Prisoners
Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment the Prison Service makes of the potential effect on a victim of crime or a victim's family in determining any change of category of prison in which an offender convicted of that crime is held. [62758]
Mr Blunt: Recategorisation of prisoners and allocating them to appropriate prisons is vital to sentence management. The correct category ensures that prisoners are held in appropriately secure conditions, and subsequent allocation helps prisoners to use their sentences constructively, to tackle their offending behaviour and reduce the risks of re-offending on release.
Prisoners must be held in the lowest security category consistent with managing risk. The decision to recategorise a prisoner is taken only after a full and thorough risk assessment which includes consideration of the likelihood of escape and the subsequent risk of harm to the public should they do so. When a prisoner is being considered for allocation to open conditions, where the victim lives should form part of the consideration.
Under the statutory victim contact scheme operated by Probation Trusts, by virtue of section 35 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, victims of certain serious sexual or violent crimes where the offender has been sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or more may elect to receive information about key developments in the offender's sentence. This includes notification that a prisoner is being considered for a move to a lower security prison, and the outcome.
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many prison inmates are aged (a) between 60 and 65, (b) between 66 and 70, (c) between 71 and 75, (d) between 76 and 80 and (e) over 80 years; [62833]
(2) what the age is of the oldest prison inmate in England and Wales. [62834]
Mr Blunt: The table shows the population of prisoners by specified age groups in all prison establishments in England and Wales, from the most recent available data at the end of March 2011.
The oldest prisoner as at 31 March 2011 is 92 years of age.
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
| Population in prison establishments, by age group, as at 31 March 2011, England and Wales | |
| Age group | Number of persons |
Prisoners' Earnings Act 1996
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress his Department has made in implementing the Prisoners' Earnings Act 1996 in respect of financial reparations to victims. [62187]
Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice is preparing to implement the Prisoners' Earnings Act 1996 in England and Wales. Deductions from prisoners' earnings will begin in September of this year. It remains our intention that all money deducted will go to organisations concerned with victims. The necessary Commencement Order and amendments to the Prison Rules will be made in due course.
The National Offender Management Service will make the deductions and is preparing its approach, including how best to inform prisoners and employers of the Act.
Clause 103 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill is intended to give us a more flexible power to include more prisoners in the scheme of deductions.
Prisoners' Release: Re-offenders
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people reoffended within 12 months of release from a custodial sentence handed down by (a) a Magistrates' Court and (b) a Crown Court in each year since 1995. [62847]
Mr Blunt: The one year re-conviction data cover all adult offenders released from custody or commencing a court order between January and March of each year. The earliest available information regarding re-conviction is from 2000.
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Table 1 shows the number and one year re-conviction rate of adult offenders who were released from custody in the first quarter of 2000 and 2002 to 2009 and were sentenced at a Crown court.
Table 2 shows the number and one year re-conviction rate of adult offenders who were released from custody in the first quarter of 2000 and 2002 to 2009 and were sentenced at a magistrates court.
| Table 1: Re-conviction rates for adult offenders after release from a prison sentence given at a Crown court (2000 and 2002 to 2009 cohorts) | |||
| Number of offenders | Number re-convicted | Re-conviction rate (percentage) | |
| (1) Data are not available for 2001 due to a problem with archived data on court orders. | |||
| Table 2: Re-conviction rates for adult offenders after release from a prison sentence given at a magistrates court (2000 and 2002 to 2009 cohorts) | |||
| Number of offenders | Number re-convicted | Re-conviction rate (percentage) | |
| (1) Data are not available for 2001 due to a problem with archived data on court orders. | |||
Further information on adult re-conviction is available at:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/reoffendingofadults.htm
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people reoffended within 12 months of release from an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection in each year since 2003. [62848]
Mr Blunt: Re-conviction rates for persons released from an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection are not available. However the Ministry of Justice will be publishing a new quarterly re-offending bulletin on 27 October 2011. This bulletin uses a new measure of re-offending through which it will be possible to provide re-offending rates for persons released from indeterminate sentences.
This new quarterly re-offending bulletin was recently announced in the published response on improvements in Ministry of Justice Statistics and the first publication will be on 27 October 2011. More details are available from the Ministry of Justice website:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/565.htm
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Further information on adult re-conviction is available at:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/reoffendingofadults.htm
Prisoners: Foreign Nationals
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent estimate he has made of the number of foreign nationals in prisons in England and Wales. [62336]
Mr Blunt: The number of foreign national prisoners held in all prison establishments in England and Wales by nationality is published quarterly in the Ministry of Justice Statistics Bulletin “Offender Management Statistics Quarterly Bulletin” and available via:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/prisons-and-probation/oms-quartlery.htm
From the most recent available data, end of March 2011, the foreign national prisoner population in all prison establishments in England and Wales is 10,745.
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
Prisons: Education
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has for the future level of financial education for prisoners diagnosed with mental health conditions. [62645]
Mr Blunt: “Making Prisons Work: Skills for Rehabilitation”, published jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on 18 May, sets out a programme of reform of offender learning. We will place a much greater emphasis on developing the vocational and employability skills that offenders need in order to find and keep jobs and Apprenticeships in the labour markets where they will be released. We will continue to provide financial education to enhance the prospects of a prisoner (including those with diagnosed mental health conditions) securing employment. The review of offender learning also commits to provide greater support for prisoners with learning difficulties and disabilities.
In addition the National Offender Management Service is working with the Money Advice Service to enable prisoners, including those with mental health issues, to access appropriate financial advice.
