17 Mar 2011 : Column 493W
Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 17 March 2011
Northern Ireland
Bill of Rights
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2011, Official Report, column 452W, on the Bill of Rights, if he will take steps to increase the likelihood of agreement being reached amongst Northern Ireland parties on a Northern Ireland Bill of Rights. [47123]
Mr Swire: The Government continue to stress the importance of reaching agreement among political representatives and the wider community on the issue of supplementary rights for Northern Ireland in their discussions with interested groups. We will continue to consider how best to proceed over the coming months.
Departmental Public Bodies
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) have been and (b) are to be closed, merged or reorganised following his appointment; and how many (i) women and (ii) men who are public appointees at each body will no longer hold such an appointment in consequence. [47100]
Mr Swire: The Northern Ireland Office sponsors three bodies that are classified as public bodies by Cabinet Office. These are: the Boundary Commission Northern Ireland, the Parades Commission and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Department has no current plans to close, merge or reorganise any of these bodies.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to reduce departmental expenditure. [46811]
Mr Swire: My Department has already taken steps to reduce travel, accommodation and other general administration costs, and is committed to reducing overall expenditure by 25% by the end of the spending review period.
Domestic Visits
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many days in each of the last three years (a) he and his predecessors and (b) Ministers of State have been in Northern Ireland on official business. [46812]
Mr Paterson: The Minister of State, the hon. Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) and I, and our predecessors, have been in Northern Ireland on official business on the following number of days:
17 Mar 2011 : Column 494W
|
|
Days |
| (1 )Up to general election 6 May 2010 (2) From appointment on 12 May 2010 (3) To date | |
Serious Organised Crime Agency
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the migration to the National Crime Agency of the work carried out in Northern Ireland by the Serious Organised Crime Agency; [47245]
(2) how many people formerly employed by the Assets Recovery Agency in Northern Ireland were transferred to the Serious Organised Crime Agency; [47246]
(3) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the operation of the Serious Organised Crime Agency in Northern Ireland; [47250]
(4) what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the operation of the Serious Organised Crime Agency. [47255]
Mr Swire: Matters relating to the Serious Organised Crime Agency fall under the responsibility of the devolved Administration in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Justice Minister and his Department work closely with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), and her Department on such matters.
The Secretary of State and I meet regularly with the Northern Ireland Justice Minister to discuss as necessary matters relating to security in Northern Ireland.
Attorney-General
Legal Advice and Assistance: Libya
Mr Spellar: To ask the Attorney-General whether he provided legal advice to Ministers prior to the recent diplomatic mission to eastern Libya; and if he will make a statement. [47291]
The Attorney-General: By long-standing convention, observed by successive administrations and embodied in the Ministerial Code, the fact that the Law Officers have advised (or have not advised) on a particular issue, and the content of any advice, is not disclosed outside of Government.
17 Mar 2011 : Column 495W
Transport
Bus Services: Concessions
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of availability of services to provide free bus passes to elderly people in rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [46516]
Norman Baker: The National Travel Survey 2009 estimated that 87% of households in Great Britain were within six minutes walk of a bus stop while a further 10% were within 13 minutes. Between 1998 and 2009, the proportion of households in rural areas that were within 13 minutes walk of an hourly or more frequent bus service increased from 45% to 58%.
The England-wide concessionary travel pass is valid for free travel on local buses at off-peak times in any local authority. Its use is not restricted to the local authority in which the pass holder resides.
Wales
Business Advisory Group
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the name is of each member of the Business Advisory Group for Wales. [46776]
Mr David Jones: Members confirmed as of the first meeting were:
David Rosser (CBI Wales)
Russell Lawson (FSB Wales)
Steve Thomas (Airbus)
Phil Orford ( Forum of Private Business)
Dylan Jones Evans (University of Wales)
Graham Hillier (Toyota)
Colin Orr Burns (Dragon LNG)
Professor Stuart Cole (Wales Transport Research Centre)
Professor Wayne Powell (Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University)
Paul Gorin (Smart Solutions Ltd.)
Scotland
Departmental Public Bodies
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) have been and (b) are to be closed, merged or reorganised following his appointment; and how many (i) women and (ii) men who are public appointees at each body will no longer hold such an appointment in consequence. [47098]
David Mundell: The only public body sponsored by the Scotland Office is the Boundary Commission for Scotland. The Boundary Commission for Scotland has not and is not to be closed, merged or reorganised.
17 Mar 2011 : Column 496W
Departmental Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what regulations his Department introduced between 3 February 2011 and 28 February 2011. [47034]
David Mundell: Between 3 February 2011 and 28 February 2011 the Secretary of State for Scotland introduced no regulations.
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what regulations his Department revoked between 3 February 2011 and 28 February 2011. [47035]
David Mundell: Between 3 February 2011 and 28 February 2011 the Secretary of State for Scotland revoked no regulations.
