17 Apr 2012 : Column 303W
Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 17 April 2012
Home Department
Civil Servants: Code of Practice
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations into breaches by civil servants of the Civil Service Code of Conduct occurred in her Department in each month from May 2010 to March 2012. [103145]
Damian Green: The Civil Service Code of Conduct is incorporated into the Home Office standards of conduct and the Department does not separately identify investigations into matters which relate to breaches of the Code. The total number of investigations into potential misconduct of all kinds by employees of the Home Office and its agencies between May 2010 and March 2012 was 560. These are broken down into the month they were commissioned in the table.
The Civil Service Commission's annual report for 2010-11 sets out the number of approaches handled by the Commission for that reporting period:
http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/downloads/annual-report/cs-annual-report10-11.pdf
| Month | Total |
Crime
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new criminal offences have been created in legislation since 2009. [102150]
17 Apr 2012 : Column 304W
Mr Blunt: I am responding to this question as my Department is responsible for publishing an annual statistical bulletin providing figures for the numbers of criminal offences created in England and Wales. The first of these bulletins, covering the period 1 June 2009 to 31 May 2011, was published last December.
The bulletin and associated information can be found on my Department's website at:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/criminal-justice/new-criminal-offences
Crime: Wales
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Wales on levels of crime in Wales. [102486]
Nick Herbert: As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of meetings between Ministers.
Criminal Investigation
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of criminal investigations county and regional police forces will be required to carry out as a result of reductions in the funding of the Ministry of Defence police criminal investigations department; and if she will make a statement. [101360]
Nick Herbert: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his question to the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan), during Defence oral questions on 26 March 2012, Official Report, column 1154.
The proposals to reprioritise the work of the MOD police’s criminal investigation department will now be subject to consultation with key partners, including officials in my Department.
Firearms: Licensing
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions she has had with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation and Countryside Alliance Ireland on the cost of shotgun certificate fees; [102572]
(2) what the cost to the public purse of processing a firearms certificate is in England and Wales; and what the cost of obtaining such a certificate is. [102573]
Nick Herbert: Fees for firearms certificates are laid down in the Firearms Act 1968 and are set at £50 for the issue of a new certificate and £40 for a renewal. The cost to the public purse of processing those certificates is estimated by the ACPO Firearms and Explosives Licensing Working Group at being £189 for a new certificate and £106 for a renewal. Fee levels are currently under review and the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, through its membership of the British Shooting Sports Council, has been involved in the consultation process. The Countryside Alliance Ireland has not been involved as Northern Ireland has its own firearms certification system.
17 Apr 2012 : Column 305W
Police: Communications Systems
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent assessment is of the requirements for the national police communications system following the end of the current contract in 2016. [102536]
Nick Herbert: The Government have initiated a joint development programme, on behalf of all the emergency services, to replace those communication services currently delivered under the Airwave Solutions Ltd contract. The programme is at an early stage and is in consultation with all stakeholders, including the police, to define their requirements.
Police: Income Tax
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if she will estimate the number of police officers 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 to £8,105 in April 2012; [102078]
(2) if she will estimate the number of police officers 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; [102079]
(3) if she will estimate the number of police officers who benefited from an increase in the personal allowance of income tax in 2011-12; and if she will estimate the likely number of police officers who will benefit from the increase in 2012-13. [102080]
Nick Herbert: The information requested is not available specifically in relation to police officers.
Prisoners: Repatriation
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on procedures to ensure that EU citizens released on completion of custodial sentences are removed from the UK expeditiously; and if she will make a statement. [102774]
Damian Green: Home Office Ministers have meetings with a wide variety of partners, as well as organisations and individuals 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.
Suicides and Homicides
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) suicides and (b) homicides there were in each year for which data are available. [103074]
Nick Herbert: Data on suicides within the general population are not collected by the Home Office.
Data on offences currently recorded as homicide are available for each year from 1967 to 2010/11 and are
17 Apr 2012 : Column 306W
provided in Table A. These data are taken from the Homicide Index, a database separate to the main recorded crime dataset which contains detailed information about each homicide recorded by police in England and Wales. It is continually being updated with revised information from the police and the courts and, as such, is a richer source of data than the main recorded crime dataset.
Data prior to 1967 are available from the main recorded crime collection at the following link. However, these data are as the police initially recorded the homicide and the figures do not take account of court outcomes unlike the Homicide Index.
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/crime-research/historical-crime-data/rec-crime-1898-2002
| Table A : Offences currently (1) recorded by the police as homicide: England and Wales, 1967 to 2010-11 | |
| Number of offences | |
| (1) As at 18 October 2011; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. | |
17 Apr 2012 : Column 307W
UK Border Force
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what operational responsibilities she proposes will be shared between the National Border Command and the UK Border Force. [101064]
Damian Green: The Border Policing Command (BPC) (as part of the National Crime Agency—NCA) and Border Force will work closely together and will play vital roles in the Government's approach to delivering increased security at the border. Border Force will be responsible for entry controls and customs functions at the border. The Border Policing Command will take the lead in delivering better, more joined up enforcement activity across all agencies operating in and around the border, including Border Force.
Border Force will be responsible for sharing intelligence with the BPC. This will enable the BPC to deliver a single, comprehensive picture of the threats to public safety and security at the border. The BPC will be responsible for tasking and co-ordinating Border Force assets (alongside wider NCA, UK Border Agency, law enforcement and other partner assets) to carry out separate or joint operations relating to border security.
Health
Departmental Buildings
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on works and refurbishment to offices allocated to Ministers in his Department's buildings in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) the latest date for which figures are available. [102234]
Mr Simon Burns: The spend on works and refurbishment to offices allocated to Ministers in the Department's buildings has been £5,382 in 2010 and £12,746 in 2011. There has been no spend specifically on Ministers' offices in 2012, during the latest period for which figures are available. Comparable figures for previous calendar years were £31,887 in 2009 and £22,000 in 2008.
Expenditure: Christmas
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have spent on Christmas (i) cards, (ii) parties and (iii) decorations in the last two years. [102386]
Mr Simon Burns: Neither the Department nor its agency spent any money on Christmas cards, parties or decorations in the last two years.
Congenital Abnormalities
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects; and if he will make a statement. [102778]
Anne Milton: The Department of Health currently advises all women who are planning a pregnancy to take a daily supplement containing 400 micrograms of folic acid before conception and until the 12th week of pregnancy, as well as to increase their consumption of folate-rich foods, to reduce the risk of a neural tube defect (NTD)-affected pregnancy.
