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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 2 February 2012
Attorney-General
EU Law
Priti Patel: To ask the Attorney-General which EU (a) directives, (b) regulations and (c) other legislation affecting the Law Officers' Departments require transposition into UK law; and what estimate he has made of the cost to (i) the public purse and (ii) the private sector of such measures. [89701]
The Solicitor-General: The Law Officers' Departments do not have any EU directives, regulations or other legislation that require transposition into UK law.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Post Office Network
18. Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress he has made on securing the future of the post office network. [93016]
Mr Davey: My written statement of 24 January 2012, Official Report, columns 8-12WS, set out recent progress to secure the future of the Post Office network, which is underpinned by £1.34 billion of Government funding to maintain a network of at least 11,500 branches, and investment to modernise thousands of branches.
Pub Company Industry
19. Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take in response to the motion passed by the House on 12 January 2012 on regulation of the pub company industry. [93017]
Mr Davey: The Government note the result of the debate on 12 January 2012 and acknowledge the strong parliamentary interest in this area.
The tough, self-regulatory reforms we have announced will bring about real change for lessees and tenants across the country.
UK Competitive Advantage
20. Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the sectors in which the UK has a competitive advantage. [93018]
Greg Clark: As part of the Growth Review and ongoing work within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and United Kingdom Trade and Investment the Government have examined a range of evidence on where the UK's competitive advantage lies.
For example, analysis of trade data indicates the UK has a comparative advantage in a range of knowledge intensive service sectors such as finance, business services and communications, as well as high tech sectors such as aerospace, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
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Within this there are also areas of particular expertise within broader sectors. For example, within advanced manufacturing, the UK has a disproportionately large share of the global market for jet engines and turbines.
Apprentices
21. Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to support small and medium-sized businesses to take on apprentices. [93019]
Mr Hayes: We are taking radical steps to make apprenticeships more attractive by simplifying the processes for employers, cutting out unnecessary paperwork and bringing in up to 40,000 financial incentive payments of £1,500 to support small businesses taking on their first young apprentice.
Student Places
22. Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what allocation of student numbers he proposes for institutions which have submitted bids to his Department for additional places under the core and margin model. [93021]
Mr Willetts: Institutions will receive formal notification of their provisional allocations of core and margin places, subject to any appeals, from the Funding Council this week. I can inform the House that:
At least 143 further education colleges received allocations of at least 9,547 places.
As a result, at least 60 further education colleges will have a direct funding relationship with HEFCE for the first time.
35 higher education institutions received allocations of at least 9,303 places.
Our reforms offer choice and value for money for students.
Royal Mail: Temporary Staff
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with Royal Mail's management on the management of Angard. [93225]
Mr Davey: Operational matters, such as the recruitment of temporary staff, are the responsibility of management at Royal Mail. The Government do not play a role in these issues.
Clearly, the problems experienced by some seasonal workers are deeply regrettable. I have raised this matter with Royal Mail and have been assured that Royal Mail management are continuing to work very hard to rectify any outstanding issues. In addition, I understand that the company has been reviewing the issues that arose this Christmas with a view to ensuring that there is no repeat in future.
Apprentices: Agriculture
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many farm apprenticeships there were in each county in each of the last five years. [92977]
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Mr Hayes [holding answer 1 February 2012]: I have placed data in the Libraries of the House showing the number of apprenticeship programme starts in the agriculture, horticulture and animal care sector subject area by local authority, 2006/07 to 2010/11, the latest academic years for which final data are available.
Information on the number of apprenticeship programme starts is published in a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 31 January 2012:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
Information on the number of apprenticeship starts by geographic breakdown and sector subject areas are available in supplementary tables to the SFR:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_supplementary_tables/Apprenticeship_sfr_supplementary_tables/
Banks: Regulation
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which teams in his Department had responsibility for the Project Merlin agreement with the banks. [93206]
Mr Prisk: No Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) officials were directly involved in the 'Project Merlin' negotiations with representatives of the banking industry. However, colleagues from BIS's Business Environment and Enterprise Directorates provided advice to Ministers when requested, related to the Project Merlin negotiations.
Basic Skills
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions have taken place between his Department and the Department for Education to ensure that students on vocational courses and in apprenticeships receive appropriate literacy and numeracy support; and if he will make a statement. [92400]
Mr Hayes: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), recognises the value of English and mathematics within vocational courses and apprenticeships. All apprentices who have not yet achieved a level 1 qualification in literacy/English or numeracy/mathematics are required to take an appropriate qualification or qualifications as part of their apprenticeship programme. Training providers are funded to support apprentices and other learners to achieve qualifications in English and mathematics.
I have a joint portfolio for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education. Following the Woolf Review recommendations, officials from the two Departments have had a number of discussions to ensure that policy is consistent. To coincide with the entitlement for all 16 to 19-year-olds, I announced in December that training providers should support apprentices towards the achievement of a level 2 qualification in English and mathematics.
I am conscious of the need to ensure that the quality of apprenticeship provision continues to improve and I have announced that all apprenticeships should entail a rigorous period of learning and the practice of new skills. If standards are sufficiently stretching and expectations of competency high, I believe this will
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extend over at least 12 months. This will be the minimum expectation for apprenticeships for under 19-year-olds from August 2012.
Departmental Travel Costs
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has agreed any contracts with (a) private hire vehicle and (b) taxi companies since May 2010. [92854]
Mr Davey: Yes, the Department has agreed a contract with Addison Lee using the DWP framework contract. This became effective from January 2011.
Easter
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring into force the provision contained in the Easter Act 1928 to fix the date of Easter. [92883]
Mr Davey: The Easter Act 1928 would set the date for Easter to fall between 9 and 15 April each year. The Easter Act 1928 remains on the Statute Book, but has not been brought into force. To do so would require an Order in Council, with the approval of both Houses of Parliament. The Act also requires that, before the Order is made,
“regard shall be had to any opinion officially expressed by any Church or other Christian Body”.
