Police: Olympic Games 2012
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when she last met her counterpart in the Scottish Government to discuss mutual aid in policing for the London 2012 Olympics; [88161]
(2) how many police officers from Scottish police forces will be deployed in England under mutual aid arrangements for the London 2012 Olympics. [88162]
James Brokenshire: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has not met the Scottish Government to discuss the provision of police mutual aid for the London 2012 Olympic Games. These are operational policing matters and, while detailed planning continues, the final resource requirements will not be confirmed until early this year. It is anticipated that a small number of Olympic venue forces are likely to require a level of additional support, under mutual aid arrangements.
Requests for mutual aid will be co-ordinated through the Association of Chief Police Officers, Police National Information and Co-ordination Centre (ACPO PNICC) in England and Wales and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, Scottish Police Information Co-ordination Centre (ACPOS SPICC). It is expected that most police forces across the UK, including Scottish forces, will be asked to supply resources and PNICC,
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together with SPICC will ensure that resource requests are proportionate to the relative size and capacity of the providing force.
Police: Surveillance
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 1 November 2011, Official Report, column 500W, on police: surveillance, whether elected police commissioners will have the power to authorise the use of covert techniques under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. [87744]
Police: Wales
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with Ministers in the Welsh Government on the formation of Policing and Crime Panels in Wales to scrutinise the work of elected Police and Crime Commissioners. [88022]
Nick Herbert: Home Office and Welsh Government Ministers and senior officials have discussed police reform as a whole and will continue to do so where necessary. The Home Office's Police and Crime Commissioner Transition Programme includes a specific project tasked with maintaining a strategic overview of the implementation of the police reform agenda in Wales including the establishment of police and crime panels. Membership of this board includes both Home Office and Welsh Government officials as well as a range of other key Welsh partners.
Postcodes
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department uses postcodes for purposes other than the postage of mail. [84243]
Damian Green: Postcodes provided as part of the passport application process are used by the Identity and Passport Service to assist with workflow management, demographic market research and in managing the integrity of the passport issuing process.
Postcodes are held on UK Border Agency systems that are used to generate statistical information at the local authority level on supported asylum seekers.
The Criminal Records Bureau uses postcodes for a range of operational functions, including validating a person's identity and identifying repeat applications.
Prevent Strategy
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responsibilities in respect of the Prevent Strategy have been transferred from her Department to the Department for Communities and Local Government since 7 June 2011. [88426]
James Brokenshire: There has been no transfer of responsibilities in respect of the Prevent Strategy from the Home Office to the Department of Communities and Local Government since that date.
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Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms she has put in place to ensure co-operation between her Department and the Department for Communities and Local Government on the Prevent Strategy. [88430]
James Brokenshire: Home Office Ministers have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues and my officials work closely with officials in the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). DCLG is a member of the Prevent Sub Board which oversees the delivery of the Prevent Strategy.
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding allocated to the Prevent Strategy has been transferred from her Department to the Department for Communities and Local Government during financial year 2011-12; and what such funding will be transferred in financial year 2012-13. [88431]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office has not transferred any funding related to the Prevent strategy to the Department for Communities and Local Government this financial year. We are not aware that any transfer of Prevent funding is planned for 2012-13.
Smuggling: Tobacco
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on the tackling tobacco smuggling strategy in 2009-10. [83506]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency deployed an estimated 1,504 full-time equivalent staff to the tobacco strategy in 2009-10, assigned to detection and intelligence duties. Further and more detailed information on expenditure is not available. Investigation and the provision of legal advice in relation to tobacco smuggling remained the responsibility of HM Revenue and Customs.
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to combat the distribution of counterfeit cigarettes in (a) Leicester and (b) the east midlands. [87711]
Miss Chloe Smith: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.
The Government are committed to tackling the illicit trade in non-UK duty paid cigarettes and in April 2011 published a comprehensive new strategy for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the UK Border Agency (UKBA): “Tackling Tobacco Smuggling—building on our success”. It is available online at:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/news/tackling-tobacco.htm
This is a risk-based, intelligence-led strategy which is applied across the UK, including in Leicestershire and the east midlands. Domestically, HMRC works in collaboration with other enforcement agencies to maximise impact using the full range of powers and sanctions available, and to develop and apply joined-up approaches to localised problems of illicit activity.
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Social Justice Committee
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings of the Social Justice Committee she has attended since its establishment. [85292]
Damian Green: Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Statisticians
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many statisticians (a) her Department employs and (b) are seconded to her Department by the Office for National Statistics. [88425]
Damian Green: As at 19 December 2011, the Home Office employed 17 professional statistical staff ranging from the Chief Statistician to Statistical Officers. In addition, the Home Office's Chief Scientific Adviser is also a statistician. One professional member of statistical staff is additionally employed in each of the Government Equalities Office and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.
No professional statistical staff are on loan to the Home Office from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Three social researchers are, however, currently on loan to the Home Office Statistics Unit as part of preparations for the British Crime Survey moving to ONS in April 2012.
Metal Theft
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the provisions of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 in deterring metal theft. [87223]
James Brokenshire: We believe that regulation of the scrap metal industry is not effective and that the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 needs to be revised. The Home Office is discussing with other Departments what legislative changes are necessary to assist enforcement agencies and deter offenders. We are also working with the Association of Chief Police Officers to establish a dedicated metal theft taskforce.
Japan: Tobacco International
Mr Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in her Department have received hospitality from Japan Tobacco International since May 2010. [87620]
Damian Green: Information on hospitality received by Ministers and special advisers is published regularly and can be found at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/non-personal-data/hospitality-business-expenses/
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Security Vetting
Steve Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to introduce annual subscription fees for volunteers who undergo portable Criminal Records Bureau checks. [87664]
Lynne Featherstone: We are committed to reducing the barriers to volunteering and regular Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks will remain free of charge for volunteers. The decision on whether volunteers will have to pay for the new on-line service is still under consideration.
Security Vetting: Third Sector
Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans her Department has to introduce charges for Criminal Records Bureau and vetting and barring checks for volunteers in the charitable sector. [87642]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 20 December 2011]: We are committed to reducing the barriers to volunteering and regular Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks will remain free of charge for volunteers. The decision on whether volunteers will have to pay for the new on-line service is still under consideration.
Victims: Gender Recognition
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many transgender murder victims there have been in each of the last five years. [87878]
Lynne Featherstone: The requested information is not collected centrally.
Tackling hate crime is an issue the Government take very seriously, and we are committed to doing more to support and protect victims.
