29 Jun 2011 : Column 783W
29 Jun 2011 : Column 783W
Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 29 June 2011
Transport
A1: Speed Limits
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason a 50 mph speed limit has been imposed via temporary speed limit signs on the A1 southbound north of Alwalton. [62412]
Mike Penning: A temporary 50 mph speed limit has been put in place on the A1 southbound just north of Alwalton for a distance of approximately one mile. It is necessary to mitigate a risk relating to the integrity of the central reserve safety fencing which no longer reaches acceptable performance standards.
Biofuels
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what countries the UK imported biofuel from in the last year for which information is available; [59469]
(2) if he will estimate the effect on the level of greenhouse gas emissions arising from the production of biofuel in the UK; [59470]
(3) what assessment he has made of the potential effects of biofuel production on (a) food prices and (b) greenhouse gas emissions in the UK; [59471]
(4) what estimate he has made of the amount of land expected to be used for biofuel production in the UK in the next five years. [59472]
Norman Baker [holding answer 13 June 2011]:The Renewable Fuels Agency's second annual report to Parliament on the impacts of the renewable transport fuels obligation (RTFO) is available at:
http://www.renewablefuelsagency.gov.uk/sites/rfa/files/Year_Two_RTFO_v2.pdf
This report covers the period April 2009 to April 2010 and includes verified data of biofuel supplied in the UK by country of origin and land use, where known, and reports the performance of biofuels supplied in the UK in respect of annual greenhouse gas emissions savings. No estimate is made of the amount of land expected to be used for biofuel production in the UK in the next five years.
The RTFO unit in the Department for Transport now administers the RTFO. The RTFO unit produces statistics on biofuels containing unverified data related to biofuel performance which are available at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/biofuels/
The renewable energy directive (RED) requires the UK to ensure that 10% of energy consumed in transport comes from renewable sources by 2020 and that biofuels used towards this target meet a number of mandatory sustainability criteria. These include that biofuels must
29 Jun 2011 : Column 784W
deliver a greenhouse gas saving of at least 35%, rising to 50% in 2017 and to 60% for biofuels from new plants, in 2018.
In January this year, as required by the RED, my Department provided a report on the regional level estimates of greenhouse gas emissions arising from cultivation of biofuels feedstocks in the UK. The report is available at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/renewable-fuels/biofuelscultivation/
In January this year a report prepared by a cross-Whitehall group of officials (the Global Food Markets Group) entitled “Agricultural price spikes 2007/2008: Causes and policy implications” was published. The report considered the causes of the 2008 food price spike and concluded that biofuels were not a particularly significant driver, with other factors such as the price of oil and adverse weather conditions being greater contributors. It is archived at:
http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/food/security/price.htm
Under the RED, the European Commission must monitor and report every two years on the impact of biofuel policy and increased demand for biofuel on social sustainability. This will include reporting on the availability of foodstuffs at affordable prices.
First Capital Connect
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the train failure incident involving a First Capital Connect service near Kentish Town on the evening of 26 May 2011. [61884]
Norman Baker: I have received one piece of correspondence and the Department for Transport has received two pieces of correspondence from members of the public concerning the incident near Kentish Town on 26 May.
An investigation is currently underway by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch into the incidents that led to the failure of the train service. I have asked to see a copy of their report.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Scotland
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the monetary value of each Maritime and Coastguard Agency property in Scotland. [62142]
Mike Penning [holding answer 27 June 2011]:The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) occupies 115 properties and maintains 48 radio sites in Scotland, some of which we own. The total value of these is £7.5 million.
This is based on the net book values for properties on our balance sheet as at 31 March 2011 and is based on either a depreciated replacement cost or an existing use value, whichever is the more appropriate. These values are updated annually and will differ from market values.
I have arranged for this information to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
29 Jun 2011 : Column 785W
Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include hydrogen in the renewable transport fuel obligation; and if he will make a statement. [62619]
Norman Baker [holding answer 28 June 2011]:The renewable energy directive (RED) requires member states to source 10% of the energy use in transport from renewable sources by 2020. While the RED does allow for the use of renewable hydrogen to meet this target, there is not currently a methodology in place for calculating the contribution of hydrogen from renewable sources. However, the directive does require the European Commission to come forward with a proposal for such a method by 31 December 2011.
The renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) requires fossil fuel suppliers to supply a certain percentage of the total volume of fuel they supply as biofuel. We are currently considering responses to our “Consultation on the implementation of the transport elements of the Renewable Energy Directive” and intend to publish a summary of responses to that public consultation shortly. In that consultation paper we did not propose any amendment to the RTFO to allow renewable hydrogen to be eligible for renewable transport fuel certificates but proposed to keep this issue under review as the European Commission develops a methodology to account for renewable hydrogen.
Trade Unions
John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Esher and Walton of 17 June 2011, Official Report, column 1024W, on trade unions, how many people were employed in (a) his Department, (b) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, (c) the Driving Standards Agency, (d) the Government Car and Despatch Agency, (e) the Highways Agency, (f) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, (g) the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and (h) the Vehicles Certification Agency in 2010-11; and what proportion of the workforce in each case were (i) full-time and (ii) part-time trade union representatives. [62664]
Norman Baker [holding answer 28 June 2011]:The number of those employed within the central Department and its seven Executive agencies and the proportion of the work force that were (i) full-time and (ii) part-time trade union representatives are given in the following table:
|
|
Headcount 2010-11 | Proportion of full-time representatives (percentage) | Proportion of part-time representatives (percentage) |
29 Jun 2011 : Column 786W
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale of 26 February 2008, Official Report, column 885, on affordable housing, how many affordable homes were completed in communities of fewer than 3,000 in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10. [62227]
Grant Shapps: The following table shows the number of affordable homes completed in rural areas with a population of less than 3,000 through the Homes and Communities Agency's National Affordable Housing Programme in 2008-09 and 2009-10:
| Completion year | Social rent | Low cost home ownership | Total |
| Source: Homes and Communities Agency Investment Management System | |||
Affordable Housing: Peterborough
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will assess the effects of the FirstBuy scheme on the private sector housing market in Peterborough constituency; and if he will make a statement. [61775]
Andrew Stunell: FirstBuy is designed to maintain capacity in the housebuilding industry in the short-term while assisting nearly 10,500 first time buyers, who are struggling with a deposit, to realise their home ownership aspirations.
The scheme will help maintain confidence in the housing market as house builders will be able to build new homes knowing that first time buyers will be able to purchase these properties. This confidence will attract further investment in house building.
An individual assessment of the effects of FirstBuy on specific local housing markets has not been undertaken. However, identified sites which met local authority priorities scored more highly when developer offers were considered by the Homes and Communities Agency.
Affordable Housing: Wirral
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Wirral South of 1 April 2008, Official Report, column 491W, on affordable housing: Wirral South, how many new affordable homes were provided in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; and how many of those were for social rent in each year. [62434]
Andrew Stunell: Statistics on the number of additional affordable homes delivered in each local authority can be found on the Department for Communities and Local Government's website at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/affordablehousingsupply/livetables/
29 Jun 2011 : Column 787W
The following table presents figures for total additional supply (new build and acquisitions) of affordable housing for Wirral local authority:
|
|
2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| Note: Figures are rounded to nearest 10. Source: DCLG official statistics on gross additional affordable supply (Live Table 1006 and 1008), compiled from HCA and other data sources. | ||
Audit Commission
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2011, Official Report, column 663W, on the Audit Commission, what the business case was for the expenditure by the Commission of the Board on a dinner at Bentley's Seafood Restaurant. [61765]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to respond to my hon. Friend direct.
The expenditure was incurred under the last Administration. Ministers in this Government do not consider such practices to be a good use of taxpayers' money.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 29 June 2011:
The Audit Commission Board held dinners on the evening before some Board meetings, to allow Commissioners a slightly less formal opportunity for discussion and debate. A review of the Board's effectiveness, required under our Corporate Governance Framework, confirmed that these were valuable and should continue. On occasion, executive staff, and DCLG colleagues, also attended.
The dinner at Bentley's Seafood Restaurant, on 3 March 2010, was one such dinner.
Eco-towns
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the right hon. Member for Leicester East of 18 February 2008, Official Report, column 53W, on eco-towns, how many homes were built in eco-towns up to April 2010; and what proportion of dwellings were (a) affordable housing, (b) social rent and (c) low-cost home ownership. [62228]
Grant Shapps: There were no homes built before April 2010 in eco-towns. In my statement of 17 May 2011, Official Report, columns 7-9WS, I set out our commitment to zero carbon development, and from 2016 all new homes going through the planning system will be required to be built to a zero carbon standard, and all new non-domestic buildings from 2019.
EU Grants and Loans
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what arrangements his Department has made to process European regional development fund expenditure from 1 July 2011. [60266]
29 Jun 2011 : Column 788W
Robert Neill: The current European regional development fund teams in the regional development agencies are transferring to my Department to ensure that existing experience and knowledge is not lost. These teams will continue to manage the day to day operation of the fund and a process is in place to ensure that payments to projects can be made from DCLG from 1 July.
