Child Maintenance
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government Ministers on providing additional resources for mediation services in Scotland to support separating parents to reach voluntary arrangements for child maintenance should the provisions of the Welfare Reform Bill on child maintenance become law. [71509]
Maria Miller: The Government recognise that family support is a devolved matter and we are working closely with Scottish Government colleagues to look at the implications for family support services in Scotland.
Our proposals for family support outlined in the Green Paper are about making it easier for families to access the support that currently exists and that many organisations offer separating and separated parents. However this system of support is seen by some families as complicated to navigate and we need to better understand how best and what aspects of this support to co-ordinate.
We will continue to work closely with other Government Departments, including the Department for Education, the Ministry for Justice and the Department of Health. We are also working to ensure that this work is aligned with that of the Family Justice Review.
As I clarified at the Work and Pensions Select Committee on 15 June, mediation is only one approach that we are exploring. Mediation can be very expensive to administer and may not be the most appropriate support for all families. Families require differing support depending on their circumstances, and that is why we are already working with the voluntary and community sector in order to understand what forms of existing support are most effective in helping parents work collaboratively to establish enduring co-parenting arrangements.
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In addition, an expert Steering Group has been established to help us to consider the most appropriate delivery model at local and national level in order to support consistency of provision across local areas, while also evaluating the resources that are already in place to ensure the system as a whole functions to direct parents to the support they need.
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what costs have been included in the expected average administrative costs for processing an application under the new statutory child maintenance system. [73321]
Maria Miller: The Government are considering a range of options for the new child maintenance scheme and the cost implications will be determined by the option chosen.
However, once the new scheme has been live for a significant period, the cost of processing an application could stabilise at around £220.
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) research and (b) analysis was undertaken by his Department on the effect different levels of charges levied on parents with care and non-resident parents under the new statutory child maintenance system would have on (i) the behaviour of non-resident parents and (ii) the behaviour of parents with care; and whether he plans to publish the findings of such research and analysis. [73322]
Maria Miller: The Government are considering a range of options on charging, and further details will be published when the Government consult on the draft regulations. Impact assessments accompanying the draft regulations will set out the estimated effects on volumes and individuals who will be affected by the proposed new charges.
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the (a) start-up and (b) ongoing administrative costs arising from (i) charging and collection of application fees from parents with care, (ii) charging and collection of ongoing fees from parents with care using the Commission's collection service and (iii) the charging and collection of ongoing fees from non-resident parents where the Commission's collection service is used. [73323]
Maria Miller: The costs associated with the introduction of charging for users of the statutory maintenance service are included within the overall cost of developing the new statutory scheme, and it is not possible to isolate these costs separately. Similarly, it is not possible to isolate the ongoing costs of charging as charging will be included as an intrinsic part of the processes of the new scheme.
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for charges for low- income parents using the new statutory child maintenance system following the introduction of universal credit. [73335]
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Maria Miller: The detailed interactions between the current and future child maintenance schemes and universal credit are in the process of being developed. As part of this, we are specifically considering how receipt of universal credit will interrelate to the proposed charges for parents using the future child maintenance scheme.
The Government are considering a range of options on charging and further details will be published when the Government consult on the draft regulations.
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of the total administrative costs of a child maintenance case under the new statutory child maintenance system over the period an average case is expected to last; [73336]
(2) what estimate he has made of the average annual cost of a child maintenance case under the new statutory child maintenance system in (a) the year when an application is first made and (b) each subsequent year. [73337]
Maria Miller: The Government are considering a range of options for the new child maintenance scheme and further details will be published when the Government consult in due course. At this time we will be able to provide more information on the cost implications of the proposals.
The approximate annual cost of maintaining a case is expected to reduce with the introduction of the new scheme. Analysis of the current scheme shows that an average case can be expected to last nine years.
Ministerial Meetings
Mr Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many meetings he has had with representatives of (a) social enterprises, (b) charities, (c) large private sector businesses and (d) small and
20 Oct 2011 : Column 1086W
medium-sized private sector businesses since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [75719]
Chris Grayling: Details of meetings held between DWP Ministers and outside organisations is published on a quarterly basis on the Department's website:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/corporate-publications/ministers-meetings-overseas.shtml
Information for quarters April 2011 to June 2011 and July 2011 to September 2011 is being collated and will be published in due course.
Disability Living Allowance
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the north-east and (d) the UK were in receipt of disability living allowance in each year since its inception; [72992]
(2) how many people in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the north-east and (d) the UK were in receipt of disability living allowance in the latest period for which figures are available; [73376]
(3) how many people in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the north-east and (d) the UK were in receipt of disability living allowance including the (i) higher and (ii) lower rate mobility component in each year since its inception; [73377]
(4) how many recipients of disability living allowance in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the north-east and (d) the UK have been interviewed and had their benefits reassessed since May 2010; and how many (i) were awarded a lower level of benefit, (ii) lost all of their allowance and (iii) were successful on appeal. [72993]
Maria Miller: The information requested on numbers of disability living allowance recipients is contained in the following table.
| Disability living allowance (DLA) recipients by mobility award type: Timeseries | ||||
|
|
Total | Higher mobility rate | Lower mobility rate | Nil mobility rate |
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| (1) Figures of 500 or less are subject to a degree of sampling variation and therefore should be used as a guide only to the correct situation. Notes: 1. Figures from November 1995 to February 2002 are taken from 5% sample data. They have been uprated to be consistent with WPLS data and are rounded to the nearest 100. Figures from May 2002 onwards are taken from WPLS 100% data and are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes cases where the payment has been suspended, e.g. if they are in hospital. 3. Constituencies used are for the Westminster Parliament and reflect the changes from May 2010. Prior to this, the constituencies used are for May 2005. 4. Local authority boundary changes from April 2009 have also been taken into account. 5. There is no parliamentary constituency information for DLA until February 1997. 6. Great Britain data have been provided as the information for Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Office. Northern Ireland statistics can be found at: http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/stats_and_research.htm Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 100% WPLS. DWP Information Directorate: Sample data (5%). | ||||
The information on numbers of recipients of disability living allowance who have been reassessed is not available in the format requested. Information regarding how many people in Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside, the north-east and the UK have been interviewed and their disability living allowance (DLA) reassessed since May 2010 and how many were awarded a lower level of benefit, lost all of their allowance and were successful on appeal is not routinely collated and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Such information as is available is contained in the following table.
