Employers’ Liability
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the factors accounting for the time taken to establish the Employers Liability Insurance Bureau; and when he expects to announce a date for its establishment. [106241]
Chris Grayling: We are taking this issue extremely seriously.
The issues raised are complex, and to ensure we get this right we have been working intensely with stakeholders over the past 18 months to find a solution. We hope to provide an update on progress before the summer recess.
Employment and Support Allowance
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of those who entered the employment and support allowance work-related activity group between the introduction of employment and support allowance and April 2010 left it within (a) one year and (b) two years. [106238]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not available.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of those previously on incapacity benefit who have been reassessed for employment and support allowance and (a) placed into the work-related activity group and (b) found fit for work have appealed against the decision. [106239]
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Chris Grayling: The Department recently published official statistics on Incapacity Benefit Reassessment, covering all claims that started the reassessment process up to the end of July 2011. The publication can be found on the departmental website here:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_ibr
Information on the number of appeals against IB reassessment outcomes is not available.
Employment Schemes
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many placements on the Mandatory Work Activity scheme have been contracted nationwide. [106240]
Chris Grayling: The Department has made available around 19,000 contracted Mandatory Work Activity placements per year nationwide.
Claimants are referred to Mandatory Work Activity based on their needs. There is no set number of referrals required. We pay for each claimant who starts a placement.
Employment Schemes: Young People
Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Youth Contract in reducing youth unemployment. [104830]
Chris Grayling: The Youth Contract was introduced in April 2012 to provide additional support, worth almost £1 billion, to young unemployed people over the next three years.
The Department is developing an evaluation strategy for the Youth Contract.
The Youth Contract will provide nearly half a million new opportunities for young people. It builds on existing support available through Jobcentre Plus and the Work programme, enabling young unemployed people to look for work, gain work experience and skills and find real, lasting jobs.
Funeral Payments
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applications for the social fund funeral payment in Scotland his Department received in each of the last five years. [105646]
Steve Webb: The following table provides the figures on the total number of funeral payment applications and awards for Scotland received in the last five years.
| Funeral payment applications and awards over the past five years in Scotland | ||
| Applications | Awards | |
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| Notes: 1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National Statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, these amounts do not include expenditure on applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System. 2. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. Source: Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System | ||
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what average amount was (a) asked for and (b) awarded by his Department in response to applications to the social fund funeral payment in Scotland in each of the last five years. [105648]
Steve Webb: Information on the average amount asked for on a social fund funeral payment application is not collected. The following table provides the figures showing the average funeral payment award in Scotland in each of the last five years.
| Average amount awarded for funeral payment over past five years in Scotland | |||
| Applications | Awards | Average award (£) | |
| Source: Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System Notes: 1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, these amounts do not include expenditure on applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System. 2. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. | |||
Housing Benefit
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the written answer of 19 April 2012, Official Report, column 467W, on housing benefit, on what dates he has met representatives of the (a) National Landlords Association and (b) Residential Landlords Association to discuss direct payment of housing benefit to tenants under universal credit; and if he will make a statement. [105906]
Steve Webb: The Minister with responsibility for welfare reform, the noble Lord, Lord Freud, met with landlords associations, including representatives from the National Landlords Association and the Residential Landlords Association on 18 October 2011. A number of issues were discussed, including the direct payment of universal credit to tenants. In addition, my officials often meet with landlords’ representatives and plan to do so again in the near future.
At present, under the local housing allowance (LHA) arrangements, housing benefit is paid to claimants in the majority of cases. For some claimants who are likely to run into financial difficulties or have built up significant
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arrears, payment is made to the landlord. The Government plan to broadly replicate these provisions within universal credit. We have also introduced a new temporary safeguard to allow local authorities to pay housing benefit direct to the landlord where it helps a claimant secure or retain a tenancy at a reduced rent.
Maternity Pay
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the statutory maternity pay caseload in each of the next five years. [105855]
Maria Miller: The information requested is provided in the following table:
| SMP caseload | |
| Thousand | |
This represents the average number of women expected to be in receipt of statutory maternity pay (SMP) on any given day within the financial year.
Occupational Pensions
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the (a) cost and (b) administrative burden of a voluntary, any time opt-out from the automatic enrolment regulations for temporary workers; and what steps his Department has taken to minimise the administrative obligations for (i) agency workers and (ii) agencies. [105232]
Steve Webb: We have not made an assessment of the cost and burden of an ‘any time opt out’ for automatic enrolment.
Automatic enrolment is designed to tackle the problem of increased longevity coupled with widespread under saving for retirement.
It will transform the UK’s long-term savings culture and support individuals in taking responsibility for their retirement. The reforms are designed to harness people’s decision making inertia by creating a presumption that they will save for their retirement in a workplace pension.
Each time an individual begins a new job with an employer, they must be automatically enrolled if they are eligible. A decision to opt out in one employment should not mean that an individual is not automatically enrolled in a subsequent one when their circumstances may be different.
We have taken steps to minimise the administrative burdens of the workplace pension reforms.
In particular, the Pensions Act 2011 introduces an optional waiting period which allows an employer to defer a worker’s automatic enrolment date by up to three months. This will particularly benefit those employers, including agencies, who employ workers on contracts of less than three months.
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Furthermore, we have, for example, simplified the legislation which requires employers to provide all workers with specific information at specific times. This will make it easier for employers to understand and to administer.
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the competitiveness of the agency worker industry of the staged implementation scheme for the automatic enrolment regulations. [105233]
Steve Webb: Staging employers into automatic enrolment duties over time is essential to ensure a smooth roll out and make implementation manageable for employers and the pensions industry. The Government have concluded that staging employers by the number of employees is the best approach.
The approach to implementation has been designed to minimise any impact on competition with minimum employer contributions set at just 1% of a band of earnings over the implementation period. Minimum contributions only increase beyond this level once all existing employers have been brought into the reforms.
The effect on competition between employers, including agencies, is explored in the Impact Assessment on the Workplace Pension Reform Regulations of 12 January 2010, a copy of which can be found in the House Library.
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what mechanisms his Department has put in place to (a) monitor the impact of the automatic enrolment regulations on the competitiveness and flexibility of the agency worker industry and (b) review the provisions of the regulations once their effect has been evaluated. [105234]
Steve Webb: We are committed to a full evaluation of the impact of the workplace pension reforms on different sectors of the economy. A copy of the workplace pension reform evaluation strategy can be found at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2011-2012/rrep764.pdf
The Department will undertake a review of the regulations at the appropriate time, should the evaluation show that to be necessary.
PAYE
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what monthly data his Department will receive during HM Revenue and Custom's pilot of pay-as-you-earn real time information. [105858]
Chris Grayling: DWP staff are taking a full part in monitoring the progress of the initial controlled go live of the RTI pilot. There is agreement between the RTI and Universal Credit programmes that regular reports on progress with the pilot will be exchanged. However, no data attributable to an actual taxpayer will be exchanged during the pilot year.
