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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 9 February 2012
Leader of the House
Backbench Debates
Mr Bone: To ask the Leader of the House if he will bring in a fixed day each week for backbench business for the remainder of this Session. [94524]
Parliamentary Scrutiny
Simon Hughes: To ask the Leader of the House what plans he has for pre-legislative scrutiny of bills in the second Session of the current Parliament. [94324]
Sir George Young: The Government have published nine draft measures this Session and are committed to publishing more measures in draft in the next Session for pre-legislative scrutiny.
Scotland
Olympic Games 2012
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many invitations to attend events at the London 2012 Olympics (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) senior officials in his Department have accepted; and if he will make a statement. [93634]
David Mundell: Details of hospitality received by Ministers and special advisers and the most senior officials are published on a quarterly basis and will be available for July to September 2012 in due course.
Northern Ireland
Recruitment
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on (a) recruitment services and (b) executive search agencies in each month since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [93558]
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Mr Paterson: My Department has not spent any money on recruitment services or executive search agencies since May 2010. When agency staff are engaged, the Department is charged an hourly rate for such staff and they are paid via their agency. The agency may include a fee element in the hourly rate it levies.
Voluntary Organisations
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contribution his Department is making to implementation of the Compact with the voluntary sector; and if he will make a statement. [92280]
Mr Swire: Responsibility for the voluntary sector in Northern Ireland is a devolved matter and the Northern Ireland Executive have their own arrangements in place.
Defence
Armed Forces: Meals
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost of each meal provided to armed forces personnel was when stationed (a) in the UK, (b) in Germany and (c) overseas in an operational theatre in the latest period for which figures are available. [93390]
Peter Luff: At any one time some 70% of armed forces personnel in the UK and permanent bases overseas are catered for through a number of Catering, Retail and Leisure and other multi-activity contracts (incorporating Pay As You Dine arrangements) to deliver this and other services. Contractors are required to offer a core meal, covering breakfast, lunch and dinner, with set calorific and nutritional standards, in line with the prevailing daily food charge, which is currently capped by the Armed Forces Pay Review body at a maximum of £4.25 per day in UK and €4.85 per day in Germany. Service personnel can, however, choose an alternative retail offering if they prefer. Those serving in the UK at sites not covered by these arrangements are charged the standard daily food charge of £4.25 per day.
Armed forces personnel serving on operations and exercises are not charged for the food provided to them.
Deloitte
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts his Department has awarded to Deloitte since May 2010; and what the (a) net and (b) individual monetary value was of each such contract. [92441]
Peter Luff [holding answer 30 January 2012]:Since May 2010, MOD has awarded the following 16 contracts with Deloitte or associated companies:
| Contract title | Current contract value | Current contract value (banded) | Contract start date |
|
Technical support to assist with the implementation of the LE OC portfolio governance arrangements |
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The total value of these contracts is £7,239,042.
Ministeral Travel Costs
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 January 2012, Official Report, column 31WS, on cost of ministerial cars, whether his Department has any other arrangements for ministerial travel; and how much his Department has spent on (a) private hire vehicles and (b) taxis for each Minister since May 2010. [92843]
Mr Robathan: Road transport for the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), is normally provided by the Metropolitan police. The junior Defence Ministers have, in accordance with the Ministerial Code published on 21 May 2010, given up their cars with a dedicated driver to reduce costs and now share a central Ministry of Defence (MOD) car pool with senior military officers and officials working in the MOD Main Building.
The total cost of ministerial cars is as follows:
| Financial year | Car cost (£) |
| (1 )This includes £106,342.80 for ministerial car services provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency as set out in the written ministerial statement of 16 January 2012, Official Report, column 31WS. (2) This includes £39,419 for ministerial car services provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency as set out in the written ministerial statement of 16 January 2012, Official Report, column 31WS. | |
Expenditure by Defence Ministers on taxi fares and private hire vehicles totalled £316 between May 2010 and the end of December 2011.
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Ex-servicemen: Health Services
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2012, Official Report, column 728W, on ex-servicemen: health services, how many patients referred to the Medical Assessment Programme suffering from (a) physical and (b) mental health disorders were subsequently directed back to the NHS in each of the last five years; [92170]
(2) what information and guidance he has provided to relevant (a) interest groups and (b) organisations on any changes in Medical Assessment Programme provision to patients presenting with physical health issues; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of information or guidance; [92172]
(3) how many patients were referred to the Medical Assessment Programme who had (a) physical and (b) mental disorders in each of the last five years. [92270]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 30 January 2012]: Changes in the service provided by the Medical Assessment Programme have been notified on the Ministry of Defence (MOD), Veterans-UK, and NHS websites. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 December 2011, Official Report, column 962W, in which I explained that copies of the Ministry of Defence web pages have been placed in the Library of the House. The MOD has received one inquiry relating to changes to the programme from the Royal British Legion in December 2011, and I have placed a copy of our response in the Library of the House.
The numbers of referrals for purely physical health problems over the last five years have been very low, but in such cases, referrals would be redirected through their general practitioner for treatment by the national health service (NHS), which has primary responsibility for health care provision to veterans. No records have been kept of the number of these cases in each of the last five years.
The number of client referrals for mental health assessments during the same period has been stable at around 100 referrals each year; in these cases the details of the assessment and recommendations on treatment, if required, would be provided to the relevant NHS body.
Anglo-French Co-operation
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether funding for the Hydrus project has been reallocated to the Teutates programme; [93881]
(2) what the cost to the public purse is of the Teutates programme. [93882]
Peter Luff: The Teutates programme is planned to deliver the hydrodynamics capability previously planned to be delivered through the Hydrus programme. Expenditure on Hydrus has therefore stopped; funding originally allocated for Hydrus has not, however, been reallocated to Teutates. The Teutates programme will seek the funding it requires separately, in accordance with established Ministry of Defence processes.
