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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 4 May 2011
Attorney-General
Departmental Travel
Mr Godsiff: To ask the Attorney-General how many first class rail journeys were undertaken by staff in his Department between April 2010 and April 2011; and what the total cost was of such journeys. [53163]
Departmental Work Experience
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Attorney-General what advice the Law Officers' Departments provides to those wishing to (a) work as an intern, (b) undertake a work experience placement and (c) work as a volunteer in those Departments. [52812]
The Solicitor-General: The Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol), Attorney-General's Office (AGO) and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) do not currently operate any general intern, voluntary or work experience placement schemes. Anyone making inquiries about such types of working is advised of this position and would be routinely directed to the civil service website:
www.civilservice.gov.uk
where civil service jobs are advertised.
HMCPSI does use some volunteers as lay inspectors but these would be recruited directly from charitable organisations with links to the criminal justice system.
TSol also recruits some legal trainees via the Government Legal Service legal trainee scheme and at any given time has about 18 people on the scheme. In advance of commencing their training contracts, TSol also offers work experience to the trainees so that they have some familiarity with the organisation and the wider GLS.
In the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) work experience placements and volunteer work are devolved and thus managed by individual CPS areas. Each area advises applicants according to their own local arrangements.
The CPS does not have an intern scheme, but refers those wishing to work as interns to websites with details of Government internship schemes.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) currently operates an internship scheme in conjunction with the University of Bath's BSc Business Administration and MSc Advanced Management Practice programmes. Students is recruited through an advertisement at the university and by holding competency based interviews.
When appropriate the SFO also provides some work experience and work shadowing placements, however due to operational constraints the SFO is unable to provide resources to accede to every request received.
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Human Trafficking
Jack Dromey: To ask the Attorney-General when he expects the Crown Prosecution Service to publish its public policy statement on the prosecution of cases involving human trafficking. [53331]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) expects to publish its public policy statement on the prosecution of cases involving human trafficking by the end of June.
A public consultation on the draft public policy statement was held last year to seek a wide range of views on how the CPS handles cases involving victims of human trafficking offences. Each individual response has been reviewed and a summary of the responses received will be published at the same time as the public policy statement.
House of Commons Commission
Serjeant at Arms Directorate
Keith Vaz: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many members of the Serjeant at Arms Directorate there are in each payband. [53135]
John Thurso: At 1 April 2011, the full-time equivalent (FTE) staff in post were:
| Pay band | Staff numbers (full-time equivalent) |
Leader of the House
Divisions
Mr Amess: To ask the Leader of the House how many divisions in the House of Commons took place after midnight in each session since 1980-81. [53183]
Sir George Young: The Government do not keep a record of the times of divisions in the House of Commons. This information is however a matter of public record.
Oral Questions
Margot James: To ask the Leader of the House if he will reverse his decision to reduce the time allocation for question time for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to 45 minutes. [52995]
Sir George Young: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 28 April 2011, Official Report, columns 347-48, to my hon. Friend the Member for Thirsk and Malton (Miss McIntosh).
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Following a request from the official Opposition, the Government increased the time allocation for questions for oral answer to the Deputy Prime Minister. As a consequence of the pressures on the time available for oral questions, it was necessary for changes to be made to the questions rota.
I have no current plans to reverse this decision, but it will be kept under review.
Prime Minister
Departmental Responsibilities: Older People
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Minister for Older People. [53829]
The Prime Minister: The Minister of State, Department of Health, the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Paul Burstow) and the Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions, the hon. Member for Thornbury and Yate (Steve Webb), are responsible for a wide range of issues affecting older people. They jointly chair the UK Advisory Forum on Ageing.
Wales
Departmental Buildings
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the (a) name and (b) address is of each building owned by her Department; and what the estimated monetary value is of each such building. [53807]
Mr David Jones: The Wales Office does not own any property. The Department occupies a civil estate building in central London, and rents office accommodation in Cardiff.
Scotland
Oil and Gas: Supplementary Charge
4. Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effect on Scotland of the change to the supplementary charge on profits on oil and gas. [53557]
Michael Moore: I have had discussions with many colleagues, including Treasury Ministers, Energy Ministers and senior representatives of the oil industry. As a result of the high oil prices, UK oil and gas production is more profitable. Therefore, it is fair for these companies to contribute more and this is why the Government increased the supplementary charge on profits from UK oil and gas production as part of the fair fuel stabiliser.
Work Programme
10. Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the recent contracts awarded for the Work programme in Scotland. [53565]
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Michael Moore: Over the past year, I have had numerous discussions with ministerial colleagues on the development of the Work programme. The Government are encouraging prime contractors to engage voluntary and private sector organisations in the delivery of the Work programme.
Universal Credit
13. Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the implementation in Scotland of the Government's proposals for universal credit. [53568]
David Mundell: The Secretary of State for Scotland and I are in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on a range of issues concerning implementation of the universal credit in Scotland.
Forests
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister on forestry policy. [53927]
David Mundell: The Secretary of State and I have had no such discussions. Forestry policy in Great Britain is normally discussed in correspondence between the Forestry Ministers for England, Scotland and Wales.
Roads
Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had on the improvement of cross-border roads serving Hexham and Berwick-upon-Tweed. [53561]
David Mundell: Improvements to roads in Scotland are a devolved matter. Transport Scotland is responsible for the management and maintenance of the trunk road network in Scotland. The Department for Transport and the Highways Agency consult directly with Transport Scotland and other bodies on any improvements of motorways and trunk roads in England, including cross-border roads.
Communities and Local Government
Business Premises: Rents
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will assess the effects on new businesses of high commercial rents; and if he will make a statement. [53638]
Robert Neill [holding answer 3 May 2011]:High commercial rents would make it more difficult to set up new businesses. Commercial rents are set in the market, and high rents would reflect either strong local competition for premises or a local shortage of suitable business property.
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Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what provision is made in his Department’s comprehensive spending review spending settlement for tax increment financing projects. [53992]
Robert Neill: As part of the Local Government Resource Review we are considering how to deliver tax increment financing proposals against a context of greater retention of business rate revenues. The financing of capital investment under such schemes is from the increase in the business rate yield.
Departmental Work Experience
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 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. [52805]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government participates in the Cabinet Office internship and work placement programmes and runs an internship programme with Greenwich university. All enquiries are directed to the Cabinet Office website.
Enterprise Zones
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how often he expects to evaluate the success of enterprise zones; and what performance measure he plans to use for such evaluations. [52723]
Robert Neill: We will be working closely with all of the enterprise zones that are established to ensure that they can all benefit from the experience of the most successful.
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to take steps to ensure that businesses located in enterprise zones do not substitute capital inputs for labour. [52731]
Robert Neill: Businesses in enterprise zones will benefit from business rate discounts. It will be for businesses, rather than Government, to decide how best to utilise this extra spending capacity.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has identified potential high value investors that he plans to attract to enterprise zones. [52797]
Robert Neill: The new local enterprise partnerships are at the heart of our commitment to establish the 21 enterprise zones across the UK. As business-led partnerships with a goal of driving sustainable economic growth across local economic areas, local enterprise partnerships are ideally placed to drive enterprise zones forward.
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Local enterprise partnerships will develop and implement enterprise zones in their areas, attracting those businesses which they consider will contribute most to local economic growth.
Enterprise Zones: Broadband
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what provision he has made for funding the development of superfast broadband in the proposed enterprise zones. [53132]
Robert Neill: As specific locations for enterprise zones are put forward, we will consider the broadband networks available in these areas and then decide the most appropriate form of support for market-led roll-out, including, if necessary, public funding.
