Overseas Companies: Payments
Mrs Moon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to require UK-based oil, mining and gas companies to make annual reports on payments made to foreign Governments in exchange for access to natural resources; and if he will make a statement. [59347]
Mr Gauke: As the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), made clear following the G20 Finance Ministers’ meeting in February 2011, the Government believe that development of new rules to require oil, gas and mining companies to report the payments they make to Governments should take place at the international level.
The Government have committed to arguing for a European agreement that matches the new standards set in the US, and the UK will be engaging with EU partners on this issue.
Personal Taxation
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 30 March 2011, Official Report, column 366W, on personal taxation, if he will estimate the difference in the personal taxation payable by an individual in each tax band attributable to indexation of personal tax allowance by (a) the consumer price index and (b) the retail prices index in each year from 2012-13 to 2015-16. [51295]
Mr Gauke: Budget 2011 announced that the personal allowance for those aged under 65 would increase by £630 from April 2012, taking it from £7,475 in 2011-12 to £8,105 in 2012-13. The Government will further increase the personal allowance to £10,000, making real term steps each year towards this as a longer term policy objectives.
The following table shows hypothetical estimates of the maximum increase in income tax liability attributable to indexation of the personal allowance for those aged under 65 by CPI rather than RPI. Separate estimates are provided for basic rate, higher rate and additional rate taxpayers. This theoretical calculation assumes no increases above indexation (RPI and CPI) of the personal allowance from 2012-13. The estimates therefore do not consider the Budget 2011 announcement that the personal allowance will increase by £630 in 2012-13. Calculations assume income refers to employment income only.
| Marginal tax rate | |||
|
|
Basic rate | Higher rate | Additional rate (1) |
15 Jun 2011 : Column 806W
| (1) The personal allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of income above £100,000. Therefore additional rate and some higher rate taxpayers will have a personal allowance of zero. | |||
These estimates are based on the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2011 forecast assumptions for RPI and CPI.
Social Security Benefits: Expenditure
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the potential effect of the upward revision in claimant count unemployment shown on table 4.15 of the Office for Budget Responsibility's Economic and Fiscal Outlook on social security benefit spending. [51560]
Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
The figures are in the following table.
| Effect of the change in the claimant count unemployment assumption between November 2010 and March 2011 | |
|
|
£ billion (nominal terms) |
These figures are published in table 4.18 of the Office for Budget Responsibility's Economic and Fiscal Outlook.
Tax Avoidance: Northern Ireland
Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised as a result of steps taken by HM Revenue and Customs in relation to tax avoidance in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [59336]
Mr Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 15 March 2011, Official Report, column 263W.
Information on tax revenue in the UK is not collected by reference to its geographical source. Consequently it is not possible to allocate tax revenue to particular regions of the UK.
Taxation: Domicile
Mr Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the number of non-domiciled UK taxpayers who will pay the annual levy in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13; [51750] [Official Report, 4 July 2011, Vol. 530, c. 11MC ]
(2) what estimate he has made of the change in the number of non-resident taxpayers between 2009 and 2010. [51762]
Mr Gauke:
There is currently a £30,000 annual charge for non-domiciled individuals who have been resident for at least seven of the past nine years and wish to retain access to the remittance basis of taxation. In Budget 2011, the Government announced that it would
15 Jun 2011 : Column 807W
consult on raising this charge to £50,000 for non-domiciled individuals who have been resident for at least 12 years with a view to implementing this change from the 2012-13 tax year. The number of individuals estimated to pay the annual charges of £30,000 and £50,000 are:
| Estimated number of individuals paying the annual £30,000 or £50,000 charge | ||
| Rounded | 2011-12 | 2012-13 |
Those individuals liable to the charge but who choose not to pay it will instead be liable to UK taxation on their worldwide income and gains.
The Government have no estimates for the change in the number of non-resident taxpayers between 2009 and 2010. Information relating to the tax year 2010-11, ending in April 2011, is not yet available.
Taxation: Foreign Investment in UK
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations from inward investors into the UK on the (a) clarity and (b) timeliness of tax advice from HM Revenue and Customs; and if he will make a statement. [59524]
Mr Gauke: The Government are committed to making the UK an attractive place to do business. HM Revenue and Customs provide assistance to non-UK resident inward investors through the Inward Investment Support service. This service gives clarity and certainty about the tax consequences of significant investments in the UK.
Assistance is additionally provided through informal clearance arrangements as well as in situations permitted by statute such as Transfer Pricing and Advanced Pricing Agreements.
Inward investors have said that HM Revenue and Customs are highly responsive and the services they offer have been well received.
VAT: Imports
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons he plans to reduce the threshold at which commercially imported goods are subject to value added tax from £18 to £15; and what estimate he has made of the revenue which will accrue to the Exchequer from this change. [59722]
Mr Gauke: The Low Value Consignment Relief threshold is being reduced from £18 to £15 from 1 November 2011 as a first step towards ending the increasing exploitation of this relief by companies choosing to sell to UK consumers from jurisdictions outside the EU, thereby eliminating the need to levy VAT on such sales.
The yield generated by this measure is set out at row 38 of Table 2.1 of the main Budget 2011 document published on Budget day.
15 Jun 2011 : Column 808W
International Development
Departmental Travel
Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on first class rail travel (a) in 2009-10 and (b) since May 2010. [59132]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: In the year before the general election last May £75,573 was spent on first class rail travel. In the year since June 2010 the equivalent figure is £197.
Developing Countries: HIV Infection
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions his Department has had with UNAIDS on its strategy to combat HIV/AIDS. [59508]
Mr O'Brien: I met the UNAIDS executive director, Michel Sidibé, most recently on 13 May 2011 in Geneva. Our discussion covered his latest assessment of the HIV epidemic and UNAIDS’ strategy to combat HIV.
Mr Sidibé will meet the Minister of State, Alan Duncan, on 27 June 2011, to discuss follow up to the Multilateral Aid Review and the recent 2011 high level meeting on UNAIDS.
I also attended the UN high level meeting on HIV and AIDS in New York on 8 and 9 June. Full details of my visit can be found on the Department for International Development’s website at
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Media-Room/News-Stories/2011/30-years-of-HIV-Towards-zero-infections/.
