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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 19 May 2011
Culture, Media and Sport
Departmental Billing
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what mechanism his 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. [55895]
John Penrose: The Department does not hold information on the time taken by its contractors (tier one suppliers) to pay their sub-contractors (tier two suppliers). We remain committed to paying invoices to tier one suppliers within five working days. We are a signatory to the Prompt Payment Code and continue to work closely with our tier one suppliers to ensure that the benefits are felt throughout the supply chain by:
reviewing payment performance at meetings with suppliers as part of the standard contract management process;
ensuring all new contracts with tier one suppliers include a provision requiring the tier one supplier to pay the tier two supplier within 30 days; and
enabling tier two suppliers to report any concerns they feel have not been adequately addressed direct to the Department or via the Office of Government Commerce's supplier feedback process.
Departmental Data Protection
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many contracts his 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 is held; and how many people have their data stored overseas under each such contract. [55735]
John Penrose: The Department hold no contracts of this nature.
Telecommunications: Hearing Impairment
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of text relay services for British Sign Language users. [56149]
Mr Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has made no assessment of the adequacy of text relay services for British Sign Language users.
Under revisions to the EU Electronic Communications which are currently being implemented by DCMS, Ofcom will be able to specify, where appropriate, requirements to ensure that disabled end-users:
(a) have access to electronic communications services equivalent to that enjoyed by the majority of end-users; and
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(b) benefit from the choice of undertakings and services available to the majority of end-users.
To this end, Ofcom are currently undertaking a review of relay services, the objective of which is to assess whether current arrangements for the provision of relay services are adequate in delivering equivalence to voice telephony for hearing and speech impaired end-users (including BSL users). Ofcom expect to publish a consultation document this summer, and a research report which helps inform the review was published on 4 February and can be read at:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/telecoms-research/ofcom-relay-services/
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated any cost-benefit analysis of introducing a universal video relay service. [56150]
Mr Vaizey: The Department has not commissioned, nor evaluated, any cost benefit analysis on the introduction of a universal video relay service.
Ofcom are currently undertaking a review of relay services, the objective of which is to assess whether current arrangements for the provision of relay services are adequate in delivering equivalence to voice telephony for hearing (including BSL users) and speech impaired end-users. Ofcom expect to publish a consultation document this summer. This review will involve looking at, among other things, the existing text relay service and additional relay services including video relay and captioned telephony. It will include a cost benefit analysis of the options.
Ofcom commissioned research to help inform this review and a report was published on 4 February and can be read at:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/telecoms-research/ofcom-relay-services/
However, any decision on relay services will have to be made following a process of review, consultation, cost benefit analysis and a proportionality test.
Television: Local Broadcasting
Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the potential number of jobs to be created from the establishment of a new national television spine for local television. [55701]
Mr Vaizey: The local TV framework that will eventually be put in place will enable the growth of a new market that will employ a range of people to commission, produce and operate local TV services.
Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport by what date he expects the new national television spine for local television to be in place; and if he will make a statement. [55702]
Mr Vaizey: A statement on next steps and timetable for implementation will be made in due course.
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Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which organisations have submitted bids to operate a new national television spine supporting local television. [55712]
Mr Vaizey: The Local Media Action Plan published in January 2010 invited informal expressions of interest as part of a two stage consultation process. This was not a bidding process. A list of those who responded is available on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport website:
www.culture.gov.uk
Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what research his Department has undertaken to assess the economic impact of a new national television spine for local television in terms of (a) local economic growth and (b) creation of local advertising markets. [55715]
Mr Vaizey: The commercial viability review published in December 2010 and carried out by Nicholas Shott, head of UK investment banking at Lazard, looked at a wide range of issues including economic impact and local advertising markets. The costs and benefits of the Government's preferred approach will be set out in due course.
House of Commons Commission
Accommodation
Jim Dobbin: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on the House's accommodation policy. [56695]
John Thurso: The Commission agreed on 16 May the principles which will underlie future policy on the parliamentary estate and accommodation. They largely reflect the Administration Committee's proposals of 2006, while also taking account of the savings programme. Proposals in the next few months for putting the principles into practice will be subject to consultation. I am placing in the Library of the House the statement of principles.
Environmental Targets
Jim Dobbin: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the environmental targets set for the parliamentary estate for 2010-11 were achieved. [56694]
John Thurso: Four targets were set, and significant progress has been made in all four areas, as follows. In particular, for the second year running the two Houses have reduced their carbon emissions. Two of the targets were missed and further work will be needed to meet the demanding targets set for future years.
Carbon emissions: The target was to reduce carbon emissions (resulting from energy consumption) by 7% by 2010-11, relative to 2008-09. For the second year running the two Houses reduced their absolute emissions but this year the target was missed by 1.0%. The target does not take account of space heating requirements and so this measure was considerably affected by the winter weather conditions. When weather factors are taken into account the reduction beat the target by 0.7%.
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Water: The target was to reduce water consumption by 12% by 2010-11, relative to 2008-09 which was exceeded. Consumption was reduced by 18.0% on 2008-09 levels. The main contributor was the more efficient use of borehole water for cooling in Portcullis house.
Waste generation: The target was to reduce the volume of waste generated by 10% by 2010-11, relative to 2008-09, which the two Houses exceeded. Weight of waste was down 20% on base year.
Recycling: The target was to recycle 60% of waste generated by weight by 2010-11. Although the rate of recycling was improved, at 49.2% it fell short of the target. Performance has declined due to reduction in reported amount of glass recycled; the cause continues to be investigated but appears to be due to incorrect historic data from the contractor. The new waste contract due to be awarded this summer will require the provider to work in partnership with the authorities in the two Houses to meet our waste recycling targets.
