7 Nov 2011 : Column 1W
Written Answers to Questions
Monday 7 November 2011
Energy and Climate Change
Biofuels: Electricity
Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the removal of its subsidy of biomass for electricity. [78553]
Gregory Barker: The Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Charles Hendry), who has responsibility for enegy, recently met Fergus Ewing, the Scottish Government’s Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, and stakeholders from the wood processing and bioenergy industries to discuss this and other issues.
Biofuels: Timber
Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he is considering reducing the subsidy for biomass for wood sourced in the UK. [78554]
Gregory Barker: On 20 October 2011, we published our proposals for the levels of support available for renewable electricity generation, including sustainable biomass electricity, under the renewables obligation (RO) for the period 2013 to 2017. Our proposals aim to support the most cost-effective biomass generation such as conversion from coal which we expect to be fuelled from imports. They represent a cautious approach to the growth of new dedicated biomass plant and take account of the availability of sustainable feedstocks and the demand in non-energy sectors.
This is a consultation. We are open to evidence from all parties on the role of biomass and the level of subsidies and are already in dialogue with the wood panel industry and others on these issues.
Ministerial Meetings
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many meetings he has had with (a) the Renewable Energy Association and (b) the Solar Traders Association since his appointment; and if he will make a statement. [78723]
Gregory Barker: All ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis and can be found on the Department's website by clicking the following link:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/registers/ministermtgs/ministermtgs.aspx
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Energy: Prices
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the reason is for the time taken by his Department to announce its consultation on the Energy Company Obligation. [78789]
Gregory Barker: We will be consulting on the energy company obligation (ECO) jointly with the Green Deal. We are currently finalising the documents, including draft statutory instruments to establish the whole Green Deal and ECO legal framework, which we will publish for consultation shortly.
Natural Gas: Exploration
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the risks of contamination of the water supply by the process of fracking from the leak of (a) fracking fluid and (b) methane gas. [79046]
Charles Hendry: Protection of water supplies in England and Wales are a matter for the Environment Agency, and for the corresponding bodies in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Assessment of the risk of contamination to water sources from fracking would be carried out on a case-by-case basis.
Currently the only shale gas fracking which has taken place is at one of Cuadrilla's drilling sites in Lancashire. In this case, I understand that the Environment Agency have assessed the risks both in relation to fracking fluid and methane gas and, on present information, do not consider that these shale drilling operations pose a risk to the environment—including to water resources. If the drilling operations were to change the Environment Agency would reassess the risk, and any necessary monitoring and control measures would be put in place to protect the environment, including any drinking water sources.
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether community-owned renewable energy schemes with a generating capacity above 50 kW will be eligible to receive support through his proposed feed-in tariff with contract for difference. [78770]
Gregory Barker: Eligible community-owned renewable electricity generating schemes between 50 kW and 5 MW are able to choose support under either the small-scale feed-in tariff or the renewables obligation. Work is currently under way to determine the appropriate eligibility criteria for the feed-in tariff with contract for difference scheme and how it should interact with other support mechanisms.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of feed-in tariff installations are in (a) solar, (b) wind, (c) micro combined heat and power and (d) hydro. [79096]
Gregory Barker: The percentage of feed-in tariff installations confirmed onto the FIT scheme by technology type are:
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| As at end of October 2011 | ||
| Technology type | Number of installations | Percentage of total installations |
| Notes: 1. The latest feed-in tariff statistics were published at 9:30 am on 4 November 2011. A further breakdown of these figures by tariff types and their corresponding installation capacity can be found in the monthly table titled ‘Feed in Tariff capacity: monthly update’. This table can be accessed through the following link: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/source/electricity/electricity.aspx 2. The statistics presented in this table includes installations transferred from the existing renewables obligation. | ||
Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs
Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the reduction in the feed-in tariff for solar power will apply to installations completed between 12 December 2011 and 31 March 2012. [78609]
Gregory Barker: On 31 October 2011, the Government published a consultation setting out proposed new tariffs for solar photovoltaics (PV) under the feed-in tariffs scheme. The consultation proposes that new tariffs will be implemented from 1 April 2012 but will apply to all new PV installations with an eligibility date on or after 12 December 2011. The eligibility date is the date on which a valid application is received by the feed-in tariff licensee, normally the applicant's electricity supplier.
Under the proposals, those with an eligibility date falling between 12 December 2011 and 31 March 2012 will receive the current tariff for that period and then move to the proposed new tariff on 1 April 2012.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to paragraph 1 of his Department's consultation on Comprehensive Review Phase 1—Tariffs for Solar PV, published on 31 October 2011, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of solar PV installations which have been installed but not yet registered for feed-in tariffs. [79032]
Gregory Barker: DECC publishes monthly data on the number of small scale solar PV schemes (sub-50 kW) that have been installed and registered on the Microgeneration Certification Scheme database but have not yet been confirmed onto the FIT scheme. The table can be found on the following webpage:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/source/electricity/electricity.aspx
The latest data (as at 31 October 2011) indicate that there are 32,023 small scale solar (sub 50kW) PV schemes that have been installed but not yet confirmed onto the FIT scheme.
