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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 15 March 2012
Culture, Media and Sport
Broadband
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether Broadband Delivery UK has set target maximum charges for physical, virtual and operational support systems interconnect products as part of the superfast broadband tender. [100211]
Mr Vaizey: As a condition of receiving state aid approval for a scheme, suppliers successful in being awarded Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) projects will be required to comply with a benchmarking mechanism that will constrain prices charged for wholesale access products and services to be similar to those available in other competitive areas of the country/EU.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what importance Broadband Delivery UK places on standardised interfaces amongst the criteria for suppliers bidding in the superfast broadband tenders. [100213]
Mr Vaizey: Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) has included requirements for suppliers bidding to be appointed on to its Broadband Delivery Framework to adhere to appropriate industry standards for service provision, interconnection and operational support.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment Broadband Delivery UK has made of the quality of standardised wholesale access products offered by the remaining suppliers in the superfast broadband tender process. [100214]
Mr Vaizey: As part of its procurement process for the Broadband Delivery Framework, Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) is evaluating potential suppliers against a range of criteria including assurance that their solutions meet BDUK's minimum requirements and assessing of the quality of the wholesale access products and services they are offering.
Mobile Phones: Fees and Charges
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the recent decision by the European Parliament's Industry, Research and Energy Committee to support lowering the wholesale roaming rates proposed by the European Commission in Roaming III; and if he will make a statement. [99336]
Mr Vaizey:
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has not made any specific assessment of the recent decision by the European Parliament's Industry,
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Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee to support proposals by the European Parliament to lower wholesale roaming rates.
In adopting our position for negotiation of the price caps, DCMS has considered various proposals put forward on price caps for wholesale and retail costs for voice, SMS and data roaming in the European Union. These include the initial Commission proposals; revised proposals from the European Parliament; and the recent work on wholesale costs submitted by the European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC). DCMS note that the ITRE decision aligns the Parliament's proposals for wholesale price caps closely with the figures on costs recently advanced by BEREC.
Olympic Games 2012: Contracts
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2011, Official Report, column 473W, on the Olympic Games 2012 contracts, how companies incurring substantial additional access costs during the London 2012 Olympic Games can apply for compensation. [100138]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: Government and key Games delivery organisations, including the Metropolitan police, have for some time been consulting and engaging closely with communities and businesses to help minimise any disruptions to them. Any claims for compensation by businesses affected by Olympic measures would be considered on a case-by-case basis by the relevant responsible organisation. However, compensation will not be payable in the absence of an underlying legal basis for it and no Government funding has been specifically allocated to compensating businesses for the effect of security or transport measures.
We are working to ensure that the effect of Games operations is clearly communicated. Transport for London, for example, have provided information on the Olympic and Paralympic Route Networks, while the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) have produced extensive advice to businesses on planning for the effects of the Games. We are continuing to work to ensure that disruption to businesses and individuals is kept to a minimum.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what regulations his Department introduced between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and at what cost to the public purse. [99370]
John Penrose: The following statutory instruments sponsored by the Department have been made between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012:
The Natural History Museum (Authorised Repositories) Order 2011.
The Communications Act 2003 (Maximum Penalty for Contravention of Information Requirements) Order 2011.
The Football Spectators (Seating) Order 2011.
The Safety of Sports Grounds (Designation) Order 2011.
The Gambling Act 2005 (Gaming Machines in Adult Gaming Centres and Bingo Premises) Order 2011.
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The Categories of Gaming Machine (Amendment) Regulations 2011.
The Safety of Sports Grounds (Designation) (No.2) Order 2011.
The London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Advertising and Trading) (England) Regulations 2011.
The Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery Act 2004 (Appointed Day) Order 2011.
The Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery Act 2004 (Commencement No.5) Order 2011.
The Wireless Telegraphy (Fixed Penalty) Regulations 2011.
The Safety of Sports Grounds (Designation) (No.3) Order 2011.
The Safety of Sports Grounds (Designation) (No.4) Order 2011.
The Sports Grounds Safety Authority Act 2011 (Commencement) Order 2011.
The Safety of Sports Grounds (Designation) (No.5) Order 2011.
The Code of Practice for Electronic Programme Guides (Addition of Programme Services) Order 2011.
The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (Dissolution) Order 2012.
The Royal Parks and Other Opens Spaces (Amendment) Regulations 2012.
The Public Lending Right Scheme 1982 (Commencement of Variations) Order 2012.
There are no records of the cost to the Department in making these statutory instruments. The costs essentially consist of staff time. As such, no reasonable estimate can be made, save at disproportionate cost.
Telephone Services
Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps the Government are taking to reduce the cost of calling customer helplines using 08 telephone numbers, including from mobile telephones. [100093]
Mr Vaizey: This is an operational issue for the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom). Ofcom set out possible changes in its consultation of 16 December 2010:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/simplifying-non-geo-numbers
and is currently reviewing non-geographic numbers. Ofcom will present detailed proposals in a further consultation scheduled for the beginning of April.
Ofcom intends to overhaul the charging of freephone (080) numbers, including those made from mobile telephones and other non-geographic ranges, including 084/087 numbers. The intentions set out in December 2011 included the recommendation that freephone (080) calls should be available from all telephones, including fixed and mobile and that there should be clear pricing rules for revenue sharing ranges to allow price comparison between providers and restrict the ability of mobile companies to exploit consumer confusion.
Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will discuss with consumer advocacy organisations the effects on low-income consumers of the use of 08 telephone numbers for customer helplines by utility companies, banks, airlines and other service providers. [100095]
Mr Vaizey:
This is an operational issue for the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom). Following discussions with consumers and
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industry Ofcom's view is that consumers, including those who are vulnerable, should be able to access socially important services, particularly if they are in a mobile-only household. Consequently, Ofcom considers that there should be clear pricing rules for revenue sharing ranges to allow price comparison between providers and to restrict the ability of mobile companies to exploit consumer confusion. Therefore, Ofcom has been reviewing the system of non-geographic numbers and set out possible changes in its consultation of 16 December 2010:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/simplifying-non-geo-numbers/
Ofcom will present further detailed proposals in its forthcoming consultation document, which is scheduled for the beginning of April. Ofcom has previously proposed that calls to freephone (080) numbers should be available from all telephones including fixed and mobiles. Also, recommendations for 084/087 revenue-sharing ranges that were intended to overhaul the regulation of such calls to improve consumer understanding and confidence, while encouraging competition in prices and services. Contributions from all stakeholders, including consumer advocacy organisations, on the effects upon low-income consumers, are welcome and will help inform Ofcom's thinking on this important issue.
Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will estimate the average (a) length and (b) cost of a call to a customer helpline using an 08 telephone number; and if he will estimate the difference in cost of making such a call from a (i) landline and (ii) mobile telephone. [100096]
Mr Vaizey: This is an operational issue for the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom). Where calls are made to freephone (080) numbers on a landline, then the calls are free in most cases, regardless of the length of the call. While freephone (080) calls made on mobiles will vary significantly in their charge (up to 40p per minute), it is not possible to provide an estimate of this nature, as research of this type has not been undertaken. However, Ofcom's analysis suggests that less than 10% of such calls are made on mobiles. Calls to other 084/087 numbers vary significantly in charges and it is not possible to provide information about customer helplines.
Ofcom set out possible changes in their consultation of 16 December 2010:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/simplifying-non-geo-numbers
and will present detailed proposals in its consultation document, which is scheduled for the beginning of April. Ofcom's initial proposals included a recommendation that freephone (080) telephone calls should be available for consumers, regardless of whether the call is made from a landline or mobile telephone. It also, recommended that other 084/087 revenue sharing ranges prices should be presented to consumers in a manner that ensured greater price clarity and encourage competition in prices and services.
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Theatres: Museums and Galleries
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many (a) theatres, (b) museums, (c) galleries, (d) music arenas and (e) libraries he has visited in an official capacity since 1 January 2012. [97890]
Mr Vaizey [holding answer 5 March 2012]:My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport and I have visited various institutions related to my brief in the course of ministerial duties. I look forward to further visits in future.
Work and Pensions
Employment and Support Allowance
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his target is for referral of employment and support allowance claimants to Work programme providers; and how many referrals have been made to date. [99482]
Chris Grayling: The forecast volumes for mandatory employment and support allowance (ESA) payment groups over SR10 was 373,000 at the ‘invitation to tender' stage and was 373,000 in the latest review of forecasts, published in December 2011.
Between 1 June 2011 to the end of October 2011, there were 20,220 ESA referrals to the Work programme.
A full breakdown of Work programme data can be found at the DWP Tabulation Tool:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=wp
Employment Schemes
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of those aged 18 to 24 who have participated in the Government's Work Experience programme (1) have undertaken placements with employers in (a) the retail sector, (b) STEM-related industries and (c) the creative industries in (i) the UK, (ii) Lambeth local authority and (iii) Streatham constituency; [99386]
(2) have undertaken placements in (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) other businesses in (i) the UK, (ii) Lambeth local authority and (iii) Streatham constituency; [99387]
(3) have undertaken placements in the (a) voluntary and (b) private sector in (i) the UK, (ii) Lambeth local authority and (iii) Streatham constituency; [99388]
(4) have since gained employment with the organisations with which they undertook work experience in (i) the UK, (ii) Lambeth local authority and (iii) Streatham constituency. [99389]
Chris Grayling: The Department does not hold the information requested.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how his Department validates claims by providers of referrals to mandatory work activity prior to payment. [100090]
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Chris Grayling: Referrals to mandatory work activity are made through Jobcentre Plus. An attachment fee is paid for a participant starting on the programme. The Department's Provider Assurance Team (PAT) conducts reviews of contracted providers, including those delivering MWA, to assess their systems of internal control and provide an assurance that payments made to these providers are in accordance with DWP and Treasury requirements.
Fraud
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will publish which organisations have reported allegations of fraud to his Department since May 2010; and when each such allegation was made; [97622]
(2) which Work programme contractors have reported allegations of fraud to his Department since April 2010. [97624]
Chris Grayling: To disclose details of organisations or individuals that have reported allegations of fraud to the Department would undoubtedly discourage individuals and organisations coming forward with such information in future. This would not be in the public interest.
Fraud is not acceptable and any allegations of fraud reported to the Department are always treated very seriously and investigated thoroughly. Where investigators believe the matter is sufficiently serious they will act swiftly to refer the matter to the police.
Housing Benefit
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of recipients of housing benefit in (a) Leeds North West constituency, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) England in each of the next three years; and how many such recipients of housing benefit there were in each case in each year since 2009. [98400]
Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his parliamentary question number 96539 on 29 February 2012, Official Report, column 392W.
