15 Nov 2011 : Column 746W
Consultants
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on external consultants from 1 May 2010 to 1 November 2011. [79655]
Peter Luff [holding answer 9 November 2011]: The total spend on consultancy contracts (as defined by the Government Procurement Service) for the 17-month period 1 May 2010 to 30 September 2011 (the latest data available) for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) was £33.014 million. This includes the MOD agencies and Trading Funds. By comparison, the total spend on consultancy contracts (as defined by the Government Procurement Service) for the 12-month period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 for the MOD was £79 million.
We continue to minimise expenditure on consultancy in compliance with the tighter controls announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), last year and I welcome the sharp reduction in the cost of using such consultants that we have achieved as a result.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish his Department's guidance on employing external consultants. [81295]
Peter Luff: A copy of the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s most recent guidance on employing external consultants—the Defence Instruction Implementing the Freeze on Consultancy Spend—Notice 2010DIN08-23 of July 2010 will be placed in the Library of the House. This updates the departmental guidance on consultancy assistance, a copy of which I will also place in the Library of the House.
The current MOD practice on employing external consultants is in line with the guidance published by the Cabinet Office on 24 May 2010, as updated in September 2011, which is available at the following address:
http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/guidanceonactionsandprocessesv2Oct2011
Departmental Pay
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials in his Department received a bonus in each year since 2007. [78137]
Mr Robathan: A close and effective link between pay and performance is a key element of the reward arrangements for the civil service. The performance element of pay is colloquially known as a bonus, but it is a misleading description because the performance-related element of pay is not additional, but part of the departmental pay bill.
For senior civil servants (SCS) on standard contracts, performance incentives are paid primarily as non-consolidated performance payments. Any award is based on a judgment of how well an individual has performed against their peers and awards are made to those judged to have made the greatest in-year contribution to business objectives. There is no restriction on the nature of the contribution but it must benefit the Department or Defence more widely. Recommendations for awards are considered by moderation committees and must be linked to clear evidence of delivery.
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While all satisfactory performers at SCS level are eligible to be considered for a non-consolidated performance award, the percentage of staff who actually receive them is restricted by the Cabinet Office. Currently only the top 25% may earn one.
Senior fixed-term employees are individuals who are recruited through fair and open competition from outside the civil service. Those employed as senior fixed-term appointees (FTAs) are on individual contracts and have a higher percentage of pay set to performance awards which are judged against stringent and stretching delivery-based objectives. Some have staged payments and it is now usual to pay a smaller annual performance award with the remainder deferred for two to three years and judged against the delivery of medium to longer-term objectives. Performance is judged by line management with assistance from senior officials, stakeholders, remuneration committees and in some cases internal audit.
Details of how many SCS staff received a non-consolidated performance award each year are shown in tables 1 and 2.
| Table 1: SCS permanent staff | ||
| Performance year | Financial year | Number of awards paid |
| (1) Please refer to transparency data at: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/aboutDefence/Corporatepublications/financialreports/salaries/nonconsolidatedperformanceawards.htm A copy of the information has been placed in the Library of the House. | ||
| Table 2 : SCS fixed term appointees | ||
| SCS FTA performance year | Financial year | Number of awards paid |
| (1) Please refer to transparency data at: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/aboutDefence/Corporatepublications/financialreports/salaries/nonconsolidatedperformanceawards.htm A copy of the information has been placed in the Library of the House. | ||
For staff below the SCS, non-consolidated performance awards are paid to those who meet the eligibility criteria. Higher levels of award are available for those who have contributed most to the business. These awards are distributed on the basis of relative assessment among peers and are designed to encourage continuous high attainment against stretching objectives.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) also operates an in-year non-consolidated payment scheme, the special bonus scheme (SBS), which rewards eligible MOD civilians for exceptional performance in a specific task or for the achievement of a professional qualification the use of which benefits MOD and the individual. Separate arrangements apply to MOD police officers.
The following table details the total number of payments made to staff below the SCS by way of non-consolidated performance payments and SBS awards by financial year.
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| Financial year | Total number of awards made (1) |
| (1) It is not possible to state how many individuals received awards since the data are held as number of awards made and not the number of recipients. (2) Please refer to transparency data at: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/aboutDefence/Corporatepublications/financialreports/salaries/nonconsolidatedperformanceawards.htm A copy of the information has been placed in the Library of the House. | |
This response excludes information on staff below the SCS in MOD Trading Funds which have separate pay delegations.
Security Vetting
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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. [77882]
Mr Robathan: Circumstances in which a post may require the holder to be the subject of national security vetting check are described in HMG Personnel Security Controls document, which is available from the Cabinet Office website at:
http://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, as this could highlight who within the Department has access to sensitive material and be used for targeting purposes.
I refer the hon. Gentleman to the quarterly publication of the list of special advisers which is available in the Library of the House and can also be accessed on the Cabinet Office Website at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special-adviser-data-releases
There are no ministerial-appointed policy advisers in the Department.
