Green Investment Bank

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to publish the design for the Green Investment Bank. [47714]

Mr Prisk: We will be making a detailed announcement in May.

Higher Education: Admissions

Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what number and proportion of UCAS applicants were accepted and enrolled onto university courses with (a) less than 80 UCAS tariff points and (b) no UCAS tariff points in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08, (iii) 2008-09 and (iv) 2009-10. [47532]

Mr Willetts: The information is in the following table. Information on tariff score is only available for UK domiciled applicants.

UK domiciled accepted applicants to courses via UCAS with unknown or no tariff points and 1-79 tariff points 2006/07 to 2009/10
  No points or unknown 1-79 points

Applicants Accepted applicants Percentage of applicants accepted Applicants Accepted applicants Percentage of applicants accepted

2006/07

139,724

98,300

70.4

14,385

10,169

70.7

2007/08

161,384

117,449

72.8

21,473

15,598

72.6

2008/09

195,028

142,769

73.2

24,002

18,266

76.1

2009/10

211,015

145,694

69.0

28,249

21,455

75.9

Source: UCAS

For the 2008/09 cycle applications formerly handled by the Nursing and Midwifery Admissions Service (NMAS) merged into the main UCAS system. Therefore, this year and 2009/10 are not directly comparable with previous years.

Applicants with no points will include those whose qualifications are not part of the UCAS tariff framework, and therefore do not carry a tariff score.

Higher Education: Anti-Semitism

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials of each grade in his Department have policy responsibility for dealing with anti-Semitism in UK universities; what sources are available to them to obtain up-to-date information on anti-Semitism in UK universities; what recent reports he has received from officials in his Department on levels of anti-Semitism in UK universities; and if he will make a statement. [R] [47706]

Mr Willetts: There are four officials who cover policy on anti-Semitism as part of their remit—by grade these are two senior civil servants, one team leader and one higher executive officer. Policy officials have access to a range of information sources from both across government and external partners, including published reports. I

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1085W

have received information about the most recent Community Security Trust report on anti-Semitic incidents in the UK which reported a continued fall in incident numbers in UK universities, from 97 incidents in 2009 to 44 incidents in 2010 (there were 67 incidents in 2008). The 2009 figure includes 38 incidents, it is believed, committed by one perpetrator leading to a high overall total.

There is no place for racism of any form, including anti-Semitism, in higher education. Universities have access to a strong legislative framework and guidance to help them deal effectively with instances of intolerance, racism and harassment in their institutions. Government would expect them to vigorously tackle these issues when they arise and has supported institutions with key guidance on promoting good campus relations in the sector.

Lasers: Children

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on the sale of laser pens to children. [47228]

Mr Davey: We have had no recent representations on the sale of laser pens to children.

Loans

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress has been made on implementing the recommendations of the review by the Office of Fair Trading on the high cost of credit in respect of payday loans; and what progress has been made on establishing an industry-wide statement of practice supporting greater transparency, clarity and simplicity in the short-term loans industry. [48328]

Mr Davey: This Department and HM Treasury are carrying out a joint review of consumer credit and personal insolvency that will look at all aspects of the consumer credit lifecycle from the decision to take out a loan through the lifetime of the loan. A call for evidence connected with the review has recently concluded and Government are considering the substantial number of submissions received. The review will also provide a framework for us to consider how best to take forward the recommendations from the recent Office for Fair

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1086W

Trading review of the high cost credit market. Government will make an announcement on next steps following the May local elections.

The Consumer Finance Association is responsible for the Payday Loan Forum which is considering whether to introduce a statement of practice in the payday loan industry.

Graduates: Medicine and Science

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many medical students graduated in (a) England and (b) the West Midlands in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [47879]

Mr Willetts: The latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is shown in the table. Figures refer to graduates domiciled in England and the West Midlands Government office region. Figures for 2010/11 will be available in January 2012.

Medicine (1) qualifiers (2) from England and West Midlands Government office region, UK higher education institutions, academic year 2005/06 to 2009/10
Academic year England West Midlands

2005/06

7,690

630

2006/07

8,195

725

2007/08

8,585

750

2008/09

9,070

770

2009/10

9,060

770

(1) Covers pre-clinical and clinical medicine. (2) Covers qualifiers from full-time and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Note: Figures are based on a qualifications obtained population and have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many medical students graduated from institutions in Greater London in each of the last five years; [47978]

(2) how many students in universities in (a) Greater London and (b) England graduated in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [48030]

Mr Willetts: The latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is shown in the tables. Figures for the 2010/11 academic year will be available in January 2012.

