Departmental Advertising
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what advertising campaigns his Department has commissioned in each of the last three years; and what the cost was of each campaign. [85178]
Tim Loughton: The requested information is outlined in the following table. The figures include all production costs for the campaigns including media and production fees. Where a figure of zero spend has been provided, this is because no campaigns have been run in that year.
| £ | |||
| Campaign | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 |
Departmental Civil Proceedings
Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 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. [83885]
Tim Loughton:
Records of legal proceedings against the Department for Education and its predecessors are not sorted by reference to whether the organisations bringing proceedings are funded by the Department. A search and analysis of all records of legal proceedings brought over the past five years would involve disproportionate cost. However, the following organisations that have received funding from the Department have brought proceedings against the Department in the past 18 months: the Child Poverty Action Group, Essex county council, Kent county council, Luton borough
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council, Newham London borough council, Nottingham city council, Sandwell metropolitan borough council, Waltham Forest London borough council. The Child Poverty Action Group's and Essex county council's claims against the Department have yet to be heard. The claims brought by the other six organisations were joined together and were successful.
Departmental Communications
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) press officers, (b) internal communications officers, (c) external communications officers, (d) communications strategy officers and (e) other positions with a communications remit were employed by (i) his Department, (ii) its agencies and (iii) each non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department on the most recent date for which figures are available. [84196]
Tim Loughton: As part of wider reforms to our corporate functions, and rationalising the number of agencies and non-departmental public bodies, the Department is currently centralising communications functions and reducing communication staff numbers.
The Department has reduced its total communications staff from 130 in April 2010, to 86 in April 2011, to 69 to date. Communication staff numbers in agencies and non-departmental public bodies have reduced from 204 in April 2010, to 105 in April 2011, and we anticipate this figure to reduce to zero by the end of the financial year.
There are currently (a) 15 press officers, (b) four internal communications officers, (d) four communications strategy officers, and (e) 46 other positions with a communications remit in the Department; for example web editing, speechwriting, publishing, and events management. We do not categorise (c) external communications officers.
Design Services
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what contracts his Department has awarded for design services since May 2010; and what information his Department holds on the location of such companies. [80183]
Tim Loughton: The Department for Education let a new framework agreement for creative media services on 4 July 2011. This framework replaced a number of old frameworks, including design services.
The new framework was awarded to Creative Choice—a newly-formed small medium enterprise (SME) consortium and community interest company. Three principal companies provide first tier management functions:
Live Group (chair and project management) based in London/Sheffield;
WCL (account management) based in London; and
CDS (sourcing and supply management) based in Leeds.
This first tier manages a broad second tier supply base, including companies delivering design services. The framework is currently mid-process in evaluating potential suppliers. Phase 1 is complete, and due to the significant interest from the SME market—a phase 2
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has started and will be completed by January 2012. To date the following design companies have joined the second tier supply base (location in brackets):
Bell (London);
Bentley Holland (London);
Brass(Leeds);
Buffalo Design (Bath);
CDS (Leeds);
Domarn Group (London);
Folio Creative Communication Ltd (Henley-on-Thames, Oxon);
Kindred (London);
Live Group (London);
Oxford Strategic Marketing (Oxford);
the Workshop (Sheffield);
Wordlink (London); and
Yes Agency (Uttoxeter, Staffs).
The phase 2 evaluation will add a further four to six design companies to this list.
Procurement
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what procedures his Department has put in place to ensure value for money on purchases; and what savings have been realised through use of such procedures in the last year. [83643]
Tim Loughton: The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the right hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander), in his answer to his hon. Friend the Member for Southport (John Pugh) on 15 November 2010, Official Report, columns 615-16W, said that the Government had announced a more specific and innovative approach to efficiency and reform across the public sector led by the Efficiency and Reform Group (ERG) in Cabinet Office, including:
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a reduction in administration budgets of 34% across the whole of Whitehall and its arm's length bodies saving £5.9 billion a year by 2014-15;
radically reducing the number of arm's length bodies across government; and
the Efficiency and Reform Group's tough new efficiency regime which will drive savings in procurement, major projects and estate management.
The Department has established internal procedures which underpin these cross-Government arrangements introduced by ERG, and which provide scrutiny of spend across the Department for Education and our arm’s length bodies.
It is departmental policy to competitively tender all contract opportunities and to award contracts to the supplier offering best value for money.
In August 2011, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), announced that ERG's new measures had saved £3.75 billion over 2010/11.
This impact was assessed using methodologies follows at Annex A. The assessment has been independently verified by Government auditors who found the benefits assertions to be fairly calculated and presented.
These savings are born out in my Department's annual report and accounts 2010-11:
http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/d/annual%20report%20and%20accounts%202010%2011.pdf
Note 9 (a), page 83, reports that other administration costs for my Department reduced from £70.713 million in financial year 2009-10 to £65.868 million in financial year 2010-11. Figures in this report are prepared in accordance with HM Treasury's Financial Reporting Manual for central Government Departments and associated Treasury resource accounting and budgeting guidance.
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Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which services his Department has outsourced in each of the last five years. [84233]
Tim Loughton: When the Department vacated Caxton house in November 2007 and handed the building to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), as part of its central London estate rationalisation strategy, six members of staff from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (the predecessor to the Department for Education) who provided mailroom, security guarding and reception services transferred to DWP’s outsourced service provider.
