Social Security Benefits
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the potential savings to the Exchequer of implementing the proposed total household benefit cap in each financial year from its implementation to 2015-16. [55024]
Steve Webb: The coalition Government announced on the spending review 2010 that household benefit payments would be capped from 2013 at around £500 per week for couple and lone parent households and around £350 per week for single adult households. War widows and widowers, households which include a member who is receiving disability living allowance or constant attendance allowance, and working households claiming the working tax credit will be exempt from the cap.
If the benefit cap were applied in full, as described in the supporting documentation for the spending review, the savings to the Exchequer are estimated to be £225 million in 2013-4, £270 million in 2014-5 and £270 million in 2015-16.
Social Security Benefits: Strokes
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training is provided for staff dealing with benefits and employment to ensure that they understand the needs of people who have suffered a stroke. [54990]
Chris Grayling: The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) policy is to develop its staff in the skills required to support a range of customers and to respect their individual needs. This approach ensures that they are equipped to deal with a diverse set of circumstances while treating customers as individuals.
The learning programme for Jobcentre Plus focuses on raising awareness of the customer's personal circumstances and also recognises that disabilities and health conditions can affect individuals in different ways and will change over time.
All Jobcentre Plus staff receive foundation learning which covers excellent customer service, diversity and customer needs. These deal with the wide range of circumstances that our customers may have, some less obvious than others, and stress how important it is to look for signs where the customer does not give us this information directly and to offer appropriate support.
In particular for Advisers the learning has placed a greater emphasis on the need for personalisation and flexibility to enable advisers to build strong relationships with customers. It includes Adviser Skills learning with a core series of Adviser Skills workshops, periods of supported workplace consolidation and knowledge and procedural learning.
The key messages throughout this learning focuses on providing a personalised, flexible service to the customer and treating them as individuals. The learning provides an understanding of why this approach is important; what it means to the customer; what it looks like and
10 May 2011 : Column 1169W
how it works in practice. It further supports the adviser to identify the range of customers and the level of individual support they would need to provide and identify where more specialist help may be appropriate.
This specialist help can come from our Disability Employment Advisers who have extensive and specialist learning in addition to the detail provided above.
In addition an extensive learning programme has been developed to support the implementation of IB Reassessment. Training is being provided for Jobcentre Plus staff across Contact Centres, Benefit Centres and Jobcentres. In recognition of the varied needs of the IB reassessment customer group and the impact that the change will have on customers, the learning includes behavioural/cultural topics as well as the technical aspects required for the processing of benefits.
PDCS deals with pension age customers and customers with disabilities, and includes the Local Service visiting function, a function which has recently been extended to include visits to vulnerable customers on behalf of Jobcentre Plus.
In common with Jobcentre Plus, all PDCS staff are given foundation training in customer service, diversity and communications according to learning requirements as part of their induction. Ongoing training and development is provided throughout their career, as part of their ongoing performance and development, or on change of job.
PDCS staff have access to training in Excellent Customer Service and training on understanding the needs of customers who have disabilities. There is also a training package on communication barriers and the assistance that can be arranged to resolve communication problems.
Local Service visiting staff are given awareness training on the needs of older people, include training in health and vulnerability, which covers strokes in particular. The learning package highlights empathy, diversity/equality and managing emotional responses. It also covers support services available to customers, while emphasising the need for an empowering approach to combat the negative spiral which can increase dependency. This learning package is currently being broadened to cover the needs of all age groups.
To support future plans for business restructuring within the Local Service function, a learning intervention is currently being developed for telephony staff, which will cover understanding customers' needs, vulnerability and communication issues.
State Retirement Pensions
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what his policy is on honouring (a) existing and (b) future earnings-related pension entitlements under his proposed pension reforms; [54997]
(2) what assessment he has made of the categories of individual likely to be (a) better and (b) worse off as a result of the introduction of a single tier pension; [54998]
(3) what estimate he has made of the number of people likely to lose entitlement to savings credit under the Government's proposals for pension reform; [54999]
(4) what estimate he has made of the number of people likely to be affected by reform of inherited
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rights under the Government's proposals for pension reform. [55000]
Steve Webb: The Government's consultation paper A state pension for the 21st century sets out two broad options for reform to simplify the state pension and better support saving.
The Government have made it clear that they would honour contributions to the current system during transition to any new system and envisages that the savings credit would be retained under option one (faster flat rating) but would end under option two (single tier).
The Government are currently seeking views on both options for reform as part of the consultation process and, as policy development is still underway, it is not possible to provide further detail at this stage. The Government will provide further detail and a full assessment of the impacts of any changes when it publishes more detailed proposals for reform.
Welfare to Work
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were enrolled in welfare-to-work schemes (a) in total and (b) in each programme at the start of (i) 2010-11 and (ii) each of the previous five financial years. [45148]
Chris Grayling: Following tables contain information on provision starts for the main welfare-to-work schemes for the last six financial years. It should be noted that information on every welfare-to-work scheme is not collected centrally and doing so would incur disproportionate costs. Therefore the following data only covers the key welfare-to-work schemes.
Welfare-to-work schemes have been split into three categories; Intensive support; Less intensive support; and Jobcentre Plus led.
| New Deal p rogrammes (spells in thousand) | ||
| New Deal for young p eople | New Deal for 25 p lus | |
| Flexible New Deal | |
| Financial year | Starts |
| Emplo yment z ones (spells in thousand) | |||
| 18 to 24-year-olds | Lone parents | Aged 25 plus | |
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Welfare to Work schemes—less intensive support
| New Deal programmes (spells in thousand) | |
| New Deal for disabled people | |
| Provide led pathways to work | |
| Financial year | Starts |
Welfare to work schemes—Jobcentre Plus led
| New Deal programmes (spells in thousand) | |||
| New Deal for lone parents | New Deal for 50 plus | New Deal for partners | |
| Jobcentre Plus Pathways | |
| Financial year | Starts |
Written Questions: Government Responses
Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to answer Questions 50232 and 50236, on community care grants, tabled on 28 March 2011 for answer on 30 March 2011. [54876]
Steve Webb: I replied to the hon. Member’s questions on 9 May 2011, Official Report, column 1022W.
