5 Apr 2011 : Column 735W
Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 5 April 2011
Northern Ireland
Departmental Early Retirement
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of his Department’s staff have taken early retirement in each of the last five years; and at what cost to his Department in each such year. [50837]
Mr Paterson: Comparable figures for the Department as it is now configured are not available following the completion of devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010.
Since 12 April 2010, my Department has approved early retirement for two members of staff at a cost of £184,789.
Culture, Media and Sport
Departmental Contracts
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what contracts his Department and its associated public bodies signed with Lockheed Martin in each of the last 10 years; and for what purposes each such contract was let. [50694]
John Penrose: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not signed any contract with Lockheed Martin in the last 10 years.
The Department does not collate this information for its arm’s length bodies. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executives of each body to write to the hon. Member for Wells. Copies of the replies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Departmental Local Government Finance
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 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. [49253]
John Penrose: The only programme of grants the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) made to local authorities in 2010-11 was for the free swimming initiative, which was revenue funding. The grant allocations for the period from 1 April to 31 July 2010, when the scheme ended, totalled £11,316,665. A breakdown of amounts allocated by local authority can be found at the following link:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/FS-Grant_determination2010-11-_final.pdf
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In 2011-12 DCMS will make annual private finance initiative (PFI) payments to local authorities totalling £18,462,200. These payments are classified as current year spending in the Department's budget. A breakdown of payments by local authority can be found in the table.
PFI payments for earlier years were met from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Revenue Support Grant and not by DCMS. It is therefore not possible to provide real terms comparisons.
| Local authority—Operational | 2011-12 g rant (£) |
Departmental Official Cars
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on what date (a) he and (b) each other Minister in his Department last used a ministerial car while travelling in an official capacity; and how many times (i) he and (ii) each other Minister in his Department has travelled to their constituency in a ministerial car since May 2010. [50188]
John Penrose: DCMS Ministers do not have the use of individual ministerial cars. Cars are booked through the Government Car and Despatch Agency when required.
The information requested is shown in the following table.
| Minister | Date of last use of pool car | Number of times pool car used to travel to constituency |
|
Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries |
||
Public Bodies Reform Programme
Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the merging of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment and the Design Council; [48703]
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(2) what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Advisory Committee on National Historic Ships; [48704]
(3) what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites; [48705]
(4) what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the UK Film Council; [48730]
(5) what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Theatres Trust; [48731]
(6) what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Public Lending Right; [48732]
(7) what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council; [48733]
(8) what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Legal Deposit Advisory Panel; [48734]
(9) what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Horserace Totalisator Board; [48735]
(10) what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Football Licensing Authority; [48736]
(11) what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Advisory Council on Libraries; [48737]
(12) what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the change in function of Visit England; [48739]
(13) what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the change in function of S4C; [48740]
(14) what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the change in function of the Horserace Betting Levy Board; [48741]
(15) what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the merging of Sport England and UK Sport; [48804]
(16) what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the merging of the Gambling Commission and the National Lottery Commission. [48805]
John Penrose: The reform of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) public bodies is part of a cross-Government drive to improve the accountability of public bodies and to seek to reduce their cost and number, with a view to simplifying the public bodies landscape.
In view of the range of reforms that have been announced and the different periods over which they will be carried out, the benefits will be realised over different time scales, with some delivering net savings beyond the current spending review period.
Estimated savings are in the following table. These estimates are subject to ongoing review as the final details of the implementation of the reforms are agreed.
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For reforms relating to the UK Film Council, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, Public Lending Right, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, Sport England and UK Sport the costs and benefits are subject to ongoing analysis and while we expect they will generate material savings no final figures are yet available.
DCMS also has a number of advisory NDPBs that have either little or no associated costs. Reforms relating to these bodies will not therefore generate any significant savings, but likewise will be achieved at little or no cost. In some cases, such as the Theatres Trust, it is important to note that the bodies are not being abolished but will be declassified, as the NDPB status is not necessary for the body to carry out its functions. The correct proposed reforms for our advisory bodies listed are:
Advisory Committee on National Historic Ships: No longer an NDPB—Declassify and transfer functions
Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites: No longer an NDPB—Abolish and transfer functions in relation to England to English Heritage
Advisory Council on Libraries: No longer an NDPB—Abolish body and functions
Visit England: Retain—Modify constitution to increase representation of destinations on Visit England Board
Theatres Trust: No longer an NDPB—Continue as a charity
Legal Deposit Advisory Panel: No longer an NDPB—Abolish body and functions (was abolished in August 2010)
Departmental Travel
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on what date (a) he and (b) each other Minister in his Department last travelled by (i) London Underground and (ii) public bus services on Government business; how many times (A) he and (B) each other Minister in his Department has travelled by each such form of transport on Government business since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [50077]
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John Penrose: DCMS Ministers regularly travel by London Underground and public buses on Government business.
Oyster cards are available for use by all the Department’s Ministers but the number of journeys made by these forms of transport since May 2010 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many of his ministerial team have been issued with (a) an Oyster card and (b) a (i) monthly and (ii) annual travel card valid on London Transport and paid for by his Department for use while travelling on Government business. [50166]
John Penrose: All Ministers within the Department have been provided with pay-as-you-go Oyster cards for use while travelling on Government business. No monthly or annual travel cards have been issued.
Gambling
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) whether he has received representations from (a) the gambling industry and (b) GamCare on the administrative burden placed upon GamCare by the regime implemented by the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board and the Responsible Gambling Fund; and if he will make a statement; [49841]
(2) whether he has received representations from (a) the gambling industry and (b) GamCare on risks to GamCare’s provision of treatment services attributable to the time taken to arrange funding; [49842]
(3) if he will review the (a) cost to the public purse and (b) administrative burden resulting from the creation of the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board and the Responsible Gambling Fund to determine whether research, education and treatment in respect of problem gambling could be more effectively delivered through GamCare; and if he will make a statement. [49843]
John Penrose: Ministers have received representations from a number of interested parties about recent difficulties in resolving funding arrangements for some services to problem gamblers. This is a matter for the independent charities concerned, and for their respective Boards of Trustees where relevant. I understand that the immediate issues have now been resolved. I hope that the parties involved will continue to demonstrate their commitment to tackling problem gambling by working together constructively to agree a longer term solution. The current funding structure was established by the industry, in preference to a statutory levy, to try to ensure that industry donations are used to the best effect to reduce problem gambling levels. It does not involve public money, nor any publicly imposed administrative burdens.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) under what powers the white list of approved gambling jurisdictions has been suspended; [50037]
(2) whether any applications have been made to join the white list of approved gambling jurisdictions since its suspension. [50038]
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John Penrose: Section 331(4) of the Gambling Act 2005 enables the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport to add jurisdictions to the ‘white list’ so that operators regulated in those countries can advertise gambling services in the UK. In 2009, the Department announced that new applications for the white list would not be considered while the regulation of remote gambling in Britain was being reviewed. That remains the position. I understand that some jurisdictions have expressed interest in being added to the white list, but no applications have been made. I hope to make an announcement on how the Government intend to proceed in due course.
