Business: Northern Ireland
Naomi Long: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on sources of funding support for small and medium-sized enterprises in Northern Ireland. [62331]
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Mr Hoban: The Government recognise the importance of improving the availability of finance in Northern Ireland and published, on the 24 March, a consultation document on rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy.
Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.
Departmental Billing
Mr Denham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many invoices received by his Department were paid (a) on time and (b) late in each month since May 2010; and what the monetary value was of invoices paid late. [62494]
Justine Greening: A record of the Treasury's performance against contractual invoice payment times, usually 30 days, is not held centrally and could not be provided within the disproportionate costs threshold. The Department's aim is to pay all valid goods and services invoices within five working days and this applies to all suppliers of goods and services.
Details of the Treasury Group's performance against this five working day aim since May 2010 can be found on the Department's website at:
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/group_payment_performance.htm
Economic Situation: EU Countries
Mr Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has had recent discussions with the International Monetary Fund on the merits of providing further financial assistance to eurozone countries experiencing sovereign debt crises. [61730]
Mr Hoban: The Chancellor is the UK’s Governor of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In this role, he represents the UK at International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) meetings twice a year. IMFC meetings consider a range of issues relating to the global economy and the role of the IMF. The most recent IMFC meeting was held in Washington DC in April.
The UK’s day-to-day work at the IMF is conducted by our executive director at the IMF’s executive board. As with every IMF programme, the Greek, Irish and Portuguese programmes are reviewed every three months by the executive board.
The UK executive director and his team will also engage with IMF staff and other country representatives on a regular basis at a working level.
Mr Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the level of the Government’s total gross exposure to (a) Greece, (b) Ireland and (c) Portugal, including the UK share of loans provided through the EU and International Monetary Fund; and what the total gross exposure is of RBS plc to each country. [61731]
Mr Hoban:
Regarding euro area financial assistance, €48.5 billion has been committed to Portugal and Ireland under the European financial stabilisation mechanism (EFSM). The UK has a contingent liability for any
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lending by the EFSM in proportion to the UK share of the EU budget (around 14%).
A bilateral loan of £3.227 billion is available to Ireland, which cannot be drawn until after the approval of the third quarterly IMF review.
In addition, €78.5 billion has been committed from the IMF to Greece, Ireland and Portugal. It is not possible to provide the UK’s exposures to specific IMF programmes as the UK contributes funds to the IMF as a whole, rather than to any country-specific programme.
Royal Bank of Scotland has published information on country risk in their Q1 2011 interim management statement, available at the following link:
http://www.investors.rbs.com/results_presentations
Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation
Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects payments to be made to Equitable Life policy holders; and in what order such payments will be made. [62407]
Mr Hoban: First payments from the Equitable Life Payment Scheme will be made at the end of this month. The Equitable Life Payment Scheme design document, laid before Parliament on 16 May, sets out the prioritisation principles for the scheme.
Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks
Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were prosecuted by HM Revenue and Customs for offences related to alcohol fraud in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10. [61911]
Justine Greening: The Crown Prosecution Service is responsible for prosecuting cases related to alcohol duty fraud. The numbers of people prosecuted were:
|
|
Number |
Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions officials of his Department have had with their international counterparts on measures to tackle alcohol fraud. [61913]
Justine Greening: Under the European Union Mutual Assistance arrangements HMRC is working closely with officials across the European Union to tackle specific threats to UK revenue from alcohol fraud. This work involves sharing intelligence and exchanging information in accordance with the EU arrangements.
Financial Services
Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 5 April 2011, Official Report, column 893W, on financial services, when he expects to receive letters from the remuneration committee chair of each bank confirming its commitments as part of Project Merlin have been met. [60564]
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Mr Hoban: The Remuneration Committee chair of each bank has written to the Financial Services Authority to confirm that their firm's 2010 pay settlements are consistent with the commitments in the Merlin statement.
Free Movement of Capital
Ms Gisela Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the effect on the UK economy of the imposition of capital controls between the EU as a whole and the rest of the world under Article 66 of the EU Treaty. [61946]
Mr Hoban: Article 66 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union states that:
“Where, in exceptional circumstances, movements of capital to or from third countries cause, or threaten to cause, serious difficulties for the operation of economic and monetary union, the Council, on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Central Bank, may take safeguard measures with regard to third countries for a period not exceeding six months if such measures are strictly necessary.”
There are no proposals to introduce such safeguard measures under Article 66, and the Government do not intend to comment on what is a hypothetical situation.
Non-domestic Rates: Valuation
David Mowat: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the Valuation Office Agency's policy of assessing the rateable value of each business operating within a market hall for the purpose of levying national non-domestic rates; and if he will make a statement. [61655]
Mr Gauke: Valuation Officers of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) are required to follow legal precedent in determining whether each market trader has a separate occupation within a market or whether the market operator is in occupation of the whole market and it should therefore have a single assessment. The VOA has been carrying out a review of markets following concern that there was differential treatment between markets.
The National Market Traders' Federation (NMTF) and the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA) have been consulted and involved from the outset. Valuation officers have written to traders in affected markets and offered and held meetings to discuss the changes where representations have been made. While there have been concerns from individual stall holders, the VOA have sought to mitigate this by consulting in advance with stallholders on their proposed rateable values and raising awareness of small business rate relief. CLG have also encouraged market owners (mostly local authorities) who will no longer have to pay rates to pass this saving on to the stallholders in reduced rents.
In addition VOA staff have attended a number of regional NABMA meetings to discuss issues around the review with representatives of traders and market managers.
Northern Rock
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the desired rate of return to the taxpayer from the sale of Northern Rock plc. [61818]
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Mr Hoban: The development and execution of strategies for disposing of the Government’s shareholding in Northern Rock is part of UK Financial Investments Ltd (UKFI) remit. UKFI has been looking at the full range of alternatives for divestment, and has been exploring options based its overarching objective to protest and create value for the taxpayer as shareholder with due regard to the maintenance of financial stability and to act in a way that promotes competition.
