Total contracted hours lost to sickness among police staff in Haringey basic command unit of the Metropolitan police, 2008-09 to 2010-11 by quarter (1,2,3)
  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q2 Q4 Q2 Q4

Haringey

2,072

4,026

5,194

4,916

7,338

6,183

8,878

7,569

(1) From 2009-10 onwards, figures for the number of sickness leave among police staff in each basic command unit in the Metropolitan police is collected bi-annually instead of quarterly. (2) Data are provisional and have not been confirmed with forces. (3) Care should be taken in interpreting these figures without comparative data on the numbers of officers affected. Source: Home Office using data received from police forces via the Annual Data Requirement.

Retirement

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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. [104149]

Damian Green: Since May 2010 352 civil servants at grades AA to grade 6 and three senior civil servants have retired from the Home Office (including its Executive agencies).

Vetting

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent changes her Department has made to the criminal record checks regime. [104956]

Lynne Featherstone: Following the Government's review of the Vetting and Barring scheme in 2010, and that carried out by the Government's Independent Adviser for Criminality Information Management concerning the Criminal Records Bureau's arrangements, we are implementing a number of changes to the criminal records regime. Most of these changes are to be introduced under the Protection of Freedoms Bill, which is currently before Parliament.

The main changes provided for in this Bill are:

integration of the functions of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) to form the Disclosure and Barring Service;

scaling back the arrangements determining those who will be subject to a barring check;

provision for a criminal record certificate to be sent only to the applicant, enabling an applicant to challenge information before it is disclosed;

introduction of a provision to allow an applicant to request an independent review of whether information is relevant for disclosure;

introduction of a new updating service to enable a system of online checking, with the consent of the applicant, effectively removing the need for multiple criminal records certificate applications;

the introduction of new statutory guidance governing the disclosure of police information held locally.

Subject to Royal Assent, it is expected that these changes will be implemented between 2012 and 2014.

Communities and Local Government

Empty Property: Greater London

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent progress he has made on bringing long-term empty domestic dwellings back into use in the (a) Richmond upon Thames and (b) Kingston local authority area. [103906]

Andrew Stunell: In the first two years of the New Homes Bonus the number of empty homes in Kingston upon Thames and Richmond upon Thames fell by 496, generating a total bonus of £1.2 million.

We have also committed £150 million of direct funding to bring empty homes back into use as affordable housing. On 5 March we announced almost £70 million of funding for 95 projects will bring over 5,600 properties back into use across the country. Kingston upon Thames and Richmond upon Thames applied as part of the South West London Housing Partnership who, subject to contract, were awarded £2.7 million to bring 204 empty homes back into use.

23 Apr 2012 : Column 631W

Empty Property: Non-domestic Rates

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of empty hereditaments that were liable for non-domestic rates in each region in each of the last five years. [102294]

Robert Neill [holding answer 16 April 2012]: Details of the number of empty hereditaments that were liable to non-domestic rates in the last five years are not collected. Data are collected on (a) the number of hereditaments that are claiming empty property relief and (b) the number of hereditaments that are empty, although there are timing differences between the two data collections which mean they are not strictly comparable.

Information on the number of hereditaments, by each region in England, claiming empty property relief as at 31 December in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, the only years for which data are available, are contained in the following table. Due to variations in the criteria to qualify for empty property relief, data between years are not strictly comparable.

Number of hereditaments claiming empty properly relief as at 31 December
  2007 2008 2009 2010

North East

8,600

7,600

11,800

10,000

North West

30,300

27,600

40,300

38,400

Yorkshire and the Humber

19,200

17,100

27,000

27,800

East Midlands

15,200

12,200

19,600

18,600

West Midlands

24,300

18,200

26,400

25,000

East of England

19,700

15,000

20,600

18,400

London

33,500

20,800

35,500

34,800

South East

20,500

15,800

26,200

27,000

South West

15,100

13,600

21,500

20,700

England

186,400

147,900

228,900

220,700

The large variation in the number of hereditaments claiming empty property relief between 2007 and 2008 and between 2008 and 2009 are due to changes in the rules in respect of the level of relief granted for empty properties.

Information on the number of hereditaments, by each region in England, reported as being empty as at 31 March in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, the only years for which data are available, are contained in the following tables. Due to variations in the criteria to qualify for empty property relief, data between years are not strictly comparable.

Number of hereditaments reported as empty at 31 March
  2008 2009 2010 2011

North East

10,900

10,200

12,100

12,500

North West

38,500

39,700

48,100

46,100

Yorkshire and the Humber

21,500

25,300

28,100

29,100

East Midlands

19,800

18,900

21,800

22,400

West Midlands

31,200

31,900

34,700

34,400

East of England

22,200

21,400

22,400

24,100

London

42,600

40,100

43,500

45,700

South East

30,200

29,700

32,700

33,200

South West

19,800

19,400

24,100

21,500

England

236,700

236,600

267,500

269,000

From these figures a broad estimate of businesses paying business rates on empty properties can be inferred as follows:

23 Apr 2012 : Column 632W

  2008 2009 2010 2011

North East

2,300

2,600

300

2,500

North West

8,200

12,100

7,800

7,700

Yorkshire and the Humber

2,300

8,200

1,100

1,300

East Midlands

4,600

6,700

2,200

3,800

West Midlands

6,900

13,700

8,300

9,400

East of England

2,500

6,400

1,800

5,700

London

9,100

19,300

8,000

10,900

South East

9,700

13,900

6,500

6,200

South West

4,700

5,800

2,600

800

England

50,300

88,700

38,600

48,300

On the broader issue of empty property, I also refer the hon. Member to my written statement of 13 December 2010, Official Report, columns 61-2WS.

Fire Services

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the potential effect of reductions in spending on fire and rescue services on firefighter safety. [104311]

Robert Neill: I refer the hon. Member to my answers to him of 14 December 2010, Official Report, column 677W and 5 July 2011, Official Report, column 1152W.

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the potential effect of spending reductions in his Department on firefighter training. [104312]

Robert Neill: My Department has made no assessment. Firefighter training is a matter for fire and rescue authorities as they are the employers, and it is for them to decide appropriate spending on training provision. I also refer the hon. Member to my letter to him of 6 December 2010, a copy of which is available in Library of the House, which outlines how fire and rescue authorities can make sensible savings without impacting on the quality and breadth of services offered to their communities.

