Domestic Violence
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what definition of domestic violence his Department uses; and whether there are any qualifications of that definition in respect of particular services and processes for which his Department is responsible. [77007]
Maria Miller: The Department uses as a basis the current cross Government definition
“any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse, psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional, between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality”.
Definitions used by DWP are targeted to deliver policy objectives which ensure inclusion for victims. For example, the proposed new 13 week easement for certain victims of domestic violence from the requirements to be available and to be actively seeking work, will be based on the cross-Government definition. There are
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some differences—for example, it will specify family members to which the definition extends. It will not specify that the claimant must have been in an intimate relationship with their partner or former partner, but will include abuse by other members of the victim's and abuser's families.
Employment and Support Allowance
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had within his Department about stopping the assessment rate of employment and support allowance for claimants appealing against a decision. [77685]
Chris Grayling: We constantly review the benefit system to ensure that it is as efficient as possible. We are in the process of considering appeals—as a consequence of the provisions in the Welfare Reform Bill, including universal credit and the requirement to undertake a reconsideration before appealing. However, no decisions have yet been made.
Incapacity Benefit: Correspondence
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many letters were sent by his Department to incapacity benefit claimants informing them that their reassessment was about to commence in each week from the beginning of February 2011 to date. [77683]
Chris Grayling: We have no publicly available data on the number of letters to incapacity benefit claimants informing them that their reassessment was about to commence in each week from the beginning of February 2011 to date.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the current average wait time is between an incapacity benefit claimant receiving a letter informing them of their impending assessment and that claimant attending a work capability assessment. [77684]
Chris Grayling: The average waiting time between an incapacity benefit customer receiving a letter informing them of their impending assessment and that claimant attending a work capability assessment is not collected by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Industrial Health and Safety: Roads
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what occasions the Health and Safety Executive has taken a highways authority to court on the grounds that its work departed from national standards and was construed as the local authority failing in its mandatory duty of care to road users in each of the last five years. [77301]
Chris Grayling: Between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2011, no prosecutions have been taken by HSE against a highways authority in respect of any legal duty owed to road users imposed by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 or any other relevant statutory provision within its field of responsibility.
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Job Creation
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobs in the creative industries were created and supported through the Future Jobs Fund in each local authority area in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [77565]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available.
Pensions
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to uprate (a) pensions and (b) other benefits in line with September's consumer prices index. [77306]
Steve Webb: Next year's proposed benefit rates will be announced to Parliament by ministerial statement later in the autumn.
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the cost of uprating for 2012-13 (a) pensions and (b) all other benefits in line with (i) September's consumer prices index and (ii) the OBR's March forecast for the consumer prices index. [77307]
Steve Webb: The information requested is provided in the following tables for pensions and all other benefits paid by the Department for Work and Pensions.
These costs are indicative only. Actual costs will be dependent on increases in benefit rates in April 2012. Proposed benefit rates will be announced to Parliament by ministerial statement later in the autumn.
| (i) Cost of up rating for 2012-13 under September 2011 outturn CPI, 2011/12 prices | |
| £ billion | |
| Source: DWP Forecasting Model. | |
| (ii) Cost of uprating for 2012-13, under March 2011 forecast CPI, 2011-12 prices | |
| £ billion | |
| Notes: 1. The costing in part (i) is based on the September 2011 outturn CPI and May to July 2011 outturn average earnings for pension credit. 2. The costing in part (ii) is based on the Office for Budget Responsibility's 2011 quarter 3 CPI forecast, and 2011 quarter 2 average earnings forecast for pension credit, as published in the Budget Report March 2011. 3. ‘Pension benefits' include basic state pension uprated with the triple lock policy, additional pension and graduated retirement pension uprated by CPI and pension credit uprated by average earnings. 4. ‘All other benefits' refers to working age benefits including: income support, jobseeker’s allowance, employment and support allowance, incapacity benefit maternity allowances and statutory sick pay, and also housing benefits and disability benefits. All are uprated by CPI. Source: DWP Forecasting Model. | |
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Retirement: Females
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from which budget the funds required to cover the £1 billion reduction in savings consequent upon the change in women's retirement age will be found. [77303]
Steve Webb: The estimated £1.1 billion in lost savings, as a result of the Government's change to the proposed state pension age timetable, will take place during 2019-20 and 2020-21. The Government have set out their spending plans up to 2014-15 in the 2010 spending review. Decisions on spending priorities beyond that will be taken in future spending reviews.
Social Security Benefits: Children
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from which budget he proposes that the £300 million additional funding for child care support which he announced on 7 October 2011 will come. [77686]
Maria Miller: The £300 million additional funding for child care support has been allocated from the existing £2 billion investment for universal credit, allocated in the spending review.
