11 July 2011 : Column 1W
Written Answers to Questions
Monday 11 July 2011
Attorney-General
Contempt of Court: Internet
Mr Offord: To ask the Attorney-General what steps he will be taking to prevent the necessity of contempt of court cases being brought as a result of the use of social media networks. [65280]
The Solicitor-General: As guardians of the public interest, the Law Officers bring contempt of court proceedings when appropriate to do so. It is for the trial court judge to warn parties and the public not to publish prejudicial reports and, when appropriate, to impose reporting restrictions. Juries, in particular, are warned repeatedly by the court not to use the internet to research cases in which they are involved.
Departmental Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions a request for a meeting by an hon. Member of each political party has been refused by (a) a Minister in his Department directly and (b) his Department on behalf of a Minister since May 2010. [64435]
The Solicitor-General: Where appropriate, the Law Officers facilitate requests with hon. Members from all political parties. The Law Officers have occasionally to decline a meeting where they are asked to intervene in an individual case or provide legal advice to Members. Records of such requests are not maintained by the Department and the information requested could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
Sexual Offences: Victim Support Schemes
Jessica Morden: To ask the Attorney-General what steps he is taking to monitor the effects of spending reductions on specialist support services for sexual and violent crimes provided by the Law Officers' Departments. [65419]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has no responsibility for funding such services. Funding for specialist support services (such as sexual assault referral centres, independent sexual violence advisors, independent domestic violence advisors and rape crisis centres as well as Victim Support), is provided by the Home Office and Ministry of Justice.
The CPS does, however, value these services and will continue to work closely with the specialist support services to ensure that victims of sexual and violent crimes receive the best possible support.
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Suicide Act 1961: Prosecutions
Mr Bain: To ask the Attorney-General what discussions he has had with the Director of Public Prosecutions on the operation of the public interest factors tending (a) in favour of and (b) against prosecution under the Suicide Act 1961. [64809]
The Solicitor-General: The Attorney-General and I have not had any discussions with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on these matters.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) takes decisions on the public interest in cases of assisted suicide in accordance with the factors set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors (the Code) and the Policy for Prosecutors in respect of cases of Encouraging or Assisting Suicide, published on 25 February 2010.
Women and Equalities
Departmental Freedom of Information
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many requests under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the Government Equalities Office 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. [63576]
Lynne Featherstone: Since its creation in October 2007, Government Equalities Office records indicate it received requests under the Freedom of Information Act as follows:
|
|
Number |
Details of each requester can be located only by searching each individual case, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Equality and Human Rights Commission: Finance
John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many contracts the Equality and Human Rights Commission has to procure consultancy support; how many staff are provided under each contract; and what the cost inclusive of VAT was of each contract in the last 12 months. [62204]
Lynne Featherstone: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is an arm's length body; the following is based on information it has provided.
The Commission procured the following six contracts to provide consultancy support over the last 12 months.
|
|
Contract value inclusive of VAT (£) |
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No staff were provided under any of these contracts.
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what recent discussions she has had with the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission on political balance in the composition of its board of commissioners; and if she will make a statement. [61971]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 27 June 2011]:The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Minister for Women and Equalities, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has not discussed this matter with the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. There is no statutory requirement to consider political balance in the appointment of EHRC Commissioners.
The consultation on the future of the EHRC has recently closed and the Government will publish their response in due course.
Equality: Local Enterprise Partnerships
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities if she will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence between her and local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) on equality issues and LEP board nominations. [63950]
Lynne Featherstone: The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Minister for Women and Equalities, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), wrote to local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) in April this year, encouraging them to consider equalities when making board appointments. There were two separate letters, one to those LEPs that had already been given approval for their boards and one to those still forming boards at that time. Replies have been received from Coast to Capital, Cheshire and Warrington and Solent LEPs. Copies of all these have been placed in the Library.
Prime Minister
Hu Jia
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has made to his Chinese counterpart on the house arrest of environmental activist Hu Jia. [64369]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave during the press conference with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on 27 June 2011. A transcript of the press conference is available on the No. 10 website:
http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/speeches-and-transcripts/2011/06/press-conference-with-premier-wen-jiabao-65285
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Thameslink: Rolling Stock
Mr Denham: To ask the Prime Minister on what date he was informed of the outcome of the tender for the Thameslink rolling stock contract. [64751]
The Prime Minister: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Derby South (Margaret Beckett) on 6 July 2011, Official Report, column 1509.
Northern Ireland
Departmental Dismissal
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials in his Department were dismissed for under-performance as a result of the procedures arising from his Department's staff appraisal system in each of the last three years. [64681]
Mr Paterson: Comparable figures for the Department as it is now configured are not available following the completion of devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010.
Since April 2010, no members of staff have been dismissed for under-performance as a result of procedures arising from the Northern Ireland Office’s staff appraisal system.
Departmental Regulation
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many regulations (1) his Department has introduced (a) in the six months prior to 1 September 2010 and (b) in the six months after 1 September 2010 which it has determined do not impose costs on businesses; [65312]
(2) that impose costs on businesses his Department has (a) introduced and (b) removed since 1 September 2010; what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was; and what regulations have been excluded from the one-in one-out system because they address (i) emergencies and (ii) systemic financial risks since 1 September 2010; [65329]
(3) that impose costs on businesses his Department (a) introduced and (b) removed in the six months prior to 1 September 2010; and what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was. [65346]
Mr Paterson: My Department introduced two sets of regulations in the period from 1 March to 1 September 2010. Neither of these regulations imposed costs on businesses. No regulations have been made since 1 September 2010.
The Northern Ireland Office has responsibilities chiefly in relation to constitutional, electoral and national security fields; they do not generally concern business regulation.
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Scotland
Departmental Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions a request for a meeting by an hon. Member of each political party has been refused by (a) a Minister in his Department directly and (b) his Department on behalf of a Minister since May 2010. [64423]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not hold the information requested; however, the Secretary of State for Scotland, the right hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (Michael Moore) and I are always happy to discuss matters of importance to Scotland with hon. Members of all political parties.
Electoral Commission Committee
Verification Sampling
Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what steps the Electoral Commission plans to take to improve the consistency of verification sampling. [63436]
Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that in future they will be moving towards monitoring and assessing the quality of returns from all local authorities across Great Britain, without solely relying on the verification of a sample of returns. The commission intends to consult on revised standards for returning officers and monitoring in advance of elections, with a view to adopting this strategy for elections to be held in May 2012.
Wales
Access to Work Programme
Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many employees with disabilities in her Department are receiving support from the access to work programme; and what proportion of the work force of her Department this figure represents. [64391]
Mr David Jones: None of our staff have applied formally for support from the access to work programme but some disabled employees are receiving access to work support which the Department funds. We are unable to set out the numbers as this could breach confidentiality in a Department of this size.
