Immigration
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress the UK Border Agency has made in locating and correcting the immigration status document of Mr Khuy, of St Albans. [54054]
Damian Green: Mr Khuy's immigration status document was amended in line with his representative's request to change the spelling of his first name and was sent to his representatives on 18 November 2010 by recorded delivery.
In a query from my hon. Friend's office, made on 27 April 2011, the Agency were advised that Mr Khuy's immigration status documents had been returned with an incorrect date of birth and Mr Khuy had received confirmation of this delivery. I can confirm that the UK Border Agency will write to my hon. Friend directly with an update on Mr Khuy's case.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 27 April 2011 on the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2011, when she expects to bring forward an amendment to the regulations to introduce the new fee for stateless persons to be granted the status of a British protected person. [54089]
Damian Green: An amendment will be made at the next available opportunity. We do not yet have a planned date for this.
Rape
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many allegations of rape were reported to the police by (a) women and (b) men in each year since 2007-08; how many reports of rape resulted in prosecutions; and how many such prosecutions were successful in each such year. [53402]
Lynne Featherstone: Data on police recorded offences of rape against a male and rape against a female are collected by the Home Office. The requested data for each year since 2007-08 are provided in Table A.
Data on reported rapes which resulted in prosecutions are not available as it is not possible to track individual offences through to their outcome at court. Prosecutions data are based on the number of offenders and have been provided by the Ministry of Justice in Table B. These data are published on a calendar-year basis and are counts of persons classified by their principal offence. As such, prosecutions data cannot be linked to police recorded crime data.
| Table A: Offences of rape against a male and rape against a female recorded in England and Wales 2007-08 to 2009-10 | |||
|
|
2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| Table B: Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for rape (1) of a male and female England and Wales 2007 - 09 (2, 3) | |||
| Offence | 2007 | 2008 (4) | 2009 |
| (1) Includes attempted rape. (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July, and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice | |||
Shoplifting
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were convicted of shoplifting in the East of England in each year since 1997 in each parliamentary constituency; and how many of these convictions resulted in a custodial sentence. [53502]
Mr Blunt: I have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 17 March 2011, Official Report, column 560W, for the number of offenders cautioned, found guilty and sentenced to a community rehabilitation order, community order, suspended sentence and immediate custody at all courts for ‘stealing from shops and stalls’ (shoplifting), in the East of England region, 1999 to 2009.
For the number of offenders found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody for shoplifting at all courts in the East of England, 1997 to 1998 please see the following table.
4 May 2011 : Column 819W
Information available centrally does not allow a breakdown of cases by parliamentary constituency or local authority area.
Please note that court proceedings data for 2010 are planned for publication on 26 May 2011.
| Number of offenders found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody for ‘Shoplifting’ (1) at all courts, East of England r egion 1997-98 | ||||
| 1997 | 1998 | |||
| Region/Police force area | Found guilty | Immediate c ustody | Found guilty | Immediate c ustody |
| (1) Stealing from ‘shops and stalls’ (shoplifting) is an offence under Theft Act 1968, section 1. Notes: 1. These statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics - Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice | ||||
Work and Pensions
Incapacity Benefit: Appeals
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals by claimants against decisions on non-entitlement to incapacity benefit there have been in each year since 2000; what the average length of time taken to determine such appeals was in each such year; and what the cost of such appeals was in each such year. [53410]
Mr Djanogly: I have been asked to reply.
Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service is currently collating this information. I will write to the hon. Member shortly.
Defence
Armed Forces: Germany
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether any additional provision is to be made for local authorities to whose areas troops returning from overseas bases will settle; [53145]
4 May 2011 : Column 820W
(2) what timetable he has set for the return of troops from Germany; and to which garrisons they will return in the (a) first and (b) second wave; [53146]
(3) how many British troops he expects to return to the UK from bases overseas (a) before 2015 and (b) between 2015 and 2020; [53213]
(4) what discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers and officials of his Department have had with local authorities on the forthcoming return of British troops from Germany. [53214]
Nick Harvey: The Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) set out the Government's aim to accelerate the re-basing of the 20,000 or so armed forces personnel currently in Germany to the UK. Since the SDSR was announced the Ministry of Defence has been addressing the full range of basing and estate issues arising from the re-basing from Germany; restructuring of the Army's non-deployable regional and administrative structure; and the future requirement for RAF bases. Once we have drawn up a comprehensive basing and estates rationalisation plan the Army will be able to draw up its detailed proposals for the rebasing of forces from Germany. Officials will engage with the local authorities concerned as these develop.
Armed Forces: Prisons
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which Minister in his Department authorised the inclusion of the armed forces in contingency plans for dealing with industrial unrest at UK prisons; [52789]
(2) from which units armed forces personnel who have been part of contingency plans for dealing with industrial unrest at prisons have been selected; [53147]
(3) how many hours of training have been given to armed forces personnel as part of contingency plans for dealing with industrial unrest at UK prisons; [53148]
(4) how many work hours staff in his Department have spent on contingency planning for dealing with industrial unrest at prisons. [53215]
Nick Harvey: As Minister of State for the Armed Forces I authorised the provision of military assistance to the Ministry of Justice in the event of industrial action by prison officers following a formal request for assistance by the Ministry of Justice.
