Dog Wardens
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dog wardens were employed in each of the last five years. [80999]
Mr Paice: This information is not held centrally by DEFRA.
Fisheries: Accidents
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information her Department holds on the number of serious accidents and fatalities reported in the commercial fishing sector in each of the last three years. [85153]
Mike Penning: I have been asked to reply.
14 Dec 2011 : Column 789W
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch of the Department for Transport is responsible for receiving reports of accidents involving registered fishing vessels and their crews.
For the three years for which complete data are available, the figures are:
|
|
Injuries | Fatalities | Accidents to vessels |
Flood Control
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the Pitt review working group to report on the potential of natural flood management. [86513]
Richard Benyon: Sir Michael Pitt's recommendation was that DEFRA, the Environment Agency and Natural England should work with partners to establish a programme through Catchment Flood Management Plans and Shoreline Management Plans to achieve greater working with natural processes. In response, the Environment Agency and DEFRA established a working group to improve the understanding of natural processes in flood and coastal erosion risk management. In March 2010, this working group published guidance for practitioners which includes examples of good practice. This is available on the Environment Agency's website at:
http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/PDF/GEHO0310BSFI-E-E.pdf
A final report, which includes a summary of progress to date and suggestions of where further work would be beneficial, will be published at the end of March 2012.
Food: Waste
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to reduce levels of household food waste. [86379]
Mr Paice: The Government are providing advice to consumers through WRAP’s “Love Food Hate Waste” campaign, working with the industry to improve products and practices that help households waste less through the Courtauld Commitment, and developing the evidence base on food waste causes and quantities.
In September, DEFRA published guidance on food date markings. This will help manufacturers apply clearer and consistent dates, making it easier for consumers to understand the meaning of the markings, and therefore reducing food waste.
On 15 November, WRAP announced a 1.1 million tonne, or 13%, reduction in annual UK household food waste since 2006.
Mining
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many mines were in use in England in 2010; and what minerals were quarried from each such mine. [86600]
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Robert Neill: I have been asked to reply.
A detailed list of what minerals were extracted by which quarries and mines may be found in the British Geological Survey's Directory of Mines and Quarries 2010 which can be accessed at:
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/mines/dmq.html
The directory indicates that there were over 1,250 active mines and quarries in England in 2010 (excluding rail heads and wharves), extracting 22 types of mineral. The minerals extracted included coal, sand and gravel, limestone, peat, clay and shale, sandstone, chalk, slate, silica sand, china clay and igneous and metamorphic rock.
Sustainable Development Commission: Finance
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the decision to withdraw funding to the Sustainable Development Commission was reported to the European Commission under the EU Sustainable Development Strategy. [84043]
Mr Paice: The decision to withdraw funding from the Sustainable Development Commission was reported at EU level through the European Sustainable Development Network, which brings together key sustainable development (SD) representatives from member states.
Sustainable Development: EU Action
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made in implementing the EU Sustainable Development Strategy. [84042]
Mr Paice: In February this year, the Government announced their vision for mainstreaming sustainable development (SD) and ensuring that our policies take account of social, environmental and economic factors. Through this package we lead by example to reduce the impact of the Government estate on the environment and ensure that we procure more efficient and sustainable products. We engage with suppliers to understand and reduce the impacts of supply chains, while providing information and support for businesses and communities to do the same.
The UK is making good progress in developing and implementing policies that align with the objectives of the EU SD Strategy, and demonstrate the Government's commitment to a sustainable future.
In June, DEFRA published the Natural Environment White Paper, which recognised that a healthy, properly functioning natural environment is the foundation of sustained economic growth, prospering communities and personal wellbeing. The White Paper sets out an ambitious programme of action covering the next 50 years and ensures that the value of nature is properly taken into account when developing policies.
At an international level, DEFRA is leading on preparations for the Rio+20 conference on SD in 2012, working with our EU partners to ensure ambitious and action-focused outcomes are achieved next year. The Government will continue to work closely with other countries to ensure that SD remains at the top of the EU and international agenda.
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Timber: EU Law
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has established a timetable for the passage of her proposed legislation to implement the provisions of the EU Illegal Timber (Due Diligence) Regulation in the UK. [85769]
Mr Paice: The detailed implementing regulations to prevent the first placing of illegally logged timber on the EU market need to be agreed by June 2012. Once agreed, the necessary secondary legislation will be put in place to implement the regulation in the UK. Under its provisions, the EU Timber Regulation must be implemented by 3 March 2013.
Trees: Disease Control
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of evidence that trees damaged by grey squirrels are particularly prone to infection by phytopthora ramorum and that grey squirrels are carrying disease spores from tree to tree; and what steps her Department is taking in response to that evidence. [85870]
Mr Paice: The Forestry Commission, which has statutory responsibility for the protection of forest trees and timber, carries out aerial surveys to identify tree dieback indicating possible Phytophthora infection. Follow up work has determined that over 300 of the sites surveyed had squirrel damage but found no evidence to suggest that there is a link between this damage and Phytophthora infection. On only 3.5% of sites surveyed are there suggestions of the co-occurrence of squirrel damage and Phytophthora infection, which does not demonstrate cause and effect.
Treasury
Freight: Tees Valley
Helen Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse is of constructing and developing the Tees Multimodal Bio-Freight Terminal. [85345]
Mr Prisk: I have been asked to reply.
A conditional award has been made to developing the Tees Multimodal Bio-Freight Terminal project in round 1 of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF). The final amount of public RGF funding for this project will be released when the company completes its due diligence and receive a final grant offer letter, which is expected by the end of December.
Income Tax: Leicester
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many residents in Leicester South constituency paid income tax at the 50 pence rate in the latest period for which figures are available. [86473]
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Mr Gauke: An estimated 308,000 taxpayers are liable to Income tax at the 50% additional rate in the United Kingdom in 2011-12. In the East Midlands, which contains the Leicester South constituency the estimate is 12,000. These and estimates for other UK Government office regions are published on the HMRC website in tables 2.1 and 2.2, which are available at the following addresses;
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2-1.pdf
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_tax/table2-2.pdf
Reliable estimates are not available at the parliamentary constituency level, due to greater uncertainties in projections for small geographical areas and small sample sizes.
These estimates are based on the 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2011 economic and fiscal outlook.
Estimates of income and tax by parliamentary constituency for 2007-08 and preceding years are available in table 3.1 5:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu-by-year.htm
Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services
Steve Brine: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Shipley of 6 July 2010, Official Report, column 513W, on Revenue and Customs: telephone numbers, what the terms of reference are of his Department's review of its telephone numbering strategy; and if he will make a statement. [86195]
Mr Gauke: HMRC initiated an internal and informal review of its numbering strategy for customer-facing helplines in January 2010 with the twin objectives of:
reducing the cost to vulnerable customers of calling HMRC, where that can be delivered at an appropriate balance with HMRC costs and business performance;
improving the sustainability of it's Contact Centre business, by anticipating and mitigating future business costs associated with its numbering strategy.
The Government subsequently accepted the recommendations of the Treasury Sub-Committee in its 16th report “Administration and effectiveness of HM revenue and Customs” (HC731), published on 30 July 2011, that HMRC investigates alternatives to 0845 numbers, including 0345 and freephone numbers, as part of the process of agreeing its next telephony (due in June 2013) and that as an interim measure the Department should examine whether a non-0845 number could be provided for tax credit claimants.
