Pensions: Public Sector
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate has been made of the savings to the Exchequer of ending contracting out for defined-benefit public sector pension schemes. [52977]
Danny Alexander: The contracted-out rebate for defined benefit pension schemes was worth £7.3 billion in.2008-09 (based on data from the NPS).
NPS data do not differentiate between public and private sector employees and as such a precise estimate on the savings attributable to either group cannot be made.
However, HM Treasury estimates that there are currently around 5.3 million active members of defined benefit pension schemes employed within the public sector.
Energy and Climate Change
Electricity
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure that his proposals for electricity market reform support energy efficiency measures. [54368]
Charles Hendry: The Government are committed to encouraging and incentivising energy efficiency within the home, in the public and private sectors. DECC is already rolling out energy efficient measures through the Green Deal, the Carbon Reduction Commitment, Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and Community Energy Saving Programmes (CESP), among others.
DECC is currently developing a White Paper which will set out proposals for the UK's electricity market reform (EMR). The EMR is a package of policies which will complement and interact with existing policy
12 May 2011 : Column 1320W
including those which incentivise using energy efficiently. In developing the White Paper, we are considering views raised in response to the EMR consultation on demand-side issues.
Fossil Fuels
James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of UK energy was generated from fossil fuels in each year since 2008. [55457]
Charles Hendry: The percentage of UK electricity generated from fossil fuels in each year since 2008 is shown in the following table:
|
|
Percentage |
| (1 )Provisional | |
Fuel Poverty: Sunderland
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in Sunderland he estimates were living in fuel poverty in 2009-10. [55429]
Gregory Barker: In 2008, the latest year for which data is available, the number of households living in fuel poverty in the Sunderland local authority was estimated to be around 24,400. This is equivalent to around 20.6% of households in Sunderland.
Meters
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when the framework for the procurement of the first generation of communication and data service contracts for the development of smart meters will be prepared; and what process that preparation will entail. [55458]
Charles Hendry: The strategy for the procurement of first-generation DCC service providers is currently being prepared by my officials in DECC, with input from stakeholders and from Infrastructure UK, who have expertise in large-scale public sector procurement. We intend to complete the strategy and begin the procurement process as soon as practicable. We will set out further details of the process and the timetable for the procurement process when we are in a position to do so.
Oil: Refineries
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential effects of his proposed floor price for carbon on the operating costs of companies in the oil refining industry. [53998]
Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
An assessment of the impacts of the carbon price floor is given in HMRC's Tax Information and Impact Note published alongside the Budget. This is available online at
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2011/tiin6111.pdf
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Warm Front Scheme
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the number of households previously on the waiting list for the Warm Front scheme who are no longer eligible for the Warm Front scheme under the eligibility criteria from April 2011. [55339]
Gregory Barker: All successful applications on the waiting list before the scheme stopped accepting applications in December 2010 will be serviced.
Communities and Local Government
Citizenship Survey
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations his Department has received on the Citizenship Survey. [54911]
Andrew Stunell: The summary report on the consultation on this issue, and the associated consultation responses, can be found online at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/csconsultresponses
The Department has also received a letter from the UK Statistics Authority. I am placing a copy of the Department's reply to the letter in the Library of the House.
First Time Buyers
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the FirstBuy scheme in assisting first-time buyers. [55195]
Grant Shapps: FirstBuy will help 10,000 prospective first time buyers purchase new build homes over the next two years in England. Housebuilders will match fund the Government's investment, to provide a 20% equity loan which can be used towards a deposit. This will help-first time buyers to enter the housing market, support the construction industry, create new jobs and increase the pace of economic growth. We expect the first homes to be available in the summer.
Historic Buildings: Planning Permission
Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) whether he has placed a requirement on any local planning authority (LPA) to supply in default professional advice in connection with heritage advice to another LPA as authorised under paragraph 7 of schedule 4 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990; [55065]
(2) on how many occasions he has used his powers under paragraph 7 of schedule 4 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. [55066]
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Robert Neill: We have no record of any Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government ever invoking his or her powers under paragraph 7 of Schedule 4 to the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
Local Government Finance
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what the membership of the Local Government Resource Review working group is; what remuneration each member of the group will receive; and how frequently he expects the group to meet; [55336]
(2) what the membership is of the Local Government Resource Review technical group; what remuneration each member of the group will receive; and how frequently he expects the group to meet. [55335]
Robert Neill: The Terms of Reference of the Local Government Resource Review made clear that we would conduct extensive engagement with interested parties. As part of this process, external working groups have been set up to help inform the work of the review, and we continue to welcome representations.
The Business Organisation working group includes, or has invited, representatives from the following organisations:
Association of Convenience Stores
British Chambers of Commerce
British Council of Shopping Centres
British Property Federation
British Retail Consortium
Confederation of British Industry
Federation of Small Businesses
London First
Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
The local authority working group includes, or has invited, representatives from the following organisations:
Association of Chief Police Officers
Association of Police Authorities
Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy
Core Cities
Fire Finance Network
Greater London Authority
Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation
London Councils
Local Government Association
Society of County Treasurers
Society of District Council Treasurers
Society of Municipal Treasurers
Society of Unitary Treasurers
Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities.
The local authority technical working group includes, or has invited, Chris Bilsland, Paul Dale, Will Godfrey, Hugh Grover, Stephen Hughes, Margaret Lee, Sean Nolan, and David Smith, who provide advice on a personal and independent basis rather than representing specific bodies.
These working groups meet as and when required, and members receive no remuneration.
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Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had with (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the Local Government Resource Review. [55337]
Robert Neill: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), has regular discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne) and the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable) and other Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, including the Local Government Resource Review.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had with (a) the Local Government Association, (b) Liverpool city council, (c) the North West Development Agency, (d) the Merseyside Local Enterprise Partnership, (e) the Core Cities Group and (f) the Federation of Small Businesses on the Local Government Resource Review. [55338]
Robert Neill: Ministers and officials have regular discussions with representatives of local government, business and other interested organisations on the Local Government Resource Review. We continue to welcome any further representations to help inform our work.
The first phase of the review will conclude in July when we will consult on the Government's proposals, providing an opportunity for the mentioned groups to make representations and provide their feedback.
