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Vetting: Standards
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) target time and (b) average time taken was to complete a Criminal Records Bureau check from when the completed form is received; and how many such checks have taken more than six months to complete in the last year. [80929]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 15 November 2011]:The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) aims to process 90% of all enhanced checks within 28 days of receipt of a fully completed application form and 95% of standard checks within 10 days.
The following table shows the average time taken to complete both standard and enhanced CRB checks in the last 12 months and those that have taken longer than six months to complete.
There are a number of factors that can affect the timely completion of CRB checks, including but not restricted to the length of time it can take for an employer to deal with the initial application; the accurate completion of the application form; the clarity of the information provided; the existence of conviction or non-conviction information and the operational effectiveness of the disclosure units of the police forces involved in the CRB checking process.
Most enhanced certificates are delayed at the police local intelligence checking stage. I am aware that such delays have meant that the CRB has in the past had some problems meeting its agreed targets. However, I am pleased to confirm that there has been a significant improvement in terms of overall turnaround between the police and the CRB, following the implementation of a range of improvements.
In October, the CRB issued over 95% of enhanced CRB certificates within 28 days.
| Standard disclosures | Enhanced disclosures | ||||||
|
|
Certificates issued | Average turnaround | Number taking over six months | Certificates issued | Average turnaround | Number taking over six months | Percentage taking over six months |
Violent and Sex Offender Register
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when her Department intends to publish its response to the consultation on proposals to strengthen the notification requirements for registered sex offenders; [85916]
(2) what progress her Department has made on the introduction of a requirement for registered sex offenders to notify the police of all foreign travel. [85917]
Lynne Featherstone:
On 14 June 2011 the Home Office launched a targeted consultation on reforming the notification requirements for registered sex offenders;
19 Dec 2011 : Column 931W
the consultation ran for a period of eight weeks and drew to a close on 8 August 2011. The consultation sought views on four key proposals: (i) notification of all foreign travel, (ii) notify weekly where registered as ‘no fixed abode’, (iii) notify when living with a minor and (iv) notify of passport, bank account and credit card details and provide proof of identification at each notification.
The Home Office is currently considering its response to the consultation which will be published in due course.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to answer question 57878 from the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire on 25 May 2011 on the UK Border Agency. [83835]
Damian Green: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 29 November 2011, Official Report, column 798W.
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to answer Question 80423 on the UK Border Force, tabled on 8 November 2011 for named day answer on 14 November 2011. [84491]
Damian Green [holding answer 5 December 2011]: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 13 December 2011, Official Report, columns 627-8W.
Culture, Media and Sport
Telecommunications Masts
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to encourage mobile telephone networks to share telecommunication masts. [86813]
Mr Vaizey: The mobile telephone operators already have established network sharing arrangements, as evidenced by Cornerstone, a network sharing agreement between Vodafone and O2 and the Mobile Broadband Network Limited company established by Everything Everywhere and Three UK.
Arts Council England: Finance
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much Arts Council England spent in each local authority area (a) in total and (b) per head of local population in each of the last three years. [87104]
Mr Vaizey: Arts Council England have produced a table with the total funding levels for the last three years, and the funding per head for the last three years in each local authority area of England. A copy will be deposited in the Library of both Houses.
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Arts Council England: Torbay
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which organisations in Torbay constituency received Arts Council England funding in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10, (d) 2010-11 and (e) 2011-12. [87102]
Mr Vaizey: Arts Council England gave grants for the arts (GA) and managed funds (MF) to the following organisations in the Torbay constituency in:
Acumen Publications (GA)—Acumen Poetry
Torbay Play Forum (GA)—Creative Play in the Bay
Torbay council (GA)—Developing the Torbay Creative brand Website
Torbay council (MF)—Local Authority Partnership Agreement
None
Torbay Poetry Festival (GA)—Bringing the Best Poetry to the Community
Shiona Morton (GA)—Extension to Attachment at the Bristol Old Vic
Acumen Publications (GA)—Keeping the Profile of Poetry High
Oldway Primary School (GA)—Pamoja 2
Torbay council (MF)—LA Regional Improvement project
Torbay council (MF)—Development of Planning Area for Culture, Torbay
Torbay council (MF)—Work to develop improved cultural services delivery in the South West.
Torbay Play Forum (GA)—Midwinter Mischief
Acumen Publications (GA)—Acumen Poetry
None
Broadband
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to accelerate progress of the 4G broadband roll-out. [86395]
Mr Vaizey: The Office of Communications (Ofcom) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have been working on the earliest availability of both bands expected to be used for 4G broadband services. The 800 MHz band will be available following the completion of digital switchover in 2012 and the subsequent clearance of DTT from channels 61 and 62 which is expected to be completed by the end of 2013. The 2.6 GHz band will be available following the completion of radar remediation work which is also expected to be completed in areas covering the majority of the population by the end of 2013. The preparation and timing of the auction is an operational one for the independent regulator, Ofcom, who expect to conduct an auction of the bands starting in second half of 2012.
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what progress has been made on his Department's rural broadband roll-out programme; and if he will make a statement. [86705]
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Mr Vaizey: Eight local broadband projects are currently in procurement and will enter delivery next year. The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport is challenging all local authorities and the devolved Administrations to have their local broadband plans approved by the end of April at the latest and to be ready for procurement within three months of this approval.
The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), is confident that they will be able to meet this timetable and that deployment will be complete by 2015.
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Official Hospitality
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what receptions and events have been hosted by his Department since May 2010, including those sponsored by third parties. [84219]
John Penrose: The receptions and events shown in the table have been hosted by Ministers since May 2010.
| Minister | Month and year | Reception/event |
|
Local TV road shows: Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Newport |
||
Information about ministerial meetings with outside interest groups can be found on the Department's Transparency website at the following link:
http://www.transparency.culture.gov.uk/
Other events, such as Round Table meetings hosted by the Departments' officials and Ministers are not compiled centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost for the period requested.