There is no indication that the Churches are keen to move to a fixed Easter.
Farepak
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps the Government has taken to support Farepak customers; and if he will make a statement. [93020]
Mr Davey: Farepak is clearly no ordinary insolvency, with numerous creditors and complex actions to recover monies. The Government cannot intervene in an insolvency nor direct the liquidators in their work—only the court has the power to do so. An application was made by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), for disqualification orders against the directors of Farepak.
Higher Education: Applications
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UCAS applications had been submitted by residents of (a) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency, (b) Middlesbrough local authority, (c) the borough of Redcar and Cleveland, (d) the Tees Valley and (e) the north-east in the 2011-12 admissions cycle by 15 January 2012; and how many such applications had been submitted on the same date in the 2010-11 admissions cycle. [93141]
Mr Willetts: The information, provided by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), and showing all the constituencies in the Tees Valley, is shown in the following table:
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| All applicants to UCAS by the main 15 January deadline, by parliamentary constituency/region (1) | ||
| Application cycle | ||
| Constituency: | 2010-11 (2) | 2011-12 (3) |
| (1) Parliamentary constituency has been identified using the home postcode of the applicant, irrespective of their declared area of permanent residence. (2) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2011, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2012. (3) Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2012, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2013. | ||
Investment: Glasgow
Mr Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage private sector investment in industry in Glasgow South West constituency; and if he will make a statement. [91674]
Mr Prisk: In encouraging investment, HMG have for example, focussed on: creating the most competitive tax system in the G20 by cutting the main rate of corporation tax from 28% to 26% in April and by 2014 it will reach 23%—the lowest rate in the G7 and fifth lowest in the G20; making the UK the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business by focussing on reducing red tape, encouraging high street banks to extend £190 billion of new credit to businesses in 2011 through ‘Project Merlin'; continuing the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) until 2014-15, providing up to £600 million of additional lending to around 6,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in 2011-12, and subject to demand, over £2 billion in total over the next four years.
As regional development is a devolved matter, encouraging investment in specific projects in the Glasgow South West constituency is a matter for the Scottish Executive.
Renewable Energy: Industry
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the value of low carbon industries to the economy; and what estimate he has made of such industries' contribution to (a) gross domestic product, (b) growth and (c) employment. [93125]
Mr Prisk: HM Government have made no estimates of the value of low carbon industries or their contribution to gross domestic product, growth and employment.
According to independent research published by K-Matrix (Knowledge Matrix), and commissioned by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, turnover in the Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and
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Services sector in 2009/10 was estimated at around £116.8 billion and employment was estimated at approximately 914,000. These estimates include all activity across the wider supply chain that can be attributed to the Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services sector. The Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Service Sector can be split broadly into three sub-sectors: traditional environmental goods, renewable energy, and low carbon activities.
K-Matrix turnover growth forecasts from 2010/11 to 2015/16 for the Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services sector are in the following table.
| Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services | |
| Growth forecasts (percentage) (1) | |
| (1) The growth forecasts provided are based on aggregated forecasts for turnover. Source: K-Matrix 2011 | |
K-Matrix (2011) makes no estimates of the contribution to GDP (Gross Domestic Product), provided by low carbon industries in the UK.
Stem Cells
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the cost to the public purse was of stem cell trials; and for which health categories such trials were carried out in the last year for which figures are available. [92344]
Mr Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research.
The MRC currently supports a number of clinical trials involving stem cells. These include studies relating to vision, bone repair, liver disease and autoimmune disease. Total spend relating to the four studies listed as follows was £750,000 in 2010-11:
“To evaluate the effectiveness of cultured human limbal epithelium for the treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency”, Mr F Figuerido, University of Newcastle: (G0900879): Corneal repair/Vision.
“Autologous cell therapy of fracture nonunion—cell phenotype as a predictor of outcome”, Professor M Marsh, UCL: (G0900880): Bone repair/Musculoskeletal.
“Autologous macrophage therapy promotes stem cell-mediated liver regeneration: a novel therapy for end-stage liver disease”, Professor S Forbes, University of Edinburgh: (G1000868): Liver disease/Oral and Gastrointestinal.
In addition to the clinical trials identified, the MRC also supports research in related areas, including a trial of processes which stimulate endogenous stem cell repair:
“Revival of autochthonous adrenocortical stem cells in autoimmune Addison's disease”, Professor S Pearce, University of Newcastle: (G0900001): Metabolic and Endocrine.
The Technology Strategy Board has funded one stem cell clinical trial in the last 2 years: the Phase II clinical trial to examine Allogeneic Fibroblast therapy for Epidermolysis Bullosa.
The spend for this project in 2010-11 was £334,088.
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The Department of Health funds the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Estimated spend in 2010-11 on research infrastructure support for stem cell trials through NIHR biomedical research centres and units is £1.3 million. This funding supported trials in a wide range of health categories including: cancer; cardiovascular; infection; injuries and accidents; metabolic and endocrine; neurological; oral and gastrointestinal. Data for expenditure by health category cannot be fully disaggregated from total estimated investment.
In addition, the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) is currently hosting four stem cell trials that are recruiting patients. These trials are in the following health categories: cancer; inflammatory and immune system; oral and gastrointestinal. Data for spend on stem cell trials through the CRN cannot be disaggregated from total CRN expenditure.