Times of Sittings
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what additional costs were incurred by the House of Commons Service in consequence of the continuation of the sitting of the House on Tuesday 3 May between 10.30 pm and 4.34 am on the next day. [56487]
John Thurso: Full details will not be available until all expenditure claims have been processed: it is likely that many of these will not be received until the end of May. The figures currently available include late night transport costs after 11 pm of £2,708 and estimated Hansard printing costs of £2,162. I will write to the hon. Member with further details once they are known.
Communities and Local Government
Audit Commission: Government Procurement Card
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2011, Official Report, column 195W, on the Government Procurement Card, what the purpose was of each meal purchased by the Audit Commission using the Government Procurement Card in 2008-09 at (a) L'Escargot, (b) Bar and Grill, (c) Smollensky's, (d) RSJ Restaurant, (e) Cinnamon Club, (f) Bar and Kitchen, (g) Imperial China, (h) Boulevard Brasserie, (i) Grumbles, (j) Sirenas, (k) Bank and (l) Benton Bar Brasserie; and who attended each such meal. [54581]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to respond to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 19 May 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The payments to (a) L'Escargot were for a dinner for representatives of London Councils with senior Audit Commission staff, and a leaving dinner for a senior Audit Commission member of staff. The leaving dinner was fully reimbursed to the Commission by attendees, and therefore at no cost to the public purse.
Attendees for the London Councils dinner were:
Michael O'Higgins, Chairman
Steve Bundred, Chief Executive
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Cllr Sir Merrick Cockell, Chairman & Leader Kensington & Chelsea
Stuart Fraser, Chairman, Policy & Resources Committee, City of London
Cllr Sean Brennan, Leader, Sutton
Cllr Michael White, Leader, Havering
Mayor Jules Pipe, Mayor, Hackney
Cllr James Kempton, Leader, Islington
Mike More, Chief Executive, Westminster
Rob Whiteman, Chief Executive, Barking & Dagenham
John O'Brien, Chief Executive, London Councils
The payments for (b) Bar and Grill, (c) Smolensky's, (d) RSJ Restaurant, (f) Bar and Kitchen, (g) Imperial China, (h) Boulevard Brasserie, (i) Grumbles, (j) Sirenas and (l) Benton Bar Brasserie were for staff Christmas meals. Prior to 2009 each Audit Commission employee was given a £30 contribution towards their team Christmas meal or party. Generally, employees pooled their contributions and put them towards a Christmas lunch or dinner. The Audit Commission ceased Christmas contributions to staff in 2009.
The payment to (e) Cinnamon Club (£230.29) is published in our hospitality and expenses register on the Audit Commission's website.
The dinner was attended by:
Michael O'Higgins, Chairman
Steve Bundred, Chief Executive
Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP
The second payment was for a staff meeting and was fully reimbursed by attendees, and therefore at no cost to the public purse.
The payments to (k) Bank is published in our hospitality and expenses register on the Audit Commission's website. Both payments were for dinners with London councils.
Attendees were:
Steve Bundred, Chief Executive and Colin Barrow, Leader Westminster
and;
Steve Bundred, Chief Executive and Mike More, Chief Executive Westminster
Because the information requested includes personal information, we have been unable to disclose the names of more junior staff who attended meals in b), c), d) f), g). h), i), j) and l) as this would be a breach of the first principle of the Data Protection Act.
Eco-towns
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding streams he expects to make available for eco-town developments other than from the New Homes Bonus. [56381]
Grant Shapps: I refer my hon. Friend to the White Paper “Local Growth Realising Every Places Potential” published on 28 October 2010, which sets out a range of policies and incentives to support locally led growth, including eco-town developments. The document can be found at:
http://businesslink.gov.uk/Horizontal_Services_files/local_growth_white_paper.pdf
Empty Property
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to bring disused residential properties back into use; and what strategy his Department has developed to ensure that such areas of multiple deprivation become sustainable and socially-mixed communities. [55791]
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Andrew Stunell: The Government are committed to exploring a full range of measures to bring empty homes back into use. As part of this we recently announced that the New Homes Bonus—which rewards local authorities for new housing development—will include both new homes and empty properties brought back into use. This means that an authority will receive the same bonus for bringing an empty home back into use as for the building of a new home.
We have also allocated £100 million capital funding to tackle some of the most difficult empty homes. Proposals for how these funds will be distributed are currently being developed and a further announcement will be made once the detail of this proposal has been finalised.
The Government are also taking a new approach to regeneration and growth—putting residents, local businesses, civil society organisations and civil leaders in the driving seat. We are providing them with local rewards and incentives to drive growth and improve the social and physical quality of their areas.
Energy Performance Certificates
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effects on supply of properties for holiday let of the requirement for such properties to have energy performance certificates from 30 June 2011. [55573]
Andrew Stunell: The Department published an impact assessment which estimated the likely costs and benefits of requiring certain properties rented out as holiday lets to have an energy performance certificate. The impact assessment found that the cost of a certificate was about £75 and that the measure would deliver savings to the industry of approximately £0.15 million per year. The assessment can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningand building/epcholidayletsia
Gurkhas: Resettlement
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) (a) how many and (b) which local authorities have submitted requests to his Department for additional resources to support newly-settled former Gurkhas; [56139]
(2) if he will assess the living conditions of former Gurkhas who have settled in the UK since 2009; and if he will make a statement; [56159]
(3) if he will assess the resources required to support newly-settled former Gurkhas; and if he will make a statement. [56161]
Grant Shapps:
The Government have recognised the issue of inward migration and the potential difficulties that this can cause in some areas. In the past, population figures did not accurately reflect the extent of general immigration. However, for the first time Formula Grant is informed by more accurate and timely population estimates developed through Phase 1 of the Migration Statistics Improvement Programme. This means that those areas that have experienced increased population growth over recent years will receive a larger grant
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allocation. At the same time, the Government have reduced ring fencing and ended costly central reporting requirements. These changes mean local authorities themselves will be able in future to decide how best to address the impacts of immigration on their areas.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), recognises the difficulties some local authorities are experiencing as a result of specifically Nepalese migration. He has met representatives from Rushmoor borough council to discuss this, and has offered to speak to the Local Government Association to see how local authorities can work together to attract those settling in this country to a wider area. The Cross Government Working Group on Gurkhas has also been reconvened at the Prime Minister's request to continue to monitor the concerns and challenges created by the 2009 immigration policy change for Gurkhas.
