Banks: Loans
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received from small businesses in Greater London on access to finance from banks. [39935]
Mr Prisk: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets regularly with national business representative bodies—such as the British Chambers of Commerce, the Institute of Directors, and the Confederation of British Industry. At these meetings, a range of matters are discussed, which include access to bank finance for small businesses.
In addition, the Small Business Economic Forum, chaired by me, meets quarterly. This forum includes representatives from a number of small business representative bodies. The most recent meeting was held on 24 January, and the agenda included items on the progress being made by the British Bankers' Association in implementing their Business Finance Taskforce proposals, and the finance readiness of SMEs.
These representations have had a national focus. BIS data and other research indicate that access to finance is an issue that affects small businesses all across the UK to a broadly equal extent.
Conditions of Employment
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what the evidential basis is for his decision not to extend the remit of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority to the construction industry; [40592]
(2) how much funding his Department has allocated to ACAS over the comprehensive spending review period; [40593]
(3) how much funding his Department has allocated to the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate over the comprehensive spending review period; [40594]
(4) what steps he is taking to implement the recommendations of the 2009 Hampton Implementation Review report on the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate on the powers of that body to address rogue businesses; [40595]
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(5) which trade unions have (a) been invited to and (b) attended meetings with officials of his Department as part of the Government's workplace rights compliance and enforcement review; [40596]
(6) which representatives of business and trade associations have (a) been invited to and (b) attended meetings with officials of his Department on the Government's workplace rights compliance and enforcement review; [40597]
(7) which (a) agencies and (b) enforcement bodies are subject to the Government's workplace rights compliance and enforcement review; [40598]
(8) what methodology his Department plans to use to quantify the burden on business from enforcement and licensing bodies as part of its review of workplace rights compliance and enforcement arrangements; [40599]
(9) what funding his Department has allocated for the National Minimum Wage Helpline over the comprehensive spending review period. [40600]
Mr Davey: An extension of gangmaster licensing to the construction or other sectors would impose new inspection and fee burdens on businesses and entail additional costs for Government. It can be an appropriate response to particular problems in particular sectors, but should be considered only when certain conditions have been met. These conditions include: evidence that existing regulation is inadequate; evidence of significant abuses of employment rights; and confidence that a licensing system would be a proportionate and effective way of tackling the problem areas. Any licensing scheme must also be practicable, enforceable and affordable. The Government are not persuaded that these conditions are met for the construction sector.
The workplace rights compliance and enforcement review is concerned primarily with the employment rights and related protections that are enforced by Government bodies and agencies. The relevant bodies and agencies are HM Revenue and Customs (for National Minimum Wage enforcement), the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS), the Gangmaster Licensing Authority and the Health and Safety Executive (in its capacity as the main enforcement body for the 48 hour average working week and other aspects of the Working Time regulations).
The first phase of the compliance and enforcement review is being carried out internally within Government. Meetings with business and trade associations and trade unions have not yet been arranged.
In carrying out the review BIS will, where necessary, use the Government's standard impact assessment methodology in quantifying burdens on businesses arising from the activity of enforcement and licensing bodies.
Information about impact assessment methodology is set out in documents published by the Better Regulation Executive, including: “Impact Assessment Guidance” and the “Impact Assessment (IA) Toolkit” available from:
www.bis.gov.uk
The EAS has implemented the recommendations in the Hampton Implementation Review report, including the development of a risk-based process for determining inspection priorities. The compliance and enforcement review will examine whether the current powers and
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penalties available to the EAS and the other enforcement bodies are fit for purpose, and whether they need to be strengthened or modified.
BIS has allocated ACAS £47.839 million for 2011-12. Allocations for the remaining three years of the comprehensive spending review period have not yet been determined. The EAS is funded from BIS's administration budget. Allocations have not yet been made for the spending review period.
Telephone inquiries about the National Minimum Wage and complaints of abuse are handled by the Pay and Work Rights line which provides a single point of contact for queries about all the government-enforced workplace rights. BIS has allocated funding of £0.9 million for the helpline for 2011-12. Allocations for the remaining three years of the spending review period have not yet been determined.
Consumers: Advisory Services
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2011, Official Report, columns 716-17W, on consumers: advisory services, what progress has been made to date in his Department's discussions with the consumer organisation Which? about making wider use of its online information; and when he expects the discussions to conclude. [39918]
Mr Davey: This Department has helped to facilitate discussions between Which?, who remain committed to making their free online information more widely available, Citizens Advice, The Office of Fair Trading and Direct.gov. They have agreed in principle to work together but there are numerous operational issues to be resolved and it is too early to say when these discussions will conclude.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce its carbon emissions to meet the target of reducing central Government carbon emissions by 10 per cent. by June 2011. [36604]
Mr Davey: The Department is fully committed to meeting the 10% carbon reduction target by May 2011. Initiatives that have taken place include the installation of voltage reduction equipment in its main headquarters building, 1 Victoria street, removal of surplus point of use water heaters in toilet blocks and installation of timers on lifts so they can be shut off out of hours.
The Department is reducing the size of its estate in Central London and staff will be co-located into 1 Victoria street by the end of March, allowing us to mothball buildings.
A temperature deadband that is operating between 20-24 degrees is contributing towards savings and engineers are continuing to monitor plant operating times to see where these can be limited to bring about savings while maintaining comfortable working conditions for staff. The Department operated a partial shutdown of its 1 Victoria street building during Christmas week with heating only provided to the 'spur' of the building.
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Energy saving behaviours by staff are being encouraged through intranet articles, posters and environmental awareness days.
The Department's executive agencies are also all fully committed to the 10% reduction target and are implementing initiatives covering heating and ventilation plant, ICT and behavioural change.