These new arrangements will also allow the Government to address better the financial irregularities in the administration of the programme that we have inherited from the last Government—as outlined in my Department's press release of 7 July 2010.
Fair Play Campaign
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent (a) discussions he has had with and (b) representations he has received from the Fair Play Campaign; what issues were discussed; what response he gave to the representations; and if he will make a statement. [62004]
Andrew Stunell: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the right hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles) and I have not met or had any direct discussions or received any representations from the Fair Play Campaign Group but we meet regularly with the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council under whose auspices the campaign operates.
Housing
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Crosby of 20 May 2008, Official Report, column 266W, on housing, what the change in the number of homeowners was in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10. [62435]
Grant Shapps: The Department for Communities and Local Government’s English Housing Survey estimates that in 2009-10 there were 14,525,000 owner-occupied households in England, down by 97,000 from 2008-09 when there were 14,621,000.
These figures, together with other results from the 2009-10 English Housing Survey can be found in the latest Headline Report on the Department for Communities and Local Government website at the following link.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/ehs200910headlinereport
Housing: Sales
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will estimate the proportion of home sales (a) to first-time buyers and (b) all buyers in (i) the UK, (ii) England and (iii) each region that were made to people who were not resident in the UK in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [61717]
Andrew Stunell: The Council of Mortgage Lenders publish data on the number of first time buyers buying a home with a mortgage in the UK, but not for geographies below national level.
29 Jun 2011 : Column 789W
The latest data can be found at:
http://www.cml.org.uk/cml/media/press/2938
The Department is not aware of figures which estimate the residential property sales made to people who are not resident in the UK.
Mayors
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government from which cities or towns, other than the 12 largest cities in England, his Department has received expressions of interest in introducing directly-elected mayors. [56669]
Robert Neill: We have not invited expressions of interest from other local authorities.
Non-domestic Rates: Empty Property
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the contribution to the Exchequer from the empty property rate regime was in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; and what estimate he has made of the contribution to the Exchequer in each of the next five years. [61562]
Robert Neill: Data on the national non-domestic rates revenue raised from empty properties are not held centrally.
Data on the amount of empty property relief granted in 2008-09 and 2009-10 and the amount forecast to be granted in 2010-11 and 2011-12 are as follows:
| Table 1: Empty property rate relief since 2008-09 | |
| £ million | |
|
|
Empty property relief |
| Blank rows indicate discontinuity. Note: Data are as reported to Communities and Local Government by all billing authorities in England on the annual national non-domestic rates returns. Source: Data for 2008-09 to 2009-10 are outturn figures; (B) those for 2010-11 and 2011-12 are budget estimates. | |
I also refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 8 February 2011, Official Report column 178W.
Public Order Offences: Bye Laws
Mr Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received from local authorities on the introduction of a byelaw relating to spitting in public spaces; what consideration he has given to such representations; and if he will make a statement. [62334]
Robert Neill: While the Department has recently received correspondence on this issue, the Department has not received any byelaw applications from local authorities in the last three years relating to spitting.
29 Jun 2011 : Column 790W
Renewable Energy: Planning Permission
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what his policy is on permitted development rights for air source heat pumps; [62742]
(2) what his policy is on permitted development rights for onshore wind turbines. [62743]
Robert Neill: My Department is committed to amending the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 to introduce permitted development rights for air source heat pumps and onshore wind turbines on domestic properties, and to report to Parliament on doing the same for non-domestic premises, as part of our agenda to support renewable energy and low carbon technologies.
Scotland
Capita
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many contracts his Department has awarded to Capita since May 2010; and what the (a) individual monetary value and (b) net worth was of those contracts. [62718]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office has not awarded any contracts to Capita since May 2010.
Child Maintenance
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has discussed the potential effects in Scotland of proposals to change child support schemes with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. [62820]
Michael Moore: Across Government we are working to ensure that the Scottish Government are consulted as appropriate.
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with (a) the Scottish Government, (b) the Convention of Scottish local authorities and (c) civic society organisations in Scotland on proposals to change child support schemes; on what dates such discussions took place; and whether it took place orally or in writing in each case. [62821]
Michael Moore: The Department for Work and Pensions leads on this matter, and received a number of responses from a range of Scottish organisations during its recent Green paper consultation which have been shared with the Scotland Office. Across Government we will continue to work with the Scottish Government to take forward the Government's plans for reform of child maintenance in Britain.
