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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 24 November 2011
Leader of the House
Official Photographs
Mr Thomas: To ask the Leader of the House how many official photographs have been taken of (a) Ministers and (b) senior officials for use in Government publications since May 2010; how many of his staff are expected to undertake photography of the ministerial and senior leadership team as part of their duties; and if he will make a statement. [82590]
Sir George Young: One official photograph of myself and one of the Deputy Leader of the House, my hon. Friend the Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr Heath), have been taken for use in official Government publications since May 2010. No members of my staff are tasked with taking official photographs of the ministerial or leadership team as part of their duties.
Public Reading Stage
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Leader of the House when he plans to bring forward proposals for a public reading stage for Bills. [81990]
Sir George Young: The Government are currently reviewing the operation of the public reading stage of the Protection of Freedoms Bill, and will then bring forward proposals for future public reading stages in due course.
Attorney-General
GPT: Corruption
Dr Huppert: To ask the Attorney-General by what date he plans to determine whether a full investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into allegations of bribery by GPT should be allowed to proceed. [82735]
The Solicitor-General: The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) can confirm that a number of allegations have been made against GPT Special Project Management Ltd and that these allegations are being considered by them. The SFO has engaged with EADS, the parent company of GPT Special Project Management Ltd, on how these issues are to be addressed.
The decision on whether to proceed with an investigation is a matter for the Director of the SFO.
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Home Department
Animal Experiments
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2011, Official Report, columns 166-8W, on animal experiments, how many enquiries were made in relation to (a) project and (b) personal licences including those which did not lead to a formal application in each of the last three years. [82488]
Lynne Featherstone: We do not record the information requested, only the number of formal licence applications. Typically most applications for licences granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act will involve discussions between the applicants and the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Inspectorate.
Arrest Warrants
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) people and (b) UK citizens were extradited from the UK to each EU member state under a European Arrest Warrant in 2010-11. [79003]
Damian Green [holding answer 7 November 2011]:The information is as follows:
(a)In 2010-11 1,173 people were surrendered from the UK under an European Arrest Warrant (EAW). Of these, 48 were UK citizens. The following table breaks this down by member state.
| Country | Surrenders |
(b) Out of the total 1,173 surrenders from the UK in 2010-11, 48 were UK citizens. They were surrendered to the following European Union member states:
| Country | Surrenders |
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Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were extradited to the UK from each EU member state under a European Arrest Warrant in 2010-11. [79004]
Damian Green [holding answer 7 November 2011]: In 2010-11, 134 people were surrendered to the UK under an European Arrest Warrant (EAW). This included 133 extradited from other European Union member states and one from Gibraltar. The following table breaks this down by member state.
| Country | Total |
Asylum
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases the UK Border Agency's Case Assurance and Audit Unit has considered in each month since July 2011. [79434]
Damian Green: From July 2011 to October 2011 the UK Border Agency's (UKBA's) Case Assurance and Audit Unit has considered cases relating to 6,651 cases:
July: 1,753 cases
August: 1,471 cases
September: 1,785 cases
October: 1,642 cases.
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Source:
Local Management information provided by UKBA, North West Region Planning and MI team. It is not a national statistic. As such it should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to maintain the current average time for processing an asylum case. [79440]
Damian Green: We have scrapped the system which encouraged case owners to concentrate on files that were easy to resolve and discouraged them from tackling older cases. We have introduced a new performance framework consisting of a wide range of performance indicators which will help us to monitor the overall health of the asylum system.
Reform of the asylum system has already begun, through our Asylum Improvement Programme which is exploring and implementing ways to improve the efficiency and speed of the asylum system while maintaining and improving quality. We have already seen improvement outcomes from this project.
The asylum system now consistently delivers in excess of 50% and often above 60% of decisions within 30 days of application, up from 21% in the May 2009 cohort. In excess of 90% of cases have a decision within six months.
Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 408W, on bovine tuberculosis: disease control, if she will reach an estimate of the costs of any police response and associated costs related to badger culling as part of her discussions with the Association of Chief Police Officers. [79411]
Nick Herbert: We are in discussion with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding the police response and associated costs related to badger culling.
Civil Disorder
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has any plans to bring forward proposals for the repeal of section 2 (1) and (2) of the Riot (Damages) Act 1886. [69760]
Nick Herbert: The Riot (Damages) Act is currently under review.
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made with the review into policing methods following the disturbances of August 2011. [70489]
Nick Herbert: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has asked Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) to look at the disorder, and for its findings to inform and support police guidance, tactics and public order policing resources.
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Official Photographs
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many official photographs have been taken of (a) Ministers and (b) senior officials in her Department for use in Government publications since May 2010; how many staff of her Department are expected to undertake photography of the ministerial and senior leadership team as part of their duties; and if she will make a statement. [82571]
Damian Green: Official photographs were taken of Ministers during their first few days in office in May 2010. These are used for organisation charts, departmental publications and websites. Subsequently, official photographs were taken of Baroness Browning when she joined the ministerial team in May 2011. The images are available on flickr for use by the press and public.
In January 2011, official photographs were taken of the new Permanent Secretary.
Members of the communication team occasionally take photographs of Ministers or senior officials on visits, though this is not a formal part of their role.