Qualifiers (1) from s cience, t echnology, e ngineering and m athematics s ubjects h igher education institutions in London g overnment o ffice r egion and England a cademic y ears 2005/06 to 2009/10
Academic year Medicine and dentistry of which; Medicine (2) Subjects allied to medicine Biological sciences Veterinary science Agricultural and related subjects

London Higher Education Institutions

2005/06

4,405

405

14,490

6,130

245

370

2006/07

4,340

435

15,375

6,515

260

405

2007/08

4,845

485

13,805

6,330

330

380

2008/09

5,270

605

13,295

7,255

380

460

2009/10

5,655

775

15,170

7,350

330

460

English Higher Education Institutions (3)

2005/06

10,300

1,140

71,670

32,630

645

3,770

2006/07

10,900

1,210

70,890

35,050

615

3,875

2007/08

11,845

1,430

70,190

37,150

665

3,955

2008/09

12,485

1,705

67,185

38,040

780

4,055

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1087W

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1088W

2009/10

13,155

2,160

68,160

41,150

675

4,350

Academic year Physical sciences Mathematical sciences Computer science Engineering and technology Architecture, building and planning Total STEM

London Higher Education Institutions

2005/06

2,365

1,320

7,090

5,875

3,010

45,300

2006/07

2,345

1,435

6,370

6,130

3,440

46,610

2007/08

2,415

1,500

5,685

6,220

3,565

45,075

2008/09

2,430

1,690

5,510

6,615

3,910

46,815

2009/10

2,555

1,725

6,390

7,905

4,410

51,955

English Higher Education Institutions (3)

2005/06

17,795

7,150

28,905

30,595

12,590

216,055

2006/07

17,310

7,530

26,205

31,375

13,465

217,215

2007/08

17,845

7,755

24,580

32,525

15,250

221,765

2008/09

18,250

8,165

22,650

34,165

15,995

221,775

2009/10

19,240

8,685

24,515

38,475

18,495

236,900

(1) Covers qualifiers from all domiciles, levels of study and modes of study. (2) Covers both clinical and pre-clinical medicine. (3) Includes figures for London Higher Education Institutions. Note : Figures are based on a HESA qualifications obtained population and have been rounded to the nearest 5. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Overseas Trade

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of UK trade was conducted with (a) Brazil, (b) Russia, (c) India and (d) China in each financial year since 2001-02. [48332]

Mr Prisk: The following table shows shares of UK exports and imports of goods and services on a balance of payments basis. Trade statistics are usually presented on a calendar year basis.

Percentage
  Share of UK exports of goods and services going to: Share of UK imports of goods and services coming from:

Brazil Russia India China Brazil Russia India China

2001

0.4

0.5

0.9

0.8

0.5

0.8

0.9

2.0

2002

0.4

0.6

0.9

0.8

0.5

0.7

0.8

2.3

2003

0.4

0.7

1.0

1.0

0.5

0.9

0.9

2.8

2004

0.4

0.8

1.1

1.2

0.5

1.2

1.0

3.3

2005

0.4

0.9

1.2

1.3

0.5

1.5

1.1

3.7

2006

0.4

1.0

1.1

1.3

0.5

1.5

1.1

3.8

2007

0.4

1.4

1.2

1.5

0.6

1.5

1.4

4.7

2008

0.5

1.5

1.4

1.8

0.6

1.7

1.5

5.3

2009

0.6

1.1

1.2

2.0

0.7

1.4

1.6

6.1

Note: Initial estimates for 2010 are due to be published on 29 March. Source: BIS from ONS UK Economic Accounts.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which UK companies have made the largest contribution to the economy of (a) Brazil, (b) Russia, (c) India and (d) China in the latest period for which figures are available. [48340]

Mr Prisk: This information is not held centrally and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value was in real terms of UK (a) exports to and (b) imports from (i) China, (ii) India, (iii) Brazil and (iv) Russia in each year since 2007. [48358]

Mr Prisk: The following table shows values at current prices for UK trade in goods and services on a balance of payments basis. There is not sufficient information available on price changes for trade with individual countries to be able to produce real terms values.

£ million
  UK exports of goods and services to: UK imports of goods and services from:

China India Brazil Russia China India Brazil Russia

2007

5,460

4,634

1,563

5,126

19,744

5,660

2,338

6,171

2008

7,538

5,908

2,286

6,419

24,517

6,772

2,962

8,000

2009

7,772

4,605

2,439

4,180

25,491

6,541

2,852

5,887

Note: Initial estimates for 2010 are due to be published on 29 March. Source: ONS UK Economic Accounts

Overseas Trade: Brazil

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the monetary value in real terms of (a) investment in Brazil by UK businesses and (b) investment in the UK by Brazilian businesses in each financial year since 2001-02. [48360]

Mr Prisk: The Office for National Statistics publishes geographical data for foreign direct investment (FDI) in its annual Business Monitor MA4. Data are in current prices on a calendar year basis. The following table shows FDI flows to and from Brazil since 2001 and FDI stocks at 31 December 2009.

