Table 4b: Number and proportion of working age people living in households with income below 60% of contemporary median income After Housing Costs who are (a) parents in a couple and (b) lone parents that have at least one child in certain age bands
  Million and percentage of individuals
  Couple Lone parent
At least one child Million Percentage Million Percentage

Aged 0 to 4

1.3

50

0.3

38

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Aged 5 and above

1.8

70

0.7

76

Notes: 1. These statistics are based on the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series, sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). This uses disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 2. Net disposable incomes have been used to answer the question. This includes earnings from employment and self-employment, state support, income from occupational and private pensions, investment income and other sources. Income tax, payments, national insurance contributions, council tax/domestic rates and some other payments are deducted from incomes. 3. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 4. Proportions of individuals in low-income households have been rounded to the nearest whole percentage point and numbers of individuals have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. Note that proportions do not add to 100% as parents can have children in each of the different age ranges. 5. Figures have been presented on both Before and After Housing Cost bases. For Before Housing Costs figures, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, buildings insurance payments and ground rent, and service charges) are not deducted from income, while for After Housing Costs they are. 6. It is unclear whether five-year-olds should be included in either of the splits requested. We have included five-year-olds in the older age range in line with school years and the standard age splits presented in the HBAI publication. Source: Households Below Average Income, DWP

Redundancy: Manufacturing Industries

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will calculate the cost to the public purse of redundancies in rail manufacturing in the East Midlands, including support for affected individuals and families in the comprehensive spending review period. [71160]

Mr Davey: I have been asked to reply.

The latest employment figures for the quarter May to July 2011 (seasonally adjusted) show a growth over the year of 24,000 in the UK and 51,000 in the East Midlands regions.

This net improvement in employment over the last year has happened despite redundancies occurring both in the East Midlands and the UK. It is unfortunate but there are always redundancies, job losses and separations. Over the last year in the East Midlands, however, these job losses and separations have been more than offset by the numbers being recruited.

So, because there is no direct relationship between redundancies in a specific firm or sector and wider labour market development it is not possible to calculate the cost to the public purse of a specific redundancy. The outcome will depend on the state of the economy, whether the redundant person takes up a benefit and how long they remain on benefit before they leave—either to go into work or another destination.

Government policy aims to minimise these costs to the public purse and also the problems faced by the redundant workers. It is aiming to establish a system that fosters and delivers growth and also labour market policies that help the people made redundant back into work as soon as possible.

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Rents: Ashfield

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the average income of (a) social rental, (b) private rental and (c) all households in Ashfield constituency in the latest period for which figures are available. [71780]

Steve Webb: We use Households Below Average Income data to provide estimates of median incomes. However, the sample size of this survey is not sufficient to provide estimates for small areas such as that requested.

The following table shows the median equivalised disposable household income by tenure and all households for the east midlands region of England, Before and After Housing Costs.

Median equivalised disposable household income, for households, by tenure and for all households for the east midlands region of England, three year average 2007-08 to 2009-10, Before and After Housing Costs
  Median equivalised weekly disposable household income for families (£)
Tenure type BHC AHC

Social renters

290

229

Private renters

328

249

All households

380

345

Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). This uses disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 2. Net disposable incomes have been used to answer the question. This includes earnings from employment and self-employment, state support, income from occupational and private pensions, investment income and other sources. Income tax, payments, national insurance contributions, council tax/domestic rates and some other payments are deducted from incomes. 3. Figures have been presented on a Before Housing Cost and an After Housing Cost basis. For Before Housing Costs, housing costs are not deducted from income, while for After Housing Costs they are. 4. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 5. The reference period for HBAI figures is the financial year. For countries and regions within the UK, three survey years have been combined because single year estimates are not considered to be sufficiently reliable. 6. Weekly incomes are presented in 2009-10 prices and have been rounded to the nearest pound. 7. Families are defined as a single adult or couple living as married and any dependent children, including same sex couples (civil partnerships and cohabitees) from January 2006. A household is made up of one of more families and is defined as a single person or group of people living at the same address as their only or main residence, who either share one meal a day together or share the living accommodation (i.e. a living room). In line with the wording of the question, analysis has been carried out at the family level. 8. The estimates for All Households include those households who are owner occupiers as well as those in the social and privately rented sector. Source: Households Below Average Income (HBAI) 2007-08 to 2009/-10

Sick Leave

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department holds on the number of people in each (a) nation of the UK and (b) region of England who were on long-term sick leave in (i) 2008, (ii) 2009 and (iii) 2010. [70536]

Chris Grayling: There are few reliable sources of sickness absence data in Great Britain. Employers pay statutory sick pay (and in some cases occupational sick pay) but are not required to submit this information to the Government unless they are seeking reimbursement for monies paid under the Percentage Threshold Scheme.

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Consequently, there are no comprehensive centrally recorded administrative data and there is greater reliance on survey data.

Department for Work and Pensions’ analysis of the “Employee Health and Well-being at Work Survey” (DWP Research Report 751) found that in 2009, 4% of employees in Great Britain had absences of more than four weeks. More than four weeks is commonly used to define long-term sickness absence. This equates to around 1 million employees. Breakdowns by nations and regions of England are unavailable due to small sample sizes. Data for other years are also unavailable.

Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent communications he has received from the European Commission on increasing benefit payments from the UK Government to citizens of other EU countries. [72192]

Chris Grayling: On 29 September the Government received a communication from the European Commission in the form of a Reasoned Opinion in which the Commission states that the application of the ‘Right to Reside Test’ to claims for certain residence-based non-contributory benefits constitutes an unjustified discrimination prohibited by the EU regulations on social security co-ordination.

As a result, the Commission invites the United Kingdom “to take the necessary measures” to comply with the Reasoned Opinion within two months.

The Government believe that it is right that we support those who work and pay their taxes here, but it is clearly completely unacceptable that we should be asked to open our welfare system to people who have never worked or contributed in the United Kingdom and have no intention of doing so. I am surprised that the European Commission has chosen to write in this way on this very sensitive issue, especially when the UK and a number of other EU member states have asked the Commission to reconsider the rules.

The Government will consider all the details of the Commission's Reasoned Opinion before deciding what action to take.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Mr Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people convicted of benefit fraud continued to receive benefits in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010; and how many such people were resident in (i) the North West, (ii) Greater Manchester and (iii) Bury North constituency. [70986]

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available.

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received a criminal conviction for benefit fraud where the amount of fraud involved was (a) £0 to £1,000, (b) £1,101 to £5,000, (c) £5,001 to £10,000 and (d) over £10,000 in the last year for which figures are available. [71054]

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Chris Grayling: In 2010-11 a total of 8,598 people received a criminal conviction for benefit fraud. Information on the amount of benefit fraud involved in these cases is as follows:

Overpayment value Number of cases

(a) £0 to £1,000

574

(b) £1,001 to £5,000

3,417

(c) £5,001 to £10,000

2,149

(d) Over £10,000

2,458

Sources: Fraud Referral and Intelligence Management System (FRAIMS) (England and Wales only) and local management information (Scotland).

