Public Bodies Appointments
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 21 March 2011, Official Report, columns 764-5W, on departmental public appointments, how many (a) women and (b) men no longer serve on public bodies sponsored by his Department because of decisions to close, merge or reorganise such bodies taken since his appointment. [51438]
John Penrose: Due to decisions to close, merge or reorganise public bodies 10 men and 10 women no longer serve on the boards of public bodies sponsored by the Department.
Departmental Travel
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on ministerial travel by (a) ministerial car, (b) train, (c) bus, (d) commercial aircraft and (e) private aircraft since May 2010. [50222]
John Penrose: The following amounts have been accounted for by the Department for ministerial travel since May 2010:
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(a) DCMS Ministers do not have the use of individual ministerial cars. Since May, £6,198.90 has been spent on cars booked for current Ministers from the Government Car and Despatch Agency pool.
(b) £3,028.20 on rail travel (including Eurostar).
(c) Bus journeys would be taken using an Oyster card and the costs cannot therefore be separately identified from London underground travel.
(d) £9,672.45 on commercial air travel.
(e) No money has been spent by the Department on travel by private aircraft.
Departmental Manpower
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the staff vacancy rate in his Department was in 2010-11; and what vacancy rate has been assumed in his Department’s budget for 2011-12. [51393]
John Penrose: Throughout 2010-11 there were 59 advertisements for posts within the Department. The vast majority of these posts have been filled either by staff already within the Department or by civil servants loaned from other Departments, in large part to cover the short-term staffing needs of the Government Olympic Executive (GOE). Six fixed term contractors have also been appointed over that period.
During 2011-12, GOE will see up to 50 vacancies being created for new posts to ensure the Department delivers the Government’s commitment on London 2012. GOE’s current work force of 110 full-time employees (FTE) is scheduled to increase to 160 by the end of Q1 2012.
Employment Agencies
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on (a) recruitment agency fees, (b) outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and (c) staff training in the last year for which figures are available. [51401]
John Penrose: The amount spent by the Department on recruitment agency fees, outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff, and staff training in 2010-11 can be found in the following table:
| Payment type | £ |
Tote
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he expects to make a decision on the future of the Tote. [51908]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: The Government hope to conclude the final stages of the process for resolving the future of the Tote and to announce the outcome later in the spring in line with the timetable set by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in Budget 2011.
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National Lottery: Supermarkets
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will investigate the effects on small business of the level of access supermarkets have to national lottery terminals from Camelot. [51886]
John Penrose: The selection of national lottery retailers is, rightly, a commercial matter for Camelot, as it is incentivised to place the terminals where they will generate the most sales and therefore revenue for good causes. Camelot is required to apply clear criteria when selecting retailers and takes into account factors such as geographical spread to ensure access. Camelot’s Stakeholder report for 2010 states that the majority of retail outlets are independent, with approximately a 60%-40% split in favour of independents.
Olympic Games 2012: Stadium
Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what (a) discussions he has had and (b) (i) representations and (ii) advice he received on the legality of a Premier League football club taking occupancy of the Olympic Stadium; and if he will publish each item of correspondence and advice he has received on this issue. [50878]
Hugh Robertson: The ongoing process to dispose of the Olympic Stadium, being conducted by the Olympic Park Legacy Company, is currently the subject of a legal dispute and consequently it is not appropriate to comment.
Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has had (a) discussions and (b) correspondence with Newham council on the long-term use of the Olympic Stadium and the effects of such use on local sports and athletics clubs in the local area. [50879]
Hugh Robertson: Neither the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport nor I have had such discussions or correspondence with Newham council.
Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) if he will (a) prepare and (b) publish an impact assessment on the effects on the local area of a Premier League football club taking ownership and residence of the Olympic Stadium; [50880]
(2) whether he has undertaken an investigation into the effects on East London sports clubs of the Olympic Stadium being occupied by a Premier League football club. [50881]
Hugh Robertson: The Department has no plans to undertake an assessment or investigation of these matters. Consideration of any relevant impacts resulting from a Premier League football club moving in to the Olympic Stadium form part of the ongoing process to dispose of the Stadium being conducted by the Olympic Park Legacy Company.
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Royal Household: Cleaning Services
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether domestic cleaning contracts for the occupied royal palaces are paid for from the grants in aid paid to the monarchy for upkeep of occupied royal palaces. [51474]
John Penrose [holding answer 5 April 2011]: The grant in aid paid by the Department for the upkeep of the occupied royal palaces in England includes the cost of cleaning the offices occupied by property services, fire health and safety, gardeners and postal services staff. The services are provided under a contract which was awarded following a competitive tender in October 2009. Other cleaning costs are allocated according to occupancy so that the civil list, the privy purse and the royal collection each meet an appropriate share of the total cleaning contract costs.
Smart Electricity Grid
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2011, Official Report, column 424W, on the smart electricity grid, how the market will establish the communications system that will best serve the needs of the electricity system if spectrum is not made available. [51262]
Mr Vaizey: Government policy is that radio spectrum should be acquired through the market. To date, we have seen no evidence for intervention, but in the event of market failure it is open to the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to make a case for assignment.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2011, Official Report, column 537W, on the smart electricity grid and the answer of 28 February 2011, Official Report, columns 289-90W, on business: electricity, whether his Department plans to discuss (a) spectrum and (b) smart meters with the Department for Energy and Climate Change as part of the monitoring process. [51263]
Mr Vaizey: My officials are engaged with the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) on a regular basis about smart meters. DECC is fully aware of policy in regard to the allocation of radio spectrum.
Sport Clubs
Heather Wheeler: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will meet representatives of the Sport and Recreation Alliance to discuss the implications of his Department's review of the regulatory burdens on sports clubs. [51210]
Hugh Robertson: I met representatives of Sport and Recreation Alliance in March to discuss this review.
Sports: East Midlands
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will bring forward a strategic plan for water-related sport and recreation in the east midlands. [50502]
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Hugh Robertson: The Environment Agency is currently working with the university of Brighton to develop 'Enjoying Water in the Midlands'—a plan for the region which will set out where new or improved water-related sport and recreation opportunities can best be placed to deliver the greatest benefits to the region and the people who live there.
