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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 13 October 2011
Work and Pensions
Working Tax Credit
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary for Work and Pensions what (a) transitional arrangements and (b) additional services will be put in place for couples with children including one partner who claims (i) carer's allowance as a full-time carer and (ii) incapacity benefit who work between 16 and 24 hours a week and will lose their entitlement to working tax credit unless they increase their hours of work to over 24 hours a week. [72541]
Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply.
Couples with children will continue to qualify for working tax credit where at least one member of a couple works at least 16 hours per week and that person is eligible for the working tax credit disability element or is aged 60 or over.
Couples with children where one partner is being paid a carer's allowance as a full time carer of their partner will also continue to qualify where working 16 hours or more a week.
Couples with children may also qualify for working tax credit if one member of a couple works at least 16 hours a week and a qualifying sickness or disability benefit, for example, incapacity benefit is payable for the other.
HMRC is not planning to make any transitional arrangements or provide additional services for couples with children who may lose entitlement to working tax credit as a result of the change to the working hours conditions in April 2012.
HMRC will be writing to those who may be affected before the end of this year to advise them of the change and what they need to do if they wish to continue to qualify for working tax credit.
Procurement
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what procedures his Department uses when engaging external consultants. [73114]
Chris Grayling: DWP is subject to a Treasury/Cabinet Office ‘freeze’ on consultancy spend and spend is permitted only in cases of operational necessity and where there are no suitable in-house resources.
DWP obtains ministerial sign-off for any spend exceeding £20,000 in value and has this reapproved on a rolling three-month basis. Additionally DWP submits contracts in excess of nine months and those for procurement related consultancy to the Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury for approval.
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DWP has a framework agreement, compliant with the requirements of the EU procurement regulations, of consultancy suppliers that it uses as its default sourcing route once spend has been approved.
Enterprise Allowance Scheme
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice from independent business consultants is available as part of his Department's enterprise allowance scheme. [73746]
Chris Grayling: Once accepted onto the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) a participant is matched with a volunteer business mentor who will provide advice and support from the first stages of business plan development, through start-up and into the early months of trading. The business mentor is there to provide guidance on all aspects of business start-up that will help make the NEA participant's new business a success. New Enterprise Allowance partnerships are also responsible for drawing together other sources of business advice and support for participants, to ensure that they and their business mentor have access to all the information they might need.
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consultation his Department undertook with the Institute of Business Consultants in developing the enterprise allowance scheme. [73748]
Chris Grayling: The New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) is the responsibility of the Department for Work and Pensions. In developing the NEA the Department consulted with a number of stakeholders across the country to ensure the NEA provides the support unemployed people need to successfully start their own businesses. However, the Department did not consult with the Institute of Business Consultants.
Business support in Wales is a devolved matter and the Department did consult with the Welsh Government during the development of the NEA.
Enterprise Allowance Scheme: Wales
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has had discussions on the development of the enterprise allowance scheme with (a) the Welsh Government and (b) professional bodies representing business advisers in Wales. [73747]
Chris Grayling: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Ministers from the Department for Work and Pensions have discussed welfare reform with the Welsh Government, however the development of the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) has not formed part of those discussions.
In developing the NEA the Department consulted with a number of stakeholders across the country, however the Secretary of State has not discussed the development of the NEA with any professional bodies specifically representing business advisers in Wales.
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Pension Credit
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time was between a person making their (a) first and (b) second claim for pension credit and receiving a decision in the latest period for which figures are available. [73068]
Steve Webb: The actual average clearance time (AACT) for all first and second claims for pension credit (PC) is 10.3 days. This is based on current year to date information from April 2011 to September 2011.
Notes:
(i) The actual average clearance time (AACT) is measured from the date on which all evidence is received to enable a decision to be made.
(ii) We have taken a second claim for PC to mean a new claim. When a person's earnings extinguish their entitlement to PC, their claim to PC is closed. When their employment ends they should contact the Pension Service to make a new claim.
Source:
Management Information System Programme (MISP)
Social Fund: Scotland
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much and what proportion of the social fund is spent in Scotland. [73345]
Steve Webb: The information requested for 2010-11 is set out as follows.
| Amount and proportion of Community Care Grant spend in Scotland | ||
|
|
Expenditure (£ million) | Proportion spend (percentage) |
| Amount and proportion of budgeting loan spend in Scotland | ||
|
|
Expenditure (£ million) | Proportion spend (percentage) |
| Amount and proportion of c ris is loan spend in Scotland | ||
|
|
Expenditure (£ million) | Proportion spend (percentage) |
| Amount and proportion of Sure Start Maternity Grant spend in Scotland | ||
|
|
Expenditure (£ million) | Proportion spend (percentage) |
| Amount and proportion of funeral payment spend in Scotland | ||
|
|
Expenditure (£ million) | Proportion spend (percentage) |
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| Amount and proportion of cold weather payment spend in Scotland | ||
|
|
Expenditure (£ million) | Proportion spend (percentage) |
| Amount and proportion of winter fuel payment spend in Scotland | ||
|
|
Expenditure (£ million) | Proportion spend (percentage) |
| Notes: 1. The information provided is management information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have management information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, it does not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the social fund computer system. 2. Figures rounded to the nearest £100,000. 3. For technical reasons, it is only possible to give estimates of cold weather payments, not actual out-turns. 4. For cold weather payments there are three weather stations which straddle the England and Scotland border and these have not been included in the Scotland estimate. 5. The payment per week of cold weather was £25 in 2010-11. 6. For crisis loans, budgeting loans, funeral payments, sure start maternity grants and community care grants social fund budget areas has been used to determine expenditure. | ||
Social Security Benefits
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the incidence of benefit claiming is in each of the smallest geographical units for which data are available. [72211]
Maria Miller: The information requested is 4,500 pages long and has therefore been placed in the Library for ease of reference.
Social Security Benefits: Post Offices
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the level of benefits paid by his Department directly into (a) Post Office card accounts and (b) bank accounts in each of the last three years. [74187]
Steve Webb: The following table shows the percentage of benefit and pension accounts administered by DWP being paid into (a) Post Office card accounts and (b) bank accounts as at June in each of the last three years.
|
|
Percentage paid into Post Office card account | Percentage paid into bank account |
| Source: DWP, Information Directorate. | ||
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A small number of benefit and pension recipients (less than 2%) cannot be paid into an account and are currently paid by cheque.
Widowed Parents Allowance
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether he plans to amend eligibility criteria for widowed parent's allowance to include people who lived with and had a child with the deceased but who were not married or in a civil partnership; [73483]
(2) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the eligibility criteria for widowed parent's allowance in relation to applicants who lived with a partner and had a child but were not married or in a civil partnership. [73485]
Steve Webb: This Government are clear that the benefits system should help bereaved people cope with their immediate needs and adjust to their new circumstances. It should do so in a way that avoids additional stress at this difficult time.