Kinship Carers
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to improve support for kinship carers. [75654]
Maria Miller: Kinship carers can be eligible for a range of benefits. If they are approved foster carers, they can receive a fostering allowance in England and Wales or kinship care allowance in Scotland. If they are not approved, kinship carers may be entitled to child benefit, either child tax credits or pension credits, and any other benefits available to parents, subject to the standard eligibility criteria. In order to prevent double provision, these benefits are not provided where the child is formally looked after by the local authority and their accommodation or maintenance is provided from public funds.
We are currently considering support for families under universal credit, including support for kinship carers.
In addition, statutory guidance for local authorities on family and friends care was issued in March 2011. In particular, it sets out a requirement on local authorities to develop equitable and transparent policies for delivering effective services to kinship carers across the range of legal arrangements which underpin family and friends care.
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what meetings he has had with (a) kinship carers and (b) organisations representing kinship carers; and if he will publish the papers in connection to such meetings. [75655]
Maria Miller: My ministerial colleagues and I have met with representatives from the Kinship Care Alliance on a number of occasions. In line with Cabinet Office guidance, Ministers’ meetings with key stakeholders and representative organisations are published on the Cabinet Office website.
Pensions: Public Expenditure
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the likely cost to the public purse arising from implementation of his proposed amendments 13 and 14 to the Pensions Bill at Report Stage; and from which Government budget these costs will be met. [75966]
Steve Webb: The new timetable will reduce the estimated savings by a total of £1.1 billion in 2019-20 and 2020-21 (2011-12 prices).
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Social Security Benefits
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to (a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit on the working age population, broken down by those (i) in and (ii) out of work in (A) 2012 and (B) 2013; and if he will make a statement. [75397]
Steve Webb: The Department has commissioned a consortium of academics and research organisations led by Ian Cole, professor of housing studies at Sheffield Hallam university, to undertake an independent review of the impact of the housing benefit measures introduced last month. The work will cover both in-work and out- of-work housing benefit claimants and is longitudinal in nature so will re-visit respondents a year after initial interviews.
The Department for Communities and Local Government, the Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly Government are working in close partnership with the DWP and contributing to the costs of the review.
A copy of the available impact assessments on those in-work and out of work has been placed in the Library.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the total monetary value of benefits that are unclaimed for each type of benefit in the last year for which figures are available. [75938]
Chris Grayling: For the six income-related benefits for which estimates are available there was between £6,930 million and £12,700 million left unclaimed in 2008-09. This compared to £38,110 million that was claimed and represents take-up by expenditure of between about 75% and 85%. The information by benefit is in the following table.
| £ million | ||
| Unclaimed benefit | ||
| Benefit | Lower | Upper |
| Notes: 1. These statistics are from the National Statistics publication “Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2008-09” and are available via the following link http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=irb They refer to private households in Great Britain and exclude the full-time self-employed. 2. Take-up estimates are presented as ranges within which it can be assumed true take-up lies. These robust “ranges of true take-up” account for possible biases that arise in estimating take-up from the available data sources. These ranges also account for the effects of sampling variation (otherwise known as sampling error). Care should be taken when interpreting take-up statistics. For instance, if the upper limit of a caseload take-up range is 90%, this does not necessarily mean that at least 10% never take up their entitlement. This is because some of the shortfall in take-up may represent a delay in claiming benefit that is eventually received. Source: Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2008-09. | ||
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State Retirement Pensions: Females
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) women and (b) men in (i) East Hampshire constituency, (ii) Hampshire and (iii) the UK who will benefit from his proposed capping of the increase in women's state pension age at 18 months. [75559]
Steve Webb: The information requested is provided in the table below, Great Britain population figures have been used instead of UK population figures.
| Number of people with reduced increase in state pension age due to capping of the increase in women's state pension age at 18 months | ||
|
|
Men | Women |
| Notes: 1. Figures are a best estimate making use of county and constituency level population figures derived from England and Wales birth distribution data and local level population estimates. 2. Figures at constituency level have been rounded to the nearest 10, at county level to the nearest 100 and at GB level to the nearest 5,000. 3. Figures for Great Britain have been used consistent with the approach for the Pensions Bill 2011 impact assessment. Source: ONS 2008-based Population estimates | ||
Winterbourne View Hospital
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with (a) the Department of Health and (b) disabled people following the recent abuse of disabled people at Winterbourne View hospital. [72991]
Maria Miller: I have had discussions with both the Department of Health and representatives from disabled people's organisations regarding Winterbourne View hospital.
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, what projects were funded through the National Rural Access Program and National Solidarity Program in Afghanistan; and how much funding each received. [75224]
Mr O'Brien: The multi-donor National Rural Access Program (NRAP) reports tasks completed rather than individual projects. It would incur disproportionate cost to obtain details of all of the projects that were funded through this programme and how much funding each received.
According to the National Solidarity Programme (NSP) website:
www.nspafghanistan.org
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the multi-donor NSP has supported over 13,000 transport projects to date. It is not possible to determine the proportion of UK funds used for priority road projects through this programme without incurring disproportionate costs.