Procurement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings she has had with representatives of (a) social enterprises, (b) charities, (c) large private sector businesses and (d) small and medium-sized private sector businesses since May 2010; and if she will make a statement. [75710]
Damian Green: Information on meetings with external interest groups is published by the Cabinet Office and can be found at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/non-personal-data/hospitality-business-expenses/
Entry Clearances
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many holders of (a) Tier 1 and (b) Tier 2 visas previously held Tier 4 visas on (i) 1 September 2011, (ii) 1 September 2010 and (iii) 1 September 2009. [79439]
Damian Green: The information requested is not available in the required format and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Entry Clearances: Domestic Service
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the migrant domestic workers who were granted settlement in 2009 originally entered the UK on a (a) domestic worker (visitor), (b) domestic worker (other) and (c) domestic worker (diplomat) visa. [75671]
Damian Green: We are unable to specify the visa categories that individuals granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) originally entered the UK on, as this information is not held centrally by the UK Border Agency.
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In 2009, 791(1) individuals were granted ILR as Overseas Domestic Workers in a Private Household.
In June 2011, the Government launched a consultation into, “Employment-Related Settlement, Tier 5 and Overseas Domestic Workers” This consultation document proposes changes to the settlement rights of those coming to the UK to work as well as changes to Tier 5 of the points-based system and the rules for overseas domestic workers.
Analysis to support the consultation outcome is due to be published in the near future.
(1) Figure taken from published Immigration Statistics April-June 2011
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-q2-2011/
Entry Clearances: Overseas Students
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department from which colleges she has received representations on changes to the Tier 4 visa system; on what dates; if she will publish a summary of such representations; and what steps she proposes to take in response to those representations. [79710]
Damian Green: The Government held a public consultation on the student immigration system from December 2010 to January 2011. Over 30,851 responses were received through an online survey and over 300 were received by email or post during the consultation period. In March 2011 the Government published the questionnaire results, which summarised the representations received, alongside a Statement of Intent setting out proposals for reforms to Tier 4. There has been additional ongoing correspondence received from colleges in relation to these changes.
The Government responded to the concerns raised by the sector and made a number of changes to the proposals prior to changing the immigration rules.
Forensic Science Service
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she is taking any steps to ensure that staff currently working for the Forensic Science Service (FSS) are retained within the forensic science industry after the closure of the FSS. [79273]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 7 November 2011]: The Home Office continues to support the orderly transition of work from the Forensic Science Service (FSS). As part of this some of the current FSS staff will move to a range of other providers of forensic science services.
We have committed to update the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee on this matter in June 2012.
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the future costs of maintaining the National Forensic Science Archive. [79274]
James Brokenshire
[holding answer 7 November 2011]: We are working closely with the Forensic Science Service and key partners to ensure that the Forensic Science
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Service archive continues to meet the requirements of the criminal justice system. We will rigorously test costs to ensure the archive provides good value for money for the taxpayer. A full business case is currently being finalised.
Identity and Passport Service: Vacancies
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies there are in each office of the Identity and Passport Service; and how many jobs in each office are being advertised. [82490]
Damian Green: As part of the civil service recruitment freeze, there is no external recruitment of staff. Only existing civil servants can be recruited. As at 21 November 2011 the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) was actively recruiting for 114 vacancies, broken down as follows:
52 non-operational vacancies, largely based in London;
62 operational vacancies, of which:
five to be based at the new Newport Customer Service Centre,
six to replace natural turnover largely at the Peterborough area processing centre and records office,
51 to be based around the country at a number of different interview offices and flexible teams.
Of these, we currently have 31 advertisements covering 64 of the vacancies on the civil service jobs website for existing civil servants only with the remainder having proceeded to the post application stages.
Illegal Immigrants: Frontex
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of illegal migrants that were likely to have travelled to the UK that have been intercepted by Frontex in each year since it was established; and if she will make a statement. [82498]
Damian Green: The role of Frontex is to support the border management authorities of states through the coordination of operational activities. There is no distinction made between the numbers of migrants intercepted by officials of the host state as opposed to those intercepted by guest officers from other states taking part in a Frontex-co-ordinated operation. Undocumented migrants may be questioned about the route they have taken, facilitators used and their ultimate destination. Information gathered remains the property of the state hosting the Frontex operation and it is therefore not possible to estimate how many of those intercepted would have travelled to the UK.
Immigration
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration case files have been open for (a) one year, (b) two years, (c) three years, (d) four years and (e) five years. [79438]
Damian Green: The number of immigration case files that have been open for:
(a) Less than one year is 101,428
(b) Between one and two years is 6,327
(c) Between two and three years is 8,057
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(d) Between three and four years is 6,422
(e) Between four and five years is 4,064
This includes all open asylum and temporary and permanent migration cases.
All figures quoted are internal management information only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.
Independent Police Complaints Commission
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what resource funding she plans to allocate to the Independent Police Complaints Commission for the financial year 2012-13. [81349]
Nick Herbert: The Independent Police Complaints Commission has received an indicative resource budget from the Home Office of £31.45 million for 2012-13. Final budgets for 2012-13 will be confirmed in the new year.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 31 May 2011 on the Winsor review, reference M10105.11. [62238]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 27 June 2011]:I wrote to the hon. Member on 3 October 2011.
