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Written Answers to Questions
Friday 18 March 2011
Northern Ireland
Human: Trafficking
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the First Minister of Northern Ireland on levels of cross-border human trafficking. [47656]
Mr Swire: Human trafficking issues relating to Northern Ireland are now the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Justice Minister, Mr David Ford, and his Department who work directly with the Home Office 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.
Culture, Media and Sport
Arts: Nottinghamshire
Mr Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much Arts Council England spent in Sherwood constituency per head of population in the latest period for which figures are available. [47054]
Mr Vaizey: Arts Council England estimates spend at £0.19 per head in the Sherwood constituency, from £16,800 in grants for the arts awards in 2009-10.
Additionally, a number of organisations funded by the Arts Council tour their work in the constituency, though their funding is not represented in this figure.
BBC: Radio
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with the BBC Trust on the future of BBC local radio. [47373]
Mr Vaizey: No recent discussions have been held with the BBC Trust on the future of BBC local radio.
Betfair
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has made an assessment of the potential effects on the horseracing industry of the decision by Betfair to relocate offshore. [47548]
John Penrose:
While we recognise that this is a commercial decision for Betfair, we are disappointed that it has moved its betting exchange for British customers offshore.
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However, Betfair has stated that it intends to make voluntary payments to British horseracing equivalent to those it would be required to make through the statutory Horserace Betting Levy for the 49
(th)and 50
(th)Levy Schemes. Looking ahead, I continue to speak to key stakeholders about the future of the Levy and the issues raised in the Department’s consultation on remote gambling, and hope to make an announcement shortly.
Broadband: Local Authorities
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will estimate the number of local authorities in England which will tender for the provision of high-speed broadband services in each year to 2015. [46774]
Mr Vaizey: Responsibility for the timing of tenders to be issued by local authorities is a matter for them. Guidance on the content of local broadband plans to form the basis of a submission to Broadband Delivery UK was issued on 7 March 2011.
Departmental Broadband
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department has allocated for high-speed broadband provision in each year to 2015. [46775]
Mr Vaizey: No specific allocation has been made, but a total of £530 million was allocated in the spending review to support superfast broadband roll-out up to 2015. Allocations will depend on the procurements in a given year.
Departmental Estate
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will take steps to reduce the size of his Department’s estate; and if he will make a statement. [46744]
John Penrose: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) leases space in four buildings; two of which have been fully sublet for the remainder of their leases.
Hotdesking has been introduced at the Department’s main building, 2-4 Cockspur street, enabling the vacation of two floors. Negotiations with two new tenants are nearing completion and they are expected to take occupation of the space in July 2011. The occupancy level of 2-4 Cockspur street was 13.4 sq m per full-time equivalent (FTE) during 2009-10; this has subsequently been reduced to approximately 11 sq m per FTE.
DCMS will continue to review the size of its estate and make space available for subletting as staff numbers decrease. A full review of the estate will take place following the 2012 Olympics.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have responsibility for the Government Property Unit and their response to this question was published on 14 March 2011, Official Report, column 150W.
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Departmental Food
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will estimate the proportion of the seafood procured for (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible that (i) was on the Marine Conservation Society’s list of fish to avoid and (ii) complied with sustainability standards indicated by inclusion in either the Marine Conservation Society’s list of fish to eat or by the list of fish species certified by the Marine Stewardship Council in (A) 2010 and (B) 2011 to date. [45028]
John Penrose: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not procure any seafood. It’s agency, the Royal Parks procures 3000 kilos per annum of whiting to feed the pelicans in their parks. The whiting is sourced from a supplier based in Poole, Dorset, and is caught in a mixed trawl fishery using small day boat trawlers. Whiting is not on the Marine Conservation Society’s list of fish to avoid.
The Department does not collate this information for its arm’s length bodies.
Employment
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will work with representatives of the creative industries to produce a joint action plan for jobs and growth in that sector by the end of 2011. [47576]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: The Government's strategy for growth, including measures to remove barriers to growth for the digital and creative industries, developed in consultation with industry, will be published to a Budget 2011 timetable.
Health
Cancer: Health Services
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to measure the one- and five-year cancer survival rates for breast, lung and colorectal cancer for patients of all ages in the improvement area of Domain 1 of the NHS Outcomes Framework for 2011-12. [47152]
Paul Burstow: The first “NHS Outcomes Framework 2011-12”, published on 20 December 2010, sets out the outcomes and corresponding indicators that will be used to track the success of the national health service in delivering improved outcomes for one-year and five-year survival rates for breast, lung and colorectal cancers, for patients aged between 15-99 years. Existing data for cancer survival rates are published by the Office for National Statistics and can be accessed via the following link:
www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/product.asp?vlnk=14007
In “NHS Outcomes Framework 2011-12—Technical details of indicators”, we summarised the sources of the data published in the framework, as well as technical information about all of the indicators.
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Departmental Public Appointments
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 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. [47103]
Mr Simon Burns: The coalition Government are committed to increasing the accountability of public bodies, and this involves reducing their number and their cost to the taxpayer. The proposals for the majority of bodies across all Departments were announced and published on 14 October 2010. An updated list reflecting changes since October 2010 has been published on the Cabinet Office website this month.
Summary information on public appointments is published annually by the Cabinet Office. This includes data on gender. Copies of the most recent report are available at:
www.civilservice.gov.uk/ndpb
Epilepsy: Totnes
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were diagnosed with epilepsy in (a) Totnes constituency, (b) South Devon and (c) England in each of the last 10 years. [47743]
Paul Burstow: The information requested has never been collected.
The national Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) records the number of people, aged 18 or over, recorded on practice disease registers who are receiving drug treatment for epilepsy. The register is not a count of patients newly diagnosed with the disease within each year but rather a count of patients receiving drug treatment for epilepsy on a specific day within the year. These data are available for the releases of QOF covering financial years 2005-06 through to 2009-10 at:
www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/audits-and-performance/the-quality-and-outcomes-framework
Heart Diseases: Children
Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which body will make the final decision on the Safe and Sustainable Review of Children’s Congenital Cardiac Services in England; [47550]
(2) what professional expertise members of the body making the decision on the Safe and Sustainable Review of Children’s Congenital Cardiac Services in England will be required to possess. [47551]
Mr Simon Burns: Once the public consultation has concluded, the decision on the future number and location of surgical centres in England will be made by the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT), on behalf of the local national health service commissioners.
The professional expertise required for membership of the JCPCT is that the members of the committee are either primary care trust chief executives or their nominated representatives. The JCPCT has been informed by a considerable amount of evidence from professional experts
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in the field, including from an advisory group of experts representing their professional associations. This advisory group was also responsible for developing the proposed quality standards against which the current surgical centres were assessed.
Prescriptions: Fees and Charges
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on prescription charges for gluten-free (a) food and (b) medication. [47271]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department’s policy on prescription charges for gluten-free food and medication is the same as for other medicines. A patient will be liable to pay prescription charges on a national health service prescription for these products unless exemption arrangements apply.
Transport
Blue Badge Scheme
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the likely change in the number of blue badges issued for disabled parking as a result of the implementation of his proposed Blue Badges Reform programme. [41465]
Norman Baker: We have estimated that around 860,000 applications for blue badges were made in 2009-10, of which approximately 90,000 were rejected. We have estimated that our planned reforms will increase the number of rejected applications by between 17,000 and 51,000 in 2012-13. The number of rejected applications are estimated to continue to rise between 2% and 3% annually. The increase in rejected applications will be due to more robust eligibility assessments which will help ensure that badges go to those who need them most.