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Deputy Prime Minister
Members: Correspondence
Kate Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to reply to the letter of 2 August 2010 from a constituent of the hon. Member for Stretford and Urmston, Mr Charlie Donegan. [54387]
The Deputy Prime Minister: My office deals with my correspondence in the most efficient way possible to ensure a comprehensive reply. It was for this reason that Mr Donegan's correspondence was passed to the Department for Work and Pensions, as the relevant Department, for a full reply. A reply has now been sent to Mr Donegan.
Cabinet Office
Departmental Legal Costs
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 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. [54640]
Mr Maude: The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.
Manufacturing Industries
Jonathan Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the level of growth in the manufacturing sector in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [54834]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority, I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated May 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question regarding the level of growth in manufacturing in the latest 12 months. [54834]
Figures from the Index of Production statistical bulletin published on the 6th April 2011 show that manufacturing output grew by 4.9% in February 2011 when compared to February 2010.
Members: Correspondence
Caroline Flint: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects the Cabinet Secretary to reply to the letters from the right hon. Member for Don Valley of 3 March and 4 April 2011 on the Audit Commission. [54915]
Mr Maude: The Cabinet Secretary replied to the right hon. Member today.
Public Bodies Reform Programme
Tessa Jowell:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 March 2011, Official Report, columns 9-10WS, on public bodies reform programme, if he will (a) prepare
10 May 2011 : Column 1173W
and
(b)
publish a schedule setting out the contribution of each public body to the reduction in spending through public bodies. [54524]
Mr Maude
[holding answer 9 May 2011]: The following table sets out total reductions for the bodies sponsored
10 May 2011 : Column 1174W
by each Department that informed the estimates I announced on 16 March 2011. These are estimates as of 16 March, expressed as real-terms cumulative totals over the spending review period.
| £ million | ||||
|
|
Estimated cumulative admin reductions from public bodies over SR period | Estimated cumulative programme spending reductions from public bodies over SR period | Estimated cumulative capital spending reductions from public bodies over SR period | Estimated total cumulative reductions over SR period |
| (1) Not provided (2) Minimal (3 )DWP total reduction figure includes a £233.9 million reduction which has not been classified as admin or programme expenditure. | ||||
Third Sector
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to (a) draw the attention of and (b) encourage the involvement of hon. Members in identifying best practice in civil society. [44449]
Mr Hurd: Both I and the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr Maude) have taken steps to keep MPs abreast of developments on the big society. For example we recently published a written ministerial statement that set out the current position on development of the big society bank. In November last year I wrote to all MPs and invited them to bring in VCSE groups from their constituencies for open discussions and so far 29 such meetings have been held.
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing: Wirral
Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he has taken to promote the development of more affordable housing in Wirral West constituency. [54414]
Andrew Stunell: We are investing nearly £4.5 billion in new affordable housing to help deliver up to 150,000 affordable homes between 2011-12 and 2014-15 in England. We expect providers of affordable housing and local authorities to work closely to identify the level of provision needed in their areas.
The location, number and availability of affordable housing will be dependent on agreements between providers and the Homes and Communities Agency, in consultation with local authorities.
The New Homes Bonus also rewards councils for the building of new affordable housing.
Alcoholic Drinks
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on the contents of ministerial drinks cabinets since 12 May 2010. [48406]
Robert Neill: Ministers in the Department for Communities and Local Government do not have drinks cabinets. No expenditure has been undertaken under this administration.
Government Procurement Card
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Government Procurement Cards have been issued to Audit Commission (a) commissioners and (b) other staff in the last 24 months; and what the name is of each (i) commissioner and (ii) director who has used such a card during that period. [54511]
10 May 2011 : Column 1175W
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to respond to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 10 May 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The Audit Commission has not issued any Government Procurement Cards to Commissioners. Three new cards were issued to other staff in the last 24 months. Only one of these cards was issued to a director and this was Eugene Sullivan, Chief Executive. The Chief Executive has used his card once in the time period.
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2011, Official Report, column 195W, on the Government Procurement Card, what the (a) date of purchase, (b) gross amount and (c) supplier was in respect of each transaction undertaken by the Audit Commission using the Government Procurement Card in 2010-11. [54538]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to respond to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 10 May 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The Audit Commission made changes to its purchase to pay procedures in 2010 and reviewed GPC holders, usage and limits. As a result of these changes, the total value of GPC transactions has reduced by 50 per cent in 2010/11.
The detail of the transactions requested will be placed in the House of Commons Library. Please note that the date is the statement date as the date of purchase is unavailable.
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2011, Official Report, column 195W, on the Government Procurement Card, which Audit Commission transactions on the Government Procurement Card in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10 were made by each director and board member of the Commission. [54539] [Official Report, 18 May 2011, Vol. 528, c. 1MC.]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to respond to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 10 May 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The following table lists transactions made on the Government Procurement Card for 2008/09 and 2009/10 by the Audit Commission's Chief Executive and Chairman. No other directors or Commissioners hold cards.
