6 Feb 2012 : Column 92W
Overseas Domestic Service
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to improve the protection of overseas domestic workers in the UK; and if she will make a statement. [93245]
Damian Green: The Government’s consultation on employment-related settlement, Tier 5 and Overseas Domestic Workers (ODWs) included proposals about the routes of entry for ODWs. We are considering future policy for ODWs in light of the outcome of the consultation and will make an announcement shortly.
We recognise that ODWs can be vulnerable to serious mistreatment and acknowledged this in the consultation. If the route is retained, we will ensure that there are appropriate protections to minimise the potential for abuse and to support ODWs who may be abused in the UK.
Harassment: Internet
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to work with (a) social media networks and (b) the Crown Prosecution Service to support police investigations into cases of internet harassment. [93065]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 2 February 2012]: The Government take all forms of harassment very seriously and are committed to taking forward work to address this issue as part of their wider work on violence against women and girls. The Home Office is working with the Association of Chief Police Officers to raise the awareness of agencies, including social media networks, that may be involved in tracking down perpetrators of cyber-stalking. We are also working with the Crown Prosecution Service and international partners to ensure better cross-border data sharing to facilitate prosecutions.
The Government are currently consulting on how to protect victims of stalking, including online stalking, more effectively.
Human Trafficking
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the Ministerial inter-departmental committee on Human Trafficking has met; and what was the average number of its members who did not attend. [93573]
Damian Green: Since its inception in February 2011 the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking has met twice. An average of 10 members did not attend.
Illegal Immigrants: Employment
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of foreign nationals working illegally in Northern Ireland. [93836]
Damian Green: The Home Office does not make estimates of the number of illegal immigrants or workers in the UK.
6 Feb 2012 : Column 93W
Law enforcement and removals are key parts of the Home Office's work in Northern Ireland. Enforcement teams in the regions are clamping down on illegal working, removing migrants who do not have the right to be here, and detecting organised and international immigration crime.
Immobilisation of Vehicles
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what recent estimate she has made of the number of wheel-clamping companies; and if she will make a statement; [93340]
(2) what estimate she has made of the number of rogue private sector wheel-clamping companies; what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the enactment of Clause 54 of the Protection of Freedoms Bill on such companies; and if she will make a statement; [93341]
(3) whether she plans to bring forward proposals to amend Clause 54 of the Protection of Freedoms Bill; and if she will make a statement; [93371]
(4) what assessment she has made of the number of individuals who were (a) killed, (b) seriously injured and (c) slightly injured by rogue private sector wheel clampers in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [93376]
Lynne Featherstone: The Private Security Industry Act 2001, which regulates the activity of immobilisation of vehicles, does not apply to businesses. However the Act requires individuals to be licensed by the Security Industry Authority to carry out immobilisation, blocking in or towing away of vehicles on private land in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with a view to charging a release fee. As of 30 January 2012 there were 1,252 valid vehicle immobiliser licences.
As businesses are not required to be licensed, we do not have accurate figures for the numbers of businesses. However, an Impact Assessment on the reform of vehicle immobilisation was published on the Home Office website on 14 September 2011, which estimated that there are approximately 350 vehicle immobilisation businesses. The impact assessment can be found on the Home Office website at:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/legislation/freedom-bill/reform-vehicle-immob-ia?view=Binary
Given the nature of their operations and the way in which crime statistics are categorised, information on the number of "rogue" wheel clamping companies and their operations, including the number of individuals who have been killed, seriously injured or slightly injured by such operators, is not available.
As announced on 17 August 2010, it is our intention to ban immobilisation, blocking in or towing away of vehicles in England and Wales without lawful authority. Provisions are included in clauses 54 to 56 of the Protection of Freedoms Bill. We have no plans to bring forward any amendments to clause 54.
Subject to parliamentary approval, it is expected the Bill will receive Royal Assent by May 2012 with the aim of bringing the proposed ban into force as soon as possible after the Bill has been passed.
6 Feb 2012 : Column 94W
Immobilisation of Vehicles: Police National Computer
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether rogue private sector wheel clampers are permitted to use the police national computer; and if she will make a statement. [93375]
Lynne Featherstone: Access to the police national computer (PNC) by non-police organisations is strictly controlled by the PNC Information Access Panel (PIAP), whose membership is comprised of the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Association of Police Authorities, the Home Office and the National Policing Improvement Agency. No private sector wheel clampers are permitted to use the police national computer.
John Vine
Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 31 January 2012, on the report by the independent chief inspector of the UK Border Agency, for what reasons she considers the investigation by John Vine to be independent. [93327]
Damian Green: The independent chief inspector's remit is to monitor and report on the efficiency and effectiveness of the UK Border Agency, making recommendations, in particular, on areas such as consistency of approach; the agency's performance; the quality of decision making and the treatment of claimants and applicants.
The chief inspector is entirely independent of the UK Border Agency and reports directly to the Secretary of State for the Home Department.
Police and Crime Commissioners
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the potential role of police and crime commissioners in making the police more responsive to local need. [93266]
Nick Herbert: Police and Crime Commissioners will be powerful, local, directly elected people. They will respond to local communities by using their democratic mandate and engagement with local communities to set the priorities for their police force. They will also set the police force budget, including the local precept contribution. And they will hold their chief constable to account for the performance of their force.
Police and Crime Commissioners: Elections
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been allocated to spend on elections for police commissioners (a) nationally and (b) in each region. [93668]
Nick Herbert: In 2012-13 the first elections of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) will cost £75 million. Election costs will be borne by the Home Office and will not come from police force budgets.
6 Feb 2012 : Column 95W
It is not currently possible to estimate the cost of elections in specific areas as we are collating the relevant information and, as is standard practice, will publish this in summer 2012 ahead of the November elections.
Police Authorities: County Councils
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings a year between local police authorities and county and district councils are (a) required and (b) recommended by her Department. [93415]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office neither requires nor recommends a specific frequency of meetings between police authorities and local authorities; this is a matter for agreement between the authorities themselves.
Private Security Industry
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to amend the regulation of the private security industry in each of the next two years; and if she will make a statement. [93372]
Lynne Featherstone: As announced in October 2010, there will be a phased transition to a new regulatory regime for the private security industry, with no significant changes until after the Olympics. Work on the transition is under way, and as many changes as possible will be made using secondary legislation. This will mean that the key components of the new regime, including business licensing, will be in place by the end of 2013. Primary legislation will be required at the end of the process to abolish the Security Industry Authority and formally set up its successor.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to question 85690 tabled on 5 December 2011 for named day answer on 8 December 2011, on departmental funding. [93654]
Damian Green: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 31 January 2012, Official Report, columns 555-56W.