The full text of the Government response was published by the Committee on 26 October 2011 (HC1533) and is available at
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmtreasy/1533/153303.htm
Additionally, and further to my answer to the hon. Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) of 19 October 2011, Official Report, column 967W, I can now confirm that HMRC introduced a new 0345 prefixed number for its tax credit helpline on 8 December 2012.
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Working Tax Credit: Females
Jessica Morden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people who receive working tax credit in Wales; and what proportion of these are female. [86651]
Mr Gauke: The following table shows the gender breakdown of households receiving working tax credit in Wales:
| Number of in-work households benefiting from working tax credit in Wales, by gender | |
|
|
Thousand |
Prime Minister
Ministers: Conduct
Mr Bone: To ask the Prime Minister whether he has considered bringing forward proposals to change the Ministerial Code in respect of the announcement of new Government policy. [86419]
The Prime Minister: The Ministerial Code states that when Parliament is in Session the most important announcements of Government policy should be made, in the first instance, in Parliament.
Justice
Crimes of Violence: Ex-servicemen
Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what information his Department holds on the number of former armed service personnel who were convicted of violent offences in each year since 1997. [86535]
Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice court proceedings database holds information on offences provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought but not all the circumstances of each case. It is not possible to identify from this centrally held court proceedings information whether a defendant was formerly a member of Her Majesty's armed forces.
However, in January 2010 the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) published the initial results of a joint study to estimate how many prisoners in England and Wales had been in the regular armed forces. In September 2010 a more detailed report was published.
These reports were based on a one-off study, matching MOJ prison population and MOD veterans data to estimate the number of veterans in prison as at 6 November 2009. A similar one-off study was carried out to estimate the number of veterans under Probation Service supervision, with results published on 16 March 2011; the scope of this study did not include estimating the number of court reports relating to former armed service personnel.
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All of these reports can be found under the Veterans section of the Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) website:
http://www.dasa.mod.uk//applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=66&pubType=3
Departmental Pay
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department records the names of private companies to which former senior managers in Pay Band D upwards in his Department have moved. [86605]
Mr Blunt: The Business Appointment Rules, set out in the Civil Service Management Code, place requirements on all serving civil servants, and on former civil servants for two years after their last day of service, who intend to take an outside appointment or employment after leaving the civil service. Before accepting any new appointment or employment, they must consider whether the rules require them to apply for approval. The circumstances are set out in the Civil Service Management Code and the level of approval required differs according to seniority.
All applications received are recorded, including the name of the company or organisation intending to make the appointment.
Prisoners: Repatriation
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) whether EU citizens serving custodial sentences in prisons in England and Wales before the commencement of the EU Prisoner Transfer Agreement will be liable for repatriation to their country of origin; [84291]
(2) which countries will be ready for the transfer of prisoners under the EU Prisoner Transfer Agreement. [84292]
Mr Blunt: Council Framework Decision 2008/909/JHA, which will govern the transfer of prisoners between member states of the European Union, enters into force from 5 December. Transitional arrangements set out in the Framework Decision enable member states to enter a declaration on its application. We understand that most member states will be applying the Framework Decision only to those prisoners sentenced after the implementation date of 5 December 2011.
An official list of those member states ready to implement the Framework Decision is not yet available. Our latest information indicates that the majority of member states will implement the Framework Decision in 2012/13 as their implementing legislation is enacted.
Reoffenders
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer of 9 November 2011, Official Report, column 394W, on reoffenders, what plans he has to compare reoffending rates for offenders involved in the Intensive Alternative to Custody pilots with reoffending rates for similar offenders receiving custodial sentences of less than 12 months. [86628]
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Mr Blunt: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 9 November 2011, Official Report, column 394W and the answer given today to PQ 86485. The MOJ is still looking at the feasibility of conducting an evaluation of the IAC pilots to compare reoffending rates for IAC offenders with reoffending rates for similar offenders receiving custodial sentences of less than 12 months.
Reoffenders: Alternatives to Prosecution
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of offenders who have completed intensive alternative to custody pilots subsequently re-offended in the latest period for which figures are available. [86485]
Mr Blunt: The MOJ is currently looking at the feasibility of conducting an outcome evaluation of the IAC pilots which would compare reoffending rates for IAC offenders with reoffending rates for similar offenders receiving custodial sentences of less than 12 months.
In July 2011, the MOJ published a short report with the main findings from a range of research exploring the learning from the Intensive Alternatives to Custody (IAC) pilot schemes.
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/research-and-analysis/moj/intensive-alternatives-custody.htm
The process evaluations covering the seven IAC pilot sites are currently being concluded and will be published in due course.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Uzbekistan on the withdrawal of UK military equipment from Afghanistan via rail; and if he will make a statement. [85226]
Mr Philip Hammond: There has been no ministerial-level engagement with the Uzbek authorities on the subject of the withdrawal of UK military equipment from Afghanistan by rail.
The highest level engagement by Ministry of Defence officials has been by the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Logistic Operations), the two-star military officer responsible for the support of UK forces in Afghanistan and the efficient and cost-effective draw-down of those forces. As part of a wider programme of liaison with countries in central Asia, the present and previous incumbents of that post have visited Uzbekistan three times, in August 2010, March 2011 and November 2011, to conduct discussions with Uzbek officials, including the Defence Minister. These discussions have included the role that Uzbekistan might play in the draw-down of UK forces in Afghanistan but to date no decisions have been taken on the way forward.
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he expects the first upgraded Warrior to be fully operational; [85428]
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(2) when he expects the Warrior upgrade to be completed. [85429]
Peter Luff: Delivery of vehicles upgraded through the Warrior Capability Sustainment programme will commence in 2018. Following a period of training and integration, an armoured infantry company equipped with the upgraded Warriors is planned to be fully operational by 2020. Delivery of all of the upgraded vehicles is currently planned to be completed in 2022.
Defence: Procurement
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many sole-sourced procurement contracts have been awarded in the last 10 years; which companies were invited to tender; where those companies are based; and what the value of the contract was; [70848]
(2) how many sole-sourced procurement contracts went over budget in each of the last 10 years; and by how much each such contract went over budget; [70850]
(3) what the cost to the public purse was of sole- sourced contracts that went over budget in each of the last 10 years shown as a proportion of his Department’s (a) procurement budget and (b) budget. [70851]
Peter Luff: An estimated 59,700 new sole-source contracts were awarded between financial years 2001-02 and 2011-12, with a total estimated value of £53.6 billion. The other information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The detailed regulations governing the Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) sole-source procurement arrangements are currently being reviewed by the MOD, and the noble Lord Currie of Marylebone has recently published his independent review of these arrangements. The conclusions, which are currently under consideration, include as a key requirement improved collection and analysis of data and financial information on all our sole-source contracts. This will ensure that the MOD is better placed to respond to such requests in the future.
