Young Offenders: Remand in Custody
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what offence each person under the age of 18 held on remand was accused on the latest date for which figures are available. [66098]
Mr Blunt: Information held by the Youth Justice Board records the primary offence group for young people on custodial remand, on their Secure Accommodation Clearing House System (SACHS).
The following table shows the 2009-10 average custody population of young people under 18-years-old, and held on remand by the primary offence group they were charged with, including those who breached the conditions of their bail.
| Offence group (1) | 2009-10 average |
| n/a = not available(2) (1) As defined by Justice Statistics Analytical Services within the Ministry of Justice. (2) Some offence descriptions used by the Youth Justice Board SACHS system do not include sufficient detail to permit them to be assigned to a standard offence group used by the Ministry of Justice. The total in this table includes 45 juveniles where this is the case. | |
Wales
Welfare State: Reform
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment she has made of the conclusions and recommendations of the report by Sheffield Hallam university on the effects on Wales of the Government's proposed welfare reforms. [65470]
Mr David Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for Employment, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), today.
Home Department
Alcoholic Drinks: Crime
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been arrested for alcohol-related violence in (a) York, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) England in each year since 2005. [65932]
James Brokenshire: The requested data on arrests are not collected centrally. Data on arrests are collected by offence category, such as “violence against the person” and “drug offences”, and are not available at more specific levels such as “alcohol-related violence”. Data on the offence categories described above are published annually in chapter 1 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin “Police Powers and Procedures”. Current and previous editions of this are available in the Library of the House.
Asylum: Information and Communications Technology
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to the public purse was, at current prices, of the Siemens computer system for processing asylum applications. [65629]
Damian Green: The Home Department does not have a contract with Siemens for a computer system to process asylum applications. Accordingly, there has been no cost to the public purse.
Departmental Contracts
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total monetary value is of contracts her Department holds with (a) Co sponsor, (b) Steria and (c) Blue Light Solutions. [65941]
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Damian Green: The Home Department and its Executive Agencies has no recorded contracts with (a) Co Sponsor or (c) Blue Light Solutions. The total monetary value of contracts held with (b) Steria is £56 million.
Departmental Dismissal
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials in her Department were dismissed for under-performance as a result of the procedures arising from her Department's staff appraisal system in each of the last three years. [64684]
Damian Green: The number of staff dismissed for under-performance (inefficiency) is shown in table 1. This covers dismissals arising from both poor performance and poor attendance. The numbers relate to the Home Office, UK Border Agency, Identity and Passport Service and Criminal Records Bureau in each of the last three financial years.
| Table 1: Number of staff dismissed for inefficiency | |
|
|
Total number dismissed for inefficiency (poor attendance and poor performance) |
| (1) IPS are unable to provide data for 2008-09 due to changes in HR recording systems and the unavailability of records pre 2009. | |
EU Justice and Home Affairs
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what police and criminal justice instruments adopted under the pre-Lisbon treaty third pillar arrangements would be liable to transfer to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in 2014 should the UK opt to accept the transfer at the end of the transitional period granted under Article 10 Of Protocol 36 to the consolidated version of the treaty on European Union. [65845]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 13 July 2011]: There are between 80 and 90 Acts currently in force that were adopted before 1 December 2009 under the Police and Criminal Judicial Co-operation chapter (Title VI) of the treaty on the European Union. Article 10(4) of the Protocol on Transitional Provisions (Protocol 36) to the treaty on the functioning of the European Union applies to these Acts. This list is subject to change, as Acts that are repealed and replaced or amended by new instruments cease to fall within the scope of Protocol 36. In accordance with the Minister for Europe's written ministerial statement on 20 January 2011, Official Report, columns 51-52WS, Parliament will be kept informed of developments.
Officials are currently liaising with the European institutions to establish a definitive list and the Government have committed to providing this list to Parliament as soon as possible.
Forensic Science Service: Closure
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the potential effects of the closure of the Forensic Science Service on policing and justice. [65713]
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James Brokenshire: We are working closely with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), as well as the Forensic Science Service (FSS) board and other partners across the Criminal Justice System (CJS) to put in place plans to maintain a sustainable operational and research capability within the forensics market both during and after the transition. We are committed to minimising the impact on the CJS and the continued provision of effective forensics is a priority for the Home Office.
ACPO have been clear that the forensics market can cope with the managed wind-down of the FSS. Feedback from the police and suppliers suggests that a managed wind-down will allow for an orderly transfer of capacity that minimises the cost to the taxpayer and enables us to manage the risks to the CJS.