We have also estimated that there could be a potential increase in the number of blue badge holders of around 3,000 as a result of the proposed extensions to the eligibility criteria that I announced on 14 February 2011, Official Report, columns 65-66WS.
Departmental Pay
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that his published departmental organisational chart includes the names and responsibilities of all staff paid over £58,200 per annum in his Department and in the non-departmental public bodies and agencies for which he is responsible. [43538]
Norman Baker: The coalition Government are committed to improving transparency and the Coalition programme includes commitments to publish salary information for the most senior civil servants and to publish organograms for the entire organisation.
As a first step, the Government published the details of 345 senior officials in departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies in post at 31 March 2010 whose rate of pay was £150,000 or more. Publication
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of name, job title and base salary details was then extended to some lower levels of the senior civil service (SCS) as part of the organograms that were published last October.
Although individualised salary details for the most junior level of the SCS (Pay Bands 1 and 1A) were not released, the numbers and grades of staff in each of their teams and the total salary costs of that team were published. Organograms will next be updated by the end of May to show structures as at 31 March 2011.
Good progress is being made across the civil service and beyond in improving transparency of how Government works and uses its resources. We are now in a period of consolidating and embedding transparency processes into business as usual. We are always looking to go further and we will continue over the coming months to review, and where necessary improve, the quality and extent of data being released.
Departmental Procurement
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether all new contracts his Department has tendered over £10,000 have been published with associated tender documents on the Contracts Finder website since its inception. [39222]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has not published any new contracts on the Contract Finder website since its inception as none has been awarded that meets the criteria for publication.
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which procurement projects engaged in 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 they were appointed in each such case. [45687]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport (Central) has a robust approach to project management and the appointment of the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) is embedded in that approach. The information on the date that each SRO was appointed is not held centrally.
This approach has also been taken by the British Transport Police Authority, Driving Standards Agency, Government Car and Despatch Agency, Highways Agency, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Vehicle Certification Agency, Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, High Speed 2, Directly Operated Railways and Northern Lighthouse Board.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has a designated senior responsible owner for each procurement project, but the information, as requested, is not available.
Passenger Focus has a robust approach to project management based, in a proportionate way, on the concepts set out in PRINCE2™ methodology. However, there are currently no procurement projects for which a Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) has been designated. Given the application of the SRO role to ‘major government projects’ only there have been no such designations in the period from July 2005 (when Passenger Focus was created).
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The Renewable Fuels Agency adopts a robust approach to project management underpinned by adherence to central guidance on transparency and a financial scheme of delegation.
Trinity House adopts PRINCE2™ and has a project board, accountable to the Executive and Lighthouse Board. At the practical level, the project manager will take day-to-day responsibility.
This issue is not applicable to Cycling England or the Railway Heritage Committee.
Roads
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made better to facilitate the adoption by local authorities of residential roads in new housing developments since June 2010. [45668]
Norman Baker [holding answer 10 March 2011]: Since I discussed these issues with the hon. Member in the Adjournment debate on 23 June 2010, a working group made up of a mix of local authorities has been formed to assist the Department for Transport in creating policy options. This group has just presented its findings and the Department is now considering the suggested policy options.
Roads: Trans-European Networks
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on road pricing for the use of roads in Trans European Networks; and if he will make a statement. [45113]
Mike Penning: The Secretary of State for Transport has had discussions at the European Council of Ministers on the Eurovignette Directive, which sets the rules for countries that wish to introduce charging for heavy goods vehicles on the Trans European Network. Beyond that, the Secretary of State has had no discussions with his European Counterparts about road pricing on the Trans European Network.
Taxis: Bus Lanes
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that owners of private hire vehicles are able to transfer liability for penalties imposed for bus lane violations to the driver at the time of the offence; and if he will make a statement. [45313]
Norman Baker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 March 2011, Official Report, column 920W. It is a matter for the Mayor of London to decide whether to progress the hon. Member’s suggestion.
Traffic Lights: Repairs and Maintenance
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what requirements his Department places on highway authorities for repairs to traffic lights and lights at pedestrian crossings; within what time period they are required to undertake such repairs; and if he will make a statement. [46753]
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Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not issue any national guidance on the requirements to repair traffic and pedestrian lights within a specified period. This is a matter for the relevant local highway authority.
Trams: Nottingham
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the projected capital costs to his Department of extending the Nottingham Tram are. [42315]
Norman Baker: The last approved Government contribution to the Nottingham tram extension scheme was a maximum of £530.7 million in the form of PFI credits. The Department is now working closely with the scheme promoter, Nottingham city council, to ensure the project is affordable, in accordance with the announcement made following the comprehensive spending review in October 2010.
Cabinet Office
BSkyB and News Corporation
Mr Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what meetings the Prime Minister's Director of Communications has had with representatives of (a) BSkyB and (b) News Corporation since his appointment; what the (i) date and (ii) purpose of each such meeting was; and if he will make a statement. [32807]
Mr Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 3 February 2011, Official Report, column 885W.
Departmental Rail Travel
Mr Godsiff: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of civil servants in his Department are entitled to travel first class by rail within the UK. [46779]
Mr Maude: No Cabinet Office civil servants are entitled to travel by first class rail. In exceptional cases, e.g. for health reasons or where it is cheaper, staff at any grade may travel by first class rail, with prior approval from the travel manager.
Jobseeker's Allowance: Berkshire
Alok Sharma: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average duration of a jobseeker's allowance claim was in (a) Reading West constituency, (b) Reading and (c) Berkshire in each of the last 10 years. [46631]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the average duration of jobseeker's allowance claim was in (a) Reading West constituency, (b) Reading and (c) Berkshire in each of the last 10 years. (046631)
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The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) is taken from the Jobcentre Plus administrative system. The length of a claim has been defined as the time between the start of an individual's claim and the count date in each reference month. Table 1 shows the median length of live claims for January of each of the last 10 years for those people resident in the, Reading and Berkshire areas. The figures for Reading West Constituency are provided from January 2005. Figures prior to this are not available for the parliamentary constituencies formed in the 2010 general election.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
www.nomisweb.co.uk
| Table 1: Median length of claims in weeks of jobseeker's allowance of persons (1) resident in Reading West constituency, Reading and Berkshire | |||
| As at January each year: | Reading West | Reading | Berkshire |
| (1) Length of claim data is only available for computerised claims, which account for 99.7% of all claims. (2) Data unavailable Source: Jobcentre Plus Administrative System | |||
Tech City East London
Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what contribution his Department is making to the Prime Minister's initiative to create a Tech City in East London. [34561]
Mr Maude: The Government's input into the initiative comes under the policy responsibility of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for Business and Enterprise, my hon. Friend the Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr Prisk), on 17 January 2011, Official Report, column 638W.
Defence
Aircraft Carriers
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the merits of equipping the aircraft carrier, the Prince of Wales, with catapults and traps to (a) make it compatible with JSF-35C and (b) increase its potential for future sales. [47824]
Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 March 2011, Official Report, column 1247W, to the right hon. Member for Coventry North East (Mr Ainsworth).