While the Department had already outsourced elements of its security guarding services in sanctuary buildings before the period requested, further day-time guarding services were transferred to the existing outsourced contract in 2009/10.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding his Department allocated to (a) the Institute of Physics, (b) the Life Science Centre, (c) Mathematics in Education and Industry, (d) the Royal Society of Engineering, (e) Stemnet, (f) Sporting Futures, (g) Sports Coach UK and (h) Youth Sport Trust in 2010-11; how much it plans to pay each organisation in 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [85689]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 8 December 2011]: The Department's finance system shows that payments made to the named organisations in financial year 2010-11 was as given in the following table. Also included are estimates of the funding for financial year 2011-12.
| £ | ||
|
|
Payments made in financial year 2010-11 | Estimated funding 2011-12 |
| (1) The PQ refers to the Royal Society of Engineering though the actual name is as shown in the table. | ||
Departmental Travel Costs
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department has spent on first class travel by (a) air, (b) boat and (c) train since May 2010. [75532]
Tim Loughton: Between May 2010 and September 2011 the Department for Education spent £192,510 on first-class rail journeys and there were no first-class journeys by sea or air during this period.
70% of the first-class rail tickets spend between May 2010 and September 2011 (17 months) was spent in the five months May to September 2010 (£134,670 of a total of £192,510)
First-class rail travel costs for the period May 2010 to March 2011 was £166,636 (10.5%) of the total £1,585,485 rail travel costs.
First-class rail travel costs for the period April to September 2011 (six months) was £25,874 (4.3%) of the total £595,115 rail travel costs.
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This information is a summary of transactions through the Department's Business Travel booking agent, Carlson Wagonlit Travel.
There are clear policy principles guiding this issue and staff are expected to travel standard-class except in a very few special circumstances, including access to facilities to accommodate disabilities or if it can be demonstrated that a first-class ticket is lower cost than standard class. The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), and other Ministers have a policy of travelling in standard class and the only first-class rail journey purchased since May 2010 by a member of this group was undertaken by the Secretary of State on 9 September 2010. On this occasion, the Secretary of State's Private Office was instructed by No. 10 officials to purchase a first-class ticket that ensured Mr Gove travelled with the Prime Minister first class to Norwich from London and return, in the same carriage, for security reasons.
Parliamentary Written Questions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of written questions for answer on a named day received a substantive answer within five working days in each of the last six months. [85059]
Tim Loughton: The information requested is shown in the following table.
| Month due | Proportion of named day PQs answered substantively within five working days (percentage) |
The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the session. Statistics relating to Government Departments' performance for the 2009/10 parliamentary session were previously provided to the Committee and are available on the Parliament website.
Disadvantaged
Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to support families adversely affected by the current economic climate. [83507]
Sarah Teather: The Department is providing significant support to families in the current economic climate. We are seeking to ensure that economic difficulties do not impair children's long-term life chances and that we support families to improve their circumstances.
In addition to the Government's support provided to families through the tax and benefit system, the Government have also allocated £2.2 billion (2011-12) and £2.3 billion (2012-13) in England to fund universal
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programmes and activities to all children, young people and families via the Early Intervention Grant.
The Department is extending the 15 hours per week of free early education currently offered to all three and four-year-olds, to 40% of two-year-olds by 2014-15. We are also reforming Sure Start to support better the needs of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged families. The Government have also committed to continuing to provide free school meals to the most disadvantaged families.
The Department is providing £12.4 million over 2011-13 to voluntary and community sector organisations to deliver family support services online and through telephone helplines. Services are available to all families who can access a range of free, professional support including relationship advice, services tailored specifically for fathers, supporting single parents and information about benefits. A survey of users of the family services in September 2011 reported that 74% of users were women and that 52% of users had a joint household income of less than £25,000. 23% of users had a joint household income of less than £15,000. The survey also reported that 21% of users were unemployed.
We have also introduced new grants for the most disadvantaged young people through the Fairness Premium and the 16-19 Bursary Fund.
Drugs: Health Education
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of specific (a) school and (b) community-based drug education programmes; [82902]
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that school and community-based drug education programmes are commissioned on the basis of evidence of effectiveness; [82903]
(3) what guidance he provides to local authorities on the commissioning of drug education programmes; [82904]
(4) whether he has considered introducing a minimum requirement for school-based drug education in Key Stages 2, 3 and 4. [82905]
Sarah Teather: The Drug Strategy, published in December 2010, recognised that all young people need high quality drug and alcohol education so they have a thorough knowledge of their effects and harms and have the skills and confidence to choose not to use drugs and alcohol. It said that schools have a clear role to play in preventing drug and alcohol misuse as part of their pastoral responsibilities to pupils. This will be supported by revised, simplified guidance for schools on preventing drug and alcohol misuse.
It is not the role of Government to dictate decisions that are best made locally by professionals, so the Department does not issue guidance to local authorities on the commissioning of drug education programmes.
Drug education is currently a statutory part of the national curriculum for science at key stages 2, 3 and 4. Pupils are taught about the effects on the body of tobacco, alcohol and other substances and how these relate to their personal health.
The Department is currently reviewing the national curriculum. It has already confirmed that English, mathematics, science and physical education will continue
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to be compulsory in future. DfE will consult next year on the proposed programmes of study for these four subjects. Proposals for the new scope of the national curriculum will be announced next year, following which there will be consultation before final decisions are made.
Drug education is also part of the non-statutory subject of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education at key stages 2, 3 and 4. Pupils are taught which drugs are illegal and the personal and social consequences of drug misuse for themselves and others.