Diamond Jubilee 2012: Medals
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will take steps to make the diamond jubilee medal available to veterans who wish to receive one. [86252]
Hugh Robertson: Detailed eligibility criteria for the Diamond Jubilee medal are a matter for sponsoring Departments and the devolved Administrations. As with the golden jubilee, the diamond jubilee medal will be issued only to those who meet the eligibility criteria and are in service on and including the 6 February 2012.
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will consider extending the eligibility for the Queen's Jubilee Medal to (a) St John Ambulance and (b) other such voluntary organisations. [87405]
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will consider extending the eligibility for the Queen’s diamond jubilee medal to (a) St John Ambulance Cymru and (b) other such voluntary organisations. [87717]
Hugh Robertson: The eligibility criteria for the diamond jubilee medal are broadly the same as that for the golden jubilee medal, which means that it will be issued to serving front-line members of the armed forces, emergency services and Her Majesty’s Prison Service who have completed five years’ service on, and including, Accession day, 6 February 2012.
The Government are actively considering additional ways to visibly recognise and reward the work of outstanding voluntary organisations such as the St John Ambulance in Her Majesty’s diamond jubilee year.
Internet: Access
Mr Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he plans to take to improve access to the internet for the 10 per cent. of the population who are not included in the Government's target for the roll-out of superfast broadband by 2015; and if he will make a statement. [86447]
Mr Vaizey: The Government published their broadband strategy “Britain's Superfast Broadband Future” in December 2010, which included their target of delivering a standard 2 Mbps broadband target for virtually all premises by 2015. A copy of the strategy can be found on the Department's website at:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/10-1320-britains-su.perfast-broadband-future.pdf
Mr Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the findings of the Communications Management Association's Internet Opportunity Survey; and if he will make a statement. [86448]
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Mr Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport helped to fund this survey, and the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has noted the findings with great interest. It is important that we have a firm evidence base with which to inform and develop our policy making, and the Communications Management Association's Internet Opportunity Survey has made—and will continue to make—a valuable contribution to that.
Local Broadcasting: Essex
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport for what reasons he did not name a town in Essex in his list of towns and cities to be permitted to have their own local television station. [87219]
Mr Vaizey: The list of locations that could receive a local TV service was determined by Ofcom using a range of criteria including suitable spectrum coverage. Unfortunately, local TV in Essex is not technically possible due to a lack of availability of suitable spectrum.
Music: Young People
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to support involvement in music by young people. [86798]
Mr Vaizey [holding answer 15 December 2011]: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), and I launched the first National Plan for Music Education on 25 November which sets out Government's priorities and support for music education. In partnership with the music industry we are also supporting a new music competition, the Next BRIT Thing and 14 new rehearsal spaces across England providing young people with the space to develop their musical talents.
Olympic Games 2012: Legacy
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the legacy objectives of the London 2012 Olympics. [86762]
Hugh Robertson: We have set out our four legacy objectives in the Government’s Legacy Plan published in December 2010:
Harnessing the United Kingdom’s passion for sport to increase school-based and grass-roots participation in competitive sport—and to encourage the whole population to be more physically active;
Exploiting to the full the opportunities for economic growth offered by hosting the games, particularly with reference to inward investment and tourism;
Promoting community engagement and participation in voluntary work across all groups in society through the games; and
Ensuring that the Olympic Park can be developed after the games as one of the principal drivers of regeneration in east London, with particular focus on the digital and creative industries.
We are confident that the London 2012 games will leave behind a significant sporting legacy. Olympic venues
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and investment in training facilities will support local communities after the games. We are strengthening grass-roots sport through the Places People Play initiative: more than a thousand local sports clubs and facilities will be improved, the nation’s playing fields protected, and 40,000 new community sports leaders recruited. We are inspiring young people, including through the School games programme to get more schoolchildren excited by competitive sport—more than 11,000 schools are already signed up.
London 2012 expects to have directly procured £6 billion worth of contracts, generating tens of thousands of supply chain contract opportunities. To date, the ODA has directly awarded contracts worth £6 billion to over 1,500 suppliers, 98% of which have been awarded to companies in the UK. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is now undertaking procurement for £700 million worth of goods and services from the open market. We are committed to ensuring that the tourism industry maximise the economic benefits provided by the games. Including new money that has recently been announced from the GREAT campaign, plus private sector support, VisitBritain will invest around £127 million in a new international marketing programme. Over the next four years, it is expected to deliver 4.6 million extra visitors from overseas and £2.27 billion in extra visitor spend.
We are promoting community engagement though the Inspire and community-based programmes. To date, over 2,000 community-based projects have been awarded, the Inspire Mark, which is awarded to high-quality non-commercial projects inspired by the games. Also the Nations and Regions Group, established by the Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), works directly with each UK nation and region to help them realise and maximise the benefits from the economic, sporting and cultural opportunities offered by the games. Over 240,000 people applied for the 70,000 available places on the London 2012 Games Maker programme. LOCOG is now offering roles to successful applicants.
The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) is leading the transformation and development of the park after the games. The OPLC submitted their Legacy Communities Scheme planning application in October 2011 to guide the development needed to create up to a further 6,800 new homes (with a focus on family housing), schools and health centres, employment space for up to 4,400 jobs, and a strong sporting legacy from the park venues. The new £1.43 billion Westfield retail development at Stratford City is the largest urban shopping centre in Europe and employs 10,000 people, many of them local residents. Volterra, a consultancy commissioned by Westfield, estimates that eventually this will rise to 20,000 people. Westfield is just the start of the Olympic legacy and a symbol of the big changes coming to east London. The Olympic Park will be developed as a national and international hub for fast-growing creative and digital industries and attracting new investment to the country.
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment has been made of the potential effects of the London 2012 Olympics on Sittingbourne and Sheppey constituency. [86817]
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Hugh Robertson: The Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) established the Nations and Regions Group to ensure UK-wide engagement and to maximise the legacy from London 2012. This group works directly with representatives from each of the nations and English regions to realise the sporting, economic, and cultural benefits of the 2012 games.
