Plants that have opted out of the large combustion plant directive have a retirement date of 31 December 2015 but may close before if they use up their allotted hours prior to this. Stations with non-regulated retirements are assumed to have no specific retirement date.
The published lifetime for the nuclear power stations has been provided.
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the electricity (a) generation capacity and (b) demand in the UK in (i) 2012, (ii) 2013, (iii) 2014, (iv) 2015, (v) 2016, (vi) 2017 and (vii) 2018. [64235]
Charles Hendry: According to the central scenario of DECC's latest published Energy and Emissions Projections (June 2010), the electricity generation capacity and demand are as follows:
| Electricity generation capacity (central projection) GW | Electricity demand (central projection) TWh | |
The projections reflect a set of assumptions on fossil fuel and carbon prices and costs; they do not reflect a desired or preferred outcome for Government. The capacity figures include autogenerators and combined heat and power. The demand figures exclude electricity used by power stations.
The capacity figures shown in the table are sufficient to meet the projected demand. There is also some spare capacity to allow for intermittency of supply. The projections are produced by the DECC Energy Model. This is a model of energy supply and demand, which calculates the necessary generating capacity to meet a given level of electricity demand.
Electricity: Meters
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's Smart Metering Programme. [63999]
Charles Hendry: The Department published an updated impact assessments for the Smart Meter Programme in March 2011. These estimate that over the next 20 years, the rollout of smart meters will deliver £7.3 billion net benefits to consumers, energy suppliers and networks. The benefits include enabling consumer behaviour change, revolutionising industry processes, improving customer service and facilitating smart grids. By 2020, we expect the average domestic consumer, with both electricity and gas, to save an average £23 per year on their energy bill.
The updated impact assessments were published alongside the Government's consultation on our Smart Meter Prospectus in which we set out the strategy, plans and timetable for rollout. Under these plans we expect to see completion of the rollout by 2019, at least one year ahead of previously published plans.
Energy
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what assessment he has made of the effects on (a) water quality, (b) water resources, (c) flood risk, (d) coastal change and (e) public health of clustering of new energy infrastructure; [65452]
(2) what assessment he has made of the potential effects of development of new energy infrastructure on (a) biodiversity, (b) landscape, (c) visual amenity and (d) cultural heritage. [65450]
Charles Hendry: As part of the preparation of the energy National Policy Statements (NPS), an Appraisal of Sustainability (AoS), incorporating Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as required by Directive 2001/42/EC, was done to assess the potential strategically significant effects of new infrastructure on all the indicators highlighted in the questions, including cumulative effects such as those arising from clustering. As the Nuclear NPS (unlike the other energy NPSs) is site specific, it was possible to also carry out more detailed assessments for the proposed nuclear sites. All these appraisals have been the subject of extensive consultation and are published at:
www.energynpsconsultation.decc.gov.uk
In addition SEAs are carried out as part of the development of energy policy, e.g. for offshore energy licensing including wind and oil and gas. These can be found at:
www.offshore-sea.org.uk
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Energy: Australia
Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with his Australian counterpart on Government schemes for domestic insulation and energy efficiency in that country; and if he will publish any related documents. [64846]
Gregory Barker: I have looked at the evidence of the Australian experience, where inadequate standards underpinned the Government's retrofit scheme. It confirms the importance of standards.
The Green Deal to be launched next year will have strong framework for accreditation, which will set the necessary technical standards for installation and competence levels for installers, as well as customer care and warranty requirements.
Energy: Finance
Alex Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make available further funding to assist the Community Energy Saving
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Programme scheme to develop and meet its targets to replace matched funding from local authorities. [65509]
Gregory Barker: The Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) is an obligation on the energy companies to meet a carbon reduction target and involves no central government funding. In delivering schemes CESP providers may seek a financial contribution from local partners, including local authorities, but this a matter for commercial negotiation between the relevant parties.
Energy: Fuels
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the primary energy consumption by fuel is in million tonnes oil equivalent in respect of (a) oil, (b) natural gas, (c) coal, (d) nuclear energy and (e) hydro and renewables for (i) Scotland, (ii) England, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland. [64899]
Charles Hendry: Primary energy consumption data are only available for the UK. The following table shows provisional 2010 data.
| Inland energy consumption: primary fuel input basis | |||||||
| Million tonnes of oil equivalent | |||||||
| Primary electricity | |||||||
| Total | Coal (1) | Petroleum (2) | Natural gas (3) | Nuclear | Wind and natural flow hydro (4) | Net imports | |
| (1) Includes solid renewable sources (wood, straw and waste), a small amount of renewable primary heat sources (solar, geothermal, etc.), liquid biofuels and net foreign trade and stock changes in other solid fuels. (2) Inland deliveries for energy use, plus refinery fuel and losses, minus the differences between deliveries and actual consumption at power stations. (3) Includes gas used during production, colliery methane, landfill gas and sewage gas. Excludes gas flared or re-injected and non-energy use of gas. (4) Includes generation by solar PV. Excludes generation from pumped storage stations. Source: Energy Trends table 1.2: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/source/total/total.aspx | |||||||
Finalised figures for 2010 will be published on 28 July 2011.
Data on final consumption at local authority level within England, Wales and Scotland have been published from 2003 onwards, with the latest complete data relating to 2008. Data on final consumption of gas, electricity and road transport fuels are currently available for 2009, with the remaining fuels due to be published later this year.
As different data sources are used for the sub-national analysis, with some data being modelled and other data being collected over slightly different time periods, the totals do not completely agree with data published in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics.
Data on electricity consumption for council areas within Northern Ireland were published for the first time last year, and relate to 2008 for domestic consumption and 2009 for non-domestic consumption. Data on gas consumption within Northern Ireland are not available. As a result of the incomplete coverage, Northern Ireland data have been excluded from the following table.
The 2008 data show the following breakdowns by country and fuel type.
| Final energy consumption, in thousand tonnes of oil equivalent, by fuel and country, 2008 | ||||
| Fuel | Scotland | England | Wales | Great Britain total |
| Source: Total final energy consumption at sub-national level, DECC, available at: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/regional/total_final/total_ final.aspx | ||||
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Environment Protection
Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he intends to publish the Green Economy Roadmap. [64893]
Gregory Barker: The Government intend to publish the Green Economy Roadmap later this month.
Aircraft Emissions: Gatwick
Mr Gyimah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the average amount of carbon dioxide emitted by aircraft using Gatwick airport (a) in tonnes per year and (b) in kilograms per passenger. [64016]
Mrs Villiers: I have been asked to reply.
Between 2000 and 2009 the average annual CO2 emissions from aircraft departing Gatwick airport were 4,927 thousand tonnes. CO2 emissions per passenger departing Gatwick during this period were 306 kg.
CO2 emissions figures do not include the cruise emissions from arriving flights. Emissions figures by airports are calculated on this basis to avoid double counting between different UK airports and different nation states.
Feed-in Tariffs
James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the cumulative cost of feed-in tariffs to energy consumers up to 2020 under (a) unchanged tariff levels and (b) the proposed fast track tariffs for large solar photovoltaic and farm-scale anaerobic digestion. [64964]
Gregory Barker: If the generation tariffs for large scale solar photovoltaics remained unchanged, the cumulative cost to consumers of the FITs scheme would be up to £6.8 billion (discounted, 2011 prices) between 2011 and 2020, more than double the original projected costs for the scheme.
If the changes are made as proposed in response to the fast-track review, and as currently before both Houses for consideration, we estimate that the cumulative cost to consumers will be around £3.3 billion (discounted, 2011 prices) to 2020.
Fuel Poverty: Islwyn
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of households in Islwyn constituency which were living in fuel poverty in 2009-10. [65703]
Gregory Barker: Data on households in fuel poverty in Wales are derived from the Living in Wales property survey, 2008 and are supplied by the Welsh Government. The survey was designed to allow analysis at an all Wales level only, so the Welsh Government are unable to supply data at a parliamentary constituency level.
In 2008, the latest year for which this data is currently available, 332,000 households in Wales were estimated to be fuel poor. This is equivalent to 26% of all households.
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Green Deal Scheme: Financial Institutions
Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) his officials have had with representatives of banking and other financial institutions to discuss the Green Deal; [64845]
(2) what meetings he has had with representatives of (a) Lloyds TSB, (b) HSBC, (c) Royal Bank of Scotland, (d) the Co-operative Bank and (e) Northern Rock to discuss the Green Deal. [64850]
Gregory Barker: Ministers and officials have had and continue to have, significant engagement with the finance community about the Green Deal. This has included meetings with individual institutions, and the use of a finance stakeholder forum. DECC officials have also participated in finance forums and workshops hosted by members of the finance community and others, such as the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy.
