Parking: Fees and Charges
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce an exemption for car rental and leasing businesses from responsibility for parking fines incurred by customers hiring their vehicles. [54197]
Norman Baker: Regulations made by the Government for parking enforcement in England (including London) under the Traffic Management Act 2004 enable the keeper of a vehicle that was, at the material time, hired from a vehicle hire company under a hiring agreement, to pass responsibility for the payment of any penalty charge notice (PCN) incurred to the hirer. We have no plans to change the regulations.
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department collects information on the (a) revenue generated from (i) permits and (ii) fines in relation to restricted parking zones and (b) the number of parking permits issued for restricted parking zones by local authorities. [55764]
Norman Baker: The Secretary of State for Transport does not collect any information in relation to (a) revenue generated from (i) permits (ii) fines in relation to restricted parking zones or (b) the number of parking permits issued for restricted parking zones.
Railways: Franchises
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had on the inclusion of language requirements in the tendering process for rail franchises which include Wales. [56144]
Mrs Villiers: No discussions have taken place. As part of the recent consultation on the Intercity West Coast franchise, the Department received no representation for documentation or meetings in languages other than English.
Renewable Energy: EU Law
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department expects to fully implement the Renewable Energy Directive before the outcome of the EU examination of indirect land use change; and if he will make a statement. [52963]
17 May 2011 : Column 143W
Norman Baker: We are currently consulting on proposals to implement the transport elements of the Renewable Energy Directive. The consultation period will run until 2 June 2011. Consultation documents can be found on the Department for Transport (DfT) website.
DfT takes the issue of indirect land use change (ILUC) seriously. We have recently published research on the scale of ILUC and are continuing to lead work on how to reduce ILUC impacts.
Given the legitimate concerns and uncertainties around the sustainability of some biofuels, the consultation does not propose changes to the current overall biofuel supply trajectory that is set out in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Order 2007. However, there will be a legal obligation on the Secretary of State for Transport to keep this issue under review and to consider what additional measures will be required to ensure that the UK delivers the requirements of the EU RED and Fuel Quality Directive period 2014 to 2020.
We will review the European Commission report on options for addressing ILUC before setting post-2014 targets.
Roads: Accidents
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the potential effects of his proposals for the MOT vehicle test on the number of people (a) killed, (b) seriously injured and (c) slightly injured as a result of motoring accidents; and if he will make a statement. [53784]
Mike Penning: I intend to review the MOT test scheme. I want to make sure that a review takes account of all the latest information available to us. To that end, we have recently published the results of independent research the Department commissioned to examine how vehicle defects affect accident rates, and to consider the potential road safety impact of changing the frequency of the MOT. The Effect of Vehicle Defects in Road Accidents report can be found at
http://www.trl.co.uk/library/reports_publications/latest_publications/
This research will be a useful addition to other information we will be gathering through the review process.
Roads: EU Action
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to bring forward proposals to allow the EU to exercise greater control over the road network in the UK. [53079]
Mike Penning [holding answer 28 April 2011]:There are no proposals to give the EU greater control over the UK's road network and the Government have no intention of bringing forward any such proposals.
Rolling Stock: Repairs and Maintenance
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many train carriages his Department has paid to be refurbished in the last five years. [55331]
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Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport has not directly funded refurbishment of train carriages. This is usually funded by rolling stock leasing companies or train operating companies.
Vehicle Number Plates: Fraud
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what mechanism he has put in place to prevent the cloning of number plates. [52885]
Mike Penning: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) maintains a register of number plate suppliers as a means of regulating the supply of number plates. Since 2003 customers requiring new or replacement number plates have been required to provide evidence of entitlement to the registration mark and proof of identity before being issued with a number plate. Suppliers are required to keep records of sales. DVLA enforcement officers take action in cases of non-compliance.
In addition, DVLA has endorsed a voluntary standard for anti-theft number plates that are incapable of being removed from a vehicle and re-used. These plates are commercially available and motorists are encouraged to fit them as a sensible precaution to protect themselves against the risk of theft.
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations he has received on succession rights and social housing. [55642]
Andrew Stunell: So far this year, the Department has received seven letters from Members of Parliament and members of the public on succession rights in social housing. These letters have focussed on the restrictions imposed by current legislation in this area.
The Localism Bill contains provisions that will change succession rules to allow social landlords greater freedom to grant further succession rights in the light of individual circumstances.
Allotments
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers his Department has concerning the provision of allotments; what plans he has for his policy on allotments; and what his policy is on allotment owners who have their own garden. [56169]
Robert Neill: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the right hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles) has powers to consent to the disposal of statutory allotments or the use of statutory allotments for other purposes.
The Department has no intention of removing statutory protections for allotments and, as such, we have no plans to remove local authorities’ statutory duties to provide allotments. We will continue to support local communities who want to use local spaces for community food growing, and to protect existing land for this purpose, for example, through new neighbourhood planning
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provisions in the Localism Bill, which will provide a new right for communities to shape their local areas, including the means to boost allotment provision. The Department published a news release to this effect on 7 May, available at:
www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1897155
Research produced by the university of Derby in 2006, based on a partial survey of local authorities, reported that in the period 1996 to 2006, the number of allotment plots fell by 50,630. The report, commissioned but unpublished by the previous Government, was posted up on the DCLG website on 6 May, available at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/1897047.pdf
We will also continue to help highlight guidance to local authorities, available via “A Place to Grow” on the LGA website at:
www.lga.gov.uk/lga/publications/publication-display.do?id=9027596
The Department has no specific policy on allotment holders who have their own gardens.