The South East stands to gain from the wide range of opportunities created by the 2012 games, through businesses winning games-related work, increased tourism and cultural celebrations. Some examples of how Kent, and specifically my hon. Friend's own constituency, will benefit from the games are as follows.
Over 22,000 schools and colleges across the UK have registered for LOCOG's London 2012 education programme, Get Set. 631 schools and colleges are registered in Kent including schools in Sittingbourne and Sheppey. We are also introducing the School Games, a new school sport competition which will provide more opportunities for pupils to compete in sport through a vibrant programme of regular intra- and inter-school competitions. All schools are being encouraged to sign up.
Also, “Places People Play”, the mass participation Olympic legacy programme, will bring sporting legacy to life in communities across the country. This will be achieved by transforming the places where people play sport, inspiring people to make sport happen at a local level and creating sporting opportunities that give everyone the chance to become part of the mass participation legacy.
The London 2012 games will leave behind a significant sporting legacy, as well as programmes to increase participation; the whole country will benefit from London winning the right to stage the World Athletics Championships in 2017.
Over 2,000 cultural or sporting projects across the UK have been awarded the Inspire marks. In the South East 181 projects have been awarded Inspire marks. One example is Making it Last—a project led by Kent county council and the Sittingbourne Community College. It teaches young people about the importance of sustainability in a creative way. It also draws on the Olympic values and the games' Sustainability Plan. Further information can be found at:
http://www.kent20in12.org.uk/index.php/case-studies/ page/63/
There has been significant support for the London 2012 Games Maker programme, with many people volunteering for the first time and the potential to carry that ambition forward in their own community beyond 2012. 240,000 people applied for the 70,000 places and LOCOG is now offering roles to successful applicants. The response to the opportunity to nominate a torchbearer to carry the flame on the Olympic torch relay has also been hugely positive. More details, including the route through the South East, can be found at the following link:
http://www.london2012.com/olympic-torch-relay
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has awarded contracts to over 233 direct suppliers in the South East. One of these suppliers is CIPD Publishing, based in Sittingbourne and Sheppey. Information on businesses
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that have directly supplied the ODA is available in the business section of the London 2012 website at the following link:
http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/business-network/oda-suppliers/index.php
This information does not include contracts further down the supply chain, in tiers two, three and so on, which are awarded by the tier one contractors and not by the ODA. Also, 431 contracts have been awarded to companies in the region through CompeteFor (the website where London 2012 contract opportunities are advertised).
We are also committed to ensuring that the tourism industry maximises the economic benefits provided by the games. Including new money that has recently been announced from the GREAT campaign, plus private sector support, VisitBritain will invest around £127 million in a new international marketing programme. Over the next four years it is expected to deliver 4.6 million extra visitors from overseas and £2.27 billion in extra visitor spend.
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport for what reasons the budget for the London 2012 Olympics ceremonies has been increased. [87232]
Hugh Robertson: The ceremonies for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase the very best of our country to up to 4 billion people around the world, and could be worth up to £5 billion in advertising value. To get the ceremonies absolutely right, and boost the games' business and tourism legacy, we are putting additional investment into the ceremonies.
Olympic Games 2012: Bournemouth
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what representations he has received on plans for the Olympic flame to pass through Bournemouth; and if he will make a statement. [87320]
Hugh Robertson: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is responsible for the Olympic Torch Relay.
Bournemouth will hold an Olympic Torch evening celebration on 13 July. The Olympic Torch Relay route has been devised after extensive consultation with representatives in each nation and region over the last two years, and will take the flame to within 10 miles of 95% of the population and within 20 miles of 99%.
Education
Buzz Off Campaign
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the use of mosquito devices; and if he will review the Children's Commissioner's Buzz Off campaign. [87446]
Tim Loughton:
We are strongly opposed to mosquito devices being used to unfairly target children and young people. In my foreword to the ‘Positive for Youth’ policy statement (published on 19 December 2011), I encourage young people to “challenge the discriminatory and
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inappropriate use of ‘mosquito’ devices”. The statement also includes a case study which describes how, following representations from the member of the UK Youth Parliament for Sheffield, Sheffield city council voted unanimously to end the use of mosquito devices on all council buildings. Other local authorities that have taken similar action include Lancashire county council, Knowsley, Kent county council and Kirklees council—all as a result of successful campaigns by young people. We would support all councils taking a similar approach.
We also welcome the Children's Commissioner's ‘Buzz Off’ campaign which has helped to bring the issue to the attention of young people and decision-makers.
Children: Disability
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when his Department last conducted research on the number of (a) deaf blind and (b) multi-sensory impaired children. [85551]
Sarah Teather: The school census provides annual data on the number of pupils with multi-sensory impairment receiving support at school and as part of a statement of educational needs. This is published as part of the annual analysis of children with special educational needs. The most recent analysis was published on 19 October 2011 and is available on the DFE website:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/STR/d001032/index.shtml
A national audit of support services and provision for children with low incidence needs, including multi-sensory impairment was published in 2006 and is available on the DFE website:
http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/sen/sen/data/a0013116/national-audit-of-low-incidence-special-educational-needs-support-services-and-provision
In addition, the Department funds the National Sensory Impairment Partnership to support local areas to improve outcomes for children with sensory impairments. Their work includes information sharing and benchmarking of local needs and services. More information is available at:
www.natsip.org.uk
Child: Protection
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has any plans to request Ofsted to investigate arrangements for safeguarding deaf children. [82529]
Sarah Teather [holding answer 5 December 2011]: Ministers have no plans to make such a request. The Government are committed to delivering a new, more streamlined and proportionate, inspection framework for safeguarding children, which will take account of the recommendations from Professor Eileen Munro's review of child protection, by May 2012.
Ofsted's new inspection framework is currently being developed and will focus on the effectiveness of all services to safeguard children, including deaf children. It will be for inspectors to identify any issues in relation to safeguarding arrangements for deaf children and, where appropriate, highlight these in inspection reports.