Ex-servicemen: Finance
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funds are available to support community groups assisting former armed services personnel in England and Wales. [79910]
Mr Robathan: The Community Covenant was launched across the UK in June 2011. It is a voluntary scheme designed to improve integration between the armed forces and civilian community at a local level. The armed forces community which the scheme is designed to help includes service personnel, their families, the bereaved and veterans. To support this scheme the Ministry of Defence has set aside up to £30 million over the next four years to fund local projects across the UK that support this aim.
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Information regarding the Community Covenant and Community Covenant Grant Scheme is available on the Ministry of Defence website at:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Showcase/ProvidingForOurPeople.htm
France: Military Alliances
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential effect on UK-French defence co-operation of planned reductions to the French defence budget. [79067]
Mr Philip Hammond: The potential for reductions in the French defence budget is a matter for the French Government. It is clear, however, that France is as committed as the UK to strengthening Franco-British Defence co-operation and maintaining military capabilities against a background of constraints on public expenditure. It will therefore be in the interest of both nations actively to explore options for co-operation in both operational and equipment areas in accordance with the UK-France defence treaty.
Iran
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what planning has been done in relation to a possible conflict with Iran. [80424]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 14 November 2011]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 14 November 2011, Official Report, columns 571-72, to my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr Hollobone).
Malaysia: Military Decorations
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, following the announcement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 26 October 2011, when he expects those who have been awarded the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal to be notified that they may wear it; and if he will make a statement. [79130]
Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement that I made on 8 November 2011, Official Report, column 11WS.
Military Aid: Equipment
Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military equipment has been gifted by the UK to overseas military and security forces in 2011 to date; to which country each was gifted; and what the estimated monetary value was in each case. [76164]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 21 October 2011]: Information on equipment gifted to overseas Governments in 2011 by the Ministry of Defence is provided in the following table:
| Equipment | Recipient | Value (£) |
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In addition, a gift to the Libyan Government of naval equipment worth £64,810 has been approved but not yet implemented.
Military Bases: Radiation Exposure
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on (a) defence sites in the UK and (b) sites overseas used by British military forces that (i) are known to have been and (ii) might have been contaminated with radium that has been disposed of since 1945; when each such disposal took place; and what level of radioactivity has been recorded at each such disposal site. [80877]
Mr Robathan: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
MOD Police and Guarding Agency
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the case for amalgamating the MOD police with the Civil Nuclear Constabulary; and if he will make a statement. [80592]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 14 November 2011]: The Ministry of Defence police and Civil Nuclear Constabulary are already working towards closer operational interoperability and collaboration in order to enhance the effectiveness and protection of defence and civil nuclear sites.
Ministry of Defence and Department for Energy and Climate Change Ministers have recently agreed that a scoping study should be undertaken to establish whether a formal merger would bring further benefits.
Navy: Animal Experiments
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next plans to review the use of animals in experiments relating to naval personnel. [79066]
Peter Luff: Animal experimentation at Dstl has saved the lives of many service men and women.
Dstl takes animal welfare extremely seriously. Animal experimentation is only undertaken when no alternatives are available. It is reviewed in accordance with the
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principles of the three Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement). Dstl has an active programme to increase the implementation of the three Rs by exploring the use of non-living models in order to reduce the requirement for animal experimentation.
Type 23 Frigates
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Type 23 frigate has been allocated to be Fleet Ready Escort from 1 November 2011; and if he will make a statement. [81269]
Nick Harvey: As of 7 November 2011 HMS Iron Duke has been the Fleet Ready Escort. Between 1 November and 7 November 2011 a number of other Royal Navy units were at sea maintaining the security of UK waters. Should a warship have been required for emergency stand-by during this period, one would have been tasked accordingly.
War Memorials: Vandalism
Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to prevent the desecration of war memorials. [80145]
Mr Robathan: It is appalling that memorials are being vandalised and violated in the manner reported. The Ministry of Defence supports any plan to protect the memory of those who have served and paid the ultimate price defending our country.
International Development
Burma: Overseas Aid
Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much and what proportion of his Department's funding for Burma was spent on assistance to refugees and internally displaced peoples along the Thailand-Burma border in the latest period for which figures are available. [79719]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: DFID's project ‘Assistance to Conflict Affected People, Eastern Burma’ provides aid to refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) along the Thailand-Burma border. By the end of 2010 the project had provided aid for food security for more than 42,000 IDPs inside Burma, funded more than 4,000 new or improved sanitation facilities in 158 villages in Burma, and given grants to help with the cost of schooling to more than 5,500 families. The project also contributes towards the provision of food, shelter and other necessities for nearly 150,000 Burmese refugees in Thailand, supports improved access to legal assistance for refugees in camps in Thailand, and finances the purchase of medical supplies which benefit people affected by conflict in eastern Burma.
In the financial year 2010-11 the project spent £2.7 million, representing just over 8% of DFID's funding for Burma.
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Central America: Storms
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department has given to those affected by the recent tropical depression in Central America. [79862]
Mr Duncan: DFID is monitoring the crisis closely. Essential humanitarian assistance is being provided by the Governments and national relief agencies of affected countries, supported by the international community, including the UN and the International Federation of the Red Cross. UK assistance is being provided through the core contributions DFID makes each year to the UN's global emergency relief fund and to the international Red Cross movement.