As bereavement benefits have been in place since 2001, in their current form, the Government are currently undertaking a fundamental review into the impact of the current regime, societal changes, and the relationship with universal credit.
Social research is under way which will enable us to gain insight into the dynamic impact of bereavement on different household types. Understanding the challenges people face, as well as how they overcome them and over what timescale, will help steer our work on any options for reform.
This research will be published in due course and any subsequent proposals for reform will be subject to public consultation in the normal way.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for widowed parent's allowance were rejected on the basis that the applicant lived with a deceased partner but was not married or in a civil partnership in the latest period for which figures are available. [73484]
Steve Webb: The figures requested are not available, as there is no central record of bereavement benefit claims which have been disallowed.
Energy and Climate Change
Clean Energy Ministerial 2012
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what priorities he has set for the G20 Clean Energy Ministerial 2012. [73535]
Gregory Barker: The Government's key priorities for the 2012 Clean Energy Ministerial include securing practical progress on low carbon energy deployment through bringing the public and private sectors together and sharing best practice in the UK and internationally.
This will be achieved through detailed discussion, for example on public and private finance for clean energy, on energy efficiency and by building on the 11 CEM
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initiatives announced last year (Carbon Capture Use and Storage, Clean Energy Education and Empowerment Women's Initiative, Electric Vehicles, Global Superior Energy Performance Partnership, International Smart Grid Action Network, Super-Efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment Initiative, Solar and LED Energy Access Programme, Bioenergy Working Group, Clean Energy Solutions Centre, Sustainable Development of Hydropower Initiative and Multilateral Solar and Wind Working Group).
Consultants
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what procedures his Department uses when engaging external consultants. [73101]
Gregory Barker: The Department only uses external consultants for essential work which it is clear cannot be done in-house.
The business case for any proposed consultancy in excess of £20,000 must be approved by the Chief Operating Officer and a Minister. Continuing contracts must be re-approved every three months. Contracting through a cross-Government framework agreement is always considered first, however if no suitable framework exists then an open competitive tender is placed on the Official Journal of the European Union (if the estimated value is near or above the EU threshold), or if below using the Contracts Finder facility which ensures open competition.
Similar procedures apply to proposed consultancy below £20,000 except that approval at Director General level is sufficient in such cases.
Transport-related Fines
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many transport-related fines his Department has settled on behalf of its staff and at what cost in each year since its inception. [74463]
Gregory Barker: DECC's policy is that it does not pay fines on behalf of its staff.
Departmental Public Expenditure
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on new furnishings in the last year. [73122]
Gregory Barker: In the financial year 2010-11 DECC spent £53,000 on furniture and fixtures and fittings.
In the financial year 2010-11 DECC also spent £218,000 on facility management minor works which includes fixtures and fittings, painting, carpeting and upgrading toilets.
Electricity: Prices
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has assessed the Exeltium consortium in France as a model for the supply of low-carbon electricity to energy-intensive industries at a fixed price. [73037]
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Gregory Barker: The Government have asked energy intensive industry to examine whether such an approach could translate to the UK energy market and are ready to help facilitate discussions with utilities on this issue. This option is being considered as part of the development of the package of measures to reduce the effects of Government policy on electricity costs for those energy-intensive businesses whose international competitiveness is most affected by UK energy and climate change policy. Government plan to announce the details of the package before the end of the year.
Energy Companies: Secondment
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many staff have been seconded from energy companies to his Department to assist with preparing its electricity market reform proposals; and from which companies. [73750]
Gregory Barker: Two members of staff have been seconded to the Department of Energy and Climate Change from the companies identified as follows to assist with preparing the electricity market reform proposals(1):
Elexon
National Grid.
(1) A number of staff have also been seconded to DECC from energy consultancies but are not included in the figures above as these are not classified as energy companies.
Energy Supply: Prices
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what consideration he has given to allowing energy-intensive industries to claim back the carbon price support rates paid on electricity; and if he will make a statement; [73038]
(2) what assessment he has made of the potential risks to energy-intensive industries of the introduction of carbon price support; and whether he has identified certain industries as priorities for any mitigation. [73039]
Gregory Barker: Tax is a matter for HM Treasury. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer keeps all tax policy under review as part of the Budget process.
The Government response to the carbon price floor consultation, and accompanying tax impact and information note (TIIN) estimated that electricity bills for an average energy-intensive business will increase by 2% and 6% in 2013 and 2016 respectively.
As announced as part of the Fourth Carbon Budget, the Government will announce before the end of the year a package of measures for those energy intensive businesses whose international competitiveness is most affected by our energy and climate change policies, in order to reduce the impact of Government policy on the cost of electricity for these businesses. We are undertaking a sector by sector analysis to ensure the package targets the most affected industries.
Ian Austin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what recent discussions he has had with (a) Scottish Power, (b) EDF Energy, (c)
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E.ON UK,
(d)
Scottish and Southern Energy,
(e)
Centrica-British Gas and
(f)
nPower on domestic energy costs; [73266]
(2) what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on fuel poverty and domestic energy costs; [73268]
(3) what recent representations he has received from (a) organisations representing elderly people, (b) individuals and (c) environmental groups on domestic energy costs. [73267]
Gregory Barker: Ministers and officials meet regularly with the stakeholders mentioned above, to discuss a range of issues. Quarterly lists of DECC Ministers' meetings that involve outside interested parties are published on the DECC website, available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/registers/ministermtgs/ministermtgs.aspx
Officials have been working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions developing the data matching elements of the Warm Home Discount scheme to ensure that up to 600,000 of the poorest pensioners in Great Britain receive an automatic rebate of £120 on their electricity bills this winter.
We have also had regular discussions with energy suppliers to secure a voluntary agreement to provide consumers with cheaper tariff information on bills this winter, and an additional winter mail-out to provide millions of customers with information on how much they could save by switching to direct debit payment.
Energy: Housing
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what his policy is on the use of bioliquid as a household fuel; [73041]
(2) what his policy is on including conversions to the use of bioliquid as a domestic fuel within the Renewable Heat Incentive; [73043]
(3) if he will assess the likely effect on levels of greenhouse gas emissions of increased use of bioliquid as a household fuel. [73042]
Gregory Barker: Our policy is that electricity generated from bioliquids, including at the microgeneration level, can be eligible for support under the renewables obligation as long as the bioliquids pass the mandatory sustainability criteria. For every megawatt of electricity produced from bioliquids, generators currently receive: 1.5 renewable obligation certificates (ROCs) for dedicated bioliquids, 1 ROC for fossil derived bioliquids such as FAME (fatty acid methyl ester) biodiesel, 0.5 ROCs for co-firing and 2 ROCs for fuels made through advanced pyrolysis. We expect to publish a consultation shortly which will set proposals for support for bioliquids and other renewable technologies in the renewables obligation from 2013. The consultation will be accompanied by an impact assessment which will assess the impact of the proposals on greenhouse gas emissions.
