Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to his Department's business plan 2011-15, how much is projected to be saved in (a) Resource DEL, (b) Capital DEL, (c) annually-managed expenditure and (d) in total from the reduction of the number of heavy armour platforms in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15. [71290]
Mr Philip Hammond: Savings over the next four years are expected to be:
| £ million | ||||
|
|
2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
The figures include the currently projected savings for: Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank, the Challenger Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicle, the Driver Training Tank, Titan, Trojan, and AS90.
They do not include any savings in depreciation or the costs of writing the assets down, which cannot be calculated until the future of the surplus equipment has been determined.
All figures are planning assumptions and are rounded to the nearest £5 million; the Capital DEL element of the savings is less than £5 million in total over the four-year period.
Ex-servicemen
Mr Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans for a public awareness campaign on difficulties faced by veterans. [75047]
Mr Robathan:
The armed forces covenant underlines our commitment to ensuring that all the service community, including ex-service personnel, receive the support and recognition which they deserve. As part of this, we work very closely with other Government Departments, devolved
24 Oct 2011 : Column 33W
Administrations and voluntary sector organisations to ensure that the needs and circumstances of the ex-service community are known with the aim of improving veterans' access to services and to assist with their transition to civilian life. This includes the work undertaken by the Department of Health to inform GPs about the potential problems that may face veterans and the Department for Communities and Local Government programme to ensure that local authorities give priority to eligible veterans in relation to housing. Indeed, the publicity surrounding the implementation of covenant initiatives has succeeded in raising, the profile of the needs of our service community among the wider public.
In addition, the Department aims to inform the public of the help and advice available to veterans. For example, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) publishes a quarterly newsletter, Veterans World, which provides information on specific Government, devolved Administration and charitable initiatives aimed at assisting veterans. The MOD also regularly engages with news channels and documentary makers to publicly highlight the issues faced by some veterans and the steps the Government are taking to address these.
Graham Livesey
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the public purse was of employing Mr Graham Livesey as a military assistant. [75495]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 18 October 2011]: Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Livesey is a serving Army Officer. As a Lt Col his salary is in the range of £67,031 to £77,617. His appointment as a Military Assistant in the Defence Secretary’s office was made under the same terms and conditions of service as to any other post.
Libya: Armed Conflict
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel from the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Army have been deployed in relation to the NATO operation in Libya since March 2011. [74314]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 13 October 2011]: Information on the number of service personnel who have participated in the NATO operation in Libya is not held in the format requested. As at 10 October 2011 the number of service personnel deployed overseas in support of Operation Ellamy, the UK contribution to the NATO operation, was:
|
|
Number of service personnel(1) |
| 1 Rounded to the nearest 10 personnel | |
The number of personnel overseas fluctuates on a daily basis for a variety of reasons including temporary absence for training, evacuation for medical reasons, the roulement of forces, and visits. We do not, therefore, publish actual figures for personnel deployed.
24 Oct 2011 : Column 34W
Dalgety Bay
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when his Department first received reports of radioactive pollution at Dalgety Bay in Fife; [75751]
(2) what surveys his Department has undertaken of Dalgety Bay in Fife; [75752]
(3) how many radioactive particles have been recorded at Dalgety Bay in Fife since his Department first received reports of pollution at that location. [75754]
Mr Robathan: Personnel from Rosyth Dockyard are reported to have first found contamination in June 1990 while carrying out ongoing environmental monitoring associated with nuclear submarine operations at Rosyth.
The most recent survey work undertaken by Ministry of Defence (MOD) contractors was on 12 September 2011 when over 30 items, sometimes referred to as radioactive particles or artefacts, were recovered. It is understood that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has recovered additional radioactive items. Previous to the September survey, the MOD has undertaken six monitoring surveys and three intrusive investigations of the foreshore area which recovered a total of 128 radioactive items. The results of these surveys along with locations at which buried radium fragments have been encountered are published in the (Entec) Completion Report, dated 19 October available on the following website:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/MicroSite/DIO/OurPublications/TechnicalDocuments/MTP/DalgetyBay.htm
Recorded finds prior to MOD's support to SEPA via the Dalgety Bay Forum are detailed in previous Health Protection Agency and SEPA reports. SEPA’s reports are available on their website at:
http://www.sepa.org.uk/radioactive_substances/publications/dalgety_bay_reports.aspx
These documents will be placed in the Library of the House.
In addition to the surveys details above, the MOD has also undertaken investigation, survey and recovery works in relation to properties on the land and these have been satisfactory resolved.
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps his Department plans to take to secure the foreshore at the location where radioactive pollution has been identified at Dalgety Bay in Fife; [75756]
(2) what discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on the clean-up of contamination from military aircraft at Dalgety Bay in Fife; [75758]
(3) what estimate he has made of the cost of cleaning up radioactive pollution found at Dalgety Bay in Fife. [75760]
Mr Robathan: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) have cordoned off the foreshore at Dalgety Bay following the recent finds.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has agreed to dispose of radioactive items recovered by SEPA as part of their ongoing investigative work. In addition the MOD has made a commitment to undertake a three-year programme
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of monitoring and recovery at Dalgety Bay to give the public a greater level of protection while SEPA undertakes its additional investigations to identify the source(s) of contamination.
As the scope of any remediation has yet to be established it would be difficult to provide a realistic estimate of the remediation cost at this time.
The MOD continues to support SEPA in the accumulation and disposal of radioactive items recovered during their investigations and supports their work in protecting the public.
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration scientists of his Department gave to analysing radioactive contamination found at Dalgety Bay in Fife in 2009; and if he will make a statement. [75759]
Mr Robathan: All materials recovered by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) from Dalgety Bay have been assessed for radium content. The findings are available in the (Entec) Completion Report which is available on the MOD website at the following address:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/MicroSite/DIO/OurPublications/TechnicalDocuments/MTP/DalgetyBay.htm
A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
All material recovered by the Department has then been offered to SEPA so that further analysis can be carried out as necessary.
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when officials of his Department last met the Dalgety Bay Risk Assessment Group; and when this group next intends to meet. [75755]
Mr Robathan: Ministry of Defence (MOD) officials have attended one meeting of the Dalgety Bay Risk Assessment Group, chaired by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, in March 2009. Although the MOD has suggested a further meeting, we have no record of any taking place.