Audit Commission
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what date he decided to appoint consultants to advise on future arrangements for the audit practice aspect of the Audit Commission's work; and what the cost of appointing them was. [53641]
Robert Neill [holding answer 3 May 2011]: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles) agreed in February that officials could begin a competitive tender process for financial advice relating to the transfer of the work of the Audit Commission's in-house practice into the private sector. The successful tenderer, FTI, was subsequently appointed in April at a cost of £100,000 excluding VAT. I refer the hon. Member to the news story about this appointment on my Department's website:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsstories/localgovernment/1889672
As part of the Government's commitment to transparency, this contract, like all contracts entered into by the Department, is available on the following website:
http://www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/
Council Housing
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to prevent the sub-letting of council houses by their tenants. [56148]
Andrew Stunell: Last December, the Minister for Housing and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps), announced a £20 million package to help social landlords crack down on the unlawful sub-letting of their stock.
Approximately £19 million will be given to local authorities over the next four years, and we are also funding the Chartered Institute of Housing to host a team of experts to offer practical help and advice to social landlords on the most effective ways to tackle tenancy fraud and under-occupation.
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The Department is continuing to work closely with the National Fraud Authority who has recently announced the creation of a framework agreement that will allow local authorities to use credit reference agencies more cheaply.
On 11 May, my Department issued a 10-point checklist in conjunction with the National Fraud Authority on how councils can save taxpayers’ money by tackling fraud. I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.
Departmental Billing
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many invoices his Department received in respect of goods or services supplied by tier 1 suppliers between 1 May 2010 and 1 April 2011; and how many of those invoices were not paid within the period of time specified in the Government's Fair Payment guidance. [55874]
Robert Neill: In the period between 1 May 2010 and 31 March 2011 a total of 27,319 invoices were processed for payment of which 5,418 (19.84%) were not paid within the five-day prompt payment target. (The target is that 80% are to be paid within five days.)
Derelict Land: Housing
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of homes built in each of the last 14 years were built on brownfield land. [52089]
Greg Clark: Information on the proportion of homes built on previously-developed land (including all conversions), the proportion on previously residential land and the proportion on previously developed land excluding land that was previously residential is shown in the following table.
| Proportion of dwellings built on previously-developed land | |||
| Percentage | |||
|
|
All previously-developed land plus all conversions (1) | Previously residential land (2,3) | All previously developed land excl. previously residential |
| (1) Net additional homes from conversion of existing dwellings; estimated to add three percentage points up to 2002. The process of estimation has been elaborated from 2003. (2) As reported by Ordnance Survey, mainly excluding conversions. (3) Includes development on gardens and after demolition of dwellings. (4) Provisional. Source: Land Use Change Statistics Live Tables 211 and 221 | |||
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Energy Performance Certificates
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of small businesses that will be affected by the requirement for holiday lets to have energy performance certificates. [55568]
Andrew Stunell: Where the owner intends to rent out the property for a combined period of more than four months in any 12 month period, we estimate that 55,000 to 70,000 dwellings which are used as short term holiday lets will be affected.
An impact assessment is available on my Department's website:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/epcholidayletsia
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Since fuel bills for short term holiday lets are normally paid for by the property owner, increasing transparency about the energy efficiency of the building will reduce utility bills for the owner, if the recommendations are taken up.
Fire Services: Hoaxes and False Alarms
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) genuine and (b) malicious fire emergency calls have been received from Leeds North West constituency in each year since 2004. [55440]
Robert Neill: The information held centrally is only to fire authority level. The numbers of malicious false alarm calls and other emergency calls to West Yorkshire fire and rescue service are shown in the following table:
| Total emergency calls and malicious false alarms calls to West Yorkshire fire and rescue service , 2004-0 5 (1 ) to 2009-10 | ||||||
|
|
2004-05 (1) | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| (1) Data for malicious/other emergency calls were not held centrally prior to 2005-06. Source: West Yorkshire fire and rescue service. | ||||||
Housing: Construction
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of homes built in Portsmouth were built on brownfield land in each of the last five years. [54519]
Greg Clark: Information on the proportion of homes built on previously developed land, the proportion on previously residential land and the proportion on previously developed land excluding land that was previously residential in Portsmouth is shown in the following table.
| Proportion of new d wellings built on previously developed and previously residential land, Portsmouth | |||
|
|
Previously developed | Previously residential (1) | All previously developed land excluding previously residential |
| (1) 1ncludes development on gardens and after demolition of dwellings. Source: Land Use Change Statistics. | |||
Information for local authorities is shown for four-year periods because of volatility in estimates for individual years.
