Employment Schemes: Young People
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many 18 to 24-year-olds resident in Motherwell and Wishaw constituency have taken up one of the (a) additional work experience places and (b) subsidised jobs provided under the Youth Contract. [109014]
Chris Grayling: The information is not readily available and has not previously been published as official statistics. We will consider whether it is feasible to produce the statistics requested within the disproportionate cost limit, and if so, will issue them in an official statistics release in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
Housing Benefit: Young People
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people under the age of 25 and in receipt of housing benefit were (a) in employment and (b) not in employment in each (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) local authority area in (A) England, (B) Scotland and (C) Wales in each of the last four financial years. [115264]
Steve Webb: Information is not readily available for housing benefit recipients aged under 25 at parliamentary constituency level, and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
The information requested by local authority is not available.
The economic status of all housing benefit (HB) recipients is not available. Information is only available for those HB recipients whose claim is not passported: that is for those who do not receive either income support, jobseeker’s allowance (income-based), employment and support allowance (income-based), or pension credit (guaranteed credit). A small proportion of the passported cases will be in part-time employment.
The available information for housing benefit recipients-aged under 25 by local authority has been placed in the Library.
Incapacity Benefit
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were in receipt of incapacity benefit in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each of the last five years. [106955]
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Chris Grayling: Statistics on how many people were in receipt of incapacity benefit in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each of the last five years are available on the Department's website at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=tabtool
Guidance for users is available at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/tabtools/guidance.pdf
Income Support
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people in the UK in receipt of income support who have parental responsibility for a child under the age of 15 who ordinarily resides with that person or are in receipt of a qualifying component. [116679]
Chris Grayling: As at May 2010, the number of children under the age of 15 years and dependent on a parent or guardian who is claiming income support, in Great Britain was 1,563,850.
Notes:
1. The figure is rounded to the nearest 10.
2. Data for Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Department for Social Development.
Source:
DWP Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% data and HMRC Child Benefit administrative data.
Jobcentre Plus
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of each document relating to his Department's pilot of customer segmentation at Jobcentre Plus. [117793]
Chris Grayling: The Government White Paper of December 2009 offered Jobcentre Plus the opportunity to identify four ‘Black Box’ districts, finding local and flexible ways to personalise services to customers. In Jobcentre Plus this became known as Delegated Flexibility Pilots and, later Local Autonomy Trailblazers—now Freedoms and Flexibilities Trailblazers.
The main focus of the trailblazers has always been improving the quality of services offered by Jobcentre Plus, tailoring services to customers. Greater Manchester Central and Cheshire District's trailblazer has looked to build this ethos of tailoring services upon Customer Insight.
Customer Insight can play a big part in ensuring relevance, to a local level, in the services we offer.
Independently of the Flexibilities Trailblazers, DWP commissioned research to better understand DWP's customers' attitudes to, values and beliefs about work. This research is called ‘Beliefs about work: An attitudinal segmentation of out-of-work people in Great Britain’. The published report on this research is available on the DWP intralink.
Our exploration in how we were progressing with tailoring services to customers identified that we were relying on a largely intuitive way of working out how to best tailor services to customers and, within the offer of Freedoms and Flexibilities, there was an opportunity to inject more use of customer insight to better tailor services.
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Teams in Greater Manchester Central and Cheshire designed several segmentation and diagnostic tools, particularly in the early months of its Delegated Flexibility Pilot. Greater Manchester Central and Cheshire District brought the research and the Freedoms and Flexibilities status together, developing a segmentation and diagnostic tool called ‘Reperio’.
Operating with psychographic data, the Reperio tool works in such a way that it will use the database of information from the original research to reflect a new customer's current appeal to the labour market—a tool that operates using Customer Insight.
The tool is designed to support advisers in delivering more insightful interviews, understanding how to improve their approach to finding work and encourage tailored action planning to achieve this.
It was designed essentially as a proof of concept that such a tool could be devised and used to support our advisory service in better segmenting our customer bases and conducting more insightful diagnoses of customers' needs.
Local use has been small but emerging findings include more sophisticated customer diagnosis of needs for different services, and improved customer segmentation. One Jobcentre found that using Reperio to organise customers to different group sessions improved off-flow performance by 20% from those attending those sessions.
Wessex District, another Freedoms and Flexibilities pilot district, has been using an old version of the tool which they tailored to suit their needs.
West London District is now scoping a trial of the tool, including experts from corporate teams to conduct a full evaluation of the tool. Currently, there are no reports or evaluation to publish, hence the trial is a real opportunity to test Reperio's true potential and gather resulting evaluation.
In Greater Manchester Central and Cheshire, Stretford's Universal Credit Live Innovations Test is using elements of the latest version of Reperio as part of that testing process. The latest version of the tool is called ‘About Me’.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents are in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance in Barnsley metropolitan borough. [107819]
Chris Grayling: In April 2012, there were 495 lone parents claiming jobseeker’s allowance in Barnsley local authority.
The figure has been rounded to the nearest five.
Part-time Employment
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the total number of households containing a couple working 16 to 18 hours a week on the minimum wage living in their own house and paying £1000 in council tax. [117435]
Chris Grayling: We use Family Resources Survey data to provide estimates of household economic status and housing costs. However, the sample size is not sufficient to provide estimates for small groups such as those requested.
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Departmental Pay
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the lowest hourly rate paid to staff by his Department is; how many members of staff based outside London are paid less than £7.20 per hour; and how many members of staff based in London are paid less than £8.30 per hour. [116379]
Chris Grayling: DWP employees are paid an annual salary.