Humanitarian Assistance
Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many staff his Department’s Humanitarian Assistance Unit employed in (a) April 2010 and (b) February 2011. [48074]
John Penrose: Within the Humanitarian Assistance Unit there were 4.0 FTE staff in April 2010 and 0.5 FTE staff in February 2011. This reduction reflects the improved capability at the local level to care for people after major emergencies. New Humanitarian Assistance guidance is available on the following webpage
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/humanitarian-assistance-emergencies
with complementary best practice available on the Emergency Planning Society’s website at
http://www.the-eps.org
Plants
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on indoor and outdoor plants and trees since his appointment. [48427]
John Penrose: The Department has spent £1,859.37 on plants since the Secretary of State’s appointment.
Royal Parks Agency
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether the Royal Parks Agency is taking steps to address trends in acute oak decline in trees in Richmond Park. [50036]
John Penrose: The Royal Parks (TRP) is working with the Forestry Commission and other key agencies to address the problem of acute or chronic oak decline. TRP has put a strategy in place and allocated additional resource to help mitigate the impact in Richmond and Bushy parks.
House of Commons Commission
Pay
Mr Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the post is of each person employed in the House of Commons Service with a salary higher than that of an hon. Member. [51072]
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John Thurso: The basic salary payable to Members is £65,738 per annum as at 1 April 2011. At that date, 76 staff were paid an annual salary above this figure. A list of the posts in the Senior Commons Structure and at pay band A1, which have pay maxima higher than Members’ current salary, will be placed in the Library. Details of the staff pay bands and staff pay arrangements are available on the parliamentary intranet.
Select Committees: Visits Abroad
Mr Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many overseas visits each Select Committee has made in the course of the present Parliament; and what cost to the House Service each Committee has incurred on such visits. [50820]
John Thurso: The information on those Select Committees which have undertaken overseas visits in this present Parliament to date is given in the following table.
| Select Committee overseas travel since May 2010 | ||
| Committee | Number of visits | Estimated costs (£) |
| Notes: 1. Some costs are provisional and subject to minor change owing to outstanding invoices. 2. Visits made in a representative capacity and those made to European institutions are included. | ||
The remaining Select Committees have not undertaken any overseas visits.
Work and Pensions
Cold Weather Payments
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times the payment of a cold weather payment has been triggered for residents of Clwyd South constituency in the last five years. [50478]
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Steve Webb: In 2010-11, Clwyd South constituency was linked to Hawarden airport, Lake Vyrnwy and Shawbury weather stations. In the previous four years, Clwyd South constituency, as it now is, was linked to Crosby, Lake Vyrnwy and Shawbury weather stations. Please find the information requested in the following table:
| Number of cold weather payment triggers for residents of Clwyd South | |||||
| Weather station | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
| Note: A cold weather payment is made to an eligible customer when the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0°C or below over seven consecutive days at the weather station linked to the customer’s postcode. (When the temperature criterion is met, the weather station is said to trigger.) Sources: (1) Postcode districts in Clwyd South: National Statistics Postcode Directory. (2) Postcode district to weather station links: Department for Work and Pensions records. (3) Records of triggers by weather station: Department for Work and Pensions records. | |||||
Crisis Loans
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) guidance and (b) training his Department provides to staff on eligibility and processing of interim claims under the Social Security (Payment on Account, Overpayments and Recovery) Regulations 1988 in respect of delayed crisis loans. [51076]
Steve Webb: Where a customer is in hardship due either to the time taken to process their benefit claim or to the fact that an emergency has arisen before their next payment is due, they may be able to get an interim payment or a Social Fund crisis loan. An interim payment is always considered in the first instance. Where either there is a doubt about entitlement or no benefit is due, for example at the beginning of a claim, a Social Fund crisis loan is appropriate. An interim payment is not appropriate for a delayed crisis loan because interim payments are made in recognition of the fact that benefit will ultimately be payable for the period in question.
Training for the administration of interim payments is included in the new entrant learning for a benefit delivery processor dealing with claims to income support (IS), jobseekers allowance (JSA) and employment support allowance (ESA), supported by links to the relevant guidance. This training provides an awareness of the interim payment process and includes the priorities for an interim payment and a crisis loan, the action to take on entitlement, and the action to take when the customer does not qualify for an interim payment. The training for these types of payments across the three benefits also includes the detailed processes and actions to take within prescribed time limits to ensure the accuracy of an interim payment.
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Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department’s policy was on payment of more than three crisis loans in one year to a claimant prior to the implementation of the cap on the number of awards from April 2011. [51079]
Steve Webb: There was no limit on the number of crisis loans that could be awarded prior to 4 April 2011. However (excluding alignment requests to an initial benefit payment or wages) face to face interviews were introduced on 30 October 2009 for customers applying for their third and subsequent living expense crisis loan in a 12 month rolling period.
Departmental Contracts
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what contracts his Department and its associated public bodies signed with Lockheed Martin in each of the last 10 years; and for what purposes each such contract was let. [50703]
Chris Grayling: There are no records of contracts with the Department and its associated public bodies with Lockheed Martin within the last 10 years.
Public Bodies Reform Programme
Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the change in function of the Health and Safety Executive. [48762]
Chris Grayling: On 16 March 2011, Official Report, columns 9-10WS, my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General issued a written ministerial statement updating Parliament on progress on public bodies reform. That statement also announced that Departments estimate cumulative administrative savings of at least £2.6 billion will flow from public bodies over the spending review period.
