Job Creation
Ms Buck: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of new jobs created in (a) the public sector and (b) the private sector in each of the last three years were part-time. [64876]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what proportion of new jobs created in (a) the public sector and (b) the private sector in each of the last three years were part-time. 64876
I regret that estimates of job creation are not available.
As an alternative, the table provided shows the number of people in full-time and part-time employment for the public and private sector, over the same period.
| Full-time and part-time employment levels in the public and private sector (1) , three months ending March, 2009 to 2011—United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted | ||||||||||
| Thousand and percentage | ||||||||||
| Private (2) | Public (3) | |||||||||
|
|
Full time | Proportion of private sector | Part time | Proportion of private sector | Total | Full time | Proportion of public sector | Part time | Proportion of public sector | Total |
12 July 2011 : Column 267W
12 July 2011 : Column 268W
| (1) It should be noted that public and private sector estimates: are based on survey respondents' views about the organisation for which they work; do not correspond to the National Accounts definition used for official Public Sector Employment estimates. (2) Includes self-employed and unpaid family workers. (3) Includes nationalised industry or state corporation, central Government, civil service, local government or council (incl. police, fire services and local authority controlled schools or colleges), university or other grant funded educational establishment, health authority or NHS trust and armed forces. Source: ONS Labour Force Survey | ||||||||||
New Businesses
Michael Fallon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many new businesses have started up in (a) Sevenoaks, (b) West Kent and (c) Kent since 6 September 2010. [65516]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many new businesses have started up in (a) Sevenoaks, (b) West Kent and (c) Kent since 6 September 2010. [65516]
Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at
www.statistics.gov.uk
However, statistics for 2010 will not be available until December 2011.
Public Data Corporation
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made in the development of the Public Data Corporation. [65746]
Mr Maude: Since announcing the Public Data Corporation in January 2011, significant progress has been made. My officials are working closely with their counterparts in the Shareholder Executive in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and HM Treasury.
As announced in the Budget earlier this year, we are considering the merits of machinery of government changes to facilitate the development of a Public Data Corporation (PDC) through a sponsoring Department. We are putting in place a Transition Board (previously referred to as the Shadow Board) which will be jointly chaired by myself and the Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs, the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey). This Transition Board will oversee the establishment of the PDC Board.
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects to announce (a) the agencies and data to be included in the Public Data Corporation, (b) how the data will be made available, (c) what the licensing terms will be for the data and (d) who will oversee and regulate the corporation. [65747]
Mr Maude: In line with the Government's statement at Budget we will be publishing a statement on the Public Data Corporation (PDC) data policy in the autumn which will cover these points.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Export Licences: Saudi Arabia
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) standard individual export licences, (b) standard individual trans-shipment licences, (c) open individual export licences, (d) open individual trade control licences, (e) standard individual trade control licences and (f) Council Regulation 1236/2005 licences have been withdrawn from Saudi Arabia since March 2011. [65169]
Mr Prisk: Six standard individual export licences have been voluntarily surrendered by the exporter. No licences have been revoked by the Government.
Business: York
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses there were in (a) York Central constituency and (b) City of York local authority area in (i) May 1997, (ii) May 2010 and (iii) the latest date for which figures are available. [65676]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many businesses there were in (a) York Central constituency and (b) City of York local authority area in (i) May 1997, (ii) May 2010 and (iii) the latest date for which figures are available. [65676]
Annual statistics on the number of enterprises are available from the ONS release; UK Business: Activity, Size and Location at www.statistics.gov.uk. These estimates relate to the count of live businesses in March of each year, not May. The earliest period for which reliable estimates are available is 2000. As the constituency of York Central only came into effect on 6 May 2010 the former constituency of City of York has been used for 2000.
The table below provides estimates for the number of enterprises for (a) City of York constituency for 2000 and York Central constituency for 2010 and, (b) York Unitary Authority for both 2000 and 2010.
12 July 2011 : Column 269W
| Count enterprises for York Unitary Authority, City of York (2000) and York Central (2010) Constituency | |
| Number | |
|
|
|
Consumers: Contracts
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to ensure the rights of customers with respect to statutory provisions for cooling-off periods. [64727]
Mr Davey: The Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 and the Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer's Home or Place of Work etc. Regulations 2008 provide consumers with a cooling-off period of seven days for consumers purchasing most goods and services at a distance or away from business premises. It is proposed that the new EU consumer rights directive will extend these cooling-off periods to 14 days. This will be implemented into UK law.
The Financial Services (Distance Marketing) Regulations 2004, the Consumer Credit (EU Directive) Regulations 2010, the Timeshare, Holiday Products, Resale and Exchange Contracts Regulations 2010 and the Trading Schemes Regulations 1997 all provide consumers with a cooling-off period of 14 days.
The Supply of Extended Warranties on Domestic Electrical Goods Order 2005 provides consumers who purchase such warranties with a 45 day cooling-off period. The OFT is currently reviewing the effectiveness of this legislation.
Flexible Working
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to improve flexible working rights for parents with children with special educational needs. [65582]
Mr Davey: On the 16 May 2011, I launched the Modern Workplaces Consultation, which includes proposals on how we are going to meet the commitment we made when entering Government; to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees.
Parents of children under 17, parents of disabled children under 18, and carers of certain adults already have the right to request flexible working, and many use it to help manage their work and caring responsibilities effectively, including when their child has special educational needs.
This extension will open up flexible working to all employees and will help embed the culture of flexible working within businesses, enabling many more employees to benefit from it.
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Green Investment Bank
Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) when he plans to announce the location of the headquarters of the Green Investment Bank; [64798]
(2) what assessment he has made of (a) the numbers of new staff and (b) staff costs required by the Green Investment Bank after (i) one year and (ii) five years. [64848]
Mr Prisk: The Green Investment Bank's location will be decided after state aid approval has been given and an announcement will follow that decision.
