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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 12 July 2011
Communities and Local Government
Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings
Dr Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what uses his Department has made of the annual survey of hours and earnings data produced by the Office for National Statistics in the last three years. [65288]
Robert Neill: The main use of the annual survey of hours and earnings by the Department is for area cost adjustments in the allocation of Formula Grant. It has also been used in analysis of socio-economic conditions such as housing affordability, labour market mobility and costs, and as input to impact assessments.
Broadband: Planning Permission
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers are available to local authorities to refuse planning approval for the erection of broadband cabinets. [65104]
Robert Neill:
Broadband cabinets have permitted development rights under part 24 of the General Permitted Development Order, which means that many can be
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installed without the need to apply for planning permission. This permitted development right is, however, subject to a prior approval process which allows planning authorities to consider the siting and appearance of any cabinet before development commences. If they consider it appropriate, approval may be refused on these grounds.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has had discussions with British Telecom on agreeing a code of conduct on the siting of broadband cabinets; and if he will make a statement. [65105]
Robert Neill: No such discussions have been held.
The Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) Regulations 2003 set general conditions for British Telecom and other code operators. This includes the need for code operators to minimise as far as reasonably practicable impacts on the visual amenity of properties when installing electronic communications apparatus.
Capita
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many contracts his Department has awarded to Capita since May 2010; and what the (a) individual monetary value and (b) net worth was of each contract. [62730]
Robert Neill: Under a centrally approved Government agreement, the Department has an overarching contract with Capita Resourcing Ltd to supply interim management and specialist contractor staff on a call off basis. The majority of the contract value shown in the following below is paid to the contractor, with a margin retained by Capita which can range from 3.5% to 7.25%. The following appointments have been made under the contract since May 2010.
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Caravan Sites: Salford
Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many unauthorised encampments were established in Salford and Eccles in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010. [64963]
Andrew Stunell: According to the ‘Count of Gypsy and Traveller Caravans’ undertaken bi-annually by local authorities in England including Salford Metropolitan borough council and collated by my Department, there were no unauthorised encampments in Salford and Eccles on the dates of the count in January and July 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to promote user involvement in the design of services following the revocation of the statutory guidance, Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities. [64249]
Robert Neill: “Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities” was prescriptive around how local authorities should agree their priorities, engage their citizens, lead their communities and commission public services. Revocation of this guidance and associated duties enables local authorities to innovate and work in new ways to serve their local communities.
We want to encourage authorities and civil society to collaborate more, including greater involvement for voluntary groups in the design and running of public services. In this context, we recently consulted on light touch statutory guidance on the best value duty setting out some reasonable expectations of the way authorities should work with voluntary and community groups and small businesses when facing difficult funding decisions. The consultation closed on 14 June and we expect to provide a government response and publish final guidance this summer.
Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions officials in his Department have been subject to formal disciplinary proceedings since May 2010. [56228]
Robert Neill: 21 separate proceedings were undertaken during the last 12 months.
Departmental Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 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. [64437]
Robert Neill:
The Department does not hold comprehensive records of whether requests for meetings made by hon. Members have been declined, and to
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assemble this information would involve disproportionate cost. However, my ministerial colleagues and I are always happy to consider any request made by any hon. Member for a meeting on departmental business.
Fire Services: Yorkshire and the Humber
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many fire stations there were in (a) York, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) England at 1 May (i) 1997, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2011. [65952]
Robert Neill: Numbers of fire stations are held centrally only at fire and rescue authority level.
Accordingly, the number of fire stations by each fire and rescue authority in Yorkshire and the Humber and in England are shown in the table for 1997 and 2010.
Data for York are not held centrally. Figures for 2011 are due for publication by September 2011.
| Number of fire stations in Yorkshire and the Humber and in England at 31 March 1997 and 2010 | ||
| Fire and rescue authority | 1997 | 2010 |
| (1) Excluding the Isles of Scilly. Source: Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. | ||
Housing Revenue Accounts
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) by how much the delegated expenditure limit of the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions changed in 2001-02 as a result of changes to the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Scheme; [65218]
(2) how much Annually Managed Expenditure for major repairs in the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions and its successors charged as a result of changes to the Housing Revenue Account subsidy scheme in each year since 2001-02; [65219]
(3) by how much the Departmental Expenditure Limit of the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions was adjusted as a result of changes to the Housing Revenue Account in England in 2001-02; by how much that department's annually managed expenditure was increased as a result of the introduction of the Major Repairs Allowance; and what the budget lines were in each respect in each subsequent year for which figures are available. [65291]
Andrew Stunell: The 2000 spending review determined that in 2001-02 £1.6 billion would be transferred from Credit Approvals, classified as Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit to Housing Revenue Account subsidy, classified as Annually Managed Expenditure, to finance the new Major Repairs Allowance.
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The following table gives totals for the amounts of Major Repairs Allowance paid by year from 2002-03 to 2009-10, the latest audited figures available. We do not have equivalent figures for any change in Departmental Expenditure Limit to accommodate the allowance in these years.
| Annual managed expenditure | |
|
|
Major repairs allowance |
| Notes: 1. Data taken from the 4th Housing Revenue Account subsidy claim form, excluding those below the audit threshold of £125,000. 2. Number of dwellings in 2002-03: 2,699,147; number of dwellings in 2009-10: 1,699,578. 3. Major Repairs Allowance is paid as part of Housing Revenue Account, which is an Annual Managed Expenditure programme. | |
Housing: Dorset
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has any plans for future housing development in south east Dorset. [64829]
Grant Shapps [holding answer 11 July 2011]: This Government have put in place a raft of measures to get house-building moving again. In addition to putting in place fiscal incentives for local authorities to develop housing, in the form of the New Homes Bonus and the reformed Community Infrastructure Levy, the Government are also accelerating the release of public sector land, investing £4.5 billion to help deliver over 150,000 new affordable homes and, together with house-builders, providing around £400 million for the new First Buy scheme, which will help nearly 10,500 first time buyers to buy a new build property over the next two years. While introducing incentives we are also abolishing top-down Regional Strategies through the Localism Bill. Together, this package of measures will enable people in all areas of the country, including south east Dorset, to support and shape future housing development.
Housing: Employment
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the possible effects of his proposed reforms to social housing on future levels of employment in the social housing sector in (a) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) England and Wales. [65519]
Grant Shapps: The Government's investment and reform will deliver more new affordable housing and therefore support jobs in construction and related industries.
We are investing £4.5 billion to deliver up to 150, 000 new affordable homes. The Affordable Rent impact assessment, published June 2011:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/rentimpactassessment
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shows the number of jobs that could be supported, in England, under a range of scenarios. The impact assessment does not include estimates of the distribution of these jobs at a local level, as this will depend upon the eventual allocation of funding to providers.