Home Department
Asylum
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum claims are outstanding; and from which countries the applicants in those cases came. [81311]
Damian Green: The number of asylum applications made since April 2006 pending an initial decision or further review, excluding dependants, as at 31 August 2011 was 10,810. Of these 10,810 asylum cases, 5,655 were pending an initial decision and 5,155 were pending further review. A copy of the table disaggregated by country of nationality will be placed in the Library of the House.
Total figures for the number of asylum applications awaiting an initial decision or further review are published monthly in monthly asylum statistics. Further information on asylum is available from the immigration statistics release available in the Library of the House and the Home Office Science website at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/
The UK Border Agency also publishes additional “work in progress caseload” figures annually, which include cases that are subject to removal action, as part of the asylum performance framework measures. This is available from the UK Border Agency website at:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/further-key-data/
Asylum: EU Countries
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum seekers have been transferred to another EU member state under the Dublin Regulation in each year since the regulation came into effect; and if she will make a statement; [81155]
(2) how many asylum seekers have been found to have (a) already applied for asylum in another EU member state or (b) illegally transited through the EU after referring their fingerprints to Eurodac, in each year since Eurodac was established to date; and if she will make a statement. [81156]
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Damian Green: The information requested is shown in the following table:
| Calendar year | Number of applicants with positive Eurodac fingerprint matches with other member states (1) | Transfers to other member states under the Dublin Regulation (2) |
| (1) We are unable to breakdown the figures for Eurodac fingerprint matches between those who were asylum seekers in another member state and who had illegally transited through Europe. (2 )This figure represents all transfers under the Dublin Regulation, as such it includes people who have not claimed asylum in the UK, however these applicants would have claimed asylum in another member state. | ||
Criminal Records
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has considered conducting an independent review on the amendment of an individual's criminal records where there is substantial evidence in support of removing the item in instances where failure to remove it would mean the individual is unable to take up employment. [80413]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 14 November 2011]: On 22 October 2010, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), commissioned the Government's Independent Advisor for Criminality Information Management, Mrs. Sunita Mason, to conduct a review of the criminal records regime in England and Wales. Mrs. Mason has completed her review and passed recommendations for improvements to Home Office Ministers.
The Government have included provisions to reflect a number of these recommendations in the Protection of Freedoms Bill, including a new independent right of appeal so that an individual can appeal against the inclusion of information on a disclosure certificate if they believe it should not be there.
The second phase of the review includes consideration of what capacity individuals should have to access, challenge and correct their own criminal records. The report on the second phase is expected to be published towards the end of the year, together with a Government response to all the recommendations from the review.
Departmental Manpower
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK Border Agency staff moved to a different post in that agency in the last 12 month period for which figures are available. [80540]
Damian Green: It is not possible, except at disproportionate cost, to provide an account of post-by- post movement within the UK Border Agency.
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Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many airport liaison officers are employed by the UK Border Agency; and what their average annual salary is. [80541]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency employs 112 immigration liaison officers and immigration liaison managers with salaries ranging from £15,386 to £37,964. These figures do not include overseas allowances.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK Border Agency staff were based in each overseas country on 1 November 2011. [80547]
Damian Green: The number of UK Border Agency staff based in each overseas country is shown in the following table, with the exception that details of small locations are not shown for data protection and security reasons.
The information is not available at 1 November 2011 except at disproportionate cost.
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| (1) Figure given is for work force based abroad and excludes staff who may work abroad but are based in the United Kingdom. (2 )The majority of the staff shown are locally engaged by Foreign and Commonwealth Office and are deployed on UK Border Agency work whose costs are invoiced to the UK Border Agency. The figures include UK based staff posted abroad. The figures do not include temporary workers. Note: It is UK Border Agency policy not to disclose staff figures which would identify blocks of staff below or equal to 5 as this could in some circumstances identify individuals. | |
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff there were at each grade in the UK Border Agency on the latest date for which figures are available. [80548]
Damian Green: The information requested is given in the following table:
| Workforce by grades | 30 September 2011 FTE (1) |
| (1) Full-time equivalent FTE. (2) This figure is estimated on the basis of August numbers. | |
This information is taken from data normally used for management information only. It has not been subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics publications, is provisional and subject to change.
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Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost has been of the staff reduction scheme at the UK Border Agency over the last 18 months. [80568]
Damian Green: Available costs for voluntary exit schemes in the last two financial years to 31 March 2011 may be found in the UK Border Agency Annual Reports 2009-10 and 2010-11 here:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/annual-reports-accounts/
For ease of reference the figures are summarised in the following table:
|
|
2010-11 | 2009-10 |
Deportation
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the UK Border Agency spent on (a) scheduled air flights and (b) charter flights to carry out deportations in each of the last 24 months. [80333]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency monthly spend since November 2009 on scheduled flights for removals is shown in the following table.
|
|
£ |
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The above figures represent a net spend, which is a live figure and decreases as refunds are made against flights which are cancelled, such as where a court issues a temporary injunction preventing removal, or an individual makes a last minute application which has to be considered before removal can proceed.