It is not envisaged that the Green Investment Bank will employ a large number of staff. During this Parliament, it is expected to grow to a staff level of between 50 and 100 employees. It is too early to make assessments about staff costs.
Higher Education: Finance
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage philanthropy to universities following the recommendations of the Browne Review. [64260]
Mr Willetts: The Higher Education White Paper has set out the Government's proposals to encourage philanthropic giving to universities. This includes fully funding the final year of the £200 million matched funding scheme for voluntary giving, which is expected to leverage an additional £400 million in donations to English higher education institutions by the end of the scheme. We will also explore ways Government can support existing mechanisms for voluntary giving, including among graduates.
Additionally, the 2011 Budget contains a number of measures which we expect to benefit philanthropic giving to universities, including a 10% cut in inheritance tax for estates which leave at least 10% to charities. Furthermore, the Cabinet Office Giving White Paper announced a profile-raising campaign for payroll giving and a philanthropy committee to consider honours for notable philanthropists.
Higher Education: Private Sector
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2011, Official Report, column 333W, on higher education: private sector, whether and on what dates the Minister of State for Universities and Science had unofficial meetings with representatives of the other bodies referred to in the question. [64478]
Mr Willetts: I have not held any meetings with representatives of Bridgepoint, Lincoln, Corinthian, Kaiser, Rasmussen, Career Education Corporation and Westwood.
A quarterly-updated list of all BIS ministerial meetings with external organisations is also available at:
http://data.gov.uk/dataset/disclosure-ministerial-hospitality-received-department-for-business
12 July 2011 : Column 271W
Home Department
Access to Work Programme
Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many disabled people are being supported in employment in her Department under its access to work programme. [65043]
Damian Green: The Home Office is currently supporting 14 people with disabilities for whom it has received access to work recommendations from the Jobcentre Plus Access to Work Operational Support Unit.
In addition the Home Office, through its reasonable adjustments policy provides support to all staff with a disability who need reasonable, workable and effective adjustments.
Animal Experiments
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the Government announced its proposals to prohibit the testing on animals of household products and their ingredients; by what date she expects the prohibition to be implemented; and what the reason is for the time taken to implement it. [65081]
Lynne Featherstone: The announcement on the coalition's commitment to end the testing of household products on animals has yet to be made although we will be making a statement shortly.
Animal Experiments: EU Law
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role responses to the consultation on the options for transposing European Directive 2010/63/EU will play in decisions on the future role and operation of the Animals Scientific Procedures Inspectorate. [65368]
Lynne Featherstone: The public consultation on European Directive 2010/63/EU closes on the 5 September 2011. Decisions on the options for transposition will take careful account of the responses received.
Animal Scientific Procedures Inspectorate: Manpower
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are in post within the Animals Scientific Procedures Inspectorate; and what the equivalent number was in 2007. [65278]
Lynne Featherstone: There are currently 25 staff in post within the Animals Scientific Procedures Inspectorate. As at 31 December 2007 there were 28 staff in post.
Anti-slavery Day
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government has to mark Anti-slavery Day on 18 October 2011. [64402]
Damian Green [holding answer 7 July 2011]:The Government will announce their plans in due course.
12 July 2011 : Column 272W
Arrests
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people were (a) arrested for and (b) charged with an offence under section (i) 4, (ii) 16, (iii) 18, (iv) 20 to 24 and (v) 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 in (A) 2006-07, (B) 2007-08 (C) 2008-09 and (D) 2009-10; [64162]
(2) how many people were arrested on suspicion of murder between 2006-07 and 2009-10; and how many of them were charged with that offence; [64163]
(3) how many people were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter between 2006-07 and 2009-10; and how many of them were charged with that offence; [64164]
(4) how many people were arrested for false imprisonment between 2006-07 and 2009-10; and how many of them were charged with that offence; [64165]
(5) how many people were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping between 2006-07 and 2009-10; and how many of them were charged with that offence. [64166]
Mrs May [holding answer 6 July 2011]:The information requested on arrests and subsequent charges is not available.
Information on arrests reported to the Home Office is not broken down below main offence group level. There is no link on record between these data and any subsequent outcome.
Asylum
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Border Agency will complete its review of the screening process for detecting vulnerable persons. [64867]
Damian Green: The Asylum Screening Reform Programme is looking at improvements that can be made within the Asylum Screening Unit to the physical environment, the screening process and to staff skills. The aims of the programme are to make the asylum system both more efficient and more responsive to the needs of applicants. Improvements to the screening arrangements are already under way; and will continue throughout this year.
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the UK Border Agency will pause in its removal of asylum seekers until the new screening process can determine whether those currently in Detention Fast Track have been victims of physical, psychological, or sexual abuse. [64868]
Damian Green: No. The Asylum Screening Reform Programme is looking at improvements that can be made within the Asylum Screening Unit to the physical environment, the screening process and to staff skills. The aims of the programme are to make the asylum system both more efficient and more responsive to the needs of applicants.
If any asylum applicant within the Detained Fast Track procedure claims to have been the victim of abuse, this claim is considered by the case owner who has responsibility for authorising, maintaining and reviewing their detention.
12 July 2011 : Column 273W
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Border Office plans to complete its clearance of unresolved asylum cases following the completion of the Legacy Case programme. [64869]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency has completed its review of all outstanding legacy cases. There remain a number of cases that have been reviewed but remain to be concluded. These cases have been transferred to the Case Assurance Audit Unit (CAAU). It will also monitor the controlled archive and take forward any cases that should come to light.