Since the completion of this impact assessment, the Homes and Communities Agency has received offers for funding from providers that have exceeded our original expectations, and we are confident that we are on track to deliver up to 150, 000 new affordable homes.
Housing: Parking
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effects of implementation of proposals in the Localism Bill on planning restrictions for car parking spaces on new housing developments. [64790]
Robert Neill: Planning policy on car parking spaces is set out in Planning Policy Guidance 13: Transport (PPG13). This was updated on 3 January 2011 to remove the requirement for local planning authorities to impose maximum parking standards for new residential developments. The Government will consult in July 2011 on the National Planning Policy Framework, which will include updated policies on transport. When the Framework is adopted it will replace current Planning Policy Statements and Planning Policy Guidance, including PPG13.
The Localism Bill introduces new powers for neighbourhood planning. Neighbourhood plans can contain a wide range of policies, including potentially on parking. All neighbourhood plans will need to be in general conformity with the strategic policies set out in the Local Plan and will also need to be appropriate having regard to national policy.
Leasehold: Fees and Charges
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what plans he has to require all charges on leaseholders to be transparent; [65172]
(2) what plans he has to review the law relating to leasehold tenure. [65173]
Andrew Stunell: The Government recognise that where problems arise over leaseholders' homes—especially about the actions of managing agents—these can cause real inconvenience and, in some cases, lead to significant distress. The law therefore provides leaseholders with a wide range of rights in order to avoid these disputes or, where they arise, to enable them to be resolved. These include the right to ask for service charge information and to see supporting documentation.
The Government also recognise the need to strike the right balance of rights and responsibilities between landlords and leaseholders, and expect landlords and managing agents to obey the law and act in a socially-responsible manner. As with all regulation, state intervention should be proportionate.
Some leaseholders may find it stressful and burdensome to take a case against their landlord to a court, or even to a less formal leasehold valuation tribunal. It may be
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that the current processes could work more effectively or leaseholders could receive more help in exercising their rights.
While the Government currently have no plans for a wide ranging review of leasehold law, they will keep a close watching brief and will not rule out making other changes.
Local Government Finance: Reviews
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will seek to have regard to the principles of fairness, equity and need in his forthcoming proposals for the review of local government finance. [64854]
Robert Neill: The resource review will publish shortly its proposals on the retention of business rates by local authorities. The Government have been clear that any proposals will ensure that all councils will have adequate resources to meet the needs of their local community. Councils which are more deprived will continue to receive central Government support.
Local Government Finance: York
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much general revenue funding has been allocated to the City of York council for services other than education in each year since 2007-08 in (a) cash and (b) real terms. [65607]
Robert Neill: The central Government revenue funding allocated to City of York council for services other than education in each year since 2007-08 in cash and real terms based on 2009-10 prices is tabled as follows:
| £ 000 | |||
|
|
2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| Source: Department for Communities and Local Government Revenue Outturn (RO) returns. | |||
The definition of central Government revenue funding used here is the sum of formula grant (revenue support grant, redistributed non-domestic rates), area-based grant and specific grants inside aggregate external finance i.e. revenue grants paid for council's core services.
Figures exclude grants outside aggregate external finance (i.e. where funding is not for authorities' core services, but is passed to a third party, for example, rent allowances and rebates), funding for the local authorities' housing management responsibilities and those grant programmes (such as European funding) where authorities are simply one of the recipients of funding paid towards an area.
It also excludes Dedicated Schools Grant a ring-fenced specific grant for education service. Formula grant is an unhypothecated block grant and area-based grant and certain specific grants are unring-fenced. Therefore it is possible for local authorities to spend these grants on any services including education.
The 2009-10 real terms figures are calculated using the HM Treasury's latest available GDP deflators.
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Local Government: Accountability
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has for user involvement in the design of services following the repeal of the duty to involve. [64250]
Robert Neill: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has announced his intention to repeal the duty to involve. Repeal requires primary legislation; therefore until it is repealed via legislation, it remains a duty.
The plan to repeal the duty is in line with the Government's commitment to freeing up local authorities to innovate and work in new ways to serve their local communities. Central Government should not be prescribing how local government engages with local people.
We want to encourage authorities and civil society to collaborate more, including greater involvement for voluntary groups in the design and running of public services. In this context, we recently consulted on light touch statutory guidance on the Best Value duty setting out some reasonable expectations of the way authorities should work with voluntary and community groups and small businesses when facing difficult funding decisions. The consultation closed on 14 June and we expect to provide a Government response and publish final guidance this summer.
An equality impact assessment initial screening
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/bestvalueequalities
was carried out on a package of decentralisation measures including the repeal of the duty to involve. The screening showed that new best value guidance will balance out any possible equality impacts arising from the loss of the duty since it supplements the existing duty to consult under best value and underlines support for voluntary and community sector organisations. It will strengthen the role of voluntary and community sector groups in terms of engagement, funding and potentially running public services. It will also give greater freedom to councils to respond to local rather than central priorities and expand the scope of councils to collaborate with small businesses and voluntary and community sector organisations.
Once the duty to involve is repealed, the separate duty to consult local representatives (which supports the duty of best value) will remain in place. This will be backed up by the additional support for voluntary and community groups in the best value guidance.
In addition, the new duties contained in the Localism Bill (i.e. the Community Rights to Challenge and Buy) aim to have a greater impact on links between councils and communities.
Local Government: Pay
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities (a) have and (b) have not implemented a pay rise for those earning less than £21,000 per annum in 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [64663]
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Robert Neill: The information requested is not held centrally. While the Government's overall policy on public sector pay sets the context in which decisions about pay are taken locally by councils, Government have no role in determining annual pay awards in local authorities. These are for the employers and unions to negotiate whether locally, or within the framework of the relevant National Joint Committee.
Mayors
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had with leaders of local authorities in cities where he proposes to introduce shadow mayors prior to mayoral elections. [65712]
Robert Neill: We do not propose to introduce shadow mayors. The committee in the other place considering the Localism Bill agreed on 23 June amendments, supported by the Government, which remove all provision for shadow mayors from the Bill.
National Planning Policy Framework
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to publish the National Planning Policy Framework. [65574]
Robert Neill: The National Planning Policy Framework will be published this month.
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) whether the National Planning Policy Framework's proposed presumption in favour of sustainable development will permit development on the greenbelt in respect of (a) community buildings including schools, (b) commercial development, (c) affordable housing and (d) any other type of development; [65798]
(2) what arrangements are in place to protect greenbelt land from development as part of the National Planning Policy Framework's presumption in favour of sustainable development. [65799]
Robert Neill: The coalition agreement explicitly states that we will maintain green belt protection. The green belt has a valuable role in stopping urban sprawl and providing a green lung around towns and cities.