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Pensions
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what savings will accrue to the public purse from the abolition of savings credit for new pensioners in each fiscal year from 2015-16 to 2019-20; [105919]
(2) what estimate he has made of the saving that would be made by the introduction of a seven-year minimum qualifying rule for the new flat-rate state pension in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17, (c) 2017-18, (d) 2018-19 and (e) 2019-20; [105960]
(3) how many new pensioners will no longer be entitled to savings credit once it is abolished for new pensioners in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17, (c) 2017-18, (d) 2018-19 and (d) 2019-20; [105962]
(4) what the average value per year will be for a new pensioner no longer entitled to savings credit once it is abolished for new pensioners. [106211]
Steve Webb: As announced by the Chancellor in his Budget, I can confirm that we will bring forward further detail on the reform of the state pension in a White Paper to be published later in the spring, along with a full impact assessment as part of the normal process. Final decisions on the detailed implementation of the policy will be made at the next spending review.
Personal Independence Payment
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) in what circumstances a partially sighted person may qualify for the personal independence payment when applying for work; whether such an application would be means-tested; and if he will make a statement; [105518]
(2) in what circumstances a partially sighted person applying for work would qualify for (a) the personal independence payment and (b) employment and support allowance. [105519]
Maria Miller: Personal independence payment can be paid to people who are in work or out of work. It will be non-means-tested, so earnings and other sources of income will not affect the amount of personal independence payment payable. It will also be a non-taxable benefit.
The Government spend £40 billion supporting disabled people through services and benefits. Personal independence payment is being designed to ensure that those who face the greatest barriers to living an independent life will be in receipt of the right level of support that recognises the individual's needs. Therefore entitlement to personal independence payment will be based on the extent to which an individual's health condition or impairment affects their day to day life, not on the nature of the health condition itself.
A partially sighted person would qualify for employment and support allowance if they meet the entitlement conditions. A key factor in determining eligibility for employment and support allowance is the work capability assessment which looks at functional capability and how an individual's condition affects their ability to undertake a range of activities. The medical condition recorded on a claim form does not in itself confer entitlement to employment and support allowance.
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Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people registered as blind or partially sighted in St Helens South and Whiston constituency will be affected by the change from disability living allowance to personal independence payment. [105574]
Maria Miller: The information the right hon. Gentleman requests is not available. As part of the formal consultation on the second draft of the assessment criteria, my Department published information on the estimated benefit caseload under personal independence payment. This information, which is only available for Great Britain, is in the ‘Personal Independence Payment: assessment thresholds consultation’, published in January 2012. It can be accessed on the Department for Work and Pensions website.
Public Consultation
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) 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; [104082]
(2) whether his Department collects the IP addresses of respondents to its consultations; [104083]
(3) whether his Department accepts anonymous contributions to its consultations. [104084]
Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions is guided in its consultations by the Government code of practice on consultation. The information requested on external verification could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
All consultation responses are considered carefully. The Department prefers respondents to identify themselves and offers to treat responses in confidence, but accepts anonymous contributions provided they are considered to be unique and relevant to the consultation.
The Department does not collect IP addresses of respondents to consultations published on the DWP website.
Remploy
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the cost to the public purse has been of refitting, repairing and general maintenance of each Remploy building earmarked for vacation or closure in each of the last five years; [104035]
(2) which Remploy facilities identified for vacation following the announcement of the closure programme are (a) owned and (b) leased; what estimate his Department has made of the costs of relinquishing those leases; and what estimate it has made of the cost of vacating these offices; [104037]
(3) what the running costs were of each Remploy factory in Scotland in each of the last five years; and what the fixed accommodation cash running costs of Remploy factories in Scotland were over each of the last five years; [104041]
(4) with which estate partners Remploy holds contracts relating to accommodation and facilities management for its offices in Scotland. [104043]
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Maria Miller: The Remploy Board started collective consultation on 19 March 2012 on the proposed closure of 36 factories the board considers are unlikely to achieve independent financial viability. It is important to be absolutely clear that all decisions about proposed factory closures and redundancies are subject to this ongoing collective consultation process and that no final decisions have been made about these matters. As part of collective consultation, the Remploy Board will consider all proposals to avoid compulsory redundancy.
Remploy is currently in the first stage of its commercial process with regard to exit of the businesses, or parts of the businesses which are currently proposed for closure. The Remploy Board welcomes any proposals for the exit of businesses or parts of businesses, to the extent that such exits would be one way to reduce the risk of redundancies, which may result if one or more of the factories proposed for closure is closed.
As part of the commercial process interested parties will have access to commercial information subject to a non-disclosure agreement. Public release of information outside of this process could prejudice the commercial process and is therefore inappropriate at this stage.
Information about tenure and running costs of sites can be found at:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/sayce-kpmg-report.pdf
All information on Remploy's commercial operations is available on the Remploy website at:
http://www.remploy.co.uk/news-and-media/proposed-changes-to-remploy/commercial-process.ashx
Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many requests he has received from each Remploy site to recruit apprentices in the last six months; and how many (a) apprenticeship vacancies were advertised at each site and (b) apprentices were taken on by each site. [104678]
Maria Miller: The Department for Work and Pensions has not received any requests from any of the Remploy sites to recruit apprentices in the last six months. No apprenticeship vacancies have been advertised and no apprentices taken on by Remploy at any site. In respect of the Remploy site in the hon. Member's constituency, Remploy have informed me that there have been three apprentices working on the premises, one since 31 October 2011 and two since 7 November. These people are not employed by Remploy. Remploy have confirmed that they are employed by a separate company that has a distribution agreement with Remploy.
Social Security Benefits
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how he proposes local authorities will obtain tax credit and child benefit information to deliver the household benefit cap for families not receiving universal credit. [105851]
Chris Grayling: The Department intends to ensure that the required data can be shared, appropriately, to enable implementation of the benefit cap prior to the start of universal credit. Officials are currently working up the detailed design of the benefit cap, in conjunction with local authorities.
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Social Security Benefits: Foreign Nationals
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to which benefits and other forms of social assistance the right-to-reside test is applied; and what representations he has received from the European Commission on the application of the test. [105846]
Chris Grayling: The habitual residence test is applied to people who wish to claim income-related benefits (income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-based employment and support allowance, pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit). The habitual residence test has two elements: a legal right to reside and an objective assessment of factual evidence of habitual residence. An EU national has a right to live in another member state as long as they are a ‘qualified person’. The Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 transpose this directive into UK law, and define a qualified person who has a right to reside as someone who is a worker; a self-employed person; a jobseeker; a self-sufficient person or a student. In considering whether a person is factually habitually resident, decision makers who decide entitlement to benefit, consider a wide variety of factors. These include evidence of intention to remain and attachment to the UK. Each case is treated on its own merits, in the light of the person's individual circumstances. The habitual residence test is applied irrespective of age or nationality.
Contributory benefits (contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance, state pension and contribution-based employment and support allowance) are payable to anyone who satisfies the contribution and other conditions for the benefit, regardless of nationality.
On 29 September 2011 the Government received a communication from-the European Commission in the form of a Reasoned Opinion in which the Commission states that the application of the ‘right to reside test’ to claims for certain residence-based non-contributory benefits constitutes an unjustified discrimination prohibited by the EU Regulations on social security co-ordination.
The Government responded in November 2011 and we have not had any further representation from the Commission on this issue since then.
We have a legal duty to provide support to people who come to this country, in line with our national and international obligations. It is also necessary to protect the taxpayer and the benefit system from possible abuse. It is unacceptable that we should be asked to open our welfare system to people who have never worked or contributed in the United Kingdom and have no intention of doing so.