The lowest annual salary paid to staff is £14,400 which equates to an hourly rate of £7.48.
No DWP staff based outside of London are paid less than £7.20 per hour. An hourly rate of £7.20 equates to an annual salary of £13,853 (for staff based outside of London).
No DWP staff based in London are paid less than £8.30 per hour. An hourly rate of £8.30 equates to an annual salary of £15,538 (for staff based in London). The lowest salary paid to staff in London is an annual salary of £18,050 which equates to an hourly rate of £9.64.
Pension, Disability and Carers Service
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) in what circumstances the Chief Operating Officer, in the Pensions, Disability and Carers Service of his Department signs replies to hon. Members who have written on behalf of their constituents; [117812]
(2) how many replies the Chief Operating Officer in the Pensions, Disability and Carers Service of his Department signed to hon. Members who have written on behalf of their constituents in the last (a) six and (b) 12 months. [117816]
Chris Grayling: The DWP's Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for the operational delivery of DWP services previously delivered by Jobcentre Plus and the Pension Disability and Carers Service. This includes responsibility for ensuring replies are sent to hon. Members who have written to the COO, or to Ministers, on operational matters. Due to the volumes of correspondence received, the COO cannot personally reply on every occasion. He personally replies to 15 letters a week from hon. Members across a range of issues; all other letters are responded to by an appropriate DWP operations director.
The information about the number of replies is not available in the form requested; the available information is in the following table:
| Replies to hon. Members correspondence from the DWP's Chief Operating Officer (COO) and operational directors | ||
| 2011 | Jan-June 2012 | |
| Source: DWP management information | ||
Post Office Card Account
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each region use the Post Office card account for receipt of (a) state pension, (b) pension credit and (c) other benefits. [117167]
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Steve Webb: The information is not available in the format requested as data held relates to payment accounts rather than people. A customer may receive benefits in the form of a separate payment for each benefit to which they are entitled or a single, combined payment. Each of these payments is termed a payment account which would be paid into the same Post Office card account.
| Payments into Post Office card accounts, by benefit type and region, at 31 March 2012 | |||
| State pension | Pension credit | Other benefits | |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Figures only relate to live and in payment accounts on the specified date. 3. Data does not include Northern Ireland. 4. Figures refer to payment accounts. Claimants with more than one payments account will be counted for each account. 5. Where a combined payment is made, this is shown under the heading corresponding to the benefit system used to pay the combined payment. 6. Child benefit is now administered by HM Revenue and Customs and war pensions are now administered by MOD. These benefits have therefore been excluded. Source: DWP, Information, Governance and Security Directorate, 100% data. | |||
Public Expenditure
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he expects his Department to underspend its budget for 2012-13; and what estimate he has made of any such underspend. [116468]
Chris Grayling: The OBR forecast underspends in Departmental Expenditure Limits as part of their Economic and Fiscal Outlook in the autumn.
As part of the Transparency Agenda the Government publishes the full detail of plans and outturn for all Departments after the end of the financial year, usually in September. HM Treasury publish outturn data for all Departments from the COINS database, available on the Treasury website on a quarterly basis. Forecasts for 2012-13 outturn by Department will be published at Budget 2013.
Social Security Benefits
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families in receipt of carers' allowance will be affected by the household benefit cap in each Jobcentre Plus district. [109763]
Chris Grayling:
The information is not readily available and has not previously been published as official statistics. We will consider whether it is feasible to produce the statistics requested within the disproportionate cost
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limit and, if so, will issue them in an official statistics release in accordance with the code of practice for official statistics.
Social Security Benefits: Lone Parents
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of lone parents with children under five years to whom the household benefit cap will apply; and how many such people are currently in receipt of income support (a) in total and (b) in each Jobcentre Plus district in England. [109759]
Chris Grayling: The information is not readily available and has not previously been published as official statistics. We will consider whether it is feasible to produce the statistics requested within the disproportionate cost limit, and if so, will issue them in an official statistics release in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of lone parents subject to the benefit cap who have children aged (a) under six months, (b) six months to a year, (c) between one and two years and (d) between two and five years. [109760]
Chris Grayling: The information is not readily available and has not previously been published as official statistics. We will consider whether it is feasible to produce the statistics requested within the disproportionate cost limit, and if so, will issue them in an official statistics release in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the total number of children of lone parents in receipt of income support who will be affected by the household benefit cap in each Jobcentre Plus district in England. [109761]
Chris Grayling: The information is not readily available and has not previously been published as official statistics. We will consider whether it is feasible to produce the statistics requested within the disproportionate cost limit, and if so, will issue them in an official statistics release in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children aged (a) up to one year and (b) between one and five years there are in lone-parent households who will be subject to the household benefit cap in each Jobcentre Plus area in London. [109762]
Chris Grayling: The information is not readily available and has not previously been published as official statistics. We will consider, whether it is feasible to produce the statistics requested within the disproportionate cost limit, and if so, will issue them in an official statistics release in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
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Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone-parent households will be affected by the household benefit cap in each Jobcentre Plus district in London where the household is in receipt of (a) income support, (b) jobseeker's allowance, (c) maternity allowance, (d) carers allowance, (e) employment support allowance and (f) incapacity benefit. [109764]
Chris Grayling: The information is not readily available and has not previously been published as official statistics. We will consider whether it is feasible to produce the statistics requested within the disproportionate cost limit and, if so, will issue them in an official statistics release in accordance with the code of practice for official statistics.
Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will ensure that each Atos assessment centre has a recording device available so that medical assessments can be recorded at the request of a claimant or their representative. [R] [117849]
Chris Grayling: Based on the results of a trial during 2011, we have not implemented universal recording for claimants going through the work capability assessment (WCA). We have asked Atos Healthcare to accommodate requests for audio recording, where a claimant makes a request in advance of their assessment. This approach began in late 2011 and we will monitor take-up during 2012 before making a decision on the requirement for recording assessments, taking into account factors such as value for money and the value it adds to the WCA process.
As part of this process we are also reviewing Atos capacity to provide recordings for those claimants who currently request one. Additional machines have been ordered. However a large scale purchase of machines in the absence of an evaluation of the process is not effective use of public money. Although there have been increases in requests these still represent only a small percentage of overall work capability assessments.
In the meantime, while Atos will do all that they can to accommodate requests for audio recording there may be times when the service cannot be offered, for example where it has not be possible to get access to recording equipment on the date/time of the WCA. In these circumstances clients will be told in advance that their request cannot be accommodated and offered a later date.
Statistics
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the letter of 28 June 2012 from the Chair of the UK Statistics Authority to the right hon. Member for East Ham, if he will make it his policy that speeches made by Ministers in his Department are checked by departmental statisticians before delivery. [117775]
Chris Grayling: The Department's normal procedure is that ministerial speeches are checked by analysts in the relevant policy area who are familiar with the statistics, as the Permanent Secretary of the Department explained in his letter to the authority of 28 June 2012.
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Work Capability Assessment
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people identified as having (a) drug and (b) alcohol problems were referred for a work capability assessment in each year since the assessment was introduced. [117871]
Chris Grayling: The Department has published information on the outcomes of work capability assessments broken down by detailed medical condition, including mental and behavioural disorders due to use of drugs and alcohol. It can be found at the following link:
http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/adhoc_analysis/2011/110906_wcaresultsbycondition_clean.xls
Please note that this publication covers all new employment and support allowance claims that began between October 2008 and November 2010 and does not break them down on a yearly basis. We will consider whether it is feasible to produce the statistics requested within the disproportionate cost limit, and if so, will issue them in an official statistics release in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.
Work Capability Assessment: Mental Illness
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what recent representations he has received on current assessments made by Atos Healthcare of people with mental health conditions; and if he will make a statement; [117687]
(2) whether he plans to make any changes to work capability assessments for people with mental health conditions. [117688]
Chris Grayling: The Department continues to value the views of disability groups and we are engaged in ongoing and helpful dialogue both at ministerial and official level with group representatives.
Recognising that particular concerns have been raised about the way the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) works for people with mental health conditions, Professor Harrington, as part of his second independent review of the WCA, has asked leading mental health charities to make recommendations to refine the mental, intellectual and cognitive descriptors used in the assessment.
Professor Harrington agreed with the Government that further evidence is required to establish whether the charities' proposed descriptors would make the assessment more accurate and we are currently working with these groups to build up such an evidence base.
Meanwhile the Department is also engaging with the charities to consider whether there are changes that could be made to the ESA50 questionnaire. In particular, we wish to understand whether it is possible to incorporate elements of the recommendations around frequency, severity and duration into the questionnaire to improve the collection of information from individuals with fluctuating conditions.
Business, Innovation and Skills
3D Copying
Mike Weatherley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) meetings he has had with and (b) representations he has received
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from designers in the film and theatre industries on section 51 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and the protection of designs for sets, props and costumes against 3D copying; and whether he plans to review the effect of that section on such designs. [117389]
Norman Lamb: Officials from the Intellectual Property Office have had one meeting with representatives of the film industry to discuss this issue and have received no more than three written submissions.
There are no plans to review the application of section 51.
Absenteeism
John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the absenteeism rate was in his Department in each of the last three years. [116661]
Norman Lamb: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bury St Edmunds (Mr Ruffley) on 10 July 2012, Official Report, columns 166-68W.
Aerospace Industry
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the value of the aerospace sector is to the economy in (a) the UK, (b) the East Midlands, (c) Nottinghamshire and (d) Ashfield constituency. [117394]
Mr Prisk: Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the manufacture, maintenance and repair of aircraft and spacecraft contributed £5.3 billion of gross value added to the UK economy in 2010. Gross value added figures for this sector are not compiled at the regional, county and constituency level.
Apprentices
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many apprenticeships have been taken up since May 2010; and how many of those apprenticeships have ended before their anticipated date of completion; [116345]
(2) how many apprenticeships since May 2010 have ceased before (a) six months, (b) 12 months and (c) two years; [116346]
(3) how many people have taken up an apprenticeship since May 2010. [116347]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 12 July 2012]:An estimated 904,900 apprenticeship starts have taken place between May 2010 and April 2012. This includes provisional data (383,200 starts) for the period since August 2011, which is subject to further adjustment.
In 2010/11, the latest year for which final data are available, 192,900 apprenticeships ended more than a month before the anticipated end date. Of these, 82,200 successfully achieved an apprenticeship. However for the programme as a whole the apprenticeship success rate was 76.4%. These data relate to all learners irrespective of when they started.
In 2010/11, the latest year for which final data are available, 15.9% (27,660 achievements) of apprenticeship
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achievements had a length of stay of six months or less, 56.1% (97,690 achievements) had a length of stay of 12 months or less and 43.9% (76,390 achievements) had a length of stay of 13 months or more. Achievements and durations relate to starts in any academic year.
It should be noted that apprenticeship durations do not necessarily reflect the guided learning hours or the actual length of time in learning. For this reason apprenticeship durations should be seen as contributory information to any broader assessment of the apprenticeship experience and quality. The measure is intended to exclude those apprentices with some prior attainment.
