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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Attorney-General
Police: Criminal Allegations
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Attorney-General what recent discussions he has had with the Director of Public Prosecutions on the Crown Prosecution Service's handling of criminal allegations against police. [108452]
The Attorney-General: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the oral question from the right hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Ann Clwyd), earlier today.
European Court of Human Rights
Stuart Andrew: To ask the Attorney-General what recent assessment he has made of prospects for the reform of the European Court of Human Rights. [108458]
The Attorney-General: Good progress has been made in clearing the backlog of inadmissible cases. However more work is needed to address the growing backlog of admissible cases, hence the recent Brighton Declaration under the UK's Chairmanship of the Council of Europe, which represents a substantial and important step towards realising the Government's ambitions.
Departmental Staff
Frank Dobson: To ask the Attorney-General how many jobs formerly in the Law Officers' Departments and their public bodies were transferred to the private sector in 2011-12. [108898]
Prisoners: Repatriation
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Attorney-General what steps the Crown Prosecution Service is taking to request that custodial sentences handed down to foreign nationals be served in prison in their own countries. [108532]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service has no power to request that a prisoner should serve their sentence in a foreign jurisdiction. Decisions on prisoner transfer agreements are a matter for the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke).
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Wales
Carbon Emissions
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps her Department took to reduce its carbon emissions in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [108600]
Mr David Jones: The Wales Office is provided with its corporate and estates management services by the Ministry of Justice, and so is contained within that Ministry's sustainability framework and targets and participates in its environmental initiatives.
Specific steps the Wales Office has implemented include: encouraging greater use of video conferencing facilities rather than travelling; replacing IT equipment with more energy-efficient models; providing better facilities for the collection of recyclable materials, and improving the range of materials that are recycled; and, where possible, installing automatic lighting that switches off lights when the room is unoccupied.
Complaints
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many complaints about the work of her Department were received in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if she will make a statement. [108958]
Local Government: Assets
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has held with (a) Welsh Ministers and (b) other groups, organisations or individuals on the criteria for being listed as an asset of community value in Wales. [108189]
Mr David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), and I regularly have discussions with a range of people including Welsh Ministers on matters that affect Wales. I have met with the Welsh Minister for Local Government and Communities to discuss issues within the Localism Act 2011 including assets of community value, and we held a joint briefing session for MPs on the then Bill's framework powers. The Localism Act 2011 gives employees, community and voluntary groups and parish councils the power to develop proposals on how services can be run differently or better, and to give groups the time they need to prepare effective bids for running public services. In Wales, wherever details are left for delegated powers under the Act, the Welsh Government will produce regulations specific to Wales in due course.
Lost Property
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many items of equipment valued at £10,000 or more her Department lost in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if she will make a statement. [108937]
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Newspaper Press
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions she has held with (a) Welsh Ministers and (b) any other groups, organisations or individuals on the printed news media in Wales. [108186]
Mr David Jones: The Secretary of State for Wales, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs Gillan), has regular meetings with ministerial colleagues in HM Government, the Welsh Government, and other interested parties about issues affecting Wales, and has recently visited Media Wales in Cardiff and the South Wales Argus in Newport.
The Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, my hon. Friend the Member for Wantage (Mr Vaizey), has also organised a Q&A session with local newspaper groups for all Westminster MPs to be held on 23 May.
Prime Minister
South East Asia
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Prime Minister what the names and company affiliations are of those who accompanied him on his recent visit to Indonesia. [109048]
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Prime Minister what the names and company affiliations are of those who accompanied him on his recent visit to Malaysia. [109051]
The Prime Minister: I have placed in the Libraries of both Houses a list of the delegation that accompanied me to South East Asia.
Northern Ireland
Bomb Disposal
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) on what dates he met the Secretary of State for Defence to discuss the deployment of army bomb disposal teams in Northern Ireland in the latest period for which figures are available; [109045]
(2) what recent assessment he has made of the liaison between the Police Service for Northern Ireland and army bomb disposal teams in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement; [109046]
(3) what responsibility his Department has for army bomb disposal teams in Northern Ireland and their deployment; and if he will make a statement. [109090]
Mr Paterson: Explosive Ordnance Disposal in Northern Ireland is provided by the military in support of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. I understand that there is a high level of cooperation on this very important matter and that the excellent working relationship allows for the delivery of a high quality of service as and when the need arises.
The operation and funding of equipment and support for these teams is a matter for the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede
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and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), who I meet regularly to discuss a range of issues, including the deployment of the Ammunition Technical Officers in Northern Ireland.
Terrorism
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the additional £200 million given to the Police Service for Northern Ireland to fight terrorism was allocated in February 2011. [109047]
Mr Paterson: The Police Service of Northern Ireland received a one off additional £199.5 million from the HM Treasury Reserve to help protect the people of Northern Ireland and tackle the terrorist threat. This funding is spread over four years (2011-15) and will enhance the PSNI’s ability to proactively tackle the terrorist threat.
Energy and Climate Change
Carbon Emissions
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information he holds on the contribution to global warming made by emissions of black carbon (a) within the EU and (b) worldwide. [108560]
Gregory Barker: Research reported in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report (IPCC AR4, 2007) indicated that black carbon emitted into the atmosphere by fossil fuel, biofuel and biomass burning has contributed +0.34 +/-0.25Wm(-2 )of the change in total radiative forcing globally since 1750. There is also a smaller warming effect due to the deposition of black carbon on surface snow and ice, which the IPCC AR4 estimated to be about +0.1 +/-0.1 W/m(2).
In the same period, European black carbon emissions have contributed about 11% of global emissions and therefore approximately 11% of the total warming due to black carbon.
By comparison, the total warming effect from long-lived greenhouse gases was estimated by the IPCC to be +2.64Wm(-2), making black carbon the second largest warming influence upon the climate.
