South Sudan
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the operating mandate for the UN mission in South Sudan. [104651]
Mr Bellingham: The UN mission in South Sudan has made a reasonable start, operating under an extremely broad mandate and in challenging circumstances. The mission has so far been focused on scaling up operations with a number of logistical and security constraints and is not yet fully deployed. It now needs to focus on delivery of its mandate and to prioritise activity accordingly. UK funding for UNMISS, as for all UN peacekeeping missions, comes from our assessed contribution to the UN peacekeeping budget. We rigorously assess the budgets and mandates of all UN peacekeeping missions on a regular basis.
Britain has condemned recent provocative and irresponsible acts by the militaries of both South Sudan and Sudan, which threaten economic stability and the livelihoods of ordinary people and will be likely to further increase the pressure on the UN mission.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to help restart oil production in South Sudan. [104652]
Mr Bellingham: I, and other Ministers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development, have made representations to the South Sudanese Government, urging them to reverse their decision to cease oil production, and highlighting the impact on the South Sudanese economy. We are also urging the Governments of South Sudan and Sudan, including on arrangements for the export of oil, to negotiate their differences peacefully under the auspices of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness and value for money of the UN mission in South Sudan. [104654]
Mr Bellingham:
The UN mission in South Sudan has made a reasonable start, operating under an extremely broad mandate and in challenging circumstances. The mission has so far been focused on scaling up operations
25 Apr 2012 : Column 943W
with a number of logistical and security constraints and is not yet fully deployed. It now needs to focus on delivery of its mandate and to prioritise activity accordingly. UK funding for UNMISS, as for all UN peacekeeping missions, comes from our assessed contribution to the UN peacekeeping budget. We rigorously assess the budgets and mandates of all UN peacekeeping missions on a regular basis.
Britain has condemned recent provocative and irresponsible acts by the militaries of both South Sudan and Sudan, which threaten economic stability and the livelihoods of ordinary people and will be likely to further increase the pressure on the UN mission.
Sri Lanka
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2012, Official Report, column 197W, on Sri Lanka, whether the six returnees are (a) still in custody and (b) have been convicted; and if he will make a statement. [104338]
Alistair Burt: We do not routinely monitor individual unsuccessful asylum seekers once they are removed from the UK. They are, by definition, foreign nationals who have been found as a matter of law not to need the UK's protection. Nor do we assume any responsibility for monitoring judicial proceedings against foreign nationals in their own country.
St Helena
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the promotion of independent media in St Helena; and if he will make a statement. [104256]
Mr Bellingham: Media policy is a responsibility for the St. Helena Government. I am aware of the decision, by the democratically elected representatives on St Helena, to establish a new community-owned media organisation to rationalise services and better meet the community's needs. I understand that the St Helena Government have initially funded the launch of this community-owned and operated media service but that its management and editorial control are completely independent of Government. I would encourage all Overseas Territories Governments to promote independent media where it is viable.
Treaty of Lisbon
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the President of the European Council on foreign policy implications of the Lisbon treaty. [104501]
Mr Lidington:
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has not had any recent discussions with the President of the European Council on the foreign policy implications of the Lisbon treaty. However, he regularly discusses the EU’s role in external affairs with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Ashton,
25 Apr 2012 : Column 944W
and with Foreign Ministers from other EU member states. We regularly make it clear that it is right to use the collective weight of the EU and member states in support of shared foreign policy interests, such as Burma or Iran, but the European External Action Service should support and complement, not replace, member state diplomatic services.
Tristan da Cunha
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many commercial fishing licences were sold in Tristan da Cunha in (a) each of the years from 2007 to 2011 and (b) 2012 to date; what the monetary value was of such licences; what the flag state was of each of the licensed vessels; and what fish they were licensed to catch. [104270]
Mr Bellingham: Tristan da Cunha's sustainable lobster fishery is the mainstay of the island's economy. It is operated by the South African firm Ovenstone as sole concessionaires. Aside from the lobster fishing, Tristan issued one licence to a Spanish flagged vessel in 2007 and one to a South African in 2008. These licenses brought in a total of £29,000 in revenue and the fish caught were Bluenose, Alfonsino and Jacopever.
Fisheries policy is the responsibility of Overseas Territory Governments. But we are committed to working with Tristan, and all the Overseas Territories, to ensure a clear and sustainable framework for the management of its natural resources.
Turks and Caicos Islands
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to expedite the transfer of legislative power from the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) to TCI citizens. [104249]
Mr Bellingham: In the joint written ministerial statement I issued with the Minister of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr Duncan), on 9 December 2010, Official Report, columns 40-41WS, we set out the milestones that we judged would have to be met before elections could take place in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Our statement on 30 January 2012, Official Report¸ columns 34-36WS, gave our current assessment of progress made towards achieving the milestones. Good progress has been made, although there is still much to be done.