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were found to have committed benefit fraud in each of the last five years; and what proportion were prosecuted in court. [71076]

Chris Grayling: Information on how many people were found to have committed benefit fraud in each of the last five years and the proportion of these that were prosecuted in court is as follows:


Number committing fraud Proportion prosecuted in court (Percentage)

2006-07

28,647

30

2007-08

29,132

33

2008-09

28,180

31

2009-10

29,406

28

2010-11

31,797

31

Note: Figures based on the number of individuals that were given a caution, administrative penalty and conviction, and what proportion these equate to against the total number of court prosecutions for the same period. Sources: Information extracted from the Fraud Referral and Intelligence Management System (FRAIMS) and local management information (Scotland).

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were convicted of benefit fraud in each of the last five years; and how many of those convicted, who received a custodial sentence, had committed fraud amounting to (a) £0 to £1,000, (b) £1,001 to £5,000, (c) £5001 to £10,000 and (d) over £10,000. [71077]

Chris Grayling: Information on how many people were convicted of benefit fraud in each of the last five years and those that received a custodial sentence is as follows:


Number convicted of benefit fraud Number that received a custodial sentence

2006-07

6,861

1,146 (includes 530 suspended custodial sentences)

.2007-08

7,745

1,483 (includes 961 suspended custodial sentences)

2008-09

6,700

1,308 (includes 841 suspended custodial sentences)

2009-10

7,040

1,340 (includes 929 suspended custodial sentences)

2010-11

8,598

1,304 (includes 939 suspended custodial sentences)

Information on the value of the frauds of those convicted who received a custodial sentence is only available for the last year (1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011) and is as follows:

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(a) £0 to £1,000: 237 (of which 72 relates to suspended sentences)

(b) £1,001 to £5,000: 44 (of which 27 relates to suspended sentences)

(c) £5,001 to £10,000: 88 (of which 77 relates to suspended sentences)

(d) over £10,000: 935 (of which 763 relates to suspended sentences)

Source:

Information extracted from the Fraud Referral and Intelligence Management System (FRAIMS) and local management information (Scotland). Prosecution and conviction data by monetary value are not available prior to 1 April 2010.

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people convicted of benefit fraud continued to receive benefits in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010; and how many such people were resident in (i) the north-west, (ii) east Lancashire and (iii) Pendle constituency. [71776]

Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were convicted for benefit fraud and what proportion of all benefit claimants this represented in each of the last five years. [72033]

Chris Grayling: Information on how many people were convicted of benefit fraud in each of the last five years and the proportion of all benefit claimants this represents is as follows:


Number convicted of benefit fraud Proportion of all benefit claims (percentage)

2006-07

6,861

0.04

2007-08

7,745

0.04

2008-09

6,700

0.04

2009-10

7,040

0.04

2010-11

8,598

0.05

Note: Figures based on the number of individuals convicted of benefit fraud for the last five years and those numbers expressed as proportions of the total number of benefit claimants at February of that year. Source: Information on convictions extracted from the Fraud Referral and Intelligence Management System (FRAIMS) and local management information (Scotland). Information on benefit claims taken from DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.

Unemployment: Birmingham

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with partner agencies on the rate of unemployment in Birmingham, Ladywood; and what steps are being taken to reduce that rate. [71918]

Chris Grayling: The Department's new flexible delivery model enables Jobcentre Plus district managers to deliver local labour-market solutions. This allows the harnessing of all resources in a particular area to meet the challenge of getting as many people into work as possible, including a stronger focus on working collaboratively with key partners.

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Under the Work programme, which was launched on 10 June 2011 and is now in place nationally, providers are free to design support based on individual and local need and they will be paid primarily for supporting claimants into employment and helping them stay there for longer than ever before, with higher payments for supporting the hardest to help. All three Work programme providers contracted to deliver services in Birmingham have one main site and at least one site within the Ladywood constituency. In addition, subcontractor there are eight Enterprise clubs and 11 Work clubs in the constituency.

Jobcentre Plus also works with a number of employers and local partners to maximise the employment opportunities available to the local Ladywood community.

The Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership was set up in October 2010 to help strengthen local economies, encourage economic development and enterprise, and improve skills across the region. The partnership is now one of the largest in the country, encompassing a population of over 2 million people, and 840,000 jobs.

In addition, Jobcentre Plus in Birmingham and Solihull are working with voluntary organisations such as British Heart Foundation and Barnardo's and have signposted over 450 customers to a wide range of volunteering opportunities. Jobcentre Plus is also working closely with all colleges within the catchment area of the constituency. A range of provision is available to meet the skill needs of customers and the demands of the local labour market.

The Department is working with Birmingham city council and local third sector partners to test whether a more personalised, holistic approach, would be more effective for those people with multiple barriers to return to work.

Unemployment: Training

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance his Department provides to mature unemployed people to retrain and reskill that does not affect their entitlement to benefits. [72120]

Steve Webb: Jobcentre Plus aims to deliver a tailored flexible package of back-to-work support to all jobseekers that includes work-related training as well as job-search support. Older jobseekers have the same access to a comprehensive menu of individually-tailored help as those aged under 50 years (apart from the specific measures aimed at improving youth employment for jobseekers aged under 25 years). The Work programme will also provide support for those of all ages who are more at risk of long-term unemployment.

Older claimants of jobseeker's allowance or employment and support allowance (work-related activity group) are eligible for fully-funded training to help them into work. Jobcentre Plus will work closely with skills providers at a local level to ensure that the training offered meets the needs of both claimants and employers. Claimants of these benefits can also participate in the sector-based work academies, which offer pre-employment training, work placements and guaranteed interviews in sectors with high volumes of current local vacancies.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills recently announced greater freedoms for colleges to deliver fully-subsidised training to people on other benefits,

10 Oct 2011 : Column 255W

as long as the training is linked to helping the individual back into work. It will be for colleges and training providers to decide what training is offered locally.

Universal Credit: West Lothian

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the introduction of universal credit on (a) West Lothian Council and (b) housing associations in West Lothian. [72164]

Chris Grayling: The information requested is as follows.

(a) Universal credit will be delivered by DWP, drawing on the expertise of HMRC and local authorities. The best of the current capability will be used to deliver the new service, taking the opportunity to modernise and improve it to deliver better efficiency for the taxpayer and better service for claimants. As DWP starts to build the organisation to deliver universal credit, and we have yet to settle on the precise detail, it is likely some of those skills will exist within local authorities. We will therefore always look to include local authority staff in our thinking.