Asylum: EU Countries
Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2011, Official Report, column 893W, on asylum: EU countries, from which countries she expects foreign nationals to attempt to enter the EU illegally via the (a) Mediterranean coast and (b) land border with Turkey in 2011-12. [64325]
Damian Green: All north African countries, including Egypt, with a Mediterranean coast have been used as staging posts for illegal travel to the EU. Libya and Tunisia in particular are currently the main source countries of foreign nationals attempting to reach the EU. The majority of these foreign nationals target southern Italy, predominantly the island of Lampedusa, and Malta. Increases in attempts by illegal migrants to enter the EU via the sea have been seen again this year following the Arab Spring uprisings.
Migrants departing from Libya are mostly from the countries within the horn of Africa, the sub-Saharan region, central Africa and lower numbers from Asia. Those departing from Tunisia are almost exclusively Tunisians.
Migratory flows from Tunisia have decreased recently as a consequence of the bilateral agreement reached between Italy and Tunisia, on 5 April 2011, which has resulted in regular repatriations of Tunisian nationals and the strengthening of police surveillance along the Tunisian coast.
Following a decrease in illegal border crossings at Turkey's land border with Greece during the first quarter of 2011, operational data from the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Border of the Member States of the European Union (Frontex) indicate that this land border section is again facing an increase in detection numbers, mostly due to Afghan and Pakistani nationals trying to unlawfully cross the external borders.
Departmental Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [64427]
12 July 2011 : Column 274W
Damian Green: The Home Office does not keep records of meeting requests that have been declined by either a Minister directly or by the Department on their behalf.
Deportation
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which (a) countries and (b) regions (i) foreign prisoners and (ii) illegal immigrants are not returned; and for what reason in each case. [63851]
Damian Green: There is no country to which the UK would not return those with no right to stay in the UK. However situations may arise in relation to any country, where practical barriers temporarily prevent actual removals from taking place. Each asylum and human rights claim is considered on its individual merits in accordance with our international obligations and taking full account of conditions in the country concerned as they impact on the individual. Those found to be in need of international protection are provided with it. Failed asylum seekers, illegal immigrants and foreign national prisoners of all nationalities who have been found by the Home Office and the appeals process not to be in need of international protection and have no legal basis of stay in the UK, are expected to return to their country of origin and may have their removal enforced if they do not leave voluntarily.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria she uses to determine whether a foreign national should be excluded or deported from the UK on the grounds that his or her presence is not conducive to the public good. [64705]
Damian Green: Foreign nationals who are assessed to be non-conducive to the public good are routinely, but not exclusively, excluded or deported on the grounds of national security, criminality, unacceptable behaviour, war crimes or international relations.
Domestic Violence
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested for a suspected offence under section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 between 2006-07 and 2009-10; and how many such people were charged with that offence. [64340]
Mrs May [holding answer 7 July 2011]:The information requested on arrests and subsequent charges is not available.
Information on arrests reported to the Home Office is not broken down below main offence group level. There is no link on record between these data and any subsequent outcome.
Entry Clearances: Foreign Workers
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications were made for a visa by non-EEA workers under tier 2 of the points based system in each region in each year since 2008. [65100]
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Damian Green [holding answer 11 July 2011]: The number of applications made for a visa by non-EEA workers under tier 2 of the points based system (PBS) by region and in each year since 2008 is shown in the following table. It should also be noted that tier 2 of the PBS was introduced on 27 November 2008.
| Region | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Notes: 1. The data are based on management information. They are provisional and subject to change. 2. The figures include dependents. | |||
Entry Clearances: India
Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the British high commission in New Delhi will issue visit visas for Mr Kukdip Singh (Reference JLAC-260511-000127-1) Mrs Kamlesh Kummari (Reference JLAC-260511-000127-2) Miss Kanwarpreet Kaw (Reference JLAC 260511-000127-3) Mr Rajandeep Singh (Reference JLAC-260511-000127-4) for which applications were made on 26 May 2011 to attend a wedding of a constituent of the Member for Ilford South to be held on 10 July 2011. [65271]
Damian Green [holding answer 11 July 2011]:In order to safeguard an individual's personal information and comply with the Data Protection Act 1998, the UK Border Agency is unable to comment on individual cases. The UK Border Agency aims to process each visa application within the agreed customer service standards but it cannot guarantee that all visa applications will be completed within this time. The unique circumstances of each individual case may result in longer decision times. For non-settlement visas the UK Border Agency aims to complete 90% of applications within three weeks, 98% within six weeks and 100% within 12 weeks.
Entry Clearances: Overseas Students
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the level of compliance with rules relating to student visas by (a) independent schools, (b) universities and (c) sixth form colleges in each of the last three years. [R] [62964]
Damian Green: The Home Office published a report on 7 December 2010 containing an analysis of the compliance rates for samples of 12,656 university students and 5,648 students in other education sectors, drawn from Confirmations of Acceptance of Study issued between April 2009 and August 2010. This report is available from the Home Office website, at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/occ90/?view=Standard&publD=864594
12 July 2011 : Column 276W
The report showed levels of potential non-compliance defined as those students whose leave to remain had expired and for whom we could not find any record of them having left the country.
The university sample was drawn from institutions who were applying for highly trusted sponsor status and showed a non-compliance rate of 2%.
For the other education sectors, the sample was drawn from institutions that had been subject to a roll-call investigation and non-compliance rates were:
| Percentage | |
Data from previous years are not available. Further analysis of the data used to produce the published report could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.
Explosives: Arrests
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were (a) arrested for and (b) charged with an offence under section 2 or 3 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883 between 2006-07 and 2009-10. [64258]
Mrs May [holding answer 7 July 2011]:Information on arrests held by the Home Office is not broken down below main offence group level.
However, a separate collection from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) provides information on suspects charged as a result of terrorist related arrests, under Section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883. These are published in table 1.3b of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin, ‘Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation: arrests, outcomes and stops and searches’.
