| 2009-10 | ||||||
| Police staff | ||||||
| Contracted hours lost to sickness | ||||||
|
|
Short-term | Medium-term | Long-term | Total | Total contracted hours available | Hours lost to sickness as a proportion of hours available (percentage) |
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| 2010-11 | ||||||
| Police o fficers | ||||||
| Contracted hours lost to sickness | ||||||
|
|
Short-term | Medium-term | L ong-term | Total | Total contracted hours available | Hours lost to sickness as a proportion of hours available (percentage) |
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| 2010-11 | ||||||
| Police staff | ||||||
| Contracted hours lost to sickness | ||||||
|
|
Short-term | Medium-term | Long-term | Total | Total contracted hours available | Hours lost to sickness as a proportion of hours available (percentage) |
| (1) Data are provisional and have not been verified by forces. | ||||||
Police: Southwark
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers were assigned to duties in the London borough of Southwark in each of the last five years; [71582]
(2) how many police community support officers were assigned to duties in the London borough of Southwark in each of the last five years; [71583]
(3) how many civilian staff were assigned to duties in the London borough of Southwark in each of the last five years. [71584]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 13 September 2011]: The available information shows the number of police officers, police community support officers and police staff in the London borough of Southwark, in each of the five years to 31 March 2011 (full-time equivalents).
| Police officers, police community support officers and civilian staff strength in the London borough of Southwark, 2007-11 (1) | |||
| Number | |||
| As at 31 March each year | Police officers | Police community support officers | Police staff |
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| (1) These figures are based on full-time equivalents that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures include those officers on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. | |||
Prevent Strategy
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with (a) Universities UK and (b) the British Medical Association on the Prevent strategy. [72082]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office is the lead Department for the Prevent strategy but its delivery in particular sectors is managed by other Departments.
Officials and Ministers from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, as the lead Department for the delivery of Prevent in higher education and further education institutions, regularly meet with representatives from Universities UK.
The Department of Health, as the lead Department for the delivery of Prevent in the health sector, will shortly be discussing the Prevent strategy with the British Medical Association.
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals received Prevent-related support (a) in the year to 1 September 2011 and (b) in each of the last five years as a result of intelligence passed on by groups that received Prevent funding in line with section 6.35 of the Prevent strategy. [72083]
James Brokenshire: Prevent-related support for individuals is not the result of intelligence passed on by groups but of referrals made to the Channel scheme.
Channel is a multi-agency process that aims to help individuals who are vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism.
The specific information requested is not available but the most recent published data shows that between April 2007 to December 2010, 1,120 people were referred to Channel. Of these, 286 were assessed by a multi-agency panel as needing support.
Recording standards have varied over time and across forces, so this aggregate data may not be internally consistent and there is some evidence of imperfect data which it has not been possible to clean or correct.
Raed Salah
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date she authorised the exclusion order against Sheikh Raed Salah. [65078]
Damian Green: Raed Salah was excluded from the UK on 23 June.
Metals: Theft
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legislative proposals she plans to bring forward to amend the Scrap Dealers Act 1964. [72530]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office is in discussion with other Government Departments to identify whether any legislative changes should be made to the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 to tackle the theft of metal.
Skilled Workers: Emigration
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate has been made of the level of (a) immigration and (b) emigration between the UK and (i) the US, (ii) China, (iii) Singapore, (iv) Japan, (v) Switzerland, (vi) Jersey, (vii) Guernsey, (viii) the Isle of Man, (ix) Bermuda and (x) the Cayman Islands in each quarter since 2007. [72726]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated September 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of the level of (a) immigration and (b) emigration between the UK and (i) the US, (ii) China, (iii) Singapore, (iv) Japan, (v) Switzerland, (vi) Jersey, (vii) Guernsey, (viii) the Isle of Man, (ix) Bermuda and (x) the Cayman Islands in each quarter since 2007. [72726]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) uses the International Passenger Survey (IPS) to estimate flows of international migrants into and out of the United Kingdom. The IPS is a continuous voluntary sample survey conducted by ONS. It covers the principal air, sea and Channel Tunnel routes between the UK and countries outside the British Isles.