We need to make sure that the rules which apply when people from outside the UK come here do not allow people to take inappropriate advantage of our benefit system and the Government are committed to ensuring that the rules governing the payment of benefits to people from abroad are kept under review.
Andrea Leadsom:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many nationals of countries outside the European economic area were receiving social security benefits from the UK, other
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than by virtue of EU law, in the latest period for which figures are available; and how much was paid out to those persons other than under any entitlements under EU law, by type of benefit; [105914]
(2) how many foreign nationals received social security benefits by virtue of EU law, in the latest period for which figures are available, by nationality; and how much was paid to persons of each nationality, broken down by type of benefit. [105918]
Chris Grayling: The information is not available in the form requested.
However, my Department published statistics on the nationality of working age benefit recipients called “Nationality at point of National Insurance number registration of DWP benefit claimants” on 20 January 2012. This can be found at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/adhoc_analysis/index.php?page=adhoc_analysis_2012_q1
and I have also placed a copy in the Library.
Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his Department plans to publish the findings of the trial audio recording of medical interviews conducted by Atos in April 2011. [105913]
Chris Grayling: In his year one review, Professor Harrington recommended piloting the audio recording of face-to-face assessments. The Department commissioned Atos to run a small pilot which was undertaken in the spring 2011. The findings are in the following report (published on 25 April 2012).
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/welfare-reform/employment-and-support/wca-independent-review/year-one/
Social Security Benefits: Turkey
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the proposal from the European Commission for a Council decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Association Council set up by the agreement establishing an association between the European Economic Community and Turkey with regard to the provisions on the co-ordination of social security systems, COM(2012) 152 final; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential effect on the UK of this decision. [105845]
Chris Grayling: The Government take the very firm view that there should be no opening up of our welfare system to people coming from abroad who do not intend to work and contribute to British society. The Government have stated in the past that, as a matter of principle, they do not intend to participate in EU agreements with third countries which extend social security rights.
The Government note that the European Commission has based its proposal on article 48 of the treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, on social security provisions to provide freedom of movement for workers. The Commission, in part, justifies this by comparing the extension of the internal market between the EU and Turkey to the EU agreements with the European economic area and Switzerland. The Government are
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already taking legal action in the Court of Justice of the European Union in relation to the treaty base in recent changes to those agreements, and will also take every appropriate action in relation to the proposals on Turkey.
State Retirement Pensions
Mr Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much pension a single pensioner with no other income or capital reaching pensionable age on 11 April 2012 will receive if their pension was paid (a) weekly, (b) fortnightly, (c) four-weekly and (d) 13-weekly in each of the next three years; how much each such pensioner would receive annually in pension payments; what the annual entitlement would be for each such pensioner for tax purposes; and how much tax would be payable by each such pensioner in each such year, based upon current rules and projections. [106110]
Steve Webb: The average entitlement to state pension for a person reaching pensionable age in the April 2012 is estimated to be £130 per week which equates to an annual value of approximately £6,779. The frequency with which the pension is paid does not affect the annual value.
An individual's tax liability depends upon their total taxable income in the tax year, including their state pension entitlement and the personal allowances they are entitled to. For 2012-13, the income tax personal allowance for someone aged under 65 is £8,105, so a pensioner entitled to an annual state pension of £6,779 who has no other taxable income is not liable to income tax.
For 2012-13, people aged 65 and over are entitled to higher personal allowances.
Notes:
1. Figures refer to basic state pension and additional state pension including graduated retirement benefit.
2. Figures refer to individuals resident in Great Britain in receipt of some state pension and reaching state pension age in April 2012.
3. The figures exclude additional amounts paid to individuals who deferred claiming their state pension.
4. The figures include own and inherited amounts.
Source:
DWP calculations based on DWP 5% sample administrative data and Office for National Statistics price indices statistics.
Universal Credit
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the limit in the Budget of £2.5 billion on the additional cost of universal credit from 2015-16 will be based on forecast AME expenditure; and if he will make a statement. [105850]
Chris Grayling: The £2.5 billion figure will be based on forecast annually managed expenditure and is a flat-cash figure and so not uprated for pay and prices.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much of the funding allocated to universal credit he plans to spend on IT development in 2012-13. [106237]
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Chris Grayling: Universal credit is forecasting to spend £250 million on IT development in the 2012-13 financial year based on current plans. No individual contract will exceed £100 million.
Welfare to Work
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether any investigations by his Department of welfare to work providers have resulted in the referrals to or involvement of (a) the police, (b) the Crown Prosecution Service and (c) any other prosecuting body in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the result was of any such referral; [106274]
(2) pursuant to the evidence of the Minister for Employment to the Work and Pensions Committee of 19 March 2012, HC 1903, Q61, what the subjects were of the 125 allegations related to welfare to work contracts with his Department since 2005; how many of the allegations were treated as accounting errors or similar; how many resulted in further investigation; which providers were involved in allegations which were investigated; and how many investigations each provider has experienced. [106279]
Chris Grayling: The Department treats any allegation of fraud by contractors very seriously. Any fraud is completely unacceptable. Where we identify, or are notified of, allegations of contractor fraud, these cases are investigated thoroughly by DWP's professionally trained and experienced investigators to a standard required to support reference to the police whenever evidence of criminal offences is discovered.
When an allegation of fraud against a provider is received, we assess whether further inquiries are appropriate. Cases are accepted for investigation if allegations refer to potential fraud by a prime or sub contractor and there is evidence of a potentially serious, or criminal, matter in the allegations made.
In the 2011-12 financial year, two investigations by DWP relating to welfare to work providers were referred to the police. Both of these police investigations are ongoing. Neither case relates to the Work Programme.
Between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2012 there have been 126 investigations into allegations of potential fraud by Welfare to Work providers, five of which are on-going. The subject of the allegations in these cases is of a similar nature, that false representations have been made to claim fees, for example falsifying documentation in relation to client signatures, employers' verification or details of the service provided.
In the course of the investigation, the investigator will gather evidence to establish the facts and determine whether there is a case to answer by:
recovering and analysing data and documentation;
interviewing DWP and contractor employees, including any suspects;
approaching other DWP and contractor employees, customers and other individuals for written witness statements;
examining available system and written records.
Internal investigation reports set out the findings, outcomes and conclusion of an investigation undertaken in light of the allegations received.
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Where the allegations are unproven (or unfounded), no further action is taken.
Where the investigation identifies evidence of procedural non-compliance, but not evidence of prima facie fraud, this enables the contract management team to seek appropriate remedies (e.g. repayment; control improvement, etc.).
If sufficient evidence of criminal offences is identified, investigators will refer the matter to the police. Each investigation case is unique and must be considered on its own merits. In determining whether it is appropriate to involve the police, consideration is given to a number of factors, including the strength of evidence available, whether evidence can be attributed to the actions of an individual(s), whether and how they benefited from their actions, and any intelligence on similar previous investigations involving the contractor. Where there is evidence of an individual falsifying documentation to support false payment claims or where additional factors are evident, such as collusion, we will always refer the case to the police.
