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30 Jun 2011 : Column 891W
Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 30 June 2011
Scotland
Economic Situation
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent assessment he has made of the implications for (a) his Department's policies and (b) the Scottish economy of trends in retail expenditure. [62944]
Michael Moore: Latest retail sales figures from the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC), published earlier this month, show an expected decrease for May following on from an increase in April. The SRC indicates this was a consequence of an extra bank holiday, the royal wedding and warm weather in April. Latest business surveys, such as the Bank of Scotland June purchasing managers index (PMI), indicate that the Scottish economy has been growing in the first five months of the year. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) continues to back the Government's consolidation plans and advises against changing course.
High Speed Rail
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Transport and (b) Scottish Ministers on the potential extension of high-speed rail to Scotland. [62918]
Michael Moore: The Government remain committed to a truly national high-speed rail network, which will be delivered in phases. I met with the Secretary of State for Transport on 13 July and discussed a range of issues, including new high-speed rail services for Scotland, and both I and the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, my right hon. Friend the Member for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale (David Mundell), have discussed this issue with Scottish Ministers.
Scottish Retail Consortium
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives from the Scottish Retail Consortium; and what matters were discussed. [62943]
Michael Moore: There is regular contact at official level with the Scottish Retail Consortium on a wide range of issues and the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, my right hon. Friend the Member for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale (David Mundell), met the organisation last year to discuss challenges facing the sector. We continue to pursue regular engagement with the retail sector at ministerial and official level.
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Communities and Local Government
Government Procurement Card
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's publication of Government Procurement Card data for 2008 to 2010, (1) what the purpose and function was of (a) the £1,119 restaurant meal at Bank Restaurant, London in October 2008, (b) the £700 restaurant meal at Bodrum in April 2008, (c) the £159 restaurant meal at Boisdales in April 2008, (d) the £82 meal at Boisdales in March 2009, (e) the £169 restaurant meal at Kazan in September 2008 and (f) the £111 meal at Kazan in November 2008; [59201]
(2) what the purpose and function was of (a) the £814 restaurant meals at Brasserie 44 in 2008, (b) the £345 restaurant meals at Boisdales in December 2009, (c) the £377 restaurant meal at Formans in January 2010, (d) the £490 restaurant meal at Gran Paradiso in December 2009, (e) the £104 restaurant meal at Olivomare in June 2008 and (f) the £127 restaurant meal at Sardo in March 2009; [59202]
(3) what the purpose and function was of (a) the £195 of expenditure on leisure activities at the Royal Kings Arms on 10 June 2008, (b) the £232 of expenditure on leisure activities at Electric Mountain on 14 April 2008 and (c) the £245 leisure activities event at Pump House in July 2008; [59203]
(4) what the purpose and function was of (a) the £522 restaurant meal at L'Atelier in Brussels in October 2008, (b) the £78 restaurant meal at Shepherds in April 2009, (c) the £517 restaurant meal at the Haunch of Venison in December 2009, (d) the £1344 restaurant meal at The National Cafe in January 2009 and (e) the £97 restaurant meals at The Wolseley in (i) December 2008 and (ii) June 2009; [59204]
(5) what the purpose and function was of (a) the £361 spent on London Ducktours in May 2008, (b) the £2006 event at the Museum of London in November 2009, (c) the £575 event at the National Maritime Museum in September 2009 and (d) the £598 visit to the Royal National Theatre in August 2008; and who attended each event; [59205]
(6) what the purpose and function was of (a) the £150 bar bill at the Princess Alice in November 2009 and (b) the purchases at the Cinnamon Club between November 2008 and March 2010; [59206]
(7) what the purpose and function was of (a) the £291 restaurant meal at The Narrow in June 2009, (b) the £522 restaurant meal at Yong An Xianqiangfang in Shanghai in November 2008, (c) the £200 restaurant meal at Rummer Hotel in July 2009; [59207]
(8) what the purpose and function was of (a) the £500 event procured via Gruppo Events Ltd in January 2009, (b) the £904 event procured via Kudos Hospitality Ltd in March 2010 and (c) the £1304 event procured via Leiths in October 2008. [59208]
Robert Neill: The purpose and function of selected items of expenditure purchased on Government Procurement Cards used by the Department have been tabulated for ease of reference and deposited in the Library of the House.
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Home Department
Asylum: EU Countries
Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment Frontex has made of the risk of irregular migration into the EU in 2011; and how many asylum applications it recorded in the southern European countries of the EU in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010. [62677]
Damian Green: The Frontex annual risk analysis 2011 report published in May 2011 proposes that regular passenger flows across the external EU borders will increase in 2011 due to rising global mobility, possible visa liberalisation procedures for the EU's eastern European partners and new local border traffic agreements along the eastern borders.
Frontex assesses that the most likely high-pressure points for illegal border crossings in 2011-12 will be along the Mediterranean coast and the land border with Turkey. Migrants with relatively easy access to Turkey or north Africa will continue to typify the flow.
Frontex recorded 219,814 applications for international protection in the EU in 2009 and 203,880 for 2010. Frontex does not publish figures broken down by individual member states or groups of countries. The figure excludes applications made in inland France.
