Written Answers to Questions
Monday 16 April 2012
Culture, Media and Sport
Arts Council
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on how many occasions he met the chief executive of the Arts Council in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012 to date. [102707]
Mr Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), and I have met the chief executive of Arts Council England on a regular basis from 2010 to the present, and will continue to do so.
Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of (a) bed and breakfast establishments, (b) bed and breakfast rooms, (c) paid lodging establishments and (d) paid lodging rooms in each parliamentary constituency or local authority area. [103017]
John Penrose: This Department is not able to provide the information in the precise categories requested. However, VisitEngland's “England Accommodation Stock Audit” which was published in 2010 includes data at regional and county levels and is available at:
www.visitengland.org/Images/Stock%20Audit%20final_tcm30-26756.pdf
http://www.visitengland.org/Images/Stock%20Audit%20final_tcm30-26756.pdf
Broadband
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport with reference to the 2012 Budget, which smaller cities will receive the new funding for super-connected cities; how such cities have been or will be selected; and how he proposes the funding will be divided between the cities. [102236]
Mr Vaizey: The Department will publish the eligibility and selection criteria by the end of April including how funds will be allocated.
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the merits of introducing a universal service obligation for broadband provision. [102292]
Mr Vaizey:
The merits of introducing a broadband universal service obligation (USO) were considered in the context of the Commission's public consultation on universal service principles and its third periodic review of the scope of universal service. Only three member
16 Apr 2012 : Column 2W
states—Finland, Spain and Malta—have included broadband in their national USO. The UK's position is that the time is not right to introduce a broadband USO as it may constrain private investment in networks. The current non-regulatory approach to delivering universal broadband is considered the most effective means of stimulating commercial investment while minimising costs to the public purse.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the likelihood that all Broadband Delivery UK's superfast broadband funding will be allocated to BT; and if he will make a statement. [102601]
Mr Vaizey: Local authorities and the devolved Administrations have been allocated funding from the Rural Broadband Delivery Programme and will be responsible for supplier selection under their respective procurements. BT are bidding for the eight projects currently in procurement, and are one of the suppliers bidding to be included on the Broadband Delivery Framework which we expect will be used for most of the remaining procurements for the rural programme.
City authorities will be allocated funding from Urban Broadband Fund and will be responsible for the supplier selection under their respective procurements.
Broadband: Rural Areas
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the provision of broadband in rural areas. [102291]
Mr Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), recently reported and discussed with the Prime Minister at Cabinet the progress toward the Government's broadband objectives. The Secretary of State has also had discussions with other Ministers, including Ministers in devolved Administrations, on specific broadband issues.
Civil Servants: Code of Practice
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many investigations into breaches by civil servants of the Civil Service Code of Conduct occurred in his Department in each month from May 2010 to March 2012. [103159]
John Penrose: There have been no breaches of the Civil Service Code in this Department from May 2010 to March 2012, and therefore no investigations have been conducted.
Cultural Heritage: Armed Conflict
Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of protection of cultural property in areas of conflict; and if he will bring forward legislative proposals based on the draft Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill 2008. [102319]
16 Apr 2012 : Column 3W
John Penrose: Although this Department has not made a recent assessment of the adequacy of protection of cultural property in areas of conflict, I am aware that evaluation and assessment to help ensure effective respect and protection of cultural property are an integral part of military operations. The Government are committed to introducing legislation to ratify the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property and accede to its two protocols as soon as parliamentary time allows, taking account of all our legislative priorities.
Ministerial Visits
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many visits he has made to each English region since May 2010. [102197]
John Penrose: The number of events and visits in regions outside of London the Secretary of State has taken part in in an official capacity since May 2010 can be found in the following table:
| Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport | |
| Region | Number of v isits |
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his policy is on the period for which e-mails sent and received by (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers in his Department are retained; and whether such e-mails are recoverable from the IT systems in his Department after that period. [102941]
John Penrose: The Department has an electronic records management system, which allows staff to store emails which require keeping as part of the official record. Information stored in this system is managed in line with National Archive standards. E-mail folders for individuals—whether staff, Ministers or Special Advisers—are not part of the permanent record, and are constrained by size limits. When those limits are reached e-mails are either deleted or saved to the records management system. Using an additional system, we keep a copy of all e-mails received and sent since 2008.