We are meeting the coalition commitment to improve the recording of such crimes, and working with the police and other partners to encourage more victims to come forward. In line with this commitment, information on whether the offence was motivated by the victim being transgender will be collected via the Homicide Index from April 2012.
Further information on Government plans relating to transgender equality can be found in the Home Office publication ‘Advancing transgender equality: a plan for action’ at the following link:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/equalities/lgbt-equality-publications/transgender-action-plan?view=Binary
Visas
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost was of renewing a UK visa which had been lost or stolen in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009, (e) 2010 and (f) 2011. [87850]
Damian Green: The cost of obtaining a replacement UK visa due to a lost or stolen passport would vary, depending on what type of visa had been granted in the first instance.
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Applicants overseas are required to reapply and pay the appropriate fee to obtain a new visa. Applicants in the UK may make a transfer of conditions application. The current fee for a transfer of conditions application is £216.
The UK Border Agency has published details on fees, including the indicative unit cost for each application type for the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Fees Regulations.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when she plans to answer Question 80509 on border controls, tabled on 8 November 2011 for named day answer on 14 November 2011; [84490]
(2) pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Halton, on 7 November 2011, Official Report, column 54, whether (a) other Ministers in her Department, (b) the Permanent Secretary in her Department and (c) any officials and special advisers in the Minister's private office knew that border controls had been relaxed. [80509]
Damian Green [holding answers 14 November 2011 and 5 December 2011]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the evidence provided to the Home Affairs Select Committee on 8 November 2011.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to answer question 77339, tabled on 25 October 2011 for answer on 27 October 2011, on departmental procurement. [88105]
Damian Green: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 19 December 2011, Official Report, columns 922-3W.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what outcomes he has specified for contractors under the Higher Apprenticeship Fund. [88710]
Mr Hayes: The aim of the Higher Apprenticeship Fund is to create sustainable Higher Apprenticeship places that are based on employer demand, involve education and business partnerships and that are accessible to all, especially small employers.
The National Apprenticeship Service is currently agreeing contracts with successful organisations, which will be contracted to support one or more of the following:
1. Increase employer engagement with key large employers and the small and medium-sized enterprises in their supply chains and sub sectors.
2. Build training provider capacity and capability to deliver high quality Higher Apprenticeships.
3. Accelerate development of Apprenticeship Frameworks where demand is proven.
4. Create accessible programmes that address sectoral gender and ethnicity imbalances.
Through investing in capacity and infrastructure, the fund will initially create approximately 19,000 additional Higher Apprenticeship places.
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Arms Trade
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has asked the National Security Council to discuss the arms trade treaty. [88612]
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what contribution his Department has made to policy development on including small arms, light weapons and ammunition within the terms of the arms trade treaty. [88626]
Mr Prisk: Officials from this Department have been, and continue to be, actively engaged in supporting the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on all aspects of arms trade treaty policy development and strategy including on the potential scope of the treaty.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department provides (a) training and (b) detailed briefings on the arms trade treaty to staff working in overseas posts; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the treaty is raised in all relevant bilateral meetings. [88627]
Mr Prisk: Officials from this Department participate in a range of outreach activities organised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as part of a cross-Whitehall team. The responsibility for briefing staff in overseas posts would be for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to arrange.
Officials from the Export Control Organisation have taken the opportunity to discuss the arms trade treaty with their international counterparts during a range of meetings on broader issues with which they are involved.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which representatives from his Department have attended each of the UN Preparatory Committee meetings for the international arms trade treaty; and which representatives from his Department will attend the meeting in February 2012. [88629]
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to ensure that negotiations for an arms trade treaty in 2012 include representatives from civil society and non-governmental organisations. [88630]
Mr Prisk: This would be a matter for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which have overall Government responsibility for the negotiations on the arms trade treaty.
Billing
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) companies and (b) the public sector make timely payment of invoices to small businesses. [88639]
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Mr Davey: Transforming the long-standing culture of late payment requires a multi-faceted strategy to engage and educate business. Key steps we are taking in respect of companies are:
encouraging big business to pay according to agreed terms through the Prompt Payment Code (www.promptpayment code.org.uk) and by supporting businesses to better manage customer relationships through the Institute of Credit Management's Managing Cash Flow Guides (www.credit management.org.uk/bisguides.htm)
sponsoring a ‘get paid day' within our wider campaign supporting ‘finance fitness'
Government are also supporting businesses to manage cash flow by ensuring they pays their own bills on time:
establishing the public sector as a payment exemplar with a commitment that central Departments pay 80% of invoices within five days and that main suppliers must pay contractors within 30 days. BIS achieved 95.5% in November 2011.
Additionally, the Government are preparing for the transposition of the recast EU late payment directive into UK law by 16 March 2013. The directive essentially mirrors current UK legislation.
Business Regulation
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the cost to business resulting from the commencement of the Bribery Act 2011 have been (a) subject to the Regulatory Policy Committee's impact assessment validation process and (b) included in the Second Statement of New Regulation. [87823]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Justice.
The consideration of the impact of the legislation (the Bribery Bill) that received Royal Assent as the Bribery Act in April 2010 (a) pre-dated the establishment of the Regulatory Policy Committee and (b) did not fall within the scope of the Second Statement of New Regulation. An impact assessment was published by the then Secretary of State for Justice upon the introduction of the Bribery Bill in November 2009.
Business: Loans
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2011, Official Report, column 293W, on banks: loans, if he will have such discussions. [84360]
Mr Davey: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), is not currently planning to hold such discussions. The Joint Money Laundering Steering Group, an industry association, produces guidance on how financial services firms should interpret rules on identity checks, as set out in the UK money laundering regulations.
Conditions of Employment
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to protect workers' employment rights. [87914]
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Mr Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is leading a cross-Government review into all aspects of employment-related law that will last the length of this Parliament. Our aim is to ensure that the balance between business confidence, economic growth and fairness to employees is right. Making employers more confident about taking on new staff will lead to a healthier labour market and more jobs for employees. We are not in the business of removing important protections. In fact, we plan to reform the law to help people juggle their commitments at work with their responsibilities at home. We are also reviewing our compliance and enforcement arrangements to see if there is scope to make them more efficient and effective.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department has taken to protect the rights of workers who are faced with redundancy; and whether he plans to change such rights. [87915]
Mr Davey: No new regulations in relation to redundancy are currently planned. However, on 23 November 2011 we launched a Call for Evidence on the operation of the rules on collective redundancy consultation, to establish whether changes are needed. Any change prompted by the call for evidence would aim to establish a regime that balances the need for business flexibility with fair treatment for employees. This would need to take into account the impact on employees, both in terms of morale (as a result of long periods of time between the end of consultation and redundancies taking effect) and in relation to access to future employment or training. After the Call for Evidence closes on 31 January 2012, we will carefully consider the responses received and formally consult on any recommendations for change that we consider necessary.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the level of protection for the labour force; and what information his Department holds on the level of protection afforded to the labour force in other EU member states. [87916]
Mr Davey: A key driver of the UK's strong performance is the flexibility of our labour market. The labour market, like other markets, needs a framework of rules and, as with other European Union member states, those rules have to comply with minimum standards agreed in Europe. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the UK has one of the most efficient labour markets among developed countries. But we can do more, and through the Red Tape Challenge we are giving the public an opportunity to comment on how EU legislation has been implemented in the UK, so that we can review any instances of ‘gold-plating', where the UK has gone beyond the minimum required by EU legislation.
