3 May 2011 : Column 650W
Domestic Violence
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules, HC 908, whether the prohibition on making an application under the domestic violence rule unless one has no unspent convictions applies to a person who has received (a) an absolute discharge and (b) a caution with conditions until such time as the conditions end; and if she will make a statement. [53185]
Damian Green: As a result of the changes to the Immigration Rules introduced on 6 April 2011, individuals applying for indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK must be free of unspent convictions in order to make a successful application. Settlement is a privilege to be awarded only to those who abide by the laws of this country.
An absolute discharge has a rehabilitation period of six months. A conditional caution has a rehabilitation period of three months. If an individual applied for indefinite leave under the domestic violence rule before such a conviction had become spent their application would not be successful. In cases where there is a need to protect a victim of domestic violence, there would be no question of requiring them to leave the UK or remain in an abusive relationship because of a minor conviction and the UK Border Agency will continue to look at cases sympathetically outside the Immigration Rules where appropriate.
Driving Offences
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices were issued in respect of vehicles operated by her Department and its agencies in the last five years; and what the total cost was. [53506]
Lynne Featherstone: For the Home Office and the UK Border Agency (UKBA) the cost and number of fixed penalty notices can not be identified without incurring disproportionate cost, as the Home Office and UKBA accounting system does not separately identify the costs incurred by the payment of fixed penalty notices.
The Identity and Passport Service incurred seven fixed penalty notices in the last five years at a total cost of £400.
The Criminal Records Bureau have not owned or operated any vehicles in the last five years and have therefore not incurred any such costs.
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were prosecuted for driving cars while uninsured in each police authority area in the East of England in each year since 2008. [53441]
Mr Blunt: I have been asked to reply.
The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts in the East of England region for driving without insurance, by police force area, for the year 2006-09 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table.
3 May 2011 : Column 651W
Court proceedings data for 2010 are planned for publication on 26 May 2011.
| Number of persons proceeded against at the magistrates court for driving without insurance, in the East of England region by police force area, 2006-09 (1, 2) | |||||
| Proceeded against | |||||
| Statute | Offence description | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services: Ministry of Justice. | |||||
Departmental Official Cars
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on car hire other than from the Government Car Service in each year since 1997; and whether her Department required particular specifications in respect of each car hired. [53432]
Damian Green: The Home Office and the UK Border Agency accounting system does not separately identify car hire from car hire which includes use of the Government Car Service.
The detail requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Illegal Immigrants: Employment
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field) of 7 March 2011, Official Report, columns 872-3W, on illegal immigrants: employment, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the penalties levied are collected. [53189]
3 May 2011 : Column 652W
Damian Green: An employer has 28 days to pay an illegal working civil penalty or to submit an objection or appeal. If a penalty remains unpaid after the objection and/or appeal process the UK Border Agency refer the case for internal debt recovery action. If the penalty remains unpaid after the internal process the Agency works with a specialist third party debt recovery partner to enforce outstanding penalties. Recovery action may include but is not restricted to Court enforcement proceedings.
Imitation Firearms
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many replica firearms were confiscated in each police force area in each of the last 10 years. [53486]
James Brokenshire: Information on confiscated firearms is not available centrally.
Knives: Crime
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many knives have been recovered in knife amnesty initiatives in each police force area in each of the last 10 years. [53434]
James Brokenshire: Data on local police force area knife amnesty initiatives are not held by the Home Office. The last national knife amnesty was held in England and Wales between 24 May and 30 June 2006. A knife amnesty was held in Scotland from 25 May 2006 for one month and Northern Ireland from 25 May 2006 for three weeks.
According to figures supplied by the police, this national amnesty resulted in over 89,000 items being handed in.
Logos
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much (a) her Department and (b) its agencies have spent on the (i) design and production of new logos and (ii) employment of external (A) public relations and (B) graphic design agencies for each project of logo design or redesign in each year since 2000. [53480] [Official Report, 12 May 2011, Vol. 527, c. 7MC.]
Damian Green: The following table summarises the spend of the Home Office and its agencies (Identity and Passport Service (IPS), Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and UK Border Agency) on logo design and employment of public relations and graphic design agencies, broken down by project.
