Tourism: Greater London
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will assess the potential effect of the proposals in the Government Tourism Policy on (a) the London borough of Bexley and (b) Greater London. [47981]
John Penrose: Over the next four years we are aiming to attract four million extra visitors to Britain adding £2 billion additional expenditure and creating 50,000 jobs through the new £100 million overseas tourism marketing fund.
In measurable terms we should increase the proportion of UK residents who holiday in the UK to match those who holiday abroad each year. For longer stays (four nights or more) this would mean 29% of travellers holidaying in Britain rather than just 20% today (creating 4.5 million extra domestic trips each year, £1.3 billion more spend and 26,000 new jobs). And if we can replicate this scale of improvement for shorter stays as well, we will create a further £750 million of spend and 11,000 new jobs.
I am afraid we have not done a breakdown of these figures for the London borough of Bexley and Greater London.
Video Recordings
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he expects to announce his Department’s consultation on amending the exemptions from regulation under Section 2 of the Video Recordings Act 1984. [49200]
Mr Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport expects to make an announcement on the consultation by the summer.
Scotland
HM Coastguard
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the Secretary of State for Transport to discuss the potential effects in Scotland of the outcome of the consultation on the future of HM Coastguard. [49215]
Michael Moore: I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on a range of issues that affect Scotland. We will continue to maintain contact to ensure implications of the proposed reforms to HM Coastguard for Scotland are fully considered before any final decisions are taken.
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has met representatives of (a) the Shetland Islands and (b) Stornoway to discuss the Government's consultation on the future of HM Coastguard. [49216]
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Michael Moore: I held telephone calls with representatives of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the Shetland Islands Council in February 2011 to discuss the Government's consultation on the modernisation of HM Coastguard. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland also met representatives of the Shetland Islands and Stornoway on 16 March 2011. The consultation period has been extended by six weeks until 5 May 2011 and contact with interested parties will be maintained to ensure that implications for Scotland are captured fully.
Members
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which hon. Members are included in his classification of (a) Scottish MPs and (b) hon. Members with an interest in Scottish affairs in correspondence sent to hon. Members by his office. [49510]
David Mundell: Scottish MPs for this purpose are MPs with a Scottish constituency. Hon. Members with an interest in Scottish affairs for this purpose are members of the Scottish Affairs Committee with constituencies outwith Scotland and MPs who have otherwise intimated a specific interest in Scotland.
Natural Gas
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he plans to have with representatives of (a) Scottish Gas, (b) Scottish Power and (c) Scottish and Southern Energy following the publication of Ofgem’s review of competition in the energy sector. [49217]
Michael Moore: I have met these companies as well as other generators to discuss a variety of issues and will continue to do so.
Public Expenditure
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) Ministers in the Scottish Government on the closure of the end year flexibility scheme. [49214]
Michael Moore: I have regular discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a wide range of issues. I also have regular discussions with Scottish Government Ministers. The Government's priority is to deal with the deficit, and the end-year flexibility system has led to accumulated stocks of around £20 billion which would further increase the deficit if they were spent. The Budget announced a new Budget Exchange system that will be introduced in 2011-12 to replace end-year flexibility. This will provide Departments and the devolved Administrations with flexibility to deal with slippage in expenditure while strengthening spending control. But in recognition of the unique situation of the devolved Administrations, the Government have allowed Scotland to carry forward £130 million of agreed under-spend from this year into next.
Unemployment: Young People
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with Ministers in the Scottish Government on steps to reduce the level of youth unemployment in Scotland. [49178]
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Michael Moore: The Government inherited rising youth unemployment and is committed to finding solutions to a problem which has persisted for many years. This is a matter I discuss regularly with other Ministers and relevant stakeholders. As I said in the House of Commons on 9 March 2011, Official Report, column 894, I will invite employers, voluntary organisations and others to an event in Ayrshire in the next few weeks to discuss the legacy issues about youth unemployment and the Government’s plans to get Scotland’s young people back to work.
Treasury
Anaerobic Digestion: Finance
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what his policy is on the provision of fiscal incentives for capital investment in farm-based anaerobic digestion; [48590]
(2) what his policy is on the provision of fiscal incentives for on-farm co-digestion of agricultural and urban waste; [48591]
(3) what fiscal incentives he plans to put in place to promote growth in the marine energy industry in each of the next four financial years. [49277]
Justine Greening: All taxes are kept under review and any decisions on tax are a matter for the Chancellor with announcements made at Budget. There have been no plans announced for specific tax reliefs for marine energy or anaerobic digestion.
Electricity supplied from these technologies is already exempt from the climate change levy as part of a wider exemption for renewables.
The Government also provide support for these technologies through the renewables obligation (RO), feed-in tariffs (FITs) and new renewable heat incentive (RHI).
Banks: EU Law
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information his Department has gathered on the unauthorised (a) disclosure and (b) publication of document CRD3, Briefing on the Committee of European Banking Supervisors Guidance on Remuneration Provisions in Capital Requirements Directive. [46342]
Mr Hoban: It has been the policy of successive Administrations not to comment on the initiation, content, or outcome of internal leak investigations.
Boarding Schools
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department provides financial assistance to his officials for boarding school fees for their children. [48517]
Justine Greening: Officials are not entitled to claim school fees for their children except where a member of staff is being relocated and there is a period where two sets of fees are payable. There have been no staff relocations in recent years so no payments have been made.
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Budget March 2011
Mr Watson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse was of the dispatch box he used on 23 March 2011. [49505]
Mr Djanogly: I have been asked to reply.
The dispatch box used on 23 March 2011 was a replacement for the famous ‘Gladstone’ Budget box which has been used by Chancellors since the 19th century. The Gladstone box was retired in 2010 to ensure its preservation for future generations, befitting its status as an important cultural artefact. The Budget box has become an iconic representation of the nation's cultural heritage, and the same traditional techniques used in the mid 19th century to create the Gladstone box were applied in the making of the replacement box, using current conservation grade materials. It was hand-made in the UK using traditional techniques and materials by a team of experts including carpenters, bookbinders, tool makers and engravers. The replacement box cost £4,300.
The cost reflects the craftsmanship and quality of materials which is in line with the relative costs paid by similar cultural institutions in preserving other valuable records of national heritage importance. By using the same techniques, we can expect the replacement box to last at least as long as the original and remain in use for 150 years or more, or an equivalent cost of £28.67 to the nation per year.
