Written Answers to Questions
Monday 5 September 2011
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Committee
Members: Allowances
Adam Afriyie: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2011, Official Report, columns 958-59W, on Members: allowances, whether the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority intends to make an assessment of the effects of its schemes on the mental health and well-being of hon. Members. [64901]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated 13 July 2011:
As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking whether we intend to make an assessment of the effect of our Schemes on the mental health of MPs.
We have not received evidence or representations that there is a need for such an assessment.
Adam Afriyie: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2011, Official Report, column 957W, on Members: allowances, whether the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority intends to make an assessment of the extent to which hon. Members are funding their parliamentary duties from personal resources. [64902]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated 13 July 2011:
As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking whether we intend to make an assessment of the extent to which MPs are funding parliamentary duties from personal resources.
There is no requirement for any MP to use his or her personal resources to pay for costs allowable under the MPs' Expenses Scheme. We have introduced several mechanisms to ease any potential cashflow problems for MPs including:
an interest-free loan of up to £4,000;
the use of a payment card for a number of types of expenses; and
payment on invoice and direct payments for rent and pooled research services.
Where an MP necessarily incurs a cost related to their parliamentary functions which is not covered by the MPs' Expenses Scheme, they may also apply to the contingency fund.
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We estimate that 71% of costs by volume may now be paid direct.
MPs may make representations about other costs not covered by the Expenses Scheme and we will consider such representations as part of the next Annual Review of the Scheme.
Leader of the House
Consultants
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Leader of the House how many senior civil servants in his Office at each grade had worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, Deloitte or KPMG immediately prior to taking up their appointment in each of the last four years; what consultancy agreements his Office had with those firms in each such year; and how many consultants from those firms have advised his Office in each such year. [68961]
Correspondence
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Leader of the House how many letters he received from hon. Members in June 2011. [68768]
Sir George Young: I received 17 letters from hon. Members during June 2011.
Official Hospitality
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Leader of the House how much his Office has spent on hospitality for staff since May 2010. [67984]
Sir George Young: My Office has incurred no public expenditure on hospitality events for staff since May 2010.
Publicity
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Leader of the House how much his Office has spent on Ministerial photoshoots and videos since May 2010. [67985]
Sir George Young: My Office has incurred no cost on ministerial photoshoots or videos since May 2010.
Redundancy
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Leader of the House how much his Office has spent on redundancy costs since May 2010. [67987]
Sir George Young: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is part of the Cabinet Office.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), on 18 July 2011, Official Report, column 667W, to my right hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Mr Redwood).
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Training
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Leader of the House how much his Office has spent on training for Ministers since May 2010; and what the training was for. [67986]
Sir George Young: The Parliamentary Secretary, Office of the Leader of the House of Commons, the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr Heath), attended an Induction Training session for new Ministers provided by the National School of Government. Since May 2010, training for Ministers has been centrally funded by the Core Learning Programme.
Members: Pensions
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Leader of the House if he will publish a list of the meetings he has held with representatives of each political party represented in the House of Commons on proposed changes to the pensions of hon. Members in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011. [68062]
Sir George Young: I have regular meetings with hon. and right hon. Members on this and other issues.
Third Sector
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Leader of the House what (a) charities and (b) voluntary organisations he has visited in an official capacity since 12 May 2010. [67988]
Sir George Young: In my role as Leader of the House I attended and spoke at an event in support of the work of the Speakers' Corner Trust in October 2010. As a part of my ongoing commitment to tackling homelessness I also spoke at an event organised by the Rough Sleepers Initiative in March 2011.
I also attend regular events in support of charities and voluntary organisations in my role as a constituency Member of Parliament.
Prime Minister
Cabinet: Chequers
Jon Ashworth: To ask the Prime Minister how many political cabinet meetings have taken place at Chequers since May 2010. [68091]
The Prime Minister: Two Cabinets have met at Chequers covering both Government and political business.
Air Travel
John Mann: To ask the Prime Minister on what occasions he has flown on official business (a) by budget airline and (b) in economy class in the last 12 months. [67907]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the details of my overseas travel which is published at least quarterly on the Cabinet Office website:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations
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My travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in chapter 10 of the Ministerial Code.
Correspondence
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister how many letters his Office received from hon. Members in June 2011. [68763]
The Prime Minister: My office received over 350 letters from hon. Members in June 2011, including those forwarding constituents’ questions.
Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions a request for a meeting by an hon. Member of each political party was refused by (a) the Prime Minister directly and (b) officials on behalf of the Prime Minister in November 2010. [67596]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 July 2011, Official Report, column 1087W.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Prime Minister what meetings he has had with (a) social workers, (b) teachers, (c) nurses, (d) doctors, (e) police officers and (f) business leaders since May 2010. [68148]
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Prime Minister what meetings he has had with (a) social workers, (b) teachers, (c) nurses, (d) doctors, (e) police officers and (f) business leaders since May 2010. [68300]
The Prime Minister: I regularly meet social workers, teachers, nurses, doctors, police officers and business leaders, including on visits around the country, and at receptions and meetings hosted at Number 10. For further information I refer the hon. Members to the Number 10 website, which often gives further information about my visits, to the lists of meetings with external organisations which is published at least quarterly, and the list of receptions hosted at Number 10. These are available on the Cabinet Office website:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations
Human Rights: China
Jim Shannon: To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the Chinese Delegation to the UK on the issue of (a) religious discrimination and (b) human rights. [68521]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave during the press conference with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on 27 June 2011. A transcript of the press conference is available on the Number 10 website:
http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/speeches-and-transcripts/2011/06/press-conference-with-premier-wen-jiabao-65285
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Malaysia: Elections
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had with the Prime Minister of Malaysia on electoral reform and the right to demonstrate in that country. [67444]
The Prime Minister: During the Prime Minister of Malaysia's visit to the United Kingdom we agreed on the importance of building more open and inclusive societies and supporting democracy over repression.
