Libya: Overseas Aid
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to provide assistance to areas of Libya no longer under the control of the Libyan government. [44676]
Alistair Burt: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers and officials are in close touch with the Interim Transitional National Council based in Benghazi and other anti-regime figures. This engagement is vital to gain a better understanding of the political, military and humanitarian situation in the country, in order to underpin our response to the crisis.
16 Mar 2011 : Column 369W
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs spoke by telephone to Mahmoud Jabril, Special Envoy of the Interim Transitional National Council, on 10 March 2011 confirming our co-operative dialogue and that we are working on a full range of responses to the crisis.
We, the UN and EU are active in providing humanitarian support as the situation on the ground requires. We stand ready to respond to further requests from the Libyan people, including through rapid deployment of experts from our Civilian Stabilisation Group, to assist in areas such as stabilisation, governance and the rule of law.
Libya: Politics and Government
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) British and (b) non-British nationals have been evacuated by his Department from Libya to date. [44889]
Alistair Burt [holding answer 9 March 2011]: My written ministerial statement of 3 March 2011, Official Report, columns 35-36WS on Libya: Consular Response provided details of the number of British and other nationalities who have been evacuated from Libya on UK-provided flights and ships.
HMS Cumberland has since made a further voyage to Libya and evacuated another 10 UK citizens and 19 EU and other citizens from Benghazi on 6 March 2011.
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent estimate is of the number of UK nationals in Libya. [45397]
Alistair Burt: We are aware of approximately 220 British nationals still in Libya. The majority are long-term residents. Many are dual nationals or spouses of Libyan nationals. To date, they have chosen to remain in Libya. As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), said in his statement on 7 March 2011, Official Report, columns 643-45, we continue to provide assistance and information for those who wish to leave.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government has taken at the United Nations in respect of the use of force against civilians by the Government of Libya. [46413]
Alistair Burt: As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), continues to make clear, we are appalled by the levels of violence in Libya. We call on Colonel Gaddafi to leave and for his regime to end the violence against their own people. On 28 February 2011, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution, drafted by the UK, which demanded an immediate end to the violence and killing of protestors and referred Libya’s current leaders to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. The resolution also imposed a travel ban, asset freeze and arms embargo on the Libyan regime.
16 Mar 2011 : Column 370W
The UK also played an important role in Libya’s suspension from the UN Human Rights Council on 1 March 2011, a clear statement that the international community is united in its determination to hold the regime to account for the human rights abuses it has committed. The International Criminal Court Prosecutor announced the opening of his investigation on 3 March 2011.
We continue to work closely with partners, including the UN, the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, to develop contingency plans to allow the international community to respond quickly and effectively, as required to the developing situation on the ground in Libya.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the risks of weapons seized from the Libyan armed forces being used in conflicts outside of Libya. [46417]
Alistair Burt: In situations of internal conflict, there is always some risk that weapons could be diverted from the armed forces to groups both within and outside the country. It is difficult to assess the nature of that risk in Libya currently. We continue to monitor the situation closely, including with our international partners.
Myanmar: Politics and Government
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Myanmar. [46608]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We remain deeply concerned by the regime's continued refusal to engage in dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratic opposition and ethnic groups. The Government does not believe that the near completion of the regime's roadmap process represents progress. The regime is clearly intent on maintaining power. This is shown by the continued imprisonment of over 2000 prisoners of conscience, the deeply flawed constitution, manipulation of the electoral process, the rejection of the National League for Democracy's appeal against dissolution, and highly restrictive controls on freedom of expression. Human rights abuses also continue unabated, with ongoing arbitrary arrests and persistent corruption. Many civilians, particularly in ethnic areas, face regular threats of persecution, injustice and violence. We strongly urge the junta to work with the UN and all of Burma's political groups towards national reconciliation and a just political settlement.
Riot Control Weapons
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will investigate whether weapons and riot control equipment sold by UK companies have been used against protesters in (a) Tunisia, (b) Libya and (c) Egypt. [45622]
Alistair Burt:
We have raised concerns with the Governments of Tunisia and Egypt about the possibility that weapons and riot control equipment sold by the UK were used during the recent unrest, although there is no evidence as yet to suggest this was the case. We are
16 Mar 2011 : Column 371W
aware of claims by Amnesty and various media that equipment sold by the UK has been used to suppress protestors and demonstrators in Libya. While operations at our embassy in Tripoli are suspended, it is not possible to confirm these claims.
In the cases of Tunisia and Egypt, the Government revoked a number of licenses where there was a risk that arms sold by the UK may be used to breach human rights or aggravate internal tensions. In the case of Libya, the Government took the decision to revoke all export licences for equipment that could be used in internal repression and will refuse all future applications for military and security related goods and technology for the Gaddafi regime.
Thailand: Politics and Government
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Thailand. [46609]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Prime Minister Abhisit made clear his intention to call a general election in June. However, tensions between the anti-government and nationalist groups continue. Whilst there have been no serious outbreaks of violence since the unrest of March-May 2010, demonstrations by both anti-government (Red Shirt) and nationalist (Yellow Shirt) groups continue in central Bangkok. The Red Shirts continue to demonstrate twice a month to mark the violent incidents that took place in April and May last year. Since January this year, the “Yellow Shirt” People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the Thai Patriot Network have been demonstrating outside Government House over the Government's handling of the ongoing Thai/Cambodia border dispute. These protests have been peaceful, but there is a still a risk they could escalate and lead to outbreaks of violence.
The UK continues to urge the Thai Government to take forward the national reconciliation process as a matter of priority.
Tibet: Politics and Government
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions issues relating to Tibet have been raised with the Government of China by staff of his Department in the last 12 months. [46959]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials have regularly raised the issue of Tibet with the Government of China.
