Landlords
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information he holds on the effectiveness of landlord accreditation schemes. [76046]
Grant Shapps: The Department does not hold information on the effectiveness of landlord accreditation schemes which are set up and run by local authorities. Local authorities are best placed to judge the needs and priorities of their own area and the effectiveness of local schemes. Information about schemes is also available from ANUK (Accreditation Network-UK) which was formed to publicise, promote and share good practice in accreditation.
Metals: Theft
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has issued guidance to local authorities on dealing with metal theft. [73150]
Robert Neill: DCLG does not issue any guidance to local authorities on dealing with metal theft. Guidance issued to address metal theft would be most associated with the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 and this policy rests with the Home Office.
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The Government recognise the severity of metal theft and the damage it causes to communities and businesses across the UK. It is clear that metal theft is a growing problem for many communities, and local authorities themselves are often victims from metal theft, in particular, with the theft of street furniture.
Discussions are now taking place across Government Departments to identify whether any legislative changes should be made to the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 in order to address this.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the mortgage rescue scheme; how many successful applications there have been since its inception; and what proportion of all applications this figure represents. [76035]
Grant Shapps: The Government Mortgage Rescue Scheme is designed to be an option of last resort for vulnerable homeowners who are at risk of repossession and homelessness. The Government reviewed the scheme in July 2010, and again in February 2011, and made changes to improve the value for money by reducing unit costs to ensure that the scheme can help as many households as possible.
I refer my hon. Friend to the National Audit Office report of May 2011 (HC 1030, 2010-12) which was critical of the scheme that was introduced by the last Government, for not delivering value for money. Such criticisms vindicate the decision of the new administration to reform and improve the scheme.
Mortgage Rescue Scheme statistics published in May 2011 and covering the period up to the end of March 2011 show that 2,621 households have completed the process to remain in their home. These published statistics also show that almost 39,000 households had received free advice from their local authority about their mortgage difficulties.
The Homes and Communities Agency will publish the Scheme statistics for the period April to September 2011 in November. These will show the latest number of cases referred from providers (lead Housing Associations) and the number of cases which have led to completion.
Non-domestic Rates
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what definition of disproportionate benefit he plans to use when recouping business rates from local authorities as proposed in his Department's consultation on retention of business rates. [76612]
Robert Neill: The Government's proposals for business rates retention sought views on how a levy on disproportionate benefit might be calculated in order to help provide a safety net to protect authorities that see significant negative volatility in their business rates income. The consultation, which closes on 24 October, proposed three options. The Government will consider responses to that consultation before deciding how to take forward the proposals.
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Planning Permission
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure that the national planning policy framework (1) meets the development needs of people, the environment and the economy; [73709]
(2) requires developers to take into consideration the effects of planning proposals on (a) communities, (b) nature and (c) the landscape. [73710]
Greg Clark: The draft National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. It states that, for the planning system, delivering sustainable development means building a strong, responsive competitive economy; promoting strong, vibrant and healthy communities; and protecting and enhancing our natural, built and historic environment. These three components should be pursued in an integrated way, looking for solutions that achieve multiple goals.
The draft framework also states that, when determining planning applications, local planning authorities should aim to conserve and enhance biodiversity. Planning permission should be refused for development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats, unless the need for, and benefits of, the development in that location clearly outweigh the loss. If significant harm resulting from a development cannot be avoided, adequately mitigated, or, as a last resort, compensated for, then planning permission should be refused.
Property Development: Floods
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will assess the merits of including internal drainage boards and water utility companies in North East Cambridgeshire as statutory consultees when assessing flooding risk associated with planning development. [76182]
Robert Neill [holding answer 21 October 2011]: The Department have no plans at present to amend the statutory consultation arrangements for planning applications, as set out in the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2010, to require consultation with drainage boards and water utility companies on planning applications.
The Government expect local planning authorities to work with infrastructure providers from an early stage in the local plan process to ensure that they are actively involved in shaping its proposals. Drainage boards and utility companies may also wish to work with local authorities to identify individual planning applications where consultation with drainage boards and water utility companies would be beneficial.
Rights of Way
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his proposals under the National Planning Policy Framework recognise public rights of way; how such rights of way will be enforced under the Framework; and if he will make a statement. [75740]
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Greg Clark: Paragraph 128 of the draft framework states that planning policies should protect and enhance rights of way and access. We are currently considering responses to the consultation on the draft framework before this is finalised.
Private Sector Rented Property
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to protect tenants in respect of (a) private rented sector landlords and (b) estate agents who are found to be in breach of his Department's guidance on the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants. [75659]
Grant Shapps: My Department's guidance on the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants reflects the existing legislative framework which already contains safeguards for tenants where landlords or agents fail in their responsibilities.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to promote his Department's guidance on the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants among (a) landlords, (b) tenants and (c) estate agents in the private rented sector; and if he will make a statement. [75660]
Grant Shapps: My Department recently published fact sheets providing basic guidance on rights and responsibilities for both tenants and landlords on the departmental website:
www.communities.gov.uk
The fact sheets have been promoted to a range of industry and consumer groups, and we are encouraged to see that they are being well used. Where appropriate, landlords, tenants and agents are also directed to the fact sheets in all correspondence between my Department and the general public.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 13 September 2011, Official Report, column 1089W, on consumers, what support his Department offers to (a) blind and partially-sighted tenants and (b) tenants with a disability to make them aware of the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants; and if he will make a statement. [75978]
Grant Shapps: My Department's fact sheets for landlords and tenants were published on the departmental website:
www.communities.gov.uk
which complies with the Worldwide Web Consortium's (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. The Department's published documents are always available in alternative formats—Braille, large print, easy read, British Sign Language and audio versions can all be provided on request.
Guidance for landlords and tenants is also available on the Government website Directgov, which is an accessible website. Details can be obtained from:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Hl1/Help/Accessibility/DG_10016906
Directgov's content is written for a reading age of nine which aids understanding for those with learning difficulties.
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Transport
Air Travel Organisers' Licensing Reform
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when she plans to publish her Department’s response to the consultation on Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing reform; [73941]
(2) how many responses her Department received in the consultation on Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing reform; [73942]
(3) how many representations received during the consultation process on Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing reform expressed concern about the date by which the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing certificate would be implemented. [73944]
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the likely roll-out time for the proposed ATOL certificate. [74094]
Mrs Villiers: The Department received over 80 formal responses to the recent consultation on proposals for reform of the Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (ATOL) scheme.
After considering the consultation responses I plan to announce the decisions for the way forward for ATOL reform, including the timing of implementation. This announcement will be made later in the autumn.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the level of consumer awareness of the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing scheme. [73946]
Mrs Villiers: The Department has not conducted any research specifically into consumer awareness of the current Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing scheme.
However, the 2011 ABTA Consumers Trends Survey showed that 74% of people believe that ATOL financial protection is ‘essential or important’ when booking a holiday.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she proposes to widen the scope of the air travel organisers’ licensing scheme to flight and hotel holidays sold by airlines. [73949]
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects to bring forward legislation on including holidays sold by airlines within a scheme of financial protection. [74088]
Mrs Villiers: The ATOL reform consultation, which took place between 23 June and 15 September 2011, asked whether airline holiday sales should be brought under the protection of the Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (ATOL) scheme. To do so would require new primary legislation. We are analysing the responses and plan to announce the decision on this later in the autumn.