Capita
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many contracts her Department has awarded to Capita since May 2010; and what the (a) monetary value and (b) net worth was of each contract. [62715]
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Electoral Systems
Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what plans she has to propose a meeting of the Welsh Grand Committee to discuss the electoral arrangements for the National Assembly for Wales; [64992]
(2) what plans she has to consult about any new electoral arrangements for the National Assembly for Wales; and if she will make a statement; [64993]
(3) what discussions she has had with the Deputy Prime Minister about electoral arrangements for the National Assembly for Wales; [64995]
(4) when she plans to meet the First Minister for Wales to discuss electoral arrangements for the National Assembly for Wales; [64997]
(5) whether she has any plans to change the electoral arrangements for the National Assembly for Wales. [64792]
Mrs Gillan: I have discussed the electoral arrangements for the National Assembly for Wales with the First Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister.
The Government will look carefully at the implications of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 for the Assembly's constituencies. Full discussions with political parties and other relevant organisations would be required to inform any proposals for change.
We are hoping to hold a meeting of the Welsh Grand Committee in Wales later in the year, which would provide an opportunity for such constitutional issues to be raised.
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assessment she has made of the (a) effects and (b) benefits that the High Speed 2 project will have on Wales; [63956]
(2) what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the benefits of High Speed 2 to Wales; [63957]
(3) what assessment she has made of the effects on rail infrastructure in Wales of High Speed 2; [63958]
(4) what meetings she has had on High Speed 2. [63959]
Mr David Jones: Regular discussions with a range of interested parties, including Ministers in the Department for Transport, take place on issues that affect Wales, including rail infrastructure.
The Government are currently consulting on a new national high-speed rail network. This is part of a wider programme of modernisation of the rail network, including electrification of the Great Western main line to Cardiff. The consultation will consider a range of issues including potential benefits for Wales.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), on 28 June 2011, Official Record, column 643W, to my hon. Friend the Member for South Northamptonshire (Andrea Leadsom).
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture: Carbon Emissions
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make an assessment of the impact of the common agricultural policy on greenhouse gas emission abatement. [64543]
Mr Paice: Between now and the end of 2012, DEFRA will be reviewing the full range of policies and activities that have an impact on agricultural GHG emissions, including the common agricultural policy (CAP).
The Government are committed to ensuring that we have a thriving and sustainable farming sector in the UK and we are seeking ambitious reform of the CAP from 2014. We continue to place a strong emphasis on the role that CAP should play in improving environmental outcomes, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control
Martin Horwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has received any advice from the Association
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of Chief Police Officers on a badger cull; and if she will publish any such advice. [64203]
Mr Paice [holding answer 6 July 2011]: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman) and DEFRA officials have received advice from the Association of Chief Police Officers. This advice has related to public order and safety, domestic extremism, wildlife crime and firearms licensing. As policy is still under development the advice will not be made publicly available at this stage.
Capita
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many contracts her Department has awarded to Capita since May 2010; and what the (a) individual monetary value and (b) net worth was of those contracts. [62725]
Richard Benyon: The following table identifies contracts with organisations that are part of the Capita group of companies and shows the monetary value of each contract. The expenditure on each contract is the same as the value.
| Department/agency | Supplier | Number of c ontracts | Contract value (£) | Detail |
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Services to assist selection of non-statutory members of inshore fisheries and conservation authorities |
||||
Dairy Farming
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dairy farms there were in (a) England and (b) Northamptonshire (i) in 2001 and (ii) in the latest period for which figures are available. [63268]
Mr Paice [holding answer 4 July 2011]: The number of dairy farms in England and Northamptonshire for 2001 and 2010 is shown in the following table. Also shown is the number of dairy cattle on dairy holdings for England and Northamptonshire, along with UK milk production and milk yields to put the figures into context.
The long-term trend in dairy production is towards fewer, larger and more productive herds. The following table shows how the decline in the number of dairy cows has been offset by an increase in average herd size and milk yields. So while the number of dairy cows in England has fallen by 22% between 2001 and 2010, the level of milk production (at the UK level) has fallen only by 5%.
| Number of dairy farm s | Number of dairy cattle (on dairy holdings) | |||||
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England | Northa nts | England | Northants | UK milk production (million litres) (1) | Average UK milk yield (litres per cow per year) |
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| (1) Source: DEFRA and RPA statistics. (2) Sourced from June Survey. Defined as the number of holdings with dairy as the predominant farming activity. (3) Thresholds have been applied to the 2001 data to make them comparable with the 2010 data which represent only commercial holdings. (4) Sourced from CTS. Defined as the number of holdings from CTS with >10 2+dairy cows in the milking herd (i.e. with offspring). | ||||||
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many milk producers have left the dairy farming industry in each year since 2000. [64580]
Mr Paice: The following table gives the number of milk producers in the UK in June of each year since 2000 as well as the net number of producers that left the industry since the previous June. Figures for June 2011 are not yet available.
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Producer numbers | Net loss since previous June |
| Sou r ce:DairyCo http://www.dairyco.net/library/market-information/datum/producer-numbers.aspx | ||
Departmental Billing
Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. [63564]
Richard Benyon: The Department does not currently distinguish SMEs when measuring performance on paying invoices within five working days.
The performance of the Department and its executive agencies for payments to all suppliers for the financial year 2010-11 is shown in the following table:
| Within five days average full year | Percentage |
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has any plans to generate low-carbon energy from its estate. [63327]
Richard Benyon: As part of its commitment to reducing carbon emissions on its estate, DEFRA has introduced technologies which generate low carbon energy at sites in Alnwick and Weybridge.
There are no current plans to supplement this programme.
Departmental Statistics
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what statistical data her Department has ceased to collect in the last year; and what the (a) reasons for and (b) savings arising from each such cessation were. [63670]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA has stopped the following key regular collections in the last year:
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Reason | Estimated cost savings (£000) |
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Survey suspended given intention to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board |
The design of collections, content and publications changes as we review the information needed and seek out more efficient approaches.
EU Law
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what European directives in force on 1 April 2010 her Department is responsible; and what European directives for which her Department is responsible have come into force since 1 April 2010. [60691]
Richard Benyon: The stock of EU legislation in force is set out in:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm
It would be of disproportionate cost to review the entire stock to establish which pieces of legislation are currently the responsibility of DEFRA.
There are a number of directives which have come into force since 1 April 2010 for which my Department has responsibility and I will write separately providing a detailed list.
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Floods: Pickering
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will use her power of variation of the 10,000 cubic metre threshold under (a) the Reservoir Act 1975 or (b) guidance issued pursuant to that Act in relation to the Pickering Flood Defence Scheme; and if she will make a statement. [63443]
Richard Benyon: The provisions in the 2010 Flood and Water Management Act that amend the Reservoirs Act 1975, including the changes to the volume threshold for large raised reservoirs, have yet to be formally commenced. Once commenced, the threshold will be reduced from 25,000 to 10,000 cubic metres, with a power for the Minister to substitute a different volume.