Departmental Billing
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many invoices received by his Department have been paid (a) on time and (b) late in each month since May 2010; and what the monetary value is of the invoices paid late. [62481]
29 Jun 2011 : Column 791W
David Mundell: The Scotland Office aims to pay invoices within five days of receipt. During the period 1 May 2010 to 31 May 2011, the following targets were met:
| Paid within five days | ||||
|
|
Number | Percentage | Number of invoices paid late | Monetary value of late payments (£) |
However, 100% of invoices received during this period were paid within the contractual 30-day term.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Committee
Members: Allowances
Adam Afriyie: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, (1) what assessment the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has made of the effectiveness of its schemes in restoring public confidence and trust in (a) hon. Members first elected in May 2010, (b) other hon. Members and (c) Parliament; [62444]
(2) whether the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has made an assessment of the extent to which hon. Members are funding their parliamentary duties from personal resources; [62445]
(3) what proportion of the savings to the public purse achieved by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority in its first 10 months of operation is attributable to (a) resettlement grants, (b) parliamentary pensions, (c) winding-up allowances and (d) other exceptional payments made to retiring hon. Members in the final year of the previous House of Commons scheme; [62446]
(4) what estimate the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has made of the likely level of savings to the public purse it will achieve in respect of the salaries, staffing and expenses budgets of hon. Members in 2011-12 compared to 2010-11; [62447]
29 Jun 2011 : Column 792W
(5) whether the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has made an assessment of the effects of its schemes on the mental health and well-being of hon. Members. [62448]
Mr Charles Walker: It has not been possible to provide a response to these questions by the named day. Answers will be provided as soon as possible.
Operating Costs
Nadhim Zahawi: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, whether the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has reached a decision on the Authority's proposed estimate for 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [62240]
Mr Charles Walker: The Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority completed its consideration of IPSA's draft estimate 2011-12 on 22 June 2011.
The Committee was not satisfied that the estimate was consistent with the efficient and cost-effective discharge by IPSA of its functions. The Committee accordingly modified the estimate, as required by statute, to achieve that consistency through the creation of an Unallocated Provision.
The modified estimate, together with a statement by the Committee under schedule 1 to the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009 (HC 1337) was laid before the House on 23 June 2011.
Telephone Tapping
Helen Jones: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what the policy of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority is on the recording of telephone calls. [60935]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Scott Woolveridge, dated June 2011:
As acting Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the policy is of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority on the recording of telephone calls.
Our policy is that we reserve the right to record incoming and outgoing telephone calls for training and quality purposes. This policy is stated on our website.
Helen Jones: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, for how long the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority retains recordings of telephone calls; who is authorised to listen to such recordings; and what arrangements are in place for destroying the recordings. [60936]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
29 Jun 2011 : Column 793W
Letter from Scott Woolveridge, dated June 2011:
As acting Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking for how long the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority retains recordings of telephone calls; who is authorised to listen to such recordings; and what arrangements are in place for destroying the recordings.
Telephone voice recordings are subject to IPSA's Information Management records retention and disposition schedules which specify the period for which they are held. The current policy states that electronic files, which cover telephone recordings, will be retained for a period of six years. When the agreed retention period expires, electronic files will be reviewed and either retained for a further period, if still required for business purposes, or destroyed. The Information Management policy is currently under review and the retention period may change.
The following members of IPSA's staff are authorised to listen to telephone voice recordings in order both to monitor quality standards and to identify training needs:
the Deputy Director of Operations;
the two Team Leaders of the Information Team; and
the Head of Assurance and Review.
Additionally, members of IPSA's senior management can request access to specific voice recordings if there is a business requirement for them to do so.
Destruction of voice recordings will be conducted using either secure data erasure using a CESG's Assisted Products Service (CAPS) product if the media is to be disposed of, or by reformatting and overwriting in accordance with the HMG Base Line Standard if the media is to be reused.
Electoral Commission Committee
Electoral Register
Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 6 September 2010, Official Report, columns 304-5W, on the electoral register, what assessment has been made of the progress of the Electoral Commission in improving its reporting process on electoral registration; and if he will make a statement. [61641]
Mr Streeter: The Comptroller and Auditor General reported in March 2011 on the Electoral Commission's spending to support the running of elections, including registration. The report was published as the Committee's First Report 2011, “Reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General”, HC 916 (2010-12). It is available via the Committee's webpage:
www.parliament.uk/scec
Work and Pensions
Capita
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many contracts his Department has awarded to Capita since May 2010; and what the (a) monetary value and (b) net worth was of each contract. [62714]
Chris Grayling: The Department has awarded one contract to Capita, Consulting for the Extending Working Life—National Guidance Initiative since May 2010. The total contract value is £1.5 million over a two year period.