Heat
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the level of use of the National Heat Map for England by local authorities. [64363]
Gregory Barker: The National Heat Map is being developed and is expected to be completed later this year. The map will be available online and is being designed to help local authorities, communities and developers identify what heat demand exists and inform decisions on where best to locate heat networks or heat technologies.
Natural Gas: Exploration
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will discuss the potential for exploiting shale gas with power-generating companies; and if he will make a statement. [64131]
Charles Hendry: Although it is a commercial decision for each company to decide whether or not to invest in any particular technology, it is clear from meetings which I have had with a range of energy companies, that the power generation industry is interested in the potential of shale gas. I have no specific plans to discuss this issue with power generation companies, but Government will continue to encourage the energy industry to maximise indigenous oil and gas production and infrastructure opportunities.
Nuclear Power
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) e-mails and (b) other communications were sent from officials or special advisers working in his Department to representatives of nuclear power companies or the nuclear power industry between 10 and 15 March 2011; how many officials or special advisers working in his Department were directly or indirectly involved in providing research or briefing support on nuclear power generation to Ministers or other Government representatives between 10 and 15 March 2011; and if he will make a statement. [64299]
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Charles Hendry: Government officials engage on a regular basis with a number of internal and external stakeholders, including representatives from the nuclear industry and non-government organisations.
Between 10 and 15 March DECC officials prepared regular briefings for Government Ministers in relation to the evolving nuclear Fukushima crisis and in support of the Cabinet Office Civil Contingency Committee meetings which was co-ordinated by a DECC Japan Crisis Team consisting of five officials. Officials also continued to provide regular briefing support on other nuclear issues during this time.
More specific information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate costs.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department had meetings with representatives of nuclear power companies or the nuclear power industry between 10 and 15 March 2011; and if he will make a statement. [64300]
Charles Hendry: During the period 10 to 15 March 2011, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my noble Friend Lord Marland and officials had a regular meeting with Sellafield Ltd and officials had a meeting with Babcock International Group plc.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether officials or special advisers in his Department provided briefings on nuclear power generation to the Government chief scientific adviser between 10 and 15 March 2011; and if he will make a statement. [64301]
Charles Hendry: During the period 10 to 15 March 2011 no briefings were provided by Energy and Climate Change officials or special advisers on nuclear power generation to the Government chief scientific adviser.
Nuclear Power Stations: Air Traffic Control
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent evaluation he has made of the adequacy of the scope of the air exclusion zone (AEZs) around UK nuclear installations; what information his Department holds on the scope of AEZs around nuclear installations in other EU-member states; and if he will make a statement. [64470]
Charles Hendry: Ensuring the security of nuclear sites and nuclear material is a matter for individual EU member states. Security arrangements for the protection of UK nuclear sites are kept under constant review as part of a continuous process to ensure existing arrangements are robust, effective, comply with international standards and best practice.
The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Nuclear Installations) Regulations 2007 which restrict flying in the vicinity of certain nuclear installations in the UK, as specified in Schedule 2 to the Regulations, were introduced following the September 2001 terrorist attacks in the US. These regulations were last amended in 2009. However, as a number of UK civil nuclear installations are in the process of decommissioning, consideration
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will need to be given to reviewing this. The Department will need to work with Department for Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority and Ministry of Defence on the timing of future amendments to the regulations.
The Department has no information on air exclusion zones around nuclear installations in other EU member states.
Nuclear Power Stations: Radioactivity
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what modelling has been undertaken (a) by his Department and (b) consultants for his Department on the dispersal plume of radioactive material from a nuclear plant impacted by an aircraft collision; and if he will make a statement. [64471]
Charles Hendry: DECC uses analyses from a number of organisations responsible for radiation monitoring which have carried out modelling of radiation dispersal from nuclear plants in order to predict the consequences of a range of potential, but highly unlikely, scenarios. For instance, a radiation dispersal modelling service is carried out by the Met Office using the Radiation Incident Monitoring Network (RIMNET). Further information on dispersal modelling is available on the Met Office's website:
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/modelling-systems/dispersion-model
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reasons the request was made to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to look at opportunities to accelerate the process of developing a geological disposal facility for nuclear waste; and by what date he has asked the NDA to respond. [64477]
Charles Hendry: Implementing geological disposal of higher activity radioactive waste is crucial, both for legacy waste and for new nuclear build. I want to ensure that we move forward as quickly as possible, consistent with the need to retain public confidence and gain the necessary regulatory approvals.
I have therefore tasked the NDA with an ongoing challenge to accelerate first waste emplacement in a geological disposal facility, and they will report progress to future Geological Disposal Implementation Board meetings. The minutes of these meetings are available on the DECC website.
Oil
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has any plans to create a central stockholding agency for oil reserves; and if he will make a statement. [64927]
Charles Hendry: The UK holds oil stocks for use in oil supply disruptions to comply with international obligations to the EU and the International Energy Agency with the same stocks able to be used to meet both obligations. We meet these obligations by placing compulsory stocking obligations (CSO) on industry under powers in the Energy Act 1976.
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This system has underpinned compliance with our international obligations, and enabled the UK to make oil stocks available to the market during the first Gulf War in 1990 and following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Nevertheless, we keep its effectiveness and efficiency under review, and are working with industry to consider future options including the viability of a central stockholding agency.
Oil: Arctic
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has had any discussions with his EU counterparts on regulations governing the drilling of oil in the Arctic. [64928]
Charles Hendry: There have been no such discussions at EU level.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has had any discussions with his counterparts from (a) Norway, (b) Russia, (c) Canada, (d) the USA and (e) other nations on regulations governing the drilling of oil in the Arctic. [64929]
Oil: Prices
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent representations he has received on the effects on consumers of high oil prices. [65702]
Charles Hendry: I have received a number of representations on the effect on consumers of high oil prices.
The Government are aware of the significant impacts high oil prices are having on consumers, which is why the Chancellor announced a £1.9 billion package in the Budget to ease the burden on motorists.
The Government are also working domestically and with international partners to enhance oil price stability, restrain oil demand, and reduce barriers to timely and adequate investment in the oil sector. For example, through the IEF and G20 we are working to improve transparency in the oil markets, and phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.
The Government also have a wide range of measures to make the UK less dependent on oil. Policies such as the Renewable Energy Strategy and Low Carbon Transport Strategy will not only reduce the UK's carbon emissions, but also help ease our demand for oil.
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2011, Official Report, column 128W, on renewable energy: feed-in tariffs, whether he consulted Ministers in the (a) Scottish and (b) Welsh Government prior to announcing the fast-track solar photovoltaic review; and whether Ministers in the devolved Administrations have made any representations in respect of the potential effects of his proposals. [64337]
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Gregory Barker: As I set out in my answer of 20 June 2011, Official Report, column 128W, Ministers in the Scottish and Welsh Assembly Governments, and their officials, were involved in discussions on the fast track review of feed-in tariffs (FITs). At the time they emphasised their commitment to working to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of FITs through the scheme review. They also highlighted a particular interest in the role of FITs in supporting community renewables.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his decision to undertake a fast-track review of the feed-in tariff scheme was taken under the Control Framework for DECC levy-funded spending before the announcement of the framework. [64383]
Gregory Barker: The 2010 spending review made clear for the first time that there are spending parameters within which the FITs scheme must operate, and stipulated the need to make 10% (£40 million) savings to the scheme in 2014-15 compared with original projections. More recently, in the interest of transparency, further details on how the costs of the FITs scheme are managed via the control framework for DECC levy-funded spending have been published on the HMT website:
http://hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/control_framework_decc250311.pdf
Renewable Energy: Fisheries
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to support the development of marine renewables. [65453]
Gregory Barker: The coalition Government are committed to the development of marine renewables sector in the UK. This is reflected in the recent announcement that the Department is investing up to £20 million in wave and tidal power to help develop marine energy technologies from the prototype stage to demonstration of arrays of devices.
Renewable Energy: Heating
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with representatives of industry on the introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive Premium Payment. [63278]
Gregory Barker: I have regularly met representatives from businesses who have an interest in the introduction of the Renewable Heat Premium Payment.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with industry representatives on the technologies eligible for the Renewable Heat Incentive Premium Payment. [63329]
Gregory Barker: I have recently met representatives from a number of businesses with whom I have discussed a range of issues, including the introduction of the Renewables Heat Premium Payment.