17 Apr 2012 : Column 308W
The Department promotes the importance of taking folic acid supplements for women of childbearing age and folate-rich foods in all relevant mainstream communications, such as the Pregnancy Book and the NHS Choices website, as well as a specific leaflet entitled ‘Folic acid: An essential ingredient for making healthy babies’.
Fortification of foodstuffs with folic acid is a complicated issue, with a balance of benefits as well as potential risks. The Department was advised by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) and the Food Standards Agency Board in 2007 on fortification options as a measure to reduce the risk of pregnancies being affected by NTDs. Additional advice on folic acid and cancer risk was requested by the then chief medical officer and provided by SACN in 2009.
The papers underpinning the advice from SACN have not yet all been peer reviewed and published in a scientific journal. Ministers would like to see all information in the public domain before making any decision, and will then make a decision.
Medical Treatments: Research
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much his Department spent on research into the treatment of (a) cystic fibrosis, (b) muscular dystrophy, (c) severe asthma, (d) primary ciliary dyskinesia and (e) other rare lung diseases in each of the last five years for which information is available; [102329]
(2) how much his Department spent on research into the treatment of respiratory diseases in each of the last five years for which information is available; how much his Department plans to spend in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement; [102331]
(3) how much his Department spent on paediatric respiratory research in each of the last five years; how much it plans to spend in each of the next two years; and if he will make a statement; [102333]
(4) what recent representations he has received on funding for paediatric respiratory research; what response he gave; and if he will make a statement. [102334]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has not received any recent representations specifically on funding for paediatric respiratory research.
There was no expenditure in the last five years by the Department through research programmes, research centres and units, or research training awards on research on the treatment of primary ciliary dyskinesia or other rare lung diseases.
Expenditure by the Department through research programmes, research centres and units, and research training awards on research on the treatment of cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, and asthma (including severe asthma), on the treatment of respiratory diseases, and on paediatric respiratory diseases is shown in the following table.
| £ million | |||||
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | |
17 Apr 2012 : Column 309W
Expenditure by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) on research on these topics cannot be disaggregated from total CRN expenditure.
Prior to the establishment of the NIHR in April 2006, the main part of the Department's total health research expenditure was devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. From April 2006 to March 2009, transitional research funding was allocated to these organisations at reducing levels. The organisations have accounted for their use of the allocations they have received from the Department in an annual research and development report. The reports identify total, aggregated expenditure on some disease areas, but do not provide details of spend on research on the topics covered in this reply.
Total spend in future years on research into the treatment of respiratory diseases and on paediatric respiratory research depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity. The usual practice of the NIHR is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including respiratory disease. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made.
Expenditure: Televisions
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many plasma screen televisions his Department purchased in each of the last two years; and what the cost was of purchasing and installing such televisions in each such year. [102388]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has purchased and installed five flat screen (plasma and liquid crystal display) televisions in the last two years (2010-11 and 2011-12), costing a total of £2,002.00, with a further one on order. All were purchased due to the impending digital switchover in London.
Training
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have spent on away days in the last 12 months; and what the (i) subject and (ii) location of each away day was. [102189]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department and its agency, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), are committed to developing their staff and equipping them with the skills, knowledge and expertise they need to carry out their work roles effectively. Away days and team building events make a significant contribution to such development.
17 Apr 2012 : Column 310W
For the core Department, away days and team building activities are typically arranged by individual teams. No central records of such events are held and extracting the requested data would incur disproportionate costs.
The following table gives the available details for away days and related events held by the MHRA during the past 12 months.
| Away Day Subject | Location | Cost (£) |
Culture, Media and Sport
Broadband
Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport with reference to the 2012 Budget, what criteria he plans to use to allocate the additional funding for a second wave of 10 smaller super-connected cities. [102376]
Mr Vaizey: The Department will publish the eligibility criteria by the end of April 2012, including how funds will be allocated.
Prime Minister
Official Hospitality
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions he has entertained guests at (a) his Downing Street flat and (b) Chequers since May 2010; who the guests were; and for how many events the costs were met privately or by the Conservative Party. [102454]
The Prime Minister: The list of No. 10 receptions and functions held at Chequers paid for by the taxpayer for the year 2010-11 was published in July 2011 and is available on the Cabinet Office transparency website. Information for the year 2011-12 will be published as soon as it is ready at the end of the financial year. Separately, in my capacity as leader of the Conservative party, on 26 March this year I published details of my dinners with major political donors at Downing street and Chequers. In line with the practice of the previous Administration I am not planning to release details of other political events.
Nia Griffith: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish a list of all those he has dined with in an official capacity since May 2010 who have business interests in Wales. [103245]
17 Apr 2012 : Column 311W
The Prime Minister: Details of hospitality I have received and my meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis. Details can be accessed on the Cabinet Office website at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/content/ministers-transparency-publications
Peter Cruddas
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Prime Minister whether any officials or special advisers in 10 Downing street have directed Ministers, officials or special advisers in government departments to meet (a) Peter Cruddas, (b) representatives of Peter Cruddas and (c) individuals suggested by Peter Cruddas. [102451]
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions staff in 10 Downing street have had with Peter Cruddas or his representatives since May 2010; who took part in any such discussions; and what their purpose was. [102452]
The Prime Minister: Staff in Downing street have not had official discussions with Peter Cruddas or his representatives.
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions Peter Cruddas has visited 10 Downing street on official business since May 2010; who he met; and what the purpose of each visit was. [102470]
The Prime Minister: I have not met Peter Cruddas on official business since May 2010. It is a matter of public record that I have met Peter Cruddas in my capacity as leader of the Conservative party.
Prime Minister's Policy Unit
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a list of meetings between members of the No. 10 Policy Unit and external individuals, bodies and agencies since May 2010 with a description of the purpose of each meeting. [102453]
The Prime Minister: The Government publish information quarterly about Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external organisations. There are no plans to extend the list to encompass others below this level.
Sovereignty: Scotland
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Prime Minister whether he held meetings with Peter Cruddas to discuss plans for a referendum on independence for Scotland. [103002]
The Prime Minister: The Government have always said we want to give the Scottish Government, via Section 30, the powers to hold a legal referendum.
We see no reason why this cannot be agreed between the UK and Scottish Governments as we have both stated publicly our preference for a single question referendum overseen by the Electoral Commission.
We hope this can be quickly agreed once both consultations have closed.
17 Apr 2012 : Column 312W
Northern Ireland
Expenditure: Alcoholic Drinks
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total spending on wine and other alcoholic beverages was by his Department in the last six months. [103126]
Mr Paterson: During the period 1 September 2011 to 29 February 2012, my Department spent £3,522 on wine and £537 on other alcoholic refreshments. Such expenditure relates solely to the hospitality costs incurred in the hosting, by Ministers, of receptions/events as part of their official duties.
