Energy and Climate Change
Electricity Generation: Carbon Emissions
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the conclusions of the Independent Committee on Climate Change that an 80 per cent. reduction in emissions by 2050 requires that electricity generation is almost entirely decarbonised by 2030. [101491]
Charles Hendry: The Carbon Plan, published in December 2011, set out the Government's view that deep cuts in emissions from the power sector will be required during the 2020s to keep the UK on a cost-effective path to its 2050 goal. The actions outlined in the plan, including the Government's reforms of the electricity market and work to address technology-specific barriers to deployment, will drive the huge increase in investment in low-carbon generation that will enable these cuts to be realised.
The analysis within the plan considered a range of 2030 electricity generation decarbonisation scenarios consistent with meeting carbon budgets and an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050. The Government are not setting an explicit decarbonisation goal for electricity generation in 2030 at this point, given the uncertainties involved in setting a target this far out, which include levels of electricity demand and cost-effectiveness of different technologies.
Energy: Prices
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to help households with their energy costs. [98682]
Charles Hendry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), to my hon. Friend the Member for Dover (Charlie Elphicke) on 8 March 2012, Official Report, columns 991-92.
Environment Protection: Taxation
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will publish details of the process by which an assessment is made of the carbon emissions of installation in connection with the Carbon Price Floor. [101292]
Gregory Barker: The quantitative analysis that informed the Carbon Price Floor consultation document and accompanying impact assessment
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/consult_carbon_price_ support_condoc.pdf
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was undertaken using a dynamic model of the British electricity market, developed by consultants Redpoint Energy. This model simulates how generation and plant investment decisions are made, and the results provide an illustration of the potential impacts of the Carbon Price Floor on emissions, wholesale electricity prices and investment.
Updated analysis of the potential impact of the Carbon Price Floor on traded sector emissions was published at Table B28 on Page 201 of HM Government's “The Carbon Plan: Delivering our Low Carbon Future”
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/tackling-climate-change/carbon-plan/3702-the-carbon-plan-delivering-our-low-carbon-future.pdf
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he last met the EU Commission to discuss the legality of a Carbon Price Floor under EU state aid rules. [101294]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), has not met the European Commission on this issue. The Carbon Price Floor is a tax policy and, as such, is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne).
EU Emissions Trading Scheme
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many EU Emissions Trading System allowances were distributed in the UK in each year the scheme has been in operation. [101261]
Gregory Barker: The total volume of EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) allowances (EUAs) distributed for free to UK operators for each year since the EU ETS began is reported in the following table.
| Total EUAs allocated for free to UK operators (million) | |
| (1) Figures for 2012 are preliminary and subject to adjustment Note: The figures for Phase II of the EU ETS (2008-12) remain subject to change as adjustments could be made to allocations by UK Regulators in certain circumstances. The UK has also auctioned EU ETS allowances since 2008: 4 million in 2008, 25 million in 2009, 35.8 million in 2010, 30.7 million in 2011. Allowances auctioned by the UK are open to bids from UK and non-UK bidders and are therefore not exclusively distributed in the UK. Source: UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Registry | |
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many installations in each region of the UK are covered by the EU Emissions Trading System. [101262]
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Gregory Barker: The following table gives the number of installations in each region of the UK as at 20 March 2012:
| Region | Number of installations |
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the total value of EU Emissions Trading System allowances was in the UK in each year the scheme has been in operation. [101263]
Gregory Barker: The number of EU allowances in the UK can be measured either as the number of allowances traded in the UK, or as the number of allowances surrendered (i.e. used by installations for compliance with the requirements of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)) in the UK. Data on the number of allowances traded in the UK are not available for the entire period, the quantity and value of EU allowances surrendered by UK installations covered by the EU ETS can be found in the following table. The figures for 2011 are not available.
| Value of allowances surrendered by UK installations | ||||
| Average price (€/tCO 2 e) | Allowances surrendered by UK installations (MtCO 2 e) | (€ million) | (£ million) | |
| Source: Average daily price of European Union allowances expiring at the end of each calendar year taken from Thomson Reuters Point Carbon; volume of surrendered allowances taken from the EU's Community Independent Transactions Log; average Euro Sterling spot exchange rate for each year taken from Bank of England | ||||
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he last met representatives of the Environment Agency to discuss the regulation of the EU Emissions Trading System. [101276]
Gregory Barker:
I met with the Environment Agency on the 2 March 2011. Representatives of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) also attended. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the UK's response to recent cyber attacks on the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) registry system and agree on future co-operation between DECC, the Environment Agency and SOCA on registry security. More generally, senior officials from my Department are in regular contact
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with the Environment Agency and other UK regulators to ensure the effective implementation of the EU ETS in the UK.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when the European Council last discussed the EU Emissions Trading System; and what the outcome of these discussions was. [101278]
Gregory Barker: The European Council discussed the use of EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) at its meeting of 4 February 2011. Member states took note of the provisions in the ETS directive related to this.
The ETS is more regularly discussed at ministerial level, and was last discussed at the Environment Council meeting of 9 March, in the context of aviation and the EU ETS. Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the inclusion of aviation in the EU ETS.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he last met the European Commission to discuss the operation of the EU Emissions Trading System. [101290]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), and I are in regular contact with the Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, to discuss a wide range of issues including the EU Emissions Trading System. The Secretary of State last met Commissioner Hedegaard at the Environment Council on 9 March 2012.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the EU Emissions Trading System. [101291]
Gregory Barker: The Government continue to see the EU ETS as a central component in delivering emissions reductions within the UK and across the European Union. It is a key part of ensuring we comply with the legally binding system of five-year carbon budgets to reduce emissions by at least 35% in 2020 below 1990 levels and by 80% in 2050 as set out in the Climate Change Act. The EU ETS is also central to meeting the 20% EU emissions reduction target by 2020. The EU ETS is very effective in delivering the emissions reduction set by its cap on emissions.