International Development
Afghanistan: Females
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he plans to take to support the development of women's rights in Afghanistan. [75812]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK is working hard to support Afghan women's empowerment, including creating opportunities for economic growth and social wellbeing that are inclusive of both men and women. For example, we are working with a local Afghan partner to link women tailors and cloth merchants to female agents for markets to help them sell their products. This programme has worked with more than 2,000 Afghan women to date and its reach is to be extended.
On women's rights, Department for International Development works closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to help ensure that the Afghan Government and civil society uphold the rights of, and demonstrate accountability to Afghan women, and to
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support the Afghan peace and reconciliation process as part of an inclusive and sustainable political settlement.
Departmental Billing
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in July and August 2010. [74359]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development paid 98% of invoices within 10 days of receipt in July 2010 and 93% of invoices within 10 days of receipt in August 2010.
Ministerial Meetings
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [75711]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Information on meetings between the Secretary of State for International Development and external organisations; including charities, social enterprises and large and small and medium enterprises is available on the DFID website:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-us/Our-organisation/Ministers/
This information covers meetings held since May 2010.
Sick Leave
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for how many days on average his Department's staff in each pay grade were absent from work as a result of ill health in 2010-11. [75019]
Mr O'Brien: Details of the average numbers of days lost to sickness absence, by pay grade, within the Department for International Development worldwide during the 2010-11 financial year, are shown in the following table:
| Average days lost to sickness absence per employee | |
| Pay grade | Number |
Indonesia: Natural Resources
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department's projects and programmes in Indonesia include the promotion of sustainable management of the earth's resources; and if he will make a statement. [76201]
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Mr O'Brien: In April 2011 the Department for International Development (DFID) agreed with the Government of Indonesia to focus all future UK aid for Indonesia on issues related to climate change, which we believe is the most effective way we can help to improve the lives of poor people in Indonesia in the long term. This means that all of DFID's current and future programmes in Indonesia will contribute to the sustainable management of natural resources. They will do this by helping to reduce deforestation and promoting more sustainable economic growth and employment opportunities. This will also help Indonesia meet its target for reducing the growth of greenhouse gas emissions.
Israel: Overseas Aid
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department provided to (a) Israel and (b) Egypt in each category of expenditure in the latest period for which figures are available. [75793]
Mr Duncan: For the financial year 2010-11 my Department provided no assistance to the Governments of Israel or Egypt.
The Prime Minister announced in May this year that the UK would provide £110 million to North African and Arab Spring countries, including Egypt, over the next four years, to support political and economic reform and transition in the middle east, including Egypt over the next four years. £90 million of this funding will come from my department with £20 million supplied by the FCO. Programming of this funding is currently under way and will support areas such as job creation, economic and social inclusion, political reform and free and fair elections across Arab Spring countries.
My Department has no bilateral programme of assistance to Israel. In the financial year 2010-11 £500,000 of Conflict Pool funding was provided to Israeli NGOs working to address the causes of conflict and promote co-existence between Israel's Jewish and Arab populations and respect for human rights in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Middle East: Pipelines
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding from his Department is available to assist in the reconstruction of the Arish-Ashkelon pipeline. [75794]
Mr Duncan: No funding is available to assist the reconstruction of the Arish-Ashkelon pipeline.
The Prime Minister announced in May this year that the UK would provide £110 million to North African and Arab Spring countries, including Egypt, over the next four years, to support political and economic reform and transition in the middle east, including Egypt over the next four years. £90 million of this funding will come from my Department with £20 million supplied by the FCO. Programming of this funding is currently under way and will support areas such as job creation, economic and social inclusion, political reform and free and fair elections across Arab Spring countries.
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Mozambique: Environment Protection
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to promote environmental awareness in Mozambique at the provincial and sub-district level; and if he will make a statement. [76203]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) promotes environmental awareness in Mozambique at provincial and sub-district levels, first, through Budget Support. This will help finance a nationwide campaign launched by the President of Mozambique last year and run by the Ministry for the Environment, which encourages, for example, every school pupil to plant a tree and every community to preserve their forests. It will help increase the number of local ‘environmental educators' from 800 in 2010 to 5,000 in 2014.
Secondly, DFID promotes environmental awareness by mainstreaming environmental issues into the projects we deliver through multiple sectors for example, education, agricultural, livelihoods, water and sanitation and by supporting civil society to advocate on environmental issues. DFID also leads by example, including by cutting the carbon footprint of our office in Mozambique. For example, the office cut its electricity consumption by 34%, comparing the last two months' bills to the same period last year.
Public Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) 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; [74783]
(2) what steps his Department has taken to encourage the development of public service mutuals in its area of responsibility; and if he will make a statement. [74819]
Mr O'Brien: DFID staff have been made aware of the public sector-wide scheme which the Cabinet Office is taking forward in response to Government commitments. This scheme will give public sector workers new rights to spin out to form new enterprises and continue to deliver public services, including through new mutuals and co-operatives. These rights will not be uniform across organisations.
The Mutuals Support Programme is a fund of more than £10 million, administered by the Cabinet Office. It will be dedicated to supporting some of the most promising and innovative mutuals so that they reach the point of investment readiness. This will be supported by the Mutuals Information Service that will give help and guidance to potential and existing mutuals. These will be launched later in the autumn.
Home Department
Animal Welfare
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the role of the planning system in meeting the commitment in the coalition agreement to work to reduce the use of animals in scientific research. [75871]
24 Oct 2011 : Column 39W
Lynne Featherstone: No discussions have been held with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the role of the planning system in meeting the commitment in the coalition agreement to work to reduce the use of animals in scientific research.
Contraband Goods
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases where contraband goods were seized at the port of Dover was (a) the vehicle transporting the goods permanently seized (and not returned to its owner) and (b) the driver or owner prosecuted in each of the years (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09, (iii) 2009-10 and (iv) 2010-11. [75815]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not hold all the information requested. The UK Border Agency prosecutes individuals attempting to transport prohibited and restricted goods into the United Kingdom. All excise seizures are referred to HM Revenue and Customs to action.
Records for permanently seized vehicles are available only from 2010 and statistics regarding prosecutions are not available.
The total number of vehicles seized by UK Border Agency in Dover for the years stated are as follows:
| Number | ||
|
|
Vehicles seized | Retained |
| (1) 2010 only. (2) October 2011. | ||
Charlie Elphicke:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date contraband goods were seized at the port of Dover in each year since
24 Oct 2011 : Column 40W
2007-08; what the
(a)
nature,
(b)
quantity and
(c)
estimated street value of the goods seized was in each case; and how much excise or other duties were forgone in each case. [75832]
Damian Green: The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Advertising: Job Vacancies
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has spent on advertising job vacancies since May 2010. [75629]
Damian Green: The Home Office and its agencies have spent £20,935 on advertising job vacancies at senior civil servant level between 1 May 2010 and 30 September 2011. Information for posts below this level is available only at disproportionate cost.