Carbon Sequestration
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what criteria he plans to use to assess the environmental effects of projects eligible for funding under the carbon capture and storage commercialisation programme prior to award decisions being made. [108205]
Gregory Barker:
The question of whether or not a project which may have an adverse impact on the environment can proceed is primarily one for the authorities responsible for granting the necessary consents, permits and licences. However, the assessment of projects will include consideration of: their compatibility with the surrounding environment, and their ability to meet appropriate environment, health and safety, requirements;
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the developer's ability to ensure that permitting, planning and environmental issues are sufficiently addressed; the adequacy of the environmental management plan and the robustness of the bidder's permitting and consultation strategy.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether an award of funding under the UK Carbon Capture and Storage Commercialisation Programme may be given to proposals for power plants which have not yet gained project consent. [108251]
Gregory Barker: All bidders submitting projects under the CCS programme have been asked to demonstrate how they will achieve all necessary consents, licences and permits required to build and operate a project. Projects will then be evaluated on their ability to ensure that these issues will be addressed in time to implement the project in accordance with the agreed programme. Clearly, evidence that a project already has necessary consents will be evaluated positively, and a project which could not demonstrate a realistic prospect of obtaining necessary consents on agreed timescales would not be funded. Where a project is selected for funding, evidence that any outstanding key consents, licences and permits are in place will be required before the contract takes effect.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the Office of Carbon Capture and Storage would consider awarding funding through the UK Carbon Capture and Storage Commercialisation Programme to projects which may have an adverse impact on a designated wildlife site. [108252]
Gregory Barker: The question of whether or not a project which may have an adverse impact on a designated wildlife site can proceed is primarily one for the authorities responsible for granting the necessary environmental consents, permits and licences. However, all bidders submitting proposals for the funding of projects under the CCS programme are asked to provide information about how they will achieve all necessary consents, licences and permits required to build and operate a project, including those relating to the environmental impact of the proposal. This information will be taken, into account in the assessment used to determine which projects are awarded funding, and clearly a project which could not demonstrate a realistic prospect of obtaining necessary environmental consents would not be funded.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which companies were represented at the Bidder Event for the UK Carbon Capture and Storage Commercialisation Programme held on 4 April 2012. [108253]
Gregory Barker: The Carbon Capture and Storage industry day on 4 April was one of a number of engagements the Department had with industry to explain the approach to the CCS competition and to gauge interest. Given that for some companies their attendance may have been commercially sensitive we would not normally disclose a list of attendees.
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We have however now completed this process and, on 16 May, the Department published a list of companies that have signalled their intention to apply to the new CCS competition. Details are on the DECC website at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn12_060/pn12_060.aspx
Complaints
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many complaints about the work of his Department and each of its non-departmental public bodies were received in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [108955]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), can advise that DECC has received one official complaint about a civil servant in 2010-11.
One complaint about the Boiler Scrappage Scheme in 2010-11; and
1,061 complaints relating to Warm Front in 2010-11 and 1,267 in 2011-12. These include both phone calls and those in writing, 26 of these cases were escalated through DECC's internal appeal process.
Our NDPB's have reported the following complaints:
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) received 4 complaints in 2010-11 (three of these from the same person) and four complaints in 2011-12. The Coal Authority have received seven complaints in 2010-11 and eight complaints in 2011-12.
Departmental Staff: Political Affiliation
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the (a) job title and (b) pay band was of each official, excluding special advisers, recruited by his Department since May 2010 who was previously employed in any capacity by the (i) Conservative Party or its elected representatives and (ii) Liberal Democrat Party or its elected representatives; and whether their position was advertised publicly. [107273]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) does not hold details of the previous employment of its staff on a central database. Searching individual records to find this information would incur disproportionate costs.
Energy: Housing
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential contribution to green home improvement of employee benefit schemes. [108687]
Gregory Barker: We look carefully at all ideas for encouraging uptake, including a range of possible proposals for workplace initiatives.
Energy: Meters
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his Department's estimate is of the likely cost of the smart meter programme; how many meters will be installed; and where such meters will be manufactured. [108842]
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Charles Hendry: The roll-out of smart metering is projected to cost £11.5 billion, and deliver benefits of £18.6 billion. It will involve the installation of some 53 million smart electricity and gas meters in approximately 30 million premises.
The roll-out of smart meters will be carried out by the energy suppliers and each supplier is responsible for sourcing meters for their customers; a range of smart meter manufacturers are available to energy suppliers both within the UK and globally.
Energy: Prices
Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward proposals to reform domestic energy pricing to ensure higher charges are paid for higher consumption. [108393]
Charles Hendry: I currently have no plans to reform domestic energy pricing in this way. A risk of this kind of pricing approach is that it could make the energy needs of some vulnerable households, such as elderly and disabled people, more expensive to fulfil. This would especially be the case where a relatively high need for energy is accompanied by low levels of energy efficiency.
Fossil Fuels: Subsidies
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions took place at the Clean Energy Ministerial meeting on global fossil fuel subsidy reform on 25 and 26 April 2012. [108750]
Gregory Barker: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer the Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, my hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Charles Hendry), gave him on 17 January 2012, Official Report, columns 679-80W, that fossil fuel subsidy reform was not explicitly on the agenda of the Clean Energy Ministerial. However there was some limited discussion on fossil fuel subsidy reform in the light of the presentation from the International Energy Agency on its publication ‘Tracking Clean Energy Progress' which outlined the need to level the playing field for clean energy technologies by, among others things:
‘building on G20 efforts to phase out the use of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, while ensuring access to affordable energy for all citizens'.
Lost Property
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many items of equipment valued at £10,000 or more his Department lost in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [108926]
Gregory Barker: No items of equipment valued at £10,000 or more have been lost by the Department in 2010-11 or 2011-12.
Meetings
Mr Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on what dates (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) senior officials in his Department have met representatives of (i) the Institute for Public Policy Research, (ii) the Taxpayers' Alliance, (iii) the
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Institute of Economic Affairs, (iv) ResPublica, (v) the Centre for Social Justice and (vi) Policy Exchange; and if he will publish the minutes and agendas of these meetings. [108972]
Gregory Barker: Meetings between DECC Ministers and external organisations are published quarterly on the Department's website, as are meetings between the permanent secretary and external organisations. For quarters which have not yet been published these will be published in due course.
The Department tries to keep in touch with policy research and new thinking relevant to energy and climate change matters. Officials meet with a wide variety of organisations not limited to the six listed in this question. I am aware of a number of meetings between senior officials and the organisations listed. Senior officials met with IPPR representatives on 18( )April 2011, 18 July 2011, 5 August 2011 and 13 April 2012, and with Respublica representatives on 20 January 2011 at a meeting and on 26 June 2011 when a representative spoke at a ministerial event. There was a meeting between a senior official at a request from Policy Exchange on 14 December 2010. For meetings which are primarily directed towards learning about new work or research it would not be normal for there to be a formal agenda or minutes
There are no meeting minutes or agendas for meetings with senior officials to publish.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Birkenhead of 17 April 2012. [108896]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), has now replied to the letter.
Tidal Power
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential for tidal energy developments in Welsh coastal waters. [107944]
Gregory Barker: In 2007 the Government commissioned the further development of the UK Marine Renewables Energy Atlas. The Atlas represents the most detailed regional description of potential marine energy resources in UK waters ever completed to date at a national scale.
The Atlas is publicly available at:
http://www.renewables-atlas.info/
DECC also takes a strategic view on the environmental impacts of deploying wave and tidal energy technologies. The Department recently published its Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA 2) which considered Wave and Tidal Energy Technologies for England and Wales and concluded that there are no overriding environmental considerations to prevent the leasing of wave and tidal energy devices provided appropriate measures are implemented that prevent, reduce and offset significant adverse impacts on the environment and other users of the sea.