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Armed Forces: Redundancy
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 1 March 2011, Official Report, columns 21-2WS, on armed forces redundancy process, how many of the armed forces personnel to be made redundant have (a) noise-induced hearing loss and (b) other serious injuries or disabilities. [45969]
Mr Robathan: Those selected for redundancy have not yet been identified.
Blue Force
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make arrangements for military lawyers and personnel in Afghanistan to provide legal assistance to members of HM Armed Forces who are customers of Blue Force Property and Blue Force Services. [41807]
Mr Robathan: As this is a matter between an individual and a private company, Ministry of Defence lawyers are unable to offer legal assistance. However, we have issued advice through the Chain of Command.
Those deployed on operations and who require assistance in resolving issues raised through the liquidation of BlueForce should approach their Chain of Command to request a welfare phone card. This will be provided at no cost and will facilitate them obtaining the necessary assistance.
Commando Helicopter Force
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what he expects the complement of the Commando Helicopter Force to be in each of the next five years; [47143]
(2) what assessment he has made of the long-term viability of the Commando Helicopter Force; and if he will make a statement. [47144]
Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Armed Forces, my hon. Friend the Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey) on 3 March 2011, Official Report, column 564W, to the right hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr Laws). As part of the Future Force 2020, the Strategic Defence and Security Review endorsed the Commando Helicopter Force as a key component of Littoral Manoeuvre Tailored Air Group and confirmed its requirement. In addition to Littoral Manoeuvre, the force supports Maritime Counter Terrorism and Land Operations.
To ensure the longer term viability of the Commando Helicopter Force, it is intended to transfer the Royal Air Force Merlin helicopters Mk3/3a to the Royal Navy and to undertake a ship optimisation program to MK4/4a in order to provide embarked medium lift capability for Littoral Manoeuvre. The Commando Helicopter Force will also receive a small number of Battlefield Wildcat (Army) helicopters to replace the Lynx Mk7/9a.
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Defence: Procurement
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [45556]
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many senior responsible owners have been designated within his Department; and to which project each is assigned. [46302]
Peter Luff [holding answer 14 March 2011]: Senior responsible owners (SROs) for the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD)’s most significant business change and military capability programmes are formally appointed and are responsible to the Defence Board as their Sponsoring Group. These designated SROs are personally appointed by MOD’s Permanent Under-Secretary. A table detailing the appointments made since this policy was introduced in 2005 has been placed in the Library of the House.
The policy does not distinguish between the MOD and its agencies, and has not been applied to its trading funds or non-departmental public bodies. The table shows appointments for both military capability and business change programmes and projects, the majority of which include procurement elements (for example, the procurement of information systems or building works in the case of business change programmes).
Departmental Public Expenditure
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the maximum value is of a project which may be authorised by an official of his Department without seeking ministerial consent; and what the largest such project was in the last three years. [47403]
Peter Luff [holding answer 17 March 2011]: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) primarily categorises projects by type and level of investment required. The largest projects that may be approved by senior officials are category B projects, the value of which depends on the type of project as shown in the following table:
| Type of project | Category B value (£ million) |
The authority to approve category B projects is delegated to a senior committee of representatives of the investment approvals board. These thresholds for approval have been set based on the level of delegated authority from the Treasury, the volume of projects at each level and the need to optimise the level of scrutiny.
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However, since April 2009, all projects valued at over £100 million have also required the approval of the Treasury at either official or ministerial level. Any projects that require the approval of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury are first approved by Ministers at the MOD.
The highest value project to have been approved by senior officials in the last three years was a project to provide in-service support to refurbish HMS Vigilant. This was approved in October 2008 at a value of £372 million.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what regulations his Department repealed between 1 February 2011 and 28 February 2011. [45984]
Mr Robathan: On 28 February 2011, the Ministry of Defence laid before Parliament the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2011 (SI 2011/517). The purpose of this Order was to revoke and re-enact the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2005 (SI 2005/439), with modifications incorporating the recommendations of the Review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme by Admiral the Lord Boyce which had been laid before Parliament in February 2010 (Cm 7798). Together with the original 2005 Order, a further seven Orders relating to the Scheme made between 2006 and 2010 were revoked by this new Order.
Ex-Servicemen: Long-term Care
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to ensure the provision of long-term care for former service personnel who are injured while in service. [38982]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence continues to work with other bodies including the UK Department of Health, to ensure the successful transition of health care support as personnel move from service to civilian life. Recent steps include the development of the Army Recovery Capability, and the implementation of the recommendations of my hon. Friend, the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison) in the area of mental health care.
Gurkhas
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gurkhas serving in the Army have sustained noise-induced hearing loss in each of the last five years. [45968]
Mr Robathan: Prior to 2010, the Ministry of Defence does not hold information on the number of UK armed forces personnel medically downgraded as a result of ‘noise-induced’ hearing loss and these data could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
From 2010 the figures for Gurkhas serving in the armed forces who have been assessed with impaired/poor hearing are shown in the following table:
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|
|
Number of trained and serving Gurkhas | Number of Gurkhas who have received impaired/poor hearing assessments |
For the period 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2009, there were no Gurkhas medically discharged with a principal reason of noise-induced hearing loss.
Harrier Aircraft: Redundancy
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any pilots have been made redundant as a result of the deletion of the Harrier fleet. [47607]
Military Aircraft
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many AWACS aircraft are declared ready for operations; and at what level of readiness such aircraft are held; [47753]
(2) how many Typhoon squadrons are declared ready for operations; and at what level of readiness such aircraft are held. [47755]
Nick Harvey: There are currently three operationally declared Typhoon squadrons and one flight. There are six AWACS aircraft declared for operations.
I am withholding information on the level of readiness as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability and effectiveness of the armed forces.
RAF Leuchars
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 28 February 2011, Official Report, column 70W, on the Air Force: military bases, what the cost to the public purse was of the work at RAF Leuchars classified as redevelopment. [46210]
Peter Luff: The question refers to work scheduled as part of the annual planning round in 2010. No costs have been incurred on redevelopment in 2010-11 and I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Armed Forces, my hon. Friend the Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey), on 7 February 2011, Official Report, column 25W.
Squatting
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many buildings on his Department's estate were occupied by squatters in each year between 2006 and 2010; and on how many occasions his Department sought interim possession orders to remove squatters from such buildings in each of those years. [47659]
Peter Luff: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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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 what steps he has taken to enhance simulated training to produce a more efficient and cost-effective training environment. [45908]
Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence has instigated the Defence Training Systems and Infrastructure (DTS&I) Change Programme to transform the Department’s approach to training through greater use of simulation and synthetic systems. This will improve the readiness and effectiveness of the UK armed forces and significantly reduce the cost of training. DTS&I is working closely with the Front Line Commands to identify the most appropriate mix of live and synthetic systems.
Trident Submarines
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which occasions each Minister of State in his Department has been present to welcome returning submariners following a tour of duty of a Vanguard-class submarine in the last 15 years. [47315]
Dr Fox: Centralised records have only been held since December 2004 and information prior to then could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, since December 2004, the following visits by Ministers of State have been undertaken to welcome returning Vanguard Class submarines from deterrent patrol:
November 2005 Minister for Defence Procurement (The Lord Drayson)
February 2006 Minister for the Armed Forces (The hon. Adam Ingram)
June 2007 Secretary of State for Defence (The right hon. Des Browne)
October 2009 Secretary of State for Defence (The right hon. Bob Ainsworth)
June 2010 Minister for the Armed Forces (The hon. Nick Harvey)
November 2010 Secretary of State for Defence (The right hon. Dr Liam Fox).