National Security Council
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many meetings he has had with the National Security Adviser since the creation of the National Security Council; [67411]
(2) what role and responsibilities he has in relation to the National Security Council; and what recent contribution he has made to its work. [67413]
The Prime Minister: I chair the National Security Council which meets regularly, in some cases several times a week. The National Security Adviser is Secretary to the National Security Council and I therefore meet him on a regular basis, in addition to other meetings.
Taxation: European Union
Priti Patel: To ask the Prime Minister whether any proposal to introduce Europe-wide taxation measures for the purposes of raising resources for the EU would be subject to a referendum. [69101]
Justine Greening: I have been asked to reply.
Section 7 of the European Union Act 2011 provides that a decision to use Article 311 TFEU to adopt a system of Own Resources would require approval through an Act of Parliament.
Third Sector
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister what the name is of each charity and voluntary organisation he has visited since 12 May 2010. [67532]
Tony Lloyd: To ask the Prime Minister what the name is of each charity and voluntary organisation he has visited since 12 May 2010. [67667]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Members to my list of UK visits and the list of official and charity receptions held at 10 Downing street which have been published on the Cabinet Office website
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations
These include visits to Combat Stress and events held at 10 Downing street for charities including the British Red Cross and Great Ormond Street.
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In addition my Office is undertaking volunteering activity with two social action partners during 2011: Blue Sky Development and Regeneration and Street League. For further details I refer the hon. Members to the press notice on the No. 10 website
http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2010/12/number-10-staff-select-two-charities-to-support-in-2011-58400
Deputy Prime Minister
Lost Property
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what property has been (a) lost and (b) stolen from his office in the last 12 months; and what the cost of replacement was. [66580]
The Deputy Prime Minister: My office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer today given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr Maude).
Departmental Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will consider keeping data on the number of times he has declined a request for a meeting from an hon. Member of each political party. [67192]
The Deputy Prime Minister: Pressures on my diary regrettably mean that I am not able to accept all requests for meetings. My office is not required to hold details of the number of meetings declined and there are no plans to do so.
National Security Council
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many meetings he has had with the National Security Adviser since the creation of the National Security Council. [67326]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I am the Deputy Chair of the National Security Council which meets regularly, in some cases several times a week. The National Security Adviser is Secretary to the National Security Council and I therefore meet him on a regular basis, as well as in the course of my wider responsibilities.
Communities and Local Government
Surplus Homes
19. Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to put into productive use empty and surplus property. [69940]
Robert Neill: We have recently consulted on proposals to make it easier to change use from commercial to residential and will make an announcement on the way forward soon.
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We have already put in place powerful tools and incentives to support local communities to tackle empty homes and underused land and property.
20. Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has considered taking steps to ensure better use of surplus holiday homes. [69941]
Andrew Stunell: I know my hon. Friend sees surplus holiday homes as a potential source of affordable housing.
Government reforms give high priority to housing supply, and the draft National Planning Policy Framework urges authorities to recognise the benefits of housing growth.
We will not, though, insist that permission should always be granted for using or redeveloping of holiday homes as permanent dwellings.
Green Belt
21. Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to protect the green belt. [69943]
Greg Clark: The draft National Planning Policy Framework is unequivocal in continuing the protection of the green belt.
By abolishing the previous Government's Regional Spatial Strategies, through the Localism Bill, we are removing the top-down pressure on local authorities to remove the green belt in 30 areas across England.
Affordable Housing
Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effects of the increase in the rate of VAT on housing associations wishing to build affordable homes. [68509]
Andrew Stunell: We have made no detailed assessment of the effect of the VAT increase on housing associations. These are organisations independent of Government who react individually to changes in market conditions.
However, I can confirm that housing associations’ responses to the new Affordable Homes Programme, have allowed us to exceed our predictions. We now expect to provide up to 170,000 new affordable homes between 2011 and 2015, compared with our original estimate of 150,000.
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Carbon Emissions
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2011, Official Report, column 1143W, whether the sources of low-carbon energy generation to be used by his Department as a means of reducing its carbon dioxide emissions are to be manufactured in the UK. [67936]
Robert Neill: The Department does not hold information on whether the sources of low-carbon energy generation to be used by the Department will be manufactured in the UK. Future energy generation contracts will be let by Cabinet Office on behalf of central Government as part of their Common Commodities Programme.
Contractors
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has a policy on requirements for the provision of (a) apprenticeships and (b) other training by (i) his Department's prime contractors and (ii) suppliers in the supply chain of such contractors. [66600]
Robert Neill: The Department expects its suppliers and supply chain partners to deploy capable staff on contracts servicing our needs. Our procurement processes include relevant checks on supplier capability. It is for suppliers themselves to decide their training and apprenticeship requirements.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many apprenticeships have been created directly by contracts with his Department in each of the last three years. [66602]
Robert Neill: The Department does not hold this information.
Contractors: Payments
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what late payments to contractors his Department has made between June 2007 and May 2010; and what the total cost to the public purse was of any (a) penalty charges or (b) interest charges incurred in that period. [68394]
Robert Neill: The following table gives details of the total number of payments made by the Department and the number of payments paid late after 30 days. We do not have any record of paying penalty charges or interest charges for any of these late payments.
|
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Total payments | Late payments | Percentage late |
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5 Sep 2011 : Column 10W
Correspondence
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many letters his Department received from hon. Members in June 2011. [68762]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government received 984 letters from hon. Members in June 2011.