Forests: Overseas Aid
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development in which countries his Department is funding reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation projects. [59832]
Mr O'Brien: The UK is supporting the early development of programmes aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in a range of countries. Most funding to date has been channelled through two funds managed by the World Bank, namely the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) and the Forest Investment Programme (FIP).
Under the FCPF the countries receiving support are: Argentina, Bolivia, Cameroon, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Kenya, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Madagascar, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Vanuatu and Vietnam.
Under the FIP eight pilot countries are developing plans for larger scale investments aimed at reducing rates of deforestation. These countries are: Brazil, Indonesia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexico, Ghana, Peru, Burkina Faso and the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
15 Jun 2011 : Column 809W
Additionally, the UK has also providing dedicated support to the Congo Basin Forest Fund, which is funding projects in Central Africa, specifically, in Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, and Säo Tomé et Principe.
Libya: Armed Conflict
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what planning the Stabilisation Unit in his Department has undertaken on post-conflict Libya. [59776]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Stabilisation Unit (SU) is co-owned by the Department for International Development, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence. Working closely with partners across Whitehall, the SU has undertaken a number of planning exercises to support the Government's preparedness for engagement on post-conflict Libya. Working to the Secretary of State for International Development, SU recently deployed a multi-national Stabilisation Response Team to Libya which will provide an assessment to inform UK and international support in the post-conflict period.
Palestinians: Politics and Government
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on securing adequate funding at international level for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. [59409]
Mr Duncan: Ireland, Finland, and Kuwait have all increased their annual average contributions to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). UNRWA has also attracted additional contributions from the Islamic Development Bank and an increased commitment from Saudi Arabia, although it continues to seek further support from regional donors for its education and food funds. UNWRA has successfully formed partnerships with the private sector and has received an extra $2.3 million from the UN regular budget for international staff costs for 2011.
This increase in donor support, however, has not reduced the projected shortfall of $63 million in UNRWA's general budget for 2011. We remain concerned about UNWRA's financial position and will continue to work with the agency, other donors and host countries to help put UNWRA's finances on a sustainable footing. The UK is UNRWA's second largest bilateral donor and is considered a model donor for providing long term support through our five year £110 million funding agreement. We plan to provide up to £23.5 million of unearmarked funding in 2011 to UNRWA's general fund.
Energy and Climate Change
Biofuels: Finance
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what public subsidy his Department plans to provide for the production of biofuels in each of the next four financial years. [59785]
15 Jun 2011 : Column 810W
Charles Hendry: The Department of Energy and Climate Change provides financial support for the production of renewable energy for heat and power, including from bioliquids (biofuels for electricity and heat). For every megawatt hour of electricity generated, eligible bioliquids currently receive 1.5 renewables obligation certificates (ROCs) if they are combusted in a dedicated biomass plant, 0.5 ROCs if co-fired with fossil fuel and 2 ROCs if used in a dedicated biomass CHP plant or an advanced conversion technology such as pyrolysis. FAME (fatty acid methyl ester) biodiesel currently receives 1 ROC. The current ROC price is approximately £41.
To receive support, electricity from bioliquids must meet the sustainability criteria set out in the renewables obligation from April 2011.
A review of renewables obligation support for all technologies began in October last year and changes to the support level for bioliquids will be considered as part of this process. We will consult on proposed levels this summer and publish the Government response in late autumn. Banding changes will come into effect on 1 April 2013.
Bioliquids are not eligible for support under the renewable heat incentive, but sustainably-produced bioliquids are being considered for inclusion from autumn 2012 following public consultation later this year.
Carbon Emissions
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on the reporting of carbon consumption figures alongside production figures. [58392]
Gregory Barker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Sussex (Nicholas Soames) on 9 June 2011, Official Report, column 482W.
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what strategic framework his Department has developed for the delivery of its core functions during the comprehensive spending review period. [59730]
Gregory Barker: Delivering on our energy and climate change commitments is vital if the UK is to transform the way that we generate and use energy, and drive ambitious action on climate change, in the UK and abroad. DECC's business plan sets out our core functions and strategic priorities, the steps we are taking to achieve them and the indicators which will show whether or not they are having the desired impact. Progress against the plan is regularly monitored internally and is set out in the structural reform plan monthly updates and the forthcoming quarterly data summary, to be published on our website.
In delivering these high level plans, DECC works through a range of different delivery mechanisms and partners. DECC is constantly seeking to ensure that these mechanisms are effective and deliver best value for money and has recently conducted a review of the Department's delivery landscape and a review of the energy regulatory framework. Both of these can be
15 Jun 2011 : Column 811W
found on the DECC website. The DECC Delivery Unit also plays an important role in tracking progress on delivery commitments and working with teams to test policies for their ‘deliverability' from conception through to implementation.
Electricity
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what account his plans for energy market reform will take of (a) Project TransmiT, (b) the review of market liquidity and (c) other Ofgem initiatives. [58309]
Charles Hendry: The Government will continue to work closely with Ofgem to ensure that the electricity market reforms, Project TransmiT, the review of market liquidity and Ofgem's wider work such as cash-out reform are complementary and mutually reinforcing. The Government consider that significant improvements in wholesale market liquidity are essential to ensure a competitive market and promote long-term security of supply and will help enable EMR to deliver efficient and cost-effective reforms.
The details of the transmission charging arrangements being reviewed under Project TransmiT are outside the scope of the EMR, but we will need to work with Ofgem to ensure that the outcomes of both are complementary.
Energy: Research
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on energy research and development since 1981. [59719]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has spent the following amounts on energy research and development since it was created in October 2008. We do not have a record of spending by predecessor Departments.
| Financial year | £000 |
The expenditure in 2010-11 includes £48.3 million on front end engineering design work for the Carbon Capture and Storage Demonstration project.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much of the funding his Department has allocated to energy research and development is to be spent on projects in (a) the UK and (b) the EU in 2011-12. [59721]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has allocated funding of £2,920,000 to energy research and development in 2011-12, all of which is to be spent on projects in the UK.