Mobile Phones: Radio Frequencies
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with Ofcom on its conclusion in its 4G spectrum auction consultation that those mobile operators without low frequency spectrum will not be able to provide coverage in hard to reach areas. [102425]
16 Apr 2012 : Column 4W
Mr Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has had no discussions with Ofcom on this specific issue. The matter raised is an operational one for the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom).
Ofcom's second consultation on the combined auction of 800 MHz and 2600 MHz spectrum closed on 22 March. In that consultation Ofcom recognised that holders of 1800 MHz spectrum might not be able to serve some of the hardest to reach locations (in urban as well as rural areas) but considered that this was unlikely to materially affect the ability of those operators to be credible national wholesalers. Ofcom has received over 40 responses to this consultation which it is currently analysing. Ofcom intends to decide on these issues and publish a statement in July.
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport with reference to Ofcom's consultation on the 4G spectrum auction, whether all of the hard to serve areas described will be covered by the Mobile Infrastructure Project. [102426]
Mr Vaizey: The primary objective of the Mobile Infrastructure Project is to address the so-called “not-spots” by extending mobile coverage beyond the existing voice footprint. This is achieved through building new infrastructure which will host mobile services. Where possible, we are doing so having regard to enabling future use of these sites for other technologies such as 4G services.
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the comparative merits of using spectrum in the (a) 800 MHz and (b) 1800 MHz bands for extending (i) outdoor and (ii) indoor coverage in mobile broadband not spots. [102427]
Mr Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has made no assessment of these issues. The matter raised is an operational one for the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom). Ofcom's second consultation on the combined auction of 800 MHz and 2600 MHz spectrum closed on 22 March, in that consultation Ofcom set out its refined analysis of the relative technical capabilities of spectrum at different frequencies, including its ability to provide coverage both outdoors and indoors. Ofcom has received over 40 responses to this consultation which it is currently analysing. Ofcom intends to decide on these issues and publish a statement in July.
Museums and Galleries
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of (a) publicly and (b) charitably funded (i) art galleries, (ii) museums and (iii) archives which (A) closed and (B) opened in each local authority area in each of the last five years. [102505]
Mr Vaizey:
This Department’s strategic body Arts Council England (ACE) continues to monitor the effects of the local authority budget decisions on arts and
16 Apr 2012 : Column 5W
cultural organisations. However, ACE does not hold information on venues that they do not regularly fund, or those funded through charitable giving.
No galleries funded by ACE have closed in the last five years. The galleries that have opened are: Towner (museum and art gallery), Eastbourne; Turner Contemporary, Margate; Nottingham Contemporary; Hepworth, Wakefield; and Firstsite, Colchester.
No renaissance funded hub museum has closed in the last five years. Information on closures of independent, local authority or charitably funded museums is not held centrally.
Olympic Games 2012
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effects on (a) the economy and (b) business of the London 2012 Olympics. [102485]
Hugh Robertson: The new £130 million tourism campaign to showcase Great Britain in 2012 aims to deliver an additional 4.6 million visitors, £2.7 billion of extra spend and the creation of about 60,000 job opportunities. The UK is already benefiting from the games, with 98% of the £6 billion-worth of contracts for the ‘big build’ and 90% of the £1 billion-worth of contracts for staging the games going to UK businesses. If we add to that the £1 billion boost to British business that is expected through trade and investment, it amounts to a strong legacy from the games for the UK economy and British business.
