Probation: Training
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what training measures he plans to put in place in the event of probation functions being contracted out in England and Wales. [76826]
Mr Blunt: Providers of probation services in England and Wales will be subject to the requirements of the Probation Qualification Framework (PQF) in the same way as Probation Trusts. This means that they will be obliged to provide induction training for all offender facing staff and professional qualification training for Probation Services Officers (PSO), Probation Officers or equivalent staff. The quality of the training will be assessed by the Probation Qualification Assurance Board as part of the contract monitoring process.
Other training proposals will be scrutinised via the competition process to ensure that staff are competent to deliver services and manage the appropriate level of risk.
Public Service Mutuals
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 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. [74817]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The Ministry of Justice is actively exploring opportunities to encourage public service mutuals across its services.
All such opportunities are being considered within the context of our strategic approach to competition in justice services, as set out in the Offender Services Competition Strategy(1).
(1 )http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/corporate-reports/moj/oscs.htm
Sentencing: Children
Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many children received an indeterminate sentence in each year since 2000. [76707]
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Mr Blunt: The number of persons under 18 given a sentence of Detention for Public Protection (introduced in April 2005) or sentenced to life, at all courts, by age group, in England and Wales from 2005 to 2010 (latest available), can be viewed in the following table.
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Court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in spring, 2012.
| Number of persons under 18 given a sentence of Detention for Public Protection (DPP) (1, 2) or life at all courts, for all offences, by age group, England and Wales, 2005 to 2010 (3, 4) | ||||||||||||
| Sentence breakdown | ||||||||||||
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 (5) | 2009 | 2010 | |||||||
| Age group | DPP | Life | DPP | Life | DPP | Life | DPP | Life | DPP | Life | DPP | Life |
| (1) Became available to the courts from April 2005. DPP is an indeterminate sentence available in the Crown court for under 18s. It is the juvenile equivalent of the adult indeterminate sentence for public protection (IPP). (2) The Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 introduced some changes to DPPs to restrict its use. (3) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (5) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice. | ||||||||||||
Cabinet Office
Civil Servants: Business Interests
Helen Goodman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether former employees of the Security Services received approval from the Business Appointments Committee to set up G3; and whether such approval is required for other security work they undertake. [76614]
Mr Maude: Equivalent versions of the business appointment rules for civil servants are in place for members of the intelligence agencies which require senior officials to seek advice from the independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. However, in order to protect their identity, the appointments of former members of the security and intelligence agencies are generally not made public, although the appointments of the most senior officials whose identity is already in the public domain have been published on the Committee's website.
Departmental Private Finance Initiative
Stella Creasy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will publish the (a) cost, (b) date of commencement and (c) duration of each private finance initiative contract managed by his Department. [76537]
Mr Maude: The Cabinet Office has one private finance initiative (PFI) contract which is for the provision of residential training accommodation and serviced office accommodation at Sunningdale Park, Ascot for the National School of Government. This was signed on 23 April 2002. Information on signed PFI projects that were signed prior to 16 March 2011 is available on the Treasury's website at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ppp_pfi_stats.htm
In addition to listing the project name and responsible Department the information available includes (a) the capital value of the asset and associated unitary charge payments, (b) the date of financial close and (c) the operational period of the contract.
In addition to the Sunningdale Park contract, the Cabinet Office has a contract for ICT services which, although not a PFI contract under the Treasury definition, is treated as if it is a PFI contract in the Cabinet Office annual published accounts. Details of the contract are on page 223, notes 29.1 and 29.2, of the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts 2010-11, which is available in the House of Commons library and from the Cabinet Office website:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/resources/resource-accounts-2010-11.pdf
Former Prime Ministers: Allowances
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how much each former Prime Minister claimed under the public duty costs allowance in each of the last five years; [76815]
(2) if he will review the (a) limit and (b) criteria of the public duty costs allowance for former Prime Ministers for the purposes of aligning the scheme with policy on administrative savings in Government Departments. [76835]
Mr Maude [holding answer 26 October 2011]: The amount claimed by each Prime Minister under the public duty costs allowance for the last five years is listed in the following tables.
The tables set out how much was claimed for that year. The date the actual payment was made may not be in the same year that the claim relates to.
27 Oct 2011 : Column 339W
| 2006-07 | |
|
|
£ |
| 2007-08 | |
|
|
£ |
| 2008-09 | |
|
|
£ |
| 2009-10 | |
|
|
£ |
| 2010-11 | |
|
|
£ |
The public duty costs allowance is kept under review.
Government Departments: Procurement
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which bodies are involved in the Government's Lean Procurement programme. [77028]
Mr Maude: The Cabinet Office is working across all central Government Departments on the Lean Procurement programme. Departments are contributing to the development of the new lean sourcing process, testing and refining the process on live procurement projects, and inputting to the design of the supporting training programme.
Government Procurement Card
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount and (c) supplier was of each transaction undertaken by Buying Solutions using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10. [75820]
Mr Maude: Transactions undertaken by the Government Procurement Service (formerly Buying Solutions) in 2009-10 have been tabulated for ease of reference and deposited in the Library of the House.