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Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to paragraph 37 of his Department's consultation on Comprehensive Review Phase 1—Tariffs for Solar PV, published on 31 October 2011, whether his Department has made an estimate of the proportion of multiple PV installations that have been installed by (a) local authorities, (b) housing associations, (c) other public sector organisations and (d) charitable organisations. [79034]
Gregory Barker: We do not hold the information required to answer this question.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Animals: Disease Control
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department carried out on the effect of (a) rationalisation of veterinary laboratory service sites and (b) the reduction in numbers of staff at such sites on (i) quality of diagnosis and (ii) speed of completion of tests during a period of (A) normal demand, (B) outbreak of a non-notifiable animal disease and (C) outbreak of a notifiable animal disease; and if she will make a statement. [78337]
Mr Paice: The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency executive team initiated a review of the delivery of laboratory services across England and Wales as part of an exercise to identify additional savings that need to be made in 2012-13, while enabling the agency to continue to deliver important scientific services to Government and the livestock industry.
This review built on the recommendations of the VLA Sustainable Surveillance project which recommended that the post mortem examination of carcasses, which makes up the most valuable aspect of surveillance work, be de-coupled from the provision of laboratory services functions, removing the requirement for co-location of the two work areas.
Important disease surveillance work such as post mortems carried out at each of the 16 sites will continue and it is expected that test turnaround time will be improved.
AHVLA's ability to respond to disease outbreaks will be maintained as confirmatory tests for notifiable and non-notifiable diseases are carried out at Weybridge which is not part of the regional laboratory network.
Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration she has given to the public safety implications of using shooting as part of the proposed badger cull for (a) those taking part in the cull and (b) other countryside users. [77514]
Mr Paice:
Controlled shooting in the field (including at night) is a method which is widely and safely used for culling a range of other mammals. To obtain a licence to carry out culling, operators would be required to
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demonstrate competence and attend a Government-approved training course. Safety and security would be key elements of the training.
We are also looking at what information on those taking part in a cull would need to be held and how, so that their personal safety is not compromised.
We are in discussion with the Association of Chief Police Officers and with the Home Office regarding the police response and associated costs related to the proposed badger control policy.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the effects of a badger cull using shooting on access to parts of the countryside affected by the cull; [77515]
(2) whether any footpaths or bridleways will be closed as part of the proposed badger cull using shooting. [77518]
Mr Paice: Specific licence conditions, for example those relating to shooting close to areas where there is a public right of way, will be considered on a case-by-case basis by Natural England.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has had discussions with (a) the Ramblers Association, (b) the British Horse Society and (c) other groups involved in access to the countryside on the potential effects on them of the proposed badger cull using shooting. [77516]
Mr Paice: I have not discussed the proposed policy with the Ramblers Association or the British Horse Society. Any organisation or individual was able to submit a response to the 2010 or 2011 consultation on the policy.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has received any representations expressing concern about the policing of a badger cull. [77517]
Mr Paice: Responses to the 2010 public consultation on the proposed badger control policy raised a number of important issues. A summary of responses was published in July 2011 and is available on DEFRA’s website at:
http://archive.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/tb-control-measures/index.htm
We are discussing the issue of policing of a badger cull with the Association of Chief Police Officers and with the Home Office.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost to farmers of the proposed badger cull using shooting. [77520]
Mr Paice: We have estimated that farmers and landowners who apply for licences are likely to incur a cost of around £1.4 million for one 350 sq km area to carry out the culling operation (including the costs of coordination and surveying). This is based on DEFRA's estimated cost of culling—the industry believes that it can be delivered for less.
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Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with Ministers in the Welsh Government on the proposed badger cull using shooting. [77521]
Mr Paice: Bovine TB is a devolved issue; however, this disease does not respect national borders and we continue to co-operate and work closely with the Welsh Government and seek to co-ordinate activity as far as possible.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what meetings she has had on the proposed badger cull using shooting since May 2010. [77522]
Mr Paice: Details of meetings with outside interest groups (ie any group or individuals, including lobby groups and other non-governmental organisations which have an interest in the policy of the Department) are now published on a quarterly basis. Details of all ministerial meetings up until the end of March 2011 are available online at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/about/who/ministers/transparency/
Since March 2011, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has met with the following organisations to discuss options for the control of TB—I was also present at the meetings as indicated.
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Name of external organisation |
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British Veterinary Association/British Cattle Veterinary Association |
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British Veterinary Association/British Cattle Veterinary Association |
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I also met with the following organisation to discuss options for the control of TB:
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Name of organisation |
Departmental Lost Property
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has lost any (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other IT equipment since May 2010; and if she will make a statement. [77370]
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Richard Benyon: Official items lost or stolen are all recorded as ‘losses’. The following table shows losses reported in Core DEFRA for the period 12 May 2010 to 25 October 2011.
| Description | Quantity |
All reported incidents are investigated and if theft is suspected the matter is reported to the police. Staff are advised to report losses of equipment while out of the office to the police directly as well as to their security team.
Telephone Helplines
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has allocated to each telephone helpline funded by her Department in 2011-12; what the purpose is of each such helpline; and how many calls each helpline received in each of the last five years. [77716]
Richard Benyon: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave to the hon. Member for Llanelli (Nia Griffith) on 7 September 2011, Official Report, columns 653-54W, regarding the funding and purpose of helplines funded by DEFRA, except where updated information is available, which has been provided as follows:
The number of calls each helpline received in each year of the last five years for which figures are available is given as follows:
| 1. General DEFRA helpline | |
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Number of calls |
Figures can be provided only for the last two full years; those since the contract has been with the current service provider.
| 2. DEFRA farming online helpline | |
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Number of calls |
3. PLANET (Planning land applications of nutrients for efficiency and the environment) helpline
Allocated funding for 2011-12 is £50,000 following release of PLANET version 3
The helpline is a support mechanism for registered users of the PLANET computer-based decision support tool which helps farmers and land managers optimise their use of fertilisers and other nutrients so helping with growing of crops and avoiding over-use which can
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harm the environment. The helpline provides a mix of IT help for farmers while they familiarise themselves with the software and provides nutrient management advice from trained fertiliser advisers. It also handles registration for new users of PLANET and facilitates access to the software.
| Period | Number of calls |
| (1) Estimated. | |
Figures are collated by financial year, and represent the number of recorded calls. Simple administrative queries such as requests from callers to be sent the software DVD and general questions about PLANET are not recorded.