15 Jun 2011 : Column 812W
Fuel Poverty
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 26 July 2011, Official Report, column 777W, on energy, whether the Independent Fuel Poverty Review has been asked to examine any extension of the data-sharing scheme with energy suppliers. [58195]
Gregory Barker: The Terms of Reference for the Independent Fuel Poverty Review being carried out by Professor John Hills stipulate that the review will consider fuel poverty from first principles; to determine the nature of the issues at its core, including the extent to which fuel poverty is distinct from poverty, and the detriment it causes. It will also, as appropriate, develop possible formulations for a future definition and any associated form of target which would best contribute, among other things, to developing practical solutions, particularly around identification and targeting of households, and measuring progress resulting from Government action.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what (a) carbon dioxide emissions and (b) greenhouse gas emissions have been attributable to the UK in each year since 1990. [59464]
Gregory Barker [holding answer 13 June 2011]:DECC published final estimates of UK greenhouse gas emissions for the period 1990 to 2009 as national statistics on 1 February 2011. These can be found on the DECC website at the following link:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/climate_change/gg_emissions/uk_emissions/2009final/2009_final.aspx
The following table shows both carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse gas emissions for the period 1990-2009. Data are for the UK and the Crown Dependencies and exclude Overseas Territories.
|
|
Carbon dioxide emissions Mt CO 2 | Greenhouse gas emissions Mt CO 2 e |
15 Jun 2011 : Column 813W
Low Carbon Innovation Fund
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what process he plans to follow in determining the allocation of funding for the low carbon innovation fund announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review. [59701]
Gregory Barker: The spending review allocated over £200 million to support low carbon technologies, of which up to £60 million will fund offshore wind manufacturing investment at port sites. In order to target the remaining resource, a series of technology innovation needs assessments (TINAs) has been undertaken (and more are planned) to provide a robust evidence base on the innovation needs of the technology families most likely to be important in achieving our climate targets and delivering benefits to the UK’s economy.
Drawing on TINAs and other evidence, my Department is reviewing the financial needs of a range of innovative technologies and is developing programme plans, in conjunction with others, to be implemented over the next four years. I expect to announce the first allocation of funding within the next two months, and officials will then work closely with external stakeholders to finalise the design of these first interventions. Announcements on further allocations are expected to follow in the second half of this year.
Members: Correspondence
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to reply to the letter of 18 January 2011 and reminder letter of 23 March 2011 from the hon. Member for Vale of Clwyd. [58347]
Gregory Barker: We made an extensive search but, unfortunately, we have no record of receiving either of these letters. We are grateful to your office for providing a copy letter (received on 8 June) which we will ensure is answered urgently.
I am very sorry for the delay. All your other letters addressed to Ministers since June 2010 have been responded to within the Whitehall target of 15 working days.
Microgeneration
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has plans to require domestic installers of microgeneration technologies to provide potential users with typical years to (a) energy and (b) carbon breakeven information. [59684]
Gregory Barker: The Microgeneration Certification scheme already requires installers to predict, using common methodologies, the likely performance of the installation. The prediction relates to annual performance, from which energy and carbon savings and years to breakeven can be calculated. More complex information could be mandated, but in considering any future development of the requirements, we would need to strike the right balance between quality assurance for consumers and placing additional requirements on industry.
15 Jun 2011 : Column 814W
Nuclear Power Stations: Accidents
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what responsibility the Government have to (a) act as an insurer for and (b) cover all costs relating to a nuclear accident in the UK. [59632]
Charles Hendry: The Nuclear Installations Act 1965 imposes third party liabilities on nuclear operators, and also requires operators to cover these liabilities “by insurance or by some other means”. There is no legal responsibility on the Government to act as an insurer for the operators' nuclear third party liabilities.
In the recent consultation on implementing changes to the Paris convention on third party nuclear liability and the Brussels supplementary convention, the Government set out its proposals for significantly increasing the scale and scope of operators' third party liabilities. Although it appears that commercial insurance will be available to cover most of the new liabilities, there is doubt about whether such insurance (or other commercial cover) will be able to cover all of the liabilities. In the circumstances, the Government also set out its proposal to make provision to enable it to provide cover in return for a charge where cover is not available on the commercial market. The alternative would be not to impose on the operator the liabilities for which commercial cover is not available and for these liabilities to remain with the taxpayer.
The responsibility of Government following a nuclear accident will vary depending on the nature and scale of the accident. The position with third party liability costs is that under the current Conventions operators' liability is capped. The costs above this would have to be met from public funds up to the limit set under the convention, above this Government and Parliament would have discretion to meet further claims.
The costs of a nuclear accident are not just limited to third party liability. In the event that the accident led to the permanent closure of the site, then the operator of a nuclear power station is responsible for ensuring that the site is decommissioned and remediated in accordance with relevant legal and licensing requirements.
For the existing Magnox stations this responsibility sits with the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency and therefore the Government. With regard to the existing AGR stations and the PWR at Sizewell B, which are operated by British Energy, part of EDF Energy, decommissioning and clean up costs will be met by the Nuclear Liabilities Fund. The Government announced at the time of British Energy's restructuring in 2009 that it would fund qualifying liabilities to the extent that they exceed all the assets of the Fund. With regard to any new nuclear power stations it is the Government's policy that operators must have arrangements in place to meet the full costs of decommissioning and their full share of waste management and disposal costs. The Energy Act 2008 requires prospective operators of any new nuclear power stations to have a Funded Decommissioning programme, approved by the Secretary of State, in place before construction begins and to comply with this programme thereafter.
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what liability the Government have to cover the costs of a nuclear accident exceeding £1 billion; and if he will make a statement. [59633]
15 Jun 2011 : Column 815W
Charles Hendry: The UK is a signatory to the Paris convention on nuclear third party liability and the Brussels supplementary convention. Under the conventions third party liability for operators is capped and in the UK, under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, is currently £140 million. If compensation claims exceed £140 million, the Government would be obliged to top-up the total amount available for compensation to 300 million Special Drawing Rights (about £300 million) (although it would be able to claim back contributions from the other countries that are party to the Brussels convention) . Above this, Government and Parliament have statutory discretion to pay compensation to meet outstanding claims. In a recent consultation the Government proposed increasing the operator liability level from £140 million to €1.2 billion, which is €500 million more than the minimum required by the Paris convention. If compensation claims exceed €1.2 billion, a further €300 million must be made available by the Government although, as now, it will be able to claim back contributions from the other countries that are party to the Brussels convention. Above €1.5 billion Government and Parliament have statutory discretion to meet any third party claims.
The costs of a nuclear accident are not just limited to third party liability and will depend on the nature of the accident. In the event that the accident led to the permanent closure of the site, then the operator of a nuclear power station is responsible for ensuring that the site is decommissioned and remediated in accordance with relevant legal and licensing requirements.