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1089W

£ million

UK outward FDI to Brazil UK inward FDI from Brazil

Flows

   

2001

352

(1)

2002

17

(1)

2003

786

4

2004

386

(1)

2005

48

6

2006

354

(1)

2007

791

2

2008

832

1

2009

377

(1)

     

Stocks

   

End 2009

4,956

1

(1) Indicates disclosive data.

Overseas Trade: India

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value in real terms was of (a) investment in India by UK businesses and (b) investment in the UK by Indian businesses in each year since 2001. [48409]

Mr Prisk: The Office for National Statistics publishes geographical data for foreign direct investment (FDI) in its annual Business Monitor MA4. Data are in current prices on a calendar year basis. The following table shows FDI flows to and from India since 2001 and FDI stocks at 31 December 2009.

£ million

UK outward FDI to India UK inward FDI from India

Flows

   

2001

135

33

2002

276

1

2003

193

7

2004

274

-15

2005

616

138

2006

104

265

2007

650

151

2008

437

2,638

2009

747

126

     

Stocks

   

End 2009

9,310

1,841

(1) Indicates disclosive data. Note: A minus sign indicates a net disinvestment abroad (i.e. a decrease in the amount due to the UK).

Overseas Trade: Russia

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the monetary value in real terms of (a) investment in Russia by UK businesses and (b) investment in the UK by Russian businesses in each financial year since 2001-02. [48359]

Mr Prisk: The Office for National Statistics publishes geographical data for foreign direct investment (FDI) in its annual Business Monitor MA4. Data are in current prices on a calendar year basis. The following table shows FDI flows to and from Russia since 2001 and FDI stocks at 31 December 2009.

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1090W

£ million

UK outward FDI to Russia UK inward FDI from Russia

Flows

   

2001

498

19

2002

108

(1)

2003

2,030

(1)

2004

1,831

(1)

2005

349

(1)

2006

-13

(1)

2007

1,334

332

2008

3,919

1,769

2009

-285

45

     

Stocks

   

End 2009

10,053

779

(1) Indicates disclosive data. Note: A minus sign indicates a net disinvestment abroad (i.e. a decrease in the amount due to the UK).

Post Offices: Bank Services

Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions the Post Office has had with retail banks on the date by which all holders of (a) personal and (b) business accounts at UK retail banks will be able to undertake cash and cheque withdrawal and deposit transactions at Post Office counters. [47815]

Mr Davey: This Government have made clear their ambition for all UK current accounts to be accessible through the post office network, and welcomes the agreement that has been reached between Post Office Ltd. and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to allow RBS and NatWest customers to access their current and business accounts at post offices.

There have been discussions between Post Office Ltd and those banks yet to agree to provide access to current and business accounts at post offices but the details of these discussions are commercially confidential.

Prisons: Higher Education

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2011, Official Report, column 1054W, on prisoners: education, (1) what the cost to the public purse of providing Open University courses to prisoners was in each of the last five years; [46837]

(2) how many and what proportion of Open University courses prisoners have (a) completed and (b) passed in the latest period for which figures are available; [46838]

(3) what level of education or qualifications prisoners are required to hold before they are accepted on an Open University course; [46839]

(4) what Open University courses prisoners are undertaking; [46840]

(5) how many prisoners on Open University courses are not UK nationals; [46841]

(6) if he will consider the merits of amending the system for funding Open University courses for prisoners to bring it into line with funding, loan and tuition fee arrangements for university study by those not in prison; and if he will make a statement. [46842]

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1091W

Mr Hayes: The cost to the public purse of prisoners studying with the Open University in prisons over the financial years 2005-06 to 2009-10 is set out in the following tables:

Costs met from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (and predecessors) offender learning budget
Financial year (April-March) £000

2005-06(1)

538

2006-07(1)

491

2007-08(1)

692

2008-09(1)

827

2009-10(2)

1,190

(1) England and Wales. (2) England.
Costs met from the Open University’s Access to Learning Fund budget
Financial year (August-July) £000

2005/06(1)

46

2006/07(1)

322

2007/08(2)

352

2008/09(2)

379

2009/10(2)

445

(1 )England, Wales and Northern Ireland. (2) England and Northern Ireland.

In prisons in England in the 2009-10 academic year 1,513 (69%) of prisoners completed and 1,293 (59%) passed the Open University course(1) for which they were studying. A typical course is worth 60 credit points and requires 16 hours of study each week over nine months. Students aiming for an Open Degree need to earn 300 credit points, the equivalent of five years of 60 credit point courses.

Nearly all Open University undergraduate courses have no formal entry requirements, either prior qualifications or experience: this allows people who have missed out on education to fulfil their potential and achieve a university-level qualification. The bar is set higher for prisoners, with prospective students who wish to secure funding through this Department required to demonstrate that they have achieved level 2 qualifications and to show evidence of serious commitment to learning for rehabilitation purposes. All applications are considered individually by the Prisoners’ Education Trust which administers the scheme on the Department’s behalf.

