Departmental Civil Proceedings

Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [83888]

Mr Lidington: Our records show that the only organisation that has received funding from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) that has brought legal proceedings against the Foreign Secretary in the last five years is Reprieve. Reprieve receives a modest grant from the FCO to support work to prevent the execution of British nationals facing the death penalty overseas.

15 Dec 2011 : Column 862W

In February 2010 Reprieve brought judicial review proceedings against the Foreign Secretary and other Government Ministers in connection with guidance to UK officials on their role and responsibilities in relation to the interviewing of detainees in foreign detention who may be subject to mistreatment. The proceedings were not successful. The Administrative Court refused Reprieve permission to bring the judicial review proceedings and ordered them to pay part of the Government's costs, amounting to £2,000. Reprieve has now paid this sum.

Risk Assessment

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what risk registers are held by the public bodies for which his Department is responsible; and if he will make a statement. [85705]

Mr Lidington: The Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the Great Britain-China Centre and the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission all hold single risk registers assessing the following categories of risk: strategic/corporate/reputational, financial, operations and projects and programmes. The British Council also has a risk register covering these issues. They also hold risk registers for each country, each sector, each business unit and customer management. Establishing how many registers they maintain globally would incur disproportionate cost.

Khaled al-Johani

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Saudi Arabia on Khaled al-Johani. [86724]

Alistair Burt: We have not specifically raised Mr al-Johani's case with the Saudi Arabian Government. However, Ministers and officials do take every opportunity to raise with the Saudi authorities our full range of human rights concerns, including detention without trial. I did so most recently when I called on the National Society for Human Rights on 23 November, a Saudi human rights organisation with close links to the Saudi Arabian Government.

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill 2010-12

Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2011, Official Report, column 56W, on Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill 2010-12, and with reference to his confirmation of the UK's commitment to the Ruggie principles, what assessment he has made of the letter sent by Professor Ruggie to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice, the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Mr Djanogly), on the effects of his proposed reforms in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill on the ability of impecunious people to secure representation and justice in cases (a) against businesses and (b) of human rights abuse. [86843]

15 Dec 2011 : Column 863W

Mr Jeremy Browne: Following the UN Human Rights Council's endorsement in June of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, in which the UK played an important role, the Government are fully committed to implementing those principles as part of a wider strategy on business and human rights. We do not believe that the reform of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill is incompatible with this commitment. We believe that it will still be possible to bring claims against (a) multinational companies or (b) those allegedly guilty of human rights abuses once these reforms are implemented. However, reforms will help ensure that meritorious claims will be resolved at a more proportional cost; while unnecessary and avoidable claims will be deterred from progressing to court.

Libya: Terrorism

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made by the specialist unit in his Department in negotiations with the new Libyan government on compensation for victims of terrorism in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [86227]

Alistair Burt: A specialist unit was set up under the previous Administration in 2009. The remit of the officers in the dedicated FCO Unit has been to offer facilitation, logistical support and general advice to the campaign seeking compensation for the victims of IRA terrorism that was sponsored by Libya through the supply of Semtex. They have also accompanied representatives of the victims at meetings with the Libyan Government.

Properly addressing legacy issues will be an important part of the UK's relationship with Libya. I raised this with the Libyan Transitional Government during my visit to Tripoli on 6-8 December. I made clear our desire to see progress on outstanding issues from the Gaddafi era. The newly appointed Foreign Minister Ashour Ben Khayyal agreed that we would take forward discussions on this.

The campaigns seeking compensation for IRA victims are private. The terms of the campaigns and the range of victims are therefore also private. However, we understand at this stage that no settlement has been made.

Saudi Arabia: Counter-terrorism

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Saudi Arabian counterparts on a proposed anti-terror law for Saudi Arabia. [86725]

Alistair Burt: We have been aware of the draft counter-terrorism law since Amnesty International reported on this matter in June and officials have raised concerns with the Saudi Arabian Government. There is widespread acceptance in the Saudi Government and Saudi human rights organisations that the draft anti-terror law is unsuitable in its present form: the current draft is extremely unlikely to pass into law.

15 Dec 2011 : Column 864W

Sergei Magnitsky

Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates Mr William Browder visited his Department to discuss the case of Sergei Magnitsky; and which (a) Ministers and (b) officials he met on each such occasion. [86848]

Mr Lidington: The information requested is as follows:

(a) I met Mr William Browder on 7 March 2011 to discuss the case of Sergei Magnitsky.

