Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration his Department plans to give to the mandatory assignment of family liaison officers in cases of deaths of UK citizens abroad. [64229]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The decision on whether or not to deploy a family liaison officer (FLO) following the death of a British national abroad rests with the chief officer of the appropriate police force.
We understand that the Association of Chief Police Officers are currently working on terms of reference to ensure that the decision is made in a consistent way across the country.
Council of Europe
Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on the immunity of delegates to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe when making statements (a) orally and (b) in writing at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and its committees. [62747]
Mr Lidington: The immunities of delegates to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) are set out in Part V of the General Agreement on Privileges and Immunities in the Council of Europe (1949) and its Additional Protocol (1952). In particular, article 15 of the General Agreement states that:
During the sessions of the Consultative Assembly, the Representatives to the Assembly and their substitutes, whether they be members of Parliament or not, shall enjoy:
a) on their national territory, the immunities accorded in those countries to members of Parliament;
b) on the territory of all other member States, exemption from arrest and prosecution.
Article 5 of the Additional Protocol states that:
Privileges, immunities and facilities are accorded to the representatives of members not for the personal benefit of the individuals concerned, but in order to safeguard the independent exercise of their functions in connection with the Council of Europe. Consequently, a member has not only the right but the duty to waive the immunity of its representative in any case where, in the opinion of the member, the immunity would impede the course of justice and it can be waived without prejudice to the purpose for which the immunity is accorded.
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Cyprus: Press Freedom
Mr Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Turkish authorities in northern Cyprus regarding protection for (a) freedom of the press and (b) free speech following recent acts of intimidation of journalists and newspapers in that area; and if he will make a statement. [66184]
Mr Lidington: The UK takes very seriously freedom of speech and the right for the press to publish factual information. I was disturbed by the recent reports of intimidation of journalists in northern Cyprus, including the attempt against the life of a journalist at the Afrika newspaper. Officials from our high commission in Nicosia have raised their concern on these issues with a number of senior contacts within the Turkish Cypriot community.
Mr Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made and to whom regarding the ending of the emergency law provisions in northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [66185]
Mr Lidington: We have not made any representations regarding the ending of the emergency law provisions in northern Cyprus and have no plans to do so.
Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict
Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking at UN level to ensure that MONUSCO troops are able to detain soldiers alleged to have committed an offence of rape until the police are able to attend to the matter. [66203]
Mr Lidington: MONUSCO has recently assisted with the transfer of soldiers accused and convicted of rape. UN Security Council resolution 1991, which the British Government had a significant part in shaping, instructs the UN Peacekeeping Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (MONUSCO) to act under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, the most robust possible mandate. UNSCR 1991 prioritises the protection of civilians. UNSCR 1991 also emphasises the need to act against sexual and gender based violence, and to help end impunity. We regularly encourage MONUSCO to work closely with the DRC security forces to prevent human rights violations by their members, and ensure the detention and prosecution of those responsible.
Departmental Billing
Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of invoices from small and medium-sized businesses were paid by his Department within five working days of receipt in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [63563]
Mr Lidington:
In May 2010 the Government target to pay 90% of supplier invoices within 10 working days was replaced with a new target to pay 80% of supplier invoices in five working days. In the period from June 2010 to May 2011 the FCO paid 88.4% of supplier
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invoices within five working days of receiving a valid invoice. The FCO supports this important Government initiative and is aware of the importance of paying suppliers as quickly as possible.
Information on the size of the FCO's suppliers is not held centrally so to identify invoices from only small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the carbon dioxide emissions from his Department in (a) June 2010 and (b) June 2011. [66755]
Mr Lidington: Between 14 May 2010 and 13 May 2011 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office delivered a reduction of 18.1% in carbon dioxide emissions from its office estate. Under the Green Government Commitments it is now committed to delivering a 25% reduction in green house gases by 2014-15.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's non-weather corrected office emissions in June 2010 amounted to 760 tonnes carbon dioxide.
FCO non-weather corrected emissions from its office estate for June 2011 amounted to 705 tonnes carbon dioxide.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have been (a) recruited and (b) made redundant from (i) his Department and (ii) each non-departmental body for which he is responsible since May 2010. [66325]
Mr Lidington: Recruitment undertaken by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and non-departmental bodies since May 2010 is as follows:
FCO: 112.4
BBC World Service: 34.4
British Council: 88
Wilton Park: 5
FCO Services: 47
Westminster Foundation for Democracy: 3
Great Britain China Centre: 0
Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission: 6
Foreign Compensation Commission: 0
There have been no compulsory redundancies undertaken by FCO and non-departmental bodies since May 2010.
Departmental Procurement
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the annual value is of his Department's current contracts in each sector in which contracts are held. [66525]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold information centrally on all contracts awarded as budgets are devolved to directorates in London and to over 260 posts overseas. The annual value of current contracts in each sector could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Departmental Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions a request for a meeting by an hon. Member of each political party has been refused by (a) a Minister in his Department directly and (b) his Department on behalf of a Minister since May 2010. [64428]
Mr Lidington: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers value exchanges with hon. Members on their work and will always try to accommodate their requests for meetings. We do not hold a record of the occasions where this has not been possible. I know that many hon. Members also speak directly with FCO officials on a variety of subjects, and welcome this contact.
Developing Countries: Marriage
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps British embassies and high commissions are taking to encourage developing countries to reduce rates of early and forced marriage. [66123]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The UK is a world-leader in tackling forced marriage, including child (or early) marriage. It is an appalling and indefensible practice and is recognised in the UK as a form of violence against women and men, domestic abuse, a serious abuse of human rights and, where a minor is involved, child abuse.
The Forced Marriage Unit (FMU)—a joint initiative between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Home Office—was set up in January 2005 as the Government's one-stop shop for dealing with forced marriage policy, outreach and casework. It operates both inside the UK, where support is provided to any individual, and overseas, where consular assistance is provided to British nationals.
The FCO promotes human rights for all people, including children, in line with the UK's values and obligations. We do this through our work in the United Nations and the European Union, and we also work bilaterally with other countries to implement the UN convention on the rights of the child (CRC) and its two optional protocols. The UK strongly supports the CRC, which sets the international standard for protecting and promoting the rights of children, and works hard to encourage countries to fulfil their obligations.