Prison Service Instruction 33/2010 requires the Prison Governor/Director (or their representative) to apply a sift procedure to all prisoners wishing to apply for an Open University course(1), regardless of the funding source. The sift ensures not only that applicants have been properly advised about the nature of study, and have the aptitude, ability and motivation to complete the course successfully, but also that the course the prisoner is applying for is appropriate in the context of his/her conviction.

Prisoners are currently undertaking the following Open University courses in English prisons:

20th century literature: texts and debates

A world of whose making? Analysing International developments

Advanced creative writing

Advanced French

Advanced Spanish

An Introduction to Business Studies

An Introduction to Health and Social Care

An Introduction to Law

Analysing data

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1092W

Applications of Probability

Applying psychology

Approaching Literature

Archaeology, the science of investigation

Art and its histories

Beginners Chinese

Beginners French

Beginners German

Beginners Italian

Beginners Spanish

Beginners Welsh

Biological Psychology

Biology: Uniformity and Diversity

Business Functions in context

Business Organisations and Environments

Capacities for managing development

Challenging ideas in mental health

Chemical Change and environmental applications

Child development

Communication and Information technologies

Communication in health in care

Community safety, crime prevention and social control

Computers and processors

Counselling: exploring fear and sadness

Creative Writing

Crime and justice

Data Computing and Information

Death and dying

Design and designing

Designing Applications with visual basic

Developing concurrent distributed systems

Development context and practice

Diabetes care

Discourse Analysis

Discovering Mathematics

Discovering Psychology

Diverse perspectives on mental health

Doing economics: People, markets and policy

Economics and Economic change

Elements of Forensic science

Empire of the Microbes

Energy for a sustainable future

Engineering mechanics material design

Engineering small worlds

Engineering the future

English grammar in context

Enterprise and the environment

Environment

Environment: Journeys through a changing world

Environmental decision making

Environmental modelling monitoring and control

Environmental policy in an international context

Environmental science

Europe: Culture and Identities

Evolution

Exploring History: Medieval to Modern 1400-1900

Exploring Mathematics

Exploring psychology

Exploring science

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1093W

Exploring the classical world

Exploring the English Language

Film and TV History

Financial Accounting

Fossils and the history of life

From Enlightenment to Romanticism

Fundamentals of interaction design

Geology

Graphs: network and design

How the Universe works

Human Biology

Human genetics and health issues

Innovation: Designing for a sustainable future

Institutional development

Intermediate French

Intermediate German

Intermediate Italian

Intermediate Spanish

International development

Introducing astronomy

Introducing environment

Introducing Environment (new version 15 credits)

Introducing religions

Introducing the social sciences

Introducing the Social Sciences Part 1

Introducing the Social Sciences Part 2

Introduction to counselling

Introduction to Sport Fitness and Management

Investigating entrepreneurial opportunities

Keeping ahead in information

Law: Agreements rights responsibilities

Law: Ownership and trusteeships

Law: the Individual and the state

Learning to change

Linear Statistical Modelling

Living in a globalised world

Living political ideas

Making sense of strategy

Making sense of the arts

Making sense of the arts (new version 15 credits)

Making social worlds

Managing care

Managing complexity: a systems approach

Managing in the workplace

Marketing and Society

Mathematical methods and models

Maths for Science

Medicine and Society in Europe 1500-1930

Molecules, medicines and drugs

Networked living: exploring information and communication

Number theory and Mathematical logic

Object Oriented programming with Java

Oceanography

Optimization

Personal and career development in engineering

Personal lives and social policy

Perspectives on complementary and alternative medicine

Philosophy and the Human Situation

Planets; an introduction

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1094W

Plants and people

Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental decision making

Postgraduate foundation module in philosophy

Power dissent equality

Project Management

Promoting public health

Pure mathematics

Putting Java to work

Reading Classical Greek Language and literature

Reading Classical Latin

Relational Databases: theory and practice

Religion in History

Renaissance Art

Science in context

Science starts here

Shakespeare: text and performance

Signals and Perception

Social psychology

Software development with Java

Software Engineering with objects

Sport and exercise psychology

Starting with law

Starting with Maths

Starting with psychology

Starting with psychology (new version 15 credits)

The 19th Century Novel

The art of English

The Arts Past and present

The Greek Theatre

The molecular world

The physical world

The relativistic universe

The science of the mind: investigating mental health

The technology of music

Themes in philosophy

Topology

Total War and Social Change in Europe

Understanding children

Understanding cities

Understanding health

Understanding health (15 credits)

Understanding human nutrition

Understanding Law

Understanding Management

Understanding Music

Understanding Society

Understanding systems

Understanding the autism spectrum

Understanding the continents

Understanding weather

Upper Intermediate Spanish

Using Mathematics

Voices and Texts

Waves diffusion and variational principles

Welfare crime and society

Words and Music

Working and Learning in Sport and Fitness

Working for Health

You and your money: personal finance in context

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1095W

The Open University’s data on nationality of current prisoner students are incomplete. However, in the financial year 2010-11, the Prisoners’ Education Trust has approved funding for three foreign national prisoners, and refused one. Foreign nationals are only funded if they make an exceptionally strong application, taking into account their previous employment history and their commitment to self-reform and avoidance of further crime. They must also have sufficient time to complete the course inside custody.