A new constitution order was laid before Parliament in July 2011. New ordinances on the electoral process and the regulation of political parties are being prepared.
A delegation from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, led by the right hon. Member for Warley (Mr Spellar) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Goole (Andrew Percy), visited the Turks and Caicos Islands in March to engage with the Turks and Caicos Islands political parties and community representatives on the scope and content of the draft elections ordinances.
25 Apr 2012 : Column 945W
The Turks and Caicos Islands Government have begun a programme which will enable Turks and Caicos Islanders to both verify their status and register for elections.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many residence permits have been issued by the Turks and Caicos Islands Administration in each of the last five years. [104264]
Mr Bellingham: The British Government do not have information on this matter, which is a responsibility of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government. These figures have been requested and I will forward them to my hon. Friend as soon as they are received.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many work permits were issued by the Turks and Caicos Islands Administration in each of the last five years. [104265]
Mr Bellingham: The British Government do not have information on this matter, which is a responsibility of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government. These figures have been requested and I will forward them to my hon. Friend as soon as they are received.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what future funding from the public purse will be provided to the Turks and Caicos Islands Special Investigation and Prosecution Team. [104266]
Mr Bellingham: The British Government will consider carefully any requests for further assistance.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what spending has been incurred on the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Special Investigation and Prosecution Team by the (a) Government and (b) TCI government. [104268]
Mr Bellingham: In 2009, Sir Robin Auld's Commission of Inquiry report concluded that there was a high probability of systemic corruption in the former Turks and Caicos Islands Government.
I am pleased to be able to inform the House that the special investigation into issues raised by this report is making good progress and 13 people have been charged with corruption, conspiracy to defraud and money laundering.
In the financial year 2010-11 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office made a discretionary grant of £6.6 million to reimburse the Turks and Caicos Islands Government for some of the exceptional costs of the criminal investigation, including the work of the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team, and related civil recovery and police work.
In the financial year 2011-12 the Turks and Caicos Islands Government reported that expenditure for the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team was US$7.6 million. This represents over 4% of expenditure and a significant funding challenge for the Turks and Caicos Islands Government. The Turks and Caicos Islands Government have introduced a range of new taxes and
25 Apr 2012 : Column 946W
cut overall expenditure significantly in order to address their structural deficit and put it on course for a sustainable fiscal surplus in the financial year 2012-13.
In view of the exceptional situation, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend Member for Richmond (Yorks (Mr Hague), agreed to make a further grant of £3.8 million in the financial year 2011-12 to reimburse the Turks and Caicos Islands Government for a proportion of the costs associated with the continuing criminal investigation and associated prosecutions. The Secretary of State also approved an additional £745,000 contribution to the cost of setting up a suitable courtroom for the trials which will be held as a result of the investigation.
In addition to these grants, the British Government spent approximately £86,000 on costs in the UK relating to the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team in the financial year 2011-12.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a list of assets reclaimed by the Turks and Caicos Islands Special Investigation and Prosecution Team to date. [104269]
Mr Bellingham: Confiscation of the proceeds of crime can occur only post conviction. The Special Investigation and Prosecution Team carefully considers the need to restrain assets where there is evidence of a risk of dissipation. To date this has been deemed necessary only in the case of the former Premier, Michael Misick.
It is also possible in appropriate circumstances to settle an investigation into suspected criminal conduct by agreeing a civil recovery order. This has been done with one suspect, who has paid the sum of US$1.25 million.
There is a separate civil recovery work stream. The civil recovery team has made in excess of 40 separate recoveries of money and/or land. The monetary element is more than $12 million, including payments already made, judgments obtained and still to be collected and agreements to pay. More than 900 acres of land have also so far been returned to the Crown as a result of the civil recovery team's work. The value of the land recovered so far is many tens of millions of dollars. Many other cases are underway and, by the end of the programme, the team expects to have recovered land worth hundreds of millions of dollars for the people of the TCI as well as significant further amounts of cash or other assets.
United Arab Emirates
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the next meeting of the UAE-UK Taskforce is scheduled to take place; and what items will be discussed. [104404]
Alistair Burt: We do not yet have a confirmed date or agenda for the next UAE-UK Taskforce. However, UAE-UK Taskforce meetings are held on a quarterly basis and the next one is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi in either June or July 2012. The taskforce covers issues across the whole spectrum of the bilateral agenda, including co-operation on defence, international development, education, trade and investment, and regional issues.
25 Apr 2012 : Column 947W
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings of the UAE-UK Taskforce have taken place in the last 12 months. [104405]
Alistair Burt: Three meetings of the UAE-UK Taskforce have taken place since 18 April 2011 They took place on 22 June 2011, 30 October 2011 and 21 March 2012.
Job Vacancies
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. [104564]
Mr Bellingham: We are unable to provide data on the number of vacancies in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) over the stated period as our internal appointments process does not collect the data in this format and therefore collating this would require a substantial amount of research which could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.