(b) The Director Eastern Europe and Central Asia met Mr William Browder on 19 March 2009, 20 November 2009, 6 October 2010 and 13 December 2011 to discuss the case of Sergei Magnitsky.

Union of Good: USA

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the US government on the Union of Good; and if he will make a statement. [86593]

Alistair Burt: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Attorney-General

Extradition: USA

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Attorney-General with reference to the contribution by the Minister of State for Immigration of 5 December 2011, Official Report, column 128, on UK extradition arrangements, whether any of the evidence against Babar Ahmad that is in the possession of the US authorities was gathered by (a) UK authorities and passed to the US and (b) US authorities on UK soil. [85893]

Damian Green: I am replying as the Minister with responsibility for mutual legal assistance as that is the mechanism by which evidence is transferred from one jurisdiction to another in a criminal case. It is our usual policy neither to confirm nor deny whether the UK authorities have provided evidence or other formal assistance in support of foreign criminal proceedings so as not to prejudice those proceedings; and therefore I cannot confirm or deny whether or not that took place in this case.

Women and Equalities

Nightclubs: Fees and Charges

Mark Menzies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what representations she has received on the practice of charging differential fees to men and women for entry to nightclubs. [86060]

15 Dec 2011 : Column 865W

Lynne Featherstone: I have received no representations on the practice of charging men and women differential entry fees for entry to nightclubs.

Defence

Aircraft Carriers

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the completion date for the two aircraft carriers that are currently under construction have changed; and what the causes of any such delay are. [85234]

Peter Luff: The currently approved planned in-service dates for HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales are quarter four of 2016 and quarter four of 2018 respectively.

The completion dates for construction have not changed. However, the Strategic Defence and Security Review called for one operational Queen Elizabeth class carrier to be converted to support the more capable Carrier Variant of the Joint Strike Fighter and we are investigating the optimum solution to meet that requirement. On current plans, we expect to conclude work to enable firm decisions on the optimum conversion solution for the operational carrier in late 2012. Depending on the outcome of that work, the completion date for the construction of the carriers may change. Either way we will have an operational carrier from around 2020.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 30 November 2011, Official Report, column 977W, on armed forces: recruitment, what the cost per recruit was of medical assessments for potential pilots; and if he will make a statement. [86502]

Mr Robathan: We do not hold records for the cost per recruit of medical assessments for potential pilots. All officer candidates undergo medical assessments, although there are additional tests for potential aircrew.

Armed Forces: Young People

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average expenditure per Army recruit was of recruiting and training to identical roles recruits who were aged (a) under 18 years and (b) 18 years or above in the latest period for which figures are available. [86636]

Mr Robathan: The average cost of recruiting an Army recruit in financial year (FY) 2010-11 was £10,000; this covers the full recruitment process, including selection, and does not vary between those who are under or over 18 years of age.

The following table provides the average expenditure for the full cost of providing Phase 1 training, including accommodation, meals, welfare, health and other support per Army recruit for FY 2010-11.

15 Dec 2011 : Column 866W


Duration of course (weeks) Under 18 (£) Over 18 (£)

Full cost of training per recruit at Army Technical Foundation College, Winchester

23

53,985

n/a

Full cost of training per recruit at Army Foundation College, Harrogate

50

64,458

n/a

Full cost of training per recruit at Army Training Centre, Pirbright

14

n/a

21,318

Full cost of training per recruit at Army Training Regiment, Bassingbourn

14

n/a

26,992

Full cost of training per recruit at Infantry Training Centre, Catterick (Phase 1)

14

n/a

26,543

n/a = not applicable

The average unit rate varies depending on both the number of recruits being trained and the course duration at each training site.

Information relating to the average expenditure per recruit for Phase 2 training is not available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. This is because Phase 2 (trade training) varies for each of the over 220 trades offered by the Army, both in terms of content and course length. However, as Phase 2 training is not age dependent, there would be no difference in any average training cost for a specific trade between those who are under or over the age of 18.

