Industrial Accidents
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the effects of (a) proactive workplace inspections and (b) incident inspections conducted by the Health and Safety Executive on the incidence of fatalities and serious injuries in the workplace. [64192]
Chris Grayling: No. There are additional factors beyond the inspections and investigations undertaken by HSE which influence the incidence of fatalities and serious injuries in the workplace most notably the behaviour of employers and employees.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of fatalities and major injuries recorded under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 in each of the last five years (a) were investigated by the Health and Safety Executive, (b) resulted in an enforcement notice, (c) resulted in a prosecution and (d) resulted in any other enforcement activity. [64200]
Chris Grayling: Information on the numbers of fatalities and major injuries recorded under RIDDOR 1995 in each of the last five years, and on the numbers investigated by HSE, which resulted in formal enforcement, is provided in the following two tables.
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The information in Tables 1 and 2 is current as at 4 July 2011 and relates to fatalities and major injuries to both workers and members of the public. It includes both investigations which have been completed and those which are ongoing. Ongoing investigations may result in further enforcement action being taken, particularly for incidents which occurred in the most recent years. An investigation can result in both the issue of a notice and prosecution.
Major injury figures for 2009-10 are provisional and finalised figures will be available in November 2011.
Information on fatalities and major injuries resulting in other enforcement activities (e.g. a letter) can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Industrial Health and Safety
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the proportionate implementation of the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 by (a) the Health and Safety Executive and (b) local authority inspectors. [63976]
Chris Grayling:
Health and safety law should protect people at work but in a common sense way, without needless bureaucracy. The Health and Safety Executive enforces the law proportionately, by targeting those areas which represent the greatest risks to people at work and those who operate outside the law, in accordance
11 July 2011 : Column 37W
with its enforcement policy statement. Local authorities should follow the same principles when taking enforcement decisions.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the cost to the Health and Safety Executive of implementing the recommendations relating to it contained in “Common Sense, Common Safety”. [64193]
Chris Grayling: The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) 2010 spending review settlement for the period 2011-12 to 2014-15 takes account of the resources HSE needs to implement the recommendations in ‘Common Sense, Common Safety’ that it leads on.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the implications for local authority sub-contracting of health and safety inspections of the recommendations relating to combining food safety and health and safety contained in “Common Sense, Common Safety”. [64196]
Chris Grayling: The guidance on combined food hygiene and health and safety inspections was jointly prepared by Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Food Standards Agency (FSA) and local government representative bodies. It implemented the recommendation arising from ‘Common Sense, Common Safety’ and advised all local authorities (LAs) undertaking health and safety or food hygiene inspections that they should combine these inspections where appropriate.
Some LAs use contractors to undertake food safety and health and safety inspections, in such cases the LA itself retains the overall management and enforcement responsibility. The guidance to combine inspections should be considered when the LA plans and directs their inspection resources, whether they use contractors or LA officers.
While health and safety is a reserved matter, food safety is devolved, such that the guidance only applies in England but is made available to LAs in Scotland and Wales should they wish to follow similar principles.
Jobcentre Plus: Closures
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for relocation of Jobcentre Plus staff who work in offices which are to be closed. [64304]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what plans he has for relocation of Jobcentre Plus staff who work in offices which are to be closed. This falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
On 13 May 2011 Jobcentre Plus announced that 22 benefit and contact centres would close—20 during the next 12 months (5 contact centres and 15 benefit centres) and 2 more benefit centres during 2012/13. A commitment has been made that all of the staff affected by these closures will receive an offer of redeployment
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within Jobcentre Plus, either locally or further afield. There may be additional opportunities for redeployment into other Civil Service posts outside of this Department.
Jobcentre Plus is midway through individual consultation meetings with staff. These meetings will discuss the closure and give staff the opportunity to talk about their personal circumstances and commitments and the redeployment options that are available to them.
The individual meetings will determine the scope and potential for redeployment and this will need to be balanced with the needs of the business. Once all of the information has been gathered from those individual meetings and compared with the job opportunities that are actually available, decisions will be made as to where members of staff will be posted. It is intended that Jobcentre Plus will be able to give everyone an indication of their posting by the end of July.
Staff who move to a new site following the closure of their existing site will retain their existing terms and conditions.
Staff who incur extra travel costs as a result of any future transfer may qualify for help with excess fares. Any member of staff who accepts a post outside of the Jobcentre Plus normal daily travelling distance definition (either 1 or 1½ hours depending on grade and length of service), can apply for a workforce management redeployment package. This can help with excess travel time and additional childcare costs in addition to excess fares.
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what timetable he has set for the planned closure of the benefit and contact centres. [64305]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what timetable he has set for the planned closure of the benefit and contact centres. This falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
There is an outline timetable for the closure of the 22 offices. Over the next 12 months 20 sites will close (5 contact centres and 15 benefit centres) and 2 more benefit centres (Carlisle and Hartlepool) will close during 2012/13.
Many of the aforementioned 20 sites that are set for closure during the next 12 months have a one year notice period to be served and thus the notice to surrender has already been given in order to facilitate the closures. They will all close by the end of May 2012 but we are looking to phase the movement of work and people over the next 9 months.
There are a few sites where only 6 months notice needs to be given. Clydebank Contact Centre is one such site where the closure date there is November 2011.
Mansfield Benefit Centre
Sir Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what calculations his Department made when taking the decision to close Mansfield Benefits Centre; [63700]
(2) what factors were considered by his Department in determining that the Mansfield Benefit Centre is one of the most expensive centres in the country. [63822]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
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The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking what calculations were made when taking the decision to close Mansfield Benefits Centre and what factors were considered by his Department in determining that it is one of the most expensive centres in the country. This falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Jobcentre Plus had to conduct a comprehensive review of its Benefit and Contact Centres to address the fact that the organisation has under-used space when it is striving to become leaner, more productive and deliver optimum value for money for the taxpayer through the use of modernised service delivery channels.
An equally weighted and balanced criteria was used during the review to inform the eventual decision making process. The criteria consisted of;
Cost effectiveness;
Performance and productivity;
The size of the sites;
Redeployment potential;
The results of Equality Impact Assessments carried out, and;
The wider economic impact, the unemployment rate in the area and whether there were any planned closures or redundancies by other Government departments, in the locality.
In terms of cost, Jobcentre Plus used a cost per work station calculation. This is the total cost of running a site including lease and utility costs but excluding staff and IT costs, divided by the number of workstations at a site.
The size of sites was another calculation. The recognised optimum site size (for sites of the Mansfield Benefit Centre type) is between 200 and 500 seats. There are just 117 staff in post at Mansfield Benefit Centre.
All of these criteria are considered when a decision to close a site is made.
Sir Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether any organisation or business has expressed an interest in occupying the premises currently used by the Mansfield Benefits Centre; [63701]
(2) what level of lease charges is levied for the use of the offices occupied by the Mansfield Benefits Centre; [63702]
(3) who owns the premises of the Mansfield Benefits Centre; [63703]
(4) what the terms and conditions are of the lease held by his Department in respect of the Mansfield Benefits Centre. [63704]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking whether any organisation or business has expressed an interest in occupying the premises currently used by the Mansfield Benefits Centre, what level of lease charges is levied for the use of the offices, who owns the premises and what the terms and conditions are of the lease. This falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
DWP signed a 20 year Private Finance Initiative contract with Telereal Trillium in 1998 for the provision of fully fitted and serviced accommodation for which the Department pays an all inclusive unitary charge.
A single unitary charge is paid for the provision of Mansfield Hill House which accommodates both the Benefit Centre and the Jobcentre. The total cost of the premises is commercial in confidence.
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Jobcentre Plus can expect to benefit from a reduction in cost by relinquishing the office space occupied by the Benefit Centre.
The terms and conditions of the occupancy by Mansfield Benefit Centre fall within the aforementioned Private Finance Initiative contract between DWP and Telereal Trillium.
With regards the ownership of the premises, the Mansfield Benefit Centre estate is freehold and owned by Telereal Trillium. In terms of future occupation of the space that Jobcentre Plus vacates, Telereal Trillium will now act according to the terms by which it runs that building to seek new occupiers.
Sir Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of savings to be achieved through the closure of the Mansfield Benefits Centre. [63705]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what estimate he has made of savings to be achieved through the closure of the Mansfield Benefits Centre. This falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
The challenge, for Jobcentre Plus is to save £170 million through its overall estates rationalisation programme. It is anticipated that the decision to close Mansfield Benefit Centre and 21 other Benefit and Contact Centres will save £14 million by 2015.
It is not always possible to be specific about the savings that will be realised through the closure of individual sites. Mansfield Benefit Centre is a prime example as it is co-located with a Jobcentre that is not set to close. Typically when Jobcentre Plus relinquishes a floor of a building it will negotiate with estate provider Telereal Trillium to achieve a saving or it will explore the inward co-location potential for new revenue.
Sir Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what terms and conditions will be applied to staff employed in the Mansfield Benefits Centre in respect of any future transfer to the Derby Benefits Centre, Derby Contact Centre and Annesley Contact Centre. [63706]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question that asked what terms and conditions will be applied to staff employed in the Mansfield Benefits Centre in respect of any future transfer to the Derby Benefits Centre, Derby Contact Centre and Annesley Contact Centre. This falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Jobcentre Plus staff who move to a new site following the closure of their existing site will retain their existing terms and conditions. However, a member of staff might wish to review their actual working patterns with their manager at the new site and this will be discussed at the appropriate time.
Staff who incur extra travel costs may qualify for help with excess fares. Any member of staff who accepts a post outside of our normal daily travelling distance definition of 1 or 1.5 hours can apply for a workforce management redeployment package. This can help with excess travel time and additional childcare costs in addition to excess fares. If a post is available within daily travelling distance, it is normally expected that staff will take that post to protect the use of public funds.
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Motability
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the regulation of the Motability scheme; and whether he has plans to improve its regulation. [64820]
Maria Miller: The Department works closely with Motability but it is an independent charity and is wholly responsible for the administration of the Motability scheme.
The Department for Work and Pensions regularly meets with Motability to discuss the performance of the Specialised Vehicles Fund, which Motability administers on its behalf, and to discuss the Motability scheme more generally. These discussions are helpful to both parties in order to ensure that the scheme gives personal mobility on terms which represent value for money and meet the needs of disabled people.
Social Security Benefits
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the (a) number of households and (b) households as a proportion of the working-age-out-of-work benefit caseload who will be affected by the introduction of his proposed overall benefit cap in each region. [63824]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available as sample sizes are too small to yield reliable results for areas smaller than the overall impacts for Great Britain.
However, as we have stated in our impact assessment, if the benefit cap were applied in full, we estimate that around 50,000 households in Great Britain will have their benefits reduced by the policy. This is roughly 1% of the out-of-work benefit caseload. Households whose benefit is reduced as a result of the cap on total benefit income will lose on average around £93 per week.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the (a) number of households in London whose total welfare benefits income exceeds the average take-home earnings of London working households and (b) proportion of such households represent of the working-age-out-of-work benefit caseload in London. [63825]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available, as sample sizes are too small to yield reliable results on the number of households in London whose total welfare benefits income exceeds the average take-home earnings of London working households.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will publish his Department's modelling assumptions on the potential effects of (a) the overall benefit cap and (b) restrictions on housing benefit on homelessness and housing need; [64635]
(2) if he will publish the modelling assumptions underpinning his Department's estimate of (a) the number of homelessness applications as a consequence of the overall benefit cap and (b) the number of homelessness applications as a result of housing benefit restrictions. [64655]
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Chris Grayling: We have published impact assessments and equality impact assessments on the DWP website for the introduction of the benefit cap and the changes we are making to housing benefit. The dates for the relevant publications are 16 February 2011 for the introduction of the benefit cap, changes related to the under-occupation of social housing, uprating local housing allowance by the consumer price index and for non-dependant deduction reforms and 9 May 2011 for the changes in the shared accommodation rate.
However these assessments do not contain an estimate of the impact on homelessness as we cannot anticipate the behaviours of tenants or their landlords.
Unemployed People: Public Transport
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2011, Official Report, column 823W, on unemployed people: public transport, whether information related to the Flexible Support Fund is available in hard copy in each Jobcentre Plus office. [62763]
Chris Grayling: Jobcentre Plus advisers are the gateway to the information and support available for customers. The range of leaflets provided by the Department aims to provide broad information on the main benefits and services available. The leaflets are kept as concise as possible and written in plain English so that most people can quickly find what they want and understand the information. The leaflets cannot attempt to provide information on all circumstances. As the help provided to jobseekers is tailored to meet individual needs and depends upon a number of factors, it is impossible to provide concise and accurate information on all the help available. For a jobseeker this information would be provided by a member of staff in Jobcentre Plus. Information on travel to interview support is available in the leaflet ‘Help with job interviews’, DWP 1016, and this is available on request in Jobcentre Plus offices.
The Department has recently revised the main information leaflet suite and now has six brief signposting leaflets covering the main life events such as finding a job. People requiring more information can either go online to Directgov or ask at a Jobcentre Plus office for a further leaflet. This approach aims to encourage people to go online for information and reduce the overall cost of producing departmental leaflets.
Work Capability Assessment: Autism
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made on the possibility of allowing people with autistic spectrum disorders to bring a carer or advocate to assessments where they wish to do so. [64816]
Maria Miller: Individuals claiming employment and support allowance will undergo a work capability assessment (WCA). Everyone who attends a face-to-face assessment as part of this process, including those with autistic spectrum disorders, is encouraged to bring a relative, carer or advocate with them to their assessment.
Following the Independent Review of the WCA by Professor Harrington we have made improvements so that claimants better understand the process, including their right to bring someone with them to an assessment.
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Atos Healthcare have also published a Customer Charter which encourages individuals to
“bring a relative, carer or friend along to the assessment if you would find it helpful.”
The claims and assessment processes for personal independence payment are still being developed and we intend to follow a similar process, learning from the Harrington Review findings. Individuals will be able and encouraged to bring a relative, friend, carer or advocate with them for their face-to-face consultations as part of the assessment for the benefit.
Defence
Military Decorations
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects of the 2006 decision to allow eligible veterans to receive the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal but not to allow it to be worn; and if he will make a statement. [64449]
Mr Robathan: An ongoing review of the rules governing the award of medals is considering the principles which underpin these rules. In doing so, appropriate consideration will be given to how the rules have been applied to past decisions on medals, including the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal. We are currently considering the views of a number of campaign groups, including the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Veterans Association.
Armed Forces
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has to standardise harmony guidelines for each branch of the armed forces; [64174]
(2) when his Department will publish its Force Generation Review. [64175]
Mr Robathan: The Force Generation Review is considering a wide range of factors including tour lengths and harmony guidelines; this work is ongoing.
Armed Forces: Deployment
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel were (a) unaccompanied and (b) accompanied on service in the latest period for which figures are available. [65248]
Mr Robathan: As at 6 July 2011, 125,460 service personnel were recorded as being unaccompanied, and 62,010 as accompanied on service.
Armed Forces: Housing
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Coventry South of 4 July 2011, Official Report, columns 1214-15, on accommodation costs, (1) what definition his Department uses for entitled service personnel; [64592]
(2) what the rank was of each recipient of accommodation; [64593]
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(3) what estimate he has made of the average annual rent paid by his Department for accommodation properties. [64594]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 7 July 2011]:A summary of all entitled and eligible Service and civilian personnel can be found in the Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations, published as Joint Service Publication 464. The relevant section, part 1, chapter 11, annex A, will be placed in the Library of the House.
In 2010-11 the Ministry of Defence spent an average annual rent of some £4,600 on accommodation properties in the UK.
Current records show the following breakdown of occupants of service family accommodation (SFA) and substitute SFA in London, by rank. There are some properties where no rank is recorded. Similar information on occupants of single living accommodation and substitute service single accommodation (SSSA) is not held centrally.
| Rank | Total |
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Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) constituency and (b) local authority is of each site of (i) service families accommodation and (ii) single living accommodation of 100 or more units. [65250]
Mr Robathan: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Armed Forces: Injuries
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 22 June 2011, Official Report, column 299W, on armed forces: injuries, whether he has any plans to publish the results of any of the current collaborative research with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory; and if so which areas he will publish. [64764]
Mr Robathan: Wherever possible, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) publishes, often in collaboration with the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine in Birmingham, the results of its research programme in open scientific peer-reviewed journals.
This is done to ensure that the advances made can be utilised both in military and civilian scenarios.
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for delivery of the second batch of light patrol protected vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [63649]
Peter Luff: A decision on the second tranche will be made in due course and announced to the House in the usual way.
Army: Manpower
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to reduce the size of the Army after 2015. [64960]
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Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 July 2011, Official Report, column 1222, by the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox).
Chief Coroner
Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what evidence his Department holds on the financial effects on his Department in each of the next five years of appointing a Chief Coroner with the functions provided for by the Coroner and Justice Act 2009; [65188]
(2) whether his Department has carried out (a) a cost-benefit analysis and (b) an impact assessment in relation to the introduction of a Chief Coroner, with the functions provided for by the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. [65253]
Mr Robathan: We hold no evidence on the financial effects of the Chief Coroner on the Ministry of Defence and have not carried out a cost-benefit analysis or impact assessment as the cost of establishing a Chief Coroner would fall to the Ministry of Justice. An impact assessment for Part One of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 was published by the Ministry of Justice in December 2008 and summarised the full costs and benefits of implementing the coroners provisions in the act.
Departmental Dismissal
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [64689]
Mr Robathan: The information requested is shown in the following table:
| Calendar year | Total number of staff dismissed for reasons of performance |
| (1 )Represents figures of five or below. Note: All figures are rounded to the nearest 10. | |
Freedom of Information Requests
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [63592]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence's Freedom of Information statistics do not distinguish between Members of Parliament and the general public. This is because the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is applicant- and motive-blind.
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Civilian Manpower
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) support staff in each role in theatre and (b) other civilian staff were employed by his Department on the latest date for which figures are available. [63651]
Mr Robathan: The latest figure for Ministry of Defence civilian staff currently deployed in theatre is 1,172. Of these, 989 are locally employed civilians (LECs) and 183 are in support of Operation Herrick in Afghanistan. These are broken down as follows, with figures for 2010 shown for comparison:
| Staff numbers | ||
| Role | 2010 | 2011 |
The total number of civilian staff employed by the MOD in April 2011 including LECs and those listed above was 87,060 (83,060 full-time equivalent) compared to 89,970 (85,590 full-time equivalent) in 2010.
Departmental Written Questions
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many questions for written answer on a named day his Department has answered (a) substantively on the day named, (b) with a holding answer followed by a substantive answer and (c) with a holding answer only since June 2010. [65014]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence received 1,057 questions for written answer on a named day between 1 June 2010 and 6 July 2011. Of these, 601 were answered substantively on the day named; 449 were answered with a holding answer followed by a substantive answer; and seven have been answered with a holding answer only.
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Indirect Fire Precision Attack Programme
Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what recent progress his Department has made on the Indirect Fire Precision Attack programme; and if he will make a statement; [63736]
(2) what estimate he has made of the total cost of the Indirect Fire Precision Attack programme; [63737]
(3) how many munitions will be supplied to the armed forces under the Indirect Fire Precision Attack programme. [63738]
Peter Luff: The fire shadow loitering munition project is the current focus of the Indirect Fire Precision Attack (IFPA) programme. The project is progressing well through the demonstration and manufacture phase and is on track to deliver a deployable capability in 2012. We already know that there is interest in this capability from other nations and we are pursuing export opportunities as part of the wider complex weapons initiative in support of driving down future costs.
The wider IFPA programme is in the assessment phase; this will establish the type and numbers of munitions required and the associated costs. The broad cost of the first phase of the fire shadow loitering munition programme, including concept, assessment, demonstration and initial manufacture, is forecast to be some £200 million.
Information relating to future fire shadow loitering munition stock levels is being withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security and because its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Joint Services Command and Staff College
Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the current intake at the Joint Services Command and Staff College are from the (a) Army, (b) RAF and (c) Royal Navy. [62108]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 27 June 2011]: As at 27 June 2011, the Joint Services Command and Staff College have the following UK military students on courses with them:
| Course | Royal Navy (1) | Army | RAF |
| (1) This includes the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary | |||
Merlin Helicopters
Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what recent progress his Department has made on the Merlin upgrade programme; and if he will make a statement; [63744]
(2) what recent estimate he has made of the costs of the Merlin upgrade programme; [63745]
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(3) what estimate he has made of how many Merlin helicopters will be upgraded as part of the Merlin upgrade programme. [63746]
Peter Luff: The Merlin capability sustainment programme, which aims to sustain the Merlin Mk1 capability to 2029, remains on track and is currently in the demonstration and manufacture phase. The expected cost of this programme is £843 million. This programme will deliver 30 MK2 standard aircraft.
The Merlin Mk3/3a Life Sustainment Programme is still being developed. The content, value and time-scales cannot be confirmed until the main investment decision is made.
Military Aircraft: Nuclear Installations
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what near miss incidents involving RAF aircraft and UK nuclear installations have been reported to his Department in each year since May 2004; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the report on each such incident. [64468]
Mr Robathan: Since May 2004 there have been two incidents of RAF aircraft entering the restricted airspace imposed around nuclear installations, these are shown in the following table. These incidents were investigated and neither were assessed to present a risk to the installation. I will place copies of the reports into each of these incidents, with appropriate redactions, in the Library of the House.
| Date | Nuclear installation | Closest approach |
Military Bases
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) constituency and (b) local authority is of each (i) base, (ii) garrison and (iii) barracks of each of the armed services in (A) England and (B) Wales. [65249]
Mr Robathan: A list of Ministry of Defence bases, garrisons and barracks in England and Wales, arranged by parliamentary constituency, will be placed in the Library of the House.
Breakdown by local authority is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 21W, on military bases, what (1) monetary values were given to (a) the salaries of US and UK personnel, (b) the cost of construction projects, (c) utilities, (d) local supply purchases, (e) visitor lodging, (f) meals and incidentals and (g) other elements considered in the local economic impact assessment of RAF Menwith Hill; [63660]
(2) calculation was made to arrive at the overall figure for the economic impact at RAF Menwith Hill. [63661]
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Mr Robathan: The following table shows the monetary value given to each category upon which the overall economic assessment was based; a conversion rate of $1.6943 equals £1 was used.
| £ million | ||
| Financial year | ||
|
|
2010 | 2011 |
| (1 )Totals are based on the standard daily allowance rate. | ||
US authorities at RAF Menwith Hill calculate the overall figure for the economic impact of the establishment was based on the salaries of US and UK personnel, construction costs, payments for utilities, local supplies and visitors.
Rescue Services: Helicopters
Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the total cost of the search and rescue helicopter project. [63817]
Peter Luff: The total future cost of the joint Ministry of Defence/Department for Transport Search and Rescue (SAR) Helicopter project has previously been estimated as approximately £7 billion over some 25 years. Following the cancellation, in February 2011, of the previous procurement process due to contract irregularities, we are considering the potential procurement options to meet the future requirements for SAR helicopters in the United Kingdom and we will make a further announcement once a way forward has been agreed.
Reserve Forces
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the review of reserve forces will be published prior to 20 July. [65493]
Mr Robathan: No firm date for publication has been set.
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary; and if he will make a statement. [63647]
Peter Luff:
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary will continue to operate a fleet of supply and support vessels scaled to meet the Navy's requirements. We are taking forward the findings of the value for money review of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary which were announced in the debate by the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan), on 6 December 2010, Official Report, columns 137-46. Under the military afloat reach and sustainability programme we plan to begin replacing
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the existing single-hulled tankers and solid support ships with new ships later this decade.
Saudi Arabia: Arms Trade
Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills regarding arms export licences to Saudi Arabia. [64827]
Mr Robathan: There have been no discussions between the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), and the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), on export licensing for Saudi Arabia.
Trident
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2011, Official Report, column 675W, on Trident, whether he has assessed options for an alternative to the replacement of Trident that would provide an equivalent level of deterrence. [65499]
Mr Robathan: The 2006 White Paper ‘The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent’ (Cm 6994) set out the results of a fundamental analysis of options for any successor deterrent system. This work concluded that a minimum nuclear deterrent based on a new generation of ballistic missile-carrying submarines operating a continuous at sea deterrence posture was right for the UK. As set out in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (Cm 7948), and as the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), reiterated in his statement to the House on 18 May 2011, Official Report, columns 351-353, this remains Government policy.
As the Secretary of State for Defence explained in his answer of 28 June 2011, the study to assist the Liberal Democrats in making the case for alternatives will review the costs, feasibility and credibility of alternative platforms, alternative delivery systems and alternative postures.
Unmanned Air Vehicles
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the MQ-9 Reaper or any other form of UK drone has been used in Pakistan airspace by UK forces; and if he will make a statement. [64474]
Mr Robathan: No UK Reaper remotely piloted air systems or unmanned air systems have been used in Pakistani airspace by UK forces.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has made a response to each of the questions raised in Chapter 5, ‘Moral and Ethical Issues’, in the Joint Doctrine Note 2/11, “The UK Approach to Unmanned Aircraft Systems”, of 30 March 2011; and if he will make a statement. [64475]
Mr Robathan:
The Ministry of Defence operates to the highest legal, moral and ethical standards. Joint Doctrine Note 2/11 (JDN 2/11) recognises that we must
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continue to observe these high standards when employing new technology, including Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), to achieve our defence objectives.
As stated in its preface, JDN 2/11 seeks to consider how UAS may contribute to the UK's future defence and security needs. Its purpose is to identify the issues that should be addressed if such systems are to be successfully developed and integrated into future operations. It does not describe agreed policy but rather seeks to energise debate within the UK to inform policy development; the Ministry of Defence welcomes and encourages that debate and the opportunity to contribute fully to it.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) insurgents and (b) civilians have been killed as a result of UK unmanned aircraft and armed drone missions in each year since such craft were first used; by what mechanism such civilian deaths and injuries are monitored; and if he will make a statement. [64476]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence does not hold a comprehensive record of figures for insurgent or civilian casualties in Afghanistan, because of the immense difficulty and risks that would be involved in collecting robust data.
Any incident involving civilian casualties is a matter of deep regret and we take every possible measure to avoid such incidents. There are strict procedures, frequently updated in light of experience, intended to both minimise the risk of casualties occurring and to investigate incidents that do happen.
USA: Defence Academy
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2011, Official Report, columns 835-6W, on USA: Defence Academy, what the (a) itinerary and (b) dates were of the visit; whether the students travelled by scheduled flights; and how many students travelled in (a) economy and (b) standard business class. [64167]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 6 July 2011]: The Advanced Command and Staff Course, Defence Academy itinerary to the USA, including dates of the visit, was as follows:
2 June 2011—advance party of personnel travel out to the USA.
4 June 2011—half the students and staff travel out to Washington DC.
5 June 2011—rest of the students and staff travel out to Washington DC.
6 June 2011—briefings in Washington. Course departs for Naval Station Norfolk Virginia, via coach.
7 June 2011—briefings received.
8 June 2011—travelled to Marine Corps Base Quantico Virginia, via coach. Briefings received. Travel back to Washington—via coach.
9 June 2011—briefings in Washington.
10 June 2011—half the students and staff travel back to the UK.
11 June 2011—rest of students and staff travel back to the UK.
All the students travelled via the Washington trooper flight, economy class.
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Wales
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many visits Ministers and staff of his Department have made to defence establishments in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire since 2008. [61550]
Mr Robathan: Information on visits by staff for the whole period, and information on ministerial visits prior to May 2010, are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. No Defence Minister has visited Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire since May 2010.
X-rays
Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on storing radiology records in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009 and (e) 2010. [63936]
Mr Robathan: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Deputy Prime Minister
Devolution: Wales
Roger Williams: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Wales on the remit of the proposed commission on devolution and funding for Wales. [63332]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Wales, the right hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), about a range of issues, including the scope of the work of the proposed commission.
House of Lords: Reform
Paul Murphy: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to consult the public about reform of the House of Lords. [64856]
Mr Harper: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 May 2011, Official Report, column 379W, to the hon. Member for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland (Tom Blenkinsop).
Prisoners: Voting Rights
Priti Patel: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answers of 30 June 2011, Official Report, column 930W, on legal aid and prisoners: voting rights, (1) whether he plans to bring forward proposals to amend existing legislation in order to extend the franchise to prisoners; [64483]
(2) whether he has seen draft versions of legislative proposals to extend voting rights to prisoners; and if he will make a statement; [64484]
(3) in which month he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to extend the franchise to prisoners; [64485]
(4) what legislative options he has considered using to extend the franchise to prisoners. [64486]
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Mr Harper: The Government are considering the next steps in relation to prisoner voting rights and the 11 October deadline set by the European Court of Human Rights to bring forward legislative proposals. I will inform the House when decisions on the way forward have been reached. The Prime Minister has said that the Government will make sure that any legislative proposals are as close as possible to the decision of the House of Commons earlier this year.
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the introduction of the overall benefit cap on the number of new affordable rent units to be constructed by 2015. [64825]
Grant Shapps: The Department published an Impact Assessment for Affordable Rent in June 2011:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/rentimpactassessment
This analysis takes into account both the overall benefit cap and the flexibilities provided to housing providers to shape their development programmes to local circumstances.
The central scenario in the impact assessment suggests that it is possible for housing providers to deliver 56,000 new affordable rent and affordable home ownership properties (towards the Government's overall ambition of up to 150,000 new affordable homes) between 2011 and 2015, alongside the introduction of the benefit cap.
The Homes and Communities Agency has now received bids for funding from housing providers. These have exceeded our original expectations and we are on track to deliver our ambition of up to 150,000 new affordable homes including family homes.
Business Premises: Leasehold
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has assessed the effect of the provisions of the Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Act 2002 in respect of commercial properties on the management of an estate where commercial property benefits from the right to enfranchise. [64199]
Grant Shapps: Tenants (leaseholders) of commercial properties do not have the right to enfranchise under residential leasehold legislation.
Under the “Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002”, however, where leasehold houses on an estate are subject to a business lease, the leaseholders may—provided they meet certain qualifying criteria—qualify for enfranchisement. These include the term of the original business lease exceeding 35 years, and the leaseholder occupying the house as their only or main residence for the last two years, or periods amounting to two years in the last 10.
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Enfranchisement in these circumstances could result in changes to the management of an estate. No assessment has been made in England of the effects of the introduction of these criteria.
Council Tax: Exemptions
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will examine rules on council tax exemption under which new owners cannot apply for exemption on unoccupied and unfurnished properties if the same property was exempt under previous ownership. [65428]
Robert Neill: The council tax exemption for unoccupied and unfurnished properties applies to the property not the owner. However, local authorities can set a discount on such property between 50% and 0% in the circumstances set out in the question.
Council Tax: Overpayments
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what interest rate the Valuation Office Agency has used for the calculation of compound interest foregone through the overpayment of council tax in each of the last 20 years; and what factors determined the rate set in each case; [63227]
(2) what the policy is of the Valuation Office Agency on compensation payments made in lieu of lost interest on overpaid council tax; on what date that policy was adopted; and whom the Agency consulted on the change from the previous policy. [63234]
Robert Neill: Local authorities are responsible for paying (a) overpayments of council tax. There is no legal provision for (b) interest lost due to overpayment to be paid by the Valuation Office Agency.
The Valuation Office will consider making an ex gratia payment in cases where it has caused a serious error or delay in reviewing the council tax band of a property.
Since January 2011 the Valuation Office Agency's policy has changed and it no longer makes payments in lieu of lost interest.
The following table shows the interest rates the Valuation Office Agency used, prior to January 2011, in the calculation of payments in lieu of lost interest since council tax was introduced. The level of interest is based on levels used by billing authorities in the calculations used for non-domestic rates refunds.
| Interest rate (percentage) | |
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Departmental Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2011, Official Report, columns 911-2W, what regulations his Department (a) introduced and (b) revoked between 9 and 28 February 2011. [60403]
Robert Neill [holding answer 17 June 2011]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 22 March 2011, Official Report, columns 911-12W and the associated table which has been placed in the Library of the House.
Enterprise Zones
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to announce his decision on the current round of bids for local enterprise zones. [65089]
Greg Clark: The competition for a further 10 enterprise zones closed on 30 June.
We will announce decisions on the second wave of enterprise zones following the consideration of bids later in the summer.
Government Procurement Card
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount, (c) supplier and (d) level 3 or enhanced transaction entry was of each transaction undertaken by his Department using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08. [59050]
Robert Neill: The details of Government Procurement Card transactions for (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2008-09 have been deposited in the Library of the House. They include (a) date of purchase, (b) amount and (c) supplier. Level 3 (d) or enhanced transaction details are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Each transaction does have a merchant category which is a broad description of the type of goods purchased.
My Department is committed to greater transparency over the use of the Government Procurement Card than under the last Administration, and has strengthened checks and balances to ensure protection of taxpayers' money.
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Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount, (c) supplier and (d) level 3 or enhanced transaction entry was of each transaction undertaken by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister using the Government Procurement Card during the period it existed as a Government Department. [59210]
Robert Neill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) became a separate Department in May 2002 and existed until May 2006 when it was reformed as the Department of Communities and Local Government.
Confirmation and checking of Government Procurement Card records for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, when it existed as a Government Department, could be accomplished only at disproportionate cost.
Government Procurement Card records exist from April 2004 but during the time that ODPM existed as a separate department they were contaminated by compromised (cloned) Government Procurement Cards. This was investigated and resolved at the time (with no suggestion of internal fraud) but with the passage of time preparing these figures for publication could be accomplished only at disproportionate cost as it would involve checking over 4,000 lines of data.
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount, (c) supplier and (d) level 3 or enhanced transaction entry was of each transaction undertaken by each of the Government Offices for the Regions using the Government Procurement Card between 2007-08 and 2009-10. [59211]
Robert Neill: The details of Government Procurement Card transactions undertaken by the Government Office Network for financial years 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 have been deposited in the Library of the House. They include (a) date of purchase, (b)amount and (c) supplier. Level 3 (d) or enhanced transaction details are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Each transaction does have a merchant category which is a broad description of the type of goods purchased.
A breakdown for each individual Government office could only be accomplished at disproportionate cost.
The abolition of the Government offices was announced in the coalition Government's spending review in October 2010. The network closed at the end of March 2011. Functions formerly undertaken by the network have now ceased, with the exception of a small number which transferred elsewhere.
These changes are expected to deliver up to £200 million in savings over the spending review.
My Department is committed to greater transparency over the use of the Government Procurement Card than under the last Administration, and has strengthened checks and balances to ensure protection of taxpayers' money.
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to promote transparency in the use of the Government Procurement Card by (a) local authorities and (b) his Department. [59215]
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Robert Neill: All principal local authorities in England, except Nottingham city council, are now publishing online their expenditure over £500. This should include Government Procurement Card transactions, identifying the underlying supplier. The ‘Code of Recommended Practice for Local Authorities on Data Transparency’, currently in draft, will put transparency on a statutory footing.
DCLG has been routinely publishing Government Procurement Card transactions, including the underlying suppliers, for all transactions over £500 on its website since February 2011 and they can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/transparencyingovernment/spenddata/
My Department has also published a detailed breakdown of every single Government Procurement transaction (not just those over £500) for 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsstories/newsroom/1914205
While the card's use can reduce administrative costs of purchasing items, Sir Philip Green's report into Government efficiency last year identified the need for greater checks and balances into the use of the Government Procurement Card. Ministers believe that online transparency will help identify and prevent wasteful spending and help improve procurement efficiency. There is a powerful public interest for past and present spending data to be made public by local authorities, and we would recommend councils consider the case for proactive disclosure.
Green Belt
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if his Department has any plans to alter planning rules for development in green belt land. [64830]
Robert Neill: The coalition agreement commits the Government to maintaining green belt protection. The green belt has a valuable role in stopping urban sprawl and providing a green lung around towns and cities. National policy on green belt protection—currently explained in Planning Policy Guidance Note 2, ‘Green Belts’—will be updated as part of the National Planning Policy Framework. We will consult on the framework shortly. However, through the Localism Bill we will be abolishing regional strategies. This will remove ‘top down' pressure to weaken green belt protection. Our revision to planning guidance on travellers, currently out to consultation, also looks to strengthen protection of the green belt.
Homelessness
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what letters he or his officials have sent to Ministers or officials in the Department for Work and Pensions on his Department's assessment of the (a) number of households likely to present as homeless as a consequence of the overall benefit cap in the 12 months following its introduction and (b) resultant likely costs to local authorities. [64822]
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Grant Shapps: Ministers and officials from the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Work and Pensions are in regular correspondence on a range of matters. I refer the right hon. Member to the recent letter to her from the Secretary of State, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
Housing: Repossession
Louise Mensch: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans his Department has to minimise the number of repossessions of domestic homes during periods of slow economic growth. [64373]
Grant Shapps: The Government are helping homeowners in difficulty by tackling the record deficit to prevent a rapid increase in interest rates hitting struggling households.
The Government are committed to working closely with lenders, debt advice agencies and local authorities to ensure that repossession is only ever a last resort and that effective help and advice for homeowners at risk of repossession is available. The Government “Mortgage Help” website outlines the options available to households.
Housing Strategy
Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when his Department will publish the forthcoming Housing Strategy; and what plans he has to stimulate the development of retirement housing of each tenure. [64577]
Grant Shapps: The DCLG Business Plan states the Department will publish a document setting out our overall approach to housing policy by October 2011.
Current national planning policy for housing makes clear that Local Planning Authorities should carry out a Strategic Housing Market Assessment to provide information on the level of needs and demand for housing in their area. The housing requirements of older people should be included in these assessments. Based on the requirements identified, authorities should develop policies and implementation strategies to ensure that sufficient, suitable land is made available to achieve their housing objectives. Clear local housing policies can encourage developers to bring forward proposals for housing which reflect market demand and the needs of different households.
The forthcoming National Planning Policy Framework consultation will cover all forms of development. This will include policy on planning for housing.
Housing: Construction
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will estimate the number of apprenticeships to be created by his new homes programme if contractors developing such homes were required to take on one apprentice for every £1 million worth of construction undertaken. [64179]
Grant Shapps:
It would not be appropriate to make an estimate on this basis. No national target has been set for apprenticeships; nor have the Government prescribed
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a particular approach. Top-down targets create additional burdens and bureaucracy on business.
Experience shows that delivery partners with a positive delivery record on employment and skills have developed a variety of approaches that work according to local circumstances.
Private Rented Housing
Mr Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to support families with children in accessing the private rented sector. [64698]
Andrew Stunell: Figures drawn from the most recent English Housing Survey (published on 5 July 2011), show that 30% of households in the private rented sector are families with dependent children. This compares with 32% in the social rented sector and 27% of owner occupiers. These percentages suggest that the private rented sector already performs an important role in housing families. The Government have sought to ensure that continues to be the case by minimising burdens on the sector which might inhibit its growth while underlining our commitment to ensuring that the existing legislative framework continues to offer proper protections to those with privately rented homes.
Where a family is unable to find accommodation in their area, they can go for help to their local authority will be able to offer support and, where they are, which found to be unintentionally homeless, will be under a duty to find them suitable accommodation.
Social Rented Housing
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what information he holds on the length of local residence required by each local authority in England for the purposes of determining eligibility for social housing; [64873]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of local authorities intending to increase the length of local residence as a qualification for access to social housing. [64874]
Andrew Stunell: Under the current allocation legislation, local authorities may not take local residence into account for the purposes of determining eligibility for social housing. However, they may take into account whether an applicant has a local connection with their district when determining priorities for social housing and many authorities do so.
The changes to the allocation legislation in the Localism Bill will give local authorities the power to determine who does or does not qualify for social housing in their district. This would allow local authorities to set residency criteria in future.
Around two-thirds of local authorities that responded to the consultation on social housing reform (‘Local decisions: a fairer future for social housing’, November 2010) welcomed the increased flexibility to set restrictive qualification criteria. Many of those considering introducing a restricted housing waiting list indicated that they would impose some form of local residency criteria.
The rules determining which categories of foreign nationals are eligible for social housing will continue to be set by central Government.
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Home Department
Alcoholic Drinks: Prices
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the effects on alcohol sales of the introduction of her proposed minimum pricing. [61978]
Mrs May [holding answer 27 June 2011]: Banning the sale of alcohol below the floor price of duty plus VAT is an important step that will tackle the worst instances of deep discounting.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers and (b) other staff of Cambridgeshire police have been transferred to work in the police investigation centre near Kings Lynn since its opening. [63991]
Nick Herbert: The requested information is not collected centrally.
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much Cambridgeshire police has spent under each budgetary heading on the police investigation centre near Kings Lynn in each of the last three years. [63992]
Nick Herbert: Information about the amount of money spent by Cambridgeshire police to use the facilities at King's Lynn PIC is not collected centrally.
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the minimum number of arrested persons from Cambridgeshire is required to be processed through the police investigation centre near King's Lynn under the private finance initiative contract. [64709]
Lynne Featherstone: The information requested is not collected centrally.
Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to ensure that the restructuring of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre results in better service and greater efficiency. [63709]
James Brokenshire: In moving the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) into the National Crime Agency (NCA), we will ensure that CEOP:
retains its operational independence, within the context of the NCA;
has clear delegated authority for its budget;
governance continues to include external partners;
retains its well-known brand;
retains its mixed economy of staff, from a variety of disciplines; and
continues its innovative partnerships with the public, private and third sector and has the ability to raise and hold funds from donors.
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CEOP will have the advantage of being able to work closely with other commands to ensure that children are protected. Shared intelligence across the NCA will highlight more easily where child exploitation and abuse links to other forms of serious organised criminality and shared enforcement resources will enable more wide-ranging and effective operations.
Control Orders
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in respect of how many people with control orders in force her Department has no record of their present location. [61956]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 27 June 2011]:The Home Office is aware of the present location of all the individuals against whom control orders are currently in force.
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people tried and acquitted of one or more charges related to terrorism offences have subsequently been subject to a control order. [61906]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 27 June 2011]:All of the individuals currently subject to a control order, and most of those who have ever been subject to a control order, are subject to a court-imposed anonymity order. This prevents the publication of information that would identify, or would tend to identify, an individual as being subject to a control order. Any changes to the number of individuals who have been subject to a control order subsequent to being acquitted of any terrorism offences, together with information in the public domain regarding the outcome of criminal trials, would tend to breach the court imposed anonymity order. It is therefore not possible to provide this information.
We can confirm, however, that control orders have been made against individuals who have previously been acquitted of terrorism-related offences.
The issue of making a control order against a person who has been subject to a previous criminal prosecution has been considered by the courts. The courts have found that a control order is addressed to future risk and serves an entirely different purpose to the criminal process.
Crime and Security Act 2010
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which sections of the Crime and Security Act 2010 she plans not to implement. [62302]
Mrs May [holding answer 27 June 2011]: The Home Office has no plans to implement the following sections of the Crime and Security Act 2010: 6(2), 14, 16 - 23, 40, 41, 42, 44, 55 and 56. On the issues these measures related to, the Government are taking forward their policies in new legislation or through consultation.
Sections 8 to 13 and 15 are now the devolved responsibility of the Northern Ireland Department of Justice.
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Crimes of Violence: Females
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role local domestic and sexual abuse co-ordinators will play in the implementation of the Government's strategy on violence against women and children. [64128]
Lynne Featherstone: Local domestic and sexual abuse co-ordinators provide an important local strategic lead on this issue, linking statutory and voluntary partner agencies and promoting and improving multi-agency approaches to tackling sexual and domestic violence.
Criminal Records
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the level of outstanding Criminal Records Bureau checks to be processed by the Metropolitan Police. [64335]
Lynne Featherstone: The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) currently has a workload of approximately 30,000 cases in progress, which equates to about 26 days activity. There have been significant improvements in performance in recent months resulting from the implementation of action plans, which have reduced the workload and the number of outstanding cases at the force. The MPS and the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) will continue to work together to reduce the outstanding work in coming months.
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Domestic Violence
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) high and (b) medium-risk domestic abuse victims there were in (i) Oxford West and Abingdon constituency, (ii) Oxfordshire and (iii) England and Wales in the latest period for which figures are available. [63794]
Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office does not collect information on the number of high or medium risk victims of domestic abuse in individual areas.
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to place multi-agency risk assessment conferences on the same statutory basis as multi-agency public protection arrangements. [64094]
Lynne Featherstone: There are no current plans to place multi-agency risk assessment conferences (MARAC) on the same statutory basis as multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA).
Fixed Penalties
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices were issued for (a) noise, (b) seat belt, (c) obstruction, waiting and parking, (d) speed limit and (e) hand-held use of mobile telephones offences in each police authority area in each of the last three years. [63690]
Nick Herbert: Available data from 2007 to 2009 (latest published data) are provided in the following tables.
Data for 2010 are scheduled for publication in April 2012.
| Number of substantive fixed penalty notices issued for various offences, by police force area, England and Wales 2007-09 | |||||||||
| Offence description | |||||||||
| Noise offences | Seat belt offences | Speed limit offences | |||||||
| Police force area | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
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