(b) The Government's intention is to pay universal credit to the claimant in the majority of cases. The Government believes that this policy will replicate the budgeting skills that people will need when working and will help to break the cycle of welfare dependency that is a feature of the current benefit system. My Department is aware that this will be a big change for housing associations, who are used to receiving housing benefit direct from local authorities under the current scheme. The Government are convinced that, with the right support for tenants and landlords, this policy will not affect housing associations adversely. This support will be tested by a number of projects which the Minister for Welfare Reform, my noble Friend Lord Freud, announced on 14 September 2011. The lessons learned from these projects will allow us to refine this support before universal credit goes live in 2013.

DWP has not specifically made an assessment of the effect of the introduction of Universal Credit on West Lothian Council and housing associations in West Lothian.

Work Capability Assessment: Atos Healthcare

Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department holds on the criteria used by Atos Healthcare to assess the suitability of an applicant to become an approved healthcare professional undertaking work capability assessments. [71767]

Chris Grayling: The chief medical adviser (CMA) to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) approves healthcare professionals (HCP) to carry out assessments on behalf of the Secretary of State. Approval is dependent on strict recruitment criteria, completion of a course of training approved by the CMA and evidence of satisfactory performance.

The core requirements for the role of the HCP as a disability analyst are as follows:

Full and unconditional General Medical Council (or European economic area equivalent) registration and a current license to practice or Nursing and Midwifery Council registration or Health Professions Council registration

10 Oct 2011 : Column 256W

At least three years' post-registration experience in a broad based role (in individual cases, solely at the discretion of the CMA, the requirements that no conditions be attached to registration and that medical personnel must have a minimum of three years post-registration experience may be waived)

Skilled in the analysis of clinical information and medical evidence or experienced as a GP or in related disciplines involving broad-based examination, investigation and diagnostic skills

Ability to produce clear, concise reports

Tact, sensitivity, honesty and integrity

A commitment to client confidentiality

Comfortable working to targets and specified standards

Ability to work unsupervised but know when to ask for support

Evidence of ongoing professional development to necessary standards

IT literate

Excellent communication skills

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 7 September 2011, Official Report, column 681W, on work capability assessment: Atos Healthcare, how he defines reviewed regularly; what the results were of (a) the last five reviews of the continued suitability of Atos Healthcare to perform work capability assessments and (b) the last 12 performance monitoring exercises; whether such reviews have identified any of the standards required of Atos Healthcare in their contract to conduct the work capability assessment programme; and if he will make a statement. [72237]

Chris Grayling: Atos Healthcare provision is reviewed monthly. Results of the last five reviews are that Atos Healthcare remains suitable to perform work capability assessments. The results of the last 12 reviews are that Atos Healthcare remains suitable to provide medical assessment services.

These reviews have not introduced new standards for work capability assessments. However, Professor Harrington's review, “An Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment”, recommended the inclusion of a personalised summary statement and this is being implemented for all work capability assessments.

Work Capability Assessment: Health Professions

Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of approved healthcare professionals undertaking work capability assessments were (a) qualified doctors registered with the General Medical Council, (b) qualified nurses registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, (c) qualified physiotherapists registered with the Health Professions Council and (d) other qualified medical professionals in the latest period for which figures are available. [71769]

Chris Grayling: In answer to the question, the figures below are based on work capability assessment (WCA) exams completed in the month of August 2011 as this is the latest period for which figures are available.

33% of approved healthcare professionals (HCP) undertaking work capability assessments are qualified doctors registered with the General Medical Council.

62% of approved HCPs undertaking work capability assessments are qualified nurses registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and 5% are qualified physiotherapists registered with the Health Professions Council.

10 Oct 2011 : Column 257W

The law defines “a Healthcare Professional” as a registered doctor, registered nurse, physiotherapist, or occupational therapist. This came into effect on 3 July 2007 in Statutory Instrument 2007 No. 1626 The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.2) Regulations 2007.

Business, Innovation and Skills

Adult Education: Finance

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding his Department provided for the Adult Education Bursary for Certificate of Higher Education in each of the last three years; what proportion of the bursary was awarded in the form of (a) grants and (b) loans in the latest period for which figures are available; and how much funding will be provided in 2012. [71397]

Mr Hayes: The Department has allocated a budget of £2.911 million for Adult Education Bursaries for 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, and for 2011-12.

The budget is administered by the Residential Colleges Committee, which in turn distributes it to the colleges that qualify. These are an established group of residential

10 Oct 2011 : Column 258W

colleges in England which provide a range of intensive support to disadvantaged adults, to gain confidence, skills and qualifications in preparation for further study or work.

The Skills Funding Agency collects individualised data about learners and types of course, but does not link this to specific awards.

The budget for 2012-13 will be announced in the Skills Investment Strategy, which will be published later this year.

Apprentices

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeships were taken up in (a) England, (b) the West Midlands and (c) Dudley borough in each of the last 12 months. [72507]

Mr Hayes: Table 1 shows a quarterly breakdown of apprenticeship starts in England, West Midlands region and Dudley local education authority, in the first nine months of the 2010/11 academic year, from August 2010 to April 2011, based on provisional data.

The Statistical First Release (SFR) is used for the latest apprenticeship figures. Monthly apprenticeship data are not available.

Table 1: Apprenticeship s tarts in England, West Midlands Region and Dudley local education authority between 1 August 2010 and 30 April 2011
  Provisional

August 2010 to October 2010 November 2010 to January 2011 February 2011 to April 2011 August 2010 to April 2011

England

122,200

93,900

110,600

326,700

Dudley Local Education Authority

780

640

910

2,320

West Midlands Government Office Region

13,440

11,270

13,650

38,350

Notes: 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10 except those for England which are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. Geography Information Is based upon the home postcode of the learner. Source: Individualised Learner Record

Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 23 June 2011:

http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current

Apprentices: Birmingham

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of higher apprenticeships that will be created in Birmingham, Ladywood constituency. [70791]

Mr Hayes: The Apprenticeships programme is demand led. Government provides funding and forecasts the overall number of places that may be afforded.

In July the Prime Minister launched a £25 million Higher Apprenticeship Fund to support the expansion of Higher Apprenticeships helping to deliver up to an additional 10,000 advanced and higher level apprenticeships over this Parliament. The closing date for bids is 16 September and we expect to announce the successful bids in November.

Arms Export Controls

Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what further revocations of arms export licences have been made to countries in North Africa and the Middle East subsequent to those detailed in the document Cm. 8079; and if he will provide this information in the same format as in Annex 1 of Cm. 8079. [71627]

Mr Prisk: One such licence was revoked on 24 May 2011, as follows:

End user country Annual report summary Rating Reason for revocation

Syria

Small arms ammunition

ML3

Due to the arms embargo imposed by the EU this licence was reassessed and found to contravene Criteria 1

Business: Entry Clearances

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to address any potential skills shortages arising from recent changes to the immigration rules. [70563]

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Mr Hayes: The Government aims to reduce net migration while ensuring that the UK remains open for business. The changes to the migration system will continue to enable companies to bring in the skilled migrants necessary for growth. A long-term approach to addressing the UK's reliance on migrant workers can only be achieved through a significant shift in employer behaviour and working practices. It will require action from employers, the immigration system and through coordinated cross-Government action. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has already begun to take this forward, working closely with relevant Sector Skills Councils and employers.