As at 26 April 2011, military personnel from the units in the following table have been or are currently being trained to support to the Ministry of Justice in the event of industrial action by prison officers. I have taken unit to mean those formations commanded by an officer of at least lieutenant colonel or equivalent. The army has mostly provided personnel in formed sub-units. In the case of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, smaller numbers have generally been provided from a number of establishments or ships, all of which are shown in the following table.
| Royal Navy | Army | Royal Air Force |
4 May 2011 : Column 821W
4 May 2011 : Column 822W
|
Defence College of Logistics and Personnel Administration and Defence College of Policing and Guarding, Southwick Park |
||
|
104 Field Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |
||
In addition, personnel from all three services have been provided from the Permanent Joint Headquarters, HQ Standing Joint Commander(UK) and Defence Equipment and Support.
Military personnel who may be called on to provide support in prisons receive a standardised 45-hour training package spread over five days. In addition, a small number of military personnel have been trained to conduct the training programme; these personnel receive approximately 90 hours training over 10 days.
The information on the number of working hours Ministry of Defence and other Headquarters staff have spent conducting contingency planning for any industrial action by prison officers is not held in the format requested. It is not possible to disaggregate this work from wider contingency and operational planning across the Department.
Armed Forces: Young People
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what proportion of new recruits to the armed forces were under 18 years of age in each of the last 10 years; [52872]
(2) how many people of each sex under the age of 18 joined the armed forces in each of the last 10 years; [52873]
Mr Robathan: The information requested is presented in the following tables:
| Percentage of intake under 18-years- old by financial year | ||||||||||
|
|
2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| Intake to UK Regular Forces aged under 18 years in each of the last ten financial years by gender | ||||||||||
|
|
2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
4 May 2011 : Column 823W
Departmental Food
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the (a) bacon and (b) eggs purchased by his Department since 7 May 2010 came from producers meeting UK animal welfare standards. [52695]
Peter Luff: This information is not held in the format requested.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has two primary contracting arrangements for feeding armed forces personnel; the first is a number of outsourced pay-as you-dine/catering retail and leisure contracts covering most armed forces personnel ‘in UK barracks'. Contractors appointed under this arrangement are free to source on the open market consistent with meeting EU competition rules and quality standards. We will be calling for data next month from our catering retail and leisure suppliers, in order to provide a report to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on our status against the proposed Government buying standards for food and catering.
The second arrangement is a single food supply contract for armed forces personnel serving on operations, exercises, in submarines and ships worldwide as well as the remainder of armed forces personnel ‘in barracks'. The food supply contract has been placed on Purple Food Service Solutions, which procures meat and dairy proteins in the UK that meet all UK animal welfare standards. Proteins purchased outside of the UK comply with the EU animal welfare standards. 100% of bacon sourced since May 2010 meets these standards. 100% of eggs sourced since May 2010 meets the Lion Standard, an internationally recognised quality code of practice. All food purchased through the MOD food supply contract is subject to stringent quality standards, encompassing farm assurance, animal welfare and health and nutrition. These meet or exceed all current legislative standards.
Electronic Warfare
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department's computer systems have been targeted by the Stuxnet virus since its emergence. [52737]
Nick Harvey: We do not comment on the detail of cyber security incidents.
The Department has procedural and physical measures in place to protect against and mitigate the impact of such incidents.
Guided Weapons
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the contracts for the Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (Heavy) Anti-Navire Légère system are to be renegotiated as part of the review process within his Department; whether he plans to review the requirement for this system; and if he will make a statement; [51959]
(2) how much he expects his Department to spend on the Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (Heavy) Anti-Navire Légère system in the 2011-12 financial year; what the total planned cost of introduction of the system is; whether the planned cost is on budget; on what date he expects the system to enter service; and if he will make a statement. [51960]
4 May 2011 : Column 824W
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence now takes a portfolio approach to procuring complex weapons. This was launched in April 2010 and will secure significant efficiencies across the breadth of the complex weapons portfolio over the next 10 years and beyond, and is designed to meet the UK's military requirements and safeguard our sovereign capability.
There are no plans to re-negotiate the Ministry of Defence contract with MBDA UK for the Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (Heavy)/Anti Navire Léger programme (FASGW(H)) which is currently in the assessment phase of the acquisition cycle and planned to complete later this year.
The Department estimates that it will spend about £1.7 million on the FASGW(H) programme in financial year 2011-12. As the project is in its assessment phase, the overall cost and in-service date have yet to be finalised. They will be considered as part of the departmental planning and approvals process leading to main gate approval, currently planned for later in financial year 2011-12, and subsequent procurement.