Home Department
Animal Experiments: Inspections
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspectors the Animals Scientific Procedures Inspectorate employed in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010; and how many she expects it to employ in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012. [47272]
Lynne Featherstone: The number of individual Animal Scientific Procedures Inspectors employed to contribute to the inspection process in each of the following years was:
|
|
Number |
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I am not in a position to predict figures for the future number of inspectors. However, we are committed to continue to match resources to deliver the appropriate outcomes of the inspection process.
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspections the Animals Scientific Procedures Inspectorate made in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010; and how many she expects it to make in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012. [47273]
Lynne Featherstone: The following number of visits to places where scientific work on animals was conducted was made by the Animals Scientific Procedures Inspectors.
|
|
Visits |
I am not in a position to estimate future numbers of inspections by the Home Office inspectors. The inspectorate will continue to take a risk-based approach to the planning and execution of the inspection programme.
European Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes is to be implemented in United Kingdom legislation on 1 January 2013. A detailed assessment of the impact of its provisions including those relating to inspections is under way and will in due course be included in a public consultation on options for transposition.
We are weighing up the implications of the various requirements of the directive with a view to seeking views in the public consultation. We plan to reach firm decisions on the way forward before the summer recess after considering the responses on this and other issues.
Courts: Closures
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice on the effects of proposed court closures on the time taken by police officers to (a) search for and (b) transport to court individuals who have failed to attend court. [45808]
Nick Herbert: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is in regular discussion with the Secretary of State for Justice on issues relating to criminal justice efficiency. We are working to develop a package of reforms that will make the whole criminal justice system more efficient, including reducing the time and effort currently spent transporting people and paperwork around the system.
There is no evidence to suggest that travel distance to court is a significant cause of defendants failing to appear. We expect defendants to attend court when summoned, and if defendants fail to appear at court guidance is in place that obliges the court to consider proceeding in their absence. Wilful failure to attend court can be a criminal offence. The Criminal Justice System (CJS) agencies have worked together to ensure defendants get to court and we expect that to continue.
We believe that better planning of court activities in fewer and larger court centres will result in regular users such as the police making fewer journeys to court overall.
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Domestic Violence
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has put in place targets in respect of police response to domestic violence cases. [47421]
Lynne Featherstone: There are no central targets in place in relation to the police response to domestic violence. Local areas may, of course, set their own targets in consultation with partners.
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Guidance on Investigating Domestic Abuse provides the police service with clear information about the policing of domestic violence and provides operational, tactical and strategic advice.
Independent Safeguarding Authority
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last 12 months the Independent Safeguarding Authority has used its powers under the Policing and Crime Act 2009 to provide information to the police. [47184]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 17 March 2011]: The Policing and Crime Act 2009 amended the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 to include section 50A which allows the Independent Safeguarding Authority to provide any information it has to a Chief Officer of Police for use in connection with:
(a) the prevention, detection and investigation of crime;
(b) the apprehension and prosecution of offenders.
Between 1 March 2010 and 28 February 2011 the Independent Safeguarding Authority responded to 226 enquiries from the police under section 50(A). In addition, the Independent Safeguarding Authority has proactively disclosed information to the police on 14 occasions and provided 184 evidence packs under section 50A.
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been barred from regulated activity relating to children by the Independent Safeguarding Authority who have not been subject to investigation or prosecution by police forces. [47185]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 17 March 2011]: Between 1 March 2010 and 28 February 2011 the Independent Safeguarding Authority used its discretionary powers to bar 109 people on the children's list for whom they held no record of a police investigation or prosecution taking place.
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been barred from regulated activity relating to children by the Independent Safeguarding Authority who have not received a relevant criminal conviction. [47186]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 17 March 2011]:Relevant offences are set out in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Prescribed Criteria and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2009. Where a person accepts a caution or is convicted of a relevant offence, the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) is legally required to place them on the barred list relating to children and/or vulnerable adults (automatic barring).
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Between 1 March 2010 and 28 February 2011, the ISA used its discretionary powers to bar 248 people from regulated activity on the children’s list. Of these, 81 had been convicted and two had accepted cautions for offences which had not led to automatic barring. The ISA holds no record of any conviction or caution for the remaining 165 individuals who were barred under discretionary powers.
Police
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to publish the report into police leadership commissioned from Peter Neyroud. [45460]
Mrs May [holding answer 10 March 2011]: I will publish the report soon and will consult on it.
Vetting
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when (a) schools, (b) children’s activities providers, (c) service providers for vulnerable adults and (d) care homes will be required to obtain (i) a standard Criminal Records Bureau check and (ii) an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check on a potential employee (voluntary or otherwise); when they will be able to exercise discretion in obtaining (A) a standard Criminal Records Bureau check and (B) an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check following implementation of proposals in the Protection of Freedoms Bill. [46817]
Lynne Featherstone: Criminal records disclosure arrangements provide eligibility to obtain Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks rather than a requirement to do so, for posts covered by the Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Eligibility for enhanced criminal records certificates are determined by regulations made under the Police Act 1997 and are normally available for those working closely with children or vulnerable adults.
The decision to request a CRB check is made by the body recruiting the individual, subject to statutory requirements and any sector specific guidance. A number of regulations applying in the health and education sectors require criminal records checks to be undertaken.
Measures in the Protection of Freedoms Bill will not change these arrangements but will introduce a legal requirement for a barred list check to be made on persons entering regulated activity, which may be done by obtaining an enhanced criminal records check.
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to enable (a) schools, (b) providers of young people's services and (c) providers of services to vulnerable adults to gain access to the non-criminal information held by the Independent Safeguarding Authority on potential employees conducting non-regulated activities. [46818]
Lynne Featherstone: Non-regulated activity is not subject to the barring regime and there is no power for the Independent Safeguarding Authority to provide such information. We have no plans to introduce such arrangements.
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The provision of this information may be seen as disproportionate to the purposes of the barring regime and in breach of article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to permit the sharing of the outcome of Criminal Records Bureau checks in cases where a similar body has carried out a recent check. [47800]
Lynne Featherstone: The decision to request a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) certificate is made in line with each organisation’s own internal recruitment policies and any sector specific legislation that governs them. A CRB certificate can be used for more than one position but the decision whether to accept a ‘ported’ certificate is made by the organisation and not the CRB.
The Government have commissioned an independent review into the criminal records regime and a number of recommendations have been made, which should ultimately reduce the need for an individual to obtain multiple CRB checks:
The Protection of Freedoms Bill, which was introduced in Parliament in February, contains provisions to allow for a system of up-dating for CRB certificates. The provisions allow that any individual applying for a CRB certificate can apply to be part of an up-dating service. This would allow an applicant to authorise employers to make a check of the service to identify whether any “new” information was known that would appear on a certificate, should one be issued.