During 2010 FCO staff visited the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), where they had meetings with local officials and raised issues relating to China's treatment of its ethnic minorities, and Tibetan areas of Sichuan and Gansu provinces. Staff have pressed for better access to the TAR by diplomats and foreign journalists. In the last 12 months FCO staff have been consistent in signalling the UK's hopes for a positive outcome to talks with the Dalai Lama. We have consistently expressed concern over the numbers of Tibetans in detention in TAR, Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai in relation to the March 2008 unrest and the related death sentences. Officials have also expressed concern over cultural rights
16 Mar 2011 : Column 372W
and religious freedom in Tibet. In 2011 FCO officials used the 19th round of the UK-China human rights dialogue to raise our concerns regarding the rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people, and urged China to renew its dialogue with the Dalai Lama.
We continue to monitor the situation in Tibet carefully.
United Nations
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on United Nations reform. [46710]
Mr Bellingham: We are a strong supporter of UN reform, promoting a more efficient and effective use of resources and improved working methods. We encourage more co-ordination across the UN system and better value for the money contributed by member states. I discussed UN reform issues recently with the UN Secretary-General and President of the UN General Assembly on a visit to New York on 9-11 March 2011.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the United Nations; and if he will make a statement. [46829]
Mr Bellingham: The UK is a long-standing, committed and proactive member of the UN. We are the fourth largest contributor to the UN regular budget and, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, we play a leading role in international peace and security issues. We will continue to work closely with international partners on these issues through the UN framework.
Zimbabwe: Politics and Government
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Zimbabwe. [46610]
Mr Bellingham: We are deeply concerned by the recent increase in politically motivated intimidation and violence in Zimbabwe, in contravention of the spirit of the Global Political Agreement. In particular, we condemn the arrest and treatment in detention of 45 people for watching publicly available footage of events in North Africa, and the arrest of the Minister of Energy on spurious charges. We have made our views known to the Government of Zimbabwe. We urge all parties, including the security forces and the judiciary, to discharge their duties in an impartial manner.
Even though there has been considerable economic progress in Zimbabwe since the formation of the Inclusive Government in 2008, it has not been matched by equivalent political reform. It is clear that there is still a long way to go before the country can be considered stable and democratic. A number of key provisions of the Global Political Agreement remain unimplemented. And the general conditions necessary for free and fair elections have yet to be established.
We continue to engage with our international partners, including Southern African Development Community and South Africa, in support of their work on preparing a roadmap to elections.
16 Mar 2011 : Column 373W
Deputy Prime Minister
Prisoners
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what definition of a serious offence will be used in connection with the enfranchisement of prisoners. [40139]
Mr Harper: The Government are considering the next steps on prisoner voting rights in view of the strength of feeling on this issue in the UK, as demonstrated by the recent debates in Parliament. The Government have sought to refer the “Greens and MT” judgment against the UK to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights. If the Grand Chamber agrees to the referral they will look again at the case and issue their own judgment.
The Government will set out their intended approach in due course.
Protection of Freedoms Bill
Mr Knight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister at what time on 15 February 2011 (a) the written ministerial statement on the Protection of Freedoms Bill: Public Reading Stage was delivered to the House and (b) the embargo was lifted on the press release issued on 14 February 2011 relating to the launch of the Public Reading Stage website. [46151]
Sir George Young: I have been asked to reply.
The written ministerial statement was tabled as part of the ongoing process for keeping the House informed, and was issued at the normal time. This was preceded by the lifting of the embargo on the press notice at one minute past midnight on the morning of the 15 February. The decision to introduce the pilot of a ‘public reading stage’ of Bills was included in the coalition agreement and further notified to the House during oral questions on 21 June 2010, Official Report , column 512W, in response to written parliamentary questions, including on 14 June 2010, Official Report, columns 270-71W, and in correspondence with the Procedure Committee in August 2010. I will have further discussions on the development of the public reading stage of Bills following the pilot of the public reading stage of the Protection of Freedoms Bill.
Cabinet Office
Childbirth
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many birth certificates have been issued for babies born at under 21 weeks of pregnancy in each year from 2005 to 2010; [46721]
(2) how many death certificates have been issued for babies born at under 21 weeks of pregnancy in each year from 2005 to 2010. [46722]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
16 Mar 2011 : Column 374W
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions asking i) how many birth certificates have been issued for babies born at under 21 weeks of pregnancy in each year from 2005 to 2010 (46721) and ii) how many death certificates have been issued for babies born at under 21 weeks of pregnancy in each year from 2005 to 2010 (46722).
Information on gestational age (length of pregnancy) is not routinely recorded at the registration of live births. However, ONS links birth registrations to NHS birth notifications data to publish figures by gestational age. These figures are less timely than statistics based on birth registrations only. Figures are not reported for individual weeks of gestation but grouped at ‘under 22 weeks’, divided according to whether the birthweight is consistent for the baby's gestational age (under 1,000g) or inconsistent (1,000g or over). In the latter case, there may have been an error in the recording of either gestational age or birthweight.
Table 1 below provides the numbers of (i) live births and (ii) infant deaths for babies with a reported gestational age of 22 weeks or less for 2005-2008, the most recent period for which figures are available.
Published statistics on births and infant deaths by gestational age for England and Wales, 2007-2008 are available on the Office for National Statistics website:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=15309
Figures for 2006 are available at:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/HSQ42.pdf
(Pages 78-87)
Figures for 2005 are available at:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/HSQ35.pdf
(Pages 13-27)
| Table 1: Live births and infant deaths for babies born with a gestational age of less than 22 weeks, 2005-08 , England and Wales | ||||
| Number | ||||
|
|
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| (1) Under 22 weeks gestational age and birthweight 1,000g or over Trusted Statistics—Understanding the UK | ||||
Departmental Food
Mr Bain: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 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. [45044]
Mr Maude:
The Cabinet Office does not procure any seafood that is on the Marine Conservation Society's list of fish to avoid. All fish procured complies with sustainability standards indicated by inclusion in either
16 Mar 2011 : Column 375W
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.
Departmental Internet
Tessa Jowell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost of setting up and administering the Your Freedom website has been to date. [46325]
Mr Maude: The total cost to date for the build of the Your Freedom website was £19,853.98 excluding VAT.