An estimated figure is given for the period mid-February to September 2010 because precise data are currently unavailable as this represents the period when the helpline was being upgraded in preparation for the release of Planet 3 in October 2010.
Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency
| 1. PETS helpline | |
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|
Number of calls |
Figures can be provided only for the last two full years; those since the contract has been with the current service provider.
| 2. TSE helpline | |
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Number of calls |
3. Wild bird surveillance and animal disease helpline
It is not possible at this time to provide separate figures for the animal disease helpline because it is only activated when there is a major animal disease outbreak.
Calls about animal disease (outside of the period of a major disease outbreak) and wild bird surveillance are incorporated into the general DEFRA helpline figures.
| 1. British Cattle Movement Service helpline | |
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Number of calls |
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| 2. Rural Payments Agency helpline | |
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Number of calls |
The figures include helplines for the following: Single Payment Scheme, Rural Land Register, Customer Registration, Payment Receipts Information and Rural Payments Agency Online.
Non-departmental public bodies
| 1. Environment Agency floodline | ||
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Live agent service | Recorded message service |
2. Environment Agency’s national customer contact centre (NCCC)
This covers three helplines as shown in the following table.
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General inquiries | Hazardous waste | Agricultural waste |
Figures are not available for 2006 as the national customer contact centre retains data for a maximum of four years.
Since a restructure on 1 April 2011, which consolidated management accountability for its helplines under a single function, Natural England has been collating precise figures on the number of calls to its helplines. It does not hold information for the number of calls received for previous years.
Legal Opinion
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times her Department's legal section provided legal advice to Ministers in (a) 2007, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) the first six months of 2011. [78079]
Richard Benyon: The Department does not record the number of times the Department's legal advisers provide advice to Ministers. Advice is provided on an ongoing basis, as and when necessary.
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Lighting
Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has made an assessment of the recent surveys of (a) nuisance lighting and (b) light pollution by the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the British Astronomical Association's Campaign for Dark Skies. [77582]
Richard Benyon: The Government welcome the 2011 Star Count Survey and the other activities undertaken by the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the Campaign for Dark Skies to raise awareness of light pollution. Officials have not assessed the unpublished underlying data but have discussed the results with the Campaign to Protect Rural England, which show an increase in the number of people taking part who could see fewer than ten stars (from 54% in 2007 to 59% in 2011).
Animals: Disease Control
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average length of time is for a sample sent by post from the Veterinary Laboratory in Thirsk to be tested and the results known by the Newcastle upon Tyne Laboratory; and if she will make a statement. [77506]
Mr Paice: The AHVLA is unable to provide this information as there have not been any samples sent by the veterinary laboratory in Thirsk to be tested at the laboratory in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Wales
Charities
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representatives she has received from children's charities on levels of child poverty in Wales. [77809]
Mr David Jones: Both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, and I receive regular representations from a range of organisations about matters relevant to Wales including charities.
The Government are firmly committed to the goal of eradicating child poverty in Wales and across the United Kingdom by 2020. The UK's first Child Poverty Strategy ‘A New Approach to Child Poverty: Tackling the Causes of Disadvantage and Transforming Families’ Lives’ sets out a new approach to tackling poverty for this Parliament and up to 2020.
We must also recognise that the Welsh Government have responsibility for a number of factors that affect child poverty and have their own Child Poverty Strategy and Delivery Plan for Wales. It is important that their strategy dovetails with ours especially given that Wales continues to show levels of child poverty above the UK average.
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Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what grants her Department made to charitable organisations in each of the last five years. [79070]
Consultants
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many full-time equivalent staff are employed on consultancy contracts in her Department; and if she will make a statement. [77487]
Freedom of Information Requests
Jon Trickett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 her Department has received in each month
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since May 2010; how many responses given in each such month disclosed
(a)
the full information requested,
(b)
part of the information requested, with some information withheld under exemptions in the Act and
(c)
none of the information requested; and in respect of how many requests received in each such month (i) (A) substantive and (B) holding responses were issued within 20 working days of the date of receipt, (ii) no substantive response was issued within 40 working days of the date of receipt and (iii) no substantive response has yet been issued. [78903]
Mr David Jones: The information requested is given in the following tables. Data for quarters 3 and 4 in 2011 are not yet finalised and will be published by the Ministry of Justice in their quarterly reports on the operation of the Freedom of Information Act. Statistics on the time taken to respond to cases over 20 working days during 2011-12 will be published in the departmental annual report.
| 2010 | ||||||||
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May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
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May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
| 2011 (to 30 June) | ||||||
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January | February | March | April | May | June |
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January | February | March |
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales in respect of how many responses to requests for information received by her Department under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the reason of (a) commercially sensitive information, (b) information not held, (c) information too costly to provide and (d) vexatious or repeated requests has been given in response since January 2010. [78904]
Mr David Jones: The information is shown in the following table.