Treasury
Alcoholic Drinks: Illicit Production
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to tackle the illegal production of alcohol by Eastern European gangs. [93107]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Government take illicit alcohol production very seriously, irrespective of the nationality of the criminals involved, and respond robustly to all discoveries of illegal production and bottling in the UK.
HM Revenue and Customs works collaboratively with other enforcement agencies, such as Trading Standards and the police, to clamp down on the production of
6 Feb 2012 : Column 96W
illicit alcohol which is often unfit for human consumption. Agencies working together bring a broad range of sanctions and penalties against anyone producing or dealing in illicit alcohol, including criminal prosecution, seizure of goods, vehicles and equipment, assessment for evaded excise duty and the issue of civil financial penalties. Additionally, any retailer caught selling illicit alcohol can have their licence to sell alcohol revoked or suspended.
Chemicals: Foreign Investment in UK
Graham Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered introducing new fiscal incentives to secure investment from global chemical companies. [93116]
Mr Gauke: The Government's priority is securing sustainable growth, and as part of the aim to attract and retain private sector investment in the UK the Government are undertaking a significant programme of corporate tax reform. Reforms will support businesses across the economy, including those from the chemical sector, and provide them with the confidence to invest and expand in the UK.
Child Benefit: Income Tax
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2011, Official Report, column 124W, on child benefit, when he expects the Office for National Statistics to make public its official classification of the savings from the proposed withdrawal of child benefit for claimants or their partners liable to pay higher rate tax. [86053]
Mr Gauke: This is a matter for the independent Office for National Statistics.
Crown Estate Commissioners
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what objectives he has set for the Crown Estate in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [93591]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Crown Estate's agreed profit target for 2011-12 is £230 million. The profit target for 2012-13 is under discussion.
The Crown Estate has set itself a medium term objective of making a profit of £250 million by 2014.
Arch Cru
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give consideration to holding an investigation under section 14 of the Financial Services Markets Act 2000 into the suspension of pension funds of the 20,000 investors in the Arch Cru Investment Fund. [93833]
Mr Hoban:
The Government have yet to be persuaded that an investigation is appropriate. The powers to set up such an independent inquiry are available when it appears that regulatory failure may have significantly damaged the interests of consumers. It is not the role of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to ensure that no firm fails, or to approve fund investment strategies
6 Feb 2012 : Column 97W
or accounts. Rather its role is to regulate, in a proportionate manner, the operation of managers' funds. It was the FSA, as part of its routine ARROW inspection of Capita Financial Managers Limited, that identified the issues with CF Arch cru and it moved swiftly, resulting in suspension of the funds. It would be inappropriate for the Government to commit to taking any action while the FSA investigation is still ongoing.
Departmental Equality
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what equality impact assessments his Department has carried out since May 2010; and for what purpose in each case. [88591]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Treasury has ensured that equalities are taken into account in its policy area, in line with its legal obligations. However, there is no legal requirement for equality impact assessments to be produced and the information requested, in the form requested, is not held centrally.
On 20 October 2010 the Treasury published an overview of the impact of the spending review on groups protected by equalities legislation. Since coming into office, the Government have also driven improvements in tax policy making. The Government now publish a Tax Information and Impact Note for all individual tax policy changes. These explicitly include an assessment of the equalities impact of each individual measure.
Departmental Manpower
Frank Dobson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) the agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11. [91498]
Miss Chloe Smith: No jobs in HM Treasury or its agencies were transferred to the private sector in the period 2010-11.
Departmental Pay
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials in his Department and the bodies for which he is responsible earned more than (a) £65,000, (b) £95,000, (c) £140,000 and (d) £175,000 in the last year for which figures are available. [78049]
Miss Chloe Smith: The following table shows the number of civil servants in each of the Departments for which the Chancellor of the Exchequer was responsible in 2010-11, the latest year for which the figures are available, with earnings (including basic salary, allowances and overtime) shown in the bands requested. Responsibility for replies in respect of civil servants then employed by the former Office of Government Commerce has been transferred to the Cabinet Office. Other bodies for which the Chancellor of the Exchequer was then responsible did not employ any civil servants.
Departments are required to seek Cabinet Office authority where they wish to set starting salary levels above £90,000 for deputy director level, above £120,000 for director level and above £140,000 for director general level. Approval must be sought from the Chief Secretary
6 Feb 2012 : Column 98W
to the Treasury for salaries above £142,500. The guidance applies to new contracts, renewal of contract and when a current incumbent moves to a new post.
| Department | £65,000-£94,999 | £95,000-£139,999 | £140,000-£174,999 | £175,000 or more |
| (1) Includes HM Treasury, the UK Debt Management Office, the Asset Protection Agency, Infrastructure UK and the Office of Budget Responsibility (2) Including the Valuation Office Agency | ||||
Enterprise Zones: Blyth
Helen Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the Enterprise Zone in the port of Blyth. [85350]
Miss Chloe Smith: In the autumn statement of 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, the Government announced that, subject to due diligence, the North Eastern Enterprise Zone would be extended to include land at the port of Blyth. The Government are working with the North Eastern Local Enterprise Partnership to finalise the details of the extension to Blyth, including cost implications. Costs will be met from within the amount already set aside to support Enterprise Zones.
Excise Duties: Beer
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the economic effect on (a) pubs and (b) hospitality sector jobs of the proposed change in beer duty. [93254]
Miss Chloe Smith [holding answer 2 February 2012]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 March 2011, Official Report, column 379W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Philip Davies).
Excise Duties: Gaming Machines
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the amusement industry about the effect of machine games duty on (a) the sector and (b) businesses at the seaside. [93110]
Miss Chloe Smith: Treasury Ministers and officials meet with a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the usual policymaking process. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.
6 Feb 2012 : Column 99W
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the amount of VAT which businesses are able to reclaim and which will become irrecoverable under the system for machine games duty (MGD) will be deducted from MGD liability to prevent small seaside businesses being disadvantaged by the MGD system. [93112]
Miss Chloe Smith: As outlined in the summary of responses to the consultation on the design of machine games duty (MGD), businesses will not be able to offset irrecoverable VAT against MGD liabilities. However, the impact of irrecoverable VAT will be taken into consideration when the MGD rates are set.
The summary of responses to the consultation can be found at the HM Treasury website:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consult_machine_games_duty.htm
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure machine games duty is (a) tax revenue neutral and (b) not a burden on small businesses. [93113]
Miss Chloe Smith: The introduction of machine games duty (MGD) is not intended to raise additional revenue, but to replace the existing taxation of gaming machines through amusement machine licence duty (AMLD) and VAT.