We are currently considering the way forward on the Pickering flood defence scheme, including the extent to which the Reservoirs Act 1975 and the related guidance may provide workable and affordable solutions.
Forestry Commission: Redundancy
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow North (Ann McKechin) of 21 June 2011, Official Report, column 245W, on the Forestry Commission: redundancy, if she will make it her policy to put on hold the decision to reduce the Forestry Commission spending settlement pending the outcome of the work of the Independent Panel on Forestry on the future of the public forest estate; what information she has sought from the public and representative organisations on the decision to reduce the Forestry Commission settlement; and when working with the Forestry Commission on delivery of key outcomes, what methods were used to assess the impact on (a) biodiversity, (b) recreation and (c) education of the proposal to reduce the Forestry Commission settlement. [64853]
Mr Paice: The Government have no plans to put on hold the spending review allocation to the Forestry Commission. In deciding the budget allocations for DEFRA and its arm’s length bodies, Ministers took account of spending priorities and the contribution of individual arm’s length bodies to achieving key outcomes for the Department. The Forestry Commission continues to recognise that it may need to adapt its spending review plans following the Government's response to the recommendations of the Independent Panel on Forestry, and has structured its plans in such a way that this flexibility can be achieved.
Forests
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2011, Official Report, column 1083, what arrangements have been made for the chairing of meetings of the Independent Panel on Forestry on the future of the public forest estate in the absence of the chair; whether she expects the panel to report in November 2011; and if she will make a statement. [64971]
Mr Paice:
The independent panel's findings and advice will be presented to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in a final report in spring 2012.
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The panel has a planned work programme for the summer and will make its own administrative arrangements about meetings or events in the chair's absence. Further details of this are available on the panel's webpage on the DEFRA website.
Land: Contamination
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to complete the review of contaminated land regime. [64236]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA is currently finalising revisions to the contaminated land regime and expects to lay the revised statutory guidance and amendments to the Contaminated Land (England) Regulations 2006 in Parliament in the autumn.
Livestock
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department plans to take to improve available information on livestock productivity. [64533]
Mr Paice: A range of UK livestock production statistics are published annually in chapter 5 of the ‘Agriculture in the United Kingdom’ publication. These include average carcase weights, average milk yields and meat production and breeding herd statistics. These can be found at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/files/defra-stats-foodfarm-crosscutting-auk-2010-chapter05-commodities-livestock-110623.xls
Detailed information on farm level performance is collected through the Farm Business Survey. Results are published annually, including a breakdown by the various livestock farm types, in Farm Accounts in England and can be found at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/foodfarm/farmmanage/fbs/farmaccounts/
The Farm Business Survey is continually assessed to ensure the relevance and quality of the data. Over recent years this has included collecting information on farm management practices to understand how these link to farm performance.
Statistics related to climate change mitigation are currently being compiled and are due to be published later this month on the DEFRA website. These will include a range of indicators of livestock productivity including breeding herd longevity and fertility, mortality and feed conversion.
Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what timetable she has set for delivery of product road maps in all livestock sectors; and if she will make a statement. [64703]
Mr Paice: The Government are working closely with the dairy, beef and sheep, and pig meat sectors as they manage the delivery of the programmes for sustainability set out in their product roadmaps.
The future targets for 2015 and 2020 set out in the recently published Dairy Roadmap can be found starting at page 36 at:
http://www.dairyco.net/library/research-development/environment/dairy-roadmap.aspx
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The two parts of the product roadmap for beef and sheep published in November 2009 and December 2010 respectively can be found at:
http://www.eblex.org.uk/publications/corporate.aspx
Part one highlights the challenges the sector faces in reducing greenhouse gases and sets out targets for emissions improvements and the main opportunities for efficiency improvements to deliver these. Part two includes updates on plans to monitor progress towards the targets previously set out.
The English pig meat roadmap published this spring can be found at:
http://www.bpex.org.uk/Article.aspx?ID=301329
2020 targets are set out in the box on page 6, while key performance indicators for pig producers for 2014 and 2020 are included on page 13.
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Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make an assessment of trends in levels of livestock production in each of the last four years. [64741]
Mr Paice: Levels of UK livestock production are published annually in the DEFRA publication “Agriculture in the United Kingdom”. The latest publication dated May 2011 is available at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/foodfarm/cross-cutting/auk/
UK livestock production in each of the last four years is shown in Table 1. Meat production is in carcase weight equivalent.
| Table 1: UK livestock production | ||||
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2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Source: Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2010, DEFRA. | ||||
Information on UK production and overseas trade is brought together in “Agriculture in the United Kingdom” to show the total UK supply of livestock products (in carcase weight equivalent for meat). Possible uses include food manufacturing, catering, household purchases and pet food. Note that the household consumption figures given in reply to the recent question on consumption of beef, land and poultry are part of this picture and are given in product weight rather than carcase weight equivalent. The tables in “Agriculture in the United Kingdom” should be used if comparing production with overall supply to consider trends in self sufficiency.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate how much (a) beef, (b) lamb and (c) poultry was consumed in the UK in each of the last four years. [64463]
Mr Paice: Quantities of beef, lamb and poultry purchased for UK household supplies are sourced from the ‘Expenditure and Food Survey' for years 2006 and 2007 ‘Living Costs and Food Survey' from 2008 onwards. The 2010 data are currently unavailable but will be published in November 2011.
The data collected relate to purchases and not consumption. Consumption data are not collected. It is assumed that all purchases are consumed. Purchases of non-carcase meat and meat products such as sausages, pies, and meat-based ready meals are excluded. ‘Eating out' purchases are also excluded as it is not possible to identify quantities of beef, lamb and poultry within the ‘eating out’ data.
| UK household purchases of beef, lamb and poultry | ||||
| Thousand tonnes per year | ||||
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2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
Sheep: Tuberculosis
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will reverse her policy not to pay compensation for the compulsory slaughter of sheep with tuberculosis. [62750]
Mr Paice: There is no statutory compensation payment for sheep slaughtered because they are suspected of being TB-infected. Currently, the Government have no plans to review this policy.
Culture, Media and Sport
Arts Council England: Finance
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what support his Department has given to Arts Council England in its reform of the way regular funding is invested in arts organisations to ensure a more strategic approach. [63535]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: Individual arts funding decisions are taken at arm's length from Government, and the decision to reform the system of regular funding was made independently by Arts Council England.
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Officials in my Department worked with Arts Council England throughout the development and delivery of the new National Portfolio system.