From August 2012 Ministers have decided that an apprenticeship must last at least 12 months for under 19s, and for adults unless prior learning is recorded and funding reduced accordingly, in order to ensure that every apprenticeship involves sufficient new learning and opportunity to embed new skills.
Information on apprenticeship starts and success rates is published in a Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 28 June 2012:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
Information on apprenticeship achievements by duration is published within the 'Other Statistics' section of the SFR website:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_other_statistics/
Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many apprenticeships in sales and telesales were started by people aged (a) 16 to 18, (b) 19 to 24 and (c) over 25 years old in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; [117142]
(2) how many apprenticeships were started by people aged (a) 16 to 18, (b) 19 to 24 and (c) over 25 years old in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [117144]
Mr Hayes: Table 1 gives the overall number of apprenticeship programme starts and those in the “sales and telesales” framework by age for 2010/11 and the first nine months of 2011/12.
Provisional data for the first nine months of the 2011/12 academic year (August 2011 to April 2012) provide an early view of performance and will change as further data returns are received from further education colleges and providers. These data should not be compared against data from earlier academic years. Figures for 2011/12 will be updated in the October 2012 Statistical First Release.
| Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts in the sales and telesales framework by age, 2010/11 (final data) and 2011/12 (provisional) | |||
| Framework | Age | 2010/11 (Final) | 2011/12 August to April (Provisional) |
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| Notes 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 apart from the totals which are rounded to the nearest 100. Figures may not sum due to rounding. 2. Age is calculated based on age at start of the programme. Source: Individualised Learner Record. | |||
Further breakdowns of the number of apprenticeship starts and achievements are published in supplementary table to the quarterly Post 16 Further Education and Skills Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 28 June 2012 at:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_supplementary_tables/Apprenticeship_sfr_supplementary_tables/
Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much the Government spent on (a) apprenticeships and (b) apprenticeships in sales and telesales in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12. [117143]
Mr Hayes: Government spending on apprenticeships in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 financial years is set out in Table 1 as follows.
| Table 1: Government spending on apprenticeships | ||
| £000 | ||
| BIS funded adult (19+) apprenticeships | DFE funded (16-18) apprenticeships | |
| Source: Skills Funding Agency Annual Report 2011 -12 | ||
We estimate that just over £4 million(1) of Government funding supported the delivery of sales and telesales apprenticeship frameworks in the 2010/11 academic year for those aged 16 and over. Information for the 2011/12 academic year is not available yet.
(1) Figures for estimated funding come from the individualised learner record. They provide an indication of the level of Government funding. They should not be treated as actual spend, as spending is not reported at the framework level.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeships starts there were by people aged (a) 16 to 18, (b) 19 to 24 and (c) 25 and over in (i) the North East, (ii) the North West. (iii) Yorkshire and the Humber, (iv) the East Midlands, (v) the West Midlands, (vi) the East of England, (vii) London, (viii) the South East and (ix) the South West in the first three quarters of 2010-11. [117262]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 13 July 2012]:I will place in the Libraries of the House data which shows the number of apprenticeship starts by age, region and quarter in the 2010-11 academic year.
Further breakdowns of the number of apprenticeship starts are published in supplementary table to the quarterly Post 16 Further Education and Skills
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Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 28 June 2012:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_supplementary_tables/Apprenticeship_sfr_supplementary_tables/
Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what skills units subjects are eligible for his policy to allow micro companies to add up to two broader business skills units to apprenticeships. [117843]
Mr Hayes: The Education and Skills Growth Review contained a commitment to enable micro businesses to add up to two broader business skills units to any full apprenticeship, recognising the wider skills range that employees in such businesses will often need. The National Apprenticeship Service will be publishing the final agreed list of units on 1 August via their website. This will include units in accountancy, business administration, customer service and other units that have been identified by small businesses.
Business: Regulation
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration he has given to extending the moratorium on new regulation for micro-businesses beyond 2014. [117666]
Mr Prisk: The Government has no plans to extend the moratorium on new domestic regulation for micro-businesses and start-ups at the present time.
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration he is giving to implementing a one-in, one-out process for aspects of legislation affecting businesses other than regulation. [117667]
Mr Prisk: One of the most significant areas of legislation affecting business other than regulation is tax. For the spending review period Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) aims to reduce costs for customers in meeting their tax obligations, while committing not to increase the administrative burdens on business. HMRC has also strengthened the external and independent challenge function of the Administrative Burdens Advisory Board (ABAB), its panel of businesses and tax professionals who are either SMEs or work with them.
In response to a review of small business related issues by the Office of Tax Simplification HMRC is consulting on a simpler system for small businesses to calculate tax on a cash receipts basis, and on simplified business expenses. HMRC also published, at Budget 2012, the report "Making tax easier, quicker and simpler for small business" which sets out HMRC's commitments to helping small businesses to find tax easier to understand, and to making it simpler and quicker for them to do what they need to do (register, keep records, file, pay), with greater certainty and accuracy.
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Business: Rural Areas
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to reduce the burden of administration on rural businesses. [117341]
Mr Prisk: The Government is committed to reducing the overall burden of regulation on all business, which includes rural businesses. To achieve this, the Government has announced a ‘One-In, One-Out’ rule, so that any new regulatory burden cannot be introduced without another being removed, and a moratorium on new domestic regulation for micro businesses and start-ups until April 2014. Sunset clauses have been introduced in new regulations which impose costs on business to ensure they remain relevant and fit for purpose. The Government has also introduced a new approach to transposing EU directives which includes removing gold plating and to ensure that UK businesses are not disadvantaged in relation to their EU competitors.