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The cost of work required to obtain, contextualise and report the data for the Government Procurement Service for 2007-08 and 2008-09 would exceed the cost limits of a freedom of information request or a parliamentary question.
The Government Procurement Service will be publishing any transactions over £500 on its website, starting with 2011-12 quarter 1 (April-June) and quarter 2 (July-September) data at the end of October and then on a monthly basis.
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount and (c) supplier was of each transaction undertaken by his Department using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10. [75819]
Mr Maude: This Government are committed to transparency and we believe the information regarding Government Procurement Cards for this financial year is most relevant. Central Government Departments have just published any transactions over £500 on their websites, for 2011-12 Quarter 1 (April-June) data. From now on these will be published on a monthly basis.
The Cabinet Office plans to publish 2009-10 data later in the financial year. The further cost of work required to obtain, contextualise and report data for the Cabinet Office for 2008-09 and 2007-08 would exceed the cost limits of a freedom of information request of a parliamentary question.
Social Enterprises
Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussions he has had on promoting social enterprises in the areas for which his Department is responsible in each month since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77347]
Mr Hurd: As Minister for Civil Society I have had numerous discussions with stakeholders and colleagues in Government on promoting social enterprise.
Work to grow the social economy, including supporting social enterprises, is being taken forward by the Office for Civil Society within the Cabinet Office.
Work and Pensions
Work Programme
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many telephone inquiries have been made to Work programme providers in each of the last three months. [75747]
Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions does not hold information regarding telephone inquiries to Work programme providers and does not require providers to gather or report on this information.
Access to Work Programme
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that disabled people are made aware of the Access to Work scheme. [76219]
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Chris Grayling: Access to Work provides vital support to help disabled people get and keep employment. We want as many disabled people as possible to know this support is available. The recent Sayce review recommended changes that will increase the number of people who are able to benefit from Access to Work and raise awareness about its availability among disabled people and employers. A public consultation following the review has just closed and we will be considering ideas and reactions from that consultation and publishing a statement in due course.
During the Sayce consultation period two Access to Work events were held, one in Manchester for Third Sector organisations and Access to Work Users and a further meeting in London for employers of disabled people. The attendee list at both events was extensive and featured many recognisable names.
Also from 9 December 2010, disabled job seekers have been able to find out immediately if they are eligible for Access to Work support by completing a short on-line questionnaire at:
www.Direct.gov.uk
If eligible, they are then able to print off a new Pre-Employment Eligibility Letter which will help build their confidence when applying for jobs and can be shown to prospective employers. This delivers the commitments in the coalition programme to reform Access to Work, so that disabled people can apply for jobs with funding already secured for any adaptations and equipment they will need.
Departmental Buildings
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects his Department plans in (i) the current and (ii) the next financial year; and what the cost will be of each such project. [74326]
Chris Grayling: The Department occupies the vast majority of its properties under the terms of a 20-year PFI contract with Telereal Trillium, for which it pays a unitary charge in return for fully fitted and serviced accommodation.
The unitary charge includes works carried out over the life cycle of the accommodation which contain an element of refurbishment that cannot be disaggregated from overall expenditure.
Some refurbishments are not covered by the unitary charge and are funded separately as capital expenditure. This is because it would not be practical or demonstrate value for money for the taxpayer if the contractor were to price into the unitary charge the potential business change volumes.
Any business-driven changes to the estate would fall into this category such as in 2010-11, for example, when Jobcentre Plus initiated the Response to the Economic Downturn project, which converted primarily back of the house space to temporary front of the house space in order to support more jobseekers.
|
|
£ million | Change (percentage) |
27 Oct 2011 : Column 342W
The value of all completed or approved for construction building and refurbishment expenditure not covered by the unitary charge for financial year 2011-12 is £5.042 million, a 91% decrease on that for 2009-10. This covered a total of 52 projects. Full details are as follows.
The 52 projects are proposed and funded by the business unit, e.g. Jobcentre Plus. The business holds the funding and makes the decisions as to which projects are business critical within the funding envelope it holds. The business makes bid submissions for this funding based on its change programme requirements.
The Department has yet to agree future plans regarding changes to its service delivery and any consequent impact on the estate. Therefore changes to the existing estate beyond the current financial year will be considered when such requirements are known and understood.
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Works to library 1NW (£106,272): Refurbishment of the former library to accommodate the Department of Health (DOH). The works are funded by DOH via DWP to ensure fast track delivery.
Install stand alone A/C unit VC room 3.44 (£59,699): Installation of stand alone A/C unit with local controls in video conference room 3.44. The A/C unit was installed to keep the room at a suitable temperature for the equipment and for a maximum of eight people all day.
VC suite upgrade (£9,111): New suspended ceiling and lighting, carpet and decoration, removal of asbestos ceiling (ARTEX) to facilitate the works.