Local authorities have powers, under the Housing Act 2004, to assess the risks and hazards in residential properties using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. If a property is found to contain serious (category 1) hazards, the local authority has a duty to take the most appropriate action. This could range from trying to deal with the problems informally at first to prohibiting the use of the whole or part of the dwelling. This system provides an important safety net, ensuring that homes are safe and free of hazards which pose a significant risk to the occupant. It is in local authority's interests to collect information across all housing tenures through housing condition surveys and to decide on the best approach for their area.
Housing: Construction
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the potential effects on (a) the cost of housing and (b) council waiting lists of his proposals for new housing. [56347]
Grant Shapps: We are investing nearly £4.5 billion in new affordable housing to help deliver up to 150,000 new affordable homes between 2011-12 and 2014-15 in England.
From April 2011, housing associations have been able to offer the new Affordable Rent product. This will allow us to lever in more private investment than under the old system, to deliver more homes for every pound of subsidy from the taxpayer.
Illustrative modelling of the Affordable Rent policy—including assumptions about Affordable Rent levels and the average proportion of rent that will met by housing benefit for Affordable Rent properties—will be set out in the impact assessment, due to be published shortly.
Our wider social housing reforms will provide landlords with the freedom to grant more flexible tenancies, freeing up more social housing for those most in need. They will also allow local authorities to decide who should go on their waiting list for social housing. An impact assessment covering these proposals is available at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/localismsocialhousingfuture
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I also refer the hon. Member to my earlier answer to him of 12 May 2011, Official Report, column 1321W, on FirstBuy, which will make home ownership more affordable to 10,000 first time buyers.
The New Homes Bonus specifically rewards the construction of new affordable housing.
Land: Databases
Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 10 May 2011, Official Report, column 1181W, on land: databases, when his Department plans to publish a timetable for tendering for the future provision of the supply of aerial photography and height data following the cessation of the Pan Government Agreement. [56418]
Andrew Stunell: No decisions have been made on the future provision for the supply of aerial photography and height data once the current contract ends.
Religious Buildings: Planning
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will consider the merits of bringing forward amendments to the Localism Bill on the provision of guidance to local planning authorities on the recognition of the importance of places of worship as part of social infrastructure. [56132]
Robert Neill: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Alun Cairns) on 18 May 2011, Official Report, columns 230-31W.
Northern Ireland
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date special advisers in his Department last used the Government car pool to travel in an official capacity; and on how many occasions a special adviser in his Department has travelled to their home address using the Government car pool since May 2010. [56090]
Mr Paterson: The special adviser in the Northern Ireland Office has not used the Government car pool in any capacity since May 2010.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department 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. [56094]
Mr Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office has spent the following amounts on special advisers' travel from May 2010 to 16 May 2011:
(a) Government car: Nil;
(b) Private hire car: Nil;
(c) Train: £974.06;
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(d) Bus: Nil;
(e) Commercial aircraft: £16,508.67;
(f) Private aircraft: Nil.
Unlike the previous Administration who routinely used a private jet for travel between Great Britain and Northern Ireland by the Secretary of State, all such journeys since this Administration came to office have been taken on commercial aircraft at a considerable saving to the taxpayer.
Research
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) longitudinal and (b) other (i) research and (ii) collection of data his Department has (A) initiated, (B) terminated and (C) amended in the last 12 months; and what such research and data collection exercises undertaken by the Department have not been amended in that period. [56766]
Mr Paterson: My Department has not initiated, terminated or amended any longitudinal or other research or data collection in the last 12 months.
Trade Unions
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff of his Department are entitled to work (a) full-time as trade union representatives and (b) part-time on trade union activities; how many such staff are paid more than £25,900 annually; and what the cost to the public purse of employing such staff on such duties was in the latest period for which figures are available. [56447]
Mr Paterson: My Department does not have any staff that are (a) entitled to work full-time as trade union representatives, or (b) any part-time staff who are employed for the purpose of trade union activities. The Northern Ireland Office has staff representatives who are not paid for this role.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Council of Europe: Finance
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what voluntary contributions the Government has made to the costs of each institution of the Council of Europe in (a) 2010 and (b) each of the previous five years. [51963]
Mr Lidington: The UK's voluntary contributions are given in the following table.
| United Kingdom voluntary contributions (2005-10) | ||
|
|
Programme | € |
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Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date special advisers in his Department last used the Government car pool to travel in an official capacity; and on how many occasions a special adviser in his Department has travelled to their home address using the Government car pool since May 2010. [56083]
Mr Lidington: The special advisers have not used the Government car pool in any capacity since May 2010.
South Sudan
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support in the UN Security Council the proposed visit by representatives of that Council to South Sudan and Abyei. [56570]
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Mr Bellingham: We fully support the proposed visit and have made this clear in the Security Council. The UK's Permanent Representative to the UN will form part of the delegation.
Syria: Politics and Government
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with (a) his counterparts in Governments in the middle east and (b) international bodies on the political situation in Syria. [56171]
Alistair Burt [holding answer 17 May 2011]:We continue to discuss the situation in Syria with our international partners including in the middle east, at the UN and within the European Union. In those discussions we underline the importance of condemning the violence against civilians who are expressing their views in peaceful protests, the need for the Syrian authorities to show restraint and to respond to the legitimate demands of people with immediate and genuine reform, not brutal repression.