More widely, we are reforming the skills system so that it delivers the skills needed to return the economy to sustainable growth. As part of our skills strategy, we aim to reduce skill deficiencies at local, regional or sectoral level, so that they are quickly identified and tackled through the demand-led skills system. National Skills Academies, an expanded Apprenticeships programme and greater freedoms and flexibilities for colleges and other learning providers are all contributing to delivering the skills that employers want. The Government have also established the £50 million a year Growth and Innovation Fund to help in tackling the skills shortages that hold companies back. Training to support the unemployed will play its part with more personalised programmes tailored towards local job opportunities.

Consumers: Protection

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress has been made on the coalition agreement commitment to introduce stronger consumer protections, including measures to end unfair bank and financial transaction charges; and if he will make a statement. [72163]

Mr Davey: The Government are taking forward the commitment to end unfair bank charges in the context of a wider strategic approach to strengthen and streamline consumer protections and advocacy, and as part of the joint Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and HM Treasury Consumer Credit and Personal Insolvency Review.

In July 2011, this Department and HM Treasury published a summary of responses to the call for evidence to the review. The evidence shows that there have been significant developments in the market in recent years. As part of the Office of Fair Trading’s work, banks have committed to introduce measures to improve the transparency of unarranged overdraft charges and many have also revised their charging structures. However, there are still serious concerns about how charges affect consumers, particularly where charges may not be clear or transparent. The Government are working with current account providers to determine the most appropriate course of action to deliver further improvements to consumers. We will, however, regulate to address consumer detriment if suitable alternatives cannot be agreed.

The Government will make an announcement on this later this year.

In relation to financial transaction charges, the Government supported an amendment to the consumer rights directive to ban payment surcharges that exceed

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the costs borne by the trader for use of that means of payment. This will address consumer concerns about the high level of fees charged by some businesses when consumers pay by debit or credit card. The directive should be adopted by the EU shortly and will be implemented into UK law.

Debts: Advisory Services

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Scottish Government on funding for debt advice in Scotland after the end of the Financial Inclusion Fund. [72593]

Mr Davey: BIS Ministers have not had discussions with Scottish Ministers on funding for debt advice in Scotland. Officials have, however, met officials from the Scottish Government as part of ongoing dialogue about the future of debt advice provision.

In order to place debt advice in the future on a more secure footing, the Money Advice Service has agreed to take on responsibility for the coordination of debt advice services from April 2012. The Money Advice Service will carry out a detailed review of the current debt advice landscape to identify the best way that these services can be delivered, and have met Scottish Government officials as part of their work to develop a model which ensures that debt advice is delivered in the most effective and efficient way.

Advertising

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department has spent on (a) television, (b) radio and (c) newspaper advertising in (i) real and (ii) nominal terms between June 2001 and May 2002; and what the total cost to the public purse was. [68377]

Mr Davey: For expenditure on advertising by this Department through the Central Office of Information for financial years 2001-02 and 2002-03, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), on 23 July 2004, Official Report, column 752W.

Information on publicity expenditure from centrally held budgets is contained in the Government's expenditure plans and, more recently, the Department's annual departmental reports, which are available in the Libraries of the House. Figures relating to specific media, other information campaigns, and information on publicity and advertising by non-departmental public bodies could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) was created on 5 June 2009 by merging the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). In June 2007 BERR, DIUS and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) were created from the former Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the former Department for Education and Skills (DFES). This reply contains information relating solely to the former DTI.

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Air Travel

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which travel management companies his Department uses for the purchase of airline tickets. [72681]

Mr Davey: The Department currently uses Carlson Wagonlit Travel Ltd for the purchase of airline tickets.

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 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. [72695]

Mr Davey: The Department uses Carlson Wagonlit Travel Ltd (CWT) for the purchase of airline tickets and works closely with CWT to achieve best value through regular contract service review meetings. The contract with CWT is part of a Government Procurement Service (formerly Buying Solutions) framework contract and the contractual obligation under the framework requires, amongst other things, that the contractor provides:

1. Access to value for money fares;

2. Provision of lowest fare availability and challenge to higher fare use;

3. Access to low cost carriers and (to 31 July 2011) the Government Air programme;

4. Analysis of spend and identification of cost saving opportunities; and

5. Provision of savings and missed savings management information

Additionally, all air travel bookings through CWT are pre-notified to line managers who are required to consider and approve the need for travel and the overall cost involved.

Legal Opinion

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average hourly rate paid was to external (a) solicitors and (b) barristers engaged by his Department in 2010-11; what guidance his Department uses in commissioning external legal advice; and if he will publish (i) the names of each external (A) solicitor and (B) barrister engaged by his Department in 2010-11 and (ii) the sums paid in each case. [72558]

Mr Davey: This Department uses the following guidance in commissioning external legal services:

The Attorney-General's guidelines on the use of the private sector for Government legal work

Treasury Solicitor's Department's guidance on the use of counsel

Government Legal Service guidance on the best practice for Government lawyers managing private sector provision of legal services

Government Legal Services procurement protocol

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills procurement code and procurement guidance.

Wherever possible, external legal services are sourced from panels of counsel or solicitors firms which have been appointed following open and competitive selection processes. External solicitors required for advisory work

10 Oct 2011 : Column 262W

are virtually always sourced from the legal services framework agreement negotiated by Buying Solutions (or as it is now called the Government Procurement Service). Very occasionally the Department goes “off panel” where a particular expertise is required, for example Departments are required to seek the Attorney-General's nomination to use leading counsel.

The average hourly rate paid to solicitors and barristers could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

This Department has paid hourly rates to panel barristers, solicitors and criminal advocates as set out below. In other circumstances, such as off panel barrister nominations through the Attorney-General's Office, the fee would be negotiable as part of the procurement process.

Civil Work—hourly rates paid to barristers as set out on the Treasury Solicitor's Department website at:

http://www.tsol.gov.uk/PanelCounsel/appointments_to_panel.htm



Hourly rate

First Treasury Counsel

 

£220

Queen's Counsel

 

£180 to £250

     

London Panel Rates

A Panel of counsel

£120

 

B Panel of counsel

£100

 

C Panel of counsel

£60 to £80

     

Regional Panel Rates

10 + years call

£110

 

Between 5-10 years call

£90

 

Under 5 years call

£60

Civil Work—hourly rates paid to solicitors for advisory work

External solicitors appointed under the Legal Services framework agreement may only charge up to the amount quoted on the framework, hourly rates reflecting different grades of fee earner depending on their years qualified.