Industrial Health and Safety: Mining
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the health risks created by the use of diesel-powered machinery in the UK coal mining industry. [100143]
Chris Grayling: A technical development survey was carried out in 1994-95 at the request of HSE to obtain more information on workplace exposure, to inform work on the assessment of toxic substances; and to produce future guidance. The survey involved the collection of data from a range of sites where diesel-powered vehicles were used and where there was likely to be an accumulation of diesel engine exhaust emissions (DEEEs). HSE has issued guidance on the ‘Control of diesel engine exhaust emissions in the workplace’:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg187.htm
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In 2005 the Health and Safety Laboratory reviewed the situation in coal mines and produced a report ‘Controlling and Monitoring Exposure to Diesel Engine Exhaust Emissions in Coal Mines’:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/hsl_pdf/2005/hsl0555.pdf
I am placing both publications in the Library.
Jobcentre Plus: Complaints
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints have been made by residents of Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency about (a) Jobcentre Plus and (b) the Pension Service in the last three years. [99307]
Chris Grayling: The information is not available in the format requested.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many regulations his Department made between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and at what cost to the public purse any such regulations were made. [98514]
Chris Grayling: In response to the first part of the question, namely which regulations the Department for Work and Pensions has made between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012, these are given as follows:
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|
Jobseeker's Allowance (Jobseeking and Work for Your Benefit) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations |
|||
|
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (Amendment) Regulations |
In respect of SI 2011/2973 the Department published a Regulatory Impact Assessment, and an Explanatory Memorandum which advises the regulations will have a negligible impact on the public sector (see paragraph 10).
In respect of SI 2011/2862 the Department has published an Explanatory Memorandum which advises the regulations will have a low impact on the public sector (see paragraph 10).
In respect of SI 2011/2428 the Department has published an Explanatory Memorandum which advises the regulations will have a net saving impact on the public sector (see paragraph 10).
In respect of SI 2011/2426 the Department has published an Explanatory Memorandum which advises the impact of the regulations on the public sector is negligible or low.
In respect of SI 2011/2425 the Department has published an Explanatory Memorandum which advises the impact of the regulations on .the public sector is negligible.
In respect of SI 2011/2423 the Department has published an Explanatory Memorandum which advises the impact of the regulations on the public sector is negligible.
In respect of SI 2011/1801 the Department has published an Explanatory Memorandum which does not refer to any cost to the public sector as the regulations apply to occupational pension schemes.
In respect of SI 2011/1736 the Department has published an Explanatory Memorandum which advises the impact of the regulations on the public sector is negligible.
In respect of SI 2011/1724 the Department has published a Regulatory Impact Assessment and an Explanatory Memorandum covering these regulations and SI 2011/1245, SI 2011/1730, SI 2011/1246, which advises this legislation reduces costs on the public sector.
In respect of SI 2011/1707 the Department has published an Explanatory Memorandum which advises the impact of the regulations on the public sector is negligible; though there will be reduced administration costs on both benefit processing and for training providers.
In respect of SI 2011/1554 the Department has published an Explanatory Memorandum which advises the impact of the regulations on the public sector is negligible.
In respect of SI 2011/1497 the Department has published an Explanatory Memorandum which advises the impact of the regulations on the public sector is minimal.
In respect of SI 2011/1464 the Department has published an Explanatory Memorandum which advises the impact of the regulations on the public sector is negligible.
In respect of SI 2012/397 the Department has published an Explanatory Memorandum which advises the impact of the regulations on the public sector is negligible.
In respect of SI 2012/215 the Department has published a Regulatory Impact Assessment and an Explanatory Memorandum which advises the impact on the public sector of the reforms is related to the costs of extending the workplace pension reforms to seafarers and offshore workers.
In respect of SI 2012/199 the Department has published a Regulatory Impact Assessment and an Explanatory Memorandum which advises the impact of the regulations is a net saving to central and local government of £2.9 millions over a ten-year period.
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Universal Credit
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he expects staff to transfer to his Department from (a) HM Revenue and Customs and (b) local authorities to help deliver universal credit; and if he will make a statement. [100089]
Chris Grayling: The movement to one social welfare system making better use of IT and channel shift to online will cost less to run than the current system. This will mean an overall reduction in staff for 2017 compared with the number of staff delivering current services across DWP, HMRC and local authorities.
Work continues to define the detailed arrangements for processing UC claims and as the UC process and delivery model is refined, we will have greater clarity on the total number of UC delivery sites and the volume of staff required.
We are also looking at the requirements of TUPE regulations and the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice for staff transfers in the public sector. We hope to make an announcement late spring/early summer on how these impact on current and future services.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of total benefit costs (a) under universal credit, excluding the costs of transitional protection and (b) were universal credit not introduced in each financial year from 2013-14. [100091]
Chris Grayling: The 2010 spending review settlement included funding of £2 billion for the period 2011-12 to 2014-15. This is intended to meet all the costs of introducing universal credit including any increases in benefit expenditure, additional benefit administration costs in the transition period, the costs of IT development and implementation, communications, staff training and programme management.
For the benefits administered by DWP the most recent expenditure forecast excluding the cost associated with the introduction of universal credit is shown in the following table. These figures are consistent with the 2011 Autumn Economic and Fiscal Outlook from the Office for Budget Responsibility.
| Benefit expenditure | ||||
| £ billion, nominal terms | ||||
| 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | |
| Note: Figures relate to Great Britain or people resident overseas who are receiving Great Britain benefits, except for over-75 TV licences, which also cover Northern Ireland. | ||||
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the cost of providing transitional protection under universal credit in each financial year from 2013-14. [100092]
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Chris Grayling: We will offer transitional protection to universal credit recipients, which will ensure that households will not receive less as a result of their move to universal credit, where circumstances have remained the same. The overall cost of transitional protection in 2013-14 and beyond is subject to the build-up of universal credit caseload and the final policy design. The detailed approach to managing the build-up of universal credit caseloads is under development.