The National Audit Office (NAO) undertakes an annual review of major Defence equipment projects, a proportion of which are sole-source. As an example, the NAO’s 2010 Major Projects Report included analysis of a number of sole-source contracts—Type 45 destroyer, Queen Elizabeth Class carrier and Lynx Wildcat helicopter. The NAO reports are available on its external website at:
http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/1011/major_projects_report_2010.aspx
Official Hospitality
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what receptions and events have been hosted by his Department since May 2010, including those sponsored by a third party. [84174]
Mr Robathan: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. We do not keep a central record of all receptions and events hosted by the Ministry of Defence (MOD), but they may include engagement with foreign Governments, open days, air shows, military tattoos and commemorative occasions.
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Our current rules are that the offering of hospitality at any event funded by the MOD will be authorised only in exceptional cases.
Risk Assessment
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what risk registers are held by the public bodies for which his Department is responsible; and if he will make a statement. [85702]
Mr Robathan: The following Ministry of Defence (MOD) public bodies keep risk registers relating to the management and mitigation of risk in delivering their business:
Defence Support Group (trading fund)
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (trading fund)
National Army Museum (executive non-departmental public body)
Oil and Pipelines Agency (public corporation)
Royal Air Force Museum (executive non-departmental public body)
UK Hydrographic Office (trading fund).
In addition, the National Museum of the Royal Navy (an executive non-departmental public body) is planning to introduce a risk register.
The MOD operates a risk management process that ensures risks are identified, assessed, controlled and (when necessary) escalated up the command chain for information or mitigating action.
Most of our public bodies have no management need for a formal risk register as their function is principally to act as advisory bodies with risk being managed centrally in the Department.
Falkland Islands
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what recent assessment he has made of the level of potential military threat to British sovereignty over the Falklands Islands; what military resources the UK has available to defend the Islands at short notice; what substitute sources of deployable airpower remain in the absence of aircraft carriers; and if he will make a statement; [86210]
(2) what arrangements are in place to defend (a) UK military assets on the Falkland Islands from attack from (i) airborne, (ii) special and (ii) naval forces and (b) the air link to the Falklands Islands from potential surface-to-air threats from ships operating in international waters. [86211]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 12 December 2011]: The Ministry of Defence undertakes regular assessments of potential military threats to the Falkland Islands to ensure that we retain appropriate levels of defensive capabilities to address any such threats.
A range of military assets are deployed in defence of the Falkland Islands, including air defence aircraft, naval vessels and ground forces. These assets are capable of defending themselves and ensuring the security and territorial integrity of the Islands and its population. We also retain the ability to reinforce these assets with additional deployed forces, including air power, if required.
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ISTAR
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what ISTAR will be created by his Department's Solomon programme; [86280]
(2) what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the Solomon programme. [86281]
Peter Luff: The Solomon programme is designed to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, quality and timeliness of intelligence delivered to the commander. Capabilities include improved intelligence requirements management, tasking of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance assets, provision of imagery and electronic surveillance capabilities, improved connections between deployed and fixed intelligence communities, and enhanced interoperability with allies.
Approved costs to date are £8 million for programme support over four years and some £40 million for a number of project activities. Details on the estimated total expenditure will not be known until each project within the Solomon programme reaches its main investment decision.
Lynx Helicopters
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Lynx light attack helicopters he plans to convert from the battlefield reconnaissance version; and what the conversion cost will be for each such helicopter. [85589]
Peter Luff: We are planning to increase the number of Wildcat helicopters being purchased from 62 to 66. The fleet will consist of three types: 28 Helicopter Maritime Attack, 30 Army Helicopter (AH), and eight Light Assault Helicopter (LAH). Four of the LAH aircraft were previously to have been AH type. The costs of conversion are still under consideration.
RAF Wittering
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the use of RAF Wittering; and if he will make a statement. [86589]
Nick Harvey: RAF Wittering has a continued future as a RAF station hosting a range of units including the RAF's expeditionary engineering and logistics. Additionally, to maximise the use of resources, Headquarters 12 (Air Support) Engineer Group will relocate to RAF Wittering from Waterbeach Barracks during the summer of 2013.
Rescue Services
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) rotary and (b) fixed-wing assets are tasked to combat search and rescue. [85587]
Peter Luff:
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not currently dedicate rotary or fixed-wing assets to the combat search and rescue role. Were a requirement to generate such a standing commitment be identified the MOD would allocate assets from its broad spectrum of capabilities according to the nature of the environment within which they were required to operate; this could be carried out by Merlin or Chinook helicopters. A
14 Dec 2011 : Column 799W
combat recovery capability is in place in Afghanistan through the use of Chinook helicopters by the medical emergency response team.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many and which types of (a) rotary wing and (b) fixed-wing aircraft were deployed in the search and rescue operation for the Swanland; and if he will make a statement; [86505]
(2) whether aircraft deployed in the search and rescue operation for the Swanland were carrying EOSDS facilities; whether EOSDS was used during the operation; and if he will make a statement. [86506]
Nick Harvey: Three RAF and one Royal Navy Sea King Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters were deployed in the search and rescue operation for the Swanland, during which both military and civilian assets were used. No RAF or Royal Navy fixed-wing aircraft were involved.
All four Sea King helicopters were equipped with infra-red turrets which were used during the operation as required. This provided an Electro-Optical Surveillance and Detection System (EOSDS) capability which transmits TV and infra-red video to the crew.
Energy and Climate Change
Boilers: Government Assistance
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in (a) Carmarthenshire and (b) Pembrokeshire replaced a boiler under the boiler scrappage scheme. [85608]
Gregory Barker: No boilers were installed in Wales under the English boiler scrappage scheme, which was administered by DECC. The Department holds no information on boilers installed under the Welsh boiler scrappage scheme.
Carbon Emissions
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in (a) England, (b) each local authority area and (c) each parliamentary constituency received assistance under the carbon emissions reduction target scheme in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10, (iii) 2010-11 and (iv) since April 2011. [86521]
Gregory Barker: Data on the number of households in England, each local authority area and each parliamentary constituency benefiting from cavity wall insulation and loft insulation under the carbon emissions reduction target scheme in each of the years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 can be downloaded from the following web address:
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/business/Business/Information/Homes-Energy-Efficiency-Database-HEED/CERT-reports-from-HEED
This information is published by the Energy Saving Trust on behalf of DECC. Households will also have benefited from other measures promoted under CERT,
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including heating, lighting, appliances and subsidised DIY loft insulation, but there are no distributional data on these.
Carbon Offset Credits
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if the Government will take steps to prevent the double counting of carbon offset credits against both developed country targets and developing country pledges. [86514]
Gregory Barker: At the UN convention on climate change meeting in Durban, both developed and developing countries agreed to provide further clarification in 2012 of the mitigation pledges they have tabled to date. For developed countries this process will specifically include clarification of the assumptions and conditions related to the use of carbon credits in meeting pledges. The UK will fully engage in this process with a view to preventing any double counting of credits by advocating robust and comprehensive common accounting rules. Within the Kyoto protocol rules, emission reductions from carbon credits under the Clean Development Mechanism can only be used for compliance against developed country targets.
In Durban countries also recognised that, when considering the wider opportunities for using markets to enhance the cost-effectiveness of, and to promote, mitigation actions, such approaches:
“must meet standards that deliver, real, permanent, additional and verified mitigation outcomes, avoid double counting of effort, and achieve a net decrease and/avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions”(1).