Fixed Penalties
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the future range of offences for which a (a) fixed penalty notice and (b) penalty notice for disorder may be issued; and if she will make a statement. [61399]
Nick Herbert: A fixed penalty notice can be issued for any offence in respect of a vehicle that has been made a fixed penalty offence by order of the Secretary of State for the Home Department. Fixed penalty offences are kept under continuous review and additions are made as appropriate. The Government’s new strategic framework for road safety, issued in May, proposed that the offence of careless driving should be made a fixed penalty offence. Subject to impact assessment and regulatory clearance, we expect this to come into effect in 2012.
The offences for which a PND can be issued are likewise kept under review. As set out in the Green Paper “Breaking the Cycle: Effective punishment, rehabilitation and sentencing of offenders”, the Ministry of Justice will be consulting on a limited further extension of the PND scheme. The proposed additional offences will include minor disorder offences committed in Royal Parks for which PNDs are currently not available, as well as other low-level disorder offences that may be appropriate to be dealt with by a PND.
Garages and Petrol Stations: Theft
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of driving away from filling stations without payment were reported to police forces in each month since May 2010; and if she will make a statement. [62656]
Nick Herbert: This information is not collected centrally.
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Offences of making off without payment are included in the Home Office offence classification ‘Preserved other fraud and repealed fraud offences (pre Fraud Act 2006)’ and cannot be separately identified from other offences within that classification.
Hizb ut-Tahrir
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information her Department holds on the countries which have banned the organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir; and what account she takes of the positions of such countries in determining her policy on Hizb ut-Tahrir in the UK. [62232]
James Brokenshire: We understand that Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) is subject to some form of ban in Bangladesh, Egypt, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.
HuT is an organisation about which the Government have significant concerns. We keep its activities under close review. In doing so, the Secretary of State for the Home Department takes into account information about HuT's activities in other countries, including the position taken by foreign Governments.
However, the basis on which groups can be banned in other countries is not necessarily the same as the basis on which groups can be proscribed in the UK. A group can be proscribed in the UK only if the Secretary of State believes it is “concerned in terrorism” within the meaning of the Terrorism Act 2000. Some countries ban all political groups; other countries ban groups that are considered to be seditious, extremist or otherwise unacceptable. Germany, for example, has banned HuT on grounds relating to holocaust denial and anti-Semitism.
Human Rights Act 1998
Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has given consideration to the effect on naturists of any potential changes to the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998. [62684]
Mr Djanogly: I have been asked to reply.
The Human Rights Act 1998 applies to all people equally, whatever their lifestyle. The Government have established an independent commission to consider the case for a UK Bill of Rights and the commission has announced that it is establishing a work plan which will include consultation with the public. I therefore expect that there will be an opportunity for any concerns about the impact of potential changes to be raised with the commission.
Offences Against Children
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of (a) girls groomed for sexual exploitation and (b) perpetrators of child sexual exploitation in the latest period for which figures are available. [60890]
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James Brokenshire: Data on offences are held by the Ministry of Justice and the following table gives the latest available data in relation to cautions, prosecutions and convictions for child sex offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, the Children Act 1989 and the Child Abduction Act 1984 in England and Wales.
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The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) has conducted a thematic assessment on child sexual exploitation. The report was published on 29 June 2011 and we are now considering its findings.
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Police and Crime Commissioners
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to publish the responses to her Department's consultation on proposals for elected police and crime commissioners. [63096]
Mrs May: The ‘Policing in the 21(st) century: reconnecting police and the people’ summary of consultation responses and next steps was published in December 2010. A copy is in the Library of the House.
Police: Incentives
Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information her Department holds on whether bonuses have been (a) offered to and (b) accepted by senior police officers in Lancashire constabulary in each of the last two years. [62666]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 28 June 2011]:The offer and payment of bonuses to chief officers is a matter for the police authority, working within the agreed national framework. The Home Office does not gather information from police authorities on bonuses.
However, figures for bonuses paid to Lancashire's chief officer team are shown in the force's accounts, which are published on the police authority website.
Sexual Offences: Yorkshire
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will support the creation of a sexual assault and rape centre for north Yorkshire and York; and if she will make a statement. [62596]
Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office provided North Yorkshire police with a grant of £75,000 in December 2010 to develop a sexual assault referral centre. The Department of Health provided a further £30,000. Sexual assault referral centres are partnerships between police authorities and NHS primary care trusts. They are local partnerships and local areas are best placed to decide what level of service they require and what model is best to deliver that.
The Government are committed to tackling sexual offences and, as part of our violence against women strategy, are providing £28 million directly to specialist services over the next four years.
Stalking
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has any plans to bring forward legislative proposals to create an offence of stalking. [63056]
Lynne Featherstone: Stalking behaviour can be prosecuted under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. My Department, working with the Ministry of Justice, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), continues to keep the effectiveness of this legislation under review.
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West Midlands Police: Manpower
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police constables West Midlands police employed in each of the last three years for which figures are available; [57498]
(2) how many police officers were assigned to duties in Coventry in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many such officers she expects to be assigned to such duties in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13. [57499]
Nick Herbert: The available figures show the number of police constables in West Midlands police force in 2008, 2009 and 2010 as at 31 March (full-time equivalent figures). The second table shows police officer strength in the following basic command units which Coventry covers: West Midlands M1, West Midlands M2 and West Midlands M3 as at 31 March 2010 (full-time equivalents).
