Departmental Redundancy
Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of redundancies in its non-departmental bodies (a) in 2011-12 and (b) over the comprehensive spending review period. [61719]
Robert Neill: Over the spending review period, the Department has allocated £46.2 million of restructuring funding to its arm’s length bodies, of which £33.0 million is for 2011-12.
As outlined in my Department's press notice of 16 March 2011, our plans to reduce and reform the Department's arm’s length bodies will save around £170 million of taxpayers money from DCLG budgets and a further £60 million from the budget for local government spending by 2014-15.
Faith Communities Consultative Council
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the name is of each member of the Faith Communities Consultative Council. [55499]
Andrew Stunell [holding answer 13 May 2011]: The Government have decided to discontinue the Faith Communities Consultative Council. We believe that it did not add value to the effective arrangements that Departments already have in place for consulting faith communities on policy.
23 Jun 2011 : Column 441W
Our preference is to work with faith communities in a manner that is strategic and appropriate for particular situations. My Department will continue to liaise individually with national faith communities that provided members of the Council, and to convene ad hoc groupings to discuss policy as necessary. Officials from various Departments will continue to attend meetings of the Faith Communities Forum of the Inter Faith Network for the United Kingdom, in order to engage with faith communities collectively.
The Government recognises the vital contribution that faith communities make to civil society, and we are committed to facilitating linkages and tackling barriers that faith groups face. For instance my Department has invested £5 million in the Church Urban Fund's Near Neighbours programme, using the local infrastructure of the Church of England to build productive relationships between people from different faith backgrounds in four key geographical areas.
Homelessness: Expenditure
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department is spending on measures to reduce homelessness in 2011-12. [61631]
Grant Shapps: We are maintaining investment in homelessness grant at £100 million a year for each of the next four years. As part of this grant, we have announced allocations of £81.5 million for local authorities and £18.5 million for the voluntary sector to support their work to tackle and prevent homelessness.
This includes £8.45 million allocated to the Greater London Authority for the provision of rough sleeping services in London and £4 million allocated to the homelessness organisation Crisis to help single homeless people access the private rented sector.
We are also providing £37.5 million under the Homelessness Change Programme over the three years from April 2012 to improve hostels for rough sleepers and ensure that those coming off the streets get the support they need.
Regional Growth Fund
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the role is of local enterprise partnerships in assessing bids to the regional growth fund. [59519]
Mr Prisk: I have been asked to reply.
The local enterprise partnerships have no formal role in assessing bids to the regional growth fund. However, they can have a powerful role in their own areas to make bids on their own behalf, especially for programmes, and in co-ordinating and supporting other local bids.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices
Mr Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 24 May 2011, Official Report, column 642W, on
23 Jun 2011 : Column 442W
apprentices, what estimate he has made of the number of learners who will be funded by the allocation to providers to deliver level three and above qualifications for those over the age of 24. [61361]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 22 June 2011]: The budget for apprenticeships, notwithstanding the additional funding announced at this year's Budget, is sufficient to fund 227,000 adult apprenticeship starts in academic year 2011/12. ‘Skills for Sustainable Growth’(1) and ‘Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth’ set out the abolition of central targets and increased freedom and flexibility for Further education colleges and training organisations to respond effectively to the needs of employers, learners and their communities. Accordingly, the take-up of apprenticeships by level follows employer demand and we are not able to provide estimates of the number of advanced level apprenticeships (at level 3) that will be delivered.
(1) Skills for Sustainable Growth published by BIS:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/news/topstories/2010/Nov/skills-for-sustainable-growth
Arms Trade: Exports
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to which states the Government has licensed the sale of defence equipment and armaments in each of the last two financial years. [59812]
Mr Prisk: This information is published in the Annual and Quarterly Reports on Strategic Export Controls. These reports contain detailed information on export licences issued, refused or revoked, by destination, including the overall value, type (e.g. military, other) and a summary of the items covered by these licences. They are available to view on the Strategic Export Controls: Reports and Statistics website at:
https://www.exportcontroldb.berr.gov.uk/eng/fox
Currently this includes information up to 31 December 2010. Information covering 1 January 2011 to 31 March will be published in July this year.
Businesses
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to (a) encourage dynamism in the enterprise start-up market, (b) strengthen business support networks and (c) increase business productivity. [61106]
Mr Prisk: In January, the Department published “Bigger, Better Business: Helping small firms start, grow and prosper”, setting out what we are doing to ensure start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises can access the information, networks and advice they need.
In March, Government published “The Plan for Growth”, setting out a radical plan to get the UK economy growing.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the barriers to starting a business in the UK. [61110]
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Mr Prisk: The Department's Household Survey of Entrepreneurship, which was last conducted in 2007, collects data on barriers to enterprise:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/files/file46964.doc
BIS also sponsors the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) UK survey which collects data on barriers to start-up and the issues facing nascent businesses, on an annual basis. Additionally, the World Bank Doing Business Report assesses the ease of starting a business in 183 countries, including the UK which was ranked 17(th) out of 183 in the 2011 report.
Alongside this research, Ministers and officials regularly engage with would-be entrepreneurs, start-ups and the small business representative bodies to discuss barriers to starting a business.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to help businesses increase their performance in respect of (a) innovation, (b) management skills and (c) the adoption of best practice. [61112]
Mr Willetts: This Department helps businesses increase their innovation performance through a range of measures including the work of partner bodies such as the Technology Strategy Board, which is the Government's prime channel through which we support business-led technology innovation, and the Design Council.