29 Jun 2011 : Column 794W
Departmental Redundancy
Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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. [61726]
Chris Grayling: The potential costs of staff early releases in the Department's businesses and non-departmental public bodies will mainly be funded centrally and within the limits of the spending review settlement. Specific requirements and potential costs for staff early releases are subject to review and are part of the departmental planning process.
As part of the approvals process all staff early releases are supported by business cases to ensure efficient work force management, cost control and value for money.
The Department has not made any separate provision to fund staff early releases from non-departmental public bodies. However, some arm's length bodies including those in receipt of grant in aid funding will have separate arrangements for meeting from their own budgets, the cost of any early releases.
Disability Living Allowance: Care Homes
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the likely effects of his proposed changes to the payment of mobility allowance on transport services paid for and used communally by groups living in residential homes. [62710]
Maria Miller: We have made it clear that we will not remove the DLA mobility component from people in residential care from October 2012 and that we would review the existing evidence and gather more to enable us to determine the extent to which there are overlaps in provision for mobility needs of people in residential care homes.
Any changes to the mobility component for people living in care homes will be made as part of the wider reform of disability living allowance and its replacement with the personal independence payment in 2013. We will ensure that when we introduce the personal independence payment from April 2013 it treats disabled people fairly, regardless of their place of residence, reducing overlaps of public spending and not disabled people's ability to get out and about.
Work Capability Assessment
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2011, Official Report, column 824W, on Work Capability Assessment: mental health, what estimate he has made of the average cost of a tribunal appeal against a fitness to work decision for a new employment and support allowance claim where the primary condition was classed as a mental or behavioural disorder in the latest period for which figures are available. [62761]
Mr Djanogly: I have been asked to reply.
29 Jun 2011 : Column 795W
The average cost for Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (formerly the Tribunals Service) of a completed appeal in the First-tier Tribunal—Social Security and Child Support based on national 2009-10 data is £282.
Benefit specific calculations are not available because of the high degree of apportionment of costs which would be required.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2011, Official Report, column 824W, on Work Capability Assessment: mental health, what steps his Department is taking to improve the accuracy of fit for work decisions for employment and support allowance claims where the primary condition is classified as a mental or behavioural disorder; and if he will make a statement. [62762]
Chris Grayling: The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) was developed in consultation with medical and other experts alongside specialist disability groups. A department led review of the Work Capability Assessment recommended a number of changes to the WCA. These came into force on 28 March 2011 and are expected to more accurately assess mental, intellectual and cognitive function with a corresponding small increase in support group numbers.
Recognising that particular concerns have been raised in relation to how the WCA works for people with mental health conditions, Professor Harrington has asked leading charities, including Mind, Mencap and the National Autistic Society, to make recommendations to refine the mental, intellectual and cognitive descriptors used in the WCA as part of his second independent review.
Additionally, in response to one of Professor Harrington's recommendations in his first review, we have introduced mental, cognitive and intellectual ‘champions' into Atos assessment centres to spread best practice in these areas. We are also empowering and improving training for Jobcentre Plus decision makers to put them back at the heart of this system.
We will continue to review and refine the assessment in the light of experience of its use in practice, as part of a process of continuous improvement.
Jobseeker's Allowance: Hearing Impairment
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) London who are registered as deaf are claiming jobseeker's allowance. [52135]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available.
RAF Honington
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the implications for the policies of the Health and Safety Executive of the time taken to investigate the accident sustained by Mr Philip Flavell while working at RAF Honington on 15 November 2006. [62676]
29 Jun 2011 : Column 796W
Chris Grayling: HSE has a publicly-accessible procedure that states how inspectors conduct and manage investigations of work-related incidents. Following initial inquiries into the incident to Mr Flavell, a decision was taken, in line with the procedure, not to investigate. There are no wider policy implications of this decision.
Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has been monitoring the number of fit notes issued by GPs; and if he will assess trends in the number of such notes being issued. [56154]
Chris Grayling: There is no central monitoring of the number of Statements of Fitness for Work (fit notes) issued by GPs. This is due to practical considerations as the form is entirely paper based.