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, what the proportion was of the £98 million of funding provided by his Department through the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund that supported priority road projects through the National Rural Access Program and National Solidarity Program. [75225]
Mr O'Brien: Of the £98 million provided by the Department for International Development to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund, and estimated to have been spent on infrastructure, £18 million was provided to the National Rural Access Programme for priority road projects (approximately 17%).
According to the National Solidarity Programme (NSP) website:
www.nspafghanistan.org
the multi-donor NSP has supported over 13,000 transport projects to date. It is not possible to determine the proportion of UK funds used for priority road projects through this programme without incurring disproportionate costs.
Afghanistan: Roads
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which road projects in Afghanistan his Department has funded or part-funded in each year since 2001. [75571]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: I have deposited in the Library a table that shows how much funding DFID has provided to programmes that include road projects. We are not able to provide a more detailed breakdown of the specific projects we contribute to through multi-donor programmes managed by the Afghan Government without incurring disproportionate costs.
British Overseas Territories: Overseas Aid
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to provide aid to British Overseas Territories and Dependants in the next 12 months. [74931]
Mr O'Brien: The Overseas Territories department's operational plan which was published on 28 May 2011 confirmed that in 2011-12 the department plans to provide £59.913 million in aid to the British Overseas Territories and Dependencies. In 2012-13 DFID plans to provide £59.2 million.
The operational plan has been published to the DFID website
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Where-we-work/Overseas-Territories/
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Charities: Finance
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has granted to (a) Oxfam, (b) UNICEF, (c) CAFOD, (d) WaterAid and (e) Christian Aid since May 2010. [75323]
Mr O'Brien: Details of the funding provided by DFID to each of the organisations for the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 are provided in Statistics for International Development (SID) 2011. Table 18 of SID provides information on UNICEF and Table 19 for CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam and WaterAid. This information is available on the Department for International Developments (DFID) website:
www.dfid.gov.uk
Information about funding since April 2011 will be provided in the next SID 2011-12.
Departmental Re-location
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many civil servants in his Department have been (a) relocated and (b) agreed to relocation in the last 12 months; and to which areas of the UK. [74895]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has two headquarter locations in the UK; one in London and the other in East Kilbride, near Glasgow.
Within the last 12 months, 31 staff agreed to relocation. 30 staff have actually relocated. Of these, 24 staff relocated from London to East Kilbride, and six from East Kilbride to London.
Procurement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many contracts his Department has awarded directly to third sector organisations in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; and if he will make a statement. [75150]
Mr O'Brien: The number and total value of contracts awarded directly to third sector organisations by the Department for International Development's (DFID) central procurement department since May 2010 are provided in the following table:
|
|
Number | Total value (£ million) |
The above data relate specifically to supplier type contracts issued to third sector organisations. DFID apply the EU principles of open and fair procurement to supplier contracts, with all competitions carried out in line with the EU directives.
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DFID provided £329 million of funding to UK civil society organisations in 2010-11 through other types of arrangement.
Cyber- Security
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to improve cyber-security in relation to his Department's estate; and if he will make a statement. [75152]
Mr O'Brien: Government takes cyber-security very seriously and it has been categorised as a tier one threat to UK national security. £650 million is being invested over the next four years in a National Cyber Security Programme, working across Departments, with the private sector, international partners and citizens to improve the UK's cyber-security capability.
The Department for International Development routinely assesses the prevailing threats to its ICT systems and applies appropriate and proportionate measures in accordance with the Government standards set out in the Cabinet Office's Security Policy Framework (SPF). These standards are aligned with industry best practice approaches.
It is not in the interest of national security to make public details of particular improvements in relation to individual Departments as it may expose vulnerabilities to those who may seek to exploit them.
Developing Countries: Infant Mortality
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent progress he has made towards meeting the Millennium Development Goal of reducing the under-five mortality rate to two-thirds of 1990 levels by 2015. [75440]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Between 1990 and 2008, the death rate for children under five decreased by 28%. Worldwide. This means 10,000 fewer under-five deaths every day. However, 7.6 million children still die every year and over 350,000 women lose their lives unnecessarily from complications with pregnancy and childbirth. The UK is committed to supporting the UN "Every Women Every Child" Global Strategy on Women's and Children's Health to accelerate progress on improving maternal and child health. Our Framework for Results, ‘Choices for women: Planned pregnancies, safer births and healthy newborns’, sets out the UK contribution to this strategy. We will save the lives of 50,000 mothers and 250,000 newborn children in poor countries by 2015. UK support to GAVI over the next five years will enable them to vaccinate over 80 million children and save 1.4 million lives.
The UN published an interim progress report in September 2011. ‘Saving the Lives of 16 Million’ showed enhanced commitment, with increased funding and improved policies and services strengthened on the ground. In addition, more than 100 new partners including Governments, civil society and multilateral organisations, joined the initiative, bringing the total to more than 200.
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EU Aid: Trade Unions
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid from the EU budget has been disbursed to trade unions in each of the last 10 financial years. [74127]
Mr O'Brien: The official annual report 2011 on the European Union's Development and External Assistance Policies and their Implementation in 2010 contains information on EU expenditure on external relations on an annual basis. DFID do not hold information on EU overseas development assistance (ODA) disbursed to trade unions, but the European Commission DG EuropeAid public enquiry point
EUROPEAID-info@ec.europa.eu
may be able to provide my hon. Friend with this information.
Details of DFID's existing commitments to trade unions during the comprehensive spending review (CSR) period are available in the Library of the House.
Trade unions are eligible to apply for civil society funding during the CSR period, such as through the Global Poverty Action Fund (GPAF), in competition with other civil society organisations. Any decision to offer funding will be based on the quality of proposals submitted. We expect all proposals to demonstrate value for money in delivering real benefits for poor people while contributing to DFID's wider development goals.