Departmental Legal Costs
Mr Nuttall: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip, Northwood of 12 October 2009, Official Report, column 409W, on public relations, whether any funds from the public purse were spent on legal fees in relation to the incident involving Mr Damian McBride, the Red Rag website and associated emails. [46306]
Mr Maude [holding answer 14 March 2011]: This Government are not accountable for the decisions and actions of the previous Government.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what regulations his Department revoked between 2 February 2011 and 28 February 2011. [46017]
Mr Maude [holding answer 14 March 2011]:I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr Redwood) on 22 November 2010, Official Report, column 140W. The position in the Cabinet Office has not changed since then.
Departmental Security
Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office for what reasons persons not employed by Government departments or agencies are issued with passes entitling them to enter his Department's premises. [43213]
Mr Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 8 February 2011, Official Report, column 202W.
Departmental: ICT
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he plans to publish the Government's ICT strategy. [46214]
Mr Maude: The Government’s ICT strategy will be published in spring this year.
Departmental: Procurement
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance his Department provides to other Government Departments on the minimum monetary value for a procurement project for which a senior responsible owner is required. [45663]
16 Mar 2011 : Column 376W
Mr Maude [holding answer 10 March 2011]:There is no minimum monetary value for a procurement project for which a senior responsible owner is required. Cabinet Office has published guidance stating that every project must have a senior responsible owner appointed, with personal accountability and overall responsibility for the delivery of a successful outcome.
The Cabinet Office guidance is available at
http://www.ogc.gov.uk/introduction_to_projects__controlled_start-up.asp
Cabinet Office has also published guidance on the role of a SRO, including purpose; specific responsibilities; characteristics; and key questions. This is available at:
http://www.ogc.gov.uk/User_roles_in_the_toolkit_senior_responsible_owner.asp
Treasury has published guidance on project governance for public sector projects. This guidance aims to help public sector bodies put in place and maintain the structures and forums that are needed for effective project governance, at all stages in the project lifecycle. This includes information on the role of senior responsible owners.
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/ppp_projectgovernanceguidance231107.pdf
Government Efficiency Review
Tessa Jowell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which of the recommendations from Sir Philip Green's Efficiency Review have been implemented to date. [46426]
Mr Maude: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 20 December 2010, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA265. Sir Philip's recommendations have been incorporated into ongoing programmes within the Efficiency and Reform Group.
Public Sector: Industrial Disputes
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) employment agencies and (b) other private sector contractors on contingency plans to operate services in the event of industrial action by public sector workers. [45468]
Mr Maude [holding answer 10 March 2011]: The Cabinet Office has not held any recent discussions with either employment agencies or other private sector contractors on contingency plans to operate services in the event of industrial action by public sector workers.
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what contingency plans his Department is developing to operate services in the event of industrial action by public sector workers; how many staff of his Department are engaged in such planning; and what the name is of each unit or working group established for this purpose. [45469]
Mr Maude
[holding answer 10 March 2011]: Individual organisations, be they Government Departments or part of the critical national infrastructure, are responsible
16 Mar 2011 : Column 377W
for ensuring that they have in place effective contingency plans to respond to a wide range of disruptive challenges, including the risk of industrial action. The Civil Contingencies Secretariat in the Cabinet Office works with Departments to ensure robust plans are in place to mitigate the risk of significant disruption to essential services.
Treasury
Alcoholic Drinks: Prices
Karen Lumley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what legal advice he has received on the introduction of an (a) voluntary and (b) mandatory minimum price for alcohol. [46926]
Justine Greening: Alcohol pricing policy is led by the Home Office. Treasury Ministers and officials are in regular contact with the Home Office about a range of alcohol-related issues.
Bank Services: Standards
David Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the banking industry on reducing the time taken to clear cheques into bank accounts. [46950]
Mr Hoban: Changes to improve cheque clearing times were introduced in November 2007. As a result, a payee starts earning interest two working days after depositing a cheque; can withdraw funds against the cheque four working days after paying it in, or six working days after paying it into a savings account; and can be sure that a cheque will not bounce six working days after it has been deposited, unless the customer or business was a knowing party to fraud.
Many banks offer a faster cheque presentation service at extra cost.
Banks: Pay
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the merits of implementing the recommendation made by the Walker Review of corporate governance of the UK banking industry on the compulsory disclosure by financial institutions based in the UK of the number of their employees who earn more than £1 million per annum. [29559]
Mr Hoban: The Government are committed to a robust remuneration disclosure regime and the principles set out in Sir David Walker's report.
The Chancellor has called on counterparts in the European Union to urgently consider proposals to strengthen remuneration disclosure. While there is a range of views among the international community, there is support for an internationally consistent approach to remuneration disclosure.
As a result of the Government's recent discussions, the four largest UK banks have committed to world-leading pay disclosure arrangements. When taken together with the Financial Services Authority's sector-wide regime, which includes implementation of the capital requirements directive, these will make the UK's disclosure arrangements the toughest of any major financial centre.
16 Mar 2011 : Column 378W
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on (a) salaries and (b) pension entitlements for special advisers in the financial year 2010-11 to date. [46569]
Justine Greening: For the period 1 April 2010 to 31 January 2011, £315,304 was paid in salaries (including earnings related national insurance contributions) and £51,628 in pension contributions to special advisers employed by both the current and previous Administration.
Departmental Procurement
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many procurement projects with a monetary value greater than (a) £10 million, (b) £50 million and (c) £100 million (i) his Department and (ii) each non-departmental public body and agency for which he is responsible was engaged upon in the latest period for which figures are available; [45688]
(2) which procurement projects engaged upon by (a) his Department and (b) each non-departmental public body and agency for which he is responsible had a designated senior responsible owner in the latest period for which figures are available; and on what date each officer was appointed in each such case. [45689]
Justine Greening: In financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11 to date, HM Treasury Group have engaged or are currently engaged in three projects with a procurement element (including VAT) valued at greater than £10 million. There are no projects expected to exceed either £50 million or £100 million.