UK Border Agency: Pay
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the salary is of the UK Border Agency officials (a) Zilla Bowell, (b) Rob Yeldham, (c) Jonathan Sedgwick, (d) David Wood, (e) Martin Peach, (f) Matthew Coates, (g) Justin Holliday, (h) Joe Dugdale and (i) Brodie Clark. [75746]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency has published the salaries of senior staff, as part our commitment to transparency. The data now in the public domain represents what we can provide while honouring the duty that we have to our staff under the Data Protection Act.
The information is set out as follows and is in table 3.13 of the UK Border Agency annual report and accounts 2010-11.
24 Oct 2011 : Column 41W
Salary here includes gross salary; overtime; reserved rights to London weighting or London allowances; recruitment and retention allowances; private office allowances; and any other allowance to the extent that it is subject to UK taxation. This report is based on accrued payments made by the UK Border Agency.
This can also be accessed via the following link:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/annual-reports-accounts/
Additionally, a list of SCS salaries (pay band 2 and above) and departmental organograms was published on 15 June 2011 showing a snapshot as at 31 March 2011. These are available on line at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/corporate-publications/ukba-structure-salary-march-2011/
An updated list showing a snapshot as at 30 September 2011 is expected to be published by the 30 November.
Deportation: Offenders
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time taken was for a foreign offender issued with a deportation order to be removed from (a) the issue of the deportation order and (b) since the offender left prison in each of the last five years. [75541]
Damian Green: The following table shows the average length of time for a foreign national offender to be removed from the UK following the issue of a deportation order. Please note that data prior to 2008 are not considered to be sufficiently reliable.
|
|
Average number of days taken to remove a foreign national offender following the issue of a deportation order |
The following table shows the average length of time for a foreign national offender to be removed from the UK following the completion of their custodial sentence. Please note that data prior to 2008 are not considered to be sufficiently reliable.
|
|
Average number of days taken to remove a foreign national offender following the completion of their custodial sentence |
Detention Centres: Children
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been held in detention at pre-departure accommodation Cedars since it opened. [75650]
24 Oct 2011 : Column 42W
Damian Green: The latest published figures show that no children have been held in the pre-departure accommodation at Cedars between when it opened on 17 August 2011 and 31 August 2011.
Since 25 November 2010, each month the Home Office has published a table specifically showing how many children entered immigration removal centres and short-term holding facilities. This excludes those in police cells, Prison Service establishments and short-term holding rooms at ports and airports (for less than 24 hours), those recorded as detained under both criminal and immigration powers and their dependants. From 29 September 2011, when figures for August were published, this table has included Cedars pre-departure accommodation.
The Home Office publishes monthly, quarterly and annual statistics on the number of children entering detention, solely under Immigration Act powers. Children entering detention figures relating to September 2011 will be published on 27 October 2011 and will be available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Science, research and statistics web pages at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statisticsl/
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children are being held in each immigration detention facility; and what the reason for the detention is in each case. [75677]
Damian Green: The latest published figures show that no children were being held in detention, solely under Immigration Act powers in immigration removal centres and short term holding facilities as at 30 June 2011. This excludes those in police cells, Prison Service establishments and short-term holding rooms at ports and airports (for less than 24 hours), those recorded as detained under both criminal and immigration powers and their dependants.
Quarterly figures published on children in detention are taken as a snapshot on the last day of each quarter. Additionally figures are published on children entering detention on a monthly basis.
The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of children in detention, solely under Immigration Act powers. Children in detention figures as at 30 September 2011 will be published on 24 November 2011 and will be available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Science, research and statistics webpages at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/
Entry Clearances: Domestic Workers
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the migrant domestic workers who renewed their visas in 2009 first entered the UK in (a) 2004, (b) 2005, (c) 2006, (d) 2007, (e) 2008 and (f) 2009. [75670]
Damian Green: The information required is not centrally recorded in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many domestic workers accompanied diplomats on a (a) domestic worker (diplomat) and (b) Tier 5 International Agreement visa in 2010. [75672]
Damian Green: Since November 2008 overseas domestic workers accompanying diplomats can enter only through the tier 5 international agreement route.
There were 453 individuals issued with entry clearance visas under the points-based system, Tier 5 - International Agreement route in 2010. Figures for domestic workers accompanying diplomats cannot be individually identified within this category.
The latest Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance visas issued in the calendar year 2010, together with earlier data, are given in table 'be.04' of the statistical release 'Immigration Statistics April to June 2011'. This publication is available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Science website at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-q2-2011/
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is provided to migrant domestic workers during the visa issuing procedure on their rights in the UK. [75674]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency does not advise applicants on the category of the immigration rules they should apply under. The onus is on the applicant to determine the category that is most applicable to their circumstances. The UK Border Agency website provides information on the UK immigration rules and informs applicants of their rights in the UK under every category, including domestic workers.
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information her Department holds on the number of embassies which have objected to migrant domestic workers they have employed changing their employer within the immigration rules. [75675]
Damian Green: Overseas domestic workers in diplomatic households are only able to switch employer within the mission. The Home Office is not aware of any embassies that have objected to overseas domestic workers switching in this way.
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many migrant domestic workers referred into the National Referral Mechanism had come to the UK on a domestic worker (diplomat) or Tier 5 entry clearance visa. [75781]
Damian Green: Between 1 April 2009 and 30 June 2011, 14 migrant domestic workers referred into the National Referral Mechanism had come to the UK on a domestic worker (diplomat) or Tier 5 entry clearance visa.
The figure quoted is internal management information only and is subject to change.
24 Oct 2011 : Column 44W
Entry Clearances: Overseas Students
Mr Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many student visas were granted to foreign nationals from (a) Uganda and (b) the East African community in each of the last five years. [R] [76071]
Damian Green: The information requested is shown in the following table:
| Sum of issued | |||||
| Country | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
The data is based on management information. It is provisional and subject to change.