It is not possible to separate out design costs from design agency costs, and therefore costs provided above cover parts (a) and (b).
The Home Office has spent nothing on design or production of new logos or on the employment of external public relations agencies for any project of logo design or redesign since 2008-09.
The UK Border Agency and IPS have spent nothing on design or production of new logos or on the employment of external public relations agencies for any project of logo design or redesign since 2007-08.
CRB have spent nothing on design or production of new logos or on the employment of external public relations agencies for any project of logo design or redesign since 2002-03.
3 May 2011 : Column 653W
3 May 2011 : Column 654W
Marriage of Convenience
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suspected sham marriages were referred to the UK Border Agency by marriage registrars and clergy in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many such referrals resulted in prosecutions for offences under immigration legislation. [53138]
Damian Green:
S24 and s24A of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 places a legal duty on civil registrars to report any reasonable suspicions they may have that a marriage or civil partnership is or may be a sham marriage, these are known as s24 reports. The Anglican
3 May 2011 : Column 655W
Church in England and Wales operates its own system of preliminaries and its clergy are not under the same legal obligation to report suspicions as civil registrars, although they are strongly encouraged to do so voluntarily, the Agency does not hold data on the number of reports that come from members of the Anglican clergy.
The Agency received 934 s24 reports from civil registrars during 2010, however as s24 reports represent a suspicion rather than a definite finding and do not include the Anglican church in England and Wales this figure can be not be seen as an absolute representation of the number of sham marriages in the UK.
Since January 2010 two periods of targeted enforcement actions have been conducted against those involved in sham marriages which resulted in 155 arrests. As entering in a sham marriage, in itself, is not a crime it is not possible to obtain definitive information on how many people have been prosecuted for involvement in sham marriages
Members: Correspondence
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Border Agency plans to respond to the letter of 4 April 2011 from the hon. Member for Walsall North about a constituent, reference ADUR/100311/031061/1. [53791]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency wrote to the hon. Member on 27 April 2011.
Missing Children
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reports police forces received of children (a) of each age and (b) of each sex missing from home in each of the last three years. [53509]
James Brokenshire: Data held by the National Missing Persons Bureau does not contain the level of detail sought. Police forces provide quarterly and annual data returns (numbers of missing person reports received) to the Bureau but only a number of these returns provide breakdowns by age and gender.
This information is therefore not collated centrally.
Offensive Weapons
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in each police force area were convicted for possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition in England and Wales in each year since 2007. [53418]
Mr Blunt: I have been asked to reply.
The number of persons found guilty at all courts for offences relating to possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition, by police force area, England and Wales, 2007-09, can be viewed in the table.
Court proceedings data for 2010 are planned for publication on 26 May 2011.
| Number of persons found guilty at all courts for offences relating to possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition (1) , by police force area, England and Wales, 2007 - 09 (2, 3) | |||
| Police force area | 2007 | 2008 (4) | 2009 |
3 May 2011 : Column 656W
| (1) Includes the following statutes and corresponding offence descriptions: Firearms Act, 1968 Sec 5(1) (Group I) as amended by Criminal Justice Act 2003 S.288 Possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition. Firearms Act 1968 Sec 5(1)(b) (Group I) as amended by Criminal Justice Act 2003 Sec.288 Possessing or distributing prohibited weapons designed for discharge of noxious liquid etc. Firearms Act 1968 Sec 5(1A)(a) (Group I) as amended by Criminal Justice Act 2003 Sec.288 Possessing or distributing firearm disguised as other object Firearms Act 1968 Sec 5(1A) (b),(c),(d)(e),(f) or (g) as amended by Criminal Justice Act 2003 Sec.288 Possessing or distributing other prohibited weapons (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons For whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty Is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice. | |||
3 May 2011 : Column 657W
Police: Manpower
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the percentage change in the number of special constables serving in each police force area in England and Wales has been since March 2010. [51893]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 26 April 2011]: Data on special constable strength by police force area as at 30 September and 31 March 2010 with percentage changes over the six months period are given in the table.