Catering
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available. [101445]
Mr Paterson: My Department only provides complimentary refreshments at official meetings and functions which are attended by people external to the Department. This includes meetings hosted by Ministers, and functions that are attended by people from throughout the community in Northern Ireland. Officials may also be in attendance. For the 12-month period March 2011 to February 2012, the Northern Ireland Office spent £27,192 on complimentary refreshments.
Civil Servants: Code of Practice
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [103150]
Mr Paterson: There has been no requirement for my Department to investigate breaches of the Civil Service Code of Conduct during the period May 2010 to May 2012.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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. [102940]
Mr Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office policy for the retention of e-mails sent and received applies equally to Ministers, officials and special advisers. E-mails are deleted from all accounts after 90 days. Once deleted, these may be restored, if necessary, from the Department's backup system for a period of up to six months. E-mails sent or received may, if required for business purposes, be saved for the record to the Department's electronic document records management system. The policy regarding e-mails remains exactly the same as it was under the previous Administration supported by the right hon. Gentleman.
17 Apr 2012 : Column 313W
Vodafone Group
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many contracts Vodafone has been awarded by his Department in the last 12 months. [103210]
Mr Paterson: My Department has awarded one contract to Vodafone in the last 12 months.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contracts his Department has with Vodafone. [103211]
Mr Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office has one contract with Vodafone, which is for mobile telephone usage.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times the Permanent Secretary in his Department has met Vodafone representatives in the last 12 months. [103212]
Mr Paterson: There have been no meetings between the Director General of the Northern Ireland Office and Vodafone representatives in the last 12 months.
Wales
Commission on Devolution in Wales
Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what meetings she has had with members of the Commission on Devolution in Wales; and for what reasons the Commission will report one year later than originally planned. [102312]
Mrs Gillan: I have regular meetings with Paul Silk, chair of the Commission on Devolution in Wales, to discuss the Commission's work programme. Following a request from the Commission, I have agreed to extend its finish date. The Commission is currently planned to report on Part 2 of its remit by spring 2014, rather than during 2013. The extension of time will enable the Commission to give more thorough consideration to the Welsh devolution settlement.
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing: Construction
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes were (a) begun and (b) completed between April 2010 and September 2011 by local authority area. [102665]
Andrew Stunell: A table has been placed in the Library of the House which shows the number of affordable homes started and completed in each local authority area between April 2010 and September 2011, as reported in the Homes and Communities Agency's six-monthly National Housing Statistics. These statistics only cover affordable housing that is delivered through the Homes and Communities Agency's affordable housing programmes. Affordable housing delivered outside these programmes is not included. Housing starts cover new build starts only while completions include both new build and acquisitions.
17 Apr 2012 : Column 314W
Total affordable completions for each local authority, including those delivered outside the Homes and Communities Agency's programmes, are published annually in the Department's Affordable Housing Supply statistics, which are available on the Department's website:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/affordablehousingsupply/livetables/
Expenditure: Alcoholic Drinks
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total spending on wine and other alcoholic beverages was by his Department in the last six months. [103125]
Robert Neill: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 22 February 2012, Official Report, column 834W.
There has been no public spending on alcohol from then to the end of March 2012.
Business Improvement Districts
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made on the implementation of property-owner business improvements districts. [102492]
Robert Neill: Business improvement districts are an important vehicle for business-led improvement. The benefits of the projects undertaken by them are already recognised by some landlords, who are effectively engaged in business improvement district activity and are voluntarily contributing to the levy.
In the Government's response to the Portas review we committed to exploring how a property owner business improvement district may be delivered, with the assistance of industry experts. This work is in its early stages and the details are still being considered.
In the meantime, we are continuing to listen to what flexibility businesses need to make use of business improvement districts, which is why, in our response to the Portas review, we announced that we will invest £0.5 million in ensuring that prospective new business improvement districts can access loans to support their set-up during the summer. In addition to this, we will also be consulting on the introduction of cross boundary/tourism business improvement districts, with a view to ensuring that the necessary regulations are in place by April 2013, the start of the next billing year.
Civil Servants: Code of Practice
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 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. [103144]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government carried out one investigation into a breach of the Civil Service Code of Conduct. This investigation was completed in April 2011.
17 Apr 2012 : Column 315W
The Civil Service Commission's annual report for 2010-11 sets out the number of approaches handled by the Commission for that reporting period:
http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Annual-Report-10-11.pdf
Council Tax
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the additional income that would accrue to each local authority if (a) council tax payable on empty homes were increased and (b) current exemptions to liability for council tax were extinguished as set out in the provisions of the Local Government Finance Bill. [93621]
Robert Neill [holding answer 6 February 2012]: The information requested has been placed in the Library of the House.
Giving councils the flexibility to reduce or remove council tax relief on second homes and empty homes will allow councils to use the money to keep overall council tax bills down. This flexibility could also bring empty homes back into use, increasing housing supply and tackling property blight.
These reforms could allow councils to make up to a £20 reduction in the bill for a typical band D property in England. Getting empty homes back into use will increase housing supply and tackle properties that can attract squatters and vandalism, and blight communities.
Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have expressed interest in his Department's Weekly Collection Support Scheme. [102316]
Robert Neill: Local authorities submitted over 180 expressions of interest to the Weekly Collection Support Scheme.
The expressions of interest covered a range of innovative projects, such as investing in new infrastructure or technology, tackling ‘bin blight', or rewarding householders for recycling more.
My officials are considering these expressions of interest and intend to provide general feedback to local authorities in due course. Local authorities now have until 11 May to submit an outline bid and 17 August for final bids.
EU Grants and Loans
Sir Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total budget is for the European regional development fund programme for (a) 2000 to 2006 and (b) 2007 to 2013 in England; and what the estimated aggregate spend is on administration by (a) central Government, (b) the European Commission and (c) grant recipients for each of the programmes. [101032]
Robert Neill: The total European regional development fund amount paid to projects in England in the 2000-06 programme was £3,881,094,867. The total funding allocated to England for the 2007-13 programme is €3.2 billion.
17 Apr 2012 : Column 316W
Information on spending by the European Commission on administration is not held by the Department.
Information on spending by grant recipients on administration is not currently held and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. To place this in context, the 2000-06 programme funded 6,800 projects and the 2007-13 programme at present funds over 900 projects.
