Transport
Airports: Weather
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of airport operators' preparedness for extreme winter weather conditions. [76502]
Mrs Villiers: The Government have engaged with airport operators to discuss the lessons learned from last winter’s severe weather and the measures they have put in place to improve their response to future similar events. The Civil Aviation Authority is monitoring airport operators' progress in improving their resilience.
Aviation: Security
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she plans to publish the final Code of Practice for the Acceptable Use of Advanced Imaging Technology (Body Scanners) in an Aviation Security Environment; and whether the code will include guidance on whether passengers should be allowed to submit themselves to other forms of enhanced search if they object to the use of a full body scanner. [77635]
Mrs Villiers: In addition to the analysis of the responses to the public consultation, there is a parallel European legislative process which we need to take into consideration before our final response to the consultation is published. The Government's security scanner policy is still under consideration and we will publish the responses to the consultation and the final code of practice in due course.
Procurement
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department is taking to ensure that its procurement can support domestic (a) transport manufacturing industry and (b) supply chains. [75182]
Norman Baker: An assessment of public procurement tendering is being undertaken as part of the Growth Review, which will inform how the Department can support the domestic transport manufacturing industry and the domestic supply chains. It is intended that the outcome of this assessment will be announced at the end of November.
Harbour Authorities
Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2011, Official Report, column 979W, on harbour authorities, what steps her Department takes to assess the performance of competent harbour authorities; and what process her Department would follow in the event that a competent harbour authority is found to have failed to maintain the standards required under section 3 (2) of the Pilotage Act 1987. [77949]
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Mike Penning: None. Competent harbour authorities are responsible for their own performance in determining the qualifications for persons that they authorise to act as pilots within their operational area.
Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2011, Official Report, column 978W, on harbour authorities, what meetings have been held with each competent harbour authority since May 2010; and what the purpose was of each meeting between her Department and representatives of competent harbour authorities. [77950]
Mike Penning: There are roundly 130 competent harbour authorities with whom Ministers and officials might meet in the normal course of departmental business. Therefore, I regret that the information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Motorways: Accidents
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate the Transport Research Laboratory has provided to her Department's Road Safety Division of the likely change in the number of (a) lives lost, (b) serious and (c) slight casualties which would result from increasing the motorway speed limit to 80 mph and improving compliance using average speed cameras in the last three years. [71937]
Mike Penning [holding answer 15 September 2011]: The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) published their report ‘An evaluation of options for road safety beyond 2010’ in 2009 on their website at:
http://www.trl.co.uk/online_store/reports_publications/trl_reports/cat_road_user_safety/report_an_evaluation _of_options_for_road_safety_beyond_2010.htm
The Department is currently conducting a more sophisticated and comprehensive analysis of all the principal effects of raising the motorway speed limit and will include these estimates as part of the documentation for the consultation planned for later this year.
Ports
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons she no longer issues statements when she appoints trust port board members or authorises an extension in terms for such members; and if she will make it her policy to publish such appointments until such time as the trust port concerned ceases to be her responsibility. [74152]
Mike Penning: Trust ports are independent statutory bodies and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has the right to appoint board members to a number of trust ports. It is for the individual trust port to publicise such appointments.
Railways: Electricity
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work her Department has undertaken on the costs and benefits of replacing third rail systems with overhead electrical systems. [78346]
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Mrs Villiers [holding answer 3 November 2011]: The Department participated in a recent cross-industry research project that assessed the costs and benefits of replacing the 750V DC third rail electrified system with a 25kV AC overhead system. A summary of the research results is available at:
www.rssb.co.uk/sitecollectiondocuments/pdf/reports/research/T950_rb_final.pdf
The research concluded that converting the third rail network to an overhead system would deliver a range of benefits. These include lower running costs, greater resilience to snow and ice, increased train performance and the capacity to run more services. However, the cost of such a conversion would be significant, at around £3-4 billion. Network Rail is now taking forward a more detailed assessment of the costs and benefits.
Rescue Services
Mr Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to finalise the contract for search and rescue helicopters; and if she will make a statement. [78498]
Mike Penning: We are considering a range of potential procurement options to meet future requirements for helicopter search and rescue in the UK, and intend to make a statement on the matter before the end of the year.
Mr Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on potential long-term procurement options for search and rescue helicopters; and if she will make a statement. [78499]
Mike Penning: Discussions between the Department for Transport and the Ministry of Defence are ongoing regarding a range of potential options to meet future requirements for helicopter search and rescue in the UK. We intend to make a statement on the matter before the end of the year.
Roads: Accidents
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether officials in her Department have had recent discussions with (a) the Home Office and (b) the Highways Agency on reducing the time taken to clear major roads following an incident; and if she will make a statement. [76534]
Mike Penning [holding answer 24 October 2011]: Officials from the Department for Transport have held recent discussions on reducing the time taken to clear motorways following an incident with the Home Office, the Highways Agency and representatives of the emergency services.
Shipping: Oil
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many ship-to-ship transfers have taken place within territorial waters (a) off the Southwold coast and (b) in any other harbour in the last 12 months. [76886]
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Mike Penning: The total number of ship-to-ship transfers that have taken place off the Southwold coast in the last 12 months (from 24 October 2010 to 24 October 2011) was 153.
Ship-to-ship transfers are routinely carried out in UK ports and harbours which have a suitable oil pollution emergency plan under the terms of the Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation Convention) Regulations 1998. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency does not collate statistics on that activity.
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department has reviewed its oil recovery plans in the light of the recent oil spill from the Rena off New Zealand. [76885]
Mike Penning: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency will shortly commence a review of the UK's National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations (NCP). This periodic review will involve full consultation with UK interested parties, and will take account of lessons learnt from previous incidents in the UK and elsewhere.
Shipping: Safety
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the potential effects of a temporary disabling of the global positioning system on fishing vessels, merchant vessels and recreational boats. [74175]
Mike Penning [holding answer 13 October 2011]: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has co-operated with Government Departments and the Trinity House Lighthouse Service in the conduct of trials to determine the effects of Global Positioning System (GPS) jamming. It was found that simple and widely available jammers can disrupt the very low strength GPS signals received in surface vessels. The loss or denial of GPS signals is normally shown to the mariner through an alarm on the equipment in use. Losing GPS position information means that the mariner must use the other means available to them to determine their position. These means vary by vessel location and the equipment carried.
However, the Department for Transport and the MCA have not made any specific assessments of the potential effects of a temporary disabling of GPS on fishing vessels, merchant vessels and recreational boats in Scottish waters.