For the existing Magnox stations this responsibility sits with the NDA and therefore the Government. With regard to the existing AGR stations and the PWR at Sizewell B, which are operated by British Energy, part of EDF Energy, decommissioning and clean up costs will be met by the Nuclear Liabilities Fund. The Government announced at the time of British Energy's restructuring in 2009 that it would fund qualifying liabilities to the extent that they exceed all the assets of the Fund. With regard to any new nuclear power stations it is the Government's policy that operators must have arrangements in place to meet the full costs of decommissioning and their full share of waste management and disposal costs. The Energy Act 2008 requires prospective operators of any new nuclear power stations to have a Funded Decommissioning programme, approved by the Secretary of State, in place before construction begins and to comply with this programme thereafter.
Nuclear Power: Liability
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what legal advice he has (a) sought and (b) received on the increase of nuclear operator liability to over £1 billion. [59636]
Charles Hendry: The Department issued a consultation on the implementation of the changes to the Paris and Brussels conventions on nuclear third party liability which ran from 24 January to 28 April 2011:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/paris_brussels/paris_brussels.aspx
The consultation set out our proposal to set operator liability at €1.2 billion, which is €500 million more than the minimum required under the conventions. As described in the consultation document, this is one of a range of options that would ensure we comply with the conventions.
15 Jun 2011 : Column 816W
Water Power
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will consider the merits of raising the level of revenue support for marine renewables in order to ensure the technology can be developed on a commercial scale. [59635]
Gregory Barker: A banding review of renewables obligation support for all technologies is currently under way and any change to the support for marine energy will be considered as part of this process. Banding reviews ensure that as market conditions and innovation within sectors change and evolve, developers continue to receive the appropriate level of support necessary to maintaining investment in the renewables industry.
We will be consulting on proposed bands this summer, with the Government response in autumn 2011.
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of the renewables obligation he expects to support wave and tidal energy. [59672]
Gregory Barker: A banding review of RO support for all technologies is currently underway and any change to the support for wave and tidal energy will be considered as part of this process. Banding reviews ensure that as market conditions and innovation within sectors change and evolve, developers continue to receive the appropriate level of support necessary to maintaining investment in the renewables industry.
We will be consulting on proposed bands this summer, with the Government response in autumn 2011.
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to decide the proportion of the Low Carbon Innovation Fund to be allocated to marine energy. [59673]
Gregory Barker: We are currently reviewing the needs of a range of innovation technologies and developing programme plans in conjunction with others. I expect to announce the first allocation of funding within the next two months.
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to provide revenue support for marine energy in the forthcoming review of the Renewables Obligation. [59674]
Gregory Barker: A banding review of RO support for all technologies is currently underway and any change to the support for marine energy will be considered as part of this process. Banding reviews ensure that as market conditions and innovation within sectors change and evolve, developers continue to receive the appropriate level of support necessary to maintaining investment in the renewables industry.
We will be consulting on proposed bands this summer, with the Government Response in autumn 2011
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on revenue and capital support for wave and tidal technology. [59700]
15 Jun 2011 : Column 817W
Gregory Barker: There has not been any discussions on revenue or capital support at ministerial level with either HM Treasury or BIS. However, officials are in discussions with these Departments as part of the development of the UK Marine Energy Programme, the Banding Review of RO Support and the allocation of the £200 million for the development of low carbon technologies announced in the spending review.
Work and Pensions
Asbestos: EU Law
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to transpose into domestic law Article 3 (3)(a) of EU Directive 2009/148/EC on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to asbestos at work; and if he will make a statement. [59353]
Chris Grayling: In April 2011, the Government responded to a reasoned opinion issued by the European Commission that the UK had not fully implemented Article 3 of Directive 2003/18/EC on the protection of workers from asbestos. The Government's response accepted the reasoned opinion. A public consultation on the proposed legislative changes will be held shortly.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) task forces and (b) units operate in his Department; what the annual budget is of each; and how many staff each unit employs at each grade. [53417]
Chris Grayling: The Department currently has no task forces as defined in the Cabinet Office's “Categories of Public Bodies” guidance. However, details of other ad-hoc type groups are listed as follows. These groups do not employ any staff, however the Department supports these groups by providing the following resources:
| Ad-hoc Group | Departmental resources provided | Financial allocation for 2011-12 (£) |
15 Jun 2011 : Column 818W
The information on businesses units represents the most detailed breakdown available from centrally held records.
The Department's organisational architecture comprises business units designed to deliver: departmental-wide strategy and planning; strategies and policies to meet the needs of particular customer groups; direct delivery of services to customers; and delivery of departmental-wide shared services. Within each of these business units specific responsibilities fall to functions designated as directorates and divisions.
Also within these business units there are smaller business functions that are described as units but data is not held centrally on their functions, budgets or staffing and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The information available is set out in the following tables.
| DWP staffing by business and grade as at 31 March 2011 | ||||||||
| DWP business | AA/AO | EO | HEO | SEO | Gde7 | Gde6 | SCS | Total |
15 Jun 2011 : Column 819W
15 Jun 2011 : Column 820W
| Notes: 1. Figures are Full Time Equivalent (FTE) 2. Figures may not sum due to FTE rounding and the exclusion of a small number of cases where the grade was not held on the pay record at the time the data was extracted. | ||||||||
Departmental Renewable Energy
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many buildings (a) owned and (b) leased by his Department have had renewable energy equipment installed to provide power in the last 12 months; and what type of equipment was installed in each such case. [59675]
Chris Grayling: Because of the length of the pay-back period for renewable technologies, no such equipment has been installed in the last 12 months. The Department and its PFI estate partner have concentrated on reducing consumption and improving efficiency.
However, a Salix funded combined heat and power (CHP) plant was installed at the Department's Quarry House headquarters building in Leeds at the end of 2010. Although this is not strictly renewable as it is fuelled by natural gas it is classified as ‘sustainable' technology. Initial indications are that performance is exceeding the estimated saving of £90,000 and 428tCO2 a year.
In addition, Callendar Park Falkirk, a Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission building constructed in 2009, has three large solar panels which provide the site with hot water.