The UK was heavily engaged in the European Union decision to impose a travel ban and assets freeze on 13 individuals in the Syrian regime who are responsible for the violence. On Friday the Syrian ambassador to London was told that if the violence does not stop immediately and all political prisoners are released, the EU would take further measures including sanctions targeted at the highest levels of the Government. Alongside this action in the EU we are working to convince others that the UN Security Council should send an unequivocal message of condemnation of the situation and call for urgent political reform.
Uganda: Homosexuality
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with (a) civil society and (b) the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual community in Uganda on proposed legislation to impose the death penalty for certain homosexual acts in that country. [56207]
Mr Bellingham: Our high commission in Kampala is in close touch with Ugandan civil society groups campaigning for the rights of sexual minorities. A recent example of this was their support to those seeking an injunction to prevent the publication of articles in the Ugandan press which incited hatred towards Uganda's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual (LGBT) community.
Worldwide, the Government are committed to combating violence and discrimination against LGBT people as an integral part of their international human rights work. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has a clear programme for promoting the human rights of LGBT people which focuses on the decriminalisation of homosexuality and fighting against discrimination. This includes taking action on individual cases where discrimination has occurred; lobbying for changes in discriminatory practices and laws; and supporting LGBT human rights defenders during gay pride events, some of whom face hostile receptions and violence.
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Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has had made to the Government of Uganda on proposed legislation imposing the death penalty in respect of certain homosexual acts in that country. [56208]
Mr Bellingham: The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, introduced in the Ugandan Parliament by a private Member, was not passed during the parliamentary term which has just concluded. It remains to be seen whether the private Member will introduce the Bill in the next Ugandan Parliament.
I called Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa on 11 May 2011 to raise our strong concerns about the contents of this private Member’s Bill. In its most recent form, the Bill would have further criminalised homosexuality in Uganda by introducing new criminal sanctions for members of sexual minorities and those who promote their rights. This in turn would have a broader, negative impact on the human rights of all Ugandans.
Along with international partners, our high commission in Kampala has lobbied senior Ministers in the Ugandan Government, including the Prime Minister, over a long period of time to make our position clear on the importance of respect for the rights of sexual minorities worldwide, and in doing so we have made clear that we will not deviate from this position.
Attorney-General
Crime: Prosecutions
Richard Fuller: To ask the Attorney-General how many (a) senior executives and (b) directors of UK-based financial institutions have been subject to criminal prosecution for financial crimes since July 2007. [55483]
The Solicitor-General: The Serious Fraud Office has prosecuted eight directors and six other individuals defined as senior executives of UK financial institutions since July 2007. The SFO are currently investigating other cases that involve financial institutions both nationally and internationally.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) captures a wide range of information on the volume of specific offences that are charged and reach a first hearing in magistrates courts in its Compass Management Information System. However, these records do not include information about the occupation of the defendant to whom these offences relate or the particular circumstances of the charge.
The information requested is held on individual case files, and may be retrieved only by locating and examining every relevant file in each CPS office in England and Wales which would incur a disproportionate cost.
Departmental Mobile Phones
Mike Freer: To ask the Attorney-General what the name is of each contractor or supplier of (a) mobile telephone and (b) mobile data services to the Law Officers' Departments. [56068]
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The Solicitor-General: The information requested is outlined as follows:
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) order mobile phones and mobile data services via the CPS telephony contractor, Global Crossing. Their service provider is Vodafone.
The Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol) is supplied with mobile telephones by Vodafone, and supplied with mobile data services by Vodafone and Orange.
The Attorney-General's Office (AGO), Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), are supplied with mobile phones and mobile data services by Vodafone.
Departmental Travel
Maria Eagle: To ask the Attorney-General (1) how much each Executive agency of the Law Officers' Departments has spent on travel by (a) private hire vehicles, (b) trains, (c) buses, (d) commercial aircraft and (e) private aircraft since May 2010; [56081]
(2) how much has been spent on travel in respect of (a) each of the Law Officers' Departments Executive agencies and (b) the chief executive of each such agency since May 2010. [56184]
The Solicitor-General: The only Executive agency within the Law Officers' Departments is the Treasury Solicitor's Department.
Travel by civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code.
The total recorded expenditure for travel and subsistence for the period 1 May 2010 to 31 March 2011 is £387,490. This includes hotel and subsistence costs as well as all forms of travel.
Central accounts are used to book travel and hotels where practical, but individuals may also be directly reimbursed for valid travel and subsistence claims. We are unable to break down the total cost of travel and subsistence into the categories requested but expenditure through central accounts (eg Carlson Wagonlit for travel and hotels) is set out as follows:
| Expenditure through central accounts 1 May 2010 to 31 March 2011 | Treasury Solicitor's Department Agency (TSol) (£) |
There was no expenditure on private aircraft.
Train fares in respect of chief executive travel were £38. He incurred no other travel costs.
Women and Equalities
Equality Act 2010
Mr Bain: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what assessment she has made of the potential effect on women (a) in work, (b) in training and (c) in the provision of services of the decision not to implement the dual discrimination provisions of the Equality Act 2010. [49787]
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Lynne Featherstone: Women who have experienced discrimination at work, in training or in the provision of goods and services because of more than one protected characteristic will still be able to bring one or more single characteristic claims.
It is not possible to estimate the number of claims that would not succeed as single characteristic claims but would succeed because of dual discrimination.
Left-handed People: Equality
Mr Raab: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities whether (a) the Government Equalities Office and (b) the Equality and Human Rights Commission has commissioned research into discrimination against left-handedness. [56232]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 18 May 2011]:The Government Equalities Office has not undertaken research into discrimination against left-handedness. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has not undertaken research into discrimination against left-handedness.