PSHE education is currently under review. The aim is to identify the core body of knowledge that pupils need and to determine how we can support schools to improve the quality of all PSHE teaching. Research findings form part of the national and international evidence base for the review. The Department will consult on its proposals for PSHE education next year.
Education: Finance
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to publish details of the allocation of the extra £500 million in basic need funding he announced in July 2011. [83850]
Mr Gibb: The announcement was made on 3 November. This can be accessed by using the following link:
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/schoolscapital/a00199873/allocation-of-extra-500-million-to-address-the-shortaqe-in-pupil-places
GCSE: Religion
Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department has undertaken any research on the number of pupils choosing to take a GCSE in religious education following the decision not to include the subject in the English baccalaureate. [85678]
Mr Gibb: The Department has not undertaken research specifically on the number of pupils choosing to take a GCSE in religious education following the introduction of the English baccalaureate.
It has undertaken research on the impact of the English baccalaureate on subject choices, which was published on 31 August 2011. The survey indicated that 47% of pupils taking GCSEs in 2013 in the schools responding will be taking subjects that could lead to an English baccalaureate, compared with just 23% of GCSE-stage pupils entered in 2011. The research did not provide evidence which could be used to draw robust conclusions about the take-up of individual subjects not included in the scope of the English baccalaureate.
The research report can be viewed at:
https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/RSG/publicationDetail/Page1/DFE-RB150
Copies have already been placed in the House Libraries.
We will continue to monitor the impact of the English baccalaureate on GCSE subject choices, including through review of GCSE entries in 2012.
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Members: Correspondence
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to respond to the letter of 21 September 2011 from the hon. Member for South Northamptonshire. [85808]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 12 December 2011]:I replied on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), to my hon. Friend the Member for South Northamptonshire on 29 November.
Mothers: Young People
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of mothers aged 16 to 19 years were in education, employment or training on the latest date for which figures are available. [84860]
Tim Loughton: Latest estimates from the Labour Force Survey show that 28.6% of teenage mothers aged 16 to 19 were in education, employment or training in 2010. The proportion of teenage mothers who are in education, employment or training has remained fairly stable since 1998.
Music Education
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the national music plan (1) how many hours of music tuition per term children in (a) Lambeth, (b) Liverpool and (c) Norwich receive through the In Harmony Sistema England programme; and what estimate he has made of the number of hours of such tuition per term they will receive in each of the next three years; [85305]
(2) how many children in (a) Lambeth, (b) Liverpool and (c) Norwich receive music tuition through the In Harmony Sistema England programme; and what estimate he has made of the number of children who will receive such tuition in each of the next three years; [85306]
(3) how much funding will be provided per child through the In Harmony Sistema England programme in (a) Lambeth, (b) Liverpool and (c) Norwich. [85307]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 6 December 2011]: As set out in the national plan for music education, published on 25 November, In Harmony Sistema England is a specific and targeted part of the overall music education landscape. It is a social development programme offering children from deprived areas the opportunity to achieve their full potential through intensive music tuition and activity to raise aspirations and attainment.
This year, the three projects are operating as follows:
Lambeth: 418 children receive between 1.5 (in nursery) and 7.7 hours tuition each week. A further 50 children attend three to five hours of ensemble rehearsals per week.
Liverpool: 143 children from ages four to 13 years receive between three and seven hours tuition each week.
Norwich: 815 children receive at least one hour per week tuition in school from the In Harmony team, of whom 150 receive up to 8.5 hours of music tuition each week.
Each project also provides opportunities to attend holiday classes; perform in concerts; and attend concerts given by professional orchestras. In this financial year,
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each project will receive £150,000 from the Department for Education, which is supplemented by additional funding from a variety of sources. The total cost per child is not, therefore, available centrally.
With continuing funding from Government, augmented by matched funding from Arts Council for England, the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has announced his intention to expand the programme. We are working with the Arts Council to agree the detail of this expansion and will make further announcements in the new year. We are therefore not yet in a position to say how many children will receive music tuition through In Harmony Sistema England. However, the national plan set out an ambitious programme for wider music education for all children, in particular that, in exchange for DfE funding, music education hubs will ensure that all children learn to play an instrument, and to play in ensembles, and have the chance to progress.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to the national music plan, how much funding has been allocated per child for music education in each local authority area in each of the three years from April 2012. [85308]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 6 December 2011]: The funding allocations announced as part of the national plan for music education include a basic amount for every child, with an additional amount for pupils eligible for free school meals. This second factor is intended as a proxy for the additional costs of ensuring that all children receive a high quality music education. The following table shows the basic unit cost of music funding per pupil and the additional funding each area will receive per pupil who is eligible for free school meals.
| £ | |||
|
|
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
We shall place copies of individual allocations per pupil in each local authority area in the House Libraries.
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Postcodes
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department uses postcodes for purposes other than the postage of mail. [84194]
Tim Loughton: The Department for Education (DfE) uses postcodes to help uniquely identify suppliers on its finance and procurement system. Supplier records use postcodes to differentiate the supplier site name and this, together with a system of unique supplier numbers, is used to ensure payments are made to the correct supplier.
Primary Education: Peterborough
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to address the shortage of primary school places in Peterborough city council area; and if he will make a statement. [84928]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 6 December 2011]: In this financial year £1.3 billion has been made available to fund school places in England. Peterborough's share in 2011-12 is £1.9 million. Furthermore, in his Autumn Statement, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that an additional £600 million will be provided to support the provision of school places. We are currently determining how to allocate this funding.