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VC equipment upgrade (£5,157): National roll-out for the installation of video conferencing. Includes minor room alterations, re-decoration and furniture to comply with client's requirements.
Reprographics planning (£3,310): Installation of additional reprographic machines to minimise costs for photocopying and alike.
European Social Fund flagpoles (£4,698): Due to relocation of European Social Services into this building two flagpoles were erected outside Steel City House. Flags required were the Union, EU and St George's. We are seeking full reimbursement of the cost of the flag pole from ESF technical assistance money, so the cost will fall to the EU.
Relocation of library (£978): this is linked to the above project (1NW) and as such work is on the behalf of the DOH. This was the structural survey of the area to accommodate the library to ensure it was structurally compliant.
Lost Property
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what actions are at his disposal to take against an employee of his Department who loses a laptop issued by his Department. [76960]
Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions takes data security very seriously. The Department can exercise a range of actions against employees who lose laptops. These range from imposing disciplinary warnings and sanctions to dismissal.
The DWP Standards of Behaviour policy requires staff to look after departmental equipment and ensure there is no loss or damage. Disciplinary action is taken against employees who breach security policy.
Since 2007 we have improved data-handling procedures, including minimising the amount of data put on removable media and introducing encryption programmes for data and mobile devices that carry personal protected data. We have also introduced training and education programmes to improve staff awareness of information risks.
Procurement
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what account his Department takes of (a) socio-economic factors and (b) potential revenues for the Exchequer in the awarding of contracts. [76554]
Chris Grayling: The Department considers socio-economic factors in the initial stages of contracting using Sustainable Procurement Risk Assessment Methodology which considers the impact on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), opportunities for apprenticeships, and the implications for diversity and equality as well as for climate change and sustainability. Where relevant and proportionate, appropriate contractual terms are included at contract award to monitor supplier performance in these areas during contract delivery.
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The Department has a policy that supports the UK social and economic agenda by ensuring that DWP jobs are not offshored. In addition the Department's policy also requires that any supplier, either when tendering for contracts or wishing to make changes to arrangements during the life of a contract, has to submit detailed proposals and gain DWP written approval if they have any intention of offshoring work or data.
DWP supports the Government target of 25% of Government spend via SMEs by 2015. SMEs are considered to have more potential for growth and are more likely to be innovative in contract delivery. The effect of this policy is more employment leading to an increase in taxation revenue for the Exchequer and a reduction in benefit payment.
The Department's commercial strategy commits to improving Value For Money (VFM) through cost reduction and cost avoidance activity. In line with Cabinet Office policy, pre audit VFM savings for the financial year 2010-11 were £432 million of which £180 million were cash releasing and £252 million related to VFM activity.
The Department leads on the introduction of frameworks which improve VFM for other Government Departments (OGDs) and also leads on cross-government VFM activity through its Crown Commercial Representative.
The use of DWP assets by OGDs also saves substantial resources, for example resource management (RM) system which delivers strategic resource management solutions for the Department and OGDs and the customer information system (CIS), an intelligent IT database which generates significant VFM for the Department and OGDs.
The Department retains ownership of intellectual property rights as part of the standard legal terms and conditions used when contracting. This enables revenue to be generated for the Exchequer (or contract costs reduced) on occasions where it is appropriate for intellectual property rights to be sold. While not directly linked to contracts it awards, the Department also considers raising revenue for the Exchequer by using the Wider Markets Initiative to generate income from its assets, where appropriate.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to deliver the efficiency gains required by HM Treasury. [77040]
Chris Grayling: The Department plans to realise substantial efficiency savings over the period of the spending review through measures which will deliver both savings and improved customer service, as well as focussing its resources on key reforms of the welfare system such as the introduction of universal credit. These plans include a reduction in the size of the corporate centre by up to 40%, and parallel measures to reduce the costs of benefits processing by 25% through streamlining and modernising frontline activities. These measures include, for example, shifting from paper to digital based services and sharing information more efficiently within and between Departments. Specific actions to improve the efficiency, ease and speed of the Department's frontline activities are included in the business plan.
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The Department will also make further efficiencies through its estates and IT strategies, and works closely with the Cabinet Office Efficiency Reform Group to drive down the costs from its other major suppliers.
Ministerial Voluntary Work
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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. [76227]
Chris Grayling: The information is as follows:
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr Duncan Smith)
Championed the voluntary sector throughout his six years as Chairman of the Centre for Social Justice and continues to be involved with a number of charities, including as a patron.
Minister for Employment (Chris Grayling)
Patron for the Forces Children's Trust.
Minister for Welfare Reform (Steve Webb)
Volunteers at a local Sunday school every week and is a patron of several local charities.
Minister for Disabled People (Maria Miller)
Undertakes a volunteer session on the first Saturday of each month. This volunteer session is called the Speak Easy Advocacy and helps people with learning disabilities, autism and Aspergers, by offering guidance and advice over tea and coffee.
Minister for Welfare Reform (Lord Freud)
Sponsor and board member of the charity “Grand Mentors”. This is a charity where mainly older retired people mentor and tutor young individuals.