No transactions were made between January and March 2010.
| Transaction d ate | Supplier | Amount (£) |
10 May 2011 : Column 1176W
10 May 2011 : Column 1177W
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2011, Official Report, column 195W, on the Government Procurement Card, what the purpose was of each purchase made by the Government Procurement Card by the Audit Commission from (a) Flying Flowers, (b) Art and Flowers, (c) Petals of Narborough, (d) Bunches Florapost, (e) Serenata Flowers, (f) Interflora and (g) other florists in 2009-10. [54579]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to respond to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 10 May 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
In common with many other employers, the Audit Commission operated a staff recognition scheme from 2007. This enabled managers to recognise the exceptional contribution or achievement of employees by awarding a one-off non-cash recognition award of between £20 and £50 per person. An employee could not receive more than one recognition award each year. The scheme ended in March 2011. in the last year, out of a total of 2,000 employees, 150 primarily junior staff received an award at an average cost of £35.
The purpose of the purchases was:
a) Flying Flowers—staff recognition scheme
b) Arts and Flowers—staff recognition scheme
c) Petals of Narborough—flowers for reception at Leicester office for April, May and June 2009. We stopped buying flowers for reception in July 2009.
d) Bunches Florapost—gift for members of staff—fully reimbursed, and therefore at no cost to the public purse
e) Serenata Flowers—staff recognition scheme
f) Interflora—gift for member of staff—fully reimbursed (£36.98) and staff recognition scheme
g) Other florists: Frosts & Landscapes—rental of a Christmas tree for our main office. We did not rent or buy a Christmas tree in 2010. Eden Florists—flowers for the funeral of a member of staff.
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2011, Official Report, column 195W, on the Government Procurement Card, what the purpose was of each meal purchase by the Audit Commission using the Government Procurement Card in 2009-10 at (a) Coq d'Argent, (b) Quirinale, (c) Albannach, (d) Bank, (e) Brasserie Blanc and (f) Millbank Spice; and who attended each such meal. [54580]
10 May 2011 : Column 1178W
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to respond to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 10 May 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The payments to a) Coq d'Argent b) Quirinale and c) Albannach have already been published in our hospitality and expenses register on the Audit Commission's website. They were for meetings between senior Audit Commission staff and senior contacts at partner organisations.
Attendees were:
a) Coq d'Argent
Steve Bundred, Chief Executive and Evan Davis, BBC.
b) Quirinale
There were two dinners held at Quirinale. The first was attended by Steve Bundred, Chief Executive, Michael O'Higgins, Chairman, the Comptroller and Auditor General of the NAO and the Chairman of the NAO.
The second dinner was attended by Steve Bundred, Chief Executive and HM Chief Inspector, Ofsted.
c) Albannach
Steve Bundred, Chief Executive and Director of Communications, Cabinet Office.
The payment for d) Bank was for a dinner to bring together senior NHS and local government executives and partner inspectorates to discuss the new Comprehensive Area Assessment framework.
Attendees were:
Michael O'Higgins, Chairman
Gareth Davies, Managing Director Local Government
Karen McConnell—Central Region Director, Audit Commission
Stephen Hughes—CEO Birmingham City Council
John Polychronakis—CEO Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
Trish Haines—CEO Worcester County Council
Antoinette Jackson—CEO Cambridge City Council
Dr Sandy Bradbrook—CEO Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT
Nick Hodgson—CEO Derby County Council
Peter West—Head of Commissioner Methods Care Quality Commission
The payment for e) Brasserie Blanc was for a meal for a team of 12 individuals under the Audit Commission's staff recognition scheme. In common with many other employers the Audit Commission operated a staff recognition scheme from 2007. This enabled managers to recognise the exceptional contribution or achievement of employees by awarding a one-off non-cash recognition award of between £20 and 50 per person. An employee could not receive more than one recognition award each year. The scheme ended in March 2011. In the last year, out of a total of 2,000 employees, 150 primarily junior staff received an award at an average cost of £35.
The payments for f) Millbank Spice were for evening meals for a number of Audit Commission staff staying overnight in London on business.
Because the information requested includes personal information, we have been unable to disclose the names of more junior staff who attended meals in e) and f) as this would be a breach of the first principle of the Data Protection Act.
Departmental Legal Costs
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 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. [54639]
10 May 2011 : Column 1179W
Robert Neill: All litigation cases against the Department are managed by the Treasury Solicitors Department. To answer this question, the Treasury Solicitors Department would be required to check through their records for the last three years, separating our civil claims from other types of litigation, and separating out successful from unsuccessful cases. This could be done only at disproportionate cost, and the Treasury Solicitors Department would charge this department for the work.
Enterprise Zones
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he had with (a) local authorities and (b) local economic partnerships on the need for enterprise zones prior to the announcement on 23 March 2011 on enterprise zones. [51912]
Robert Neill: Officials began discussion with local authorities and local enterprise partnerships about the possible location of enterprise zones in March 2011. This followed decisions by the Government about the criteria that should be used to select local enterprise partnership areas.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that landowners within enterprise zones are prevented from receiving significant benefits. [52729]
Robert Neill: In earlier enterprise zones business rate relief lasted for 10 years. This sometimes meant that, over time, rate reductions were passed on' to landlords in the form of increased rents..
In the new generation of enterprise zones we are limiting business rate relief to 5 years. As the average lease is (around) 6.5 years—this will reduce the ability of landowners to pass on business rate reductions into higher rents when leases are re-negotiated.
Enterprise Zones: Non-domestic Rates
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the monetary value of business rates to be retained by local authorities over the 25 years following the establishment of the enterprise zones set out in The Plan for Growth. [53133]
Robert Neill: All business rate growth within the enterprise zone for a period of at least 25 years will be retained. The amount that authorities retain will depend on a range of factors, including the location, size and nature of the successful bids.