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she plans to publish details on the information required on an ATOL certificate. [74093]
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Mrs Villiers: The information requirements for the ATOL certificate are being decided through consultation with the Civil Aviation Authority's ATOL Certificate Working Group, which includes members of the travel industry. The CAA will publish full details on the appearance and content of the ATOL certificate later in the autumn.
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she plans to exempt business travel from the reformed ATOL scheme; and if she will make a statement. [74097]
Mrs Villiers: The Government consulted on proposed reforms to the Air Travel Organisers Licensing (ATOL) scheme between 23 June and 15 September 2011. The treatment of business travel under the proposed reforms is an issue mentioned in a number of consultation responses.
I am currently considering all the responses and plan to make an announcement on the way forward with the reforms later in the autumn.
Air Travel Trust Fund
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what date she expects the Air Travel Trust Fund to return to surplus. [74092]
Mrs Villiers: The Air Travel Trust Fund (ATTF) meets the costs of refunds and repatriation assistance provided to the consumers of insolvent businesses under the Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (ATOL) scheme.
The Civil Aviation Authority run the ATOL scheme and believes that the ATTF should return to surplus within three years of the introduction of the proposed reforms which were recently consulted on by the Government. The actual timing depends on factors such as the cost of future insolvencies of ATOL licensed businesses and the Fund's income, both of which are difficult to predict with certainty.
Aviation
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timetable she has established for the commencement of pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Aviation Bill. [74096]
Mrs Villiers: As the then Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), set out in his statements to the House on 21 July 2010, Official Report, columns 20-22WS and 3 March 2011, Official Report, column 42WS, we plan to introduce legislation early in the next session to reform the existing statutory framework for regulation at designated airports. We intend to publish draft legislation later this year. Further details will be announced in due course.
Aviation: Tickets
Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations she has received on (a) the legality of downgrading customers if a commercial flight is oversold and (b) the appropriateness of a statutory obligation to provide 75% compensation; [75546]
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(2) whether she has considered steps to tackle overselling on commercial flights. [75547]
Mrs Villiers: Overbooking is a widespread practice among full-service scheduled airlines. In the comparatively small proportion of cases where an airline denies passengers boarding against their will, EC Regulation 261/2004 requires air carriers to provide prescribed minimum levels of financial compensation, in addition to offering passengers a choice between re-routeing and reimbursement. These rules are enforced by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Channel Tunnel Railway Line: Freight
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department is taking steps to increase the volume of rail freight that can be transported between Britain and Europe via the channel tunnel. [76483]
Mrs Villiers: UK channel tunnel freight paths became open access in 2006 and Eurotunnel subsequently agreed lower rates for rail freight. These initiatives have increased the number of rail freight services through the channel tunnel, some of which are operated by new open access operators. The continued development of rail freight through channel tunnel is a matter for the private sector operators.
Civil Aviation Authority
Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Civil Aviation Authority. [75545]
Mrs Villiers: Ministers and officials at the Department meet the Civil Aviation Authority regularly to discuss a range of issues including its duties and performance. There have been a number of changes to the CAA's internal arrangements following the report of the independent strategic review undertaken by Sir Joseph Pilling in 2008. Other reforms would require primary legislation.
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Olympic Games 2012
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many additional vehicles her Department expects will use the Dartford Crossing during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games; and what plans she has to manage the change in the number of such vehicles. [75850]
Mrs Villiers: The Department does not anticipate significant increases in traffic volumes at the Dartford-Thurrock river during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.
The transport strategy for the 2012 games promotes the use of public transport and the Highways Agency is working closely with the Olympic Delivery Authority on the delivery of that strategy.
The plans for spectator transport include the provision of strategic park and ride sites either side of the crossing at Lakeside and Ebbsfleet—the latter providing a connection to the nearby Javelin rail shuttle from Ebbsfleet International station.
The crossing forms part of the ‘alternative’ section of the Olympic Route Network and as such will be used by
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vehicles transporting athletes, officials and the media in the event that the main core and venue routes are not available for any reason.
East Coast Railway Line
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the annual cost has been to Directly Operated Railways of operating the East Coast mainline rail franchise; and how much was paid in subsidies to National Express in each year that it held the East Coast rail franchise. [76486]
Mrs Villiers: The cost to Directly Operated Railways (DOR) of providing management services to the East Coast Main Line Company Ltd is set out in DOR's annual report and accounts. These are available on the company's website at:
www.directlyoperatedrailways.co.uk
No subsidy was paid to National Express during the period that the company held the East Coast rail franchise
Great Western Railway Line
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to her Department's announcement of 14 July 2011, what the monetary value is of each project that forms part of her plans for the Great Western Main Line; and what the completion date is for each such project. [76597]
Mrs Villiers: The Government have committed to funding a significant upgrade of the Great Western Main Line between now and 2019.
Doubling of the Swindon to Kemble line will be complete by 2015 at a cost of £45 million. Reading station improvements will be delivered by 2015 at a cost of £850 million. Electrification will be ready for passenger service by 2017 at a cost of £1 billion.
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Mr Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to ensure that High Speed 2 will be used at maximum capacity from its first day of operation. [75197]
Justine Greening: We anticipate that demand for HS2 would be likely to continue to grow in the years after the line opens. Therefore, it is important to provide additional capacity at opening in order to accommodate this build-up. If, following my decisions later this year, the project is progressed, we will seek to ensure HS2 is designed so as to maximise its attractiveness to passengers.
Mr Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many services she expects to run in each direction on High Speed 2 per (a) hour and (b) day on its first day of operation. [75206]
Justine Greening: Phase 1 of the proposed HS2 network, from London to the West Midlands, would operate with up to 14 trains per hour in each direction at peak times and 10 during off peak periods. Indicative timetables are set out in the “Technical Appendix”, at
http://www.dft.gov.uk/topics/high-speed-rail/key-facts/
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High Speed 2 Railway Line: Finance
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will estimate the saving on the costs of the HS2 project which would arise if the tunnel from Old Oak Common to Euston and the infrastructure and building works at Euston were omitted. [75501]
Justine Greening [holding answer 19 October 2011]: Appendix C of HS2 Ltd’s 2009 Cost and Risk Model shows an indicative breakdown of costs for different sections of the route, including the route from Old Oak Common to Euston, and the works that would be required at Euston station. This can be found at:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.dft. gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedrail/hs2ltd/riskmodel/pdf/report.pdf
London and South Eastern Railway: Rolling Stock
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport from which companies the London and South Eastern Railway and its predecessor franchisees have leased rolling stock; how many and what types of rolling stock have been leased; and what the costs of such leasing has been in each year since 1994. [75868]
Mrs Villiers: Information on the numbers and different types of rolling stock leased by train companies, and from whom, is in the public domain. For example, the Rail Guide 2011 produced by Ian Allan Publishing.
Leasing costs are commercially sensitive. Inquiries on this subject should be directed to the rolling stock owners and train operators.
Motorways: Speed Limits
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will withdraw her Department's proposals to increase the speed limit on motorways to 80 miles per hour. [75875]
Mike Penning [holding answer 20 October 2011]: On 3 October 2011, the then Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), announced his intention to consult on raising the national speed limit on motorways from 70 mph to 80 mph. The Government plan to launch a full public consultation on the issue later this year with a view to implementing any change in early 2013.
