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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 26 March 2012
House of Commons Commission
Labour Party: Expenses
Jake Berry: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission how much Short Money has been allocated to the Labour party since May 2010 (a) in total, (b) for travel and associated expenses and (c) for the running costs of the Leader of the Opposition's Office; and whether the House of Commons Commission holds information on the amount of such funding spent on first-class travel. [101732]
Sir George Young: I have been asked to reply as Leader of the House of Commons.
The amount of Short Money received by the Labour party since May 2010 has been:
| £ | |
No information is held about the class of travel.
Treasury
Capital Gains Tax
Stephen McPartland: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the potential revenue to the Exchequer arising from applying capital gains tax to non-resident UK citizens. [101774]
Mr Gauke: No such estimate is available as non-resident UK citizens are not usually liable to CGT in the UK, and so HMRC does not collect data on their potential liability.
Credit Unions
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent steps he has taken to encourage the use of credit unions. [101456]
Mr Hoban:
The Legislative Reform Order for Industrial and Provident Societies and Credit Unions, which came into force on 8 January 2012, will increase these organisations' capacity to lend to their members, and increase the appeal of credit unions to their local community. In particular, it will allow credit unions to admit corporate bodies, such as local charities and firms as members. It will also mean that credit unions
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can offer interest on deposits for the first time (rather than end of year dividend), making the benefits of saving with them much clearer. These proposals will help credit unions grow their expanding membership still further.
Crime: Assets
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much HM Revenue and Customs has recovered through criminal assets seizures in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement. [98891]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 8 March 2012]:In recovering criminal assets, HMRC primarily uses the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (or for cases pre-POCA the Drugs Trafficking Act or the Criminal Justice Act). The two main recovery regimes within POCA are part 2 Confiscation and part 5 Civil Recovery, including cash forfeiture. HMRC via the CPS, records POCA recovery performance on the Joint Asset Recovery Database (JARD), which is used to capture receipts against recovery orders issued by the courts.
Considering the volume of confiscation orders granted since 2000 and the fact that most orders will not be realised within the year granted it has not been possible to provide a summation of receipts for each year since 2000. The following represents the totality of HMRC's confiscation work since 2000 and cash forfeiture work since 2003.
Total receipts of confiscation orders(1) granted to date £177,046,923.25.
Total value of forfeiture orders realised to date £37,688,874.94.
Application of default sentencing for non-payment of a POCA confiscation order can have a profound deterrent effect and HMRC is committed, along with other law enforcement partners, to make full use of all of the asset recovery tools available within the Act, denying criminals access to their proceeds of crime. HMRC continues to work collaboratively with partners overseas to identify and recover assets held abroad.
(1) HMRC works collaboratively with HM Courts and Tribunal Service and the Crown Prosecution Service to assist with the enforcement of confiscation orders granted.
EU Emissions Trading Scheme
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue the Exchequer received from the EU Emissions Trading System in each year the scheme has been in operation. [101258]
Miss Chloe Smith: Results from UK auctions of emissions allowances under the EU Emissions Trading System can be found on the Debt Management Office website at:
http://www.dmo.gov.uk/
Receipts to date have been around £95 million, £405 million, £435 million and £235 million in years 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 respectively.
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Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to encourage EU member states to implement the non-mandatory counter-fraud functionalities within the Excise Movement and Control System to combat alcohol duty fraud. [101961]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS) is built to a common specification prescribed by EC Regulation that applies in all 27 member states of the European Union. Some member states have been unable to implement the full reporting functionality of EMCS. The EU Commission, strongly supported by the UK, has developed interim solutions that enable these member states to provide the full, range of functions.
The Government take revenue fraud very seriously and attach great importance to collaborative working with other member states and the EU Commission. Officials from HM Revenue and Customs are working closely with the Commission to highlight and disseminate best practice in the use of EMCS to identify and counter fraud. The UK is also actively engaged in multi-lateral control exercises and exchange of information with a number of member states as a means of tackling fraud and closing the tax gap.
Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands
Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the number of civil servants who benefited from the increase in the personal allowance of income tax in 2011-12; and if he will estimate the likely number of civil servants who will benefit from the increase in 2012-13; [101233]
(2) if he will estimate the number of civil servants in each (a) region and (b) local authority area who will no longer be eligible to pay income tax once the income tax threshold is set at £10,000; [101234]
(3) if he will estimate the number of civil servants in each (a) region and (b) local authority area who will no longer be eligible to pay income tax following the increase in the personal allowance in April 2012. [101235]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 21 March 2012]:The June 2010 Budget announced a £1,000 cash increase in the personal allowance for under 65s to £7,475 in 2011-12 (£820 above the previous Government's plans), with the benefits focused on individuals on low and middle incomes through accompanying changes to the basic rate limit and national insurance upper earnings and profit limits.
The 2011 Budget announced a £630 cash increase in the personal allowance for under 65s to £8,105 in 2012-13 (£240 above indexation), with an equivalent reduction in the basic rate limit to leave the higher rate threshold unchanged.
As a result of these measures, the Government estimate that 22.6 million basic rate taxpayers will benefit in 2011-12, among which 830,000 of the lowest income taxpayers will be removed from tax altogether.
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In 2012-13 the Government estimate that 25 million taxpayers will benefit, among which 260,000 of the lowest income taxpayers will be removed from tax altogether.
These estimates are based on the 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2011 economic and fiscal outlook.
The information requested is not available specifically for civil servants.
The Government are committed to supporting lower and middle income earners by raising the personal allowance to £10,000, and removing the lowest income individuals out of income tax. Decisions on future changes in the personal allowance will be taken as part of the annual Budget process in the context of the wider public finances.
Mr Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of people resident in Yeovil constituency who will no longer pay income tax consequent (a) on the proposed increase in the personal income tax allowance from April 2012 and (b) on the proposed increase in the personal income tax allowance to £10,000 by April 2015. [101340]
Mr Gauke: The 2011 Budget announced a £630 cash increase in the personal allowance for under 65s to £8,105 in 2012-13 (£240 above indexation), with an equivalent reduction in the basic rate limit to leave the higher rate threshold unchanged.
As a result of these measures the Government estimated that in 2012-13 260,000 of the lowest income taxpayers will be removed from tax altogether. Information at Government office region is provided in the following table.
| Government office region | Number ta ken out of invoice tax (thousand) |
These estimates are based on the 2007-08 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected to 2012-13 using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2011 economic and fiscal outlook.
Reliable estimates are not available at parliamentary constituency level, due to greater uncertainties in projections for small geographical areas and small sample sizes.
The Government are committed to supporting lower and middle income earners by raising the personal allowance to £10,000, and removing the lowest income individuals out of income tax. Decisions on future
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changes in the personal allowance will be taken as part of the annual Budget process in the context of the wider public finances.