National Policing Improvement Agency
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has plans to involve the private sector in the provision of (a) police IT and (b) police training following the abolition of the National Policing Improvement Agency. [81257]
Nick Herbert: The private sector is already involved in the provision of police IT and police training. We will look for further efficiencies and value for money from services currently provided by the National Policing Improvement Agency.
Police Commissioners
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the oral answer by the Prime Minister of 7 September 2011, Official Report, column 350, on police commissioners, whether local authorities will be liable for the costs of elections for police commissioners. [71956]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 15 September 2011]:The full cost of elections for Police and Crime Commissioners will neither fall on police forces nor on local authorities.
UK Border Agency: Bullying
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bullying and harassment cases are currently being pursued by UK Border Agency staff. [79778]
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Damian Green: 31 cases of bullying and harassment are being investigated by the UK Border Agency at this time.
UK Border Agency: Resignations
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff with between 15 and 20 years' service have resigned from the UK Border Agency since May 2010. [79779]
Damian Green: The number of staff with between 15 and 20 years’ service who have resigned from the UK Border Agency since May 2010 up to 31 October 2011 is 12.
Transport
Air Passenger Duty
Mr Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions her Department has had with HM Treasury on the future of air passenger duty; and what her policy is on the abolition of air passenger duty after the extension of the EU Emissions Trading System to the aviation sector. [82448]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport has regular discussions with HM Treasury on a range of aviation issues. Decisions on matters concerning taxation are taken by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne).
The Government remain committed to the inclusion of aviation in the EU Emissions Trading System from 1 January 2012.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she and her Department have had with HM Treasury over the future of air passenger duty. [83146]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport has regular discussions with HM Treasury on a range of aviation issues, including air passenger duty. Decisions on matters concerning taxation are taken by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne).
Air Travel Organisers’ Licence
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to her Department's planned reforms of the ATOL scheme, what the evidence basis is for her Department's conclusion that a two day Flight-plus buying window closely resembles a package in the eyes of consumers. [82599]
Mrs Villiers:
The purpose of reform is to provide greater clarity to consumers about whether their flight inclusive holiday is ATOL-protected or not. The aim of including Flight Plus in ATOL is to protect those holidays that are very similar in content and appearance to package holidays but are outside the legal definition of a package holiday. The Department proposed a
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short time period for customer requests for Flight Plus components as this would be most consistent with this aim.
Views on the timing for consumer requests for holiday components were sought in the ATOL reform consultation (23 June to 15 September 2011). We are considering the responses and I plan to announce the final decisions for ATOL reform later this year or early next year.
Aviation
Mr Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will assess the findings of the report by the British Chambers of Commerce on aviation, entitled ‘Flying in the Face of Jobs and Growth’. [82449]
Mrs Villiers: The Government issued an aviation policy scoping document in March 2011, calling for evidence on a range of strategic issues. The British Chambers of Commerce produced the report ‘Flying in the Face of Jobs and Growth’ in response to the scoping document. We are reviewing the findings of this report alongside the many contributions to the debate about our future aviation policy. We will issue a Sustainable Framework for UK Aviation for public consultation in spring 2012.
Aviation: Business
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with representatives of (a) business and (b) aviation groups on aviation's role in supporting business. [82936]
Mrs Villiers: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), and I have engaged with business and aviation representatives on a range of aviation issues. The Government want to see a successful aviation sector which facilitates economic growth and addresses its environmental impacts. We are committed to issuing a Sustainable Framework for UK Aviation for public consultation in spring 2012.
Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/ministerial-transparency/#meetings
Aviation: Regulation
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress she has made in reducing the burden of regulation in the aviation sector. [82412]
Mr Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress she has made in reducing the burden of regulation in the aviation sector. [82447]
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in reducing the regulatory burden affecting the aviation sector. [83139]
Mrs Villiers: The Government are currently undertaking a review of the existing stock of regulation with a view to removing over burdensome regulatory legislation.
As part of this process, in May next year the public and businesses will be invited to submit ideas for regulations
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in the aviation sector that might be amended or revoked so as to reduce their burden on the industry or to the public as a whole.
Bus Services: Greater Manchester
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her policy is on greater bus regulation in Greater Manchester. [81545]
Norman Baker: We encourage local authorities such as Transport for Greater Manchester and bus operators to work in partnership. Local authorities also have powers to pursue statutory Quality Contracts and Quality Partnerships if appropriate. I intend to wait for the outcome of the Competition Commission inquiry into the local bus market outside London before deciding on the need for any changes to the regulatory regime.
Coastguard Service: Finance
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the change has been in levels of staffing costs for the Coastguard Service since May 2010. [81191]
Mike Penning: The staffing costs for coastguards employed at Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres for May 2010 compared to October 2011 are set out as follows:
|
|
Staffing costs (£) |
Driving Tests: Bury
Mr Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the driving test centre will re-open in Bury. [82345]
Mike Penning: The driving test centre at Bury is scheduled to re-open in February 2012.
Fuels: EU Action
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her Department's policy is on the proposed EU Directive on fuel quality. [82325]
Norman Baker: Elements of the Fuel Quality Directive, dealing with the composition of petrol, diesel and non-road gas oil are implemented by the Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) Regulations 1999 as amended. These regulations were most recently amended at the end of 2010 to implement amendments made by Directive 2009/30/EC. These included reducing the maximum permissible sulphur content of non-road gas oil, introducing maximum permissible manganese content limits for petrol and diesel and increasing the maximum permissible ethanol content of petrol. These are mandatory requirements which the UK was obliged to transpose by the end of 2010 in order to help reduce air pollution and remove barriers to increased use of biofuels.
