Violent and Sex Offender Register
Caroline Dinenage: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people are on the Violent and Sex Offender Register, broken down by gender and age; and what proportion of such people are listed for life. [100979]
Nick Herbert: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Home Department.
The figures, broken down by gender and age, are given in the following tables.
These relate to offenders being actively managed, from data obtained in February 2012. Figures from March 2012 show that 31,800 people are Life Registered. These data cover England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and include MAPPA Category 1 to 3 offenders.
The statistics provided in the response have been obtained from ViSOR, the national dangerous persons database, which stores information relating to registered sex offenders. This is an operational system and the data may be subject to further quality assurance checks.
The following figures, broken down by age/gender, are for offenders being actively managed, from data obtained in February 2012. The Life Registered figure is for actively managed individuals and is correct as of 16 March 2012. These figures cover England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and include MAPPA Category 1 to 3 offenders(1).
| By age | Number |
| By gender | Number |
| Number | |
The figures have been obtained from ViSOR, the National Dangerous Persons Database.
(1) Category 1 Offenders—Registered Sexual Offenders—This relates to those individuals required to comply with the notification requirements (often referred to as the registration requirements) set out in part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Category 2 Offenders—Violent and Other Sexual Offenders—This relates in the main to violent offenders sentenced to 12 months custody or more but the legislation is more complex than this broad title suggests.
Category 3 Offenders—Other Dangerous Offenders—This category is comprised of offenders, not in Category 1 or 2 but who are considered by the Responsible Authority to pose a risk of serious harm to the public which requires active interagency management.
Young Offenders: Rehabilitation
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2012, Official Report, columns 758-9W, on sentencing: young people, if he will place in the Library details of the JETS juvenile mindfulness-based treatment programme. [101014]
Mr Blunt: JETS is a Cognitive Behavioural programme and is one of the accredited Cognitive and Motivational Programmes and Substance Misuse Interventions delivered by NOMS, that encourage participants to consider their relationships, their emotions, values and rules and how they impact on factors such as substance use and offending. Participants are supported in exploring how they can challenge their thinking where this does not support a pro social life style and practice the appropriate skills and tools both inside and out of sessions. It is fair to say that while participants are encouraged to be ‘mindful', this does not incorporate the techniques of mindfulness based therapy.
The information requested to be placed in the Library in the regard to the JETS programme is supplied in the form of an information sheet entitled ‘JETS'.
The information regarding JETS is provided by Interventions Unit, Operational Services and Interventions Group, National Operational Services Directorate in the National Offender Management Service.
Further detailed information can be obtained from the Cognitive and Motivational Programmes Team, at the e-mail address supplied at the foot of the information leaflet for ease of reference.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Advantage West Midlands: Government Procurement Card
Jake Berry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place in the Library a list of each Government Procurement Card transaction
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of Advantage West Midlands Regional Development Agency providing
(a)
transaction date,
(b)
supplier and
(c)
amount for (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. [101193]
Mr Prisk: The Advantage West Midlands Regional Development Agency has not made use of Government Procurement Cards and there are therefore no transactions to list.
Apprentices: Hull
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many apprenticeships have been commenced in Hull since May 2010; in what sectors; how many were offered at a junior level; and how many were first advertised on the National Apprenticeship Service website; [101368]
(2) how many vacancies for junior level apprenticeships in manufacturing or engineering have been advertised on the National Apprenticeship Service's website for the Hull region since May 2010; [101369]
(3) how many employers have offered apprenticeships in the Hull region since May 2010; [101370]
(4) how many new apprenticeship vacancies for the Hull region were advertised through the National Apprenticeship Service website in each month since May 2010; and in which areas. [101371]
Mr Hayes: Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship programme starts in Kingston upon Hull local education authority by sector subject area and Table 2 shows the number of Apprenticeship programme starts in Kingston upon Hull local education authority by age. Both tables report data for the last quarter of the 2009/10 academic year (1 May 2010 to 31 July 2010) and full year data for the 2010/11 academic year, the latest period for which final data are available.