Small businesses will benefit from a number of significant amendments that the Government have made to MGD following feedback received during the consultation on the design of the duty. The summary of responses to the consultation can be found at the HM Treasury website:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consult_machine_games_duty.htm
Gift Aid: Schools
Mark Hendrick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the value was of tax relief on gift aid donations to state schools in Lancashire in the last two tax years; [93529]
(2) what the value was of tax relief on gift aid income received by (a) Eton and (b) Winchester schools and the charities attached to them in the last two tax years. [93530]
Miss Chloe Smith: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) records do not separately identify Gift Aid claims by these types of organisations or by counties of the UK.
For reasons of taxpayer confidentiality, HM Revenue and Customs is not able to disclose details of Gift Aid income received by individual charities.
Amounts of tax repaid to charities in the UK on donations under Gift Aid are published in Table 10.3 on the HMRC website at:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/charities/menu.htm
In 2010-11 a total of £1,081 million (provisional figure) was repaid to UK charities under Gift Aid.
Income Tax
Mr Gregory Campbell:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the potential benefits to lower paid employees of raising the income tax threshold
6 Feb 2012 : Column 100W
to £10,000 per annum and raising the threshold at which national insurance contributions start being paid to a similar level. [93647]
Mr Gauke: The Government have a long-term commitment to increase the personal allowance to £10,000. Future increases in the personal allowance and the employee NICs primary threshold will be considered as part of the annual Budget process.
Tax and Benefits
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the measures announced in the autumn statement on marginal deduction rates in 2012-13. [93226]
Mr Gauke: When looking at the effect of measures on work incentives, it is the impact of the tax and benefit system as a whole that is important to households, rather than certain subsets of it. In making any assessment it is also important that as complete a set of measures are included as possible, which is why at Budget 2011 the Government presented detailed analysis of the impact of reforms on work incentives in 2014-15 including universal credit. Universal credit will ensure that support is reduced at a consistent and managed marginal rate (generally at no more than around 76% as compared with 91% currently) as people return to work and increase their working hours and earnings.
For Budget 2012 the Government will consider the best way of presenting the impacts of reforms on households, consistent with the aim of increasing transparency and enabling the effective scrutiny of policy making.
Mortgages
Richard Fuller: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of a 1% rise in mortgage interest rates on average monthly disposable household income. [93161]
Miss Chloe Smith: A 1% rise in mortgage interest rates would cost an extra £12,450 million in interest payments or approximately £10 billion. This would be around £90 per month extra in interest payments, on average, per mortgage.
Public Expenditure
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account his Department has taken in its development of policy of the finding of the National Audit Office that at least £31.8 billion has been wasted by Government Departments since 2009. [92731]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
Eliminating wasteful spending is a critical priority. The Efficiency and Reform Group was established to address this. The Cabinet Office reported last year that £3.75 billion was saved in 2010-11 in central Government. This has been verified by independent auditors, welcomed by the Public Accounts Committee and is confirmed by a National Audit Office report published today, which is the first time this has ever happened.
6 Feb 2012 : Column 101W
By comparison the figure of at least £31.8 billion arises from analysis conducted by The Times newspaper of over 70 National Audit Office reports, covering both ongoing expenditure, stopped projects and spend planned to take place over an unspecified period. Departments across Government are tackling waste outlined by The Times' analysis. The first 10 months of this Government included an £870 million, 70% reduction in spend on consultants; a reduction in spend on temporary labour of nearly £500 million; over £800 million saved by renegotiating supplier contracts; over £350 million saved by centralising procurement; and close to £150 million saved from Government's top projects, where a Major Projects Authority has been established to assure delivery of the largest 200 projects in Government.
Revenue and Customs: Inspections
Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with representatives of small businesses on the operation of HM Revenue and Custom's inspections regime. [93607]
Mr Gauke: Treasury Ministers and HM Treasury and HMRC officials have meetings with a wide variety of 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.
HMRC engages with a wide variety of business representative groups and professional bodies, and uses a well-established range of consultative fora to engage the SME community in particular. That dialogue covers a range of issues, including HMRC's compliance activities.
Stocks and Shares
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the names are of (a) overseas investors and (b) major private companies which own gilt holdings. [93384]
Miss Chloe Smith: Information on the identities of individual gilt owners is held confidentially by the private sector gilt registrar.
Aggregated data on gilt holdings by sector are published by the Office for National Statistics on a quarterly basis. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 January 2012, Official Report, column 834W, which provided the most recent data for holdings by overseas investors and private companies.
Students: Loans
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the additional (a) administration costs and (b) resource and accounting budget charges of providing students loans via the Student Loan Company will be when further education student loans are introduced. [93926]
Mr Hayes: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The model for administration of further education (FE) loans is being developed in partnership with the Student Loans Company (SLC) and the Skills Funding Agency. Where possible, we are seeking to build on existing systems and processes.
6 Feb 2012 : Column 102W
The resource and accounting budget charge for FE loans, based on available evidence, is 60%, assuming that 40% will be repaid. The charge has not been influenced by the SLC taking a role in the administration of FE loans.
All funding allocated to the SLC by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will be shown in SLC's annual grant letter or supplementary funding letters issued on behalf of the UK Government Administrations, and will be published on the SLC website.
Taxation: Environment Protection
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how his Department will assess the effect on (a) jobs and (b) investment in low carbon environmental goods of the recent change to the control framework for DECC levy-funded spending. [84105]
Miss Chloe Smith: The change to the feed-in-tariff (FiT) element of the levy control cap simply represents the way in which the renewables obligation (RO) and feed-in tariff policies were originally modelled by DECC. The revised numbers reflect a correction to this methodology and not a transfer of funds from the RO to FiTs. There is no expectation of any effect on jobs or investment in low carbon environmental goods.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of revenue from environmental taxes levied in the current financial year. [93126]
Miss Chloe Smith: Forecasts for tax revenues for 2011-12 were set out in Budget 2011. These figures will be updated at Budget 2012.