Business, Innovation and Skills
English Language: Education
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what equality impact assessment he has commissioned in respect of the proposed changes to English for Speakers of Other Languages funding for adults; and when he plans to make that assessment available to the House. [47754]
Mr Hayes: The equality impact assessment published alongside “Skills for Sustainable Growth (November 2010)” found that, at the aggregate level, there are unlikely to be disproportionate impacts on protected groups. A separate assessment of how the changes may affect ESOL learners is currently being carried out by the Department. I expect to be able to publish the assessment in due course.
Entry Clearances: India
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2011, Official Report, column711W, on entry clearances: India, what the maximum number of such natural persons is that could be admitted to the UK each year in accordance with any such EU-India Free Trade Agreement; and what minimum salary would be required of them. [47859]
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Mr Prisk: The EU-lndia Free Trade Agreement is still under negotiation. In those categories of natural person where numbers may be limited in the agreement, no decisions on numbers have been finalised.
We expect the agreement to be consistent with the Government's intention to apply a £40,000 minimum salary requirement to intra-company transferees coming to the UK for more than 12 months.
Higher Education: Finance
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to which institutions capital grants have been made from the (a) Strategic Development Fund and (b) University Modernisation Fund to date; and what the monetary value of each such grant was. [47860]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 18 March 2011]: The projects approved by the Higher Education Funding Council for England through the Strategic Development Fund are published by the council on its website at:
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/finance/fundinghe/sdf/projects_aug10.xls
I will place a copy in the Libraries of the House. The University Modernisation Fund does not have a capital element.
Video Games: Sales
Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many British-made video games were sold worldwide in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010; [46882]
(2) how many British-made video games were sold in the UK in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010; [46883]
(3) what proportion of video games sold in the UK video games industry were British-made in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010. [46884]
Mr Vaizey: My Department does not collect sales figures for video games. However, in 2010:
10,913,984 units of UK developed games were sold in the UK;
UK developed games accounted for 17.4% of the total number of games sold in the UK.
These figures are for physical boxed product sales at retail.
Source:
UKIE Games Chart, compiled by GFK Chart-Track
International Development
British Overseas Territories: Overseas Aid
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department’s bilateral aid he plans to allocate to British Overseas Territories from 2011-12 to 2014-15. [47653]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Aid allocations for the British Overseas Territories are currently being finalised as part of DFID’s operational plans. These plans will be published in April.
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The Overseas Territories are a first call on the aid budget, as stipulated by the 2002 International Development Act.
The Government intend to bring all aspects of the Government’s policies on the Overseas Territories together in a new White Paper in the course of the year ahead. We will want to consult widely on this. The strategy will be discussed across Government through the National Security Council and the House will be updated once this is complete.
Departmental Public Bodies
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [47102]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: In my written statement to the House on 12 October 2010, Official Report , column 14-16WS, I set out my intention to reconfigure CDC Group plc in order radically to increase its development impact. I informed that House that my Department would commission independent studies and a public consultation on CDC as part of a process of review. The consultation report and summaries of three of the independent studies have already been published on the DFID website:
www.dfid.gov.uk
I shall make a further announcement in the coming months and CDC will reflect the necessary changes in the business plan which they will publish in the spring. CDC is a public limited company in which Her Majesty's Government is the 100% shareholder.
International Labour Organisation: Expenditure
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development to which International Labour Organisation projects and programmes his Department provided funding in the last four years. [47652]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) provided a total of £17.05 million to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) over the past four years under a central partnership agreement. This partnership agreement ended in March 2010 and was not renewed. DFID has also funded some ILO projects and programmes through bilateral country programmes. DFID is not able to provide a full list of all projects and programmes supported without incurring disproportionate cost.
Lesotho: Overseas Aid
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what reason he has decided to reduce the level of his Department's aid to Lesotho; what account he took of the relative gross domestic product per head of Lesotho in making his decision; and if he will make a statement. [47142]
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Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) bilateral programme to Lesotho, which last year totalled £3.7 million, represents a small fraction of Lesotho’s overall aid. Our experience is that such small programmes often struggle to achieve sufficient impact.
Lesotho is classed as a lower middle income country based on its gross national income per head. Even without the DFID bilateral programme, Lesotho will continue to receive more aid per person than most African countries, including some which are far poorer than Lesotho in income terms. DFID will continue to provide around £10 million to Lesotho each year through the EU, World Bank, debt relief and international non-governmental organisations.
Overseas Aid
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which year his Department's bilateral aid programme with Angola will close; what arrangements he has made for phasing in the closure of that programme; what discussions he held with the government of Angola prior to his decision on the future of the programme; and what proportion of the official development assistance received by Angola his Department's bilateral aid comprised in the latest period for which figures are available. [47651]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development's (DFID's) bilateral aid programme with Angola will close on 31 March 2011. The decision was taken in early 2008 to gradually close the programme over three years. This was communicated at the time to the Government of Angola. This decision was confirmed by the coalition Government under the Bilateral Aid Review. No projects have been closed earlier than planned.
In 2008, the last year for which data is available, the World Bank reports that Angola received a total of $368,820,000 in Official Development Assistance (ODA). Of this total, DFID bilateral aid comprised £3.27 million (approximately $5.26 million) or 1.4% of the total.
Pakistan: Females
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) projects and (b) organisations to assist women and girls his Department funded in Pakistan in the latest period for which figures are available. [47118]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK Government are committed to placing women at the heart of our agenda for international development. All the Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) programmes take account of their impact on women and girls in their design and implementation.
DFID has supported a number of programmes that directly benefit girls’ and women’s organisations and activities in Pakistan over recent years. For example, DFID’s support to the United Nations Development Programme Gender Justice and Protection Programme has, since March 2007, helped 6,000 women victims of violence by providing them with counselling and legal aid. Our support to Oxfam GB (2008-13) is promoting the rights and capacity of poor women to engage effectively in governance at all levels in a number of countries
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including Pakistan. DFID is also supporting the microfinance sector to serve an additional 1.5 million poor people, over half of which will be women.
The most up to date information on all of our projects in Pakistan is published online on DFID’s Project Database, available at
http://projects.dfid.gov.uk
Women and Equalities
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how much the Government Equalities Office has spent on (a) salaries and (b) pension entitlements for special advisers in the financial year 2010-11 to date. [46577]
Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office is not responsible for the salary and pension payments of special advisers in 2010-11.
Departmental Procurement
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many procurement projects with a monetary value greater than (a) £10 million, (b) £50 million and (c) £100 million the Government Equalities Office was engaged upon in the latest period for which figures are available. [45563]
Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office has not engaged in any projects valued at £10 million and above.
Equality and Human Rights Commission: Pay
Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities pursuant to the answer of 28 February 2011, Official Report, column 18W, on the Equality and Human Rights Commission: pay, what the average salary was of employees of the Equality and Human Rights Commission who were (a) white and (b) non-disabled as at 31 March 2010. [45235]
Lynne Featherstone: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is an arm's length body; the following is based on information it has provided.
Based on the salaries of EHRC employees as at 31 March 2010 (the most recent information available) the average annual salaries of the employee groups requested are as follows:
(a) White: £35,800
(b) Non-disabled: £35,400.
Justice
Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many appeals against decisions made on applications for employment and support allowance are outstanding in (a) Wrexham, (b) Wales and (c) Great Britain. [47863]
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Mr Djanogly: There are always a number of ‘live’ appeals in the First tier Tribunal—Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) progressing through the stages of receipt, decision and promulgation. The number of live employment support allowance appeals in the UK up to 31 January 2011, the most recent period for which statistics have been published, was 87,700. This number was recorded on 31 January but was not broken down by geographical area. It is not possible to identify how many of these live appeals were in Wrexham and Wales.