Peterborough city council is responsible for managing the supply and demand for primary places; and ensuring a place for every child of statutory school age. We will continue to provide capital funding and monitor the situation with all local authorities to help ensure there are sufficient school places.
Schools
Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools of each (i) administrative type and (ii) religious designation in each area of the country he has visited since May 2010. [74726]
Tim Loughton: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has visited the following schools between May 2010 and 22 November 2011.
| Schools | Administrative type | Religious designation |
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| n/a = Not applicable. | ||
He has also visited two Further Education colleges.
Schools: Sports
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what long-term plans he has to promote a sustainable legacy for school sport post-2014; and if he will make a statement. [84835]
Tim Loughton: The Government believe that the best way to create a lasting legacy for school sport is to give schools the freedom to organise sport for themselves, rather than imposing a centralised Government blueprint. Schools are already required to provide physical education for all pupils and the National Curriculum review will strengthen the sport content of the subject. Additionally, the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has made funds available to enable secondary schools to release a PE teacher for one day a week to increase opportunities for competitive sport for young people. This funding is in place for the two academic years 2011/12 and 2012/13. After then we expect schools to have embedded this work into their core provision.
Alongside the significant investment from the Department of Health, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Sport England for the School Games, these measures will enable schools to provide more competitive sport as part of a rounded education.
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what legacy he expects school sports to receive from the London 2012 Olympics; and if he will make a statement. [84877]
Tim Loughton: The education legacy of the London 2012 Games will be that a generation is inspired by, and embraces, the Olympic and Paralympic Values. This programme will encourage schools and pupils: to make a positive contribution; to be more outward looking within their communities, nationally and internationally; and to adopt healthy and active lifestyles, whether by participation in sport or through other activities. With support from the Department for Education, LOCOG is delivering a new Get Set programme called ‘Plan your 2012’, which is designed to help schools to plan and deliver Get Set activity in the lead up to the Games.
Special Educational Needs: Stoke on Trent
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessments Ofsted has carried out of the specialist education service for deaf children in Stoke-on-Trent. [83272]
Tim Loughton: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM chief inspector, Miriam Rosen, has written to the hon. Member, and a copy of her response has been placed in the House Libraries.
Letter from Miriam Rosen, dated 29 November 2011:
Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
Services for disabled children and those who have special educational needs were last evaluated by Ofsted in Stoke-on-Trent's Joint Area Review in 2008. This review-found that support services for children who have sensory impairment were good.
The Joint Area Review programme ceased in 2008 and currently Ofsted does not specifically inspect support services for disabled children and those who have special educational needs.
Ofsted does, however, inspect safeguarding services and services for looked after children in local authorities. These inspections focus on children in need of, and children who may be in need of, protection - including where appropriate children with disabilities and those with special education needs. A report on these services in Stoke on Trent was published in August 2011 and found that children and young people with disabilities were supported well overall, with good and improving levels of consultation with parents and carers.
A copy of this reply has been sent to Tim Loughton MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
Special Educational Needs: Visual Impairment
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what support his Department provides for partially sighted and blind pupils in (a) primary and (b) secondary education. [85179]
Sarah Teather: It is for individual schools and local authorities to decide what support services are needed by partially sighted and blind pupils. There are clear statutory duties in this area.
Nationally, the Department for Education is funding Dyslexia Action and RNIB to make more than 650 texts available in electronic formats for blind pupils and those with significant difficulties reading. The Department also funds the National Sensory Impairment Partnership to support schools and local authorities to learn from each other and improve services.
Students: Finance
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his Department’s estimate is of the total cost to the public purse of learners aged 19 years claiming Care to Learn at the start of their course if his Care to Learn policy remained unchanged in 2014-15. [85359]
Mr Gibb: It is not possible accurately to predict the cost in 2014-15 of payments to students aged 19 at the start of their course under the Care to Learn scheme, were it to remain unchanged, as this depends on the level of take-up from teenage parents. In 2010/11, around half of all planned payments under the Care to Learn scheme were to young parents aged 19 and over at the start of their course. We expect the number of teenage parents in education or training to rise as we move towards the raising of the participation age (to 18 in 2015), and the budget for Care to Learn is due to rise, to £44.7 million in 2014-15.
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Teach First
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of graduates from each Russell Group university applied to the Teach First programme in each year since the programme's creation. [84264]
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Mr Gibb: The following table shows the number of graduates (by cohort) applying to the Teach First programme from Russell Group universities, since the programme was founded.
We are not able to present these figures as a proportion of the total graduates from each university as requested, because the Department for Education does not collect data on the numbers graduating from individual universities.
| University | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
Teachers: E-mail Database
Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how he obtained the private e-mail addresses of teachers who had not provided that information to his Department to e-mail them about changes to their pensions on 24 November 2011. [85363]
Mr Gibb: [holding answer 7 December 2011]: The e-mail addresses were obtained from the General Teaching Councils for England and Wales who shared the information under section 14 of the “Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998”.
The data were reconciled by the administrator of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme against e-mail addresses already held by them, on the Department’s behalf, and that database was subsequently updated.