Taxation: Foreign Companies
Owen Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many NRL2 forms were submitted to HM Revenue and Customs in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date; [93801]
(2) how many NRL2 forms were rejected by HM Revenue and Customs in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date; [93802]
(3) for what reasons NRL2 forms were rejected by HM Revenue and Customs in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date; [93803]
(4) how many and what proportion of NRL2 forms submitted to HM Revenue and Customs were from companies with a UK declared owner in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date; [93804]
(5) how many and what proportion of companies that had NRL2 forms approved by HM Revenue and Customs had submitted tax returns in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date; [93805]
(6) what steps HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has taken against those companies that submitted NRL2 forms that were approved by HMRC but then did not submit tax returns in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date; [93806]
6 Feb 2012 : Column 103W
(7) how many and what proportion of companies that had NRL2 forms approved by HM Revenue and Customs paid corporation tax in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date; [93807]
(8) how many enquiries HM Revenue and Customs received on question 1 of the NRL2 form in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date; [93808]
(9) how many tenants were pursued by HM Revenue and Customs regarding eligibility for income without deduction of UK tax in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date; [93809]
(10) how many estate agents were pursued by HM Revenue and Customs regarding eligibility for income without deduction of UK tax in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12 to date; [93810]
(11) how many enquiries HM Revenue and Customs received regarding the capitalisation of foreign-owned property portfolios and the offset of interest from related party companies; [93811]
(12) whether HM Revenue and Customs maintains a register of companies who have had NRL2 forms approved; [93812]
(13) what assessment he has made of trends in the consent of NRL2 forms in the last 10 years. [93813]
Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) received 2,387 NRL2 forms in 2010-11 and to date has received over 2,000 in 2011-12. None of these have been rejected by HMRC; although the latest available figures show that 12% are returned with a request for further information, having been submitted incomplete. Once forms are processed they are risk assessed to determine whether further compliance activity is needed.
The number of these forms submitted by companies that have a UK declared owner or that have submitted a tax return could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. HMRC takes a risk-based approach to targeting companies that have not submitted tax returns that may be due.
None of these non-resident companies would be liable to UK corporation tax on their income from UK property; liability under the scheme is to income tax, both for corporate and non-corporate landlords. Non-resident companies may be liable to UK corporation tax if they are trading in the UK through a permanent establishment, but the number of such companies could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
HMRC does not keep specific records on how many inquiries it receives regarding question 1 on the NRL2 form, nor regarding the capitalisation of foreign-owned property portfolios and the offset of interest from related party companies.
Most rented properties that fall within the non-resident landlord scheme involve a letting or estate agent. Therefore HMRC normally engages with agents rather than tenants. As a result the number of cases which HMRC pursues directly with tenants is very low and in numbers which it is not possible to disclose precisely on confidentiality grounds. HMRC risk assesses letting and estate agents and then undertakes full audits in targeted cases. HMRC cannot provide detailed data on these audits as to do so may prejudice the collection or assessment of tax. Other compliance activity is also carried out on the scheme beyond audit activity.
6 Feb 2012 : Column 104W
HMRC maintains a database of companies that have had NRL2 forms approved. An analysis of trends in form approvals is only held for the last three years, and those data show no change in the trend over the period.
Valuation Office Agency: Business Rate Appeals
Simon Danczuk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the Valuation Office Agency included information on the success rate of business rate appeals in its annual report for 2009-10 but not in its 2010-11 annual report. [93057]
Mr Gauke: The non-mandatory content of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) annual report varies from year to year. The operational commentary in the agency's 2010-11 annual report was less than it had been in past years, in part due to the VOA's commitment to publish a wider range of more detailed information.
The VOA now produces a number of Official Statistics on their website:
www.voa.gov.uk
to provide detailed information on the work and performance of the agency.
Statistics on the number of formal rating list challenges received, outstanding and settled are currently produced on a quarterly basis at regional level, and have been published since May 2010. A breakdown by local (billing) authority area is published annually, with details for 2010-11 published in May 2011, and a similar breakdown on a quarterly basis is planned from April 2012.
VAT
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an assessment of the effect on (a) the economy as a whole and (b) levels of consumer spending of reducing the rate of value added tax to 17.5 per cent. [86010]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 12 December 2011]:Sustainable public finances will support the economy in the medium-term.
Decisive action taken by the Government in the spending review and June Budget, including the increase in VAT, will put the public finances and spending on a sustainable footing.
VAT: Energy Bills
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of increased VAT receipts arising from the increase in energy bills. [86087]
Mr Gauke: No direct estimate has been made. However, if expenditure on domestic fuel was funded by less spending on goods and services that attract the 20% standard rate of VAT, HMRC would receive less VAT revenue, since domestic fuel and power is taxed at the reduced rate of 5%.
In its 2011 November Economic and Fiscal Outlook the OBR assumes that higher utility prices will result in a lower share of expenditure which is subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20% in future years.
6 Feb 2012 : Column 105W
VAT: Fraud
Mr Offord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to ensure that HM Revenue and Customs action against VAT fraud does not penalise small and medium-sized enterprises. [93405]
Mr Gauke: The Government are committed to helping small and medium-sized businesses grow and prosper and HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) customer-centric business strategy supports the vast majority of businesses that try to get their tax affairs right. Using a risk-based approach to tackling VAT fraud ensures that the deliberate rule breakers are appropriately targeted which is important in creating a level playing field for honest businesses.
Work and Pensions
Attendance Allowance: Glasgow
Mr Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Glasgow South West constituency received attendance allowance in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11. [92728]
Maria Miller: The information is contained in the following table.
| Attendance allowance recipients in Glasgow South West parliamentary constituency, as at the dates shown | |
| As at May each year | Number |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended for example if they are in hospital. 3. These figures are published on the Departments Tabulation Tool at: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/aa/tabtool_aa.html Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data | |
Carer's Allowance: Glasgow
Mr Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Glasgow South West constituency received carer's allowance in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11. [92727]
Maria Miller: The answer is set out in the following table.
| Recipients of carer's allowance in Glasgow South West parliamentary constituency as at the dates shown | |
| As at May each year | Total |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended. 3. These figures are published on the Departments Tabulation Tool at: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/aa/tabtool_aa.html Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data | |
6 Feb 2012 : Column 106W
Child Maintenance
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) mean and (b) maximum length of time was between a parent no longer being liable to make child maintenance payments and those payments no longer being deducted from the parent's salary in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [93619]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner. As the Child Maintenance Commissioner is currently away I am responding on his behalf.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) mean and (b) maximum length of time was between a parent no longer being liable to make child maintenance payments and those payments no longer being deducted from the parent's salary in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [93619]
Unfortunately information is not readily available on the number of cases where a Deduction from Earnings Order is in place where maintenance continued to be deducted from the earnings of a non-resident parent, even though the maintenance liability had been settled. The requested information could be provided only at costs that exceed the disproportionate cost limit of £800 for parliamentary questions.
I am sorry I could not be more helpful on this occasion.
Departmental Manpower
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11. [91898]
Chris Grayling: A total of 12 jobs were transferred from DWP, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies to the private sector in 2010-11. The transfers were from Remploy. The 12 employees worked in Remploy's CCTV Function and transferred out to the private sector employer under TUPE when the work transferred.
In addition some aspects of the support given to claimants of jobseeker’s allowance have been reformed and certain work that was previously carried out in-house has moved to private providers under the Work programme. Staff previously involved in this area of work were re-deployed to other frontline roles.