Operationally, if the jamming authority informs the Department of the temporary disabling of GPS, the information is passed to Her Majesty's Coastguard who arrange for the UK Hydrographic Office to issue the appropriate radio navigation warnings to seafarers.
Social Enterprises
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had on promoting social enterprises in the area for which her Department is responsible in each month since May 2010; and if she will make a statement. [77328]
Norman Baker:
Ministers and officials frequently engage with the community transport sector, including the
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Community Transport Association (CTA), a representative body. This partnership has led to a four-year funding agreement which will see us working together to build capacity in the sector and promote a more sustainable business model.
For example, the Department part funds the CTA's Rural Social Enterprise Programme, which is helping eight community transport organisations in rural areas to become social enterprises. The learning from this will help the wider sector become more sustainable and less reliant on grant funding.
In March this year, I announced an additional £10 million funding package, which has been distributed to rural local authorities, with the aim of kick-starting and supporting community transport.
Work and Pensions
Legal Opinion
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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. [78089]
Chris Grayling: Legal Services in the Department for Work and Pensions provide legal advice and services to the Department and the Department of Health, for which they are fully reimbursed.
The total number of officials working in the Legal Services in June 2011 was 335 individuals (309.46 full-time equivalent staff). Of these 86 individuals (78.83 full-time equivalent) provide services to the Department of Health.
The number of officials working in non-departmental bodies is 67 individuals (65.36 full-time equivalent).
Secondary Legislation
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) statutory instruments, (b) ministerial orders and (c) other pieces of secondary legislation were issued by his Department in (i) 1990, (ii) 1995, (iii) each year since 1999 and (iv) 2011 to date. [78114]
Chris Grayling: The answer to (a) and (b) is contained in the following table. Orders made by statutory instrument have been counted separately.
|
|
SIs issued | Of which : included Orders: |
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No records exist of secondary legislation made other than by statutory instrument for the years 1990, 1995, 1999 to date. It is believed that such pieces of secondary legislation would have been few in number.
Security Vetting
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) 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; [77850]
(2) 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; [77851]
(3) 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; [77852]
(4) what company or Government service is used to undertake security vetting at (a) counter terrorist check, (b) security check and (c) developed vetting level in his Department. [77853]
Chris Grayling: I refer the hon. Member to the booklet “HMG Personnel Security Controls”, available from the Cabinet Office website:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/hmg-personnel-security-controls
This booklet describes the circumstances in which a post may require the holder to be the subject of national security vetting checks. It would not be appropriate for me to confirm which specific posts are the subject of vetting, as this could highlight who has access to sensitive material and this could be used for targeting purposes.
A list of all special advisers is published quarterly by the Cabinet Office and is also available on the Cabinet Office website:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special-adviser-data-releases
In addition, DWP has appointed two temporary civil servants as expert policy advisers.
All appropriate clearances for permanent civil servants, special advisers and expert policy advisers are undertaken in partnership with Defence Business Services National Security Vetting, formerly know as the Defence Vetting Agency.
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Employment and Support Allowance
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many letters on possible changes to employment and support allowance his Department has sent out; and at what cost to the public purse. [78547]
Chris Grayling: From 19 September 2011, over a period of four weeks, the Department issued around 115,000 letters to existing claimants in receipt of contribution based employment and support allowance in the Work Related Activity Group. Activity is still ongoing to answer claimant queries resulting from this notification therefore we do not have the total costs at present but these will be made available by the end of November.
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incapacity benefit and employment and support allowance claimants there were in South West Bedfordshire constituency on the most recent date for which figures are available. [78733]
Maria Miller: The information requested is given as follows.
| Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance (IB/SDA) and employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants in south west Bedfordshire parliamentary constituency , February 2011 | |
|
|
South West Bedfordshire parliamentary constituency |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2, Incapacity benefit was replaced by employment and support allowance from October 2008. 3. Data includes claimants receiving credits only. 4. Constituencies used are for the Westminster Parliament 2010. 5. These data are available on the Department's Tabulation Tool at the following link: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. | |
Jobcentre Plus: Merseyside
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to reduce Jobcentre (a) staff and (b) offices in Merseyside. [79142]
Chris Grayling:
Focusing specifically on the Jobcentre part of DWP operations delivering local services, we announced last week our plans to close 19 small Jobcentres in the vicinity of other Jobcentres that were offering a full range of services, this did not include any Jobcentres in Merseyside. The spending review 2010 announced that DWP would deliver 26% savings in real terms from its core budget over the four year period to 2015. Operational parts of DWP, including the Jobcentre network across the country and in Merseyside, will contribute to these savings by driving up efficiency in the way it works through more use of its online services and implementing ideas that help improve processes and productivity. Where this results in the need to reduce jobs we will do this through normal turnover where possible. There are no plans above this to reduce
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staffing levels in Merseyside but as with other parts of the country we will continue to review workloads and staffing levels which may result in the need for staff to be flexible in how we deliver services to customers.
PAYE: Universal Credit
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether real time PAYE information will be collected from every firm employing staff in each local authority area prior to universal credit being rolled out as part of the third phase in his planned transition. [79272]
Chris Grayling: Practically all employers who administer PAYE will be on RTI by October 2013. Details of the migration of employers to Real Time Information (RTI) are not based on local authorities or regions.
Employer migration focuses primarily on large employers first to achieve highest volumes. In universal credit we are working closely with HMRC to understand how they will bring employers in to RTI and as their alignment and on boarding progresses we will work together to make the best use of RTI automation opportunities to calculate universal credit.
Pensions: Teachers
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the effect of his planned change of indexation from the retail prices index to the consumer prices index on the value of the Teachers' Pension scheme; what his policy is on the continued application of the triple lock commitment to the annual updating of the basic state pension; and if he will make a statement. [77586]
Steve Webb: Next year's proposed benefit rates will be announced to Parliament by ministerial statement later in the autumn.
Her Majesty's Treasury has responsibility for the policy and reform of public service pensions.
The Government remain committed to the triple guarantee to increase the basic state pension the higher of growth in average earnings, prices (CPI) or 2.5% each year. This will help provide a more solid financial foundation for pensioners from the state.
Social Security Benefits: Disability
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what benefits are available to support severely disabled people living independently. [78612]
Maria Miller: Disability living allowance or attendance allowance are non-means tested social security benefits which can support severely disabled people living independently depending on the conditions of entitlement being satisfied.