The reconciled e-mail address database was used to communicate with teachers regarding the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
Teachers: Training
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what is the greatest number of times a teacher trainee has had to re-sit the compulsory (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills test required for Qualified Teacher Status in the last 10 years; [86260]
(2) how many teachers retook the compulsory (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills test required for Qualified Teacher Status (i) once, (ii) twice, (iii) three times, (iv) four times, (v) five times, (vi) six times, (vii) seven times, (viii) eight times, (ix) nine times and (x) 10 or more times in the last year for which figures are available; [86329]
(3) how many teacher trainees who achieved Qualified Teacher Status had to re-sit the compulsory (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills test, (i) once, (ii) twice, (iii) three times, (iv) four times and (v) five or more times in each of the last 10 years. [86330]
Mr Gibb: The greatest number of times an individual has re-sat skills tests required for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) over multiple years is unavailable from centrally held data. The available information includes only the greatest number of re-sits by an individual in a single year, which is the following:
(a) For literacy, 36 re-sits by a candidate in 2007/08
(b) For numeracy, 39 re-sits by a candidate in 2006/07
The number of teachers who re-sat the compulsory (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills test required for QTS (i) once, (ii) twice, (iii) three times, (iv) four times, (v) five times, (vi) six times, (vii) seven times, (viii) eight times, (ix) nine times and (x) 10 or more times in 2009/10 can be found in Table A. These figures represent the latest year for which data are available.
Centrally held data do not currently allow the identification of the number of re-sits taken by teacher trainees who have also achieved QTS.
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| Table A: Number of teachers who retook the required QTS skills tests in 2009/10 by the number of times they were retaken | ||
| Skills test | Literacy | Numeracy |
| Note: Figures rounded to the nearest 10. Source: TDA Specialist Website | ||
Third Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many letters he has received on funding for civil sector organisations within his Department's area of responsibility in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 in each month since 1 June 2010; and if he will make a statement. [73988]
Tim Loughton: The information is not held in the format requested. Identification of the number of letters received regarding funding for civil sector organisations would incur disproportionate costs.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Sudan: Armed Conflict
Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department is having with the Government of Sudan on fulfilling its international and domestic legal obligations to allow humanitarian access to civilians fleeing Sudanese armed forces aerial bombardment in Sudan and South Sudan. [86339]
Mr Bellingham: We are deeply concerned by the ongoing conflicts in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile State. During my visit to Sudan in July I made very clear to the Government of Sudan their responsibility to protect civilians and allow humanitarian access, and the British embassy in Khartoum takes every opportunity to reiterate these points. We condemn the Sudanese armed forces’ indiscriminate aerial bombardments. We continue to make clear to the Government of Sudan and the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Movement North that they must allow full humanitarian access to conflict affected areas immediately, and that there can be no military solution to their dispute. We hope that the Government of Sudan will take the opportunity of the planned visit of the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs later this month to resolve this issue in accordance with international norms and agreements.
Tony Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the prospects for continuing insecurity along the border between
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Sudan and South Sudan of violence and human rights abuses and aerial bombardment in Blue Nile State and Darfur; and what steps he plans to take as a result of that assessment. [86340]
Mr Bellingham: We are greatly concerned at the continued insecurity along the Sudan and South Sudan border, as well as the violence in Blue Nile State. We urge both Governments quickly to resume discussions on the area to be covered by a safe demilitarized border zone, which they have already agreed to in principle, so that a border monitoring mission is able to deploy quickly. We strongly condemn unilateral, destabilising actions by any party.
The situation in Darfur continues to be of serious concern. The signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur in July this year was a positive step, but violence continues. We now must see that agreement implemented, and are encouraging the Government of Sudan and the Liberation and Justice Movement, the signatories to the agreement, to move forward with implementation, and pressing other rebel movements to join the peace process.
Sudan: Politics and Government
Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the stability of the National Congress Party in Sudan of (a) recent uprisings in the Arab world, (b) Sudan's economic situation, (c) youth and opposition protest movements in Sudan and (d) the rising cost of food in Sudan. [86341]
Mr Bellingham: Some of the factors that have contributed to recent changes in the Arab world, such as a lack of freedom of democratic expression, are also found in Sudan. We encourage the Government of Sudan to undertake a process of inclusive reform based on dialogue with all parts of society. We equally urge groups currently engaged in armed conflict to seek political reform through peaceful negotiation.
Following the South's secession, loss of oil revenue has reduced the ability of the Government of Sudan to respond to increasingly severe economic pressures, including the high food prices which have led to some popular protests. The efforts of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel to resolve outstanding issues between Sudan and South Sudan have our full support.
Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to further the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan by (a) pursuing a political solution that involves devolution of power to all regions, (b) engaging with all opposition parties without duress and (c) other means. [86342]
Mr Bellingham:
We share the assessment of the African Union Peace and Security Council, as set out in its 30 November communiqué, that there must be a comprehensive approach to achieving peace, justice and reconciliation in Sudan, taking into account the longstanding governance problems in Sudan, especially the challenge of governing a diverse country in an equitable manner. We urge all parties in Sudan to seek
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such reform through peaceful negotiation and, in particular, the Government to open up a process of inclusive dialogue.
Syria: Politics and Government
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support he plans to provide to the Arab League in its efforts to bring an end to repression in Syria. [86076]
Alistair Burt: The British Government strongly support the Arab League in its efforts to increase the pressure on the Syrian regime to stop their violent repression.
We commend its leadership within the international community and its recent unprecedented decision to impose sanctions on the Syrian regime. The UK has been at the forefront of action in the EU to impose sanctions. These stand alongside those introduced by the Arab League.
We continue to support the Arab League's efforts and continue to work with partners in the international community to address the appalling situation in Syria.
