Social Services
Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many local authorities have (a) changed and (b) given notice of a change to eligibility criteria for social care in the last six months; [62798]
(2) what steps his Department takes to monitor changes to local authority social care eligibility criteria. [62799]
Paul Burstow: There has been no change in the Department's long standing position that it does not formally monitor changes to local authority social care eligibility criteria. Allocations of resources at a local level is the responsibility of local authorities who are best placed to understand the needs of their community.
Councils should use the framework set out in the guidance ‘Prioritising need in the context of Putting People First: A whole system approach to eligibility for social care’, to draw up local eligibility criteria. This is
4 July 2011 : Column 1062W
graded into four bands—critical; substantial; moderate and low. A copy of the guidance has already been placed in the Library.
On 11 May 2011, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services published a survey that indicated that 13% (19) councils had changed their eligibility criteria between 2010-11 and 2011-12. According to the survey, there are now 78% (116) councils at substantial, 15% (22) at moderate, 3% (four) at low and 4% (six) at critical.
Social Services: Finance
Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department takes to monitor whether the expenditure of funding allocated to local authorities for social care in 2011-12 (a) has been and (b) is to be spent on social care services; and if he will make a statement; [63103]
(2) how much funding the NHS (a) provided for social care in 2010-11 and (b) plans to provide for social care in 2011-12; and what steps his Department plans to take to monitor whether such funding is spent as intended; [63104]
(3) how much of the funding for social care announced in the comprehensive spending review has been allocated to each local authority in England; and how much funding so allocated (a) has been spent and (b) is intended to be spent on social care provision. [63105]
Paul Burstow: The additional funding for social care has been allocated in two distinct ways, through formula grant to local authorities and from the national health service to local authorities.
In 2011-12, an additional £530 million was allocated to local government in addition to existing departmental grants for social care. In order to support local flexibility and to reduce administrative burdens, this funding was allocated to local authorities through the local government formula grant. Formula grant is not hypothecated for different services and it is therefore not possible to determine how much of the additional funding through local government has been allocated for social care. However, we do receive local authorities’ budgeted spend on adult social care through the revenue accounts data returns in June of each year. These data are publicly available.
In addition to funding through formula grant, the Government provided a specific allocation of £648 million to primary care trusts (PCTs) for 2011-12 for measures that support social care, which also benefit health. As part of our planning and assurance processes for 2011-12, we are holding strategic health authorities (SHA) to account for ensuring that arrangements are in place between local authorities and PCTs for the funding to be transferred and objectives for the investment agreed.
Local authorities (LAs) and the NHS have been working together to agree how this funding should be best used to support social care services. NHS planning assurance showed that all SHAs had confirmed there were local plans in place to agree the transfer. We will continue to get information on the progress of the money as the NHS financial reporting year progresses.
4 July 2011 : Column 1063W
In addition to this funding, the Government allocated £150 million to PCTs in 2011-12 to develop local re-ablement services in the context of the post-discharge support plans submitted to SHAs last December. It is for PCTs and LAs locally to agree the plans for this funding.
In 2010-11, by making efficiency savings to central programmes, the Department made available an extra £162 million to local health and care services to spend in 2010-11 on front-line services. In addition, £70 million was made available for re-ablement services in 2010-11.
The breakdown of the £162 million 2010-11 and £648 million 2011-12 allocations to PCTs for social care can be found in the Library.
Tuberculosis: Drugs
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients (a) completed and (b) were unable to complete due to unavailability of drugs treatment for drug (i) susceptible and (ii) resistant tuberculosis in each of the last five years. [63295]
Anne Milton: The information is not available in the format requested. The latest available information on treatment completion for tuberculosis (TB), as collated by the Health Protection Agency, is shown in the following table.
| Number and proportion of TB cases completing treatment within 12 months, United Kingdom 2004-08 | |||
| Completed treatment | |||
|
|
Cases reported | Number | Percentage |
| Notes: 1. TB surveillance data are currently available up to 2009. Because treatment outcomes are obtained 12 months after start of treatment, these are only currently available up to 2008. 2. Reasons for non-completion of treatment may include, for example, continuing treatment, the death of the patient (which is not necessarily related to TB) and loss to follow-up (including patients who have moved abroad). | |||
Energy and Climate Change
Carbon Emissions
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2011, Official Report, column 123W, on departmental carbon emissions, when he plans to explore the feasibility of generating low carbon energy on his departmental estate. [63420]
Gregory Barker: We are planning to explore the feasibility of generating low carbon energy from the DECC estate in the course of this financial year.
Carbon Emissions: Housing
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration he has given to the merits of including lighting and appliances in the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target. [64010]
4 July 2011 : Column 1064W
Gregory Barker: A wide range of products and appliances have historically been eligible for delivery under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT). These include lighting measures such as CFLs and LED lighting; consumer electronics, such as some televisions and radios; domestic appliances, such as some fridges, microwaves and dishwashers; and other energy efficient products, such as shower regulators and real time displays. Following an earlier public consultation, the Government took action to exclude CFLs from the scheme as from 31 March this year. A further public consultation on the role of the remaining products and appliances closed in January. We are currently considering the evidence received and expect to publish a response to this consultation shortly.
