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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 12 March 2012
Culture, Media and Sport
Arts Council England: Finance
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much Arts Council England has at its disposal to give in grant supplied by (a) his Department and (b) the national lottery for the period from 2012 to 2015. [98748]
Mr Vaizey: Arts Council England’s settlement for this spending review period was set out in a letter of 23 February 2012 that will be available on the Department’s website in due course. The Department does not specify the precise amount to be paid out in grants.
Our lottery projections issued last week suggest that £243 million, £260 million, £262 million and £265 million may be raised for Arts Council England in the years 2012-13 to 2015-16 respectively, though actual income in those years will be dependent on the level of ticket sales in those years.
Arts: Scotland
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent estimate he has made of the number of people employed in the creative industries in Scotland. [98332]
Mr Vaizey: The Scottish Executive’ Creative Industries Key Sector Report (2009), estimated Scottish creative employment to be 60,700 in 2007. The report has been published online and can be found in full at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/11/24133819/0
The figures on employment can be found in ‘Annex A’ of the report, or by using the following link:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/11/24133819/6
They are also given in the ‘Overview’ section.
Creative Scotland is in the process of producing new estimates, to bring them in line with the most recent “Creative Industries Economic Estimates” report produced by this Government, which uses data taken from National Statistics sources, produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Broadband
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent progress has been made by the devolved Administrations and local authorities in submitting draft local broadband plans. [98146]
Mr Vaizey:
The Government aim to stimulate commercial investment in broadband for 90% of all premises and standard 2Mbps universal broadband. At 29 February
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2012 Broadband Delivery UK had received 46 local broadband plans and had approved 20, including one from the Welsh Government in support of those objectives. There were two local broadband plans outstanding (from north and south Tyneside). In addition, the Scottish Government have published their Digital Infrastructure Action Plan and the Northern Ireland Executive had already achieved 90% superfast coverage.
Broadband: Northern Ireland
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much funding he has allocated to support broadband implementation in Northern Ireland in the last two years. [98065]
Mr Vaizey: The Secretary of State announced an allocation of £4.4 million to Northern Ireland on 15 August 2011. The Secretary of State also confirmed in a letter to the First and Deputy First Minsters in the Northern Ireland Executive that he was prepared to fund, in addition to the £4.4 million, a pilot in Northern Ireland, subject to receipt of an acceptable proposal. The level of funding has not been confirmed and is also subject to the receipt of an acceptable proposal.
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what meetings have been held with the Northern Ireland Executive on support for broadband delivery since September 2011. [98100]
Mr Vaizey: Officials from this Department met with officials from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Northern Ireland (DETINI) to discuss broadband delivery in Northern Ireland on 30 September 2011. A conference call on the same subject also took place on 30 October 2011.
An official from DETINI attended a workshop in London on 10 January 2012 for cities eligible to bid for the Urban Broadband Fund.
Senior Civil Servants: Ethnic Minorities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many and what proportion of senior civil servants in his Department were from an ethnic minority in March (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; and if he will make a statement. [98876]
John Penrose: The number and proportion of senior civil servants from an ethnic minority recorded by the Department, in the months the hon. Gentleman has requested, can be found in the following table.
| As at March each year | Number declaring ethnic minority status | Non-respondents | Proportion of t otal SCS |
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Film
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what consideration he has given to the effect on cinema exhibitors and film distributors of the different licensing regimes for film classification in (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland. [98759]
Mr Vaizey: As was made clear in the Government’s recent consultation on reforms to the entertainment licensing regime, we will not deregulate the exhibition of film without maintaining the film classification regime. We are currently considering the responses to the consultation, including views on the options for retaining the classification system should we decide to deregulate the exhibition of film.
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what enforcement mechanism the Government intend to use to ensure adherence to BBFC classifications when the entertainment licensing requirement for cinemas is repealed under the Licensing Act 2003. [99142]
Mr Vaizey: As was made clear in the Government’s recent consultation on reforms to the entertainment licensing regime, we will not deregulate the exhibition of film without maintaining the film classification regime. We are currently considering the responses to the consultation, including views on the options for retaining the classification system should we decide to deregulate the exhibition of film.
Music
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what information his Department holds on how much funding has been allocated for the promotion of musical activities to (a) South Asian and (b) other Asian organisations by (i) National Portfolio organisations and (ii) the National Lottery for the period from 2012 to 2015. [98749]
Mr Vaizey: Government funding for the arts is routed to the sector via Arts Council England (ACE), which is responsible for arts funding decisions and makes these decisions independently of the Government. The Department does not therefore hold such detailed information on how money has been allocated. However, I understand that ACE will be able to determine which of its National Portfolio organisations to be funded from 2012 to 2015 are Asian-led or south Asian-led when these organisations have returned the “National Portfolio organisation annual submission”. I understand that these data will be received by ACE in mid-to-late 2013.
Applications for lottery grants are made independently of the Government and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The DCMS lottery grants database holds details of successful lottery grants. The database is searchable at
www.lottery.culture.gov.uk
and uses information on lottery grants supplied by the lottery distributors.
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Olympic Games 2012
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps the Government have taken to encourage companies producing official merchandise for the London 2012 Olympics to manufacture products in the UK. [98763]
Hugh Robertson [holding answer 8 March 2012]: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is responsible for the London 2012 licensing and retail programme, which contributes significantly to its privately-financed budget. LOCOG is a private company operating independently of the Government and has run an open tender process for each license opportunity and promoted them via the online business network portal CompeteFor, to make sure that businesses across the UK had a fair and open chance to bid.
More than 90% of licensees are UK companies, and where they can take advantage of UK manufacturing they do so, such as Royal Mint, Royal Mail, Letts Diaries and Wedgwood, Waterford and Royal Doulton.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will estimate the proportion of official memorabilia for the London 2012 Olympics that will be manufactured in the UK. [98901]
Hugh Robertson [holding answer 8 March 2012]: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is responsible for the London 2012 licensing and retail programme. More than 90% of its appointed licensees are UK companies, with all design and development managed locally. Where there are opportunities for licensees to take advantage of UK manufacturing they do so, such as Royal Mint, Royal Mail, Letts Diaries and Wedgwood, Waterford and Royal Doulton.
Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he or the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games will give guidance on the interpretation of the Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995 for the purposes of allowing magazines and periodicals to include editorial and advertising related to the London 2012 Olympic Games that is not intended to claim an official relationship to the Games. [99116]
Hugh Robertson: The Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995 confers exclusive rights in relation to the use of the Olympic and Paralympic symbols, the Olympic and Paralympic mottos, and certain Olympic- and Paralympic-related words. The Act contains express exemptions relating to the publication or broadcast of reports and information about the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Those exemptions do not apply to advertising material which is published or broadcast at the same time as, or in connection with, a report or information. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited (LOCOG) has published detailed information about the Act which includes information about those exemptions. It is available at the following web address:
www.london2012.com/brandprotection
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Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he or the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games will provide guidance to the magazine publishing industry on carrying editorial and advertisements related to the London 2012 Olympic Games which are not subject to the Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995. [99117]
Hugh Robertson: The Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995 confers exclusive rights in relation to the use of the Olympic and Paralympic symbols, the Olympic and Paralympic mottos and certain Olympic- and Paralympic-related words. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited (LOCOG) has published detailed information about the Act, which includes information about material that is not subject to the Act. It is available at the following web address:
www.london2012.com/brandprotection
Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games on interpreting the Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995 and the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006 relating to editorial and advertising content in print media. [99118]
Hugh Robertson: Officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport had extensive discussions with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited (LOCOG) in 2005 and 2006 about legislation that would amend the Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995, including by adding exemptions to it relating to the publication or broadcast of reports and information about the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Following the enactment of that legislation, LOCOG published detailed information about the Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995 which includes information about the exemptions in the Act. It is available at the following web address:
www.london2012.com/brandprotection
Olympic Games 2012: Voluntary Work
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assistance with (a) travel and (b) accommodation expenses he plans to provide to volunteers for the Olympics living in the north-east; and what information was provided to potential applications during the application process as to the nature of expenses provided to volunteers. [98753]
Hugh Robertson
[holding answer 8 March 2012]: Volunteering schemes connected to the Olympic Games are the responsibility of the organisation operating them. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is responsible for the official Games Maker volunteer scheme. LOCOG will provide Games Makers with refreshments during their shifts, a uniform and—for those volunteering within London—a zone one to six travel card. Free transport will also be provided in Newcastle for Games Makers volunteering at the Olympic Football tournament, with similar arrangements for volunteers at other venues
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across the UK. An independent bursary scheme has been launched to support Games Makers in financial need from the north-east.
LOCOG has always been clear that it could not provide central funding for accommodation and transport expenses for the up to 70,000 Games Makers that will help to stage the Games. A quarter of a million people from communities right across the UK applied to be Games Makers on the clear understanding that they would need to arrange their own accommodation and transport to the Games. This has been reinforced throughout the selection and training process.
Prime Minister
Computer Software
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Minister for the Cabinet Office about the development of a personal iPad application for his use. [99138]
Wales
Senior Civil Servants: Ethnic Minorities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what proportion of senior civil servants in her Department were from an ethnic minority in March (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; and if she will make a statement. [98863]
Mr David Jones: None of the five people who have covered the four senior civil servant posts during the periods listed have been from an ethnic minority group.
Education
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the potential effect of his education reforms on educational priorities in Wales; and if she will make a statement. [98938]
Mr David Jones: The majority of the changes that are proposed by the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), will not apply in Wales.
I am committed to ensuring the best possible outcomes for school children and young people in education in Wales and will continue to work with both the Department for Education and the Welsh Government to help achieve this.
NHS
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has had with the First Minister of the Welsh Government on the impact of the Government’s NHS reforms in England on health provision in Wales; and if she will make a statement. [98942]
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Mr David Jones: While the NHS in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Government, there has been close engagement between the Department for Health, the Wales Office and the Welsh Government to ensure that the changes the UK Government are making in the Health and Social Care Bill that relate to Wales will have a positive impact in Wales.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which regulations her Department repealed between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and if she will estimate the likely savings to the public purse in each case. [97315]
Mr David Jones: The Wales Office did not repeal any regulations between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012.
Welfare Reform
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what recent discussions she has had with the First Minister of the Welsh Government on the potential effect of the Government’s welfare reforms in England on the Welsh people; and if she will make a statement; [98936]
(2) what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the potential effect of welfare reform in England and Wales; and if she will make a statement. [98939]
Mr David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), has regular discussions with both the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), and the First Minister about a range of matters relevant to Wales. These have included discussions on welfare reform.
The Welfare Reform Act, which received Royal Assent on 8 March, will introduce the most fundamental reforms to the social security system for 60 years and will deliver a system throughout Britain that is simpler, fairer and ensures that work always pays.
Scotland
Senior Civil Servants: Ethnic Minorities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what proportion of senior civil servants in his Department were from an ethnic minority in March (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; and if he will make a statement. [98866]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office has only a small number of senior civil servants. As the numbers are small, such information would not be published to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2012, Official Report, column 629W, on Equality and Human Rights Commission, on what date he met the Equality and Human Rights Commission's Commissioner for Scotland. [99437]
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David Mundell: The Secretary of State for Scotland, the right hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (Michael Moore), met the Equality and Human Rights Commission's Scotland Commissioner on 14 July 2010.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which regulations his Department repealed between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and if he will estimate the likely savings to the public purse in each case. [97317]
David Mundell: Each year, the Scotland Office takes forward a programme of Orders under the Scotland Act 1998. Between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012 one of these Orders, the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (Consequential Modifications) Orders 2011 (S.I. 2011/1740), was brought forward and revoked the following two existing Orders:
The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (Consequential Provisions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/2469); and
The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (Consequential Provisions) (Amendment) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1345).
Due to the replacement of these Orders by the new 2011 Order, there are no identifiable savings.
Defence
Departmental Procurement
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts awarded by his Department to management consultants (a) since publication of the Strategic Defence and Security Review and (b) in 2011-12 were awarded after competitive tendering; and how many competing providers there were for each contract awarded after competitive tendering. [82198]
Peter Luff: [holding answer 23 November 2011]: The Ministry of Defence is at present conducting a review of its management consultancy contracts. I will therefore write to the hon. Lady with further details once the review has been completed.
Substantive answer from Peter Luff to Alison Seabeck:
I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 13 December 2011 (Official Report, column 752W) about the number of contracts awarded to management consultants.
Between 19 October 2010 and 31 October 2011, 72 contracts with a total value of £9.931 million were awarded to companies providing services to the Ministry of Defence under the Government Procurement Services definition of management consultancy. Of these contracts, 20 (valued at £5.903 million, 59% of the total value) were placed by stand alone competitive tendering, 41 were awarded competitively through a pre-competed government framework (valued at £3.899 million, 39% of the total value) and five were placed non-competitively (valued at £0.099 million, 1% of the total value). Data for the remaining six contracts, valued at £30,000 could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
In respect of the above data that falls in this financial year 2011-12, of a total of 38 contracts placed with a total value of £8.965 million, six (valued at £5.475 million, 61% of the total value) were placed by stand alone competitive tendering, 28 were awarded competitively through a pre-competed government
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framework (valued at £3.439 million, 38% of the total value) and four were placed non-competitively (valued at £0.051 million, 1% of the total value).