Enterprise Zones: Finance
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Blackpool South (Mr Marsden) of 1 April 2011, Official Report, column 530W, on enterprise zones: finance, (1) how many businesses he estimates will save between (a) £0 and £9,999, (b) £10,000 and £49,999, (c) £50,000 and £99,999, (d) £100,000 and £149,999, (e) £150,000 and £199,999, (f) £200,000 and £249,999 and (g) £250,000 and £275,000 in business rates discounts in each enterprise zone announced in Budget 2011 in each year to 2015-16; [53122]
(2) how many businesses he expects will save the maximum of £275,000 over five years in each enterprise zone announced in the 2011 Budget. [53123]
Robert Neill: The Government have put forward a range of measures to develop enterprise zones and make them attractive places to do business. This includes a business rate discount of up to 100% for five years, subject to state aid limits.
The level of discount available will be broadly dependant upon the size and type of business. It will be up to the Local Enterprise Partnerships to identify which type of business they need to attract to promote local growth and this will vary by area.
Fire Services
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department’s Corporate Procurement Division has issued to fire authorities in the last 12 months. [54085]
Robert Neill: The Department’s Corporate Procurement Division has issued no guidance to fire authorities in the last 12 months.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department has issued to fire authorities on the ethical implications of (a) domestic and (b) overseas contracts held by companies bidding for contracts with the Fire and Rescue Service in the last 12 months. [54086]
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Robert Neill: The Department has issued no guidance on the ethical implications of (a) domestic and (b) overseas contracts held by companies bidding for contracts with the Fire and Rescue Service to fire authorities in the last 12 months.
Fire Services: Private Sector
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many former Chief Fire Officers (CFO) took up posts in the private sector in each of the last 10 years for which information is available; and what the average time was in each such year between a CFO leaving the public service and taking up a post in the private sector. [54088]
Robert Neill: This information is not held centrally.
Housing: Planning
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) whether he has considered the merits of making the completion of housing needs assessments for all age groups and across all tenures a mandatory requirement for local authorities when drawing up a neighbourhood plan; [52996]
(2) what mechanism he plans to put in place to ensure that neighbourhood forums and parish councils have access to adequate evidence on levels of local housing need across all tenures and age groups to draw up a neighbourhood plan that accurately reflects local need. [52997]
Greg Clark: Neighbourhood development plans will need to be in general conformity with strategic policies in the local development plan, which will have been informed by evidence on local housing need and tested at an independent examination. This evidence will be available to neighbourhood forums and parish councils in drawing up neighbourhood development plans.
Mobile Homes
Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the general competency arrangements to be introduced under the provisions of the Localism Bill will allow local authorities to introduce a local requirement for owners of residential park homes to meet fit and proper person criteria. [53021]
Grant Shapps: The general competency power proposed in the Localism Bill will not allow local authorities to introduce a local requirement for owners of residential park home sites to meet fit and proper criteria. The proposed power does not give an authority any power beyond the powers of an ordinary individual—and individuals do not have licensing or other regulatory powers.
I am aware of the problems many park home residents suffer at the hands of unscrupulous site owners, and the difficulties they often encounter in enforcing their rights. This is why, on 30 April, I transferred dispute resolution under the Mobile Homes Act 1983 from county courts to residential property tribunals, to provide a cheaper
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and less formal means for residents to enforce their rights. I also plan to consult shortly on improving the buying and selling process for park homes, to prevent the unreasonable blocking of residents' sales. I also plan, at the same time, to consult on a range of targeted measures to improve the site licensing regime that applies to park home sites to give local authorities better tools and resources to more effectively protect the health, safety and welfare of residents.
Planning
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to implement further planning reforms in addition to those within enterprise zones as part of the Government's plan for growth. [52726]
Greg Clark: The Plan for Growth sets out a range of planning reforms that the Government intend to implement, alongside the simplified planning regime proposed for Enterprise Zones.
Planning: Sustainable Development
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department plans to publish a definition of sustainable development prior to the commencement of the National Planning Policy Framework consultation. [52994]
Robert Neill: The approach to defining sustainable development for planning purposes will be set out in the draft National Planning Policy Framework, to be published for consultation in the summer.
Social Rented Housing: Greater London
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households were on waiting lists for housing in each London borough in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [53939]
Grant Shapps: The number of households registered on social housing waiting lists in each local authority, as at 1 April each year is published on the Department for Communities and Local Government website in Table 600. The link for this table is as follows:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/1783262.xls
Treasury
Business: Loans
Mr Denham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much and what proportion of the total lending and additional lending to businesses for 2011 above the level in 2010 set out in the Project Merlin agreement is to be provided by each financial institution subject to that agreement; and how much such lending he estimates is attributable to (a) leasing and borrowing on the asset base, (b) invoice financing, (c) loans, (d) intra-group finance and (e) actual drawn down overdraft balances (i) in total and (ii) for each institution; [54005]
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(2) how much and what proportion of the total lending and additional lending to businesses for 2011 above the level in 2010 set out in the Project Merlin agreement is to be provided by each financial institution subject to that agreement in respect of (a) actual overdraft drawn balances and (b) an increase in overdraft limit approvals for (i) all businesses and (ii) small and medium-sized enterprises; [54006]
(3) how much and what proportion of the total lending and additional lending for 2011 above the level in 2010 set out in the Project Merlin agreement that is to be provided by each financial institution is a result of approved overdraft limits where it has been indicated to business that the institution was willing to increase the approved overdraft limit prior to the business making an application. [54007]
Mr Hoban: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 3 May 2011, Official Report, column 678W.
Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to publish the full design document for the Equitable Life compensation scheme. [54259]
Mr Hoban: The Equitable Life Payment Scheme design document will be laid before Parliament in the near future. The Treasury is in the process of finalising the detail of the Scheme design with its legal and actuarial advisers.
Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the review of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme to begin. [53615]
Mr Hoban: The operation and governance of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) falls within the remit of the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The FSA has commenced a review of the funding model of the FSCS. It will proceed to a formal consultation once discussions on European directives affecting compensation arrangements have been concluded and the Government’s policy on the future role of the FSCS in the context of reform of the regulatory architecture for financial services has been settled.
Private Finance Initiative
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to report to Parliament his assessment of the amount of tax revenue forgone by the Government as a result of the tax position of payments under private finance initiative contracts to companies based outside the UK. [53656]
Danny Alexander: HM Treasury has issued guidance to Departments which emphasises that Departments should base procurement decisions on the need to secure value for money, independent of any tax advantages which may arise from a bid.
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The Government are unable to comment on individual companies' tax arrangements. Any information relating to UK tax liabilities is held by HMRC on a confidential basis and therefore the requested information cannot be provided.
Stocks and Shares
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to bring forward proposals to protect the public and investors from irregularities concerning the issuing of asset-backed commercial paper third party notes. [52894]
Mr Hoban: The UK has worked closely with international partners to develop new regulation that puts the markets for asset-backed securities on a sounder footing. For example, new standards of transparency and higher capital requirements were proposed by the Basel Committee and have now been implemented across Europe through the Capital Requirements Directive.
In addition, the Treasury, Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority are working with the UK securitisation industry to develop more consistent standards for UK securitisations.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Australia and New Zealand: Emigration
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK nationals took up residence in (a) Australia and (b) New Zealand in each of the last five years. [53935]
Mr Jeremy Browne: British nationals resident overseas are not obliged to inform our embassies or consulates of their presence although we actively encourage them to do so.