Departmental Travel Costs
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has agreed any contracts with (a) private hire vehicle and (b) taxi companies since May 2010. [92828]
Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions entered into a contract with Addison Lee plc on 1 May 2010 for a period of two years for the provision of a taxi sourcing, booking, delivery and management service.
6 Feb 2012 : Column 107W
The contract is for the provision of vehicles for the transportation of staff for business purposes only for journeys originating within the M25 (and extending out to local airports).
Prior to May 2010 there was no contract in place for taxi provision; vehicles were either provided ad-hoc via local arrangements or via the Government Car and Dispatch Agency (GCDA).
The total taxi and GCDA spend for the period May 2010 to April 2011 was £1.77 million compared to expenditure of £2.77 million for the comparable period from May 2009, ie a 36% reduction. The expenditure for May to December 2011 was £0.97 million, a further in year reduction of 18%.
Work Experience
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what work experience or traineeship schemes his Department offers to minority groups. [92753]
Chris Grayling: My Department offers internships to graduates and undergraduates through the Summer Diversity Internship Programme (SDIP). The programme is aimed at black and minority ethnic university students and those from lower socio-economic groups and seeks to provide talented candidates with six to nine week training placements in Government Departments. My Department offered eight internships across the Department in 2011.
My Department also participates in the two week Civil Service Whitehall Internship Programme which was announced through the Social Mobility Strategy in April 2011. This programme provides Year 12 College level students with an opportunity to undertake a two week work experience placement in a Government Department. The programme is designed to increase professional experience and workplace skills and is aimed at students from under-represented backgrounds. My Department offered seven internships on this programme for 2012.
Of the 109 apprentices who joined my Department this year, 69 preferred not to classify their ethnic background. Of the 40 who declared their ethnic background, eight classified themselves as non-white.
Of the 752 people who have applied for Work Experience placements in my Department and who have answered the ethnic background question, 232 are from minority ethnic backgrounds. As forms for Work Experience are completed by all applicants anonymously on a voluntary basis, it has not been possible to extract information on Work Experience starts only. The forms are extracted on receipt and collated separately for equal opportunity information on all applicants regardless of whether they have started, withdrawn or are waiting to start.
Disability Living Allowance
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of claimants of disability living allowance who have applied for employment and support allowance have been (a) refused the benefit, (b) placed in the work-related activity group and (c) placed in the support group. [93423]
6 Feb 2012 : Column 108W
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of people in the support group of employment and support allowance are also in receipt of disability living allowance. [93424]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is given in the following table:
| Employment and support allowance (ESA) by phase of claim and those also in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA)—May 2011 | |||||
| Phase of ESA claim | |||||
| Total | Unknown | Assessment phase | Support group | Work related activity | |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10; some additional disclosure control has also been applied. Percentages are shown to the nearest decimal place. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Employment and support allowance replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008. 3. Phase/stage of ESA claim is only available from February 2010 onwards. The phase is derived from payment details held on the source system. Where the claimant is not in receipt of any benefit payment then the stage of benefit is shown as unknown. 4. DLA caseloads show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. | |||||
Employment Agencies
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2012, Official Report, column 594W, on employment agencies, how much of the £2,793,948.00 spent on recruitment agencies was spent on agency (a) fees and (b) staff. [92596]
Chris Grayling: It is not possible to provide the information requested because it would prejudice the commercial interests of both the Department and our suppliers. Withholding the information protects the ability of the Department to obtain services on the best possible commercial terms and the legitimate commercial interests of our suppliers.
Employment Schemes
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has provided briefings to journalists on data relating to the Mandatory Work Activity Scheme prior to its official publication in the last three months. [92815]
Chris Grayling: Official Statistics on Mandatory Work Activity are scheduled for publication from February 2012. It is the Department's policy not to release official statistics ahead of their pre-announced release time.
6 Feb 2012 : Column 109W
Employment: Young People
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the Youth Contract on overall levels of employment. [93198]
Chris Grayling: The Youth Contract will provide nearly half-a-million new opportunities for young people, including job subsidies, apprenticeships and work experience placements.
Job subsidy programmes have an impact on the labour market; for example, OECD research from 2005 found that private sector subsidised employment programmes frequently have a positive impact on employment(1). However, the full impact of this package of measures on the level of employment will depend on decisions on the detail of provision which are not yet finalised. The Department is currently developing an evaluation strategy for the Youth Contract.
(1) OECD (2005), “Labour Market Programmes and Activation Strategies: Evaluating the Impacts”, OECD Employment Outlook, p. 173-208.
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Work programme providers that place young people in jobs through the Youth Contract will receive a payment in addition to the wage incentive paid to the employer. [93199]
Chris Grayling: The contractual arrangements for Work programme providers contain payments for securing job outcomes. The payment of wage incentives to employers as part of the Youth Contract will not be accompanied by any payments to Work programme providers in addition to any payments they are due under the terms of their contract.
Housing Benefit
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much each London borough has spent on transition payments to assist private sector tenants whose rent is above the maximum housing benefit allowable for their accommodation; and if he will make a statement. [93247]
Steve Webb: As a Department we have made available extra funding to private sector tenants through discretionary housing payments (DHPs). These are payments that provide claimants with further financial assistance when a local authority (LA) considers that help with housing costs is needed.
To ease the transition to the reformed local housing allowance scheme the Government have increased their contribution to DHPs by £130 million over the spending review period.
For the current financial year 2011-12 the Department has made available £8,181,054 across the London authorities, which is an increase of over 80% compared to 2010-11, to contribute towards discretionary housing payments. In 2012-13, the Government contribution across the London authorities will rise to £20,298,344.
6 Feb 2012 : Column 110W
Notes:
DWP has made available £30 million in 2011-12 towards discretionary housing payments (DHPs), an increase of £10 million from previous years. In 2012-13 the Government are making available £60 million.
Local authorities can spend a total of 2.5 times their allocated Government contribution on DHPs.
The following table shows the Government contribution towards DHPs for each London authority in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
| £ | |||
| Government contribution | |||
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much housing benefit by (a) value and (b) percentage was paid to tenants in (i) social housing, (ii) private landlords and (iii) other forms of tenure in each of the last five years. [93316]
Steve Webb: The information is provided in the following tables.
6 Feb 2012 : Column 111W
| Table 1: Total housing benefit expenditure by tenure type, 2006-07 to 2010-11 | |||||
| £ million | |||||
| Tenure type | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
| Table 2: Percentage of total housing benefit expenditure spent on each tenure type, 2006-07 to 2010-11 | |||||
| Tenure type | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
| Note: In this response, 'other forms of tenure' covers households living in temporary accommodation. 'Social Housing' covers both Registered Social Landlords (RSL) and local authority (LA) properties. | |||||
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what has been the (a) actual and (b) percentage change in the number of households in receipt of local housing allowance (i) in total and (ii) from claimants in work in each local authority area since April 2011. [93959]
Steve Webb: A breakdown by each local authority of the figures requested has been placed in the House of Commons Library. Figures for claimants in work are only available for recipients who are not also on a passported benefit.