Speech Therapy
Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment he has made of the role of speech and language therapy in reducing unemployment and getting people back to work; [73081]
(2) what steps he is taking to tackle barriers to employment for people with speech, language and communication difficulties. [73082]
Chris Grayling: The Government provide the following support for those with speech, language and communications difficulties:
directly through Jobcentre Plus the Government offer a personalised, flexible service that recognises individuals may have conditions or circumstances requiring different levels of support; disability employment advisers can also offer support for those in need of more specialist help.
Work programme providers are free to decide what support to offer but the Department expects them to address these areas if they are a barrier to employment.
Specialist disability programmes such as Work Choice, Access to Work, and Residential Training provide support to those with the most complex barriers to work.
No specific assessment of the role of speech and language therapy in reducing unemployment has been undertaken. When an individual is participating in either the Work programme or Work Choice, appropriate support based on individual needs will be provided by prime contractors.
An independent review of DWP employment support for disabled people specifically looked at Remploy, residential training colleges and the Access to Work programme. The Government's initial response and a separate public consultation was launched on 11 July
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2011 The closing date for responses was 17 October 2011. The central theme of the review was welcomed by Government, that resources for supporting disabled people into employment should be focused on disabled people themselves rather than on specific institutions. However, no decisions will be made on the future of disability employment support until all responses to the consultation have been considered.
Following its launch in October 2010, a comprehensive evaluation of Work Choice is being carried out, partly through in-house qualitative research with key stakeholders and partly through case studies carried out by an external research organisation—‘Inclusion’.
A full independent evaluation of the Work programme has been commissioned for 2013. It will be led by the Institute for Employment Studies in Brighton.
Unemployment Benefits: Carers
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many registered carers receive unemployment benefits or income support. [77560]
Maria Miller: The figures for those registered carers who receive unemployment benefits or income support are provided as follows:
|
|
Number |
| Notes: 1. JSA (IB) figure has been uprated using 5% proportions against 100% WPLS totals and rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. IS figure is rounded to the nearest 10. 3. IS figure excludes residual MIG claimants. Sources: 1. Income support: DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). 2. Jobseeker’s allowance (IB): Information Directorate, 5% samples. | |
Unemployment: Young People
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the development of sector-based work academies to reduce youth unemployment. [77703]
Chris Grayling: The Scottish Government have agreed in principle to roll out a sector-based work academy model in Scotland. The Department for Work and Pensions is now in discussion with Scottish Government officials on the detail of how this could be delivered and they have agreed to test two sector-based work academies in Scotland; one in East Ayrshire covering customer service and another in Edinburgh covering hospitality.
Universal Credit: Disability
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with disability charities on the proposed introduction of universal credit. [65692]
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Maria Miller: My Department values the contribution that disability charities make to welfare reform. I meet regularly to discuss universal credit reforms with disability charities, and records of my meetings with external stakeholders are routinely published at:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/corporate-publications/ministers-meetings-overseas.shtml
In addition, my officials are in regular discussion with disability organisations concerning the disability aspects of universal credit.
Work Capability Assessment
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 11 October 2011, Official Report, column 358W, on work capability assessment: illnesses, when he expects the next review of the ESA50 questionnaire to take place; and if he will consider refining the ESA50 questionnaire to include a specific question about terminal illness to account for the circumstances where an individual with a terminal illness could receive an ESA50 questionnaire as part of that review. [77701]
Chris Grayling: We keep the ESA50 questionnaire under continuous review to ensure it captures the most relevant information to support decision makers in making accurate decisions. Following recommendations by Professor Harrington we have improved the ESA50 questionnaire, adding a ‘personal justification’ section (on page 3) that allows an individual to explain in their own words what their condition is and how it affects them if they wish.
The vast majority of individuals with a terminal illness as defined by the legislation will be fast tracked to the support group and will not be sent an ESA50 questionnaire. On the rare occasions where an individual with a terminal illness is not fast tracked into the support group and they are sent an ESA50 questionnaire, we would expect the claimant to use the 'personal justification' section to draw attention to the fact that they have been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Work Programme
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Tier 1 and Tier 2 subcontracts from the voluntary and community sectors (a) were named on bids for the Work programme at the initial round of bidding and (b) are currently contracted to provide services. [77687]
Chris Grayling: At the initial round of bidding DWP received 177 bids for the Work programme competition. 1,570 subcontractors were included in these bids from the voluntary and community sector. 40 of these bids were successful and there were 1,404 supply chain opportunities. DWP does not hold an exact comparison between initial bids and the current position. A recent stock take of the position regarding Tier 1 and Tier 2 Work programme supply chains found comparatively few changes with the voluntary sector maintaining the highest share at around 46%.