Overseas Aid
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria his Department uses to review a country's performance for the purposes of determining aid allocation; and how frequently such reviews are conducted. [75572]
Mr O'Brien: DFID's Bilateral and Multilateral Aid Reviews in 2010-11 introduced a new approach to aid allocation. DFID no longer allocates resources to countries and regions through a top-down process focused on a formula based on country need and the likely effectiveness of assistance. Instead, DFID identifies and scrutinises from the bottom-up the results that UK assistance can achieve against its development objectives in each country and makes allocation decisions accordingly. DFID will continually centrally monitor its performance against its published targets and country operational plans as part of its annual budget cycle and this will drive resource allocation decisions going forward.
Sri Lanka: Overseas Aid
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid his Department has given to Sri Lanka in each of the last 10 years. [74228]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) allocated the following amounts to Sri Lanka over the last 10 financial years.
| Financial year | DFID bilateral spend (£ million) |
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DFID closed its bilateral programme with Sri Lanka in 2006. However, since then DFID has contributed bilaterally to humanitarian work in Sri Lanka, all through the UN, Red Cross and NGOs; none going directly to the Government of Sri Lanka.
Details of UK aid expenditure are published annually in Statistics on International Development, which is available in the Library of the House and on DFID's website.
Third Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much direct funding his Department has allocated to each civil society organisation in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15; and if he will make a statement. [74820]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) supports Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) through a range of centrally managed funds and through country programmes. Details of funding provided to UK based CSOs in 2010-11 can be found in Table 19 of “Statistics on International Development”, 2011. This is available in the Library of the House and on the DFID website
www.dfid.gov.uk
Details of funding provided to CSOs in 2011-12 will be published in the next “Statistics on International Development” in 2012.
The UK Government introduced the Aid Transparency Guarantee in 2010-11, which commits DFID to making all aid spend fully transparent to citizens in the UK and developing countries, increasing accessibility and feedback. As a result, full details of all DFID funded projects, including those delivered by CSOs, can be found on the project database on DFID's website:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-us/How-we-measure-progress/DFID-spend
DFID is also encouraging International Organisations and CSOs to make similar commitments.
Yemen: Overseas Aid
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid his Department has given to Yemen in each of the last five years. [74498]
Mr O'Brien: The amount of bilateral assistance provided to Yemen by the Department for International Development (DFID) is reported in “Statistics on International Development”, which is available in the Library of the House and on DFID's website.
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| Financial year | Total DFID bilateral programme (£ million) |
Cabinet Office
Duchy of Lancaster: Income
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the income was to the Duchy of Lancaster from property escheating to the Dukedom in each of the last 10 years. [75344]
Mr Maude: Receipts to the Duchy of Lancaster from escheat for the last 10 years is shown in the following table:
|
|
Escheat receipts from sales (£) |
Unemployment
Helen Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the percentage change in the level of unemployment has been in each local authority area since May 2010. [76104]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the percentage change in the level of unemployment has been in each local authority area since May 2010. (076104)
The Office for National Statistics produces estimates of total unemployment for unitary and local authorities, from a statistical model based on Annual Population Survey (APS) lending strength from Claimant Count, following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
Table 1 shows the percentage changes in the levels of unemployment for all local authorities in Great Britain between the 12 month period ending June 2010 and the 12 month period ending March 2011, which is the latest period available. As the information requested is quite extensive, a copy has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and JSA count are available on the Nomis website at:
http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
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Deputy Prime Minister
Voter Registration
Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his Department spent on steps to encourage voter registration in each of the last five years; and how much funding he plans to allocate for such purposes in each of the next four years. [75900] [Official Report, 9 November 2011, Vol. 535, c. 1MC.]
Mr Harper: Electoral registration is the responsibility of individual Electoral Registration Officers (EROs). Local authorities have a duty to encourage participation in the electoral process and the Electoral Commission promotes public awareness of registration and produces research and reports on electoral registration issues. Electoral registration activity at the local level is funded through the Revenue Support Grant from central Government.
The Ministry of Justice (responsible for elections policy until June 2010) provided funding through the Electoral Participation Fund set up in 2007-08 to support local electoral officers in undertaking their statutory duties. The following funds were provided from the Participation Fund: £934,742 in 2007-08, £544,392 in 2008-09 and £153,895 in 2009-10. A further £67,355 was spent in 2010-11 to support activities undertaken by electoral administrators to encourage participation at the elections which were held on 6 May 2010, but approved in the previous financial year. The Participation Fund was closed in the Emergency Budget of 22 June 2010.
The Government have allocated a total of £108 million to meet the cost of implementing Individual Electoral Registration. This will fund EROs to make contact with each potential elector individually and invite them to register in 2014. It will also fund research to understand the current state of the electoral register and currently under-registered groups in order to ensure that as many people as possible are registered to vote. This year the Government are funding the piloting of “data matching' of electoral registers against other data sources, such as the National Pupil Database and the Department for Work and Pensions database, to identify possible eligible electors, as well as looking at the ways in which we can make it as easy and secure as possible for citizens to register to vote, such as online registration.
Climate Change: International Co-operation
Luciana Berger: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he will attend the UN conference on climate change in Durban later this year. [75439]
The Deputy Prime Minister: The UK delegation will be led by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne). I do not plan to attend.
Electoral Registration
Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the change in the level of electoral registration arising from the introduction of individual voter registration in Northern Ireland; and what estimate he has made of the potential effects on the level of voter registration of the introduction of individual voter registration in the rest of the UK. [75891]
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Mr Harper: Data on the levels of electoral registration over the period following transition to Individual Electoral Registration in Northern Ireland have been published by the Electoral Commission and are available at:
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/publications-and-research/policy-and-research?query=&meta_s_phrase=Electoral_ register&meta_C=Northern+lreland&meta_dyear=&sort= relevancy&daat=on
The Government will do everything they can to maintain the completeness of the electoral register during the transition to Individual Registration in Great Britain. This includes learning from the experience in Northern Ireland in formulating our plans for the transition, such as phasing the transition in over two years, allowing electors who do not apply under the new system in 2014 to be carried forward so they retain 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 be a publicity campaign run by the Electoral Commission. We are also 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.
