5 July 2011 : Column 1123W
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has any plans to generate low-carbon energy from its estate. [63320]
Chris Grayling: The Department has in place a Carbon Management Plan, developed in conjunction with the Carbon Trust, setting out our plans to reduce our carbon emissions by 25% by 2015.
While we currently have no plans to generate low carbon energy we are engaging with all our suppliers to deliver the aims of this plan including working with our estates private finance initiative partner to deliver ambitious spend-to-save projects across the estate, which make best use of emerging low carbon technologies to reduce our carbon emissions.
For example, a Salix funded Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant was installed at the Department's Quarry House headquarters building in Leeds at the end of 2010. It is fuelled by natural gas and is classified as ‘low-carbon' technology. Initial indications are that performance is exceeding the estimated saving of £90,000 and 428tCO2 a year.
Departmental Freedom of Information
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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. [63578]
Chris Grayling: The Ministry of Justice publishes annual reports containing statistical information on freedom of information requests received by monitored bodies, including central Government Departments. The annual report for 2010, including the quarter four summary, was published on 28 April 2011.
This report can be found at the following address:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/statistics-and-data/mojstats/2010%20Annual%20and%20Q4%20FOI%20bulletin%20vfinal.pdf
This report includes statistics on the number of non-routine requests received by this Department in 2010 and the initial outcomes of these requests. All other quarterly reports for 2010 and the annual statistics from 2005 can be found at the following address:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/implementation.htm
The Freedom of Information Act is applicant and motive blind and therefore it is not necessary to record or determine whether a requestor is a Member of Parliament or member of the public.
However, the Department holds central records identifying a Member of Parliament as a requester (but not their political party) from 2007 onwards. These figures may not represent all freedom of information requests from Members of Parliament since only those that are clearly stated as being from a Member of Parliament or their researcher are recorded. The figures may include Members of the House of Lords, Members of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly Members. The figures are in the following table.
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| FOI requests from MPs | |
|
|
Number |
Employment
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of (a) men and (b) women of working age were employed in (i) full-time jobs and (ii) part-time jobs in (A) each parliamentary constituency and (B) each local authority area in each of the last five years. [64107]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many and what proportion of (a) men and (b) women of working age were employed in (i) full-time jobs and (ii) part-time jobs in (A) each parliamentary constituency and (B) each local authority area in each of the last five years. (064107)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates the number of people employed full-time and part-time for local areas from the Annual Population Survey.
Tables 1 to 8, contain the numbers and proportions of full-time and part-time jobs for men and women in each parliamentary constituency and local authority. Each table contains estimates from January-December 2006 to January-December 2010, which is the latest period available. As the information requested is quite extensive, a copy has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
Employment: Dartford
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged between 16 and 64 years were not in education, employment or training in Dartford constituency in the latest period for which figures are available. [63281]
Chris Grayling: In the year to December 2010 the number of people aged 16-64 in Dartford constituency who were not in education, employment or training averaged around 15,000.
Industrial Health and Safety: Asbestos
Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on work-related illnesses caused by asbestos. [63442]
Chris Grayling:
The Government take the effect of asbestos on workers' health extremely seriously. The Health and Safety Executive pursue an energetic prevention agenda with regard to asbestos, and the Department for Work and Pensions provide a range of benefits and payments for those with disabling conditions caused by asbestos where payment depends on the circumstances of each case. In addition, the Government continue to
5 July 2011 : Column 1125W
have discussions with stakeholder organisations on options to improve the compensation arrangements for people who have mesothelioma but are unable to obtain payments through their employer's insurance arrangements.
Industrial Health and Safety: Prosecutions
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employers with fewer than two employees have been subject to criminal prosecution under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in each of the last five years. [63803]
Chris Grayling: HSE does not hold prosecution data at this level of detail.
Treasury
Carbon Emissions: Northern Ireland
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on an exemption from carbon price support for energy and electricity generators in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [63422]
Justine Greening: An exemption for supplies of fossil fuels made to generators in Northern Ireland would likely be considered a state aid under European law. However, the 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.
Council Tax: Rates and Rating
Natascha Engel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the Valuation Office Agency's policy on assessment of the rateable value of domestic properties. [63222]
Mr Gauke: No such representations have been received. Rateable values are no longer assessed for domestic properties; these are now subject to council tax. Policy responsibility for council tax rests with the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Natascha Engel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many payments the Valuation Office Agency has (a) made and (b) approved arising from retrospective reassessment of domestic property valuations for council tax purposes in the latest period for which figures are available. [63244]
Mr Gauke: Payments made by the Valuation Office Agency are ex gratia payments under its complaints code of practice, ‘Putting things right for you', in cases where it has caused a serious error or delay in altering the council tax band of a property.
For the financial year 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011, the VOA (a) made and (b) approved payments reflecting lost interest on overpaid council tax in 14 cases.
Domestic Rates: Appeals
Natascha Engel:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many appeals the Valuation Office Agency has received against domestic rate valuations
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in each
(a)
region,
(b)
local authority area and
(c)
parliamentary constituency in each of the last 20 years. [63221]
Mr Gauke: The Valuation Office Agency no longer has a role in uses made of domestic rateable values. The council tax valuation lists represent the current system in operation therefore statistics have been provided on these lists.
Tables showing the number of valid proposals and appeals received by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) against the council tax valuation lists in each region and local authority area of England and Wales for all years of the lists have been placed in the Library.
Statistics broken down by parliamentary constituency can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Enterprise Zones
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the trends in gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2011 on his Department's policy on enterprise zones. [54769]
Justine Greening: The Government are working with local enterprise partnerships to maximise the economic impact of enterprise zones by supporting opportunities for real growth identified by local partners. The Government will ensure that an appropriate framework is put in place to measure the impact of enterprise zones.
The costing for the enterprise zones measure is set out at page 20 of the Budget 2011 policy costings, published alongside the Budget:
http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_policycostings.pdf
Chapter 1 of the document explains which effects are included in the policy costings and how the costings fit into the OBR's forecasts.