Transport
Buses: Licensing
Alex Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans she has to bring forward
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proposals to change the powers of the traffic commissioners to make checks on applicants for passenger carrying vehicle licences; [85786]
(2) whether she plans to require passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) drivers to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check before a PCV licence can be granted; [85872]
(3) what steps she plans to take to check whether applicants for a passenger carrying vehicle licence have had a Hackney carriage or private hire licence refused or revoked by a local authority due to inappropriate behaviour. [85873]
Mike Penning: There are no plans to require passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) drivers to undergo a CRB check before a PCV licence can be granted, to alter the current application checking process or to change the existing powers of the traffic commissioners in respect of making checks for PCV licensing.
Capita
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many contracts her Department has awarded to Capita since May 2010; and what the (a) purpose, (b) monetary value and (c) net worth was of each such contract. [84744]
Norman Baker: The Department of Transport has awarded 13 contracts to Capita since May 2010.
Departmental Audit
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many internal audits have taken place (a) in her Department and (b) in the non-departmental bodies for which her Department is responsible in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement. [82537]
Norman Baker: The following table records the number of internal audits completed during the period 1 November 2010 to 31 October 2011 for the Department for Transport, its executive agencies, trading funds and non-departmental public bodies.
| Internal audit reports by entity, 1 November 2010 to 31 October 2011 | |
| Entity | Total |
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| (1) Includes internal audits conducted in the British Transport Police Force and the Authority. (2) The status of HS2 Ltd changed during 2010-11, which included a new requirement for internal audit services. Consequently, a full cycle of audit activity was not conducted for 2010-11. (3) RFA ceased to be a separate entity on 31 March 2011. Consequently, there is no audit activity in 2011-12. Note: The table covers internal audit activity only, and does not extend to compliance audits undertaken by quality assurance teams deployed in a number of agencies. | |
Food Labelling
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether food and catering services in (a) her Department and (b) public bodies for which she is responsible plan to implement calorie labelling on menus and display boards. [85862]
Norman Baker: Within the Department for Transport on-site catering facilities are only available at the Department's headquarters building, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea and at the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) in Bedford. There are no specific plans to add calorie labelling to menus or display boards at the Department’s headquarters building or at the DVLA.
The Driving Standards Agency's facilities management contractor, Interserve, are currently working with their suppliers to calculate the nutritional value of all foods. This will be presented on menus and display boards, where practicable, by mid 2012.
The Department cannot identify the nutritional value of food purchased under other arrangements including as part of external room hire or conference packages.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the food and catering services in (a) her Department and (b) public bodies for which she is responsible are taking to ensure the countries of origin of foods are labelled on its menus and display boards. [85863]
Norman Baker: Within the Department for Transport on-site catering facilities are available only at the Department's headquarters building, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in Swansea and at the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) in Bedford. There are no specific plans to add country of origin information to menus or display boards at the Department’s headquarters building or at the DVLA.
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The Driving Standards Agency's facilities management contractor, Interserve, does not currently include the requested information on menus and display boards; however they are working with their supplier to achieve this, where practicable, by mid-2012.
The Department cannot identify the country of origin of food purchased under other arrangements including as part of external room hire or conference packages.
Procurement
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of employing civil servants to undertake procurement for her Department in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; and what estimate she has made of the cost of (i) employing civil servants and (ii) engaging consultants to undertake procurement for her Department in 2011-12. [73187]
Norman Baker: The cost of employing civil servants to undertake procurement for my Department and its Agencies was as follows:
|
|
£ million |
The estimated cost of (i) employing civil servants and (ii) engaging consultants to undertake procurement for my Department and its Agencies in 2011-12 is:
(i) £8.20 million
(ii) £3.17 million
It should be noted that the figures for 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 do not include consultancy spend, and so are not comparable with the combined 2011-12 figures.
Departmental Publications
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) leaflets, (b) posters and (c) reports her Department has published since May 2010; how much each cost; and which company (i) published and (ii) designed each. [83004]
Norman Baker: The only data that are readily available from the central department DFT (c) is in relation to the number of different items produced in the period. This is broken down by: (a) leaflets = 100 (b) posters = 18 (c) reports = 33. However, I regret to say that further information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department is taking to ensure social value is included when services are commissioned by (a) her Department and (b) its public bodies; and if she will make a statement. [85664]
Norman Baker:
The Department aims to take into account social value considerations during procurement if and where they are relevant to the requirement, where consideration is in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations and the European Treaty Principles of Equality
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of Treatment, Transparency and Freedom of Movement and where they can be applied in a proportionate, non-discriminatory manner. Socio-economic considerations are appropriately reviewed in the pre-procurement phase when making project investment decisions.
The growth review considered the role of social value in contract award criteria. The review confirmed that value for money remained the overriding factor when awarding public sector contracts. Value for money assessments could and should include relevant socio-economic considerations where it was appropriate in delivering on certain contracts.
Risk Assessment
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what risk registers are held by the public bodies for which her Department is responsible; and if she will make a statement. [85711]
Norman Baker: The public bodies for which the Department for Transport is responsible all hold organisational risk registers. The only exception is the Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC), which is a relatively small non-departmental public body, with a primarily advisory role. The Department does however hold an information management risk register for DPTAC.
Departmental Secondment
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what secondments there have been to her Department from (a) industry and (b) the third sector since May 2010; what the (i) purpose and (ii) duration is of each secondment; and whether each secondment was to a policy development role. [86140]
Norman Baker: For the central Department our records show that four people entered the Department on secondment since May 2010. Highways Agency Records show one person entered the agency on secondment since May 2010. Owing to the small number of individuals involved we are unable to provide further information as individuals could be identified.