Northern Rock Asset Management
Robert Flello: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has discussed with Northern Rock (Asset Management) plc the rate of interest it charges customers. [101781]
Mr Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Revenue and Customs: Scotland
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to close HM Revenue and Customs offices in Scotland. [102021]
Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is developing plans for the future of its estate to meet the efficiencies required by the spending review settlement.
HMRC has confirmed the estate changes to be taken forward in both 2012-13 and 2013-14 and in January put forward the changes it proposes to make in 2014-15.
No offices in Scotland were included in the closures announced for 2012-13.
HMRC will be closing nine offices in 2013-14. These include one office in Scotland, Government House in Wick. Wick was previously announced for closure as part of the earlier regional review programme and its closure date was deferred on 20 July 2011 until 2014.
On 25 January HMRC outlined proposals for the closure of 17 offices across the country in 2014-15. These include two offices in Scotland, Marress House in Irvine and Pentland House in Livingston. Feasibility work is currently being undertaken on all proposals and this will inform the final decisions to be announced in April 2012.
HMRC has confirmed that Edinburgh (incorporating Bathgate and Livingston) and Glasgow (incorporating Cumbernauld, East Kilbride and Paisley) are included in the 16 key centres where it will retain a presence until at least 2020.
In addition, the offices in Aberdeen, Dundee, Glenrothes and Inverness are included in the 82 specific locations where HMRC will have a presence at least until 2015.
Working Tax Credit: Clwyd
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many recipients of working tax credits in Clwyd South constituency work between 16 and 24 hours a week. [101592]
Mr Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the parliamentary question answered on 10 January 2012, Official Report, column 72W.
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Prime Minister
Members: Correspondence
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for West Bromwich West of 22 February 2012, Official Report, columns 873-4W, on regulation of the pub industry, if he will place a copy of his letter to the hon. Member in the Library. [102158]
The Prime Minister: A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
Ministerial Policy Advisers
Helen Goodman: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what the role was of each official who reported to Mr Steve Hilton during his employment at 10 Downing street; [101766]
(2) whether Mr Steve Hilton had access to papers on (a) policy in the forthcoming Communications Green Paper and (b) policy on the internet during his employment at 10 Downing street; [101767]
(3) whether Mr Steve Hilton attended meetings on (a) policy in the forthcoming Communications Green Paper and (b) policy on the internet during his employment at 10 Downing street; [101768]
(4) whether Mr Steve Hilton made any declaration of conflicts of interest under paragraph 15B of the model contract for special advisers. [101769]
The Prime Minister: Consistent with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, Steve Hilton has no line management responsibility for any officials. He has access to papers, and attends meetings as necessary for his role as special adviser. Information relating to internal discussion and advice is not normally disclosed.
Scotland
Catering
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available. [101442]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not maintain a central record of how much is spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors. All expenditure incurred is in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money.
Departmental Expenditure: Flowers
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012. [101427]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not maintain a central record of how much is spent on cut flowers or pot plants. All expenditure incurred is in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money.
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Immigration
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with higher education institutions in Scotland on changes to immigration rules; and what steps he is taking as a result of these discussions. [101485]
David Mundell: Scotland Office Ministers are in contact with representatives from the higher education sector in Scotland on a range of issues and discuss matters relating to immigration as they arise. Recently Scotland Office Ministers were instrumental in the introduction of the new immigration rules relating to graduate entrepreneurs.
Money Advice Service
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he has had any discussions with the Money Advice Service on the tendering process to be instituted by it in autumn 2012 for the provision of a new face-to-face service starting in autumn 2013; [101665]
(2) whether he has had any discussions with (a) the Scottish Government, (b) the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and (c) Citizens Advice Scotland on the tendering process to be instituted by the Money Advice Service in autumn 2012 for the provision of a new face-to-face service starting in autumn 2013. [101666]
David Mundell: My Department has not held any discussions with the Money Advice Service, nor with the Scottish Government, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities or the Citizens Advice Service, about the tendering process for a new face-to-face service—this is a matter for the Money Advice Service which has had detailed discussions with a wide range of stakeholders in Scotland.
Rescue Services
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what long-term plans are in place for emergency towing vessel cover in Scottish waters after 24 March 2012. [101667]
David Mundell: The UK Government have been able to extend the current ETV contract until 31 March 2012. This will allow for ongoing discussions around a solution to continue, including within Government.
Northern Ireland
Departmental Expenditure: Flowers
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012. [101428]
Mr Swire:
The Northern Ireland Office spent £2,994 on cut flowers and £1,960 on pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012. This expenditure relates to the purchase of cut flowers and pot plants for use at the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland's annual garden parties and other official events, functions and visits. Such costs have been reduced considerably over recent
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years as flowers and plants have been cultivated in the gardens of Hillsborough Castle to be used, when possible, season permitting. Both cut flowers and pot plants are reused as much as possible.
Intellectual Property
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department has a role in intellectual property policy development. [100686]
Mr Swire: My Department does not currently have a role in intellectual property policy development.
Overseas Students: Entry Clearances
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with higher education institutions in Northern Ireland on changes to immigration rules; and what steps he is taking as a result of these discussions. [101486]
Mr Swire: Neither I nor the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), have had any such discussions. Immigration matters are excepted and the responsibility of the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), and the UK Border Agency. Higher education is a transferred matter which is the responsibility of the Minister for Employment and Learning in the Northern Ireland Executive.
Changes to immigration rules are usually notified to the House by means of a written ministerial statement and appear on the UKBA website. The UKBA liaises closely with its stakeholders in respect of changes to rules.
Taxis
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012. [101415]
Mr Paterson: In the six month period from August 2011 to January 2012, my Department spent £79.54 on taxis for Ministers, and £9,189.61 on taxis for civil servants.
Wales
Catering
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much her Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available. [101440]
Mr David Jones: The Wales Office does not supply complimentary refreshments for staff, but we do on occasion provide teas and coffees for ministerial meetings with external bodies and individuals, although we are unable to disaggregate the costs of this.
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First Time Buyers
Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions she has had on the potential operation of an equivalent NewBuy scheme in Wales; and if she will make a statement. [101539]
Mr David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), and I have discussions both with ministerial colleagues and Ministers in the Welsh Government about a wide range of matters relevant to Wales.
The Government launched the NewBuy Guarantee Scheme on 12 March. The scheme brings lenders, builders and the Government together to offer mortgages on new-build properties with much smaller deposits than currently required. The increased demand for new homes will also give a boost to house builders and the economy, and will support 50,000 construction jobs. While the scheme applies to mortgages on properties in England only, I hope that the Welsh Government will give serious consideration to introducing similar measures to benefit home buyers and the construction industry in Wales.