Some forces’ figures may be affected by seasonality as it is not a percentage change over a 12-month period. Figures for March 2011 will be available on 21 July 2011.
| Special constable strength by English Government office regions and Wales (headcount) (1) | ||||
| Special constables | ||||
| Strength as at : | Change in 6 months | |||
| March 2010 | September 2010 | March 2010 | September 2010 | |
| English Government Office Regions and Wales | Number | Number | Number | Percentage |
3 May 2011 : Column 658W
| (1) Police constable figures are given as headcount measure. | ||||
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police constables Northumbria police employed in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [52024]
Nick Herbert: Available data relate to police constable strength for Northumbria, as at 31 March 2008, 2009 and 2010 and are given in the table.
| Northumbria police constable strength (1 ) as at 31 March 2008, 2009 and 2010 | |
|
|
Number of police constables |
| (1 )These are full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. | |
3 May 2011 : Column 659W
Police: Redundancy Pay
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police authorities reported at least one special severance payment in the last 12 months for which figures are available; [52540]
(2) how many special severance payments were reported by Cambridgeshire Constabulary in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [52541]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 26 April 2011]: The information requested is not held centrally. There is no requirement for police authorities to seek approval from or report to Government before making special severance payments.
Repatriation: Offenders
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any people detained under immigration rules offered to pay for their return flights to their country of origin in the last year for which figures are available. [52682]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not hold information on people detained under immigration powers that offer to pay for their return flights to their countries of origin.
Sexual Offences
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals (a) convicted of a sex offence, (b) imprisoned for more than 12 months for violence and (c) assessed as being high risk there are on the Violent and Sex Offenders Register; and how many times the database has been accessed in each year since 1997. [53437]
Mr Blunt: I have been asked to reply.
As at 31 March 2011 there were (a) 50,309 individuals convicted of a registered sexual offence, (b) 6,704 imprisoned for 12 months and over for violence and non-registerable sexual offences and (c) 17,734 assessed as being High or Very High Risk that are recorded on ViSOR in England and Wales.
ViSOR was introduced nationally only in 2005. It is routinely used by a large number of staff on a daily basis for the purposes of case management, risk assessment, information and intelligence sharing, and risk management planning. Data regarding the recorded levels of access are not collected.
Third Sector: Home Office
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2011, Official Report, column 1218W, on third sector, what information her Department holds on the distribution of grants paid to charities that her Department monitors. [52701]
Damian Green:
The information held by the Department includes the name of the body receiving the grant, the purpose of the grant, the amount of the grant and the period of time for which the grant is paid. Additionally
3 May 2011 : Column 660W
the Department monitors the achievement of outcomes for which the grant was provided. This is standard information monitored against all grants paid by the Department irrespective of type of recipient.
The above information could not be provided for those charities receiving grant from the Department without incurring disproportionate cost, as the Department's accounting system recognises charities within a greater grouping of over 300 not-for-profit organisations.
As well as charities (organisations defined by and registered with the Charity Commission) this group of organisations includes benevolent or philanthropic institutions and not-for-profit social enterprises.
Vetting: Fees and Charges
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason the fee charged by the Criminal Records Bureau for a Criminal Records Bureau check has been increased; and what the percentage increase in fees has been. [53193]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 28 April 2011]: The increase in the cost of an Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check is directly linked to the Government's decision to scale back the Vetting and Barring scheme (VBS) to more common sense levels, which has resulted in the cancellation of the requirement to register with the VBS. This fee increase will directly fund the administration costs of the retained elements of the Scheme, such as the operation of the barring function operated by the Independent Safeguarding Authority.
The fee was increased by £8, representing an increase of approximately 22% but is significantly lower than the intended VBS registration fee of £64.
Vetting: Young People
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons aged under 18 years have had Criminal Records Bureau checks in each year since 2008-09. [53496]
Lynne Featherstone: The number of certificates issued by the Criminal Records Bureau to an applicant aged under-18 years of age at the date of application in each financial year since 2008-09 can be found in the following table. Please note that the figures shown represent the number of certificates issued and not the number of applicants as an individual may have been issued with more than one certificate.
| Financial year | Total certificate volumes | Certificate volumes issued to those aged under-18 |
Written Questions
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many parliamentary questions for written answer her Department took longer than 10 days to answer in each of the last three years. [53511]
3 May 2011 : Column 661W
Damian Green: On 11 March 2011, the Procedure Committee published a memorandum submitted by the Leader of the House of Commons, my right hon. Friend the Member for North West Hampshire (Sir George Young), giving the statistics for all written parliamentary questions in the 2009-10 session. This memorandum stated that the Home Office took longer than 10 days to answer 345 out of 1,600 (21.6%) ordinary written questions during that session. 55 out of 542 questions (10.1%) for answer on a named day took longer than 10 days to answer.