Sports: Finance
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effects of the National Sports Foundation on the funding available for grass-roots sports. [50599]
Hugh Robertson: The National Sports Foundation (NSF) raised an extra £38.6 million of commercial funding for grassroots sport between April 2006 and March 2009. Funding into grassroots sport has been maintained since the closure of NSF. Sport England also match funds individual projects with commercial funding up to £100,000 through the Sportsmatch programme.
Sports: Poole
Mr Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what financial assistance his Department provided to grass-roots sporting organisations in (a) Poole constituency and (b) the South West in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [50492]
Hugh Robertson: Sport England advise that in the current financial year up to 31 December 2010 no grants were awarded to the Poole constituency. The South West region was awarded £2,722,533 of Exchequer funding and £6,694,329 of National Lottery funding in the same period.
Stonehenge
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent steps his Department has taken to preserve Stonehenge. [52181]
John Penrose: On 4 April 2011, the Government announced their support for a funding package which mixes private philanthropy, lottery money and commercial funding to improve the visitor experience at Stonehenge. This Department announced that English Heritage will have access to £2 million of its historic reserves raised from philanthropic sources and the Department for Transport agreed funding of around £3.5 million for improvements to Highways Agency roads close to Stonehenge, subject to the completion of statutory processes and confirmed go-ahead of the Stonehenge project.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much has been spent from the public purse on Stonehenge in each of the last five years. [52182]
John Penrose:
As set out in the table, English Heritage has supplied the cost to the public purse of running Stonehenge in each of the past five years balanced
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against income generated from visitors. Expenditure on the Stonehenge Environmental Improvements Project over the last three years is also shown.
|
|
Cost of running Stonehenge site (£) (1) | Earned income (£) (1) | Spend on environmental improvements project (£) |
| (1) Income and expenditure figures do not include leased maintenance costs or rents receivable related to renting the Stonehenge cottages (previously custodian accommodation) which are not part of the normal visitor operation at the site. (2) Includes £1,000,000 grant from SW Regional Development Agency. | |||
Taekwondo
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 20 December 2010, Official Report, column 1057W, on Taekwondo, what his most recent assessment is when mediation may take place between UK Sport and Sport England on Taekwondo; and for what reasons the timescale for such mediation has been deferred. [51795]
Hugh Robertson: The parties to the mediation in Taekwondo are the British Taekwondo Control Board and the United Kingdom Taekwondo Development Council. The mediation is being led by an independent mediator and managed by Sport Resolutions (UK), with participation from UK Sport and Sport England when and where appropriate. The timescale is dictated by the availability of the parties concerned: an initial mediation session was held in February and follow-up communications have continued with a view to a further mediation session at a workable date for all parties and participants, potentially in May.
Betting: Taxation
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the annual loss in betting taxation which can be attributed to companies which advertise and transact in Britain basing their remote operations offshore. [52112]
Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
General betting duty typically raises around £300 million to £400 million per annum. Since only UK-based bookmakers are liable for betting duty, there is no loss from overseas bookmakers that advertise and transact in the UK. However, HMRC does not record yield from remote betting separately from general betting duty, so there is no formal estimate of the impact on receipts in this area.
Tourism
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the (a) direct and (b) prospective financial effects on London's hospitality and tourism businesses of the disturbances of 26 March 2011. [51223]
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John Penrose: The financial effect on business resulting from the disturbances on 26 March 2011 is difficult to quantify. The Department has not yet estimated the impact on the tourism and hospitality industry in London.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has made an estimate of the likely increase in tourist revenue arising from the wedding of HRH Prince William and Catherine Middleton. [52185]
John Penrose: The royal wedding is one of a series of major events, including Her Majesty’s diamond jubilee and the London 2012 Olympics, that are being used to showcase Britain as part of VisitBritain’s new four-year international marketing campaign. We have not attempted to separate out the tourism impact of each event individually, but we intend to capitalise on the huge tourism opportunity they will create by constructing a marketing fund of more than £100 million, with major companies already pledging support to help match the £50 million of public money the Government have committed through VisitBritain. The marketing campaign is aiming to deliver four million extra visitors to the UK over the four years, £2 billion in additional visitor spending and 50,000 new jobs across the country.
Scotland
Children in Care
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the implementation in Scotland of his proposals for Independent Savings Accounts for looked after children. [50828]
David Mundell: The Secretary of State for Scotland has regular discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a wide range of issues. The Government published draft regulations of a new tax-advantaged savings account or “Junior ISAs”. Around 6 million children across the United Kingdom are expected to be eligible for Junior ISAs, with a further 800,000 children becoming eligible each year. On 22 March, the Chancellor of the Exchequer made clear that the Government will work with charities and interested parties to develop detailed proposals funded by the Government, so that junior ISAs can best support looked-after children, who face particular challenges.
Departmental Mobile Phones
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials in his Department are provided with mobile communication devices; and how much his Department spent on mobile telephones and related data services in the last year for which figures are available. [51427]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office currently has 27 officials who have been provided with mobile communication devices. £12,757 was spent by the Department in the year 2009-10.
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This figure includes the cost of equipment, call charges, line rental and service charges.
Departmental Training
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on staff training in the last year for which figures are available. [51412]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office encourages all staff to undertake learning and development activities. The majority of opportunities are provided through the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Justice; but where the training need is still not available within central Government, external training courses may be considered. £25,297 was spent on staff training in the year 2009-10.
Enterprise Zones
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on establishing enterprise zones in Scotland. [50894]
David Mundell: The Secretary of State for Scotland has regular discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a wide range of issues. The Government will introduce 21 new enterprise zones across the Local Enterprise Partnerships in England to encourage new investment. Provision has been made available, through Barnett consequentials as part of the Budget 2011, to enable the Scottish Government to introduce a similar policy if it wishes. The Government will work with the Scottish Government to explore opportunities for employing the new Enterprise Zone model across the United Kingdom.
Green Investment Bank
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the Green Investment Bank since May 2010; and on what date each such meeting took place. [52040]
Michael Moore: Since May 2010, I have had a wide range of formal and informal meetings, including conversations with ministerial and Cabinet colleagues and external stakeholders, on the Green Investment Bank.
Most recently, on 30 March I attended the Westminster launch of Edinburgh's bid to host the Green Investment Bank, where I received the city's business case and met representatives of the cross-sector bid consortium; and on 5 April I discussed Edinburgh's bid, and broader progress towards establishing the bank, with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. We agreed that senior officials would meet representatives of the financial services sector in Edinburgh to discuss the issues.