The Technology Strategy Board is establishing a network of elite technology and innovation centres to commercialise new and emerging technologies—the High Value Manufacturing Technology and Innovation Centre has been launched and others in the areas of cell therapy and offshore renewable energy are planned. The Technology Strategy Board also delivers a national collaborative R&D and grant for R&D schemes, which are focused on supporting research and development projects in businesses, and the Small Business Research Initiative, which aims to provide business opportunities for innovative companies while solving the needs of Government Departments.
The Design Council helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop their capacity for design and innovation through the Designing Demand programme which helps SMEs become more competitive, increase their profits and boost performance through the strategic use of design.
This Department also supports R&D tax credits, which provides tax relief for companies undertaking R&D work.
Leadership and management skills are recognised as key elements in driving business performance and raising productivity, with strong links to the better utilisation of skills and high performing workplaces.
In ‘Skills for Sustainable Growth’ this Department emphasised the importance of improving leadership and management skills and set out our intention to work with employers, employer bodies, the TUC, ACAS, and others to develop a framework for improving leadership and management skills to encourage high performance working and better use of skills.
We are continuing to provide the SME Leadership and Management Programme with priority for support being given to those small and medium-sized businesses
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that demonstrate a potential for growth, and are looking closely at how best this programme can be integrated or aligned with Business Coaching for Growth from January 2012.
The primary objective of both the new framework, which will be published later this year, and the SME Leadership and Management Programme is to encourage all businesses to invest more in order to improve leadership and management skills to drive up their own performance and help raise overall productivity throughout the economy.
This Department helps companies increase their performance by the adoption of best practice through its support for the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS). MAS helps small and medium-sized manufacturing firms achieve big improvements in their productivity and competitiveness by providing direct access to manufacturing experts who provide professional advice and practical, hands-on support. A programme of visits to best practice exemplars is one of the services offered by MAS.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of businesses reported to his Department that growth of their business was a priority in each year since 2005. [61119]
Mr Prisk: The BIS Small Business Survey provides information on the proportion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) employers (with one to 249 employees) that aim to grow their business in the next two to three years. Table 1 shows that in 2010 nearly three-quarters (74%) of SME employers aimed to grow their business within the next two to three years (or approximately 880,000 businesses).
| Table 1: Proportion of SME employers aiming to grow the business | |
| Aim to grow in next two to three years (percentage) | |
| Source: BIS Small Business Survey 2005-10—SME employers only | |
BIS also regularly examines a range of other surveys including those of business organisations like the Confederation of Business Industry (CBI) to better understand the growth ambition of all businesses, not just SMEs. Figures for 2005 to 2011 from the CBI Quarterly Services Sector Survey showing the proportion of service sector businesses expecting to expand their business in the year ahead are shown in the following table:
| Table 2: Expectation of growth in next 12 months | |
| Survey period | Services sector (%) |
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Businesses: Young People
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the number and proportion of (a) young people aged 16 to 24 and (b) people aged over 25 who considered going into business in each year since 2005. [61099]
Mr Prisk: BIS does not hold the precise information to answer this question. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor provides a measure of the proportion of adults in the UK who intend to start a business within the next three years. Data has been provided for 18 to 24-year-olds and the total population (18 to 64-year-olds) only.
The Table shows that in 2009, 5.5% of 18 to 24-year-olds who were not already engaged in enterprise activity in the UK intended to start up a business within the next three years, compared to 4.4% of the adult population overall. 2009 is the latest year for which BIS hold data at the level of detail required to answer this question (i.e. intention to go into business by age group).
| Intention to start a business among non-entrepreneurially active population | |||||
| Percentage | |||||
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | |
| Source: Global Entrepreneurship Monitor UK combined database 2002-09 | |||||
Defence Equipment
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what expenditure his Department will incur in relation to the Defence and Security Equipment International Exhibition between 13 and 16 September 2011; and which Ministers from his Department plan to attend the event. [60762]
Mr Prisk: Costs associated with hosting official overseas delegations invited by Government to attend DSEi ‘11 will be met by the organisers. UKTI DSO will part fund a Capability Showcase which is expected to cost around £100,000. This will at least be in part offset by income from industry in support of the showcase and other support. No direct costs, other than staff time and related staff travel expenses, will be incurred on hosting official delegations. Programmes of UK Government Ministers are decided nearer to the date of the event and will not be published in advance of it taking place.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make it his policy to publish monthly information on changes in the number of employees of his Department's agencies, categorised by (a) seniority, (b) voluntary redundancy, (c) natural wastage and (d) involuntary redundancy. [61704]
Mr Davey: The Government are committed to transparency and the availability of data and are currently exploring options for the more frequent publication of this type of work force management information across the civil service.
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The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publish information on employment levels by responsibility level as part of the Annual Civil Service Employment survey as well as information on the overall number of leavers by Department including BIS. This can be viewed at:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=2899
ONS publish information on employment levels across the civil service as part of the Quarterly Public Sector Employment Bulletin, which can be viewed at:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=13615
Departmental Parental Leave
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his Department's policy for staff is in respect of (a) eligibility criteria and (b) rates of pay for (i) maternity and (ii) adoption leave. [61790]
Mr Davey: The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) was created on 5 June 2009, with the merger of Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and Department for Innovation Universities and Skills (DIUS). Following the merger employees remain on the terms and conditions applicable to them at the time of the merger.