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I am withholding cost information for the Teutates programme as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests and impact on the formulation or development of Government policy.
India: European Fighter Aircraft
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with UK Trade & Investment on the decision of the Indian Government not to buy the Eurofighter. [94072]
Peter Luff [holding answer 7 February 2012]: We are obviously disappointed that the decision has been made by the Indian Government not to take forward Typhoon into the detailed negotiation stage of the Indian Medium Role Combat Aircraft competition.
The campaign to export Typhoon to India being led by Germany on behalf of the Partner Nations is receiving significant UK support.
There have been regular cross-Whitehall discussions throughout the campaign and MOD and UKTI remain in close touch on exports of Eurofighter Typhoon, including the campaign in India.
Ministerial colleagues and I will continue to provide support to all Typhoon export campaigns as part of an active and innovative defence diplomacy initiative.
Radar: Wind Power
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent to change, alter, update or modify radar systems as a result of the presence or likely presence of UK on-shore wind farms; and if he will make a statement. [93602]
Peter Luff [holding answer 9 February 2012]: The Ministry of Defence has not committed expenditure to change, alter, update or modify radar systems as a result of the presence, or likely presence, of UK on-shore wind farms. However, to overcome the interference to existing Ministry of Defence radars caused by wind farms, wind farm developers have agreed to fund the cost of three new wind farm tolerant radars.
Radioactive Waste: Dalgety Bay
Mr Gordon Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether his Department detected and removed any of the radiation-related sources in Dalgety Bay in January 2012; [94445]
(2) what discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) on its January 2012 survey of Dalgety Bay, and the additional radiation-related sources, which SEPA has removed for analysis. [94446]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence detected and recovered a number of radioactive sources from Dalgety Bay in January 2012.
The Ministry of Defence has held no formal discussions with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) regarding their survey.
However, I met Professor James Curran, chief executive of SEPA, in Rosyth on 31 January to discuss Dalgety Bay.
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Church Commissioners
Metal Theft
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what the cost was of metal theft from Church of England property in (a) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, (b) the Tees Valley and (c) the Diocese of York in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011. [94536]
Tony Baldry: The three Dioceses covering the areas specified in the question are Durham, Newcastle and York. The following figures have been obtained from Ecclesiastical Insurance which insures the majority of Churches in the country. They show the increase in claims for metal stolen from the church buildings for 2011 compared with 2010.
| £000 | ||
| 2010 | 2011 | |
The figures above do not include the cost to parishes in administrative support or the continued erosion of our national heritage.
Communities and Local Government
Work Experience
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what work experience or traineeship schemes his Department offers to minority groups. [92757]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government participates in a summer diversity internship programme organised by the Cabinet Office, which offers work experience to graduates or undergraduates from minority groups.
The Department also participates in the University of Greenwich summer internship programme. This scheme does not target any specific group.
House of Commons Commission
BBC
Diana Johnson: To ask the hon. Member for Aberdeen North, representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans the House of Commons Commission has to improve access to live BBC and other local radio and regional television services in the offices of hon. Members and their staff on the Parliamentary Estate. [94322]
Mr Doran: It is already possible to view the regional television news content and services that broadcasters make available on their websites, via the internet. The annunciator screens carry national and international television news, but the number of channels that can be provided through this system is limited. The current allocation was made on the recommendation of the Administration Committee.
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Work is being undertaken at present on the capacity of the annunciator system and the services which could be provided in the future. The hon. Member might find it helpful to speak directly to the Director General of Facilities on these detailed matters.
Cromwell Green Entrance
Jim Dowd: To ask the hon. Member for Aberdeen North, representing the House of Commons Commission, what plans there are to provide a covering over any part of the ramp that leads to the Cromwell Green visitors' entrance. [93890]
Mr Doran: The possibility of partly or entirely covering the ramp was considered as part of the original design of the visitor entrance. But Westminster city council planning officers and English Heritage provided firm advice that any obscuring of the west elevation of Westminster Hall or the statue of Oliver Cromwell would result in rejection of the planning application, and so covering the ramp was not included in the application. The Director General of Facilities rejected a business case proposing such a covering in early 2011 because this advice remained unchanged. It would be desirable to have a covering over the ramp, but no purpose would be served by planning one unless it was clear that the views of Westminster city council and English Heritage had changed.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Committee
Access Tokens
Helen Jones: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what the cost was of (a) the tokens and (b) staff time for changing access tokens for hon. Members and their staff. [94396]
Mr Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated 8 February 2012:
As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking about the cost and staff time taken to replace RSA tokens issued to Members and their staff.
As communicated to all MPs via our MP Bulletin dated 23 January 2012, we took the decision to replace the tokens on the advice of RSA, the manufacturer of the tokens.
The replacement tokens were supplied free of charge by RSA and the token exchange project has been managed in-house without any additional resourcing costs. Incidental costs relating to the replacement of tokens amount to approximately £300.
The project is still underway but as of the 7th February 2012, IPSA has devoted 35.75 staff days to the project, including four events at the Palace of Westminster to allow Members to exchange their tokens and collect new ones.
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Attorney-General
Euthanasia
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Attorney-General whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to place the Code for Crown Prosecutors and the Policy for Prosecutors on cases of encouraging or assisting suicide on a statutory footing. [94091]
The Solicitor-General: The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is under a statutory duty, set out in section 10 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985, to issue a Code for Crown Prosecutors. I have no plans to legislate farther on the Code for Crown Prosecutors or to bring forward legislation to place the DPP's policy for prosecutors in respect of cases of encouraging or assisting suicide on a statutory footing.
Metal Theft
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions were brought by the Crown Prosecution Service for offences relating to metal theft in the last five years for which figures are available. [94312]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of defendants prosecuted for offences relating to metal thefts and such data could not be reasonably obtained either locally or nationally other than by a manual exercise at disproportionate cost.