Libya: Armed Conflict
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military equipment has had its life extended in response to the conflict in Libya; for how long the life of each item has been extended; on what date the life of each item is expected to expire; and what estimate has been made of the cost to the public purse of each month of life extension for each item. [52965]
Peter Luff: A single Nimrod R1 surveillance aircraft, two C-130K Hercules transport aircraft and the Type 22 Frigate HMS Cumberland have had their service lives extended in response of the conflict in Libya.
These equipments were due to be withdrawn from service from 1 April 2011 and have been extended by three months, one month and 16 days respectively, though the decision on the Nimrod R1 will be kept under review.
Contractual negotiations for the Nimrod R1’s extension have not yet been completed, but the anticipated cost is likely to be around £4 million. The cost of extending the C-130s and HMS Cumberland is anticipated to be around £15,000 and £575,000 respectively.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions (a) he and (b) (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in his Department have had with their NATO counterparts on arming the opposition in Libya; [53016]
(2) what legal advice (a) he and (b) (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in his Department have sought on arming the opposition in Libya. [53017]
Dr Fox: We are in constant discussion, both at ministerial and official level, with our NATO counterparts on how to continue to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1970 and 1973.
Departmental officials work closely with Ministry of Defence legal advisers at all times. Legal advice is subject to legal professional privilege and cannot therefore be disclosed.
4 May 2011 : Column 825W
Navy
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what capability the Royal Navy has to regenerate the ability to lift a brigade-sized force by sea. [51120]
Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 April 2011, Official Report, column 419W.
Piracy
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 31 March 2011, Official Report, column 436W, on piracy, whether there have been any recent changes to the naval doctrine on countering piracy. [53188]
Nick Harvey: There have been no recent changes to naval doctrine on counter piracy.
UN Security Council
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent estimate he has made of the total level of resources his Department will provide for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1973. [53655]
Dr Fox: As the Chancellor of the Exchequer has made clear, the additional costs of operations in Libya will be fully met from the reserve.
International Development
Brazil: Dams
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with his Brazilian counterpart on the construction of a hydroelectric dam in Brazil. [52839]
Mr Duncan: The Secretary of State for International Development has had no such discussions with the Government of Brazil.
Departmental Buildings
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [53800]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development owns one property in the UK, our office named Abercrombie House, in Eaglesham Road, East Kilbride, G75 8EA, where the building is valued at £4,960,000.
In addition, we own 8 residential properties in Malawi to a total value of £789,239, and three residential properties in Zimbabwe to a total value of £189,495. Addresses of these properties cannot be provided for security reasons.
4 May 2011 : Column 826W
Departmental Work Experience
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [52810]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) thank by email or letter all those inquiring about work experience, internships and volunteer work for their interest in gaining experience in international development.
We explain that DFID does not offer opportunities for paid or unpaid work experience, internships or voluntary work within the Department. Given current resource constraints the cost of running such schemes is disproportionately high when compared to the very small number of opportunities we could contemplate offering.
We advise them to check our website:
www.dfid.gov.uk
for advertised vacancies and for more information on other aid organisations.
The International Citizens Service was launched on 9 March 2011 to provide opportunities for 18 to 22-year-olds to undertake voluntary work in a developing country. More information is available on the DFID website at:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Get-Involved/Volunteering/International-Citizen-Service/
Developing Countries: Cotton
Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has contributed to the EU-Africa Partnership on cotton and its associated action plan. [52206]
Mr O'Brien: The UK provides financial support to aid for trade programmes for cotton producers. Much of this is channelled through the European Development Fund, including through the Action Plan of the EU-Africa Partnership on Cotton.
Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what forms of support his Department provided for cotton producers in developing countries in 2010-11. [52207]
Mr O'Brien: In 2010-11 the UK provided political support for cotton producers, pressing for conclusion of the Doha Development Round (DDA), reform of the EU's common agricultural policy (CAP) and removal of US cotton subsidies. Financial support was given through a range of institutions for aid for trade programmes to support cotton producers. The UK also provided support for research to highlight the negative impact of cotton subsidies on farmers in developing countries and influence their removal.
Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution his Department has made to the World Trade Organisation's aid for trade programmes for cotton producers. [52229]
4 May 2011 : Column 827W
Mr O'Brien: The World Trade Organisation (WTO) does not carry out aid for trade programmes itself, but does monitor flows of aid for trade finance. The UK provides financial support to aid for trade programmes for cotton producers. The majority of UK support is channelled through institutions such as the European Commission and World Bank. The UK also provides a small amount of bilateral support.
Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the proposal in respect of cotton contained in paragraph 52 of the World Trade Organisation's revised draft modalities for agriculture of 6 December 2008. [52516]
Mr O'Brien: Paragraph 52 of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) revised draft modalities for agriculture within the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) does not explicitly address cotton. However, other parts of the text contain proposals to address trade-distorting policies affecting the cotton sector. These call for larger and faster cuts in cotton subsidies, relative to others.
Given the importance of cotton to farmers in developing countries, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, the UK Government supports these proposals and is at the forefront of countries pressing for an ambitious outcome on cotton within the DDA.
Developing Countries: Debts
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on permanency of the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010; and if he will expand its remit to include other British Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories. [52923]
Mr Hoban: I have been asked to reply.
The Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill received Royal Assent on 8 April 2010 and the Act came into force on 8 June 2010. The legislation means that UK Courts of Law can no longer be used to pursue excessive claims against some of the poorest countries on their historic debts, ensuring that resources are available to tackle poverty. The sunset clause attached to this legislation means that the law will expire on 7 June 2011. The Government have reviewed the impact of the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010. Evidence suggests that the Act has had some benefit on heavily indebted poor countries and no evidence has been found of unintended adverse effects. The Government have decided to make the Act permanent. The draft Order was laid before Parliament on 28 March 2011. The UK will share its experience of addressing non-participation in debt relief with Britain's Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories.
Developing Countries: Energy
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the inclusion of increased investment in access to clean energy for the poorest people as an outcome in the new World Bank energy strategy. [52889]
4 May 2011 : Column 828W
Mr O'Brien: The UK strongly supports the World Bank's ambition to increase lending for access to clean energy, particularly for the poorest, as part of its new energy strategy.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will promote a reformed approach to the World Bank's work on climate change including a reduction in finance for fossil fuels; and whether he raised this issue at the World Bank Spring meetings. [52890]
Mr O'Brien: The World Bank’s Energy Strategy must meet the twin goals of sustainable energy production and addressing the chronic shortfall in energy that exists in many countries. We therefore strongly support a reformed approach to the World Bank's work on climate change including a shift away from fossil fuel lending and an increase in lending for clean energy.
In his statement to the World Bank Development Committee the Secretary of State for International Development emphasised the bank's role to support the global climate change agenda. He said that the bank should promote energy efficiency and generation from renewable energy sources.
A copy of the statement is available in the World Bank website at:
http://www.web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DEVCOMMEXT/0,,menuPK:60001657~pagePK:64001141~piPK: 64001176~theSitePK:277473,00.html
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the proposed ban on World Bank lending for new coal power projects to middle income countries; and whether he raised this issue at the World Bank spring meetings. [52891]
Mr O'Brien: The UK strongly support the bank’s shift away from lending for coal fired power stations towards cleaner energy sources where there is a greater need for concessional lending. The bank should focus where it can add most value such as support for low income countries, which have less capacity and access to finance. We want to see the bank helping countries explore all reasonable alternative options before concluding that coal is the appropriate option. Where these are not feasible we want to see efforts being made to ensure the cleanest possible technology is used.
In his statement to the World Bank Development Committee the Secretary of State for International Development emphasised the bank’s role to support the global climate change agenda by promoting energy efficiency and generation from renewable energy sources. He also indicated it should focus on the most valuable contribution it can make, such as leveraging finance for clean energy production.
A copy of the statement is available in the World Bank website at:
http://www.web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DEVCOMMEXT/0,,menuPK:60001657~pageP K:64001141~piPK:64001176~theSitePK:277473,00.html
4 May 2011 : Column 829W
Overseas Aid
Mr Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the monetary value was of aid received by each country in receipt of UK official development assistance in the last year for which figures are available. [53141]
Mr Duncan: Details of estimated UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) are published on the Department of International Development's (DFID's) website at:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Finance-and-performance/Aid-Statistics/
This includes a breakdown of all countries in receipt of UK ODA. Final 2010 ODA figures will be published later in the year in DFID's publication ‘Statistics on International Development’ which will also be available on DFID's website.
Mr Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost to the public purse was of the UK's official development assistance in the last year for which figures are available. [53142]
Mr Duncan: UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2010 is estimated at £8.4 billion. Details of estimated 2010 ODA are published on the Department for International Development (DFID) website at:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Finance-and-performance/Aid-Statistics/
Final UK ODA figures will be published later in the year in DFID's publication ‘Statistics on International Development’ which will also be posted on DFID's website.
Supermarkets
Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he has had any meetings since September 2010 with representatives of (a) Tesco, (b) Sainsbury’s, (c) Asda, (d) Morrisons and (e) trade associations of which these companies are members. [52213]
Mr O'Brien: Department for International Development Ministers have not met representatives of Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons or their trade associations since September 2010. Details of Ministers’ meetings are published quarterly and are available on the DFID website:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Our-organisation1/Ministers/
DFID officials have met with representatives from the Ethical Trading Initiative and attended their Annual General Meeting in January 2011. Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda are members of the Ethical Trading Initiative.
Turks and Caicos Islands: Finance
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the public revenue for the Turks and Caicos islands for each of the next five years. [52076]
4 May 2011 : Column 830W
Mr Duncan: The Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands signed off the latest budget on 5 April. This included the following public revenue projections:
|
|
US$ million |
There are currently no formal estimates for 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the Turks and Caicos budget is currently assigned to benefit and welfare payments. [52077]
Mr Duncan: The proportion of the 2011-12 budget recently approved in the Turks and Caicos Islands assigned for social welfare payments is 0.61%.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money was spent from the public purse on benefit and welfare payments in Turks and Caicos in each of the last five years. [52078]
Mr Duncan: According to as yet unaudited accounts, the spending by the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands on social welfare payments, in US$, over the past five years was as follows:
|
|
US$ |
The UK taxpayer has not financed any of this expenditure.