In the current session to end-March 2011, the Home Office (including the Government Equalities Office) has taken longer than 10 days to answer 351 out of 2,415 (14.5%) ordinary written questions and 146 out of 875 (16.7%) named day questions.
Detailed information of this type is not available for questions asked in earlier sessions.
Scotland
Departmental Buildings
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the (a) name and (b) address is of each building owned by his Department; and what the estimated monetary value is of each such building. [53801]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not own any buildings.
Departmental Work Experience
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice his Department provides to those wishing to (a) work as an intern, (b) undertake a work experience placement and (c) work as a volunteer in his Department. [52803]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not issue any general advice to those wishing to work as an intern, undertake a work experience placement, or work as a volunteer in this Department. As a very small Department of only 57 people, the scope for such placements is limited. Any request for a placement is dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
Employment Schemes
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the awarding of Scottish contracts to private companies as part of the Work programme. [52733]
David Mundell: The Secretary of State for Scotland has discussed the outcome of the Work programme contracting process with Work and Pensions ministerial colleagues on several occasions in recent weeks.
Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions before the awarding of Work programme contracts covering Scotland. [53302]
3 May 2011 : Column 662W
David Mundell: Over the past year, the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have had numerous discussions related to the Work programme with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions.
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Scottish voluntary sector to discuss Work programme contracts; and what the outcome was of those discussions. [53931]
Michael Moore: I discussed the Work programme with representatives of the Scottish voluntary sector at a meeting with key stakeholders on Thursday 7 April. I invited the Minister of State for Employment, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), to address that meeting and he encouraged Work programme providers, who were also in attendance, to engage effectively with the voluntary sector in Scotland in the delivery of the programme.
Wales
Departmental Work Experience
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice her Department provides to those wishing to (a) work as an intern, (b) undertake a work experience placement and (c) work as a volunteer in her Department. [52820]
Mr David Jones: The Wales Office does not issue any general advice to those wishing to work as an intern, undertake a work experience placement, or, work as a volunteer in this department. As a very small Department of only 62 people, the scope for such placements is limited. Any such request is therefore dealt with on a case by case basis.
Prime Minister
Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations Summit
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Prime Minister whether he plans to attend the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations summit in June 2011. [52702]
The Prime Minister: I am pleased that the Government are hosting the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations summit this June. This is an important moment for the international community to come together to help GAVI meet its ambitious plans to vaccinate 250 million children by 2015. For security reasons, my engagements are announced as and when appropriate.
Nuclear Power: National Policy Statements
Mr Sanders: To ask the Prime Minister with reference to page 17 of the Coalition Agreement, whether the abstentions on any vote on a national planning statement on nuclear power by Liberal Democrat hon. Members include such hon. Members who are serving as Ministers of the Crown. [53720]
3 May 2011 : Column 663W
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to page 17 of the coalition agreement.
Prince William: Marriage
Mr MacShane: To ask the Prime Minister whether his Office was consulted on the issue of invitations to the wedding of HRH Prince William and Catherine Middleton. [53755]
The Prime Minister: I refer the right hon. Member to the press briefing given by official spokesperson on 26 April 2011. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website
http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/press-briefings/2011/04/morning-press-briefing-from-26-april-2011-63311
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of his Department's performance against objectives for efficiency savings in respect of affordable housing in 2009-10. [51765]
Andrew Stunell: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, my right hon. Friend the Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander), to my hon. Friend the Member for Southport (John Pugh) on 15 November 2010, Official Report, column 615-16W, which referred to a more specific and innovative approach to efficiency and reform across the public sector. As a result of this Departments were no longer required to report against the previous Government's efficiency targets.
That notwithstanding, at the comprehensive spending review 2007, the Department was set a target to achieve £887 million value for money savings by 2010-11, made up of £734 million savings in affordable housing, £110 million in Fire and Rescue, and £43 million in administration. Provisional figures indicate that only £128 million of affordable housing savings were actually delivered.
