Academies
Annette Brooke:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education which (a) primary and (b) secondary schools will have become academies by 1 September
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2011; what the name is of the local authority to which each formerly belonged; how many pupils are on the roll of each; how much each received (i) in total and (ii) per capita in (A) local authority central spend equivalent grant and (B) special educational needs funding in the latest period for which figures are available; and how much each is to receive from the Young Persons Learning Agency in respect of (1) insurance and (2) conversion grant. [68101]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 5 September 2011]:As of 1 October, 1031 schools had converted to academy status, of which 288 were primary schools, 708 secondary schools, 21 middle deemed secondary and 14 special schools.
Full details of schools that have formally applied for academy status, as well as a list of academies that have opened in the academic year 2010/11, can be found on the DFE academies website at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/a0069811/schools-submitting-applications-and-academies-that-have-opened-in-201011
A copy of a table giving, for each academy that has converted to an academy by 1 September 2011 as per the original request, a breakdown of pupil numbers, funding received and funding projected has been placed in the House Libraries. Please note that the financial information provided in the table does not include the October figures and is unaudited, and therefore subject to change.
In certain respects the information given for September 2011 converters is incomplete. This is because it was not recorded by all local authorities on their section 251 returns, and so is being collected separately. This may lead to some adjustment of the academies' allocations for academic year 2011/12.
The Local Authority Central Spend Equivalent Grant (LACSEG) is the additional money to cover those central services that the LA no longer provides. LACSEG is an ongoing grant. It is calculated using data from local authority budget statements and reflects local decisions about how funding is prioritised and delegated to schools. This ensures that academies are funded on the same basis as local maintained schools.
Ministers are determined to have a funding system that is fairer, so that a school or academy in one area will have comparable funding to a school or academy with similar circumstances in another area. In a new funding system, we would be much clearer about the functions we expect local authorities to provide for maintained schools but which would transfer to academies.
There is no pre-determined amount of funding provided to academies for insurance. The cost of insurance is paid by the academy and the costs of buildings and contents, employer's and public liability and business interruption insurance is reimbursed by the Young People's Learning Agency on provision of a valid invoice.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when the Minister of State for Children and Families will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Coventry South of 25 October 2011. [82891]
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Tim Loughton: The Minister for Children and Families, the hon. Member for Brent Central (Sarah Teather), replied to the hon. Member on 23 November. The hon. Member's constituent also wrote directly to the Department on 23 October and 4 November on the same issue, and the Department responded on 3 November and 17 November respectively.
Primary Education: Bristol
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to provide funding for an increase in primary school places in Bristol from 2013. [82525]
Mr Gibb: Last year the Department announced capital funding of £800 million in 2011-12 for the provision of pupil places. Bristol city council's share of this ‘basic need' allocation was £9.36 million and we have stated that local authorities can expect similar levels of funding from 2012-13 through to 2014-15. An announcement about capital programmes and allocations from 2012-13 will be made in due course.
Earlier this year, the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), announced a further £500 million of capital funding in 2011-12 for those areas where rising pupil numbers are leading to the greatest pressure for school places. Bristol city council has been allocated a further £18.32 million from this fund. Basic need funding is not ring-fenced, in order to give local authorities flexibility over the timing of spend.
Pupil Exclusions
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils were excluded for (a) physical and (b) verbal abuse or assault by constituency in the latest year for which figures are available. [78991]
Mr Gibb: The requested information has been placed in the House Libraries.
Any violence or verbal abuse in .school is totally unacceptable. The terms ‘physical assault' and ‘verbal abuse', as collected in the school census, cover a range of offences. Full details on the reasons for exclusion covered under each of these terms are published as part of the Schools Census Guidance. The latest guidance can be found at the following link:
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/schooladmin/a0076969/school-census-2012
Pupils: Absenteeism
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils were absent from school for at least (a) 10 per cent., (b) 15 per cent. and (c) 20 per cent. of the school year in each (i) region, (ii) local authority and (iii) parliamentary constituency, in the latest year for which figures are available. [79221]
Mr Gibb: The requested information has been placed in the House Libraries.
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Schools: Higher Education
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of schools and colleges are officially linked to at least one higher education institution in England. [79762]
Mr Gibb: The total number of schools and colleges which have official links to higher education institutions in England is not known.
University Technical Colleges (UTCs) are being set up to provide 14 to 19-year-olds with a high quality technical education through partnerships with universities and employers. Two UTCs have already been opened and 17 are currently in the development phase. All have their own university partner.
Many more schools will have links to higher education institutions for various reasons, including the delivery of initial teacher training courses. However, no records are kept of the number of schools involved.
Schools: Industrial Disputes
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will estimate the number of students in Pendle constituency that would be affected by strike action on 30 November 2011. [83498]
Mr Gibb: While the Department has asked local authorities to provide an estimate of school closures on 30 November, it is not possible to predict at this time the number of pupils in any particular area who might by affected by industrial action.
Schools: Rural Areas
Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to ensure that small rural schools are not adversely affected by future pupil funding reviews. [82605]
Mr Gibb: Our recent consultation on reforming the school funding system looked carefully at how rural schools should be supported. The Department for Education is considering responses to the consultation and discussing options with interested parties, including those who represent rural areas, before we decide how to proceed. We aim to consult on more detailed proposals in the spring.