Criminal Work - Advocates


Hourly rate

Queen's Counsel

£185

Standing Counsel

£125

Attorney-General unified list of prosecution advocates

Hourly rate

A List

£95

B List

£80

C List

£70

Criminal work - Solicitors magistrates court


Hourly rate

Preparation

£49.70

Advocacy

£62.35

Criminal work - Solicitors crown court


Preparation Advocacy Attendance

Senior Solicitor

£53

£64.50

£42.25

Solicitor

£45

£56.00

£34.00

10 Oct 2011 : Column 263W

While we do record instances of where external solicitors and barristers are used and the hourly rate(s) applicable in each case we do not aggregate them to calculate the average overall hourly rate and therefore the information requested could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Details of advocates who are currently appointed to the Treasury Solicitor's (civil) panels are available at:

www.tsol.gov.uk/attorney_generals_panel_of_counsel.htm

Details of the Buying Solutions Legal Services Framework contract and the firms appointed can be found at:

http://www.buyingsolutions.gov.uk/search/overview/?search_1=legal+services

Details of some payments made to solicitors and barristers for legal services commissioned in 2010-11 are available on the BIS website at:

http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency/financial

Ministerial Meetings

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many meetings he has had with hon. Members of each political party since May 2010. [67175]

Mr Davey: The Department does not hold centrally the information you request and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 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. [67584]

Mr Davey: This information is not recorded.

Telephone Services

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding he has allocated to each telephone helpline operated by his Department in 2011-12; and what the purpose is of each such helpline. [68550]

Mr Davey [holding answer 6 September 2011]: The Department supports a number of helplines—including the Pay and Work Rights Helpline and the Business Link advice line. In terms of helplines operated by the Department the answer is as follows:

The Department operates a central Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) inquiry line (020 7215 5000) at a cost of approximately £19,000 per annum to provide businesses and members of the public with advice on the work of the Department and to connect callers to BIS officials. Additionally we operate three other help lines:

0845 015 0010 BIS publications order line

0845 015 0020 BIS publications order line (Fax)

0845 015 0030 BIS publications order line (Minicom)

at a total cost to date this year of approximately £150.

10 Oct 2011 : Column 264W

United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI) a joint Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Foreign and Commonwealth Office body, operate a helpline with an approximate cost of £24,500 per annum. All figures noted, apply to rental and maintenance costs and exclude staff costs.

Education: Young Offender Institutions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average (a) reading and (b) mathematics age was of those held in (i) young offenders' institutions and (ii) prisons by 10 year age bands in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the non-prison population comparators were in each such group. [72060]

Mr Hayes: Data are not collected on either the reading age or the mathematics age of prisoners or those held in youth detention.

The most recent, large-scale analysis of the reading and numeracy levels of prisoners remains the Home Office data published in 2003(1) based on basic skills screening assessments. This showed that 37% of prisoners had reading skills below Level 1 and 43% had numeracy skills below Level 1.

The closest non-prison comparator is the 2003 Skills for Life Survey(2), which showed that 16% of the population had literacy skills below Level 1 and 46% had numeracy skills below Level.

(1) Prison Statistics England and Wales 2002

(2) Skills for Life Survey: A National Needs and Impact Survey of Literacy, Numeracy and ICT Skills

Employment Agencies: EU Law

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has assessed the likely effects of the Agency Workers Regulations on (a) business costs and (b) productivity; and if he will make a statement. [72141]

Mr Davey: The January 2010 BIS impact assessment “European Parliament and Council Directive on working conditions for temporary agency workers” estimated costs to business at £1.5 billion. The impact assessment identifies a potential benefit of increased productivity through improved access to training for agency workers.

The Government have worked closely with businesses and the recruitment industry to help them prepare for the changes and have published guidance that will help employers, agencies and agency workers fully understand their obligations and rights as of 1 October.

I refer my right hon. Friend to the statement I made to Parliament on 19 October 2010, Official Report, columns 49-50WS.

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the number of employees who will be affected by the coming into force of the Agency Workers Regulations 2010 in (a) Livingston constituency, (b) West Lothian local authority area and (c) Scotland. [72381]

10 Oct 2011 : Column 265W

Mr Davey: The focus of the January 2010 BIS impact assessment “European Parliament and Council Directive on working conditions for temporary agency workers” was on the impact on agency workers rather than employees. There is unlikely to be a substantial impact on employees as a result of the agency workers regulations. The impact assessment does not provide a breakdown for the number of agency workers or employees that will be affected by the regulations at constituency and local authority level or within the devolved Administrations.

The Government have worked closely with businesses and the recruitment industry to help them prepare for the changes and have published guidance that will help employers, agencies and agency workers fully understand their obligations and rights as of 1 October.

Employment: Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to adopt the Think Small First principle in respect of the flow of employment regulation; and if so how this objective will be achieved. [72161]

Mr Davey: The Government have gone further than the EU’s “Think Small First” principle by recognising the impact that the regulatory burden can have on the growth of the smallest of businesses. That is why, in April, the Government introduced a moratorium exempting micro and start-up business from new domestic regulation for three years, which also extends to employment laws.

As set out in the “Plan for Growth”, the Government have also scrapped a number of proposals which would have cost businesses including small and medium-sized enterprises around £340 million a year, such as not extending the right to request Time to Train to companies with fewer than 250 employees.

Going beyond regulation, the Government have brought forward a number of measures to support small business growth, including extending the current small business rate relief holiday for one year; increasing the rate of small business research and development tax relief and reforming public sector procurement practices to make it much easier for small businesses to access contracting opportunities.

Engineering: Graduates

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students graduated from universities in England with degrees in engineering in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009, (d) 2010 and (e) 2011. [72198]

Mr Willetts: The latest data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) are shown in the table. Figures for the 2010/11 academic year will be available in January 2012.

Qualifiers (1) from first degree engineering courses English higher education institutions academic years 2006/07 to 2009/10
Academic year Qualifiers

2006/07

13,605

2007/08

14,015

2008/09

14,410

10 Oct 2011 : Column 266W

2009/10

15,370

(1) Covers qualifiers of all domiciles from full-time and part-time courses. Note: Figures are based on a HESA qualifications obtained population and have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record

English Language: Education

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for (a) Communities and Local Government and (b) the Home Department on the effects on measures to promote community cohesion and integration of planned reductions in funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages. [68560]

Mr Hayes: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has met the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), and the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), on a number of occasions to discuss a wide range of issues.

This Department and the Department for Communities and Local Government are working in partnership to develop new forms of support for individuals who need language skills to assist with integration and community cohesion. I will announce further details in due course.

The potential impact on adult learners participating in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses of the changes to eligibility criteria for fee remission proposed in the Government's “Skills for Sustainable Growth” strategy (November 2010) are described in an Equality Impact Assessment, published by this Department on 18 July 2011. This can be found at:

http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/further-education-skills/docs/e/11-1045-english-for-speakers-of-other-languages-equality-impact

Mr Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students were enrolled in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses in Coventry local authority area in each year since 2005-06; and what funding his Department provided for ESOL courses in Coventry local authority area in each such year. [70347]

Mr Hayes: The following table shows the number of Government-funded learners in Coventry local education authority participating on an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course from 2005/06 to 2009/10, the latest year for which full-year data are available.