All pregnant employees are entitled to up to 52 weeks maternity leave irrespective of length of service. Employees on BERR arrangements who have completed one year’s qualifying service are eligible for 26 weeks contractual maternity pay payable at their normal rate of pay. Employees on DIUS arrangements are eligible for 28 weeks contractual maternity pay payable at their normal rate of pay and are not required to serve a qualifying period. Contractual payments include an element of statutory maternity pay. Employees who do not meet the qualifying criteria are paid the statutory rates applicable to them.
All employees who adopt a child are entitled to up to 52 weeks adoption leave irrespective of length of service. Employees on BERR arrangements who have completed one year’s qualifying service are eligible for 26 weeks contractual adoption pay payable at their normal rate of pay. Employees on DIUS arrangements are eligible for 28 weeks contractual adoption pay payable at their normal rate of pay and are not required to serve a qualifying period. Contractual payments include an element of statutory adoption pay. Employees who do not meet the qualifying criteria are paid the statutory rates applicable to them.
Developing Countries: Cotton
Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on the step forward on cotton initiative for least developed countries proposed by the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO); what representations he has made to other WTO members on this proposal; and if he will make a statement. [61564]
Mr Davey: The director general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) proposed that ‘a step forward on cotton’ be included in a development-focussed package of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) to be agreed at the December WTO ministerial. The details of this step forward have not yet been defined.
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The removal of developed country cotton subsidies is a UK Government priority for the DDA and I and other Ministers have consistently pressed this with counterparts. We are supportive of any proposals that would move this issue forward. UK officials are working with the WTO secretariat and other WTO member states to push for the step forward on cotton to be as ambitious as possible.
Employment Schemes
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what data he will require (a) further education institutions and (b) Jobcentre Plus to provide to his Department as part of the Job Outcome Incentive Scheme pilots in the academic year 2011-12; and whether this information will be published; [61368]
(2) when his Department expects to publish details of the Job Outcome Incentive Scheme pilots for the 2011-12 academic year. [61370]
Mr Hayes: As part of the measures to simplify the further education and skills funding system we are introducing Outcome Incentive Payments. The Skills Funding Agency will trial this approach in the 2011/12 academic year through the introduction of a Job Outcome Payment.
Further information on the operation of the Job Outcome Payment pilot will be provided in Guidance Note 8 which is due to be published by the agency before Summer recess. Technical detail, including information relating to the data required will be given in a Technical Briefing Note that will be published shortly afterwards. Together with the agency, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills intend to seek the views of colleges and training organisations to evaluate the Job Outcome Payment pilot.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which colleges he expects to participate in the Job Outcome Incentive scheme pilots in the 2011-12 academic year. [61447]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 22 June 2011]: As part of the measures to simplify the further education and skills funding system we are introducing outcome incentive payments. The Skills Funding Agency will trial this approach in the 2011/12 academic year through the introduction of a job outcome payment.
Guidance Note 6(1), published by the Skills Funding Agency on 16 December 2010, stated that all colleges and training organisations with an Adult Skills Budget allocation have an identified amount of funding to be used for job outcome incentive payments. This equates to 2.5% of the 2011/12 indicative Adult Skills Budget allocation and is shown as a potential payment on the funding statements of colleges and training organisations. Further information on the operation of the job outcome payment pilot will be provided in Guidance Note 8 which is due to be published by the agency before summer recess.
(1)http://readingroom.skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk/sfa/skills_funding_agency_-_guidance_note_6_final_-v2_.pdf
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English Language: Education
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received on the effects on women of changes to the provision of courses of English for speakers of other languages. [61539]
Mr Hayes: Since the publication of “Skills for Sustainable Growth”, a large number of organisations and individuals, including Members, have made representations to my Department about the impact of our proposals for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). They have included correspondence from learners and their representatives and Principals of Further Education Colleges. I also hold regular meetings with Further Education stakeholders; the topics that we have discussed include ESOL
The views and supporting information offered by these groups have been collated and are being taken into consideration as part of the ESOL impact assessment, which will be published before summer recess.
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on the equality impact assessment of the Government's proposals for the funding of courses of English for speakers of other languages. [61541]
Mr Hayes: An assessment of how the changes announced in Skills for Sustainable Growth (November 2010) may affect English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learners is currently being carried out by the Department. Business and Skills Ministers meet regularly with ministerial colleagues in other Government Departments and have discussed a range of issues, including the assessment. In addition, my officials have been in regular contact with other Departments on this subject.
EU Grants and Loans
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many successful regional growth fund bids were made with reference to matched funds from the European Regional Development Fund in the most recently announced funding round. [59520]
Mr Prisk: There were 464 bids to the regional growth fund (RGF) round 1. Of these, 66 mentioned bids for European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding in their application. One such bid, Manchester Eye Hospital, was successful.
Officials in the Department and in the ERDF teams have worked closely together to align, where practical, the respective funds' bidding processes. Most ERDF programmes are managing a simultaneous call for proposals to complement the timing of the RGFs second round, with the aim of encouraging applicants to maximise the available public resource. Applicants seeking to access ERDF will however need to comply with the application process and the ERDF specific project selection criteria.
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Further Education: Attendance
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether further education institutions undertaking education and training as part of skills conditionality proposals will be required to report on course attendance and completion for the purposes of applying higher-level sanctions. [61437]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 22 June 2011]: It is for further education colleges to determine whether to make their provision available to mandated learners. If they chose to do so, they will be required to meet Jobcentre Plus data requirements which include providing information on levels of attendance and completion.