UKFI will evaluate any bids in line with these overarching objectives before providing advice to the Chancellor. It is too early to speculate on the rate of return from the sale of Northern Rock plc.
Private Finance Initiative
Mr Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made on his Department's review of savings in private finance initiative contracts in the public sector; when the final report will be published; and if he will make a statement. [62158]
Danny Alexander: The pilot savings review at the Queen's hospital in Romford has tested the draft operational savings guidance published in January this year. The pilot project is near conclusion and when completed we will be sharing the lessons learnt across the wider PFI portfolio.
Mr Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research his Department has commissioned on the value for money of the private finance initiative contracts in the public sector; what assessment he has made of the value for money of the private finance initiative compared with other forms of procurement of public assets; and if he will make a statement. [62176]
Danny Alexander: Value for money is the primary driver for the choice of procurement route, and private finance is only used where it can be demonstrated to offer better value for money than a publicly financed alternative. HM Treasury's value for money guidance was published in 2006:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/vfm_assessmentguidance 061006opt.pdf
The guidance sets out the different issues that procuring authorities should consider in establishing what the driving factors for value for money will be in their particular projects.
As part of the options appraisal, the Public Sector Comparator is used to provide an indication of the value for money of a PFI project compared to the conventionally procured alternative. We have strengthened the project approvals process with the introduction of the new Treasury approval process on the 1 April 2011, and the value for money of a project is assessed at a minimum of three approval stages.
To ensure we remain at the forefront of international best practise HM Treasury is undertaking a review of the value for money guidance on using private finance with a view to publishing updated guidance in the autumn.
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Public Expenditure
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to Table 9.7 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2011, what categories of expenditure are included under non-identifiable public expenditure on public order and safety. [61953]
Danny Alexander:
Table 9.7 in the PESA 2011 National Statistics release shows that in each of the past five
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years approximately 7% of expenditure on public order and safety was non-identifiable. Expenditure is non-identifiable when it cannot be classified as benefiting particular regions or countries and is deemed to be incurred on behalf of the United Kingdom as a whole.
Table 1 following shows the detail on items of non-identifiable public order spending, the majority of which is Home Office spending. The largest areas of spend are “Immigration and Nationality”, “UK Passport Agency”, and “Asylum Support Payments”.
| Table 1: Non-identifiable spending on public order and safety | ||||||
| Department name | Spending area | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
Public Finance Initiative
Stella Creasy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the level of tax revenue generated directly by companies undertaking delivery and management of public finance initiative projects in the UK between 2002 and 2012. [61169]
Danny Alexander: The Government cannot comment on the tax affairs of individual companies. This information is held by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs on a confidential basis. The entities involved in private finance initiative projects include construction firms, service firms, advisory firms, banks and investors. Many of these are based in the UK and pay UK corporation tax.
Tax Avoidance
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was provided to HM Revenue and Customs to reduce levels of (a) avoidance and (b) evasion of each direct and indirect tax in each of the last four financial years; and how much he plans to so allocate in respect of each tax in each of the next four financial years. [61659]
Mr Gauke: It is not possible to provide an answer to the question in the format requested as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) do not allocate on this basis. Overall funding for HMRC's compliance activity cannot be broken down in this way as its activity—from policy making, through support and education, to audits and investigations—covers all aspects of compliance behaviour from error through to evasion as well as countering criminal attacks and avoidance.
Taxation: Banks
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the level of taxation in the banking sector. [61762]
Mr Hoban: HM Revenue and Customs previously estimated that large banking groups would pay around £20 billion in pay-as-you-earn (income tax and national insurance contributions) and corporation tax in 2010-11.
Taxation: Environment Protection
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the potential contribution of fiscal measures to (a) increasing the rate of recycling and (b) reducing the level of excess packaging used by manufacturers and retailers. [61354]
Justine Greening: DEFRA's review of waste policy, published on 15 June, announced that there would be a consultation on the case for increased recovery targets for packaging waste in time for a final decision in the 2012 Budget.
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Taxation: Overpayments
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason HM Revenue and Customs (a) has changed the rate of interest charged on overdue payments of tax and (b) does not pay interest on tax overpaid and subsequently reclaimed. [61616]
Mr Gauke: The rate of interest charged by HMRC has not changed since September 2009.
HMRC does pay repayment interest on tax overpaid for all the main taxes. Repayment interest accrues from the later of the due date for payment or the date the tax was paid, to the date that the amount is repaid.
Both the current and historical rates of interest charged and paid by HMRC are available on the HMRC website.
Taxation: Rescue Services
Andrew Bingham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend the excise duty relief for mineral hydrocarbon oil awarded to rescue boats to include diesel used exclusively for mountain rescue. [62432]
Justine Greening: Marine voyages relief is available to all commercial vessels including those used in a safety or rescue function. This relief reflects the international market for marine fuelling where a co-ordinated international approach to taxation is necessary given the mobility of this sector.
Registered charities mountain rescue teams are eligible for broad relief on income. The Government recognise the valuable work of mountain rescue teams and tax policy maintains a neutral approach toward charitable causes.
Welfare Tax Credits
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much funding he has allocated to expenditure to be incurred in transferring from child care support and tax credits to any replacement system; [61495]
(2) what proposals he has for a system to replace child care support and tax credits; and when he plans to publish details of any such system. [61496]
Mr Gauke: The Government are working with key stakeholders, drawing on their expertise, to establish which options will best support parents to meet the costs of child care in the future within or alongside universal credit. Details of the new proposal will be set out shortly. Government policy design and development is using the working assumption that current levels of spend on demand-side support for child care will be maintained.