Railways
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department is taking to support the domestic (a) train manufacturing industry and its supply chain and (b) onshore engineering skills. [75234]
Mrs Villiers: This Government have secured funding for a major programme of capacity enhancement for both National Rail and the London Underground. Moreover the Government are reforming the franchise system which is likely to lead to more train operators procuring new rolling stock. These are major opportunities for the train manufacturing industry and its associated supply chain, which will see around 2700 new carriages on the national rail network by 2019.
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Moreover as part of our growth review the Government are examining issues around the approach taken in the UK to EU procurement rules. This is to compare our approach to that of other member states. We are looking at whether current procurement practice makes the best use of the rules. We are considering whether any changes should be made to place a sharper focus on the UK's strategic interests. The review is also looking at how the Government can support train manufacturing and related supply chain businesses and ensure that when they compete for work they are doing it on an equal footing with their overseas competitors.
Railways: Fares
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average fare was for a standard class passenger rail ticket between London and Edinburgh in each year since 1997. [75786]
Mrs Villiers: The Department does not hold this information, however the present range of fares for the main ticket categories are set out as follows.
| £ | ||
| Fare Type | Minimum | Maximum |
Typically over 90% of the longest distance rail journeys such as Edinburgh to London are made using discounted tickets. Under 5% of these longer journeys are made using anytime return tickets. The super off peak return between Edinburgh and London is a regulated fare. The full list and present prices of all these fares is available on the National Rail enquiries website.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions her Department has had with train operating companies regarding the length of time that can be defined as peak hour when setting fare prices. [76493]
Mrs Villiers: The length of time that can be defined as peak is set out in franchise agreements for regulated fares.
It is up to train operators to work within the regulations when setting their peak time. Peak restrictions on unregulated fares are for train operators to determine.
Railways: Overcrowding
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent measures she has considered to alleviate passenger overcrowding and passenger standing on rail services. [74101]
Mrs Villiers: This Government have committed to a major new programme of introducing additional carriages across the most crowded parts of the rail network by March 2014 to meet the growing, demand from passengers.
Looking beyond 2014, Thameslink and Crossrail routes have been funded with a commitment to electric new trains, releasing the existing electric trains for further
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use. By the end of this decade we will have added around 2,700 new carriages to the rail network, of which around 1,800 will be additional capacity. However, passenger growth is forecast to continue and that is why we are considering the case for a new high speed railway for the next decade.
Railways: Safety
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department is taking to improve (a) passenger safety at rail stations and (b) safety at railway level crossings following the Office of Rail Regulation's Health and Safety report 2011. [76482]
Mrs Villiers: Safety and the reduction of risks, so far as is reasonably practicable, at both stations and level crossings is the responsibility of the relevant duty holder such as the station or infrastructure operator.
This is a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work 1974. Compliance is both monitored and enforced by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). The ORR noted the measures being taken by duty holders with regard to station and level crossing safety in their 2011 Health and Safety Report.
Separately the Department runs the Secure Stations Scheme. Over the past 13 years this scheme has put in place a best practice programme aimed at enhancing passenger safety at railway stations through security improvements. There are currently 1,263 accredited Secure Stations across the railway network.
Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment she has made of the merits of establishing separate incentive schemes for biodiesel and ethanol under the renewable transport fuel obligation; [73028]
(2) what representations she has received on the merits of establishing separate incentive schemes for biodiesel and ethanol under the renewable transport fuel obligation; [73029]
(3) how she plans to mitigate the effects of fluctuations in certificate prices under the renewable transport fuel obligation on the sustainable biodiesel industry; [73030]
(4) how she plans to encourage obligated fuel suppliers to meet their renewable transport fuel obligation from biodiesel produced in the UK. [73031]
Norman Baker: The Department received representations on a number of issues related to the renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) during consultations on the renewable energy directive (RED). These included suggestions that the RTFO should distinguish between bioethanol and biodiesel, arguing that if it did, this might provide a mechanism to drive equal demand for both products. The suggestion has been taken into account through the consultation exercise.
The RTFO is a mechanism designed to reduce carbon emissions and promote the supply of sustainable biofuels. It does not seek to direct the market towards a particular biofuel product or method of production.
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In respect of future incentives under the RTFO and assessments of the adequacy of that mechanism in driving a market for renewable transport fuels in the UK, I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to him on 5 July 2011, Official Report, columns 1172-3W.
In the consultation on proposals to implement the RED we proposed to provide additional support to waste-derived biofuels under an amended renewable transport fuel obligation. We expect to publish a Government response soon setting out both our plans and the timeline for implementation.
Trams: Level Crossings
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of the implications of the Law Commission review of level crossing legislation for the scope of heavy rail level crossing requirements to tramways. [76543]
Mrs Villiers: The Law Commission will present their formal recommendations from their review to the Department during 2012. At that time the Department will consider all of the Law Commissions' final recommendations, including those on tramways.
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when her Department plans to publish the (a) environmental and (b) equality impact assessment in respect of its proposals for the VOSA Testing Transformation Project. [74090]
Mike Penning: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) completed a generic equality impact assessment (EIA) for the station closure element of the Testing Transformation Programme (TTP) as part of the formation of the TTP business case which received final approval in July 2010. The TTP business case included an assessment of the environmental impact of the project, no separate environmental impact assessment was completed.
It is not our intention to publish this business case or the original (2009) impact assessment.
Once a site has been identified for closure, a more specific EIA is completed by the local management team, including action plans for the resolution of issues. These are living documents, addressing staff and customer issues, which will continue to evolve as the closure process progresses.
We are currently redesigning the generic assessment to take account of emerging guidance on new requirements, and will re-work all ‘live’ EIAs to take account of this advice. As they may contain specific and personal information (e.g. on individual members of staff), we have no plans to publish these EIAs, but they will be owned by local managers, and monitored centrally to ensure action plans address issues raised.
West Coast Railway Line
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many full-time equivalent staff in her Department are working on the negotiations with Virgin Rail Group on the extension of the Intercity West Coast rail franchise. [76484]
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Mrs Villiers: Approximately three full-time members of Department for Transport staff are working on the negotiations with Virgin Rail Group. However, this varies slightly from time to time.
Energy and Climate Change
Departmental Billing
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 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. [74978]
Gregory Barker: The cost of processing an invoice through our outsourced service provider is estimated at £33 per invoice. 99% of payments are made electronically and 1% by cheque.
Official Visits
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department visited Israel on official business in each month since May 2010; what future visits to Israel are planned by (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in his Department in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [R] [74708]
Gregory Barker: [holding answer 17 October 2011]: There have been no such meetings held since May 2010 and none are currently planned.
Press: Subscriptions
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on newspapers, periodicals and trade profession magazines in 2010-11. [74999]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change spent £80,200 on its press cuttings service during 2011-12. The Department does not record expenditure on newspapers, periodicals and trade profession magazines separately from overall expenditure on publications which includes the cost of the Department's own publications as well as purchased publications of all types. It would incur disproportionate costs to scrutinise all publication transactions to identify relevant amounts.