Passported benefits are income support, jobseekers allowance (income-based), employment and support allowance (income-based), or pension credit (guaranteed credit).
Non-passported recipients represent around one third of all housing benefit recipients.
Independent Living Fund
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what responses from users his Department received on its consultation on the Independent Living Fund. [93127]
Maria Miller:
As announced in my written statement on 5 December 2011, Official
Report, column 8WS, the consultation on the future of the Independent Living Fund should be placed in the wider context of the reform of the wider care and support system, and will therefore take place in spring 2012, alongside the publication of the planned White Paper on the future of the care and support system in England. The consultation will allow users the opportunity to set out their thoughts on how their care and support needs should be supported in the future.
6 Feb 2012 : Column 112W
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how he used the criteria of sustainability when making his decision to abolish the Independent Living Fund. [93128]
Maria Miller: The Government have not abolished the Independent Living Fund. On 13 December 2010, Official Report, column 85WS, I announced that the fund would remain permanently closed to new users, that existing users would be supported until the end of this parliament, and that we would consult on how they would be supported beyond 2015. That decision was based on an assessment that it was no longer sustainable financially or in terms of equity to administer an increasing amount of social care funding through a cash-limited discretionary trust, and that the care and support of disabled people is met equitably as part of local authorities' broader statutory responsibility, independent living strategies and in line with local priorities and accountability.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who received funding from the Independent Living Fund pay (a) income tax and (b) national insurance contributions; what the monetary value was to the Exchequer of receipts in each such case; and what proportion such receipts were of the total value of the Independent Living Fund in the latest period for which figures are available. [93129]
Maria Miller: Neither the Independent Living Fund nor the Department for Work and Pensions has access to income tax or national insurance contribution records for any of the users of the fund.
Industrial Health and Safety
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Health and Safety Executive is required to conduct an investigation into a workplace incident within a set period of time. [93416]
Chris Grayling: HSE is not required to conduct an investigation into a workplace incident within a set period of time. HSE aims to progress investigations as quickly as possible, and has management arrangements, policies and procedures to ensure that an investigation is thorough, all reasonable lines of inquiry are pursued, and is conducted efficiently and effectively.
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Health and Safety Executive will publish its report into its investigation of the incident at the PHS Waste Management site in Burscough. [93417]
Chris Grayling: HSE does not routinely publish its investigation reports. Information about the HSE investigation will be available on request once any criminal proceedings have been concluded.
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the timetable has been of the Health and Safety Executive's investigation of the incident at the PHS Waste Management site in Burscough since the beginning of the investigation. [93418]
6 Feb 2012 : Column 113W
Chris Grayling: HSE's initial inquiries commenced within hours of HSE being notified of the incident. HSE inspectors were on site to commence the investigation the following day. HSE managers have kept the investigation under regular review in line with HSE's investigation procedures to ensure that it was actively pursued to completion. The HSE investigation is now complete, and a decision whether to pursue criminal proceedings for breaches of health and safety law will be made within weeks.
Industrial Health and Safety: Asthma
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has of the number of workplace inspections conducted by the Health and Safety Executive in each of the last 10 years concerned with the risk of occupational asthma due to exposure to flour dust. [93587]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to reply to the letter of 8 December 2011 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Sir Gerald Kaufman) with regard to Esther Chilam. [92803]
Chris Grayling: Following a thorough search of the Department's correspondence system, we are unable to locate this letter.
Occupational Pensions
David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will amend the qualifying criteria for pension schemes eligible for auto-enrolment to include (a) a cap on the level of charges that may be levied and (b) a requirement for schemes to be signatories to the UK Stewardship Code. [92551]
Steve Webb:
We do not see a need to amend the qualifying criteria in the Pensions Act 2008 to set a charge cap or include additional requirements to meet the UK Stewardship Code. The Government have already set clear guidance about the standards we expect all schemes used for automatic enrolment to meet. This guidance will help deliver good outcomes for members
6 Feb 2012 : Column 114W
by stipulating how each scheme's default fund (i.e. the investment fund individuals will be enrolled into if they make no active choice) should be managed.
On charges, initial evidence ahead of the roll-out of auto enrolment suggests that the creation of NEST with its relatively low charges, together with competition in the market, is pushing administration fees down. For example, we have seen pension providers offering products for automatic enrolment with lower than average charges. So we do not see that there is a need for a cap at the moment.
If we see charges going up, however, the Government will consider using reserve powers to set a cap on administration fees in automatic enrolment schemes.
Pensions
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has assessed the ruling of the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals for the Southern District of New York of 19 September 2011 on Aguinda v. Chevron; and whether he has any plans to introduce a fiduciary duty on pension fund trustees to consider social and environmental matters. [91851]
Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 17 October 2011, Official Report, columns 643-44W.
Personal Independence Payment
Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has determined the location for the work relating to administration of the personal independence payment. [93209]
Maria Miller: We are currently working to establish the details of how and where the personal independence payment will be delivered.
Social Fund
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England and Wales took out loans using the social fund in each year for which figures are available. [93903]
Steve Webb: Information relating specifically to Barnsley Central and South Yorkshire cannot be provided. Information relating to Yorkshire and Humberside, England and Wales is provided in the following table:
| Table 1: Number of crisis and budgeting loans by area in the past three years | ||||||
| Crisis loans | Budgeting loans | |||||
| 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | |
| Notes: 1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, it does not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System. 2. Figures are for applications received, not for the number of people who made an application, and for initial awards made, not the number of people who received an initial award. (Some people made more than one application or received more than one initial award.) | ||||||
6 Feb 2012 : Column 115W
6 Feb 2012 : Column 116W
| 3. If an applicant receives an initial award and this award is increased on first review in the same month as the initial award was made, then the Policy, Budget and Management Information System (PBMIS) does not count the initial award and the review award separately, but counts one award on the one application. However, if a first review award is made in a later month than the initial award, then PBMIS counts two awards on the one application. Similarly, if an initial or first review award is increased by the Independent Review Service, then all awards made in the same month on one application, count as one award. However, if an initial award or any review award(s) on one application are made in different months, then PBMIS will count one award for each month in which an initial or review award was made. Because of this counting method, only the numbers of initial awards have been given. |
Social Fund: Liverpool
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent from the social fund in Liverpool in 2011. [92567]
Steve Webb: The social fund budget area that covers Liverpool is Greater Liverpool and Cheshire. Expenditure from the Greater Liverpool and Cheshire budget for each of the component parts of the discretionary and regulated social fund for 2011 is shown in the following table. The figures give the total expenditure for January to December 2011.