Freezing Orders: Syria
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts have been seized in the UK under the provisions of the Syria (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 1244); and which financial institution was involved in each case. [63919]
Mr Hoban: The total sum frozen under the Syria (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2011 is approximately £11 million. The regulations require that funds belonging to designated persons are frozen—they do not provide for the seizure or confiscation of assets.
For reasons of confidentiality, I am unable to disclose the names of the financial institutions involved in each case.
Hydrogen
Steve Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that hydrogen is subject to the same fiscal measures as other alternative fuels for road transport. [63541]
Justine Greening: When used in an internal combustion engine as fuel for a road vehicle hydrogen is taxed at the rate for road fuel gases other than natural gas of 31.61 pence per kilogram. Excise duty does not apply when hydrogen is used in a fuel cell to produce electricity to power a road vehicle.
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Loans: Republic of Ireland
Mark Reckless: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has given any consideration to changing the interest rate on the UK's bilateral loan to Ireland. [63536]
Mr Hoban: The Government have not received a formal request to reopen the terms of the bilateral loan agreement.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he plans to reply to the letter of 16 May 2011 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms Ruth Todhunter; [64067]
(2) when he plans to reply to the letter of 12 May 2011 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr Stephen Pennells. [64068]
Mr Hoban: As the situation remained the same Treasury officials reissued, on 13 June 2011, my 1 December Dear Colleague letters which set out the Government's overall position on the agricultural derivatives market.
Revenue and Customs: Leicester
Jon Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance has been issued to staff in the Leicester office of HM Revenue and Customs working in high risk renewals on dealing with self-assessment tax credit claims received by post. [63634]
Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs has staff in various locations handling high risk tax credits renewal work. Those staff have a bespoke process for reviewing cases that have been triggered through the application of system risk rules. The process enables those staff to determine whether further inquiries are appropriate or if the tax credits award can proceed without further intervention.
It also prescribes the timescales for making those further inquiries and the time given for claimants to respond.
Tax credits compliance guidance is published on the HM Revenue and Customs website at:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/ccmmanual/index.htm
Taxation: Self-Assessment
Alun Cairns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the policy of HM Revenue and Customs on fixed penalty charges for late submission of self assessment tax returns arising from bad weather; and if he will make a statement. [62954]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 30 June 2011]: The purpose of penalties is to encourage taxpayers to meet their obligations and to reassure those who do comply that they will not be disadvantaged by those who do not. If a taxpayer is unable to meet an obligation, such as filing a return by the due date, because of circumstances beyond his control, he can ask HMRC to accept that he has a reasonable excuse for the failure and cancel the penalty.
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HMRC has contingency plans to deal with problems that could arise close to filing dates. These plans include consideration of possible wide application of reasonable excuse, if something happens of such seriousness and on such a scale that a large number of taxpayers are prevented from filing their returns on time when they otherwise would have done.
VAT: Technology
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the merits of reducing to five per cent. the rate of VAT charged on voltage optimisation products. [63224]
Mr Gauke: The Government keep all taxes under review and considers proposals for new reliefs carefully, but the financial position we inherited means we must give priority to maintaining our fiscal base.
Home Department
Asylum: Deportation
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2011, Official Report, column 676W, on asylum: deportation, what the ages were of those people who were removed; how many were part of a family unit; and how many were removed under force. [63679]
Damian Green: Of the 14 removals previously identified the ages of these individuals at time of removal were five, 21, 27, 29, 31, 31, 32, 32, 34, 36, 40, 43, 46, 48.
Two of the above individuals are part of the same family unit i.e. a parent and child under 16, who chose to return voluntarily.
Eight of the above individuals were enforced removals from the United Kingdom.
British Nationality: Dartford
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people resident in Dartford constituency were granted British citizenship in each year since 2005. [63279]
Damian Green: The data requested are shown in the following table:
|
|
Constituency residents granted British citizenship |
All figures quoted are internal management information only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.
British Nationality: Bexley
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people resident in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency were granted British citizenship in each year since 2005. [63625]
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Damian Green: The data requested are shown in the following table:
|
|
Constituency residents granted British citizenship |
All figures quoted are internal management information only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.
Counter-terrorism: Leicester
Jon Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to her Department's Prevent Strategy, what criteria she used to identify Leicester as a priority area. [63639]
James Brokenshire: The revised Prevent strategy introduced a new prioritisation process that no longer relies on simple demographics. The new process aggregates a range of information and policing indicators of terrorist activity to identify the areas where Prevent work is most needed. There are currently 25 priority areas, which include Leicester, and these each receive dedicated resources and support. The designation of an area as a priority will be regularly reviewed by the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism (OSCT).
Demonstrations: Embassies
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of allegations of intimidation of individuals protesting outside the embassy of (a) Bahrain and (b) Syria. [63079]
Nick Herbert: The policing of demonstrations outside embassies is an operational matter for the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). No formal complaints of intimidation of individuals protesting outside the embassy of Bahrain or Syria have been made to the police.
Departmental Billing
Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of invoices from small and medium-sized businesses were paid by her Department within five working days of receipt in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [63561]
Damian Green: For the period from June 2010 to May 2011 the Home Department paid 85% of compliant invoices from small and medium-sized businesses within five working days of receipt of invoice.
Departmental Freedom of Information
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 her 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. [63575]
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Lynne Featherstone: As a public access regime the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is intended to be applicant blind with regard to the identity or motives of those seeking information from a public body. The Home Office does not require that requestors under the Act provide information as to their organisational or political affiliation and accordingly the information the Member is seeking is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Statistics are available however for the total number of requests received by the Department each year since 2005.