I also refer the hon. Member to my written statement of 7 November 2011, Official Report, column 8WS, which explains our proposals for implementation of article 7a of the Fuel Quality Directive and to my answer given on 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 415W, to the hon. Member for New Forest East (Dr Lewis).
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Heathrow Airport
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times operational freedoms at Heathrow airport were deployed in the latest period for which figures are available. [76420]
Mrs Villiers: During the period 1 November, when the trial began, and 21 November 2011, Tactically Enhanced Arrivals Measures (TEAM) were deployed on 1, 4, 5, 17 and 18 November as part of the operational freedoms trial. In total, the operational freedoms version of TEAM was used to land 51 aircraft on the runway designated for departures during this period.
BAA publishes daily data on the use of these measures at the following web address:
http://heathrowtrial.com
Liverpool Port
Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the potential economic effect of the installation of a post-panamax terminal in the Port of Liverpool. [82986]
Mike Penning: The ports industry is a market-led commercial sector and the Department does not normally conduct or commission studies of the economic impacts of individual port projects.
Railways
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the existing capacity on the Greater Anglia rail franchise is; and what estimate she has made of the capacity that Abellio will provide under the newly-awarded franchise. [82167]
Mrs Villiers: The current operator of the Greater Anglia franchise had planned to deploy 236 (out of a fleet size of 260) four-car electric multiple units (EMUs) in daily service with effect from the December 2011 timetable change. Abellio plans to deliver the same service with 232 (out of a fleet size of 251) units.
However, the small number of trains that will be reduced in length as a result, are trains on which crowding is unlikely to occur in the foreseeable future.
Railways: Fares
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will consider tightening the provisions of rail franchise agreements to ensure increases in ticket prices result in a corresponding rise in standards of rail service. [81878]
Mrs Villiers: The Government's policy is to move towards longer and more flexible franchises. We believe this will allow train operators to drive up the quality of services for passengers.
Rescue Services: Manpower
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes in staffing levels have taken place at each coastguard station since May 2010. [81192]
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Mike Penning: The following tables show the difference in full-time equivalent (FTE) employed at each Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in May 2010 and October 2011.
| FTE | |||
| Organisation | 1 May 2010 | 31 October 2011 | Change |
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average number of staff (a) on duty and (b) employed at each coastguard station was in each of the last five years. [81267]
Mike Penning: The information is as follows.
(a) The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) does not hold records of the average number of staff on duty over the last five years. Staffing levels for each watch are evaluated to meet the need that the operational activity demands by each Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC). An approximate figure for the whole of Her Majesty's Coastguard for all MRCCs is:
|
|
Summer | Winter |
(b) The MCA does not keep average numbers of staff employed at each MRCC, however the numbers of staff employed (full-time equivalent) at each MRCC over the last five years are:
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| As at 31 October each year | |||||
| Organisation | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
Rescue Services: South Wales
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of the closure of Swansea coastguard station on coastguard services around Newport. [79853]
Mike Penning [holding answer 14 November 2011]: No individual assessment has been made on the effect on coastguard services around Newport in respect of the proposed closure of Swansea Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has assessed the safety risks in relation to HM Coastguard's current operation on a national basis and how these are mitigated by the modernisation proposals. The MCA has also assessed the impact of the modernisation proposals on HM Coastguard's capability to deliver its national service in the future.
These assessments, as well as a location impact assessment, coastguard centre rationale and supporting tables showing factors taken into consideration in the proposed choice of coastguard centres, are available in the Libraries of the House, and on the MCA's website:
www.dft.gov.uk/mca
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I refer the hon. Member to my oral statement of 22 November 2011, Official Report, columns 161-64.
Road Traffic
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which Highways Agency controlled A-roads see the biggest increase in traffic during the summer. [82342]
Mike Penning:
At a national level, traffic on the strategic road network, including both motorways and A-roads, tends to follow a consistent annual pattern.
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Starting from the lowest levels of traffic during December, levels then rise gradually, month on month, to a summer peak during July and August, before slowly declining again through to December.
Traffic on individual routes, however, is subject to different levels of seasonal change. Comparing the combined traffic levels for the summer months of June, July and August, for 'Highways Agency-controlled A-roads', with the preceding three months of March, April and May, the routes which experienced the greatest percentage increases in vehicle miles travelled (VMT) are shown in the following table:
| VMT | |||||
| Road | March to May | June to August | Increase | Percentage increase | Rank |
| (1) Indicates a brace. | |||||
If, however, the ranking is based on actual vehicle miles travelled rather than percentage increases, the pattern is somewhat different:
| VMT | |||||
| Road | March to May | June to August | Increase | Percentage increase | Rank |
Roads: Fees and Charges
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of petrol prices on public support for road charging schemes. [82941]
Mike Penning: No such assessment has been made. The Government have no plans to introduce general road pricing, other than charging for heavy goods vehicles.
Roads: Housing
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress her Department has made on facilitating the adoption by local authorities of residential roads in new housing developments since June 2010. [82645]
Norman Baker: Following discussions with representatives of local authorities and the home building sector, the Department has decided at this stage to encourage local authorities to make best use of the existing powers at their disposal. In particular, we are working to finalise some model planning conditions that could assist local authorities in ensuring that new roads are built to an acceptable standard and that arrangements are put in place for their ongoing maintenance. We also believe there is a role for further guidance and dissemination of good practice on these issues, but this would be a matter for expert practitioners in local authorities to progress in partnership with the home building sector. We will keep matters under review.