The Government is also looking at ways of reducing the existing burden of regulation through the Red Tape Challenge by identifying and removing unnecessary regulation and conducting a review of the enforcement the first of which is on small food manufacturers, many of whom are rural. The Government also published its response to the Farming Regulation Taskforce in February 2012 setting out how it would reduce unnecessary burdens on the farming industry, including commitments to reduce inspections for farmers who are already achieving desired outcomes, reducing paperwork and seeking non-regulatory solutions wherever possible. The response can be viewed at the following link:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13717-farmregulationtaskforce-response.pdf
Conditions of Employment
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on what date he plans to publish the Government's response to his Department's consultation on no-fault dismissal for micro businesses. [117802]
Norman Lamb: We anticipate publishing a response in due course. The call for evidence ‘Dealing with Dismissal and Compensated No Fault Dismissal for Micro Businesses’ closed on 8 June. We received over 250 responses which we are analysing in detail.
Construction: Nottinghamshire
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the value of the construction sector is to the economy in (a) Nottinghamshire and (b) Ashfield constituency. [117491]
Mr Prisk: The construction sector contributed the following amounts of gross value added to the economies of the UK overall, the east midlands, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and North Nottinghamshire (which contains the Ashfield constituency) between 2008 and 2010. Sub-national data are not yet available for 2010.
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| Gross value added of the construction industry | ||||
| £ million | ||||
| North Nottinghamshire | Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire | East midlands | United Kingdom | |
| Source: Regional, sub-regional and local gross value added 2010 and UK National Accounts; both ONS | ||||
Debts: Advisory Services
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to improve standards and the quality of provision across the debt management sector; and if he will make a statement. [117607]
Norman Lamb [holding answer 16 July 2012]: On 14 June 2012 I chaired a round-table discussion on what a voluntary code for debt management plans might achieve, and how it might work. I want to see improved standards—especially for any vulnerable consumers that may fall into financial difficulty. I want consumers to know where they can get appropriate debt advice that leads to repayment plans that are sustainable and if they choose to pay for it, that they know what they are getting for their money.
I believe that the industry should take this opportunity to show it can act responsibly and made it clear that I would like to see a voluntary agreement in place by November 2012.
In addition the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is working with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the Money Advice Service to improve standards and the quality of provision across the debt management sector.
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what measures are in place to promote high standards amongst debt solution providers in both the not-for-profit and commercial sectors to ensure there is sufficient availability of suitable, quality provision to meet the needs of vulnerable individuals. [117608]
Norman Lamb [holding answer 16 July 2012]: All who provide debt management services are required to be licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has a duty to ensure that applicants are fit to engage in the activities for which they wish to be licensed and to monitor the continuing fitness of those to whom licences have been granted. To assist in their monitoring role, the OFT produces Debt Management Guidance, which sets the standards expected of all debt management businesses and makes clear they must, amongst other things, ensure that the advice provided is in the customers' best interests. Where the OFT has evidence of unfair practices, action can be taken to refuse or revoke or place conditions on the consumer credit licence of those concerned.
The Money Advice Service has commissioned Money Advice Trust to develop a ‘best-practice’ standards framework for the delivery of debt advice across the UK.
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Energy
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the value of the energy sector is to the economy in (a) the UK, (b) the east midlands, (c) Nottinghamshire and (d) Ashfield constituency. [117395]
Mr Prisk: The energy sector contributed the following amounts of gross value added to the UK economy overall and the east midlands economy between 2008 and 2010. These data are not collected at the county and constituency level and regional data are not yet available for 2010.
| Gross value added of the energy industry | ||
| £ million | ||
| East midlands | United Kingdom | |
| Source: Regional Annual Business Survey 2009 and UK National Accounts; both ONS | ||
Environment Protection: Sevenoaks
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage green investment in Sevenoaks. [117430]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 16 July 2012]: We are committed to taking action now to put the whole economy on a low-carbon, resource efficient path. In doing so we need to maintain UK competitiveness and lay the foundations for strong and sustainable growth in the future.
The Government is making rapid progress towards establishment of the UK Green Investment Bank, which will be a key component of the transition to a green economy. UK Green Investment Bank plc has now been formed with funding of £3 billion; it will complement other green policies to help accelerate additional capital in green infrastructure. It is expected to be fully operational in the autumn, following state aid approval. In the interim, the Government's UK Green Investments team (UKGI) is making Government investments in green infrastructure.
Following an open competition, UKGI has committed £80 million to two fund mangers to co-invest equity into smaller waste infrastructure projects (project size generally below £30 million). A similar competition for fund managers to invest £100 million in smaller non domestic energy efficiency projects is at the due diligence stage. A pipeline of further projects is under development All these investments will be made on market terms or meet the requirements for existing state aid exemptions or approvals.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has a number of programmes that are relevant to the development of the UK's green economy. Government initiatives, such as the Regional Growth Fund (RGF), the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain (AMSC) fund and the work of UK Green Investment Bank plc, encourage investment across sectors and regions, including green or low carbon sectors in the south-east. The £125 million Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain fund aims to increase growth potential in manufacturing
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by improving the competitiveness of supply chains. There have been several successful bids for the RGF in the south-east of England, of which some include green projects.
In addition, last year the Government published ‘Enabling the Transition to a Green Economy’ which will help inform the continuing dialogue between Government, business and communities. It sets out the range of policies we are using to support the transition to a green economy, the opportunities that are created and the implications for the way in which businesses operate.