Work and Pensions
Atos Healthcare: Training
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 20 December 2011, Official Report, column 1082W, on Atos Healthcare: training, what discussions he has had with Atos Healthcare on capacity pressures. [94565]
Chris Grayling: Over the last six months, there has been extensive discussion, meetings and workshops between DWP and Atos Healthcare where the capacity pressures have been discussed. The introduction of changes recommended by Professor Harrington resulted in an increase to the Medical Standard Time (MST), that is, the time taken on average to conduct a face to face medical assessment. The focus of discussions between DWP and Atos Healthcare has been on improving the new process and gradually reducing the impact of the Harrington changes with learning and development support, process efficiencies and a focus on recruitment and increasing productivity overall.
20 December 2011, Official Report, column 1082W: “training” was unrelated as it referred to mental health conditions that are not within their clinical specialism.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 20 December 2011, Official Report, column 1082W, on Atos Healthcare: training, what definition he uses of capacity pressures in relation to work capability assessments. [94566]
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Chris Grayling: DWP have no formal definition of the term "capacity pressures" within the context of the contract with Atos Healthcare. DWP uses this term in relation to the ability of Atos Healthcare to deliver the required number of assessments. The introduction of changes to the work capability assessment (WCAs) process increased the time taken to conduct WCAs which reduced the capacity to deliver planned numbers of assessments. DWP and Atos are working together to improve this situation.
20 December 2011, Official Report, column 1082W: “training” was unrelated as it referred to mental health conditions that are not within their clinical specialism.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 20 December 2011, Official Report, column 1082W, on Atos Healthcare: training, which other recommendations of the independent review of the work capability assessment have not been implemented due to capacity pressures at Atos Healthcare. [94569]
Chris Grayling: Professor Harrington recommended:
“Better communication between Decision Makers and Atos healthcare professionals to deal with borderline cases”.
The implementation of a telephone helpline so that decision makers can speak directly to Atos health care professionals to obtain medical advice in specific cases means increased capacity for communication between the two.
Therefore it has been implemented, as have all of Professor Harrington's year one recommendations for Atos.
Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2012, Official Report, columns 340-1W, on employment and support allowance: appeals, how many appeals against incapacity benefit reassessment decisions there have been in each month since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [94608]
Chris Grayling: The Department plans to publish official statistics on outcomes of the work capability assessment for claimants going through the incapacity benefit reassessment process and will be announcing publication on the statistics publication hub in due course. These statistics will include information on appeals heard for these claimants.
Employment Schemes
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2012, Official Report, column 448W, on employment schemes, what data on sector-based work academies his Department plans to publish; and on what date publication will take place. [94570]
Chris Grayling:
Figures on take-up of sector-based work academies pre-employment training, plus demographic breakdowns by age, gender, disability, ethnicity and geographic group, for August 2011 to November 2011 (the latest available time period) will be released
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for the first time on 15 February 2012 as part of the pre-Work programme support and ‘Get Britain Working’ publication.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2012, Official Report, column 448W, on employment schemes, if he will place in the Library the summary of service standards and complaints process that each Work Programme provider issues to participants upon attachment. [94571]
Chris Grayling: We will arrange for the summary of service standards along with the complaints process that DWP requires Work programme providers to operate to be placed in the Library.
Employment: Literacy and Numeracy
Robert Halfon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effects of literacy and numeracy levels on
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employment trends in Harlow constituency in each of the last 10 years. [93397]
Mr Hayes I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Trend data on literacy and numeracy levels and their effect on employment levels in Harlow constituency over each of the last 10 years are not available. The most recent available data on literacy and numeracy levels in the Harlow constituency are the modelled estimates based on the 2003 Skills for Life survey(1). Table 1 as follows provides the estimated numbers and proportions of adults aged between 16 and 65 (inclusive) at each literacy and numeracy level:
(1) Available online at:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100415101327/http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/readwriteplus_skillsforlifesurvey/statics/allpcons_881_0.shtml
accessed on 7 February 2012. This webpage includes the literacy estimates for the Harlow constituency. Numeracy estimates are obtainable by clicking on the ‘Numeracy’ button above the table.
| Table 1: Literacy and numeracy levels in Harlow constituency (2003) | ||||
| Literacy | Numeracy | |||
| Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | |
| Note: Numbers and proportions are estimates. Proportions may not sum to 100 due to rounding. Source: Modelled estimates based on the 2003 Skills for Life survey. | ||||
The fieldwork for the survey on which these modelled estimates are based was conducted between July 2002 and May 2003. No information is provided at a constituency level in the survey of the impact of literacy and numeracy levels on employment. The overall findings for England reported in the 2003 Skills for Life survey report indicated that the literacy and numeracy Levels of people in employment were higher than those who were not employed, as shown in tables 2 and 3 as follows:
| Table 2: Literacy level by employment status in England, 2003 | ||||||
| Employed | Non-employed | |||||
| All | Full-time | Part-time | All | Seeking work | Not seeking work | |
| Base: All respondents in 2003 Skills for Life survey with literacy level recorded. Note: Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. | ||||||
| Table 3: Numeracy level by employment status in England, 2003 | ||||||
| Employed | Non-employed | |||||
| All | Full-time | Part-time | All | Seeking work | Not seeking work | |
| Base: All respondents in 2003 Skills for Life survey with numeracy level recorded. Note: Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. | ||||||
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It is worth noting that the correlation between employment and skill level does not necessarily imply a causal relationship, as other factors also affect both variables.
Housing Benefit
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) individuals and (b) households in Sheffield will have a reduction in their benefits as a result of the implementation of his proposed benefit cap. [94247]
Chris Grayling: We estimate that in Sheffield around 300 households may be affected by the cap and that these households contain around 400 adults and 1300 children.
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.
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.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of households whose income would be affected by the household benefit cap (a) before and (b) after he announced a grace period. [94576]
Chris Grayling: The impact assessment published on the 23 January stated that 67,000 households would be affected by the household benefit cap in 2013-14.