The cost of transitional protection is included within the £2 billion spending envelope allocated for the introduction of universal credit over the spending review period.
Work Capability Assessment
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of benefit fraud have been identified following a work capability assessment in the latest period for which figures are available. [98803]
Chris Grayling: The requested information is not available as DWP data are not linked in this way. The work capability assessment determines eligibility for employment and support allowance, it does not determine fraud and error in the benefits system.
House of Commons Commission
Lobbying
Hugh Bayley: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many political lobbyists have been issued with passes to the Houses of Parliament since May 2010. [99525]
John Thurso: The basis for issuing passes to Members’ staff is that the sponsoring Member states that the individual is employed to assist with his or her parliamentary duties in one of the recognised roles. No passes have been issued since May 2010 on the basis that an individual is a political lobbyist.
Women and Equalities
Senior Civil Servants: Ethnic Minorities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many and what proportion of senior civil servants in the Government Equalities Office were from an ethnic minority in March (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; and if she will make a statement. [98881]
Lynne Featherstone: Cabinet Office guidelines require each Department to report equality and diversity information using percentages rather than actual numbers so that small numbers are not disclosed, thereby breaching the Data Protection Act. However, as the number of senior civil servants in the Government's Equalities Office is particularly low I am unable to release figures for 2010 or 2011 as to do so could, in conjunction with other available information, breach the Data Protection Act.
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On 1 April 2011 the Government Equalities Office became part of Home Office Headquarters as part of a machinery-of-government change, and therefore figures for March 2012 are included in the Home Office reply in response to PQ98870, answered on 12 March 2012, Official Report, columns 11-12W.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities which regulations the Government Equalities Office repealed between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and if she will estimate the likely savings to the public purse in each case. [97360]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 12 March 2012]: From 1 April 2011, the Government Equalities Office became part of the Home Office. Information relating to the Government Equalities Office will be included in the reply of my hon. Friend the Minister for Immigration.
Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many regulations she made between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and at what cost to the public purse any such regulations were made. [98513]
Lynne Featherstone: Between June 2011 and January 2012 the following regulations were made in connection with the Equality Act 2010:
The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011. Estimated impact costs to the public sector are: £8 million one-off (familiarisation) and £23 million per annum ongoing;
The Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) (Amendment) Regulations 2011. Estimated impact costs to the public sector are: £135,000 one-off (familiarisation costs to local authorities);
The Equality Act 2010 (Commencement No.7) Order 2011. Estimated impact costs to the public sector are nil/minimal and have not been separately assessed;
The Equality Act 2010 (Commencement No.8) Order 2011. Estimated impact costs to the public sector are nil/minimal and have not been separately assessed.
The administrative costs of preparing and introducing these regulations are not separately estimated, and are covered within the Home Office budgetary provision for 2011-12.
Northern Ireland
Departmental Manpower
Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff he employs in his Department. [99946]
Mr Paterson: There are currently 162 members of staff working in the Northern Ireland Office, 84 of whom are directly employed by my Department; the remainder are on secondment or loan from other Government Departments/organisations.
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Police Service of Northern Ireland: Intelligence Services
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2012, Official Report, columns 444-5W, on the police: intelligence services; what plans he has to bring forward the publication of the memoranda of understanding between the security services and the police under the commitment made in Annex E of the St Andrews Agreement. [100078]
Mr Paterson: A protocol setting out arrangements for managing issues which are national security-related was shared with the Assembly and Executive Review Committee in March 2010. In addition, a high-level memorandum of understanding governing the handling of National Security matters by the Chief Constable and his reporting of such matters to the Policing Board was circulated to the Policing Board.
I have no plans to publish further memoranda of understanding; the memoranda already in circulation, together with the assurances provided in Annex E of the St Andrews Agreement, the statement in January 2007 by the then Prime Minister and the regular reports I receive from Lord Carlile, strike the right balance between being open, transparent and accountable while protecting national security interests and assets.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many regulations his Department introduced between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and at what cost to the public purse any such regulation was made. [98732]
Attorney-General
Courts: Interpreters
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what estimate the Crown Prosecution Service has made of the extra costs it has incurred arising from the recent shortage of court interpreters. [99941]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has no central records on the number or cost of court delays or adjournments which are caused by the late attendance or non-attendance of interpreters. In order to provide an estimate of additional costs incurred because of a shortage of interpreters, if any, extensive inquiries would need to be made in relation to each court list since the new interpreter contract was implemented on 1 February 2012 and this would incur disproportionate cost.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Attorney-General (1) how many regulations the Law Officers' Departments repealed between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and what savings have been made in each such case; [98512]
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(2) how many regulations the Law Officers' Departments introduced between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and at what cost to the public purse. [99762]
Serious Fraud Office: Manpower
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many staff the Serious Fraud Office employed in each of the last five years. [99942]
The Attorney-General: The following table provides details for the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff at the Serious Fraud Office on 31 March for each of the last five years.
| Number of staff (FTE) | |
Wales
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many regulations her Department introduced between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and at what cost to the public purse each such regulation was made. [98511]
Mr David Jones: The Wales Office did not introduce any regulations between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012.