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Treasury
Banks: Finance
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has undertaken on (a) the extent of UK banks’ exposure to counterparty risk to European banks and (b) UK banks’ ability to withstand mark-to-market volatility in the markets. [76087]
Mr Hoban: Consolidated data on external claims of UK-owned monetary financial institutions, and of their branches and subsidiaries abroad, is available on the Bank of England website at:
http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/statistics/Bankstats/2011/Sep/TabC4.2.xls
This includes UK banking groups’ direct exposures to the private sectors in European countries, as well as derivatives exposures, as of end June 2011.
Individual bank exposures have also been published as part of European Banking Authority (EBA) and Financial Services Authority (FSA) exercises. The four UK banks that participated in the July EBA stress test exercise, Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland, published details of their exposures to the EEA 30 countries (plus the US, Japan and the rest of the world by region). In addition, Co-operative Bank, Nationwide Building Society and Standard Chartered have also published details of their exposures to EEA sovereigns and financial institutions. These disclosures can be seen on the EBA website at:
http://stress-test.eba.europa.eu/
On 16 June 2011, the interim Financial Policy Committee (iFPC) recommended that the FSA compile data on the current sovereign and banking exposures of UK banks not subject to the European Banking Authority (EBA) stress tests to European economic area (EEA) countries. These disclosures can be seen at:
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Other_publications/Miscellaneous/2011/eea_exposure.shtml
Although the UK financial sector is not immune to the events in the eurozone, the Financial Services Authority confirms that UK banks are well capitalised against mark to market volatility on trading books.
Beer: Exports
Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much beer was exported to bonded warehouses in Europe in each of the last three years. [77238]
Miss Chloe Smith: The total volume of beer exported from the UK to bonded warehouses in other EU countries was approximately 465 million litres in each of the last two years, information is unavailable for other years.
Crown Lands and Estates: Northern Ireland
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income has been received in respect of the marine land owned by the Crown Estate around Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and how much such income has been allocated to the Northern Ireland Executive. [77572]
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Miss Chloe Smith: The gross income from the Crown Estate's marine estate in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years was as follows:
|
|
£ million |
Total net income surplus from the Crown Estate is passed directly to the Exchequer for the benefit of all UK citizens. In 2010-11 this amounted to £231 million.
Debts: Business
Owen Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with banks on underwriting or guaranteeing debts of businesses. [76941]
Mr Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Debts: EU Countries
Chris Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of exposure of the UK banking system to (a) Italian, (b) Spanish, (c) Portuguese and (d) Irish sovereign debt. [77437]
Mr Hoban: Data on external claims of UK-owned monetary financial institutions, and of their branches and subsidiaries abroad, are available on the Bank of England website at:
http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/statistics/Bankstats/2011/Sep/TabC4.2.xls
These data include UK banking groups' direct exposures to the entire public sectors in Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Italy and France, as of end June 2011.
Advertising: Job Vacancies
Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on advertising job vacancies since May 2010. [75632]
Miss Chloe Smith: Since May 2010, the Treasury has reduced its spending on advertising job vacancies externally to £38,702.
An external recruitment freeze was put in place in May 2010 across the civil service and only business critical posts that could not be filled from within the civil service have been advertised externally.
All requests to advertise externally have been referred for ministerial approval, and only those with this approval have been advertised.
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Departmental Allowances
Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much members of his departmental management board have claimed in expenses since May 2010. [74949]
Miss Chloe Smith: Details of HM Treasury's senior officials' business expenses are published on our website at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/senior_officials_expenses.htm
This provides details of expense claims from April 2008 to September 2010. More recent data will be available in due course.
Equality Impact
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an equality impact assessment with the Autumn Statement. [77308]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Autumn Statement is the response of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the Economic and Fiscal Outlook which will be published by the Office for Budget Responsibility on 29 November.
In line with its statutory obligations, the Government pays due regard to the impact of policy measures on groups with protected characteristics as part of the policy development process.
Procurement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many contracts his Department has awarded directly to third sector organisations in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; and if he will make a statement; [75170]
(2) how many contracts his Department has awarded directly to (a) small, (b) medium-sized and (c) large businesses in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; and if he will make a statement; [75171]
(3) how many contracts his Department has advertised on the Contracts Finder website in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; what proportion were awarded to (a) third sector organisations and (b) small businesses; and if he will make a statement. [75173]
Miss Chloe Smith: HM Treasury does not hold information on the number of contracts awarded directly to either third sector organisations or to small, medium-sized or large businesses prior to January 2011. This information could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
HM Treasury does record data relating to whether a supplier is classified as a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME), but does not distinguish between small or medium- sized organisations. HM Treasury does not record whether contracts are awarded to suppliers classified as third sector organisations.
Since January 2011 it has been a mandatory requirement for Departments to advertise all new tenders and contracts over the value of £10,000 (excluding VAT) on Contracts Finder in line with Cabinet Office guidance.
