ICT
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision she has made to ensure that the contracts awarded to Fincore Ltd under the Development Collaborative Business Project portal for the Animals in Science Regulation Unit include appropriate penalties for technical or financial failure. [96445]
Damian Green: There is no specific contract for the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Collaborative Business Portal Project as there is a general contract that covers the whole Collaborative Business Portal service. This contract states the service levels that must be maintained and details service credits that will be applicable should the supplier fail to meet these service levels.
Deportation
Heidi Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are subject to deportation or removal proceedings in each local immigration team area. [96498]
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Damian Green [holding answer 27 February 2012]: Local immigration team data are not held in a format compatible with National Statistics protocols.
Domestic Violence: Human Trafficking
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to identify and support victims of trafficking for domestic servitude following changes to the domestic worker visa. [99932]
Damian Green: The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for the identification and support of victims of trafficking was introduced on 1 April 2009. Persons, including overseas domestic workers, who believe they are a victim or potential victim of trafficking for sexual exploitation, labour exploitation or domestic servitude may seek, and will continue to be able to seek in future, referral to the NRM.
Entry Clearances: Domestic Service
Dame Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effects on her policies of the recent recommendation by the Office of the Special Representative on Trafficking on a visa regime for private household domestic workers that allows migrant domestic workers to change employer; and if she will make a statement. [100079]
Damian Green: The Government have taken into account all recommendations and comments made by those who responded to the consultation that included proposals on the overseas domestic worker routes of entry. The Government believe that the best way to address abuse of overseas domestic workers in the UK is to restrict access for such workers. That is why the Government raised the possibility of closing the route entirely. As a result of representations made, the Government have decided to retain a visa for overseas domestic workers but to restrict it to those who are coming to this country for short periods only, accompanying visitors. This in itself will reduce scope for abuse and leave other protections available.
Dame Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effects on her policies of the recommendation of the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery on immigration rules on visas linked to sponsorship by a single employer. [100080]
Damian Green: The Government have taken into account all recommendations and comments made by those who responded to the consultation that included proposals on the overseas domestic worker routes of entry. The Government believe that the best way to address abuse of overseas domestic workers in the UK is to restrict access for such workers. That is why the Government have decided, as a result of representations made, to retain a visa for overseas domestic workers but to restrict to those who are coming to this country for a short period only, accompanying visitors. This will reduce scope for abuse and leave the protections available.
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G4S
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if she will publish the findings of the due diligence process carried out in relation to G4S and the COMPASS contract; [99729]
(2) what consideration she gave to complaints and allegations of mistreatment made against G4S as provider of asylum seeker removal services when deciding that G4S was fit and proper to provide accommodation and transport for asylum seekers. [99730]
Damian Green: The findings of the due diligence process will not be published due to commercial sensitivity in line with usual practice. The due diligence process was undertaken in line with Government procurement regulations. The due diligence process assessed the bidders' ability to deliver the specified service for which they tendered.
The requirements for these services are different to those for escorted removal services. The COMPASS procurement considered the capability of all bidders, including G4S, to deliver the services required. The evaluation process to assess G4S and other bidders was supported by a team of operational, financial and commercial experts who were aware of the statutory obligations of the Home Office and the complexities of providing these services. This process has confirmed that G4S is a fit and proper organisation to provide the services and to recognise the needs of the asylum applicants that they will be accommodating and transporting.
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 former Gurkhas in the age groups (i) 30 to 39, (ii) 40 to 49, (iii) 50 to 59, (iv) 60 to 69, (v) 70 to 79 and (vi) 80 to 89 years have been allowed to enter and reside in the UK since May 2009. [88069]
Damian Green [holding answer 10 January 2012]: The following table details the number of visas issued to former Gurkhas from May 2009 to November 2011. December data are not yet available. The figures are based on the number of settlement visas issued to Nepalese nationals.
| Age range | Visas issued |
The following table details visas issued to Gurkha dependants from May 2009 to November 2011. December data are not yet available. The figures are based on the number of dependant settlement visas issued to Nepalese nationals.
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| Age range | Visas issued |
These 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.
Immigrants: EU Countries
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps she has taken to protect UK borders from increased economic migration from Eurozone countries; [99996]
(2) if she will take steps to protect UK borders from mass immigration from the Eurozone in the event of the value of the euro (a) contracting and (b) collapsing; [99997]
(3) what assessment she has made of the risk to national security of mass migration following the contraction or collapse of the euro; and if she will publish any such assessment; [99998]
(4) if she will put in place legal contingency measures to suspend European Council Directive 2004/38/EC should the Eurozone (a) contract and (b) collapse. [100000]
Damian Green: The Government are undertaking extensive contingency planning to deal with all potential Eurozone issues.
Manufacturing Industries: Prosecutions
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if she will set up a public inquiry into recent allegations that (a) the police and (b) the security services supplied information to the Consulting Association leading to the blacklisting of up to 3,200 building workers; [99350]
(2) if she will refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions for investigation and possible prosecution the 44 construction firms listed on the Consulting Association database as having used the services of that organisation to blacklist up to 3,200 building workers. [99349]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 12 March 2012]: Blacklisting is prohibited under the Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010. Breach of these can open the way to substantial damages being awarded by a court or employment tribunal.