General Agreement on Trade in Services
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what commitments the UK has in respect of Mode 4 of the General Agreement on Trade in Services. [61606]
Mr Davey: The UK's commitments in Mode 4 under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) General Agreement on Trade in Services include commitments in Intra-corporate Transfers, Business Visitors and Contractual Service Suppliers.
The detail of the commitments is set out in the EU schedules of services commitments which are available on the WTO website at:
www.wto.org
Green Investment Bank: Location
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to announce his decision on the location of the Green Investment Bank; and if he will make a statement. [61588]
Mr Prisk: Following state aid approval the Green Investment Bank (GIB) will be established as a Companies Act company and its board will be appointed. The Government and the GIB board, working closely with the Government Property Unit, will take a decision on the GIB's location, taking into account: (1) the ability to deliver the GIB mission (2) operational costs, and (3) access to required talent.
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (a) what criteria he plans to use and (b) whether he plans to take into account (i) the availability of sustainable transport links and (ii) environment city status when making his decision on the location of the Green Investment Bank; and if he will make a statement. [61591]
Mr Prisk: The location for the Green Investment Bank (GIB) will be chosen to enable it best to deliver its mission. The criteria will be: (1) ability to deliver the GIB mission; (2) operational costs; and (3) access to required talent.
Fuller details of these criteria are set out in Section 2.7 of the “Update on the design of the Green Investment Bank” which I published on 23 May. This decision will be taken in due course.
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Higher Education: Admissions
Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people resident in North West Durham constituency applied to enter university in the academic year (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; and how many such applicants were successful. [61408]
Mr Willetts: The information is in the following table and has been provided by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)
Applicants who were not accepted for entry will include: individuals who did not receive any offer; individuals who received an offer (conditional or unconditional) but decided not to go to university; individuals who received a conditional offer and failed to meet the specific conditions (eg they did not achieve certain grades); and individuals who decided to withdraw from the UCAS system.
| Applicants and accepted applicants to full-time undergraduate courses at UK institutions from North West Durham constituency 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11 | ||
| Applicants | Accepted applicants | |
| Source: UCAS | ||
Higher Education: Finance
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the number of first-time full-time undergraduates studying in institutions not in receipt of public funds eligible for fee loans in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15; and if he will make a statement. [61458]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 22 June 2011]: The Department cannot provide estimates of the number of students at privately funded institutions eligible for fee loans as these data are not centrally collected.
Investment: Sudan
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had on private investment in Sudan. [61378]
Mr Prisk: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has had no recent discussions, or other related engagement, on the matter of UK private investment in Sudan.
National Enterprise Academy: Private Sector
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what private sector financial support the National Enterprise Academy has received since 2008; and if he will make a statement. [59797]
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Mr Hayes: Since 2008, the National Enterprise Academy (NEA) has received £218,310 cash investment from the private sector and the NEA estimates it has attracted £3 million in in-kind support from the private sector.
Over the past two years, the NEA has developed a new brand of practical enterprise and entrepreneurship training for young adults, including employer mentor support for learners, as an integral part of their course.
North Sea Oil
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 9 May 2011, Official Report, column 956W, on North Sea oil, what discussions Ministers in his Department held, on what dates and with which oil and gas companies prior to the Budget Statement of 23 March 2011. [60725]
Mr Prisk: Nothing has changed since my answer of 9 May 2011, Official Report, column 956W.
Peak Oil
Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans his Department has to address the challenges posed by peak oil. [60101]
Mr Prisk: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, my hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Charles Hendry), on 16 June 2011, Official Report, column 895W.
Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 23 May 2011, Official Report, columns 480-1W, on students: finance, if he will publish the contract for services between his Department and Rainey Kelly Campbell Roafle. [58431]
Mr Willetts: As the services were procured through the Central Office of Information, and in line with the Government's commitment to ensure transparency, the contract for services between them and Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe was published on the Businesslink contract finder website. A copy of the contract will be supplied to the right hon. Member and placed in the Library.
The relevant Buinesslink website page upon which the contract details can be obtained can be accessed via the following link:
http://www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk
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Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 23 May 2011, Official Report, columns 480-1W, on students: finance, how many staff from Rainey Kelly Campbell Roafle are working on his Department's campaign. [58432]
Mr Willetts: The published contract documentation referred to in my previous answer, details 11 job titles, along with the number of hours allocated under each job title, for work on the campaign.
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 23 May 2011, Official Report, columns 480-1W, on students: finance, what expenditure his Department will incur in connection with the appointment of Rainey Kelly Campbell Roafle. [58433]
Mr Willetts: Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe were appointed to support the campaign at an expected cost of £150,000, which it is expected will be incurred.
In addition the Department has incurred central office of information management fees of £5,132 in connection with the appointment of the agency.
Self-employed
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the proportion of adults who considered going into business or becoming self-employed in each year since 2005; and if he will estimate the proportion of such people who believed they had sufficient knowledge and understanding to do so in each such year. [61094]
Mr Prisk: The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor provides a measure of the proportion of UK adults who were not already engaged in enterprise, who intended to start-up in business within the next three years. Table 1 shows that in 2010, 6.7% of the adult population in the UK said they intended to start-up in business within the next three years.
BIS does not have data on the proportion of such people who believed that they had sufficient knowledge and understanding to start-up in business. However, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor does provide a measure of the proportion of UK adults who were not already engaged in enterprise, who agreed they had the skills and knowledge to start a business.