Indeed, our proposed abolition of the unpopular regional strategies through the Localism Bill will stop the top-down pressure to remove the green belt in 30 areas across England.
The presumption in favour of sustainable development requires councils to plan positively for the needs of each area, while safeguarding those things that require protection. Where plans are not in place or up-to-date, it makes clear that development should be allowed unless this would compromise the key principles for sustainability in the National Planning Policy Framework, including protection of the green belt.
Non-domestic Rates
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will ensure that Liverpool city council does not receive a reduction in business rate grant as a result of his proposed changes to local government finance. [65760]
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Robert Neill: The Resource Review will publish shortly its proposals on the retention of business rates by local authorities. The Government have been clear that any proposals will ensure that all councils will have adequate resources to meet the needs of their local community.
As the Deputy Prime Minister recently said to the Local Government Association's annual conference, no local authority will receive less funding when the new arrangements are introduced than they would have done under the previous funding system.
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which (a) fire and (b) local authorities are net (i) contributors to and (ii) recipients from the collection and allocation of business rates. [64695]
Robert Neill: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Louise Mensch) on 6 December 2010, Official Report, column 57W.
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions his Department has had with business organisations on his proposal for local authorities to retain business rates. [64799]
Robert Neill: An important part of the Local Government Resource Review has been extensive engagement with key partners to help inform our work.
The Department has had regular discussions with business organisations on the issues raised by the review's consideration of local retention of business rates. In addition to bilateral discussions, the Department has held a number of working group meetings of business representative bodies.
We will be publishing our proposals for consultation shortly.
Playing Fields: Wandsworth
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will issue a temporary designation for Barn Elms playing fields under the Green Areas Designation initiative. [64662]
Robert Neill: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 4 July 2011, Official Report, columns 1000-1001W, to the hon. Member for Poplar and Limehouse (Jim Fitzpatrick).
Road Traffic: Planning
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance he has given to Planning Inspectors about the judgments they should make in relation to the effects on levels of (a) traffic congestion and (b) pollution in relation to new developments. [65583]
Robert Neill: When considering called-in or recovered planning applications or appeals the standard guidance used by inspectors when making judgments concerning the effects of traffic congestion and pollution in relation to new developments is as follows:
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Traffic congestion—PPG13: Transport (ODPM, March 2001); Manual for Streets (DCLG/DfT, March 2007); Manual for Streets 2 (CIHT and endorsed by DfT/DCLG, September 2010); and Good Practice Guidelines: Delivering Travel Plans through the Planning Process (CLG/DfT, April 2009).
Pollution—PPS23: Planning and Pollution Control (ODPM, November 2004); and PPG24: Planning and Noise (DoE, September 1994).
We will consider how to take forward these issues in the forthcoming National Planning Policy Framework.
Social Rented Housing
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much social housing for rent was built in (a) York, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) England in each year since 1997; and how much social housing in each area he expects to be built in each future year for which projections have been made. [65603]
Andrew Stunell: Figures on additional affordable housing at national and local level for 1991-92 to 2009-10 are published by on the Department's website at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/affordablehousingsupply/livetables/
Live Table 1006 shows the number of social rented homes provided in each area, including acquired and newly built homes.
We are investing nearly £4.5 billion to help deliver 150,000 new affordable homes between 2011-12 and 2014-15. The majority of the homes delivered will be made available as affordable rent with some for affordable home ownership. The Department does not forecast local levels of future house building.
Social Rented Housing: Pensioners
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of the number of pensioners living in the social housing sector in Sunderland Central constituency. [65225]
Andrew Stunell: The Department does not hold this information.
Social Rented Housing: Rents
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average change in service charges for tenants in social housing was (a) overall and (b) in each region in each of the last five years. [64875]
Andrew Stunell: The social housing regulator, the Tenant Services Authority, collects this information for private registered providers of social housing as part of its annual regulatory and statistical return, based on its regional analysis. This is set out as follows:
| General needs housing | |||||
| Percentage | |||||
|
|
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
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| Supported housing (1) | |||||
| Percentage | |||||
|
|
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 (1) |
| (1) Figures not available before 2005-06. Note: There is no equivalent information collected for local authority social housing. | |||||
Taxation
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for the introduction of tax increment financing. [64782]
Robert Neill: The Local Government Resource Review is developing proposals to allow councils to retain their locally-raised business rates. We will also introduce tax increment financing powers, allowing councils to fund key infrastructure projects by borrowing against future increases in business rates.
We will be consulting on proposals shortly. Tax increment financing and the retention of business rates will be introduced through the forthcoming Local Government Finance Bill.
Wales
Departmental Regulation
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many regulations her Department has introduced (a) in the six months prior to 1 September 2010 and (b) in the six months after 1 September 2010 which it has determined do not impose costs on businesses; [65311]
(2) how many regulations that impose costs on businesses her Department has (a) introduced and (b) removed since 1 September 2010; what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was; and what regulations have been excluded from the one-in one-out system because they address (i) emergencies and (ii) systemic financial risks since 1 September 2010; [65328]
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(3) how many regulations that impose costs on businesses her Department (a) introduced and (b) removed in the six months prior to 1 September 2010; and what the net effect was on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals. [65344]
Mr David Jones: The Government's policy is to consider alternative to regulation. A list of regulatory measures introduced in the first half of 2011 can be found in the Statement of New Regulation in the Libraries of the House.
Departmental Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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 her Department directly and (b) her Department on behalf of a Minister since May 2010. [64420]
Mr David Jones: We are not aware of any requests from an hon. Member having been refused. The Secretary of State for Wales, and I are always happy to discuss matters of importance to Wales with hon. Members of all political parties.
Social Services: Finance
Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the Dilnot Commission Report and its implications for Wales. [64860]
Mr David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, and I have discussed the work of the Dilnot Commission with ministerial colleagues in the Department of Health.
The Government will consider the Commission's recommendations on how to achieve an affordable and sustainable funding system for care and support for all adults in England. The Department of Health will be producing a White Paper on wider social care issues next spring, and a progress report on the funding reform.
We will work constructively with the Welsh Government on any aspects of the proposals which have implications for delivery of care and support in Wales.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture: Subsidies
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has for the provision of direct payments to farms under the common agricultural policy from 2013. [63906]
Mr Paice [holding answer 5 July 2011]: The Government want to see a greater focus on measures to improve competitiveness across the EU, so as to progressively reduce the reliance of EU farming on subsidy. While direct payments will continue during the next financial perspective, there should be a clear downward trajectory and a programme of managed transition planning for their abolition.