Figures on central Government spending on administration are not currently held and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, 4% of the value of the programme is allowable under European Commission regulations to be spent as Technical Assistance. Technical Assistance can be used for administration of the programme, evaluation, encouraging access, supporting applicants to take up of the fund, and preparation for the next programme. This amount is matched by other funds. In the 2007-13 programme, approximately £37.7 million has been spent on Technical Assistance projects of which 50% comes from the European regional development fund. However, there will be additional administration costs from non-programme sources.
Fire Services: Finance
Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on integrating the capital element of grant funding into the overall revenue grant for fire and rescue services. [102722]
Robert Neill: I have recently launched a bidding process for the capital element of grant funding, details of which can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/fire/capitalfunding201315
There are no plans to integrate this grant into the overall revenue grant for fire and rescue authorities.
Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to ensure an equitable distribution of formula grant for fire and rescue services in years three and four of the comprehensive spending review. [102723]
Robert Neill: All local authorities, including fire and rescue authorities, will be asked to respond to consultation over the summer on how the baseline distribution will be set in 2013-14.
Provisional fire and rescue authority funding baselines will be announced at the usual time in November/December this year.
Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what measures he proposes to put in place to ensure stability in the grant formula for fire and rescue services. [102724]
Robert Neill: Under the proposed business rates retention scheme, fire and rescue authorities will see some protection in their funding and will be “top up authorities”. They will be able to benefit from growth in local business rates. There will be further consultation on the detail of these proposals in the summer.
17 Apr 2012 : Column 317W
Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether fire and rescue services will be able to bid for an element of the funding set aside from the national non-domestic rate redistribution. [102725]
Robert Neill: The central share of business rates, paid by billing authorities to central Government to ensure the scheme is fiscally sustainable, will be allocated in full to local government via grants. The Government will set out the percentage split between the central and local share of business rates, together with the mix of functions and services to be funded through retained business rates, later this spring.
Fire Services: Pensions
Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the change in the level of employer contributions to the Firefighters' Pension Scheme, what plans he has for the surplus to the scheme following the application of the new cost ceiling in 2015. [102721]
Robert Neill: Employer contribution rates for the 2015 scheme will be based on scheme valuations, not on cost ceilings. Valuations to assess the costs of all the firefighters' pension schemes will take place periodically. Until future actuarial valuations in the schemes have been conducted, it would be premature to speculate on future levels of contributions, or any notional surplus or deficit that might arise.
Housing: Construction
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 20 July 2010, Official Report, column 219W, on housing: construction, when he plans to announce the results of his review of circular 05/05 on planning obligations; and if he will make a statement. [102412]
Robert Neill: The National Planning Policy Framework which came into effect on 27 March 2012 replaces Circular 05/2005 on Planning Obligations. Government policy on planning obligations is now included in the section of the framework on decision-taking.
Local Authorities: Collective Worship
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to allow councils at each level to hold prayers at the beginning of their meetings if they wish. [102398]
Robert Neill:
The Localism Act 2011 contains a general power of competence that will allow councils to innovate and legally do anything an individual could do unless specifically prohibited by law. This should give councils that want to continue holding formal prayers the confidence and legal standing to do so. The power was commenced for principal councils on 18 February and for eligible parish councils on 28 March. We are considering whether further steps may be necessary to help parishes that cannot meet the eligibility criteria. Meanwhile, the
17 Apr 2012 : Column 318W
Department has provided informal advice on how non-eligible parish councils may still hold prayers in their council chamber.
Local Government Finance
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the per capita change in local authority spending in each region in the period 2011 to 2013. [97302]
Robert Neill [holding answer 1 March 2012]: Estimates of out-turn revenue expenditure for 2010-11, and budgeted revenue expenditure for 2011-12, for each local authority and Government region in England have been published on the website of the Department for Communities and Local Government at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/revenue201011localdata
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/revenuelocaldatabudget201112
Estimates of out-turn capital expenditure for 2010-11, and forecast capital expenditure for 2011-12, for each local authority and Government region in England have been published on the website of the Department for Communities and Local Government at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/capitallocaldata201011
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/capitallocaldata1112forecastrev
Revenue expenditure figures are from revenue out-turn for the 2010-11 out-turn figures, and from revenue account budget for the 2011-12 budget figures. Capital expenditure figures are from capital out-turn return for the 2010-11 out-turn figures, and capital estimates return for the 2011-12 budget figures.
The Office for National Statistics has published 2010 mid-year population estimates and projections for each local authority at:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-246448
Planning Permission
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what forms of evidence local planning authorities will be required to provide at independent examination of development plan documents to demonstrate they have complied with the duty to co-operate in section 110 of the Localism Act. [102417]
Robert Neill: The duty to co-operate will help to ensure that councils have co-operated effectively in planning for issues with cross boundary impacts in their local plans. To be found sound at the independent local plan examination, councils will be required to demonstrate that their plans are effective and deliverable, including on cross boundary strategic priorities. Evidence of effective strategic co-operation might, for example, include jointly prepared policies, a memorandum of understanding or a jointly prepared strategy presented as evidence of an agreed position. However, it will not necessarily be limited to these activities and will depend upon the local issues and circumstances that councils are planning for in their local plans.
17 Apr 2012 : Column 319W
Planning Permission: Appeals
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if his Department will take steps to ensure that neighbourhoods can appeal against planning decisions granted by the Planning Inspectorate. [102663]
Robert Neill: The Planning Inspectorate considers planning appeals.
Interested parties—including local residents—may generally make additional representations on a planning application which has gone to appeal.
It would not be practical to place a new appeal process on top of an existing appeal process. However, a right to judicial review is set out in legislation, providing for situations such as where there has been an error in law.
I also refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (Dr Poulter) on 12 March 2012, Official Report, column 50W, and my answer to my hon. Friend on 28 April 2011, Official Report, column 557W.
Planning Permission: Radlett
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received on the Helioslough application for development of the former Radlett aerodrome site; and what meetings he has held on this matter. [98943]
Robert Neill [holding answer 8 March 2012]: A list of representations will be published when the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), issues his decision on this appeal. He has held no meetings about it, although I refer my hon. Friend to the reply from the Minister of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs Villiers), on 26 March 2012, Official Report, columns 947-48W.
Vodafone Group
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many contracts Vodafone has been awarded by his Department in the last 12 months; [103180]
(2) what contracts his Department has with Vodafone. [103181]
Robert Neill: My Department has awarded one contract to Vodafone in the last 12 months for the supply of mobile communication devices.
This is a call off contract from the Government Procurement Service's pan government framework and it is for a period of four years starting from September 2011.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many times the Permanent Secretary in his Department has met Vodafone representatives in the last 12 months. [103182]
Robert Neill: None. The Permanent Secretary has not had any meetings with Vodafone representatives during the period in question.