Departmental Expenditure: Flowers
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much her Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012. [101425]
Mr David Jones: The Wales Office has not spent anything on cut flowers between May 2010 and February 2012. £20 was spent on pot plants.
Immigration
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions she has had with higher education institutions in Wales on changes to immigration rules; and what steps she is taking as a result of these discussions. [101484]
Mr David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), and I have met with the Vice Chancellors of all the higher education institutions in Wales and discussed a range of issues, including the changes to immigration rules. This Government recognise the important contribution that international students make to the UK's economy, and to making our education system one of the best in the world.
We want to encourage the best students to come to the UK to study. Our reforms will protect the UK education system and ensure that only those genuinely intending to study can come to the UK.
Intellectual Property
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether her Department has a role in intellectual property policy development. [100687]
Mr David Jones:
Intellectual property policy development is a matter for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Intellectual Property Office. The Wales
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Office works closely with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on a range of matters that impact on businesses in Wales and the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), discussed these with the Wales Office Business Advisory Group in March 2011.
National Assembly for Wales
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much funding her Department allocated to the National Assembly for Wales in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [101810]
Mr David Jones: The following amount of resource and capital departmental expenditure limit have been allocated to the Welsh Government in the last three full financial years:
| £ | |
Taxis
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much her Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012. [101409]
Mr David Jones: The Wales Office has spent £1,114 on taxis for Ministers and £2,136 on taxis for civil servants between August 2011 and 31 January 2012. The expenditure for civil servants arises in the main from access to work arrangements.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Air Pollution
Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of when the UK will be fully compliant with EU requirements on air quality; and what steps she is taking to ensure such compliance. [100475]
Richard Benyon: The UK is currently compliant with EU requirements for particulate matter (PM10) in all areas except London. Compliance in London was expected in 2011 and the Government have submitted an update to the European Commission on the measures being taken to help ensure compliance is achieved. This update is publicly available on the DEFRA website.
Meeting EU requirements for nitrogen dioxide is challenging for the UK and many EU member states. In September 2011, the Government submitted air quality plans to the European Commission outlining how EU limits for nitrogen dioxide will be met as soon as possible. These plans are publicly available on the UK Air website.
The UK meets EU limit values currently in force for other air pollutants.
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Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which areas in the UK were (a) compliant and (b) not compliant with nitrogen dioxide pollution limits in the latest period for which figures are available. [100476]
Richard Benyon: The UK is divided into 43 zones and agglomerations for the purposes of air quality assessment. The latest compliance assessment shows that three of those zones were compliant with the annual mean EU limit value for nitrogen dioxide in 2010. The compliant zones for this limit value are the Blackpool Urban Area, Scottish Borders and Highlands. Air quality plans setting out how compliance will be achieved in the remaining zones as soon as possible are publicly available on the UK Air website.
The full report and compliance assessment summary of the publication ‘Air Pollution in the UK 2010' provides further information on UK compliance with air quality limits in 2010. This is also available on the UK Air website.
Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of fines likely to be levied by the EU on the UK for failure to comply with air quality requirements in each of the next three years. [100478]
Richard Benyon: It is not possible to estimate the level of fines that might be imposed in any particular case. Fines are calculated by taking into account the seriousness of the breach, its duration and a deterrent factor. The minimum lump sum that the European Commission would request from the UK is now €8.992 million, although the European Court of Justice could impose a different amount. Fines can take the form of periodic payments, lump sums or both together.
No UK Government Department has ever received a fine as a result of breaching EU law. In all cases, the UK is committed to resolving any issues well before the stage at which fines could be levied by the EU and this includes compliance with our EU air quality obligations.
Air Pollution: Greater London
Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect on the efficacy of air quality monitoring of the use of adhesive spray to reduce levels of PM10 in London. [101002]
Richard Benyon: The Government have not made an assessment of the effect the use of adhesive spray to reduce levels of PM10 has had on the efficacy of air quality monitoring.
Air quality monitoring equipment in the Automatic Urban and Rural Network is regularly maintained and quality assured to ensure that it is performing to expected standards, through hourly data collection and regular site visits. Any reduction in efficacy would quickly become apparent and be investigated. There is no evidence to suggest that adhesive spray used to reduce levels of PM10 in London is impacting on the efficacy of air quality monitoring.
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Air Pollution: Local Government
Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the Localism Act 2011, what steps she is taking to make local authorities aware of their potential liability to pay fines for missing air quality targets. [101001]
Richard Benyon: The UK has never been fined in relation to any infraction proceedings and would always seek to work with the European Commission and relevant authorities to meet EU obligations and avoid infraction.
The Department for Communities and Local Government is currently consulting on the policy statement to accompany part 2 of the Localism Act 2011. This 12-week consultation closes on 22 April 2012. Local authorities have received a letter encouraging them to respond to the consultation, and the Local Government Association and the Greater London Authority have been closely engaged and played a leading role in drafting the proposed policy statement.
Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the effect of air pollution on public health in the context of the delegation of responsibility for public health to local authorities. [101003]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA Ministers and officials have had a number of discussions with their counterparts in the Department of Health about how air quality and other environmental outcomes in the public health outcomes framework are treated. DEFRA has worked closely with the Department of Health on raising the understanding of air quality and public health in readiness for the delegation of this responsibility to local authorities in 2013.
Airports: Thames Estuary
Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential effects of a new airport in the Thames Estuary on the local environment and wildlife. [99773]
Richard Benyon: No. However, in common with any other proposal for major infrastructure development, any formal proposal for a new airport in the Thames Estuary would need to be accompanied by an assessment of the environmental impacts. This would help inform the final decision in the event that approval was sought for such a scheme.
Animal Welfare: Pigs
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to end the tail docking of piglets. [101543]
Mr Paice: The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 does not permit the routine tail docking of pigs. Tail docking should only be used as a last resort, after improvements to the pigs' environment and management have proved ineffectual. We have effectively used cross compliance regulations to impose financial penalties for this mutilation where it has been deemed to be carried out not in accordance with the law.
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We have made significant efforts to keep farmers aware of their obligations with regard to tail docking, through careful advice in the Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock: Pigs, through welfare advisory campaigns we have held for pig producers and in partnership with industry partners/key stakeholders. The Government would like to see a reduction in the number of pigs that are tail docked, but recognise that despite much research, tail-biting is still a significant welfare concern in undocked pigs. It is also an EU-wide animal welfare issue and continues to be raised in Brussels.
Carbon Emissions
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reduction in carbon dioxide emissions her Department has made under the 10:10 initiative. [97929]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA did not sign up to the 10:10 campaign(1).
On 14 May 2010 the Prime Minister announced that central Government would reduce its carbon emissions by 10% within 12 months. At the end of this period (13 May 2010 to 12 May 2011) core DEFRA and its Executive agencies had reduced its carbon emissions by 11.6% or 1,448 tonnes of CO2.