Land: Ownership
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to facilitate councils taking control of abandoned land with no registered owner. [55419]
Robert Neill: If the council requires the land for a scheme and can demonstrate that there is a compelling case in the public interest for its acquisition, they already have a range of compulsory purchase powers which they can use to acquire and regenerate abandoned land.
Religious Buildings: Planning Permission
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning applications for places of religious worship were considered by the Planning Inspectorate in each of the last three years. [55456]
Robert Neill: The total number of related planning applications considered by the Planning Inspectorate, as appeals or called in applications, for each of the last three financial years is detailed in the following table.
| Financial year | Number considered |
Rented Housing: Private Sector
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with Shelter on unscrupulous landlords since May 2010. [55420]
Andrew Stunell: Ministers in the Department have discussed issues of mutual interest with Shelter on 10 occasions since May 2010. These discussions have covered a range of topics, including private rented sector landlords.
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Shared Ownership Schemes
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of shared ownership properties that have been sold on in the latest period for which figures are available. [55644]
Andrew Stunell: Information on shared ownership sales is recorded in CORE (Continuous Recording of Lettings and Sales of social housing in England). The latest statistical release relates to 2009-10 and was published by the Tenants Services Authority in September 2010. This shows that there were 5,481 new build homebuy (shared ownership) sales and 674 other shared ownership sales by registered social landlords in 2009-10.
Information on onward sales of shared ownership properties by their owners is not collected centrally as these are sales by individual private owners and not by registered providers. However, where the property is returned to the registered provider for resale, this information is requested on CORE and an estimated 18% of shared ownership sales were identified as this type of resale.
Tenant Services Authority: 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 by the Tenants Service Authority using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10. [54576]
Andrew Stunell: A table providing a breakdown of expenditure by the Tenant Services Authority using Government Procurement Cards for 2008-09 and 2009-10 has been placed in the Library of the House.
The data cover the periods 1 December 2008 (when the TSA commenced business) to 31 March 2009; and 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010. Total expenditure in 2008-09 was £31,561.00. Total expenditure in 2009-10 was £114,649.93.
The bulk of the transactions are at or below £50 - 39% of total in 2008-09 and 53% of total in 2009-10.
The spending controls and disciplines introduced by this Government have led to the number of Government Procurement Card users and value of transactions decreasing, so that there are now only four members of staff who have a card.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Aviation: Treaties
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress has been made on the ratification of the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment. [55476]
Mr Prisk:
The UK is committed to its ratification, and issued a call for evidence last year July seeking stakeholder views. Following the call for evidence, BIS officials held several meetings with industry stakeholders
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to discuss the benefits of UK ratification. A Government response to the call for evidence will be released in the near future.
English Language: Education
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) if he will assess the potential impact on community cohesion of the withdrawal of full fee remission for students of English for speakers of other languages courses; [55612]
(2) whether he has made an assessment of the potential effects on community cohesion of the withdrawal of full fee remission for students of English for speakers of other languages courses who are asylum seekers; [55613]
(3) whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the status of asylum seekers in relation to the removal of full fee remission for students of English for speakers of other languages. [55615]
Mr Hayes: The equality impact assessment published alongside ‘Skills for Sustainable Growth’ (November 2010) found that, at the aggregate level, there are unlikely to be disproportionate impacts on protected groups. A separate assessment of how the changes may affect English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learners is currently being carried out by this Department, and I expect to be able to publish this before summer recess.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, has not had discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department, specifically regarding fee remission for asylum seekers studying ESOL.
Graduates: Pay
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the likely level of additional lifelong earnings a person can expect to receive attributable to (a) study for a university degree and (b) completion of an apprenticeship. [55918]
Mr Hayes: Over their working life, the average graduate earns comfortably over £100,000 more, net of taxation and in today’s valuation, compared to similar individuals with two or more A-Levels who do not go to university.
This is demonstrated in reports including ‘The Return to a University Education in Great Britain’ and ‘The Economic Benefits of Higher Education Qualifications’, which can be accessed at:
http://ner.sagepub.com/content/193/1/75.full.pdf.
http://www.rsc.org/images/EconomicBenefitsHigher EducationQualifications_tcm18-12647.pdf
The net lifetime benefit of completing an advanced apprenticeship is around £105,000, when compared with similar individuals whose highest qualification is at level 2. The corresponding estimate for an intermediate apprenticeship is £73,000, when compared with similar individuals whose highest qualification is at level 1 or level 2.
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The estimates for apprenticeships capture the benefits to the learner—in terms of higher lifetime gross earnings in today’s valuation—net of the costs of undertaking the learning, including both the resource costs to the state and the employer, and the value of production which is foregone while learning takes place.
This is demonstrated in ‘A Cost Benefit Analysis of Apprenticeships and Other Vocational Qualifications’, which can be accessed at:
https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/RR834.pdf.
Graduates: Work Experience
Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had to promote (a) graduate employment and (b) support for small businesses following the end of the Graduate Internship Scheme. [55592]
Mr Willetts: I chaired the Graduate Employment Forum on 3 March and had a good discussion on graduate opportunities and employment.