The Government continue to believe that higher education is an important learning progression route for some prisoners. A small number of prisoners are able to study higher education full-time as they approach the end of their sentences while released on temporary licence. They are expected to meet their own higher education costs, supported by access to fee loans in exactly the same way as other higher education students. Maintenance loans are not available for prisoners.

Mainstream students studying part-time higher education courses are supported through grant arrangements: prisoners are not eligible for those grants. Where prisoners have the means to support their own part-time higher education study, they are expected to do so. Where a prisoner cannot afford to support their own learning, we make arrangements to support that learning as described in the answer of 8 March 2011, Official Report, column 1054W, on prisoners’ education. As that earlier answer noted, we are considering how higher education for prisoners should be funded as part of the Government’s review of offender learning. We expect that review to be published shortly.

(1) In the Open University context, a course is a module of study that can count towards a qualification.

Regional Growth Fund

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the method used by his Department to estimate the number of public sector jobs for the purposes of the Regional Growth Fund includes members of the armed services. [47991]

Mr Prisk: One of a range of metrics used to assess the locality of bids to the Regional Growth Fund was the share of employee jobs in the public sector from the Office for National Statistics Annual Business Inquiry (ABI). Employee jobs provide a count of jobs not people/employment and do not cover self-employed jobs, HM forces and Government-supported trainees. Public sector employee jobs are those in: public corporations/nationalised bodies, central Government and local authority. The private sector is defined as: company, sole proprietor, partnership and non-profit body or mutual association. Full information on these data can be found on the BIS website:

http://stats.berr.gov.uk/ppse/index.asp

Repayable Launch Investment

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department’s budget includes an allocation of funds for Repayable Launch Investment. [47857]

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1096W

Mr Prisk: The Department has allocated funding to meet its contractual commitments under existing Repayable Launch Investment agreements.

In common with the policy of previous Governments there is no specific allocation for new Repayable Launch Investment within departmental budgets.

Science: Females

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to address the level of attrition between education and employment for women in (a) engineering, (b) science and (c) other technology disciplines. [48023]

Mr Willetts: We will encourage diversity in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) work force by embedding and mainstreaming best practice and lessons learnt, from the past few years, into the programmes we fund. We will also ask our partners and stakeholders to collaborate with us on this, and share their own valuable experiences, and develop their own approaches. This aligns with the wider work of the coalition to promote inclusive workplaces.

We have asked the Royal Academy of Engineering, exercising its significant influence over professional institutions, industry and others, to develop a diversity programme in engineering, and also to work with science partners to reach the wider STEM work force in this activity.

Squatting

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 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. [47618]

Mr Davey: None of the Department’s buildings have been occupied by squatters during the years 2006 to 2010.

Telephone Services

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding was allocated to the Pay and Work Rights helpline in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [47435]

Mr Davey: The Pay and Work Rights helpline was established in May 2009, and formally launched in September 2009. Actual expenditure on running the helpline in 2009/10 was £1,166,000—against an allocation of £1,200,000. This included one off development costs associated with establishing the service. Expenditure for 2010/11 is expected to be just under £850,000 against an allocation of £900,000.

The Pay and Work Rights helpline provides a valuable single point of contact for workers and employers seeking advice or wanting to report abuses of the national minimum wage, the agricultural minimum wage, the 48 hour average working week, employment agency standards and gangmaster licensing. In the 18 months

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1097W

since its launch, the helpline has received more than 140,000 calls, and referred 4,800 complaints and pieces of intelligence about potential abuses to the five enforcement bodies who stand behind the helpline.

Vocational Guidance

Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he will announce the proposed division in funding between the allocations of his Department and the Department for Education to the proposed the All-Age Careers Service in 2011-12. [47370]

Mr Hayes [holding answer 17 March 2011]: We will make an announcement shortly regarding the Government’s approach to careers advice policy.

Voluntary Work and Charitable Donations

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has a policy to encourage its employees to (a) volunteer and (b) donate via payroll giving. [43230]

Mr Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) encourages staff to take part in volunteering opportunities by giving paid time off.

BIS operates a ‘Give as you Earn’ policy, which allows staff to donate to charities of their choice directly from their monthly salary.