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Trade Unions
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many trade union representatives in (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies had (i) part-time and (ii) full-time paid facility time arrangements in 2011-12. [107355]
Gregory Barker: The Recognition Agreement between DECC and the recognised trade unions (the Public and Commercial Services Union, the FDA and Prospect) follows the ACAS Code of Practice “Time off for Trades Union Duties and Activities” and sets out the details of facility time agreed between parties.
In 2011-12 DECC employed two full-time equivalent officers. In addition, the Department had 11 part-time representatives with specific facility time arrangements not exceeding 20% of their working hours.
The Department has responsibility for four non-departmental bodies:
The Civil Nuclear Police Authority
The Coal Authority
The Committee on Climate Change
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Of these, the Civil Nuclear Police Authority employed two full-time equivalent officers and four part-time representatives with specific facility time arrangements not exceeding 50 days per year.
The other bodies confirm they had no full-time or part-time paid facility time arrangements.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many days were utilised for paid facility time by each trade union representative in (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies for trade union (i) duties and (ii) activities in 2011-12. [107357]
Gregory Barker: The Recognition Agreement between DECC and the recognised trade unions (the Public and Commercial Services Union, the FDA and Prospect) follows the ACAS Code of Practice “Time off for Trades Union Duties and Activities” and sets out the details of facility time agreed between parties.
In 2011-12 in DECC the number of days utilised for paid facility time duties were 218 and for paid facility time activities 38.
The Department has responsibility for four non-departmental bodies:
The Civil Nuclear Police Authority
The Coal Authority
The Committee on Climate Change
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
These bodies did not hold this information.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 1 May 2012, Official Report, column 1381W, on departmental responsibilities, if she will list the 17 rural and farming networks; and what the name is of the chair of each such network. [108354]
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Richard Benyon: The 17 rural and farming networks and their chairs are as follows:
Common Agricultural Policy
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent progress she has made in discussions with (a) her EU counterparts and (b) the European Commission on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. [107978]
Richard Benyon: The European Commission's Common Agricultural Policy proposals are currently being negotiated by member states in the Agriculture Council and, for the first time, by the European Parliament under co-decision. Either the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), or the Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for South East Cambridgeshire (Mr Paice), has attended each monthly Agriculture Council and they have met Agriculture Ministers from other member states to push the UK negotiating position and discuss reform of the CAP; we are working very hard to build alliances and gain support for the things we want.
Since the new year, Ministers have also met EU colleagues in targeted bilaterals, including the Minister of State's visit to Prague to discuss capping with our Czech counterpart and the Secretary of State's discussions with German and Estonian Ministers during Berlin Green Week. Particular progress has been made through our active involvement with the Stockholm Group, comprising of Agriculture Ministers from Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Latvia and Estonia, in which Ministers have discussed alternatives to the Commission's unpopular greening proposals. The Commission has started to acknowledge member states' dissatisfaction and propose the necessary adjustments.
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Dairy Farming
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to introduce a voluntary code of practice in the dairy industry. [107974]
Richard Benyon: We continue to strongly support the industry introducing its own robust voluntary code of practice which should improve contractual conditions and therefore the balance of power.
A voluntary code is preferable to regulation for many reasons. It could be in place more quickly, and deal with the issues more flexibly, including those where the EU regulations cannot help, such as notice periods and exclusivity of supply. A code of practice would also keep the industry in control rather than relying upon prescriptive legislation.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has made an assessment of the effect of the recent price reduction by milk processors on the dairy industry. [107975]
Richard Benyon: The Government wants to see a profitable, thriving, sustainable and competitive dairy sector. The recent price reduction by milk processors is very bad news for those farmers affected. However this is a feature of a volatile market. This underlines the need for the industry to agree on a robust voluntary code of practice that will improve contractual conditions and therefore the balance of power.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had on the effect on the dairy industry of the recent price reduction by milk processors. [107976]
Richard Benyon: On 10 May the Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for South East Cambridgeshire (Mr Paice), chaired discussions with senior representatives from throughout the industry at the latest meeting of the Dairy Supply Chain Forum which came after the announcement of recent price reductions by milk processors. The meeting was constructive including focus on progress in establishing a robust voluntary code of practice. This could improve the management of price changes by establishing more balanced and effective contractual conditions.
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 1 May 2012, Official Report, column 1380W, on dairy farming, whether she plans to introduce legislative proposals relating to the EU Dairy Package through primary or secondary legislation; and whether legislative proposals relating to Wales will be brought forward through Parliament or the National Assembly for Wales. [108540]
Richard Benyon:
The Dairy Package is an EU Regulation which is directly applicable in the UK. We are currently considering the need for supplementary Regulations dealing with penalties and the possible exercise of optional elements in the Regulation. These would be adopted as
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secondary legislation. Consultations on the implementation of the package are expected in each part of the UK in the autumn. With the exception of any competition matters (which are reserved to UK Parliament), it is anticipated that separate regulations would be adopted by Welsh Ministers.
Eggs
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the extent of expansion in the free-range egg sector. [107983]
Richard Benyon: For some time, the free-range egg sector has been expanding steadily in response to growing demand as public awareness of production welfare standards has increased. The following table shows that since 2000, the percentage of overall production has increased from 20% in 2000 to almost 50% in the first quarter of 2012.
| Percentage of production by egg type | |||
| Intensive | Free Range | Other | |
Flood Control
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps she is taking to manage and mitigate the long-term risk of flooding in the UK from (a) heavy rainfall, (b) river flooding and (c) coastal flooding. [108104]
Richard Benyon: This Government will spend £2.17 billion on managing the risk of flooding and coastal erosion over this spending period (April 2011 to March 2015). This includes investment in understanding the risks of flooding through better risk mapping, flood forecasting and warnings and heightening public awareness of flood risk; investment in flood defences and strategic planning; and investment in emergency response capabilities.
We have prioritised areas of severe flood and coastal erosion risk, and households in deprived communities. Risk management authorities are on track to exceed the goal of better protecting 145,000 homes by 2015. Around 100,000 of these will be in areas of significant flood risk.
Floods: Insurance
Tristram Hunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she is taking steps to ensure that flood insurance continues to
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be available as a feature of standard household and small business policies after the expiration of the Statement of Principles agreement between the UK Government and devolved governments and the insurance industry on 30 June 2013. [108109]
Richard Benyon: In 2008 the Government and the insurance industry agreed that the existing Statement of Principles would expire on 30 June 2013. A new shared understanding is being developed that sets out more clearly what individual customers can expect from their insurer and the Government. It will also reinforce the principle that action taken by communities, individuals, Government and businesses to reduce flood risk will be the best way of keeping insurance terms affordable into the future.