Defence Equipment

Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Blaydon (Mr Anderson) of 21 October 2011, Official Report, column 1167W, on defence equipment, what the cost was of using Ministry of Defence-owned road vehicles to transport military kit in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08, (c) 2008-09 and (d) 2009-10; on how many occasions Ministry of Defence-owned road vehicles were used to transport military kit in each of those years; and if he will make a statement. [86501]

Peter Luff: The use of Ministry of Defence owned road vehicles to transport defence equipment is primarily undertaken at unit level. Journeys are not individually costed or recorded centrally and the requested information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Members: Correspondence

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to reply to the letter of 25 November 2011 from the hon. Member for Harrow West to the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans; and if he will make a statement. [86887]

Mr Robathan: A reply was sent on 12 December 2011. The hon. Member's letter was received on 1 December 2011 and received a response within eight working days. The Ministry of Defence aims to answer correspondence from hon. Members within 15 working days.

15 Dec 2011 : Column 867W

Military Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of upgrading the two purchased F-35B variants to the standards required by the US Marine Corps after the completion of testing. [86282]

Peter Luff: The previous Government ordered three F-35B aircraft for test and evaluation purposes. One has been exchanged for a F-35C variant. The mission systems for the F-35B and F-35C are largely the same but, the UK is upgrading the Short Take Off and Vertical Landing Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) for its own purposes in order to conduct initial operational test of JSF alongside US Services. We have included sufficient funding within the original financial approval for these aircraft to ensure that they are upgraded to the appropriate standard for these tests. The US Marine Corps have no input to these decisions.

RAF Leuchars

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2011, Official Report, column 234W, on RAF Leuchars, when he plans to place in the Library a copy of the sustainability appraisal. [86640]

Nick Harvey: A copy of the sustainability appraisal report was placed in the Library of the House on 13 December 2011.

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what alterations will be required to RAF Leuchars to transform it to an operational Army base;

15 Dec 2011 : Column 868W

what estimate he has made of the cost of any such alterations; and if he will make a statement. [86646]

Nick Harvey: Work has begun to determine the precise capacity of the defence estate as we seek to maximise its use and rationalise where appropriate. Until this work is completed it is too early to say what alterations will be required to RAF Leuchars or how much this will cost.

Education

Schools: Manpower

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) teachers, (b) teaching assistants, (c) special educational needs (SEN) teachers and (d) SEN assistants were employed in each local authority in (i) May 2010 and (ii) the latest period for which figures are available. [83474]

Mr Gibb: The following table provides the headcount of teachers and teaching assistants in publicly funded schools in England broken down by local authority and region in November 2010, the latest information available. Those employed in local authority maintained special schools are separately identified.

SEN teachers/assistants have been defined as those (a) working in special schools, (b) having a SEN co-ordinator role in other publicly funded schools or (c) having a learning support assistant for SEN pupils role in other publicly funded schools.

Number (headcount) of teachers (1) , teaching assistants, SEN co-ordinators and SEN assistants in publicly funded schools (including academies) in each local authority (2) . Year: November 2010. Coverage: Local authorities in England

In all publicly funded schools of which in special schools Teachers who are SEN co-ordinators (except in special schools) In all publicly funded schools of which in special schools Teaching assistants who are learning support assistants (for SEN pupils) or SEN co-ordinators (except in special schools)

England

493,430

16,840

2,140

341,170

30,550

33,400

             

Gateshead

1,920

90

20

870

100

80

Newcastle upon Tyne

2,440

130

20

1,300

140

210

North Tyneside

2,000

110

800

110

50

South Tyneside

1,050

60

550

50

40

Sunderland

2,800

110

1,820

230

70

Hartlepool

940

30

800

80

30

Middlesbrough

1,420

70

10

980

150

10

Redcar and Cleveland

1,400

60

10

970

150

60

Stockton on Tees

1,810

70

1,170

110

30

Durham

4,630

170

10

2,340

250

450

Darlington

830

40

570

50

Northumberland

3,840

80

1,930

160

20

North East

25,100

1,000

70

14,120

1,590

1,040

             