Students: Finance
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of planned expenditure on student maintenance grants in (a) cash terms and (b) 2011-12 values in each year from 2011-12 to 2015-16. [92944]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 1 February 2012]: Department estimates of expenditure on student maintenance grants between 2011-12 and 2015-16, consistent with the impact assessment published alongside the 2011 higher education White Paper, are as follows:
| Maintenance grants | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
Student support funding and departmental budgets beyond 2015 are subject to the next spending review.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the Resource Accounting Budget charge on student loans for new students from 2012; and what assumptions this estimate makes about the value of the average (a) tuition fee and (b) maintenance loan. [92980]
Mr Willetts: The Department's current estimate for the Resource Accounting Budget (RAB) charge for loans issued to full-time students under the new system from 2012/13 is around 30%. The estimate assumes an average tuition fee loan of £7,500 and an average maintenance loan of £4,100 in 2012/13.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to publish a revised Student Loan Repayment Ready Reckoner which will take account of the changes to student loan repayment forecasts described in his Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2010-11. [92981]
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Mr Willetts: We are not currently planning to publish a revised version of the November 2010 Student Loan Repayment Ready Reckoner, which was published to support the debate on the emerging proposals following the Browne review.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the effect on the Resource Accounting Budget charge on student loans made to (a) current students and (b) new students from 2012 from changes in assumptions and modelling of student loan repayments described in his Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2010-11. [92982]
Mr Willetts: The Department's annual report sets out a number of changes to the assumptions and modelling of student loan repayments that were made in 2010-11. The two key changes were:
(i) to adjust the methodology to use the latest Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) short term forecasts for RPI and average earnings growth,
(ii) to provide for the impact of the lower interest charge to borrowers as a result of the low Bank of England base rate.
The Resource Accounting Budget (RAB) charge for loans issued under the current system in 2010-11 increased from 28% to 33% due to the above changes and the estimate for 2011-12 increased by a similar amount. For full-time students entering higher education under the new system, our current estimate of the RAB charge is around 30%. A more precise figure will be determined by any further changes to modelling and assumptions that may be required, and by information on the take-up of loans and amount borrowed by students as this becomes available during academic year 2012/13.
Voluntary Organisations
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what contribution his Department is making to implementation of the Compact with the voluntary sector; and if he will make a statement. [92292]
Mr Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) signed up to the renewed Compact published in December 2010.
The Department's Further Education (FE) and Skills Directorate has a nominated member of its senior management team as the third sector lead who is also a member of the BIS Big Society Programme Board. Similarly, the Skills Funding Agency (a partner organisation of BIS) has a senior responsible officer (SRO) for civil society organisations.
BIS recognises and values the role that the third sector can play across all parts of the FE and skills system in the successful delivery of learning and skills, particularly in supporting those furthest away from learning and employment.
FE and Skills within BIS works widely with the third sector, particularly through a highly consultative dialogue with the Third Sector National Learning Alliance (TSNLA) to ensure that third sector interests are appropriately taken into account in a systematic way.
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In addition to regular bilateral and trilateral meetings with BIS FE and Skills, and the Skills Funding Agency, there is membership and direct representation on all relevant BIS, Skills Funding Agency and joint Skills Funding Agency/YPLA advisory groups. This working dialogue continues all year round to help shape our understanding, implementation and evaluation of policy and guidance and its impact on the sector.
The Skills Funding Agency and the TSNLA have established a protocol, which provides a framework for joint working between the Skills Funding Agency and the wider voluntary sector.
BIS is commissioning research from the Learning and Skills Improvement Service to identify what barriers stand in the way of achieving Government's ambitions for the third sector to play its full role in both learning and skills and in building the Big Society.
Supported by TSNLA the Learning and Skills Improvement Service is now working closely with and opening up their services to voluntary sector providers.
In the consumer voluntary sector, BIS sponsors both Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland—the umbrella bodies for the Citizens Advice service across England and Wales and in Scotland. It provides core grant in aid funding to both these charities under Section 274 of the Enterprise Act. Our funding enables those bodies to provide essential central services to their customers, the network of Citizens Advice Bureaux (IT, information, training of staff and volunteers, management services). In return this enables the service to feed back to central Government real time data on the issues facing people on a wide number of social policy issues.
UK Export Finance
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what applications have been received from (a) exporters and (b) investors to use UK Export Finance products in 2011-12. [93066]
Mr Davey: In the 2011-12 financial year to date, there have been 110 applications from exporters and none from investors.
Cabinet Office
Big Society Bank
Michael Ellis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress has been made on the implementation of the Big Society Bank. [93504]
Mr Hurd: We are making excellent progress in establishing Big Society Capital group (formerly referred to as the "Big Society Bank"). In December we received State Aid clearance from the European Commission and we are moving swiftly through the FSA authorisation process.
During the process of establishing Big Society Capital (BSC), the interim Investment Committee has been making the kinds of investments in intermediaries that we expect BSC to make. To date it has announced in principle investments of £3.5 million.
Big Society Capital is on track to be open for business by spring of this year.
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Civil Servants
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his policy is on the payment of civil servants for their attendance at networking events; whether any civil servants have received such payments; and if he will instigate an investigation into any such payments. [93062]
Mr Hurd: The Civil Service Code is clear that civil servants must not accept gifts or hospitality or receive other benefits from anyone which might reasonably be seen to compromise their personal judgment or integrity. I am not aware of cases of civil servants personally receiving payments from external organisations for their attendance at networking events, but any such issues would be handled by individual Departments.
Departmental Travel Costs
Maria Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether his Department has agreed any contracts with (a) private hire vehicle and (b) taxi companies since May 2010. [92824]
Mr Hurd: Since May 2010 the Cabinet Office has agreed one contract for the provision of private hire vehicles. This contract is with Enterprise Rent-A-Car UK Ltd. Cabinet Office has not agreed any other contracts with private hire vehicles or taxi companies.
Communities and Local Government
Recruitment
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on recruitment agencies in each month since September 2011. [87969]
Robert Neill: Departmental records show no expenditure with recruitment agencies between September and December 2011.
Derelict Land
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate his Department has made of the amount of previously developed land suitable for housing development in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each local planning authority area in each of the last 10 years. [87675]
Robert Neill: Estimates for the amount of previously developed land suitable for housing development in England, the regions and each local planning authority for 2003-09 inclusive are given in a table that has been deposited in the Library of the House. However, these estimates include private residential gardens which until 2010 were covered by the definition of previously-developed land. In June 2010 Ministers announced changes to PPS3, excluding private residential gardens from the definition.
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The information is taken from the National Land Use Database of Previously-Developed Land. The figures are as reported by local authorities and make no allowance for missing or incomplete data.