These are set out in the following table.
| Freedom of Information requests received by the Home Office 2005-11 (1) | |
|
|
Number of requests received |
| (1 )Statistics on FOI activity and performance are published quarterly on the Ministry of Justice website. Note: Figures for 2011 are for the six months to 29 June only. | |
Offenders: Foreign Nationals
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2011, Official Report, columns 685-6W, on offenders: foreign nationals, how many foreign national prisoners were removed from the UK in each of the last five years; what each prisoner's country of origin was; which country they were returned to; and what the offences were for which they were imprisoned. [63848]
Damian Green: The following table shows the published figures for number of foreign nationals removed or deported from the UK. Please note that the data for 2006 are not considered to be reliable for publication.
|
|
Number of foreign nationals removed or deported from the UK |
We do not disclose data on those removed to specific countries as it would jeopardise our diplomatic relations.
In 2009 and 2010 the UK Border Agency removed or deported 10,765 foreign national prisoners from the UK. The written updates provided by the chief executive of the UK Border Agency to the Home Affairs Committee confirm that the criminals removed in these two years included almost 120 individuals found guilty of murder, attempted murder or causing death, over 650 sex offenders and around 3,050 drug offenders. Of the drug offenders removed, over 1,650 were convicted of the production or supply of drugs, around 550 were convicted of possession with intent to supply, and around 800 were convicted of the importation of drugs. The remaining individuals had received convictions for a range of more than 70 offences including violent crimes, robbery, fraud and document offences.
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Domestic Violence
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the proportion of domestic violence offences that are reported to the police. [63695]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 4 July 2011]:The British Crime survey (BCS) provides estimates on the proportion of domestic violence incidents reported to the police. The survey has two measures: one collected in the context of a face-to-face interview and a second based on answers to a self-completion questionnaire.
The measure of domestic violence included in the main BCS relates to any physical assault by a partner or ex-partner, relative or household member. The most recently published figure from the 2009-10 BCS shows that 41% of such incidents were reported to the police. It is known that incidents of domestic violence are under-estimated as some victims may not be willing to disclose their victimisation in the context of a face-to-face interview.
The self-completion module provides more privacy to respondents and is thought to yield greater disclosure by victims. The self-completion section provides a measure of “partner abuse” which is broader and covers physical force, non-physical emotional or financial abuse or threats to hurt the respondent or someone close to them carried out by a current or former partner. The latest estimate from the 2008-09 BCS, shows that 16% of victims of partner abuse reported the incident to the police.
This reporting figure is lower that that for the main domestic violence measure and is thought to partly reflect the wider measure of abuse that it includes. It may also be that victims who are willing to disclose victimisation to an interviewer are more likely to report incidents to the police.
Entry Clearances: Diplomatic Service
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many diplomatic visas have been granted for staff at the embassies of (a) the Russian Federation, (b) Azerbaijan, (c) Ukraine, (d) Belarus and (e) Kazakhstan in the last five years; [63201]
(2) how many staff entered the UK on diplomatic visas for the purpose of undertaking domestic work in embassies in the latest period for which figures are available; [63203]
(3) how many diplomatic visas have been granted for staff at the embassies of (a) the United Arab Emirates, (b) Syria, (c) Bahrain and (d) Kenya in the last five years. [63202]
Damian Green [holding answer 4 July 2011]: The number of diplomatic visas issued in the last five years to nationals of each of the countries specified by the hon. Member is shown in the following table:
| Diplomatic visas issued 2006-10 | |
| Nationality | Visas issued |
5 July 2011 : Column 1132W
Since the introduction of Tier 5 of the points-based system for temporary workers on 27 November 2008, non-EEA nationals seeking entry as private servants in diplomatic households have been required to apply under the Tier 5 international agreement sub-category. It is not possible to distinguish such applicants from others applying under the international agreement sub-category from central records and the information required could be obtained only by checking individual records at disproportionate cost.
Foreign Workers: EU Nationals
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2011, Official Report, column 861W, on foreign workers: EU nationals, on what date she asked the Migration Advisory Committee to review the labour market case; what the terms of reference of the review are; which (a) individuals and (b) bodies were invited to respond to the review; for what reason a formal call for evidence was not issued; how the Committee has advertised that it will accept written views from any interested party; what the closing date is for the receipt of written submissions; how the review question was formulated; what her definition is of serious disturbance; how many representations on the review the Committee has received; by whom such representations were made; when she plans to publish the outcomes of the review; and if she will make a statement. [63946]
Damian Green: On 3 June the Secretary of State for the Home Department wrote to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), asking:
“Is there a serious disturbance, or threat of such a disturbance, to the UK labour market and would maintaining the existing restrictions on Bulgarian and Romanian nationals' access to the labour market assist in addressing any such disturbance or threat?”
The Government have not prescribed to the MAC how it should carry out the review, who should be invited to respond, or defined what is a serious disturbance of the labour market.
The MAC will set out in its final report what representations it received and from whom. The MAC will submit this report to Government by October 2011 and publish it around the same time.
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2011, Official Report, column 861W, on foreign workers: EU nationals, what discussions she has had with (a) ministerial colleagues and (b) the private sector on the labour market case. [63947]
Damian Green: The Government have asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to advise on this issue. Ministers will discuss the labour market case once they have received the MAC's report.
5 July 2011 : Column 1133W
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2011, Official Report, column 861W, on foreign workers: EU nationals, what the current status is of (a) Bulgarian and (b) Romanian nationals who access the UK job market. [63948]
Damian Green: Bulgarian and Romanian nationals who wish to take up jobs in the UK, and do not fall into an exempt category, must apply to the UK Border Agency for authorisation to work.
Heroin: Misuse
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the potential of naloxone to reduce deaths caused by heroin overdose; and if she will make a statement. [63614]
James Brokenshire: The drug strategy which we published in December 2010 highlighted the importance of reducing drug related deaths. I agreed with the Under-Secretary of State for Health, the hon. Member for Guildford (Anne Milton) that the Action Plan for 2011-12 for the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) should include publishing a report into the pilot schemes to train carers and family members to use naloxone to prevent overdose deaths.