Official Cars
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to the public purse was of (a) cars leased by his Department to staff and (b) ministerial chauffeurs between June 2007 and May 2010. [68382]
Robert Neill: The Department does not lease any cars to staff.
I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Bristol West (Stephen Williams) of 18 July 2011, Official Report, columns 608-69W.
Official Hospitality
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on entertaining in each financial year since 2007-08. [67733]
Robert Neill: We have interpreted entertainment to mean attendance at spectator type events such as concerts or sports. Departmental records show no such expenditure since 2007-08.
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on hospitality for staff since May 2010. [67812]
Robert Neill [holding answer 19 July 2011]: Staff hospitality is defined as the provision of food and drink for meetings. I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 1 February 2011, Official Report, column 745W, which outlined spending from May to December 2010. From January to June 2011, provisional records estimate that £21,262 was spent.
This compares with a comparable spend of £456,142 in 2009-10 under the last Administration. There has thus been a considerable reduction in spending as a consequence of cost-saving initiatives introduced under the new Government.
Departmental Pay
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the estimated saving to the public purse was from lower staff wage costs arising from industrial action by staff of his Department on 30 June 2011. [68899]
Robert Neill: The total amount which will not be paid as salary to members of the Department for Communities and Local Government staff who participated in industrial action on 30 June 2011 is £22,136, excluding employer’s national insurance and pension contributions.
5 Sep 2011 : Column 11W
Publicity
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on photo shoots and videos involving Ministers since May 2010. [67431]
Robert Neill [holding answer 19 July 2011]: No ministerial photography has been purchased using taxpayers' money since May 2010. This compares with £2,648 of taxpayers' money spent on ministerial photography from April 2006 to April 2010.
Any videos featuring Ministers since May 2010 have been produced in-house. Therefore any expenditure incurred would have been part of overall running and salary costs, and no external costs have been incurred. By contrast, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 27 April 2011, Official Report, column 455W, for an example of excessive spending on ministerial videos under the last Administration.
Procurement
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the annual value is of his Department's current contracts in each sector in which contracts are held. [66601]
Robert Neill: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Information on the Department's spending over £500 and the details of new Government contracts can be found online as part of the Government's transparency initiative.
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many procurement contracts his Department has awarded to small businesses since May 2010. [67247]
Robert Neill: The Department keeps a register of all contracts with a value of over £20,000 and records show that since May 2010, 21 contracts (31% of all such contracts) were awarded to small businesses.
Stationery
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to the public purse was of stationery purchased by his Department between June 2007 and May 2010. [68388]
Robert Neill: The Department has spent the following on stationery with its preferred supplier over this period. The Department does not hold a breakdown of figures for 2007-08 so the following figure represents full year spend.
|
|
£ |
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Departmental Training
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) date, (b) location, (c) number of attendees and (d) cost to the public purse was for each (i) away day and (ii) team-building activity organised for staff in his Department between June 2007 and May 2010. [68334]
Robert Neill: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Enterprise Zones
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to announce the next round of local enterprise zones. [68781]
Greg Clark: The closing date for the receipt of bids was 30 June 2011 and the successful bids were announced on 17 August 2011 and can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/newsroom/1967595
A copy has also been placed in the Library of the House.
Fire Services: Conditions of Employment
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effects on physical requirements of firefighters of setting the retirement age at 60; and if he will make a statement. [68924]
Robert Neill: In 2002, under the last Administration, the Independent Review of the Fire Service found that the job of a firefighter does not carry any greater risk than many other occupations. In 2007, the New Firefighters' Pension Scheme was introduced with a normal pension age of 60. In March 2011, Lord Hutton's review into public sector pensions recommended that, in recognising the unique nature of their work, the Government should consider setting a new normal pension age of 60 across the uniformed services.
The Government have accepted Lord Hutton's recommendations as a basis for consultation with public sector workers, trades unions and others. Following the written ministerial statement on 19 July 2011, Official Report, columns 92-94WS, given by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the right hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander), scheme level discussions have begun to deliver initial proposals for reformed schemes by the end of October 2011. Lord Hutton's recommendations will also inform these scheme level discussions, which will include consideration of the normal pension age for firefighters.
Fire Services: Expenditure
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to the public purse was of each control centre constructed under the FiReControl project in the last six months; and what estimate he has made of the cost of each centre in the next 12 months. [63801]
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Robert Neill: For the current running costs of all the control centres, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (John McDonnell) on 13 July 2011, Official Report, columns 362-63W. In that response I highlight the National Audit Office report of 1 July 2011, HC 1272, on “The Failure of the FiReControl project”.
The National Audit Office report states on the empty buildings: “The Department's failure to manage the project as a whole has resulted in the creation of empty regional control centres. The nine regional control centres were purpose-built to house the new computerised equipment and were designed specifically for that purpose. The Department's decision to prioritise the procurement of the centres over the IT system at an early stage meant that the first centres were completed in June 2007, just three months after the IT contract had been awarded” (p.8).
The total running costs incurred at each control centre building for the last six months (December 2010 to May 2011) and the most recent estimate of running costs (including rent, facilities management, utilities, rates, etc.) for the following 12 months (June 2011 to May 2012) are shown in the following table.
| £ | ||
| Control centre building | Cost incurred in last six months (1) | Estimated running cost in the next 12 months (1) |
| (1)A11 costs exclude VAT. | ||
The hon. Member will note that the estimated running cost for the London control centre over the next 12 months is reduced compared to the current monthly cost given in the answer to the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington. This is because the London Fire Brigade expects to move into the building at the end of this year and will take over the running costs except for the rent during this period. The Department has also taken steps to reduce facilities management costs by 25 per cent through renegotiating the contract and utilities costs by 35 per cent through reduced usage in all the buildings.