Details and cost of the box formed part of the media briefing pack which was used to brief journalists on the day of the Budget.
Charities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department provided to each charity it funds in each of the last five years; and how much he has allocated for funding to each such charity in each of the next five years. [48273]
Justine Greening: The information relating to the last five years is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Department has not allocated any funding to charities in the next five years.
Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2011, Official Report, column 851, on the Debt Relief (Development Countries) Act 2010, on what date he will bring forward proposals; and when he expects to lay before Parliament the necessary statutory instrument to make provisions in the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010, permanent. [49498]
Mr Hoban: The Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill received Royal Assent on 8 April 2010 and the Act came into force on 8 June 2010. The legislation means that UK courts of law can no longer be used to pursue excessive claims against some of the poorest countries on their historic debts, ensuring that resources are available to tackle poverty.
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The sunset clause attached to this legislation means that the law will expire on 7 June 2011. The Government have reviewed the impact of the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010. Evidence suggests that the Act has had some benefit on heavily indebted poor countries and no evidence has been found of unintended adverse effects.
The Government have therefore decided to make the Act permanent and the draft order will be laid before Parliament on 28 March 2011.
Devolution
Naomi Long: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether money from the Growth Fund in relation to credit unions has been allocated to devolved institutions under the provisions of the Barnett formula. [48493]
Danny Alexander: The Department for Work and Pensions has allocated funding of £73 million to expand and modernise third sector organisations (including those in Scotland and Wales) from within its own departmental allocation. It is not within their remit to fund provision in Northern Ireland. Credit unions are devolved in Northern Ireland.
Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks
Mr Robin Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate (a) the cost to the public purse of reducing duty on beers and ciders with an ABV of less than 2.5% and (b) the fiscal effects of extending this reduction to beers and ciders with an ABV of up to four%. [48183]
Justine Greening: The share of the beer and cider market below 2.5% ABV is less than 1% of total. As such the impact of reducing the rates on these products would be small, even if the reduction was large.
Reducing duty on beer and cider up to 4% would have a much larger effect as the market share is much greater. However, under EU directive 92/83, it is not possible to apply a reduced rate to beers above 2.8% AVC.
The UK hopes to achieve an increase in this threshold through current discussions on potential changes to the directive.
Excise Duties: Beer
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assumptions in respect of rates of inflation his Department used in its calculation of the additional revenue forecast to accrue from the beer duty escalator for 2011-12; and if he will estimate the level at which beer duty would need to be set to achieve the same level of revenue using the most recent forecast of inflation for 2011-12. [48845]
Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) on 16 March 2011, Official Report, column 379W.
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the relationship between beer duty rates, beer duty revenue and beer consumption in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [48848]
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Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Shipley (Philip Davies) on 16 March 2011, Official Report, column 379-81W.
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the effects of freezing beer duty on the level of (a) unemployment and (b) revenue to the Exchequer. [48885]
Justine Greening: Estimates can be made from the direct effects of illustrative changes table published by HMRC at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax_expenditures/table1-6.pdf
This shows that every 1% increase on duty is worth around £25 million.
Economic effects, such as employment are considered on the whole package of Budget measures by the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR). Individual measures are not considered in isolation. However, as set out in its latest ‘Economic and fiscal outlook’, the OBR expects total employment to rise by 900,000 between 2010 and 2015.
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to support the adoption of EU Directives 92/83 and 92/84 on Alcohol Excise Duty to achieve (a) favourable tax treatment for beer and (b) an increase in the threshold below which a reduced rate of duty can be applied to beer. [49387]
Justine Greening: The rates of duty on different alcohol products are set as part of the Budget process. Existing legislation already allows for different treatment of different products.
EU Directive 92/83 allows for a reduced rate of duty to be applied to beers at or below 2.8% alcohol by volume (abv) in strength. The UK hopes to achieve an increase in this threshold through current discussions on potential changes to the directive.
Excise Duties: Fuels
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce fiscal measures to assist charities and voluntary organisations to meet the cost of fuel. [47776]
Justine Greening: Charitable organisations are free to pay volunteer drivers mileage payments through the approved mileage allowance payments scheme which is intended to cover motoring costs. Budget 2011 increases the payments scheme rates from 6 April 2011 to 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles and 25p per mile thereafter.
Volunteer driving can involve the carriage of passengers to essential appointments such as at hospitals or local doctors’ surgeries. Budget 2011 extends the payments scheme’s existing 5p per mile passenger payment to volunteer drivers.
Excise Duties: Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on fuel duty differentials for liquid petroleum gas. [49526]
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Justine Greening: The Chancellor routinely discusses a range of issues with European counterparts.
Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal incentives to promote the use of diesel-hybrid vehicles he is considering. [47845]
Justine Greening: No new additional incentives were announced at Budget 2011.
However, the available incentives include the alternative fuel rates of vehicle excise duty for cars registered from 1 March 2001 which offer a £10 discount for cars that feature a hybrid fuel-electric powertrain.
A hybrid fuel-electric powertrain may also help to lower a car's per kilometre carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore the lower vehicle excise duty rates for cars with reduced carbon dioxide emissions may provide an additional incentive.
Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Mr Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will (a) assess the likely effect on the Financial Services Compensation Scheme of proposed (i) domestic and (ii) European reforms to the financial services sector and (b) initiate a consultation on reforms to the funding of the Scheme. [48996]
Mr Hoban: The Government published a consultation paper, ‘A new approach to financial regulation: building a stronger system’, in February 2011. This proposed changes to the statutory framework for the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) to reflect that the Financial Services Authority (FSA), the rule-making body for the FSCS, will be replaced by two new regulators, the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority. The consultation closes on 14 April. This does not propose any changes to the funding structure of the FSCS.
The Government submit explanatory memoranda on all EU proposals for parliamentary scrutiny. The Government's view of the proposals to amend the Deposit Guarantee Schemes and Investor Compensation Schemes directives can be found in explanatory memoranda 12386/10 dated 12 September 2010 and 12346/10 dated 17 September 2010, which remain under scrutiny by the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee.
As the rule-making body for FSCS funding, the FSA announced a comprehensive review of the FSCS funding model in 2009. Formal consultation has been temporarily postponed due to the ongoing changes to the domestic and European regulatory architecture.
The FSA will restart their public consultation in due course.
Income Tax: Older Workers
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many men and how many women over the state pension age paid tax on income from employment in the latest period for which figures are available. [49245]
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Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs estimate that there are 1.83 million taxpayers in 2010-11 with pay from employment or self-employment income who are above the state pension age, of which 0.83 million are female and 1.0 million are male.