The table shows that in 2010, 46.1% of the non-entrepreneurially active adult population in the UK said they believed they had the skills and knowledge to start a business.
| Table 1: Entrepreneurial intentions and confidence in start up skills among UK adults | ||||||
| Percentage | ||||||
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
| (1) Some of those adults indicating they intend to start up could also already be running a business. (2) Among those not already engaged in enterprise activity. Source: Global Entrepreneurship Monitor UK 2010 report | ||||||
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Short Time Working
Mrs Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has plans to bring forward legislative proposals to reform short time working. [61387]
Mr Davey: The Government have no current plans to reform the law on short time working.
Small Businesses
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the number and proportion of small businesses that were involved in enterprise awareness-raising activities in each year since 2005. [61098]
Mr Prisk: I do not have a record of small business involvement in enterprise awareness raising activities in each year since 2005. Such engagement is by its very nature undertaken at the local level and statistics are not collected centrally.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the proportion of small businesses that (a) sought and (b) took-up external business advice funded by his Department during their start-up in each year since 2005. [61108]
Mr Prisk: The Department of Business Innovation and Skills funds support for business start-ups which is currently accessed via the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) through the Business Link regional advisory service. The RDAs have reported (a) the following levels of engagement with business start-ups (i.e. those businesses trading for less than 12 months) since 2005.
| Financial year | Number of start -up businesses |
The regional Business Link providers do not record information on the level of take-up of advice provided.
Students: Fees and Charges
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of those studying for level 3 or above qualifications would be required to pay fees for their courses under the proposals contained in his Department's document, Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth. [61366]
Mr Hayes:
In November 2010 the coalition Government published “Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth” which set out the planned changes to the entitlements to full funding further education and skills for adults in England. Learners aged 19 up to 24 will be entitled to
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full fee remission for their first qualification at Level 3. Outside of this entitlement, there is an expectation that learners undertaking Level 3 qualifications will share the costs with the Government; with co-funding in the 2011/12 and 2012/13 academic years, and the introduction of Government-backed loans from 2013/14.
The Statistical First Release(1) provides the latest data on the proportion of starts and completions for learners at Level 3. Based on historical data we estimate that 3,000 learner places at Level 3 could become co-funded rather than fully-funded in 2011/12. However, as the further education funding system is demand-led it is not possible to predict the number or proportion of adults that will be required to pay a fee for a first Level 3 qualification beyond 2011.
(1)http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/index.shtml
Students: Finance
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 23 May 2011, Official Report, columns 478W, on students: finance, on what socio-demographic groups the public information campaign has been targeted. [58434]
Mr Willetts: In line with the campaign objective of communicating accurate information about the new student finance arrangements to potential students and their parents/carers, the campaign has been aimed at all young people aged 15 to 19, but particularly those who are closest to making a decision to go onto higher education, along with their parents and carers.
The Government are committed to ensuring that all young people who have the potential should be given the opportunity to attend university. The Department will therefore be undertaking additional activity to ensure that accurate information reaches those from lower income households.
Trade
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the UK's Mode 4 commitments are under international trade agreements which are in force. [61826]
Mr Davey: The UK has commitments in Mode 4 under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) General Agreement on Trade in Services. The detail of the commitments is set out in the EU schedules of services commitments which are available on the WTO web-site at:
www.wto.org
The UK also has commitments, some of which go further than WTO commitments, in agreements negotiated at the EU level, including with Chile, CARIFORUM and Korea. The detail of these commitments is set out in the agreements which are available on the Commission website at:
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/
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Trading Standards: Legal Profession
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what powers (a) his Department and (b) trading standards officers have to investigate the activities of partners and directors of law firms which enter liquidation and subsequently reopen under a different name in the same premises and with the same staff. [60999]
Mr Davey [holding answer 20 June 2011]: The information requested is as follows:
(a) The Secretary of State has the power to investigate any company or limited liability partnership where there appears good reason, usually the suspicion that it is trading fraudulently or against the public interest. However, there is nothing in law to prevent a director of a company in liquidation from forming a new company, from acting as a partner or as a sole trader to carry on a business similar to, or even identical to, that of the former company providing, in respect of any limited company, he has not been disqualified from acting in the management of a limited company and is not personally bankrupt.
(b) Trading Standards have powers to investigate breaches under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 which bans all persons acting in trade or business from engaging in unfair commercial (mainly marketing and selling) practices against consumers. The regulations apply across all business sectors and set out a framework for how businesses must deal with consumers so that consumers can make free and informed choices in relation to goods and services offered for sale. Enforcement of the regulations is through undertakings from infringers, enforcement orders or by prosecution with offences carrying a fine of up to £5,000 or imprisonment or both.