Following the concessions won in the House of Commons on 1 February, we estimate that the grace period of 39 weeks for claimants who have been in employment for 52 weeks or more before leaving work will reduce the number of households affected to around 57,000.
The figures are of course subject to change ahead of the Welfare Reform Bill gaining Royal Assent.
Housing Benefit: Northern Ireland
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effects of his proposed household benefit cap on Northern Ireland. [94437]
Chris Grayling: Under the Welfare Reform Bill the benefit cap will be applied in Great Britain. Matters of social security in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to his Department's impact assessment for the household benefit cap, for what reason households in Northern Ireland were not included in his assessment of the location and tenure of households affected. [94438]
Chris Grayling: Under the Welfare Reform Bill the benefit cap will be applied in Great Britain. The analysis in the Impact Assessment published on 23 January 2012 was therefore confined to Great Britain. Matters of social security in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the effects of his proposed household benefit cap on Northern Ireland. [94454]
Chris Grayling: Under the Welfare Reform Bill the benefit cap will be applied in Great Britain. Matters of social security in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
We are working closely with Northern Ireland Ministers and officials to support the delivery of welfare reform and universal credit. Several meetings have been held.
Mortgages: Repossession Orders
Anna Soubry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the banking sector to ensure that people adversely affected by changes in support for mortgage interest rate are not placed at immediate risk of having their homes repossessed. [92768]
Steve Webb: We have discussions from time to time with the Council of Mortgage Lenders about support for mortgage interest. When we changed the standard interest rate to its current level of 3.63% in October 2010, the Council of Mortgage Lenders told the Department that it expects lenders to continue to exercise forbearance where it is fair to do so for the borrower, and the borrower has a chance of paying off any arrears in the future. The Council of Mortgage Lenders has told us that where arrears levels increase for some borrowers as a result of the change in the standard interest rate this does not necessarily translate into an immediate possession risk.
We have made clear our expectation that lenders should continue to offer support and forbearance to their customers who are struggling with their mortgage repayments.
Lenders are required to consider what they can do to prevent borrowers losing their homes. Under the Pre-Action Protocol, lenders must prove they have considered all other options before trying to repossess a property. For example, they may agree to change or lengthen the term of the loan, accept reduced payments in the short term, or add the debt to the amount borrowed.
Social Security Benefits
Mr Slaughter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of (a) (i) employment support allowance, (ii) disability living allowance and
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(iii) incapacity benefit claimants and
(b)
applicants for a review of a decision to award (i) employment support allowance, (ii) disability living allowance and (iii) incapacity benefit were from ethnic minorities in the last year for which figures are available. [94442]
Chris Grayling: Ethnicity data are not available for disability living allowance (DLA) and incapacity benefit (IB)/severe disablement allowance (SDA) claimants. Information is only available for employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants.
Table 1 presents ethnicity data for all people claiming ESA as at May 2011, the latest data available.
| Table 1: Employment support allowance claimants by ethnicity: May 2011 | ||
| Ethnicity | Number of claimants | Percentage |
| Source: DWP 100% WPLS data | ||
Ethnicity data on appeals against incapacity benefit, incapacity benefit reassessment and disability living allowance is not available.
Table 2 gives the ethnic group breakdown of all claimants for employment and support allowance (ESA) who have appealed against a fit for work decision at their initial Work Capability Assessment (WCA).
Note that the figures in table 2 are not directly comparable with the caseload ethnicity data provided in table 1 above since they cover a different time period.
| Table 2: ESA appeals against a fit for work decision at the initial WCA, broken down by ethnic group. Appeals heard against claims starting between December 2009 and November 2010 | ||
| Ethnic group | Number of appeals | Percentage |
| Notes: 1. Employment and support allowance replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008. 2. Percentages are rounded to the nearest percentage point. 3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Figures may not sum due to rounding. 4. Data shown in the tables above are available on the Department's website at: http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html 5. Information is not available on the ethnicity of IB/SDA or DLA claimants. 6. DLA figures above 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: Administrative data held by the DWP, assessment data provided by Atos Healthcare and appeals data provided by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service. | ||
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Unemployment
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many local newspapers were called by his Department following publication of the most recent unemployment figures. [94577]
Chris Grayling: The Department's press office contact local media as a matter of course every month following the publication of the Labour Market Statistics.
This is to provide them with our press notice, to ensure they have all the information they need or if there is anything else that the Department can help them with.
For January's figures, the press office contacted 176 local news outlets either via email or phone.
Universal Credit
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has stopped any IT contractors working on the universal credit programme in the last three months; and if he will make a statement. [94575]
Chris Grayling: We have not stopped any IT contractors working on the UC programme in the last three months. Our contractors/service providers HP, Accenture, IBM, BT and emergn all remain fully engaged working within the programme on planned activity.
Work Capability Assessment
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Atos Healthcare employees involved in work capability assessment are subject to the Official Secrets Act 1989. [94567]
Chris Grayling: The work of Department for Work and Pensions is confidential and the Official Secrets Act binds all staff. Under the Act, it is a criminal offence for civil servants to disclose any official information without lawful authority. Atos Healthcare do not have to sign the Official Secrets Act. There are specified clauses in the Medical Services Agreement which confirms that Atos Healthcare will comply with the same confidentiality rules and any person found to be knowingly disclosing confidential information would be subject to disciplinary action and in some instances it could be treated as a criminal offence.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether any Atos Healthcare (a) director and (b) employee involved in the work capability assessment received a performance-related bonus payment as part of the contract with his Department in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011. [94568]
Chris Grayling: Health care professionals who are employed by Atos Healthcare to compile medical assessment reports do not receive bonuses and are not part of a bonus scheme.
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Home Department
Abu Qatada
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has spent on cases involving Abu Qatada in each year since 2001. [94606]
Damian Green: The information requested could be obtained only by the examination of individual records at a disproportionate cost.