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Dairy Products: Meat
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals she has to reduce waste in (a) dairy supply chains and (b) red meat supply chains. [64815]
Mr Paice: The Government are working closely with the livestock industry on its product roadmaps. They are good examples of what can be achieved by bringing producers, processers and retailers together to commit themselves to more sustainable operation. The recently published Dairy Roadmap sets targets for waste recycling and recovery for both farmers and processers, and on amounts of recyclate used in packaging for retailers. Part two of The English Beef and Sheep Production Roadmap also looks at waste and efficiency issues through supply chains, extending the work begun on greenhouse gases in part one. While April's publication of the English Pig Meat Roadmap highlights the importance of animal health and carcase utilisation issues in avoiding waste in that sector. The Roadmaps can be found at:
http://www.dairyco.net/library/research-development/environment/dairy-roadmap.aspx
http://www.eblex.org.uk/publications/corporate.aspx
http://www.bpex.org.uk/Article.aspx?ID=301329
Additionally the Waste Resource Action programme (WRAP) carries out a range of activities to encourage the prevention of waste. These include:
The provision of online tools and case studies;
The facilitation of agreements to reduce waste from their products; for example, the Courtauld Commitment which concerns the reduction of packaging waste in the grocery sector.
Eggs: Imports
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect on the egg industry of imports of (a) egg products manufactured from shell eggs produced in systems in EU member states which do not comply with EU directives and (b) egg products manufactured from eggs produced in conventional cage production systems outside the EU. [63041]
Mr Paice: The Government are totally committed to the 2012 deadline to have phased out the keeping of laying hens in conventional cages in the UK.
From 1 January 2012 it will be illegal to market eggs in this country from hens still in conventional cages.
We are not able unilaterally to prevent egg products produced from eggs in conventional cages being imported from third countries. World Trade Organisation rules do not allow members to ban imports on the grounds of the welfare standards applied in third countries.
We have, however, been at the forefront of efforts to convince the Commission that simply relying on infraction proceedings against non-compliant member states will not be enough to deal with the negative impact that non-compliance would cause and that additional measures would need to be put in place to prevent market disturbance and to protect compliant producers. We will continue to keep up the pressure on the Commission to act and act quickly.
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Genetically Modified Organisms: Potatoes
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether genetically modified potatoes have been planted under application reference 10/R29/01 in 2011. [63983]
Mr Paice: The Sainsbury Laboratory planted potatoes under this consent in 2011 at the same site as the 2010 planting.
Hill Farming
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of former recipients of hill farm allowance are (a) participating in uplands entry level stewardship and (b) in receipt of the uplands transitional payment. [62125]
Mr Paice: An initial analysis of uptake suggests that by mid-January 2011, (a) 36% of HFA 2010 recipients had a live uplands entry level stewardship (Uplands ELS) agreement; and (b) 30% of HFA 2010 recipients had valid claims for the 2011 uplands transitional payment (UTP).
A further analysis will be undertaken once a full year's uplands ELS uptake data are available in July, these will give a fuller picture of the percentage of former HFA claimants participating in either UTP or uplands ELS. It is expected that this will show a further increase in the proportion of HFA 2010 recipients with a live uplands ELS agreement: between mid-January and mid-June, the number of live uplands ELS agreements increased by 29%.
Scotland
Departmental Regulation
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many regulations his Department has introduced (a) in the six months prior to 1 September 2010 and (b) in the six months after 1 September 2010 which it has determined do not impose costs on businesses. [65313]
David Mundell: In the six months prior to 1 September 2010 the Scotland Office introduced two regulations that did not impose costs on business. These were:
The Representation of the People (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2010;
The Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 (Disclosure of Information) Order.
In the six months after 1 September 2010 the Scotland Office introduced five regulations that did not impose costs on business. These were:
The Scottish Parliament (Constituencies and Regions) Order 2010;
The Scottish Parliament (Elections etc) Order 2010;
The Scottish Parliament (Disqualification) Order 2010;
The Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 (Consequential Provisions) Order 2010;
The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 (Consequential Provisions) Order 2010.
Mr Umunna:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many regulations that impose costs on businesses his Department has (a) introduced and (b)
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removed since 1 September 2010; what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was; and what regulations have been excluded from the one-in one-out system because they address (i) emergencies and (ii) systemic financial risks since 1 September 2010. [65330]
David Mundell: Since 1 September 2010 the Scotland Office has not introduced or removed any regulations that impose costs on businesses.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many regulations that impose costs on businesses his Department (a) introduced and (b) removed in the six months prior to 1 September 2010; and what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was. [65347]
David Mundell: In the six months prior to 1 September 2010 the Scotland Office did not introduce or remove any regulations that imposed costs on businesses.
Directors: Females
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with (a) the Minister for Women and Equalities and (b) Scottish Ministers about measures that could be taken to encourage increased employment of women at boardroom level in Scottish companies. [65489]
Michael Moore: I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department and Minister for Women and Equalities, on a range of issues relating to Scotland. The Scottish Government have their own Gender Equality Scheme.
Railways
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2011, Official Report, column 891W, on high speed rail, what the outcome was of his discussions with Scottish Ministers on the extension of high speed rail services to Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [65174]
Michael Moore: Both I and the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, have encouraged Scottish Ministers to share their views and those of relevant Scottish Stakeholders in the Department for Transport's high speed rail public consultation process which is currently ongoing.
Social Security Benefits
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and (b) the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities regarding the impact in Scotland of the proposed benefits cap. [65490]
Michael Moore: I have regular conversations with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, where we have discussed many issues including the impact on Scotland of the proposed benefits cap.
12 July 2011 : Column 225W
My most recent meeting with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA) was in June of this year and I will be meeting with CoSLA again in October where we will have the opportunity to discuss the impact of the benefits cap in Scotland.
Northern Ireland
Air Ambulance Services: Fuels
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on an exemption from value added tax for fuel for the Air Ambulance for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [65151]
Mr Paterson: Tax policy including value added tax is the responsibility of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
House of Commons Commission
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the House of Commons Commission has any plans to generate low-carbon energy on the Commons part of the parliamentary estate. [65409]
John Thurso: The Parliamentary Estates Directorate (PED) continues to investigate the potential for both low and zero carbon generation on the parliamentary estate to help deliver the House's target for reducing carbon emissions from energy use.
There are two areas where there are plans to introduce low carbon generation. The PED is developing options for the re-commissioning of the existing combined heat and power plant on the northern estate, and it is also reviewing options and benefits of installing tri-generation (combined heating, cooling and power) as part of the long-term vision for mechanical and electrical services within the palace.