Roads: Repairs and Maintenance
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department has spent on road repairs following the adverse weather of winter 2010-11; and how much she expects her Department to spend during the 2011-12 winter. [82598]
Norman Baker:
The then Secretary of State for Transport, the right hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), wrote in March to all English local highway authorities to inform them of their share of the additional £200 million announced in the March 2011 Budget. This funding was in recognition of the damage to roads caused by exceptionally severe weather,
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as December 2010 was the coldest for 100 years. The breakdown of funding allocation by local authority can be found at:
https://nds.coi.gov.uk/ImageLibrary/DownloadMedia.ashx?MediaDetailsID=3444
The Department is also providing £3 billion over the four years from 2011-12 to local highway authorities in England for roads for which they are responsible, as well as providing resource funding of £6 million for a programme to assist local authorities to deliver their highways maintenance more effectively and efficiently.
It should not be assumed that the Department will be in a position to provide additional funding following any future severe weather event. It remains the responsibility of local highway authorities to prioritise their overall resources and build in appropriate resilience as part of their overall maintenance programmes.
As regards roads controlled by the Highways Agency, the agency has a comprehensive road surfacing programme to assist in the reduction of damage to the strategic road network caused by adverse winter weather. However, the agency does not separately identify or estimate the maintenance costs directly associated with winter damage.
Roads: Snow and Ice
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to assist motorists in preparation for winter weather. [82733]
Norman Baker: Local highway authorities have a duty under section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the local highways network in their area. In relation to snow, a local authority's section 41 duty includes the requirement
“to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice”.
Central Government have no powers to intervene in these matters in relation to local authority roads—winter service planning and salt stock supplies are the responsibility of the respective highway authorities. The Department is working closely with the local highways sector on ensuring that local highway authorities are prepared for any severe winter weather.
In respect of the Highways Agency, as a result of lessons learned and continuous improvement over a number of seasons, the agency has developed a robust winter service to assist motorists in the event of severe winter weather.
This includes: a fleet of 500 state of the art winter vehicles on stand-by, supported by tried and tested winter resilience plans; an adequate supply of operational and strategic salt stock in place at the start of the season; a Freight Snow Warning System in place to help the road haulage industry and drivers of goods and high-sided vehicles respond to warnings of severe weather or snow; an improved strategic incident management (Crisis Management Procedure) system that has been developed and implemented.
The Highways Agency has also improved its winter communications to provide traffic advice to motorists, including: greater adoption and wider use of Variable Messaging Signs to help manage the strategic road network by providing advanced warning to drivers of emergencies and incidents; the use social media sites to advise motorists of any major traffic incidents; undertaking an extensive stakeholder engagement programme.
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The agency has also published advice to road users this winter, in a series of information notes under the theme, “Make time for winter”. These notes can be found online at:
www.highways.gov.uk/winter
Rolling Stock
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when she expects private finance arrangements for (a) the Intercity Express Programme and (b) Thameslink rolling stock to be completed; [82166]
(2) when she expects to sign the Intercity Express Programme rolling stock contract. [82168]
Mrs Villiers: Both the Intercity Express Programme and Thameslink rolling stock contracts are targeted to reach financial close in the new year. Private financing of the deals will continue to be arranged up until the contracts are signed.
Shipping: Safety
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons her Department considers that the responsibility for ensuring operational safety of ships is a matter for which the commercial shipping industry should be wholly responsible. [80633]
Mike Penning: The international conventions for the Safety of Life at Sea provide that vessel operators must ensure the operational safety of their vessels through the application of a Safety Management System, in accordance with the International Safety Management Code. Among other things this requires companies to operate their ships in accordance with mandatory rules and regulations and in such a way that prevents human injuries or loss of life, and avoids damage to the marine environment.
The responsibility of Government is to ensure that companies arrange their activities in compliance with the Code.
Shipping: Security
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will issue guidance to maritime insurers and ship owners on the provision of private on-board security. [82321]
Mike Penning: Yes, the Department for Transport is finalising interim guidance to UK flagged shipping on the use of armed guards to defend against the threat of piracy in exceptional circumstances. I expect this to be published by the end of November.
Thameslink: Rolling Stock
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information her Department holds on when the Thameslink rolling stock carriages will be available for testing. [82164]
Mrs Villiers: The Department is currently conducting commercial negotiations with Siemens plc and Cross London Trains, and the precise timescales for the testing and delivery of carriages are being finalised as part of this process.
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Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Thameslink rolling stock carriages she plans to introduce in each year up to December 2018. [82165]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given on 3 October 2011, Official Report, column 1393W.
Tugboats
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she plans to take to ensure that (a) vessels in distress will be assisted, (b) pollution will be countered and (c) fires at sea will be tackled in British territorial waters after the removal of emergency towing vessels. [80628]
Mike Penning: The national response to vessels that get into distress for any reason, including fire, and maritime counter pollution will continue to be co-ordinated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency acting through Her Majesty's Coastguard.