Copyright: Electronic Publishing
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he has taken to protect authors' rights from the risk of piracy relating to (a) e-books and (b) other digital technology. [87712]
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Mr Davey: The Government remain committed to implementation of the online infringement of copyright provisions within the Digital Economy Act, 2010, which will benefit publishers and authors of e-books as well as other producers of digital material.
The Department is also working with industry to look at other ways in which sites dedicated to making copyright material available illegally can be made less attractive and more difficult to find inadvertently. This work includes facilitating cooperation between rights holder and online service providers, while ensuring that consumers are treated fairly and can be assured that they are acting within the law.
We are also working to make access to enforcement mechanisms for intellectual property cases easier and cheaper through reforms to the Patents County Court.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff posts have been removed in his Department since June 2010; in which areas; what assessment he has made of the effect of the removal of posts on his Department's policy areas; whether any policy areas within his Department were exempt from the removal of posts; and if he will make a statement. [88709]
Mr Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has reduced the number of staff on its payroll by 611 since June 2010. This has been accompanied by an organisational restructure. Alongside the restructure the Department has undertaken change and building capability programmes. These have focused on increasing effectiveness by enabling the Department to operate in a way that is more flexible, skilled, innovative, focused on priority activities, connected and open. While challenging, the changes have been delivered with no significant diminution of performance in terms of policy development or service to Ministers. The staff reductions and restructure apply to the Department, excluding agencies and UK Trade and Investment.
Third Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 14 December 2011, Official Report, columns 816-7W, on Third Sector, for what reasons (a) Tate Britain, (b) the National Foundation for Education, (c) the Royal Anniversary Trust and (d) Natural England received funding from his Department in 2010-11 but not in 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [88685]
Mr Willetts: The payments to the organisations in 2010-11 were made under programmes which were either time-limited or which do not attract funding on an annual basis and which were directly financed by the Department. The figures for 2011-12 represent allocations to date. The relevant organisations will still be eligible in some cases to make proposals for funding to our partner organisations.
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Economics, Strategy and Better Regulation Directorate
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding over £100,000 his Department's Economics, Strategy and Better Regulation Directorate allocated to partner organisations in 2010-11; how much it plans to allocate to partner organisations in 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [88335]
Mr Prisk: The Economics, Strategy and Better Regulation Group (ESBR) was formed in 2011/12 and therefore did not allocate any resources to partner organisations in 2010/11.
The group ESBR have a single partner organisation, the Local Better Regulation Office. In the current financial year 2011/12, it was provided with a total budget of £3,254,000, £3,112,000 of which constituted direct grant in aid, broken down into £2,233,000 programme and £879,000 in administration. The remainder was non-cash provisions of £142,000, again broken down into £122,000 in administration non-cash and £20,000 in programme non-cash.
Green Investment Bank
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) when he expects borrowing powers to be granted to the Green Investment Bank; [87852]
(2) what his policy is on the borrowing powers for the Green Investment Bank. [87853]
Mr Prisk: The Green Investment Bank (GIB) is being capitalised to an extent that it will not need to borrow before 2015. The GIB will be given borrowing powers in 2015 subject to public sector net debt falling as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) and state aid approval having been granted. GIB borrowing will score against the national debt and controls will be needed so that GIB borrowing can be managed effectively. The level of borrowing will be considered in the future, taking into account investment opportunities and fiscal affordability.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the Autumn Statement, what recent assessment he has made of the ability of the Green Investment Bank to facilitate the critical infrastructure investment originally planned for 2015; and if he will make a statement. [87854]
Mr Prisk: Good progress is being made. We are on track for the Green Investment Bank to be operational in September 2012. Ahead of obtaining state aid approval for the Bank, the Government will invest in green infrastructure projects from April 2012, including up to £100 million in non-domestic energy efficiency and £100 million in smaller waste infrastructure projects.
Higher Education: Admissions
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has carried out an impact assessment on the effects of any reduction of the widening participation premium. [88114]
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Mr Willetts: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is responsible for determining the level of funding made available through the widening participation premium. In June, we asked HEFCE to consult on the operation of the teaching grant for 2013/14 and beyond. HEFCE will launch this consultation, early next year. We will confirm our priorities for teaching funding in future years, in the usual way, in the grant letter for the year.
An Impact Assessment was published in June 2011 providing an analysis of the proposed changes in the Higher Education White Paper “Higher Education: Students at the Heart of the System”. This impact assessment is available at:
http://discuss.bis.gov.uk/hereform/all-documents/
A separate impact assessment was not published for widening participation premium.
Local Enterprise Partnerships
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the operational capacity of local enterprise partnerships in 2011-12. [87919]
Mr Prisk: I undertake regular visits to local enterprise partnerships (LEP) across England and periodically review progress. I attended the Coventry and Warwickshire partnership's annual meeting in October.
The 39th and most recent LEP only received approval to form, from myself and the Minister for Decentralisation and Cities, Department for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark), on 21 December. LEPs now cover very nearly 100% of England in terms of both population and businesses. They are inevitably at different stages in their development, but have made good overall progress in the establishment of their priorities and early delivery against them, supported by initial seed-corn funding of £6 million from the BIS Capacity and Start-Up Funds.
Manufacturing Industries: Government Assistance
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Department's announcement of 6 December 2011 on the advanced manufacturing supply chain initiative, whether the offer of apprenticeships to young people will be a criterion for assessing bids for funding. [88667]
Mr Prisk: The Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative aims to help existing UK supply chains grow and achieve world class standards while encouraging major new suppliers to come and manufacture here. The new fund will support innovative projects in established UK advanced manufacturing sectors and target newer growth areas where the UK is well placed to take a global lead. The competitive fund will invite applications this year. Further information on criteria, funding and other arrangements concerning the initiative will also be available this year.