I will continue to engage closely on these issues with my colleagues in Government, the financial services and energy sectors in Scotland and other key stakeholders until final decisions are made.
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Energy and Climate Change
Carbon Emissions
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on setting the level of the fourth carbon budget. [51826]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne) and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the right hon. Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne) have regular discussions on a variety of topics.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to avoid the overlap of policy instruments in respect of electricity market reform and a carbon price floor. [51934]
Charles Hendry: The carbon price floor was one of the package of proposed measures consulted on in the electricity market reform (EMR) consultation in December 2010, and has since been announced in the 23 March Budget. A key criteria for the development of the market reform package is coherence. The carbon price floor complements both options for a feed-in-tariff outlined in the EMR consultation.
Carbon Sequestration
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will publish the timetable for the four carbon capture and storage demonstration projects. [51935]
Charles Hendry: Subject to the successful conclusion of negotiations we expect the first supported CCS demonstration project to complete construction in 2014-15.
Our aim is for all three of the additional CCS projects to be operational by 2018-20. We expect to commence the process for their selection later this year, when a more detailed timetable will be published.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much he plans to contribute from the public purse to the four carbon capture and storage demonstration projects. [51936]
Charles Hendry: In last year's spending review the Government committed up to £1 billion to support the capital costs of the first carbon capture and storage demonstration project and is committed to continuing public sector investment in a total of four projects.
Decisions on the exact funding requirements for further demonstration projects will be taken once the details of those demonstration projects are known. The Government intends to launch the process to identify the further three projects in the CCS demonstration programme later this year.
Climate Change Levy
Mr Offord:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the likely effects of proposals announced
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in the 2011 Budget to increase the climate change levy discount for energy intensive businesses exposed to international competition. [51113]
Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
An assessment of the impacts of the proposal was included in the Tax Information and Impact Note published alongside the Budget. This is available online at
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2011/tiin6125.pdf
Contracts for Difference
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what contingency plans his Department has made should the assumptions underpinning the scenarios modelled for the Contracts for Difference prove to be invalid. [50618]
Gregory Barker: A range of sensitivities were tested in the modelling for the electricity market reform consultation, in order to identify how well the proposed mechanisms performed under different fossil fuel and carbon price assumptions, as well as higher than expected electricity demand and different technology costs.
Further work is being undertaken and will be published with the electricity market reform White Paper, which will set out final policy proposals.
Departmental Accountancy
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether any ministerial directions have been issued to the accounting officer of his Department since his appointment. [51998]
Departmental Alcoholic Drinks
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what arrangements his Department has with the Government wine cellar for the provision of alcoholic drinks; and how much his Department has spent on purchases from the Government wine cellar since his appointment. [52348]
Departmental Manpower
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what public sector job reduction targets have been set for his Department and its non-departmental public bodies for each of the next 24 months; and what steps he plans to take to meet such targets. [51525]
Gregory Barker: The Government have not set targets for a reduction in the number of posts in the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Civil Nuclear Police Authority, the Committee on Climate Change, and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
The Coal Authority plans to reduce its headcount from 165 to 134 during the next 24 months.
Workforce implications of the spending review settlement will depend on internal budget allocations and subsequent management decisions.
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Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many staff from which organisations have been seconded to his Department to work on electricity market reform. [51622]
Gregory Barker: We have seconded seven experts to work on the electricity market reform programme, from the following organisations:
Ofgem
Elexon
Scottish Government
Deloitte
Bain
Bright Futures consultancy
Cambridge university.
Departmental Travel
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what make and model of car from the Government Car Service is allocated to each (a) Minister and (b) senior official of his Department; and how much his Department has spent on overtime payments for drivers of ministerial cars in the latest period for which figures are available. [52394]
Gregory Barker: No Minister or Senior Official within the Department has a car allocated to them by the Government Car Service.
Departmental Official Residences
Luciana Berger:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether (a) he and (b) any Minister or special adviser in his Department has
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stayed overnight in the course of official duties at (i) Dorneywood, (ii) Chevening, (iii) Hillsborough Castle and (iv) Chequers since his appointment. [52346]
Departmental Responsibilities
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the average number of hours he spends on his official duties per week (a) during parliamentary recess periods and (b) when Parliament is sitting. [51658]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne) ensures he balances appropriately his parliamentary, constituency and official duties both during and outside parliamentary recess periods.
Departmental Secondment
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the (a) job title and (b) role is of each person working in his Department seconded from another company or institution; in each case (i) what the name is of the seconding organisation, (ii) what the length of secondment is and (iii) who is responsible for meeting the salary costs of the secondee; and whether any secondee to his Department has been involved in the recruitment of any other secondees since his appointment. [52266]
Gregory Barker: The response is set out in the following table:
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Electricity: Grid
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on investment in smart grid construction with incorporated electric vehicle technology in small towns and rural communities. [51732]
Charles Hendry: The Office of Low Emission Vehicles have awarded funding to eight pilot projects for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure through their Plugged in Places programme. We are ensuring the electricity grid can react to this new infrastructure through Ofgem’s Low Carbon Networks Fund, two of the winning projects from this fund will work closely with two of the “Plugged-In- Places” projects to learn lessons from this additional infrastructure.
The lessons learned from these projects will be used to inform development throughout the UK.
Energy: Single Market
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress his Department is making on discussions on the EU single market in energy and the establishment of a single European energy grid. [51733]
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Charles Hendry: The Third Package of Energy Market Liberalisation, which all member states were required to implement by 3 March 2011, provides much of the legal framework needed to create a single EU energy market. It contains a range of provisions designed to facilitate cross-border trading and promote greater integration of national markets, including a requirement on EU system operators to publish 10-year network development plans to identify where grid reinforcements are needed across the EU. Furthermore, the European Commission will be proposing legislation on energy infrastructure in the autumn which will include mechanisms for selecting the infrastructure projects which will be necessary for the EU to meet the low-carbon and energy security challenges over the coming decades (“projects of European interest”). It will also seek to tackle any remaining barriers to infrastructure investment, particularly as regards finance and planning.