The Government have decided to provide funding to continue the Graduate Talent Pool internship vacancy and matching service and extend it to include 2011 graduates. As well as benefitting graduates this will enable employers from all sectors, particularly SMEs, to test the benefits of employing enthusiastic graduates in the longer term.
Higher Education: Admissions
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has discussed with ministerial colleagues any potential changes to charity law in consequence of his recent proposals on off-quota university places. [55648]
Mr Willetts: The forthcoming higher education White Paper will consult on options for introducing off-quota recruitment. Any such scheme would need to comply with the conditions that the principles of fair access must apply, there would need to be genuine additional places, and there would be no reduction in entrance standards. Therefore it is clearly not the intention that, for example, independent schools should be able to sponsor places for their own pupils and after consultation we will ensure that there is a framework in place to prevent this.
On the basis of this consultation we will consider the legal implications of subsequent proposals for off-quota recruitment and look to introduce any necessary powers or changes to existing laws, subject to Parliament, during 2012.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with (a) universities, (b) charities and (c) businesses on off-quota university places; and if he will make a statement. [55814]
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Mr Willetts [holding answer 16 May 2011]:The purpose of considering off-quota proposals is to look at how we might make it easier for employers and charities to sponsor students at universities, and allow institutions to expand courses where employers or charities cover the costs of additional students.
We have already discussed this and other options for freeing up the control of student number allocations with a number of stakeholders. All proposals will be subject to wider consultation following the publication of the forthcoming higher education White Paper.
Postal Services
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the minimum number of access points for postal services necessary to meet the interests of the public throughout the UK. [55991]
Mr Davey: Under the Postal Services Bill, Ofcom will have a duty to carry out their functions in a way that they consider will secure the provision of sufficient access points to meet the reasonable needs of users. It is expected that in fulfilling that duty, Ofcom will conduct thorough research and analysis, and will consult users in order to take their views into account. Any assessment by the Secretary of State will be informed by Ofcom's analysis.
Postal Services: Fees and Charges
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will request Royal Mail to review its handling fee for low-value goods imported from outside the EU. [56156]
Mr Davey: The handling fee is an operational matter for Royal Mail and Government, as shareholder, do not play a role in decisions on this.
My hon. Friend may be interested to note that the Government's Postal Services Bill will insert a new section into the Postal Services Act 2000 which, for the first time, will give the postal regulator the power to direct postal operators on the level of handling charges.
Space Technology: Libya
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for what purposes an export licence was granted to Libya for spacecraft; what goods have been supplied under this licence; and whether this licence remains in force. [52151]
Mr Prisk: This export licence was for export of an earth observation satellite for remote sensing applications. No goods have been supplied under this licence. The licence was revoked on 24 February 2011.
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Students: Fees and Charges
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether there are circumstances in which a university may vary the published fees for a course after September 2012. [54316]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 12 May 2011]: Individual institutions determine their tuition charges including any discounts or waivers as a contribution to the National Scholarship Programme or as part of a broader institutional package of financial support to promote access to higher education.
Any institution that considers altering its previously advertised prices or support package will need to consider the wider implications of such change, not least if it would be unfair on applicants who may have already accepted a higher charge or different support package for the same course. The Director of Fair Access has indicated that in such circumstances he would expect that institutions will want to offer the same financial package to all eligible applicants, including students who have already accepted an offer, not just those who applied late in the cycle.
Tobacco: Retail Trade
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will request the Office of Fair Trading to investigate the implications for (a) competition between companies and (b) the retail tobacco market of any introduction of plain packaging for tobacco products. [55082]
Mr Davey: The Government have announced that they will look at the plain packaging of tobacco products in Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Tobacco Control Plan for England and have committed to explore fully the competition, trade and legal implications and other issues arising from plain packaging. Department of Health will consult by the end of 2011 on options to reduce the promotional impact of tobacco packaging, including consultation on a draft impact assessment.
Trade Promotion
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) Commonwealth countries and (b) other non-EU countries on trade promotion. [55238]
Mr Prisk: The Government's lead department for trade promotion is UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), a joint department of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
UKTI focuses its resources on helping British companies to succeed in the markets where there is greatest demand from business for UKTI services, reflecting actual and potential opportunities in these markets. It has a presence in 96 markets around the world and this includes 20 Commonwealth countries which are trading partners
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for the UK, as well as a number of non-EU member state countries. Where there is no UKTI presence, FCO provides diplomatic support for British companies.
It is not possible to provide information on all the interactions that UKTI has had with the countries where it has a presence, as these are continuing and ongoing. There have been some notable, high profile, senior ministerial visits to target markets over the last year; participants have included the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, and my noble Friend the Minister for Trade and Investment, Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, among others. Markets visited with ministerial delegations have included China, India, Brazil, Russia, the middle east and Egypt.
Based on HM Revenue and Customs Overseas Trade Statistics, UK exports of goods to Commonwealth countries in 2010 were worth some £23.9 billion and imports £31.4 billion. UK exports of goods to non-EU, non-Commonwealth countries in 2010 were worth some £112.0 billion and imports £161.3 billion.