EU Internal Trade
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to work with the European Commission to improve the functioning of the Single Market. [117494]
Norman Lamb: We have been working closely with the European Commission to improve the functioning of the Single Market. The Commission is currently preparing a further Single Market Act, a package of measures to strengthen the Single Market, to be published in the autumn. Working with other like-minded member states, we submitted our proposals for measures that should be included in any further reform of the Single Market, and we will continue to lobby to influence the content of the second Single Market Act.
More broadly, we have fed in our views across the various strands of the internal market, particularly the recent Commission Communications on the implementation of the Services Directive and on the governance of the Single Market. These Communications broadly reflect UK priorities, following early engagement with the Commission, and we will continue to work closely with the Commission to ensure that the actions identified are implemented at the earliest opportunity.
Ex Gratia Payments
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the monetary value of ex gratia payments made through schemes administered by his Department in the last two years. [116790]
Norman Lamb: Details of the Department's ex gratia payments are given in the Department's Annual Report and Accounts. The monetary value of ex gratia payments made in 2010-11 and 2011-12 by the core Department was nil.
Foreign Investment in UK
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings he has had with non-UK Government stakeholders since 11 January 2011 to encourage regional foreign direct investment in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) all the regions of England. [117610]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 16 July 2012]: I see it as an important part of my role to promote foreign direct investment (FDI) for all regions of the UK. I have regular meetings with foreign Governments, investment agencies and business to promote the whole of the UK as a world class investment destination and to encourage investment.
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Green Investment Bank
Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure the Green Investment Bank delivers the level of investment needed to green the economy. [117696]
Norman Lamb: We are making good progress towards the Green Investment Bank becoming operational later this year. Lord Smith of Kelvin has been appointed as chair of UK Green Investment Bank plc (UK GIB), and Sir Adrian Montague as deputy chair and senior independent director. With extensive corporate backgrounds and a wealth of experience, they are ideally suited to ensuring the Bank achieves its mission of accelerating investment in the UK's transition to a green economy.
The Bank is being funded with £3 billion to 2015. This will provide the Bank with substantial capacity to make investments, mobilise private capital, and build a track record as an acknowledged leader in green financing. The Government have also committed that the Bank will borrow from April 2015, subject to public sector net debt falling as a percentage of GDP. Established as a Companies Act Company, the Bank has the legal power to borrow in 2015. As a publicly-owned institution, any borrowing by the Bank will count towards public sector debt and borrowing totals.
To pave the way for the Bank we have set up a dedicated team of finance professionals, called UK Green Investments (UKGI), within BIS to make Government investments on commercial terms in green infrastructure. UKGI’s first transactions were in April, allocating £80 million to fund managers for investment in waste projects.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Green Investment Bank will be able to raise funds through the capital markets when it is established; and if he will make a statement. [117806]
Mr Prisk: The Green Investment Bank (GIB) is being funded with £3 billion to 2015. This will provide the Bank with substantial capacity to make investments, mobilise private capital, and build a track record as an acknowledged leader in green financing. Catalysing private sector capital is central to the Bank's remit.
The Bank will focus not only on investing £3 billion in projects which demonstrate ability to make a positive commercial return and green impact, but also on mobilising additional capital into a wide range of green infrastructure.
The Government have also committed that the Bank will borrow from April 2015, subject to public sector net debt falling as a percentage of GDP. As a publicly-owned institution, any borrowing by the Bank will count towards public sector debt and borrowing totals.
Higher Education: Admissions
Mr Gyimah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students were offered a place at their first choice university in the (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13 academic years. [116241]
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Mr Willetts: Information for the 2012/13 academic year will not be available until the end of the application cycle at the end of this year. Figures for the two most recently completed application cycles show that in 2010/11 371,840 applicants from all domiciles holding a firm first choice offer at a UK institution obtained a place on that course, compared to 374,311 in 2011/12.
Housing: Construction
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings have been held at his Department to discuss construction and housing finance in the last three months; and if he will publish the list of attendees, minutes and agendas of these meetings. [117668]
Mr Prisk: During the period of 17 April to 17 July 2012 the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has had in excess of 50 meetings with the construction and housing industries on a range of issues including finance.
To collate and publish details of attendees, agendas and minutes can be carried out only at a disproportionate cost.
Insolvency Service: Medway
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what cost-benefit assessment has been conducted in respect of the proposed closure of the Medway Insolvency Service Office. [117398]
Norman Lamb: The Insolvency Service has prepared a cost-benefit assessment principally based upon the accommodation and ICT cost savings arising from no longer maintaining an office in Medway, together with reduced salary costs in respect of any staff who may decide to exit rather than relocate, whom it is then decided not to replace.
These savings are then offset by a number of costs including:
(a) relocating staff or paying excess fares;
(b) the ICT costs in providing more flexible working solutions for staff;
(c) the costs of any relevant exit schemes;
(d) an element of lost productivity and travel costs for increased work related journey times; and
(e) the costs of recruiting and training staff if a decision is taken to replace any who choose to leave.
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the local community of the closure of the Medway Insolvency Service Office. [117399]
Norman Lamb: In relation to the impact on the local community, should closure be pursued, no further assessment has been made other than that as set out in the consultation document of March 2012. A copy of the consultation document can be found in the Libraries of the House and online at:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/insolvency/Consultations/Medway
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The consultation, which closed on 22 June 2012, sought to test the assumptions and estimates set out within the document, and sought further comment on the impact of the proposed closure.
The Insolvency Service is now considering the responses to the consultation, and representations made by hon. Members, to help inform a decision whether to proceed with the proposed closure or not.
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the financial savings which would accrue from closure of the Insolvency Office, Medway. [117400]
Norman Lamb: Any estimate of the net savings would be dependant 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.
Estimated costs and benefits have therefore been prepared across a range of potential outcomes.