The City of London Police is recognised as the national lead Force, and a centre of excellence, for fraud investigation across the UK. They have confirmed that the criteria DWP applies in determining whether to refer cases to regional police forces are both reasonable and appropriate. They have also confirmed that the considerations made are aligned to the general principles applied by the police when deciding whether to investigate cases and allocate resources.
In addition to referral of cases to regional police where appropriate, in line with measures taken by City of London Police to increase intelligence gathering on fraud related matters, DWP reports all cases where there are grounds to suspect criminal offences to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau database maintained by City of London Police. This enables the police to be sighted on cases being investigated in a centralised and co-ordinated way. It also enables them to build intelligence on individuals and organisations, provides an efficient protocol and interface for disclosing information on fraud at a national level and enables patterns in fraud-related crime to be identified.
Of these 126 investigations between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2012, 46 resulted in a case to answer, of which 22 had evidence of procedural non-compliance and 24 had evidence of false representation. 10 of these cases have been referred to the police.
Internal investigation reports contain specimen evidence and the results of analysis of provider claims that typically include customer details and other confidential information. In addition reports may contain details of
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any witness interviews undertaken and what they have said. The Department has a general duty of care and obligations under the Human Rights Act and Data Protection Act to safeguard individuals and to handle personal data securely. In respect of witness statements, witnesses are not ordinarily protected under the provisions of whistleblowing legislation and may be vulnerable to reprisals by their employer as well as retribution by people implicated in witness statements. In addition to the impact on individuals, full disclosure of reports would be likely to put at risk the co-operation of individuals on whom an investigation can depend. Furthermore, disclosure of both investigative practice and any vulnerabilities exploited by individuals may increase the vulnerability of the system overall.
It is also not ordinarily appropriate to publicise the details of specific investigation cases (e.g. provider details, nature of allegation, and outcomes of investigation):
Disclosure of unproven (or unfounded) allegations could result in litigation against the Department and damage a provider's commercial standing.
Disclosure of specific cases where the investigation identifies evidence of procedural non-compliance, but not evidence of prima facie fraud, could impact on the willingness of providers or whistleblowers to bring matters or concerns to our attention in the first place and/or damage contractual relationships. The Department's contractual relationship with providers is built on partnership and joint working.
Premature disclosure of cases where there is evidence of prima facie fraud may potentially prejudice or damage future DWP or police investigations. The police have been clear when conducting investigations that publishing any details of an investigation may carry a serious risk of prejudice to any further action by the police and/or the courts. The police may pursue investigations where patterns in suspected offences (e.g. highlighting links between people, organisations, location and events) become evident from such intelligence collected over time. Intelligence of this nature remains relevant and must be held for a minimum of six years in line with guidance produced by the National Policing Improvement Agency.
The Department will, however, publicise critical cases once proceedings have begun, and publicise any subsequent sentencing.
When asked, such as in response to parliamentary questions and Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, the Department has disclosed statistical information on investigations, including as an example, the number of investigations undertaken; the number of cases where there are suspicions of criminality; and the number of cases where payments had been claimed that were not due under the contract and the amounts were repaid.
The Department now intends to publish said information (annually). The information in respect of contracted employment practice for 2006-07 to 2011-12 is shown in the following table.
| Contracted employment investigation cases at 31 March 2012 | |||||||
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | Totals | |
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| (1) Closed cases only. Data are reflected in the year cases closed, not necessarily the year the matter was referred to the police or prosecuted. In 2011-12 two cases have been referred to the police. One case has been concluded by the Department. The other is ongoing and is included in the ongoing case figure. | |||||||
The Department will also disclose information on the number and value of contractor investigations where a loss was identified within its Losses and Special Payments Note in the Annual Report and Accounts.
When asked to disclose details of specific investigation cases, the Department will use the policy set out above to assess what if any information can be released into the public domain. The expectation is that the Department will commonly decline to provide such details, and will apply recognised FOI exemptions from disclosure, where appropriate: this will principally be under section 30 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (investigations and proceedings conducted by public authorities), with consideration of the public interest factors for and against disclosure being made on a case by case basis.
Work Capability Assessment
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many work capability assessment decisions have been subject to compulsory reconsideration before appeal; and what the outcomes of such reconsiderations have been. [105859]
Chris Grayling: Work capability assessment decisions are currently not subject to mandatory reconsideration before appeal.
The Welfare Reform Act 2012 will introduce changes to the appeals process so claimants must seek a revision of the disputed decision before making an appeal to the first-tier tribunal. An increase in the volumes of social security appeals has led to a substantial increase in the Tribunals Service caseload and longer waiting times for appeals to be heard. These measures aim to ensure timely, proportionate and more efficient dispute resolution.
The Department proposes to begin implementation of the changes to the appeals process from April 2013.
Regulations will set out the way in which the change will apply and the types of decisions to which it will apply.
Working Tax Credit: North East
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of couples in the north-east who will be affected by the changes to working tax credit in respect of working hours. [105135]
Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.
No such estimate has been made.
The measure to restrict eligibility to working tax credit to 24 hours for couples with children is part of a range of reforms to the tax credits system announced at the spending review.
Estimating the effect on families from an individual measure does not give a clear indication of the full monetary impact on an individual household.
The Government published estimates of the distributional impact of the packages of announced tax and benefit measures which can be found at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/junebudget_annexa.pdf
http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_annexb.pdf
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Addison Lee
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what meetings (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in her Department have had with John Griffin of Addison Lee since 12 May 2010. [105112]
Richard Benyon: No Ministers, special advisers or senior officials in core DEFRA (permanent secretary and directors-general) have had any meetings with John Griffin of Addison Lee since 12 May 2010. Meetings held by the permanent secretary and Ministers with external organisations are published quarterly on the DEFRA website at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/about/who/ministers/transparency/
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/about/who/management/
Agriculture
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of how the policies announced in the Budget will benefit UK farmers. [105013]
Miss Chloe Smith: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.
The Government do not assess the aggregate impact of the measures announced in the Budget by sector of the economy, such as farming. Annex B of the Budget sets out the impact on households.
Budget 2012 announced a range of policies that will help businesses including farms to grow. These include launching the national loan guarantee scheme to help businesses access cheaper finance, announcing consultation on simplifying the taxation of small businesses, and setting an ambition to double exports, supported by expanding export finance. For farmers, this will link with actions such as those in the food and drink action plan published earlier this year.
Air Pollution
Fiona O'Donnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when she last met Ministers from the Department for (a) Transport,
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(b)
Energy and Climate Change,
(c)
Health and
(d)
Communities and Local Government to discuss air quality; and if she will make a statement; [104009]
(2) when she last met Ministers from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to discuss air quality; and if she will make a statement; [104494]
(3) when she last met Ministers from HM Treasury to discuss air quality; and if she will make a statement. [104495]
Richard Benyon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Exeter (Mr Bradshaw) on 20 March 2012, Official Report, column 608W.
Apprentices
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many apprentices were employed by her Department (a) in March 2010, (b) between April 2010 and March 2011 and (c) between April 2011 and March 2012; and how many apprentices she expects her Department to employ between April 2012 and March 2013; [103495]
(2) how much funding she allocated to apprenticeships in her Department in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and how much such funding she plans to allocate in 2012-13. [103496]
Richard Benyon: It has not proved possible to respond in the time available before Prorogation, but I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Streatham (Mr Umunna), on 20 February 2012, Official Report, column 488W.