The number of competing providers for each contract awarded could only be provided as disproportionate cost.
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent estimate he has made of the through-life costs of the carrier variant Joint Strike Fighter; and if he will make a statement. [98538]
Peter Luff: We update our through-life cost estimates for the Joint Strike Fighter annually as part of our departmental planning round process.
MOD Bicester
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many failed courier deliveries, where the courier failed to make the delivery resulting in the consignment being taken back to the base, there have been from MOD Logistics Bicester since 2008. [99139]
Peter Luff: This information is not held.
Home Department
Asylum Seekers: Iran
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to support failed Iranian asylum seekers (a) to obtain travel documents given the closure of the Iranian embassy in London and (b) whilst returns to Iran have been suspended through the Choices programme. [99355]
Damian Green: Refugee Action Choices has not suspended support to Iranian nationals who need assistance to return home.
However, as there is no Iranian diplomatic mission in the United Kingdom, there are limits to what support we can provide where they do not hold a valid passport to return.
Iranian nationals who do not hold passports should contact the Interior Ministry in Tehran, or any other Iranian diplomatic mission in another country, in order to obtain a travel document to enable them to return to Iran.
Bail
Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people detained by the UK Border Agency were granted bail in each of the last five years; and how many (a) absconded and (b) failed to keep to bail conditions in each year. [96635]
Damian Green: In order to answer this question the UK Border Agency would need to analyse a large volume of electronic records, which would incur disproportionate cost.
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There are currently 3,940 foreign national offenders released into the community, following completion of their custodial sentence, who are subject to deportation action. Around 10% of these release decisions are made by the UK Border Agency, having assessed the risk of harm posed to the public and the prospects of removal in a reasonable timescale. The remaining 90% of release decisions are made by the courts.
Foreign national offenders in the community awaiting deportation are subject to stringent reporting restrictions while every effort is made to remove them from the country.
In some cases foreign national offenders fail to adhere to the conditions of their licence and do not report as necessary. As such they become absconders.
The UK Border Agency works closely with the police and probation services to locate these individuals. The UK Border Agency has a specialist trace and locate team who scrutinise external databases in order to track down absconders.
British Nationals: Entry Clearances
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British overseas territory nationals were refused entry to the UK in each of the last five years. [99207]
Damian Green: British overseas territories citizenship does not attract the right to enter and live in the UK. However, as many British overseas territories citizens are also British citizens, it is more likely than not that they would enter the United Kingdom on presentation of a British citizen passport. Those British overseas territories citizens who are not also British citizens would be required to enter the UK under visa arrangements.
During the past five years, 2007 to 2011, there were only two British overseas territory citizens refused entry to the UK, both in 2007. Neither were British citizens.
The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of persons refused entry to the United Kingdom. Data on those refused entry are available in tables be.08 to be.08q from the Library of the House and from the Home Office science, research and statistics web pages at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/
In published tables be.08 and be.08.q, ‘British Overseas Territory nationals’ is not a separate published nationality. We publish this nationality under a broad category of ‘British overseas citizens’.
Coinage: Counterfeit Manufacturing
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to tackle the counterfeiting of (a) the pound sterling and (b) the euro in the UK. [98540]
Miss Chloe Smith: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.
The National Central Office for the Suppression of Counterfeit Currency and Protected Coins, which sits within the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), is the UK's centre for identifying trends in counterfeiting activity. It analyses thousands of reports from police
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forces and the Bank of England each year to help protect the UK against the damage caused by counterfeit bank notes and coins.
Levels of counterfeit euros discovered in this country are very low compared to countries which have adopted the euro as currency. However, where they are identified SOCA will take appropriate action, including liaising with European counterparts.
Everybody convicted of producing counterfeit currency in the last five years in the UK has received a substantial custodial sentence and on each occasion a serious crime prevention order has been issued, which inhibits their ability to procure material and machinery that could be used in the production of counterfeits.
Crime Prevention
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to issue further guidance on the use of the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour Based Violence (DASH 2009) Risk Identification, Assessment and Management Model by police forces in England and Wales. [98544]
Lynne Featherstone: The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) council agreed the Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Honour Based Violence (DASH) Risk Identification, Assessment and Management Model to be implemented across all police services in the UK from March 2009. Although we understand that the majority of forces currently use DASH, it is for individual forces to decide which risk assessment models to use and the training their officers and staff receive.
Criminal Records
Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government plan to announce their response to the Criminal Records Regime review. [98813]
Lynne Featherstone: The Government response to both phases of the review of the Criminal Records Regime, which was carried out by Mrs Sunita Mason, the Government's Independent Advisor for Criminality Information Management, was announced on 6 December 2011. Copies of the response and reports were placed in both Libraries.
The Government accepted the majority of Mrs Mason's recommendations, either unconditionally or in principle.
Senior Civil Servants: Ethnic Minorities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of senior civil servants in her Department were from an ethnic minority in March (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; and if she will make a statement. [98870]
Damian Green:
The proportion of senior civil servants in the Home Office (including its executive agencies) who were from an ethnic minority was (a) 4.84% in March 2010 and (b) 5.59% in March 2011. The figure for March 2012 will not be available until mid-April
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2012. The latest available data are for January 2012, when 6.08% of senior civil servants in the Department were from an ethnic minority.
Departmental Redundancy
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has spent on redundancy payments in the last 12 months. [98116]
Damian Green: During the period 1 March 2011 to 29 February 2012, £1,880,904.82 was charged to the Home Office in relation to Civil Service Compensation Scheme redundancy.
Deportation: Christopher Tappin
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she had with the US Administration on the deportation of Christopher Tappin; and what aspects of the deportation were addressed in such discussions. [98702]
Damian Green: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has had no such discussions about the extradition of Mr Tappin.
Domestic Violence
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will discuss with senior civil servants in her Department how to encourage police forces to improve police response times to incidents of domestic violence. [99023]
Lynne Featherstone: Home Office officials continue to work with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in order to improve the response to domestic violence. The guidance to police on investigating domestic violence is being reviewed by ACPO, with the aim of reissuing it later in 2012. As part of this work, ACPO and the National Policing Improvement Agency are currently scoping a six-month pilot. This is due to commence in the spring of 2012 in two police force areas and will test out new procedures that streamline and strengthen the service provided by the police in order to ensure that resources are directed appropriately and efficiently when responding to domestic violence incidents.