Decisions about the size and deployment of the police workforce are a matter for chief constables to take locally in conjunction with their police authority and, from May 2012, their police and crime commissioner. Therefore estimates for the number of police officers for 2011-12 and 2012-13 are not available centrally.
| Police constable strength fo r 2008, 2009 and 2010 as at 31 M arch for West Midlands police force | |
| Full-time equivalents (1) | |
|
|
Police constables in West Midlands police |
| (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. | |
| Police officer strength by basic command unit , 31 March 2010 for West Midlands police force (1) | ||
| Full-time equivalents | ||
| Police Force | BCU | Police officers |
| (1) These figures are based on full-time equivalents that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Note: Figures include those officers on career breaks. | ||
West Midlands Police: Overtime
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overtime hours were paid to (a) warranted officers and (b) civilian staff of West Midlands police in each of the last three years; and what the total cost to the public purse was of such overtime in each such year. [57497]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not hold information on the number of overtime hours paid to warranted officers and civilian staff in West Midlands police.
For data on the total cost of overtime to West Midlands police for each of the last three years, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Witham (Priti Patel) on 25 October 2010, Official Report, columns 79-84W.
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Justice
Courts: CCTV
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy is on the provision of closed circuit television in courts. [62916]
Mr Djanogly: It is the policy of Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service to seek to provide closed circuit television in courts for the safety of court users, employees and judicial office holders and operated in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Information Commissioner’s code of practice for closed circuit television.
Where it is not possible to install closed circuit television in a given court, or in particular areas of the court, an appropriate risk assessment must be undertaken at the location to ensure effective measures are in place to provide a secure environment for all court users.
Data Protection Act 1998
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the level of compliance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 by insurance companies and others providing details of claims to claims management companies. [62953]
Mr Djanogly: The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is the independent body responsible for regulating the Data Protection Act 1998.
It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on the ICO's investigations in individual cases. However, I understand that it is the ICO position that if insurance companies were selling personal data to claims management companies without clearly informing the individuals concerned, this would breach the first data protection principle and therefore be in breach of the Act. The ICO is discussing with the Association of British Insurers the industry's practice in relation to referral fees.
The ICO is also currently investigating complaints concerning spam text messages about accidents under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).
Departmental Legal Costs
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2011, Official Report, columns 511-12W, on departmental legal costs, if he will place in the Library a copy of the submission made by HM Revenue and Customs to his Department’s consultation on reform of civil litigation funding and costs. [63092]
Mr Djanogly: As indicated in my answer of 10 June 2011, Official Report, columns 511-12W, discussions are continuing with officials in HM Revenue and Customs on the impact of civil litigation funding and costs reform on insolvency litigation. I believe that disclosure of internal papers could prejudice these discussions. Therefore, I am minded not to publish HMRC’s submission.
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Judges: Housing
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2011, Official Report, column 512W, what the cost to the public purse was of judges’ lodgings in each location in 2009-10. [62968]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The following table shows the cost of judges’ lodgings in each location for 2009-10.
| Location | Cost (£) |
Legal Aid
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what information his Department holds on the (a) absolute cost and (b) cost per head of population of legal aid systems in other countries. [63097]
Mr Djanogly: The research report “International comparison of publicly funded legal services and justice systems” provides robust comparisons of legal aid spending in England and Wales and a selection of European and non-European countries, as well as an assessment of the difficulties of international comparisons in this area. It is published on the Ministry of Justice website at:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/comparison-public-fund-legal-services-justice-systems.pdf
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In addition, the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) publishes reports on “European judicial systems: Efficiency and quality of justice” which are updated every two years. These reports contain a range of information on judicial systems, including legal aid, for a broad selection of European countries. The latest report is available at:
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/cooperation/cepej/evaluation/default_en.asp
Offenders: Training
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) with reference to his Department's Green Paper, “Breaking the Cycle: Effective Punishment, Rehabilitation and Sentencing of Offenders”, page 56, paragraph 193, what progress his Department has made in creating a new test to focus indefinite imprisonment under indeterminate sentences for public protection on those who clearly pose a very serious risk of future harm; [59917]
(2) with reference to his Department's Green Paper, “Breaking the Cycle: Effective Punishment, Rehabilitation and Sentencing of Offenders”, which crimes will no longer be eligible for indeterminate sentences for public protection as a result of his proposed changes. [59918]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: We will be conducting an urgent review of sentencing for serious sexual and violent offenders, with a view to replacing the current IPP regime with a determinate sentencing framework, which would be better understood by the public and command greater confidence. The review will also cover detention for public protection, the equivalent sentence to an IPP for juveniles.
Personal Injury: Applications
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy is on the implementation of the recommendation of Lord Justice Jackson on payments of referral fees for personal injury claims. [62952]
Mr Djanogly: I will provide the hon. Gentleman with a response as soon as possible.
Prison Service: Contracts
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which prisons his Department is considering for market testing; and if he will make a statement. [63036]
Mr Blunt: I will provide the hon. Lady with a reply as soon as possible.
Risk Assessment
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether a risk assessment was undertaken as part of the transfer of HMP Birmingham to G4S. [62853]
Mr Blunt: The National Offender Management Service has undertaken an ongoing and thorough assessment of risk regarding the competition and mobilisation of HMP Birmingham. The risk management process in place is compliant with departmental and governmental best practice.