Scotland
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many regulations his Department introduced between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and at what cost to the public purse any such regulation was made. [98734]
David Mundell: Each year, the Scotland Office takes forward a programme of orders under the Scotland Act 1998. Generally, Scotland Act orders make changes to the law in England and Wales, Northern Ireland or the reserved law of the UK which are outwith the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament and many of these changes are consequential to provisions made in Acts of the Scottish Parliament. Between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012 the following orders were brought forward:
The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2011 (S.I 2011/1740);
Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2011 (S.I 2011/2298);
Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (Consequential Modifications of Enactments) Order 2011 (S.I 2011/2581);
Prostitution (Public Places)(Scotland) Act 2007 (Disqualification from Driving) Order 2011 (S.I 2011/2490); and
Scotland Act 1998 (Agency Arrangements)(Specification) Order 2011 (S.I 2011/2439).
There were no implementation costs for these orders.
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Treasury
Tax Avoidance
David Mowat: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the oral answer of 2 February 2012, Official Report, column 1008, on tax avoidance, whether the BBC falls within the scope of the review on the structuring of employee remuneration. [94805]
Danny Alexander: I have announced a review of public sector appointments to examine the extent to which use if made of arrangements whereby the tax position of appointees can be perceived to minimised, including where they are paid through a personal service company, and to make appropriate recommendations.
The review will cover all bodies covered by HM Treasury guidance on Managing Public Money, including all central Government bodies, such as Departments and their arm’s length bodies. It will not cover arrangements in public corporations, public broadcasting authorities or the publicly owned banks.
The BBC is therefore not covered by the review. However, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport has written to the Chair of the BBC Trust on 7 March 2012.
Child Tax Credit: Birmingham
Steve McCabe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of families who will be affected by changes to child tax credits from April 2012 in Birmingham, Selly Oak constituency. [99464]
Mr Gauke: The requested information is not available.
The measures that the hon. Member refers to in his question are part of a range of reforms to the tax credits system announced at the spending review. All of the tax credits measures interact with each other and isolating the impact of any of these measures will not be representative of the overall change in a family's tax credit award.
The Government published estimates of the distributional impact of the packages of announced tax and benefit measures which can be found at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/junebudget_annexa.pdf
http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_annexb.pdf
Infrastructure: Wales
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Welsh Government on the operation of the National Infrastructure Plan and its potential benefits for Wales. [99870]
Danny Alexander: Treasury Ministers have discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
This includes the National Infrastructure Plan which sets out a clear strategy for infrastructure investment, both public and private, across the UK. In Wales this
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includes the electrification of the Great Western line to Cardiff, super-connected city funding to Cardiff, investment to improve broadband and mobile coverage in rural areas and private sector investment in wind energy.
Overseas Trade: Libya
Mrs Moon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what directives his Department issued on UK companies trading with Libya in each of the last two years; how companies were notified of such directives; and if he will make a statement. [100140]
Mr Hoban: Since the adoption of financial sanctions against Libya under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011) on 26 February 2011, HM Treasury has published 17 releases referring to UN, EU or UK sanctions measures in relation to Libya.
During 2011 the Security Council adopted three resolutions about Libya, there were three UK Regulations, and 15 separate EU legal measures.
All of the resolutions, EU and UK legal measures, and Treasury releases are available on the HM Treasury website at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/fin_sanctions_libya.htm
HM Treasury provides a free subscription services to interested parties, which issues e-mails to subscribers drawing attention to all sanctions releases. Details of how to subscribe are available at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/fin_sanctions_subscribe.htm
Personal Income
Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the change in the levels of wealth inequality between 1997 and the most recent period for which figures are available. [100086]
Mr Gauke: The Gini coefficient (a measure of wealth inequality) for 1997 to 2005 is available from the archived Personal Wealth National Statistics table 13.5 published on the HMRC website at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal_wealth/13-5-table-2005.pdf
Following a review of the methodology a Gini coefficient is no longer published in the HMRC Personal Wealth Statistics but information on the distribution of identified wealth (i.e. wealth owned by estates represented by those passing through probate) for 2001 to 2003 and 2005 to 2007 is published on the HMRC website in National Statistics table 13.8 available at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal_wealth/table13-8.pdf
There is also information on the distribution of wealth for 2006 to 2008 published in Chapter 2 of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Wealth in Great Britain report. This is available from the ONS website at:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/was/wealth-in-great-britain/main-results-from-the-wealth-and-assets-survey-2006-2008/index.html
This report is based on a different definition of wealth and on household distribution rather than individuals, and so the Gini and other measures of wealth inequality in this report are not comparable with the HMRC publication.
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Private Finance Initiative
Mr Carswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which PFI projects have been given final approval by the Treasury since May 2010; and what the value of all such projects was. [100172]
Danny Alexander: HM Treasury publishes information on PFI projects on its website. This information was last updated on 30 November 2011 using data submitted by Government Departments to HM Treasury. This information can be accessed from the Treasury website at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ppp_pfi_stats.htm
Between 1 May 2010 and 30 November 2011, 41 PFI projects with a capital value of £3.2 billion have reached financial close.
The Treasury will shortly be collecting the next update to the PFI data to the end of this financial year. It is expected that this information will be published online during May.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many regulations his Department introduced between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and at what cost to the public purse. [99081]
Miss Chloe Smith: 23 statutory instruments made by HM Treasury came into force between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012. The Department does not keep a record of the cost of making these statutory instruments.
Since the ‘One In, One Out’ system has been in operation the net cost of HM Treasury regulation on business has been -£26.46 million per annum.
Statements of HM Treasury's regulatory and deregulatory measures are published every six months on our website at:
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about_new_regulations.htm
Taxation: Bingo
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the bingo industry on the relationship between bingo gross profits tax and total tax revenue from the gaming sector. [99965]
Miss Chloe Smith: Treasury Ministers and officials meet with, and receive representations from, a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the usual policymaking process. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such representations.