Disability: Public Transport
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to provide financial assistance to disabled people who are unable to use public transport to travel to work. [77029]
Maria Miller: The Access to Work scheme can pay for additional travel costs that arise as a result of a customer's disability or health condition in the form of a reimbursement grant. Disabled people who are unable to use public transport to get to work can use Access to Work to fund a support worker driver or to pay taxi fares.
People with long-term disabilities may receive disability living allowance or attendance allowance, which provide a contribution towards the extra cost of disability. Recipients are free to spend the money in a way that best fits their circumstances, including on transport costs.
In addition, people in receipt of the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance or war pensioner's mobility supplement, provided they have at least 12 months remaining of their award, may choose to exchange all or part of that component to lease a vehicle from Motability, an independent charity.
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Housing Benefit: Scotland
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many private sector landlords have agreed to reduce rents in return for an arrangement that housing benefit be paid direct to them (a) in Edinburgh, (b) in Scotland and (c) nationally since 1 April 2011. [75768]
Steve Webb: This information is not available.
Jobseeker’s Allowance
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the weekly level of jobseeker's allowance was in real terms in each of the last 10 years; and what estimate he has made of the level of the allowance in each of the next five years. [75939]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is in the following table:
| Real value of jobseeker's allowance at date of uprating (£ per week, April 2011 prices, using Consumer Prices Index) | ||
|
|
Single | Couple |
| Source: DWP Annual Abstract of Statistics, 2010, and Office for Budget Responsibility Economic and Fiscal Outlook, March 2011 | ||
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency (a) under the age of 24 and (b) over the age of 50 have been in receipt of jobseeker's allowance for more than 12 months. [77260]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated October 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking; how many people in Middlesbrough South and East
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Cleveland constituency (a) under the age of 24 and (b) over the age of 50 have been in receipt of Jobseeker's allowance for more than 12 months. (77260)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles the number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) from the Jobcentre Plus administrative system.
In September 2011 the number of people resident in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland claiming JSA for more than 52 weeks under 24 years old was 90. The number claiming JSA for more than 52 weeks over 50 years old was 100.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
Remploy
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the potential number of Remploy employees who will find new employment under his proposals. [76961]
Maria Miller: At present no estimate has been made of the potential numbers of Remploy employees who will find new employment. This is because no decision has been made on the future strategy for Remploy and its operations continue as normal.
Following the outcome of the recent consultation, should the Government decision support implementation of the Sayce recommendations or alternative commercial proposals, then the Department will put in place a commercial strategy, and Remploy staff will receive professional support and advice to consider the options open to them.
It will take time to analyse the consultation responses in detail and carefully consider the implications for future policy. We will publish a summary of responses received and a statement on future policy as soon as practicably possible.
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has invested in Remploy factories in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK in each of the last five years. [76964]
Maria Miller: The information is as follows:
| £ million | ||
|
|
Total GIA | EB |
| (1 )Not known. (2 )Not available. | ||
The total grant in aid funding paid to Remploy in the UK over the past five years for which data are available was £642.8 million. This relates to the whole of Remploy's operations, covering the Enterprise Businesses and Employment Services arms of the company.
For 2005-06 and 2006-07 the only figures available relate to the total amount of funding paid to Remploy. From 2007-08 onwards it is possible to separate out the funding for Enterprise Businesses, but this does not
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cover apportioned costs from Central Support Services, so underestimates the total funding.
It is not possible to separate out the funding for Scotland, Wales and England due to the way the businesses are split.
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the additional benefits that would have to be paid to Remploy employees if they had not been in work for each of the last three years. [76965]
Maria Miller: It is not possible to provide any meaningful estimate of the additional benefits that would have had to be paid to Remploy employees if they had not been in work for each of the last three years, since the value of any benefits that Remploy employees may have been entitled to would depend on each individual's personal circumstances.
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what funding his Department has allocated for professional training and development of Remploy employees who are interested in setting up co-operatives, mutuals or social enterprises. [76966]
Maria Miller: At present no specific funding is allocated for professional training and development of Remploy employees who are interested in setting up co-operatives, mutuals or social enterprises. This is because no decision has been made on the future strategy for Remploy and its operations continue as normal.
Following the outcome of the recent consultation, should the Government decision support implementation of the Sayce recommendations or alternative commercial proposals, then the Department will put in place a commercial strategy, and Remploy staff will receive professional support and advice to consider the options open to them.
It will take time to analyse the consultation responses in detail and carefully consider the implications for future policy. We will publish a summary of responses received and a statement on future policy as soon as practicably possible.
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Government procurement contracts have been awarded to Remploy in the last five years; and for what work. [76967]
Maria Miller: The information is as follows:
Enterprise Business won 17 contracts with Government Departments in 2008-09 to 2010-11
Covering IT recycling and document handling; furniture for offices, schools, colleges and universities; Chemical Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) protection suits for police forces; wheelchairs and orthotics products for hospitals and health authorities.