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Number |
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Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which Minister in her Department is responsible for determining whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information made under the Act; and which other Minister is responsible for making such determinations should the subject matter of the request fall within the Ministerial responsibilities of the Minister with lead responsibility. [78905]
Mr David Jones: Departmental officials would normally determine whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act.
However, the exemption under section 36 (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) of the Act can only apply if it is the reasonable opinion of a qualified person that the exemption applies. In relation to information held by Government Departments, the qualified person must be a Minister. The Wales Office has not yet received a request where the section 36 exemption has been seen as appropriate, but would consider the most appropriate Minister when such a case is received.
Legal Opinion: Costs
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much her Department spent on (a) legal advice and (b) instructing counsel in (i) 2007, (ii) 2009, (iii) 2010 and (iv) the first six months of 2011; how many times (A) her Department was taken to court and (B) a decision taken by her Department was subject to a judicial review; and what the outcome was of each such (1) case and (2) review. [78508]
Mr David Jones: The Wales Office spent £4,850.25 in 2007-08, £43,501.18 in 2009-10, £27.40 in 2010-11 and £435.10 in the first six months of the current financial year on legal advice from the Treasury Solicitor.
The Wales Office has not been taken to court or had any decisions taken to a judicial review.
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times her Department's legal section provided legal advice to Ministers in (a) 2007, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) the first six months of 2011. [78514]
Mr David Jones: The Wales Office does not keep a detailed record of all legal advice provided to Ministers. Some information could be provided but only at disproportionate cost.
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times her Department sought legal advice from external counsel in (a) 2007, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) the first six months of 2011. [78517]
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Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost was of (a) internal and (b) external legal advice commissioned by her Department in the first six months of 2011. [78526]
Mr David Jones: The Wales Office receives its internal legal advice from two lawyers employed by the Department. The only external legal advice it received in the first six months of this year was from the Treasury Solicitor, at a cost of £435.10.
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials in her Department were working in its legal section in June 2011; and how many staff were working in the legal departments of her Department's agencies and non-departmental bodies. [78523]
Mr David Jones: There were 2 (1.8 full-time equivalents) lawyers working at the Wales Office in June 2011. The Wales Office has no agencies or non-departmental bodies.
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials were (a) directly and (b) otherwise employed by non-departmental public bodies for which her Department is responsible (i) in 2000, (ii) in 2005, (iii) in 2007, (iv) in 2010 and (v) on the most recent date for which figures are available. [78529]
Mr David Jones: The number of officials directly working at the Wales Office were as follows:
(i) 58 in 2000;
(ii) 54 in 2005;
(iii) 53 in 2007;
(iv) 56 in 2010; and
(v) as at 31 October 2011, there was a total of 51 staff.
The Wales Office has no responsibility for any non-departmental public body.
Departmental Pay
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials in her Department and the bodies for which she is responsible earned more than (a) £65,000, (b) £95,000, (c) £140,000 and (d) £175,000 in the last year for which figures are available. [78511]
Mr David Jones: The Wales Office had three members of staff who earned more than £65,000 in 2010-11. There were no staff who earned more than £95,000.
Secondary Legislation
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) statutory instruments, (b) ministerial orders and (c) other pieces of secondary legislation were issued by her Department in (i) 1990, (ii) 1995, (iii) each year since 1999 and (iv) 2011 to date. [78520]
Mr David Jones: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Public Sector Employee Bids
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications from employees to run services for which her Department is directly responsible she has received since May 2010; and if she will make a statement. [77597]
Internships
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many unpaid and expenses-only internships (a) her Department and (b) each public body for which she is responsible employed in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [78378]
Mr David Jones: We have hosted two expenses-only work experience placements for two undergraduates during this time. We are not responsible for any public bodies.
Young Offenders
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for the Home Department and (b) Welsh Government Ministers on youth crime. [78620]
Mr David Jones: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and Welsh Government Ministers on a wide range of issues, but we have not had any recent discussions about youth crime.
We do, however, recognise the importance of tackling youth crime and indeed the Secretary of State for Wales has recently spoken at an event that celebrated the success of a programme aimed at rehabilitating young offenders and breaking the cycle of crime.
Tackling youth crime is a priority for this Government and the focus of recent work has been with areas in England who face the greatest problems. On 1 November a cross-Government report on ending gang and serious youth violence was published. This sets out the start of crucial work to tackle gang and youth violence through prevention and tough punishment.
We will work with the Welsh Government and other organisations to ensure that any good practice identified is shared across England and Wales in both devolved and non-devolved areas.
Northern Ireland
Adam Werritty
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) officials of his Department have met (i) Mr Michael Hintze, (ii) Mr Tony Buckingham, (iii) Mr Michael Davis, (iv) Mr Poju Zabludowicz, (v) Mr Jon Moulton and (vi) Mr Stephen Crouch; and where any such meetings took place. [78660]
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Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether (a) he, (b) officials of his Department and (c) special advisers in his Department have met Mr Adam Werritty on official business since May 2010; and how many such meetings took place (i) on his Department’s premises and (ii) elsewhere. [78863]
Departmental Manpower
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials were (a) directly and (b) otherwise employed by non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible (i) in 2000, (ii) in 2005, (iii) in 2007, (iv) in 2010 and (v) on the most recent date for which figures are available. [78527]
Mr Swire: Comparable figures for the Department as it is now configured are not available for the years preceding the completion of devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010. However, there are currently 10 officials working in such organisations sponsored by my Department.