Waste Disposal
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on reducing and preventing municipal waste. [52956]
Robert Neill: My Department works closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on these issues and the ongoing Waste Review.
Last year my Department moved to revoke guidance which pressured councils to introduce fortnightly rubbish collections.
On 11 April 2011, both Departments sent a joint letter to local authorities clarifying the legal position on backdoor bin charging. I have placed a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to respond to question 51594 on former regional development agency assets, tabled on 1 April 2011 for answer on 5 April 2011. [55071]
Robert Neill: Question 51594 was answered on 10 May 2011.
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Elephant Poaching: Africa
15. Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking through international organisations to tackle the poaching of elephants in central and west Africa. [55101]
Richard Benyon: As a party to the convention on international trade in endangered species (CITES) the UK supports its efforts to maintain or enhance countries' enforcement capabilities. Next week, the UK will be participating in a CITES-organised rhino and elephant enforcement task force meeting which will exchange intelligence reports and methodologies and develop strategies to tackle the illegal trade in both animals across their ranges.
River Ecology
16. Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to improve the water quality and ecology of rivers in England. [55102]
Richard Benyon: The measures we will take to prevent deterioration and improve the ecological status of all water bodies (including rivers) in England by 2015 are set out in River Basin Management Plans.
An approach to engage local communities to develop improvement plans is being piloted and will be supported by over 8,500 investigations into specific issues and an additional £92 million over the next four years to fund action to tackle them.
Private Sewers
17. Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made on transferring the ownership of private sewers to statutory sewerage companies. [55103]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA continues to work closely with water and sewerage companies and other interested parties in preparation for the proposed transfer of private sewers. Draft regulations to effect the transfer were laid before Parliament on 26 April. Subject to the regulations being approved, the transfer is proposed to take place on 1 October this year.
Uplands Review
18. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received on her Department’s uplands review. [55104]
Mr Paice: Let me thank the hon. Member and the Committee she chairs for highlighting the importance of uplands.
We have received numerous positive reactions from a wide range of stakeholders to the conclusions of the uplands policy review, which was announced on 10 March.
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The value and potential of our uplands have been overlooked for too long and this is the beginning, not the end of this Government’s commitment to the uplands.
Bovine Tuberculosis
19. Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to announce measures to tackle the spread of bovine tuberculosis. [55105]
Mr Paice: We will announce a comprehensive and balanced TB Eradication Programme for England shortly. This is a complex and sensitive issue and we received a large number of responses to our consultation, which we have been considering carefully.
As I told the NFU conference in February we must ensure that we have clear and practical solutions to the issues which were raised, failing which we may not proceed.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what public sector job reduction targets have been set for her Department and its non-departmental public bodies for each of the next 24 months; and what steps she plans to take to meet such targets. [51524]
Richard Benyon: The Department does not have "job reduction targets". We have committed to reducing our administration costs across the Department and its non-departmental public bodies by 33% by the end of the current spending review period.
To achieve this we are looking first to save as much as possible from non-pay costs, including significant reductions in the use of consultants, operational savings in IT and estates and other non pay costs.
We have operated a freeze on external recruitment since 25 May 2010, and have made a commitment to avoid compulsory redundancies wherever possible. We are therefore aiming to achieve the cost reduction required through normal staff turnover, voluntary exits, then voluntary redundancies wherever possible.
We are currently running a departmental voluntary exit scheme. Following the departures from this round of exits we will need to re-assess the position and savings we have achieved before taking decisions on next steps.
DEFRA's non-departmental public bodies are managing their own staff exit schemes.
EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement
Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 4 May 2011, Official Report, column 785W, on the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement, whether the information submitted to the European Commission by the Moroccan authorities distinguished between benefit to the indigenous Saharawi population and benefit to Moroccan settlers. [55076]
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Richard Benyon: The information submitted by the Moroccan authorities was not broken down to the level of individual recipients and it is therefore not possible to make such an analysis.
Floods: Insurance
Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the future flood insurance models she is considering for implementation following the end of the Statement of Principles in 2013. [55340]
Richard Benyon: A working group which includes representatives from the Government, the Environment Agency, the insurance industry and other organisations is looking at a range of potential flood insurance models for the future.
These discussions include the role that specialist brokers can play in helping people at high flood risk to access insurance, the potential role of local authorities, and various pooling arrangements for flood risk. Further details on the models that have been considered to date will be provided in the working group's interim report, which is due to be published shortly.
Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether her Department has made an assessment of the effect of inability to obtain home and business flood insurance on the domestic and business property markets in areas where flood defence schemes have been postponed; [55350]
(2) what assessment her Department has made of the availability of flood insurance in areas where flood defence schemes have been postponed. [55351]
Richard Benyon: The three working groups that were established after last year's Flood summit are examining this and other questions about flood insurance and risk reduction, with a view to establishing a roadmap beyond 2013 when the current Statement of Principles ends.
The existing statement commits insurers to continue to offer insurance to existing customers where they are at significant risk and where there are plans in place to reduce that risk within five years.
Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has established any criteria for flood insurance for the new flood insurance framework after 2013. [55352]
Richard Benyon: A working group which includes representatives from the Government, the Environment Agency, the insurance industry and other organisations is looking at a range of potential flood insurance models for the future, and has agreed a set of common principles for how a future model should function. Any potential models will be assessed against these criteria. The criteria will be set out in the working group's interim report, which is due to be published shortly.
12 May 2011 : Column 1327W
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Arms Control
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department takes to monitor the (a) supply of arms to and (b) use of arms by militia and other non-state groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [55030]
Mr Bellingham: The UK is a strong supporter of the UN arms embargo and other measures to restrict the supply of arms to militias operating in the country. The arms embargo was renewed on 30 November 2009 under UN Resolution 1896. This resolution also backed a sanctions regime to provide for measures against individuals or entities supporting illegal armed groups.