Ministerial Meetings
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will publish the (a) dates, (b) attendees and (c) agendas of meetings attended by the (i) Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, (ii) Minister of State for Climate Change, (iii) Minister of State for Energy and (iv) Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State between 10 October and 16 October 2011. [76610]
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Gregory Barker: Details of meetings between DECC Ministers and external organisations are published quarterly on the DECC website. It has been the practice of successive Administrations not to release details of internal meetings.
Electricity Market Reform
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many staff in his Department have been seconded from energy consultancies to assist with preparation of proposals on electricity market reform; and which companies have provided such secondees. [75905]
Gregory Barker: Six members of staff have been seconded from the energy consultancies identified to assist with preparation of proposals on electricity market reform:
Poyry Management Consulting
Deloitte
Bain and Company
Bright Futures NZ Ltd
Xero Energy
Electricity: Prices
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what information his Department holds on the number of prepayment meter customers who owe more than £200 to their existing supplier and are unable to switch electricity suppliers; [75409]
(2) what information his Department holds on recent trends in the number of prepayment meter customers who owe more than £200 to their supplier. [75410]
Charles Hendry: This Department does not hold the information requested. Ofgem monitors and publishes information about the number of prepayment meter customers repaying a debt (External Data Report Q1 2011). The data does not give details of the actual amount of debt repaid. During 2010, an average of 0.4 million (10%) of electricity prepayment customers, and 0.3 million (12%) of gas prepayment customers repaid a debt.
Ministerial Meetings
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department last met representatives of the Government of Israel; what issues were discussed; and if he will make a statement. [R] [74710]
Gregory Barker: [holding answer 17 October 2011]: There have been no such meetings.
North Sea Oil
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 18 July 2011, Official Report, column 685W, on North Sea oil, whether he plans to send a representative to the first meeting of the Arctic Council's Oil Spill Response Taskforce; and if he will make a statement. [76702]
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Charles Hendry: As a non-Arctic country, we only have observer status on the Arctic Council and therefore have neither representation on their working groups nor a role in determining their policies. However we keep in close touch with the Council, both to learn from their experiences and, where it is welcomed, to offer our advice.
Nuclear Installations
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a) resources and facilities and (b) co-ordination and control in respect of clean-up and recovery in the event of a major accident at a UK civil nuclear installation. [75027]
Charles Hendry: The lead UK Government Department dealing with recovery in the event of a major civil nuclear accident in England is the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). In Wales, it is the Welsh Assembly Government, in Scotland, the Scottish Government, and in Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Executive. The Government Decontamination Service also would play a key role across the UK during the recovery from such an incident, while local authorities and their resilience forums would collaborate with relevant Government Departments and agencies during this phase.
Proper attention has been given to the identification of the necessary resources and facilities required should the unlikely event of an emergency occur involving a nuclear installation. The National Recovery Guidance has been developed in line with and following the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 definitions. This national guidance was produced in 2007 by the National Recovery Working Group, commissioned by Ministers. New material is added to the guidance regularly as new information and guidance becomes available.
As part of the Department's ongoing assessment and enhancement of the emergency planning and response to such incidents, we are working closely with DEFRA and other partners across Government on issues relating to the transition from the response to the recovery phase.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the report by HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations, September 2011, paragraph 490, on what dates and in which nuclear installations nuclear accident exercise scenarios have been extended to encompass severe accidents in order to facilitate training in Severe Accident Guidelines. [75031]
Charles Hendry: The two instances where exercise scenarios were extended into severe accident territory (paragraph 491 of the report by HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations) were as follows:
Exercise Madonna took place in 1997 at Heysham Power Station. The scenario was based on the findings from the Hinkley Point C public inquiry, which recommended that a "beyond design basis accident" scenario should be adopted that would help to improve the ability of the police and the county emergency planning department.
Exercise Isis took place in May 2002 at Bradwell Power Station, and was conducted following 9/11. It tested a scenario significantly beyond the design basis and involved participation by all the
24 Oct 2011 : Column 78W
major organisations with an interest at both local and national level. The exercise was successful and showed that detailed plans could be extended to deal with larger events.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when the adequacy of arrangements for the pre-distribution of potassium iodate tablets to residents within the detailed emergency planning zone around nuclear installations was last reviewed; and what plans he has to undertake a future review. [75032]
Charles Hendry: The adequacy of arrangements for the pre-distribution of potassium iodate tablets to residents within the detailed emergency planning zone around nuclear installations, are being reviewed as part of the work undertaken by Department of the Energy and Climate Change on the UK's national nuclear emergency arrangements.
The distribution of iodate tablets in the vicinity of a licensed nuclear site is a matter for the site operator in liaison with the relevant regulators and health authorities.
Renewable Energy
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he proposes that local authorities will be restricted in how revenue generated through the sale of electricity to the Grid may be spent. [75230]
Charles Hendry: How local authorities spend revenue generated through the sale of electricity is determined by existing rules governing local authority expenditure.
Scottish Power: Carbon Sequestration
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects the contract to be signed with the Scottish Power consortium for the first carbon capture and storage demonstration project. [73955]
Charles Hendry: The Government announced on 19 October that a decision has been made not to proceed with the proposed CCS demonstration project at Longannet. The Government remain firmly committed to CCS. There are a number of promising CCS projects proposed in England and Scotland and we expect to commence a more streamlined selection process as soon as possible. The £l billion made available for the first project will be set aside for this new process.
Sellafield
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much has been spent on security at Sellafield in (a) 2011-12 to date and (b) each of the last five years. [76434]
Charles Hendry: DECC keeps security arrangements under constant review as part of a continuous process to ensure existing arrangements are robust and effective. For reasons of security, we do not comment on the detail of operational security matters at individual civil nuclear sites.
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Education
Academies
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what assessment he has made of the performance of each academy sponsor; and if he will make a statement; [75252]
(2) what assessment he has made of the performance of each academy sponsor; and if he will make a statement. [76712]
Mr Gibb: Section 11 of the Academies Act 2010 places a duty on the Secretary of State to publish an annual report containing information on academy arrangements entered into during the year, and the performance of academies during the year. We intend to publish the first annual report in spring 2012 and this will set out our assessment of the progress made by academies and free schools.
Academies: Free Schools
Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of small schools that will become (a) academies and (b) free schools. [74073]
Mr Gibb: We have made no estimate of the number of small schools that will be established as free schools or become academies; this number will depend on the level of demand.
Academies: Kent
Gareth Johnson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education which primary schools he expects to become
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academies in
(a)
Kent and
(b)
Dartford constituency in the 2011-12 academic year. [74758]
Mr Gibb: As of 13 October 2011, four primary schools in the Dartford constituency have been issued with an academy order: Wentworth primary school, Joydens Wood infant school, Joydens Wood junior school and Wilmington primary school. Milestone school is an all-through school and has also received an academy order. A further 21 primary schools have been issued with academy orders in Kent, 11 of which have already opened as academies. The issuing of an academy order sets an expectation that the school will convert to academy status; however it does not set a specific date for conversion.
York Road junior school and language unit in Dartford and Bell Wood primary and Oak Trees community school, elsewhere in Kent, are in the process of becoming sponsored academies in the academic year 2011-12.