Audit Commission
Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government at which restaurants in London meals have been paid for using public funds by the Audit Commission in the last 18 months. [51977]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
For the interests of clarity, the meal with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury was under the last Administration.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 3 May 2010:
Your Parliamentary Question outlined above has been passed to me to reply.
Audit Commission staff regularly stay overnight in London while attending meetings at the Commission's Millbank office, or
3 May 2011 : Column 664W
meeting with clients, including other inspectorates, government departments and representative bodies, in the London area. The cost of evening meals are incorporated into .the hotel accommodation invoices and we are unable to extract this information without incurring disproportionate costs. We are able to identify a list of payments made to London restaurants where groups of staff have eaten outside of the hotel or where hospitality has been provided to other inspectorates and government departments and the Government Procurement Card has been used.
| Restaurant | Occasion | Total (£) |
Brighton and Hove: Funding
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many ring-fenced grants provided by his Department were available for Brighton and Hove city council to claim in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10 and (d) 2010-11; how much was available in such grants; how many such grants were made; and how much was awarded in such grants; [51844]
(2) how many ring-fenced grants provided by his Department are available for Brighton and Hove city council to claim in 2011-12; how much is available in such grants; how many such grants have been made; and how much is to be awarded in such grants. [51848]
Robert Neill: A summary of the ring-fenced specific revenue and capital grants provided to Brighton and Hove city council by the Department for Communities and Local Government between 2007-08 and 2010-11 is provided in the following table. The amounts allocated were paid in full:
| £ million | ||||
|
|
2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
3 May 2011 : Column 665W
From 2011-12 the Government have ended the ring-fencing of grants, except for simplified school grants and a new public health grant from 2013-14. My Department has no ring-fenced grants in 2011-12.
For the avoidance of doubt, this table only illustrates ring-fenced grants. It does not include specific grants which have continued in a non-ringfenced form, nor grants which have been rolled into formula grant.
Community Development: Finance
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the budget was of his Department and its predecessors for supporting communities in each of the last 10 years; and what estimate he has made of this budget in each of the next five years. [53768]
Andrew Stunell: There are a number of different budgets within the Department that either entirely or in part contribute towards supporting communities in one form or another. These include the payments to local government through formula grant, targeted grant programmes paid to the voluntary and community sector, such as community empowerment, and funding provided for regeneration such as the new deal for communities programme. It would not be possible for the Department to identify the proportion of these funds paid out per year, or estimate how much will be paid out in the future directly to support communities without disproportionate cost.
Construction: Standards
Mr Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many meetings his Department has had with representatives of TrustMark in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [52821]
Andrew Stunell: The Department has had infrequent meetings directly with TrustMark representatives over the last five years, and has been present at a large number of meetings where TrustMark representatives have also been present. However information on these is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Fire Services: Pensions
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what arrangements are in place to ensure that the proposed changes to the Firefighters Pension Scheme are sustainable and progressive; [52242]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effects of the proposed changes to the Firefighters Pension Scheme on part-time members of staff who are members of the scheme; [52245]
(3) whether he has carried out an impact assessment on the proposed change to the Firefighters Pension Scheme; and what his estimate is of the change in the opt-out rate resulting from implementation of the changes. [52254]
3 May 2011 : Column 666W
Robert Neill: At the spending review the Government announced changes to the level of employee contribution rates which would lead to total savings of £2.8 billion a year by 2014-15, to be phased in from April 2012. Discussions about how this will be implemented are ongoing with unions in the context of wider ranging pension discussions. The Government will put forward proposals in due course, and will then begin formal consultation on the necessary changes to scheme regulations.
The Government are committed to protecting low earners and ensuring changes are both sustainable and progressive.
The Treasury published an estimate of likely opt-out rates at the spending review:
http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_policycostings.pdf
This estimate has been scrutinised by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, and will be reviewed when the Government put forward final designs.
Housing Benefit
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of (a) local authorities and (b) registered social landlords who will amend their allocation procedures in 2011-12 in order to enable tenants to downsize to avoid housing benefits reductions for under-occupation of their home. [53740]
Grant Shapps: Local authorities and social landlords should already be helping social tenants who wish to move to smaller properties, and many do so. Provisions in the Localism Bill will make it easier for local authorities to give priority to existing tenants wishing to move.