British embassies and high commissions monitor and raise human rights issues, including women's and children's rights, in their host countries. FCO staff routinely raise our concerns with host governments and, where appropriate, take action on individual cases and push for changes in unfair practices and laws. In countries where there are significant numbers of forced marriage cases (particularly in South Asia), embassies and high commissions do specific work to highlight the issue of forced and child marriage as a human rights abuse. For example in Pakistan, the high commission has worked with a local non-governmental organisation to deliver a major awareness-raising campaign, runs an outreach programme (including workshops with local government officials, and a women's rights workshop with human rights activists), and participates in media activity to encourage discussion in the community. The FMU, in conjunction
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with embassies and high commissions, is currently developing plans to expand this work across South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and the Horn of Africa.
The FCO released our 2010 Human Rights Report in March. The report covers our work on human rights issues in 2010 and looks in-depth at the human rights situation in 26 countries of concern. It also contains sections on women's and children's rights. You can read and comment on the report by visiting our website at:
www.fco.gov.uk/hrdreport
European Union
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who sits on the Darroch-Cunliffe Committee; what its terms of reference are; and to whom it reports. [66206]
Mr Letwin: I have been asked to reply.
This is a regular meeting chaired by the Prime Minister’s adviser on European and global issues attended by the UK permanent representative to the EU and senior officials from across Government Departments to consider items of EU business and agree advice to Ministers.
Camp Ashraf
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Camp Ashraf in Iran. [66459]
Alistair Burt: We remain concerned about the humanitarian situation at Camp Ashraf in Iraq, and continue to monitor events closely. We continue to urge the Government of Iraq to allow medical supplies to enter the camp and ensure that residents have full access to medical care. Along with our international partners, including the US, we continue to press the Iraqi authorities to ensure that the residents of the camp are treated in accordance with the rights and protections they enjoy under international human rights law and domestic Iraqi law, in particular the Iraqi constitution. The UK visited the camp on 7 July on a consular visit to assess whether any British nationals required assistance.
Israel: British Nationals Abroad
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with his Israeli counterpart the case of UK activists held at Givon prison in Ramle, Israel; if he will establish the basis for their detention; whether any charges have been brought; under what conditions they are being held; and if he will make a statement. [66231]
Alistair Burt [holding answer 14 July 2011]: I can confirm 12 British nationals were detained on 8 July at Ben Gurion airport. By 13 July, all but one had returned to the UK, with one being allowed to enter Israel. None of them were charged. The legal basis for their detention is a matter for the Israeli authorities, and for the detainees to follow up through their own lawyer should they wish to. However, our travel advice clearly states that travellers to the Occupied Territories may face difficulties on arrival. They were visited four times by consular staff, including a visit by our ambassador to Israel.
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Our ambassador was in regular contact with the Israeli Government at a senior level to facilitate the quickest possible return of the detainees, and his team were in constant communication to raise and resolve issues at the working level. We will follow up any allegations of mistreatment with the Israeli authorities.
Kashmir: Human Rights
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on Amnesty International's recent report on the human rights situation in Kashmir. [65707]
Alistair Burt: We are aware of the recent report by Amnesty International that provides evidence of large numbers of detentions in Indian administered Kashmir over the past twenty years. Members of the all-party parliamentary group on Kashmir raised it with me when I met them on 7 June 2011. The Minister of State, my noble Friend, the right hon. Lord Howell, answered a similar question in the other place on 6 April 2011, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA396.
During a recent visit to Indian-administered Kashmir, officials from our High Commission in New Delhi discussed this issue with the Jammu and Kashmir state police and human rights groups. The issue of security legislation including the Armed Forces Special Powers Act as enforced in certain regions of India, was raised with the Indian Government during the recent EU-India human rights dialogue.
Libya: Armed Conflict
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the UK's involvement in operations in Libya; and if he will make a statement. [67095]
Alistair Burt: The UK's involvement in operations in Libya is under continuous assessment.
Our involvement remains compliant with UN Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973, and our actions continue to save lives. NATO strikes have prevented Benghazi from falling, have reduced pressure on the besieged city of Misrata, and have enabled delivery of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of thousands of wounded. We will sustain these operations until the Gaddafi regime ceases attacks on its own people and complies with the UN Security Council Resolutions.
Libya: Politics and Government
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings of the Libya Contact Group have been attended by his Department's officials over the last six months. [66252]
Alistair Burt: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have attended each of the three meetings of the Libya Contact Group held to date.
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times Ministers in his Department have met representatives of the National Transitional Council of Libya over the last six months. [66253]
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Alistair Burt: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have met with representatives of the National Transitional Council (NTC) at each of the three Libya Contact Group meetings held to date. In addition, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), met Mahmoud Jibril on 29 March 2011 at the London Conference on Libya. He also met the NTC Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil during his London visit on 12 May 2011 and in Benghazi on 4 June 2011.
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what purposes UK arms exports to Israel may be used by the Israeli military in the West Bank and Gaza in accordance with the Consolidated EU and National Criteria. [66250]
Alistair Burt: The Government policy on the export of UK controlled military goods to all destinations is based on the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. All export applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, against the Consolidated Criteria, taking into account the circumstances prevailing at the time of the application and the stated end user and end use. The criteria make clear that the Government will not approve the export of controlled military goods where there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression, or where it would provoke or prolong armed conflicts or aggravate existing tensions or conflicts in the country of final destination.
Middle East: EU Action
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on a common policy on Palestine. [66179]
Alistair Burt: We discuss the Middle East Peace Process regularly at ministerial and official level with EU partners. We welcome the important progress the Palestinian Authority, in the West Bank, has made in building institutions of state.
We continue to believe that the best way to achieve a lasting solution that delivers a sovereign, independent and contiguous Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel at peace with its neighbours is through a negotiated solution. The EU FAC conclusions of May 2011 set out the European policy on the Occupied Palestinian Territories and its hopes for a future Palestinian state.