Full details of schools that have formally applied for academy status, as well as a list of academies that have opened in the academic year 2010/11 can be found on the Department for Education Academies website at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/a0069811/schools-submitting-applications-and-academies-that-have-opened-in-201011
Academies: Nottinghamshire
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what budget his Department has allocated to academy schools in Nottinghamshire for 2011-12. [73027]
Mr Gibb: The following table sets out the funding allocated to academies in Nottinghamshire from September 2011 to August 2012. Further funding will be allocated to any new academy opening in this period.
| Academy | Open date | Funding allocated August 2011 to September 2012 (1 ) (£) |
| (1) Includes: School Budget Share; Mainstreamed Grants; LACSEG; Rates; Devolved Teacher Threshold; Post-16 Funding | ||
Free Schools: Pensions
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education in respect of how many free schools support staff have access to the Local Government Pension Scheme. [75778]
Mr Gibb: All free schools are under a statutory duty to ensure that all the non-teaching staff they employ are provided with access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
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Free Schools: West London
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will (a) place in the Library and (b) publish the funding agreement for the West London Free School. [74004]
Mr Gibb: The funding agreement for West London Free School will be published on the Department's website in due course. We have no plans to place free schools’ or academies’ funding agreements in the Library.
GCSE
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools were below the GCSE floor target in 2011; and what proportion of pupils achieved five GCSEs at A* to C, including English and mathematics in each such school. [75253]
Mr Gibb:
We do not yet have validated school level data to make an estimate of the number of schools
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below the key stage 4 floor standard in 2011. We expect this to be available in January 2012.
GCSE: Nottinghamshire
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what average GCSE grade students in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England received in each of the last five years. [73379]
Mr Gibb: We do not calculate an average GCSE grade, but we do calculate Average Points Scores (APS) based on the qualifications taken by pupils until the end of key stage 4 (this is typically when the pupil is aged 15 at the start of the academic year). For example a GCSE Grade C is worth 40 points. The qualifications included in the APS are GCSEs and other qualifications considered to be equivalent, such as BTECs—the uncapped point score counts points from all such qualifications taken by pupils.
Information on this basis is shown in the following table:
| Average GCSE and equivalents point score for pupils at the end of key stage 4 for (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England. Years: 2006-10 (1,2) (final) | |||||
|
|
2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| (1 )Figures for 2010 include accredited iGCSEs. (2) Including attempts and achievements by these pupils in previous academic years. (3) Figures for Ashfield and Nottinghamshire do not include pupils recently arrived from overseas. (4) Figures for Ashfield and Nottinghamshire include all maintained schools (including CTCs and academies). (5) England averages also include independent schools as well as hospital schools and PRUs. Source: 2006-10 Secondary School Performance Tables and National Pupil Database | |||||
Sex Education
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what guidance his Department issues to schools about the type of (a) material and (b) publications relating to sex and relationships education in school libraries; what recent representations he has received from parents about the type of material placed in school libraries on such matters; and if he will make a statement; [R] [74683]
(2) whether his Department has funded the Christopher Winter Project in 2011-12; how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each local education authority area use materials produced by the Christopher Winter Project; and if he will make a statement; [R] [74680]
(3) if he will bring forward proposals to require the head teacher of a (a) primary and (b) secondary school to show parents upon request the material used in their school to teach sex and relationships education; what recent representations he has received on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [R] [74687]
Mr Gibb: The Department does not issue guidance on the type of material or publications relating to sex and relationships education being deposited in school libraries. We have not had representations from parents about the type of material being placed in school libraries on any matters.
The Department's existing guidance on “Sex and Relationship Education” states that materials used in schools must be in accordance with the law. Schools should ensure that pupils are protected from materials which are inappropriate, having regard to the age and cultural background of the pupils concerned.
The Department for Education has not provided any funding to the Christopher Winter Project. We understand that the programme is being used in a number of schools but the Department does not hold information about which schools are doing so.
We are currently reviewing personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education which includes sex and relationships education (SRE). While we do not propose to change legislation in respect of sex education as a result of the review, we will be looking at simplifying the current departmental guidance on SRE. We have received representations, in the form of correspondence sent to the Department, that some parents have concerns about materials used in primary schools. The current guidance, to which all schools providing SRE must have regard, emphasises the need for schools to work with parents when developing their programmes.
Ultimately it is for schools to decide on what is taught and how it is taught. They should ensure that pupils are protected from teaching and materials which are inappropriate, having regard to the age, maturity and cultural background of the pupils concerned.
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Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the effect of sex and relationships education on pupils aged seven to 11 years of age; and if he will make a statement. [R] [74684]
Mr Gibb: Ofsted produced a report on the teaching of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, which includes sex and relationships education, in July 2010. They found that sex and relationships education was taught less well than other elements of PSHE in both primary and secondary schools. Inspectors said
‘The picture in the primary schools visited was variable in terms of pupils' age-appropriate understanding of sex and relationships education’.
The Department is reviewing PSHE, and will be looking at its current guidance on sex and relationships education as part of the review.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what evidence his Department has gathered on the effects of sex and relationships education in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools on the number of teenage pregnancies; and if he will make a statement. [R] [74686]
Sarah Teather: The under 18 conception rate in England is declining and is at the lowest level for nearly 30 years. It is not possible to identify a causal link between sex and relationships education in primary or secondary schools and England's reduction in teenage pregnancies. However, international evidence and lessons from local areas where teenage pregnancy rates have fallen fastest, indicate that in order to avoid teenage pregnancies, young people need:
a comprehensive programme of SRE, which: promotes the benefits of delaying first sex; provides young people with the knowledge and skills to resist pressure from peers and the media; and informs them about contraception, so that they can avoid unplanned pregnancies and STIs when they do become sexually active; combined with
access to young people-centred contraceptive and sexual health (CASH) services, in locations and at times that fit with young people's lives; and which offer the full range of contraceptive options, including long-acting contraceptive methods.
We still have high teenage pregnancy rates compared with many other western European countries. Local areas should maintain their efforts to reduce teenage pregnancy rates further as part of their ambition to tackle child poverty and health inequalities, and to learn from those areas which have achieved significant reductions. We will be saying more about this in the forthcoming Positive for Youth Policy Document and the Sexual Health Policy Document.
Postgraduate Education: Finance
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the (a) minimum and (b) maximum bursary is for PGCE students starting in (i) September 2011, (ii) 2012, (iii) 2013, (iv) 2014 and (v) 2015; and what criteria are applied to the awarding of such bursaries. [75737]
Mr Gibb:
Details of the training bursary arrangements for PGCE trainees starting courses in September 2011 were announced by the Department on 31 January 2011
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and set out in a letter from the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), to the Chief Executive of the Training and Development Agency for Schools on the same date. The letter confirmed that in 2011/12 £9,000 bursaries are available for PGCE trainees in mathematics, physics, chemistry and engineering while those on biology, combined/general science and modern foreign languages courses can receive £6,000 bursaries. All PGCE students can apply for the same student support as undergraduate students, including maintenance loans and means-tested grants.
The cost of providing bursaries for postgraduate trainees that started courses in September 2010 is £151.3 million. The cost of providing bursaries for postgraduate trainees that started courses in September 2011 is £59.5 million.
Our discussion document “Training our next generation of outstanding teachers” sets out proposals for reforming initial teacher training, including providing bursaries designed to make training to teach more attractive to the most talented graduates, especially in shortage subjects, from 2012/13. The proposals set out a bursary rate of between £4,000 and £20,000 depending on the degree classification of the trainee and the subject specialism or phase of the postgraduate course. We expect to announce the final arrangements for 2012/13 shortly. The bursaries will continue to be adjusted regularly according to the size of the pool of potential teachers and the demand from schools for new teachers.
Pupils: Per Capita Costs
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average budget per student is in maintained schools in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England. [75435]
Mr Gibb: Figures are not available for the parliamentary constituency of Ashfield as data are collected at a local authority level. The available information on the average budget per student in maintained schools in Nottinghamshire local authority and England is shown in the following table:
| Average budget share per pupil by phase of education for 2011-12 | ||
| £ | ||
|
|
Nottinghamshire | England |
Schools: Armed Forces
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that military families are not disadvantaged by the schools admission code. [74055]
Mr Gibb:
We are determined that those who serve in the armed forces, and their families, should not be disadvantaged when they seek to secure a school place for their children. That is why we consulted upon reforms to the admissions code that would allow admission
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authorities to include the children of service families as an exception to the infant class size regulations. We have also changed the code to require local authorities and admission authorities to treat a service family as resident in their area as soon as proof of posting has been provided. In addition, we intend to remove the requirement that local authorities manage the processing of in-year applications, which would capture many service families. Instead, these families will be supported through information and paperwork by the local authority to enable them to apply directly to the schools in their area. This should mean a faster outcome for those parents in finding a place for their child than at present.
Subject to the parliamentary process, we expect the new admissions and appeals codes to come into force in February 2012 and to take full effect on applications for the September 2013 intake onwards.
Deputy Prime Minister
Ministerial Meetings
Mr Thomas: To ask the Deputy 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. [75705]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I have had many meetings with a range of organisations in the last 17 months. Details of my meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis with those for June 2011 to be published shortly.
Electoral Registration
Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the potential for co-operation between the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Identity and Passport Service, Royal Mail and electoral registration officers on steps to increase the level of electoral registration; and if he will make a statement. [75897]
Mr Harper: The Government are assessing a range of measures they believe have potential to support the introduction of individual electoral registration and improve the completeness and accuracy of the electoral register.
The Government are currently running 22 data matching schemes. These schemes enable the participating local authorities to test the usefulness of certain public authority databases, including those of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and Royal Mail, in improving the accuracy and completeness of the electoral register.
With the schemes still in progress and the outcomes of the Electoral Commission, Cabinet Office and local authority evaluations still some time away, it is too early to draw any conclusions about the potential usefulness to electoral registration officers of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and Royal Mail databases. Support from the Identity and Passport Service in the introduction of individual electoral registration is also being considered as part of the Cabinet Office's preparations.
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Business, Innovation and Skills
Bankruptcy
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) bankruptcy orders and (b) winding-up orders were made in each individual court in the five years up to 31 March 2011. [76133]
Mr Davey: The table, which will be placed in the Libraries of the House, provides a breakdown of the bankruptcy and winding up orders made in each individual court covering the period July 2008 until March 2011. Due to changes in the Insolvency Services IT systems no data (split by the court in which the order was made) prior to this date are available.
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many bankruptcy restriction orders and undertakings were obtained in each of the last five financial years; and how many of them in each such year were obtained for (a) less than five years, (b) five to nine years and (c) over nine years. [76134]
Mr Davey: The Insolvency Service does not record the data requested broken down according to the periods specified. However, the data is recorded broken down according to similar periods and is provided in the following table.
| Bankruptcy restrictions by period | |||||
|
|
2006- 0 7 | 2007- 0 8 | 2008- 0 9 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
SMEs
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to promote the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises. [74730]
Mr Prisk: We are promoting growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in a number of ways:
We have introduced an extensive public thematic review of the existing stock of regulation through the Red Tape Challenge website, providing businesses with the opportunity to tell Government which regulations are working and which are not. From 3 to 19 October the spotlight is on employment-related law. Retail was the first theme to go live in early April, resulting in the removal or simplification of over half the 257 retail regulations.
We have introduced a moratorium exempting micro (fewer than 10 employees) and start-up businesses from new domestic regulation for three years from 1 April 2011.
From 2012, the qualifying period for unfair dismissals will be extended from 12 months to two years.
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Providing people with the advice and guidance they need to grow their business
We are transforming the way that we enable people to receive the information, advice and guidance they need to start and grow their business.
Our new approach to Government services and advice for business is based on:
digital services which provide the best advice available and accessible when businesses need them; and
advice provided by business people for business people, not by the public sector.
We have been working with the British Bankers Association (BBA) to launch:
www.mentorsme.co.uk
which provides a single, easy to use search engine to find organisations offering mentoring services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). And we are supporting a massive expansion of the number of mentors available to SMEs.
revamping the Business Link website:
www.businesslink.gov.uk
setting up a dedicated "My New Business" area on the website to provide training and information for those looking to start a business—with the best video and interactive advice produced by experts and available 24/7; and
setting up a new Business Coaching for Growth (BCG) programme to enable small businesses with high growth potential to realise their potential.
Export markets are vital to growth. Under this Government, UKTI has introduced a comprehensive offer for SMEs to help them export. This includes:
Passport to Export—is a trade development programme offering new and inexperienced exporters help and support to build the capability to start exporting proactively and make their first visit to an export market. Launched in 2001, it is delivered by International Trade Advisers (ITAs) in England and has helped around 14,000 SMEs.
Gateway to Global Growth—offers experienced SME exporters the opportunity to increase their exporting skills and awareness of what is on offer from UKTI and private sector suppliers. The aim is to help them enter more difficult markets or expand in existing ones. The approach is similar to Passport, but aimed at innovative SME exporters with two to 10 years' export experience, ready to widen and diversify their overseas business. It was launched in 2009 and nearly 3,000 companies had been signed on to the programme.
The Overseas Market Introduction Service—provides assistance for businesses of all sizes from posts overseas and is chargeable but at a subsidised rate. This is available to all sizes of companies but approximately 85% of users are SMEs.
Market Visit Support—provides assistance to new to export and/or new to market SMEs visiting overseas markets, individually or in groups as part of their trade development process.
The Export Marketing Research Scheme—run for UKTI by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), provides free advice for SMEs on marketing research and a limited amount of grant is available for approved marketing research projects for SMEs and trade associations.
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The Export Communications Review—also run for us by the BCC, provides SMEs with impartial and objective advice on language and cultural issues to help them improve their competitiveness in export markets.
Ensuring the flow of credit to viable SMEs is essential for supporting growth and is a core priority for this Government. The Government are providing a comprehensive package of support for small businesses, including:
Continuation of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme until 2014-15, providing up to £600 million of additional lending to around 6,000 viable SMEs in 2011 and, subject to demand, over £2 billion in total over the next four years.
A new Export Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme, providing up to £1 million of lending to support viable SME exporters who are unable to access a commercial loan. A six-month pilot scheme commenced in April 2011.
A bond support scheme available from participating banks, freeing up additional working capital.
A widening of the eligibility of the existing short-term credit insurance policy, the Export Insurance Policy, by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD).
An export working capital scheme, facilitating exporting firms' access to pre and post-shipment working capital finance for specific export contracts.
A foreign exchange credit support product, to share risk with banks on their credit exposure arising from the foreign exchange hedging contracts provided to SME exporters, where there is some other form of ECGD support.
Continuation of the Government's Enterprise Capital Funds programme, increasing our commitment by £200 million over the next four years, providing for more than £300 million of venture capital investment to address the equity gap for early stage innovative SMEs with the highest growth potential.
