Military Aircraft
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the Royal Navy has for the purchase of maritime patrol aircraft. [47975]
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Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence is currently conducting a capability investigation into its long-term requirements for a wide area maritime surveillance capability, which will report in September 2011. We currently have no plans to procure a maritime patrol aircraft.
Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what level of customer satisfaction was most recently recorded by his Department in respect of Ministry of Defence Police in defence community police officer roles. [48031]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence Police customer satisfaction survey 2010 recorded a satisfaction rate of 92.3% for Defence community police officers.
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the budget for the Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency functions is in respect of (a) defence business continuity, (b) defensive armed policing, (c) uniformed policing, (d) guarding and (e) crime investigation in each of the last five years. [48032]
Mr Robathan: The following table provides the budget for the identified Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency functions for the last five financial years:
| £ million | |||||
|
|
Defence Business Continuity | Defensive Armed Policing | Uniformed Policing | Guarding | Crime Investigation |
| (1) Not recorded | |||||
Radioactive Waste
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons his Department project increases in aerial and liquid discharges of tritium from the defence sector in the UK Strategy for Radioactive Discharges. [47135]
Peter Luff: I will write to the hon. Member.
Royal Naval Armaments Depot Coulport
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the future arrangements for contractor management and operation of the Royal Naval Armaments Depot at Coulport. [47826]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has been assessing options on how best to sustain elements of strategic weapons systems support at Coulport in the future. On current plans, a decision is expected later this year. The safety, security and effectiveness of the UK’s strategic deterrent remain paramount. Irrespective of the outcome, Coulport will remain under the ownership and control of the MOD.
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Sealand
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Minister in his Department took the decision to refuse access to the Defence Support Group site at Sealand to the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside; and if he will make a statement. [48017]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 21 March 2011]: No Minister made any decision to refuse the hon. Member access to the Defence Support Group (DSG)'s site at Sealand in his constituency of Alyn and Deeside. The hon. Member has previously visited the site on several occasions for business updates and discussions with DSG's senior management and trade unions. However, any visit to a Ministry of Defence site requires the prior approval of the appropriate Defence Minister in advance. I know that if he contacts the office of DSG's chief executive, a mutually convenient date for a visit may then be arranged.
Trident
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of the time taken to pass the initial gate stage on the 2016 start date for construction of the first Trident replacement submarine in 2016. [47771]
Peter Luff: We expect an announcement on initial gate in the coming weeks. As the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox) said on 14 March 2011, Official Report, column 8:
“there remain ongoing discussions, which have simply taken longer then it was anticipated a few weeks ago. It is important, given the size of the project, that we get the decision right.”
There has been no change to our plan to build the first Trident replacement submarine, outlined in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, as a result of the short delay to initial gate.
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures have been introduced to ensure that the decision on Trident taken at initial gate will ensure the cost-effectiveness of the process of renewing the independent nuclear deterrent. [47772]
Peter Luff: Following the value for money study, we took a number of decisions during the strategic defence and security review (SDSR) to ensure that the successor deterrent programme will be delivered effectively. These included deferring the in-service date of the submarine to 2028, reducing the number of operational missiles and warheads and improving the way we work with industry under the submarine enterprise performance programme.
We have also previously announced that we will work with the US to deliver a common missile compartment for the successor submarine, which will reduce costs through the sharing of development costs.
The decision taken during the SDSR allowed us to save and defer £3.2 billion over the next 10 years.
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Treasury
Public Expenditure Reductions
17. Graeme Morrice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the pace of proposed reductions in public expenditure to take into account the GDP figures for the fourth quarter of 2010. [47934]
18. Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the pace of proposed reductions in public expenditure to take into account the GDP figures for the fourth quarter of 2010. [47935]
Ian Mearns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the pace of proposed reductions in public expenditure to take into account the GDP figures for the fourth quarter of 2010. [47940]
Danny Alexander: Deficit Reduction is a pre requisite for sustainable economic growth. While recognising the recovery could prove choppy, the Government are committed to the consolidation programme announced in the June Budget and providing the conditions for growth.
The UK economy grew by 1.3% in 2010 and the OBR's November 2010 Economic and Fiscal Outlook, which takes into account all the measures announced in the June Budget and spending review, forecasts the economy to grow in every year of the forecast to 2015-16.
Petrol Prices
19. John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of trends in duty and value added tax on petrol. [47936]
Justine Greening: The previous Administration raised fuel duty 12 times while in office, including on four occasions between December 2008 and April 2010, proposed introducing a fuel escalator from 2011, and planned for a further series of six consecutive fuel duty rises of nearly 6p in total plus rises linked to inflation in each year up to 2014.
The standard rate of value added tax was increased to 20% in order to help tackle the fiscal deficit that was inherited from the previous Administration.
Inflation
20. Mr Carswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to reduce the rate of inflation. [47937]
Justine Greening: The independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of England is responsible for maintaining price stability and achieving the 2% annual inflation target set by the Government.
The remit for the MPC allows it to look through short-term movements in inflation that are driven by temporary shocks. The MPC continues to judge inflation is likely to fall back during 2012 due to the effects of spare capacity in the economy.
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Bank Bonuses
22. Heidi Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals for a further tax on bank bonuses. [47939]
Mr Hoban: We have been clear that we want the banks to make a greater contribution to the Exchequer, which is why we introduced the permanent banking levy. The reality is that, in steady state, the bank levy will raise more revenue every year from the banking sector than the bank payroll tax.
The hon. Member should remember the words of the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, the right hon. Member for Edinburgh South West (Mr Darling), who said that the bank payroll tax did not work.
Economic Growth: Kent
24. Mrs Grant: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal measures he has taken to support economic growth in Kent. [47941]
Danny Alexander: This Government have taken steps to tackle the big issues that matter for growth, and macroeconomic stability: to ensure access to finance for SMEs and to protect incentives for innovation; to reform the skills and labour market systems; to ensure the UK tax regime is competitive; and to prioritise investment in infrastructure.
The Local Growth White Paper published last October provides the framework through which we will deliver growth at the local level, including powerful incentives for local authorities to go for growth.
