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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 10 May 2011
House of Commons Commission
Equal Pay
Jo Swinson: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2011, Official Report, column 695W, on equal pay, what the results of the most recent equal pay audit of employees of the House of Commons Service are. [54528]
John Thurso: A draft equal pay audit report is complete and the House will be consulting the trade unions on the findings during May. It is expected that a final version of the report, including a summary version for wider distribution, will be available in June.
Northern Ireland
Departmental Legal Costs
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department paid in (a) damages, (b) claimant costs and (c) defendant costs in respect of all civil claims brought against his Department in which the claimant was successful or the Department settled in each of the last three years. [54629]
Mr Paterson: Comparable figures for the Department as it is now configured are not available following the completion of devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010.
Since 12 April 2010, my Department has not paid (a) damages, (b) claimant costs or (c) defendant costs in respect of any civil claims brought in 2010-11.
In answering this question, the Department has assumed that the term “civil claims” refers to claims issued in England and Wales, in the courts of civil jurisdiction (the High Court and the county courts). The figures provided do not therefore include employment-related claims pursued through the employment tribunals.
Culture, Media and Sport
Broadband
Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has provided advice to the London borough of Bromley to assist in its assessment of BT's plans for superfast broadband in the area. [54583]
Mr Vaizey: There has been no advice offered to any local authority about British Telecom's plans or any other private supplier by the Secretary of State, or the Department.
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Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what advice he has given to local authorities on the provision of superfast broadband services by (a) BT and (b) other providers. [54584]
Mr Vaizey: Broadband Delivery UK published guidance on 7 March for local authorities in England on local broadband plans. It has also provided data and set up discussion forums for local authorities preparing local broadband plans.
Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on measures to ensure that local authorities do not use the planning regulations to resist the optimum development and availability of superfast broadband services. [54585]
Mr Vaizey: Discussions have taken place in the context of Budget 2011 and the Growth Review about the need to ensure that the planning regime supports superfast broadband rollout. The Government have committed to reforming the planning system to support economic growth and work on that is ongoing.
National Archives
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport for what reasons individuals are not able to take out a subscription to access the National Archives online. [54379]
Mr Djanogly: I have been asked to reply.
As part of its strategy for making its collections accessible in digital format, the National Archives works with a variety of partners who make their material accessible online, nearly all of whose services are available at a variety of subscription rates to individual users. However, commercial academic partners who produce themed collections of primary historical sources from the National Archives collection currently only sell their editions to university and public libraries. The National Archives is actively encouraging these publishers to make such collections as “State Papers Online” available via individual subscriptions. These services can also be viewed at many public libraries which also purchase collections from these academic publishers, and the services are free of charge within their reading rooms. In addition, all the records which are available online from National Archives are available free of charge in the reading rooms at Kew.
The National Archives' internally-funded service through which original records can be downloaded online, “Documents Online”, is currently only available on a pay-per-view basis to individuals and by annual subscription to institutions such as university and public libraries. However, a project is under way to provide an individual subscription model, work on which is currently expected to be finished in 2012.
Ofcom
Stephen Timms:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with Ofcom on the estimated opportunity cost of use of the 900 MHz and
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1800 MHz spectrum; and what estimate he has made of the level set for administered incentive pricing of that spectrum. [54377]
Mr Vaizey: Ministers have not had any recent discussion with Ofcom on the opportunity cost of the use of the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz spectrum. The current level of administered incentive pricing for the 900 MHz spectrum is £25 million per annum and for the 1800 MHz spectrum is £40 million per annum. In December 2010 I directed Ofcom to revise the annual licence fees applying to the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz spectrum after completion of the auction of the 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum, so that they reflect the full market value of the spectrum, having particular regard to the sums bid for licences in the auction. I have made no estimate as to what the level of those future annual licence fees might be.
Olympic Games 2012
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many tickets for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics his Department plans to purchase for use by (a) Ministers and (b) officials; for which events; and at what cost. [54294]
Hugh Robertson: Government have bid for 9,000 Olympic Games tickets in total; some of these will be used by Government for liaison with international and domestic political and business leaders, dignitaries and others with a close connection to the Games. We are currently considering how best Ministers can promote UK plc to this audience but, at this stage, the final range of events, dates and number of tickets to be purchased has still to be decided.
3,000 of the Government’s bid will be made available to staff who have been heavily involved in the London 2012 project. All eligible staff have been invited to enter a ballot to purchase one pair of tickets, which they will pay for at face value.
Policy on tickets for the Paralympics is currently being considered in advance of the launch of sales later this year.
Women and Equalities
Departmental Work Experience
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what advice the Government Equalities Office provides to those wishing to (a) work as an intern, (b) undertake a work experience placement and (c) work as a volunteer in that Office. [52801]
Lynne Featherstone: Government Equalities Office welcomes interest from people wishing to work as an intern, undertake a work experience placement or as a volunteer.
We ask that individuals provide a written request outlining the opportunity they require together with a copy of their curriculum vitae.
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Biodiversity: Export Credit Guarantees
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has provided information to the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) on the effects on biodiversity of businesses supported by the ECGD. [54371]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA has not provided information to the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) on the effects on biodiversity of businesses supported by the ECGD.