Cumbria

4,480

80

30

2,340

170

280

East Cheshire

3,380

50

1,990

80

Cheshire West and Chester

3,130

130

1,690

240

Halton

1,150

50

10

630

80

60

Warrington

2,020

60

10

1,240

70

60

Bolton

2,720

100

1,880

180

40

15 Dec 2011 : Column 869W

15 Dec 2011 : Column 870W

Bury

1,640

60

1,330

90

480

Manchester

4,270

200

10

2,740

380

40

Oldham

2,270

90

1,800

150

10

Rochdale

1,990

90

10

1,790

190

40

Salford

1,430

20

160

Stockport

2,620

80

30

1,760

130

180

Tameside

2,130

70

1,190

110

40

Trafford

2,100

90

990

110

30

Wigan

3,150

120

3,340

340

10

Lancashire

10,850

390

9,610

850

20

Blackburn with Darwen

1,580

60

1,420

110

900

Blackpool

1,250

50

850

60

50

Knowsley

1,410

100

1,080

120

50

Liverpool

4,280

170

20

1,880

230

100

St Helens

1,440

60

1,000

100

20

Sefton

2,710

90

50

1,810

150

30

Wirral

3,390

170

10

1,770

260

50

North West

65,370

2,380

200

44,290

4,200

2,490

             

Kingston upon Hull, City of

2,290

90

1,940

230

40

East Riding of Yorkshire

2,970

40

10

2,270

180

60

North East Lincolnshire

1,440

40

20

1,170

160

50

North Lincolnshire

1,430

40

10

1,170

130

10

North Yorkshire

4,840

130

3,130

200

York

1,450

30

780

90

10

Barnsley

1,900

40

20

1,460

120

150

Doncaster

2,850

80

10

3,610

190

1,320

Rotherham

2,900

100

2,120

230

70

Sheffield

4,610

180

3,040

290

30

Bradford

5,560

120

20

4,390

380

310

Calderdale

2,180

50

1,540

110

490

Kirklees

4,090

120

2,560

190

20

Leeds

6,860

160

5,180

280

60

Wakefield

2,980

100

2,370

170

720

Yorkshire and the Humber

48,350

1,300

110

36,710

2,940

3,330

             

Derbyshire

6,770

140

50

4,730

270

310

Derby

2,100

70

1,580

140

70

Leicestershire

6,200

130

4,410

420

1,810

Leicester

3,110

140

2,520

250

60

Rutland

290

10

190

10

40

Lincolnshire

6,140

270

20

4,800

500

90

Northamptonshire

6,900

240

90

5,610

520

1,180

Nottinghamshire

7,600

180

40

4,210

340

120

Nottingham

2,590

70

20

1,770

130

30

East Midlands

41,700

1,250

220

29,830

2,580

3,690

             

Herefordshire

1,460

50

20

1,120

110

60

Worcestershire

5,340

210

4,410

390

10

Shropshire

2,980

60

20

2,500

110

370

Telford and Wrekin

1,420

70

1,360

110

10

Staffordshire

7,840

310

4,870

520

110

Stoke on Trent

2,150

70

1,430

110

190

Warwickshire

5,100

200

30

3,430

340

40

Birmingham

11,540

600

100

7,050

790

50

Coventry

3,420

150

1,850

190

30

15 Dec 2011 : Column 871W

15 Dec 2011 : Column 872W

Dudley

3,020

100

2,780

190

20

Sandwell

3,260

60

10

2,490

160

340

Solihull

2,410

90

1,450

140

20

Walsall

2,740

100

10

2,040

160

120

Wolverhampton

2,580

120

1,390

180

60

West Midlands

55,230

2,190

190

38,150

3,490

1,420

             

Cambridgeshire

4,940

150

30

4,060

340

30

Peterborough

1,760

60

10

1,570

120

90

Norfolk

7,120

170

100

6,320

410

1,010

Suffolk

7,000

170

10

4,810

330

640

Bedford borough

1,780

50

10

1,100

120

80

Central Bedfordshire

3,110

90

20

1,710

160

180

Luton

2,100

50

10

1,850

150

120

Essex

12,170

280

60

9,000

670

1,990

Southend on Sea

1,960

80

1,200

150

260

Thurrock

1,300

60

10

940

90

120

Hertfordshire

12,930

440

70

7,170

600

840

East of England

56,160

1,620

320

39,720

3,130

5,360

             