Justice
Coroners
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will publish the evidential basis on which his decision not to implement the Office of the Chief Coroner was based; and if he will make a statement. [56241]
Mr Djanogly: The costs of full implementation of the Office of the Chief Coroner and Part One of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (which provides for the creation of the office) have been estimated at £6.5 million per year and £10.9 million set-up costs (including a shadow running year). I have now placed a breakdown of these costs in the House Library. The Ministry of Justice's spending review settlement has no provision for the Office of the Chief Coroner.
Corruption
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2011, Official Report, column 453W, on corruption, which colleagues in other Departments, non-governmental organisations and other national and international stakeholders he has met to discuss his role as the UK's international anti-corruption champion. [56412]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: Although it is not constitutional practice to disclose details of ministerial discussions, I can confirm that I have discussed my role as the UK's international anti-corruption champion with Cabinet colleagues, Transparency International UK and the Bond Governance group, as well as the US Attorney-General and an academic in the field. I have also discussed the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010 with officials from the OECD.
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department 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. [56095]
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Mr Kenneth Clarke: Excluding those travel costs where my special advisers have accompanied me on ministerial visits, the Ministry of Justice has spent the following on their travel: (a) £0.00, (b) £0.00, (c) £50.15, (d) £0.00, (e) £0.00, (f) £0.00.
Fixed Penalties
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the effectiveness of fixed penalty notices; and if he will make a statement. [56572]
Mr Blunt: The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), has frequent discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), on policy issues that affect both Departments and it is not usual practice to disclose the content of those meetings.
The Ministry of Justice and the Home Office worked with the Department for Transport to develop proposals to introduce a fixed penalty notice (FPN) for the offence of careless driving and to increase the level of certain road traffic FPNs, as set out in the Department for Transport's recently published Strategic Framework for Road Safety.
There are a number of FPN schemes in operation across a wide range of offences which provide the police and other enforcement agencies with the means to deal quickly and effectively with low-level offending. Among these are the penalty notice for disorder (PND) scheme and FPNs for a number of road traffic offences.
The aim of the PND scheme is to allow the police to impose a swift financial punishment in response to low-level, nuisance behaviour which provides a practical deterrent to future offending. The initial payment rate for PNDs was 53% in 2009. Unpaid PNDs are registered as fines by the courts and are indistinguishable from other fines. The overall payment rate for all fines in the financial year to March 2011 was 93%, and the payment rate excluding the value of administrative cancellations for the same period was 80%. 76% of adults and 67% of youths who received a PND in 2008 did not go on to reoffend within one year.
Fixed penalties for offences in respect of a vehicle provide a quick and simple way of dealing with those offences that do not require prosecution, but do require some formal action. In addition and where appropriate, police officers can offer offending drivers the opportunity to attend, at their own expense, an educational course as an alternative to paying the fixed penalty amount and receiving the associated penalty points. This helps people become better drivers and further reduces pressure on the criminal justice system.
Risley Prison: Suicide
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consideration he has given to the number of suicides at HMP Prison Risley in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [56525]
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Mr Blunt: Each death in custody is a tragedy. The National Offender Management Service is committed to reducing the number of self-inflicted deaths in prison custody.
Regrettably, there have been three self-inflicted deaths at HMP Risley in the last 12 months.
There do not appear to be any immediate common factors between the three deaths. Unfortunately, clusters of deaths can occur randomly due to the relatively small numbers involved.
Each death is subject to an investigation and, since 2004, these have been undertaken by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. Strenuous efforts are made to learn from each death and improve our understanding and procedures for caring for prisoners at risk of suicide or self-harm.
Sexual Offences: Convictions
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what the conviction rate for each type of sexual offence was in each region in each of the last five years; [56012]
(2) what the average length of sentence handed down by the courts was for each type of sexual offence in each region in each of the last five years. [56018]
Mr Blunt: Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts, and found guilty at all courts, the conviction ratio, number sentenced, sentence breakdown and average custodial sentence length, by sexual offence type and region in England and Wales, 2005 to 2009 can be viewed in the table. A copy of the table will be placed in the House Library.
Data for 2010 are planned for publication on 26 May 2011.
Information for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Scottish Executive and Northern Ireland Office respectively.
Cabinet Office
Census
Alun Cairns: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people completed 2011 Census forms in languages other than English. [56349]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated May 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) I have been asked to reply to your recent question to the Minister for the Cabinet Office asking how many people completed 2011 Census forms in languages other than English. 56349
The 2011 Census questionnaires were only available in English for households in England, and in both English and Welsh for households in Wales. Translations of the questions into other languages were available as part of the online help. The Census field operation only completed on 9 May and the significant task of scanning, processing and quality assuring the data is in its early stages. It is therefore too soon to know how many questionnaires were not completed in English.
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Damian Hinds: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects the Office for National Statistics to publish complete neighbourhood statistics datasets for England and Wales at ward level based on the 2011 Census. [56506]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated May 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) I have been asked to reply to your recent question to the Minister for the Cabinet Office asking when he expects the Office for National Statistics to publish complete neighbourhood statistics datasets for England and Wales at ward level based on the 2011 Census. 56506
The field operation for the 2011 Census in England and Wales was completed only on 9 May and the significant task of processing and quality assuring the data has now started. The timetable and detailed content of the several releases of outputs from the Census are not yet finalised. The first release is aimed for July 2012 and will comprise the sex/age distributions for local authorities' areas. ONS is expecting to release the first outputs at ward level in Autumn 2012, but the detailed content and means of dissemination of these will not be finalised until the 2011 Census output prospectus is published early in 2012.