Estimates are based on the 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's autumn forecast 2010.
Non-domestic Rates: Empty Property
Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likely effect on economic growth of the ending of the holiday period for empty property rates. [48822]
Mr Gauke: The Government have balanced the ability to take action on empty property relief (EPR) and the support it would offer businesses against the costs involved, targeted support that we have already provided on business rates and the overriding need to reduce public expenditure and support the economy generally by reducing the deficit. Taking these matters into consideration the Government have concluded that extending the temporary EPR measure is unaffordable; however the Government keep all taxes under review.
Pregnant Women: Grants
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total savings to the public purse as a result of ending the (a) health in pregnancy grant and (b) baby element of the child tax credit in 2010-11. [49248]
Mr Gauke: Provision of the health in pregnancy grant ended in January 2010, while provision of the baby element of tax credits is due to end in April 2011.
The savings to the Exchequer from ending the health in pregnancy grant in 2010-11, as published in the June Budget document, is £40 million.
The savings to the Exchequer from ending the baby element of child tax credit in 2011-12, as published in the June Budget document, is £295 million.
More information can be found at the following link:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/junebudget_costings.pdf
Private Sector
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance he issues to local authorities on obtaining savings from contractual requirements on outsourced services undertaken by the private sector; and if he will make a statement. [49512]
Danny Alexander: It is for individual local authorities to determine if and how they obtain savings through outsourcing. The Government want to remove barriers to innovation and diversity of supply, which is why the Government have recently revoked the local authority two-tier code.
To help promote a level playing field, Government will shortly issue minimal, light-touch Best Value guidance to local authorities underlining the role of small businesses and third sector organisations.
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In addition, Government support the Local Government Group's Local Productivity Programme. That programme is helping to identify opportunities to enhance the productivity and value for money from services. Further details are available at:
http://local.gov.uk/lgv2/core/page.do?pageId=579930
Public Bodies: Grants
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance his Department issues on the treatment of grant in aid given to a public body sponsored by a Government Department as money owed to central Government in the public body's accounts. [49420]
Danny Alexander: The Treasury issues guidance on the accounting treatment of grant in aid through the Government Financial Reporting Manual. The manual contains specific guidance for those public bodies to which it applies on how to account for grant in aid received from a sponsoring Department.
The Treasury also publishes Managing Public Money, which sets out the main principles for dealing with resources used by public sector organisations in the UK. This document sets out how Government Departments should arrange and control grants (including grants in aid) to third parties.
Public Finance
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of recent trends in the level of Government debt. [49075]
Justine Greening: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) published its March 2011 ‘Economic and fiscal outlook’ on 23 March 2011. This includes the OBR's assessment of public sector net debt and is available here:
http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/econ-fiscal-outlook-march.html
Tax Allowances
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information his Department holds on the distributional effect of tax reliefs and allowances relating to (a) pensions and (b) individual savings accounts by income group decile. [48832]
Mr Hoban: HM Revenue and Customs do not collect data on the income decile breakdown of tax relief and allowances in respect of pensions and individual savings accounts (ISAs).
Tobacco: Prices
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect on demand for cigarettes of trends in the price of cigarettes. [48608]
Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs estimates that a 1% increase in prices results in a 1.05% decrease in consumption of duty paid cigarettes. These results are published in the following technical paper:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/cig-consumption-uk.pdf
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VAT
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the Exchequer of low value consignment relief as it applied to value added tax was in each of the last four financial years. [48914]
Mr Gauke: The cost to the Exchequer of low value consignment relief, based on a constant 17.5% standard rate of VAT, would be as follows:
| Loss of VAT | |
| Financial year | £ million |
In practice the actual cost would be slightly different from these figures reflecting the temporary cut in the standard rate of VAT.
Welfare Tax Credits: Wolverhampton
Mr McFadden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households in Wolverhampton South East constituency are in receipt of tax credits. [48888]
Mr Gauke: At December 2010 there were 11,300 households in receipt of tax credits in Wolverhampton South East constituency.
The latest information on the number of families with children benefiting from child and working tax credits, by each parliamentary constituency, local authority and region is available in the HMRC snapshot publication “Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Geographical Analyses. December 2010”. This can be found at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-dec2010.pdf
Work and Pensions
Welfare Reform Bill
14. Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the provisions of the Welfare Reform Bill. [49051]
Mr Duncan Smith: Ministers and officials in my Department have had substantial engagement with both representative groups and customers of the current benefit system on the provisions in the Welfare Reform Bill, and continue to do so.
These discussions have included members of disabled people's organisations, housing groups, business bodies, prominent think-tanks, family and child care groups.
In addition, the Government have consulted formally on a number of measures included in the Welfare Reform Bill, in particular universal credit and disability living allowance reform. We remain absolutely committed to continuing this consultative approach.
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24. Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the potential effects on incentives to work of implementation of the provisions of the Welfare Reform Bill. [49061]
Mr Duncan Smith: I refer the hon. Lady to the reply I gave earlier today.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has undertaken on the effects of the provisions of the Welfare Reform Bill on those diagnosed with cancer; what consultation he has had on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [47806]
Chris Grayling: There has been no specific assessment made of the effect of the Welfare Reform Bill on those diagnosed with cancer. We have, however, produced both Impact Assessments and Equality Impact Assessments for all measures. These can be found at:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/legislation-and-key-documents/welfare-reform-bill-2011/index.shtml
In the case of those with cancer who are unable to work and have been placed in the Support Group, they will continue to receive targeted and unconditional support through Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and will not be affected by our proposals to introduce a time limit. After one year, those in the Work Related Activity Group will still be able to apply for income-related ESA, which will act as a safety net for those without the means to support themselves.
Professor Malcolm Harrington is currently reviewing the assessment process for cancer patients and has asked Macmillan Cancer Support and other cancer charities for their input into this issue. We look forward to receiving his recommendations.
We consulted on the reform of Disability Living Allowance from 6 December 2010 to 18 February 2011. In total we received over 5,500 replies, including responses from Macmillan Cancer Support, Breast Cancer Care, CLIC Sargent and Myeloma UK. We are currently considering these and will be publishing a response shortly.
New Enterprise Allowance: Merseyside
23. Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress his Department has made on delivering New Enterprise Allowance support in Merseyside. [49060]
Chris Grayling: The New Enterprise Allowance was launched in Merseyside on 31 January. We have a partner to deliver the mentoring support and have appointed a provider for the NEA Loans Service.