Manufacturing
25. Amber Rudd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal measures he is taking to support economic growth in the manufacturing sector. [47942]
Justine Greening: The June Budget announced reductions in the main rate of corporation tax from 28% to 24% over four years, and of the small profits rate from 21% to 20%. The manufacturing sector is expected to gain over £250 million annually when the package is fully implemented. The Budget and growth review will set out further details of the Government’s plan for sustainable, private sector-led, balanced growth.
HM Revenue and Customs
Mrs Moon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the contribution of HM Revenue and Customs to reducing the budget deficit. [47938]
Mr Gauke: The scale of the deficit means there has never been a more important time for HMRC to be more efficient and flexible in dealing with customers and more effective in bringing in revenues.
HMRC’s spending review 2010 (SR10) settlement reflects the vital dual role that HMRC plays in reducing the deficit.
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HMRC will make significant savings-reducing costs by 25%, including a 33% reduction in administrative costs and reduce capital spend by 25% compared to 2010-11, but will also reinvest £917 million of these savings to tackle avoidance, evasion and fraud.
For SR10 HMRC will bring in additional revenues in each year of the SR rising to £7 billion a year by 2014-15. The total additional revenues from tackling tax avoidance, evasion and fraud over the SR period is £18 billion. Additionally, HMRC is committed to reducing fraud and error in the tax credit system by £2 billion a year.
VAT: Retail Industry
Eric Joyce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on consumer confidence of the increase in the standard rate of value added tax since his recent meeting with representatives of the retail industry. [47923]
Mr Gauke: Sustainable public finances will increase consumer confidence in the medium-term.
Decisive action taken by the Government in the spending review and June Budget, including the increase in VAT, will put the public finances and spending on a sustainable footing.
Excise Duties: Fuels
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether liquefied petroleum gas will be included in his application to the European Commission for a rural fuel duty rebate pilot scheme. [48085]
Justine Greening: Liquefied petroleum gas for road use is a fuel type with an existing UK wide duty discount. The Government intend to submit a formal proposal to the European Commission for a pilot scheme that will deliver a maximum of five pence per litre duty discount on petrol and diesel in remote rural areas.
Income Tax: Underpayments
Mr Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the recovery by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of underpaid income tax where the underpayment was caused by an error or errors made by HMRC; and if he will make a statement. [47715]
Mr Gauke: Extra Statutory Concession A19 (ESC A19) sets out the conditions that must be met before HMRC can forgo the recovery of income tax underpayments. The concession requires the underpayment to have arisen as a result of HMRCs failure to make proper and timely use of information provided. It also requires the individual to show that they had reasonable belief that their tax affairs were in order.
Individual Savings Accounts: Children
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many expressions of interest in his proposed junior ISA his Department has received via the direct.gov portal. [48111]
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Mr Hoban: Information on Junior ISAs is available to members of the public on the Directgov website. However it is not possible, on this website, to record expressions of interest in Junior ISAs.
The Government continue to consult with a wide range of interested stakeholders on Junior ISAs.
Means-tested Benefits
Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of working heads of family in receipt of income-related benefits or tax credits, facing a marginal rate of deduction of over (a) 60 per cent., (b) 70 per cent., (c) 71 per cent., (d) 72 per cent., (e) 73 per cent., (f) 75 per cent., (g) 76 per cent., (h) 77 per cent., (i) 78 per cent., (j) 79 per cent. and (k) 80 per cent. in (i) 2010-11 and 2011-12 as a result of the March 2010 Budget and (ii) 2011-12 as a result of the June 2010 Budget. [42358]
Mr Gauke: The following table sets out our estimate of the numbers of working heads of family in receipt of income-related benefits or tax credits facing a marginal rate of deduction in excess of the requested thresholds.
| Marginal deduction rates (1) | 2010-11 | 2011-12 (2) | 2011-12 (3) |
| (1) Marginal deduction rates are for working heads of families in receipt of income-related benefits or tax credits where at least one person works 16 hours or more a week, and the head of the family is not receiving pensioner or disability premia. (2) Following March 2010 Budget. (3) Following June 2010 Budget Note: Figures are cumulative. Estimates for the 2011-12 tax benefit system are calibrated to tax credit statistics for April 2010, and earlier data for housing and council tax benefits. | |||
At the spending review, the Government announced the new universal credit introduced over two Parliaments, which will replace the current complex system of means-tested working-age benefits with a simple streamlined payment. The universal credit will improve financial work incentives by ensuring that support is reduced at a consistent and managed marginal deduction rate (generally at no more than around 76p in the pound as compared with 96p currently) as people return to work and increase their working hours and earnings.
Members: Correspondence
Amber Rudd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye of 6 December 2010 Ref AR/JA/243 on behalf of constituents Mr and Mrs Gordon. [47507]
Mr Gauke: I replied to the hon. Member on 10 March 2011.
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Non-domestic Rates: Empty Property
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is reviewing the application of business rates to empty property as part of the Budget process. [47719]
Mr Gauke: As with all taxes and reliefs, HM Treasury keeps the application of business rates to empty property under review.
Public Sector: Pensions
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what legal advice he and his colleagues have received on proposals to change the basis of index linking of public sector pensions already in payment, including on amendments to such schemes whose members made a specific contribution in return for index linking in a particular way. [47600]
Danny Alexander: Where relevant, the Government consider legal advice before announcing and implementing new policies. In line with longstanding practices, and to protect legal privilege, this advice is not released.
Tax Allowances: Married People
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to bring forward legislation for a transferable tax allowance for married couples; whether the allowance will be available to (a) couples without children, (b) civil partners and (c) cohabiting couples; and whether HM Revenue and Customs holds information to enable the production of lists of (i) single earner and (ii) dual earner couple households. [47713]
Mr Gauke: Proposals that recognise marriage and civil partnerships in the income tax system will be brought forward by the Chancellor at the appropriate time.
HMRC does not hold information on individuals' household status, with the exception of tax credit recipients.