Looking ahead, it is clear that the ability of the EU ETS to continue providing a strong signal for innovation will be related to the stringency of the cap. A tighter cap, in the context of a move in the EU to a 30% emissions reduction target by 2020, would be consistent with the EU's target of a long term transition to a low-carbon economy (80-95% emissions reductions by 2050) and would improve the effectiveness of the EU ETS in driving investment in abatement.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the level of indirect subsidy to nuclear power under the EU Emissions Trading System. [101296]
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Gregory Barker: The coalition agreement stated that there would be no public subsidy for new nuclear power stations and this continues to be the Government's position.
The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is designed to encourage all types of low-carbon technologies —nuclear and renewables—as well as efficient gas-fired electricity generation.
The Government have announced additional policy measures, including a Carbon Price Floor, as set out in Planning our electric future: a White Paper, to complement the impacts of the EU ETS and to strengthen the signals within the UK, particularly to investors in low- carbon electricity generation. Decarbonising the electricity sector is key to meeting existing long-term climate change targets.
Natural Gas: Exploration
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2012, Official Report, column 787W, on natural gas: exploration, when his Department expects the completion of the (a) Environment Agency's investigation into the monitoring and control of unplanned emissions of methane from unconventional gas operations and (b) research assessing how his Department should incorporate methane emissions from this activity in the UK's greenhouse gas inventory under the Kyoto protocol; and if he will publish these documents. [101487]
Charles Hendry: The Environment Agency expect an initial engineering review to be completed by specialist external contractors in April 2012. This will survey relevant literature and the engineering methods that are relevant to methane monitoring and control.
Following this review, the Environment Agency will undertake further work to understand the practices and technical methods available to quantify, manage and minimise fugitive emissions of methane from unconventional gas operations.
The research work which DECC has commissioned into how methane emissions related to the extraction of shale gas will be incorporated in the UK's greenhouse gas inventory which is due for completion in summer 2012. We will publish the results of this research on the DECC website once it is complete.
Nuclear Power
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether any officials of his Department attended the Royal Society conference on Nuclear Energy in the 21st century on 12-13 March 2012. [101540]
Charles Hendry: Six officials from the Department were present over the course of the two day Royal Society conference on Nuclear Energy in the 21st century.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will assess the proposition put forward by HM Chief Nuclear Inspector at the Royal Society nuclear conference on 12 March that the nuclear industry should be more open and transparent. [101541]
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Charles Hendry: The Government support the proposals made by HM Chief Nuclear Inspector at the Royal Society conference on Nuclear Energy in the 21st century. The proposals are a reiteration of Recommendation IR-4 of the HM Chief Nuclear Inspector's report into the implications of the Fukushima accident for the UK nuclear industry, which states that
"Both the UK nuclear industry and ONR should consider ways of enhancing the drive to ensure more open, transparent and trusted communications, and relationships, with the public and other stakeholders."
Industry has responded to this and other relevant recommendations made in the HM Chief Nuclear Inspector's report and are available to view on the Office for Nuclear Regulation website.
Renewable Energy: Heating
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the Government's Standard Assessment Procedure for the Energy Rating of Dwellings, by what means the attributed efficiencies of electric heat pumps are derived; and if he will make a statement. [100868]
Gregory Barker: As requested by industry, the attributable efficiencies are obtained from seasonal performance factors that are derived in accordance with the harmonised European Standards EN15316:4:2 and EN14511 for heat pumps. EN 14511 specifies the test conditions, the range of test points and calculation methodology to be used to derive seasonal performance.
Work and Pensions
Public Sector Pay
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible are paid (i) £100,000 or more and (ii) £142,500 or more per annum in the latest period for which figures are available. [96909]
Chris Grayling: The answer is in the following table:
| DWP and Non-Departmental Public Bodies (1) | ||
| Number of officials paid £100,000 to £142,499 per annum as at 31 January 2012 | Number of officials paid £142,500 or more per annum as at 31 January 2012 | |
| (1) These figures do not include the Pension Protection Fund, which is a Public Corporation. | ||
Since May 2010 we have made reductions in the size of the DWP Senior Civil Service (SCS) and reduced the number of DWP SCS earning, £100,000 to £142,499, by 35% and the number earning, £142,500 and above, by 22%.
Employment Schemes
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many notifications of possible provider fraud he has received in relation to Mandatory Work Activity. [101497]
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Chris Grayling: There has been one notification of possible provider fraud in relation to mandatory work activity. This concerns A4e and is currently being investigated.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each age group were placed on a training allowance in each of the last five years. [101500]
Chris Grayling: The information is in the table.
| Number of people starting on a training allowance by age, 2007-2011 (1) | |||||
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 (1) | |
| (1) The figures are presented for calendar years. For 2011 the data is only available from January to November 2011. The November 2011 data is provisional, 2007-October 2011 data is final. Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to rounding. Source: DWP administrative data (JUVOS Training Allowance), January 2012 | |||||
In 2011 claimants remaining on jobseeker's allowance benefited from our new range of personalised employment initiatives such as the Get Britain Working measures, the Work programme, and Mandatory Work Activity, and consequently fewer moved on to the training allowance.