(1) ‘Outcome of the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention’, paragraph 79, p.15:
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2011/awglca14/eng/l04.pdf
Community Energy Saving Programme
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in (a) England, (b) each local authority area and (c) each parliamentary constituency received assistance under the community energy saving programme in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) since April 2011. [86522]
Gregory Barker: The companies obligated under the community energy saving programme (September 2009 to December 2012) are not required to report on the number of households benefiting or where their schemes are located until after the programme ends in December 2012.
However, the companies provide estimates to Ofgem of their progress towards meeting their obligations, which Ofgem publishes annually. The first of these estimates to June 2011 indicated that 9,937 properties had been treated in England (this information is available only at a regional level):
| Region | Properties treated (to June 2011) |
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As CESP schemes take time to set up and complete there were no completed schemes in the period September 2009 to June 2010 and all these properties were treated in the period July 2010 to June 2011.
The next estimate of CESP progress, including the period up to the end of 2011, will be published in May 2012.
Departmental Equality
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent steps his Department has taken to increase equality in his Department; and at what cost to the public purse. [86239]
Gregory Barker: DECC is an equal opportunities employer and we have a published statement stating that DECC is committed to treating all staff and eligible job applicants fairly and without discrimination. In addition, DECC has a Diversity and Equality Strategy and a published Single Equality Scheme that has an action plan on how the Department can embed both equality and diversity in the Department. Our strategy statement sets out the Department’s commitments. DECC aims to ensure that nobody is treated less favourably because of their: age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or beliefs, employment status. For example, part-time staff should be treated the same as full-time employees.
The Department has taken a number of steps in the last year that may lead to an increase in equality. Some of these steps have direct costs attributed to them.
The Department has submitted its application to the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index in September, which was at no cost.
A half-day disability awareness talk has been arranged to take place in December for all staff to increase the awareness of disabilities and how they can affect working practices at the Department. This was at a cost of £470.
The Department has rolled out a diversity e-learning programme to all staff at a cost of £8,235. DECC has advertised Whitehall-wide development programmes for staff who are under-represented in senior positions. This financial year, 13 DECC staff have commenced one of these courses at a cost of £19,500.
The Department ran an awareness session on disability for a group of senior staff at a cost of £2,796.
Electricity Generation
Jonathan Ashworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what steps the National Grid has taken to validate the meter readings
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provided by short-term operating reserve aggregators; [86380]
(2) on how many occasions representatives of the National Grid have inspected the metering equipment of short-term operating reserve aggregators in the last year; [86381]
(3) on how many occasions the National Grid has sought penalty payments from short-term operating reserve aggregators for failing to meet their contractual requirements in the last year. [86382]
Charles Hendry: To monitor and despatch services from STOR providers, including aggregators, National Grid installs a Standing Reserve Despatch (SRD) system. This is connected to the reserve provider's metering equipment to allow the amount of reserve provided from the contracted site to be read each minute and communicated back to National Grid.
The rules surrounding the provision of accurate metering signals by all STOR providers (including aggregators) are contained within a contractually enforced document known as the STOR despatch procedure(1). Through the rights and obligations placed upon STOR providers in this document, National Grid has the right to gain physical access to ascertain the accuracy and adequacy of the metering equipment providing the metering signals and of the resultant data sent to the SRD system. In addition a STOR provider is required by the STOR despatch document to:
(a) ensure that all metering systems comply with the relevant industry metering standards as set out in the Balancing and Settlement Code Codes of Practice;
(b) ensure that all of those meters are kept in calibration; and
(c) provide National Grid with copies of the meter calibration certificates confirming the same.
Aggregators use their own technology to meter each sub-site and aggregate this information which is then fed into the SRD system. National Grid agrees the chosen methodology with each aggregator (which may vary depending on the combination of generation/demand reduction) and subsequently monitors the performance of aggregated sites using a combination of metering data fed into the SRD system and off-line metering data provided by the aggregator(2). The latest version of the standard contractual agreements for aggregators introduces terms to clarify that, should National Grid wish to discharge its rights to gain access to metering equipment for verification purposes, then given not less than five business days notice of such request, the aggregator has an obligation to provide such access.
Government do not hold information on how many occasions representatives of National Grid inspect the metering equipment of STOR aggregators or sought penalty payments from STOR aggregators for failing to meet their contractual requirements. As the system operator, National Grid is responsible for keeping the system in balance (including the procurement of balancing services) under the terms of its transmission licence and is not required to report this information to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne).
(1)http://www.nationalgrid.com/NR/rdonlyres/297EB1F6-77EA-4AC2-A09A-FB8188A80D98/30804/STOR_Despaich Procedure_v13.pdf
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(2)http://www.nationalgrid.com/NR/rdonlyres/EF35E0EC-D7EC-4169-94FB-B09B484C21DF/49612/Generic_Aggregation_STOR_Framework_Agreement.pdf
Published on 19 October 2011
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average price paid by the National Grid is for each megawatt of electricity it buys. [86383]
Charles Hendry: National Grid, as the system operator, is responsible for keeping the system in balance, including the procurement of balancing services under the terms of its transmission licence.
National Grid procures these services in order to ensure the security and quality of electricity supply across the GB Transmission System. National Grid is not required to report to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne), so does not inform the Government of the average price paid for the electricity it procures.
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what information he has received from the National Grid on the auditing criteria it applies to its contracts with short-term operating reserve aggregators; [86384]
(2) what information he has received from the National Grid on the number of short-term operating reserve contracts that it has audited in the last year. [86385]
Charles Hendry: National Grid, as the system operator, is responsible for keeping the system in balance, including the procurement of balancing services under the terms of its transmission licence. National Grid is not required to report to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne).
Electricity: Prices
Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the effect on the average household electricity bill by 2020 of his decision to switch the source of funding carbon capture and storage technology from an additional levy on consumer bills to general taxation. [86495]
Charles Hendry: DECC previously estimated that the CCS levy would have added 2%-3% to average household electricity bills in 2020.
Energy: Private Rented Housing
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what inspection mechanisms he plans to put in place to ensure that private rented properties meet the minimum energy standards required by the provisions of the Energy Act 2011 by April 2016. [86456]
Gregory Barker: Under the provisions in the Energy Act 2011, regulations will be made no later than:
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April 2016, so that residential landlords will not be able to unreasonably refuse requests from their tenants for consent to energy efficiency improvements, where financial support is available; and
April 2018, so that all private rented properties must be brought up to a minimum energy efficiency standard, likely to be set at ‘E’.
Local authorities will enforce the domestic minimum standard regulations, with the ability to impose a civil fine of up to £5,000. Trading Standards will enforce the minimum standards in the non-domestic sector; the level of civil penalty will be defined in secondary legislation. We expect that the EPC database will be a key inspection mechanism as it will show the EPC rating of properties in the local area.
European Parliament Vote: Manpower
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many staff in his Department were deployed on the inquiry into the outcome of the European Parliament vote of 5 July 2011 on carbon emissions targets. [86527]
Gregory Barker: There has been no inquiry by my officials into the European Parliament's vote on EU greenhouse gas emission reductions, which took place on 5 July 2011.
Fuels: Poverty
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households have been removed from fuel poverty (a) since the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target was introduced, (b) since the Community Energy Savings programme was introduced and (c) since the start of the Warm Front scheme. [85909]
Gregory Barker [holding answer 12 December 2011]: The Community Energy Savings programme (CESP) was introduced in 2009, the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) was introduced in 2008 and the Warm Front scheme was introduced in 2000.