International Development

Vietnam: Overseas Aid

Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what discussions he had with the Government of Vietnam on his Department's bilateral aid to that country prior to deciding to end such bilateral aid; [47520]

(2) what consultation he has had with (a) multilateral organisations active in and (b) other bilateral donors to Vietnam on the ending of his Department's bilateral aid programme to Vietnam; and on what date each such consultation took place; [47521]

(3) in which year he expects his Department's bilateral aid programme to Vietnam to close; and what arrangements have been made for phasing the closure over a period of time. [47522]

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The bilateral aid relationship between Vietnam and the UK is based on a 10-year Development Partnership Arrangement (DPA, 2006-16). Under the UK Bilateral Aid Review (BAR) process the decision was taken to end bilateral aid at the end of this DPA in 2016. The Department for International Development (DFID) will continue to support Vietnam to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets in primary education, sanitation, and HIV and AIDS, as well as focusing support on the key issues of climate change, governance and accountability, and wealth creation.

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1098W

DFID has had regular discussions with the Government of Vietnam throughout this process, including a visit by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State in June 2010. The Government of Vietnam welcomed the UK Government's decision positively, declaring our aid as highly effective. DFID also have regular dialogues with donor agencies through a number of important forums such as the Government-Donor Consultative Group meeting (most recently in December 2010), the EU Development Counsellors meeting, and the Aid Effectiveness Forum.

We will ensure the sustainability of our interventions beyond DFID's presence in Vietnam through the high level UK-Vietnam Strategic Partnership signed in September 2010.

The BAR also considered multilateral aid received by individual countries. Vietnam will continue to benefit from UK funding provided through the multilateral development organisations. This amounted to £65.5 million in 2008-09.

UK assistance accounted for 2.56% of the net Official Development Assistance that Vietnam received in the 2009 calendar year, the latest period for which figures are available for comparison purposes. UK support to Vietnam over this period was just over £60 million (equivalent to about $96 million), of which £4 million was debt relief.

Cameroon: Overseas Aid

Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) in which year his Department’s bilateral aid programme in Cameroon will be closed; and what arrangements he has made for phasing in the closure of that programme; [47563]

(2) what discussions he held with (a) the government of Cameroon, (b) multilateral organisations and (c) other bilateral donors to that country prior to his decision on the future of the bilateral aid programme, and on what dates; and what proportion of the official development assistance received by Cameroon his Department’s bilateral aid comprised in the latest period for which figures are available. [47644]

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Bilateral Aid Review (BAR) considered which countries should receive UK bilateral aid, how much they should receive and which countries should stop receiving this aid. The decision taken in 2008 to close the UK’s bilateral programme in Cameroon was confirmed as part of the BAR process. We are continuing to discuss with the World Bank and the Government of Cameroon exit arrangements to help sustain and extend improvements in Cameroon’s forest sector management once our bilateral programme has ended. We have extended the forest governance facility until 30 September 2011 to allow remaining programme activities to be completed. We will provide funding to the World Bank in Cameroon for a senior forestry adviser until the end of 2012 to provide technical advice and policy guidance to the Government of Cameroon.

The BAR also considered multilateral aid received by individual countries. Cameroon will continue to benefit from UK funding provided through the multilateral development organisations. This amounted to £16 million in 2008-09.

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1099W

In 2009, Cameroon received $649 million in net official development assistance. UK bilateral aid in that year was £1.44 million (approximately $2.07 million)—less than 1% of the total.

Niger: Overseas Aid

Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) in which year his Department’s bilateral aid programme with Niger will close; what arrangements he has made for phasing in the closure of that programme; what discussions he had with (a) the government of Niger, (b) multilateral organisations and (c) other bilateral donors to that country prior to his decision on the future of the programme; and on what dates; [47640]

(2) what proportion of the official development assistance received by Niger his Department’s bilateral aid comprised in the latest period for which figures are available. [48027]

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Bilateral Aid Review (BAR) considered which countries should receive UK bilateral aid, how much they should receive and which countries should stop receiving this aid. The Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) bilateral programme in Niger consisted of only one multi-donor education project, funded through the French Development Agency, which will end on 31 March 2011. The Bilateral Aid Review found that scaling up our bilateral programme in Niger, where we have no existing office, would not be cost-effective and other donors are better placed to continue working bilaterally in Niger. Discussions with the Nigerian Government and other multilateral and bilateral partners were conducted through the delegated arrangement with France. As we have done in the past, DFID remains ready to provide humanitarian assistance to Niger if justified.

The BAR also considered multilateral aid received by individual countries. Niger will continue to benefit from UK funding provided through the multilateral development organisations. This amounted to £29.5 million in 2008-09.

In 2009, Niger received $470 million in net official development assistance (ODA). UK bilateral aid comprised £3.96 million (approximately $5.6 million), or 1.2% of this total.