EU Grants and Loans: North East England
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2011, Official Report, column 390W, on EU grants and loans: North East, what the monetary value is of the funding to the North East England 2007-13 European Regional Development Competitiveness programme that remains uncommitted. [54374]
10 May 2011 : Column 1180W
Robert Neill: The allocation for the North East England 2007-13 European Regional Development Fund Competitiveness programme is €375.7 million. The total amount that has been committed is €238.1 million. Therefore €137.6 million remains uncommitted.
I also refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement of 3 February 2011, Official Report, columns 48-49WS, on how we intend to improve the operation and delivery of the European Regional Development Fund in England.
Government Procurement Card
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps the Audit Commission has taken to encourage the use of the Government Procurement Cards by local authorities. [54510]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to respond to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 10 May 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The Commission has not encouraged local authorities to use Government Procurement Cards. However, I note that The Office of Government Commerce says it is working with Buying Solutions to improve the visibility, adoption and use of procurement cards across the public sector to help in meeting efficiency programmes, describing the GPC as 'the first choice for UK Government and UK public sector organisations…The GPC is an established and proven solution which has been selected and endorsed by the UK Government'.
Historic Buildings: Planning Permission
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effects of reductions in local authority staffing levels on his Department's ability to maintain the effective operation of Planning Policy Statement 5. [54852]
Robert Neill: The Department has not carried out such an assessment. It is for individual authorities to decide how the resources available to them should be deployed in the light of priorities.
Housing: Building Alterations
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will review the category of dwellings that may have permitted development rights in order to include flats. [54026]
Robert Neill: The Government have no current plans to grant flats the permitted development rights which exist for dwellinghouses under Schedule 2, Part 1 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended).
A reason for excluding flats in this way is that the exercise of permitted development rights by a flat owner could impact negatively on others within the same block.
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Housing: Older People
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration his Department is giving to planning for the housing needs of older people in developing its definition of sustainable development. [52993]
Robert Neill: The housing needs of older people are a material consideration for local planning authorities whether they are writing local plan policies or determining planning applications. In the summer we will be consulting on the draft National Planning Policy Framework which is to replace all the current Planning Policy Statements and Planning Policy Guidance Notes. The framework is still being drafted, so I am not in a position to discuss its contents. However, the Government will welcome any comments in relation to the draft policies in respect of planning for housing, including provision for older people.
Land: Databases
Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans his Department has for the supply of aerial photography and height data following the cessation of the Pan Government Agreement. [52743]
Andrew Stunell: The Pan Government Agreement continues to provide aerial photography and height data.
No decisions have been made on the future provision for the supply of aerial photography and height data once the current contract ends.
Local Enterprise Partnerships
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions he has had meetings with representatives of the (a) Federation of Small Businesses, (b) Institute of Directors and (c) Forum of Private Business to discuss the national representative body for local enterprise partnerships to be led by the British Chambers of Commerce since May 2010. [54586]
Robert Neill: Ministers meet regularly with business representative bodies on a range of policy issues, including local enterprise partnerships.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what procurement process his Department used to select the British Chambers of Commerce to lead a national representative body for local enterprise partnerships; and if he will make a statement. [54587]
Robert Neill: The British Chamber of Commerce offered to run a network of Local Enterprise Partnerships and submitted a proposal to support this offer. The decision to engage with a British Chamber of Commerce—led network has been made on the basis of their good fit, national reach and ambition to deliver this work across the country for Local Enterprise Partnerships. The Department is not procuring this service but will support this activity led by British Chamber of Commerce.
10 May 2011 : Column 1182W
No grant agreement is yet in place and any funding awarded will be subject to a satisfactory funding agreement which will be dependent on the quality of their final business case.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) which organisations were consulted on the decision to select the British Chambers of Commerce to lead a national representative body for local enterprise partnerships; [54588]
(2) what the aims and objectives are of the new national representative body for local enterprise partnerships; and if he will make a statement. [54589]
Robert Neill: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Torbay (Mr Sanders) and the hon. Member for Blackpool South (Mr Marsden) on 9 May 2011, Official Report, column 1035W.
Non-domestic Rates
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) mean and (b) median cost was of business rates to businesses of each size category in the (i) manufacturing, (ii) pharmaceutical, (iii) haulage, (iv) construction, (v) retail, (vi) financial services, (vii) hospitality and leisure, (viii) accountancy, (ix) legal and (x) IT and telecoms industries in the last five years for which figures are available. [52829]
Robert Neill: The Department collects information on total business rates revenue and number of hereditaments by local authority on the national non-domestic rates forecast and outturn forms. However, this information is not split by size of business or by industry categories. Since the Department does not collect individual hereditament data, it is not possible to calculate median averages.
The following table shows information on average net rate yield per hereditament for England as a whole:
| Net rate yield per hereditament in England | ||
| £ | ||
|
|
Cash | Real terms (2010 prices) |
Planning Permission
Adam Afriyie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether local
10 May 2011 : Column 1183W
planning authorities continue to be required to consider regional strategies as set out in ODPM circular 01/2006 when deciding upon local planning applications. [51884]
Robert Neill: The Government are abolishing regional strategies through the Localism Bill. This is a material consideration that local planning authorities can take into account.
On 13 April, my Department published a draft Planning Policy Statement on Traveller sites (which we intend will replace Circular 01/2006), which councils can take into account as emerging policy.
Ports
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was paid into his Department's scheme to enable port companies to pay off retrospective rate demands over eight years; and for what purposes the money paid into the scheme has been spent. [54304]
Robert Neill: Local authorities reported that in England in 2009-10 there was a net reduction in non-domestic rate yield of £8 million relating to schedule of payment agreements.