Carbon Emissions: Northern Ireland
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the introduction of a carbon price floor on Northern Ireland energy producers who are part of the All Ireland Energy Market. [59146]
Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
The carbon price floor is a UK-wide policy, which will drive new investment in low-carbon technologies across the country.
The Government had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive during the consultation and are continuing to work with Northern Ireland Executive to monitor potential interactions with the Single Electricity Market and Northern Ireland's commitment to higher levels of investment in renewable electricity generation.
Carbon Sequestration
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to publish his decision on the first carbon capture and storage project. [63274]
Charles Hendry: Negotiations with the Scottish Power consortium on the UK's first carbon capture and storage demonstration project are ongoing, with the aim of reaching an agreement as soon as possible.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects a decision to be made on EU funding for UK carbon capture and storage projects. [63315]
Charles Hendry: EU funding for UK carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects will be provided through a funding mechanism financed from the sale of 300 million EU emissions allowances that are ring fenced in the new entrant reserve in phase 3 of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. The process for selecting projects to benefit from the first tranche of funding (raised from the sale of 200 million of the ring-fenced allowances) is under way and the European Commission has stated that it expects to make award decisions in the second half of 2012.
Timings for the selection process and award decisions relating to the second tranche of funding have not yet been published by the European Commission.
4 July 2011 : Column 1065W
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the development of carbon capture and storage. [63316]
Charles Hendry: The subject of CCS development is regularly raised in conversations that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and I have with our EU counterparts. My officials also have regular conversations with their counterparts and participate in a number of CCS related EU for a including the CCS European Industrial Initiative, the European CCS Demonstration Project Network Advisory Forum and the Zero Emissions Platform Government Group.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had held with industry representatives on the development of carbon capture and storage in the UK. [63317]
Charles Hendry: The Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with industry representatives on the development of CCS, including through the biannual CCS Development Forum which I chair, our annual CCS senior stakeholder conference, bilateral meetings and attendance at events such as the Carbon Capture and Storage Association's reception last month.
My ministerial colleagues are of course in regular discussions with the Scottish Power Consortium as part of the negotiations for the UK's first carbon capture and storage demonstration project.
In addition, my officials are in close contact with industry representatives on all aspects of CCS.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for carbon capture and storage projects. [63318]
Charles Hendry: There are regular discussions at ministerial level between the Department and HM Treasury on the question of funding for carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. This includes discussions on the funding for the first commercial-scale CCS demonstration project, the use of general taxation to fund further demonstration projects and the impact on CCS projects of the proposed electricity market reforms. In addition, my officials hold regular detailed discussions with their counterparts on these issues.
Climate Change: Finance
Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the progress made by the UNFCCC's Transitional Committee for the design of the Green Climate Fund; and what progress he expects the Transitional Committee to have made by the Climate Summit in Durban. [63415]
Gregory Barker: The UK is a member of the Transitional Committee and has participated actively in its first meeting. The Transitional Committee has established workstreams covering the key areas for decision including guiding principles, governance and operating modalities.
4 July 2011 : Column 1066W
There is considerable work underway now to develop and assess options under each of the workstreams, managed by a programme of Transitional Committee meetings and technical workshops.
The timetable for developing its recommendations is challenging. However, I hope the Transitional Committee will be in a position to make its recommendations at the UNFCCC meeting in Durban at the end of this year, as set out in the Cancun agreement.
Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department intends to take to meet its commitments on climate finance after 2014. [63416]
Gregory Barker: The 2010 spending review provides a total of £2.9 billion of international climate finance to 2014-15 making the UK one of the few countries to commit climate finance beyond the fast start period (2010-12). Climate finance commitments after 2014-15 will be determined during the next spending review.
In the longer term, the Government are fully behind the goal to mobilise $100 billion of public and private finance by 2020 to help developing countries tackle climate change. We are working with our international partners through the. UNFCCC, the G20, the International Maritime Organisation and other forums to deliver the long-term sources of climate finance necessary to meet this goal. Through the Capital Markets Climate Initiative we are also working to catalyse private finance flows to developing countries.
Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the Government plans to channel all or part of the monies allocated for international climate finance through the Green Climate Fund. [63417]
Gregory Barker: The spending review provides a total of £2.9 billion in international climate finance—the International Climate Fund (ICF)—over the spending review period.
We will consider the size of a potential UK contribution to the Green Climate Fund following the design of the fund and a full evaluation against ICF objectives.
Departmental Freedom of Information
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many requests under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 his Department received from (a) hon. Members from each political party and (b) members of the public in each year since the Act's entry into force. [63582]
Gregory Barker: The Department does not collect detailed statistics about the background of individual requesters or the political party affiliations of Members of Parliament. This is because the Freedom of Information Act is applicant and motive blind and therefore it is not necessary to record or determine this information.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change was formed on 3 October 2008 and statistics exist for then onwards as follows:
4 July 2011 : Column 1067W
From 3 October 2008 to 31 December 2008 inclusive no requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 were received from MPs while 16 requests were received from members of the public.