Broadband
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the proportion of the UK population which will have access to (a) conventional fixed, (b) superfast, (c) wireless and (d) satellite broadband services by 2015. [65003]
Mr Vaizey: The Government are committed to having the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015, with 90% of all premises having access to superfast broadband and there being a fibre connection in virtually every community and with access to a minimum 2Mbps connection for all premises. The Government will take a technology-neutral approach in achieving this objective.
Cultural Heritage
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to help preserve heritage sites in (a) Bexley and (b) Greater London. [63888]
John Penrose: In 2009-10, English Heritage gave £2.4 million in grant aid to Greater London. This included the final payments for the major restoration and conservation of the grade I listed Crossness Pumping Station at Belvedere. English Heritage also works closely with Bexley council and the Bexley Heritage Trust to ensure the continued success of Danson House and Hall Place.
English Heritage has recently launched the National Heritage Protection Plan, which sets out why, what and how England's vulnerable historic environment is to be safeguarded in the next four years. Developed in consultation with a wide range of partners, it shows where the threats are the greatest and will help English Heritage to prioritise its work. It will also help other heritage professionals and volunteers to contribute to the business of managing England's heritage. This Department and English Heritage are also considering various measures to tackle the problem of buildings which have been on the Heritage at risk register for an extended period of time. In this respect, Danson House and Crossness are prime examples of what can be achieved.
Departmental Allowances
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what expenses were claimed by (a) paid and (b) unpaid special advisers working in his Department in the last 12 months. [62078]
John Penrose: Since June 2010 there has been £90 of expenses claimed by the special advisers employed by the Department. There are no unpaid special advisers working in the Department.
Glasgow Commonwealth Games: Executives
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with Scottish Ministers regarding the chief executive of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. [65491]
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Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has had no discussions with Scottish Ministers regarding the chief executive of Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games.
Holiday Accommodation: Energy Performance Certificates
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what representations he has received from the domestic tourism industry opposing the introduction of the requirement for some holiday properties to obtain energy performance certificates; [64442]
(2) whether and on how many occasions he has met ministerial colleagues in the Department for Communities and Local Government to discuss the requirement for some holiday properties to obtain energy performance certificates. [64443]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: A number of tourism trade bodies and businesses have raised concerns with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and also responded to the Government's Red Tape Challenge consultation about the impact of introducing energy performance certificates (EPCs) on the self-catering sector. Policy responsibility for this matter rests with the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG). I have not met with CLG to discuss this issue, but the Minister for Tourism and Heritage, my hon. Friend the Member for Weston-super-Mare (John Penrose) wrote to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government and Planning, my hon. Friend the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) on 4 April about certification process for holiday properties.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he made of the effect on competition between providers of holiday accommodation of requirements for some holiday properties to obtain energy performance certificates. [64444]
Andrew Stunell: I have been asked to reply.
The Department published an impact assessment which estimated the likely costs and benefits of requiring certain properties rented out as a holiday let to have an Energy Performance Certificate. It was determined that requiring holiday lets to obtain Energy Performance Certificates would not produce any competition issues.
Olympic Games 2012: Tickets
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made for the ratio of applications to available tickets for the London 2012 Olympics. [63395]
Mr Vaizey: In the first round of sales, 1.9 million applications were made for 22 million Olympic tickets. 75% of tickets—6.6 million—are being made available through the UK application process. The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) will do everything it can to get those that were unsuccessful in the first round, to the games.
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Public Appointments: Females
Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many and what proportion of those holding public appointments in his Department's public bodies which were made by (a) his Department, (b) the Prime Minister, (c) the Crown and (d) the bodies concerned are women. [64632]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: As at 31 March 2011, of the total 505 current public appointments to the Department's arm's length bodies, 182 (36%) were women. 416 public appointments were made either by departmental Ministers, the Prime Minister or HM the Queen, on the recommendation of Ministers, of which 161 (39%) were women.
Details of the public appointments made in the manner that the right hon. Lady have requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Information on the Department's individual public appointments is published on our website:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/about_us/public_appointments/1006.aspx
Royal Parks Agency: Demonstrations
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on what grounds the Royal Parks Agency can decline to approve a public demonstration; and if he will make a statement. [64819]
John Penrose: The Royal Parks has a long tradition of accommodating public demonstrations and has policies and procedures for managing them. Under the Royal Parks Regulations 4 (17) those who wish to
“organise or take part in any assembly, display, performance, representation, parade, procession, review or theatrical event”
Treasury
Access to Work Programme
Mrs McGuire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many disabled employees of his Department are receiving support from the Access to Work programme; and what proportion of the workforce of his Department this figure represents. [64394]
Justine Greening: None of the HM Treasury staff with disabilities who currently receive support for reasonable adjustments to their working environment are in receipt of additional funding from the Jobcentre Plus Access to Work scheme.
Air Passenger Duty
Mr Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the effect on the number of inbound tourists of planned increases in the rate of air passenger duty in 2012; [65175]
11 July 2011 : Column 18W
(2) what assessment he has made of the effect of the level of air passenger duty on the number of tourists visiting the UK; [65176]
(3) what assessment he has made of the effect on levels of foreign direct investment of rates of air passenger duty. [65177]
Justine Greening: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 June 2011, Official Report, column 424W.
Banks: Finance
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the (a) timetable and (b) mechanism for any sale of shares in banks in which UK Financial Investments manages the stake owned by the Government. [64737]
Mr Hoban: UK Financial Investments (UKFI) manages the Government's shareholding in financial institutions at an arm's length and commercial basis. UKFI's objective is to dispose of the investments in an orderly and active manner, within the context of an overarching objective of protecting and creating value for the taxpayer.
UKFI will look at the full range of alternatives for divestment, and will make recommendations based on market conditions, on an assessment of investor demand, and on value for money considerations at the time when considering a transaction. Because any decision needs to be taken in the context of changing economic and market conditions, UKFI does not think it is possible to or desirable to state hard goals such as price or time that would determine when the Government's interests will be sold.
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's policy is on returns to the public purse from the amounts invested in banks in which UK Financial Investments manages the stake owned by the Government. [64739]
Mr Hoban: UK Financial Investments (UKFI) manages the Government's shareholding in financial institutions on an arm's length and commercial basis.
UKFI's remit is to devise and execute a strategy for disposing of the Government's investments in an orderly and active way, in line with its overarching objective to create and protect value for the taxpayer as shareholder.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), launched the Northern Rock sales process on 15 June in his speech at Mansion House. At this stage all viable options remain available for further consideration; however a sale is being explored as the first option.
The Office for National Statistics will decide how to account for the proceeds in the public finances of any share sale taking into account the precise nature of the transaction. How any proceeds resulting from a sale will be determined as part of the normal annual Budget process.