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The number of HM Treasury contracts advertised and awarded each month on Contracts Finder since January 2011 to end September 2011 are shown in the
31 Oct 2011 : Column 430W
following table. In some cases, the value of the contract will be determined by usage.
| Month (2011) | Opportunities/tenders published | Contracts awarded | Value of contracts awarded (exc . VAT) (£ million) | Number of contracts awarded to SMEs |
Energy: Prices
Mr Offord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal measures his Department is taking to assist families adversely affected by trends in energy prices. [74177]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Government are taking a range of steps to assist households affected by rising energy prices, including fiscal measures.
The Energy Consumer Summit held on 17 October 2011 agreed a range of steps that Government, energy suppliers and the regulator Ofgem will take to help consumers by clarifying bills, facilitating switching supplier and increasing uptake of insulation to help consumers save money on their gas and electricity bills. The Government welcome Ofgem's proposals to simplify energy tariffs and standardise price information.
The new Warm Home Discount will this year require energy suppliers to provide £250 million of rebates and other assistance to around 2 million households vulnerable to fuel poverty, including automatic discounts of £120 off energy bills this winter to about 600,000 of the poorest pensioners. Over 9 million pensioner households will receive the winter fuel payment of £200 (£300 for households with someone over 80). The cold weather payment has been permanently increased from £8.50 to £25. In addition, domestic energy remains subject to the reduced 5% VAT rate.
Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation
Mr Darling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much on average has been paid to each Equitable Life policy holder through the compensation scheme; what the highest award paid was; and how many payments have been made by the scheme since its inception. [77311]
Mr Hoban: The scheme began making payments as planned on the 30 June this year and close to 1,000 payments to individual policyholders have been made to date. Payment volumes will continue to be ramped up over the coming months as the scheme's complex payment processes are refined further.
The Government set out at the spending review in October last year that £500 million was available to make payments to policyholders in 2011-12, £300 million in 2012-13.and £200 million in 2013-14. We are making good progress towards delivering these payments to policyholders.
The average payment to date is £676 and the highest payment made so far is £17,416.18.
EU Grants and Loans
Mr MacShane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what EU grants were available but not taken up by the Government since May 2010. [77479]
Mr Hoban: This information is not held centrally. Applications for EU grants are a matter for the individual Government Department concerned.
Mr MacShane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of reductions in central Government spending on the allocation of EU funds to English regions. [77480]
Mr Hoban: The UK allocation of EU Structural Funds for the period 2007-13 was agreed in 2005 and as such is not affected by reductions in central Government expenditure.
Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks
Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of duty stamps on (a) beer and (b) spirits to prevent duty fraud. [77198]
Miss Chloe Smith: HMRC publishes estimates of losses from duty fraud involving spirits and beer annually. The most recent estimate of the spirits tax gap was published in “Measuring Tax Gaps-2011” in September 2011.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/measuring-tax-gaps.htm
This estimate indicates that since the introduction of duty stamps in 2006 the spirits illicit market has fallen from 6% (2005-06) to 3% (2009-10).
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My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the Government will explore potential legislative measures to tackle existing and emerging threats to alcohol duty receipts at Budget 2011. HMRC are currently consulting informally with the alcohol industry on potential anti-fraud measures, including exploring the potential to introduce a fiscal marking scheme for beer.
Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the types of alcohol which are particularly susceptible to duty fraud. [77405]
Miss Chloe Smith: HMRC published estimates of losses from duty fraud involving spirits and beer in “Measuring Tax Gaps-2011” in September 2011.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/measuring-tax-gaps.htm
Estimates of duty losses involving other types of alcoholic beverages are not available.
Government Departments: Procurement
Mr Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to employ a member of his Department's senior management team to work with officials in other Government Departments for the purpose of ensuring central Government procurement better supports domestic industry, UK skills, British manufacturing and domestic supply chains. [75284]
Mr Maude: I have been asked to reply.
The Government are committed to ensuring that growth is supported in all areas of UK Government policy.
For procurement we are making sure that the procurement process is fast, swift and sure. This will help to make sure that excellent British firms win business.
My officials are working with colleagues in BIS and HMT to see what more can be done.
Loans: Business
Owen Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with banks on potential incentives to increase lending to businesses. [76925]
Mr Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Owen Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the Bank of England on potential incentives to increase bank lending to businesses. [76940]
Mr Hoban: HM Treasury is engaging with the Bank of England on credit easing as part of routine Government business. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
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National Insurance Contributions
Mr Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of administering the systems of (a) employee and (b) employer national insurance contributions in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [76807]
Mr Gauke: The HM Revenue and Customs annual report and accounts show that the total cost charged by HMRC to the National Insurance Fund to administer national insurance contributions in 2010-11 was £354 million. A breakdown of costs is not available.
National Insurance Contributions: New Businesses
Julian Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has had discussions on making the national insurance holiday scheme for small businesses opt-out rather than opt-in. [77691]
Mr Gauke: To provide the support needed to new businesses as soon as possible, the current scheme was designed to be implemented quickly, with limited burden on businesses, software developers and HMRC and within the constraints of state aid and eligibility rules. This precluded the possibility that the scheme could be designed on an opt-out basis.