Illegal Immigrants
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have overstayed their visa in each of the last six months for which data are available; and of those, how many (a) have been identified and deported and (b) remain in the UK. [65958]
Damian Green: It is not possible to accurately quantify the number of overstayers in the UK as some deliberately evade immigration control in order to remain in the country illegally.
The e-Borders system enables checks to be made on individuals arriving or exiting the country at a majority of the points of entry to the UK, but it is not yet fully rolled out. e-Borders is currently tracking around 55% of inbound and 60% of outbound passenger movements to and from the UK. This equates to approximately 126 million passengers a year on over 2,800 routes, and includes over 90% of non-EU aviation passengers. The Government are committed to increasing the number of UK ports undertaking exit checks to ensure that a more complete passenger travel history is recorded.
This will enable provision of the information requested to be developed as e-Borders is progressively rolled out.
We are however able to provide the number of identified overstayers and of those how many have been subsequently removed, between January 2011 and June 2011.
| Month | Identified | Removed |
| Note: All figures quoted are internal management information only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols. | ||
John Hagee
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment she has made of whether the admission to the UK of Pastor John Hagee is conducive to the public good; and if she will make a statement; [64735]
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(2) what discussions she has had with (a) representatives of foreign governments and (b) representatives of groups and organisations in the UK about the forthcoming visit of Pastor John Hagee to the UK. [64736]
Damian Green: It is Home Office policy not to comment routinely on individual cases.
Knives: Crime
Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences involving the use of a knife were recorded in Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency in each of the last three years. [65838]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office holds data on knife and sharp instrument offences at police force area level only. Data are therefore provided for the Lancashire police force area.
In 2007-08, Lancashire police recorded 374 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument for a select group of offences. These offences are homicide, attempted murder, grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, GBH without intent and robbery.
In 2008-09 the offence coverage was expanded to also include actual bodily harm (ABH), threats to kill, sexual assault and rape offences. Therefore figures for 2008-09 and 2009-10 are not comparable with those offences recorded in 2007-08.
In 2008-09, Lancashire police recorded 849 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument. The corresponding figure for 2009-10 was 632 offences.
2010-11 data will be published on 14 July 2011.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister for Immigration plans to answer the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 31 May 2011 with regard to Mrs H. Farhat. [65671]
Damian Green: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 12 July 2011.
Raed Salah
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions she has had with (a) representatives of foreign governments and (b) groups or organisations in the UK on the (i) admittance to and (ii) presence in the UK of Raed Salah; [65000]
(2) what allegations against Raed Salah she (a) considered and (b) investigated in determining her policy on her exclusion and deportation from the UK; and which of these allegations she considered to be well-founded; [65086]
(3) for what reasons she made her determination that Raed Salah should be (a) excluded and (b) deported from the UK on the grounds that his presence was not conducive to the public good. [65001]
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Damian Green: The Government do not routinely comment on individual exclusion cases but in this instance the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has considered it important to do so. Mr Salah has himself put 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. Exclusion and deportation decisions are confidential to the individual concerned, and operationally sensitive, and it is not our practice to consult widely in making the decision or to inform others in a way which may breach that confidentiality. Both decisions were based on an assessment of whether Mr Salah had expressed views which fell within the scope of the Government's published unacceptable behaviours policy.
The Secretary of State concluded that Mr Salah had made a number of statements that were considered to be unacceptable behaviour.
Young Offenders
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were committed by juvenile offenders in York in each year since 2005. [65931]
James Brokenshire: The information requested is not collected centrally. It is not possible to identify the age of alleged offenders from the recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office.
Work and Pensions
Ministerial Meetings
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department attended which were also attended by (A) representatives, (B) journalists and (C) other employees of (1) News International and its subsidiary organisations including newspapers, (2) News Corporation and its subsidiary organisations and (3) BSkyB since 12 May 2010; [66054]
(2) what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department attended which were also attended by Mr Andrew Coulson (A) between 12 May 2010 and 21 January 2011 and (B) since 21 January 2011. [66057]
Chris Grayling: As has been the practice of previous administrations, information relating to internal meetings, discussions and advice is not normally disclosed.
I refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's statement to the House of 13 July 2011, Official Report, columns 311-14.
Community Care Grants
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with (a) Ministers in the Scottish Executive and (b) charities and non-governmental organisations on the replacement of community care grants and crisis loans with local welfare assistance. [66159]
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Steve Webb: Ministers have had a number of meetings with Ministers in the Scottish Executive to discuss welfare reform including social fund reform. Since the formation of the current Scottish Government no such meetings have taken place. However my noble Friend the Lord Freud spoke with Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy First Minister of Scotland, on 16 June 2011, and it is expected that this call will be followed by further discussions.