Probation: Finance
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether a probation trust would be financially liable for a successful probation lot bid which was above the contract price under his proposals for tendering for unpaid work. [62773]
Mr Blunt: The competition will require all bidders to submit a best and final offer which will include a contract price for the delivery of CP which will be evaluated to confirm it offers value for money to the MoJ. The successful bid will therefore become the contract price and the successful bidder will be contracted to deliver the services for the contract price.
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Repossession Orders: Wandsworth
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many court orders were issued for the repossession of homes in (a) the London borough of Wandsworth and (b) Tooting constituency in each quarter since 2005. [62604]
Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice holds statistical information in relation to the numbers of possession claims which led to an order being made for all mortgage and landlord properties in the London borough of Wandsworth and the parliamentary constituency of Tooting. These figures represent the numbers of claims leading to orders being made rather than the numbers of orders as they are more accurate, removing the double-counting of instances where a single claim leads to more than one order. They also provide a more meaningful measure of the number of homeowners who are subject to court repossession actions. The following table shows these figures by quarter from 2005 to the first quarter of 2011, the latest period for which figures are available.
| Total number of mortgage (1) and landlord (2) possession claims which led to an order being made (3, 4, 5 ) in the London borough of Wandsworth and Tooting parliamentary constituency (6) by quarter, 2005-2011 Q1 (7) | |||||
| London borough of Wandsworth | Tooting parliamentary constituency | ||||
| Quarter | Mortgage orders | Landlord orders | Mortgage orders | Landlord orders | |
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| (1) The mortgage data include all types of lenders whether local authority or private {e.g. banks and building societies). (2) The landlord data include all types of landlord whether social or private sector, and cover actions made using both the standard and accelerated possession procedures. The accelerated possession procedure is used by landlords in relation to assured shorthold tenancies, when the fixed period of tenancy has come to an end. It enables orders to be made by the court solely on the basis of written evidence and without calling the parties to a hearing. (3) The number of claims that lead to an order includes claims in which the first order, whether outright or suspended, is made during the period. (4) These figures represent the numbers of claims leading to orders being made. This is more accurate than the number of orders, removing the double-counting of instances where a single claim leads to more than one order. It is also a more meaningful measure of the number of homeowners who are subject to court repossession actions. (5) Repossessions can occur without a court order for possession being made, and not all court orders for possession subsequently result in repossession. (6) The Tooting parliamentary constituency consists of different boundaries in the quarters up to and including 2010 Q1 and from 2010 Q2 onwards due to restructuring after the May 2010 general election. (7) Counts have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: Ministry of Justice |
Treasury
Capital Gains Tax
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of the reintroduction of taper relief for capital gains tax. [61609]
Mr Gauke: No estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of reintroducing taper relief is available.
Economic and Monetary Union
Mark Reckless: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the status is of the funding allocated for Euro zone financial assistance by (a) the International Monetary Fund, (b) the European Financial Stability facility and (c) the European Financial Stability Mechanism. [62355]
Mr Hoban: The international financial assistance package for Greece agreed in May 2010 included: a €30 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), of which €14.6 has been disbursed; and €80 billion of bilateral loans from euro area member states, of which €38.4 billion has been disbursed. There was no contribution either from the EU Budget or from the European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism (EFSM), which is backed by the EU Budget.
The international financial assistance package for Ireland agreed in December 2010 included: a €22.5 billion loan from the IMF, of which €7.2 billion has been disbursed; a €22.5 billion loan from the EFSM, of which €11.4 billion has been disbursed; a €17.5 billion loan from the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), of which €3.6 billion has been disbursed; and €5 billion of bilateral loans from the UK, Sweden and Denmark.
The international financial assistance package for Portugal agreed in May 2011 included a €26 billion loan from the EFSM, of which €6.5 billion has been disbursed;
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a €26 billion loan from the IMF, of which €6.1 billion has been disbursed; and a €26 billion loan from the EFSF.
EU Budget
Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to promote (a) a reduction in the EU Budget and (b) a net reduction in the UK's contribution to the EU Budget. [62542]
Justine Greening: The Government are intent on controlling the size of the EU Budget, and thereby the level of the UK’s contributions, in discussions of both EU annual budgets and the next financial perspective. The Government have been clear that the 4.9% increase in EU spending in 2012 proposed by the Commission is unacceptable. The Government will continue to work with other member states to deliver the best possible outcome for UK taxpayers in future negotiations.
Fiscal Policy
Jonathan Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications for his economic policy of the trend in household consumption in the first quarter of 2011; and if he will make a statement. [62588]
Justine Greening: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) published its forecast for household consumption in its Economic and Fiscal Outlook in March 2011. This takes account of the current Government's economic policy. The OBR forecast that household consumption will grow by 0.6% in 2011 and 1.3% in 2012.
International Monetary Fund: Public Appointments
Mark Reckless: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons he is supporting the candidature of Christine Lagarde for managing director of the International Monetary Fund. [62361]
Mr Hoban: The UK continues to support the G20 commitment to open, transparent and merit based selection of the heads and senior leadership of international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund.
The international community needs a strong IMF as an anchor of global economic stability and prosperity. That is why the UK believes it is important to support the strongest candidate for the next managing director, irrespective of nationality. On the basis of merit, the UK believes Christine Lagarde is the outstanding candidate. She has shown real international leadership as chair of the G20 Finance Ministers this year and has been a strong advocate for countries tackling high budget deficits and living within their means.
National Insurance Contributions
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for the national insurance holiday scheme in each region had been (a) received and (b) approved as at 31 May 2011. [61184]
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Mr Gauke: Up to 31 May 2011, HMRC had received (a) 4,368 successful and (b) 148 unsuccessful applications for the NICs holiday from new businesses. The regional breakdown is as follows:
| Successful | Unsuccessful | |
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow North East of 28 April 2011, Official Report, column 516W, on national insurance contributions, how many new jobs have been created in each region to which the national insurance holiday has applied since its inception. [62523]
Mr Gauke: HMRC has received 4,368 successful applications for the national insurance contributions (NICs) holiday (up to 31 May 2011). The regional breakdown is as follows:
| Applications received | |
Analysis suggests that on average each business will claim for approximately two employees. This implies that the scheme has supported around 8,700 new jobs.