Severely disabled people also have access to the means-tested income replacement benefits such as employment and support allowance, income support, incapacity benefit or jobseeker's allowance, subject to the requirements of the benefits being met.
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There are also a range of benefits that are related to entitlement to disability living allowance or attendance allowance. I have placed this information in the House of Commons Library.
Social Security Benefits
Matthew Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people he expects to be affected by the introduction of a cap on the overall level of benefits in each (a) nation, (b) region, (c) local authority area and (d) parliamentary constituency. [77998]
Chris Grayling: We published an impact assessment for the introduction of the benefit cap on 16 February 2011. It can be found on the Department's website at:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/household-benefit-cap-wr2011-ia.pdf
It estimates that, if the benefit cap were applied in full, around 50,000 households in Great Britain will have their benefits reduced by the policy. Sample sizes are too small to yield reliable results for areas smaller than the overall impacts for Great Britain.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the causes of the change in the level of benefit off-flow since May 2011; and whether he expects the level to return to its previous level. [78627]
Chris Grayling: Published figures for outflows from benefits since May 2011 are currently available only for the claimant count (jobseeker's allowance) which have followed a broadly flat trend. We continually assess all the Departments' employment programmes to ensure that they are working effectively.
Unemployment
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the level of long-term unemployment in (a) England, (b) the West Midlands and (c) Dudley borough. [78300]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated November 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what assessment he has made of the level of long-term unemployment in (a) England, (b) the West Midlands and (c) Dudley Borough. (78300)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. However, estimates of long-term unemployment for Dudley Borough are unavailable.
As an alternative, in Table 1, we have provided the number of persons claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), for over 52 weeks. For consistency reasons we have also supplied data for the West Midlands and England on this basis.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
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| Table 1: Number of people (1) claiming jobseeker's allowance for 12 months or more resident in England, West Midlands and Dudley b orough in September 2011 | |
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|
Number |
| (1) Computerised claims only. These account for approximately 99.7% of all claims. Note: Data rounded to nearest 5 Source: Jobcentre Plus administrative system | |
Universal Credit
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how he plans to determine which former recipients of working tax credit will receive universal credit before April 2014. [78629]
Chris Grayling: Where a claimant is no longer entitled to working tax credit from October 2013 and before April 2014 they will either naturally move on to universal credit or on to one of the old benefits which is being replaced by universal credit, where they meet the condition of entitlement. The benefit on to which a claimant transfers will depend on the precise plans to phase the introduction of universal credit from October 2013 and these will be announced in the spring of 2012.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the introduction of universal credit on the number of disabled children living in poverty. [78630]
Chris Grayling: Based on modelling using the Department for Work and Pensions Policy Simulation Model, it is estimated that universal credit will reduce the number of disabled children living in poverty. The reduction is estimated to be less than 50,000.
This estimate should be treated with caution, due to the small sample size of this group in the Family Resources Survey.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under what budget headings has funding for the introduction of universal credit been allocated in each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period. [78631]
Chris Grayling: The 2010 spending review settlement included funding of £2 billion for the period 2011-12 to 2014-15. This is intended to meet all the costs of introducing universal credit including any increases in benefit expenditure, additional benefit administration costs in the transition period, the costs of IT development and implementation, communications, staff training and programme management.
Universal Credit: Free School Meals
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress he has made in determining which families will be eligible for free school meals after the introduction of universal credit; and if he will make a statement. [78628]
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Chris Grayling: Defining entitlement to certain passported benefits is the responsibility of other Government Departments and devolved Administrations.
The Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) has been commissioned to carry out an independent review on passported benefits on behalf of the Government. This review is still taking place and the Committee has been asked to report by the end of January 2012. The Department will publish the final report alongside our response in April.
Free school meals are the responsibility for the Department for Education, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government. In England, the Department for Education is already considering the options for new eligibility criteria and working with a number of stakeholders. Department for Education Ministers will consult on free school meal eligibility proposals in 2012, in good time to take decisions to meet our overall timetable to introduce universal credit by October 2013.
Work Capability Assessment
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of reducing the time allowed to return an ESA50 form on the ability of claimants to gather and submit additional medical evidence to support their claim; [78206]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effect of reducing the time allowed to return an ESA50 form on the ability of (a) claimants with mental health disorders, cognitive problems or learning difficulties and (b) other claimants to return the form on time; [78207]
(3) with reference to Section 9 of the Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) Regulations 2011, what the reasons are for the reduction of the amount of time allowed to claimants to return an ESA50 form. [78258]
Chris Grayling: From 31 October 2011, the time limits for returning the questionnaire (ESA50) were reduced from 42 days to 28 days overall. This is because the time scales were based on those for incapacity benefit, which included an additional 14 days for claimants to contact their GPs to make an appointment. This is not needed for employment and support allowance claims and the Government believe that it is therefore reasonable reduce the time scales for returning the form from 28 days to 21 days, and the time for reminders to seven days from 14, which makes an overall total of 28 days. We would not wish for this to impinge on a claimant's ability to provide further evidence to support their claim as they will still be required to complete the remaining Work Capability Assessment process, of which, the return of ESA50 is just the start.
We recognise concerns about the effects on vulnerable people, especially those with mental health problems. As a consequence we are retaining all existing safeguards for those claimants who demonstrate that they had good cause for failing to return the questionnaire on time. Decision Makers must consider the claimant's state of health, nature of disability and whether they were in Great Britain before deciding if the claimant has good cause for not completing the questionnaire on time.
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Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average waiting time was in each Jobcentre district for a work capability assessment in the case of (a) people not previously claiming benefit after submitting a new application for employment and support allowance and (b) existing recipients of incapacity benefit, after receiving notification of re-assessment. [79041]
Chris Grayling: The information is not available.
Work Programme
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of different Work programme providers being able to compare each other's performance. [77963]
Chris Grayling: Work programme providers are required by contract not to share data with other organisations prior to the date of publication of Official Statistics. This clause in the contracts is essential in order to protect the integrity of data and in doing so comply with UK Statistics Authority legislation.
As a minimum, we currently expect to publish referral figures from spring 2012 and job outcome figures from autumn 2012. Data will, subject to their availability and quality, be presented by: age; gender; ethnicity; disability; provider; local authority; parliamentary constituency; and contract package area.