In the current spending period, the Government is spending over £2.17 billion on flood and coastal erosion risk management, thus offering better protection to over 145,000 homes.
We are also considering the case for additional measures to help safeguard the affordability of flood insurance. We are in intensive negotiations with the insurance industry and will provide a further update in the near future.
Marine Conservation Zones
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to put in place interim measures to prevent damage to conservation features in recommended marine conservation zones in the North sea; and if she will release a timetable setting out when she expects all 127 recommended marine conservation zones to be protected through formal designation. [107652]
Richard Benyon: The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 sets out the provisions and responsibilities in relation to the protection of marine conservation zones (MCZs). Section 125 of the Act places a duty on public authorities to exercise their functions in a manner that best furthers (or least hinders) the conservation objective of MCZs. Under section 132 of the Act, the Marine Management Organisation has powers to introduce interim byelaws for the purposes of protecting any feature where there are, or may be, reasons for the Secretary of State to consider whether to designate the area as an MCZ, and there is an urgent need to protect the feature.
I made a written ministerial statement to the House of Commons on 15 November 2011, Official Report, columns 35-36WS, setting out the timetable for the designation of marine conservation zones. The full statement can be found in the Libraries of the House.
Meat: Contamination
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) her European counterparts and (b) the EU Commission on the decision to ban desinewed meat in the European Union. [108112]
Richard Benyon:
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Foreign and Commonwealth Office have played the lead role on behalf of the UK Government in explaining to the Commission the full impact of their decision to
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introduce a moratorium on desinewed meat and presenting the scientific case for UK practices. This has resulted in Commission agreement to a staged introduction of the moratorium in the UK rather than an immediate change.
Supermarkets: Competition
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions (a) she, (b) Ministers and (c) officials in her Department have had with their counterparts in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the proposed Groceries Code Adjudicator. [107977]
Richard Benyon: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), has regular discussions with her opposite number in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on a range of topical issues, including the establishment of a Groceries Code Adjudicator. DEFRA's other Ministers have taken a keen interest in its development. Officials of both Departments have been in regular communication throughout the development of the proposed Adjudicator to ensure the views of DEFRA Ministers have been taken into account.
UN Conference on Sustainable Development
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with children's charities working in the developing world on priorities for the Rio Earth Summit; and if she will make a statement. [108242]
Richard Benyon: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), is leading the Government's preparations for Rio+20. An essential element of this involves consultation with civil society groups on priorities for the Conference, including groups that work in the developing world and focus on children and youth.
Culture, Media and Sport
Credit Cards
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many civil servants in his Department hold a corporate credit card; how many instances there have been of (a) discipline and (b) dismissal for misuse of such credit cards in the last 12 months; and how much was repaid to his Department for credit card misuse over that period. [108360]
John Penrose: There are currently 57 active Government Procurement Cards (GPC) in the Department. Over the last 12 months there have been no instances of discipline or dismissal for the misuse of cards. Nothing was repaid to the Department for card misuse over that period.
Manpower
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many full-time equivalent employees his Department employed in May 2010; and how many it employed at the latest period for which figures are available. [108167]
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John Penrose: The following table shows the number of people employed by the Department in May 2010 and at the latest period, in May 2012:
| As at May each year | Full-time equivalents |
A large proportion of these employees are working on a temporary basis to assist in delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many full-time equivalent employees have (a) left and (b) been recruited to his Department in the last two years. [108169]
John Penrose: The table shows the total number of full-time equivalents that have either been recruited by, or have left the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in the last two years:
| Number | |
In April 2011, 49 employees transferred to DCMS under Machinery of Government change. Furthermore, DCMS has recruited 36 employees on loan from other Departments to work on the Olympic Games. This group will leave after the games.
Olympic Games 2012
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has had any discussions with the Olympic Committee of Israel. [106628]
Hugh Robertson: Neither the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), nor I have had discussions with the Olympic Committee of Israel since taking office in May 2010.
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of co-ordination between the Olympic Committees of Israel and Palestine and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games. [108111]
Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has made no such assessment. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) liaises on arrangements for the Games with all National Olympic Committees, in a framework set out for every Games by the International Olympic Committee.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he expects to make a final decision on whether to impose a smoking ban across the Olympic Park during the London 2012 Olympics. [108640]
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Hugh Robertson: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is responsible for staging the 2012 games. LOCOG's no smoking policy is based on the International Olympic Committee's policy on smoking and existing UK legislation. LOCOG will not sell tobacco or cigarettes at any Olympic or Paralympic venue, and no tobacco advertising will be allowed.
Smoking will be prohibited in all ticketed sports competition venues for the games, including the Olympic Stadium and Athletes' Village. There will be a small number of discrete, designated smoking areas on the Olympic Park which will be located away from building entrances, open windows and ventilation ducts.
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the makes and models are of the cars to be used in the organisation of the London 2012 Olympics. [109052]
Hugh Robertson: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is the private company responsible for staging the London 2012 Games.
LOCOG appointed BMW as the automotive partner for the games in 2009. BMW will provide up to 4,000 cars required for LOCOG's fleet, including low-emission, diesel, hybrid and electric cars. These will be used to transport athletes, technical officials, press and broadcast as well as National Olympic and Paralympic Committees, International Sports Federations, the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, games marketing partners and others working at the games between more than 30 games venues.
Redundancy
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many of his Department's employees have been made redundant in the last two years. [108070]
John Penrose: The Department ran an early release scheme in September 2010 and under this scheme, 72 employees left in the last two years. A similar scheme was launched in January 2012 which will result in a total of 36 employees leaving by 31 March 2013.
Trade Unions
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) how many days were utilised for paid facility time by each trade union representative in (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies in 2011-12; and at what cost to the public purse; [107307]
(2) how many days were utilised for paid facility time by each trade union representative in (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies for trade union (i) duties and (ii) activities in 2011-12; [107308]
(3) on how many occasions trade union representatives from (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies have utilised paid facility time to represent an employee at a meeting or other industrial relations matter in each of the last five years. [107312]
22 May 2012 : Column 549W
John Penrose: A partnership agreement between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the trade unions came into effect in April 2001. Based on the facility time allocations set in the partnership agreement, accredited representatives spent up to 3,900 hours per annum on trade union-related activities, since 2001 to date. The annual cost of employing trade union representatives for DCMS and The Royal Parks is up to £77,000 for the 2011-12 financial year.
The proportion of time spent on trade union duties, by representative, can be found in the following table:
| Trade union activity | Number of hours spent per annum per trade union representative | Number of trade union representative |
We do not disaggregate the time spent by (i) duties or (ii) activities.