According to the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship, the number of UK nationals who have taken up residence in Australia in the last five years are:
|
|
Number |
According to the New Zealand Immigration Service, Department of Labour the number of UK nationals with approved residence in the last five years are:
|
|
Number |
Bahrain: Politics and Government
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Bahrain. [53911]
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Alistair Burt: We remain concerned at events in Bahrain. Although the immediate situation appears calmer, there continue to be many credible reports of human rights abuses. We urge the Government of Bahrain to meet all its human rights obligations and uphold political freedoms, equal access to justice and the rule of law. These do not run contrary to security, but are integral to longer term stability. Dialogue is the way to fulfil the aspirations of all Bahrainis. We urge all sides, including opposition groupings, to engage.
Departmental Work Experience
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many students from (a) the UK and (b) Bassetlaw constituency have been offered internships in his Department since 8 May 2010. [53205]
Mr Bellingham: Since 8 May 2010, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London has made 58 offers of internships. 50 of these positions were filled. In order to join the FCO, students must be a British citizen and must normally have been resident in the UK for at least two out of the last 10 years prior to their application. As such, all of the people appointed are from the UK.
The FCO does not collect data from candidates regarding their electoral registration.
Khartoum: Human Rights
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of human rights abuses in response to recent protests in Khartoum. [53306]
Mr Bellingham: Our embassy in Khartoum followed these events closely. We understand that those arrested and detained following protests in Khartoum have now been released. We regularly raise human rights issues with the Government of Sudan, and have made clear that they should ensure the Sudanese people are given the freedom to express their views.
Sri Lanka: Human Rights
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Sri Lankan counterpart on the findings of the report of the UN Secretary-General's Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka; and what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on establishing an independent human rights commission. [53993]
Alistair Burt: During my meeting with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister on 31 March 2011, I encouraged the Sri Lankan Government to engage constructively with the panel. Following publication of the panel's report, our high commission in Colombo attended briefings by the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister. We have used our contact to underline the need for constructive engagement by the Government with the UN to address the serious allegations raised in the panel report.
We have raised with the Sri Lankan Government the importance of having an effective Human Rights
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Commission. We will monitor the work of their newly constituted Commission. We regularly discuss and co-ordinate on effective protection of human rights in Sri Lanka with international partners.
United Nations
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has to contribute to cross-Government co-ordination of operationalisation of the final report of the UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights and Transnational Corporations. [52924]
Mr Bellingham: The UK is a strong supporter of Professor John Ruggie and the work he has done as the UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights and Transnational Corporations. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is working with a range of interested Government Departments in respect of Professor Ruggie’s draft guiding principles on business and human rights which he is due to present to the Human Rights Council in Geneva in June 2011.
Yemen: Politics and Government
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his counterpart in Yemen on the demonstration on 18 April 2011. [53583]
Alistair Burt: I am aware of the further use of lethal force to disperse protestors in Sana’a and Taiz in the period from 17-19 April 2011 resulting in the deaths of several demonstrators and injuries to many others. The use of live rounds and disproportionate force to quell demonstrations is not acceptable. I, along with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and our ambassador in Yemen, have impressed upon senior Yemeni officials the urgent need to respect the right to peaceful protest, to act with restraint and to urgently engage in dialogue to find a lasting political settlement.
Our embassy officials have been in frequent contact with senior members of the Government of Yemen and their Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) and EU counterparts. Regular meetings have been held with members of the official Opposition, civil society and various youth movements, and we continue to monitor the situation.
Intensive political negotiations have been undertaken by the international community during April to help facilitate a lasting agreement between stakeholders in Yemen. A UN envoy, Jamal Benomar, visited Yemen as part of an observation mission. This resulted in the UN Security Council discussing the situation in Yemen for the first time in a closed session on 19 April 2011. Following this, the GCC then brokered a revised transition deal between the ruling party and the official opposition group. I welcome reports that agreement is close and stated my strong support for the proposed settlement in a press release on 25 April 2011. Only through the formal signing of a political transition plan will further violence and continuing instability be avoided.
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Culture, Media and Sport
Apprenticeships
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many apprentices (a) his Department and (b) the arm’s length bodies for which he is responsible employed on the latest date for which information is available. [53280]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: My Department employed five apprentices during 2010. The apprentices were supported during their time with the Department by Key Training who worked with them to gain their Level 2 qualifications.
We do not collate this information for our arm’s length bodies. Accordingly, I have asked their chief executives to write to the hon. Member for Bury South.
Copies of the replies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Arts
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when the Creative Industry Council plans to hold its first meeting; how regularly it plans to meet subsequently; and whether it will be a permanent body. [53277]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: The Creative Industries Council was formed at a round table chaired by myself and the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), on 16 March this year, and will meet officially for the first time on 6 July. It is for the Council itself to decide on the frequency of its meetings, but it may meet every six months in order to keep strategic oversight of the work being done by the sub-groups it is planned to set up. I would expect the Council to continue while it is clear that it is adding value, and therefore has the commitment and active support of its members.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what his policy objective is on widening access for under-represented groups in art and cultural activities; [53313]
(2) what his policy objective is on widening participation in art and cultural activities. [53314]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: Objectives for widening access and participation in the arts are set by Arts Council England. It is integral to the Arts Council mission to get more people attending and taking part in the arts, and that the arts reflect the diversity of contemporary England. The Arts Council's 10-year strategic framework ‘Achieving great art for everyone’:
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/about-us/a-strategic-framework-for-the-arts/
includes the goal “More people experience and are inspired by the arts”. Focusing on long-term collaborative action, this strategic framework will enable the Arts Council to work with partners to create the conditions in which great art can be made, experienced and appreciated by as many people as possible.
Mr Ivan Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has held with the Secretaries of State for
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(a)
Education and
(b)
Business, Innovation and Skills on the education and training needs of the creative industries. [53316]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: The Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my hon. Friend the Member for Wantage (Mr Vaizy) has regular meetings with the Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and I held a round table on 16 March and the Creative Industries Council will have its first meeting in July.
BBC
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Cabinet Office, (b) the BBC Trust and (c) other media organisations on establishing a common good communication council. [53276]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: I have had no discussions with the Cabinet Office, BBC Trust or other media organisations about establishing a common good communication council since that proposal was recommended in the review of Government direct communication and the role of the Central Office of Information last month. However, my officials have been liaising with the Cabinet Office about possible future developments and the scope for the BBC and other broadcasters to explore innovative promotional collaborations with charities and the voluntary sector.
Broadband
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department has set a target for the proportion of the population to have access to high-speed broadband. [53317]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: No specific target has been set. The private sector has announced plans that will provide high-speed broadband access to at least two-thirds of the population of the UK. The Government have allocated £530 million up to 2015 to support broadband rollout in those areas the market will not reach. We intend to use that money to support projects that will provide access to high-speed broadband to as many of the remaining third of the population as possible while ensuring a basic level of access to virtually everybody.
It is our aim that by the end of this Parliament, the UK should boast the best superfast broadband in Europe and be up there with the very best in the world.
Film: Industry
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether any winners of Academy Awards in 2011 received support from his Department in the last three years. [53269]
Mr Jeremy Hunt:
No. Government do not fund film makers directly, however several of the award winners have received support from the national lottery funding administered through the Film Fund managed by the
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UK Film Council (UKFC). For example, the principal Oscar winner, The King's Speech, received £1.02 million of lottery funding. It is important to note the same Film Lottery Fund mechanism used to support these films is now managed by the British Film Institute (BFI).
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether any UK Bafta Award winners in 2011 received support from his Department in the last three years. [53318]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: No, Government do not fund film makers directly; however several of the award winners have received support from the national lottery through the Film Fund managed by the UK Film Council (UKFC). For example, The King's Speech received £1.02 million of lottery funding. Other award nominees such as Made in Dagenham, Another Year and The Arbor also benefited from Film Fund Lottery support. It is important to note the Film Lottery Fund mechanism to support these films is currently being managed by the same team of individuals, now operating within the British Film Institute (BFI).