Taxation: Football
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the sums owed to the Exchequer by football clubs in the Premier League and Football League at the end of the 2009-10 tax year. [47595]
Mr Gauke: In response to a recent Freedom of Information request, HMRC released the following information about the amount of direct and indirect tax outstanding as at 30 April 2010. This is shown in the following table.
| Division | Direct tax outstanding | Indirect tax outstanding |
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These totals only include PAYE/NIC and VAT and are only a snapshot, valid only on the date taken and, as with any snapshot, the amounts are likely to have been significantly different if taken on a different day as liabilities can become due and payments can be made on a daily basis.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Bahrain: Human Rights
Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Bahrain on the protection of human rights during periods of unrest; and if he will make a statement. [48347]
Alistair Burt: The Government are gravely concerned about the security situation in Bahrain and are monitoring the situation closely. The Prime Minister spoke by telephone to King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa on 15 March, calling on the King of Bahrain to end the violent suppression of street protests in Bahrain.
The Secretary State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend, spoke to Bahraini Foreign Minister H.E. Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa on 16 March, and expressed serious concern at the situation on the ground and urged for restraint on all sides and the need to return to law and order to enable genuine political reform.
BBC World Service
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 March 2011, Official Report, column 270W, on the BBC World Service, how many representations overseas UK embassies have received on the reductions in the BBC World Service. [48363]
Mr Jeremy Browne: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Anniversaries
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who will represent the Government at the Srebrenica anniversary commemorations in Bosnia on 11 July 2011. [48104]
Mr Lidington: No decision has yet been taken in respect of our representation at the 2011 Srebrenica anniversary commemorations. In 2010, the Government was represented by Lady Warsi, Minister without Portfolio.
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have had with representatives of the survivors of the Srebrenica massacre; and if he will make a statement. [48169]
Mr Lidington: Our embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has periodic contacts with representatives of survivors groups. The Government have condemned, on many occasions, the appalling acts of genocide committed at Srebrenica. At the 15(th) anniversary of the massacre at Srebrenica, the Prime Minister stated that:
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“We must never forget the act of genocide that happened at Srebrenica. It was a crime that shamed Europe. We are committed to bringing those responsible to justice”.
Through our programme funding, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides financial support to fund international personnel working in the Srebrenica team in the State Prosecutors Office in BiH. These staff have contributed to the successful prosecution of war crimes cases relating to events in Srebrenica in 1995. The FCO has also provided support to the work of the International Commission of Missing Persons in BiH in identifying the remains of victims of the genocide at Srebrenica. The FCO has contributed to the cost of the Memorial Centre in Srebrenica. It has also supported work on infrastructure reconstruction and socio-economic activities to support sustainable return in the Srebrenica area.
Cote d'Ivoire: Politics and Government
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of Cote d’Ivoire on the killing of demonstrators in Abidjan on 3 March 2011. [47764]
Mr Hague: I condemn the violence which led to the loss of innocent lives on 3 March 2011. Those responsible must answer for their actions, and we support calls for an international commission of inquiry into this and other instances of violence during the political crisis in Cote d’Ivoire.
We are in regular contact with President Ouattara and his Ministers, including on the human rights situation, through our diplomatic representation in Abidjan. I spoke to President Ouattara last night. The UK Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva spoke to President Ouattara’s Foreign Minister, M. Jean-Marie Kacou Gervais on 14 March 2011 about the situation.
I call on all sides in Cote d’Ivoire to exercise restraint and avoid further violence. Mr Gbagbo must respect the voices of the Ivorian population and the united international community to step aside and allow a peaceful transfer of power.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Females
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on steps to counter sexual violence against women and children in that country. [48114]
Mr Bellingham: While in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) last year, I met Foreign Minister Thambwe and urged the Government of the DRC to implement fully President Kabila’s zero tolerance policy on perpetrators of sexual violence. I also stressed to other DRC Ministers that the DRC’s human rights record must improve. On 23 February 2011, I welcomed the convictions of the senior commander, Lieutenant Colonel Mutuare Daniel Kibibi, and eight other Congolese soldiers responsible for the terrible rapes at Fizi in January 2011. Our embassy in Kinshasa also maintains close links with the Ministry of Gender, Family and Children including through the funding of a gender adviser posted in the Ministry.
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Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to assist women and children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo who are at risk of sexual violence. [48115]
Mr Bellingham: We are making considerable efforts towards helping victims of sexual violence. We continue to lobby the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to implement their zero tolerance policy on sexual violence and end impunity for these appalling crimes. We have lobbied hard to ensure protection of civilians is the UN Organisation Stabilization Mission in the DRC’s (MONUSCO) top priority. The UK’s assessed contribution to MONUSCO is around £62 million per year. The UK has also provided in excess of £35 million to the United Nations’ Humanitarian Pooled Fund for DRC, which funds medical and psychological care for victims. The UK National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security was published in November 2010 and includes a specific sub-plan covering UK assistance to the DRC.
Departmental Public Appointments
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [47104]
Mr Jeremy Browne: 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 was 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 can be downloaded from
www.civilservice.gov.uk/ndpb
Departmental Rail Travel
Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what proportion of civil servants in his Department are entitled to travel first class by rail within the UK. [47070]
Alistair Burt: We have common rules for rail travel for all grades, so where there is an entitlement to first class travel it is the same for all staff.
All staff travel standard class where the published one way rail journey time is less than five hours, unless there are exceptional circumstances such as illness, disability or where first class facilities are essential for working while travelling.
First class rail travel is otherwise only permitted on rail journeys within the UK that are five hours or longer by the quickest and shortest route. In the past 12 months, 99 percent of all railway journeys made by staff within the UK were in standard class.
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Egypt: Politics and Government
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the steps taken by his international partners to ensure that the views of the Egyptian people are fully taken into account before any change to the constitution of that country is made. [47984]
Alistair Burt: There is broad consensus between the UK, European member states and other international partners on policy towards Egypt. The European Council Conclusions of 31 January 2011 made clear that the legitimate democratic aspirations of the Egyptian people should be listened to carefully and addressed through urgent, concrete and decisive measures. Following the referendum on Constitutional reform on 19 March 2011, it will be vital to sustain support for genuine political reform, with a fully inclusive process. It is also important that a credible election timetable is set out.