Our Agencies—Driving Standards Agency, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Government Car and Despatch Agency, Vehicle Certification Agency and Vehicle and Operator Service Agency—do not have any secondments, and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency does not hold central records, so this information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
Parliamentary Written Questions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of questions for ordinary written answer received a substantive response within (a) 10, (b) 20, (c) 30 and (d) more than 30 sitting days in the 2010-12 session to date. [85925]
Norman Baker:
So far in the 2010-12 Session, Department for Transport Ministers have answered 3,031 ordinary written questions within 10 sitting days of
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tabling, 513 within 11 to 20 sitting days, none within 21 to 30 sitting days, and 29 more than 30 sitting days after tabling.
The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide this information to the committee at the end of the session. Statistics relating to Government Department's performance for the 2009-10 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the committee and are available on the Parliament website.
Electric Vehicles
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding her Department provides to assist the development of electric cars. [86242]
Norman Baker: The Government have made provision of over £400 million for measures to promote the uptake of ultra-low carbon vehicle technologies, including electric cars. These measures include support for consumer incentives, development of recharging infrastructure, and a programme of research, development and demonstration projects.
EU Fuel Quality Directive
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion of 28 November 2011, Official Report, column 649W, on EU fuel quality directive, what meetings Ministers in her Department had with non-governmental organisations to discuss the EU fuel quality directive. [86093]
Norman Baker: Department for Transport Ministers have had numerous meetings with a variety of national and international environmental and social non-governmental organisations to discuss the fuel quality directive, including:
Greenpeace;
Action Aid;
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds;
World Wide Fund for Nature; and
Friends of the Earth.
Ministers and officials will continue to meet with non-governmental organisations on this issue as necessary.
High Speed 2 Railway Line: Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her policy is on constructing a tunnel through the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as part of her proposed High Speed 2 scheme. [85767]
Justine Greening: No decisions have been taken yet. As I said in my statement, I have concluded that I should allow myself until early in 2012 to announce my decision in order to ensure this is based on careful consideration of all relevant factors.
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Metal Theft
David Rutley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with Ministerial colleagues on reducing metal theft from (a) railways and (b) motorways. [81561]
Norman Baker: I have had a number of discussions with ministerial colleagues from the Home Office and other Departments about metal theft and options for tackling this. These discussions have covered the impact of theft on railways, motorways, and other transport modes, as well as other sectors of the economy.
We are examining as a matter of urgency not only whether there are additional steps we can take within existing legislation to crack down on theft, but also whether there may be a case for some proportionate additional regulation of the scrap metal industry, where much of the stolen material currently ends up.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the right hon. Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), in his autumn statement on 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, announced that we will invest £5 million to set up a nationwide taskforce to target metal thieves and scrap metal dealers who illegally trade in stolen metal.
Motor Vehicles: Fuels
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department is taking to encourage increased fuel efficiency in new cars. [86245]
Norman Baker: The Government's Carbon Plan was published on 1 December 2011 and sets out our overall strategy for reducing carbon emissions, including in the transport sector where increased fuel efficiency of new cars (and vans) is a major policy focus. The Carbon Plan is available here:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/publications/basket.aspx?filetype=4&filepath=11%2ftackling-climate-change%2fcarbon-plan%2f3702-the-carbon-plan-delivering-our-low-carbon-future.pdf#basket
The main policy levers for delivering improvements to new car efficiency are the EU new car CO2 regulation; consumer information, including the new car fuel efficiency label; and fiscal levers which, while primarily aimed at securing the public finances, can help to reduce emissions. In addition, the uptake of Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs) will over time reduce the overall dependence of the fleet on fossil fuels and cut carbon emissions. As set out in the Carbon Plan in detail, Government have made provision for over £400 million support for ULEV uptake, covering consumer incentives, support for charging infrastructure trials and Research, Development and Demonstration.
Network Rail
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to her Department's Structural Reform Monthly Implementation Plan, what progress she has made on developing and publishing a sustainable railway strategy including reform of Network Rail. [86576]
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Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement on this subject, laid before the House on 15 November 2011, Official Report, column 42WS.
Network Rail: Standards
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress Ministers in her Department have made on making Network Rail more accountable to its customers. [85801]
Mrs Villiers: The Government have a commitment to make Network Rail properly accountable to its customers.
On 15 November the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), announced her intention to publish early next year a Command Paper that sets out detailed proposals to deliver a sustainable and better value railway, including proposals affecting Network Rail.
Office of Rail Regulation
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to section 30 of the Coalition Agreement, what progress she has made in turning the Office of Rail Regulation into a powerful passenger champion. [85798]
Mrs Villiers: The Government and the Office of Rail Regulation will shortly consult on the scope to transfer and case for transferring certain powers and functions relating to the protection of passenger interests from the Department for Transport to the regulator.
Railway Stations
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway stations she and her predecessor visited on departmental business in the last 12 months. [82954]
Norman Baker: The Secretary of State for Transport, the right hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening), and ministerial colleagues visit railway stations on a regular basis, whether as a specific visit or incidentally as part of ministerial travel.
Railways: Buckinghamshire
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects work on the east-west rail link between Oxford and Milton Keynes to (a) begin and (b) be completed. [85766]
Mrs Villiers: Work on the east-west rail link requires prior agreement of a appropriate local contribution to the cost of the project and confirmation of a satisfactory business case. If this is concluded in July 2012 as currently envisaged, the East West Rail Consortium proposes planning work to commence immediately, with physical work commencing in 2015 or earlier, and completion in 2017.