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Culture, Media and Sport
Architecture: Finance
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) how much grant in aid funding his Department allocated to architecture in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12; [62135]
(2) how much grant in aid funding his Department allocated to the funding of design in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12; [62110]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: My Department gave grant in aid to the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) for the promotion of education or high standards in, and appreciation of, architecture and the design of the built environment. The amount CABE received from 2009 to 2012 (excluding the sea change grant programme) is in the following table:
|
|
£000 |
The grant in aid in 2011-12 is primarily for CABE's costs of closure.
Arts Council England allocates grant in aid to its regularly funded organisations through the sub-art form classifier ‘Architecture/landscape/environmental art' and the 2009-12 figures are in the following table:
| £ | |||
|
|
2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 |
Design does not receive grant in aid from my Department.
Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Childhood
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with Ofcom on the recommendations of the Bailey review of the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood. [62051]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: I have had no discussions. However, my Department will continue to work closely with the Department for Education in relation to the recommendations of the Bailey review, including those relevant to Ofcom.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the recommendations of the Bailey review on the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood. [62170]
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Mr Jeremy Hunt: While I have had no specific discussions, the ministerial statement made by the Minister of State for Children and Families on 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 8WS, made clear the Government's position. Furthermore, my officials have been liaising closely with the Department for Education with regard to the Government's proposals to monitor the implementation of the Bailey review's recommendations.
Film Innovation Fund
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which body is responsible for allocation of the film innovation fund; and when the funding will be disbursed. [63099]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: All lottery film funding, including funding for innovation, is now the responsibility of the British Film Institute (BFI). The role of innovation in supporting British film is being considered as part of the current film policy review.
Ofcom
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 136W, on Ofcom, when he plans to publish Ofcom's report on the workability of sections 17 and 18 of the Digital Economy Act 2010. [62134]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: As I informed the hon. Gentleman on 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 136W, we have received the report on the workability of sections 17 and 18 of the Digital Economy Act and will publish it in due course. We need to give it proper consideration before responding.
Sports: Betting
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when his Department plans to implement the outcome of its investigation into using cash in dormant betting accounts to set up a capital fund to improve local sports facilities and support sports clubs. [63098]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: The right hon. Member for Bath (Mr Foster) has completed his review of whether money lying in dormant betting accounts and from unclaimed winnings could be used to improve sports facilities and delivered his report to the Government in December 2010. The Minister responsible for tourism and heritage, my hon. Friend the Member for Weston-super-Mare (John Penrose), is considering the report in detail and will decide on the next steps after the Government have reached a conclusion on the regulatory future of remote gambling.
Sports: VAT
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will provide assistance to sport clubs and teams adversely affected by the treatment for VAT purposes by HM Revenue and Customs of sports league block bookings. [63038]
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Hugh Robertson: I commissioned a report by the Sport and Recreation Alliance on reducing bureaucracy in sports. The recommendations are being considered and officials have had discussions with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). However, VAT policy is a matter for HMRC.
Treasury
Arch Cru
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the merits of initiating an investigation into the role of Capita Financial Group in relation to the collapse of Arch Cru funds. [62673]
Mr Hoban: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is responsible for the regulation of financial services firms and operates independently from the Government under the powers given to it in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. HM Treasury sets the legal framework for the regulation of financial services, but does not have investigative or prosecuting powers of its own.
On 21 June 2011, the FSA announced a £54 million package for investors in Arch Cru funds. Established voluntarily by Capita Financial Managers Limited, BNY Mellon Trust, Depositary UK Limited and HSBC Bank plc, this package will be used to make payments to eligible investors in Arch Cru funds, and will assist the return of a substantial part of their investment to them. Capita Financial Managers has committed to contact investors with further information before the end of August.
Aviation: Pollution Control
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal steps his Department is taking to incentivise the aviation industry to (a) reduce aircraft noise, (b) reduce carbon dioxide emissions and (c) improve its economic competitiveness. [62622]
Justine Greening: Aviation will join the EU emission trading system from January 2012. The aviation sector in the UK will thus begin to take greater responsibility for its carbon emissions and impact on the global environment.
The Government also undertook a consultation on the UK's air passenger duty from 23 March to 17 June 2011. The Government will consider the views and evidence submitted by interested parties and will publish a summary of responses in the autumn.
Banks: Finance
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the distribution to the public of shares in banks in which UK Financial Investments manages the stake owned by the Government. [62641]
Mr Hoban: UK Financial Investments (UKFI) manages the Government's shareholding in financial institutions at an arm's length and commercial basis. UKFI's objective is to dispose of the investments in an orderly and active manner, within the context of an overarching objective of protecting and creating value for the taxpayer.
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UKFI will look at the full range of alternatives for divestment and make recommendations based on market conditions, on an assessment of investor demand and on value for money considerations at the time when considering a transaction.
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to his Department of (a) distributing to the public shares in banks in which UK Financial Investments manages the stake owned by the Government and (b) continuing to manage the Government's stake in such banks through UK Financial Investments. [62642]
Mr Hoban: UK Financial Investments (UKFI) has been set up to manage the Government's shareholding in financial institutions. UKFI's objective is to dispose of the investments in an orderly and active manner, within the context of an overarching objective of protecting and creating value for the taxpayer.
The Treasury and UKFI are continuing to assess all potential options to realise value for taxpayers through the disposal of these shares and will explore the distribution of shares to the public alongside ongoing preparations for other disposal options.