Animal Experiments: EU Law
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 2 November 2011, Official Report, column 638W, on animal experiments: EU law, when she expects draft legislation transposing EU Directive 2010/63/EU to be available for consultation; and which groups will be consulted. [94518]
Lynne Featherstone: We expect to publish regulations to transpose the provisions of European Directive 2010/63/EU in May 2012.
During the process of transposing the directive we are regularly engaging with the bioscience sector, animal welfare and protection groups, funding bodies, training accreditors and practitioners under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, and will continue to do so until the transposition process is completed.
Asylum: Appeals
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average number was of appeals an asylum seeker in the UK went through before being either deported or granted leave to remain in the latest period for which figures are available. [94142]
Damian Green: This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost through the examination of individual case files. However, a person applying for asylum is only able to appeal once against a decision. They are able to challenge a decision by appealing to the Immigration and Asylum Chamber of the First Tier Tribunal of the Courts and Tribunals Service, and thereafter to the Upper Tribunal and onward to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. The onward right of appeal is with permission of the relevant court or tribunal, and lies only on the ground that the previous court or tribunal made a material error in law.
Asylum: Birmingham
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iranian nationals who are claiming asylum in the UK are resident in Birmingham, Ladywood constituency. [94062]
Damian Green:
Constituency level data is not held in a format compatible with National Statistics. However published statistics are available on a quarterly and annual basis which cover all UK asylum claims by nationality. Published statistics show that for the period
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January to September 2011 there were 1,714
(1,2)asylum applications received from Iranian nationals.
(1) All published figures for 2011 are provisional.
(2) Data relates to main applicants only.
Civil Disorder
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many claims from police authorities have been made to her Department for reimbursement of payments made by police authorities under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886; [93576]
(2) how many reimbursement payments her Department has made to police authorities under the Riot (Damages) Act 1886 since August 2011; and what the monetary value was of those payments. [93577]
Mrs May [holding answer 6 February 2012]: All claims received by the Home Office from police authorities have been paid. So far that amounts to three claims for reimbursement totalling £707,000. The Home Office stands ready to fund further claims. However, the vast majority of householders and businesses have already received full or interim payments from insurance companies.
Departmental Billing
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of her Department's invoices from its private sector suppliers were paid (a) within 14 days, (b) between 15 and 30 days, (c) between 31 and 60 days, (d) between 61 and 90 days and (e) more than 90 days after receipt in the last 12 months. [93449]
Damian Green: The data in the tables include both compliant and non-compliant invoices that the Home Office and its Agencies have paid their suppliers in the period January to December 2011. Non-compliant invoices include those disputed or those which contain insufficient detail to pay without further investigation.
The number and percentage of invoices that the Home Office and the UK Border Agency have paid their suppliers in the period January to December 2011 is as follows:
| Table 1: HO HQ & UKBA | ||
| Days | Number of invoices paid | Percentage |
The number and percentage of invoices that the Criminal Records Bureau has paid it suppliers in the period January to December 2011 is as follows:
| Table 2: CRB | ||
| Days | Number of invoices paid | Percentage |
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Information for the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) for the period 1 January to 21 November 2011 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information for the IPS for the period 22 November to 31 December 2011 is as follows:
| Table 3: IPS | ||
| Days | Number of invoices paid | Percentage |
Information for the National Fraud Authority (NFA) for the period 1 January to 30 September could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information for the NFA for the period 1 October to 31 December is as follows:
| Table 4: NFA | ||
| Days | Number of invoices paid | Percentage |
The information provided is for all suppliers. The Home Office does not distinguish between private sector and the public sector suppliers in this respect. To do so would incur disproportionate cost.
Departmental Data Protection
Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of (a) data loss and (b) breaches of confidentiality occurred in her Department in 2011. [94251]
Damian Green [holding answer 8 February 2012]: The Home Office has published details of protected personal data related incidents notified to the Information Commissioner's Office in 2010-11 in its resource accounts. Of these incidents two related to cases of data loss and two related to breaches of confidentiality.
The Home Office has also published details of incidents deemed by the Data Controller not to fall within the criteria for report to the Information Commissioner's Office. Of these incidents eight related to cases of data loss and 10 related to breaches of confidentiality. This
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information is collated annually. Figures covering the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012 are due to be published in Quarter 2 2012.
The 2010-11 resource accounts are available from the Home Office website at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/corporate-publications/annual-report-201011
Civil Service: Pay
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was paid to officials in her Department and its non-departmental public bodies in (a) bonuses, (b) allowances and (c) other payments additional to basic salary in each of the last two years for which figures are available; what categories of payment may be made to officials in addition to basic salary; what the monetary value is of each category of payment; and what the monetary value was of the 20 largest such payments made in each of the last two years. [89674]
Damian Green: The information requested is set out in the following tables:
Table 1: Non-consolidated performance payments.
Table 2: Largest 20 non-consolidated performance payments.
Table 3: Allowances in addition to salary.
There are two separate sets of these three tables: one set covers Home Office HQ, the UK Border Agency (UKBA), the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) and the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB); the other set covers the Home Office's non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs).
Non-consolidated performance payments are one off payments which are non-pensionable, paid only to the top achievers and which are used to help drive performance.
Allowances comprise skills and recruitment and retention allowances. The figures exclude locational allowances and temporary payments, such as those paid to staff for fulfilling temporary duties. They also exclude expenses, for example the reimbursement of costs actually and necessarily incurred in the course of official business.