During 2009 one request was received from an MP and 109 requests were received from members of the public.
During 2010 14 requests were received from MPs and 306 requests were received from members of the public.
From 1 January 2011 to 31 March 2011 inclusive three requests were received from MPs and 65 requests were received from members of the public.
The Ministry of Justice publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the volume, timeliness and outcome of information requests received by over 40 central Government bodies.
Statistics from 1 April have yet to be published as part of the Ministry of Justice's quarterly statistics. Under the Official Statistics Code of Practice, we cannot release statistics for a time period prior to their appearance in a regular statistical report. Statistics for April 2011 onwards will be collated and published in due course.
These figures may not represent all Freedom of Information requests from MPs as we may only record those that are clearly stated as being from an MP.
This information may include data on routine information requests that are not included in the Ministry of Justice's published statistics on freedom of information implementation in central Government, for instance where all the requested information is already published and reasonably accessible to the applicant.
Electricity: Northern Ireland
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the Electricity White Paper will include proposals to ensure that power generators in Northern Ireland are not disadvantaged by the introduction of a carbon floor price. [63552]
Charles Hendry: Government are actively working with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to assess the potential impacts of the carbon price floor on the single electricity market.
Energy
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when the next Annual Energy Statement will be published. [63275]
Gregory Barker: The next Annual Energy Statement will be published in autumn 2011.
Energy Supply: Defence
Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has had discussions with (a) Ministers and (b) officials in the Ministry of Defence on potential consequences for energy security of reductions in expenditure on defence; and if he will make a statement. [63131]
Charles Hendry:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, have discussed the full range of UK national security issues as members of the National Security Council, including
4 July 2011 : Column 1068W
in the context of the strategic defence and security review. DECC and MOD officials have had broad discussions on the possible implications of cuts for energy security, including at the International Energy Security Committee.
Energy: Housing
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on the inclusion of voltage optimisation technologies in the Green Deal. [63225]
Gregory Barker: The Green Deal will cover a broad range of measures, and eligibility for Green Deal finance will ultimately be determined by whether the measures have the potential to pay for themselves through fuel bill savings.
DECC is currently reviewing evidence relating to the performance of voltage optimisation technologies and will clarify the position in the public consultation in autumn 2011.
Energy: Prices
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many meetings he had with (a) EDF, (b) Scottish Power, (c) Scottish and Southern Energy and (d) E.ON UK Ltd to discuss energy prices in (i) January, (ii) February, (iii) March, (iv) April and (v) May 2011; and if he will make a statement. [63593]
Charles Hendry: DECC Ministers and officials meet with energy suppliers on a regular basis to discuss market issues.
Consumers deserve the best possible deal, which means rough and tough competition in the marketplace. We are cutting red tape for smaller suppliers to boost competition in retail markets, while Ofgem is tackling other barriers to effective competition (such as tariff complexity and low wholesale market liquidity) in its Retail Market Review. While greater competition should put pressure on prices consumers should also regularly evaluate the best deal on the market.
Government are also taking a range of actions to increase people's control over their energy bills through energy efficiency, including the Green Deal, and better information.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effects of recent increases in energy prices by Scottish Power on (a) consumers in Scotland, (b) the incidence of fuel poverty in the UK and (c) the incidence of fuel poverty in London; and if he will make a statement. [63594]
Charles Hendry: The Government were disappointed on behalf of consumers about the price rise. We would encourage consumers to regularly check that they are on the best deal and take steps to switch supplier or tariff if they are not. Ofgem's review of retail markets, is proposing, among other things, to simplify tariffs to help consumers find the best deal for them.
4 July 2011 : Column 1069W
No formal assessments of the effects of recent changes in domestic energy prices on fuel poverty levels have yet been undertaken.
However, DECC will publish its 2011 projections of fuel poverty for England on 14 July 2011 (as fuel poverty is a devolved statistic, each of the devolved Administrations manage equivalent surveys with the same range of information).
Data on fuel poverty at a sub-regional level, including estimates for London, in 2008 (the latest year for which this information is available) can be found on the DECC website at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/fuelpov_stats/regional/regional.aspx
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effects on consumers in London of the case of energy mis-selling by Scottish and Southern Energy; and if he will make a statement. [63595]
Charles Hendry: Doorstep selling has proven to be a useful way of bringing the benefits of energy competition to the attention of consumers. It is important, however, to provide consumers with proper safeguards. In 2009, Ofgem brought in new rules that require any information used during the doorstep sales process to be complete, accurate and not misleading. It is for Ofgem to investigate any allegations of the rules being breached and to take any necessary action.
Fuel: Prices
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effects of recent trends in fuel prices on progress towards the Government's fuel poverty targets. [63386]
Gregory Barker: No formal assessments of the effects of recent changes in domestic energy prices on fuel poverty levels have yet been undertaken.