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Solar Power
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many solar photovoltaic installations with a generating capacity between four kilowatts and 50 kilowatts were in receipt of feed-in tariffs in the latest period for which figures are available. [64336]
Gregory Barker: At the end of March 2011 there were 1,173 solar photovoltaic installations between 4 kW and 50 kW inclusive confirmed on the feed-in tariff scheme since the start of the scheme. This includes installations migrated from the renewable obligation.
Data for the end of June 2011 will be available at the end of July.
Statoil
Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what (a) meetings, (b) correspondence and (c) other contact (i) he, (ii) Ministers in his Department and (iii) his officials have had with Statoil in the last six months. [64847]
Charles Hendry: Ministers in this Department have had no formal meetings with Statoil, or received any correspondence from them, although informal discussions take place in the margins of other events. In relation to such meetings or correspondence with officials, this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
DECC co-sponsored a supply chain event with Statoil in Aberdeen on 6 April to highlight the substantial opportunities the Bressay and Mariner projects would offer. The evening event focused on drilling, downhole and well services and attracted around 100 people primarily from the Aberdeen supply community. A number of DECC officials were present at this event.
Tidal Power: Finance
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the adequacy for commercial development of the sum announced to assist the development of wave and tidal technologies; and what discussions he had with (a) industry representatives and (b) trade associations on the matter. [65709]
Gregory Barker: Decisions on the allocation of the £20 million recently announced to support demonstration of marine energy technologies were taken in the context of the Department's entire energy innovation budget. We anticipate that the funding allocated to marine energy should, subject to value for money review, be able to support the pre-commercial array demonstration of two technologies. This funding will sit alongside additional innovation support from other funding bodies and the prospect of further demonstration of arrays of marine energy devices being supported through the EU New Entrants' Reserve 300 programme.
The Department has undertaken detailed discussions of the funding needs of the marine energy sector through the UK Marine Energy Programme which includes active participation from other public sector bodies, technology developers, large industrial organisations, utilities and trade associations.
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Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has allocated any of the £20 million announced for assistance for development of wave and tidal technologies. [65710]
Gregory Barker: The £20 million announced recently has been earmarked, subject to value for money consideration, for the support of pre-commercial array demonstration of marine energy technologies. Details on the process by which this funding will be allocated to recipients will be published by the Department in early 2012.
Urenco
Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what meetings he has had with representatives or agents of Urenco plc since the sale of the UK's stake was announced. [64843]
Charles Hendry: The Government are considering their options with regard to the UK shareholding in Urenco. No final decisions have yet been taken and no announcement has been made.
Details of meetings between DECC Ministers and external organisations are published quarterly on the DECC website:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/registers/registers.aspx
International Development
Afghanistan: Health Services
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department plans to take to support the Government of Afghanistan to (a) fill their national health worker gap and (b) ensure that health workers are supported to work in the parts of that country in greatest need. [65010]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Since 2002 the UK has provided aid to support the health sector in Afghanistan through the multi-donor Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF). In 2009-10 this funded the salaries of 320,000 public servants including health workers. In the absence of an IMF programme DFID is delaying further payments to the ARTF. We intend to resume payments as soon as a new IMF programme is agreed.
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department plans to take to support the Government of Afghanistan in delivering (a) health care and (b) other basic services. [65011]
Mr Andrew Mitchell:
Since 2002 the UK has provided aid to support health, education and other basic services in Afghanistan primarily through the multi-donor Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF). In 2009-10 this funded the salaries of 320,000 public servants including health workers. In the absence of an IMF programme, the Department for International Development
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(DFID) has delayed further payments to the ARTF. We intend to resume payments as soon as a new programme is agreed.
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to reduce (a) maternal, (b) newborn and (c) child mortality rates in Afghanistan. [65012]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development is currently considering how best to promote improvements in maternal health in Afghanistan. Since 2002 the UK has provided aid to support the health sector through the multi-donor Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF). In 2009-10 this funded the salaries of 320,000 public servants including health workers. In the absence of an IMF programme, DFID has delayed further payments to the ARTF. We intend to resume payments as soon as a new programme is agreed.
Agriculture: Climate Change
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on measures to incentivise the uptake of climate-smart agriculture. [64370]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Agriculture is the life-line of the majority of the world's poor and food insecure population. Supporting climate-smart agriculture is an essential part of protecting the poorest and most vulnerable and of strengthening their resilience. The Department for International Development supports programmes to help developing countries integrate climate change into their national strategies—including in the agricultural sector. In the coming months the Department will also design country-specific and regional resilience programmes, based on recommendations by the Humanitarian Emergency Response Review (HERR). These will also focus on climate-smart agriculture in highly vulnerable areas.
Anguilla: Environment Protection
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he plans to publish the recent Anguillan environmental impact assessments. [63463]
Mr Bellingham: I have been asked to reply.
Responsibility for environmental issues is devolved to the Governments of the overseas territories. It is therefore for the Government of Anguilla to decide whether to publish environmental impact assessments.
Departmental Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [64424]
Mr Duncan: The information cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
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East Africa: Droughts
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his assessment is of the drought conditions in East Africa; and what steps he is taking to help alleviate the situation. [65198]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The eastern horn of Africa has experienced two consecutive seasons of significantly below-average rainfall, resulting in one of the driest years since 1995. Crops have failed, large numbers of livestock have died, and local cereal prices are very high. Up to 10 million people in the sub-region need humanitarian assistance and emergency levels of acute malnutrition are widespread.
On 1 July the UK Government committed to provide 1.36 million people with emergency food assistance and 329,000 malnourished children and pregnant and lactating mothers supplementary food treatment. We continue to closely monitor the situation and we are calling on other countries in the international community to contribute to the humanitarian response.
Gambia: Malaria
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he expects any multilateral aid programmes supported by the Government to be used to target malaria in the Gambia. [64545]
Mr O'Brien: DFID provides funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria. This plays a critical role in supporting malaria control efforts globally. Through this channel, the UK Government are able to contribute to malaria control in countries where we have no bilateral programme. This includes the Gambia.
Gambia: Overseas Aid
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Michael Fallon) of 23 June 2011, Official Report, column 415W, on Gambia: overseas aid, how much financial support the UK will provide to Gambia through increasing its share of multilateral programming. [64586]
Mr O'Brien: As referred to in my answer of 23 June 2011, we do not have planned allocations for UK support to The Gambia through multilateral organisations in future years. Almost 40% of the UK’s aid programme is channelled through multilateral organisations. As part of the Multilateral Aid Review (MAR), the Government are determined to ensure that UK aid is directed to where it can make the greatest difference.
Horn of Africa: Droughts
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with (a) other governments, (b) representatives of the European Commission and (c) representatives of multilateral donors on the humanitarian situation in the horn of Africa. [64462]
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Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Under-Secretary of State for International Development, my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr O'Brien) pressed Prime Minister Meles on the emergency humanitarian crisis during his recent visit to Ethiopia. He has also been urging the Kenyan Government to do more, and met with Prime Minister Odinga on Thursday 7 July. We have also called for the governments of countries in the affected region to release accurate and credible figures on the number of people affected.
I met Baroness Amos, UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, on Tuesday 5 July to discuss how to galvanise a more effective international response.
We will raise this issue during the EU informal Development Ministers meeting in Poland next week. The Government are also urgently lobbying other donors to step up with more support, to stop this crisis becoming a catastrophe, and I will be speaking to other leaders in the next few days.
International Assistance: Earthquakes
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will hold discussions with his counterparts in countries with a high likelihood of earthquakes on possible improvements to international assistance following earthquakes. [65196]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) is undertaking a considerable amount of such work; and we will certainly take up opportunities for such discussions.
For example, DFID is working with the Government of Nepal to draw up a framework for emergency planning and operational response in the event of a catastrophic earthquake. Through our bilateral programmes in countries at risk we are also working with other Governments on national resilience strategies.
DFID is increasing its funding to the World Bank’s Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) in order to increase support to national Governments, disaster management agencies and development strategies.