Lesotho: Overseas Aid

Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which year his Department's bilateral aid programme with Lesotho will close; what arrangements he has made for phasing in the closure of that programme; what discussions he held with (a) the government of Lesotho, (b) multilateral organisations and (c) other bilateral donors to that country prior to his decision on the future of the programme, and on what dates; and what proportion of the official development assistance received by Lesotho his Department's bilateral aid comprised in the latest period for which figures are available. [47641]

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The decision to close the Department for International Development's (DFID's) bilateral aid programme with Lesotho on 31 August 2011 was taken under the Bilateral Aid Review (BAR). DFID's office in Lesotho will close on 31 March 2011. All projects will come to an end as planned—none will be closed early. DFID's bilateral programme represents

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1100W

a small fraction of Lesotho's overall aid. Our experience is that such small programmes often struggle to achieve sufficient impact, Lesotho is one of the highest per capita aid recipients in Africa. 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 in income terms.

Senior DFID officials discussed these plans with the Government of Lesotho in October 2010 and February 2011. Future funding plans of other donors were assessed prior to making our decision.

The BAR also considered multilateral aid received by individual countries. Lesotho will continue to benefit from UK funding provided through the multilateral development organisations. This amounted to £3.6 million in 2008-09.

In 2009-10 DFID's bilateral programme to Lesotho totalled £3.2 million. This represented 4% of the £79 million official development assistance (ODA) received by Lesotho in 2009. Total ODA to Lesotho has jumped since 2009—with local sources estimating disbursement of over £150 million during 2010.

Gambia: Overseas Aid

Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which year his Department's bilateral aid programme with Gambia will close; what arrangements he has made for phasing in the closure of that programme; what discussions he held with (a) the government of Gambia, (b) multilateral organisations and (c) other bilateral donors to that country prior to his decision on the future of the programme, and on what dates; and what proportion of the official development assistance received by Gambia his Department's bilateral aid comprised in the latest period for which figures are available. [47642]

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Bilateral Aid Review (BAR) considered which countries should receive UK bilateral aid, how much they should receive and which countries should stop receiving this aid. The decision taken in 2008 to close the UK's bilateral programme in The Gambia was confirmed as part of the BAR process. Since 2008 the UK Government have worked closely with the Government of Gambia and other donors to agree a responsible exit strategy to ensure that gains made with DFID bilateral assistance are sustained and extended into the future, including funding for a post in the European Commission office in Banjul. During the course of the review I met the Gambia Minister of Finance.

The BAR also considered multilateral aid received by individual countries. Gambia will continue to benefit from UK funding provided through the multilateral development organisations. This amounted to £0.9 million in 2008-09. In 2009, Gambia received $126 million in net Official Development Assistance. UK bilateral aid comprised £2.39 million (approximately $3.4 million) or 2.7% of the total.

Cambodia: Overseas Aid

Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which year his Department's bilateral aid programme with Cambodia will close; what arrangements he has made for phasing in the closure of that programme; what discussions he held

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1101W

with

(a)

the government of Cambodia,

(b)

multilateral organisations and

(c)

other bilateral donors to that country prior to his decision on the future of the programme, and on what dates; and what proportion of the official development assistance received by Cambodia his Department's bilateral aid comprised in the latest period for which figures are available. [47643]

Mr Andrew Mitchell: A decision was made in 2009 to phase out the Department for International Development's (DFID) direct support to Cambodia. This was in keeping with the original plan of having an in-country presence for 10 years, and confirmed by the Bilateral Aid Review. The DFID office formally closed on 31 January 2011.

DFID agreed to honour all existing programme commitments and to exit responsibly from sectors in which we were involved. Three projects will continue beyond the life of the office with the final project scheduled to close on 31 December 2013. Management of remaining programmes has been transferred to DFID Vietnam.

DFID's bilateral spend in Cambodia for financial year 2010-11 stands at £14,555,299. This does not reflect any funding through central sources such as Civil Society Challenge Funds or Regional Research Grants etc.

Burundi: Overseas Aid

Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which year his Department’s bilateral aid programme with Burundi will close; what arrangements he has made for phasing in the closure of that programme; what discussions he held with (a) the government of Burundi, (b) multilateral organisations and (c) other bilateral donors to that country prior to his decision on the future of the programme, and on what dates; and what proportion of the official development assistance received by Burundi his Department’s bilateral aid comprised in the latest period for which figures are available. [47645]

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development's (DFID’s) bilateral aid programme in Burundi will close in March 2012. This decision was taken under the Bilateral Aid Review (BAR), which concluded that better value for money and results could be delivered through our larger existing programmes and regional support.

DFID Burundi has been working in four sectors—health, education, justice and regional integration. DFID is in discussions with the European Union (EU) to transfer programming in the health sector. The bulk of DFID’s education funding is through a joint-donor basket fund with Belgium and France, which will continue following DFID’s departure. The majority of funding for the justice sector is to an EU programme that will also continue. From 2012, DFID will concentrate exclusively on supporting Burundi’s integration into the East African Community through regional funding, as we believe this will be a critical factor in the country’s medium term growth. All remaining programmes will be coming to an end during the financial year 2011-12. No programmes will be closed early.