Hayes McKenzie Partnership

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the value is of any contracts (a) his Department and (b) the Planning Inspectorate has with the Hayes McKenzie Partnership; when any such contracts commenced; and when they finish. [103334]

Robert Neill: Our procurement records show that my Department and the Planning Inspectorate have no contracts with Hayes McKenzie Partnership.

High House Production Park

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure that the local community is represented on the Board of High House Production Park in Thurrock. [104112]

23 Apr 2012 : Column 633W

Robert Neill: As a registered charity, High House Production Park is now outside the public sector and therefore no longer the responsibility of the Department for Communities and Local Government. The founding board members are in the process of recruiting the remaining eight board members. In the Candidate Brief issued to interested applicants invitations are expressly invited from candidates representing local community interests.

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds on how much money was transferred to the Board of Trustees of the High House Production Park on the closure of the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation. [104113]

Robert Neill: No money was paid to the Board of Trustees of the High House Production Park by the Development Corporation on its closure. However, over the financial year to 31( )March 2012 just over £5.5 million had been paid by the Corporation to the Production Park, nearly all of which was in order to fund the Development Corporation's agreed contribution to the construction of the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills and the creation of Artist Studios on the site.

Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds on who has been appointed trustees of the High House Production Park in Thurrock; by whom they were appointed; and for how long. [104116]

Robert Neill: The Board of High House Production Park currently comprises four founding members: Lord Tony Hall, (Board Chair), Mr Paul Shadavarian QC, and Mr Will McKee, the Chair, and Mr Niall Lindsay, the Chief Executive Officer and Accounting Officer, of the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation. The appointments were made by the Development Corporation and were a prerequisite for the application to the Charities Commission to secure charitable status which was conferred on the Production Park in January 2012. Under the charity's articles, Thurrock council is also a founding member, and has the automatic ability to nominate one of their officers to join the board. The four founding members are on appointment terms that vary between one and three years. Under the charity's articles the board will eventually comprise 13 members including the existing appointees.

Housing

Mr Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many units qualifying for the new homes bonus were student accommodation in 2010-11; and what the estimated cost is over the full six-year period of the new homes bonus paid for such accommodation. [R] [104603]

Grant Shapps: New homes bonus is paid in respect of net additions to housing stock, and is calculated according to the council tax banding of new supply. The particular proposed uses for new supply are not collected, and it is not therefore possible to provide a precise figure for the number of units qualifying for new homes bonus which were student accommodation, or the associated costs.

23 Apr 2012 : Column 634W

As a guide to increasing levels of student accommodation, the number of dwellings qualifying for an exemption from council tax on the grounds of being a hall of residence provided predominantly for the accommodation of students increased by some 4,600 between September 2010 and September 2011 (DCLG Statistical Release—Local Authority Council Taxbase 2011, published November 2011).

Increases in dedicated student accommodation will have a beneficial effect on the wider housing supply, by taking pressure off private rented accommodation.

Local Government Finance

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what per capita grant from central Government funds was allocated to each local authority area in Surrey, combining the per capita grants from both local authorities in two tier local authority areas, in each of the last three years. [103428]

Robert Neill: The following tables show local authority income from government grants per head, in Surrey, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11:

Local authority income from government grants in Surrey, 2008-09
£ per head
  District Surrey county Surrey police authority Total

Elmbridge

62

780

102

945

Epsom and Ewell

81

780

102

963

Guildford

78

780

102

960

Mole Valley

66

780

102

948

Reigate and Banstead

60

780

102

943

Runnymede

77

780

102

960

Spelthorne

75

780

102

957

Surrey Heath

74

780

102

956

Tandridge

65

780

102

947

Waverley

67

780

102

949

Woking

87

780

102

969

Local authority income from government grants in Surrey, 2009-10
£ per head
  District Surrey county Surrey police authority Total

Elmbridge

61

784

104

949

Epsom and Ewell

73

784

104

961

Guildford

76

784

104

964

Mole Valley

65

784

104

953

Reigate and Banstead

61

784

104

949

Runnymede

82

784

104

970

Spelthorne

72

784

104

960

Surrey Heath

69

784

104

957

Tandridge

63

784

104

951

Waverley

60

784

104

948

Woking

90

784

104

978

23 Apr 2012 : Column 635W

Local authority income from government grants in Surrey, 2010-11
£ per head
  District Surrey county Surrey police authority Total

Elmbridge

57

805

104

966

Epsom and Ewell

66

805

104

975

Guildford

82

805

104

991

Mole Valley

55

805

104

964

Reigate and Banstead

59

805

104

968

Runnymede

75

805

104

984

Spelthorne

69

805

104

978

Surrey Heath

71

805

104

980

Tandridge

60

805

104

969

Waverley

60

805

104

969

Woking

85

805

104

994

Source: Department for Communities and Local Government revenue outturn (RO) returns

Each local authority receives funding from government grants directly to that authority, but also receives funding received through Surrey county and Surrey police authority.

The definition of central Government grant used here is the sum of formula grant (revenue support grant and redistributed non-domestic rates), specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance (ie revenue grants paid for council's core services), Area Based Grant, and Police Grant.

These figures do not reflect the income from council tax, nor do they illustrate the revenue spending power of local authorities.

Local Government Finance: Disclosure of Information

Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to improve the accessibility, timeliness and presentation of local authority budget data. [103814]

Robert Neill: It is primarily for local authorities themselves to ensure citizens and others can access their budget and spend data. In support of this, we have issued the Code of Recommended Practice for local authorities on data transparency. The code enshrines three principles of transparency—demand-led, open and timely—while setting out the minimum data and information authorities should publish, including all expenditure of £500 and over. As part of the open and timely principles it recommends authorities should publish in machine-readable formats and where practical seek to publish in real time.

Every principal local authority in England—apart from Nottingham city council—have opened their books, and are publishing spend over £500.

The Government recently consulted on allowing local authorities to provide information they are currently required to supply alongside council tax bills in an electronic format. A summary of the response report is expected to be published on the Department's website in due course.