Business: Credit
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the adequacy of the credit facilities given by banks to small and medium-sized enterprises to promote company growth and development; and if he will make a statement. [64513]
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Mr Hoban: On 9 February 2011 the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), announced a new commitment by the UK's biggest high street banks on lending expectations and capacity. As part of this commitment, the banks intend to lend £190 billion of new credit to businesses in 2011, up from £179 billion in 2010. If demand exceeds this, the banks will lend more. £76 billion of this lending will be to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This is a 15% increase on 2010 lending of £66 billion.
The Merlin banks loaned a total of £47.3 billion to UK businesses in the first quarter of 2011, including £16.8 billion to SMEs. The Government are encouraged that the banks are broadly on target to meet their overall commitment. However, it is disappointing that the banks are behind schedule on lending to SMEs. As the Chancellor made clear in his Mansion House speech on 15 June, the Government will use all tools available to them to ensure that the banks live up to their promises.
Departmental Correspondence
Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of how many letters to (a) Ministers in his Department and (b) the Permanent Secretary for Tax at HM Revenue and Customs, a reply was sent (i) in under one month, (ii) between one and three months and (iii) more than three months from the date of receipt in the last 12 months. [57980]
Justine Greening [holding answer 8 June 2011]: The information requested is in the following table, for the 12 months to May 2011:
| Number of letters | |||
|
|
Within a month | Between 1 and 3 months | More than 3 months |
The HMRC database does not differentiate between correspondence received by the Permanent Secretary of HMRC, Permanent Secretary for Tax and the Chairman of HMRC. These senior HMRC officials also respond to letters sent to the Exchequer Secretary which relate to operational and taxpayer-specific matters.
Correspondence has been at record levels following the general election, the two Budgets, the spending review and the autumn forecast. The Departments are working as quickly as possible to reply to all outstanding correspondence and make their processes more robust.
Freedom of Information
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [63591]
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Justine Greening: The Ministry of Justice publishes quarterly and annual reports on the volume, timeliness and outcomes of information requests received by over 40 Government Departments. Reports covering the years to 2010 are published on the MOJ website and are available in the Libraries of both Houses.
The Treasury does not collect statistics about the background of individual requesters. Where requestors have made clear that they are MPs we are able to provide the following data, although these may not represent all Freedom of Information requests from MPs.
The total numbers of requests in the period in question are:
2005: 1,208
2006: 1,228
2007: 1,092
2008: 1,418
2009: 1,451
2010: 2,064.
Of these requests, the numbers of recorded requests from MPs are:
2005: 67
2006: 80
2007: 45
2008: 55
2009: 52
2010: 99.
Departmental Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions a request for a meeting by an hon. Member of each political party has been refused by (a) a Minister in his Department directly and (b) his Department on behalf of a Minister since May 2010. [64419]
Justine Greening: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Economic Situation: EU Countries
Stephen Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of the Government's exposure to the debts of the governments of (a) Portugal, (b) Greece, (c) Ireland and (d) Spain in each financial year since 2005-06. [64584]
Mr Hoban: The Government do not normally disclose details of their individual exposures.
Regarding exposures through the existing, packages of international financial assistance to Greece, Ireland and Portugal, I refer the hon. Gentleman to my recent written answer to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr Redwood) on 27 June 2011, Official Report, columns 545-46W.
Excise Duties: Fuels
Mr Offord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment his Department has made of the effects on inflation of his decision not to proceed with planned fuel duty rises. [65390]
11 July 2011 : Column 21W
Justine Greening: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for producing independent economic and fiscal forecasts. The effects on inflation of the changes to fuel duty are included in their latest forecast.
Financial Conduct Authority
Mr Offord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent progress there has been in the creation of the Financial Conduct Authority. [64733]
Mr Hoban: The Government published a White Paper, “A new approach to financial regulation: the blueprint for reform”, on 16 June. This document sets out the Government's detailed proposals for the creation of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the context of wider reform of financial regulation. The White Paper includes draft legislation and explanatory notes.
On 27 June, the Financial Services Authority published the document “The Financial Conduct Authority: approach to regulation” to consult on the detail of the FCA's regulatory approach.
Financial Policy Committee
Alison McGovern: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalent members of staff are to support the Statutory Financial Policy Committee; and what proportion of such staff will (a) be staff of the (i) Financial Services Authority and (ii) Bank of England and (b) be newly recruited. [64213]
Mr Hoban: The Financial Policy Committee will have at its disposal analytical resources across several Bank directorates, in particular: Financial Stability; Markets; and, to the extent that it is relevant, Monetary Policy. A new FPC secretariat, which sits within Financial Stability directorate, has been established to coordinate analytical and process support arrangements for the FPC. Its budget is 6.5 full-time equivalent staff.
FSA staff also play a key role in briefing FPC members and implementing policy actions on behalf of the FPC.
Financial Services: Regulation
Alison McGovern: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the budget of the (a) Statutory Financial Policy Committee, (b) Prudential Regulation Authority and (c) Financial Conduct Authority will be in their first year of operation. [64212]
Mr Hoban: Budgets for the first year of operation of the Financial Policy Committee (FPC), the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have not yet been set.
The annual budgets of the new regulatory authorities will be determined independently of Government. Detailed budgeting decisions and plans for the first year of operation of the FPC, PRA and FCA will be made by the Bank of England and the FSA as part of the programme to establish the new regulators.
11 July 2011 : Column 22W
Freezing Orders: Syria
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who amongst those persons who have had their assets frozen under the Syria (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 1244) was classified as a politically-exposed person before the beginning of operations in Libya. [63920]
Mr Hoban [holding answer 5 July 2011]: The Government do not maintain a list of politically-exposed persons (PEPs).
Rather, it is for financial institutions to determine whether or not someone is a PEP, drawing on the definitions set out in the UK's Money Laundering Regulations 2007 and the global standards of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and taking account of available information about individuals' positions and activities.
Given the definition of PEPs, the Treasury expects that regulated businesses will have identified many of those subject to the Syria (Asset-Freezing) Regulations 2011 as PEPs and to have treated them accordingly.
It should be noted that identifying someone as a PEP does not automatically mean that financial institutions are unable to do business with that person. Rather it requires them to undertake enhanced due diligence before starting a business relationship and on an ongoing basis thereafter. Businesses must not start a relationship with a new customer unless they can satisfy themselves of the legitimacy of the customer, their funds and source of wealth.
Gift Aid
Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had with service charities on participation in the Gift Aid scheme. [65143]
Justine Greening: Officials hold frequent discussions with charities and representative bodies of charities, for example through the HMRC Charity Tax Forum. The agendas and minutes of the Charity Tax Forum are published on the HMRC website and can be found through this link:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/consultations/charities-tax.htm
Gold: EU Countries
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account he has taken of the monetary value of gold reserves held by other EU member states in reaching decisions on financial assistance to those countries. [64965]
Justine Greening: The financial assistance packages received by EU member states were multilateral assistance packages, co-ordinated by the IMF and the European Commission. The IMF routinely takes into account the level of international reserves when assessing member requests for financial assistance.