Discussions about the closure of the bilateral programme were held with the Government of Burundi and other partners in November 2010. Earlier discussions about the likelihood and implications of closure were held

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1102W

with the two major bilateral donors in Burundi—the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Belgian embassy—in June 2010.

The BAR also considered multilateral aid received by individual countries. Burundi will continue to benefit from UK funding provided through the multilateral development organisations. This amounted to £12.7 million in 2008-09.

For the calendar year 2009, the most recent year for which figures are available, DFID support comprised 2.6% of total donor aid to Burundi.

Indonesia: Overseas Aid

Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which year his Department’s bilateral aid programme with Indonesia will close; what arrangements he has made for phasing in the closure of that programme; what discussions he held with (a) the government of Indonesia, (b) multilateral organisations and (c) other bilateral donors to that country prior to his decision on the future of the programme, and on what dates; and what proportion of the official development assistance received by Indonesia his Department’s bilateral aid comprised in the latest period for which figures are available. [47646]

Mr Andrew Mitchell: Indonesia is one of the world’s fastest growing emerging economies, and over the next period will transition from a traditional aid relationship with the UK towards a new type of partnership. Under the Bilateral Aid Review, the Government decided to end the Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) bilateral aid programme in Indonesia in March 2015. DFID programme funds to Indonesia will focus on climate change and decline over the final three years in a phased approach to closure.

DFID officials consulted with the Vice-Minister of the Indonesian Ministry for Development Planning in November 2010 on DFID’s transition to a focus on climate change and to programme closure. The Government consulted on closure with representatives in Indonesia of the United Nations and of Governments of Australia, Norway and Holland during January and February 2011.

The BAR also considered multilateral aid received by individual countries. Indonesia will continue to benefit from UK funding provided through the multilateral development organisations. This amounted to £24.5 million in 2008-09.

The 2010 Indonesia Country Report for the Paris Declaration for Aid Effectiveness shows DFID programme funds contributed 0.4% of all bilateral aid to Indonesia in 2010.

Vietnam: Overseas Aid

Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the official development assistance received by Vietnam his Department’s bilateral aid comprised in the latest period for which figures are available. [48028]

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The latest period for which figures are available for comparison purposes is the 2009 calendar year. UK support to Vietnam over this period was just over £60 million (equivalent to about $96 million), of which £4 million was debt relief. UK assistance accounted for 2.56% of the net official development assistance that Vietnam received.

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1103W

Somalia: Overseas Aid

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to his Department’s press release of 3 February 2011, on aid to Somalia, by what means his Department plans to help up to 45,000 people into jobs in that country. [47721]

Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development will work with UN agencies, the World Bank and other development partners to create an estimated 45,000 long-term jobs in Somalia, over the next four years. The programme will support people working in the livestock, fisheries and agriculture sectors across Somalia. The programme will work with producers and service providers, and strengthen links between producers and local and international markets. It will also aim to improve the investment climate, initially in Somaliland. This will include helping to improve the financial sector, port management, and the way government engages with the private sector, including mobilising funds to invest in fisheries and other sectors.

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to his Department’s press release of 3 February 2011, on aid to Somalia, with which organisations his Department plans to work to deliver aid to that country. [47723]

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) will initially channel the majority of its funds for Somalia, from 2011-15, through the United Nations (UN), the International Committee of the Red Cross and through international non-governmental organisations (NGOs). We also expect to support Somali NGOs through international NGOs.

Our UN partners will include the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). We will also work with the World Bank.

22 Mar 2011 : Column 1104W

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to his Department’s press release of 3 February 2011, on aid to Somalia, what proportion of the proposed increase in his Department’s aid for Somalia he estimates will be spent in (a) Somaliland, (b) Puntland and (c) southern Somalia. [47724]

Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has allocated £44 million to Somalia for 2011-12 and £46 million for 2012-13. Of this £90 million approximately 35% will go to Somaliland, 11% to Puntland and 54% to South-Central Somalia.

All allocations for 2013-15 will depend on results. We have provisionally allocated £80 million per year for 2013-14 and 2014-15. Of the provisional total allocation of £250 million for the period 2011-15, we plan to spend 40% in Somaliland. The remaining funds will be allocated to other parts of Somalia depending on needs, opportunities and progress.

Somalia: Politics and Government

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on the merits of the recognition of Somaliland as an independent state. [47722]

Mr O'Brien: The Secretary of State for International Development is aware of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs’ views from discussions with the Department for International Development before the Secretary of State’s visit to Somaliland in January. The UK, like the rest of the international community, does not recognise Somaliland as an independent state. While we keep this policy under review, we continue to believe that recognition of any new arrangement should begin in the region, ideally with the Somali people themselves determining their future relationship.