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the rate of gross profit tax levied on (a) bingo clubs and (b) bookmakers; and for what reasons there is a difference between the two rates. [99967]
Miss Chloe Smith:
The rates of general betting duty and bingo duty were set by the previous Government. Bingo duty is charged at 20% of gross profits and
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general betting duty is charged at 15% of gross profits. The March 2011 Budget left rates unchanged. All taxes, including gambling taxes, are kept under review.
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an assessment of how changes to the taxation of gaming machines in bingo halls will affect the overall tax burden on such halls. [99968]
Miss Chloe Smith: The latest assessment of the impact of machine games duty (MGD) on individuals and businesses is available in the Tax Information and Impacts Note published on 6 December together with draft legislation for machine games duty.
This publication can be found here:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/machine_games_duty.pdf
The detailed tax impact on, and within, specific gambling sectors will be estimated after MGD rates are set at Budget.
VAT: Air Ambulance Services
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the potential merits and feasibility of (a) reducing the rate of VAT charged on air ambulance fuel and (b) returning VAT collected in respect of fuel used by air ambulances back to air ambulance services. [100174]
Miss Chloe Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given on 16 June 2011, Official Repor t, House of Lords, column WA202, and further add that under EU VAT law it is not possible to have a reduced rate on air ambulance fuel.
There are no plans to return VAT collected in respect of fuel. The Government provide support for charities primarily through over £3 billion a year in tax reliefs, of which Gift Aid makes up around £1 billion.
VAT: Green Deal Scheme
Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of VAT will be charged on energy efficiency measures under the Green Deal. [100207]
Mr Gauke: The reduced rate of VAT applies to the installation of certain types of energy saving materials and grant funded energy saving products, meeting the conditions in groups 2 and 3 of schedule 7A of the VAT Act 1994. Other energy efficiency products are liable to VAT at the standard rate.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to answer question 96242, tabled on 20 February 2012 for answer on 22 February 2012. [100177]
Miss Chloe Smith: I replied to the hon. Member on 13 March 2012, Official Report, column 173W.
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Energy and Climate Change
Energy Saving Trust: Consultants
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much the Energy Saving Trust has spent on public affairs consultancy in the last 36 months; which firms received payment; and for what reason such payments were made. [99732]
Gregory Barker: The Energy Saving Trust (EST) has not spent any of its DECC grant funding on public affairs consultancy during the last 36 months. EST is a private company organised as a social enterprise with charitable status.
Support for public affairs consultancies from sources other than grant funding is a matter for its board but I understand from EST that it has held small contracts with Positif Politics Ltd, Strategem and Weber Shandwick Public Affairs for corporate activities.
Fossil Fuels: Exploration
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what responsibility his Department has for the use of hydraulic fracturing techniques in Wales. [100439]
Charles Hendry: All onshore oil and gas projects in the UK, including shale exploration and production, require planning permission and are subject to strict environmental controls, including scrutiny by the relevant environmental agency (for England and Wales, the Environment Agency), and to safety regulation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). In respect of England, Wales and Scotland they also require specific consents from DECC before any well can be drilled or production can commence. DECC works together closely with these other regulators and we will not consider issuing drilling consent until the Environment Agency and the HSE have confirmed that they have been notified of the proposed activities, including hydraulic fracturing where that is proposed, and have no objections to them going ahead.
Green Deal Scheme
Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to ensure that the proposed Green Deal advice line and website for consumers offer details of all authorised assessors, and not solely major providers. [100077]
Gregory Barker: The mechanisms for referring Green Deal advice services customers on to authorised assessors are still being developed. However, where referrals are made to assessors, my Department will ensure that it is done in an equitable manner which is inclusive of independent assessors and those working for small and medium sized businesses.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether a household taking out a Green Deal package would be able to switch to an energy supplier not part of the Green Deal central charge mechanism. [100208]
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Gregory Barker: A household with a live Green Deal plan being repaid through their electricity bill would be able to switch freely between all larger electricity suppliers (more than 250,000 customers) and those smaller electricity suppliers (less than 250,000 customers) that had chosen to accede to the Green Deal Arrangements Agreement. Switching between gas suppliers would be unaffected.
Local Energy Assessment Fund
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2012, Official Report, column 554W, on Local Energy Assessment Fund, what the budget for the fund is in the most recent period for which figures are available; and what proportion of that budget has been spent. [99878]
Gregory Barker: The budget for the Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF) is £10 million. Of this, £9.2 million was awarded, in two phases, to the 237 projects judged to have met all the criteria of the competition including value for money. So far, £2.3 million has been paid out by the Energy Saving Trust, which administers the fund.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2012, Official Report, column 554W, on Local Energy Assessment Fund, if he will publish (a) the criteria by which applications were judged and (b) for what reasons the unsuccessful bids were considered not to have met those criteria. [99879]
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Gregory Barker: In order to receive a part of the £10 million Local Energy Assessment Fund (LEAF), an application had to meet the eligibility criteria set out in the guidance which can be found at:
http://www.greencommunitiescc.org.uk/DECCDocuments/LEAFGuidance.pdf
Applications also had to demonstrate value for money.
The LEAF criteria were agreed in partnership with the LEAF Project Board, which consisted of members of the community energy sector, the wider community sector, the Energy Saving Trust and the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Each LEAF application was assessed by two independent assessors, from a group of community energy experts recommended by the Leaf Project Board, in a process overseen by the full board. The average score was used to rank applications.