There are a number of policies that have been in place since 2000 that will help customers pay or reduce their energy bills—including CESP, CERT, Warm Front, Decent Homes, Warm Home Discount and the benefit payments that are wholly or partly related to energy costs. It is likely that the current level of fuel poverty in England would be higher had these policies not been implemented. However, no assessment has been made of the aggregate impact of Government action in this area.
Green Deal Scheme
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many staff in his Department are assigned to work on (a) the Green Deal, (b) the Eenergy company obligation, (c) international climate change issues, (d) the Green Economy, (e) feed-in tariffs, (f) carbon capture and storage and (g) promoting the interests of energy consumers. [86608]
Gregory Barker:
There are currently 57.6 staff working on the Green Deal, 16 staff on the energy company obligation, 48 staff on international climate change, 14 staff on feed-in tariffs, and 35.3 staff on carbon
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capture and storage. Many of DECC's policies, and the staff working on them, contribute towards the Green Economy and to promoting the interests of energy consumers.
Natural Gas: Exploration
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) when he plans to publish his Department's geomechanical study into the relationship between shale gas drilling and the seismic activity in the vicinity of Cuadrilla Resources Preese Hall-1 well on the Lancashire coast at Fylde in April and May 2011; [86814]
(2) what the terms of reference are for his Department's geomechanical study into the relationship between shale gas drilling and the seismic activity in the vicinity of Cuadrilla Resources Preese Hall-1 well on the Lancashire coast at Fylde in April and May 2011. [86815]
Charles Hendry: Following the seismic tremors experienced in Poulton-le-Fylde in Lancashire in April and May, DECC asked Cuadrilla to carry out a geomechanical study to look specifically at the geological and seismic properties of the rock strata and shale in and around Poulton-le-Fylde, and any linkages between the recent seismic tremors and hydraulic fracturing operations in the area. The study, which confirms a connection between the hydraulic fracturing at the Preese Hall-1 well and the seismic activity which took place on 1 April and 27 May 2011, was submitted to DECC, and published by the company, on 2 November 2011.
No decision on the resumption of these hydraulic fracture operations will be made until the implications of this report, and of any further analysis which may prove necessary, has been fully considered and appropriate practical measures have been approved by Ministers to minimise the risk of such events occurring again. Other key regulators will be consulted before any such decision is taken.
Natural Gas: Prices
Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the effect on the average household gas bill by 2020 of his decision to switch the source of funding for the Renewable Heat Incentive from an additional levy on consumer bills to general taxation. [86494]
Gregory Barker: After the February 2010 consultation on the RHI, the decision was taken to fund the RHI through general taxation rather than an additional levy. At the time of this decision, the scheme was expected to have led to a peak increase in the average household gas bill of £104 per year in 2020 (ramping up from a very small impact in the first year of the scheme).
Since the decision to fund through general taxation, the RHI design has undergone a number of changes. However, no subsequent further assessment of the potential impact on household bills has been undertaken, as the decision to fund through general taxation had been made.
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Nuclear Power
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what additional costs his Department will incur in implementing the recommendations in Dr Weightman's report on the implications for the UK nuclear industry of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. [86747]
Charles Hendry: Nuclear safety is a top priority. The relevant recommendations from Dr Weightman's report will be implemented as part of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and any such associated costs to the Department will be borne by the overall departmental budget. Any increase in costs for new nuclear power stations will be borne by the operators.
Ofgem: Fines
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many fines Ofgem has imposed in each of the last 10 years; and what the monetary value was of each fine. [86525]
Charles Hendry: The information requested is a matter for Ofgem. The chief executive of Ofgem will write to the hon. Lady and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2011, Official Report, column 616W, on feed-in tariffs, when he expects the second consultation on the comprehensive review to be published. [85778]
Gregory Barker: We intend to publish the second consultation on the comprehensive review in January 2012.
Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations he has received on his proposals to reduce the feed-in tariff applicable to new solar photovoltaic installations; if he will consider a transition period with an intermediary tariff rate for the purpose of mitigating the effects of such changes on communities and households; and if he will make a statement. [83493]
Gregory Barker: The Department has received a number of representations on the proposals set out in the consultation on feed-in tariffs (FITs) for solar photovoltaics. These include representations suggesting different approaches to implementing the proposed new tariffs including through transitional arrangements such as an intermediary tariff rate.
The consultation closes on 23 December 2011 and we will consider all representations made.
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Business, Innovation and Skills
Billing
Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with his French counterpart on the efficacy of limiting payment periods between companies to 60 days as required by the French loi de modernisation de l'économie 2008. [86063]
Mr Davey: BIS officials have been in regular discussion with their French counterparts about late payment legislation in France, in the context of the working group on the development of the recast directive on combating late payment in commercial transactions.
This Government have made clear their objective of challenging the long-standing culture of late payment, which persists across all sectors of the economy and across businesses of all sizes, and we have supported a multi-faceted strategy for improving business cash flow alongside the UK's leading business and finance organisations.
We continue to monitor payment across the economy and will not rule out any measures which have the support of the business community in the UK. However, there has been long-standing and widespread opposition from UK business to Government intervention in contractual freedoms, including on payment terms. I understand that the French legislation allows sectors to apply for exemption and that this has been utilised by a large number of sectors.
Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of recent trends in the average length of payment terms by suppliers to small and medium-sized enterprises. [86065]
Mr Prisk: The Department does not hold data on the average length of payment terms agreed between suppliers and customers. There is no effective way of collecting and collating the enormous volume of formal and informal agreements that take place between suppliers and their customers every day across the UK.
However, the Department has a long-standing partnership with the UK's leading business representatives and finance organisations to develop a culture of prompt payment, and our work with them suggests that the typical payment term offered by customers in the UK is 30 days net monthly—that is, 30 days following the end of the month in which the invoice is received.
While we do not hold data on average payment terms, we do measure actual payment performance. The Department commissions Experian to provide data on customer payment performance each quarter. For payment by firms who are not in liquidation or receivership (and can therefore be considered to be live trading firms), data for the third quarter of 2011 (July-September) show that small and medium-sized firms (those with fewer than 250 employees) were paid on average 16.45 days beyond contract terms. This is half a day higher than the previous quarterly figure of 15.96 days. This is the first quarterly increase in this figure since the fourth quarter of 2010. However, the current level of late payment is still 0.2 days lower than the same period last year. This measure peaked during the recession in Q1 2009 at 20.3 days beyond term.
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Experian measures payment performance based upon the terms provided by the supplier in their invoice. We know that many suppliers assume a 30-day payment period while customer terms are typically 30 days net monthly. This might in part explain the apparent difference in supplier expectation and actual payment as recorded by Experian. To enable effective cash flow management it is therefore vital that suppliers agree payment terms in advance of supply to avoid unexpected and unplanned cash flow pressures—we believe advance agreement of payment terms does not happen in at least half of all UK transactions.
Business Cash Flow
Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to improve cash flows for small and medium-sized enterprises. [86067]
Mr Prisk: The Government understand the importance of managing cash flow and are determined to do everything they can to help business do this successfully. Transforming the longstanding culture of late payment requires a multi-faceted strategy to engage and educate business.