Voluntary Work: Young People
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure that students accepted on International Citizen Service overseas projects are drawn from (a) a wide geographical area and (b) a balance between state and private education. [52326]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The pilot phase of International Citizen Service is being implemented by a consortium of experienced development volunteering agencies, who are required to ensure that volunteers are drawn from all regions of the UK, and from low, middle and higher household income groups.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has allocated to Voluntary Service Overseas in each of the last five years; and how much funding his Department expects to allocate in each of the next five years. [52391]
4 May 2011 : Column 831W
Mr O'Brien: Details of the Department for International Development's (DFID's) support to Civil Society Organisations, including Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO), are published in Statistics on International Development (SID) which is available in the House Library and online at
www.dfid.gov.uk
Figures for 2005-06 to 2009-10 are reproduced as follows. Provisional 2010-11 figures will be published in the annual report in July.
| Financial year | DFID support to VSO (£ million) |
VSO have a Strategic Gant Arrangement with DFID which runs until 2013-14. Funding approved under this agreement is:
| Financial year | DFID support to VSO (£ million) |
Over the three years of this Strategic Grant Arrangement, VSO will look to diversify and widen its funding base, thereby increasing income and lessening its dependence on DFID support.
VSO is also in receipt of funding of £8.37 million in 2011 for the pilot phase of the International Citizen Service programme.
Education
CAFCASS
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many cases in which the Children and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service has intervened were not resolved after (a) 12 months, (b) 24 months and (c) 36 months on the most recent date for which figures are available; [53764]
(2) what the average time taken between the first assessment of a child and the allocation of a case in each Children and Family Courts Advisory and Support Service region was in the most recent date for which figures are available. [53762]
Tim Loughton: The Department for Education does not hold this information. This is an operational matter for which CAFCASS is responsible; I have asked CAFCASS’s chief executive, Anthony Douglas, to write to the hon. Member with this information, and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many (a) fathers and (b) mothers have been denied access to their children as a result of a decision or recommendation from Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in each of the last five years; [53861]
4 May 2011 : Column 832W
(2) how many (a) fathers and (b) mothers have (i) successfully and (ii) unsuccessfully challenged a final decision by Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service to prevent access to a child in each of the last five years. [53862]
Tim Loughton: Decisions regarding contact with children are made by the family courts rather than by CAFCASS. The court will make a decision within the framework on the Children Act 1989 which requires the court to consider the best interests of the child in each particular case. The court may seek advice from CAFCASS or other agencies on an issue but is not bound to follow any recommendations in the report.
Neither the Department for Education nor CAFCASS collects information on whether the courts follow the recommendations in CAFCASS reports, or on the nature of those recommendations.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the quality of reports provided by Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service to family courts. [53864]
Tim Loughton: The Department for Education does not assess the quality of individual reports provided by CAFCASS to the family courts. However, the quality of the service which CAFCASS provides is assessed by Ofsted.
Children: Mental Health
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department holds information on levels of emotional intelligence in children. [53706]
Mr Gibb: The only information held by the Department on the levels of emotional intelligence in pupils comes from the two evaluations of the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning programme which were published in 2008 and 2010. These evaluations included measures of pupils' social and emotional skills, mental health difficulties, and behaviour problems.
A national evaluation of SEAL in secondary schools conducted by Manchester university was published in October last year. The evaluation can be accessed at:
https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DFE-RR049
An evaluation of primary SEAL was published in 2008. The review can be accessed at:
https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DCSF-RB064
Departmental Procurement
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 5 April 2011, Official Report, columns 767-68W, on departmental procurement, who appointed the Chair of the National Curriculum review expert panel; what the monetary value is of his contract with the Department; and how this was determined. [53101]
Mr Gibb
[holding answer 28 April 2011]:The decision to appoint Mr Tim Oates as Chair of the National
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Curriculum Review Expert Panel was made by the Secretary of State for Education, on the advice of officials. Mr Oates has been engaged to carry out this role through a part-time secondment to the Department for Education from his current employer, Cambridge Assessment. Mr Oates’s rate of remuneration for carrying out this role matches that which he receives from Cambridge Assessment for his work there.
Employment Agencies
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department spent on (a) recruitment agency fees, (b) outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and (c) staff training in the last year for which figures are available. [51399]
Tim Loughton: The information for the Department is set out in the following table:
| Category of spend | Cost (£) |
Free Schools
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what estimate he has made of the cost to (a) his Department and (b) the public purse of independent schools adopting free school status; [53239]
(2) whether limits will be placed on the catchment area for an independent school acquiring free school status; [53240]
(3) whether independent schools will be required to admit a defined proportion of local pupils if they acquire free school status; [53241]
(4) whether independent schools which become free schools will be permitted to retain their charitable status; [53242]
(5) whether any admissions requirements will be applied to independent schools which are given free school status; [53243]
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(6) whether any differences exist in the applications procedure for free school status followed by maintained schools and independent schools; [53244]
(7) whether he plans to place a limit on the number of independent schools which may be given free school status; [53245]
(8) what mechanism his Department has put in place to process expressions of interest by independent schools seeking to become free schools. [53246]
Mr Gibb: We will be assessing Free School applications against the criteria that have been published in the ‘how to apply’ form, which is available on the Department's website:
http://education.gov.uk/freeschools/a0074965/how-to-apply-to-open-a-free-school
When assessing free school applications from independent schools, we will also take into account additional factors as set out in the ‘how to apply’ form. We have not set a limit on the number of independent schools which can become free schools, nor separately estimated the associated costs.