11 July 2011 : Column 23W
Housing
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the receipts the Exchequer will receive from local authorities in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland as a result of the housing revenue account subsidy scheme in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13 and (iv) 2013-14. [64975]
Mr Gauke: The Housing Revenue Account Subsidy system operates only in England and Wales. The receipts in respect of England are a matter for the Department for Communities and Local Government, and in Wales it is a matter for the Welsh Government.
Job Creation
Ms Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of new jobs likely to be created in the economy in each of the next three years which are (a) full-time and (b) part-time. [64877]
Justine Greening: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) released the official forecast for whole economy employment to 2015 as part of the March 2011 “Economic and Fiscal Outlook”.
The OBR expects total employment to increase by around 900,000 between 2010 and 2015.
The OBR has not published forecasts split by part-time and full-time employment.
There were 29.24 million people in employment in the three months to April 2011, up 376,000 over the year. Of this increase, 198,000 were full-time workers.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Baron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letters of 21 April and 25 May 2011 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay regarding Mr G. Dixon. [64345]
Justine Greening [holding answer 7 July 2011]: HM Treasury has no record of having received letters from my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon and Billericay of 21 April and 25 May 2011 regarding Mr G. Dixon. I have asked my officials to contact my hon. Friend’s office to obtain copies.
Money: Counterfeit Manufacturing
Mr Offord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2011, Official Report, column 1088W, on money: counterfeit manufacturing, how many counterfeit coins were removed from circulation in the last year. [64711]
Justine Greening: 1,845,766 counterfeit £1 coins were removed from circulation and returned to the Royal Mint in 2010-11.
11 July 2011 : Column 24W
Taxation
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the merits of adopting the approach to tax deferments practised by the previous Administration. [64516]
Mr Gauke: Since its launch in November 2008 to the end of March 2011, HMRC's Business Payment Support Service has agreed some 428,800 arrangements involving £7.37 billion of tax. £6.31 billion has already been paid to HMRC from mature arrangements.
However, its launch did not, and does not, affect HMRC's underlying policy or approach to time to pay which has not changed.
HMRC continues to offer a sympathetic ear to businesses—and individuals—in temporary financial difficulty and we will continue to offer the BPSS as part of their time to pay arrangements for as long as it is needed.
Taxation: Financial Services
Mr Offord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent progress his Department has made in international discussions about the development of a financial activities tax. [64942]
Mr Hoban: The Government are continuing to explore the costs and benefits of a financial activities tax with international partners. As requested by ECOFIN, the European Commission is currently preparing an impact assessment on financial sector taxation, including financial activities taxes.
Taxation: Offshore Industry
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the projected income from the supplementary charge on the oil and gas industry in the next two financial years. [64937]
Justine Greening: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), and I have asked the OBR to reply.
Letter from Robert Chote, dated July 2011:
As Chair of the Budget Responsibility Committee of the Office for Budget Responsibility I have been asked to reply to your recent question.
The information that you have requested has not previously been published by the OBR. In line with our release policy, the OBR aims to meet ongoing requests for supplementary forecast information where this will improve the quality of public debate on the public finances. Our release policy is available on our website at:
http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/wordpress/docs/release_policy.pdf
Where the OBR publishes supplementary material, releases will be made in an orderly manner that promotes public confidence and gives equal access to information. The next scheduled release date for the publication of supplementary forecast information is 21 July 2011.
11 July 2011 : Column 25W
Taxation: Voluntary Work
Steve Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received in relation to tax concessions to encourage volunteering; and if he will make a statement. [65434]
Justine Greening: Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide variety of organisations and individuals in the public and private sector as part of the process of policy development and implementation. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
UK Asset Resolution
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the salary was of the chief executive of UK Asset Resolution Ltd in 2010-11; and what his salary is for 2011-12. [64756]
Mr Hoban: UK Asset Resolution (UKAR) Ltd was established on 1 October 2010 as the holding company for Northern Rock (Asset Management) plc and Bradford and Bingley plc.
11 July 2011 : Column 26W
Richard Banks is the chief executive of UKAR. As detailed in the annual reports of Northern Rock (Asset Management) and Bradford and Bingley, his salary is £340,000 per annum.
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the chief executive of UK Asset Resolution Ltd received in total remuneration including any bonuses in 2010-11; and how much he will receive in 2011-12. [64757]
Mr Hoban: UK Financial Investments (UKFI) manages the Government's investments in financial institutions at an arm's length and commercial basis. UK Asset Resolution has an incentive scheme in place which has been agreed with UKFI and is aligned to corporate and individual performance.
UK Asset Resolution was established on 1 October 2010. Details of the remuneration arrangements for UKAR's chief executive, Richard Banks, include details of remuneration arrangements for his previous post as chief executive of Bradford and Bingley plc. The arrangements were detailed in the Bradford and Bingley plc and Northern Rock (Asset Management) plc annual reports for 2010 and are as follows:
| Directors' emoluments for the period 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2010 | ||||||
| £ | ||||||
|
|
Basic salary/ fees (1) | Noncash benefits | Allowances | Payment in lieu of pension | Bonus (2) | Total emoluments 2010 |
| (1) The only element of pay that pension is calculated on. (2) Payment is subject to deferral and clawback as outlined in the Bradford and Bingley and Northern Rock (Asset Management) plc annual reports. Note: As MD of B and B, Richard Banks was entitled to receive an annual bonus award which was capped upon his appointment at a maximum of £30,000 for 2009. | ||||||
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff were employed by UK Asset Resolution Ltd at each grade on the latest date for which figures are available; and what the pay scale was of each such grade. [64758]
Mr Hoban: UK Financial Investments (UKFI) manages the Government's shareholding in financial institutions at arm's length and on a commercial basis. UKFI's overarching objective is to protect and create value for the taxpayer as shareholder, with due regard to financial stability and acting in a way that promotes competition. Details on employee issues are a matter for the boards of individual banks. The most recent figures published by UK Asset Resolution (UKAR) in the Northern Rock (Asset Management) plc and Bradford and Bingley plc 2010 annual reports stated that the company employed 2,400 people at year end.
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much UK Asset Resolution Ltd has spent on each external consultancy contract since its creation; [64759]
(2) how much UK Asset Resolution Ltd has spent on hospitality for each category of cost since the body's creation; [64760]
(3) how much UK Asset Resolution Ltd has spent on travel under each category of cost since the body's creation. [64728]
Mr Hoban: UK Financial Investments (UKFI) manages the Government's shareholding in financial institutions at arm's length and on a commercial basis. UKFI's overarching objective is to protect and create value for the taxpayer as shareholder, with due regard to financial stability and acting in a way that promotes competition.
The board of UK Asset Resolution is responsible for ensuring that financial and human resources are in place for the company to deliver its business plan as agreed with UKFI. Decisions on consultancy contracts, hospitality and travel are therefore the responsibility of the board of UK Asset Resolution.