Under UN Resolution 1896, the Group of Experts is mandated to investigate breaches of the arms embargo and support to illegal armed groups. The Group of Experts produces an annual report which is used as a basis for determining which individuals could be designated for sanctions. We have stayed in touch with the Group of Experts and have offered as much support to them as possible.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Females
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the British embassy in Kinshasa takes to monitor the situation of women in Eastern Congo; and if he will make a statement. [55028]
Mr Bellingham: To monitor the situation in Eastern Congo, we work with non-governmental organisations and other local and international civil society groups, as well as the UN peacekeeping mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which is an important tool in monitoring human rights abuses. The UK also supports the work of Margot Wallström, the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict.
Women continue to face extremely high levels of sexual and gender-based violence in DRC. We have consistently lobbied the DRC Government, both bilaterally and with our EU partners, to implement necessary reforms and tackle impunity. Our ambassador to DRC takes every appropriate opportunity to raise the issue of sexual violence against women with the DRC authorities. I visited the DRC in July of last year, and raised concerns about human rights with various DRC Government Ministers. I stressed that the DRC's human rights record must improve. I met Foreign Minister Thambwe and urged the Government of DRC to implement fully President Kabila's “Zero Tolerance” policy on perpetrators of sexual violence. In February I also welcomed the conviction of the senior commander, Lt. Col. Mutuare Daniel Kibibi, and eight other soldiers for their role in the mass rape in the town of Fizi, eastern DRC.
United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN peacekeeping force in the DRC, plays a vital role in improving the security of civilians of the DRC. The UK's position in the UN Security Council has made sure that the priority for the force is protection of civilians.
12 May 2011 : Column 1328W
In November we published our ‘National Action Plan’ to address peace and security for women in DRC under UN Security Council Resolution 1325. This sets out our planned work for the coming year, and seeks to address the problem at all levels, including through security and programmes to support women in DRC. The document is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website, as is ‘Human Rights and Democracy: The 2010 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Report’, in which DRC features as a country of concern:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/global-issues/human-rights/around-the-world/human-rights-report/
Departmental Legal Costs
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [54633]
Mr Bellingham: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) recognises the successful management of health and safety to be an essential part of corporate risk management, a key management objective and an integral part of its business performance, and takes all necessary steps to ensure that all legal, moral and economic obligations so far as is reasonably practicable are met.
Our figures show that the FCO paid the following amounts for (a) damages:
2010-11: £424,032
2009-10: £212,900
2008-09: not available
2010-11: £523,620
2009-10: £258,110
2008-09: not available.
We do not keep records of (c) defendant costs in respect of all civil claims brought against the Department in which the claimant was successful or the Department settled.
The figures above are for claims on civil damages and do not include employment tribunals.
Records for 2008-09 are not kept in a format which enables easy retrieval of the data. To retrieve the full data for 2008-09 would incur disproportionate cost.
Indonesia: Religious Freedom
Sajid Javid: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of levels of religious freedom in Indonesia. [55078]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Indonesia's constitution provides for religious freedom for all and the country has strong pluralist and inclusive traditions. However, despite Indonesia's positive progress on human rights, we are concerned about recent violent incidents against religious minorities.
12 May 2011 : Column 1329W
Our ambassador raised freedom of religion concerns with the Indonesian Attorney-General on 21 April 2011. On 5 May 2011, the EU in Jakarta held a meeting for EU partners with members of the Ahmadiyya community that was subjected to a violent attack in February 2011.
Tackling discrimination and protecting minority communities was also discussed with the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the EU-Indonesia Human Rights Dialogue in Brussels on 9 March 2011.
Along with our EU partners, we continue to call for religious tolerance across Indonesia and to press the authorities to ensure respect for the rights of all religious minorities.
Iraq
Mr Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Iraqi Government on Camp Ashraf; and if he will make a statement. [53684]
Alistair Burt: Following an incident on 8 April 2011 at Camp Ashraf, I released a statement calling on the government of Iraq to cease violent operations in Camp Ashraf immediately. Our embassy officials, including our ambassador in Baghdad, have also raised concerns about the incident with the Iraqi President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister of Human Rights. We have urged the Iraqi authorities to take immediate steps to calm the situation at the camp; ensure that medical supplies are able to enter; and ensure that the human rights of camp residents are respected. We will continue to monitor developments at the camp closely.
Libya: Armed Conflict
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an assessment of the compatibility of providing arms to the anti-government forces in Libya with UN Security Council Resolution 1973. [50610]
Alistair Burt: We must do everything to comply with both Security Council Resolutions (UN SCR). The legal position is clear: the arms embargo applies to the whole territory of Libya. But at the same time UN SCR 1973 allows all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian populated areas.
Members: Correspondence
Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye of 17 February 2011, on behalf of her constituent Mr Robert Edmonds, reference AR/LS/947. [55137]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office did not receive my hon. Friend's letter of 17 February 2011. We received a copy on 10 May 2011 and have transferred it to the UK Border Agency for reply.
UK Membership of EU
Mr Rob Wilson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the (a) gross cost to the public
12 May 2011 : Column 1330W
purse and
(b)
net cost to the UK economy of the UK's membership of the EU in the last year for which figures are available. [53140]
Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
The Treasury has reviewed a wide range of studies by external commentators that attempt to assess the economic costs and benefits of EU membership. These reviews are regularly updated by the Treasury to ensure that it is providing Parliament and the public with up-to-date information.
The most recent updates, along with a previous literature review from 2005, were published on the Treasury's website
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/foi_costbenefit_eumembership.htm
on 1 December 2010 following a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
Projections for UK's gross and net contributions to the EU budget are provided by the Office for Budget Responsibility in its Economic and Fiscal Outlook. The latest publication (March 2011) is available online at:
http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/econ-fiscal-outlook-march.html
The table including all transactions with EU institutions is table 2.16 of the supplementary economy tables (also available online).
United Arab Emirates: AssetCo
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the use of (a) military and (b) other equipment sold to the Government of United Arab Emirates by AssetCo plc in recent actions in (i) Manama, Bahrain and (ii) other cities or towns in Bahrain; and if he will make a statement. [54207]
Alistair Burt [holding answer 5 May 2011]: We have seen no evidence that military or other equipment sold by AssetCo plc has been used in Bahrain. We have not seen Emiratis on the streets in Bahrain and we have seen no evidence that Gulf Cooperation forces have done anything other than safeguard installations. The UK Government take their arms export responsibilities very seriously, and operate one of the most rigorous arms export control regimes in the world. We do not export equipment where there is a clear risk it could be used for internal repression.