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/122165.pdf
Montserrat: Environment Protection
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assistance his Department has given to Montserrat for promoting environmental awareness. [66645]
Mr Lidington:
The British Government are providing assistance for environmental projects through the Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP) which is
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jointly funded by the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This year projects to conserve the Centre Hills in Montserrat through the effective control of feral livestock populations (chickens, goats, cattle) and the second stage of a reef project are receiving OTEP funding.
Responsibility for environmental issues has been devolved to the governments of the Overseas Territories. It is therefore for the Government of Montserrat to promote awareness of the environment.
North Africa: Politics and Government
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding his Department plans to provide for the European Endowment for Democracy in North Africa over the next 12 months. [66251]
Mr Lidington: The UK welcomes a renewed focus on civil society in the European Neighbourhood Policy. The idea of a European Endowment for Democracy has been raised in this context but no detailed proposal has yet been put forward.
Overseas Education: Scholarships
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions officials of his Department have had with the Department for Education on study-abroad scholarships. [67254]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials have had no recent discussions with the Department for Education on study-abroad scholarships.
Pakistan: Politics and Government
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance his Department has provided to (a) the Government of Pakistan to combat terrorism and (b) the Pakistan Army in each of the last five years. [67036]
Alistair Burt: The UK has a strategic relationship with Pakistan, formalised in the Enhanced Strategic Dialogue. This includes a strand under the National Security Dialogue, which focuses on counter-terrorism and other security issues. Our intensive diplomatic efforts, bilaterally, multilaterally, and in concert with key partners such as the US, are complemented by a programme of counter-terrorism assistance to Pakistan. This includes supporting the development of strong institutions and machinery of Government. As part of this co-operation, we have assisted Pakistan's law enforcement and security forces, for example in improving their ability to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs). However, due to the sensitive nature of counter terrorism projects, we are unable to provide detailed spend figures for our assistance programme.
Palestinians: Human Rights
Mark Garnier:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to uphold accountability for allegations of breaches of international humanitarian
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law arising from the Gaza conflict through full, fair and impartial investigations by the parties since January 2011. [66247]
Alistair Burt: The allegations about the conduct of both sides during the Gaza conflict are very serious. From the outset we have called for them to be properly and independently investigated by both sides.
We are committed to upholding accountability for allegations of breaches of international humanitarian law that arose from the Gaza conflict through full, fair and impartial investigations by the parties.
We will continue to press the parties on this point and follow the progress of investigations closely.
Somalia: Piracy
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many prosecutions for piracy have been brought by the Government as part of its operations off the coast of Somalia in the last 12 months. [66254]
Mr Lidington: In the last 12 months there have been no prosecutions of Somali pirates resulting from military action by the Royal Navy. However, 14 Somali pirate suspects are now sentenced or in custody in Kenyan prisons following handover by the UK.
South Sudan: Armed Forces
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to support the demobilisation and reintegration of child soldiers in southern Sudan. [66457]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The UK Government were a co-sponsor and strong supporter of the new mandate for the UN Mission in South Sudan, which states that the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and the SPLA should renew their action plan to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers, requests UNMISS to advise and assist South Sudan in this regard and requests the Secretary-General to strengthen child protection in UN system activities in the Republic of South Sudan and ensure continued monitoring and reporting of the situation of children (OP 10 of UNSCR 1996). The UK also co-sponsored a new UN children and armed conflict resolution (UNSCR 1998), adopted on 12 July, and took the opportunity to emphasise the importance of UN action on this issue.
South Sudan: Christianity
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received on measures taken to support and protect Christians in border regions following the independence of South Sudan. [66490]
Mr Jeremy Browne:
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has a mandate to protect civilians, irrespective of their religion, in the Republic of South Sudan under imminent threat of physical violence. The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) is authorized to use force in protecting
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civilians and humanitarian workers in Abyei. UNMISS is expected to report to the UN Security Council (UNSC) within four months of 9 July. UNISFA will report within 30 days of its mandate (27 June) to the UNSC.
South Sudan: Diplomatic Relations
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will establish diplomatic relations with South Sudan. [65160]
Mr Lidington: The British Government were among the first to recognise the Republic of South Sudan. We now have an embassy in Juba as well as a Department for International Development office. The British ambassador to South Sudan is already in Juba.
South Sudan: Politics and Government
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the proposal of the US administration for a deadline of the end of July for the resolution of (a) oil sector issues, (b) the final status of Abyei and (c) all other outstanding issues relating to Sudan and South Sudan. [66786]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We urge Sudan and South Sudan to resolve all outstanding issues as soon as possible. We will continue to work closely with the US and other partners.
Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on future support for the UN mission in Sudan. [66126]
Mr Lidington: The British Government's view is that the presence of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) is still needed in Southern Kordofan State. We have consistently made this view clear. However, UN peacekeeping operations are deployed with the consent of the main parties to the conflict and the Government of Sudan insisted that UNMIS cease to operate in Sudan alter 9 July. Security Council Resolution 1997, adopted on 11 July, therefore set in motion the withdrawal of UNMIS by 31 August 2011, while expressing the readiness of the Council to continue current UN operations in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States.
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to seek the release of UN staff in Sudan. [66127]
Mr Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), condemned the detentions of UNMIS staff in his statement of 28 June 2011. The UK permanent representative to the UN has also raised the detention of UN staff in his statements to the UN Security Council.
UK Membership of EU
Mr Cash:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what objectives he has set for the Government to maximise what it wants from
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the UK's engagement with Europe; and whether such objectives will include any opportunity to renegotiate the UK's relationship with the EU. [65695]
Mr Lidington: The coalition agreement sets out this Government's broad objectives for its relations with the European Union (EU). All Ministers seek to advance the interests of the United Kingdom through their engagement with the EU.
Defence
Afghanistan: Harrier Aircraft
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider deploying Harrier aircraft for operations in Afghanistan. [66661]
Nick Harvey: The Harrier fleet has been withdrawn from service and there are therefore no plans to deploy Harrier aircraft for operations in Afghanistan.