The Department has commissioned a consortium, led by Grant Thornton, to undertake a comprehensive meta-evaluation of the impacts and legacy of the games. The initial report will be published in the autumn and a further report in summer 2013.
Mr Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to encourage the recruitment of staff for the London Olympic Games from Northern Ireland. [102635]
Hugh Robertson: The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) published its Employment and Skills Strategy in February 2008
http://www.london2012.com/documents/oda-publications/employment-and-skills-strategy-feb-08-low-res.pdf
Its goal has been to promote sustainable employment opportunities and to boost skill levels both locally within London and across the UK, to encourage skill development within the construction industry and to improve coordination between employers, recruiters and training organisations.
The ODA's construction programme is almost complete. However, during the main construction phase, the ODA worked with Construction Skills, Job Centre Plus, developers, contractors and other partners to ensure that job opportunities were open and accessible to all, with information about job opportunities widely advertised, including on the London 2012 website. All ODA job opportunities are open and available to all residents of the UK, including those in Northern Ireland.
16 Apr 2012 : Column 6W
The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), a private organisation operating independently of Government, published their London 2012 Employment and Skills Strategy in September 2010
http://www.london2012.com/documents/locog-hr/2012-employmentskills-2-web1-2-.pdf
LOCOG workforce opportunities will be communicated and advertised across London and the rest of the UK; working with Adecco and key stakeholders to ensure that they reach out to all community groups.
LOCOG roles are open for all to apply for and contracting opportunities advertised are open to organisations throughout the UK. In addition, LOCOG has held a series of visits across the UK to promote the social, sporting, economic and community engagement opportunities of the games.
The London 2012 games support the Government's Plan for Growth, by providing opportunities for business across the UK; enabling UK businesses to maximise opportunities for export; and helping to boost the number of visitors to the UK.
In order to assess the benefits to the UK, the Department has commissioned a meta-evaluation of the impacts and legacy of the London 2012 games. The meta- evaluation will estimate the impact of the 2012 games on gross value added (GVA) and employment in the nations and regions, and in London. An initial pre-games evaluation will be published in autumn 2012 and an initial post-games evaluation in summer 2013.
Radio Frequencies
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Weightless Special Interest Group on developing standards for white space spectrum usage. [102206]
Mr Vaizey: Neither I nor my officials have met with the Weightless Special Interest Group. However, Ofcom, the independent spectrum regulator, has had contact with the Weightless Special Interest Group by virtue of the fact that an Ofcom official attended a meeting of the group in 2011. Ofcom have also had contact with the Weightless Special Interest Group members at various UK stakeholder and international events.
Ofcom is in the process of developing regulations to enable white space devices to operate in the Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) TV band without causing harmful interference to existing services. Existing services include digital terrestrial television and wireless microphones used in programme making and special events. Ofcom is working with stakeholders to finalise the necessary regulations which we aim to be in place by the end of 2012.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his policy is on spectrum white spaces and use of the 600 MHz band. [102599]
Mr Vaizey:
The matter raised is an operational one for the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom). Ofcom has published a consultation ‘Securing long term benefits from scarce spectrum resources: a strategy for UHF bands IV and V’ on 29 March 2012,
16 Apr 2012 : Column 7W
which outlines a number of options for this spectrum. Ofcom will be considering next steps for the 600 MHz band in light of responses to this consultation. Officials in this Department will continue to engage with Ofcom to understand how best this spectrum could be made available.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect of the decision by Apple not to support European 4G frequencies on its new iPad on (a) 4G take up and (b) spectrum congestion. [103061]
Mr Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has made no such assessments of the effect of Apple's decision not to support European 4G frequencies on its new iPad at this time. We expect smartphone and tablet usage to be major drivers of 4G take up. New products will be released at an increasing rate as more 4G networks become operational.
