| 200 8 -0 9 | 2009-10 | |||||
| Full-time | Part-time | Total | Full-time | Part-time | Total | |
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| Notes: 1. The data are presented as numbers of full-time and part-time staff, since full-time equivalent data is not collected. For all years except 2009-10, however, full-time figures include part-time strategic managers, operational managers and administration staff, since full-time and part-time figures for these categories were only collected from 2009-10. In all years, part-time figures are made up predominantly of part-time practitioners as well as sessional staff. Volunteers are excluded from the table entirely. Prior to 2005-06, analogous data were not collected. Data for 2010-11 is due to be published in the Annual Youth Justice Statistics 2010-11 in January 2012. 2. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time. | ||||||
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Dangerous Dogs
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many dangerous dog incidents have been reported to the police in England and Wales since June 2010; [81040]
(2) how many dangerous dog incidents were reported to police in 2010-11. [81045]
Mr Paice: Records of dangerous dog incidents are not held centrally as such incidents are recorded by relevant police forces.
Departmental Fines
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many transport- related fines her Department has settled on behalf of its staff in each year since 2007; and at what cost. [74353]
Richard Benyon: The Department does not expect to pay such fines; these would be the responsibility of the person who committed the offence.
Official Photographs
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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. [82575]
Richard Benyon:
Departmental records show that approximately 10 official photographs have been taken of Ministers and/or senior officials since May 2010.
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These photographs have been used for a variety of internal and external communications.
The Department does not hold a central record of staff undertaking photography, and therefore cannot provide an accurate figure without incurring disproportionate cost.
Departmental Pay: London
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the total monetary value of London weightings and London living allowances for staff in her Department. [74898]
Richard Benyon: The total monetary value of the higher London pay scales as of 1 July 2011, is £5,264,973 (based on annual salary).
There are also a small number of London pay allowances paid to staff, at a total monetary value of £11,400 per annum. These allowances have been abolished but remain payable to a small number of staff who retained eligibility to them on a reserved right basis.
The Department does not pay any form of London weighting or London living allowances to members of the senior civil service.
Private Finance Initiative
Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the value of estimated tax receipts, calculated in accordance with the Green Book, in each public sector economic assessment of private finance initiative projects in procurement by her Department as of March 2011. [70923]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 12 September 2011]: At March 2011, there were no private finance initiatives in procurement directly by DEFRA.
Procurement
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contracts of a monetary value of (a) between £100,000 and £500,000, (b) between £500,000 and £1 million, (c) between £1 million and £5 million, (d) between £5 million and £10 million, (e) between £10 million and £50 million, (f) between £50 million and £100 million, (g) between £100 million and £500 million, (h) between £500 million and £1 billion, (i) between £1 billion and £5 billion and (j) over £5 billion her Department and its predecessors have entered into with private suppliers in each year since 1990. [74208]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA was formed in 2001, information prior to this date can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The core Department had no central records of contract information kept until October 2009. Information in the following table for numbers of contracts prior to this date, relates to information on active contracts captured when this central recording started.
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| Core DEFRA | ||||||||||
| (a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) | (f) | (g) | (h) | (i) | (j) | |
Sick Leave
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for how many days on average her Department's staff in each pay grade were absent from work as a result of ill health in 2010-11. [75014]
Richard Benyon: The following table shows the average working days lost (AWDL) to sickness absence in 2010-11 for staff in each pay grade in DEFRA:
| Grade | AWDL |
Dogs: Animal Breeding
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to ensure welfare in puppy farms. [80905]
Mr Paice: The Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999, which amended and extended the provisions of the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 and the Breeding of Dogs Act 1991, provides protection for dogs used in breeding establishments. Under this legislation, any person who keeps a breeding establishment for dogs at any premises and carries on at those premises a business of breeding dogs for sale must obtain a licence from the local authority. Those people who are not in the business of breeding dogs for sale, so called “hobby breeders”, and produce less than five litters in any period of 12 months do not need to obtain a licence.
The local authority has the discretion whether to grant a licence and, before doing so, must satisfy itself that the animals are provided with suitable accommodation, food, water and bedding material; are adequately exercised and visited at suitable intervals; and that all reasonable precautions are taken to prevent and control the spread of diseases among dogs.
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In addition to the specific law on dog breeding, there is also the Animal Welfare Act, which places on those who own or are responsible for animals a duty to ensure their animals' welfare. This includes owners and keepers of dog breeding establishments.
Under the Pet Animals Act 1951, local authorities must decide whether or not to grant a licence for a particular establishment to sell animals, where this is part of a business. In deciding whether to grant a licence, local authorities shall have regard to the need for securing: (a) the animals' accommodation; (b) availability of adequate food and drink; and ensuring that (c) any mammals will not be sold at too early an age; (d) that reasonable precautions are taken to prevent the spread of disease; and (e) appropriate steps are taken in case of fire. These considerations are set out in section 1(3) of the 1951 Act and are broadly similar to the sort of requirements that all owners and keepers (including pet shop owners) must follow in order to comply with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the “2006 Act”).