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average length of time taken is to determine an appeal for employment and support allowance. [47864]
Mr Djanogly: The average length of time taken to determine an appeal for employment support allowance was 22.51 weeks as of 31 January 2011. This is the most recent period for which statistics have been published.
Social Security Benefits: Appeals
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how long on average it took the Tribunals Service to administer a First-Tier Tribunal social security and child support appeal in 2009-10; and what estimate he has made of the equivalent figure for 2010-11. [47545]
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Mr Djanogly: The following table provides information on the average length of time taken to determine an appeal from receipt to promulgation for the First-tier Tribunal—Social Security and Child Support in 2009-10 and year to date up to 31 January 2011. This is the most recent period for which statistics are available.
| Average number of weeks taken to administer social security and child support appeals | |
|
|
Average number of weeks |
| (1) April 2010 to 31 January 2011. | |
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many appeals regarding (a) disability living allowance, (b) employment support allowance, (c) income support, (d) jobseeker's allowance and (e) tax credits the Tribunals Service heard in 2009-10; and how many such appeals in each category he expects it to hear in 2010-11; [47546]
Mr Djanogly: The following table provides information on the number of appeal hearings for the First-tier Tribunal—Social Security and Child Support regarding (a) disability living allowance, (b) employment support allowance, (c)income support, (d) jobseekers allowance and (e) tax credits in 2009-10 and year to date up to 31 January 2011. This is the most recent period for which statistics are available.
| Total number of cases disposed of and heard by the First-tier Tribunal-Social Security and Child Support | ||
|
|
2009-10 | 2010-11 to 31 January 2011 (1) |
| (1) April to 31 January 2011. (2) Non hearing clearances including strike out and withdrawals. Note: Figures may not add totals because of rounding | ||
Squatters
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many buildings on his Department’s estate were occupied by squatters in each year between 2006 and 2010; and on how many occasions his Department sought interim possession orders to remove squatters from such buildings in each of those years. [47661]
Mr Blunt: One building owned by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) was twice occupied by squatters in 2009 and interim possession orders sought to remove them on both occasions. Other than these, there have been no squatters in MoJ buildings.
Tribunals Service
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to increase capacity at the Tribunals Service in order to reduce the backlog of appeals awaiting hearing. [47543]
Mr Djanogly: The largest three jurisdictions within the Tribunals Service, Social Security and Child Support, Immigration and Asylum and Employment Tribunals accounted for 92% of receipts for the business year 2009-10.
The Tribunals Service has continued to respond strongly to the significant increase in appeal cases received the
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First-tier Tribunal—Social Security and Child Support (SSCS). There are always a number of ‘live’ appeals in SSCS progressing through the stages of receipt, decision and promulgation. This is not the same as a backlog. As the volumes of SSCS receipts have increased, so has the capacity of the Tribunals Service to deal with them. It is increasing its capacity through the recruitment of additional staff, judicial medical tribunal members as well as a range of business improvements. The Statistical Notice
(3)published on 11 March shows that there has been a 36% increase in the number of disposals by this jurisdiction from 222,300 in April 2009-January 2010, to 302,700 in April 2010-January 2011. As the Tribunals Service continues to bring additional resources on line, we expect the outstanding caseload to fall and reduce waiting times for tribunal hearings.
The First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber (FTTIAC) has reduced its work in hand by 43% since March 2009 and it stands at 50,300 at the end of quarter two this year. This is the lowest it has been since the inception of the Asylum and Immigration tribunal in 2005.
The work load in employment tribunals is also high, with 442,700 ‘live’ cases in the system at the end of September 2010(1). A large majority of this total consist of multiple cases. Multiple cases are where two or more people bring cases, usually against a single employer but not necessarily so and always arising out of the same or very similar circumstances. The Tribunals Service counts each person involved as a separate claim but they represent a very much smaller number of cases proceeding through the system. However, the rate of disposals also remains high; in the last complete financial year—2009-10—over 112,000 claims were disposed of, an increase of 22% on the previous year(2). In addition, a range of initiatives have been introduced to deal with the cases that remain. Innovations have included evening sittings at tribunals, piloting ACAS officer involvement at interlocutory hearings to help facilitate earlier resolution between the parties, variations in the listing and case management procedure, and developments of the judicial mediation. The Government are also currently consulting on a range of proposals that will help to streamline the employment tribunal system still further.
Sources:
(1) TS Quarterly Statistics, Q2, 2010/11. See Table 1.3 at page 31.
(2) TS ET and EAT statistics 2009/10. See page 3.
(3) Available at:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/15355.htm
Tribunals Service: Universal Credit
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have had with the Department for Work and Pensions on the likely effects of the introduction of universal credit on the workload of the Tribunals Service. [47544]
Mr Djanogly: The Tribunals Service and Department for Work and Pensions have been working closely together to manage demands on tribunals and the capacity of tribunals to deal with increased workloads. Regular discussions will continue in planning for the likely effects of the introduction of universal credit on the workload of the Tribunals Service.
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Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will investigate reports of Afghan security forces freeing Taliban prisoners for payment or political motives. [47791]
Alistair Burt: The investigation of allegation of wrongdoing by Afghan National Security Forces is a matter for the Government of Afghanistan. We would expect them to carry out such investigations fully and promptly.
China: Politics and Government
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with his Chinese counterpart the treatment in that country of non-Chinese journalists working for (a) UK and (b) non-UK news organisations. [47238]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We are aware of reports of violence and intimidation of foreign journalists in China. We take this very seriously and have consistently urged the authorities to respect the rights of foreign journalists to report freely in China without fear of violence or any form of intimidation. We have raised these concerns with the Chinese authorities both bilaterally in London and in Beijing and in conjunction with our EU partners and will continue to do so.
We believe that greater openness to the international media is strongly in China's own interests.
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with his Chinese counterpart the treatment in that country of Chinese nationals working for non-Chinese news organisations. [47239]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We are aware of reports that Chinese nationals with links to overseas media groups have been subjected to pressure.
We have consistently raised the treatment of foreign media working in China with the Chinese authorities both bilaterally in London and Beijing and in conjunction with EU partners.
We oppose any form of pressure on or intimidation towards foreign media by Chinese authorities to influence their reporting. We have consistently called on the Chinese authorities to observe their obligations on human rights under international law, including on freedom of speech, and will continue to do so.
Council of Europe
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the contribution of the UK to the Council of Europe. [47799]
Mr Lidington:
The UK was a founder member of the Council of Europe (CoE) in 1949 and has always been at the forefront of the CoE's work, including in its Parliamentary Assembly and its Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. We believe that the CoE's activity
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should focus on its core values: protection and promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Our forthcoming Chairmanship of the CoE's Committee of Ministers, from November 2011 to May 2012, will be an opportunity for us to pursue activities and reforms which emphasise these values.
Departmental Manpower
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department’s policy has been on the collection of information on the educational background of its staff in the last 20 years. [47748]
Alistair Burt: We have not had, and do not have, a policy on the collection of information on the educational background of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff.