Internships
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many unpaid and expenses-only internships (a) his Department and (b) each public body for which he is responsible employed in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [78377]
Mr Paterson: No one has been employed by my Department on this basis. However, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, which is sponsored by my Department, employed nine interns in the 2010-11 reporting year; these internships were offered on an expenses-only basis.
Foreign Relations: Republic of Ireland
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Republic of Ireland on further joint collaboration. [77571]
Mr Swire: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, has regular meetings with the Minister for Foreign Affairs during which there is frequent discussion about how the two Governments can work together on various issues to the benefit of Northern Ireland.
I met with the Department for Foreign Affairs most recently in Dublin on 27 October 2011.
Legal Opinion
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times his Department's legal section provided legal advice to Ministers in (a) 2007, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) the first six months of 2011. [78512]
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Mr Swire: On 12 April 2010, the Northern Ireland Office transferred responsibility for policing and justice to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Comparative figures are not available prior to this date.
The Northern Ireland Office receives legal support from a range of Government bodies, including the Crown Solicitor's Office for Northern Ireland, the Treasury Solicitor's Office, the Home Office Legal Advisor's Branch, and the Departmental Solicitor's Office.
Advice to Ministers reflects legal advice from these sources where appropriate. I am unable to provide specific figures because legal advice is generally incorporated into submissions prepared by officials from across the Department and analysing these could be done only at disproportionate cost.
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times his Department sought legal advice from external counsel in (a) 2007, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) the first six months of 2011. [78515]
Mr Paterson: On 12 April 2010, the Northern Ireland Office transferred responsibility for policing and justice to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Comparative figures are not available prior to this date.
The Northern Ireland Office receives legal support from a range of Government bodies, including the Crown Solicitor's Office for Northern Ireland, the Treasury Solicitor's Office, the Home Office Legal Advisor's Branch, and the Departmental Solicitor's Office. The Northern Ireland Office does not commission external legal advice itself, but in acting on behalf of the Department, these bodies may from time to time engage counsel.
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials in his Department were working in its legal section in June 2011; and how many staff were working in the legal departments of his Department’s agencies and non-departmental bodies. [78521]
Mr Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office does not have its own legal section. It receives legal support from a range of Government bodies, including the Crown Solicitor’s Office for Northern Ireland, the Treasury Solicitor’s Office, the Home Office Legal Adviser’s Branch and the Departmental Solicitor’s Office.
The Northern Ireland Office does not have any agencies. It has two Executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), the Parades Commission and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. Staffing of these bodies is an operational matter on which my hon. Friend may wish to write to the bodies concerned directly.
Communities and Local Government
Betting Shops: Licensing
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many betting shop premises are licensed in each local authority area; and how many such licences are currently active. [78545]
7 Nov 2011 : Column 18W
Robert Neill: The Department is not responsible for betting shop licensing. I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer given to her by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, on 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 476W.
Charities
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what grants his Department made to charitable organisations in each of the last five years. [79075]
Andrew Stunell: The Department's records do not differentiate between payments made to charitable organisations and other voluntary and community sector organisations. A list of payments made under section 70 of the Charities Act 2006 to charities and voluntary groups is published in the Department's annual report and resource accounts on a yearly basis.
This information will include payments made by the Department to charities in each year. Annual reports and resources accounts for each year are published on the Department's website.
Data on grants over £500 since 2008-09 are also available on my Department's website as part of our transparency initiative.
Community Relations
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the National Planning Policy Framework containing measures to safeguard the character and sustainable community of towns and villages in England. [78622]
Greg Clark: Our reforms aim to strengthen local decision making and reinforce the importance of local plans. The draft National Planning Policy Framework includes policies on the importance of responding to local character, reflecting the identity of local surroundings and planning positively for the provision for community facilities and other local services.
The 12-week consultation period closed on 17 October 2011. We have received over 14,000 responses and are now considering these. Following a process of full and careful consideration, we will publish revised text taking into account representations that have been made and a summary of responses to the consultation.
Council Tax: Swindon
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will estimate the average saving to a household in Swindon in each council tax band of the council tax freeze in 2012-13. [78392]
Robert Neill: The saving to a household in each council tax band in Swindon should the relevant authorities (Swindon Unitary Authority, Wiltshire Fire and Wiltshire Police) each choose to freeze their council tax in 2012-13 would be as follows:
7 Nov 2011 : Column 19W
|
|
£ |
The savings shown are compared to an increase of 5%.
The differences in savings from the freeze are a simple reflection of the fact that higher banded homes pay more council tax.
I would note under the last Government, from 1997 to 2010, council tax bills more than doubled—across all council tax bands. This hit pensioners and others on fixed incomes the hardest. Correspondingly, the coalition Government's grant scheme to help local authorities to freeze council tax this year and next will provide significant help to those council taxpayers on low and fixed incomes.
Freedom of Information Requests
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which Minister in his Department is responsible for determining whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act; and which other Minister is responsible for making such determinations should the subject matter of the request fall within the Ministerial responsibilities of the Minister with lead responsibility. [78893]
Robert Neill: Ministers are in general not responsible for determining whether exemptions should apply to information sought in requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, although they may be consulted for their views by departmental officials. In the case of the exemption at section 36—prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs—the Act requires the opinion of a Minister of the Crown that the section is engaged with respect to the information being requested. Without that opinion, the exemption cannot apply.