Additionally, Her Majesty's Coastguard has long-standing arrangements with ports, harbours and tug brokers for the supply of tugs in an emergency situation using the Coastguard Agreement for Salvage and Towing (CAST).
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations she has received from the Emergency Towing Vessel Working Group; and what steps she is taking to implement its funding recommendations. [80630]
Mike Penning: The Shipping Minister met with representatives of the Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) Working Group in Inverness on 25 July 2011. The purpose of the meeting was to hear from the Group about the progress it had made to identify the means to fund ETV provision, without any recourse to central Government funding, for those areas where local people perceived the existence of a local problem. If the Group had been able to offer a reasonably certain prospect of secure funding, then my Department would have considered a short extension to the ETV provision in order to allow the group some time to finalise their local arrangements.
In the event the Group was not able to demonstrate that it had been able to identify any means of local funding and so was unable to make any recommendations that were sufficient to satisfy me that the ETV provision should be extended in any of the four locations.
Since 1 October 2011, the Scotland Office has been responsible for leading efforts to secure a long-term replacement for the Emergency Towing Vessels (ETV) service in waters around Scotland surrounding the Northern and Western Isles.
Wales
Airports: Weather Conditions
Mr Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether her Department has made an assessment of the preparedness of Welsh airport operators for extreme winter conditions. [81532]
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Mr David Jones: I will be meeting with the managing director of Cardiff airport today and will be discussing a number of issues including their preparedness for extreme winter conditions and the lessons learned from last winter's severe weather. I will be seeking assurance that the airport will be able to respond appropriately to any future events of a similar nature, taking into account operational and safety factors. The Civil Aviation Authority is monitoring all airport operators' progress in improving their resilience.
It is of course a matter for the Welsh Government to ensure that appropriate plans are in place to keep the transport routes leading to the airport functioning.
Social Services: Cross-border Co-operation
Mr Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with Ministers in the Welsh Government on cross-border issues relating to social care. [81531]
Mr David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), and I have regular discussions with Ministers in the Welsh Government and ministerial colleagues in Government about the future of social care provision.
The Department of Health will be publishing a White Paper on wider social care issues next spring alongside a progress report on funding reform. The Government are committed to working constructively with the Welsh Government on any implications for delivery of care and support in Wales.
Northern Ireland
Bombings: Omagh
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he plans to determine whether an inquiry into the Omagh bombing is to be held. [82711]
Mr Paterson: I met the Omagh Support and Self Help Group (OSSHG) last September. I also met family members who are against the establishment of a public inquiry. I have made it clear to all the families that I am open to receiving any representations from them on the issue. The OSSHG have recently advised me that they wish to submit further representations on this matter and have asked me to refrain from making any decision on the issue until these have been received.
Broadband
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport about 3G mobile broadband coverage in Northern Ireland; [82178]
(2) what discussions he has had with mobile network operators about 3G mobile broadband coverage in Northern Ireland; [82179]
(3) what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport about the amount of money that will be allocated to Northern Ireland from the £150 million of funding to improve mobile coverage. [82182]
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Mr Swire: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), and I have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues on issues affecting Northern Ireland, including mobile coverage. I have met with the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, my hon. Friend the Member for Wantage (Mr Vaizey), to discuss this matter on several occasions and I am a member of the cross-Government Ministerial Group on Broadband which ensures that we take a joined-up approach to the delivery of the coalition Government's broadband policy and projects. I have also discussed this matter with the Department for Enterprise and Investment Minister Arlene Foster.
Contacts with commercial telecoms providers are taken forward by DCMS or the Northern Ireland Executive as appropriate as they have the lead in such matters.
The allocation of the £150 million announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), to increase mobile coverage will be discussed at future meetings of the cross-Government Ministerial Group on Broadband. DCMS have yet to determine the methodology which will be used to distribute these funds and are still in very preliminary discussions with Ofcom.
Maghaberry Prison: Standards
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Justice Minister in Northern Ireland about conditions in Maghaberry Prison; and if he will make a statement. [82006]
Mr Paterson: I meet the Northern Ireland Justice Minister on a frequent basis to discuss a range of matters relating to security. Matters relating to the management of prisons in Northern Ireland, however, are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Justice Minister and the Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service.
Patrick Finucane
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Irish Government and (b) the Finucane family since his decision not to hold an inquiry into the death of Pat Finucane. [82009]
Mr Paterson: Since my announcement to the House on 12 October 2011, Official Report, columns 335-37, I have had discussions with An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and other representatives of the Irish Government regarding my decision to establish an independent review into the murder of Patrick Finucane. The Government have had no further contact with the Finucane family since their meeting with the Prime Minister and me on 11 October. I understand from the press release made by the Pat Finucane review on 10 November that they have recently written to the Finucane family seeking a meeting with them at the earliest opportunity. I remain hopeful that the family will co-operate with the review.
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Politics and Government
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will establish all-party talks in Northern Ireland to discuss how to deal with the past. [82007]
Mr Paterson: The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) and I have been consulting widely on how best to learn from the past in Northern Ireland. The Government will play their role in this process but remain convinced that progress will only be possible when consensus is achieved by those within Northern Ireland who have an interest. I plan to meet representatives of each of the Assembly parties in the coming weeks to seek their views on moving forward.