Pay arrangements for the senior civil service (SCS) are based on a framework set by the Cabinet Office. For staff below the SCS, Departments, agencies and NDPBs have delegated authority to tailor reward packages to meet their own business needs, and performance pay and pay-related allowances are a matter for each organisation.
| Table 1: In-year and end of year non-consolidated performance payments | ||||
| Financial year | Total value of payments | Number of staff receiving | Total number of staff eligible to receive payment | Total value of largest 20 payments (£) |
| Note: Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) joined the Home Office on 1 April 2011; figures for 2009-10 do not include EHRC. | ||||
| Table 2: Largest 20 non-consolidated payments | ||
| £ | ||
| Payment | 2010-11 | 2009-10 |
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| Table 3: Allowances in addition to salary | |
| Financial year | Allowances in addition to salary (£) |
Deportation
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals last registered as domiciled in the Peterborough city council area and who have no legal basis to remain in the UK were removed by the UK Border Agency in each quarter since May 2005; and if she will make a statement. [93837]
Damian Green [holding answer 7 February 2012]: Constituency level data are not held in a format compatible with National Statistics. However published statistics are available on a quarterly and annual basis which provides figures on all removals from the UK. These data are not available broken down by region. The following table was extracted from published statistics and shows all in-country removals for the period January 2005 to September 2011:
| Quarter 1 | Quarter 2 | Quarter 3 | Quarter 4 | |
| Notes: 1. Data from Q1 2010 onwards are provisional. 2. Figures include dependants. 3. Figures include all in-country enforced and voluntary removals (including data matching). 4. Data are extracted from table rv.01.q at the following url: ‘Removals and voluntary departures data tables Immigration Statistics July - September 2011’ (Microsoft Excel file - 6mb - Warning: large file) http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-tabs-q3-2011/removals-q3-11-tabs 5. Figures for October to December 2011 are scheduled for publication on 23 February 2012. | ||||
Driving: Young People
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy to allow car rental companies to refuse to rent cars to drivers under the age of 23; and if she will make a statement. [93596]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 6 February 2012]:We are currently considering the issue and will announce our decision in the Government's published response to the 2011 age discrimination consultation in due course.
Entry Clearances: Foreign Workers
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permit intracompany transfers were granted in respect of each (a) nationality and (b) occupation in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [89795]
Damian Green [holding answer 16 January 2012]:The work permit intracompany transfer scheme closed in 2008 and was replaced by the Tier 2 (intracompany transfer) category of the points based system.
The Home Office does not hold the statistical data requested.
Entry Clearances: Iran
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long on average Iranian citizens wishing to enter the UK for a holiday wait for a visa; and what steps have been taken to enable Iranians to obtain such visas following the closure of the UK embassy in Tehran. [88868]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency publishes information on processing times for visa applications on its website at:
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk
In common with all nationals who require visas to visit the UK, Iranian nationals can apply for a visa to visit the UK at any visa application centre worldwide.
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Migrants: Employment
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to ensure that migrants have the necessary skills for employment. [93297]
Damian Green: In April 2011 we made significant changes to the rules governing the admission of skilled workers, including introducing a higher minimum skills requirement of National Qualifications Framework level 4. We have now asked the Migration Advisory Committee to look at whether it is right to raise further the minimum skills levels.
We have increased English language requirements to ensure that all migrant workers are able to speak English to an appropriate level.
Social Media
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration she is giving to (a) purchasing new capabilities to monitor social media and (b) increasing the resources her Department allocates to monitor social media. [94403]
James Brokenshire: The Government are committed to a free and open internet. It is also important that law enforcement has the necessary capabilities to assess and identify potential criminality disclosed through social media and other online communication platforms. Work is under way to consider how existing capabilities within law enforcement can be enhanced. We will consider any additional resource requirements in the light of this work.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 22 December 2011 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Jano Ridwa. [94047]
Damian Green: I refer the right hon. Member to my letter of 6 February 2012.
Police: Diversity
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2011, Official Report, column 1071W, on police, when (a) Ministers and (b) officials of her Department have met representatives of each body referred to in the answer since May 2010; and what the name is of each Diversity Staff Support Association. [91011]
Nick Herbert: Ministers have meetings with a wide variety of partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
The national police Diversity Staff Support Associations (DSSAs) are as follows:
British Association of Women in Policing
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British Sikh Police Association
Christian Police Association
Gay Police Association
National Association of Muslim Police
National Black Police Association
National Disabled Police Association
National Trans Police Association.
Infant Mortality: Police Support Services
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) funding and (b) guidance her Department provided to police forces on support for parents who have experienced sudden infant death. [94433]
Nick Herbert: While the Home Office provides the majority of core Government funding to the police, each force has the freedom and flexibility to make spending decisions locally. As such, there is no specific or ring-fenced funding to forces for the provision of support to parents who have experienced sudden infant death. The Home Office has not issued guidance on this subject.
Police: Information and Communications Technology
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what savings she expects to make on policing ICT costs following the establishment of the new police information and communications technology company in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15. [93876]
Nick Herbert: The Government have been clear that there is potential for at least £180 million of savings per annum through ICT. Forces have already made substantial savings. The company will assist in driving out savings by offering services that help forces to achieve efficiencies and operational effectiveness through the procurement, re-use and management of their ICT. The savings forces will make will depend on their choices of company services.
Olympic Games 2012: Security
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to the public purse was of the recent tests of security measures in Glasgow for the London 2012 Olympics; and what proportion of the cost was paid by the (a) Government and (b) Scottish Government. [94399]
James Brokenshire: The recent testing of security arrangements at the Hampden Park football stadium were undertaken by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG). The Government announced last year that they were making £553 million available to LOCOG for venue security, and the recent testing is funded from this. There is no additional cost to the Government, or to the Scottish Government.
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Yvonne Fletcher
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent reports she has received from the Metropolitan Police on the investigation into the death of WPC Yvonne Fletcher [94301]
Nick Herbert: The investigation into the death of WPC Yvonne Fletcher is ongoing. I am therefore unable to comment on the case.
Treasury
Banks: Iceland
Mr Darling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment (a) he and (b) the Financial Services Authority has made of the findings of the Special Investigation Commission established by the Icelandic government into the failure of Icelandic banks in 2008 published on 12 April 2010; if he will place in the Library a copy of the English translation of the report; and if he will make a statement. [42557]
Mr Hoban: The Special Investigation Commission's report has not been translated into English. The parts of the report that have been translated in English are available online at the following link:
http://sic.althingi.is/
The Treasury has not undertaken an assessment on the report.