| Expenditure (£) | |
| Source: Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System (for total number of awards for the Greater Liverpool and Cheshire Social Fund Budget Area). | |
The four Liverpool parliamentary constituencies (Liverpool Riverside, Liverpool Walton, Liverpool Wavertree and Liverpool West Derby) are covered by the Crosby weather station. The estimated expenditure on cold weather payments in 2011 for the benefit units covered by the Crosby weather station is given in the following table. There were no triggers in 2011 for this weather station.
| Expenditure (£) | |
| Notes: 1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using official/national statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as official/national statistics and there are some issues with the data; for example, these amounts do not include expenditure on applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the social fund computer system. 2. Cold weather payments are made to benefit units rather than to households or individuals. A benefit unit can be a single person or a couple and can include children. 3. The weather stations listed also cover an area that is not part of the Liverpool Riverside, Liverpool Walton, Liverpool Wavertree and Liverpool West Derby parliamentary constituencies. 4. The estimated number of benefit units which have received cold weather payments relates to the entire area that the weather station covers, not just to that in the listed parliamentary constituencies. 5. Expenditure has been rounded to the nearest £100. Source: Department for Work and Pensions records of the triggers to weather stations up to 31 December 2011 and estimated numbers of potential qualifiers by weather station. | |
Social Security Benefits
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of claims affected by the benefit cap he expects to have had a duration prior to introduction of the cap of (a) less than six months, (b) six months to one year, (c) one year to two years, (d) two years to five years and (e) five years or more. [93430]
Chris Grayling: On 23 January 2012 the Department published an updated impact assessment for the household benefit cap, which estimated that in Great Britain 67,000 households would be affected by the cap, in the first year of its implementation (the financial year 2013-14). Following the concessions won in the House of Commons on 1 February, these figures are of course subject to change ahead of the Welfare Reform Bill gaining Royal Assent.
On the basis of the impact assessment, the following table shows the proportion of households affected by the cap estimated to have been receiving benefits (a) less than six months, (b) six months to one year, (c) one year to two years, (d) two years to five years and (e) five years or more.
| Length of time | Proportion of households capped (%) |
Estimates are based on a scan of administrative records held by the Department for Work and Pensions on benefit recipients in February 2011.
Our estimates of the number of households that might be affected by the cap do not take account of any change in household behaviour. We will use the time before the benefit cap takes effect to work with those affected. This will include support from Jobcentre Plus and the Work programme, starting from April this year. We will provide additional discretionary housing funding for local authorities of up to £80 million in 2013-14, and a further £50 million in 2014-15, to help hard cases.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of households which received benefits above the benefit cap in each local authority area; and how many such households he estimates have benefit entitlements of (a) less than £50 above the benefit cap, (b) less than £100 above the benefit cap and (c) more than £100 above the benefit cap in each local authority area. [93739]
6 Feb 2012 : Column 117W
Chris Grayling: On 23 January 2012 the Department published an updated impact assessment for the household benefit cap, which estimated that in Great Britain 67,000 households would be affected by the cap, in the first year of its implementation (the financial year 2013-14). Following the concessions won in the House of Commons on 1 February, these figures are of course subject to change ahead of the Welfare Reform Bill gaining Royal Assent.
On the basis of the impact assessment, the table, which has been placed in the Library, shows the number of households who receive above the benefit cap that are expected to be affected by the benefit cap in 2013-14 and have entitlements of (a) between £0 to £100 above the benefit cap and (b) more than £100 above the benefit cap in each local authority area.
The impact assessment assumes that the situation of these households will go unchanged, and they will not take any steps to either work enough hours to qualify for working tax credit, renegotiate their rent in situ, or find alternative accommodation. In fact, in all cases the Department is working to support households through this transition, using existing provision through Jobcentre Plus and the Work Programme to move as many into work as possible.
The table numbers are rounded to the nearest 100.
Areas with fewer than 100 households affected are denoted by "..", as additional disclosure control has been applied to these areas. For this reason, figures will not sum to the total number of households affected in the January 2012 impact assessment for the household benefit cap.
Social Security Benefits: Foreign Workers
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many migrants to the UK who claimed working age benefits were (a) aged between 16 and 24 years old and (b) from the Commonwealth in the latest period for which figures are available. [92229]
Chris Grayling: The information is as follows:
(a) The number of DWP working age benefit claimants who were non-UK nationals at the point of registration for a national insurance number between 16 and 24-years-old, as at February 2011 was 18,560.
(b) The numbers of DWP working age benefit claimants who from the Commonwealth, as at February 2011, are given in the following table.
| Total | |
| Notes: 1. These statistics do not provide a measure of non-UK nationals currently claiming benefits based on their current nationality. The statistics do provide an estimate of the number of people currently claiming benefit who, when they first registered for a NINo (that is, first entered the labour market), were non-UK nationals. 2. There are a small proportion of claimants where the nationality is unknown (non- UK), these are included in the total only. 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. | |
6 Feb 2012 : Column 118W
| 4. Age group 16 to 24 includes 16-year-olds and 24-year-olds. 5. Old Commonwealth: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa. New Commonwealth:. Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldive Islands, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Western, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia. Source: DWP: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study and HMRC National Insurance and Pay as you Earn System (NPS). |
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many legal migrants are claiming working age benefits after living in the UK for (a) less than (i) one year, (ii) two years, (iii) five years and (iv) 10 years and (b) more than 10 years. [92377]
Chris Grayling: DWP has recently published statistics on the nationality of benefit claimants at the point of their registration for a national insurance number. These indicate that, at February 2011, 371,000 (6.4%) of DWP working age benefits claimants were non-UK nationals when they registered for their national insurance number. Information on those who have been living in the UK for a set duration before claiming working age benefits is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Further information can be found in the full statistics release ‘Nationality at point of National Insurance number registration of DWP benefit claimants’ at:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2012/jan-2012/dwp005-12.shtml
Social Security Benefits: Mental Illness
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of claimants called in for work availability interviews were diagnosed with a mental illness in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [93246]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not routinely collected and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices: Autism
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of apprenticeships were undertaken by people with (a) autism and (b) disabilities in (i) the most recent period for which figures are available, (ii) 2010, (iii) 2009 and (iv) 2005. [91914]
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of apprenticeships are being undertaken by people with (a) autism and (b) other disabilities; and how this figure has changed over the last (i) year, (ii) two years and (iii) five years. [92553]
6 Feb 2012 : Column 119W
Mr Hayes: I have made data available in the Libraries of the House showing the number of apprenticeship programme starts by learning difficulty and/or disability for 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 equality and diversity characteristics are available in Supplementary Tables to the SFR:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_supplementary_tables/Apprenticeship_sfr_supplementary_tables/
Business: Disclosure of Information
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) whether his Department supports the European proposal for extractives companies to disclose financial information on a project-by-project basis; and whether it has a preferred definition of “project” for the purpose of this legislation; [93454]
(2) whether his Department supports the European proposals for greater transparency in the extractives sector; and what its policy is on (a) possible country-based exemptions from the proposed legislation and (b) a level of materiality that would be appropriate for the purpose of this legislation. [93455]
Norman Lamb: The Government made clear their support for EU action to improve transparency and reporting in the extractive industries in the Chancellor's statement following the G20 Finance Ministers' meeting in February 2011, and in the speech of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in Lagos in July 2011.