Available data on charges from 2006-07 to 2009-10 under Section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883 are provided in the table.
Information is not separately available on charges for Section 2 of the offence.
Arrests data collected for the Terrorism bulletin are not recorded in a way that shows the suspected offences at the time of the arrest, therefore data on arrests are not available.
| Number of terrorism related suspects charged under Section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act1883. Great Britain 2006-07 to 2009-10 (1) | |
| Financial year | Number of persons charged |
| (1) Principal offence basis | |
Human Trafficking
Gordon Birtwistle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what work her Department is undertaking with police forces to implement a victim-centred approach to trafficking. [65222]
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Damian Green: We are raising awareness and providing training to the police to help them deal with victims of trafficking.
Each of the UK's 55 police forces has a senior investigator trained in dealing with incidents of human trafficking. An awareness-raising DVD has also been provided to all police forces and Stop the Traffik cards have been issued to 10,000 front line neighbourhood police officers.
The United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) plays a key role in embedding human trafficking into core policing through the delivery of training and tactical advice available to all police officers, including access to a 24/7 helpline.
On 1 June 2011 the Metropolitan Police Service launched a free victim support line to encourage men and women who have been trafficked into the UK to report the crime to the police.
Gordon Birtwistle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with her European counterparts on co-operation in (a) tackling the causes of human trafficking and (b) preventing human trafficking within the EU. [65246]
Damian Green: The Government work closely with their European partners on human trafficking matters through the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) liaison officer network, and the European liaison officers based in the UK and at Europol.
The United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) is also engaged in up-stream prevention work with EU partners and chairs the EU-wide Human Trafficking Strategy Group.
In June 2011 the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), met her French counterpart, Claude Gueant, to discuss their continued commitment to tackling organised immigration crime, including human trafficking. In June 2011 I addressed the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe conference on trafficking for labour exploitation.
Gordon Birtwistle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to publish her policy paper on trafficking. [65274]
Damian Green: The Government intend to publish their strategy on human trafficking prior to the summer recess.
Identity and Passport Service: Correspondence
Mr Darling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the target time is for responding to letters from hon. Members to the Identity and Passport Service; and if she will make a statement. [65199]
Damian Green [holding answer 11 July 2011]: The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) has a service level agreement to respond to letters from Members of Parliament within 10 working days.
For 2010, IPS received 1,014 letters from Members of Parliament and responded to 87% of them within the 10-day target.
12 July 2011 : Column 278W
Mr Darling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the chief executive of the Identity and Passport Service plans to reply to the letters from the right hon. Member for Edinburgh South West of (a) 25 February, (b) 20 April, (c) 20 May and (d) 17 June 2011. [65200]
Damian Green [holding answer 11 July 2011]: The chief executive of the Identity and Passport Service wrote to the right hon. Member on 7 July 2011.
Immigration: Crime
Mr Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2011, Official Report, columns 948-9W, on immigration: crime, how many emails she estimates were not delivered because of server errors in each such week. [64699]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency has not produced any estimates of the number of emails to the public inquiries mailbox that it did not receive. In the period 14 June 2010 to 12 June 2011 the mailbox was unable to accept emails on four occasions. The UK Border Agency website provides a telephone number for Crimestoppers alongside the email address for its public inquiries mailbox as an alternative method for submitting allegations of immigration crime.
Immigration: EU Action
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to review legislation which enables the European Court of Human Rights to intervene in immigration cases. [65394]
Damian Green: While everyone has a right to respect for their private and family life under article 8 of the European convention on human rights, it is not an absolute right, and it is legitimate to interfere with that right where it is in the public interest to do so. This includes in particular where it is necessary to protect the public and to maintain our immigration controls. The Government will be consulting in due course on family migration, and will use that consultation to discuss the operation of article 8 and immigration control. In light of the consultation, we will bring forward proposals which strike a proper balance between the individual's right to respect for family life and the broader public interest, and we will lay immigration rules before Parliament which reflect this.
In addition, the Government have established a Commission to investigate the creation of a UK Bill of Rights. The Commission will look at the way rights are protected in the UK and we expect it to explore a wide range of different views as it carries out its work.
Immigration: Proof of Identity
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to allow a national ID card of an EU member state as a proof of identity for the Life in the UK test. [65194]
12 July 2011 : Column 279W
Damian Green [holding answer 11 July 2011]: Foreign identity cards are not currently accepted as evidence of identity for taking the Life in the UK test. This is largely because of the large number and variety of foreign documents that University for Industry (Ufi) staff would need to be familiar with in order to ensure effective verification. The vast majority of those taking the Life in the UK test are able to provide another valid form of identity.
The UK Border Agency will consider whether the list of acceptable evidence could be reviewed. However, any proposed change in practice would need to be balanced against the resource implications of retraining and updating Ufi centre staff.
National Crime Agency: Finance
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the aggregate total is of the comprehensive spending review settlement for the precursors of the National Crime Agency and the costs of the fully funded functions it is agreed should migrate into that agency for its first year of operation. [65360]
Mrs May [holding answer 11 July 2011]:I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 July 2011, Official Report, column 1135W.
Non-domestic Rates
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will estimate the revenue raised in Wales by the Security Industry Authority since 20 March 2006; and what proportion of such revenue that has been spent on Wales. [65576]
Lynne Featherstone: The information is not available. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) does not raise revenue in Wales or anywhere else in the UK.
The SIA issues licences to individuals who engage in any licensable conduct so defined under schedule 2 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Individuals who are licensed by the SIA pay a fee for their personal licence. The SIA licence application fee pays for all the costs of the SIA across the UK.