Enterprise Business won 11 contracts with local authorities in 2008-09 to 2010-11
Providing CCTV management and monitoring and IT recycling for local councils.
Employment Services won 27 contracts with Government Departments in 2007-08 to 2010-11
Including Flexible New Deal, Pathways to Work, New Deal for Disabled People. Work with ex-offenders and those preparing
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to leave prison; Wellbeing through Work programme in Wales to support employees with mental health problems; occupational skills and training for Scottish Government; skills and training support on a large number of local projects.
Employment Services won 39 contracts with public bodies in 2007-08 to 2010-11
Including local authorities, Further Education colleges and skills organisations (including Learning and Skills Council) delivering skills training and work experience opportunities for disabled and disadvantaged people; working with local employers to support candidate groups in inner city and areas of high disadvantage who require specialist interventions.
Note that it is not possible to provide information for Enterprise Business for 2007-08 as prior to 2008, the company was organised on a regional basis. The information is not held centrally and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.
Universal Credit
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has made any estimate of the cost implications of ending existing commercial housing benefit contracts early as a result of the introduction of universal credit; and whether his Department has any plans to pay compensation to (a) local authorities, (b) housing associations and (c) contractors in consequence. [67035]
Steve Webb: The Welfare Reform White Paper sets out that the Department for Work and Pensions will be responsible for organising the delivery of universal credit. It also states that we will continue to pay housing benefit to working age customers until we can migrate them successfully on to universal credit, currently expected to be by October 2017. We have yet to settle on the precise details of how the transition will work, and the effects on housing benefits staff. This approach will ensure an orderly transition and that we have people with relevant skills and experience to support claimants both in work and out of work, as they migrate to the new credit.
We will continue to work with colleagues in HM Revenue and Customs and local authorities to test new ways of working and consider how, in the longer term, we can build on the best capabilities of current organisations to provide a consistently excellent service to claimants and ensure value for money. This work will also confirm whether and how TUPE will apply for those staff affected in all organisations.
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to pilot the universal credit; and if he will make a statement. [75453]
Chris Grayling: Universal credit will be introduced in October 2013, and individuals will be migrated to the new system over the subsequent four years. Experience of previous reforms and transformation programmes has shown that thorough operational testing is essential prior to a wide ranging implementation. As such we will deploy this ‘pathfinder' approach on the universal credit programme. We will do so in good time to ensure lessons learnt can be incorporated into wider implementation plans and delivery processes.
Additionally, as part of the work to build the new system, claimants are being engaged in its design through
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frequent sessions in which they are asked to respond to both high level design thinking and detailed service design. There will be significant levels of testing specifically focused on ensuring that the various components work effectively together, including realistic business testing.
Deputy Prime Minister
Electoral Register
Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2011, Official Report, column 627W, on the electoral register, what assessment he has made of the Electoral Commission's forecast for registration rates following the implementation of his proposals for individual voter registration. [77033]
Mr Harper: The Electoral Commission have made no forecast of registration rates following Individual Electoral Registration (IER). In their evidence to the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee they speculated about a worst case scenario based on only those turning out to vote at elections registering to vote. The Government do not share this view.
The Government are committed to maintaining registration rates during the transition to IER. We have learnt from the experience in Northern Ireland and are phasing in IER over two years from 2014, putting in place a safeguard for the 2015 General Election so that existing electors who fail to register under the new system in 2014 are not disenfranchised. We are trialling data matching this year to see if it will help to get more people onto the electoral register. We are looking at how we can modernise the system of electoral registration by opening up new channels for registration which will also make it easier and more convenient for individuals to register to vote.
We are also working with the Electoral Commission to plan publicity around the transition which ensures that people are well informed about the change, and we are also working closely with a range of groups representing those at risk of falling off the register during the transition, to ensure the system is designed in the best possible way to meet their needs.
Lobbying
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2010, Official Report, column 321W, on lobbying, what the reasons are for the time taken in publishing plans for a statutory register of lobbyists. [76977]
Mr Harper: The coalition agreement made clear that we will regulate lobbying through introducing a statutory register of lobbyists and ensuring greater transparency.
We remain committed to creating a statutory register of lobbyists and will publish a consultation paper next month.
This is a complex area, and we believe it is appropriate to consult widely on the form and content of a register before publishing draft legislation.
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Lisa Nandy: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which external organisations he has consulted on proposals for a statutory register of lobbyists. [76978]
Mr Harper: The Government publish details of Minister's meetings with external organisations routinely. The Cabinet Office publishes this data online at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations
Business, Innovation and Skills
Automotive Industry
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the viability of the UK automotive industry. [76870]
Mr Prisk: The UK automotive sector is strong and growing. Production was up by 7% (in September); exports stand at over 75% of output; and planned recent new investments by BMW, Ford, JLR and Nissan total over £2.5 billion.