We are considering the EU's proposals and the views of business and other interested groups on them.
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the European Commission proposal that extractive companies should disclose financial information on a project-by-project basis; and if he will make a statement. [93793]
Norman Lamb: We are considering the EU's proposals to improve transparency and reporting in the extractive industries and the views of business and other interested groups on them.
Business: Equipment
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the levels of spare capacity in businesses; and what assessment he has made of the effect of such spare capacity on levels of planned investment in plant and machinery in the next 12 months. [93910]
6 Feb 2012 : Column 120W
Mr Prisk: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not make a formal assessment of the level of spare capacity and planned investment in plant and machinery among businesses, as this is the role of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility. However, when forming policy, including around investment, the Department takes into account a range of views, including those of the OBR, Bank of England, leading academics and private forecasters.
Copyright
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress he has made in implementing the recommendation of the Hargreaves Review to place a statutory obligation on the Intellectual Property Office to use the intellectual property system to promote innovation and growth. [93748]
Norman Lamb: The Government have stated that they will explore options for a future role for the Intellectual Property Office that involves a strengthened focus on innovation and growth, a greater emphasis on publicly available evidence, and an enhanced ability to promote competitive markets while retaining ministerial oversight of intellectual property policy. The Government are currently considering these options, with a view to publishing proposals shortly.
Departmental Manpower
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11. [91899]
Norman Lamb: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has not transferred any jobs to the private sector in 2010/11. I have asked chief executives of the Executive agencies to respond directly to the right hon. Member. This information is not held by BIS in respect of non-departmental public bodies.
Letter from John Alty, dated 27 January 2012:
I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 23 January 2012, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
This is a nil return from the IPO.
Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 27 January 2012:
The Minister of State. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.
The Insolvency Service has not transferred any jobs to the private sector in 2010-11.
Thank you for your question addressed to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills regarding how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11. (91899)
The UK Space Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has not transferred any jobs into the private sector during 2010-11.
6 Feb 2012 : Column 121W
Letter from David Evans, dated 26 January 2012:
I write in response to the Parliamentary Question which you tabled on 23 January 2012.
Land Registry is an Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. I can confirm that during 2010-11, one post was transferred from our organisation to the private sector.
Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 25 January 2012:
I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 23 January 2012, UTN 91899 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Companies House did not transfer any jobs to the private sector in 2010-11.
Letter from Vanessa Lawrence, dated 30 January 2012:
As Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, I have been asked to contact you in response to your parliamentary question asking how many jobs in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and its agencies and non-departmental bodies for which BIS are responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.
Ordnance Survey constantly reviews its operations in order to ensure it is delivering best value for money for the taxpayer. This includes considering outsourcing operations to the private sector where doing so would deliver clear benefits. In 2010-11 53 jobs were transferred to the private sector.
Letter from John Hirst, dated 25 January 2012:
I am replying on behalf of the Met Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 23 January 2012, UIN91899 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
During 2010-11, no jobs transferred from the Met Office to the private sector.
I hope this helps.
Letter from Peter Mason, dated 26 January 2012:
I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 23 January 2012, asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many jobs were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11.
NMO did not transfer any jobs to the private sector in 2010-11.
Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 6 February 2012:
Thank you for your question addressed to ask the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, asking how many jobs in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible were transferred to the private sector in 2010-11. (91899)
Please be advised that for the years 2010 and 2011 there were no transfers from the Skills Funding Agency (or its predecessor body the Learning and Skills Council) to the private sector.
Economic and Social Science Research Council: Finance
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much he spent on funding the Economic and Social Science Research Council (ESRC) in the last year for which figures are available; what consideration he has given to the effect of the operation of the ESRC on the UK database industry; and if he will make a statement. [93617]
Mr Willetts: The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) received £186.2 million total funding for the financial year 2011-12.
ESRC investment in, and development of, national social science research provides data for social scientists, policymakers and practitioners, helping to shape and inform Government policy and business decisions for the benefit of the economy and society of the UK.
6 Feb 2012 : Column 122W
ESRC has not funded research in the UK database industry although it does have interest in software development that supports data access and usability for social science research purposes.
ESRC works with partners on the UK Data Forum to determine strategic priorities for the development of data resources within the social sciences and other areas of scientific inquiry. For example, the Economic and Social Data Service:
http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/tools-and-resources/research-resources/data-services/esds.aspx
provides economic and social data to users inside and outside of the academic community.
Economic Growth
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what supply-side reforms his Department has considered; and what assessment he has made of the potential effect of each measure on (a) economic growth and (b) productivity improvement. [93160]
Mr Prisk: A wide range of supply-side reforms have and continue to be considered as part of the Government's wide reaching Growth Review programme. This aims to support enterprise and lay the foundations for a stronger and more balanced economy. A package of 137 supply-side measures was set out in ‘The Plan for Growth’, published at Budget 2011. In addition the Autumn Statement, 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, set out an additional package of over 140 supply-side measures, including supporting around £30 billion of new capital investment. In addition the Government are reforming public services—e.g. in education—which may deliver productivity or growth benefits.
In developing the Growth Review measures, we assessed the existing evidence base in relation to potential impacts including productivity and growth, as well as commissioning new research where limited evidence was available. A report on progress implementing the first set of Growth Review measures was set out alongside the Autumn Statement in November 2011. We have put in place a programme of work to monitor and evaluate the outcomes and impacts over the long-term.
Exports: Electronic Surveillance
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has considered extending export controls for the purposes of preventing the export of all surveillance equipment to repressive regimes; and if he will make a statement. [93244]
Mr Prisk: The European Union has published an implementing Regulation (Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012) which imposes new controls on the export of surveillance technology to Syria, and which came into force on 19 January 2012.
The Government support the application of a similar approach towards Iran and will pursue this with EU colleagues, and we are also currently exploring how this issue may be addressed more broadly with our international partners.