Revenue and Customs: Manpower
John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax inspectors HM Revenue and Customs expects to (a) recruit and (b) retire in each year of the comprehensive spending review period. [62757]
Mr Gauke: Following the merger of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise on 18 April 2005, HMRC no longer uses the specific title of ‘tax inspector'. Instead, since the formation of HMRC all staff are known as ‘officers of Revenue and Customs’. The Department does not therefore keep or forecast information on numbers of tax inspectors.
Compliance functions previously carried out by tax inspectors are spread across the staff profile of various parts of the Department. The compliance effort throughout the SR period will be bolstered by redeployment and
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recruitment, including graduate recruitment, and supported by targeted training on a modular basis according to the needs of the individual and their job role.
Revenue and Customs: Training
John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the budget of HM Revenue and Customs has been allocated to training tax inspectors in techniques to address tax (a) evasion and (b) avoidance in each year of the comprehensive spending review period. [62756]
Mr Gauke: HMRC no longer uses the term ‘tax inspector’ but training for its staff consists of various modules from the Tax Professional Qualifications Catalogue which equip them with the skills and knowledge to tackle evasion and avoidance. The salary and miscellaneous budgets allocated to the team responsible for the design, development and delivery of the tax learning packages in question total £7.36 million for 2011-12. This represents 0.2% of the total HMRC budget and does not include the salary costs of trainees. There is a rolling programme to identify and address staff learning needs using this modular approach.
Tax Avoidance
John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2011, Official Report, column 327W, on tax avoidance, what the (a) number and (b) types of criminal attack on the tax system investigation by HM Revenue and Customs since 2005 were; and what the (i) cost and (ii) amount of revenue recovered was in each case. [62792]
Mr Gauke: It is not possible for HMRC to provide the answer to the question in the requested format as this information is not collated and recorded in a way that would enable the level of detail requested to be identified. Estimates of losses which predominantly relate to organised crime exist for Tobacco, Alcohol, Oils and VAT Missing Trader Intra Community fraud and these can be found in the Measuring Tax Gaps 2010 document at:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/measuring-tax-gaps-2010.htm.pdf
John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2011, Official Report, column 327W, on tax avoidance, what proportion of the funding provided to HM Revenue and Customs was spent on addressing (a) tax avoidance, (b) tax evasion and (c) criminal attacks in each year of the comprehensive spending review period. [62793]
Mr Gauke: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 27 June 2011, Official Report, column 550W, to the hon. Member for Glasgow North East (Mr Bain).
John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2011, Official Report, column 327W, on tax avoidance, what proportion of the £917 million investment in HM Revenue and Customs has been budgeted for in each year of the comprehensive spending review. [62794]
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Mr Gauke: HMRC's business plan for 2011-12 shows a re-investment of £132 million while indicative plans for the remaining years of the spending review period are £191 million, £268 million and £326 million respectively.
John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2011, Official Report, column 327W, on tax avoidance, when he expects HM Revenue and Customs to publish Measuring Tax Gaps 2011. [62795]
Mr Gauke: Measuring Tax Gaps 2011 will be published on 21 September 2011, as announced on HMRC's website.
Taxation: Business
Jesse Norman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what powers HM Revenue and Customs has to defer the payment of tax liabilities of corporations; and for what reason the Chief Executive of HM Revenue and Customs is unable to provide substantive responses to questions about the deferral of tax liabilities of individual corporations. [62332]
Mr Gauke: Under the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005, the Commissioners are responsible for the collection and management of the taxes, duties and national insurance contributions for which HMRC is responsible. Decisions in the courts have illustrated the scope of the administrative discretion which may be exercised when carrying out this responsibility. It is clear that this discretion is limited but it allows HMRC to facilitate the overall task of tax collection by obtaining for the Exchequer the highest net return practicable.
Information about any aspect of a taxpayer's tax affairs is confidential, including arrangements for deferral of liabilities.
Taxation: Multinational Companies
Stephen Twigg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations the Government have made at EU level, to whom and on what date, on the introduction at EU level of legislation supporting contract transparency and project-by-project reporting similar to Section 1504 of the US Dodd-Frank law since February 2011. [62062]
Mr Gauke: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Battersea (Jane Ellison) on 28 June, Official Report, column 687-8W. .
VAT: Energy
Mr Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what his estimate is of the change in the level of revenue that will be raised from VAT on domestic energy as a result of the level of changes in fuel prices in each year since 2007; [60408]
(2) what his estimate is of projected VAT yields for 2011-12 from domestic fuel bills. [60409]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 17 June 2011]:No estimate has been made of the impact on VAT of increased fuel prices for the period since 2007. No estimate of the VAT payable in 2011-12 on domestic fuel has yet been made.
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Northern Ireland
Anglo-Irish Secretariat
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost to the public purse was of (a) travel, (b) accommodation and (c) other expenses for staff working within the Anglo-Irish Secretariat in each year since its formation. [62509]
Mr Paterson: The Anglo-Irish Secretariat was established in 1985 and ran until 1998. The Northern Ireland Office no longer holds the information requested.