The recent changes in domestic energy prices on fuel poverty will lead to upward pressure on fuel poverty in 2011. Nevertheless, the true effect will only be known when we have full information on price changes from all suppliers and the 2011 English Housing Survey (EHS). The EHS provides vital information for calculating the level of fuel poverty, including the mix of domestic fuels used by households, the income of those living in the households and the energy efficiency of the housing stock. Each of the devolved Administrations manage equivalent surveys with the same range of information, as fuel poverty is a devolved statistic.
However, an assessment of the likely impact of all changes for England will be made on 14 July 2011 when DECC will publish 2011 projections of fuel poverty for England.
Fukushima
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 21 June 2011, Official Report, column 5WS, on Fukushima (Interim Report), if he will make it his policy to update Parliament regularly on progress in nuclear safety initiatives undertaken with international partners at the (a) G8, (b) G20 and (c) the International Atomic Energy Agency. [63370]
4 July 2011 : Column 1070W
Charles Hendry: I intend to inform Parliament of significant developments arising in relation to nuclear safety initiatives. This will include any developments that arise as a result of the Government's work with our international partners.
Natural Gas
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the (a) greenhouse gas footprint and (b) level of methane emissions, including leaks during the production process, arising from the production of (i) natural gas from shale formations, (ii) natural gas from conventional sources and (iii) coal, including related extraction processes and combustion; and if he will make a statement. [62812]
Charles Hendry: I have made no assessment of the greenhouse gas emissions of shale gas related extraction: emissions from shale gas extraction processes will be determined by the design and conditions of a particular development and no development has been proposed for the UK.
I note that a recent report by the International Energy Authority entitled ‘Are We Entering A Golden Age For Gas’ assessed well-to-burner emissions from unconventional gas, for the particular circumstances they considered and in the ‘non venting’ case, as only slightly higher than from conventional gas, with the combustion of gas being the dominant source of emissions.
The GHG inventory provides methane leakage emissions. In 2009 fugitive methane emissions from coal mining and handling in the UK was 2860.46 Gg CO2e and for natural gas it was 4293.86 Gg CO2e (of which 65.58 Gg CO2e were attributed to production/processing).
The DEFRA/DECC greenhouse gas (GHG) conversion factors for company reporting provide GHG emission factors from the combustion of fuels (scope 1) and indirect upstream emissions associated with the extraction and transport of primary fuels as well as the refining, distribution, storage and retail of finished fuels (scope 3). These are derived from GHG inventory and Digest of UK Energy Statistic data. The following shows the emissions factors on energy gross calorific value basis for natural gas and coal. We do not have emission factors split into conventional and unconventional natural gas.
| Scope 1 | Scope 3 | All scopes | |
| Fuel type | Total d irect GHG kg CO2e per unit | Total indirect GHG kg CO2e per unit | Grand total GHG e.g. CO2e per unit |
| Source: DEFRA/DECC 2010 | |||
Nuclear Power Stations: Sellafield
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on nuclear power provision at Sellafield; and if he will make a statement. [63423]
4 July 2011 : Column 1071W
Charles Hendry: The Government have not held any discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on Nuclear Power provision at Sellafield.
Solar Power: Housing
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on planning rules for the installation of solar photovoltaics on domestic properties. [63276]
Gregory Barker: DECC Ministers meet regularly with their counterparts from the Department for Communities and Local Government and other Government Departments to discuss a range of issues. It has been the practice of successive Administrations not to reveal details of such meetings.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with representatives of installers on planning rules for the installation of solar photovoltaics on domestic properties. [63277]
Gregory Barker: Ministers have regular meetings with the Solar PV industry where a wide range of topics are discussed.
DECC officials have held discussions with the Solar PV industry about planning, as part of the work to complete the Microgeneration Strategy, which was published on the 22 June 2011.
The Microgeneration Strategy seeks to tackle the non-financial barriers facing the sector. Further information is available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/microgen/strategy/strategy.aspx
Superconductors: Research
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what funding his Department has allocated to research into the development of superconductors in 2011-12. [62971]
Gregory Barker: The Department has not allocated funding to research into the development of superconductors in 2011-12. However, the Department works closely with Department of Business, Innovation and Skills who sponsor the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) which is doing research on superconductors.
Wind Power
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the use of overhead pylons to transmit power in Wales. [62837]
Charles Hendry:
I have not had specific discussions with the Welsh Government on this issue. However at the British-Irish Council summit on 20 June that I attended, the Welsh First Minister, Carwyn Jones, raised
4 July 2011 : Column 1072W
the issue of pylons in Wales as part of a wider point on the impact of the UK Government energy policy on Wales.
The national policy statements published on 23 June set out the need for new electricity infrastructure and provide a framework for planning decision making for power lines at 132 kV and above in England and Wales, and include advice to the decision maker on acceptable levels of mitigation of environmental and visual amenity impacts.