The model standards that local authorities use to help them decide whether a pet shop should be granted a licence under the 1951 Act were recently updated.
Food: Waste
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the Waste Review, June 2011, what progress she has made towards a new responsibility deal with the hospitality and service sectors to reduce food waste. [82526]
Richard Benyon: The June 2011 Review of Waste Policy in England committed the Government to develop a new Responsibility Deal with businesses in the hospitality and food service sectors to reduce food waste and ensure that unavoidable food waste is managed sustainably.
We are working with industry, devolved Administrations and the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to produce this deal, which will act on both food and packaging waste.
On 14 September 2011, we held a successful stakeholder event to gain industry views. Similar events were held in Cardiff and Edinburgh. On 22 November 2011, we circulated a discussion paper outlining the proposed targets and structure of the deal, which is available on WRAP'S website:
www.wrap.org.uk
We have asked for industry input by 11 January 2012. We will use this to produce the final deal, which we hope to launch in spring 2012.
Marine Conservation Zones
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has plans to secure marine management control out to 200 nautical miles. [83325]
Richard Benyon:
The UK Government exercise management of UK waters out to 200 nautical miles except where their power to do this is limited by international or European law. The European Union has exclusive competence in relation to the conservation of marine biological resources under the common fisheries policy.
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It has shared competence with the UK in relation to the environment (so the UK can take measures if the EU has not done so).
In negotiations on the reform of the common fisheries policy, the UK is seeking to enable member states to manage marine resources more effectively, through better integration of fisheries management with other marine policies.
Treasury
Banks: Finance
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has specific plans for the revenues accruing from the disposal of shares held by UK Financial Investments in Lloyds Banking Group and RBS Group. [83367]
Mr Hoban: UK Financial Investments (UKFI) is responsible for managing the Government's investments in Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) on an arm's length and commercial basis; and for developing and executing a strategy for disposing of the investments in an orderly and active way.
UKFI continues to look at the full range of alternatives for disposing of the investments.
The Government have no specific plans for the proceeds of any disposal which may arise.
Mr Bain: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what options are being considered for the disposal of shares held by UK Financial Investments in Lloyds Banking Group and RBS Group. [83368]
Mr Hoban: UK Financial Investments is responsible for managing the Government's investments in Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) on an arm's length and commercial basis; and for developing and executing a strategy for disposing of the investments in an orderly and active way.
UKFI continues to look at the full range of alternatives for disposing of the investments.
Boilers: Government Assistance
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research his Department has undertaken on the effect on (a) the manufacturing industry and (b) levels of unemployment of introducing a boiler scrappage scheme. [83669]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Energy Saving Trust published an evaluation of the boiler scrappage scheme. This is available at:
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/england/Publications2/Energy-efficiency/English-Boiler-Scheme-Scrappage-evaluation-report
HM Treasury has not undertaken separate research on its economic impact.
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Food Procurement
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [83772]
Miss Chloe Smith: Liquefied eggs are not used by the Treasury’s catering contractor.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [83773]
Miss Chloe Smith: For the period April 2010 to March 2011, HM Treasury's catering subcontractor sourced 71% of its food supplies from UK food producers.
Economic Growth: Northern Ireland
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, (b) the Northern Ireland Executive, (c) Northern Ireland representatives and (d) Northern Ireland trade unions on rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy. [83273]
Mr Gauke: The Chancellor visited Northern Ireland on 17 June 2011 and discussed the Government's consultation on rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy with members of the Northern Ireland Executive and the business community.
Over the process of consultation on ‘Rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy', I have had a series of meetings with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), and the Northern Ireland Executive. In addition I have chaired consultation meetings in London and Belfast which were attended by Northern Ireland business and trade union representatives, among others.
Excise Duties: Alcohol Drinks
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the extent of alcohol duty evasion. [83857]
Miss Chloe Smith: Diversion of alcohol without payment of excise duty is the prevalent form of alcohol fraud. Estimates of tax losses are produced by HMRC annually for spirits and beer, the latest of which have been published in “Measuring Tax Gaps 2011”.
This publication is available in the House of Commons Library and online at:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/mtg-2011.pdf
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Excise Duties: Fuels
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal steps his Department is taking to help offset the rising cost of fuel for people living in rural areas. [83501]
Miss Chloe Smith: Given the current high cost of fuel, to support motorists and businesses, the Autumn Statement announced that the 3.02 ppl fuel duty increase that was due to take effect on 1 January 2012 will be deferred to 1 August 2012, and the inflation increase that was planned for 1 August 2012, currently expected to be worth 1.92 ppl, will be cancelled. This will mean that there will only be one RPI increase next year. This is on top of the support that was announced at Budget 2011 that included a 1 ppl cut in fuel duty and the introduction of a fair fuel stabiliser to replace the previous Government's fuel duty escalator.
As of 1 April 2012 average pump prices could be approximately 10 ppl lower than if the Government had implemented the previous Government's fuel duty escalator in both 2011-12 and in 2012-13.