Police: Accountability
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) organisations and (b) local authorities submitted responses in support of the proposals in her Department's consultation on police and crime commissioners. [65201]
Mrs May [holding answer 11 July 2011]:The “Policing in the 21st century: reconnecting police and the people summary of consultation responses and next steps” document published in 2010 listed all respondents. A copy is in the Library of the House.
Police: Procurement
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which body will be responsible for implementing her proposals to bring together the different police procurement strategies across the country and make them more effective. [63708]
12 July 2011 : Column 280W
Nick Herbert: The Government are determined to take advantage of the economies of scale that 43 forces can enjoy if they work together on procurement. The High Level Working Group on Police Value for Money has agreed a strategy for police value for money. Key elements of that strategy are to drive greater standardisation and convergence among forces in the systems and services they use and a national approach to procurement across the police service.
The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) at present carries out some procurement functions on behalf of the police service. The non-ICT procurement functions of the NPIA will be transferred to the Home Office Commercial Directorate. On 4 July 2011, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), announced that the Government will set up a new police-led ICT company. The company will deliver greater value for money to the police service through exploitation of economies of scale, stronger ICT procurement and contract negotiation, and effective contract management. The company will also drive greater standardisation and convergence in police ICT by taking responsibility for managing information systems strategy.
Raed Salah
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to announce the outcome of her investigation into the entry of Raed Salah into the UK. [64259]
Damian Green [holding answer 7 July 2011]: Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary has been asked to investigate the circumstances of Raed Salah's entry to the United Kingdom on 25 June. On receipt of that report I will set out my plans to announce the outcome.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps officials in her Department took on being notified of the presence of Raed Salah in the UK. [64341]
Damian Green [holding answer 7 July 2011]: The Government do not routinely comment on individual exclusion cases but in this instance the Secretary of State for the Home Department has considered it is important to do so and he had put the details of his case into the public domain. Raed Salah was excluded from the UK on 23 June as a result of numerous statements he had made, details of which were obtained from a variety of sources across the Government. As an Israeli national Mr Salah does not require a visa and he managed to enter the UK. He was on the Home Office watch list and should have been refused entry as a result of the Secretary of State's exclusion decision. Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary is investigating how this happened now. Mr Salah has been detained and the UK Border Agency is making arrangements to remove him.
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what grounds her Department issued an exclusion order against Sheikh Raed Salah; [65761]
(2) when her Department notified the UK Border Agency of the exclusion order served on Sheikh Raed Salah; [65762]
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(3) when and where her Department served the exclusion order on Sheikh Raed Salah; [65763]
(4) when her Department was informed of Sheikh Raed Salah's presence in the UK; [65764]
(5) what contact her Department had with officials at the UK Border Agency regarding Sheikh Raed Salah (a) before and (b) after his arrest. [65806]
Damian Green: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 6 July 2011, Official Report, column 1221W.
Rape
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many rapes were reported in each police area in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available; and how many were reported in the 12 month period immediately previous. [64416]
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Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 11 July 2011]:Data for the number of rapes recorded by the police in each police force area in England and Wales are provided in Table A. The latest period for which figures are available is the year ending December 2010. Data for the 12 months to March 2011 will be published on 14 July 2011 in “Crime in England and Wales 2010/11”.
The number of rape offences shown in the table need to be interpreted with caution. In the 24 month period for which data are provided, it is known that police forces took additional steps to improve their recording of sexual offences, including rape. This may be reflected in the increases in rape offences seen in the data. Extra guidance for the recording of sexual offences was formally incorporated into the Home Office Counting Rules from 1 April 2010. However, some forces were following the new guidance prior to this date, reflecting good practice that the Association of Chief Police Officers had been promoting within forces before this formal implementation.
| Table A: Rape offences recorded by the police, by police force area, in England and Wales (1, 2) | ||||||
| 12 month s to December each year | ||||||
| Rape of a female | Rape of a male | Total rape | ||||
| Force name | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | 2010 |
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12 July 2011 : Column 284W
| (1) Includes British Transport police. (2) The number of rape offences shown in the table need to be interpreted with caution. In the 24 month period for which data are provided, it is known that police forces took additional steps to improve their recording of sexual offences, including rape. This may be reflected in the increases in rape offences seen in the data. Extra guidance for the recording of sexual offences was formally incorporated into the Home Office Counting Rules from 1 April 2010. However, some forces were following the new guidance prior to this date, reflecting good practice that the Association of Chief Police Officers had been promoting within forces before this formal implementation. | ||||||
Sexual Offences
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were (a) arrested for and (b) charged with an offence under sections 57 to 59 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 between 2006-07 and 2009-10. [64257]
Mrs May [holding answer 7 July 2011]:The information requested on arrests and subsequent charges is not available.
Information on arrests reported to the Home Office is not broken down below main offence group level. There is no link on record between these data and any subsequent outcome.
Treasury
Child Care Tax Credit
Ms Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have (a) claimed the childcare element of working tax credit and (b) claimed more than £120 per week under the childcare element of working tax credit in each of the last three years. [64639]
Mr Gauke: The following table shows the total number of people claiming the child care element of working tax credit, and the number reporting child care costs in excess of £120 per week, in April of 2009, 2010 and 2011.
|
|
Total number of families claiming child care element | Number of families reporting child care costs greater than £120 per week |
This information is also available in the HMRC snapshot publication “Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics” for each year. These can be found at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-quarterly-stats.htm
Credit: Interest Rates
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps his Department is taking to tackle unscrupulous money lending; and if he will make a statement; [65505]
(3) if he will assess the effects of credit availability on the borrowing of low-income households; and if he will make a statement; [65504]
(3) what steps he is taking to protect consumers from excessive high cost lending; and if he will make a statement. [65503]
Mr Hoban: The Government are committed to reforming the UK's financial services regulation, curbing unsustainable lending and strengthening consumer protections, particularly for the most vulnerable and believes that consumers should have access to an appropriate range of financial services and products.