17 Apr 2012 : Column 320W
Information on the Permanent Secretary's meetings with external organisations up until September 2011 can be found on the Department's website at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/transparencyingovernment/staffdata/permanentsecretarydata/
Further information will be published in due course.
Transport
Green Bus Fund
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many low-carbon buses will be built in the UK using funding from the Green Bus Fund. [102673]
Norman Baker [holding answer 16 April 2012]: The third round of the Green Bus Fund, originally announced as £20 million but which prudent management of the Department's finances allowed to be increased to £31 million, is supporting bus operators and local authorities to purchase 439 new low-carbon buses. It is for those organisations offered grant to decide which bus manufacturer to purchase their vehicles from, but I confidently expect that the majority of funded buses will be manufactured in the UK.
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Wycombe of 29 February 2012, Official Report, column 311W, on High Speed 2 railway line, and to the hon. Member for South Northamptonshire of 12 March 2012, Official Report, column 20W, on Crossrail, for what reasons there are more officials working on the High Speed 2 proposals than on Crossrail; and if she will make a statement. [102499]
Justine Greening [holding answer 16 April 2012]: The two schemes are at very different stages of development. HS2 is at a formative, pre-legislation stage where the Department is responsible for delivering the hybrid Bill. Construction of the Crossrail scheme, as defined in the Crossrail Act 2008, is under way and the responsibility for this predominantly lies with Crossrail Ltd.
Transport: Finance
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much (a) capital and (b) revenue funding will be put towards transport schemes from the (i) Local Sustainable Transport Fund, (ii) Regional Growth Fund and (iii) Major Local Transport scheme to each scheme in each year of the current spending review period. [102677]
Norman Baker [holding answer 16 April 2012]: Responsibility for the Regional Growth Fund was transferred to the Department for Communities and Local Government in the Supplementary Estimates for 2011-12.
The following figures show the capital and revenue funding approved in each of the current spending review years for the Local Sustainable Transport Fund and for Major Local Transport schemes.
17 Apr 2012 : Column 321W
| Local Sustainable Transport Fund | ||||
| £000 | ||||
| Plans 2011-12 | Plans 2012-13 | Plans 2013-14 | Plans 2014-15 | |
| Major Local Transport Schemes | ||||
| £000 | ||||
| Plans 2011-12 | Plans 2012-13 | Plans 2013-14 | Plans 2014-15 | |
With regard to Major Local Transport schemes, forecast outturns for spend in 2011-12 by individual authorities are set out in the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Penistone and Stocksbridge (Angela Smith) on 20 February 2012, Official Report, column 575W.
We expect final outturns for individual schemes for 2011-12 to be available by the end of April.
I have placed in the House Library a table setting out forecast outturns for Local Sustainable Transport Fund spend in 2011-12 on individual schemes. Expenditure is a mixture of capital and revenue.
For both funding streams, individual scheme allocations for 2012-13 to 2014-15 will be finalised at the start of each financial year. These allocations will be informed by previous expenditure and forecasts of annual expenditure in future years.
Justice
Prisons: Drugs
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which prisons are taking part in the pilot study for drug-free wings. [102181]
Mr Blunt: The National Offender Management Service is committed to expand the provision of drug- free wings and to assess the potential benefits which may be realised.
There are currently six prisons involved in a pilot study for Drug Free Wings. These prisons are at an early stage in developing the shape of their wings, with an implementation date of April 2012. The pilot prisons are:
Askham Grange;
Bristol;
Featherstone;
Pentonville;
Swaleside; and
Swansea.
Defence
Afghanistan
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers have been (a) killed and (b) injured during supply and re-supply operations in Afghanistan since (i) operations began and (ii) January 2011. [101837]
17 Apr 2012 : Column 322W
Nick Harvey [holding answer 26 March 2012]: Since operations began in 2001, a total of 14 UK soldiers have been reported as being killed in Afghanistan while conducting tasks that involved supply or re-supply. None of these fatalities occurred since January 2011.
Information on the number of UK soldiers wounded in Afghanistan while conducting supply or re-supply tasks since operations began, and since January 2011, is not held in the format requested.
Re-supply operations are carried out by a range of methods such as military helicopter lift, contractor helicopter lift in addition to land supply.
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimate his Department has made of the fatality rate per 1,000 personnel-years of ISAF-trained Afghan National Army personnel who were deployed alongside UK-troops in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011; [102393]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of fatalities among ISAF-trained Afghan National Army personnel deployed alongside UK troops in Afghanistan to the end of (a) June 2009, (b) December 2009, (c) June 2010, (d) December 2010, (e) June 2011 and (f) December 2011. [102323]
Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the former Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), on 15 March 2011, Official Report, column 208W. We do not hold information on the number of fatalities in the Afghan National Security Forces as it is a matter for the Government of Afghanistan.
Centre for Defence Enterprise
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many projects were funded by the Centre for Defence Enterprise through Small Business Research Initiative competitions in 2009-10 and 2010-11; and what the value of such projects was. [102643]
Peter Luff: In financial year (FY) 2009-10, 98 proposals submitted to the Centre for Defence Enterprise (CDE), in response to competitions aligned with the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), were approved for funding to a total of £5.3 million.
In FY 2010-11, 100 proposals submitted to the CDE, in response to competitions aligned with the SBRI, were approved for funding to a total of £4.9 million.
The Government have recently expanded the role of CDE following the publication of the White Paper ‘National Security Through Technology’ and increased the priority attached to SMEs within its work.
Defence Equipment: Internet
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received on equipment for armed forces personnel being available for purchase on the internet; and if he will make a statement. [103109]
Mr Robathan:
Since 2008, the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) has run a proactive ongoing operation named Operation Embroil, which investigates the internet sale of Ministry of Defence equipment which should
17 Apr 2012 : Column 323W
not lawfully be available in the public domain. The breakdown of the number of intelligence packages opened by the MDP Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) on Operation Embroil matters is as follows:
| Cases | |
Operation Embroil has resulted in property recovery and more than 70 persons have been arrested, with 15 successful prosecutions, 17 persons cautioned, and a number referred for service discipline procedures.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 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 emails are recoverable from the IT systems in his Department after that period. [102948]
Mr Robathan: The length of time an e-mail is retained by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is determined by the value of the information contained in the e-mail. MOD officials are responsible for determining what information has value to the Department and ensuring it is appropriately stored as a record. Official records are currently retained by the MOD for between two and 30 years. They can be kept beyond 30 years with the Lord Chancellor's permission if they are too sensitive to transfer to the National Archives or have ongoing value to the MOD.