Chris Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any HM Treasury officials are working exclusively on the proposal that people on the electoral role may be given shares in the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group. [63039]
Mr Hoban: UK Financial Investments (UKFI) manages the Government's shareholding in Lloyds Banking Group and the Royal Bank of Scotland. UKFI's objective is to dispose of the investments in an orderly and active manner, within the context of an overarching objective of protecting and creating value for the taxpayer.
The Treasury and UKFI are continuing to assess all potential options to realise value for taxpayers through the disposal of these shares and will explore the distribution of shares to the public alongside ongoing preparations for other disposal options.
Economic Situation: Greece
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the potential effects of a Greek non-credit event debt renegotiation on (a) UK Financial Investments, (b) the UK financial services sector and (c) the credit default swap market. [62767]
Mr Hoban: The UK authorities carry out assessments on a wide range of risks. The Bank of England's financial stability report sets out the impact of key risks on UK Financial Stability.
UK Financial Investments (UKFI) continually reviews its strategy on the management of the Government investee banks. UKFI looks at the full range of alternatives for the investments, and makes its recommendations based on market conditions, an assessment of investor demand and on value for money considerations.
Data on external claims of UK-owned monetary financial institutions, and of their branches and subsidiaries abroad, are available on the Bank of England website at:
http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/statistics/Bankstats/2011/Jun/TabC4.2.xls
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This includes UK banking groups' direct exposures, as well as credit default swaps and other derivatives exposures.
Working Families Tax Credit
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many couples in receipt of working families tax credit made a claim based on working between 16 and 24 hours a week in the latest period for which figures are available. [61346]
Mr Gauke: The latest information on hours worked by claimants of tax credits is available in the HMRC snapshot publication “Child and Working Tax Credits statistics April 2011". This can be found at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-apr11.pdf
As of April 2011, there were approximately 280,000 couples in receipt of tax credits where the main worker worked between 16 and 24 hours per week.
Northern Ireland
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department has any plans to generate low-carbon energy from its estate. [63252]
Mr Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office has no plans to generate low-carbon energy.
The Department has, however, taken a number of steps to reduce its carbon footprint. These include reducing the need for travel between London and Belfast through the use of video conferencing facilities, introducing a biomass heating system for Hillsborough castle and installation of solar panels for water heating at Hillsborough castle.
Departmental Official Cars
Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost to his Department was of the provision of ministerial cars in each financial year between 2000-01 and 2010-11; how many (a) cars for the exclusive use of Ministers and (b) ministerial car journeys were paid for by his Department in each such year; what the average cost to his Department of a ministerial car journey was in each such year; and what steps his Department has taken to reduce the cost of ministerial cars since his appointment. [62999]
Mr Paterson: Information on the cost and number of ministerial cars is published in the annual written ministerial statement, details of which can be found within the Libraries of both Houses:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070726/wmstext/70726m0004.htm
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070726/wmstext/70726m0004.htm
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http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080722/wmstext/80722m0008.htm
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090716/wmstext/90716m0009.htm
http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/statements/hammond20101028a
Details of the cost for 2010-11 are being compiled and due for release in July 2011.
Information prior to 2005 is not available and would be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Information relating to individual ministerial car journeys prior to September 2010 is not available as there was no requirement to collect this data.
Information relating to the number of ministerial car journeys made since the introduction of the ‘on-demand’ ministerial car service on 6 September 2010 and up until 31 March 2011 is shown in the following table.
|
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Number |
Devolution
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Northern Ireland Executive and (b) Prime Minister on the devolution of further powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly. [62759]
Mr Paterson: I have had no recent discussions with either the Northern Ireland Executive or the Prime Minister on the devolution of further powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly. We will consider any requests for further devolution that have widespread support in Northern Ireland.
Energy and Climate Change
Energy: Meters
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects the framework for the procurement of the first generation of communication and data service contracts to be developed. [62231]
Charles Hendry: The strategy for the procurement of first-generation DCC service providers is currently being prepared by officials in DECC, with input from stakeholders as well as Infrastructure UK, which has expertise in large-scale public sector procurement. We intend to complete the strategy and begin the procurement process as soon as is practicable. We will set out further details of the process and the timetable for the procurement process when we are in a position to do so.
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Natural Gas
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential effects of shale gas extraction in the UK on (a) the amount of renewable electricity generated in the UK, (b) achieving domestic emissions targets and (c) levels of energy security; and if he will make a statement. [62813]
Charles Hendry: In the UK, shale gas has not yet been commercially proven. Analysis of the potential effects of extraction on development of renewable energy in the UK, domestic emissions targets and UK energy security would in the circumstances be subject to large uncertainties, so any such assessment would be speculative.
Oil: Reserves
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many barrels of oil the UK sold from its emergency oil reserves in June 2011. [62831]
Charles Hendry: The UK Government do not have emergency oil reserves as such. Instead, the UK obligates oil importers and refiners to hold oil stocks that can be supplied to the market to compensate for supply shortages under powers in the Energy Act 1976. In the event of a supply disruption, obligations on individual oil companies are lowered so that they can make these stocks available to the market.
In response to the International Energy Agency's call for collective release of 60 million barrels, the UK has lowered the compulsory stocking obligations on oil companies by two and a half days to release around 3 million barrels over an initial period of 30 days from 25 June 2011.