Secondary Education: Finance
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the total funding is for 11-16 education (a) in total and (b) per capita in (i) Birmingham, (ii) Newcastle, (iii) Wakefield, (iv) Manchester, (v) Leeds, (vi) Liverpool, (vii) Coventry, (viii) Bristol, (ix) Sheffield, (x) Bradford, (xi) Leicester and (xii) Nottingham in each of the next five years. [82767]
Mr Gibb: There are no detailed allocations planned on a local authority basis for the next five years. The Spending Review announced total schools funding of:
|
|
£ million |
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Per pupil funding for each local authority for 2012-13 will be announced shortly. School funding allocations for local authorities for 2012-13 are dependent on pupil numbers recorded in the January 2012 schools census. Allocations to local authorities from 2013-14 onwards are dependent on Government decisions on school funding reform.
Teachers: Pensions
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 18 July 2011, Official Report, column 562W, on teachers: pensions, when the (a) detailed consideration of the implications of the new discount rate will finish and (b) revaluation of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme be published. [81842]
Mr Gibb: The Government announced in the Budget in 2011 that the appropriate discount rate for calculating unfunded public service pension contribution rates should be based on the long-term expectations of gross domestic product (GDP) growth. A discount rate of 3% above CPI will therefore be adopted.
The discount rate feeds into scheme valuations, which are currently suspended. Valuations of public service pension schemes, including the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, are dependent on many assumptions which are currently under review as part of discussions on implementing Lord Hutton’s proposals. It would not, therefore, be a sensible use of public funds to undertake actuarial valuations at this time.
Justice
Armed Forces Covenant
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how his Department plans to (a) interpret and (b) apply the Military Covenant under the terms of the Armed Forces Act 2010. [83222]
Mr Djanogly: The Armed Forces Act 2011 places a specific requirement on the Secretary of State for Defence to report on the effects of the operation of inquests on service personnel and others in the annual covenant report.
The Ministry of Justice will work closely with the Ministry of Defence in preparing this report, as well as continuing to work closely with the MOD's Defence Inquests Unit on day-to-day matters regarding investigations into deaths of service personnel.
Food Procurement
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that the same standards of animal welfare for whole eggs apply to imported liquefied eggs procured by (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible; [83766]
(2) what proportion of food sourced by (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible was procured from UK food producers in the latest period for which figures are available; [83767]
(3) what steps (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible are taking to ensure that they meet the Government's buying standards for food and catering. [83768]
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Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) supports the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in achieving full compliance with UK egg industry legislation.
(a) In accordance with EU Council Directive 1999/74/EC, which prohibits the use of conventional cages from 1 January 2012, the Department has ensured that all egg-producing birds are from improved enriched colonies. The Department's supplier of foodstuff to Her Majesty's Prison Service, which accounts for 99.6% of direct food procurement within the Ministry of Justice, became compliant in 2010. The Department does not purchase liquefied eggs under the current foodstuff contract.
All egg products supplied to the MOJ must comply with the relevant UK and EU legislation. Suppliers are required to provide products that are sourced in compliance with EC regulations and from assured providers under animal welfare conditions that are compatible with the UK animal welfare regulations.
(b) Information regarding public bodies is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate costs.
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is committed to the Government Buying Standards (GBS) for food. This encourages the public sector to procure food in a manner that promotes sustainable development and does not discriminate against local suppliers and UK producers.
(a) For the latest period for which figures are available, the proportion of domestically-produced food used (by value) is approximately 56%.
The Department and its contractors continue to look for opportunities to enable domestic producers to compete for supply contracts while seeking to achieve value for money. The Department encourages its suppliers to procure food from UK producers where possible.
(b) Information regarding public bodies is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate costs.
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is committed to be compliant with the GBS for food and catering.
The Department's suppliers are obligated to source in line with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) policy on GBS to ensure supply achieves value for money.
Examples where the Department meets the mandatory food and catering services standards include the following:
(1) Animal welfare: 100% of eggs (in shell) sourced from systems that do not use conventional cages. If from a caged system, enriched cages are used.
(2) Fish: 100% seafood procured compliant with sustainability standards indicated by Marine Conservation Society's or Marine Stewardship Councils list of fish to eat.
(3) Recycling: There is a mandatory agreement for prisons which account for 99.6% of direct food spend within the Department for the disposal of waste oils and fats through the controlled waste regulations.
(4) All new contracts are tendered to reflect GBS policy.
(b) Information regarding public bodies is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate costs.
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Legal Aid Scheme
Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what overall assessment rating the Regulatory Policy Committee gave for the impact assessments on the proposed reforms to legal aid. [83278]
Mr Djanogly: The impact assessments on the proposed reforms of legal aid were not sent to the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) for external scrutiny. Legal aid arrangements are contractual arrangements between the Ministry of Justice and lawyers and the impact assessments are therefore not within scope for scrutiny by the RPC.
Parole
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many cases before the Parole Board were awaiting a hearing on 1 January in each year between 1996-97 and 2010-11 inclusive; [83747]
(2) in how many cases of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences the Parole Board (a) directed release, (b) did not direct release and (c) adjourned or deferred a decision in each year from 2004-05 to 2010-11 inclusive. [83748]
Mr Blunt: Figures for years prior to 2009-10 are not available as the Parole Board did not record total number of cases awaiting a hearing in these years.
Details of the cases awaiting hearing that are available are in the following table.
| As at 1 January each year | Cases awaiting a hearing |
| (1) Projected. | |
Indeterminate prisoners are made up of prisoners receiving a “life” sentence ‘or’ an indeterminate sentence (IPP) for public protection (1PP).
The following tables outline the changes in cases referred to the Parole Board for either category.