Liberia: Health Services
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) how many (a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) midwives and (d) other health workers in Liberia his Department plans to support to reach the objectives for (i) maternal and (ii) infant mortality rates set out in its operational plan for that country; [65009]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of health workers required in Liberia to meet the objective in his Department's operational plan for that country of reducing (a) maternal and (b) infant mortality rates by 2013; [65013]
(3) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that health workers are deployed to the parts of Liberia in greatest need. [65256]
Mr O'Brien:
The UK, together with Irish Aid, UNICEF and UNHCR, has been supporting the delivery of Liberia's national health plan through a health pool fund under the leadership of the Minister of Health. This has enabled the Ministry to better manage the
11 July 2011 : Column 164W
resources available to it including being able to provide additional services by contracting International NGOs. Their focus is to provide essential health care in the more remote and rural areas of the country where the need is greatest. UK support has included training and recruiting health workers to enable a basic package of essential health services to be delivered across the country.
The current national health plan comes to an end this year and so the Ministry of Health with its partners is currently carrying out an in-depth analysis of the progress made so far including the staffing they currently have, what staffing they should have as a minimum in light of the size of population, and where the need is greatest. This will result in a clear strategy by the end of this year which maps out the numbers and mix of skills they need in the medium to long term, how they intend putting these in place and what resources are available to enable them to implement the strategy. The UK has committed to train at least 2,500 health workers to 2014 and will work closely with the Ministry of Health and non-governmental partners to ensure UK resources are targeted at the priority skills needed.
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the health interventions in Liberia are to which his Department has committed £12 million to 2013-14. [65255]
Mr O'Brien: The UK has been supporting the delivery of Liberia's national health plan since 2008 which has concentrated on rebuilding the health sector in order to reduce the very high levels of maternal and child mortality, among the worst in the world. The focus has been to ensure a basic package of essential health services is delivered across the country targeting pregnant women and young children.
The current national health plan comes to an end this year and so the Ministry with its partners is currently carrying out an in-depth analysis of the progress made. This is to inform the development of a new 10-year national health plan which builds on the achievements so far with a view to expanding the provision of services and improving the quality of care. The UK is working closely with the Ministry of Health and partners in the development of the new health plan to ensure UK resources contribute to reducing child and infant mortality by 10% and maternal mortality by 15%.
Sudan: Internally Displaced People
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to support people who have been displaced due to conflict in Sudan. [64464]
Mr Andrew Mitchell:
We are deeply concerned about the situation of civilians displaced by the recent fighting in Abyei and Southern Kordofan. Emergency humanitarian co-ordination meetings have taken place on a regular basis in Khartoum and Juba. At present, lack of access to the conflict affected areas and populations hinders accurate humanitarian needs assessment by humanitarian personnel. Though the uncertainty about SAF intentions has forced a further withdrawal, NGOs and UN are ready to respond once security and access allows. We are working with the United Nations to ensure that if security and access is granted, assistance will reach
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these displaced civilians. The UN has reserves of both shelter and food for such situations. As well as its ongoing support to the Common Humanitarian Fund, the UK has made an additional £10 million available for contingency planning to respond to any emergencies that are linked to southern secession.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department is providing for the reintegration of returnees in Southern Sudan. [64466]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Around 300,000 people have left North Sudan for the South in the last seven months. Around three-quarters have settled in rural rather than urban areas. There have been regular meetings in Khartoum and Juba with the Government of South Sudan Ministers (GoSS) to discuss the immediate relocation and first arrival needs of the returnees. The Department for International Development's (DFID) South Sudan office has now received some details of the newly developed state reintegration plans. These provide a platform for the discussion of longer-term support for sustainable livelihoods for the returnees and the recipient communities. We are following up with GoSS and development partners how UK assistance can help to take things forward.
West Africa: Malaria
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department is providing for the treatment and prevention of malaria in West African countries. [64546]
Mr O'Brien: The UK Government have pledged to contribute to at least halving malaria deaths in at least 10 high burden countries by 2014-15.
Many of the malaria high burden countries are in West Africa: Nigeria alone represents a quarter of the malaria burden in Africa. In Nigeria DFID is supporting a universal net campaign. Our investments have already helped increase household insecticide treated net ownership from 10% to 70% in targeted states of Nigeria. DFID is currently supporting the procurement and distribution of 2.35 million long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs) to two regions in Ghana as part of the national campaign to achieve universal coverage. One million nets from DFID helped Sierra Leone achieve its target of universal LLIN coverage.
DFID also provides funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria and works with the Medical Research Council and Wellcome Trust to fund high quality malaria research globally, including work conducted in West Africa.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices
Mr Denham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate how many apprenticeship places would be created in the (a) social care, (b) energy and utilities, (c) human resources, (d) travel, (e) marketing and media, (f) professional services and (g) engineering goods sector if one apprenticeship
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was created for every £1 million worth of (i) central Government, (ii) local government and (iii) other public sector contract. [64161]
Mr Willetts: The number of apprenticeships supported through public sector contracts will vary widely depending on the size and nature of contract. It is not possible to provide a robust estimate of potential apprenticeships places as there is no centrally-held data set on projected public sector spends on procurement, which would be necessary to provide estimates in the format requested. In addition, it would not be possible to estimate the proportion of apprenticeship places that would be genuinely additional, over and above apprentices already employed by public sector suppliers.
Decisions on whether to build skills training or apprenticeships considerations into procurements, and the scale of requirements, must be taken on a case-by-case basis by public sector bodies, taking into account value for money and the appropriateness and relevance of requirements.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate how many apprenticeship places would be created in the (a) construction and (b) information and communication technology sector if one apprenticeship was created for £1 million worth of (i) central Government, (ii) local government and (iii) other public sector contract. [64171]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 6 July 2011]: The number of apprenticeships supported through public sector contracts will vary widely depending on the size and nature of contract. It is not possible to provide a robust estimate of potential apprenticeships places as there is no centrally-held data set on projected public sector spend on procurement, which would be necessary to provide estimates in the format requested. In addition, it would not be possible to estimate the proportion of apprenticeship places that would be genuinely additional, over and above apprentices already employed by public sector suppliers.
Decisions on whether to build skills training or apprenticeships considerations into procurements, and the scale of requirements, must be taken on a case-by-case basis by public sector bodies, taking into account value for money and the appropriateness and relevance of requirements.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate how many apprenticeship places would be created if the Office of Government Commerce's guidance entitled Promoting skills through public procurement, published in April 2009, was made a mandatory part of the (a) central and (b) local government procurement process. [64172]
Mr Hayes
[holding answer 6 July 2011]: Decisions on whether to include skills and apprenticeships requirements in central and local government procurements must be taken on a case-by-case basis by public sector bodies, as outlined in the Office of Government Commerce (now part of the Cabinet Office) guidance. It is therefore not possible to provide an estimate of the number of
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apprenticeship places created by making Office of Government Commerce (now part of the Cabinet Office) guidance mandatory.
Guidance issued under the previous Government is currently being reviewed as part of a wider review of procurement advice and guidance by the Cabinet Office.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what guidance his Department issues to learning providers on the period of time within which an apprenticeship of 300 guided learning hours should be completed. [64564]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 7 July 2011]: The Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE), published on 20 January 2011, states that an apprentice on an intermediate level apprenticeship must receive a minimum of 280 guided learning hours (GLH) of which at least 100 GLH or 30% (whichever is the greater) must be delivered off-the-job and clearly evidenced.
The apprentice must receive the minimum 280 hours within 12 months of starting a framework, and a further 280 GLH in each subsequent 12-month period.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of adult apprenticeship starts in 2010-11 that were learners who had previously enrolled on the train to gain scheme. [64566]
Mr Hayes: We do not have information available on the number of adult apprentices starting in the 2010/11 academic year that were previously enrolled on the Train to Gain scheme in 2009/10 academic year.
Since May 2010, the Skills Funding Agency encouraged colleges and providers to switch(1) activity from Train to Gain to support more employers to invest in apprenticeships and support the Government's commitment to an additional 50,000 adult apprenticeships.
Provisional data shows that this Government has delivered 326,700 apprenticeship starts in the first nine months of the 2010/11 academic year—this is 114,000 more than the previous year and more than double our ambition.
(1) In June 2011 (Statistical First Release) there were 327,000 Apprenticeship starts and 354,000 Train to Gain starts (between August and April) compared to 212,000 Apprenticeships starts and 427,000 Train to Gain starts for the same period in 2010.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of people aged between 19 and 24 who were not able to find an apprenticeship placement in 2010-11. [64567]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 7 July 2011]:We do not hold information on the numbers of 19 to 24-year-olds who have not been able to find apprenticeship placements in 2010-11. In 2009/10, more 19 to 24-year-olds (113,800) started an apprenticeship(1 )when compared to previous years.