Telecommunications: Hearing Impairment
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport with which telecommunications companies he has held discussions on deaf people’s access to telecommunications; and which companies have responded to his request for cost-effective solutions to meet the needs of deaf people. [103038]
Mr Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), held a round table meeting with telecoms providers on video relay services (VRS) in September 2011. The meeting focused on access to telecommunications services in the UK for hearing impaired users, in the context of Ofcom’s review of relay services in the UK.
The meeting was attended by BT, Kingston Communications, Everything Everywhere, O2, Vodafone, 3, Talk Talk, Virgin Media and BSkyB.
Ofcom’s consultation proposed significant improvements to help meet the needs of hearing impaired users, particularly through the proposals for next generation text relay (NGTR) that would provide an enhanced text relay service available 24/7, enabling support for two-way simultaneous communication and allowing mainstream equipment to be used.
The Secretary of State is keen that businesses and telecommunication companies also provide VRS for their disabled customers. BT is currently running a trial for its disabled customers and the Secretary of State hopes that others will follow suit. The Secretary of State is pleased that Ofcom will also consult on specific proposals for VRS in the summer as this will help to progress work in this area.
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when Ofcom will publish the results of its consultation on relay services. [103039]
16 Apr 2012 : Column 8W
Mr Vaizey: Ofcom is currently working on a statement and a further consultation on text relay, which will be published this spring.
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what progress has been made on the formation of a video relay sub-group of the e-Accessibility Forum; and when it will hold its first meeting. [103040]
Mr Vaizey: Several organisations such as the Mobile Broadband Association, BT, Positive Signs, Telecommunications Advisory Group, PhoneAbility, UK Council on Deafness along with video relay service providers such as Sorenson, Sign on Screen, Significan’t and Sign Solutions have expressed interest in a video relay sub-group. The initial membership is expected to be finalised in April, after which the sub-group can decide the date of its first meeting.
Unsolicited Text Messages
Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what regulations cover the practice of some companies of sending unsolicited text messages for which recipients are charged at high rates; and what steps he is taking to end this practice. [102487]
Mr Vaizey: Consumers are protected from unsolicited text messages through the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) 2003, which require prior consent, unless the number has previously been provided in the context of a purchase of a product or service. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has responsibility for enforcement of the regulations and considers complaints about breaches. The ICO is able to issue a fine of up to £500,000 for the most serious breaches of the PECR.
A charge should not be incurred for the receipt of unsolicited text messages. Consumers are advised to contact the company concerned and their mobile service provider to register a complaint.
Additionally, PhonepayPlus regulates “reverse charged” text messaging, for services such as downloading ringtones, news and sports alerts, which are classified as premium rate services and are charged at a higher rate than standard calls. Therefore, if a consumer has inadvertently signed up to such a service, they can register a complaint with PhonepayPlus.
Vodafone Group
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) how many contracts Vodafone has been awarded by his Department in the last 12 months; [103225]
(2) what contracts his Department has with Vodafone. [103226]
John Penrose: The Department has one contract with Vodafone, for mobile phones. This was awarded in April 2011.
16 Apr 2012 : Column 9W
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many times the Permanent Secretary in his Department has met Vodafone representatives in the last 12 months. [103227]
John Penrose: In the last 12 months, the Permanent Secretary, Jonathan Stephens, has met the CEO and senior executives of Vodafone UK once.
Home Department
Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she decided to make a Statement to the House on her Alcohol Strategy. [102313]
James Brokenshire: It was always planned that a statement would be made to the House on the Government's Alcohol Strategy after the Budget on 21 March 2012, Official Report, columns 793-808. The Easter recess meant that a number of important announcements had to be made in a limited number of days.
Alcoholic Drinks: Prices
Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department's proposal to ban multi-buy discounts for the purchase of alcoholic beverages will be applied to discounts for wine bought by the case. [102160]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 27 March 2012]: The Government will consult on a proposed multi-buy discount in the forthcoming months. The consultation will consider the types of promotions that could be subject to a ban.
Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the possible effects of introducing minimum pricing of alcoholic drinks on levels of illegal drug use among (a) under 25-year-olds and (b) all age groups. [102509]
James Brokenshire: The Government will consider a range of issues during the public consultation on minimum unit pricing in the forthcoming months.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the proportion of (a) all alcohol, (b) beer, (c) cider, (d) vodka, (e) whisky and (f) wine sold in the off-trade in England and Wales that will rise in price as a result of a 40 pence minimum unit price. [102727]
James Brokenshire: The Government will produce an impact assessment on minimum unit pricing prior to introducing legislation.
Asylum: Sri Lanka
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Sri Lankan nationals have been granted asylum in each of the last 10 years. [102133]
16 Apr 2012 : Column 10W
Damian Green: The following table contains the number of Sri Lankan nationals (main applicants) who have been granted asylum in each of the last 10 years.
| Grants of asylum, HP, DL or ELR at initial decision for main applicants, Sri Lankan nationals | |||||
| Grants of : | |||||
| Total grants | Asylum | HP | DL | ELR | |
| n/a = Not applicable. Notes 1. Data from 2010 onwards are provisional figures. 2. Initial decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period and exclude the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions. 3. Humanitarian protection (HP) and Discretionary leave (DL) replaced exceptional leave to remain (ELR) from 1 April 2003. | |||||
The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of asylum applications and initial decisions. These are available in tables as.01—as.02 of asylum excel tables volume 1 of the quarterly Immigration Statistics. The latest release “Immigration Statistics October—December 2011” is available in the Library of the House and from the Home Office science, research and statistics website at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refused asylum seekers have been removed with escorts to Sri Lanka in each month since May 2010. [103071]
Damian Green: This information is not held in a format compatible with National Statistics protocols.
However, published statistics are available on a quarterly and annual basis which report on removals to Sri Lanka broken down by quarter. This publication is available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office science, research and statistics website at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-q4-2011/
British Nationality
Sajid Javid: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 has been used to deprive a person of British citizenship; and how many such people were British-born citizens. [102921]
Damian Green: Section 56 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 which relates to deprivation of British citizenship, came into force on 16 June 2006.
Since that date 15 individuals have been deprived of their British citizenship. Of these, five had been British since birth.
16 Apr 2012 : Column 11W
This information has been provided from local management information and is not a National Statistic. As such it should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.
Crime Prevention
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will list each completed Joint Investigation Team that UK authorities have participated in since they became available including (a) the names of the other participants, (b) its purpose and (c) its duration in each year; and if she will make a statement. [103060]
Damian Green: The specific data requested are not centrally held. However, from information provided by Eurojust, which supports the establishment and operation of EU joint investigation teams, the UK has been involved in 15 joint investigation teams since 2009.
Joint investigation teams have proved a valuable means of enhancing practical co-operation between EU member states in addressing cross-border crime.
Crime: Drugs
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of crime was drug-related in the latest period for which figures are available. [102012]
James Brokenshire: There were 232,060 drug offences recorded by the police in England and Wales in the 12 months to September 2011. This accounts for 6% of total recorded crime (4,052,866 offences).
Police recorded crime data collected centrally do not identify whether other offences are drug-related.
Questions are asked on the British crime survey (BCS) as to whether victims perceived an offender to be under the influence of drugs.
Latest figures published for violent crime from the 2010-11 BCS suggest that in 20% of violent incidents, victims perceived the offender to be under the influence of drugs.