Drugs: International Co-operation
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many memoranda of understanding have been established between UK customs and business organisations operating in the EU to combat drug trafficking under the guidelines laid down in EU Council Joint Action 96/698/JHA; and what evaluation her Department has made of the effectiveness of such memoranda. [96750]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 27 February 2012]: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.
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12 memoranda of understanding broadly relating to customs-related matters have been concluded between HMRC and the former HM Customs and Excise and business organisations operating in the EU (mainly EU-based airlines and other freight and passenger carriers), the scope of which includes the combating of drug trafficking. Five of these MOUs were concluded after the adoption of EU Council Joint Action 96/698/JHA.
Although these MOUs were signed by HMRC/HMCE, they are principally applied by the UK Border Agency, which keeps their operation and coverage under review to ensure their continued effectiveness.
Entry Clearances: Chernobyl Charities
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department's policy is on charging representatives of Chernobyl children's charities for visas to enter the UK. [99146]
Damian Green: As children from Belarus are commonly considered to have been worst affected by the Chernobyl disaster, visa applications to the British embassy in Minsk are processed free of charge for charities that have signed a UK Border Agency (UKBA) memorandum of understanding. Alongside the provision of free visas, this agreement ensures that the proper safeguards are in place and provides for mobile biometric collection facilities and other benefits for the charities.
Unfortunately, in line with a number of other difficult spending decisions, the gratis scheme will cease on 31 March 2013. The charities were informed of this decision in November 2010.
The cost of the gratis visas in Belarus is currently charged to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office by UKBA.
Entry Clearances: Overseas Students
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the accreditation system for English language schools offering courses which are (a) shorter than 11 months and (b) longer than 11 months; and if she will make a statement. [99136]
Damian Green: No changes have been made to the accreditation system for English language schools for courses shorter than 11 months using the extended student visitor visa route. We shall review the arrangement for the student visitor route later this year.
For courses longer than 11 months, international students must use Tier 4 of the points-based system. The Government are taking a new approach to the licensing of education providers sponsoring international students and have introduced a new system of educational oversight. This will raise standards and benefit genuine international students by ensuring that they receive high-quality education wherever they study. They will also help to protect overseas students from unscrupulous providers and support the many legitimate colleges by protecting the excellent reputation of UK education worldwide.
The Government plan to announce in the coming months proposals for inspection arrangements from 2013.
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European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been temporarily transferred (a) to and (b) from the UK for the purposes of investigation under Article 9 of EU Council Act of 29 May 2000 (2000/C197/01) in each of the last 10 years. [99433]
Damian Green: The UK Central Authority (UKCA) within the Home Office deals with requests for temporary transfer of persons in custody for the purposes of criminal investigations only in relation to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In the last 10 years there have been no such transfers under Article 9 of EU Council Act of 29 May 2000 (2000/C197/01).
Extradition: Counterfeit Manufacturing
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been extradited to another EU member state for counterfeiting offences involving the euro in each of the last 10 years. [99465]
Damian Green: The UK's extradition arrangements are divided into two parts. Part 1 concerns the European Arrest Warrant (EAW), which governs extradition between EU member states. The EAW has been in operation since 1 January 2004. Part 2 concerns extradition between the UK and our non-EU extradition partners.
The Home Office has no record of anyone being extradited from the UK to another EU member state for offences involving counterfeiting the euro from 2001 until the EAW came into force.
The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for Scotland are the designated UK authorities responsible for processing European Arrest Warrants (EAWs). According to SOCA records, the following number of surrenders pursuant to EAWs issued to the UK have taken place where ‘counterfeiting' was listed as the principal offence and offences involving the euro were involved:
| Number of surrenders | |
Due to the way data were recorded prior to 1 April 2009, it is not possible to provide data prior to this date. This would involve a manual examination of case files and incur disproportionate cost.
Families: Police Funding
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding police authorities will contribute from pre-allocated resources towards the troubled families initiative in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15. [99177]
Nick Herbert: This is a decision for individual police authorities—and, from November 2012, for police and crime commissioners—and this information is not held centrally.
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Translation Services: Foreign Nationals
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals in police custody have been released on bail as a result of problems with the provision of translation or interpretation services since 30 January 2012. [99244]
Nick Herbert: The information requested is not held centrally.
Foreign Workers: Domestic Service
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate has been made of the effect the removal of the right to change employer for overseas domestic workers will have on the number of undocumented migrants. [99217]
Damian Green: We do not anticipate that the removal of overseas domestic workers' right to change employer will affect the number of undocumented migrants.
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the effect of the removal of the right to change employer for overseas domestic workers on levels of trafficking for domestic service. [99218]
Damian Green: We do not believe that removal of the right to change employer is likely to affect levels of trafficking for domestic servitude.
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how overseas domestic workers will be able to escape abusive conditions of employment when their right to change employer is removed. [99219]
Damian Green: Fewer overseas domestic workers will come here. Those who do will be able, as now, to leave their employer. The National Referral Mechanism for the identification and support of victims of trafficking will remain available, as will support from the domestic workers' embassy and access to the police where the overseas domestic worker may be a victim of a crime. The Home Office will also work with voluntary organisations on support for victims of abuse.
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the written terms and conditions of employment agreed by overseas domestic workers and their employers referred to in the statement of intent will be enforced following the removal of the right of such workers to change employer. [99220]
Damian Green: The Employment Rights Act 1996 requires that employees in the UK be given a written statement of their particulars of employment. Employees, including overseas domestic workers, who consider that those particulars are not met may make a claim to an Employment Tribunal, provided they do so within three months of leaving the employment.
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Gurkhas
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 23 November 2011, Official Report, columns 403-04W, on Gurkhas, how many (a) former Gurkhas and (b) dependants of Gurkhas have been allowed to enter and reside in the UK from June to December 2011. [88068]
Damian Green [holding answer 10 January 2012]: 276 armed forces settlement visas were issued to Nepalese nationals from June to September 2011.
930 dependant settlement visas were issued to Nepalese nationals from June to September 2011.
These data are based on the number of visas issued to Nepalese nationals as we are not able to identify visas issued specifically for Gurkhas or dependants of Gurkhas.
The data are based on management information. They are provisional and subject to change. Home Office statistics are published quarterly. The data provided are up to the end of September 2011, in line with the period covered by the Home Office published statistics.