Separately, UKTI's new strategy, Britain Open for Business, sets out plans to provide practical support to exporters and inward investors over the next five years. Working with the FCO, UKTI has identified 19 high-priority markets where they will intensify efforts and shift further resource to help UK companies seize opportunities. The full list of these markets is: Brazil, China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. We will also target Hong Kong both as a market in its own right and as a springboard into the mainland China market.
Home Department
Arrest Warrants
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long on average a subject of a request for surrender under a European Arrest Warrant spent on remand before surrender in each year since the inception of the warrant; and what the average length of time remaining on the sentence at the date of surrender was in each such year. [55616]
Damian Green [holding answer 13 May 2011]: There is no Home Office involvement in the operation of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW). This is a judicial process issued for the purposes of conducting a criminal prosecution against someone accused of an offence or for enforcing a term of imprisonment, where the person sought has been convicted of an offence.
The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (for Scotland) are the designated authorities for processing EAWs in the UK.
SOCA does not routinely store this information. To answer this question, a manual examination of approximately 1,700 files (the total number of people surrendered by the UK under the EAW since 2004) would be required, which would incur disproportionate cost.
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Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information her Department holds on the average number of occasions the subject of a request for surrender under a European arrest warrant has entered and left the requesting member state between the date of the alleged offence and the date of the request in each year since the inception of the warrant. [55617]
Damian Green [holding answer 13 May 2011]: The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) does not hold the relevant information to answer this question.
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for surrender of an individual under a European Arrest Warrant her Department has received in each year since its inception. [55618]
Damian Green [holding answer 13 May 2011]:The following table shows the number of European Arrest Warrant (EAW) requests received by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) each year since the inception of the EAW in 2004.
|
|
EAW requests received by the UK |
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time to elapse between the date of an alleged offence and the receipt of a request for surrender in respect of that offence under the European Arrest Warrant by her Department was in each of the last three years. [55619]
Damian Green [holding answer 13 May 2011]:The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) does not routinely store this information. To answer this question a manual examination of over 23,500 files (the total number of European Arrest Warrants SOCA has received since 1 January 2004) would be required, which would incur disproportionate cost.
Asylum: Detainees
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons under the age of 18 are detained awaiting the outcome of asylum applications. [55439]
Damian Green: As of 7 May 2011 there were no individuals under the age of 18 detained by the UK Border Agency in immigration removal centres.
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Children: Protection
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will assess the merits of ratifying and implementing the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. [55800]
James Brokenshire: Child sexual exploitation is an appalling crime. It is a form of child sexual abuse and tackling it is an absolute priority for the Government.
In May 2008, the UK signed the Council of Europe's Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. The Convention sets standards to ensure that countries criminalise the sexual exploitation and abuse of children and adopt similar standards of investigation and prosecution of these crimes. Officials across a number of Government Departments are currently considering the steps that would be required to ratify the Council of Europe Convention.
Departmental Billing
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many invoices her Department received in respect of goods or services supplied by tier 1 suppliers between 1 May 2010 and 1 April 2011; and how many of those invoices were not paid within the period of time specified in the Government's Fair Payment guidance. [55864]
Damian Green: The Department received a total of 63,893 compliant invoices on five-day and 30-day terms in respect of goods or services supplied between 1 May 2010 and 1 April 2011. Of this number, a total of 176 invoices on 30-day terms were not paid within the period of time specified in the Government's Fair Payment guidance.
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanism her Department has established to ensure its payments are passed through the supply chain to each tier in accordance with the last date for payment defined in the Government's Fair Payment guidance. [55887]
Damian Green: The Department expects suppliers to pass the benefits of prompt payment down the supply chain. An on-line questionnaire with our suppliers is used to monitor compliance.
Departmental Data Protection
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contracts her Department holds which allow contractors to store personal data of UK citizens overseas; to which contracts this applies; in which countries the data for each such contract are held; and how many people have their data stored overseas under each such contract. [55742]
Damian Green:
The Home Department, inclusive of its Executive agencies, holds just one contract where personal data of UK citizens are stored overseas. The
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contract is with Carlson Wagonlit Travel and a total of 13,975 personal details are stored for travel booking purposes across the UK, Spain, Germany and USA.
Departmental Pay
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional pay she plans to provide to officials in her Department in the period from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013 to reflect (a) seniority, (b) promotion and (c) performance. [55411]
Damian Green: No other changes are planned to Home Office pay arrangements this year other than those given in the Government's pay freeze policy, which will continue to apply in 2011-12.
Payments made in 2012-13 will continue to be subject to affordability criteria and Government public sector pay policy at that time.
Departmental Public Transport
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date (a) she and (b) each other Minister in her Department last travelled by (i) London Underground and (ii) public bus services on government business; how many times (A) she and (B) each other Minister in her Department has travelled by each such form of transport on government business since May 2010; and if she will make a statement. [50085]
Damian Green: The Department holds the following information on ministerial travel by these forms of public transport:
Ministers in the Home Department last travelled by London Underground on Home Office business on the following occasions:
Lynne Featherstone—9 November 2010
James Brokenshire—16 December 2010
Damian Green—9 February 2011
Nick Herbert—6 April 2011
No Ministers in the Home Department have travelled by public bus on official Home Office business.