Deportation: Sri Lanka
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been deported to Sri Lanka (a) in total and (b) in each month since May 2010. [102544]
Damian Green: The following table provides the available information on the total number of all nationals who were removed or departed voluntarily from the UK to Sri Lanka in each month since May 2010.
| Removals and voluntary departures (1) to Sri Lanka (2) , May 2010 to December 2011 (3) | |
| Number of departures | |
16 Apr 2012 : Column 12W
| (1) Removals and voluntary departures recorded on the system as at the dates on which the data extracts were taken. (2) Destination as recorded on source database. (3) Provisional figures. Figures will under record due to data cleansing and data matching exercises that take place after the extracts are taken. | |
The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of persons removed or departed voluntarily from the UK within Immigration Statistics. The data on removals and voluntary departures by country of destination are available in the latest release, Immigration Statistics, October to December 2011, tables rv.06 and rv.06.q, from the Library of the House and from the Home Office science, research and statistics web pages at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/
Ministerial Visits
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visits she has made to each English region since May 2010. [102191]
Damian Green: The following table shows the number of visits the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has made to each English region since May 2010:
| Region | Number of visits |
16 Apr 2012 : Column 13W
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the period for which emails sent and received by (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers in her Department are retained; and whether such emails are recoverable from the IT systems in her Department after that period. [102959]
Damian Green: Emails will be accessible on the Home Office's main IT system for as long as they are held by an individual user. This applies equally to Ministers, officials and special advisers. Where appropriate, emails are retained on the Department's corporate file plan, which is subject to normal retention and disposal schedules.
Once deleted, emails might still be retrievable from the system for up to 30 days. In exceptional cases, emails may be restored from back-up records. These are usually held for up to six months, but do not constitute a complete record of data held over that period.
Entry Clearances: Domestic Workers
John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation she has held with (a) non-governmental organisations and (b) other interested parties on protection for migrant domestic workers; how many responses to the consultation Employment Related Settlement, Tier 5 and Overseas Domestic Workers her Department received; and how many responses to the consultation Employment Related Settlement, Tier 5 and Overseas Domestic Workers answered yes to question 28 on the removal of the right to change employer for migrant domestic workers. [102040]
Damian Green: The Government's consultation on Employment-related settlement, Tier 5 and Overseas Domestic Workers was published on 9 June 2011 and closed for comment on 9 September 2011. 12,499 responses were received, 9,328 to question 28.
36% responded yes to that question, 43% no and 21% had no opinion. In addition to the written consultation, I and my officials have had meetings with Kalayaan, Oxfam and members of the other House.
Entry Clearances: Sri Lanka
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Sri Lankan nationals have been refused entry to the UK in each of the last 10 years. [102134]
Damian Green: The following table provides the total number of Sri Lankan nationals who were initially refused entry to the UK in each year from 2004 to 2011. Data for earlier years are not available.
| Non-asylum passengers, nationals of Sri Lanka, initially refused entry to the UK | ||
| Total refusals | Of these: refused at juxtaposed controls | |
16 Apr 2012 : Column 14W
| (1) Not available. (2) Provisional figures. | ||
The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of persons initially refused entry to the United Kingdom. Data on those initially refused entry are available in tables be.08 to be.08q of the Before Entry Excel tables from the Library of the House and from the Home Office science, research and statistics webpages at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/
Exports: Metals
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of scrap metal containers leaving the UK are checked at UK ports. [96775]
Richard Benyon: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Under the “green list” control system for shipments of non-hazardous waste the Environment Agency is not provided with the details of the tonnage of scrap metal exports from England and Wales. However, it estimates the total amount of ferrous scrap exported is approximately 8 million tonnes a year.
The Environment Agency has not inspected any scrap metal exports from England and Wales since 2009. Its intelligence-led approach to tackling waste crime means that containers are only inspected when there is reason to suspect that the contents are being shipped in contravention of the regulations. The Environment Agency has no intelligence to suggest that scrap metal has been being exported illegally since this date and has therefore not targeted these containers.
Foreign Workers: Doctors
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many doctors from outside of the EU have emigrated to Havering in each of the last five years. [102123]
Damian Green: Statistics on the destination of people arriving in the UK are not collated by the UK Border Agency.