Export Credit Guarantees: Democratic Republic of Congo
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo supported by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) owed debt to the ECGD prior to the cancellation of debt in 2010. [39882]
Mr Davey [holding answer 11 February 2011]: The debt owed to ECGD by the Democratic Republic of Congo that was recently cancelled related to some 30 export transactions, all of which took place before 30 June 1983. Details of the goods or services supplied under the individual contracts are no longer held.
Exports: Scotland
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on steps to encouraging exports; and if he will make a statement. [40242]
Mr Prisk: The Secretary of State has met his Scottish counterparts to discuss a wide range of issues, including support for business.
As the hon. Lady knows, trade and investment are devolved matters. However, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), as the Government's lead provider of international trade and investment support to businesses, provides information, advice and guidance to businesses of all types and sizes about trading internationally and investing in the UK. UKTI maintains strong links with Scottish Development International (SDI), the trade and investment arm of the Scottish Government. Companies in Scotland can access the majority of UKTI's services as well as those provided by SDI, including access to UKTI's overseas network of offices.
Recently UKTI gave evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee—Supporting Scotland's Economy, which set out in detail the relationship between the two organisations and how we are working together to support businesses, including exporters, in Scotland. The transcript of the oral evidence can be found at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmselect/cmscotaf/c657-i/c65701.htm
The Government's Trade and Investment White Paper published on 9 February highlights the Government's aim to promote growth in all parts of the UK and their commitment to continue to work closely with all the devolved Administrations, particularly on support for exporters, to build on the benefits of devolution. The White Paper also confirms that UKTI will launch its new strategy later in 2011 which will set out the practical help and support British exporters and investors will receive from the Government.
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Graduates: Finance
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to increase the provision of funding and loans available to postgraduate students. [40149]
Mr Willetts: Lord Browne found that the postgraduate system works well as it is. We will, as Lord Browne suggested, monitor participation in postgraduate study to identify whether changes to the undergraduate funding and finance system have any effect on entry to postgraduate courses.
The Government provide funding to students studying for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education through the student loans system, and to other postgraduates through the Professional and Career Development Loan programme. The Government currently have no plans to change this provision.
Graduates: Loans
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications for postgraduate loans his Department received in 2010; and what proportion of these were refused. [40150]
Mr Willetts: The Government provide funding to students studying for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education through the student loans system, and to other postgraduates through the Professional and Career Development Loan (PCDLs) programme.
In the 2009-10 financial year, three-quarters, over 6,000, of PCDLs were for postgraduate study. The number of refused PCDL applications is not available, as the PCDL-lending banks do not record the intended study profile of unsuccessful applicants.
For the academic year 2010/11, a total of 22,650 loan applications were received from students intending to study for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, of these, 100 applicants (0.4%) were not eligible for a loan.
Green Investment Bank
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2011, Official Report, column 620W, on the Green Investment Bank, whether he has set a target amount of the overall proceeds from asset sales which will complement departmental funding for the Green Investment Bank. [39329]
Mr Prisk: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 February 2011, Official Report, column 386W.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Green Investment Bank will lend to (a) carbon capture and storage projects and (b) clean coal projects. [40647]
Mr Prisk: We are looking to build a Green Investment Bank (GIB) with a wide remit, which is able to tackle financing issues affecting the deployment of green infrastructure.
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Carbon capture and storage, and clean coal will play an important part in our future energy mix, and the Government are providing funding to demonstrate these technologies. In due course, when these technologies are more mature, it is possible that the GIB could help to finance their deployment.
We will make a detailed announcement in May.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to enable the Green Investment Bank to take equity in technology development companies. [40698]
Mr Prisk: The Green Investment Bank (GIB) will tackle financing issues affecting green infrastructure. There are currently no plans for it to provide venture capital. The Government already support the development of new technology based businesses through a range of early stage venture capital funds, for example the Enterprise Capital Fund.
We are, however, looking to build a GIB capable of targeting the UK's infrastructure challenges for the long term. Evidence suggests an early GIB priority could be financing for the low carbon power sector (given our 2020 targets). We might then look to grow the GIB into other areas as further evidence and funding becomes available.
Higher Education: Admissions
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to publish details of the National Scholarship Scheme. [40145]
Mr Willetts: Broad details were announced on Thursday 10 February and the information has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration he gave to bursaries as an alternative to tuition fee remission as a means of enabling British students from low income backgrounds to attend university as part of the National Scholarship Scheme. [40147]
Mr Willetts: Research commissioned by the Office for Fair Access(1) last year found that the introduction of bursaries had not influenced the choice of university for disadvantaged young people. We have therefore placed a £1,000 limit on the amount that can be awarded by way of a cash scholarship or bursary under the National Scholarship Programme (NSP). This will be combined with other assistance to ensure that students receive at least the £3,000 minimum value of an award. Broad details about the NSP were placed in the Libraries of the House on Thursday 10 February.
(1 )Have bursaries influenced choices between institutions? Office for Fair Access, 2010.
Higher Education: Finance
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value was of teaching grants to universities accounted for under the annually managed expenditure of his Department and its predecessors was in (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07, (c) 2007-08, (d) 2008-09 and (e) 2009-10. [38832]
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Mr Willetts: Teaching grants to universities are not accounted for as Annually Managed Expenditure, but instead form part of the departmental expenditure limit (DEL).
The DEL budgets allocated (via the Higher Education Funding Council for England) for teaching grants to universities were:
|
|
£ million |
Further details can be found in the relevant HEFCE grant letters.
Innovation
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the potential benefits to the economy of innovation vouchers. [40738]
Mr Willetts:
Innovation vouchers are a pilot business support product that has been trialled by the regional development agencies (RDAs) as a means to support collaboration between small businesses and knowledge
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base institutions. The vouchers have been piloted in different forms across the regions to help assess their effectiveness for business.