Housing: Armed Forces
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what financial support his Department is providing to local authorities of garrison towns to ensure that there is sufficient quality housing available to soldiers made redundant as a result of implementation of the Strategic Defence Security Review; what steps he is taking to mitigate the potential effects for those on social housing waiting lists; and if he will make a statement. [93227]
Grant Shapps: I am determined to help current and former members of the armed forces gain the housing they deserve. Last year I held a Military Covenant Housing summit to discuss how we could ensure that housing was a priority for people who returned from active service for this country.
Among the various measures being taken, we are giving service personnel top priority for Government-funded home ownership schemes, including FirstBuy, and providing disabled facilities grant funding so that home adaptations can enable disabled ex-service personnel to live independently.
Our housing strategy includes determined and radical measures to help everyone get the home they need. On 1 February I informed the House of progress, including work towards identifying land for 100,000 new homes, and details of the NewBuy guarantee scheme.
We are also consulting on plans to change the law so that former personnel with urgent housing needs are always given high priority for social housing. Additionally, we are consulting on new statutory social allocations guidance for local councils, setting out how their allocation schemes can give priority to current or ex-service personnel, including through the use of local preference criteria and local lettings policies. The guidance also reiterates local authorities' responsibility for addressing the housing needs of all residents and encourages them to make use of the existing flexibilities within the allocation legislation to ensure that social homes go to people who need and deserve them the most.
1 recently wrote to all MPs summarising the various measures that we are introducing to ensure that serving and ex-service personnel receive top priority for housing help.
Local Government: Property
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he has issued guidance to local authorities on the disposal of vacant and disused local authority-owned properties. [92051]
Andrew Stunell: The Department has not issued guidance to local authorities on the disposal of their vacant and disused properties as these are matters for local decision. But we of course encourage local authorities to promote regeneration and development when undertaking disposals.
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If a local authority wishes to dispose of land not held for housing purposes at less than best consideration for a scheme that will contribute to the promotion or improvement of the economic, social or environmental well-being of an area, they may do so provided that they obtain the Secretary of State's consent. The Local Government Act 1972, General Disposal Consent 2003, contained in ODPM Circular 06/2003 enables local authorities to make such disposals, provided the undervalue does not exceed £2 million. If the proposed disposal was not covered by the general consent the local authority would have to apply to the Secretary of State for a specific disposal consent.
Land held for housing purposes is subject to a separate consent regime. We have just finished seeking views on our proposal that local authorities should not require specific consent to dispose of vacant land or vacant properties at market value. The Government hope to publish their response to this consultation soon. We have not however issued guidance on local authorities' housing disposal strategies.
We are funding the Asset Transfer Unit to promote best practice across England and provide advice and expertise to local authorities and communities on matters relating to asset transfer to community ownership and management. The Asset Transfer Unit also managed the recently completed Advancing Assets for Communities demonstration programme which has supported the development of local asset transfer strategies, policies and procedures aimed at communities taking over local authority assets, by providing tailored support to 92 local authority/community partnerships.
The new community rights contained in the Localism Act will give communities the opportunities to influence development in their areas, bid to buy local assets that are important to them and bid to run local services differently and better. We are currently procuring for an expert delivery agent(s) to deliver a three-year programme to support communities that want to take up these rights. The Community Right to Reclaim Land also enables communities to get underused public property back in use.
Local Government: Voluntary Organisations
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of expenditure by each local authority (a) overall and (b) per head of population on grants to voluntary organisations in each of the last 10 years. [92909]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not hold this information for all local authorities. The new local government transparency code requires councils to publish details of grants to the voluntary sector, as well as contracts and tenders over £500.
Non-domestic Rates
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration he has given to exempting renewable energy sources when assessing the business rate level for commercial properties. [93306]
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Robert Neill: A temporary exemption from rating is available for certain items of micro generation equipment. The exemption applies up to the next revaluation after the equipment has been installed. Therefore, microgeneration plant and machinery, including micro wind turbines and small-scale solar or photovoltaic cells, installed now will not pay rates until the next revaluation due to come into force on 1 April 2015.
We have no plans to widen this exemption to other types of renewable technology but from 1 April 2012 local authorities will have a general power to offer discounts to ratepayers as they see fit.
Social Housing
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to provide new social rented housing in (a) South Lakeland, (b) Cumbria and (c) England. [93063]
Andrew Stunell: Through the new affordable homes programme and commitments from previous programmes, the Homes and Communities Agency currently expects to deliver 148 affordable homes in South Lakeland and 1,196 affordable homes in Cumbria between April 2011 and April 2015. These figures may change subject to signing remaining contracts with providers.
Overall, with our total investment of £4.5 billion, we expect to provide up to 170,000 new affordable homes between 2011 and 2015, compared to 150,000 originally estimated.
Sustainable Communities Act 2007
Hazel Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what assessment he has made of the desirability of setting a time limit for Government responses to proposals submitted under the provisions of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007; [92763]
(2) when he expects his Department to publish its response to the consultation on regulation under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007; [92764]
(3) how many responses were received to his Department's consultation on regulation under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007; [92765]
(4) when he plans to bring forward proposals for regulations under the provisions of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 (Amendment) Act 2010; [92766]
(5) what steps he is taking to establish the right for parish and town councils to submit proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007. [92900]
Greg Clark: The Government are considering the scope of the regulations under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 following the consultation exercise conducted last year. We are aiming to make the regulations shortly. A summary of responses will be published in due course.
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Culture, Media and Sport
Broadband Delivery UK: Consultants
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much Broadband Delivery UK spent on consultants in 2010-11; and what estimate he has made of such spending in 2011-12. [92877]
Mr Vaizey: In 2010-11 Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) spent £673,000 on consultants. Spend on consultants for the whole of the year 2011-12 is expected to be approximately £4 million.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many KPMG contractors or consultants worked for Broadband Delivery UK in the latest period for which figures are available. [92878]
Mr Vaizey [holding answer 31 January 2012]: Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) currently has 12 KPMG consultants working on the Rural Broadband Programme and three working on the Mobile Mast Programme.