DCMS does not hold this information for its arm's length bodies (ALBs). Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of our ALBs to write directly to my hon. Friend with this information. Copies of the responses will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Leader of the House
House of Lords: Reform
Mrs Laing: To ask the Leader of the House when he intends to make time for a debate on the Report of the Joint Committee on House of Lords Reform which was published on 23 April 2012. [108661]
Sir George Young: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough (Mr Blunkett), during Business Questions on 10 May 2012, Official Report, column 131.
Defence
Aircraft Carriers
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on training individuals to handle and fly the CATOBAR aircraft since its introduction. [108868]
Peter Luff: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 April 2012, Official Report, column 1123W. I will write to the right hon. Member once the costs associated with this training have been collated.
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Armed Forces: Private Education
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many children with at least one parent serving in the armed forces but not currently posted overseas are in private education and receive Continuity of Education fees for each rank within the armed forces in the latest period for which figures are available. [107901]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 21 May 2012]: The number of children who are supported by continuity of education allowance (CEA) where their service parent is UK based is listed in the following table:
| Army Rank or equivalent | Number |
| Notes: 1. All personnel serving on ships have been assigned a location of their home port. These figures do not include CEA guardian claims. 2. The numbers provided include children educated in both private, and state boarding schools. 3. Rounding has been applied to all figures. When rounding to the nearest 10 numbers ending in '5' have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. Totals have been rounded separately and therefore may not equal the sum of their rounded parts. 4. Figures provided are as at term two of academic year 2011-12. | |
Armed Forces: Redundancy
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been made redundant as part of Tranche 1 and Tranche 2. [108342]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 21 May 2012]: The Strategic Defence and Security Review announced a reduction in the armed forces of 17,000 by 2015. In order to achieve a balanced drawdown which ensures that the services retain sustainable structures, the full range of manning levers is being employed. These include natural turnover, a reduction in recruiting, and an armed forces redundancy programme.
Tranche 1 of the armed forces redundancy programme resulted in some 2,860 being selected for redundancy. Of this figure 1,770 were applicants and will have left service by 31 March 2012. Non-applicants were given 12 months' notice with the final discharges being completed by 30 September 2012.
Tranche 2 is currently being finalised with individuals being informed on 12 June 2012. As for tranche 1, applicants will be given six months' notice and non-applicants 12 months' notice from the date of their selection. Anyone who wishes to leave earlier may apply to do so.
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Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to confirm the contractual arrangements for commissioning and producing of the Scout Special Vehicle. [108717]
Peter Luff [holding answer 21 May 2012]: The Scout Specialist Vehicles project is currently in its Demonstration Phase. A decision on vehicle manufacture will be taken in due course.
Chief Scientific Advisers
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department expects to appoint a new chief scientific adviser. [108425]
Peter Luff [holding answer 21 May 2012]: The Ministry of Defence expects to appoint a new chief scientific adviser shortly.
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the difference in noise levels between the Joint Strike Fighter C variant and the Joint Strike Fighter B variant during all methods of (a) take-off and (b) landing. [108625]
Peter Luff: Assessments of the noise levels for the different variants of Joint Strike Fighter are ongoing.
Military Aircraft: Helicopters
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 1 May 2012, Official Report, column 1531W, on military aircraft: helicopters, on what date the review of the Sea King Integrated Operational Support contract and the Lynx In-Service Support Agreement with AgustaWestland began. [108754]
Peter Luff: The Sea King Integrated Operational Support (SKIOS) contract Pricing Period 3 Request for Quotation (PP3 RFQ) was issued to AgustaWestland on 18 October 2011.
The Lynx In-Service Support Agreement (LISSA) contract Pricing Period 2 Request for Quotation (PP2 RFQ) was issued to AgustaWestland on 23 January 2012.
Military Aircraft: Manpower
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Harrier pilots have been re-deployed since May 2010; [109068]
(2) how many Harrier pilots have been made redundant since May 2010. [109069]
Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 April 2012, Official Report, column 989W, to the right hon. Member for East Renfrewshire (Mr Murphy). Pilots for STOVL training will be drawn from a number of areas, including other fixed wing fleets, in addition to former Harrier pilots currently undertaking other duties.
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Military Aircraft: Training
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many pilots who are trained to operate Harriers will be retrained to fly STOVL. [108871]
Peter Luff: Detailed planning for the training of Royal Navy and Royal Air Force Joint Strike Fighter pilots is currently being conducted. It is too soon to determine specifically how many Harrier pilots amongst existing UK trained pilots will be trained to fly the F-35B variant of the Joint Strike Fighter. There will be no shortage of STOVL-experienced pilots with such personnel currently flying other aircraft or attached to flying duties in the US.
Pay
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's officials located in Wales would be affected by proposals for local-facing pay. [107530]
Mr Robathan: As announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget, 21 March 2012, Official Report, columns 793-808, Government Departments are to consider moving to more local market facing pay for staff when the pay freeze ends. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) comes out of the pay freeze in 2013 and is currently considering its strategy on local market facing pay but it is too early to say how many MOD civilians located in Wales might be affected by this.
Transport
Blue Badge Scheme
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will make it her policy to increase the three hour time limit on parking granted by disabled parking badges for those badge holders who require longer parking for work purposes. [109035]
Norman Baker: The three-hour time limit for Blue Badge holders applies in cases where they need to park on single or double yellow lines or in other on-street parking bays where a time limit is imposed. Badge holders may park all day in on-street pay-and-display bays. Operators of off-street car parks, including those provided by employers, are able to set out their own terms and conditions relating to how and where disabled people can park.
The Department consulted in 2008 on whether or not to extend the three-hour time limit. Many respondents supported an extension, but many also opposed it and wanted the time limit to be reduced. The Government therefore decided to leave the current three-hour limit in place and we have no plans to change it.
Carbon Emissions
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her Department's total level of carbon emissions was between (a) 1 April 2010 and 1 April 2011 and (b) 2 April 2011 and 1 April 2012. [108587]
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Norman Baker: Between the 1 April 2010 and the 31 March 2011 the Department for Transport greenhouse gas emissions (CO2e) amounted to 181,475 tonnes. This figure covers DFT organisations (core department, seven executive agencies and one non-departmental public body) that report under the Greening Government Commitments. The total figure incorporates estate, business travel and strategic road network lighting emissions.
The Department for Transport is currently collating and validating its emission data for the 2011-12 financial year and those figures are due to be available at the end of May 2012.
Under the Greening Government Commitments the Department for Transport is committed to delivering a 25% reduction in Greenhouse Gas emissions by 31 March 2015.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department took to reduce its carbon emissions in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [108588]
Norman Baker: In (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012 the Department for Transport introduced a large number of measures across its organisations and this information has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The measures for 2012 include some items that are programmed to take place later this year.