The Government are also funding research to understand the current state of the electoral register. This will help us to better understand the way in which the move to Individual Electoral Registration will have an impact. Further research will be conducted with currently under-registered groups in order to ensure that as many people as possible are registered to vote, and to assist the transition to Individual Electoral Registration.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the interim findings of the research project on electoral registration data sharing. [75896]
Mr Harper: The Government are conducting pilots to test data matching of the electoral registers against various national datasets in 22 pilot sites. The pilots are still live and will continue to run until 30 November. The Electoral Commission will conduct an independent evaluation of the pilots which will be completed and published in March 2012. The Government will also undertake their own evaluation which will consider both the process of data matching and the potential impact it may have on the completeness and accuracy of the electoral registers.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people were prosecuted for not completing an electoral registration form in each of the last three years. [75901]
Mr Harper: The Government do not hold this information, but it can be found on the Electoral Commission's website at:
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/performance-standards/data-collection
The Electoral Commission figures show that the number of prosecutions initiated as a result of a failure to respond to the annual canvass in the last three years are as follows:
20 Oct 2011 : Column 1101W
|
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Prosecutions |
Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with (a) electoral registration officers and (b) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency on steps to improve the level of electoral registration in (i) Northern Ireland and (ii) the rest of the UK. [75902]
Mr Harper: The Government are currently running data matching schemes with Electoral Registration Officers to test the usefulness of public authority data, including DVLA driver records, for improving the completeness and accuracy of the electoral register. The Cabinet Office continues to work closely with DVLA and the relevant local authority Electoral Registration Officers to ensure the success of the data matching schemes and preparations for the introduction of Individual Electoral Registration.
The Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland is in regular contact with Electoral Registration Officers and the DVLA to ensure the validity of the continuous registration process in Northern Ireland. The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland has previously collaborated with the DVLA by asking them to include an information leaflet on the Electoral Register with their car tax reminders.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to increase the level of electoral registration on industrial estates and large factories in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the rest of the UK. [75918]
Mr Harper: Registration is the responsibility of local Electoral Registration Officers. As part of his general objective to increase levels of registration in Northern Ireland, the Chief Electoral Officer is trialling a number of initiatives to target particular groups or individuals.
The UK Government remain absolutely committed to ensuring that the maximum number of people are on the electoral register and is considering a number of ways to help improve registration in the context of the move to Individual Electoral Registration. This includes trialling ‘data matching’ of electoral registers against other data sources, such as the National Pupil Database and the Department for Work and Pensions database, to identify possible eligible electors, as well as looking at the ways in which we can make it as easy and secure as possible for citizens to register to vote, such as online registration.
Electoral Registration: Finance
Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will consider ring-fencing funding provided for electoral registration purposes. [75895]
Mr Harper:
Under current arrangements, it is the responsibility of local authorities to allocate resources from the revenue support grant provided by central Government. The Government are committed to funding
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the move to Individual Electoral Registration and will ensure that Electoral Registration Officers are able to implement the new system properly.
Electoral Registration: Young People
Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to improve the voter registration rates among young people in or leaving care homes in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the rest of the UK. [75904]
Mr Harper: As part of his objective to increase levels of registration in Northern Ireland, the chief electoral officer is trialling a number of initiatives to target particular groups or individuals, and consideration is being given to devising and piloting a scheme to register young people in or leaving care sometime in the future.
The UK Government remain absolutely committed to ensuring that the maximum number of people are on the electoral register and are considering a number of ways to help improve registration in the context of the move to individual electoral registration. This includes trialling this year “data matching” of electoral registers against other data sources, such as the National Pupil Database and the DWP database, to identify possible eligible electors, as well as looking at the ways in which we can make it as easy and secure as possible for citizens to register to vote through ways such as online registration. Further research will also be conducted into those groups that are currently under-registered, including young people, to inform our plans for implementation. As part of that research we will be learning from the experience of initiatives trialled in Northern Ireland.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the security of Afghan interpreters who have worked with UK armed forces after the withdrawal of those forces in 2014; what policy was applied in respect of the security of Iraqi interpreters following the withdrawal of UK forces from Iraq; how many (a) Afghan and (b) Iraqi interpreters (i) have been and (ii) will be allowed to relocate in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [75504]
Alistair Burt: The Government take their responsibility for all members of staff seriously and have put in place measures to reduce the risks they face.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office follows a cross-Government policy for considering cases of local staff intimidation or injury in Afghanistan on a case-by- case basis. The policy ensures that we take into account the individual circumstances of each case and allows us to decide a proportionate response. It covers all locally-employed staff, including interpreters.
Where staff face a serious threat our response might include providing protected accommodation, giving safety advice to staff and their families, granting extended leave or transferring staff to different jobs. In serious cases we may help staff relocate, either within Afghanistan, to a third country, or, in exceptional cases, to the UK. We have relocated one member of staff (not an interpreter) from Afghanistan to the UK.
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This policy is tailored to circumstances in Afghanistan. We keep this policy under review. Those who put their lives on the line for the UK will not be abandoned.
Statements made by the former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right hon. Member for South Shields (David Miliband), on 9 October 2007, Official Report, columns 27-28WS, and 30 October 2007, Official Report, columns 30-33WS, set out the policy of the Government towards their locally employed staff in Iraq. These schemes (known as “Gateway” or “Direct Entry”) allowed both serving and former staff in Iraq to apply for an assistance package, one option of which allowed staff who qualified under the terms of the scheme to relocate to the UK. These schemes are now closed. A statement from the former Secretary of State on 23 March 2009, Official Report, columns 4-6WS, and a statement by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), on 16 September 2010, Official Report, columns 57-58WS, gave further details.