The UK Government, together with nine other countries, are helping to address this infrastructure challenge through the North Seas Offshore Grid Initiative. This initiative is considering how we might better coordinate offshore grid development in the North, Irish and Baltic seas and tackle any planning, market, regulatory and technical barriers. The experience gained from this initiative should also be helpful for other large-scale cross-border infrastructure projects which will be needed across the EU.
Smart Meters
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to co-ordinate the Green Deal with the national roll-out of smart meters. [51827]
Gregory Barker: We are already working to ensure that we make the most of the potential synergies between the Green Deal and the smart meter roll out, particularly around awareness raising on energy efficiency. We are committed to doing this in a way that makes sure those companies involved in the roll-out do not gain any extra market advantage in relation to the Green Deal.
Employment Agencies
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on (a) recruitment agency fees, (b) outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and (c) staff training in the last year for which figures are available. [51398]
Gregory Barker: As 2010-11 accounts are not yet finalised, the last published figures available are for 2009-10. However, during 2009-10, recruitment fees were not recorded separately from other recruitment related expenditure. There would be a disproportionate cost involved in separating this information.
The recruitment costs incurred during 2010-11 currently total £79,000, however, year-end accounts have not yet been finalised and this figure may change.
The Department has not paid any outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff.
In 2009-10 £609,512.09 was spent on staff training.
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Energy Strategy
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to engage with the World Bank's energy strategy review. [51151]
Charles Hendry: I understand that the Department for International Development (DFID) has been in regular contact with the World Bank to feed in UK views on the energy strategy review. Officials in DECC and DFID meet regularly to discuss the UK position on the review as it progresses.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he last discussed the World Bank's energy strategy review with the Secretary of State for International Development; and what the outcome of the discussion was. [51152]
Charles Hendry: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change meets with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development on a regular basis and a variety of relevant matters are discussed. Although they have not met specifically to discuss the World Bank energy strategy review, officials from both Departments meet regularly and discuss the review as it progresses. The Secretary of State is in contact with officials on the key issues relating to this process.
DFID officials have also been in regular contact with the World Bank to feed in UK views as the review progresses. They have emphasised the need for the World Bank to take full account of all the relevant issues concerning use of renewable energy versus fossil fuels in developing countries, and to pay better consideration to the vulnerability of natural resources and energy assets in developing countries. The UK has also emphasised the importance of strengthening the World Bank's role in supporting developing country planning capacity for low carbon, climate resilient growth.
Energy Programmes
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will introduce mechanisms to reduce the potential for large energy companies to benefit disproportionately from his Department’s mechanism for funding energy programmes. [50626]
Charles Hendry: The Department has a number of mechanisms for supporting energy programmes. These include feed-in tariffs for small-scale low carbon electricity, the renewable heat incentive, the renewables obligation, the CRC energy efficiency scheme and others. The Electricity Market Reform programme is currently considering the role of additional mechanisms in the electricity sector.
The Department always seeks to ensure that firms are not able to benefit disproportionately from the design of these schemes and, where necessary, reviews the design of policies to ensure there is effective competition between firms and that consumers and taxpayers are receiving a fair deal.
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Energy: Green Deal
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will publish the (a) terms of reference, (b) contracts and (c) research findings of the work being conducted for his Department on consumer demand for the green deal by (i) Element Energy Ltd and Cambridge Architectural Ltd and (ii) Gfk NOP. [51918]
Gregory Barker: In accordance with the Cabinet Office’s agenda for transparency, the terms and reference and contracts for both pieces of research will be available on Contract Finder on the Business Link website, see:
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1086600691&type=PIP
Findings from the work will be available in autumn 2011 in DECC’s consultation paper on the Green Deal and impact assessments.
Forests: Developing Countries
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department is providing funding to the Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries programme. [51985]
Gregory Barker: The UK has committed £300 million for reducing deforestation in developing countries for the fast start period (2010-12). This is 20% of our £1.5 billion fast start commitment.
For the next four years (i.e. the spending review period), the UK has allocated £2.9 billion for international climate finance. This includes full funding of our remaining fast start commitment, and will include a further allocation for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+). Further decisions on programming this finance will be taken later this year.
Fuel Poverty: St Albans
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many and what proportion of people in St Albans constituency were living in fuel poverty in each of the last five years. [52119]
Gregory Barker: Fuel poverty is measured at a household rather than individual level. Data is available for the year 2006 and 2008, and these are shown in the following table.
|
|
Number of households in fuel poverty (1) | Proportion of households in fuel poverty (%) |
| (1) To nearest 100. | ||
Nuclear Power Stations: Safety
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether an additional assessment of the costs of nuclear waste management and spent fuel will take place following the problems encountered with spent fuel in Fukushima, Japan. [52174]
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Charles Hendry: The Secretary of State has asked the UK Chief Nuclear Inspector, Dr Mike Weightman, to provide a report to the Government on the implications of the unprecedented events in Japan and the lessons to be learned for the UK nuclear industry. He has asked for an interim report by mid-May 2011 and a final report within six months. The Government will consider what further action needs to be taken in light of Dr Weightman's findings.
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment has been made of the likelihood of a nuclear accident occuring which entails costs of greater than £1 billion. [52175]
Charles Hendry: The UK has a robust and transparent regulatory regime for protecting people and society from the hazards of the nuclear industry that is overseen by an independent nuclear safety operator. This regime ensures that risks of nuclear accidents are minimised. Under that regime, nuclear operators must satisfy the nuclear regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), that they have adequate engineering and administrative measures in place to ensure this—this is largely achieved via a written safety case. Safety cases must include assessments of the likelihood of nuclear accidents and measures to mitigate them. They provide the basis for ONR giving permissions for nuclear activities at sites. The likelihood of a nuclear accident at a nuclear site with costs greater than £l billion, based on the assessment of safety cases by the ONR, is estimated at less than 1 in 10,000 years.