Government Procurement Card
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 13 October 2011, Official Report, column 505W, on the Government Procurement Card, (1) what items of procurement card spending are considered sensitive as a matter of policy; and for what reason such items are considered sensitive; [75816]
(2) which items of expenditure by her Department made on the Government Procurement Card require redaction on grounds of sensitivity; and for what reason the expenditure is considered sensitive in each case. [75833]
Damian Green: The Home Office does not have an overarching policy on the publication of transactions made on Government Procurement Cards (GPC). Each transaction would need to be assessed on a case by case basis to decide whether the information is sensitive, and therefore needs to be redacted. Information would be regarded as sensitive and redacted from publications, in the interest of national security, or if a release would breach data protection legislation.
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 13 October 2011, Official Report, column 506W, on the Identity and Passport Service: Government Procurement Card, (1) what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount and (c) supplier of each transaction undertaken by the Identity and Passport Service using the Government Procurement Card was in March 2010; [75817]
(2) what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount and (c) supplier was of each transaction undertaken by the Identity and Passport Service using the Government Procurement Card in 2009-10. [75818]
Damian Green: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (John Glen) on 13 September 2011, Official Report, column 1135W: It is not possible to provide a breakdown of each GPC transactions in these years without incurring disproportionate cost.
24 Oct 2011 : Column 45W
Table 1, placed in the House Library, provides information on spend by the Identity and Passport Service (formerly the UK Passport Agency) through the use of Government Procurement Cards (GPC) in 2009-10 by (a) date of purchase, by month (b) amount and (c) supplier.
The Home Department is currently working to provide a consistent method of reporting GPC spend data for transactions over £500 in value dating from 1 April 2011. We expect this information to be available on our departmental website by the end of the calendar year.
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 13 October 2011, Official Report, column 505W, on the Government Procurement Card, what estimate her Department made of the cost of providing the information requested; and what calculations her Department used in determining that the provision of the information requested would incur disproportionate cost. [75834]
Damian Green: The estimated cost of the Home Department providing a response to the answer of 13 October 2011, Official Report, column 505W, on Government Procurement Card spend is £3,938. The calculation used to estimate this cost is (staff time) multiplied by (hourly rate) for grade of staff involved. To provide a response to the answer would have required Home Office staff to consider over 164,000 lines of transactional data.
Hillsborough Disaster
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make available to the Hillsborough Panel all of the briefing papers on the Hillsborough disaster which were submitted to Lady Thatcher when she was Prime Minister. [76159]
Mrs May [holding answer 21 October 2011]: As I said in the House of Commons on 17 October 2011, Official Report, columns 668-70, all Government papers have been made available, in full and uncensored, to the Hillsborough Independent Panel.
Human Trafficking
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information her Department holds on steps being taken by the police to encourage hotels to assist in identifying perpetrators and victims of human trafficking. [76078]
Damian Green: The Government's strategy on human trafficking sets out a commitment to exploring what further role the private sector and the public can play in tackling human trafficking.
Combating human trafficking is part of core police business and the steps taken to identify victims and offenders are operational matters for individual police forces. All new police officers receive mandatory training on trafficking and existing officers have access to awareness material.
24 Oct 2011 : Column 46W
Identity and Passport Service: Liverpool
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress her Department has made in providing compensation payments for employees dismissed from Liverpool Passport Office on 21 March 2011. [76451]
Damian Green: Originally nine of the 14 staff who had their permanent employment terminated by the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) on 21 March 2011 submitted claims to the Employment Tribunal for unfair dismissal. There is a three-day hearing scheduled to commence on 8 February 2012. A case management discussion was held on 30 September and an order was made for the claimants to provide schedule of losses since leaving IPS employment by 11 November. Upon receipt of the schedule of losses, Treasury Solicitors who are acting on behalf of IPS will commence negotiations with the claimants' representatives with a view to settling the Employment Tribunal claims. Compensation payable will be considered on an individual basis.
Illegal Immigrants
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of non-UK citizens entering the UK illegally or clandestinely who were not apprehended at (a) the Port of Dover and (b) the Port of Calais in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11. [75831]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency records detections of those attempting clandestine entry. Given that any persons who were not apprehended have evaded the controls there are no records of entry or estimates of those who may have done so.
Police: Harassment Warnings
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many harassment warnings have been issued by police officers to people of each (a) age group, (b) gender, (c) ethnicity and (d) region in each year since 2006. [75720]
Lynne Featherstone: The information requested is not recorded centrally.
Offences of harassment are governed by the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. However this legislation does not provide any formal statutory framework for Police Information Notices (also commonly referred to as 'PINs' or 'harassment warnings') and responsibility for issuing them rests with individual police forces. The Crown Prosecution Service and the National Policing Improvement Agency have published guidance on the use of PINs.
Police: Pay
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she expects the Chancellor's commitment to increase the pay of police staff in England and Wales earning less than £21,000 to be implemented through the Police Staff Council for England and Wales; and if she will make a statement. [75785]
24 Oct 2011 : Column 47W
Nick Herbert: The Government's policy is to freeze the pay of public sector workers for two years except for those earning £21,000 or less, who will receive an increase of a minimum of £250. We would expect this to apply to police staff, although police staff pay is determined by police authorities and is subject to the usual negotiating processes.
Police: Pensions
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there was any change in the pension entitlement of (a) Sir Paul Stephenson and (b) John Yates following their resignation from the Metropolitan Police. [75880]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 20 October 2011]: The administration of police pension schemes is a matter for the relevant police authority. No information is held centrally on any individual police officer's pension entitlement.
Police: Sports Events
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the potential effect of planned changes to police budgets on the policing of Rugby Football Union matches at Twickenham stadium. [72356]
Nick Herbert: The police are able to charge for special police services under section 25 of the Police Act 1996. The policing of sports events is defined as a special police service for which the organisers can be charged for the police services that they have requested. The provision of policing at a sports event is a matter for the individual police force and the event organiser to agree between themselves.
Restraint Equipment: Detainees
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to review the techniques used to restrain detainees on aircraft. [76049]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency formally asked the National Tactical Response Group of the National Offender Management Service to conduct a review of the current restraint techniques being used by escort officers including those used during removals.
Officials expect to receive an interim report on the review in November 2011.
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees have been injured while being restrained during deportation from the UK in (a) the 12 months period ending on 1 September 2011 and (b) each of the previous five years. [76050]
Damian Green: Escort officers are trained in the use of control and restraint techniques, which are used only as a matter of last resort when all other alternatives of persuading a person to comply with their removal from the UK have failed or they need to be controlled for safety reasons.