Revenue and Customs: Pensions
Margot James: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of allowing all current employees of HM Revenue and Customs to opt-in to the pension terms and conditions agreed following the merger of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise in 2005. [76973]
Mr Gauke: The Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme is a statutory occupational scheme, connected to employment in the civil service. It is a voluntary scheme that members can join at any time during their employment within the civil service.
At the point when the former Inland Revenue merged with former Customs and Excise to become HM Revenue and Customs, individuals continued in the same pension scheme as they were in before the merger. There were no additional financial costs relating to pensions as a result of the merger.
Margot James: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average annual gross pension allowance is for an employee of HM Revenue and Customs who (a) opted into and (b) opted out of the pension terms and conditions agreed following the merger of the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise in 2005. [76974]
Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs does not hold information relating to the average value of pensions, so we are unable to provide this information.
At the point when former Inland Revenue merged with former Customs and Excise to become HM Revenue and Customs in 2005, there were no changes to the pension scheme. Individuals continued in the same pension scheme, on the same terms as before the merger.
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Social Security Benefits: Foreign Nationals
Mr Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total amount of (a) child benefit, (b) child tax credit and (c) working tax credit paid to non-UK citizens was in each year from 2004-05 to 2010-11; and if he will make a statement. [76950]
Mr Gauke: The information requested is not available. Nationality is not a condition of entitlement to child benefit or the child and working tax credits.
However, child benefit and tax credits are intended to provide support to families with children in the UK and to those in low-paid work here. As a result, eligibility for child benefit and tax credits depends on the claimants being present and ordinarily resident in the UK. In addition, child benefit and child tax credit claimants must also have a right to reside in the UK. Non-EEA nationals in the UK who are subject to immigration control are generally not entitled to child benefit or tax credits.
Winter Fuel Payments
Mr Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the potential revenue yield from taxation of the winter fuel payment at 40 per cent. for higher rate taxpayers; and if he will make a statement. [76348]
Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply.
The following table provides estimates of how much would be paid in income tax on winter fuel payments at 40% for higher rate taxpayers if the payments were not exempt from taxation, assuming the 2011-12 payment rate of £200 for people aged 60 to 79 and £300 for people aged 80 or over. The figures are expressed in cash terms and rounded to the nearest £10 million.
| Estimated reversion to Exchequer if winter fuel payments for higher rate taxpayers were subject to income tax, | |
|
|
£ million (cash terms) |
The estimates are based on Department for Work and Pensions expenditure forecasts combined with information on the tax paid by older people from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs Survey of Personal Incomes.
Education
Academies
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools with attached nurseries have converted to academy status since May 2010; and how many such schools have set up an independent company to run their nursery following conversion to academy status. [74525]
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Mr Gibb: This information is not collected by the Department.
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools have converted to academy status in (a) Kettering constituency, (b) Northamptonshire and (c) England. [74552]
Mr Gibb: As of 1 October 2011, three schools in the Kettering constituency have converted to academy status, 11 have converted in Northamptonshire and 1,031 schools have converted in England.
Full details of schools that have converted to academy status can be found on the Department for Education Academies website at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/types ofschools/academies/b0069811/open-academies-and-academy-projects-in-development
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools in Dartford constituency (a) had applied and (b) were in the process of applying for academy status on the latest date for which figures are available. [74757]
Mr Gibb: As of 13 October 2011, eight schools in the Dartford constituency have applied to convert to academy status. Three of those schools have already converted and a further five are in the process of converting.
Two schools are in the process of becoming sponsored academies.
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/types ofschools/academies/a0069811/schools-submitting-applications-and-academies-that-have-opened-in-201011
Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many special schools have become academies under the Academies Act 2010. [76331]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 24 October 2011]: As of 1 October 2011, 14 special schools in England have converted to academy status.
Full details of schools that have converted to academy status, including special schools, can be found on the Department for Education academies website at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/academies/b0069811/open-academies-and-academy-projects-in-development
Academies: Primary Education
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what criteria he plans to use in determining whether to convert primary schools to academy status; what account he takes of the special needs of pupils when assessing the performance of primary schools; and if he will list those primary schools he intends to designate with academy status. [75281]
Mr Gibb
[holding answer 17 October 2011]: Primary schools are considered for conversion to academy status following an application being submitted to the Department
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by the school. The following criteria are taken into account in determining whether to approve an application to convert to an academy:
The school's last three years exam results and the general performance trend.
Comparisons, both locally and nationally, with exam performance in similar schools i.e. the percentage of pupils making expected progress in English and Maths with KS2 for primary schools, and KS2-4 in secondary schools. We will be looking at whether the results are above, or moving rapidly towards, the national averages in attainment and progression.
The last Ofsted inspections, taking particular notice of the school's capacity to improve; its outcomes; and effectiveness of the leadership team.