Any complaint relating to allegations that the police acted unlawfully in this regard should be made to the police force concerned or to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Any similar complaint relating to the security services should be made to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.
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Police and Crime Commissioners
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance she has issued to police authorities entering into new contracts before the elections of police commissioners in November. [99165]
Nick Herbert: The Government expect police authorities to continue to implement their plans for reducing costs and delivering transformation—including where this includes entering into new contracts—up until police and crime commissioner (PCC) elections in November 2012. The Government have written to police authorities indicating that while there are no plans for an official period of purdah in advance of the PCC elections, there may need to be some arrangements made in relation to financial contracts in the weeks immediately preceding the PCC elections. We will work closely with police authorities to ensure that they receive clear information about how financial contracts should be dealt with during this time.
Police: G4S
Caroline Lucas:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place to (a) maintain standards of duty and (b) provide public accountability in relation to duties formerly
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undertaken by police officers (i) when police jobs have been outsourced to G4S by Lincolnshire Police Authority and (ii) when they have been outsourced to other private companies; and if she will make a statement. [96806]
Nick Herbert: Currently chief officers are accountable to police authorities for the delivery of all policing services, including services delivered by contractors. From November 2012 chief officers will be accountable to police and crime commissioners, who in turn will be accountable to the public, for such services.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many regulations her Department introduced between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and at what cost to the public purse. [99083]
Damian Green: The following table sets out the regulations which the Department introduced between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012 and the cost to the public purse of making each set of regulations.
The variations in the costs of different regulations arise because some regulations were published with an Explanatory Memorandum (which added to the cost) and others were subject to the draft affirmative procedure, which means they were published twice.
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Sexual Offences: Foreign Travel Orders
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when she plans to publish her response to the consultation on the proposals to strengthen the notification requirements for registered sex offenders, including introducing a requirement for registered sex offenders to notify all foreign travel; [98910]
(2) when her Department plans to introduce a requirement for registered sex offenders to notify the police of all foreign travel. [98911]
Lynne Featherstone: Our response to the consultation on reforming the notification requirements of registered sex offenders (part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003) was published on 5 March and is now available on the Home Office website.
On 5 March the Home Office brought forward new measures in The Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Notification Requirements) (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 which will extend and strengthen the system of notification requirements placed on registered sex offenders (commonly referred to as the sex offenders' register).
These new measures will make it compulsory for all offenders subject to the notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to:
notify the police of all foreign travel (including travel outside of the UK of less than three days);
notify weekly where they are not registered as regularly residing or staying at one place (i.e. where a registered sex offender has no sole or main residence and instead must notify the police of the place where he can regularly be found);
notify where they are living in a household with a child under the age of 18;
notify bank account and credit card details and notify information about their passports or other identity documents at each notification, tightening the rules so that sex offenders can no longer seek to avoid being on the register when they change their name.
We expect that the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Notification Requirements) (England and Wales) Regulations 2012 to come into force from summer 2012, subject to other parliamentary business.
Health
Continuing Care
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) continuing care assessments and (b) core assessments by social services in each local authority in each of the last five years. [100182]
Paul Burstow: We have made no assessment of the cost to local authorities of continuing health care, and core assessments by social services.
Drugs: Olympic Games 2012
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers the Government has to ensure that there is a 24-hour supply of medicines during the London 2012 Olympic Games. [100136]
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Mr Simon Burns: The Department will continue to work collaboratively with supply chain stakeholders to ensure that patients can obtain medicines quickly and conveniently during the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.
Drugs: Shortages
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission an independent study of the extent of any shortages of medicines; and if he will make a statement. [100201]
Mr Simon Burns: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 March 2012, Official Report, column 122W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Oliver Colvile).
Food
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of food procured by his Department (a) meets the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering and (b) is from British sources. [99806]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department's current catering contract is with Quadrant who are working with the Department to meet the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering. Data provided by Quadrant show that:
100% of the food provided meets United Kingdom or equivalent standards of production;
100% of the eggs provided are sourced from enriched cages;
fish is not sourced from the Marine Stewardship Council “fish to avoid” list; and
salt has been removed from tables to encourage customers to taste food before seasoning.
The proportion of food procured for the Department's catering contract (covering Richmond, Skipton and Wellington houses in London) that is produced in the UK totals 38%. However, it should be noted that there are considerable volumes of non-indigenous products purchased including: tea, coffee, rice, pasta, citrus fruits and exotic fruits.
100% of fresh beef supplied is British;
100% of fresh pork joints supplied are British;
100% of fresh milk supplied is British;
100% of shell eggs supplied are UK sourced and Lion marked; and
all fresh potatoes and root vegetables are sourced from the UK when in season.
Meningitis
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department plans to publish a meningitis strategy for England. [100134]
Anne Milton:
We will continue our vaccination programme that protects people from a number of causes of meningitis. Furthermore, earlier this month (i.e. March 2012) the Health Protection Agency published “Guidance for public health management of meningococcal disease in the UK” which updates guidance previously
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issued in 2006. The document provides comprehensive advice on the best practice for dealing with all aspects of the prevention and treatment of meningococcal disease, including meningitis.
The document can be viewed at:
www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1194947389261
However, there are no plans to publish a meningitis strategy for England.