The table shows rolling annual estimates of long-term international migration to and from the UK for the USA, China, Singapore and Japan from the year ending March 2007 to the year ending December 2009 (the latest data available). Reliable long term migration estimates are not available for Bermuda, Switzerland or the Cayman Islands due to the small sample sizes in the IPS. Routes between the Channel Islands/Isle of Man and the UK are excluded from the estimates, as is all movement of diplomats and armed forces personnel.
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| International Passenger Survey (IPS) estimates of long-term international migration, rolling annual data to Q4 2009, United Kingdom | ||||||||
| Thousand | ||||||||
| Country of last/next residence | ||||||||
| United States of America | China (excluding Taiwan) | Singapore | Japan | |||||
| Year ending | Est | SE% | Est | SE% | Est | SE% | Est | SE% |
| n/a = not available. Notes: 1. All estimates are uncalibrated. There may therefore be small differences from other published estimates. 2. Standard error percentages (SE%) indicate the robustness of each estimate. A migration figure with a standard error of >25% is not considered to be reliable. For any given estimate there is a 95% probability that the true figure lies in the range: estimate +/- 0.0196 x estimate x standard error %. | ||||||||
Metals: Theft
Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps she is planning to take to reduce the trade in stolen metal; [71762]
(2) what progress her Department has made in bringing forward legislative proposals to strengthen regulation of scrap metal yards. [71763]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office recognises the significance of metal theft to the United Kingdom and that some scrap metal yards are a disposal route for stolen metal. The Home Office is in discussion with other Government Departments to identify whether any legislative changes should be made to tackle the theft of metal.
UK Border Agency: Termination of Employment
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are expected to leave the UK Border Agency through natural wastage. [72738]
Damian Green: The number of staff expected to leave the UK Border Agency through natural wastage per annum is in a range from 330 (1.5%) to 500 (2.3%) per annum. Natural wastage has been calculated on retirement and resignation rates in permanent staff.
Violent and Sex Offender Register: Foreign Nationals
Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many foreign national offenders
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were on the violent and sex offender register in each of the last five years; and how many foreign national offenders have been added to the violent and sex offender register in each of the last five years; [72370]
(2) how many foreign national offenders on the violent and sex offender register have (a) reoffended, (b) been recalled to prison and (c) breached the terms of their licence on release from prison in each of the last five years; [72371]
(3) for how many foreign national offenders on the violent and sex offender register is their location unknown. [72372]
Lynne Featherstone: The data required to answer this question are not collected in the format requested and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.
ViSOR (previously known as the violent and sex offenders register) is a UK-wide computer database system used by the police as a case management system and by other agencies to share information. ViSOR stores information on a number of offender types, including but not limited to registered sex offenders. The database is not designed as a statistical tool.
Visas
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration her Department has given to the implementation of an online system to enable applicants to monitor the progress of their visa applications. [72138]
Damian Green: Visa applicants in most countries can apply online. They receive a reference number which allows them to track where their documents are at any one time (either in the Visa Application Centre or at the decision-making UK Mission) but which does not monitor the status of the application. The decision to issue or refuse the visa is made known personally to the applicant at the time of return of their documents.
As part of the development of its new immigration case working system, the UK Border Agency is introducing online customer accounts for all applications made online both in the UK and overseas. These will include the ability for customers to receive updates on the status of their application at key junctures in the application process.
Transport
A64
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on road safety on the A64 between York and Scarborough. [72614]
Mike Penning: Representations about safety issues on the Strategic Road Network (SRN) are handled by the Highways Agency.
The Highways Agency maintains a regular dialogue with all relevant stakeholders about the A64 between York and Scarborough. This includes regular meetings with North Yorkshire police and North Yorkshire county
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council and various local committees and transport groups. Safety is a standing item for discussion at each of these meetings. However, no specific representations about road safety have been made to the Highways Agency at these meetings.