Domestic Visits
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many days (a) he and (b) his predecessors have spent in Scotland on official business in each of the last three years. [46956]
David Mundell: The Secretary of State for Scotland and I routinely conduct official business in Scotland. Details of meetings with external organisations are published on the Government's Transparency website at:
http://data.gov.uk
and are also published on the Scotland Office website.
Elections
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland with reference to the Spring Supplementary Estimate 2010/11, HC 790, for what reasons there is proposed a reduction of £15 million in non-voted expenditure in relation to Scottish Parliament elections. [46823]
David Mundell: The funding for the Scottish Parliament election forms part of the grant to the Scottish Consolidated Fund; however the costs of the Scottish Parliament election fall to the Scotland Office. The Spring Supplementary Estimate 2010-11, HC790, transaction is the transfer of the £15 million non-voted expenditure from the Scottish Consolidated Fund to the Scotland Office.
Treasury
Cheques
Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on proposals from the UK Payments Council to phase out cheques as a method of payment; and if he will make a statement. [47312]
Mr Hoban: The Treasury has received a number of representations from individuals and businesses that are affected by the decision of the Payments Council, and that wish to continue to use cheques in future.
17 Mar 2011 : Column 497W
I refer the hon. Member to my letter of 10 December 2010 to all Members of the House setting out the Government's position on cheques.
Child Care Tax Credit
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in (a) Glasgow North East constituency, (b) Glasgow, (c) Scotland and (d) Great Britain received assistance with the cost of childcare under the tax credit system in each of the last four financial years. [46893]
Mr Gauke: The following table shows the number of families that were benefiting from the child care element of tax credits at December in each of the past four years:
| Number of families benefiting from the child care element of tax credits | ||||
| At December each year: | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
Civil Servants: Pensions
Ian Murray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans permanently to uprate civil service pensions using the consumer prices index. [42231]
Danny Alexander [holding answer 28 February 2011]: Public service pensions will continue to be index linked and continue to protect individual pensions against increases in the cost of living. Legislation which governs the uprating of benefits, tax credits, and public service pensions requires consideration to be given to increases in the general level of prices, estimated in such manner as the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions thinks fit. The Government consider that the Consumer Prices Index, already used to set the inflation target for the Bank of England, is the appropriate index to use for such estimates in future.
Corporation Tax
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the proportion of businesses trading in the UK which paid no corporation tax in each of the last four financial years. [44849]
Mr Gauke: For the last four financial years where figures are available it is estimated that the proportion of companies, that were required to make a Corporation tax (CT) return, which paid no CT is 53% (2005-06), 44% (2006-07), 46% (2007-08) and 50% (2008-09). These companies either made losses or had no taxable profits after deductions.
These deductions include losses brought forward from earlier years and carried back from later years and group relief surrendered by companies within the same group.
Group and loss relief policies remain broadly unchanged since the inception of the CT regime in 1965. Group and loss relief are important elements of the CT regime which ensure that companies with similar profits over
17 Mar 2011 : Column 498W
their life cycle but different patterns of profits and losses over the years, pay broadly the same amounts of tax overall and recognises the economic reality that grouped companies are part of a wider whole. This is balanced, however, with the need for a pragmatic approach to protect tax revenues.
Departmental Assets
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether receipts from the sale of assets owned by regional development agencies are reflected in the spending plans of his Department for (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14. [47415]
Danny Alexander: No receipts from the sale of assets owned by regional development agencies are reflected in the spending plans of HM Treasury for 2012-13 and 2013-14.
Departmental Rail Travel
Mr Godsiff: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of civil servants in his Department are entitled to travel first class by rail within the UK. [47069]
Justine Greening: There is no entitlement for any HM Treasury staff members to travel first class by rail.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that there is sent to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton without further delay a copy of the letter of 21 February 2011 setting out the Government’s overall position on fuel duty related risks. [46752]
Justine Greening: I have arranged for a copy of the letter, sent to all hon. Members, dated 9 February 2011, on Fuel Duty issues to be sent to the right hon. Member.
National Insurance Contributions
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies have made use of the regional employers national insurance contribution holiday for new businesses since June 2010. [47367]
Mr Gauke: The Government intend to publish details of the take-up of the NICs holiday around Budget later this month.
PAYE
Julie Elliott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on reforming the PAYE system to introduce real time collection of payments. [46720]
Mr Gauke: HMRC published a consultation document “Improving the operation of Pay As You Earn (PAYE): Collecting Real Time Information” in December 2010. The formal consultation closed on 28 February 2011 and the written responses are being analysed.
A summary of responses will be published in due course.