E-mails not considered to be of value and not forming part of the MOD's official record or those which have been stored as records but have reached the end of their allocated retention period will be disposed of by officials. Once all copies of the e-mail have been deleted, the Department's main information system ensures e-mails remain recoverable for a period of six months.
The storage limit on MOD mailboxes is 200 megabytes, meaning that MOD staff are required to delete messages, not considered to be of value and not forming part of the MOD's official record, from inboxes on a regular basis in order to ensure efficient working.
Nuclear Submarines: Devonport Dockyard
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the closure of the Tamar ferry servicers will be necessary for any future visits of (a) Vanguard class and (b) Astute class submarines to Devonport. [102640]
Nick Harvey [holding answer 16 April 2012]: From time to time there is a requirement for a temporary suspension of movements within the Dockyard Port of Plymouth, including the Torpoint Ferries. These are governed by the Dockyard Ports Regulation Act 1865 and the Dockyard Port of Plymouth Order 1999.
17 Apr 2012 : Column 324W
The suspension of movements may be required for visits from both Vanguard and Astute class submarines, but will be dependent on the circumstances at the time.
Plymouth
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has received any representations or inquiries about the potential implications for the Royal Navy of the proposal to build a pier in Plymouth Sound. [102997]
Nick Harvey: The Queen's Harbour Master (QHM), Plymouth, met representatives of local architects in January 2012 to discuss the proposal to build a pier in Plymouth Sound. These were preliminary, informal discussions at which the QHM explained that the priority for the Ministry of Defence would be to ensure the continued safe operation of Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport. He also outlined, in principle, some of the issues that would need to be taken into account when considering any such proposal.
Energy and Climate Change
Feed-in Tariffs
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many installations were accredited for feed-in tariffs in Scotland at the latest date; what the cost has been to the public purse of the subsidy paid; what projections have been made of the cost of future subsidies for the operation of this scheme in Scotland; what other Government financial support is made available to the renewable sector in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [103443]
Gregory Barker: At the end of 15 April 2012 there were 15,887 installations with 65MW total installed capacity in Scotland confirmed on the Central FITs Register.
The total cost of the Feed-In Tariffs scheme across, England, Scotland and Wales from 1 April 2010 to 31 December 2011 was £90,750,555.01. Please note that the figures for year 2 (1 April 2011 onwards) have yet to be reconciled and these are subject to change. Ofgem are unable to apportion costs to individual nations within Great Britain.
Projections of future costs of the FITs scheme have also not been produced at sub-UK level, but the most recent overall cost projections can be found in the impact assessments supporting consultation documents on the comprehensive review of FITs, which were published on 9 February 2012 and are available at:
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/renewable_ener/feedin_tariff/feedin_tariff.aspx
Estimates of future scheme costs are extremely uncertain, and depend on a number of assumptions such as future technology, costs, and market growth. DECC is continuously reviewing its estimates in the light of the latest evidence, and will provide updated assessments for the final impact assessment published alongside the Government, response to the current consultation.
The renewables obligation (RO) is currently the Government's main mechanism for incentivising the deployment of large-scale renewable electricity deployment
17 Apr 2012 : Column 325W
across the UK, including Scotland. In addition, DECC is running a UK-wide Marine Energy Array Demonstrator scheme, which is a £20 million fund providing capital support to project developers installing the first wave and/or tidal arrays of full-scale devices in UK waters. The Technology Strategy Board also has a £10 million Innovation fund for wave and tidal in conjunction with the Natural Environment Research Council and Scottish Government
Green Deal Scheme
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many organisations bid for the tender issued by his Department in January 2012 to test, evaluate and fine-tune proposals for Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation brokerage models. [102775]
Gregory Barker: One organisation bid for the contract to test, evaluate and fine-tune proposals for Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation brokerage models. They were successfully assessed as meeting the published criteria for the contract, and were appointed on that basis.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) when he expects the Energy Company Obligation and Green Deal brokerage function to become operational; [102776]
(2) how many local authorities he expects to participate in the Green Deal brokerage. [102777]
Gregory Barker: The Government consulted on the option of a brokerage to link Energy Company Obligation (ECO) subsidy and Green Deal finance. The Government will publish their response to the consultation in due course and will provide further details on brokerage as part of that response, including when brokerage may be operational and who may have access to it. Local authorities are expected to be key partners for energy companies in delivering the ECO.
In the meantime, the Government continue to work with a range of stakeholders to design a brokerage.
Renewable Energy
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the oral answer of 8 March 2012, Official Report, column 1002, on low-carbon technologies, what forecast his Department has made of the level of renewable electricity generation it expects to become operational in (a) 2013, (b) 2014, (c) 2015, (d) 2016, (e) 2017, (f) 2018, (g) 2019 and (h) 2020. [102929]
Gregory Barker: DECC's Restats database holds data on the status of large-scale renewable electricity generation projects, including those under construction. The intended operational date is not captured so it is not possible to tell when projects will become operational, however the date on which generation commenced is recorded. A progress datasheet for February 2012 (the latest data available) can be accessed at:
https://restats.decc.gov.uk/app/reporting/decc/datasheet
17 Apr 2012 : Column 326W
The Renewable Energy Roadmap (published in July 2011) includes illustrative “central ranges” for eight key technologies—including renewable electricity technologies—and while they do not represent technology specific targets or the level of our ambition, they do show what could be deployed by 2020. The roadmap can be downloaded from our website at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/renewable_ener/re_roadmap/re_roadmap.aspx
Renewables Obligation
Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to report on his banding review of the renewables obligation. [103650]
Charles Hendry: Following the recent public consultation exercise, a final decision on support levels for the renewable electricity technologies examined in the renewables obligation (RO) banding review will be set out in the Government's response this spring. The banding review will set the levels of support for large-scale renewable electricity generation for the period 2013-17. Subject to parliamentary and state aids approval, legislation implementing the new support bands will come into effect on 1 April 2013 (1 April 2014 for offshore wind).
Warm Home Discount Scheme
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has placed a requirement on energy suppliers to report on the number of people receiving assistance under the warm home discount scheme. [103715]
Gregory Barker: The warm home discount regulations 2011 require Ofgem to determine energy suppliers' spending for each scheme year as soon as is reasonably practicable after the end of the scheme year. The regulations also provide Ofgem with powers to request information from energy suppliers to allow it to fulfil its duties with respect to the scheme, this will include the number of people assisted through the warm home discount scheme.
Education
Adoption: Kent
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children in (a) Chatham and Aylesford constituency and (b) Medway were in foster care waiting for adoption in each of the last five years. [103037]
Tim Loughton: The information requested for Medway local authority can be found in the table. Information at constituency level is not available.
The decision that a looked after child should be placed for adoption is made by their local authority but the local authority cannot actually place the child with prospective adopters without either a placement order or parental consent (depending on the individual circumstances of the case).
Information about the decision that a child should be placed for adoption has only been collected for all looked after children, for whom a decision was made,
17 Apr 2012 : Column 327W
since 2009. Previously, this information was collected only for children who had been adopted. Consequently,
17 Apr 2012 : Column 328W
the number of children waiting for adoption can be provided only for the last three years.
| Looked after children for whom the decision was made that they should be placed for adoption while placed in foster care, who were then placed for adoption, adopted, had the decision that they should be placed for adoption reversed or who were still waiting to be adopted at 31 March (1,2,3,4) , years ending 31 March 2009 to 2011, coverage: Medway Towns | |||||||||||||
| Number | |||||||||||||
| Year in which the child was placed for adoption, adopted, for whom the decision was reversed or was waiting to be adopted | |||||||||||||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |||||||||||
| Year in which the decision was made that the child should be placed for adoption | No. of children in foster care for whom the decision was made that they should be placed for adoption | No. of children placed for adoption | No. of children adopted | No. for whom the decision was reversed | No. at 31 March awaiting adoption (5) | No. of children placed for adoption | No. of children adopted | No. for whom the decision was reversed | No. at 31 March awaiting adoption (5) | No. of children placed for adoption | No. of children adopted | No. for whom the decision was reversed | No. at 31 March awaiting adoption (5) |
| * = Figures not shown in order to protect confidentiality. n/a = Not applicable. (1) Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5. For confidentiality purposes, numbers from one to five inclusive have been replaced by an asterisk (*). Where any number is shown as zero (0), the original figure submitted was zero (0). Consequently, the figures may not add up. (2) Only children looked after in a foster care placement when the decision was made that they should be placed for adoption have been counted. (3) For children living with the family intending to adopt them (i.e. placed for adoption), it is for the prospective adopters to apply to court for an adoption order. (4) Children waiting to be placed for adoption may either be waiting for a placement order to be made by the court or be in the process of being matched with prospective adopters. (5) The number of children at 31 March awaiting adoption is calculated as the total number of children in foster care for whom the decision was made that they should be placed for adoption, minus the total number of children who were adopted or for whom the decision was reversed. The number includes children who have been placed for adoption, but for whom an adoption order has not yet been made, as well as children who have not yet been placed. Source: SSDA 903 | |||||||||||||
Information on adopted children can be found in the Statistical First Release ‘Children Looked After by Local Authorities in England (including adoption and care leavers)—year ending 31 March 2011’, which is available on the Department’s website via the following link:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001026/index.shtml
CAFCASS: Stoke-on- Trent
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many complaints the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service received about its services in Stoke-on-Trent in each year since its inception. [102306]
Tim Loughton: CAFCASS is an independent body with its own procedures in place to deal with complaints. The Department for Education does not therefore hold this information. Anthony Douglas, the chief executive of CAFCASS has written to the hon. Member and a copy of his response has been placed in the Libraries.
Letter from Anthony Douglas, dated 2 April 2012:
I am writing to you in order to provide answers to the Parliamentary Question that you tabled recently:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many complaints the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service received about its services in Stoke-on-Trent in each year since its inception.
Cafcass was formed in 2001. Cafcass is unable to isolate the Stoke related complaints from those that originate from the much larger Staffordshire (including Stoke-on-Trent) area. Therefore, Cafcass cannot answer the question in relation to the specific terms in which it is put.
Please see the table below which indicates the total number of Complaints in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire since 2006. This has been provided alongside the National Cafcass figures.
| Area | ||
| Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire | National | |
Government Art Collection
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pieces of artwork his ministerial office has on loan from the Government Art Collection; and (a) who the artist, (b) what the estimated value and (c) what the description is of each piece. [101531]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 22 March 2012]:The ministerial office of the Secretary of State for Education has three pieces of artwork on loan from the Government Art Collection. The artist, the estimated value and the description of each piece are contained in the following table:
17 Apr 2012 : Column 329W
| Artist | Estimated value (£) | Description |
Members: Correspondence
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when the Minister of State for Schools plans to respond to the letter of 22 February 2012 from the hon. Member for Weaver Vale on behalf of Ron and Pat Earps. [102990]
Tim Loughton: The Minister of State for Schools, my hon. Friend the Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr Gibb), replied to my hon. Friend on Friday 30 March.
Taxis
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012. [101420]
Tim Loughton: The Department has a contract with Addison Lee (a London-based private hire company). The total expenditure on private hire vehicles via this contract between August 2011 and January 2012 for (a) Ministers is £2,370 and (b) civil servants is £34,569.
Information about spending on black cabs and other taxis is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his private ministerial office has spent on taxi hire in the last 12 months. [101532]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 22 March 2012]: The Department has a contract with Addison Lee (a London-based private hire company). The total expenditure on private hire vehicles for the whole of the DfE Private Office in the last 12 months (from March 2011 to February 2012) is £15,989.
Information about spending on black cabs and other taxis is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Vodafone Group
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many times the permanent secretary in his Department has met Vodafone representatives in the last 12 months. [103191]
Tim Loughton: The permanent secretary of the Department for Education has not had any meetings with Vodafone representatives in the last 12 months.
17 Apr 2012 : Column 330W
International Development
Civil Servants: Code of Practice
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 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. [103157]
Mr Duncan: There have been fewer than five investigations in the Department for International Development into breaches by civil servants of the Civil Service Code of Conduct between May 2010 and March 2012.
The Civil Service Commission Annual Report and Accounts 2010-11 sets out the total number of approaches handled by the Commission for that reporting period.
Developing Countries: Carbon Emissions
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government has taken to assist developing countries to cut carbon dioxide emissions since May 2010. [102402]
Mr O'Brien: The UK Government are committed to helping developing countries carry out the urgent work needed to adapt to climate change and develop in a low- carbon way, including reducing emissions from deforestation. UK support is delivered through bilateral and multilateral programmes. This includes, for example, £133 million to the Clean Technology Fund since May 2010, which, along with other contributions, is expected to leverage approximately $35 billion of investment in low-carbon projects, and help reduce over 1.5 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions. This is comparable to a third of the EU's annual emissions.
The UK Government have set up the International Climate Fund (ICF) to help developing countries combat climate change and reduce poverty. The ICF will provide £2.9 billion from 2011 to 2015 to help poor countries develop in a low-carbon way, help the poorest adapt to the effects of climate change, and protect the world's forests and those who rely on them. It is pioneering new ways to increase private investment in clean technologies; for example the Climate Public Private Partnership should, over the investment lifetime of the partnership, avoid an amount of CO2 equivalent to that emitted in a typical year by 6.6 million European cars and help to create 7,000 megawatts of clean energy.
