Wales
Departmental Expenditure: Alcoholic Drinks
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much her Department has spent on (a) wine, (b) other alcoholic refreshments and (c) bottled water since May 2010. [92645]
Mr David Jones: Since May 2010, the Wales Office has spent £18 on bottled water. There have been no purchases made on wine or other alcoholic refreshments.
Recruitment
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2012, Official Report, column 98W, on employment agencies, how much of the £11,219.02 spent on recruitment agencies was spent on agency (a) fees and (b) staff. [92597]
Mr David Jones: Of the £11,219.02 spent on agency staff, £673.14 (6%) is paid in agency fees.
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Departmental Travel Costs
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 January 2012, Official Report, column 31WS, on cost of ministerial cars, whether her Department has any other arrangements for ministerial travel; and how much her Department has spent on (a) private hire vehicles and (b) taxis for each Minister since May 2010. [92817]
Mr David Jones: The Department has spent £22,351 on private hire vehicles, and £4,401 on taxis since May 2010. Private hire vehicles are sometimes used for ministerial visits in Wales, replacing a Jaguar procured prior to May 2010. Dispensing with an official car and driver in Wales has delivered an annual saving of £33,493.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether her Department has agreed any contracts with (a) private hire vehicle and (b) taxi companies since May 2010. [92818]
Mr David Jones: The Wales Office has not agreed any contracts with private hire vehicle or taxi companies since May 2010.
Work and Pensions
Free School Meals
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to implement cashless payments for all recipients of free school meals. [92312]
Mr Gibb: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Education.
The implementation of cashless payments for all recipients of free school meals is a matter for individual schools to decide. The cost of free school meals are met by local authorities and schools.
Most cashless catering systems are used by secondary schools. In 2009, the School Food Trust produced "The Independent Review of Cashless Catering Systems":
http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/school-cooks-caterers/resources/an-independent-review-of-cashless-catering-systems
Evidence gathered from secondary schools indicated that half the schools surveyed were already operating a cashless system. The report found that cashless catering reduced queues, enabled parents to monitor their children's eating habits, and reduced stigma/bullying.
Working Tax Credit
Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to his planned reforms of working tax credit, what steps he plans to take to ensure that couples with children who worked under 24 hours a week, were in receipt of working tax credit and who are unable to increase their working hours do not fall into poverty. [91540]
Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.
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Couples with children will continue to qualify for working tax credit where at least one member of a couple works at least 16 hours per week and that person is eligible for the working tax credit disability element or is aged 60 or over. They will also qualify if one person works at least 16 hours a week and the other partner is incapacitated, an in-patient in hospital or in prison.
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HMRC are not planning to make any transitional arrangements or provide additional services for couples with children who may lose entitlement to working tax credit as a result of the change to the working hours conditions in April 2012.