Under the medium-term Mechanical and Electrical Project measures are already being implemented to reduce the carbon footprint from energy use, for instance by improving the efficiency of chilled water systems. The project team is also looking at options for zero carbon energy generation such as providing infrastructure for solar thermal and/or photovoltaic generators located on the roof. The potential for a variety of other renewable energy sources, including wind and tidal energy, has been considered as part of the project There are significant planning constraints on a world heritage site, but the project team will continue to explore the feasibility of these technologies, and the infrastructure provided as part of this project will be capable of adaptation to cater for other systems which may be found suitable for heritage estates and become more economically attractive in future years.
The feasibility of realising further carbon savings by utilising the Whitehall/Pimlico district heating scheme which provides carbon-neutral heat energy is also being examined.
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Members: Postage Stamps
Mr Brine: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the cost to the public purse was of collection of unpaid postage for mail sent to hon. Members in each of the last five years. [64704]
John Thurso: The cost to the public purse for the collection of unpaid postage for items sent to Members and departments in the House of Commons is as follows:
|
|
£ |
No data are held on costs before 2009. No information is held on the split of unpaid postage costs between items sent to Members and those sent to departments of the House although the vast majority is on Members' items.
Schools: Visits
Anne Marie Morris: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many school parties from (a) Devon and (b) Newton Abbot constituency have visited the Palace of Westminster through the Parliamentary Education Service in each year since 2009. [62962]
John Thurso: The number of schools from (a) Devon and (b) the Newton Abbot constituency that have visited the Palace of Westminster through Parliament's Education Service in each year since 2009 is as follows:
|
|
Devon | Newton Abbot |
| (1) The Newton Abbot constituency was newly created in 2010. The figure for 2009 relates to the former Teignbridge constituency. | ||
The total number of students visiting the Palace of Westminster on these visits, including future bookings for 2011, is 1,634; of these, 381 are from the Newton Abbot constituency.
Attorney-General
Departmental Dismissal
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Attorney-General how many officials in the Law Officers' Departments were dismissed for under-performance as a result of the procedures arising from those Departments' staff appraisal systems in each of the last three years. [64694]
The Solicitor-General:
One Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) employee was dismissed in 2010 and one employee was dismissed in 2011 as a result of poor performance. These employees were dismissed under the Department's managing poor performance policy, which contains a formal procedure informed by but
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distinct from the Department's staff appraisal system. A further 37 dismissals since April 2009 were for unsatisfactory attendance and misconduct. The CPS does not hold data on the specific reasons for the dismissals of staff prior to April 2009.
The Treasury Solicitor's Department dismissed four people for poor performance in 2008-09, three people in 2009-10, and one person in 2010-11.
There have been no dismissals for underperformance at the Serious Fraud Office, HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate and the Attorney-General's Office.
Culture, Media and Sport
Abortion: Advertising
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what representations he has received from (a) members of the public, (b) hon. Members and (c) Members of the House of Lords against television advertisements for abortion services since January 2011; and if he will make a statement. [64644]
Mr Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has received 576 representations from members of the public on this matter since 1 January 2011 and one representation from an hon. Member, on behalf of a constituent. No representations from Members of the House of Lords have been received.
Active Places Scheme
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had on the renaming of the Active Places scheme; and if he will make a statement. [64215]
Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, has not taken part in any discussions about the renaming of Active Places.
Broadband: Alyn and Deeside
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the timescale for the introduction of superfast broadband internet access in existing areas of poor access in Alyn and Deeside constituency. [65061]
Mr Vaizey: The Government are supporting the Welsh Government to deliver superfast broadband to 90% of all premises in Wales by 2015.
Broadband: Public Finance
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will estimate the cost to the public purse in each region of the provision of broadband to rural areas in each year of this programme. [64440]
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Mr Vaizey: The Government have made available £530 million to stimulate commercial investment in broadband infrastructure and to help deliver the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015. A full list of allocations by location will be published later this month. The allocations will provide clarity for local procuring authorities on the cost of delivering superfast broadband to 90% of all premises and a fibre connection to virtually every community and a minimum of 2 Mbps to every premise and, will also indicate the gap in funding required to meet these objectives.
Broadband: Rural Areas
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has for the delivery of broadband to rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [64441]
Mr Vaizey: The Government published Britain's Superfast Broadband Future in December 2010, which sets out the Government’s plans for delivering superfast broadband in rural areas, a copy can be found on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's website at:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/7829.aspx
Departmental Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 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. [64434]
John Penrose: This Department does not keep a record of meetings declined by its Ministers or departmental officials.
Mobile Phones: Radio Frequencies
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what discussions he has had with Ofcom on the introduction of a (a) 98 per cent. and (b) 99 per cent. coverage obligation for the forthcoming auction of 4G spectrum licences; [65062]
(2) what discussions he has had with the devolved administrations on introducing a (a) 98 per cent. and (b) 99 per cent. coverage obligation in the forthcoming auction of 4G spectrum licences; [65063]
(3) what discussions he has had with Ofcom on the application of the 4G population coverage obligation to each nation of the UK; and if he will make a statement; [65064]
(4) what consideration he has given to ensuring that the availability of 4G services in Wales is similar to the availability of such services in England; and what discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on this matter. [65065]
Mr Vaizey:
Following the Direction to Ofcom in December 2010, I have not discussed coverage obligations with Ofcom or the devolved Administrations. The design
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of the auction is a matter for Ofcom, including coverage obligations and in Ofcom's recent consultation they sought evidence to support a higher coverage obligation than the proposed 95% level.
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he plans to ensure that 4G wireless broadband minimum target speeds of at least two megabits per second will be available to consumers who are not to be offered superfast broadband under Ofcom's current Spectrum criteria. [65066]
Mr Vaizey: Ofcom's current coverage proposal for the combined auction includes providing a service of not less than 2 Mbps to an area where 95% of the population lives. It is the Government's stated aim to ensure that broadband for all would be available at 2 megabits per second by 2015. We have not specified which technologies would deliver that, as it is likely that a mix of different technologies including fixed, wireless broadband (both 3G and 4G) and satellite solutions will be required, with the precise mix depending on local factors such as topography and demographics.
Olympic Games 2012
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent meetings he has had with the Mayor of London to discuss the economic legacy for east London of the London 2012 Olympic Games. [65657]
Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, has regular meetings with the Mayor of London on matters connected with London 2012 and its legacy. The Mayor is responsible for the legacy for East London which is why government is legislating to enable him to set up a Mayoral Development Corporation to drive the regeneration of the area and its economic legacy post-games.