The UK Border Agency monthly spend on chartered flights since November 2009 is shown in the following table.
|
|
£ |
Neither set of figures constitute part of National Statistics as they are based on internal management information. The information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols and should be treated as provisional and subject to change.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals deported by the UK Border Agency were accompanied by (a) officials and (b) contractors on their removal from the UK in the latest period for which figures are available. [80338]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency uses private companies to escort individuals being removed from the UK where they refuse to leave compliantly, they are vulnerable (such as having a medical condition which requires the presence of a medical escort) or they are being removed on a chartered flight.
At least one UK Border Agency member of staff accompanies every chartered flight leaving the United Kingdom.
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For the period April to June 2011, the latest period for which figures are available, 408 people were removed on chartered flights.
For the same period, of 3,850 individuals removed from the UK on leaving immigration detention, 669 were escorted on scheduled flights.
Deportation: Complaints
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) complaints and (b) claims have been made by (i) males and (ii) females of each nationality in each age group against her Department and its agencies and contractors as a result of alleged injuries and assaults sustained during the enforcement of deportation orders in each of the last five years; and what the location was of each alleged incident. [80336]
Damian Green: Complaints made by individuals detained in immigration removal centres or being removed from the UK have been centrally collated since December 2008. Information prior to this date is not available. The question has been interpreted as relating to the number of complaints and claims made that an incident allegedly took place during the removal process. All complaints are investigated and where there is an allegation of assault, the matter is referred to the police.
The number of complaints where an individual has alleged assault during an enforced removal are shown in the following table.
|
|
Number of complaints |
| n/a = Not available. | |
These figures are based on management information, which is subject to change, and does not form part of our publicised statistics.
Information on claims and a distinction between gender, nationality, age group and location cannot be provided without examination of individual complaint records and individual legal files at disproportionate cost.
Detention Centres: Children
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her speech of 16 December 2010, what progress she has made on her proposal to end the detention of children for immigration purposes. [80666]
Damian Green: In December 2010 the Government published their plans for ending detention of children in a way which protects the welfare of children while ensuring that families with no right to remain in the country leave the UK.
On 1 March 2011 the UK Border Agency rolled out a new family returns process to achieve this. This process gives families every opportunity to leave without the need for enforcement action and offers financial or practical assistance where appropriate.
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Where families choose not to co-operate, the UK Border Agency will take steps to ensure that they leave. In every case the Border Agency must submit a tailored family returns plan to a new independent Family Returns Panel comprising safeguarding and medical experts who advise on how the welfare of the children can best be safeguarded during the return.
Return plans may include a strictly time-limited stay in new family-friendly pre-departure accommodation, Cedars, where Barnardo’s provide welfare and support services to help families prepare for their return. This is used as a last resort.
Tinsley House immigration removal centre remains in use for families intercepted at the border who are being held while arrangements are made for their immediate return and, in rare cases, for criminal and other high risk families who cannot be safely accommodated in pre-departure accommodation.
Details of the numbers of children held on this basis are published at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/child-detention-sep2011
As set out on 16 December 2010, families may be held at ports for up to 24 hours to determine whether they should be admitted to the country or removed on a return flight.
Harassment: Victim Support Schemes
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what services and support are routinely available to victims of stalking or harassment in England and Wales. [79967]
Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office is working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to provide appropriate support to victims of stalking. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 24 May 2011, Official Report, column 522W, in which I highlighted our victim support initiatives, which included the appointment of dedicated single points of contact (SPOCs) in each police force area.
On 8 March 2011 the Home Office published its action plan for tackling violence against women and girls for the spending review period, which included seven actions to tackle stalking. As part of this we committed to continue to fund the National Stalking Helpline over the spending review period. We have worked with them to develop their business plan and supported their launch (in April 2010) of an online forum to provide support and advice for victims of stalking. We are also running a series of regional events to raise awareness of stalking and have invited the helpline to participate in four awareness-raising events we are running across the country.
We also strongly supported the recent National Stalking Awareness Week (11-15 April 2010) jointly organised by the three main charities that work to prevent stalking: Protection Against Stalking, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and Network for Surviving Stalking.
Identity and Passport Service
Jessica Morden:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department
15 Nov 2011 : Column 760W
has made of the potential effects of reductions in staff numbers at the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) on
(a)
passport security and
(b)
the ability of IPS offices to meet their targets for passport production. [81062]
Damian Green [holding answer 14 November 2011]: There have been regular and ongoing assessments against forecast passport demand and resource requirements. Based on these assessments, the reduction that the Identity and Passport Service has made in its staffing will not impact upon passport security or its ability to meet its targets for passport production.
Immigration
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration officers her Department employs overseas to screen passengers of inbound flights to the UK at airports (a) in and (b) outside the EU. [80545]
Damian Green: The number of immigration liaison officers and immigration liaison managers employed and who work overseas at airports screening passengers of inbound flights to the UK as at November 2011 is set out in the following table:
|
|
Number |
These data are based on management information. They are provisional and subject to change.