The FCO has set a target of saving £100 million per year in administration spending, of which the UK-based paybill forms a significant element, by the end of the current comprehensive spending review (CSR) period. We are rigorously adhering to the Government-wide recruitment freeze, with external recruitment allowed only in exceptional, business-critical cases and, as a result, over the same CSR period we expect UK-based staff strength to reduce from the current level of around 4,600.
Zimbabwe
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to increase the political freedom of people in Zimbabwe. [105159]
Mr Bellingham: The British Government are committed to supporting the aspirations of the Zimbabwean people for a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Zimbabwe. We are working with reformers and international partners in support of South African Development Community efforts to create a process leading to credible and properly monitored elections. Our aid programme to Zimbabwe, which increased to £83 million this financial year, aims to help deliver better services and improved governance.
Britain is supporting the constitutional review process and has contributed with other, donors to UN funding. This process has provided the opportunity for many Zimbabweans to have a say in Zimbabwe's overarching legal framework and will hopefully result in a new constitution which better protects their human rights. It will be for Zimbabweans to decide upon the final document in a referendum.
We are also working with civil society organisations to support victims of violence, increase levels of access to independent information and the ability of Zimbabweans to engage in key decision-making processes such as elections.
25 Apr 2012 : Column 948W
Business, Innovation and Skills
Addison Lee
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 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. [104692]
Norman Lamb [holding answer 23 April 2012]: On Ministers, I refer the hon. Lady to the quarterly publication of meetings between Ministers and external organisations. Details from October 2011 onwards will be published in due course.
According to records, no special adviser in this Department has met with John Griffin since 12 May 2010.
On officials, I refer the hon. Lady to the quarterly publication of meetings between the permanent secretary and external organisations. Details from October 2011 onwards will be published in due course.
This information can be seen on the Department's website:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency/staff
Companies: United Arab Emirates
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of United Arab Emirates companies that are based in the UK. [104410]
Mr Prisk: Figures published by the Office for National Statistics in “Foreign ownership of businesses in the UK, 2010” show that, as at March 2010, there were around 70 enterprises in the UK which were identified as having ultimate ownership in the United Arab Emirates. Since the ultimate ownership of many businesses is not known, this figure should be taken as a minimum rather than an absolute.
EU Emissions Trading Scheme: Aviation
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what support his Department is considering providing to the aviation industry following the (a) introduction of the EU Emissions Trading System scheme and (b) inclusion of aviation in the scheme. [103705]
Mr Prisk: Following the inclusion of aviation into the EU Emissions Trading System, airlines will receive free, tradeable allowances covering a certain level of CO2 emissions from their annual flights.
Exports
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the British Chambers of Commerce survey entitled “Exporting is Good for Britain: skills”, what steps his Department plans to take to address the skills gap and shortage of knowledge of British exporters. [104478]
25 Apr 2012 : Column 949W
Norman Lamb [holding answer 23 April 2012]: The Government welcome the British Chambers of Commerce's (BCC) survey “Exporting is good for Britain and exporters need skills”. The Government’s ambition is to have a world-class skills base that provides a consistent source of global competitive advantage, returning the economy to sustainable growth.
Businesses are in the best position to understand what skills, including those for exporting, are required for their sector or industry, so we are making sure that the skills system is led not by Government, but by employers and individuals themselves. As a Government, we are empowering them with the support and information they need to make confident choices and shape the system to deliver.
Through UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the Government help UK-based companies gain the skills needed to succeed in the global economy through a range of programmes, under its “helping your business grow internationally” trade development product.
Excellent leadership and management skills lie at the heart of outstanding business performance, so we have prioritised funding for these skills for small and medium- sized enterprises that demonstrate the potential for growth, building their capability and confidence to move and expand into the export market. Aligned with leadership and management support, business coaching for growth will provide strategic advice, coaching, mentoring and access to knowledge networks to help them achieve their growth potential.
Procurement
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to meet the Government's target that 25 per cent of Government contracts should be awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises. [105156]
Mr Maude: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
A year ago, the Government launched a package of measures to increase opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to supply to the Government. One year on, central Government's direct spend with SMEs is on track to more than double, from £3 billion to £6 billion, against a backdrop of a reduction in overall Government spending.
However, we recognise there is still more to do to reach our aspiration that 25% of the value of Government contracts should be awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises and we recently announced a further set of steps that we are taking.
Full details of all the measures we are putting in place, and of our progress to date, can be found on the Cabinet Office website:
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/government-opens-contracts-small-business
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/better-deal-smaller-businesses
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/making-government-business-more-accessible-smes-one-year
25 Apr 2012 : Column 950W
Higher Education
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2012, Official Report, column 858W, on higher education, what information higher education providers are required to submit in order to meet the criteria included in a due diligence check. [104348]
Mr Willetts: When undertaking a due diligence review, an initial review is undertaken of the publicly available information on the organisations and their directors. In most cases further information is requested from the organisations, such as more detailed accounts and clarification of company structures. This review focuses on financial sustainability and governance arrangements.