Public Sector Employee Bids
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many applications from employees to run services for which his Department is directly responsible he has received since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77611]
Robert Neill: My Department has not received any applications from employees to run services for which it is directly responsible since May 2010. The Government have committed that every Department will put in place Rights to Provide for public sector workers to take over the running of services. The Department has also supported the concept of an employee-led bid for the audit work being tendered by the Audit Commission and has worked with the Commission to ensure a level playing field for all potential bidders. It is encouraging that DA Partnership—which will be majority employee-owned—has been invited to tender in the next stage of the process.
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Security Vetting
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what level of security vetting is required for the post of (a) head of communications, (b) deputy head of communications and (c) head of press office in his Department; and if he will list each person who has held these posts since May 2010. [77865]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government follows the guidance in the publicly available booklet Her Majesty's Government Personnel Security Controls, available from the Cabinet Office website at:
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/hmg-personnel-security-controls
It would not be appropriate to confirm which specific posts within the Department are the subject of vetting, or who has held these posts since May 2010. Confirmation of which posts and persons are subject to vetting would highlight who within the Department has access to sensitive material and could be used for targeting purposes.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what level of security vetting is required for (a) grade six and seven, or equivalent, press officers and (b) ministerial private secretaries in his Department. [77866]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government follows the guidance in the publicly available booklet Her Majesty's Government Personnel Security Controls, available from the Cabinet Office website at:
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/hmg-personnel-security-controls
It would not be appropriate to confirm which specific posts within the Department are the subject of vetting. Confirmation of which posts are subject to vetting at what level would highlight who within the Department has access to sensitive material and could be used for targeting purposes.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what level of security vetting is required for (a) special advisers and (b) ministerial-appointed policy advisers in his Department; and if he will list each person who has held these posts since May 2010. [77867]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government follows the guidance in the publicly available booklet ‘Her Majesty's Government Personnel Security Controls’, available from the Cabinet Office website at:
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/hmg-personnel-security-controls
It would not be appropriate to confirm which specific posts within the Department are the subject of vetting. The names of special advisers are published quarterly by the Cabinet Office in the Library of the House and also on the Cabinet Office website at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special-adviser-data-releases
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Confirmation of which posts and persons are subject to vetting would highlight who within the Department has access to sensitive material and could be used for targeting purposes.
Empty Property
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of progress on his Department's policy to return empty homes to use. [76744]
Grant Shapps: My Department has already taken a number of steps to support local action to bring empty homes back into use. Through the New Homes Bonus we have introduced a powerful new incentive scheme, for tackling empty homes. Under New Homes Bonus Government match the council tax for six years, using the national average in each band, for any empty homes that becomes a new home for somebody, with an additional amount being provided for those brought back into use as new affordable homes. In the first year alone, around 16,000 long-term empty homes were brought back into use and rewarded through the New Homes Bonus scheme, with local authorities benefiting from around £19 million additional funding as a result. I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement of 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 24WS.
In addition, we have set aside £100 million from the Affordable Homes Programme to bring empty homes back into use as affordable housing. This funding will be available from April 2012 until March 2015 and we will shortly be publishing the detailed bidding guidance to enable both registered providers of social housing and community and voluntary groups to apply. We expect that this will generate innovative good practice as well as bringing at least 3,300 empty homes back into use.
We have also worked with the Homes and Communities Agency to launch an online Empty Homes Toolkit(1) and an interactive mapping toolkit(2 )which provide information and practical advice on tackling empty homes. The Empty Homes Toolkit is the most popular resource on the agency website and is one of the top 10 most popular pages on the site.
(1) http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/news/new-toolkits-tackle-englands-734000-empty-homes
(2) This toolkit is available to local authorities.
Enterprise Zones
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have applied to set up enterprise zones and had their applications rejected. [76565]
Greg Clark [holding answer 24 October 2011]: Bids for enterprise zones were requested from Local Enterprise Partnerships. In this context, no applications were received from individual local authorities. A copy of the enterprise zone prospectus can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/1872724.pdf
7 Nov 2011 : Column 22W
Housing: Construction
Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of total housing need at the (a) upper and (b) lower limits of the recently published Office for National Statistics figures in projected population by 2050. [78039]
Andrew Stunell: The Department does not estimate housing need. However, the Department publishes household projections, which are a trend-based view of the number of households that would form given a projected population and previous demographic trends.
Household projections are based on the sub-national population projections published by the Office for National Statistics, the most recent of which are 2008-based. The 2008-based household projections show that, by 2033, there will be a projected 27.5 million households in England, an additional 5.8 million households compared to 2008. This decreases to 26.3 million projected households in 2033 using the low population variant projection (an additional 4.6 million households compared to 2008), and increases to 28.7 million projected households in 2033 using the high population variant projection (an additional seven million households compared to 2008).
Local Enterprise Partnerships: Worcestershire
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will estimate the level of inward investment to Redditch and the West Midlands arising from steps taken by the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership. [77807]
Greg Clark: Worcestershire local enterprise partnership has stated that the two projects they are currently developing to drive business growth will bring an additional £300 million of private sector funding to the area, creating over 8,000 jobs.
Local Government Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2011, Official Report, column 1045W, on Local Government Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill, when he expects to bring forward the agreed amendments to the Bill; and for what reason there has been a delay in the amendments being brought forward. [77845]
Robert Neill [holding answer 1 November 2011]: Following prioritisation of the Localism Bill, we now intend to bring forward amendments shortly.