Tote
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what provisions he has put in place to prevent all or part of the Tote being re-sold shortly after its future is determined; [52105]
(2) what anti-embarrassment clauses he has put in place as part of the process to determine the future of the Tote; [52106]
(3) what weighting is being given to each of the stated criteria in the process to determine the future of the Tote; [52107]
(4) what assessment of the long-term effect on the (a) economy and (b) public purse is being made during the process to resolve the future of the Tote; [52110]
(5) what provision he has put in place to prevent the Tote being sold to an operator that bases its remote gambling platforms offshore; [52111]
(6) what steps he is taking to ensure that the outcome of the process to determine the future of the Tote is in the best interests of the horseracing industry. [52113]
John Penrose: For the time being the details of the process for resolving the future of the Tote remain commercially sensitive. I have already outlined as much as I can at this stage to Parliament, in written statements and Adjournment debates, and I hope to announce more (including the name of any successful bidder) later in the spring in line with the timetable set by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in Budget 2011.
National Lottery
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many lottery terminals there are in England; and how many of these are in supermarket-owned premises. [53194]
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John Penrose [holding answer 28 April 2011]:The hon. Lady’s researchers can find this information in Camelot’s Stakeholder Report 2010, in the ‘Stakeholder engagement’ section, under ‘Retailers’:
http://www.camelotgroup.co.uk/stakeholderreport2010/03_StakeholderEngagementTable.html
NDPBs: Pay
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the total monetary value is of (a) bonus and (b) special payments paid to (i) executive directors and (ii) members of executive teams of each non-departmental public body and agency for which his Department is responsible in the last three financial years for which figures are available; what criteria were used for making such payments; and what proportion of the annual totals of such payments was paid from the public purse. [53112]
John Penrose [holding answer 3 May 2011]: The Department does not collate this information for its arm’s length bodies. Accordingly, I have asked their chief executives to write to the hon. Member.
Copies of the replies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Ofcom
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what fee will be paid to Ofcom for the use of spectrum holdings held by (a) Vodafone, (b) Telefonica and (c) Everything Everywhere in the 2011-12 financial year. [52753]
Mr Vaizey: No fees are payable for the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (“3G”) spectrum auctioned in 2000 which included rights to use to 2021. The total fees payable for other spectrum holdings are £15,618,240 for Vodafone and for Telefonica O2. Everything Everywhere will pay £33,264,000.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when the method for calculating the fees paid by mobile operators to Ofcom for the use of radio spectrum was last revised. [52754]
Mr Vaizey: The method for calculation of fees was established in 1998. The Government’s Direction to Ofcom (20 December 2010) requires Ofcom to revise this to reflect the full market value of the spectrum after the auction for 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum has been completed.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what fee was paid to Ofcom in each financial year between 2007-08 and 2010-11 for the use of 1800 MHz spectrum by (a) Orange and (b) T-Mobile. [52755]
Mr Vaizey: For each year during the stated period Orange and T-Mobile paid £16,632,000 each to Ofcom.
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Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what fee was paid to Ofcom in each financial year between 2007-08 and 2010-11 for the use of 900 MHz spectrum by (a) Vodafone and (b)Telefonica O2. [52756]
Mr Vaizey: For each year during the stated period, Vodafone and Telefonica O2 paid £12,402,720 each to Ofcom.
Olympic Games 2012: Folk Dance
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will discuss with representatives of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic games the inclusion of English traditional folk dance in the London 2012 Olympics opening and closing ceremonies; and if he will make a statement. [53785]
Hugh Robertson: Pursuant to my reply to the hon. Member for Colchester of 13 July 2010, Official Report, column 615W, the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic games (LOCOG) has appointed a world class group of creative experts to develop Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies that will reflect this country's rich and diverse culture and heritage. Where necessary, Ministers at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport meet LOCOG representatives about various London 2012 matters but creative decisions relating to the ceremonies are for LOCOG to take.
Public Holidays
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received on the Government's proposal to move the May day bank holiday. [53312]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: Since the publication of the strategy, on the 4 March, the Department has received a wide range of correspondence relating to this issue from Members of Parliament, tourism organisations and members of the public. All correspondence will be taken into account in the consultation exercise.
UK Film Council
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the cost of closing the UK Film Council. [53275]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: The negotiations affecting the final costs associated with the closure have yet to be fully completed and it would therefore be premature to give an estimate at this point.
Energy and Climate Change
Climate Change: Australia and New Zealand
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Australian and (b) New Zealand government on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. [53913]
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Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change regularly discusses climate change issues with key international partners, including Australia and New Zealand.
Most recently, he took part in discussions with Greg Combet, Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, at the Major Economies Forum in Brussels last week. Earlier in April he met with Martin Ferguson, Australian Minister for Resources and Energy at the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) held in Abu Dhabi where among other issues they discussed the Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage Action Group under the CEM which is jointly led by Australia and the UK.
Electricity: Meters
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many smart meters were installed into domestic properties in each of the last 24 months; how many domestic properties he estimates are without smart meters; and when he expects all domestic properties to have smart meters installed. [53850]
Charles Hendry: I expect the mass roll out of compliant smart meters to be completed in 2019. At present a relatively small number of households are receiving meters with smart functions from their suppliers.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has assessed the merits of deploying a standard smart meter containing uniform technology. [53851]
Charles Hendry: On 30 March 2011, DECC and Ofgem published the response to the consultation on the Smart Metering Prospectus on:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/smart_mtr_imp/smart_mtr_imp.aspx
The response sets out the approach to developing minimum smart meter specifications to deliver interoperability to support the functioning of the competitive market.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what estimate he has made of the cost to (a) energy companies and (b) households of introducing smart meters; [53852]
(2) whether he has undertaken a recent impact assessment of the costs of introducing smart meters. [53855]
Charles Hendry: On 30 March 2011, DECC and Ofgem published the response to the consultation on the Smart Metering Prospectus on:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/smart_mtr_imp/smart_mtr_imp.aspx
This was accompanied by revised impact assessments for the domestic and non-domestic smart meter roll-outs, which include the estimated costs to energy companies and households, as well as estimated benefits.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he last discussed the roll-out of smart meters with representatives from the energy industry. [53853]
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Charles Hendry: I regularly meet representatives of the energy industry to discuss various aspects of the roll-out of smart meters. The most recent formal meeting was 24 January 2011 when I met with a group of senior representatives of the major suppliers and other key stakeholders to discuss the roll out of smart meters, and have another meeting planned later this month.
Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the average cost to energy retailers of supplying and installing a smart (a) gas and (b) electricity meter. [54070]
Charles Hendry: On 30 March 2011, DECC and Ofgem published the response to the consultation on the Smart Metering Prospectus on:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/smart_mtr_imp/smart_mtr_imp.aspx
This was accompanied by revised impact assessments for the domestic and non-domestic smart meter roll-outs, which include estimates of costs of supplying and installing smart gas and electricity meters.
Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure that the introduction of smart metering facilitates a wider choice of tariff structures. [54071]
Charles Hendry: The roll-out of smart meters will facilitate more innovative energy tariffs in a variety of ways, including tariffs which vary by time-of-use. Many more such tariffs will be technically feasible with smart meters. Smart meters will also make it easier for consumers to switch, which over time will reward companies who make new tariff offerings that are attractive to consumers. Ofgem, the energy market regulator, will continue to monitor and regulate energy suppliers in order to promote competition and innovation, and to protect the interests of energy consumers. DECC and Ofgem are working closely together on smart meter roll-out, to ensure that suppliers have appropriate incentives and obligations to deliver smart meters and drive innovation.