From 1 April 2012 we have introduced a new form to gather information from new providers whose applications have been submitted to the Department by the Student Loans Company. A copy of the form will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the introduction of private funding arrangements into the provision of higher education. [105338]
Mr Willetts: Higher education has always been funded from a mix of public and private sources. This will remain the case. As set out in our White Paper ‘Students at the Heart of the System’, published on 28 June 2011, we want to expand the flexibility for employers and charities to offer sponsorship for individual places outside of student number controls, provided they do not create a cost liability for the Government.
Imports: Raw Materials
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to reduce the UK's import dependency in the area of non-energy, non-agricultural raw materials. [104173]
Mr Prisk: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have recently published a “Resource Security Action Plan: Making the most of valuable materials” to address rising concerns about the security of supply of key metals and minerals essential to the UK economy and the development of low-carbon technologies. The plan provides a framework for business action to address these resource risks and sets out high- level actions for the Government and business to address resource concerns.
Legislation
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received for inclusion in the future legislative programme in policy areas for which his Department is responsible; and which proposals his Department is considering. [105337]
25 Apr 2012 : Column 951W
Norman Lamb: The Department receives numerous representations relating to the policy areas that we are responsible for and some of these will include legislative proposals. The Government's legislative proposals will be set out in the Queen's Speech on 9 May.
Manufacturing Industries: Greater London
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many manufacturing firms are registered in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) the London borough of Bexley. [104455]
Mr Prisk: From the Interdepartmental Business Register (IDBR, December 2011), the number of manufacturing enterprises (SIC2007 section C) in:
(a) the Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency is 145; and
(b) the London borough of Bexley is 360.
Counts are rounded to the nearest five enterprises and the IDBR covers only enterprises registered either for PAYE or VAT (above a £73,000 annual turnover threshold).
New Businesses: Construction
Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of start-ups by women in the construction industry. [103832]
Mr Prisk: Although numbers are increasing slowly, CITB-ConstructionSkills recognises that the number of women employed in construction remains disproportionately low. CITB-ConstructionSkills is directly addressing this issue by actively promoting equality and diversity.
CITB-ConstructionSkills was awarded the Equality Standard, by Equality North East (ENE), during 2011 as recognition of its commitment to plan and promote good equality and diversity practice in all of its work. Gaining the Equality Standard is a first for a Sector Skills Council and it is also the first time an organisation working across Scotland, Wales and England has achieved the standard.
In order to increase the number of start-ups by women in the construction industry, it is vital that we encourage women to set up businesses and provide the support needed to ensure that those businesses thrive. On 23 January, the Prime Minister launched ‘Business in You’, a major year-long campaign to:
Promote awareness of the wide range of advice and support available to all businesses through a variety of sources, both publicly funded and private sector;
Encourage people to start and grow their own businesses; and
Inspire people through the showcasing of real-life small firms that are thriving despite the current economic situation.
The campaign highlights the package of information, advice and support that the Government have put in place for start-ups and for existing firms. This includes:
Advice and information available at:
www.businesslink.gov.uk
our online information service for businesses, which we have recently updated and improved. For start-ups we have a tailored section called ‘My New Business’, which includes a range of online information, training modules and practical guides.
A new national network of experienced business mentors at:
25 Apr 2012 : Column 952W
www.mentorsme.co.uk
with over 15,000 experienced business people who want to help mentor those starting out.
Help with raising finance through continuation of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme, which has helped thousands of businesses each year to access the funding they need to start and grow their businesses. And support to help businesses to help themselves when trying to access finance, through our ‘Finance Fitness’ campaign.
Official Secrets Act
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 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. [104835]
Norman Lamb: People employed by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills and its executive agencies are bound by the Official Secrets Act, as are those in private firms contracted by the Department and its executive agencies (as defined by sections 12(1) and 12(2) of the Official Secrets Act 1989.) The Department does not hold records on non-departmental public bodies.
Postage Stamps: Pensioners
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with Royal Mail on its concessionary scheme for pensioners to purchase stamps at Christmas. [105153]
Norman Lamb: Ministers in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) have held regular meetings with Royal Mail to discuss a broad range of issues, including the scheme to offer discounted stamps to some low-income households at Christmas. The pricing of stamps, including proposals for discounts, is an operational matter for the company. However, Ministers were informed of the plans and kept updated on progress.
Details of official meetings are published on the BIS website at:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/transparency
Public Consultation
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department accepts anonymous contributions to its consultations. [104087]
Mr Prisk: Both written responses and those responses fed in through other channels, such as discussion forums and public meetings, are carefully analysed in the Department, in line with the Consultation Code of Practice.