The Health and Safety Executive is not subject to any functional changes or associated savings arising from the public bodies reform programme. However, I estimate overall savings of £233 million over the 2010 spending review period against its 2010-11 baseline.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on consultancy since May 2010. [38525]
Chris Grayling: DWP has spent £30.5 million on consultancy since May 2010 until December 2010.
Of this figure, £13.5 million was management consultancy and £17million was IT consultancy.
Of the £13.5 million management consultancy figure, £80,000 was entered into after May 2010.
We are unable to break down the IT consultancy figure as this information is not held centrally and could only be gathered at a cost.
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Consultancy spend for the period May 2009 to December 2009 was £42.7 million. Spend has, therefore, reduced by 29%.
In common with all Government Departments, DWP is subject to a freeze on consultancy engagements. All requests for consultancy procurement are challenged to ensure that the work is essential and cannot be performed by existing staff and all requests for new contracts (and extensions to existing contracts) over £20,000 have to be approved at ministerial level.
Departmental Redundancy
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many civil servants in his Department have been offered voluntary redundancy since April 2010; and if he will make a statement. [49191]
Chris Grayling: The Department has run three voluntary early release programmes during 2010-11. Each has been subject to a formal value for money business case for approval.
The first group of staff offered early release were administrative assistants, our most junior grade, who were surplus or at risk of becoming surplus as a result of the introduction of new technology and business processes. There were 245 offers made with 178 accepted.
The second and third group of staff have largely been in managerial and specialist grades in departmental and Agency corporate functions. Staffing in these areas has been reduced as part of ongoing efficiencies.
In the second exercise 405 offers were made, 316 of which were accepted. The third exercise is currently in progress. To date 1,287 offers have been made to applicants, with a deadline for acceptance of 31 March 2011.
Housing Benefit
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many single people aged between 25 and 34 are claiming the one bedroom local housing allowance rate in each (a) local authority area and (b) broad rental market area. [50270]
Steve Webb: The Department published the ‘Two Year Review of the Local Housing Allowance’ in February 2011, which includes the current caseload proportions claiming the one bedroom local housing allowance rate, in figure 2.11. A copy of the document has been placed in the Library.
The Department plans to publish an Equality Impact Assessment for the shared accommodation rate changes within the next two months, to accompany the draft regulations. This will contain estimates of the numbers of single housing benefit claimants between the ages of 25 and 34 who will be affected by these changes.
Housing Benefit: Motherwell
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much housing benefit was paid to claimants in Motherwell and Wishaw constituency in 2010-11; and what estimate he has made of the level of such payments. [51267]
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Steve Webb: Final housing benefit expenditure data for 2010-11 are currently unavailable, and information on expenditure at a parliamentary constituency level is not held.
In 2009-10, total housing benefit expenditure in the North Lanarkshire local authority was £100.6 million. If its share of national spending remained constant, North Lanarkshire would pay out around £109 million in housing benefit in 2010-11. These figures are based on our Budget 2011 housing benefit expenditure forecasts.
A breakdown of 2009-10 housing benefit expenditure can be found at the following link:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/h_tables_budget2010.xls
Jobseeker’s Allowance: Fraud
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has recovered from payments of fraudulent claims for (a) jobseeker’s allowance and (b) employment and support allowance in each of the last two years. [51336]
Chris Grayling: Details of recoveries of overpayments classified as due to fraud for jobseeker’s allowance and employment and support allowance are in the following table.
| £ | ||
|
|
Jobseeker’s allowance | Employment and support allowance (1) |
| (1) Low recovery rates reflect the fact that ESA is a relatively recent benefit (introduced in October 2008) and that fraud debts can only be classified as such following lengthy investigations which result in a conviction or admission of the offence. (2) April 2010 to February 2011 inclusive. Source: The figures provided are from Shared Services Debt Manager via Business Objects computer system and are subject to rounding. The figures are Management Information (MI) collected for the purpose of routine administration, and therefore have not been subjected to the rigorous quality assurance that is applied to DWP official statistics. | ||
In cases where the customer has been overpaid but not been convicted or admitted the offence, the debt will be classified as customer error, and debt recovery pursued as such.
The total recovered from overpayments of all benefits and pensions that arose due to fraud or customer error are listed in the following table.
|
|
£ million |
| Source: The figures provided are from Shared Services Debt Manager via Business Objects computer system and are subject to rounding. The figures are Management Information (MI) collected for the purpose of routine administration, and therefore have not been subjected to the rigorous quality assurance that is applied to DWP official statistics. | |
Pensioners: Northern Ireland
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Northern Ireland he estimates are affected by the administrative error identified by the National Pension Centre concerning the additional pension component of the state pension. [50845]
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Steve Webb: This is a matter for the Social Security Agency in Northern Ireland.
Pensions
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the nature is of the administrative error that the National Pension Centre has identified concerning the additional pension component of the State Pension. [50846]
Steve Webb: Work is being carried out to correct errors in the calculation of additional state pension identified as part of the Cabinet Office investigation into the incorrect indexation of guaranteed minimum pensions in Public Sector Pension schemes. Our conclusion is that the errors which affect payments in Great Britain and Northern Ireland have arisen due to a wide variety of reasons and there is no single causal factor.
Pensions: Females
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of women who will have their state pension age increased by 18 months or more as a result of his proposed change in the state pension age for women. [49643]
Steve Webb: Estimates of the number of women affected by the proposed changes to the state pension age were published in the equality impact assessment that accompanied the Pensions Bill 2011. Around 300,000 women in Great Britain, born between 6 December 1953 and 5 October 1954 will have their state pension age increased by 18 months or longer.
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average monetary value of pension payments which will not be paid to women born between December 1953 and October 1954 as a result of his proposed change in the state pension age for women. [49644]
Steve Webb: The effect of these changes is complex and will vary significantly from person to person. Moreover, because of the revision in life expectancy projections, these women will, on average, be getting their state pension for about the same length of time (24 years), and will be receiving around the same amount of state pension over their lifetime, as the previous life expectancy projections implied under a lower state pension age.
Many of these women will remain in employment, and could therefore benefit from additional earnings and from additional accrual of pension rights. Government will also be supporting those unable to remain in employment through in-work benefits.