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| Life sentence prisoners | ||||
|
|
Cases considered | Release directed | Did not direct release | Adjourned or deferred |
| IPP prisoners | ||||
|
|
Cases considered | Release directed | Did not direct release | Adjourned or deferred |
Work Capability Assessment: Appeals
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of work capability assessment decisions made by Atos were overturned on appeal in (a) Wales and (b) Newport East constituency in the latest period for which figures are available. [83625]
Mr Djanogly: Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions decisions on entitlement to employment and support allowance (ESA) (decisions in which the work capability assessment is a key factor) rather than appeals against work capability assessment decisions themselves.
The following tables show the proportion of employment and support allowance appeals cleared at hearing, which were found in favour of the appellant in (a) Wales and (b) the Langstone venue in September 2011 (the latest date for which statistics have been published) and in the first two quarters of 2011-12. The Langstone Tribunal venue hears appeals from the Newport East constituency as well as other nearby locations.
| Outcomes of ESA (WCA-related) appeals, 1 to 30 September 2011 | |||||||
|
|
Number of cases cleared at hearing | Number of DWP decisions upheld | Percentage upheld | Number decided in favour of appellant | Percentage in favour | Other | Percentage other |
| Outcomes of ESA (WCA-related) appeals, 1 April to 30 September 2011 | |||||||
|
|
Number of cases cleared at hearing | Number of DWP decisions upheld | Percentage upheld | Number decided in favour of appellant | Percentage in favour | Other | Percentage other |
| Note: The data are taken from management information. | |||||||
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Culture, Media and Sport
Arts
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has made an estimate of the amount of revenue lost to the creative industries due to free pitching in the last five years; if he will estimate the likely losses over the comprehensive spending review period; and what steps he is taking to eliminate this practice. [83750]
Mr Vaizey: The Department has not made any assessment of free pitching along these lines, and the advertising industry has not put this forward as one of its top concerns. If it wishes to do so in future, the creative industries council would be the right forum to do so. In general we are in favour of industry setting out guidelines for its own best working practices.
Arts Council England
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which organisations in (a) the West Midlands and (b) Birmingham received Arts Council England funding in the latest period for which figures are available. [82742]
Mr Vaizey: In the financial year 2010-11, 609 organisations in the West Midlands region received either regular funding or funding through the “Grants for the Arts” programme from Arts Council England. Applicants can apply for up to £100,000 for regional activity, or above with prior permission.
In the financial year 2010-11, 203 organisations in the local authority region of Birmingham received either regular funding or funding through the “Grants for the Arts” programme.
The names of these organisations will be deposited in the Library of both Houses.
Cricket: Disability
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what funding his Department and incorporated public bodies have allocated to support disabled people to play cricket between 2009 and 2013; and on what projects such funding has been spent to date. [83262]
Hugh Robertson: As the National Governing Body for cricket, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has spent around £1,217,580 on disability cricket since funding was awarded in 2009. Of this, £608,709 is Sport England funding and £608,709 the ECB’s own funding.
As part of the ECB's commitment to develop disability cricket it has recently set up regional training camps for the deaf and launched a Visually Impaired Talent Development programme. The ECB has set out its strategy for disability cricket in the document ‘Disability Cricket Vision 2009-2013’ which can be found at the following link:
http://static.ecb.co.uk/files/ecb-disability-cricket-vision-2009-2013-10730.pdf
Also, the ECB is one of the signatories of the Voluntary Code of Conduct for Sports Broadcasting, which aims to encourage the reinvestment of revenues from television broadcasting rights of major sporting events to community
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sport. The ECB is planning to commit expenditure into grassroots development that amounts to more than 30% of its net UK TV broadcasting revenue.
Departmental Civil Proceedings
Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) which organisations that have received funding from his Department have brought legal proceedings against his Department in the last five years; which such organisations were not successful in their actions; and whether his Department (a) applied and (b) was paid for costs in respect of such cases; [83883]
(2) what his policy is on (a) the recovery of legal costs from failed applicants for judicial review and (b) enforcement of any such recovery; and whether any exceptions apply. [83918]
John Penrose: The information requested on funded organisations that brought proceedings against this Department in the last five years is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. The Department does not record centrally the number of unsuccessful cases applied for and costs paid.
Where the Department is entitled to recover costs from a person who was unsuccessful in bringing a challenge, the policy is to do so. Where a challenge is abandoned part way through, there is often no entitlement to recover costs.
Food Procurement
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that the same standards of animal welfare for whole eggs apply to imported liquefied eggs procured by (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible; [83799]
(2) what proportion of food sourced by (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible was procured from UK food producers in the latest period for which figures are available; [83800]
(3) what steps (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible are taking to ensure that they meet the Government's buying standards for food and catering. [83801]
John Penrose: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow North East (Mr Bain), on 4 March 2011, Official Report, columns 611-12W.
Procurement
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what procedures his Department has put in place to ensure value for money on purchases; and what savings have been identified using those procedures in the last year. [82313]
Mr Vaizey: The Department is fully committed to Government policy on procurement which has two basic objectives:
To achieve continuing improvement in value for money based on whole life cost and quality
To enhance the competitiveness of suppliers through the development of procurement systems and practices
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We follow the Transparency regulations in order to maximise competition. Also, we ensure that all procurements that can be advertised with a value of £10,000 are advertised via the Contracts Finder website and then tendered via BIP—Delta (an e-procurement tool).
Further information about the Department's procurement policy can be found at:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/about_us/working_with_us/973.aspx
The Government have announced a specific and innovative approach to efficiency and reform across the public sector which means that Departments are no longer required to report against efficiency targets. The Department does not, therefore, specifically record savings secured through its procurement process.