Bees
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has placed an annual monetary value on bees' pollination services. [103993]
Richard Benyon: The UK National Ecosystem Assessment, which was published in 2011, estimated the value of pollinators to UK agriculture to be £430 million per annum. The majority of pollination services are provided by wild bees and other insects, along with the honeybee which is the only species of pollinator that is widely managed. The Assessment is available on the website of the UK National Ecosystem Assessment.
Birds of Prey: Conservation
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the merits of making the killing of raptors a recordable crime; and if she will make a statement. [105047]
James Brokenshire: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Home Department.
The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) inquiry into wildlife crime will examine the scale of wildlife crime in the UK, including how fully wildlife crimes are recorded, and how rigorously available penalties are applied.
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The Home Office has submitted evidence, including the views of the UK Border Force, to the EAC inquiry and will consider their recommendations once the findings have been published.
Climate Change
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice her Department has given to farmers to help them manage soil and water resources in the context of long-term climate change. [105011]
Richard Benyon: Climate change is likely to lead to increases in soil erosion, compaction, and organic matter decline. The Government encourages good soil management through the Soil Protection Review (SPR) and Cross Compliance Guide for Soil Management within cross-compliance. The SPR and guidance assists farmers to identify soil degradation risks on their land and provides options for how to address these risks.
We announced our intention to reform the water abstraction management regime in the Water White Paper. We are working closely with stakeholders, including farmers, to develop a system that helps abstractors manage the risks of climate change more efficiently.
DEFRA, in collaboration with the industry, provides free advice to farmers on cross-compliance via the newly re-launched Farming Advice Service. From 1 January 2012, this service has begun to develop and provide additional advice on climate change (adaptation and mitigation), nutrient management and competitiveness. This will include advice on enhancing the resilience and decreasing the vulnerability of soil and water resources.
The Environment Agency, as part of their new enhanced role on climate change adaptation, will also be working with the farming community over the coming year to further develop the information and advice available to farmers to help them adapt to climate change.
Compost: Mushrooms
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department last issued guidelines for mushroom composting production; and when new guidelines will next be issued. [105173]
Richard Benyon: Guidance on air and odour pollution standards for mushroom compost manufacture (PG 6/30) was last issued in 2006. Under the periodic review of all industrial air pollution guidance notes, a review of this document is scheduled to begin this autumn.
Consultants
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 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 the (a) setting up and (b) operation of the shared service centre project for her Department. [104024]
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Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA engaged IBM under its existing service contract to conduct the feasibility study and assist in the set up of its shared service centre. Since the centre went live in April 2007, it has been run without the involvement of management consultants.
Derelict Land: Contamination
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department provides to local authorities to assist with the costs of cleaning up contaminated brownfield sites. [105057]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA funds the Environment Agency to help local authorities in England cover the capital cost of implementing the contaminated land regime under part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Known as the Contaminated Land Capital Projects Programme, funding for this financial year is currently being finalised. The funding for 2011-12 was £4.35 million.
Droughts
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likelihood of below-average rainfall in drought affected areas during the 2012-13 winter. [103111]
Richard Benyon: There is no information available on the likelihood of rainfall during the 2012-13 winter. The overall three month forecast (March-April-May) currently indicates less rainfall expected than the seasonal average. There are low levels of certainty in this forecast for UK-average precipitation.
The Government have established a National Drought Group to co-ordinate the actions needed for the drought this year and for 2013, should the drought continue.
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials in her Department primarily deal with drought response and planning. [103112]
Richard Benyon: During non-drought periods a team of three deals with water resource management plans, drought plans and Water Act issues, supported by senior management and with specialist input.
In line with the Department's aim of resourcing changing priorities flexibly, during the current drought this core team has been strengthened so that it has approximately doubled in size. This is kept under review to ensure adequate resourcing throughout the period. In addition, a number of officials from other parts of DEFRA's business (e.g. farming) are involved in drought related activities.
The Environment Agency has deployed a significant number of officials, both centrally and in the regions, to deal with the current drought situation.
DEFRA is also working closely with the water industry, stakeholders, and other Government Departments through a National Drought Group, supported by specialist sub-groups and weekly meetings.
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Floods
Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the insurance industry on provision for areas at high risk of flooding following the expiration of the Statement of Principles. [103316]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA Ministers have had recent meetings with a variety of representatives from the insurance industry regarding the future of flood insurance beyond June 2013, which is when the current agreement with insurers expires.
As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings. The Government remain committed to making sure flood insurance remains widely available and are considering the case for additional measures to help safeguard the affordability of flood insurance.
Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many homes in (a) Gloucestershire and (b) Gloucester were at high risk of flooding in the most recent period for which figures are available. [103317]
Richard Benyon: In Gloucestershire, 8,000 properties have a 1% (one in 100) chance of flooding each year from main rivers; 25,500 properties have a 0.5% (one in 200) chance of flooding each year from surface water flooding.
In Gloucester, 2,750 properties have a 1% (one in 100) chance of flooding each year from main rivers; 2,900 properties have a 0.5% (one in 200) chance of flooding each year from surface water flooding.
Floods: Victims
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps her Department plans to take to assist flood victims when the present Statement of Principles expires; and if she will make a statement; [104329]
(2) what her policy is on establishing an insurance pooling arrangement for potential flood victims; [104330]
(3) whether Ministers in her Department have had discussions with the insurance industry on the development of an Oxera or Morpeth insurance model. [104331]
Richard Benyon: The existing Statement of Principles is due to expire on 30 June 2013 and insurers do not want to renew it. A new shared understanding is being developed that sets out more clearly what individual customers can expect from their insurer and the Government.
We are also considering the case for additional measures to help safeguard the affordability of flood insurance. We are at an advanced stage in intensive negotiations with the insurance industry and will provide a further update later in the spring.
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Light Pollution
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on reducing light pollution. [103609]
Richard Benyon: In 2006, DEFRA produced guidance for local authorities on meeting their duties in investigating complaints of artificial light, when it was added to the statutory nuisance regime. The booklet, which is available on the DEFRA website, includes guidance on reducing light pollution produced by non-Government organisations such as the Institution of Lighting Professionals' “Guidance on the Reduction of Obtrusive Lighting”.
Additionally, as per DEFRA's commitment in the 2011 Natural Environment White Paper to
“work with industry and other bodies to reduce the negative impacts of artificial light and protect existing dark areas”,
we have contributed text on minimising obtrusive light to the UK Lighting Board's highway lighting guidance for local authorities. The document, “Well-lit Highways”, can be found on the UK Lighting Board's website.
In 2011, DEFRA also carried out a review of 15 local authorities reduced street lighting initiatives aimed at reducing costs, carbon emissions and light pollution. It is hoped that the information contained within this report, which is also available on the DEFRA website, may inform local authorities who face similar economic and environmental challenges in the future.
DEFRA will continue its role of ensuring future relevant Government policy development suitably considers the impact of outdoor artificial lighting.
Noise
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information her Department holds on the number of noise complaints received by local authorities in England in each of the last five years. [106203]
Richard Benyon: Local authorities have no obligation to report noise complaints data to DEFRA. DEFRA holds information provided by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), which carries out an annual noise nuisance complaint survey.