Wind Power: Public Finance
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his estimate is of the cost to the public purse of constraint payments to wind farm operators in (a) the latest period for which figures are available and (b) each of the next five years. [63196]
Charles Hendry: Constraint payments to generators of all types are recovered by National Grid as part of the Balancing Services Use of System charges (BSUoS). BSUoS is paid equally by generators and suppliers, based on their energy taken from, or supplied to, the network. National Grid advises that payments to reduce the output of wind farm operators for the latest period are as follows:
| 2011 | £ |
| (1 )Data to 22 June | |
National Grid does not forecast future constraint payments by fuel type. Its forecast (as at 31 March 2011) of total constraint costs across all fuel types covers the next two years:
|
|
£ million |
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his estimate is of the cumulative public subsidy that will be given to wind power generation in the period between 2010 and 2020. [63197]
Charles Hendry: The Government do not set targets for individual energy generation technologies but we estimate that the contribution of wind energy to the UK 2020 renewable energy target through the RO, feed-in tariff and the climate change levy exemption (estimates in 2010 prices undiscounted) implies a subsidy of over £5 billion in 2020.
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his estimate is of (a) the value of the power generated by and (b) the level of public subsidy to an average wind turbine in the latest period for which figures are available. [63198]
4 July 2011 : Column 1073W
Charles Hendry: The day-ahead wholesale electricity price averaged approximately £50/MWh over June 2011, according to the London Energy Brokers Association.
The level of renewables obligation support available to onshore wind farms is one renewables obligation certificate (ROC) per MWh of electricity generated, and that available to offshore wind farms is two ROCs per MWh. The expected value of a ROC is constant over time at around £43 in 2011-12 prices.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Arms Trade: Exports
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many export licences for goods on the Military List were issued in respect of exports to (a) Bahrain, (b) Saudi Arabia, (c) the United Arab Emirates, (d) Kuwait, (e) Oman and (f) Qatar in each month from January to May 2011. [63369]
Mr Prisk: Information on arms exports is published in the annual and quarterly reports on strategic export controls. These reports contain detailed information on export licences issued, refused or revoked, by destination, including the overall value, type (e.g. military, other) and a summary of the items covered by the licences. They are available to view on the strategic export controls reports and statistics website at:
https://www.exportcontroldb.berr.gov.uk/eng/fox
By registering on the website, it is possible to obtain the information broken down by month.
The reports currently available provide information up to 31 December 2010. Information covering 1 January 2011 to 31 March 2011 is due to be published in the first week of July and information covering 1 April 2011 to 30 June 2011 will be published in October 2011.
Bombardier Aerospace
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) on which dates he has had meetings with representatives of Bombardier Aerospace since 12 May 2010; [63728]
(2) what meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department plan to have with Bombardier Aerospace to discuss the future of the company in the UK. [63729]
Mr Prisk: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, has had no individual meetings with Bombardier Aerospace since 12 May 2010 although representatives of the company have been present at aerospace events attended by him.
There are no plans for BIS Ministers to meet the company to discuss its future. My noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade and Investment (Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint) visited the company on 1 February 2011, as did the Minister for Universities and Science, my right hon. Friend the Member for Havant (Mr Willetts), on 26 May (as part of a visit to the Northern Ireland Advanced Composite and Engineering Development Centre), and I met Bombardier Aerospace at the recent Paris Airshow on 20 June.
4 July 2011 : Column 1074W
Business: Government Assistance
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of applications to the Regional Growth Fund were rejected because of concerns about the compliance of any award with EU state aid rules. [62453]
Mr Prisk: In Round 1 no Regional Growth Fund applications were rejected because of concerns about the compliance of any award with EU state aid rules.
Departmental Manpower
Damian Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials of each grade in his Department advise him on policy relating to (a) financial services, (b) manufacturing by the (i) automotive, (ii) aviation, (iii) technology, (iv) textile, (v) pharmaceutical, (vi) green technology and (vii) advanced engineering sub-sectors, (c) retail by the (i) food and (ii) clothing sub-sectors, (d) hotels and restaurants, (e) transport and communication by the (i) transport, (ii) telecoms, (iii) publishing and (iv) radio and television sub-sectors and (f) digital and creative industries by the (i) digital, (ii) design, (iii) fashion, (iv) music and (v) film sub-sectors. [63437]
Mr Prisk: Much of the Department's resource is focused on creating the right economic conditions for growth across all sectors of the economy. More specifically, the Department has the following people resource focused on individual sectors:
|
|
Number |
Green Investment Bank
Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the selection process for the location of the Green Investment Bank will be by open invitation. [62456]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 29 June 2011]:The location for the Green Investment Bank (GIB) will be chosen to enable it best to deliver its mission. The criteria will be: (1) ability to deliver the GIB mission (2) operational costs, and (3) access to required talent. Fuller details of these criteria are set out in section 2.8 of the "Update on the design of the Green Investment Bank" which was published on 23 May. This decision will be taken in due course. While my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills will be taking the decision according to these criteria, in the meantime, cities are welcome to make their case.