Additionally, core DEFRA and its Executive agencies delivered a 13% in-year reduction against the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) carbon dioxide from offices target during the 2009-10 reporting year, and a further 10.4% over 2010-11(2).
(1) Further information on the 10:10 campaign can be found at
www.1010global.org/uk
(2) SOGE Carbon emissions from offices target:
Reduce carbon emissions by 12.5% by 2010-11, relative to 1999-2000 levels.
Reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2020, relative to 1999-2000 levels.
Energy: EU Law
Mr Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of projected annual electricity savings in the domestic sector in gigawatt hours in (a) 2020 and (b) 2030 arising from the introduction of minimum EU energy and environmental performance standards. [100667]
Richard Benyon: A number of minimum EU energy performance and labelling standards, many of which apply in the domestic sector, are being developed in two tranches. The first tranche has already been agreed across member states, and the second tranche is in the process of being agreed.
Domestic electricity savings for tranche 1 policies are projected to be just under 17,000 GWh in 2020 and just over 12,000 GWh in 2030. Domestic electricity savings for tranche 2 policies are estimated to be just over 8,000 GWh in 2020 and just under 9,000 GWh in 2030, although it should be noted that the scope, timing and stringency of tranche 2 minimum standards are still in the process of being agreed across member states, and so the estimate cannot be made with certainty.
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These estimates do not include associated increases in gas emissions (where the heat previously produced by less efficient products will need to be generated from another source), and neither are standards that aim to reduce gas consumption included. Estimated impacts beyond 2020 are of course subject to considerable uncertainty, because of difficulties predicting how the market will respond to delivering more efficient products in the longer term.
Floods
Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to ensure that (a) home owners and (b) insurers are able to access flood maps indicating the impact of flood defences and national barriers when assessing flood risks. [101488]
Richard Benyon: Home owners and insurers can access flood maps and other information showing the impact of flood defences on flood risk in a number of ways.
The Flood Map on the Environment Agency's website allows home owners to access information on flood defence locations and the areas that benefit from these flood defences.
Further information is available from the National Flood Risk Assessment website. This assesses the impact of the flood defences, taking their type and condition into account, including the impact of a number of significant national barriers, such as the Thames Barrier. Home owners can access this information by clicking on the Flood Map on the website, or by requesting a map.
Insurers can access this mapped information under licence to inform their assessment of flood risk.
Floods: Housing
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to improve flood protection for more homes. [101636]
Richard Benyon: This Government will spend £2.17 billion on managing the risk of flooding and coastal erosion over this spending period (April 2011 to March 2015). We have prioritised areas of severe flood and coastal erosion risk, and households in deprived communities. Of the 145,000 homes that will be better protected by 2015, around half will be in areas of significant flood risk and almost 15,000 homes will be both at significant flood risk and in the most deprived parts of the country.
New estimates show that the risk management authorities are on track to exceed the goal of better protecting 145,000 homes by March 2015. This is in part due to the new partnership approach to funding that has helped secure £72 million of external contributions for projects over the next three years.
Hunting
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to publish the report on the extent of use and humaneness of snares in England and Wales. [98148]
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Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2012, Official Report, column 536W, on snares, when she plans to publish the report on the extent of the use and humaneness of snares in England and Wales. [98448]
Richard Benyon: The DEFRA commissioned report, "Determining the Extent of Use and Humaneness of Snares in England and Wales—WM0315", was published on the DEFRA website on 15 March 2012.
I have placed a copy of the report in the Library of the House.
Information Commissioner
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many appeals her Department has made to an information tribunal contesting a decision notice of the Information Commissioner in the last 12 months. [100306]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA has not appealed to the Information Rights Tribunal in respect of any decision notices issued by the Information Commissioner in the last 12 months. This answer is for core-DEFRA only.
Lost Property
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what property has been lost or stolen from her Department in the last 12 months; and what the estimated cost was of replacement of such property. [100894]
Richard Benyon: Property lost or stolen is recorded as 'losses'. The following table shows unrecovered losses of items in core DEFRA for the period 1 March 2011 to 29 February 2012.
| Description | Quantity | Estimated cost to Department £ |
Other items (such as cables, laptop bags) have also been reported lost, but as these are of very low cost, we do not track costs.
Standard IT equipment such as laptops and monitors are the property of IBM which has provided IT services to DEFRA since October 2004. Lost items replaced under the IBM service contract do not have a direct cost to the Department.
All losses of equipment are taken very seriously and security guidance is regularly issued to staff. No loss of significant or sensitive data occurred as a result of these losses.
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Media Monitoring
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what media monitoring services her Department has purchased in each of the last five years. [100893]
Richard Benyon: Over the past five years core DEFRA has procured the following services:
| Media monitoring service | Date of contract |
McKinsey and Company
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department paid to McKinsey and Company in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if she will make a statement. [100580]
Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA has not made any payments to McKinsey and Company in either 2010-11 or 2011-12.
Nature Conservation: Crime
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of prosecutions for offences involving harm or disturbance to marine wildlife which have been brought in (a) England, (b) the North West and (c) Cumbria in each of the last five years. [99357]
Richard Benyon: In England and its territorial waters, certain species of marine wildlife are protected under several pieces of legislation (principally the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 and the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009).
Offences against marine wildlife are not recorded separately from offences against non-marine wildlife in the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 or the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. Therefore, it is not possible to provide the information requested for offences committed under those Acts.
There are no reported proceedings under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970.
Phosphates: Western Sahara
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any UK companies or ships are involved in exporting phosphates from occupied Western Sahara. [101536]
Mr Paice: DEFRA does not hold this information.
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Reservoirs
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reservoir capacity has been created since privatisation. [101467]
Richard Benyon: The capacity of reservoirs created since privatisation is 80,535,811m(3). These are reservoirs in England and Wales that fall under the Reservoirs Act 1975 (large raised reservoirs with a capacity of 25,000m(3) or more above natural ground level).
Rural Areas
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps she is taking to support rural communities and the rural economy; [101068]
(2) what new measures she is taking to support rural communities and the rural economy. [101069]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA is working with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Communities and Local Government to make sure measures designed to support business and the economy are having a proportionate and positive impact in rural areas. On 29 November 2011, the Government announced a strong package of new measures designed to stimulate sustainable growth in the rural economy and help rural businesses to reach their full potential.
Key measures included £15 million funding for up to six pilot Rural Growth Networks; the opening for business of the £20 million Rural Community Broadband Fund; a new £25 million package to support rural tourism; a new £15 million fund to provide loans to communities interested in renewable energy; support for food and drink companies to innovate and export; and help for farmers to diversify by making it easier for them to put redundant farm buildings to appropriate alternative use.
In addition, a new Rural and Farming Network comprising local groups from across England has been established to identify and feedback local issues and concerns straight to the heart of Government, in order to make policies more responsive to the needs of rural businesses and communities.