We have also established an action team based in the Chartered Institute of Housing to support local authorities and housing associations to promote moves by under-occupiers, and this will include ensuring their allocation policies are aligned with this objective.
Housing: Construction
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanisms are in place to ensure communication and coordination between communities on house-building strategies. [50467]
Greg Clark: Local councils are currently required to consult each other when they are preparing local plans and they are required to demonstrate that their local plans are deliverable. This is an important part of the local plan testing and examination process. Authorities and key partners are required to engage in a timely and effective two way discussion on deliverability as part of this process. Where authorities cannot demonstrate that their plans are deliverable they will not be found sound and cannot be adopted.
Housing: Older People
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the report of the Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation. [52749]
3 May 2011 : Column 667W
Andrew Stunell: The Housing our Ageing Population Panel report was commissioned by the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department of Health to look at the future of housing for older people. The report was published in December 2009 and sets out a series of case studies from Britain and Europe demonstrating best practice and innovation in housing designed for older people. It also makes a number of recommendations for all partners involved in the provision of housing for older people, including central and local government.
It is our hope that others involved in the design and supply of housing for older people will take inspiration from the case studies in the report.
Government continue to work with industry to explore ways in which standards, including the Building Regulations, can be simplified to reduce overlap and contradiction. We will consider the planning issues raised in the report as we progress with the National Planning Policy Framework.
Local Government Services
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has for the future of statutory duties on local authorities concerning disabled children, young people, their families and carers; and if he will take steps to ensure that any changes to such statutory duties are subject to a (a) formal consultation and (b) full impact assessment. [51766]
Robert Neill: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole (Annette Brooke) by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles) on 4 April, Official Report, column 739. The Government are looking to remove unnecessary, old and outdated statutory burdens imposed on local councils from Whitehall. It is not aimed at removing those which protect vital frontline services or the vulnerable. Until now, there has been no comprehensive list of the legal duties placed on councils. To remedy this, the Government agreed with the Local Government Association (the national body representing councils) that we should compile such a list so that everyone is clear what legal obligations local councils have and check whether the duties are still relevant.
There is no implication that any particular duty on the list is being considered for removal, and there is certainly no intention to remove the duties on councils with respect to support for disabled children and children with special educational needs.
The review is as much about ensuring vital duties are retained as it is about removing unnecessary burdens. Any changes to statutory duties which come about as a result of the review will be properly considered and consulted on where necessary.
Local Government: Pensions
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account was taken of planned increases in employees' contributions to the Local Government Pension Scheme in the local authority grant settlement for (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15; and if he will make a statement. [52715]
3 May 2011 : Column 668W
Robert Neill: Decisions about the overall level of Government grant to local government are taken in spending reviews.
The local government settlement in the 2010 spending review was determined in the context of the overall level of affordable public spending, consistent with the Government's aim of tackling the fiscal deficit. It took into account a wide range of factors which will affect local authority budgets over the period.
The Government announced at the spending review that they accepted the view of the Independent Public Service Pensions-Commission that there is a clear rationale for public servants to make a greater contribution if their pensions are to remain fair to taxpayers and employees, and affordable for the country.
The cost of the Local Government Pension Scheme to taxpayers has risen from £1.5 billion in 1997-98 to £5.8 billion in 2009 -10. In this context, it is right and fair to take steps to protect local taxpayers from the cost of further increases.
Markets
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to assist the development of open air markets. [53678]
Andrew Stunell: There are over 1,000 retail markets in the UK, which bring significant economic, social and environmental benefits. Markets can be an important part of the strong retail mix that town centres need to attract shoppers and provide consumer choice. Markets provide job opportunities and a place for people to meet. They can provide identities for local communities, strengthening tourism and promoting healthy eating and local specialities. Decisions on the management of markets are for local authorities to make.
Open air markets (but not car boot sales) are covered in the remit of the Working Group on Retail Markets that my Department has responsibility for. The working group includes representatives from Government Departments that have an interest in markets, the markets industry—including local authority, privately run, social enterprise and farmers’ markets—and the Local Government Association markets champion. The industry has recently produced a range of publications on good practice, management models and the role of markets within the local community. Priorities for the working group are to work with the industry and the association to enable markets to continue at a challenging time when local authorities are under pressure, and to encourage new entrepreneurs to become market traders.