Advantage West Midlands: Wolverhampton
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what representations he has received from Advantage West Midlands on the (a) i54 site, Wolverhampton and (b) the potential location of Jaguar Land Rover's new engine plant at the i54 site since his appointment; [73159]
(2) when the land for the i54 site, Wolverhampton was acquired by Advantage West Midlands; [73160]
(3) what estimate he has made of the (a) funding and (b) time allocated by Advantage West Midlands to remediating the i54 site, Wolverhampton (i) before and (ii) after the announcement of the abolition of the regional development agencies; [73161]
(4) what assessment he has made of the role of Advantage West Midlands in negotiations with Jaguar Land Rover on locating its new engine plant at the i54 site, Wolverhampton. [73162]
Mr Prisk: BIS officials are in regular contact with the regional development agencies (RDAs), including Advantage West Midlands (AWM), on a range of matters and issues, and these may include matters relating to individual project issues like the i54.
The land for the i54 site in Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire was progressively acquired between 2002 and 2007 by AWM, working with a range of local partners including Wolverhampton city council. The site transferred to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) on 19 September under the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. AWM has been involved in the remediation and wider site works which have been under way since the initial acquisition of the site in March 2002, including securing outline planning permission for the site. AWM spent £52 million out of a BIS approval of £64 million up to the point of the announcement to abolish the RDA. A further £4.5 million was earmarked for additional remedial works between the announcement of the abolition of the RDA and the site's transfer to the HCA.
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I have not made an assessment of AWM's role in negotiations with Jaguar Land Rover which resulted in the company's decision to locate its new engine plant at the i54 site. The decision by Jaguar Land Rover to locate its engine plant at the i54 site in Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire was facilitated by a range of national, regional and local stakeholders.
Apprentices
James Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress he has made in achieving the Government's objectives for apprenticeships. [76851]
Mr Hayes: This Government are committed to expansion of its flagship apprenticeships programme. The Statistical First Release published today demonstrates fantastic growth and a record year for apprenticeships. Provisional data for the full 2010/11 academic year show 442,700 starts and completions reaching 171,500.
Apprentices: Manufacturing Industries
Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of the 100,000 apprenticeships he proposes to create he expects to be within the manufacturing sector. [76725]
Mr Hayes: The apprenticeship programme is demand led. Government do not set targets for apprenticeships but provide funding and forecast the overall number of places that may be afforded. Apprenticeships are paid jobs, we rely on employers and providers to work together to offer sufficient opportunities to meet local demand.
In the last five years 180,000 people started an apprenticeship in engineering and manufacturing technologies. With current initiatives such as the expansion of advanced and higher apprenticeships, and increased funding announced in the 2011 Budget, we hope to expand this further.
Business: Recruitment
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the accuracy of the estimate contained in the British Chamber of Commerce Workforce Survey—Micro Businesses, that one in two micro businesses found it difficult to find the right people to fill their vacancies; and what steps he plans to take to assist such businesses. [76674]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 25 October 2011]:The 2009 National Employer Skills Survey identified that small businesses tend to have a higher proportion of total vacancies that are skills shortage vacancies. That is why the Department has launched a number of targeted measures to support smaller businesses to recruit new employees and upskill existing employees more easily.
This includes improving the information and guidance for small businesses on businesslink.gov, including how to access skills support. In addition, we fund a leadership and management programme for senior leaders of small to medium size enterprises to help them develop their own personal leadership and management skills so they
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are better able to create a high performing, innovative workplace and to improve the skills of their work force.
This Government are also taking action to make it easier for small businesses to take on apprenticeships. As well as increasing funding to deliver some 360,000 apprenticeships this year, the Government have introduced new quality standards, cut red tape and boosted the number of advanced level apprenticeships to deliver the skills employers need to drive growth.
Business: Regulation
Claire Perry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress he has made in reducing the burden of regulation on businesses through the Red Tape Challenge. [76852]
Vince Cable: While some regulation is necessary, excessive regulation creates an unacceptable burden, on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in particular. The Government are tackling this problem through the Red Tape Challenge. So far this exercise has looked at 378 regulations relating to the retail and hospitality sectors and we have already announced plans to remove or simplify 220 of these—that is more than half. All regulations affecting business will be featured on the website on a rolling basis.
Common Customs Tariffs
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has estimated the potential additional custom administration costs to UK businesses exporting goods or services to EU member states if they were required to pay the EU external tariff; and if he will make a statement. [75041]
Mr Prisk: No estimate has been made. There is uncertainty as to what tariff UK exporters to the EU would face if the UK were not a member of the European Union.
At worst, UK businesses could be forced to pay the most favoured nation tariff to export goods to the EU. In 2009, the simple average EU MFN tariff was 5.3%. But it is possible the UK would be granted some form of preferential access, whereby UK business would pay less than the full MFN tariff. In either case, tariff payments would also depend on the precise pattern of trade in any given year. In addition, estimating the extra administrative burdens associated with completing customs declarations, claiming preferential tariff treatment or other non-tariff costs of exporting goods and services to the EU could be done only at disproportionate cost.