Energy: Business
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the accessibility of the Green Deal marketplace to small and medium-sized enterprises. [54061]
Gregory Barker: The Government are committed to ensuring competition in all three customer-facing roles in the value chain: advisers, installers, and providers. The framework is intentionally flexible to enable multiple business models to compete. Chapter 3 of “The Green Deal: a Summary of the Government's Proposals”, published in December 2010, covers this in more detail and is available here:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/legislation/energybill/1010-green-deal-summary-proposals.pdf
Annex 3 of the Green Deal Impact Assessment, also published in December 2010, includes a preliminary assessment of the impact of the Green Deal legislation on small and medium size enterprises. It covers the impact of the proposals on the structure of the market
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and the impact of additional administrative costs on smaller and medium sized enterprises. This assessment is informing the development of secondary legislation. The impact assessment is available here:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/legislation/energybill/1002-energy-bill-2011-ia-green-deal.pdf
Energy: Housing
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of homes that will be brought up to standard under the Green Deal in Swindon. [52860]
Gregory Barker: An estimate of the number of homes that will be brought up to standard under the Green Deal in Swindon has not been made. However, the Green Deal will be on offer to all households (in 2001 there were around 75,000 households in Swindon)(1) and there is no reason to believe that take-up in Swindon will be lower or higher than the national average.
The Green Deal Impact Assessment(2), published alongside the Energy Bill in December 2010, presented illustrative scenarios in which between 7.1 million and 11.5 million measures are installed in homes through the Green Deal and the Energy Company Obligation by the end of 2020 across Great Britain. The maximum feasible potential by 2020 was estimated to be 16.4 million measures. It would be expected that measures would continue to be installed under the Green Deal beyond 2020.
(1) ( )http://www.places.communities.gov.uk/download.aspx?theme =7&geolevel=15&dataset=250&place=324
(2) ( )http://www.decc.gov.uk/publications/basket.aspx?filetype=4& filepath=legislation%2fenergybill%2f1002-energy-bill-201l-ia-green-deal.pdf
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the reduction in carbon emissions from housing stock resulting from the introduction of the Green Deal if (a) 10% (b) 20% (c) 30% (d) 40% (e) 50% (f) 60% (g) 70% (h) 80% (i) 90% and (j) 100% housing stock took up a Green Deal package. [54062]
Gregory Barker: The Green Deal Impact Assessment (IA)(1) published alongside the Energy Bill in December 2010 presented estimates of the “maximum feasible potential” from the residential sector (8.7MtCO2e in 2020, and lifetime savings of 287MtCO2e). The IA also presents illustrative low and high take-up scenarios. These scenarios suggest carbon savings in 2020 of 3.9 and 5.8MtCO2e or lifetime carbon savings of 126 and 193MtCO2e respectively.
Assuming one measure per household, the “maximum feasible potential” could see 16.4 million households receiving a measure, or around 60% of the housing stock. Under the low and high illustrative scenarios 7.1 million and 11.5 million households could receive a measure, or around 30% and 40% of the housing stock respectively.
The illustrative scenarios present the number of measures installed over the period to 2020 taking into consideration a range of demand and supply-side barriers to rollout. For example, the “maximum feasible potential” scenario considers a world with no demand barriers and limited supply-side barriers, in which around 90% of the remaining
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loft and cavity walls are insulated and around 45% of the technical potential for solid wall insulation is installed by the end of 2020; additional feasible potential would be expected to be available after this date.
The scenarios limit the range of insulation measures (loft, cavity wall, solid wall, party wall and door insulation, and glazing). Other measures may well be available under the Green Deal.
(1) ( )http://www.decc.gov.uk/publications/basket.aspx?filetype=4& filepath=ligislation%2fenergybill%2f1002-engery-bill-2011-ia-green-deal.pdf
Oil: Refineries
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency scheme on the operating costs of companies in the oil refining industry. [53997]
Gregory Barker: The cost impact will vary between participants depending on their size, type and success in reducing their energy bills through energy efficiency measures. Government have not undertaken any additional assessment on the impact of the CRC Energy Efficiency scheme on competition since publication of the final impact assessment in January 2010.
The energy efficiency measures encouraged by the CRC can make organisations more competitive via the cost savings on their energy bills.
Government are currently reviewing the interaction between the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), Climate Change Agreements (CCAs) and the CRC as part of the CRC simplification review. This interaction is of particular relevance to the oil refinery industry.
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what plans he has to reduce the UK’s reliance on imports of diesel and jet fuel; [53999]
(2) what recent assessment he has made of the international competitiveness of the UK oil refining industry in comparison to (a) other EU countries and (b) the rest of the world; [54000]
(3) what his policy is on incentives for investment in oil refining. [54003]
Charles Hendry: The UK operates within an international market for petroleum products. Levels of imports and exports have fluctuated over the past decade; a significant proportion of the products consumed in the UK are imported and a similar level of UK production is exported. We recognise that the UK’s demand for oil products has changed over the last 10 to 15 years, driven by growth in the aviation sector, the increasing numbers of diesel vehicles and a reduction in the use of oil for power generation.
Work conducted for the Department by Wood Mackenzie(1) concluded that the position of UK refineries is middle to low relative to their European competition. This is due to structural factors (e.g. central European markets are landlocked and hence less open to imports and competition) and the fact that UK refineries process higher quality (and hence higher cost) North sea crude feedstock than is the case in much of Europe. Further work to assess the competitiveness of the sector in more detail is currently under way.
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The Government recognise that the retention of a refining sector in the UK offers benefits in terms of security of supply (balancing the risks between crude oil and refined product markets) as well as wider socio-economic benefits. Recent investment in several UK refineries demonstrates the continuing importance of this sector the UK. It is Government’s role to create the best conditions to ensure that the UK’s demand for petroleum products continues to be met; we are seeking to do this through ensuring that the legislative and regulatory framework provides an appropriate balance between meeting wider policy objectives such as environmental protection, ensuring that the international trade in petroleum products can continue and seeking to ensure that the legislative and regulatory framework does not place undue burdens upon domestic industry.
(1) UK Downstream Oil Infrastructure—Final report, June 2009
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent meetings he has had with oil refinery owners to discuss (a) future investment in the sector, (b) skills development and (c) the effects of environmental legislation on operating costs. [54004]
Charles Hendry: I have regular contact with the UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) which represents UK oil refiners including attendance at the Downstream Oil Industry Forum in January 2011 where trade associations including UKPIA represent the UK downstream oil industry sector.
I have had no recent meetings with individual oil refinery owners specifically to discuss future investment in the sector, skills development and the effects of environmental legislation on operating costs. My officials have regular contact with oil refinery owners on a range of issues, and I am always happy to meet with oil refinery owners to discuss their importance to the sector and to the economy.
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the membership of the Downstream Oil Industry Forum is; and on what occasions it has met since May 2010. [54027]
Charles Hendry: The Downstream Oil Industry Forum (DOIF) provides a forum for strategic engagement between the downstream oil sector and the Government. It meets twice a year and is chaired by DECC officials. Membership comprises representatives from: the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA), the Downstream Fuel Association (DFA), the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS), UKLPG (acting on behalf of liquid petroleum gas distributors), the Tank Storage Association (TSA), RMI Petrol, representatives of the devolved Administrations and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). Representatives of other organisations can be invited as necessary. The DOIF has met three times since May 2010; in July 2010, September 2010 and January 2011.