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Railways: Electrification
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement that the Transpennine Express line will be electrified between Manchester and Leeds, whether her Department plans to request Network Rail to draw up a business case for the further electrification of that railway service between Middlesbrough station and the East Coast Main Line at Northallerton. [86368]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 12 December 2011]: I intend to ask Network Rail to establish the cost and whether there is a business case for electrification of the line between Northallerton and Middlesbrough.
Railways: Fares
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to section 30 of the coalition agreement on rail pricing, what steps her Department has taken in respect of its commitment to fair pricing for rail travel. [85825]
Mrs Villiers: This Government recognise the serious concern about rail fares—that is why we secured the funding to keep the increase in average regulated rail fares to an average of RPI+1% for 2012.
Railways: Mobile Phones
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will make it a condition of any new rail franchises that train operators must cooperate with mobile telephone operators to ensure improved mobile network coverage on trains. [84284]
Mrs Villiers: Bidders for new franchises will be expected to consider whether wi-fi and specific mobile telephone service provision should be continued or introduced on fleets or routes.
Railways: Standards
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will consider inserting clauses into rail franchise agreements requiring companies to communicate effectively with passengers during times of disruption. [85800]
Mrs Villiers: Passengers should be able to expect consistently reliable and up-to-date information from train operating companies so that they can sensibly plan and make their journeys.
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has recently set out its intention to underpin the rail industry's initiatives for providing appropriate, accurate and timely information for passengers during disruption.
Further details can be found at:
http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.10724
We are supportive of this approach to the issue.
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Rescue Services
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the nature is of the activity to be carried out at coastguard coastal operations hubs; and how many new jobs she expects to be created at such hubs. [86363]
Mike Penning [holding answer 12 December 2011]: A coastguard coastal operations hub will be located in each of the 18 coastal areas and will be the focus for the management of the volunteer coastguard rescue teams (CRTs) in that area. The hub will house a coastal operations team leader who will be responsible for, and lead, a team of four or five coastal safety officers who will be stationed throughout the area. Each coastal safety officer will be responsible for the management and training of four to five volunteer CRTs.
In some areas it may be practicable to house one or more of the coastal safety officers and a volunteer CRT at the hub.
The following table sets out the existing and proposed coastal operations arrangement. The increase in posts will be 25, spread across the 18 hubs.
| Coastal operations | |
|
|
Number |
The figures do not include volunteers who make up the CRTs.
Rescue Services: Liverpool
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what coastguard operation activities she expects to be continued by the Maritime Coastguard Agency at its Liverpool site. [86362]
Mike Penning [holding answer 12 December 2011]: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency site at Liverpool will continue to provide a maritime and coastal emergency response and co-ordination function until the closure of the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre. The volunteer coastguard rescue team; counter-pollution and salvage; survey and inspection; and the associated administrative functions currently carried out at the site will continue when the rescue co-ordination function ends.
In accordance with the ministerial announcement made on 22 November 2011, it is intended to establish one of the 18 coastal operations hubs at the Liverpool site.
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Rescue Services: Wales
Mr Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes there have been in staffing levels at each coastguard station in Wales since May 2010. [86303]
Mike Penning: The following table shows the difference in full-time equivalent (FTE) employed at each Welsh Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) in May 2010 and October 2011.
| FTE | |||
| Organisation | 1 May 2010 | 31 October 2011 | Change |
Road Traffic: Olympic Games 2012
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to her Department's Structural Reform Monthly Implementation Plan, what progress has been made on providing powers for improved traffic management procedures during the London 2012 Olympics. [86583]
Norman Baker: The Department's business plan contains a commitment to provide powers through DCMS's Olympics Bill for improved traffic management procedures during the Olympics by December 2011. I am pleased to confirm that the Bill has now completed its parliamentary stages, and will receive Royal Assent before the House rises for the Christmas recess. The relevant provisions will come into force two months later.
Roadworks
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to her Department's Structural Reform Monthly Implementation Plan, for what reason work on reforming management of roadworks to increase maximum penalty charges for works which overrun their agreed period has not been completed. [86577]
Norman Baker: We inherited plans to raise overrun charges to £25,000 per day from the previous Government. This Government are committed to reducing the burden of regulation on business, and we are examining the proposals to ensure they are proportionate and comply with better regulation principles. I expect to make an announcement early in the new year.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to her Department's Structural Reform Monthly Implementation Plan, what progress she has made on reforming management of roadworks to finalise regulations enabling new lane rental schemes. [86582]
Norman Baker: Our consultation on draft regulations and guidance about lane rental closed on 31 October and we are now working to finalise the proposals. I expect to make an announcement in the new year.
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Swanland: North Wales
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress the Marine Accident Investigation Branch has made on its investigation into the sinking of the Swanland near the North Wales coast; and when she expects its report to be published. [86092]
Mike Penning: Marine Accident Investigation Branch inspectors have been making good progress with their investigation of this tragic accident which has claimed six lives. They have interviewed the two survivors, as well as the master of a nearby ship that answered the mayday call. A number of interviews have also been conducted with involved parties including the coastguard, the search and rescue units, the ship's agent, and the local police, and these are ongoing. Excellent co-operation has also been received from representatives of the Cook Islands, which is the vessel's flag state.
The wreck of the vessel has been located and an underwater survey using remotely-operated vehicles will be conducted as soon as practicable.
MAIB's report is expected to be published in summer 2012.