The early signs are promising with nearly 400 referrals from Jobcentre Plus to the mentoring service, and over half of these are now working with a business mentor.
Community Care Grants
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) British and (b) non-British citizens have received the community care grant in each of the smallest geographic areas for which figures are available in each of the last five years. [49244]
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Steve Webb: We are unable to provide information on whether the recipients of community care grants are either British or non-British citizens as this information is not captured on the Social Fund Computer System or other departmental data.
Compensation
Richard Fuller:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department and each (a) agency and (b) non-departmental public body
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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. [47428]
Chris Grayling: A figure relating solely to error is not available; I have therefore provided information about the total amount paid under the Department’s financial redress scheme from which discretionary payments are made to customers, including payments made in relation to official error. The information is set out in the following table.
| £ | ||||||
| Organisation | Status | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| Notes: 1. The amounts are rounded to the nearest £1,000. 2. On 1 April 2008 the Pensions Service merged with Disability and Carers Service to form the Pension, Disability and Carers Service. 3. No payments were made by Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board, Disability Employment Advisory Committee, Equality 2025, Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, National Employment Savings Trust, Pension Protection Fund, Remploy, Social Security Advisory Committee, The Pensions Advisory Service, The Pensions Regulator. 4.The Pensions Ombudsman/Pensions Protection Fund Ombudsman have no records prior to 2007. | ||||||
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on conferences since May 2010. [38526]
Chris Grayling: The total expenditure incurred by the Department on conferences for the period May 2010 to December 2010 is £2.1 million. 72% of this expenditure was incurred in the first quarter of the year before revised guidance was in place and to honour commitments already entered into. Compared to the same period May to December 2009 spend has reduced by approximately 80%.
The Department revised its internal policies and guidance in July 2010 with the clear intention of reducing costs. The use of an external venue for any business meeting, including conferences, is now exceptional and requires the advance approval of a member of the senior civil service.
Staff are discouraged from attending commercial conference events unless there is a specific requirement or business need for them to do so.
Disability Living Allowance
Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to respond to the outcomes of his Department's consultation on disability living allowance. [49038]
Maria Miller: The Government plan to replace DLA with a new cash benefit—personal independence payment—to be introduced in 2013-14. The Department received over 5,000 individual responses and 500 responses from organisations to the public consultation on our proposals, which took place between 5 December 2010 and 18 February 2011. We are considering these responses and will publish our response shortly.
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people diagnosed with (a) cancer and (b) a stroke-related condition are in receipt of disability living allowance. [49631]
Maria Miller: The information is in the following table.
| Number of people in receipt of disability living allowance where the main disabling condition is malignant disease or stroke-related conditions—August 2010 | |
|
|
Number |
| Notes: 1. The preferred statistics on benefits are now derived from 100% data sources. However, the 5% sample data still provide some detail not yet available from the 100% data sources, in particular, more complete information on the disabling condition of DLA claimants. DWP recommends that, where the detail is only available on the 5% sample data, or disabling condition (DLA) is required, the proportions derived should be scaled up to the overall 100% total for the benefit. This has been done here. 2. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 3. Caseload totals show the-number of people in receipt of an allowance and exclude those with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 4. Stroke-related conditions include the following Neurological Diseases : ‘G01’—Cerebrovascular accident (stroke), ‘G02’—Transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs), ‘G05’—Cerebrovascular disease—Other; and the psychiatric disorder ‘F62’—Cognitive disorder due to stroke. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5% sample | |
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Disability Living Allowance: Autism
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints Atos Healthcare has received in relation to assessments of eligibility for disability living allowance in the last period for which figures are available; and how many such complaints related to assessments in respect of autism and related conditions. [48049]
Chris Grayling: The figures shown are the number of complaints received nationally in respect of disability living allowance assessments conducted by Atos Healthcare. This covers a wide spectrum of complaint issues and includes administrative activities such as appointment booking, aspects of the arrangements and conducting of the assessment.
Benefit entitlement is determined by DWP Decision Makers, not Atos Healthcare Professionals. In order to make a decision on benefit entitlement the Decision Maker considers all the available evidence not just the reports received from Atos Healthcare. Further evidence may include the customer's ‘self assessment’, reports from GPs, hospital doctors and other health care professionals.
The number of complaints (and assessments undertaken) Atos Healthcare have received relating to the service to customers claiming disability living allowance for the last two years is as follows:
| Quarter ending | Number of complaints | Completed DLA assessments |
Statistics relating to the customer’s medical condition are not collated.
Disability Living Allowance: Children
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2011, Official Report, column 739W, on disability living allowance, what provision will be made to maintain the incomes of existing child claimants of disability living allowance following the introduction of personal independence payments. [48906]
Maria Miller:
In my answer of 18 March 2011, Official Report, column 739W, I explained that we want to build on the experience of developing an assessment and applying it to new and existing claimants of working age to inform our decisions about the arrangements for children. We will not consider extending personal independence payment to new claims from children or to children already receiving DLA until we have had an opportunity to consider the effectiveness of the new arrangements for working-age people. This means that, following the introduction of personal independence payment for working-age individuals, DLA will continue
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to be paid to new and existing child claimants, provided they continue to meet the eligibility criteria. We are currently considering responses to the disability living allowance reform public consultation on this issue and will provide further details of our proposals when we publish the Government response shortly.
Employment and Support Allowance: Cancer
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the average length of claim made by recipients of employment and support allowance who were cancer patients in receipt of oral chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment was in each of the last four financial years; [47018]
(2) how many claimants of employment and support allowance were cancer patients in receipt of oral chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment in each of the last two years; how much his Department paid to such persons in employment and support allowance in each such year; and if he will estimate (a) the number of such claimants and (b) the expenditure on them in employment and support allowance in each of the next two years; [47020]
(3) if he will estimate the potential savings to his Department arising from implementation of his proposals on employment and support allowance in respect of cancer patients in receipt of oral chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment in each of the next two years. [47021]
Maria Miller: The National Statistics datasets on employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants do not contain any information about whether cancer patients are receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Eligibility for ESA is based on an individual's functional capacity. Savings are not defined on the basis of a particular condition.
For information, statistics on ESA claimants by duration of claim and medical condition data are available and these are published on the Department's website at:
http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html
Also, official statistics on ESA work capability assessments are published at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_wca/index.php?page=esa_wca_arc
These include the numbers of claimants who automatically qualify for the Support Group as they are receiving certain types of chemotherapy.