Encouraging Business Angel investment by reviewing the regulatory framework affecting angels and through the establishment of a new £50 million Business Angel Co-Investment Fund.
A £1.4 billion Regional Growth Fund operating across England from 2011 to 2014 to support projects and programmes that lever private sector investment creating economic growth and sustainable employment. It aims particularly to help those areas and communities currently dependent on the public sector to make the transition to sustainable private sector-led growth and prosperity.
Women in Business
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what support his Department provides specifically for women in business; [75808]
(2) what support his Department provides to women's business centres. [75809]
Mr Prisk: In the coalition agreement the Government made clear that they believe business is the driver of economic growth and innovation. This includes the need to take action to boost enterprise, including women's entrepreneurship.
The Government are committed to broadening the range of activities intended to promote enterprise and to ensuring that the needs of potential and actual women entrepreneurs are fully integrated into these activities. For example:
Challenging aspirations and capability—particularly seeking to embed enterprise awareness at an early age, as there is evidence that differences in enterprise aspiration between the genders start
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to open up early in secondary education. We will therefore support every school to give pupils meaningful enterprise experience by helping them develop and run their own business and we will ensure that every school and college has access to positive local role models and enterprise champions—including female entrepreneurs.
A new approach to Business Improvement—as part of our work to transform the way that we enable people to receive the information and advice they need to start and grow their business (including the updating of www.businesslink.gov.uk, and establishing a new national helpline, a comprehensive start-up service and a new Business Coaching for Growth service), we have paid particular attention to ensuring the services are accessible to women and are designed and presented in the right way for a female audience.
Improving the business environment and access to finance—the Government are taking a number of steps which will benefit women-led businesses as well as other businesses, including: delivering long-term certainty and stability in the tax system; reducing regulatory burdens; encouraging a world-class skills base; ensuring the financial sector can supply affordable credit to viable businesses; and encouraging more diverse sources of finance for SMEs, including where appropriate, access to equity finance.
This Department does not provide any financial assistance for women's business centres.
The Government want to engage with small businesses and entrepreneurs to help make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business, and make the next decade the most entrepreneurial and dynamic in Britain's history. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has therefore created the Entrepreneurs' Forum, to provide him with an informal and personal source of advice on business and enterprise policies. There are 17 entrepreneurs on the forum, the majority of whom are women.
Copyright
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects his proposed copyright small claims jurisdiction to be in place. [73525]
Mr Davey: The Government are examining the business case for the introduction of a small claims track in the patents county court. We intend to report on progress this autumn. Subject to an appropriate business case being established, the Government would look to implement the change as soon as possible thereafter, hopefully in 2012.
Credit
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the March 2010 guidance from the Office of Fair Trading on irresponsible lending on lender practice in the (a) mainstream personal credit and (b) sub-prime personal credit market. [75548]
Mr Davey:
The Irresponsible Lending Guidance is helping to raise standards in both the main stream and sub-prime sectors. For example, trade associations in both sectors have required their members to adopt practices and procedures that are compliant with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) guidance. However, OFT intelligence suggests that lenders in both sectors need to do more to fully meet the standards set out in the
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guidance—and where there is clear evidence that they don’t meet these standards and consumers may be adversely affected, the OFT does, and will continue to, take action against the businesses concerned. In line with a commitment given at the time that it published the Irresponsible Lending Guidance, the OFT expects to commence a review of business compliance with the guidance shortly.
Departmental Allowances
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much members of his departmental management board have claimed in expenses since May 2010. [74956]
Mr Davey: The Department publishes expenses claimed by all board members, in relation to their work for the departmental board as well as more generally, on its website. Quarterly updates covering the period from May 2010 to March 2011 are available at:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency/staff
Subsequent updates will be published in due course.
Departmental Manpower
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many civil servants work in his Department; and how many worked in his Department in (a) 2000, (b) 2005, (c) 2007 and (d) 2010. [76390]
Mr Davey: In June 2009 the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) was merged with The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) to create The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Therefore we only have access to data from this date.
Our latest return to the Office for National Statistics shows that as at the end of September 2011 we employed 2,958 staff. In March 2010 we employed 3,728 staff. Please note these figures include UKTI and are based on staff on payroll.
Power Generation: Nigeria
Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to promote business links with the power supply sector in Nigeria. [75463]
Mr Prisk: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) provides expert advice and practical support to UK companies, including those in the power sector, looking to export to Nigeria. In October 2010 UKTI Nigeria accompanied a delegation of UK power companies to the President of Nigeria’s 'Presidential Retreat for Power Sector Investors’ in Abuja at which it was discussed how all present could help improve the availability of power in the country.
Export Credits Guarantee Department
Mr Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much was owed by developing countries to the Export Credits Guarantee Department in the latest period for which figures are
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available; what proportion that figure represents of all developing country debts owed to the UK; and if he will make a statement. [76061]
Mr Davey [holding answer 21 October 2011]: Sovereign debt owed to the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) by developing countries, as of 30 September 2011, was £2.4 billion. This represents 90% of all debts owed to the UK through ECGD, the Department for International Development and CDC Group plc.
‘Developing countries’ has been defined as low and middle-income countries, as based on the World Bank’s latest (2011) classification of gross national income per capita.
Green Investment Bank: Location
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) when he expects to make the final decision on the location for the Green Investment Bank; [74551]
(2) whether his Department has made any changes to the criteria for determining the location of the Green Investment Bank since May 2011; [74556]
(3) whether further cities have applied to be the location of the Green Investment Bank. [74557]
Mr Prisk: 16 cities and towns have indicated that they would like to be considered as the location for the Green Investment Bank. I will set out further details of the criteria and process for determining the location of the Green Investment Bank before Christmas, with a view to a final decision in 2012.
Hawk Aircraft
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department offered support to BAE Systems to ensure that the Hawk trainer aircraft would be built in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [75578]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 20 October 2011]: The Government consider that the most effective support they can provide in relation to the Hawk is by promoting exports of the aircraft from the UK. The Government are actively engaged in promoting exports of the Hawk, and in particular the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) Defence and Security Organisation is supporting BAE Systems export campaigns in a number of overseas markets. Export customers for high value defence equipment frequently seek a level of local production and technology transfer, but export orders still deliver significant benefit and value for the many UK companies in the supply chain. The Government have not provided support directly towards production of the aircraft in the UK.
Higher Education Funding Council
Mr Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding the Higher Education Funding Council has allocated for (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11, (d) 2011-12, (e) 2012-13, (f) 2013-14 and (g) 2014-15 for capital investment at (i) Oxford University, (ii) Cambridge University, (iii) Imperial
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College, London, (iv) University College, London and (v) the University of Manchester; and if he will make a statement. [74009]
Mr Willetts: The information requested is in a table produced by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. I will place a copy of it in the Libraries of the House. The only figures allocated are up to 2011/12. All figures beyond that date are indicative as no allocations have yet been made.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding the Higher Education Funding Council allocated for (a) widening participation in higher education, (b) the costs of being based in London, (c) the teaching of foreign languages and (d) capital investment; how much it plans to allocate for each purpose in each of the next three years in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [74010]
Mr Willetts: The only figures allocated are up to 2011/12. The Government have yet to make allocations for future years.