Non-Domestic Rates: Milton Keynes
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many businesses in Milton Keynes were (a) eligible for and (b) received small business rate relief in the last year for which figures are available. [51928]
Robert Neill:
Milton Keynes council reported on their National non-domestic rates (NNDR1) budget form that 1,048 hereditaments were in receipt of a discount from the small business rate relief scheme as at
3 May 2011 : Column 669W
31 December 2009, A further 284 hereditaments were only paying the small business rate multiplier without being granted a discount. Information on numbers of businesses eligible for the relief is not held centrally.
The Government are taking steps through the Localism Bill to help automate the take-up of small business rate relief.
Non-Domestic Rates: St Albans
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many businesses in St Albans constituency were (a) eligible for and (b) received small business rate relief in the last year for which figures are available. [52120]
Robert Neill: Information is not collected at constituency level. However St Albans city and district council reported on their national non-domestic rates (NNDR1) budget form that 593 hereditaments were in receipt of a discount from the small business rate relief scheme as at 31 December 2009. A further 156 hereditaments were paying only the small business rate multiplier without being granted a discount. Information on numbers of businesses eligible for the relief is not held centrally.
The Government are taking steps through the Localism Bill to help automate the take-up of small business rate relief.
Northern Rock: Newcastle
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has received any representations on (a) the purchase by Newcastle City Council of the Northern Rock Tower and (b) the effect of that purchase on the market for office space in Newcastle upon Tyne. [51498]
Greg Clark: The Department for Communities and Local Government has received no representations on this purchase.
Private Rented Housing: Regulation
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the exemption from new regulations for small businesses announced in the 2011 Budget will apply to private sector landlords. [51787]
Andrew Stunell: Where a private landlord falls within the definition of a micro business—that is, a business employing less than 10 people—our current expectation is that the exemption from new regulations will apply. However, as I outlined in my answer of 28 March 2011, Official Report, column 8W, the Government do not have plans to introduce greater regulation into the sector as a whole.
Regional Planning and Development
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on local development frameworks following the abolition of regional spatial strategies; [50365]
3 May 2011 : Column 670W
(2) what (a) transitional arrangements and (b) guidance will be available to local authorities following the abolition of regional spatial strategies; [50371]
(3) what steps he has taken to provide (a) transitional arrangements and (b) guidance on the development of local development frameworks following the abolition of regional spatial strategies. [50724]
Greg Clark: The coalition agreement clearly set out the Government’s intention to abolish regional strategies and return democratic decision making powers on housing and planning to local councils.
The chief planner has written to all local authorities making clear that pending abolition of regional strategies all planning decisions must be made in accordance with the ‘development plan’, including regional strategies, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The Government’s intention to abolish regional strategies is a material consideration.
Local planning authorities should press ahead without delay in preparing up-to-date development plans and should use that opportunity to be proactive in driving and supporting the growth the country needs.
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department is providing to local authorities on consideration of renewable energy proposals following the abolition of regional spatial strategies. [50367]
Greg Clark: Policy for planning and renewable energy is set out in Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 22.
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) if he will take steps to ensure that all areas formerly covered by regional spatial strategies are included in local development frameworks; [50664]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the extent of areas formerly covered by regional spatial strategies which are not covered by proposals for local development frameworks. [50665]
Greg Clark: Local planning authorities should continue to develop local development framework core strategies and other development plan documents, reflecting local people's aspirations and decisions on important issues such as climate change, housing and economic development, having regard to national policy.
National policy is set out in the existing Planning Policy Statements, Planning Policy Guidance, Minerals Policy Statements and Minerals Policy Guidance and other documents including circulars.
It is for local planning authorities to decide if they want to amend their plans, or produce additional plans, to address any issues in regional strategies not already covered in their plans.