This was calculated from the amount of relief granted by the signing of schedule of payment agreements in 2009-10 (£15 million) less the amount of money collected by local authorities in 2009-10 in respect of schedule of payment agreements (£7 million) entered into up to 31 March 2010.
All non-domestic rates revenues, collected by billing authorities, are passed to the central non-domestic rates pool and are redistributed to local authorities under the Formula Grant scheme.
Property Development: Floods
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and (b) the Environment Agency on the powers of the Environment Agency to object to a planning application for developments in flood zones. [54910]
Robert Neill: My Department has been working closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on all aspects of planning reform, including on development and flood risk. When taking forward our reforms we will ensure that the Environment Agency retains a role in the planning process that facilitates their input in a timely and proportionate way.
Regional Development Agencies: Assets
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account he took in his Department's business planning processes for future years of the use of former regional development agency assets; and what the net financial effect is of the use of such assets. [51594]
Robert Neill:
£100 million of income from the former regional development agencies' asset disposals in 2013-14 is incorporated in departmental spending plans. The regional development agencies had a very broad portfolio of land and property assets and we are committed to
10 May 2011 : Column 1184W
ensuring it is developed out to maximise the impacts it can have on strengthening local economies up and down the country.
DCLG will also be making use of European Regional Development Fund related finance, project and HR data assets belonging to the former regional development agencies. We are currently scoping work needed to bring the assets into effective use.
Regional Planning and Development
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanisms are in place to assist local authorities in determining the appropriate level of site provision for Gypsies and Travellers which was formerly provided by regional spatial strategies. [50572]
Robert Neill: I refer the hon. Member to my Department’s press notice of 13 April on Travellers and planning, which provides a broad outline of the initiatives that my Department is taking to reform the planning process, to improve community relations and to work with local communities to provide the right level of provision for local authorised sites. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
Rents: Exeter
Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will estimate the potential effects on rent levels in Exeter of the Government's restructuring of council house rents. [54395]
Grant Shapps: Successive Governments have issued annual guidance on rent rises but final responsibility for setting rents lies with the local authority. Current rent restructuring policy, which is unchanged from that inherited from the last administration, includes a recommended limit on individual rent increases of no more than RPI+ 0.5% + £2 in any year. Application of this limit is at the discretion of the local authority. It would therefore be difficult to estimate actual rent levels in Exeter.
Social Clubs
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department provides support for social clubs in (a) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency, (b) the North East, (c) England and (d) the UK. [54246]
Robert Neill [holding answer 5 May 2011]: Social clubs play a crucial role in lives of communities all over the country. The Department for Communities and Local Government is very supportive of their important function and through the Community Right to Buy provisions contained in the Localism Bill, communities will be provided with greater opportunities to take over assets that are of importance to them. Consultation on the Community Right to Buy closed on 3 May 2011 and we will be providing a response in the summer.
The Government have also been working with BIG Lottery Fund on interim arrangements to establish a big society bank (to help social enterprises, charities and voluntary organisations access the investment they need). The big society bank will work with social investment
10 May 2011 : Column 1185W
intermediaries to grow the social investment market, encouraging more investment in social change and broadening the finance options open to the sector.
Social clubs in England may be eligible for mandatory or discretionary business rates relief. The granting of discretionary rate relief is ultimately a decision for the local authority but the Government believes it has an important role to play in supporting not-for-profit organisations, recognising the public benefit that they give to their local community.
The Government’s increase in small business, rate relief for two years has also benefited many social clubs.
Social Rented Housing
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what estimate he has made of the average proportion of rent which will be met from housing benefit in social housing properties subject to 80 per cent. of market rents; [55025]
(2) what estimate he has made of the level of social rents in each local authority area where these are set at 80 per cent. of market rents; and how this compares with (a) average levels of social rent and (b) the 30(th) percentile of private sector rent. [55026]
Grant Shapps: As explained in the Affordable Homes Programme Framework, which can be found at:
http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/public/documents/Affordable-Homes-Framework.pdf
registered providers will be able to let a property at an affordable rent (inclusive of service charges, where applicable) of up to 80% of the gross market rent where it is part of a development agreement with the Homes and Communities Agency. It would be open to providers to offer a rent at less than 80% of market rates if that best suited local circumstances. A provider’s calculation of market rent would need to be based on a residential lettings estimate for a property of the appropriate size, condition and area. Valuations should be in accordance with a Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors recognised method.
Illustrative modelling of the affordable rent policy, including assumptions about affordable rent levels and the average proportion of rent that will met by housing benefit for affordable rent properties will be set out in the Impact Assessment, due to be published shortly. The Impact Assessment will also describe the uncertainties around such housing benefit estimates. Data on affordable rent levels by local authority are not available.
Statistics on social rent levels of housing association, local authority and private rents provided by the Department can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/rentslettings/
Local housing allowance rates by broad rental market areas, which are subject to different boundaries to those of local authorities, are determined by the Valuation Office Agency and are based on the 30(th) percentile of private market rents, subject to caps. Information on these rates for May 2011 can be found at:
http://www.voa.gov.uk/LHADirect/BRMA_May_2011.htm
Broad rental market areas are large in size, and summary figures will mask very significant variations in rents.
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Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of total housing stock was social housing in each local authority in (a) 1981, (b) 1997 and (c) 2009-10. [55027]
Andrew Stunell: A table showing the figures requested has been placed in the Library of the House.
Data from several sources are used in the answer to this parliamentary question. Local authority-owned stock is from the Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) and its predecessor Housing Investment Programme (HIPl) returns; housing association stock is from the Tenant Services Authority’s Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR); and total stock figures are from DCLG’s Dwelling Stock Estimates. Each of these is published and in the public domain.