I held a roundtable event with a number of non-government organisations in March 2011, and departmental officials are continuing to meet with these organisations.
Departmental officials are also working closely with their Scottish counterparts on their reform plans.
Habitual Residence
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2011, Official Report, columns 192-3W, on habitual residence, whether a person entitled to a benefit must be present in the UK to receive it; what benefits are eligible to be paid to families and dependants not in the UK or persons who are working in the UK; and what the value is of such benefits. [64028]
Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
The main purpose of child benefit and the child tax credit is to support families living in the United Kingdom. Consequently, the general rules for both benefits do not provide for them to be paid in respect of children who reside outside this country.
However, both child benefit and the child tax credit are “family benefits” under the European Community (EC) social security co-ordinating regulations (EC Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009, previously EC Regulations 1408/71 and 574/72), which the United Kingdom has administered since it joined the European Economic Community in 1973. Under these EC regulations, nationals of other member states who are employed or self-employed in the United Kingdom and are paying compulsory national insurance contributions are entitled to claim child benefit and the child tax credit in respect of children resident in other member states. United Kingdom nationals who work and are compulsorily insured in another member state have reciprocal entitlement to family benefits in that other state by virtue of the same EC regulations.
The value of family benefits paid by the United Kingdom under the EC regulations is only available at disproportionate costs. This is because not all such awards in respect of children resident in other member states are made at the full United Kingdom rate of benefit.
Hewlett Packard
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether he plans to conduct an assessment of the data security implications of the application by Hewlett Packard to move offshore the application maintenance and support elements of the Adams 2 contract that the company holds with his Department; [65861]
(2) pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2011, Official Report, column 603W, on Hewlett Packard, whether the number of jobs required by Hewlett Packard (HP)
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to deliver the application maintenance and support element of the Adams 2 contract from an offshore location will form part of the review of plans to increase the amount of work delivered by HP from non-UK locations; if he will commission from HP an impact assessment of its plans to transfer work on this contract to an offshore location; and if he will make a statement; [65999]
(3) pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2011, Official Report, column 603W, on Hewlett Packard, whether data security will form part of the review of plans to increase the amount of work delivered by Hewlett Packard from non-UK locations in respect of the application maintenance and support element of the Adams 2 contract; and when he expects the review to be concluded. [66000]
Chris Grayling: The Department is currently in discussion with HP regarding future Adams 2 plans. This review has not yet been concluded and specific proposals are not yet complete.
All aspects of security, including access to any data that may be required, will be a part of this review. Proposed offshore activities need to gain formal approval against stringent DWP, CESG—the Information Assurance (IA) arm of GCHQ—and Cabinet Office requirements before being permitted.
The review is expected to conclude towards the end of the year when any specific discussions required with HP will take place.
The exact location and number of jobs needed by HP to deliver the required services and its impact on their staff in the UK is a matter for HP to determine.
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2011, Official Report, column 603W, on Hewlett Packard, when he last met representatives of Hewlett Packard to discuss the Adams 2 contract. [65998]
Chris Grayling: The Department is currently in discussion with HP regarding future Adams 2 plans.
This review has not yet been concluded and specific proposals are not yet complete. All aspects of security, including access to any data that may be required, will be a part of this review. Proposed offshore activities need to gain formal approval against stringent DWP, CESG—the Information Assurance (IA) arm of GCHQ and Cabinet Office requirements before being permitted.
The review is expected to conclude towards the end of the year when any specific discussions required with HP will take place. I met with HP representatives last week
The exact location and number of jobs needed by HP to deliver the required services and its impact on their staff in the UK is a matter for HP to determine.
Pensioners: Poverty
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the level of pensioner poverty in rural communities in each of the next four financial years. [66366]
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Steve Webb: In recent years, the Department has not published assessments of future trends in pensioner poverty. Currently, macroeconomic uncertainty and the Department's significant programme of welfare and pension reform mean that it is not possible to produce any reliable estimate of future trends in pensioner poverty.
Estimates of pensioner poverty are published in the Households Below Average Incomes series. The most commonly used measure of pensioner poverty relates to those people with income below 60% of contemporary median household income, after housing costs. This is often referred to as relative poverty.
The latest data available from the Households Below Average Incomes for 2009-10, show that in England, after housing costs, the proportion of pensioners in relative poverty is 16% in rural areas compared to 16% in urban areas.