Driving up performance between providers is imperative to the success of the Work programme. From 2013 the best performing provider for each claimant group in a contract package area will receive more new referrals from that claimant group and the weakest will receive fewer, subject to a minimum performance gap. The publication of data will help ensure this is undertaken in a clear and transparent way.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) Tier 1 and (b) Tier 2 subcontractors from the voluntary and community sector were named in the bids submitted by organisations which are now work programme prime providers. [79042]
Chris Grayling: At the initial round of bidding DWP received 177 bids for the Work programme competition. 40 of these bids were successful and there were 1,404 supply chain opportunities.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) Tier 1 and (b) Tier 2 subcontractors currently contracted by work programme prime providers are from the voluntary and community sector. [79043]
Chris Grayling: An exact number of tier 1 and tier 2 subcontractors is inaccurate as soon as it is published. DWP does not hold exact numbers but stock takes at points in time. The most recent stock take of the position regarding tier 1 and tier 2 Work programme supply chains found comparatively few changes from those listed in the initial bids with the voluntary sector maintaining the highest share at around 46%.
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Leader of the House
Queen's Messages
Mr Winnick: To ask the Leader of the House if he will bring forward proposals for messages from Her Majesty the Queen to be notified to the House by Mr Speaker. [78782]
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Adam Werritty
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) he has and (b) his officials have met Mr Adam Werritty in an official capacity; and whether any such meetings took place (i) in a building within the Government estate and (ii) elsewhere. [78281]
Mr Hague: The information requested is: (a) no; (b) yes, there was some limited contact both on and off Government premises.
Algeria: Christianity
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports his Department has received on (a) the level of religious freedom for Christians in Algeria and (b) the effect of Ordinance 06-03 on freedom to worship; and whether he raised these matters during his recent visit to that country. [78234]
Alistair Burt: We monitor religious freedoms in the middle east and north Africa closely. We are aware that the Algerian authorities have closed some places of worship which had not been registered under Ordinance 06-03, including those of Christian groups, since the regulations governing religion in Algeria came into effect in May 2007. I discussed the situation with a delegation of Algerian Christians when I met them on 26 October and they confirmed our understanding that Church representatives, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Ministry of Interior officials are taking part in working sessions to discuss the implementation of the laws.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed the importance of reform with the Algerian authorities during his recent visit, although did not raise religious freedoms specifically. In relation to freedom of religion, our embassy in Algeria is keeping a number of current cases under review. Where there are opportunities to raise the issue with the host government, we will do so. The subject of individual freedoms and human rights was also discussed with the Algerian authorities at the EU/Algerian political dialogue, which had its first meeting recently.
Charities
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what grants his Department made to charitable organisations in each of the last five years. [79077]
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Mr Lidington: I refer to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), on 23 March 2011, Official Report, column 1154W, to the hon. Member for Vale of Clwyd (Chris Ruane).
Departmental Assets
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assets with a value of £250,000 or more his Department has bought since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77358]
Mr Lidington: In this period, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) added to the fixed asset register 34 completed projects costing more than £250,000 each, at total cost of £74.48 million. This relates to investment in buildings in our network of nearly 270 posts overseas as well as our offices in the UK, as well as information technology projects that will deliver savings and better services to the FCO and other Government Departments. The FCO made disposals amounting to a total value of £31.62 million during this period. Further details on our fixed assets are published in the FCO's annual report and accounts which are presented to Parliament each year.
Departmental Library
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on its library in each year since 1995; and how many books were issued from the library in each such year. [78282]
Mr Hague: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) ceased hard copy library and information services on 31 March 2008 with the exception of a small legal library which remains for reference and research use by its legal advisers. The Department did not maintain a central record of the library’s expenditure and it would incur disproportionate cost to establish such historical data. It did not keep historical data about book issues. A new electronic library was introduced in 2010 to provide information services via the desktop throughout the global network, including access to electronic books.
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Library since May 2010; and if he will place a copy of any such representations in the House of Commons Library. [78544]
Mr Hague: Since May 2010 I have received 15 representations about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office library consisting of MP and member of the public letters, freedom of information requests, written parliamentary questions and public correspondence.
I will arrange to place a list of these representations in the Library of the House.
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Non-departmental Public Bodies
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [78121]
Mr Jeremy Browne: None. The employees of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)'s non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are not civil servants.
Departmental Pay
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials in his Department and the bodies for which he 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. [78047]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The following table details the number of civil servants employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who in the last financial year (2010-11) earned salaries within the ranges specified:
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|
Number |
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials in his Department received a pay rise other than by promotion in the last two years; and what the average increase was in each such year. [78125]
Mr Jeremy Browne: No senior civil servant in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received a pay rise, other than through promotion, since the pay freeze came into effect from 1 April 2010.
Civil servants below the senior civil service are subject to a pay freeze with effect from 1 April 2011. Under HM Treasury rules, staff whose full-time equivalent salary is less than £21,000 are entitled to receive a payment of at least £250 during the pay freeze. In line with this, 656 staff received an average increase of £337 with effect from 1 April 2011.
Prior to the pay freeze, with effect from 1 April 2010, 3,715 staff below the senior civil service received a pay rise relating to 2009-10 performance. The average increase was £1,092.
Telephone Helplines
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding his Department allocated to each telephone helpline funded by his 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. [77989]
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Mr Jeremy Browne: Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) consular staff in London and overseas regularly answer phone calls from British nationals seeking our help, including through our 24-hour Global Response Centre. Consular Directorate also provides the following telephone helplines:
This service offers access to the FCO's travel advice to those who are unable to view it online, or who wish to inquire in person. The service is currently provided by a commercial partner and we have budgeted £ 190,000 for 2011-12. We continue to improve our online travel advice, and hope to reduce this cost by making online advice easier to use. The number of calls received in the past five years:
2006-07: 63,987
2007-08: 58,486
2008-09: 113,904
2009-10: 131,988
2010-11: 114,827.
In a crisis affecting British nationals overseas the FCO may activate a call handling capacity to take calls from affected members of the public, either in-house or outsourced to a commercial partner or the police. This depends on the scale and nature of the incident. These call handlers usually respond to calls to a dedicated emergency hotline number. Funding for operational costs is not allocated in advance, but these costs can be claimed from the Treasury-held Emergency Disaster Reserve should the total costs of our crisis response surpass £150,000. To establish accurate figures and costs for each of the last five years would incur disproportionate cost.