It is standard HM Treasury Group practice for all major projects to be allocated a designated Senior Responsible Owner. Data for all projects for the period requested can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. However, the three projects referenced above all have SROs who were appointed on the date of project initiation.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what regulations his Department introduced between 9 and 28 February 2011. [47044]
Justine Greening: Between 9 February and 28 February 2011, my Department introduced the one statutory instrument: the Libya (Financial Sanctions) Order (SI 2011/548).
Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what regulations his Department revoked between 9 and 28 February 2011. [47059]
Justine Greening: Between 9 and 28 February 2011, the Treasury did not revoke any statutory instruments.
EU Budget
Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the future of the UK rebate from the EU budget; [46857]
16 Mar 2011 : Column 379W
(2) what reports he has received on proposals for the future of the UK rebate from the EU budget made by the Danish Government; and if he will make a statement. [46858]
Justine Greening: The Chancellor of the Exchequer has discussions with EU counterparts on a variety of issues on a regular basis. Currently there is no formal proposal for the future of the EU financing system including the UK abatement. Formal negotiations on the next Financial Framework (2014-20) will not start until the Commission issues its proposal, expected in June2011.
However, the UK Government have made it clear from the beginning that the UK abatement is not up for negotiation and remains fully justified due to continuing expenditure distortions in EU budget.
Excise Duties: Beer
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what inflation rate his Department assumed in calculating the additional revenue forecast from the beer duty escalator for 2011-12; and what change would be required to the rate of beer duty to raise the same tax revenue using his most recent forecast of inflation. [46432]
Justine Greening: The Office of Budget Responsibility’s autumn forecast assumed RPI of 3.5% in 2011-12, and the latest outturn for January 2011 is 5.1%. A new inflation forecast for 2011-12, taking into account latest out-turn data, will be published by OBR at the Budget (23 March).
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which alcoholic attracts the lowest rate of duty per unit; and whether his Department has made an estimate of how much the duty on spirits would need to change to cost the same price per unit as that for beer. [46768]
Justine Greening: Duties on beer and spirits are charged in direct proportion to their alcohol content: duty on beer is currently equivalent to 17p per unit of alcohol and duty on spirits is 24p per unit. The final price of a product and therefore the cost per unit of alcohol depends on a number of factors and is a commercial decision for retailers.
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what recent assessment he has made of the contribution of the brewing and pub sector to economic growth; [46320]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effects of the (a) rate of and (b) amount of revenue raised through beer duty on the level of beer consumption in the last three years; [46431]
(3) what recent assessment he has made of the effects of the rate of beer duty on levels of (a) economic activity, (b) tourism and (c) economic growth; and if he will make a statement; [46433]
(4) what assessment his Department has made of the effects of (a) the application of the beer duty escalator and (b) the increase in the rate of value added tax in January 2011 on levels of employment in the beer and pub sector; [46434]
16 Mar 2011 : Column 380W
(5) what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the beer duty escalator on (a) on-trade beer sales, (b) off-trade beer sales, (c) levels of employment, (d) local economies and (e) tax revenues in (i) the last three years and (ii) 2011-12; [46435]
(6) what assessment he has made of the effect of implementation of the planned beer duty escalator on the level of employment in (a) each region, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) the UK. [46436]
Justine Greening: The brewing and pub industry represent important local businesses but are a comparatively small part of the total economy. This means that even large changes in the size of the industry have a limited impact on overall economic growth.
Although alcohol consumption is not directly measured, for annual data clearances are a good proxy. Alcohol rates, receipts and clearances are published by HM Revenue and Customs and are available online at
https://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bullAlcohol
|
|
Clearances ( T housand hl) | Revenue (£ million) |
| Date of change | Beer duty rate (£ per hectolitre per 1% ABV) |
| Source: HMRC Alcohol Bulletin March 2011 | |
From changes in duty we can estimate the price effects and, from there, the overall demand effects. HMRC estimate that a 1% increase in prices, results in a 0.77% decrease in sales in the on trade and a 1.11% reduction in sales in the off trade. These results are published in the following technical paper:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/alcohol-consumption-uk.pdf
The Office for National Statistics publishes regular expenditure statistics in Consumer Trends, available at:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/product.asp?vlnk=242
The following table shows beer expenditure in off and on licensed premises at current prices.
| Expenditure on beer (£ million) at current prices | ||
|
|
Off trade | On trade |
| Source: ONS Consumer Trends Q3 2010 | ||
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) publish statistics on employment in the manufacture of beer and malt and in licensed retailing and related industries in Great Britain.
16 Mar 2011 : Column 381W
| Employees ( T housand) | |||
|
|
2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| Source: BBPA Statistical Handbook 2010 | |||
The impacts of individual measures or effects on specific sectors, such as tourism, are not studied in isolation. Instead, as part of the Budget process macroeconomic effects, such as economic growth and employment are considered, including regional variations, for the whole package of economic measures. The total impact of all Budget measures is also included in the OBR’s economic forecast.
Financial Services: Pay
Ed Balls: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what details (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department had with their European counterparts on securing agreement on transparency of executive pay in the financial services sector between 12 May 2010 and 30 January 2011; and what the (i) attendance list and (ii) agenda was of each such meeting. [39516]
Mr Hoban [holding answer 10 February 2011]: As was the case with the previous Government, Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. It is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Remuneration disclosure has been discussed as part of the Government's dialogue with other jurisdictions, and the Chancellor has called on counterparts in the European Union to consider urgently proposals to strengthen remuneration disclosure. While there is a range of views among the international community, there is support for an internationally consistent approach to remuneration disclosure.
As a result of the Government's recent discussions, the four largest UK banks have committed that the total remuneration paid in 2010 will be lower than it was in 2009, and lower than it would have been otherwise. The Remuneration Committee Chair of each bank will write to the FSA to confirm that the commitment has been met. These banks have also committed to world-leading pay disclosure arrangements which, when taken together with the FSA's sector wide regime, make the UK's disclosure arrangements the toughest of any major financial centre. The Government expect that these commitments will be met.