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The use of restraint is legitimate and lawful so long as its use is justified, proportionate and de-escalated at the earliest opportunity when the individual has complied. Escort officers are required to submit a report each time force has been used to restrain a detainee while being removed. However separate records are not held on injuries sustained. This could be determined only by examination of each use of force or incident report submitted at disproportionate cost.
Justice
Burglary: Sentencing
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people in Finchley and Golders Green constituency who were convicted of burglary between September 2010 and September 2011 received custodial sentences of (a) under six months, (b) between six and 12 months, (c) between 12 and 18 months and (d) over 18 months. [76145]
Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. This centrally held information is not available at parliamentary constituency level.
Court proceedings data, broken down by police force area, are currently available for the calendar year 2010. Data for 2011 are planned for publication in spring 2012.
Burial
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to encourage the establishment of eco-burial sites. [75268]
Mr Djanogly: In 2009 the Ministry of Justice published guidance for operators of natural burial grounds with advice on the legal and regulatory framework governing natural burial and information to ensure operators provide a high quality service to the bereaved and the wider community. The guidance is available on the Ministry of Justice website.
Establishing and providing eco-burial sites is a matter for local authorities, non profit organisations or private companies.
Community Legal Advice: Finance
Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what contribution his Department has made to the Cabinet Office review of advice services funding; and if he will make a statement. [75678]
Mr Djanogly: I can confirm that my Department is working closely with colleagues across Government, including the Cabinet Office, to support this work.
Coroners
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many submissions to the consultation on reforming public bodies supported full implementation of the role of chief coroner as set out in the Coroners and Justice Act 2009; [76369]
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(2) how many submissions to the consultation on reforming public bodies referred to the office of the chief coroner; [76370]
(3) how many submissions to the consultation on reforming public bodies supported the Government's proposals to add the chief coroner to schedule 5 of the Public Bodies Bill. [76371]
Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice consultation on reforms proposed in the Public Bodies Bill closed on 11 October. Of the 2,742 responses received, 2,646 referred to the Office of the Chief Coroner. 2,607 of these were identical responses from members of the public received via the Royal British Legion campaign website.
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The Department intends to publish its response to the consultation by the end of this year. This will contain a summary of the responses received.
Details of the consultation can be found on the Ministry of Justice website at:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/reform-public-bodies.htm
Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (a) how many and (b) for what reasons claims for compensation were rejected by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in the last five years for which figures are available. [R] [75727]
Mr Djanogly: The information requested is outlined in the following table.
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applications for compensation rejected by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority were referred to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many such applications were successful. [R] [75728]
Mr Djanogly: The information is as follows:
|
|
2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
|
Total number of claims rejected by CICA and appealed to the First-tier Tribunal |
|||||
|
Total decisions overturned from those cases that go to appeal |
These figures reflect cases where the applicant has been refused compensation, appealed to the First-tier Tribunal and the decision has been overturned. Not all appealed cases will have been heard and decided by the Tribunals Service—Criminal Injuries Compensation. The Tribunal Service may request further information, such
24 Oct 2011 : Column 51W
as special medical reports, and a case can only be heard on receipt of all requested information. Cases at appeal stage still under investigation are therefore excluded from these figures.
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the (a) number of claims and (b) total value of claims paid to residents of Sunderland local authority through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme was in the latest financial year for which figures are available. [R] [75741]
Mr Djanogly: The information requested is as follows:
|
|
2010-11 |
These figures include applicants whose postcode is currently recorded as beginning SRI, SR2, SR3, SR4, SR5 or SR9.
Advertising: Job Vacancies
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has spent on advertising job vacancies since May 2010. [75627]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice complies with the Government freeze on new advertising, marketing and communications spend. Under MOJ policy, no money can be committed to any advertising and marketing activity without a formal exemption from the freeze. Exemptions can only be provided by the Efficiency Reform Group (ERG) (for expenditure over £100,000) or from the MOJ Director of Communications (for expenditure below £100,000).
All external recruitment into MOJ, in line with the rest of the civil service, is also currently frozen. The only exceptions are front-line roles and business critical roles.
Given these controls, since May 2010, a total of £40,703.66 has been spent on advertising Ministry of Justice job vacancies. This includes all expenditure for MOJ HQ, HM Courts and Tribunals Service and the National Offender Management Service.
The 42 probation trusts and Ministry of Justice arm’s length bodies are excluded from this response as their details are held separately and to gather it would exceed the cost limit. Information can be separately requested from the individual offices if required.
Civil Service: Pay
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) whether any member of the senior civil service in his Department received a salary increase between 2009-10 and 2010-11; what the posts concerned were; and what the salary paid in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11 was; [75822]
(2) whether any member of the senior civil service in his Department received a bonus in the year 2010-11; what the posts concerned were; and what bonus was paid in respect of each postholder in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; [75823]
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(3) whether any member of the senior civil service in his Department received a pay reduction in respect of poor performance in 2010-11; [75853]
(4) what the policy of his Department is on (a) paying members of the senior civil service bonuses for good performance and (b) pay reductions for poor performance; [75854]
(5) whether any members of the senior civil service for which his Department is responsible was paid more than the Prime Minister's ministerial salary in 2010-11; in respect of which posts such payments were made; and what the salary of such office holders was in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11. [75855]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The coalition Government announced in the 2010 Budget that all public sector pay would be subject to a 2-year pay freeze (except for staff who earn less than £21,000 per annum). This current freeze, which began in April this year, is in addition to the one-year freeze introduced previously by the previous Administration.
The SCS pay freeze has meant that there have been no increases to base pay awarded to senior civil servants working at the Ministry of Justice for the performance years 2009-10, 2010-11 and neither will there be for 2011-12.
For the 2010-11 performance year, 59 senior civil servants within the Ministry of Justice (including NOMS) were awarded non-consolidated performance-related payments (bonuses) as part of the end-year SCS performance management process, out of a total of 244 in scope for consideration. These 59 senior civil servants had been awarded Performance Group 1 marking as a result of the SCS end-year performance management process.
The Prime Minister, in a statement made on 16 May 2010, announced that for the senior civil service in 2010-11, the top 25% of performers (those in Performance Group 1) in each Department would be eligible to be considered for a non-consolidated performance-related payment (a bonus). For 2010-11, the Ministry of Justice awarded non-consolidated performance-related payments to 24.2% of those senior civil servants in scope for consideration.
(a) For the SCS performance year 2009-10, non-consolidated performance-related payments were awarded to those placed in Performance Groups 1 and 2 as part of the end-year SCS performance management process. In line with Cabinet Office guidance, non-consolidated performance-related payments were differentiated, for those in Performance Group 1 and those in Performance Group 2.