Legalisation; and births, deaths and marriages inquiries
This service is currently being provided by a commercial partner, to enable the Legalisation Office staff to process documents as efficiently as possible and ensure calls are always answered promptly. Included in the passport telephone inquiry line, Careline
provided a telephone inquiry service for the Legalisation Office from February 2010. When the passport contract moved to the Identity and Passport Service, a one-year short-term extension of contract was established with Careline (from 1 June 2011) to handle legalisation inquiries. Within the same contract, Careline handles telephone inquiries from British nationals looking to register a birth or death or with questions about getting married or arranging a civil partnership overseas. The budget for 2011-12 is £80,000. The number of calls received:
February to December 2010: 22,424 legalisation inquiries
January to October 2011: 27,938 legalisation inquiries and 1,233 calls for births, marriages and deaths inquiries.
Between 1 June 2009 and 1 April 2011, Consular Directorate employed Careline, a UK based company, to provide a telephone inquiry and tracking service for customers applying for passports overseas. Careline continue to provide this service but the contract is now managed by the Identity and Passport Service, an executive agency of the Home Office. The FCO do not pay for this service; customers are charged direct by Careline. Exceptionally, the FCO covered the cost of calls to Careline, from 15 July to 31 July 2011 for customers
7 Nov 2011 : Column 72W
served by the regional passport processing centre in Dusseldorf and from 15 July until 31 August for customers served by the processing centre in Washington because of delays in passport production. The cost of the temporary free service was £29,610. The number of calls received:
1 June to 31 December 2009: 74,109
1 January to 31 December 2010: 144,901
1 January to 28 October 2011: 115,768.
Consular Directorate provides specific telephone numbers for certain customers requiring FCO support. These are regular FCO phone lines manned by Consular staff during normal working at no additional cost.
The Child Abduction Section helpline
This helpline was established to answer urgent questions from British nationals involved in a parental child abduction, residence or contact dispute overseas. The number of new cases are recorded, rather than the number of calls.
The Forced Marriage Unit helpline
This helpline offers support to British nationals overseas and anyone in the UK who is worried about being forced into a marriage. This is a joint initiative with the Home Office. We do not record the number of calls received, but record the number of unique reports of potential forced marriage cases.
There is also a helpline for Members of Parliament wishing to speak to a member of Consular Directorate about constituency cases. The number of calls is not recorded.
Internships
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [78367]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has not taken on any unpaid or expense-only interns over the last 12 months in the UK. It has, however, taken on 52 paid interns in the UK in the last 12 months through a number of publicly advertised schemes.
In the last 12 months, the British Council’s UK offices have employed 15 interns on either an unpaid or expenses-only basis.
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy has had three short-term expenses-only internships over the last 12 months. Information can be found at:
http://www.wfd.org/who-we-are/internships.aspx
There were no other unpaid or expenses-only internships in the FCO’s other arm’s length bodies.
EU Aid
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on having a separate budget line for European Commission humanitarian aid in the Multi-Annual Financial Framework. [78002]
Mr Duncan: I have been asked to reply.
7 Nov 2011 : Column 73W
The Humanitarian Aid Instrument (HAI) is the main budget line for humanitarian activities in the European Union (EU) budget. The Emergency Aid Reserve (EAR), meanwhile, is the part of the EU budget used to respond to crises in non-EU countries which were not accounted for when the budget was drawn up—allowing the EU to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies.
These instruments fund the work of the Commission's humanitarian agency, European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO)—responsible for responding to the needs of the most vulnerable people immediately after a disaster. The UK's Multilateral Aid Review (MAR) rated the agency highly, with very good value for money; closely matching the UK's own humanitarian objectives. ECHO'S separate budget line is an important factor in enabling it to deliver effectively, giving it greater scope to provide long-term and predictable funding to at-risk areas as well as the ability to hold funds in reserve for response to unforeseen disasters and humanitarian crises.
European Union: Powers
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 September 2011, Official Report, column 1322W, on Croatia: EU Enlargement, if he will make it his policy to seek to repatriate social and employment powers from the European Union during negotiations on Croatia's accession treaty. [77777]
Mr Lidington: The UK is a firm supporter of EU enlargement and we look forward to Croatia's accession to the EU. The treaty concerning Croatian accession, which will be adopted in accordance with Article 49 TEU is due to be signed by the EU member states and by Croatia in December 2011, and the current target date for accession is 1 July 2013. Article 49 TEU deals specifically with accession agreements, which set out the conditions of admission of the acceding state and adjustments to the treaties which that admission entails. Article 49 cannot be used to alter the balance of power or competences between existing member states and the EU. Accession treaties deal with the transfer of power and competence from the acceding state to the EU.
India: British Nationals Abroad
Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on British nationals dying in India. [78040]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) receives regular reports of cases involving British nationals dying in India. The FCO, through our network of diplomatic representations in India and our consular department in London, offers assistance and advice when required to the families and friends of British nationals. This includes providing information on available local burial and cremation procedures, about companies that can assist with international repatriation, help in liaising with the local authorities on a range of matters including family wishes for funeral arrangements and, through Victim Support, support for bereaved relatives in the UK.
The FCO regularly raises unresolved cases with the Government of India, including in July when I called on Indian Home Secretary Chidambaram and since then
7 Nov 2011 : Column 74W
at official level. The FCO will continue to do this in a measured and fair manner until each unresolved case is concluded. There are currently 64 unresolved death cases.
Nigeria: Human Rights
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on human rights in Nigeria. [78477]
Mr Jeremy Browne: We have received representations concerning inter-communal violence in Plateau State. The British high commission has raised our concerns about the ongoing conflict which has affected both Christian and Muslim communities in Plateau State and urged the Nigerian Federal and state governments, traditional rulers and religious leaders to work together to address the root social, economic and political issues.
We are also aware of a proposed Bill to prohibit marriage between persons of the same gender, currently being debated by the Nigerian Senate. In a recent meeting with the Chair of the Senate committee on human rights, the EU Delegation in Nigeria lobbied against the introduction of the Bill. We supported that action and will continue to closely monitor developments on the Bill.
Palestinians: Prisoners
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the conditions of detention of Palestinian children in prison in Israel. [78822]
Alistair Burt: As I stated in the House on 25 October 2011, Official Report, column 166, we receive regular reports about the detention of Palestinian children from a non-governmental organisation, Defence for Children International.
We remain concerned about the detention of children in military jails and the prosecution of children through military courts.
During my visit in June, I raised this matter directly with the Minister responsible, indicating the UK's concerns about both the detention and the treatment of children. The Israelis have recently raised the age of criminal responsibility in the territories from 16 to 18, so it is the same as for Israeli children. Nonetheless, I know that the Israeli Government do take seriously the fact that children are detained in circumstances that cause concern to NGOs and UNICEF, and we will continue to press them on this.