Design: Government Assistance
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to assist design companies to secure work with international clients. [83749]
Mr Vaizey: The design industry is one of the UK's strengths, and something which we are already renowned for across the world. Design is a priority sector for UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), which has a programme in place to assist UK design companies wishing to expand into overseas markets. This includes running a series of overseas trade missions to priority markets such as South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Mexico this year. In addition, Lord Marland recently led missions to China and Brazil to coincide with the Beijing and Brazil Design Weeks. UKTI also supports groups of design companies wishing to exhibit at key overseas trade fairs such as the Milan Furniture Fair, Maison et Objet in Paris and International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York, and works closely with industry bodies, such as British Design Innovation and the Design Business Association, to ensure that design companies are well informed about overseas opportunities.
UK School Games
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the future role of UK School Games; and if he will make a statement. [83825]
Hugh Robertson: The sixth and final UK School Games took place in Sheffield over 1-4 September this year. The new School Games national finals will continue, and build on, the tradition of a multi-sport, multi-day national event for elite young athletes. The first School Games national finals will take place over 6-9 May 2012.
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what information his Department holds on how many records were set at UK School Games at (a) national and (b) international level in each year since the Games began; and if he will make a statement. [83826]
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Hugh Robertson: Record times or performances could be measured only in the sports of athletics, cycling and swimming, as performance was measured in different ways in the other sports that made up the UK School Games (which had expanded to 12 sports by 2011 from the original five in 2007). Records set included:
one world record
two junior world records
five junior national records.
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many school children participated in UK School Games at (a) intra-school (b) inter-school, (c) county and (d) national level in each school year since the Games began; and if he will make a statement. [83827]
Hugh Robertson: The UK School Games was an annual national event that ran from 2006 to 2011. The number of school children participating at each event was:
Glasgow 2006: 1,100
Coventry 2007: 1,350
Bristol and Bath 2008: 1,470
South Wales 2009: 1,523
Newcastle 2010: 1,530
Sheffield 2011: 1,580.
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what evaluation he has made of the role of UK School Games in increasing participation in (a) sport and (b) competitive sport; and if he will make a statement. [83828]
Hugh Robertson: The UK School Games succeeded in its objective of being an excellent showcase event for elite young athletes. However, I am committed to giving children of all ages and abilities the opportunity to participate in competitive sport through the new School Games, reviving the culture of competitive sport in schools.
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with the partners of UK School Games regarding future participation in school sports; and if he will make a statement. [83829]
Hugh Robertson: To deliver the new School Games, I am working with a range of national partners, including Sport England, ParalympicsGB, the Department of Health, the Department for Education and the Youth Sport Trust, which was responsible for delivery of the UK School Games.
Deputy Prime Minister
Armed Forces: Young People
Alex Cunningham:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the range and level of educational qualifications offered to armed forces
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recruits aged 16 to 18 and their conformity with the minimum standards recommended by the Wolf Review of Vocational Education. [82877]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister with responsibility for schools, the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr Gibb), on 28 November 2011, Official Report, column 704W.
Departmental Domestic Visits
Mr Crausby: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many times he has visited each region in an official capacity in the last 12 months. [83036]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I have made 31 regional visits between 1 November 2010 and 25 November 2011. I have also made many other regional visits in my capacity as a party leader. The breakdown of official visits by region can be found as follows:
| Region/nation | Frequency |
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Cabinet Office
Business: Closures
Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many businesses in (a) Preston constituency and (b) Lancashire have ceased trading since 1 June 2010. [83900]
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 for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many businesses in (a) Preston constituency and (b) Lancashire have ceased trading since 1 June 2010. [83900]
Annual statistics on the number of enterprise deaths are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at
www.statistics.gov.uk
However, unfortunately these statistics are only available up to the calendar year 2009. The results for 2010 will be released on 6th December 2011.
Procurement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many contracts his Department has awarded directly to (a) small, (b) medium-sized and (c) large businesses in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such contracts; and if he will make a statement. [75111]
Mr Maude: The information in the format requested is not held centrally and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.
Since January 2011 the Cabinet Office has awarded the following contracts above the value of £10,000 which have been published on Contracts Finder.
www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk
| Small and medium sized enterprise | Large enterprise | |||
| Month | Number | Maximum value (£) | Number | Maximum value (£) |
29 Nov 2011 : Column 833W
29 Nov 2011 : Column 834W
| (1 )Represents estimated total value of pan-government business. (2 )No value attributed. Actual value will depend on the amount of demand for the services supplied through the contract. (3 )Represents estimated value of business placed through framework covering six suppliers, one of which is a large enterprise. | ||||
David Simpson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what procedures his Department has put in place to ensure value for money on purchases; and what savings have been identified using those procedures in the last year. [82315]
Mr Maude: The Cabinet Office ensures value for money on its purchases through the use of pan-government deals for relevant goods and services that have been set up by the Government Procurement Service (GPS) and other Departments to enable it to exploit the benefits of Government's aggregated purchasing power in order to achieve better prices. Further savings are expected to be realised from the Government-wide efficiency programmes which the Cabinet Office has initiated, including:
the centralising of all common commodity procurement through contracts awarded and managed by GPS to maximise public sector buying power;
the re-negotiation of deals with Government's largest suppliers; and
the use of the Dynamic Marketplace for lower value procurements which will open up opportunities for SMEs to win Government business.
Savings achieved have contributed to a reduction in the Department’s procurement expenditure overall between 2009-10 and 2010-11 of almost 3%.
Government Departments: Finance
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made on the cross-Government review of advice funding in which other Government Departments are involved; which advice organisations have been consulted; and when the review will report its findings. [83842]
Mr Hurd: The Government announced on 21 November that the Cabinet Office would be conducting a review to ensure that people continue to have access to good quality free advice services in their communities.