4 July 2011 : Column 1075W
Higher Education: Admissions
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many children educated in maintained schools in each local authority area were accepted for entry by (a) Cambridge and (b) Oxford University in the last year for which figures are available. [62734]
Mr Willetts: The information in the table shows the number of 15-year-olds in English maintained schools in 2003/04 who progressed to Cambridge or Oxford University by age 19 in 2007/08. The local authority is defined by the school where the pupil studied at age 15. Pupils may move to a different local authority area to undertake post-16 studies.
Figures have been estimated using matched data from the National Pupil Database and the Higher Education Statistics Agency Student Record. These rounded estimates allow for a small margin of error that arises as result of the matching procedure deployed. Figures for the 2008/09 academic year will be available from August 2011.
The figures in the table show the number of students who entered a higher education course at either Cambridge or Oxford, rather than the numbers who were accepted for entry via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
| Number of 15-year-olds in English maintained schools in 2003/04 who progressed to Cambridge or Oxford University by age 19 in 2007/08 | ||
| Local authority | Cambridge | Oxford |
4 July 2011 : Column 1076W
4 July 2011 : Column 1077W
4 July 2011 : Column 1078W
| Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest five. Figures less than five are shown as ‘—’ and zero counts are shown as 0. Source: Matched National Pupil Database and HESA Student Record (NPD-HESA) | ||
Manufacturing Industries
Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the contribution to the UK economy of manufacturing in each (a) region and (b) sector. [62965]
Mr Prisk: The information is as follows:
(a) The contribution of manufacturing to the UK economy broken down by country and region as at 2008 is set out in table 1.
| Table 1: Economic contribution of manufacturing by region, 2008 | |
| Region | Percentage of GVA in manufacturing |
(b) Manufacturing accounted for £150 billion or 11.6% of total UK gross value added in 2008. The economic contribution of individual manufacturing subsectors is set out in table 2.
| Table 2: Economic contribution of manufacturing subsectors, 2008 | |
| Manufacturing subsectors | Percentage of total UK GVA |
4 July 2011 : Column 1079W
Munitions Workers: Medals
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will introduce a medal for award to former munitions workers. [63137]
Mr Prisk: Following my discussions with a number of hon. Members about options for formally recognising those who worked in munitions factories during the world wars, an inaugural meeting of an All Party Parliamentary Group on Recognition for Munitions Workers has been convened by the hon. Member for Ogmore (Huw Irranca-Davies) on Tuesday 12 July 2011 at 1pm in Committee Room 18 to appoint officers. I have offered to attend the first substantive meeting—expected to take place in September.
New Businesses: Government Assistance
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to (a) encourage entrepreneurial activity and (b) increase the proportion of people starting businesses. [62213]
Mr Prisk: In January 2011, the Department published “Bigger, Better Business: Helping small firms start, grow and prosper”, setting out what we are doing to ensure start-ups and small and medium sized enterprises can access the information, networks and advice they need
http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/enterprise/docs/b/11-515-bigger-better-business-helping-small-firms
online business information and tools tailored to each business' needs;
a national contact centre to help businesses who cannot find the information they need on the web or who are not connected to the internet;
help for start-ups, including the New Enterprise Allowance;
a network of experienced business mentors offering practical advice;
Business Coaching for Growth, backing high growth SMEs to enable them to realise their potential; and
tailored action to raise low entrepreneurial activity among key parts of our communities, including women, black, Asian and minority ethnic groups and service leavers.
On 28 March Government announced three new initiatives for embedding enterprise into education to effect a lasting transformation of enterprise ambition in the UK
http://www.bis.gov.uk/news/topstories/2011/Mar/start-up-britain
4 July 2011 : Column 1080W
every school to engage children in enterprise, by developing an online resource for teachers on how to build and manage a business and by providing ready access to local enterprise champions/mentors;
expansion of the “Tenner Tycoon” initiative, to enable even more children to experience how enterprise can grow their money and benefit their community; and
development of student enterprise societies in every university and the majority of further education colleges to engage and support students to start their own business.
Office of the Independent Adjudicator: Manpower
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff worked for the Office of the Independent Adjudicator in each year since 2005; how many are expected to work in that Office in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [63599]
Mr Willetts: The Higher Education Act 2004 required the appointment of an independent body to run a student complaints scheme in England and Wales. The Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) is designated to operate an independent student complaints scheme on this basis.
The OIA is a company limited by guarantee, not a non-departmental public body or similar. Staffing is therefore entirely a matter for the OIA.
The OIA can be contacted at: OIA, Third Floor, Kings Reach, 38-50 Kings Road, Reading, RG1 3AA.
Sudan Overseas Investment
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans his Department has to encourage British investment in Sudan and South Sudan. [62221]
Mr Prisk: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), which reports jointly to BIS and FCO Ministers, is focused on helping UK companies do business internationally and helping overseas companies invest in the UK. It does not actively promote outward investment from the UK. Where UK companies with existing plans for overseas investment, or those who have already invested overseas, seek UKTI support it will assist as necessary with lobbying or other advice as appropriate. The UKTI team in the British embassy in Khartoum led by the British ambassador will continue to offer this service. After 9 July when South Sudan is established, the British ambassador in Juba will also assist investors where possible and appropriate.