Air Force: Military Bases
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the RAF basing review will take into account his Department's obligations in respect of the New Employment Model; and if he will make a statement. [65572]
Nick Harvey: The New Employment Model is still in development and will be progressively implemented over the period 2015 to 2025. The potential implications are a key factor in the basing review work under way.
Armed Forces
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse per family of the forthcoming return of British troops from Germany. [64173]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 11 July 2011]: The Ministry of Defence does not hold financial estimates on the costs of rebasing UK troops in Germany in the format requested. In depth work is currently being undertaken on how the rebasing of UK troops in Germany will be implemented. Before this work has been completed it would be too early to say what the overall financial impact will be.
Armed Forces: Children
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service children are in receipt of continuity education allowance. [66300]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 14 July 2011]: A total of 9,080 children of service personnel were beneficiaries of continuity of education allowance in financial year 2010-11.
Armed Forces: Education
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what proportion of recruits' time at the Army Foundation College Harrogate is allocated to academic study leading to recognised civilian qualifications; [66180]
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(2) what percentage of 17-year-old recruits training at the Army Foundation College Harrogate were studying and subsequently achieved one or more A-levels in each of the last 10 years; in which subjects such A-levels were awarded; and how many such A-levels were awarded (a) in total and (b) at grade C or above in each such year; [66181]
(3) what percentage of recruits training at the Army Foundation College Harrogate achieved one or more BTEC, HNC and HND in each of the last 10 years; and in which subjects and at what grade each such qualification was obtained. [66182]
Nick Harvey:
All recruits training at the Army Foundation College (AFC) undertake vocational qualifications. All soldiers are enrolled on a level 2 apprenticeship for IT users which consists of the level 2 iTQ diploma for IT users along with functional skills (FS) in English and maths at level 1. All those who
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achieve level 1 FS in English and maths during the programme have the additional opportunity to achieve those skills at level 2.
Recruits attend AFC for 50 weeks, during which 416 periods of 40 minutes each are allocated to the delivery and assessment of the apprenticeship.
Recruits at AFC do not undertake BTEC, HNC or HND qualifications. Nor do they undertake A levels.
Armed Forces: Officers
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many new entry officer cadets there were at (a) Dartmouth, (b) Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and (c) Cranwell in each of the last 10 years. [65573]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 12 July 2011]: The number of new entry officer cadets entering the service academies in each of the last 10 years is presented in the following tables:
| Intake | ||||||||||
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
| Intake | ||||||||||
| 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | |
| Notes: 1. Royal Navy figures are presented by calendar year. The Army and RAF data are presented by financial year. 2. RAF statistics of the intake to the RAF College Cranwell before 2003-04 are not available. | ||||||||||
Defence Equipment: Finance
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate how much of the (a) equipment support plan and (b) equipment plans budgets were spent in (i) the UK, (ii) England, (iii) Wales, (iv) Northern Ireland and (v) Scotland in each of the last five years. [63863]
Peter Luff [holding answer 4 July 2011]: Estimated direct Ministry of Defence (MOD) expenditure on equipment, including equipment support, for two of the last five years for which data are available for the UK, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland are presented in the following table. These use a wider definition of equipment expenditure than employed in the MOD equipment and equipment support plans.
| £ million inclusive of non-recoverable VAT at current prices | ||
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
| Note: Figures rounded to nearest £10 million | ||
Estimates of MOD direct regional expenditure on equipment and non-equipment have not been produced since 2007-08 as they do not support MOD policy or operations. The MOD continues to report overall expenditure on procurement in the UK Defence Statistics, available on the following website:
http://www.dasa.mod.uk
A copy is available in the Library of the House.
This annual report presents the MOD procurement of goods and services in the UK by industry sector in Table 1.11, and estimates of aggregate MOD equipment procurement expenditure in Table 1.4.
Defence: Procurement
Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on procurement from UK-based engineering companies. [65883]
Peter Luff: We will publish a White Paper later this year setting out our approach to acquiring the equipment that we need for our armed forces, and how we will support that equipment and its users. This will build on the public consultation following last December's ‘Equipment, Support and Technology for UK Defence and Security’ Green Paper.
The Government are already taking effective steps to provide much greater support to UK defence exports and to make it easier for smaller enterprises to do business with the public sector, including with the Ministry of Defence.
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value is of urgent operational requirements (UOR) for Libya; and to what equipment each UOR relates. [66684]
Peter Luff:
To date, only two urgent operational requirements (UORs) have been approved for Libya.
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The first was for the procurement of two Litening III Laser Designator Pods for use on Typhoon aircraft. Procurement of these pods was brought forward as a UOR due to the emergent need. However, they are being funded by the core equipment budget as the cost of £3.12 million had already been planned. The second was for the extension of the Digimap system that has been successfully used in Operation Herrick at a cost of £200,000 provided through the reserve.
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost has been of urgent operational requirements in each theatre of engagement since the conclusion of the strategic defence and security review. [66685]
Peter Luff: From 1 October 2010, no spending has been approved for urgent operational requirements (UORs) in the northern Gulf. For Libya, a total of £3.12 million has been approved on UOR equipment procurement, with funding from the core equipment budget and £0.2 million from the Treasury Reserve. For Afghanistan, a total of £645.5 million has been approved for UORs.
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many procurement contracts his Department has awarded to small businesses since May 2010. [67243]
Peter Luff: The most recent period for which data are available is the 12 months to the end of March 2011. During that period, we estimate that the Ministry of Defence placed approximately 2,500 new procurement contracts directly with small and medium-sized enterprises. This number relates to contracts administered through our central system which excludes purchases made through the Government procurement card and miscellaneous transactions. It also excludes all contracts let by prime contractors through the supply chain.
Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the public purse of the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft project has been to date; what estimate he has made of the final cost of the project; and what assessment he has made of the operational capability of the aircraft. [66686]
Peter Luff: The cost to the public purse to date for the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft project is £53 million. That includes expenditure in the assessment phase and the current support phase cost.
The current forecast whole life cost is £12 billion; that includes the private finance initiative (PFI) contract cost, and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) costs such as fuel and RAF manpower that fall outside the PFI contract.