Camden

1,610

50

10

1,020

110

90

City of London

20

20

Hackney

1,920

60

10

1,210

80

180

Hammersmith and Fulham

1,300

60

10

630

100

90

Haringey

2,350

90

10

1,380

100

250

Islington

1,600

60

10

1,050

110

20

Kensington and Chelsea

790

20

540

40

80

Lambeth

2,340

70

20

1,630

120

140

Lewisham

2,050

110

10

1,450

90

100

Newham

3,100

30

10

2,220

70

120

Southwark

2,490

90

20

1,790

140

230

Tower Hamlets

3,030

100

20

2,190

190

120

Wandsworth

2,310

150

10

1,790

350

250

Westminster

1,540

30

10

850

40

200

Inner London

26,460

930

130

17,750

1,540

1,860

             

Barking and Dagenham

2,170

50

10

1,090

80

300

Barnet

3,720

90

30

2,240

170

170

Bexley

2,370

70

1,480

150

10

Brent

2,850

90

20

1,490

150

270

Bromley

2,930

100

10

1,950

170

350

Croydon

3,440

110

20

2,260

180

180

Ealing

2,950

110

20

1,610

240

220

Enfield

3,420

100

30

2,140

140

270

Greenwich

2,600

110

10

2,060

220

360

Harrow

2,030

80

20

1,280

80

340

Havering

2,390

50

10

1,680

100

220

Hillingdon

2,890

110

10

1,950

180

300

Hounslow

2,410

80

10

1,100

110

70

Kingston upon Thames

1,590

50

10

850

100

80

Merton

1,530

50

960

60

220

Redbridge

3,190

140

30

1,690

190

430

Richmond upon Thames

1,280

30

10

740

40

160

Sutton

2,120

60

20

1,080

60

190

Waltham Forest

2,430

170

10

1,470

230

240

Outer London

48,300

1,630

270

29,110

2,650

4,380

15 Dec 2011 : Column 873W

15 Dec 2011 : Column 874W

             

London

74,750

2,560

410

46,860

4,190

6,240

             

Bracknell Forest

880

30

10

670

50

100

Windsor and Maidenhead

1,300

20

10

940

90

70

West Berkshire

1,800

70

10

1,420

100

190

Reading

1,270

40

10

930

90

60

Slough

1,650

90

10

1,060

90

150

Wokingham

1,620

60

10

1,280

90

260

Buckinghamshire

5,570

200

30

3,260

340

820

Milton Keynes

2,740

140

10

2,070

210

230

East Sussex

4,200

190

10

3,310

290

170

Brighton and Hove

2,200

140

1,590

210

70

Hampshire

10,860

360

160

7,000

720

840

Portsmouth

1,580

120

1,340

220

40

Southampton

1,790

70

10

1,380

130

320

Isle of Wight

1,220

40

1,020

130

200

Kent

14,880

580

80

10,550

1,300

470

Medway

2,540

100

30

1,820

170

160

Oxfordshire

5,960

180

20

4,720

370

450

Surrey

9,180

380

70

7,160

630

1,180

West Sussex

7,380

250

20

4,760

350

540

South East

78,620

3,080

480

56,270

5,560

6,290

             

Isles of Scilly

40

30

Bath and North East Somerset

1,770

70

10

1,090

130

120

Bristol, City of

3,370

160

20

1,940

260

560

North Somerset

1,840

40

1,130

80

350

South Gloucestershire

2,620

60

10

1,430

90

60

Cornwall

4,840

70

20

4,230

170

110

Devon

6,620

160

10

5,220

340

380

Plymouth

2,510

120

2,110

220

30

Torbay

1,260

70

10

870

100

40

Dorset

3,700

110

20

2,640

220

70

Poole

1,160

50

810

100

30

Bournemouth

1,300

50

860

100

10

Gloucestershire

6,260

220

20

3,930

480

390

Somerset

4,550

90

10

4,150

260

1,240

Wiltshire

4,410

120

10

3,140

180

100

Swindon

1,900

100

10

1,680

170

30

South West

48,150

1,490

140

35,210

2,880

3,540

(1) Includes qualified and unqualified teachers but excludes occasional teachers. (2) Figures are based on completed School Workforce Census returns. Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. ‘—’ = nil or negligible. 3. Totals may not appear equal to the sum of the component parts because of rounding. Source: School Workforce Census (November 2010)

Prime Minister

Bell Pottinger

Mr Watson: To ask the Prime Minister whether his (a) Chief of Staff and (b) Director of Strategy has met representatives of (i) Bell Pottinger Group and (ii) clients of Bell Pottinger Group on the recommendation of that Group since May 2010; on what dates any such meetings took place; and what was discussed. [86774]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 November 2011, Official Report, column 234W, to the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann).