Departmental Billing
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [62487]
Mr Paterson: Payments for the Northern Ireland Office are contracted out to a Northern Ireland Civil Service Department, whose prompt payment target is payment cleared within 10 days.
| On time—10 day target | Outside 10 day target | |||
| Number of transactions | Value of transactions (£) | Number of transactions | Value of transactions (£) | |
| On time—5 day target | Outside 5 day target | |||
| Number of transactions | Value of transactions (£) | Number of transactions | Value of transactions (£) | |
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Departmental Manpower
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost to the public purse was of (a) travel and (b) accommodation for staff in his Department in each year since 2007. [62526]
Mr Paterson: Comparable figures for the Department as it is now configured are not available following the completion of devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010.
In the financial year for 2010-11 the Department spent £616,786.00 on staff travel and £104,548.00 on accommodation.
Fuels: Prices
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with (a) the Northern Ireland Executive, (b) energy companies and (c) the Chancellor of the Exchequer on recent trends in fuel prices in Northern Ireland. [62524]
Mr Paterson: I have not received any requests for discussions on these matters from Northern Ireland Executive Ministers nor do I have any ministerial responsibility in these areas. It remains open to Northern Ireland Ministers to raise these matters with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and other ministerial colleagues.
Parades
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent representations he has received on the issue of parades and protests in Northern Ireland since May 2010. [62508]
Mr Paterson: I have received a number of both written and verbal representations from individuals, various groups and organisations with a range of differing views on parading. All decisions on parades in Northern Ireland remain a matter for the Parades Commission.
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VAT: Hotels
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received on the rate of VAT levied on hotels in Northern Ireland. [62392]
Mr Paterson: I have not received any representations; taxes are generally the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Asylum
Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Dublin II process for the handling of asylum seekers' cases; and if he will make a statement. [62678]
Damian Green: I have been asked to reply.
The Government strongly supports the Dublin Regulation (“Dublin II”). The Regulation ensures that just one member state—generally the first one in which the individual claimed asylum or entered unlawfully—is responsible for considering an asylum claim made in the EU.
This makes it more difficult to abuse asylum processes in the EU by making multiple claims in different member states, or by delaying an asylum claim until the individual has reached his or her preferred destination. It also provides certainty for the asylum seeker by ensuring that a specific member state is obliged to consider his or her claim.
Between 2006 and 2010, the UK removed 6,034 people to other member states under the Dublin Regulation and accepted 1,849 transfers from other member states. These figures are based on management information that is not quality assured under National Statistics protocols. The figures do not constitute part of the National Statistics and should be treated as provisional.
Davinder Singh Bhullar
Mr Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with the Government of India the case of Professor Davinder Singh Bhullar. [62851]
Mr Jeremy Browne: I wrote to the Indian High Commissioner on 20 June, reiterating the UK Government's strong opposition to the death penalty and urging the Government of India to reconsider Mr Bhullar's sentence. I have also raised our concerns with Indian Foreign Secretary Rao on 28 June. We continue to urge the Government of India to establish a formal moratorium as a first step towards the abolition of the death penalty in India.
Departmental ICT
Andrew Miller:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to promote visual data security in his Department;
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and what training his Department provides to its officials in respect of the management of visual data security. [60909]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office takes information security very seriously and has measures in place to meet the risks posed from visual display units (VDUs) being overlooked, both in the office environment and when working remotely. Specific measures include a requirement for all staff to adhere to the relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the ICT equipment they have been authorised to use, including mobility devices. The department's VDUs are programmed to go into ‘hibernation’ if not activated within a short period of time; staff are instructed not to leave their units switched on when away from their desks; screens may be ‘anonomised’ where considered necessary for those working inside and away from the office. If staff need to work remotely and view information that is sensitive, they must ensure that they cannot be overlooked. ‘Privacy screen panels’ are available to mitigate the risk of “shoulder surfing”. The need to ensure visual data security is considered as part of any office accommodation moves.
Staff are trained in all aspects of data handling and security in a variety of ways including: annual completion of mandatory ‘protecting information’ training, induction courses; regular briefing and other training events; articles on departmental intranet sites and ad hoc reminders as and when considered necessary.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what expenditure his Department will incur in relation to the Defence and Security Equipment International Exhibition between 13 and 16 September 2011; and whether Ministers from his Department plan to attend the event. [60760]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will not incur any costs in relation to the Defence and Security International Exhibition. The programme of UK Ministers will be decided nearer to the date of the exhibition.
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what strategic framework his Department has developed for the delivery of its core functions during the comprehensive spending review period. [59728]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) Business Plan
http://www.number10.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/FCO-Business-Plan1.pdf
launched in October 2010, and updated in May 2011 sets out the coalition Government's vision for the FCO over the next four years. The Business Plan sets out how the FCO will deliver on the Programme for Government commitments relevant to its work.
The Business Plan is consistent with the National Security Strategy and Strategic Security and Defence Review published in October 2010.
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The FCO reports monthly on its progress against the Business Plan:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/publications-and-documents/publications1/annual-reports/business-plan
From July we will also publish a quarterly data summary covering indicators on spending, reform and performance. The data summary is designed to be in a format that is consistent across departments.
Mediterranean Region: Human Trafficking
Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support EU initiatives to improve joint patrolling arrangements in the Mediterranean sea in order to deter and apprehend people traffickers. [62679]
Damian Green: I have been asked to reply.
The UK supports the changes made in the amending regulation on Frontex, on which political agreement has been reached. It will be formally adopted in plenary by the European Parliament in early autumn 2011 and by the Council shortly after. We believe that the amending regulation will help improve joint patrolling arrangements in the Mediterranean sea by giving Frontex more control over where member states' technical equipment and human resources are deployed. The amending Frontex regulation also gives Frontex a mandate to process personal data in the course of its operational activities of persons suspected of people trafficking and smuggling, under condition that it is lawful, necessary and proportionate in relation to the tasks of the agency; and to pass this data to Europol for their action. We expect this to be a significant improvement in the fight against human trafficking and other forms of cross-border criminality.