N umber of learners participating on ESOL courses in Coventry local authority, 2005/06 to 2009/10

Number

2005/06

2,330

2006/07

2,160

2007/08

2,550

2008/09(1)

2,110

10 Oct 2011 : Column 267W

2009/10(1)

2,510

(1) Figures for 2008/09 onwards are not directly comparable to earlier years as the introduction of demand-led funding has changed how data are collected and how funded learners are defined. More Information on demand-led funding is available at: http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/datadictionary/businessdefinitions/Demand+Led+Funding.htm Notes: 1. These data cover participation in Learner Responsive, Apprenticeships, Train to Gain, Adult Safeguarded Learning and University for Industry provision. Further Education/Learner Responsive provision includes General Further Education Colleges including Tertiary, Sixth Form Colleges—Agricultural and Horticultural Colleges and Art and Design Colleges, Specialist Colleges and External Institutions. 2. Volumes are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Geography is based on learner’s home postcode. Source: Individualised Learner Record

Information on participation on ESOL courses is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 23 June:

http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current

Information on historical ESOL funding at the local geography level is not available as funding is not allocated to FE colleges and providers at the learning aim level. However, the Skills Funding Agency publish information on adult (19 years +) allocations made to individual colleges, providers and employers for each academic year available at the following link:

http://skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk/providers/programmes/

Mr Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many adult learners in Coventry local authority area were eligible for a fee remission for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many such people will no longer be eligible for fee remission following the introduction of his proposed changes to ESOL; [70348]

(2) what assessment he has made of the level of demand for English for Speakers of Other Languages courses in the Coventry local authority area; [70349]

(3) what assessment he has made of the likely effect on the number of women from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities who will enter employment of the planned reduction in funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages courses. [70350]

Mr Hayes: The Government currently provide 50% fee remission for all learners in England participating on ESOL courses who are eligible for public funded skills provision. Those on income based-benefits are eligible for full fee remission. Further education colleges and training organisations also have local discretion to provide fully subsidised courses for people on a wider range of benefits where the training is to help them enter employment.

From August 2011, where English language skills have been identified as a barrier to entering employment, full Government funding will be provided for ESOL to unemployed people in receipt of jobseekers allowance or in the employment and support allowance (Work-Related Activity) Group. We will also continue to pay 50% of

10 Oct 2011 : Column 268W

ESOL course fees for people who are settled here. We will no longer fund ESOL courses delivered in the workplace.

This Department does not make estimates of the demand for courses. Further education (FE) colleges and training providers are responsible for meeting the needs of their local community, and increased freedoms and flexibilities that we have introduced will help them respond and determine within their funding where this is prioritised.

The potential impact on adult learners participating in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses of the changes to eligibility criteria for fee remission proposed in the Government's ‘Skills for Sustainable Growth’ strategy (November 2010) are described in an equality impact assessment, published by this Department on 18 July 2011. This can be found at:

http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/further-education-skills/docs/e/11-1045-english-for-speakers-of-other-languages-equality-impact

Provision for 2009/10

The following table shows adult (19+) English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) participation in Coventry local education authority for 2009/10, the latest year for which full year data are available.

Adult (19+) ESOL learner participation in Coventry local authority, 2009/10

Number

2009/10

2,310

Notes: 1. These data cover participation in Learner Responsive, Apprenticeships, Train to Gain, Adult Safeguarded Learning and University for Industry provision. Further Education/Learner Responsive provision includes General Further Education Colleges including Tertiary, Sixth Form Colleges—Agricultural and Horticultural Colleges and Art and Design Colleges, Specialist Colleges and External Institutions. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Geography is based on learner’s home postcode. 4. Age is based on age at the start of the academic year. Source: Individualised Learner Record

We do not directly record what type of benefits people are receiving when they take up training. We do, however, collect information on why a learner has received fee remission for any learning they undertake. From these data we can provide some information on claimants but this should be used with caution given it does not provide an accurate picture of the full range of benefit entitlements that a person has. Using the fees waived field in the individual learner record we can say for the 2009/10 academic year that 1,700 ESOL enrolments for adult (19+) learners in Coventry local education authority received fee remission as the learner was in receipt of an income-related benefit.

Mr Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to publish the equality impact assessment for his planned change to the funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages courses. [70351]

Mr Hayes: The Department published the “Equality Impact Assessment” for English for Speakers of Other Language on the 18 July 2011. This can be found at:

http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/further-education-skills/docs/e/11-1045-english-for-speakers-of-other-languages-equality-impact

10 Oct 2011 : Column 269W

Entry Clearances: India

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the effect on trade of visa processing times for visitors from India. [72092]

Mr Prisk: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has had no specific discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), on the impact of visa processing times on trade with India.

However, close attention has been given to ensuring that visa regime changes have minimal impact on our vital trade relationships, including with India. In 2010, we issued approximately 56,500 business visitor visas and 85% of these were issued within five working days. This year our operation in India is meeting customer processing targets of 90% of non-settlement applications processed within 15 working days.

We have made a number of enhancements to assist with the visa application process in India and a fast- track service is available for an additional fee which expedites the process for visitors who have previously travelled to the UK which has proved very popular. We also operate an expedited service for accredited businesses who send their employees to the UK regularly for work

10 Oct 2011 : Column 270W

and have translated the business visitor visa application form guidance into six languages, including Hindi. The UK is home to over 700 of the 1,200 Indian companies with bases in Europe. Other changes, such as the entrepreneurs and investors visas, are designed to continue to enhance such close links.

Longer term visitor visas of two, five, and 10 years are available for visitors who have a history of regular travel to the UK and sustained need to do so.

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Secretary of State for the Home Department continue to work closely on immigration policy, and particularly the impact on trade and investment.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what debt payments have been received by the Export Credits Guarantee Department from (a) low and (b) middle-income countries in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) the current financial year to date. [71906]

Mr Davey: Categorisation of low and middle-income countries is based on the World Bank’s latest (2011) classification of gross national income (GNI) per capita. The following categories are used: lower income countries (LIC)—$1,005 or less, lower middle income countries (LMIC)—$1,006 to $3,975 and upper middle income countries (UMIC)—$3,976 to $12,275.