DEFRA holds the CIEH survey results for England for the following years, as shown in the following table. The number of local authorities who respond to the survey varies each year, so this information is also provided.
| Number | ||
| Noise nuisance complaints | Local authorities responding | |
For 2010-11, DEFRA only holds the combined results for England and Wales, where 137,977 complaints were received by 152 local authorities.
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Pesticides
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the effect of the use of nerve-agent pesticides on levels of food production; [103988]
(2) what discussion she has had with her EU counterparts on the effect of the use of nerve-agent pesticides on (a) global food production and (b) bee colonies across Europe. [103989]
Richard Benyon: Neonicotinoid insecticides prevent damage to important food crops such as cereals, oilseed rape, brassicas and sugar beet from pests such as aphids. When the aphid feeds on the crop it can introduce viruses which cause disease such as barley yellow dwarf virus (affecting cereals) and beet yellow virus (affecting sugar beet). These can have serious effects on crop yields and quality. Use of neonicotinoid seed treatments provides an alternative mode of action to organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides, and plays a key role helping to prevent the build up of resistance in the pests concerned.
Resistance to the main alternatives to neonicotinoids (pyrethroids and organophosphates) has emerged to a significant degree in pollen beetle (which is a widespread pest of oilseed rape) in France, Poland and Germany. Although resistance in the UK is limited to relatively small pockets of Eastern England, use of foliar neonicotinoids is the recommended agronomic strategy for containing resistant communities.
There have been no specific ministerial discussions within the EU on the effect of the use of neonicotinoid insecticides on food production. EU discussions on bee health have been in response to the Commission's Communication to the European Parliament and the Council in December 2010 which clarified the key issues related to bee health and the actions that the Commission is taking and intended to take to address these, including the subsequent appointment of an EU Reference Laboratory for Bee Health.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in what parts of the UK nerve-agent pesticides are being used; and what assessment she has made of the geographical dispersal of such pesticides. [103990]
Richard Benyon: Neonicotinoid insecticides are used in all parts of the UK, particularly on field crops such as cereals, oilseed rape, brassicas and sugar beet. There are no current authorisations in the UK for fipronil products.
Detailed information on the size of areas treated with specific pesticide active substances collected in the Government's Pesticide Usage Surveys is available on the Food and Environment Research Agency website. This shows the following treated areas in Great Britain in 2010 with neonicotinoid insecticides.
| Active substance | 2010 treated area (ha) (1,2,3) |
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| (1) These data are drawn from the Pesticides Usage Survey. The survey is a rolling programme and does not look at every crop in every year. Arable crops—which account for most of the use of neonicotinoids—were surveyed in 2010. The other crops included were surveyed between 2007 and 2010. (2) “Treated area” is the area treated with each active substance, multiplied by the number of times the area was treated. For example, if a field of 10 ha is treated four times with active X, the treated area is 40 ha. In the case of neonicotinoids the “treated area” is likely to be slightly larger than the crop area on which the pesticides were used. Most neonicotinoids are applied as seed treatments and will therefore only be used once per season. However, some are used as foliar treatments and may be applied several times each year. (3) Pre-2010 surveys show an area of 190 ha treated with fipronil when authorisations were in place. | |
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had on the effect of nerve-agent pesticides in (a) the UK and (b) Europe; when such discussions took place; and who attended such discussions. [103992]
Richard Benyon: There have been no specific ministerial discussions on neonicotinoid insecticides or fipronil outside Government or with other EU Ministers. The Health and Safety Executive's Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD), the UK pesticides regulatory body, is in regular contact with pesticide regulatory authorities in other member states, particularly the small number that have imposed greater restrictions on the use of neonicotinoids than have other member states. The CRD also provides regulatory support to the work of the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides in the UK.
Government scientists and officials are also actively engaged in a number of important international initiatives in this area, such as the European Commission's plan for honeybee health, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Pesticides Effects on Insect Pollinators initiative, the work of the International Commission for Plant-Bee Relationships and the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation, in developing the risk assessment schemes for honeybees which will cover all types of pesticides, including systemic seed treatments. CRD regulatory scientists are also participating in the work of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry on the pesticides risk assessment for pollinators (honeybees and non-Apis bees). Scientists and officials will continue to develop these links, including involvement in a Bee Working Group being established by the European Food Safety Authority to develop guidance to be used in the EU pesticides risk assessment process.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to create a list of prescribed pesticide ingredients under section 43 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006; and if she will make a statement. [105388]
Richard Benyon:
The intentional use of poisoned bait to kill wild birds or animals is already prohibited under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the abuse or misuse of pesticides is also an offence under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985. Pesticides most commonly occurring in wildlife poisoning incidents are not approved for use in the UK, so people should not
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have them in their possession. In view of the legislation already in place, an order under section 43 will not be pursued at this time.
Peter Cruddas
Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in her Department have had any meetings with Peter Cruddas since May 2010. [103516]
Richard Benyon: No Ministers, special advisers or senior core DEFRA officials have had any meetings with Peter Cruddas since May 2010.
Public Consultation
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which of her 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. [104076]
Richard Benyon: None of the consultations carried out by core DEFRA since 2007 have been externally verified.
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department collects the IP addresses of online respondents to its consultations. [104077]
Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA does not collect IP addresses of respondents to its consultations.
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department accepts anonymous contributions to its consultations. [104078]
Richard Benyon: Yes. All responses, both written and those fed in through other channels such as discussion forums and public meetings, are analysed carefully and are considered as part of the consultation process.
Retirement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff of her Department retired in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; how many such staff were taking early retirement in each such year; and if she will make a statement. [104560]
Richard Benyon: In 2010-11, 48 DEFRA employees retired, of whom 23 retired below their pensionable age.
In 2011-12, 120 DEFRA employees retired, of whom 77 retired below their pensionable age.
The figures include members of staff who left the Department for the following reasons:
Normal age-related retirement;
Actuarially reduced retirement;
Retirement on grounds of ill-health;
Voluntary exit scheme with receipt of pension.
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Sarah Southern
Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in her Department have had any meetings with Sarah Southern since May 2010. [103515]
Richard Benyon: No Ministers, special advisers or senior core DEFRA officials have had any meetings with Sarah Southern since May 2010.
Seafish
Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to ensure that the makeup of each panel appointed by Seafish will take into account geographical and sector interests. [105471]
Richard Benyon: The makeup of each panel will ultimately be determined by Seafish, having taken account of the messages from the recent discussion with industry. I understand they will have a mix of sectoral and regional interest. Seafish will announce the makeup of the panels in May and details will be available on their website.
Tyres: Exports
Dr Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what volume of used car tyres was exported to the Far East under the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007 in each month since September 2011 from (a) England and Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland; [104831]
(2) what safeguards are built into the monitoring by the Environment Agency of the trade in used tyres from the UK to the Far East, to determine that the eventual destination of these shipments can demonstrate that the tyres are being recovered using Best Available Technique and that the lifecycle analysis of this trade demonstrates a lower generation of gas and carbon emissions compared with viable alternatives to recycle used tyres in the UK. [104832]
Richard Benyon: Under the controls on waste shipments from the EU, used car tyres may be legally exported from the UK and EU to certain countries specified in the legislation for genuine recovery including energy recovery and/or recycling.