Indonesia: Religious Freedom
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Indonesian counterpart on (a) freedom of religion and (b) violence against religious minorities. [48119]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We have strong relations with the Government of Indonesia and this includes raising any issues of concern, including freedom of religion, both bilaterally and through the EU. On 11 February 2011 our chargé d’affaires in Jakarta discussed our concerns of the recent attacks on the Ahmadiyya community and churches in central Java with senior officials at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We stressed the importance of ensuring that there was a full investigation and that those responsible be brought to account.
The EU issued a public statement expressing its concerns on 8 February 2011. The importance of tackling discrimination and ensuring protection for minority communities was a focus of discussion at the most recent EU-Indonesia Human Rights Dialogue in Brussels on 9 March 2011.
Japan: Tsunami
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contingency arrangements he (a) has and (b) plans to put in place to (i) provide consular support for and (ii) assist with the evacuation of British nationals in Japan. [47973]
Mr Hague [holding answer 21 March 2011]: Our Consular Crisis Centre in London and consular teams at two locations in Japan (Tokyo, and Osaka) have been working round the clock to provide assistance and advice to British nationals. In Japan we are providing an enhanced package of consular assistance for British nationals directly affected by the earthquake and tsunami, including financial support for people who need essentials such as food, accommodation and clothing, assistance with medical treatment, telephone calls home, and travel both within and out of Japan.
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Libya
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff of his Department are based in (a) Libya and (b) Tripoli. [46708]
Alistair Burt: All Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff in Libya are based at our embassy in Tripoli. In light of the deteriorating situation in Libya, operations at our embassy in Tripoli were suspended on 26 February 2011. Before operations were suspended, there were approximately 80 FCO employees at our embassy in Tripoli. This figure includes UK-based civil servants and staff employed locally. We continue to employ our locally engaged staff in Tripoli but they are not able to perform their normal duties in current circumstances. UK-based staff from our embassy in Tripoli continue to monitor the situation in Libya, reinforcing the Libya team at the FCO in London.
For operational and security reasons, we cannot provide a more detailed breakdown.
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on levels of arms smuggling into Gaza; 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] [47698]
Alistair Burt: Despite the efforts of Israel, Egypt and the international community, weapons continue to be smuggled into Gaza. We continue to work with the international community to support all efforts to implement the steps set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1860 of January 2009, including the prevention and interdiction of illicitly trafficked arms into Gaza and the alleviation of the humanitarian and economic situation. Officials from a number of countries, including the UK, US and Israel, met in Rome on 9 and 10 February 2011 to take forward this work.
Middle East: Politics and Government
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has commissioned research on the role of (a) social media and (b) satellite television in the recent unrest in the Middle East. [45318]
Mr Hague: Social media and satellite television are a fundamental part of today’s networked world. Their role in the middle east is of great interest to us, particularly in light of recent events, and is an important focus of the political reporting which informs our internal policy development. It is also the subject of widely available external research and analysis.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the promotion of democracy in the middle east; what recent discussions he has had with the Arab League on this issue; what response was received; and if he will make a statement. [R] [47683]
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Alistair Burt: I refer my hon. Friend to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs’ speech during the debate on the middle east and north Africa in the House on 17 March 2011, Official Report, columns 494-583.
An unprecedented wave of change is sweeping across the Arab world. Almost every middle eastern country has been affected by demands for greater openness and freedom.
Reform must be a home-grown process, and leadership must come from within countries. However, the international community, including the UK, can play a positive role in supporting the countries of the middle east to put in place the building blocks for more open, plural and free societies.
As part of the UK’s long-term approach, on 8 February 2011 in Tunisia, the Secretary of State announced the launch of the Arab Partnership to support the reforms the countries of the region need for a stable and prosperous future. This is not about imposing Western democratic models and prescribing outcomes, but about promoting more open societies.
I also discussed progress towards democratisation with Amr Moussa, Secretary-General of the Arab League, and senior Egyptian figures during his visit to Cairo from 9-11 March 2011.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement. [47738]
Alistair Burt: As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend, said in his speech to the House during the debate on 17 March 2011, Official Report, columns 494-583, an unprecedented wave of change is sweeping across the Arab world triggering a series of simultaneous crises. In Egypt and Tunisia this has led to new Governments and hope of a more democratic future. In Libya, legitimate protest has been followed by bloody civil strife, at the hands of a Government willing to countenance any loss of life in order to retain power. There is continued unrest in Bahrain, and deep instability in Yemen. And we expect further instability in the region in the coming weeks.
Our immediate priorities remain the welfare of British nationals as well as the need to support dialogue and political reform. Across the region, we continue to press Governments bilaterally and through the EU and UN to respond to the legitimate aspirations of their people for greater political and economic freedom. In Tunisia the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend, announced our new Arab Partnership which will support the development of the core building blocks of more open democratic societies, including a free media, broad political participation and private sector development. The United Kingdom will continue to press for progress on the Middle East Peace Process. Our work to tackle Iran’s nuclear threat also remains vital.
Pakistan: Religious Freedom
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of religious freedom in Pakistan. [47559]
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Mr Hague: We monitor closely the issue of religious freedom in Pakistan. We are concerned about intolerance and violence perpetrated against minority groups and that public debate around issues of religious freedom has become difficult.
The Minister for South Asia (Alistair Burt), raised issues of religious freedom with the Pakistan high commissioner in London, and Baroness Warsi discussed these issues with a number of senior Pakistani leaders during her visit in February. The British high commissioner to Pakistan, Adam Thomson, has also raised this issue with the Government of Pakistan. We will continue to engage with the authorities in Pakistan on these issues as part of our wider human rights work.
Palestinians: Overseas Aid
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent support he has provided to moderate forces in the Palestinian Territories; what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) the Secretary of State for International Development on the provision of funding for moderate forces in the Palestinian Territories; and if he will make a statement. [R] [47668]
Alistair Burt: The UK provides financial and technical assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA). President Abbas underlined during his recent visit to the UK his commitment to peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the 2010-11 financial year, the Department for International Development’s (DFID) support has totalled £31.1 million: £30 million in direct financial assistance and £1.1 million for technical assistance to the Ministries of Planning and Finance.