Since autumn 2011, claimants who have been in receipt of JSA for six months or more and are referred to training of up to 30 hours per week for a maximum of eight weeks, also receive JSA.
Housing Benefit: Pension Credit
Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 29 February 2012, Official Report, column 393W, on housing benefit: pension credit, whether the transitional protection also applies to couples where one member is above pension credit qualifying age but the couple will not receive pension credit in April 2013. [98861]
Steve Webb: In April 2013, when the under-occupation measure comes in, the size criteria will not apply where one of a couple is over state pension credit age, whether or not they are actually in receipt of pension credit.
Jobseeker's Allowance: Young People
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged 24 years were in receipt of jobseeker's allowance for a total of three years or more between the ages of 18 and 24 years, without claiming for a continuous spell of nine months, and without claiming for 22 out of the 24 previous months in the most recent period for which data are available. [101499]
Chris Grayling: The information requested requires a complex database query which is not possible to complete in the time given to answer this question.
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New Enterprise Allowance
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many new successful applications have been made to the new enterprise allowance scheme in each month since its launch, in each region. [100215]
Chris Grayling: The Department does not publish new enterprise allowance statistics at the levels requested.
Official statistics are available and can be viewed at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/pwp/pwp_gbw_feb12.pdf
The new enterprise allowance was introduced in target areas in April 2011, and rolled out nationally from 1 August 2011. Information is available for the number of new enterprise allowance mentor starts for each month since its introduction, as shown in the following table:
| New enterprise allowance mentor starts by month | |
| Number | |
| Notes: 1. Values are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not be the sum of the individual cells due to rounding. 2. Months are calendar months. Data Source: DWP LMS opportunities evaluation database December 2011 | |
A start on the new enterprise allowance scheme is defined as the date the claimant first met with their business mentor. Information is available for the number of new enterprise allowance mentor starts across Great Britain, as shown in the following table:
| New enterprise allowance mentor starts in Great Britain | |
| Number | |
| Note: Values are rounded to the nearest 10. Data Source: DWP LMS opportunities evaluation database December 2011 | |
Remploy
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has procured goods from Remploy factories in the last 12 months; and what the value was of any such procurements. [99871]
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Maria Miller: Remploy is a sub-contractor to Xerox under the Department for Work and Pensions Print and Associated Services contract. Remploy is involved in a product stock despatch service for customers and has been paid £274,000 in the 12 months to February 2012.
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy to keep data tracking the employment records over the next five years of all those who have lost their jobs as a result of his closure of Remploy factories in the UK; and if he will publish such information annually revealing access to employment for workers from each of the factories closed. [101502]
Maria Miller: A comprehensive support package will be in place to support every disabled member of staff who is affected by the announcements regarding Remploy factories and will make the best use of national and local services to support staff into new employment.
This support will be focused on the specific needs of the individual through development of an action plan, managed with the support of a case worker who will make best use of skills and experience from partner agencies and organisations both nationally and locally.
We have set aside £8 million to support this work and will continue to provide individualised support for up to 18 months.
We will endeavour to monitor the job outcomes related to this support in addition to our current processes. We will need to request consent from each Remploy employee to enable us to do this.
Plans are currently being developed to provide information on the employment status of those people who may be made redundant as a result of the closure of Remploy factories in the UK. However, it is too early at this stage to commit to making these data publicly available until such time that their robustness can be tested and supported.
Remploy: Wales
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy to devolve the budget for Remploy factories in Wales to the Welsh Government for the next three years. [100704]
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has recently had with the Welsh Government Ministers on the transfer of Welsh Remploy budgets to Wales; and if he will make a statement. [100518]
Maria Miller: I met with the Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning in the Welsh Government on 13 March to discuss the Government's response to the Sayce review and its impacts on the Remploy facilities in Wales.
At this meeting I made it clear that the budget for Remploy in Wales would not be transferred to the Welsh Government, as it is our policy to use this protected budget to support 8,000 more disabled people into work through Access to Work.
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We discussed that as part of the collective consultation at stage 1, the Remploy Board will consider proposals for the exit of parts of businesses or contracts from those factories proposed for closure along with other proposals for avoiding compulsory redundancies.
I know that the Remploy Board would be happy to discuss any proposals from Wales or the Welsh Assembly Government for Remploy factories in Wales identified in stage 1 or stage 2 of the proposals.
Universal Credit
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what purposes, to the highest level of detail available, the £2 billion allocated for the introduction of universal credit will be used (a) in each year of the comprehensive spending review period and (b) under each budget heading. [101495]
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.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the total spend in each year up to 2015 in benefits, tax credits and benefits in kind that will be absorbed into universal credit, were universal credit, including transitional protection, not introduced. [101498]
Chris Grayling: Tax credits are a matter for Her Majesty's Treasury.
Budget 2012 forecasts will be available on 26 March.