Apprenticeship opportunities are determined by employer demand for apprentices. The National Apprenticeship Service, working with the Skills Funding Agency and local authorities, regularly review the take up of
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apprenticeships by both employers and individuals (across all age groups) to ensure that employer demand is being met.
(1 )Statistical First Release website:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of adult apprenticeship starts in 2010-11 undertaken by people who are already in employment. [65300]
Mr Hayes: For the first three quarters of 2010-11 (academic year), 215,300 adult apprenticeships were recorded on the individualised learner record (ILR)(1) as having an ‘employed’ status on the day before they started their learning aim(2).
(1) The ILR does not provide detailed information to identify the length of time an adult apprentice was in ‘employed’ status and whether they have moved to a new employer to start their apprenticeship programme. It is also customary for employers to delay starting employees onto an apprenticeship programme for a variety of reasons including probationary periods.
(2) Work is in progress to review ‘employment’ status data capturing for the 2012/13 academic year.
Apprentices: Bexleyheath and Crayford
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeships have been started in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) London (i) since May 2010 and (ii) in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [63626]
Mr Hayes: Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship starts for Bexleyheath and Crayford parliamentary constituency and London Government office region in academic years 2007/08 to 2009/10, the latest year for which full year data are available.
Table 2 shows the number of apprenticeship starts for Bexleyheath and Crayford parliamentary constituency and London Government office region between May 2010 and July 2010 of the 2009/10 academic year based on final year data and between August 2010 and April 2011 of the 2010/11 academic year based on provisional data. April 2011 is the latest date for which we have data.
| Table 1: Apprenticeship starts in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and London Government office region, 2007/08 to 2009/10 | |||
|
|
2007/08 (f inal) | 2008/09 (f inal) | 2009/10 (f inal) |
| Table 2: Apprenticeship starts in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and London Government office region, 1 May 2010 and 30 April 2011 | |||
| 2009/10 | 2010/11 | Total | |
|
|
May 2010 to July 2010 (final) | August 2010 to April 2011 (provisional) | May 2010 to April 2011 (provisional) |
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| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Geography information is based upon the home postcode of the learner. 3. Provisional data on apprenticeship starts in 2010/11 will be updated in the October 2011 SFR, when more complete data for the academic year are available. Source: Individualised Learner Record. | |||
Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 23rd June 2011:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
Apprentices: Finance
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the total spend was on apprenticeship training agencies in each year since 2005. [64505]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 7 July 2011]:Between 2008-09(1) and 2010-11 financial years(2), the total amount of spend on Government funded Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA) pilots(3) has been £7,931,700—yearly spend is as follows:
| Apprenticeship Training Agency spend (4) | |
| Financial year | £ |
| (1 )Government funded Apprenticeship Training Agency pilots first began in the financial year 2008-09 through a local initiative developed by the City of Westminster College which was funded by the Learning and Skills Council. (2) Government funding for Apprenticeship Training Agency pilots ceased on 31 March 2011. (3) A small number of pilots deliver through a hybrid Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA) and Group Training Associations (GTA) model which initially supports employers through the GTA process ie: co-ordinating the selection, recruitment and training elements on behalf of employers to recruit a suitable apprentice. The ATA is available to support initial training if employing an apprentice through host employers is not possible or to support the apprentice if employment through GTA ceases for whatever reason. (4) Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. The spend relates to development funding (or start up) but not training costs for apprenticeships. ATA do not deliver training—this is done through a training provider. | |
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the Government's announcement of 24 May 2010 of £150 million of funding for adult apprenticeship places, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the 173,800 additional adult apprenticeship places that have been taken up in 2010-11 to date. [64565]
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Mr Hayes [holding answer 7 July 2011]: We do not recognise the figure of 173,800 additional adult apprenticeship places that have been taken up in 2010/11 to date.
In May 2010 the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills announced an ambition to fund 50,000 new adult (19 years or older) apprenticeship starts in the 2010-11 financial year. The latest provisional data show that against a baseline of 153,200 starts, we have delivered 257,000 starts. This means that this Government have delivered 103,800 additional apprenticeship starts from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011.
The National Apprenticeship Service estimate the cost to the public purse of the 103,800 additional adult apprenticeship places that have been taken up in 2010-11 financial year April 2010 to March 2011 is £220 million.
Apprentices: Per Capita Costs
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average unit cost was by apprenticeship framework of an apprenticeship place for a person aged 25 years and above in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 in (i) England and (ii) each region; and what estimate he has made of the cost in 2011-12. [64057]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 5 July 2011]: The cost of delivering an Apprenticeship varies significantly depending on the industry in which the apprenticeship framework is being delivered; length of stay on the programme; whether the framework is at Level 2 or 3; and the age of the participant. Therefore average unit costs are unlikely to provide a meaningful comparator.
Funding rates are calculated on a national basis only. The overall average unit cost(1) of a full apprenticeship framework for a person aged 25 years and above in England are set out in the following table. Further information about average unit costs for 2011/12 will be published in the next Skills Funding Agency guidance note.
| Framework values | |
|
|
25+ (£) |
(1) Average unit costs are based on the national rates for each academic year for Apprenticeships undertaken by learners aged 25 and over assuming all aspects of the Apprenticeship are required (namely key skills, NVQs and technical skills where appropriate) and that there is no prior learning. Apprenticeships for learners aged 25 and over are co-funded, with the employer expected to contribute towards the training costs.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average unit cost was by apprenticeship framework of an apprenticeship place for a person aged between 19 to 24 years in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 in (i) England and (ii) each region; and what estimate he has made of the cost in 2011-12. [64058]
Mr Hayes
[holding answer 5 July 2011]: The cost of delivering an apprenticeship varies significantly depending on the industry in which the Apprenticeship framework
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is being delivered; length of stay on the programme; whether the framework is at level 2 or 3; and the age of the participant. Therefore average unit costs are unlikely to provide a meaningful comparator.
Funding rates are calculated on a national basis only. The overall average unit cost(1) of a full apprenticeship framework for a person aged 19 to 24 years of age in England are set out in the following table. Further information about average unit costs for 2011/12 will be published in the next Skills Funding Agency guidance note.
| Framework values | |
|
|
19 to 24 (£) |
(1) Average unit costs are based on the national rates for each academic year for Apprenticeships undertaken by learners aged 19 to 24 assuming all aspects of the Apprenticeship are required (namely key skills, NVQs and technical skills where appropriate) and that there is no prior learning. Apprenticeships for learners aged 19 to 24 are co-funded, with the employer expected to contribute towards the training costs.
Apprentices: Standards
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the head of the Skills Funding Agency on the quality of apprenticeships that last for six months or less. [64563]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 7 July 2011]: I have regular meetings with both the chief executive officers of the Skills Funding Agency and the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) where a range of quality and delivery issues are discussed.
The Specification of Apprenticeships Standards in England (SASE), introduced in March 2011, sets out the requirements for apprenticeships and the NAS are working closely with sector skills councils, colleges and providers to manage its implementation. While there is no set minimum duration for an apprenticeship, as it depends on the apprentice's individual abilities and prior experience, we would generally expect an intermediate level apprenticeship to take about one year to complete. This will allow the apprentice not only to achieve the relevant qualifications, but also to demonstrate their competence in the job role.
Where a current delivery model falls short of the SASE, the Skills Funding Agency will work with the training provider or college to support them to change their delivery model to one that fully meets the requirements. Where the delivery model cannot be adapted NAS and the agency we will remove our support for the apprenticeship programme and cease funding.
Arms Trade: Saudi Arabia
Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations his Department has received from other Government Departments regarding arms export licences to Saudi Arabia. [64828]
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Mr Prisk: All individual licence applications for the export of arms are circulated to the Foreign Commonwealth Office and Ministry Of Defence and to Department for International Development where issues of sustainable development are involved, who assess the application against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria and advise the Department accordingly. From time to time advice is received from these Departments when extant licences have been reviewed in cases where circumstances have changed significantly from the time when the licences were granted. However we have received no representations from other Government Departments regarding arms export licences to Saudi Arabia outside of this advisory process.
Business: EC Subsidies
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the effect on UK (a) businesses and (b) jobs of EU subsidies to businesses in other EU member states. [62041]
Mr Prisk: EU structural and cohesion funds (SCF) provide funding to help narrow the gap in economic growth rates between different EU regions and member states. In the UK, they provide a source of programme funding which has to be matched by domestic funding (either public or private) which aim to improve the business environment, rather than a direct subsidy to business. This Department has not carried out an assessment of the impact on the UK of SCF programmes in other member states.