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent steps he has taken in respect of (a) the past and (b) legacy issues in Northern Ireland. [82008]
Mr Paterson: The Government continue to play their part in dealing with issues relating to the past and in resolving outstanding legacy issues. The reports of three of four public inquiries were published in full in each case the day after I received the report (the Bloody Sunday Inquiry in June 2010, the Billy Wright Inquiry in September 2010 and the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry in May 2011). The Robert Hamill Inquiry report is to be published as soon as practicable, once related ongoing criminal proceedings have concluded. Sir Desmond de Silva's Review concerning the murder of Patrick Finucane is well under way. The Government have, where appropriate, apologised for past actions. The Prime Minister apologised to the Bloody Sunday families and, more recently, to the family of Patrick Finucane. The Government also published a summary of the responses to the previous Government's consultation on the recommendations of the Consultative Group on the Past from which it was clear that there is no consensus on the best way forward.
It is also important to recognise the wide range of work, and investigative matters, that are being taken forward in Northern Ireland, including the work of the Police Ombudsman's Office, the Historical Enquiries Team and the Victims Commissioners.
The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) and I have been carrying out a listening exercise, meeting a wide range of political parties, community organisations, academics and victims' groups to hear their views on how best to learn from the past. As is clear from the steps already taken, the Government are ready to make their own contribution on this matter but they do not “own” the past and cannot impose solutions; all those with an interest in Northern Ireland have a part to play.
Public Finance
Vernon Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about measures
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in the 2011 Pre-Budget Report to tackle
(a)
adult and
(b)
youth unemployment in Northern Ireland; [82650]
(2) what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 2011 Pre Budget Report with respect to Northern Ireland; and on what dates such discussions took place. [82652]
Mr Paterson: As part of the coalition Government's plan to rebalance the Northern Ireland economy I have regular discussions on a range of economic matters with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), and other Treasury Ministers. However, specific measures to tackle both adult and youth unemployment are primarily devolved matters which are the responsibility of the relevant Northern Ireland Executive Ministers.
Social Security Benefits
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effects of his welfare reform proposals in Northern Ireland. [82651]
Mr Paterson: I discuss these matters regularly with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), and I have met the Minister for Welfare Reform, my noble Friend the Lord Freud, on a number of occasions, both in Northern Ireland and London to discuss the implications of the welfare reform agenda for Northern Ireland. My noble Friend has visited Northern Ireland twice to discuss this agenda with Northern Ireland Ministers and plans to visit again.
Terrorism
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many offences categorised as terrorist-related there have been in Northern Ireland (a) in the most recent period for which figures are available and (b) in each of the last 10 years. [82010]
Mr Paterson: The number of persons charged with offences under the Terrorism Act 2000 in the financial year 2010-11 was 19.
The figures for each of the last nine calendar years is as follows:
|
|
Number |
| (1) In 2009 statistical reporting arrangements changed from calendar year to financial year, therefore the 2009 figure also includes the first three months of 2010. | |
24 Nov 2011 : Column 500W
These figures relate to the number of charges under the Terrorism Act, however, charges relating to terrorist activity may also be brought under other legislation. It is not possible to identify those charges which have been made under other legislation that relate to terrorist activity.
Treasury
Air Passenger Duty
Mr Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of an increase in the levels of air passenger duty on (a) businesses and (b) the economy; [82445]
(2) if he will assess the proposal by the British Chambers of Commerce that overall tax revenues from air passenger duty should be offset against revenues arising from the entry of aviation into the EU Emissions Trading Scheme in 2012. [82446]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Government launched a consultation on air passenger duty at Budget. A large number of responses to the consultation were submitted, including the views of business. The Government will publish their response shortly.
Air passenger duty is fundamentally a revenue-raising duty which makes an important contribution to the public finances. In meeting their revenue requirements, the Government consider aviation taxes in the round.
Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many residents of Ashfield constituency paid 50p income tax rate in the latest period for which figures are available. [82479]
Mr Gauke: An estimated 308,000 taxpayers are liable to income tax at the 50% additional rate in the United Kingdom in 2011-12. In the east midlands, which contains the Ashfield constituency the estimate is 12,000. These and estimates for other UK Government office regions are published on the HMRC website in tables 2.1 and 2.2 which are available at the following addresses;
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2-1.pdf
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2-2.pdf
Reliable estimates are not available at the parliamentary constituency level, due to greater uncertainties in projections for small geographical areas and small sample sizes.
These estimates are based on the 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2011 economic and fiscal outlook.
Tax Collection
Martin Horwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters have been issued in error by HM Revenue and Customs in the last two months for which information is available. [82501]
Mr Gauke: HMRC does not hold the information requested and it is available only at disproportionate cost.
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Universal Credit: Disability
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes that current levels of financial support to low income and out of work families with disabled children through the disability addition will be retained when Universal Credit is introduced. [79023]
Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
Under Universal Credit the cash additions for families with disabled children and the cash additions for adults will be aligned, with the lower rate at £26.75 and the upper rate at around £77 per week. The Government will also extend eligibility for the higher rate to children who are registered blind who currently only qualify for the disabled child element in Child Tax Credit (those registered or certified as blind).
Increases in the higher addition will be phased in from 2013 as savings from simplification are realised. During this phasing-in period we will ensure that severely disabled children do not receive less than they would be under the Child Tax Credit equivalent amount. As this is more than the current equivalent higher addition for adults, the higher adult and child rates may not be in alignment until this phasing-in period is complete.