Over the spending review period £2 billion has been set aside as part of the Department for Work and Pensions settlement to fund the implementation of the universal credit.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the average time taken to (a) process an application for and (b) make an award of tax credits. [61972]
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Mr Gauke: Information is not available in the format requested. HM Revenue and Customs aims to pay 60% of tax credits new claims in 15 days. The outturn at the end of April 2011 was 60.2%.
Energy and Climate Change
Biofuels: Timber
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the requirement for planting of new trees to meet demand for biomass electricity generation in the next four financial years. [61569]
Charles Hendry: A wide range of biomass feedstocks can be used for electricity generation. Dry agricultural residues such as straw can be combusted to generate electricity. Wet biomass residues such as food waste, sewage and manure can be processed in an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant to produce biogas. Woodfuel can be sourced from timber processing residues, such as off-cuts and sawdust, and by diverting waste wood from landfill, as well as from small round-wood and thinnings from sustainably managed forests. Perennial energy crops, such as miscanthus grass and short rotation coppice (SRC) willow which can be cultivated on farmland unsuitable for food crops, can provide a fast-growing source of biomass fuel.
We expect large-scale biomass electricity to be primarily fuelled by imports, and that the global supply market will respond to the growth of renewable energy in this country and worldwide.
Whether biomass feedstocks for energy are sourced from a forest, farm or elsewhere and whether it is homegrown or imported, it is essential that they are sustainably sourced. Therefore in April, we introduced a requirement to report on sustainability criteria under the Renewables Obligation (RO). These criteria include a minimum greenhouse gas lifecycle saving of 60% compared to fossil fuel, which considers the cultivation, processing and transport of the feedstock, and general restrictions on using biomass sourced from areas important on carbon or biodiversity grounds such as primary forests.
We intend, from April 2013, that biomass electricity plants of 1 MWe or above will be required to meet the sustainability criteria to receive financial support under the RO.
In addition, the Government recognise that with one of the lowest levels of woodland cover in Europe, England's natural environment needs more trees and woodlands. The Forestry Commission is working with other Government Departments and many stakeholder groups through the Woodland Carbon Task Force to provide frameworks to enable the use of private finance and public engagement to expand woodland cover and to increase the benefits that can be derived from them.
During 2011-12 the Forestry Commission intends to distribute a further £30.6 million as part of the woodland related components of the Rural Development Programme for England of which £14.9 million will support woodland expansion.
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Forestry Commission Scotland recognises that forestry can make a significant contribution to mitigating the effects of climate change and meeting the Scottish Government's targets for renewable energy. To support this, during 2011-12 Forestry Commission Scotland intends to distribute a further £36 million as part of the woodland related components in the Rural Priorities schemes of the Scottish Rural Development Programme, of which £30 million has been allocated to support approved proposals for woodland creation and sustainable forest management.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of demand for material for biomass electricity generation on the (a) supply and (b) price of timber; [61602]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effects of subsidies on the generation of electricity from biomass on the competitiveness of the wood panel industry; [61639]
(3) if he will assess the potential effect of subsidies for electricity generated from biomass on (a) the price of wood charged to small and medium-sized companies and (b) the (i) availability and (ii) cost of timber to all manufacturers. [61658]
Charles Hendry: The Department takes account of demand from non-energy sectors in assessing the supply of sustainable biomass available for the generation of electricity and heat, and the subsidies that should apply to bringing forward that generation. We believe this is the best way to avoid supply pressures on other users of biomass feedstocks. Assumptions and analysis of biomass availability and prices will be published alongside the RO banding review consultation due this summer. This analysis also underpins a UK bioenergy strategy which the Government will publish later this year.
We expect large-scale biomass electricity plants to be fuelled by imported feedstocks. Isolating the potential impact of UK energy subsidies on global biomass prices is inevitably difficult. Many other factors condition supply, prices and the competitiveness of user industries.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the policy of his Department is on increasing the supply of wood residue, and wood and food waste for use in biomass electricity generation. [61603]
Charles Hendry: Our policy is to increase the supply of sustainable biomass, including wood residues, wood and food waste, available to the UK market. This will enable the growth of all UK biomass-using industries.
We expect that large-scale biomass electricity will be primarily fuelled by imports. In terms of domestic supply, around 40% of the UK's forests and woodlands, as measured by land area, are not currently under an active management plan. This is a major missed opportunity for the UK in terms of biodiversity as well as the potential wood supplies. The Forestry Commission is developing a new Woodfuel Woodland Improvement Grant (WIG) which will offer a 60% contribution to costs of forest roads, access tracks and other related harvesting infrastructure.
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We are also encouraging our electricity generators to look beyond forests and woodlands when sourcing biomass feedstocks. Biomass suitable for energy generation can come from a very wide range of plant and animal based materials, many of which are unsuitable as raw materials for our wood processing industries. These include perennial energy crops such as miscanthus grass and short rotation coppice (SRC) willow, which can be grown on lower grade land unsuitable for food crops. Similarly, dry farming residues such as straw can be combusted for energy.
The Renewables Obligation (RO) currently provides additional support for energy crops over other biomass feedstocks. This ‘uplift’ of 0.5 ROC aims to stimulate interest in energy crops by the power generation sector and to help develop the fuel supply chain. Support is also provided directly to farmers through the Energy Crops Scheme (ECS) which is part of DEFRA's Rural Development Programme for England. The ECS provides grants that reimburse 50% of planting costs.
The support available for electricity produced using anaerobic digestion under the Renewables Obligation or Feed-in Tariffs is encouraging the collection and use of suitable wet biomass feedstocks including food waste and manure. The joint DECC and DEFRA Anaerobic Digestion strategy and action plan, published on 14 June, sets out how we will enable a thriving industry to grow in England over the next few years, delivering new green jobs as well as new green energy.