Syria: Politics and Government
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of efforts made by the Syrian authorities to stop demonstrators entering Israel; what recent representations he has made to the Syrian authorities on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [62088]
Alistair Burt: Following the deaths of four Palestinians near Kuneitra and Majdal Shams in the Israeli/Syrian disengagement zone during protests on 15 May (Nakba), our ambassador to Syria called on the Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister to urge the Syrian authorities to show restraint and to make appropriate preparations to ensure the technical fence was not breached ahead of the Naksa (6 June) anniversary.
On 6 June, 600 Palestinians again gathered near Kuneitra and Majdal Shams. A further attempt to breach the technical fence reportedly resulted in the deaths of 23 Palestinians after the Israel Defence Forces opened fire in order to prevent the protestors from crossing the ceasefire line.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said in a statement on 6 June,
“I am deeply concerned by reports that a number of protesters have been killed and others injured following protests in the Golan Heights yesterday. We recognise
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Israel's right to defend herself. It is vital that any response is proportionate, avoiding lethal use of force unless absolutely necessary, and that the right to protest is respected. I continue to call on all parties, including the Governments of Israel and Syria, to do everything they can to protect the lives of civilians and to avoid provocative acts.”
Turks and Caicos Islands: Economic Situation
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the progress made by the Turks and Caicos Islands towards reducing its budget deficit. [61467]
Mr Duncan: I have been asked to reply.
Department for International Development (DFID) officials receive weekly and monthly revenue and expenditure reports from the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Government which show that financial performance in the opening period of this financial year is in line with the budget to March 2012. The budget to March 2012 sets TCI on a path to substantially reduce the deficit from last year's outturn. For further information on DFID's support to TCI, I refer the hon. Member to my written statement of 28 February 2011, Official Report , columns 14-15WS.
Culture, Media and Sport
Broadband
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the cost of rolling out (a) superfast broadband and (b) superfast broadband over fibre to each household in the UK. [61568]
Mr Vaizey: The cost of deploying (a) superfast broadband and (b) superfast broadband over fibre remains largely unchanged from previous estimates. The cost of deploying superfast broadband using a Fibre To The Cabinet (FTTC) approach to 90% of UK premises UK would be over £4 billion and the cost of deploying fibre to every premises in the UK would be over £25 billion. The remaining 10% of premises under the FTTC approach would require a mixed technology solution. Commercial investors have already committed to address at least 66% of premises under the FTTC approach.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what recent progress his Department has made on the roll-out of superfast broadband in London; [61618]
(2) what recent progress his Department has made on the roll-out of superfast broadband in the West Midlands; [61619]
(3) what recent progress his Department has made on the roll-out of superfast broadband in Northern Ireland; [61620]
(4) what recent progress his Department has made on the roll-out of superfast broadband in Wales; [61621]
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(5) what recent progress his Department has made on the roll-out of superfast broadband in Scotland; [61622]
(6) what recent progress his Department has made on the roll-out of superfast broadband in the North East; [61623]
(7) what recent progress his Department has made on the roll-out of superfast broadband in the North West; [61624]
(8) what recent progress his Department has made on the roll-out of superfast broadband in East Anglia; [61625]
(9) what recent progress his Department has made on the roll-out of superfast broadband in the South West; [61626]
(10) what recent progress his Department has made on the roll-out of superfast broadband in the South East; [61627]
(11) what recent progress his Department has made on the roll-out of superfast broadband in Yorkshire and the Humber; [61628]
(12) what recent progress his Department has made on the roll-out of superfast broadband in the East Midlands. [61629]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: I recently announced funding for three more local authority areas to be supported under the broadband delivery programme: Norfolk, Wiltshire, and Devon and Somerset. Work is also progressing on the four pilot projects in Cumbria, North Yorkshire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, and Highlands and Islands. My Department is working with the local authorities in the remaining areas in England and with the three devolved Administrations to progress their broadband plans. There will shortly be an announcement of the indicative allocations for county areas in England and the devolved Administrations, to help them focus their broadband plans. In the case of the devolved Administrations they have, by agreement with my Department, adopted responsibility for co-ordinating broadband plans within their areas of administrative responsibility. My Department will, however, continue to work closely with all authorities and has already made available an online resource centre, and is developing a framework procurement contract which will be open to all authorities to use and will help minimise the number of procurements, and has also assembled an experienced team to assist the delivery of our broadband objectives.
Broadband: Lancashire
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what representations he has received on community access to the Cleo broadband network in Northern Lancashire; [62092]
(2) for what reason Sunderland Point has not been given access to the Cleo broadband network in Northern Lancashire. [62093]
Mr Vaizey:
I have not received any direct representations regarding access to the Cumbria and Lancashire Education Online (CLEO) network. The relevant local authorities have responsibility for operation of the network and provision of access to it. The Government encourages
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the reuse of public sector networks to facilitate the rollout of superfast broadband where it is feasible to do so.
Buckingham Palace: Demonstrations
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) on what grounds the Royal Parks Agency declined to approve a demonstration by Republic planned to take place outside Buckingham Palace on 25 June 2011; and if he will make a statement; [62030]
(2) what discussions he had with (a) the Metropolitan police and (b) the Royal Parks Agency on planned protests by Republic outside Buckingham Palace. [62031]
John Penrose: The Royal Parks (TRP) regularly accommodates public demonstrations and the chief executive has made clear to Republic that he will consider accommodating a demonstration in a prominent place adjacent to The Mall in St James's park. This is in line with its longstanding policy which seeks to balance the needs of all visitors to the Royal Parks.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport has not held discussions with the Metropolitan police or TRP on this matter.