Ed Balls: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made on discussions with his European counterparts on increasing transparency in executive pay in the financial services sector. [39517]
Mr Hoban [holding answer 1 0 February 2011]: Remuneration disclosure has been discussed as part of the Government's dialogue with other jurisdictions and we continue to consider proposals to strengthen remuneration disclosure, including of executive pay in the financial services sector.
16 Mar 2011 : Column 382W
The Chancellor has called on counterparts in the European Union to urgently consider proposals to strengthen remuneration disclosure. While there is a range of views among the international community, there is support for an internationally consistent approach to remuneration disclosure.
As a result of the Government's recent discussions, the four largest UK banks have committed that the total remuneration paid in 2010 will be lower than it was in 2009, and lower than it would have been otherwise. The Remuneration Committee Chair of each bank will write to the FSA to confirm that the commitment has been met. These banks have also committed to world-leading pay disclosure arrangements which, when taken together with the FSA's sector wide regime, make the UK's disclosure arrangements the toughest of any major financial centre. The Government expect that these commitments will be met.
Housing: Construction
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many self-build home projects there were in (a) Brighton and Hove, (b) Sussex and (c) nationally in (i) 2008, (ii) 2009 and (iii) 2010. [47089]
Grant Shapps: I have been asked to reply.
Information on how many self build projects are built each year is limited. The best available information comes from VAT refund claims held by HMRC for new housing completions (both new-build and conversions) and relate to the UK as a whole, although this information does not cover all self build development. In 2008 there were some 10,480 claims accepted and paid to claimants. In 2009 the figure was 9,550 and in 2010 this reduced to 7,080.
No data are available at more detailed geographic levels.
Individual Savings Accounts: Children
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what progress he has made on the facilitation of a voluntary scheme for financial institutions and the third sector to contribute to the junior ISAs of children in care; [46363]
(2) on what date he expects the junior ISA to be operational; [46364]
(3) which organisations officials in his Department have met to discuss the junior ISA since 1 January 2011; [46365]
(4) how many expressions of interest in the junior ISA had been received via the tax free junior ISA website at 9 March 2011; [46366]
(5) how many unique visitors have visited the tax-free junior ISA website since its inception. [46367]
Mr Hoban: Junior ISAs are expected to be available from autumn 2011. Draft regulations will be published for comment shortly, which will include a proposed date for the legislation to have effect.
Treasury officials have met with a large number of organisations—including potential providers and their representative bodies; think tanks; academics and other experts; and other Government Departments—to discuss
16 Mar 2011 : Column 383W
junior ISAs since 1 January 2011. Officials will continue to consult with interested parties.
These meetings have included discussion of the potential of a voluntary scheme for financial institutions and charities to contribute to the junior ISAs of looked after children, and officials intend to meet further stakeholders shortly. We will continue to consider this carefully.
The Government have not established any website for tax-free junior ISAs, although information about junior ISAs is available on the Direct.gov website.
Insurance: Females
Jack Lopresti: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likely effect on UK law of the recent European Court of Justice ruling on gender discrimination in (a) insurance payments and (b) annuities; and whether he plans to take steps to mitigate any potentially adverse effects. [46324]
Mr Hoban: The Government are disappointed by this judgment. We made very clear our concerns about any move to prevent the use of gender as a risk factor in the pricing of insurance policies.
The judgment allows a transitional period for insurance companies to introduce different models for assessing risk. We will use this period to decide how best to ensure that our national law is in lie with the ruling, and therefore provide certainty for insurers and consumers.
In the meantime it is for individual insurers to decide what steps they take to comply with the ruling.
The Government will continue to work closely with the Financial Services Authority and Association of British Insurers in order to ensure that the negative impacts for customers and industry are reduced as far as possible.
Members: Correspondence
Amber Rudd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye of 23 September 2010, Ref: AR/LS/195, and 26 November 2010, Ref: AR/LS/635 on behalf of a constituent, Mr Robert Wakeford. [47269]
Danny Alexander: I replied to my hon. Friend on 11 March 2011.
Rented Housing: Selby
Nigel Adams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to reverse the increase in rental prices in the Selby District Council area. [46723]
Grant Shapps: I have been asked to reply.
The policy on setting the annual local authority guideline rent increase was introduced by the last Government with the aim of aligning council housing and housing association rents. Reducing social rents would be unsustainable for local authorities and the Exchequer, particularly given the current financial constraints due to the need to reduce the budget deficit inherited from the last Government.
16 Mar 2011 : Column 384W
Scotland: Finance
Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he notified the Scottish Government of the proposed end of end-year flexibility. [47094]
Danny Alexander: The end-year flexibility scheme was discussed at the Finance Ministers' Quadrilateral meeting on 15 September 2010 and the arrangements for 2011-12 were confirmed in the spending review on 20 October 2010.
Third Sector
Tessa Jowell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has plans to align legislation governing co-operatives, community benefit societies and credit unions with that governing other corporate bodies. [46424]
Mr Hoban: The Government are undertaking a number of measures that will modernise the legislative framework for mutuals and better align it with legislation applying to other corporate bodies.
The Legislative Reform (Industrial and Provident Societies and Credit Unions) Order will update legislation to enable mutuals to expand and grow and will be re-laid in Parliament shortly.
The Government will also commence clauses in the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies and Credit Unions Act which apply various elements of company law to co-operatives.
The Government have consulted on enabling the greater use of electronic communications by mutuals and the “Electronic Communications in the Mutual Sector” Order will be laid shortly. This will increase the options available to mutuals for engaging with their members and with statutory bodies, thereby bringing the legislation up to date and putting mutuals on a more equal footing with plcs.
Work and Pensions
Children: Day Care
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what transitional protection arrangements will be put in place for parents in receipt of assistance with child care costs at the point at which universal credit is introduced. [44386]
Chris Grayling: Support for child care costs will be provided by an additional element as part of universal credit. We will invest at least the same amount of money in child care as in the current system, and we will aim to provide some support for those making their first moves into work, so that the support available is not restricted to those working more than 16 hours.