For 2009-10, 53 SCS pay bands 2 and 3 (Directors and Directors General) were awarded non-consolidated performance-related payments and 111 were awarded to SCS Pay Bands 1 and 1A (Deputy Directors). 18 members of SCS Pay Bands 2 and 3 (Directors and Directors General) were awarded Performance Group 1 and 35 were awarded Performance Group 2. 43 members of SCS pay bands 1 and 1A (Deputy Directors) were awarded Performance Group 1 and 68 were awarded Performance Group 2.
For the 2009-10 SCS performance year, the following amounts were payable to each pay band:
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| £ | ||
|
|
Performance Group 1 | Performance Group 2 |
(b) For the SCS performance year 2010-11, non-consolidated performance-related payments were awarded to only those awarded Performance Group 1. 16 members of SCS pay bands 2 and 3 (Directors and Directors General) and 43 members of SCS pay bands 1 and 1A (Deputy Directors) received Performance Group 1 and therefore were awarded non-consolidated performance-related payments.
For the 2010-11 performance year, the following amounts were payable to each pay band:
| £ | |
| SCS pay band | Agreed non-consolidated performance-related payment (bonus) 2010 - 11 |
No SCS members within the Ministry of Justice (including NOMS) received a pay reduction in respect of poor performance in 2010-11.
SCS staff are eligible for non-consolidated, performance-related payments. The Prime Minister, in a statement made on 16 May last year, announced that for the SCS in 2010-11, the top 25% of performers in each Department would be eligible to be considered for (could receive) a non-consolidated performance-related pay award so that in future only those making an exceptional contribution would be rewarded. This remains the position for 2011-12.
There is no mechanism under the current SCS remuneration system by which pay may be reduced for poor performance.
The Prime Minister's total remuneration package is £142,500.
In 2009-10 and 2010-11 there were 10 SCS members within the Ministry of Justice (including NOMS) who earned a basic salary of more than £142,500. In 2009-10, two were members of SCS pay band 2 (Directors), seven were members of SCS pay band 3 (Directors General) and one was the Permanent Secretary. In 2010-11, four were members of SCS pay band 2 (Directors), five were members of SCS pay band 3 (Directors General) and one was the Permanent Secretary.
For 2010-11, senior civil servant salaries for Deputy Directors, Directors, Directors General and the Permanent Secretary were published on the Ministry's website and this can be obtained through the following link:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/transparency-data/senior-civil-service-salaries-and-organograms.htm
Departmental Procurement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 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. [75712]
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Mr Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice publishes details of meetings that all Justice Ministers, including myself, hold with external organisations. This is published on ministerial gifts, meetings and hospitality returns on a quarterly basis and is available on the Ministry of Justice website at:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/corporate-reports/moj/index.htm
The next return (April 2011 to June 2011) has been collated and will be published in the near future.
Departmental Training
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many external training courses staff of his Department attended in the last 12 months; and what the cost to the public purse was of each course. [74384]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: No central records are held of either staff attending external training courses, or the cost of each course. Responsibility for training budgets and the booking of courses is devolved to business areas and local line managers. Collating detailed information on the number of courses and the cost of each course would incur a disproportionate.
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) commissions learning and development interventions to ensure that it meets its business needs, reinforces professional standards, provides high quality learning and represents best value for money. The vast majority of business specific training is developed ‘in-house’ because of the specialist skills required to either work in the custodial environment, or operate our specific business processes. Generic training is sourced from civil service learning. There are occasions when it is necessary for MOJ to procure learning from an external provider.
Ministerial Voluntary Work
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what volunteering (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have undertaken as part of the One Day Challenge; what the nature of the work undertaken was; on what dates it took place; and what the names were of the organisations assisted. [76234]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The Giving White Paper published on 23 May 2011 outlines the Government’s proposals to encourage charitable giving. As part of this, all Ministry of Justice Ministers have pledged to undertake a ‘One Day Challenge’—a voluntary commitment to give one day of their time to a charity or community group of their choice. I and my ministerial colleagues will fulfil this commitment over the coming months.
Disability Living Allowance: Appeals
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people in Motherwell and Wishaw constituency have won an appeal against the withdrawal of their disability living allowance at a tribunal in the latest period for which figures are available. [75826]
Mr Djanogly:
Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service does not hold data specific to the Motherwell and Wishaw constituency. However, the majority of appeals against a Department for Work and Pensions
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(DWP) decision on an individual's entitlement to disability living allowance, made by people in this constituency, are heard in the Social Security and Child Support First-tier Tribunal hearing venue in Hamilton. This venue also hears appeals from other nearby locations.
Between April 2011 and August 2011, the most recent period for which figures are available, there were 510 appeals against a DWP decision on an individual's entitlement to disability living allowance decided at hearing in the Hamilton hearing venue, of which 180 were found in favour of the appellant.
Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill
Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to his contribution of 29 June 2011, Official Report, column 984, on the second reading of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, when he plans to provide details of the fund for not-for-profit legal advice centres. [75680]
Mr Djanogly: Further to the announcement made by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice on 29 June 2011, Official Report, column 984, I can confirm that the Cabinet Office is responsible for the distribution of the England portion of the £20 million fund for not-for-profit advice providers. Cabinet Office officials are working with the Treasury and my Department on agreeing the criteria for funding. Further details of the funding criteria and process will be announced by the Cabinet Office in the next few weeks.
Magistrates: Training
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has spent on (a) the Judicial Studies Board and (b) training for magistrates in respect of new sentencing guidelines in the last 12 months. [76183]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: From 1 April 2011, training for judicial office holders in the courts and in most tribunals became the responsibility of the Judicial College. The Judicial College was created by bringing together separate arrangements that had previously existed for training judicial office holders in the courts (the Judicial Studies Board) and Tribunals Service (through the Tribunals Judicial Training Group).
The total expenditure for the Judicial Studies Board (JSB) for the period 2010-11 was £6,759,000. A summary of the expenditure for the JSB is shown in the annual report for 2010-11 which is available on the Judiciary website at:
www.judiciary.gov.uk
Financial data for 2011-12 will be available next.
The only new sentencing guidelines within the last 12 months that the Judicial College has provided training material for are the new assault sentencing guidelines which came into effect on 13 June 2011. Training materials were distributed to magistrates’ courts in April and were then delivered locally by Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) trainers. Costs actually incurred
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by HMCTS in the delivery of this training will not be provided to the Judicial College until the end of the current financial year.