Use of bioliquids as a household fuel, including conversion of existing boilers, is not currently supported under the renewable heat incentive (RHI) or the renewable heat premium payment. As stated in the RHI document (published in March) we are considering whether to support bioliquids as part of developing the second
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phase of the RHI scheme. As in the case of the renewable obligation, an impact assessment will be produced which will assess the impact of the proposals on greenhouse gas emissions.
Green Deal Scheme
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answers of 7 July 2011, Official Report, column 1371W and of 5 September 2011, Official Report, column 197W, on energy: housing, when he expects the Green Deal to be launched; and how soon after the launch of the Green Deal he proposes to publish the outstanding progress reports under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995. [74182]
Gregory Barker: We aim to launch the Green Deal in autumn 2012 and will seek to publish a progress report under HECA at the same time.
Natural Gas
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the maximum depth of drilling operations for shale gas is in the UK; and at what depths he expects hydraulic fracturing to take place. [74027]
Charles Hendry: Drilling depths for shale gas will be specific to the drilling location. However shale gas exploration drilling is only taking place in a small number of locations within the UK at present. The most active drilling area and the only one where hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for shale gas has been carried out is at Cuadrilla's site near Blackpool. Two exploration wells have been drilled, the deepest to a depth of 10,775 feet, and a further well is currently being drilled. Fracking has only taken place at one site—at depths of between 6,550 and 8,823 feet. Again, fracking depths will be dependent on the well location and the depth and size of any shale seam encountered.
Offshore Industry: Safety
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the report by the European Parliament on facing the challenges of the safety of offshore oil and gas activities. [73008]
Charles Hendry: The European Parliament report is an “own-initiative” report and has no formal legal standing.
We are expecting formal proposals from the European Commission on the safety of offshore oil and gas activities to be issued before the end of the year. Following the release of these proposals, we would expect the European Parliament to comment further as part of the co-decision process.
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to increase the feed-in tariff for micro generators. [74634]
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Gregory Barker: The comprehensive review of the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme is currently under way and is considering all aspects of the scheme including administration, tariffs and eligibility for FITs. We are intending to consult on formal proposals later this year. Changes as a result of the review will be implemented in April 2012 unless the review indicates the need for greater urgency.
Sellafield
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reason the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is planning to cease immobilising Dounreay Fast Reactor nuclear material on site and transporting it to Sellafield for reprocessing. [73649]
Charles Hendry: The forecast completion date of Magnox reprocessing has been extended for operational performance reasons to around 2017. This extension means that completion of Magnox Operating Plan (MOP) and recovery of Dounreay Fast Reactor (DFR) breeder material, through the Magnox reprocessing plant, are now on comparable time scales. Reprocessing of DFR breeder material accelerates remediation of the material by utilising an existing mature technology, which reduces programme, engineering and cost risk while meeting security and cost optimisation objectives. Further details on the case for DFR Breeder reprocessing can be found on the NDA website at
http://www.nda.gov.uk/documents/upload/Exotic-Fuels-Dounreay-Fast-Reactor-DFR-Breeder-Credible-and-Preferred-Options-July-2011.pdf
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) for what reason the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is proposing further reprocessing of nuclear material, including breeder material from Dounreay; [73650]
(2) for what reason the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is proposing continued reprocessing of nuclear material at Sellafield, including increasing the amount of nuclear material to be reprocessed by planned transport from Dounreay to Sellafield of Dounreay Fast Reactor breeder material. [73651]
Charles Hendry: There are two reprocessing programmes in operation within the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) Estate: Magnox reprocessing and oxide reprocessing (in THORP).
Reprocessing of Magnox fuel remains the most viable and cost effective option for the management of Magnox fuel. The forecast completion date of Magnox reprocessing has been extended for operational performance reasons to around 2017. The Magnox extension means that completion of Magnox Operating Plan (MOP) and recovery of Dounreay Fast Reactor (DFR) breeder material, through the Magnox reprocessing plant, are now on comparable timescales. Reprocessing of DFR breeder material accelerates remediation of the material by utilising an existing mature technology, which reduces programme, engineering and cost risk whilst meeting security and cost optimisation objectives. Further details on the case for DFR Breeder reprocessing can be found on the NDA website at:
http://www.nda.gov.uk/documents/upload/Exotic-Fuels-Dounreay-Fast-Reactor-DFR-Breeder-Credible-and-Preferred-Options-July-2011.pdf
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In line with the Energy Act 2004 and published NDA Strategy 2011, the NDA strategic position is to complete the existing oxide fuel (in THORP) reprocessing contracts. This remains the most viable and cost-effective option.
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority will end all reprocessing activity at Sellafield and decommission the reprocessing facilities following the closure of the Sellafield MOX plant. [73652]
Charles Hendry: There are two reprocessing programmes in operation within the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) Estate: Magnox reprocessing and oxide reprocessing (in THORP). Reprocessing of Magnox fuel remains the most viable and cost effective option for the management of Magnox fuel. In line with the Energy Act 2004 and published NDA Strategy 2011, the NDA strategic position is to complete the existing oxide fuel reprocessing contracts. This remains the most viable and cost-effective option.
Of these programmes, only oxide reprocessing will produce overseas owned plutonium, and in comparatively small quantities as the majority of overseas owned fuel has already been reprocessed. The closure of the Sellafield MOX plant (SMP) does not materially impact on these programmes and in any case it was only licensed and approved for dealing with overseas owned plutonium, as a product from reprocessing, stored in the UK.
Solar Power
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many companies with less than five people employed in their manual workforce and a turnover of under £0.5 million are registered as qualified to install solar thermal, air source and ground source systems under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme in (a) Wales and (b) nationally. [73434]
Gregory Barker: The Department does not hold information on the turnover or number of employees for certified MCS installation companies. All MCS installation companies are listed on the MCS website:
www.microgenerationcertification.org
The number of MCS installation companies based in the UK and Wales for solar thermal and heat pumps technologies are as follows:
| Technology | MCS companies in whole of UK | MCS companies based in Wales |
The total numbers of microgeneration installation companies registered as MCS certificated are:
(a) 124 based in Wales;
(b) 3,269 based in the whole UK.
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Third Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much direct funding his Department provided to each civil society organisation it funded in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; how much he expects to provide in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15; and if he will make a statement. [74830]
Gregory Barker: DECC's finance system does not record whether a supplier or grant recipient is a civil society organisation.
To review the Department's records to identify all direct payments to civil society organisations would incur disproportionate costs.
Wind Power
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average amount of public subsidy was per onshore wind turbine per day in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [73087]
Charles Hendry: The Renewables Obligation (RO) is a market based subsidy and ROCs are tradeable commodities which have no fixed price. The amount a supplier pays for a ROC is dependent on bi-lateral negotiations between supplier and generator.
Information relating to stations accredited under the RO is based on station's capacity rather than number of turbines (operational turbines range from under 1MW up to around 3MW in size). The number of ROCs a generator receives depends on the number of MWh generated, which is dependent on load factors which vary across the country.