Business: Finance
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the merits of providing supply chain financing for (a) public and (b) large private companies. [64515]
Mr Prisk: In addition to the commitment in the Coalition Agreement to foster diversity in financial services, we have highlighted the potential of supply chain financing in the Plan for Growth, published alongside Budget 2011. I have also met businesses and providers to discuss their experiences of supply chain financing. We are committed to increasing the awareness and understanding of a diverse range of finance forms, including supply chain finance, in both the public and private sectors.
Business: Government Assistance
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to assist family-run businesses. [64415]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 7 July 2011 ] : Officials meet regularly with the Institute for Family Business (IFB) to gain an appreciation of the particular issues which these businesses face. We will continue to work with others to look at ways to encourage the growth and development of family businesses, including ensuring that information specific to their needs is included on the Business Link website:
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/home
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Business: Loans
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to increase the number of companies eligible for the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme. [64514]
Mr Prisk: The Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) was introduced in January 2009, with a broader eligibility than the Small Firms Loan Guarantee (SFLG) which it replaced. It has assisted 15,000 businesses who have been offered a total of £1.5 billion.
EFG supports loans to viable businesses with an annual turnover of up to £25 million seeking loans between £1,000 and £1 million, and is available to businesses in most business sectors. However, EFG is subject to certain sector restrictions arising from the EU de minimis State Aid rules, the Industrial Development Act 1982 (which provides the statutory basis for EFG) and also for national policy reasons. A list of the main sector restrictions is provided on the EFG Business Sectors page of the BIS website.
The operation of the EFG is kept under review, but at this time, we have no plans to change its eligibility criteria.
Careers Service: Manpower
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of staff who will work for the new careers service in England in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15; and if he will make a statement. [63596]
Mr Hayes: The Skills Funding Agency which administers the current Next Step service estimates that the new service will be delivered by approximately 4,200 advisers in the first year of its operation. This estimate is based on the number of customer record management licences currently in force for the Next Step face to face service channel and the number of advisers employed in the Next Step and Connexions Direct contact centres.
Davenham Trust Ltd
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has received any representations on the insolvency of Davenham Trust Ltd. [64943]
Mr Davey: The Insolvency Service has not received any representations about Davenham Trust Ltd which according to Companies House is not in a formal insolvency process.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has received any representations on the financial relationship between the Royal Bank of Scotland and Davenham Trust Ltd; and if he will make a statement. [64944]
Mr Davey: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, has received no representations regarding Davenham Trust Ltd or its financial relationship with Royal Bank of Scotland.
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Departmental Carbon Emissions
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has any plans to generate low-carbon energy from its estate. [63321]
Mr Davey: The Department currently generates approximately 2,000 kWh per annum of low carbon energy from its estate. This is generated through 22m(2) of photovoltaic (PV) panels installed on the roof of the headquarters building, 1-19 Victoria street in London.
A feasibility study was conducted in 2006 into whether wind turbines could be installed on the roof of 1 Victoria street. The conclusion was that the wind speed was not sufficient to generate enough energy and planning permission was unlikely to be granted.
Connection to the proposed Whitehall and Pimlico Combined Heat and Power scheme has been investigated as an option to supply 1 Victoria street's heating demands. This is dependent on the economic viability of connecting the two schemes together.
Departmental Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 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. [64438]
Mr Davey: We do not retain details of meetings that have been declined.
Direct Selling: Regulation
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which bodies are responsible for the regulation of products that are marketed through direct selling. [64726]
Mr Davey: Where, due to their nature, the properties of products are subject to product specific regulations, those products are subject to the same regulations irrespective of the means by which they are marketed. Similarly, consumers enjoy the same basic rights irrespective of how goods are marketed, for example under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
However, the Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer's Home or Place of Work etc Regulations 2008 and the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 provide extra protection in relation to the supply of goods and services marketed by direct means. These cover, among other things, doorstep selling, sales over the internet, or sales over the telephone.
These regulations are enforced by local authority trading standards officers and the Office of Fair Trading.
Economic Growth: EC Action
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the initiatives brought forward by the European Commission in those areas identified by the Government as priorities for EU growth. [64883]
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Mr Davey: The Government have identified the following areas as priorities for EU growth: completing the single market; trade liberalisation; reducing costs of doing business and promoting innovation. A summary assessment of all four areas is contained in the UK Government publication “Let's choose growth” published on 31 March this year.
Further assessment is contained in the following publications: “UK Government response to the European Commission Consultation to the Single Market Act” (February 2011); “Trade and Investment White Paper” (February 2011) and a series of 18 analytical supporting papers (publication ongoing); “Blueprint for Technology” (2010); and “Reducing Regulation made simple” (December 2010).
These publications are available from the Libraries of the House.
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what actions the Government is taking at EU level to stimulate growth by (a) strengthening the single market, with an emphasis on services and the digital economy, (b) reducing the overall burden of regulation and (c) promoting free, fair and open trade with countries outside the EU. [64885]
Mr Davey: On 18 March the Prime Minister and eight other EU Prime Ministers wrote to Presidents Van Rompuy and Barroso calling on the EU to focus its efforts on delivering growth. The signatories were the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.
On 31 March the UK Government published “Let's Choose Growth”, which set out the UK's strategy for creating the conditions necessary for growth within the EU. Priority areas identified are: completing the single market; unlocking the benefits of trade; reducing the costs of doing business and; promoting innovation. Government Ministers and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have actively promoted these messages with counterparts throughout the EU.
The Prime Minister has advocated EU growth policies at European Councils, as he made clear in his statement to the House on 27 June 2011, Official Report, columns 615-17. In order to take this work forward, on 6 July I hosted a ministerial meeting attended by signatories to the 18 March letter as well as Ireland, Malta, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. We had a very useful discussion on microeconomic policies and from this officials will be following up on a number of agreed actions in Europe.
The publications referred to in this response are available from the Libraries of the House.
Education: Research
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Researchers in Residence scheme. [65098]
Mr Willetts:
The Researchers in Residence scheme, run by Research Councils UK (RCUK), has been externally evaluated every three years. In 2009 it was evaluated by
11 July 2011 : Column 176W
GHK Consultancy. Programme effectiveness has been assessed on a quarterly basis by RCUK in the form of reports against key performance indicators,
A recent National Audit Office Report (Educating the Next Generation of Scientists) highlighted the impact of the Researchers in Residence scheme on increasing the percentage of pupils scoring grades A-C in A Level Mathematics in participating schools.
RCUK is working closely with this Department, the Department for Education, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network (STEMNET) and other partner organisations, to explore how best to deliver effective programmes which allow researchers to increasingly engage with schools.
Employment: Legislation
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what reviews into employment law are currently being conducted; and when each will report. [64884]
Mr Davey: The employment law review being co-ordinated by the Department is the cross-Government review of employment-related law to which all Departments which impose requirements on employers are contributing. In May, we announced the next set of priority areas under consideration during this Parliament. The Government gives regular updates on the review.
In addition, employment-related law will be the subject of the Red Tape Challenge spotlight in September.
English Language: Leicester
Jon Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2011, Official Report, column 724W, on English language: Leicester, how many adult learners in (a) Leicester South constituency and (b) Leicester local authority area are eligible for a level of fee remission for English for Speakers of Other Languages courses; and how many of these will cease to be eligible after the introduction of his proposed changes; [63637]
(2) what assessment he has made of the level of demand for English for speakers of other languages courses in (a) Leicester South constituency and (b) the Leicester local authority area; [63638]
(3) what estimate he has made of the change in the number of women from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities who will enter employment as a result of the planned reduction in funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages courses; [63640]
(4) when he expects to publish the equality impact assessment for his planned changes to the funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages courses; [63711]
(5) how many and what proportion of learners who are in receipt of fee remission for English for speakers of other languages courses also receive active benefits in (a) Leicester South constituency and (b) the Leicester local authority area; [63776]
(6) what his estimate is of the effect on the number of adult and community education jobs of the reduction in funding for English for speakers of other languages courses. [63804]
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Mr Hayes: The following table shows adult (19+) English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) participation in Leicester local education authority and Leicester South constituency for 2009/10, the latest year for which full year data are available.
| Adult (19+) ESOL participation by geography, 2009/10 | |
|
|
Number |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Geographic information is based upon the home postcode of the learner. 3. Age is based on age at the start of the academic year. Source: Individualised Learner Record | |
The Government currently provide 50% fee remission for all learners in England participating in ESOL who are eligible for public funded skills provision. Those on income based-benefits are eligible for full fee remission.