In March 2010 we published a Department-led review of the work capability assessment (WCA). This made some recommendations for improving the WCA including making greater provision for individuals awaiting or in between courses of chemotherapy, taking greater account of how an individual has adapted to their condition and simplifying some of the descriptors. We have now laid Regulations to ensure these changes will come into force on 28 March 2011.
Professor Malcolm Harrington has asked Macmillan Cancer Support to look into how the WCA assesses people with cancer, including whether people receiving oral chemotherapy should be placed directly into the Support Group. Macmillan are making good progress with this work and will make recommendations to Professor Harrington in the spring.
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Employment: Wolverhampton
Mr McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of the working age population of Wolverhampton South East constituency were employed in (a) May 1997 and (b) the latest month for which figures are available. [48889]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many and what proportion of the working age population of Wolverhampton South East constituency was employed in (a) May 1997 and (b) the latest month for which figures are available. (48889)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
The Wolverhampton South East parliamentary constituency changed to new boundaries at the 2010 general election. Figures for the current Wolverhampton South East parliamentary constituency are only available from 2004.
Table 1 shows the number of persons in employment resident in Wolverhampton South East parliamentary constituency for the 12 month period ending in December 2004 and for June 2010 from the APS, this is the latest estimate for which figures are available. Proportions have been calculated using an age 16-64 denominator.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
| Table 1: Number of persons (1) in employment resident in Wolverhampton South East parliamentary constituency | ||
|
|
Thousand | Rate |
| (1) Persons aged 16 to 64 (2 )Coefficients of Variation have been calculated as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key: * 0 ≤ CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Annual Population Survey | ||
Housing Benefit
Mr Frank Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Stretford and Urmston (Kate Green) of 14 March 2011, Official Report, columns 123-4W, on housing benefit,
28 Mar 2011 : Column 46W
for what reasons his Department decided to cap housing benefit payments for both couple and lone parent households at £500 per week. [49624]
Chris Grayling: From 2013, we are introducing a cap on the total amount of benefit that working-age people can receive so that households on out of work benefits will no longer receive more in welfare payments than the average weekly wage for working households. We estimate that in 2013, average earnings after tax and national insurance contributions for working households will be around £500 a week.
New Deal Schemes
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people entered the flexible new deal in (a) October, (b) November and (c) December 2009; and in each such case how many have secured (i) short term and (ii) sustained employment. [44420]
Chris Grayling: The number of starts (minus re-starts) on the flexible new deal during the period October, November and December 2009 is as follows:
|
|
Starts (net of starts from re-referral) |
| Notes: 1. Starts figures do not include starts from second or subsequent referrals to the same provider. 2. Figures for starts are refreshed each month and will increase over time. 3. Please see FND information note available on the following website for further information and definitions: http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?paae=ddfnd Source: Provider, Referrals and Payment (PRaP) management information system. | |
We are currently not able to track individual cohorts to establish the proportions/volumes from each that gained short/sustained employment.
Since the start of FND there have been 338,380 starts (net of starts from re-referrals) 38,700 short job outcomes and 18,390 sustained job outcomes.
Occupational Pensions
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage employers to provide pensions for their staff. [49033]
Steve Webb: The Government are committed to reinvigorate occupational pensions and to encourage companies to offer high-quality pensions to all employees.
Starting from 2012, a new duty will be introduced requiring all employers to automatically enrol eligible workers into a qualifying workplace pension scheme. Automatic enrolment will mean that the employee will have to actively choose not to participate in pension savings.
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We are also taking action to simplify the rules and regulations relating to existing occupational pensions.
We have recently put in place simplified disclosure of information regulations enabling greater use of electronic communications which came into force on 1 December 2010.
The rules on employer debt to pension schemes are being reviewed to make it easier for companies to restructure while protecting members’ pensions. The aim is to introduce these changes in October 2011, following public consultation.
We are also ending contracting out from the state additional pension for defined contribution pension schemes from April 2012. This will simplify pension choices for individuals and administration for schemes and employers who sponsor them.
Older Workers
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of the workforce in the UK is over 60 years of age. [49036]
Steve Webb: In the UK as at Q4 2010, according to the Labour Force Statistics (LFS) those over 60 represented 8.6% of all those in employment above the age of 16.
Pensioners
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to assist pensioners in the current economic climate. [49034]
Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 March 2011, Official Report, column 525W.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent steps his Department has taken to assist pensioners in reducing their household bills. [49035]
Steve Webb: We worked closely with the Department for Energy and Climate Change and energy suppliers to deliver an £80 rebate off electricity bills last year. The rebate, paid under the Energy Rebate Scheme, went to pensioners aged 70 and over receiving only the guarantee credit element of pension credit.
Following this trial of data sharing with energy suppliers, we are proposing that energy suppliers extend the rebate to a wider group of pensioners as part of the Warm Home Discount scheme. The rebate would be at least £120 a year. The first data matching exercise under this scheme is planned for winter 2011/12, subject to the necessary regulations being approved by Parliament.
Pensions
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage people to pay into pension schemes. [49032]
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Steve Webb: Our key measure to reinvigorate private pension saving is the workplace pension reforms—automatic enrolment into a workplace pension for employees, compulsory employer contributions and establishment of the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST).
Starting from October 2012 all employers will be required to automatically enrol their eligible workers into a qualifying pension scheme. We estimate that the reforms should lead to 5 to 8 million people newly saving or saving more for their retirement.
In addition the Government are exploring how pension saving might be made more attractive to people. For example, we are removing the requirement to annuitise at age 75 as part of the Finance Bill 2011, and we are continuing to consider options for improving take-up of the open market option for annuities.
We are also engaging in debates across the broader pensions community, and welcome initiatives such as the National Association of Pension Funds’ Workplace Retirement Income Commission, which aims to develop consensus on how to improve and strengthen retirement savings.
Social Security Benefits: Hearing Impairment
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of those claiming out-of-work benefits are deaf. [40693]
Maria Miller: The information requested is not available for all benefits. Information on whether a claimant is deaf is not routinely recorded for all claimants.
Information is available on whether the main medical condition for incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance and employment and support allowance claimants is “Other Hearing Loss”, which includes deafness, and whether the main disabling condition for attendance allowance and disability living allowance claimants is deafness.