I can confirm that the Highways Agency has received a number of representations from the residents of the village of Ganton since 24 January 2011. These representations commenced following a fatal accident at the neighbouring village of West Heslerton. This tragic incident is currently the subject of ongoing police investigations and a coroner's inquest.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met (a) the Highways Agency, (b) North Yorkshire County Council and (c) local community groups to discuss road safety on the A64 between York and Scarborough. [72615]
Mike Penning: I meet regularly with the Highways Agency but there have been no specific discussions about safety on the A64 between York and Scarborough.
I have not discussed road safety matters relating to the A64 at this location with North Yorkshire county council or local community groups.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve road safety and reduce congestion on the A64 between York and Scarborough; and if he will make a statement. [72616]
Mike Penning: Any plans for the A64 will be developed through continuous routine network management, and will be delivered subject to prioritisation and the availability of funding.
Aviation: Working Hours
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to notify pilots of the entry into force of the new European-wide flight-time limitations; and if he will make a statement. [72320]
Mrs Villiers: The Civil Aviation Authority will notify pilots of the entry into force of European flight and duty time limitations. Currently, we expect the Commission regulation giving effect to the proposed requirements to come into force in the autumn of 2013. We anticipate that airlines will be given an additional period to transition to the new requirements.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions his Department has had with the US Federal Aviation Administration on pilot fatigue; and if he will make a statement. [72321]
Mrs Villiers: At this stage in the development of the European requirements, neither the Department nor the Civil Aviation Authority has had any formal discussions with the Federal Aviation Administration on this subject.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with the Civil Aviation Authority on the Notice of Proposed Amendment on Flight-time Limitations. [72322]
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Mrs Villiers: Neither Ministers nor the Secretary of State for Transport had recent discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority on this topic. However, officials have regular discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority about the development of European requirements on aviation safety including those on flight time limitations.
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contribution his Department has made to establishing new flight-time limitations for pilots; and if he will make a statement. [72323]
Mrs Villiers: Officials from the Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority have responded to the European Aviation Safety Agency's consultation on draft implementing rules on flight time limitations. The CAA has published its comments on its website at:
www.caa.co.uk
EASA are in the process of reviewing the responses to the consultation and will be issuing an amended proposal in due course. The Department, taking account of advice from the Civil Aviation Authority, will put forward the UK's views on the proposed requirements. Ministers will determine how the UK will vote when a legislative proposals is made.
Bus Services: Finance
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of the comprehensive spending review on tendered bus services provided by local transport authorities. [72181]
Norman Baker: I am aware that, as a result of local decisions, in some areas of the country bus services are being reduced. The latest statistics on bus services can be found at the Department for Transport website and are updated periodically:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/statistics/series/buses/
Changes to bus and community transport services are a matter for bus operators and local transport authorities. The Government do not and cannot make an assessment of every individual change but are working with local transport authorities to get an overall picture.
Buses: Concessions
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation he undertook with (a) coach and bus operators, (b) members of the public, (c) charities and groups representing elderly people and (d) charities and groups representing people with disabilities on the change in his Department's expenditure on the Coach Concessionary Travel Scheme. [72340]
Norman Baker: The decision to end Government funding for the half price coach concession was announced as part of the Chancellor's 2010 spending review.
Decisions taken in the spending review were not the subject of public consultation.
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people in (a) Sunderland and (b) England have made journeys assisted by the Coach Concessionary Travel Scheme in each of the last five years. [72435]
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Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not hold information on the number of people assisted by the coach concessionary travel scheme in the last five years.
The following table shows the number of concessionary coach tickets sold in England in the last five years. Data are not available to show ticket sales in Sunderland specifically.
| Concessionary coach tickets sold in England | |
|
|
Number |
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2011, Official Report, column 953W, on buses: concessions, what assessment he has made of the effects of withdrawing funding for the Coach Concessionary Travel Scheme on those aged over 60 in (a) England, (b) the west midlands and (c) Dudley borough; and if he will make a statement. [72508]
Norman Baker: A regulatory impact assessment relating to the ending of the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) coach concession in England was drafted and submitted to the Reducing Regulation Committee for clearance. The impact assessment will be published on the DFT website and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House when it is available.
Following the 2010 spending review announcement, National Express said they were already planning for the removal of the coach concessionary fares scheme in October 2011 and would announce new products aimed at the over 60s and disabled travellers in due course. National Express said that they believed the financial impact of the scheme's removal was manageable and would be mitigated by their own plans.