Any application with a significant variance between the two initial assessors underwent assessment by a third assessor.
Feedback from Phase 1 applications has been published at:
http://www.greencommunitiescc.org.uk/DECCNews.aspx
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what regulations his Department introduced between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and at what cost to the public purse. [99368]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State has made the following regulations which came into force during the period referred to in the question:
Renewable Energy
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he intends to take to (a) promote stability and (b) encourage investor confidence in renewable energy projects. [100210]
Gregory Barker: In order to meet our 2020 renewable energy target, we will need to boost deployment across the UK. The Renewable Energy Roadmap (published July 2011) sets out a UK-wide targeted plan of actions for eight key technologies in order to meet our ambitions for renewable energy.
The current financial mechanisms to incentivise renewable electricity are the renewables obligation (RO) and the feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme. We are currently undertaking reviews of the RO banding and the FIT scheme to bring greater stability and certainty to the market. The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was launched in November 2011 to support renewable heat.
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The Electricity Market Reform (EMR) White Paper sets out a new support scheme for all low carbon electricity. This includes robust transitional arrangements so as to maintain stable conditions for renewables investments.
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the cost to the public purse of the level of subsidy that would be paid to current online nuclear power stations under the feed-in tariff proposals outlined in the Government's electricity market reform White Paper. [99597]
Gregory Barker: The proposed feed-in tariffs with contracts for difference as set out in the Government's Electricity Market Reform White Paper will not be made available to existing nuclear power stations.
The contracts for difference create a level playing field for investment across new low carbon technologies and as such do not represent a subsidy for nuclear.
Renewable Energy: Scotland
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of generation capacity from renewable sources in Scotland in (a) 2012, (b) 2013, (c) 2014 and (d) 2015; and what assessment he has made of the value of the Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) estimated to be allocated to Scotland in each of these years both as (i) an overall figure and (ii) a percentage of the total UK ROCs allocation. [99589]
Gregory Barker: Projections of renewable electricity generating capacity over this period have been made at the UK level and are detailed in the impact assessment and Pöyry consultants report accompanying the renewables obligation banding review consultation, both available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/cons_ro_review/cons_ro_review.aspx
Specific assessments of projected total renewable electricity generating capacity in the devolved Administrations, including Scotland, and of ROCs produced in Scotland, are not available.
Renewables Obligation
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the willingness of investors to invest in the green economy following changes to the banding of renewables obligations. [100202]
Gregory Barker:
Many estimates of the level of investment in the green economy are made by independent experts and DECC keeps track of these. A recent example is Ernst and Young's February 2012 renewable energy attractiveness index which ranked the UK fifth in the world, up one place from their previous assessment in November 2011. This assessment followed the publication of the RO banding review consultation in October. We
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are currently considering the evidence received from this consultation and aim to publish a government response in the spring.
Since April 2011, the UK has seen announcements of £3.8 billion of investment in renewables.
Justice
Crime: Voluntary Workers
Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions for offences relating to (a) financial, (b) physical and (c) sexual abuse, where the offender was not a family member but working in a voluntary capacity with the victim there were between 2005 and 2010. [99949]
Mr Blunt: The Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. Other than where specified in the statute this information does not include all the circumstances of each case.
It is therefore not possible from these centrally held data to separately identify those cases where the offender was working in a voluntary capacity with the victim from other cases.
Annual court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in May 2012.
Families
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how much funding his Department has allocated to the troubled families initiative in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15; [99168]
(2) how many civil servants in his Department are working on the troubled families initiative; [99169]
(3) how much funding (a) HM Court and Tribunal Service, (b) HM Prison Service and (c) other agencies under his Departmental remit will contribute to the troubled families initiative from pre-allocated resources in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13, (iii) 2013-14 and (iv) 2014-15 financial years; [99171]
(4) whether funding of the troubled families initiative has had implications for the funding of other programmes operated by his Department; what such programmes are; and what funding has been so diverted in each case. [99549]
Mr Djanogly: In the financial years (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is contributing £0 million/£8 million/£8 million/£9 million to the Troubled Families initiative.
As of 7 February 2012, there were 1.0 FTE staff based at MOJ working on the troubled families initiative as part of their duties. Additionally, the Youth Justice Board has 1.25 FTE staff working on the initiative.
The Troubled Families programme is one of a number of new programmes the Department is funding over the spending review period. The Department keeps its spending, delivery and savings plans under constant review against emerging priorities. The Department is in the process of finalising its budget for next year, which includes its
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contribution towards the funding of the Troubled Families programme. The Department will not be cancelling or cutting the budgets of specific projects or programmes to fund the Troubled Families programme in 2012-13. How the programme will be funded in future years will be considered alongside other departmental pressures and priorities.
Fraud: EU Law
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the UK has enacted the provisions of EU Council Framework Decision 2000/383/JHA of 6 December 2001; and what assessment he has made of its effectiveness in combating fraud against the euro. [100184]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: The provisions of EU Council Framework Decision 2001/383/JHA of 6 December on combating fraud against the euro have been implemented in UK law.
The Government have not made any assessment of the effectiveness of the Framework Decision.
Organised Crime: Witnesses
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been (a) charged and (b) convicted in cases where evidence given by assisting offenders as defined in the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 was used in each year since 2007. [97103]
Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on offences provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought but not the specific circumstances of each case. It is not possible to identify from centrally held information those specific cases where evidence has been given by assisting offenders.