Public Services Provision
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the terms of reference are for his Department's review of business models of companies that provide public services; and whether he plans to publish the conclusions of the review. [60178]
Mr Prisk
[holding answer 17 July 2011]:Following initial consideration by officials in the Department, I have written to Cabinet Office Ministers to ensure that the Open Public Services White Paper sets out plans for
4 July 2011 : Column 1081W
Departments to develop regimes to detect and cope with potential failure in key public service provision, and that these plans include appropriate consideration of financial risks.
Regional Development Agencies
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the total cost to the public purse is of the abolition of each (a) regional development agency and (b) regional Government Office. [62405]
Mr Prisk: The Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) are expected to close by 31 March 2012. It is not possible at this point to establish the cost of closing each Agency. The spending review settlement for RDAs provides up to £464 million over the four year period to March 2015, covering variously salaries, redundancies, transition/closure costs, pension liabilities and residual activity.
With respect to Government Offices I refer to the answer given on 3 March 2011, Official Report, column 559W, by the Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark), to the right hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr Denham).
Regional Development Agencies: Assets
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 4 May 2011, Official Report, column 776W, on regional development agency: assets, whether any bids to the first round of the Regional Growth Fund referred to the use of regional development agency assets in their application. [61570]
Mr Prisk: Some bids to the first round of the Regional Growth Fund referred to the use of regional development agency assets in their application. The use of the assets was taken into account during the appraisal of the costs and benefits of these bids.
Universities: Business
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage businesses to sponsor undergraduate and postgraduate places at university. [63624]
Mr Willetts: We want our universities to work with business across all their activities including to promote sponsorship of students. 80% of universities say they are engaged with employers but this can improve. We will create more flexibility in our control of overall student numbers so that there are more opportunities to attract extra higher education places fully funded by employers or charities providing there is fair access and no reduction in academic entry standards.
We also announced in our White Paper “Students at the Heart of the System” (cm 8122) that we had invited Professor Sir Tim Wilson to review how we make the UK the best place in the world for university-industry collaboration.
4 July 2011 : Column 1082W
Water: Imports
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the net level was of imports of water into the UK in each year since 1989. [62923]
Mr Prisk: HM Revenue and Customs recorded the following UK trade for "waters (including natural and artificial mineral and aerated waters), ice and snow, not containing sugar, sweetening matter or flavoured"—Standard International Trade Classification 11101.
|
|
Imports (£ million) | Exports (£ million) | Imports (Thousand tonnes) | Exports (T housand tonnes) |
Treasury
Bank Services: Sudan
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to assist Sudanese businessmen to set up bank accounts in the UK. [63374]
Mr Hoban: There are no specific legal or regulatory barriers to Sudanese businessmen obtaining a UK bank account. Decisions on the products and services offered by financial institutions are a commercial matter for the institution.
Banks: Finance
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the administrative costs of a scheme to offer free shares to the public in Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds TSB. [62922]
Mr Hoban:
UK Financial Investments (UKFI) manages the Government's shareholding in Lloyds Banking Group and the Royal Bank of Scotland at an arm's length and commercial basis. UKFI's objective is to dispose of the
4 July 2011 : Column 1083W
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.
Capita
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many contracts his Department has awarded to Capita since May 2010; and what the (a) individual monetary value and (b) net worth was of those contracts. [62716]
Justine Greening: Since May 2010 HM Treasury awarded one contract to Capita Group Ltd that expired in June. The contract was for executive search services.
The monetary value of the contract is dependent on the level of usage. Spend to date is £26,785 (excluding VAT).
Commodity Markets
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2011, Official Report, column 323W, on commodity markets, if he will place in the Library a copy of each relevant item of analysis from economic organisations referred to in the answer. [63083]
Justine Greening: Relevant analysis is freely available on the internet and can be accessed on the following websites:
International Energy Agency (IEA):
Medium-term oil and gas markets 2010:
http://omrpublic.iea.org/omrarchive/mtogm2010_ part1.pdf?bcsi_scan_F8D0BFE83951C3DA=0&bsci _scan_filename=mtogm2010_part1.pdf
Monthly Oil market reports:
http://omrpublic.iea.org/
World Energy Outlook 2010:
http://www.worldenergyoutlook.org/docs/weo2010/WEO2010_es_english.pdf
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
World Economic Outlook 2011:
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/01/pdf/text.pdf
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
Demand growth in developing countries:
http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/agriculture-and-food/demand-growth-in-developing-countries_5km91p2xcsd4-en
Placing the 2006-08 commodity price boom into perspective:
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2010/07/21/000158349_ 20100721110120/Rendered/PDF/WPS5371.pdf
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has any plans to generate low-carbon energy from its estate. [63325]
4 July 2011 : Column 1084W
Justine Greening: The Treasury has no current plans to generate low-carbon energy but like all Government Departments has committed to reduce its carbons footprint by 10%.