Forests: Developing Countries
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department is providing funding to the reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries programme. [51986]
Mr Paice [holding answer 26 April 2011]: DEFRA is responsible for £100 million for forestry in support of REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), under the UK's £2.9 billion International Climate Fund that was announced in the 2010 spending review.
Peat
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will introduce mandatory targets for the gardening and horticulture industry to phase out the use of peat-based composts; [54270]
(2) if she will introduce a levy on retail peat-based composts. [54271]
Richard Benyon: A public consultation on future policy to further reduce and eventually phase out the horticultural use of peat in England closed on 11 March. The consultation proposed that a voluntary, partnership approach is followed to deliver phase-out targets, including for the amateur gardener market and professional horticulture, and sets out the rationale for doing so. Consultation responses are now being analysed, and will inform the development of a future policy framework.
Sewers: Private Sector
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date she expects to publish the regulations relating to transfer of private drains and sewers; and if she will make a statement. [54394]
Richard Benyon: Draft regulations to effect the transfer of private sewers and lateral drains that connect to the public sewerage system were laid before Parliament on 26 April and are available online at:
www.legislation.gov.uk
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Water: South East England
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department plans to take to ensure the provision of a sufficient supply of water to meet the needs of people living in London and the south-east in the next 10 years. [54380]
Richard Benyon: All water companies in England and Wales are required to maintain 25-year Water Resources Management Plans which describe how each company aims to secure a sustainable demand-supply balance over the period. Water companies follow a “twin track” approach to managing supplies, considering both demand management actions and the need for new or enhanced supply to ensure they can deliver secure and sustainable supplies of water to their customers. The current plans cover the period 2010 to 2035.
Transport
Aviation: Conditions of Employment
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has assessed the levels of (a) stress and (b) potential fatigue experienced by pilots on standby duty. [53934]
Mrs Villiers: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has assessed the level of fatigue that could be accrued by pilots on standby duty and the extent to which hours spent on standby should count towards duty time limits. The effect on pilot fatigue of possible stress arising from standby duty was considered as part of the CAA's assessment. The results of the assessment are reflected in the requirements of CAP 371: Avoidance of Fatigue in Air Crews.
Car Sharing
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had on the promotion of car sharing schemes. [54407]
Norman Baker: In October I held a roundtable discussion with car sharing operators to discuss how the Department for Transport and the industry could further the uptake of car sharing across England. In January, the Department published the “Creating Growth: Cutting Carbon” White Paper, which made clear the Government's commitment to sustainable travel, including car sharing. Departmental officials continue to work with local authorities and the car sharing industry to promote car sharing and support operators.
Invalid Vehicles
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to his Department's document, “Carriage of Mobility Scooters on Public Transport: Feasibility Study, 2006“, when he plans to publish his Department's guidance on the dimensions and weight of mobility scooters suitable for use on public transport; whether he has had discussions with the train operating companies serving the Brighton and Hove area on the compatibility of their policies on the carriage of four wheel mobility scooters with the Disability Discrimination Act 2005; and if he will make a statement. [53003]
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Norman Baker: We are currently in discussion with representatives of transport operators (including the Association of Train Operating Companies), manufacturers and user groups, and will publish guidance on scooters on public transport as soon as possible. Any decision made on scooters being carried on public transport will aim to strike a balance between the needs of a user to maintain independence and the operating constraints of the industry.
Information on existing arrangements, in the meantime, is available through individual operators, whose decisions are based on their own risk assessments.
Motorways
Mr Darling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles there are of managed motorways that allow the use of the hard shoulder at peak times; and where they are located. [54041]
Mike Penning: The Highways Agency has converted 42.6 miles of hard shoulder for use during the busiest periods. The locations of these sites are detailed in the following table.
| Location | Length in miles |
|
M42 J3A-7—Earlswood, west midlands to Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham |
|
|
M6 J8-J10a—Great Barr, Birmingham to Essington, west midlands |
Official Cars: Expenditure
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on the acquisition of new Government cars in the last Parliament; and how much has been spent on such purchases since May 2010. [50981]
Mike Penning: During the period of the last Parliament from 2005-10 the Government Car and Despatch Agency spent £4.1 million on the acquisition of outright purchased and leased new cars for use by Ministers.
Since May 2010 the Government Car and Despatch Agency has spent £3,500 on leased cars for use by Ministers and nothing on the acquisition of outright purchased cars.
All cars in the Government car fleet are on a routine replacement programme determined by the age of the vehicle.
Roads: Accidents
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimate he has made of the likelihood of being (a) killed, (b) seriously injured and (c) injured as a result of a road traffic accident caused by (i) a car, (ii) a goods vehicle and (iii) a cyclist based on the number of accidents each has caused in each of the last 10 years and the extent to which they use the roads; [53983]
(2) what proportion of road traffic accidents that resulted in (a) death, (b) serious injury and (c) slight injury were caused by (i) a car, (ii) a goods vehicle and (iii) a cyclist in each of the last 10 years. [53984]
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Mike Penning: No estimates have been made regarding the likelihood of being killed or injured as a result of accidents caused by various vehicle types and the Department for Transport's accident data do not assign blame or collect information on causes of accidents.