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which nuclear power stations in the UK rely on emergency diesel generators to cool the reactor in the event of a power failure; how often these generators are tested under full emergency conditions; how many tests have been (a) passed and (b) failed in the last 10 years; what further emergency power systems are attached to each such power station; and if he will make a statement. [52307]
Charles Hendry: There are 10 operating nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom that use diesel generators or gas turbines to supply back-up power to ensure adequate cooling of the reactor in the event of a national grid power failure to the site. In addition, each station has secondary back-up systems to ensure that, should a primary back-up system fail, sufficient capacity would continue to be available to ensure adequate levels of cooling. The 10 stations are shown in the following table:
| Station and location | Operated by | Type of power back-up system |
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It is not possible to test these back-up systems under ‘full emergency conditions’ because this would require a disconnection of the site from the national grid. However, it is a requirement of the nuclear installations licensing regime that each operating power station must carry out routine tests of its systems at regular intervals. Those intervals vary from weekly to three monthly tests, depending on the age and design of the back-up system. While occasional faults have occurred in the period of the last 10 years, adequate power supplies have been maintained at all 10 operating stations to secure the availability of sufficient cooling for the reactors.
Nuclear Power: Finance
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the (a) timetable and (b) expected outputs are of the review of the windfall to operators of existing nuclear power plants as a result of proposals for carbon price support announced on 24 March 2011. [52153]
Charles Hendry: The Government keep all tax policy under review as part of the Budget process. The carbon price floor does not begin until April 2013.
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what mechanism has been put in place to ensure that the maximum price cap for the waste transfer price of nuclear waste does not result in transfer of cost to the public purse. [52154]
Charles Hendry: The consultation on an updated waste transfer pricing methodology for the disposal of higher activity waste from new nuclear power stations closed on 8 March and the Government are now considering the responses received.
The consultation set out that the cap on the level of the waste transfer price will reflect the Government's current analysis of risk and uncertainty and will be set at a level where the Government have a very high level of confidence that actual costs will be lower than the cap. The consultation recognised that, in setting a cap, the small residual risk that actual cost might exceed the cap will lie with the Government. Hence in return for setting a cap the Government will charge the operator an appropriate risk fee.
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will publish in full each agreement between industry and the Government on waste transfer pricing in respect of the costs of nuclear waste and spent fuel management. [52155]
Charles Hendry: This is an issue that has been raised in responses to the recent consultation on an updated waste transfer pricing methodology. We will set out the Government's intentions in the forthcoming Government response to this consultation.
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Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information will be publicly available in respect of contracts awarded under contract for difference arrangements under his proposal for energy market reform. [52176]
Charles Hendry: Further details on the Government’s approach to implementing the contract for difference (CfD) and the rest of the energy market reform (EMR) package will be set out in the White Paper this year and in the subsequent legislation.
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change who will bear the cost of construction overruns for nuclear power stations constructed under contract for difference arrangements under his proposals for energy market reform. [52177]
Charles Hendry: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made a written statement to Parliament on 18 October 2010 setting out the Government’s policy that there will be no public subsidy for new nuclear power. It will be for the private sector to fund, construct and operate any new nuclear power stations and cover the full costs of decommissioning and their full share of waste management costs.
Contracts for difference are one potential option being considered through electricity market reform to facilitate investment in all forms of low-carbon generation. A White Paper on Electricity Market Reform will be published this summer.
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure there will be no public subsidy for the nuclear industry as a consequence of any changes to funded decommissioning programmes. [52306]
Charles Hendry: Under the Energy Act 2008, as part of gaining approval to build a new nuclear power station, operators will be required to submit to the Secretary of State a Funded Decommissioning Programme (FDP) for approval. Operators will be required to demonstrate in the FDP that they have secure financing arrangements in place to pay for the full costs of decommissioning and their full share of waste management and waste disposal costs, without recourse to the taxpayer. This is in line with the Government's policy that there will be no public subsidy for new nuclear power.
The Act makes provisions for FDPs to be modified over time. The Secretary of State's powers under the Act in relation to the approval of modifications to an approved FDP must be exercised with the aim of ensuring that prudent provision is made for the liabilities covered by the FDP. A change which results in the FDP not making prudent provision for liabilities will not be approved by the Secretary of State.
Offshore Industry
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate and Change if he will (a) make and (b) publish an assessment of the potential effect of changes to the North Sea oil taxation regime on (i) employment in the oil and gas related sectors, (ii) investment in drilling and exploration and (iii) UK energy security (A) in the UK and (B) on the UK continental shelf. [51940]
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Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
An assessment of the impacts of the changes to the North Sea oil taxation regime announced in Budget 2011 is given in HMRC’s Tax Impact and Information Note published alongside the Budget. This is available online at
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2011/tiin6133.htm.
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent representations he has received from recipients of feed-in tariff payments on the frequency of payments made under the scheme. [52193]
Gregory Barker: DECC has had one representation from an electricity supplier company regarding the frequency of feed-in tariffs (FITs) payments. This will be considered as part of the comprehensive review of the FITs scheme.
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will commission research on the potential relationship between the frequency of feed-in tariff payments and the sustainability of debt repayments made by recipients on loans taken out to finance microgeneration projects under the feed-in tariff scheme. [52194]
Gregory Barker: The Department has not conducted research into this particular aspect of the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme. The legislation requires payments to be made at least quarterly but suppliers can choose to make payments more frequently. All aspects of FITs, including administration, will be considered as part of the comprehensive review currently under way.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to The Plan for Growth, page 82, what plans his Department has to consult on a cap for the cost to the consumer of renewable financial incentives. [52404]
Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
HM Treasury Ministers are responsible for decisions on tax rates and the level of spending. The Government do not routinely consult on these matters. The 2010 spending review set an overall cap for DECC’s tax and spending through policies that entail levy-funded spending. This cap will be managed through a new control framework, as announced at the Budget.
DECC will be responsible for managing their levy-funded spending policies such that they remain within the cap. When making changes to these policies, DECC will follow all required procedures such as statutory consultation and parliamentary scrutiny.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) if he will assess the capacity of Ofgem to administer monthly feed-in tariff payments; [52407]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the effect on voluntary feed-in tariff (FIT) licensees of making FIT payments quarterly. [52408]
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Gregory Barker: The Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme is currently under review. All aspects of the scheme will be considered as part of the review, including the administration of the scheme.
Under the FITs scheme, the obligation is on electricity suppliers to make FITs payments. Section 35 (3.2) (3.2.5) of the Modifications to the Standard Conditions of Electricity Supply Licences states that a FITs Supplier must “make FIT payments no less than quarterly, except insofar as otherwise agreed in the Statement of FITs Terms.”