Departmental Manpower
Damian Collins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials of each grade in his Department advise him on policy relating to (a) financial services, (b) manufacturing by the (i) automotive, (ii) aviation, (iii) technology, (iv) textile, (v) pharmaceutical, (vi) green technology and (vii) advanced engineering sub-sectors, (c) retail by the (i) food and (ii) clothing sub-sectors, (d) hotels and restaurants, (e) transport and communication by the (i) transport, (ii) telecoms, (iii) publishing and (iv) radio and television sub-sectors and (f) digital and creative industries by the (i) digital, (ii) design, (iii) fashion, (iv) music and (v) film sub-sectors. [63438]
Justine Greening: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. An organogram for the Treasury Group can be accessed via the data.gov.uk website at:
http://data.gov.uk/organogram/hm-treasury
This sets out departmental staff by team and grade and by area of work.
Departmental Procurement
Mr Denham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provisions in respect of behavioural standards have been included in procurement contracts issued by his Department since May 2010. [61685]
Justine Greening: HM Treasury expects all suppliers to maintain high standards of integrity and professionalism in their business dealings. The Department’s standard contractual terms reflect this requirement. There are no specific terms relating to behavioural standards, but standard contract conditions for goods and services provide for the contractor to comply with standards applying to:
the prevention of corruption and fraud;
discrimination;
health and safety;
protection of data;
confidentiality; and
security and environmental requirements.
The conditions for services also provide for compliance with standards relating to the:
avoidance of conflicts of interest; and
vetting of contractors’ personnel.
HM Treasury’s contracts may be modified to take account of the type of goods or services being supplied and the risks to the Department.
Since January 2011, the Treasury has published its contracts (including terms and conditions) above £10,000 (in value) on the Treasury website.
Bio diesel
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for the future of the 20p duty differential for the sustainable biodiesel sector. [62841]
4 July 2011 : Column 1085W
Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 June 2011, Official Report, column 459W, to my right hon. Friend the Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce).
The consultation on the implementation of the transport elements of the renewable energy directive (RED) closed on 2 June 2011. The Department for Transport will publish a summary of responses shortly.
Economic Growth: EU Countries
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made for benchmarking purposes of projected economic growth levels in the (a) Eurozone and (b) EU over the next five years. [63606]
Mr Hoban: The Government continue to monitor all relevant factors from a range of sources as part of their surveillance of the UK economy. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will provide an updated assessment of prospects for the UK economy in the autumn.
Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation
Bob Blackman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Leeds North East of 24 January 2011, Official Report, column 115W, on Equitable Life Assurance Society: compensation, whether his Department or actuaries commissioned by his Department made any estimate of the cost of compensating Equitable Life policyholders who purchased with-profits annuities prior to 1 September 1992 on the same basis as the calculations made for those who purchased such annuities after 1 September 1992. [63223]
Mr Hoban: The parliamentary ombudsman recommended that the aim of the payment scheme should be
“to put those people who suffered a relative loss back into the position that they would have been in had maladministration not occurred”.
The Government have accepted that those who invested in Equitable Life from September 1992 may have suffered relative loss as a result of maladministration. That is on the basis that September 1992 was the earliest date by which the regulatory returns they may have used to inform their decision to invest would have been different if maladministration had not occurred, and therefore that they might have decided to invest their funds in another company.
This was not the case for with profit annuitants who invested prior to September 1992, and therefore no loss calculations have been done for these with profit annuitants on a similar basis.
EU Law
Julian Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what European directives in force on 1 April 2010 his Department is responsible; and what European directives for which his Department is responsible have come into force since 1 April 2010. [60701]
Justine Greening: Existing EU legislation is set out in the Eur-Lex database available at:
4 July 2011 : Column 1086W
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm
A review of the entire stock would incur disproportionate cost.
There are a number of directives which have come into force (in whole or in part) since 1 April 2010 for which HM Treasury has responsibility:
Directive 2009/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 May 2009 amending directive 98/26/EC on settlement finality in payment and securities settlement systems and directive 2002/47/EC on financial collateral arrangements as regards linked systems and credit claims;
Directive 2009/110/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 on the taking up, pursuit and prudential supervision of the business of electronic money institutions amending directives 2005/60/EC and 2006/48/EC and repealing directive 2000/46/EC;
Directive 2009/111/EC of 16 September 2009 amending directives 2006/48/EC, 2006/49/EC and 2007/64/EC as regards banks affiliated to central institutions, certain own funds items, large exposures, supervisory arrangements, and crisis management; and
Directive 2010/76/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 amending directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC as regards capital requirements for the trading book and for re-securitisations, and the supervisory review of remuneration policies.
The following directives will also be brought into force (in whole or in part) on 1 July 2011:
Directive 2009/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 on the co-ordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities;
Commission directive 2010/43/EU of 1 July 2010 implementing directive 2009/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards organisational requirements, conflicts of interest, conduct of business, risk management and content of the agreement between a depositary and a management company; and
Commission directive 2010/44/EU of 1 July 2010 implementing directive 2009/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards certain provisions concerning fund mergers, master-feeder structures and notification procedure.