Chiltern Railway Line
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Department and (c) officials in her Department have had discussions with Chiltern Railways on reductions in services on the Marylebone to High Wycombe line; and if she will make a statement. [109043]
Norman Baker: Chiltern Railways has consulted local stakeholders on plans for peak time timetable changes from December 2012 that are intended to improve the reliability of services for passengers and increase capacity at peak times. The Secretary of State has approved the required changes to Chiltern's Franchise Agreement to facilitate the timetable changes.
Consultants
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answer of 23 April 2012, Official Report, column 583W, on consultants, what payments were made to (a) IBM, (b) Amtec Consulting, (c) Deloitte, (d) Hedra Consortium, (e) Atlan Resource, (f) Capita Interim Management, (g) Evolve Business Consultancy, (h) LM House Ltd and (i) Methods Consulting. [108696]
Norman Baker [holding answer 21 May 2012]: The information requested for pre 1 April 2007 is not readily available and, I regret, would incur disproportionate costs to gather.
The payments made to the relevant firms from 1st April 2007 to 31st March 2009 are listed below. There has been no material use of management consultants since 2009.
IBM £30,912,035
Amtec Consulting £560,439
Deloitte £643,439
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Hedra Consortium £0
Atlan Resource £293,996
Capita Interim Management £24,122
Evolve Business Consultancy £10,440
LM House Ltd £418,168
Methods Consultancy £148,825
Diesel Fuel
Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to increase the availability of ultra low sulphur red diesel for off-road equipment. [108217]
Norman Baker: There is a functioning market for ultra low sulphur red diesel and we do not believe there should be any difficulties in obtaining supplies of it.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many full-time equivalent staff in her Department are working on reducing transport's contribution to UK greenhouse gas emissions. [108826]
Norman Baker: The twin objectives of creating growth and cutting carbon run through all the Department's activities and to that extent, all officials work on carbon reduction.
Land Use
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent research her Department has undertaken on the scale of indirect land use change. [107731]
Norman Baker: ILUC (indirect land use change) is the term used when production of biofuels on existing agricultural land results in the displacement of production on to previously uncultivated land. This is a particular concern where that land has either high carbon stocks, such as rainforest, or high biodiversity value. The Government believes that ILUC must be urgently addressed at a European level through the introduction of ‘ILUC factors' (specific greenhouse gas defaults applied to biofuel types) into the Renewable Energy Directive and Fuel Quality Directive.
My officials have recently set up an expert working group consisting of stakeholders from industry, academia and NGOs to advise Government and appraise proposals for addressing ILUC. I have personally written to the European Commission on two occasions, highlighting the urgent need to finding a European agreed position which effectively addresses the impacts of ILUC.
The last piece of ILUC research published by the Department is ‘Regional level actions to avoid ILUC' available at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/regional-level-actions-to-avoid-iluc
Large Goods Vehicles
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to prevent unsuitably large vehicles from using small local roads and lanes. [108629]
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Norman Baker: Local highway authorities are responsible for managing their road networks. We have prescribed a new sign “Unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles” and given local highway authorities powers to reclassify roads for which they are responsible without having to obtain approval from the Department.
In March I hosted a satellite navigation summit of satnav companies and local authorities. An action from the summit was to improve communications links between the two sides, to enable councils to speedily and directly relay problems to mapping companies. Following the summit, a working group of participants is looking for ways to raise driver awareness of the importance of using the right satellite navigation product for their vehicle.
Departmental Staff
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many full-time equivalent employees her Department employed in May 2010; and how many it employed at the latest period for which figures are available. [108166]
Norman Baker: The central Department and its seven executive agencies employed 18,174.18 full-time equivalent employees on 31 May 2010. Of these 1,960.52 were employed by the central Department.
The central Department and its seven executive agencies employed 16641.66 full-time equivalent employees on 31 March 2012. Of these 1,627.24 were employed by the central Department.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff (a) her Department and (b) its agencies employ in each parliamentary constituency. [108683]
Norman Baker: The Central Department and its seven executive agencies do not hold the information in the format requested.
The answer could be provided in the requested format only at disproportionate costs. However a table has been placed in the Libraries of the House showing a breakdown of headcount by office location for the Central Department and its agencies.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff employed by (a) her Department and (b) its agencies (i) are located and (ii) reside in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency. [109006]
Norman Baker: The Central Department and its seven Executive Agencies have a total of 10 staff located in offices in the Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency. Of these none are employed by the Central Department.
We are unable to supply information regarding the number of staff who reside in the Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency as the information is not held in the format requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
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Railway Stations: Kingston upon Thames
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will assess the potential effects on female part-time workers of the re-zoning of overground train stations in Kingston and Surbiton. [107737]
Mrs Villiers: The Department has no plans to undertake such an assessment.
Railways: Radlett
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answers of 30 April 2012, Official Report, column 543W, on aviation: Hertfordshire, if she will publish the minutes of her meeting with the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. [106964]
Mrs Villiers: Information relating to internal discussion and advice is not normally disclosed.
Rolling Stock
Mr Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the allocation of funding for the refurbishment of rail sleeper stock; and if she will make a statement. [108379]
Mrs Villiers: The Caledonian Sleeper services are specified and funded by Transport Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government and funding for their refurbishment is not a matter for the Department for Transport.
Trade Unions
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trade union representatives in (a) her Department and (b) each of its non-department public bodies have faced disciplinary action for abusing paid facility time or public resources in each of the last five years. [107331]
Norman Baker: There have been no cases of disciplinary action against any trade union representatives for abuse of facility time over the course of the last five years.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings have taken place between (a) her Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies and trade union representatives utilising paid facility time in each of the last five years to discuss (i) collective bargaining, (ii) redundancies, (iii) negotiations relating to employment, pay and conditions and (iv) other trade union and industrial relations duties; and what the dates and times were of each meeting. [107332]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not centrally hold records of meetings with trade union representatives.
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Transport: Disability
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of provisions for disabled access to transport in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency; and if she will take steps to improve access. [108797]
Norman Baker: The Secretary of State has made no recent assessment of the adequacy of provisions for disabled access to transport in the London borough of Bexley.
The borough will benefit from the increase in the number of accessible buses and trains that are required by regulation. Bexleyheath and Crayford stations will benefit from Access for All mid-tier funding following successful bids for accessibility projects. I would invite my hon. Friend to contact the Mayor of London if he has a specific issue in mind concerning other elements on improved accessibility.
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing: Bexley
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes have been (a) started and (b) completed in the London borough of Bexley since May 2010. [108798]
Andrew Stunell: There were 219 affordable homes started and 327 completed in the London borough of Bexley between April 2010 and September 2011, the latest period for which data are available, as reported in the Homes and Communities Agency's six monthly National Housing Statistics. Data up to 31 March 2012 will be published by the Homes and Communities Agency on 12 June 2012.