UK Trade and Industry's Music Export Group
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the names and positions are of members of the UK Trade and Industry's Music Export Group. [61004]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 20 June 2011]: The following list provides the names and positions (supplied in brackets) of UK Trade and Investment's Music Export Group members:
Doug D'Arcy, Chairman (Owner, Songlines Music)
Judith Govey (International Manager, AIM)
Peter Filleul (Executive Director, APRS)
Liam Donnelly (Head of International, Americas and Asia Pacific, PRS for Music)
Joel Mills (Music Adviser, British Council)
Atholl Swainston-Harrison (CEO, International Artists Management Agency)
Adam Webb (Press and Communications Executive, UK Music)
Leah Zakss (Music Adviser, British Council)
Laura Whitticase (Applications Co-ordinator, PRS for Music Foundation)
Crispin Parry (CEO, British Underground)
Jon Webster (Chief Executive, MMF)
Dick Miller (Director, Rightsman Independent International Consultancy)
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Julian Wall (Director of International Events and Independent Member Services, BPI Ltd)
Joe Paice (Information Manager, Jazz Services)
Martin Elbourne (Director/Founder, The Great Escape and Booker for Glastonbury)
Penny King (Senior Officer—Music, Arts Council England)
Sumit Bothra (MD, Embargo Management)
Nici Butchart (Head of International Business Development, PRS for Music)
Horace Trubridge (Assistant General Secretary, Musicians Union)
Dominic McGonigal (Director of Government Relations, PPL)
Jackie Davidson (Director, Jackie Davidson Management)
Kate Brockhurst (MD, KdotONLINE)
Cathy Graham (Head of Music, British, Council)
Claire Whitaker (Director, Serious)
Colin Holdsworth (Director, CPH Exhibitions attending on behalf of Music Industries Association)
Kevin McManus (Director, Liverpool Vision)
Paul Redding (MD, Beggars)
Phil Catchpole (Music Adviser, British Council)
Steve Zapp (Agent, ITB)
Vanessa Reed (Director, RS for Music Foundation)
Peter Jenner (Secretary General, International Music Managers Forum and Artist Manager)
Representatives from UK Trade and Investment and Department of Culture, Media and Sport also attend.
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on how many occasions UK Trade and Industry's Music Exports Group has met in the last 12 months. [61005]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 20 June 2011]: UK Trade and Investment's Music Export Group has met three times in the last 12 months on the following dates: 16 June 2010, 25 October 2010 and 8 April 2011.
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills under what budget headings the funding allocated to UK Trade and Investment to promote music exports has been spent. [61052]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 20 June 2011]: Funding allocated to UK Trade and Investment to promote music exports has been included in spend under the programme codes: Sector Events—Abroad, Sector Events—UK, Inward Missions, Trade Marketing Events, Trade Marketing Publications, Trade Marketing Publicity, Tradeshow Access Programme and Solo Support Scheme.
VAT
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the rate of value added tax registration was in the (a) 20 per cent. most and (b) 20 per cent. least deprived wards in England in each year since 2005. [61096]
Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply.
Information is not available on the rate of value added tax registrations at ward level and could be estimated only at disproportionate cost.
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Justice
Chief Coroner
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he last held a joint meeting with the Royal British Legion, CRY, INQUEST and other charities to discuss the Office of the Chief Coroner. [61359]
Mr Djanogly: I met with a number of civil society organisations as a group on 25 October 2010 including the Royal British Legion, CRY and INQUEST to discuss the Government's plans for coroner reform. I have subsequently met with all three organisations separately to discuss our proposals for the coroner system. The Secretary of State also met with the Royal British Legion on 12 May 2011.
Crime: Victims
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy is on the creation of minimum standards of treatment under the proposed EU Directive on victims of crime. [61381]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The United Kingdom is already seen by the European Commission as an example of best practice in this area. My officials have been working with the Commission to provide evidence and examples of the support we provide to victims.
The Government approaches proposed EU justice legislation on a case by case basis with a view to maximising the United Kingdom's security, protecting our civil liberties and preserving the integrity of our criminal justice systems.
The United Kingdom has three months to decide whether or not to opt in to the directive, in accordance with protocol 21 to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he plans to take to maintain provision of services to victims of crime during the restructuring of victim support. [61383]
Mr Blunt:
Despite significant financial pressure the Government have provided £49.5 million to the victims' voluntary sector in 2011-12. Of this, £38 million is
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going to Victim Support who have been guaranteed the same amount again for each of the next two financial years.
I have asked Victim Support to focus their work on victims with the greatest need. I and my officials are in regular contact with them as they implement their planned changes.
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Prisons and Probation will meet the All Party Parliamentary Group on Retail and Business Crime to discuss support for victims of crime in non-domestic cases. [61384]
Mr Blunt: I would be happy to meet the All Party Group should I be invited, but the Government's work to combat retail crime is led by the Home Office and the All Party Group may prefer to invite my noble Friend Baroness Browning who is the Home Office Minister responsible for this area of policy. I understand that she would be pleased to accept such an invitation.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has spent on (a) stationery, (b) ministerial hospitality, (c) taxis, (d) pot plants and cut flowers, (e) lost mobile phones, (f) IT, (g) staff training and (h) staff away days since May 2010. [60241]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: I shall provide the hon. Member with a reply as soon as possible.
Substantive answer from Jonathan Djanogly to Sadiq Khan:
Regarding expenditure since May 2010 by the Department, I am able to inform the hon. Member of the following:
(a) Stationery; (f) IT; and (g) Staff training
The Department is not able to extract information from these expenditure categories on the period May 2010 to May 2011 from its accounting system without incurring disproportionate cost. Information for the whole financial year 2010-11 will become available once the process of collating and auditing the Departmental Annual Resource Accounts is completed.
(b) Ministerial hospitality
The Department incurred the following costs from ministerial hospitality from May to March 2010-11: £21,941.54; in the period April to May 2011-12: Nil. The costs of the events are shown in the following table:
| Date | Event | £ |
|
Reception for key figures in the Legal and Criminal Justice system |
||
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(c) Taxis
The Department's accounting records do not record expenditure in sufficient detail to allow us to extract taxis from the overall total of “other travel costs” which includes rail, buses, private vehicle hire, taxis and private mileage.
(d) Pot plants and cut flowers
The MoJ does not have a budget for purchasing flowers for its buildings. Some buildings may have plants in reception areas to create a welcoming atmosphere for staff and visitors. However, it would incur disproportionate costs to go to all the buildings the MoJ and its executive agencies occupy (over 800 locations across the UK—mainly courts, tribunals, prisons and local offices) to find out if any trees or plants have been bought since May 2010.