The total number of ROCs issued to onshore wind turbines and the total installed capacity of accredited onshore wind farms across the UK in each of the last five years for which figures are available is given in the following table:
|
|
ROCs issued to onshore wind | Capacity (MW) |
The nominal value represents the maximum worth of a ROC to a generator but is not necessarily the amount paid by a supplier. The nominal value of a ROC for each of the last five years is given in the following table:
|
|
Nominal ROC value (£) |
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Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much each onshore wind farm company received in subsidy from the public purse in each of the last 12 months. [73088]
Charles Hendry: Under the Renewables Obligation (RO), onshore wind farms currently receive one Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC) for each megawatt hour (MWh) of eligible electricity they generate. The RO is a market based subsidy and ROCs are tradeable commodities which have no fixed price. The amount a supplier pays for a ROC is dependent on bi-lateral negotiations between supplier and generator.
The number of ROCs issued to each generating station is available on the Ofgem website:
https://www.renewablesandchp.ofgem.gov.uk/Public/Report Manager.aspx?ReportVisibility=1&ReportCategory=0
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average efficiency of on-shore wind turbines was in each of the last 12 months. [73249]
Charles Hendry: We understand this question to mean load factors, rather than efficiency. DECC produces load factors for onshore wind, on a quarterly basis. These can be found for the last four quarters in the following table.
| Year/ Quarter | Onshore wind load factor (percentage) |
| Note: Quarterly wind load factors are produced on a standard basis, rather than the unchanged configuration basis used for annual load factors. Source: Energy Trends table ET 7.1—available at: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/source/renewables/renewables.aspx | |
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much energy was produced by on-shore wind generation in each of the last 12 months; and what proportion of the UK's total energy requirement this represented in each month. [73248]
Charles Hendry: DECC produces data for all onshore wind generation, and total energy supply, on a quarterly basis. The following table shows the contribution of onshore wind generation to total UK energy, as well as electricity, supply in each of the last four quarters.
| Year/ Quarter | Onshore wind generation (GWh) | Proportion of UK total energy supply (percentage) | Proportion of UK electricity supply (percentage) |
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| Sources: 1. Onshore wind generation: Energy Trends table ET 7.1, available at: http://www.decc.gov.uk/(lc/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/source/renewables/renewables.aspx 2. UK energy supply: Energy Trends table ET 1.3, available at: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/source/total/total.aspx 3. UK electricity supply: Energy Trends table ET 5.2, available at: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/source/electricity/electricity.aspx | |||
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the average amount of energy used per month by a 126.5m wind turbine; and how much was spent from the public purse on subsidies for energy used by such turbines in the latest period for which figures are available. [73251]
Charles Hendry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 2 March 2011, Official Report, column 442W, in which I stated that independent analysis commissioned by DECC estimates own power used by wind turbines ranges between 1.5% and 2.4%.
The Renewable Obligation is a generation based subsidy. Renewable Obligation Certificates are therefore issued in respect of the renewable output of a generating station. However, the renewable output of a generating station is reduced to take into account input electricity if the input electricity used by the generating station in generating the output electricity exceeds 0.5% of the total amount of the output electricity. This is set out in Article 25(1) and (2) of the Renewables Obligation Order 2009.
Input electricity is defined in Article 24(6)(a) of the Renewables Obligation Order 2009 as the total amount of electricity used by that station for purposes directly related to its operation, including for fuel handling, fuel preparation, maintenance and the pumping of water, whether or not that electricity is generated by the station or used while the station is generating electricity.
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many onshore wind turbines produced energy for the national grid in August 2011. [73252]
Charles Hendry: Monthly generation data are available for stations accredited under the Renewables Obligation (RO), from Ofgem. However, this is based on station capacity rather than the number of turbines deployed.
Data relating to the number of Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) issued for generation that took place in August 2011 are not currently available. The latest figures, for June 2011, show that 296 RO accredited onshore wind generating stations in the UK received ROCs for electricity generated in that month. This information is publicly available and can be downloaded from Ofgem's website:
https://www.renewablesandchp.ofgem.gov.uk/
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Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations his Department has received from companies involved in the production of onshore wind energy since 1 July 2011; what the nature was of each such representation; and who represented his Department in any meetings that took place with these companies. [73253]
Charles Hendry: DECC Ministers and officials meet regularly with representatives of energy suppliers, developers, the wider industry and other stakeholders to discuss issues related to the production of onshore wind energy in the UK.
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many secondees from companies involved in wind energy production in the UK are working in his Department; what their roles are; and how long they have been in post. [73254]
Wind Power: Scotland
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the annual load factor of onshore wind in Scotland was (a) in each of the last 10 years and (b) as an average over the last 10 years. [73405]
Charles Hendry: Annual load factors for onshore wind in Scotland for the years 2001 to 2010, as well as a 10-year average, can be found in the following table:
|
|
Load factor (%) |
| Source: RESTATS Regional Statistics, available at: https://restats.decc.gov.uk/cms/historic-regional-statistics/ | |
Transport
Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing Reform
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with (a) consumer organisations, (b) airlines and (c) representatives of travel agents in relation to proposed changes to the Air Travel Organisers' Licensing scheme. [73947]
Mrs Villiers: The ATOL Reform Consultation took place between the 23 June and 15 September 2011. All parties with an interest in the proposals were invited to respond.
13 Oct 2011 : Column 470W
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport Department officials and I have discussed the ATOL reform proposals with representatives of consumer organisations, airlines and travel agents during meetings and stakeholder events.
Aviation
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the one bag rule applied by certain airlines; and if he will make a statement. [73958]
Mrs Villiers: The size and number of bags that a passenger is permitted to take on board a commercial aircraft is a matter for airlines to decide as private companies operating in a global market.
Baggage restriction policies and charges can vary considerably between airlines. In most cases, airlines will align their baggage allowances and charging policies in accordance with a number of considerations, for example the size of the aircraft and the distance to destinations. Passengers should always check what is permitted with their airline before they travel.
Cycling
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings his Department has had with the Department of Health on promoting the cycle to work scheme. [73078]
Norman Baker: Earlier this year Department for Transport officials were in dialogue with the Department of Health with regard to inclusion of the cycle to work scheme and Cycle to Work Guarantee in the Public Health Responsibility Deal pledges and guidance.
Information on the Public Health Responsibility Deal is available at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Publichealth responsibilitydeal/index.htm
Driving Tests
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the introduction of (a) motorcycle and (b) other hazard-based training in car driving tests. [73514]
Mike Penning: The theory test assesses a candidate's knowledge of driving theory, in particular the rules of the road and best driving practice. The wide range of topics covered requires candidates to prepare themselves for questions about other road users, particularly those identified as vulnerable, such as motorcyclists.
An integral part of the practical driving test is assessing how the candidate interacts with other road users, including motorcyclists.