The final recurrent grant figures for Widening Participation and improving retention are shown in table 1.
| Table 1 | |||
| £ | |||
|
|
Widening access | Improving retention | Total |
It is not possible to identify precisely how much grant is attributable to London weighting, because it is just one weighting factor in more complex formulae covering three other elements of recurrent grant: mainstream teaching grant; Widening Participation, and Teaching Enhancement and Student Success, and Quality Research funding. Estimates are provided in table 2.
| Table 2: Estimated London weighting within recurrent grant | ||
| £ million | ||
|
|
2010-11 | 2011-12 |
The data requested on the spend on Modern foreign languages are not currently available. Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) provides institutions with a block grant to cover teaching costs and institutions have considerable flexibility to deploy this in line with their institutions needs. Precisely how they have done this for the years in question will be known following the publication of the final individualised student data from HESA for 2010-11 around December 2011.
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The information provided by HEFCE on capital will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Higher Education: Admissions
Margot James:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of pupils attending (a) state funded schools,
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(b)
grammar schools,
(c)
non-selective state funded schools and
(d)
independent schools who achieved AAB or above at A-level received an offer to attend (i) a higher education institution, (ii) a Russell Group university and (iii) Oxford or Cambridge University in the latest period for which figures are available. [72155]
Mr Willetts: The information is in the following table and has been provided by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
| Table: Number and proportion of UCAS applicants with A levels of AAB or better that received offers by centre type and institution | |||||||||
| (a) State excluding Grammar | (b) Grammar | (d) Independent School | |||||||
| Institution type | Applicants | Received o ffers | % | Applicants | Received o ffers | % | Applicants | Received o ffers | % |
The question asks for those with “AAB or above at A level” to be identified (therefore the wider specification of grades and qualifications proposed in the Higher Education Funding Council for England ‘Consultation on funding for teaching and student number allocation in 2012-13' Annex C: AAB equivalences has not been used). Only the three highest grades have been considered in this analysis. The dominator for the calculation of the percentage is the number of applicants that made at least one choice to the type of institution.
The data covers UK domiciled applicants in the UCAS main scheme, Higher Education Institutions with UCAS membership and A levels reported through the 2010 Awarding Body Linkage (ABL arrangements only cover qualifications taken in the last 18 months). The school type reflects the centre through which the application was submitted and uses UCAS' standard centre groupings. UCAS is not able to report on non-selective state funded schools as these are not identified in their data.
The AAB and better group will contain applicants with a range of attainment from AAB to A*A*A*A* for example. The mix of applicant attainment within the AAB or better group may vary across centre type and this is likely to account for some of the differences in the offer rate seen, for example for those that achieved exactly AAB, the variation in offer rate from Oxford or Cambridge universities is reduced to within 0.6% across centre types.
For a majority of these applicants, offers are made prior to A level attainment being known. Predicted grades have not been considered in this analysis. An institution's decision to make an offer is likely to depend on subjects in addition to the potential grade profile. This data reports those who have achieved particular A level grade profiles without any filtering of the range of subjects. The mix of subjects offered may be associated with school type.
Higher Education: Charities
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what research his Department has (a) evaluated and (b) commissioned on for-profit higher education providers; and if he will publish all such research. [73395]
Mr Willetts: There exists extensive research on the benefits of greater competition and choice. It is on such foundations that my Department's higher education White Paper “Higher Education: Students at the Heart of the System” is based. During the White Paper consultation phase, which ran from June to September of this year, we welcomed evidence from stakeholders to help quantify the possible impact of the policy proposals made. We are currently considering the responses received and will be issuing a formal response in due course. This will also include our response to the accompanying technical consultation “A New, Fit-for-Purpose Regulatory Framework for the Higher Education Sector” which is open until 27 October. Both documents are available at:
www.bis.gov.uk/hereform
Higher Education: Private Sector
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration he has given to providing private equity companies with degree-awarding powers. [73397]
Mr Willetts: Any organisation providing higher education is entitled to apply for degree awarding powers. The granting of these powers is subject to meeting specific criteria designed to establish that the applicant is a well-founded, cohesive and self-critical academic community that can demonstrate firm guardianship of its standards. As part of our proposed reforms to higher education we are currently consulting on a range of measures to encourage a greater diversity of higher education provision which is responsive to the needs of students.
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings (a) he, (b) the Minister for Universities and Science and (c) officials in his Department have had with private equity firms to discuss higher education. [73398]
Mr Willetts:
The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable) and I meet regularly with organisations that have an interest in higher education.
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A quarterly-updated list of all BIS ministerial meetings with external organisations is available at:
http://data.gov.uk/dataset/disclosure-ministerial-hospitality-received-department-for-business
BIS officials will also have had meetings with a range of organisations with an interest in higher education. A comprehensive record of these is not maintained.
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what criteria were used to determine which organisations to invite to the December 2010 and January 2011 meetings between the Minister for Universities and Science and private higher education providers. [73399]
Mr Willetts: I held two meetings with a range of private higher education providers in December 2010 and January 2011 to discuss how more private investment in, and provision of, higher education could be encouraged. Invitations were extended to those organisations that we felt had knowledge and expertise to share on this agenda.
Insolvency
Mr Iain Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward
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proposals to increase the proportion of businesses which are at risk of going into administration which remain trading as a going concern. [74639]
Mr Davey: The Government are committed to strengthening the framework for company rescue wherever this is possible.
In this regard, the Government are aware of the problems that can be caused for those seeking to rescue a struggling company by so-called ‘termination clauses’, and are currently considering this issue and the implications for all companies of any change to the existing law.
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many disqualification orders and undertakings were obtained in compulsory liquidations for each of the last five financial years; and in each such year how many were obtained for (a) less than five years, (b) five to nine years and (c) over nine years. [76170]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 21 October 2011]: The Insolvency Service does not record the data broken down according to the requested periods but has recorded total figures for the last four years which are provided in the following table:
|
|
2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many disqualification orders and undertakings were obtained in each of the last five financial years; and in each such year how many were obtained for (a) less than five years, (b) five to nine years and (c) over nine years. [76171]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 21 October 2011]: The Insolvency Service does not record the data requested broken down according to the periods specified. However, the data are recorded broken down according to similar periods and are provided in the following table:
| Disqualifications by period | |||||
|
|
2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place in the Library a copy of each document issued to Insolvency Service staff in relation to the proposed Insolvency Service delivery strategy. [76179]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 21 October 2011]: The full staff consultation document on the delivery strategy can be found on the Insolvency Service website at:
www.bis.gov.uk/insolvency/About-us/Strategy-and-Planning
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the effect of staffing of the Insolvency Service delivery strategy on the staffing complement of the Insolvency Service in each region of England and Wales. [76180]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 21 October 2011]: A key purpose of the delivery strategy is to enable the Insolvency Service to react more flexibly to fluctuations in demand for its services in the future. It does not seek to change the level of staff employed, therefore no such assessment has been made.
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Insolvency Service Delivery Strategy on the Insolvency Service’s ability to investigate misconduct in bankruptcies and compulsory liquidations; and if he will make a statement. [76181]
Mr Prisk
[holding answer 21 October 2011]: The Delivery Strategy does not propose any changes that
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will impact on the ability of the Insolvency Service to investigate misconduct in bankruptcies and compulsory liquidations.