Unemployment
Ian Lavery: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the economy of trends in the rate of unemployment. [60519]
Justine Greening: The unemployment rate has fallen recently. In the latest data, it was at 7.7%, down from 7.9% on the quarter.
11 July 2011 : Column 27W
Consistent with the Office of Budget Responsibility's March 2011 forecast, unemployment is expected to fall in the medium-term as the economy recovers, supported by action taken by the Government, including the measures published in the Budget and the Plan for Growth.
VAT: Sun Cream
Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of removing VAT from sun cream. [64765]
Mr Gauke: No recent estimate has been made to assess the cost of removing VAT from sun cream.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the reclassification of sun cream as an essential health product. [64766]
Mr Gauke: Neither HM Treasury nor HM Revenue and Customs have considered reclassifying sun cream as an essential health product.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding the removal of VAT on sun cream. [64767]
Mr Gauke: No representations have been received regarding the removal of VAT on sun cream.
Waste Disposal
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the contribution of fiscal measures to increasing producer responsibility for waste. [64359]
Justine Greening: Recycling targets for packaging waste, to be met by businesses which place packaging on the market, are delivered through existing fiscal instruments—the packaging recovery notes (PRNs) and packaging export recovery notes (PERNs). Recovery and recycling targets and 2010 performance are:
| Percentage | |||
| Targets | Performance | ||
| Material | 2011 | 2012 | 2010 |
The Government are committed to consulting on increased recovery and recycling targets for packaging waste, in time for a final decision at Budget 2012.
Work and Pensions
Access to Work Programme
Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled people in his Department are being supported in employment under its access to work programme; and what proportion of his Department's staff this represents. [65085]
11 July 2011 : Column 28W
Maria Miller: The Department for Work and Pensions does not use the access to work programme to provide assistance to its disabled employees and as such none of its employees should receive support from the access to work programme.
Instead DWP provides the funding for support and adjustments for its disabled staff including those working in its agencies, for example Jobcentre Plus.
DWP, as one of the largest Government Departments, made a decision in 2003 (in agreement with Ministers) that it would meet the cost of support and adjustments needed by disabled colleagues, rather than draw on the limited access to work programme. Potentially, this means more funding for smaller employers who are more likely to be concerned about the cost of adjustments.
Child Care Tax Credit
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of households with child care costs per week in excess of (a) £125 for one child or £210 for two or more children and (b) £100 for one child or £150 for two or more children. [63810]
Maria Miller: The information is not available for all households, since there is no one source which provides comprehensive and universal child care costs. Child care costs are also highly variable.
In estimating current child care costs there are a number of different sources: the most relevant of which is administrative data for the child care element of working tax credits (see details following) but this does not give a complete picture as it does not cover all households. There is a survey of parents conducted for the Department for Education in England, but it does not allow us to accurately estimate the numbers of households with weekly child care costs over these amounts.(1) No administrative data are collected for the other two main potential sources of information, which are those receiving employer-supported child care, and those whose child care expenditure is disregarded in housing benefit and council tax benefit.
Administrative data show that 493,000 households were in receipt of child care element of working tax credits in the United Kingdom at April 2011. Of these households:
49,000 had one child and reported child care costs of over £125 per week;
28,000 had two or more children and reported child care costs of over £210 per week;
73,000 had one child and reported child care costs of over £100 per week;
65,000 had two or more children and reported child care costs of over £150 per week.(2)
(1 )Smith R. et al (2010) Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents 2009, Department for Education RR054.
(2 )The figures are consistent with the latest tax credits provisional statistics for April 2011 which can be found at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-apr11.pdf
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how his Department calculates its estimates of rates of additional take-up of assistance with child care costs under the proposed universal credit. [63812]
11 July 2011 : Column 29W
Chris Grayling: Universal credit modelling is conducted using the Department's policy simulation model. This is a static microsimulation model based on data from the 2008-09 Family Resources Survey, uprated to the relevant year's prices, benefit rates and earnings levels.
The modelling is adjusted to take account of imperfect take-up using microsimulation techniques. This is important as we expect take-up of entitlements to rise under universal credit due to the increased simplicity and integrated nature of the new benefit.
A number of assumptions are made about the extent to which take-up will rise in universal credit as a whole. The key assumptions being that those currently taking up some but not all of their entitlements will take-up all of the universal credit, while around half of those not taking up any of their current entitlements do so under the new system. We assume that in some cases take-up will remain unchanged, for example those people whom we consider are currently not satisfying the requirements of the conditionality regime.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of working households with childcare costs who would be worse off in their current employment compared to being out of work, accounting for their in-work costs and excluding any transitional protection (a) under the options he is considering for childcare costs under the universal credit and (b) if a childcare element covering 80 per cent. of childcare costs up to £175 for one child and £300 for two or more children was introduced within the universal credit. [63813]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available.
Universal credit modelling is conducted using the Department's Policy Simulation Model. This is a static microsimulation model based on data from the 2008-09 Family Resources Survey (FRS), uprated to the relevant year's prices, benefit rates and earnings levels.
The FRS 2008-09 does not collect information on in-work costs, such as travel to work costs, and therefore this information cannot be included in our universal credit modelling.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many families will have their entitlements to support with childcare costs (a) increased and (b) reduced after the full implementation of the universal credit; [63814]
(2) how many households will be (a) better and (b) worse off working 16 or more hours per week after the full implementation of the universal credit under each childcare option he proposes; [63815]
(3) how many households with child care costs would be better off after the full implementation of the universal credit based on assumed maximum entitlements for the financial year 2010-11 compared to under benefit rates within the existing system for the financial year 2010-11. [63816]
Chris Grayling: The details of the child care element in universal credit are not yet finalised. The impacts of the proposed child care policy will be set out in future iterations of the universal credit impact assessment.
11 July 2011 : Column 30W
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households would be both worse off in work than out of work once child care costs are accounted for and affected by the proposed cap on benefit entitlements for out-of-work households if they are out of work under each universal credit option for child care costs. [63868]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available as the estimated impacts from the benefit cap in universal credit will depend upon the final detailed design issues regarding the treatment of in-work households.
Furthermore, the details of the child care element in universal credit are not yet finalised. The impacts of the proposed childcare policy will be set out in future iterations of the universal credit impact assessment.
Corporate Manslaughter
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department expect to next meet representatives of Families Against Corporate Killers; and if he will make a statement. [64956]
Chris Grayling: Ministers meet with key H&S stakeholders and lobby groups on a regular basis. However, there are currently no plans to meet representatives of Families Against Corporate Killers.