Employment and Support Allowance
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people will not receive employment and support allowance as a result of a gap in provision between the closure of Pathways to Work in April 2011 and the commencement of the work programme in June 2011; and if he will make a statement. [57919]
Maria Miller: Our top priority has always been to ensure that customers are properly supported during the transition to the Work Programme
Pathways to Work contracts ended on 27 April 2011. Since then, every customer eligible for employment and support allowance (ESA) has continued to receive benefit and will continue to do so, unless their circumstances change. no customer has had, or will have, their employment and support allowance stopped as a result of the Work Programme transitional arrangements.
Employment and support allowance customers are also being supported by the new flexible Jobcentre Plus offer, introduced in April, until the Work Programme is implemented in their area. Following implementation, customers will be able to access the Work Programme on a voluntary or mandatory basis from after their work capability assessment, depending on their circumstances.
Housing Benefit: Birmingham
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effects of the proposed change to the shared accommodation rate of housing benefit on people in Birmingham. [57846]
Steve Webb: The information requested can be found in the Equality Impact Assessment of the increase to the Shared Accommodation Rate age threshold, available on the DWP website at:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/eia-hb-shared-accommodation-age-threshold.pdf
Industrial Health and Safety: Heating
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance the Health and Safety Executive issues on (a) workplace temperatures which are not considered reasonable and (b) temperatures at which control measures to manage heat must be put in place. [59113]
Chris Grayling:
There is guidance available on the HSE website covering a range of issues relating to temperature, including thermal comfort, cold stress, heat stress, outdoor working and workplace temperatures. The information also includes guides for managers and for workers and gives advice on conducting a risk assessment and actions that may be taken to address identified risks. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 Approved Code of Practice recommends a minimum temperature of 16 degrees Celsius (unless much of the work involves severe physical
15 Jun 2011 : Column 821W
effort in which case the temperature should be at least 13 degrees Celsius). The guidance does not stipulate a specific temperature at which control measures should be put in place to manage high temperatures.
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the long-term and short-term physical and psychological effects of persistent exposure to high temperatures. [59184]
Chris Grayling: In 2009 the HSE commissioned an independent review into workplace temperatures, which drew on the wide range of non-Government research available. Following this review the HSE conducted a survey about temperatures in workplaces, to which 2,933 completed responses were submitted. Evaluation of this and other data provided little evidence of significant numbers of illnesses, long or short term, physical or psychological, caused or exacerbated by exposure to high temperatures.
Industrial Health and Safety: Homicide
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many successful prosecutions for corporate manslaughter have been brought by the Health and Safety Executive in each year since 2005. [59197]
Chris Grayling: The offence of corporate manslaughter was introduced in the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007. Since then there has been one prosecution which was taken by the Crown Prosecution Service in 2010-11 and this resulted in a conviction for corporate manslaughter.
The police investigate suspected cases of corporate manslaughter/homicide and prosecution decisions are made by the Crown Prosecution Service (England and Wales), the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (Scotland) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (Northern Ireland). In these cases there is a joint approach to work-related deaths between the Health and Safety Executive and all the relevant regulatory authorities.
Jobcentre Plus: Redundancy
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether any Jobcentre Plus staff will be made compulsorily redundant during the comprehensive spending review period. [59771]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking whether any Jobcentre Plus staff will be made compulsorily redundant during the Comprehensive Spending Review period. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
The Spending Review 2010 announced that DWP would deliver 26% savings in real terms from its core budget over the four year period to 2015. Jobcentre Plus will contribute to these savings by driving up efficiency in the way it works through more use of its online services and implementing ideas that help improve processes and productivity. Where this results in the need to reduce jobs we
15 Jun 2011 : Column 822W
will do this through normal turnover where possible. If people become surplus we will seek to redeploy them within DWP or the wider Civil Service.
Compulsory redundancies will always be the last resort and voluntary redundancy will always be offered first.
Mental Health
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what qualifications are required of mental function champions based in each medical examination centre; and if he will make a statement. [58564]
Chris Grayling: Mental function champions are required to have post qualification clinical experience in the field of mental health. There is no requirement for them to have postgraduate mental health qualifications in addition to their primary qualifications.
Social Security Benefits
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will review the coherence of policy across different Government Departments in the administration of health and welfare benefits. [59571]
Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for welfare and employment issues and we have developed a coherent strategy to address poverty and to support the most vulnerable, helping people break the cycle of benefit dependency. A crucial part of this is to ensure that people are not written off to a lifetime on benefits because they have a health condition or disability. Many people with health conditions are able to sustain and progress in employment. The Department therefore needs to ensure that people currently receiving incapacity benefits are supported in preparing for a return to work where some form of employment is a possibility.
The reassessment of old-style incapacity benefits claimants is a key part of our agenda to create and deliver a 21(st) century welfare system by ensuring that those people who can work are given the correct support to do so.
Through the groundbreaking Work Programme we are giving those in the private and voluntary sector the freedom to design tailor-made back to work support built around the needs of the individual. The referral process is designed to give harder-to-help groups on benefits access to the programme at the appropriate stage in their claim. Once on the programme, advisers will devise tailored back to work plans for each claimant, taking in to account their circumstances.
In addition, we are currently taking through Parliament the Welfare Reform Bill which makes widespread reforms to the welfare system. An underlying principle of our reforms is to provide a more joined-up service, which is easier and more transparent for claimants to navigate their way through in order to receive personal financial support. Most notably, Universal Credit will provide a new single system of means-tested support for working-age people in and out of work. Support for housing costs, children and child care costs will be integrated in the new benefit. It will also provide additions for disabled people and carers.
15 Jun 2011 : Column 823W
State Retirement Pensions: Females
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with trade unions regarding women who will see their state pension age increased by one year or more as a result of the proposed change in the state pension age for women; and if he will make a statement. [59420]
Steve Webb: Prior to the introduction of the Pensions Bill into the House of Lords, the Minister for Welfare Reform, the noble Lord Freud, had meetings with a number of stakeholder organisations including representatives from Trade Unions to discuss our proposals.
Unemployed People: Public Transport
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 23 May 2011, Official Report, columns 499-500W, on travel to interview, what steps he is taking to increase public awareness of the Flexible Support Fund. [58419]
Chris Grayling: Advisers within Jobcentre Plus will use the flexibility afforded to them to ensure that claimants are given the right level of support at the right point in their journey towards employment. They will do so by drawing down from a flexible menu of support options which has been developed based on individual and local labour market need, and the Flexible Support Fund is part of this broader menu.