Late payment legislation gives businesses a statutory right to claim interest from other businesses for the late payment of commercial debt, and where there are no pre-agreed payment terms, the legislation provides that the payment period is 30 days from the later of either delivery of goods or receipt of invoice. Further advice on this legislation and on claiming interest for late payments can be found at:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file37581.pdf
The Prompt Payment Code developed with the Institute of Credit Management (ICM) seeks to identify payment exemplars across both the public and private sectors and to codify good practice. Signatories to the code are required to pay within agreed terms and to communicate effectively with suppliers. As at 1 December 2011, nearly 1,060 organisations have signed up to the Prompt Payment Code. Further information on the code can be found at:
http://www.promptpaymentcode.org.uk/
We have also worked with the ICM to produce a series of checklists on all aspects of cash flow management, available at:
http://www.creditmanagement.org.uk/bisguides.htm
As at November 2011, there have been nearly 265, 000 downloads of the guides.
It is also important that the public sector sets a strong example, and central Government Departments now aim to pay 80% of undisputed invoices within five days. In October 2011, this Department paid 95.6% of its invoices within this timeframe. To ensure the benefits of prompt payment to main contractors are felt through the supply chain, all Departments have included a clause in their contracts that requires main contractors to pay their suppliers within 30 days.
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to penalise institutions which do not meet their widening participation obligations as defined in their access agreements. [86607]
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Mr Hayes: It is a matter for the director of fair access to determine whether an institution has complied with the terms of its access agreement.
Where the director decides that an institution has failed to meet the conditions of its access agreement, he may impose a financial sanction (via the funding body) up to a maximum of £500,000 or refuse to renew the access agreement. He may also require restitution if students have been disadvantaged or commitments have not been honoured.
The Government have committed to strengthen the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) so it can provide a more active and energetic challenge and support to universities and colleges. We will make significantly more resources available, increasing capacity up to around four times its original level and equipping OFFA to use fully its powers to monitor and review access agreements.
We are currently considering whether the director of fair access has the right powers, taking into account the responses to the White Paper and the technical consultation that followed. We will set out our plans in the draft Bill that we shall be presenting to Parliament next year.
Court Orders: Kingston upon Hull
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many court orders have been obtained through the Kingston upon Hull Official Receiver's office for foreign nationals in each of the last five years. [86531]
Mr Davey: Information concerning the number of bankruptcy orders in relation to foreign nationals is not collated and the costs of obtaining it would be disproportionate.
Degrees
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Higher Education Funding Council for England on the future of degree-awarding powers. [86548]
Mr Hayes: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) continues to be actively involved at official level in meetings and discussions on the proposed reforms to higher education, including the future of degree-awarding powers. For example, HEFCE was represented at two stakeholder meetings in September on the proposed regulatory framework as part of the Department's recent technical consultation, which ran until 27 October. These meetings included discussion of degree-awarding powers. HEFCE's own response to the consultation is available at:
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/reform/response.htm
In addition, I met with the chief executive and the chairman of HEFCE on 18 November to discuss various aspects of HEFCE's role in the future regulatory system.
A quarterly-updated list of all BIS ministerial meetings with external organisations is available at:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency/staff
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Risk Assessment
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what risk registers are held by the non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible; and if he will make a statement. [85698]
Mr Davey: Non-departmental public bodies associated with BIS have responsibility themselves to ensure that they have appropriate risk management tools and processes in place. The core Department does not hold information on individual organisations' risk registers.
Details of the Department's risk and control framework can be found in the annual report and accounts 2010-11:
“The Department's approach is to assign risks to those best placed to manage them. Our approach is to establish clear accountability and ownership of risk so as to ensure the risk is managed at the appropriate level and mechanisms are in place to escalate significant risks to senior management”.
(page 71)
http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/corporate/docs/b/11-p102-bis-annual-report-and-accounts-2010-11
Employment: Young People
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether 18 to 24-year- old citizens of other EU member states will be eligible for the Youth Contract. [85677]
Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
Support offered through each element of the Youth Contract will have its own eligibility requirements. EU citizens aged 18 to 24 are able to access the support on offer provided that they meet the relevant requirements.
Higher Education: Admissions
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether designated higher education course places will be included in the Higher Education Funding Council for England student number allocation in the next academic year. [86032]
Mr Hayes: Existing legislation does not allow us to impose conditions or sanctions relating to student number controls on privately funded institutions, therefore these courses will not be included in the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) student number allocation in the next academic year. HEFCE's allocations will include places on designated higher education courses at institutions that they fund (and which accounts for most of the designated higher education course places).
However, as we set out in the Higher Education White Paper and associated technical consultation, the future regulatory framework will ensure that providers which access student support funding will have to meet, in a proportionate and risk-based manner, a number of conditions in future including reformed student number controls.
In the meantime the Department receives quarterly updates on the number of students accessing student support on these courses from the Student Loans Company.
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Higher Education: Dartford
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students from Dartford constituency were accepted on to courses at (a) Oxford university and (b) the University of Cambridge in each of the last five years. [85461]
Mr Hayes: The information is not held centrally. UCAS holds this information, but its policy is that for reasons of confidentiality it does not release figures for individual institutions where the cell counts for accepted applicants are low.
Higher Education: Greater Manchester
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students from Oldham East and Saddleworth constituency were accepted on to courses at (a) Oxford university and (b) the University of Cambridge in each academic year since 2001. [85212]
Mr Hayes: The information is not held centrally. UCAS holds this information, but its policy is that for reasons of confidentiality it does not release figures for individual institutions where the cell counts for accepted applicants are low.
Insolvency
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what recent assessment he has made of the levels of bankruptcy tourism in the UK; and what steps he is taking to support the Insolvency Service in tackling that practice; [86461]
(2) what steps he is taking to support the Insolvency Service in introducing safeguards against abuse by foreign nationals declaring themselves bankrupt in England and Wales. [86530]
Mr Davey: Under European insolvency law, bankruptcy proceedings can only be commenced where the individual's centre of main interests lies. Where an abuse of that law is proven to have taken place and a bankrupt's centre of main interests is found not to have been in the country where the application is made, an application to annul a bankruptcy order will be made. Analysis of bankruptcy orders undertaken by the Insolvency Service in respect of England and Wales indicates that incidences of abuse of this process are extremely rare.
The Insolvency Service has already taken action in such cases and also against companies involved in encouraging individuals to make false applications to our courts.
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many insolvencies were identified for further investigation in Official Receivers' offices in each of the last five years. [86466]
Mr Davey: The number of insolvencies identified for further investigation (FI) in the last five years are:
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| Period in which FI decision made | Cases identified for FI | Total insolvencies |
| (1) Data for October 2010 not available. | ||
Official Receivers deal only with Compulsory Liquidations and Bankruptcies and on average a further investigation decision is made within 56 days of an insolvency order.
The number of cases identified for further investigation has been compared, in the table above, with the number of insolvencies dealt with for a corresponding period commencing two months prior to reflect the time taken to make the further investigation decision.
Not all cases identified for further investigation result in criminal or civil proceedings as further inquiries can reveal satisfactory explanations or mitigating factors. The Insolvency Service periodically reviews its guidance and training to improve efficiency in terms of the number of cases which are marked as further investigation but do not result in either criminal or civil proceedings.