However, the information regarding the type of vehicles involved in reported personal injury accidents and their involvement rates by severity of accident per 100 million vehicle miles over last 10 years is published in table 10 of “Reported Road Casualties Great Britain—the annual report”. Copies of the said publication have been deposited in the Libraries of the House. The table can also be downloaded from the Department's website at the following link:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/excel/173025/221412/221549/227755/503336/RCGB09tables1to20.xls
Ian Austin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many cyclists have been (a) killed
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and
(b)
seriously injured in a collision with (i) a car, (ii) a motorcycle, (iii) a goods vehicle, (iv) a bus or coach, (v) another cyclist and (vi) any other vehicle in each of the last 10 years; [53985]
(2) how many pedestrians have been (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in a collision with (i) a car, (ii) a motorcycle, (iii) a goods vehicle, (iv) a bus or coach, (v) a cyclist and (vi) any other vehicle in each of the last 10 years. [53986]
Mike Penning: The number of reported pedal cyclist casualties, in Great Britain 2000-09, who were (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in reported road accidents involving another vehicle is given as follows. Accidents involving more than one vehicle in addition to the pedal cycle are counted against each relevant vehicle type in this table. There will therefore be some double counting within the table. In multi-vehicle accidents, information on the type of collision between the vehicles involved can not be reliably determined.
| Pedal cyclists | |||||||||||
| Accidents involving at least one: | Cyclist injury | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
The number of reported pedestrian casualties, in Great Britain 2000-09, who were (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in reported road accidents by the vehicle they collided with is given as follows:
| Pedestrians | |||||||||||
| Vehicle | Pedestrian injury | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
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Justice
Claims: Accidents
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to Annex A of the impact assessment of the cumulative Jackson proposals, how many and what proportion of the road traffic accident cases in the data set (a) predated and (b) postdated the road traffic accident claims process; and if he will make a statement. [54550]
Mr Djanogly: The dataset analysed does not include the date at which the claim was settled, therefore it is not possible to identify those cases which predated or postdated the introduction of the road traffic accident claims process.
Claims: Personal Injury
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the potential effects on non-personal injury litigants of the removal of after-the-event insurance recoverability in the absence of a qualified one-way costs shifting alternative as proposed for personal injury claims; and if he will make a statement. [54457]
Mr Djanogly: “Reforming Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales—Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations: The Government Response” was published on 29 March 2011. An updated impact assessment was published alongside the response.
Courts: Conditional Fee Agreements
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many cases brought on appeal to (a) a circuit judge in the county court, (b) the High Court, (c) the Court of Appeal and (d) the House of Lords and Supreme Court were supported by (i) a conditional fee agreement and (ii) after-the-event insurance in each of the last three years; [54378]
(2) how many personal injury claims were (a) issued and (b) tried by each county court currently scheduled for closure in each of the last three years; [54458]
(3) how many and what proportion of claims processed through the Road Traffic Accident Claims portal were funded by (a) before-the-event insurance, (b) conditional fee agreements and (c) other forms of funding in the latest period for which figures are available; [54459]
(4) how many claims proceeding through the Road Traffic Accident Claims portal have been concluded at stage 3 in each of the last three years; and how many and what proportion of claims were awaiting disposal at stage 3 on the latest date for which figures are available. [54460]
Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice holds statistical information in relation to the numbers of claims for an unspecified amount of money that were (a) issued and (b) tried by each county court that is currently scheduled for closure.
The following table shows these figures for each year between 2008 and 2010.
| Number of claims for unspecified amounts of money which were issued and tried (1) by county courts currently scheduled for closure; 2008-10 | ||||||
| Claims issued | Claims tried (2, 3) | |||||
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
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| (1) The courts which “own” the cases at the trial stage. These may not be the same courts as where the trials are actually located. (2) Includes both claims which involve trials and small claim hearings. (3) For cases with more than one trial/small claim hearing, only the last trial/small claim hearing is counted. Source: Ministry of Justice | ||||||
The Road Traffic Accident protocol involving the claims portal was implemented in April 2010. The Ministry of Justice does not hold figures centrally which specifically relate to personal injury claims or trials, or to the funding arrangements for personal injury claimants whether by conditional fee agreements or after-the- event insurance. Personal injury cases including those at stage 3 of the Road Traffic Accident protocol are logged on to the administrative computer systems. However these cannot be accurately distinguished from other types of cases brought for either an unspecified amount of money (where not under the protocol) or under Part 8 (where under the protocol). While appeals are recorded on IT systems, information about how they are supported whether by conditional fee agreements or after-the- event insurance is not held electronically.