17 Mar 2011 : Column 499W
Pensions: Public Sector
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate has been made of the number of retired people receiving public sector pensions worth more than (a) £100,000, (b) £75,000 and (c) £50,000 per year; and what estimate has been made of the number of people working in the public sector who are expected to receive pensions after retirement worth more than (i) £100,000, (ii) £75,000 and (iii) £50,000 per year. [43720]
Danny Alexander: HM Treasury does not hold member data centrally. This is an issue for Departments that lead on individual public service pension schemes. Some information was included in the interim report of the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission, led by Lord Hutton of Furness, published on 7 October 2010:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/indreview_johnhutton _pensions.htm
Table 1.C of the report provides details on the distribution of pension payments in the public service schemes. In particular, it estimates that 34,252 pensioners receive at least £37,000 per annum and 2,960 pensioners receive at least £67,000 per annum.
Revenue and Customs: India
Mr David Davis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what matters officials of HM Revenue and Customs discussed with their Indian counterparts when in Delhi between 29 November and 5 December 2010. [47303]
Mr Gauke: HMRC officials met with Indian tax officials in Delhi and Mumbai between 29 November and 5 December 2010. Discussions covered transfer pricing, advance pricing agreements, mutual agreement procedures, arbitration, tax treaty matters, sharing information on tax avoidance, and help which HMRC can provide to India. In addition they covered international tax bodies of which HMRC and the Indian tax authorities are members, reform of the Indian tax system (the introduction of a goods and services tax and the new direct taxes code), tax law rewrite, post-clearance audits and tax enforcement matters, including money laundering.
As a result of those discussions, arrangements have been made for two teams of Indian tax officials to visit HMRC.
Revenue and Customs: Sick Leave
John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the gross total was for the number of days lost due to staff sickness in each of HM Revenue and Customs business streams in each of the last five years. [43745]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 7 March 2011]: The following table gives the total number of days lost to staff sickness in each of HM Revenue and Customs business streams in each of the last five years.
17 Mar 2011 : Column 500W
|
|
Days taken | Headcount |
| Notes: 1. There have been structural changes within HMRC over the period covered by the table. Data which could not be attributed to a particular business stream have been recorded as ‘Unknown’. The two former departments did not move to a single IT system until November 2006 and that accounts for the relatively high number of unknowns in that year. For example, Benefits and Credits comprised only the project team establishing the new business stream; other staff are included in the figures for Personal Tax. 2. The numbers are actual days taken and not the full-time equivalent. | ||
17 Mar 2011 : Column 501W
Revenue and Customs: Training
Glyn Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what training staff have undertaken on claiming and payment of working tax credit before assessing individual claims. [46876]
Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) assess, calculate and pay tax credits entitlement automatically. Rapid data capture (RDC) techniques are used to scan information on tax credits claims electronically and record it onto the tax credits computer system. Further information about RDC is published on the HMRC website at:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/ntcmanual/rdc/ntc1101100.htm
All claims are subject to a range of automated checks. HMRC often need to make more detailed inquiries into incomplete claims or those that fail risk checks.
HMRC deliver targeted learning to all staff when they are deployed to different aspects of tax credits work. Depending on the nature of the task, the learning can be delivered face to face, computer based, guided using work books or a combination of these. That learning is supported by detailed guidance, some of which is published on the HMRC website at:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/thelibrary/manuals.htm
and consolidated by a series of ongoing quality assurance checks.
Tax Avoidance
Mr David Davis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax investigations were settled for a sum of more than (a) £10 million and (b) £100 million below the tax estimated to have been at risk in the last three years. [41453]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 17 February 2011]: Cases involving sums of this order are likely to involve big business. HMRC estimates the tax under consideration in any case involving big business before starting inquiries. That estimate is made without considering the likelihood of success in the case or examining the facts or how the law applies in specific circumstances. If an investigation is started, then the tax under consideration is kept under review and will usually change as the case progresses.
The tax ultimately considered to be at risk is usually the amount for which the case is settled. HMRC is not able to identify any cases settled by agreement for £10 million or £100 million below the amount of tax at risk.
Taxation
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Development and (b) consultation he has undertaken with (i) developing countries and (ii) non-governmental organisations on proposed changes to the controlled foreign company rules and taxation of foreign branches. [45372]
Mr Gauke: Treasury Ministers hold regular conversations with the Secretary of State for International Development on a wide range of issues regarding developing countries.
17 Mar 2011 : Column 502W
The Government published the consultation document “Corporate Tax Reform: delivering a more competitive system” on 29 November 2010, which includes the proposals for a new CFC regime and for reforms to the taxation of foreign branches. The Government are committed to an open, transparent consultation and have encouraged engagement with all interested parties. This has included engaging with non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The Government work through a variety of channels to deliver high-quality capacity building in developing country tax administrations to ensure that these countries are in a position to collect the tax they are owed.
Taxation: Domicil
Mark Reckless: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many taxpayers became non-resident in each of the last three years for which figures are available; [42367]
(2) what proportion of taxpayers who became non-resident paid tax at a rate of 40 per cent. or higher in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [42368]
Mr Gauke: The information on the number of taxpayers who become non resident in each of the last three years is not available.