Thorium
Malcolm Wicks: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what plans he has for the future of thorium-based technology in the UK; and if he will make a statement; [54123]
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(2) what plans he has for the provision of funding for research and development of thorium technology in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [54124]
Charles Hendry: The Department is aware of the potential of thorium fuelled nuclear reactor designs and is in the process of assessing claims regarding their suitability as an alternative to uranium based reactors in the longer-term.
The Government's chief scientific adviser, Sir John Beddington, with input from a number of sources, recently co-ordinated an assessment of the prospects for research into advanced thorium reactors. Additionally, the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) undertook a recent independent assessment, in which it assessed a number of claims made by proponents of thorium fuel. The report can be found at:
www.nnl.co.uk/positionpapers
The conclusion was that, while the science is reasonably sound, developing reactors based on a thorium fuel cycle would carry major commercial risks. The resources required to develop these technologies to the point at which they might be deployed successfully at a commercial scale are also very significant.
To date, both in the UK and elsewhere in the world, this has prevented private industry and Government from investing in the development of the technology. No thorium reactor design has been implemented beyond relatively small, experimental systems, while many either exist only on paper or have only had specific subsystems demonstrated. As an indicator of the challenge of taking this technology further, the Chinese Academy of Sciences estimates a development period of at least 20 years will be required before a demonstration thorium molten salt breeder reactor might be available.
While thorium does not appear to have a part to play in the UK's near to mid-term energy market, we do maintain an interest in its development. The Secretary of State has asked the NNL to look further into the wider benefits of next generation reactor designs and to compare the use of thorium and uranium fuels in them. We are expecting the findings to be available by the end of the summer.
Transport
Blue Badge Scheme
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 31 March 2011, Official Report, columns 451-52W, on the Blue Badge Scheme, if he will provide funding to local authorities sufficient to ensure that all people over the age of 65 years who cannot claim the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance can be issued with a Blue Badge under the eligible subject to further assessment criteria. [54008]
Norman Baker: Disabled people over the age of 65 can be issued with a Blue Badge if they meet one of the eligibility criteria in the regulations that govern the scheme. It would not be right to enable people to be issued with a badge solely on the basis of their age.
Central Government do not provide local authorities with specific funding for their general responsibilities for administering and enforcing the Blue Badge scheme. However, from April 2011, control of funds for eligibility assessments transferred from the NHS to badge issuing
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local authorities. This was done as part of the Department for Health's £1.3 billion Learning Disability and Health Reform Grant. In 2011-12, the Health Reform aspect includes £5.4 million for the Blue Badge scheme.
Departmental Conditions of Employment
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the future of the (a) pension and (b) other entitlements of employees of his Department's Shared Service Centre in the event that it enters private ownership. [52493]
Norman Baker: Any transfer of shared services to a new provider will be subject to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) and applicable Cabinet Office guidance.
The Treasury is currently conducting a review of the policy that applies to the pensions of staff who transfer from the public sector.
Departmental Manpower
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff in his Department were in the Civil Service redeployment pool on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many of these had been in the redeployment pool for more than six months at that date. [44354]
Norman Baker: Within the central Department and its seven executive agencies there are currently 161 staff in redeployment pools (of which 44 are in the central Department's redeployment pool). Fewer than five of the 161 staff have been in a redeployment pool for more than six months. These figures are accurate as at 15 April 2011.
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [51519]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport and associated bodies have no specific job reduction targets. Following last year's spending review it is committed to a 33% reduction in the administration budget (composed of pay and non-pay costs) by the end of 2014-15. For estimates for changes in full-time equivalents for its non departmental bodies, I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 28 March 2011, Official Report, column 88W.
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what requirements he plans to place on any private provider in respect of the location of his Department's Shared Service Centre and its associated jobs; [52494]
(2) what proportion of posts in his Department's Shared Service Centre in Swansea will be retained following privatisation. [52495]
Norman Baker:
The Department for Transport Board decided on 9 December 2010 that its preferred option for the Shared Service Centre in Swansea was that it would be sold to a private sector provider. In taking this decision, the Board has committed to buying shared
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services from the new owner for up to 10 years and plans to require the new owner to retain a significant presence in Swansea.
The details of this are continuing to be developed as the Department moves towards launching a procurement process.
Departmental Official Cars
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date (a) he and (b) each other Minister in his Department last used a ministerial car while travelling in an official capacity; and how many times (i) he and (ii) each other Minister in his Department has travelled to their constituency in a ministerial car since May 2010. [50183]
Norman Baker: The information is as follows:
(a) The Secretary of State for Transport, the right hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), last used a ministerial car to travel in an official capacity on 3 May 2011.
(b) The Minister of State, Department for Transport, the right hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs Villiers), last used a ministerial car to travel in an official capacity on 24 March 2011.
The Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), last used a ministerial car to travel in an official capacity on 27 April 2011.
I last used a ministerial car to travel in an official capacity on 29 March 2011.
(i) Information on the Secretary of State for Transport’s journeys to his constituency in a ministerial car is not held because he is provided with a ministerial car on a contract basis and journeys made within the contracted hours are not recorded individually. However, the Secretary of State has not used his car to travel to his constituency since May 2010.
(ii) The Minister of State has not made any journeys to her constituency in a ministerial car since May 2010.
The Under-Secretary of State has made 102 journeys to his constituency in a ministerial car since May 2010.
I have made no journeys in a ministerial car to my constituency since May 2010.
Departmental Redundancy
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many civil servants in his Department have been offered voluntary redundancy since April 2010; and if he will make a statement. [49184]
Norman Baker: Within the central Department and its seven executive agencies 469 staff have been offered voluntary redundancy since 1 April 2010, not all of whom subsequently took it up. Of these 469 staff, 200 were from the central Department.
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Christopher Pincher:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to his Department's consultation document on High Speed 2, page 119, if he will consider making provision for property blight
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compensation arising from the announcement of the recommended route on 21 December 2010 rather than one year after the railway is built. [53061]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 28 April 2011]: The Government are currently consulting on a range of options for discretionary support (in addition to the assistance already provided under the statutory blight and compensation provisions) for owners of properties which experience a significant diminution in value as a result of proximity to any new high speed rail line between London and the west midlands. Respondents to the consultation may wish to provide comments on these options, or suggest alternative approaches, and the Government will consider these. No decisions will be taken on what option or options should be taken forward to the next stage until the consultation process has ended and all responses have been analysed.
Transport: Finance
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he is taking to reduce the local private finance initiative revenue budget; how much each action he plans to take will save; and how much will be saved through each action in each financial year of the comprehensive spending review period; [46336]
(2) what financial provision his Department has made for the private finance initiative contract for highways maintenance in the Isle of Wight for the period beyond 2014-15; and what proportion this represents of his Department’s provision for private finance initiative projects in that period; [46490]
(3) what financial provision his Department has made for the private finance initiative contract for highways maintenance in the London borough of Hounslow for the period after 2014-15; and what proportion this constitutes of his Department’s provision for private finance initiative projects in that period; [46491]
(4) what his Department’s budget is for the private finance initiative project for highways maintenance in the Isle of Wight in each year between 2010-11 and 2014-15; [46492]
(5) what his Department’s budget is for the private finance initiative project for highways maintenance in the London Borough of Hounslow in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15; [46493]
(6) what financial provision his Department has made for the private finance initiative contracts for highways maintenance in Sheffield for the period after 2014-15; and what proportion this constitutes of his Department’s provision for private finance initiative projects in that period; [46494]
(7) what the budget is for his Department’s private finance initiative project for highways maintenance in Sheffield in each year between 2010-11 and 2014-15. [46495]
Norman Baker: Following the spending review announcement we have been working with promoters of the remaining second round street lighting PFI projects, Nottingham Express Transit Phase 2 light rail scheme and highways maintenance projects in Sheffield, Isle of Wight and Hounslow, to ensure these projects are affordable.