(e) Lost mobile phones
The Department does not maintain a central record of lost mobile phones. This information may be held locally and can be obtained only at disproportionate costs.
(h) Staff away days
Away days are held mainly for team building, team training or business development activities. Such events are held off-site where suitable on-site accommodation is unavailable and where the conduct of the event is facilitated by holding it away from day-to-day business operations.
The Ministry's accounting systems do not separately quantify expenditure on away days. Costs are subsumed within other categories of expenditure depending on their nature and purpose, for example conferences/events or training. It would incur disproportionate costs to scrutinise all the individual transactions which might potentially include away day costs across the Ministry and its executive agencies.
All spending on away days is completed in line with the Finance Policy Manual, which is in line with HM Treasury Guidance on Managing Public Money, and states the following for away days and team building events:
"These occasional events are organised to develop working relationships and achieve Departmental objectives. They are acceptable as long as the event can be justified as good value for money and can demonstrate development achievements. Costs should be reasonable and comparable to the status of the event".
Wherever possible, taking into account room availability, size and flexibility, managers are expected to use Ministry or other public sector buildings for team events and away days rather than using external venues.
Legal Aid: Foreign Nationals
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice under what circumstances (a) UK and (b) foreign nationals are entitled to claim legal aid. [61390]
Mr Djanogly: We have assumed that the question is referring to legal aid.
Community Legal Service funding is available to anyone who qualifies, provided that the applicant is using the courts of England and Wales and the case is within the scope of the scheme. Each application for funding is treated on an individual basis and is subject to the statutory tests of the means of the applicant and the merits of their case.
When the Legal Services Commission considers applications for funding, the applicant's nationality, residency or citizenship does not play any part in the decision-making process. The rules for scope and qualification are in legislation or other documents laid before Parliament.
Scotland and Northern Ireland operate their own separate schemes.
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Legal Aid: Greater London
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many applications for legal aid are waiting to be determined in the centralised legal aid office at Havering magistrates court; [61613]
(2) what the target time is for determination of legal aid applications in the Centralised Legal Aid Unit at Havering magistrates court; and what the average time taken to determine an application in that court was in the latest period for which figures are available; [61614]
(3) how many defendants in each (a) magistrates court and (b) Crown court in the Greater London area appeared unrepresented in circumstances attributable to the time taken by the Centralised Legal Aid Unit at Havering magistrates court to grant legal aid in the latest period for which figures are available; [61653]
(4) what steps are being taken to reduce the time taken to determine applications by the Centralised Legal Aid Unit at Havering magistrates court; and by what date he expects all outstanding applications to have been determined; [61654]
(5) how many hearings in each (a) magistrates court and (b) Crown court in the Greater London area have been adjourned in circumstances attributable to the non-determination of a legal aid award by the Centralised Legal Aid Unit at Havering magistrates court. [61656]
Mr Djanogly: As at close of business on 17 June 2011 the total number of applications waiting to be determined at the centralised legal aid unit at Havering magistrates court stood at 4095.
The target times for determination of legal aid applications in the centralised legal aid unit at Havering magistrates court are, in accordance with the national HMCTS targets agreed with the Legal Services Commission, to process 90% of all completed applications within two days of receipt, 95% within three days and 100% within six days. HMCTS does not collect performance data on the average time taken to determine an application. The latest performance data against the 90% target (within two days) show performance at Havering as 96.6% for March 2011, 69.9% for April 2011 and 27.4% for May 2011. Performance against the 95% target (within three days) is 97.2% for March 2011, 80.8% for April 2011 and 29.9% for May 2011. Performance against the 100% target (within six days) is 99% in March 2011, 95.1% in April 2011 and 49.2% in May 2011.
HMCTS does not centrally collect data on the number of defendants that appear unrepresented in the magistrates court. Nationally, figures are published for the total number of unrepresented defendants in the Crown court, however, these figures do not provide reasons why defendants are unrepresented. Accordingly, there are no data held by HMCTS centrally to link the number of defendants who have appeared unrepresented in circumstances attributable to the time taken by the centralised legal aid unit at Havering magistrates court to grant legal aid.
A detailed and rigorous recovery plan has been put in place by the London HMCTS Regional Management Board. The plan includes transferring additional trained staff into Havering from other parts of the London region. Havering is also receiving some assistance from
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other HMCTS regions outside of London. Saturday working and overtime has also been approved at Havering to further accelerate processing.
It is expected that the backlogs will be cleared by the end of July at the latest and that Havering, along with all other London courts, will return to processing a minimum of 90% of all applications within the two day target by that date. During the period of recovery, performance is being closely monitored by local managers and regular reports will be produced for the London senior management team to ensure that the necessary progress is being made.
Additional resources are also being transferred on a permanent basis into the centralised legal aid unit at Havering magistrates court specifically to deal with legal aid applications to ensure that London is able to sustain performance in the longer term.
HMCTS does not collect data on the number of hearings in the magistrates court or the Crown court in Greater London that have been adjourned in circumstances attributable to the non-determination of a legal aid award. Accordingly there are no data as to the number of hearings in the magistrates court or the Crown court in Greater London that have been adjourned in circumstances attributable to the non-determination of a legal aid award by the centralised legal aid unit at Havering magistrates court.
Mortgages: Fees and Charges
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the potential effect of alternative business structures on the mortgage conveyancing process. [61388]
Mr Djanogly:
I have not made an assessment of the effect of alternative business structures (ABS) on conveyancing, but the Legal Services Board (LSB) has been considering the impact of ABS more widely on the legal services sector. I am aware that the LSB's published
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business plan 2011-12 refers to the consideration of thematic reviews, of which conveyancing is one.
The LSB considers that the conveyancing process will not be affected by the changes to regulation and the liberalisation of the legal services market, but would hope that increased competition will stimulate innovation and improve value for money for consumers.
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will consider the merits of requesting the Financial Services Authority to report on the effect of alternative business structures on the mortgage conveyancing process. [61389]
Mr Djanogly: Alternative Business Structures (ABS) have not yet been introduced. Work is under way for the introduction of ABS, but this can only happen when the necessary regulatory arrangements are in place.
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has been working to develop the arrangements for monitoring and review of the impact of the introduction of ABS. I would hope that the LSB will engage with financial sector stakeholders including the Financial Services Authority and the conveyancing industry as part of its monitoring work.
Offences against Children
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many individuals have been convicted of offences relating to child sexual exploitation including grooming in each crown prosecution service area in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [61434]
Mr Blunt: Persons found guilty at all courts for offences relating to child sexual exploitation, by police force area in England and Wales in the last ten years, can be viewed in the table.
Data are collected by police force area, which relate closely to crown prosecution service area.
| Persons found guilty at all courts for offences relating to child sexual exploitation, by police force area, England and Wales, 2000 (1) -10 (2,3,4,5) | |||||||||||
| Police force area | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 (6) | 2009 | 2010 |
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| (1) Prior to 2004 the following statutes were used under the Sexual Offences Act 1956: sections 5, 6, 12, 25, 26, 28. And Section 1 of the Indecency with Children Act 1960. (2) Sexual Offences Act 2003 came into force in May 2004. Includes all offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 where the age of the victim can be determined from the Act (and where it is under 16) under which the offender was sentenced. This includes: sections 1, 5-12, 14-15 and sections 47-50. (3) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (5) In some instances after the introduction of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, defendants may have also been convicted under the Sexual Offences Act 1956. (6) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice | |||||||||||
Offences against Children: Reoffenders
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people who had previously been convicted for unlawful sex with a minor have reoffended in the last 12 months. [61454]
Mr Blunt: For adult offenders who were convicted of unlawful sex with a minor, the 12 month re-conviction rate is 10.8%. This is based on offences committed within one year of an offender being discharged from custody or commencing a court order in the first quarter of 2009.
For details regarding the measurement of re-conviction please see:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/reoffendingofadults.htm
Sexual offences against a minor include all offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 where the age of the victim can be determined from the Act (and where it is under 16) under which the offender was sentenced. This includes offences under sections 1, 5-10 and 47 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Parole: Standards
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will assess the adequacy of the number of judges available to serve on parole board panels; and if he will make a statement. [61646]
Mr Djanogly: The Parole Board has indicated that it does currently have enough judges to support all the panels it can list. Over the last 12 to 18 months we at the Ministry of Justice, have appointed 57 additional judicial members and 48 new independent and specialist members. This has enabled the Parole Board to schedule and hear almost 40% more lifer and Indeterminate Public Protection Sentences (IPP) oral hearings panels than previously held.
Prisoners: Foreign Nationals
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on what date his Department commenced negotiations on a prisoner transfer agreement with the government of (a) Jamaica and (b) Nigeria; and by what date he expects each to be completed. [61364]
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Mr Blunt: Discussions with Jamaica began in 2006 and resulted in the signature of a prisoner transfer agreement in June 2007. The prisoner transfer agreement has yet to be ratified as the Jamaican Government first needs to introduce enabling legislation. Discussions on how to facilitate the legislation and the implementation of the agreement are ongoing.
Discussions with Nigeria on a compulsory prisoner transfer agreement began in 2006. In 2009 the Nigerian Government ratified the Commonwealth Scheme for the Transfer of Convicted Offenders. The Commonwealth Scheme provides for transfer of prisoners on a voluntary basis. The Nigerian Government is currently amending its law to enable it to conclude compulsory transfer agreements.
The implementation of domestic legislation is a matter for the respective jurisdictions concerned and the Government cannot therefore say when these processes will be completed.
Reoffenders: Convictions
Tim Farron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions of repeat offenders there were in (a) England, (b) the North West, (c) Cumbria and
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(d)
South Lakeland District in each of the last 10 years. [61635]
Mr Blunt: The following table shows the number of offenders sentenced for indictable offences by area and criminal history, 2001-10. These figures relate to separate sentencing occasions and therefore an offender may be included on more than one occasion, either within an area, across areas, or across time. These figures are a further breakdown of table Q7.5 in ‘Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly Update to December 2010’ which was published on 26 May 2011.
Sentencing occasions have been allocated to a location on the basis of the police force that processed the offence, or in the case of South Lakeland the offender's address at the time of conviction. Repeat offenders are those with a previous conviction or caution anywhere in England or Wales.
These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, the police national computer, which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.
| Number of offenders (1) sentenced for indictable offences by area and criminal history, 2001 - 10 | |||||||||||
| Number of offenders (1) | |||||||||||
|
|
|
2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| (1) These figures relate to separate sentencing occasions and therefore an offender may be included on more than one occasion, either within an area or across time. (2) Area information based on processing police force. (3) An offender who at the time of their sentence had at least one previous conviction or caution which was committed anywhere in England and Wales. (4 )Area information based on offender's address. | |||||||||||