Local Government: Fees and Charges

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much income each local authority in England raised from fees and

23 Apr 2012 : Column 636W

charges in each year since 2009-10; and what estimate he has made of the amount each will receive from these sources in each of the next two financial years. [102547]

Robert Neill [holding answer 16 April 2012]: I have today placed in the Library of the House a table showing income from sales, fees and charges in 2009-10 and 2010-11, for each local authority in England.

Estimates of sales, fees and charges in the next two financial years are not yet available.

The figures show that income from sales, fees and charges across England fell from £12.9 billion in 2009-10 to £12.6 billion in 2010-11. To place this in context, charging rose from £9.0 billion in 2001-02 to £12.9 billion in 2009-10.

In relation to future estimates, as I indicated in my answer of 7 December 2011, Official Report, column 342W, Ministers have been quite clear that we view increasing charges on local residents as an inappropriate way of making sensible savings. Instead, councils should be saving money through better procurement, cutting fraud, more joint working and using transparency to drive out waste.

This stance on charging is different from the last Administration, when DCLG Ministers actively encouraged councils to increase charges. Reflecting this new position, we have repealed Whitehall planning guidance issued by the last Administration that cajoled councils into pushing up parking charges. The Localism Act 2011 has also repealed provisions allowing the imposition of new charges for the collection of household bins.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what service standards apply to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service; and what estimate has been made of the cost of meeting them; [104365]

(2) what assessment he has made of the effects on the level of service provided by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service of changes to its funding; [104366]

(3) what representations he has received on potential risks associated with the change in funding provided to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service in recent settlements from his Department. [104367]

Robert Neill: Fire and rescue authorities are required to meet their responsibilities as set out in the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004. It is for each fire and rescue authority to set service standards for their fire and rescue service through an Integrated Risk Management Plan subject to consultation with the local community.

Ministers and officials have met Members of Parliament, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities including Fire Authority Members and officers of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority to discuss a wide range of matters.

I also refer the hon. Member to my letter of 6 December 2010 to the hon. Member for Derby North (Chris Williamson), a copy of which is available in the Library of the House, which outlines how fire and rescue authorities can make sensible savings without impacting on the quality and breadth of services offered to their communities.

23 Apr 2012 : Column 637W

Non-domestic Rates

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the localisation of business rates on discretionary rate relief for charities; and if he will make a statement. [104759]

Robert Neill: The Government's response to the consultation on business rates retention, published on 19 December, made clear that there will be no changes to the current system of reliefs, or to the criteria that determine eligibility.

The Government's response is available on the DCLG website and can be viewed at:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/resourcereviewgovtresponse

Planning Inspectorate: Noise

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the names are of the companies and individuals who advise the Planning Inspectorate on noise. [103335]

Robert Neill: The Planning Inspectorate does not use paid external companies or individuals to advise them on noise. It is up to the parties to an appeal to provide evidence on each case and for the inspector to reach a decision based on the evidence presented in that case. The Planning Inspectorate operates to a statutory process agreed by Parliament.

Public Houses

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department is taking steps to monitor the account taken of representations from a local community to operate a public house under the provisions of the Localism Act 2011 by the Planning Inspectorate when considering a planning appeal from a property developer. [104661]

Robert Neill: The Government have no plans to monitor such representations.

Rather than setting up a separate monitoring process, planning legislation already requires decision makers to have due regard to representations made on a development proposal.

Through the Government's planning reforms, local communities now have the opportunity to identify buildings and areas that they value in their own neighbourhood plans. These plans form part of the statutory framework which the Planning Inspectorate must have regard to when considering planning appeals.

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many applications to save public houses from development have been made by local residents under the provisions of the Localism Act 2011. [104662]

Robert Neill: The Community Right to Bid provisions in the Localism Act 2011 will give local voluntary and community groups and parish councils the chance to

23 Apr 2012 : Column 638W

nominate land or buildings, including community pubs, to be listed as “assets of community value”. The regulations bringing these provisions into force have not yet been laid in Parliament and, consequently, no nominations have yet been made.

Once the scheme has come into effect, if an asset has been listed then, when the owner decides to put the asset up for sale, a local community group can trigger a six month moratorium during which time the owner cannot enter into a relevant disposal of the asset. This will allow community groups more time to put together a business plan and raise the capital to bid to take over the asset.

Retirement

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 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. [104156]

Robert Neill: A total of 138 staff have retired since May 2010, of which 128 were civil servants, and 10 were senior civil servants.

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff of his Department 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. [104548]

Robert Neill: A total of 144 staff retired in the 2010-11 year, of which 97 were early retirements. A total of 10 staff retired in the 2011-12 year, of which seven were early retirements.

As part of the spending review settlement, the DCLG Group is making a collective 33% real terms saving against its running costs by 2014-15. This equates to savings of over £200 million by 2014-15. In addition, the Department will save a further £190 million from the closure of the Government offices for the regions, taking overall savings on administrative running costs to 42% across the DCLG Group by 2014-15.

These savings reflect the coalition Government's agenda of decentralisation, ending the micromanagement of local government, the abolition of regional government, and the broader need to tackle the deficit left by the last Administration.

Social Rented Housing

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department plans to seek the view of the housing and investment market when consulting about the future funding of social housing through the Real Estate Investment Trust. [104769]

Grant Shapps: The Department for Communities and Local Government and Her Majesty's Treasury have jointly launched a public consultation on the potential for Real Estate Investment Trusts to support investment in the social housing sector.

23 Apr 2012 : Column 639W

The consultation was launched on 4 April 2012 will close on 27 June 2012. The consultation paper can be accessed at:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/consultreit

We would welcome responses from all interested parties, including those from the housing and investment sectors.

Wales

Expenditure: Alcoholic Drinks

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the total spending on wine and other alcoholic beverages was by her Department in the last six months. [103130]

Mr David Jones: £212.12.

Civil Servants: Code of Practice

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 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. [103149]

Mr David Jones: None.

E-mail

Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what her policy is on the period for which e-mails sent and received by (a) Ministers, (b) officials, and (c) special advisers in her Department are retained; and whether such e-mails are recoverable from the IT systems in her Department after that period. [102952]

Mr David Jones: The retention period relating to e-mails sent or received by anyone in the Wales Office, including Ministers, officials, and special advisers, would be dependent upon the nature of any individual e-mail.