From August 2011, where English language skills have been identified as a barrier to entering employment, full Government funding will be provided for ESOL to unemployed people in receipt of jobseekers allowance or in the employment and support allowance (Work-Related Activity) Group. We will also continue to pay 50% of ESOL course fees for people who are settled here. We will no longer fund ESOL courses delivered in the workplace.
This Department does not make estimates of the demand for courses. Further education (FE) colleges and training providers are responsible for meeting the needs of their local community, and increased freedoms and flexibilities that we have introduced will help them respond and determine within their funding where this is prioritised.
An assessment of how the changes announced in Skills for Sustainable Growth may affect ESOL learners is currently being carried out by this Department. I expect to be able to publish this before summer recess.
We do not directly record what type of benefits people are receiving when they take up training. We do, however, collect information on why a learner has received fee remission for any learning they undertake. From these data we can provide some information on claimants but, this should be used with caution given it does not provide an accurate picture of the full range of benefit entitlements that a person has. Using the fees waived field in the individual learner record we can say for the 2009/10 academic year that 4,800 ESOL enrolments for adult (19+) learners in Leicester local education authority and 1,700 ESOL enrolments for adult (19+) learners in Leicester South constituency received fee remission as the learner was in receipt of an income-related benefit.
This Department does not make estimates of the effect of policy changes on FE jobs. As autonomous bodies, it is for FE colleges and training providers to make staffing decisions based on their business need.
English Language: Education
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects of the reduction in fee support for English classes for speakers of other languages on the number of people taking such courses. [63949]
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Mr Hayes [holding answer 5 July 2011]: The Equality Impact Assessment published alongside Skills for Sustainable Growth (November 2010) found that, at the aggregate level, there are unlikely to be disproportionate impacts on protected groups. A separate assessment of how the changes may affect English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learners is currently being carried out by the Department and will be published before summer recess.
Jon Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what estimate he has made of the number of people employed in teaching English for speakers of other languages courses; what estimate he has made of the likely number so employed after the implementation of his proposed funding changes; and if he will make a statement; [64308]
(2) how many representations he has received (a) in support of and (b) in opposition to his proposed changes to the funding of English for speakers of other languages courses; [64309]
(3) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the number of households requiring English for speakers of other languages courses; and if he will publish any such research; [64310]
(4) on what date his Department commenced work on the equality impact assessment in respect of its proposed changes to funding for English for speakers of other languages courses; [64311]
(5) what assessment he has made of the average household income of those with English for speakers of other language needs; [64548]
(6) what assessment he has made of the impact on school children of access by their parents to English for speakers of other language courses; [64550]
(7) what research his Department has conducted into the level of disposable income available to families with English for speakers of other language needs. [64551]
Mr Willetts: Since the publication of “Skills for Sustainable Growth”, a large number of organisations and individuals have made representations to this Department about the impact of our proposals for English for speakers of other languages (ESOL). Between 1 January and 31 May, over 1,200 pieces of correspondence were received, and the Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, my hon. Friend the Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr Hayes), discussed ESOL in person with a number of hon. Members, further education (FE) bodies and interested groups.
An assessment of the impact of the changes announced in “Skills for Sustainable Growth” on ESOL learners was agreed in principle in November 2010 and formally commissioned in February 2011. The assessment will be published before the summer recess.
This Department has made no estimate of the effect of policy changes on employment in the FE sector since, as autonomous bodies, it is for FE colleges and other training providers to make staffing decisions based on their business needs. Neither has this Department estimated the demand for specific courses. National Statistics on FE participation and achievement are published quarterly.
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Likewise, this Department has made no specific assessment of the impact on school children of their parents' access to ESOL courses and has not undertaken any research into household income or the level of disposable income available to families with ESOL needs.
Attitudes and views from both learners and non-learners were, however, examined by the 2005 National Adult Learners Survey. This showed that difficulty in paying course fees was only cited by 21% of respondents (21% of learners and 18% of non-learners) as an obstacle to learning.
Analysis of the income levels of Level 2 and Level 3 learners in the FE sector was also undertaken using data drawn from the Labour Force Survey, Apprenticeship Pay Survey and the Prior Qualifications Survey. For work-based learning, around two-thirds of learners were in the bottom two income quintiles (ie earning below £17,000 per year), and for college-based learning around four-fifths of those who were working were in the bottom two income quintiles. The analysis did not explicitly cover either Skills for Life (SfL) or ESOL learners, as it was done to assess the impact of changes to age and qualification-related entitlements which were announced in the November 2010 Skills for Sustainable Growth and Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth. We are currently conducting a new survey of incomes of FE sector learners which will include SfL and ESOL learners. Results from this survey should be available by the end of this year.
Environment Protection
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the engagement of (a) women and (b) Black and Asian minority ethnic groups in developing skills for low-carbon energy technologies. [65411]
Mr Willetts: Colleges will have the freedom to respond to demands from all employers and learners, delivering the skills that an increasingly dynamic economy needs. That includes skills in the low carbon energy sector. We have no plans to offer special support to any specific group in skills for low carbon technologies.
Export Development Credits: Colombia
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that his Department's support for UK businesses in Colombia does not (a) adversely affect the human rights situation in that country and (b) support activities requiring land use. [64101]
Mr Prisk: The UK Government are committed to promoting respect for human rights among UK companies operating anywhere overseas. We stand ready to help British firms with advice on their political and reputational risk management.
The UK Government are committed to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We encourage all British companies to observe these international standards.
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UK Trade and Investment and human rights colleagues in the British embassy in Bogota work closely together on these issues. They are also working with Colombian business organisations to adapt the international guiding principles on business and human rights to a Colombian context, and so help businesses create policies to ensure they are adhered to. The outcome will be made available to British businesses once finalised.
Colombia passed the historic Land and Victims Law on 11 June 2011. It aims to provide compensation to victims of Colombia's internal armed conflict and to restitute land to those who have been forcibly displaced. The land reform initiative should have a positive impact on the human rights agenda. We support British companies involved in land issues in Colombia provided they follow the agreed processes and international standards.
Further Education
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received from further education colleges on the provision and accreditation of degree courses. [63622]
Mr Willetts: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, and I have received a substantial number of recent representations from further education colleges on their provision of degree courses. The Higher Education White Paper sets out our proposals to improve the provision of degree courses in further education colleges. This includes allowing further education colleges and other providers who combine good quality with value for money to bid for a flexible margin of 20,000 student places in 2012/13 and changes to degree-awarding powers that are likely to increase the range of validating institutions, giving greater choice for further education colleges.
Green Investment Bank: Location
David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) for what reasons capital costs have not been included in the selection criteria for the location of the Green Investment Bank; [64451]
(2) what relative weighting is accorded to operational costs in the selection criteria for the location for the Green Investment Bank; [64452]
(3) which aspects of the selection criteria for a location for the Green Investment Bank are location-dependent; and what relative weighting is applied to each of these aspects; [64453]
(4) which skills he has identified as being most necessary in the local workforce for the Green Investment Bank; what work his Department is doing to identify those areas of the country with high levels of these skills; and if he will make a statement; [64527]
(5) at what point London, Edinburgh and Bristol were selected as contender cities to host the Green Investment Bank; which other locations he considered; and for what reasons each of these was rejected as a potential location. [64528]
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Mr Prisk: The sighting of the Green Investment Bank will need to ensure it provides easy access to deep pools of talent with the necessary ‘green’ and financial services skills.
The Government's document “Update on the design of the Green Investment Bank” identified a number of criteria for the decision on location. One of these criteria was commercial costs, which includes capital costs. The bank's location will be decided after state aid approval has been given and a decision on the relative weighting of each criterion will be made in due course.
In the meantime, Ministers will consider all submitted business cases for the bank's location. To date, London, Edinburgh and Bristol have each made representations to host the bank.
Higher Education
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many representations he has received in support of making it easier for higher education institutions to change their legal status in the last six months for which information is available; and if he will make a statement. [64045]
Mr Willetts: I have received a number of representations leading up to the Higher Education White Paper on possible barriers faced by new providers wishing to enter the market and by institutions seeking to expand, including around legal status.