The most recent expenditure forecast for the benefits within DWP's responsibility that will be absorbed into universal credit is shown in the following tables. These figures are consistent with the 2011 Autumn Economic and Fiscal Outlook from the Office for Budget Responsibility.
| Nominal terms | ||||
| £ million | ||||
| 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | |
| Real terms 2011-12 prices | ||||
| £ million | ||||
| 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | |
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| Note: DWP benefit expenditure tables can be accessed at: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/index.php?page=expenditure Source: DWP Autumn forecasts | ||||
Education
Cleaning Services
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his private ministerial office has spent on dry cleaning and laundry in the last 12 months. [99569]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 12 March 2012]:The Department for Education is not responsible for meeting the cost of any dry cleaning or laundry expenses for Ministers or private office staff, and therefore has not incurred any costs in the last 12 months.
Departmental Working Hours
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of staff in his private ministerial office have signed opt-out agreements in respect of their working hours. [97325]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 29 February 2012]:Just over a third of permanent private office staff have signed opt-out agreements in respect of their working hours.
Flowers
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012. [101435]
Tim Loughton: The Department for Education has spent nothing on the procurement of cut flowers and pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012.
Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what regulations his Department introduced between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012; and at what cost to the public purse. [99369]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 15 March 2012]: In the period 1 June 2011 to 31 January 2012 the Department for Education made 27 regulations and orders (statutory instruments).
Three of the statutory instruments revoke existing regulations. Seven of the statutory instruments amend existing regulations. Three of the statutory instruments were made on the application of educational institutions and local authorities. Three of statutory instruments are commencement orders which bring into force provisions
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of primary legislation (the Education Act 2011 and the Children and Young Persons Act 2008), and are not subject to parliamentary procedure.
Separate records of officials' time and other administrative costs of making the statutory instruments are not maintained.
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The following statutory instruments were made and came into force between 1 June 2011 and 31 January 2012:
One statutory instrument was made during the relevant period but will come into force after 31 January 2012:
| Title | Made | Laid | In force |
|
Education (School Teachers' Appraisal) (England) Regulations 2012 |
Deputy Prime Minister
Devolution
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects the Commission on the consequences of devolution for the House of Commons to report. [101782]
Mr Harper: The Commission on the consequences of devolution for the House of Commons is expected to report during the next parliamentary session.
Scottish Independence
Mr Offord: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the costs to public administration in England of Scottish independence. [101357]
Mr Harper: No estimates have to date been made of the costs to public administration in England of Scottish independence.
Urban Areas: Wales
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish the guidelines under which scoring of the applicant towns for city status in Wales was undertaken. [101142]
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Mr Harper: The Government published guidelines for the format and contents of entries for the Diamond Jubilee competition when the competition was announced. These can still be viewed on the Diamond Jubilee pages of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's website. These guidelines describe information which the Government would expect to find useful in reaching a decision, but do not constitute formal criteria. City status is an honour granted by personal command of Her Majesty; not a right to be claimed by towns which tick certain boxes.
Communities and Local Government
Adoption: Expenditure
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what the cost was of the social services associated with the Adoption Agency in the last financial year for which figures are available; [100141]
(2) what the cost to the public purse was of the Adoption Agency in the last financial year for which figures are available. [100142]
Robert Neill [holding answer 15 March 2012]: The information requested is not held by DCLG.
Information on income and expenditure is collected from local authorities on ‘Revenue Outturn’ forms; however expenditure on adoption or adoption agencies is not separately identifiable. Spend on adoption services will be included within the wider category ‘Children and Family services—other’. This can be found at the following link:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/localregional/localgovernmentfinance/statistics/revenueexpenditure/revenue201011/
Public Sector Pay
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible are paid (i) £100,000 or more and (ii) £142,500 or more per annum in the latest period for which figures are available. [96908]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government has one official being paid a salary of £142,500 or more per annum. This official is the permanent secretary.
In addition, there are 12 officials within the Department of Communities and Local Government being paid a salary of £100,000 or more.
For context, The Department for Communities and Local Government had four officials being paid a salary of £142,500 and 12 officials being paid a salary of over £100,000 for the period ending 30 June 2010. The salaries of senior staff in Department for Communities and Local Government are publicly available on the Department for Communities and Local Government website for the periods ending 31 January 2012, 30 September 2011, 31 March 2011 and 30 June 2010.
This information can be found on the following website:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/transparencyingovernment/staffdata/
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The Department for Communities and Local Government requires its non-departmental public bodies and executive agencies to publish senior salary information on a regular basis. This information can be found on their websites.
Recruitment
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on (a) recruitment services and (b) executive search agencies in each month since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [93569]
Robert Neill: I have interpreted this question as relating to external recruitment costs. The Department has spent £143,337 on external recruitment costs since May 2010. A table breaking down this expenditure by month, vendor and reason has been placed in the Library of the House.
I would also refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Hemsworth (Jon Trickett) on 2 February 2012, Official Report, column 730W.
Fire Services: Income Tax
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will estimate the number of firefighters in each (a) region and (b) local authority area who will no longer pay income tax following the increase in the personal allowance to £8,105 in April 2012. [101545]
Robert Neill: My Department does not hold information on the pay of individual firefighters.
Food Procurement
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of food procured by his Department (a) meets the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering and (b) is from British sources. [99808]
Robert Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 6 December, 2011, Official Report, column 233W.
Freedom of Information
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what date Freedom of Information Act information request F0004724 made on 14 April 2011 was first referred for consideration by (a) his private office and (b) his Permanent Secretary's private office. [100317]
Robert Neill [holding answer 19 March 2012]: Information relating to internal discussion and advice is not normally disclosed.
Industrial Disputes
Charlie Elphicke:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 5 September 2011, Official Report, column 10W, on departmental pay, what the estimated saving to the public purse was from lower staff wage costs
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arising from industrial action by staff in
(a)
his Department and
(b)
its arm's length bodies in November 2011. [101031]
Robert Neill: The estimated total amount saved to the public purse as a result of members of the Department for Communities and Local Government participating in industrial action on 30 November 2011 is £51,348, excluding employers national insurance and pension contributions.
Information for the estimated saving to the Department's arm’s length bodies as above is not held centrally.
Land: Planning Permission
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations his Department has received on the infringement of land title or other rights by planning legislation in the last two years. [101374]
Robert Neill: While we receive correspondence on the relationship between planning permission and land title, I am not aware of having received any specific representations on this issue.
Local Government: Cost Effectiveness
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to ensure that local authorities manage their property efficiently to deliver value for money. [99301]
Robert Neill: DCLG has been working closely with 26 Capital and Asset Pathfinder areas to manage their capital spend and assets more effectively through a bottom-up commissioning approach across the public sector within an area. The projects have shown that adopting a cross-public sector approach can lead to substantial savings of up to 20% and improve the local community's access to the services they need.
DCLG has worked with key partners, including HM Treasury, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting (CIPFA), and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), on raising the profile and quality of asset management in local government. The Department has also been working with both central and local government to map and publish data on public sector assets in England.
The Local Government Transparency Code calls for councils to publish online details of public land and building assets: we believe such transparency will help councils make more effective use of their assets.
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The new Community Right to Reclaim Land will also enable local communities to get underused public property back in use.
Lost Property
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what property has been lost or stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the estimated cost was of replacement of such property. [100882]
Robert Neill: In the last 12 months to 29 February 2012, the following departmental property has been (a) lost and (b) stolen.
| Item | Lost | Stolen | Total replacement cost (£) |
The theft of the large number of Blackberries is part of a current and ongoing police investigation. This is a matter we treat with great seriousness, but I am unable to give more information so as not to compromise that police investigation.
All departmental IT is fully security encrypted. The replacement cost of laptops includes encryption software to allow the handling of sensitive material up to Restricted level and to meet the Code of Connection for the Government Secure Intranet, the operating system (including log-on keys) for secure remote access to the Department's ICT system for operational and resilience purposes, license, set-up and support costs.
Media Monitoring
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what media monitoring services his Department has purchased in each of the last five years. [100881]
Robert Neill: The following organisations have provided media monitoring services to the Department in the last five years:
‘Broadcast Media Monitoring subscriptions’—Central Office of Information
‘National print media monitoring’—EDS and Durrants
‘Regional print media monitoring’—Central Office of Information/Government News Network
The cost of broadcast media monitoring and national print media monitoring services are set out by financial year in the following table.
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In September 2010, the Department's regional cuttings and monitoring service (which was part of a wider contract placed with the Central Office of Information) was cancelled and the national cuttings service moved to an electronic only format with a limited list of recipients. Neither DCLG Ministers nor officials in the Department now receive hard copy press cuttings. Ministers have taken the view that an excessive and unnecessary amount of taxpayers' money was previously being spent on press cuttings.
Planning Permission
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) whether he has any plans to allow local authorities to set the level of charge for retrospective planning permission; [101506]
(2) whether he has any plans to alter the charges for retrospective planning permission; and if he will make a statement. [101507]
Robert Neill: We are currently considering the responses to the consultation on fees for planning applications, and we will make a statement in due course.
Social Security Benefits: Fraud
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by his Department to tackle benefit fraud in 2011-12. [101522]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government do not employ staff to tackle benefit fraud. Local authorities employ staff to tackle some types of benefit fraud, such as council tax benefit and housing benefit. Information on how many full-time equivalent staff employed by local authorities to tackle benefit fraud is not collected centrally by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Waste Management
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2012, Official Report, columns 773-4W, on waste management, which councils that collect refuse in alternate weeks have made a commitment to return to a weekly collection service; and which councils have expressed an interest in returning to a weekly collection subject to extra funds becoming available. [101503]
Robert Neill: The expressions of interest deadline passed on 16 March and I can confirm we received a high level of interest from local authorities. My officials are now considering these expressions of interest and intend to provide general feedback to local authorities around Easter.
At this stage in the process it is not possible to pre-empt which local authorities will bid for funds under the scheme, as they have until 11 May to submit an outline bid and 17 August for final bids.
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Defence
Afghanistan: Military Aid
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Afghan (a) police and (b) soldiers NATO forces have trained. [100261]
Nick Harvey: Since the NATO Training Mission—Afghanistan (the organisation responsible for training the Afghan National Security Forces) was established in 2009, the size of the Afghan National Police and the Afghan National Army has grown by 50,000 and 87,000 respectively. These have all been trained by NATO.
These figures do not account for those either currently being trained or those subsequently lost through attrition. The Afghan National Security Forces currently stand at 145,000 Afghan National Police and 184,000 in the Afghan National Army and are on track to reach their combined target force of 352,000 by October 2012.
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long it has taken to train (a) an Afghan soldier for policing duties and (b) an Afghan policeman in the latest period for which information is available. [100262]
Nick Harvey: The Afghan National Army do not conduct policing duties—these are carried out by the Afghan National Police. However, phase one Basic Warrior Training for soldiers joining the Afghan National Army takes nine weeks. If a soldier is not already literate, this is accompanied by a further eight weeks of literacy training. On completion of phase one training a soldier will then complete additional training with his unit before being deployed. The length of this is not pre-defined and will depend on various circumstances.
The Afghan National Police initial police training course lasts for eight weeks. There are then a range of subsequent courses which members of the Afghan National Police can complete depending on specialism and career progression.
Aircraft Carriers
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the potential cost to the public purse of fitting the Queen Elizabeth Class carrier with the US Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System. [101181]
Peter Luff: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.
Armed Forces: Allowances
Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people of each rank and in each theatre of operation in each service have received the longer separation allowance in the last 12 months. [100664]
Mr Robathan: The information requested will take time to collate. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as it is available.
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Catering
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available. [101443]
Mr Robathan: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
In the current financial climate, we encourage our staff not to spend taxpayers' money on refreshments save in exceptional circumstances, for example when hosting visitors from overseas. Our staff are otherwise normally expected to pay for their own refreshments in the workplace, including at internal meetings, except where provided for under the rules covering when staff are away from their normal place of duty and incur reasonable and additional expense as a consequence.
Early Retirement
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department worked for the (a) Hercules and Tristar, (b) Nimrod and (c) Harrier team in each of the last three years; and how many such staff in each team received early release or early retirement in each of the last three years. [100597]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 19 March 2012]: The relevant numbers for civilian staff in the Defence Equipment and Support Project Teams named in the question are in the following tables:
| Total number of civilian staff who worked in the Project Teams at any point during each calendar year; ( see also t able 3) | |||
| Calendar year | |||
| Team | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Numbers of those in the above table who received early release or early retirement in the last three calendar years | |||
| Calendar year | |||
| Team | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Headcount figures as of 1 January in each year (as an indication of the ongoing workforce levels) | ||||
| Calendar year | ||||
| Team | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
Early Warning Systems
Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assets his Department plans to deploy in an Airborne Early Warning capacity in the next decade. [100666]
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Nick Harvey: Sentry is the UK's land-based, fixed-wing, Airborne Early Warning (AEW) and Control platform which, with a crew of 18 and long endurance of up to 18 hours, can conduct long range surveillance, detection and interception of air contacts. Sentry forms part of the UK's contribution to NATO; the six UK aircraft generate 25% of the total NATO AEW Force. Sentry is due to leave service in 2025.
An announcement on the future Defence equipment programme will be made shortly.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in which operations the Airborne Warning and Control System has been deployed; and what assessment he has made of its effectiveness. [101134]
Nick Harvey: Since entering service in 1991 the Sentry E-3D fleet has proved itself to be a highly effective platform. In addition to its deployment on military operations in theatres such as Bosnia, Afghanistan and Libya, it is also routinely called upon to support NATO-led security operations to protect High Visibility Events involving national and foreign heads of state. Sentry also contributes routinely to NATO air policing and maritime security operations.
Departmental Expenditure: Flowers
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012. [101429]
Mr Robathan: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Expenditure on cut flowers and pot plants across the defence estate is determined by business need and must be appropriate, cost effective and a proper charge to public funds.
Merlin Helicopters
Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the projected end of service date is for the Merlin Mark 3 without upgrades. [99101]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence is currently exploring options as part of the concept phase for the Merlin Life Sustainment Programme. It is too early in the programme to be able to confirm the conclusions of this work.
The Merlin Mk 3 would be taken out of service in 2020 without an upgrade programme owing to obsolescence.
Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on amphibious lift capacity of limiting ship optimisation modifications for Merlin helicopters. [100665]
Peter Luff: The Department is currently exploring options as part of the concept phase for the Merlin Life Sustainment Programme. This will include assessment of the ship optimisation modifications required to meet the amphibious lift capability. It is too early in the programme to be able to confirm the conclusions of this work.
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Sea King Helicopters
Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many operations Sea King Mk 7s have been deployed on in an airborne surveillance and control role in the last two years. [100670]
Nick Harvey: Sea King Mk 7 helicopters have been deployed on two operations in the last two years, utilising their capabilities including their airborne surveillance and control role. These are as follows:
Operation HERRICK (Afghanistan)
Operation ELLAMY (Libya).
Territorial Army: Allowances
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes his Department has made to allowances for those serving in the Territorial Army in the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [100930]
Mr Robathan: Members of the reserve forces are entitled to the same allowances provisions as regular personnel when mobilised. I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement I made on 20 January 2011, Official Report, column 47WS.
Following the recommendations of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body Fortieth Report on 1 April 2011, volunteer reserve personnel became entitled to the payment of the daily rate of Northern Ireland Residence Supplement (£7.29) for each day that paid training is undertaken.
Cabinet Office
Employment: Disability
Mr David Davis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many disabled people were in paid work in (a) Haltemprice and Howden constituency, (b) East Yorkshire, (c) Yorkshire and Humber and (d) England in each of the last five years for which data are available. [101525]
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 Question asking how many disabled people were in paid work in (a) Haltemprice and Howden constituency, (b) East Yorkshire (c) Yorkshire and Humber and (d) England in each of the last five years for which data are available. (101525)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
Table 1 shows the number of people identifying themselves as disabled who were in employment and resident in (a) Haltemprice and Howden constituency, (b) East Riding of Yorkshire (c) Yorkshire and The Humber and (d) England, for the 12 month periods ending in June from 2007 to 2011, from the APS.
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.
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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 employment resident in (a) Haltemprice and Howden, (b) East Riding of Yorkshire (c) Yorkshire and Humber and (d) England in each of the last five years | ||||
| Thousand | ||||
| 12 months ending | Haltemprice and Howden | East Riding of Yorkshire | Yorkshire and the Humber | England |
| (1) People who are DDA disabled or have a work limiting disability. (2) Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality as follows. 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% 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 | ||||
Mr Evennett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many disabled people were in paid work in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (b) the London borough of Bexley and (c) London in each of the last five years. [101706]
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 disabled people were in paid work in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (b) the London Borough of Bexley and (c) London in each of the last five years. (101706)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
Due to small sample sizes estimates are not available for Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency. Table 1 shows the number of people identifying themselves as disabled who were in employment and resident in (a) London Borough of Bexley and (b) London, for the 12 month periods ending in June from 2007 to 2011, from the APS.
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
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| Table 1: Number of disabled (1) people in employment resident in (a) Bexley and (b) London in each of the last five years. | ||
| Bexley | London | |
| (1) People who are DDA disabled or have a work limiting disability. (2) Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality. 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% 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. | ||
Employment: Young People
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of those aged 18 to 24 years who re-entered the workplace following a period claiming jobseeker's allowance found employment with (a) small and medium-sized enterprises, (b) other businesses and (c) public sector organisations in Birmingham, Ladywood constituency in the latest period for which figures are available. [101559]
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 what proportion of those aged 18 to 24 years who have re-entered the workplace following a period claiming jobseeker's allowance have found employment with (a) small and medium-sized enterprises, (b) other businesses and (c) public sector organisations in Birmingham, Ladywood constituency in the latest period for which figures are available. (101559)
Claimant count data come from information supplied by Jobcentre Plus. When terminating a Job Seeker's Allowance claim, data are only collected for generic categories e.g. found work, claiming another benefit and gone into full time education etc., and not on the size or type of business. Therefore it is not possible to provide the requested information.
Justice
Claims Management Services
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will take steps to curb the practice of claims management companies (a) pursuing claims against lenders where the product in question was never sold and (b) automatically referring claims to the Financial Ombudsman Service when the lender has confirmed that the product in question was never sold to the consumer. [101270]
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Mr Djanogly: The Claims Management Regulation Unit (“the Unit”) is working with the Financial Ombudsman Service, the Financial Services Authority and with many of the major banks and other lenders to identify bad practices carried out by claims management companies (“CMCs”) to gather the evidence needed to target regulatory investigations and help improve the claims process for consumers. In autumn 2011, the Unit established a specialist compliance team to focus on the practices used by some CMCs when dealing with claims for mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI). The Unit has issued specific guidance to companies on handling PPI mis-selling claims, conducted a number of audits of CMCs and taken enforcement action where problems have been found. This priority work continues.
Coroners
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reason the use of public interest immunity applications during inquests is no longer considered adequate. [101526]
Mr Djanogly: Public Interest Immunity (PII) works very well in the majority of inquests. However, in a very small number of cases sensitive information has been relevant to inquest proceedings. If a PII application is successful, that information is excluded from proceedings, and the coroner or jury cannot take it into account when reaching their verdict. For example, in the inquests into the 7 July 2005 bombings the coroner approved an application for PII. This meant that relevant information could not be put before the inquests by the Security Service, and it could not be taken into account. This did not prevent the coroner reaching verdicts, but other cases may not be able to proceed as successfully. In extreme cases, an inquest might not be able to proceed at all if it cannot take account of centrally relevant sensitive information the disclosure of which would damage the public interest.
Courts: Translation Services
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) if he will estimate the number of court cases in Wales for which (a) translation or (b) an interpreter for a language other than Welsh was requested in each year since 2007; and what the language was in each case; [101158]
(2) for what purposes services relating to translation and interpretation by HM Courts and Tribunals Service have been contracted to external suppliers; and how many court cases have been delayed due to (a) non-attendance, (b) quality of the translation or interpreter or (c) any other language-related reason (i) since the introduction of the new contract and (ii) in the 12 months prior to the introduction of the new contract. [101159]
Mr Djanogly: The information is as follows:
(1) Prior to the implementation of the new arrangements information was not routinely collected on the number of court cases in Wales which required the services of an interpreter. On 20 March 2012, Official Report, column 672W, the Under-Secretary of State for Justice, my hon. Friend the Member for Reigate (Mr Blunt), confirmed that the Chief Statistician of the Ministry of
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Justice is considering what interpreter data available under the new arrangements can be published by the end of May 2012.
(2) The decision to enter into new arrangements was made because there were inherent problems and inefficiencies with the previous arrangements. The previous arrangements did not meet the needs of the justice system and did not represent good value for money for the public.
Figures are not available on the number of court hearings delayed as a result of problems with interpreters either before or after the new contract started.
European Court of Human Rights
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress he has made on reform of the European Court of Human Rights and strengthening the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights since November 2011. [100802]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: Since November 2011, the UK Government, as part of their activities as chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, have been working on building consensus among the 46 other members of the Council of Europe to a package of reform of the European Court of Human Rights and strengthening the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights. Our work is expected to culminate in a Declaration of intergovernmental agreement at a UK hosted conference in Brighton in April. This reform will carry forward the progress already made at the Interlaken and Izmir conferences held until previous Chairmanships.
When the Prime Minister addressed the Council of Europe in January, he set out our priorities for reform, and how we intend to achieve them. These are reflected in the draft Declaration, along with proposals from other member states. We want to:
encourage and assist states to take responsibility for implementing the Convention properly at a national level;
help the Court efficiently clear its backlog of around 150,000 applications;
reinforce the principle of subsidiarity;
change the admissibility criteria to allow the Court to focus more on the most important and serious cases;
put in place processes to ensure the best possible judges are elected to the Court.
The draft Declaration has been developed in consultation with the other 46 Council of Europe member states and with civil society over the course of the last few months; it takes into account the final contribution from the Council of Europe expert committees and the opinion of the Court itself. Balancing the interests of so many parties is a challenge that cannot be underestimated, but we are confident about our prospects of using this rare opportunity to agree a practical programme of reform.
Harassment
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many convictions there were under section 4 (Putting someone in fear of violence) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in financial year 2010-11; [97565]
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(2) how many convictions there were under section 5 (Breach of Restraining Order) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in financial year 2010-11; [97566]
(3) how many convictions there were under section 2 (Harassment) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in financial year 2010-11. [97567]
Mr Blunt: The number of persons convicted at all courts, England and Wales 2010 (latest available) for sections 2, 4 and 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 are given in the following table.
Annual court proceedings data for 2011 are planned for publication in May
| Persons convicted at all courts, under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Sections 2, 4 and 5, England and Wales, 2010 (1,2,3) | |
| Protection from Harassment Act 1997 | Convicted |
| (1) Includes offences under the following statutes: Protection from Harassment Act 1977 and Protection from Harassment Act 1977 as amended by Crime and Disorder Act 1998. (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice. | |
Hollie Greig
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of the case of Hollie Greig; and if he will make a statement. [99305]
Mr Djanogly: As this case is the subject of ongoing court proceedings, I am prevented by Section 12 of the Administration of Justice Act 1960 from making any comment.
Legal Aid Scheme
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many criminal barristers earned more than £142,500 from the Criminal Defence Service scheme in each of the last five years; [101404]
(2) what payments were made from the Criminal Defence Service scheme to the 50 barristers who received the highest payments from the scheme in the latest period for which figures are available. [101405]
Mr Djanogly: The information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Barristers receive payments for work carried out under the Criminal Defence Service from two payment sources; those payments made directly by the Legal Services
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Commission (LSC) for very high cost cases carried out under case contracts and those made directly by the Ministry on behalf of the LSC under a service level agreement. Providing this information would require manual merging all the data from both payment systems.
Work is currently ongoing to identify the 25 highest paid barristers pursuant to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 29 February 2012, Official Report, column 371W.
Legal Aid Scheme: Travellers
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how much funding the Legal Services Commission allocated to the Community Law Partnership to provide legal advice for travellers in relation to planning cases for (a) retrospective planning permission and (b) contesting planning enforcement notices in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10; [101016]
(2) how much funding the Legal Services Commission allocated through its exceptional funding scheme on assisting travellers in relation to planning cases for (a) retrospective planning permission and (b) contesting planning enforcement notices in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10. [101017]
Mr Djanogly: It is not possible to answer these questions in the exact format requested.
Community Law Partnership is contracted with the Legal Services Commission (LSC) to provide face-to-face and telephone advice.
In face-to-face advice, the LSC does not record travellers separately nor does it record planning cases to the level of detail requested. In telephone advice, the LSC only records cases under a category of 'Housing Other' and it is not possible to distinguish, from this category, the costs of retrospective planning permission and contesting planning enforcement notices from other costs associated with housing matters.
The cost of ‘Housing Other' telephone advice cases that closed in 2008-09 and 2009-10 was £22,272 and £20,347 respectively.
Representation at planning inquiries is generally excluded from the scope of the legal aid scheme. Under the exceptional funding scheme, the Lord Chancellor may authorise the LSC to grant funding in individual excluded cases, where the LSC first requests it.
The Ministry of Justice authorised the LSC to grant funding of £13,959 in 2008-09 and £3,210 in 2009-10 for Gypsies and Travellers to be represented at planning inquiries. It is not possible to disaggregate from these costs funding for matters involving retrospective planning applications or planning enforcement notices. The final amounts paid may have varied slightly from the figures aforementioned as the LSC can adjust the grant if necessary (for example if the hearing is longer, or shorter, than expected).
Members: Correspondence
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to reply to the letter of 20 December 2011 from the hon. Member for Wakefield on prisoner transfer agreements. [101367]
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Mr Djanogly: I apologise for the delay in responding, which was due to an administrative error. We will respond shortly.
Prisoners: Mental Health
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2012, Official Report, column 758W, on sentencing: mental health, if he will make it his policy that his Department will centrally collect data on the mental health of the prison population. [101015]
Paul Burstow: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department of Health.
Commissioning responsibility for prison health care transferred from the Prison Service to the national health service in 2006. Since this date, primary care trusts (PCTs) have provided or commissioned health services, including prison mental health. Data on prisoner health care may be collected by individual PCTs but are not collected centrally by the Department, since it is not responsible for providing or commissioning treatment. From April 2013, the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB) will be responsible for commissioning all health services for those in prison. As part of that commissioning responsibility the NHS CB may choose, in the future, to collect data on the mental health of the prison population.
Prisons: Crimes of Violence
Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many assaults on prison staff were reported in 2011; and how many resulted in prosecutions. [100997]
Mr Blunt: The number of assaults on prison staff are published in the annual Safety in Custody Statistics Bulletin. The official figures for 2011 will be published in July 2012. The number of prosecutions arising from assaults on prison staff are not collected centrally.