To obtain the total number of times these Ministers have travelled by London Underground on Home Office business could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department plans to cease to fund any of its functions over the period of the comprehensive spending review. [55184]
Damian Green:
The Home Office Business Plan sets out the Department's structural reform priorities over the four years of the spending review, including changes to certain functions. In particular, the Department will no longer impose unnecessary burdens and bureaucracy on the police or local partners, or intrude disproportionately on civil liberties and freedoms. I am confident that the Home Office will be able to achieve the priorities and carry out the functions set out in the
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Business Plan, while making overall savings of 23% in real terms by 2014-15, in line with the spending review settlement.
Domestic Violence: Advisory Services
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding her Department has allocated in respect of independent domestic violence advisers in (a) each financial year for which such funding has been available and (b) financial year 2011-12 to date. [55900]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 16 May 2011]: We have allocated funding for independent domestic violence advisers (IDVAs) in the following financial years:
In 2005-06: funding of £1 million to support the delivery of specialist domestic violence courts—this would have included funding IDVAs;
In 2006-07: funding of £2 million for IDVAs and independent sexual violence advisers;
In 2008-09 and 2009-10: funding was allocated to Government offices to support the Government response to tackle domestic and sexual violence. This would have included funding for IDVAs but we do not have a breakdown of the specific amount.
In 2010-11: we allocated £2.3 million for IDVAs and in 2011-12 we will allocate £2.5 million.
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for funding for independent domestic violence advisers (a) her Department has received and (b) have been granted in financial year 2011-12 to date. [55902]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 16 May 2011]:We received over 230 applications for independent domestic violence adviser (IDVA) funding from over 200 organisations (statutory and voluntary).
We have granted funding towards 144 posts (statutory and voluntary) in the financial year 2011-12.
Driving Offences
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers have been (a) stopped by police on suspicion of, (b) charged with, (c) convicted of, (d) fined for and (e) cautioned for an offence of driving while using a mobile telephone in each police force area in each year since the prohibition came into force. [53494]
James Brokenshire: There were 125,516 fixed penalty notices issued by the 43 police forces of England and Wales for the use of handheld mobile phone while driving in 2009 compared with 115,926 in 2008.
A breakdown by police force area for 2009 can be found on page 67, table 3.01, column 4 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin “Police Powers and Procedures 2009/10”. The publication is available in the Library of the House and at the weblink provided as follows:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/police-research/hosb0711/
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A breakdown by police force area for 2008 can be found on page 54, table 3.01, column four of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin “Police Powers and Procedures 2008/09”. The publication is available in the Library of the House and at the weblink provided as follows:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110218135832/rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/hosb0610.pdf
Historical data, going back to 2003 can be found on row 4, page 61, table 3b of the same publication.
Cautions, charges and convictions data are dealt with by the Ministry of Justice in their “Criminal Statistics” publication, copies of which are available from the Library of the House and the weblink as follows:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/criminal-justice/criminal-annual.htm
English Language: Education
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the removal of full fee remission for students of English for Speakers of Other Languages. [55614]
Damian Green: My officials have had discussions with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills about provision for students of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). A separate assessment of how the changes from full funding for ESOL courses may affect ESOL learners is currently being carried out by Department of Business, Innovation and Skills who expect to be able to publish this before summer recess.
Entry Clearances: Balkans
Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to announce the results of the review of the visa regime for Serbian and Macedonian nationals visiting the UK. [56188]
Damian Green: We are currently reviewing plans for the next visa waiver test. We will consider any changes to the visitor visa regimes in Serbia and Macedonia as part of that wider process. We have no plans to make any changes to the existing visa regimes before then.
Fines: Tobacco
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been fined for bringing in excess amounts of tobacco at UK ports of entry in the last 12 months. [52912]
Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
Although no records are available for the number of people fined for bringing in excess tobacco at British points of entry, a total of 39,588 seizures of cigarette and hand rolling tobacco were made in 2010-11.
Travellers who import for illicit resale in the UK are evading UK duty. Where such offences occur, the goods will be liable to forfeiture and the person involved may be liable for the duty evaded, a penalty of up to 100% of the potential lost revenue, and possibly further criminal sanctions.
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Further information is available in the “Tackling Tobacco Smuggling” strategy, launched on 27 April 2011 and available at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/news/tackling-tobacco.htm
Illegal Immigrants
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department's policies of the failure to detain or deport Mohammed Smoured. [55267]
Damian Green: Mohammed Smoured is a serious criminal and the UK Border Agency vigorously pursued his deportation from the UK. He was released from immigration detention by the courts despite strong objections from the UK Border Agency.
The internal review that followed this case demonstrated a need to tighten up processes. Lessons have been learned and the UK Border Agency has since rolled out new training programmes and guidance to support case workers in dealing with future cases in a more timely and efficient way.
Immigrants
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to assess the (a) effect on and (b) contribution to (i) health services, (ii) education services and (iii) other services of migrants. [55988]
Damian Green: I have tasked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to research the labour market, social and public service impacts of non-EEA migration; and to advise on the use of such evidence in cost-benefit analyses of migration and policy decisions. This will provide evidence at the national level. Results from this work are expected in November 2011.