Public Lending Right
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the potential savings to the public purse arising from implementation of his plans for the future management of the Public Lending Right. [64314]
Mr Vaizey: The level of savings arising from implementation of changes to the management of the Public Lending Right (PLR) depends on decisions made by the body that takes over the PLR functions. We are working to resolve as quickly as possible the issues associated with the transfer of functions.
Mr Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his policy is on the future administration of the Public Lending Right. [65210]
Mr Jeremy Hunt:
The Government recognise the importance of the Public Lending Right (PLR) to authors. We have made assurances that PLR payments will still be administered by a body operating at arm's
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length from Government and with the same independence and impartiality currently awarded to the PLR Registrar. We are working to resolve as quickly as possible the issues associated with the transfer of the Public Lending Right's functions to another body.
Radio Frequencies
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the potential income from the auction of 800 MHz spectrum with coverage targets of (a) 95% and (b) 100%. [64397]
Mr Vaizey: No assessment has been made of the potential income from the auction of 800 MHz spectrum with either coverage obligation.
Sports
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many individuals have registered for the Shift into Sport programme; and how many of those registered have attended and paid for a session. [64216]
Hugh Robertson: The Department does not hold this information. Shift into Sports is an initiative provided by the Fitness Industry Association (HA).
Tourism
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to support the development of the tourism economy in (a) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) England. [64968]
John Penrose: The Government's plans for promoting the growth of the visitor economy are set out in detail in the paper, “Government Tourism Policy” published in March 2011, and available at:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/7896.aspx
Over the next four years VisitBritain will be running the “You’re Invited” programme, which will capitalise on the international interest in the recent royal wedding, as well as next year's diamond jubilee and Olympic and Paralympic Games, and showcase Britain to the world. The programme aims to attract 4 million extra visitors, spending £2 billion in the UK economy, which will support businesses, jobs and growth. The programme is backed by a £100 million marketing fund, funded by the public and private sector.
VisitEngland is working closely with local areas and destinations, in line with Government's localism agenda, to grow the value of local tourism economies. This is co-ordinated through the National Strategic Framework for Tourism, which includes an action programme developed in consultation with the tourism sector. VisitEngland is currently working with destinations across the country, including Liverpool, on a campaign to deliver economic growth from the domestic market, and to support employment and job creation. ‘The time to be in England’ initiative will maximise the impact of the unique events of 2012, including the Queen’s diamond jubilee and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, helping to spread the benefits of the Games outside London
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and maintain a legacy of domestic tourism growth. The campaign is the subject of a bid to the second round of the Regional Growth Fund.
Tourism policy seeks to help improve the sector's productivity and competitiveness, in particular, to address the burden of regulation affecting the industry. The Government's Red Tape Challenge focused on the hospitality sector in May, inviting the industry and the public to identify regulations holding back the industry and stifling growth. Alongside this, the Government have set up an industry task force, led by senior industry figures, to identify rules, regulations and inspections impeding the sector, and which might be cut, modified or abolished.
Transport
A120: Accidents
Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table setting out the number of road traffic accidents recorded on the A120 at the junction with Little Bentley Road and Little Bromley Road in each of the last 10 years, indicating the number of (a) fatalities and (b) non-fatal injuries; what safety assessment has been made of the road junction; and what steps his Department is considering to improve the safety of the junction. [65358]
Mike Penning [holding answer 11 July 2011]: All accidents involving a personal injury are recorded. The following table shows validated figures for all fatal and non-fatal injuries for the A120, at the junctions with Little Bentley Road and Little Bromley Road, in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
|
|
Fatal | Non-fatal | Total |
| (1) Validated data are only available up to 31 December 2009. | |||
The Highways Agency has a comprehensive process for monitoring safety on the A120. This includes but is not limited to, a rolling three year accident analysis for each route, weekly safety inspections, fatal accident reviews and various asset condition surveys.
The Highways Agency has developed a number of options, both long and short term to reduce the number of accidents at these junctions. The Agency is currently reviewing its capital programme in response to the spending review, to identify if a short term option can be delivered this financial year.
Airports
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2011, Official Report, column 399W, on airports, what definition of connecting traffic his Department employs when seeking to define a hub airport; [65276]
(2) what definition his Department employs of the term main base in the context of a hub airport. [65277]
12 July 2011 : Column 232W
Mrs Villiers: There is no single widely agreed definition of a hub airport. The Department has not sought to provide a precise definition of a hub airport. However, as part of the process of developing a sustainable framework for UK aviation, the Department for Transport published a scoping document in March 2011 which provides the following broad definition:
“A hub airport is used by airlines as the main base for connecting traffic where a significant proportion of passengers transfer between flights.”
From the perspective of an airline, a main base for connecting traffic refers to an airport where the airline serves a high number of transfer passengers—that is passengers connecting directly between an inbound and an outbound flight—compared to other airports at which it operates.
Biggin Hill Airport
Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the potential role of Biggin Hill airport in the regional aviation strategy for the south-east; [62932]
(2) if he will assess the effects of the operations of Biggin Hill airport on the Government's objectives for increasing the number of passengers using public transport. [62933]
Mrs Villiers: The Government are committed to creating a sustainable framework for UK aviation. In March 2011, we published a scoping document seeking stakeholders' views and evidence on a range of strategic aviation issues, including making better use of existing airport capacity across the UK. We will assess the potential benefits and impacts of proposals as we develop the new policy framework which we will publish for consultation next year.
Bus Services: Parliament Square
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ask Transport for London when it intends to restore the bus stop outside 2 Parliament street, Westminster. [61895]
Mrs Villiers: Under devolution, Transport for London, and ultimately the Mayor of London, are responsible for deciding transport priorities in London including the management of the bus network.
Codsall Railway Station: Parking
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to improve car parking facilities at Codsall railway station. [64745]
Norman Baker: I understand that neither train operating company which serves the station has plans to improve car parking facilities at Codsall railway station.
Cycling: Helmets
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of deaths which were prevented by cyclists wearing helmets in each of the last three years. [63040]
12 July 2011 : Column 233W
Mike Penning: We have not produced an estimate of the number of deaths prevented by cyclists wearing helmets in each of the last three years. However, research undertaken in 2009 by the Transport Research Laboratory for the Department for Transport included a biomechanical assessment of over 100 police forensic reports on cyclist fatalities and estimated that 10% to 16% of the fatalities could have been prevented if the cyclist had worn an appropriate cycle helmet. The research report ‘The Potential for Cycle Helmets to Prevent Injury: A Review of the Evidence’ is available to download for free from:
www.trl.co.uk
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the Dartford-Thurrock crossing protocol was not invoked and the tolls lifted on 1 July at 1pm. [64357]
Mike Penning: The resulting traffic conditions on 1 July, following a small vehicle fire that closed two of the four lanes of the Dartford Crossing Bridge for an hour, did not meet the specified criteria for severe congestion set out in the operational protocol being trialled by the Highways Agency. The Road User Charge was therefore not suspended.