Internal guidance has been developed to help Jobcentre Plus staff decide whether Flexible Support Fund assistance is likely to be beneficial for claimants.
The primary communication strategy is to ensure advisers have the right guidance and support, supplemented by public information, to raise awareness of the offer among customers. Evidence tells us that Jobcentre Plus advisers are one of our most trusted and effective channels of communication. A key part of their role is to help people find work by explaining the integrated package of employment support and encouraging active participation. We are also developing a range of stakeholder communications to increase awareness among our partners and customer representative groups, and building on existing content on the Directgov website to ensure customers understand how flexibility works for them.
Work Capability Assessment
Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish the second independent review by Professor Harrington on the work capability assessment in relation to fluctuating conditions. [58361]
Chris Grayling: We expect Professor Harrington to publish the second independent review of the WCA in the autumn. On 7 June 2010, Professor Harrington published an interim report, which can be viewed at:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wca-review-interim-report-may-2011.pdf
15 Jun 2011 : Column 824W
Work Capability Assessment: Mental Health
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consideration is given to the timing of work capability assessments at appropriate points during a cycle of medication of a person with a mental health condition; and if he will make a statement. [58245]
Chris Grayling: Atos healthcare professionals provide advice to Jobcentre Plus decision makers on when a customer is likely to be able to return to work. Treatment, including any medication that the customer is taking is one of the factors that the healthcare professional takes into account when providing this advice. Decision makers use the advice from the healthcare professional, in addition to all the other available evidence, when deciding when to refer the customer back to Atos for reassessment.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many appeals against work capability assessments made on the basis of mental health needs were upheld at tribunal in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [58246]
(2) how many appeals against work capability assessments have been made on grounds of mental health conditions in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [58247]
Chris Grayling: There were 50,100 appeals heard against the Fit for Work decision for new employment and support allowance (ESA) claims made up to the end of February 2010, where the primary condition was classed as Mental and Behavioural Disorders. Of the appeals heard over this period 28,900 (58%) were upheld in favour of DWP.
The data presented above come from benefit claims data held by the Department for Work and Pensions, functional assessment data from Atos Healthcare and appeals data from the Tribunals Service.
Data on appeals heard are published for new ESA claims starting between October 2008, when ESA was introduced, and up to the. end of February 2010 (the latest month where there are sufficient volumes of appeals heard). Appeals are included in the figures only where the person claiming has been found Fit for Work, they have subsequently appealed against the Department's decision and the appeal has been heard by the Tribunals Service. Figures are available only for appeals that have been completed and not those that are currently under way.
Due to the time it takes for appeals to be submitted to the Tribunals Service and heard, it is likely that there are more appeals that have not yet been heard. As a result these figures should continue to be treated as emerging findings and not final at this stage.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many questions asked during the course of a work capability assessment relate to mental health conditions; and if he will make a statement. [58248]
Chris Grayling: An Atos healthcare professional should carry out a mental function assessment in all cases where the customer has a condition that affects mental, cognitive or intellectual function.
15 Jun 2011 : Column 825W
There is no standard set of questions. The number and type of questions that the healthcare professional asks as part of the mental function assessment will vary from person to person according to nature and severity of the underlying mental health condition(s).
Business, Innovation and Skills
Departmental Pensions
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of his Department's budget he expects to be spent on staff pensions in each of the next five years. [54573]
Mr Davey: Pension benefits for staff are provided through arrangements under the Principal Civil Service Pension scheme. Therefore, the budget for the Department does not include expenditure for paying pensions.
Details of the level of social security and other employer contributions that fall to the Department are published annually within our resource accounts which are available on the Department's website. Information on costs for the last financial year (2010-11) is expected to be available in July 2011.
The proportion of the Department's budget to be spent on employer contributions in each of the next five years will be determined by whatever changes are agreed to the Principal Civil Service scheme following the recommendations in the Hutton review. However, the Department estimates that it will spend less than 1% of its overall budget on such contributions in each of the next four years. No estimate has been made for 2015-16 as this is outside the current spending review period.
Local Government Finance
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much each local authority received from each (a) revenue and (b) capital funding stream from his Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; how much funding his Department allocated from each such stream in each year; and what the change was in the level of funding in each such stream between those years in (A) cash and (B) real terms. [49252]
Mr Davey: The following table shows the programme (revenue) funding payments made by the Department direct to local authorities in 2010/11 and the amounts that have been allocated to local authorities so far in 2011/12. No direct capital funding was made in 2010/11 or allocated in 2011/12. The differences between the amounts paid and the amounts allocated are shown in cash terms.
| £ | |||
| Authority | Paid in 2010/11 | Allocated in 2011/12 | Difference |
15 Jun 2011 : Column 826W
Postal Services: Crime
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether potential postal offences reported to Royal Mail by members of the public are routinely passed on to the police; how many such offences were reported by Post Office Ltd and Royal Mail in the last 12 months; what mechanism is in place to enable customers to report potential postal offences; and if he will make a statement. [60115]
Mr Davey: These are operational matters for the company.
I have therefore asked the chief executive of Royal Mail, Moya Greene, to respond directly to my hon. Friend and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Students: Counselling
Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what legal obligations apply to higher education providers in relation to the emotional wellbeing of their students through the provision of pastoral care services. [58405]
Mr Willetts:
It is a long-established principle that universities have a duty of care to their students. Higher education institutions (HEIs) are under no legal obligations
15 Jun 2011 : Column 827W
in relation to the emotional wellbeing of their students but they do have duties under the Equality Act 2010 to support disabled students in higher education, including those with mental health conditions. HEIs themselves will determine what welfare and counselling services they need to provide to their students to offer appropriate support.
Institutions have access to guidance on supporting students and staff with mental health conditions from a range of sector and medical bodies, including the Heads of University Counselling Services, the Association of Managers of Student Services in Higher Education, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the former Disability Rights Commission and most recently from the UniversitiesUK/Guild HE Working Group for the Promotion of Mental Well-Being in Higher Education. Further information about the Working Group is available at the following website:
http://www.mwbhe.com/
Trade Unions: Pay
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the number of full-time trade union officials whose salaries are paid from the public purse. [58977]
Mr Davey: No precise estimates are available. However, according to the Workplace Employment Relations Survey 2004, about 10% of “senior” workplace representatives, in both the public and private sectors combined, work full time on their representative functions.