The flexibility within the contract allows the MOD to optimise value for money by exploiting the aircraft to the utmost. We are also investigating options with international partners on how best to utilise any spare capacity.
The first two Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft, Airbus A330-200, converted to military specification are currently undergoing ground and flight testing ahead of the first
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aircraft coming into service later this year. The A330-200 is a modern aircraft delivering high levels of capability, reliability, flexibility and economy. It will provide the air-to-air refuelling and the passenger air transport capability that is currently provided by the Royal Air Force's fleet of VC10 and TriStar aircraft. The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft will also be capable of providing aeromedical evacuation of personnel.
Harrier Aircraft
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the most recent date was on which HMS Ark Royal went to sea with its Harrier aircraft; how many Harrier aircraft were on board; how many pilots of such aircraft were qualified to (a) land on and (b) take off from an aircraft carrier during (i) daylight and (ii) darkness; and how many sorties were flown; [66662]
(2) how many pilots of Harrier aircraft were qualified to (a) land on and (b) take off from an aircraft carrier during (i) daylight and (ii) darkness on 12 May 2011. [66663]
Nick Harvey: The most recent occasion on which HMS Ark Royal went to sea with Harrier GR9 aircraft embarked was on 19 November 2010. A total of four aircraft from 800 Naval Air Squadron and one (Fighter) Squadron Royal Air Force embarked the ship, and disembarked on 24 November, off the coast of Newcastle. No sorties were flown. Eight pilots were onboard the ship throughout this period: all were qualified to land and take off from the aircraft carrier during daylight and one was night qualified.
Following the withdrawal from service of the Harrier force announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, Joint Force Harrier disbanded on 15 December 2010. By 12 May 2011, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force ex-Harrier pilots had been transferred to undertake alternative positions within their respective services.
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Harrier aircraft have been sold since the conclusion of the Strategic Defence and Security Review; to whom; and for what price. [66712]
Peter Luff: No Harrier aircraft have been sold. Disposal options are currently being considered but no decisions have yet been made.
Italy: Armed Forces
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel are currently stationed or deployed in Italy. [65662]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 14 July 2011]:The number of service personnel deployed or stationed in Italy as at 11 July 2011 are given in the following table.
| Number of service personnel (1) | |
18 July 2011 : Column 583W
| (1 )Rounded to the nearest 50 personnel. (2 )Includes Defence Section personnel in support of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other standing liaison officer roles. | |
The precise number of personnel overseas fluctuates on a daily basis for a variety of reasons, including temporary absence for training, evacuation for medical reasons, the roulement of forces, visits and a range of other factors. We do not, therefore, publish actual figures for personnel deployed.
Judicial Review
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent in each cost category on representation and related costs in relation to judicial reviews relating to inquests in each year since 2006-07. [66088]
Nick Harvey: Since 2006-07, there have been two judicial reviews arising from inquests into the deaths of members of the armed forces, those involving the deaths of Private Jason Smith and Cpl Dewi Pritchard. The Ministry of Defence (MOD)’s legal costs, spread over several years, totalled £308,812.00. In the Smith case the MOD also paid the claimant’s costs of £456,729.87.
Libya: Armed Conflict
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what exit strategy has been determined for British troops serving in Libya. [64870]
Nick Harvey: UK forces, under NATO command, have been at the forefront of Operation Unified Protector, enforcing United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973. The operation will continue until the Libyan regime ceases to use violence against its own people.
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons eight ships were refused entry into Libyan ports under NATO's Operation Unified Protector. [64881]
Nick Harvey: From 31 March to 7 July 2011 the NATO Operation Unified Protector, working closely with the shipping industry, has denied nine vessels entry or exit from Libyan ports in order to enforce the arms embargo established by UN Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011), modified by UN Security Council Resolution 1973 (2011).
Mull of Kintyre Review
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the oral statement of 13 July 2011, Official Report, columns 339-341, on the Mull of Kintyre review, from which departmental budget compensation will be paid. [67351]
Dr Fox: Compensation will be paid from the Ministry of Defence's centrally funded budget.
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NATO Rapid Reaction Corps
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) number and (b) rank is of the UK personnel in HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. [65561] [Official Report, 21 October 2011, Vol. 533, c. 11MC.]
Nick Harvey: The number and rank/grade of UK military and civilian personnel in the HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps is shown in the following table:
| Military rank | Number of personnel |
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current UK obligation is to the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. [65580]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 12 July 2011]: The Strategic Defence and Security Review confirmed the pivotal role of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) as part of the UK's contribution to NATO. The UK provides the peacetime Headquarters, majority of staff, communications and, in addition when deployed, life-support and strategic/operational movement.
Just under 60% of the peacetime staff of HQ ARRC are from the UK and the UK's two combat divisions (1 (UK) Armoured Division and 3 (UK) Division) are assigned as subordinate formations. The UK also affiliates the majority of the ARRC's combat support and combat service support units.
Navy: Aircraft Carriers
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the length of time between completion and entry into service of the Royal Navy's second aircraft carrier. [66709]
Peter Luff: In general, Royal Navy ships undergo a series of sea trials to prove various aspects of the platform as they move from completion, which we have interpreted to mean contract acceptance date, into service. There is no set duration for this activity, it is tailored for each individual platform as requirements dictate.
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Investigations are under way to determine the optimum solution for converting one of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, including which ship should be converted. This work will consider the required trials package in each case and we expect to make our final decisions on carrier conversion in late 2012.
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department expects to spend on the Royal Navy's second aircraft carrier in each year it is not operational in order to enable future operational duties. [66710]
Peter Luff: No decisions have yet been taken as to which of the two Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, will be used as the operational carrier and which will be placed into extended readiness. The costs of retaining a carrier in extended readiness are being investigated as part of our study work into conversion. Firm decisions on the conversion are expected in late 2012.