Of those employees who chose the option of relocating to the UK, 293 (760 including dependants) have settled in the UK to date. A further 78 people (407 including dependants) have extant applications to relocate that are being considered. The Iraq scheme applied to all local staff including interpreters.
Belarus: Human Rights
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage respect for human rights in Belarus. [75058]
Mr Lidington: The UK continues to be at the forefront of efforts within the EU and the wider international community to maintain political pressure on the Belarusian authorities, and to urge them to adhere to their human rights obligations.
We strongly support the EU position of not re-engaging fully with Belarus until the authorities commit to real reform. 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 of over 40 political prisoners.
To sustain pressure, the EU Foreign Affairs Council agreed, on 10 October, to renew sanctions until 31 October 2012, as well as adding 16 new names to the travel ban and assets freeze list.
We have continued to maintain pressure in other ways as well. I released statements on 6 August and 28 September to call for all political prisoners to be released and rehabilitated immediately, and to call on the Belarusian authorities to respect their international obligations concerning the treatment of prisoners. 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.
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The Department co-ordinated a joint letter by 10 EU Ministers of Justice sent in August to their Belarusian counterparts to protest about pressure on lawyers defending political prisoners.
At the Eastern Partnership Summit in Warsaw on 29-30 September, we supported the strong EU statement on Belarus. In the margins of the Summit, the Deputy Prime Minister and I met Belarusian opposition figures and human rights defenders.
Our embassy has remained active in Belarus too, observing protest demonstrations as well as several trials in relation to the violent aftermath of the 19 December presidential election, including those of several ex-presidential candidates. It uses all appropriate opportunities to raise human rights issues with Government officials.
Capital Punishment
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage (a) the United States and (b) member states of the Commonwealth to abolish the death penalty. [75200]
Mr Bellingham: It is the longstanding policy of the UK to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle.
In the US retention of the death penalty is decided at state level and we are therefore working to achieve abolition on a state by state basis. We regularly raise individual cases of those facing the death penalty where minimum standards on the use of the death penalty have not been met. In the majority of cases we do this in concert with the EU in order to have greater impact.
We regularly raise the abolition of the death penalty with governments of Commonwealth member states at both official and ministerial level. We have also raised the death penalty through the UN Universal Periodic Review process. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is funding project work in Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean and Africa to restrict the use of the death penalty, and as a result of one project the mandatory death penalty for felony murder was ruled unconstitutional in Trinidad and Tobago in June 2011.
Climate Change: Conferences
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he has discussed the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban with the (a) US, (b) German, (c) Chinese and (d) Indian Governments. [75441]
Mr Bellingham: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) has regular discussions with foreign governments on the challenge that climate change poses to our prosperity and security; the importance of taking robust global action to tackle it; and the need to make progress on this agenda in Durban. He most recently discussed climate change with foreign counterparts during the visit of his Chinese opposite number during the latter's visit to London in September.
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Procurement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many contracts his Department has awarded directly to third sector organisations in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; and if he will make a statement. [75138]
Mr Lidington: We do not record the classification of our suppliers in terms of their voluntary or charitable status.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many contracts his Department has awarded directly to (a) small, (b) medium-sized and (c) large businesses in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; and if he will make a statement. [75139]
Mr Lidington: For the financial year 2010-11, of the businesses that we are able to classify, £71 million was paid to small or micro enterprises, £24.7 million was paid to medium-sized enterprises and the balance of £173 million was paid to large enterprises. No information is available on the number of contracts.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many contracts his Department has advertised on the Contracts Finder website in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; what proportion were awarded to (a) third sector organisations and (b) small businesses; and if he will make a statement. [75141]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has not yet advertised any contracts on Contracts Finder. FCO procurement is largely devolved to a network of over 260 posts overseas. We are continuing to examine how the centralised procedure through Contracts Finder can interface with this devolved international structure.
Cyber-Security
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to improve cyber-security in relation to his Department's estate; and if he will make a statement. [75140]
Mr Lidington: The Government take cyber-security very seriously and it has been categorised as a tier one threat to UK national security. An additional £650 million is being invested over the next four years in a National Cyber Security Programme, working across Departments, with the private sector, international partners and citizens to improve the UK's cyber security capability.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office routinely assesses the prevailing threats to its Information, Communication Technology systems and applies appropriate and proportionate measures in accordance with the government standards set out in the Cabinet Office's Security Policy Framework (SPF). These standards are aligned with industry best practice approaches.
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It is not in the interest of national security to make public details of particular improvements in relation to individual Departments as it may expose vulnerabilities to those who may seek to exploit them.
Domestic Service
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of changes to the rights of migrant domestic workers in circumstances where individuals flee a trafficker or abusive employer; and if he will make a statement. [75256]
Damian Green: I have been asked to reply.
The rights of overseas domestic workers in private households are discussed in proposals to end the domestic workers visa in the Government's consultation document “Employment-Related Settlement, Tier 5 and Overseas Domestic Workers”.
The consultation document set out a number of proposals for reform, which include making protections more appropriate, should the route be retained. We are currently considering the responses that have been received.
Economic Situation
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the economic benefits which have accrued to the UK as a result of his strategy to make his Department more commercially focussed since June 2010. [73304]
Mr Hague: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has yet to make an assessment of the economic benefits of its commercial diplomacy activities. It plans to do so one year on from the launch of the FCO Charter for Business in May next year.
Eurobonds
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the implementation of any proposal by the European Commission to issue Eurobonds would require (a) a new treaty and (b) amendments to existing EU treaties. [75063]
Mr Hoban: I have been asked to reply.
Any legal implications would depend on the precise design of any proposals for the issuance of “Eurobonds”. There have, at present, been no formal proposals from the European Commission.