In addition I have asked Home Office analysts to scope the feasibility of identifying and measuring the social impacts of migration at the local level. We will work with local authorities and other local services to gain a better understanding of the issues and challenges facing public sector providers in terms of how they might identify different types of migrants and measure both their cost on public services and their contribution to the local community. This research will be undertaken over the course of 2011-12.
Missing Persons
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to implement the recommendations of the Missing Persons Taskforce; and if she will make a statement. [55851]
James Brokenshire:
The Home Office has carried out an assessment of the 22 recommendations in the Missing Persons Taskforce Review. Seven have already been delivered, action is under way on a further 10 and the remainder are subject to further consideration. We are working with our counterparts in other Government Departments to consider what further action is needed in this important area, taking account of other relevant developments including, for example, the Munro Review
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of Child Protection and the transfer of responsibility for missing children from the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) to Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP).
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the role of the police in the investigation of missing persons. [55852]
James Brokenshire: The police play an important role with regards to missing persons and are the lead agency in investigating missing persons incidents.
Identifying and ensuring the safest return possible for children and adults who go missing forms part of the police service's child protection and wider safeguarding role.
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responsibility the proposed National Crime Agency will have for missing persons. [55853]
James Brokenshire: On 10 May my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department announced that the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) will operate as part of the new National Crime Agency (NCA) and it has previously been agreed that this role will include responsibility for missing children services. This move will ensure that CEOP will be better positioned than ever before to tackle child sexual exploitation, tackle those who seek to harm children, and develop its vital work educating children and their carers on how to protect themselves.
Work is continuing to arrange the transfer of responsibility for missing children's services from the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) to CEOP. In turn, work is progressing to consider where responsibilities for missing adults services should sit in the future.
Offences against Children
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she plans to have with the Director of Public Prosecution on efforts to ensure that the Crown Prosecution Service improves its knowledge and practice in prosecuting cases of child sexual abuse and exploitation committed overseas. [55920]
James Brokenshire:
The Government takes sexual offences committed against children very seriously. Section 72 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (as amended by the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008) extends extra territorial jurisdiction in relation to some sex offences committed against children whilst abroad by United Kingdom nationals and in cases involving dual criminality by United Kingdom residents. However it remains the case that such offences are best prosecuted where they occur. To this end the Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre (CEOP), through the work of its UK and Overseas Tracker Teams and in conjunction with UK police forces and overseas law enforcement agencies, engages with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to pursue tactical options in respect of UK nationals who travel overseas and abuse and/or exploit
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children and to increase their mutual knowledge of child sexual abuse cases, on both a practitioner and strategic management level.
The CPS considers every such case on its individual merits and applies the two-stage Full Code Test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors when deciding whether to prosecute.
Offenders: Deportation
Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on the deportation of foreign national prisoners who are wanted for terrorist offences abroad. [55679]
Damian Green: Ministers have not had any recent discussions on the deportation of foreign national prisoners who are wanted for terrorist offences abroad. However, officials within the Home Office and Ministry of Justice are in regular contact.
Sexual Offences: EU Action
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she had had with her European counterparts on the progress of Europol's Project Haven to detect and disrupt European travelling sex offenders. [55919]
James Brokenshire: Action on combating child sex offences is a priority both domestically and at EU level. The Government have opted into the draft EU directive on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography which will set minimum standards for combating child sex offences across the EU. In addition, this month my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department has had discussions with the Director of Europol on the issue of travelling sex offenders to consider what further co-ordinated action might be taken at EU level.
I consider that the lessons learned from the initial phases of Project Haven were valuable, and the recommendations arising out of this and ongoing actions will be carried forward in the UK by the relevant bodies in conjunction with Europol.
Child protection is a priority for this Government and will be further strengthened when the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) becomes a core part of the National Crime Agency.
Stop and Search
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many searches of (a) persons and (b) vehicles under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 were carried out by each Metropolitan Police division in each of the last five years; and how many arrests for (i) possession of offensive weapons and (ii) other offences were made in each division as a result in each such year. [53510]
Nick Herbert: Data for the Metropolitan police on the use of this power are published in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin “Police Powers and Procedures”.
Data are unavailable at a level below police force area. Current and previous copies of these publications are available from the Library of the House.
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Leader of the House
Ministerial Policy Advisers
Maria Eagle: To ask the Leader of the House how much his office spent on special advisers' travel by (a) Government car, (b) private hire car, (c) train, (d) bus, (e) commercial aircraft and (f) private aircraft since May 2010. [56109]
Sir George Young: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons has not spent any money on the travel costs of my special adviser.
Electronic Government: Petitions
Diana Johnson: To ask the Leader of the House when he expects it to be possible to send an online petition to the Prime Minister via the Directgov website. [55600]
Sir George Young: The Government will move the online petition system from the No. 10 website to the DirectGov portal before the summer recess, and I will make a statement to the House.