NHS Confederation: Older People
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the conclusions and recommendations of the joint report by the NHS Confederation, Age UK and the Local Government Association on improving dignity in the care of older people; and if he will make a statement. [100156]
Paul Burstow: The Department welcomes the publication of the Commission's draft report, which aims to help drive improvements in the quality of care provided to older people in hospitals and care homes. We look forward to the publication of the Commission's final report.
The Government are determined to root out poor quality care in the national health service and through a range of actions. The NHS Operating Framework for 2012-13 establishes the issue of high quality, dignified and compassionate care as one of four key priorities for the NHS.
In addition, on 6 January, we announced a series of measures to improve the quality of nursing care and free up nurses to provide the care patients and relatives expect. The measures include setting up a new independent Nursing and Care Quality Forum, tasked with ensuring that the best nursing practice is spread throughout the NHS and social care.
NHS: Reorganisation
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to engage with stakeholders in developing and implementing the transition programme in the NHS; what representations he has received on the programme; and from whom. [99827]
Mr Simon Burns: The Secretary of State for Health, Ministers and officials meet regularly with stakeholders to discuss the Department's work. We carried out a number of consultations connected with NHS reform including on the White Paper, Liberating the NHS, and associated proposals, and throughout the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill. The NHS Future Forum led a period of intensive stakeholder engagement on the reforms in 2011 and reported their findings to the Government.
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to maintain and improve the quality of NHS care during the period of transition in the NHS. [99875]
Mr Simon Burns: The NHS Operating Framework 2012-13 sets out the national priorities for the national health service and includes a set of national performance measures that are monitored centrally.
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All NHS organisations during 2012-13 must maintain or improve the quality of services provided, while delivering transformational change and maintaining financial stability.
Additionally, the National Quality Board produced a report in March 2011: “Maintaining and improving quality during the transition: safety, effectiveness, experience”. This report provided advice on practical steps for maintaining quality, including setting out a clear process for delivering a robust handover for quality between current and new NHS bodies. The report is available at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_125234
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) by what means his Department will co-ordinate the change programme in the NHS; and what steps he is taking to safeguard public funds during the programme; [99876]
(2) what the principal mechanisms are for (a) controlling costs and (b) identifying future efficiencies in the NHS Transition Programme. [99945]
Mr Simon Burns: The programme is being co-ordinated by an Integrated Programme Office (IPO), established within the Department. The IPO oversees the running of a series of programme boards. These include the permanent secretary, the NHS chief executive and senior departmental and national health service directors, and are the means by which issues are discussed, decisions reached and recommendations made when required.
Measures being put in place to safeguard public funds during transition include the establishment of a transition costs group (TCG), which is considering funding for transition during 2012-13. The TCG sets allocations against which senior responsible officers for workstreams charged with delivering aspects, of the transition will be held accountable. The Department is also monitoring transition expenditure.
Future efficiencies to be derived from the programme of healthcare modernisation have already been identified as amounting to savings of £4.5 billion by 2014-15, and annual savings thereafter of £1.5 billion. These will contribute towards overall annual efficiency improvements in the NHS of up to £20 billion by 2014-15, and will be realised by maintaining financial balance in the system by way of reduced financial envelopes for the organisations concerned.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many regulations his Department introduced between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and at what cost to the public purse. [99082]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department introduced 37 regulations between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012. A list of the titles of these regulations has been placed in the Library.
Information on the likely costs to the public purse resulting from all regulations introduced is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost to the Department.
The following regulations have supporting impact assessments:
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The Plastic Kitchenware (Conditions on Imports from China)(England) Regulations 2011:
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/1517/memorandum/contents
The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) (Amendment) Regulations 2011:
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/1567/memorandum/contents
The Medicines Act 1968 (Pharmacy) Order 2011:
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2011/9780111513347/contents
The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2011:
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2011/9780111515822
The Health And Social Care Act 2008 (Primary Dental Services, Private Ambulance Services And Primary Medical Services) (Regulated Activities) (Transitory And Transitional Provisions) (Amendment) Order 2011:
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/2948/memorandum/contents
The Health Service Branded Medicines (Control of Prices and Supply of Information) Amendment Regulations 2011:
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/2955/contents/made
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that waiting times to see an ophthalmologist are reduced in Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust. [99834]
Mr Simon Burns: Waiting times to see an ophthalmologist at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust are the responsibility of the local national health service. The Department is aware that Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust has not been achieving the required standard in this area, and the trust has put in place plans to make improvements.
The Department collects and publishes monthly referral to treatment (RTT) data, which are used to monitor national health service waiting times. Latest England figures for December 2011 show RTT and diagnostic test waiting times are low and stable and the vast majority of patients started treatment within 18 weeks.
At a national level, in the ophthalmology treatment function, 93.2% of admitted patients started treatment within 18 weeks and 96.9% of non-admitted patients started treatment within 18 weeks.
Speech Therapy
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with (a) speech and language therapists and (b) organisations representing speech and language therapists on the Health and Social Care Bill. [100173]
Anne Milton: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health met with speech and language therapists on 18 October 2011 as part of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists' ‘Giving Voice’ campaign. Ministers and officials meet regularly with groups representing speech and language therapists to discuss how these services can play a full, contribution in improving patient care, experience and outcomes more widely. Discussions have included the Health and Social Care Bill.