Churches: Hertfordshire
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to support the architectural heritage of ecclesiastical buildings in (a) St Albans and (b) Hertfordshire; and if he will make a statement. [61650]
John Penrose: The Government supports the architectural heritage of ecclesiastical buildings in St Albans and Hertfordshire in a number of ways.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport operates the Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme which makes a contribution towards the VAT incurred in making repairs to the listed places of worship of any faith or denomination.
In partnership with the Church Commissioners, the Department funds the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) which cares for the most significant Church of England churches no longer needed for regular worship. In 2009-11, CCT spent £74,000 on repairing and maintaining its churches in the Diocese of St Albans of which £43,000 was spent on churches in Hertfordshire.
The running and maintenance of relevant English Heritage and Heritage Lottery Fund schemes are their responsibility. I have therefore asked their chief executives to consider the question raised by the hon. Member for St Albans and to write to her direct. Copies of their replies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Culture
Mr Ivan Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will make an assessment of the contribution to the UK economy of the (a) television and radio, (b) design, (c) art and
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antiques,
(d)
architecture,
(e)
advertising,
(f)
tourism,
(g)
designer fashion,
(h)
film, video and photography
, (i)
music, visual and performing arts,
(j)
publishing,
(k)
software and electronic publishing and
(l)
digital and entertainment media industry. [61566]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: The Department publishes statistics on the gross value added (GVA), employment and number of businesses within the creative industries. These statistics include all of the categories mentioned, apart from tourism. The latest statistics were published in December 2010 and can be found at the following link:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/7634.aspx
The Office for National Statistics Tourism Intelligence Unit have produced a Tourism Satellite Account to show how tourism contributes to the UK's National Accounts. The latest statistics were published in May 2011 and can be found at the following link:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/tsa0511.pdf
Departmental Manpower
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will make it his policy to publish monthly information on changes in the numbers of employees of his Department's agency, categorised by (a) seniority, (b) voluntary redundancy, (c) natural wastage and (d) involuntary redundancy. [61708]
John Penrose: The Department provides regular updates on The Royal Parks headcount and natural wastage through its Annual Report and Accounts, and monthly returns to the Office for National Statistics. We have no plans to provide separate detailed updates given the administrative burden this entails.
Departmental Procurement
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what provisions in respect of behavioural standards have been included in procurement contracts issued by his Department since May 2010. [61683]
John Penrose: The Department's standard terms and conditions, and those terms and conditions that we adopt from other public sector agreements, contain clauses that set out relevant standards of behaviour required in the execution of any contract. Details of the terms and conditions for goods and services that we follow can be found on the Office of Government Commerce website at the following link:
http://www.ogc.gov.uk/Model_terms_and_conditions_for_goods_and_services.asp
English Heritage
George Hollingbery: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what information his Department holds on the cost of (a) admission and (b) venue hire at each English Heritage site in each year since 2005. [61924]
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John Penrose: The information requested is not held by this Department and relates to matters that are the responsibility of English Heritage.
Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of English Heritage to write direct to the hon. Member for Meon Valley.
Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Press Regulation
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has assessed the effect on supply to consumers of newspapers and magazines of the self-regulation of the newspaper and magazine supply industry. [62318]
Mr Vaizey: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 22 June 2011, Official Report, column 292W, to the hon. Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr Leech).
Satellites
Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what progress he has made on measures to reform the global satellite orbital filing regime for the purposes of supporting UK satellite operators and the space sector's growth agenda. [62224]
Mr Willetts: I have been asked to reply.
The Government are supporting Ofcom's efforts to introduce a minimum condition for bringing satellite orbit slots into use. The aim is to announce proposals for the new measures at the World Radio conference in January 2012.
Sports: Dartford
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what financial assistance Sport England has provided to community sports clubs and projects in Dartford constituency in each year since 2005. [61940]
Hugh Robertson: Sport England invests national lottery and Exchequer funding in community sport. The financial assistance awarded to community sports clubs and projects in the Dartford constituency can be found in the following tables:
| Lottery funding | Total (£) |
| Exchequer funding | Total (£) |
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Telecommunications: Credit
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with telecommunications companies on the introduction of a credit limit for consumers. [61563]
Mr Vaizey: No discussions have been held, as this is a commercial issue in which Government do not involve themselves. Telecommunications companies are best able to consider and decide whether they should introduce such facilities for their customers.
Video Recordings: Certification
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has set a timetable for the consultation exercise on the operation of the Video Recordings Act 1984 and 2010 following the report of the Independent Review on the Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Childhood. [61881]
Mr Vaizey: The consultation will be launched in the summer.
Defence
Air Force: Redundancy
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what his most recent estimate is of the number of RAF redundancies that will be made in each category of position in each year of the comprehensive spending review period; [62344]
(2) what assessment he has made of the likelihood that RAF personnel who have been made redundant will be re-employed on a future date in their previous roles. [62345]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 27 June 2011]:It is estimated that there will be up to 1,020 service personnel issued with a letter of redundancy in September 2011 as part of the current phase of the RAF’s redundancy programme. Those personnel notified of their redundancy will leave the RAF in either February or August 2012. Further redundancy measures will be determined once the outcome of the current phase has been fully assessed, but it is expected that the total number of RAF redundancies will be approximately 3,000 by 31 August 2013.
Individuals who are made redundant may apply to re-join the RAF through normal channels, subject to appropriate vacancies being available.
Air Force: Training
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding was allocated for Royal Air Force training in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement. [62364]
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Mr Robathan: Training in the RAF covers a wide range of activities and is continual through service life. The full costs are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Armed Forces
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) cost and (b) establishment by numbers of (i) Land Command, (ii) Navy Command and (iii) Air Command (A) is for 2011-12 and (B) was in each of the last five years. [60529]
Mr Robathan: The estimated cost for financial year 2011-12 and personnel strength, civilian and military, as at 1 April 2011 for Top Level Budget (TLB) holders in Land Command, Navy Command and Air Command are shown in the following table:
|
|
Land Command | Navy Command | Air Command |
This does not include the cost of operations.