European Union Act 2011
Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his written ministerial statement of 13 October 2011, Official Report, column 42WS, on European Union Act 2011, when he proposes to introduce the Bill required to give effect to this decision. [75696]
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Mr Lidington: The target coming into force date agreed at the time the Decision was adopted by the European Council was 1 January 2013. Mindful of that target date, we will introduce the necessary legislation to give effect to this decision as soon as practicable.
Foreign Investment
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which countries the Government has held negotiations on bilateral investment treaties since May 2010; and with which countries such negotiations are ongoing. [74536]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 17 October 2011]: I have been asked to reply.
The UK has not held negotiations on bilateral investment treaties with any countries since before May 2010.
Competence for Foreign Direct Investment passed to the European Union in 2009.
GCHQ: Location
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2011, Official Report, column 382W, on GCHQ: location, if he will give a breakdown of the £308 million costs of technical transition. [74924]
Mr Lidington: The £308 million technical transition funding covered those aspects involved in moving to the new building, which were not part of the Unitary Payment under the Private Finance Initiative contract. The money was used to fund technical aspects of the move, such as the consolidation and movement of technical systems, the provision of new network infrastructure, a consolidated desktop and fit out of computer halls and labs.
Iceland: Whales
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has made to the Government of Iceland on the International Agreements on Whaling; [75373]
(2) what representations he has made to the Government of Iceland on its trade with Japan in whale meat and whale fins. [75374]
Richard Benyon: I have been asked to reply.
The UK takes every appropriate opportunity to raise our opposition to Iceland's commercial whaling and its international trade in whale meat, most recently at the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in July.
The UK Government will continue to argue that trade in fin whale meat undermines the credibility of the IWC as an effective organisation for the conservation of whale populations worldwide.
We have also made clear that for Iceland to join the EU, the UK believes it must accept that its whaling operations are incompatible with membership. All cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) are fully protected in European Union waters and we would expect any country
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applying to join the EU to abide by its laws. We will continue to work with other member states to ensure the effective protection and conservation of whales.
Indigenous Peoples: Treaties
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had on ratification by the UK of (a) the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention 1989 and (b) the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; and if he will make a statement. [75974]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Government are fully committed to promoting and protecting human rights for all individuals, including indigenous people, without discrimination on any grounds. We continue to work overseas and through the UN to improve the situation of indigenous people around the world.
ILO Convention 169 sets out a framework for how governments should act with regard to indigenous and tribal people within their own territories. To date the UK has not ratified the convention as we do not consider that the UK or its overseas territories have any indigenous people to whom it would apply. We are also of the view that the convention does not apply extra-territorially. For these reasons, we would not be able to give effect to the convention. However, following discussions with Survival International, a non-government organisation working to raise the profile of the situation facing many indigenous communities around the world, I have asked officials to look again in detail at our position to reassure ourselves that it is the right one.
In September 2007 the UN General Assembly adopted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The declaration outlaws discrimination against indigenous peoples and promotes their full and effective participation in all matters that concern them. It also ensures their right to remain distinct and to pursue their own priorities in economic, social and cultural development. The declaration is not legally binding and cannot therefore be ratified by Governments. The UK supported its adoption in 2007 and welcomes the growing support for the declaration, including from countries with significant indigenous populations.
Public Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to put in place a right to provide for public sector workers to take over the running of services; and if he will make a statement. [74780]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office supports this policy. It has not identified any opportunities within its own operations, but will continue to discuss the subject with the Cabinet Office.
Roads: Accidents
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many repatriations following injury of British citizens took place as a result of road accidents in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009, (d) 2010 and (e) 2011 to date, by country; and what the total cost to the public purse was of such repatriations in each such year by country. [75084]
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Mr Bellingham: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has an electronic database used to record our individual consular case handling. However, the database does not capture the specific statistics requested.
Thailand: Roads
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have had with the Government of Thailand on road safety; and what assessment his Department has made of road safety in that country. [75086]
Mr Bellingham: Our ambassador to Thailand raised road safety with the new Thai Transport Minister ACM Sukumpol on 28 September. Consular officials in Thailand regularly raise this issue in meetings with the relevant Thai authorities. Our travel advice
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/thailand
highlights the risks of road travel in Thailand.
Tourism
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on the age profile of UK tourists visiting foreign countries by country visited in each of the last five years. [75233]
Mr Bellingham: While the Foreign and Commonwealth Office does have a facility for British nationals to register their overseas travel plans, registration is entirely voluntary. We are therefore unable to provide the statistics and profile of travellers requested.
Tzipi Livni
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date it was agreed that the recent visit of Tzipi Livni should be given special mission status; and on what grounds the decision was made. [75692]
Alistair Burt: In relation to the visit to the UK by the Leader of the Opposition of Israel, Mrs Livni, on 5-6 October 2011, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend, the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), agreed on 27 September 2011 that she should visit the UK in order to discuss matters of mutual interest in relations between Israel and the UK. Detailed arrangements for the visit were then agreed between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the embassy of Israel.
In FCO practice, there are no prescribed formalities for consenting to a special mission, but such consent may be inferred from the circumstances of any given visit. The decision for special mission status for each visit is treated on its own merits.
Uganda: Children
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Ugandan Government on reports of ritual child sacrifice in Uganda; and if he will make a statement. [75431]
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Mr Bellingham: I am appalled by the ongoing practice of child sacrifice, and other forms of ritual murder in Uganda and around the world, as highlighted by the Jubilee Campaign.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development (DFID) will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the Government of Uganda's measures to combat this appalling practice. This includes, as well as the normal criminal investigation and prosecution processes, the establishment of a ministerial task force, the setting up of child and family protection units in the police force, and by the end of this year the establishment of a national plan of action on child sacrifice.