G4S: Public Expenditure
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what she estimates will be the cost to the public purse of G4S providing services to (a) the West Midlands and (b) Surrey police forces. [99154]
16 Apr 2012 : Column 15W
Nick Herbert [holding answer 12 March 2012]: The procurement notice sets out the potential range of the contract as between £300 million and £3.5 billion—subject to the forces' and police authorities' decisions on the final scope for implementation and the number of forces that choose to join. It is intended that this investment should deliver improvements to services and considerable savings to the taxpayer.
Human Trafficking Ministerial Group
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to ensure that the first report of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking will be debated in Parliament. [102311]
Damian Green: The Government will publish the report and look to have it debated in Parliament, subject to the availability of parliamentary time.
Immigrants: Detainees
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long on average people were held in short-term holding facilities in Northern Ireland following their illegal entry into the UK in the latest period for which figures are available. [102434]
Damian Green: During the period 11 July 2011 to 22 March 2012, 347 people were detained for a total of 1,272 days in short-term holding facilities in Northern Ireland.
The average period of detention is therefore 3.67 days.
Note:
All figures quoted are management information which has been subject to internal quality checks. This information is provisional and therefore subject to change.
Immigration: Bexleyheath
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will estimate the number of foreign nationals in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency pursuing applications of any kind with the UK Border Agency who do not have access to public funds; and how many such foreign nationals are children. [102125]
Damian Green: Constituency level data are not held in a format compatible with National Statistics protocols.
However the UK Border Agency publishes immigration statistics on a quarterly and annual basis. The latest published statistics on asylum and non asylum applications can be found here:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-q4-2011/
Ketamine
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to complete its review into ketamine. [102183]
16 Apr 2012 : Column 16W
James Brokenshire: I expect the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to complete its review by the end of March 2013, if not sooner, as indicated in the Secretary of State for the Home Department’s commissioning letter to the ACMD which sets out the Government's priorities for inclusion in their 2012-13 work programme. I anticipate that the ACMD will respond to the commissioning letter shortly. The commissioning letter is available at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/alcohol-drugs/drugs/hs-acmd-priorities-2012-2013?view=Html
Leena Homes
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total monetary value is of the contracts her Department has held with Leena Homes since 2007. [101734]
Damian Green: The Home Office has held one contract with Leena Homes since 2007, the value of which is £4,349,269.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contracts her Department has held with Leena Homes since 2007. [101735]
Damian Green: Since 2007, the Home Office has held one contract with Leena Homes.
Licensing Laws
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many alcohol licences have been revoked in Brigg and Goole constituency due to the sale of alcohol to children since the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003. [102153]
James Brokenshire [holding answer 27 March 2012]: The Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Licensing Statistical Bulletin collects the number of licences revoked, but does not indicate why they were revoked. Licences may be revoked following a review by the licensing authority for a number of reasons, including persistent selling of alcohol to children. However, the persistent sale of alcohol to children is a specific criminal offence under section 147A of the Licensing Act 2003.
Data specifically for Brigg and Goole constituency are not collected centrally. However, the constituency falls within the combined licensing authority area of East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. From 2007-08 to 2009-10, there were neither premises licences revoked, club premises certificates withdrawn, nor premises licences suspended by a court. For 2006-07, these authorities did not supply the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) with this information.
Staffing: Interim Posts
Stephen Barclay:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were employed in interim posts by (a) her Department and (b) a Non-Ministerial Department or arm's length body controlled by her Department through (i) Penna Consulting, (ii) Reed Personnel Services and (iii) Capita Resourcing Ltd (trading as Veredus) at the
16 Apr 2012 : Column 17W
latest date for which figures are available; and how many such people (A) had been in post for over a year and (B) worked full-time at that date. [101588]
Damian Green [holding answer 23 March 2012]: The number of people employed in interim posts through (i) Penna Consulting, (ii) Reed Personnel Services and (iii) Capita Resourcing Ltd by the Home Department and its agencies as at 28 February 2012 is listed in the following table.