All free schools must be charities and are required to comply with the school admissions code. Maintained schools cannot apply to become free schools.
Further Education
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many young people entered formal post-16 education in (a) further education colleges and (b) school sixth forms in each of the last five academic years. [51591]
Mr Gibb: Data on participation in education post-16 are published in a Department for Education (DfE) Statistical First Release (SFR) entitled ‘Participation in Education, Training and Employment by 16-18 Year Olds in England’.
The following table shows the numbers and proportions of the cohort of young people of academic age 16 (the vast majority of whom will be in their first year of post-compulsory education) enrolled in various institution types for the last five years for which data are available:
| End 2005 | End 2006 | End 2007 | End 2008 | End 2009 | ||||||
|
|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| Note: The table excludes young people who were undertaking work based education and training (largely apprenticeships), employer funded training, or “other education and training” with a private training provider; numbers and proportions estimated to be participating in those ways without also being enrolled in a college or school at end 2009 were 28,900 (4.5%), 6,400 (1.0%) and 2,200 (0.3%) respectively. | ||||||||||
Further Education: Disadvantaged
Andy Burnham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to ensure that further education and sixth form colleges have access to data which enables them to assess whether pupils aged 16 who enrol in September 2011 (a) were in receipt of a free school meal in school year 11, (b) are
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from a household with a low income,
(c)
are in care and
(d)
are in a household in receipt of income support. [53116]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 3 May 2011]:We will take steps to ensure that schools, colleges and training providers have access to information that will allow them to identify those young people who should receive bursaries of £1,200 a year. Beyond this group, further education and sixth form colleges will be able to exercise their discretion to award 16-19 bursaries to young people—including to young people who were in receipt of free school meals in year 11—in ways that best fit local needs and circumstances.
Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to his statement of 28 March 2011, Official Report, column 54 on post-16 education funding, what his source is for the figure of 12,000 16 to 18 year-olds who are in care, or are care leavers and in receipt of income support; and if he will make a statement. [53200]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 3 May 2011]:Education maintenance allowance data suggest that there are currently around 12,000 young people participating in education and training in the vulnerable groups that will be eligible for a £1,200 bursary. This equates to around 1% of 16 to 19-year-olds in full-time education or training.
Mental Health
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect of levels of emotional intelligence on (i) behavioural, (ii) cognitive and (iii) biological and physical development. [53690]
Mr Gibb: Under the Department for Children, Schools and Families two evaluations were commissioned of the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning programme. These were published in 2008 and 2010, and included measures of pupils' social and emotional skills, mental health difficulties, and behaviour problems. No quantitative measurements were included of cognitive, biological or physical development.
A national evaluation of SEAL in secondary schools conducted by Manchester university, which was published in October last year, found that SEAL failed to impact significantly upon pupils' social and emotional skills, general mental health difficulties, pro-social behaviour or behaviour problems. The evaluation can be accessed at:
https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DFE-RR049
An evaluation of primary SEAL was published in 2008, focusing on small group work, found mixed evidence for the effectiveness of the small group work. The review can be accessed at:
https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DCSF-RB064
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Primary Education: Literacy
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department plans to provide for the Reading Recovery programme up to 2015; and if he will make a statement. [53747]
Mr Gibb: Funding for the Every Child programmes has been mainstreamed as part of the Dedicated Schools Grant, and will be protected at current levels for the next three years up to 2014. This includes Every Child a Reader (ECaR), which has Reading Recovery at its core.
In addition, as set out in the recent Green Paper, “Support and aspiration: a new approach to special educational needs and disability”, the Government will provide modest funding to facilitate the transition to the open market of the ECaR programme over the next three years. By 2015 the intention is that the programme should be operating without central Government support.
Students: Finance
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding he has allocated to (a) £1,200 bursaries, (b) students currently in receipt of education maintenance allowance and (c) students eligible for free school meals from the discretionary learner support fund. [51642]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 26 April 2011]: We expect the cost of providing a £1,200 bursary to the most vulnerable young people to be just under £15 million in 2011/12. In addition, £101.1 million in 2011/12 will be allocated to schools, colleges and training providers for them to make discretionary awards from the 16-19 Bursary Fund, including to young people who were eligible for free school meals in year 11. Transitional support for young people currently in receipt of education maintenance allowance is expected to cost £194.2 million in 2011/12.