Social Rented Housing: Greater London
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) private and (b) social housing units were completed in each London local authority area in each of the last five years. [55014]
Andrew Stunell: Figures for new build housing completions in each English local authority district in each of the last five years, split into private enterprise, housing association and local authority tenures, are published on the Department for Communities and Local Government website in Live Table 253 and can be found at the following link:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/housebuilding/livetables/
However, for figures specifically on completions of social, or affordable, housing, a more detailed and accurate source is the Department for Communities and Local Government's Affordable Housing Supply statistics. Figures up to and including 2009-10 are published in Live Table 1008 on the Department for Communities and Local Government website. The table, which includes both new-build completions and acquisitions, can be found at the following link:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/affordablehousingsupply/livetables/
The next House Building statistical release, containing figures for 2010-11, will be published on 19 May.
The next Affordable Housing Supply statistical release, containing figures for 2010-11, is scheduled to be published in the autumn.
Government Procurement Card
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) date of purchase, (b) gross amount, (c) level 3 line item detail and (d) supplier was in respect of each transaction undertaken by the Standards Board using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10. [54577]
Robert Neill: The Standards Board for England does not use the Government's Procurement Card.
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Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has assessed the effects of the staged increase in the national fee assumption for adult apprenticeships between 2006 and 2010-11 on the numbers of micro-businesses offering apprenticeships in (a) the Brighton and Hove area and (b) nationally; and if he will make a statement. [53019]
Mr Hayes: We are strongly committed to supporting employers to train their staff so that they have the skills they need to grow their businesses. We know that apprenticeships are valued by employers and individuals, as they yield measurable economic benefits for both employers and their employees. Since the 2005/06 academic year (AY) there has been an expectation that, as employers benefit from the skills and training their employees receive, they should contribute more to the cost of training. The level of contribution expected from employers, referred to as the assumed contribution, has risen in stages.
The following table sets out the assumed fee contribution between 2006/07 AY and 2009/10 AY, and the number of apprenticeships that were delivered to learners aged 19+ living in the Brighton and Hove local authority area and across England over this period. There is no central record that shows the number of adult apprenticeships delivered by size of employer by local authority area. The assumed fee contribution for 2010/11 AY is 50%.
| Academic year (AY) | ||||
|
|
2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 |
| Data sources: Statistical First Release published on 31 March 2011, Learning and Skills Council Statements of Priority for the financial years 2006-07, 2007-08, 2006-09 and 2009-10. | ||||
“Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth” (November 2010) provides illustrative forecasts of the number of adult training places that Government investment can support. It is anticipated that 388,490 adult apprenticeship places will be funded across England in the 2010/11 academic year. Individual colleges and training organisations have been given the freedom and flexibility to work directly with their local partners, to determine the actual mix of provision that best meets the needs of their communities. As take up follows employer demand, it is not possible to provide estimates of the geographical distribution of apprenticeship places or funding.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what mechanism he has put in place to monitor the adequacy of supply of apprenticeships for those aged 19 to 25 in (a) the Brighton and Hove area and (b) nationally; and if he will make a statement. [53020]
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Mr Hayes: The apprenticeships programme is demand led. Government provides funding and forecasts the overall number of places that may be afforded. We rely on employers and providers to work together to offer sufficient opportunities to meet local demand, taking advantage of the greater freedoms and flexibilities that we have created in the further education system. Funding of places for adult apprentices, those aged 19 and over, is not further split by age and we do not directly control the level of supply of places for those aged 19 to 25.
The coalition Government are committed to increasing freedoms for further education colleges and training providers, so that they are able to provide tailored solutions to meet the needs within their communities. “Skills for Sustainable Growth” and “Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth” set out these principles. The National Apprenticeship Service, working with the Skills Funding Agency and local authorities, regularly review the take up of apprenticeships by both employers and individuals (across all age groups) to ensure that demand for apprenticeships is being met by supply.
Across the programme, supply of apprenticeship places is at an all time high. Overall, with the new measures announced in this year’s Budget, this Government will deliver at least 250,000 more apprenticeships over the next four years, compared to the previous Government’s plans. In the 2009/10 academic year, 19 to 24-year-olds started 113,800 apprenticeship frameworks, a 34.3% increase on 2008/09.
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the potential effect on apprenticeship take-up rates of the withdrawal of design and technology from the compulsory element of the national curriculum. [54415]
Mr Hayes: It would be premature to make any assessment of the potential impact such a decision could have on apprenticeship take-up rates, as no decision has yet been made by the Department for Education on whether design and technology will continue to be part of the national curriculum. The Department for Education is currently undertaking a full review of the national curriculum, and plans to announce proposals at the end of the year.
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many apprenticeship starts there were in (a) each of the last three quarters of 2010 and (b) the first quarter of 2011; [54499]
(2) how many apprenticeship places were (a) available and (b) taken up in the year ended (i) March 2010 and (ii) March 2011. [54500]
Mr Hayes: Tables 1 as follows shows apprenticeship programme starts for each of the last three quarters of 2009/10 and the first quarter of 2010/11.
| Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts by quarter, 2009/10 and 2010/11 | ||
| Academic year | Quarter | Apprenticeship starts |
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| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Provisional estimates for 2010/11 are not directly comparable with figures for earlier years. Source: Individualised Learner Record | ||
On the 1 April 2010, 265,400 people were participating on an apprenticeship programme. As of the 31 January, the latest date for which we have published information, 307,400 people were participating on an apprenticeship programme. Participation figures show the number of apprentices in learning on a given date. However, to ensure consistency and clarity, for comparative purposes we use the number of people starting an apprenticeship over a full academic year.