The financial outturn and personnel strengths, civilian and military, for each of the five last years for TLB holders in Land Command, Navy Command and Air Command are shown in the following tables:
| Outturn by financial year total departmental expenditure limit | |||
| £ million | |||
|
|
Land Command | Navy Command | Air Command |
The 2010-11 figures have not been audited. Final figures will be provided in the 2010-11 departmental annual report and accounts. This does not include the cost of operations.
| Personnel strength | Land Command | Navy Command | Air Command |
During the periods shown a number of TLBs merged; where this is the case the data have been combined.
Data for 2006 are not held in the format required.
Armed Forces: Education
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he proposes to give priority to the children of military service personnel in school applications under the Military Covenant. [61376]
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Mr Robathan: Under the work of the Armed Forces Covenant, fair access protocols have been included within the schools admissions codes to ensure that service children are not disadvantaged in accessing school places. This will not constitute a priority over others but will include the ability to apply for a school place on receipt of a posting notice and the ability of schools to exceed admission numbers to make a place available for a service child. The Ministry of Defence will engage in the Department for Education's consultation in 2011-12 looking at admissions and the appeals process to ensure service children and their families are taken into account.
Armed Forces: Housing
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he plans to take to improve the energy efficiency of service family accommodation. [62745]
Mr Robathan: Energy efficiency improvements are considered and undertaken as part of all works to service family accommodation where appropriate and subject to funding being secured.
Further work, including loft insulation and new heating systems, is undertaken as required.
Armed Forces: Parachuting
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of soldiers required to be fully parachute trained; and how many soldiers are in receipt of parachute pay. [62307]
Nick Harvey: The strategic defence and security review included a commitment for a high-readiness, light, short-duration intervention capability, organised and trained for parachute and air assault operations. This will result in a reduction in the number of posts requiring a parachute qualification. Details of the timing and implementation of any changes are still being worked through.
As at 31 May 2011, 2,790 soldiers were in receipt of special pay parachute.
Defence
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military capabilities he assesses to be (a) essential for the UK and (b) unaffordable for the UK to fund alone. [62308]
Nick Harvey: The strategic defence and security review set out the future force structure and capabilities we intend to deliver for the 2020s, and our approach to deepening relations with international partners to share capabilities, technologies and programmes.
Departmental Public Bodies
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has set a date to dispose of (a) the Met Office, (b) the UK Hydrographic Office and (c) the Base Repair and Maintenance Organisations. [62284]
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Mr Robathan: As announced in the strategic defence and security review, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) intends to sell the Defence Support Group, which incorporates the former Army Base Repair Organisation and Defence Aviation Repair Agency, by no later than the end of the current spending review period, March 2015. The MOD currently has no plans to privatise the Met Office or UK Hydrographic Office.
Departmental Security
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects of civilian redundancies within the Ministry of Defence Police on its capacity to provide security and policing to his Department's estates and property. [62496]
Mr Robathan: A range of options that will define the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s future requirement for civil policing capabilities and services are currently under consideration. No final decisions have yet been taken, but we will continue to maintain effective and proportionate levels of security at all our sites to safeguard our people, assets and information.
The current voluntary early release scheme for civilian staff in the MOD is intended to avoid the need for redundancies. Applications for early release that are submitted by MOD police officers will be considered in the context of ensuring that the future operational effectiveness of the force is not adversely affected.
Departmental Travel
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2011, Official Report, columns 829-30W, on departmental travel, (1) what was purchased in each case; what the monetary value was of each such purchase; and what action his Department took in each case; [62402]
(2) what each incident was which was reported to his Department's whistleblowing hotline which resulted in staff being disciplined from May 2005 to May 2010. [62403]
Mr Robathan: From the eight incidents reported in my previous answer, the following lists the items purchased, their value, and the action taken by the Department:
| Items purchased | Action taken | Value of items (£) |
|
Not recorded (expenditure through Fly Thomas Cook.com and Money Shop) |
29 Jun 2011 : Column 835W
MOD Sites: Hampshire
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which sites are owned by his Department within the boundaries of (a) Basingstoke and Deane borough council, (b) East Hampshire district council, (c) Eastleigh borough council, (d) Fareham borough council, (e) Gosport borough council, (f) Hart district council and (g) Havant borough council; [62312]
(2) which sites are owned by his Department within the boundaries of (a) New Forest district council, (b) Rushmoor borough council, (c) Test Valley borough council, (d) Winchester city council, (e) Portsmouth city council, (f) Southampton city council and (g) Isle of Wight council. [62313]
Mr Robathan: A copy of the Ministry of Defence sites, by local council, will be placed in the Library of the House.
Iraq: Detainees
Mr Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the statement of 26 February 2009, Official Report, columns 394-7W, on records of detention (review conclusions), how many captured persons have been transferred to US forces in Iraq; and how many individuals so transferred have subsequently been transferred to the Iraqi authorities since 31 December 2008. [62201]
Dr Fox [holding answer 27 June 2011]: For the reasons set out in the statement by the then Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Hutton) on 26 February 2009, Official Report, columns 394-97, we cannot be confident that the data that we hold is entirely complete and, therefore, we are not able to provide an overall total for individuals captured by UK forces in Iraq and transferred to US forces under the previous Government. The number subsequently transferred to Iraqi authorities is primarily a matter for the US and Iraqi Governments. However, it should be noted that the review concluded UK forces exercised appropriately their responsibilities towards all captured personnel handed to US custody in Iraq, and uncovered no evidence of mistreatment.