The Highways Agency will continue to assess the traffic conditions that occur as a result of all significant incidents on a case-by-case basis, against the criteria for severe congestion, during the six-month trial of the operational protocol, to evaluate its effectiveness in dealing with such circumstances.
Driving Offences: Foreign Nationals
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has undertaken an assessment of the effects on road safety of introducing a power to issue on-the-spot fines to the drivers of foreign vehicles that break UK traffic laws. [65267]
Mike Penning: No assessment has been undertaken on the effects of road safety since the introduction of on-the-spot fines to the drivers of foreign vehicles that break UK traffic laws.
However, we believe that the financial penalty deposit requirement (on the spot fines) provides an effective enforcement mechanism to deal with non-UK resident offenders who do not comply with GB road traffic rules. It has helped to alleviate a public concern about the variation in enforcement against UK and non-UK resident hauliers and we have seen a reduction in personal injury collisions involving foreign HGVs, although it is too early to establish any direct and significant link with the deposit scheme.
East Coast Railway Line: Industrial Disputes
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) full and (b) partial days of industrial action there have been on the East Coast Main Line since 2005. [65235]
Norman Baker: There have been no incidents of industrial action within the east coast franchise since 2005 that have caused cessation of train services on the route.
12 July 2011 : Column 234W
EU Law
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what European directives in force on 1 April 2010 his Department is responsible; and what European directives for which his Department is responsible have come into force since 1 April 2010. [60700]
Mrs Villiers: The stock of EU legislation in force is set out in the Eur-Lex database:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm
It would involve disproportionate cost to review the entire stock to establish which pieces of legislation were currently the responsibility of the Department for Transport or its predecessor Departments.
There are a number of directives, which have come into force since 1 April 2010, for which my Department has responsibility. The entry in force and transposition dates often differ and can sometimes be years apart. A list of directives and amending directives covering a range of cross-transport policies are as follows:
Directive 1997/27/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 July 1997 relating to the masses and dimensions of certain categories of motor vehicles and their trailers and amending Directive 70/156/EEC.
Directive 2005/33/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2005 amending Directive 1999/32/EC.
Directive 2006/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 relating to emissions from air conditioning systems in motor vehicles and amending Council Directive 70/156/EEC.
2006/87/EC Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels and repealing Council Directive 82/714/EEC.
2006/137/EC Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 amending Directive 2006/87/EC laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels.
Directive 2007/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on the certification of train drivers operating locomotives and trains on the railway system in the Community.
Council Directive 2008/59/EC of 12 June 2008 adapting Directive 2006/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels, by reason of the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania.
Commission Directive 2008/67/EC of 30 June 2008 amending Council Directive 96/98/EC on marine equipment/
Directive 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 2008 on the inland transport of dangerous goods.
Directive 2008/87/EC of 22 September 2008 amending Directive 2006/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels.
Directive 2008/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on road infrastructure safety management.
Directive 2008/126/EC of 19 December 2008 amending Directive 2006/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels.
Directive 2009/26/EC of 6 April 2009 amending Council Directive 96/98/EC on marine equipment.
12 July 2011 : Column 235W
Directive 2009/46/EC of 24 April 2009 amending Directive 2006/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels.
Directive 2009/112/EC of 25 August 2009 amending Council Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences.
Directive 2009/113/EC of 25 August 2009 amending Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on driving licences.
Directive 2009/123/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 amending Directive 2005/35/EC on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties for infringements.
Directive 2010/22/EU of 15 March 2010 amending, for the purposes of their adaptation to technical progress, Council Directives 80/720/EEC, 86/298/EEC, 86/415/EEC and 87/402/EEC and Directives 2000/25/EC and 2003/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to the type-approval of agricultural or forestry tractors.
London Underground: Guide Dogs
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) for what reasons he has not confirmed an amendment to the byelaws relating to guide dogs for the blind using moving escalators on London Underground; [60650]
(2) by what date he expects to confirm a revised byelaw to allow certain dogs to use moving escalators on London Underground. [60651]
Norman Baker: The London Regional Transport Byelaws 2000, which, among other things, prohibit animals from walking on moving escalators, are the responsibility of Transport for London (TfL).
Peter Hendy, TfL's Commissioner of Transport, has recently written to the Secretary of State seeking to confirm a number of revisions to the byelaws, which include making an exception to this requirement for trained assistance and police dogs. Amendments now need to be made to the (national) railway byelaws to make the two sets of byelaws fully consistent. We expect these amendments and the confirmation of TfL's byelaws in the autumn.
Manchester Airport
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with (a) ministerial colleagues and (b) others on the potential for increasing capacity at Manchester airport. [63189]
Mrs Villiers: Department for Transport Ministers attend various meetings with the operators of regional airports where they discuss a range of issues including Government policy on aviation.
The Government fully recognise the vital contribution airports make to regional economies. It is the Government's intention to develop an aviation policy framework which supports economic growth and seeks to create the right conditions for regional airports to flourish. On 30 March 2011 the Department for Transport published a scoping document that frames the debate on the future direction of aviation policy and asks a series of questions, including on regional airports. The responses to the scoping document will help to inform the development of a draft framework, which we intend to publish for full public consultation in March 2012.
12 July 2011 : Column 236W
Motor Vehicles: Insurance
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is in respect of people who have an illness that has prevented them from (a) making a statutory off-road notice and (b) insuring their vehicle; and if he will make a statement. [65790]
Mike Penning: The keeper of a vehicle is required to insure their vehicle or notify that the vehicle is off the road. If the keeper fails to do either of these options the enforcement process is started automatically. Mitigating circumstances, including medical information, can be put forward and will be taken into account to decide if the enforcement should proceed.
It should be noted that enforcement action is only started after a reasonable period of time has elapsed. Also, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will accept a statutory off-road notification made on the keeper's behalf by a spouse or next of kin.
Ports: Brazil
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make representations to his Brazilian counterpart in respect of the refusal of Brazil to allow British seafarers ashore whilst at Brazilian ports because the UK has not ratified the International Labour Organisation's convention 108. [65395]
Mike Penning: The UK has ratified the International Labour Organisation 108, a convention concerning seafarers' identity documents. The Department for Transport is not aware of any recent incidences where British seafarers have been denied access at Brazilian ports.