Broadband Delivery UK: Local Government
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many local authorities attended a Broadband Delivery UK local authority engagement meeting in the last year; and which local authorities in each such case. [92879]
Mr Vaizey [holding answer 31 January 2012]:Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) has organised six local authority events between July 2011 and January 2012, at which there were a total of 357 local authority attendees. A breakdown of this information is set out in the following table:
| Date of event | Local authority attendees |
A list of local authorities that were represented at each event is shown in the following table, except for the first event in July 2011. We can confirm there were 60 attendees at this event, but no data are available on the breakdown of local authorities representatives that were present.
| BDUK local authority events: | |
| Local authority | |
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Video Games
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the UK's competitive advantage in the video games sector. [93001]
Mr Vaizey: The UK games industry is the largest in Europe. Trade association Tiga's estimate for 2010 found the UK has some 9,000 highly-skilled games developers working in 278 games studios. This strength is further underpinned by the fact that most global games publishers have chosen to locate their European corporate headquarters in the UK, including Activision, Sony Computer Entertainment and Disney Interactive. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's (DCMS) latest Creative Industries Estimate, published in December 2011, indicated that the UK's digital and entertainment media and software/electronic publishing sectors represented £400 million and £560 million gross value added (GVA) respectively in 2009.
The "NextGen" review of games industry skills highlighted several areas where the UK is world class including particular centres of excellence in higher education games courses at universities in Dundee, Bournemouth and Brighton.
The Government have already undertaken steps to support business sectors right across the economy. This includes reducing our main rate of corporation tax to 23% by 2014—making it the lowest rate in the G7 and the fifth lowest in the G20—increasing the scope and generosity of the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Venture Capital Trust (VCT) schemes, and acting to minimise the regulatory burdens on small businesses.
Defence
Armed Forces: Redundancy
Sir Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers based at Merville Barracks, Colchester Garrison, by battalion or other unit were issued with notice of compulsory redundancy in (a) September,
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(b)
October,
(c)
November and
(d)
December 2011; how many were issued with notices during January 2012; and how many he expects to be issued with notices between February and July 2012 inclusive. [93229]
Mr Robathan: A total of 13 personnel based at Merville Barracks, Colchester Garrison were selected for redundancy under tranche one of the redundancy scheme in September 2011. The 13 personnel are split across the following units: HQ 16 Air Assault Brigade; HQ Colchester Garrison; Equipment Care Inspection Team Colchester; 13 Air Assault Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps; 7 Para Royal Horse Artillery and 16 Medical Regiment. The number of personnel selected at each unit is sufficiently small that National Statistics rounding conventions require it to be categorized as between one and five to prevent the inadvertent identification of individuals.
There were no compulsory redundancy notices issued in October 2011, November 2011, December 2011 or January 2012. Tranche two of the armed forces redundancy programme was launched on 17 January 2012 and the outcome will not be known until June of this year. It is therefore too early to say at this stage how many notices will be issued between February and July 2012.
Departmental Expenditure: Alcoholic Drinks
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much (a) his Department and (b) its public bodies have spent on (i) wine, (ii) other alcoholic refreshments and (iii) bottled water since May 2010. [92650]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence does not hold financial information in a form that allows us to identify expenditure on wine and alcohol separately from other expenditure and therefore this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The provision of wine and other alcoholic refreshments at public expense is authorised only in exceptional circumstances and must be modest and appropriate in nature.
Bottled water for service and civilian personnel at UK Defence establishments and permanent bases overseas is provided through multi-activity contracts with commercial partners and is not separately identified. In line with Government policy on sustainable procurement, however, we avoid providing bottled water where drinkable tap water is available.
For Armed Forces personnel not covered by these arrangements and those serving on operations and overseas exercises there is a Single Food Supply contract. Expenditure for bottled water incurred under this contract between 1 May 2010 and 31 December 2011 was £4.7 million.
Military Aircraft: Helicopters
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2011, Official Report, column 646W, on military aircraft: helicopters, when he expects to publish the Rotary Wing Strategy; and if he will make a statement. [92527]
Peter Luff:
The previous Government's Rotary Wing Strategy was outlined to Parliament in December 2009.
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Following the strategic defence and security review, we commissioned a review of the Rotary Wing Strategy to ensure that it was up to date and would effectively deliver Future Force 2020. This was known as the Defence Rotary Wing Capability Study.
The Defence Rotary Wing Capability Study reported to the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff in November 2011. The Vice-Chief asked for some further work to be done before the Study is finalized, and this work is currently in progress. Any major changes will be announced to Parliament in the usual way.
RAF Northolt
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department will publish its plans for the future use of RAF Northolt. [92540]
Peter Luff: No decision has been made to change the use of RAF Northolt, although as with all Ministry of Defence assets we continue to scrutinise defence expenditure to ensure we get the best return for the taxpayer.
Turkey: Military Aircraft
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts on the deployment of planes in Turkey in the last two months; and if he will make a statement. [92225]
Nick Harvey: There have been no such discussions.
Deputy Prime Minister
Constituencies
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans to bring forward proposals to increase the staffing budgets of hon. Members under his proposals to create fewer and larger constituencies from 2015. [93068]
Mr Harper: The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is responsible for determining and administering the expenses scheme for Members. It will be for IPSA to consider whether any changes are necessary as a result of the boundary review which will lead to fewer, more equally sized constituencies.
Education
Free School Meals
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children were (a) registered to receive free school meals and (b) eligible to register, in the most recent period for which figures are available. [92459]
Mr Gibb: Information is not collected centrally on how many pupils are eligible for free school meals but do not claim.
The available information on the number of pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals as at January 2011 is shown in the table.