However the levelisation process is undertaken by Ofgem on a quarterly basis. Ofgem is currently reviewing responses to a recently concluded consultation on guidance for suppliers which included a question in relation to change in frequency of the levelisation process.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the effects of making feed-in tariff payments quarterly on the ability of consumers to make monthly finance payments to cover the upfront cost of microgeneration projects. [52409]
Gregory Barker: No assessment has been made on the effects of making quarterly feed-in tariffs (FITs) payments on the ability of consumers to make monthly finance payments.
The comprehensive review of the scheme is now underway and will consider all aspects of the scheme including the administration process.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reason Ofgem makes feed-in tariff payments on a quarterly rather a monthly basis. [52410]
Gregory Barker: Ofgem does not make feed-in tariffs (FITs) payments; this obligation is on the electricity suppliers. In deciding on the frequency with which levelisation is carried out, a balance has to be struck between the cost of administering the scheme and the benefits of a frequent levelisation process.
Renewable Heat Premium Payment Scheme
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when his Department expects to announce the details of the renewable heat premium payment scheme. [51153]
Gregory Barker: As we announced on 10 March, we plan to publish details of the renewable heat premium payment scheme in May this year.
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew: Finance
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department is providing funding to Kew Gardens' Millennium Seed Bank. [52165]
Gregory Barker: No, DECC is not providing funding to Kew Garden's Millennium Seed Bank. I would direct the right hon. Member to DEFRA, who have responsibility for funding Royal Kew Gardens.
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Taxation: Environment Protection
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward measures to mitigate the effect on energy-intensive users of the carbon price floor announced in the 2011 Budget. [51931]
Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
Budget 2011 announced a package of supporting measures to mitigate the impact of the carbon price floor on energy-intensive industries:
not introducing the carbon capture and storage levy so average business electricity bills will be 2% lower from 2015 and 3% lower in 2020 than they otherwise would have been;
a cap on the cost of policies funded through energy bills;
extension of the climate change levy discount on electricity for participants in the Climate Change Agreements scheme to 2023 arid an increase in the electricity discount from 65% to 80% from April 2013 so electricity bills will be on average 1% lower; and
a further 1% reduction in corporation tax to 26% from 1 April 2011. By 2014, it will be reduced to 23%.
The cumulative impacts of climate change and energy policies are also being considered as part of the Energy Intensive Industry Strategy produced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. This strategy will identify recommendations to maximise abatement while ensuring the future competitiveness of UK energy-intensive business.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will (a) make and (b) publish an assessment of the likelihood of carbon leakage to other EU member states as a result of the carbon price floor announced in the 2011 Budget. [51932]
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will (a) make and (b) publish an assessment of the potential effect on employment in each sector of the introduction of the carbon price floor announced in the 2011 Budget. [51933]
Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
An assessment of the impacts of the carbon price floor is given in HMRC’s Tax Information and Impact Note published alongside the Budget. This is available online at
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2011/tiin6111.pdf.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will (a) make and (b) publish an assessment of the potential effect on (i) household and (ii) general taxation of funding from the public purse to the four carbon capture and storage demonstration projects announced in the 2011 Budget. [51939]
Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
In last year’s spending review, the Government committed up to £1 billion to support the capital costs of the first demonstration project. The Government do not publish the effects of individual spending allocation decisions on households or the “public purse”, but have published an overall assessment of the implications of
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all decisions made in last year's spending review on projections of future public expenditure. The Government would adopt a similar approach when taking decisions on future levels of funding for further CCS demonstration projects.
USA
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what class of travel was used by those participating in the green trade mission; and which airlines were used. [51679]
Gregory Barker: My private secretary and I flew business class to and from the US and economy class within the US. A DECC official supported me on the mission, flying premium economy to the US, economy class within the US, and economy class back to the UK. British Airways was used for the transatlantic flights, and US Airways for flights within the US.
The business delegates made their own travel arrangements and paid for their own tickets. The Department does not hold information on the airlines or class of travel that they chose to use.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what trade deals were signed (a) during and (b) after the green trade mission to the US. [51680]
Gregory Barker: The visit had the objectives of demonstrating that the shift to a green economy is beneficial for businesses and growth, as well as promoting bilateral trade opportunities. The visit was successful in both regards with the UK companies on the mission gaining a greater understanding of the opportunities for them in the US market and a number of US companies expressing interest in the UK. Signing “trade deals” during the visit was not an objective for the delegation.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what (a) gifts and (b) hospitality members of the green trade mission to the US received (a) before, (b) during and (c) after the visit. [51681]
Gregory Barker: The Government are not aware of any gifts or hospitality that members of the delegation may have received.
I received a number of gifts, details of which will be published in the normal way via the Department’s website at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/registers/gifts_minister/giftsminister.aspx
During the visit, a number of events were hosted by companies and institutions. Details are set out in the following table.
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Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the members of the green trade mission to the US from private sector companies made a contribution to the cost of (a) travel and (b) hotel accommodation. [51682]
Gregory Barker: The representatives of private sector companies on the delegation paid for all of their own hotel accommodation, air and rail transport.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cost was of (a) air transport, (b) road transport, (c) hotel accommodation, (d) food and drink and (e) other expenses for the green trade mission to the US. [51683]
Gregory Barker: The costs of all ministerial overseas travel are published quarterly in a register on the Department’s website:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/registers/registers.aspx
This will be updated in due course to include the costs of this trip.
Members of the delegation from the private sector paid for their own travel and accommodation.
Road transport and other costs in the US were met by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and UK Trade and Investment.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he and Ministers in his Department have for future green trade missions; and to which countries such missions are planned. [51745]
Gregory Barker:
Ensuring the transition to low carbon sustainable economic growth is central to the Government’s strategy for tackling climate change and recovering from the global financial crisis. British businesses’ ability to demonstrate that they are already seizing the
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opportunities presented by the global green economy assists in making the case around the world for tackling climate change.
I, and other DECC Ministers, will be working with colleagues at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and UK Trade and Investment to ensure that the UK’s low carbon business sector plays a key role in our future plans for diplomatic engagement on climate and energy issues with other countries in the future.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the greenhouse gas emissions arising from the recent green trade mission to the US. [51746]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change will purchase offsets in spring 2011 to offset the emissions from all air travel purchased in the 2010-11 financial year, including travel to and from the US by DECC Ministers and officials. The Department will make use of the Government Carbon Offsetting Facility, with full details placed on the Department’s website.