Civil Servants: Early Retirement
John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate his Department has made of the number of civil servants likely to take early retirement during the spending review period. [22865]
Mr Maude: The civil service pension scheme rules allow civil servants to retire and draw their pension from either age 50 or age 55, depending on the date they joined the scheme. Where individuals draw pension before pension age (generally 60 or 65, depending on pension terms), an actuarial adjustment applies. In practice, civil servants retire at a range of ages, with many choosing to work on beyond pension age.
We have no specific estimate of the number of early retirements during the spending review period.
Community Relations
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether the Behavioural Insight Unit has undertaken any work on the recent popular protests in North Africa and the Middle East. [56391]
Mr Maude: The Behavioural Insight Unit has not undertaken any such work.
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Maria Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much his Department 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. [56098]
Mr Maude: Since May 2010, the Cabinet Office has spent £6.50 on private hire cars, £102.00 on train journeys and £1,505 on commercial aircraft for its special advisers.
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Departmental Responsibilities
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether his Department plans to cease to fund any of its functions over the period of the comprehensive spending review. [55193]
Mr Maude: The Cabinet Office during 2010-11 implemented a wide range of measures to reduce cost which will provide benefits throughout the spending review period. Key among these has been the creation of the Efficiency and Reform Group, which has brought together a range of functions allowing it to drive substantial efficiencies and reforms in civil service HR, ICT, commercial and procurement, estates and other support functions. The ERG has also changed the way in which these functions are carried out between the centre and Departments, allowing it over the two years to 31 March 2012 to reduce the headcount and cost of its aggregated functions by around one-third. The ERG has now embarked on substantial reforms of arrangements for learning and development within the civil service, affecting the National School for Government; for procurement by Government Departments, affecting Buying Solutions; and Government marketing and advertising, affecting the Central Office of Information.
Further savings will come from changes to the structure of and programmes run by the Office for Civil Society (OCS). Some functions of the former Social Exclusion Taskforce ceased when OCS was formed. These included responsibility for social exclusion policy and a number of community-related grant programmes (e.g. grassroots grants, community assets fund) which have now been realigned with this Government's priorities.
Elsewhere within the Department, other structural changes have flowed from the review of arm's length bodies. In particular, two sponsored non-departmental public bodies (Capacitybuilders and Commissioner for the Compact) have also been closed. There have also been smaller scale changes within the National Security Secretariat flowing from the creation of the National Security Council and Office of Cyber Security, and publication of this Government's National Security Strategy.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when officials in his Department last met representatives of (a) Serco, (b) Capita, (c) A4e and (d) G4S; what aspects of Government policy were discussed at such meetings; and whether future meetings with those companies are planned. [55754]
Mr Maude: Officials in the Cabinet Office meet a variety of companies and outside interest groups on a regular basis. Details of all such meetings are not held centrally and to collate this in the form requested would incur disproportionate cost.
Details of meetings between Permanent Secretaries and outside interest groups are published quarterly on the Cabinet Office website and are available at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/cabinet-office-permanent-secretaries%E2%80%99-meetings-external-organisations
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Scotland
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date special advisers in his Department last used the Government car pool to travel in an official capacity; and on how many occasions a special adviser in his Department has travelled to their home address using the Government car pool since May 2010. [56085]
David Mundell:
The Scotland Office does not hold details of which occasions the special adviser travelled
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in a Government car. The Scotland Office no longer has a contract with the Government Car Service.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department 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. [56093]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office spend on travel by special advisers between 10 May 2010 and 30 April 2011 is shown in the following table:
| Spend (£) | |||
| Special adviser 1 | Special adviser 2 | Special adviser 3 | |
|
|
20 to 29 May 2010 | 20 May to 9 July 2010 | 5 July 2010 to date |
Devolution
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the likely effect of the changes to funding arrangements proposed in the Scotland Bill on the level of per capita Government expenditure in Scotland. [56522]
David Mundell: It is not possible to make a realistic or accurate assessment of future per capita Government expenditure. Following the implementation of the Scotland Bill, the level of per capita Government expenditure in Scotland will be determined through a combination of the spending review, decisions of Scottish Ministers over the rates of the devolved taxes and the rate of economic growth in Scotland and the UK.
Offshore Industry: Profits
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 9 May 2011, Official Report, column 948W, on offshore industry, what proportion of pre-tax profits in the oil and gas sector in 2011 he estimates can be attributed to the (a) oil and (b) gas sector. [56011]
Michael Moore: It is not possible to estimate the split of taxable profits between oil and gas as they are taxed together.
Scottish Grand Committee
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to bring forward proposals for a meeting of the Scottish Grand Committee; and if he will make a statement. [56430]
Michael Moore: The Scottish Grand Committee has not met since 2003. The possibility of the Committee meeting is always kept under review.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will meet hon. and right hon. Members representing Scottish constituencies to discuss the Scottish Grand Committee. [56520]
Michael Moore: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and I are always happy to meet hon. and right hon. Members representing Scottish constituencies to discuss any issues they wish to raise.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Fisheries: Quotas
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what share of the sea fishing quota is held by fishermen using vessels of under 10 metres. [56200]
Richard Benyon: The opening quota for the 10 metre and under fleet is boosted by fisheries administrations acquiring additional quota in-year for their use. Information on the under 10 metre fleet's share of quota at 31 December 2010 is in Table 1. However, focusing on such an analysis can be misleading, as some of the quota stocks included are of little interest to inshore vessels. In addition, many of these vessels catch types of fish, such as crabs and scallops, which are not subject to the constraints on their activity that may be seen when targeting quota species. Figures for landings of quota stocks and non-quota stocks are also included in the table and show that 79% of all landings by the UK 10 metre and under fleet in 2010 were of non-quota stocks.