Courts: Domestic Violence
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what meetings he has had with the Minister for Women and Equalities on the closure of specialist domestic violence courts. [54475]
Mr Djanogly: There have not been any meetings with the Minister for Women and Equalities regarding the closure of specialist domestic violence courts. Changes to the court estate were subject to public consultation during the summer of 2010 and decisions on the closure of courts were announced in December 2010.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many (a) constituencies and (b) local authority areas will not house a specialist domestic violence court at the end of the court closure programme; [54476]
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(2) how many specialist domestic violence courts he plans to (a) open and (b) close in each of the next three years. [54622]
Mr Djanogly: The provision of courts in England and Wales is not determined by constituency or local authority area boundaries. Many courts, and any specialist domestic violence courts (SDVCs) they might house, serve a number of constituencies and local authority areas and many of these are served by more than one court.
There are, at present, no plans to open any new specialist domestic violence court systems (SDVCs). As at the end of March 2011 there were 143 SDVC systems housed across 176 magistrates courts in England and Wales. Following the closure of those courts announced in December last year, there will be an SDVC at over 150 courts out of a total of 236 magistrates courts.
The court estate reform programme will mean the closure of 23 magistrates courts which house an SDVC. However, the closure of a courthouse is not the same as the closure of an SDVC system.
In the case of the following seven court closures, it is proposed that the work of the existing SDVC will be moved to another courthouse that is part of an accredited SDVC system:
Acton magistrates court—work moves to the SDVC systems at Uxbridge magistrates court and Feltham magistrates court;
Barry magistrates court—work moves to the SDVC system at Cardiff magistrates court;
Hemel Hempstead magistrates court—work moves to the SDVC system at St Albans magistrates court;
Knowsley magistrates court work moves to the SDVC system at Liverpool magistrates court;
Salford magistrates court work moves to the SDVC system at Manchester magistrates court;
Rochdale magistrates court work moves to the SDVC system at Bury magistrates court;
Tamworth magistrates court work moves to the SDVC system at Burton magistrates court.
In the case of the following 12 court closures, the closing courthouse is only one within a system and so the system remains operational at other courthouses:
Aberdare magistrates court—the Rhondda Cynon Taff SDVC system will continue at Pontypridd magistrates court;
Daventry magistrates court—the Northamptonshire SDVC system will continue at Corby, Kettering and Northampton magistrates courts;
Goole magistrates court—the East Riding SDVC system will continue at Beverley and Bridlington magistrates courts;
Dewsbury magistrates court—the Kirklees SDVC system will continue at Huddersfield magistrates court;
Lewes magistrates court—the East Sussex SDVC system will continue at Hastings and Eastbourne magistrates courts;
Pontefract magistrates court—the Wakefield SDVC system will continue at Wakefield magistrates court;
Rugby magistrates court—the Warwickshire SDVC system will continue at Nuneaton and Stratford upon Avon magistrates courts.
Selby magistrates court—the York and Selby SDVC system will continue at York magistrates court;
Towcester magistrates court—the Northamptonshire SDVC system will continue at Corby, Kettering and Northampton magistrates courts;
West Bromwich magistrates court—the Sandwell SDVC system will continue at Warley magistrates court;
Whitehaven magistrates court—the West Cumbria SDVC system will continue at Workington magistrates court;
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Haringey magistrates court—the Haringey/Tottenham SDVC system will continue at Enfield magistrates court (to be renamed Tottenham magistrates court as of 1 January 2012).
In the following remaining four cases, closure of the courthouse will involve the transfer of the SDVC work to a court that is currently not part of an accredited SDVC system:
Andover magistrates court to Basingstoke magistrates court;
Alton magistrates court to Andover magistrates court;
Bridgwater magistrates court to Taunton magistrates court;
Grays magistrates court to Basildon magistrates court.
The Ministry and the SDVC National Steering Group will give consideration to whether these courts should become part of an accredited system.
Guidance has been issued by the National Steering Group to all SDVC partnerships to assist them in adapting to the changes presented by the closure of a courthouse within the SDVC system. This is designed to ensure that all partners have been involved in the transfer process, that all operational activities are transferred to the desired location and any challenges this presents are addressed at an early stage. This will ensure a smooth transition to the revised court estate, while maintaining the high level of support for victims of domestic abuse.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many domestic violence cases were heard in each of the last three years at each of the specialist domestic violence courts scheduled for closure. [54623]
Mr Djanogly: Records are not kept centrally on the number of domestic violence cases heard at specialist domestic violence courts.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the savings to accrue through proposed closures of specialist domestic violence courts. [54624]
Mr Djanogly: Savings from court closures are accrued through the closure of a courthouse rather than the closure of any specialist domestic violence court system that may be housed at a courthouse. Savings specifically from the closure of specialist domestic violence court systems at closing courthouses have therefore not been estimated separately.
Estimated gross savings from all court closures announced in December are in the region of £41.5 million over the spending review period. We also hope to achieve £38.5 million in receipts from the sale of assets.
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what estimate he has made of the longest journey from a home address by public transport that a victim of domestic violence would have to travel to get to a specialist domestic violence court once all courts earmarked for closure have closed; [54663]
(2) what consideration was given to (a) the potential distance a victim of domestic violence would have to travel from a home address to reach a specialist domestic violence court, (b) concerns of such a person about travelling long distances away from home and (c) any associated concerns when determining which courts to close; and if he will make a statement. [54664]
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Mr Djanogly: The court estate consultation response documents detail the percentage of the population in each area estimated to be within a 60-minute public transport commute of their local court, before and after closures. It is not possible to assess the particular impact on victims of specific crimes.