Our aim is to achieve the best possible value for money for the taxpayer from these buildings. Our preference is for fire and rescue services to use the centres, as they are highly resilient and built for this purpose. We have already reached agreement with the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority to take over the control centre in Merton. The London Fire Brigade intends to move in later this year and will take over the running costs at that point. Those fire and rescue services hoping to move into the buildings are not expected to begin contributing to the rent during the period in question. Where we cannot reach agreement for fire and rescue services to move in, we are actively seeking suitable tenants for them. This will further reduce costs.
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This Government took decisive action and closed down the costly FiReControl project when it became clear that it could not be delivered to an acceptable timeframe. I refer the hon. Member to the National Audit Office report of 1 July 2011, HC 1272, on “The Failure of the FiReControl project” and the written ministerial statement on the future of fire and rescue control services made to the House on 5 July 2011, Official Report, columns 82-83WS.
Fire Services: Manpower
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of front-line jobs in fire services which are expected to be lost in addition to those already announced. [68922]
Robert Neill: The Department has not made such an estimate. It is for individual fire and rescue authorities to determine appropriate levels of emergency cover, taking account of analysis of risk locally, as part of integrated risk management planning.
I also refer the hon. Member to my letter to him of 6 December 2010, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House, which outlines how fire and rescue authorities can make sensible savings without impacting on the quality or breadth of services offered to their communities.
Fire Services: Pensions
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what the (a) assets and (b) long-term liabilities are of the (i) Firefighters' Pension Scheme and (ii) New Firefighters' Pension Scheme; [68495]
(2) what his policy is on firefighters paying a greater contribution to their pension scheme. [68496]
Robert Neill: As unfunded schemes, neither the Firefighters' Pension Scheme 1992 nor the New Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2006 have any assets. The 2007 actuarial valuation of the two fire pension schemes found that the total liability for all accrued benefits was £13.8 billion as at 31 March 2007. Of this, current members of the Firefighters Pension Scheme 1992 accounted for £6.4 billion and pensions in payment for former members accounted for £6.9 billion. The remainder applied to members with deferred benefits, pensions in payment for dependents. The actuarial liability of the New Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2006 was valued at £0.0 billion in 2007.
The Department will shortly be issuing statutory consultation proposals setting out the Department's approach to increased employee contribution increases with effect from April 2012.
Gifts and Endowments
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2011, Official Report, column 449W, on gifts and endowments, (a) what the name is of each Minister who received each gift, (b) who donated each gift and (c) what wines and spirits were received. [61034]
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Robert Neill: Based on the records available, information on gifts valued below £140 recorded by the Department as having been received in 2009-10 is as follows. Where recorded, this also includes details of donors.
Mug from Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team
Red wine from ambassador of Qatar (retained by the Department for use at official functions)
Decorative plaques received on ministerial visit to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia
Calendar
Fine Bone China Plate
Framed Photograph
Lacquerware box
Photo Frame
Stationery
Wooden Plate
Book from Azerbaijan Delegation
Cognac from Azerbaijan Delegation
Food hamper from Regional Food Group for Yorkshire and Humber
Replica Miner’s Lamp given on a visit to the National Coal Mining Museum for England(*)
Trinket box.*
The list includes two additional items (marked with an asterisk) to the list given in my answer of 9 June 2011, Official Report, column 449W, which were subsequently identified in a further search of departmental records.
Government Procurement Card
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount, (c) supplier and (d) level 3 or enhanced transaction entry was of each transaction undertaken by the Housing Ombudsman using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10. [68895]
Robert Neill: No such transactions have taken place as the Independent Housing Ombudsman Ltd does not use the Government Procurement Card.
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount, (c) supplier and (d) level 3 or enhanced transaction entry was of each transaction undertaken by the Thurrock Gateway Development Corporation using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10. [68897]
Robert Neill: A table providing a breakdown of expenditure by the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation using Government Procurement Cards for 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 has been placed in the Library of the House. This includes (a) date of purchase, (b) amount and (c) supplier. We do not hold details of (d) level 3 or enhanced transactions. Each transaction does have an expenditure type which is a broad description of the type of goods purchased.
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Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount, (c) supplier and (d) level 3 or enhanced transaction entry was of each transaction undertaken by the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10. [68898]
Andrew Stunell: No such transactions have taken place as West Northamptonshire Development Corporation does not use the Government Procurement Card.
Homelessness: Expenditure
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2011, Official Report, column 1000W, on homelessness: social rented housing, how much and what proportion of the figure given in the answer for local authority prevention or relief activities in 2009-10 related to activities under section 192(3) of the Housing Act 1996. [67661]
Grant Shapps: The figures provided in the previous answer related to all prevention and relief activities. It is not possible to break down the number of those activities that were carried out under section 192(3) of the Housing Act 1996 from the data the Department holds.
Homelessness: Liverpool
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will estimate the likely number of homeless people in Liverpool, Walton constituency in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014. [67728]
Grant Shapps: This Department has not made forecasts for future levels of homelessness.
Information about local authorities' discharge of their duties under homelessness legislation is collected on quarterly PIE returns. Summary information about English local housing authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected at local authority level, and published by the Department in the quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, available both in the Library of the House and via the DCLG website:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/
Figures are provided at local authority level in the table at the following link:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/1918724.xls
Figures are not collected at constituency level.