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| Table 1: Stocks fished by the UK's 10 metre and under fleet (1) : 2010 | |||||
| Quota stocks | UK quota as at 31 December (tonnes) | 10 metre and under fleet's quota as at 31 December (2 ) (tonnes) | Percentage of UK quota | Landings by the 10 metre and under fleet (3) (tonnes) | Percentage of UK quota |
| (1) Excludes vessels which are members of producer organisations. (2) Includes unfished leased quota by vessels in the 10 metre and under fleet. (3) Excludes landings against leased quota. | |||||
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Fishing Vessels
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fishing vessels of (a) 10 metres and under and (b) over 10 metres are licensed in the UK. [56215]
Richard Benyon: Latest figures show that there are currently 5,744 vessels licensed in the UK, excluding the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Of those, 1,320 are over 10 metres and 4,424 are 10 metres and under.
Source:
Marine Management Organisation's Citrix database.
Floods: Greenwich
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will instruct the Environment Agency to carry out an assessment of the Sutcliffe Park flood alleviation scheme to ensure that it has the capacity to prevent flooding from the River Quaggy into neighbouring residential areas; and if she will make a statement; [56236]
(2) whether she has received any recommendation from the Environment Agency on the capacity of the Sutcliffe Park flood alleviation scheme to prevent damage to neighbouring residential areas; and if she will make a statement. [56237]
Richard Benyon: Sutcliffe Park Flood Storage Area was completed in 2007 as part of a wider project, known as the River Quaggy Flood Alleviation Scheme. It was designed to protect properties from floods with a 1 in 70 probability of occurring in any one year.
When the Environment Agency (EA) designed the River Quaggy Flood Alleviation Scheme it included an allowance for climate change over the next 100 years and increased the capacity of the scheme to take this into account.
Since completion in 2007, the level of the flood defence has been annually inspected by both the EA and an independent engineer (appointed by the Institution of Civil Engineers), to ensure there has been no subsidence or deterioration of standards. These inspections show that all the defences are in good condition and providing the level of flood protection expected.
There are no current recommendations from the EA concerning Sutcliffe Park. Annual inspections of Sutcliffe Park will continue for its lifetime to ensure the capacity and standard of defence is maintained at the level to which it was designed.
Floods: Insurance
Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of reductions in public spending on flood defence on compliance with the Statement of Principles on the provision of flood insurance of July 2008. [55975]
Richard Benyon:
We are working closely with the insurance industry through the Flood summit process to understand the relationship between insurance and flood risk management as well as possible and to map out a pathway for flood insurance beyond 2013 when
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the Statement of Principles expires. DEFRA has committed to spend at least £2.1 billion on flooding and coastal erosion over the next four years. This represents approximately an 8% reduction compared to the previous four years.
Hydrofluorocarbons
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to her Department's Carbon Plan, March 2011, paragraph 10.13, what progress she has made on reducing the (a) production and (b) use of hydrofluorocarbon in (i) the refrigeration industry and (ii) heat pumps. [56173]
Richard Benyon: A comprehensive EU regulatory framework to contain, prevent and, thereby, reduce emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) from equipment such as refrigeration and heat pumps is already in place having been fully implemented since 2009 in Great Britain by the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/261). However, this framework stops short of controls to phase down the production of the gases themselves.
There are existing proposals at an international level to use the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer to phase down the production and use of HFCs. This would affect all types of equipment, not just refrigeration and heat pumps. The UK Government remain supportive, in principle, of an international phase-down of production and consumption of HFCs but there are many technical issues to be discussed before any formal negotiations on a phase-down could take place. The Government will continue to push for the development of a phase-down agreement at the upcoming Montreal Protocol and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meetings, and support this aim. Further detailed analysis of impacts of the proposals will also be conducted.
The latest estimate of HFC emissions from refrigeration, based on the assessment by the consultants AEA, available at:
http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/air/fgas/documents/hfc-aeat101005.pdf
was 4,336.7 kt CO2e in 2009(1). The latest projections of HFC emissions from refrigeration in 2030 is 1,693.9 kt CO2e.
The AEA study also estimated that 0.06 kt CO2 eq. of HFC 134a would be emitted from heat pumps in 2009, rising to 0.16 kt CO2 eq. of HFC134a by 2025. It should be noted that these estimates are highly uncertain, and are very small in relation to HFC emissions from the other sectors. These estimates of emissions are currently not included in either the main F-gas model or the UK national greenhouse gas emission totals, and further work is needed to refine the fundamental parameters before the emissions from this sector can be included.
(1) UK GHG Inventory 1990-2009
Home Department
Alcoholic Drinks: Children
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her proposals for further restrictions on the sale of alcohol to children will apply to micro-businesses. [55449]
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James Brokenshire [holding answer 13 May 2011]:We have made provision in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill to tackle the persistent sale of alcohol to children. Our intention is that these measures will apply to all businesses.
Animal Experiments
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy to withhold any certificate of designation for the proposed Marshall Biosciences beagle breeding factory at Grimston, East Yorkshire for the purposes of reducing the use of animals in painful laboratory experiments; and if she will make a statement. [56136]
Lynne Featherstone: Under Section 7 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, places where animals specified in schedule 2 to the Act are bred for use in regulated procedures, or are kept for supply for use in such procedures or to other designated sources, must be designated as breeding and/or supplying establishments. Applications for designation are considered on a case by case basis according to their merits. It is not Home Office policy to comment on individual applications.
Antisocial Behaviour
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to give a right of redress against enforcement authorities to persons who have been subject to antisocial behaviour in circumstances where complaints of such behaviour have not been addressed appropriately. [56029]
James Brokenshire: On 7 February 2011, the Home Office launched a public consultation on proposals to give the police and their partners more effective powers to tackle antisocial behaviour. The proposals include the introduction of a “Community Trigger”, which would give communities the right to force agencies to take action where they have failed to do so, and elected police and crime commissioners will be able to hold agencies to account for their response. The consultation closed on 17 May, and the Department is considering the responses.