E-mails held in individuals' accounts do not necessarily form part of the Department's record keeping in their own right. However, e-mails which are significant enough to form part of the information to be held within an electronic or paper file, for example as part of a policy-making process, are subject to the Department's Record Retention and Disposition Schedules, and would be retained for the length of time the file is retained.

The Public Records Act 1958 [PRA] requires Government Departments to destroy any of their records which are not selected for permanent preservation. The Act does not specify when such destruction must take place but MOJ has Record Retention and Disposition Schedules (RRDS) setting out how long to retain each type of record. The length of time for which any record is held by the Wales Office is determined by two criteria: the business need of the area holding the record; and any legislative requirements.

The Wales Office is provided with its IT and e-mail services by the Ministry of Justice. E-mails which are not transferred to corporate files are automatically deleted after a period of three years. If deleted before that by the user, e-mails are still stored elsewhere for a period of 30 days before being deleted from the system entirely. After that any retrieval would be dependent on the type of backup which is performed.

23 Apr 2012 : Column 640W

Ministerial Travel

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many journeys (a) Ministers and (b) officials from her Department made by (i) train, (ii) coach and (iii) Government car in an official capacity in each of the last six months. [103629]

Mr David Jones: The Wales Office has offices in both London and Cardiff which requires travel between both locations.

The information requested is as follows:

  Ministers Officials

Train

69

395

Coach

0

0

Government car

(1)4

0

(1 )Ministers in the Wales Office have an allocated Government car from Monday to Thursday inclusive. In addition to this, a Government car has been used on four occasions.

Vodafone Group

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many contracts Vodafone has been awarded by her Department in the last 12 months; [103219]

(2) what contracts her Department has with Vodafone. [103220]

Mr David Jones: None.

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many times the Permanent Secretary in her Department has met Vodafone representatives in the last 12 months. [103221]

Mr David Jones: The Head of the Wales Office is a Director, not a Permanent Secretary. She has had no contact with Vodafone in the last 12 months.

Education

Adult Education: Hearing Impairment

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assistance is available to parents and guardians of deaf children to undertake adult education courses in sign language and other skills related to the care of their child. [103444]

Sarah Teather: It is for local authorities to decide what support they will make available for parents or guardians of deaf children who wish to study sign language. This could include support for the costs associated with further education courses or direct support to the family through the local hearing impairment service.

Some families may also be able to claim disability living allowance, carer’s allowance or other state benefits to help with the care of their child.

The Department for Education funded the I-Sign project between 2009 and 2011. As part of this project the National Deaf Children's Society developed an online family sign language curriculum that is specifically intended to support families to communicate using British Sign Language:

www.familysignlanguage.org.uk

23 Apr 2012 : Column 641W

Families

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department encourages organisations in receipt of departmental funding for work with families to discuss the process, function and significance of registration with both new and prospective parents. [104689]

Sarah Teather: The Department for Education funds a wide range of family support services, including a number of organisations which are working to promote both mothers and fathers being involved in their children's lives, including Families Need Fathers and the Centre for Separated Families.

The recent Family Justice Review recommended that

“Government should find means of strengthening the importance of a good understanding of parental responsibility in information it gives to parents”.

The Government have accepted this recommendation and, as part of this work, will be considering the importance of information around birth registration, since birth registration is the simplest way for unmarried fathers to acquire parental responsibility.

Official Secrets Act

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether any person employed by (a) his Department, (b) the agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible and (c) any private firms contracted by his Department is bound by any part of the Official Secrets Act. [104840]

Tim Loughton: All civil servants employed by the Department and its Executive agencies are bound by the Official Secrets Act. Employees of non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are not covered by the Official Secrets Act but would be covered by a code of conduct applicable to their organisation.

Private firms contacted by the Department are not bound by the Official Secret Act but are under contractual obligations to ensure the security of confidential information. The extent of those obligations depends on the sensitivity of the information.

Pre-school Education: Redditch

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many families in Redditch constituency will receive free early education for the poorest two-year-olds in each year of the spending review period. [103392]

Sarah Teather: The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the right hon. Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), announced in the autumn statement on 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, that the early education entitlement for two-year-olds will be expanded to around 260,000 children. The Government intend to take a phased approach to the implementation of the new entitlement. The 20% most disadvantaged two-year-olds will be eligible from September 2013. From 2014, the entitlement will be extended to around 40% of two-year-olds.

23 Apr 2012 : Column 642W

We estimate that around 1,100 two-year-olds in Worcestershire, and 200 in the area covered by Redditch borough council, are likely to be eligible for the entitlement in 2013. We are considering eligibility criteria for the second phase, and will consult in due course.

Public Consultation

Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 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. [104049]

Tim Loughton: No departmental consultations have been externally verified since 2007.

Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department collects the IP addresses of online respondents to its consultations. [104050]

Tim Loughton: The Department does not collect the IP addresses of consultation respondents.

Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department accepts anonymous contributions to its consultations. [104051]

Tim Loughton: The Department does accept anonymous contributions to its consultations.

Retirement

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) 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; [104157]

(2) how many staff of his Department 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. [104545]

Tim Loughton: The figures requested are as follows:

Department for Education staff age retirements, May 2010 to March 2012
  Civil servants Senior civil servants

May 2010 to March 2011

4

0

April 2011 to March 2012

8

0

Total

12

0

Under the terms of the CS Compensation Scheme there are no early retirements; all staff irrespective of age receive a compensation severance payment.

Schools: Surrey

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) which schools in Woking constituency have received funding from the pupil premium; [103416]

(2) how many pupils have attracted payment of the pupil premium in (a) Woking constituency and (b) Surrey. [103417]

23 Apr 2012 : Column 643W

Sarah Teather: The pupil premium was introduced in April 2011 and allocations have so far been made for the 2011-12 financial year only. For 2011-12 the pupil premium funding is £488 per pupil in respect of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM), and for children in care who have been continuously looked after for at least six months and £200 per pupil for those whose parents are serving in the armed forces.

In 2011-12 the total pupil premium allocation for schools in Woking was £596,000, in respect of 1,370 eligible pupils. This includes pupils 1,120 eligible for the deprivation premium, and 249 pupils eligible for the service premium.

23 Apr 2012 : Column 644W

In 2011-12 the total pupil premium allocation for Surrey local authority was £5,944,000, in respect of 12,740 eligible pupils. This includes pupils 11,371 eligible for the deprivation premium, 422 eligible for the looked after premium and 945 eligible for the service premium.

The allocation for each school in the Woking constituency for 2011-12 is shown in the following table. It is not possible to present at school level eligible looked-after children, service children and FSM pupils recorded on the Alternative Provision census. This is because of the way we collect data for these pupils and for data protection reasons.

Woking
        Deprivation pupil premium (2)
URN LA E stab School name Number on roll (1) Number of pupils eligible for the deprivation pupil premium Allocation for the deprivation pupil premium 2011/12 (3 ) (£)

135894

1128

North West Secondary Short Stay School

*

*

*

124935

2004

Wyke Primary School

193

20

9,760

124998

2270

Brookwood Primary School

182

22

10,736

124999

2271

Byfleet Primary School

204

28

13,664

125000

2274

Knaphill School

325

15

7,320

125001

2275

Maybury Infant School

99.6

13

6,344

125002

2278

St John's Primary School

192

46

22,448

125003

2279

West Byfleet Infant School

179

8

3,904

125022

2341

The Hermitage Junior School

348

29

14,152

125032

2373

The Oaktree School

268.6

20.6

10,053

125040

2391

Pirbright Village Primary School

414

19

9,272

125047

2406

The Knaphill Lower School

270

9

4,392

125080

2489

Horsell Village School

267

13

6,344

125081

2491

West Byfleet Junior School

240

12

5,856

125082

2492

New Monument School

202

41

20,008

125084

2496

Sythwood Primary School

395

78

38,064

125105

2926

Broadmere Community Primary School

197

65

31,720

125112

2933

Kingfield School

110

28

13,664

125117

2941

Westfield Primary School

220

57

27,816

125118

2942

Beaufort Community Primary School

246

38

18,544

125119

2943

Goldsworth Primary School

420

17

8,296

125150

3042

St Mary's CofE Controlled Primary School, Byfleet

343.7

37

18,056

125201

3416

Horsell CofE Aided Junior School

357

19

9,272

125213

3458

The Marist Catholic Primary School

310

16

7,808

125226

3488

St Hugh of Lincoln Catholic Primary School

211

6

2,928

125238

3920

St Dunstan's Catholics Primary School, Woking

420

18

8,784

131906

3934

Pyrford Church of England Aided Primary School

418

28

13,664

135382

3942

Barnsbury Primary School

364

51

24,888

125266

4457

The Bishop David Brown School

531

94

45,872

125270

4462

Woking High School

1,198

95

46,360

125302

5402

St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking

986

46

22,448

125314

5414

The Winston Churchill School A Specialist Sports College

1,531

91

44,408

125461

7023

The Park School

*

*

*

23 Apr 2012 : Column 645W

23 Apr 2012 : Column 646W

125477

7062

Freemantles School

*

*

*

x = Less than 5 pupils or a percentage based on less than 5 pupils or an allocation amount based on less than 5 pupils. * = Allocations for these schools are not included as they are either a maintained special school or PRU. The premium for these establishments is held with the local authority (please see the conditions of grant). (1) Full-time equivalent (FTE) pupils in year groups R-11 (where national curriculum year groups do not apply pupils aged 4 to 15). For all those aged 5 and over includes sole or dual main registrations only. In Pupil Referral Units, FTE pupils aged 4 (all registration types) and headcount of pupils aged 5 to 15 (sole or dual main registrations as well as pupils who are registered with other providers and further education colleges). (2) Full-time equivalent (FTE) number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals in year groups R-11, (where national curriculum year groups do not apply pupils aged 4 to 15). For all those aged 5 and over includes sole or dual main registrations only. In Pupil Referral Units, FTE pupils aged 4 (all registration types) and headcount of pupils aged 5-15 (sole or dual main registrations as well as pupils who are registered with other providers and further education colleges) known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals. 3 Each FSM eligible pupil will attract £488 through the pupil premium. For pupils in maintained primary and secondary schools funding will be passed to schools via the local authorities. Academies will receive funding from the YPLA. For pupils in maintained special schools and PRU's funding will be allocated to local authorities to decide whether to pass on funding to the education setting or lo hold back funding to manage centrally for the benefit of those pupils it has responsibility for. Notes: 1. Includes middle schools as deemed. 2. Includes primary academies. 3. Includes city technology colleges and secondary academies. 4. Includes maintained special schools, excludes general hospital schools and non-maintained special schools. 5. The number of eligible looked-after children and FSM pupils recorded on the Alternative Provision census are not included in school level tables (although are eligible for the pupil premium) as they are taken from local authority returns. 6. The number of service children are not provided at school level due to data protection issues.

Third Sector

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 26 October 2011, Official Report, column 228W, on the third sector, how much direct funding his Department provided to each civil society organisation it funded in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; how much it plans to provide in 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [104378]

Tim Loughton: Civil society organisations play, and will continue to play, a significant role in developing and delivering services for children, young people and families. The sector received money from DFE through a number of routes, including funding through arms length bodies, through the money we gave to local authorities and from services commissioned from schools.

Information about DFE's direct spend with civil society organisations, for the financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12 has been placed in the House Libraries.

We do not have comprehensive information on funding to organisations in financial year 2012-13 as in many areas decisions have yet to be taken. We have made grants through our VCS Prospectus (announced on 25 February 2011) and indicative figures for each funded organisation for 2012-13 can be found in the press notice on the DFE website:

http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews/a0074906/voluntary-and-community-organisations-awarded-60-million-grant

Vacancies

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 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. [104546]

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education and its predecessors had advertised vacancies as follows:

As at 31 March each year Advertised vacancies below senior civil service

2010

21.5

2011

20

2012

4

SCS vacancies are not managed centrally and managed moves are quite often used to meet the business needs of the Department. No central record is held on the number of SCS vacancies advertised.