Companies: Annual Reports
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what recent assessment his Department has made of the quality of companies' narrative reporting under the provisions of the Companies Act 2006; [76898]
(2) if he will assess the effect on the economy of levels of low quality, unverified and incomplete disclosure in companies' narrative reporting. [76899]
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Mr Davey: I am currently consulting on changes to the narrative reporting framework to simplify the framework and improve the quality of company narrative reporting. I would be happy to consider any specific points that the hon. Member wishes to raise as part of the consultation.
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what enforcement measures his Department has taken to ensure that UK companies abide by the reporting requirements contained in the Companies Act 2006; [76957]
(2) what external assessment mechanisms are in place to ensure the (a) validity, (b) veracity and (c) completeness of information provided in the annual reports of UK companies. [76959]
Mr Davey: The primary responsibility for the validity, veracity and completeness of the information in the annual reports of UK companies rests with the directors. Shareholders should also be actively engaged in holding directors to account.
For larger companies, external auditors will express an opinion on whether the annual accounts give a true and fair view; have been properly prepared in accordance with the relevant financial reporting framework; and have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. The auditor must report on whether in his opinion the information given in the directors' report is consistent with those accounts. Statutory auditors are themselves independently monitored.
In addition listed companies are covered by the Listing Rules, made by the UK Listing Authority.
The Financial Reporting Review Panel proactively reviews a sample of public company and large private company accounts for compliance with the requirements of the Companies Act. Where there is, or may be, a question of non-compliance, the panel engages with companies with a view to seeking corrective action where necessary. In addition, both the panel and Companies House respond to concerns raised. Where appropriate the Secretary of State for Business, Information and Skills can use powers under the Companies Acts to conduct confidential, fact-finding investigations into the activities of live limited companies anywhere in the United Kingdom.
Official receivers and insolvency practitioners are required to investigate the circumstances of failure of companies and establish why they have become insolvent. This could uncover evidence of inappropriately prepared reports and accounts.
Directors of limited companies are required to deliver accounts and reports to the Registrar of Companies under the Companies Act 2006. If a company fails to deliver its accounts and reports by the appropriate date all persons who are directors of the company immediately before the end of the reporting period are guilty of an offence; unless they can prove that they took all reasonable steps to comply with the requirements before the end of the period. Companies House send reminder letters and e-mails before accounts become due to help companies comply with their filing requirements. If companies fail to file on time, Companies House commences enforcement action, which can ultimately result in the prosecution of directors. When a company delivers accounts late, an automatic civil late filing penalty is imposed. The latest
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figures show (September 2011) that over 92% of active companies deliver accounts on time and 99% of active companies have an up to date set of accounts filed at Companies House. These are among the highest compliance rates of any company registry in the world.
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Financial Reporting Review Panel in assessing the (a) quality, (b) validity and (c) completeness of the content of non-financial reporting in annual reports required by the Companies Act 2006. [76958]
Mr Davey: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable) has every confidence in the effectiveness of the Financial Reporting Review Panel.
Departmental Official Hospitality
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each Minister in his Department in each of the last 12 months. [73676]
Mr Davey: There has been no spend on hospitality for events hosted by BIS Ministers during this period. The following amounts refer only to the cost of refreshments at meetings:
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£ |
Ministerial Voluntary Work
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 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. [76226]
Mr Davey: BIS Ministers are committed to participating in the One Day Challenge. A decision on the disclosure of related activities will be made in due course.
Design: Curriculum
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on retaining design and technology within the curriculum; and if he will make a statement. [75467]
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Mr Hayes: We exchange views regularly and the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), is well aware that design and technology are crucial to the Growth Review.
Flexible Working
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had on his proposals for maternity and paternity leave and flexible working. [76857]
Mr Davey: The Modern Workplaces consultation ran from 16 May to 8 August 2011 It outlined the Government's proposals to introduce a system of flexible parental leave and extend the right to request flexible working to all employees, following the coalition commitments.
During the consultation, discussions were held with various groups representing business, unions, parents, children and charities. We intend to publish our response early next year.
Green Investment Bank
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) when he plans to announce the Government's investment priorities for the Green Investment Bank; [76927]
(2) when he expects to establish the governance framework to set the strategic priorities for the Green Investment Bank; [76930]
(3) when he plans to publish (a) identified objectives, (b) identified areas of focus and (c) budgeted costs associated with increasing the capital for the Green Investment Bank. [76935]
Mr Prisk: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), will update the House on these and other issues associated with establishing the Green Investment Bank later this year.
Green Investment Bank: Operating Costs
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the running costs of the Green Investment Bank in each of its first five years; and how these costs will be met. [77032]
Mr Prisk: We will establish an institution which is effective and affordable. We are still in the process of scoping the strategic priorities and finalising the cost estimates.
Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he intends to bring forward the Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill; and if he will make a statement. [77183]
Mr Davey: We aim to introduce a Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill as soon as parliamentary time allows.