Palestinians: UNESCO
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the UK voted on the admission of Palestine to UNESCO. [78543]
Alistair Burt: The UK abstained on the Palestinian application to join UNESCO. The principal basis for this decision was because we believe that the UN Security Council should conclude its careful consideration of the Palestinian application to the UN, before other UN specialised agencies or other international organisations consider separate applications. We do not want to prejudge the ongoing discussions in New York.
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Serbia: EU Enlargement
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of Serbia's bid for EU membership; and if he will make a statement. [77804]
Mr Lidington: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 1 November 2011 to the hon. Member for Islwyn (Chris Evans), Official Report, column 584W.
Turkey: Earthquakes
Mr Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department is providing to the Turkish authorities following the recent earthquake in that country; and if he will make a statement. [78305]
Mr Duncan: I have been asked to reply.
In response to a specific request from the Turkish Government, the UK Government have provided 1,144 protective winter tents to house 5,500 people who are without shelter. The Turkish Government have not requested food, medicines, blankets, heaters or additional relief commodities. The UK Government will continue to monitor the situation in the affected region.
UNESCO: Finance
Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding his Department allocated to UNESCO in each year from 2000 to 2011. [78576]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Department for International Development (DFID) pays the UK's assessed contributions to UNESCO.
The figures for the assessed contribution from 2000 to 2011 are as follows:
|
|
£ million |
| (1) Figures taken from Statistics on International Development, remaining figures from ARIES. | |
The UK has benefitted from rebates in the second year of the biennium as a result of early payment of its contribution. Rebates amounted to £330,000 in 2004-05; £1,083,000 in 2006-07 and £700,000 in 2008-09.
7 Nov 2011 : Column 76W
Defence
Adam Werritty
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether officials of his Department provided any advice to the Minister with responsibility for international security strategy in advance of his meeting with Mr Adam Werritty and Mr Stephen Crouch on 27 September 2011; [78858]
(2) whether the Minister with responsibility for international security strategy's meeting with Mr Adam Werritty and Mr Stephen Crouch on 27 September 2011 was arranged by his diary secretary; [78859]
(3) whether any official of his Department attended the Minister with responsibility for international security strategy's meeting with Mr Adam Werritty and Mr Stephen Crouch on 27 September 2011; and whether minutes of that meeting were taken. [78860]
Mr Gerald Howarth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), on 24 October 2011, Official Report, columns 30-31W, to the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones) and the hon. Member for Wrexham (Ian Lucas).
The meeting with Adam Werritty and Stephen Crouch on 27 September was not organised by my Ministry of Defence diary secretary, officials did not provide any advice in advance and no record was taken.
Armed Forces: Cadets
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many cadets were enrolled in the Sussex Air Cadets in each of the last five years; and how much funding per cadet his Department provided to the Sussex Air Cadets in each of the last five years; [77312]
(2) how many cadets were enrolled in the Sussex Sea Cadets in each of the last five years; and how much funding per cadet his Department provided to the Sussex Sea Cadets in each of the last five years; [77313]
(3) how many cadets were enrolled in the Sussex Army Cadet Force in each of the last five years; and how much funding per cadet his Department provided to the Sussex Army Cadet Force in each of the last five years. [77314]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 31 October 2011]: The number of cadets in each of the service cadet forces in Sussex fluctuates throughout the year; we have therefore provided a snapshot as at a point each year, which varies for each service.
| As at 1 September 2011 unless shown otherwise | Total number of Sea Cadets |
7 Nov 2011 : Column 77W
|
|
Total number of Army Cadets as at 1 September 2011 | Number enrolled annually |
| As at 30 September 2011 | Total number of Air Cadets |
It is not possible to provide information on the funding per cadet as it is not calculated or held in the format requested. Details of the funding to units in Sussex provided from the grant in aid provided by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) over the past five financial years are shown in the following tables for each of the services where this information is available.
| Financial year | Sea Cadet funding (£) |
| Financial year | Army Cadet funding (£) |
These figures represent funding for cadet activities such as ammunition, rations, transport, paid training days and travel and subsistence. This does not cover the cost of salaries and pensions of permanent staff employed in the cadet forces, or other support costs, such as buildings maintenance, which are accounted for centrally.
For the Air Cadet units in Sussex, it is not possible to provide information on the funding per cadet as it is not held in the format requested. A recent internal study calculated that the total average cost of one Air Training Corps cadet was £1,086 per year, but this is not calculated on the same basis as the grant figures given above.
The Sea Cadets are funded differently to the Army and Air Cadets. Unlike the other MOD-sponsored cadet forces, the Sea Cadets are a charity and raise 45% of their funding themselves from outside the MOD.
Armed Forces: Housing
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of (a) service family accommodation and (b) single living accommodation has been identified as requiring refurbishment; and if he will make a statement. [78271]
7 Nov 2011 : Column 78W
Mr Robathan: 96% of service family accommodation (SFA) properties in the UK are already at the top two standards (of four) for condition. £100 million will be spent upgrading properties to the top standard by 2013.
From 2003-13, a total of £1.4 billion will have been spent delivering 60,000 new or improved single living accommodation (SLA) bed-spaces.
Armed Forces: Mental Health
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2011, Official Report, column 512W, on armed forces: mental health, what recent progress he has made on implementing the recommendation of the report by the hon. Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison) that a member of the armed forces whose requirement for a specialist opinion is identified at the time of discharge should be able to obtain it and any follow-on treatment in a military department of community mental health for the next six months. [78539]
Mr Robathan: The policy is now in place and operational, and has been formally promulgated in Annex A to Section 11.0 of Joint Service Publication (JSP) 950 Leaflet 2-7-2 (Veterans and Mental Healthcare Provision in Departments of Community Mental Health). A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
Armed Forces: Recruitment
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average waiting time was to join the Army in each of the last two years. [78294]
Mr Robathan: It is not possible to provide an average waiting time for those who apply to join the Army as each individual application is unique and varies considerably depending on whether the applicant is applying to enlist as an officer or soldier, regular or in the Territorial Army. This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Army aims to process applications as quickly and efficiently as possible. Many factors can influence the length of time taken including medical issues, fitness levels, security clearance and the availability of places at selection centres and training establishments plus vacancies in chosen trades.