The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) is currently looking at the evaluations of the different regional schemes to consider if a similar scheme could be introduced in England over future years.
The TSB is also working with businesses and partners, including the RDAs, to develop its new strategic plan which will be published over the spring. This strategy will provide further information on the range of business support products and programmes that the TSB will support from this April to help incentivise future business and technology-based innovation.
Money Lenders: Crime
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2011, Official Report, columns 828-29W, on money lenders: crime, how much money was allocated to each specialist regional team to tackle the problem of unscrupulous lenders in each year since 2004; and what plans he has for funding for such teams in the period to 2014-15. [39920]
Mr Davey: The allocations of funding per team since 2004 are illustrated in the following table:
On 29 December 2010, the Government announced further funding of £5.2 million to continue the fight against illegal money lenders in 2011/12. Funding for future years, beyond 2011/12, will be considered at a later stage.
Overseas Students
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students from each non-EU country were enrolled on undergraduate courses in each of the last five years. [40891]
Mr Willetts: The numbers of non-EU undergraduate enrolments at UK higher education institutions are shown by country of domicile for the academic years 2005/06 to 2009/10. The tables will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Figures for the 2010/11 academic year will become available from January 2012.
Part-time Education: Admissions
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his guidance to the Office for Fair Access will cover the status of part-time students from 2012. [39885]
Mr Willetts: Yes. The guidance letter to the Director of Fair Access, published on 10 February, says that, subject to parliamentary approval, the Government intend to bring part-time courses within the scope of the Higher Education Act 2004. This will mean that any institution wishing to charge above the basic level for such courses, as defined, will first need the approval of the Director of Fair Access through an Access Agreement.
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Renewable Energy: Export Credit Guarantees
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what projects have been supported by the Export Credits Guarantee Department through the £50 million credit line for exports of renewable energy to developing countries established in 2003. [39881]
Mr Davey [holding answer 11 February 2011]: ECGD has recently issued guarantees with an aggregate value of £31 million in support of two renewable energy projects. One involves converting waste to energy and the other relates to the production of compressed natural gas from gas that would otherwise be flared.
Support for exports of renewable energy goods or services to developing countries is available as part of ECGD's credit risk global capacity, subject to its standard risk criteria. The total capacity available from ECGD to support all eligible exports, including renewable energy goods and services, is substantial and far exceeds £50 million.
Students: Fees and Charges
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the average debt attributable to fees incurred by students for qualifications in (a) medicine, (b) veterinary sciences, (c) architecture and (d) dentistry in each of the last five years; and if he will estimate the average such debt in each of the next 10 years. [40382]
Mr Willetts: Statistics on the average size of tuition fee loans taken out by full-time undergraduate higher education students are published by the Student Loans Company in ‘Student Support for Higher Education in England, Academic Year 2010/11’, which is accessible at:
http://www.slc.co.uk/pdf/slcsfr072010.pdf
Latest figures showed that, on average, students took out Tuition Fee Loans worth £2,980 in academic year 2009/10. Provisional figures for 2010/11 show that, on average, students were awarded Tuition Fee Loans worth £3,110; the equivalent provisional figure in 2009/10 was £3,020. Consistent information is not available by subject.
Estimates for the next 10 years are not available.
Students: Finance
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the (a) monetary value and (b) proportion of irrecoverable student loans accounted for under the annually managed expenditure of his Department and its predecessors in (i) 2005-06, (i) 2006-07, (iii) 2007-08, (iv) 2008-09 and (v) 2009-10. [38833]
Mr Willetts: The Department values student loans based on the future expected repayments of the loans. This valuation (which includes an estimate and further explanation of how the loan is valued and the amount that is irrecoverable) is updated every year and published in the Resource Accounts of the Department (and its predecessors).
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The 2005-06 and 2006-07 Resource Accounts for the Department for Education and Skills can currently be found here:
http://dfe.gov.uk/aboutdfe/departmentalinformation/reports/a00390/annual-departmental-reports-accounts-and-spending-reviews
The 2007-08 Resource Accounts for the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (HC864) can be found here:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/corporate/migratedD/ec_group/77-08-C_on
The 2008-09 Resource Accounts for the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (HC457) can be found here:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/corporate/migratedD/publications/R/Resource_accounts_08_09
The 2009-10 Resource Accounts for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (HC 211) can be found here:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/corporate/docs/b/10-p102-bis-resource-accounts-2009-10.pdf
The Department is currently reviewing options to monetise the loan book but at present no alternative valuations are used.
Students: Loans
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2011, Official Report, column 600W, on overseas students: EU nationals, what estimate the Student Loans Company has made of the number of former students about whom it no longer holds accurate information on locations and earnings; and if he will make a statement; [38556]
(2) how many former students have moved overseas and not notified the Student Loans Company in each of the last three years; what the total monetary value of outstanding loans was for such students in each such year; and if he will make a statement. [38557]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 4 February 2011]: It is not possible for the Student Loans Company (SLC) to estimate the number of former students who have moved abroad and not notified the company. The SLC cannot therefore provide the monetary value of outstanding loans for such students.
Technology Strategy Board
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what mechanisms are in place to assess the (a) activities and (b) performance of the Technology Strategy Board at local level. [40734]
Mr Willetts: The mechanisms the Technology Strategy Board uses to deliver support, such as Collaborative R and D, Knowledge Transfer Networks and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, are evaluated on a regular basis (usually every two years) as part of the evaluation of the products which come under the Support for Business portfolio to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of business and deliver successful results.
Additionally, the Technology Strategy Board undertakes separate in-depth evaluations of each of its Support for Business products—a review of Knowledge Transfer
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Partnerships was completed in 2010, a review of Knowledge Transfer Networks was completed in 2008, and an evaluation of the Collaborative R and D scheme is currently under way.
The Technology Strategy Board also undertakes post project evaluation at one year and five years after the end of the project, particularly to understand the economic impact.
It is also currently undertaking work to further develop a framework to continue to develop and refine its metrics and impact measures to be able understand at a more detailed level the impact of its activities.
The Technology Strategy Board will be the subject of a formal five-yearly review in 2012 which will assess its performance among other issues.
UK Trade & Investment: Contracts
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many contracts to carry out work for UK Trade & Investment were put out to tender in each of the last five years; and what the value of such contracts was. [39698]
Mr Davey: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is a joint department of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Its people are deployed in 160 locations across 96 different countries, nine English regions, London and Glasgow.
From 1 April 2010 UKTI has maintained a consolidated register of contracts. For 2010-11 UKTI let 108 contracts to the value of £32.4 million. For periods prior to this, information is not available; to obtain it would require surveying each post/location, and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.
UK Trade & Investment: Exports
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the monetary value of (a) export and (b) import contracts in each region of the UK arising from work carried out by UK Trade & Investment in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [39697]
Mr Prisk: Through its Performance and Impact Monitoring Survey (PIMS)—an independently administered survey of some 4,000 companies per annum out of some 24,000 clients that have received services over a 12-month period—UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) tracks the value of financial benefits attributed by British businesses in participation in all of its trade services, measured in terms of additional profit.
The following table sets out an estimate of the value of exports arising from UKTI over the last four years:
|
|
2009-10 | 2008-09 | 2007-08 | 2007-06 |
|
Total additional profit for UK business reported annually by UKTI (£ billion) |
||||
14 Feb 2011 : Column 574W
Financial benefits are not calculated regionally. However a breakdown of qualitative benefits to business productivity and competitiveness reported by clients of the International Trade Advisers in the English regions are available and all results are published on the UKTI website at:
http://www.ukti.gov.uk/uktihome/aboutukti/ourperformance/performanceimpactandmonitoringsurvey.html
UKTI does not offer services to those businesses that are looking for assistance to source or import goods from overseas. Although business internationalisation can include importing and sourcing overseas, UKTI can deliver the greatest taxpayer value by focusing its resources on helping UK companies overcome barriers to selling into new markets and begin exporting.
UK Trade & Investment: Location
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what the location is of each office of UK Trade & Investment; and how many staff are employed in each office; [39695]
(2) how many salaried staff are employed by UK Trade & Investment; and in which locations such staff are employed. [39696]
Mr Davey: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is not an employer in its own right; for the majority of its human resource requirements it draws on civil service staff employed by one or other of its two parent Departments—the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). UKTI also draws on the expertise of the private sector.
The details of our people and their locations are set out in UK Trade & Investment's Resource Accounts 2009-10 (HC3)—at Annexes L and M, pages 109-110:
http://www.ukti.gov.uk/uktihome/item/114708.html
UK Trade & Investment: Manpower
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many consultants are employed by UK Trade & Investment; and in which locations such consultants are employed. [39699]
Mr Davey: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is not an employer in its own right; for the majority of its human resource requirements it draws on civil service staff employed by one or other of its two parent departments—the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
In the last year UKTI incurred costs of £215,000 covering nine contracts relating to the provision of strategic advice on Information Communications Technology, the Global Entrepreneurs Programme, High Growth Markets and New Industry New Jobs (now Britain Open for Business). All of these were delivered in London.
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Universities: Anti-Semitism
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what recent meetings he has had with the Board of Deputies of British Jews about (a) levels of and (b) the Government’s response to anti-Semitism on university campuses; what matters were discussed; and if he will make a statement; [39612]
(2) if he will take steps to require universities to report on the steps they have taken to (a) prevent anti-Semitism, (b) protect Jewish students attending the university from anti-Semitism and (c) prevent speakers with a known history of (i) anti-Semitism and (ii) Islamic extremism from speaking at the university; and if he will make a statement; [39734]
(3) for what reasons his Department has made no representations to higher education authorities about invitations to speakers with a history of promoting anti-Semitism on campus; and if he will make a statement. [39737]
Mr Willetts: I have not met the Board of Deputies of British Jews. However, I accepted an invitation from the hon. Member for Bassetlaw to meet him and a range of Jewish community organisations, in October last year, to discuss the treatment of Jewish students in higher education. The organisations concerned were the Community Security Trust and the Union of Jewish Students and the meeting also involved Universities UK and the Equality Challenge Unit.
There is no place for racism of any form, such as anti-Semitism, in higher education. Universities have the primary responsibility for ensuring that their students are not subject to threatening or abusive behaviour on campus and have access to a strong legislative framework and guidance to help them deal effectively with instances of intolerance, racism and harassment in their institutions. Universities also hold the responsibility to communicate with their students and staff about what steps they take to tackle intolerance and anti-Semitism.
Decisions about external speakers must rest with universities themselves. In this area universities are bound by the law both in protecting freedom of speech on campus, even if that free expression is controversial, and protecting students and staff against harassment or violence. Universities have access to guidance from both Government and the sector itself on promoting good campus relations, which draw out the considerations institutions need to give to free expression on campus and to addressing illegal behaviour. Institutions also take advice about external speakers from their local police forces when needed.
Vocational Guidance
Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills by what means he plans to monitor the quality of advice given by the all-age careers service. [39553]
Mr Hayes:
We will require all contractors delivering the all-age careers service to meet a predefined quality standard such as the matrix standard, which is used for the Next Step adult careers service. We will also monitor the quality of advice through a range of actions including independent and rigorous inspection by Ofsted, reporting
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of performance against contractual requirements and regular customer satisfaction surveys conducted at national and regional levels.
Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the financial savings to his Department arising from the establishment of an all-age careers advice service. [39593]
Mr Hayes: We are working through the detail of the spending review settlement, and will confirm the level of funding for the all-age service as soon as possible. It will be important that we make efficient and innovative use of the funding that is available to achieve the best possible value for money.
Justice
Appeals
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many appeals there have been against convictions for offences relating to terrorism since 1 January 2001; and how many such appeals were successful. [38119]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not hold data on the number of appeals there have been against convictions for offences relating to terrorism since January 2001. However, the Home Office does publish data on appeals from 2007-08 to 2009-10 which include both appeals against conviction and sentence. This information is contained in the following table which the Home Office publishes annually as part of the Statistical Bulletin “Operation of Police Powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and Subsequent Legislation: Arrests, Outcomes and Stops and Searches”. The link to the latest edition of the publication is:
http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/hosb1810.pdf
| Appeals and outcomes for terrorism convictions against court conviction or sentences, 2007-08 to 2009-10 | ||
| Outcome of appeal | Number | Percentage |
Assisted Prison Visits Unit: Mental Health
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make it his policy to extend the Assisted Prison Visits Scheme to include patients held under mental health legislation. [39590]
Mr Blunt: There are no plans to extend the Assisted Prison Visits Scheme to cover patients held under the Mental Health Act. In these circumstances, these individuals are NHS patients.
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Bribery
Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to implement those provisions of the Bribery Act 2010 which have not yet been brought into force. [36962]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The Government are committed to the implementation of the Bribery Act. I am determined to ensure that it is implemented in a way which tackles bribery but does not impose unnecessary cost and uncertainty on legitimate business and trade. I am therefore working on the statutory guidance required to make that guidance practical and useful for legitimate business and trade. It will be published once I am confident that it addresses the legitimate concerns of all those who took part in the consultation process. This will be followed by a three-month notice period before full implementation of the Act.
Mr Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which bodies his Department consulted in drawing up guidance on the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010. [40152]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The public consultation on the guidance about commercial organisations preventing bribery, which required written responses in November last year, produced substantial and helpful replies from business, anti-bribery organisations and other interested parties. We are considering carefully all the representations we have received. Subject to considering any particular requests for confidentiality, we intend to publish the written responses.
Mr Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what representations he received from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010. [40153]
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Mr Kenneth Clarke: The Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development wrote to me on 27 January on matters including his support for the implementation of the Bribery Act. I spoke to him on 3 February to update him on our plans for the implementation of the Act.
Convictions: Sentencing
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many people were convicted for offences under section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 for putting people in fear of violence and were (a) fined, (b) given a custodial sentence and (c) fined and received a custodial sentence in each year since 1998; [39645]
(2) how many people received a summary conviction under section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 for putting people in fear of violence and were subsequently sentenced to (a) a term of imprisonment, (b) a fine and (c) both a term of imprisonment and a fine in each year since 1998. [39670]
Mr Blunt: The number of persons found guilty at all courts and the number of persons issued with a fine, given a custodial sentence or given a custodial sentence and issued with a fine, under section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, in England and Wales, 1998 to 2009 (latest available) is shown in table 1 as follows.
The number of persons who were convicted at magistrates courts, and the number of persons issued with a fine, given a custodial sentence, or given a custodial sentence and issued with a fine, under section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, in England and Wales, 1998 to 2009 (latest available) is shown in table 2 as follows.
Data for 2010 are planned for publication in the spring of 2011.
| Table 1: Number of persons found guilty at all courts and the number of persons issued with a fine, given a custodial sentence or given a custodial sentence and issued with a fine, under section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 England and Wales 1998 to 2009 (1, 2, 3) | ||||||||||||
| Offence description | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 (4) | 2009 |
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| (1 )The following statutes were used for the corresponding offence: Putting people in fear of violence Protection from Harassment Act 1997, S.4 Racially aggravated putting people in fear of violence Protection from Harassment Act 1997, S.4 as amended by Crime and Disorder Act 1998 S.32(1)(b) & (4) Religiously aggravated putting people in fear of violence Protection from Harassment Act 1997, S.4 as amended by Crime and Disorder Act 1998 S.32(1)(b) & (3) Racially or religiously aggravated putting people in fear of violence Protection from Harassment Act 1997, S.4 as amended by Crime and Disorder Act 1998 S.32(1)(b) & (3) (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. (5) The sentenced column may exceed those found guilty as it may be the case that a defendant found guilty, and committed for sentence at the Crown court, may be sentenced in the following year. (6) Where immediate custody was the principal disposal and the fine was a secondary disposal. (7) Includes: Absolute/conditional discharge, Community Sentence, Suspended Sentence and Otherwise dealt with. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice. | ||||||||||||
| Table 2: Number of persons who were convicted at magistrates courts, and the number of persons issued with a fine, given a custodial sentence, or given a custodial sentence and issued with a fine, under section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (1, 2, 3) | ||||||||||||
| Offence description | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 (4) | 2009 |
| (1 )The following statutes were used for the corresponding offence: Putting people in fear of violence Protection from Harassment Act 1997, S.4 Racially aggravated putting people in fear of violence Protection from Harassment Act 1997, S.4 as amended by Crime and Disorder Act 1998 S.32(1)(b) & (4) Religiously aggravated putting people in fear of violence Protection from Harassment Act 1997, S.4 as amended by Crime and Disorder Act 1998 S.32(1)(b) & (3) Racially or religiously aggravated putting people in fear of violence Protection from Harassment Act 1997, S.4 as amended by Crime and Disorder Act 1998 S.32(1)(b) & (3) (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. (5) Where immediate custody was the principal disposal and the fine was a secondary disposal. (6) Includes: Absolute/conditional discharge, Community Sentence, Suspended Sentence and Otherwise dealt with. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice. | ||||||||||||
Corruption
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions he has had with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on the decision to delay the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010. [39674]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: I spoke to the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on 3 February to update him on the Government’s plans for implementation of the Bribery Act.
Sadiq Khan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate his Department has made of the likely
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costs to businesses of implementing the provisions of the Bribery Act 2010. [39470]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: An impact assessment was published by the then Secretary of State for Justice in 2009 for the introduction of the Bribery Bill. We have obtained further representations on the subject in the course of the consultation process.
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) whether the proposal to delay the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010 was discussed in Cabinet before the decision was announced on 31 January 2011; [39478]
(2) what discussions he has had with (a) the Prime Minister, (b) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (c) the Secretary of State for International Development over the decision to delay the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010; and whether any representatives of a private sector organisation were party to such discussions; [39676]
(3) what (a) discussions and (b) correspondence he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on his decision to delay implementation of the Bribery Act 2010; and if he will publish each item of written correspondence. [39677]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: It is not the constitutional practice to disclose details of ministerial discussions.
Corruption: Business
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals on corruption in (a) international and (b) domestic business. [39671]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: No, I have no such plans. The Government are committed to the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010.
Corruption: Legislation
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of UK anti-corruption legislation; and what information his Department holds on corruption legislation in international trading partner countries for benchmarking purposes. [39675]
Mr Kenneth Clarke:
The Government are committed to the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010, which reforms the existing offences of bribery under common law and the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1889-1916. We do not hold information for benchmarking purposes on corruption legislation in international trading partners, but the UK is a party to the Council of Europe Criminal
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Law Convention on Corruption, the OECD Convention against Foreign Bribery and the United Nations Convention against Corruption and participates in their evaluation mechanisms.
Departmental Energy
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to extend the use of real time energy display to buildings occupied by his Department beyond its headquarters. [39632]
Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice has already extended real time energy display online to two of its London buildings: Clive House and Steel House in addition to its headquarters. The National Archives at Kew also has its real time energy display online.
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much the Department has saved in (a) energy costs and (b) carbon dioxide emissions since bringing in real time energy display. [39633]
Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice has saved £140,673 in energy costs and 761.55 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions since bringing in real time energy display in addition to a range of other initiatives designed to save energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the office estate. These are published on the internet and can be seen at:
http://data.gov.uk/departmental-performance-co2-emissions-reduction-date
in the attachment titled: “10 percent reduction pack for online publication Dec update - pub Feb v1.pdf” on page 15.
Employment Tribunals
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of successful applicants at employment tribunals were (a) represented and (b) unrepresented in the latest 12 months for which figures are available. [40416]
Mr Djanogly: The latest 12-month period for which figures are available is the 2009-10 financial year. Table 1 sets out the proportion of successful claims by reference to representation of the claimant. Table 2 sets out a more detailed breakdown of the cases involved.
| Table 1: Proportion of claimants with successful claims who were represented/unrepresented in financial year 2009-10 | |
|
|
Percentage |
| Source: Employment Tribunal Central Database December 2010 | |
| Table 2: Claims where claimants were successful at hearing during the 2009-10 financial year by reference to the representation of claimants | |||
| 2009-10 | Successful at hearing | Successful default judgment | Total successful |
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| (1) Represented: Trade Union, Trade Association, Solicitor, Citizens Advice Bureau, Free Representation Unit, Private individual, Law Centre and Other. (2) Small value, less than 5 Note: Rounding: Figures in tables are rounded independently and thus may not add to totals. The following conventions have been used: Values less than 100 rounded to nearest five; Values from 100 to 999 are rounded to nearest 10; and Values of 1,000 and over are rounded to nearest 100. Source: Employment Tribunal Central Database December 2010 | |||
Employment Tribunals: Witnesses
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the mean number of witnesses asked to attend an employment tribunal hearing was in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [40410]
Mr Djanogly: The Tribunals Service does not hold this information.
Human Trafficking
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of the support available for trafficked persons in the South West. [40133]
Mr Blunt: There has been no recent assessment of support services for victims of human trafficking specifically located in the south-west. Adults trafficked in England and Wales can access specialist support and accommodation through the National Referral Mechanism, a multi-agency framework for identifying victims of trafficking and referring them to support services.
The Government fund support for adult victims through a national model and Government-funded support providers accept referrals for support from anywhere within England and Wales. Responsibility for the care, protection and accommodation of child trafficking victims falls within the designated responsibilities of local authorities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children under the provisions of the 1989 and 2004 Children Acts.
Human Trafficking: Finance
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding his Department has provided for the accommodation of adult victims of human trafficking in 2010-11 to date. [40565]
Mr Blunt: Over the course of the financial year 2010-11, the Ministry of Justice has provided a total of £950,000 to voluntary-sector organisations to accommodate and support adult victims of human trafficking.
Grant funding of £900,000 was paid to Eaves Housing for Women to provide accommodation and outreach support to adult women trafficked for sexual exploitation or domestic servitude. In addition to accommodation for victims, this grant has been used to fund the coordination of service provision, the salaries of support workers and other ancillary services.
The Ministry of Justice also awarded a grant of £50,000 to Migrant Helpline to support adult female victims of human trafficking who have suffered sexual exploitation. This grant funding was limited to direct support provision only.
Immigration and Asylum: Appeals
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what the average waiting time was for appeals to the Immigration and Asylum Chamber from receipt of the application to promulgation in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the equivalent figure was in each of the last two years; [39772]
(2) what plans his Department has to reduce the average period elapsing between an application for and a hearing in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber. [39773]
Mr Djanogly: The following table provides the average waiting time between receipt of appeal at the tribunal and promulgation of the decision. These data are provided for each of the four main categories of appeal dealt with by the First Tier of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber (IAC).
| Average calendar weeks from r eceipt at IAC to p romulgation | |||
|
|
April 2008 to March 2009 | April 2009 to March 2010 | April 2010 to September 2010 |
| Note: Data exclude Deport Appeals and HR/DC/RD cases. Source: SMR-09: 2008-09 (extracted 8 February 2011), 2009-10 (30 December 2010), 2010-11 (3 February 2011). | |||
The tribunal received an unexpectedly high volume of managed migration appeals during 2009-10 and this has had a significant impact on waiting times in most appeal categories over the last 18 months. This surge of work has now been cleared and waiting times are beginning to improve. We expect this to be evident when we publish our Quarter 3 statistics at the end of March. I will ensure that a copy of those statistics is sent to the hon. Member.
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We are working closely with the United Kingdom Border Agency to improve workflow communications between Departments to speed up the overall process, including exploring increased use of technology to modernise the system. We are looking specifically at how we might further speed up the system, including avoiding unnecessary postponements and adjournments, and to minimise abuse of the system. Finally, we are working together to improve the forecasting of appeal volumes to ensure that the end to end system is better able to manage peaks of work and their impact on waiting times.
Immigration: Bail
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were subject to immigration bail conditions in the latest period for which figures are available. [39747]
Mr Djanogly: For the period 1 April to 30 September 2010 the Immigration and Asylum Chamber processed 5,374 bail applications; of these, 1,001 were granted.
National Offender Management Service
Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the aims and objectives are of the prison industries department of the National Offender Management Service. [39853]
Mr Blunt: The Prison Industries unit within the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) headquarters provides overall management and production planning to ensure all prison industries are effective and efficient in supplying goods and services to both the internal Government market (within NOMS and increasingly the wider MOJ and other Government Departments) and external customers, while maximising the number and length of time prisoners are employed, and improving prisoners’ employment and resettlement prospects. The unit also works with a range of employers who are, or who are looking to, bring work and training into prisons.
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Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff worked in the prison industries department of the National Offender Management Service in the latest period for which figures are available. [39854]
Mr Blunt: The Prison Industries unit within the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) headquarters currently employs 54 FTE staff (including vacancies). These staff cover a wide range of tasks including responsibility for production across a wide range of industries; prison laundries; commercial contracts and partnerships; asset replacement; engagement with employees as well as land based activities.
Non-molestation Orders
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many people in England and Wales breached an injunction made under Section 3 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in each year from 1998 to 2010; and how many such people who received a summary conviction were given a (a) term of imprisonment, (b) fine and (c) term of imprisonment and fine; [39453]
(2) how many people in England and Wales were convicted under Section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 for offences of putting people in fear of violence in each year since 1998. [39454]
Mr Blunt: The number of persons found guilty at all courts and at magistrates courts for breach of an injunction under Section 3 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and sentenced at the magistrates court to a fine, custodial sentence, or a custodial sentence and a fine, in England and Wales, 1998 to 2009 (latest available) are presented in Table 1.
The number of persons found guilty at all courts under section 4 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, in England and Wales, 1998 to 2009 (latest available) are presented in Table 2.
Data for 2010 are planned for publication in the spring of 2011.
| Table 1: Number of persons convicted at all courts and at magistrates courts under section 3 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (1) and sentence breakdown at magistrates courts (2,3) | ||||||||||||
| Outcome | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 (4) | 2009 |
| (1) The following statutes were used for the corresponding offence: Breach of the conditions of an injunction against Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. (5) Where immediate custody was the principal disposal and the fine was a secondary disposal. (6) Includes: Absolute/conditional discharge, Community Sentence, Suspended Sentence and Otherwise dealt with. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice | ||||||||||||
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Prisoners
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of prisoners released from (a) HM Prison Featherstone and (b) HM Young Offender Institution Brinsford had no fixed address in each of the last five years. [39547]
Mr Blunt: Accommodation matters are managed locally, and the proportion of prisoners who leave custody with no fixed address is not routinely collected. Retrieving the requested information at Featherstone prison would necessitate a manual search of prisoner records from the last five years, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However Brinsford young offender institution has captured this information as set out in the following table:
| Prisoners | ||
|
|
No fixed abode on discharge | Number of prisoners discharged |
Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what the average length of time was that a prisoner spent in a category (a) A, (b) B and (c) C prison before being transferred in the last year for which figures are available; [39855]
(2) what the average length of time was that prisoners spent at HM Prison (a) Channings Wood, (b) Coldingley, (c) Dartmoor, (d) Everthorpe, (e) Featherstone, (f) Haverigg, (g) Lancaster Castle, (h) Maidstone, (i) Risley, (j) Verne, (k) Wayland and (l) Wellingborough before being transferred in the last year for which figures are available. [39856]
Mr Blunt: In the management of the prison population the aim is to hold prisoners in establishments that provide the level of security required, are suitable for their gender, age and legal status, provide special facilities appropriate to prisoner needs and are near to their homes or the courts dealing with their cases.
Prisoners are moved from one prison to another as part of their sentence plan, following re-categorisation, where requested or where there is an operational need to do so.
Data are not held centrally on the average length of time a prisoner spends in a prison before a move to another prison.
This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost as it would involve a manual trawl through the individual records of every prisoner.
Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours of purposeful activity per prisoner per week were delivered at HM Prison (a) Channings Wood, (b) Coldingley, (c) Dartmoor, (d) Everthorpe, (e) Featherstone, (f) Haverigg, (g) Lancaster Castle, (h) Maidstone, (i) Risley, (j) Verne, (k) Wayland and (l) Wellingborough in the latest period for which figures are available. [39889]
Mr Blunt: The latest published figures for purposeful activity per prisoner per week in prison establishments in England and Wales relate to 2008-09 and are available on the HM Prison Service website:
http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/assets/documents/10004A13purposeful_activity_establishments_feb_2010.pdf
The published figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
Establishment-level data on purposeful activity for 2009-10 are due to be published in March.
Re-offenders: Drugs
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the (a) absolute number and (b) percentage of offenders who reoffended within one year of sentencing was in the last year for which figures are available; and what the rate of reoffending was for those who had received drug rehabilitation while serving (i) a custodial and (ii) any other sentence. [39770]
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Mr Blunt: The latest re-conviction data are based on offences committed within one year of an offender being discharged from custody or commencing a court order under probation supervision in the first quarter of the year.
Of offenders used to measure re-conviction rates in 2008, the most recent year for which data are available, 21,541 were re-convicted within 12 months. This represented 40.1% of offenders.
Of offenders whose community penalty included a drug rehabilitation requirement in 2008, 68.5% were re-convicted within 12 months.
Re-conviction data for custodial offenders who received drug rehabilitation can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Therefore re-conviction rates are not available for these offenders.
Further information on adult re-conviction is available at:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/reoffendingofadults.htm
Young Offenders
Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what his policy is on placing offenders aged 18 to 20 years within the general adult prison estate; and if he will make a statement; [39582]
(2) how many and what proportion of 18 to 20 year olds sentenced to detention in a young offender institution have been placed in a prison in each of the last three years for which information is available; [39583]
(3) how many and what proportion of 18 to 20 year old offenders in prison in January 2010 were serving sentences within the general adult prison population; [39584]
(4) what his policy is on the sentence of detention in a young offender institution; and what plans he has to bring into force section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000; [39585]
(5) what the average (a) capacity and (b) occupancy rate was of each young offender institution holding 18 to 20 year old offenders in each of the last three years. [39586]
Mr Blunt: Young adults sentenced to detention in a young offender institution (DYOI) are detained in young offender institutions (YOIs) as required by section 98 of the Powers of the Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000. These are normally self-contained but in some instances are situated within an adult prison with which they share the majority of their facilities. Whatever the location, young adults detained in YOIs have separate sleeping accommodation and are always managed in accordance with the YOI rules.
Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 is currently being considered in the context of the reform of sentencing and penalties.
It is not possible to provide the information requested in the final three of the hon. Member's questions precisely in the format requested. Information is therefore provided on the basis of the predominant function of each establishment. Consequently, where a young adult is shown as being located in a prison whose predominant
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function is to hold adult prisoners, this will frequently be in a self-contained young adult unit.
Table 1 shows the number and proportion of 18 to 20-year-olds under immediate custodial sentence that were received into an establishment whose predominant function was to hold adult prisoners in England and Wales in 2007-09.
Table 2 shows the number and proportion of 18 to 20-year-olds under immediate custodial sentence that were located in establishments whose predominant function was to hold adult prisoners in England and Wales as at the last day of January 2011 (I have assumed that the hon. Member means January 2011 rather than January 2010).
Table 3 shows the occupancy rate of establishments whose predominant function was a young offender institution (excluding those YOIs where places are commissioned exclusively by the Youth Justice Board) in England and Wales on the last day of June 2008, 2009 and 2010.
| Table 1: Number and percentage of 18 to 20-year-olds received into a prison (as determined by predominant function) | ||
|
|
Number | Percentage |
| Table 2: Number and percentage of 18 - 20 year olds located in a prison (as determined by predominant function) | ||
|
|
Number | Percentage |
| Table 3 | |||
|
|
Population in YOIs (1) | Capacity in YOIs (1) | Occupancy rate (percentage) |
| (1) As determined by predominant function and not including YOIs exclusively used by the YJB. | |||
Cabinet Office
Average Earnings: Peterborough
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate has been made of the average weekly salary of those in employment in the Peterborough city council area in each year since 2001. [39538]
Mr Hurd [holding answer 11 February 2011]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated February 2011:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of the average weekly salary of those in employment in the Peterborough City Council area in each year since 2001. (39538)
Average levels of earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for all employees on adult rates of pay whose pay for the survey period
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was not affected by absence. The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom.
I attach a table showing the median gross weekly earnings for all, full-time and part-time employees working in Peterborough unitary authority for the years 2001 to 2010.
| Median gross weekly earnings for all, full-time and part-time employee jobs (1) Peterborough Unitary Authority 2001 - 10 | |||
| £ | |||
|
|
Full-time employees | Part-time employees | All employees |
| (1) Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence. (2) 2004 results excluding supplementary survey for comparison with 2003. (3) 2004 results including supplementary surveys designed to improve coverage of the survey. For more information see National Statistics website at: www.statistics.gov.uk (4) 2006 results with methodology consistent with 2005. (5) 2006 results with methodology consistent with 2007. Guide to quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV - for example, for an average of 200 with a CV of 5%, we would expect the population average to be within the range 180 to 220. Key: CV <= 5% * CV >5% and <=10% ** CV >10% and <20% Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), Office for National Statistics. | |||
Cabinet Committees: EU Law
Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how Government Departments with responsibility for transposing (a) EU directives and (b) other EU legislation into UK law have been represented at the European Affairs Committee of the Cabinet; and if he will make a statement. [38902]
Mr Maude: The membership of the European Affairs Committee can be found on the Cabinet Office website, at the following address:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/resources/cabinet-committees-system.pdf