Work and Pensions
Crisis Loans: Housing Benefit
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of the crisis loans made from the Social Fund were made as interim payments pending benefit receipt in each year since 2009; and what proportion of funding for crisis loans these payments represented. [54191]
Steve Webb: The information available is shown in the following table. Information for 2010-11 will not be available until after the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions’ Annual Report on the Social Fund for 2010-11 has been published later this year.
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Disability Living Allowance: Autism
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people with autism in receipt of the middle rate of disability living allowance. [47894]
Maria Miller: Figures for the number of people with autism in receipt of the middle rate of DLA are not collected separately. Such figures are included within the broader category of learning difficulties.
The information available is in the following table.
| Number of people in receipt of the middle care rate of disability living allowance where the main disabling condition is learning difficulties—August 2010 | ||
|
|
All | Middle care rate |
| Notes: 1. The preferred statistics on benefits are now derived from 100% data sources. However, the 5% sample data still provide some detail not yet available from the 100% data sources, in particular, more complete information on the disabling condition of DLA claimants. DWP recommends that, where the detail is only available on the 5% sample data, or disabling condition (DLA) is required, the proportions derived should be scaled up to the overall 100% total for the benefit. This has been done here. 2. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 3. Caseload totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance and exclude those with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 4. Learning difficulties includes the following disabling conditions: ‘F86’—‘Down's Syndrome’ ‘F87’—‘Fragile X syndrome’ ‘F90’—‘Other Learning Disability’ ‘F91’—‘Autism’ ‘F92’—‘Asperger Syndrome’ ‘F94’—‘Retts Disorder’ Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5% sample | ||
Health Hazards: Regulation
Mrs Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. [55279]
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Chris Grayling: There has been no recent assessment of the effectiveness of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002—known as COSHH. However COSHH implements, among others, Directive 98/24/EC, the chemical agents directive, and the UK was obliged to assess the impact of the first five years of practical implementation of chemical agents directive in 2007.
This assessment was prepared for the UK Government by the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). It is available on the HSE website at:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/meetings/hscarchive/2007/060207/c20.pdf
The assessment concluded that while it was too early to assess the effect of the implementing regulations on occupational health and safety, as even if enough time had elapsed for potentially significant improvements to occur, it would be challenging to differentiate between the effects of the regulations, effects of other initiatives, e.g. targeted inspector activity, and background trends in improving health and safety.
The UK will be required to undertake the next assessment of the implementation of the chemical agents directive later this year and HSE is currently considering the most appropriate way to do this.
Housing Benefit
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on giving tenants in the private rented sector the choice of whether to receive local housing allowance directly. [50649]
Steve Webb: We continue to support the principle that tenants in the private rented sector should be responsible for managing their rental payments. There are safeguards in place so that housing benefit can be paid to the landlord if the tenant is unable or unlikely to pay their rent. Benefit is also paid direct to the landlord if the tenant is in arrears by eight weeks’ rent.
From April 2011 we are widening local authority discretion to pay housing benefit direct to the landlord only if it would help the customer secure a new tenancy or remain in their current home at a reduced rent. We will work closely with local authorities to ensure this provision is used in very specific circumstances where landlords are reducing rents to a level that is affordable for customers.
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the effects on levels of private sector lending to housing associations of changes in the number of housing association tenants paying the housing benefit element of universal credit direct to their landlord compared with equivalent levels at present; and what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on this matter. [52750]
Steve Webb: We said in the recent Welfare Reform White Paper that there are advantages in paying the housing component to individuals, but we also recognise the importance of stable rental income and private sector lending for social landlords.
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Together with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, we are considering a range of options for achieving this, such as the use of direct debits and other protection mechanisms which could safeguard landlords’ incomes. Moreover, we are retaining a facility in universal credit for direct payments to landlords.
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he had had with representatives of (a) social landlords, (b) local authorities, (c) lenders, (d) third sector organisations and (e) tenants organisations on payment direct to landlords of the housing element of universal credit. [52752]
Steve Webb: The Department for Work and Pensions have direct discussions on universal credit, and the housing element of universal credit, with a range of stakeholder groups. These groups include local authorities, landlord representatives and welfare organisations.
We have also said that there are advantages in paying the housing component to individuals, but we also recognise the importance of stable rental income for social landlords. We are considering a range of options for achieving this, such as the use of direct debits and other protection mechanisms which could safeguard landlords’ incomes. Moreover, we are retaining a facility in universal credit for direct payments to landlords.
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of likely claimant (a) on-flow and (b) off-flow rates for housing benefit in each year to 2019-20. [53501]
Steve Webb: The requested information is not available.
Experimental official statistics on housing benefit flows from November 2008 to November 2010 are available, and are published at the bottom of the following link:
http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=hbctb
The latest published forecast of the total housing benefit caseload to 2015-16 is provided in the following table.
|
|
Housing benefit caseload ( Thousand ) |
| Source: Budget 2011 forecasts, available at: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/index.php?page=medium_term | |
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects on individual families of the changes in housing allowances which took effect in April 2011. [55010]
Steve Webb:
The Department has commissioned a consortium of academics and research organisations led by Ian Cole, professor of housing studies at Sheffield Hallam university to undertake an independent review
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of the impact of the housing benefit measures introduced last month. The work will include the effects of the measures on families.
The Department for Communities and Local Government, The Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly Government are working in close partnership with the DWP and contributing to the costs of the review.
Mel Stride: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will bring forward proposals to retain or reinstate arrangements for housing benefit to be paid direct to private landlords. [47602]
Steve Webb: We continue to support the principle that tenants in the private rented sector should be responsible for managing their rental payments. There are safeguards in place so that housing benefit can be paid to the landlord if the tenant is unable or unlikely to pay their rent. Benefit is also paid direct to the landlord if the tenant is in arrears by eight weeks’ rent.