The FCO aims to recruit a talented and diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. Our recruitment policies are designed to encourage applications from the widest possible range of backgrounds. All external recruitment into the FCO is based on merit, and all campaigns must be fair and open.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what regulations his Department introduced between 9 and 28 February 2011. [47046]
Alistair Burt: Regulations are a specific type of statutory instrument. They are very rarely sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office sponsored the following Order in Council, between 9 and 28 February 2011:
The Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) (Amendment) Order 2011 (date made: 9 February 2011).
Iceland: EU Accession
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on Iceland's accession to the EU; and if he will make a statement. [47858]
Mr Lidington: The Government fully support Iceland's accession to the EU. We look forward to welcoming Iceland into the EU once it has met the required criteria. The Commission has begun to produce screening reports on individual chapters of Iceland's accession negotiations. These are currently being discussed in the Council's Enlargement Working Group. We anticipate that negotiations on fisheries and the environment (including whaling) will be challenging. We believe that the accession process is the most effective way to influence Iceland to align with the EU position in these areas.
Iran: Nuclear Power
Mr Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the Iranian nuclear programme; what recent discussions he has had with (a) the government of Israel, (b) the Palestinian Authority, (c) the government of Egypt, (d) the Arab League, (e) the government of
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Jordan,
(f)
his EU counterparts and
(g)
the United Nations Secretary General on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [47696]
Alistair Burt: We, and our E3+3 partners, are gravely concerned by the Iranian nuclear programme. The latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency highlights the lack of Iranian transparency over a range of outstanding concerns, including possible military dimensions to their programme. It shows that Iran is enriching uranium in defiance of UN Security Council Resolutions, and has produced 3,606kg of 3.5% and 43.6kg of 20% low enriched uranium.
We have regular discussions with Israel, all countries in the Arab League, as well as EU and UN counterparts on this issue.
Iran: Prisoners
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek information from the Iranian Government on the detention of Dr Frood Fouladvand. [47292]
Alistair Burt: We have asked the Iranian authorities for information on the whereabouts and situation of Dr Fouladvand on a number of occasions, but they claim to have no knowledge of him. We shall continue to monitor this case.
Iran: Sanctions
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Arab League on the Iranian sanctions programme; what response was received; and if he will make a statement. [R] [47689]
Alistair Burt: We, and our E3+3 partners, are gravely concerned by the Iranian nuclear programme. We continue to pursue a diplomatic solution to the issue, through the dual track policy of pressure and engagement. We regularly discuss this with a range of international partners including those in the Arab League.
Iran: Terrorism
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of Iranian involvement with terrorist proxies; what recent discussions he has had with (a) the government of Israel, (b) the Palestinian Authority, (c) the Government of Egypt, (d) the Arab League, (e) the Government of Jordan, (f) his EU counterparts and (g) the United Nations Secretary General on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [R] [47691]
Alistair Burt: We continue to monitor closely Iranian support to Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian rejectionist groups and Iraqi militia groups. We are gravely concerned by the latest evidence that Iran continues to supply the Taleban with weaponry.
We have consistently stressed the negative impact this behaviour has on stability in the region. We regularly discuss this issue with a range of international partners.
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Middle East: Armed Conflict
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the killing on 11 March of the Fogel family in Itamar; and if he will make a statement. [47701]
Alistair Burt: We are aware of widespread press reports on this issue. We understand investigations are ongoing. As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said in his statement of 12 March 2011:
“This was an act of incomprehensible cruelty and brutality which I utterly condemn. We hope the perpetrator is swiftly brought to justice.”
Morocco: Politics and Government
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the government of Morocco. [45322]
Mr Hague: I met the Moroccan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation Taieb Fassi-Fihri in London on 10 March 2011 and discussed a range of bilateral issues as well as the impact of regional unrest on Morocco’s reform agenda.
The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the hon. Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), visited Morocco in December 2010, where he discussed a broad range of issues with several senior representatives of the Government of Morocco. He also spoke to Mr Fassi-Fihri by telephone on 15 February 2011 to discuss the recent unrest across North Africa.
Officials in Rabat engage in regular discussions with their Moroccan counterparts.
Somalia: Piracy
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK nationals he estimates are being held hostage by Somali pirates. [47091]
Alistair Burt: We are not aware that any British nationals are currently held hostage by Somali pirates.
Southern African Development Community
Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on the role of the SADC in monitoring progress towards the 24 goals in the Global Political Agreement in Zimbabwe. [47873]
Mr Bellingham: We fully support the crucial role of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as guarantor of the Global Political Agreement (GPA). We welcome the committed leadership of President Zuma of South Africa in securing a roadmap to credible and properly monitored elections in Zimbabwe.
There has been some progress since the formation of the Government of National Unity, but this has been primarily on the economic front. A number of key provisions in the GPA remain unimplemented. My
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ministerial team and I speak regularly to SADC counterparts. We take every opportunity to stress the importance of seeing the reforms through to completion and to raise our concerns about the current deterioration of political freedoms in Zimbabwe.
USA: Cotton
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the US government on the abolition of American cotton subsidies; and if he will make a statement. [46767]
Alistair Burt: My noble Friend Lord Brittan raised this issue with the US Ambassador to the UK, Louis Susman, on 7 February 2011.
Western Sahara: Human Rights
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he discussed human rights monitoring in Western Sahara during his recent meeting with his Moroccan counterpart; [47256]
(2) whether he discussed democratic reform and the referendum on self-determination in Western Sahara during his recent meeting with his Moroccan counterpart. [47257]
Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, discussed a range of bilateral issues and recent proposals by King Mohammed VI for constitutional reform. Mr Fassi Fihri also raised the issue of the Moroccan Autonomy plan for Western Sahara and proposals for a new National Council of Human Rights. We remain engaged in discussions at the UN and bilaterally about the situation in Western Sahara, including independent verification of the human rights situation and the wider human dimension of the conflict.
Prime Minister
Departmental Public Bodies
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Prime Minister which public bodies to which he makes appointments (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. [47099]
The Prime Minister: The Government are committed to increasing the accountability of public bodies, and this involves reducing their number and their cost to the taxpayer. The proposals for the majority of bodies across all Departments were announced and published on 14 October 2010. An updated list reflecting changes since October 2010 has been published on the Cabinet Office website this month:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/content/public-bodies-and-appointments
Information on the gender of those serving on the boards of public bodies is published annually.
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Members: Correspondence
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to respond to the letter of 30 December 2010 on violence in computer games from the constituent of the hon. Member for Hammersmith, Corinna Jones. [47233]
The Prime Minister: A reply was sent earlier this year.
House of Commons Commission
Equal Pay
Jo Swinson: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the House of Commons Service has undertaken a pay audit to determine whether there is a pay gap between the men and women employed in the House Service. [47822]
John Thurso: An equal pay audit was undertaken for pay bands A-D in 2007 as part of preparations for 2008 pay negotiations. A follow-up audit has now been commissioned. Work on this audit has just started and is scheduled to be complete in April 2011. An equal pay audit of the Senior Commons Structure (SCS) was undertaken in 2010 on behalf of the House's Senior Pay Panel. Equal pay audits follow best practice, i.e. the five-step equal pay audit model as outlined in the Equal Pay Statutory Code of Practice.