Immigration: Romania
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the migration advisory committee to report on the easing of restrictions on residents of Romania and Bulgaria entering the UK to work. [81343]
Damian Green: The committee published its report on 4 November. The report can be found on the UK Border Agency website at:
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/mac
Knives: Crime
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many knife crimes were reported in (a) Wallasey constituency, (b) the Wirral, (c) the North West region, (d) England and (e) the UK in (i) 2011 and (ii) each of the last five years. [80794]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 14 November 2011]: Data for selected offences involving the use of a knife or sharp instrument have been collected by the Home Office since April 2007 and are therefore only available over the past four years. Additionally, knife crime data are published on a financial year basis and not calendar year. From these data, it is not possible to identify which offences specifically involve the use of a knife.
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Data are collected at police force area level only, so data are not available for the Wallasey constituency or the Wirral. The collection of police recorded data for Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for the devolved Administrations.
In 2007-08, the selected offences included: attempted murder, grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, GBH without intent and robbery. The collection was expanded in 2008-09 to also include actual bodily harm (ABH), threats to kill, sexual assault and rape offences. Therefore figures are not comparable with those offences recorded in 2007-08.
Until April 2010, West Midlands police had included unbroken bottle and glass offences in their returns. Since April 2010, they have excluded these offences in line with other police forces. As such, their 2010-11 data are not comparable with their data for earlier years and therefore data for England are provided including and excluding figures for West Midlands.
Data for 2007-08 to 2010-11 are provided in table A.
Data for homicides involving the use of a knife or sharp instrument are collected via the Homicide Index. Data for 2010-11 will be available at police force area level from January 2012. Data for 2005-06 to 2009-10 are provided in table B.
| Table A: Number of selected violent and sexual offences (1) involving a knife or sharp instrument recorded by police forces in Merseyside, the North West, England and Wales, 2007-08 to 2010-11 | ||||
| Area | 2007-08 (2) | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
| (1) Police recorded knife and sharp instrument offences data are submitted via an additional special collection. Other offences exist that are not shown in this table that may include the use of a knife or sharp instrument. (2) The collection was expanded in 2008-09 to include actual bodily harm (ABH), threats to kill, sexual assault and rape offences. Therefore figures are not comparable with those offences recorded in 2007-08. (3) Figures for England include unbroken bottle and glass offences, which are outside the scope of this special collection, for Surrey and Sussex police. As such, data for these forces are not directly comparable to data for other forces. (4) Data are shown excluding West Midlands as West Midlands included unbroken bottle and glass offences in their returns until April 2010 but now exclude these offences in line with other forces. As such, their 2010-11 data are not comparable with their data for earlier years. | ||||
| Table B: Offences currently recorded (1) as homicide which involved the use of a knife or sharp instrument, police forces in Merseyside, the North West, England and Wales, 2005-06 to 2009-10 | |||||
| Area | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| (1) As at 28 September 2010; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. | |||||
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the level of knife crime in the West Midlands. [80871]
Nick Herbert:
West Midlands police recorded 2,998 selected serious offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in 2010-11 and 3,216 of these offences in
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2009-10. The group of offences covered includes: attempted murder, threats to kill, actual bodily harm (ABH) and grievous bodily harm (GBH), robbery, rape and sexual assaults. 2009-10 data include unbroken bottle and glass offences.
These data are published in police force area data tables—Crime in England and Wales 2010-11 (tables 9 and 10) at the link as follows:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Additionally, West Midlands police recorded nine homicides involving the use of a knife or sharp instrument in 2009-10. Force level homicide data by method of killing are not routinely published but data for 2010-11 will be available in January 2012.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to respond to the letter of 1 August 2011 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay regarding Mr Frank Tomlin, reference M13670/11. [79895]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 10 November 2011]: A reply was sent to my hon. Friend on 9 November 2011.
Police Community Support Officers: Wales
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding her Department plans to allocate to police community support officers in Wales in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14. [80701]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 14 November 2011]: The Government will continue to support the role of police community support officers through the dedicated Neighbourhood Policing Fund until 2012-13, after which it will be for the democratically elected Police and Crime Commissioner, in consultation with the Chief Constable, to take decisions on the funding and resourcing of neighbourhood policing.
The following table sets out the Neighbourhood Policing Fund allocations for Welsh forces in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
| Neighbourhood policing fund allocations for Welsh forces in 2011-12 and 2012-13 | ||
| £ | ||
| Force | Allocation 2011-12 | Allocation 2012-13 |
Police: Buildings
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many buildings used or owned by police forces are scheduled for closure in each of the police authority areas in Wales. [81356]
Nick Herbert: This information is not collected centrally. Decisions about resources are for chief constables to take locally with their police authorities.
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Police: Manpower
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police (a) constables, (b) sergeants and (c) inspectors were employed at each pay band in (i) 2007, (ii) 2009 and (iii) 2011. [81354]
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Nick Herbert: Available data show the number of police constables, sergeants and inspectors employed in England and Wales, their salaries by top and bottom points on the pay scale in England and Wales for 2007, 2009 and 2011.