The information that is available is presented as follows:
| Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance (IB/SDA) and employment support allowance (ESA) claimants, August 2010 | ||
|
|
ESA | IB/SDA |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. For IB/SDA and ESA deafness is included under the disabling condition of “Other Hearing Loss”. 3. To qualify for Incapacity Benefit (IB), claimants have to undertake a medical assessment of incapacity for work called a Personal Capability Assessment. Under the employment and support allowance regime, new claimants have to undergo the Work Capability Assessment. From April 2011 incapacity benefit recipients will begin also to undertake this assessment. The medical condition recorded on the claim form does not itself confer entitlement to incapacity benefit or employment and support allowance. So, for example, a decision on entitlement for a customer claiming incapacity benefit on the basis of “other hearing loss” would be based on their ability to carry out the range of activities related to physical and mental function, assessed by the Personal/Work Capability Assessment. 4. Incapacity benefit was replaced by employment and support allowance (ESA) from October 2008. Source: DWP Information Directorate 100% WPLS | ||
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| Attendance allowance (AA) cases in payment, August 2010 | |
|
|
Number |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 2. A diagnosed medical condition does not mean that someone is automatically entitled to AA. Entitlement is dependent on an assessment of how much help someone needs with personal care and/or mobility because of their disability. Source: DWP Information Directorate 100% WPLS | |
| Disability living allowance (DLA) cases in payment , August 2010 | |
|
|
Number |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 2. A diagnosed medical condition does not mean that someone is automatically entitled to DLA. Entitlement is dependent on an assessment of how much help someone needs with personal care and/or mobility because of their disability. Source: DWP Information Directorate 5% WPLS | |
Notes:
DLA figures are from 5% sample data uprated to 100% proportions. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
The preferred statistics on benefits are now derived from 100% data sources. However, the 5% sample data still provides some detail not yet available from the 100% data sources, in particular, more complete information on the disabling condition of DLA claimants. DWP recommends that, where the detail is only available on the 5% sample data, or disabling condition (DLA) is required, the proportions derived should be scaled up to the overall 100% total for the benefit. These figures have been scaled up to the overall total by the application of a single rating factor therefore subtotals based on uprated 5% data may differ from 100% data because of sampling variation in the 5% sample.
Unemployment: Graduates
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many graduates aged 24 years or less were unemployed in the latest period for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of such graduates who were in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance. [48828]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many graduates aged 24 years or less were unemployed in the latest period for which figures are available; and what estimate has been made of the proportion of such graduates who were in receipt of jobseekers allowance (48828).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for the UK from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
28 Mar 2011 : Column 50W
According to the LFS, there were 117,000 graduates aged 24 or under who were unemployed during the period October to December 2010. Of those, 34% reported that they were claiming unemployment related benefit.
Universal Credit
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the potential number of households entitled to help with child care costs under the universal credit on the basis of less than 16 hours work. [49516]
Maria Miller: The Secretary of State announced in the Second Reading of the Welfare Reform Bill that there would be an additional element in universal credit to support child care costs, and we will aim not to restrict it to those working more than 16 hours, but are considering how best to allocate support.
The precise number of households entitled to help with child care costs under universal credit who work fewer than 16 hours depends on the design of the additional element—namely the proportion of costs covered and the maximum limits.
We expect to announce further details during the course of the Bill.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of lone parents who (a) earn no more than the minimum wage, (b) receive up to (i) 60, (ii) 70 and (iii) 80% of child care costs and (c) work (A) 10, (B) 16, (C) 20 and (D) 30 hours per week who will receive more for working than being on benefits under his proposals for universal credit. [49517]
Maria Miller: The Secretary of State announced in the Second Reading of the Welfare Reform Bill that there would be an additional element in universal credit to support child care costs, and that at least the same amount of money will be invested in this as in the existing system, but he is taking further advice before deciding what rates to set.
The proportion of lone parents in each scenario that will have a higher income in work than out of work, will depend on the design of the additional element—namely the proportion of costs covered and the maximum limits.
We expect to announce further details during the course of the Bill.
Credit Unions: Northern Ireland
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how much funding for the Growth Fund has been allocated to the Northern Ireland Executive over the comprehensive spending review period; and whether such funding is ring-fenced for the use of credit unions; [48167]
(2) whether the Northern Ireland Executive will receive a proportion of the £73 million allocated by his Department for the modernisation and growth of credit unions. [48168]
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Steve Webb: The Department for Work and Pensions have allocated funding of £73 million to expand and modernise third sector organisations from within its own departmental allocation. It is not within our remit to fund provision in Northern Ireland.
During April to September the Department will manage a feasibility study to examine the scope and the options for the modernisation and expansion of the sector.
Credit unions and other community financial institutions that already hold a contract with the Department will have the opportunity of extending those contracts, subject to selection criteria, during this time.
Following feasibility testing, decisions will be made on the way forward and a further announcement will be made.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Animal Welfare
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has made to the UN and other international agencies on the illegal trade in animals and wildlife. [45416]
Richard Benyon: The Secretary of State spoke at the United Nations in September regarding biodiversity, although this did not cover illegal trade in animals and wildlife specifically.
I have held frequent meeting with NGO representatives and DEFRA officials to ensure that the strong positions held by the UK Government are understood across the NGO community.
DEFRA officials have been engaged in discussions with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Secretariat in preparing for the next CITES Standing Committee in August. Matters discussed include: measures to ensure the effective implementation of CITES, such as the introduction of electronic, permitting systems; internet trade; legislative implementation in the UK's overseas territories and Crown Dependencies; and the development of a suitable mechanism against which to assess the appropriateness of future elephant ivory sales.
Officials have also attended the Compliance Committee of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas where blue fin tuna fishing plans for 2011 were assessed to ensure that blue fin tuna will not be fished, and therefore traded, illegally.
Breed Societies
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will assess the likely effects of establishing a single equine passport issuing organisation on income levels of breed societies. [43699]
Mr Paice: We are currently reconsidering the Government's requirements in respect of horse passports and associated data. A full assessment of the impact on DEFRA-approved breed societies and passport issuing organisations will be made before implementing any changes to the current system.
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Carbon Emissions
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Carbon Trust on the eligibility criteria for the commercial loan scheme for energy efficiency and low carbon equipment in the agriculture sector. [48587]
Mr Paice: Government have no role in the Carbon Trust’s recently announced commercial loan scheme. As such, the Secretary of State has had no discussions regarding eligibility criteria.