Furthermore, the DFID office in Uganda has supported child protection work in Uganda through UN Children's Fund, who focus on child sacrifice as part of their broader work. We are also engaged with local non-governmental organisations who are working to raise awareness of this problem and who are campaigning for tighter regulation of so-called “traditional healers” in the country.
Prime Minister
Climate Change: International Co-operation
Luciana Berger: To ask the Prime Minister when he has discussed the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban with his (a) US, (b) German, (c) Chinese and (d) Indian counterpart. [75442]
The Prime Minister: I have regular discussions with my US, German, Chinese and Indian counterparts on a variety of subjects.
Ministerial Meetings
Mr Thomas: To ask the Prime Minister how many meetings he has had with representatives of (a) social enterprises, (b) charities, (c) large private sector businesses and (d) small and medium-sized private sector businesses since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [75714]
The Prime Minister: I regularly meet representatives of social enterprises, charities, large private sector businesses and small and medium-sized private sector businesses, including on visits around the country, and at receptions and meetings hosted at Number 10. For further information I refer the hon. Member to the Number 10 website, which often gives further information about my visits, to the lists of meetings with external organisations which is published at least quarterly, and the list of receptions hosted at Number 10. These are available on the Cabinet Office website:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations
G20
Laura Sandys: To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will recommend plans to address the vulnerability of the international food system in his forthcoming global governance report to the G20; [75393]
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(2) what the remit is of his global governance role within the G20; [75394]
(3) if he will publish minutes of the meeting he held in September 2011 with trade experts to inform his report on global governance for the G20. [75395]
The Prime Minister: I will present a written report on global governance at this year's G20 summit in November.
I have discussed the report with other leaders. Officials have arranged a number of seminars with academics, business associations and non-governmental organisations, including on trade. The issues raised at these events will be reflected in the final report. The report will emphasise the importance of existing international institutions working better together and more coherently in future, including with the private sector, to tackle global challenges such as international food security.
Energy and Climate Change
Off-grid Households
12. Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress he is making on ensuring that off-grid households have access to affordable heating fuels in the winter of 2011-12. [75595]
Charles Hendry: The Office of Fair Trading published its study into the off-grid energy market on Tuesday 18 October 2011, which found that action is needed to protect heating oil consumers in some areas.
Ahead of next winter, the Department has been working with industry and consumer groups, in a national campaign, to encourage customers to order early and ensure they are well prepared for winter. We have also reminded terminal operators to ensure that they have sufficient salt to maintain access to their depots in the event of snow and ice over the coming winter.
Domestic Energy Prices
17. Albert Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the six largest energy companies on recent trends in domestic energy prices; and if he will make a statement. [75601]
Charles Hendry: DECC Ministers and officials meet suppliers and others on a regular basis to discuss market issues. The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), chaired a consumer summit on Monday 17 October 2011 to launch the ‘check, switch, insulate to save' campaign and a package of measures to help consumers this winter. We are working with consumer groups, energy suppliers and the regulator Ofgem to ensure consumers know how to save money on their energy bills by checking on their energy deal, switching their supplier if appropriate and insulating their homes.
Energy Prices
19. Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to reduce prices for domestic energy consumers. [75604]
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Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change What steps the Government are taking to minimise price increases for energy consumers. [75606]
Charles Hendry: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury North (Mr Nuttall) today.
Energy Market Competition
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to encourage greater competition in the domestic energy market. [75593]
Charles Hendry: We are removing barriers to enable small suppliers to challenge the dominance of established suppliers.
This includes measures to cut red tape for small energy suppliers and Ofgem's Retail Market Review proposals to reduce tariff complexity and increase liquidity in the wholesale electricity market.
Emissions: SMEs
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assistance his Department provides to small and medium-sized businesses to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. [75598]
Charles Hendry: There are a number of government policies which support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Green Deal, for example, will be available to SMEs when it is launched next year. It will enable them to improve the energy efficiency of their properties, thereby reducing carbon emissions and energy costs. The Green Deal will also drive demand for energy efficiency products and services from which SMEs will be able to benefit.
Clair Ridge Oil Project
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the Prime Minister's announcement of 13 October 2011, on the Clair Ridge oil project, what steps he is taking to ensure that apprenticeship opportunities for young people form part of the contract. [75514]
Charles Hendry: It would not be appropriate for the UK Government to seek to insert specific clauses into contracts. This work will give rise to significant opportunities to young workers and opportunities for businesses throughout the UK.
BP continues to recruit and train numerous new recruits. This year more than 400 vacancies have been filled of which 75 were young graduates and apprentices. They are also strong supporters of the Industry Technician training scheme which takes on around 150 school leavers every year as apprentice technicians and puts them through a three-year training programme.
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At its peak the total investments of BP and its partners in these developments will support some 3,000 UK oil and gas supply chain jobs, and will help safeguard employment for BP's North sea work force of over 3,500 people.
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the Prime Minister's announcement of 13 October 2011, on the Clair Ridge oil project, what steps he plans to take to ensure that (a) firms and (b) workers from (i) the UK, (ii) the north-east and (iii) other English regions will be awarded work on the project. [75515]
Charles Hendry: The Clair Ridge projects represents some £4.5 billion of investment, of which 53% will come to the UK and will be divided among a spectrum of companies throughout the supply chain located in all parts of the country.
It should be noted the BP overall investment plan which included the Devenick development had 72% UK content and Kinnoull with 92% spend in the UK. In particular modules for these are being fabricated in McNulty yard in South Shields, Methill, Invergordon and Wick in Scotland—i.e., a good spread throughout the UK.
BP have also highlighted that around 50 UK registered companies have already won Clair Ridge contracts. They have also announced on 17 October that AMEC, a UK based company, has been awarded a £150 million contract for engineering on the Clair Ridge project.