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Overseas Trade
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UK exporters have received commercial export finance facilities through the Export Enterprise Finance Guarantee since it was established. [88750]
Mr Prisk: The Export Enterprise Finance Guarantee (ExEFG) was launched as a pilot in April 2011, as part of a menu of extra help for exporters which includes four schemes provided by the Exports Credit Guarantee Department (ECGD). To date, ExEFG has helped facilitate short term export finance facilities for six exporters, with total lending of £3.012 million.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is conducting a joint review with the Exports Credit Guarantee Department (ECGD) on the operation of the menu of products. The results of the review will be published in the second quarter of 2012.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when his Department expects to publish a review of the first six months of operation of the Export Enterprise Finance Guarantee. [88751]
Mr Prisk:
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is conducting a joint review with the Exports
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Credit Guarantee Department (ECGD) on the operation of the menu of products for exporters announced in the Trade and Investment White Paper, including Export Enterprise Finance Guarantee (ExEFG). The results of the review will be published in the second quarter of 2012.
Public Houses
Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have visited any (i) pubs and (ii) breweries as guests of pub companies since May 2010. [88191]
Mr Davey: No Ministers in the Department have visited any pubs or breweries as guests of pub companies since May 2010.
Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which representatives of pub companies (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have met since May 2010; and what the date and location was of each such meeting. [88192]
Mr Davey: I am the only Minister in the Department to have had meetings with representatives of pub companies since May 2010. I have had the following meetings:
Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has changed his policy on codes of practice in relation to pub companies from that which he stated at the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee on 20 July 2010; and for what reason any such change was made. [88691]
Mr Davey: I have always believed that action is necessary in this area. I have carefully considered what type of action was most appropriate and believe the policy set out on 24 November 2011 in the Government response to the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee's report on pub companies will deliver reforms that will make a real difference for licensees quickly and effectively.
Regional Growth Fund
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Regional Growth Fund. [87918]
Mr Prisk: The Regional Growth Fund has made conditional allocations to companies and organisations to the value of £1.4 billion. A further £1 billion will be invested over the course of the spending period and we are confident that the fund will support 500,000 jobs in total. At this very early stage in this programme it is expected to unlock £5 of private sector investment for every £1 of public sector funding invested.
Southampton Port
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Marine Management Office, (b) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and (c) other stakeholders on the proposed redevelopment of the Port of Southampton; and if he will make a statement. [87855]
Mr Prisk: Neither I nor my officials have held discussions with the Marine Management Organisation on this matter. BIS officials have been in touch with officials from the Department for Transport and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to understand the nature of the issues that are affecting the proposed redevelopment at Southampton and the scope for possible solutions. These discussions are continuing.
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I welcome the proposed capacity enhancements at Southampton and other UK ports. Ports are a vital part of the UK's infrastructure, offering excellent connectivity and one of the lowest lead times to import in Europe. Continuing investment in deep water port capacity is needed to underpin both overseas trade and domestic growth and employment. As with any development, these investments needs to take place in accordance with legal requirements, including environmental protection, and in a manner that maintains fair competition.
Stamp Duties: Tax Avoidance
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what advice his Department provides to (a) small business estate agents and (b) other small businesses considering promoting the legal avoidance of stamp duty on property sales through company structures. [88565]
Mr Prisk:
Small business estate agents can find an overview of the rules, regulation and general best practice
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estate agents must follow via the ‘Your Business Sector’ on the Business Link website at:
www.businesslink.gov.uk
The Department does not provide advice on tax- related matters; however, we will direct any enquiries to the appropriate information on the Business Link website, developed by HMRC. This includes basic information on stamp duty, reliefs or exemptions and how to apply, alongside details of the stamp taxes helpline on the HMRC website.
Students: Loans
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the level of bad debts experienced by the Student Loans Company in each of the last five years. [85525]
Mr Hayes: The mortgage style and income contingent (IC) student loan debt written off by the Student Loans Company (SLC) in the last five years is set out in the following table:
Figures on loan amounts written off are published each year by the SLC in the National Statistics publication Student Loans for Higher Education in England. The publication includes separate figures for Income Contingent and Mortgage Style loans. The latest version of this publication can be found at following address:
http://www.slc.co.uk/media/76986/slcsfr022011.pdf
Working Hours: EU Law
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the total annual cost to UK businesses of EU Working Time Regulations. [87743]
Mr Davey: The EU working time directive is given effect in the UK through the Working Time Regulations. At the time the regulations were amended in 2002, annual costs of compliance were estimated at £2.6 billion per annum.
In 2007 when the amount of annual leave was extended by eight days (making the four weeks' minimum paid annual leave requirement of the directive additional to time off for UK bank and public holidays) the estimated annual policy cost of this increase in leave entitlement was between £3.3 and £4 billion. It was also estimated that employers would face an additional annual administrative cost of £43 million.
Information obligations relating to the working time directive were estimated to amount to an administrative cost to business of £43.85 million per annum by the “Employment Law Admin Burdens Survey 2008”. All
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other costs referred to above have been estimated as applying across the whole economy rather than specific to the business sector.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 9 November 2011 concerning Ms H. Valentino. [87651]
Mr Davey: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills my right hon. Friend the Member for Havant (Mr Willetts) responded to this letter on 20 December 2011.
Women and Equalities
Advertising: Education
Jo Swinson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what support she has given to the Media Smart programme; and how she plans to assess the value for money of that support. [87796]
Lynne Featherstone: The Government launched a teaching pack for primary schools on body image in conjunction with Media Smart in September 2011. Media Smart is funded entirely by donor companies and operates on a not-for-profit basis. It specialises in providing teaching resources to primary schools to help children's media literacy.
The Government did not give any financial support to Media Smart to develop this teaching pack. Government officials in my department did provide advice to Media Smart regarding the development of materials and press support with the launch.
An evaluation to determine the reach and effectiveness of the body image lesson is scheduled to be assessed in summer 2012 by Media Smart.
Barristers: Females
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on the effect of the reduction of legal aid work on the number of women barristers entering the profession; and if she will make a statement. [88706]
Lynne Featherstone: The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Minister for Women and Equalities, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), meets regularly with ministerial colleagues, including the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), and others, in order to discuss matters of policy.
Issues relating to legal aid reform are a matter for the Secretary of State for Justice, and the specific levels of representation within given practice areas at the Bar
10 Jan 2012 : Column 192W
and the solicitors' profession, are primarily the responsibility of the Bar and the Law Society, as is the need to ensure equality of opportunity in all areas of practice.