For example, taking account of all potential costs and benefits, and an assumption that 25% 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 £690,000.
Local Enterprise Partnerships
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the administrative cost of each of the local enterprise partnerships has been since their introduction. [117547]
Mr Prisk: Administrative costs are a matter for each Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). To support LEP core operational capacity BIS has made available £9 million of start up and capacity funding for the period 2011-15.
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to review the progress of local enterprise partnerships. [117548]
Mr Prisk: Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) progress is reviewed regularly between this Department and the Department for Communities and Local Government.
This is informed by the regular meetings that I have with LEPs.
Manufacturing Industries
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely effect of a change in the UK's relationship with the EU on the manufacturing industry. [117819]
Mr Prisk: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills regularly reviews the benefits for UK business from the single market, including easier access to 500 million consumers. We will also participate fully in the recently announced Review of the Balance of Competences between the UK and the European Union. In the meantime we will continue to engage constructively with the European Commission, European Parliament and other countries to shape future EU industrial policy in a manner consistent with the needs of the UK manufacturers.
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Ministerial Meetings: EU
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings he has had to discuss the letter sent jointly by the Prime Minister and other EU leaders to President Van Rompuy and President Barroso on 20 February 2012. [117863]
Mr Prisk: The joint letter sent by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and 11 other EU leaders was part of our ongoing efforts to work with likeminded member states to promote the EU growth agenda. The issues raised in the letter have subsequently been discussed at: the Ministerial Likeminded Group for EU Growth meeting in Vilnius in April which the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable) attended; the May Competitiveness Council which the Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs, the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb) attended; a meeting between the European Affairs sub-Committee and the German Ministerial Committee on Issues of the European Union which the hon. Member for North Norfolk attended; and bilateral meetings with Ministers from a number of member states (including Lithuania, Spain, Portugal and Germany) and Members of the European Parliament.
Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will consider the recommendations of the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Motor Group on Delivering opportunities: Automotive investment for growth of July 2012. [117953]
Mr Prisk: The Government has already taken action to address a number of areas that were highlighted in the All-Party Parliamentary Motor Group's recent report. I will write to the hon. Member shortly setting out what the Government is doing and will place a copy of my response in the Libraries of the House.
Origin Marking: Israel
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on mandatory labelling of goods from illegal settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. [116968]
Norman Lamb: The Government's policy in relation to Israeli settlements on the West Bank and in East Jerusalem is quite clear: those settlements are illegal under international law, an obstacle to peace and make a two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, harder to achieve.
Under current legislation there is no mandatory requirement for goods produced in settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank to be labelled as such. Where specific EU legislation in the food sectors requires the country of origin to be indicated the Government believes that “Produce of The West Bank” is a lawful description of the origin of such goods (no food or drink of East Jerusalem provenance is imported into the United Kingdom). The West Bank is a recognised geographical area within the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
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So far as food and drink of West Bank origin imported into the UK is concerned, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has issued voluntary technical advice for the benefit of those importers and retailers who believe that their customers wish to distinguish between products of Israeli settlement provenance and those which originate from Palestinian growers.
More generally the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 ban traders in all sectors from using misleading commercial practices which are likely to distort the transactional decision of the average consumer. This includes statements about the geographical or commercial origin of products.
As with other elements of goods, the Government encourages consumers who are interested in a particular property of goods, including their origin, to ask the seller. If they are not happy with the reply, then they can shop elsewhere. If they suspect that the reply is not truthful, then they can take the matter up with their local authority Trading Standards Officers who enforce the CPRs.
Overseas Students: Japan
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the contribution to (a) the UK language school industry and (b) the UK economy of revenue arising from language students from Japan. [116880]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 13 July 2012]:Language schools in this country operate as private businesses and, as such, are not required to register with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) which does not collect data on them. Recent research on the value of education and training exports carried out by BIS shows that the overall contribution to the UK economy by language schools in 2008/09 was £2 billion. However, I am unable to tell the hon. Member what proportion of that arose from language students from Japan.
The information on the contribution to the UK economy by language schools comes from “Estimating the Value to the UK of Education Exports”, BIS Research Paper Number 46, June 2011.
Postal Services
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress his Department has made on making the Post Office the front office for government. [117186]
Norman Lamb: Post Office Ltd has set out a clear ambition to become a 'front office for Government' by developing new services and winning new work from both local and national Government. Government supports this ambition. Post Office Ltd has made good progress so far, winning new business at the local and national level—examples include work with UK Borders Agency, the Public Carriage Office, Westminster and Hammersmith and Fulham—and it continues to develop this element of its business.
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what Government services have been administered by the Post Office since May 2010. [117187]
Norman Lamb:
Post Office Ltd is responsible for operational matters relating to the services it administers on behalf of Government. I have therefore asked Paula
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Vennells, the chief executive of Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Regional Growth Fund
John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many projects successful in rounds one and two of the Regional Growth Fund programme have received the funding awarded to them; how much this amounts to; and how much remains to be awarded pending the completion of due diligence processes and signing of contracts. [117064]
Mr Prisk: 176 bids under Rounds 1 and 2 of the Regional Growth were conditionally allocated funding subject to confirmatory due-diligence. These bids translated to 237 individual awards as some bids have multiple counterparties. As of 16 July 2012 110 offers have been finalised. A further 56 bidders have agreed terms and conditions and are undertaking due diligence. Offer letters specify the triggers for drawing down Regional Growth Fund (RGF) awards. Normally, awards are drawn down in tranches after specific investment and/or employment milestones have been reached. To date a total of £502 million has been drawn down against 46 final offers. Outstanding RGF funding is forecast to be drawn down over the period to March 2014 in line with the budget for the RGF.