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| Maintained nursery, state-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools, and pupil referral units (1,2,3,4) : Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (5,6,7) January 2011, England | ||
| Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (5,6) | Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (5,6) | |
| (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes primary academies. (3) Includes city technology colleges and secondary academies. (4) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools; excludes general hospital schools. (5) Includes pupils who are sole or dual main registrations. Includes boarders. In pupil referral units includes pupils registered with other providers and further education colleges. (6) Includes pupils who have full-time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part-time attendance and are aged between 5 and 15 (age as at 31 August). (7) Includes maintained nursery, state-funded primary, state-funded secondary and special schools, and pupil referral units. Excludes pupils in alternative provision as full and part time status is not collected. Note:Pupil numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5. Source: School Census. | ||
Free Schools: Finance
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2011, Official Report, column 287W, on free schools: finance, if he will set a date on which the budget allocation for free schools for 2011-12 will be finalised. [92810]
Mr Gibb: The full funding allocation for free schools for 2011-12 is yet to be finalised and will depend, for example, on the final capital cost for each school.
Revenue funding allocated to each of the 24 open free schools for the academic year 2011/12 is set out in my answer of 20 December 2011, Official Report, column 1218W.
Annual revenue funding for free schools is equivalent to that received by maintained schools and academies in the same local authority area. Guidance on the methodology used to calculate revenue funding for free schools can be found on the Department's website at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/freeschools/a0073853/advice-on-free-school-revenue-funding-201112
GCSE
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of candidates for (a) each tiered GCSE subject and (b) tiered GCSE subjects in total entered for examinations set by (i) Edexcel, (ii) WJEC, (iii) OCA, (iv) AQA and (v) all examination boards at (A) foundation and (B) higher level were awarded each grade in (1) 2008-09 and (2) 2009-10. [91767]
Mr Gibb: The Department does not hold information on the examination tier for which individual candidates were entered.
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Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will reform the national curriculum to include talks related to health advocacy and cancer awareness in personal social health and economic education lessons. [92767]
Mr Gibb: The current personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education non-statutory framework includes the importance of healthy lifestyles. It provides opportunities for pupils to discuss health issues that teachers identify as being relevant to them. This could include cancer awareness and health advocacy. Many schools also use external organisations to provide young people with information about cancer including how to seek professional advice.
PSHE is not part of the National Curriculum which is designed to reflect the body of essential knowledge in key subjects. The Government are therefore reviewing the National Curriculum to give schools the freedom and space they need to teach a curriculum that engages their pupils.
We are also reviewing PSHE education to identify the core body of knowledge that pupils need and to determine how we can support schools to improve the quality of all PSHE teaching. We will publish our proposals for public consultation later this year.
Science: GCSE
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many secondary school pupils were entered only for the Single Science Award GCSE and no other science subjects in each of the last 10 years. [89456]
Mr Gibb: The information requested for the years 2008 to 2011 is given in the following table; other years can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
| Number of secondary school pupils entered only for Single Science Award GCSE and no other science subjects. Years: 2008-11. Coverage: England | |
| Number of pupils | |
| Notes: 1. Single science is taken to mean “Core Science” only and no other science award. 2. Data for 2008-10 are final, 2011 is revised. 3. Figures for 2011 include pupils in Alternative Provision, earlier years do not. 4. Figures do not take into account discounting where qualification content may overlap. | |
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many schools with a specialism in science did not enter any pupils for GCSEs in (a) chemistry, (b) physics, (c) biology and (d) all three separate sciences in the last three years; [89457]
(2) in how many mainstream maintained schools no pupil was entered for three separate sciences at GCSE in the most recent academic year for which figures are available. [89513]
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Mr Gibb: Following the announcement on 20 October 2010 regarding the specialist schools programme, by the Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), we removed the bureaucratic burden of schools designating or re-designating as specialist. From 1 April 2011, schools were no longer required to inform DFE of changes or additions to their specialism. Therefore we only hold information on the specialism of schools in 2010 and earlier. The information requested is shown in the following table:
| Number of schools with a specialism in science (1) not entering pupils for GCSES in chemistry, physics, biology and all three separate sciences (combined). Years: 2008-10 (Final). Coverage: England | ||||
| (a) Chemistry | (b) Physics | (c) Biology | (d) All three separate sciences | |
| (1) As reported in the Secondary School Performance Tables in each year. Schools may have more than one specialism. | ||||
There were 550 mainstream maintained schools in which no pupils were entered for each of the three separate sciences in the 2010/11 academic year.
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils were entered for GCSEs in the three separate sciences in (a) 1997 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available. [89458]
Mr Gibb: The number of pupils that were entered for GCSEs in the three separate sciences in 1997 and 2011 is given as follows.
| Pupils (thousand) | |||
| Number of pupils (1) entered for GCSEs (2) in: | |||
| Biological sciences | Chemistry | Physics | |
| (1) In 1997, this was based on pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year while in 2011 it was based on pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. (2) For each subject, only one attempt is counted—that which achieved the highest grade. This is including attempts by these pupils in previous academic years. (3) Figures for 2011 include pupils in Alternative Provision, earlier years do not. Source: 1997 Statistical Volume ‘Public Examinations GCSE/GNVQ and GCE in England' and Statistical First Release ‘GCSE and Equivalent Results in England, 2010/11 (Revised)' available at the following link: http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001056/index.shtml | |||
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of pupils were entered for three separate sciences at GCSE in (a) comprehensive schools, (b) selective schools and (c) independent schools in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2001. [89514]
Mr Gibb: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 22 November 2010, Official Report, column 93W, which contains figures for chemistry and physics. The following table gives figures on the same basis for biological sciences in the years requested. Figures have been based on pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year.
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| Number and percentage of pupils entering GCSE biological sciences by school type. Years: 1997, 2001 (final). Coverage: England | ||||
| Biological sciences | Number of pupils entering GCSE | Percentage of pupils entering GCSE | ||
| School type | 1997 | 2001 | 1997 | 2001 |
| Source: Secondary School and College Performance Tables. | ||||
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to reply to the letter of 9 January 2012 from the headteacher of Twynham School on anomalies and inconsistencies in the treatment of science GCSE in Table 4.1.25 in the Raise Online performance tool. [91524]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 24 January 2012]:We replied to this letter on 26 January 2012.