Immigrants: English Language
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason the tendering process for English language tests for spouses, students and tiers 1 and 2 permit holders was administered by her Department rather than Ofqual. [63662]
Damian Green: Secure English language testing was introduced to ensure that migrants wishing to come to, or remain in, the United Kingdom in certain categories have reached a certain standard in English. The UK Border Agency is responsible for ensuring that the tests taken both in the UK and abroad are secure, properly verified and of an appropriate standard. Ofqual's primary function is limited to the regulation of qualifications and assessments in England and Northern Ireland.
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which body is responsible for the regulation of English language test centres for immigrants; and what the length of contract is for each approved test provider. [63712]
Damian Green: The providers of secure English language testing work under licence to the UK Border Agency, and the licences run for a minimum of three years. The UK Border Agency monitors the performance of the providers and will work with them to resolve any issues or concerns. If necessary the UK Border Agency can remove the provider from the approved list.
Immigration
Mr Clappison:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have immigrated to the UK who were not UK citizens or citizens of
5 July 2011 : Column 1134W
another EU member state in
(a)
each year since 2009 and
(b)
each of the last eight quarters for which figures are available. [63715]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people have immigrated to the UK who were not UK citizens or citizens of another EU member state in (a) Each year since 2009; and (b) Each of the last eight quarters for which figures are available (63715).
The number of non EU citizens who immigrated long term to the UK in 2009 is estimated to be 303,000. Provisional estimates for 2010 will be published on 25 August 2011.
The attached table shows estimates of long-term migration by non-EU citizens for each quarter from Dec 08 to Sept 10. These data are based upon the International Passenger Survey.
These estimates are of numbers of moves each year rather than numbers of people. For instance, an individual could enter in one year, leave just over a year later and then enter again a year after that. They would appear three times in this table. Short-term migrants (i.e. those entering or leaving the UK for less than twelve months) are not included in the long-term migration estimates.
| Long-term international migration estimates from International Passenger Survey: i mmigration of n on EU c itizens to the UK 2008 q4 to 2010 q3, United Kingdom | ||
| thousand | ||
|
|
Estimate | SE (%) |
| (1) Data for 2010 are provisional. Note: Standard error percentages (SE%) indicate the robustness of each estimate. A migration figure with a standard error of >25% is not considered to be reliable. For any given estimate there is a 95% probability that the true figure lies in the range; estimate +/- 0.0196 x estimate x standard error %. | ||
Knives: Crime
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which organisations have received funding from her Department for the purpose of preventing knife crime since January 2011. [61784]
Mrs May [holding answer 23 June 2011]: In 2010-11 the Home Office made funding available to 143 voluntary and community organisations working to prevent young people's involvement in knife and gun crime. The Home Office also provided funding to the Prince's Trust who gave out 67 awards through the Ben Kinsella Fund in 2010-11.
In 2011-12 the Home Office will be making funding available to voluntary and community organisations working to prevent young people's involvement in knife and gun crime though the Communities Against Gangs, Guns and Knives Fund. Money is also being made available to the Prince’s Trust fund to continue the Ben Kinsella Fund.
5 July 2011 : Column 1135W
Metropolitan Police: Civilians
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of civilianisation in the Metropolitan Police Service. [63191]
Nick Herbert: The mix of police officers and staff and how they are deployed are matters for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service and the Metropolitan Police Authority.
National Crime Agency
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the budget of the National Crime Agency in its first year of operation. [62698]
Mrs May [holding answer 28 June 2011]: The National Crime Agency Plan includes an estimate of the resources needed.
Organised Crime: British Nationality
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people had (a) their citizenship removed and (b) an application for citizenship refused by the UK Border Agency following a request from the Serious Organised Crime Agency in each year since 2006. [63719]
Damian Green: Annual statistics on citizenship applications (including refusals) are available on the Home Office website.
Section 56 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 which relates to deprivation of British citizenship, came into force on 16 June 2006. The following statistics refer to all non conducive deprivation cases:
In 2006 an order was issued against one individual.
In 2007 an order was issued against one individual.
In 2008 no orders were issued.
In 2009 orders were issued against two individuals.
In 2010 orders were issued against five individuals.
To date, orders have been issued against four individuals in 2011.
This information has been provided from local management information and is not a National Statistic. As such it should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.
Police
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the additional time available for police officers to work as a result of reducing administrative requirements during the comprehensive spending review period. [63454]
Nick Herbert: This Government are clear that police should be focusing on police work and not paperwork. That is why on 9 May 2011 I announced a new package of policies that will cut police red tape and save up to 2.5 million police hours per year, the equivalent of 1,200 officer posts.
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Police: Accountability
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what submissions her Department received to its consultation on Police and Crime Commissioners which indicated support for her policy. [61961]
Mrs May [holding answer 27 June 2011]: The ‘Policing in the 21st century: reconnecting police and the people Summary of consultation responses and next steps' document listed all respondents. A copy is in the Library of the House.
Policing and Crime Act 2009
Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) arrests, (b) prosecutions and (c) convictions there were under Section 14 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011 to date. [63218]
Lynne Featherstone: Section 14 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 added Section 53A(1) to the Sexual Offences Act 2003 which came into force in April 2010.
Data provided by the Ministry of Justice on the number of persons proceeded against and found guilty at all courts, under Section 53A(1) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in England and Wales in 2010 (latest available) can be viewed in the table.
Court proceedings data for 2011 will be available in the spring of 2012.
Data on arrests under the Act are not collected centrally as reported information is not broken down to the level of detail required.
| D efendants proceeded against at magistrates court and found guilty at all courts, under Section 53A (1) of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, England and Wales, 2010 (2,3) | |
|
|
Number |
| (1) Section 14 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 added Section 53A(1) to the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Came into force on 1 April 2010. (2) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice | |
Sexual Offences
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to monitor repeat sex offenders who have been returned to the UK from overseas as a result of their UK citizenship. [63551]
Lynne Featherstone
[holding answer 4 July 2011]: Where an individual (whether they be a UK citizen or a foreign national) has been convicted or cautioned for a sexual offence committed overseas the police can apply
5 July 2011 : Column 1137W
to the magistrates court to obtain a notification order in order to protect the public in the UK from any risk that they pose. Police may apply to the court for the order in relation to offenders living in, or intending to come to, the UK.