Vocational Guidance

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2012, Official Report, column 6, on NEETs, what the evidential basis is of his estimate that 700,000 plus people will benefit from face-to-face careers guidance; what the nature and frequency of such advice will be; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such advice. [104771]

Tim Loughton: The 700,000 figure relates to the number of face-to-face advice sessions that the National Careers Service is able to give to adults aged 19 and over each year. This is set out in “The Right Advice at the Right Time”, a policy document produced by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, summarising all that Government and its partners are doing to ensure young people and adults get the advice they need on education, training and work. The document can be accessed at:

http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/further-education-skills/national-careers-service-for-england

Recognising that teachers are best placed to know what support their pupils need, we are giving schools responsibility for securing access to independent and impartial careers guidance. The Department for Education recently published statutory guidance to support schools in planning for the introduction of this new duty from September. This includes a clear expectation that schools should secure access to independent face-to-face careers guidance where it is the most suitable support for young

23 Apr 2012 : Column 647W

people to make successful transitions, particularly children from disadvantaged backgrounds or those who have special educational needs, learning difficulties or disabilities.

Young People: West Midlands

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training in (a) Redditch constituency and (b) the west midlands. [103391]

Tim Loughton: ‘Building Engagement, Building Futures’ sets out the Government's strategy to increase participation in education or training and address the challenge of young people who are NEET. This includes radical reforms to education and vocational training; for raising the compulsory education and training age to 18 by 2015; for supporting the most vulnerable through the Youth Contract; and financial support for young people who need help with the costs of continuing their education and training.

While the Department is providing the framework and funding to increase participation, responsibility and accountability lies with local authorities. They know the needs of young people in their area and are responsible for making sure that there is sufficient, suitable education and training provision to meet those needs, and to support young people to participate. The Department is providing a record £7.5 billion to make available sufficient education and training places for every 16 to 18-year-old who wants one, while support for those NEET is funded from within the £2.3 billion being provided through the Early Intervention Grant.

In addition, £126 million is being invested over the next three years to provide a new programme of support for disengaged 16 to 17-year-olds. Public, private and voluntary organisations have been invited to bid for funding on a regional basis, working closely with the local authorities to identify the needs of young people in the local area.

The following table sets out the funding allocations made available to Worcestershire and the west midlands.

£ million
  Worcestershire West midlands

16-19 education and training (2011-12 academic year)

60.3

663.2

Early Intervention Grant (2012-13 financial year)

20.5

263.3

Intensive support for 16 to 17-year-olds (over three years)

(1)

14.5

(1) Pending outcome of bidding process

The information above is not available at constituency level.

Youth Clubs: Closures

Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many youth centres have closed since May 2010; [103369]

(2) what information his Department holds on the funding given by businesses to youth projects in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12. [103370]

23 Apr 2012 : Column 648W

Tim Loughton: Information on the number of youth centres that are open or how much private funding they secure is not collected by the Department. Local authorities are accountable to their councillors and to local people for how they prioritise and allocate their available resources.

The Government have, however, secured £141 million over 2011-13 to complete a network of 63 high quality Myplace youth centres in disadvantaged areas across the country. These will be hubs for a wide range of services, transforming the local offer for young people and in many cases hosting National Citizen Service teams.

The Government are also putting in place new support to scale up and improve business support for the youth sector; a grant of £320,000 to April 2013 has been awarded to a consortium led by Business in the Community which began work in January 2012.

Youth Services: Sponsorship

Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the potential effects of limiting tax relief on charitable giving on his plans for business sponsorship of youth services. [103371]

Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.

At Budget 2012 the Government announced they would introduce a cap on unlimited income tax reliefs to ensure that those on higher incomes cannot use them excessively.

The Government will explore with philanthropists ways to ensure that this new limit on uncapped reliefs will not impact significantly on charities that depend on large donations to carry out their charitable activities.

A consultation document on the detail of the policy, including the implications for philanthropic giving, will be published in the summer.

Work and Pensions

Single-tier State Pension

6. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to bring forward his proposals for a single-tier state pension. [104206]

Steve Webb: As announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the right hon. Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), in his Budget, I can confirm that we will bring forward further detail on the single tier state pension in a White Paper later in the spring, with final decisions on the detailed implementation of the policy being taken at the next spending review.

Annuities

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he (a) has commissioned and (b) plans to commission any research into the operation of the annuity purchase process and the payment of fees with or without the prospective annuitant's permission. [103294]

23 Apr 2012 : Column 649W

Mr Hoban: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.

The Government (Department of Work and Pensions) have previously conducted qualitative research in 2007-08 into information needs at retirement (Department for Work and Pensions, Research Report No 515). This focused on annuitisation decisions and the wide range of attitudes and behaviours among annuitants. The Government used this and broader surveys and research from other external organisations about the annuity purchasing processes to inform its work on the operation of the open market option.

Child: Maintenance

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many cases with outstanding child maintenance arrears has the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission taken a decision not to pursue collection of child maintenance arrears. [102646]

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.

Letter from Noel Shanahan:

In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.

You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in how many cases with outstanding child maintenance arrears has the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission taken a decision not to pursue collection of child maintenance arrears. [102646]

The discretion not to pursue a sum of arrears of child maintenance is contained in Section 29 of the Child Support Act 1991. This discretion is exercised in respect of arrears that it is decided will never be collected. This is only in exceptional cases where very particular sets of circumstances, which mean this is the most appropriate course of action available, apply. No precise figures are available for the number of instances where the power has been applied in this way.

The power is also exercised on a temporary basis in a much larger number of cases where circumstances mean that collection is not appropriate at a particular juncture. Whenever a decision is made not to collect, either on a temporary or permanent basis, the debt concerned is put into the category ‘suspended’ on our computer system. The number of suspended cases is not routinely collected and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will establish a residuary body to manage old child support debt with powers to negotiate or factor debts to optimise returns as recommended by Sir David Henshaw in 2006. [102653]

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.

23 Apr 2012 : Column 650W

Letter from Noel Shanahan:

In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.

You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will establish a residuary body to manage old child support debt with powers to negotiate or factor debts to optimise returns as recommended by Sir David Henshaw in 2006. [102653]

If clients, having had their current statutory scheme case closed, and being unable to make a family-based arrangement, choose to open a future scheme case, any arrears will be jointly managed and collected alongside their on-going new scheme maintenance liability.