The fit note is undergoing a formal evaluation which includes a quantitative study exploring trends in the issuance of fit notes in a sample of GPs. This combined with analysis of trends in general sickness absence and social security data as well as qualitative studies with samples of GPs, employers and employees will provide a fuller picture of the impact of fit notes.
Prime Minister
Service Chiefs
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Prime Minister when he last met the (1) Chief of the Air Staff; and what matters were discussed; [61935]
(2) Service Chiefs together; and what matters were discussed. [61945]
The Prime Minister: I have regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and others including the service chiefs.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Aviation
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department has taken to mitigate the effects of aviation on local air quality. [60237]
Richard Benyon: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 22 June 2011, Official Report, column 294W, by the Minister of State, Department for Transport, the right hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Teresa Villiers).
Departmental Public Bodies
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the (a) number of and (b) budget for the public bodies outlined in the Natural Environment White Paper; and if she will make a statement. [62595]
29 Jun 2011 : Column 797W
Richard Benyon: The Natural Environment White Paper (NEWP) does not lead to the creation of any new public bodies or NDPBs. Instead, it establishes a small number of time-limited activities which bring together expertise from business, civil society and the wider sector. These include the Peat Task Force, the business-led Ecosystems Markets Task Force and the Green Infrastructure Partnership.
These activities will engage key stakeholders to identify innovative and effective solutions to their respective challenges. In addition, the NEWP also announced the creation of a Natural Capital Committee to help put the value of nature at the heart of the Government's economic planning. This too will bring together a small number of leading experts in their fields to provide independent advice to Government.
To enable these activities to function, they will be supported with a small amount of resource, within the normal course of business, and in a way that achieves best value for money.
Droughts
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will take steps to ensure that gardeners and garden centres are not adversely affected by the recent shortfall of rain; [62320]
(2) if she will take steps to mitigate the potential negative effects on garden centres and the gardening industry of any continued lack of rainfall in the summer of 2011. [62321]
Richard Benyon: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), has had a number of meetings with the sectors most affected by the dry weather, including representatives of the Horticultural Trades Association, to consider actions that can be taken to mitigate the impacts of the drought.
29 Jun 2011 : Column 798W
No water company restrictions are currently in place and only one water company is warning customers that it may need to introduce restrictions if the dry weather returns.
When water is in short supply the statutory framework for managing droughts is designed to protect the public water supply for essential domestic uses. Temporary restrictions on non essential uses of water can help defer or avoid the need for more stringent demand restrictions on customers and businesses and help to protect the environment. In the event of the need for restrictions, gardeners may continue to use hand held containers to water their gardens or use water that is not from the public supply, for example recycled or stored rain water.
Farmers: Income
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the average income of (a) dairy farmers, (b) hill farmers, (c) livestock farmers and (d) arable farmers in each of the last 10 years. [62771]
Mr Paice [holding answer 28 June 2011]:Farm Business Income has been the preferred measure of income since 2003-04. The estimated Farm Business Income(1) by farm type in each of the last seven years is shown in table 1. Table 2 shows Net Farm Income(2) for each of the last 10 years.
(1) Farm Business Income represents the financial return to all unpaid labour (farmers and spouses, non-principal partners and directors and their spouses and family workers) and on all their capital invested in the farm business, including land and buildings.
(2) Net Farm Income is defined as the return to the principal farmer and spouse alone for their manual and managerial labour and on the tenant type-capital of the business, An imputed rent is deducted for owner-occupied farms as is a charge for other unpaid labour.
| Table 1: Farm Business Income | |||||||
| Average £ per farm | |||||||
| At current prices | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| Source: Farm Business Survey, England | |||||||
| Table 2: Net Farm Income | ||||||||||
| Average £ per farm | ||||||||||
| At current prices | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
29 Jun 2011 : Column 799W
29 Jun 2011 : Column 800W
| Note: The Farm Business Survey sample covers businesses with a Standard Labour Requirement (SLR) of at least 0.5, ie a size considered sufficient to occupy a farmer for at least half their time. Source: Farm Business Survey, England | ||||||||||
Land
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has assessed the effectiveness of her Department's best and most versatile land policy. [62165]
Mr Paice: We have not recently assessed the effectiveness, of the best and most versatile land policy, but my Department has commissioned a project on the policy's application by planning authorities. This will assess the spatial location and extent of best and most versatile agricultural and that has been built on and/or developed for non-agricultural purposes, in the last decade; and will evaluate the information and processes used by planners to assess BMV land issues. The report is due to be published by late summer.