Work has now started on the review which will conclude early next year with recommendations to Ministers, and will build on work that has already been done. The review is considering the funding environment for free advice services, likely levels of demand, and how Government can play a positive role.
In conducting the review, the Cabinet Office is seeking the input of a wide range of advice sector stakeholders including national and local advice organisations, representative bodies, umbrella organisations for the sector, and other organisations that play an influential role in determining the landscape of free advice provision. We are doing this through individual stakeholder meetings, roundtable discussions with key sector representatives, and by taking account of recent, relevant research in this area.
National School of Government
Andrew Miller: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) whether the National School of Government's information security “Protecting Information” course includes training in the (a) use of privacy panels and (b) circumstances when privacy screen panels should be used; [83670]
(2) whether the National School of Government provides visual data security training; [83671]
(3) pursuant to the answer of 22 June 2011, Official Report, column 368W, on Departmental Data Protection, what guidance the Cabinet Office issues to other Government Departments on (a) the use of data privacy panels and (b) training in the circumstances in which privacy screen panels should be used; [83672]
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(4) whether the Government have undertaken an evaluation of the risks posed by visual data security breaches across central Government Departments. [83673]
Mr Maude: The Cross Government Data Handling Review 2008 requires that all civil servants undergo data security training on an annual basis. This training can be given through a variety of ways including:
induction courses;
regular briefing and training events;
articles on Departments' intranet sites;
awareness campaigns; and
intermittent reminders as and when considered necessary.
Visual data security is one element of the National School of Government “Introduction to Information Assurance” course, and is specifically covered under IS1 Risk Assessment Process as part of the “Information Assurance Standards IS1 and IS2” course. The National School of Government website also hosts the Cabinet Office sponsored e-learning course “Protecting Information” which includes a number of different ‘role dependent' modules.
The Government have a number of measures in place to safeguard sensitive and/or protectively marked (classified) information. The Cabinet Office co-ordinates protective security policy for the whole of Government including the rules, procedures and technical controls required to ensure the protection of sensitive information. Mandatory requirements and best practice guidelines are set out in the HMG Security Policy Framework at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/spf.aspx
The framework includes guidance to reduce the risk that sensitive information could be overlooked when laptops or other media devices are used in open plan office environments or public spaces.
Security policy officials and the national technical authorities keep all security threats under constant review and the Security Policy Framework guidelines are regularly updated.
Public Houses
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many public houses (a) in Jarrow constituency, (b) in South Tyneside, (c) in the North East and (d) nationally have closed in each of the last five years. [83603]
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 for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many public houses (a) in Jarrow constituency, (b) in South Tyneside, (c) in the North East and (d) nationally have closed in each of the last five years. [83603]
Annual statistics on the number of enterprise deaths are available from 2002 onwards in the ONS release on Business Demography at:
www.statistics.gov.uk
ONS has no statistics of pubs, however, the table below contains the latest statistics which show the number of enterprise deaths in the constituency of Jarrow, district of South Tyneside, North East region and the UK classified to public houses/bars.
29 Nov 2011 : Column 836W
| Count of enterprise deaths classified to public houses/bars from 2005 - 09 | ||||
|
|
Jarrow | South Tyneside | North-east | United Kingdom |
| Note: The above figures have been rounded to the nearest 5, to avoid disclosure. | ||||
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many public houses have been owned by a pub company (a) in Jarrow constituency, (b) in South Tyneside, (c) in the North East and (d) nationally in each of the last five years. [83604]
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 for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many public houses have been owned by a pub company (a) in Jarrow constituency, (b) in South Tyneside, (c) in the North East and (d) nationally in each of the last five years, [83604]
ONS does not produce statistics on the number of public houses owned by a pub company. Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births, deaths and survivals are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
www.statistics.gov.uk
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many public houses owned by a pub company (a) in Jarrow constituency, (b) in South Tyneside, (c) in the North East and (d) nationally have closed in each of the last five years. [83605]
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 for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many public houses owned by a pub company (a) in Jarrow constituency, (b) in South Tyneside, (c) in the North East and (d) nationally have closed in each of the last five years. [83605]
ONS does not produce statistics on the number of public houses owned by a pub company. Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births, deaths and survivals are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
www.statistics.gov.uk
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many public houses there are (a) in Jarrow constituency, (b) in South Tyneside, (c) in the north-east and (d) nationally. [83607]
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 for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many public houses there are (a) in Jarrow constituency, (b) in South Tyneside, (c) in the North East and (d) nationally. [83607]
29 Nov 2011 : Column 837W
Annual statistics on the number of enterprise actives are available from 2002 onwards in the ONS release on Business Demography at:
www.statistics.gov.uk
ONS has no statistics on pubs, however, the following table contains the latest statistics, which show the number of active enterprises, in the constituency of Jarrow, district of South Tyneside, North East region and the UK, classified to public houses/bars.
| Count of active enterprises classified to public houses/bars from 2005 to 2009 | ||||
|
|
Jarrow | South Tyneside | North East | United Kingdom |
| Note: The above figures have been rounded to the nearest five, to avoid disclosure | ||||
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many tied publicans (a) in Jarrow constituency, (b) in South Tyneside, (c) in the North East and (d) nationally have managed their pub for more than three years. [83606]
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 for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many tied publicans (a) in Jarrow constituency, (b) in South Tyneside, (c) in the North East and (d) nationally have managed their pub for more than three years. [83606]
ONS does not produce statistics on the number of tied publicans. Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births, deaths and survivals are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at:
www.statistics.gov.uk
Public Sector: Equality
Mr Brady: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of equality and diversity training in the public sector in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will take steps to encourage efficiency savings of such expenditure. [83334]
Mr Maude: Information on the cost of equality and diversity training across the public sector as a whole is not held centrally.