The forthcoming regulatory framework consultation will explore whether there is a need for legislative change in order to make to process of changing legal status easier.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the change in the proportion of young people entering higher education from disadvantaged areas between May 1997 and April 2010; and if he will make a statement. [64046]
Mr Willetts: In January 2010 the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) published “Trends in young participation in higher education: core results for England”. In the mid-1990s the young participation rate for these disadvantaged areas was on average 13%. The equivalent figure for the 2009-10 entry cohort was 19%. Disadvantaged areas reflect that quintile of wards with traditionally the lowest recorded rates of young participation.
A copy of the full HEFCE report can be found at the following website:
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2010/10_03/
This data covers the cohorts of young people from 1994/95 to 2009/10.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what modelling has been carried out by his Department to assess the likely effect of proposals in the Higher Education White Paper on existing courses and institutions. [64946]
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Mr Willetts: The impact assessment of the proposals in the Higher Education White Paper can be found on our website. This includes modelling on the potential effect of proposals on different types of institutions.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many representations he has received in favour of amending the process of gaining (a) a university title and (b) degree awarding powers. [65087]
Mr Willetts: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, and I have received a number of representations from a range of organisations in favour of amending the process on university title and degree awarding powers. The Higher Education White Paper sets out our proposals in these areas and the forthcoming regulatory framework consultation will explore these proposals in more detail and seek further views.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many higher education institutions have contacted his Department regarding the possibility of their ceasing to be public institutions in the last 12 months. [65099]
Mr Willetts: No institutions have contacted the Department in this way.
Higher Education: Admissions
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what administrative or other support he has made available to the Government's Advocate for Access to Education; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such support. [64448]
Mr Willetts: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills agreed to provide a limited amount of administrative support because of the natural synergies between the Advocate for Access to Education work and Higher Education policy. The Department provided him with a desk and a phone line at no additional cost to the Department as this was available within our normal capacity. He was assigned the services of two BIS officials—one part time and one full time—who were between permanent roles within the Department, the approximate employment costs for whom were £28,000 (1.0) and £14,500 (0.5) respectively. He was also assigned two members of Department for Education staff (Grade 7 and EO both 0.4 pro rata) during the busiest period.
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will publish the access agreements between the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) and individual higher education institutions made in the most recent year available; which higher education institutions have had plans rejected by OFFA; and what changes OFFA has sought in the plans of each such higher education institution which has submitted plans. [64492]
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Mr Willetts [holding answer 7 July 2011]: The director of Fair Access is independent. The submission of draft access agreements and the subsequent discussions with higher education institutions are a matter for the director of Office for Fair Access (OFFA). Once approved by the director, all access agreements are published on the website of the Office for Fair Access at:
http://www.offa.org.uk/access-agreements/
The director has said he intends to announce the outcome of the process of approving access agreements for 2012/13 on 12 July 2011.
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received from the Government's Advocate for Access to Education on the access agreements of individual higher education institutions; and which institutions have been the subject of such representations. [64493]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 7 July 2011]: The submission of draft access agreements and the subsequent discussions with higher education institutions are a matter for the director of Fair Access, who is independent of Government. Once approved by the director, all access agreements are published on the website of the Office for Fair Access at:
http://www.offa.org.uk/access-agreements/
The right hon. Member for Bermondsey and Old Southwark (Simon Hughes) has now completed his term as the Government's Advocate for Access to Education. He will shortly be presenting his final report to the Prime Minister and it making it public.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to allow the Office for Fair Access to reduce the total number of students studying at a university that is not achieving widening participation benchmarks; and if he will make a statement. [64494]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 7 July 2011]: The powers of the Director of Fair Access were established by the Higher Education Act 2004 and do not include the power to control or reduce student numbers.
Every institution that intends to charge more than £6,000 for its courses must have an Access Agreement approved by the Director of Fair Access. Without an approved Access Agreement the institution cannot charge more than the basic level of £6,000 from 2012/13.
The Director of Fair Access has a range of sanctions available to use against any institution that is not meeting the terms of its Access Agreement.
The major sanction available is not to approve or renew an Access Agreement. This would remove the institution's right to charge its students above the basic level. The Director of Fair Access may also impose a fine (via the Higher Education Funding Council for England) of up to £500,000, or require restitution if students have been disadvantaged or commitments have not been honoured.
The recent White Paper on Higher Education set out our plans to strengthen the Office for Fair Access (OFFA), and we have asked the new Director to advise us on whether OFFA's current powers are the right ones to achieve its statutory goals and to report to us
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this autumn about further sanctions and powers to support OFFA in its work—so that it can go further and faster to drive fair access and widen participation.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to allow the Office for Fair Access to fine universities for not achieving widening participation benchmarks; and if he will make a statement. [64495]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 7 July 2011]: The Director of Fair Access has a range of sanctions available to use against any institution that is not meeting the terms of its Access Agreement.
The major sanction available is not to approve or renew an Access Agreement. This would remove the institution's right to charge its students above the basic level. The Director of Fair Access may also impose a fine (via the Higher Education Funding Council for England) of up to £500,000, or require restitution if students have been disadvantaged or commitments have not been honoured.
The recent White Paper on Higher Education set out our plans to strengthen the Office for Fair Access (OFFA), and we have asked the new Director to advise us on whether OFFA's current powers are the right ones to achieve its statutory goals and to report to us this autumn about further sanctions and powers to support OFFA in its work—so that it can go further and faster to drive fair access and widen participation.
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to which hon. Members his Department has supplied copies of university access agreements and proposed agreements since May 2010; and what the status was of the relevant educational institution in each case. [64512]
Mr Willetts: The Director of Fair Access is independent of Government. The submission of draft access agreements and the subsequent discussions with higher education institutions are a matter for the director. Once approved by the director, all access agreements are published on the website of the Office for Fair Access at:
http://www.offa.org.uk/access-agreements/
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to publish the contextual data used by individual higher education institutions in admissions decisions as set out in paragraph 5.18 of the Higher Education White Paper. [64520]
Mr Willetts: We have no plans to publish the contextual data used by universities.
Universities are responsible for their own admissions policies and decisions. Whether to use such information is up to each university, as they will be best placed to decide on the information that will help to identify the candidates with the talent and potential to succeed at that institution or on a particular course. The Government believe that the use of such data is a valid and appropriate way for institutions to broaden access while maintaining excellence, so long as individuals are considered on their merits, and institutions' procedures are fair, transparent and evidence-based.
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Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to promote the allocation of university places for students with non-graduate parents. [64521]
Mr Willetts: The Government have been very clear about the importance of widening participation and improving fair access in higher education. We are establishing a new framework, with increased responsibility on universities to widen participation, and greater Government investment in improving attainment and access for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Higher education institutions will deliver a range of outreach activities as part of their access agreements, agreed with the Office for Fair Access, and their widening participation strategic assessments, agreed with the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what factors underlay his decision to ask for advice in the autumn on the first round of approvals of new Access Agreements set out in paragraph 5.25 of the Higher Education White Paper; and whether such advice has been asked for in the past on the basis set out in the White Paper. [64523]
Mr Willetts: Ministers at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills wrote to the Director of Fair Access on 10 February 2011 setting out the Government's expectations about how he should approach the approval and monitoring of new Access Agreements. The guidance set out significantly increased expectations for the priority that institutions should give to fair access and widening participation. We have made clear that we expect there to be a strengthened process for agreeing the level of investment each institution should make in activities to improve access, linked to progress being made and distance to travel to achieve published measures.
In that letter we asked the Director for his formal Access Agreement monitoring outcome report to analyse and comment on institutions' performance against their own benchmarks, measures and targets, and how these become more ambitious in relation to how much above the basic level an institution intends to charge. We also asked him to report to Government on his experiences of approving Access Agreements and how well institutions have been able to respond to these new arrangements, including any additional powers or requirements that may be needed in order to secure rapid progress. In the longer term we will also discuss these issues with the new Director.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on the use of contextual data in the university admissions process; and if he will make a statement. [64773]
Mr Willetts: My ministerial colleagues and I regularly meet with stakeholders and receive letters on the use of contextual data in the university admissions process. In recent months, the subject has been raised at meetings with the Office for Fair Access, the Sutton Trust, Universities UK and university mission groups. We have also received written representations from a number of Members of both Houses, private individuals and representative bodies. Those representations encompass a range of opinion.
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The Government believe that the use of contextual data is a valid and appropriate way for institutions to broaden access while maintaining excellence, so long as individuals are considered on their merits, and institutions' procedures are fair, transparent and evidence based.