period for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the volume of shale involved in such false claims. [46878]
Justine Greening: In order to minimise the reporting burdens on business, registered persons supplying materials that are exempt under the aggregates levy are not required to identify the nature of the material on returns. Data on which operators have claimed exemption on shale are therefore unavailable.
Registered operators are subject to risk-based assurance activity, and HMRC act on intelligence received, visiting registered persons and making scientific referrals as appropriate.
In the past four years the visit programme to quarries in Northern Ireland has resulted in nine scientific referrals of material described as shale, five of which resulted in assessments for additional levy due. The combined volume involved was around 480,000 tons.
Air Force: Military Bases
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has had with (a) Ministers and (b) officials of the Ministry of Defence in respect of that Department's RAF basing review. [46213]
Danny Alexander: I have regular conversations with the Secretary of State for Defence on a wide range of issues.
Child Tax Credit
Kate Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of families (a) in total, (b) in each nation and region and (c) in each constituency who will be affected by the proposed reduction in child care costs paid through the child care element of working tax credit. [46051]
Mr Gauke: No estimate has been made.
The reduction of child care support to 70% from 80% is part of a range of reforms to the tax credits system announced at the spending review. There are interactions between the measures so estimating the impact of just one measure does not give a clear indication of the full impact on households.
The Government published estimates of the distributional impact of the whole package of announced tax and benefit measures which can be found at:
http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_annexb.pdf
Child Trust Fund: Children in Care
Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent in administration costs to assess for the purposes of the Child Trust Fund the needs of children in care living in Scotland in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11. [46312]
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Mr Gauke [holding answer 14 March 2011]:We do not hold figures for HMRC's administration costs in respect of looked after children living in Scotland. But HMRC's overall administration costs are published in the annual CTF statistics at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ctf/stats.htm
Scottish local authorities and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) incur administration costs in setting up and making payments into CTF accounts for looked after children living in Scotland. Also, where there is no one with parental responsibility for the child, the account is managed by the Accountant of Court in Scotland and their administration costs reimbursed by HMRC. The Accountant of Court was reimbursed (net of VAT) £18,411 for 2008-09 and £18,882 for 2009-10 by HMRC. The figure for 2010-11 is not yet available.
In addition, local authorities have received funding from central Government of £22 per payment towards the cost of identifying and making payments of £100 to the CTFs of every looked after child.
Departmental Internet
Tessa Jowell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse was of the Spending Review Challenge. [46427]
Danny Alexander: The Government committed to ensuring the spending review process was open, responsible and fair and to engaging the whole public in the difficult decisions that had to be taken. The Spending Challenge was an important part of this, attracting over 100,000 suggestions from public sector workers and members of the public on how Government can do more with less.
The cost of establishing and operating the Spending Challenge website was £19,300. Related staff and process costs were met using existing resources and from existing budgets.
Fiscal Policy
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal steps he is taking to incentivise (a) research and development and (b) innovation. [46040]
Mr Gauke: The Government incentivise investment in R and D activity through the R and D tax credit schemes. The schemes provided an estimated £980 million of support for innovative UK companies in 2008-09.
The Government are introducing a reduced tax rate for profits from patents, known as the Patent Box, which will reward successful innovation in patented technology and encourage innovative companies to invest in the UK.
Income Tax: Northern Ireland
Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) North Down constituency were affected by the introduction of the 50% rate of income tax in April 2010. [46781]
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Mr Gauke: The number of people in Northern Ireland liable to income tax at the 50% additional rate in 2010-11 is published, along with estimates for other UK Government Office Regions, on the HM Revenue and Customs website in table 2.2 which is available at the following address:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2-2.pdf
Estimates are based on the 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Autumn Forecast 2010.
Reliable estimates are not available at the parliamentary constituency level, due to small survey sample sizes and significant uncertainties in projections for small geographical areas.
Licensing: Electronic Government
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many premises licence applications have been made through the Business Link website to date; and how many such applications Business Link has forwarded to local authorities. [46450]
Mr Gauke: 267 premises licence applications have been made to date using the application forms on the businesslink.gov.uk website. All such applications have been forwarded to the relevant local authority.
Maternity Payments
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many women were in receipt of (a) Health in Pregnancy Grant and (b) Sure Start Maternity Grant on the most recent date for which figures are available. [46509]
Mr Gauke: Information on the number of women in receipt of the health in pregnancy grant is only available at disproportionate cost.