MOD Sites: Sussex
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which sites are owned by his Department within the boundaries of (a) Adur district council, (b) Arun district council, (c) Chichester district council, (d) Crawley borough council, (e) Horsham district council, (f) Mid Sussex district council and (g) Worthing borough council. [62314]
Mr Robathan: A copy of the Ministry of Defence sites, by local council, will be placed in the Library of the House.
USA: Defence Academy
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the purpose was of the recent Defence Academy visit to the US; [61356]
(2) who participated in the recent Defence Academy visit to the US; [61357]
29 Jun 2011 : Column 836W
(3) what the cost to his Department was of the recent Defence Academy visit to the US. [61358]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 22 June 2011]: The recent Defence Academy visit to the US was part of the annual advanced command and staff course (ACSC) delivered by the Academy. ACSC attendees have been visiting the US for the last 10 years to examine the provenance and current status of security challenges in the USA, consider how the USA pursues its own security and provide a context for UK and international students' future work with the US military in coalition operations.
A total of 320 students and staff from the ACSC took part in the visit which was a week long and included US Defence establishments in Washington and Norfolk, Virginia.
Although the final cost of the visit has not been calculated at this stage because some bills are still outstanding, the cost to the Ministry of Defence is not expected to exceed £465,000. This figure covers food, accommodation, air and road transport. These costs are offset in part by income received from those overseas students, who pay to attend the course.
World War I: Anniversaries
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the commemoration of the centenary of the outbreak of the first world war; and if he will make a statement; [62579]
(2) what discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) Belgium and (b) France on the commemoration of the centenary of the outbreak of the first world war; and if he will make a statement. [62580]
Mr Robathan: Traditionally, we mark the anniversary of the conclusion of a conflict rather than its beginning. However, given the importance of the centenary of the great war, it is likely that a number of anniversaries of key events from 2014 to 2018, including the beginning of the war, will be marked in an appropriate way. Government consideration of how such events will be remembered is in its early stages and we in the Ministry of Defence are in discussion with colleagues in other Government Departments on this. In time, these discussions will extend to the Belgian and French Governments.
Further details will be announced in due course.
Women and Equalities
Males: Primary Education
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what discussions she has had with the Department for Education on increasing the number of male teachers in primary schools. [61696]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 23 June 2011]:I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a range of issues.
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Members: Equal Opportunities
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what progress she has made on her proposals to provide additional support for people with disabilities who wish to become hon. Members; and if she will make a statement. [61954]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 27 June 2011]: We have conducted a public consultation exercise, which ran from 16 February to 11 May 2011, to seek views on a range of proposals designed to help to remove barriers faced by disabled people who are seeking elected office. We are currently analysing the responses, and intend to announce the strategy later this year.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 24 May 2011, Official Report, column 642W, on apprentices, how many individuals will be funded by the allocation to providers to deliver level three and above qualifications for those over the age of 24. [62291]
Mr Hayes: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 June 2011, Official Report, column 441-2W.
In academic year 2009/10, advanced level apprenticeships made up 37% of adult starts(1). We plan to reshape the Apprenticeships programme so that advanced level becomes the level to which learners and employers aspire, and we expect the proportion of starts at this level to increase over time.
(1 )Statistical First Release, Data Service:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current/
Business: Finance
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what grants or loans his Department has made available to (a) inward investors and (b) UK companies to (i) set up a new business and (ii) expand or consolidate existing businesses in each of the last five years. [61664]
Mr Prisk: In October 2010 the Government introduced the Regional Growth Fund, a fund of £1.4 billion available over three years to support projects and programmes with significant potential for economic growth and for creating additional sustainable private sector employment and to help those areas and communities that are currently dependent on the public sector to make the transition to sustainable private sector led growth and prosperity. The Fund is open to both UK companies and inward investors and to set up new businesses or expand or consolidate existing businesses.
Over the period of the last five years this Department has made grants or loans available to both UK companies and inward investors to set up new businesses or expand or consolidate existing businesses by means of a number
29 Jun 2011 : Column 838W
of schemes. These are set out as follows. Except where otherwise indicated, they were available over the entire period:
regional selective assistance, via the Selective Finance for Investment in England and (from October 2008) the Grant for Business Investment schemes, and available to small businesses and those in the assisted areas;
repayable launch investment, a risk-sharing Government investment available for the design and development of strategically important civil aerospace projects in the UK. There is no formal scheme, promotion or budget. The provision of repayable launch investment is entirely discretionary; each application is considered on its merits against a range of established criteria and also by the Treasury against public expenditure constraints and Government priorities; and
the Automotive Assistance Programme, introduced in January 2009 and closed on 31 December 2010, made possible loan guarantees and exceptionally loans to the automotive sector.
Businesses
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the number of (a) enterprises, (b) enterprises with employees and (c) enterprises with under 250 employees in the (i) 20% most and (ii) 20% least deprived wards in England for each year since 2005. [61097]
Mr Prisk: Not all of the requested information is available. However, the following table shows the numbers of registered enterprises in England in each year that were in the 20% most deprived local authorities and the 20% least deprived local authority areas. Figures are included for enterprises with less than 250 employees, but this will include some enterprises with no employees as we are unable to separate out these from other enterprises with low employment.
| Enterprises in the most and least deprived areas2005-10 | ||||
|
|
|
|
20% most deprived LAs | 20% least deprived LAs |
| Note: There is a discontinuity in the series. Before 2008, UK Business covered VAT registered businesses only, but in 2008, it was extended to include all businesses registered for VAT and/or PAYE. Source: ONS UK Business publication and CLG Index of Multiple Deprivation 2010. | ||||