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 23 November 2010, Official Report, column 211W, on armed forces: recruitment, how many people were recruited to each of the armed forces at each recruitment centre in each year since 2009-10. [78536]
Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Dr Whiteford) on 19 October 2011, Official Report, column 987W.
Armed Forces: Training
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of Army recruits currently in Phase 1 or Phase 2 training are not deployable due to their age. [79216]
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Mr Robathan: There are no Army recruits currently in Phase One and Phase Two training who are not deployable due to their age. This is because no Army recruit is deployable until they have completed Phase 1 and Phase 2 training regardless of their age.
On completion of Phase 1 and Phase 2 training, individuals will not be deployed if they are under the age of 18.
Armed Forces: Young People
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the minimum age is for training with (a) live ammunition, (b) guns, (c) bayonets and (d) other weapons. [78046]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 2 November 2011]: The armed forces recruit from age 16. All new recruits undertake live weapon training during their phase 1 training. The use of bayonets is not universal across the services but training will begin, regardless of age, when recruits join those branches that do make use of bayonets, for example, the infantry or RAF Regiment. The guidelines governing the use of live weapons during phase 1 and 2 training are stringent in considering accident prevention and physical security and no training is undertaken without strict supervision.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of armed forces veterans in prison enlisted under the age of 18. [78141]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 2 November 2011]: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to prohibit the participation in hostilities of soldiers aged under 18 in any circumstances. [78261]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 3 November 2011]: Our policy remains that no service personnel under the age of 18 are deployed on operations which would result in them becoming engaged in, or exposed, to hostilities. I see no need to take further action.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of (a) compulsory and (b) voluntary discharges from the (i) Army, (ii) Navy and (iii) RAF (A) were under the age of 18 and (B) had enlisted while under the age of 18 in each of the last five years. [78311]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 3 November 2011]: The information requested is not held centrally in a format that would allow for the differentiation between compulsory and voluntary outflow. However, the proportion of personnel under the age of 18 leaving the services and the proportion of leavers who enlisted while under the age of 18, against the total number leaving the services, is presented in the following tables. Information is not available before 2007-08 as the joint personnel administration system, from which the information presented was sourced, was not fully operational before that time.
7 Nov 2011 : Column 80W
| Outflow from UK armed forces of those under 18 as a proportion of all service leavers | ||||
| Percentage | ||||
| Financial year | ||||
|
|
2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
| Outflow from UK armed forces of those who enlisted while under 18 as a proportion of all service leavers | ||||
| Percentage | ||||
| Financial year | ||||
|
|
2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
Freedom of Information Requests
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to his Department on or after 7 May 2010 remain unanswered after 30 working days. [78538]
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 his Department has received in each month 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; [78879]
(2) in respect of how many responses to requests for information received by his 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. [78880]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) publishes statistics on the handling of requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by over 40 central Government bodies. These include the Ministry of Defence (MOD), which receives approximately 3,000 requests each year. This information is available on the Ministry of Justice and the National Archive websites, at the following addresses:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/foi/implementation-editions.htm
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.justice .gov.uk/publications/freedomofinformationquarterly -archive.htm
7 Nov 2011 : Column 81W
Statistics for the whole of 2011 will be collated and published in due course.
The MOD and MOJ do not collect data on the number of ‘holding responses’ sent to requesters, only on the timeliness of substantive responses for both instances when a public interest test has or has not been applied.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [78881]
Mr Robathan: Ministry of Defence officials would normally determine whether exemptions to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 should apply to responses to requests for information under the Act.
There are 23 FOI exemptions. One of these section 36 (prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs) can only apply if it is the reasonable opinion of a qualified person that the exemption applies. The Act states that in relation to information held by Government, the qualified person must be a Minister. A ministerial submission is produced by the lead business area and submitted to the Minister with responsibility for the topic that the FOI covers. In addition, any FOI received from an MP or their support staff, must receive a response from a Minister. Again, this is the Minister with responsibility for the topic that the FOI covers.
Secondary Legislation
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) statutory instruments, (b) ministerial orders and (c) other pieces of secondary legislation were issued by his Department in (i) 1990, (ii) 1995, (iii) each year since 1999 and (iv) 2011 to date. [78108]
Mr Robathan: The information requested for the years in question is set out in the following table:
| Number | ||
|
|
Statutory instruments | Ministerial orders |
7 Nov 2011 : Column 82W
The ministerial orders referred to are orders made by the Secretary of State for Defence under the Reserve Forces Act 1996 to call-out members of the reserve forces.
Security Vetting
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what company or Government service is used to undertake security vetting at (a) counter-terrorist check, (b) security check and (c) developed vetting level in his Department. [77883]
Mr Robathan: Defence Business Services, National Security Vetting (previously known as the Defence Vetting Agency).
Internships
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [78380]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) offers a number of summer diversity internships for undergraduates each year. Full information on this scheme is at:
www.civilservice.gov.uk/faststream
Information on other internships that may have been offered by the MOD or its arm's length bodies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Drummore Harbour: Land
Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the sale price was of his Department's land holding interest at Drummore Harbour; and what conditions were attached to the sale. [79048]
Mr Robathan: The harbour pier wall and high water foreshore at Drummore Harbour was sold by the Ministry of Defence in 2004 for £1,000. No specific conditions were attached to the sale.
European Fighter Aircraft
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what alterations will be required to existing range complexes following the proposed transfer of the Typhoon force from RAF Leuchars to RAF Lossiemouth. [78614]
Mr Robathan: Detailed planning continues, but there are no changes currently planned to existing range complexes resulting from the future transfer of the Typhoon force from RAF Leuchars to RAF Lossiemouth.
Legal Opinion
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [78085]
7 Nov 2011 : Column 83W
Mr Robathan: In June 2011, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) employed the following numbers of officials, including support staff, in the five different legal sections within the Department:
Central Legal Services, MOD—100, of whom 78 are legally qualified
Army Legal Services—141, of whom 99 are legally qualified
RAF Legal Services—54, of whom 42 are legally qualified
Navy Legal Services—40, of whom 16 are legally qualified
The Service Prosecuting Authority—73, of whom 39 are legally qualified
These figures do not include locally hired civilians who are employed in overseas locations. With regard to the MOD's agencies and Trading Funds, at 1 June 2011, the UK Hydrographic Office had one in-house lawyer.
Services Officers
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many officers of captain rank or above there are in (a) the Navy and (b) his Department; [78008]
(2) how many generals there are in (a) the Army and (b) his Department; [78011]
(3) how many admirals there are in (a) the Royal Navy and (b) his Department; [78012]
(4) how many officers of major rank and above there are in (a) the Army and (b) his Department. [78013]
Mr Robathan: The following tables provide information on the total number of officers in the Royal Navy and Army holding the rank of Admiral, their Army equivalent, and below as at 1 April 2011:
| Royal Navy | |
|
|
Total |
| Army | |
|
|
Total |
Officers of the armed forces can serve in a variety of appointments both in the United Kingdom and overseas, but continue to be employed by the Ministry of Defence. Reductions are expected across the senior ranks in the light of the independent report by Lord Levene which considered the way in which the Ministry of Defence is structured and managed. The reduction in the number of senior staff will impact most significantly on non-command appointments.
Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) publish Defence Statistics annually on their website:
www.dasa.mod.uk
This includes the United Kingdom Regular Armed Forces by rank structure.
7 Nov 2011 : Column 84W
World War I: Anniversaries
Mr Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the World War 1. [76063]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 21 October 2011]:Traditionally, we mark the anniversary of the conclusion of a conflict rather than its beginning. So the main commemorations will be on the centenary of the end of the World War 1 in 1918. However, given the importance of the centenary of World War I, a number of anniversaries of key events from 2014 to 2018, including the beginning of the war, will be marked in an appropriate way. The Prime Minister has asked my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison) to act as his special representative and co-ordinator for World War I Commemorations. Dr Murrison will work with international partners to ensure that the UK plays a full and active role; and will co-ordinate the cross-Whitehall effort in respect of the commemorations.
Culture, Media and Sport
Adam Werritty
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 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. [78862]
John Penrose: This Department's Ministers, officials and special advisers have not met Adam Werritty on official business since May 2010.
American Football
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect on grass roots participation in sports of the NFL playing two regular season American football games in the UK. [78240]
Hugh Robertson: The Department has made no such assessment. Sport England record the levels of once-a- month participation in American Football, which can be found in the following table, but there has been no significant change since 2007-08.
| Date | Volume of once a month participation |
Arts
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what representations he has made to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Economic Affairs on finances for businesses in the creative industries. [78217]
7 Nov 2011 : Column 85W
Mr Vaizey [holding answer 3 November 2011]: A wide range of issues are discussed at the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Economic Affairs, including different ways the Government can support the Creative Industries.
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to increase access to finance by small and medium-sized enterprises in the creative industries. [78315]
Mr Vaizey [holding answer 3 November 2011]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Minister for Sport and the Olympics, my hon. Friend the Member for Faversham and Mid Kent (Hugh Robertson), on 25 October 2011, Official Report, column 164W.
Arts Council England
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what funding Arts Council England plans to provide for jazz in the North East in 2012-13 and in subsequent years. [79144]
Mr Vaizey: Arts Council England (ACE) is committed to working with the jazz sector to enhance opportunities for artists, promoters and audiences. The three ACE regularly funded jazz agencies in the North were unsuccessful in their recent National Portfolio applications, decisions for which were based on an assessment of the strength of those applications.
ACE continues to support and encourage applications for funding from north eastern emerging jazz artists, touring groups, jazz festivals, new commissions and other jazz activity under the open access Grants for the Arts programme. ACE representatives recently met with the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group and they will continue to discuss future funding possibilities.
Freedom of Information Requests
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 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. [78890]
John Penrose: 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) can only apply if it is the reasonable opinion of a qualified person (QP) that the exemption applies. In relation to information held by Government, the QP must be a Minister.
It is departmental policy that the decision as to whether section 36 is applicable will be made by the Minister who has the policy responsibility for the subject of the request.
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Internships
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 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. [78375]
John Penrose: The Department has employed two unpaid interns in the last 12 months as part of the Whitehall Diversity Internship programme. Both had placements in our private offices and the Government Olympic Executive.
We do not hold central records for our arm's length bodies. I have therefore asked their chief executives to write directly to the Member for Liverpool Wavertree (Luciana Berger).
Copies will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.
Freeview Services
Mr Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with Ofcom on the (a) policing and (b) mitigation of interference with Freeview digital terrestrial services that may arise from the introduction of 4G mobile technology. [78482]
Mr Vaizey: My officials are in constant dialogue with Ofcom on both the policy implications and technical measures associated with these issues. We expect decisions on the mitigation process to be made by the end of this year.
Mobile Phones
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what factors he will take into consideration when allocating the recently announced £150 million in funding for mobile telephone masts; [78476]
(2) whether the £150 million in funding for mobile telephone masts will be limited to deployment of (a) 2G, (b) 3G or (c) 4G mobile technologies. [78496]
Mr Vaizey: The principal consideration when considering the optimal use of the £150 million for mobile masts will be to fill in not-spots in the national 2G mobile coverage and raise the coverage level to 99%. However when decisions are being made on locations and mast types, consideration will be given to the requirements of hosting other technologies such as 3G and eventually 4G on the new structures.
Museums and Galleries
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many people volunteered in (a) theatres, (b) museums, (c) art galleries and (d) national heritage sites in the latest period for which figures are available. [77946]
Mr Vaizey:
From July 2010 to June 2011, 23.8% of people had volunteered in the last 12 months. Of these, 14.2% had volunteered within the Department's arts
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(including theatre), museums and galleries (combined) and heritage sectors. The estimated numbers of volunteers in each of these sectors are shown in the following table:
|
|
Percentage | Estimated number of volunteers |
| Source: Taking Part Survey | ||
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the cost to the public purse was of upkeep of (a) theatres, (b) museums, (c) art galleries and (d) national heritage sites in each region of England in each of the last 10 years. [77947]
Mr Vaizey: The Department does not hold disaggregated figures on the amount of money spent on the upkeep of regionally based theatres, museums, art galleries and heritage sites. To provide this would incur disproportionate costs.
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect of reductions in funding on (a) theatres, (b) museums, (c) art galleries and (d) national heritage sites in each region of England over the Comprehensive Spending Review period. [78009]
Mr Vaizey: At the time of the spending review, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), and I were keen to ensure the sustainability of our key cultural assets by limiting cuts to museums, heritage sites, and frontline arts organisations to 15% over the four year period. This has enabled national and regional organisations to put in place effective plans to meet the required savings.
Both English Heritage and Arts Council England continue to work closely with organisations they fund, to achieve efficiency, raise philanthropy, explore commercial opportunities and ensure the cultural regional offer remains excellent. This Department's Ministers meet with the chief executives of both organisations regularly to discuss progress and any concerns.