Manpower: Females
Jo Swinson: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission what proportion of (a) members of the House of Commons Management Board, (b) heads of department of the House of Commons and (c) heads of each office or service in each House of Commons department are women. [47823] [Official Report, 1 April 2011, Vol. 525, c. 9-10MC.]
John Thurso: The information is as follows:
(a) The House of Commons Management Board comprises the Clerk of the House (Chair), the Directors General of the four departments of the House and the Director of PICT, which is a joint department of the two Houses. There is also an external member. The proportion of women is 17%. A new department, the Department of Finance, will be launched on 1 April 2011. The Head of the new department will sit on the Management Board, and her presence will alter the proportion of women on the Board to 29% (b)The proportion of women who are heads of the four current departments of the House is zero and will rise to 20% of five departments in April. If PICT is included, the figures are 17.5% and 33% respectively, (c)Currently, there are 27 Directors/Heads of Office. Ten of these (43%) are women. If PICT is included, the figure is 37%.
Education
Academies
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of the merits of federations of schools established in order to support bids for academy status; and if he will make a statement. [38029]
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Mr Gibb [holding answer 3 February 2011]: There is evidence to suggest that a strong school with good systems and a clear model of school improvement can provide effective help to an underperforming school (Potter, 2004; DfES, 2005; Hill, 2008; Hill and Matthews, 2008, Hill 2010). Federations or chains of schools can also make savings by pooling resources and through economies of scale. For example they are more likely to be able to employ fully qualified and experienced financial and business managers and can share back office administration and maintenance services (Hill, 2010).
Academies: Wigan
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on which dates meetings were held between officials of his Department and Abraham Guest high school in Wigan to discuss the conversion of that school to academy status since May 2010. [38457]
Mr Gibb: Only one meeting has been held between Department of Education officials and representatives of Abraham Guest high school to discuss the conversion of the school to academy status. This meeting was held on 18 November 2010 at Winstanley college, Wigan. All subsequent discussions have primarily been held over the telephone.
Adoption
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to improve the process of adoption. [37014]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 31 January 2011]:The Government expect the adoption system to work effectively for all looked after children who would benefit from this permanence option, and wants to see all local authorities performing at the level of the best. That is why I have set up a Ministerial Advisory Group on Adoption to provide expert advice on a range of practical proposals to improve and share practice. In November 2010, I wrote to directors of Children’s Services and lead members to ask them to do everything possible to increase the number of children appropriately placed for adoption, and to improve the speed with which decisions are made.
On 22 February I published revised statutory guidance on adoption. This is an important element in the Government’s programme of reform to support adoption agencies in removing barriers to adoption and reducing delay. The guidance takes account of recent case law and reflects key messages from the “Adoption Research Initiative”, which provides a robust evidence base for adoption practice, including permanence planning, family finding and matching of children and prospective adopters. I also recently hosted a roundtable event with a group of adopters to hear about their experiences of the adoption process and how it can be improved.
In addition, the Family Justice Review is considering what changes are needed to the system including how best to ensure that delays in determining the outcomes of court applications are kept to a minimum. The interim report is due at the end of March and the final report in October 2011. In the meantime, I will continue to discuss with the president of the Family Division how cases can be better handled in the context of the current legal framework.
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Apprentices: Greater London
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding he has allocated for level 2 apprenticeships in 2011-12 in the (a) London borough of Camden and (b) London borough of Brent. [38418]
Mr Hayes: The total apprenticeships budget for the 2011-12 financial year is £799 million for 16 to 18-year-olds; £605 million for those aged 19 and over(1) and our indicative forecast is to fund over 360,000 apprenticeship places in the 2011/12 academic year. The levels that these places are at will be determined by the level of skills employers actually need in their business.
The Apprenticeships Programme is demand led. Government do not plan apprenticeship places by level or set specific allocations for apprenticeships by local authority. Government provide funding to the Skills Funding Agency on a national basis and forecasts the overall number of places that may be afforded.
We rely on employers and providers to work together to offer sufficient opportunities to meet local demand, taking advantage of the greater freedoms and flexibilities that we have created in the further education system. Funding allocations to colleges and providers reflect the pattern of employer demand and funding is moved in year to reflect local need. The National Apprenticeship Service works with local providers and employers in the London borough of Camden and the London borough of Brent to make Apprenticeship places available where there is demand.
(1) 16-18 figures: 16-19 Funding Statement, YPLA (December 2010); 19+ figures: Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth, BIS (November 2010)
Children: Poverty
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent estimate he has made of the number of children living in severe poverty in Brighton, Pavilion constituency. [45450]
Maria Miller: I have been asked to reply.
There is no official or agreed definition of severe poverty.
Estimates of the number and proportion of children living in poverty are published in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. HBAI uses household income adjusted (or 'equivalised') for household size and composition, to provide a proxy for standard of living. HBAI presents a range of low-income thresholds (based on 50, 60 and 70% of median income). As they are based on survey data, child poverty estimates published in HBAI only allow breakdowns to Government office region and analysis by parliamentary constituency is not possible.
Children’s Centres: Greater London
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding he has allocated to Sure Start children’s centres in the (a) London borough of Camden and (b) London borough of Brent and whether such funding will be ring-fenced. [38186]
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Sarah Teather: Until March 2011 funding allocated to local authorities for children’s centres was included within the wider Sure Start Early Years and Childcare Grant (SSEYCG). From 2011-12, funding will be included within the new Early Intervention Grant. This is a new un-ring-fenced and un-hypothecated funding stream which from 1 April 2011 will give local authorities greater flexibility to target resources strategically and intervene early to improve outcomes for children, young people and families. The Government have ensured there is enough money within the Early Intervention Grant to retain a network of Sure Start Children’s Centres, accessible to all but identifying and supporting families in greatest need. Final local authority EIG allocations for 2011-12 and 2012-13 were announced on 25 February.
The following table sets out the London borough of Brent and Camden’s SSEYCG allocations for 2010-11 and their final Early Intervention Grant allocations for 2011-12 and 2012-13.
| Total allocations for Brent and Camden 2010-13 | |||
|
|
SSEYCG capital and revenue allocation 2010-11 | Early Intervention Grant 2011-12 final allocations | Early Intervention Grant 2012-13 final allocations |
Children’s Centres: Sefton
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding his Department provided for children’s centres in Sefton in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; and how much such funding will be provided in 2011-12. [37956]
Sarah Teather: Funding allocated to local authorities for Sure Start Children’s Centres (until March 2011) was included within the wider Sure Start Early Years and Childcare Grant (SSEYCG) Main Revenue and Main Capital funding blocks. Local authorities have the freedom to decide on how to allocate this funding in line with local priorities.
Sefton local authority’s SSEYCG allocations for 2008-11 are shown in the following table.
| Sefton SSEYCG capital and revenue allocation 2008-11 | |||
|
|
Capital | Revenue | Total |
The Early Intervention Grant is a new un-ring-fenced and un-hypothecated funding stream which from 1 April 2011 will give local authorities greater flexibility to target resources strategically and intervene early to improve outcomes for children, young people and families. The Government have ensured there is enough money within the Early Intervention Grant to retain a network of Sure Start Children’s Centres, accessible to all but identifying and supporting families in greatest need. Final allocations for the Early Intervention Grant for 2011-12 and 2012-13 were published on 25 February 2011—the allocation for Sefton local authority for 2011-12 is £11,370,590.