Any other evidence of a school's performance which a school considers to be significant.
Consideration is also taken of the school's financial position, the school's plans to support improvement in weaker schools, and whether the necessary legal requirements have been met. Less strongly performing schools may still be considered for conversion to academy status provided they convert in an appropriate chain arrangement with a high performing school or sponsor.
In determining the school’s performance my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education may also consider contextual factors such as the pupils on the school roll with special educational needs and Ofsted judgments over the quality of education for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and their progress.
A list is available on the Department's website of all primary schools that have applied to convert to academy status, including a list of those applications that have been approved. The website also lists those primary schools that have become sponsored academies.
www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/b0069811/open-academies-and-academy-projects-in-development
Departmental Correspondence
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has received representations concerning (a) the Big Society Bank, (b) the Work programme and (c) volunteering since June 2011; and if he will make a statement. [75067]
Sarah Teather: As far as I am aware, the Department has not received any formal representations concerning the Big Society Bank since June 2011. However, we welcome the creation of Big Society Capital (formerly known as the Big Society Bank) which will provide new investment for voluntary organisations and support them to deliver vital services for children, young people and families.
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Responsibility for the new Work programme falls to the Department for Work and Pensions and as far as I am aware, no formal representations about this programme have been made to the Department for Education. However, Government Departments are working closely together to widen opportunities available to young people aged 16 to 24 to maximise their participation in education, employment and training. We are committed to supporting all 16- and 17-year-olds to participate in education or training, and to raising the participation age to 18 by 2015.
I can confirm that the Department has received a number of written responses since June 2011 relating to volunteering as part of a wide-ranging consultation on a new cross-Government statement on youth policy. These are being reviewed to inform the final statement which will be published, together with a summary of responses, later this year.
Discretionary Learner Support Fund: Birmingham
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will estimate the number of residents in Birmingham, Ladywood who are likely to make use of the Discretionary Learner Fund; and how many residents claimed the education maintenance allowance. [76561]
Mr Gibb: This is a matter for the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) who operate the education maintenance allowance and the 16-19 bursary fund for the Department for Education. Peter Lauener, the YPLA's chief executive, will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Libraries.
Free School Meals
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of children receive free school meals in each (a) free school and (b) local authority area where a free school has been established. [75090]
Mr Gibb: There are 24 free schools, in 21 local authorities, which opened since September 2011. The Department does not currently hold free school meal information for pupils in these; this is being collected as part of the autumn term school census. A table will be placed in the House Library when available; this is likely to be early in the new year.
The available information on the percentage of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals in local authorities where a free school has been established is shown in the following tables.
| Maintained nursery, state-funded primary, state-funded secondary, special schools and pupil referral units (1, 2, 3, 4) : number and percentage of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (5, 6, 7) , local authorities with a free school, January 2011, England | ||||||||
| Maintained nursery and state-funded primary schools (1, 2) | State-funded secondary schools (1, 3) | |||||||
| Pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school means | Pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school means | |||||||
| LA code | LA number |
|
Number on roll (5, 6) | Number (5, 6) | Percentage | Number on roll (5, 6) | Number (5, 6) | Percentage |
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| Special schools (4) | Pupil referral units | |||||||
| Pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school means | Pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school means | |||||||
| LA code | LA number |
|
Number on roll (5, 6) | Number (5, 6) | Percentage | Number on roll (5, 6) | Number (5, 6) | Percentage |
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| Total (7) | |||||
| Pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school means | |||||
| LA code | LA number |
|
Number on roll (5, 6) | Number (5, 6) | Percentage |
| n/a = Not applicable. No schools of this type. (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes primary academies. (3) Includes city technology colleges and secondary academies. (4) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools, excludes general hospital schools. (5) Includes pupils who are sole or dual main registrations. Includes boarders. In pupil referral units also includes pupils registered with other providers and further education colleges. (6) Pupils who have full-time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part-time attendance and are aged between five and 15. (7) Includes maintained nursery, state-funded primary, state-funded secondary, special schools and pupil referral units. Excludes pupils in alternative provision, other than pupil referral units. (8) One or two pupils or a percentage based on one or two pupils. Note: Total numbers have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: School census. | |||||
Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of children (a) eligible and (b) not eligible for free school meals achieved five GCSEs at A* to C in (i) academies and (ii) maintained schools in 2010. [76609]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 24 October 2011]: The information requested can be found in the following table:
| Number and percentage of pupils at the end of key stage 4 achieving five or more A*-C grades at GCSE and equivalent (1) by free school meal (FSM) eligibility and school type (2) , 2009/10 | ||||
|
|
|
Total number of pupils | Number of pupils achieving 5 or more A*-C grades at GCSE and equivalent | Percentage of pupils achieving 5 or more A*-C grades at GCSE and equivalent |
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| (1) In 2010 iGCSEs, accredited at time of publication, have been counted as GCSE equivalents and also as English and mathematics GCSEs. (2) Includes all maintained schools, including CTCs and academies. (3) Includes pupils not eligible for FSM and for whom FSM eligibility could not be determined. Source: National Pupil Database: Final data | ||||
Free Schools: Finance
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much of the education budget is allocated to free schools in 2011-12. [75217]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 17 October 2011]: The budget allocation for free schools for 2011-12 has yet to be finalised and is dependent on developing and finalising the costs for the recently announced 55 new free schools and 13 new university technical colleges scheduled to open from September 2012, as well as finalising the costs of the alternative provision free schools, special free schools and studio schools that will be approved later this year.