Equality
Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what equality impact assessments she has carried out since May 2010; and for what purpose in each case. [88583]
Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office considers equality issues in exercising its functions, to comply with equality legislation and to ensure it understands how its activities will affect different people. It provides information about this consideration in various ways. In the specified period, this information was sometimes published in the form of an equality impact assessment, although there has never been a legal requirement to produce such a document. The Government Equalities Office published 11 such documents during the period. These are available on the Home Office website.
Equal Opportunities
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what assessment she has made of which three professions open to both women and men have the (a) lowest and (b) highest representation of women. [88679]
Lynne Featherstone: All professions are open to both women and men. Of the 11 major professional occupations identified by the Standard Occupational Classification, women have the highest representation among teaching professionals, public service professionals, and librarians and related professionals. Women have the lowest representation among engineering professionals, information and communication technology professionals, and architects, town planners and surveyors.(1)
(1) Source:
Annual Population Survey, ONS, January to December 2010, UK.
| Professional occupation | Percentage of those employed who are female |
| Source: Annual Population Survey, ONS, January to December 2010, UK. | |
Equality and Human Rights Commission: Finance
John McDonnell:
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2011, Official Report, column 836W to the hon.
10 Jan 2012 : Column 193W
Member for North West Durham, on Government Equalities Office: Finance, what the budget allocation for the Equality and Human Rights Commission is in each financial year from 2011-12 to 2014-15; and what proportion of that budget will be allocated to the
(a)
administration budget and
(b)
programme budget in each year. [86044]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 12 December 2011]: Following the Government's spending review, we announced that we would be reducing the Equality and Human Rights Commission's (EHRC) budget by over half, from £55 million in 2010-11 to £26 million in 2014-15.
The current budget for 2011-12 is £48,827,000. This includes (a) an administration budget of £36,827,000 and (b) a programme budget of £9,900,000.
The EHRC's budget allocation for 2012-13 and beyond has not been set. As is standard practice as part of the annual financial planning cycle, my officials are in discussion with the EHRC to agree its budget for 2012-13.
Transport
Community Transport
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how local communities can access the funds her Department has made available to promote community transport; and if she will make a statement. [88655]
Norman Baker: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made to the House on 8 December 2011, Official Report, columns 58-59WS.
The funding will be distributed to 76 local authorities in England, outside London, by formula. This is a repeat of the Supporting Community Transport Fund announced in March 2011. As with the first payment, we would expect local authorities to work with their communities to help decide how best to use this funding.
Co-operatives
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps (a) her Department and (b) those bodies for which her Department is responsible are taking to mark UN Year of the Co-operative 2012; and if she will make a statement. [88596]
Norman Baker: We will support the work of the Cabinet Office, the Mutuals Taskforce and 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, with Co-operatives UK leading the taskforce's work in this area.
10 Jan 2012 : Column 194W
Crossrail
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to section 30 of the coalition agreement, what recent progress she has made in supporting (a) Crossrail and (b) further electrification of the rail network. [87504]
Mrs Villiers: Great progress has been made on the Crossrail project this year. Tunnelling preparations are under way with the first tunnel portal now complete. The first tunnel boring machine is currently undergoing factory testing and full tunnelling is due to commence in spring 2012. A Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy to support this work has opened in Ilford, and welcomed its first students in the autumn.
Enabling works are well under way at Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street and Whitechapel. The excavation of the first Crossrail station at Canary Wharf is nearing completion. Major construction contracts have recently been awarded for Farringdon and Whitechapel stations.
The Department has confirmed electrification of the Lancashire Triangle by 2016 and the Great Western Main Line between London, Oxford, Newbury, Bristol and Cardiff by 2017. More recently, the Department has supported Network Rail's procurement of major capital items such as National Grid connections and the High Output Plant that will lead to the efficient delivery of the programme and which have longer delivery times.
The Autumn Statement announced support for North TransPennine electrification between York, Leeds and Manchester.
Correspondence
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many letters from hon. Members to each Minister in her Department have not received a response since May 2010. [87490]
Norman Baker: In the period May 2010 to 16 December 2011, the Department's Ministers received 16,974 items of correspondence from MPs. At 16 December, 1,083 letters of these had not yet received a response.
This figure includes correspondence recently received, which is within the Department's target date for response. It excludes inter-departmental correspondence between Government Ministers, and correspondence which was transferred because it was more appropriate for another Department to respond.
Departmental Written Questions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2011, Official Report, columns 667-8W, on departmental written questions, what the question number is of each question for written answer answered after more than 30 sitting days. [88147]
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Norman Baker: The Unique Identification Numbers of the questions are: 16176, 16244, 17160, 19146, 19582, 24051, 24052, 24053, 24054, 25533, 32418, 32419, 35201, 37255, 37752, 46399, 46340, 46341, 46856, 46999, 47004, 47022, 49937, 49945, 56025, 61365, 61367, 63964 and 75167.
The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide this information to the Committee at the end of the Session. Statistics relating to Government Departments' performance for the 2009-10 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the Committee and are available on the Parliament website.
Electrification: Greater London
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions she has had with (a) Network Rail and (b) Transport for London on electrification of the Barking to Gospel Oak section of the London Overground; and if she will make a statement. [88382]
Mrs Villiers: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), has had no such discussions.
Invalid Vehicles: Accidents
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents involved a Pride Colt 8 mobility scooter in each of the last three years; and whether mechanical failure was a contributory fact in any such accident. [88080]
Norman Baker: No national statistics are recorded concerning accidents involving mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs. From 2013, the police will be able to record whether a mobility vehicle has been involved in an accident on the public highway.
Invalid Vehicles: Safety
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the (a) Pride Colt 8 mobility scooter and (b) other mobility scooters designed for road use are required to have width-indicating side lights. [88081]
Norman Baker: All Class 3 mobility vehicles (which includes the Pride Colt 8 model) are required to have a minimum of front direction lamp, direction indicators, hazard warning lights, two rear position lamps, rear retro reflectors if being used on the road. In addition they are required to have an amber warning beacon if being used on dual carriageways. There is no specific requirement for width indicating side lights.
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department has commissioned any independent safety checks on the Pride Colt 8 mobility scooter. [88083]
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Norman Baker: The Department has not commissioned any safety checks on any model of mobility vehicle.
Network Rail: Level Crossings
Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions she has had with Network Rail regarding level crossings. [88187]
Mrs Villiers: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), meets regularly with Network Rail to discuss a range of issues. Within the high level objectives set by the Secretary of State, operational decisions regarding the rail network including those relating to level crossings remain the responsibility of Network Rail.
Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department provides guidance to Network Rail on the maximum acceptable time for a level crossing to be closed to road traffic in any one (a) hour, (b) day and (c) night. [88188]
Mrs Villiers: The Department does not provide guidance to Network Rail on this issue and there is no legal restriction on the time that a level crossing can be closed to road traffic.
However, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) does provide guidance to the rail industry on the operation of level crossings and on level crossing orders. Those orders can contain convenience or safety-related provisions for both road and rail level crossing users. The order making process is also managed by ORR.
Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department has taken, or has encouraged Network Rail to take, to improve safety at railway level crossings. [88189]
Mrs Villiers: Safety at level crossings is a matter for the relevant railway safety duty holder. These duty holders such as Network Rail have a legal obligation to reduce risks at level crossings so far as is reasonably practicable.
It is the responsibility of the Office of Rail Regulation to monitor that railway duty holders meet those obligations, and to take enforcement action to secure improvements as necessary. Additionally, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch has also investigated a number of previous level crossing incidents and directed recommendations to improve safety to Network Rail.
The current level safety crossing record is consistently one of the best in Europe and 2010-11 saw the least fatalities at level crossings in the last decade. In view of that record and the robust industry safety framework under which level cross risk is managed, we do not consider additional intervention from the Department is needed.
Ports: Greater London
Maria Eagle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the National Infrastructure Plan, what the total planned public expenditure on the development of London Gateway Port Terminal is in
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(a)
2011-12,
(b)
2012-13,
(c)
2013-14,
(d)
2014-15,
(e)
2015-16 and
(f)
2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project. [88500]
Robert Neill: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
There is no planned public expenditure on the London Gateway port terminal in the years 2011-17. DP World announced on 4 October 2011 that the port will open in the 4th quarter of 2013.
Railway Stations: Greater London
Mr Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to increase the number of stations on the London Liverpool Street to Enfield Town line with ticketing barriers; and if she will make a statement. [88399]
Norman Baker: The Secretary of State for Transport, the right hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening), has no plans to increase the number of stations on the London Liverpool Street to Enfield Town line with ticketing barriers. This is a matter for the train operator if a business case to install gates can be made.
Railway Stations: Manpower
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2011, Official Report, column 422W, on railway stations: manpower, if she will (a) collect the information requested on employment of station staff and (b) place a copy of the information in the Library. [88126]
Mrs Villiers: There are no plans to collect this information.
Railways: East Anglia
Mr Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the potential effects of reduction in the fleet size arising from the awarding of the Greater Anglia franchise on train services on the (a) London Liverpool Street to Enfield Town line and (b) Brimsdown to London King's Cross line; and if she will make a statement. [88397]
Mrs Villiers: Abellio, the new operator of the Greater Anglia franchise, presented plans in its bid for the franchise to operate the required train service through the daily deployment of 232 four-car electric multiple units (EMUs) out of a total fleet size of 251 units. The incumbent operator deploys 236 out of a fleet of 260 units to run the same train service.
Abellio has identified a small number of individual train services that are operating today with capacity significantly in excess of the forecast passenger loadings and on which the number of carriages can therefore be reduced. Some of these services are in the ‘West Anglia Inner' service group.
This is exactly the sort of efficiency initiative that is needed to drive down the cost of operation of our railway network.
10 Jan 2012 : Column 198W
Mr Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the potential effects on (a) the timetabling of and (b) potential overcrowding on trains as a result of the decision to reduce the fleet size on the new Greater Anglia franchise; and if she will make a statement. [88398]
Mrs Villiers: The timetable will not change in the new Greater Anglia franchise so a timetable assessment of the fleet size was not necessary. The operator will have a fleet size which is smaller than the current National Express East Anglia franchise. This will not mean that overcrowding is materially worse than it is today. Where a customer is currently able to find a seat, they will continue to be able to do so.
River Thames: Bridges
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding she has allocated to new river crossings in London. [87483]
Mrs Villiers: The Government will work with the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) to explore options for a river crossing at Silvertown. The Department for Transport already allocates a Transport Grant to Transport for London to support investment in London's transport network. Under devolution it is for the Mayor and TfL to determine transport spending priorities in London.
Severn Bridges Act 1992
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had on bringing forward proposals to amend the Severn Bridges Act 1992 to increase tolls according to the consumer prices index. [87746]
Mike Penning: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), has had no discussions on amending the Severn Bridges Act to increase tolls according to the consumer price index.
Transport: Planned Public Expenditure
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the National Infrastructure Plan, (1) what the (a) total planned public expenditure and (b) estimated month and year of completion is for the Leeds Inner Relief Road Maintenance; [87845]
(2) what the (a) total planned public expenditure and (b) estimated month and year of completion is for Elmbridge Transport (Gloucester); [87846]
(3) what the (a) total planned public expenditure and (b) estimated month and year of completion is for Darlaston (Walsall); [87847]
(4) what the (a) total planned public expenditure and (b) estimated month and year of completion is for the Croxley Rail Link (Watford); [87848]
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(5) what the (a) total planned public expenditure and (b) estimated month and year of completion is for the Loughborough Town Centre Transport Scheme. [87849]
10 Jan 2012 : Column 200W
Norman Baker: The information requested is as follows:
| Scheme | Planned total public expenditure (£ million) | Estimated completion date |
The total public expenditure figures include the planned contributions from the Department for Transport, the local authority promoters and any other public sector bodies.
Funding for these schemes was announced on 14 December 2011. Details of these and the other local authority major transport schemes announced on the same day are available on the Department's website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/local-major-transport-scheme-decisions
Scheme costs in the published table may include private sector contributions and therefore may not match the above figures.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the total planned public expenditure is on the North Fringe to Hengrove bus rapid transit system in Bristol; and in which month of which year she expects it to be completed; [88130]
(2) what the total planned public expenditure is on the Morpeth Northern Bypass; and in which month of which year she expects it to be completed; [88131]
(3) what the total planned public expenditure is on the Luton Town Centre Transport Scheme; and in which month of which year she expects it to be completed; [88132]
(4) what the total planned public expenditure is on the Norwich Northern Distributor Road; and in which month of which year she expects it to be completed; [88134]
(5) what the total planned public expenditure is on the Nottingham Ring Road; and in which month of which year she expects it to be completed. [88135]
Norman Baker: The information requested is as follows:
| Scheme | Planned total public expenditure (£ million) | Estimated completion date |
The total public expenditure figures include the planned contributions from the Department for Transport, the local authority promoters and any other public sector bodies.