Schools: Finance
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in respect of which schools expenditure from the continuity of education allowance was incurred in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10 and (d) 2010-11. [66156]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 14 July 2011]:This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Tornado Aircraft
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to reduce the number of Tornado aircraft in the period to May 2015. [66950]
Peter Luff: Two Tornado squadrons, XIII Squadron, based at RAF Marham, and No. 14 Squadron, based at RAF Lossiemouth, were selected by the Air Force Board Standing Committee for disbandment by 1 June 2011. We expect to further reduce Tornado aircraft numbers gradually to coincide with the expected run down of operations in Afghanistan and the build-up of our Typhoon force.
Trident
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2011, Official Report, column 675W, on Trident, whether he has made an assessment of whether, if the funding allocated for the replacement of Trident were invested in other capabilities in the defence and security economy, including (a) intelligence services, (b) special forces, (c) the police and (d) other capabilities, a commensurate level of deterrence could be achieved. [66515]
Dr Fox:
Our current analysis is that we cannot rule out the risk either that a major direct nuclear threat to the UK's vital interests will re-emerge or that new states will emerge that possess a more limited nuclear capability but nevertheless one that could pose a grave threat to
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our vital interests. We therefore see an enduring role for the UK's nuclear forces as an essential part of our capability for deterring nuclear-armed opponents. As stated in the 2006 White Paper "The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent" (Cm 6994) conventional capabilities cannot have the same deterrent effect as nuclear weapons.
This remains Government policy.
Type 42 Destroyer
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the costs to his Department are of maintaining the Type 42 Destroyer fleet beyond its intended service life until the delivery of the Type 45 Destroyer. [66917]
Peter Luff: The cost of extending the Type 42 Destroyer fleet lifespan beyond its intended service life to coincide with the delivery of the six Type 45 Destroyers is estimated to be £195 million. This includes deep maintenance, planned maintenance, unplanned maintenance, manpower, spares and equipment.
As confirmed by the National Audit Office in their 2009 report: Providing Anti-Air Warfare Capability: the type 45 Destroyer, this is not an additional cost to the Department because operating costs would have been incurred for the Type 45 destroyers if they had been delivered to their original timescales.
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost to the public purse is of maintaining the Type 42 Destroyer fleet over its intended service life. [66681]
Peter Luff: The cost of maintaining the Type 42 Destroyer fleet of fourteen ships over its service life, from 1978 to 2013, is estimated to be £709 million.
This estimate does not include running costs, naval base expenditure or disposal costs. Costs between 1978 and 1998 have been estimated using historical data on a pro-rata basis, as a more accurate estimate could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Costs from 1999 onwards are the final contract values for support maintenance. There are no further planned support periods after March 2011, so no costs were forecast after this date.
Unmanned Air Vehicles
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) hours flown and (b) strikes by unmanned aircraft there have been in Afghanistan in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) 2011 to date. [64473]
Nick Harvey: The numbers of hours flown by UK remotely piloted air systems (RPAS) and unmanned air systems (UAS) in Afghanistan, as at 1 July 2011, are shown in the following table. The UK did not have any RPAS or UAS deployed in Afghanistan prior to 2007.
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| Flying h ours (to the nearest hundred) | |||
| Period (inclusive) | Reaper RPAS | Hermes 450 UAS | Desert Hawk 3 UAS |
Reaper, operated by the Royal Air Force, is the UK's only armed RPAS. It entered operational service in October 2007 in Afghanistan. The primary role of the Reaper system operated by the UK remains intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance but they have had the capability to employ air-to-ground weapons since May 2008. The numbers of weapons used by the Reaper remotely piloted air system in Afghanistan are shown in the following table.
| Period (inclusive) | Number of weapons used |
Use of force remains closely regulated and the avoidance of civilian casualties is paramount. We carefully select the type of weapon in every engagement to ensure the most appropriate munition is used to deliver the required effect, while minimising the risk to civilians.
Work and Pensions
Work Programme
22. Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent progress he has made on delivering the Work programme. [66551]
Chris Grayling: DWP launched the Work programme nationally in June. Just over 12 months from the start of policy design, all providers throughout Great Britain are now delivering personalised employment support to people at risk of long-term unemployment.
Employment: Colne Valley
23. Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures are available to him to encourage local companies in Colne Valley constituency to assist young people to enter employment. [66552]
Chris Grayling: In Colne Valley Jobcentre Plus has been working successfully with local employers to promote new ways of helping young people into employment and five employers have already signed up to provide work experience placements.
We are looking to Work programme providers to work closely with employers to help longer-term unemployed young people into sustained employment.
Disability Living Allowance
24. Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his review of the mobility component of disability living allowance will conclude. [66553]
Maria Miller: We have announced that we would not remove the DLA mobility component from people in residential care from October 2012 and would consider this issue as part of our wider reform to introduce personal independence payment from April 2013, which is exactly what we are doing.
It is only right that we consider carefully the needs of this particular group of people to understand their current circumstances before we come to any final decision on how best to address their needs. This will allow us to determine the extent to which there are overlaps in provision for mobility needs of people in residential care homes.
Jobseeker’s Allowance
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many single parents are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance. [66532]
Chris Grayling: In May 2011 there were 118,655 single parents in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance. The figure has been rounded to the nearest five.
Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission
Dame Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission expects to publish its business plan for April 2011 to March 2012. [65696]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the child maintenance commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission expects to publish its business plan for April 2011 to March 2012. [65696].
The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission's Delivery Plan 2011/12 was published on the Commission's website on 11 July 2011:
http://www.childmaintenance.org/en/pdf/Delivery-plan-11-12.pdf
I hope you find this answer helpful.
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Child Maintenance
John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the number of parents owing money to the Child Support Agency who opt for self-employed status. [65476]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the child maintenance commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the number of parents owing money to the Child Support Agency who opt for self- employed status. [65476]
The March 2011 Child Support Agency Quarterly Summary of Statistics available at:
http://www.childmaintenance.org/en/publications/stats0311.html
states that in 8% of total live cases, the non-resident parent is self-employed.
This figure includes cases administered on the CS2 and CSCS computer systems and excludes cases administered off the main computer system. By applying the 8% to the published caseload of 1,145,700 which includes off-system cases, approximately 91,800 cases involve self-employed non-resident parents.