Common Agricultural Policy
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the nature of public goods which should be protected under pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy. [48838]
Mr Paice: The current pillar 2 of the CAP plays an important role in delivering non-market-distorting public goods through sustainable land management and support for the rural economy. Outcomes that are regarded as public goods and funded by Pillar 2 are those that are of clear benefit to the public across the EU, but would not be provided by the market.
The nature of these goods ranges from biodiversity outcomes to those actions that contribute to climate change mitigation. A reformed Common Agricultural Policy must promote the improved delivery of public goods.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what meetings she has had with (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. [48840]
Mr Paice: Government Ministers meet regularly in Cabinet and Cabinet sub-Committee settings as well as bilaterally, to discuss the many important issues that the Government are dealing with, including reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on reform of (a) pillar 1 and (b) pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy. [48841]
Mr Paice: In a smaller overall Budget, future CAP expenditure must be founded on a twin-track approach, building competitiveness and so reducing reliance on subsidies, and enabling farmers to better deliver the environmental goods that the public demands.
Pillar 1 should become a transitional measure, as tools to encourage competitiveness and reduce farmers’ reliance on subsidies are introduced and take effect.
We are committed to an increased focus on actions under pillar 2 providing public goods that the market cannot deliver and supporting improvements in competitiveness. Agri-environment schemes will continue to be a particular priority, supporting our commitment to being “The Greenest Government Ever”.
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Common Fisheries Policy
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent meetings she has had on reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. [47739]
Richard Benyon: As UK Fisheries Minister I have had discussions with a range of organisations and people about common fisheries policy (CFP) reform. This includes discussions with the EU Fisheries Commissioner, other member states and MEPs at the high level political meeting on discards on 1 March. I have also met representatives of the fishing industry—both large scale and under-10 metre fleets—MEPs, retailers, and non-governmental organisations.
I plan to have further discussions in pressing our case for radical reform of the CFP.
Departmental Hospitality
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on the contents of ministerial drinks cabinets since 12 May 2010. [48353]
Richard Benyon: The Department has not spent anything on the contents of ministerial drinks cabinets since 12 May 2010.
Departmental Assets
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether receipts from the sale of assets owned by regional development agencies are reflected in the spending plans of her Department for (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14. [47418]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 17 March 2011]: No. Receipts from the sale of assets owned by regional development agencies are not included in the Department's spending plans.
Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr Gregory Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on (a) salaries and (b)
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pension entitlements for special advisers in the financial year 2010-11 to date. [46579]
Richard Benyon: Details of special adviser numbers and paybands are available on the Cabinet Office website:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special-adviser-data-releases
The published information was released in conjunction with a written ministerial statement. It lists the names of special advisers in post at various times, including each special adviser's pay band, actual salary where this is £58,200 or higher, together with details of the special adviser's pay ranges for 2010-11, and the total pay bill cost of special advisers in the period.
The estimated pay bill includes pension costs. Details of pension arrangements are set out in the Model contract for Special Advisers.
Departmental Rail Travel
Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what proportion of civil servants in her Department are entitled to travel first class by rail within the UK. [47068]
Richard Benyon: In line with HM Treasury policy, all staff are required to travel by standard class as the norm, unless good business reasons justify otherwise.
Departmental Redundancy
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what expenditure public bodies sponsored by her Department incurred on redundancies in 2009-10; and what estimate has been made of equivalent expenditure in 2010-11. [43714]
Richard Benyon: Details for compulsory redundancy expenditure in public bodies sponsored by DEFRA in 2009-10 and 2010-11 are set out in the following table. The fourth column explains whether the cost is actual or projected for 2010-11. The public bodies recorded here are DEFRA’s Executive non-departmental public bodies.
Please note that two NDPBs are in the process of closing at the moment—CRC and SDC—so the 2010-11 actual expenditure for those two bodies may be lower than the projected one as more employees may leave voluntarily or redeploy.
| Financial year | |||
| Executive NDPB | 2009-10 (£) | 2010-11 (£) | Comment |
28 Mar 2011 : Column 55W
28 Mar 2011 : Column 56W
Fairtrade Initiative: Public Sector
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 28 February 2011, Official Report, column 46W, on the Fairtrade initiative: public sector, if she will request each procurement body to assess the cost to it of purchase of Fairtrade food and drink in order to inform the setting of Government buying standards; and if she will make a statement. [48582]
Mr Paice: We will shortly be introducing Government buying standards for food which include criteria to encourage the use of ethically traded food. The criteria are based on the results of our consultations, including on costs, with suppliers, public sector procurers as well as the Fairtrade Foundation. I do not intend to impose an additional cost-reporting burden on public bodies.
Fisheries
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent discussions she has had with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation on the trends in the relative proportions of fish stocks (a) fished by capture and (b) sourced through aquaculture in the last 10 years; [48583]
(2) what recent discussions she has had with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation on the trends in global prices for (a) fish, (b) fishmeal and (c) fish oil; [48584]
(3) what recent discussions she has had with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation on trends in the global trade in fish; [48585]
(4) what recent discussions she has had with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation on the effects on biodiversity in coral reef habitats of (a) blast fishing and (b) poison fishing; [48586]
(5) what discussions she has had in the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation on the effects of the growth in aquaculture on (a) the use of fish oil, (b) the use of fishmeal and (c) biodiversity. [48839]
Richard Benyon: The UK participates at Food and Agriculture Organisation meetings on fisheries issues, most recently the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) held in February 2011. The UK takes regular note of the global trends in fisheries production and trade, including those highlighted in the FAO’s report, “The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2010”. The UK is also fully supportive of international initiatives to ensure fishing activity is conducted in the most environmentally sustainable way possible.
Fisheries: Public Consultation
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to consult fishing communities on the future of the fishing industry. [48271]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA officials and I have had extensive discussions with a range of people who are active in fishing communities about both reform of domestic fisheries management arrangements in England and the overarching EU common fisheries policy (CFP). Under both reforms, we are seeking to simplify and decentralise fisheries management, building in the right incentives for fishermen to operate sustainably and profitably in the future.
A public consultation on proposals for domestic fisheries management reform is due to be launched in early spring 2011. I also plan to have further discussions in pressing our case for radical reform of the CFP in the coming months.
Food
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the regulation of food and agricultural commodity markets. [48589]
Mr Paice: Food prices are ultimately governed by the market, not by Government. The UK Government are committed to promoting the better functioning of agricultural markets, which will help to mitigate future price spikes. We will work with France during their G20 presidency to improve the transparency and availability of global stocks data and tackle export restrictions.