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the recent decision by members of the International Energy Agency to release oil reserves for sale. [62832]
Charles Hendry: On June 23 the UK joined its partners in the International Energy Agency (IEA) in releasing oil stocks to the market. A total of 60 million barrels of oil was made available to the market over 30 days, with the UK contributing some 3 million barrels.
The IEA assessed that unrest in Libya had removed 132 million barrels of light, sweet crude from the market by the end of May, and that normal seasonal increase in refiner demand expected for this summer will exacerbate the shortfall further. Greater tightness in the oil market could threaten to undermine the global economic recovery.
The IEA collective action is intended to complement increases in output already announced by producer countries such as Saudi Arabia. It will help to bridge the gap until sufficient additional oil from them reaches global markets.
In conjunction with the IEA, the UK will be participating in monitoring the volumes of stock released, both domestically and internationally. Oil stocks are expected to begin to be released to the market from early July.
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River Severn: Tidal Power
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Wales and (b) the First Minister of the Welsh Government on his Department's feasibility report on tidal energy systems in the Severn estuary; and if he will make a statement. [62002]
Charles Hendry: DECC Ministers and officials have regular discussions with their counterparts in Wales on a range of issues, including tidal energy in the Severn estuary.
Church Commissioners
Civil Partnerships
2. Mr Bradshaw: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury (Tony Baldry), representing the Church Commissioners, where the authority to permit the registration of civil partnerships in churches will reside following the enactment of the Government's legislative proposals. [62904]
Tony Baldry: The Church of England response to the Government’s consultation document was submitted on 23 June and endorsed the denominational opting-in mechanism that the Government had proposed. It said that in the case of the Church of England that would mean that churches could not become approved premises for the registration of civil partnerships until and unless the General Synod had first decided as a matter of policy that that would be possible.
Work and Pensions
Departmental Assets
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether receipts from the sale of assets owned by regional development agencies are reflected in the spending plans of his Department for (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14. [47411]
Chris Grayling: Ministerial responsibility for regional development agencies lies with other Government Departments. This Department is not expecting any receipts from the sale of assets owned by these agencies and has therefore not taken account of such receipts in its spending plans for 2012-13 and 2013-14.
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department plans to cease to fund any of its functions over the period of the comprehensive spending review. [55181]
Chris Grayling: The Department will continue to provide its core functions and deliver services to millions of customers over the period of the spending review. However, the challenging financial settlement for this period means that services and functions will need to be provided more efficiently. The Department will reduce the size of its corporate centre by 40% and plans to realise savings of 25% through streamlining and modernising its frontline activities.
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Measures to reduce the costs of benefits processing will include, for example, shifting from paper to digital- based services, sharing information more efficiently within and between Departments as well as action to tackle fraud and error.
The Department's structural reform priorities over the spending review period are set out in the business plan.
Efficiency Savings
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what plans he has for efficiency savings in his Department over the next three years; and what estimate he has made of the savings which will accrue from each measure; [63094]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of staff in each business unit of his Department who will be (a) made compulsorily redundant, (b) offered early retirement and (c) offered voluntary redundancy in each of the next three years. [63095]
Chris Grayling: The Department plans to realise substantial efficiency savings over the period of the spending review through measures which will deliver both savings and improved customer service, as well as focussing its resources on key reforms of the welfare system.
These plans include a reduction in the size of the corporate centre by up to 40%, primarily driven by an organisational redesign and reductions in contractual spend, for example on estates and IT. There are parallel measures to reduce the costs of benefits processing by 25% through streamlining and modernising frontline activities. These measures include, for example, shifting from paper to digital-based services and sharing information more efficiently within and between Departments. Specific actions to improve the efficiency, ease and speed of the Department's frontline activities are included in the business plan.
These plans may lead to offers of voluntary exit or voluntary redundancy or, if absolutely necessary, compulsory redundancy at some stage over the next three years. However, at present there are no specific estimates of numbers as these are dependent on various factors, particularly the potential for redeployment of staff in light of future new work relating to the introduction of universal credit.
Employment
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many adults not in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or employment and support allowance and in receipt of an inactive benefit entered employment in the last 12 months after a period of joblessness; and if he will make a statement. [58012]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available.
Claimants leaving benefits are not required to inform the Department of their destinations and hence the information that is collected is incomplete.
DWP analysts have been investigating the scope for producing regular statistics on benefit destinations, as well as improving consistency of use of this data across
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the analytical community. The destinations statistics have not been used in the public domain before, mainly because of gaps in coverage, and so are considered not robust enough for external use.
Employment Schemes: Hearing Impairment
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received from disability organisations on the consideration given to deaf people as part of the proposed Work programme. [52134]
Chris Grayling: During the design and tendering stages of the Work programme, DWP received a number of representations from a wide range of providers and customer representative groups. The Department responds to these individually and does not record them by category of disability.
Pensioners: Poverty
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 23 May 2011, Official Report, columns 495-6W, on pensioners: poverty, whether his Department has previously made any assessment of future trends in pensioner poverty. [61663]
Steve Webb: In recent years, the Department has not published assessments of future trends in pensioner poverty. At various times, some internal analysis of possible pensioner poverty trends has been produced as part of advice given to Ministers for the purpose of Government policy formulation.
At the moment, macroeconomic uncertainty and the Department's significant programme of welfare and pension reform mean that it is not possible to produce any reliable estimate of future trends in pensioner poverty.