The Government do not hold the relevant information to estimate the emissions arising from the non-Government members of the delegation who made their own transport arrangements.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions British forces in Afghanistan have been transported by aircraft of foreign states since 2001. [51028]
Nick Harvey: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. UK Forces operate in Afghanistan as part of a wider NATO effort and assets are assigned based on task not nationality. Accordingly, the UK will routinely make use of other nations’ assets and vice versa.
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on how many occasions the Harrier aircraft failed to respond to close air support requests during its deployment to Afghanistan; [51125]
(2) what the average response time was for close air support missions in Afghanistan for the (a) Tornado and (b) Harrier in the latest period for which figures are available; [51185]
(3) how much notice of planned close air support missions in Afghanistan the Royal Air Force requires; [51186]
(4) on how many occasions Tornado aircraft have failed to respond to close air support requests in Afghanistan since its deployment. [51192]
Nick Harvey:
Harrier was last deployed in Afghanistan in June 2009 and it is no longer in service. When held on ground-based close air support (GCAS) alert both Harrier GR9 prior to June 2009 and Tornado GR4 were declared to operational commanders with the same required readiness state response times. I am withholding further
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details about GCAS as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what payload reductions were necessary for the (a) Harrier and (b) Tornado to operate in Afghanistan during summer operations. [51182]
Nick Harvey: Harrier was last deployed to Afghanistan in June 2009 and it is no longer in service. Neither aircraft type required any payload reductions during summer operations from Kandahar airfield.
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which air asset has had the highest reliability rate for close air support missions in Afghanistan since 2002. [51184]
Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Astor of Hever, to the noble Lord, Lord West of Spithead, in another place on 4 November 2010, Official Report, column WA428.
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times the Storm Shadow has been used during operations in Afghanistan in the last 12 months. [51300]
Nick Harvey: Storm Shadow has not been used in Afghanistan in the last 12 months. We carefully select the type of weapon in every engagement to ensure the most appropriate munition is used to deliver the required effect, while minimising the risk of civilian casualties.
Air Force
Sir Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the risk management strategy prepared by the Environmental Science Group in relation to the proposal to close the RAF ordnance clearance operations at Goswick sands near Berwick-upon-Tweed; and what revisions to the report took place after the first version was considered by the Royal Air Force. [50443] [Official Report, 19 July 2011, Vol. 531, c. 7MC.]
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Nick Harvey: A copy of the risk management strategy for the former air weapons range at Goswick sands, will be placed in the Library of the House.
The risk management strategy was written at the request of the RAF by the Ministry of Defence's Environmental Science Group (ESG). RAF subject matter experts and other stakeholders were consulted and a number of corrections were incorporated into the final document within Table 8.3. These downgraded the risk level of an accidental explosion resulting from contact with horses on the beach or deliberate tampering.
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected date is at which the RAF E-3D AWACS will cease to be interoperable with (a) US and (b) NATO air assets. [51189]
Nick Harvey: The RAF E-3D AWACS has an enduring requirement to retain interoperability with US and NATO assets. There is no planned future date when this will change.
Air Space
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what types of Russian military aircraft have entered (a) UK territorial airspace and (b) airspace controlled by UK air traffic control without permission in the last 10 years; and on what date each such incident took place. [50957]
Nick Harvey: No Russian military aircraft have entered UK territorial airspace without permission. Russian military Bear and Blackjack aircraft have entered the UK flight information region without permission.
I am withholding information on how many Russian military aircraft were identified in each incident and the exact dates of incidents, as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces. However, the number of days within each month from September 2006 that Quick Reaction Alert aircraft were scrambled for Russian military aircraft that entered the civil flight information region is contained in the following table; information is no longer held prior to September 2006.
|
|
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the effects of the deployment of (a) Typhoon jets to the Mediterranean and (b) Rapier missile batteries to Afghanistan on the UK’s capacity to protect its airspace. [50959]
Nick Harvey: There has been no impact on the capability of the Typhoon force to fulfil its Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) commitments. The Typhoon force is of sufficient size that it can support its current role on NATO Operation Unified Protector enforcing the No Fly Zone over Libya, while at the same time maintaining aircraft at continuous ground readiness at RAF Coningsby and RAF Leuchars.
There are no Rapier missile batteries deployed to Afghanistan. Ground-based air defence capabilities, such as Rapier, are not routinely deployed as part of
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our UK air defence posture. However, we retain the capability to deploy them at short notice should the need arise.
Armed Forces: Cadets
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial support his Department provided to school cadet forces in the (a) independent and (b) state sector in 2010-11; and what financial support he plans to allocate for 2011-12. [51365]
Mr Robathan: The final amount of financial support provided by public funding to the Ministry of Defence sponsored Cadet forces for financial year (FY) 2010-11 is currently being compiled. It is anticipated that the figures will be similar to FY 2009-10, which are shown in the following table:
| Sponsored Cadet f orce | Funding (£ 000) |
It is not possible to divide these figures accurately between support to independent and state schools, as many of the costs are borne centrally or shared between independent and state schools that are in partnership.
Financial support for FY 2011-12 will be determined as part of the Department's annual planning round.
Armed Forces: Ceremonies
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to reduce the number of combat-trained troops required for ceremonial duties; and if he will make a statement. [51190]
Mr Robathan: All ceremonial duties are conducted by troops with an operational role, and can therefore be considered combat trained.
There are no current plans to reduce the level of public or state ceremonial duties, and no current plans to deliver them using non-combat trained personnel.
Armed Forces: Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which role within the command structure of the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) RAF has responsibility for investigating allegations of (i) domestic violence and (ii) sexual abuse; and if he will make a statement. [51371]
Mr Robathan: Domestic violence and sexual abuse are criminal offences and as such the civilian police would have jurisdiction in such matters. However, there may be occasions when the civilian police pass jurisdiction back to the service and on these occasions, the service police and Service Prosecuting Authority would have the lead, as this is not a matter which could be dealt with summarily by a commanding officer. Overseas, the service police will undertake the duties that would fall to police forces in the UK.