Package Holidays
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many package holidays were booked in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; and how many and what proportion of such holidays were sold by (i) tour operators and (ii) airlines. [73948]
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Mrs Villiers: The Office for National Statistics has reported that:
(a) In 2008 45,531 holidays abroad were taken by UK residents. 17,914 of these were inclusive tours or packages.
(b) In 2009 38,492 holidays abroad were taken by UK residents. 14,507 of these were inclusive tours or packages.
(c) In 2010 36,422 holidays abroad were taken by UK residents. 14,257 of these were inclusive tours or packages.
There are no data for the number or proportion of package holidays sold by tour operators or airlines.
Rail Value for Money Review
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department expects to respond to the recommendations of the McNulty report. [72668]
Mrs Villiers: The Department's Business Plan sets out that the Government will outline their detailed proposals for the delivery of a sustainable railway before the end of the year.
Railways: Rolling Stock
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with Arriva Trains the provision of new rolling-stock and additional carriages on Gloucester to Maesteg passenger rail services. [74025]
Mrs Villiers: Under the Welsh rail devolution arrangements, the Welsh Government are responsible for the management of this route within the Arriva Trains Wales (‘ATW’) franchise.
Rescue Services
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with EU officials on the UK Coastguards; and what his policy is on the EU adopting a greater role in the control of the UK Coastguard. [72071]
Mike Penning: I have had no discussions with EU officials about the EU adopting a greater role in the control of Her Majesty's Coastguard.
Her Majesty's Coastguard has a long and proud history and has a worldwide reputation for excellence. It already has excellent co-operative arrangements with its neighbours that would not be enhanced by the existence of a pan-European body. Such a body would also be likely to entail unnecessary bureaucracy and cost.
The Government have consistently opposed the idea of an EU Coastguard and will continue to do so.
Thameslink: Rolling Stock
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he made of the ability to deliver the technical requirements of the Thameslink Rolling Stock Project when awarding preferred bidder status. [73600]
Mrs Villiers
[holding answer 12 October 2011]: The evaluation criteria and evaluation process used to assess the ability of a bidder to deliver the technical requirements
13 Oct 2011 : Column 472W
of the Thameslink Rolling Stock Project are contained in the project’s Invitation to Tender dated 27 November 2008. A copy is available on the DFT website.
The Department, in conjunction with industry experts and appropriately skilled and experienced technical advisers, assessed each bid against these criteria.
Northern Ireland
Air Travel
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which travel management companies his Department uses for the purchase of airline tickets. [72678]
Mr Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office uses one travel management company to purchase airline tickets. This company is called Knock Travel and is based in Belfast.
Prime Minister
Art Works
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister what the cost to the public purse was of installing the artwork donated by Tracey Emin in Number 10 Downing street. [73648]
The Prime Minister: There was no cost to the public purse for the installation of the artwork donated by Tracey Emin.
Public Accounts Commission
National Audit Office
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what recent assessment the Public Accounts Commission has made of the efficiency with which the National Audit Office is run. [74057]
Mr Leigh: In November 2010 the National Audit Office presented its Strategy for the period 2011-12 to 2013-14 to the Commission. The Strategy included plans to cut the annual funding required in support of NAO activities by 15% in net terms. The Commission explored the basis of these proposals in depth with senior officials from the NAO and sought to satisfy itself that the strategy would achieve the right balance between maintaining the quality of the audit service provided to Parliament and seeking maximum efficiency in the delivery of this service.
The Commission returned to the subject of the National Audit Office's operational efficiency in March 2011 when it met to approve the National Audit Office estimate for 2011-12 and to consider a value for money report from the external auditors to the National Audit Office on “A review of Corporate Support Costs”. This report provided the Commission with an independent assessment of the work being done to secure efficiencies in corporate support functions within the National Audit Office in support of the key performance target of devoting at least 80% of its resources to front-line activities.
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House of Commons Commission
ICT: Theft
Mr Watson: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many (a) computers and (b) mobile telephones have been reported stolen from the parliamentary estate in the last 12 months. [73621]
John Thurso: The number of computers and mobile telephones that have been reported stolen from the Commons part of the parliamentary estate in the last 12 months (October 2010 to October 2011) are as follows:
|
|
Phones | Computers |
The House authorities and the Metropolitan police have jointly implemented a crime prevention plan, including strong advice to lock up valuable items and to lock office doors at the end of the working day. Nightly security patrols in both Houses report exceptions, which are followed up by the Serjeant at Arms. During these patrols any offices found insecure are now locked.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Abdel Fattah Younis
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of investigations into the death of General Abdel Fattah Younis in Libya. [73270]
Mr Hague: The Libyan National Transitional Council condemned the killing of General Younis swiftly and emphatically, and announced a full investigation if the results of the initial investigation raised serious concerns about events leading up to his assassination and led to changes in the NTC Executive Committee. To date we are aware of two arrests as a result of a criminal investigation, which remains ongoing.
Al-Qaeda
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the strength of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in (a) Morocco, (b) Algeria, (c) Tunisia, (d) Libya and (e) Egypt. [73269]
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Mr Hague: Historically al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb's main focus has been Algeria, but they have also conducted attacks in Tunisia. AQ-M retain the intent to conduct attacks in Morocco and Libya. They have not conducted or attempted to conduct any attacks in Egypt although there is a high threat from terrorism throughout Egypt, including in Sinai.
We are working with international partners and governments in the region to counter the threat from AQ-M and other terrorist groups to ensure they are not able to operate freely and exploit instability to conduct attacks.
Belarus: Human Rights
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken to raise human rights issues with the authorities in Belarus. [73291]
Mr Hague: The UK remains at the forefront of efforts within the EU and the wider international community to maintain political pressure on the Belarusian authorities and urge them to adhere to their human rights obligations. We have been working with EU partners to strengthen sanctions against the regime and its backers in an effort to promote positive developments. We believe these efforts have had some effect, as the regime has now released all but seven political prisoners.
We have continued to maintain the pressure in other ways. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe released statements on 6 August and 28 September to call for all political prisoners to be released and rehabilitated immediately. He also called for prisoners to be treated humanely. In a statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 21 September, the UK called for Belarus to end politically motivated harassment and intimidation, conduct a thorough and credible investigation into the allegations of degrading treatment against prisoners and establish a formal moratorium on executions.
In August, the Department co-ordinated a joint letter by 10 EU Ministers of Justice to their Belarusian counterpart to protest about pressure on lawyers defending political prisoners.
At the Eastern Partnership summit in Warsaw on 29 and 30 September, we supported the strong EU statement on Belarus. In the margins of the summit, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Europe met Belarusian opposition figures and human rights defenders.
Our embassy has remained active, observing several of the trials in relation to the violent aftermath of the 19 December presidential election, including those of several ex-Presidential candidates. It also observes protest demonstrations. It uses all appropriate opportunities to raise human rights issues with government officials.