Waste Management
Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the rules that prohibit anaerobic digestion activities within 250 metres of buildings used by public and private dwellings can be waived through the award of bespoke permits. [101221]
Richard Benyon:
There is nothing that prohibits anaerobic digestion activities within 250 metres of occupied buildings. However, if anaerobic digestion activities are within 250 metres of occupied buildings, the Environment Agency requires a site-specific assessment to be carried out to ensure that human health and the environment will be protected. Subject to this assessment, the Environment Agency may issue a bespoke permit under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales)
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Regulations 2010, with conditions to prevent harm or pollution. If such activities are beyond 250 metres, the operator may be eligible for a more generic Standard Rules Permit issued by the Environment Agency.
Kwasi Kwarteng: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the use of private finance initiative contracts to fund future construction of waste incinerators and anaerobic digesters. [101223]
Richard Benyon: To qualify for waste infrastructure (WI) credits (formerly private finance initiative credits), local authorities have to demonstrate that their project meets all of DEFRA's WI criteria. DEFRA has allocated WI credits to 32 local authority projects. There are no plans to award WI credits to new projects; DEFRA will honour its obligations in relation to projects that have already had their outline business case approved.
The Government adopt a technology neutral position to allow for the development of a broad range of technologies. It is local authorities, not central Government, that have the responsibility for deciding how waste is managed in their respective areas. The choice of technology must reflect local circumstances, which will vary, and it is important that any plans for energy from waste facilities emerge out of local waste strategies to ensure the optimisation of reuse, recycling and composting activities.
Work Experience
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 May 2011, Official Report, column 114W, on departmental work experience, how many people (a) worked as an intern, (b) undertook a work experience placement and (c) worked as a volunteer in her Department in accordance with the hiring criteria set out in that answer in the last 12 months for which data are available; and how many such people were employed other than according to those criteria. [100732]
Richard Benyon: In the 12 months between 1 March 2011 and 29 February 2012 Core DEFRA employed the following interns:
Five interns as part of the Fast Stream Summer Diversity Internship Scheme and three interns on the College Level Internship pilot scheme. Both schemes were organised by the Cabinet Office and within the criteria set out in the answer of 17 May 2011.
Five Sandwich Students. These were recruited through universities that specialise in industrial placements.
Two students as part of the Year in Industry Scheme run by the Engineering Development Trust.
Sandwich Students and Year in Industry Scheme students are not within the criteria set out in the answer of 17 May 2011.
No work experience placements or volunteers were taken on.
Culture, Media and Sport
Alcoholic Drinks: Advertising
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he plans to put further restrictions on the advertisement of alcohol. [101838]
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Mr Vaizey: Advertising in the UK is controlled through a system of co-regulation, with Ofcom, and self-regulation, which is administered by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). These bodies are independent and they set the standards for all advertising.
Alcohol advertising is already subject to a range of strict controls. However, as set out in the Government's recently published Alcohol Strategy, we will continue to work closely with the ASA and Ofcom to make sure that the rules on alcohol advertising continue to provide the appropriate levels of consumer protection, especially for children and young people.
Arts
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has to increase the number of working class families engaging with the arts. [101719]
Mr Vaizey: This Department's arm's length funding body, Arts Council England, wants more people to experience and be inspired by the arts, irrespective of where they live or their social, educational or financial circumstances. There are a number of ways it addresses this, including its network of Bridge organisations, a strategic fund to ensure the best work tours around the country, funding through Grants for the Arts, and the contribution of its National Portfolio Organisations.
In addition, the recently launched Audience Focus fund has offered a consortium led by the Association of British Orchestras £1.1 million over three years to develop Family Friendly Arts. Family Friendly Arts will increase levels of engagement by families and young people through a large scale national programme.
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the value of the creative sector is to the economy; how many people are employed in the industry; what proportion of the industry operates in each region; and what the industry spent on its supply chains in the UK in 2011. [101982]
Mr Vaizey: The latest “Creative Industries Economic Estimates” bulletin was released in December 2011, in which the contribution to the economy of the creative industries is estimated—covering gross value added (GVA), employment, exports in services and number of businesses.
The creative industries as a whole were estimated to contribute £36.3 billion, or 2.9%, to the UK's GVA in 2009 and in 2010, employed 1.5 million, or 5.1% of UK employment.
Regional estimates on the number of creative enterprises can be found in appendix C (page 30) of the full creative industries economic estimates statistical release which is available on the Department's website at this link:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/8682.aspx
We do not have any information on what the creative industries spend on their supply chains.
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to support the creative industries and their domestic supply chain. [101986]
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Mr Vaizey: This Department has a number of measures related to supporting the creative industries. These are described in the Growth Review
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ukecon_growth_index.htm
and include the creation of a Creative Industries Council to provide a voice for the sector on issues such as finance and skills, the delivery of critical super-fast broadband, and an implementation plan for the release of 500Mhz of public sector spectrum. The Government are also providing relief from taxation on films and, as announced in the March 2012 Budget, is committed to relief on taxation on video games, animation and hi-end television from April 2013.
Arts: Charitable Donations
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what progress his Department has made on promoting philanthropy in the arts. [101549]
Mr Vaizey: The Department has made good progress on boosting philanthropy in the arts. The Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed in his Budget that our new Cultural Gifts Scheme will incentivise lifetime giving of pre-eminent objects to public collections through reductions in donors' liability for income tax and corporation tax. That is in addition to a reduced rate of inheritance tax for those who leave more than 10% of their estate to a cultural body or charity. This will help to boost legacy giving across the country with effect from 6 April 2012.
Together with Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund, we are investing £100 million in match funding to incentivise philanthropy, and over 80 applications have been received for the Catalyst programme of endowment grants which will unlock donations from philanthropists and provide long-term financial resilience for cultural bodies. Catalyst will also help to strengthen fundraising skills in smaller arts and heritage bodies over the next three years.
The National Gallery and National Galleries of Scotland recently announced the successful acquisition of Titian's masterpiece Diana and Callisto, thanks in large part to the generosity of private donors. This is just the latest in a succession of significant donations to our cultural bodies. I welcome and commend the generosity of all those who give to the arts in this country. Their support deserves our thanks and appreciation.
Broadband
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of progress towards targets for greater broadband infrastructure and bandwidth by 2015; and what estimate he has made of the likely effect on the economy of (a) the UK and (b) each region of meeting these targets. [101568]
Mr Vaizey:
We are making good progress towards our target of ensuring the UK has the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015, with 90% of households having access to superfast broadband and a good level of service at 2Mbps for everyone. 24 local broadband plans (over 50%) have been approved and we expect all plans will be approved by the target date of
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April 2012, and we have set a target for all broadband procurements to be completed by the end of 2012 so that delivery can be complete by 2015. In addition, we are investing £150 million to deliver ultra-fast broadband to up to 20 cities, with the first 10 cities announced in the Budget last week, 21 March 2012,
Official Report
, columns 793-808. We want the UK to become the technology hub of Europe, and a good communications infrastructure is vital to the growth of the economy. While we do not have figures at a regional level, there is a growing body of evidence of the impact of better networks on the economy. McKinsey report that the digital economy accounts for 23% of all growth and Boston Consulting Group last week estimated that internet-driven business made up 8.3% of the UK's economy, rising to 12.6% by 2016.
Catering
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available. [101452]
John Penrose: The Department spent a total of £51,295 on refreshments in 2010-11.
In 2009-10, it was £156,436, and 2008-09, it was £175,796 which includes staff canteen costs.
Culture
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assistance his Department is offering to local authorities on impact assessments of their festivals and cultural event programmes throughout the comprehensive spending review. [101720]
Mr Vaizey: In April, Arts Council England will publish guidance for arts and culture organisations on measuring their economic contribution. This guidance will help local authorities, and the organisations they work with, to understand the different approaches towards this type of research. It will provide examples in the form of case studies and signpost people to useful resources.
Departmental Expenditure: Flowers
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012. [101423]
John Penrose: The total cost for the period May 2010 until February 2012 is £3,527.26.
In 2007-08, the cost was £24,730, in 2008-09 it was £15,025, and in 2009-10, it was £15,027.39.
We are not able to disaggregate the cost of cut flowers and pot plants as we are charged a total sum that includes provision of both.
Folk Music
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what assessment he has made of the financial contribution made by folk music to the UK economy; [100980]
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(2) what financial assistance his Department has given to promote folk music in each of the last 10 years. [100981]
Mr Vaizey: There has been no direct assessment of the financial contribution made by folk music to the UK economy, however, Arts Council England do support a number of folk organisations and are committed to the growth of the sector.
Heritage Lottery Fund: Consultants
Jake Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much the Heritage Lottery Fund has spent on public affairs consultancy firms in the last three years; on which firms; and for what reasons. [101131]
Mr Vaizey: Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is a distributor of lottery funding and does not receive Government funding. They have supplied the information in the following table of payments (inclusive of VAT) spent on public affairs consultancy firms in the last three year, and to which firms:
| Contractors | £ | |
| (1 )Indicates brace | ||
These contractors provide advice and logistical support in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including guidance on how devolved Administrations operate. They also provide parliamentary monitoring services and reporting on the UK Parliament, Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, Northern Ireland Assembly and Greater London Assembly.
In January 2010 HLF decided to bring much of the parliamentary monitoring work in-house to achieve savings.
Intellectual Property
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department has a role in intellectual property policy development. [100685]
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Mr Vaizey: The overall policy lead for intellectual property is held by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills via the Intellectual Property Office. Many Government Departments have an interest in intellectual property, and the policy making process reflects those interests. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has an interest in copyright in particular, and works closely with the Intellectual Property Office in this area. In addition, DCMS leads on the implementation of measures to address the online infringement of copyright, and similarly works closely with the Intellectual Property Office in that work.
Radio Frequencies
Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if his Department will provide financial assistance for the cost of femtocells to individuals in those areas identified in Appendix C of the Mobile Infrastructure Project where the project fails to improve 2G and 3G coverage. [101074]
Mr Vaizey: Femtocells are already being offered by companies at reduced rates where they cannot provide a service. What role they play in the Mobile Infrastructure Project will be become clearer once the procurement begins.
Tourism
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to support cross-regional tourist strategies. [101855]
John Penrose: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 22 March 2012, Official Report, column 795W.
Video Games: Age
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) if he will consider applying the video game age classification system to mobile applications and online games; [102027]
(2) what plans he has to review the system for video game classification. [102028]
Mr Vaizey: The statutory system for classifying video games has recently been reviewed, and changes to the regime—which will mean that the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) system becomes the sole method of classifying video games in the UK—are currently being implemented. For the first time, it will be an offence to supply any aged-rated game for over 12-year-olds to someone who does not meet the age requirement.
A voluntary ratings system is also in place for online games producers, based on the same PEGI classifications that are used in the off-line world. Many companies already use the PEGI system for their online products and we welcome increased use of this system. This allows parents to make informed choices for their children.
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Communities and Local Government
Aerials: Planning Permission
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning applications for telecommunications masts in (a) the London Borough of Bexley, (b) London and (c) England were referred to the Planning Inspectorate in each of the last three years; and what proportion received planning permission on appeal. [101703]
Robert Neill: The following table shows the number of planning appeals in respect of telecommunication masts, received in the Planning Inspectorate, where an outcome is known for each of the last three calendar years and the proportion of the appeals that were allowed in (a) London borough of Bexley, (b) London and (c) England.
| LB of Bexley | London | England | ||
Community Relations
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how his Department plans to evaluate the success of (a) the Big Lunch and (b) community music days in facilitating integration. [101851]
Andrew Stunell: The written ministerial statement, “Creating the Conditions for Integration” made on 21 February 2012, Official Report, column 73WS, sets out the Government's approach to enabling and encouraging integration, including the role of exemplar projects. Specific projects will be monitored and evaluated against each project's objectives. Integration is predominately a local issue which requires a local response, and therefore evaluation is a matter for local areas.
Employment Schemes: Ethnic Groups
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which policies in his Department's (a) Equality Strategy and (b) Social Mobility Strategy he expects to help reduce Black unemployment; and how he plans to measure the effectiveness of each policy. [101848]
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Andrew Stunell: The Equality Strategy and the Social Mobility Strategy are both cross Government strategies. The priorities of the Department for Communities and Local Government focus on decentralisation and localism. The Department contributes to growth and reducing unemployment, including Black unemployment, by supporting local government, communities and neighbourhoods, through the full range of its policies and programmes.
We shall be reporting shortly on our review of access to finance for ethnic minority businesses, to promote growth and employment.
Fire Services: South Yorkshire
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding his Department allocates to the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority for the provision of flood rescue in South Yorkshire. [101753]
Robert Neill: Central Government funding allocated to the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority is in a flexible form and it is for the authority to decide locally how to support the different services that they provide. In addition, the authority is provided with £76,721 of funding for 2011-12, in recognition of the New Dimension assets it holds, some of which could be used as part of the response to flood incidents.
Floods: South Yorkshire
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the effect on flood rescue in South Yorkshire of changes in funding for the fire and rescue service. [101754]
Robert Neill: It is for individual Fire and Rescue Authorities to make local decisions on how to deal with changes to their funding. We believe that the changes can be dealt with by local efficiency measures and frontline services can be protected, so that fire and rescue services can play the necessary role in flood rescue needed locally. National resilience capability, which supports flood rescue locally, is funded through a specific grant; national resilience is not affected by local formula settlements.
Growing Places Fund
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government over what timescale the additional funding for the Growing Places Fund announced in his Budget Statement of 21 March 2012 will be delivered to local enterprise partnerships. [101950]
Grant Shapps: The additional funding for the Growing Places Fund will be paid to the accountable local authority, as nominated by each local enterprise partnership, by the 31 March 2012. It will then be for local areas to allocate their funds according to local infrastructure priorities.
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Housing: Construction
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of the number of homes for which planning permission has been obtained but which have not yet been built in (a) England and (b) Oxfordshire. [100451]
Robert Neill: The number of dwellings where permission has been granted but where development had not yet started as at 31 December 2011 is estimated at 229,177 units for England. A breakdown by local authority is not available.
The source of the data is Glenigan:
https://www.glenigan.com/
a private company who supply the Homes and Communities Agency with information on the status of planning applications for internal use. Information from Glenigan is commercially available for a fee.
The above figure covers “large” schemes which are defined as those with 10 or more units (although some schemes with fewer than 10 units are included which have sufficient value to be classified as “large”). Glenigan does not track smaller schemes beyond planning decision stage.
The Government are taking a number of steps to help unlock development on sites with planning permission:
The £570 million Get Britain Building Fund will help get builders back on stalled housing sites with planning permission that have been shut down because of difficulties in accessing development finance;
We are proposing to allow reconsideration of planning obligations agreed prior to April 2010 where development is stalled. We have already encouraged local authorities to be flexible in reviewing Section 106 agreements:
The £770 million Growing Places Fund will support infrastructure that unblocks housing and economic growth; and
The NewBuy Guarantee scheme brings lenders, builders and Government together to offer mortgages on new-build properties with a fraction of the deposit currently required, which in turn will encourage house builders to build more homes.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much under the New Homes Bonus has been received by (a) Richmond-upon-Thames and (b) Kingston-upon-Thames borough since its inception. [101814]
Grant Shapps: The New Homes Bonus was introduced in April 2011 to incentivise housing supply. This year we will pay £432 million of New Homes Bonus for local authorities in England.
A table which sets out the amount of bonus to be paid to local authorities for 2012-13 has been placed in the Library of the House. For 2011-12 to 2012-13, Richmond-upon-Thames will have received £1,117,238. For the same period, Kingston-upon-Thames will have received £1,396,314.
Housing: Rents
David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration he has given to extending the timetable for rent convergence between local authority housing and registered social landlords beyond 2015-16. [101352]
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Andrew Stunell: The Government have confirmed their intention to continue with the last Administration's policy of rent restructuring with convergence in 2015-16 and have no plans to change this.
Rental income assumptions underpin the local authority housing self-financing settlement, which begins on 1 April 2012. This initiative sees the end of the complex and unwieldy housing revenue account subsidy system and returns responsibility for social housing finance, including rents, to local communities.
Intellectual Property
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has a role in intellectual property policy development. [100683]
Robert Neill: The overall policy lead for intellectual property is held by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills via the Intellectual Property Office. My Department becomes involved in so far as intellectual property issues require collective ministerial consideration.
Planning Permission: Bournemouth
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many retrospective planning applications were received in each of the last five years in Bournemouth; and of these, how many were granted in each year. [101949]
Robert Neill: The Department collects information on planning applications but is not able to determine how many of these are retrospective.
Right to Buy Scheme: Greater London
Dame Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the increase of the maximum discount cap for tenants with the right to buy or preserved right to buy, what estimate has been made of the number of cases where this will have the effect of increasing the quantum of the discount claimed by purchases within the Greater London Authority area in the first 12 months of operation. [101955]
Grant Shapps: By reinvigorating the Right to Buy we will help more people realise their aspiration of home ownership. The increase in the discount, to £75,000 across England from 2 April 2012, more than quadruples the discount cap in London. The level of discount will depend on the length of tenancy.
We have not explicitly estimated the number of cases where this will have the effect of increasing the quantum of the discount claimed by purchases within the Greater London Authority area in the first 12 months of operation. However, tenants will benefit from the increased discount.
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 to tackle benefit fraud in each English local authority in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11. [101521]
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Robert Neill: The information requested is not held centrally.
Travellers: Finance
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2011, Official Report, column 1131W, on Travellers: finance, if he will list each Traveller group that received funding from the £132,000 of support in 2009-10; how much was given in each case; what funding was given in relation to planning policy or planning applications; and what the purpose was of each grant. [101037]
Andrew Stunell: Pursuant to my answer of 9 March 2011, Official Report, column 1131W, the funding provided for the organisation Friends, Families and Travellers was spent by that organisation on supporting Gypsy and Traveller groups in a number of ways, such as raising awareness of mediation techniques among local authorities and other bodies; work to increase civic participation by Travellers: website development; and setting up new Traveller forums.
Urban Areas
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on including as a Portas Pilot an application from one local authority for a single pilot covering multiple towns in a district council area. [100864]
Grant Shapps: There is no reason why areas could not work together to submit one Portas Pilot application, if their issues and priorities are shared. In doing so, they would need to convey a single clear vision, leadership and plan and demonstrate their collective commitment.
Energy and Climate Change
Climate Change
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2012, Official Report, column 159W, on climate change, if he will publish copies of the latest estimates made by the Met Office Hadley Centre of the change to global temperatures in each year since 1997. [101920]
Gregory Barker: Latest estimates made by the Met Office Hadley Centre of the annual difference in global average surface temperatures, relative to the 1961 to 1990 average of 14.0°C, are shown in the following table for each year since 1997. The data for each year up to 2010 are taken from the latest version (HadCRUT4) of the global temperature dataset maintained by the Met Office Hadley Centre and the Climatic Research Unit.
The Met Office will be publishing these data in due course, together with the HadCRUT4 data for 2011, once these have been verified. Details of the HadCRUT4 dataset, covering the period 1850 to 2010, have been published in a peer-reviewed paper which is available at
http://www.agu.org/journals/pip/jd/2011JD017187-pip.pdf
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| Anomaly (1) (°C) | 95% confidence range | |
| (1 )Anomalies are presented as the temperature difference (degrees Celsius) from the 1961 to 1990 average of 14.0°C. | ||
Electricity Generation: Carbon Emissions
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the evidential basis is for the UK's comments on the EU 2050 Energy Roadmap that for the UK to meet its 2050 targets cost-effectively the electricity sector will need to decarbonise during the 2030s. [101490]
Charles Hendry:
The evidence for supporting decarbonisation in the power sector was based on MARKAL analysis which informed the Fourth Carbon Budget report by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). The MARKAL analysis looked at cost-effective paths to decarbonisation to 2050 and concluded the following in relation to the power sector: (i) the quantity of low-carbon electricity required by 2050 (e.g. a possible doubling of supply) implies high rates of low-carbon capacity addition throughout the period to 2050, and therefore implies low-carbon generation by 2030 at a level close to total electricity generation today; (ii) the
26 Mar 2012 : Column 944W
costs of reducing carbon-intensity in the power sector are generally lower than doing so in other sectors, and the least-cost path towards 2050 is therefore likely to involve early decarbonisation of electricity supply.
DECCs Carbon Plan report, 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 CCCs Fourth Carbon Budget Report can be found at the following weblink:
http://www.theccc.org.uk/reports/fourth-carbon-budget
DECCs Carbon Plan report can be found at the following weblink:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/tackling/carbon_plan/carbon_plan.aspx
Electricity: Prices
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent comparison he has made of the cost of electricity to intensive-energy industries in the UK and (a) France and (b) Germany; and if he will publish his findings. [101853]
Charles Hendry: DECC publishes Eurostat data on the electricity prices paid by industrial users of various sizes in the EU 15 in its Quarterly Energy Prices publication, available online at:
http://www.deccgov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/publications/prices/prices.aspx
Average UK electricity prices (including taxes) for extra large(1) industrial users are higher than those of France and have been lower than those of Germany since the period January to June 2010, see following table:
| Average industrial electricity prices for extra large consumers (including taxes), p/kWh | ||||||||
| July to December 2007 | January to June 2008 | July to December 2008 | January to June 2009 | July to December 2009 | January to June 2010 | July to December 2010 | January to June 2011 | |
On 12 March, the Government launched a call for evidence on the impact of electricity costs on energy intensive industries in the UK to inform implementation of the package of measures announced in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement on 29 November 2011, Official Report,columns 799-810, for these industries—available online at:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/business-sectors/low-carbon-business-opportunities/energy-intensive-industries
(1) Extra large industrial electricity users are defined as those consuming 70,000-150,000 MWh of electricity per year. Many UK energy intensive users are above this threshold for electricity. Data for users that consume more than 150,000 MWh a year of electricity are available on the Eurostat website at:
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/energy/data/database
but only for a limited number of countries (including the UK but not France and Germany). It is therefore unclear whether the same comparison above, which applies to users up to the 150,000 MWh threshold will apply to larger users.
Energy Supply: Security
Mr Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether civilian or military protection is provided for (a) conventional power stations, (b) nuclear power stations, (c) offshore oil platforms, (d) offshore wind farms and (e) onshore wind farms. [101512]
Charles Hendry: The owners and operators of conventional power stations are responsible for the protection of their assets, working with their local police force.
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The Civil Nuclear Constabulary established under the Energy Act of 2004 provides a dedicated on-site armed response capability for designated civil nuclear sites and during the transport of civil nuclear material.
A number of security measures are adopted by the operators of offshore platforms and these have been reviewed by Her Majesty's Government in the light of the importance of these facilities.
DECC is not aware of any civilian or military protection of wind farms. Any security or protection arrangements would ultimately be the responsibility of the developer.
For national security reasons it would be inappropriate to comment in detail on arrangements for the civilian or military protection of these facilities. However, security is kept under review in the light of the prevailing threat level.
Energy: EU Action
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration he has given to the letter dated 23 February 2012 from the coalition of eight European energy companies on binding 2030 targets for renewable energy, energy efficiency and carbon reduction; and if he will make a statement. [101492]
Charles Hendry: The UK is at the forefront of ambition on tackling climate change and giving long term certainty to the market. At home our carbon budgets commit us in law to a 50% cut in emissions by 2027, on the way to 80% by 2050. Our energy strategy aims to achieve this, keep the lights on and keep the impacts on consumer bills as low as possible.
We strongly believe the market should be allowed to continue to drive down costs for consumers. The electricity market reforms we are putting in place are designed to bring forward the most cost-effective mix of low carbon generation.
This approach should also be reflected at the European level. For these reasons the UK welcomed the European Commission's 2050 Energy Roadmap as a stimulus for the EU and member states to develop policies to secure a transition to a low carbon economy consistent with the EU's 2050 targets. We also welcome the prospect of a debate on the post 2020-EU low carbon regulatory framework foreshadowed in the Roadmap and supported by Commission communications on renewables and market design later this year.
Food Procurement
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of food procured by his Department (a) meets the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering and (b) is from British sources. [99804]
Gregory Barker: DECC receives its catering services through a contract procured by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food, my right hon. Friend the Member for South East Cambridgeshire (Mr Paice) on 22 March 2012, Official Report, columns 807-08W.
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Green Deal Scheme
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to publish his Department's response to the Green Deal and energy company obligation consultations. [102284]
Gregory Barker: We still expect, subject to Parliament, to have Green Deal and ECO legislation on the statute book by the summer recess so that the legal framework is there to underpin the Green Deal in October. To this end, we currently expect to publish the Government's response to the Green Deal and energy company obligation consultations in June 2012.
McKinsey and Company
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department paid to McKinsey and Company in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [100581]
Gregory Barker: DECC has not made any payments to McKinsey in 2010-11 or to date in 2011-12.
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the potential effects on the feed-in tariff scheme of introducing (a) an under-deployment mechanism and (b) a community energy tariff. [101658]
Gregory Barker: The Government are currently consulting on proposals for a number of changes to the feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme, including a contingent degression mechanism and options for how community installations might be defined and treated. These proposals do not currently include an under-deployment mechanism or a specific community energy tariff (though it seeks views on the latter), so no assessment has been made of the potential effects of such mechanisms.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his estimate is of the annual income from the feed-in tariff required for a household with solar PV installed prior to 12 December 2011 in order to achieve a 15 per cent. return on their investment. [102003]
Gregory Barker: In the impact assessment supporting the current consultation on solar PV cost control, available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Consultations/fits-review/4320-feedin-tariffs-review-phase-2a-draft-impact-asses.pdf
we estimate that an April 2012 reference installation of 2.6 kW or receiving the pre-consultation generation tariff of 43.3 p/kWh would achieve a return of 15% based on our central cost assumptions. We calculate that its annual generation tariff income would be around £960 and that its annual export tariff income would be around £35 (assuming 50% of electricity produced was used onsite). As well as direct FITs income, an installation will have other income streams which feed into the
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return calculation (bills savings, post-tariff revenue). More detail on DECC’s methodology for calculating returns is available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/fits-comp-review-p1/3742-explanation-rate-return-calc-domestic-pv.pdf
DECC is collecting evidence to update its cost estimates to support the Government response to the current consultation on solar PV cost control, available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Consultations/fits-review/4309-feedin-tariffs-scheme-phase-2a-consultation-paper.pdf
The consultation closes on 3 April.