The number of Sure Start maternity grants paid in the financial year 2009-10 in Great Britain was 274,000.
Notes:
1. The number is for all awards, irrespective of whether the award was made to the mother or her partner.
2. The number has been rounded to the nearest 1,000.
Source:
Annual report by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the Social Fund 2009-10.
National Insurance: Tax Credits
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many temporary national insurance numbers were issued by HM Revenue and Customs in each year since 1997; and what proportion of those numbers were for tax credit purposes. [45842]
Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs only issue temporary national insurance numbers for tax credit purposes. These are issued once the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have confirmed that a claimant has passed an evidence of identity test administered by Jobcentre Plus. The present system of tax credits commenced in April 2003 and the numbers issued are detailed in the following table:
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| Tax year | Number issued |
Stamp Duty Land Tax
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many properties sold in (a) Bury St Edmunds constituency and (b) Suffolk county council area attracted stamp duty land tax levied at (i) zero per cent., (ii) one per cent., (iii) three per cent. and (iv) four per cent. in each of the last three years. [45841]
Justine Greening: Estimates of the number of property transactions for Bury St Edmunds parliamentary constituency and Suffolk county are given in the following table, grouped by stamp duty land tax band.
| Property transactions attracting rate based entirely on consideration | |||||
|
|
0% rate (1) | 1% rate (2) | 3% rate (3) | 4% rate (4) | Total |
| (1) Residential threshold is £125,000 in all years, non-residential threshold is £150,000 in all years. The temporary increase in the residential threshold from £125,000 to £175,000 between September 2008 and December 2009 is ignored. (2) £125,001 to £250,000 for residential transactions, £150,001 to £250,000 for non-residential transactions in all years. (3) £250,001 to £500,000. (4) £500,001+. | |||||
Transactions with a value under £40,000, the current stamp duty land tax notification threshold, are excluded from figures for all years.
The number of transactions bearing stamp duty will be lower than the number shown in the non-zero bands due various applicable reliefs, (e.g. disadvantaged area relief, group relief, registered social landlord relief). There are also some lease transactions which fall in the zero per cent. band on account of consideration, but which bear stamp duty on the lease rental.
Tax Avoidance: Northern Ireland
Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue accrued to the Exchequer from actions against tax avoidance in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [46736]
Mr Gauke: Information on tax revenue in the UK is not collected by reference to its geographical source. Consequently, it is not possible to allocate tax revenue to particular regions of the UK.
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Taxation: Banks
Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department estimates it will collect in tax revenues from the banking sector in 2010-11; and what proportion of the tax collected from the banking sector it estimates will be non-payroll tax. [42282]
Mr Hoban: HM Revenue and Customs would expect large banking groups to pay around £20 billion in 2010-11, of which 80% is from pay-as-you-earn and national insurance contributions and 20% is from corporation tax.
Taxation: Business
Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects on business confidence of the decision of HM Revenue and Customs to set out details of how they will undertake a new programme of business record checks prior to the completion of the consultation on such checks. [46517]
Mr Gauke: The programme of business record checks (BRC) will not commence until completion of the formal consultation through the consultation document issued on 19 December 2010. Following that consultation, and taking into account the responses received, HMRC will trial the BRC process using a ‘test and learn’ approach to ensure that this is supporting businesses by either giving them assurances regarding the standard of their record-keeping, or alternatively advising them on areas of those records where improvements can be made. The test and learn will also be an opportunity to obtain early feedback.
Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons it is proposed that business record checks will be undertaken by staff of HM Revenue and Customs using powers to enter a person’s business premises under Schedule 36 to the Finance Act 2008. [46518]
Mr Gauke: HMRC’s random inquiry programme indicates that poor record keeping is a problem in around 40% of all small and medium enterprise cases (circa five million). Research by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development indicates that poor record keeping generally leads to an underassessment of tax even where there is an audit-type check into a return for the period covered by such records. On this basis, poor business record keeping is responsible for a tax loss in up to two million SME cases annually.
The loss of tax through poor record keeping, particularly in the current economic climate, cannot continue and HMRC is, therefore, determined to use the powers at its disposal to improve business record keeping and so reduce the loss to the Exchequer that stems from poor business records.