Regional Growth Fund: Birmingham
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications his Department has received for support from the Regional Growth Fund from businesses in Birmingham, Ladywood constituency; and how many have been (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful to date. [117063]
Mr Prisk: In Round 1, 15 projects or packages of project applications located within the Birmingham metropolitan borough (see following note) were received. None of these applications were successful. In Round 2, 10 projects, packages of projects, or programme applications were received located within the Birmingham metropolitan borough, of which three of which were successful.
Note:
Each project/programme or package of projects application has been given a single location. These are estimated using the information given within the time of application. In cases where the location is vague e.g. covering a range of postcodes, or activities located at multiple sites, and the local authority district has been deemed as the key location where most of the activity occurs.
Locations describe where the project will occur rather than the address of the applicant or a project partner. Information is not provided at a geographic level smaller than local authority district.
Some programmes have a national reach these have not been assigned a location, though may well operate in the area concerned. Some projects/packages/programmes are still subject to due diligence. The outcome of this process may change the amount of funding allocated to a project/programme initially.
Information on individual projects and programmes or for areas where there are fewer than three bids is not released for reasons of commercial confidentiality.
Technology and Innovation Centres
Chi Onwurah:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the status is of each catapult centre announced to date; how much
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funding each centre has received from
(a)
the public purse and
(b)
other sources; what the membership is of each (i) leadership team and (ii) business-led steering group; and what the programme of activity is in each case. [117478]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 16 July 2012]: The High Value Manufacturing Catapult centre opened for business in October 2011 and is operating and working with UK businesses large and small. Bob Gilbert was recently appointed as the chair of the supervisory board and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult leadership team comprises the management board consisting of the CEOs of the individual centres and an interim CEO.
The High Value Manufacturing Catapult centre has to date received some £27 million as core grant funding from the Technology Strategy Board. Its activities are focused on improving and expanding the capability of the seven member centres, for example investing in novel machining centres that will help businesses take cost out of the manufacture of new precision components. There are a series of programmes, such as low carbon vehicle developments through light-weighting and energy storage and management programmes that will help keep the UK in a leading position in the field, and those to support the process industry in developing the supply chain for printed electronic inks, photovoltaic components and their integration into novel structures.
The Cell Therapy Catapult has recently appointed chief operating officer Keith Thompson and, as I recently announced, will-be located in Guy's Tower at London Bridge. The Catapult is starting to design the facility and specify the equipment for its Guy's base and, to date, has received funding of £270,000 from the Technology Strategy Board. It will become operational in the winter of 2012/13.
The Technology Strategy Board is making good process in establishing the other five Catapult centres. The delivery consortium has been announced and is working on the detailed plans for the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult based in Glasgow and the North East of England. To date no funding has been paid to this Catapult. It will also become operational in the winter of 2012/13.
Also, I announced recently that the Satellite Applications Catapult will be based at Harwell and the delivery consortium is developing the plans. The leadership teams for each of the Catapult centres are being actively recruited, starting with the chair and CEO. Additionally, the Technology Strategy Board teams are actively engaged with industry and stakeholders to refine the operational principles for the Catapults in Connected Digital Economy, Future Cities and Transport Systems. To date, no funding has been paid to these four Catapults. They will become operational in 2013.
Of the seven Catapult centres, only the High Value Manufacturing Catapult has received funding from sources other than the Technology Strategy Board. We will gather this information from the seven centres that comprise the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and I will write in due course when it is available and place a copy of the information in the Library of the House.
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Training: Shipping
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to encourage skills and training in the marine industry. [117650]
Mr Prisk: The Government and industry published a Marine Industry Growth Strategy in September 2011. This work is being taken forward by the Marine Industries Leadership Council which I chair jointly with Richard Sadler (CEO Lloyd's Register). As part of this work we have formed a Marine Sector Skills Group which works closely with Semta, the sector skills council for the advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors. This work has strengthened relationships among stakeholders, and continues to expose the skills agenda to a widening community of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
For example, an intermediate apprenticeship framework has been developed by the Marine Skills Alliance for the Merchant Navy and other maritime jobs.
A University Technology College specialising in marine engineering is planning to open in Plymouth in 2013. It will cater for students aged 14 to 19, offering technically oriented study in a school equipped to industrial standards.
Deputy Prime Minister
Public Sector Pay
Mr Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff working for his Office are employed through off-payroll engagements costing less than £58,200 per annum; and if he will make a statement. [110831]
Mr Maude: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
Since 2010 the Cabinet Office has applied strict controls on the engagement of consultants, interim managers and specialist contractors who may not be engaged without prior approval from the Cabinet Office Approvals Board.
Approval is only given to engage contractors and agency staff if a case can be made that shows that the use of such non-payroll resource is 'operationally necessary', could not be fulfilled by an existing civil servant, and offers value for money.
Annual expenditure by the Cabinet Office on consultancy fell dramatically in 2011-12 and in 2010-11 expenditure was around a third of what it was in 2009-10. Expenditure on temporary staff was also reduced by more than 40%.
The Cabinet Office has 35 contractors and agency staff whose contracts are expected to cost less than £58,200. Of these, seven are expected to cease over the course of the next few months, and the rest remain under review.
Sometimes there is a requirement for a contractor with specific knowledge and expertise to be engaged for a longer period to see through a big project—just as any private sector organisation would do. It makes sense, under these circumstances, to use a contractor when the alternative would be to recruit a permanent employee which would incur more ongoing, longer term cost to the taxpayer.