In addition the UK is supporting capacity building and leadership training for the Palestinian Authority Security Forces. Support in the 2010-11 financial year (from a tri-departmental conflict pool) totalled £2.759 million. The majority of this work is delivered by the British support team in Ramallah, which works with the PA to raise the standards of the security agencies. This includes International Committee of the Red Cross human rights training for senior and intermediate PA security officers.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, DFID and HM Treasury work closely on these issues at both official and ministerial level.
Population
Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on (a) permitting and (b) promoting the provision by Government agencies of technical support to overseas countries seeking (i) information on and (ii) control over their domestic population. [47982]
Alistair Burt [holding answer 21 March 2011]: We place the values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law at the heart of our foreign policy. Human rights are essential to, and indivisible from, our foreign policy objectives. The Government consider requests for technical support from other countries on a case by case basis, taking account of risks at all levels and in line with foreign policy objectives and values.
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Serbia: War Crimes
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his Serbian counterpart on the extradition of Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic; and if he will make a statement. [48170]
Mr Lidington: The Government remain acutely conscious of the importance of the need to apprehend the remaining International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) fugitives and raises this issue regularly with Serbia.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend, met Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic in Belgrade in September 2010 and then in London in November 2010. On both occasions he made clear that the Government expect Serbia’s full co-operation with the ICTY including exerting maximum effort to apprehend Mladic and Hadzic. I have made clear that Serbia’s future accession to the EU is conditional on its full co-operation with the ICTY. Our ambassador in Belgrade also consistently reinforces this message in his dealings with the Serbian Government.
USA: Visits
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) representations and (b) submissions he has received on his Department’s procedures for arranging visitor tours of the White House; and what role the British embassy in Washington plays in arranging such tours for UK nationals. [48068]
Alistair Burt: Requests to arrange visitor tours of the White House were previously made through our embassy in Washington, which facilitated such tours for visiting UK nationals. However, this practice was discontinued in September 2010 as a result of the increasing difficulty of securing tour places for UK nationals. This is due to the rise in demand from US citizens for White House tours and the fact that the White House gives priority to American visitors over those from other countries. This change brings us into line with many other embassies in Washington that similarly do not offer to process White House tours for their citizens.
Voluntary Work
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department are participating in volunteering activities as part of his Department’s involvement in the big society initiative. [42657]
Alistair Burt: Ministers carry out their duties in line with the Ministerial Code. Any volunteering activities in a personal capacity are a private matter for them. Relevant interests, which may include voluntary activities, are published by the Cabinet Office in the List of Ministers’ Interests at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/list-ministers-interests
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Zimbabwe: Politics and Government
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the situation in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe. [48039]
Mr Bellingham: We are concerned at the recent increase in politically motivated intimidation and violence and the disruption of political and civil society meetings throughout Zimbabwe, including Matabeleland. The political situation in Matabeleland is particularly complex. Although the three provinces strongly supported Morgan Tsvangirai in the 2008 presidential election, it is also where the smaller faction of the Movement for Democratic Change won all their parliamentary seats.
Work and Pensions
Apprentices: Middlesbrough
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of small and medium-sized businesses in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency which employed apprentices in the latest period for which figures are available. [47591]
Mr Hayes: I have been asked to reply.
Information is not available at parliamentary constituency level on the size of the employer for apprentices.
The National Employer Skills Survey (NESS) shows a national estimate of the proportion of apprentices employed by employer size. These data are based on repeated surveys of up to 79,000 employers across all business sectors in England. Table 1 shows information from the published 2009 National Employer Skills Survey(1) on the proportion of apprentices employed by the size of employer, expressed as a percentage of all apprenticeships.
(1) Figure 8.4, page 208 in:
http://www.ukces.org.uk/upload/pdf/NESS%20main%20report_1.pdf
| Table 1: Percentage of apprentices employed by employer size (NESS 2009) | |||||||
| Percentage | |||||||
| Number of employees of employer | |||||||
|
|
2-4 | 5-24 | 25-99 | 100-199 | 200-499 | 500+ | Total |
Small businesses are the cornerstone of our economy and high quality training opportunities like apprenticeships are key to supporting their growth and success. I know that small businesses place great value on an apprenticeship and are prepared to invest in them. Indeed, the National Employer Skills Survey suggests that small and medium-sized businesses employ proportionately more apprentices than larger employers.
Child Maintenance
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the savings to his Department attributable to the operation of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission in each of the next four financial years. [46830]
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Maria Miller: As we announced at the Spending Review, the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission are not exempt from making significant savings across SR10. Work is continuing, through the Department's continuous planning process, with the emphasis on realising savings through both a reduction in corporate and operational costs. Savings in operational expenditure will be greatly assisted by the implementation of the future scheme.
Child Poverty
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has had discussions with Ministers in the (a) Scottish Government, (b) Welsh Assembly Government and (c) Northern Ireland Executive on the members they propose to appoint to the Child Poverty Commission. [48348]
Maria Miller: The devolved Administrations have been involved in discussions on how best to take forward proposals on the Child Poverty Commission.
We believe the Commission must have a remit which will allow it to hold Government to account and drive progress towards reducing child poverty. We cannot justify establishing an independent commission which does not perform these functions effectively. This is why we have chosen to consult with our stakeholders and to carefully consider how the Commission should be taken forward, rather than rushing to set it up. Our plans for establishing a Commission will be set out in the Child Poverty Strategy, to be published shortly. We will ensure Ministers in the devolved Government and Northern Ireland Executive are kept fully informed.
Departmental Procurement
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to the public purse was of the (a) procurement and (b) outsourcing function of (i) his Department and (ii) each (A) agency and (B) non-departmental public body for which he is responsible in the last financial year for which figures are available. [43948]
Chris Grayling: In the Department for Work and Pensions outsourcing forms part of the procurement function. All DWP commercial activity is covered by a DWP commercial strategy and most is conducted as a corporate service covering the DWP centre, agencies and most NDPBs. The cost of the DWP corporate procurement function for 2009-10, and of those non-departmental public bodies that have their own procurement teams, is as follows.
| Organisation | Cost of procurement function 2009-10 (£) |
This response reflects the cost of delivering the procurement function across DWP in 2009-10, the latest full financial year for which figures are available. The
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cost of function is not the same as procurement expenditure which is paid to external suppliers. DWP has a largely joined-up procurement function where the corporate centre provides services to DWP, its agencies and most NDPBs. As a result of past efficiency and modernisation programmes the cost of the procurement function has reduced by 35% over the last seven years. A current Commercial Improvement Programme will develop plans for the function to reduce by a further 40% over the SR10 period.