From April 2011 we are widening local authority discretion to pay housing benefit direct to the landlord only if it would help the customer secure a new tenancy or remain in their current home at a reduced rent. We will work closely with local authorities to ensure this provision is used in very specific circumstances where landlords are reducing rents to a level that is affordable for customers.
Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of any change in the (a) number and (b) value of rent arrears in the private rented sector since the introduction of direct payment of housing benefit to tenants. [54647]
Steve Webb: The Department published its assessment of the impact of direct payment of housing benefit to tenants in its Two Year Review of the operation of the local housing allowance. This report was published on 10 February and a copy is available in the House of Commons Library.
Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received on whether tenants in the private rented sector should be able to decide who receives their housing benefit payments. [54648]
Steve Webb: The Department has received representations during the current parliamentary session on the subject of direct payment of housing benefit to private rental sector landlords from:
National Landlords Association
Greater London Authority
Crisis
Shelter
Citizens Advice.
Other organisations, such as the Residential Landlords Association and the British Property Federation, have made submissions to the Work and Pensions Select Committee proposing the reintroduction of tenant choice for housing benefit payments.
12 May 2011 : Column 1335W
Several similar letters and representations have been received from Members of Parliament in respect of their constituents and local organisations.
Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether there will be provision for tenants in the private rented sector to decide to whom the housing element of universal credit is paid. [54649]
Steve Webb: The Government see the main purpose of the benefit system as helping people into work. This is why customers claiming housing benefit according to local housing allowance rules have their payment made to them directly, except where they are unable to handle their financial affairs or where they have got into rent arrears of eight weeks or more.
We intend to take these principles forward into universal credit so private-rented sector tenants, moving onto universal credit for the first time, will generally be paid direct. We are, however, retaining a facility for direct payment to landlords.
Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received from (a) Shelter and (b) Crisis on the direct payment to landlords of housing benefit in respect of tenants in the private rented sector. [54650]
Steve Webb: Representations have been received from both Shelter and Crisis on the direct payment of housing benefit for tenants in the private rented sector. Both Crisis and Shelter have stated that the reintroduction of tenant choice in deciding whether payments should be made to landlords would encourage landlords to stay in the housing benefit market. Shelter based their recommendation on a survey of claimants and a poll of landlords and they made these points in their response to the housing benefit reforms announced in the June 2010 Budget.
Both organisations have also submitted responses to the Work and Pensions Select Committee and the Social Security Advisory Committee which highlighted this area.
Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated research on the preferences of private sector housing tenants in respect of payment of housing benefit. [54651]
Steve Webb: The evaluation of the local housing allowance pathfinders commissioned and undertaken by my Department between 2004 and 2006 examined the preference of private sector housing tenants in respect of payment of housing benefit.
Copies of the pathfinder evaluation reports covering the views and experiences of tenants, landlords, pathfinder local authorities and other stakeholders of the local housing allowance pathfinder scheme, can be found on the DWP's website at:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/local%2Dauthority%2Dstaff/housing%2Dbenefit/claims%2Dprocessing/local%2Dhousing%2Dallowance/evaluation/pathfinders/
The Department has commissioned a consortium of academics and research organisations led by Ian Cole, professor of housing studies at Sheffield Hallam University for the independent review of the impact of the Housing Benefit measures introduced last month.
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Incapacity Benefit: Mental Health
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for how many recipients of (a) incapacity benefit and (b) employment and support allowance mental health was a factor in their incapacity for work in each constituency in the last period for which figures are available; and what proportion of recipients of each such benefit such cases represented. [52465]
Maria Miller: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
National Identity Fraud Unit
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases were referred to the National Identity Fraud Unit in each year since 1997; how many such cases were investigated in each such year; and how many such cases subsequently resulted in a conviction. [53460]
Chris Grayling: Jobcentre Plus does not collect statistical information relating to the number of cases referred to National Identity Fraud Unit since 1997, how many cases were investigated in each year; and how many cases subsequently resulted in a conviction.
Offshore Industry: Safety
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to apply the health and safety regulations associated with the offshore oil and gas sector to offshore wind development in the UK. [54666]
Chris Grayling: The Government believe new energy technologies will make a major contribution to the UK’s energy future. To help enable this, health and safety issues must be appropriately addressed.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently completed a programme of work reviewing the health and safety hazards associated with key emerging energy technologies, including offshore wind power. This work concluded that the existing legislative framework, established under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, is sufficient to manage the hazards associated with emerging energy technologies and did not identify a current need to extend the permissioning regime adopted in the offshore oil and gas sector to offshore wind development. HSE is supplementing this approach by working with industry to encourage the spread of relevant good practice developed by existing offshore industries into new energy sectors. The Government will continue to monitor the application of health and safety legislation to all areas of emerging energy to ensure that hazards are managed and controlled effectively.
Pensions: Fraud
Mr Ruffley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) fraud and (b) error rate was in the administration of the basic state pension in each of the last five years; how many basic state pension claimants were asked to make repayments in each such year; what the total amount of overpaid state pensions
12 May 2011 : Column 1337W
repaid was in each such year; and what the average amount of basic state pension overpaid to claimants was in each such year. [53389]
Steve Webb: A measurement exercise to estimate the level of official error in the basic state pension is carried out each year. However, measurement of customer error and fraud is only carried out occasionally. The last time customer error and fraud were measured was in 2005-06. Therefore, each time the Department issues updated fraud and error data, the 2005-06 rates for customer error and fraud in the basic state pension are used, multiplied by current expenditure to give a cash figure.
The rate of official error in the administration of the basic state pension in each of the last five years is provided in the following table:
| Official error rate | ||
| Percentage | ||
|
|
Overpayments | Underpayments |
| Note: Data are not yet available for 2010-11 Source: National Statistics reports, ‘Fraud and Error in the Benefit System’ | ||
The 2005-06 customer error and fraud rates are provided in the following table:
| 2005-06 | ||
|
|
Overpayments | Underpayments |
| Source: National Statistics report, ‘Fraud and Error in State Pension’, 2006 | ||
Details of the number of new state pension overpayments recorded in each of the last five years, the total amount repaid in each year and the average overpayment in each of those years are shown in the following table.
|
|
Volume of new overpayments | Amounts repaid in year (£ million) | Average overpayment (£) |
| Notes: 1. The volume of new overpayments raised in any particular year could include multiple overpayments incurred by the same customer 2. The volume of new overpayments excludes those classified as not cost-effective to recover (generally those with a value of £65 or less). 3. The average overpayment is calculated by dividing the total value of new debt raised in any one year by the number of new overpayments raised in that year. Source: These figures are from Shared Services' Debt Manager via Business Objects computer system and are subject to rounding. The figures are management information collected for the purpose of routine administration, and therefore have not been subjected to the rigorous quality assurance that is applied to DWP official statistics. | |||
12 May 2011 : Column 1338W
Personal Independence Payment
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has had discussions with representatives of organisations representing people with fibromyalgia on proposals for face-to-face assessments for the personal independence payments scheme. [52764]
Maria Miller: Throughout the development of the new personal independence payment we have had extensive discussions and consultation with representatives of organisations representing disabled people and their families, including support groups for individuals with fibromyalgia.
It is, however, important to the Government's approach that the personal independence payment assessment looks at disabled people as individuals and does not just label them by their health condition or impairment. That's why it is being designed to consider an individual's personal circumstances and the support they need, rather than basing eligibility on a specific medical condition.
The new assessment better reflects our understanding of disability in the 21st century and will take account of physical, sensory, mental, intellectual and cognitive impairments. This will ensure that support is targeted on those disabled people whose impairments have the greatest impact on their ability to live independent lives. We will continue to work with disabled people and their organisations as the detail of the assessment criteria and its operation is developed and tested. We had many helpful responses to our public consultation from individuals with fibromyalgia and fibromyalgia support groups in Tonbridge, Eastbourne and Surrey and Sussex, and hope to continue to work with a broad range of groups going forwards.
Remploy: Incentives
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the amounts were of the five largest bonuses paid to Remploy employees in each year since 2005; [41486]
(2) how much was awarded in bonuses to Remploy employees in each year since 2005. [41487]
Maria Miller: The bonus scheme for the 2009-10 performance year and the previous five years was agreed between Remploy and the previous Administration. This Government believe all Departments, including non-departmental public bodies, need to show restraint in the current economic climate and that bonus payments need to better reflect the financial situation, the Government and the NDPB concerned. The Department, therefore, requested that Remploy apply the Government's bonus cap. A recent employment tribunal found that the previous administration's remuneration settlement in respect of commission payments had to be paid for contractual reasons.
I have instructed Remploy to review their bonus scheme and ensure pay restraint is applied in future years.
The five largest bonuses paid to Remploy employees for performance in each year since 2005 is shown in the following table.
12 May 2011 : Column 1339W
| £ | |||||
|
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Bonuses awarded to Remploy employees in each year since 2005 are presented in the following table:
|
|
£ |
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what bonus payments were made to staff of Remploy in 2010. [37593]
Maria Miller: The bonus scheme for the 2009-10 performance year and the previous five years was agreed between Remploy and the previous Administration. This Government believe all Departments, including non-departmental public bodies, need to show restraint in the current economic climate and that bonus payments need to better reflect the financial situation, the Government and the NDPB concerned. The Department, therefore, requested that Remploy apply the Government's bonus cap. A recent employment tribunal found that the previous administration's remuneration settlement in respect of commission payments had to be paid for contractual reasons.
All public sector bodies are reminded of the need for financial restraint and we have made clear that Remploy executives and managers should reflect this consideration in their pay and bonuses. I have instructed Remploy to ensure pay restraint is applied from here on.
|
|
|
£ |
| Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand. Source: Remploy. | ||
Social Security Benefits
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he intends that the proposed £26,000 benefit cap will be applied in combination with the 13- week rule applied to housing benefit claims. [44387]
Steve Webb: We are introducing a cap on the total amount of benefit that working-age people can receive so households on out of work benefits will no longer receive more in benefit than the average weekly wage earned by working families.
12 May 2011 : Column 1340W
On the cap’s introduction in 2013, we estimate it will be set at £500 per week for couple and single parent households and £350 per week for single adult households without children. This will apply to all new universal credit claims.
Exemptions from the application of the benefit cap will be set out in regulations following the passage of the Welfare Reform Bill.
We are currently looking at how universal credit could transitionally protect particularly hard cases.
State Retirement Pensions
Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons his planned changes to the pension age begin in 2016 for women and 2018 for men. [55155]
Steve Webb: By April 2016, women's state pension age will have risen to 63 under the timetable legislated in 1995. The UK, like all other EU member states, is under an obligation to remove gender inequalities currently present in state pension ages.
Directive 79/7 prohibits gender discrimination in social security, including state pensions. The directive allows the setting of state pension age to be a limited exception but this should be done in accordance with the principle that member states may only temporarily allow women to retire earlier than men, in order to allow member states to change gradually their pension systems so that equalisation is achieved.
It has therefore been decided to equalise women's state pension age with men's state pension age before the increase to 66 can take place. This is why our proposed changes begin earlier for women than men.
State Retirement Pensions: Females
Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the number of women he expects to work for longer before reaching pension age in each year from the implementation of those changes. [55270]
Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the estimates presented in the equality impact assessment which accompanies the Pensions Bill 2011 (page 40 of Annex A).