China: Animal Welfare
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Chinese Government on standards of animal welfare in fur farms in that country. [73133]
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Mr Jeremy Browne: I have not raised the standards of animal welfare in fur farms in China with the Chinese Government. However the Government are supportive of work to raise standards of animal welfare at home and overseas. Where appropriate, we support co-ordinated action to promote standards internationally. The UK has been fully supportive of an EU-wide ban on the import, export and sale of domestic cat and dog fur and products containing such fur.
We also welcome the work that non-governmental organisations such as Animals Asia Foundation, the International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals undertake with the Chinese authorities to improve standards of animal welfare in China.
China: Intellectual Property
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the protection of intellectual property in China. [73277]
Mr Hague: I discuss China regularly with my EU counterparts, most recently at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 10 October. The protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in China is a priority for the UK.
Ahead of the EU-China summit on 25 October, my officials have held discussions with the EU and fellow member states on enhancing EU-China trade and addressing market barriers, including strengthening IPR in China. In particular, the UK would like China to ensure that there is effective and consistent enforcement of IPR across the country. Officials at our embassy in Beijing co-ordinate closely with EU colleagues on IPR issues.
Colombia: Armed Conflict
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department plans to provide to women's organisations and human rights activists in relation to the armed conflict in Colombia in each of the next four financial years. [73383]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Our embassy in Bogota has a wide-ranging and active programme of support for human rights defenders. This includes individuals and groups, including women's organisations. We visit groups to show our visible support and regularly raise our concerns with the Colombian Government.
We fund specific projects through our Human Rights and Democracy Fund. These funds are allocated according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's human rights priorities each year. The level of support the UK Government will provide in each of the next four financial years has not yet been decided. This year, the UK Government funded four projects totalling approximately £322,647. This included the development of a public policy on the protection of human rights defenders.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the government of Colombia on crimes of sexual violence against women and children during the armed conflict in that country. [73387]
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Mr Jeremy Browne: The Government condemn all forms of violence against women and children.
We regularly call on the Colombian authorities to investigate human rights abuses fully and to take the necessary steps to protect those at risk including women and children.
Colombia: Politics and Government
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Colombia on the progress made in investigating (a) the death of Antonio Mendoza Morales and (b) threats made against other members of the National Victims' Movement. [73465]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We have not to date made representations to the Colombian Government about this case. A Mr Jaider Ortega Jimenez has been arrested by the Colombian police and charged with the murder of Mr Antonio Mendoza Morales. Our embassy in Bogota will continue to monitor the progress of the trial and raise any concerns with the Colombian Government should it prove necessary.
Officials at our embassy in Bogota have made several representations to the Head of the Presidential Programme on Human Rights and International Law in the cases of members of the National Victims' Movement. We will continue to raise our concerns with senior members of the Colombian Government.
Libya: Females
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with members of the National Transitional Council of Libya on the inclusion of women in decision-making processes. [74016]
Alistair Burt: Both the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs have stressed to the National Transitional Council (NTC) the importance of creating an inclusive political system and Libyan society that brings in all sections of the Libyan population, including women. British officials have discussed this with the NTC representative for Women's Issues, Dr Salwa al-Daghaili, and have also engaged with the NTC on plans for building a strong civil society.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how his Department plans to support the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in Libya. [74017]
Alistair Burt: The Government are committed to their obligations under UNSCR 1325. We recognise the role played by Libyan women in supporting the revolution, and their participation and leadership within civil society more broadly. The UK is engaging with women across Libyan society to determine how best to provide support. We are also working closely with the EU to assess what support the international community can provide on this issue.
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South China Sea: Politics and Government
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of potential threats to regional political stability arising from different territorial claims in the South China sea. [73279]
Mr Hague: The South China sea is a vital global trade artery. The UK has a strong interest in the maintenance of stability and freedom of navigation in the region. We encourage all parties to resolve their territorial disputes peacefully, in line with international law. We call on all parties to show restraint and abide by international norms for the safe conduct of vessels at sea.
Syria: Diplomatic Service
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions he has had discussions with the Syrian ambassador on the activities of his diplomatic staff in relation to meetings with the diaspora. [74312]
Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has not discussed Syrian embassy activities with the Syrian ambassador.
On 28 June the Syrian ambassador was invited in to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office where FCO officials made clear our strong concerns about allegations that a diplomat at the Syrian embassy had been intimidating Syrians in Britain. The message was clear, that any such activity would amount to a clear breach of acceptable behaviour and if such claims were substantiated, we would respond swiftly and appropriately.
Syria: Sanctions
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of sanctions on Syria. [73273]
Mr Hague: Sanctions imposed by the EU on Syria are aimed at putting pressure on President Assad and his regime to stop the killings and repression of the Syrian people, and allow for their legitimate aspirations to be met. These sanctions have also set pace for action in the wider international community. The recent decision by the EU to impose a ban on the purchase, import or transport from Syria of crude oil and petroleum products, where the EU previously imported well over 90% of Syria's crude oil, has deprived the Syrian regime of a major income stream to help fund its repression.
Sanctions are not aimed at the Syrian people but at those responsible for the regime's violent repression. They are also aimed at those who support or benefit from the regime's violence: these people must recognise the consequences of their actions and step away from the regime.
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Yemen: Foreign Relations
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the next Friends of Yemen meeting will be held. [73060]
Alistair Burt: The last Friends of Yemen meeting scheduled for March 2011 in Riyadh was rightly postponed at the request of the Government of Yemen, in light of the political impasse and violence on the streets. Our focus now is on helping Yemen achieve stability through a political transition in line with the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative. Once this has been agreed and implementation has begun, I consider there will once again be a role for the group in assisting Yemen to restructure and reform to address its social, economic, security and development needs.
Yemen: UN Resolutions
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on a possible UN resolution on the situation in Yemen. [73754]
Alistair Burt: The humanitarian, economic and security situations in Yemen continue to deteriorate as President Saleh fails to agree formally the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative to enact political transition. We have for months discussed with international partners what more we can do to resolve the political impasse, and a UN Security Council Resolution is one option.
Treasury
Andy Coulson
Chris Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice he provided to the Prime Minister on the appointment of Mr Andy Coulson as Director of Communications at 10 Downing street; and if he will make a statement. [68073]
Justine Greening [holding answer 5 September 2011]: Treasury Ministers hold regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a wide range of issues. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.
Chris Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many conversations he has had with Mr Andy Coulson since 20 January 2011. [68074]
Justine Greening [holding answer 5 September 2011]: HM Treasury does not hold this information. Mr Coulson has resigned from his position as the Prime Minister's Director of Communications and Planning.
Departmental Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider keeping data on the number of times (a) he and (b) officials of his Department have declined a request for a meeting from an hon. Member of each political party. [67179]
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Justine Greening: It would not be proportionate to do so.
Dorneywood
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a list of visitors he has hosted at Dorneywood who have received Government hospitality. [68116]
Justine Greening: Cabinet Ministers have published their meetings with media editors, proprietors and senior executives since the general election and these will in future be published quarterly.