Not all taxpayers who become non-resident either need or are obliged to notify HMRC if they become non-resident.
The main source of data on residence is Self Assessment (SA) returns. Of the non residents who filed a SA return, it is estimated that those who became non-resident during each of the last three tax years for which figures are available were as follows:
|
|
Number |
These figures do not include those taxpayers who became non-resident but who had no obligation to submit a SA return.
The percentage of those individuals who paid income tax at 40 per cent or higher in each year is as follows:
|
|
Percentage |
2008-09 is the most recent tax year for which data are available.
VAT: Energy
Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the merits of reducing the rate of value added tax on energy efficiency home improvements in order to help meet the objectives of the Green Deal. [47013]
17 Mar 2011 : Column 503W
Mr Gauke: The Government keep all taxes under review, and will continue to consider proposals for new reliefs carefully. A reduced rate of VAT is already applied to the installation of certain energy-saving materials in domestic properties, including insulation, draught stripping, solar panels and micro combined heat and power units.
Video Games: National Income
Hazel Blears: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what contribution the video games industry made to gross domestic product in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010. [46887]
(2) what proportion of the contribution made to the gross domestic product from the video games industry came from (a) London, (b) the North West, (c) the North East, (d) the South East, (e) the South West, (f) the East Midlands, (g) the West Midlands and (h) the East of England in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2010; [46888]
(3) what proportion of the tax revenues from the British video gaming industry came from (a) London, (b) the North West, (c) the North East, (d) the South East, (e) the South West, (f) the East Midlands, (g) the West Midlands and (h) the East of England in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2010; [46889]
(4) what estimate he has made of the receipts to the Exchequer from taxes on the video games industry in the UK in each year since 2007. [46942]
Mr Gauke: The information necessary to provide estimates broken into these regions, sectors and years is not available.
Working Tax Credit: Fraud
Glyn Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much working tax credit has been overpaid due to fraudulent claims in each of the last five years. [46886]
Mr Gauke: The latest published estimates show levels of tax credits error and fraud of 8.9% in 2008-09. HMRC do not record the levels of error and fraud within working tax credit and child tax credit separately. HMRC have a target to reduce the combined levels of error and fraud to no more than 5% by the end of March 2011.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publish its error and fraud statistics on its website. The most recent information is for 2008-09 and can be found at:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtcredits-error0809.pdf
The Trust Statement that accompanied HMRC’s 2009-10 accounts explains in more detail how the Department measures the overall level of tax credits error and fraud, published at:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/hmrc-accs-0910.pdf
HMRC published a joint strategy with the Department for Work and Pensions to help drive down error and fraud across the benefits and tax credits system. The publication can be found at:
www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/tackling-fraud-and-error.pdf
17 Mar 2011 : Column 504W
Housing: Construction
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to take steps to support the financing of self-build homes. [46873]
Grant Shapps: I have been asked to reply.
Self-builders are already one of the country’s largest house builders. They form an important part of the Government’s strong commitment to increasing the supply of affordable and sustainable homes and promoting economic growth.
This is why we have invited industry experts to work with us on a Government-Industry working group to prepare an action plan, which will set out the concrete steps needed to make it easier for people to build their own homes, whether on their own or as part of a community effort to create a new neighbourhood.
The working group have identified finance availability as a key challenge to the growth of the industry. A sub-group of industry experts will be examining finance issues in detail, and will identify any actions that can be taken to support self builders. The group will be making recommendations to me by the summer.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many suicide bombings against International Security Assistance Force forces operating under Regional Command South in Afghanistan were recorded in each month since June 2006. [36155]
Dr Fox [holding answer 25 January 2011]:The numbers of suicide Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and Suicide Person Borne IED attacks recorded in Regional Command South each month since January 2007 are shown in the following table. None were recorded between June and December 2006. Regional Command South was split into Regional Command South West and Regional Command South in July 2010, so the numbers of attacks from this month onward occurred within a smaller geographical area.
|
|
Total attacks in Regional Command South |
17 Mar 2011 : Column 505W
These numbers are based on information derived from a number of sources and can only be an estimate not least because of the difficulties in ensuring a consistent interpretation of the basis for collating statistics in a complex fast-moving multinational operational environment. The numbers may change over time as more information becomes available.
Aircraft Carriers
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department will be of installing a catapult on the new aircraft carrier in each year of the comprehensive spending review period. [45910]
Peter Luff: Investigations into the conversion of the operational Queen Elizabeth Class carrier are ongoing and will produce detailed cost estimates when they conclude. We currently expect to take firm decisions on which carrier should be converted, the launch and recovery equipment to be fitted and the overall conversion strategy in late 2012.
The Aircraft Carrier Alliance is fully involved in supporting studies as part of our investigations.