DNA: Databases
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for information held on the National DNA Database her Department received from other countries in each year since 2007. [53344]
James Brokenshire: There are three categories of information sought from the National DNA Database (NDNAD) by other countries.
1. Searches carried out against the NDNAD of DNA profiles from outstanding serious crimes or for the identification of an unknown deceased person believed to be a UK national. Reports are issued directly to the United Kingdom National Central Bureau for Interpol (UK NCB) based at the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) as to the outcome of each profile search. This information can be found at Table 1, Annex A.
2. Requests for the DNA profile held for a subject on the NDNAD, where fingerprints have been provided to the country
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that the individual currently resides in. Again this information is provided to SOCA. This information can be found at Table 2, Annex A.
3. Database management information. This provides total numbers of subject and crime scene DNA profile records held on the NDNAD and the total number of match reports generated. Countries which do not have a DNA database use this information to demonstrate the success of the UK Database in order to support their case for legislation of a DNA database in their own country. Requestors are directed to the most recent published statistics on the National Policing Improvement Agency's NDNAD website at:
http://www.npia.police.uk/en/8934.htm
No figures are kept for the number of such requests.
Data provided are management information only. Data have not been formally assessed for compliance with the code of practice for official statistics.
| Table 1 | |
|
|
Number of searched profile responses provided to SOCA |
| (1) Data are not available for the period October 2009-January 2010. (2) Figures not yet available Note: Data provided are management information only and have not been formally assessed for compliance with the code of practice for official statistics. | |
| Table 2 | |
|
|
Number of subject profiles provided to SOCA |
| (1) Figures not yet available. Note: Data provided are management information only and have not been formally assessed for compliance with the code of practice for official statistics. | |
Domestic Violence: Advisory Services
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which local authority areas her Department allocated funding in respect of independent domestic violence advisers in financial year 2010-11 but are no longer in receipt of such funding. [55901]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 16 May 2011]: This information is not readily available in the format requested. A list of the grants we funded in 2010-11 which covers independent domestic violence advisers (IDVAs) (and where there was a combined grant some multi-agency risk assessment conference coordinator (MARAC) posts) will be placed in the House Library. A list of those who received funding in 2011-12 can be found at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime/violence-against-women-girls/idva/
Drugs
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on the 2010 Drugs Strategy. [55752]
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James Brokenshire: Since January, the Home Office has received three representations linked specifically to the 2010 Drug Strategy.
The two-week pilot of the 'drug strategy blog' received nearly 6,000 visits and 86 posts were published, after appropriate moderation.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials in her Department are working on the Government's review of the 2010 Drugs Strategy; and whether such officials have met representatives of (a) Serco, (b) Capita, (c) A4e and (d) G4S. [55753]
James Brokenshire: The terms of the annual review are still being scoped. No officials have met the organisations listed.
Entry Clearances: Private Education
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons private schools are treated differently from higher education institutions in the private sector who have highly trusted status but not accreditation required to increase their number of students from September 2011 under the immigration rules relating to institutions providing education and professional training. [56414]
Damian Green: The Government have two key aims in their reform of the student immigration system: to tackle abuse of the student system and support work on reducing migration to sustainable levels. The independent school sector is a highly regulated part of the education sector, with independent schools subject to statutory regulation, overseen by the relevant Departments and inspectorates responsible for education across the UK. In our experience of operating Tier 4, the independent school sector has demonstrated good levels of compliance with immigration requirements.
Independent schools primarily use the Tier 4 (Child) category as the majority of their pupils are aged between four and 17-years-old, using the Tier 4 (General) category for the very small number of pupils who need to apply to the UK Border Agency once aged 18 or over. Independent schools have therefore been excluded from the interim limit on the number of Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies they may assign under Tier 4 (General) between 21 April 2011 and 5 April 2012, because of the low levels of abuse and small numbers using the Tier 4 (General) category when compared with other sectors which are not subject to statutory regulation, have higher levels of non-compliance and higher numbers of students attending institutions within the sector.
Greater Manchester Police Authority
Mr Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contribution the Greater Manchester Police Authority made to the Exchequer as a result of assets seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010. [55480]
James Brokenshire:
Information on the value of monies received under cash forfeiture orders and confiscation orders obtained by the Greater Manchester police authority
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under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, and earlier legislation, and subsequently enforced is set out in the following table. The enforcement of confiscation orders is essentially a matter for HM Courts Service. Information is available for the three financial years 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10.
| £ | |||
| Greater Manchester police authority | Cash forfeiture receipts | Confiscation receipts | Total receipts |
Members: Correspondence
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Thurrock of 14 February 2011. [56133]
Damian Green: I replied to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock on 19 May 2011.
Victim Support Schemes: Newcastle upon Tyne
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) independent domestic violence advisers and (b) independent sexual violence advisers were employed in Newcastle upon Tyne (i) on the latest date for which information is available and (ii) in each of the last five years. [56409]
Lynne Featherstone: The requested information is not collected centrally as funding for independent sexual violence adviser (ISVA) and independent domestic violence adviser (IDVA) posts can come from a range of local and national sources.
A sub-set of ISVA posts has been partially funded by the Home Office since 2006-07. Of these, the REACH sexual assault referral centre in Newcastle upon Tyne was a recipient of Home Office funding for one ISVA post in 2009-10 and for 2011-12 to 2014-15.
The Home Office has also awarded funding for one IDVA post to Newcastle Victim Support for 2011-12 to 2014-15.
Health
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department 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. [56107]
Mr Simon Burns: The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), has two special advisers. The information requested, covering the period from 1 May 2010 to 30 April 2011, is set out in the following table:
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| Mode of transport | Expenditure (£) |
| Source: Data have been extracted from the Department's electronic Business Management System | |