Quality Assurance Agency: Costs
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the annual running costs were of the Quality Assurance Agency in 2011-12; and what he expects such costs to be in 2012-13. [104780]
25 Apr 2012 : Column 953W
Mr Willetts: The Quality Assurance Agency for higher education (QAA) is an independent body funded by subscriptions from universities and colleges and through contracts with the higher education funding bodies. The Government have no direct responsibility for the QAA. Its annual accounts are, however, published at:
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/AboutUs/corporate/Pages/Annual-Reports.aspx
The annual budget for 2011-12 is available in the QAA board papers at:
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/AboutUs/corporate/board/Documents/BD201127%20Annual%20Plan%20and%20budget%20cover% 20paper.pdf
and summarised on page 30. I understand that the budget for 2012-13 is not yet available.
Research Councils: Costs
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the annual administration costs were of the (a) Arts and Humanities Research Council, (b) Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, (c) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, (d) Economic and Social Research Council, (e) Medical Research Council, (f) Natural Environment Research Council and (g) Science and Technology Facilities Council in 2011-12; and what he expects such costs to be for each organisation in 2012-13. [104779]
Mr Willetts: The requested data are provided in the following table:
| Near Cash DEL (£000) | ||
| 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |
Students: Finance
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on making transparent the additional costs that undergraduates incur in undertaking their course of study in respect of (a) professional fees, (b) mandatory printing costs, (c) criminal records bureau checks and (d) mandatory field trips; and what his policy is on the meeting of such costs. [105334]
Mr Willetts: Increasing transparency and providing more information to students is central to our higher education reforms. We expect universities to provide useful information to their students and be transparent about additional course costs.
The new UK Quality Code for Higher Education, developed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) in consultation with the higher education sector, sets out an expectation that higher education
25 Apr 2012 : Column 954W
institutions offer valid, reliable, useful and accessible information about their provision. The code comes into operation from this academic year (2012/13) when the QAA review will also include a judgment on the quality of the information higher education institutions provide.
More widely, through the publication of the Key Information Set, which will be available from September 2012, we are encouraging universities to publish information in those areas that research has shown students find most useful. This will include the costs of tuition fees, bursaries and the costs of accommodation. Accommodation costs will cover both provision owned/sponsored by institutions and accommodation managed by private landlords and agents.
We are also encouraging universities to produce student charters to set out what the university will provide and what is expected of students in return. Charters link to more detailed information (e.g. handbooks) for each course. The ‘suggested list of items' for charters includes “essential course costs and estimate of additional costs”. It is expected that charters are jointly developed and agreed with local student unions to ensure that priority areas are covered.
We are also putting in place a more progressive living costs package for first-time undergraduates in 2012/13, with an increased grant for living costs worth £3,250 for all students from households with an income up to £25,000 and increased loans for living costs of up to £5,500 (or up to £7,675 for students living away from home and studying in London). In fact, most students will receive a more generous living cost package under the new regime than under the current system.
Many of the most disadvantaged students will have access to the new National Scholarship Programme (NSP). In the NSP, universities have a menu of options through which they can deliver a benefit of at least £3,000 (with pro-rata awards for part-time students). The NSP menu includes help with accommodation costs or other institutional services as well as a cash bursary up to £1,000. Institutions will decide which options they make available and the target group to receive them.
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received from the Higher Education Funding Council for England concerning the monitoring of hidden costs associated with undergraduate degree courses. [105336]
Mr Willetts: None. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has, however, made representations to the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education on this matter. In commenting on the draft UK Quality Code for Higher Education, HEFCE confirmed the need to encourage providers to be transparent about all course costs in providing information to prospective and new students.