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Cabinet Office
Government Departments: Procurement
Karl McCartney: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many fully compliant bids his Department received for each lot in response to the recent Government Procurement Service tender on multi-functional devices and services, managed print services and print audit services. [100183]
Mr Maude: The number of fully compliant bids, by Lot, received by Government Procurement Service in respect of the procurement for multi-functional devices and services, managed print services and print audit services are as follows:
| Bids | |
| Note: Some suppliers submitted bids for multiple bids. | |
Government Departments: Secondment
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2012, Official Report, column 613W, how many staff are currently supplied to Government departments without normal payment by KPMG, Ernst and Young and PWC, following the Cabinet Office's renegotiation of contracts with those firms in 2010 and 2011; in which Department they are serving; and what their function, grade and level of security clearance is in each case. [99600]
Mr Maude: Information on staff supplied to Departments across Whitehall is not held by the Cabinet Office.
Mortality Rates
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many deaths there were with a date of death between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2008 for which the time between date of death and date of death-registration exceeded 365 days, broken down by the cause of death with respect to (a) ICD-10 chapter and (b) short-listed ICD 10-code grouping, as defined by the Office for National Statistics; [100187]
(2) how many deaths there were with a date of death between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2008 for which the time between date of death and date of death-registration exceeded 730 days, broken down by underlying cause of death with respect to (a) ICD-10 chapter and (b) short-listed ICD 10-code grouping, as defined by the Office for National Statistics; [100188]
(3) how many deaths were registered in England and Wales with date of death between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2008, for which the time between the date of death and the date of death-registration was longer than (a) 91 days, (b) 183 days, (c) 365 days and (d) 730 days. [100189]
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Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated March 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions.
Tables 1 and 2 provide the number of deaths by ICD-10 Chapter where the time between date of death and date of death registration was greater than 365 days and 730 days, respectively, for England and Wales for deaths occurring between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2008.
Table 3 provides the number of deaths where the time between date of death and date of death registration was longer than (a)
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91 days, (b) 183 days, (c) 365 days and (d) 730 days in England and Wales for deaths occurring between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2008.
Figures for the number of deaths where the delay between death and registration exceeded 365 days or 730 days, broken down by short-listed ICD-10 grouping are not currently available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. ONS will publish these figures alongside the annual Death Registrations publication in the Autumn.
The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year by sex, age, cause, marital status and place of death are published annually and are available here:
www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/all-releases.html?definition=tcm%3A77-27475
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| (1) Figures are for deaths occurring between 2005 and 2008 and include deaths of non-residents. (2) No underlying cause of death can be determined from the death certificate used to register neonatal deaths (deaths under 28 days). (3) Deaths can only be registered once an inquest has taken place. If the inquest is adjourned the death may be registered and a temporary code for underlying cause of death may be given. Deaths given temporary codes are included in Chapter XX. (4) The date of death is not available for 54 deaths. These have been excluded from this table. Source: Office for National Statistics | ||
| Table 3. Number of deaths for which the time between registration and date of death is greater than (a) 91 days, (b) 183 days, (c) 365 days and (d) 730 days, England and Wales, 2005-08 (1, 2) | |
| Waiting time | Deaths |
| (1) Figures are for deaths occurring between 2005 and 2008 and include deaths of non-residents. (2) The date of death is not available for 54 deaths. These have been excluded from this table. Source: Office for National Statistics | |
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many regulations his Department introduced between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and at what cost to the public purse. [99760]
Mr Maude: One regulation was introduced by the Cabinet Office between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012, which was at no cost to the public purse.
Unemployment: Disability
Mr Woodward: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people with a registered disability were unemployed in (a) St Helens South and Whiston constituency, (b) the North West and (c) England in each of the last five years. [100193]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people with a registered disability were unemployed in (a) St Helens South and Whiston constituency, (b) the North West and (c) England in each of the last five years. (100193)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. However, due to small sample sizes estimates of unemployment for the St Helens South and Whiston constituency are unavailable.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not compile estimates of the number of persons registered as disabled who were unemployed. As an alternative we have provided estimates of the number of persons who had a limiting health problem lasting more than 12 months who were unemployed.
Table 1 shows the number of people identifying themselves as disabled who were unemployed in the North West and England, for the 12 month periods ending in June from 2007 to 2009 from the APS, along with the latest estimate for the 12 months ending June 2010.
As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates is given in the table.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
| Table 1: Number of disabled (1) people in unemployment | ||
| Thousand | ||
| North West | England | |
| (1 )People who are DDA disabled or have a work limiting disability. Note: Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220 Key: * 0 ≤ CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Annual Population Survey. | ||
Defence
Libya: Immigration
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to respond to the letter of 26 October 2011 from Tineke Strik, the Rapporteur investigating the loss of lives of migrants from Libya in the Mediterranean Sea in March and April 2011. [95164]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 20 February 2012]: The letter from Ms Strik on behalf of the Council of Europe's Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population was received in the Secretary of State’s office on 15 February. We are currently looking into the issues raised and will respond shortly.