However the Government have taken steps to reduce the cost of generic learning and development by launching Civil Service Learning, a cross-Government resource that will centrally procure all generic learning and development for the civil service.
Equality and diversity training is part of this provision. As we continue to establish Civil Service Learning, an e-learning course will be provided to cover this area for all civil servants. No specific costs were incurred as it has been developed in-house by staff in HMRC.
29 Nov 2011 : Column 838W
Work and Pensions
Carers
Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to protect the livelihoods of carers. [82987]
Maria Miller: The Government recognise and appreciate the important role of carers.
Financial support for carers is provided through the social security benefits system. The main benefit available to carers is carer's allowance, which provides a measure of support for people who are unable to undertake full-time paid employment because of their caring responsibilities. With the introduction of the Welfare Reform Bill, the Government announced that carer's allowance will continue to exist as a separate benefit providing an independent income for carers and recognition of the role they play. Carer's allowance is currently paid at £55.55 a week.
In addition to carer's allowance, carers on low incomes can claim income-related benefits, such as income support and pension credit. These benefits can be paid to carers at a higher rate through the carer premium or the equivalent additional amount for carers respectively, both currently worth up to £31.00 a week.
From 2013, we are introducing universal credit, an integrated benefit which will be payable whether or not people are in work. Above a disregard of earnings, the universal credit award will reduce gradually as earnings increase, due to the single earnings taper. The universal credit award will include a carer element which will continue for as long as the carer provides care for at least 35 hours per week for a severely disabled person. The carer element will continue to be included in the universal credit award when carer's allowance ceases because someone's earnings take them above the level for carer's allowance, which is currently £100.00 a week net of certain expenses.
Crisis Loans
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the April 2011 changes to crisis loans for general living expenses, excluding alignment payments, on annual expenditure on crisis loans for general living expenses, excluding alignment payments in 2011-12 and 2012-13; [82746]
(2) what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the April 2011 changes to crisis loans for items on annualised expenditure on crisis loans for items in 2011-12 and 2012-13. [82748]
Steve Webb: The limit of three awards for general living expenses in a rolling 12 month period that was introduced in April 2011 will not have had full effect until after April 2012. Expenditure on general living expenses will therefore continue to reduce.
The forecast expenditure on awards for items or services following a disaster and general living expenses for the financial year 2011-12 is £60 million. At present we are not able to provide separate forecasts.
Detailed modelling for the next financial year has not been completed, but it is estimated that the total expenditure on general living expenses and items or services following a disaster will be under £36 million in 2012-13.
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Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what funding arrangements are intended to replace crisis loans for (a) rent in advance and (b) items after localisation. [82747]
Steve Webb: Discretionary housing payments can already be used to help people on housing benefit or council tax benefit to pay for rent in advance. The funding for discretionary housing payments has been increased by £130 million over the current spending review period.
Since April this year a crisis loan for items can only be awarded following a disaster such as flooding. From April 2013 the current funding of £178.2 million per annum for the discretionary social fund will be apportioned nationally between England, Scotland and Wales. The funding for items following a disaster is included in this amount.
Budgeting loans and universal credit budgeting advances will also be available to eligible recipients. These can be used to purchase replacement white goods and household items or for rent in advance.
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2011, Official Report, column 719W, on crisis loans, in how many cases loans have been made to meet the interest payments on a loan which had been taken out by a person now on benefits when an endowment policy accompanying a mortgage matures but does not provide sufficient funds to pay off the balance of that mortgage in each of the last two years in each Jobcentre Plus budget area. [83830]
Steve Webb: A crisis loan cannot be awarded to pay the interest payments on another loan. As set out in my previous answer of 15 November 2011, Official Report, column 719W, support may be available through support for mortgage interest payments to claimants of income-related benefits.
Crisis loans are only available to meet day to day living expenses for a short period, rent in advance, or, following a disaster such as flooding, the cost of essential household items. A crisis loan must be the only means of avoiding serious risk or damage to the health or safety of the applicant or their family.
Consultants
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland on (i) personnel costs and (ii) consultants in each year since 1997. [82042]
Chris Grayling: Spend is not recorded on a geographical basis. DWP does not record spend for Government Offices in Northern Ireland.
(i) DWP has spent the following amounts on total net staff costs in each year since 2003-04 as follows:
|
|
Average number of whole-time equivalent persons employed | £ million |
29 Nov 2011 : Column 840W
| Source: DWP published annual accounts | ||
(ii) DWP has spent the following amounts on Management Consultancy Services and Contingent Labour in each year since 2003-04 when our records began:
| £ million | ||
|
|
Consultancy Services | Contingent Labour (1) |
| (1) Contingent Labour includes Interim Managers and Specialist Contractors who fill professional or specialist roles where resource or expertise is not available in-house. | ||
Employment Schemes
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the definition of work under the Work programme will be changed after the change to the working hours limits for working tax credit in April 2012. [83676]
Chris Grayling: The change to the working hours limits for working tax credit in April 2012 does not affect the definition of work under the Work programme. In order to qualify for a job outcome payment and subsequent sustainment payments a Work programme participant must be in employment and off benefit for the length of time specified for their participant group. The Department has not specified the number of hours a participant must work each week for employment to count towards Work programme outcomes—the key criteria are simply that the participant is in employment and off benefit.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish data on referrals and job outcomes for (a) tier 1, (b) tier 2 and (c) voluntary and community sector providers (i) across the whole work programme and (ii) by individual contract package area in (A) April and (B) October 2012. [83742]
Chris Grayling: The exact details of what we will publish has still to be decided as it is dependent on the availability and quality of the data. However, we hope to be able to publish data by contract package area.