Technology Strategy Board
Mr Umunna:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much the Technology Strategy Board spent on (a) collaborative research and development project grants, (b) knowledge transfer partnership awards,
25 Apr 2012 : Column 955W
(c)
knowledge transfer network costs,
(d)
catapult centre operating costs,
(e)
catapult centre capital costs,
(f)
Technology Strategy Board contributions to Small Business Research Initiative contracts,
(g)
SMART and other grants for research and development to (i) individual companies and (ii) small and medium-sized
25 Apr 2012 : Column 956W
enterprises, (h) Technology Strategy Board administration costs and (i) other costs in each year since 2007. [102641]
Mr Willetts: Technology Strategy Board spend in these areas since 2007 is as follows:
| £000 | ||||||
| 2007- 08 | 2008- 09 | |||||
| Total grant spend | Total grant to individual companies | Total grant to SMEs | Total grant spend | Total grant to individual companies | Total grant to SMEs | |
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | |||||
| Total grant spend | Total grant to individual companies | Total grant to SMEs | Total grant spend | Total grant to individual companies | Total grant to SMEs | |
| 2011-12 (6) | |||
| Total grant spend | Total grant to individual companies | Total grant to SMEs | |
| (1) Collaborative R and D figures for total grant to individual companies and to SMEs is not available for spend in 2007/08. Spend in this year was in respect of legacy commitments transferred from the Department for Trade and Industry and information about the type of organisations supported is not recorded. (2) Not available. (3 )The grant for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships goes to the academic partner in the project. The companies in the partnerships each contribute in the region of £20,000 per annum with most KTPs being for a three-year period. (4 )Not applicable. (5) The grant for Knowledge Transfer Networks is in respect of the operating costs of each KTN. (6 )Estimated. (7) The grant for Catapults is in respect of the development of the network of Catapult centres. | |||
Departmental Travel Costs
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many journeys (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department made by (i) train, (ii) coach and (iii) Government car in an official capacity in each of the last six months. [103640]
Norman Lamb: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
25 Apr 2012 : Column 957W
UK Innovation Investment Fund
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the current status of the UK Innovation Investment Fund (UKIIF); what his Department's plans are for the future of the UKIIF; and what evaluation he has made of the effectiveness of UKIIF's previous investments, including an overall return on investment thus far. [105380]
Mr Willetts: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has put in place an evaluation strategy to evaluate the effectiveness of the UK Innovation Investment Fund (UKIIF). A full impact evaluation will be conducted as the fund closes (typically 10-12 years once sufficient time has elapsed for benefits to be realised). However, BIS has commissioned Middlesex university to undertake an early assessment of UKIIF to provide an indication of the likely effectiveness of the fund. This will be made publicly available and published on the BIS website in early summer.
Although the financial returns of the fund are one measure of success, the ultimate measure of the success of the fund will be the additional economic output and innovation spillovers that the fund enables.
Job Vacancies
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 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. [104540]
Norman Lamb: The following table lists the number of job vacancies in the Department on the dates in question:
| (a) Staff posts | (b) Senior civil service posts | |
Work and Pensions
Child Maintenance
Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimates the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission has made of the proportion of non-resident parents within the statutory child maintenance system who are likely to experience changes in their earnings in the course of a year of (a) 25 per cent or more, (b) 15 per cent or more and (c) 10 per cent or more. [102905]
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 my hon. Friend with the information requested, and I have seen the response.
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.
25 Apr 2012 : Column 958W
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimates the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission has made of the proportion of non-resident parents within the statutory child maintenance system who are likely to experience changes in their earnings in the course of a year of (a) 25 per cent or more, (b) 15 per cent or more and (c) 10 per cent or more. [102905].
The estimates as follows are based on analysis of a representative sample of around 2,500 CSA non-resident parents with full HMRC PAYE tax returns in the years 2007/8 and 2008/9.
The percentages shown are the changes between the two tax years in full year earnings. As some income changes will actually occur within a financial year rather than between two financial years, these figures should be treated with a degree of caution.
The information requested is shown in the following table.
| Non-resident parents annual income changes | 10% | 15% | 25% |
|
Annual income changes greater than or equal to each percentage |
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the National Audit Office report, Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Costs Reduction, HC 1793, what steps his Department has taken to require the Commission to improve the planning tool used to develop its forecasts for the future statutory scheme. [103281]
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. Gentleman with the information requested, and I have seen the response.
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, with reference to the National Audit Office report, Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Costs Reduction, HC 1793, what steps his Department has taken to require the Commission to improve the planning tool used to develop its forecasts for the future statutory scheme. [103281]
In December 2011 the Commission engaged expert industry consultants CapGemini to review its existing high level financial model, which was the focus of the NAO's review, and to deliver new modelling tools based on their extensive experience and using in-depth Commission operational and planning knowledge.
In addition to the replacement for the Commission's high level planning tool, CapGemini has developed a significantly more detailed short term planning tool to support the new high level business planning model and conduct an extensive. review of all financial and operational modelling undertaken by the Commission in support of its business case.
Key work to build and deliver the new modelling tools was completed at the end of March 2012 and they are currently being used in parallel with existing tools to assure their operational use. The recommendations from the CapGemini review have been taken onboard by the Commission and are currently being implemented.
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what circumstances the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission can decide to re-visit a suspended case having taken a decision to suspend the collection of child maintenance arrears. [103323]
25 Apr 2012 : Column 959W
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. Gentleman with the information requested and I have seen the response.
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 what circumstances the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission can decide to re-visit a suspended case having taken a decision to suspend the collection of child maintenance arrears. [103323]
Where the Child Support Agency (CSA) has made a child maintenance calculation and is therefore responsible for the collection and enforcement of any child maintenance arrears which may occur, it can exercise discretion in relation to the collection of some or all of the arrears which may have accrued in any case.
If the non-resident parent's circumstances make it inappropriate to pursue recovery of the arrears at a particular time, for example due to hospitalisation for serious ill health or pending an appeal tribunal, then the CSA may consider temporarily suspending collection activity until a later date. However, the parent with care's circumstances will be fully considered along with the welfare of any child affected by the decision before suspension of the arrears will take place.
The length of time that the collection of the arrears may be suspended for is discretionary and is dependant upon the reasons for the suspension and the individual circumstances of the case. In certain situations, such as where the non-resident parent is in residential care or parentage is disputed, there is a set timescale for review of either six or twelve months. In other situations, for example where the decision is taken to suspend collection as a result of the parent with care and non-resident parent reconciling, the timescale for review will be discretionary.
Once the review date is reached, consideration will be given to the case circumstances and whether it is appropriate to reinstate collection activity.
In some circumstances it may be appropriate to permanently suspend collection activity. Examples of these occasions may be for instance where the non-resident parent has died and there is no estate from which to recover the arrears, or where the parent with care does not wish arrears owed to them to be collected.
As the CSA does not currently have the power to write off debt in cases such as those described above, the CSA will permanently suspend collection of the debt and will not set a date to review the position. However should the position change, for instance if the parent with care changes their mind and wishes the debt to be recovered, consideration will be given to whether it is appropriate to reinstate collection of the arrears.
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the contribution by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of 14 February 2012, [Lords] Official Report, column 777, what estimate he has made of the proportion of parents with care each year who will (a) request to switch to the future statutory collection service because a maintenance direct arrangement has failed and (b) request to switch from use of the statutory collection service to a maintenance direct arrangement due to improved payment behaviour by the non-resident parent and the incentive effect of continuing collection charges. [105349]
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. Lady with the information requested, and I have seen the response.
25 Apr 2012 : Column 960W
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, with reference to the contribution by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of 14 February 2012, [Lords] Official Report, column 777, what estimate he has made of the proportion of parents with care each year who will (a) request to switch to the future statutory collection service because a maintenance direct arrangement has failed and (b) request to switch from use of the statutory collection service to a maintenance direct arrangement due to improved payment behaviour by the non-resident parent and the incentive effect of continuing collection charges. [105349]
The Commission's estimates around the use of maintenance direct are based on the long term stable percentage of the caseload using maintenance direct. No explicit estimates of the annual flow to and from maintenance direct have been made to date.
Client insight surveys indicated that around 87% of non-resident parents would initially choose maintenance direct when given the choice following application to the statutory scheme. However there is uncertainty around the long term stable rate of maintenance direct because the introduction of non-resident parent maintenance direct choice and collection charges significantly alter the proposition. Current Child Support Agency maintenance direct sustainability rates cannot therefore be used as a guide to how many parents with care will switch back to the collection service.
We are in the process of refining assumptions in this area and the revised estimates will be published alongside the impact assessment covering charging and case closure later this year.
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 3.10 of the National Audit Office report, Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Cost Reduction, what methodology was used to determine the workload reduction of £12 million; and what assumptions were made about the reduction in his Department's caseload. [105350]
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. Lady with the information requested, and I have seen the response.
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, with reference to paragraph 3.10 of the National Audit Office report, Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Cost Reduction, what methodology was used to determine the workload reduction of £12 million; and what assumptions were made about the reduction in his Department's caseload. [105350]
The child maintenance reform programme will have a significant impact on the volume of cases administered by the statutory service in future. The introduction of better co-ordinated support services for separated and separating families and charging for the statutory service is expected to reduce the flow of cases into the statutory service as it will incentivise and support parents who are able to make maintenance arrangements without formal state intervention to do so.
The statutory service exists for those parents who are not able to agree a family-based maintenance arrangement. The total caseload is made up of nil assessed cases (those which are assessed as having no maintenance to pay) and positively assessed (a maintenance liability is determined which the non-resident parent has to pay. Non-resident parents are still able to pay directly should they so choose through 'maintenance direct'.
25 Apr 2012 : Column 961W
The introduction of an automatic annual review is projected to significantly reduce the numbers of cases which are nil-assessed while the positively assessed caseload is projected to remain broadly consistent with current levels although with far greater numbers of non-resident parents paying the parent with care directly.
The £12m figure was derived by making projections about the changes in volume between the baseline year (2010/11) and the target year (in this case 2014/15) and multiplying this by the current unit cost. This was performed for three areas:
Firstly, applications—which are projected to fall.
Secondly, nil assessed cases—which are projected to fall. These are significantly less costly to administer than positively assessed cases or applications as they demand much less activity due to having no maintenance to pay.
Finally, positively assessed cases—which are projected to remain roughly at current levels. These are the majority of the Commission's case volume and are the most resource intensive of all case types including all of the payment, collection and enforcement activity the Commission undertakes.
We are in the process of refining assumptions in this area and the revised estimates will be published alongside the impact assessment covering charging and case closure later this year.
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to paragraph 3.7 of the National Audit Office report, Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Cost Reduction, what proportion of the caseload of the future statutory child maintenance system his Department anticipates having maintenance direct arrangements. [105351]
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. Lady with the information requested, and I have seen the response.