The Department is reviewing all expenditure with a view to driving out inefficiencies and delivering value for money for the taxpayer.
Disability Living Allowance
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) with reference to paragraph 7 of his Department's impact assessment on reform of disability living allowance, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of his proposed reforms of disability living allowance on the willingness of residents of care homes to travel outside their care home; [46389]
(2) what estimate he has made of the proportion of residential care homes which do not fulfil their responsibilities for the provision of mobility support. [46390]
Maria Miller: As paragraph 7 states, the Government have listened to charities and other stakeholders and will no longer remove this payment from October 2012.
We are currently in the process of reviewing existing evidence and gathering more evidence. In recent months I have met disabled people who are care home residents, their families and care home staff, so that I can listen directly to their views about how mobility support works in practice on the ground.
Our work has so far established that the current support for the mobility needs of disabled people in residential care is inconsistent. There is a lack of clarity about funding leading to confusion about who should provide what, leaving the most vulnerable people at the risk of variable provision.
Any subsequent changes to the mobility component of the disability living allowance for people in residential care will be included in the design of the new Personal independence payment. Any changes are not intended to remove disabled people's mobility but will remove any overlaps in public funds.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what savings his Department proposes to make in respect of the reform of the mobility component of disability living allowance in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15; [46831]
(2) what recent estimate he has made of the level of savings which will arise from the reform of the mobility component of disability living allowance in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15; [46879]
(3) what discussions he has had with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on savings to be made through reform of the mobility component of disability living allowance. [47002]
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Maria Miller: Support in the new benefit will be focused on those who face the greatest challenges to live independent lives. The detailed eligibility criteria that will be used in the new assessment which includes the mobility component are currently being developed. As more detailed design is completed savings estimates will be updated to reflect the increased level of detail. The Chancellor announced in June 2010 that he anticipated that the overall impact of reform will result in savings equivalent to 20% of forecast working age DLA expenditure overall but savings have not been attributed separately to the care and mobility components of DLA. Further information is available in the impact assessment published on 16 February:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dla-reform-wr2011-ia.pdf
As the assessment is further developed work will be undertaken which will inform subsequent impact assessments.
The Secretary of State regularly meets with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. These meetings cover a number of issues and policy areas.
Employers' Liability Insurance
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish his Department’s response to the consultation on proposals to improve the tracing of employers liability insurance policies and establish a fund of last resort to make payments in cases where employers are insolvent and insurers cannot be traced. [46437]
Chris Grayling: In February 2010, the previous Government published their consultation document in Great Britain, “Accessing Compensation—Supporting people who need to trace employers’ liability insurance”, which set out proposals for people who need to find their employers’ liability insurance policies in order to claim compensation. The consultation closed on 5 May 2010.
There were two proposals; firstly an Employers’ Liability Tracing Office, that would manage a database of employers’ liability policies. Secondly, an Employers’ Liability Insurance Bureau which would be a compensation fund of last resort for those individuals who are unable to trace employers’ liability insurance records, ensuring they are able to receive compensation for injuries or diseases sustained during the course of their employment.
We are in active discussions with all stakeholders on how this situation can be addressed and we will bring forward our proposals in due course.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what transitional arrangements (a) there are and (b) he plans to introduce for those who are moved onto jobseeker's allowance following a work capability assessment where the change results in a difference in benefit payments. [44617]
Chris Grayling:
There is no transitional protection for claimants who move from employment and support allowance to jobseeker's allowance and there are no plans to introduce such arrangements. There is however, transitional protection for those who move to employment
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and support allowance following reassessment of their existing incapacity benefit award.
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) in how many cases where couples made a joint claim for jobseeker's allowance the nominated recipient was (a) a man and (b) a woman in the last year for which figures are available; [48092]
(2) in how many cases where couples made a joint claim for (a) income-related jobseeker's allowance, (b) income support and (c) income-related employment and support allowance the claim was made by (a) a man and (b) a woman in the last year for which figures are available. [48093]
Chris Grayling: The information requested in respect of joint claims for income support (IS) and income based employment and support allowance (ESA) is not available because for both these benefits only one member of a couple can make a claim. While many income based IS and ESA customers do receive an additional amount of money for their partner these claims are not made jointly.
The information we do have for the number of joint claims in respect of JSA (IB) are in the following table:
| Jobseeker's allowance (JSA) income based (IB), joint claims, by gender and benefit type, August 2010 | |||
|
|
All joint claims | Male joint claims | Female joint claims |
| Notes: 1. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Figures have been uprated using 5% proportions against 100% WPLS totals. 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 4. Data provided are the most recent available. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) Information Directorate, 5% samples | |||
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether recipients of Jobseeker's allowance who are attending interviews and work trials receive assistance from the public purse with the cost of travel and meals. [48256]
Chris Grayling: Jobseeker's allowance is intended to cover all normal day-to-day living expenses. However, customers attending job interviews that are considered to be outside the local travel to work area may get help with the cost of their fares through the Travel to Interview Scheme and in exceptional circumstances help with accommodation. Customers participating in a Work Trial are also entitled to claim their travel expenses. No meal expenses are paid in relation to attending interviews or a Work Trial.
Personal Pensions
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made on giving people greater flexibility in early access to part of a personal pension fund. [48007]
Mr Hoban: I have been asked to reply.
The Government published a call for evidence on early access to pension saving on 13 December 2010, which closed on 25 February 2011. The Government are currently considering the responses received and will make further announcements in due course.
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Social Security Benefits: Appeals
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to his Department’s impact assessment on requiring consideration of revision before appeal, whether this policy is to apply to (a) appeals against sanctions and (b) appeals about claimant conditions. [46411]
Chris Grayling: The proposed permissive power in the Welfare Reform Bill to require consideration of revision before appeal could be used in relation to all appealable social security decisions.