International Development
Ministers' Private Offices: Expenditure
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the (a) transaction date, (b) supplier and (c) amount was of each transaction made on corporate cards held by the private office of the Secretary of State in his Department between 6 October 2003 and 28 June 2007. [82151]
Mr Duncan: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Culture, Media and Sport
Martial Arts
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which martial arts organisations have received grants from his Department in each of the last 10 years; and how much each such grant was. [82344]
Hugh Robertson: Sport England invests national lottery and Exchequer funding in community sport.
The amount of lottery and Exchequer funding awarded to martial arts organisations can be found in the following tables. Sport England does not hold details of Exchequer funding prior to 2002-03.
| Lottery | |
| Financial year | Total (£) |
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| Exchequer | |
| Financial year | Total (£) |
Aerials
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he expects to provide information on how the £150 million mobile phone mast fund will be allocated. [82183]
Mr Vaizey: The mobile project is currently in the definition stage and expects to commence procurement in 2012. The allocation of funds will be dependent upon the delivery model and procurement route to be followed. It is expected that an outline allocation will be clear by the early stages of any procurement approach with final allocations confirmed in later stages. It is expected that any contract(s) will be awarded for delivery of services to commence in 2013.
Horse Racing: Betting
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he plans to issue details of his Department's consultation on the future of the horse racing levy. [82674]
John Penrose: I am currently in discussions with representatives of racing and bookmakers on the options for the future of the levy that are fair, commercial, sustainable, enforceable and remove Government from the process. We have made a promising start but it is still early days and I am cautious about moving to a public consultation until these discussions have produced an outline which is acceptable to both sides. Everybody wants to reach a solution swiftly but whether we do will depend on how quickly the racing and gambling industries can agree.
Prime Minister
Official Photographs
Mr Thomas:
To ask the Prime Minister how many official photographs have been taken of (a) him and (b) senior officials for use in Government publications since May 2010; how many of his staff are expected to
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undertake photography of the ministerial and senior leadership team as part of their duties; and if he will make a statement. [82591]
The Prime Minister: Official photographs are published on the No. 10 website
http://www.number10.gov.uk
and on the No. 10 flickr stream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/number10gov
They are indicated with a 'Crown Copyright' inscription.
Northern Ireland Government
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Prime Minister (1) when he last met the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland (a) separately and (b) together; [82653]
(2) what plans he has to invite the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland to No. 10 Downing Street for discussions. [82654]
The Prime Minister: I met the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland at Stormont Castle on 9 June 2011. I and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), are in regular communication with them.
Supermarkets
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Prime Minister what meetings he has had with representatives of (a) Asda, (b) Tesco and (c) Sainsbury's since June 2010. [82310]
The Prime Minister: A list of my official meetings with external organisations is available on the Cabinet Office website
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations
Cabinet Office
Community Organisers
Mr Byrne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what funding he proposes to allocate for community organisers in (a) Birmingham, (b) Newcastle, (c) Wakefield, (d) Manchester, (e) Leeds, (f) Liverpool, (g) Coventry, (h) Bristol, (i) Sheffield, (j) Bradford, (k) Leicester and (l) Nottingham in each of the next three years. [82592]
Mr Hurd:
The Government have appointed Locality to deliver the Community Organisers programme at arm’s length from Government. Locality believes that Community Organisers need to be hosted within a local organisation which can help the Community Organiser make the essential links with the local people, other voluntary organisations, businesses and the local authority. These organisations also provide mentoring, advice, peer support and desk space. Over the four-year period, Locality expects to recruit between 100-200 local organisations across England to host Community Organisers. Recruitment of host organisations is based on a set of criteria, including a focus on areas of
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significant deprivation and the ability of the organisation to host and sustain between two and five Community Organisers each. Recruitment of Community Organisers is undertaken locally by host organisations.
There are currently 22 local organisations taking part in the programme, with more being recruited regularly. The programme aims to reach a good geographical coverage by the end of the four years. As the process of recruiting locally rooted host organisations is an open application process, it is not possible to pre-determine which areas will benefit over the next three years. However, I can confirm that there are host organisations in the following areas: Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Sheffield, Bradford, and Leicester.
Further details of the programme are available at:
www.cocollaborative.org.uk
Adam Werritty
Michael Dugher: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 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. [81468]
Mr Maude: Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-external-organisations
There is no record of Cabinet Office Ministers or special advisers meeting with Mr Werritty. One Cabinet Office official met Mr Werritty on two occasions away from departmental premises as part of the Cabinet Secretary's review into allegations relating to the former Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox).
British Nationals Abroad: EU Countries
Martin Horwood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his estimate is of the number of British nationals who had a vacation in each other EU member state in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [82499]
Mr Hurd: 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 of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to respond to your Parliamentary Question asking what the estimate is of the number of British nationals who had a vacation in each other EU member state in each of the last 10 years. [82499]
The estimated number of holiday visits to each of the current member states made by UK nationals who are resident in the UK are shown in Table 1. These estimates are drawn from the International Passenger Survey. For each country the estimate is the number of relevant visits abroad on which the reported country is the main destination.
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24 Nov 2011 : Column 506W
| Table 1: Holiday visits abroad by UK nationals who are resident in the UK. Presented in terms of main country visited on each visit | ||||||||||
| Visits (thousand) | ||||||||||
|
|
2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |