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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 23 April 2012
Women and Equalities
Equality Act 2010
Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what discussions she has had with representatives of Christian organisations on the Equality Act 2010. [102577]
Lynne Featherstone: The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Minister for Women and Equalities, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), only attended such meetings during 2010, when she met representatives from a range of organisations, including some Christian organisations, during a listening exercise she held on the next steps for civil partnerships. This included discussion of section 202 of the Equality Act 2010, which is the voluntary provision we implemented on 5 December 2011 to remove the ban on civil partnership registrations taking place on religious premises.
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Kate Green: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what discussions the Government Equalities Office has had with the Scottish Government and Welsh Government on the proposed closure of the Equality and Human Rights Commission helpline; and if she will make a statement. [103811]
Lynne Featherstone: Representatives of the Scottish and Welsh Governments took part in the extensive engagement events that the Government Equalities Office (GEO) held in March and April 2011, on the new information, advice and support system for victims of discrimination and human rights abuses. GEO has continued to have regular contact with them to ensure that the new Equality Advisory and Support service will have a full appreciation of the distinctive constitutional, legal, social and policy context within Scotland and Wales.
Legal Costs
Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how much her Department spent on fees for legal work in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if she will make a statement. [104598]
Lynne Featherstone: From 1 April 2011, the Government Equalities Office became part of the Home Office. Information relating to the Government Equalities Office will be included in the reply of the Minister for Immigration, the hon. Member for Ashford (Damian Green).
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Violence and Discrimination
Simon Kirby: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps she is taking to tackle violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. [103953]
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps she is taking to tackle violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. [104403]
Lynne Featherstone: This Government are strongly committed to advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGB&T) equality and to tackling discrimination and violence against LGB&T people whenever it occurs.
In March 2011, the Government published “Working for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality: Moving Forward”. This action plan outlined an ambitious range of actions the Government will take, from tackling homophobic bullying in schools to improving its response rate to hate crime. This was followed in December 2011 by the first ever Government transgender equality action plan, “Advancing Transgender Equality: A Plan for Action”, to address the specific challenges transgender people face. Both documents can be found on the Home Office website at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/equalities/
Last month, the Government also published “Challenge it, Report it, Stop it”, an action plan to tackle all forms of hate crime, including homophobic and transphobic hate crime. The action plan is available on the Home Office website at:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime/hate-crime/
Marriage
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities if she will hold a public consultation on Government proposals to change the definition of marriage. [105022]
Lynne Featherstone: On 15 March 2012, the Government published a consultation on how to enable all couples to have a civil marriage, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. A written ministerial statement was laid on the day of publication and copies made available in the House Library.
The consultation runs until 14 June 2012. The proposals only cover England and Wales and do not affect marriage and civil partnerships in Northern Ireland or Scotland.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what recent representations she has received on equality in marriage; and if she will make a statement. [104526]
Lynne Featherstone: The Government published a consultation on equal civil marriage on 15 March 2012 which runs until 14 June. A written ministerial statement was laid in the House on the day of publication, 15 March 2012, Official Report, columns 37-8WS, and copies made available in the House Library.
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As part of this consultation, we are encouraging all those with an interest in this issue to respond formally via the Home Office website. Both Ministers and officials have met with a range of organisations ahead of publishing the consultation and will continue to do so during the consultation period itself. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and representations.
Pay: Gender
Guy Opperman: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps the Government Equalities Office is taking to reduce the pay gap between men and women. [104444]
Lynne Featherstone: The Government are committed to making full use of the skills and experiences that women bring to our economy. We are addressing the barriers that women can face in the workplace, for example by extending flexible working and reforming parental leave. Under the universal credit, we will for the first time extend help with child care to those working under 16 hours, which will assist around 80,000 families.
In addition we are supporting women's enterprise through identifying and training 5,000 business mentors; and, with Lord Davies, we are helping more women to reach the boardrooms of our leading companies.
In September 2011, the Government launched a voluntary initiative to promote transparency on gender equality with leading companies and the CBI. “Think, Act, Report” asks private and voluntary sector employers to tackle barriers for women at work, and enjoy business and economic benefits, by taking a step by step approach to greater transparency on pay and other workplace issues. We are now working with business and partner organisations to encourage uptake.
Retirement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many staff of her Department retired in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; how many of such staff were taking early retirement in each such year; and if she will make a statement. [104596]
Lynne Featherstone: From 1 April 2011, the Government Equalities Office became part of the Home Office. Information relating to the Government Equalities Office will be included in the reply of the Minister for Immigration, the hon. Member for Ashford (Damian Green).
Vacancies
Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many job vacancies there were for (a) staff posts and (b) senior Civil Service posts in her Department on 31 March (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012; and if she will make a statement. [104597]
Lynne Featherstone: From 1 April 2011, the Government Equalities Office became part of the Home Office. Information relating to the Government Equalities Office will be included in the reply of my hon. Friend, the Minister for Immigration.
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Young People: Sexual Offences
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps she is taking to prevent teenage girls becoming victims of sexual violence. [104295]
Lynne Featherstone: The Government published their updated Violence Against Women and Girls Action Plan on 8 March this year. One of the guiding principles of our action plan is to prevent violence against women and girls from happening in the first place, by challenging the attitudes and behaviours which foster it, and intervening early where possible to prevent it. The plan is on the Home Office website.
A key part of this has been our Teenage Relationship Abuse campaign and our Teenage Rape Prevention campaign which highlights to young people that abuse is never acceptable. We also recently announced extra money (£1.2 million) to fund sexual violence support services for those young girls caught up in gang violence.
Other actions in the Plan include work to tackle sexual bullying and harassing practices such as 'sexting' and to encourage teaching of sexual content within the curriculum.
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street : Staff
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Prime Minister what the name and job title is of each person with a desk at 10 Downing street who is not a Minister, special adviser, civil servant or police or security staff. [103568]
The Prime Minister: Information on officials working in UK civil service, including the Prime Minister’s Office, is in the public domain and is available on the Cabinet Office transparency website:
http://data.gov.uk/organogram/cabinet-office
It has been long-established practice under successive Administrations that there is a political office within No. 10. The staffing and associated costs for my political office are met by the Conservative party.
Afghanistan: Military Operations
Mr Winnick: To ask the Prime Minister whether the deadline set for the UK to cease its combat role in Afghanistan will be met regardless of the military and political situation in that country. [104858]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Doncaster North (Edward Miliband), on 21 March 2012, Official Report, column 783.
Official Hospitality
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Prime Minister if he will provide a list of all events held at (a) Chequers and (b) 10 Downing street for which the Government has been reimbursed by (i) the Prime Minister and (ii) the Conservative party; and what the total amount reimbursed was in each case. [103646]
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The Prime Minister: No public money has been spent on political events.
Peter Cruddas
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Prime Minister whether (a) he, (b) his special advisers and (c) officials in 10 Downing street have had any meetings with Peter Cruddas since May 2010. [103645]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Leicester South (Jonathan Ashworth), on 17 April 2012, Official Report, column 311W.
Sarah Southern
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Prime Minister whether (a) he, (b) his special advisers and (c) officials in 10 Downing street have had any meetings with Sarah Southern since May 2010. [103644]
The Prime Minister: Neither I nor members of my office have met Sarah Southern on official business since May 2010. It is a matter of public record that I met her socially in my capacity as leader of the Conservative party.
Culture, Media and Sport
Addison Lee
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what meetings (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in his Department have had with John Griffin of Addison Lee since 12 May 2010. [104690]
John Penrose: No meetings have been held with John Griffin since 12 May 2012 by departmental Ministers, special advisers or officials.
The Department publishes lists of meetings Ministers, special advisers and the Permanent Secretary have had with external organisations on our transparency website
http://www.transparency.culture.gov.uk/
Animation
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to support the cartoon animation industry in the UK. [104853]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: We have introduced the Creative Industries Council and maintained existing direct support for film including filmed animation through the national lottery and film tax relief. Building on this success, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), announced the introduction of similar tax reliefs for the video games, animation and high-end TV production sectors at the last Budget.
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Artworks
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to ensure public access to works of art placed in the conditional exemption scheme. [103827]
Miss Chloe Smith: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.
Details of the public access arrangements to works of art, as well as land and buildings, granted conditional exemption from tax are shown on a database on the heritage part of the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) website. The database can be accessed from:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/heritage/
HMRC actively monitor the owners' compliance with their public access obligations and other conditions for exemption. Where these conditions are not met, owners are encouraged to correct the position. In cases of persistent failure, HMRC will withdraw the tax exemption.
Broadband
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2011, Official Report, column 34W, on broadband: enterprise zones, by what mechanisms superfast broadband will be supplied to each of the enterprise zones which have been announced. [104990]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: We expect that in many cases enterprise zones will be able to secure superfast broadband provision through normal market mechanisms. In cases where the market will not provide superfast broadband, enterprise zones should be prioritised in local broadband plans. Cities bidding for funding from the Urban Broadband Fund were expected to include enterprise zones in their plans and all of the winning cities have done so. This Department along with the Department for Communities and Local Government
http://www.communities.gov.uk/
are liaising with enterprise zones to ensure a satisfactory outcome.
Cultural Events: Impact Assessments
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assistance his Department is offering local authorities to conduct impact assessments of festivals and cultural event programmes throughout the comprehensive spending review period. [101847]
Mr Vaizey [holding answer 26 March 2012 ]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 26 March 2012, Official Report, column 935W.
Digital Economy Act 2010
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 480W, on Digital Economy Act 2010, whether he has laid before the House the statutory instruments referred to. [104991]
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Mr Jeremy Hunt: Unfortunately the planned introduction of the statutory instruments described in the answer of 31 October 2011, Official Report, column 480W, has been delayed due to the need to take into account the Court of Appeal judgment on the application by BT and Talk for a judicial review of the online infringement of copyright provisions in the Digital Economy Act 2010, delivered on 6 March this year. Although the Government won convincingly, the sole point where we were ruled against—the financial responsibility for appeal case fees—has meant that we need to amend the sharing of costs statutory instrument and Ofcom need to make consequential amendments to the Initial Obligations Code. Both instruments are currently in the process of being considered by the relevant committees within Government, and we hope to be in a position to lay the sharing of costs statutory instrument before both Houses in June. At the same time Ofcom hope to be able to publish the Initial Obligations Code for a period of consultation as required by section 403 of the Communications Act 2003. This will then need to be notified to the European Commission under the terms of the Technical Standards Directive with an expectation-that the code will be laid before both Houses by the end of this year.
Film Policy Review
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on what date he expects to publish the Government's response to Lord Smith's film policy review. [104611]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: The Government plan to publish their response to Lord Smith's film policy review shortly. Details will be available on our website at the same time.
Johnston Press
Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what representations he has received from senior management at Johnston Press following their announcement to restructure large sections of their local newspaper portfolio; and if he will make a statement. [104133]
Mr Vaizey: We have received no formal representations from Johnston Press since its announcement about a titles re-launch on 16 April.
News media such as Johnston Press continue to face difficult decisions as they face up to the twin challenges of structural and cyclical change. While I have every sympathy, both for those who lose their jobs and for their families as a result of any changes, such commercial decisions are a matter for business to make.
Listed Buildings
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many meetings he has held with church representatives to discuss the effect of the abolition of zero-rated VAT on approved alterations to listed buildings; and who was present on each occasion. [104760]
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John Penrose: The Department for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport officials have so far met church representatives once to discuss this issue, and we expect to have more meetings in future.
Lords Lieutenant
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will hold discussions with the Royal Household on steps to increase the diversity of candidates selected as Lords Lieutenant in England. [104914]
Mr Harper: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
In July 2009, the Ministry of Justice published a Protocol for the appointment of lord lieutenants. This fulfilled the commitment in the ‘Government's Response to the Sixth Report of the Justice Committee (Session 07/08) on Public Appointments: Lord-Lieutenants and High Sheriffs’ (December 2008). The Protocol sets out the types of people and bodies whose views would always be sought in consultations when appointing a new lord lieutenant. This clear consultation process helps inspire confidence that those names to be recommended by the Prime Minister to the Queen are taken from a wide range of individuals and may be seen to be appointed on merit.
The Government are committed to the principles of diversity and have sought to widen the pool from which new lord lieutenants are drawn while still nominating on merit. In practice, the diversity of the body of English lord lieutenants has been increasing steadily in recent years. For example, five out of eight lord lieutenants in the south-west are women. The increasing number of ethnic minority deputy lieutenants is creating the potential for the number of lord lieutenants from an ethnic minority background to grow further.
Departmental Staff
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2011, Official Report, column 235W, on departmental manpower, how many staff in (a) his Department and (b) Ofcom are working on digital economy policy and implementation, other than those working on Broadband Delivery UK. [104989]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: The Department currently has approximately 55 staff working across Media, Communications and Creative Industry issues. The Department does not hold information on the exact number of staff who worked wholly on the digital economy policy and implementation.
Ofcom has indicated that approximately two full-time employees have worked on implementing the online copyright infringement provisions of the Digital Economy Act during 2012.
Other members of Ofcom staff also work on digital economy policy and implementation as needed on an ad hoc basis.
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Olympic Games 2012
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure that people who secured tickets for the London 2012 Olympics and have since moved home will have their tickets sent to the right address; and if he will make a statement. [104163]
Hugh Robertson: Ticketing is a matter for the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), which is a private company operating independently of Government.
Purchasers through the UK application process were asked to check their address details with LOCOG by 6 February 2012, and update them if they had moved. Confirming details meant that LOCOG could begin assigning seats for millions of tickets before printing, packaging and addressing tickets for dispatch.
LOCOG advise that purchasers that have moved house since 6 February 2012 may be able to put in place a Royal Mail redirection. If this is not possible, purchasers will still receive their tickets—LOCOG will be in touch with any purchasers of undelivered tickets to arrange receipt.
One North East
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the abolition of the One North East regional development fund on North East (a) tourism, (b) arts organisations, (c) artists, (d) audience engagement, (e) museums and galleries and (f) libraries. [104610]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: This Department has not made a formal assessment of the potential effect of the abolition of the One North East regional development fund on all these areas. For tourism, VisitEngland has factored in the closure when compiling its Regional Growth Fund application and the affected boroughs will continue to be significant beneficiaries of support through schemes like Growing Tourism Locally, the Rural Development Programme England and GREAT campaign.
One North East will no longer fund the creative industries, however our arm's length body Arts Council England is still providing arts and museums funding to the north east region. In 2011-12 Arts Council England invested £3,552,335 through Grants for the Arts, and £13,394,080 through Regularly Funded Organisations' grants. Beneficiaries include the Sage Gateshead and the National Glass Centre, whose funded activities shall improve audience engagement and facilities. Such artists' festivals as Design Event, showcasing local design talent, will adapt from an annual to bi-annual event.
Libraries will continue to be funded and run by their local authority, who should have the flexibility to decide how best to provide a library service to their local community. Arts Council England also has been given responsibility for supporting and developing libraries and has recently launched with the Local Government Association the Libraries Development Initiative (LDI). A number of grants have been awarded to innovative projects through the LDI, including a project with Newcastle and Manchester city councils to test how well two different metropolitan library services can
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broker access to a cultural offer for vulnerable adults; and a national project involving Newcastle, which aims to help libraries amplify their digital reading offer.
Public Consultation
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department collects the IP addresses of online respondents to its consultations. [104065]
John Penrose: No, this Department does not collect IP addresses of consultation respondents.
Radio Frequencies
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how the £280 million of capital funding set aside for spectrum clearance is to be spent. [104776]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: The budget for spectrum clearance is to be spent securing changes to digital terrestrial television to allow channels 61 and 62 to be cleared and the signals moved, clearing programme making and special events from channels 61-69 and compensating licensed users. It also includes relocating some Government services that use the 800MHz band and remediating radars that operate close to the 2.6GHz band which is also being released in the forthcoming combined auction.
Redundancy
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department has taken steps to help its funded bodies implement redundancies arising from reductions in their grant. [104612]
John Penrose: It is for each funded body to determine for itself how best to meet any reductions in grant funding within the normal set of delegated limits, controls and approvals required by Government. Where redundancy schemes have been put in place, these have been designed and implemented according to the circumstances and operating procedures of each organisation concerned.
The Department has provided financial assistance to those bodies most in need of it through a ring-fenced restructuring fund amounting to £24 million/£10 million/£5 million between 2011-12 and 2013-14.
Retirement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many (a) civil servants and (b) senior civil servants have retired from his Department since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [104155]
John Penrose: The following table shows the total number of staff who retired in (a) 2010 -11 and (b) 2011-12:
| Financial year | Number of staff who retired |
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Attorney-General
Addison Lee
Maria Eagle: To ask the Attorney-General what meetings (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in the Law Officers’ Departments have had with John Griffin of Addison Lee since 12 May 2010. [104691]
The Solicitor-General: The Law Officers or officials in the Law Officers' Departments have not had any meetings with John Griffin since May 2010.
The Attorney-General’s Office does not have any special advisers.
Crown Prosecution Service: Yorkshire and the Humber
Julian Smith: To ask the Attorney-General what assessment he has made of the effect on the operation of the Crown Prosecution Service of the proposed reorganisation in Yorkshire and the Humber. [103576]
The Solicitor-General: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Yorkshire and Humberside Area currently has offices in Bradford, York and Leeds, but is considering the option of consolidating most of its operations into its Leeds office with the aim of maintaining quality of service and bringing increased operational resilience at a time when staff numbers are being reduced. The introduction of digital working by the CPS is also expected to compliment such a move as files will be served more quickly by electronic means. The proposals also include plans to retain a CPS office in North Yorkshire located in central York.
The proposals being considered are still at an informal consultation stage and no formal assessment has therefore been made. The departmental trade unions, the magistrates courts, the Crown court, the police, the probation service as well as CPS staff, CPS local management, and CPS headquarters are being consulted. This informal consultation period will conclude on 3 May 2012, after which an assessment will be made of the proposals.
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Official Secrets
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Attorney-General whether any person employed by (a) the Law Officers’ Departments, (b) the agencies for which the Law Officers’ Departments are responsible and (c) any private firms contracted by the Law Officers’ Departments is bound by any part of the Official Secrets Act. [104847]
The Solicitor-General: All people employed by the Law Officers’ Departments, the agencies for which the Law Officers’ Departments are responsible and any private firms contracted by the Law Officers’ Departments are bound by the Official Secrets Act.
Prosecutions
Mr Thomas: To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in each region of the UK in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [104162]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains a central record of the outcomes of proceedings against defendants. Dropped cases include those where the CPS discontinue, withdraw or offer no evidence; or where the prosecution or indictment is stayed or charges are left to lie on file.
Cases can be dropped for a number of reasons:
new evidence may have come to light;
the prosecution may be unable to proceed because the victim or witness has withdrawn or refused to give evidence;
it may no longer be in the public interest to continue the prosecution because of the adverse effect on the victim's health; or
the defendant may have pleaded guilty and been sentenced for other more serious charges.
In the last year the CPS dropped 88,106 or 9.8% of all prosecutions compared with 95,869 or 10.0% in 2010-11. The following table shows the total number of prosecutions dropped by the prosecution for each police force area in each of the last two years.
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |||
| Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | |
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Retirement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Attorney-General how many (a) civil servants and (b) senior civil servants have retired from the Law Officers’ Departments since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [104160]
The Solicitor-General: Information on the numbers of civil servants in the Law Officer’s Departments who have retired since May 2010 is contained in the following table.
| Department | Civil servants | Senior civil servants |
| (1) TSOL data also covers the Attorney-General’s Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. | ||
Mr Thomas: To ask the Attorney-General how many staff of the Law Officers' Departments retired in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; how many such staff were taking early retirement in each such year; and if he will make a statement. [104599]
The Solicitor-General: Information on the numbers of civil servants in the Law Officer's Departments who have retired during the last two financial years is contained in the following table.
| Total number of c ivil servants retiring | Number taking early retirement | |||
| Department | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 |
| (1) TSOL data also covers the Attorney-General’s Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. | ||||
Animal Welfare: Filming
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Attorney-General what the policy of the Crown Prosecution Service is on the use of evidence obtained by undercover filming in making a decision whether to bring a prosecution for animal cruelty at a slaughterhouse under the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995. [104757]
The Solicitor-General: The CPS reviews all cases, including issues concerning the admissibility of evidence, in accordance with the law and the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
Witnesses
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what plans the Crown Prosecution Service has for the future (a) funding and (b) number of witness care units. [103358]
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The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will provide funding of £4 million per year for the 80 operational witness care units across England and Wales for the spending review 2010 period, until March 2015. The £4 million annual funding will be made up of £2.5 million from the CPS budget and £1.5 million that the CPS will receive from the Ministry of Justice for this purpose as its share of the victims surcharge.
Northern Ireland
Legal Costs
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on fees for legal work in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [104580]
Mr Paterson: The Department receives legal services from two external Government bodies, the Treasury Solicitor's Office (TSOL) and the Home Office Legal Adviser's Branch (HOLAB). The total costs for 2010-11 and 2011-12 were £965,659 and £577,588 respectively.
Public Consultation
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which of his Department's consultations have been externally verified since 2007; for what reason and by whom such verification was carried out; and what the cost to the public purse was of such verification. [104070]
Mr Paterson: Since 12 April 2010, no consultations run by my Department have been subject to external verification. The Department as it is now configured is not able to provide details of consultations that were run prior to the completion of devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010.
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department collects the IP addresses of respondents to its consultations. [104071]
Mr Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office does not collect the IP addresses of respondents to its consultations.
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department accepts anonymous contributions to its consultations. [104072]
Mr Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office processes all personal data strictly in accordance with the access to information regimes. The Department will accept contributions to its consultations from either an anonymous respondent or someone who has clearly indicated that they wish their response to be kept anonymous.
Retirement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) civil servants and (b) senior civil servants have retired from his Department since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [104146]
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Mr Paterson: Since May 2010, a total of 15 civil servants have retired from the Northern Ireland Office; six were senior civil servants.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff of his Department retired in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; how many of such staff were taking early retirement in each such year; and if he will make a statement. [104578]
Mr Paterson: During 2010-11, nine members of staff retired from the Northern Ireland Office; two were early retirements. In 2011-12, six members of staff retired; one was early retirement.
Vacancies
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many job vacancies there were for (a) staff posts and (b) senior civil service posts in his Department on 31 March (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012; and if he will make a statement. [104579]
Mr Paterson: On 31 March 2012, the Northern Ireland Office had five vacancies, all of which were below senior civil servant level. To provide figures for 2010 and 2011 would incur disproportionate costs.
Church Commissioners
Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme
Helen Goodman: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what estimate the Church Commissioners have made of the cost to the Church of England of the recently announced changes to VAT on building repairs. [104316]
Tony Baldry: The Church of England has calculated that the ending of the VAT exemption for listed building alterations is likely to cost it £20 million per year nationally. The Church of England has responsibility for the care and upkeep of 12,500 listed churches and cathedrals across England, which is largely met by the voluntary giving and activity of its congregations. The majority of alterations to listed church buildings take place in order to improve access to them and to broaden their use by the wider community.
Though proposals in the Budget impact mostly on alterations to listed church buildings—as distinct from repairs—in that they remove the zero VAT rating for all listed building alteration works, the Church of England is concerned that the money available to reimburse churches for VAT charged for repair work will also be affected as a consequence of the extra demands placed on the Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme, which is proposed to have eligibility widened to include alterations.
Helen Goodman: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, how much funding has been allocated to the listed places of worship grant scheme in each year from 2008-09 to 2011-12; and how much will be allocated in 2012-13. [104317]
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Tony Baldry: The administration of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme is a matter for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, not for the Church Commissioners.
Transport
Airports: Thames Estuary
Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 15 March 2012, Official Report, column 393W, on the Thames Estuary airport, which organisation officials in her Department met in respect of proposals for a Thames Estuary airport. [103658]
Mrs Villiers: Officials in the Department for Transport met with representatives of Foster + Partners and Halcrow in October 2011, at their request, who presented on their proposals for a Thames Hub.
Aviation
Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department received an official response to its consultation on a sustainable framework for UK aviation from the Labour party. [103865]
Mrs Villiers: We intend to consult in the summer on a draft sustainable framework for UK aviation. Last year we issued an aviation policy scoping document for consultation. No response was received from the Labour party.
Biofuels
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the level of imports of palm oil for bio-fuels in each of the last five years. [103863]
Norman Baker: The renewable transport fuel obligation has been in operation since 2008. Statistics covering the volume of biofuel supplied by feedstock and country of origin are available at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/statistics/series/biofuels/
In 2008-09 127 million litres of biodiesel derived from palm oil was reported by suppliers; in 2009-10 99 million litres; and in 2010-11 35 million litres. As a proportion of overall supply of biofuels, this represents 10%, 6% and 2% respectively in each of these years. Where country of origin was reported, the data indicate that all biodiesel derived from palm oil was imported. Data for 2011-12 are not yet available.
Bus Services
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many low carbon buses have been operating in (a) the South West, (b) the South East, (c) London, (d) the West Midlands, (e) the East Midlands, (f) East Anglia, (g) the North East and (h) the North West in each of the last five years. [104492]
Norman Baker: Low carbon buses supported through the Government's £76 million Green Bus Fund have been operating in England since 2010. The following table shows where the funded buses that are already in service are operating.
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| Area | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
A further 571 low carbon buses supported by the Green Bus Fund are expected to come into service in England by summer 2013.
Transport for London have also operated low carbon buses since 2006 without Green Bus Fund support. The following table shows the number of buses in service for the last five years.
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |
Bus Services: Rural Areas
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of the level of bus transport in rural areas; and if she will make a statement. [104527]
Norman Baker: Statistics on the levels of bus services in all areas of England are available on the Department for Transport's website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/statistics?series=buses&tag=buses-and-coaches%2C+public-transport-2
Outside London, the provision of bus and community transport services in any area is a matter for commercial operators and for local authorities.
However, it has long been clear that for some isolated communities traditional public transport is not a cost effective option. In such circumstances, the Government support, where achievable, the establishment of community bus services or other more flexible forms of transport.
In recognition of the important role they play in delivering local services, I have provided a total of £20 million across two rounds of our Supporting Community Transport Fund between 2010-11 and 2011-12. This funding has been distributed to 76 local transport authorities (councils and passenger transport executives) to support the establishment and development of more community transport links to employment and services in rural areas.
Civil Servants: Code of Practice
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [103147]
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Norman Baker: This information in the following table is provided for the DFT central Department and its seven executive agencies. It also includes cases in which a breach of the Civil Service Code has been considered as one factor (among others) in an investigation. In order to safeguard the confidentiality of individuals, the information has been presented in quarterly groups.
| Department for Transport: investigations into breaches by civil servants of the Civil Service Code | |||
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
Consultants
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on efficiency and reform in Government corporate functions through shared service centres, HC 1790, which management consultants were involved in (a) setting up and (b) operation of the shared service centre project for her Department. [104020]
Norman Baker: The management consultants the Department used for (a) setting up and (b) initial operation of the shared service centre were predominantly from IBM. It should be noted that consultants were only involved in the setup and initial operation of the centre and are no longer involved in any aspect of ongoing initiatives or operations at the centre.
IBM made up approximately 90% of usage with the remaining 10% coming from the following firms:
Amtec Consulting
Deloitte
Hedra Consortium
Atlan Resource
Capita Interim Management
Evolve Business Consultancy
LM House Ltd
Methods Consulting
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Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to her proposed closure of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) offices, what estimate she has made of the number of DVLA staff who could be redeployed; to which Departments they are deployed; and if she will make a statement. [103678]
Mike Penning: No detailed work on redeployment to other Government Departments will be undertaken until the results of the recent consultation exercise have been considered and a decision made on the way forward.
Carbon Reduction: Innovation
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the merits of Government incentives to encourage innovation in the field of carbon abatement technology. [103957]
Norman Baker: The coalition Government's Carbon Plan, published in December 2011, sets out our carbon reduction policies to meet the fourth carbon budget, and beyond. The plan covers all sectors of the UK economy—including transport—and is underpinned by analysis to establish the cost effectiveness. This is available in Annex B of the Plan at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/tackling-climate-change/carbon-plan/3749-carbon-plan-annex-b-dec-2011.pdf
A number of the transport specific actions within the Carbon Plan are linked to innovation, including measures to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles and improve new car CO2 standards. For example, through the Technology Strategy Board the Government have invested over £45 million in innovative projects, which have generated over £86 million in industry co-funding, to encourage new carbon reducing technologies onto UK roads.
Flowers
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012. [101426]
Norman Baker: The requested information is provided in the following table. We have taken steps to limit what we regard as the excessive expenditure on these items that we inherited from the previous Administration.
| £ | ||||||
| (a) Cut flowers | (b) Pot plants | |||||
| 2009-10 | May 2010 to March 2011 | April 2011 to March 2012 | 2009-10 | May 2010 to March 2011 | April 2011 to March 2012 | |
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| (1) Includes termination cost of previous contracts. 2011-12 spend relates to maintenance only of plants located in communal areas. No further plants will be purchased and plants that perish will not be replaced. (2) Relates to purchase of one plant for “Families Room” (where MAIB speak to bereaved relatives). (3) Relates to office plant displays at two sites provided under two contracts, one of which has expired and the other will not be renewed upon expiry. (4) Relates to spend at agency HQ. (5) Relates to spend up to March 2011. All contracts have now been cancelled and there has been no spend incurred since this date. (6) The requested data can be provided only at disproportionate cost. | ||||||
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to paragraph 2.8 of the Economic Case for High Speed Two next steps and future updates published in April 2012, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policy of the reduction of the benefit to cost ratio for the London to Birmingham high speed rail link. [104919]
Justine Greening: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 19 April 2012, Official Report, column 544W.
Highways Agency
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which companies provide contract services to the Highways Agency; for which types of work; and when each contract is due for review. [103874]
Mike Penning: The Highways Agency's current business model operates such that a range of suppliers are contracted to meet the majority of the organisation's diverse requirements.
There are many tens of contracts active at any one time, covering arrangements for operating and developing the strategic roads network, plus those for properly supporting its offices and staff.
Each contract placed is reviewed during its currency to ensure supplier compliance and performance in relation to requirements, and in good time before completion so that appropriate procurement arrangements for the continuation of provision, if necessary, can be made.
If my hon. Friend wishes to be more specific about any particular sector, region or supplier, I would be pleased to try to provide further details.
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff worked for the Highways Agency in each of the last three financial years. [103875]
Mike Penning: The information requested is in the following table:
| Highways Agency | |
| As at 31 March each year : | Number of staff |
These figures were sourced from our internal Human Resources system.
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff worked for the Highways Agency in the Yorkshire and Humber region in each of the last three financial years. [103876]
Mike Penning: The information requested is in the following table:
| As at 31 March each year : | Number of staff |
These figures were sourced from our internal Human Resources system.
Members: Correspondence
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for South Northamptonshire of (a) 22 February and (b) 26 March 2012. [104772]
Norman Baker: The Secretary of State for Transport, the right hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening), responded to both the letters on 20 April 2012.
Motorcycles
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when her Department expects to respond to its consultation on a proposed European Commission Regulation on the type approval and market surveillance of 2- and 3- wheeled vehicles and quadricycles; [103893]
(2) what progress has been made on reaching agreement on European Regulation COM(2010)542; [103894]
(3) what her Department's negotiating position is on the ability of motorists to modify their motorcycle in discussions on European Regulation COM(2010)542. [103897]
Mike Penning: The Department for Transport is fully engaged in the negotiation on the Commission's proposal for a revised type approval regulation. The Department is seeking to simplify legislative burdens on motorcycle manufacturers, parts suppliers, riders and governments while improving safety and reducing tailpipe emissions.
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The Department's consultation published in September 2011 provided an opportunity for individuals and organisations to comment on the estimated costs and benefits of the proposal, and this information was used to develop the UK's initial negotiating position. We expect to publish a summary of responses to this consultation by the summer. Details of the Department's impact assessment can be found at:
www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2011-26/
The Government do not support the extension of existing anti-tampering measures from restricted performance machines to larger unrestricted motorcycles. We have pressed this point very firmly in discussions with the Commission during negotiations in the Council Working Group and are optimistic of achieving a satisfactory outcome.
Oil: Exploration
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations her Department has received on extraction of oil from tar sands; and what progress has been made on the inclusion of a default value for tar sands in the European Fuel Quality Directive. [103532]
Norman Baker [holding answer 18 April 2012]: Department for Transport Ministers and officials have received representations from various stakeholders including representatives of UK and international non-governmental organisations (including those representing environmental and social issues), oil companies, biofuel producers, trade associations representing the transport fuels industry, the European Commission, European member states and the Canadian Government.
On 23 February 2012 member states voted on a European Commission proposal for the implementing measures of Article 7a of the fuel quality directive which covers default values. At the vote, a 'no opinion' result was delivered under the weighted voting procedure known as qualified majority voting. The UK Government abstained. The proposal will now proceed for consideration by the Environment Council, for which a date has not yet been set by the European Commission.
Ports
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it remains government policy that ports in England and Wales should operate on commercial lines and without public subsidy. [104505]
Mike Penning: Yes. That principle underpins the National Policy Statement for Ports, designated earlier this year, and is expressed in the Department's guidance to trust and municipal ports.
However, ports, like other businesses, can be eligible to apply for various grants from UK and other sources, which may be offered in order to deliver identified benefits. Any such grants will need to comply with the European rules on State Aids.
Public Consultation
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department accepts anonymous contributions to its consultations. [104081]
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Norman Baker: Yes, the Department will consider responses submitted anonymously, though we would prefer respondents to identify themselves. The code of practice on consultation states (at paragraph 6.1) that all consultation responses should be analysed carefully. There is no stipulation that it needs to come from a named respondent.
Some DFT consultations are published via an online consultation platform:
https://consultation.dft.gov.uk
The system enables each consultation to be handled differently. However there is no way of verifying that the name given is correct.
Railways: Driverless Trains
Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which rail franchises had fully implemented driver only operated trains before May 2010. [103687]
Mrs Villiers: Driver only operation is fully implemented on the First Capital Connect franchise.
Railways: East of England
Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what profits or losses were made by the Greater Anglia franchise in each year since 2004-05. [104466]
Norman Baker: The statutory accounts for the Greater Anglia franchise, including the profit or loss made, for each financial year since 2004-05, can be found on the Companies House website at;
www.companieshouse.gov.uk
The company number to locate this information is 04955356.
Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what proportion of their profits the Greater Anglia franchise holder has spent on improvements to infrastructure operated by them in each year since 2004-05; [104467]
(2) what proportion of UK rail infrastructure spending has been spent by the Greater Anglian franchise holder on improvements to infrastructure operated by them in each year since 2004-05. [104468]
Norman Baker: Major infrastructure investment schemes delivered on the Greater Anglia route since 2004-05, have been carried out by Network Rail. As the organisation responsible for the provision and maintenance of the rail infrastructure, Network Rail would have performed this infrastructure work in accordance with the Office of Rail Regulation's financial determination for Network Rail spending for Control Periods 3 and 4. Non infrastructure investment schemes specified through the Greater Anglia Franchise Agreement can be found on the Department's public register at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/topics/rail-passenger-franchises/public-register
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Railways: Electrification
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department has spent on electrification of railways in each (a) nation and (b) region in each of the last 10 years. [103483]
Mrs Villiers [ h olding answer 18 April 2012]:In the last 10 years, Network Rail has invested approximately £25 million on electrification of the railway between Crewe and Kidsgrove which came into use in 2003.
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the likely date for the electrification of the rail line through Oxford; and if she will make a statement. [104538]
Mrs Villiers: The start of electric train operation between London Paddington and Oxford is planned for the start of the December 2016 timetable.
Railways: North West
Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many track miles of the Northern Hub rail project her Department has committed to complete since May 2010. [103388]
Mrs Villiers: Since May 2010, the Department for Transport has committed funds to construct the Ordsall Chord which will be a new railway link approximately 0.25 miles in length. The Department has also committed funds to increase capacity on the Hope Valley Line and increase line speeds on sections of lines between Manchester and Sheffield; Manchester and Bradford; and Manchester and Preston. Network Rail will be identifying how many miles of track will be affected when detailed studies have been completed.
Rescue Services
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the (a) Holyhead and Liverpool, (b) Humber and Yarmouth and (c) Thames and Dover coastguard stations have paired with one another during rescue missions in each of the last five years. [104491]
Mike Penning: The current pairing arrangements, where two Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres are technically and operationally capable of mutual support, were introduced in 2005. The exception is Stornoway and Shetland because of technical limitations. These arrangements are so embedded in current HM Coastguard operations that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency does not record every occasion where pairing is undertaken on purely operational grounds.
Retirement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) civil servants and (b) senior civil servants have retired from her Department since May 2010; and if she will make a statement. [104144]
Norman Baker: 588 civil servants have retired from the Department for Transport, including executive agencies, since 9 May 2010, nine of whom were senior civil servants.
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Road Traffic Offences
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 17 January 2012, Official Report, column 642W, on road traffic offences, what progress the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Lewes, has made in reviewing the implementation of section 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004. [104626]
Norman Baker: I intend to provide an update on progress next month.
Roads: Finance
Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many miles of additional (a) A and (b) B roads her Department has committed to funding or assisting the funding of since May 2010; [103384]
(2) how many miles of single carriageway A roads her Department has committed to dual since May 2010. [103385]
Norman Baker: The Highways Agency is responsible for the strategic road network in England that includes motorways and some major A roads. Since May 2010, no additional miles of new road have been committed. However in October 2010 the Department announced a programme of improvement schemes planned to be started in the 2010 spending review period to March 2015. In addition the autumn statement in November 2011 announced further schemes which would be brought forward from future spending review periods into this spending review period. Included in the programme are improvements to six major A road schemes with a total combined route length of 28 miles.
Details of all schemes in the spending review programme can be found on the Highways Agency's website:
www.highways.gov.uk
The information for local major road schemes that we are committed to funding or assisting with funding is available on scheme business cases which are publically available on all relevant local authority websites. In addition further information is available setting out decisions on LA major schemes in the Department for Transport development pool which can be found on the Departments website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/local-major-transport-schemes
Finally, the Department for Transport has published tables on its website providing information on how much local transport capital funding has been allocated for Integrated Transport and Highways Maintenance Block grants over the spending review 2010 period:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/integrated-transport-block-and-highways-maintenance/
The tables provide information on what each local authority has been allocated. This funding can be used to improve local roads which could include widening or adding capacity. The Department does not hold details of how this funding is used.
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Safety Belts
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will publish the seatbelt wearing rates in the front and rear seats for each age group for the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [103759]
Mike Penning [holding answer 19 April 2012]: In the last five years the Department has published the seat belt wearing rates for front and rear seats broken down by age group, for the years 2007 to 2009. The most recent usage statistics are available from the Department for Transport and Transport for London's website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/statistics/releases/seatbelt-and-mobile-phone-use-surveys-2009-results/
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/mobile-phone-and-seat-belt-report-london-08.pdf
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/mobile-phone-and-seat-belt-usage-rates-london-2007.pdf
Speed Limits
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department's review of circular 1/06, setting local speed limits, will consider the effect of widespread 20 mph limits on cyclist safety and levels of cycling. [104483]
Norman Baker: The current circular indicates that cycling should be considered in the setting of speed limits. We are considering available evidence related to widespread 20 mph limits in the revision of the speed limit circular and the associated speed limit tool.