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I can confirm we are on track to achieve an overall 5% reduction in the Department’s financial contribution to the remaining second-round street lighting projects and hope to make announcements on these projects soon.
I also refer the hon. Member to the Department for Transport’s press notice issued on 24 March 2011 in regards to the other four schemes. This announced that we have been able to agree overall savings of 21% (over
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the life of these projects) in the Department’s contribution, while retaining the essential integrity of the schemes.
These projects can now continue with their procurement processes and, subject to approval of a final business case, award the service contracts.
The following table provides the Department’s annual grant to the Nottingham Express Transit, Sheffield, Isle of Wight and London borough of Hounslow projects, if they achieve final approval.
| £ million | |||||||
| Name of PFI Project | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012- 13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 ( onwards ) | Percentage of Department’s provision of PFI p rojects beyond 2014-15 |
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent (a) regional input into transport policy and (b) funding decisions on projects in regions are devolved in England. [51500]
Norman Baker: In line with greater localism, the Government have already devolved many aspects of transport policy and funding to the local authority level, through for example simplifying and reforming local transport funding. The Government will announce how they intend to take forward further aspects of such devolution in due course.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Bread: Prices
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has conducted research into the sale of bread below cost price. [53028]
Mr Davey: The Department has not conducted any research into below cost selling of bread. The prices an enterprise charges for its products is primarily a commercial matter for the enterprise concerned.
Business
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what comparative assessments he has made of the (a) size and (b) contribution to the economy of UK mid-cap businesses. [52823]
Mr Prisk: Section 3.11 of “Financing a Private Sector Recovery”(1) states
“Mid-sized firms (sometimes referred to as ‘mid-caps’) are defined here as having a turnover of £25 million to £500 million. Although there are only around 10,000 companies in this category, they account for around a third of total private sector employment in the UK because of their greater individual size.”
(1) “Financing a Private Sector Recovery”, a consultation document published by BIS in September 2010
http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/corporate/docs/f/10-1081-financing-private-sector-recovery.pdf
Business: Advisory Services
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to assist small businesses following the closure of the Business Link advice service. [52974]
Mr Prisk: The ‘Bigger, Better Business’ pamphlet published on 5 January, set out the Government’s plans for modernising the provision of publicly funded support, information and advice for business. The pamphlet can be found on the BIS website at:
www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/enterprise/docs/b/11-515-bigger-better-business-helping-small-firms
These plans include closure of the regional Business Link advisory service. This will enable Government to:
focus publicly funded face-to-face advice on helping businesses with the potential to achieve high growth;
improve the national Business Link website by offering online business information and tools tailored to the individual needs of businesses, supported by a new national contact centre for those who cannot access the information they need on the website;
and engage with business mentoring providers and the British Banking Association to develop a mentoring network.
The Government are establishing Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) that will develop links to existing private sector provision for business support and encourage their use. We are providing LEPs with information on the different Government programmes and access to funds to help their local communities.
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Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects on small businesses of the closure of the Business Link advice service. [52975]
Mr Prisk: The Government are fundamentally changing the way in which they provide information and advice to small business. These changes are based on evidence and the views of the wider business community.
Focus public expenditure on intensive support to deliver growth, through Business Coaching for Growth—as high growth small and medium-sized enterprises create nearly 50% of private sector job creation;
Continue to improve the Business Link website to provide consistent, quality information to the majority of businesses as part of their interaction with Government, allowing 24 hour access and using the latest technologies;
Offer a new national telephone contact centre to support businesses that do not use the internet;
Engage with business mentoring providers and the British Banking Association to develop a network of business mentors for small businesses—as SMEs prefer the advice of other business people and professionals;
Allow Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to develop links to existing private sector provision for business support and access to funds to help meets local needs.
Cancer: Research
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding the Medical Research Council provided for research into (a) leukaemia, (b) brain cancer, (c) lung cancer, (d) colorectal cancer, (e) breast cancer and (f) prostate cancer in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11. [52717]
Mr Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) does not hold the information in the format requested. It would not be possible to undertake the necessary analysis in the time available.
I understand from the MRC that they do intend to undertake analysis of the 2008-09 and 2009-10 data and this will be available in due course. Information for 2010-11 should be available later in autumn 2011. The MRC spends approximately £105 million (2009-10 data) on cancer and research relevant to cancer.
Community Interest Companies
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many community interest companies were registered in each region in each of the last 10 years. [52699]
Mr Davey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Vale of Clwyd (Chris Ruane) on 10 March 2011, Official Report, column 1252W.
Construction: Standards
Gordon Banks:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what information his Department holds on the number of pieces of work carried out by bodies accredited to the TrustMark
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scheme for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement; [54013]
(2) what information his Department holds on the number of complaints received by TrustMark on a member of a TrustMark scheme operator in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [54014]
Mr Prisk: I understand TrustMark’s estimate is that some 7.8 million pieces of work were carried out over the past five years by bodies accredited to the scheme; and that the level of complaints over this period equates to around one for every 7,500 pieces of work undertaken.
Departmental Buildings
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 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. [53803]
Mr Davey: The Department does not own any buildings.
Departmental Official Cars
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on what date (a) he and (b) each other Minister in his Department last used a ministerial car while travelling in an official capacity; and how many times (i) he and (ii) each other Minister in his Department has travelled to their constituency in a ministerial car since May 2010. [50185]
Mr Davey: BIS has one ministerial car which was last used in an official capacity by:
my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 27 April;
the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, my hon. Friend the Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr Prisk) on 14 April;
my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on 12 April;
my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Universities and Science on 6 April;
my noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade and Investment on 29 March;
my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Skills and Lifelong Learning on 2 March;
and myself on 27 April.
Numbers of journeys to constituencies since May 2010 could be provided only at disproportionate costs but the use of the car by Ministers is in line with Section 10 of the Ministerial Code.
Departmental Public Transport
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on what date (a) he and (b) each other Minister in his Department last travelled by (i) London Underground and (ii) public bus services on Government business; how many times (A) he and (B) each other Minister in his Department has travelled by each such form of transport on Government business since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [50075]
Mr Davey: Dates and numbers of trips by London Underground or public bus could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However Ministers do travel by public transport wherever possible, taking into account security requirements and other relevant considerations.
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Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many of his ministerial team have been issued with (a) an Oyster card and (b) a (i) monthly and (ii) annual travel card valid on London Transport and paid for by his Department for use while travelling on Government business. [50163]
Mr Davey: The Department has not paid for its Ministers to have Oyster or travel cards to use when travelling on Government business.
All travel by Ministers is in alignment with Section 10 of the Ministerial Code issued in May 2010.
Earthquakes: Japan
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) if he will assess the potential effects of the recent East Japan earthquake on manufacturing production in the UK; [53327]
(2) whether he has had recent discussions with representatives of Japanese companies in the UK concerning the potential effects of the recent East Japan earthquake on industrial production by those companies in the UK. [53328]
Mr Prisk: BIS officials are in regular contact with a number of manufacturers including representatives of Japanese companies in the UK to discuss the situation and are continuing to monitor the impact of the earthquake.
Economic Growth
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to section 2.109 of the Plan for Growth, what criteria he plans to use to identify small and medium-sized enterprises with the potential to achieve rapid and significant growth; and what the evidence was for his estimate of the number of such companies. [52793]
Mr Prisk: Business Coaching for Growth will use the following criteria for selecting businesses with the potential to achieve high growth rates:
Small and medium-sized enterprises with 10 or more employees with the potential to increase turnover or employment by an annual average rate of 20% over three years. SMEs with fewer than 10 employees that over three years have the potential to increase employment by at least seven employees or annual turnover by £0.75 million.