Following the closure of those courts announced in December last year, there will be a SDVC at over 150 courts out of a total of 236 magistrates courts.
The equality impact assessments (EIAs) that accompany each of the 16 former HMCS area consultation responses papers identify the potential impacts of the court estate reform programme on different communities and groups of people.
Damages
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how he plans to review the discount rate under the Damages Act 1996; what representations he has received on the matter; and if he will make a statement. [54552]
Mr Djanogly: The Lord Chancellor is in the process of reviewing the discount rate. In this context he has sought views from HM Treasury and the Government Actuary as required by the Damages Act 1996, and has received representations from the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and the Association of British Insurers. In the light of the views received he has decided to conduct a wider consultation on the methodology to be used in setting the discount rate. A consultation paper will be published soon, and the review will be completed on as timely a basis as possible.
Damages: Employers’ Liability
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to Annex A of the impact assessment of the cumulative jackson proposals, for what reason (a) the chart at paragraph 1.23 shows that 75 per cent. of general damages in employer liability cases are below £10,000 and 10 per cent. of such cases are between £10,000 and £20,000 and (b) the results table in Annex A shows that current average general damages in such cases is £10,436. [54548]
Mr Djanogly: The figures provided in the results table in Annex A of the impact assessment are average figures from the dataset analysed, which contained 5,041 employer liability cases (accident only). General damages in the dataset ranged from £1,000 to £100,000, with the mean average general damages calculated at £10,436.
This average does not provide any detail of the distribution of these general damages; the chart at paragraph 1.23 provides further detail. There are some cases with general damages significantly above £10,000, which brings up the average, despite accounting for a small proportion of the dataset.
Mr Slaughter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) with reference to the results table in Annex A of the impact assessment of the cumulative Jackson proposals, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the analysed figures for current average general damages and new average general damages represent damages for pain, suffering and loss of
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amenity only and do not represent total damages or include other heads of damage; and if he will make a statement; [54549]
(2) with reference to paragraph 1.8 of Annex A of the impact assessment of the cumulative Jackson proposals, in how many of the cases comprising the dataset the damages settlements (a) were global and (b) included damages other than pain, suffering and loss of amenity; how many such cases there were in each case category of (i) employer liability, (ii) public liability and (iii) road traffic accident; and if he will make a statement. [54551]
Mr Djanogly: The dataset analysed includes figures for general damages, and special damages where applicable. However, for some low value claims, the settlements may be global and so there may be negligible special damages recorded.
The dataset received contained a split between general and special damages in all cases, and we cannot tell from the dataset whether a global settlement was made or not. Similarly, we do not hold the detail of those damages which specifically relate to pain, suffering and loss of amenity. The fact that general damages may not always equate to pain, suffering and loss of amenity is noted in paragraph 1.18, point vi).
Prisoners: Childbirth
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many children were born in each prison in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [54845]
Mr Blunt: Information on the number of women who have given birth in prison is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost, as in order to provide this information staff would need to look at each individual's record.
Prisoners: Females
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of women in prison who have one or more previous convictions had a residential address prior to imprisonment up to (a) 100, (b) 75, (c) 50 and (d) 25 miles from their present prison; and if he will make a statement. [54844]
Mr Blunt: The information requested is not available. Although the Ministry of Justice publishes information on the criminal histories of female offenders in prison, the data sources used do not hold information on the distance between the home addresses of the prisoners and their current prison.
Prisons
Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the (a) target and (b) actual (i) total hours achieved per establishment and (ii) average hours achieved per inmate in respect of each of the monitored activities set out in Prison Service Orders 7100a and 7101 was in each prison establishment in each of the last 10 years. [54690]
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Mr Blunt: The information requested has, where available, been placed in the Library of the House.
It should be noted that targets for purposeful activity apply to the average hours of all purposeful activity per prisoner per week, rather than to the activities individually. Targets are available for 2002-03 to 2009-10.
The total hours and the average hours per prisoner per week achieved for each establishment are shown for the years 2000-01 to 2009-10.
The figures used in the answer have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
Prisons: Private Sector
Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the (a) operational capacity and (b) prison population was of each private sector prison on 25 March 2011; and if he will make a statement. [55002]
Mr Blunt: The operational capacity and population of each private sector prison on 25 March 2011 is set out in the following table. This information is published monthly on the MOJ website via the following link:
www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/prisons-and-probation
| Operational capacity and population of private sector prisons as at 25 March 2011 | ||
| Establishment | Operational capacity | Population |
Defence
Air Force: Snow and Ice
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which RAF stations in the UK have an enhanced level of snow and ice clearing equipment. [54035]
Nick Harvey: Priority for the allocation of snow and ice clearing equipment is given to main operating bases and flying establishments with a high readiness role to meet operational requirements. Those RAF stations with the highest priority for this equipment are listed alphabetically as follows:
RAF Boulmer
RAF Brize Norton
RAF Coningsby
RAF Leuchars
10 May 2011 : Column 1074W
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lyneham
RAF Northolt
RAF Valley
RAF Waddington.