City of London Corporation
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings he had with the City of London Corporation in preparation for the most recent EU summit. [89035]
Miss Chloe Smith: Treasury Ministers and 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.
A list of ministerial meetings with external organisations is published quarterly on the HM Treasury website:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm
Departmental Data Protection
Mr David Davis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of (a) data loss and (b) breaches of confidentiality occurred in his Department in 2011. [94249]
Miss Chloe Smith [holding answer 8 February 2012]: There is no record of any data loss in HM Treasury in 2011, but there have been three accidental breaches of confidentiality during that period.
The three accidental breaches in confidentiality came from low risk emails inadvertently being sent to “no need to know” addressees. On each of these occasions, immediate action was undertaken to satisfactorily rectify the situation.
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Food Procurement
Neil Parish: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of food purchased by his Department was produced in the UK in each of the last five years. [93714]
Miss Chloe Smith: The data requested are only available for the last three financial years:
2010-11: 71%
2009-10: 58%
2008-09: 55%.
HM Treasury's catering services are supplied by a sub-contractor to Exchequer Partnership, the Department's PFI supplier. The services provided were accredited by Assured Food Standards in July 2010, enabling them to display the Red Tractor logo within establishments where they provide a catering service.
Official Hospitality
Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what receptions and events have been hosted by his Department since May 2010, including those sponsored by a third party. [84183]
Miss Chloe Smith: HM Treasury does not hold a central record of receptions and events hosted by the Department. The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Responsibilities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at how many events organised by (a) charities, (b) other civil society groups, (c) businesses and (d) lobbying organisations Ministers and senior officials in his Department have given speeches in each month since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77333]
Miss Chloe Smith: Treasury Ministers and senior officials speak regularly to a wide variety of organisations as part of their official duties. Copies of speeches made by Treasury ministers and senior officials are available on the Treasury website at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/newsroom_and_speeches.htm
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the average number of hours per day he was engaged on official duties in the last three months. [85818]
Miss Chloe Smith: The information requested is not held centrally. Responsibilities of Treasury Ministers are set out on the Treasury website at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about_whoweare_index.htm
Ministerial Travel Costs
Maria Eagle:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 January 2012, Official Report, column 31WS, on cost of ministerial cars, whether his Department has any other arrangements
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for ministerial travel; and how much his Department has spent on
(a)
private hire vehicles and
(b)
taxis for each Minister since May 2010. [92847]
Miss Chloe Smith: The total amount spent on taxis (excluding VAT) by HM Treasury Ministers between May 2010 and December 2012 is £11,498.01. There has been no spending on private hire vehicles for Ministers since May 2010.
EU Countries: Visits
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department made to (i) Brussels and (ii) Frankfurt in an official capacity in 2011. [88987]
Miss Chloe Smith: Details of ministerial overseas travel are published quarterly on the Treasury website:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm
Hargreaves Lansdown
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings he has had with (a) directors, (b) partners and (c) employees of Hargreaves Lansdown since 10 May 2010. [89030]
Miss Chloe Smith: Treasury Ministers and 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.
A list of Ministerial meetings with external organisations is published quarterly on the HM Treasury website:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm
Members: Correspondence
Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when the Financial Secretary to the Treasury plans to respond to letters from the right hon. Member for Leicester East of 29 October 2010 and 19 March 2011 concerning a constituent; [58734]
(2) when he expects to respond to the letters from the right hon. Member for Leicester East of (a) 4 June 2011, (b) 19 March 2011 and (c) 29 October 2010 concerning Mrs Jansari; [70076]
(3) when he plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Leicester East of 25 July 2011 and 19 March 2011 concerning a constituent, Ms Jansari; [73063]
(4) when he will respond to letters from the hon. Member for Leicester East concerning his constituent Ms Jansari dated 4 and 25 June 2011; and when the Financial Secretary to the Treasury will respond to letters from the hon. Member for Leicester East of 29 October 2010 and 19 March 2011 also concerning Ms Jansari. [80467]
Mr Hoban: I have now replied to the right hon. Member.
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Olympic Games 2012
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many invitations to attend events at the London 2012 Olympics (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) senior officials in his Department have accepted; and if he will make a statement. [93628]
Miss Chloe Smith: Details of hospitality received by Ministers and special advisers and HM Treasury's most senior officials are published on a quarterly basis and will be available for July to September 2012 in due course.
Research: Finance
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal measures he plans to take to encourage research and innovation at UK universities. [94264]
Danny Alexander: In order to support the highest value research in UK universities, Spending Review 2010 (SR10) maintained the science budget in cash terms until 2014-15 with resource spending of £4.6 billion per annum. Since SR10, £495 million of capital to support research and innovation has been allocated over the SR period, including for: science campuses to provide facilities for the commercialisation of research and encourage innovative SMEs to make links with the research base, high performance computing to support sophisticated university and business research and a national graphene hub to connect UK researchers and businesses working to commercialise applications of graphene.
The tax system incentivises research, development and innovation through R and D tax credits. The SME scheme rate of relief was increased from 175% to 200% from 1 April 2011 and will be increased to 225% from 1 April 2012. In addition, an above the line R and D tax credit will be introduced from April 2013 to encourage research and development activity by larger companies. The Government will consult on the detail of the credit at Budget 2012. Further incentives for research and innovation are provided through the Patent Box—applying a reduced 10% rate of corporation tax on profits from patents from April 2013.
The impact of measures to encourage research and innovation will be kept under review and decisions on any new measures may be taken at fiscal events.
Taxation: Business
Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the (a) corporation tax and (b) valued added tax paid by businesses in the latest period for which figures are available was paid by (i) micro-entities, (ii) micro-businesses, (iii) small businesses and (iv) medium-sized businesses. [93604]
Mr Gauke: It is not possible to provide on a consistent basis, the proportion of tax revenue raised from (i) micro-entities, (ii) micro-businesses (iii) small businesses and (iv) medium-sized businesses for corporation tax or VAT.