In addition, DEFRA recently announced that it will consult next year on introducing a landfill restriction on wood waste, and review the case for introducing landfill bans on other materials, such as metals, textiles and all biodegradable waste.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his Department's policy is on the planting of coppiced wood for use in the biomass industry on unoccupied agricultural land. [62083]
Gregory Barker: DECC supports the use of short rotation coppice (SRC) for energy generation. The renewables obligation provides specific support for electricity from purpose grown energy crops such as SRC through an uplift of 0.5 ROC over other forms of biomass. This support is designed to help develop the supply chain by stimulating interest in energy crops by the power generation sector.
Climate Change: Seas and Oceans
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of global warming on levels of sea and ocean acidification; [62084]
(2) what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of global warming on sea levels. [62085]
Gregory Barker:
Measurements have shown that acidification of the world's oceans is occurring as a direct result of increased uptake of higher levels of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and scientists estimate that a 30% increase in ocean acidity has occurred since pre-industrial times. Ocean acidification is thus not a direct result of global warming. However, additionally
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as ocean temperature increases in response to climate change, its capacity to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere will be reduced slightly.
DEFRA, DECC and the Natural Environment Research Council are jointly funding the five-year UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme to improve predictions of future changes in ocean chemistry and understand the impacts of ocean acidification on the marine environment and the consequences for society.
The IPCC s Fourth Assessment Report (2007) and scientific research published since 2007 have concluded that global sea levels will likely rise by between 0.18 and 0.59 metres (relative to 1980-1999) by the end of this century as a result of global warming, but this estimate did not take account of the effect of ice melt in Greenland and Antarctica which were too uncertain.
Combined Heat and Power
Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the potential contribution to reduction of carbon emissions of deployment of community-scale gas-fuelled combined heat and power systems. [62476]
Gregory Barker: DECC commissioned a report from Poyry Consulting in 2009 to establish the potential for district heating as a commercially viable replacement to conventional gas and electric heating in the existing domestic housing stock. Drawing on previous studies, the report stated that district heating from all heat generation sources, including CHP, may be a cost-effective solution for between 4 million and 6 million households, but this figure was highly dependent on the rate of return expected on the investment.
Recognising the importance of heat in terms of emissions and energy use, DECC is currently undertaking an internal strategic analysis on the future supply of heat in the UK. This work will investigate the potential of all heat supply technologies at all scales, including CHP.
Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions his Department has had with representatives of the mini-combined heat and power sector on proposals to extend support for combined heat and power following the comprehensive review of feed-in tariffs. [62477]
Gregory Barker: My officials have had discussions with representatives of the Combined Heat and Power Association (CHPA) and companies in the micro-CHP industry on the impact of the feed-in tariffs (FITs) on incentivising development within the industry. We are also considering the responses received in the call for evidence on the scope for the comprehensive review from CHPA and other companies in the micro-CHP industry.
Departmental Procurement
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what provisions in respect of behavioural standards have been included in procurement contracts issued by his Department since May 2010. [61674]
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Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change sets behavioural standards in the pre-contractual invitation to tender and in the terms and conditions of contracts.
Invitations to tender issued by the Department request contractors to: submit a statement of non-collusion; submit referees from customers; comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as amended by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005; and comply with the Race Relations Act 1976 as amended by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. In addition, where appropriate, the Department also requests bidders to provide their health and safety policy, a summary of their environmental procedures and details of quality assurance procedures.
Contracts can be terminated for breach of the Department’s terms and conditions covering the following behavioural standards: confidentiality; services must be provided in accordance with good industry practice and legal requirements; services must be provided in compliance with the Department’s security vetting procedure and the Official Secrets Act; the contractor shall not offer corrupt gifts or payment of commission; the contractor shall ensure there is no conflict of interest with the Department; the contractor must ensure Government property including data is kept securely; the contractor must comply with non-discrimination, the Disability Equality Scheme, the Race Equality Scheme, the principals of the Authorities Welsh Language Scheme, all applicable environmental laws and all other applicable law.
Energy: Housing
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2011, Official Report, columns 998-99W, on insulation: housing, what measures his Department is putting in place to assist home owners in properties without cavity wall insulation to make their homes more energy efficient. [62498]
Gregory Barker: Last summer we extended the carbon emissions reduction target to the end of 2012 refocusing it on delivering insulation. We estimate that some 3.5 million households will benefit from different forms of wall and roof insulation as a result.
Following this, the Green Deal will transform the landscape for energy efficiency, offering households the opportunity to improve their energy performance at no up-front cost. Green Deal will be supported by an energy company obligation focused on delivering assistance to low income and hard to treat properties, particularly those needing solid wall insulation. We will consult on the details of the obligation this autumn.
Fuel Poverty
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what planning his Department is undertaking to (a) prevent fuel poverty and (b) mitigate the impact of energy price rises among elderly and vulnerable people in the winter of 2011-12. [62052]
Gregory Barker:
The new Warm Home Discount scheme will require energy companies by law to give a discount on energy bills to more of their most low
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income and vulnerable customers. Government are working to get regulations approved by Parliament to ensure the poorest pensioners receive a £120 discount on their electricity bill this year. Other groups such as low income families and those with long term illnesses and disabilities may also receive this discount.
For the next two years, Government are continuing to fund a better targeted Warm Front scheme to provide help with heating measures to vulnerable consumers. From 2013 a new energy company obligation will provide support for energy efficiency measures. This will include a target to provide low income vulnerable households, including the elderly, with measures to improve their ability to heat their homes affordably—such as insulation and central heating.
In addition there are existing initiatives like winter fuel payments for pensioners, and the cold weather payments which support low income and vulnerable households in particular geographic areas during extended periods of cold weather.