These powers would make it possible to require claimants to apply for a decision to be revised before they are able to appeal to the first-tier tribunal.
The change is being introduced to enable more disputes to be resolved through the internal reconsideration process. The process would allow a claimant’s decision to appeal to be informed by whether reconsideration had provided them with a clear justification for the original decision. Claimants would make a positive choice to appeal after their case had been reconsidered—in contrast to the present position where they have to make a positive decision to withdraw their appeal if they are content with the outcome of a reconsideration.
These powers could be used in relation to appeals against sanctions and appeals about conditions of entitlement. We plan to consult on any proposals for regulations in due course.
Special Educational Needs
Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department takes to assist into employment those with learning difficulties at the point at which they leave school. [46043]
Maria Miller: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is committed to improving the life chances of young people with learning difficulties and disabilities and this has been reflected through, for example, active engagement with the Department for Education during their preparation of the recently launched Green Paper for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities- Support and Aspiration: a new approach to special educational needs and disability. Through this, we have highlighted the important contribution DWP will make towards the delivery of more flexible services across government for people with complex needs with the introduction of the Universal Credit and through both the Work Programme and Work Choice.
Our goal is for disabled young people and young people facing complex barriers to have the best opportunities and support so that as far as possible they can succeed in transition from education to adult working life.
DWP is also working closely with others across government to embed fully the learning from cross-government initiatives such as Valuing Employment Now. This involves, for example, active support for delivery in Project Search demonstration sites and support for the evaluation of the Getting a Life demonstration sites.
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DWP and Jobcentre Plus continue to make an active contribution to cross-government work towards making a reality of the Adult Autism Delivery Plan through, for example, involvement in the Department of Health-led autism steering group. Jobcentre Plus is working in partnership with external medical professionals, disability specific organisations, and service users to improve the customer service experience for young people with more complex needs through the Hidden Impairments National Group.
State Retirement Pensions
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received the state second pension in each of the last seven years; in how many cases contracted-out deductions were made; and what the total value of such deductions was in each such year. [45438]
Steve Webb: The available information is in the following table.
| Numbers in receipt of additional state pension and with contracted-out deductions applied to accruals of additional state pension, with total weekly value of contracted-out deductions, as at 31 march of the years shown (recipients in Great Britain only) | |||
|
|
Numbers in receipt of additional state pension (1) | Numbers with contracted-out deductions applied to accruals of additional state pension (2,3) | Total weekly value of contracted-out deductions for all individuals (£ p.w. nominal terms) (4) (£ million) |
| (1) Additional state pension includes payments under the graduated retirement benefit, state earnings related pension and state second pension schemes. (2) Contracted-out deductions may be applied to accruals under the state earnings related pension scheme between 1978 and 1996. (3) A small number of individuals have contracted-out deductions but no net additional state pension entitlement. These individuals are not represented under ‘Numbers in receipt of additional state pension’. (4) Figures for total annual value of contracted-out deductions are not available. Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 individuals or £1 million. 2. Figures are for recipients in Great Britain only. 3. Figures include own and inherited additional state pension and contracted-out deductions. Source: DWP, Information Directorate 5% sample administrative data | |||
Universal Credit
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assumptions he has made in his estimate that £2 billion from fraud and overpayment will be saved by the introduction of universal credit; and how much he estimates will be saved in each (a) category and (b) year. [45062]
Chris Grayling: The greater simplicity of the universal credit scheme will generate savings from a reduction in the scope for fraud and error and in-year overpayments.
Savings will be generated from reforms including the abolition of the de-minimus rule, whereby changes in earnings within certain limits are disregarded in any calculation of tax credits, access to real time earnings data and better sharing of information. In addition,
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because more customers will continue to claim universal credit, for example, after a move into work, there will be more opportunities to recover any overpayments.
The estimated savings of £2 billion per annum are based on the steady-state position once universal credit is fully implemented and there are no longer any households on the current benefits and tax credits.
The Department has not produced yearly estimates for the transitional period. The savings for the transitional period will depend on the detailed process for moving customers on to universal credit, which has not yet been finalised.
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the impact assessment on his proposals for universal credit, what estimate he has made of the sums attributable to universal credit to be accounted for in his Department's (a) annually managed expenditure, (b) departmental expenditure limit resource and (c) departmental expenditure limit capital in each year covered by the assessment. [45063]
Chris Grayling: The impact assessment refers to the cost associated with Universal Credit once fully implemented. At this time it is expected that the annually managed expenditure cost of Universal Credit will be £2.6 billion and the departmental expenditure limit will be reduced by £0.5 billion as a result lower administration costs.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what change he expects in the number of people working (a) one to five, (b) six to nine, (c) 10 to 19, (d) 20 to 29 and (e) 30 or more hours per week following introduction of the universal credit. [46501]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available. We are currently considering whether there is a way of robustly estimating these effects.
Universal credit will improve incentives to work by a combination of earnings disregards and a single withdrawal rate to reduce the credit when earnings exceed the disregard. This will make the benefits of work clearer and simpler: encouraging people to move into work and see the financial benefits of increasing the number of hours they work or provide a clear incentive for people to try out a 'mini-job'. By actively putting work at the centre of working-age support we want to create a new contract with the British people. We will help them to find work and make sure work pays when they do.
The number of hours work a person does will not be part of the qualifying conditions for universal credit.
Overall we expect the number of workless households to fall as a result of improved incentives to work under universal credit.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will assess the proportion of the cost of childcare to be funded by the recipients under each of the options set out in his proposals for universal credit in each of the next four financial years; [46891]
(2) if he will estimate the number of families in (a) Glasgow North East constituency, (b) Glasgow, (c) Scotland and (d) Great Britain who will receive
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assistance with the costs of childcare under each of the options set out in his proposals for universal credit in each of the next four financial years. [46892]
Maria Miller: As the Secretary of State said at Second Reading of the Welfare Reform Bill, we will be supporting the cost of child care with an additional element in the universal credit and we will invest at least the same amount of money as in the present system. More detailed proposals are under consideration and will be announced during the passage of the Bill.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the (a) number of families on incomes between £16,000 and £24,000 who will be affected by the introduction of universal credit and (b) likely effect on average annual incomes in this group of the implementation of universal credit. [46898]
Chris Grayling: Transitional protection will ensure that there are no cash losers at the point of transition as a result of changes in the way benefit is calculated.