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, with reference to paragraph 3.7 of the National Audit Office report, Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Cost Reduction, what proportion of the caseload of the future statutory child maintenance system his Department anticipates having maintenance direct arrangements. [105351]
The National Audit Office report was based on Commission financial projections. At the time of writing their report, the Commission estimated that the impact of charging and wider reforms would mean that between 22% and 44% of positively assessed statutory cases would be paid directly between the non-resident parent and the parent with care over the longer term.
We are in the process of refining assumptions in this area and the revised estimates will be published alongside the impact assessment covering charging and case closure later this year.
Council Tax Benefits: Scotland
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the anticipated numbers of applicants for council tax benefit residing in Scotland for financial years (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15. [105385]
Chris Grayling: Information on the total number of applicants for council tax benefit in Scotland is not available.
25 Apr 2012 : Column 962W
The following table gives the estimated average annual number of Scottish households in receipt of council tax benefit between 2011-12 and 2014-15.
| Annual average council tax benefit case load | |
| Scotland | T housand |
The current volume of Scottish households in receipt of council tax benefit is published in table 1 here
http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/hb_ctb/hbctb_release_apr12.xls
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people residing in Scotland were in receipt of council tax benefit during financial year 2011-12; and what the average award was for such people. [105386]
Chris Grayling: The latest available data are at January 2012. HB/CTB caseload statistics are published approximately three months after the reference date. The available information is provided in the following table:
| Council tax benefit recipients and average weekly award in Scotland: April 2011 to January 2012 | ||
| Number in receipt of council tax benefit | Average weekly award | |
| Notes: 1. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month. 3. Average awards are shown as pounds per week and rounded to the nearest penny. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) | ||
Employment and Support Allowance
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employment and support allowance claimants resident in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) the London borough of Bexley were placed in the (i) Work Related Activity Group and (ii) Support Group in the latest period for which figures are available. [104457]
Chris Grayling:
In the Bexley local authority area 2,600 people have undergone an initial work capability assessment (WCA) as part of a new claim for employment and support allowance (ESA) between October 2008 and the end of August 2011, the latest period for which
25 Apr 2012 : Column 963W
data are available. Of these, 1070 were entitled to ESA; 740 were placed in the Work Related Activity Group and 340 were placed in the Support Group. The remaining 1,530 were Fit for Work.
Constituency-level data are not available.
Notes:
1. The information above is taken from administrative data held by the Department for Work and Pensions and assessment data provided by Atos Healthcare.
2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
3. The figures above only cover new claims to ESA and exclude incapacity benefit reassessments to determine eligibility for ESA. On 20 April 2012 the Department published data on the outcomes of IB reassessment claims at the regional and local authority level at the following link:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=adhoc_analysis
Employment Schemes: Young People
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many businesses in Motherwell and Wishaw constituency have become a part of the Youth Contract programme; and how many people in Motherwell have found employment or training through the programme. [104972]
Chris Grayling: The specific information requested is not available.
Employers engage with us in a variety of ways and we are maximising every contact to promote the Youth Contract to ensure that we can provide close to half a million new opportunities for young people.
Retirement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 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. [104593]
Chris Grayling: The following table lists all retirements and early retirements within each of the two financial years from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2012:
| Total retirements | ||
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
Social Security Benefits
Stella Creasy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish details of any discussions
25 Apr 2012 : Column 964W
and meetings
(a)
he and
(b)
officials in his Department have had with PayPoint regarding the nature of advertising placed at the bottom of receipts to be given to benefit claimants cashing their green giros when using the system. [105308]
Chris Grayling: Green giros (cheques) are not cashed at PayPoint outlets. These are due to be phased out and replaced by the Simple Payment service later this year.
Informal meetings have taken place with PayPoint on the principle of using the Simple Payment receipt for advertising, but no discussion has been held regarding the specific nature of the content.
For the avoidance of doubt, the contractual arrangements in place for the Simple Payment service ensure that DWP has the final say on what can or cannot be printed on receipts given to benefit claimants at PayPoint outlets.
State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will have discussions with his international counterparts on achieving the uprating of frozen British state pensions for those living overseas through domestic legislation in each of the countries concerned. [105049]
Steve Webb: The Government have no plans to enter into discussions on annual pension increases for countries where those increases are not currently payable. There are no plans to change the current arrangements for pensions paid overseas.
Work Capability Assessment: Wales
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Wales who failed a work capability assessment in the last 12 months subsequently had the decision overturned on appeal. [104863]
Chris Grayling: Data on appeals for the last 12 months are not yet available.
In Wales there are 14,850 people who made a claim for employment and support allowance in the period between the start of October 2008 and the end of November 2010 (latest data available) who have had an appeal heard against their Fit for Work decision following a work capability assessment. In 5,400 cases the original decision was overturned and in 9,450 cases DWP's decision was upheld by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service.
Notes:
1. Appeals against incapacity benefits reassessment claims are not included in these figures.
2. Numbers above have been rounded to the nearest 10.