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Insolvency
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the merits of holding a consultation on preventing ransom payments being charged by suppliers in insolvency cases. [76448]
Mr Davey: The Government have previously announced that we would consider the case for updating section 233 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and the wider issue of termination clauses. My officials at the Insolvency Service are currently looking into the merits of any change and the options that could entail, and have been discussing with various interested parties. We will then decide how to proceed.
Non-domestic Rates
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on economic growth and jobs in (a) the retail sector and (b) other sectors, if business rates are not increased in 2012. [76051]
Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply.
Business rates are annually uprated by retail prices index inflation. The Government keep all taxes under review.
Nuclear Power: Storage
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding the Research Councils UK Energy Programme has allocated for research on the storage and containment of nuclear fuel in the last year for which figures are available. [77093]
Mr Willetts: In the current financial year, Research Councils UK Energy Programme funding on research for the storage and containment of nuclear fuel amounts to £6.75 million.
Nuclear Reactors: Research
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2011, Official Report, column 278W, on nuclear reactors: research, what proportion of total energy research expenditure by the Research Councils UK Energy Programme the £23 million spent on the next generation of nuclear reactors represents. [77088]
Mr Willetts: The current Research Councils UK Energy Programme portfolio totals £658 million. The £23 million represents 3.5% of this total.
Skilled Workers: Wind Power
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to increase the number of people with skills in the wind turbine industry. [76856]
Mr Hayes:
A skilled workforce is vital to the green economy. As we set out in the skills strategy, we have made sure employers can identify and articulate their green skills needs within the skills system. That is supported
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by investment of £3.9 billion to deliver skills and training this year, a commitment for over 360,000 Apprenticeships, and funding for projects through the Growth and Innovation and Regional Growth Funds.
Social Mobility
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to improve social mobility; and if he will make a statement. [76602]
Mr Prisk: The Department worked closely with the Cabinet Office and other Departments to produce the Government's Social Mobility Strategy in April 2011. This strategy set out our overall approach for tackling social mobility and provided details of the specific steps that the Department would be taking to support this.
Investing in people's skills through education and training is a key driver of improved life chances. That is why we are committed to establishing clear career progression routes built on well-respected vocational qualifications and our expanded Apprenticeships programme is at the heart of this: funding in financial year 2011/12 will increase to over £1.4 billion; we will increase the quality of apprenticeships through new national standards; and, the Access to Apprenticeships pathway will benefit up to 10,000 vulnerable young people aged between16-24. The National Career Service, to be launched in April 2012, will help people to find the most appropriate route to suit their personal needs.
For some people, entering the labour market and progressing can be a huge challenge and they need substantial help and guidance to develop their skills acquisition and progress to sustainable employment with prospects. Our reforms to further education, published in our Skills for Sustainable Growth strategy and in the New Challenges, New Chances consultation, mean that funding of further education and training is fairer by refocusing it on those that need it most. My Department is working with DFE and DWP on the Participation Strategy, which will be published in November and set out how we intend to maximise the number of young people in education training and employment. In addition, our commitment to Informal Adult and Community Learning can provide the initial stepping stone people need to further.
Our reforms to promote fairer access to higher education were set out in the White Paper “Students at the Heart of the System” (June 2011). To help make progress in the numbers of young people entering higher education from disadvantaged backgrounds, and in particular to the most selective universities, we are establishing a new framework, which places more responsibility on universities and colleges to widen participation. Universities and colleges that charge more than £6,000 for tuition will need new access agreements that demonstrate to the satisfaction of the independent Director of Fair Access what more they will do to attract and retain students from under-represented and disadvantaged groups. They will also need to participate in the new National Scholarship Programme from 2012 and provide matched funding.
Further information on the specific commitments, milestones and success indicators are provided in the Social Mobility Strategy.
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Supermarkets: Competition
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on the role and powers of the proposed groceries adjudicator. [76985]
Mr Davey: I have received a wide range of representations on the role and powers on this subject. There were 60 respondents to the formal 2010 consultation divided as follows.
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Number |
Additionally, BIS officials and I have met a range of interested parties to discuss this subject.
Technology Strategy Board
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2011, Official Report, column 1154W, on the Technology Strategy Board, where the Technology Strategy Board met on each occasion that it met outside Wiltshire. [77087]
Mr Willetts: The 27 meetings of the TSB's Governing Board that have been held outside Wiltshire have been held at the following locations:
London (19 times)
Marlow (Buckinghamshire)
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Brackley (Northamptonshire)
Brussels
Oxford
Babraham (Cambridgeshire)
Edinburgh
Guildford (Surrey)
Newport Pagnell (Buckinghamshire)
London has been used as a location most often due to its transport links and easy access for the governing board members.
Third Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 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. [73987]
Mr Davey: I understand the hon. Member to mean civil society organisations.
The Department does not separately identify ‘civil society organisations' so therefore cannot provide a response without incurring disproportionate costs.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much direct funding his Department provided to each civil society organisation it funded in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; how much it plans to provide in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15; and if he will make a statement. [74842]
Mr Davey: The Department does not separately identify “civil society organisations” so therefore cannot provide a response without incurring disproportionate costs.