Tyres are classified as “green list” waste and may be exported from the UK to these countries without prior notification and consent from the environment agencies. Records relating to the export of used car tyres from the UK under the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007 are therefore not routinely collected by the environment agencies. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) collect data for the export of used pneumatic tyres from the UK, and this is available online at:
www.uktradeinfo.com
The Environment Agency takes an intelligence-led approach to monitoring the export of waste and works with a number of partners, including the police, HMRC and competent authorities abroad to disrupt illegal exports of waste. The Environment Agency also works
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closely with the shipping industry to determine the final destination of suspected illegal consignments of waste, and takes enforcement action where necessary.
Water
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the potential cost of building a pipeline to move water from the north to the south of England. [101691]
Richard Benyon: In 2006, the Environment Agency assessed the cost of a north to south pipeline and estimated costs of between £8 million and £14 million per megalitre a day compared to about £1.6 million per megalitre for building a new reservoir in the south east.
As water is heavy and expensive to move large scale infrastructure investment does not tend to be cost effective against alternative options. Relatively local connections are likely to be more cost effective, incrementally building a more integrated network. Water companies are already joining up their sources of supply to build resilience, bring flexibility to the water supply network and keep down the costs of meeting future demand. A new option to transfer water from Severn Trent to Anglian Water to improve resilience to drought is currently under development.
The Government, Ofwat and the Environment Agency are taking action to ensure that options for trading and transfer of water are taken forward where they are sustainable and cost effective for consumers.
Water Charges
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to prevent water companies overcharging customers who pay by direct debit; and if she will make a statement. [104486]
Richard Benyon: Ofwat is the economic regulator of water and sewerage services in England and Wales. Complaints about billing and charging account for 54% of complaints to Ofwat and the sector's consumer body, the Consumer Council for Water. Inaccurate direct debits result in the customer making payments and then having to retrieve the money from their water company.
Ofwat are clear that inappropriate sums should not be taken via direct debit without the customer's consent. The Direct Debit Agreement operated by BACS requires water companies to notify customers in advance of a debit if the amount, date or frequency is to change. BACS will seek to resolve disputes on behalf of customers if they consider a direct debit has been made without their consent.
Ofwat expects companies to respond in a timely and appropriate manner if a customer disputes their bill or payment.
Water Supply
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the effect of fracking in the UK on the sustainability of water resources. [105695]
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Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency is currently undertaking a detailed environmental assessment of shale gas extraction to ensure that it has all the information it needs to be able to regulate appropriately to protect the environment, including water resources.
Any application to abstract water in England and Wales for hydraulic fracturing will be assessed by the Environment Agency like any other application for water abstraction. The Environment Agency will only authorise additional water abstraction when there is water available and there are no risks to the rights of existing abstraction licence holders. It has powers to impose appropriate restrictions where these are justified in the specific context.
Water: Shortages
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the potential effects on the economy of the hosepipe bans currently in force. [104274]
Richard Benyon: The current cost to the economy of the hosepipe bans currently in force is currently considered to be low. Work by the National Drought Group will include developing the evidence base for social and economic costs of the ongoing drought.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of problems in the agricultural sector caused by inadequate water supplies in each of the last five years. [104278]
Richard Benyon: There has been no specific assessment of problems in the agriculture sector caused by inadequate water supplies in the last five years. DEFRA undertakes annual surveys to understand and monitor changes in the sector, but these can be influenced by a number of factors, of which water supply is just one. Farmers are experienced at dealing with changes in weather and impacts on the natural environment and will continue to take decisions in the light of their local circumstances, on how to manage their operations and business in order to adapt to and mitigate a wide range of impacts.
DEFRA funds research and collaborates with industry on projects bearing on water use and water availability for farming. These include research and development on irrigation, crop breeding for improved water use efficiency and improving the efficiency of water use on livestock farms, and helping farmers better plan and manage their water requirements through collaborative approaches and the use of on-farm water storage reservoirs.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Afghanistan on the number of women imprisoned for zina in Afghanistan since 2005; and if he will make a statement. [106048]
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Alistair Burt: I have not held any specific discussions with my Afghan interlocutors on the imprisonment of women for zina-related offences. However, we continue to work with our international partners to press the Afghan Government to uphold their commitments under the Afghan Constitution, which includes equal rights for men and women.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 19 April 2012, Official Report, column 492W, on Afghanistan, if he will work with the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission to examine the increase in the number of women being arrested and imprisoned for zina in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [106049]
Alistair Burt: The UK, alongside international partners, continues to provide funding to the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission on a broad range of Human Rights concerns inside Afghanistan. An important area of their work focuses on educating Afghan citizens on human rights, particularly in reference to women and children, and resolving cases of human rights violations and abuse. The UK will continue to support their work.
Business: Ethics
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to promote the UN Guiding Principles on business and human rights to companies listed in the UK. [106129]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and other Departments have recently had a series of meetings with UK companies to discuss the Guiding Principles on business and human rights.
The outcome of these meetings will be used to inform development of the forthcoming Government strategy on business and human rights, which will comprise a strong Government endorsement of the Guiding Principles and messaging for companies on our expectations about corporate respect for human rights.
Officials across Whitehall have also been working to introduce dedicated information on the Guiding Principles, and business and human rights, to the Overseas Business Risk service, run jointly by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and the FCO. The many companies currently accessing this service will shortly also be able to assess the risks of overseas markets, including relevant country-specific human rights issues.
Commonwealth
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which vehicles are provided for the use of high commissioners and consuls in each of the Commonwealth countries. [105185]
Mr Bellingham: Official vehicles are not provided for the use of consuls. The following vehicles are provided for the use of high commissioners in Commonwealth countries:
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| Country | Vehicle |
Diamond Jubilee 2012
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department is planning a Diamond Jubilee event at the European Parliament. [106254]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has no plans to hold an event at the European Parliament in connection with the Diamond Jubilee.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he plans to make for celebrations of Her Majesty’s diamond jubilee in British embassies and consulates. [106278]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The diamond jubilee is an important celebration for the United Kingdom, at home and overseas. We have encouraged our ambassadors and high commissioners to mark the occasion and through it to strengthen our bilateral relationships with their host countries. Many are planning events for the jubilee weekend. Others have already taken the opportunity of visits by members of the royal family to celebrate the jubilee.
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Female Genital Mutilation
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with countries in sub-Saharan Africa on the prevention of female genital mutilation of girls from the UK. [105904]
Mr Bellingham: The Government is committed to tackling and preventing female genital mutilation (FGM). Although female genital mutilation is a complicated cultural and religious issue and remains legal in some sub-Saharan countries, we do discuss it with Governments in countries in which it is still practiced. At the time of writing, the Ministerial Champion for tackling violence against women and girls overseas, the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone), is in Africa. In Ethiopia, she held wide-ranging discussions with the Ethiopian Government on what more can be done to address gender-based violence, including FGM. In Uganda she will also discuss the issue of violence against women, including encouraging the Government to implement existing legislation against FGM. We continue to raise the issue through our posts in the sub-Saharan Africa, for instance recently in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Female Staff
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the proportion of female civil servants was in his Department at the level of director and above in the second quarter of 2011-12. [105891]
Mr Bellingham: The average percentage of Foreign and Commonwealth Office UK based female officers at director level and above, at home and overseas, in the second quarter of financial year (FY) 2011-12 was 13.2%. The current figure is 16%. The proportion of female officers in the senior management structure as a whole during the second quarter of FY 2011-12 averaged 22.4%. The current figure is 24.3%.