Employment Schemes: Apprentices
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Work programme job outcomes were the result of placement on an apprenticeship. [83675]
29 Nov 2011 : Column 841W
Chris Grayling: The Department intends to publish official statistics on referrals to the Work programme from spring 2012 and on job outcomes from autumn 2012. This is in line with guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure published statistics meet the required high quality standards.
Employment Schemes: Disability
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received from Work programme providers on the proportion of referrals to the programme of people in receipt of employment and support allowance; and if he will make a statement. [83674]
Chris Grayling: The Department is implementing some process changes to the Work programme in response to feedback received from organisations on the level of referrals from people in receipt of employment and support allowance (ESA). These changes aim to maximise the number of ESA claimants joining provision and are also in line with providers' requests to have more influence over their engagement with individuals.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of referrals to the Work programme have been of people in receipt of employment and support allowance in each month since June 2011. [83677]
Chris Grayling: The Department intends to publish official statistics on referrals to the Work programme from spring 2012 and on job outcomes from autumn 2012. This is in line with guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure published statistics meet the required high quality standards.
Social Exclusion
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the effect of his proposals for welfare reform on people experiencing multiple sources of deprivation. [81940]
Chris Grayling: Full impact assessments on the measures contained within the Welfare Reform Bill have been conducted and kept up to date. These are available at:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/legislation-and-key-documents/welfare-reform-bill-2011/impact-assessments-and-equality/
As set out in the relevant impact assessment, universal credit will reduce the number of individuals in poverty.
Greater simplicity will lead to a substantial increase in the take-up of currently unclaimed benefits, with most of the impact being at the lower end of the income distribution. The changes to entitlement are estimated to increase average weekly net income in the bottom two income deciles by £3 and £4 per week respectively. After accounting for imperfect take-up in the current system and improved take-up under universal credit, the gain for the bottom two deciles increases to £11 and £10 per week respectively. On reasonable assumptions, the combined impact of take-up and entitlements will lift around 900,000 individuals out of poverty, including
29 Nov 2011 : Column 842W
more than 350,000 children and around 550,000 working-age adults. These poverty impacts exclude the positive impacts of more people moving into work.
Social Security Benefits: Disability
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) incapacity benefit, (b) disability living allowance and (c) employment support allowance benefit claims there were subsequently proved to be unsubstantiated in the last year for which figures are available. [83820]
Chris Grayling: Please note that incapacity benefit was replaced by employment and support allowance (ESA) for new claims from October 2008. The reassessment of incapacity benefit claimants for eligibility for employment and support allowance started in April 2011 and is expected to end in 2014.
Information on the number of incapacity benefits claimants being reassessed for ESA using the work capability assessment (WCA) is not available. Due to the overall length of the incapacity benefits reassessment process, information on the process including the final outcomes, subsequent destinations of claimants being reassessed and appeals is not yet available. Individual level data are being collected, but it will take time to complete because of the overall length of the reassessment process. The Department plans to publish data on the outcomes of the reassessment process but only once they have been quality assured and are considered robust.
The number of disability living allowance (DLA) new claim decisions made from April 2010 to March 2011 was 453,000 and 257,000 (57%) were rejected. The total rejected on medical grounds was 256,000 and 1,000 were rejected because the DLA eligibility criteria was not satisfied.
The Department regularly publishes information on employment support allowance and the work capability assessment. The latest report was published in October 2011 and can be found on the departmental website here:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_wca
Table 2 in the above publication shows that there were 447,500 new ESA claims that underwent an initial WCA between June 2010 and May 2011 (the latest data available), of these 265,000 (59%) were found fit for work.
Notes:
1. Percentages have been rounded to the nearest percentage point and numbers of cases have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
2. Disability living allowance data are sourced from Department for Work and Pensions, RDA60209 and RDA60205 reports—DLA Management Information Statistics.
3. Employment and support allowance data are sourced from Atos Healthcare and DWP departmental administrative data.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Aerospace Industry: Research
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to support research and development in the aerospace sector. [83497]
29 Nov 2011 : Column 843W
Mr Prisk: Technology is an important strand of work for the Aerospace Growth Partnership, which I co-chair with Marcus Bryson, CEO of GKN Aerospace. The focus of the Technology Working Group is on identifying the key technologies that will help position the UK aerospace industry to secure high value work on new aircraft programmes.
In July 2011, the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) announced £10 million of research and development (R and D) grants for the Next Generation Vertical Lift programme, led by AgustaWestland, encompassing three projects focusing on main and tail rotor blades, transmission systems and flight trials. This is in addition to the £300 million invested by the TSB over the past four years on collaborative research and technology programmes such as ‘Next Generation Composite Wing' led by Airbus, and ‘SILOET (Strategic Investment in Low Carbon Engine Technology) led by Rolls-Royce.
We are also supporting the development of new aircraft programmes such as the Airbus A350 XWB and Bombardier CSeries aircraft with Repayable Launch Investment—with commitments for these programmes totalling around £514 million.
The aerospace sector will benefit from the creation of the High Value Manufacturing Technology and Innovation Centre (HVM TIC) network. Established and overseen by the Technology Strategy Board, the HVM TIC will provide an integrated capability and embrace all forms of manufacture using metals and composites, in addition to process manufacturing technologies and bio-processing.