By carrying out tests on the business records, the HMRC officer may identify weaknesses and shortcomings in those records. When such weaknesses/shortcomings are identified they will be highlighted to, and discussed with, the customer and possible improvements may be identified. These checks will not impose a higher level of record keeping requirements than would be appropriate for the size and nature of the business. Identification of
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record keeping issues may reduce the future cost of compliance for business through issues being identified at an earlier stage with contemporaneous records being reviewed.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to answer Question (a) 40990 and (b) 40992, on national insurance, tabled on 10 February 2011 for answer on 14 February. [46786]
Mr Gauke: I have replied to the right hon. Member’s questions.
Wales
Departmental Land
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if she will take steps to reduce the size of her Department’s estate; and if she will make a statement. [46742]
Mr David Jones: The Wales Office occupies a small building in London and half a floor of rented office space in Cardiff. The estate is proportional to the number of staff and while there are currently no plans to reduce this already small estate further, the matter will be kept under review.
Departmental Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what regulations her Department introduced between 4 February 2011 and 28 February 2011; [47028]
(2) what regulations her Department revoked between 4 February 2011 and 28 February 2011. [47030]
Cabinet Office
Census: Publicity
David Cairns: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if the Government will allocate part of the budget for the 2011 Census awareness campaign to advertising through community radio stations. [43100]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking if part of the budget for the 2011 Census awareness campaign will be allocated to advertising through community radio stations (43100).
As part of the overall census communication and engagement programme, nearly 200 census area managers and community advisors are contacting community and local media to raise awareness of the 2011 Census in England and Wales. Many community radio stations have responded positively, recognising the importance of encouraging their audience to participate, and covering the census in news and editorial features.
There are no plans to allocate a specific budget for community radio stations. Advertising on local and community channels may be used to further encourage response in specific areas later in the census process. These plans will not be finalised until early return rate patterns are clear.
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Departmental Expenditure
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what expenditure (a) his Department and (b) each public body sponsored by his Department incurred on engaging external audit services in each of the last three years; and to which service providers such payments were made in each year. [43746]
Mr Maude: The Comptroller and Auditor General, supported by the National Audit Office, carries out the external audits of the financial statements of the Cabinet Office and its sponsored bodies.
The National Audit Office does not charge a fee for auditing the statutory accounts of Government Departments. Departments do, however, recognise a notional audit fee in their accounts as the cost of the National Audit Office is borne by the Exchequer.
Details of external audit service expenditure reported in the published accounts of the Cabinet Office, and the bodies it sponsors, are as follows:
| £000 | |||
| Year ended 31 March : | |||
| Organisation | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 |
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Iran
15. Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the effects on the political situation in Iran of recent arrests of opposition figures; and if he will make a statement. [46107]
Mr Hague: I am deeply disturbed by reports of the ongoing detention of Iranian opposition leaders Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi and their wives. I issued a statement on 1 March calling on the Government of Iran to release both opposition leaders immediately, and on 10 March, the Iranian chargé d’affaires was called into the Foreign Office. While it is not clear what effect their detention has had on the political situation, such acts by Iran are clearly not in line with its international human rights obligations.
19. Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Iranian counterpart on respect for the human rights of members of the Bahá'i faith in that country. [46111]
Alistair Burt:
In 2010, FCO Ministers discussed the unacceptable persecution of the Bahá'is on five occasions with the Iranian embassy in London. British officials
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continue to raise issues relating to the Bahá'i faith regularly with Iranian officials, including most recently on 10 March.
We will continue to urge the Iranian Government to respect the rights of the Bahá'is.
24. Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of the Iranian nuclear programme; and if he will make a statement. [46117]
Mr Hague: We, and our E3+3 partners, are gravely concerned by the Iranian nuclear programme. The latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency highlights the lack of Iranian transparency over a range of outstanding concerns, including possible military dimensions to its programme. It shows that Iran is enriching uranium in defiance of UN Security Council Resolutions, and has produced 3,606 kg of 3.5% and 43.6 kg of 20% low enriched uranium.
David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of the Iranian nuclear programme; and if he will make a statement. [46114]
Mr Hague: We, and our E3+3 partners, are gravely concerned by the Iranian nuclear programme. The latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency highlights the lack of Iranian transparency over a range of outstanding concerns, including possible military dimensions to its programme. It shows that Iran is enriching uranium in defiance of UN Security Council Resolutions, and has produced 3,606 kg of 3.5% and 43.6 kg of 20% low enriched uranium.
Overthrown Governments: Asset Freezes
16. John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the merits of freezing assets of former officials of overthrown Governments in the Middle East and North Africa. [46108]
Mr Lidington: The UK worked closely with EU partners to secure an asset freeze in respect of Tunisia and Libya. We are currently discussing measures with EU colleagues in response to requests from the Egyptian authorities to freeze the assets of several members of the former regime.
Camp Ashraf
17. Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the human rights situation in Camp Ashraf, Iraq. [46109]
Alistair Burt: We have received reports of residents being denied access to medical care and the intrusive use of loudspeakers at the camp entrance. The UK continues to urge the Iraqi Government’s Ashraf Committee to ensure that the residents of Camp Ashraf are treated in accordance with international humanitarian standards.
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UK-Zimbabwe Relations
18. Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of relations between the UK and the President and Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. [46110]
Mr Bellingham: We share Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s concerns at the recent increase in politically motivated intimidation and violence in Zimbabwe, in contravention of the spirit of the Global Political Agreement. We urge all parties in the country, including the security forces and the judiciary, to discharge their duties in an impartial manner.
West Bank
21. Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of levels of economic development in the west bank; and if he will make a statement. [46113]
Alistair Burt: The most recent reports from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund show that the west bank economy is performing well, though with significant reliance on external financial assistance.
We are encouraged by the progress of the Palestinian Authority under Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's leadership in recent years. We commend it for its sound economic management, security improvements and focus on encouraging investment.
North Africa
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the countries of north Africa; and if he will make a statement. [46112]
Mr Hague: Current changes in the region are among the most significant events of the 21st century; the international community needs to seize this historic opportunity to work with the people and Governments of north Africa in support of change. Over the past month Ministers have had regular discussions with north African counterparts to discuss regional issues and reform.
Arms Sales
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take together with EU partners to strengthen the (a) guidelines and (b) operation of the rules on arms sales. [45631]
Alistair Burt: The Government believe that the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria governing control of exports of military technology and equipment provide a robust and effective system against which to assess strategic exports. These Criteria reflect Common Position 2008/944/CFSP defining common rules on control of exports by EU member states.
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The UK works actively with other member states through the EU Council Working Group on Conventional Arms Exports (COARM) to ensure best common practice on arms export controls across the EU, and to share best UK practice.
BBC World Service
David Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the annual cost to the public purse of retaining (a) short wave radio transmissions of the BBC World Service in the Great Lakes region of Africa and (b) BBC World Service transmissions in (i) Hindi and (ii) Swahili. [44513]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Under the broadcasting agreement between the BBC World Service and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the World Service has managerial independence, except in the case of the opening or closure of a language service. The decision to close the short wave radio transmissions to the Great Lakes region, and in Swahili, has been made by the World Service. These savings are therefore managed within their budget.
The BBC World Service announced on 7 February 2011 that they would not be ceasing the Hindi short wave broadcasts from April 2011.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations British embassies have received on reductions in the BBC World Service. [45054]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Our posts overseas and their staff have received a number of representations about the reductions in the BBC World Service. These have been by letter, e-mail and in person.
BBC World Service: India
Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the expected saving to the public purse is of ending BBC World Service transmission of Hindi-language radio broadcasts over the Comprehensive Spending Review period. [44703]
Mr Jeremy Browne: On 7 March 2011 the BBC World Service announced that it would retain its Hindi language service on short wave radio for one hour per day for at least one year, while it explored alternative funding options. Its current FM broadcasts of non-news programming, via partners, is unaffected.
The BBC World Service, has managerial independence and allocates its funds as it considers appropriate. The cessation of the Hindi language short wave radio broadcasts would have been a platform change, rather than a service closure, so did not require consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We therefore do not hold the figures for potential savings.
Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the likely trends in audiences for short-wave radio in India over the next four years. [44705]
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Alistair Burt: While British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service figures show that the Hindi short wave radio audience has fallen from 19.1 million people in 2007 to 10.9 million in 2010, this figure is expected to stabilise. It is also difficult to capture accurately audience figures when listening is done in groups, as is the case in rural Indian villages.
Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the level of influence of the BBC World Service Hindi radio service in the last five years. [44706]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Anecdotal evidence suggests the BBC Hindi service has a high reputation in India. However, BBC World Service figures show that the service's audience for the short wave broadcasts has been falling over the past few years.
British Indian Ocean Territory: Patrol Craft
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who the successful bidder was for the provision of a patrol vessel for the British Indian Ocean Territory. [47000]
Mr Bellingham: The successful bidder for the provision of the British Indian Ocean Territory’s patrol vessel was Swire Pacific Offshore.