A notification order will require an offender to comply with the notification requirements as set out within Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 as if they had been convicted for an equivalent offence in the UK, including notifying their personal details to the police and notification of travel outside of the UK.
Breach of a notification order carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.
Stay Safe Campaign
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will (a) examine and (b) consider the wider application of the Stay Safe campaign in Redditch. [63232]
Nick Herbert: The Stay Safe campaign in Redditch is run by West Mercia police. As a local initiative it is for local partners to examine and consider its use.
Terrorism: Foreign Nationals
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the letter of 8 February 2011 from the then Minister of State for Security and Counter Terrorism to the Home Affairs Select Committee, what proportion of the individuals being investigated on suspicion of involvement in terrorism-related activity are foreign nationals; and how many such people have been granted or are seeking asylum or other forms of international protection. [63476]
James Brokenshire: I have nothing further to add to the letters of 8 February 2011 and 28 March 2011 from my noble Friend, the then Minister of State for Crime and Security to the Home Affairs Select Committee.
UK Border Agency: Correspondence
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the acting chief executive of the UK Border Agency plans to reply to the letter of 18 May 2011 from the hon. Member for Walsall North on a constituent, reference M1200891. [61589]
Damian Green [holding answer 23 June 2011]: The acting chief executive replied to the hon. Member on 21 June 2011.
Cabinet Office
Charity Commission: Manpower
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the potential effect of changes in staff numbers at the Charity Commission's office in Liverpool on the Commission's ability to deal with fraud. [64190]
Mr Hurd:
The Charity Commission has confirmed that, following the restructuring in all four of its offices, not just Liverpool, its core role will be to continue to
5 July 2011 : Column 1138W
protect the public interest in the integrity of charity and thereby underpin and enhance public trust and confidence in charities. This includes taking appropriate action to deal with fraud and malpractice which it takes extremely seriously. As a risk-based regulator, the Commission will continue to intervene decisively in individual cases where the identified risk to public confidence is substantial and where it can have most impact. I am confident that the Commission can continue to be an effective regulator of charities in England and Wales within the resources allocated it.
Community Development
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he is participating in volunteering schemes sponsored by his Department as part of the Big Society initiative. [42131]
Mr Hurd: All Government Ministers have pledged to undertake a ‘one day challenge’ with a charity or community group of their choosing. This is a clear and public commitment by Ministers to give their time to help others. The pledge aims to inspire others to consider how they might be able to support their communities to benefit themselves, as well as their chosen organisations.
Education
Capita
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many contracts his Department has awarded to Capita since May 2010; and what the (a) monetary value and (b) net worth was of each contract. [62727]
Tim Loughton: There has been one main contract awarded to Capita since May 2010 which is for the managed delivery of the Teachers Pension Scheme. The contract is for seven years and was awarded to Capita on 24 March 2011 following a competitive procurement. It has a monetary value of £89.362 million for the period. The net present value of the contract is £80 million.
Further Education
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to remove barriers to education for young people aged between 16 and 19 years who are not engaged with the education system; and if he will make a statement. [64054]
Tim Loughton: Attainment at age 16 is the most important factor in determining later participation in education and training. We have set out reforms to pre-16 education in the White Paper ‘The Importance of Teaching’ focused on raising attainment and preventing low achievement becoming an ongoing barrier to participation and success.
There is a strong link between disadvantage and young people's likelihood of participating post-16 and the Pupil Premium will give schools extra funding to spend on interventions that support the attainment of disadvantaged pupils. For those young people facing financial barriers to education post-16, we have introduced
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a £180 million bursary scheme for 16 to 19-year-olds to provide better targeted financial support to those who need it.
Local authorities have duties to provide sufficient suitable education and training places for young people aged 16 to 19, track their participation and provide targeted support to all those who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) to help them to re-engage. Local authorities will know best what type of support is needed to address the particular barriers that young people face in their area, and we are funding this through the Early Intervention Grant.
Pupils: Disadvantaged
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of children in each local authority area were (a) entitled to and (b) in receipt of free school meals in (i) 1997, (ii) 2009, (iii) 2010 and (iv) 2011; and if he will make a statement. [62749]
Mr Gibb: Information on the number of pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals as at January 2011 is published in tables 11a, 11b and 11c of the Statistical First Release ‘Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics, January 2011' available at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001012/index.shtml
Information for January 2010 is published in tables 11a, 11b and 11c of the Statistical First Release ‘Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics: January 2010' available at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000925/index.shtml
Information for January 2009 is published in tables 11a, 11b and 11c of the Statistical First Release ‘Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics: January 2009' available at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000843/index.shtml
Information for January 1997 has been placed in the House Libraries.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what types of helicopter mission were flown in Afghanistan in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011 to date. [61086]
Nick Harvey: The information is not held in the format requested.
Helicopters are used in a wide variety of roles including movement of forces, re-supply, convoy overwatch, helicopter escort, reconnaissance and surveillance, battlefield communications, medical evacuation, close air support and strike operations.
Defence Business Services Organisation: Manpower
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of people who will be employed by his Department's Defence Business Services in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) Wales in 2014. [63070]
5 July 2011 : Column 1140W
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence does not at this stage have estimates of the number of people who will be employed by the Defence Business Services in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales in 2014.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has any plans to generate low-carbon energy from its estate. [63322]
Mr Robathan: Low carbon energy is already generated on the defence estate utilising a number of technologies. These include biomass boilers, ground and air source heat pumps, solar photo voltaic panels, solar heating and small wind turbines.
The Ministry of Defence will continue to exploit opportunities to generate low carbon energy on the defence estate where this is compatible with defence activities, environmental constraints and value for money in terms of cost and carbon emissions reductions.