Unemployment: Coventry
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will meet the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to discuss the effects of the Government’s policies on non-departmental public bodies in the education sector on the unemployment rate in Coventry. [53634]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 3 May 2011]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 24 March 2011, Official Report, column 1262W. The Department is still working through the details of the proposed changes to the non-departmental bodies for which it is responsible, it cannot say, at this stage, what effect the creation of the agencies will have on the unemployment rate in Coventry. Once the position is clear my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education would be happy to meet with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, should that be appropriate.
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Health
Abortion
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) evaluated on (i) the earliest point in its development an unborn child will experience pain, (ii) the earliest gestational age at which an unborn child may be capable of being born alive, (iii) the number of occasions when an unborn baby is wrongly diagnosed as being handicapped and is subsequently born without disability or handicap and (iv) the suicide rate among women who have had an abortion since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [53011]
Anne Milton: The Department commissioned the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to update its 1997 report ‘Fetal Awareness, Review of Research and Recommendations for Practice’, which was published in 2010, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. After reviewing the available evidence, the working party concluded that before 24 weeks gestation the nervous system has not developed sufficiently to allow the foetus to experience pain.
The British Association of Perinatal Medicine published guidance in October 2008 entitled ‘The Management of Babies born Extremely Preterm at less than 26 weeks of gestation: A Framework for Clinical Practice at the time of Birth,’ which is based on the latest evidence and best practice, a copy of which has been placed in the
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Library. The guidance states that if gestational age is certain and less than 23 weeks it would be considered in the best interests of the baby for resuscitation not to be carried out.
Data are not available on suicides following abortion, as a death certificate does not record whether a woman has had an abortion and death records are not routinely linked to other medical records. However, there is currently no strong evidence to suggest that women who have had an abortion are high risk for suicide.
The Department does not collect information on the number of occasions when an unborn baby is diagnosed as being handicapped and is subsequently born without disability or handicap.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which private sector clinics and hospitals provide abortions; how many beds there are in each facility; whether each facility is approved for (a) surgical day care abortions with or without general anaesthetic and (b) late abortions; and what the name is of the proprietor of each facility. [53012]
Anne Milton: The Secretary of State has the power under Section 1(3) of the Abortion Act 1967 to approve premises for the treatment of termination of pregnancy. Information on those independent sector clinics that have been approved to carry out termination of pregnancy is shown in the following table.
The Department no longer routinely collects information on how many beds there are in each facility.
| Name of clinic | Proprietor | Undertakes surgical day care abortions with or without general anaesthetic | Performs terminations up to 24 weeks gestation |
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| Source: Department of Health Abortion Act 1967 Application for Approval form | |||
Alzheimer’s Disease: Carers
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training and support the NHS makes available for carers to improve care for those living with Alzheimer’s. [53256]
Paul Burstow: This Government recognise the valuable role played by people who care for those living with Alzheimer’s.
While there is no specific provision available for carers of those living with Alzheimer’s, the Government’s updated Carers Strategy, “Recognised, valued and supported: Next steps for the Carers Strategy”, sets out the overarching priority areas for action over the next
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four years to support all carers in their caring role, which may include those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. This includes the provision of personalised support for carers and those they support and supporting carers to remain mentally and physically well.
The Department is investing additional funding of £400 million to the national health service over the next four years to enable more carers to take breaks from their caring responsibilities, which may include carers of those living with Alzheimer’s.
The “Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2011-12” says that:
“It has not always been apparent how funding to support carers has been used in each PCT. The spending review has made available additional funding in PCT baselines to support the provision of breaks for carers. PCTs should pool budgets with local authorities to provide carers’ breaks, as far as possible, via direct payments or personal health budgets. For 2011-12, PCTs should agree policies, plans and budgets to support carers with local authorities and local carers’ organisations, and make them available to local people.”
Ambulance Services: Greater London
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been allocated to the London Ambulance Service during the comprehensive spending review period; what assessment he has made of the effect of reductions in the budget on (a) the number of frontline jobs and (b) standards of care; and if he will make a statement. [52989]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is not held centrally. The majority of funding for Ambulance Services is through General Allocations. Primary care trust (PCT) recurrent revenue allocations are not broken down by service or policy area. It is for PCTs to commission services to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations, taking account of local and national priorities.
Every penny saved should be reinvested in improving patient care and the national health service must cut back on bureaucracy. Efficiency savings must not impact adversely on patient care.
Cancer
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the average stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis for people aged (a) 49 years and under, (b) 50 to 59, (c) 60 to 69, (d) 70 to 79 and (e) over 80 years in each (i) cancer network and (ii) primary care trust in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [53349]
Paul Burstow: No assessment has been made of the average stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis by age, cancer network and primary care trust. We recognise that there are gaps in the data recorded about cancer patients, including incomplete recording of data on the stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis.
Collecting and analysing staging data will enable us to monitor progress in improving cancer survival rates and to target interventions more effectively.
‘Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer’ (January 2011), a copy of which has already been placed in the Library, said that the Department will take action to improve the recording of cancer stage. The ‘Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2011/12’ has made
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it clear that providers are expected to include staging data in the information they feed to cancer registries. The core service specification for cancer registries for 2011-12 is being amended to require registries to improve their recording of stage to the level of the current best.