| Number of current contractors as at 28 February 2012 | ||||
| Supplier | (a) Department | (b) ALBs | In post for over one year | Full - time |
Media Monitoring
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what media monitoring services her Department has purchased in each of the last five years. [100897]
Damian Green: Media monitoring services have been provided to the Department and its agencies by five companies in the past five years. The following table includes the names of the companies contracted for these services. We have reduced spend from £496,280 in 2007-08 to £249,758 in 2011-12.
| Service | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 |
The contract for press cuttings changed in 2011-12 from Precise to Durrants. This was due to a cross-government exercise led by the Cabinet Office.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to answer the letter from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 13 February 2012 with regard to Mr M Ali. [102076]
Damian Green: I refer the right hon. Member to my letter of 26 March 2012.
16 Apr 2012 : Column 18W
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to answer the letter sent to the Minister for Immigration by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 20 February with regard to Mr Ali Baba Akbhari. [102717]
Damian Green: I refer the right hon. Member to my letter of 14 March 2012.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to answer the letter sent to her by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 21 February with regard to Ms Isatou Jagne. [102718]
Damian Green: I refer the right hon. Member to my letter of 27 March 2012.
Migration Advisory Committee
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the triennial review of the Migration Advisory Committee to be completed. [103082]
Damian Green: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), announced on 27 March 2012, Official Report, columns 128-9WS, that she will announce the findings of the review later this year. An exact date has not yet been set.
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take steps to bring forward proposals to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to permit senior nurses to (a) carry and (b) prescribe controlled drugs. [102420]
James Brokenshire: The statutory instrument implementing changes to enable nurse independent prescribers, together with pharmacist independent prescribers, to prescribe all controlled drugs listed in schedules 2 to 5 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 within their competence, was laid in Parliament on 30 March. The instrument also authorises nurse and pharmacist independent prescribers to possess, supply, offer to supply, administer and requisition the specified drugs. The changes will come into effect on 23 April.
Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the merits of relocating the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner. [102054]
Damian Green:
The role and purpose of the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) was reviewed in 2011 as part of the wider Public Bodies Review, and it was concluded that the regulation of immigration advice and services was best delivered by retaining the OISC. As part of that process the Home Office carried out a preliminary assessment of options for the OISC and considered the potential savings associated with relocating the OISC outside London. The assessment
16 Apr 2012 : Column 19W
carried out identified that there were potential savings from relocating, but as a high proportion of the businesses regulated by the OISC are in London and the South East the additional costs created by the move would not make relocation a cost-effective proposal. The additional expenditure incurred by the OISC staff undertaking audits of businesses and carrying out other activities associated with the regulation of immigration advisers would offset any savings made.
The lease on the OISC's central London offices expires in September 2013 and a new location for the OISC is being identified because of this. The Home Office is working with the OISC to identify cheaper premises and reduce accommodation costs. The new premises will be in the London area and there are no plans to relocate to a different area of the country.
Police Officers
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in each basic command unit in each police force area in England and Wales on (a) 31 March 2010 and (b) 31 March 2011. [102328]
Nick Herbert: The latest available information shows the full-time equivalent number of police officer strength by basic command unit, as at 31 March 2010 and 31 March 2011, within each police force area in England and Wales. These figures can be seen within the tables.
| Police officer strength by basic command unit, 31 March 2010 (1) | ||
| Full-time equivalents | ||
| Police force | BCU | Police officers |
16 Apr 2012 : Column 20W
16 Apr 2012 : Column 21W
16 Apr 2012 : Column 22W
16 Apr 2012 : Column 23W
16 Apr 2012 : Column 24W
16 Apr 2012 : Column 25W
16 Apr 2012 : Column 26W
| (1) These figures are based on full-time equivalents that have been rounded to the nearest whole number, due to rounding there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of constituent items. Figures include those officers on career breaks. | ||