Rabbits: Animal Welfare
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will consider the merits of introducing a ban on battery cages for factory-farmed rabbits. [62411]
Mr Paice: The welfare of farmed rabbits is already provided for by way of the general provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which make it an offence to cause suffering to an animal. The Act also contains a duty of care to animals. This means that anyone responsible for an animal must take reasonable steps to ensure the animal's welfare needs are met. In addition, the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 lays down requirements in respect of general welfare, inspection, housing and feeding for all farm animals and includes a section specifically to protect the welfare of rabbits.
One of the key welfare concerns associated with rabbit farming is space allowance and existing legislation covers this. It is a requirement that all rabbits must be kept in hutches or cages of sufficient size to allow the rabbits to move around and to feed and drink without difficulty and to allow them all to lie on their sides at the same time; and of sufficient height to allow the rabbits to sit upright on all four feet without their ears touching the top of the hutch or cage.
DEFRA has a welfare code for rabbits which provides good husbandry advice, which producers have by law to be familiar with and have access to.
Water Supply: Reservoirs
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what the total reservoir capacity is of water companies in England and Wales; [62338]
(2) what the net change in the total reservoir capacity of water companies in England and Wales has been since 1989-90. [62339]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 28 June 2011]: The total reservoir capacity of water companies in England and Wales is approximately 2,346,590,305 cubic metres. This figure includes reservoirs that fall under the Reservoirs Act 1975 (large raised reservoirs with a capacity of 25,000 m(3) or more above natural ground level).
Figures for 1989-90 are not available.
Justice
Capita
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many contracts his Department has awarded to Capita since May 2010; and what the (a) individual monetary value and (b) net worth was of those contracts. [62720]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: Since May 2010 my Department has awarded 220 contracts to Capita. Of these, 219 are in the form of purchase orders raised as a consequence of my Department's decision to utilise the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) CIPHER agreement for the purchase of interim contractors in line with the Cabinet Office Efficiency and Reform Group (ERG) directive.
The individual monetary value of contracts awarded is contained in the following table.
The net worth of those contracts was £15,052,080.51.
29 Jun 2011 : Column 801W
| Table 1 | |
| £ | |
29 Jun 2011 : Column 802W
29 Jun 2011 : Column 803W
29 Jun 2011 : Column 804W
29 Jun 2011 : Column 805W
Courts: Hitchin
Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2011, Official Report, column 173W, on courts, what timetable has been set for the closure of Hitchin county court and the transfer of cases elsewhere; and if he will make a statement. [63005]
Mr Djanogly: A schedule of the proposed dates for court closures and information on the transfer of work can be found on the HM Courts and Tribunals Service website at:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/about/hmcts/courts.htm
The closure of Hitchin county court takes place over the weekend of 2 and 3 July.
Family Proceedings
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many families appeared in family court proceedings in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010. [62707]
Mr Djanogly: Table 1 shows the total number of applications made in the county courts and High Court of England and Wales relating to divorce, domestic violence and forced marriage protection orders in 2009 and 2010; as well as the number of ancillary relief applications dealt with.
Table 2 shows the number of children involved in public and private law applications made at family proceedings courts, county and High Courts in 2009 and 2010.
It is not possible to determine how many families these cases relate to except through the inspection of individual case files at disproportionate cost.