Ex-servicemen: Military Decorations
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many veterans' badges his Department issued to recipients resident in London in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [63530]
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Veterans' badges were issued by his Department in Dartford constituency in the last year for which figures are available. [63286]
Mr Robathan: The information requested is not held in the format required to identify how many veterans' lapel badges have been issued in a specific area or region.
As at 31 May 2011, however, 836,659 veterans' lapel badges have been recorded as being issued to former members of the armed forces and entitled dependants.
Gulf States: Royal Military Academy
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2011, Official Report, column 40W, on Gulf States: Royal Military Academy, how many officer cadets from each of the states bordering the Arabian Gulf are in training at the Academy. [63082]
Nick Harvey: The breakdown of officer cadets currently attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from those states bordering the Arabian Gulf is as follows:
|
|
Number |
5 July 2011 : Column 1141W
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has agreed the required legal and security arrangements with the US to enable deep maintenance of the Joint Combat Aircraft to take place in the UK. [63073]
Peter Luff: The UK's ability to undertake deep maintenance, repair and upgrade of its Joint Combat Aircraft fleet in the UK is a fundamental element of our operational sovereignty requirement, which has been secured through a US/UK bilateral supplement to the Joint Strike Fighter Memorandum of Understand signed by Ministers in December 2006.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at which Royal Air Force base the Joint Combat Aircraft will conduct field carrier landing practice. [63309]
Peter Luff: No decisions have yet been taken to determine from which Royal Air Force base the Joint Combat Aircraft will conduct its field carrier landing practice.
Libya: Armed Conflict
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel are based in accommodation in (a) Gioia del Colle, (b) Trapani, (c) Poggio Renatico and (d) Naples, Italy as part of Operation Ellamy. [62966]
Nick Harvey: The numbers of service personnel deployed to the main locations in Italy as at 29 June 2011 in support of Operation Ellamy are given in the following table.
|
|
Number of service personnel (1) |
| (1) Rounded to the nearest 50 personnel. | |
The precise number of personnel overseas fluctuates on a daily basis for a variety of reasons, including temporary absence for training, evacuation for medical reasons, the roulement of forces, visits and a range of other factors. We do not, therefore, publish actual figures for personnel deployed.
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many airframe hours have been flown in RAF (a) Typhoon and (b) Tornado jets since the commencement of military operations over Libya. [63061]
Nick Harvey: I am withholding the information requested as its release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Military Aircraft
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many pilotless drones the Army possesses; and how many are deployed in conflict zones. [62830]
5 July 2011 : Column 1142W
Nick Harvey: The Army currently possesses 310 remotely operated aircraft.
I am withholding information on how many are deployed in conflict zones as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the life expectancy in airframe hours is of (a) a RAF Typhoon and (b) a RAF Tornado jet. [63060]
Peter Luff: The fatigue life of the RAF Typhoon fleet is 6,000 flying hours per airframe which is sufficient to meet the planned out of service date (OSD) of 2030.
The fatigue life of the RAF Tornado GR4 fleet is 7,000 flying hours per airframe, with a small number cleared to 7,500 flying hours. Fatigue testing is taking place with the expectation of verifying an increased fatigue life of 8,000 flying hours which would be sufficient to meet the planned OSD of 2021.
NATO
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what items have been procured through NATO's Maintenance and Supply Agency in the last 10 years; what the cost was of such items to the public purse; and which other countries shared in the contracts. [62103]
Mr Gerald Howarth: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
NATO: Public Appointments
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who represents the UK on the board of NATO's Maintenance and Supply Agency. [62102]
Mr Gerald Howarth: The UK is represented on the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency Board of Directors by the Head of Defence Logistic Operations at the Ministry of Defence.
Reserve Forces
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the review of reserve forces will be published. [63213]
Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 May 2011, Official Report, column 1344W.
Strategic Defence and Security Review
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which officials are working on his Department's continuous review of the strategic defence and security review. [63272]
Dr Fox:
Progress against the commitments made in the strategic defence and security review (SDSR) are being driven by the Second Permanent Secretary and the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff as part of the transforming Defence programme. Delivery of the SDSR
5 July 2011 : Column 1143W
is one of the Ministry of Defence's main priorities encompassing a large number of programmes and initiatives with civilian and military posts across the Department involved in its implementation.
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2011, Official Report, column 558W, on affordable housing, what the name is of each incentive available to registered providers to ensure that more (a) new and (b) existing housing stock is provided for low-paid working people under the Affordable Homes programme for 2011 to 2014; and if he will make a statement. [63217]
Grant Shapps: We invited offers from registered providers for funding from the Affordable Homes programme in February 2011, making clear that offers could consist of a variety of products as set out in the framework for the programme. Providers have submitted their offers to the Homes and Communities Agency who are currently assessing them.
We are giving housing associations much more flexibility on rents and use of assets, so our aspiration is to deliver as many homes as possible through our investment and reforms.
Biofuels: Accidents
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information he holds on the number of (a) fires and (b) explosions caused by the production of biodiesel in the latest period for which figures are available. [63308]
Robert Neill: Detailed records of incidents attended by Fire and Rescue Services since April 2009 are held centrally. These records provide no indication of any fires or explosions caused by biodiesel since April 2009.
Council Tax: Overpayments
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will estimate the monetary value of unclaimed (a) council tax payments and (b) lost interest on council tax payments on domestic properties which had their value reassessed retrospectively in the latest period for which figures are available. [63236]
Robert Neill: While the Department for Communities and Local Government publishes statistics on the amount of uncollected council tax, we do not collect information on the amounts of lost interest on council tax payments on domestic properties that had their value reassessed retrospectively.