No assessment of the effects of ending the coach concession in the west midlands or Dudley borough has been made.
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2011, Official Report, column 953W, on buses: concessions, what estimate he has made of the number of over-60s in (a) England, (b) the west midlands and (c) Dudley borough who have used the Coach Concessionary Travel Scheme in each of the last five years. [72509]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not hold information on the number of over 60s who have used the coach concessionary travel scheme in the last five years.
The following table shows the number of concessionary coach tickets sold in England in the last five years. Data are not available to show ticket sales in west midlands or Dudley specifically.
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|
|
Concessionary coach tickets sold in England |
Departmental Air Travel
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which travel management companies his Department uses for the purchase of airline tickets. [72679]
Norman Baker: DFT(c) and two of its agencies (Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Vehicle Certification Agency) use Capita Business Travel. Highways Agency uses NYS Corporate Ltd and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency uses Redfern Travel Management Services. Driving Standards Agency uses Portman Travel for the purchase of some long haul airline tickets. The remaining two agencies (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and Government Car and Despatch Agency) do not use travel management companies for the provision of air tickets, but use direct booking if the need arises.
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) contractual obligations and (b) other processes his Department uses in respect of travel management companies to ensure the best value is achieved when purchasing airline tickets. [72710]
Norman Baker: DFT(c) and four of its agencies (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Highways Agency, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and Vehicle Certification Agency) use contracts under the Government Travel Framework established by Buying Solutions (now Government Procurement Services). The framework provides its users with the benefits arising from collaborative procurement processes. In addition, the framework suppliers offer the centrally negotiated discounts contained in the Government Air Programme which provides savings when tickets are necessarily bought at short notice.
The remaining three agencies (Driving Standards Agency, Government Car and Despatch Agency and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) have very low demand for air tickets and use direct booking if the need arises.
Chief Scientific Adviser
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the resource budget allocation was for the office of his Department's chief scientific adviser in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [72491]
Norman Baker: Support for the Department’s chief scientific adviser was provided through a small unit which also had responsibility for related science, technology and research issues. The resource budget allocations (running costs) were:
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|
|
Running costs (£000) |
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the salary, including benefits, was of his Department's chief scientific adviser in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many individuals have held the post in the last five years. [72492]
Norman Baker: One individual held the post of chief scientific adviser in the Department for Transport between October 2006 and May 2011. The post was part-time and for both 2010 and 2011 received a salary in the range £80,000 to £84,999. The post is currently vacant.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many full-time equivalent staff were employed in the office of his Department's chief scientific adviser in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and on what date the office was established. [72493]
Norman Baker: Support for the Department's chief scientific adviser was provided through a small unit which also had responsibility for related science, technology and research issues. The full-time equivalent staff allocated in that unit were:
|
|
Full-time equivalent staff |
The unit predates this period and was substantially revised when DFT was created in 2002.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on requiring his Department's (a) agencies and non-departmental public bodies and (b) contractors to have a written code of practice or protocol relating to the provision, conduct and quality assurance of scientific evidence and advice. [72494]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport (including agencies and non- departmental public bodies) is committed to handling science and engineering advice in accordance with the Government chief scientific adviser's “Guidelines on the use of science and engineering advice in Policy Making”.
Scientific Advisory Committees that advise the Department operate in line with the “Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees”.
Commissioned research is carried out externally under contract by academia, industry and other research organisations and must comply with the “General Conditions of Contract of Services”. This includes provisions that any work undertaken is in line with the
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required Quality Standards (which may vary from commission to commission) and is performed in accordance with the Law and Good Industry Practice.
Research undertaken and managed by social researchers within the Department is also subject to a Code of Practice set out by the Government Social Research Service (GSR), the professional membership organisation for social researchers in government. These principles apply to research undertaken by the Department's social researchers and by the external contractors they manage.
Heathrow Airport: Railways
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Welsh Assembly Government about a railway transport hub at Heathrow airport. [71507]
Mrs Villiers: No discussions have been held with Ministers in the Welsh Assembly Government about the proposal for a railway transport hub at Heathrow airport.