There are no plans to divide responsibility between organisations for the delivery of the collection of these arrears.

We are seeking to ensure that as large a proportion of the arrears as possible as collected while clients are on the current schemes, through improving the effectiveness of our collection and enforcement activity. We are also seeking to ensure that where arrears are transferred to the new scheme, these arrears are genuinely owed by the non-resident parent and are wanted by the parent with care.

Consultants

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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 his Department. [104022]

Chris Grayling: PricewaterhouseCoopers and CAP-Gemini were involved in the initial set up and scoping activity for the Shared Services Project, and since the initial set up, the operation has been run by internal civil servants.

Disability Living Allowance

Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have had an award of disability living allowance which was determined by an appeal tribunal subsequently withdrawn by the Department; and for what reasons any such withdrawals were made. [103949]

Maria Miller: The Department does not hold statistics on how many people have had an award of disability living allowance which was determined by an appeal tribunal and subsequently withdrawn.

A decision of a first-tier tribunal cannot simply be withdrawn by the Department. Where the Secretary of State believes a first-tier tribunal's decision to be wrong in law, he can apply for leave to appeal to the Upper Tribunal.

If the Department does not challenge the decision through the Upper Tribunal an award may change where there has been a relevant change of circumstances since the tribunal's decision had effect. This commonly happens where there has been a deterioration and the customer is entitled to more benefit, but, of course, a customer's condition may improve such that he is no longer entitled to DLA or the level of DLA awarded by the tribunal. The benefit is not being withdrawn but adjusted in response to changed circumstances.

23 Apr 2012 : Column 651W

Disability: Abuse

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with disability organisations on recent trends in the levels of abuse and harassment of disabled people. [102357]

Maria Miller: I have met a range of organisations, including ACPO as well as ministerial colleagues on the matter of disability hate crime.

We know from research that disability hate crime is hugely under-reported. Figures published by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in 2010 show that 1,569 disability hate crimes were recorded. This is an increase of 21% compared to reports made in 2009. This is a positive step as it suggests that more people are coming forward to report incidents. We know that there is still more to do, as some disabled people's organisations tell us that half of all disabled people have experienced hate crime at some point in their lives.

We are working hard with voluntary sector partners, including disabled people's organisations, to encourage more victims to come forward and report disability hate crime. We have developed and published with Disability Rights UK ‘The Let’s Stop Disability Hate Crime’ Guidance which will enable disabled people to recognise hate crime and report it. I have also visited Blackpool Centre for Independent Living's Disability First project and saw first-hand how partnership working can successfully tackle disability hate crime.

It is important that we work with disabled people and the wider community to change negative attitudes and behaviours towards them. That is why changing attitudes and behaviours was one of the key areas we asked about as part of the ‘Fulfilling Potential’ consultation on developing a new cross-government disability strategy. We have received over 500 responses from disabled people and their organisations and we will be using their practical ideas on changing attitudes and combating hate crime to formulate the strategy which will be published later this spring.

Employment

Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to encourage people into work. [104208]

Chris Grayling: The Department is aware of the challenges facing jobseekers in the labour market and has put in place a substantial menu of support to help them move into work.

Jobcentre Plus currently offers claimants a comprehensive menu of help including skills provision and job search support. This is bolstered by a number of Get Britain Working measures including: work experience placements, Work Clubs and support for those looking to start their own business known as the new enterprise allowance.

The Work programme provides tailored support to those claimants furthest from the labour market. Claimants with more challenging barriers to work can be referred early. Providers are paid on the results they achieve, and are paid more for supporting the hardest to help into sustained work.

23 Apr 2012 : Column 652W

The Youth Contract, launched on 2 April, will provide nearly half a million new opportunities for young people including: wage incentives for employers taking on a claimant from the Work programme; incentives to take on apprentices; and extra work experience placements. Extra funding is being made available to support the most vulnerable 16 and 17-year-olds not in education, employment or training, into learning, an apprenticeship or a job with training.

Employment and Support Allowance

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff of his Department are tasked with work on the employment and support allowance; and how many of these have been in post for less than six months. [103579]

Chris Grayling: The average number of full-time equivalent staff tasked with working on the employment and support allowance (ESA) from April 2011 to February 2012 was 5,577.

Unfortunately we are unable to determine how many of these staff have been in post for less than six months, as we do not capture this information in relation to ESA activities.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his Department expects to have data on the number of (a) appeals and (b) successful appeals against employment and support allowance fit for work and work-related activity group decisions. [104304]

Chris Grayling: The Department regularly publishes official statistics on employment and support allowance (ESA) and the work capability assessment (WCA). The latest publication was released in January 2012 and can be found on the departmental website here:

http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php? page=esa_wca

The next provisional release date is 24 April 2012.

Table 3 of the publication mentioned above covers the number and outcomes of appeals heard on fit for work decisions in the initial functional assessment. Information on appeals heard on work-related activity group decisions is not available. Note that information of the number of claimants found fit for work who have lodged an appeal that has not yet been heard is not available.

Employment Schemes: Offenders

Steve Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to increase employment opportunities for released prisoners; and if he will make a statement. [104200]

Chris Grayling: The Government have undertaken a major overhaul of the employment support individuals receive when they leave prison.

23 Apr 2012 : Column 653W

As of March this year, all prison leavers making a claim to jobseeker's allowance will immediately get access to specialist support from the Work programme on their release from custody to help them into employment as soon as possible.

Foreign Workers

Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of jobs which will be created overseas by companies contracted to deliver the universal credit IT system; how much funding from the public purse will be allocated to support these jobs; and if he will make a statement. [103426]

Chris Grayling: No existing British jobs are being sent overseas by the Department for Work and Pensions and no personal data are held or can be accessed outside the UK.

Ministers have already intervened to stop Government-controlled jobs being sent abroad and are determined to continue encouraging companies to invest in the UK to create jobs.

The Department holds contracts with a number of global IT suppliers. Many subcontractors started using overseas staff under the previous Government. We are currently examining how jobs previously off-shored could be moved back to the UK in future.