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For corporation tax a breakdown based on profit is available on the HMRC website for those paying via the Quarterly Instalment Regime and the Non-Quarterly Instalment Regime. Companies that make profits for an accounting period at a rate of over £1.5 million annually must normally pay by instalments:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/table11-1a.pdf
HMRC also publishes information by tax liability, with a breakdown of those paying main rate, marginal rate and small companies rate. Companies with no associates with chargeable profits less than £300,000 pay small companies rate and those with chargeable profits between £300,000 and £1.5 million pay marginal rate:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/table11-3.pdf
Home VAT is VAT charged on supplies of goods and services made in the UK. Information on the amount of home VAT received by turnover is available from the UK Trade Info website:
https://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=factvat
Taxation: Combined Heat and Power
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of relief from the carbon price floor on combined heat and power; what recent discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have held with industry on this matter; and whether he or the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change is ultimately responsible for this policy; [94050]
(2) whether he plans to extend the use of Levy Exemption Certificates for combined heat and power until 2017; and whether State Aid Approval is required. [94051]
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on combined heat and power stations of the proposed carbon floor price for fuel used for heat generation. [94090]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Government announced in March 2011 that the exemption from the climate change levy (CCL) for electricity generated from CHP plants that is supplied indirectly to an energy consumer will be removed from 1 April
An assessment of the impacts of the carbon price floor is given in HMRC's Tax Information and Impact Note published alongside the Budget, available online at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2011/tiin6111.pdf
The assessment of the impacts of removing the exemption from the climate change levy (CCL) for electricity generated from CHP plants that is supplied indirectly to an energy consumer was published alongside the autumn statement and is available online at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/tiin/tiin700.pdf
The Government will announce in due course the level of relief for combined heat and power.
Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of
9 Feb 2012 : Column 360W
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.
The Department for Energy and Climate Change is responsible for the long-term strategy on heat and the treatment of combined heat and power. The Treasury is responsible for tax policy.
Taxation: Gambling
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2011, Official Report, column 408W, on taxation: gambling, when he intends to announce a decision on whether to proceed with reform. [94538]
Miss Chloe Smith: On 18 July 2011, the Government announced their intention to review the taxation regime for remote gambling, looking at the case for taxing operators on the basis of customer location.
The Government expect to announce the outcome of the review at Budget 2012.
First World War: Anniversary
Mr Keith Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War. [76065]
Miss Chloe Smith: Traditionally, we mark the anniversary of the conclusion of a conflict rather than its beginning. So the main commemorations will be on the centenary of the end of the first world war in 1918. However, given the importance of the centenary of world war one, a number of anniversaries of key events from 2014 to 2018, including the beginning of the war, will be marked in an appropriate way. The Prime Minister has asked my hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison) to act as his special representative and coordinator for world war one commemorations. My hon Friend will work with international partners to ensure that the UK plays a full and active role; and will coordinate the cross-Whitehall effort in respect of the commemorations.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Canberra Centenary
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to mark the centenary of Canberra. [94289]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The centenary of Canberra will be an important event for all Australians. The Australian Capital Territory has implemented a Canberra 100 taskforce to oversee the celebrations throughout 2013.
At this early stage, representatives from our high commission in Canberra are in discussions with the Canberra 100 organising committee, and will participate in commemorative events involving the diplomatic community.
9 Feb 2012 : Column 361W
Burma
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Burma on the recruitment of child soldiers into the Burmese Army. [94435]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The use of child soldiers continues to be a problem in the Burmese military and some armed ethnic groups. Many children continue to work, largely due to poverty, and there remains no code of conduct to protect working children. There is little protection under the law for how children are treated within the Burmese police justice system.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) visited Burma on 5-6 January 2012. During his visit the Foreign Secretary urged further reforms and emphasised the importance of an end to conflict, humanitarian access, political dialogue and national reconciliation.
We will continue to work closely with civil society organisations and UN agencies on children's issues. We support the work of the International Labour Organization in highlighting the problems and need for action on child labour and underage recruitment in the military. We raised the use of children in armed conflict in Burma in the UN Security Council in November. We supported a reference in the resolutions on Burma at the Human Rights Council and UN General Assembly, calling on the Government to end the recruitment of child soldiers by the armed forces and other armed groups, to intensify measures to ensure the protection of children in armed conflict, and to intensify its co-operation with the UN in this area. The Department for International Development's Operational Plan for 2011-15 aims to support more than 200,000 children through primary school in Burma.
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on abuses of human rights in ethnic states in Burma in 2011. [94436]
Mr Jeremy Browne: During his visit to Burma in January of this year, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) heard first-hand the concerns and aspirations of different ethnic minorities, including the Shan, Kachin, Karen, Karenni, Chin, Mon, Rakhine and Rohingya communities.
Our ambassador regularly meets Burmese Ministers in Naypyidaw, raising our human rights concerns directly with the Government. Our embassy officials also provided regular updates throughout 2011 on the situation in-country, and their reporting helped us to ensure that the resolutions on human rights in Burma at the Human Rights Council and the Third Committee at the UN General Assembly were well-evidenced and reflected positive progress as well as detailing concerns.
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Government of Burma on spending on health and education. [94521]
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Mr Jeremy Browne: The Burmese Government have stated their commitment to the UN's Millennium Development Goals, which include achieving universal access to primary education and health care provision.
During his visit in November 2011, the Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), met with the Burmese President and Health Minister and pressed them on the need for the Government to use their budget for the benefit of the people. Department for International Development officials have also met with both the Education and Health Ministers to urge the Government to increase its spending on health and education.
We understand that the Burmese Parliament is now in the process of agreeing its budget and hope it will include big increases for health and education. We will continue to press the Burmese to honour their commitments.