British Nationals Abroad: Terrorism
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what injuries have been sustained by British citizens affected by terrorist activities overseas since January 2002. [46984]
(2) how many British citizens have been injured as a result of terrorist activities overseas since January 2002. [46985]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We collate statistics on British nationals who are reported to us as having been hospitalised, died or been killed overseas. But we do not hold information centrally on the number of those individuals whose death or injury was specifically caused by terrorism.
Trade Unions: Overseas Visits
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which occasions his Department has facilitated the travel of trades union officials to (a) Colombia, (b) Venezuela and (c) Cuba in the last 13 years. [43928]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) commissioned ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service), working with the TUC (Trades Union Congress) and the CBI (Confederation of British Industry) to visit Colombia in September 2008. This was an exploratory visit to look into opportunities to provide advice on strengthening labour relations between central and local Government, employers and trade unions in Colombia. We are not aware that the FCO has facilitated any other dedicated visits by UK trade unions to Colombia in the last 13 years.
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We are not aware that the FCO has facilitated any dedicated visits by UK trade unions to Cuba or Venezuela in the last 13 years.
Trade union officials have regularly visited these countries independently. Where they have shared their plans with the FCO we have sometimes made suggestions for their programmes and met the delegations both in London and in-country.
Council of Europe
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) function and (b) remit of the Group of Eminent Persons of the Council of Europe is; when that Group is expected to complete its report on the Living together in 21st century Europe project; what discussions Ministers have had with the Group; and if he will make a statement. [46846]
Mr Lidington: The Group of Eminent Persons was created in order to prepare the report “Living Together in 21st Century Europe” which will be presented at the Council of Europe Ministerial Session on 11 May 2011. Ministers have had no discussions with the Group of Eminent Persons.
Departmental Procurement
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to the public purse was of the (a) procurement and (b) outsourcing function of (i) his Department and (ii) each (A) agency, (B) non-departmental public body and (C) non-Ministerial Department for which he is responsible in the last financial year for which figures are available. [43956]
Alistair Burt: The cost of the procurement function as reported in the back-office benchmarking analysis published by Cabinet Office on 15 December 2010, for the 2009-10 financial year, is £4.51 million for core Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and £838,000 for FCO Services, and £797,000 for the British Council which are the main arm’s length bodies of the FCO.
The British Council spent £547,592 on outsourcing. For the FCO, FCO Services and the other non-departmental public bodies there are no outsourcing costs of this function.
Developing Countries: Mining
Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the European Commission on strengthening due diligence reporting for EU-registered companies working in mineral extraction in developing countries. [45334]
Mr Bellingham [holding answer 10 March 2011]: The UK has been working with the UN Group of Experts, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to promote due diligence standards for the extractive industries in the Great Lakes region of Africa. We have not had formal discussions with the European Commission on this issue.
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The UK strongly supports responsible business practices, including due diligence by companies in the extractives sector. The UK supports OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises. We commend the hard work of the OECD and the UN Group of Experts, to develop a clear set of due diligence guidelines for the minerals supply chain in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
We also strongly support the work of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on drawing up Guiding Principles for business and human rights, which include human rights due diligence.
English Language
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many English language tests were delivered by the British Council in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [45816]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Over the last five years the British Council delivered the following number of English language exams:
|
|
Total number of exams (million) |
International Labour Organisation: Finance
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding his Department provided to the International Labour Organisation in each of the last four years; and how much such funding he expects to provide in the next four years. [45685]
Mr Bellingham: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not fund UK membership assessed contributions to the International Labour Organisation (ILO); they are paid by the Department for Work and Pensions. Nor does the FCO provide voluntary contributions to ILO headquarters. However, individual FCO Posts have collaborated with ILO field offices using bilateral programme funds to deliver projects in-country. Figures on programme spending channelled via ILO field offices are not collated centrally.
Libya: British Nationals Abroad
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will assess the adequacy of the support and advice given by officials of his Department to (a) the family of Jennifer Currie and (b) the case worker of the hon. Member for Sefton Central between 4 and 6 March 2011; [46746]
(2) if he will examine the advice given by his officials to the family of Jennifer Currie regarding (a) the booking of and payment for tickets for and (b) the provision of booking references to Jennifer Currie; [46747]
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(3) for what reasons (a) the family of Jennifer Currie and (b) the case worker of the hon. Member for Sefton Central was advised by his officials that Jennifer Currie should make her own arrangements for the repatriation from Libya of her and her family; [46748]
(4) pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2011, Official Report, column 659, on Libya and the Middle East, for what reasons the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt) does not accept the description by the hon. Member for Sefton Central of events relating to the repatriation of Jennifer Currie and her children; [46782]
(5) if he will examine the advice given by officials of his Department to (a) the family of Jennifer Currie and (b) the office of the hon. Member for Sefton Central on responsibility for payment for a taxi to Tripoli Airport for Jennifer Currie and her family. [46789]
Alistair Burt: It is not our usual practice to discuss detailed cases of individuals in public, so I will write privately to the hon. Member.