Fuel Poverty: Older People
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to alleviate fuel poverty among the elderly. [61983]
Gregory Barker: The Warm Home Discount scheme introduced in April this year will require energy companies by law to give a discount on energy bills to more of their most low income and vulnerable customers. Government are working to get regulations approved by Parliament to ensure the poorest pensioners receive a £120 discount on their electricity bill this year. Over the four years to 2015, the Warm Home Discount scheme will be worth up to £1.1 billion and will help around 2 million households per year.
A new energy company obligation will provide support for energy efficiency measures. This will include a target to provide low income vulnerable households, including the elderly, with measures to improve their ability to heat their homes affordably—such as insulation and central heating.
In addition there are a package of measures we have in place to combat fuel poverty, including existing initiatives like winter fuel payments for pensioners and the cold weather payments which support low income and vulnerable households, including the elderly, in particular geographic areas during extended periods of cold weather.
Green Deal Scheme
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he has taken to support innovation in the Green Deal. [62428]
Gregory Barker: Green Deal will allow for the cost of energy efficiency measures to be repaid through the savings they create. This will encourage innovation by incentivising improved performance across existing technologies and entirely new technologies coming to market.
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Renewable Energy: EU Action
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on the establishment of EU-wide targets for the use of renewable energy by 2030. [61660]
Gregory Barker: While it is important for all EU member states to develop trajectories for moving to a low carbon economy to meet the European Council's target of an 80-95% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, it is too early to consider the need for a specific renewables target for 2030.
Wind Power
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the (a) efficiency and (b) use of land-based wind-powered electricity generators. [61124]
Charles Hendry: The proportion of maximum output that UK wind farms have generated on average is known as the load factor. In 2009 the load factor for onshore wind was 26.9%. Provisional figures indicate that for 2010 the load factor for onshore wind was just over 20% due to lower wind speeds.
In 2010 onshore wind power produced approximately 7 TWh, which is equivalent to the annual consumption of around 1.5 million homes.
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what incentives are available to registered providers to ensure that more (a) new and (b) existing housing stock is provided for low-paid working people under the Affordable Homes programme for 2011-14; and if he will make a statement. [61795]
Grant Shapps: In February, my Department and the Homes and Communities Agency published the Affordable Homes programme framework, setting out the criteria and guidance for providers to put forward offers to deliver affordable housing between 2011-12 and 2014-15.
Nearly £4.5 billion of investment is available for new affordable housing to help deliver up to 150,000 affordable homes in England over the spending review period.
Affordable Housing: Peterborough
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much is to be paid to (a) Cross Keys Homes, (b) Axiom Housing Association, (c) Accent Nene Housing, (d) Minster Housing Association and (e) other registered providers in the Peterborough city council area in respect of the Affordable Homes programme for 2011-14; and if he will make a statement. [61796]
Grant Shapps:
The Homes and Communities Agency is currently considering the offers made by providers for funding through the Affordable Homes programme
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2011-15. We expect initial contracts with providers who are successful in receiving allocations for the new programme to be signed in September.
Localism Bill
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has any plans to bring forward further amendments to the Localism Bill in the light of representations from hon. Members and others; and if he will make a statement. [60359]
Greg Clark: Throughout the progress of the Localism Bill through Parliament our approach has consistently been to seek common ground and consensus.
We have already made amendments at Commons Report in light of representations from hon. Members and others. Furthermore, on 18 June, following on from debate in the Commons, we laid further amendments in relation to local authority pay accountability.
I can assure my hon. Friend that the Government will continue to listen and reflect as necessary as the Bill proceeds through the other place.
Regional Planning and Development
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 16 July 2008, Official Report, column 491W, on regional planning and development: eco-towns, how many partial reviews of regional spatial strategies were initiated between July 2008 and April 2010. [62433]
Greg Clark: The following partial reviews of regional spatial strategies were initiated between July 2008 and April 2010:
South East, partial review Minerals apportionment (02 March 2009);
East of England, partial review Lakeside Thurrock (6 April 2009);
South East, partial review Gypsy and Travellers alterations (8 June 2009);
North West, partial review Parking standards, Gypsy and Travellers and Travelling Show people (27 July 2009).
None of these four partial reviews covered the topic of eco-towns.
Regional Planning and Development: Worcestershire
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance he has given local authorities in South Worcestershire on the abolition of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy. [60013]
Greg Clark: The Chief Planner wrote to all local planning authorities on 11 November 2010 on the Government's intention to abolish regional strategies through the Localism Bill; a copy of the letter is available in the Library of the House. The Government have not published further guidance.
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More broadly, local planning authorities should continue to develop local plans that reflect local people's aspirations and decisions on important issues such as climate change, housing and economic development, having regard to national policy.
Upon commencement, the Localism Bill will remove any requirement for local plans to be in conformity with regional strategies. Local planning authorities should be collecting and analysing evidence if they wish to revise their local plans; to pass a test of soundness local plans will have to be able to demonstrate they are:
Justified—contain planning policies based on evidence;
Effective—cover cross boundary strategic planning issues; and
Consistent—in conformity with national planning guidance.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Bahrain: Politics and Government
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has met representatives of Shia opposition groups in Bahrain. [61125]
Alistair Burt: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials regularly meet representatives from Shia political groups and our ambassador continues to meet with representatives from both Shia and Sunni communities in Bahrain.
British Council: Internet
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 202W, on the British Council: internet, what the nationalities are of the 46.1 million people reached by the British Council's online work. [60069]
Mr Hague: The British Council does not capture the nationality of users visiting its website. The 46.1 million figure is based on individual internet protocol (IP) addresses of those computers used to visit British Council websites. While the Council are unable to capture the nationality of those using these IP addresses, they are able to record the country or territory of origin of each IP address using Webtrends, and this information for 40.29 million users is in the following table:
| British Council: Break down of audience figures for 2010-11, by countries or territories of origin | |
| Country/territory | Yearly visitors (Number) |
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A further 2.2 million users reflects those where Webtrends, our corporate tracking system, does not determine a visitor’s location.