Amount of recoveries (principal and interest)
£ million (1)


2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07

Central African Republic

LIC

0.02

Guinea

LIC

0.01

0.01

0.01

0.02

0.02

0.02

Kenya

LIC

0.73

1.31

1.38

1.99

1.92

1.27

Togo

LIC

13.08

Angola

LMIC

1.28

25.17

24.54

91.53

Cameroon

LMIC

23.37

Congo

LMIC

3.26

40.75

0.31

0.29

0.48

Egypt

LMIC

6.55

12.14

12.47

16.21

15.43

13.45

Indonesia

LMIC

21.74

65.48

112.15

120.32

107.69

90.03

Iraq

LMIC

10.72

2.23

2.06

0.08

Morocco

LMIC

2.38

4.62

Nigeria

LMIC

656.94

Pakistan

LMIC

0.12

0.21

0.46

0.47

0.45

1.35

Philippines

LMIC

2.58

Senegal

LMIC

0.89

Vietnam

LMIC

0.44

0.80

0.78

1.04

0.99

0.83

Algeria

UMIC

119.64

Bosnia and Herzegovina

UMIC

0.03

0.06

0.07

0.09

0.09

0.05

Ecuador

UMIC

1.35

2.66

4.24

5.79

6.81

8.20

Gabon

UMIC

112.11

20.36

Grenada

UMIC

0.19

0.21

0.24

0.04

0.07

Jamaica

UMIC

0.20

0.23

0.26

Jordan

UMIC

335.31

19.24

Macedonia

UMIC

1.98

Montenegro

UMIC

0.51

0.02

0.01

Peru

UMIC

62.05

2.88

Russian Federation

UMIC

390.78

Serbia

UMIC

8.96

10.16

13.36

11.74

10.06

Seychelles

UMIC

0.02

0.08

Total

 

46.42

147.92

144.35

185.29

682.14

1,460.9

(1) These figures include payments received by the Export Credits Guarantee Department from the Department for International Development (DFID) on behalf of countries under the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) scheme: Central African Republic, Guinea, Togo, Cameroon, Republic of Congo and Senegal.

10 Oct 2011 : Column 271W

Flexible Working

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made on the need for further regulation on flexible working rights. [72210]

Mr Davey: The coalition Government have committed to extending the right to request flexible working to all employees.

On 16 May, I consulted on how to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees as part of the Modern Workplaces consultation. I published an impact assessment alongside the consultation on the costs and benefits of the extension.

The consultation closed on 8 August. We are currently analysing the responses to the consultation and will publish a Government response, and revised impact assessment, setting out our plans in due course.

Fossil Fuels: Export Credits Guarantees Department

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress has been made on implementing the coalition agreement commitment to end the Export Credits Guarantee Department's support for fossil fuel projects. [72354]

Mr Davey: The Government are still considering how the coalition agreement to ensure that

“UK Trade and Investment and the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) become champions for British companies that develop and export innovative green technologies around the world, instead of supporting investment in dirty fossil-fuel energy production”

should be implemented but expect to reach a conclusion by the end of the year. When a decision is taken, an announcement will be made. Meanwhile, ECGD is actively reaching out to exporters of renewable energy equipment and services so that they are aware of the products available from ECGD to provide them with credit protection and facilitate the provision of finance.

Franchises

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will review regulations surrounding franchises to enable franchises to continue trading in circumstances where their parent provider goes into liquidation. [71356]

Mr Davey: There are no regulations under company law unique to franchises and there are no plans to introduce them.

Further Education: Buildings

Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on college buildings (a) in Jarrow constituency, (b) in South Tyneside, (c) in the North East and (d) nationwide in 2010-11. [70380]

Mr Hayes: In 2010-11, South Tyneside college had three capital projects approved with an estimated value of £4.8 million. This attracted £1.1 million of grant funding from the Department.

10 Oct 2011 : Column 272W

During the same period, 20 capital projects were approved in the North East with an estimated value of £15.8 million, attracting £3.5 million of grant funding from the Department. In addition, £38.2 million was paid out in respect of continuing capital grant commitments.

Nationally, in 2010-11, 393 capital projects were approved with an estimated value of £308 million, attracting £76.1 million of grant funding from the Department. In addition, the Department paid out £534 million in grant funding in respect of 206 projects with continuing capital grant commitments.

Higher Education: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much capital funding his Department has allocated to (a) York college, (b) the university of York and (c) the university of York St John in each year since 1992. [71435]

Mr Willetts: The capital funding allocated by this Department and its predecessor Departments to York college, the university of York and the university of York St John in each year between 1992 and 2000 is not readily available. However, the capital allocations for each of the institutions named since 2000/01 is as follows:

£

York college University of York University of York St John

2000/01

38,266

0

0

2001/02

10,910

3,530,750

0

2002/03

42,090

3,778,951

1,853,705

2003/04

47,314

9,960,671

480,369

2004/05

15,927

9,598,750

1,695,801

2005/06

6,148,811

8,901,524

95,667

2006/07

7,631,938

3,257,349

900,000

2007/08

7,631,940

16,182,678

939,152

2008/09

77,650

13,211,996

1,308,627

2009/10

113,645

26,823,315

1,251,150

2010/11

202,474

1,746,914

939,136

2011/12

20,617

2,048,369

114,065

The university figures given cover capital payments for both teaching and research—hence the much higher figures for the university of York. A £2 million interest- free recoverable grant paid in 2006/07 is included in the allocation to the university of York. This is repayable in future years to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE.)

Some of the figures provided differ to those provided in my response to the hon. Member for York Central on 14 July 2011, Official Report, column 501W, as HEFCE have changed their definition of ‘capital funding’ for analytical purposes. These differences are as follows:

Some small funding streams are now included that are outside the mainstream capital allocations targeting Poor Estates, e-Learning strategy, e-University and the Revolving Green Fund.

Funding for the Joint Research Equipment Initiative and Minority Subjects is now excluded.

The figures provided for York college now include £693,285 for the period 2000/01 onwards paid by HEFCE in relation to higher education delivery.

10 Oct 2011 : Column 273W

British Industry

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to promote buying British products and produce; and if he will make a statement. [66102]

Mr Prisk: This Government fully recognise the importance of UK manufacturing and its key role in rebalancing the economy. Working with business, the Government are taking forward a range of actions to strengthen UK capability in the design, development and manufacture of products and produce. As set out in the Plan for Growth (March 2011) these include actions to improve technology commercialisation, to improve firms access to a skilled workforce, and to improve the image of the sector. In addition, this Department, through UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), is helping to promote UK products and produce to customers abroad, and launched its new strategy in May to help boost economic growth by increasing exports and encouraging foreign companies to invest in the UK.

Although the Government want to encourage as many jobs and activity in the UK as possible, we operate in a global marketplace, and a large part of the UK's economic success has resulted from our ability to participate in global trade and investment. Favouring domestic suppliers over imports or distorting procurement decisions would damage the long-term prospects of UK companies to compete in world markets and be costly for the UK economy.

Insolvency

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to ensure that after-the-event fee review in insolvency cases does not enable minority creditors or directors to reverse decisions made by the body of creditors as a whole. [67550]

Mr Davey: The Department is currently reviewing responses to the consultation on the regulation of insolvency practitioners. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) have recommended that an independent body be set up to deal with complaints about insolvency practitioners and that this could include complaints about the fees they charge. The intention is to improve the way creditors engage in the insolvency process, and I will be announcing the way forward shortly as part of the Government response to the consultation.