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department is providing to the National Cancer Equality Initiative for the purposes of ensuring that measures to reduce inequality are embedded into all aspects of cancer service delivery. [53350]
Paul Burstow: “Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer” (January 2011) makes clear that tackling health inequalities is essential to improving outcomes and achieving cancer survival rates which match the best performing countries in the world. A copy has already been placed in the Library.
The strategy makes a commitment to deliver survival rates as good as the European average by 2014-15. The national health service will have to embed measures to reduce inequalities in cancer care in order to deliver on this commitment. National support is provided and funded through the National Cancer Intelligence Network, particularly the Equality Portal which provides localised data on the equality metrics, and the National Cancer Action Team. A programme of work, based on the commitments set out in the strategy, has been agreed for 2011-12.
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent assessment he has made of proposals by the National Cancer Intelligence Network to analyse existing cancer data sets according to the rurality of a patient's home address; [53351]
(2) what recent assessment he has made of proposals by the National Cancer Intelligence Network to collect information on (a) patient disability and (b) patients' sexual orientation; and if he will make a statement. [53352]
Paul Burstow: The National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) published a data briefing in April 2011 describing the effect of rurality on cancer incidence and mortality. During 2011-12 the NCIN will be investigating what further analyses are practical with regard to rurality and cancer, in particular relating to access to specialist treatment services such as radiotherapy.
The recent results of the national Cancer Patient Experience survey 2010 provided invaluable insights into equality issues. Patients were asked about any disabilities they had. For the first time we also asked patients about their sexual orientation. People with a disability or long term condition reported a less positive experience than other patients across a wide range of issues measured in the survey. This was particularly marked for patients with a mental health condition or a learning disability. Non-heterosexual patients reported less positive experience, especially in relation to communication and being treated with respect and dignity.
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the National Cancer Intelligence Network's cancer equalities portal; and if he will assess how his Department is using the portal to increase equality in the delivery of cancer care. [53353]
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Paul Burstow: The National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) established the Equalities Portal in March 2010. The portal brings together a range of equality metrics, with the aim of informing action to tackle inequalities in cancer services. Since its launch the portal has been accessed around 2,000 times. The portal is available on the internet to professionals and the public, and has been widely advertised at national and local events. The portal has also been referenced in national and local guidance (such as the Local Awareness and Early Diagnosis Baseline Guide). An accompanying “Evidence Guide” published by the NCIN in November 2010 has been downloaded 170 times.
Cancer: Drugs
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of levels of variation in the way the interim Cancer Drugs Fund has been spent and administered by different NHS trusts. [52988]
Paul Burstow: The Department put in place arrangements to monitor use of the £50 million additional funding for cancer drugs provided in 2010-11.
In addition, we have developed ‘Guidance to support operation of the Cancer Drugs Fund in 2011-12’. In doing so, we have drawn on strategic health authorities' experience of operating the arrangements put in place for allocating the additional funding made available in 2010-11, alongside feedback gathered during the public consultation on our proposals for the Cancer Drugs Fund. A copy has already been placed in the Library.
The document ‘The Cancer Drugs Fund: Government response to consultation’ was published on 1 April 2011 alongside the launch of the fund. A copy has been placed in the Library.
Cancer: Health Services
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for future commissioning of the publication of cancer outcome data which are not included in the NHS outcome frameworks. [53236]
Paul Burstow: We are committed to improving outcomes for all cancers and “Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer” (January 2011), a copy of which has already been placed in the Library, set out how we will achieve this. The Office for National Statistics routinely publishes data on cancer mortality and survival rates. There is a range of other outcomes data that we have previously published and which we intend to publish in the future. For example, the patient experience survey in 2010 included outcomes data in relation to patient experience, and we intend repeating this survey in 2011-12, but the indicators have yet to be determined. We are likely to also publish cancer outcomes data in relation to the Public Health Outcomes Framework.
Working with a number of other countries, we are running the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership project which is collecting international cancer outcomes data. Some of the results have already been published and we expect to publish more data in due course.
The Strategy also includes a commitment to publish annual reports to measure progress on implementation and on improving cancer outcomes.
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Cancer: Research
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department allocated to research into cancer in each of the last five years. [52716]
Paul Burstow: The most recent available figures for departmental expenditure on cancer research are shown in the following table:
|
|
£ million |
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contribution (a) the National Commissioning Board and (b) GP consortia will make to promoting cancer research under his proposals for NHS reform. [53234]
Paul Burstow: The Department is fully committed to clinical and applied research into cancer.
Clause 13 of the Health and Social Care Bill provides a power that the National Health Service Commissioning Board or a commissioning consortium may conduct, commission or assist the conduct of research into any matters relating to the causation, prevention, diagnosis or treatment of illness.
Clause 19 of the Bill includes a duty that the Board must, in the exercise of its functions, have regard to the need to promote research on matters relevant to the health service, and the use in the health service of evidence obtained from research.