Tonnage Tax
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what progress has been made on resolving whether anchor-handling vessels fall within the scope of the tug paragraph in the EU state guidelines and therefore whether they must be flagged in an EU country to qualify for tonnage tax; and what recent discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on this matter; [103259]
(2) what recent progress she has made with her international counterparts on the dispute over whether anchor-handling vessels must be flagged in an EU country in order to qualify for tonnage tax. [103970]
Miss Chloe Smith: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs have written to the European Commission on the subject and a reply is expected very shortly.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will assess the effectiveness of the strategic and commercial management test in determining eligibility for the tonnage tax. [103260]
Miss Chloe Smith: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.
Companies within corporation tax, which operate qualifying ships that meet the test of being “strategically and commercially managed in the UK”, can take advantage of the special tonnage tax regime, which normally results
23 Apr 2012 : Column 592W
in them paying far less tax. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, in response to industry concerns, are currently reviewing how the test operates in practice. We are working with the shipping sector to ensure that the UK remains an attractive location for maritime investment.
Traffic Regulation Orders
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she has made an assessment of the effect on households without internet connectivity of her proposed abolition of the statutory duty to place notice of traffic regulation orders in local newspapers. [103405]
Norman Baker: No decisions on this matter have yet been taken, pending an analysis of consultation responses received.
It is the responsibility of the relevant highway authority to ensure that members of the public are aware of proposals to make temporary and permanent traffic regulation orders. Alongside the consultation, I launched draft guidance which states that:
“we consider that in most cases online publicity alone will not provide the coverage required to publicise traffic orders adequately…the authority will usually need to do something else to inform people.”
The draft guidance also lays out a range of alternative methods of communication that the authority is asked to consider when deciding how to reach their target audience. We therefore anticipate that in the majority of cases, while we would strongly recommend publication on the internet, publicity will not be done solely online.
Treasury
Balance of Trade
Anna Soubry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to decrease the trade deficit. [105052]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Government are taking a number of steps to boost the UK's exports and reduce the trade deficit. For example, five new products from UK Export Finance have recently been introduced, a number of which are designed to meet the needs of small and medium enterprise (SME) exporters. In the autumn statement the Government also announced that they would be giving more resources to UK Trade and Investment's regional network, allowing it to increase the number of SMEs it helps annually from 25,000 to 50,000 by 2015. These policies will help to meet the Government's ambition set out in Budget 2012 for UK exports to reach £1 trillion by 2020.
The latest forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility shows the trade deficit is expected to decrease in every year to 2016.
Bank Services
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an estimate of the level of penalty charges associated with over-limit fees and failed direct debits levied by banks on UK banking customers; and if he will make a statement. [104166]
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Mr Hoban: In November 2011 the Government announced a new agreement with the major personal current account providers to bring in new measures to allow customers to easily access clear and transparent information about the charges that may apply if they exceed their credit or arranged overdraft limit; and to ensure that they have a reasonable opportunity to manage their account and control whether or not they incur such charges.
Alongside this, evidence from the Office of Fair Trading shows that the average unpaid item charge has fallen from £34 in 2007 to £14 in 2011. The total revenue from unarranged item charges has also fallen by 20% from £2.5 billion in 2009 to £2 billion in 2010. The Office of Fair Trading is due to conduct a further comprehensive review of the personal current account market in 2012.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people who (a) have no bank account, (b) have no mainstream financial products and (c) are underbanked with only one or two financial products; and if he will make a statement. [104172]
Mr Hoban: The Government are committed to improving access to financial services. The following table from HM Treasury's “Statistical Release: Households without access to bank accounts 2008-09”, shows the most up-to-date figures currently available for the number of unbanked broken down by number of adults and households.
| Table 1: Unbanked (without access to transactional account) | ||||
| Households without transactional account—positively affirmed no account | Adults without access to transactional account—positively affirmed no account | |||
| Thousand | Percentage of total | Thousand | Percentage of total | |
Comparable figures are not available for either the number of individuals without any mainstream financial products or with only one or two financial products.
Child Benefit
Meg Munn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of parents who will fail to inform HM Revenue and Customs that they earn above the amount at which they are entitled to claim child benefit; and what estimate he has made of the consequent loss of revenue to the Exchequer. [102066]
Mr Gauke: The Budget 2012 costing allows for the possibility that a small number of families will not be correctly identified and this reduces the savings by £55 million, or around 2.5%, for the first full year. As with other tax liabilities, taxpayers will have an obligation to tell HMRC that they are liable to pay the charge. HMRC will closely monitor compliance with the new charge in order to respond to any non-compliance in the most appropriate and effective way.
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Caseloads and proportions are not available.
Ian Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Wrexham constituency were in receipt of child benefit in the latest period for which figures are available. [103693]
Mr Gauke: This information is published in the HMRC publication ‘Child Benefit Statistics Geographical analysis at Country, Region, Local Authority and Parliamentary Constituency levels’. Information for August 2011 can be found at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_benefit/chb-geog-aug11.pdf
Table 6 has this information by Westminster parliamentary constituency.
Mr Nuttall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals resident in Bury North constituency were in receipt of child benefit on the most recent date for which figures are available. [104334]
Mr Gauke: There are 11,640 families in Bury North constituency currently in receipt of child benefit.
This information is published in the HMRC publication ‘Child Benefit Statistics Geographical analysis at Country, Region, Local Authority and Parliamentary Constituency levels'. Information for August 2011 can be found here:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_benefit/chb-geog-aug11.pdf
Table 6 has this information by Westminster parliamentary constituency.