For Wales, the latest data available from the Households Below Average Incomes for 2007-08 to 2009-10, show that, after housing costs, the proportion of pensioners in relative poverty is 17% in rural areas compared to 17% in urban areas.
In England and Wales, the corresponding figures based on 2009-10 data are 16% in rural areas compared to 16% in urban areas.
In Scotland, the corresponding figures based on 2007-08 to 2009-10 data are 14% in rural areas compared to 13% in urban areas.
Notes:
1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data sourced from the 2009-10 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 an after housing costs basis.
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.
6. Proportions of pensioners in low-income households have been rounded to the nearest percentage point.
7. Three survey years have been combined for Scotland and Wales because single year estimates are not considered to be sufficiently reliable.
8. Due to different definitions of rurality in Scotland compared to England and Wales, and the fact that no information is
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collected on the Family Resources Survey covering rurality in Northern Ireland, it has not been possible to present figures for the United Kingdom as a whole.
Social Security Benefits: Scotland
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Scottish Government on methods of distribution of local welfare assistance in Scotland. [66160]
Chris Grayling: The Secretary of State and DWP Ministers have met with Scottish Ministers on a number of occasions to discuss a range of subjects including the introduction of a universal credit through a real time earnings system as per the Universal Credit White Paper and Welfare Reform Bill before parliament.
Spotlight on Kinship Care
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will review and respond to the recommendations of the report of Buttle UK and the University of Bristol entitled Spotlight on Kinship Care, published in April 2011. [63447]
Tim Loughton: I have been asked to reply.
The Spotlight on Kinship Care study by the University of Bristol makes a very helpful contribution to our understanding about the numbers of informal family and friends carers and the circumstances in which they are living.
Statutory guidance requires English local authorities with responsibility for children's services to publish, no later than 30 September 2011, a policy setting out their approach towards supporting the needs of children living with family and friends carers. The information in the Spotlight on Kinship Care report should aid local authorities in doing this and help ensure that the needs of kinship care families are addressed in local service delivery.
State Retirement Pensions: York
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people resident in (a) the City of York local authority area and (b) York Central constituency were in receipt of (i) the basic state pension and (ii) pension credit in (A) May 2010 and (B) the latest date for which figures are available; and what the average weekly value of pension credit received was in each case. [65623]
Steve Webb: The information available is in the following tables.
| Recipients of state pension and pension credit in the York central parliamentary constituency | |||
| York parliamentary constituency | State pension recipients | Pension credit household recipients | Average weekly amount of pension credit (£) |
| Recipients of state pension and pension credit in the city of York local authority area | |||
| York local authority | State pension recipients | Pension credit household recipients | Average weekly amount of pension credit (£) |
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| Notes: 1. Case load figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. State pension figures are for the total state pension caseload. Around 1% of state pension recipients are not in receipt of the basic state pension, but are receiving additional state pension only or graduated retirement benefit only. 3. Pension credit household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves or on behalf of themselves and a partner. Source: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data | |||
Winter Fuel Payments: Carmarthenshire
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in Carmarthenshire received winter fuel payments in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11. [66278]
Steve Webb: The information for 2009-10 is available in the document Winter Fuel Payment (Number of Households) 2009-2010 by local authority and gender. This is available in the Commons Library and on the internet at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=wfp
Information for 2010-11 is not currently available.
Culture, Media and Sport
Broadband
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport in the event that a 4G spectrum licence does not provide for a 99 per cent. population coverage obligation, what measures he plans to take to ensure that those consumers who cannot receive superfast broadband will be offered broadband by an alternate technology. [65511]
Mr Vaizey: The Government are committed to ensuring that the UK has the best superfast broadband network in Europe by stimulating private investment to ensure superfast broadband to 90% of all UK premises and standard broadband to virtually all communities by 2015.
Broadband: Scotland
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with Scottish Ministers regarding the roll-out of superfast broadband in Scotland. [65481]
Mr Vaizey: I have had regular discussions with Scottish Government Ministers regarding the roll-out of superfast broadband in Scotland. The Government are supporting the Scottish Government to deliver superfast broadband to 90% of all premises in Scotland and standard broadband to virtually all communities by 2015. I have also had similar communications with Wales and Northern Ireland Ministers.
Broadband: YouView
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the introduction of YouView on demand for high speed broadband. [65644]
Mr Vaizey: No assessment has been made.
Mass Media: Privacy
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what representations he has received from the Information Commissioner on breaches of personal privacy by media groups. [66227]
Mr Vaizey: No representations have been received.