Details of meetings are published on the Treasury website:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/transparency_chx _meetings_with_media_260711.pdf
A list of guests who have received official hospitality at Dorneywood during 2010-11 will be published in the usual way.
Equitable Life Assurance Society
Mr Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps he is taking to make it easier for eligible policy holders to contact the Equitable Life Payment Scheme; [73921]
(2) how long it takes on average to answer calls to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme enquiry line; [73971]
(3) what steps he is taking to ensure telephone calls to the Equitable Life Payment Scheme are answered. [74321]
Mr Hoban: The Equitable Life Payment Scheme can be contacted via telephone, e-mail and post. In addition an extensive website has been established to answer policyholder's frequently asked questions. The average time that a caller has to wait before their call is answered by the Equitable Life Payment Scheme enquiry line is six seconds. This is in line with the service level agreement with NS&I that 90% of calls to the line are answered within 20 seconds.
Council Tax
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households are in each council tax band in each (a) local authority and (b) parliamentary constituency. [73875]
Mr Gauke: The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) publishes counts of dwellings by council tax band for each local authority in England and Wales on a quarterly basis. Figures for the end of June 2011 can be found on the VOA website in the following location:
http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/statisticalReleases/110714_CouncilTaxValuationListSummary.html
This publication will be updated on 13 October 2011 to include statistics for the end of September 2011.
The VOA intends to publish equivalent Official Statistics for each parliamentary constituency from April 2012. Details of this release and other statistical releases will be made available via the Statistics Releases timetable on the VOA website at the following location:
http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/publications/statistical ReleaseTimetable.html
13 Oct 2011 : Column 480W
Job Creation: Private Sector
Frank Dobson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the increase in private sector jobs was represented by the contracting out of former public sector jobs in each of the last three quarters. [73403]
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 October 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what proportion of the increase in private sector jobs was represented by the contracting out of former public sector jobs in each of the last three quarters. 73403
I regret that the requested information is not available from any of the sources used for official labour market statistics.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter of 8 September 2011 from the hon. Member for Walsall North, reference 1/94542/2011. [73922]
Justine Greening: I replied to the hon. Member on 11 October 2011.
Neil Wallis
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether (a) he, (b) his private office staff, (c) his special advisers and (d) press officers in his Department had contact by (i) telephone and (ii) email with Neil Wallis in (A) 2010 and (B) 2011; [68183]
(2) what communications (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department, (c) officials in his private office and (d) (i) press officers, (ii) other officials and (iii) special advisers of his Department have had by (A) e-mail, (B) meeting, (C) telephone call and (D) letter with Neil Wallis since his appointment; and on what dates. [68737]
Justine Greening [holding answer 5 September 2011]: Records of the Treasury's phone calls, meetings, emails and other correspondence is not held centrally. Cabinet Ministers have published their meetings with media editors, proprietors and senior executives since the general election and these will in future be published quarterly.
Details of meetings are published on the Treasury website:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/transparency_chx _meetings_with_media_260711.pdf
Permanent Secretaries and special advisers meetings with newspaper and other media proprietors, editors and senior executives will also now be published on a quarterly basis.
News International
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met (a) James Murdoch, (b) Rebekah Brooks and (c) Andy Coulson. [67363]
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Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a list of all meetings he has had with (a) proprietors, (b) senior executives and (c) editors of media organisations since his appointment. [68117]
Chris Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date and at what venue he has met (a) executives of, (b) other representatives of and (c) journalists working for News International since his appointment. [68075]
Justine Greening: Unlike the previous Government, Cabinet Ministers have published their meetings with media editors, proprietors and senior executives since the general election and these will in future be published quarterly.
Details of meetings are published on the Treasury website:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/transparency_chx _meetings_with_media_260711.pdf
Working Tax Credit
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) transitional arrangements and (b) additional services will be put in place for couples with children who work between 16 and 24 hours a week and will lose their entitlement to working tax credit unless they increase their hours of work to over 24 hours a week. [72540]
Mr Gauke: Couples with children will continue to qualify for working tax credit where at least one member of a couple works at least 16 hours per week and that person is eligible for the working tax credit disability element or is aged 60 or over.
Couples with children where one partner is being paid a carer's allowance as a full time carer of their partner will also continue to qualify where working 16 hours or more a week.
Couples with children may also qualify for working tax credit if one member of a couple works at least 16 hours a week and a qualifying sickness or disability benefit, for example, incapacity benefit is payable for the other.
HMRC is not planning to make any transitional arrangements or provide additional services for couples with children who may lose entitlement to working tax credit as a result of the change to the working hours conditions in April 2012.
HMRC will be writing to those who may be affected before the end of this year to advise them of the change and what they need to do if they wish to continue to qualify for working tax credit.
Education
Vocational Guidance
Mr Anderson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education what procedures are in place to monitor local authorities' levels of compliance with their statutory duty to provide careers guidance; what recent estimate he has made of
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the rate of compliance by local authorities; and what steps he will take to ensure that local authorities perform their statutory duty. [71751]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 14 September 2011]: Local authorities retain a responsibility to encourage, enable and assist young people's participation in education or training, under section 68 of the Education and Skills Act 2008. There is no statutory duty on local authorities to provide careers guidance but given their duty to support young people to participate, many do so as the best means of meeting that duty. In advance of the new duty coming into force which will give schools responsibility for securing access to independent careers guidance, the Early Intervention Grant supports local authorities' transitional responsibilities for careers guidance and their ongoing role in supporting young people not in education, employment or training to participate.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education has powers to intervene if a local authority is failing to meet its statutory duties. Any case for intervention will be based on clear evidence of outcomes demonstrating the extent to which young people in an area are participating in education or training, rather than specific inputs such as the way youth support services are organised.
Communities and Local Government
Local Democracy
Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff in his Department work in roles relating to policy on (a) regeneration and (b) local democracy. [71921]
Robert Neill: All civil servants are employed to provide impartial advice to Ministers and the Department's staff work flexibly and are often deployed on a number of different policies, programmes or projects at the same time. As at the end of August 109 staff worked in the Local Government, Policy and Productivity Directorate and 280 in the Local Economy, Regeneration and European Programmes Directorate including 204 staff who are involved in the direct delivery of European Regional Development Fund programmes.
Staff in these two Directorates are the most closely associated with the Department's regeneration and local democracy work but not all are deployed on those areas and some only partially so. There are other staff from different Directorates who are flexibly deployed for a short time to these areas or whose work, while not primarily focussed on either, also support the Department's efforts.
These figures include a number of staff who will leave the Department's employment by October 2012 due to internal restructuring.
Enterprise Zones
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of jobs that will be created by enterprise zones in the next period for which figures are available. [70810]
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Greg Clark: According to estimates made by the relevant local enterprise partnerships, the 11 successful enterprise zones announced in the recent competition expect to create over 30,000 new jobs by 2015.