Trade Unions: Public Bodies
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on the employment of full-time trade union officials by public bodies. [58973]
Mr Davey: BIS has not received any representations recently on the employment of full-time trade union officials by public bodies.
Wales
Freedom of Information
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2011, Official Report, column 407W, on freedom of information, if she will publish information on (a) the nature of each request, (b) the name of the applicant and (c) the reason why the deadline was not met in respect of each Freedom of Information Act 2000 request which was not determined within the deadline. [59828]
Mr David Jones: The requests sought information on:
the composition of the Referendum Project board, its terms of reference and availability of minutes;
amounts of severance pay paid to Wales Office staff and the numbers of staff involved;
Wales Office Senior Civil Service expense claims;
Wales Office staff expenses;
15 Jun 2011 : Column 828W
the difference between landfill site for grant and landfill site licensed;
foreign direct investment and China;
closure of the DSA in Cardiff;
correspondence between the Wales Office and the Treasury about the Barnett Formula;
approved contractors to work on highways in Wales and approved contractors to work on crash barriers;
travel and subsistence for Ministers, Directors and staff for 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010/11;
the Wales Office St David's Day reception;
the list of invitees to the St David's Day reception;
credit card statements since April 2010; and
written guidance from special advisers to press officers.
The names of the applicants in respect of the above requests are being withheld in order to comply with the Data Protection Act 1998. The applicants provided their details to enable the Wales Office to respond to their requests for information. It would be incompatible with the principles set out in the 1998 Act to disclose their details for another purpose.
The reasons why the deadlines were not met were that additional time was needed to ensure that the information was comprehensive and accurate, to consult others or to consider fully the public interest test.
Defence
Apache Helicopters: Guided Weapons
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the safety implications for armed forces personnel of firing Hellfire missiles from Apache helicopters; and if he will make a statement. [59261]
Peter Luff: Hellfire missiles, and all other munitions fired from the UK Apache helicopter, have had a complete safety and risk analysis undertaken to understand all aspects of the implications of their use prior to their introduction to service. This included assessments of the risks to service personnel and other operators of the aircraft, both in the air and on the ground.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Hellfire missiles have been fired by Apache helicopters in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [58703]
Peter Luff: Detailed records for Apache attack helicopter firings of Hellfire missiles are only available since 2008 onwards, as shown in the following table:
|
|
Number of Hellfires |
This includes both operational and training firings.
The Hellfire missile has shown itself to be the weapon of choice for Apache attack helicopter operations, proving to be an accurate and reliable weapon system and providing airborne fire support to ground forces. This
15 Jun 2011 : Column 829W
predominantly involves supporting troops in contact, in addition to providing cover for the emergency medical extraction of seriously wounded personnel.
Armed Forces: Pensions
Dr Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) civilian and (b) uniformed armed forces personnel at each grade have pension pots (i) currently valued and (ii) projected to be valued on retirement at more than (A) £1 million and (B) £1.5 million. [59356]
Mr Robathan: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Armed Forces: Redundancy
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many applications for voluntary redundancy from the armed forces his Department has received from members of the armed forces resident in each parliamentary constituency. [59386]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 13 June 2011]:The total number of extant valid applications for the compulsory regular armed forces redundancy programme across the three services is 2,295. Data broken down by parliamentary constituency could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The window for applications for this first, of up to four, tranches has now closed. All tranches are due to be complete by March 2015.
Armed Forces: Uniforms
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on operations-specific personal protective (a) clothing and (b) equipment in the last 12 months. [58366]
Peter Luff: During financial year 2010-11, the Ministry of Defence spent approximately £15 million on operational-specific personal protective equipment including body armour, pelvic protection and helmets. These costs include items issued to new recruits and the replenishment of stores in addition to supplies for personnel deployed.
Items of operational-specific personal protective clothing are contained within a number of wider clothing contracts. Costs for the last 12 months could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Travel
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many disciplinary offences for the improper use of a Government procurement card have been recorded in his Department in each of the last five years. [59030]
Mr Robathan: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the Department does have a whistleblowing hotline at the defence irregularity reporting cell and the following figures are based on incidents reported to that cell:
1 April 2007 - 31 March 2008: four cases resulted in staff being prosecuted or disciplined
15 Jun 2011 : Column 830W
1 April 2008 - 31 March 2009: three cases resulted in staff being prosecuted or disciplined
1 April 2009 - 31 March 2010: Nil cases resulted in staff being prosecuted or disciplined
1 April 2010 - 31 March 2011: One case resulted in staff being prosecuted or disciplined
The figures are provided as at the date of report and include all cases closed up to 13 June 2011.
Falkland Islands: Air Force
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many quick reaction alert activations took place in the Falklands in the last 12 months; and how many aircraft (a) took part and (b) were airborne within the alert time on each such activation; [59553]
(2) how many Ministry of Defence aircraft were permanently based in the Falklands in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the model of each such aircraft is. [59555]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 14 June 2011]:I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 May 2011, Official Report, column 391W. There have been no further quick reaction alert activations.
HMS Endurance
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (a) for how long HMS Endurance was leased, (b) how much that lease cost and (c) at what cost it was purchased. [58918]
Peter Luff: The records of these arrangements are stored in archive and need to be retrieved in order to provide a full answer to the hon. Member. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the decommissioning of HMS Endurance. [58919]
Peter Luff: Cost models for the different options for delivering the UK's ice patrol capability will be developed to inform the decision-making process. I am withholding details of such costs as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.
HMS Protector
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the (a) fuel, (b) personnel and (c) maintenance of HMS Protector in each year of its lease; [58920]
(2) (a) what options there are available to extend the lease of HMS Protector and (b) what estimate his Department has made on the cost of continuing the lease of HMS Protector beyond the current contract. [58921]
Peter Luff: The initial three year lease for HMS Protector can be extended for up to another two years. I am withholding information relating to the costs of extending the lease as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.
15 Jun 2011 : Column 831W
We have estimated that the annual costs of operating HMS Protector would be approximately £2.3 million for fuel and £4 million for personnel. Maintenance costs are included in the leasing contract and are not separately identifiable.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of leasing HMS Protector under sharing arrangements with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and if he will make a statement. [59260]
Peter Luff: The delivery of the UK’s ice patrol capability is funded solely by the Ministry of Defence and there are no cost sharing arrangements with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. HMS Protector has been leased, at a cost of £26million, from GC Rieber Shipping for an initial period of three years.