In October 2010 we announced the Consumer Credit and Personal Insolvency Review and launched a Call for Evidence. It took an end-to-end view of consumer credit and personal insolvency; from the decision to borrow through to how we support people in difficulty and help them to resolve their debts.
The Government will respond to the Call for Evidence shortly.
Departmental Dismissal
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials in his Departments were dismissed for under-performance as a result of the procedures arising from his Departments' staff appraisal system in each of the last three years. [64679]
Justine Greening: All staff in HM Treasury have annual performance reviews.
Unsatisfactory performance is dealt with under the Managing Capability Policy.
In the period requested fewer than five civil servants were dismissed under this policy. It is the Department's policy not to release further information about staff numbers fewer than five where to do so could lead to the identification of protected personal data.
Economic Policy
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with what frequency he meets the Deputy Prime Minister to discuss (a) macroeconomic and (b) financial regulation policy. [64738]
Justine Greening: Treasury Ministers hold regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a wide range of issues. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.
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Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation
Michael Fallon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to prioritise payments of compensation for older and retired Equitable Life policy holders. [65581]
Mr Hoban: As set out in the Equitable Life Payment Scheme Design document published on 16 May, the Government have accepted the recommendation of the Independent Commission on Equitable Life payments to prioritise payments to the oldest policyholders, where it is possible and practicable to do so.
Excise Duties: Fuels
Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on a fuel duty stabiliser for Northern Ireland. [65166]
Justine Greening: Budget 2011 abolished the fuel duty escalator and replaced it with a fair fuel stabiliser. Fuel duty across the UK will increase by inflation only, when oil prices are high. If the oil price falls below a set trigger price on a sustained basis duty will increase by RPI plus 1p per litre. The Government are informally consulting before setting the level and mechanism for the trigger.
Financial Services: Education
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to promote financial literacy education for those who (a) are heavily in debt and (b) are at risk of being heavily in debt; and if he will make a statement. [65506]
Mr Hoban: The Money Advice Service has been set up by Government to promote understanding of the financial system and raise levels of financial capability across the UK. Its services offer free and impartial information and advice on money matters and are available to all online, by telephone and face-to-face. The Money Advice Service has also launched a financial health check which aims to help people proactively manage their money on a regular basis and make the most of what they have got. The Money Advice Service aims to encourage people to better manage their money and so prevent them getting into unmanageable levels of debt.
Housing
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been returned to the Exchequer in payments via the housing revenue account subsidy scheme by each local authority in England in each financial year since 1997. [64974]
Andrew Stunell: I have been asked to reply.
Housing revenue account subsidy surpluses have only been paid to the Exchequer since 2004, when the housing revenue account subsidy system was reformed to remove the rent rebate element, which is now separately accounted for in local authorities' general funds.
A table showing individual councils' housing revenue account subsidy totals for each year since 2004 has been placed in the Library of the House.
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Measures have been published in the Localism Bill to reform the housing revenue account finance regime and replace Housing Revenue Account Subsidy with a system of self-financing for local housing authorities.
Housing: Wales
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from Welsh Government Ministers on the impact of the housing revenue account in Wales. [64973]
Justine Greening: The Treasury has been in discussion with the Welsh Government on the housing revenue account subsidy system and proposals for reform.
Income Tax
Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered measures to exempt from income tax those earning below £10,000 per annum. [65141]
Mr Gauke: The June 2010 Budget announced a £1,000 increase in the income tax personal allowance for those aged under 65, taking it from £6,475 in 2010-11 to £7,475 in 2011-12.
A further £630 increase in the personal allowance was announced in Budget 2011, taking it to £8,105 in 2012-13. Together these increases will benefit 25 million individuals, and take 1.1 million low income individuals out of tax from April 2012.
This is part of the Government's long-term objective to increase the personal allowance to £10,000, with real terms steps in that direction every year.
Job Creation: Wales
Owen Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the recommendation in the report by Sheffield Hallam university, for a policy of publicly-funded job creation in Wales. [65465]
Danny Alexander: The Chancellor has made no assessment of the recommendations in the report for Wales. The majority of economic levers are devolved therefore many of the proposals are a matter for the Welsh Government.
Minimum Wage
Ms Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average time taken was to consider a complaint of payment of wages below the rate of the national minimum wage in the HM Revenue and Customs compliance team in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Ashton, (c) Belfast, (d) Birmingham, (e) Cambridge, (f) Cardiff, (g) Kilbride, (h) Exeter, (i) Maidstone, (j) Teesside, (k) Portsmouth, (l) Romford, (m) Sheffield, (n) Shipley, (o) Wigan and (p) Leicester in the latest period for which figures are available. [63752]
Mr Gauke: HMRC records the average elapsed time in working days from the date of registration of a complaint from a worker about non-payment of minimum wage to the date of closure of a case. The following table shows the average elapsed time, in working days, for complaint cases closed by the teams specified for the period April 2011 to the end of June 2011.
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| Team | Average elapsed ti me ( working days) |
Ms Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints obtained from (a) workers, (b) third parties and (c) risk profiling or targeted enforcement action on the part of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) were received by HMRC's National Minimum Wage Central Information Unit in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of those cases were referred on to HMRC compliance teams. [63753]
Mr Gauke: Since April 2011, HMRC categorises complaints as those received from workers. HMRC will investigate all complaints received and in the period April to June 2011, 406 complaints from workers were received and referred to compliance teams for investigation.
Information provided to HMRC from third parties is analysed using risk indicators and employers with the highest risk are referred for compliance action. In the period April to June 2011, 69 third party referrals were received from the Pay and Work Rights Helpline, of which 48 were taken forward for compliance action.