Social Fund
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people made more than (a) three and (b) 10 applications to the social fund in the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [62506]
Steve Webb: The information requested is provided as follows.
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Social Security Benefits: Mental Health
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has asked Professor Malcolm Harrington to consider the effects of debt and debt enforcement on the mental health of benefit claimants and its effect on their capability to work as part of his review of the work capability assessment; and if he will make a statement. [63190]
Chris Grayling: Professor Harrington's scope is to review the fairness and effectiveness of the work capability assessment (WCA). He has not specifically been asked to consider the effects of debt, particularly on the wider benefit claimant population.
Universal Credit
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what options he is considering for support of child care costs through the proposed universal credit; and if he will make a statement. [62439]
Chris Grayling: We have announced that support for child care costs will be provided in universal credit by an additional element, and that we aim to extend support to those working fewer than 16 hours. We are still considering what rates to set.
We recently held productive discussions with MPs, peers and stakeholder groups during the Commons Committee stage of the Welfare Reform Bill. We are considering the advice and suggestions raised in those and have already promised to return to the House with more information when it is ready, and we expect to do this in time for discussion and scrutiny of the Bill in the House of Lords.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Government Food Procurement
15. Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made in developing Government buying standards for food procurement. [62891]
Richard Benyon: The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for South East Cambridgeshire (Mr Paice), announced earlier this month that for the first time the Government had introduced Government buying standards for food and catering services.
More sustainable food sourcing, healthier food choices, resource efficiency and waste reduction are all covered in these standards.
The Government are leading by example on sustainable food. GBS are mandatory for central Government Departments and will be promoted to the wider public sector.
Sewerage
16. Mark Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to implement the adoption of private drains and sewers by local water companies. [62892]
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Richard Benyon: I am pleased to say that the transfer of private sewers and lateral drains to the statutory sewerage undertakers in England will take place on 1 October this year. Regulations to provide for the transfer, involving those sewers and drains that connect to the public sewerage system, will take effect on 1 July and the undertakers will then start the formal notification process. Private sewer owners need take no action to make the transfer happen.
Employment Law
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with (a) officials in her Department, (b) the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and (c) outside organisations on the potential effects of changes arising from the review of employment law on matters within her Department's responsibilities. [60707]
Richard Benyon: The review of employment-related laws being co-ordinated by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is a cross-Government initiative.
All Departments with a responsibility for employment-related law are engaged in the process, and relevant Ministers and officials are in contact with BIS on a regular basis in taking forward the review.
Departments are engaging with their stakeholders on issues relating to the employment law review in accordance with their standard procedures for consulting formally and informally on policy development.
Departmental Buildings
Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the address is of each office property occupied by her Department outside Greater London which it (a) owns and (b) rents; what the level of utilisation is of each such property; what the capital value is of each such property it owns; and what the (i) annual rental cost and (ii) length of lease agreement is of each rented property. [61177]
Richard Benyon: I have deposited the information requested in the House Library.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to publish monthly information on changes in the numbers of employees of her Department's agencies, categorised by (a) seniority, (b) voluntary redundancy, (c) natural wastage and (d) involuntary redundancy. [61710]
Richard Benyon: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 7 June 2011, Official Report, columns 63-64W.
Departmental Redundancy
Tessa Jowell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public
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purse of redundancies in its non-departmental bodies
(a)
in 2011-12 and
(b)
over the comprehensive spending review period. [61721]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 23 June 2011]:For 2011-12 NDPBs have estimated exit costs of approximately £30 million. Detailed information is not yet available for the remainder of the spending review.
Food: Prices
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking in response to recent trends in food prices. [62882]
Mrs Spelman: The Foresight report to the Government's chief scientific adviser on food and farming futures highlighted the need for transparency in global food markets and liberalisation of international trade to address price volatility.
The Government are committed to promoting better functioning of agricultural markets to help mitigate future price spikes.
Last week I attended the G20 Agriculture Ministers' meeting, where we agreed measures to increase production and provide the market with better information about supply and demand.
I wish to see further liberalisation of international trade which, as the Foresight project states, will help dampen price volatility.
Local Government Finance
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much each local authority received from each (a) revenue and (b) capital funding stream from her Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; how much funding her Department allocated from each such stream in each year; and what the change was in the level of funding in each such stream between those years in (A) cash and (B) real terms. [49258]
Richard Benyon: Details of the revenue and capital grants paid by this Department direct to local authorities in 2010-11 and the amounts that have been allocated to local authorities so far in 2011-12 have been placed in the House Libraries.
Offshore Industry: Arctic
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on securing an agreement at global level on a moratorium on drilling for oil or gas in the Arctic Circle. [62740]
Charles Hendry: I have been asked to reply.
Well-supplied oil and gas markets from a diverse range of suppliers are an important foundation for global growth and for the UK’s prosperity. It is the sovereign right of every nation to decide whether to produce resources within its jurisdiction, and we would not press for any agreement to limit this on a geographical basis. We would expect all oil and gas drilling, wherever
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it is carried out, to be properly regulated and licensed and carried out in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.
Peak Oil
Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to address the challenges posed by peak oil. [60097]
Richard Benyon: The Government are working domestically and internationally to help investment and price stability in the oil sector. In addition, the Department works closely with the Department for Energy and Climate Change on climate change and energy efficiency policies that will reduce both the UK's carbon emissions and help to ease our demand for oil. Additional areas where my Department is working to address challenges imposed by peak oil are outlined as follows.