Social Security Benefits: Appeals
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many appeals against benefit decisions in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK are outstanding and awaiting processing. [75748]
Mr Djanogly: Appeals against benefit decisions made by the Department for Work and Pensions are heard by the First-tier Tribunal—Social Security and Child Support (SSCS).
There are always a number of 'live' appeals in the SSCS Tribunal at different stages of processing. The number of live SSCS appeals in Scotland at 31 August 2011, the most recent period for which statistics have been published, was 13,300. In the UK, excluding Northern Ireland where appeals are heard by The Tribunals Service Northern Ireland, there were 168,400 live cases at 31 August 2011.
These figures do not include cases that have been lodged with the Department for Work and Pensions for reconsideration of their decision but which have not yet been referred to the Tribunal.
Third Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many letters he has received on funding for civil society organisations within his Department's area of responsibility in each month since 1 June 2010; and if he will make a statement. [73996]
Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice funds many different civil sector organisations and has correspondence with many more. The number of letters referring to both successful and unsuccessful funding bids and to funding issues in general is not monitored by the Department.
The Department is funding various civil sector organisations over the three financial years 2011-14 in the policy areas of legal aid, reducing reoffending, victims and witnesses, coroners and international.
Victim Support
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) with reference to his Department's press notice of 26 September 2011, what methodology his Department used to determine the total sum to be raised from prisoners' earnings for the purposes of funding victim support services; [75639]
(2) what the average annual cash payment to an individual prisoner through the new victims' levy is likely to be in (a) the next 12 months and (b) each of the next five years; [75729]
(3) how many prisoners will have to pay the victims' levy from their earnings in (a) the next 12 months and (b) each of the next five years; [75730]
(4) what estimate he has made of the revenue likely to be raised for victim support by the levy on prisoner earnings in (a) the next 12 months and (b) each of the next five years. [75731]
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Mr Blunt: Our expectation, that deductions under the Prisoner's Earnings Act 1996 will generate up to £1 million per year, was informed by prisoner earnings data that were collected from those prisoners working out of Category D prisons in summer 2010. This remains our best estimate of revenue for the next 12 months and we have assumed that this figure remains constant over time in real terms, which may not in fact prove to be the case.
Prisoner earnings vary considerably depending on hourly rates and hours worked; therefore there will be large variations in the amount each prisoner contributes, depending on their earnings. For a prisoner working full-time on the national minimum wage deductions through the Prisoners' Earnings Act would be approximately £65 a week or approximately £3,000 per year.
At the time of the prisoner earnings data collection in summer 2010 there were 459 prisoners in Category D prisons whose earnings would have been eligible for deductions under the Prisoners' Earnings Act 1996. This remains our best yearly estimate.
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what mechanism he put in place to ensure the process for the allocation of proceeds from the levy on prisoners’ earnings was transparent; [75726]
(2) what criteria he considered when deciding that the proceeds from the levy on prisoners' earnings would be given to Victim Support; [75732]
(3) what services Victim Support is contracted to provide from the proceeds of the levy on prisoners’ earnings in (a) the next 12 months and (b) each remaining year of the arrangements under which they receive such funding; [75733]
(4) whether other organisations from the voluntary and charitable sector were given an opportunity to bid for a share of the proceeds from the levy on prisoners’ earning; [75734]
(5) whether he will place in the Library a copy of the contract his Department made with Victim Support in respect of the proceeds from the levy on earnings of prisoners; and if he will make a statement; [75736]
Mr Blunt: The Prisoners' Earnings Act (PEA) enables deductions from prisoners' earnings in certain circumstances pending the introduction of a wider power to do so which is contained in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill currently before Parliament.
It is a statutory requirement of the PEA that the recipient or recipients of its proceeds is/are formally prescribed by the Secretary of State. He has prescribed that the funds should go to Victim Support.
The Coalition programme for government and the Green Paper ‘Breaking the Cycle’, published by the Ministry of Justice in December 2011, committed to implementing the Act with the aim of deductions from the earnings of prisoners going towards services which support victims.
In deciding which organisation or organisations to prescribe we took account of the uncertainty about the amount of revenue the PEA would generate which results from the difficulty in predicting how many prisoners would be engaged in qualifying work. This uncertainty rendered the PEA revenue unsuitable for a competitive
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funding process. It also meant that any prescribed organisation needed to possess sufficient capacity to deliver the project or projects the PEA was intended to fund if the revenue actually raised proved lower than anticipated.
As the PEA represents the first time prisoners have contributed in this way we wanted the proceeds to go to an organisation which worked nationally with a broad range of victims of crime. Victim Support is the principal provider of support for victims in England and Wales and has over 35 years' experience of the sector. Its national coverage and size made it the ideal choice.
The Ministry of Justice has not entered into a contract with Victim Support for the PEA revenue. Victim Support is currently considering a number of potential projects and will make a final decision once it is known how much revenue will be raised through the levy. A contract will be entered into at that time, prior to the money raised from the PEA being passed to Victim Support.
Communities and Local Government
Adam Werritty
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether Ministers in his Department have met Mr Adam Werritty in an official capacity (a) with and (b) without officials present since May 2010. [76433]
Robert Neill: No Ministers in this Department have had meetings with Mr Werritty.
Council Tax: Arrears
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many times local authorities have taken people to court for the recovery of council tax arrears in the latest period for which figures are available. [76265]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not collect figures on the number of times local authorities have taken people to court for the recovery of council tax arrears.
Departmental Allowances
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much members of his departmental management board have claimed in expenses since May 2010. [74955]
Robert Neill: The expenses are published quarterly on the DCLG website as follows:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/transparencyingovernment/staffdata/businessexpenses/
The expenses are usually published within the month after the quarter ending. The expenses for July to September are currently being compiled and will be available at a later date.
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Departmental Billing
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in July and August 2010. [74343]
Robert Neill: In July 2010 the Department for Communities and Local Government paid 90.85% of invoices within 10 days of receipt and in August 2010 90.24% of invoices were paid within 10 days.
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average cost to his Department was of processing the payment of an invoice in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of invoices settled in that period his Department paid (a) electronically and (b) by cheque. [74989]
Robert Neill: The average cost of processing the payment of an invoice, based on data for the last 12 months is £2.62. Of the invoices processed by DCLG in that period, 99.998% were made electronically with just 0.002% paid by cheque.
Consultants
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what procedures his Department uses when engaging external consultants. [73097]
Robert Neill: In line with Cabinet Office guidance, the Department has placed an immediate freeze on consulting expenditure, unless it is of operational necessity and the work cannot be undertaken by civil servants.
Procedures have been introduced whereby Ministers and the permanent secretary review all consultancy contracts of £20,000 or more on a three-monthly basis and ensuring that any proposals to extend contracts longer than nine months are jointly approved by the Cabinet Office Minister and Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
Procurement procedures that can be used include:
Use of the new Government Dynamic Marketplace;
Call off from existing government frameworks; and
Open restricted or other EU procedures for bespoke requirements above the EU threshold of approximately £100,000
Departmental Re-location
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many civil servants in his Department have been (a) relocated and (b) agreed for relocation in the last 12 months; and to which areas of the UK. [74901]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government has not relocated any civil servants, nor agreed to relocate any civil servants, in the last 12 months.
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Ministerial Meetings
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 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. [75702]
Robert Neill: Details of Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis, and are available at:
www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/transparencyin government/ministerialdata/
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many meetings he has had with (a) trade unions, (b) construction firms, (c) firms providing services to local authorities and (d) lobbyists since May 2010. [76102]
Robert Neill: Details of Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis, and are available at:
www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/transparencyin government/ministerialdata/
Departmental Pay
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will estimate the total monetary value of London weightings and London living allowances for staff in his Department. [74902]
Robert Neill: DCLG staff do not receive either a London weighting or a London living allowance. Like many other Departments, DCLG operates a London pay range (for staff based in London and surrounding areas) and a national pay range.
It would not be appropriate to calculate the cost of employing equivalent London staff working outside of London as this would be purely hypothetical.
Cyber-Security
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to improve cyber-security in relation to his Department's estate; and if he will make a statement. [75120]
Robert Neill: Government take 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.
Department for Communities and Local Government 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; these standards are aligned with industry best practice approaches.
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Refuse Collection
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what methodology his Department used to cost the proposal for weekly bin collections; and whether the funding for the proposal will come from his Department’s existing budget. [76344]
Robert Neill: The new weekly collections support scheme, announced on 30 September will make up to £250 million available to councils to help them deliver weekly collections of household waste. The scheme will be funded by money from DCLG’s unallocated resource budget as reported in the annual report and accounts for 2010-11. This is therefore additional funding for local government over and above that already announced.
The funding will support councils which switch from fortnightly to better weekly collections, and will support weekly collection councils which wish to keep and improve the weekly service they offer, such as through better procurement, new technologies and reward schemes like Recyclebank and others.
In due course, we will make a further statement on the detail of this scheme and the details for inviting councils to submit innovative bids for funding. However, councils will be able to bid individually or in consortiums, and with the private sector, where that increases value for money. In order to encourage the most innovative and locally tailored solutions, authorities will be able to bid for a mix of revenue and capital funding.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to encourage local authorities to provide better and more frequent rubbish and recycling collections. [76733]
Robert Neill: As announced on the 30 September, we are launching a new Weekly Collections Support scheme worth up to £250 million to councils to help them deliver weekly collections of household waste.
The funding will support councils which switch from fortnightly to better weekly collections, and will support weekly collection councils which wish to keep and improve the weekly service they offer, such as through better procurement, new technologies and reward schemes like Recyclebank and others. Councils will be able to bid individually or in consortiums, and with the private sector, where that increases value for money. In order to encourage the most innovative and locally tailored solutions, authorities will be able to bid for a mix of revenue and capital funding.
We are funding this scheme from DCLG’s unallocated resource budget, as reported in the Annual Report and Accounts for 2010-11. Further details of this scheme, inviting councils to submit innovative bids for funding, will be released in due course.
Furthermore, the Government have already moved to remove Audit Commission guidance and inspections which marked down councils who do not adopt fortnightly rubbish collections; and to abolish Local Area Agreements imposed by Whitehall which created perverse incentives to downgrade waste collection services.
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Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether any (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers in his Department use private e-mail accounts for the conduct of Government business. [73219]
Robert Neill: The Ministerial Code, the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, and the Civil Service Code set out how Ministers, officials and special advisers should conduct Government business.
Enterprise Zones: Staffordshire
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the information his Department holds on the expression of interest relating to the Staffordshire/Stoke-on-Trent LE2 submission; [71203]
(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the information his Department holds on the bid by the Staffordshire/Stoke-on-Trent Local Enterprise Partnership in respect of the LE2 Round 2 bid process. [71204]
Greg Clark [holding answer 9 September 2011]: The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Local Enterprise Partnership have advised that their expression of interest and bid documents contain information that is commercially confidential. However, the summary document which the partnership shared with a number of local MPs, including the hon. Member, will be published on the Local Enterprise Partnership's website shortly.
Government Procurement Card
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the publication of his Department’s Government procurement card data, which Ministers attended (a) Boisdales, (b) Brassiere 44, (c) the National Cafe and (d) the Wolseley using the Government procurement card between May 2006 and May 2010; and what the (i) cost and (ii) purpose was of each event. [73223]
Robert Neill: The events at the Wolseley on 2 December 2008 and 5 June 2009 were attended by Baroness Andrews and officials of the Department. I am informed that the first was to discuss the handling of forthcoming legislation, and the second was to discuss the handover of policy portfolios.
Detailed records for the event or attendance at the Boisdale on 3 April 2008 are not held. The transaction was made by the private office of Baroness Andrews.
No Ministers attended the other events.
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.
24 Oct 2011 : Column 63W
Housing Benefit: Universal Credit
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to consult representatives of local authority trade unions on the plan for transition from housing benefit to universal credit. [75777]
Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply.
It is the responsibility of local authorities to engage with trade unions under agreed local arrangements for consultation. We are engaging with local authorities to understand the changes that will arise as a result of transition to universal credit, which will inform these dialogues.
Housing: Change of Use
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if the Government will accept the recommendations in the Taylor Review of Rural Economy and Affordable Housing on allowing local planning committees to decide on change of use from local residency to holiday let or second home. [76068]
Robert Neill [holding answer 21 October 2011]: The Government response to the Taylor Review was published under the last Administration. That response stated:
“The Government does not agree that it is appropriate or desirable to seek to limit the occupation or ownership of second homes.”
The Community Right to Build Order set out in the Localism Bill will contribute to affordable housing in rural areas. It will allow communities to take forward small-scale development on a specific site so long as the proposal has received majority support in a community referendum.