No decisions have yet been taken and our final decision date may change as the investigations progress.
17 Mar 2011 : Column 506W
Amphibious Vehicles
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the construction cost of RFA Largs Bay was; and what its running cost was in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [46289]
Peter Luff: It is not possible to separate the costs of procuring RFA Largs Bay as these were part of the Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) project which provided a batch of four Bay Class ships. The total procurement cost of the Bay Class of amphibious support ships was £660 million.
The annual running cost of RFA Largs Bay, based on the expenditure incurred by the Department in 2009-10, was approximately £9.5 million. This figure includes maintenance, manpower, inventory expenses, satellite communications and fuel costs, but excludes depreciation.
Armed Forces: Pensions
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on potential exemption from changes to the indexation of pensions and benefits for (a) service widows and (b) maimed service personnel; [46461]
(2) pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence of 16 February 2011, Official Report, column 1067, what steps his Department is taking to examine the future pensions of (a) service widows and (b) maimed personnel. [46462]
Mr Robathan: I understand the implications of the changes for these particular groups and I am in discussion with the Forces Pension Society on this issue.
Armed Forces: Redundancy
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the oral statement of 15 February 2011, Official Report, columns 815-6W, on armed forces (redundancies), which Minister in his Department is responsible for ensuring that no further army personnel receive notification of redundancy by email. [46083]
Mr Robathan: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox) on 10 March 2011, Official Report, column 1248W.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the oral statement of 15 February 2011, Official Report, columns 815-6W, on armed forces (redundancies), what arrangements have been put in place to ensure that the correct procedure is followed to notify Army personnel facing redundancy; and who is responsible for the implementation of such a procedure. [46086]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 14 March 2011]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer 1 gave on 9 March 2011, Official Report, column 1098W).
17 Mar 2011 : Column 507W
Army: Manpower
Richard Drax: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the size of the Army following the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. [47350]
Nick Harvey: Government policy on the size of the Army is described in the Strategic Defence and Security Review White Paper, ‘Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty’.
Atomic Weapons Establishment
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2011, Official Report, column 805W, on nuclear weapons, what estimate he has made of the likely level of savings to the public purse in (a) submarine production, (b) the nuclear warhead, (c) supporting infrastructure and (d) efficiency savings at the Atomic Weapons Establishment in each of the next 10 years. [46025]
Peter Luff: I am withholding the information requested, as providing greater details of expected savings would prejudice commercial interests.
Blue Force
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department had with (a) Blue Force Property and (b) Blue Force Services (i) before and (ii) since the companies went into liquidation; and if he will make a statement. [41701]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 28 February 2011]: We had some discussions with Blue Forces in the autumn regarding its financial position and its plans for dealing with it. We were not aware prior to the announcement of Blue Forces’ plans to go into liquidation and have had no substantive discussion with its managing director since.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of (a) serving members of HM armed forces and (b) former service personnel who entered into property deals with (i) Blue Force Property and (ii) Blue Force Services; what his estimate is of the money lost by serving and former personnel as a result of the liquidation of those companies; and if he will make a statement. [41703]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 28 February 2011]:As this is a private matter, we hold no detailed information on how many service personnel are affected and how much they stand to lose.
Departmental Expenditure
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [43760]
17 Mar 2011 : Column 508W
Mr Robathan: Information on auditors' remuneration, including the identity of the auditing organisation, is disclosed in the annual report and accounts of the Department and of those public bodies with an accounts direction from Her Majesty's Treasury.
This information is as follows:
| Expenditure (£) | |||
| Body | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| (1) Notional charge only. Includes notional audit fees for the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report and Accounts, the Armed Forces Pension Scheme Accounts and the Accounts of the MOD's on-Vote Agencies. (2) This figure reflects the combined fees paid by the Army Base Repair Organisation and the Defence Aviation Repair Agency before they merged to become the Defence Support Group on 1 April 2008. (3) Established on 1 April 2009. (4) Disestablished as non departmental public bodies on 31 March 2009. | |||
The auditing organisation has been the National Audit Office for both the MOD and its public bodies. The National Museum of the Royal Navy has also engaged Baker Tilly UK Audit LLP. The remaining, advisory, non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the MOD lie within the MOD's departmental accounting boundary.
Departmental Land
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will takes steps to reduce the size of his Department's estate; and if he will make a statement. [45892]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) keeps its estate under constant review to meet present and planned future requirements, with a view to disposing of surplus assets as quickly as possible in accordance with Treasury Guidelines (Managing Public Money Annex 4.8). Work is currently ongoing with each of the armed forces to identify additional estate rationalisation opportunities in accordance with the Strategic Defence and Security Review and is due to report in the summer.