Immigration
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time was to reach a decision on in-time applications for (a) further leave to remain and (b) indefinite leave to remain in the most recent period for which figures are available. [98941]
Damian Green: For the period January to December 2011, the average time to reach a decision on in-time applications was (a) 34 working days for leave to remain, and (b) 60 working days for indefinite leave to remain. These figures relate to postal lead applications despatched in 2011.
All figures quoted above are management information which has been subject to internal quality checks.
Immigration Controls
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she received the Vine report on border security checks. [98134]
Damian Green: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), received the Independent Chief Inspector's report of his investigation into border security checks on 7 February 2012.
Internet: Fraud
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the costs to (a) consumers and (b) businesses of (i) credit card fraud, (ii) intellectual property crime and (iii) unresolved delivery problems for online sales in the latest period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [97630]
James Brokenshire: The UK Cards Association estimates that losses on UK-issued plastic cards as a result of fraud in 2011 were £341 million.
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There is no reliable estimate of the costs of intellectual property crime. However the Intellectual Property Crime Report 2010-11, published by the Intellectual Property Office, provides a number of examples from a range of resources, which give an informal indication of its scale and impact. Figures for unresolved delivery problems for online sales are not held centrally.
Members: Correspondence
Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department plans to reply to the letters of 13 and 21 January from the hon. Member for Manchester Central with T.O. Home Office reference: 0118112. [99144]
Damian Green: The chief executive of the UK Border Agency wrote to the hon. Member on 8 March 2012.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member for Harrow West's letter of 14 December 2011 about Mr Kakar of Harrow. [99222]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency replied to the hon. Member on 23 January 2012. Records show the hon. Member wrote a further letter regarding Mr Kakar on 21 February 2012 and a response to this letter was sent on 7 March 2012.
Police Stations: Lincolnshire
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many companies made bids for the contract to run a police station in Lincolnshire. [98121]
Nick Herbert: The procurement to contract for outsourced services was undertaken by Lincolnshire police. Therefore, we do not hold specific information on the police station elements of their overall contract. This is a matter for Lincolnshire police authority.
Police: Business Partnership Programme
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces in England and Wales have signed up to the Business Partnership Programme; and when she expects the programme to begin. [99153]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office has been supporting Surrey and West Midlands police since January 2011 in exploring the potential value that a business partner could bring to both forces in transforming and delivering support services. The procurement notice published by Surrey and West Midlands police authorities on 24 January 2012 in the Official Journal of the European Union is open to other forces to join, should they decide that this option best supports them in delivering transformation to maintain and improve services to the public. Police forces are already using the private sector to provide staff for control rooms, custody centres and investigations, enabling them to release officers for front-line duties.
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Proceeds of Crime: EU Action
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests to (a) identify and trace and (b) confiscate the proceeds of crime in accordance with Article 1 of EU Council Joint Action 98/699/JHA the Government (i) issued to and (ii) received from other EU member states in each of the last 10 years; and what evaluation she has made of the EU Joint Action's effectiveness. [97888]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 5 March 2012]: Information relating to requests to identify and trace the proceeds of crime is not held centrally. The UK central authority for criminal matters holds statistics for England, Wales and Northern Ireland in relation to mutual legal assistance requests. For requests to confiscate the proceeds of crime in relation to EU member states, the information is as follows:
| Confiscation cases for EU countries by year | ||
| Incoming | Outgoing | |
The UK must decide, no later than 31 May 2014, whether to accept full European Court of Justice jurisdiction over those EU police and criminal justice measures adopted before 1 December 2009 which have not been amended or replaced. This measure falls within the scope of that decision and will be reviewed accordingly.
Sentencing: EU Action
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to EU Council decision 1999/615/JHA, whether 4-MTA is subject to control measures and criminal penalties in the UK. [98771]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 8 March 2012]:EU Council decision 1999/615/JHA defined a-Methyl-4-(methylthio) phenethylamine (4-MTA) as a new synthetic drug to be made subject to control measures and criminal penalties by member states.
In 2001, the UK brought 4-MTA and a number of phenethylamine derivatives under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, as class A drugs. Since then the possession, supply and production of 4-MTA has been prohibited, unless under lawful authority, and attract class A criminal penalties.
Surrey Police: Redundancy
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) front-line and (b) back-office staff in Surrey police she expects will be made redundant in (i) 2012, (ii) 2013, (iii) 2014 and (iv) 2015. [99152]
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Nick Herbert: Decisions on the numbers of police staff are for individual chief officers and their police authorities—and, from November this year, police and crime commissioners—within the resource available.
Temporary Employment
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has spent on employment agency fees in the last 12 months. [98117]
Damian Green: Information on how much the Home Office, including its executive agencies, spent on employment agency fees in the last 12 months could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
UK Border Agency: Public Appointments
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the salary will be of the new head of the UK Border Force; [98132]
(2) when the position of the head of the UK Border Force was advertised; and for how long. [98133]
Damian Green: We expect the role of Director General Border Force to be advertised in March for a period of at least three weeks. Starting salary will depend on the qualifications, knowledge, and experience of the candidate selected for appointment and is not expected to exceed £140,000.
West Midlands Police Authority
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the West Midlands police authority on the effect of changes in expenditure by her Department on the reorganisation of (a) front-line services and (b) the Road Traffic Policing Unit. [98041]
Nick Herbert: The ways in which forces deliver transformation in order to maintain and improve services—including roads policing—while meeting the clear requirement to reduce overall spending are the subject of continuing discussions between the Department and the main policing bodies. The Home Office has been supporting West Midlands police and police authority (and Surrey police and police authority) to explore the potential value of business partnering to achieve transformation within those forces to maintain and improve front-line services.
Transport
Bus Services: Olympic Games 2012
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2012, Official Report, columns 407-8W on Bus Services: Olympic Games 2012, if she will place in the Library a copy of the assurances received by (a) the Olympic Delivery Authority and (b) the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. [96197]
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Mrs Villiers [holding answer 23 February 2012]:Further to the response previously supplied, the Olympic Delivery Authority's (ODA) contractor has procured 250 new and refurbished vehicles for spectator services that will be cascaded into its fleet after the games, and therefore will not affect its existing bus operations.
A further 70 vehicles are being taken from bus operations around the country. However these vehicles will not be required during the Olympic period due to a normally lower peak vehicle requirement, as school bus services do not operate.
All other vehicles are being sourced from coach fleets, and therefore would not be used to operate bus services.