Funding for these schemes was announced on 14 December 2011. Details of these and the other local authority major transport schemes announced on the same day are available on the Department's website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/local-major-transport-scheme-decisions
Scheme costs in the published table may include private sector contributions and therefore may not match the above figures.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the National Infrastructure Plan, (1) what the total planned public expenditure on the Luton Town Centre Transport scheme is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88455]
(2) what the total planned public expenditure on the Loughborough Town Centre Transport scheme is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88456]
(3) what the total planned public expenditure on the Leeds Inner Relief Road maintenance is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88457]
(4) what the total planned public expenditure on Elmbridge Transport (Gloucester) is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88458]
(5) what the total planned public expenditure on Darlaston (Walsall) is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88459]
(6) what the total planned public expenditure on the Croxley Rail Link (Watford) is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88460]
10 Jan 2012 : Column 201W
(7) what the total planned public expenditure on the Coventry-Nuneaton Rail Upgrade is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88461]
(8) what the total planned public expenditure on Chester Road (Birmingham) is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88462]
(9) what the total planned public expenditure on the Camborne-Poole-Redruth Transport Package is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88463]
(10) what the total planned public expenditure on the Beverley Integrated Transport Plan is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88464]
(11) what the total planned public expenditure on the Bath Transportation Package is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88465]
(12) what the total planned public expenditure on the Hucknall town centre improvement scheme is in the financial year (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17 and beyond; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88467]
(13) what the total planned public expenditure on the London Road Bridge in Derby is in the financial year (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17 and beyond; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88468]
(14) what the total planned public expenditure on the A45 westbound bridge (Solihull) is in the financial year (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17 and beyond; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88469]
(15) what the total planned public expenditure on the Worcester Transport Strategy is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88470]
(16) what the total planned public expenditure on the Weston Package is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88471]
(17) what the total planned public expenditure on the South Yorkshire Bus Rapid Transit Phase 1 (Sheffield/Rotherham) scheme is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88472]
(18) what the total planned public expenditure on for the Pennine Reach (East Lancashire Rapid Transit) scheme is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14,
10 Jan 2012 : Column 202W
(d)
2014-15,
(e)
2015-16 and
(f)
2016-17 and beyond; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88473]
(19) what the total planned public expenditure on Evesham Bridge Maintenance is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17 and beyond; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88474]
(20) what the total planned public expenditure on for the Kingskerwell Bypass (Devon/Torbay) is in the financial year (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17 and beyond; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88475]
(21) what the total planned public expenditure on the Nottingham Ring Road is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88476]
(22) what the total planned public expenditure on for the Norwich Northern Distributor Road is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88477]
(23) what the total planned public expenditure on the North Fringe to Hengrove Bus Rapid Transit (Bristol) scheme is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88478]
(24) what the total planned public expenditure on the Morpeth Northern Bypass is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88479]
(25) what the total planned public expenditure on the Northern Road Bridge in Portsmouth is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88481]
(26) what the total planned public expenditure on the South Bristol Link phase 1 and 2 is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88482]
(27) what the total planned public expenditure on the Bus Rapid Transit between Ashton Vale to Bristol Temple Meads is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88483]
(28) what the total planned public expenditure on Supertram additional vehicles (Sheffield) is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88484]
(29) what the total planned public expenditure on the Lincoln eastern bypass is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88485]
10 Jan 2012 : Column 203W
(30) what the total planned public expenditure on the Leeds Rail Growth scheme is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88486]
(31) what the total planned public expenditure on the Access York Park and Ride scheme is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88487]
(32) what the total planned public expenditure on the A6182 White Rose Way Improvement scheme in Doncaster is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88488]
(33) what the total planned public expenditure on the A18-A180 Link (North East Lincolnshire) is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88489]
(34) what the total planned public expenditure on the A164 from Humber Bridge to Beverley is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88490]
(35) what the total planned public expenditure for the A684 Bedale-Aiskew-Leeming Bar bypass is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88491]
(36) what the total planned public expenditure for the Crewe Green Link southern section is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88492]
(37) what the total planned public expenditure on the Manchester Cross City Bus is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88493]
(38) what the total planned public expenditure on the Rochdale interchange is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88494]
(39) what the total planned public expenditure on the A43 Corby link road is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88495]
(40) what the total planned public expenditure on the Tipner Interchange in Portsmouth is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88510]
(41) what the total planned public expenditure on the Sunderland Strategic Corridor is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project. [88571]
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Norman Baker: The level of public expenditure per year on the schemes mentioned, as proposed by the local authorities, is as set out on the relevant Best and Final Funding Bid forms that they submitted. The forms are available through the following link:
http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/interoperability/final-funding-bids.pdf
For those schemes that the Government have now approved, the planned public expenditure is as proposed on the forms, with the following exceptions:
The bids for A684 Bedale Aiskew and Leeming Bar bypass and Manchester Cross City Bus included elements of contingency (or optimism bias) of £7.923 million and £11.272 million respectively which we do not consider to be planned expenditure.
The estimated cost, and therefore the planned expenditure, for Morpeth Northern bypass has been subsequently revised by the promoters to £30.105 million.
A further private sector contribution of £0.432 million has been identified for the Worcester Integrated Transport Strategy, thereby reducing the planned public sector expenditure to £19.118 million.
There may be additional elements of local authority expenditure on any of these schemes which were not included on the forms as they are outside the Department's definition of eligible scheme costs.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the National Infrastructure Plan, (1) what the total planned public expenditure on the Taunton Northern inner distributor road is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88503]
(2) what the total planned public expenditure on the A57 M1 to Todwick Crossroads improvements on the A57 is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88504]
(3) what the total planned public expenditure on the Heysham to M6 link road is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88505]
(4) what the total planned public expenditure on the East of Exeter improvements to Junction 29 of the M5 is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88506]
(5) what the total planned public expenditure on the Mansfield Public Transport Interchange is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88507]
(6) what the total planned public expenditure on the Midland Metro extension is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88508]
(7) what the total planned public expenditure on the Leeds Station southern access is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88509]
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(8) what the (a) total planned public expenditure and (b) estimated month and year of completion is for the Ipswich Fit for the 21st Century scheme; [88540]
(9) what the (a) total planned public expenditure and (b) estimated month and year of completion is for the Thornton to Switch Island Link. [88541]
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Norman Baker: The planned public expenditure, per annum, on the schemes mentioned is as set out in the following table:
| Planned public expenditure | ||||||
| £ million | ||||||
| Scheme name | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 |
The figures in the table include the planned contributions from the Department for Transport, the local authority promoters and any other public sector bodies.
There may be additional elements of local authority expenditure on these schemes which are not included in the table as they are outside the Department's definition of eligible scheme costs.