Vacant Land: Property Development
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to paragraph 2.21 of The Plan for Growth, March 2011, what assessment he has made of the effect of the removal of targets for levels of development on previously developed land on future levels of development on greenfield sites. [52137]
3 May 2011 : Column 671W
Robert Neill: The Government will, through the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), localise choice about the use of previously developed land by removing the national target for the amount of housing development that should take place on previously developed land, and at the same time provide for local communities to be able to identify and protect green space of importance.
We will consult on the draft National Planning Policy Framework in the summer. A draft impact assessment will be published for consultation alongside the National Planning Policy Framework.
Cabinet Office
Civil Servants: Pensions
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what meetings he has had with employee representatives from My Civil Service Pension prior to his announcement of 12 April 2011. [53642]
Mr Maude: I have met with PCS Trade Union representatives to talk about My Civil Service Pension on 31 March 2011. My officials (including Phil Bartlett, chief executive of MyCSP), have held regular meetings with the Trade Unions, on:
23 September 2010
14 December 2010
17 January 2011
9 March 2011
24 March 2011
7 April 2011
19 April 2011
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he plans to provide further information on proposed changes to the ownership structure of My Civil Service Pension. [53643]
Mr Maude:
On 12 April I announced that we are working to support the management and employees of
3 May 2011 : Column 672W
My Civil Service Pension to create a mutual joint venture. Since then considerable work has been taken forward and following an extensive programme of engagement with employees over the next few months, I will provide further information on the ownership structure of My Civil Service Pension.
Departmental Manpower
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 20 July 2009, Official Report, column 1040W, on departmental personnel, how many staff in his Department and its non-departmental public bodies have no post; and how many such staff have been classified as such for at least (a) three months, (b) six months and (c) 12 months. [51808]
Mr Maude: As at 31 March 2011, Cabinet Office and its non-departmental public bodies had 10 staff who were without permanent roles:
Five have been classified as such for between three and six months; and
Five have been classified as such for between six and 12 months.
All staff without permanent roles are assigned to critical projects or interim work while a suitable permanent role is identified.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the public purse of military action in Afghanistan since 2001. [53192]
Dr Fox [holding answer 28 April 2011]: The annual audited figures for the costs of operations in Afghanistan since financial year 2001-02 are shown in the following table:
| Operations in Afghanistan | ||||||||||
| £ million | ||||||||||
|
|
2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | Total spend to date |
The estimated costs of operations in Afghanistan for financial year 2010-11 are shown in the following table:
| Operations in Afghanistan | |
|
|
2010-11 Estimate (£ million) |
Armed Forces: Health Services
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to provide assistance for armed forces personnel affected by (a) post traumatic stress and (b) physical trauma. [53319]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) provides a comprehensive programme of medical support for service personnel, and the strategic defence and security review included a commitment to maintain and further develop the medical support provided by the Defence Medical Services and the NHS.
We train armed forces personnel and their commanders about the need to recognise mental health disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, and how to seek help if necessary. In Afghanistan, we deploy uniformed
3 May 2011 : Column 673W
mental health nurses to provide assessment and treatment, and have successfully introduced an informal peer-led programme known as TRiM (Trauma Risk Management). In the UK, we provide community-based mental health care, both at local unit level and through our 15 military Departments of Community Mental Health across the UK (plus centres overseas), which provide out-patient treatment. In-patient care, when necessary, is provided in specialised psychiatric units under contract with the NHS. We are working with the Department of Health to enhance existing healthcare services by implementing recommendations made by my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison) in his “Fighting Fit” report into the health of our armed forces.
For operational trauma casualties in Afghanistan, those whose injuries are too serious to be treated at the Camp Bastion Field Hospital are aeromedically evacuated back to the UK, where they will usually be admitted to the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Edgbaston, Birmingham. This brand-new NHS hospital is at the leading edge in the medical care of serious polytrauma, as commonly sustained by our operational casualties. We can be sure that by admitting them to that hospital they will have immediate access to some of the best clinical specialists and medical equipment available in the UK today.
3 May 2011 : Column 674W
Post-hospital rehabilitation and ongoing treatment is also available through a range of specialist MOD facilities, including 15 Regional Rehabilitation Units around the UK and overseas, which offer a range of rehabilitation and physiotherapy to those requiring it. For those needing the most specialist treatment, such as amputees, the dedicated Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court in Surrey provides a first-rate facility on an in-patient basis to service personnel from all parts of the UK.