Risk profiling or targeted enforcement cases are generated within HMRC and consequently all cases which are generated, which meet the specific criteria being used, will be referred for compliance action. In the period from April to June 2011, 253 such cases were referred to compliance teams.
Ms Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many notice of underpayment orders were issued by HM Revenue and Customs national minimum wage compliance teams in the latest period for which figures are available. [63754]
Mr Gauke: HMRC minimum wage compliance teams issued 1,128 notices of underpayments during the period 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011.
Ms Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of complaints to his Department on payment of wages below the national minimum wage resulted in a repayment of arrears to the employee in the latest period for which figures are available. [63755]
Mr Gauke:
For the period from 1 April 2011 to 30 June 2011, 45% of complaints from workers about the non-payment of national minimum wage (NMW)
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resulted in the identification of arrears of wages as a result of non-payment of the NMW.
HMRC does not keep separate statistics on the amount of arrears paid or not paid to workers.
Ms Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many national minimum wage compliance officers were employed in HM Revenue and Customs compliance teams in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Ashton, (c) Belfast, (d) Birmingham, (e) Cambridge, (f) Cardiff, (g) Kilbride, (h) Exeter, (i) Maidstone, (j) Teesside, (k) Portsmouth, (l) Romford, (m) Sheffield, (n) Shipley, (o) Wigan and (p) Leicester in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11; and how many such staff he expects to be in each such team in (A) 2012 and (B) 2013. [63758]
Mr Gauke: The number of compliance staff requested, including a manager and support officer in each team, is in the following table:
| Team | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
HMRC is currently undertaking internal recruitment to a number of the NMW compliance teams. Current indications are that HMRC will continue to receive funding from the Department for Business that will see staffing levels maintained in 2012 and 2013.
National Insurance Contributions
Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of extending the national insurance holiday scheme to enable existing micro businesses who employ one additional member of staff to remain eligible. [62985]
Mr Gauke: A reliable estimate of the potential cost of extending the national insurance contributions (NICs) holiday to existing micro businesses who employ one additional member of staff is not available due to data limitations.
The Government have considered the case for extending the NICs holiday to all existing micro businesses but believes the best use of public funds at this time is to keep the NICs holiday as a targeted scheme for those areas in most need of employment support.
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Non-domestic Rates: Income
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether additional income from proposed changes to business rates will be retained by local authorities. [64855]
Robert Neill: I have been asked to reply.
The Deputy Prime Minister confirmed on 29 June that the Government would introduce proposals to enable local authorities to retain business rates. We will publish proposals shortly for consultation.
Public Expenditure
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what controls are in place in respect of payments by Government bodies to a recipient organisation, company, individual or other entity which is not within the jurisdiction of UK regulatory authorities and does not have up-to-date audited accounts in the relevant jurisdiction. [65745]
Danny Alexander: Payments by Government organisations, whether by grant, grant in aid or contractual, will be governed by an agreed framework document, grant letter or contract.
In addition, Accounting Officers have a personal responsibility to ensure regularity, propriety and value for money for public expenditure, including the management of opportunity and risk, and that grant recipients are eligible for, and use the funding for the purposes intended.
In particular, procurement guidance requires Government organisations to establish the propriety of candidate suppliers (i.e. excluding those convicted of fraud, theft, fraudulent trading etc.), and to assess suppliers to confirm their capacity to carry out what the purchaser requires and deliver value for money.
Revenue and Customs: Correspondence
Mr Brine: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average time taken by HM Revenue and Customs and its predecessor to (a) respond to phone calls and (b) take the actions required as a result of receiving such calls was in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) the last month of each of the last five tax years. [53171]
Mr Gauke: For part (a) the information for the whole of the Department is not held centrally. However HMRC have been able to provide the average time to respond to phone calls made to its network of centrally managed contact centres (which handle the majority of unsolicited telephone contact to the Department) for each of the last five years.
| (a) Average time taken to respond to phone calls (1) | ||
| (m:ss) | ||
|
|
Year | March |
| (1) (a) “Average speed to answer.” The time taken from when a customer selects an option from the call steering menu to when the call is connected to an adviser. | ||
Part (b) —the information is not held.
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Tax: Compliance
Mr Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what analysis by (a) age, (b) family status and (c) income group he has undertaken of customers of HM Revenue and Customs who are subject to compliance or enforcement activity. [61823]
Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have not undertaken any such analysis based on family status. However, I can confirm that they have carried out analysis of compliance enquiries by age and income group for customers who are income tax self-assessment taxpayers.
The analysis by age looked at the difference in compliance rates between all taxpayers and older people and was carried out for a NAO report looking at how HMRC deals with the tax obligations of older people.
The relevant section of the report will be deposited in the House Library. The analysis by income looked at the difference in compliance rates between taxpayers of lower and higher incomes and was carried out as part of an internal study.
VAT: Charities
Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to exempt service charities from payment of VAT on expenditure on capital build projects. [65142]
Mr Gauke: The construction of buildings intended to be used by charities either solely for non-business purposes or solely for specific residential purposes is zero-rated for VAT, which means no VAT is payable.
I am not able to extend that relief to other capital build projects run by charities.
This is because long-standing formal agreements with our European partners prevent us from extending the scope of our existing zero rates or from introducing new zero rates. So buildings intended to be used by charities for purposes other than those described above will continue to attract VAT.
VAT Rates: Consumer Spending
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of the change in the standard rate of value added tax on levels of consumer spending. [65435]
Mr Gauke: The answer to this question falls within the responsibilities of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), and I have asked the OBR to reply.
Letter from Robert Chote, dated 8 July 2011:
As Chair of the Budget Responsibility Committee of the Office for Budget Responsibility I have been asked to reply to your recent question.
The OBR has not produced an estimate of the effect of the change in the standard rate of VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent in January 2011 on levels of consumer spending.