The remaining 3.6 million users reflect website(s) where Webtrends tracking code has not yet been applied.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to publish monthly information on changes in the numbers of employees of his Department's agencies, categorised by (a) seniority, (b) voluntary redundancy, (c) natural wastage and (d) involuntary redundancy. [61711]
Mr Bellingham: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no current plans to publish this information, but is committed to transparency and the availability of data and will keep this under review.
Embassies: Flags
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the decision to fly the EU flag alongside the Union flag at British embassies and missions was made; who made the decision; and whether the decision was requested by any EU institution. [61302]
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Mr Lidington: The flying of the EU flag alongside the Union flag at British embassies and missions is a matter for individual ambassadors and heads of mission to decide, drawing on local practice or precedent as they see fit. For example the UK's representation to the EU in Brussels displays the European flag at all times, as do all our EU partners on their buildings. On Europe day (9 May), posts in EU and EU-applicant countries display the European flag.
The British flag has precedence. In all cases where it is deployed, the European flag is displayed alongside, not instead of, the British Diplomatic, Consular or (in Commonwealth countries) Union flag.
EU Law
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what European directives in force on 1 April 2010 his Department is responsible; and what European directives for which his Department is responsible have come into force since 1 April 2010. [60692]
Mr Lidington: There are no directives which were in force at 1 April 2010, or have come into force since 1 April 2010, for which the FCO has responsibility.
Gilad Shalit
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to bring about the release of Gilad Shalit; what discussions he has had at UN level on Gilad Shalit; and if he will make a statement. [60469]
Mr Jeremy Browne: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the hon. Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), on 22 June 2011, Official Report, column 332W.
We regularly hold discussions through London and our embassy in Tel Aviv about the release of Gilad Shalit with other EU and UN partners. Most recently, HMA Tel Aviv met with Gilad Shalit's family on 20 June.
Iran: Sanctions
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the enforcement of sanctions against Iran. [60030]
Mr Hague: On 23 May, the EU strengthened its sanctions against Iran by adding over one hundred more entities to its regulation. Until Iran recognises the need to engage meaningfully about the nature of its nuclear programme, we will continue to add further measures to increase pressure on Iran, including in partnership with the EU and others. We continue to work with all EU partners to ensure these measures are enforced.
Iran: Satellites
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the launch by Iran of a Rassad-1 satellite; what recent discussions he has had at the UN on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [62005]
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Alistair Burt: The Rassad-1 satellite was launched on 15 June. We are concerned that Iran's space launch programme utilises technologies which are highly relevant to the development of long range ballistic missiles and that Iran is continuing to enhance its ballistic missile capabilities. The UK Permanent Representative at the UN made a statement to the UN Security Council on 23 June condemning the Iranian launch, which was in clear violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1929.
Israel: Non-governmental Organisations
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli Government on legislative proposals under consideration in the Knesset on the funding of European non-governmental organisations in the region. [60646]
Alistair Burt: On 21 February the Knesset passed a Transparency law requiring greater disclosure by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) funded by foreign governments. The law requires that such NGOs (must) submit and publish quarterly returns of such funding.
Our embassy in Tel Aviv and our consulate general in Jerusalem have had contacts with a number of non-governmental organisations on these issues. We understand that the new law is likely to have limited impact upon their organisations.
NGOs play a crucial role in Israel's democracy, as elsewhere, and the Government are committed to continuing to support such work.
Libya: Armed Conflict
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Libya; and what his policy is on the continuation of military operations until the departure from Libya of Colonel Gaddafi. [62422]
Mr Jeremy Browne: It is clear that Gaddafi no longer has legitimacy and so he should heed the calls of the Libyan people and the international community to leave immediately. We recognise the National Transitional Council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people and welcome their efforts to include all Libyans and to prepare for a political transition in which Libyans can decide on their own future.
NATO's mandate is to protect civilians as outlined in UNSCR 1973. As the Prime Minister has made clear, action will continue under the United Nations Resolutions for as long as is necessary to protect the Libyan people from danger. We are steadily and deliberately reducing Gaddafi’s ability to launch and sustain attacks on his own people. But his regime is still inflicting considerable harm on the civilian population.
Libya: Mercenaries
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of UK nationals working as mercenaries in Libya. [60029]
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Mr Hague: I have not seen any credible reports of British nationals working as mercenaries in Libya. Our position is clear: the UK deplores Gaddafi’s use of mercenaries to harm civilians and, on 17 March, the UK voted in support of United National Security Council resolution 1973 which “deplores the continuing flow of mercenaries into the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and calls on all Member States to comply strictly with their obligations”.
Office of UK Permanent Representative to EU
Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the capabilities required of the next UK Permanent Representative to the EU. [60429]
Mr Lidington: The next Permanent Representative to the EU will need to be strategic, advising how best to promote and protect the UK's interests across a broad and complex set of issues; and influential, with the EU institutions and in negotiating creatively and effectively with EU member states. He or she will need a good understanding of the dynamics of the EU, and to understand French. He or she will need to be able to lead effectively a large team promoting and protecting UK interests at all stages of negotiations.
Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to recommend the appointment of the next UK Permanent Representative to the EU. [60430]
Mr Lidington: The appointment of the next UK Permanent Representative to the EU is being handled as part of a continuing process to fill a number of senior diplomatic posts from within the civil service. An announcement will be made shortly.
Pakistan: British Nationals Abroad
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of UK nationals who travelled to Pakistan in each of the last three years. [60082]
Mr Hague: The FCO does not hold information on the number or destination of British nationals travelling overseas.