Figures are also collected on rough sleeping. The Government have introduced a new more accurate way of evaluating rough sleeping levels in England. Previously, only local authorities where there was a known, or suspected, rough sleeping problem were required to provide a count. All areas across England now provide counts or robust estimates giving a clear national picture. Latest statistics show 1,768 rough sleepers in England on any one night in autumn 2010.
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Rough sleeping figures are published by the Department on the DCLG website and are given by local authority in the table 2 at the following link:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/xls/1845849.xls
Figures are not collected at constituency level.
This Government are committed to tackling rough sleeping and preventing homelessness. We have maintained the level of Homelessness Grant, with £400 million for local authorities and the voluntary sector over the next four years. A cross-departmental ministerial working group has been set up to address the complex causes of homelessness and improve support for homeless people.
Homelessness: Young People
Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many young people aged between 16 and 18 became homeless in each of the last five years; and what proportion of these young people were care leavers. [68228]
Grant Shapps: Information about local authorities' discharge of their duties under homelessness legislation is collected on quarterly PIE returns. Summary information about English local housing authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected at local authority level, and published by the Department in the quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, available both in the Library of the House and via the DCLG website:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/
Information is collected on the age of households accepted as being homeless but the age bands are ‘16-24', ‘25-44', ‘45-59’, ‘60-64', ‘65-74' and ‘75 and over'. Figures are published in table 11 of the release, found at the following link:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/xls/1918669.xls
Information is not collected on whether members of households accepted as homeless were formally in care.
Breakdowns are not available for other types of homelessness, eg rough sleeping.
This Government are committed to tackling rough sleeping and preventing homelessness. We have maintained the level of Homelessness Grant, with £400 million for local authorities and the voluntary sector over the next four years. A cross-departmental Ministerial Working Group has been set up to address the complex causes of homelessness and improve support for homeless people.
Land Use
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had with (a) representatives of the house building industry and (b) the Office of Fair Trading on the practice of land banking by private housing developers. [69191]
Andrew Stunell:
The Office of Fair Trading market study, Homebuilding in the UK (2008) did not find “any evidence that housebuilders have the ability to
5 Sep 2011 : Column 18W
anti-competitively hoard land or own a large amount of land with planning permission on which they have not started to build.”
The Minister for Housing and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps), announced on 8 June that the Government are planning to release enough public land to build as many as 100,000 new homes by 2015. By this autumn Government Departments with significant land holdings will publish plans to release land to housebuilders.
Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published on my Department's website. Ministers discuss a wide range of issues.
Local Government Finance
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration he has given to the funding of (a) fire and police services and (b) other risk-based services within his proposed changes to local government funding. [68052]
Robert Neill: The Government published ‘Local Government Resource Review: Proposals for Business Rate Retention’ on 18 July 2011 for consultation. This contains proposals for the future funding of non-billing authorities, including fire and police authorities. A technical paper which set out further details for non-billing authorities was published in August.
Local Government: Manpower
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff were employed by local authorities in England in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11. [69162]
Robert Neill: The Department does not hold records of the number of people employed by local authorities. The Office for National Statistics publishes local government employment statistics and these show that staff headcount employed by local authorities in England were:
(a) 2008-09 (Quarter 2, 2008) was 2,436,000
(b) 2009-10 (Quarter 2, 2009) was 2,431,000
Figures for 2010-11 have not yet been published.
Non-domestic Rates
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have granted hardship relief to local businesses in the last four years; and for how long a period in each case. [67693]
Robert Neill [holding answer 19 July 2011]: The following list gives details of those local authorities in England that reported they granted hardship relief in the period 2006-07 to 2009-10:
Ashford
Aylesbury Vale
Babergh
Barking and Dagenham
Barnsley
Basingstoke and Deane
Bassetlaw
5 Sep 2011 : Column 19W
Bedford(1)
Bedford UA(2)
Berwick-upon-Tweed(1)
Birmingham
Blyth Valley(1)
Bolsover
Bolton
Boston
Bradford
Breckland
Brent
Bridgnorth(1)
Brighton and Hove
Bristol
Broadland
Broxbourne
Bury
Camden
Cannock Chase
Canterbury
Caradon(1)
Carlisle
Castle Morpeth(1)
Central Bedfordshire UA(2)
Charnwood
Cheltenham
Cheshire East UA(2)
Chester(1)
Christchurch
City of London
Copeland
Cornwall UA(2)
Crewe and Nantwich(1)
Dacorum
Daventry
Derby UA
Derwentside(1)
Dover
Durham City(1)
Durham UA(2)
Easington(1)
East Cambridgeshire
East Devon
East Hampshire
East Lindsey
East Riding of Yorkshire UA
East Staffordshire
Eastbourne
Eastleigh
Ellesmere Port and Neston(1)
Exeter
Fenland
Forest Heath
Forest of Dean
Fylde
Gedling
Gloucester
Greenwich
Guildford
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Hackney
Hambleton
Harborough
Harrogate
Hastings
High Peak
Hillingdon
Hinckley and Bosworth
Horsham
Hounslow
Huntingdonshire
Ipswich
Kennet(1)
Kensington and Chelsea
Kerrier(1)
Kings Lynn and West Norfolk
Kirklees
Knowsley
Leeds
Leicester UA
Lewes
Lewisham
Liverpool
Luton UA
Macclesfield(1)
Manchester
Mansfield
Medway UA
Mendip
Mid Bedfordshire(1)
Mid Suffolk
Mid Sussex
Middlesbrough UA
Milton Keynes UA
Newark and Sherwood
Newcastle upon Tyne
North Cornwall(1)
North Dorset
North East Derbyshire
North East Lincolnshire UA
North Lincolnshire UA
North Tyneside
North Warwickshire
Northumberland UA(2)
Norwich
Oldham
Plymouth UA
Preston
Purbeck
Redcar and Cleveland UA
Restormel(1)
Richmondshire
Rother
Rotherham
Rushcliffe
Rushmoor
Ryedale
Salford
Salisbury(1)
5 Sep 2011 : Column 21W
Sandwell
Scarborough
Sedgemoor
Selby
Sevenoaks
Sheffield
Shepway
Shrewsbury and Atcham(1)
Shropshire UA(2)
Slough UA
South Bedfordshire(1)
South Cambridgeshire
South Derbyshire
South Gloucestershire UA
South Holland
South Lakeland
South Norfolk
South Northamptonshire
South Oxfordshire
South Ribble
South Somerset
South Staffordshire
Southwark
St Albans
St Edmundsbury
Stafford
Stevenage
Stoke-on-Trent UA
Stratford-on-Avon
Stroud
Suffolk Coastal
Sutton
Tameside
Tamworth
Tandridge
Teignbridge
Tendring
Test Valley
Tewkesbury
Thanet
Torridge
Tower Hamlets
Tynedale(1)
Vale Royal(1)
Wandsworth
Warrington UA
Waveney
Wealden
West Berkshire UA
West Devon
West Dorset
West Lindsey
West Somerset
West Wiltshire(1)
Westminster
Weymouth and Portland
Wigan
Wiltshire UA(2)
Winchester
5 Sep 2011 : Column 22W
Windsor and Maidenhead UA
Wirral
Woking
Wokingham UA
Wolverhampton
Worcester
Wychavon
Wycombe
Wyre Forest.