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Children's Centres
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the (a) minimum and (b) optimum number of Sure Start children's centres needed to constitute a network of children's centres across the country. [86004]
Sarah Teather: The Department has not made a formal estimate of either the minimum or the optimum number of Sure Start children's centres, as this is the role of individual local authorities.
Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure that there are a sufficient number of children's centres to meet local needs. The configuration of children's centres is for local authorities to decide in consultation with their local communities. This Government want to retain a network of Sure Start children's centres, accessible to all families but focused on those in greatest need.
The Government will shortly be consulting on revised statutory guidance on children's centres and will be seeking views on whether that guidance clarifies the statutory duties appropriately.
Children’s Centres: Finance
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2011, Official Report, column 441W, on children's centres: finance, (a) when and (b) where his Department published expenditure by local authorities on children's centres. [86752]
Sarah Teather: Financial reports on local authority planned budgets for their education and children's services functions, including children's centres, for 2011-12 were published by the Department for Education on 15 September 2011.
They are available on the Department's website at the following address:
http://www.education.gov.uk/researchandstatistics/statistics/statistics-by-topic/schoolandlafinance/a00196758/financialreportsonlaplannedbudgetsforeducationandsocailcare
Children’s Centres: Leicester
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department plans to allocate to children's centres in Leicester South constituency in each of the next four years. [86472]
Sarah Teather: Since April 2011, funding for children's centres has been included within the Early Intervention Grant (EIG). The allocation for 2011-12 and the indicative allocation for 2012-13 for Leicester city council are shown in the following table. Funding beyond March 2013 is subject to future announcements.
The EIG is an un-ring-fenced and un-hypothecated funding stream that gives local authorities flexibility to target resources strategically and to intervene early to improve outcomes for children, young people and families. It is up to local authorities to judge how best to use this funding in consultation with local communities, taking account of local need and evidence of what is most effective. Local authorities have statutory duties under the Childcare Act 2006 to provide sufficient children's
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centres to meet local need so far as is reasonably practicable, and to ensure there is consultation before opening, closing or making significant changes to services through children's centres.
|
|
Early Intervention Grant (£) |
Departmental Audit
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what criteria (a) his Department and (b) its public bodies use when deciding whether and when to hold an internal audit; and if he will make a statement. [85631]
Tim Loughton: Potential internal audit tasks are identified and prioritised on an iterative basis using a system of high level risk assessments across all key business areas. These assessments result in weighted scores for key risks areas including financial, reputational, delivery capacity and capability. Those business areas with the highest scores are prioritised for audit attention. Other sources of assurance are also taken into account to avoid potential duplication and nugatory work.
Identification of new and key business areas are identified through discussions with management and review of documentation such as business plans, budget plans, and ministerial submissions.
Internal audit services within the non-departmental public bodies will also be conducted on a risk-based approach, but they are directed and managed by the individual accounting officers and hence we do not have access to more specific information.
Food Labelling
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether food and catering services in (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible plan to implement calorie labelling on menus and display boards. [85840]
Tim Loughton: The Department for Education's and its public bodies' caterers are contracted to comply with Government Buying Standards for food and catering services. Calorie labelling forms part of an evolving strategy to offer a choice of diet to our staff. From December 2011 the Department's caterer will be trialling a range of food that offers low to high glycaemic index value and as part of this process calorific information will be displayed on menu boards.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps the food and catering services in (a) his Department and (b) public bodies for which he is responsible are taking to ensure the country of origin of foods are labelled on its menus and display boards. [85841]
Tim Loughton:
The Department for Education's and its public bodies' caterers are contracted to adhere to the Government Buying Standards for food and catering services. In line with the standards the Department's caterer has started to use menu boards to identify
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whether food is UK produced or imported. We will continue to work with our caterers to improve the degree and quality of the information provided.
Official Hospitality
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each Minister in his Department in each of the last 12 months. [73674]
Tim Loughton: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), and Ministers hosted a number of events over the last 12 months at which hospitality was provided. The total amount spent was £2,438.
The total spend on ministerial official hospitality by the Department for Education and its predecessor in each of the last three financial years is:
2008-09: £4,763
2009-10: £8,998
2010-11: £3,625.
All expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
Risk Assessment
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what risk registers are held by the public bodies for which his Department is responsible; and if he will make a statement. [85699]
Tim Loughton: Non-departmental public bodies are required to manage risk in accordance with the HMT Management of Risk: Principles and Concepts (the Orange Book) and any departmental risk management policy and guidance. They are not required to share the risk registers with the Department for Education. However as part of the Department's sponsorship role non-departmental public bodies do discuss their risks with the Department.
Assurance of risk handling is provided by each non-departmental public body through the Statement of Internal Control which forms part of the published annual report and accounts.
Parliamentary Written Questions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of questions for ordinary written answer received a substantive response within (a) 10, (b) 20, (c) 30 and (d) more than 30 sitting days in the 2010-12 session to date. [85930]
Tim Loughton: The information is shown in the following table:
|
|
Number | Percentage |
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The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide this information to the committee at the end of the Session. Statistics relating to Government Departments' performance for the 2009/10 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the committee and are available on the Parliament website.
Education Capital Review
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to publish a full response to the James Review of capital funding. [85980]
Mr Gibb: A full response to the James Review of capital funding will be published early in 2012.
Pre-school Education: Hampshire
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of children in East Hampshire constituency eligible for free nursery places announced in (a) 2010 for the most disadvantaged and (b) the Autumn Statement for less-advantaged two-year-olds. [86601]
Sarah Teather: The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the right hon. Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), announced in the Autumn Statement that the early education entitlement for two-year-olds will be expanded to around 260,000 children. The Government intend to take a phased approach to the implementation of the new entitlement. The 20% most disadvantaged two-year-olds will be eligible from September 2013. From 2014, the entitlement will be extended to around 40% of two-year-olds.
The Government have published indicative figures for how many children will be eligible in each local authority area in the first phase of the entitlement in 2013. These are available as part of the current Early Education and Childcare consultation, at the following link:
www.education.gov.uk/consultations
Our figures are to the nearest hundred, and we estimate that around 2,100 two-year-olds in Hampshire, and less than 100 in East Hampshire district, will be eligible for the entitlement in 2013.
We will publish further proposals in due course on eligibility criteria to reach 40% of two-year-olds from 2014.
Pre-school Education: Lancashire
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many disadvantaged two-year-olds will be eligible for free nursery care in (a) Pendle and (b) East Lancashire under his proposals. [86061]
Sarah Teather:
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the right hon. Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), announced in the Autumn Statement that the early education entitlement for two-year-olds will be expanded to around 260,000 children. The Government intend to take a
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phased approach to the implementation of the new entitlement. The 20% most disadvantaged two-year-olds will be eligible from September 2013. From 2014, the entitlement will be extended to around 40% of two-year-olds.
The Government have published indicative figures for how many children will be eligible in each local authority area in the first phase of the entitlement in 2013. These are available as part of the current Early Education and Childcare consultation, at the following link:
www.education.gov.uk/consultations
We estimate that around 200 two-year-olds in Pendle borough, and 2,700 in Lancashire, will be eligible for the entitlement in 2013.
We will publish further proposals in due course on eligibility criteria to reach 40% of two-year-olds from 2014.
Schools: Freedom of Information
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department has made an estimate of the cost to schools of responding to requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [85510]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 8 December 2011]: The Department has made no estimate of the costs of FOI to schools. The cost of FOI to public authorities generally forms part of the consideration of the post-legislative scrutiny of the Act announced by the Ministry of Justice on 7 January this year.
Special Educational Needs: Children
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will publish the representations received by his Department on the information contained in its publication, Children with Special Educational Needs 2011: an analysis; [81541]
(2) what representations he has received to request that (a) local authority indicators and (b) regional level data not be compiled for his Department's publication Children with Special Educational Needs 2011: an analysis. [81546]
Sarah Teather: The Department received two items of feedback on the publication ‘Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) 2010: an analysis'. This feedback shaped the content of the equivalent 2011 release. It included requests to retain the summary of key findings for each chapter, to limit the information displayed in cluttered charts and to give less emphasis on pupils in special schools with no SEN or at School Action for which numbers were very small.
The feedback also included requests for data on progression by school type and historic data on numbers of pupils with each primary type of SEN by age. The data were supplied to the correspondents separately. The Department has no plans to publish this correspondence in the public domain.
19 Dec 2011 : Column 945W
International Development
Afghanistan: Minerals
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking together with the Afghan Government to prevent exploitation of Afghanistan's mineral wealth. [87169]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Afghanistan's mineral resource wealth is central to its long-term prosperity. The Department for International Development (DFID) is actively engaged in helping the Government undertake major reforms in order to maximise the benefits of these natural resources to the local economy and the Afghan people. DFID provides support to the Afghan Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Secretariat, to help ensure greater accountability and openness in the industry. DFID also provides technical expertise to the Ministry of Mines, helping to generate international investment that includes a fair deal for the Government of Afghanistan and brings about long term economic growth and jobs for local communities.
Commonwealth Development Corporation
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to improve the (a) transparency levels and (b) future ranking in the Transparency Index of the Commonwealth Development Corporation. [86462]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: CDC's new high-level business plan published in June 2011 contained a commitment to increased levels of disclosure and transparency. As a result, CDC now publishes information on the businesses where its capital is at work, the fund managers it works with and the funds investing its capital. It also publishes data on staff remuneration and operating costs. CDC has also recently become a signatory to the International Aid Transparency Initiative, the first bilateral development finance institution to do so.
I would expect these improvements to be reflected in CDC's future ranking in the Transparency Index.
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he expects the Commonwealth Development Corporation to begin providing information on the in-country businesses invested in by its fund managers. [86463]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: CDC publishes a complete list of in-country businesses invested in by its fund managers on its website:
www.cdcgroup.com
including the sector and country of each business. This information is updated annually. CDC currently has no plans to publish additional information about in-country businesses.
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure that the Commonwealth Development Corporation (a) meets international standards for aid transparency set out in the International Aid Transparency Initiative and (b) publishes information at (i) organisation level, (ii) country level and (iii) activity level. [86464]
19 Dec 2011 : Column 946W
Mr Andrew Mitchell: CDC became a signatory to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) on 30 November and will begin to publish data in an IATI compliant format in the second quarter of 2012,
CDC publishes organisational information on its website:
www.cdcgroup.com
along with country and sector information about the fund managers it works with, the funds CDC invests in and the businesses receiving CDC investment.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to improve the transparency of the Commonwealth Development Corporation. [87414]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Rushanara Ali) on 7 November 2011, Official Report, column 147W.
Food Procurement
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [86992]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development's (DFID) two staff restaurants have operated under contract to Mitie Technical Facilities Management since December 2010. The catering section of this contract is run on a non-subsidised basis and therefore DFID is not responsible for procuring any food for its two United Kingdom offices.
Consultants
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on private sector consultants since May 2010, broken down by (a) company, (b) project and (c) country budget. [87063]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) introduced the central Government tracking process for consultancy in May 2010. Consultancy is subject to a stringent business case process and only approved where it is deemed to be an operational necessity. DFID spend on consultancy from May 2010 to the end of November 2011 is £2 million. The following table provides consultancy expenditure (with a value of £20,000 or above) aggregated by supplier and spend. Further detail on project titles and country budgets is not readily available and would incur disproportionate cost to provide.
| Supplier | Spend (£000s) |
|
The Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations Ltd |
|
19 Dec 2011 : Column 947W
Departmental Manpower
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many people were working in his Department on (a) 11 May 2010 and (b) 8 December 2011. [87350]
Mr Duncan: The number of people working in the Department for International Development on 11 May 2010 and 8 December 2011 are shown in the following table.
|
|
11 May 2010 | 8 December 2011 |
Developing Countries: Climate Change
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department's budget is allocated to work relating to climate change adaptation and mitigation. [86606]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK Government's four-yearly spending review set a budget of £2.9 billion for climate finance for the period 2011-12 to 2014-15, known as the International Climate Fund (ICF). The Department for international Development's (DFID) share of the ICF is £1.8 billion, amounting to 4.66% of the overall DFID budget for the current spending review period.
The ICF will fund both multilateral and bilateral UK climate spending and will aim for a balanced allocation between adaptation (50%), low carbon development (30%) and forestry (20%). This split will be kept under review.
Development Aid
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the development of an official development assistance monitoring strategy. [86726]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: I have frequent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on development issues and Britain is committed to helping the poorest in the world.
19 Dec 2011 : Column 948W
The Department for International Development (DFID) is responsible for reporting all UK official development assistance (ODA) and receives regular monitoring reports from other Government Departments on their ODA expenditure.
DFID is on track to achieve the structural reform plan commitment to develop and implement an ODA monitoring strategy with the Treasury to ensure all Departments meet agreed contributions to UK ODA targets by March 2015. DFID and Treasury officials meet regularly to discuss progress.
DFID's report on Statistics for International Development (SID) gives full information on all UK ODA each year and can be found on
www.dfid.gov.uk
Dominican Republic: Drugs
Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to support the Dominican Republic in its counter-narcotics campaign. [86816]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development does not have a bilateral aid programme in the Dominican Republic and therefore we are not supporting the counter-narcotics campaign there. Our current support on counter-narcotics in the Caribbean is focused on Jamaica and the eastern Caribbean.
EU External Trade: Cocoa
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the development of a new European standard for sustainable and traceable cocoa will take into account the interests of smallholder cocoa producers in developing countries and ensure they are consulted and involved in the standard setting process; and if he will make a statement. [86721]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: I agree that the interests of smallholder cocoa producers should be considered in any new standard for sustainable and traceable cocoa. However, the proposed new European standard for sustainable and traceable cocoa would be developed by the standards body for the industry itself. This body is independent.
International Conferences: Sustainable Development
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which Department will have lead responsibility for the Rio plus 20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in June 2012. [87065]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is the lead Department for the Rio plus 20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. DEFRA is working closely with other Government Departments, including the Department for International Development in preparing for the conference.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department will attend the Rio plus 20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in June 2012. [87066]
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Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), is leading the UK's preparations for Rio plus 20 and has confirmed that she will attend. The Department for International Development (DFID) is working closely with DEFRA and other Government Departments in preparation for Rio plus 20. A decision has not yet been taken on attendance by DFID Ministers and officials. This decision will be taken in the new year.
Japan Tobacco International
Mr Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether any (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department have received hospitality from Japan Tobacco International since May 2010. [87613]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Details of all Ministers and special advisers' hospitality are available on the DFID website:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-us/Public-data/
and are published every quarter in the normal way.
Kashmir: Overseas Aid
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects his Department is sponsoring in Kashmir; and how much it has spent in Kashmir since May 2010. [87078]
Mr Duncan: UK aid to India and Pakistan supports national programmes that work in, and benefit, both Indian and Pakistan administered Kashmir. Our support to the Government of India’s universal primary education programme (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan) and National AIDS Control Programme includes Indian administered Kashmir. Our support to the Government of Pakistan’s National Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Programme also includes Pakistan administered Kashmir. The proportion of this aid spent in Indian and Pakistan administered Kashmir since May 2010 cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. UK bilateral aid to India in 2010-11 totalled £278.9 million while UK bilateral aid to Pakistan in 2010-11 totalled £202.9 million.
UK aid has helped to rebuild bridges and schools in 2010-11 in Pakistan administered Kashmir as part of the Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation programme. Many of these projects are now reaching completion, with spend in 2010-11 totalling almost £8 million—9% of the £84 million committed.
Under our International Partnership Agreement Programme, DFID also provided £82,928 between April 2010 and November 2011 to support Save the Children’s work in Indian administered Kashmir.
Ministerial Visits
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what visits each Minister in his Department has made to each geographical region since May 2010. [87062]
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Mr Andrew Mitchell: Details of all Ministers’ overseas visits are available on the Department for International Development website
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Our-organisation1/Ministers/
and are published every quarter in the normal way.
Overseas Aid
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's planned spending on Official Development Assistance (ODA) was for (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14 prior to the Autumn Statement; and what its planned spending on ODA for each of those years now is. [86889]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: In the recent autumn statement, the Government have recommitted itself to delivering 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) as ODA and meeting the ODA/GNI ratios as set out in the spending review.
Because the Government needs less money to meet 0.7%, they reduced the amounts allocated to ODA and to DFID in particular. Our programme budget has been reduced by around £1.1 billion over the next three years. No changes are being made to administration or front line delivery budgets.
The following table details the Department's planned spending on ODA per calendar year as set out in the 2010 spending review and the revised amounts since the autumn statement.
| Calendar year ODA forecasts (in £ million) | ||
|
|
Original 2010 SR settlement | Updated 2010 SR settlement |
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much Official Development Assistance funding his Department allocated to each country in which the UK has a bilateral programme for (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14 prior to the Autumn Statement; and how much such funding for each country in each of those years is now allocated. [86890]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: Department for International Development's (DFID) programme allocations for each country for 2011-12 and 2012-13 are available in the annual report, (Annex B, Page 143, Table B.6):
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Site-search/?g=annual+report
Further details on forward spending plans in individual programmes are available in Operational Plans also available on the DFID website:
www.dfid.gov.uk
Following the autumn statement, our programme budget will reduce by £1.1 billion over the next three years. Our planning assumption is that we should still be able to deliver the set of results agreed in the Bilateral Aid Review, Multilateral Aid Review, Humanitarian
19 Dec 2011 : Column 951W
Emergency Response Review and related processes. We have no immediate plans to adjust internal budgets, although we shall look further at this as part of the normal planning process in early 2012.
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much Official Development Assistance funding his Department allocated to each of the multilateral programmes it funds for (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14 prior to the Autumn Statement; and how much such funding for each country in each of those years is now allocated. [86891]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) provides core funding to a large number of multilateral organisations. All this funding is related to performance. Allocations for 2013-14 will depend on an update to the Multilateral Aid Review which will take place in 2013. Allocations for other years are also indicative only, as they may be varied according to need as well as performance. These indicative allocations have not changed following the Autumn Statement.
We have produced a table to show the breakdown of the indicative allocations of core funding through each multilateral organisation for 2011-12 and 2012-13. We will place a copy of the table in the House of Commons Library.
This support is core, so the multilateral organisations decide on how it is allocated by country. As such, we are unable to provide the breakdown by country.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) which of his Department's budgets will be affected by the announcement in the Autumn Statement of a reduction in funding as a result of the decrease in gross national income; [87239]
(2) what proportion of the reduction in his Department's budget announced in the Autumn Statement as a result of the decrease in gross national income will be taken from (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral programmes; and which projects will be cancelled. [87240]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: At this stage, our planning assumption is that we should still be able to deliver the set of results agreed in the Bilateral Aid Review, Multilateral Aid Review, Humanitarian Emergency Response Review and related processes. We have no immediate plans to adjust internal budgets, although we shall look further at this as part of the normal planning process in the first quarter of 2012.
Overseas Aid: Agricultural
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much and what proportion of his Department's expenditure has been allocated to agricultural projects in each (a) region and (b) country in 2011-12; and how much has been allocated to each individual project. [87064]
Mr Andrew Mitchell:
The Department for International Development's (DFID) total and percentage expenditure allocated to agricultural projects in 2011-12 is not yet
19 Dec 2011 : Column 952W
available as the breakdown of multilateral expenditure by sector is not reported until the following financial year.
In 2011-12 the total bilateral expenditure allocated to agriculture is £136,904,067. A table detailing DFID's 2011-12 bilateral expenditure allocated to agriculture, by project and region/country, has been submitted to the House Library.
Thailand: Overseas Aid
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent reports he has received on the humanitarian situation in Mae Sot, Thailand. [86872]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) closely monitors the humanitarian situation along Thailand’s border with Burma, including in the town of Mae Sot. We are aware of the continuing needs of people displaced by long-term ethnic conflict in Burma’s border areas. In response, DFID is contributing towards the provision of food, shelter, other necessities and improved access to legal assistance to nearly 150,000 Burmese refugees in camps in Thailand. DFID also supports clinics in and near Mae Sot which provide medical services to Burmese people; and gives aid for basic health care, food security, improved sanitation and grants to help with the cost of schooling, for internally displaced people inside eastern Burma. The total cost of this programme over three years from 2009-12 will be more than £8 million.
When the Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), visited Burma in November, he pressed President Thein Sein and senior Burmese Ministers to move urgently towards a resolution of the ethnic conflicts and for improved humanitarian access in border areas.
Defence
Aircraft Carriers
18. Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the UK's carrier strike capability. [86910]
Nick Harvey: Nothing has changed since the Strategic defence and security review in that there is a strategic requirement for a future carrier strike capability. Our assessment that expeditionary airpower can be delivered through other means in the short-term was illustrated by the campaign in Libya, this also confirmed our assumption that working more closely with allies and partners is both possible and delivers more military capability.
The strategic environment in the period after 2020 is far less certain. This is why the Government believe that a modern carrier capability, able to undertake a variety of roles such as power projection, peace keeping, conflict prevention and the provision of aid and assistance in times of crisis, will be required.
21. Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the likely (a) cost of and (b) enhanced capability arising from the aircraft carrier programme. [86913]
19 Dec 2011 : Column 953W
Peter Luff: Our latest cost estimate for the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier programme is £5.2 billion. This figure is based on the current configuration of the carriers and does not include the additional costs of installing catapults and arrestor gear to enable it to operate the more capable carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter decision which will be taken next year. The costs of conversion are under investigation, but are currently estimated to be in the order of £1 billion.
As part of a package of measures taken in the strategic defence and security review we have reduced overall spending on the Carrier Strike Programme by £4.4 billion over the next 10 years.
Defence Engagement Strategy
19. Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made on its defence engagement strategy; and when he plans to present the strategy to Parliament. [86911]
Mr Philip Hammond: Work on the defence engagement strategy is very well advanced and I am expecting, in conjunction with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), to give formal approval to the strategy in the coming weeks, at which time it shall be announced to the House.
European Defence Agency
20. Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the budget of the European Defence Agency. [86912]
Mr Gerald Howarth: I represented the UK at the Defence Ministers' meeting in Brussels on 30 November, at which the European Defence Agency budget for 2012 was discussed. Our position in refusing to agree a budget increase resulted in the UK successfully securing a freeze on the European Defence Agency's budget for the second year running.
United States: Military Co-operation
22. Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential effects on future military co-operation with the US of planned reductions in defence expenditure in that country. [86915]
Mr Gerald Howarth:
The scale and scope of US reductions in defence expenditure is yet to be determined, but the US is, and will remain, our pre-eminent bilateral
19 Dec 2011 : Column 954W
defence and security partner, and will keep us closely informed of any changes that might affect our future military co-operation.
Royal Navy Training Systems
23. Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the Royal Navy's new training systems on the efficiency of the fleet and availability of the UK's vessels. [86916]
Nick Harvey: The Royal Navy's new Maritime Composite Training System was unveiled on 20 October 2011. It will not affect the availability of the Royal Navy's vessels but will ensure that surface ships' warfare teams are better prepared to meet future challenges through the most efficient and effective training environment.
Basing Review
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the Scottish Government's submission to his Department's Basing review; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the submission. [86645]
Nick Harvey: We are grateful to the Scottish Government for the helpful and constructive way they conducted discussions around the Basing review, and for their continued close co-operation with us. The Scottish Government have been an extremely important partner for the Ministry of Defence throughout the Basing review.
The Scottish Government’s submission on the Basing review was especially useful for the Department in fleshing out the consequences to the Scottish economy, and on local communities.
The submission was published by the Scottish Government on its website on 20 June 2011, and is available at the following link:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/06/20124743
The document will be placed in the Library of the House.
Armed Forces: Females
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women joined the (a) Royal Air Force, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Army and at what rank in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [86500]
Mr Robathan: The following tables provide information on the number of women who joined the armed forces in each year and by rank:
|
|
2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 |
19 Dec 2011 : Column 955W
19 Dec 2011 : Column 956W
|
|
2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
| (1) Due to rounding methods used, figures may not always equal the sum of the parts. (2) Breakdown by rank is not available prior to the introduction of JPA. | |||||
Armed Forces: Housing
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the public purse was of official service residence for members of the (a) Royal Air Force, (b) Army and (c) Royal Navy in the last year for which figures are available. [86957]
Mr Robathan: Under the official service residence arrangements, entitlement was linked to the post which an officer had been assigned, rather than to the individual who occupied it. For the financial year 2010-11, we have estimated that the total cost attributed to 26 official service residences is some £4.7 million. This includes rent, utilities, planned and unplanned maintenance, improvements, furniture and equipment, household staff, and official entertainment. It is important to note that many official service residences are grade listed buildings and protected by law. As a result they are often expensive to maintain whether they are occupied or not.
Final costings for the financial year 2010-11 are currently being compiled.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers had a status entitling them to official service residence in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy as at 1 December 2011. [86958]
Mr Robathan: Under the official service residence (OSR) arrangements, entitlement was linked to the post which an officer had been assigned, rather than to the individual who occupied it. At the point at which the designation was abolished, there were 26 service appointments that had a requirement for the incumbent to occupy an OSR. Some of these posts will be open to officers from each of the services, such as the Chief of the Defence Staff, and there is therefore no division between the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.
Armed Forces: Suicide
Cathy Jamieson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2011, Official Report, column 231W, on armed forces: suicide, how many suicides were recorded (a) among male veterans
19 Dec 2011 : Column 957W
and
(b)
men in the UK aged under the age of 24 years in the latest period for which figures are available. [86776]
Mr Robathan: Further to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 8 November 2011, Official Report, column 231W, the Ministry of Defence does not hold overall figures for suicides among veterans.
The latest figures for suicide and open verdict deaths for male army personnel aged 24 and under are for the period 2006-10, and are as follows:
| Age | Number |
We continue to treat the issue of self-harm very seriously and, for those in the army, the risk of suicide has been decreasing over the past 15 or so years. Current figures show that male Army personnel aged under 20 were at a 9% decreased risk of suicide compared to the general UK population, and male army personnel aged 20-24 at a 70% decreased risk.
Armed Forces: Wills
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many wills of service personnel were lost by his Department or the armed services in each of the last five years; and how many of these were of service personnel who died on operations. [86772]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 15 December 2011]: Since March 2011, the recording and processing of will information has been enhanced on the Joint Personnel Administration System giving greater assurance to the accuracy of will information held. The services will form has also been reviewed to ensure that that it remains fit for purpose.
While the Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not maintain a record of wills purported to be lost, it is aware of four cases since January 2007 where an updated will has been temporarily misplaced. There is no proven case of the MOD having lost a will.
Armed Forces: Young People
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of Army recruits aged (a) under 18 years and (b) 18 years and over completed Phase 2 training and entered the trained strength in the latest period for which figures are available. [86635]
Mr Robathan: The required information is not held in the format requested. While information is available on the number completing Phase 2 training each year, this is not held against date of birth and the requested information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
However, the Army have conducted some work on the numbers leaving and completing training and have identified that in financial year 2010-11, 63.4% of under 18s completed Phase 2 training and 71.7% of those who enlisted over the age of 18 completed Phase 2 training.
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Aviation: Licensing
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place to enable Royal Air Force pilots at the end of their commission to be exempted from any requirements in obtaining a private commercial pilot's licence. [87057]
Nick Harvey: Military pilots leaving the UK armed forces can receive credits towards private civilian pilot licences through the Qualified Service Pilot (QSP) scheme. The QSP scheme is administered by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the level of accreditation awarded is dependent upon the experience of the individual pilot.
This scheme will cease in April 2012 when the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) becomes legally responsible for aviation legislation. Proposals for a new scheme are being developed in conjunction with CAA for approval by EASA.
Defence: Finance
Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment his Department has made of the balance between commitments and revenues in the defence budget (a) now and (b) at the time of the Strategic Defence and Security Review. [83713]
Mr Philip Hammond: At the time of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), the then Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), announced a shortfall between our programme and our budget of £38 billion based on the Department's previous policy assumptions. These were changed during the SDSR and, as a result, this figure does not bear comparison with the current situation.
The then Secretary of State for Defence announced to Parliament on 18 July 2011, Official Report, columns 643-5, that the actions taken since the SDSR had brought the Department's programme and budget broadly into balance. This has not changed.
Departmental Audit
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria (a) his Department and (b) its public bodies use when deciding whether and when to hold an internal audit; and if he will make a statement. [85635]
Mr Robathan: All Departments are required to provide internal audit services. The Ministry of Defence is required to provide an annual statement on governance and this requirement relies on the assurance levels, together with associated detail, provided by internal audit reports. The annual internal audit programme is compiled in the light of existing and changing processes, risks and any concerns expressed by managers. It is agreed by the Defence Audit Committee. Audits are carried out both routinely throughout the year and on an urgent, as-required, basis. For public bodies, similar arrangements apply except that they generally have separate audit committees.
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Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what codes of practice his Department follows when carrying out internal audits; and whether such audits are externally validated. [87139]
Mr Robathan: Ministry of Defence internal auditors follow the code of ethics (integrity, objectivity, competence and confidentiality) and professional standards as required by the rules set out by the relevant professional body, The Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors. The internal audit department is evaluated by commercial external audit companies and/or by the National Audit Office, at least every five years.
Food Procurement
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [87002]
Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 December 2011, Official Report, columns 750-51W, to the right hon. Member for East Renfrewshire (Mr Murphy).