Work undertaken abroad involves the development of IT systems only. Those service providers with off-shore sites are security checked and certificated to a high level. UK-based teams rigorously inspect and test IT developed offshore.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress he has made in reducing the level of offshoring of jobs from his Department. [104670]

Chris Grayling: All proposals to carry out work internationally submitted to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) by its suppliers are required to demonstrate compliance with a number of key criteria, before they are formally considered for approval by the Department. These criteria include evidence that the proposal is financially beneficial to the taxpayer and that it meets stringent security standards. In assessing financial benefit to the taxpayer, the Department considers the impact on UK jobs.

Since May 2010, the Department has only accepted proposals from its suppliers to carry out work internationally that meet these criteria, it has not accepted any proposals that would result in the loss of existing jobs within the UK.

Housing Benefit

Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proposals the Government is considering on the use of housing benefit to help contribute towards the rental costs of those living in supported housing within the social and voluntary sectors; and if he will make a statement. [104129]

23 Apr 2012 : Column 654W

Steve Webb: We are grateful to all those who took time to provide nearly 450 responses to last year's consultation, many of which were comprehensive and detailed. These are informing our considerations as we look to take these reforms forward.

The housing benefit rules already recognise the extra costs of providing supported housing. As we said in the consultation paper, these reforms are not a cost cutting exercise but look to target help better at where it is needed most.

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the grouping of distinct areas for the calculation of the local housing allowance. [104916]

Steve Webb: Local housing allowance rates are set within Broad Rental Market Areas (BRMA) which are determined by the Rent Officers. They are intended to reflect claimants' household composition and the areas in which they live and access services such as health, education, recreation, banking, shopping and transport.

Rent Officers collect evidence on rents in these areas and then set rates at the 30(th) percentile for properties up to a maximum of four bedrooms. This means that around a third of the rental properties in the BRMA would normally be available to housing benefit claimants except in the areas where the local housing allowance rates have been capped.

A BRMA must contain residential premises of a variety of types, to ensure that, the local housing allowance rates for the area are representative of the rents that a landlord might reasonably be expected to obtain in that area.

LHA rates are published on the directgov website:

https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx

so that claimants are made aware of the appropriate rates for their area in advance.

Jobcentre Plus

Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what long term plans he has for the role of Jobcentre Plus (a) alongside Work programme providers and (b) in provision of support for the unemployed. [103292]

Chris Grayling: The information is as follows:

(a) There are currently no plans to change the role of Jobcentre Plus in regards to contracted out provision.

(b) Jobcentre Plus currently offers claimants a comprehensive menu of help including skills provision and job search support. This is bolstered by a number of Get Britain Working measures, also delivered by Jobcentre Plus, including: work experience placements; apprenticeships, and support for those looking to start their own business known as the new enterprise allowance. There are currently no plans to change this.

Motability

Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Motability has advised him of how many Motability adapted cars have been repossessed while people are awaiting the outcome of their disability living allowance appeal. [103950]

23 Apr 2012 : Column 655W

Maria Miller: Motability has not advised the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), how many Motability-adapted cars have been repossessed while people are awaiting the outcome of their disability living allowance appeal.

This information is not held by the Government as Motability is an independent charitable organisation, wholly responsible for the administration of the Motability scheme. Questions relating to scheme policy on withdrawal of vehicles should be directed to Motability and can be sent to: Declan O'Mahony, Director, Motability, Warwick house, Roydon road, Harlow, Essex CM19 5PX.

Pay

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department places restrictions on executive salaries in companies undertaking contracts with the Department. [103736]

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions does not place any restrictions on executive salaries on any supplier to the Department. Beyond any statutory requirements relating to employee pay it is matter for individual businesses to determine such remuneration issues.

Personal Income

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of individuals in households with net equivalised incomes below 50% of average where at least one person in the family was in employment (a) before and (b) after housing costs in each of the last 30 years. [104770]

Chris Grayling: The following table shows the number of individuals living in households with less than 50% of contemporary median equivalised household income, before housing costs (BHC) and after housing costs (AHC), where at least one person is working, 1996-97 to 2009-10. Data are not available on a consistent basis before 1996-97.

Million (individuals)
  BHC AHC

1996-97

2.0

3.3

1997-98

2.3

3.6

1998-99

2.2

3.5

1999-2000

2.3

3.5

2000-01

2.2

3.5

2001-02

2.2

3.3

2002-03

2.3

3.4

2003-04

2.3

3.5

2004-05

2.3

3.5

2005-06

2.5

4.0

2006-07

2.5

4.0

2007-08

2.7

4.3

2008-09

2.8

4.6

23 Apr 2012 : Column 656W

2009-10

2.5

4.3

Notes: 1. Estimates of the number of individuals living in households with incomes below various income thresholds are published in Households Below Average Income Series (HBAI, 2009-10). This uses household income adjusted (or 'equivalised') for household size using various thresholds of low income poverty. This analysis looks at individuals in households using a threshold of the 50% of contemporary median equivalised disposable household income. 2. Net disposable incomes have been used to answer the question. This includes earnings from employment and self-employment, state support, income from occupational and private pensions, investment income and other sources. Income tax payments, national insurance contributions, council tax/domestic rates and some other payments are deducted from incomes. 3. Figures have been presented on a before housing cost and an after housing cost basis. For before housing costs, housing costs are not deducted from income, while for after housing costs they are. 4. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 5. Comparisons of household income and expenditure suggest that those households reporting the lowest incomes may not have the lowest living standards. For this reason, compositional and percentage tables using the 50% of median thresholds are italicised in the HBAI publication to highlight the greater uncertainty. The more standard measure of relative poverty is the 60% of median threshold. 7. The reference period for HBAI figures is the financial year. 8. Figures are for the United Kingdom from 2002-03 onwards. Earlier years are for Great Britain only. 9. Numbers of individuals have been rounded to the nearest 100,000. 10. The classification that indicates whether someone in a family is in employment uses the International Labour Organisation economic status classification. No economic status data is available for earlier years as the relevant information was not collected before 1996-97. 11. Further statistics on the population in low income can be found in the National Statistics report Household Below Average Income available at: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=hbai Source: Households Below Average Income, DWP