Pregnant Women: Grants
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether advice and information on Sure Start maternity grants for second and third children is still being provided to eligible mothers. [51077]
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Maria Miller: Advice and information on Sure Start maternity grants remain available to eligible mothers for second or subsequent children, and DWP leaflets have been updated to reflect the recent changes to the eligibility conditions.
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Sure Start maternity grants were awarded in respect of second and third children in (a) March 2011 and (b) March 2010. [51078]
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Steve Webb: The information requested is not available. We are not able to identify if an award for a Sure Start maternity grant has been made in respect of a second or third child.
Social Security Benefits
Mr Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Poole constituency have been in receipt of out-of-work benefits for (a) more than one year and (b) more than five years. [50549]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is given in the following table.
| Claimants of out-of-work benefits by duration in Poole parliamentary constituency, August 2010 | |||
|
|
JSA | ESA and incapacity benefits | IS/PC |
| (1) Nil or negligible. Notes: 1. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Statistical Group is a hierarchical variable. A person who fits into more than one category will only appear in the top-most one for which they are eligible. For example, a claimant of disability living allowance and jobseeker’s allowance would appear in “jobseeker”, not in “disabled”. 3. Out-of-work benefits are: JSA—claimants of jobseeker’s allowance. ESA and incapacity benefits—claimants of incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance/employment and support allowance. IS/PC—claimants of income support (and males age 60 to 64 claiming pension credit) that are not also claiming IB/SDA. 4. Durations shown are the longest claim duration of the benefits of interest. Source: DWP Information Directorate: 100% Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. | |||
Social Security Benefits: Fraud
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) in what proportion of the National Benefit Fraud Hotline cases closed in each of the last five years (a) claims were found to be fraudulent, (b) claimants were found to be claiming erroneously and (c) callers were found to be mendacious; [49414]
(2) how many open cases the National Benefit Fraud Hotline has in the (a) fraud investigation service and (b) customer compliance unit; and how many cases it has closed in each of the last five years. [49416]
Chris Grayling: The number of National Benefit Fraud Hotline cases open at the end of February 2011 was as follows:
|
|
Number |
Information is not available from 2005-07. Information from 2007-08 is incomplete due to administrative changes.
The following table provides available information relating to the number of National Benefit Fraud Hotline cases closed in the last three years which resulted in a fraud sanction being applied or an error being corrected.
|
|
Total number of National Benefit Fraud Hotline cases closed by Fraud Investigation Service | Total number of these cases receiving a sanction | Proportion (%) | Total number of National Benefit Fraud Hotline cases closed by Customer Compliance | Total number of these cases where error found | Proportion (%) |
| Notes: Information has been extracted from the Fraud Referral and Interventions Management Systems (FRAIMS). Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole figure. | ||||||
The Department is not in a position to judge whether members of the public make mendacious calls to the National Benefit Fraud Hotline and therefore does not collect information which would enable it to establish such cases.
Social Security Benefits: Motherwell
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much benefit was paid to claimants in Motherwell and Wishaw constituency in 2010-11; and what estimate he has made of the level of payments in 2011-12. [51260]
Chris Grayling: Benefit expenditure data for 2010-11 and forecasts for 2011-12 are not available at parliamentary constituency level.
Benefit expenditure for Motherwell and Wishaw parliamentary constituency in 2009-10 is shown in the following table for all benefit data that are available at parliamentary constituency level:
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| Motherwell and Wishaw constituency expenditure | |
| 2009-10 | £ million |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to nearest 100,000. 2. Totals may not sum due to rounding. Source: DWP statistical and accounting data. | |
Tables containing benefit expenditure by benefit, local authority and parliamentary constituency can be found at the following URL:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/index.php?page=expenditure
Unemployment Benefits
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency were in receipt of out-of-work benefits for more than (a) one and (b) five years on the latest date for which figures are available. [50849]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is given as follows.
| Claimants of out of work benefits by duration in Bexley Heath and Crayford parliamentary constituency—August 2010 | |||
|
|
JSA | ESA and incapacity benefits | IS/PC |
| Notes: 1. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest ten and totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Statistical Group is a hierarchical variable. A person who fits into more than one category will only appear in the top-most one for which they are eligible. For example, a claimant of disability living allowance and jobseeker’s allowance would appear in “Job Seeker”, not in “Disabled”. 3. Out of work benefits are: JSA—claimants of jobseeker’s allowance. ESA and incapacity benefits—claimants of Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance/employment and support allowance. IS/PC—claimants of income support (and males age 60-64 claiming pension credit) that are not also claiming IB/SDA. 4. Durations shown are the longest claim duration of the benefits of interest. Source: DWP Information Directorate: 100% Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. | |||
Unemployment: North East England
Tom Blenkinsop:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of workless households in (a) the north east,
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(b)
Teesside and
(c)
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency which will no longer be workless following implementation of his proposed welfare reforms. [47592]
Chris Grayling: The Government have a broad range of measures designed to help people into work, such as ‘Get Britain Working’, the Work programme and universal credit. As set out in the White Paper ‘Universal Credit: Welfare that Works’, we estimate that universal credit will reduce the number of workless households by about 300,000.
We do not have separate estimates of the impact on worklessness by region and constituency.
Universal Credit
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2011, Official Report, column 970W, on universal credit, if he will estimate the number of families with annual incomes between (a) £16,000 and £17,000, (b) £17,000 and £18,000, (c) £18,000 and £19,000, (d) £19,000 and £20,000, (e) £20,000 and £21,000, (f) £21,000 and £22,000, (g) £22,000 and £23,000 and (h) £23,000 and £24,000 which will have (i) a lower and (ii) a higher entitlement under universal credit operating in the steady state; and what the average change in incomes will be for families in each group attributable to the change in entitlement. [49820]
Chris Grayling: The Department is unable to provide the information for the requested breakdowns due to small sample sizes. However, the following table provides the estimates, using the Department's policy simulation model, of the number of families that will have (i) a lower entitlement under universal credit operating in the steady state and the average change in entitlement for families in larger income groups. Income is defined as income net of tax.
| Annual income | (i) Number that have a lower entitlement under universal credit | Average weekly change in entitlement (£) |
| Note: The caseload figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. Totals may not sum due to rounding. | ||
Transitional protection will ensure that there are no cash losers at the point of transition as a result of changes in the way benefit is calculated.
The following table provides the estimates, using the Department's policy simulation model, of the number of families that will have (ii) a higher entitlement under universal credit operating in the steady state and the average change in entitlement for families in larger income groups. Income is defined as income net of tax.
| Annual income | (ii) Number that have a higher entitlement under universal credit | Average weekly change in entitlement (£) |
| Note: The caseload figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. Totals may not sum due to rounding. | ||
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Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2011, Official Report, column 970W, on universal credit, in how many families with savings (a) between £16,000 and £20,000, (b) between £20,000 and £25,000, (c) between £25,000 and £30,000 and (d) £30,000 and above will have a lower entitlement under universal credit operating in the steady state; and what the average loss in incomes will be for families in each group attributable to this lower entitlement. [49821]
Chris Grayling: The Department is unable to provide the information for the requested breakdowns due to small sample sizes. However, the following table provides the estimates, using the Department’s Policy Simulation Model, of the number of families that will have a lower entitlement under universal credit operating in the steady state and the average change in entitlement for families in larger savings groups.
| Savings | Number that have a lower entitlement under universal credit | Average weekly change in entitlement (£) |
| (1) Denotes a caseload of less than 50,000. Average weekly change in entitlement cannot be provided due to small caseload sizes. Note: The caseload figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. Totals may not sum due to rounding. | ||
Transitional protection will ensure that there are no cash losers at the point of transition as a result of changes in the way benefit is calculated.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2011, Official Report, column 970W, on universal credit, how many families with savings between (a) £6,000 and £7,000, (b) £7,000 and £8,000, (c) £8,000 and £9,000, (d) £9,000 and £10,000, (e) £10,000 and £11,000, (f) £11,000 and £12,000, (g) £12,000 and £13,000, (h) £13,0000 and £14,000, (i) £14,000 and £15,000 and (j) £15,000 and £16,000 will have (i) a lower and (ii) a higher entitlement under universal credit operating in the steady state; and what the average change in income will be for families in each group attributable to the change in entitlement. [49822]
Chris Grayling: The Department is unable to provide the information for the requested breakdowns due to small sample sizes. However, the following table provides the estimates, using the Department's policy simulation model, of the number of families that will have (i) a lower entitlement under universal credit operating in the steady state and the average change in entitlement for families in larger savings group.
| Savings | (i) Number that have a lower entitlement under universal credit | Average weekly change in entitlement (£) |
| Note: The caseload figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. Totals may not sum due to rounding. | ||
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Transitional protection will ensure that there are no cash losers at the point of transition as a result of changes in the way benefit is calculated.
The following table provides the estimates, using the Department's policy simulation model, of the number of families that will have (ii) a higher entitlement under universal credit operating in the steady state and the average change in entitlement for families in larger savings group.
| Savings | (ii) Number that have a higher entitlement under universal credit | Average weekly change in entitlement (£) |
| (1) Denotes a caseload of less than 50,000. Average weekly change in entitlement can not be provided due to small caseload sizes. Note: The caseload figures have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. Totals may not sum due to rounding. | ||
Winter Fuel Payments
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of provision of winter fuel allowance to those (a) aged 60 to 79 at the rate of (i) £200 and (ii) £250 per year and (b) aged 80 or over at the rate of (A) £300 and (B) £400 per year in (1) Brighton Pavilion constituency and (2) the city of Brighton and Hove in each of the next four calendar years. [50241]
Steve Webb: The information is not available as requested. Forecasts of winter fuel payments are made on financial years rather than calendar years.
The information that is available is in the following tables:
| Brighton Pavilion constituency | |||||
| Winter fuel payment expenditure (£ millions, in-year prices) | |||||
| Winter fuel payment rates | Age group | 2011 - 12 | 2012 - 13 | 2013 - 14 | 2014 - 15 |
| Brighton and Hove local authority | |||||
| Winter fuel payment expenditure (£ millions, in-year prices) | |||||
| Winter fuel payment rates | Age group | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
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| Notes: 1. Expenditure on winter fuel payments is rounded to the nearest £100,000. Age breakdowns may not sum to totals due to rounding. 2. Expenditure on the “79 and under” age group includes payments to people over women’s state pension age, which is increasing from 60 to 65 between 2010 and 2018. People under women’s state pension age (both men and women) are not eligible for winter fuel payments. 3. Projections of winter fuel payments on a constituency and local authority level use the latest administrative data to apportion total Great Britain (GB) expenditure over the requested geography. Therefore they do not allow for potentially different trends between these geographical units and Great Britain overall. 4. GB forecasts of winter fuel payments are consistent with Budget 2011 forecasts. Source: Budget 2011 forecasts and projections based on DWP statistical data. | |||||
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what change in expenditure he expects to result from implementation of his proposed changes to winter fuel payments in the winter 2011-12. [50264]
Steve Webb: Winter fuel payments for winter 2011-12 will be £200 for households with someone who has reached women’s state pension age and is under 80, and £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over, exactly as budgeted for by the previous Government.
An additional temporary amount of winter fuel payment was paid for the last three winters, taking the rates to £250 for households with someone who had reached women’s state pension age and was under 80, and £400 for households with someone aged 80 or over.
It is estimated that making winter fuel payments in 2011-12 as planned would cost around £590 million less than if the additional amounts were to continue.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost to his Department of retaining the winter fuel payment at the enhanced rate for households in receipt of pension credit in the winter of 2011-12. [50296]
Steve Webb: Winter fuel payments for winter 2011-12 will be £200 for households with someone who has reached women’s state pension age and is under 80, and £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over, exactly as budgeted for by the previous Government.
An additional temporary amount of winter fuel payment was paid for the last three winters, taking the rates to £250 for households with someone who had reached women’s state pension age and was under 80, and £400 for households with someone aged 80 or over.
It is estimated that making the additional payment on 2011-12 to households that are in receipt of pension credit would increase the winter fuel payment expenditure by around £160 million.
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he plans to take to ensure pensioners are aware of the planned withdrawal of the top-up payment to the winter fuel allowance. [50475]
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Steve Webb: There is no change to the standard rate of winter fuel payment. The previous Government always made it clear that the additional amount of £50 or £100 was a temporary increase to the winter fuel payment for winter 2010-11.
Details of the eligibility criteria and the payment rates can be found on the Directgov website. Everybody who is due to receive a winter fuel payment will get a letter advising them when their payment is being made and how much it is.
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid out in winter fuel allowances awarded to residents of Clwyd South constituency in the winter of 2010-11; and what forecast he has made of the equivalent figure in 2011-12. [50476]
Steve Webb: Actual expenditure on winter fuel payments for 2010-11 is not yet available. In 2009-10, the last year for which information is available, expenditure on winter fuel payments in Clwyd South constituency was £3.4 million.
Forecasts for benefit expenditure are not produced below Great Britain level. However, if the Clwyd South share of spending in 2009-10 was maintained in 2010-11 and 2011-12, spending would be £3.4 million and £2.6 million respectively.
Notes:
(1) Expenditure has been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand pounds.
(2) We do not forecast winter fuel payment expenditure at a constituency level. Projections of winter fuel payments at this level use the latest administrative data to apportion forecast total winter fuel payment expenditure over the requested area.
(3) An additional temporary amount of winter fuel payment was paid in 2009-10 and 2010-11, providing rates of £250 for households with someone who had reached women’s state pension age and was under 80, and £400 for households with someone aged 80 or over. Winter fuel payments for 2011-12 will be £200 for households with someone who has reached women’s state pension age and is under 80, and £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over, as budgeted for by the previous Government, decreasing winter fuel payment expenditure for this year compared to the previous years.
Source:
Budget 2011 forecasts and DWP statistical data.
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people over the age of 80 and resident in Clwyd South constituency received a winter fuel allowance in the most recent year for which figures are available; [50477]
(2) how many pensioners resident in Clwyd South constituency received winter fuel allowance in the most recent year for which figures are available. [50480]
Steve Webb: The information is available in the document “Winter Fuel Payment recipients 2009-10 by Parliamentary Constituencies and Gender”. This is available in the Commons Library and on the internet at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=wfp
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency over the age of 80 received winter fuel allowance payments in the latest period for which figures are available. [50826]
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Steve Webb: The information is available in the document “Winter Fuel Payment recipients 2009-10 by Parliamentary Constituencies and Gender”. This is available in the Commons Library and on the internet at
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page-wfp.
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the likely impact of proposed changes to winter fuel payments on the future level of excess winter deaths; and if he will make a statement. [51040]
Steve Webb: Winter fuel payments are one part of the overall Government programme to support vulnerable groups in winter. For winter 2011-12, most people who have reached women’s state pension age will receive a winter fuel payment of either £200 or £300 depending on their household circumstances. The winter fuel payment remains a significant contribution to an older person’s winter fuel costs.
Targeted help for vulnerable groups is provided through cold weather payments, which the coalition Government have permanently increased from £8.50 a week to £25 a week. Cold weather payments provide real help to those most vulnerable to the cold i.e. disabled adults and children, the elderly and families with children under five who are in receipt of an income-related benefit. They are paid when the average temperature where a customer lives is 0° C or below for seven consecutive days. This winter, over 17 million cold weather payments have been paid in Great Britain, worth an estimated £430 million.
In addition, subject to parliamentary approval, from winter 2011-12 some of the poorest pensioners would get direct assistance with their energy costs through a rebate off their electricity bills under the warm home discount scheme. Rebates would be at least £120.
The programme of support for vulnerable groups also includes the annual seasonal influenza vaccination programme, which offers free flu jabs to people most at risk from potentially life-threatening complications of flu. The Government ran a new website service, Winter Watch, as well as its annual Keep Warm Keep Well campaign for 2010/11, to provide advice on staying warm over the winter and staying in touch with people who may be vulnerable during cold weather, including the elderly, in order to reduce illness and deaths.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people resident in Warrington North constituency aged (a) under and (b) over 80 years receive winter fuel allowance. [50985]
Steve Webb: The information is available in the document “Winter Fuel Payment recipients 2009-10 by Parliamentary Constituencies and Gender”. This is available in the Commons Library and on the internet at
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=wfp
Defence
Armed Forces: Housing
Mr Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on improvements to armed forces' accommodation (a) nationally and (b) in Poole constituency in each year since 2005. [50491]
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Mr Robathan: Under a £1.4 billion programme, some 60,000 new or improved single living accommodation (SLA) bed-spaces are due to be delivered between 2003 and 2013, subject to funding considerations. As the programme is being delivered through various initiatives across the Department (including private finance initiative projects where SLA improvements are only one element of the work), exact expenditure by year cannot be separately identified without disproportionate effort and cost.
The following has been spent in each of the last five financial years upgrading and improving service family accommodation (SFA) in Great Britain:
| Financial year | Spend £ million |
In the Poole constituency, the following was spent on new or improved SLA at Royal Marines Poole in each of the last five financial years:
| Financial year | Spend in £ thousands |
Some £550,000 was spent on bathroom and heating improvements to 68 SFA properties in the Poole constituency in the financial year 2009-10. No similar expenditure was incurred in the four preceding years.
Departmental Contracts
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what proportion of his Department’s contracts by (a) value and (b) number were placed (i) directly and (ii) through sub-contracts with small and medium-sized enterprises in each year since 2005; [50447]
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that the prime defence contractors implement Government proposals that 25 per cent. of contracts should be placed with small and medium-sized enterprises. [50448]
Peter Luff: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play an essential role in defence as prime contractors, subcontractors and lower-tier suppliers, and we fully recognise and value the contribution that SMEs make at all levels.
Approximately 95% of Ministry of Defence (MOD) contracts are managed through our central contract processes. These define a SME as a company with fewer than 250 employees. The following table shows the number of contracts let directly by MOD to SMEs in each year since the financial year 2005-06.
| Year ending 31 March | Proportion of procurement contracts awarded to SMEs (%) | Proportion by value of procurement contracts awarded to SMEs (%) |
5 Apr 2011 : Column 757W
The smaller proportion of contracts by value in the three years from 2006-07 reflects the award of a few very large contracts to non-SMEs. However, these large contracts will themselves have generated significant business for SMEs as subcontractors. Indeed, the figures shown above are all under-representative of the total number of contracts placed with SMEs throughout the supply chain.
The December 2010 Green Paper entitled “Equipment, Support and Technology for UK Defence and Security” includes a section which discusses ways in which the MOD might make procurement easier and improve access to defence contract opportunities for SMEs at both prime and subcontract level. The three-month consultation was completed on 31 March 2011 and we are taking account of views received in formulating a White Paper, which will be published later this year and set out the changes we intend to introduce.
But we are not waiting for this to deepen engagement with SMEs. We are already taking effective steps to bring innovative ideas from SMEs into defence through the Centre for Defence Enterprise. The first meeting of a new forum for SMEs under the auspices of the Defence Suppliers Forum is also being held this week.
Departmental Interpreters
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for which services provided by (a) his Department and (b) its associated public bodies, interpreters provide services in a language or languages other than English; how many interpreters are employed or subcontracted for each non-English language; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of interpretation costs incurred in the latest period for which figures are available. [42887]
Mr Robathan: This information could be provided for the Department as a whole only at disproportionate cost.
The Department has a Welsh language scheme which obliges us to provide interpretation facilities should there be a requirement. The provision of these facilities is the responsibility of the areas organising the events and therefore this information is not held centrally.
Departmental Official Cars
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date (a) he and (b) each other Minister in his Department last used a ministerial car while travelling in an official capacity; and how many times (i) he and (ii) each other Minister in his Department has travelled to their constituency in a Ministerial car since May 2010. [50189]
Mr Robathan:
As set out in the ministerial code, Ministers are permitted to use an official car for official business and for journeys between home and office,
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within reasonable distance of London, where they would normally be carrying classified papers on which they would be working. The number of such journeys is set out in the following table:
Departmental Travel
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his ministerial team have been issued with (a) an Oyster card and (b) a (i) monthly and (ii) annual travel card valid on London transport and paid for by his Department for use while travelling on Government business. [50167]
Mr Robathan: None of the Ministry of Defence's ministerial team have been issued with either an Oyster card or a monthly or annual travel card that is paid for by the Department.
Departmental Redundancy
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff have applied for early release as part of the reduction of civil service numbers in his Department. [50885]
Mr Robathan: The Department launched a voluntary early release scheme on 28 February with a target of releasing 4,000 staff by 31 March 2012. The total number of applications received by the closing date was 13,832.
Departmental Secondment
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff of his Department have been (a) seconded and (b) attached or on loan to Defence Equipment and Support project teams in its prime contractors since 2005. [50446]
Peter Luff: According to the Ministry of Defence’s human resources system, 13 staff from Defence Equipment and Support have had secondments with the private sector since 2008; four staff are currently on secondment. Those secondments began in the following years:
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|
|
Number |
Information about numbers on secondment was not held centrally before December 2007.
Information is not held centrally about whether the companies to which these secondments were made were prime contractors. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with this information.
Ex-servicemen: Poole
Mr Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department provides to veterans in Poole constituency. [50490]
Mr Robathan: The Government provide a comprehensive programme of support for ex-service personnel across the UK. This includes: an excellent resettlement package for service personnel returning to civilian life; high- quality pension and compensation schemes; and measures to meet veterans' health and welfare needs. Our commitment to rebuilding the armed forces covenant reinforces this and will set the tone for Government policy aimed at improving the support available for the armed forces community. Recent initiatives include providing improved support for ex-service personnel to study at university and creating ‘Troops to Teachers’, a programme to recruit ex-service personnel into the teaching profession, and measures to improve services for those who may suffer from mental health problems.
Libya
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of any potential relationship between the armed opposition to the Libyan Government and combatants who have previously fought against coalition forces in Iraq; [50896]
(2) what assessment he has made of any potential relationship between the armed opposition to the Libyan Government and terrorist groups proscribed (a) in the UK and (b) overseas; [50897]
(3) what assessment he has made of any potential relationship between the armed opposition to the Libyan Government and persons who (a) are fighting and (b) have previously fought against NATO forces in Afghanistan. [50898]
Alistair Burt: I have been asked to reply.
We are in dialogue with the Interim National Council (INC) and other elements of the opposition inside and outside Libya. We are convinced that political reform in Libya is necessary, that the Gaddafi regime has lost all legitimacy, and that the Libyan people have clearly indicated their desire for change. But the form of any political settlement is for the Libyan people themselves to decide. We support the efforts of the INC to prepare for a more democratic and accountable government in Libya. Their announcement of a political programme was an important first step in that process.
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We have no details of the involvement in the Libyan internal opposition movement of individuals with a background in violent political activities or international terrorism in Afghanistan or Iraq, or of membership of proscribed terrorist organisations. We have been clear that it is essential that the Libyan opposition ensure that they are not infiltrated by al-Qaeda. It is clear from our engagement with the INC that that they are sincere in their wish for an inclusive, democratic Libya which rejects extremism, as shown by their manifesto and public statements rejecting extremist ideas, and committing to combating them in all circumstances and implementing UN Security Council Resolutions on counter-terrorism.
Libya: Armed Conflict
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the use of depleted uranium weapons; and how that policy (a) is applied to and (b) will apply in operations in Libya. [51481]
Dr Fox: The Government's policy is that depleted uranium (DU) can be used within weapons. It is not prohibited under current or likely future international agreements. The UK's armed forces use all munitions in accordance with international humanitarian law. It would be quite wrong to deny our serving personnel a legitimate and effective capability.
The only DU munition in service with our armed forces is the Charm 3 antitank round fired from the Challenger 2 tank. With no deployed ground forces it follows that none of the weapons supplied to UK armed forces for uses over Libya contain DU.
Other nations may choose to use DU munitions fired from aircraft guns against armoured targets if they have that capability but that is a choice for them alone to make.
Nuclear Submarines
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether reactors on Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarines in service have (a) systems for safety injection of coolant into the reactor pressure vessel head and (b) passive core cooling systems; [50634]
(2) what advice he has received from the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator on the need for (a) systems for safety injection of coolant into the reactor pressure vessel head and (b) passive core cooling systems on submarine reactors in order to reduce risks to the level of as low as reasonably practicable; [50635]
(3) if he will place in the Library an unredacted copy of the note of 6 November 2009 entitled Safety Regulators' advice on the selection of the propulsion plant in support of the future deterrent review; [50729]
(4) what reasons the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator gave for his assessment on the adequacy of benchmarked relevant good practices of UK submarine reactor designs in respect of (a) the control of submarine depth and (b) a loss of coolant accident. [50730]
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the assessment of the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator on (a) loss of depth control and (b) loss of coolant accidents on Vanguard-class submarines. [51177]
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Peter Luff: All submarines in service with the Royal Navy have passive core cooling capability and the ability to add coolant into the reactor pressure vessel if necessary.
The Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR)'s assessment and advice was given in the document ‘Safety Regulators’ advice on the selection of the propulsion plant in support of the future deterrent review’.
Some information within this document has been withheld because its disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces; prejudice relations between the UK and another state and prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs. For these reasons I do not intend to release an un-redacted copy. A redacted copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
The standards set for the safety of nuclear reactors are extremely high, and DNSR's assessment is that they are met by all the reactors used by the Royal Navy. Nevertheless, we are always seeking to better our safety performance, and improvements are made where necessary and practicable.
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on which occasions each Minister of State in his Department was present to welcome returning submariners following a tour of duty of a Vanguard-class submarine in each year between 1996 and 2000; [50262]
(2) on which occasions each Minister of State in his Department was present to welcome submariners returning to port following a tour of duty of a Vanguard-class submarine in each year from 2001 to 2004. [50438]
Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox) on 18 March 2011, Official Report, column 678W. Centralised records have only been held since December 2004 and information prior to then could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Education
Academies
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether any grants or contracts have been awarded to external bodies to assist schools seeking to convert to academy status since May 2010. [38485]
Michael Gove [holding answer 4 February 2011]: I can confirm that since May 2010, grants and contracts have been awarded to external bodies to assist the development of sponsored academies which generally replace underperforming schools.
Contracts are awarded through an established framework to procure project management and educational services needed by academies in their pre-opening development phase. The value of contracts varies according to the needs of the project.
Grant funding can be paid to academy trusts who undertake themselves the pre-opening project management and educational services needed by academy projects rather than appoint a commercial project management company.
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Since May 2010, 20 projects have been approved and therefore eligible for funding. Of those, grant payments have been made to one project and contracts entered into for five totalling £2,358,766.
Academies: Finance
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which academy schools have been assessed as having received an overpayment of grant; and what the amount concerned was in each such case.
Mr Gibb [holding answer 24 January 2011]:Eight academies have been assessed as having received an overpayment of grant in the past. The details are in the following table:
| Academy | Over the academic years | Overpayment (£) |
The overpayments were caused by a mix of administrative errors in relation to the calculation of their grant, incorrect information from the academy or error in the local authority budget statement which forms the basis of the grant calculation. In each case action has been taken to manage the overpayment that reflects the overall financial position of the academy.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what local authority central spend equivalent grant allocation has been made to each academy school for 2011-12. [38028]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 3 February 2011]: This information is not currently available for all academies. The Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA) is currently in the process of calculating allocations for academies for academic year 2011/12.
The table showing the local authority central spend equivalent grant (LACSEG), allocations for those academies that have received final funding letters which YPLA started to issue from 29 March has been placed in the House Libraries. These academies have until the end of April to challenge the grant allocation and the basis on which it is calculated.
The remaining grant allocations will be dispatched by YPLA before the end of May 2011. A full breakdown of LACSEG allocations for academy schools in academic year 2011/12 will be available in August 2012. This will include allocations for the remaining academy schools due to convert or open in the current academic year as well as those opening or converting in 2011/12.
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Apprentices
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to increase the number of apprenticeship places for 16 to 18-year-olds. [51001]
Mr Hayes: In the 16-19 Funding Statement, published in December 2010, we increased funding for 16-18 apprenticeships in order to have sufficient funding in place to have 131,200 apprentice starts in 2010/11 and 133,500 in 2011/12 (academic years). This represents significant growth in the programme; in 2009/10, 116,800 16 to 18-year-olds started apprenticeship frameworks.
Our investment in future years will reflect the value we place on apprenticeships as a key route for Raising the Participation Age for learning, due to commence in 2013.
Apprentices: Greater London
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of people aged 16 to 18 years beginning apprenticeships in the (a) London borough of Camden and (b) London borough of Brent in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [38419]
Mr Hayes: The Government are strongly committed to investment in apprenticeships for 16 to 18-year-olds, which is why we have an ambitious planning assumption of 131,000 apprenticeships for 2010/11 which allows for significant growth. The apprenticeship budget for the 2010-11 financial year is £780 million for 16 to 18-year-olds.
We want to see continued growth in the number of young people undertaking an apprenticeship, which is why funding for 16-18 apprenticeships will increase to £799 million in 2011-12, £19 million more than for 2010-11. This will provide funding for more than 133,000 starts for 16 to 18-year-olds.
The Apprenticeships Programme is demand led. Government do not plan apprenticeship places by local authority area. Government provide funding to the Skills Funding Agency on a national basis and forecasts the overall number of places that may be afforded. We rely on employers and providers to work together to offer sufficient opportunities to meet local demand, taking advantage of the greater freedoms and flexibilities that we have created in the further education system. The National Apprenticeship Service works with local providers and employers in the London borough of Camden and the London borough of Brent to make apprenticeship places available where there is demand.
Building Schools for the Future Programme: Liverpool
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent discussions he has had with Liverpool city council on progress on projects under the Building Schools for the Future programme in Liverpool. [17722]
Michael Gove
[holding answer 18 October 2010]: On 28 July 2010 the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools, my noble Friend (Lord Hill) met councillors Joe Anderson and Paula Keaveney, accompanied by the hon. Members for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle), for Liverpool, West Derby (Stephen Twigg) and for Liverpool, Wavertree (Luciana Berger). They discussed options for capital investment
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in Liverpool's secondary schools. On 6 August 2010, Enterprise South Liverpool Academy was among those for which the Secretary of State announced allocations of capital. The De La Salle Academy was notified of its capital allocation on 20 December 2010.
On 28 March 2011, the Minister for Schools, the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr Gibb), visited St John Bosco School accompanied by councillor Joe Anderson and the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby to observe the issues requiring investment and hear about proposals for addressing these issues.