Armed Forces: HIV Infection
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential effect of a diagnosis of HIV on the (a) role and duties, (b) terms of service and (c) employment prospects of a person serving in the armed forces. [54920]
Mr Robathan: Service personnel diagnosed as HIV positive are managed according to their medical condition, their treatment needs and their specific role within HM armed forces. All cases are dealt with on an individual basis and so it is not possible to predict the potential effect of a diagnosis of HIV.
Service policy does not discriminate against individuals with HIV infection or AIDS. Personnel diagnosed as HIV positive are therefore managed in accordance with normal downgrading and subsequent employability arrangements. However, those with AIDS are normally recommended for medical discharge.
Armed Forces: Olympic Games 2012
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to assign HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion to duties supporting the London 2012 Olympics. [54541]
Nick Harvey: The Ministry of Defence is working with the Home Office, police and other Government Departments to identify what support the military may provide to the 2012 Olympics. Defence is currently considering requests and planning is ongoing; no decisions have yet been made regarding the use of Royal Navy vessels.
Armed Forces: Recruitment
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much his Department budgeted for recruitment in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10; and if he will make a statement; [51831]
(2) how much his Department spent on marketing for recruitment purposes in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10; and if he will make a statement. [51832]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence does not have a specific budget for recruitment. Budgets are delegated to Top Level Budget holders who set an estimate for recruitment spend at the beginning of each financial year.
The following table, however, shows Ministry of Defence expenditure on advertising and marketing for recruitment purposes for the last two years as set out in our Annual Report and Accounts. This is predominantly on a national basis but may not include significant amounts of regional spend. The different ways in which each of the services carry out their activities mean that there are variations in how their data are consolidated.
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Consolidated data on marketing spend are not available prior to 2008-09.
| £ million | |
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what restrictions his Department applies to the recruitment to the armed forces of people diagnosed with HIV solely on the basis of their HIV-positive status. [54919]
Mr Robathan: There is no routine pre-employment screening for HIV for individuals wishing to join the armed forces. However, those who declare a history of being HIV seropositive are unfit for entry.
Armed Forces: Redundancy
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been made redundant from each of the armed forces in each month since the date of the strategic defence and security review; and how many personnel he expects to be made redundant from each of the armed forces in each of the next 12 months. [54772]
Mr Robathan: No service personnel have been made redundant since the date of the strategic defence and security review. At present, it is not known how many service personnel may be made redundant within the next 12 months. Those whose applications for redundancy are successful will leave after six months' notice and those selected for redundancy who did not apply will leave after 12 months' notice. The first tranche of redundancy notices will be issued on 1 September 2011 for the Army and RAF and on 30 September 2011 for the naval services. The armed forces redundancy programme is expected to deliver up to 11,000 redundancies across the three services and should be completed by 31 March 2015.
Armed Forces: Training
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department’s defence co-operation agreement with Libya includes training specialised military units; and if he will make a statement. [48574]
Nick Harvey: The Accord on Defence Co-operation and Defence Industrial Partnership, signed by the previous Government, with Libya in 2007, allows for a range of activities, including the training of specialised military units.
No activity is taking place under this agreement at present. In view of the current circumstances in Libya, the agreement is effectively in suspension. Its long-term future will be determined in the light of the resolution of events in Libya.
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what ground sign awareness training is conducted in (a) hybrid foundation training and (b) mission specific training. [54796]
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Nick Harvey: Basic ground sign awareness training is provided as part of the initial phase training for military personnel. This is further developed in hybrid foundation and mission specific training.
During hybrid foundation training selected students (ranked Sgt and above) from all three services who are scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan complete a ground sign awareness instructor's course and are then required to cascade training to personnel in their units. Cascade training is delivered in both hybrid foundation training and the early stages of mission specific training. The latter also offers collective training opportunities to test and revise ground sign awareness, with its incorporation into a number of field exercises. Finally, these skills are refreshed again in Afghanistan as part of the Reception, Staging and Onward Integration package, which all personnel must complete before deploying on operations.
Aviation: Training
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made on the effects on pilot training for the GR4 Tornado and Typhoon fleet of the current operational tempo. [53571]
Nick Harvey: The current operational tempo has not had an effect on pilot training for the Tornado GR4.
Prioritising of Typhoon resources for current operations has meant that the output from the Operational Conversion Unit (where pilots are trained to operate specific aircraft types) for trainee-Typhoon pilots is temporarily reduced.
The relationship between operational commitments, resources and training is constantly monitored.
Departmental Procurement
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which contracts his Department has renegotiated since May 2010; and what estimate he has made of the savings to his Department arising from each such contract renegotiation. [54401]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 9 May 2011]: Progress on the renegotiation of contracts relating to strategic defence and security review decisions has meant that from our earlier start point of 130, we are now examining in excess of 300 contracts; this is expected to increase to some 500 contracts in due course. We expect the process of renegotiating these contracts to continue into 2012.
Initial focus has been on the contracts that will deliver the highest savings in the early years of the comprehensive spending review period. The Ministry of Defence has already renegotiated around 30 contracts relating to the Nimrod and Harrier programmes. However, I am withholding details of each specific negotiation as their disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.