Secondary Education: Literacy
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what measures are in place to ensure that secondary school pupils with literacy difficulties are identified early and receive adequate support; and if he will make a statement. [92401]
Mr Gibb: Primary schools transfer information about each pupil's educational attainment, as well as about any special educational needs, to the pupil's secondary school. It is the responsibility of secondary schools to assess the needs of all pupils when they arrive and to provide them with the support they need to progress.
Teachers: Suicide
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information his Department holds on the number of teachers who committed suicide in each year for which figures are available. [92993]
Mr Gibb: The information requested is not collected centrally.
Energy and Climate Change
Carbon Emissions
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential carbon dioxide savings resulting from the introduction of the Green Deal. [92706]
Gregory Barker: The Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO) consultation was published on 23 November 2011. The Government's assessment of the impact of these policies was published in the accompanying Draft Impact Assessment:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/green-deal/3603-green-deal-eco-ia.pdf
Under the central policy scenario in this assessment, the total CO2 savings over the lifetime of the installed measures was estimated at 114MtCO2 and 53 MtCO2 for non-traded and traded savings respectively.
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Traded carbon emissions are those covered by the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, which covers electricity generation and some industrial processes. Energy savings in properties with electric heating therefore leads to a saving in traded CO2 emissions, while energy savings in properties with non-electric heating systems leads to savings in non-traded CO2 emissions.
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to modify the inputs of his Department's 2050 emissions calculator in line with technological advances. [93130]
Gregory Barker: The 2050 calculator
http://2050-calculator-tool.decc.gov.uk
enables users to examine different ways of reducing UK greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. It was first published in July 2010 as a call for evidence. Following over 100 responses to the call for evidence, an updated and improved version of the calculator was published in March 2011 taking on board stakeholder feedback received. Since then, costs and air quality analysis has been incorporated into the tool; this was re-published in December 2011 as a call for evidence.
The calculator is a constantly evolving tool, which Government have committed to update regularly to reflect the latest scientific and economic evidence. Users are encouraged to critique and improve the new costs and air quality analysis by 8 March 2012 via a wiki website
http://2050-calculator-tool-wiki.decc.gov.uk
The Government are trialling this wiki as a means of facilitating feedback, and as an example of open-source policy-making. If it is successful, we may extend it to invite ongoing feedback on the areas where technological advances warrant reconsideration of the trajectories and underlying assumptions in the 2050 calculator.
Carbon Emissions: Housing
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the cost per household per year of achieving the UK's carbon reduction target for 2050. [93173]
Gregory Barker: DECC recently published a revised 2050 calculator designed to support users in exploring the costs of achieving the UK's carbon reduction target for 2050, available at:
http://2050-calculator-tool.decc.gov.uk/
It also published information on four plausible pathways to 2050 alongside HMG's Carbon Plan. The costs shown are the “total energy system costs”, and include the costs of everything from power stations and industrial processes, to cars, planes and trains and the fuel they use, to gas boilers and cavity wall insulation in homes and workplaces. As such, they are far more wide-ranging than household energy bills and absolutely not comparable with them.
The following table shows the total energy system costs per person per year for the period 2010-50 for each of these four pathways relative to a scenario in which no action is taken to constrain emissions. They do not take into account the costs of failing to tackle climate change. A negative number represents lower
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costs relative to the scenario in which no action is taken. The table illustrates that a pathway that tackles climate change in a cost-effective way could be expected to be cheaper in cost (on central projections) than failing to tackle climate change, while also bringing climate and security benefits.
| £ | |||
| Pathway | Low fossil fuel prices | Central fossil fuel prices | High fossil fuel prices |
More detail on these pathways can be found in Part 1 and Annex A of the Carbon Plan, available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/emissions/carbon_budgets/carbon_budgets.aspx
and from the 2050 Calculator web tool:
http://2050-calculator-tool.decc.gov.uk/
Storage Heating
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what research his Department has undertaken on the role of next generation electric storage heaters in decarbonising heating; [93133]
(2) what steps he is taking to encourage the uptake of next generation electric storage heaters to contribute to his aim of reduced energy use; and if he will make a statement. [93134]
Gregory Barker: The Department has recently completed its strategic analysis of heat options, and will be publishing a strategy document soon. Direct electric heating including storage heating has been considered as part of that analysis.
Competition
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the oral answer of 26 January 2012, Official Report, column 403, on competition, what steps he has taken to reduce the administrative burden on small suppliers. [93250]
Gregory Barker: In December 2011 the Government increased the customer number threshold at which suppliers are obliged to participate in the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target and the Community Energy Saving Programme from 50,000 to 250,000. This means that no small suppliers will be required to participate for the remainder of these schemes.
In addition we have set the threshold for mandatory participation in the Warm Home Discount Scheme at 250,000 customers.
We are consulting on a similar threshold for the new energy company obligation alongside proposals to mitigate the “cliff edge effect” once suppliers reach the threshold.
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We are also proposing to give suppliers with fewer than 250,000 customers the choice of opting in or out of administering Green Deal payments.
Departmental Credit Cards
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the (a) transaction date, (b) amount and (c) description was for all purchases made by Ministers, special advisers and officials in his Department on departmental credit cards between May 2010 and December 2011. [93188]
Gregory Barker: The Department has published on its website the information requested for transactions over £500 made using departmental Government procurement cards between April and October 2011. The Department will publish this information for 2010-11 before 31 March 2012.
Going forward, the Department will publish this information for transactions over £500 on a monthly basis.