Apprentices
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what sanctions exist for companies that do not fulfil their obligations in respect of young people enrolled on recognised apprenticeship schemes; [80753]
(2) what steps he has taken to ensure that employers who enrol young people on a recognised apprenticeship scheme fulfil their obligations with regard to those young people; and what sanctions they are liable to if they fail to do so. [81564]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 25 November 2011]:Following the Apprenticeships, Children, Schools and Learning Act (2009), all apprentices must be employed throughout their apprenticeship programme. Their employers have exactly the same obligations and sanctions as other employers, including responsibility for safeguarding young people.
Employers can include details about the apprenticeship and any entitlements, for example study time, within the contract of employment.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the merits of subsidising wage costs from the public purse for apprentices aged 19 to 24 years. [82555]
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Mr Hayes: The Government have announced that we will incentivise small employers who have not been previously engaged in the apprenticeships programme to take on their first young apprentices aged 16 to 24. Up to 40,000 places will be available.
Apprenticeships deliver strong value for money, with good progression in employment and continued learning. Small employers, who often do not have human resource departments, or dedicated training budgets, can find it more challenging to take on their first apprentice. Providing an incentive payment to support them in doing so will enable them to offer new opportunities to young people.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the barriers preventing small businesses from recruiting apprentices; and if he will make a statement. [82558]
Mr Hayes: Employers of small and medium-sized businesses and their representative bodies have told us that they face a number of barriers in recruiting apprentices including bureaucracy and framework rigidity that in some cases cost.
That is why we announced on 16 November that we will strip out all additional health and safety requirements imposed on employers, reduce the time it takes an employer to advertise a vacancy for an apprentice to one month and provide the small firms with a financial incentive of £1,500 to help them take on their first apprentice. We will ask a leading employer to undertake an independent review of apprenticeship standards which we expect will identify other areas where we can work to make the apprenticeship programme simpler for employers of all sizes.
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (1) new apprenticeships have been started in each year since 2008-09; [82696]
(2) apprenticeship schemes in Great Yarmouth received enrolments in each year since 2006. [82701]
Mr Hayes: Table 1 shows the total number of apprenticeship programme starts in 2008/09 to 2009/10 (final data) and 2010/11 (provisional data).
| Table 1: Apprenticeship starts, 2008/09, 2009/10 (final data) and 2010/11 (provisional data) | |
|
|
All Apprenticeships |
| Notes: 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Provisional estimates for 2010/11 can not be compared with final figures for earlier years. Source: Individualised Learner Record. | |
Table 2 shows the number of apprenticeship programme starts in Great Yarmouth parliamentary constituency by Framework in 2005/06 to 2009/10 (final data) and 2010/11 (provisional data).
| Table 2: Apprenticeship starts by framework in Great Yarmouth, 2005/06 to 2009/10 (final data) and 2010/11 (provisional data) | ||||||
|
|
2005/06 (final) | 2006/07 (final) | 2007/08 (final) | 2008/09 (final) | 2009/10 (final) | 2010/11 (provisional) |
29 Nov 2011 : Column 845W
29 Nov 2011 : Column 846W
| (1 )Indicates a base value of less than five. Notes: 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Provisional estimates for 2010/11 cannot be compared with final figures for earlier years. 3. Geography information is based upon the home postcode of the learner. Source: Individualised Learner Record. | ||||||
Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 27 October 2011
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans his Department has to reduce the barriers to taking on an apprentice for smaller businesses; and if he will make a statement. [83234]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 25 November 2011]:On 16 November I announced a number of measures that will be taken to simplify the process and support smaller businesses to take on an apprentice. These measures include a financial incentive of £1,500 to help small businesses employ their first apprentice, significantly reducing the time it takes to recruit an apprentice, and stripping out all the unnecessary, additional health and safety requirements placed on employers that take on apprentices.
Business
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much (a) his Department, (b) UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and (c) the Science Innovation Network have spent on services and support provided to Oxitec Ltd, including (i) the market entry trip to Brazil in early 2010, (ii) the UKTI Trade Mission to Brazil in July 2010 and (iii) any further missions to Brazil or other countries. [82685]
Mr Prisk: Oxitec has received a £1,845.12 grant from the Science and Innovation Network towards travel costs in the market entry trip to Brazil from 21-27 February 2010, in the context of the International Innovation Programme.
As a participant in UKTI's Passport to Export Scheme in 2003, Oxitec received two separate payments for visits to international markets equalling £1,520.67. The company also received an Independent Market Visit Scheme grant from UKTI in 2008 totalling £750.
Business: EU Action
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what contribution his Department has made to EU negotiations on future deregulation for micro-businesses. [83300]
Mr Prisk:
On 23 November, the Commission adopted a report on “Minimising regulatory burdens for SMEs: Adapting EU regulation to the needs of micro-enterprises”. This includes a commitment to exclude micro-enterprises from the scope of proposed EU legislation from 1 January 2012, unless the proportionality of their being covered can be demonstrated. BIS worked with other EU member
29 Nov 2011 : Column 847W
states to encourage the Commission to include this proposal in its report, which delivers against one of the Prime Minister’s initiatives to reduce EU regulatory costs on business.
The report also presents the first results of the Commission’s screening of the existing stock of EU legislation for examples from which micro-businesses could be exempted or subject to a lighter regime. This draws heavily on proposals which BIS gathered from across Whitehall and UK business organisations and submitted to the Commission earlier in the autumn.
BIS will continue to work closely with the Commission to ensure it effectively delivers its new micro-businesses policy, and that results are felt by SMEs on the ground.