The information is given in the table.
| N umber (1) of police constables, sergeants and inspectors employed, and salaries for England and Wales , 2007, 2009 and 2011 by pay scale (2, 3, 4) | |||||||||
| Police constables | Police sergeants | Police inspectors | |||||||
| 31 March each year | Number of police constables (1) | Top of the pay scale (£) | Bottom of the pay scale (£) | Number of police sergeants (1) | Top of the pay scale (£) | Bottom of the pay scale (£) | Number of police inspectors (1) | Top of the pay scale (£) | Bottom of the pay scale (£) |
| (1) Full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. (2) Pay scale information for 2007 is as at 31 March 2007, reflecting salaries applicable from 1 September 2006. (3) Pay scale information for 2009 is as at 31 March 2009, reflecting salaries applicable from 1 September 2008. (4 )Pay scale information for 2011 is as at 31 March 2011, reflecting salaries applicable from 1 September 2010. These are the current salaries. | |||||||||
UK Border Agency: Finance
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with the chief inspector of the UK Border Agency (UKBA) on changes in the UKBA’s budget. [78560]
Damian Green: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has had no discussions with the independent chief inspector of the UK Border Agency on changes in the agency’s budget.
Deputy Prime Minister
Parliamentary Reform
8. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what timetable he has set for implementation of his proposed reforms in respect of (a) the House of Lords and (b) creating fewer and more equal-sized parliamentary constituencies. [80663]
Mr Harper: After pre-legislative scrutiny, we will introduce a Government Bill in the next session of Parliament and are committed to holding the first elections to the reformed House of Lords on 7 May 2015. After extensive consultations, the Boundary Commissions are required to submit their final recommendations to Ministers before 1 October 2013.
13. Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent representations he has received on House of Lords reform. [80669]
Mr Harper: The Government continue to receive a number of representations on reform of the House of Lords, with the majority calling for change to its composition.
Voter Registration
9. Mr Betts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the potential effect on levels of voter registration of not creating a legal offence of failure to return an individual electoral registration request. [80664]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Nick Smith) in oral questions earlier today.
Electoral Register
10. Simon Kirby: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to improve the completeness and accuracy of the electoral register. [80665]
Mr Harper: The UK Government want the maximum possible number of people on the electoral register and are considering a number of ways to help improve registration in the context of the move to individual electoral registration. The Government, politicians, political parties, electoral administrators and others in society all have a role to play in encouraging participation.
We have learnt from the experience in Northern Ireland and are phasing in individual electoral registration over two years. We want it to be as easy as possible to register, while keeping the register more accurate and up to date. Under our proposed system, people will be invited to register in 2014 and will receive a number of reminders, which will include doorstep visits.
The Government are also funding research to understand the current state of the electoral register, and we will be carrying out further research to find the best ways to target and encourage the groups we know are currently under-registered to register to vote.
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to improve the completeness and accuracy of the electoral register. [80659]
Mr Harper: The UK Government want the maximum possible number of people on the electoral register and are considering a number of ways to help improve registration in the context of the move to individual electoral registration.
The Government, politicians, political parties, electoral administrators and others in society all have a role to play in encouraging participation. We have learnt from the experience in Northern Ireland and are phasing in individual electoral registration over two years. We want it to be as easy as possible to register, while keeping the
15 Nov 2011 : Column 765W
register more accurate and up to date. Under our proposed system, people will be invited to register in 2014 and will receive a number of reminders, including doorstep visits.
The Government are also funding research to understand the current state of the electoral register, and we will be carrying out further research to find the best ways to target and encourage the groups we know are currently under-registered to register to vote.
Devolution
11. Andrew George: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to take further steps in respect of devolution. [80667]
The Deputy Prime Minister: The Government are overseeing a fundamental shift of power away from Westminster to local councils, communities and individuals in England. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland we are committed to working constructively with the devolved Administrations to make devolution a success.
Succession to the Throne
12. Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had on changes to the law on succession to the throne; and if he will make a statement. [80668]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr Leigh) in oral questions earlier today.
News International
John McDonnell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what meetings he has had with representatives of News International; and whether the BBC licence fee settlement was discussed at any such meeting. [80598]
The Deputy Prime Minister: A list of my official meetings with external organisations, including representatives of the media, is published quarterly and can be found on the Cabinet Office website
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations
I have not discussed the BBC licence fee settlement with representatives of News International.
Cabinet Office
Charities: Hospices
Mr Streeter: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps his Department has taken to reduce the burden of regulation on independent charitable hospices. [81027]
Mr Hurd:
The review of the Charities Act 2006 announced by myself on 8 November 2011, which will be led by Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, will consider a broad range of issues, including the definition of charity and the role and status of the Charity Commission as the sector's regulator. It will also look at further reducing the burden of regulation whilst preserving safeguards that protect the public interest. ‘Unshackling Good Neighbours’, the report of the Civil Society Red Tape Taskforce, which was chaired by Lord Hodgson, made a number of recommendations that will help
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charities, for example by simplifying the rules governing public charitable collections and reviewing the law regarding charitable permanent endowment, which I anticipate will be considered by the review.
The other key regulator of charitable hospices is the Care Quality Commission, which, under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, has a duty to ensure that any action it takes is proportionate to the risks against which it would afford safeguards and is targeted only where it is needed. The Care Quality Commission is currently consulting on proposals to simplify and strengthen its regulatory model of monitoring and inspecting providers of regulated activities.
Mr Streeter: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the regulation of charitable hospices; and whether he has plans to take steps in respect of any duplication in regulation in the sector. [81028]
Mr Hurd: The Charity Commission has advised that there is only one area where its regulation duplicates that of another regulator. Charities that are also companies limited by guarantee have to submit similar returns to the Charity Commission and Companies House. Those regulators have agreed to work together to identify and analyse potential solutions to this duplication.
Design Services
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what contracts his Department has awarded for design services since May 2010; and what information his Department holds on the location of such companies. [80175]
Mr Maude: The information requested for Cabinet Office is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Since January 2011, contracts over £10,000 in value are published on Contracts Finder.
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 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. [77349]
Mr Maude: The information is not held in the form requested.
Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations
Permanent secretaries' meetings are published at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/cabinet-office-permanent-secretaries%E2%80%99-meetings-external-organisations
A series of speeches by Cabinet Office Ministers can be found at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/type/96
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European Union
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many ministerial-level meetings have been held in his Department during the Government's examination of the balance of existing European Union competences. [80242]
Mr Maude: The Department routinely hosts ministerial meetings on issues covered in the coalition agreement.
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many members of staff in his Department are working on the Government's examination of the balance of existing European Union competences. [80243]
Mr Maude: The examination of these issues draws on existing resources.
Government Departments: Internet
Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussions he has had with Internet and social media service providers on modernising Government services in each month since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77348]
Mr Maude: I have not had any specific discussions with internet or social media service providers about modernising Government services.
However, since May 2010 I have had regular discussions with Martha Lane Fox, the UK Digital Champion, and informal discussions with the former chief executive of Amazon.co.uk.
In addition, throughout this time I have attended a number of events with delegates from internet and social media providers in order to progress and promote the Government's ‘Digital by Default’ strategy, which will assist in modernising Government services.
Members’ Interests
John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office for what reasons his Department has not updated the list of Ministers' interests since February 2011; and on what date he expects an updated list to be published. [80920]
Mr Maude [holding answer 14 November 2011]: The list is being updated to reflect recent ministerial changes and an updated version will be published shortly.
Public Sector: Carbon Emissions
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether his Department plans to offer assistance to the 2011 Carbon Disclosure Project in compiling its latest Public Procurement Report. [78769]
Mr Maude: The Cabinet Office has no plans to offer assistance to the 2011 Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) in compiling its latest Public Procurement Report.
However, the Government Procurement Service will shortly be commencing an exercise to procure a supplier data verification tool. Presently, the scope of the tool is
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intended to include sustainability data relating to carbon waste and water, information assurance data, and supply chain assurance data relating to SMEs. Any company within the industry that has the capability of providing such a tool will be able to bid for the opportunity.
CDP may well have an interest in bidding.
Public Sector: Dangerous Dogs
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether his Department holds information on the number of public sector staff injured in dangerous dog attacks in the course of their duties. [81002]
Mr Maude: The Cabinet Office does not collect this information centrally for the civil service or the wider public sector.
Voluntary Work: Young People
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2011, Official Report, column 737W, on voluntary work: young people, how much funding he has allocated to each National Citizen Service pilot that will operate in summer 2012; and how many places will be provided by each such pilot. [81159]
Mr Hurd: The Cabinet Office is currently running a commissioning process for NCS places in 2012. The Cabinet Office will be in a position to confirm the funding and number of NCS places allocated to each provider in 2012 once the commissioning process has concluded.
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2011, Official Report, column 737W, on voluntary work: young people, how many young people participated in each National Citizen Service pilot in summer 2011. [81160]
Mr Hurd: National Citizen Service (NCS) pilot projects take place during the summer and we estimate that over 8,000 young people took part in NCS this summer. The independent evaluation of the first pilots is currently examining the number of participants on this summer's pilots and the numbers retained throughout the projects. The Cabinet Office will be in a position to provide those details once they are available later in the autumn.
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 22 June 2011, Official Report, column 370W, on voluntary work: young people, how many young people (a) registered an interest and (b) signed up to participate in the 2011 National Citizen Service pilots; and how many young people have (i) registered an interest and (ii) signed up to participate in such pilots in 2012. [81161]
Mr Hurd: National Citizen Service pilots were delivered in a range of locations across England in its first pilot year. Data provided to the Cabinet Office by National Citizen Service delivery partners indicated that at 17 June 2011 the following numbers of young people had registered their details in each region.
15 Nov 2011 : Column 769W
| Region | Number of young people registered |
The independent evaluation of the first pilots is currently examining the number of participants on this summer's pilots and the numbers retained throughout the projects. The Cabinet Office will be in a position to provide those details once they are available later in the autumn.
The Cabinet Office is currently running a commissioning process for NCS places in 2012. The independent evaluation of the second pilot will examine the number of participants on the pilot and the numbers retained through the projects. The Cabinet Office will be in a position to provide these details later in 2012.
Transport
A14: Suffolk
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects all the information signs on the A14 in Suffolk to be brought into use. [78200]
Mike Penning: The A14 corridor traffic management scheme has installed 31 message signs within the county of Suffolk, 26 of which are available for use. Of the remaining five signs, two are programmed for commissioning to start on 24 November 2011. The remaining three signs are delayed due to wayleave disputes between Ipswich borough council and UK Power Networks, which are preventing the provision of power supplies.
Aviation: Alcoholic Drinks
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the blood alcohol limit is for aviation pilots. [80155]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 14 November 2011]:I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Henry Smith) on 8 November 2011, Official Report, column 186W.
Biofuels
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of the safety of ethanol as an additive to fuel; and what assessment she has made of its effects on engines and engine components. [81308]
Norman Baker:
Ethanol has a long history of use as a petrol fuel additive. Commercial grades of ethanol-petrol blends are reported to have been marketed in the UK from the 1920s to the 1960s. However, it was not until 1988 that British Standards explicitly defined an upper limit (of 5%) on the ethanol content of petrol, in order
15 Nov 2011 : Column 770W
to ensure compatibility of vehicle components and fuels. Any vehicles or products supplied for use in fuel systems since then should be compatible with this limit, 5% ethanol being the maximum that fuel suppliers currently use to meet their Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation targets (currently 4%, rising to 5% in 2013-14). Pumps dispensing any petrol containing more than 5% ethanol are required by law to be labelled “Not suitable for all vehicles: consult vehicle manufacturer before use”.
At some point in the future biofuel uptake targets in the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation will need to be increased to meet our EU obligations. However, in view of the fact that the evidence base on biofuels is still developing, the Government have taken the view that it would be premature to increase the targets beyond the 2013-14 target of 5% at present. Nevertheless, it is likely that 10% ethanol blends will be marketed in the future and so the Department commissioned research on the compatibility of different ethanol blends on fuel systems and the risks of carburettor icing. This research is published on the Department's website.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/qinetiq-10-02471
The Government will work with fuel suppliers and vehicle manufacturers to ensure information is available to motorists on which vehicles are compatible with 10% ethanol before it is introduced on a widespread basis.
Caravans: Testing
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she plans to require caravans to have an MOT; and if she will make a statement. [80950]
Mike Penning: No. There are no plans to introduce annual testing (MOTs) for towed caravans.
Cycling: Accidents
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department is taking to reduce the number of road traffic accidents involving cyclists. [80830]
Mike Penning: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 10 October 2011, Official Report, column 110W. In addition, the Minister responsible for cycling policy, the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker), has recently established a cycling stakeholder forum which will, among other things, be looking into how best to tackle the issue of real and perceived danger of cycling.
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the likely effect of a road crossing at Silvertown on traffic volumes at the Dartford crossing. [80118]
Mike Penning: The Department for Transport has not undertaken an assessment of the likely effect on traffic volumes at the Dartford-Thurrock river crossing from a road crossing at Silvertown.
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Responsibility for river crossings within the Greater London Authority area are for Transport for London, as would the assessment of impacts from any specific crossing proposals.
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of the proposed increase in tolls at the Dartford crossing on traffic volume using the (a) Blackwall tunnel, (b) Rotherhithe tunnel and (c) Woolwich ferry. [80119]
Mike Penning: The Department for Transport has not undertaken a specific assessment of the effects on traffic volumes at Blackwall tunnel, Rotherhithe tunnel or the Woolwich ferry from increased charges at the Dartford-Thurrock river crossing.
The Department published in June 2011, alongside its consultation document on revisions to the road user charging regime, an assessment of the impacts of its proposals. This recognised that roads to which traffic diverts would be more congested.
The Department intends to revise its assessment of the impacts of its proposals following the recent completion of the consultation process and consideration of the responses made to it.
Advertising: Job Vacancies
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department has spent on advertising job vacancies since May 2010. [75624]
Norman Baker: The Department and its seven Executive Agencies have spent £273,611 on advertising to fill job vacancies since May 2010.
Highways Agency: Manpower
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff the Highways Agency employs at (a) its London office and (b) each regional office. [81012]
Mike Penning: Details of the staff the Highways Agency employs in its London and regional offices are provided in the following table.
| Office location | Number of s taff |
15 Nov 2011 : Column 772W
The Highways Agency also has an additional 1,129 members of staff based at 33 outstations across the country.
Highways Agency: Operating Costs
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost to the public purse was of running each regional office of the Highways Agency in each of the last three years. [81011]
Mike Penning: The cost of running the Highways Agency regional offices is detailed in the following table.
| £ | |||
| Office location | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |