Broadband: Scotland
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what recent assessment he has made of the progress of the roll-out of super-fast broadband in Scotland; [88148]
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(2) if he will consider what additional funding can be made available to ensure that all communities in Scotland have access to broadband. [88149]
Mr Vaizey: The Government remain committed to completing the UK broadband delivery programme by 2015. The Government therefore welcome the commitment in the Scottish Government's Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011 to add £50 million of Scottish Government funding and £25.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to the UK Government's £68.8 million allocation for Scotland that was announced in August The Government also look forward to seeing the Scottish Government's plans in the early part of 2012.
The Government recognise the particular technical and geographical challenges facing broadband roll-out in the more remote parts of Scotland and have proposed that a joint working group of officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Scottish Government look at these issues. Depending on the outcome of this work, the Government will be prepared to consider increasing the funding allocated to broadband in Scotland on the basis of a match funded approach, and subject to affordability.
Co-operatives
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps (a) his Department and (b) those bodies for which his Department is responsible are taking to mark UN Year of the Co-operative 2012; and if he will make a statement. [88594]
John Penrose: The Department has no plans to mark the UN Year of the Co-operative 2012.
The Department does not collate this information for its arm’s length bodies centrally. It is for each body to choose whether and how they mark the year.
Copyright: Music
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has had with the Performing Rights Society on ensuring that the royalty payment formula takes account of market barriers for UK-based minority language artists and provides adequate recompense for their cultural and linguistic contributions. [88434]
Mr Vaizey: This is a matter that needs to be resolved through discussions between the Performing Rights Society for music and their members. The Government do not have any role in this matter since collecting societies are independent commercial entities whose collecting society functions are not specifically regulated by the Government.
Debt Collection
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many times his Department has used the services of debt recovery companies since May 2010; which companies were used; and if he will make a statement. [88374]
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John Penrose: The Department has not engaged any debt recovery companies in the period since May 2010. However, the recovery of grants made up to 1994 by the former English tourist board under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 is handled as part of a grant-management contract with Stephen Lewis Consultancy. ‘Section 4 grants’ may become recoverable by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (Mr Hunt), on the sale of a grant-aided property or if the grant recipient goes into liquidation.
Departmental Advertising
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what public information advertising campaigns his Department ran in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2011-12 to date; and what the cost was of each campaign. [87397]
John Penrose: The Free Swimming toolkit in 2008-09 was a marketing and branding pack for participating local authorities to use to promote free swimming in their areas. It cost the Department £47,166.10.
There has been no other public information advertising campaign funded by this Department in 2009-12 although departmental bodies such as Visit Britain and Visit England also run marketing campaigns in partnership with the tourism industry as a core part of their role.
Apprentices
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many apprentices were employed by each public body for which his Department is responsible between (a) April 2010 and March 2011 and (b) April and December 2011; and how many apprenticeships he expects each public body to sponsor between (i) January and March 2012 and (ii) April 2012 and March 2013. [88743]
John Penrose: The Department does not collate centrally the number of apprentices employed by each of its arm’s length bodies (ALBs), and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.
Accordingly, I have asked their chief executives to write to the hon. Gentleman. Copies of the replies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
There are no expectations as to the number of future apprenticeships that each of the Department's ALBs will sponsor. These decisions are at the discretion of each body, and we do not hold a central record of these.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much funding from the public purse has been allocated to sponsor apprenticeships in each of the public bodies for which his Department is responsible between (a) April 2010 and March 2011, (b) April 2011 and March 2012 and (c) April 2012 and March 2013. [88744]
John Penrose: The Department does not collate centrally this information for our arms-length bodies. Accordingly, I have asked their chief executives to write to the hon. Gentleman.
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Copies of the replies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Food Procurement
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [86996]
John Penrose: The Department does not have its own food and catering service, following the closure of the staff canteen in December 2009.
However, we have spent £40,200.44 on hospitality provided by catering contractors Baxter Storey, during October 2010 to October 2011. We are unable to separately identify food costs from the overall figure.
Equality
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what equality impact assessments his Department has carried out since May 2010; and for what purpose in each case. [88577]
John Penrose: The Equality Act 2010 removed the need to produce equality impact assessments and instead introduced an equality duty. Nonetheless DCMS has carried out an equality assessment on key areas of its work, including the October 2010 spending review when we considered all potential impacts of any resource reduction on particular groups, regions and the new appraisal system in April 2011.
Departmental Manpower
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many people were working in his Department on (a) 11 May 2010 and (b) 8 December 2011. [87351]
John Penrose: The information requested is set out in the following table:
| Date | Headcount |
The figures include staff temporarily on loan and secondment from other Government Departments for the Olympics. The Department will downsize further after the Olympic Games.
The Department launched a voluntary redundancy scheme in September 2010 and 68 permanent employees have left between March 2011 and December 2011. In April 2011, 58 employees transferred from BIS to DCMS under the machinery of government changes.
Recruitment
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on recruitment agencies in each month since September 2011. [88011]
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John Penrose: This Department has not spent on recruitment agencies between September and November 2011.
Redundancy Pay
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much redundancy pay was paid to civil servants in his Department in each month between September and November 2011. [88009]
John Penrose: The following table shows the total amount of redundancy payments made to civil servants in this Department in each month between September and November 2011
| 2011 | Redundancy (£) |
Temporary Employment
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many temporary staff have been recruited to his Department between September and November 2011. [88010]
John Penrose: Between September and November 2011, five temporary staff were recruited to this Department.
Diamond Jubilee 2012: Local Government Expenditure
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department plans to offer financial support to (a) district councils and (b) town and parish councils to cover additional logistical costs incurred by them as a result of the diamond jubilee celebrations. [88547]
Hugh Robertson: It is expected that diamond jubilee celebrations will reflect the current economic climate and be funded within existing budgets wherever possible. Local communities can and will mark the diamond jubilee as they wish in any number of different ways, many of which will involve no additional costs for district councils, or town and parish councils. The Department for Communities and Local Government has asked local authorities to be flexible and supportive wherever possible of local celebrations.
Diamond Jubilee 2012: Medals
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of recipients of the Queen's diamond jubilee medal; and what the cost to the public purse will be. [88319]
Hugh Robertson: We expect that between 400,000 and 450,000 medals will be produced. Production will be based on a unit cost of around £16 per medal, and we therefore estimate that the total cost to Government could be in the region of £7 million to £8 million.
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Digital Technology
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what progress has been made towards the installation of a digital hub in every community by 2015. [88715]
Mr Vaizey: The local broadband plans being developed by local authorities will contain coverage details for stimulating private investment in broadband connectivity and plans to deliver a digital hub in their communities. There are currently eight in procurement and over 30 more in preparation.
Infrastructure
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much of the sum allocated by his Department for e-infrastructure has been allocated to each region. [88098]
Mr Vaizey: The Government are investing £530 million in the UK’s broadband network:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/news_stories/7502.aspx
The allocations of funding were published in the summer of 2011, the details can be found on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's website, or by using the following links:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/news_stories/8389.aspx
http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/BDUK-Funding-Allocation-16-08-11.pdf
http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/news_stories/8385.aspx
http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/media_releases/8289.aspx
Local Broadcasting
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to support local and community media. [86761]
Mr Vaizey: The Government's response to the consultations on the Framework for Local TV consultation and Pioneer Locations was published on 13 December 2011. This includes details of the first locations that Ofcom expects to invite applications for local TV licences and confirms the legislative proposals. The Government expect this will grow the local media market and offer new opportunities for existing businesses and new entrants.
Mobile Phones: Fees and Charges
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will encourage mobile telephone operators to review their charges for (a) 0800, (b) directory enquiries and (c) other non-geographic calls. [87838]
Mr Vaizey: This is an operational matter for Ofcom, the independent regulator.
Ofcom is currently engaged in a review of non-geographic calls, which includes 0800 and directory inquiries and is of the view that regulatory change is needed as the existing market structure does not encourage transparency
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or competition. This has included detailed discussion with industry to gather support for the changes, minimize implementation costs and risks and identify the full consequence of change.
In February 2012, Ofcom expects to consult on detailed proposals intended to overhaul the regulation of non-geographic calls. The mobile industry will be directly engaged in the consultation process. Ofcom's proposals include the recommendation that 080 should be free from all phones (fixed and mobile); and that there should be clear pricing rules for revenue sharing ranges, including 118, which will allow price comparison between 118 providers and restrict the mobile companies' ability to exploit consumer confusion.
Mobile Phones: Health Hazards
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what assessment he has made of the additional number of mobile telephone masts required to deliver national mobile coverage over existing spectrum in the 800 MHz band; [87834]
(2) whether he proposes that open access obligations will be applied to service providers that benefit from public investment in mobile telephone masts. [87835]
Mr Vaizey: The aim of the Mobile Infrastructure Project is to improve 2G mobile coverage and quality for the 5% to 10% of consumers in areas of the UK where existing coverage is poor or non-existent, with the goal of extending coverage to 99% of the UK population. We are working with Ofcom and. other stakeholders to determine how best to fill the gaps in current coverage, whether through construction of masts or other appropriate infrastructure.
The coverage of mobile services at 800 MHz is a matter for Ofcom, who in March consulted on a range of matters regarding the auction of 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum, including coverage obligations. We understand that Ofcom are expecting to consult again on revised proposals shortly
It is anticipated that there will be open access to this infrastructure for all mobile network operators. The conditions applying to the use of the infrastructure are yet to be determined through discussion with the operators, but they will be designed to ensure delivery of an effective and sustainable network.
Museums and Galleries
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many (a) museums, (b) art galleries and (c) theatres have been built in Liverpool since 1997. [87039]
Mr Vaizey [holding answer 19 December 2011]: This Department does not hold information on the total number of new museums, art galleries and theatres to be built in Liverpool since 1997.
National Museums Liverpool, one of the DCMS national museums, has built one new museum, the Museum of Liverpool. This was the largest new museum in over 100 years and opened in Liverpool in July 2011. It also opened the International Slavery museum in 2007 which was developed from an existing building.
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Arts Council England has supported 40 capital projects in the Liverpool local authority area by eight organisations since 1997. These are: Empire Theatre, Foundation for Art and Creative Technology, Great Georges Community Cultural Project Ltd, Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust, Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, The Bluecoat, Unity Theatre Company and Valley Community Theatre. Additionally, in October this year the Everyman Theatre received an Arts Council England lottery grant towards its £35 million upgrade.
Japan Tobacco International
Mr Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether any (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department have received hospitality from Japan Tobacco International since May 2010. [87610]
John Penrose: Ministers and special advisers in this Department have not received any hospitality from Japan Tobacco International since May 2010.
Olympic Games 2012
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will discuss with Transport for London and the Mayor publishing in advance dates around the London 2012 Olympic Games when routine maintenance work is planned on London Underground. [87815]
Mrs Villiers: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Transport.
Transport for London (TfL) publish all planned engineering work in advance. Details about tube line and station closures over the next six months are available on their website. London Underground is planning ahead to seek to minimise the work carried out during the games period. This means that no planned closures are to take place on the tube network between 17 July and 14 September 2012.
Olympic Games 2012: Local Government Expenditure
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department plans to offer financial support to (a) district councils and (b) town and parish councils which are on the route of the Olympic Torch. [88548]
Hugh Robertson: The Department has no plans to offer financial support to district councils or town, and parish councils on the route of the Olympic Torch relay. Each community on route or host authority for an evening celebration has entered into an agreement with the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) to deliver the services required to support the relay and entered into such agreements at their own discretion, accepting the responsibilities entailed. The Department will continue to engage with local authorities, sharing best practice to support them as they prepare for the relay.
Olympic Games 2012: Hexham
Guy Opperman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will visit
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Hexham constituency to discuss preparations for the London 2012's Olympics and the local community's involvement in a mini East Tynedale Olympics. [87885]
Hugh Robertson: Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, nor I have specific plans to visit Hexham constituency to discuss preparations for the London 2012 Olympics. However, the Secretary of State will be visiting the north-east in January as part of his regional tourism tour, and preparations for the School Games.
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.
Olympic Games 2012: National Lottery
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Harrow West of 15 December 2011, Official Report, column 832W, on the Olympic Games 2012: National Lottery, whether he has plans to ensure that countries and regions of the UK which have received fewer legacy benefits from the hosting of the London 2012 Olympics will receive preferential treatment from future Lottery funding. [88636]
John Penrose: The distributing bodies for national lottery grants—rightly—make their funding decisions independently of Government, and against their published criteria for particular programmes. This process will not change after the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. Increased lottery ticket income means that considerably more lottery funding should be available for good causes throughout the United Kingdom in future.
Olympic Games 2012: North East
Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure that the north- east plays an active role in the London 2012 Olympics ceremonies. [87884]
Hugh Robertson: The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) is responsible for staging a variety of formal ceremonies as part of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This includes the opening and closing ceremonies, athlete welcome ceremonies, torch handover and arrival ceremony; torch relay evening celebrations and victory ceremonies.
There is a wide range of opportunities for the north-east and the whole of the UK to be involved. Business contracts to deliver goods and services for the ceremonies are being won by firms from across the UK via Competefor. Volunteers from across the UK will work and perform at all these ceremonies. There will be four Olympic Torch relay evening celebrations held at Alnwick, Newcastle, Durham and Middlesbrough as the Olympic flame travels across the north-east from 15 to 20 June.
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The London 2012 Live Site network (including in Middlesbrough) will broadcast a number of the ceremonies. Athletes will take centre stage in the ceremonies, including those from the north-east in Team GB and ParalympicsGB.
Olympic Games 2012: Plastic Bags
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2011, Official Report, column 832W, on the Olympic Games 2012: plastic bags, whether the London 2012 Sustainable Sourcing Code provides that LOCOG's sponsors and suppliers should not supply single-use or short-life plastic bags. [88515]
Hugh Robertson: The latest edition of LOCOG's Sustainable Sourcing Code is online at
http://www.london2012.com/documents/locog-publications/sustainable-sourcing-code.pdf
This makes clear that, where practicable, all products and packaging at the games (whether from LOCOG, sponsors or suppliers) will be able to be reused, recycled or recovered. It links to specific Packaging Guidelines which make clear that carrier bags should only be produced if they are intended to be re-useable or made out of materials which can be widely recycled.
Radio Frequencies
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what consideration he has given to liberating femtocells on the 190 MHz spectrum in areas where there is a lack of competition for use in a similar way to WiFi on the ISM spectrum. [85509]
Mr Vaizey [holding answer 8 December 2011]: The matter raised is an operational one for the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom). Accordingly, my officials spoke to Ofcom, who advised:
In March of this year Ofcom consulted on proposals for the award of rights to use the 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum bands. One option on which Ofcom consulted was the reservation of part of the 2.6 GHz band for shared low-power use, to promote competition and innovation. Ofcom received a number of responses from stakeholders on this proposal, some of which suggested that Ofcom's objectives would be better met if part of this band were reserved for this type of use on a licence exempt basis, similar to WiFi. Ofcom will shortly be publishing a further consultation on these issues. This will provide stakeholders with a further opportunity to provide views and evidence as to the benefits and costs of such an approach. Ofcom will take all such views and evidence into account before deciding whether or not to implement such an approach.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many channels of radio spectrum are available for use by wireless microphone operators; and if he will make a statement. [88640]
Mr Vaizey:
It is not possible to give a single figure for the number of available channels because availability of radio spectrum for wireless microphone use varies by geographic location. JFMG, which manages spectrum in this area on behalf of Ofcom, can advise on availability of frequencies at any particular site. As a general point,
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Ofcom confirms that in its view there continues to be sufficient spectrum to meet historic peak demand in this sector.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent progress has been made on ensuring that the 800MHz band is clear of existing users by October 2012; and if he will make a statement. [88641]
Mr Vaizey: Ofcom's most recent update on 7 October 2011, confirmed that it continued to expect the 800MHz band to be available from early 2013 (although not nationwide until later in 2013). We understand work is on track to achieve this.
In particular, digital switchover of television broadcasting is progressing to plan and—in relation to channels 61 and 62 which are the more recent additions to the spectrum to be cleared—this work has been completed as part of planned switchover in Yorkshire, Central and STV Central regions. In 2012, 800-MHz clearance will take place as part of planned switchover in London, Meridian (partial), Tyne Tees and Northern Ireland. We understand remaining regions are on track to be cleared of channel 61 and 62's use by the end of 2013.
Sign Language
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the proposal to designate British Sign Language as an indigenous minority language in the UK. [87585]
Mr Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has made no assessment of whether British Sign Language should be designated as an indigenous minority language in the UK.
Sikhs
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will have discussions with the Sikh Council UK and Sikh Federation (UK) on policy matters relating to the Sikh community. [87196]
John Penrose: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport has regular discussions with a significant number of bodies on a wide range of subjects. It would be helpful if the hon. Gentleman could write with details of the topics which he wishes to discuss so we can consider how best to address them.
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department has taken to ensure practising Sikhs are able to wear articles of faith such as the Kirpan when visiting UK tourist attractions. [87197]
John Penrose:
VisitEngland, the national tourist board, is not aware of any instances where articles of faith such as the Kirpan have not been permitted to be worn at a UK tourist attraction. If the hon. Gentleman has evidence of occasions when this has occurred I would encourage
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him to send details either to me or to VisitEngland, together with information on what steps (if any) were taken to raise the issue with the attraction owners at the time.
Telecommunications
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will discuss with Ofcom the (a) progress of, (b) reasons for the time taken for and (c) timescale for implementation of its review of non-geographic call services. [87837]
Mr Vaizey: Ofcom started their review of non-geographic call services in March 2010 and sought comments from stakeholders. This was followed by a strategic consultation in December 2010 in which broad options for wholesale change of the market were canvassed. The options in part relied on expected changes to the Communications Act (from the transposition of changes to the EC Telecommunications Framework) which were made at the end of May 2011.
Now that the changes have been made to the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom expects to consult, in February 2012, on detailed proposals to overhaul the relevant regulation. This should conclude in September 2012, when Ofcom will set out the transition timetable, which could extend to 2013-14. The consultation process needs to be thorough; the market is worth £1.5 billion per annum and changes will impact on almost every organisation in the UK and consumers. Any change made will lead to a redistribution of costs and charges, and in some cases will be beneficial to consumers. There are risks of unintended consequences such as making services uneconomical, which need to be assessed and solutions identified. Doing this effectively takes time and I am satisfied with Ofcom's timetable in this regard. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport will discuss with them to ensure that their current timings can be met.
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the telecoms appeals framework in enabling Ofcom to make timely regulatory interventions in accordance with its statutory duties. [87840]
Mr Vaizey: The Department has held two consultations on the telecoms appeal framework. The first in autumn 2010, as part of a consultation on implementing changes to the electronic communications framework, and the second in August 2011 (closed October 2011). The Department is now considering what action to take as a result of the responses received.
Mrs Glindon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has
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made of the effect on consumers of delays to Ofcom regulation affected by the telecoms appeals framework. [87841]
Mr Vaizey: The Department is concerned about the impact of lengthy and costly appeals against Ofcom on its ability to regulate for the benefit of consumers. For that reason, we have held two consultations on the telecoms appeal framework. The first in autumn 2010, as part of a consultation on implementing changes to the electronic communications framework, and the second in August 2011 (closed October 2011). The Department is currently considering what action to take as a result of responses received.
Telephone Services: Fees and Charges
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the financial effects on consumers of non-geographic call prices from (a) mobile telephones and (b) landlines. [87839]
Mr Vaizey: This is an operational matter for Ofcom, the independent regulator.
Ofcom's current review of these services has identified problems with the transparency of call charges, which has led to clear evidence of market failure with the result that the charges faced by consumers probably do not reflect the value placed on them and that the providers of services are unable to compete effectively to offer better value and innovation to potential customers. Ofcom's analysis suggests that the financial impact of the charges is likely to be unevenly distributed. Higher prices of some mobile services are likely to lead to lower prices for others in a competitive market. However, for more vulnerable consumers, who more regularly require access to socially important services, particularly if they are in a mobile only household, there is evidence of significant consumer disadvantage. Therefore, Ofcom is reviewing the market for these services and will be setting out its proposals for an overhaul of the regulations in February 2012.
UK Sport: Disability
Damian Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much UK Sport spent on the development of disabled weightlifting in each of the last five years; and how much it has allocated to supporting existing athletes in the latest period for which figures are available. [88064]
Hugh Robertson: The following table provides the investment made by UK Sport to both the Powerlifting National Governing Body and directly to Powerlifting athletes.
| £ | |||
| Financial year | World Class Programme | Direct to Powerlifting athletes | Total |
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Electoral Commission Committee
Electoral Register
Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what information the Speaker's Committee holds on the effectiveness of electoral registration campaigns operated by the Electoral Commission. [88093]
Mr Streeter: The Speaker's Committee publishes annually the reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the Electoral Commission.
The most recent such report (the Committee's First Report 2011) included an assessment of the Electoral Commission's expenditure on public awareness campaigns, to inform people how to register to vote, to encourage them to do so and to make sure people know how to cast their vote. The report found that the Commission is doing well in fulfilling its legislative responsibilities and evaluating its performance in promoting public awareness. An earlier report on the Commission's work on public awareness was published as the Committee's First Report 2006.
Both reports are available via the Committee’s webpage at:
www.parliament.uk/scec
Prime Minister
Departmental Guidance: Email
Jon Trickett: To ask the Prime Minister what guidance his Department provides to Ministers, special advisers and officials on the use of personal email accounts to conduct official business. [88535]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Jack Dromey) on 17 October 2011, Official Report, column 603W.
Festivals and Special Occasions
Robert Halfon: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the guest list of his recent Eid event. [87860]
The Prime Minister: Information on official and charity receptions held at 10 Downing street is published by means of an annual list as soon as it is ready at the end of the financial year.
Ministerial Committees
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2011, Official Report, columns 909-10W, which Members of the Cabinet represented the UK Government at the most recent Joint Ministerial Committee sub-committee meeting on Europe. [88514]
The Prime Minister: It is longstanding practice under successive Administrations not to disclose information relating to ministerial meetings, including the proceedings of Cabinet and Cabinet committees, as to do so would put at risk the public interest in the full and frank discussion of policy by Ministers.
Leader of the House
Legislation
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Leader of the House whether he plans to publish a Draft Legislative Statement for the next Session of Parliament. [87917]
Sir George Young: I have no plans to publish a draft legislative statement for the next Session. Work is under way to plan a full legislative programme for the second Session, which will be announced in the Queen's Speech in the spring.
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department has taken to deliver affordable housing within mixed sustainable communities. [87669]
Grant Shapps: The draft National Planning Policy Framework says local planning authorities should plan for a mix of housing based on current and future demographic trends, market trends and the needs of different groups in the community; identify the size, type, tenure and range of housing that is required in particular locations, reflecting local demand; and where they have identified affordable housing is required, set policies for meeting this need on site, unless off-site provision or a financial contribution of broadly equivalent value can be robustly justified and the agreed approach contributes to the objective of creating mixed and balanced communities. The consultation on the draft framework has closed and we are now considering all the responses.
Overall, the Government are investing £4.5 billion to provide up to 170,000 new affordable homes by 2015.