Information on apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 31 March:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
Apprentices: Finance
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding has been allocated to apprenticeships in 2011-12; how much such funding is available to fund apprenticeships in the local enterprise area covering Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement. [53224]
Mr Hayes: The Young People's Learning Agency's 16-19 “Funding Statement” (December, 2010) set out expected investment in 16-18 apprenticeship provision in the 2011-12 financial year of £799 million.
This Department's “Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth” (November 2010) set out our plans to invest £3.9 billion in adult further education and skills in the 2011-12 financial year. This includes £3.7 billion for over 3 million adult (19+) training places funded through the Skills Funding Agency with £605 million earmarked for 19+ apprenticeship provision. Budget 2011 announced an additional £180 million for 19+ apprenticeship provision over the spending review period.
This Department is currently considering the split of funding across each of the spending review years, including the level of additional investment in 19+ apprenticeships for the 2011-12 financial year.
Take-up by region follows employer demand and providers can deliver apprenticeships across a number of different regions. For this reason, we are not able to provide estimates of the geographical distribution of apprenticeship funding in 2011-12 financial year.
Apprentices: Small Businesses
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage small and medium-sized businesses to take on apprentices; what recent representations he has received on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [50239]
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Mr Hayes: As part of the Budget statement, this Government announced a new £75 million programme of training and other targeted support focused specifically on small and medium-sized businesses to help them access advanced and higher level apprenticeships.
This package of support was developed as a result of discussions with employers as part of the growth review and is expected to particularly benefit advanced manufacturing and digital and creative industries. We want to support businesses coming together to build advanced and higher level apprenticeship schemes to address their skills gaps.
As the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), also announced recently we will be working together as a priority to reduce bureaucracy for small and medium enterprises making it easier for them to take on new apprentices.
Apprentices: Staffordshire
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many employers have offered to provide apprenticeships within the Stoke-on-Trent/Staffordshire local enterprise partnership area; and what steps he is taking to encourage take-up of such apprenticeships. [53225]
Mr Hayes: From 1 August 2010 to 31 January, 2,300 employers(1) started an apprentice through their learning provider (just under 2,000 in Staffordshire and about 640 in Stoke).(2)
This Government are committed to boosting the supply of apprenticeship places, which is why we have put funding in place to deliver at least 250,000 more Apprenticeships over the next four years.
(1) Source—ILR data from 1 August 2010 to 31 January 2011
(2) Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent reflects activity within the local education area boundaries as BIS are yet to confirm the final reporting arrangements for LEP areas
AssetCo
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many export licences have been granted to AssetCo plc for the sale of equipment to the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for use by the (a) army, (b) police and (c) fire service in the UAE in the last five years for which figures are available. [54211]
Mr Prisk: We have no record of any export licences applications from this company.
British Library Business and IP Centre
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the British Library's Business and IP Centre regional pilot study in the North East; if he will estimate the potential effect of the Centre on the economy of the North East; and what steps he plans to take maximise the economic benefit to the North East from the Centre. [52940]
10 May 2011 : Column 1191W
Mr Prisk [holding answer 28 April 2011]: I have made no assessment of the potential effectiveness of a business and IP centre in the north-east of England, however, a scoping exercise commissioned by the British Library in December 2010 found that there would be demand for a pilot in the north-east. An independent evaluation by Adroit Economics in 2010 found the London Business and IP Centre delivered an increase in gross value added of £1.29 for every £1 invested. The British Library is currently exploring options to establish a centre in Newcastle, based on the London model.
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what support he plans to provide the British Library Business and IP Centre following the termination of its funding by London Development Agency. [52941]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 28 April 2011]: The core services provided by the British Library Business and IP Centre will continue to be funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport grant after London Development Agency (LDA) funding ceases. The British Library has successfully applied for European Regional Development Funding of £2.4 million to provide additional advice for growth businesses over the period 2011/12 to 2014/15. The application has been approved by the Mayor of London and contract negotiations are under way. Bridge funding is currently being provided by LDA.
Bureaucracy: Government Departments
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many comments expressing (a) support for existing regulations and (b) requests for additional regulations he has received through the Red Tape Challenge website. [54487]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 9 May 2011]: Since the launch of the Red Tape Challenge website on 7 April, we have received over 14,000 comments. The Departments leading each theme will consider all the comments, which are publicly available on the website at:
www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
The presence of a particular regulation or law on the website should not be read as implying any intention on the part of the Government to remove that regulation or law from the statute book
Business: Bassetlaw
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) new business start ups and (b) business insolvencies there have been in Bassetlaw constituency since 8 May 2010. [52943]
Mr Davey: Statistics on business start-ups are available from the Office of National Statistics publication on Business Demography. This is an annual publication and data from 2010 will not be available until December 2011.
Official statistics covering corporate insolvencies for England and Wales are not currently available at sub-national level.
10 May 2011 : Column 1192W
Quarterly totals for both compulsory and creditors’ voluntary liquidations in England and Wales are presented in Table 1 of the Quarterly Insolvency Statistics, the latest publication of which can be found on the Insolvency Service website here:
http://www.insolvency.gov.uk/otherinformation/statistics/201102/table1.pdf
Business: Regulation
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Department's announcement of 18 March 2011 on business regulation, if he will bring forward proposals to publish details of new regulations which have not been submitted to the Regulatory Policy Committee or the Reducing Regulation Committee. [52838]
Mr Prisk: No new regulation which has an impact on business should be introduced without it first being submitted to the Regulatory Policy Committee and the Reducing Regulation Committee, as demonstrated for domestic regulation by the "One-In, One-Out: Statement of New Regulation" published on 7 April.
Departmental Work Experience
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students from (a) the UK and (b) Bassetlaw constituency have been offered internships in his Department since 8 May 2010. [53206]
Mr Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has offered 14 internships to UK students since 8 May 2010. None of those students reside in the Bassetlaw constituency.