Royal Parks
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2011, Official Report, column 888W, on the Royal Parks, what steps the Royal Parks take to support considerate cycling. [65892]
John Penrose: The Royal Parks has issued advice encouraging considerate cycling, including publishing a code of conduct. It has also held a series of free public cycling events across the estate to promote safe cycling. Over the past three years, the agency has improved and increased the amount of cycling routes, and now provides 27 miles of off road cycle routes, and 32 miles of park roads.
Tourism: VAT
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the effect on the (a) tourism, (b) heritage and (c) sporting industries of the increase in the rate of value added tax. [65714]
John Penrose: I regularly meet with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss a wide range of issues. However, VAT is a matter for Her Majesty's Treasury.
Video Games
Jim McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department has taken to support the computer games industry. [66026]
Mr Vaizey: The Plan for Growth, published with Budget 2011, outlined the Government's aim to create the right overall business environment to support the growth of UK companies, including video games businesses. The Plan for Growth also announced that industry will be establishing a Creative Industry Council. The Government are supportive of this step.
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The Council will look at barriers to growth for the sector, which may include access to finance, skills, export markets, intellectual property, innovation and infrastructure.
In addition, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is also working with a number of other Government Departments to ensure their range of support for business, such as R and D tax credits and Government-backed funds, including the UK Innovation and Investment Fund and Enterprise Capital Funds, is accessible to the games industry.
Specifically, the Government are giving £2.5 million of grant support to the University of Abertay to create a new games prototyping programme, including a UK-wide £2 million fund launched in July 2010. There are also discretionary grants from the Technology Strategy Board for collaborative R and D and feasibility studies. Following the publication of the NextGen review of the skills for the video games and visual effects industries, the Government are currently considering recommendations and DCMS will issue its formal response in the summer.
Attorney-General
Bona Vacantia
Mr Iain Wright:
To ask the Attorney-General if he will consider bringing forward legislation which would
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allow the distribution of assets received as bona vacantia to
(a)
the location in which the deceased person lived and
(b)
wards in the top 10 per cent. of disadvantaged communities as set out in the Index of Multiple Deprivation; and if he will make a statement. [65731]
Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
Surplus bona vacantia income available to the UK Government are passed to the Consolidated Fund to benefit the general Exchequer. It therefore indirectly benefits numerous organisations and locations. There are no plans to change the current system.
Departmental Billing
Mr Denham: To ask the Attorney-General how many invoices received by the Law Officers' Departments have been paid (a) on time and (b) late in each month since May 2010; and what the monetary value was of invoices paid late. [62493]
The Solicitor-General: The latest available information is outlined in the following tables.
| Treasury Solicitor's Department | |||
| Month | Number paid within 30 days | Number paid over 30 days | Value of invoices paid over 30 days |
| Attorney-General's Office | |||
| Month | Number paid within 30 days | Number paid over 30 days | Value of invoices paid over 30 days |
| HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate | |||
| Month | Number paid within 30 days | Number paid over 30 days | Value of invoices paid over 30 days |
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| Crown Prosecution Service | |||
| Month | Number paid within 30 days | Number paid over 30 days | Value of invoices paid over 30 days |
| Serious Fraud Office | |||
| Month | Number paid within 30 days | Number paid over 30 days | Value of invoices paid over 30 days |
Freedom of Information Requests
Chris Ruane: To ask the Attorney-General how many requests under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the Law Officers' Departments received from (a) hon. Members from each political party and (b) members of the public in each year since the Act's entry into force. [63587]
The Solicitor-General: The number of requests received by the Law Officers' Departments from members of the public in each year since the Act's entry into force is available from the Ministry of Justice website:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/implementation.htm
These statistics cover the period from implementation to 31 March 2011. Statistics for the period from 1 April 2011 will be published in the quarterly statistics from the Ministry of Justice in due course.
The Ministry of Justice figures do not cover the HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. The number of requests received by them since 2006 are recorded in the following table.
|
|
Number of requests |
None of the Law Officers' Departments collect statistics specifically about the background of individual requesters. This is because the Freedom of Information Act is applicant and motive blind and it is therefore not necessary to record or determine whether a requestor is a Member of Parliament or a member of the public.