Disability Living Allowance
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which key activities he proposes will be examined as part of the proposed objective assessment for disability living allowance. [64702]
Maria Miller: On 9 May we published our initial proposals for the assessment criteria for personal independence payment, which will replace disability living allowance from 2013. These were developed in collaboration with an independent group of specialists in health, social care and disability. We intend that the priority in the benefit should go to those individuals who are least able to live independent lives and so are proposing to assess individuals’ ability to carry out a range of key everyday activities.
The activities we are proposing to assess are:
Planning and buying food and drink;
Preparing food and drink;
Taking nutrition;
Managing medication and monitoring health conditions;
Managing prescribed therapies other than medication;
Washing, bathing & grooming;
Managing toilet needs or incontinence;
Dressing and undressing;
Communicating with others;
Planning and following a journey, and
Moving around.
These activities have been chosen to provide a more holistic assessment of the impact of disability that the current DLA criteria, considering the impact of a more comprehensive range of impairment types. For example, the introduction of communication is a significant departure
11 July 2011 : Column 31W
from DLA and one which will ensure we better take into account the effect of impairments of hearing, speech and language comprehension.
We are currently carrying out an informal consultation and have already met with over 60 disability organisations to discuss the criteria, how they will work and how they might be improved. We are also testing the assessment, to enable us to better understand its likely impact, by carrying out around 900 sample assessments over the summer. Our aim is to provide a further draft of the assessment criteria and regulations in the autumn, building on the testing and the feedback from disability organisations.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training and guidance his Department gives to staff on making decisions on disability living allowance claims for people with (a) sickle cell disease and (b) other fluctuating conditions. [64783]
Maria Miller: Decision-makers are provided with evidence-based guidance on a range of disabling conditions which includes sickle cell disease and other fluctuating conditions. The guidance includes information on clinical features, treatment, sources of evidence, disabling effects in relation to care and mobility and prognosis.
The guidance to decision-makers on determining entitlement to benefit where the claimant's condition fluctuates is to take a broad view over the whole period and consider whether the claimant can fairly be described as meeting the test.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the waiting time for patients with sickle cell disease who have been refused disability living allowance for cases before an appeal tribunal against the decision. [64789]
Mr Djanogly: I have been asked to reply.
The first-tier tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) does not record disability living allowance (DLA) appeals by specific disability and cannot, therefore, provide the waiting time for patients with sickle cell disease. However, it is possible to provide the average time taken from submission of a disability living allowance appeal to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) until the date of the first appeal hearing at Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).
The information in the following table covers April 2011, the latest period for which figures are available:
Longer than usual waiting times for a hearing result from an unexpectedly high level of appeals across DWP. In response, HMCTS has increased its capacity significantly
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and, nationally, published management information shows that 38% more SSCS appeals were cleared in April 2011 compared to April 2010 (and 65% more when compared with April 2009). Further capacity increases are in hand.
Employment Schemes: Disability
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Work programme in placing disabled people into employment. [65296]
Chris Grayling: In order to secure contracts to deliver the Work programme, providers have put together strong supply chains with a wide range of partners from the public, private and voluntary sectors, capable between them of tailoring services to meet the full range of individual needs, including those of disabled people.
We expect to see substantial indications of the success of the Work programme from spring 2013. A full independent evaluation has been commissioned for that year as the first participants complete their two years and I look forward to sharing the results with the House in due course. We will closely monitor the effectiveness of the programme in the interim.
Health and Safety Executive: Inspections
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the potential effects of planned changes to the budget of the Health and Safety Executive on the number of (a) proactive workplace inspections and (b) incident inspections undertaken by the Executive. [64191]
Chris Grayling: As announced in my statement of 21 March 2011, Official Report, columns 47-48WS, as a matter of policy, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is changing its approach to target proactive workplace inspections more effectively on areas of greatest risk and substantially reducing the overall number of proactive inspections to businesses in lower risk areas. The criteria by which the HSE selects incidents for investigation have not changed, although by their nature, it is not possible to say in advance how many will be carried out.
Housing Benefit
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he attended the Quad meeting referred to in the letter sent by the Department for Communities and Local Government to the Prime Minister's office in January 2011 on the potential impact of policies on the benefit cap and housing benefit of the Department. [64656]
Chris Grayling: There were a number of ministerial meetings in January 2011 to discuss welfare reform which the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), attended. All decisions taken concerning welfare were agreed with the Secretary of State.
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Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons the assumptions made by the Department for Communities and Local Government on homelessness arising from (a) the overall benefit cap and (b) housing benefit reductions were not included in the Welfare Reform Bill impact assessments. [64657]
Chris Grayling: The Government's estimate of the potential impact on homelessness of the proposed overall benefit cap, which was published on 16 February 2011, was signed off by the Department's chief analyst as a fair and accurate representation of the policy impacts, and is agreed by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he was aware of the Department for Communities and Local Government estimate of the homelessness impact of the overall benefit cap before he signed the impact assessment of 15 February 2011. [64658]
Chris Grayling: The Government's estimate of the potential impact on homelessness of the proposed overall benefit cap contained in the impact assessment was signed off on the basis that it was a fair and accurate representation of the policy impacts, and is agreed by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which Ministers in his Department saw or were copied into the letter written by the Department for Communities and Local Government to the Prime Minister's office in January 2011 setting out the effect of the benefit cap and housing benefit reductions on homelessness. [64659]
Chris Grayling: A copy of the letter addressed to the Private Secretary to the Prime Minister was sent to the Department's private office.
Housing Benefit: Homelessness
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment his Department has made of the number of households likely to present as homeless in each local authority area as a consequence of the overall benefit cap in the 12 months following its introduction; [64823]
(2) what estimate his Department has made of the likely costs to each local authority as a consequence of households presenting as homeless in the 12 months following the introduction of the overall benefit cap. [64824]
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of the households he has calculated face homelessness as a consequence of the overall benefit cap is assumed to come from (a) social housing and (b) private tenancies; and what proportion is resident in each region. [64638]
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Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of likely changes in the rate of homelessness in Warrington borough if the Government's plans for a benefit cap are implemented. [64948]
Chris Grayling: The benefit cap will mean that people on benefit will face choices about housing costs similar to those faced by people in work. But it will not necessarily mean that they will need to move from their home. Even within the limits of this cap, households will still be able to receive significant amounts of financial assistance from state welfare payments and if a member of the household moves into work and becomes eligible for working tax credit they will be exempt from the impacts of the cap.
There is a range of help local authorities can offer to households at risk of becoming homeless including the provision of discretionary housing payments. We have already made an additional £190 million available over the spending review period for this purpose as a result of the changes we have made to housing benefit.
The Government published their impact assessment of the benefit cap in February alongside the introduction of the Welfare Reform Bill. This made it clear that it is not possible to estimate the number of additional homelessness applications that might arise as a consequence of the overall benefit cap because this would have to be based on behavioural changes. The impact assessment can be found via the following link:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/household-benefit-cap-wr2011-ia.pdf