Of the 91,800 live cases where the non-resident parent is self-employed, approximately 70,300 cases owe outstanding child maintenance to either the parent with care or the Secretary of State.
It should be noted that employment status is the latest employment status recorded on the CS2 and CSCS computer systems and may not be fully up to date.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the impact of websites that promote self-employed status as a mechanism for avoiding or reducing payments to the Child Support Agency. [65477]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the child maintenance commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of websites that promote self-employed status as a mechanism for avoiding or reducing payments to the Child Support Agency. [65477]
The Commission does monitor external websites that provide information about child maintenance, and no specific trends have been identified with regards to promoting self-employment as a means of avoiding or reducing maintenance payments.
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If a non-resident parent is self-employed, they still should pay child maintenance in the normal way. Self-employed earnings are usually taken from the self-assessment return that is submitted to HM Revenue and Customs, or from a tax calculation notice. This is consistent with the policy that, in a similar manner as for employed earners, the basis of the child maintenance liability of a self-employed earner is their taxable earnings.
The Commission also has the power to request details of, and statements from, any accounts held by deposit takers in the name of the non-resident parent, including bank and building society accounts. This information can also be obtained from accountants, companies or partnerships with or for whom the non-resident parent works, a face-to-face interview, an inspector's visit, or a direct request to HM Revenue and Customs for self-assessment details where all other means to obtain the information have failed.
Ultimately, if a non-resident parent fails to provide their earnings information, and it cannot be obtained through the methods outlined above, they may have both a default maintenance decision imposed by the Commission and a fine imposed by the courts. A default maintenance decision is a standard rate based on the number of children the non-resident parent must pay child maintenance for and is also fully enforceable.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Dame Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases within the Child Support Agency which have a nil liability relate to children who are (a) aged between 0 and five years, (b) aged between five and 10 years, (c) aged between 10 and 15 years and (d) aged more than 15 years; and how many such cases have been subject to a change of circumstances review since the child maintenance liability was first assessed. [65698]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the child maintenance commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases within the Child Support Agency which have a nil liability are (a) aged between 0 and five years, (b) aged between five and 10 years, (c) aged between 10 and 15 years and (d) aged more than 15 years; and how many such cases have been subject to a change of circumstances review since the child maintenance liability was first assessed. [65698]
The latest case figures published in the Child Support Agency's Quarterly Summary of Statistics (QSS) show that there are 283,900 nil liability cases in the quarter ending March 2011. The latest version of the QSS is available in the House of Commons library or online at:
http://www.childmaintenance.org/en/pdf/qss/qss-mar-2011.pdf
The table below shows the age of these cases as at the end of March 2011 measured from the application start date of the case. The table also shows the number of cases which have had a subsequent assessment carried out following the initial assessment.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
| Subsequent assessment | |||
| Age of case | Yes | No | Total |
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| Notes: 1. Figures include cases administered off the main computer system. 2. Age of cases administered off-system measured from application start date of the case as recorded on CS2 computer system prior to the case being progressed off system. 3. Cases with an unknown age are those cases administered off system which do not have an application start date recorded on the CS2 computer system. 4. A proportion of cases categorised as not having a subsequent assessment may actually have had a subsequent assessment recorded off system. This figure is therefore overstated. | |||
Dame Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the five organisations to which the Child Maintenance Options Service most frequently refers callers through its helpline in instances where they need additional information and advice. [65699]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the child maintenance commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the five organisations to which the Child Maintenance Option's Service most frequently refers callers through its helpline in instances where they need additional information and advice. [65699].
The Child Maintenance Options Service currently signposts, on average, over 25% of callers to other organisations for further information and advice
Aside from the Child Support Agency, the five organisations that callers are most frequently referred to are Gingerbread, Community Legal Advice, Shelterline, HM Revenue and Customs and Citizens Advice.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Conditions of Employment
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many meetings officials of his Department have had with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the Government's employment law review since May 2011. [67342]
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Chris Grayling: The review of employment-related laws being co-ordinated by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is a cross-Government initiative.
As part of the review the Department for Work and Pensions is considering areas of regulation that affect employers and their employees. My Department has:
commissioned an independent review of elements of its workplace pension reform;
launched the joint DWP/BIS independent sickness absence review; and
launched the Löfstedt Review into health and safety legislation.
The Department will also be looking at ideas that emerge from the Red Tape Challenge. Relevant Ministers and officials are in contact with BIS on a regular basis in taking forward all the ongoing workstreams.
Credit Unions
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on provision of advice to the public on the use of credit unions. [66708]
Steve Webb: The Department for Work and Pensions supports organisations like credit unions that offer affordable financial services to people who would otherwise be unable to access them; helping people to save, open bank accounts, pay off debts and learn to manage their finances. Subject to a successful feasibility study which concludes in October 2011, a new modernisation and expansion fund of up to £73 million over the next four years will support those organisations which are ready and prepared to expand their service to a million more people.
DWP advisers provide benefit recipients with impartial information and guidance, signposting customers to organisations such as credit unions, where this is appropriate.
Departmental Manpower
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff his Department and its agencies employ at each pay band. [66798]
Chris Grayling: The number of staff employed by the Department and its agencies at each pay band at 31 March 2011, the latest published information, is set out in the following tables.