The information can be found through the following link:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/expenditure/spend_over_500/spend_over_500.aspx
Departmental Manpower
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the (a) job title and (b) pay grade is of each member of staff in the private office of the (i) Minister of State for Climate Change and (ii) Minister of State for Energy. [93187]
Gregory Barker: The following table shows the details of staffing in each private office.
| Grade | Title | Number |
Energy Efficiency
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) with which organisations he has discussed the UK's energy efficiency targets; [92707]
(2) what discussions he has had with existing providers of insulation measures on the UK's energy efficiency targets. [92708]
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Gregory Barker: The Department has regular contact with a range of organisations with an interest in the UK's current and proposed energy efficiency programmes, including the GB-wide Carbon Emissions Reduction Target, the Community Energy Saving Programme and the emerging Green Deal. Organisations include energy suppliers, companies involved in the supply chain such as the insulation industry, trade organisations, NGOs, consumer representatives and other interested parties.
We have also received many relevant views, including from representatives of the insulation industry, as part of the recent public consultation on the Green Deal.
Energy: Meters
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has any plans to issue guidance for the safe use of smart meters, including on the effects of electromagnetic radiation. [93077]
Charles Hendry: Telecommunication technologies used in deploying smart meters will have to comply with relevant regulations and international standards as set out by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).
The ICNIRP guidelines are based on a critical in-depth evaluation of the established scientific literature and represent the international consensus about this evidence. In addition, the current view of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks is that there is no consistent evidence of adverse health effects occurring at levels within the ICNIRP exposure guidelines.
We will continue to work with the Department of Health and the HPA to keep the evidence base under review.
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has any plans to ensure that information on potential health effects is included with smart meters. [93078]
Charles Hendry: We are currently considering what information, and methods of communication, will be most useful to consumers in understanding how smart meters work, and in addressing a range of questions, including in relation to concerns about potential health effects.
This will be a part of our consumer engagement strategy, on which we will be consulting in the spring.
Energy: Prices
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect on new entrants in the energy retail market use of loss-leading online energy tariffs. [93092]
Charles Hendry: I am concerned that significant introductory discounts offered by some suppliers may make it more difficult for new entrants to compete and have already raised the matter with Ofgem.
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I have asked the chief executive of Ofgem to write to the hon. Member and we will place a copy of his letter in the Libraries of the House.
Environment Protection: Manpower
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of people employed in the insulation industry in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013. [93231]
Gregory Barker: DECC is not in a position to answer this question as this Department does not hold official employment statistics.
Where DECC policies are expected to affect employment, analysis is contained in the relevant Impact Assessment.
Feed-in Tariffs
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the oral answer of 26 January 2012, Official Report, column 4081, on feed-in tariff for solar photovoltaic, whether he plans to instigate an inquiry into the handling of the proposals to reduce feed-in tariffs. [93251]
Gregory Barker: The Department has already commissioned a review of lessons for the future.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for the future of the feed-in tariff for small-scale hydropower. [93407]
Gregory Barker: We will be publishing a consultation by 9 February which will consider other aspects of the feed-in tariffs scheme for non-PV technologies including the tariffs for small-scale hydropower. It will also consider proposals to make the FITs scheme more intelligent and responsive to change, to remove the need for stop-start reviews and provide greater transparency, longevity and certainty to the industry.
Fuel Poverty
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of households likely to be in fuel poverty in (a) December 2012, (b) December 2013, (c) December 2014 and (d) December 2015. [93230]
Gregory Barker: The latest fuel poverty statistics relate to 2009 and were published in November 2011. In this annual report, projections for the next two years were published. The projection for 2010 shows there are likely to be around 4 million households in fuel poverty in England, and 4.1 million in 2011. Annual figures for 2010 will be published in May along with projections for 2012.
Fuel Poverty: Hendon
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in (a) Hendon constituency, (b) London and (c) the UK are in fuel poverty. [93222]
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Gregory Barker: In 2009, the most recent year for which data are available, the number of households in fuel poverty for these areas was as follows:
| Area | Number of households in fuel poverty |
Infrastructure: Capital Investment
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department plans to take to encourage private sector capital investment in its infrastructure investment programme. [93153]
Charles Hendry: The National Infrastructure Plan 2011 sets outs the actions which the Government are taking to support private sector capital investment in the energy sector, working closely with industry and the regulator.
The National Infrastructure Plan is available at:
http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/national_infrastructure_plan291111.pdf
Natural Gas: Exploration
Michael Ellis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of energy is generated using shale gas produced in the UK; and whether he has plans to increase this proportion. [93351]
Charles Hendry: There is currently no energy generation from shale gas in the UK. Exploration for shale gas in the UK has only recently started and it will be some years before the prospects for commercial production can be properly assessed.
As with all other indigenous oil and gas, the Government support industry's endeavours to develop these resources where economically viable, providing this can be done safely and with full regard to the protection of the environment.
Nuclear Power
Michael Ellis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he has taken to protect nuclear power stations from cyber attack by foreign governments. [93362]
Charles Hendry: All security arrangements for the protection of UK nuclear sites are kept under constant review as part of a continuous process to ensure arrangements are robust and effective. Operators are required to have security plans in place which are approved by the regulator. These arrangements would be reviewed in response to any change in threat level. For national security reasons, Ministers do not comment on specific operational security matters.
Photovoltaics
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the oral answer of 26 January 2012, Official Report, column 392, on photovoltaics, what recent estimate his Department has made of the average cost to households of meeting the proposed energy efficiency standard. [93249]
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Gregory Barker: The Government's recent consultation, and supporting impact assessment, on feed-in tariffs for solar photovoltaics included illustrative examples of the costs of meeting the proposed energy efficiency requirement. The consultation closed on 23 December and we have been carefully analysing all responses received. We will shortly be publishing the Government's response to the consultation, and an updated impact assessment.
Warm Front Scheme
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many applications for a Warm Front grant were (a) accepted and (b) rejected in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [93203]
Gregory Barker: The number of Warm Front applications accepted and rejected in 2010-11 and 2011-12 is shown in the following table:
| Scheme year | Applications accepted | Applications rejected |
| (1 )Figures up to 31 December 2011. | ||