Local Government: Internet
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on the use of social media websites. [77261]
Robert Neill: The Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity, which local authorities have to have regard to when producing their publicity, includes guidance on hosting blogs and forums.
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Local Government: Pensions
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has carried out an economic impact assessment on the effect of proposed changes to the Local Government Pensions Scheme in Stoke-on-Trent. [78245]
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the likely effect on its members of his proposed changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [78753]
Robert Neill: The detailed design of the proposals to achieve £900 million of savings in the Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales by 2014-15 set out in the statutory consultation letter dated 7 October is specifically intended to minimise scheme opt-outs and protect the position of low paid, mostly part-time members. Some 20% of scheme members would pay no increased contributions under either of the Government's options and a further 33% would pay no more than a 1.2% increase, before tax relief, by 2014-15.
In due course, the appropriate impact assessments will be published to reflect the decisions reached following the conclusion of the statutory consultation process early in the new year.
Manufacturing Industries: Non-domestic Rates
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what incentives he plans to include in any future scheme for business rates to encourage local authorities to support manufacturing industry and small businesses. [78635]
Robert Neill: The Government have consulted on their proposals to allow local authorities to benefit from the business rates paid by all businesses in their areas. They are considering responses to that consultation and will set out their decision on the proposed scheme as soon as possible.
Non-domestic Rates
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library copies of all responses to his consultation on business rates. [78636]
Robert Neill: The Government are considering responses to their consultation on the local retention of business rates and will publish a summary of those responses in due course.
Planning Permission: Milton Keynes
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many representations to his Department's consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework were from the Milton Keynes unitary authority district. [78202]
7 Nov 2011 : Column 24W
Greg Clark: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Julian Smith).
Planning: Skipton
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many responses to the consultation on the Draft National Planning Policy Framework were received from Skipton and Ripon constituency. [77660]
Greg Clark: We have received over 14,000 responses to the consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework and my Department is currently in the process of registering all of the responses. It is not possible to provide accurate information on the number of representations received from parliamentary constituencies or for other defined areas as many responses have been sent in electronic form or do not contain a full postal address.
We will give careful consideration to the responses received to inform our final decisions and we will publish a summary of responses to the consultation in due course.
Race Relations
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department plans to take steps in response to the recommendation of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on the development of a race equality strategy. [79309]
Andrew Stunell: The Government are tackling the specific issues associated with racial discrimination through their single equality strategy, social mobility strategy and integration policies. The Government continue to give careful consideration to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination's recommendations.
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he plans to take in respect of the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; and if he will make a statement. [79310]
Andrew Stunell: The Government are tackling all forms of discrimination and disadvantage through their equality, social mobility and integration policies. In the context of that we continue to consider the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination's recommendations. In a year's time, the Government will provide further information to the Committee on four of their recommendations, as requested in paragraph 37 of the Committee's conclusions. The Government will also respond fully to all of Committee's recommendations in its next state report by April 2014, as requested by the Committee in paragraphs 38 and 39 of their conclusions.
Social Enterprises
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had about promoting social enterprises within his Department's area of responsibility in each month since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77021]
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Andrew Stunell [holding answer 27 October 2011]: The Department for Communities and Local Government ministerial team have had many discussions both internally and with external partners regarding social enterprises since May 2010. Given that a number of these discussions were informal, ad hoc and sometimes took place as part of other meetings it would be impossible to list all of them.
However, the Department believes that community-based social enterprises have a particularly important role in supporting citizens and communities to take power into their hands and build the big society, and are vital to help grow a sustainable and dynamic economy. The Department is currently undertaking a range of actions to help support the development and maintenance of these organisations.
Through the Localism Bill we are giving communities the right to challenge to run local authority services where they believe they could do this differently or better, and to ensure that community organisations have a fair chance to bid to take over community assets important to them. This presents a greater opportunity for communities to use the social enterprise model as a method to run assets and services on a sustainable basis.
We have provided capital (grants and loans) to social enterprise-orientated organisations through the Communitybuilders Fund (which has been endowed to the Adventure Capital Fund) and other Departmental Funds. We also continue to support the Asset Transfer Unit which provides expert advice, guidance and support concerning the transfer of under-used land and buildings from the public sector to community social enterprises.
On the 3 November, I launched an action research report (commissioned from the Young Foundation) which seeks to show how local authorities can better understand and support social enterprises in their local areas. The Department is also working closely with the sector to demonstrate the value of social enterprise to the new Local Economic Partnerships. The results of this work will be published shortly.
Travellers Sites
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) when he plans to announce his policy on planning for Gypsy and Traveller sites; [79291]
(2) when he plans to publish the Planning Policy Statement on Gypsy and Traveller sites to replace circulars 01/2006 and 04/2007. [79292]
Robert Neill: The Government published their draft new planning policy for Traveller sites for consultation in April 2011. The consultation closed in August. We are currently analysing the responses and intend to publish a new policy as soon as possible.
Urban Areas: Finance
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many bids have been received from local authorities for funding from the High Street Support Scheme; and how much funding has been disbursed to each local authority. [77997]
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Robert Neill: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 1 November 2011, Official Report, column 490W.