Public Transport: Olympic Games 2012
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to ensure the public transport network will operate effectively during the period of the London 2012 Olympics. [64940]
Mrs Villiers: The Olympic Delivery Authority has the statutory responsibility for transport planning for the 2012 Games. It has recently published a second edition of its Olympic Transport Plan which sets out the plans for ensuring effective operation of all the transport networks.
Thameslink: Rolling Stock
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written statement of 16 June 2011, Official Report, columns 85-86WS, on Thameslink rolling stock, if he will publish the results of the value for money assessment applied to the bid submitted by Siemens with Cross London Trains. [64768]
Mrs Villiers: The procurement process has not yet concluded. The details of the bids are confidential to Siemens, Bombardier and the Department. To release this information could compromise their and the Department's commercial positions.
12 July 2011 : Column 237W
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) pursuant to the written statement of 16 June 2011, Official Report, columns 85-86WS, on Thameslink rolling stock, what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) direct and (b) supply chain employment levels of awarding the Thameslink contract to a bidder other than Bombardier; [64769]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of jobs that would be (a) directly and (b) indirectly created in the UK in the event of the Thameslink contract being awarded to (i) Siemens or (ii) Bombardier; and if he will make a statement. [64770]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr Denham), on 11 July 2011, Official Report, columns 205-06W.
Work and Pensions
Child Care Tax Credit
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families receive support for childcare costs from both the childcare element of working tax credit and housing benefit or housing benefit and council tax benefit. [63809]
Steve Webb: The Department estimates that approximately 100,000 families receive support for child care costs from both the child care element of working tax credit and one or both of the disregards for child care costs available through housing benefit and council tax benefit.
Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 100,000.
This estimate has been made using the Department's policy simulation model. This is a static microsimulation model based on data from the 2008-09 Family Resources Survey (FRS), uprated to the relevant year's prices, benefit rates and earnings levels.
Additional data from the Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents has been used in the modelling to provide a better indication of the number of families receiving child care support.
Child Support Agency
Mr Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the powers of the Child Support Agency to investigate non-resident parents where a disparity appears between lifestyle and declared earnings. [63408]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
12 July 2011 : Column 238W
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the powers of the Child Support Agency to investigate non-resident parents where a disparity appears between lifestyle and declared earnings. [63408]
The variations scheme is relevant if a parent believes there are circumstances which should be taken into account in assessing what should be paid to support a child that have not been captured within the standard maintenance calculation. Under the 2003 child maintenance scheme a “variation” can be allowed in cases where the non-resident parent seems to have a lifestyle which is inconsistent with the amount of income that has been used in the maintenance calculation, and which suggests that they might have other income which should have been taken into account.
Generally a decision on whether to agree to a variation will be made on the basis of the information brought forward by the parent with care. However in certain cases—for example where there is a likelihood of serious fraud being committed—the Commission has the power to undertake further investigations. The Commission can appoint inspectors to obtain information required. Inspectors have the power to enter premises (except those only used as a home) to make enquiries and to inspect documents.
In January the Department for Work and Pensions published its Green Paper, “Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility: the future of child maintenance”. The purpose of the Green Paper was to seek views on the Government's strategy for reforming the child maintenance system by empowering parents to take responsibility for their children and families. The consultation is now closed and the Government is considering the responses.
Variations will continue to be available to parents in the proposed new child maintenance scheme and will be based upon more robust HMRC information. They will continue to capture circumstances which are not accounted for in the maintenance calculation.
We are currently in the process of working on the details of the new variations scheme in order to fulfil the Commission's commitments of simplifying and improving the child maintenance assessment process. Along with the new variations system there will be a new duty on the Commission to support parent with care applications by using readily available information sources such as HMRC. The detail of the new variations scheme will be included in draft regulations, which will be subject to consultation in due course.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if his Department will explore the feasibility of low-carbon energy generation on its estate. [65375]
Chris Grayling: The Department has already examined the feasibility of low-carbon generation on its estate, in conjunction with its PFI Estates Partner, and will continue to do so, in line with commitments outlined within its Carbon Management Plan.
A Salix-funded combined heat and power (CHP) plant was installed at the Department's Quarry House headquarters building in Leeds at the end of 2010. It is fuelled by natural gas and is classified as 'low-carbon' technology.' Initial indications are that performance is exceeding the estimated saving of £90,000 and 428tCO2 a year. The lessons learned from the project are now being used to explore opportunities across the estate.
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Departmental Dismissal
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials in his Department were dismissed for under-performance as a result of procedures arising from his Department's staff appraisal system in each of the last three years. [64678]
Chris Grayling: The Department has dismissed approximately 1,000 employees in each of the last three years for reasons including under-performance, gross misconduct, and unacceptable levels of sickness absence.
The number of officials specifically dismissed for under-performance in each of the last three years is recorded in the following table.
| Reporting period | Officials dismissed |
The Department is committed to identifying and tackling under-performance and has robust procedures in place. Where poor performance is identified the Department will take the necessary measures. Initially this includes informal discussions designed to help, support and encourage the individual to perform to a satisfactory standard. Where this fails then formal warnings are given. Ultimately, if their performance fails to improve, then a sanction is applied and the individual may be dismissed or demoted.
Departmental Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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. [64421]
Chris Grayling: In the main, Ministers from this Department try not to refuse meetings with Members of Parliament. However, detailed information is not available other than at disproportionate costs.
Disposable Income: Sunderland
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the median disposal household income was for Sunderland (a) before and (b) after housing costs in the latest period for which figures are available. [65069]
Steve Webb: We use households below average income data to provide estimates of median incomes. However, the sample size of this survey is not sufficient to provide estimates for small areas such as that requested.
The following table shows the median equivalised disposable household income for the North East region of England, before and after housing costs.
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| Table 1: Median equivalised disposable household income, for the North East region of England, three year average 2007-08 to 2009-10, before and after housing costs | ||
| Median equivalised weekly disposable household income (£) | ||
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BHC | AHC |
| Notes: 1. These statistics are based on households below average income (HBAI) data sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). This uses disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 2. Net disposable incomes have been used to answer the question. This includes earnings from employment and self-employment, state support, income from occupational and private pensions, investment income and other sources. Income tax, payments, national insurance contributions, council tax/domestic rates and some other payments are deducted from incomes. 3. Figures have been presented on a before housing cost and an after housing cost basis. For before housing costs, housing costs are not deducted from income, while for after housing costs they are. 4. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 5. The reference period for HBAI figures is the financial year. For countries and regions within the UK, three survey years have been combined because single year estimates are not considered to be sufficiently reliable. 6. Weekly incomes are presented in 2009-10 prices and have been rounded to the nearest pound. Source: Households Below Average Income (HBAI) 2007-08 to 2009-10 | ||