These statistics only cover affordable housing that is delivered through the Homes and Communities Agency's affordable housing programmes; affordable housing delivered outside these programmes is not included. Housing starts cover new build starts only while completions include both new build and acquisitions.
Total affordable completions, including those delivered outside the Homes and Communities Agency's programmes are published annually in the Department's Affordable Housing Supply statistics available on the Department's website
http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/affordablehousingsupply/livetables/
Association of Residential Managing Agents
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions his Department has had with the Association of Residential Managing Agents on the regulation of the sector since May 2010. [108606]
Andrew Stunell: No discussions have taken place between this Department and the Association of Residential Managing Agents on the regulation of managing agents in the leasehold sector since May 2010.
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Building Regulations
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes have been completed to the 2010 standards (for part L) of the building regulations since those standards were introduced. [108708]
Andrew Stunell: The Department publishes statistics on the number of housing completions, and quarterly data on the average energy efficiency of new homes. But these figures do not specify which Part L standards new homes are built to, as when the building regulations are changed, transitional arrangements are included to avoid unreasonable disruption, meaning that for a period of time some new homes will continue to be built to the previous standards.
Carbon Emissions
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his Department's total level of carbon emissions was between (a) 1 April 2010 and 1 April 2011 and (b) 2 April 2011 and 1 April 2012. [108585]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government's total carbon dioxide emissions are reported as part of the annual accounts returned to Treasury.
For the financial year 2010-11 (April 1 2010 to March 31 2011) the Department emitted 51,804 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
For the financial year 2011-12 (April 1 2011 to March 31 2012) the Department emitted 43,001 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
The above emissions values include official UK business travel, and emissions from buildings occupied by the Department and those arm’s length bodies included in its Greening Government reporting commitments.
In 2010-11, the DCLG Group participated in the Prime Minister's 10% carbon commitment to reduce office carbon emissions by 10% over 12months. During this period, the Department cut its emissions by 4,129 tonnes CO2, equivalent to an 18.6% reduction.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what measures his Department introduced to reduce its carbon emissions in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [108586]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government introduced the following measures to reduce its carbon emissions in 2010, 2011 and 2012:
Key measures introduced in 2010 included:
Installing high efficiency lighting, and lighting controls;
Reducing operating hours of major plant and equipment;
Reconfiguring air conditioning systems to use cool air from outside rather than using refrigerant gases;
Regular fine tuning of Building Management Systems;
Upgrading telephony systems;
Estate rationalisation;
Installing window film to reduce solar gain;
Fitting power stand-by switch-off devices;
Reducing number of printers and fax machines;
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Switching off all non-essential lighting;
Fitting motor and fan control efficiency devices;
Securing Board-level support for carbon reduction activity and including in selected personal objectives;
Running staff awareness campaigns including switch-off messaging, Carbon Fairs, and Environmental Champions networks.
Key measures in 2011 included:
Fitting boiler optimiser controls;
Optimising voltage supply settings;
Ensuring temperatures set points for general office space and server rooms were aligned with best practice (including incorporating “dead bands”);
Installing additional automated meter reading devices across the estate;
Monitoring and targeting unusual energy use from data generated by automated meter reading devices;
ICT server rationalisation activity;
Estate rationalisation and co-location;
Publishing an annual Sustainability Report, helping to raise Department-wide profile of carbon reduction activity;
Fitting timers to equipment not controlled by a building management system.
Key measures in 2012 to date include:
Improving control of energy consumption (e.g. using automatic meter readings and building management systems to target consumption in specific areas);
Carrying out regular walk-around audits;
Replacing printers, photocopiers and scanners with multi-function devices;
Shutting down buildings even more effectively during unoccupied periods.
Environmental audits are planned across our estate to identify further measures to reduce our emissions.
Consultants
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on external consultants, including management consultants, in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [107491]
Robert Neill: The Department has spent in total £13.8 million in 2010-11 and £4.3 million in 2011-12 on external consultants excluding agency staff and interim labour as defined by the Cabinet Office.
A significant proportion of the 2010-11 expenditure relates to contractual arrangements put in place by the last Administration. This includes the FiReControl control contract (in relation to PA Consulting) which has been cancelled by the new Administration.
Also since 24 May 2010, the Department has drastically reduced its spend on consultancy. This has been achieved through contract renegotiations, terminations and adherence to Cabinet Office controls on consultancy spending.
By contrast, in 2008-09 the Department spent £41.5 million on consultancy and in 2009-10 the Department spent £36.6 million.
Local Government: Intellectual Property
Jonathan Edwards:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the list of assets of community value maintained by local
22 May 2012 : Column 560W
authorities under the Localism Act 2011 may include assets which are intangible or are intellectual property closely associated with the community. [108078]
Andrew Stunell: No. The Assets of Community Value provisions give communities a right to nominate a building or other land which is of importance to their community's social well-being or social interests for listing as an asset of community value.
Lost Property
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many items of equipment valued at £10,000 or more his Department lost in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [108922]
Robert Neill: No items of departmental equipment valued at £10,000 or more were lost in the years (a) 2010-ll or (b)2011-12.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices
Mr Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many young people started an apprenticeship in (a) England and (b) Nuneaton constituency in the last 12 months. [108714]
Mr Hayes: The following table shows the number of apprenticeship programme starts aged under 19 in Nuneaton parliamentary constituency and England in the 2010/11 academic year, the latest full year for which final data are available.
| Apprenticeship programme starts by learners aged under 19 by geography, 2010/11 | |
| 2010/11 full year | |
| Notes: 1. The constituency figure is rounded to the nearest 10; the England total is rounded to the nearest 100. 2. Age is based on age at the start of the programme. These figures include a small number of under 16-year-olds. 3. Geography is based upon the home postcode of the learner. The England total includes some postcodes which are not known. Geographic information is based on boundaries of regions as of May 2010. Source: Individualised Learner Record | |
Information on the number of apprenticeship starts by age is published in a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 29 March 2012:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
Arms Trade: Indonesia
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation is promoting the export to Indonesia of (a) Eurofighter Typhoons and (b) the Airbus Military A400M; and if he will make a statement. [109049]
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Mr Prisk: United Kingdom Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation has not been involved in promoting either Typhoon or A400M to Indonesia.
Departmental Staff: Political Affiliation
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what the (a) job title and (b) pay band was of each official, excluding special advisers, recruited by his Department since May 2010 who was previously employed in any capacity by the (i) Conservative Party or its elected representatives and (ii) Liberal Democrat Party or its elected representatives; and whether their position was advertised publicly; [107108]
(2) what the (a) job title and (b) pay band was of each official, excluding special advisers, recruited by his Department since May 2010 who previously held an elected position as a member of the (i) Conservative Party and (ii) Liberal Democrat Party; and whether their position was advertised publicly. [107109]
Norman Lamb: To collect any such information would require a search of all HR records which would involve disproportionate costs.