Winter Fuel Payments
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the birthday date for qualification for winter fuel allowance will be for (a) men and (b) women in each of the next 15 years. [55151]
Steve Webb: The age at which winter fuel payments can be received is increasing in line with the women's state pension age. The qualifying birth dates for each of the next 15 years are in the following table and are the same for men and women.
| Winter fuel payment qualifying dates | |
| Winter | Must be born on or before this date to qualify |
12 May 2011 : Column 1341W
| Note: The table is based on state pension age under the current legislated timetable and does not include the proposed changes in the Pensions Bill 2011. | |
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he conducted an equality impact assessment in respect of his decision to increase the qualification age for winter fuel allowance in line with the state pension age. [55152]
12 May 2011 : Column 1342W
Maria Miller: The winter fuel payment is a universal benefit and the qualifying age is linked to women's state pension age under existing legislation. The equality impact assessment covering the Social Security (Equalisation of State Pension Age) Regulations 2009 includes the impact on winter fuel payments. A copy of the equality impact assessment was published on 18 June 2009 and can be found at the following link:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/equalisation-state-pension-age.pdf
Defence
Armed Forces: Recruitment
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel have been recruited to 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 recruited to each of the armed forces in each of the next 12 months. [54771]
Mr Robathan: The information requested is presented in the following table.
|
|
October 2010 | November 2010 | December 2010 | January 2011 | February 2011 | March 2011 | April 2011 |
The naval services have conducted a forecast of recruitment based on the numbers recruited in previous years and this is presented below as an annual figure broken down by officers and other ranks. In the Army and RAF such forecasts are not undertaken however both services have yearly recruitment targets and these are presented as follows.
|
|
Number |
Armed Forces: Training
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a decision on the future of the Defence Technical College; and if he will make a statement. [55341]
Nick Harvey: The Defence Technical Training Change Programme is currently considering options for the future location or locations of Defence Technical Training. This process is subject to full internal scrutiny and as such a final decision is anticipated before the end of this year.
RAF Menwith Hill
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which companies with headquarters in (a) the UK and (b) the US have received contracts for over £50,000 for work at Menwith Hill in each year since 2008-09. [55029]
Nick Harvey: Companies who have received contracts for works in excess of £50,000 at RAF Menwith Hill in each year since 2008-09 are shown in the following tables.
| UK Contractors | |
| Contractor | Year |
12 May 2011 : Column 1343W
| US Contractors | |
| Contractor | Year |
12 May 2011 : Column 1344W
Details of all new central Government contracts are now available online at:
www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk
Reserve Forces
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has to engage with interested parties in his review of the reserve forces; [54249]
(2) what considerations he gave to synchronising his Department's review of the reserve forces with the Strategic Defence and Security Review; [54250]
(3) what progress his Department has made on its review of the reserve forces; and on what date the report of the review is to be published. [54251]
Mr Robathan: As part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) announcement on 19 October 2010, the Prime Minister commissioned a six month study into the future role and structure of the Reserves to ensure the most efficient use of Reservists to meet the UK's operational requirements for future conflict. The need for the review flows directly from and forms part of the SDSR.
The Study is governed by a Reserves Steering Group, led by the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, supported by the hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr Brazier). It incorporates representation from the single Service Chiefs, the key Ministry of Defence principals, Defence's senior Reservist officer (Major General Greg Smith), the Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association and the National Employers' Advisory Board.
Throughout, the progress, key decisions and their likely impacts will be communicated widely to the defence community and interested stakeholders, via Defence Internal Briefs and publication of information on the Defence website:
www.mod.uk/reserves
A copy of the terms of reference for the Future Reserves 2020 study, which includes the timetable for the study, was placed in the Library of the House in December 2010. I can confirm that the Future Reserves 2020 Study is to conclude in the summer.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Company Liquidations
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses entered into liquidation in England in each of the last five years. [55222]
12 May 2011 : Column 1345W
Mr Davey: Official statistics covering corporate insolvencies for England alone are not currently available. Figures are, however, available for England and Wales in total, as shown in Table 1:
| Table 1: Total liquidations in England and Wales in the last five years | |
|
|
Total liquidations |
Departmental Internet
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what expenditure his Department incurred on its website in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many people visited the website in that period. [55232]
Mr Davey: Figures for website costs and usage for the BIS website (www.bis.gov.uk) were recently submitted to the Central Office of Information. They cover the 2010-11 financial year.
Non-staff costs were £372,506. Staff costs for 9.1 full-time equivalents were £263,203, making the total cost £635,709. During this period the content of 12 BIS partner organisation websites was converged onto the BIS web publishing platform, contributing to the costs reported here.
The site received 3,681,576 unique visitors, who made 6,030,197 visits, resulting in 21,795,586 page views.
Exports: Defence Equipment
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place in the Library the country by country arms export data for (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010 in the same format as that used for the period from 2000 to 2007. [54718]
Mr Prisk: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is responsible for releasing these data on a quarterly and annual basis.
The data are no longer placed in the Library as they are now readily available via the Strategic Export Controls: Reports and Statistics website at:
https://www.exportcontroldb.berr.gov.uk/eng/fox/sdb/SDBHOME
Reports from 2008 onwards are still produced in the same style, compared to 2007, but in line with the Government's commitment to be more transparent and accountable we now provide much more information for each country. Improvements include:
the goods rating being provided in addition to a summary description of the item, thus giving more information on the type of goods for which a licence has been issued for export to a specified country;
the values are now broken down to the nearest £ per country and per rating, whereas previous reports gave a total figure for all licences issued for that country rounded to the nearest £0.5 million;
median processing times are now provided per country, whereas this was not available previously.
12 May 2011 : Column 1346W
Furthermore the website referred to allows any person either to download reports published on a quarterly/annual basis within the ‘Published Reports’ area of the website (in read only format), or alternatively to register on the website and then produce their own bespoke reports.
For these reasons the Government do not propose to place this information in the Library in the format requested, as more extensive information is already available to Members of Parliament through the online database.
Green Investment Bank
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 29 March 2011, Official Report, column 304W, on the Green Investment Bank, if he will bring forward the date from which the borrowing powers of the Green Investment Bank may commence. [54273]
Mr Prisk: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made clear in his Budget statement of 23 March that the Government will enable the Green Investment Bank to borrow from 2015-16 and once the target for debt to be falling as percentage of gross domestic product has been met. We will say more on the bank's operations later this month.
Higher Education: Performance Indicators
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the (a) drop-out and (b) course transfer rate at each university in England was for students starting degrees in (i) 2005, (ii) 2006, (iii) 2007, (iv) 2008, (v) 2009 and (vi) 2010. [54770]
Mr Willetts: The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Performance Indicators in Higher Education provide information on drop-out and course transfer rates at institution level for UK-domiciled students.