Copies of the formal assurances sought would form part of the contract tendering process that the ODA and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) have gone through to obtain the buses. The Department for Transport was not party to these negotiations and therefore is unable to provide copies of the assurances.
Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she plans to implement the provision in the Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 that bus passes issued in any part of the UK could be used throughout the UK. [98751]
Crossrail
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in her Department worked only on the Crossrail project in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011; and how many hours they spent working on the project in each of those years. [99148]
Mrs Villiers: Taking an average over the calendar year, the number of officials in the Department for Transport working only on the Crossrail project in the requested years, on a full or part-time basis, was as follows:
| Number of officials | ||
| Full-time | Part time | |
Cycling: Training
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding her Department will allocate for cycling training in (a) each year of the current spending review period and (b) the following spending period. [99447]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has made £11 million per financial year available to local highway authorities and school games organiser host schools to deliver Bikeability cycle training to children aged between 9 to 14 years. This funding covers the period between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2015. Funding beyond March 2015 will be reviewed nearer the time.
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Dartford-Thurrock Crossing
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many consultations her Department undertook in relation to the Dartford Crossing in each of the last 10 years. [99215]
Mike Penning: The Department for Transport has conducted three consultations in the last 10 years in relation to the Dartford Crossing.
In December 2006 the Department consulted on proposals to revise the road user charging regime at the Crossing, which was followed in February 2008 by a consultation on proposals for discounted charges for local residents. In June 2011, the Department published a consultation document on further proposals to revise the charging regime.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reduction in carbon dioxide emissions her Department has made under the 10:10 initiative. [97940]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport did not sign up to the 10:10 campaign.
However, on 14 May 2010 the Prime Minister announced that central Government would reduce its carbon emissions by 10% within 12 months. At the end of this period the Department for Transport had reduced its emissions by 2,369 tonnes of CO2, a 10.7% saving.
Senior Civil Servants: Ethnic Minorities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of senior civil servants in her Department were from an ethnic minority in March (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; and if she will make a statement. [98865]
Norman Baker: All employees are asked to declare their ethnicity. This process is voluntary and some employees decline to participate in the equality monitoring process. The following information applies to senior civil servants who have declared their ethnicity:
(a) In March 2010 our central Department and its seven executive agencies employed 198 senior civil servants who had declared their ethnicity of whom seven (3.5%) were from ethnic minorities.
(b) In March 2011 our central Department and its seven executive agencies employed 171 senior civil servants who had declared their ethnicity of whom six (3.5%) were from ethnic minorities.
(c) In February 2012 our central Department and its seven executive agencies employed 156 senior civil servants who have declared their ethnicity of whom five (3.2%) are from ethnic minorities
Our diversity objectives, which will be published in April 2012, and our longer-term diversity strategy will address representation in the work force at all levels.
Liverpool Port: Finance
Mr Denham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2012, Official Report, column 451W, on Liverpool Port: finance, whether she
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expects that negotiations on the repayment of UK Government grants by the City of Liverpool Cruise Terminal to be completed by 29 May 2012. [99452]
Mike Penning: Yes, as regards the Department for Transport's decision. The time frame for state aid clearance by the European Commission is not within the Department's control.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2012, Official Report, column 451W, on Liverpool Port: finance, what assessment her Department has made of funding from the EU before removing its objection to turnaround operations at the City of Liverpool Cruise Terminal; and what assessment she has made of the effect of the lifting of this restriction on the level of competition in the ports sector. [99453]
Mike Penning: My Department has taken account of the existence of ERDF funding for the terminal, and of the fact that the local benefits, in respect of which this grant was awarded, would tend to be enhanced rather than reduced by the removal of the prohibition on turnaround. The effect on competition has been of primary concern throughout in considering the appropriate level of repayment, as it was the reason for the original prohibition.
South-Eastern Railway: Franchises
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when her Department plans to decide whether to change the service level commitment in the Southeastern Franchise Agreement following the trial of diverting 3 am peak existing services from Rochester to London St Pancras and 3 pm existing services from London St Pancras to Rochester/Faversham to start and terminate at Maidstone West; and what consultation will take place on the matter. [99131]
Norman Baker: Following a successful trail in 2011, Southeastern introduced a permanent high speed service between St Pancras and Maidstone West on a commercial basis.
As a commercially operated service the Department has no plans to include it in the Service Level Commitment for Southeastern.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations she has received on proposals to end the diversion of 3 am peak existing services from Rochester to London St Pancras and 3 pm existing services from London St Pancras to Rochester/Faversham to start and terminate at Maidstone West on the Southeastern franchise. [99132]
Norman Baker: The Department has received no representations on any proposal to end the high speed services between London St Pancras and Maidstone West that Southeastern introduced in 2011.
Luton Airport
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work her Department has carried out on proposals to expand Luton airport. [99071]
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Mrs Villiers: The Department has not carried out any work on proposals to expand Luton airport.
Expansion at the airport is a matter for the airport operator and/or owner.
M1: Fires
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2012, Official Report, columns 411-2W, on the M1: fires, when her Department will publish the Highways Agency and Network Rail audits to categorise potential sources of fire risk from third party activities at other critical locations beneath, or adjacent to, their respective networks. [99073]
Mike Penning: Both these audit reports are still being reviewed by my Department and a publication strategy is currently being considered.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what responsibilities the Maritime and Coastguard Agency will have in respect of leisure craft following the reorganisation of the Coastguard Service. [99769]
Mike Penning: The existing responsibilities the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has in respect of leisure craft will not be affected by the reorganisation of Her Majesty's Coastguard.
Network Rail: Compensation
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 21 February 2012, Official Report, column 744W, on Network Rail: compensation, which train operating companies (a) do and (b) do not operate the delay/repay compensation system. [99390]
Norman Baker: The information requested is as follows:
(a) Delay/repay is operated on the following train operating companies (TOCs):
Southeastern
Southern
East Coast
London Midland
Crosscountry
East Midlands Trains
First Capital Connect
Greater Anglia
Chiltern Railways (with exclusions).
(b) The following TOCs operate traditional Passenger's Charter discount arrangements:
Arriva Trains Wales
c2c
Chiltern Railways (delay/repay with exclusions and discounts)
First Great Western
First ScotRail
First TransPennine Express
Northern
South West Trains
Virgin Trains.
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Details of each TOC's compensation arrangements can be found in the Passenger's Charter on each TOC's website.
Railway Stations: Parking
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information her Department holds on the rate of change in car parking charges levied by Network Rail relative to changes in the cost of living in each of the last five years. [98640]
Mrs Villiers: This is a commercial matter for Network Rail as owner and operator of the national network.