(1 )These authorities were in existence in 2006-07 to 2008-09 only and ceased to exist from 1 April 2009 due to local government reorganisation.
(2) These are unitary authorities that came into existence on 1 April 2009.
The figures used to produce this list are taken from the annual audited national non-domestic rates (NNDR3) returns submitted by all billing authorities in England and are net i.e. they are the amount of hardship relief granted both in respect of the current year and/or previous years less any repayment of hardship relief incorrectly made in respect of previous years.
Under our plans for local retention of business rates, rate relief will continue to be supported, meaning no adverse change to such groups as charities, amateur sports clubs, voluntary groups, those in hardship, and eligible rural or small firms.
Gavin Barwell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was due to be collected in uniform business rates in each billing authority area in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2010-11. [68465]
Robert Neill: Details of the amount of national non-domestic rates that was due to be collected in each billing authority area in England in 2006-07 and 2010-11 are published in statistical releases on the Department for Communities and Local Government website at
http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/localregional/localgovernmentfinance/statistics/counciltax/collectionrates/
Data for 2006-07 can be found in column 0 of table 4 of the statistics release “Collection rates for council tax and non-domestic rates in England 2006-07” and data for 2010-11 can be found in column 0 of table 7 of the statistics release “Collection rates for council tax and non-domestic rates in England 2010-11”.
The data are taken from the Quarterly Return of Council tax and Non-domestic rates (QRC4) forms that are returned annually by all billing authorities in England.
Non-domestic Rates: Empty Property
Mr Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the impact on speculative property development of the decision to reduce the empty property rates threshold for commercial properties. [68169]
Robert Neill: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 8 February 2011, Official Report, column 178W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Patrick Mercer).
5 Sep 2011 : Column 23W
Overcrowding
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has any plans to revise the definition of overcrowding for the purposes of the Housing Act 1985. [64019]
Andrew Stunell: The reforms to social housing allocations, homelessness and tenure which are being taken forward in the Localism Bill will make it much easier for social landlords to manage their stock to reduce overcrowding.
We have no plans currently to change the statutory overcrowding standard. We will consult on new statutory allocations guidance later this year.
Planning
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what standards will be applied to (a) transport statements, (b) transport assessments and (c) travel plans under draft version 4 of the National Planning Policy Framework. [67766]
Robert Neill: The National Planning Policy Framework consultation, which includes a draft impact assessment, was launched on 25 July. Copies of all documents are in the Library of the House.
Planning Permission: Urban Areas
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to support high streets through the planning system. [69932]
Greg Clark: Although it is a devolved matter for the hon. Member’s constituents, the Government are committed to supporting high streets through the ‘Town Centre First’ policy which identifies town centres as the preferred location for retail developments.
Private Rented Housing
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he has taken to develop (a) a national strategy and (b) regional strategies for access to affordable family housing in the private rental sector; and if he will make a statement. [68036]
Grant Shapps: The Government have been working to encourage a thriving private rented sector which offers affordability and choice to those seeking a home. We have made it clear that local authorities should use their existing powers to stamp out the small minority of poor practice in the sector by rogue landlords. However, regulation must be proportionate: excessive regulation on the whole of the private rented sector would harm tenants' interests by reducing the choice of accommodation and force up rents.
We are taking active steps to encourage growth and investment in the private rented sector, through the changes to stamp duty land tax on bulk purchases which the Government announced in the 2011 Budget,
5 Sep 2011 : Column 24W
and through the commitment to look again at the rules on real estate investment trusts in time for next year's Budget.
The Government are decentralising power from central Government and unelected regional government to elected local government. The New Homes Bonus will reward councils for the construction of additional housing, and the abolition of Whitehall density targets will allow councils to plan for more family homes.
Private Rented Housing: Standards
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the quality of accommodation in the private rented sector; and if he will make a statement. [69942]
Andrew Stunell: The most recent report on English Housing Survey, which is commissioned by my Department, shows continuing improvement in the condition of the private rented sector. At a time when the sector is growing, the proportion of non-decent properties has reduced from 47% in 2006 to 41% in 2009.