Council Tax: Rates and Rating
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria the Valuation Office Agency uses to differentiate between domestic and non-domestic properties. [63226]
Robert Neill:
The definition of domestic property used by the Valuation Office Agency is prescribed in
5 July 2011 : Column 1144W
Section 66 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. A property not meeting the criteria set out in Section 66 is considered non-domestic.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has any plans to generate low-carbon energy from its estate. [63249]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government will increasingly look to low carbon energy generation as a means of reducing its carbon emissions in the coming years. However, having reviewed the feasibility of installing on-site renewables on a number of its buildings, the Department found there was a range of more cost-effective options still available.
The Department will continue to review its carbon reduction strategy to ensure that it is reducing its own emissions in line with the greening Government commitments in the most cost-efficient manner.
In the last 12 months, a range of measures have been introduced to improve energy efficiency, leading to a £300,000 saving on the annual energy bill of the Department.
Departmental Freedom of Information
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 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. [63585]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not collect statistics about the background of individual requesters. This is because the Freedom of Information Act is applicant and motive blind and therefore it is not necessary to record or determine whether a requestor is a Member of Parliament or member of the public.
Information about the numbers of requests for information this Department, or its predecessor Department, received and considered under the Freedom of Information Act is as follows:
|
|
Requests |
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 on its website:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/implementation.htm
5 July 2011 : Column 1145W
Departmental Internet
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on websites other than direct.gov and communities.gov.uk in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; and what the (i) URL, (ii) setup costs and (iii) running costs were of each website. [61051]
Robert Neill [holding answer 20 June 2011]: The following sites are currently in operation by the Department:
www.info4local.gov.uk
The annual running costs for info4local are included in the costs of running the Department's website. These costs are fixed and the Department is contractually committed to all elements of the budget
In 2008-09, the Department paid £446,124 for annual hosting charges, licensing, application support and maintenance and development across intranet, corporate site and info41ocal. In 2009-10, this figure was £445,169.
www.planningportal.gov.uk
In 2008-09, the Department paid £4,986,469 for the Portal service. This included staff costs, the Portal website and sales and marketing activity in support of e-planning.
5 July 2011 : Column 1146W
In 2009-10 the Department paid £8,482,287, for the Portal service, this included rebuilding the Portal website, sales and marketing activity in support of e-planning and staff.
Intra Govt Geographical Info(closing July 2011)
www.iggi.gov.uk
In 2008-09, the Department paid £12,551 for annual hosting charges, licensing, application support and maintenance and development.
In 2009-10, the Department paid £3,641.
Data for Neighbourhood Renewal
www.data4nr.net
In 2008-09, the Department paid £37,000 for initial set up costs.
Annual hosting charges, licensing, application support and maintenance for 2008-09 and 2009-10 were £9,996 a year.
Websites closed by the Department
The following table displays the websites closed during 2008-09 and 2009-10. For all closed websites the set-up and running costs were not required to be kept centrally. All sub-domains of the direct.gov and communities.gov.uk are not reflected in this answer.
| Site name | URL | Closed during |
Enterprise Zones
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which Government Department's officials will be responsible for assessing the second wave of Enterprise Zone bids. [63482]
Robert Neill: Officials from my own Department, together with officials from Her Majesty's Treasury and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will be responsible for assessing the second wave of Enterprise Zone bids. Officials from other Departments will also be asked to input into the assessment as necessary.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether a shortlist of second wave Enterprise Zone bids will be prepared on a regional basis. [63483]
Robert Neill: We have no plans to prepare a shortlist of second wave Enterprise Zones on a regional basis.
Local enterprise partnerships are a better reflection of England's economic geography than the arbitrary Government regions.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable has been set between the deadline for bids for the second wave of enterprise zones and the announcement of successful applicants. [63484]
Robert Neill: The closing date for the receipt of bids was 30 June 2011 and we intend to announce the winning bids this summer.
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European Regional Development Fund
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which organisations in receipt of funding from the European regional development fund have been required to make financial corrections for breaches of the rules of the fund in respect of publicity; what the name is of each project in respect of which a breach was identified; what the monetary value of each such project was; what the nature of the breach was; and what financial penalty or correction was imposed. [61794]
Robert Neill [holding answer 23 June 2011]:The information provided is for English programmes only; programmes in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are managed by the devolved Administrations.
It is important that taxpayers' money is spent properly, and there are audits and checks on programmes funded from the public purse.
5 July 2011 : Column 1148W
We have to operate existing ERDF programmes according to the regulations. However, the Government believe that the regulations should be focused on ensuring that ERDF meets its objective of promoting economic competitiveness. We will be arguing strongly with the Commission that in the next programme, penalties for things that do not contribute to this objective, such as failing to publicise the programme, should be swept away.
The irony of the museum housing the Labour party's archives being fined for not flying the EU flag should not be lost on hon. Members.
Breaches of ERDF European Commission Publicity Regulations
There are no data available for programmes before 2000. The details requested for the 2000-06 ERDF programmes are provided in the following table.
5 July 2011 : Column 1149W
For the 2007-13 ERDF Programme the following financial corrections have been made.
5 July 2011 : Column 1150W
Falck EMS UK
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when (a) he and (b) officials in his Department last met representatives of Falck EMS UK Ltd; what subjects were discussed; and if he will make a statement. [63784]
Robert Neill: I have not met with representatives of Falck EMS UK Ltd. Officials in my Department had an informal meeting with a representative of Falck EMS UK Ltd in March 2011 as part of discussions with a number of organisations about the Fire Service College.
Fire Service College
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the implications for firefighter training of the potential sale of the Fire Service College to the private sector. [63779]
Robert Neill: The Government response to the “Fire Futures Report”, published on 12 April 2011, recognised that the provision of high quality training and development for fire and rescue service staff was vital to ensure that the service could respond effectively to the needs of their local communities and to major incidents.
The response also acknowledged the strong value of a national college for fire and rescue service training, but explained that we believed that the Fire Service College could achieve its full potential only if there was greater involvement from other sectors (whether private, public or voluntary) in its ownership, operation and governance. We therefore undertook to explore with the sector and other organisations options to secure the future of the college.