Environmental Protection
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the UK's level of green growth between 2010 and 2012; and how this compares to other countries. [108889]
Mr Prisk: The Government has made no estimates of the level of green growth in the UK between 2010 and 2012. However independent research undertaken by K-Matrix and commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills estimates the global and national turnover of the Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services (LCEGS) market including forecasts. The most recent publication is for the 2009/10 financial year and includes forecasts up to 2015/16.
According to K-Matrix, estimated turnover in the UK Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services sector was almost £116.8 billion in 2009/10. Turnover increased by 4.3% between 2008/09 and 2009/10. Furthermore, growth for 2010/11 and 2011/12 is forecast to be 4.8% and 5% respectively.
The UK is sixth globally in terms of turnover in the LCEGS sector behind China, USA, India, Japan and Germany. France and Brazil place seventh and eighth respectively behind the UK. K-Matrix's 2009/10 turnover estimates for the top 10 countries are in the following table along with the percentage that turnover increased between 2008/09 and 2009/10.
| Country | Estimated turnover 2009/10 (£ million) | Growth between 2008/09 and 2009/10 (percentage) |
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Global growth forecasts for 2010/11 and 2011/12 for the LCEGS sector are 3.7% in each year.
Data for 2010/11 are due to be published later this week which will allow an assessment of how much the UK Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services market has grown between 2009/10 and 2010/11 as well as updated growth forecasts.
Higher Education
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to publish his response to the consultation on the Higher Education White Paper. [108739]
Mr Willetts: The consultation on the Higher Education White Paper, “Students at the Heart of the System” closed on 20 September. Over 200 responses were received and in addition comments were posted on the consultation website and on a Student Room discussion forum.
The Department also published a technical consultation document on 4 August, “A new fit for purpose regulatory framework for the higher education sector”. Over 150 responses were received.
We intend to publish a response shortly, which will include a list of respondents and a summary of responses for each of the consultations.
Higher Education: Libraries
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many university libraries make use of licences granted by publishers to allow walk-in users to access material. [107903]
Mr Willetts: This information is not available centrally.
Insolvency Service: Stockton on Tees
Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate has been made of the potential savings which would arise from the closure of the Stockton on Tees Insolvency Service. [108266]
Norman Lamb [holding answer 21 May 2012]: There are various costs associated with maintaining an Insolvency Service office in Stockton on Tees, including rent, rates, landlord charges and utilities. The costs associated with the current accommodation occupied by the Insolvency Service in Stockton amounts to £160,000 a year.
Any estimate of the net savings would be dependent upon decisions individual staff may take should a decision be made to close the office, including transferring to the nearest office, relocation or taking an exit scheme. Taking account of all other costs and benefits, and assuming that 40% of staff would seek an exit scheme rather than relocation, a total estimate of net savings over a five year period would be in the region of £505,000.
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Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what cost-benefit assessment has been made of the potential efficiency gains arising from closing the Stockton on Tees Insolvency Service against the standard of service provided. [108267]
Norman Lamb [holding answer 21 May 2012]:It is not expected that the closure of the Insolvency Service office in Stockton on Tees will in itself lead to significant efficiency gains. However, on the assumption that 40% of staff would seek an exit scheme rather than relocation, the potential closure of this office does produce estimated cost savings in the region of £505,000 over a five year period (as set out in answer to PQ 108266).
The impact of the potential closure on the standard of service provided is set out in the consultation document issued in March 2012 and this is something on which the consultation seeks stakeholder views. A copy of the consultation can be found in the Libraries of the House.
Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what calculations were made to arrive at the costs of office accommodation for the Stockton on Tees Insolvency Service in the March 2012 report. [108268]
Norman Lamb [holding answer 21 May 2012]:An estimated calculation for the costs and savings associated with a potential closure of the Insolvency Service office in Stockton on Tees, was arrived at by using the actual costs to the Insolvency Service of occupying the current accommodation in Stockton on Tees, together with an estimate of providing future accommodation in Stockton beyond the existing lease break.
The total cost of providing new accommodation in Stockton on Tees, (not including local relocation costs) is estimated at £667,000 over a five year period.
No decision has yet been made about the closure of the Stockton office and will only be made following a full assessment of responses to the consultation.
Lola Group
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with Lola group of companies on the future prospects for UK performance engineering. [108996]
Mr Prisk: I have had no recent discussions with Lola Group although I spoke briefly to the company at the motorsport exhibition hosted by this Department on 21 February 2012.
Manpower
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many full-time equivalent employees have (a) left and (b) been recruited to his Department in the last two years. [108174]
Norman Lamb: The table shows how many full-time equivalent employees have (a) left and (b) been recruited to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in the last two years.
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The figures include UK Trade and Investment.
| April 2010 to March 2011 | April 2011 to March 2012 | |
Midland Main Line
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Department for Transport on the economic effects of the upgrade and electrification of the Midland main line. [108445]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 21 May 2012]: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has not had discussions with the Department for Transport on the economic effects of the upgrade and electrification of the Midland main line.
Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment his Department has made of the competitive strength of the automotive sector. [107865]
Mr Prisk: The announcement on 17 May that GM will invest £125 million to build the next generation Astra at Ellesmere Port—creating 700 direct jobs and 3,000 in the supply chain—is excellent news. It safeguards 2,000 jobs and secures car production at Ellesmere Port until at least 2020. It shows that GM is now committed to the UK for the long-term like other global vehicle manufacturers such as Nissan, Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, Honda, Toyota and BMW. It is testament to the strength of the UK automotive sector which has seen investment of over £4 billion over the last 18months.
We continue to work closely with the automotive industry, including through the Automotive Council, on strategies for sustainable growth of the sector and its supply chain.
Non-departmental Public Bodies
Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many quangos his Department has (a) abolished and (b) established since May 2010. [108277]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 21 May 2012]:The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has abolished seven non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) since May 2010. BIS has reconstituted a further two bodies as independent charities and these are no longer NDPBs. The Department has established one NDPB since May 2010.
Postgraduate Education
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to review postgraduate education in the light of the (a) Smith review, (b) Browne review and (c) Higher Education White Paper. [108734]
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Mr Willetts: The Higher Education White Paper: ‘Students at the Heart of the System’ included discussions of postgraduate education. Government has taken steps to monitor developments in the postgraduate market as a result of changes in undergraduate tuition fees. Government has asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to review participation in postgraduate study, as part of a longer term assessment and evaluation of the impact of funding changes.