Regional Planning and Development
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account housing allocations in local development frameworks will take of windfall developments. [68972]
Robert Neill: Current national policy on housing, set out in Planning Policy Statement 3, is clear that allowances for windfall sites should not be included in the first 10 years of housing supply unless the council can provide robust evidence of genuine local circumstances that prevent planned sites from being identified.
Through the abolition of Regional Strategies via the Localism Bill, local authorities will have greater local discretion on the setting of their housing allocations.
Social Rented Housing
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to issue guidelines to local authorities on the development of local tenancy strategies. [68683]
Andrew Stunell: The Department has no plans to issue formal guidance on tenancy strategies.
The Chartered Institute of Housing has published guidance on preparing tenancy strategies, which can be found at:
http://www.cih.org/practice/free-downloads/documents/TenancyStrategies-June2011.pdf
Social Rented Housing: Ex-servicemen
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to give greater priority to military veterans on waiting lists for social housing. [68632]
Grant Shapps:
The Government are committed to ensuring that existing and former members of the armed forces are not disadvantaged in their access to social
5 Sep 2011 : Column 25W
housing. Current social housing allocations guidance already advises local authorities to give ‘additional preference' (high priority) to service personnel who have been seriously injured or disabled in action. An option we are considering is to change the law so that councils in England would be required to give ‘additional preference' for social housing to all former service personnel who have an urgent housing need. Any change to the law would follow a full public consultation.
In addition, all low-cost home ownership schemes, including FirstBuy, will now routinely place current and former members of the armed forces at the top of their priority lists.
Social Rented Housing: Peterborough
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many individuals who were not British citizens were allocated social housing under the choice-based lettings system by Peterborough city council in each year since 2001; what proportion this represented of all such allocations in each year; and if he will make a statement. [68312]
Andrew Stunell: Information about social lettings is collected through the Continuous Recording of Lettings and Sales (CORE). The question on nationality was first introduced in 2006-07.
The following table provides the number and proportion of all choice-based lettings made to non-UK nationals to properties situated within Peterborough city council's boundary since 2006-07.
It is not possible to confirm whether all of these were allocated via Peterborough city council's choice-based lettings system.
| Choice-based lettings to non-UK nationals in Peterborough, 2006-07 to 2009-10 | ||
|
|
Number of choice-based lettings to non-UK nationals in Peterborough | Proportion of all choice-based lettings to non-UK nationals in Peterborough (percentage) |
| Source: CORE lettings data (general needs and supported housing) | ||
Travellers: Planning Permission
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many temporary permissions for Gypsy and Traveller sites have been granted by the Planning Inspectorate since 1997; and how many such sites have been removed following the expiry of temporary permissions. [67689]
Robert Neill
[holding answer 19 July 2011]: Data held by the Planning Inspectorate do not specifically categorise appeals into those involving temporary permissions. However they have been able to identify planning appeals shown in the following table from key word searches of the development description. Such word searches may not have found all appeals that the Planning Inspectorate has handled. The data do not go
5 Sep 2011 : Column 26W
back beyond April 2000. The data in the table are therefore for nine months in 2000 and full years for the remainder.
|
|
Number of appeals for temporary permissions allowed |
Local planning authorities are responsible for monitoring temporary permissions and the Planning Inspectorate does not hold data on removal of sites once temporary permission expires.
The Government are currently revising planning policy on Traveller sites, to give local councils more discretion, to increase protection for the green belt and open countryside, and to ensure fair play for all.
Scotland
Employment
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and (b) Scottish Ministers on (i) the rise in the number of female jobseeker's allowance claimants in July 2011 and (ii) other trends in July 2011's labour market statistics relating to Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [68198]
Michael Moore: I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions about the number of people in Scotland claiming jobseekers allowance and trends in labour market statistics. When I met the Cabinet Secretary for Employment, Finance and Sustainable Growth in July we discussed youth unemployment in Scotland.
Phone Hacking Inquiry
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with Scottish Ministers on Scottish Government co-operation with the judicial inquiry into phone hacking and allegations of police corruption. [68199]
Michael Moore: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport corresponded with the First Minister on 17 and 18 July regarding the terms of reference for the Lord Justice Leveson Inquiry. The Lord Justice Leveson has confirmed that he is happy to discuss any issues regarding the inquiry directly with the First Minister.
5 Sep 2011 : Column 27W
Northern Ireland
Sky TV
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on subscriptions to Sky TV since May 2010. [67569]
Mr Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office has not spent any money on Sky TV subscriptions since May 2010.
Consultants
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many senior civil servants in his Department at each grade had worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, Deloitte or KPMG immediately prior to taking up their appointment in each of the last four years; what consultancy agreements his Department had with those firms in each such year; and how many consultants from those firms have advised his Department in each such year. [68949]
Mr Paterson: Comparable figures for the Department as it is now configured are not available before 12 April 2010 following the completion of devolution of policing and justice functions. Since that date we have appointed no new members of the SCS. We have not entered into any consultancy agreements with any of these firms. One individual from one of the organisations named has provided advice on a personal, unpaid basis.
Correspondence
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many letters his Department received from hon. Members in June 2011. [68752]
Mr Paterson: During June 2011 my Department received 10 letters from hon. Members.
Public Accounts Commission
National Audit Office: Government Procurement Card
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission how many staff of the National Audit Office hold (a) a Government Procurement Card and (b) other corporate charge cards. [68888]
Mr Leigh: The National Audit Office (NAO) keeps under constant review the business need for individuals to have Government procurement cards. Following a review in July it has reduced the number of cardholders from 26 to 15. The NAO does not use other corporate charge cards.