Palestinians: Politics and Government
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make it his policy to vote against any resolution at the UN General Assembly calling for a unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood; and if he will make a statement; [62013]
(2) what recent discussions he has had with (a) the UN Secretary General, (b) the Government of Israel, (c) the Palestinian Authority, (d) the Arab League and (e) the US Administration on a unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood; and if he will make a statement; [62014]
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(3) if he will make it his policy to oppose the creation of a Palestinian state at the UN; if he will support the resumption of direct negotiations between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority; and if he will make a statement. [62090]
Alistair Burt: We believe the priority is a return to negotiations. We are pressing both the Israelis and the Palestinians to return to the table further to President Obama's speech of 19 May 2011, making clear that negotiations should be on the basis of 1967 borders with mutually agreed land swaps and security arrangements to secure Israel and respect Palestinian sovereignty.
September sees the completion of the Palestinian Authority's two-year programme to build the institutions of a future Palestinian state. We need to see progress on the negotiation track to match this progress on the ground. We are making this absolutely clear in our contacts with both parties.
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the situation of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani in Iran. [61959]
Mr Jeremy Browne: One year after Ms Ashtiani's case came to global attention, her situation remains unclear and we are concerned for her well-being and that of her family and her lawyer, Javad Houtan Kian. We have raised this case frequently with the Iranian authorities and will continue to do so.
Serbia: EU Enlargement
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policy is on the accession of Serbia to the EU. [60990]
Mr Lidington: The Government strongly support the EU perspective of Serbia along with that of the whole Western Balkans region. Progress along the EU track is of course subject to the relevant conditions being met. I look forward to reviewing the Commission's Avis this autumn, which will look at Serbia's progress on the full range of conditions set by the EU. The UK, together with the rest of the Council, will then decide whether sufficient progress has been made for Serbia to progress to the next stage.
Serbia: Travellers
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his Serbian counterpart the recent forced evictions of Roma families from Belgrade; and if he will request the European Commission to raise this issue with representatives of the Serbian Government in discussions over that country's application for accession to the EU. [62533]
Mr Lidington:
The UK Government work directly with the Serbian authorities in improving the lives of the Roma. For example, the British embassy in Belgrade is funding a project, in co-operation with the Serbian Ombudsman's office, which will produce concrete statistics
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about the Serbian Roma population to inform a series of clear recommendations to each Serbian Ministry on what needs to done to help improve their lives.
Equally, the EU raise the issue regularly with the Serbian authorities. Respect for minority rights is an essential element of the criteria for progress towards EU accession. The Commission 2010 Progress Report on Serbia highlighted the importance of respect for minority rights, including those of the Roma. The Commission, in preparing its Opinion, due in the autumn, on Serbia's application for EU membership, will be assessing progress in addressing all the reform areas highlighted in last year's progress report, including respect for minority rights.
I am planning to visit Belgrade in September and intend to talk to the Serbian authorities about requirements for EU progression, including minority and Roma rights.
Syrian Arab Republic: Politics and Government
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of personnel sent by Iran to Syria for the purpose of countering anti-Government demonstrations; whether he plans to raise this issue at the United Nations; and if he will make a statement.[R][59039]
Alistair Burt: We are deeply concerned by credible information that Iran is providing equipment and technical advice to the Syrian Government to help them counter protests in Syria.
This is unacceptable. As elsewhere in the region, protestors in Syria must be allowed the right to protest peacefully without fear of brutal repression. It is a further example of Iran's blatant hypocrisy in claiming to support freedom in the Arab world, while violently suppressing demonstrations at home and helping to quell protests in Syria.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps is the main body providing support to the Syrian regime. My officials have expressed our serious concern to the Iranian authorities and have discussed this issue with our international partners. We and EU partners have already placed travel bans and asset freezes on leading members of the IRGC and IRGC entities. We are in negotiations at the UNSC on the text of a UNSCR condemning the violence and use of force in Syria.
Eurozone
Mr Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the contribution of the Financial Secretary to the Treasury of 20 June 2011, Official Report, column 26, on the Eurozone (contingency plans), what constitutional criteria he uses to determine whether a referendum should be held; and what his policy is on the requirement for a referendum in relation to any change in the constitutional relationship between the UK and that part of the EU which constitutes the Eurozone. [61908]
Mr Lidington:
There is a policy reflected in the EU Bill that is currently being debated before Parliament that, once the Bill is in force, all future treaty changes and Article 48(6) decisions will be treated in accordance with the Bill's provisions, namely a statement is to be
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made as to whether the treaty or Article 48(6) decision falls within section 4(1) of the Bill (transfers of competence or power from the UK to the EU requiring a referendum), as well as an act of parliament. In addition, clause 6 of the EU Bill also requires that certain decisions automatically require approval by Act and by referendum, and this includes a decision to make the euro the currency of the UK.
Yemen: Politics and Government
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Yemen; and if he will make a statement. [61955]
Alistair Burt: The UK Government remain extremely concerned about the situation in Yemen. President Saleh has refused to sign the agreement brokered by the Secretary General of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), despite previously having agreed to do so.
We continue to work with Vice President Hadi and other key players in the Government and opposition to help secure the political change that Yemen so badly needs. We continue to urge the Vice President to engage with all sides to implement the Gulf Co-operation Council agreement and begin political transition. We encourage all sides to respect the current ceasefire, participate in dialogue as a way forward and to restrain from further violent clashes.
Education
Child: Sexual Exploitation
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the outcomes were of the Minister for Children's March 2011 roundtable meeting with ministerial colleagues on child sexual exploitation. [59220]
Tim Loughton: The roundtable meeting which I chaired in March involved senior representatives from a range of organisations and was an extremely interesting and useful step in the Government's drive to do everything possible to stamp out child sexual exploitation. We identified a number of issues which need to be addressed, including awareness raising, effective prevention and detection, securing more prosecutions and the need to support victims. Officials in the Department are now working across Government Departments and with a wide range of partners to produce an action plan, building on existing guidance. I aim to publish the action plan for tackling this appalling form of child abuse in the autumn.