15 Dec 2011 : Column 875W

EU Action

Ms Ritchie: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what discussions he had with the Office of First and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland on the most recent European Council meeting; [86709]

(2) what assessment he has made of the effect on Northern Ireland of the outcome of the most recent European Council meeting. [86710]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 December 2011, Official Report, column 529, to the right hon. Member for Belfast North (Mr Dodds).

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Alun Michael: To ask the Prime Minister what the (a) name and (b) payscale is of each special adviser appointed since 14 October 2011. [86855]

The Prime Minister: An updated list of special advisers, and their pay bands, is published quarterly. This is available on the Cabinet Office website:

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special-adviser-data-releases

Energy and Climate Change

Energy Performance Certificates

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of private rented sector accommodation units in energy performance certificate bands (a) E, (b) F and (c) G in the London borough of Brent. [86478]

Andrew Stunell: I have been asked to reply.

The English Housing Survey does not enable an estimate to be made at local authority level. However, the survey does provide a national estimate of the numbers of privately rented accommodation in each energy performance certificate band. The national estimate is included in the latest published English Housing Survey Tables (Housing Stock Summary Statistics Table 7.1):

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/xls/1937429.xls

Carbon Sequestration

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he had with representatives of the carbon capture and storage industry before the announcement by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on carbon capture and storage funding in this Parliament. [85901]

Charles Hendry [holding answer 12 December 2011]: My right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has not made an announcement on CCS funding in this Parliament. My colleagues and I, at ministerial and official level, meet regularly with industry representatives

15 Dec 2011 : Column 876W

to discuss CCS. This includes discussions about funding and we have been clear that £1 billion is available to support CCS projects.

Departmental Manpower

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what support staff (a) he and (b) his special advisers employ other than the staff in his private office. [86609]

Gregory Barker: None.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the (a) salary grade and (b) title is of each member of staff in his private office who is (A) a civil servant, (B) a special adviser and (C) another political appointee. [86611]

Gregory Barker: Please see following table showing details of staffing in the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change’s private office. All staff are civil servants and there are no other political appointees.

Grade Title Number

Senior Civil Servant, PB1

Principal Private Secretary to Secretary of State

1

Special Adviser, PB2

Special Adviser to Secretary of State

2

Grade 6

Deputy Principal Private Secretary to Secretary of State

1

Fast stream

Private Secretary to Secretary of State

3

HEO

Diary Manager to Secretary of State

1

Grade 7

Speech Writer to Secretary of State

1

Salary information is already published. Please see following links.

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/about_decc/about_decc.aspx

http://lis/decc/human-resources/handbook/pay-awards.html

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special-adviser-data-releases

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many staff in his private office (a) previously worked for a political party and (b) are on secondment. [86612]

Gregory Barker: None.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many staff in the private office of the (a) Minister of State for Climate Change and (b) Minister of State for Energy are on secondment. [86613]

Gregory Barker: None.

Electricity Generation

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ipswich (Ben Gummer), of 5 December 2011, Official Report, column 40W, on

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electricity generation, what estimate his Department has made of the costs of moving to a pooled system of retail energy sales; and what cost-benefit analysis he has undertaken of such a move; [86672]

(2) what assessment he has made of the effect on competition in the retail energy sector of moving to a pooled system of retail energy sales; [86673]

(3) what discussions his Department has had with small retail energy suppliers on the effect on their business model of moving to a pooled system of retail energy sales. [86671]

Charles Hendry [holding answer 14 December 2011]: The UK operated under a pool system prior to privatisation, thereafter we moved to a system of bilateral contracting (NETA), in common with most other European counties. However, a reversion to a pool system would be costly, disruptive and would take years to implement. As an illustration, estimated costs in 2004 of the transition from the pool to NETA were in the region of £700 million.

There are alternative approaches to improving energy market competition. Ofgem, are leading work aimed at increasing market liquidity in order to ensure that small and independent suppliers and generators have fair access to the market. A pool would not necessarily solve the problems facing smaller market participants—in particular a pool would not in itself improve forward market liquidity.

Nuclear Power: Safety

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the costs to (a) his Department and (b) operators of civil nuclear installations resulting from the implementation of the recommendations in the report on implications for the UK nuclear industry of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami by HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations. [85787]

Charles Hendry: Nuclear safety is a top priority and as such any associated costs to the Department will be borne out of the overall departmental budget.

The Government are not able to comment on any associated costs to the nuclear operating companies, as such costs are part of the overall and ongoing costs of ensuring the safe operation of nuclear facilities.

Renewable Energy: Wales

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had on renewable energy development in Wales. [86247]

Charles Hendry: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has regular discussions with ministerial colleagues across the UK on renewable energy issues, including those in Wales.

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Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his Department's most recent estimate is of the cost of extending the eligibility date for the reduction in tariff level for solar PV from 12 December 2011 to 31 March 2012. [85780]

Gregory Barker: The impact assessment published alongside the consultation on feed-in tariffs for solar PV estimated the range of costs to consumers with a reference date of 12 December 2011 (option 2) and a reference date of 1 April 2012 (option 3). Under the central scenario we estimated that the additional costs associated with a reference date of 1 April would be approximately £60 million per year (2011 prices, discounted) over the spending review period.

We have undertaken an initial update of the estimates in the impact assessment to take account of higher than projected uptake in October 2011. Our preliminary update suggests that under the central scenario the additional costs associated with a 1 April reference date would be around £120-140 million per year (2011 prices, discounted) over the spending review period. These estimates should be treated as preliminary, as full updated estimates will be published in the final impact assessment supporting the Government's response to the consultation.

Warm Front Scheme

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 Warm Front scheme (i) in each of the last 10 years, (ii) between July 2010 and December 2010 and (iii) since April 2011; and what the average level of grant provided under the scheme was in each such period. [86523]

Gregory Barker: This information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households received assistance under the Warm Front scheme in England in each month of the last 10 years; and what the average level of grant provided under the scheme was in each such month. [86524]

Gregory Barker: I will be placing a copy of the information requested in the Libraries of the House.

Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the operation of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 since July 2010; and if he will make a statement. [R] [84458]

Gregory Barker: I discuss fuel poverty issues with ministerial colleagues on a regular basis.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his

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Department have had with (i) HM Treasury and (ii) other ministerial colleagues on the operation of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000; and if he will make a statement. [R] [84485]

Gregory Barker [holding answer 5 December 2011]:Ministerial colleagues, officials and I regularly meet with other Government Departments to discuss fuel poverty issues.

Justice

Care Homes: Hampshire

Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many care homes in (a) Hampshire and (b) Southampton have been subject to (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful prosecutions in the last two years. [86596]

Mr Blunt: 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 these centrally held data whether a care home was proceeded against or found guilty.

Chief Coroner: Public Appointments

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department has contacted any potential candidates for the role of Chief Coroner. [86773]

Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice has not contacted any potential candidates for the role of Chief Coroner. Under Schedule 8 to the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 it is for the Lord Chief Justice to appoint the Chief Coroner, following consultation with my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice.

Civil Disorder

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which courts dealt with cases concerning persons suspected of criminal involvement during the public disorder of August 2011. [86308]

Mr Djanogly: To date public disorder cases have been heard at 79 magistrates courts and 17 Crown courts, a list of which follows.

Courts that have heard cases related to the public disorder from 6-9 August 2011, data as at 7 December 2011 .

Magistrates courts

Balham

Banbury

Barking

Basildon

Bexley

Birmingham

Brent

Brighton

Bristol

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Bristol Youth Court

Bromley

Bury St Edmunds

Caernarfon

Camberwell Green

Cambridge

Cardiff

Cheltenham

City of Westminster

Colchester

Coventry

Crewe

Croydon

Ealing

East Lancashire Magistrates (Blackburn)

Enfield

Feltham

Greenwich

Grimsby

Halton

Haringey

Harlow

Harwich

Hatfield

Havering

Hemel Hempstead

Hendon

Hertford

High Wycombe

Highbury Corner

Lancaster

Leeds

Liverpool Community Justice centre

Liverpool

Luton

Macclesfield

Maidenhead

Maidstone

Manchester City

Medway

Milton Keynes

Nottingham

Oxford

Reading

Redbridge

Richmond

Salford

Slough

Solihull

South Western

Southampton

Southend