Grammar Schools
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children were admitted to grammar schools in (a) England, (b) Kent and (c) Dartford constituency in each of the last five years. [76081]
Mr Gibb: The available information is shown in the following table.
| Number of pupils aged 11 in grammar schools, 2007-11 (1, 2) | |||||
|
|
2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| (1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 if under 1,000, and to the nearest 100 if over 1,000. (2) Includes maintained mainstream schools only. Source: School census. | |||||
Schools: Admissions
Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the cost per pupil of providing places in (a) free schools, (b) academies and (c) local authority run schools in (i) London and (ii) England in the academic year 2011-12. [74810]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 19 October 2011]: Local authority maintained schools are funded on a financial year basis and their budgets are set locally on a formula determined by local authorities in consultation with schools forums. For 2011-12 financial year basis, the average budget share per pupil in (i) London is £5,505 and (ii) for England is £4,667. These figures are taken from local authority section 251 Budget Statements for 2011-12 and include local authority maintained schools at the time the statements were completed by local authorities.
Academies are funded on an academic year basis by the Young People's Learning Agency according to the same local funding formula as maintained schools. This ensures funding equivalence with maintained schools in the local authority. Free schools are funded using a model designed to provide per pupil funding equivalent to maintained schools in the same local authority area. For the 2011/12 academic year, the average funding per pupil for academies in (i) London is £6,320 and (ii) for England is £5,483. The funding per pupil for free schools in (i) London is £6,507 and (ii) England is £5,092.
The inclusion of LACSEG and post-16 funding means that per pupil figures for academies and free schools are not directly comparable with the budget share per pupil figures for local maintained schools above. Academies and free schools both receive the Local Authority Central Services Equivalent Grant (LACSEG), to reflect the additional responsibilities they undertake that were previously the responsibility of their local authority. Funding for academies and free schools also includes funding for post-16 pupils, where relevant.
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of places at maintained secondary schools in each local authority area are at (a) non-denominational schools, (b) Church of England schools, (c) Catholic schools, (d) other Christian denomination schools, (e) Jewish schools, (f) Muslim schools and (g) other denominational or faith schools. [75449]
Mr Gibb: Information showing the number and percentage of pupils in state-funded secondary schools by religious character of their school has been placed in the House Libraries.
Schools: Bassetlaw
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many children in Bassetlaw will be taught in upstairs classrooms after the allocation of priority schools funding; and what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) health and safety and (b) children with disabilities of the use of upstairs classrooms; [76623]
(2) how many schools in Bassetlaw will not receive funding to replace coal-fired boilers under priority schools funding. [76624]
Mr Gibb
[holding answer 25 October 2011]: Applications to the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) are currently being assessed and we expect to announce those projects that will go forward later in the year. The
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programme aims to address school buildings in the very worst condition. It is not a priority to provide single storey buildings or to replace coal-fired boilers through the programme.
There are no health and safety implications of building a school of more than one storey that cannot be overcome easily; and there is no reason why children with disabilities should be adversely affected by the provision of upstairs classrooms, where these are provided as part of PSBP. Any new building work has to comply with the building regulations which deal with the health, safety and welfare of people in and around buildings. Any new building work has to comply with part M of the Building Regulations (Access to and use of buildings). Schools also have to comply with the Equalities Act 2010, which sets out that people cannot be discriminated against, including because of their disability.
Schools: Inspections
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of Ofsted's policy on the timing and cycle of inspection visits; and if he will make a statement. [75251]
Mr Gibb: The Department is committed to working with Ofsted to reform inspection across Ofsted's remit. Our aim is to make inspection arrangements more proportionate and targeted at those in most need of improvement. In relation to schools for example, we intend that outstanding institutions should be subject to full inspection only where there is a decline in performance, and that Ofsted should target visits at schools that are inadequate or satisfactory.
Teach First Programme
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the Teach First programme will operate in university technical colleges. [76441]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 24 October 2011]:Teach First is an independent charity with a mission to address educational disadvantage by transforming exceptional graduates into effective, inspirational teachers and leaders in all fields. Teach First places participants in schools in areas with the greatest deprivation, or with low attainment at GCSE. Teach First would consider partnering with a university technical college that meets these criteria. All placements must enable participants to gain qualified teacher status, and provide a supportive environment.