The Attorney-General's Office (AGO) has however identified some records about requests originating from MPs; but it should be noted that these figures may not represent all requests from MPs as we only record those that are clearly identified in our records as coming from an MP.
| AGO-FOI requests from Members of Parliament by party (January 2006 to May 2011) | ||||||
| Party | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
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Communities and Local Government
Ministerial Meetings
Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department attended which were also attended by (A) representatives, (B) journalists and (C) other employees of News International and its subsidiary organisations including newspapers since 12 May 2010; [66061]
(2) what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department attended which were also attended by (A) representatives, (B) journalists and (C) other employees of News Corporation and its subsidiary organisations since 12 May 2010; [66062]
(3) what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department attended which were also attended by (A) representatives, (B) journalists and (C) other employees of BSkyB since 12 May 2010; [66168]
(4) what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department attended which were also attended by Mr Andrew Coulson (A) between 12 May 2010 and 21 January 2011 and (B) since 21 January 2011. [66169]
Robert Neill: As has been the practice of previous Administrations information relating to internal meetings, discussions and advice is not normally disclosed.
I refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's statement to the House of 13 July 2011, Official Report, columns 311-14.
Departmental Dismissal
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many officials in his Department were dismissed for under-performance as a result of the procedures arising from his Department's staff appraisal system in each of the last three years. [64690]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has not dismissed any official for under-performance as a result of the procedures arising from the Department's appraisal system in each of the last three years.
DCLG makes a distinction between under-performance and poor-performance. Under-performance occurs where the job holder contributes notably less than can be reasonable expected of the grade, while poor-performance is defined as a consistent or repeated failure by a member of staff to carry out effectively the requirement of their job.
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The Department has a procedure for maintaining satisfactory standards of performance comprising a number of warnings which could result in disciplinary action and ultimately lead to dismissal for poor-performance.
Enterprise Zones
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he will take into account (a) sub-regional unemployment figures, (b) levels of pay and (c) skill levels when considering applications for the next round of enterprise zones. [64947]
Greg Clark [holding answer 11 July 2011]: The Government will assess how proposed enterprise zones can best deliver local growth and jobs.
As set out in the guidance published on 27 May 2011, the assessment of bids will focus on three criteria: the extent to which the bid will deliver growth; the value for the money of the bid; and if the plans for delivery are robust.
Fire Services: Finance
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the percentage change is in his Department's grant to each precepting fire and rescue authority between 2010-11 and 2011-12. [64889]
Robert Neill [holding answer 11 July 2011]: Figures for year-on-year changes in Formula Grant in 2011-12 compared with adjusted 2010-11 figures, from which percentage changes can be obtained for single-tier fire and rescue authorities, are available at:
http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1112/1112chngs.xls
Details of changes in the revenue spending power for all authorities including fire and rescue authorities from 2010-11 to 2011-12 are also available, at:
http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1112/spannexas.xls
Health Inequalities
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the outcome of the Marmot Review into health inequalities in England; and if he will make a statement. [66171]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government has not made an individual assessment of the outcome of the Marmot Review on health inequalities. We have worked closely with other Departments on the public health reforms and through the Public Health Sub-Committee to ensure a cross-government approach in addressing the social determinants of health inequalities. The public health consultation ran until 31 March 2011 and the Government will be responding in due course.
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Homelessness
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of likely levels of homelessness in the next five years; and if he will make a statement. [65571]
Grant Shapps: This Department has not made forecasts for future levels of homelessness.
Housing: Older People
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to encourage and promote the provision of specialist homes for older people moving to reside in a smaller home who wish to remain homeowners. [R] [65953]
Andrew Stunell: Current national planning policy for housing makes clear that local planning authorities should carry out a strategic housing market assessment to provide information on the level of needs and demand for housing in their area. The housing requirements of older people should be included in these assessments. Based on the requirements identified, planning authorities should develop policies and implementation strategies to ensure that sufficient, suitable land is made available to achieve their housing objectives. Clear local housing policies can encourage developers to bring forward proposals for housing which reflect market demand and the needs of different households, including older households.
The forthcoming National Planning Policy Framework consultation will cover all forms of development. This will include policy on planning for housing.
Local Government Finance
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department and its public bodies have spent on the firms (a) Poisson Rouge and (b) Red Fish Corporation in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and for what purpose in each case. [59218]
Robert Neill: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 13 July 2011, Official Report, column 361W.
£3,417.71 was paid to Poisson Rouge, an events management company who arranged the venue and team building.
The Department's finance system has made no records of other payments to (a)Poisson Rouge or (b) Red Fish Corporation in each of the last five years. Details of expenditure by the Department's public bodies are not held centrally and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
Local Government Resources Review
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many officials in his Department (a) are working on the local government resources review and (b) have been seconded to HM Treasury to work on the review. [65961]
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Robert Neill: The work of the local government resource review has been taken forward by existing teams within the Department for Communities and Local Government, alongside their existing policy responsibilities. Taking account of support from legal and analyst colleagues, 14 officials have been involved in the substantive work of the review at various times. In addition, support has been provided by three additional members of staff, one of whom is employed by HM Treasury but who is co-located with this Department.