HESA produces two indicators which can be used as drop-out rates. Non-continuation considers students who start in a given academic year and identifies whether they are still in higher education one year later, for full-time students, or two years later, for part-time students. Non-completion refers to projected outcomes over a longer period based on the current pattern of students' behaviour. Information on non-continuation, non-completion and course transfer at institution level is available from HESA at this link to their website:
http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task =view&id=2064<emid=141
The latest available information is for the 2008/09 academic year. Figures for the 2009/10 academic year will become available from HESA in April 2012. More information on the HESA Performance Indicators in Higher Education is available at:
http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php/content/view/2072/141/
Higher Education: Private Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which providers of for-profit higher education services he has met in each of the last six months; and if he will make a statement. [54976]
12 May 2011 : Column 1347W
Mr Willetts [holding answer 10 May 2011]: the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), and I meet regularly with a wide range of providers of higher education in the UK and internationally. The Department does not hold comprehensive information on whether higher education providers Ministers have met are classed as for-profit or not-for-profit institutions. A quarterly-updated list of all this Department ministerial meetings with external organisations is available at:
http://data.gov.uk/dataset/disclosure-ministerial-external-meetings-department-for-business
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the drop-out rates were at those for-profit higher education institutions where students received loans via the Student Loans Company but which did not receive other public funding council grants; and if he will make a statement. [54977]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 10 May 2011]:According to Student Loans Company data, in the 2009/10 academic year, 4,160 higher education students at private higher education institutions were in receipt of student finance. The Department does not hold comprehensive information on whether those private higher education providers are classed as for-profit or not-for-profit institutions, as this does not form part of the designation process. The available data do not allow us to discern whether or not any of these students were in receipt of other public funding council grants.
Although the Higher Education Statistics Agency recently collected some data on private providers of higher education, the data do not contain the necessary detail to enable the calculation of drop-out rates at these institutions.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to amend the requirement to renew the grant of degree-awarding powers to private providers of higher education; and if he will make a statement. [54861]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 9 May 2011]: The future regulatory regime, including the degree awarding powers process for all providers of higher education, will be considered in the forthcoming White Paper. This will set out the Government's proposals to encourage a more diverse and competitive higher education sector alongside an appropriate regulatory regime, which ensures high standards and protects students.
Higher Education: Student Numbers
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on the core and margin model in relation to student numbers in higher education; and if he will make a statement. [54944]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 10 May 2011]: Key to driving competition and improving quality and student choice is freeing up the allocation of existing student numbers. Allocating places on a ‘core and margin’ basis is one of the options being considered and will be discussed in the forthcoming higher education White Paper.
12 May 2011 : Column 1348W
London College of Traditional Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many representations he has received on the London College of Traditional Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine since its collapse; and if he will make a statement. [54865]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 9 May 2011]: Correspondence to the Department is held centrally and indexed by title. These records show that we have had nine representations specifically on this subject. Other correspondence will have mentioned it but, as it is not indexed under this particular title, full details could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Medicine: Education
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects of the implementation of the Higher Education (Higher Amount) (England) Regulations 2010 on the number of graduate entry medical students; and if he will make a statement. [55272]
Mr Willetts: The Department has made no specific assessment of the effects of the Higher Education (Higher Amount) (England) Regulations 2010 at subject level. We are working with the Department of Health to consider the impact on medical students. The Departments have a shared responsibility for providing student support for graduate entry medical students.
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether graduate entry medical students will be required to cover the cost of their tuition fees for the first year of study in academic year 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [55273]
Mr Willetts: Tuition fee support is currently not available for year one of a graduate entry medical course and this will remain the case in 2012/13. Graduate entry medical students can apply for a maintenance loan, supplementary grants and disabled students allowances for their first year from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and a reduced level maintenance loan for the duration of their course, but receive no other support. From year two of the course responsibility for providing support is shared with the Department of Health which currently provides support for tuition fees, a means tested NHS bursary and supplementary grants and allowances.
North Sea Oil
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on what dates he met ministerial colleagues in HM Treasury to discuss the implications for investment in North Sea oil and gas fields of proposed changes to taxation. [51601]
Mr Prisk: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets Treasury Ministers frequently and they discuss a wide range of government policy areas of mutual interest.
12 May 2011 : Column 1349W
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on the implications for investment in North Sea oil and gas fields of changes to taxation. [51602]
Mr Prisk: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change frequently and they discuss a wide range of government policy areas of mutual interest.
Oil
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the policy of UK Trade and Investment is on support for UK-based companies that develop and export tar sands oil extraction technologies. [54481]
Mr Prisk: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) treats UK-based companies with specialist technology relevant to oil sands in the same way as any other company in the oil and gas supply chain. The full range of UKTI services are available to all UK-based companies engaged in oil and gas extraction regardless of the nature of the project.
Professional Development Loans
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the withdrawal of professional development loans by retail banks; and if he will make a statement. [55276]
Mr Willetts: The supply of professional development loans by retail banks is a matter for those banks.
Neither the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), nor I have therefore discussed the matter with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne).
Retail banks do deliver the professional and career development loans (PCDLs) scheme on behalf on the Department. There are no plans to withdraw this scheme.
Regional Growth Fund
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what criteria will be used to assess the (a) viability and (b) efficacy of Round 2 bids for the Regional Growth Fund in (i) the East of England and (ii) England; and if he will make a statement. [55342]
Mr Prisk: The criteria for the second round for assessing projects are the same as the first round and this applies to bids from all over England. To qualify for support from the Regional Growth Fund, projects should demonstrate that they:
create additional sustainable private sector growth;
rebalance the economy in those areas currently dependent on the public sector;
would not otherwise go ahead without support from the Regional Growth Fund;
offer value for money; and
be state aid compliant.
12 May 2011 : Column 1350W
Royal Mail
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the future of the phantom share element of Royal Mail's Colleague Shares scheme; and if he will make a statement. [55353]
Mr Davey: Colleague Share is an incentive scheme set up in 2007 by Royal Mail and as such is an operational matter for the company.
The scheme, which is expected to have paid out £2,200 to most members by the time various operational targets are met, will close in March 2012. After this date, it is for Royal Mail to decide whether to introduce further employee incentive schemes and the form of those schemes.
Separately, as part of the provisions in the Postal Services Bill, the Government will make available shares to employees upon the first sale of Royal Mail shares.