17 Mar 2011 : Column 509W
The new Defence Infrastructure Organisation will create a single delivery organisation responsible for all infrastructure projects, estates and property management including the ‘soft’ facilities management such as catering, cleaning and reception services. This approach will better balance defence requirements against available resources and help provide improved support to the delivery of military capability. The change will enable the Ministry of Defence to identify further opportunities to rationalise, utilise or better manage the estate leading to reductions in estate contract and utility costs of £160 million a year by 2014 and estate disposal receipts of over £500 million during the next four years.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to make budgetary savings in addition to those identified in the Strategic Defence and Security Review in each of the next four years. [45337]
Dr Fox [holding answer 10 March 2011]: The outcomes of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) and the spending review form the basis of the Department's annual planning round (PR11), which is ongoing, and premature speculation is not helpful to that process, to our armed forces, or to industry.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department expects to save as a result of the commitment in the strategic defence and security review to reductions in spending on commodities, including substantial savings on food, energy and professional services in each year of the comprehensive spending review period. [45749]
Peter Luff: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 29 November 2010, Official Report, column 582W. It is too early to say what potential savings may accrue from the strategic defence and security review (SDSR) in all of the detailed categories listed. A great deal of work is now required to work through the detailed implications of the SDSR decisions and their implementation. We will be providing the fullest possible information as progress is made.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what professional services to his Department he expects to be reduced as a result of commitments in the Strategic Defence and Security Review; and whether any redundancies will result from such reductions. [46470]
Peter Luff: It is too early to say what potential savings may accrue in this area from the Strategic Defence and Security Review, but since the commitment to reduce spend on professional services relates to a range of services bought in from the private sector, for example on areas such as consultancy through to specialist technical support, it is unlikely to generate any direct redundancies in the defence workforce. It is not possible to assess any associated redundancies in the private sector. Savings will come both from reduced use of professional services, particularly consultancy, and from getting better rates for the work, including through working with the centralised procurement arrangements being established by the Efficiency and Reform Group to optimise economies of scale.
17 Mar 2011 : Column 510W
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the unfunded liability in respect of (a) equipment, (b) procurement, (c) support and (d) each other expenditure category in his Department's budget over the next 10 years. [47353]
Dr Fox: The unfunded liability of £38 billion was calculated before the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). The SDSR announced substantial reductions through non-front line savings and efficiencies, as well as reductions to the pre-SDSR planned force structure.
The process of aligning resources and commitments will continue through the current Planning Round.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what regulations his Department introduced between 9 and 28 February 2011. [47051]
Mr Robathan: Between 9 and 28 February 2011, the Ministry of Defence made one new order, namely the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2011 (SI 2011/517). This order revokes and re-enacts the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) 2005, with modifications incorporating the recommendations of the Review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme by Admiral the Lord Boyce, which was laid before Parliament in February 2010.
An Order in Council relating to service pensions was also made during this period, namely the Naval, Military and Air Forces Etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions (Amendment) Order 2011 (SI 2011/235).
Devolution
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what correspondence he has received from the devolved Administrations on the (a) principle and (b) implementation of the armed forces covenant and report; and if he will publish each item of correspondence. [42019]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 28 February 2011]: We have corresponded with Ministers in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, advising them of the provisions to be added to the Armed Forces Bill on the Armed Forces Covenant, prior to its introduction to Parliament.
It would not be appropriate to publish their responses without their consent. Officials in the Ministry of Defence are currently in the process of seeking their agreement and if it is obtained a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
European Fighter Aircraft
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Indian Government on the sale of tranche 3 Typhoon aircrafts; and if he will make a statement. [46673]
Peter Luff:
The German Government are leading on the export campaign to supply Typhoon to satisfy the Indian Air Force Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft competition. The UK Government, through UK Trade and Investment Defence Sales Organisation and the
17 Mar 2011 : Column 511W
Ministry of Defence, is supporting this campaign. As part of a ministerial delegation of the Typhoon Partner Nations, I attended the Aero-India 2011 air show in Bangalore in February 2011. While there, I had several meetings with Indian defence ministers and senior officials in support of the Typhoon export campaign. In addition, the Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), raised Typhoon with his Indian interlocutors during his visit in November 2010.
France: Nuclear Weapons
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the proposed UK-France treaty on nuclear weapons co-operation, from what date military flights between the UK and France transporting nuclear materials are to commence; and what the proposed flight path of this transport route will be. [46278]
Dr Fox: The proposed UK-France treaty on nuclear weapons co-operation provides for the transport of nuclear material between the two countries. No dates or flight paths have yet been agreed but details of such flights would be likely to be withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security.
Frigates
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what capabilities the (a) Type 22 and (b) Type 23 frigate has to act as a flagship. [46298]
Peter Luff: The Type 22 frigate can embark a Task Group Commander's staff, able to command small scale joint and maritime operations. The Type 23 frigate does not have the capability or configuration to act as flagship and is not tasked in this way. The new Type 45 destroyers have been designed with the capacity to undertake the flagship role.