International Development
Afghanistan: Health Services
Tony Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much of the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (a) has been spent on and
5 Sep 2011 : Column 28W
(b)
is to be used to pay health worker salaries in that country. [64863]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow Central (Anas Sarwar) on 7 July 2011, Official Report, column 1377W.
Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what steps his Department plans to take to support the Government of Afghanistan to (a) fill its national health worker gap and (b) ensure that health workers are supported to work in the parts of that country in greatest need. [64864]
(2) what steps his Department plans to take to support the Government of Afghanistan in delivering (a) health care and (b) other basic services. [64865]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow Central (Anas Sarwar) on 11 July 2011, Official Report, column 160W.
Afghanistan: Maternity Services
Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to reduce (a) maternal, (b) newborn and (c) child mortality rates in Afghanistan. [64866]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow Central (Anas Sarwar) on 11 July 2011, Official Report, column 161W.
Africa: Agriculture
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the potential returns from investment in smallholder agriculture in Africa as a means of stimulating rural development and enabling the very poorest farmers to lift themselves out of poverty. [68025]
Mr O'Brien: The UK Government recognises the importance of investing in smallholder agriculture and is a strong supporter of Africa's own initiative, the “Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme” (CAADP). CAADP's aim is to boost agricultural growth and productivity in order to reduce poverty and hunger. CAADP was established by the Africa Union in 2003 and its member states agreed to invest 10% of their national budgets in an effort to raise agricultural productivity growth to 6% per year. The UK has contributed to the establishment of the Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System:
www.resakss.org
which monitors and assesses progress against these targets. In 2009, seven countries had met the 10% investment target and 17 have met or exceeded the 6% productivity target.
5 Sep 2011 : Column 29W
Africa: Education
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to increase the number of girls going to school in Africa; and if he will make a statement. [67968]
Mr Duncan: The Government have put the provision of more opportunities for girls to participate in education at the heart of our aid programme. Our aim over the next four years is to support at least 9 million young people in primary schools and 2 million young people at secondary level. 5.4 million of the primary school students and 550,000 of the secondary school students will be in Africa. We anticipate that at least 50% of these young people will be girls.
In our 14 focus countries in Africa that are prioritising education as a result of our Bilateral Aid Review, we are exploring a number of different strategies' for addressing the high dropout of girls in primary education and supporting the transition to secondary school.
We are working with a wide range of partners who share our concern to promote girls' education. Our partnership with the Nike Foundation's ‘Girl Hub' focuses on meeting the educational needs of adolescent girls, working in particular in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Rwanda.
Sky TV
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on subscriptions to Sky TV since May 2010. [67567]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not have any subscriptions to Sky TV for any of its offices.
Air Travel
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on what occasions he has flown on official business (a) by budget airline and (b) in economy class in the last 12 months. [67915]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: In the 12 months 13 July 2010-11 I flew, on official business, economy class 19 times and by budget airline twice.
Carbon Emissions
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2011, Official Report, column 1113W, on departmental carbon emissions, whether the sources of low-carbon energy generation it is installing on its estate were manufactured in the UK. [67934]
Mr Duncan: The biomass boiler has not yet been procured. It will be procured using best procurement practice and in accordance with appropriate UK procurement rules and legislation in order to achieve value for money.
5 Sep 2011 : Column 30W
Staff Appraisal
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [64683]
Mr O'Brien: No officials in the Department for International Development have been dismissed as a result of the procedures arising from his Department's staff appraisal system, in each of the last three years.
Departmental Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on how many occasions a request for a meeting by an hon. Member of each political party was refused by (a) a Minister in his Department directly and (b) his Department on behalf of a Minister in November 2010. [67582]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) is unable to provide this information without incurring disproportionate costs. My Ministers and I regularly meet MPs of all parties to discuss DFID-related issues on which they have a concern or interest.
Developing Countries: Agriculture
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the policy of his Department is on the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme. [67655]
Mr Duncan: The UK has not contributed to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme. Department for International Development Ministers are still considering whether providing funds for this programme would represent value for money and make a significant, additional contribution to our support for food and nutritional security in developing countries.
Developing Countries: Education
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support he is giving to girls in developing countries to ensure that they have the same level of access to education as boys. [68021]
Mr O'Brien: The Government are placing girls and women at the centre of our aid programme. All Department for International Development (DFID) education programmes will have a focus on girls and young women. We are working with existing and new development partners to combine general support to education systems with targeted interventions to address girls' drop-out rates and support their transition to lower secondary schooling. Following a comprehensive review of all UK aid programmes the Government plans to support at least 9 million children in primary school, over half of whom will be girls, and 2 million children in secondary school by 2014-15.
5 Sep 2011 : Column 31W
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department's development support on education (a) in Sierra Leone, (b) of girls in that country and (c) in other developing countries. [68100]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Education is the key to beating poverty and one of the best investments we can make for global prosperity and our common future. Sierra Leone is still struggling to rebuild its education system after a brutal 10-year civil war and the UK will be significantly expanding its education programme over the next four years. Since the end of the war, the UK has helped the Government of Sierra Leone more than double the number of children in primary school to 1.4 million, helped train 3,100 teachers and provided support for nationwide school monitoring and supervision.
The Department for International Development (DFID) places girls and women at the centre of its work. In Sierra Leone, DFID is focusing on, among other things: teacher training and management; improving the quality of education; and access for girls. Through support to the Government of Sierra Leone's budget, the UK has contributed to the rapid expansion in the number of girls receiving a primary education, from 585,000 in 2004 to 698,000 in 2010.
By 2014-15 we will be supporting at least 11 million children in school, of whom 250,000 will be in Sierra Leone.