We have agreed a package of transitional protection which will ensure that families do not lose money as a direct result of moving on to universal credit where their circumstances remain the same.
16 Mar 2011 : Column 385W
Community Care Grants
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will consider amending the eligibility criteria for community care grants to include people entitled to contributory benefits. [47167]
Steve Webb: The Government have no plans to extend the qualifying criteria for Community Care Grants. They are payable from a limited budget and are targeted at the most vulnerable customers in receipt of income-related benefits.
Subject to the successful passage of the legislation, we are taking powers in the Welfare Reform Bill to abolish the discretionary Social Fund. Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans for general living expenses will be replaced with new, local provision of assistance from April 2013 and will be the responsibility of local authorities in England and the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales. It will be up to the new local providers to determine eligibility criteria for the local schemes.
Crisis Loans
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many social fund crisis loans were paid in each parliamentary constituency in the last 12 months. [45526]
Steve Webb: The available information is given in the following table:
| Jobcentre Plus Social Fund budget area by region | Number of initial awards between March 2010 and February 2011 |
16 Mar 2011 : Column 386W
| Notes: 1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as official/National Statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, it does not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System. 2. Information on Crisis Loan awards is not available by parliamentary constituency however information is available by Jobcentre Plus budget area and Government office region. 3. Numbers are for initial awards only and do not include awards made after review. 4. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. 5. Figures may not sum due to rounding. Source: DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System | |
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many defaults there were in social fund crisis loans in the last 12 months. [45605]
Steve Webb: The number of crisis loan write-offs in the 2009-10 financial year was 6,649.
Data have been included up to and including 2009-10, the latest year for which the audited social fund account is available.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to allow remote telephone applications to the social fund crisis loan scheme. [45644]
Steve Webb: Crisis loan applications for living expenses are already taken by telephone via a freephone number. Vulnerable customers who are unable or unwilling to make a telephone application can apply in writing.
16 Mar 2011 : Column 387W
Customers making their third or subsequent application for a crisis loan for living expenses within a 12 month period may be required to attend a face to face interview at the Jobcentre.
Crisis loan applications for needs other than living expenses are usually made in writing.
Crisis Loans: Disability
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many social fund crisis loans were made to (a) individuals registered as disabled, (b) individuals over the pension age and (c) lone parent households in the last 12 months. [45527]
Steve Webb: The available information is provided as follows:
| Client group | Number of initial awards March 2010 to February 2011 in Great Britain |
| Notes: 1. The information provided is management information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National Statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, it does not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the social fund computer system. 2. Breakdowns of social fund crisis loan awards are not available in the categories requested however it is possible to break the awards down into client groups definitions of these client groups are given as follows. Pensioners—applicant or partner aged 60 or over with pension credit, applicant or partner aged 60 or over in receipt of state retirement pension. Includes also where applicant is under 60 and partner is: 60 or over with income support (IS) pensioner premium, 80 or over with IS higher pensioner premium, 60-79, disabled with IS higher pensioner premium. Unemployed—includes anyone unemployed or with training allowance. Disabled—is not people registered disabled however it includes people in receipt of employment and support allowance, applicant or partner aged under 60 with IS disability premium, lone parent with IS disability premium, family with IS disability premium, others with IS disability premium or in receipt of other benefit for incapacity or disablement. Lone parents—person who has no partner and is in receipt of income support because they are responsible for a child. Others—applicants involved in a trade dispute, in paid employment, not known or unallocated. 3. Numbers are for initial awards only and do not include awards made after review. 4. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. 5. Figures may not sum due to rounding. Source: DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System. | |
Crisis Loans: Repayments
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken to repay a social fund crisis loan was in the latest period for which figures are available. [45608]
Steve Webb: The information requested is not available.
16 Mar 2011 : Column 388W
Departmental Interpreters
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for which services provided by (a) his Department and (b) its associated public bodies interpreters provide services in a language or languages other than English; how many interpreters are employed or subcontracted for each non-English language; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of interpretation costs incurred in the latest period for which figures are available. [42898]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is as follows:
(a) The following is a list of the languages that have been serviced:
Afar
Afrikaans
Akan
Albanian
Alcholi
Amharic
Arabic
Armenian
Asante
Assamese
Assyrian
Azerbaijani
Bahasa Indonesia
Basque
Belarussian
Bengali
Berber
British Sign Language
Bulgarian
Burmese
Cambodian
Cantonese
Catalan
Cebuano
Chaldean
Creole (Haitian)
Czech
Danish
Dinka
Dutch
Esperanto
Estonian
Ewe
Fanti
Farsi (Afghan)
Farsi (Persian)
Finnish
Flemish
French
French (Canada)
Fukienese
Fulani
Fuzhou
Ga
16 Mar 2011 : Column 389W
Gaelic (Scottish)
Georgian
German
Greek
Gujarati
Hakka
Hausa
Hebrew
Hindi
Hmong
Hungarian
Ibo
Icelandic
Ilocano
Italian
Japanese
Jula
Kachchi
Kashmiri
Kazakh
Kirghiz
Kongo
Korean
Krio
Kurdish (Kurmanji)
Kurdish (Sorani)
Kurdish Bandini
Laotian
Latvian
Lingala
Lithuanian
Lugandan
Macedonian
Malagasy
Malay
Malayalam
Maltese
Mandarin
Mandinka
Marathi
Mirpuri
Mongolian
Mwini
Ndebele
Nepali
Norwegian
Nuer
Oromo
Pahari
Pangasinan
Papiamento
Pashto
Pidgin, Nigerian
Polish
Portuguese
Pothwari
Pulaar
Punjabi
Romanian
16 Mar 2011 : Column 390W
Russian
Rwandan
Serbo-Croat
Shanghainese
Shona
Sinhala
Slovak
Slovene
Somali
Spanish
Sudanese
Swahili
Swati
Swedish
Sylheti
Tagalog
Taiwanese
Tajik
Tamil
Telugu
Thai
Thmne
Tibetan
Tigrinya
Tongan
Trukese
Tshiluba
Turkish
Turkmen
Twi
Ukrainian
Urdu
Uzbek
Vietnamese
Welsh
Wolof
Xhosa
Yiddish
Yoruba
Zulu.