Transport: Weather
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are in place to deal with severe weather in the winter of 2011-12. [88559]
Norman Baker: The Department has been working with public and private sector organisations, across the various transport modes, to boost resilience and preparedness for winter weather.
Salt stocks currently stand at over 2.7 million tonnes—a million more than last year—and all transport modes have refined and promoted their operational command and control procedures to improve their response to severe weather.
Last month the Secretary of State for Transport, the right hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening), announced £16 million of investment in our rail infrastructure to help keep trains moving in snow and ice this winter, which is part of a £38 million industry spending programme to make sure the rail network is better prepared for severe bad weather this time. Network Rail and the train operating companies have also taken a number of steps to improve the implementation of contingency timetables, and the provision of information to passengers during disruption.
Heathrow and Gatwick airports have made significant investments in additional snow and ice clearance capacity, and in staff numbers available for snow clearance, with Heathrow committing over £30 million to date and Gatwick investing £8 million.
Severe cold weather will always cause some disruption but the actions taken will ensure that the country’s transport systems are better equipped to cope with them.
Underground Railways: Greater London
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she plans to allocate funding to the proposed extension of the Northern Line from Kennington to Nine Elms; and whether Transport for London and partner authorities will be able to borrow funds to fund the proposed extension. [87484]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport allocates a Transport Grant to Transport for London to support investment in London's transport network. However, under devolution it is for the Mayor and TfL, to determine transport spending priorities in London.
The Government announced their support for the extension of the Northern line to Battersea on 29 November 2011, subject to commitment by April 2013 from a developer to contribute to and develop the site.
To encourage a developer to step forward, and to support the delivery of the development the Government will consider allowing the Mayor and partner authorities to borrow against the Community Infrastructure Levy to support this scheme; and creating an additional enterprise zone at Battersea. Together these funding sources should be sufficient to meet the costs of the project.
Work and Pensions
Atos Healthcare
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions where the trial for the deployment of Atos-approved health care professionals in benefit centres took place; how long the trial lasted; and how many Atos-approved health care professionals were deployed as part of the trial. [87309]
Chris Grayling:
The trial for the deployment of Atos-approved health care professionals in benefit centres took place in 33 benefit centres between January and July 2011. During the trial, a locally appointed health
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care professional visited each of the benefit centres one day per week. The following sites were involved in the trial:
Barnsley
Basildon
Birkenhead
Bolton
Bradford
Bristol
Bury St Edmunds
Canterbury
Gloucester
Halifax
Hanley
Hull
Leeds
Leicester
Luton
Newcastle
Nottingham
Preston
Stockton
Stratford
Sunderland
Totton
Worcester
Worthing
Aberdeen
Clyde and Fife
Clydebank
Coatbridge
Glasgow
Kilmarnock
Llanelli
Merthyr Tydfil
Wrexham.
Carers
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to increase support for unpaid carers. [87632]
Maria Miller: The Government recognise and appreciate the important role fulfilled by carers.
Financial support for carers is provided through the social security benefits system. The main benefit available to carers is carer's allowance, which provides a measure of support for people who are unable to undertake full-time paid employment because of their caring responsibilities. With the introduction of the Welfare Reform Bill, the Government announced that carer's allowance will continue to exist as a separate benefit providing an independent income for carers and recognition of the role they play. Carer's allowance is currently paid at £55.55 a week. The rate of carer's allowance is increased annually in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
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In addition to carer's allowance, carers on low incomes can claim income-related benefits such as income support and pension credit. These benefits can be paid to carers at a higher rate through the carer premium or the equivalent additional amount for carers respectively, both currently worth up to £31.00 a week.
Personal independence payment is due to be introduced for working age recipients of disability living allowance from 2013 and will act as a gateway for carer's allowance. It is the Government's intention that both rates of the daily living component will be used as a gateway to carer's allowance. Both disability living allowance and carer's allowance will remain in payment until personal independence payment is assessed and put into payment if appropriate. This will maintain the existing awards of benefit until the assessment process is complete. Disability living allowance will remain a gateway for carer's allowance for people who are not working age.
From 2013, we are introducing universal credit, an integrated benefit which will be payable whether or not people are in work. Above a disregard of earnings, the universal credit award will reduce gradually as earnings increase, due to the single earnings taper. The universal credit award will include a carer element which will continue for as long as the carer provides care for at least 35 hours per week for a severely disabled person. The carer element will continue to be included in the universal credit award when carer's allowance ceases because someone's earnings place them above the limit for carer's allowance, currently £100.00 a week net of certain expenses.
The Department for Work and Pensions will continue to invest in supporting carers to return to work through Jobcentre Plus. The experience already gained allows Jobcentre Plus offices to be more flexible in adapting services to meet local needs and to allow them to work in partnership to meet these needs.
Jobcentre Plus currently offers, on a voluntary basis, to all carers working less than 16 hours per week and irrespective of benefit status, subject to any existing conditionality, a variety of support, including: adviser support; access to the Flexible Support Fund; payment for replacement care, child care, travel and course costs to allow the carer to undertake approved activity or interviews with Jobcentre Plus, providers or employers; and Partnership Managers who gather local and national information to inform Jobcentre Plus advisers of the support and services available to carers.
Cold Weather Payments
Mr McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cold weather payment temperature recording stations in each constituency have changed location since May 2010. [88103]
Steve Webb: At the end of every winter, DWP conducts a review of the cold weather payment scheme. The review takes into account all the weather stations used to provide data to the Met Office in respect of the scheme, representations from Members of Parliament and the public about the suitability of weather station to postcode linkages and any changes made by Royal Mail to the postcode system.
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The Met Office as part of the review, provide expert advice and provide DWP with recommendations as to any necessary changes to linkages. These changes are then made to the scheme before the start of the next cold weather payment season.
The number of weather stations that have changed location in each parliamentary constituency since May 2010 is shown in the following table.
| Number | |||
| Winter | Postcode linkage changes | Weather station to postcode changes within a constituency | Constituencies affected |
| Notes 1. The weather stations will cover areas outside of the parliamentary constituency. 2. Location changes may be due to either an MP request for the mapping to be looked at the Met Office changing linkages or weather station closures. | |||
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Departmental Manpower
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were working in his Department on (a) 11 May 2010 and (b) 8 December 2011. [87345]
Chris Grayling: Staffing levels in the Department for Work and Pensions are reported based on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) definitions which includes a standard reference point for reporting of the last day of the month. Figures are not therefore available for the dates requested but are available for 30 April 2010 and 30 September 2011, the latest published figure.
The number of people working in the Department on 30 April 2010 was 119,099, and on 30 September 2011 this number was 102,415.