Start-ups with potential to achieve turnover of £1m within three years of starting trading, or to have at least 10 employees within three years. Firms or consortia bidding for contracts to deliver Business Coaching for Growth will need to demonstrate, during the tendering process, how they will identify sufficient businesses that meet these criteria.
Analysis of existing Government datasets has established that these criteria will capture sufficient numbers of businesses who will benefit from being on the programme and deliver strong growth as a result.
Chi Onwurah:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what financial provision he has made for contracts for Business
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Coaching for Growth services; and what assessment he has made of the comparative value for money of such contracts and those previously provided by regional development agencies. [52794]
Mr Prisk: As set out in the Official Journal of the European Union contract notice for Business Coaching for Growth, the value of the contracts is up to £173 million (including VAT) until the end of the current spending review period.
The value for money case for Business Coaching for Growth was developed and agreed for the spending review in 2010 and it shows a strong economic return. There is limited evaluation evidence of existing, comparable regional development agencies programmes at this stage.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to allow venture capital firms to tender for contracts for Business Coaching for Growth services. [52795]
Mr Prisk: An impact assessment on the effects of extending the right to request flexible working to all employees will be published alongside the consultation on these proposals which is due to be launched shortly.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to set successful outcome targets for firms awarded contracts as service providers for Business Coaching for Growth. [52796]
Mr Prisk: The Memorandum of Information relating to the tender of the Business Coaching for Growth Programme sets out further information on the monitoring and evaluation of contracts and we expect to discuss this further with potential bidders through the procurement of the Business Coaching for Growth contracts. This will ensure the right targets for contractors are in place and as part of this we expect that outcome targets will be in place.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is committed to evaluating the delivery and economic impact of Business Coaching for Growth and providers of the service would be expected to support this process.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what measure he plans to use to assess progress against each of the measureable benchmarks set out in The Plan for Growth. [53134]
Mr Davey: Measures for the benchmarks set out in the plan for growth are being agreed between the relevant Departments and HM Treasury. HM Treasury and BIS have requested that the data sets that provide a headline measure for each of the benchmarks are contained within departmental business plans. Updated versions of these plans will be published shortly.
Economic Growth: EU Law
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what criteria he used in the selection of outside bodies to work with his Department on consideration of the effect of EU legislation on growth opportunities. [52790]
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Mr Prisk: Four UK companies, Balfour Beatty, GlaxoSmithKline, Kingfisher and Tribeka, have agreed to work with Government to help find ways to improve European growth opportunities for UK businesses. The Government decided that a small group was optimal for working quickly and cohesively to identify evidence for how EU laws could be made more growth-friendly for the broader UK economy.
The Government approached companies that trade in more than one EU member state in order to draw on their experience of the implementation and enforcement of EU law across member state borders. Also important to the Government's selection was that there be a range of business sizes and sectors represented so that the evidence gathered could be used for broadest possible affect on the UK economy.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received from GlaxoSmithKline on the effects of the implementation of EU legislation on growth and investment opportunities. [52791]
Mr Prisk: The Government are working with four companies, Balfour Beatty, GSK, Kingfisher and Tribeka, to find ways to improve European growth opportunities for UK businesses. We will publish these findings in a report by the end of the year.
All four companies will have the opportunity to contribute to the report equally. The Government will focus on evidence that demonstrates where changes to EU law, including its implementation and enforcement, will have a positive impact on the sectors represented by our partners.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects his Department's consideration of the effect of EU legislation on growth opportunities to be completed; and what plans he has to publish the outcome of that consideration. [52792]
Mr Prisk: The Government, working with their partners, Balfour Beatty, GlaxoSmithKline, Kingfisher and Tribeka, will publish their findings on ways to improve growth opportunities for UK business by the end of this year.
Environment Protection: Exports
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2011, Official Report, column 715W, on low-carbon products: intellectual property, whether it is his policy to support the compulsory licensing of exports of environmentally-sound technologies to least-developed countries. [53155]
Mr Davey:
Under the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Governments are able to issue compulsory licenses on patented technologies. For Least Developed Countries (LDCs) this flexibility may have limited impact because they lack domestic manufacturing capability. Whilst TRIPS has been amended to enable compulsory licensing of pharmaceutical products for export to these countries, there is currently insufficient
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evidence that extending this to environmentally sound technologies would bring significant benefits.
Compulsory licensing of pharmaceuticals for export has been used only once to date so it is not clear that this procedure encourages technology transfer. Compulsory licensing is also likely to be a strong disincentive to investment in technology innovation and is unlikely to encourage the transfer of know-how and tacit knowledge which is required to maintain and adapt technologies for local use. By contrast, voluntary licensing arrangements are more likely to foster longer term partnerships and bring about sustainable technology transfer. The UK is committed to providing incentives for business to promote technology transfer to LDCs as required by TRIPS Article 66.2.
EU External Trade: India
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what his policy is on the proposal for data exclusivity for generic drugs in the EU-India Free Trade Agreement; [51031]
(2) what his policy is on the inclusion of the manufacture and sale of generic drugs closely modelled on patented US and European products in the proposed EU-India Free Trade Agreement. [51032]
Mr Davey: The UK policy is to take a case-by-case approach to intellectual property rights within Free Trade Agreements between the European Union and developing countries. The level of intellectual property protection should be tailored to the trading partner's level of development. We stated in the recently published “Trade and Investment for Growth” White Paper that we would seek to ensure that provisions on intellectual property rights in EU free trade agreements did not have negative impacts on the ability of the poorest to access low cost medicines. We would consider any proposals made regarding data exclusivity in the EU-India agreement in the light of the available evidence.
On 13 December 2010 both Indian and EU trade negotiators stated that nothing in the EU-India agreement would limit India's scope for developing and exporting life-saving medicines.
EU Grants and Loans
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make it his policy to align applications for the second round of the Regional Growth Fund to applications for the European Regional Development Fund; and if he will make a statement. [53227]
Mr Prisk: Officials in this Department and in the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) teams have worked closely together to align, where practical, the respective funds' bidding processes. Most ERDF programmes will be managing a simultaneous call for proposals to complement the timing of the Regional Growth Fund's second round, with the aim of encouraging applicants to maximise the available public resource. Applicants seeking to access ERDF will however need to comply with the application process and the ERDF specific project selection criteria.
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Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the Plan for Growth, page 65, by what mechanism the Government will play a significant role in deciding which interventions the European Regional Development Fund supports; and if he will make a statement. [53228]
Mr Prisk: The Government wish to see that the resources of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) are fully used to deliver the objectives of the Plan for Growth. To help achieve this we announced in February details on the future management of the ERDF within England. This included the decision to restructure existing Programme Monitoring Committees as Local Management Committees which can ensure that, within the parameters already agreed with the EU, Government, local people and businesses can better influence the shape of the ERDF programmes and the projects that they can support, whilst ensuring compliance with European Community rules.
We will consider further reforms to the delivery of the ERDF within England during negotiations on the 2014-20 funding period.
Flexible Working
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects of extending the right to request flexible working to parents of children over 18 on (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) larger enterprises. [53587]
Mr Davey: An impact assessment on the effects of extending the right to request flexible working to all employees will be published alongside the consultation on these proposals which is due to be launched shortly.
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his timetable is for extending flexible working to all. [53590]
Mr Davey: The “Coalition Agreement: Our Programme for Government” set out the Government’s programme for the current Parliament. This committed to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees, consulting with business on how best to do so.
We intend to consult on extending the right to request flexible working to all employees shortly. This extension will require primary legislation so the full timetable will be subject to securing parliamentary time.