(b) The total number of subcontracted interpreters available for use is approximately 2,200. Data are not held for the number of interpreters that are employed or subcontracted for each non-English language.
(c) Spend for face-to-face (including British Sign Language) and telephone interpreting for 2009-10 is £5.5 million and from April 2010 to January 2011 (the latest data) is £5.5million.
(d) DWP's written translation is currently provided through internal Welsh language teams supported by a contract with Corporate Document Services. We have 15 people working internally on Welsh language provision and 190 sub-contractors were used by Corporate Document Services during 2010. In the current financial year to date DWP has spent £355,364 on written translation.
Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board:
In the 2009-10 financial year DLAAB spent:
BSL interpreter: £262.30
Speech to text reporter: £661.85.
16 Mar 2011 : Column 391W
In the 2010-11 financial year up to 14 December 2010, DLAAB spent:
BSL interpreter: £0.00
Speech to text reporter: £318.40.
HSE does not employ interpreters. The number of interpreters contracted or sub-contracted by HSE for each non-English language for the period 1 April 2010 to 18 February 2011 was 61. The breakdown for the number of interpreters for each language is: Arabic (two), Bulgarian (one), Danish (one), Dari (one), Gujarati (four), Hindi (three), Lithuanian (two), Nepalese (one), Polish (24), Portuguese (three), Punjabi (four), Romanian (two), Russian (three), Slovak (three), Somali (one), Turkish (two) and Urdu (four).
The number of interpreters contracted or sub-contracted by HSE for each non-English language from 01 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 was 81. The breakdown for the number of interpreters for each language is: Albanian (two), Amharic (one), Arabic (three), Cantonese (one), Czech (one), Gujarati (one), Kurdish (two), Latvian (two), Lithuanian (seven), Mandarin (one), Nepalese, (one) Polish (35), Portuguese (one), Punjabi (two), Romanian (three), Russian (nine), Shona (one), Slovak (one), Tamil (one), Turkish (four) and Urdu (two).
HSE also uses the services of a telephone interpreting company who have provided interpreters for the following additional languages: Croatian, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Korean and Spanish.
The cost to the public purse for this interpreting services was £35,935.76 from 1 April 2010 to 18 February 2011, and £40,268.50 from 01 April 2009 to 31 March 2010.
Remploy sub-contracted the following interpreters to provide services in a language or languages other than English:
|
|
Number of interpreters | Cost (£) |
Departmental Manpower
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff in his Department were in the civil service redeployment pool on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many of these had been in the redeployment pool for more than six months at that date. [44349]
Chris Grayling: The Department does not currently have a redeployment pool. Any member of staff who becomes unavoidably surplus because of organisational or other changes is managed within the normal lines of management.
At the end of January there were 239 members of staff classified as surplus. This represents 0.2% of the total departmental staff. Of these surplus staff 139 had been classified as surplus for six months or more.
The Department aims to redeploy surplus staff, wherever feasible. This is not however always straightforward, particularly in cases where staff, in more junior grades,
16 Mar 2011 : Column 392W
have become surplus due to changes in working practices, new business processes or as a result of site closures.
Staff who are surplus are provided with meaningful work until their position is resolved.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on photography since May 2010. [38537]
Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions has spent £4,219.16 since May 2010 on photography. £461.20 of these costs were incurred before May 2010 (by the previous administration), but invoiced in May 2010.
The Department is reviewing all expenditure with a view to driving out inefficiencies and delivering value for money for the taxpayer. All photography is now undertaken by DWP staff.
Disability Living Allowance
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) higher and (b) lower rate of disability living allowance (i) is and (ii) was in each of the last five years. [45621]
Maria Miller: The information is in the following table.
| Rates of disability living allowance in last five years | ||||||
| £ | ||||||
| Component/rate: | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | |
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Carshalton and Wallington constituency are receiving disability living allowance for an indefinite period in each combination of components. [45651]
Maria Miller: The information is in the following table.
| DLA in payment by care and mobility rate and award type in Carshalton and Wallington constituency—May 2010 | ||
| Award type | ||
| Rate/combination | Fixed | Indefinite |
16 Mar 2011 : Column 393W
| (1) Figures are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should only be used as a guide. Notes: 1. DLA figures are from 5% sample data. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. The preferred statistics on benefits are now derived from 100% data sources. However, the 5% sample data still provide some detail not yet available from the 100% data sources, in particular, more complete information on the disabling condition of DLA claimants. DWP recommends that, where the detail is only available on the 5% sample data, or disabling condition (DLA) is required, the proportions derived should be scaled up to the overall 100% total for the benefit. This has been done for this request. 3. Caseload totals show the number of people in receipt of DLA, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate | ||
16 Mar 2011 : Column 394W
Disability Living Allowance: Appeals
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) men and (b) women in each age group had their application to receive (i) higher and (ii) lower rate disability living allowance rejected in each of the last five years; on what grounds such applications were rejected; how many applicants appealed against the decision; and how many such appeals were (A) upheld and (B) rejected. [45516]
Maria Miller: The information that is available is in the following table.