The Insolvency Service introduced a new computer system in October 2010 and due to technical issues it is not possible to extract the data for October 2010 without disproportional costs being incurred.
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of trends in the number of (a) bankruptcy restriction orders and undertakings and (b) disqualification orders and undertakings obtained by the Insolvency Service in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [86476]
Mr Davey: In respect of director disqualifications, the Insolvency Service plan range for 2011/12 is 1,250 to 1,350, which is broadly in line with previous years.
In respect of bankruptcy and debt relief restrictions, the plan range for 2011/12 is 700 to 1,000, reflecting the significant fall in new bankruptcy case numbers.
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2011, Official Report, columns 95-96W, on insolvency, how many staff at each grade will be transferred to alternative offices as a result of implementation of the delivery strategy. [86536]
Mr Davey: The Insolvency Service’s delivery strategy aims to restructure the organisation to make it more able to respond flexibly to future volatility in the case numbers that it deals with.
Staff will not, in the short term, be required to move office as a result of the implementation of the delivery strategy. It is being implemented in a virtual, i.e. non-physical, way, until at least 2014. The process by which the Insolvency Service moves to physical implementation of the delivery strategy, beyond 2014, is still being discussed and will form part of future consultations with staff.
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The Insolvency Service has, however, announced its intention to proceed to public consultations on the closure of its offices in Stockton, Bournemouth and Medway. This is part of its response to significant reductions in case volumes. The closures are also subject to funding
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being secured. It is intended that the staff and work of these offices would be merged with neighbouring offices.
The current number of staff, identified by grade, in each of those offices is shown in the following table.
|
|
D3 | D2 | C2 | C 1 | L3 | L2 | L1 | B3 | B2 | B1 | A2 | A1 | Total |
The number of staff required in each office, in respect of the Official Receivers Services, part of the Insolvency Service, is a factor of how many cases the Insolvency Service receives. These have been declining, and are expected to decline further, and staffing complements are likely to be adjusted if this trend continues. This is a separate issue from the delivery strategy whose purpose is to deliver a new and more flexible operating model for the Insolvency Service.
The delivery strategy does, however, anticipate further office closures/mergers that have not yet been identified. The Insolvency Service has announced a move towards a revised structure of eight Insolvency Service centre locations across England and Wales, with a network of around a further 17 Insolvency Service local office locations. In the longer term, this would reduce the total number of locations to about 25, some 10 fewer than now.
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department has recovered from payments made to the family and friends of a bankrupt who had a bankruptcy restriction order or undertaking made against them in each of the last five years. [86542]
Mr Davey: This information cannot be provided as the amount of payments recovered from family and friends of a bankrupt is not identified separately.
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many bankruptcy restriction (a) orders and (b) undertakings have been obtained against individuals who have repaid family and friends rather than other creditors in each of the last five years. [86543]
Mr Davey: No statistics are maintained for bankruptcy restriction cases in the last five years that concern repayments to family and friends as creditors rather than other creditors.
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (a) how many and what grades of staff and (b) what other resources are required by the Insolvency Service to obtain a disqualification (i) order and (ii) undertaking for (A) one to five years, (B) six to 10 years and (C) 11 to 15 years. [86544]
Mr Davey: Statistics are not maintained for how many and what grades of staff and what "other resources" (howsoever defined) are needed for obtaining disqualification orders or undertakings in each of quoted brackets and the costs of collating them would be disproportionate.
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average cost was of obtaining a disqualification (a) order and (b) undertaking for a period of disqualification of (i) one to five, (ii) six to 10 and (iii) 11 to 15 years, in each of the last five years. [86551]
Mr Davey: Statistics are not maintained for the "average cost" of obtaining disqualification orders or undertakings and the costs of collating them would be disproportionate.
Insolvency: Northern Region
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2011, Official Report, columns 95-96W, on insolvency, how many staff at each grade are employed in each of the northern offices of the Insolvency Service; and how many will be employed in each such office following implementation of the delivery strategy. [86537]
Mr Davey: The Insolvency Service’s delivery strategy aims to restructure the organisation to make it more able to respond flexibly to future volatility in the case numbers that it deals with. This will change the current regional structure.
The offices in the existing north region currently have the following staffing complements broken down by grade.
|
|
D3 | D2 | C2 | C1 | L3 | L2 | L1 | B3 | B2 | B1 | A2 | A1 | Total |
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14 Dec 2011 : Column 816W
Staffing levels are not intended to change in the short term or as a direct result of the implementation of the delivery strategy. It is being implemented in a virtual, i.e. non-physical, way, until at least 2014. The process by which the Insolvency Service moves to physical implementation of the delivery strategy, beyond 2014, is still being discussed and will form part of future consultations with staff.
A possible exception to this is the Stockton office as the Insolvency Service has announced its intention to issue a public consultation on the closure of this office in 2013, subject to funding being secured. There may be further, as yet unidentified, office closures/mergers in the northern offices as the Insolvency Service has indicated that, in the longer term, it anticipates reducing its total number of locations to around 25, some 10 fewer than now.
The number of staff required in each office, in respect of the Official Receivers Services, part of the Insolvency Service, is a factor of how many cases the Insolvency Service receives. The number of new cases has been declining, and is expected to decline further, and staffing complements are likely to be adjusted if this trend continues, including in the northern offices. This is a separate issue from the delivery strategy, whose purpose is to deliver a new and more flexible operating model for the Insolvency Service.
Accordingly, subject to these complementing issues, while at specific northern locations the staffing numbers may change and some locations may close, it is intended that, under the delivery strategy, the overall staffing levels across the northern offices would remain consistent.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to ascertain what has become of the letter from him to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr D. Wightman, which his Department sent on 17 October 2011, but which has not reached the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton. [85471]
Mr Davey: All letters from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to the House of Commons are delivered by Government Mail.
I can assure the right hon. Member that the letter would have been delivered in that manner.
The movement of letters within the House of Commons is not within the control of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
A further copy of the letter of 17 October 2011 has been sent electronically and in hard copy to the right hon. Member's office.
Productivity
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the most recent industrial and manufacturing production figures; and what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department's policies on the levels of industrial production and manufacturing. [86214]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 12 December 2011]:The latest official figures for October 2011 show that manufacturing output fell by 0.7% in the three months to October 2011 compared with the previous three months, the first fall on this basis since October 2009. However, this is still 0.9% higher than the same period last year.
We recognise that the overall economic position is very difficult given the legacy and the external environment but we are determined to promote recovery. In the Autumn Statement last week, the Government announced a wide-ranging package building on the programme of reforms set out in the Plan for Growth, including £5 billion in new commitments to improve UK transport and broadband networks, as well as steps to attract major private sector investment.
Scholarships
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to assess the use of the National Scholarship Programme by institutions in 2012-13. [86549]
Mr Hayes: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has commissioned CFE Research and Consultancy, an independent research and consultancy body, to undertake an evaluation of the National Scholarship Programme.
The first phase of the project, running until early next year, will look at the set up of the programme by institutions, and the report will be published next spring. The second phase, which will include consideration of the first year of the programme, will survey both students and institutions, and will report in the autumn of 2013.