Railways: Rolling Stock
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the announcement of 29 February 2012, what the phasing will be for delivery of the new carriages for the First TransPennine Express and London Midland franchises. [99446]
Mrs Villiers: This is a matter for the operators. However, I understand the new carriages for TransPennine Express are due to be delivered from December 2013 through to March 2014, with full introduction into service planned by the May 2014 timetable change. The London Midland new carriages are due to be delivered between April 2014 and August 2014 and will be in service from the December 2014 timetable change.
Railways: Information Services
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department is taking to improve the provision of information to railway passengers during service disruptions. [99072]
Norman Baker: The Office of Rail Regulation has consulted on new licence conditions aimed at ensuring passengers receive appropriate, accurate and timely information. All train operators have signed-up to the new conditions and have committed to delivering them against the rail industry code of practice.
Railways: South West
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the costs of the consultation exercise on the Greater Western franchise by venue in (a) Exeter, (b) Reading and (c) Bristol. [97609]
Mrs Villiers: The cost of venue hire in each location is as follows:
| £ | |
No estimate of other costs has so far been made.
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Regulation
Gordon Banks:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which regulations her Department repealed between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and if she
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will estimate the likely savings to the public purse in each case. [97316]
Norman Baker: The following table identifies statutory instruments (Regulations and Orders) that have been revoked between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012.
12 Mar 2012 : Column 27W
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The Impact Assessment for the Bus Service Operators Grant (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 identified savings for the Government of around £17.4 million per year (in 2010 prices) arising from the revocation of the Bus Service Operators Grant (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003. This revocation is the only one where the Impact Assessment expressly identifies a quantifiable saving to the public purse.
Savings to the public purse associated with the revocation of other Regulations or Orders cannot be identified without incurring disproportionate costs, in particular because of the further analysis that would be required.
Unpublished instruments, such as orders imposing temporary traffic restrictions, have not been considered for the purposes of answering this question as to do so would also incur disproportionate costs.
Rescue Services: Clydesdale
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the Maritime and Coastguard Agency proposes to cover the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) Clyde Coastguard district during the period between the closure of the MRCC in Greenock and the introduction of the national network. [98814]
Mike Penning: In order to ensure that Her Majesty's Coastguard maintains at least the same quality of search and rescue service as at present, the interim arrangements between the closure of Clyde Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) and the introduction of the ‘National Network' will use our current systems and existing pairing/quadrant arrangements.
Existing business continuity plans require MRCC Belfast to cover the MRCC Clyde area of responsibility. HM Coastguard will utilize its quadrant capability to enable MRCC Stornoway to take responsibility for part of the current MRCC Clyde area of responsibility in partnership with MRCC Belfast.
Quadrant capability enables each of the MRCCs in Belfast, Clyde and Stornoway to have access to all of the radio sites in the areas covered by the three MRCCs.
These interim measures will be robustly tested prior to the closure of the MRCC Clyde and appropriately resourced when implemented.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the ability of staff at Belfast and Stornoway to cover the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre Clyde coastguard area on a full-time basis. [98815]
Mike Penning: Her Majesty's Coastguard has established a working group of serving coastguards from the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres (MRCC) at Clyde, Belfast and Stornoway to support the transfer of MRCC Clyde's area of responsibility.
This will involve the development of procedures, utilizing processes that have been used during previous MRCC closures, to ensure the capability exists at MRCCs Belfast and Stornoway to maintain at least the same quality of search and rescue service as at present.
It should be noted that current business continuity plans require MRCC Belfast to utilize the existing pairing arrangements with MRCC Clyde to cover its area of responsibility.
Current quadrant capability also enables each of the MRCCs in Belfast, Clyde and Stornoway to have access to all of the radio sites in the areas covered by the three MRCCs.
In the future the ‘National Network' will enable the Maritime Operations Centre and all other coastguard centres to co-ordinate any incident around the UK coast.
Katy Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the potential risks
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arising during the period between the closure of the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre Clyde and the introduction of the national network; and what steps the Maritime and Coastguard Agency is taking to mitigate any such risks. [98816]
Mike Penning: In order to ensure that Her Majesty's Coastguard minimises risk and maintains at least the same quality of search and rescue service as at present, the interim arrangements between the closure of Clyde Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) and the introduction of the ‘National Network' will use our current systems and existing pairing/quadrant arrangements.
A working group of serving coastguards from the MRCCs at Clyde, Belfast and Stornoway will enable the transfer of responsibility for the MRCC Clyde work load to be managed by MRCCs Stornoway and Belfast. The transfer to a national concept of operations will be part of the process of changing the technical architecture at all MRCCs.
Travel: Prices
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she plans to take steps to encourage airlines and travel companies to reduce the price of flights and holidays in the school holidays; and if she will make a statement. [98282]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 6 March 2012]: The Government do not get involved in the level of fares set by UK airlines or travel companies. We recognise that there is an increase in demand during various times of the year and the supply of available seats during these periods is limited and can result in higher ticket prices. This reflects the normal operation of a market where the supply of the commodity, in this case aircraft capacity, is limited.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agricultural Wages Board
Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to consult on proposed changes to the Agricultural Wages Board; and if she will make a statement. [97149]
Mr Paice: DEFRA is currently working on preparations with a view to consultation on the future of the Agricultural Wages Board. I hope to be able to confirm details soon.
Animal Welfare: Pigs
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of the sow stall and tether ban on UK pig providers; and if she will make a statement. [97990]
Mr Paice: The Government have made no assessment of the impact of the EU sow stall and tether bans on the UK pig industry, as pig producers' investment in new systems was completed in 1999, to comply with the UK's unilateral ban that year on the use of tethers and close-confinement stalls for breeding sows.
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Bureaucracy
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to include environmental regulations in the Red Tape Challenge. [98363]
Richard Benyon: The environment theme has been open for comment on the Red Tape Challenge website since April 2011, with a ‘spotlight’ period in September 2011. The Government expect to announce their proposals on this theme by the end of March 2012.
Computers
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tablet computers her Department purchased in each of the last five years. [96206]
Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA has not purchased tablet computers in any of the last five years.
Flood and Water Management Act 2010
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to implement the provisions of the future Flood and Water Management Act 2010 relating to bad debt; and if she will make a statement. [99417]
Richard Benyon: We are currently consulting on draft regulations which, if issued, would bring into force the provision on bad debt—in section 45 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. Mindful of the small burden this provision will impose on landlords, we are also consulting on an alternative, voluntary option. We will decide on next steps using the evidence gathered in the consultation.