Guided Weapons
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether the Storm Shadow missile made by MBDA Missile Systems falls within the scope of the Missile Technology Control Regime; and if he will make a statement. [106298]
Alistair Burt: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Immigration
Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the work of his Department's Migration Directorate is funded by the UK Border Agency. [106222]
Mr Jeremy Browne: 97% of the funding used for Migration Directorate and its overseas network comes from the UK Border Agency.
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Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of staff in the Migration Directorate are on secondment from the UK Border Agency. [106223]
Mr Jeremy Browne: 46% of the staff in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Migration Directorate are seconded from the UK Border Agency.
Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role staff from his Department's Migration Directorate play in investigating claims of mistreatment of refused asylum seekers who have been forcibly removed from the UK. [106224]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Migration Directorate has a network of Migration Delivery Officers (MDOs) based overseas.
In the event of a claim of mistreatment by a failed asylum seeker who had been returned to their country of origin, the relevant MDO would investigate.
Boston College Project
Dr Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has discussed the Government's request to subpoena recordings from the Boston College oral history project with the US Secretary of State. [106233]
Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has not discussed the issue of the Boston College oral history project with the US Secretary of State. In line with the Government's bilateral treaty with the United States on mutual legal assistance, all requests for assistance are transmitted via the Home Office.
Israel
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the growth of the Christian community in Israel. [106113]
Alistair Burt: The British embassy in Tel Aviv have obtained the following information from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics:
2.1% of Israeli's population is Christian
there is a 0.9% growth rate among the Christian population in Israel (this is relatively low)
More information can be found at:
http://www.cbs.gov.il/engindex.htm
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the extent of freedom of religion in Israel. [106264]
Alistair Burt: All Israeli citizens are free to worship according to their own beliefs.
Israel's Declaration of Independence calls for the establishment of a Jewish state with equal social and political rights for all citizens, irrespective of religion, race or sex. We urge the application of the Declaration of Independence and Israeli law to all citizens of Israel.
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Where there is intolerance, be that of political rights, religion, race or sex, we encourage the Israeli Government to tackle it.
John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the Christian community in Israel and their access to holy places. [106272]
Alistair Burt: The UK Government places a high priority on the right to freedom of religion for all. All Israeli citizens are free to worship according to their own beliefs.
The UK is not aware of specific legal restrictions placed upon Christians in Israel to practise their religion. However, we remain deeply concerned about restrictions on freedom of movement to holy sites outside Israel. The UK Government regularly discusses these issues with religious leaders of all faiths, and with the relevant authorities, including raising specific cases as appropriate and discussing ways of protecting holy sites across Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories.
Israel's Declaration of Independence calls for the establishment of a Jewish state with equal social and political rights for all citizens, irrespective of religion, race or sex. We urge the application of the Declaration of Independence and Israeli law to all citizens of Israel.
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the boarding in international waters by members of the Israeli armed forces of the ships Beethoven and Victoria in April 2012; and if he will make a statement. [106291]
Alistair Burt: We are aware of reports that HS Beethoven was boarded on 22 April 2012. We have received no reports of Israeli forces boarding the Victoria in April 2012, but are aware of an incident relating to that vessel in April 2011.
Reports indicate that the Israeli Defence Force boarded the HS Beethoven as part of a routine patrol. The ship's route apparently raised concerns that it might have been carrying weapons destined for Gaza. No weapons were found and the ship continued on route.
The UK recognises that Israel has legitimate security concerns that must continue to be safeguarded. We urge the Government of Israel to ensure that any actions carried out adhere to international law.
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the Israeli navy boarding ships in international waters. [106292]
Alistair Burt: The most recent incident of which we are aware is that relating to the HS Beethoven, which was boarded by the Israel Defence Force on 22 April 2012.
Reports indicate that the Israel Defence Force boarded the HS Beethoven as part of a routine patrol. The ship's route apparently raised concerns that it might have been carrying weapons destined for Gaza. No weapons were found and the ship continued on route.
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The UK recognises that Israel has legitimate security concerns that must continue to be safeguarded. We urge the Government of Israel to ensure that any actions carried out adhere to international law.
Mali
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Mali; and what reports he has received of the claims of the Tuareg people. [105569]
Mr Bellingham: The UK welcomes the progress that has been made towards returning Mali to constitutional, civilian rule following the forcible seizure of power on 21 March 2012. We welcome the inauguration of interim President Dioncounda Traore on 12 April 2012 and continue to support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)-led efforts to return Mali to full democracy, including the holding of elections. The UK continues to be deeply concerned by the deteriorating security situation in the north of the country following the capture of three cities by Tuareg insurgents, some with reported connections to Al-Qaeda.
The UK welcomes the UN Security Council statement of 8 April 2012 rejecting the Tuareg declaration of independence of the state of Azawad in northern Mali. We fully support the efforts made by ECOWAS, as well as by the Special Representative of the Secretary General for West Africa and by the African Union, to protect the unity and territorial integrity of Mali.
Middle East
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the size of the Christian community in (a) Egypt, (b) Iraq, (c) Israel, (d) Jordan, (e) Lebanon, (f) the Palestinian Territories, (g) Saudi Arabia and (h) Syria. [106116]
Alistair Burt: We do not maintain detailed demographic information on foreign states. We rely on a variety of sources such as the State Department's International Religious Freedom report
http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/
and UN High Commissioner for Refugees
http://www.unhcr.org
The British embassy in Tel Aviv have obtained information from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics noting that 2.1% of Israeli's population is Christian.
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security of the Christian community in (a) Egypt, (b) Iraq, (c) Israel, (d) Jordan, (e) Lebanon, (f) the Palestinian Territories, (g) Saudi Arabia and (h) Syria. [106117]
Alistair Burt:
In Egypt, tensions between Christians and Muslims had eased during the street protests in early 2011. Regrettably, the transition period has seen an upsurge in sectarian violence, but we assess that
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tensions have decreased since 9 October 2011, when violent clashes resulted in the deaths of 25 people and left over 200 injured.
In Iraq, the security situation for Christians has generally improved over the past 12 months, although the situation facing Iraq's ethnic and religious groups remains precarious.
There has been no recent assessment made of the security of either the Palestinian or Israeli Christian communities. However, Palestinian Christians may, like Palestinians of other faiths, face other security restrictions as a result of the policies of the respective authorities exercising control over the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
There are no restrictions placed upon Christians in Lebanon and Jordan to practice their religion. In Lebanon the rights of Christians are enshrined in the national pact and the constitution, while in Jordan the Government is overwhelmingly tolerant of the Christian minority. There has been no assessment that this situation has changed in recent months.
Although the practice of any religion other than Islam is officially banned in Saudi Arabia, being a Christian and worshipping privately does not usually carry any serious punishment. In practice, some moderation has been applied allowing Christian communities to meet in private. We do not assess that this situation has changed in recent months.
In Syria the regime's actions continue to undermine the stability and security of Syria and therefore endanger all of Syria's citizens, including Christians and other religious minorities.