Departmental Data Protection
Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to promote visual data security in his Department; and what training his Department provides to its officials in respect of the management of visual data security. [60907]
Tim Loughton: The term ‘visual data security' is an ambiguous one. For the purposes of this response the Department assumes that it is intended to relate to visual threats to the security of data.
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The Department requires all its staff to complete a mandatory, annual refresher training module in Protecting Information. This training covers all aspects of information protection and includes specific guidance on managing visual threats (eg on-screen e-mail, documents or papers being overlooked) within the office, while travelling and when working in public spaces. On completion of this annual training module all staff are required to complete and pass an assessment test to ensure that they have absorbed and understood the material. In addition to this 'Level 1' Protecting Information training module that is completed annually by all staff there are also a further three levels of Protecting Information training which DFE staff with particular Information Assurance responsibilities complete each year. These further training modules are made available to all DFE staff but apply in particular to the Department's project/line managers, information asset owners and the senior information risk owner.
Further guidance for all staff on the protection of information on PC, laptop, and BlackBerry screens, especially when outside departmental premises, is maintained on the information security pages on the departmental intranet.
The mandatory annual training for all staff is supplemented by a range of further targeted (by group and/or topic) activity to promote best practice across the Department in the management of data security threats. Recent examples of activities that the Department has carried out which have included specific guidance on managing visual threats to the security of data include:
Production of a tailored briefing pack on security requirements and best practice for DFE Ministers;
A series of briefing sessions on security requirements and best practice given by specialist security practitioners to staff working in the private offices of DFE Ministers and the permanent secretary;
A note issued to all DFE staff making clear the Department's expectations of them in regard to avoiding the leaking of sensitive material.
The Department also employs a number of specialist security practitioners to provide expert advice, direction, challenge and assurance in all aspects of the Department's management of security risk, including visual threats to the security of data. These specialists undergo ongoing professional training and development to ensure that they remain up-to-date with the latest HMG standards, good practice guidance and emerging threats.
Dr Thomas Spielhofer
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with Dr Thomas Spielhofer. [59975]
Mr Gibb: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), and Ministers in the Department have not had discussions with Thomas Spielhofer.
Thomas Spielhofer currently works for the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations. In the past, while working for the National Foundation for Educational Research, he conducted research on various topics on behalf of the Department. These topics included barriers to participation in education and training, and raising the participation age in education to age 18.
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Free School Meals
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether (a) free schools and (b) academies will be required to provide free meals to eligible post-16 students. [59974]
Mr Gibb: Free schools and academies are governed by a funding agreement with the Secretary of State. The funding agreement provides the framework within which these schools operate and requires free schools and academies to provide free school meals to eligible pupils aged up to 18 years. This requirement also applies to pupils in these institutions who are aged 19 or over, if their course of study began before they attained the age of 18.
Marriage Guidance: Grants
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) pursuant to the answer of 27 April 2011, Official Report, columns 497-8W, on marriage guidance: grants, if he will place in the Library a copy of (a) the bid document for each organisation listed and (b) each item of correspondence relating to the bids; [61053]
(2) pursuant to the answers of 27 April 2011, Official Report, column 497W, on marriage guidance: grants and column 500W, on voluntary organisations: grants, when he expects the remainder of the funding to be allocated; [61054]
(3) pursuant to the answer of 27 April 2011, Official Report, column 497W, on marriage guidance: grants, what the key performance indicators are for each organisation. [61055]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 20 June 2011]: In most cases, the negotiations to finalise grants for relationship support have resulted in amendments to the proposals first submitted in the bid document. The Department will therefore supply the hon. Member with copies of the grant funding agreements with these organisations as these give a clearer picture of the services to be provided. I will write to the hon. Member with those details shortly and place copies in the House Libraries.
Grant funding has been allocated for 2011-13. Individual organisations' funding for 2012-13 will, of course, depend on delivery in the current year, as set out the grant funding agreements between the organisations and the Department. I anticipate that the Department will allocate funding for relationship support for the period 2013-15 during autumn/winter 2012. The shape of this funding will depend in part on early findings from evaluation.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have not yet been agreed between the Department and each of the funded organisations. KPIs will be tailored to each organisation to reflect the nature of the grant funded activities so will vary between organisations. I will write to the hon. Member once they are agreed.
Peak Oil
Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans his Department has to address the challenges posed by peak oil. [60096]
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Tim Loughton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided 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.
Schools: Capital Investment
Sir Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when the Government's response to the Education Capital Review by Sebastian James will be issued; when he expects schools and local authorities to be able to apply for funding under the scheme; and within what period decisions on such applications are to be made. [61686]
Mr Gibb: The Government took receipt of the independent capital review in April this year and will respond soon.
However, we are already implementing changes that are very much in the spirit of the capital review recommendations, and which will help deliver the buildings and facilities that children need. These include focusing the available funding on providing new school places where they are needed, and on the buildings in the worst condition; getting the best value for money from our existing Building Schools for the Future commitments and other projects; and considering how the school premises regulations can be simplified so as to remove unnecessary burdens and blockages.
Serco
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many contracts his Department holds with Serco; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is. [58660]
Tim Loughton: The Department currently has one contract with Serco which is for the completion of data collection for the short break and parent participation elements of the Department's Aiming High for Disabled Children (AHDC) programme. The contract value is £4.95 million.
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish each contract his Department (a) holds and (b) has held since May 2010 with (i) Serco and (ii) the Centre for Excellence and Outcomes in Children and Young People's Services; and what the (A) payment arrangements and (B) key performance targets are in respect of each such contract. [60376]
Tim Loughton: As from January 2011, the Department published all new contracts with a value over £10,000 as part of the Government's transparency agenda. There is no requirement to publish contracts held any earlier than this. The information about contracts can be found at:
http://www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/
The following table shows the contract title, payment arrangements and key performance targets for the period specified:
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