We are still at the early stages of those considerations, which will of course take account of training and development requirements for fire and rescue service staff.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 apply to the transfer of Fire Service College staff to the private sector; and if he will ensure that the revised version of the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector 2000 is applied to any transfer of such staff within the public sector. [63780]
Robert Neill: The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 is a matter of employment law. The Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector 2000 is applied to all public sector transfers as a matter of established practice.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) budget and (b) staffing levels were of the Fire Service College in each year since 2001. [63782]
Robert Neill: The following figures are taken from the Fire Service College's annual accounts:
|
|
Staff (FTE) (1) | Staff costs (£000) |
| (1) Full-time equivalent. | ||
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which higher education establishments (a) in the UK and (b) elsewhere have formal links with the Fire Service College. [63783]
5 July 2011 : Column 1151W
Robert Neill: The Fire Service College has formal links with the following higher education establishments:
Ashridge Business School
Coventry University
University of Central Lancashire
Warwick Business School.
Fire Services
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what steps he is taking to maintain national resilience during reductions in fire service budgets; [63063]
(2) what statutory requirements there are for fire authorities to contribute to national resilience. [63064]
Robert Neill: The setting of fire authority budgets and service delivery are a local matter, determined by individual fire and rescue authorities, not by central Government.
As ‘Category One Responders’ under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, fire and rescue services are required to plan for serious incidents in their areas such as those identified in the national risk assessment and consequent national planning assumptions. In addition, the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 requires authorities to enter into ‘Reinforcement Schemes’ with other authorities to provide mutual assistance in responding to a serious emergency.
The national framework sets out the Government's expectations for the fire service, and this includes their contribution to national resilience.
Fire Services: AssetCo
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what estimate he has made of the likely financial cost to (a) London Fire Brigade and (b) Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service of AssetCo entering administration; [63785]
(2) what assessment he has made of the potential (a) cost to and (b) organisational changes for (i) London Fire Brigade and (ii) Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service arising from AssetCo's receipt of a creditor's petition; [63786]
(3) how many (a) fire appliances and (b) other items of equipment (i) London Fire Brigade and (ii) Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service lease from AssetCo under the terms of existing contracts; and how long each contract is; [63787]
(4) when he last met officials from (a) London Fire Brigade and (b) Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service to discuss the terms of their contracts with AssetCo; [63788]
(5) whether he has met with representatives of AssetCo to discuss the terms of that company's contracts with (a) London Fire Brigade and (b) Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service; and when the last such meeting took place. [63789]
Robert Neill: Sharing back office functions and improving procurement are key ways that fire and rescue authorities can deliver sensible savings, while protecting the quality and breadth of frontline services offered to their communities.
5 July 2011 : Column 1152W
While each fire and rescue authority is responsible for their own policy on procurement, they should constantly search for the best value for money in delivering their services. Outsourcing the provision of capital equipment can be one such way, provided the precise terms and conditions of the contract represent value for money in the long-term. The terms of these contracts, and the implications of any service failure, are a matter for the individual fire and rescue authorities themselves. Contact has been made with London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority and Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Authority regarding AssetCo, and reassurance obtained that they are able to meet their statutory duties and ensure a continued service to the public irrespective of AssetCo's particular financial circumstances.
Fire Services: Finance
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the potential effects on levels of fire safety of changes to (a) fire service fire prevention budgets and (b) fire service fire reduction programmes. [63229]
Robert Neill: The setting of fire authority budgets and service delivery are a local matter, with delivery determined by individual fire and rescue authorities, not by central Government. As such, no assessment has been made.
I also refer the hon. Member to my letter to him of 6 December 2010, a copy of which is also in the Library of the House, which outlines how fire and rescue authorities can make sensible savings without impacting on the quality or breadth of services offered to their communities.
Fire Services: Manpower
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the minimum number of firefighters that the fire and rescue service requires to be employed nationally at any one time in order to fulfil its statutory duties. [63796]
Robert Neill: It is for individual Fire and Rescue Authorities to determine appropriate levels of emergency cover, taking account of analysis of risk locally, as part of integrated risk management planning.
No formal estimate of firefighter levels required nationally by fire and rescue services is made by central Government.
Fire Services: Pay
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many employees of the fire and rescue service earn less than £21,000 per year; and whether such employees are eligible for the £250 pay increase in each year of the comprehensive spending review period for public sector employees earning less than £21,000 per year. [63766]
Robert Neill: Information about numbers of employees in the fire and rescue service by specific pay levels is not held centrally. The pay of fire and rescue service employees is a matter for fire and rescue authorities as the employers. Ministers are not party to those negotiations.
5 July 2011 : Column 1153W
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had with (a) trade unions and (b) the Chief Fire Officers Association on pay negotiations in the fire and rescue service. [63767]
Robert Neill: I have regular meetings with the trade unions and the Chief Fire Officers Association. While I have not had any discussions about pay negotiations, when pay matters have been raised with me, I have made it clear that pay is the responsibility of the fire and rescue authorities as the employers and not this Department.
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effects of the fire service pay settlement for 2011-12 on staff (a) retention and (b) morale; and what the pay bands for that year are for (i) whole-time, (ii) retained and (iii) control staff. [63768]
Robert Neill: Pay is a matter for fire and rescue authorities as the employers. As such it is for them, and not this Department, to assess the impact of pay settlements.
The pay bands for whole-time, retained and control staff, as at the last pay increase agreed by the National Joint Council for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services on 1 July 2009, are set out in the following tables:
| (i) Whole - time | |
| Role | Basic annual salary (£) |
| (ii) Retained d uty (on call) | ||
| £ | ||
| Role | Full annual retainer | Basic hourly rate |
| (iii) Control staff | |
| Role | Basic annual salary (£) |
The pay rates above include Trainee, Development and Competent for Firefighters, Development and Competent for Crew Managers and Development, Competent A and Competent B for all other roles.(1)
(1) Source:
Local Government Group.