Economic Growth
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to The Plan for Growth, what his definition of an economically significant project is. [52822]
Mr Prisk: With reference to the planning system, s76a of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 allows the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable) to call in planning applications if they are of national or regional importance. Generally such cases are identified on a case by case basis and as set out in the Plan for Growth the Government will consider using these powers for projects that have potential for significant economic benefits beyond the area where the development is based and the planning decision made. Local Enterprise Partnerships, for example, may play a role in identifying such projects.
Employment: Overseas Students
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the effects on the further education sector of proposed regulations to restrict employment of international students. [54900]
10 May 2011 : Column 1193W
Mr Hayes [holding answer 9 May 2011]:The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has had wide-ranging discussions with Home Office, at ministerial and official level, exploring all aspects of proposed changes to the student immigration system.
This Government value the contribution international students make to our further education sector but are committed to reducing the numbers of non-EU immigrants to this country and as part of this commitment we are seeking to reduce the level of abuse of the system among student immigrants. In particular, we need to ensure that students coming to this country genuinely want to study and are not using the student immigration route as a means of working in this country.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of international students attending further education colleges who will be affected by proposed restrictions on working hours. [54903]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 9 May 2011]: The UK Border Agency has carried out an assessment of the impact of the changes they are making to Tier 4 which will be published in the summer, however this will not contain an estimate of students affected by these restrictions as we do not hold centralised data in sufficient detail on international students in the further education sector.
English Language: Education
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the number of English for speakers of other languages students in (a) September 2010, (b) January 2011 and (c) May 2011. [54240]
Mr Hayes: The following table shows the number of Government-funded learners in England participating on an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course in 2009/10, and provisional data for the first six months of 2010/11 (August 2010 to January 2011), the latest available published data.
| ESOL participation in England, 2009/10 and 2010/11 (August to January). | |
|
|
ESOL participation |
| Notes: 1. These data cover participation in Learner Responsive, Apprenticeships, Train to Gain, Adult Safeguarded Learning and University for Industry provision. Further Education/Learner responsive provision includes general further education colleges including tertiary, sixth form colleges—agricultural and horticultural colleges and art and design colleges, specialist colleges and external institutions. 2. Volumes are rounded to the nearest 100. 3. Geography is based on learners’ home postcode. 4. Provisional figures for 2010/11 are not directly comparable to final figures for 2009/10. Source: Individualised Learner Record | |
Information on participation on ESOL courses is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 31 March:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current/
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Export Controls
John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what mechanisms are in place to ensure the protection of (a) democratic freedoms and (b) human rights when assessing applications for export control licences; [54832]
(2) what steps he plans to take to ensure that export control licences are not granted in circumstances where the equipment to be sold could be used to (a) suppress democratic expression and (b) abuse human rights. [54833]
Mr Prisk: All UK export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the Consolidated European Union (EU) and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. We will not issue any licences if to do so would be inconsistent with the Criteria. Our assessment includes consideration of how an end-user is likely to use the proposed export, the circumstances in which it might be used, and whether it could exacerbate conflict or otherwise contravene the criteria.
Criterion 2 relates to ‘the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country of final destination’. Having assessed the recipient country's attitude towards relevant principles established by international human rights instruments, we will ‘not issue an export licence if there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression’.
Foreign Investment in UK
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the Plan for Growth, what plans he has to provide a bespoke service to key inward investors; and if he will make a statement. [53129]
Mr Prisk: The Government are currently developing a new approach to ensure that major investors and exporters, whose decisions and business success will deliver significant benefits to the UK economy, receive a consistent and joined-up service from Government.
A new cross-governmental strategic relations team, based in UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), under a leadership with extensive private sector experience, will co-ordinate this work, adopting best practice from private sector professional services organisations. More details will be contained in the UKTI Strategy 2011-15 to be published on 10 May.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress has been made on contracting out the delivery of support for inward investment by UK Trade & Industry; and if he will make a statement. [53130]
Mr Prisk: On 31 March 2011, UKTI awarded a three-year contract (capable of extension to five years) to PA Consulting Services Ltd for delivery of new national inward investment arrangements. PA Consulting will deliver these new arrangements in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce and OCO Consulting.
The new arrangements will provide resource to:
a. co-ordinate and manage inward investment propositions throughout the UK;
b. support the local elements of delivery of inward investment support, including investor development, in England, excepting London which has its own arrangements.
10 May 2011 : Column 1195W
This is as set out in the notice in the Official Journal of the European Union:
http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:36720Q-2010:TEXT:EN:HTML
A press statement can be found on the UK Trade and Investment website:
http://www.ukti.gov.uk/pt_pt/uktihome/media/pressRelease/128993.html?null
Further Education
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to his answer of 15 March 2011, Official Report, column 305W, on further education, which of the further education colleges listed undertook capital works of a monetary value of more than £1 million in the last five years. [54382]
Mr Hayes: Of the further education colleges listed in my answer of 15 March 2011, Official Report, column 305W, the following 25 FE Colleges have undertaken capital works of a monetary value of more than £1 million in the last five years:
Boston College, Lincolnshire
Broxtowe College (now called Castle College)
Bury College
Canterbury College
City College Birmingham
City of Sunderland College
Halesowen College
Highbury College
Lambeth College
Lincoln College
Matthew Boulton College (now called Birmingham Metropolitan College)
National Star College
Newcastle-under-Lyme College
North Lindsey College
Royal National College for the Blind, Hereford
Royal School for the Deaf
Salford City College
South Staffordshire College
Stoke on Trent College
Strode College
The Manchester College
Trafford College
Tresham Institute
Walford and North Shropshire College
Warwickshire College
Total: 25