Departmental Public Bodies
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much funding his Department has allocated under each budget heading to the Independent Monitoring Board for the Military Corrective Training Centre in 2011-12; [54419]
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(2) when the Independent Monitoring Board for the Military Corrective Training Centre was established; [54420]
(3) how many staff of his Department are working for the Independent Monitoring Board for the Military Corrective Training Centre; and how many such staff are on (a) temporary and (b) permanent contracts; [54685]
(4) what the budget for the Independent Monitoring Board for the Military Corrective Training Centre was in the most recent year for which figures are available; and how much was spent on the Board under each cost category in that period. [54710]
Mr Robathan: The Independent Monitoring Board (formerly the Independent Board of Visitors), for the Military Corrective Training Centre Colchester, was established in 1980. The board inspect the centre at least twice a year and report their findings to Ministers. They inspect, among other things, the condition of the premises and the treatment, health and welfare of detainees. The arrangements are very similar to those in place for civilian detention facilities in the UK.
The Ministry of Defence provides secretariat and administrative support for the Independent Monitoring Board. The board receives no direct funding from the Ministry of Defence, though travel expenses incurred by and recruitment costs of its members are funded by the Military Corrective Training Centre. Travel expenses amount to less than £3,000 per annum. Recruitment costs occur as and when vacancies arise and in 2010-11 amounted to some £2,500.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for the future level of funding for the National Museum of the Royal Navy. [54421]
Mr Robathan: The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) was established in April 2009 and consists of the Royal Naval Museum; and the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Royal Marines Museum and Royal Navy Submarine Museum; the latter three are in the process of integrating into the NMRN. The aims of the NMRN are to capture the enduring spirit of the naval service, to provide a clear heritage strategy for the naval service and raise awareness of the vital contribution the naval service has made to national security and the nation's prosperity in the past and in the future.
The currently anticipated future funding for the body for the spending review period is as follows:
| £ | |
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for future funding of the National Army Museum. [54422]
Mr Robathan:
The National Army Museum was incorporated by Royal Charter on 8 April 1960. Its objectives are to educate and inform the public and members of the Army about the history and traditions
10 May 2011 : Column 1078W
of the British Army—in particular, but not exclusively, by collecting conserving, preserving, managing, exhibiting and storing documents, pictorial records, artefacts and printed materials in collection.
On current plans, funding for the National Army Museum is as follows:
| £ million | |
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how much funding his Department provided to the Nuclear Research Advisory Council in the last 12 months; and under what budget headings such funding was spent; [54423]
(2) what plans his Department has for future funding of the Nuclear Research Advisory Council; [54424]
(3) what the (a) purpose and (b) function is of the Nuclear Research Advisory Council; [54425]
(4) when the Nuclear Research Advisory Council was established; [54426]
(5) how many staff of his Department are employed by the Nuclear Research Advisory Council; and how many such staff are on (a) temporary and (b) permanent contracts. [54429]
Mr Robathan: The Nuclear Research Advisory Council (NRAC) is an advisory non-departmental public body and, as such, does not incur expenditure on its own account. Expenditure on fees and reimbursement of travel and subsistence for the financial year 2010-11 has not yet been finalised but is estimated to be some £49,000.
As an advisory non-departmental public body, the NRAC does not incur expenditure on its own account. Future expenditure will be incurred against any agreed programme of specific scientific advice.
The NRAC's purpose and function is to advise Chief Scientific Advisor on the technical direction and adequacy of the UK's nuclear warhead research and capability maintenance programme, including experiments and other facilities and techniques necessary to design, manufacture, sustain and operate a UK nuclear weapon capability in the absence of underground testing. The Council also examines the UK's programme of international collaboration.
The NRAC was established in 1996.
The NRAC does not employ staff on its own account. The Ministry of Defence provides the support functions for the body.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many staff of his Department are employed by the Oil and Pipelines Agency; and how many such staff are on (a) temporary and (b) permanent contracts; [54427]
(2) how much funding his Department provided to the Oil and Pipelines Agency in the last 12 months; and under what budget headings such funding was spent; [54428]
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(3) what plans his Department has for future levels of funding for the Oil and Pipelines Agency. [54430]
Mr Robathan: The Oil and Pipelines Agency (OPA) is sponsored by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and is responsible for managing the Government Pipeline and Storage System (GPSS). It oversees all aspects of the operation and maintenance of the pipeline and storage facilities, ensuring that UK military requirements for aviation fuel are met. The OPA generates the majority of its income from charges levied on commercial operators and other countries who also use the GPSS.
The OPA is not funded by the MOD and there are no plans to change this arrangement in the future. However, the OPA charges the Department an annual fee for managing the GPSS on its behalf; this is met from income generated by the agency from other sources. In financial year 2010-11 the fee was approximately £3 million.
Two MOD permanent civilian employees are currently seconded to the OPA for fixed terms. All costs associated with these appointments are funded by the agency.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for future levels of funding for the Royal Air Force Museum. [54431]
Mr Robathan: The Royal Air Force Museum was established in 1963. Its purpose is to educate and inform the public and members of the Royal Air Force about the roles, history and traditions of the Royal Air Force by exhibiting aircraft and other artefacts, documents and pictorial records.