|
|
2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| Notes: 1. We are not able break the data down by gender or age as requested. This is because our management information data on DLA new claims and appeal outcomes does not go down to that level of detail. 2. The grounds for rejection are broken down to those who did not satisfy the lay conditions, i.e. age or residence and presence, and those who satisfy the lay conditions but not the disability conditions. 3. The figure for DLA appeals in the table is the total number of DLA appeals decided and not just appeals against the disallowance of a new claim. We are unable to provide specific information about customers who dispute the rejection of their claim because our management information systems do not enable us to track cases from new claim to appeal. 4. Appeals upheld are where the tribunal allowed the appeal, varied the award or increased the award. 5. Appeals rejected are where the tribunal disallowed the appeal, maintained the award or reduced the award. 6. Numbers rounded to the nearest 1,000. Source: Department for Work and Pensions—RDA60209 and RDA60205 reports—DLA Management Information Statistics | |||||
Disability Living Allowance: Bedford
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people normally resident in Bedford constituency were in receipt of (a) disability living allowance and (b) employment support allowance or incapacity benefit at the commencement of each financial year since 1997-98. [45404]
Maria Miller: The information requested is as follows:
| Disability living allowance—cases in payment caseload: parliamentary constituency of Bedford, May 1997 to May 2010 | |
|
|
Cases |
| Notes: 1. 5% sample figures are subject to sample variation and are rounded to the nearest 100, and 100% caseloads to the nearest 10. 2. 5% sample figures have been uprated using 5% proportions against 100% WPLS totals. 3. Constituencies used for May 2010 caseload data are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. Prior to this, previous boundaries are used. 4. Caseloads for DLA 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. Source: 1997-2001 figures Information Directorate 5% samples. 2002 onwards DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data. | |
16 Mar 2011 : Column 395W
| Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants: parliamentary constituency of Bedford, May 1997-May 2010 | |
|
|
Claimants |
| Employment support allowance claimants in Bedford parliamentary constituency | |
|
|
Claimants |
| Notes: 1. 5% sample figures are subject to sample variation and are rounded to the nearest 100, and 100% caseloads to the nearest 10. 2. 5% sample figures have been uprated using 5% proportions against 100% WPLS totals. 3. Constituencies used for May 2010 caseload data are for the Westminster Parliament of May 2010. Prior to this, previous boundaries are used. 4. Employment and support allowance replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity or disability for new claims from 27 October 2008. Source: 1997-1999 figures Information Directorate 5% samples 1999 onwards DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data | |
Disability Living Allowance: Industrial Diseases
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed industrial injuries disability benefit for osteoarthritis in (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, (b) South Lanarkshire and (c) Scotland. [44894]
Maria Miller: Osteoarthritis of the knee in coal miners, and osteoarthritis of the hip in farmers are both included within the industrial injuries disablement benefit scheme.
We do not have information on the numbers of claims for either disease at constituency level, but can provide the numbers of claims for osteoarthritis of the knee in coal miners for Scotland at March 2010. The number of claims made by farmers for osteoarthritis of the hip is not currently available.
Since the addition of osteoarthritis of the knee to the list of prescribed industrial diseases on 13 July 2009, 3,720 miners claimed IIDB, with 1,090 miners receiving an award of, or an increase in, industrial injuries disablement benefit.
Disability Living Allowance: Mobility
Tom Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are receiving disability living allowance for an indefinite period for (a) low-rate care, (b) low-rate care and low-rate mobility, (c) low-rate care and high-rate mobility, (d) middle-rate care, (e)
16 Mar 2011 : Column 396W
middle-rate care and low-rate mobility,
(f)
high-rate care,
(g)
high-rate care and low-rate mobility and
(h)
high-rate care and high-rate mobility. [45650]
Maria Miller: The information is in the following table.
| DLA in payment by care and mobility rate and award type—May 2010 | ||
| Type of award | ||
| Rate/combination | Fixed | Indefinite |
| Notes: 1. DLA figures are from 5% sample data. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. The preferred statistics on benefits are now derived from 100% data sources. However, the 5% sample data still provide some detail not yet available from the 100% data sources, in particular, more complete information on the disabling condition of DLA claimants. DWP recommends that, where the detail is only available on the 5% sample data, or disabling condition (DLA) is required, the proportions derived should be scaled up to the overall 100% total for the benefit. This has been done here. 3. Caseload totals show the number of people in receipt of DLA , and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate | ||
Employment and Support Allowance
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether claimants on contributory employment and support allowance in the Work Related Activity Group whose household income exceeds the means-testing threshold will be expected fulfil conditionality after 12 months of being in the Group. [45420]
Chris Grayling: After 12 months of being on contributory ESA, provided the claimants household income still exceeds the means testing threshold, claimants would move to “credits only” status and would therefore not be expected to fulfil conditionality.
Employment: Deaths
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the potential effects of planned reductions to the budget of the Health and Safety Executive on the number of deaths occurring in the workplace. [45401]
16 Mar 2011 : Column 397W
Chris Grayling: No assessment is planned. There are additional factors which influence the number of fatalities in the workplace most notably the behaviour of employers and employees.
Housing Benefit
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made an assessment of the geographical distribution of households which will be affected by the cap on the level of household benefits. [36427]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available as sample sizes are too small to yield reliable results for areas smaller than the overall impacts for Great Britain.
Analysis of the impact of the household cap on total benefit income was published in the Impact Assessment which accompanied the introduction of Welfare Reform Bill.
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) men and (b) women were in receipt of (i) housing benefit, (ii) council tax benefit and (iii) attendance allowance on the most recent date for which figures are available. [47176]
Steve Webb: In response to part (i) and part (ii) the gender breakdown of those in receipt of housing benefit and council tax benefit are as follows:
| Table 1: Housing benefit and council tax benefit recipients by gender, Great Britain (November 2010) | |||
|
|
Single male | Single female | All couples |
| Notes: 1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases. An extended payment is a payment that may be received for a further four weeks when they start working full time, work more hours or earn more money. 4. In November 2010, a small number of authorities reported a shift in the gender make up of the caseload. DWP are investigating this issue. However, the shift represents less than a 3% change. 5. In respect of claims from couples the gender variable happens to reflect the person who completed the form. So, including these would be misleading therefore we have not shown the gender split for couples. 7. Data does not include cases where gender is unknown or missing. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) | |||
In response to part (iii) the gender breakdown of those in receipt of attendance allowance are as follows:
| Table 2: Attendance allowance recipients by gender, Great Britain (May 2010) | ||
|
|
All male | All female |
16 Mar 2011 : Column 398W
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10, totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. 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. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) |