| Table 1: Number of county court and high court applications or orders made in selected family cases, England and Wales, 2009 and 2010 | ||
| 2009 | 12010 | |
29 Jun 2011 : Column 806W
| (1) Figures for 2010 are provisional. Revised figures for 2010 are due to be published on 30 June, 2011. Notes: 1. Figures presented are for England and Wales only. 2. Data do not include applications made in family proceedings courts. The table presents data for county courts and High Courts only. 3. Figures relate to the number of applications or petitions made. In some areas of family law, such as ancillary relief and domestic violence, more than one application can be made for each case. 4. Matrimonial petitions data are the sum of petitions for dissolution, nullity and judicial separation. 5. Totals for ancillary relief disposals are the sum of disposals for applications which were uncontested, initially contested, subsequently consented and contested. 6. Domestic violence data are the sum of applications for non-molestation and occupation; and do not include applications for arrest warrants. A non-molestation order prevents the applicant and/or any relevant children from being molested by someone who has previously been violent towards them. An occupation order restricts the right of a violent partner to enter or live in a shared home. 7. Forced Marriage Protection Orders were introduced by the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act on 25 November 2008. Source: HMCTS FamilyMan system and summary returns |
| Table 2: Public and Private Law applications made in all tiers of court, England and Wales, 2009 and 2010 | ||
| 2009 | (1) 2010 | |
| (1) Figures for 2010 are provisional. Revised figures for 2010 are due to be published on 30 June, 2011. Notes: 1. Figures presented are for England and Wales only. 2. Figures relate to the number of children subject to each application. If an application is made for two children in one family, the case will be counted twice. 3. All tiers of court are represented in the answer; specifically the family proceedings court, county court and High Court. 4. Public Law refers to Children Act 1989 cases where there are child welfare issues and a local authority, or an authorised person, is stepping in to protect the child and ensure they get the care they need. 5. Private Law refers to Children Act 1989 cases where two or more parties are trying to resolve a private dispute. This is commonly where parents have split up and there is a disagreement about contact with, or residence of, their children. 6. Private law refers to section 8 applications for residence, contact, specific issue and prohibited steps; and parental responsibility orders, financial applications and special guardianship orders. 7. Public law refers to section 8 applications for residence, contact, specific issue and prohibited steps; and parental responsibility orders, special guardianship orders, recovery orders, emergency protection orders, emergency protection (extension), emergency protection (discharge), child assessment, education supervision, care and supervision orders, care discharge, supervision discharge, secure accommodation, care contact and authority to refuse contact with a child. 8. Private Law applications exclude adoptions. Source: HMCTS FamilyMan system and summary returns | ||
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) independent social workers and (b) other experts received payment for appearing in family court proceedings in (i) 2009 and (ii) 2010. [62709]
Mr Djanogly: The information requested on how many independent social workers and other experts received payment for appearing in family proceedings is not held by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service.
29 Jun 2011 : Column 807W
However the following information on the number of independent social workers appointed in care cases for the last two years is shown as follows.
| 2009 | 2010 | |
| Note: 1. The data source is HMCS Performance Database (OPT). 2. These data were subject to the minimum data quality checks and are used for internal management information purposes only. | ||
No information is held about the payment of experts on a central database. Details of payment may be held on some individual court files, but will not necessarily be present if the experts were funded privately, nor will expert’s fees always be itemised separately on the costs statements concerning legal aid funding that are submitted to the courts. Providing the information, where held, from court files could be done only at disproportionate cost.
National Offender Management Service: Operating Costs
Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the administrative and management costs, including staff, of each directorate of the National Offender Management Service in the latest period for which figures are available [62872]
Mr Blunt: The following table provides the latest estimated administrative and management budget costs, including staff, of each directorate in the National Offender Management Service's (NOMS) for financial year 2011-12.
| Administration (near cash) (£ million) | |
29 Jun 2011 : Column 808W
| Notes: 1. Administration budgets cover the costs of all National Offender Management Service (NOMS) administration. NOMS administration budgets broadly include the provision of a corporate management and governance framework, policy setting, legislative reporting and associated back office support services. 2. The central funds figure comprises: unidentified savings requirement; income from Youth Justice Board in respect of recharge of headquarters overheads; and funds held pending transfer to other Government Departments in supplementary estimate. | |
Offenders: Employment
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether private sector providers will be required to conduct risk assessments on offenders placed on unpaid work. [63057]
Mr Blunt: The contract specification for unpaid work and the operating manual will apply to all providers, including potential providers from the private sector. Both require that risk assessments are undertaken using the NOMS prescribed risk assessment tool eOASys (Electronic Offender Assessment System).
Prison Sentences: Wales
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many custodial sentences of less than six months were handed down for (a) offenders of each sex and (b) each type of offence by courts in North Wales in the last year for which figures are available. [62683]
Mr Blunt: The number of persons sentenced to immediate custody of less than six months by sex and type of offence, by courts used by North Wales police in 2010 can be viewed in the table.
| Persons sentenced to an immediate custody of less than 6 months, by sex and type of offence, by courts used by North Wales police, 2010 (1, 2, 3) | ||||||
| Court & Sex | Violence against the person | Sexual offences | Burglary | Robbery | Theft and handling stolen goods | Fraud and forgery |
29 Jun 2011 : Column 809W
29 Jun 2011 : Column 810W
| Criminal damage | Drug offences | Other indictable offences | Indictable motoring offences | Summary offences | Summary motoring offences | |
29 Jun 2011 : Column 811W
29 Jun 2011 : Column 812W
| (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings 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. (2 )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. (3 )Sentences at a magistrates court are based in the area where the court is based rather than the prosecuting force. Therefore although these courts are based in North Wales these offences may not have been prosecuted by North Wales police. (4 )Sentences passed at the Crown Court are based on the prosecuting force. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice. | ||||||