On current plans funding for the RAF Museum is as follows:
| £ million | |
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the Advisory Group on Military Medicine was established; [54435]
(2) what the purpose and function is of the Advisory Group on Military Medicine; [54436]
(3) what plans he has for future levels of spending on the Advisory Group on Military Medicine; [54437]
(4) what the budget is for the Advisory Group on Military Medicine in each category of spending in each year of the comprehensive spending review period; [54438]
(5) how many staff of his Department work for the Advisory Group on Military Medicine; and how many such staff are on (a) temporary and (b) permanent contracts. [54439]
Mr Robathan:
The Advisory Group on Military Medicine (AGOMM) was approved by the Cabinet Office as a non-departmental public body in August 2008, continuing the work previously undertaken by the Advisory Group on Medical Countermeasures (AGMC). Its purpose is to provide: independent statements on the safety, efficacy
10 May 2011 : Column 1080W
and quality of medicines and medical devices that may be deployed and employed by the armed forces; specific advice on medical products that are unlicensed or Ministry of Defence intends to use for a purpose other than its licensed use; peer review research, development and acquisition programmes that will deliver future operational medical capability; and independent advice on policy, doctrine, training and practice issues.
As an advisory non-departmental public body it will advise Ministers, but not employ staff or incur expenditure on its own account. The Surgeon General will be a member of the Executive Committee and will provide the secretariat functions for the committee from existing full time HQ Surgeon General Staff. In addition, the committee may draw on the pool of expertise found within the Ministry of Defence and other Government Departments for specific tasks.
The total cost to the Department for work undertaken by AGOMM during the financial year 2010-11 was £5,063.73. This was broken down as follows: daily rate staff costs of £2,562.00; travel and subsistence costs of £2,501.73. It should be noted that AGOMM is scheduled to meet at least twice a year, but only met once in 2010-11. Work is currently under way to finalise the tasking arrangements for the financial year 2011-12. If AGOMM does meet twice in 2011-12 then an approximate doubling of expenditure shown for 2010-11 is expected.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors was established; [54440]
(2) what the purposes and function is of the Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors; [54441]
(3) what plans he has for future levels of spending on the Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors; [54442]
(4) what the budget was for the Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors for each category of spending in 2010-11; [54443]
(5) how many staff of his Department work for the Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors; and how many such staff are on (a) temporary and (b) permanent contracts. [54444]
Mr Robathan: The Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors was established in 1970.
Its purpose is to hear appeals from service personnel whose applications to retire or resign from further service on the grounds of conscience have not been accepted by the service authorities.
As the Advisory Committee only incurs expenditure when it is required to meet, there are no plans with regard to future levels of spending. The Advisory Committee does not have an annual budget and incurs expenditure only when it is required to meet. On such occasions, its costs are paid for from within the existing resources of the Ministry of Defence (MOD)’s Central Legal Services budget. The most recent hearing in 2010 cost around £700, which was made up of the fees and expenses of the panel members.
The MOD provides the secretariat function for the Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors from within existing permanent staff resources.
10 May 2011 : Column 1081W
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) for what reasons he plans to abolish the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee; [54445]
(2) when the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee was established; [54446]
(3) what the purpose and function is of the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee; [54447]
(4) what plans he has for future levels of funding for the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee; [54448]
(5) what the budget was for the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee for each category of spending in 2010-11; [54449]
(6) how many staff of his Department work for the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee; and how many such staff are on (a) temporary and (b) permanent contracts. [54450]
Mr Robathan: I refer the right hon. Member to the statement given on 21 July 2010, Official Report, column 15WS, by the Under-Secretary of State for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Worcestershire (Peter Luff).
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees was established; [54463]
(2) what the budget was for the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees in each category of spending in 2010-11; [54464]
(3) what plans he has for future levels of spending on the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees; [54465]
(4) what the purpose and function is of the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees; [54466]
(5) how many staff of his Department work for the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees; and how many such staff are on (a) temporary and (b) permanent contracts. [54467]
Mr Robathan: 13 regional Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees (VAPCs) were established in 2010 as a 12-month pilot to build on the role of the War Pensions Committees. Their purpose is to provide advice, assistance and support to the service and ex-service community on pensions and compensation. They also provide advice and raise awareness to other public bodies and the local communities on the needs of veterans. The Ministry of Defence provides the secretariat functions for the VAPCs; this equates to 1.25 permanent staff. The annual budget for 2011-12 is £41,000 and the main items of expenditure are travel and subsistence. Members are volunteers and receive out-of-pocket expenses.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the Science Advisory Committee on the Medical Implications of Less Lethal Weapons was established; [54468]
(2) what the purpose and function is of the Science Advisory Committee on the Medical Implications of Less Lethal Weapons; [54469]
(3) what the budget contribution from his Department was for the Science Advisory Committee on the Medical Implications of Less Lethal Weapons under each budget heading in 2010-11; [54470]