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Cleveland Fire Brigade
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what (a) funding and (b) advice his Department has provided to Cleveland Fire Brigade on establishing a separate, for-profit community interest company; and what the cost to the public purse was of any such advice. [87798]
Robert Neill: Cleveland Fire Brigade have discussed their proposals for the establishment of a separate, for-profit community interest company, informally with the Department. The Department has not offered any funding or formal advice on this issue.
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Compulsory Purchase
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many compulsory purchase orders have been issued in each local authority area in each of the last five years. [88026]
Robert Neill: The following table sets out during each of the last five years, the number of compulsory purchase orders which have either been confirmed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, or returned to the local authority for their own confirmation.
| Local authorities | 1 April 2011 to 23 December 2011 | 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 | 1 April 2009 to March 2010 | 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009 | 1 April 2007 to March 2008 |
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Co-operatives
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps (a) his Department and (b) those bodies for which his Department is responsible are taking to mark UN Year of the Co-operative 2012; and if he will make a statement. [88606]
Robert Neill: Departments will work closely with Cabinet Office, the Mutuals Taskforce and with Co-operatives UK to develop and take full advantage of opportunities to celebrate the achievements of co-operative organisations during the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives.
The Mutuals Taskforce has recently indicated it will play a co-ordinating role for Departments to support the International Year of Co-operatives, with Co-operatives UK leading the Taskforce's work in this area.
Council Tax: Non-Payment
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will estimate the number of people made bankrupt by local authorities for non-payment of council tax in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [88525]
Robert Neill: The information requested is not held centrally.
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Debt Recovery
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many times his Department has used the services of debt recovery companies since May 2010; which companies were used; and if he will make a statement. [88370]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government has not used any debt recovery companies since May 2010.
Apprentices
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many apprentices were employed by each public body for which his Department is responsible between (a) April 2010 and March 2011 and (b) April and December 2011; and how many apprenticeships he expects each public body to sponsor between (i) January and March 2012 and (ii) April 2012 and March 2013; [88741]
(2) how much funding from the public purse has been allocated to sponsor apprenticeships in each of the public bodies for which his Department is responsible between (a) April 2010 and March 2011, (b) April 2011 and March 2012 and (c) April 2012 and March 2013. [88742]
Robert Neill: Information about the appointment of sponsored apprenticeships is not recorded centrally.
Food Procurement
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [86995]
Robert Neill: I refer the hon. Member to these entries on my Department’s freedom of information disclosure log which can be found at:
10 Jan 2012 : Column 50W
http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/foi/disclosure-log/disclosurelog2011/jul2011/expenditureoncatering/
http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/foi/disclosure-log/disclosurelog2011/november2011/expenditureoncatering/
They give a breakdown on food expenditure, defined as hospitality, on a monthly basis, from April 2010 until September 2011 (18 months). These replies also contain a link to the response to a parliamentary question giving hospitality expenditure for 2009-10.
Services: Social Value
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to ensure social value is included when services are commissioned by (a) his Department and (b) its public bodies; and if he will make a statement. [85652]
Robert Neill: The Best Value guidance for local authorities, which includes social value, can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/1976926.pdf
In his foreword, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Pickles), said
“I am not asking councils to do anything that I wouldn’t ask of my Department or any other. That is why, reaffirming our commitments under the Compact, all central government departments are also signing up to the same fair standards set out in the guidance.”
Departmental Written Questions
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many parliamentary questions for written answer on a named day by his Department were answered (a) on time, (b) five days late, (c) 10 days late, (d) 20 days late and (e) over 30 days late in each month since May 2010. [79586]
Robert Neill: The information requested, based on the month in which parliamentary questions were tabled, is as follows:
| Answered within: | |||||||
| Number of named day questions | Answered on time | 1 to 5 days (1) | 6 to 10 days (1) | 11 to 20 days (1) | 21 to 30 days (1) | Over 30 days (1) | |
| (1) Sitting days including non-sitting Fridays. | |||||||