Freedom of Information
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2011, Official Report, column 1124W, on freedom of information, if he will place in the Library a copy of the archived Government Procurement Card invoices and spending records for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. [60994]
Robert Neill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister became a separate Department in May 2002 and existed until May 2006 when it was reformed as the Department of Communities and Local Government.
Records of Government Procurement Card invoices and spending records are not available from May 2002 to March 2004. The Department does hold Government Procurement Card spending (transaction) records from April 2004 until April 2006, but as was explained in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Charlie Elphicke), on 11 July 2011, Official Report, column 57W, these records were contaminated by cloned cards.
These records have now been placed in the Library of the House.
The fraudulent (cloned) transactions are shown as credits back to the account but with the lapse of time it is no longer possible to cross check these records against invoice and investigation records kept at the time. Identification and retrieval of actual invoices could be accomplished only at disproportionate cost.
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Please note that the records we hold were supplied by the Card issuing company (Barclays). The term ‘Merchant Category’ is a broad description employed by the banks to designate the business where the card was used, not the type of product purchased.
Departmental guidance is clear that any unauthorised or unknown transactions appearing on card transaction reports (invoices) such as cloned card incidents must be reported immediately to the card issuing company. Under the terms of the contract any financial loss arising from this type of fraudulent activity is the responsibility of the card issuing company who will take forward any investigation. There will be no threat/risk to departmental funds.
My Department is committed to greater transparency over the use of the Government Procurement Card than under the last Administration, and has strengthened checks and balances to ensure protection of taxpayers' money.
Government Procurement Card
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Government Procurement Cards were compromised or cloned in each year (a) since the creation of his Department and (b) during the lifetime of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; and what the estimated amount of fraudulent transactions was in each year. [72386]
Robert Neill: The number of Government Procurement Cards cancelled because they were compromised or used in external fraud (which would include cloned cards) are in the following table:
|
|
Calendar year | Card compromised | Card fraud | Total |
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister existed from May 2002 until May 2006. No records of cancelled cards are held prior to 2005.
Estimates of the amounts of fraudulent transactions are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Compromised cards are cards where there is a risk that the card number could become known to a third party. These cards are cancelled to prevent any fraudulent activity. Fraud occurs when the card is lost or stolen and is used by a third party. This would also include cases where the card number has been cloned.
Government Procurement Card transaction records for the period 1 April 2004 to 30 April 2006 (when the Department was the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) have now been deposited in the Library of the House as a response to PQ60994, answered on 13 October. Transaction records from April 2002 until March 2004 are no longer held.
Departmental guidance is clear that any unauthorised or unknown transactions appearing on GPC transaction reports (invoices) such as cloned card incidents must be reported immediately to the card issuing company. Under the terms of the contract any financial loss arising from this type of fraudulent activity is the responsibility of the card issuing company who will take forward any investigation. There will be no threat/risk to departmental funds.
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Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Dover of 11 July 2011, Official Report, column 57W, on the Government Procurement Card, (1) whether any of the cards were used abroad for transactions before they were cloned; and whether the fraudulent usage included foreign expenditure on the cloned cards; [72426]
(2) whether the transactions made on cloned cards were reported to the police; [72427]
(3) which offices within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister had their Government Procurement Card cloned; [72428]
(4) what the estimated (a) number and (b) value was of transactions that were made on cloned cards during the time that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister existed. [72429]
Robert Neill: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Government Procurement Card transaction records for the period 1 April 2004 to 30 April 2006 (when the Department was the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) have now been deposited in the Library of the House as a response to PQ60994 answered on 13 October. Transaction records from April 2002 until March 2004 are no longer held.
Departmental guidance is clear that any unauthorised or unknown transactions appearing on Government Procurement Card transaction reports (invoices) such as cloned card incidents must be reported immediately to the card issuing company. Under the terms of the contract any financial loss arising from this type of fraudulent activity is the responsibility of the card issuing company who will take forward any investigation. There will be no threat/risk to departmental funds.
Green Belt
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure that the green belt is protected from development; and if he will make a statement. [74062]
Robert Neill: The coalition agreement committed the Government to maintaining green belt protection. National policy on green belt protection—in Planning Policy Guidance Note 2, Green Belts—is being updated as part of the National Planning Policy Framework, on which we are currently consulting. The draft framework includes rigorous policies for the continued protection of green belt from inappropriate development. Moreover, our proposed abolition of the unpopular regional strategies, through the Localism Bill, will remove top-down pressure on councils to review the extent of their green belt. This was likely to affect more than 30 areas across England. In addition, the draft new guidance on Traveller sites seeks to increase planning protection for the green belt.
Planning Permission
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated research into the cost of complying with planning regulations in the UK compared to other countries; and if he will place in the Library a copy of any such research. [71926]
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Greg Clark: My Department seeks to take account of all relevant research when developing policy.
Planning Permission: Appeals
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what status an emergent local plan has in the determination of planning appeals; and if he will make a statement. [74060]
Robert Neill: The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, Section 38(6), requires that decisions on planning applications must be made in accordance with a council's development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
It is clear from case law that plans that are in the course of preparation may be taken into account, under section 38(6), as a material consideration in making planning decisions. Paragraph 18 of The Planning System: General Principles 2005 sets out that account can be taken of policies in emerging development plan documents, but the weight to be attached depends upon the stage of the preparation or review, increasing as successive stages are reached. A decision maker can accord weight to an emerging plan, but the matter of weighting is for the decision maker.
Deputy Prime Minister
Electoral Registration
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the introduction of individual electoral registration on the number of people registered to vote; [74029]
(2) what estimate he has made of the change in the numbers of electors registered in the electoral register in (a) Livingston constituency and (b) Scotland following implementation of proposals for individual electoral registration. [74030]
Mr Harper: The Government are funding research to understand the current state of the electoral register which will help us to better understand the way in which the move to individual registration will have an impact.
The Government will do everything they can to maintain the completeness of the electoral register. This includes phasing in the move to Individual Registration over two years so that people on the register who do not apply under the new system do not lose their vote at the 2015 General Election. Every eligible elector will be asked in 2014 to register under the new system: this will include personal invites to people on the register, inquiries to households where no one is registered or people have moved, reminder letters and face to face doorstep canvassers. There will also be a publicity campaign run by the Electoral Commission and we are testing data matching to identify people missing from the register and looking at how we can increase the choices people have over how to register, including greater use of online registration.
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International Development
Afghanistan: Reconstruction
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2011, Official Report, column 768W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, how much his Department spent in total on the (a) construction and (b) improvement of tarmac roads in Afghanistan from the start of military operations in 2001 to 2007. [74015]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Between 2001 and 2007 the Department provided £50 million in funding through multi-donor trust funds attributable to infrastructure development, in part to support the construction and improvement of tarmac roads in Afghanistan. It would not be possible to assess what proportion of these works consisted of tarmac roads, except at disproportionate cost.