Young People: Disability
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to encourage (a) statutory agencies and (b) post-16 providers to work together to ensure disabled young people are supported they need to access the further education course of their choice; and if he will make a statement. [76582]
Mr Gibb
[holding answer 24 October 2011]: The Government put forward proposals to strengthen links and co-operation between those who plan, deliver and support further education and training for disabled students from age 16 in the Green Paper “Support and
31 Oct 2011 : Column 444W
Aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability”, published on 9 March. Following this, the Green Paper pathfinders announced on 21 September will test the provision of strong partnerships between all local services and statutory agencies to ensure that disabled students are helped to access the educational choice and support they need.
The Government will set out their plans for improving the support and outcomes of disabled young people and those with SEN by the end of the year, following analysis of the responses to the Green Paper.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many learning difficulty assessments for disabled young people planning to attend further education were carried out in (a) Coventry and (b) the West Midlands in the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [76583]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 24 October 2011]:Local authorities are responsible for arranging learning difficulty assessments. They have a duty to arrange an assessment for all young people who hold a statement of special educational need, if they are leaving school to undertake post-16 education or training. They also have the power to arrange an assessment for other young people aged 16-24 if they appear to the authority to have a learning difficulty.
Local authorities hold their own records and the Department does not collect or hold data showing how many learning difficulty assessments have taken place.
Cabinet Office
Eggs
Mr Spellar: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will take steps to ensure that all Government food and catering contracts require that all eggs be sourced from farms that meet the welfare of laying hens directive from January 2012. [76054]
Mr Paice: I have been asked to reply.
We will be making necessary changes to the Government Buying Standards mandatory criteria to ensure eggs produced in conventional cages, in an illegal production system across the EU after 2012, should not be used in any form whether this is fresh, powdered or liquid.
Electoral Register
James Wharton: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what records are kept of the number of Commonwealth citizens on the UK electoral register. [77548]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what records are kept of the number of Commonwealth citizens on the UK electoral register (77548).
ONS does not hold specific data on the number of Commonwealth citizens registered to vote.
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Government: Procurement
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will announce a date for the start of the Lean Procurement programme. [76914]
Mr Maude [holding answer 27 October 2011]: The Government are committed to making Government procurement quicker, cheaper and work differently for all concerned. The Lean Review conducted in late 2010 set out to uncover wasteful practices and examine how the procurement process could be accelerated. The report was published in February 2011 identifying significant potential to reduce turnaround time and costs in the way Government procure. Since then, the Cabinet Office has developed a new lean sourcing process embracing ‘lean' management practices. The new process is being tested on live procurement projects, with promising early results, and a pilot training course has been designed and run. Roll out across central Government is due to commence in early 2012.
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister on the Lean Procurement programme. [77027]
Mr Maude [holding answer 27 October 2011]: I have discussed the Lean Procurement programme regularly with a variety of Cabinet colleagues, including the Deputy Prime Minister, as part of the Cabinet Committee process.
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 the Central Office of Information using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10. [75821]
Mr Maude: I have asked the chief executive of the Central Office of Information to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Emma Lochhead/Graham Hooper, dated 20 October 2011:
As Joint Chief Executives of the Central Office of Information (COI), we have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question 75821 regarding transactions made using the Government Procurement Card (GPC).
The Central Office of Information (COI) uses the Government Procurement Card as it is an efficient way of processing low value transactions.
This Government is committed to transparency and we believe the information regarding Government Procurement Cards for this financial year is the most relevant. Central Government Departments will be publishing any transactions over £500 on their websites, starting with 2011/2012 Quarter 1 (April – June) data at the end of October and then on a monthly basis.
The cost work required to obtain, contextualise and report data for Central Office of Information from the last 3 years would exceed the cost limits of a Freedom of Information request or a Parliamentary question.
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Industrial Disputes
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of days lost in the (a) private sector and (b) public sector through industrial action which has not been sanctioned by a trade union since May 2010. [77957]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of the number of days lost in the (a) private sector and (b) public sector through industrial action which has not been sanctioned by a trade union since May 2010. [77957]
Monthly statistics on the number of labour disputes are available in table 20 of the Statistical Bulletin for Labour Market statistics at:
www.statistics.gov.uk
However, ONS does not collect information on whether a strike was sanctioned by a trade union or not.
Third Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many registered charities, co-operatives, social enterprises and other civil society organisations there were at the start of the financial year in each of the last five years. [77397]
Mr Hurd: Data are not available to provide an estimate of the number of civil society organisations in each of the last five years.
Latest data from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations shows that in 2007-08 there were an estimated 900,000 civil society organisations in the UK. This includes 171,000 registered charities, 4,600 co-operatives and approximately 600,000 informal community groups.