EU Law: Parliamentary Scrutiny
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Leader of the House if he will (a) review the powers of the House of Commons to scrutinise EU Directives and (b) bring forward proposals to allow hon. Members to propose amendments to the draft regulations implementing EU Directives. [55609]
Sir George Young: As my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe noted in a written ministerial statement on 20 January 2011, Official Report, columns 51-52WS, the Government are keen to explore new ways of scrutinising EU issues. He is in discussions with the European Scrutiny Committee and the House of Lords EU Select Committee about this. It is for Parliament to decide how it wants to take this forward with us.
In the meantime, the Government intend to continue discussions with the European Scrutiny Committee on its terms of reference and the terms of the House's Scrutiny Reserve Resolution.
Legal Aid: Reform
Alun Cairns: To ask the Leader of the House what timetable he has set for the passage of his proposed legislation to reform legal aid. [55993]
Sir George Young: The Government are committed to reforming the legal aid system to provide for a more efficient and sustainable scheme, in order to preserve the help available to those in our society who need it most. The Government will bring forward legislation on their proposals in due course.
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Health
Cardiovascular Services
Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of national and local co-ordination in cardiovascular services to ensure integrated care for patients who have an acute myocardial infarction; [55470]
(2) what recent assessment he has made of the provision of cardiovascular services in the NHS; and if he will make a statement; [55471]
(3) whether he has any plans to revise guidelines on the management of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors as part of NHS reforms. [55490]
Mr Simon Burns: It is for local national health service commissioners to ensure that there is integrated care available for patients who have an acute myocardial infarction. They need to assess their local population needs to determine the range and level of service provision required in their area.
There is a range of information publicly available to assist NHS commissioners to understand their local population needs and benchmark local services, including:
Local Cardiovascular Profiles—The South East Public Health Observatory has published cardiovascular profiles at regional and primary care trust level. These are intended to inform commissioning and planning decisions and enable commissioners to target resources most effectively to tackle cardiovascular disease and improve the health of local communities. They can be found at:
www.sepho.org.uk/CVDprofiles.aspx
The Central Cardiac Audit Database offers information to help health professionals and commissioners to continually measure and improve care by comparing their services to specific standards and national trends. Information about this can be found at:
www.ic.nhs.uk/services/national-clinical-audit-support-programme-ncasp/heart-disease
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance to the NHS on the management of a number of conditions associated with cardiovascular disease. NICE routinely reviews its published guidance. A NICE Quality Standard on heart failure is expected to be published in June 2011.
Further information about NICE Quality Standards is available on the institute's website at:
www.nice.org.uk/aboutnice/qualitystandards/qualitystandards.jsp
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department plans to take to ensure provision of specialist services for myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome is maintained. [56165]
Paul Burstow: Primary care professionals coordinate the services that patients receive, helping them to navigate the system and ensure they get the best care. For this reason, they are best placed to coordinate those aspects of commissioning of care that will most benefit from their clinical insight and expertise, while involving all other clinical professionals who are also part of any pathway of care.
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Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the proposed closure of the specialist inpatient service for myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome at Queen's hospital, Romford; and if he will make a statement. [56166]
Paul Burstow: The Department has received numerous representations on the proposed closure of the specialist inpatient service for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) at Queen's hospital, Romford. It is for the local national health service to provide services which best serve the needs of its local population.
The Department is not prescriptive about the type of services that should be provided by the local NHS for CFS/ME patients. However trusts must adhere to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines:
Every person diagnosed with CFS/ME should be offered:
information about the illness
acceptance and understanding
assistance negotiating the healthcare, benefits and social care systems
assistance with occupational activities including work and
education if appropriate
An individualised management plan should be developed with the person with CFS/ME, and their carers if appropriate. The plan should be reviewed and changes documented at each contact. It should include:
relevant symptoms and history
plans for care and treatment, including managing setbacks/relapses
information and support needs
any education, training or employment support needs
details of the healthcare professionals involved in care and their contact details.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Training
Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that training in myalgic encephalomyelitis is included in all pre and post-registration training of health care professionals. [56163]
Anne Milton: The content and standard of health care training is the responsibility of the independent regulatory bodies.
Through their role as the custodians of quality standards in education and practice, these organisations are committed to ensuring high quality patient care delivered by high quality health professionals and that health care professionals are equipped with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to deal with the problems and conditions they will encounter in practice.
Continuing Care
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people in each primary care trust were in receipt of NHS continuing health care funding in 2010; and if he will make a statement; [55639]
(2) how many people in receipt of NHS continuing health care in each primary care trust have had such
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funding withdrawn in the last 12 months; how many had such funding reinstated on appeal; and if he will make a statement; [55640]
(3) if he will assess the potential effects on the National Framework for NHS continuing health care of the proposed reforms to the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [55641]
Paul Burstow: Information on the number of people in receipt of continuing health care, in December 2010, broken down by primary care trust (PCT) is given in the following table.
| 2010-11, quarter 3 | ||
| Organisation code | Organisation name | Number |
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Information on the number of people in receipt of continuing health care who have had their funding withdrawn is not collected centrally.
It is anticipated that there will be no changes to the sections of the framework covering the eligibility criteria for continuing health care. However, the sections covering the statutory powers of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities will be rewritten to reflect the proposed reforms which will move these powers to general practitioner consortia and the NHS Commissioning Board respectively.