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects on creditor returns of after-the-event fee review in insolvency cases where complaints are not upheld. [67551]

Mr Davey: The Department is currently reviewing responses to the consultation on the regulation of insolvency practitioners, which sought views on whether an independent complaints body should be set up which would have the power to review the fees they charge. We have not quantified the specific effect on creditor returns where complaints are not upheld. However, the benefits identified within the package of policy options consulted on significantly outweigh the costs of dealing with fee complaints.

10 Oct 2011 : Column 274W

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the number of pre-packaged administrations that could be avoided if suppliers were obliged to continue to supply companies in administration. [67552]

Mr Davey: It is difficult to estimate with any certainty the number of pre-packaged administrations that could be avoided if suppliers were obliged to continue to supply companies in administration. The Government are aware of the arguments and data put forward by the Association of Business Recovery Professionals in this regard. More detailed assessment would have to look at the implications for all companies, not just those in insolvency, including any 'knock on' insolvency risk for suppliers.

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the number of liquidations that could be averted if suppliers were obliged to continue to supply companies in administration. [67553]

Mr Davey: It is difficult to estimate with any certainty the number of liquidations that could be averted if suppliers were obliged to continue to supply companies in administration.

The Government are aware of the arguments and data put forward by the Association of Business Recovery Professionals in this regard. More detailed analysis would have to look at the implications for all companies, not just those in insolvency, including any 'knock on' insolvency risk for suppliers.

Lighters: Safety

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the number of pocket lighters on sale in the UK which do not meet safety requirements; what steps his Department has taken to implement Commission Decision 2006/502/EC; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of such steps in restricting the availability of unsafe pocket lighters. [72812]

Mr Davey: The market surveillance of lighters is the responsibility of local authority trading standards services in Great Britain and district councils in Northern Ireland. BIS officials do not formally assess the effectiveness of this market surveillance, however, we are aware that a number of authorities have been taking action in response to concerns from the industry.

This Department has not made any recent estimate on the number of pocket lighters on the UK market that do not meet minimum safety standards. However, a press release by the European Federation of Lighter Manufacturers on 22 September estimated that of the 100 million lighters on the UK market up to 79% may be non-compliant. This does not necessarily mean that they are unsafe.

Each May since 2006 we have issued a direction to the local authorities to implement Commission Decision 2006/502/EC to ensure that only lighters that are child resistant are placed on the market. I will continue to issue directions until the work on the revised European standard on child resistant lighters has reached the point where it can support consistent enforcement across the EU.

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Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of pocket lighters on sale that do not meet minimum safety standards; whether his Department has assessed the fire risks presented by such lighters; and what steps his Department has taken to ensure that trading standards officers remove such products from the market. [72731]

Mr Davey: The market surveillance of lighters is the responsibility of Local Authority Trading Standards Services in Great Britain and District Councils in Northern Ireland. BIS officials do not formally assess the effectiveness of this market surveillance, however, we are aware that a number of authorities have been taking action in response to concerns from the industry.

This Department has not made an estimate on the number of pocket lighters on the UK market that do not meet minimum safety standards. However, a press release by the European Federation of Lighter Manufacturers on 22 September estimates that of the 100 million lighters on the UK market up to 79% may be non-compliant.

The collection of fire statistics is a responsibility of the Department for Communities and Local Government. UK fire statistics show that seven people died in 2009/10 in fires caused by cigarette lighters. However, the fire statistics do not identify whether the lighters were unsafe.

Each May since 2006 we have issued a Direction to the local authorities to implement Commission Decision 2006/502/EC to ensure that only lighters that are child resistant are placed on the market. I will continue to issue directions until the work on the revised European standard on child resistant lighters has reached the point where it can support consistent enforcement across the EU.

Mass Media

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what the total cost to the public purse was of his Department's national media coverage evaluations in each month between June 2001 and May 2002; [68363]

(2) how many (a) special advisers and (b) press officers his Department employed between June 2001 and May 2002; and what the cost to the public purse was in (i) cash and (ii) real terms of such appointments. [68328]

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Mr Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) was created on 5 June 2009 by the machinery of government (MOG) change merging the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). Neither of these two predecessor Departments existed in 2001-02.

Due to the age of the information requested and the machinery of Government changes since that period, an answer could be produced only at disproportionate cost.

Medical Research Council

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) whether the Medical Research Council accepts funding from non-public sources; how much such funding has been received in the last five years for which figures are available; from what sources; and for what purposes; [71403]

(2) how much was given to the Medical Research Council from the public purse in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [71406]

Mr Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) receives its core funding allocation from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) in line with the Government spending review cycle. The MRC also receives additional funding from other stakeholders to take forward collaborative projects and joint initiatives which increase the impact of the MRC's work and the public funding it receives. This includes funding from other Government Departments, such as the Department of Health and the Department for International Development and the other UK health departments, Government agencies such as the Food Standards Agency, the NHS and other UK research councils, and other stakeholders, including medical research charities. The MRC also receives funding from other grant awarding bodies in the UK and overseas which supports research projects MRC research units and institutes. In addition, the MRC receives royalty income derived from the successful exploitation of the research it funds.

A summary of MRC funding, including a breakdown of public and non-public funding is shown in the following table. Further information can be found in the MRC's annual report and accounts, available from

www.mrc.ac.uk

£ million

2009/10 2008/09 2007/08 2006/07 2005/06

Total resource and capital expenditure per finance tables in annual account

868.8

809.7

687.1

622.8

567.6

           

Funded by:

         

Core funding from BIS(1)

722.5

680.8

550.0

548.5

500.4

External income (see breakdown below)

95.0

80.1

76.7

74.3

67.2

Royalty income and commercial fund interest

51.3

48.8

60.4

Total

868.8

809.7

687.1

622.8

567.6

(1) Includes non cash.
£ million

2009/10 2008/09 2007/08 2006/07 2005/06

External income

95.0

80.1

76.7

74.3

67.2

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10 Oct 2011 : Column 278W

Public

41.1

39.9

43.7

46.3

42.4

Other research councils

9.7

5.9

5.5

3.5

3.4

European Commission

7.2

7.4

6.7

4.9

3.2

Human Frontiers Science programme (an International funding organisation)

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.3

Health authorities and NHS Trusts

4.4

1.7

2.1

1.6

1.5

Universities

2.0

8.5

5.6

3.6

2.8

Contributions from other Government Departments

17.8

16.2

23.6

32.5

31.2

           

Non p ublic

53.9

40.2

33.0

28.0

24.8

Collaboration with Industry

13.2

11.9

11.3

3.4

1.1

Charities

14.9

14.9

15.7

15.5

14.8

Contributions and grants from other bodies

8.9

3.2

3.8

Sales and other income

16.9

13.0

5.9

5.7

5.1

Interest

0.4

0.1

0.2