| Table 1: Apprenticeship Programme Starts in Kingston upon Hull by sector subject area, May 2010 to July 2010 (quarter 4) and 2010/11 (full year) | ||
| Sector subject area | 2009/10 quarter 4 to May 2010 to July 2010 (final) | 2010/11 full year (final) |
| Table 2: Apprenticeship programme starts in Kingston upon Hull by age, May 2010 to July 2010 (Quarter 4) and 2010/11 (full year) | ||
| Age | 2009/10 quarter 4 to May 2010 to July 2010 (final) | 2010/11 full year (final) |
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| ‘—’ Indicates a base value of less than five. Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Age is based on age at the start of the programme. Source: Individualised Learner Record | ||
Information on the number of apprenticeship starts by sector subject area and age is published in a supplementary table to a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 31 January 2012:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
There were 400 apprenticeship vacancies posted on the National Apprenticeship Service Apprenticeship Vacancies online system located in Kingston upon Hull between May 2010 and February 2012 (as at end of February 2012). Employers registered on the apprenticeship vacancies system can advertise a vacancy directly on the system or direct candidates to their own website and information is captured in both cases. Information is not captured for vacancies made available by employers who are not registered so therefore these figures may not provide a comprehensive picture of all apprenticeship vacancies within an area.
I have made data available in the Libraries of the House showing apprenticeship vacancies posted in Kingston upon Hull by sector subject area for each month between May 2010 and February 2012 (as at end of February 2012).
All apprenticeships vacancies adverts posted on the apprenticeship vacancy website are open to individuals of all ages, therefore none are offered at ‘junior' level.
Online reports from apprenticeship vacancies are updated on a monthly basis and published by the Data Service at the following link:
http://mireportslibrary.thedataservice.org.uk/apprenticeships/apprenticeship_vacancy_reports/
Data are not available on the number of employers who have offered apprenticeships in Hull since May 2010. Data from the published 2009 National Employer Skills Survey(1) (NESS) show that in Yorkshire and the Humber, 9% of establishments offered apprenticeships.
(1) Figure 8.7, p. 215 in:
http://www.ukces.org.uk/assets/ukces/docs/publications/evidence-report-23-ness-main-report-2009.pdf
accessed on 20 March 2012.
Business: Government Assistance
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to rationalise and streamline the support schemes administered by his Department and its agencies. [101066]
Mr Prisk:
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills regularly goes through a process of rationalisation and streamlining of its support schemes. The Government last went through a rationalisation of its portfolio of business support schemes, collectively known as Solution
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for Business, around a year ago. A considerable streamlining exercise has also taken place as a result of the operational closure of the regional development agencies, to be achieved on 31 March 2012.
In addition to this the Department has recently refreshed advice and support available on the Business Link website and has launched a brand new Growth and Improvement Service; but recognises that more can still be done to improve the communication of existing Government support schemes. The Government will continue to consider how best to improve both awareness and understanding of small and medium-sized enterprise support schemes. We welcome the observations and ideas published by Tim Breedon's taskforce and the Government's response to the taskforce's report outlines our commitment to this objective.
Business: USA
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects of the work of the Small Business Administration on small businesses in the US and the transferable policy lessons for the UK. [101463]
Mr Prisk: The Government are aware of recent calls for the creation of a Small Business Administration (SBA) to represent the interests of small businesses, based on the US model.
We believe all Government Departments should understand and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and this Department is responsible for promoting small businesses in Whitehall. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has appointed my noble Friend Lord Young of Graffham to advise him on enterprise issues.
There are three main areas covered by the SBA in the US, namely: Government-backed loans to strengthen access to capital for small businesses; the provision of business support; and leading federal Government's efforts to ensure that 23% of federal contracts go to small businesses. In the UK, we are already active in these areas. We have announced that up to £20 billion of guarantees for bank funding will be available over the next two years through the new National Loan Guarantee Scheme and we have extended the Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme until 2014-15, providing, subject to demand, over £2 billion of additional lending to viable SMEs. We have transformed the way we enable businesses to access the information, advice and guidance they need to start and grow their business including:
An improved Business Link website (www.businesslink.gov.uk) which includes a new Growth and Improvement Service, offering a range of business tools and an updated events management system; and My New Business, a comprehensive tailored start-up service providing online tools and training for those looking to start a business.
A Business Link helpline (0845 600 9006) which will support people who are unable to access the internet or have difficulty in doing so.
A mentoring portal, www.mentorsme.co.uk (launched July 2011), provides a single point of access for those seeking mentoring and those seeking to be mentors across the UK. The site connects small businesses with mentoring organisations that can support and guide their development.
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And like the US, we have an aspiration that, by May 2015, 25% of the value of Government contracts, both directly and via the supply chain, should be awarded to SMEs by removing the barriers faced by small businesses and eliminating complexities and waste in the process.
In addition, the Government have taken action to reduce the burden of regulation on the smallest businesses at both a domestic and a European level, for example through the microbusiness regulatory moratorium announced in the Plan for Growth.
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the merits of establishing a Small Business Administration on the model of that body in the US. [101464]
Mr Prisk: The Government are aware of recent calls for the creation of a Small Business Administration to represent the interests of small businesses, based on the US model.
We believe all Government Departments should understand and support small and medium-sized enterprises and this Department is responsible for promoting small businesses in Whitehall. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has appointed my noble Friend Lord Young of Graffham to advise him on enterprise issues.
I will be visiting the US later this month, and this will provide an opportunity to learn more about the US model and to share thinking about how best to support small businesses.
Business: Yorkshire and the Humber
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much was disbursed by (a) Yorkshire Forward and (b) the Regional Growth Fund to enterprises in (i) the City of York, (ii) York and North Yorkshire and (iii) Yorkshire and the Humber in each of the last five years; and how much will be available to disburse in each of the next two years. [99763]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 19 March 2012]:Information on disbursements to enterprises in (i) the City of York and (ii) York and North Yorkshire could be made available only at disproportionate cost. Yorkshire Forward's net expenditure across its region in the last five years was:
| £ million | |
From the first and second rounds of the Regional Growth Fund, bids to the value of £44.4 million and £134.6 million respectively were successful from the Yorkshire and Humber region.
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Chemicals: EU Action
Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of regulation EC 1907/2006 on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of chemicals on the competitiveness of UK businesses which rely on chemicals. [101572]
Mr Prisk: The Department has not made an assessment of the effects of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) on the competitiveness of UK business. However, the European Commission is undertaking a review of REACH and in June it will publish a report on the lessons learnt so far, and on the costs and administrative burden.
We are aware of the concerns of business and are working closely with industry, industry bodies, DEFRA and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to understand the economic impact on business from the implementation of REACH. We are working jointly to see how any impact on competitiveness can be mitigated. The Department continues to engage directly in an active dialogue with stakeholders in the UK so that potentially harmful substances, through the authorisation process, can continue to be used safely, while alternatives are found—fostering innovation and promoting substitution to safer alternatives.
Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has made representations to the European Chemical Agency on regulation EC 1907/2006 on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. [101573]
Mr Prisk: The Department has not made any direct representations to the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) on EC 1907/2006 on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). DEFRA which leads on this issue for HMG, is on the Management Board of ECHA. ECHA advises the Commission and engages primarily with regulatory bodies across the European Union, such as the HSE. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) maintains a close dialogue with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which advises ECHA.
The Department does engage with the European Commission on economic issues arising from REACH via the Enterprise Policy Group. We are aware of the concerns of business and are working closely with industry, industry bodies, DEFRA and HSE to understand the economic impact on business from the implementation of REACH. We are working jointly to see how any impact on competitiveness can be mitigated. The Department continues to engage directly in an active dialogue with stakeholders in the UK so that potentially harmful substances, through the authorisation process, can continue to be used safely, while alternatives are found—fostering innovation and promoting substitution to safer alternatives.
Anti-counterfeit: Trade Agreements
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to place the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement on a statutory basis. [101157]
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Norman Lamb: The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is currently with the European Parliament with a vote on consent likely to take place late in 2012 or 2013. The UK intends to ratify the agreement in line with this timetable. The treaty will be laid before both Houses of Parliament and will be subject to a negative resolution.
The final ACTA text has been reviewed by Government lawyers and the European Commission Legal Services who confirm that ACTA will not create new intellectual property rights, laws or criminal offences in the UK or EU. As such, ACTA will not require any substantive changes to existing UK law.
East Midlands Development Agency: Government Procurement Card
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place in the Library a list of Government Procurement Card transactions made by staff of the East Midlands Development Agency showing in each case the (a) transaction date, (b) supplier and (c) amount in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. [101710]
Mr Prisk: The East Midlands Development Agency has not made use of Government Procurement Cards and there are therefore no transactions to list.
East of England Development Agency: Government Procurement Card
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place in the Library a list of Government Procurement Card transactions made by staff of the East of England Development Agency showing in each case the (a) transaction date, (b) supplier and (c) amount in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. [101712]
Mr Prisk: The East of England Development Agency has not made use of Government Procurement Cards and there are therefore no transactions to list.
EU Law
Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will publish a timetable for reviewing the goldplating of EU legislation enacted in UK law since 1997. [101364]
Mr Prisk: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 15 March 2012, Official Report, column 378.
This Government started the review when they launched the Red Tape Challenge on 7 April 2011. This programme is thematically reviewing the stock of UK legislation, including looking at where such ‘gold-plating' exists and should be removed. We are inviting the general public and businesses to comment on those regulations they find burdensome, including the opportunity for respondents to comment on issues relating to the ‘gold-plating' of EU regulations. Overall, of over 1,450 regulations considered so far, we have agreed to scrap or improve well over 50%.
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Departmental Expenditure: Flowers
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012. [101422]
Norman Lamb: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs my right hon. Friend the Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey) to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Luciana Berger) on 30 March 2011, Official Report, column reference 346W.
The foliage contracts were terminated from 30 September 2010 so the Department has had no spend on foliage since then.
Green Investment Bank
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when the Government expects to apply for a banking licence for the Green Investment Bank. [101381]
Mr Prisk: The Green Investment Bank senior management will apply for a banking licence before commencing regulated activities under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001. The Government do not anticipate that the activities of the Green Investment Bank in its first years will require it to have a banking licence.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what the role of staff at the Green Investment Bank's office will be in (a) Edinburgh and (b) London; [101551]
(2) what the (a) staff and (b) administrative budget will be for the Green Investment Bank's office in (i) Edinburgh and (ii) London; [101553]
(3) when a decision will be made on the address of the Green Investment Bank's office in (a) Edinburgh and (b) London; [101554]
(4) how many staff will be based at the Green Investment Bank's office in (a) Edinburgh and (b) London. [101550]
Norman Lamb: The Green Investment Bank's (GIB's) corporate headquarters, asset management and administrative functions will be located in Edinburgh, with the major transactions team located in London. Detailed decisions about the bank's structure and organisational arrangements; precise office sites within Edinburgh and London; and staffing and administrative budgets will be a matter for the GIB's Board and senior management. We envisage that up to half the jobs in the Bank will be based in Edinburgh.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what discussions he has had with the European Commission on state aid rules and the Green Investment Bank; [101555]
(2) when the Green Investment Bank's office in (a) Edinburgh and (b) London will be fully operational. [101552]
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Mr Prisk: Good progress is being made towards establishment of the Green Investment Bank. My officials are in detailed discussions with the European Commission and the Government hope to obtain state approval for the Green Investment Bank later this year. We envisage that the bank will be operational in both Edinburgh and London by autumn 2012, subject to state aid approval.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to appoint the (a) chair and (b) senior independent director of the Green Investment Bank; and in which office each will be based. [101556]
Mr Prisk: The deadline for applications for the chair and senior independent director posts has now passed, and the appointments are due to be announced in the spring. There are strong London-based and Edinburgh-based candidates under consideration for both posts and we will select the best candidates against the advertised competencies. We expect that the chair and senior independent director will spend time in both Edinburgh and London.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) when he expects the Green Investment Bank's constitutional documents to be (a) finalised and (b) publicly available; [101557]
(2) whether the Government, as the sole shareholder, will have a representative on the board of the Green Investment Bank. [101558]
Mr Prisk: The public company, UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) plc, is due to be formed in the spring and at this point the Bank's constitutional documents will be finalised and made publicly available as a matter of course. Following best practice with other Government-owned companies, an official from the Shareholder Executive will be a member of the GIB board.
London Development Agency: Government Procurement Card
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place in the Library a list of the Government Procurement Card transactions made by the London Development Agency detailing each (a) transaction date, (b) supplier and (c) amount in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. [101286]
Mr Prisk: The London Development Agency has not made use of Government Procurement Cards and there are therefore no transactions to list.
One North East: Government Procurement Card
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place in the Library a list of Government Procurement Card transactions made by staff of the One North East Development Agency showing in each case the (a) transaction date, (b) supplier and (c) amount in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. [101711]
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Mr Prisk: One North East has not made use of Government Procurement Cards and there are therefore no transactions to list.
One North East: Pay
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether any staff employed by the One North East Development Agency received retention bonuses after the announcement by the Government of the abolition of the regional development agencies. [101132]
Mr Prisk: The eight regional development agencies (RDAs) have put in place arrangements to secure the retention of key staff until the agencies are closed. They have made these arrangements with the approval of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable) and HM Treasury. This is to safeguard the taxpayer's interest in making best use of the significant public assets that the RDAs have owned. A retention payment process had been recommended to be put into place by the National Audit Office.
At One North East to date, no member of staff has received a retention payment.
Procurement
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of contracts issued by (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which he is responsible were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in the latest period for which figures are available. [100372]
Norman Lamb: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) are currently not in a position to report on what proportion of contracts were issued to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by the BIS family due to the devolved management of procurement not holding the information centrally. However, we are in a position to respond with the proportion of total spend versus spend with SMEs which in essence answers the same question using spend data rather than contract data.
The proportion of spend with SMEs for the Q3 period for BIS is 27%. This figure is derived from the data collated each month as part of the Monthly Procurement Key Metric submission sent to the Cabinet Office, with the caveat that the figure is based only on those agencies reporting SME spend data which is currently running at 50%.
Regional Assistance
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to initiate a consultation on the revision of the European assisted areas map. [101244]
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Mr Prisk: The UK Assisted Area Map will be revised in line with the next Regional Aid Guidelines which will cover the period January 2014 to December 2020. The UK will be consulting on the Map during 2013, once the Commission have issued the guidelines.
Regional Development Agencies
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether any staff employed by the East of England Development Agency received a retention bonus after the announcement by the Government of the abolition of regional development agencies. [101708]
Mr Prisk: The eight regional development agencies (RDAs) have put in place arrangements to secure the retention of key staff until the agencies are closed. They have made these arrangements with the approval of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), and HM Treasury. This is to safeguard the taxpayer's interest in making best use of the significant public assets that the RDAs have owned. A retention payment process had been recommended to be put into place by the National Audit Office. At the East of England Development Agency to date, three members of staff have received retention payments on completion of duties when made redundant.
Tractors
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has made an assessment of the merits of a scheme to provide a financial incentive to replace old tractors. [101376]
Mr Prisk: No assessment has been made by this Department.
UK Trade & Investment: Libya
James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many staff have worked for UK Trade & Investment in Libya since March 2010; and how many such staff were from his Department. [100054]
Mr Prisk: The UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) team in Libya is currently eight strong, one of whom is from BIS. From March 2010 until the British embassy was evacuated in February 2011, the UKTI team had seven staff, none of whom were BIS employees. UKTI staff in Libya are typically from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, BIS and the Ministry of Defence.