The Government recently secured final EU clearance for the introduction of a 5 ppl rural fuel rebate pilot scheme in the Inner and Outer Hebrides, Northern Isles, islands in the Clyde and the Isles of Scilly that will come into force from 1 March 2012.
Members: Correspondence
Mike Crockart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh West's letters of 22 April 2011, 7 June 2011, 9 August 2011, 29 August 2011, 13 September 2011 and 20 October 2011 concerning his constituents Mr and Mrs Scott and Equitable Life. [83841]
Mr Hoban: I have replied to the hon. Gentleman.
Revenue and Customs: Government Procurement Card
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2011, Official Report, column 702W, on Revenue and Customs: Government Procurement Card, (1) what the (a) name of the supplier and (b) purpose and function was of the entry 15 May Restaurants and Bars 702.73 in 2007; [76503]
(2) what the (a) name of the supplier and (b) purpose and function was of the entry 17 May Restaurants and Bars 560.00 in 2007; [76504]
(3) what the (a) name of the supplier and (b) purpose and function was of the entry 16 July Restaurants and Bars 575.35 in 2007; [76508]
(4) what the (a) name of the supplier and (b) purpose and function was of the entry 5 October Restaurants and Bars 514.15 in 2007; [76511]
(5) what the (a) name of the supplier and (b) purpose and function was of the entry 18 December Restaurants and Bars 559.60 in 2007; [76513]
(6) what the (a) name of the supplier and (b) purpose and function was of the entry 12 November Restaurants and Bars 509.36 in 2008. [76524]
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Mr Gauke:
For HMRC to provide all the information requested would mean extracting the information manually, which would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.
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However, from high level information held we can provide the following:
Taxation: Overseas Trade
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue his Department received from trade with countries outside the EU in each of the last five financial years. [83500]
Mr Gauke: Revenue from trade with countries outside the EU is remitted to HM Revenue and Customs under value added tax on imports, customs duty, and excise duties, including alcohol duty, tobacco products duty, and hydrocarbon oils duty.
Annual receipts from import VAT since the financial year 1989-90 are published on a monthly basis in table 2 of the Value Added Tax Statistical Bulletin, which is available on the HM Revenue and Customs website:
https://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bullvat
Annual receipts from customs duties since the financial year 2001-02 are published on a monthly basis in the Tax and NICs receipts: statistics table, which is available on the HM Revenue and Customs website:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax_receipts/menu.htm
Information on revenue from trade with countries outside the EU is not available for excise duties including alcohol duty, tobacco products duty, and hydrocarbon oils duty.
VAT: Registration
Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) VAT-registered and (b) non-VAT-registered businesses in (i) England, (ii) Wales, (iii) Scotland and (iv) Northern Ireland are (A) incorporated and (B) unincorporated. [R] [83943]
Mr Gauke: The estimated number of live VAT-registered traders at the end of 2008-09 that were incorporated and unincorporated, by region, is as follows:
| Incorporated | Unincorporated | |
The estimated number of non-VAT-registered traders that are incorporated and unincorporated, by region in 2008-09, is as follows:
| Incorporated | Unincorporated | |
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Foreign and Commonwealth Office
British Virgin Islands
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to visit the British Overseas Territory of British Virgin Islands. [83205]
Mr Bellingham: For security and operational reasons, we do not comment on or announce visits significantly in advance.
Food Procurement
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [83732]
Mr Lidington: The small amount of liquid egg supplied to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK is bought through our catering contract in accordance with Government Buying Standards and is sourced from hens from an enriched cage system.
It would incur disproportionate cost to source this information from our network of posts and our public bodies as this information is held locally.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [83734]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK has a contracted catering company (Compass). Compass currently meets the majority of, and is committed to meeting the remaining new, Government buying standards for food and catering. It is working with its suppliers to achieve these and is contractually required to meet any new EU or UK legislation relating to the provision of catering services.
It would incur disproportionate costs to source this information from our network of 260 posts and our public bodies as this information is held locally.
European Union
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has sought the advice of external counsel to the lawfulness of the Government exercising a Justice and Home Affairs opt-in under the treaty on the functioning of the European Union in the absence of the citation of a Title V legal base. [83715]
Mr Lidington:
The Government seek relevant legal advice whenever developing policy and that advice, including from external counsel, is taken into account, as appropriate, as part of the overall policy decision-making process. Legal advice obtained by Government Departments
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is confidential. It is not Government policy to disclose whether legal advice has been sought on individual matters or the source of such advice.
Human Trafficking
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role the UK's overseas missions play in preventing human trafficking in source countries. [83492]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The UK's missions, with staff from Departments across Whitehall, including the Serious Organised Crime Agency, the Department for International Development (DfID) and the UK Border Agency, implement the Government's human trafficking strategy overseas. They work with foreign Governments in source and transit countries to build their capacity to disrupt human trafficking, for example by working with investigators and prosecutors to increase prosecutions for human trafficking offences. They contribute to the UK and international efforts to combat trafficking by ensuring that UK interests are effectively represented bilaterally and in multilateral forums, including the EU and the UN. Our missions also address the root causes of human trafficking through DfID's work to alleviate poverty overseas.