A flagship, currently HMS Albion, is always assigned to the Commander UK Task Group.
Germany: Military Bases
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department will be required to make any payments to the German government under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement and its supplementary agreement in connection with the vacation of military bases in Germany. [45767]
Nick Harvey: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 31 January 2011, Official Report, columns 582-3, to the hon. Member for Easington (Grahame M. Morris).
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated cost to the public purse is of maintaining and operating bases in Germany in 2010-11. [45768]
Nick Harvey: The estimated cost to the public purse of maintaining and operating bases in Germany in 2010-11 is approximately £190 million.
17 Mar 2011 : Column 512W
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on the relative costs of basing a soldier in (a) Germany and (b) the UK. [45855]
Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence holds information on the capitation costs of individual soldiers. This includes their pay, national insurance and pension contributions. This basic cost of a soldier in Germany is comparable to that of a soldier in the UK. Soldiers based in Germany are also paid a local overseas allowance which is calculated according to their rank and personal circumstances.
All soldiers will receive other allowances in addition to their basic pay which are dependent on their personal circumstances and are not directly affected by their posting location.
Libya: Diplomatic Service
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates he discussed the recent diplomatic mission to eastern Libya with the (a) Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and (b) Prime Minister. [45936]
Dr Fox [holding answer 14 March 2011]:I refer the hon. Member to the statement given by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), to the House on 7 March 2011, Official Report, columns 643-45. Throughout the current situation in Libya there have been frequent ministerial level meetings, including COBR, where I and my Cabinet colleagues have discussed the Government’s response to the crisis.
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he received the submission outlining the intention of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to send a diplomatic mission to eastern Libya. [46372]
Dr Fox [holding answer 14 March 2011]:I refer the hon. Member to the statement given by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), to the House on 7 March 2011, Official Report, columns 643-45. Throughout the current situation in Libya there have been frequent ministerial level meetings, including COBR, where I and my Cabinet colleagues have discussed Her Majesty’s Government’s response to the crisis. As part of this, there was regular communication between Whitehall Departments including between the Ministry of Defence and Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Libya: HMS Cumberland
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what days HMS Cumberland has (a) been docked in Benghazi Port and (b) been deployed in Libyan territorial waters in 2011; and what the cost to the public purse of such actions has been to date. [46304]
Dr Fox
[holding answer 14 March 2011]: In 2011, HMS Cumberland was docked in Benghazi port, and deployed in Libyan territorial waters, on Thursday
17 Mar 2011 : Column 513W
24 February, Sunday 27 February, and Sunday 6 March during which time she evacuated over 400 entitled persons including over 120 British nationals. The additional costs of the recent deployment to Libya are currently being assessed.
Libya: Special Forces
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department made to the Government's policy on the deployment of special forces in Libya. [46303]
Dr Fox [holding answer 14 March 2011]: As the right hon. Member should be aware, the Ministry of Defence has a long-standing policy of not commenting on matters concerning special forces.
Military Bases
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which barracks his Department is considering for sale or demolition as part of the proposed rationalisation of the defence estate arising from the outcome of the strategic defence and security review. [45873]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) keeps its estate under constant review to meet present and planned future requirements, with a view to demolition or disposal of surplus assets as quickly as possible in accordance with Treasury Guidelines (Managing Public Money Annex 4.8). Work is currently ongoing with each of the armed forces to identify additional estate rationalisation opportunities in accordance with the strategic defence and security review and is due to report in the summer.
The new Defence Infrastructure Organisation will create a single delivery organisation responsible for all infrastructure projects, estates and property management including the ‘soft’ facilities management such as catering, cleaning and reception services. This approach will better balance defence requirements against available resources and help provide improved support to the delivery of military capability. The change will enable the MOD to identify further opportunities to rationalise, utilise or better manage the estate leading to reductions in estate contract and utility costs of £160 million a year by 2014 and estate disposal receipts of over £500 million during the next four years.
Nimrod Aircraft
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the merits of using Nimrod MRA4 aircraft for monitoring flights over the Mediterranean, Libya and North Africa. [47171]
Dr Fox [holding answer 16 March 2011]: None. The Strategic Defence and Security Review decision not to bring it into service precludes its use in any Defence role.
Nuclear Submarines: Decommissioning
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent estimate is of the projected (a) discounted and (b) undiscounted nuclear decommissioning costs for the seven Astute-class submarines. [45751]
17 Mar 2011 : Column 514W
Peter Luff: The Submarine Dismantling Project (SDP) is developing a cost model to inform its planning for the disposal of 27 of the UK's nuclear submarines. The scope of the SDP covers past and current classes, excluding the Astute class, but the project's cost modelling work is intended to inform the development of similar costs for the Astute class. Accordingly, it is not yet possible to provide estimated costs for the Astute class.