Further details of what the UK is doing can be found online in the UK Fast Start Climate Change Finance brochure.
Developing Countries: Education
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will take steps to ensure that disabled children in (a) Afghanistan, (b) Bangladesh, (c) Burma, (d) Democratic Republic of Congo, (e) Ethiopia, (f) Kenya, (g) Nigeria, (h) Pakistan, (i) Tanzania and (j) Zimbabwe are able to benefit equally from spending by his Department on education. [102908]
17 Apr 2012 : Column 331W
Mr O'Brien: The UK Government are committed to helping provide a good quality basic education for all children, including those with a disability. The countries listed are all priority countries for the Department for International Development (DFID) and each has published an Operational Plan—available on the DFID website—that sets out how we will work with partners in each country to overcome the barriers that all children face in accessing a good qualify basic education.
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on funding education systems that are not accessible to disabled children. [102909]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development's (DFID) is committed to ensuring its education investments will reach all children, including those with a disability, through our support to multilateral, international and non-governmental organisations. We recognise that disability is a major factor excluding children from school and we are working with our country partners to tailor our education support; for example, in Malawi, we have helped approximately 700,000 children with disabilities to enter education. Through DFID support, 4,200 classrooms have been constructed and 70% of these have ramp access.
Developing Countries: HIV Infection
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department spent at least 75 per cent of their time working on HIV and AIDS policy issues (a) in 2005 and (b) in the latest period for which figures are available. [102395]
Mr O'Brien: Regrettably we are unable to provide the hon. Lady with accurate figures for 2005.
Currently two full-time equivalent staff spend at least 75 per cent of their time working on HIV and AIDS policy issues in Policy Division. Staff in Policy Division are supported by a wider team working on HIV including, the Global Funds Team, Research and Evidence Department, Civil Society Department and Health and HIV Advisers working in Department for International Development Country Offices.
Developing Countries: Water and Sanitation
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support the Government has provided to developing countries for water and sanitation improvements since May 2010. [102400]
Mr O'Brien: Details of the Department for International Development (DFID) bilateral aid expenditure by sector for financial year 2010-11 are published in “Statistics on International Development” (SID), which is available online at:
www.dfid.gov.uk
The figures for 2011-12 are not yet available, but the results we intend to achieve are set out in the operational plans available on our website.
17 Apr 2012 : Column 332W
Vodafone Group
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times the permanent secretary in his Department has met Vodafone representatives in the last 12 months. [103215]
Mr Duncan: Details of all the permanent secretary's external meetings are available on the Department for international Development's website
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-us/Our-organisation/Management-board/
and are published every quarter in the normal way.
Business, Innovation and Skills
English Language: Education
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the ministerial statement on English for speakers of other languages of 29 February 2012, Official Report, column 31WS, (1) what process and criteria he used to determine which institutions would receive funding; [100675]
(2) which institutions have been awarded additional funding. [100676]
Mr Hayes: The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) identified local authority areas facing significant integration challenges to receive additional funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). This selection was based on a number of factors, including reported levels of integration and participation. Using information provided by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) of the largest providers of ESOL courses across England, DCLG then identified providers in these target areas to be offered money from this fund to support additional ESOL training.
Intellectual Property Office
Mr Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what contracts the Intellectual Property Office had for the provision of (a) patent searches in other countries, (b) patent searches for other government bodies to support grant schemes and (c) other commercial intellectual property services on (i) 1 January 2011 and (ii) 1 January 2012; with whom such contracts were signed; what the commencement and termination dates of such contracts were; and in respect of what services each such contract was signed. [103007]
Norman Lamb: The Intellectual Property Office has a contract with the Irish Patent Office to supply searches. This was signed in 1993 and remains in force.
To support grant schemes the Office had an annual service level agreement with the Welsh Government in place for 2010/11 and 2011/12. A three-year framework agreement is also in place with Scottish Enterprise starting April 2009. Up until November 2011 the Office also did work for regional development agencies, part of our parent Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. This was charged at a standard hourly rate.
Other commercial intellectual property services were available on a case-by-case basis but these services were withdrawn in October 2011.
17 Apr 2012 : Column 333W
Mature Students
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many learners aged 24 years and over working toward Level 3 of higher qualifications there are in each local authority area; [103252]
(2) what proportion of learners aged 24 years and over seeking Level 3 qualifications and above in England are studying (a) at further education colleges, (b) at independent learner providers and (c) in voluntary/third sector provision. [103255]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 16 April 2012]: I am placing in the Libraries of the House data which show the number of learners aged 24+ participating on Level 3 and above further education courses in England by local authority in 2010/11.
The following table shows the number and proportion of learners aged 24+ participating on Level 3 and above further education courses in England by provider type in 2010/11.
2010/11 is the latest year for which final data are available.
| Adult (aged 24+) participation on Level 3 and above further education courses by provider type, 2010/11 | ||
| Provider type | Participation on Level 3 or above courses | |
| Number | Percentage | |
| Notes: 1. Information in this table is based on all Government-funded learners. 2. These data include education and training, apprenticeships, workplace learning and community learning provision. 3. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10 except the total which is rounded to the nearest 100. Figures may not sum due to rounding. 4. ‘—’ indicates a percentage of less than 0.5%. 5. Age is based on age at the start of the academic year. Learners with an unknown age have been included. 6. Special colleges include agriculture and horticulture colleges; art, design and performing arts colleges and specialist designated college. 7. Other public funded includes central Government Department, central Government NDPB, public corporations and trading funds, local education authority (LEA), social services, other local authority, police authority, fire authority, local authority department, local authority, NHS-English foundation trust, NHS-English non-foundation trust, NHS-other organisations, independent school or college, UFI directly funded hub, dance and drama school, external institution, higher education organisation, school sixth form (not college), special learning needs establishment, other public organisation, charitable, non-charitable, other voluntary organisation, LSC region, special college, academy. 8. Private sector public funded includes community interest company, company incorporated by royal charter (England/Wales), employer association, independent association, industrial/provident (England/Wales), limited liability partnership, limited partnership, PRI/LBG/NSC/S.30, PRI/LTD BY GUAR/NSC, private limited company, private unlimited company, public limited company, sole trader, trade union, chamber of commerce/trade, organisation in business in its own right, other private organisation, Business Link. Source: Individualised Learner Record | ||
Information on the number of learners participating in further education is published in a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 29 March 2012:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current