Overseas Trade
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what bilateral trade agreements the UK has entered into since May 2010. [45390]
Mr Davey: I have been asked to reply.
Since May 2010 the European Union (EU) has entered into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Republic of South Korea, which was signed by the UK in October 2010 and will come into force on 1 July 2011. Since May 2010 the EU has also launched FTA negotiations with Malaysia and with Mercosur, which comprises Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
Pakistan: Deaths
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Pakistan on the death of Salman Taseer; and if he will make a statement. [46756]
Alistair Burt: In addition to the previous response to my hon. Friend on 31 January 2011, Official Report, column 500W, I have since raised the assassination of the Governor of Punjab with the Pakistan high commissioner.
Governor Taseer's assassination was a dreadful and cowardly act. Since my hon. Friend’s last question on this subject, I and officials in Islamabad, alongside partners in the EU, have continued to emphasise the importance of freedom of speech and religious tolerance in Pakistan. To our great regret and sadness, we have also this month witnessed the shocking assassination of the Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, with whom I have had extensive engagement on these issues over the last nine months. Our high commissioner has raised the need for prompt and effective investigation into this tragic murder with the President, Interior Minister and senior officials of Pakistan. We will continue to work closely with the authorities in Pakistan to ensure religious tolerance and freedom of speech in Pakistan.
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Syria: Anti-Semitism
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on levels of anti-Semitism in Syria; whether he has made representations to the Government of Syria on anti-Semitism in that country; and if he will make a statement. [45642]
Alistair Burt: Anti-Semitic sentiment is unacceptable whether it occurs in the middle east, in the UK, or anywhere else. The same is true for all forms of racism or xenophobia.
We are not aware of any significant recent reports of anti-Semitism against the small Jewish community in Syria. We maintain an active dialogue with Syria on human rights issues, including the treatment of minority groups, and are working with our international partners to ensure proper focus on specific human rights cases.
Tibet: Politics and Government
Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Chinese Government on the arrests and imprisonment of Tibetans involved in the 2008 protests. [46702]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Ministers and officials continue to raise human rights concerns in their discussions with Chinese counterparts.
We raised the issue of Tibet with the Chinese delegation at the UK/China Human Rights Dialogue in January 2011, expressing concern about the rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people and urging China to renew its dialogue with the Dalai Lama. During the dialogue, we raised a number of individual cases of concern with the Chinese delegation, including those of Tibetans involved in the 2008 riots.
Uganda: Elections
Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the recent presidential elections in Uganda; what assessment he has made of the conduct of that election; and if he will make a statement. [46969]
Mr Bellingham: I received regular reports on each stage of the recent presidential and parliamentary elections in Uganda, including on the conduct of the campaigns and polling day and the outcome of both elections.
As I noted in my statement of 22 February 2011, the Government fully endorse the preliminary findings of the EU and Commonwealth Observation Missions to Uganda, which noted that while there have been improvements in the overall conduct and transparency of the elections, they were marred by avoidable shortcomings in their organisation. We share the Observer Mission’s concern that the power of incumbency was exercised to such an extent as to compromise severely the level playing field between the competing candidates and political parties.
The Government will encourage all those elected and all Uganda’s political stakeholders, including Uganda’s Government, political parties and the Electoral Commission
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to reflect on the assessments of the independent observers, build on positive developments, and address the shortcomings identified in order to strengthen pluralistic, multi-party democracy in Uganda.
Transport
A14: Road Traffic
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what traffic flow data his Department holds for each section of the A14 in the most recent period for which figures are available. [45838]
Mike Penning: The Department for Transport holds data for every section of the A14. The data are collected continuously from automatic traffic counters. The most recent complete month for which data are available is December 2010. Data for December are affected by the seasonal effects of holidays and adverse weather. The average flows for the whole of 2010 are shown in the following tables:
| Eastbound | ||
| From | To | Average daily flow |