Prison Sentences
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were returned to prison for the full remainder of their prison sentence for breaching their licence conditions in each of the last three years following (a) one breach, (b) two breaches, (c) three breaches and (d) four or more breaches. [99855]
Mr Blunt: The Public Protection Unit Database in the National Offender Management System has not been designed in a way that would make data on the number of breaches per offender and time spent in custody following recall readily accessible and retrievable. Instead, a manual trawl of prisoner files would be required to answer the question. There are around 15,000 recalls per year. Consequently, a trawl of the files would exceed cost limits.
Prisons
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department proposes to spend on capital investment in the prison estate for each year of the current spending review period. [98754]
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Mr Blunt: For each year of the current spending review period the Ministry of Justice plans to spend the following amounts on capital investment in the prison estate:
| £ million | |
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many regulations his Department introduced between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and at what cost to the public purse any such regulation was made. [98731]
Mr Djanogly: Between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012, the Ministry of Justice has laid no statutory instruments which have regulatory impact.
Reoffenders
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what the reconviction rate after 12 months was for offenders aged between 18 and 24 years on completion of (a) prison and (b) community sentences in each year since 2008; [100011]
(2) what the reconviction rate after six months was for prisoners aged between 18 and 24 years on the completion of (a) prison and (b) community sentences in each year since 2008. [100012]
Mr Blunt: The hon. Member’s questions have been answered using the Ministry of Justice's published proven reoffending statistics for England and Wales, broken down further by the age of the offender. These statistics are published on a quarterly basis and the latest bulletin, which was published on 26 January 2012, provides proven re-offending rates for offenders who were released from custody, received a caution, reprimand, warning, or tested positive for opiates or cocaine between April 2009 and March 2010.
Proven reoffending is defined as any offence committed in a one-year follow-up period and receiving a court conviction, caution, reprimand or warning in the one- year follow up. Following this one-year period, a further six months is allowed for cases to progress through the courts.
Table 1 shows the number of offenders aged between 18 and 24 years who were released from prison in 2008 and 2009 and the proportion who reoffended within a one-year follow-up period.
| Table 1 | ||
| Number of offenders | Proportion of offenders who re offend (percentage) | |
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Table 2 shows the number of offenders aged between 18 and 24 years who received a community sentence in 2008 and 2009 and the proportion who reoffended within a one-year follow-up period.
| Table 2 | ||
| Number of offenders | Proportion of offenders who re offend (percentage) | |
2009 is the latest full calendar year for which data are available.
Proven reoffending rates for offenders are not available for follow up periods of less than one year. However, the Ministry of Justice plans to publish proven reoffending rates using two and five year follow up periods in the next edition of the Compendium of Reoffending Statistics and Analysis, which will be published in July 2012.
Please note that re-offending statistics are available from the Ministry of Justice website at:
www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/reoffending
Young Offenders: Islington
Jeremy Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many juvenile offenders from the London
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Borough of Islington have been held in a
(a)
secure children's home,
(b)
secure training centre and
(c)
young offender institution in each month since May 2005. [99460]
Mr Blunt: The table shows the number of juvenile offenders (aged 10 to 17) either sentenced or remanded in custody attached to the Islington Youth Offending Team who have been held in a (a) secure children's home, (b) secure training centre and (c) under 18 young offender institution by month from May 2005 to December 2011. This is based upon monthly snapshot data. Therefore one young person who is serving more than one month in custody, may be shown in more than one month in the table.
Data from April 2011 onwards are provisional and will be finalised when the 2011-12 Annual Youth Justice Statistics are published in 2013.
These data have been provided by the Youth Justice Board (YJB). The YJB does not hold data at local authority level. However, it does hold data down to Youth Offending Team area, some of which cover more than one local authority area.
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time.
| Table 1: Young people in custody attached to Islington Youth Offending Team by establishment type, May 2005 to December 2011 | |||
| Secure children ’ s homes | Secure training centres | Under 18 young offender institutions | |
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| Notes: 1. This table is based upon monthly snapshot data. Therefore one young person who is serving more than one month in custody, may be shown in more than one month in the table. 2. Data from April 2011 onwards are provisional and will be finalised when the 2011-12 Annual Youth Justice Statistics are published in 2013. 3. The YJB does not hold data at local authority level. However, it does hold data down to Youth Offending Team area, some of which cover more than one local authority area. 4. These figures come from the YJB's Secure Accommodation Clearing House System (SACHS) database. 5. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time. | |||
Home Department
Asylum
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) financial and (b) non-financial support her Department provides to dependants of asylum seekers. [99311]
Damian Green: Financial support is available to destitute asylum seekers and their dependants in order to meet their essential living needs. The following table sets out the weekly rates available to the categories of dependants that may be supported.
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|
Person aged 16 but under 18 (except where the person is a member of a qualifying couple) |
In addition, asylum seekers who have young children aged between one and three years old are eligible to receive an extra £3 per week per child. Children aged under one attract an extra £5 per week per child. Asylum seekers can also apply for a one-off maternity payment of £300 to help with the costs arising from the birth of a child.
Accommodation is provided to destitute asylum seekers and their dependants if they need it. The contractual arrangements with accommodation suppliers and voluntary sector partners also provide for information briefings on the rights and responsibilities of the asylum seekers while they are in the United Kingdom and practical advice on how they can access health care and legal assistance to pursue their asylum claims.
Crime: USA
Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the arrangements are for authorising US police investigations in the UK; and on how many occasions such procedures have been used in the last eight years. [97350]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 29 March 2012]: The information is not held centrally. Individual UK law enforcement agencies and police forces are responsible for authorising foreign police investigations in the UK.