Forestry Commission: Redundancy
Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she expects any job reductions to arise in the Forestry Commission's offices in Edinburgh as a result of the proposed sale of parts of the public forest estate. [39034]
Mr Paice [holding answer 14 February 2011]: All sales are suspended until we have considered the findings of the independent panel on forestry. The panel will advise on the future direction of forestry and woodland policy in England, on the role of the Forestry Commission, and on the role of the public forest estate.
Separately the Forestry Commission is consulting staff on new organisational structures in response to the 2010 spending review settlement. It will be for the Forestry Commission to decide where its staff should be based after the conclusion of this consultation.
National Wildlife Crime Unit
Mr Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department plans to provide to the National Wildlife Crime Unit in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13. [49531]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA has confirmed funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit of £144,000 in 2011-12 and £136,000 in 2012-13.
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Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department provided to the National Wildlife Crime Unit in each of the last four years; and what funding it plans to provide to the Unit in each of the next four years. [49025]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 24 March 2011]: DEFRA provided £130,000 in 2007-08 and £150,000 in each of the years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11.
DEFRA has confirmed funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit of £144,000 in 2011-12 and £136,000 in 2012-13. No decision has been made as yet regarding funding beyond 2012-13.
Natural Gas
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2011, Official Report, column 1140W, on shale gas, if Ministers in her Department will meet the Environment Agency to discuss its preparedness for on-shore drilling for shale gas and coal bed methane using hydraulic fracturing. [48326]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA officials continue to hold informal discussions with the Environment Agency on preparedness for on-shore drilling for shale gas and coal bed methane using hydraulic fracturing.
I understand that the Environment Agency submitted written evidence to the Energy and Climate Change Committee on 14 March 2011, and expects to provide oral evidence on 29 March 2011.
DEFRA Ministers do not expect to hold meetings with the Environment Agency to review the organisation's preparedness on the matter.
Nature Conservation: Mongolia
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to share her Department’s expertise on (a) wildlife conservation and (b) protection of the natural environment with the Government of Mongolia as it develops conservation laws. [49235]
Richard Benyon: We have not been approached to provide conservation advice to the Government of Mongolia to help develop its conservation laws.
However, the Department is funding some small-scale work through a Darwin Initiative scoping project towards developing a species conservation plan.
Work-based Stress
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements are in place in her Department to (a) reduce levels of work-based stress and (b) provide assistance to staff diagnosed with such stress. [48209]
Richard Benyon:
DEFRA has a workplace stress policy which outlines the Department's commitment to the prevention and management of, and rehabilitation from, workplace and other stress. Our policy also assists DEFRA meet its overall aims under the DEFRA Safety
28 Mar 2011 : Column 58W
Policy and the Wellbeing Strategy and other HR policies such as sickness absence where relevant.
A number of reduction measures are in place including toolkits for risk assessments, guidance on prevention strategies, and learning and development such as leadership and managing change etc. We also encourage use of the HSE's managers competency toolkit and have a separate wellbeing strategy.
Assistance to staff diagnosed with stress is primarily provided following early referral to our occupational health service. We also have an independent employee assistance programme available to staff for the provision of counselling—both via the telephone and face to face where required.
Water
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to reduce the amount of water used in the food supply chain. [49266]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA is working with the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to determine how this can best be done. Through WRAP, DEFRA supports the work of the Federation House Commitment, which aims to help reduce overall water use across the national food and drink industry by 20% by 2020.
Over the next three years, WRAP will also be looking at how products are designed, produced, sold and used, and at extending the lifetime of products, all of which affect the food supply chain.
Justice
Acklington and Castington Prisons
Sir Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the (a) capital costs of and (b) potential savings arising from building a single perimeter fence and gate block as part of the merger of HMP Acklington and HMP Castington; and what assessment he has made of the potential for using HMP Castington for prisoners in categories which need to be kept separately from those in HMP Acklington. [49087]
Mr Blunt: The capital costs of building a single perimeter fence and gate block as part of the merger of Acklington and Castington prisons are estimated to be £5.6 million.
This investment is part of a wider long-term savings strategy. Currently it is estimated that savings from the merger of the prisons will be around £1.79 million a year over 32 months. There is an additional one-off saving of £1.44 million by avoiding major maintenance projects on facilities that will become shared (i.e. kitchen and reception areas).
Acklington and Castington are both category C adult male prisons. Therefore there are no issues raised by merging the two prisons in respect of security categorisation.
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Alternatives to Prison: Females
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull East of 15 November 2010, Official Report, columns 540-1W, on the Corston Report, if he will estimate the total level of funding for projects arising from the recommendations of the Corston Report from local commissioning arrangements in 2011-12. [49113]
Mr Blunt: Funding for the Women’s Community Projects was a one-off grant and ends in April 2011. It has always been the aim to demonstrate the effectiveness of the projects in diverting women from custody who do not pose a risk to the community and embed them as part of local commissioning arrangements.
The National Offender Management Service has identified funding to sustain community projects that are critical to diverting women away from custody and crime and a further announcement will be made shortly. The Ministry of Justice will continue to encourage the development of services for women in the criminal justice system that address their complex problems.
Civil Litigation Funding
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what recent progress has been made on his civil justice funding review Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales; [48863]
(2) what mechanism he proposes to establish to fund claimants’ costs of medical reports in clinical negligence
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cases under his Department’s civil justice funding review, Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales; [49018]
(3) what assessment he has made of the proposals of the Access to Justice Action Group on after-the-event insurance made in response to his Department’s justice funding review, Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [49019]
Mr Djanogly: The closing date for our consultation on “Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales—Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson’s Recommendations” was 14 February 2011. We have considered all the consultation responses, including from the Access to Justice Action Group, and we will set out the Government’s response in due course.
Departmental Local Government Finance
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much each local authority received from each (a) revenue and (b) capital funding stream from his Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; how much funding his Department allocated from each such stream in each year; and what the change was in the level of funding in each such stream between those years in (A) cash and (B) real terms. [49256]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The MOJ’s accounting systems do not record grant expenditure in the way the question has asked for. However, the Department can issue the following information on cash grants given to local authorities in 2010-11.
| Local authority | Policy area | Grant amount (£) |
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| Note: D.V. Domestic Violence: £140,000.00 Coroners: £142,874.10 Elections: £195,140.32 LFS Local Finance Incentives: £117,420.00 | ||