Radioactive Materials: Transport
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date the safety case for the new truck cargo heavy duty mark 3 vehicle was approved; [47137]
(2) on what date the truck cargo heavy duty mark 3 vehicle will enter into service; [47138]
(3) on what date the truck cargo heavy duty mark 3 vehicle will replace the former high security vehicles on duties requiring the transport of special nuclear materials; [47139]
(4) whether the practice of displaying radioactive materials hazard warning signs on vehicles carrying special nuclear materials will continue when the truck cargo heavy duty mark 3 vehicle enters into service. [47140]
Peter Luff: On current plans, the safety case for the new Truck Cargo Heavy Duty (TCHD) Mark 3 vehicle is expected to be approved in June 2011 ahead of entry into service later in the summer.
It is then planned to commence the replacement of the High Security Vehicle with the TCHD Mark 3 in spring 2012.
The decision on whether to display radioactive materials hazard warning signs on TCHD Mark 3 has not yet been taken.
Special Forces
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Minister in his Department approved the use of special forces in operations in Libya on 4 March 2011. [47352]
Dr Fox: As the hon. Member should be aware, the Ministry of Defence has a long standing policy of not commenting on matters concerning special forces.
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedure is followed in his Department for Ministerial clearance for the deployment of UK armed forces. [47354]
Dr Fox: The Royal Prerogative provides the mechanism by which the UK Armed Forces can be deployed. The Defence Council, which I chair, provides the formal legal basis for the conduct of Defence in the UK through a range of powers vested in it by Parliament, through statute, and Her Majesty, through Letters Patent and known as prerogative powers.
For overseas operations the political decision to deploy the Armed Forces rests with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and the Cabinet through their exercise of the Royal Prerogative.
17 Mar 2011 : Column 515W
Strategic Defence and Security Review
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the strategic defence and security review, which capabilities to counter explosive ordnance and improvised explosive devices will receive increased funding from his Department in each year of the comprehensive spending review period. [45901]
Peter Luff: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 November 2010, Official Report, column 746W.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment will be (a) sold (b) decommissioned and (c) deleted as a result of the commitment in the Strategic Defence and Security Review to rationalise wider equipment holdings. [45909]
Peter Luff:
This undertaking refers to equipment holdings within Land Forces which were not specifically
17 Mar 2011 : Column 516W
addressed in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), unlike vehicle types like AS90 heavy artillery and Challenger 2 main battle tanks.
Full details of the changes in wider equipment holdings are being prepared as part of the work of SDSR implementation and will be available in due course.
Trident
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent (a) in total and (b) on (i) design, (ii) purchase of materials and (iii) other categories of expenditure on Trident in each of the last three years. [45213]
Peter Luff: I have interpreted this question as relating to the programme to replace the Vanguard class submarines.
Expenditure on this programme for the past three years is as follows:
| £ million | ||||
|
|
FY 2008-09 | FY 2009-10 | FY 2010-11 (to end February) | Total |
The bulk of this expenditure has been on design and research activity including technical development programmes to inform the options presented in the initial gate business case. Work undertaken during the concept and assessment phases will provide a robust evidence base on which the Government can take decisions, and in the event of a main gate decision with a like-for-like alternative, the programme will be able to deliver on time and to budget.
WE 177 Nuclear Bomb
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the public purse of the WE.177 missile programme was (a) in cash terms and (b) in 2011 prices up to the date of its withdrawal from service; and what the cost of procurement of each missile was. [46277]
Peter Luff: I will write to the hon. Member, as the information requested may take some time to retrieve from archive.
Culture, Media and Sport
Ofcom: Consultants
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2011, Official Report, column 472W, on Ofcom: consultants, on what services Ofcom's £6.7 million expenditure in 2009-10 on consultancy professional specialist was spent; which companies provided each such service; how many hours each such provider worked on the provision of such services; and what estimate he has made of the number of staff involved in provision of such services. [45771]
Mr Vaizey [holding answer 14 March 2011]: Ofcom made use of 163 professional consultancies (non-procurement framework) in 2009-10 as part of its overall annual programme of work. The table sets out the suppliers used, the services provided and the total sums paid.
Information provided to Ofcom as part of a tendering process is commercially sensitive. Ofcom is unable to provide a more detailed breakdown of the number of hours worked and staff provided by each supplier since disclosure of this may compromise future tendering processes.
| Vendor | Description | Total (£) |
17 Mar 2011 : Column 517W
17 Mar 2011 : Column 518W
|
Tax advice, telecoms accounting advice, and spectrum clearance advice |
||
17 Mar 2011 : Column 519W
17 Mar 2011 : Column 520W
17 Mar 2011 : Column 521W
17 Mar 2011 : Column 522W
|
Consumer representation following postal services integration |
||
|
Journal: Re-categorisation of cost for IS transformation programme |
Journal: Re-categorisation of cost for IS transformation programme |
|