Highways Agency: Government Procurement Card
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) transaction date, (b) transaction amount and (c) supplier was of each transaction undertaken by the Highways Agency using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10; and which of these transactions attracted level three or enhanced transaction entry. [70835]
Mike Penning [holding answer 12 September 2011]: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Large Goods Vehicles: EU Action
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the EU Transport Commissioner relating to proposals to increase the permitted length of HGVs; and whether he plans for further such representations. [72189]
Mike Penning: I have not discussed this matter with the EU Transport Commissioner. We intend to announce our conclusions and proposed way forward on longer semi-trailers, in the light of the responses to the recent consultation exercise, early in the new parliamentary session.
Large Goods Vehicles: Tolls
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the scope and goals are of the HGV road user charging scheme. [72206]
Mike Penning: The primary aim of the HGV road user charging scheme would be to ensure a fairer competitive environment for UK hauliers. We are still working up detailed proposals, but our current intention is that it would apply to all HGVs, both foreign and UK-registered, of 12 tonnes and above.
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Metals: Theft
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the conclusions were of the interdepartmental working group on the theft of metals held on 14 September 2011 and chaired by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport; and if he will make a statement. [72604]
Norman Baker: I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer I gave to him on this issue on 15 September 2011, Official Report, column 1172. I should also record that this ministerial meeting was in fact chaired by my noble Friend Baroness Browning, then Minister of State for crime prevention and antisocial behaviour reduction.
Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the consolidation of existing support mechanisms for low and ultra-low emission vehicle research and development; and if he will make a statement. [72190]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has consolidated its existing support mechanisms for low and ultra-low emission vehicle research and development by channelling all future programmes through Technology Strategy Board (TSB). The Department has been working with the TSB and industry to identify key areas of research with the aim of inviting bids by end of this financial year.
Passenger Focus
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he plans to make to the functions of Passenger Focus. [72622]
Mrs Villiers: There are no plans to change the functions of Passenger Focus. However, it has reduced the scope of its activities as part of a major restructuring programme to fit in with a substantial reduction in its budget. The inclusion of Passenger Focus in schedule 3 of the Public Bodies Bill could facilitate changes to the Passenger Focus Board.
Public Transport: Concessions
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimate his Department has made of the cost to local authorities of renewing concessionary travel passes when they expire in 2013; [72174]
(2) whether his Department plans to provide financial assistance in 2012-13 to local authorities for the renewal of concessionary travel passes when they expire in 2013; [72175]
(3) what plans he has for the validity of concessionary travel passes beyond five years; and if he will make a statement. [72177]
Norman Baker: In the spending review last autumn the Government stated that they will protect the statutory entitlement for concessionary bus travel, ensuring that older people can maintain greater freedom and independence.
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Not all England National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) passes expire in 2013. Legislation requires that the maximum life of an ENCTS pass is five years from the date of issue, but there is no recommended minimum life. Travel concession authorities (TCAs) are free therefore to set the exact expiry date provided it is no more than five years. Consequently, many passes have an expiry date of less than five years and will be up for renewal before 2013. The Department has always recommended that TCAs consider staggering the expiry dates on passes so that they do not all need to be replaced at the same time. This could be done, for example, by setting expiry dates at monthly intervals by alphabetic distribution of surname, or by date of birth.
The Department will not be providing additional funding for the cost to local authorities of renewing ENCTS passes. Local authorities in England receive funding for the National Concessionary Travel Scheme through Formula Grant funding administered by DCLG. It is expected that some of this funding will be spent on administering the scheme, with the majority being spent on reimbursement to bus operators for carrying ENCTS passholders.
The Department has not made an assessment of the cost to local authorities of renewing ENCTS passes, and costs will depend on the efficiency of each TCA's individual renewals process.
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effects of increasing the state retirement age on the cost of providing concessionary travel. [72179]
Norman Baker: I refer the hon. Member to page 15 of the Explanatory Memorandum to The Travel Concessions (Eligibility) England Order 2010 No. 459 which can be found at the following link:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/459/pdfs/uksiem _20100459_en.pdf