We are working closely with DECC to ensure that Government policy benefits rural communities, including initiatives aimed at addressing fuel poverty, improving household energy efficiency and encouraging better take- up of renewable energy options. We are also working with the Office of Fair Trading as it undertakes its review of the off-grid energy market, as a significant proportion of rural households are off the gas grid and rely on heating oil and other relatively expensive forms of heating fuel.
Under the rural development programme for England, the Government can support actions by farmers to improve their resource efficiency, for example by encouraging the adoption of new technologies and supporting innovative practices in their use of resources derived from oil.
Public Sector: Food
Zac Goldsmith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 June 2011, Official Report, columns 77-79WS, on food and catering services (Government Buying Standards), what steps
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she plans to take to encourage the rest of the public sector to comply with Government buying standards for food and catering services. [62685]
Mr Paice: With the Government buying standards we are setting a credible and workable example of sustainable food procurement that all public sector bodies can follow.
We are working with major local authority buying organisations in the PR05 group to encourage the voluntary inclusion of Government buying standards into national food and catering procurement, which will enable public sector bodies to achieve cost savings without compromising on quality or sustainability.
In addition, DEFRA is developing training for catering managers and procurers in the public sector on efficient and sustainable food procurement based around the Government buying standards and using examples of best practice from around the country.
We believe that local people are best placed to decide what is best in their communities and therefore have published guidance for buyers alongside the standards.
Education
Adoption
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many placement orders have ended before adoption has been granted by (a) age, (b) ethnicity and (c) gender of the child placed in each year since 2004-05. [62305]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 27 June 2011]:The number of children whose placement orders ended before an adoption order was granted, broken down by age, ethnicity and gender is shown in the following table. The number of children who ceased to be looked after while subject to a placement order other than those who were adopted, broken down by age, ethnicity and gender, is also shown in the table. Placement orders were introduced in December 2005. Therefore, the first full year for which this information is available is the year ending 31 March 2007.
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Children: Protection
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will assess the effect on child protection services in Bolton metropolitan borough of reductions to local authority budgets. [60940]
Sarah Teather: It is for local authorities to determine the allocation of their resources and I am sure that in doing so they will be taking into account both their statutory responsibilities and the needs of the most vulnerable children and young people. The Department for Education has not made its own assessment, but I am aware of the research that has been carried out by other organisations. I am pleased that this research suggests that in making difficult decisions most local authorities are taking steps to protect the most vulnerable children.
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will amend Chapter 4, paragraph 4.59 of the “Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education” document to ensure that supply agencies are obliged to provide to schools and further education colleges direct evidence that the requisite safety checks have been carried out on supply staff prior to an individual taking up their post. [62537]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 28 June 2011]:In light of the proposed changes to the vetting and barring scheme and criminal records regime, and subject to the passage of the Protection of Freedoms Bill, the Government will be revisiting the current guidance on recruitment in schools. This will include reviewing the guidance on use of agency and other temporary workers. My Department is giving careful consideration to the issues, including the suggestion that schools and colleges should be provided with direct evidence that checks have been carried out. In our considerations, we will be mindful of the importance of avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy for schools and the recruitment industry.
Education: Arts
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will prepare an impact assessment on the effects of his Department's education reforms on the arts and culture sector. [62241]
Mr Gibb
[holding answer 27 June 2011]: The organisations within the arts and culture sector are vital partners in achieving cultural education for all children. Our schools White Paper, “The Importance of Teaching”,
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stated our commitment to ensuring that every child experiences a high-quality cultural education. Following a well-received review of music education earlier this year, Darren Henley, managing director of Classic FM, is currently undertaking a review of cultural education and we expect to receive from him, later this year, recommendations on how best to achieve this.
Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to publish the terms of reference for the internal review of personal, social, health and economic education, including sex and relationship education announced in his Department’s publication “The Importance of Teaching: the Schools White Paper 2010”; and if he will make a statement. [59395]
Mr Gibb: I can confirm that we will publish the remit for the personal, social, health and economic review on the Department’s website. The remit for the review is still being considered and further details will be available in due course.
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to publish his Department's review of personal, social, health and economic education. [59419]
Mr Gibb: When the review of personal, social, health and economic education is launched, we plan to publish the remit on the Department's website.
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects his Department's review of personal, social, health and economic education to be completed. [59517]
Mr Gibb: We will set a deadline to complete the review of personal, social, health and economic education in the remit to be published.
Primary Education: Standards
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the name is of each of the 200 worst performing primary schools in England. [61156]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 21 June 2011]: The Department does not intend to publish a list of the 200 worst performing primary schools in England.
Pupils: Disadvantaged
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on ensuring that children in receipt of free school meals are adequately nourished during school holidays. [62503]
Mr Gibb: Free school meals are provided to eligible pupils attending school during term time only. When children are not at school, the benefits system should provide support for poorer families to provide sufficient nourishment for their children.
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Written Questions: Government Responses
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to answer question 60376 on contracts held by his Department, which was tabled on 14 June 2011 for answer on 16 June 2011. [62770]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 28 June 2011]: I refer the hon. Lady to the response issued on 27 June 2011, Official Report, columns 572-75W.