Food: Supermarkets
Mr Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage supermarkets to redistribute food waste to help reduce food poverty in areas of high deprivation. [97775]
Mr Paice: We strongly encourage supermarkets to work with organisations that redistribute surplus food to help reduce food poverty, to assist the homeless, and to provide access to nutritional meals to those who may otherwise struggle. Some retailers have arrangements in place with charities, such as FareShare, to collect and redistribute their surplus food.
There may be opportunities for redistribution of surplus food from the supply chain, as well as from supermarkets. In December 2011, the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my noble Friend Lord Taylor of Holbeach, wrote to organisations representing food producers to encourage them to consider working with redistribution charities.
We will also continue to work with grocery manufacturers and retailers to reduce food waste via phase two of the Courtauld Commitment, a responsibility deal managed by the Waste and Resources Action Programme on behalf of DEFRA and the devolved Administrations.
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Lyme Disease
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to eradicate the ticks which cause Lyme disease. [98300]
Mr Paice: Lyme disease is a disease of humans and prevention measures are mainly for the Department of Health to consider. Prevention of disease is by the avoidance of tick bites and this can be achieved with the appropriate use of insect repellents.
As this is not primarily an animal health issue, DEFRA has no plans to eradicate ticks that are capable of transmitting Borrelia burgdorferi infection to people. The possibility of successfully eradicating ticks from the wider environment is uncertain and is not being considered.
Animal keepers are recommended regularly to treat their pets and livestock for ticks as part of responsible animal ownership and routine animal health and welfare practice, as ticks can transmit a variety of animal pathogens.
Marine Conservation Zones
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government’s formal consultation on marine conservation zones will take place before the end of 2012. [98912]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA is planning to hold a three-month public consultation on marine conservation zones starting in December 2012.
Nature Improvement Areas
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether nature improvement areas will be introduced with any guidance for local authorities and communities on their role within the wider planning process. [98428]
Richard Benyon: The natural environment White Paper makes it clear that local authorities will be able to use local planning to support nature improvement areas, including identifying them in their local plans where they choose, while not deterring sustainable development. The Government are considering how to take forward planning guidance across a range of matters. In doing so, the Government are considering carefully all the submissions that have been made in response to the consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework which asked for views about supporting guidance.
Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect on farmers of nitrate vulnerable zones regulations on slurry storage. [98714]
Mr Paice: The implementation date for the increased storage requirements was 1 January 2012, when it became compulsory for farmers in NVZs to have sufficient storage capacity for the slurry their farms produce. The 2008 regulations which set this out were accompanied by an impact assessment.
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As part of a review of the implementation of the nitrates directive in England, which is currently ongoing, we have provided evidence on both the environmental and economic effect of the existing NVZ regulations on slurry storage.
Included with the ongoing consultation documents (available on the DEFRA website) is evidence on both the environmental and economic effect of the above NVZ regulations on slurry storage. The environmental benefit of five months storage was estimated as leading to a reduction of leaching by 0.5% to 1.5%. The cost of compliance with the NVZ slurry storage regulations is the dominant cost to farmers of the Action Programme. A case study was included in the evidence to illustrate the cost of increasing to five months storage: a 110 dairy cow herd with only three months slurry storage. The capital costs of providing sufficient storage ranged between £32,470 and £39,843.
The Farm Practice Survey 2011 data on slurry storage illustrate that on dairy farms (not all of which were in NVZs), 26% had less than four months storage, and 61% had four to six months storage, the remaining 13% having more than six months storage. The NVZ Action Plan requirement is five months storage.
Water Charges
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost to (a) the public purse and (b) an individual consumer of water and sewerage services for the next financial year in (i) the UK, (ii) England, (iii) the west midlands and (iv) Dudley borough. [98717]
Richard Benyon: In England and Wales private companies are licensed to provide water and sewerage services and recover the costs of providing those services by billing customers. Ofwat and the Consumer Council for Water are funded through customer bills. There is therefore no cost to the public purse from these services. Ofwat forecasts the average household combined water and sewerage bill in 2012-13 to be £374 in England (£376 in England and Wales) and £326 in Severn Trent Water's area, which serves the west midlands and Dudley. Northern Ireland and Scotland run different systems and figures for the UK are available only at disproportionate cost.
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues in HM Treasury on the effect of the level of the retail prices index level of inflation on the cost of water and sewerage services in the next financial year; and if she will make a statement. [98718]
Richard Benyon: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), has frequent discussions with Cabinet colleagues.
As the regulator for the water industry, Ofwat challenges companies' proposed bill rises and approves each company's charges scheme, having set price limits on a five-yearly basis. Water companies are obliged to submit their planned price adjustments to Ofwat for approval each year ahead of confirming them to their customers.
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The most recent price review was in 2009 and this set price limits at 0.5% above inflation to allow companies to make the necessary investment to secure water supplies and infrastructure. The next price review will be in 2014 and will cover price limits from 2015 to 2020.
Bills have been tied to inflation since privatisation. This makes sense as when inflation is higher, water companies' costs will increase as, for example, the costs of materials, staff, contractors and energy could all increase. By tying bills to inflation Ofwat ensures that companies can raise sufficient finance to meet their promises on service to customers. This has delivered around £90 billion of investment since privatisation. As is the case with all other regulated sectors, Ofwat uses the retail prices index as its measure of inflation.
Education
Academies
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many officials of his Department work on the brokerage of sponsored academies; and how many such officials are being recruited to such roles. [98159]
Mr Gibb: There are currently 37 FTE officials in DFE in the Department's Brokerage and Underperformance Divisions. There are currently three vacancies in this area of the Department that we are taking steps to fill.
Children: Health
Chris Ruane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will assess research into the level of
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self-control of a child as a predictor of well-being and attainment and its implication for his policies. [98992]
Tim Loughton: There are currently no plans to commission any new research or an assessment of existing research on this specific issue.
Children's Centres
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of introducing payment by results in children's centres. [98916]
Sarah Teather: We are running a trial to explore the feasibility of introducing payment by results in children's centres. The trial, involving 27 local authorities, began in summer 2011 and will run until March 2013. The trials will generate an evidence base about the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches and will help to inform an assessment of effectiveness.
Data Protection
Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish details of the six data loss cases which involved either personal data loss or a breach of confidentiality in 2011; and what measures were taken to resolve each such case. [98427]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 6 March 2012]: Details of the six data loss cases in 2011 are given in the following table.