Local Government: Debts
Nigel Mills: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much interest on debt has been paid by each local authority in England in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; and what estimate he has made of interest on debt that will be paid by each local authority in England in 2011-12. [65788]
Robert Neill: I have today placed in the Library of the House a table that gives information on interest payable and similar charges by each local authority in England for outturn 2009-10 and budget estimates for 2010-11 and 2011-12.
Local Government: Procurement
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department issues to local authorities regarding the promotion of local businesses and employment in their procurement policies. [66142]
Robert Neill: Procurement in local government is a matter for local discretion. My Department does not prescribe to local authorities how they should promote local businesses and employment in their procurement policies. Government are, though, committed to encouraging a more open and level playing field for small and medium enterprises to bid for contracts. In February, the Prime Minister launched a new, free-to-use online Contracts Finder portal and simplified pre-qualification questionnaire to make it easier and cheaper for small and medium enterprises to bid for public sector opportunities.
DCLG has also recently consulted on new statutory guidance on Best Value (the consultation closed on 14 June). It makes clear that councils should seek to avoid making disproportionate reductions to small and medium enterprises and the voluntary and community sector.
The new Code of Recommended Practice for Local Authorities on Data Transparency will also ensure greater accountability and scrutiny on the awarding of contracts over £500.
Non-domestic Rates: Durham
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effect on the revenues of Durham county council of localising business rates. [66170]
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Robert Neill: No assessment has been made of the effect on the revenues of Durham county council of localising business rates. The Local Government Resource Review has been considering options to allow local authorities to keep at least a proportion of their business rates. The review will be publishing shortly its proposals for consultation.
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.
Recycling: Schools
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance he issues to local authorities on the practice of charging schools for recycling. [66091]
Robert Neill: My Department has not issued any guidance to local authorities on the practice of charging schools for recycling.
Social Rented Housing
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on new social housing for rent in (a) the City of York and (b) England in each year since 2005; and how much it expects to spend for such purposes in each year of the comprehensive spending review period. [65613]
Andrew Stunell: The following table shows the grant funding through the Homes and Communities Agency's National Affordable Housing Programme, Local Authority New Build Programme and Kickstart programme for social rent in each financial year in the City of York local authority area and in England. This includes both new build and acquisition and refurbishment.
| £ million | ||
| Period | City of York | England |
| Source: Homes and Communities Agency | ||
We are investing nearly £4.5 billion to help deliver up to 150,000 affordable homes for Affordable Rent and Affordable Home Ownership in England from 2011-12 to 2014-15. Figures for individual authorities are not yet available.
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Education
Business Regulation
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 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. [65336]
Tim Loughton: In the period between 1 September 2010 and 12 July 2011, the Department for Education made five statutory instruments which imposed costs on business. In the case of these five statutory instruments, impact assessments were carried out which identified the likely costs implications associated with their implementation. These impact assessments can be viewed using the links provided.
The Breaks for Carers of Disabled Children Regulations 2011:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2010/9780111503850/pdfs/ukdsiem_9780111503850_en.pdf
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) (Children's Homes etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2011:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/553/pdfs/uksiem_20110553_en.pdf
The School Finance (England) Regulations 2011:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/371/pdfs/uksiem_20110371_en.pdf
The Visits to Former Looked After Children in Detention (England) Regulations 2010:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/2797/pdfs/uksiem _20102797_en.pdf
The Childcare (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2010:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/307/pdfs/uksiem _20100307_en.pdf
None of the statutory instruments which were revoked by the Department between 1 September 2010 and 12 July 2011 imposed any costs on business.
The one-in, one-out regulatory management system, although announced in September 2010, did not come into force until January 2011. A list of regulatory measures introduced or removed in the first half of 2011 can be found in the Statement of New Regulation in the Libraries of the House.
None of the statutory instruments which have been made or revoked by the Department since January 2011 has been excluded from the one-in, one-out regulatory management system on the basis that they either addressed (i) emergencies, or (ii) systemic financial risks.
Cabinet Office
Ministerial Meetings
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department attended which were also attended by (A) representatives, (B) journalists and (C) other employees of (1) News International and its subsidiary organisations including newspapers, (2) News Corporation and its subsidiary organisations and (3) BSkyB since 12 May 2010; [66164]
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(2) what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department attended which were also attended by Mr Andrew Coulson (A) between 12 May 2010 and 21 January 2011 and (B) since 21 January 2011; [66166]
Mr Maude: As has been the practice of previous administrations information relating to internal meetings, discussions and advice is not normally disclosed.
I refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's statement to the House of 13 July 2011, Official Report, columns 311-14.
Government Departments: Procurement
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance his Department offers to Government Departments on the promotion of local businesses and employment in their procurement policies. [66138]
Mr Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 27 June 2011, Official Report, column 629W. Contracting authorities are required to treat suppliers from across the UK and from the EU and various other countries on an equal footing.
Authorities cannot prescribe the deployment of local labour, although clearly for some types of contract, such as those requiring face-to-face services, locally-based labour is more likely.
New Businesses: Romsey
Caroline Nokes: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many business start-ups there have been in Romsey and Southampton North constituency since 22 June 2010. [66446]
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 how many business start-ups there have been in Romsey and Southampton North constituency since 22 June 2010. [66446]
Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
www.statistics.gov.uk
However, unfortunately these statistics are not available for 2010. The latest data for business births are for 2009.
Pay: York
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the average weekly gross earnings of full-time (a) men, (b) women and (c) people in York were in (i) May 1997 and (ii) May of each subsequent year (A) in cash terms and (B) at constant prices. [65675]
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 the average weekly gross earnings of full-time (a) men, (b)
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women and (c) people in York were in (i) May 1997 and (ii) May of each subsequent year (A) in cash terms and (B) at constant prices. (65675)
Average levels of earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for all employees on adult rates of pay whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom.
The following tables show the median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees in York in April each year from 1997 to 2010 and also these estimates expressed in 2010 prices by using the Retail Price Index as a price deflator.
| Median gross weekly earnings for full-time employee jobs (1) in York in April for years 1997 to 2010 | |||
| £ | |||
| Full-time | |||
|
|
Men | Women | All |
| Full-time earnings at 2010 prices (2) | |||
| £ | |||
|
|
Men | Women | All |
| (1) Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence. (2) Estimates of earnings at 2010 prices have been derived using the Retail Prices Index as the price deflator. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key: CV<=5% * CV >5% and <= 10% ** CV > 10% and <=20% CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), Office for National Statistics | |||
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Treasury
Ministerial Meetings
Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department attended which were also attended by (A) representatives, (B) journalists and (C) other employees of (1) News International and its subsidiary organisations, including newspapers, (2) News Corporation and its subsidiary organisations and (3) BSkyB since 12 May 2010; [66069]
(2) what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department attended which were also attended by Mr Andrew Coulson (A) between 12 May 2010 and 21 January 2011 and (B) since 21 January 2011. [66071]
Justine Greening: As has been the practice of previous Administrations information relating to internal meetings, discussions and advice is not normally disclosed.
I refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's statement to the House on 13 July 2011, Official Report, columns 311-14.
Redundancy
Mr Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much (a) his Department and (b) each non-departmental body for which he is responsible has spent on redundancies since May 2010. [66333]
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Justine Greening: The details requested can be found in HM Treasury's 2010-11 annual report and accounts, chapter 9, remuneration report, HC984.
Business Regulation
Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [65402]
Justine Greening: In the six months prior to 1 September 2010, the Treasury introduced one regulation which imposed costs on business: The Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Act 2010. The average costs to business were estimated to be £26 million a year over six years, with direct benefits of between zero and £26 million a year to heavily indebted poor countries.
In the six months prior to 1 September 2010, the Treasury did not revoke any regulations that imposed costs on business.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [65403]
Justine Greening: In the six months (a) prior to and (b) after 1 September 2010 the Treasury has introduced the following statutory instruments which do not impose costs on business:
(a) Introduced before 1 September 2010:
(b) Introduced after 1 September 2010:
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Mr Umunna:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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,
14 July 2011 : Column 482W
in one out system because they address (i) emergencies and (ii) systemic financial risks since 1 September 2010. [65406]
Justine Greening: Since 1 September 2010, the Treasury has (a) introduced and (b) revoked the following regulations which impose costs on business:
(i) Since 1 September 2010, my Department has introduced the following regulation which was excluded from the one in, one out system because it was an emergency:
|
|
Name of regulation | Cost s/benefits |
A number of asset freezing regulations introduced dealt with emergency situations; however these were exempt from the one in, one out system because they were EU related measures.
(ii) Since 1 September 2010, my Department has introduced the following Statutory Instruments which have been excluded from the one, in one out system because they address systemic financial risk.
| Systemic financial risk | ||
| SI number | Name of regulation | Costs/benefits |
|
The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Administration Orders Relating to Insurers) Order 2010 |
||
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