Justice
Adam Werritty
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether (a) he, (b) any Ministers and (c) officials of his Department have met (i) Mr Michael Hintze, (ii) Mr Tony Buckingham, (iii) Mr Michael Davis, (iv) Mr Poju Zabludowicz, (v) Jon Moulton and (vi) Stephen Crouch; and where any such meetings took place. [78650]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: Neither I nor my ministerial colleagues have attended any meetings with the individuals named above.
The Ministry of Justice does not centrally record meetings attended by all officials in the department. To collate the information requested would exceed the cost limit for answering parliamentary questions.
Birmingham Prison
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the private sector bids in the tendering process for HMP Birmingham were charged for (a) life supervision, (b) parole hearings, (c) programmes and (d) other centralised services from the National Offender Management Service. [78809]
Mr Blunt: The following approach was taken for each of the highlighted areas:
(a) Life supervision; this did not form part of the required scope of services.
(b) Parole hearings; this forms part of the scope of services, has been priced for accordingly by the private sector bidders and is deemed included in their subsequent submitted cost for delivering the contracted services.
(c) Programmes; this forms part of the scope of services, has been priced for accordingly by the private sector bidders and is deemed included in their subsequent submitted cost for delivering the contracted services.
(d) Other centralised services from the National Offender Management Service; private sector suppliers do not generally rely on any shared services being provided by NOMS so no charge is applicable. If specific services can be identified then specific can be provided.
Channel Islands
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when Ministers next plan to travel to the Channel Islands; and whether they plan to raise implementation of the (a) Food Supplements Directive and (b) Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation. [79051]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: Lord McNally, the Minister with responsibility for the Crown Dependencies plans to visit both Jersey and Guernsey over the next 12 months.
Lord McNally has previously raised the implementation of the Food Supplements Directive and the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation with the authorities in both Jersey and Guernsey. The Channel Islands have confirmed that they are taking the necessary steps to implement these EU Regulations in their domestic legislation at the earliest opportunity.
7 Nov 2011 : Column 27W
Christopher Shepherd
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what representations he has received on the logs issued by Teesside Crown court in the case of Mr Christopher Shepherd for 31 March 2008; and if he will make a statement. [78212]
Mr Djanogly: Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service has received oral requests and a written request under the Data Protection Act for the court log referring to the case of Mr Christopher Shepherd. The court log was provided.
Departmental Manpower
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many officials were (a) directly and (b) otherwise employed by non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible (i) in 2000, (ii) in 2005, (iii) in 2007, (iv) in 2010 and (v) on the most recent date for which figures are available. [78119]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: No Ministry of Justice non-departmental public bodies employ civil servants except the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) which, in 2007, transferred from the Home Office to the Ministry of Justice as part of machinery of Government changes. Until 1 November 2010, CICA staff were Scottish Government civil servants who transferred to the Ministry of Justice on that date.
In the financial year 2007-08, the average number of CICA staff was 416. Information is available on CICA staff at 30 June 2010 and at 31 March 2011 as part of the transparency agenda and can be accessed at
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/transparency-data/senior-civil-service-salaries-and-organograms.htm
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice at how many events organised by (a) charities, (b) other civil society groups, (c) businesses and (d) lobbying organisations Ministers and senior officials in his Department have given speeches in each month since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77366]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: I have listed in the table the number of events that both my ministerial colleagues and I have spoken at since May 2010 in a ministerial capacity. I have not included constituency or party political engagements.
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Number |
7 Nov 2011 : Column 28W
| Lord McNally, Minister of State | |
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Number |
| Crispin Blunt, Parliam entary Under- Secretary of State | |
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Number |
| Jonathan Djanogly, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State | |
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Number |
7 Nov 2011 : Column 29W
The Home Office will respond for the Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice.
The Ministry of Justice does not centrally record events attended by senior officials. To seek to collate this information would exceed the cost limit for answering parliamentary questions.
Internships
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many unpaid and expenses-only internships (a) his Department and (b) each public body for which he is responsible employed in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [78382]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: Over the period of the last 12 months, the Ministry does not hold a central record of the total number of persons undertaking unpaid work experience, work placements and internships. To establish this information will require an examination of locally held records and this will incur a disproportionate cost. However, the Ministry has engaged in the new Whitehall Internship programme pilot for 2011, which provided two unpaid interns for two weeks from 25 July 2011.
The Ministry of Justice is developing a policy on work experience, work placements and internships in order to meets its commitment to provide a minimum of 100 work placements during 2011-12.
Dogs Act 1871
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been subject to proceedings in a magistrates court for offences under the Dogs Act 1871 in each year since 2005. [78683]
Mr Blunt: Proceedings in the magistrates courts for offences under the Dogs Act 1871 cannot be separately identified from offences under sections 1(3) and 1(6) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1989. The available information from 2005 to 2010 (latest available) is given in the following table.
Annual court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in the spring 2012.
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| Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences related to dogs (1) , England and Wales, 2005 - 10 (2,3) | ||||||
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2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 (4) | 2009 | 2010 |
| (1) Includes offences under: Dogs Act 1871, section 2—Owning dangerous dog not kept under control; Dangerous Dogs Act 1989, section 1(3)—Failing to comply with control order made under Dogs Act 1871, section 2; Dangerous Dogs Act 1989, section 1(3)—Failing to comply with destruction order made under Dangerous Dogs Act 1989, section 1(1)(a); Dangerous Dogs Act 1989, section 1(6)—Having custody of dog in breach of disqualification order. (2) 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. (3) 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. (4) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice | ||||||