HEFCE will also monitor the targeting and take up of the awards through the annual returns that institutions make to the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
Third Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the answer of 7 December 2011, Official Report, columns 330-1W, on third sector, (1) how much funding his Department provided to each organisation listed in 2010-11; and if he will make a statement; [86655]
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(2) how much funding was provided to the organisations listed by other Directorates in his Department in 2011-12; and if he will make a statement; [86656]
(3) how much funding his Department provided to (a) the Royal Society, (b) the British Academy, (c) the Royal Academy of Engineering, (d) the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network, (e) the British Science Association, (f) the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology, (g) the Design Council, (h) Natural England, (i) the UK Council for International Students, (j) Tate Britain, (k) the British Council, (l) the Royal Anniversary Trust, (m) the Raleigh International Trust (n) the Association of Commonwealth Universities, (o) the National Foundation for Education and (p) Royal Botanic Kew Gardens in 2010-11. [86657]
Mr Hayes: The following table lists the information held by the Department for 2010-11 and 2011-12 and supersedes the answer of 7 December 2011, Official Report, columns 330-31W. None of the bodies concerned receive direct departmental funding in 2011-12 other than through the Knowledge and Innovation Group.
| £000 | ||
|
|
2010-11 | 2011-12 |
|
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network (STEMNET) |
||
Universities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make it his policy to require universities to have in place a policy on academic conflicts of interest; and if he will make a statement. [86469]
Mr Hayes: The Government do not intend to put in place any new regulations on universities regarding the treatment of conflicts of interest. This issue is already addressed in a number of ways including grant funding terms and other governance arrangements in the university, although a number of institutions do bring these together in a single institution-wide policy.
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Women and Equalities
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities for what reason the need for political balance in respect of the composition of the Commissioners of the Equality and Human Rights Commission was not included as an issue in the recent public consultation; and if she will make a statement. [85332]
Lynne Featherstone: Public appointments should be on the basis of merit, not political affiliation. As we set out in our consultation, we want to see a smaller board with stronger corporate skills and experience, gained in the private, voluntary and public sectors.
Fawcett Society: Finance
Karl McCartney: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities (1) what funding from the public purse has been allocated to the Fawcett Society in any future years for which figures are available; [81405]
(2) what funding the Fawcett Society received from the public purse in each of the last five years. [81406]
Lynne Featherstone: This information is not collected centrally. However, the Government Equalities Office (GEO) made two payments during 2008-09 in respect of publications amounting to £11,150.
There are no future plans to fund the Fawcett Society.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is an arm’s length body; the following is based on information it has provided.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission procured publication services from the Fawcett Society in 2010 to the value of £5,700.
The Commission has allocated no future grant funding to the Fawcett Society.
Education
Children: Disability
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many (a) deafblind and (b) multi-sensory impaired children with a statement have been provided with intervenor support in each of the last five years; [85557]
(2) how many (a) deafblind and (b) multi-sensory impaired children received a statutory assessment in each of the last five years; [85558]
(3) how many children (a) are deafblind (b) have another form of multi-sensory impairment in England. [85559]
Sarah Teather: The school census collects information on pupils with different types of special educational needs. It includes a category for ‘multi-sensory impairment’ but not a separate category for ‘deafblind’.
In January 2011, the school census showed that there were 935 pupils with multi-sensory impairment as their primary type of need who were receiving support through either School Action Plus or through a statement of special educational needs.
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Information on the number of children with multi-sensory impairment who received a statutory assessment, and the numbers provided with intervenor support is not held centrally.
Early Intervention Grant
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding he is providing to local authorities through the early intervention grant in financial year 2012-13. [85791]
Sarah Teather: OCLG announced the provisional local government finance settlement on 8 December. This included revised figures for the indicative early intervention grant (EIG) allocations for 2012-13. The indicative EIG allocation for 2012-13 is £2,365,200,000.
Information on individual local authorities indicative EIG allocations is available on the Department’s website at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeopie/informationforprofessionals/a0070357/early-intervention-grant-frequently-asked-questions/
These figures are still indicative and the allocations will be confirmed in February when the Department issues the 2012-13 EIG determination letter.
Education: Rural Areas
Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to ensure future funding models do not disadvantage rural areas. [84094]
Mr Gibb: The 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.
Free Schools: Vetting
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he has taken to ensure that all free school employees have been CRB checked. [84112]
Mr Gibb: Free schools have a statutory duty to ensure that all members of staff have received an enhanced CRB check prior to their appointment or as soon as practically possible thereafter, and that this check confirms their suitability to work with children.
General Teaching Council
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what assessment he has made of the (a) cost and (b) benefits of the abolition of the General Teaching Council; [86389]
(2) how many staff will cease to be employed as a result of the abolition of the General Teaching Council; [86343]
(3) how many representations he has received on the abolition of the General Teaching Council; [86344]
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(4) what plans he has to establish communication mechanisms between teachers and his Department following the abolition of the General Teaching Council; [86345]
(5) what plans he has to promote professional skills for teachers following the abolition of the General Teaching Council. [86346]
Mr Gibb: The Education Act 2011 provided for the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) to be abolished on 31 March 2012. Those functions of the GTCE that are continuing will be carried out by the Teaching Agency, an executive agency of the Department for Education, which will be established on 1 April 2012. The impact assessment for the Education Act 2011 is available from the Department's website:
http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/h/education%20bill%20%20%20impact%20assessment%20ia.pdf
Included within this is an assessment of the cost and benefits of the abolition of the GTCE. The cost of abolition is estimated to be £15 million and the savings from abolition are estimated to be £11 million per annum between 2012-13 and 2019-20.
During the passage of the Education Act 2011 the Department received 93 pieces of correspondence relating to the abolition of the GTCE. In addition, officials have met unions to discuss the abolition of the GTCE and a public consultation was held on the teacher disciplinary and induction regulations. The consultation ran from 20 July to 12 October 2011 and a summary of responses will be published on the Department's website shortly at:
www.education.gov.uk/consultations
GTCE employees are able to transfer to the DfE or its agencies, or accept voluntary redundancy under the GTCE's own scheme. Until the GTCE has closed its voluntary redundancy scheme we will not know how many staff members have decided not to accept a transfer to the Department.
The Department has transition plans in place to continue any essential communications that are required following the abolition of the General Teaching Council. Plans are under way to transfer essential web content and other materials, and to consider any direct communications that may be needed. In line with our wider efficiencies work and work to reduce the bureaucratic burdens on teachers, we are taking the opportunity to refine our communications, slim down guidance and cut unnecessary activity. Communications with teachers will continue through the Teaching Agency from 1 April.
The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), outlined his plans to develop the professional skills of teachers in the Schools White Paper: The Importance of Teaching and the ITT Strategy. This approach is based on research that shows that teachers learn best from other professionals through observing teaching, being observed, and receiving feedback from peers. On 8 November the Department published an implementation plan for changes to initial teacher training (ITT) from 2012/13. This includes proposals to reform training so that more ITT is led by schools and there is focus on the most important elements of being a teacher.
New Teacher Standards will come into force from September 2012 and will focus on the essential elements of effective teaching and the professional conduct expected
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of every teacher. We are also creating a national network of teaching schools on the model of teaching hospitals and launching a new scholarship scheme for teachers. It will be the role of the Teaching Agency to promote the use of the Standards at all levels in professional development, performance management and in procedures for underperforming teachers.