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Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which welfare organisations are responsible for dealing with domestic violence and sexual abuse within the armed forces; and if he will make a statement; [51372]
(2) what support is available for armed forces personnel and their families (a) accommodated in services living accommodation and (b) on an overseas posting who experience incidents of (i) domestic violence and (ii) sexual abuse; and if he will make a statement. [51430]
Mr Robathan: Domestic violence and sexual abuse manifest themselves in many forms and incidents require a wide range of skills from a variety of service and civilian support agencies if they are to be dealt with effectively. No organisation therefore has sole or statutory responsibility for detecting, dealing with, or offering support in response to all forms of such abuse within the service community. However, examples of the agencies involved would include: service welfare organisations; padres/chaplains; medical practitioners; local authority children’s services/adult social care; woman’s aid; independent domestic violence advisers; and civilian and service police forces.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether service families federations were consulted on the content of the Tri-Service Policy on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (JSP 913); and if he will make a statement. [51373]
Mr Robathan: The service family federations were not consulted. However, subject matter experts within the three single services were consulted throughout the production of the Joint Services Publication and all provided input. A draft was also circulated to stakeholders, including external charities and organisations, through the Violence Against Women and Girls department in the Home Office.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to take steps to raise awareness amongst (a) service personnel and (b) civilians subject to service discipline of the Tri-Service Policy on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (JSP 913); and if he will make a statement. [51431]
Mr Robathan: The new Joint Services Publication 913 is referenced in single service websites and regulations. The individual services' police forces undertake awareness briefings through such groups as families forums, and the pamphlets highlighting areas where support is available to service families have also been produced.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training commanding officers receive on dealing with allegations and incidents of (a) domestic violence and (b) sexual violence; and if he will make a statement. [51466]
Mr Robathan: Commanding Officers receive briefings on dealing with allegations of domestic or sexual abuse which provide guidance and highlight where they can turn for further advice. This advice will be available through a variety of sources, from unit welfare officers and service welfare organisations, whose staff receive thorough training in all areas of welfare, to specialist police officers and personnel staff.
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Armed Forces: Fuels
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many litres of Avgas the armed forces used in the last 12 months for which figures are available; [51549]
(2) what plans he has for the future use of Avgas by the armed forces; and if he will make a statement; [51550]
(3) what proportion of aircraft fuel used by the Royal Air Force is Avgas. [51596]
Peter Luff: During the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 almost 2.8 million litres of Avgas was delivered to Ministry of Defence (MOD) units. Avgas comprises 0.5% of the total volume of aviation fuel delivered to the RAF. Details of fuel consumption are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The MOD regularly reviews its fuel requirements, including the volume and types of fuel it needs. While an operational or technical requirement remains for this type of fuel, Avgas will continue to be used.
Armed Forces: Married People
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on the incidence of marriage breakdowns among armed forces personnel after deployment; and if he will make a statement. [52218]
Mr Robathan: No information is held on the incidence of marital breakdowns after deployment. The implementation of the joint personnel administration system in 2006 amended the way that marital status was recorded to focus on current status. It is therefore not possible to say how many people in the armed forces are divorced or separated without incurring disproportionate cost as this would require a review of all personal records.
Armed Forces: Merseyside
Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force had a home address in (i) Merseyside and (ii) St Helens South and Whiston constituency in the most recent year for which figures are available. [52320]
Mr Robathan: As at 1 January 2011 there were 140 service personnel stationed in the Merseyside county area. 80 from the Army, 40 from the Royal Navy and 20 from the Royal Air Force.
10 of the 140 service personnel were based in St Helens.
Residential address information with reference to parliamentary constituency is not held.
Details of the number and stationed location of military personnel broken down by service, county, unitary authority and local authority area is produced by the Department as Tri-Service Publication 10 which can be found at:
http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=48&pubType=0&thiscontent=100&Publish Time=09:30:00&date=2011-02-10&disText=01%20Jan% 202011&from=listing&topDate=2011-02-10
A copy is available in the Library of the House.
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Arms Trade: Treaties
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings on the proposed Arms Trade treaty he has attended since his appointment. [51965]
Mr Gerald Howarth: The Secretary of State for Defence fully supports efforts to secure an Arms Trade treaty and has discussed Arms Trade issues at a number of meetings in the course of normal defence business.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) officials in his Department have had with their counterparts at the UN on the Arms Trade treaty. [52006]
Mr Gerald Howarth: The Secretary of State for Defence fully supports efforts to secure an Arms Trade treaty. The Secretary of State and other Ministers are fully engaged in developments on an Arms Trade treaty and have discussed this issue with their counterparts in the course of normal defence business.
Ministry of Defence officials are part of the cross-government team, led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including experts from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for International Development. The UK team is fully and proactively engaged both domestically and internationally on efforts to negotiate an Arms Trade treaty; MOD experts were part of the UK delegation which attended the last Preparatory Committee meeting held at the United Nations in February 2011.
Defence: Procurement
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the contribution of the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology of 1 March 2011, Official Report, column 65WH, which categories of long-lead items are to be purchased ahead of Main Gate. [51459]
Peter Luff: As I told the House on 1 March 2011, Official Report, column 65WH, it is normal practice for most large procurement programmes to purchase long lead items ahead of Main Gate.
Final decisions on what Long Lead items will be required and when, will not be taken until after Initial Gate. However, the main categories are expected to be: Boat one: items related to primary and secondary propulsion; the main boat system and steel including hull structure and structural fittings; electrical generation, conversion, and distribution; some components of the Combat Systems; and ship's services; Boats two and three: items related to propulsion.
Departmental Accountancy
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any ministerial directions have been issued to the accounting officer of his Department since his appointment. [52000]
Dr Fox: There have been no ministerial directions issued since my appointment.
26 Apr 2011 : Column 67W
Departmental Alcoholic Drinks
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree of 24 March 2011, Official Report, column 1227W, on departmental alcoholic drinks, how much his Department spent on the contents of ministerial drinks cabinets between 2 May 1997 and 12 May 2010. [51035]
Mr Robathan: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Contracts
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [50695]
Peter Luff: The total number of Ministry of Defence (MOD) contracts with Lockheed Martin and its subsidiaries that appear on the MOD’s financial management shared service centre (FMSSC) database at the end of each financial year requested and the overall value of those contracts are as follows:
| Financial year | Number of contracts placed | Value of contracts placed (£) |
More detailed information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.