For comparison purposes the tables show staffing information in headcount and full-time equivalent (FTE) format.
| Table 1: DWP staffing by business and grade as at 31 March 2011 | ||||||||||
| Headcount (1) | ||||||||||
| Pay band | ||||||||||
| Business area | A/AA | B/AO | C/EO | D/HEO | E/SEO | F/Grade 7 | G/Grade 6 | SCS | Not recorded | Total |
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| (1) Total count of staff based on each employee counting as 1. Notes: 1. Staff numbers derived from monthly Point in Time Extract from the Department's personnel system and are consistent with Office for National Statistics definitions. 2. Not recorded refers to a small number of cases where the grade was not recorded on the payroll record at the time the data were extracted from the Department's personnel system. 3. Pay band abbreviations: A/AA—Administrative Assistant B/AO—Administrative Officer C/EO—Executive Officer D/HEO—Higher Executive Officer S/SEO—Senior Executive Officer SCS—Senior Civil Service. | ||||||||||
| Table 2: DWP staffing by business and grade as at 31 March 2011 | ||||||||||
| Full-time e quivalent (1) | ||||||||||
| Pay band | ||||||||||
| Business a rea | A/AA | B/AO | C/EO | D/HEO | E/SEO | F/Grade 7 | G/Grade 6 | SCS | Not recorded | Total |
| (1) Headcount converted to full-time equivalent. Notes: 1. Staff numbers derived from monthly Point in Time Extract from the Department's personnel system and are consistent with Office for National Statistics definitions. 2. Full-time equivalent (FTE) figures may not sum due to FTE rounding. 3. Not recorded refers to a small number of cases where the grade was not recorded on the payroll record at the time the data were extracted from the Department's personnel system. Pay band abbreviations: A/AA—Administrative Assistant B/AO—Administrative Officer C/EO—Executive Officer D/HEO—Higher Executive Officer S/SEO—Senior Executive Officer SCS—Senior Civil Service. | ||||||||||
Derby
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date he last visited Derby in an official capacity. [65793]
Chris Grayling: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), attended regional Cabinet in Derby on Monday 7 March 2011.
Housing Benefit
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of the 50,000 households liable for the household benefit cap who are not to be subject to work search requirements as a condition of the benefit. [67134]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available as sample sizes are too small to yield reliable results for those who may be subject to work search requirements, as opposed to those who may not.
Housing Benefit: Scotland
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many tenants of housing associations and co-operatives in each local authority area in Scotland receive full or partial housing benefit; and what proportion of such tenants in each such area have their payments made directly to the landlord. [67133]
Steve Webb: Information on housing benefit recipients in receipt of full and partial housing benefit is not available.
The proportion of tenants of registered social landlords and claiming housing benefit in each local authority area in Scotland that have their payments made directly to the landlord is shown in the following table.
| Payment destination for tenants of registered social landlords claiming housing benefit in Scottish local authorities | |||
| Percentage | |||
| Payment destination | |||
| Direct to claimant | Direct to landlord | All | |
18 July 2011 : Column 595W
| Notes: 1. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole percentage. 2. Row percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding. 3. Cases with unknown payment destination are excluded from the analysis. This affects a relatively small number of cases. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract April 2011 | |||
Industrial Health and Safety: Offshore Workers
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the effectiveness of the Health and Safety Executive in safeguarding oil and gas workers in the British sector of the North sea; and if he will make a statement. [66307]
Chris Grayling:
The operators of offshore installations have the primary responsibility for management and control of risks to oil and gas workers in the British sector of the North sea. Regulatory oversight of this is a priority area for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). in January 2011, the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee reported that the UK has high offshore
18 July 2011 : Column 596W
regulatory standards and both the European Commission and the US Presidential Commission Report on the Gulf of Mexico incident have stated that the UK regime is a good framework for others to follow.
Statistical trends indicate that injury rates and hydrocarbon releases offshore are declining. However, the hostile nature of the working environment and the ageing nature of the UK's offshore installations mean that there is no room for complacency by the industry or the regulator. HSE's offshore inspection and enforcement activities include targeted programmes of work on asset integrity, (which address issues about managing ageing plant and extending the life of offshore infrastructure), improving the offshore safety culture and effective industry leadership. HSE is challenging the industry to do more to tackle hydrocarbon releases.
There is also currently an independently-led, review of the UK offshore oil and gas regulatory regime in the light of the lessons from the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. This is due to report later this year.
Jobcentre Plus: Manpower
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will estimate likely changes in trends in the number of staff employed by Jobcentre Plus in (a) Glasgow, (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain on fixed-term contracts over the next three financial years; [65945]
(2) what changes in trends in the number of staff employed by Jobcentre Plus in (a) Glasgow, (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain on fixed-term contracts there have been over the last three financial years; [65946]
(3) how many staff are employed by Jobcentre Plus on fixed-term contracts in (a) Glasgow, (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain. [65947]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking: if he will estimate likely changes in trends in the number of staff employed by Jobcentre Plus in (a) Glasgow (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain on fixed-term contracts over the next three financial years.
What changes in trends in the number of staff employed by Jobcentre Plus in (a) Glasgow (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain on fixed-term contracts there have been over the last three financial years.
How many staff are employed by Jobcentre Plus on fixed-term contracts in (a) Glasgow (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain. These are issues that fall within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
In response to Question 1, Jobcentre Plus recruited extra people on fixed term contracts to address the impact of the economic downturn. It was anticipated that increased workloads would be temporary and it was always planned to reduce numbers as the growth in unemployment slowed. Jobcentre Plus continues to keep its workloads and staffing levels under close scrutiny. That includes the need to extend Fixed Term Appointments (FTAs). At this point, Jobcentre Plus does not plan to recruit further FTAs and expects to release the majority of existing FTAs during 2011/12 as they reach the end of their fixed term contracts. This will be kept under review.
18 July 2011 : Column 597W
In response to Question 2, the following table shows the trend in the numbers of staff employed on FTA contracts in Jobcentre Plus by taking the position at March in each of the last three financial years. This data is taken from our internal systems and the numbers based on the latest information we hold. Some people will have worked in more than one period and will therefore be counted in both. The information is set out on a staff in post basis, i.e. employees are counted as a single unit irrespective of the hours they work.
The changes in numbers between years reflect the initial increase in workloads as a result of the economic downturn and the subsequent reductions as workloads declined.
When we report against Glasgow it is on the basis of the operational district.
| 31 March 2011 | 31 March 2010 | 31 March 2009 | |
In response to Question 3, the information shown under the column headed ‘31 March 2011’ in the above table was the number of staff employed by Glasgow, Scotland and Jobcentre Plus nationally on fixed term contracts as at March 2011.
National Insurance: Foreign Nationals
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many national insurance numbers were issued to foreign nationals in each local authority area in (a) the last year for which figures are available and (b) each of the last four quarters for which figures are available. [64524]
Chris Grayling: The information requested has been placed in the Library for both Houses.