Libya: Armed Conflict
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Royal Air Force personnel are based at Gioia del Colle as part of Operation Ellamy; [57677]
(2) what the average (a) daily and (b) monthly cost of basing Royal Air Force personnel at Gioia del Colle has been to date. [57699]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 7 June 2011]: As of 1 June 2011 there were 550 RAF personnel, to the nearest 50, based in Gioia del Colle as part of Operation Ellamy. These include UK personnel seconded to NATO for operation Unified Protector.
The precise number of personnel overseas fluctuates on a daily basis for a variety of reasons, including temporary absence for training, evacuation for medical reasons, the roulement of forces, visits and a range of other factors. We do not, therefore, publish actual figures for personnel deployed.
The average monthly cost, assessed on 1 June 2011, for accommodation of all UK personnel (including Royal Navy, army and civilians) at Gioia dell Colle is around £1 million. This equates to an approximate cost of £30,000 per day.
Navy
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what vessels are leased by the Royal Navy; and what the cost to the public purse was to lease each such vessel in each of the last five years. [58914]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence leases three river class vessels (HMS Tyne, HMS Severn and HMS Mersey), one more capable modified river class vessel (HMS Clyde) and one ice breaker (HMS Protector). As the lease for HMS Protector began in March 2011, there are no historical costs.
| Lease costs for the four river class vessels | |||||
| £ | |||||
| Financial year | |||||
|
|
2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
15 Jun 2011 : Column 832W
| (1) The lease cost for the HMS Tyne, HMS Severn, HMS Mersey is a single charge for all three vessels. | |||||
Reserve Forces
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what post-operation support his Department makes available to reservists based in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) other parts of the UK. [59252]
Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 31 January 2011, Official Report, columns 520-21W, to the hon. Member for Redditch (Karen Lumley).
Reserve Forces: Northern Ireland
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the reserve forces in Northern Ireland were mobilised in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [59335]
Mr Robathan: The following table provides the total number of reserve personnel with a residential address in Northern Ireland who were mobilised in each of the last three financial years.
| Financial year | Mobilised Reservists |
All numbers have been subject to rounding.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the (a) Royal Naval Reserve and (b) Territorial Army were recruited in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years. [59337]
Mr Robathan: The following table provides information on the total number of personnel recruited from Northern Ireland into the Royal Naval Reserve and the Territorial Army in each of the last three financial years:
|
|
2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
Transport
Cycling England
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to support the work formerly carried out by Cycling England; [58863]
15 Jun 2011 : Column 833W
(2) what plans he has to support cycling in large urban areas outside London. [58866]
Norman Baker: The Government are strongly committed to cycling, as was made clear in the coalition agreement.
We see the encouragement of cycling and walking, along with improvements to public transport, as key to cutting carbon emissions and enhancing the quality of our urban areas.
As announced in the Public Bodies Review, Cycling England ceased to exist after 31 March 2011.
In January this year we published our White Paper on Local Transport: “Creating Growth, Cutting Carbon—Making Sustainable Local Transport Happen”. Chapter 5 of the White Paper sets out what we are doing, and what local authorities can do, to support cycling.
At the same time I announced the £560 million Local Sustainable Transport Fund, available to transport authorities outside London, large or small, rural or urban. Transport authorities themselves, working together with the communities they serve, have determined their own transport priorities in bidding to the Fund. The Department for Transport is currently assessing bids to the first tranche of the Fund, and I will be making announcements as planned later this summer. Many of the bids feature proposals on cycling.
Halifax-Leeds Railway Line
Mrs Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for future numbers of carriages on passenger rail services between Halifax and Leeds. [59637]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport announced in April 2011 an agreement with Northern Rail to add 20 carriages to their fleet. As a consequence the following trains will be lengthened: the 09.16 service from Halifax to Leeds and the 06.37 service from Leeds to Halifax (which then goes on to arrive at Manchester Victoria at 08.14). These carriages are expected to be introduced in December 2011.
The Department is currently in negotiations with Northern Rail to agree the deployment of further additional carriages in the north. These discussions are expected to be concluded and an announcement made later in the year.
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average value is of the properties in respect of which compensation has been awarded under the HS2 Exceptional Hardship scheme; and how many such homes were (a) semi-detached, (b) detached, (c) terraced and (d) bungalows. [59492]
Mr Philip Hammond: 38 applications have been accepted, and the total value of 34 of these properties, calculated by the sum of formal offers made to applicants, is £19,920,000, giving an average property value of £585,882.35. HS2 Ltd is currently awaiting valuations on the other four properties that have been accepted.
HS2 Ltd does not record information on property types.
15 Jun 2011 : Column 834W
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of those granted HS2 exceptional hardship compensation to date were supported by legal advisors. [59495]
Mr Philip Hammond: HS2 Ltd does not record this information.
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to establish appropriate long-term blight arrangements to assist those most seriously affected by the proposed HS2 line; and if he will make a statement. [59503]
Mr Philip Hammond: Details of the statutory provisions on blight and compensation that would apply for any new high speed line, and a range of options for possible additional discretionary arrangements to help those whose properties would not be compulsorily purchased in order to build a new line, but who may still experience a significant loss in the value of their property as a result of it, are set out in Annex A of the Government’s consultation document, “High Speed Rail: Investing in Britain's Future” available at:
http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/library/documents/consultation-document
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many property owners who applied to the HS2 Exceptional Hardship Scheme applied in respect of a property which was inherited following bereavement; and how many such applications were (a) accepted and (b) rejected. [59506]
Mr Philip Hammond: Four applications to the Exceptional Hardship Scheme have been received so far in respect of a property which is part of the estate of a deceased person. Two of these have been accepted; the other two are awaiting decision.
Transport: Disadvantaged
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to promote social inclusion through transport. [58865]
Norman Baker: Good transport is crucial to people's quality of life. The Department for Transport (DfT) actively promotes measures to enhance social inclusion by enabling disadvantaged people to connect with employment opportunities, key services, social networks and goods.
DfT initiatives contributing to reducing social exclusion include:
Providing free, off-peak bus travel for elderly and disabled people in England.
Reducing crime and the fear of crime wherever it occurs in the transport system.
Continuing to build on the progress that has already been made following the introduction of accessibility regulations for trains, buses and coaches under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA).
Helping disabled and older drivers to continue to use their car as a means of accessing the services they require.