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Military Aircraft: Helicopters
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people from other nations have been trained at the Defence Helicopter Flying School in each of the last five years; what aircraft they were trained to fly; and from which country they came. [99842]
Nick Harvey: A total of 22 students from other nations have been trained at the Defence Helicopter Flying School over the last five years. The following table details the country from which the student originated, type of aircraft used and the number of students per year.
| Country | Aircraft type | Number of students | |
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what regulations his Department introduced between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and at what cost to the public purse. [99367]
Mr Robathan: Between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012, the Ministry of Defence introduced eight new items of secondary legislation, namely:
The Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 (Amendment) Order 2011 (SI 2011/1364)
The Armed Forces (Terms of Service) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/1523)
The Clyde Dockyard Port of Gareloch and Loch Long Order 2011 (SI 2011/1680)
The Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 (SI 2011/1848)
The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Armed Forces) (Amendment) Order 2011 (SI 2011/2282)
The Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2011 (SI 2011/2552)
The Armed Forces Redundancy Scheme 2006, the Armed Forces Redundancy Etc. Schemes 2010 and the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 (Amendment) Order 2011 (SI 2011/3013)
The Northwood Headquarters Byelaws 2011 (SI 2011/3102).
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These new instruments have come as the result of the regular updating and consolidation of departmental secondary legislation and have been prepared within existing departmental resources.
Transport
Aviation: Environment Protection
Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration she plans to give to environmental concerns as part of the consultation on a sustainable framework for UK aviation. [99771]
Mrs Villiers: The Government want to see a successful aviation sector which will support economic growth and address its environmental impacts. It is clear that a better balance than in the past needs to be struck between the benefits aviation undoubtedly brings and its impacts, particularly at a local level. We plan to publish a draft aviation policy framework for consultation shortly.
Aviation: Working Hours
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her policy is on proposals made by the European Aviation Safety Agency concerning flight time limitations for the flight crew of commercial aircraft. [99819]
Mrs Villiers: The European Aviation Safety Agency is currently consulting on draft implementing rules establishing flight time limitations for the crew of commercial aircraft. The Civil Aviation Authority will be responding to the consultation. We will consider our position once a final set of rules has been proposed.
Civil Aviation Authority
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions the Civil Aviation Authority has (a) issued warnings to and (b) made findings against (i) pilots and (ii) flight crew in respect of breaches of the annual limit for duty hours for commercial aviation in the last year for which figures are available. [99818]
Mrs Villiers: In 2011 the Civil Aviation Authority did not issue any warnings or make any findings in respect of flight crew exceeding the annual limit on duty hours.
Driving Tests: Motorcycles
Mr Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress she has made on implementing the third European driving licence directive motorcycle test; how each major feature of the test will improve safety; and if she will make a statement. [100152]
Mike Penning:
Implementation of the third European driving licence directive will not affect the form or content of the motorcycling test. It contains new provisions
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which will affect how motorcyclists progress to ride larger and more powerful machines. The most significant changes are:
a new medium-sized motorcycling licence category (A2) to be introduced for riders aged 19 or over.
a new common category (AM) across Europe for mopeds, which will replace the current domestic category P licence. The practical test for mopeds will also remain unchanged.
an increase in the minimum age for motorcyclists gaining direct access to the most powerful motorbikes from 21 years to 24 years.
new arrangements for younger motorcyclists wishing to progress in stages to ride larger and more powerful machines (currently, unlimited access to all motorcycles is gained automatically after two years' experience on less powerful machines).
We anticipate that the implementing legislation will shortly be laid before Parliament. We are on track to meet our obligations for full implementation by January 2013.
Lorries: EU Law
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department has taken to ensure that foreign-registered haulage vehicles on British roads comply with the requirements of EU legislation. [99929]
Mike Penning: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency carries out checks at the roadside of foreign-registered haulage vehicles and takes action when they are found to be non-compliant with drivers' hours and tachograph, international operator licensing and vehicle roadworthiness requirements. They also check for overloading. VOSA has a number of powers that it can use as part of that enforcement—including the power to prohibit vehicles from continuing their journeys until defects of drivers' hours offences are rectified, taking a deposit from drivers (in effect an on-the-spot fine), prosecution and, in limited cases, directing a vehicle out of the country. For serious offences these are reported to the home member state, so that action can be taken on the operator's licence.
Lorries: Government Assistance
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department has taken to assist the British haulage industry since 2010. [99928]
Mike Penning: We have taken many concrete steps since 2010 to assist the British haulage industry and wider logistics sector. The details, which I set out in my speech to the Listening to Industry event in January, are on the Department's website at:
www.dft.gov.uk/news/speeches/penning-20110201/
Metal Theft
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the value of metal stolen from railways in Kent in each of the last five years; and what costs were incurred by (i) Network Rail and (ii) South Eastern as a consequence of the theft of metal from railways in each of the last five years. [100464]
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Norman Baker: Complete records of costs to Network Rail due to metal theft in Kent are available for the last three years and are as follows: £82,849 in 2009-10, £417,950 in 2010-11, and £686,529 in 2011-12 (up till 4 February 2012). This cost includes schedule eight compensation payments to train operating companies. The Department does not have information on the value of the stolen metal itself or on the costs incurred by individual train operating companies.
Public Transport: Safety
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department has taken to improve passenger safety on public transport since 2010. [99930]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport is committed to improving the personal security of passengers on public transport, working closely with the police and transport operators to manage security risks to the transport networks.
Much of the work to ensure that passengers can travel safely is undertaken by the transport industry, local authorities, the police and others, who are investing in a wide range of initiatives to keep our public transport system as a low crime environment. Initiatives include the Secure Stations scheme, which has seen over 1,250 train stations accredited, investment in a bus fleet that now has 69% of vehicles equipped with CCTV and Network Rail's safety campaign, which educates young people about the dangers of misusing the railway.
I also instigated a Public Transport Crime Liaison Group, a unique forum that provides an opportunity to work with transport operators and others to address passenger safety and crime across the public transport network. The most recent meeting took place last month.
Railways: Electrification
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects to receive a report from Ministers in the Welsh Government on the business case for electrification of (a) the Valleys Lines railways and (b) the rail lines between Cardiff and Swansea. [99873]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport is in discussion with the Welsh Government regarding the business case for electrification of routes in South Wales.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many regulations her Department introduced between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and at what cost to the public purse any such regulation was made. [98733]
Norman Baker: The number of statutory instruments (regulations and orders) made between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012 by the Department for Transport was 1,259. Of the 1,259 instruments, 1,196 were temporary in application and restricted to specific geographical areas.
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The vast majority of statutory instruments imposed temporary restrictions on the use of roads so road works could take place; the remainder imposed flying restrictions in respect of specific events, for instance to restrict the use of aircraft over London during Remembrance Day events.
Government policy does not require an impact assessment to be prepared for an instrument where the cost to the public purse is less than £5 million per year, unless there are also costs or savings to businesses or civil society organisations.
Information about costs to the public purse where there is no impact assessment, or there is but it does not quantify any costs to the public purse, could be provided only at disproportionate cost. This is because of the level of analysis that would be required to answer the question.
Impact assessments which identify estimated net costs to the Department's agencies were prepared for the following instruments:
1. The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2516)—cost to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency of £1.6 million over 10 years;
2. The Merchant Shipping (Port State Control) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2601)—cost to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of £2.34 million over 10 years;
3. The Merchant Shipping (Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Reporting Requirements)(Amendment) Regulations 2011(S.I. 2011/2616)—cost to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of £0.79 million over 10 years.
In respect of the two merchant shipping regulations, costs to ports have not been included as the impact assessments do not distinguish between those costs to ports that fall on the public purse and those that do not.
Information about the cost to the public purse of 1,196 local temporary instruments could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Roads: Accidents
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many roads were closed due to road traffic accidents in each local authority area in the north-west in each of the last three years; and for how long roads were closed in each case. [100085]
Mike Penning: The information requested is not collected by the Department.
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of road accidents resulting in a (a) serious injury and (b) fatality involved people driving for business purposes in each of the last four quarters. [100190]
Mike Penning: The proportion of personal injury road accidents, where the journey purpose was known and recorded as “part of work” which resulted in (a) serious injury and (b) fatality, for each quarter of 2010 in Great Britain is given in the following table:
| Proportion of accidents (percentage) | |||||
| Q1 2010 | Q2 2010 | Q3 2010 | Q4 2010 | Total | |
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Rolling Stock: Procurement
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport where the additional carriages for the First TransPennine Express and London Midland franchises, as announced by her Department on 29 February 2012, will be built; and how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time jobs will be created in the UK from building those carriages. [99910]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 13 March 2012]: The Department understands that the additional carriages will be built in Germany. The Department has no information about how many jobs may be created in the UK from building these carriages. The answer to this should be sought from Siemens or London Midland who led the competitive procurement process that resulted in this order. However, bringing these carriages into service is expected to create over 200 additional jobs in the UK.
Swindon-Kemble Railway Line
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the timetable is for completion of the redoubling of the line between Kemble and Swindon; what estimate she has made of the cost of the work; and what assessment she has made of the likely effect it will have on connections between Wales and London terminals. [100126]
Mrs Villiers: Network Rail are redoubling the line for completion in 2014 within a budget of £45 million. Redoubling will remove a potential bottleneck on the growing railway between Wales and London. It will provide an alternative route via Gloucester for services during electrification works due to be completed on the main line between London and Cardiff by 2017.
Thames Estuary Airport
Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential environmental effects of a new airport in the Thames Estuary. [99411]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport has not made any recent assessment of a new airport in the Thames Estuary.
Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Department and (c) officials of her Department have met individuals or organisations in support of proposals for an airport in the Thames Estuary. [99412]
Mrs Villiers: There have been no meetings between the Department's Ministers and individuals or organisations in support of proposals for an airport in the Thames Estuary. Department officials have had one meeting with an organisation promoting a particular proposal for a Thames Estuary airport.
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The Department's Ministers and officials do, of course, regularly meet with the Mayor of London and his representatives on a range of transport issues and the Mayor's views on this matter have been well publicised.
Communities and Local Government
Action for Employment
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what contracts with his Department and its agencies A4e (a) is bidding for and (b) has been awarded but have not yet commenced either independently or in partnership with other companies. [97479]
Robert Neill [holding answer 1 March 2012]: A4e is not bidding for and has not been awarded any contracts currently by my Department and its agencies.
Council Tax Benefits
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much in cash terms will be lost in each (a) local authority in England and (b) region as a result of the 10% reduction in the amount available for council tax benefit. [98856]
Robert Neill: The cash reduction for each authority will depend on the precise methodology for distributing grant. The Government have indicated that they intend to base grant distribution on shares of previous expenditure, and will be consulting on the methodology for grant distribution before the summer.
The cash reduction will also depend on the final amount for council tax support in England. Funding for the first two years of localised schemes will be derived from the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast for spending on council tax benefit, which reflects existing spending and therefore assumptions about underlying demographic changes.
Senior Civil Servants: Ethnic Minorities Staff
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 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. [98877]
Robert Neill: The number and proportion of senior civil servants in the Department on the relevant dates is as follows.
| Number of senior civil servants | BME proportion of those declared (%) | Declaration rate (%) | |
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Families
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 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. [99178]
Robert Neill: Central Government will be providing £448 million of funding over the next three years to the Troubled Families programme. In the financial years (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15, the Department of Communities and Local Government is contributing £0 million/£50 million/£50 million/£50 million to the programme.
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many civil servants in his Department are working on the Troubled Families initiative. [99179]
Robert Neill: As of 7 February 2012, there were 20.6 full-time equivalent staff based at the Department for Communities and Local Government working on the Troubled Families programme. The team comprises DCLG staff and those seconded from other relevant Government Departments, many of whom have previous experience in the voluntary and community sector and local government.
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding local authorities will contribute from pre-allocated resources from his Department towards the Troubled Families initiative in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15. [99180]
Robert Neill: Information on estimated expenditure by local authorities from 2011-12 to 2014-15 in respect of this work is not available. The £448 million funding for the Troubled Families programme will be made available to all local areas (at upper-tier local authority level) from 2012-13, primarily on a payment-by-results basis, distributed as a 40% contribution to the costs of actions needed. The remaining 60% will need to be found locally, from the local authority and partners (including, for example, police, health and Jobcentre Plus).
Fire Services
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the representations made by the metropolitan fire and rescue authorities on grant funding in the remainder of the spending review period. [100170]
Robert Neill: I met with a metropolitan fire and rescue authority cross-party MP delegation on 31 January and participated in the Westminster Hall debate on 7 March. My officials will continue to work with metropolitan fire and rescue authorities and I will consider the representations they and other fire and rescue authorities make when making decisions for funding in years 2013-15.
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Homelessness: Pendle
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homeless people there were in Pendle constituency in each of the last five years. [98355]
Grant Shapps: Information about English local housing authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected quarterly at local authority level. Data collected include all decisions made on applications by eligible applicants, and the number of applicants accepted by local housing authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty (to secure that suitable accommodation is available). These households are known as ‘accepted' households. If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority must secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available.
Although figures at parliamentary constituency level are not held centrally for most constituencies, the boundary of the Pendle constituency is coterminous with that of the area covered by Pendle borough council, for which figures are held centrally. A table summarising homelessness figures for the past five years, for Pendle borough council, including (a) the total number of households accepted as owed the main homelessness duty, and (b) the total number, of households in temporary accommodation are provided as follows.
| Number of households accepted (1) as owed a main homelessness duty during the year | Number of households in temporary accommodation (2 ) at the end of the financial year (31 March) | |
| (1) Households eligible under homelessness legislation, found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category, and consequently owed a main homelessness duty. (2 )Households in accommodation either pending a decision on their homelessness application or awaiting allocation of a settled home following acceptance. Source: DCLG P1E Homelessness returns (quarterly) | ||
Quarterly statistical releases on Statutory Homelessness are available both in the Library of the House and via the DCLG website:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/
I recently announced additional funding of £70 million this year to tackle and prevent rough sleeping and prevent repossessions. This comes on top of the existing £400 million homelessness grant this Government will protect over the next four years.
Incinerators: Shrewsbury
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will call in for consideration the planned incinerator for construction in Shrewsbury due to health concerns expressed by local Shrewsbury residents. [99835]
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Robert Neill: On 10 January 2012 an inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government allowed an appeal and granted planning permission for a proposed energy from waste facility at Battlefield Enterprise Park, Shrewsbury (application number SC/MS2009/0125/SY). It is not possible for the Secretary of State to exercise his powers of call-in under section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 once planning permission has been granted.
Landlords: Registration
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to protect low-income families from rogue landlords. [99021]
Andrew Stunell [holding answer 12 March 2012]: Under the Housing Act 2004, local authorities have a range of strong powers and duties to tackle poor housing conditions, including inspecting all residential properties and requiring landlords to make improvements. Failure by the landlord to take action against a notice served on them can result in a fine or criminal conviction.
The Government are working with councils across the country to understand any barriers they may face in tackling rogue landlords and are considering what, if any, steps may need to be taken to address any problems.
Liverpool Port: Finance
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2012, Official Report, column 451W, on Liverpool Port: finance, what assessment his Department has made of the potential liabilities that would fall on (a) the Government and (b) Liverpool city council should the EU judge that Liverpool has acted improperly in beginning use of the cruise terminal without EU agreement. [99451]
Robert Neill [holding answer 12 March 2012]: The request from Liverpool city council for change of use of the cruise terminal is currently under consideration. Any change of use would be subject to State Aid clearance by the European Commission. This matter is now dependent on the outcome of the State Aid decision.
Local Government Services: Fees and Charges
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds on charges levied by local authorities to individuals for services provided by the local authority. [99252]
Robert Neill [holding answer 12 March 2012]: DCLG collects information on revenue expenditure and financing from all local authorities in England. This includes income from sales, fees and charges which local authorities charges to individuals, companies or other local authorities for providing a service.
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Non-domestic Rates
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many businesses claimed (a) small business rate relief, (b) mandatory relief, (c) discretionary relief, (d) rural settlement relief and (e) hardship relief in (i) England, (ii) Cumbria and (iii) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in each of the last five years. [99906]
Robert Neill [holding answer 13 March 2012]: Details of the number of businesses in receipt of (a) small business rate relief, (b) mandatory relief, (c) discretionary relief, and (d) rural rate relief in (i) England, (ii) Cumbria as at the 31 December in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, the only years for which data are available, are contained in the following tables. Due to changes in the level of reliefs, data between years are not strictly comparable.
| England | ||||
| Thousand | ||||
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
|
Rural village shop relief and other small rural business relief |
||||
| Cumbria | ||||
| Thousand | ||||
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
|
Rural village shop relief and other small rural business relief |
||||
Details of the number of businesses claiming hardship relief are not collected. Details of the number of businesses claiming small business rate relief in 2007 are not available. Data are not available at constituency level.
Planning Permission: Appeals
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the consultation process for planning decisions includes a sufficient time for local communities to present appeals. [99427]
Robert Neill:
Local planning authorities are required to publicise all applications for planning permission in their area in accordance with Article 13 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management
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Procedure)(England) Order 2010. This gives local communities a chance to make representations on planning proposals within the statutory 21 day period of public consultation. It is the responsibility of local planning authorities to consider the views of all parties and act in the general public interest when determining planning applications.
The Localism Act will strengthen the role of the local community in the planning system by introducing a system of neighbourhood planning, and compulsory community pre-application discussions for larger proposals. This will lead to more locally determined decisions, in line with local plans, thus reducing the need for appeal.
Social Rented Housing: Solar Power
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on the merits of solar photovoltaic panels for social housing. [99248]
Andrew Stunell: Ministers within the Department for Communities and Local Government regularly meet and exchange correspondence with colleagues from the Department for Energy and Climate Change to discuss a range of matters.
DECC intend that their feed-in tariffs policy for solar PV will encourage its deployment by organisations, businesses, communities and individuals that have not traditionally engaged in the electricity market. Officials from the two Departments are working together on the matter of access by social landlords to feed-in tariffs to support the deployment of solar PV panels in social housing.
Social Services: Finance
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 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. [99551]
Robert Neill: The Troubled Families programme is one of a number of new programmes the Department is funding over the spending review period. Funding for new programmes comes from a combination of departmental unallocated resources, as set out in the Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2010-11. The Estimates Memorandum for each Department will be published by Parliament and the Estimates themselves will be published by Treasury in the early part of the new financial year 2012-13. These documents will carry the detail of all programme budget changes.
Wind Power: Planning Permission
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanisms there are for local people to oppose the construction of onshore wind turbines through the planning system. [99147]
Robert Neill
[holding answer 12 March 2012]: There are a number of ways local people can make their concerns known about proposals for new development,
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including through making representations on local plans and on individual planning applications. Through the powers we have taken in the Localism Act 2011, local people will have significantly greater opportunities to shape their own neighbourhoods and engage with a more democratically accountable planning system.
International Development
Argentina
Derek Twigg:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) on what dates in the next 12 months he expects (a) submissions to be made on Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) projects in Argentina, (b) votes on projects involving Argentina to take place in the IADB and (c) meetings of the
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IADB Board to be held under both the simplified and non-simplified procedures on such projects; [99302]
(2) how many loans under both the simplified and non-simplified procedures have been submitted to the IADB Board since September 2011 related to projects in Argentina; and on what dates those submissions were made. [99303]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development does not maintain an aid programme to Argentina and no UK aid is spent providing loans to Argentina at the World Bank or the IADB.
Since September 2011 the Executive Board of the IADB has received 11 submissions for loans to Argentina. Four were submitted under short procedure and four were submitted under the simplified procedure, neither of which requires a discussion. In addition, three operations were submitted for considerations which were discussed by the Board.
The dates of submission were as follows:
The Government of Argentina has agreed an indicative programme for 2012 with the IADB. This comprises 11 project submissions in the formal pipeline and four still under consideration for inclusion in the pipeline. Tentative dates of submissions are set out in the table. The first of these will be subject to the simplified procedure—a final decision on the handling of the others has yet to be taken. As a new Argentinean Government took office in December 2011, the pipeline may be subject to other changes.
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|
Programa de Gestión de Residuos Solidos Urbanos en Municipios turfsticos |
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the UK's representatives to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Inter-American Development Bank have been instructed to object to any loans to Argentina. [99306]
Mr Duncan: Britain has not instructed its representatives at the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Inter-American Development to object to all loans to Argentina. Britain will continue to base its decisions on loans on economic grounds assessing each individual project on its own merits and the economic context of each individual loan.