The OBR's March forecast incorporated the estimated impact of policy measures announced at or before the June Budget, including the increase in the-standard rate of VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent that took effect from 4 January 2011.
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The OBR applied a range of fiscal multipliers to help inform its judgement on the impact of VAT on aggregate demand in the economy. These multipliers are set out in Table C8 of the interim OBR's June Budget document. The interim OBR's June 2010 Budget forecast and the OBR's November and March forecasts assumed that the increase in the standard rate of VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent would reduce the level of real GDP in 2011/12 by around 0.3 per cent.
Welsh Assembly Government: Correspondence
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish all correspondence between his Department and Welsh Government Ministers on the Housing Revenue Account and the Major Repairs Allowance. [64972]
Justine Greening: It is important that UK and Welsh Ministers are able to discuss policy development and operational matters in confidence and therefore correspondence between Ministers of the UK Government and the devolved Administrations is private.
Energy and Climate Change
Access to Work Programme
Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many disabled people are being supported in employment in his Department under its access to work programme. [65041]
Gregory Barker: In common with all Government Departments, DECC does not receive any funding to support staff from access to work.
We currently have 53 disabled people who have been assessed by access to work in order to determine the level of reasonable adjustment in terms of equipment required. In addition, DECC have a further 17 people who have had reasonable adjustments supplied on the basis of internal health and safety or occupational health assessments.
We have introduced a programme of assessments for display screen equipment and this is approximately 60% complete. We anticipate the number of staff with disabilities who DECC support to rise as this programme progresses and identifies more staff who require support.
Carbon Sequestration
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he expects the first carbon capture and storage demonstration project to begin in 2016. [64931]
Charles Hendry: Subject to the successful conclusion of negotiations with the Scottish Power consortium, we expect the first Carbon Capture and Storage demonstration project to complete construction in 2014-15, and is expected to be operational as soon as possible thereafter.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what work he has undertaken on the carbon capture and storage demonstration project regional clusters. [65446]
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Charles Hendry: The potential for CCS regional clusters was considered in a study commissioned by this Department, ‘A study to explore the potential for CCS business clusters in the UK’ (Technopolis and GHK 2010, URN I0D/511), available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/what%20we%20do/uk%20energy%20supply/energy%20mix/carbon%20capture%20and%20storage/1_20100317095408_e_@@_ccsbusinessclusters.pdf
Support will be available under the CCS Demonstration Programme for projects that share regional infrastructure, as long as those projects meet the primary objectives of the programme.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2011, Official Report, column 1064W, on carbon sequestration, whether he plans to await the National Environment Research Council award decisions before making a decision on further carbon capture and storage projects. [65455]
Charles Hendry: Decisions on the Government's CCS Demonstration Programme are made separately from NERC award decisions.
Departmental Regulation
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many regulations that impose costs on businesses his Department has (a) introduced and (b) removed since 1 September 2010; what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was; and what regulations have been excluded from the one-in one-out system because they address (i) emergencies and (ii) systemic financial risks since 1 September 2010. [65334]
Gregory Barker: The one-in, one-out regulatory management system, although announced in September, did not come into force until January 2011. Details of regulatory measures introduced or removed in the first half of 2011 can be found in the Statement of New Regulation in the Library of the House.
The following statutory instruments imposing costs and benefits on business have come into force since 1 September 2010, including measures classed as tax and EU-derived legislation:
The Warm Home Discount (Reconciliation) Regulations 2011
Costs are detailed in the impact assessment, available at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/1414/pdfs/uksiem_20111414_en.pdf
The Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Termination of Licences) Regulations 2011
Costs are detailed in the impact assessment, available at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/1483/pdfs/uksiem_20111483_en.pdf
The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Nitrous Oxide) Regulations 2011
Costs are detailed in the impact assessment, available at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/1506/pdfs/uksiem_20111506_en.pdf
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The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Fees) and National Emissions Inventory Regulations 2011
Costs are detailed in the impact assessment, available at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/727/pdfs/uksiem_20110727_en.pdf
The Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste Handling (Finance and Fees) Regulations 2011
Costs are detailed in the impact assessment, available at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/134/pdfs/uksiem_20110134_en.pdf
The Warm Home Discount Regulations 2011
Costs are detailed in the impact assessment, available at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/1033/pdfs/uksiem_20111033_en.pdf
The Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order 2011
Costs are detailed in the impact assessment, available at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/984/pdfs/uksiem_20110984_en.pdf
The Aviation Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2011
Costs are detailed in the impact assessment, available at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/765/pdfs/uksiem_20110765_en.pdf
The Gas (Exemptions) Order 2011
Costs are detailed in the impact assessment, available at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/232/pdfs/uksiem_20110232_en.pdf
The Electricity (Guarantees of Origin of Electricity Produced from Renewable Energy Sources) (Amendment) Regulations 2010
Costs are detailed in the impact assessment, available at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2715/pdfs/uksiem_20102715_en.pdf
The Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste Handling (Designated Technical Matters) Order 2010
Costs are detailed in the impact assessment, available at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2850/pdfs/uksiem_20102850_en.pdf
The Storage of Carbon Dioxide (Licensing etc.) Regulations 2010
Costs are detailed in the impact assessment, available at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2221/pdfs/uksiem_20102221_en.pdf
No DECC regulations have been removed since 1 September 2010. However, DECC remains committed to simplifying the statute book and reducing the burden of regulation on business where possible. Internal reviews of our regulatory stock and engagement with our stakeholders have identified a number of potential repeals and simplifications to date, with the exact process for repealing these currently being explored. We will continue our efforts to identify opportunities to eliminate any unnecessary burden on businesses this year through full engagement with the ‘Red Tape Challenge’.
No regulations have so far been excluded from the one-in one-out system because they address emergencies and systemic financial risks.