It is estimated using the Department's Policy Simulation Model that in steady state (a) 1.4 million families on incomes between £16,000 and £24,000 will have either a higher or a lower entitlement under universal credit than under the current system, (b) It is estimated that the average effect on annual entitlement in this group will be an increase of £570.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the (a) number of families with savings (i) above £16,000 and (ii) between £6,000 and £16,000 who will be affected by the introduction of universal credit and (b) the likely effect on average annual incomes in each group of the implementation of universal credit. [46899]
Chris Grayling: The Government have made a commitment that there will no longer be losers purely as a result of the move to universal credit. At the point of change a comparison will be made between current amount received in tax credits and/or benefits and the household entitlement under universal credit. If the universal credit entitlement is less, and no other circumstances have changed, a cash amount will be paid in order to make up the difference.
It is estimated using the Department's Policy Simulation Model that in steady state:
(i) 100,000 families with savings above £16,000 would have a lower entitlement under universal credit than they would have had under the current system. It is estimated that the average effect on annual entitlement in this group will be a decrease of £2,720;
(ii) 200,000 families with savings between £6,000 and £16,000 would have either a higher or a lower entitlement under Universal Credit than under the current system. It is estimated that the average effect on annual entitlement in this group will be a decrease of £210.
Welfare State: Reform
Mr Byrne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to his Department's impact assessment on conditionality measures in the Welfare Reform Bill, what estimate he has made of (a) the number of people who will claim jobseeker's
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allowance hardship payments in each of the next four years and
(b)
the average sum to be claimed in each such year. [46382]
Chris Grayling: We have not made any estimates of the number of people who will claim JSA-related hardship payments over each of the next four years or what the average sum claimed each year will be.
Justice
Bailiffs
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress has been made on developing options for a public consultation on the better regulation of bailiffs; and if he will make a statement. [48345]
Mr Djanogly: The Government have given a commitment to provide more protection against aggressive bailiffs. We have identified options for public consultation on this commitment including the better regulation of bailiffs, the powers of bailiffs, their costs and how complaints should be dealt with. We are currently preparing the paper and intend to publish in spring 2011.
Boundary Disputes
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) if he will bring forward proposals to reduce the (a) time taken in, (b) complexity and (c) cost of boundary dispute resolution procedures; and if he will make a statement; [47556]
(2) whether he has considered the merits of resolution of boundary disputes through mediation by and agreement between qualified surveyors; [47584]
(3) if he will assess the implications for his Department’s policies of the outcome of the case of Huntley and another v. Armes (2010) EWCA Civ 396. [47585]
Mr Djanogly:
“Huntley v. Armes” shows how difficult it can be to resolve a boundary dispute but does not raise any new issues for my Department and there are no specific plans to change the ways in which boundary disputes can be settled. The Government already encourages potential litigants to consider alternative ways of resolving
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their disputes, including mediation, which can be provided by qualified surveyors where appropriate. The Government are considering the responses to the Ministry of Justice’s consultation “Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales—Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson’s Recommendations”. This may lead to changes that are relevant to the cost of resolving boundary disputes.
British Sign Language
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what facilities his Department provides for British Sign Language users to access legal services. [47536]
Mr Djanogly: British Sign Language (BSL) users in England and Wales are able to use the Community Legal Advice (CLA) telephone helpline or the CLA website to access legal services. CLA is funded by the legal aid scheme which is administered by the Legal Services Commission (LSC).
BSL users may access the helpline by using a text or web-based ‘call me back’ service, and can then use web cameras to communicate with legal advisers who are fluent in BSL. This service is currently available at specialist level in the categories of Debt, Housing, Employment and Welfare Benefits.
BSL users may also search through the directory function on the CLA website to find a face-to-face legal adviser local to them that provides BSL translation.
Departmental Compensation
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much (a) his Department and (b) each (i) agency and (ii) non-departmental public body for which he is responsible spent on compensation payments to members of the public for errors made by such bodies in each of the last five years. [47426]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice was created in May 2007 from the former Department for Constitutional Affairs and part of the Home Office. There is no comparable data from before that time. Some agencies and Executive agencies were in existence before those machinery of government changes, so are able to give data for the last five financial years.
| £ | |||||
| Organisation | 2009-10 | 2008-09 | 2007-08 | 2006-07 | 2005-06 |
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| (1) HMCS made compensation payments to court users, including defendants for errors made by court staff. (2) Although NOMS’ accounting system records compensation payments made, it does not categorise them in a way that distinguishes the recipient eg member of the public, staff member, prisoner etc. It would cause disproportionate costs to manually research each compensation payment made to find out if it met the criteria in the question. (3) The Tribunals Service came into existence on 1 April 2006. (4 )CICA’s financial records for 2005-06 are stored on a separate accounting system that has been archived to an offsite location. It would incur disproportionate costs to retrieve them. (5) In 2008-09 the Commission was also ordered to pay £98,158 in relation to a judicial review. | |||||
Driving under Influence: Sentencing
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) arrests and (b) convictions for drink-driving resulted in custodial sentences in each police force area in each year since 1997. [47676]
Mr Blunt: From information held by the Ministry of Justice, the number of defendants found guilty, sentenced to immediate custody and sentence breakdown at all courts for drink and drug related driving offences by police force area, England and Wales, 1997 to 2009 (latest available) is shown in the following tables.
Court proceedings data for 2010 are planned for publication in the spring of 2011.
The Home Office are responsible for information relating to arrests, but the information requested on arrests is not collected centrally.
The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery. Offences of drink-driving do not form a part of this collection.
| Number of defendants found guilty and sentenced at all courts for drink and drug related driving offences by police force area, England and Wales, 1997 to 2009 (1,) ( ) (2,) ( ) (3) | |||||||
| Police force area/outcome | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 (4) | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
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