Conciliation Resources
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings his officials had with representatives of Conciliation Resources in 2010-11. [117765]
Mr Bellingham: Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office meet regularly with representatives from Conciliation Resources, as they do with many other non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Meetings take place both at British Missions overseas as well as in the UK, sometimes with Conciliation Resources alone or in broader meetings involving other NGOs. There is no central record kept of these meetings: providing a specific number would therefore involve a disproportionate use of staff time.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what activities funded by his Department Conciliation Resources undertakes in each location in Abkhazia. [117766]
Mr Lidington:
A tri-departmental (FCO-DFID-MOD) programme fund, which supports the Government's Building Stability Overseas Strategy, funds Conciliation Resources to run a number of projects in Abkhazia,
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Georgia. Conciliation Resources' work aims to build links across the conflict divide by bringing people together, and strengthening their ability to resolve the conflict.
Projects include support for civil society activists in Sukhumi and Gali to increase public participation and activism in conflict resolution, and promote constructive ways to address the conflict; support for two independent Sukhumi-based media organisations working on cross-conflict programmes and initiatives involving Abkhazia's ethnic Georgian community; and support for a discussion club bringing together young people from different locations in Abkhazia who are involved in conflict transformation work inside their own society and with their peers across the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict divide.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding his Department plans to allocate to Conciliation Resources for the financial year 2013-14. [117767]
Mr Bellingham: There are no confirmed plans to allocate funding to Conciliation Resources from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) own budget in financial year 2013-14. The tri-departmental (the FCO, the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence) Conflict Pool is funded by a separate Treasury allocation not from individual departmental budgets, but with projects agreed tri-departmentally and then managed by individual Departments. There are two FCO-managed Conflict Pool projects planned at this stage for financial year (FY) 2013-14 involving funding for Conciliation Resources. The first entitled ‘Building confidence in conflict transformation: the Georgian/Abkhaz context’ involves a planned £150,000 of funding. The second, entitled ‘Technical Support to the Peace Talks between the Government of Ethiopia and the Ogaden National Liberation Front’, involves a planned £90,000 covering FY 2012-13 and FY 2013-14.
European Union
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times the Government has initiated an action for failure to fulfil an EU obligation against another EU member state; and against which member states in each of the last 30 years. [117832]
Mr Lidington: The UK has never initiated an action for failure to fulfil an EU obligation against another member state. It is primarily for the Commission to enforce member states' obligations. In 2008 the Commission brought 207 actions for failure of a member state to fulfil its obligations; in 2009 they brought 142 cases; in 2010 they brought 128 cases; and in 2011 they brought 73 cases. The UK Government is strongly supportive of action to improve the implementation and enforcement of Single Market rules, including through greater transparency in Commission reporting of member state performance and more proactive Commission enforcement.
Guinea-Bissau
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to work with West African nations to tackle the narcotics trade in Guinea-Bissau. [117600]
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Mr Bellingham: Britain continues to work with its international partners, including the EU, UN and Governments in the region, to prevent the flow of illegal narcotics from Guinea-Bissau to Europe and the UK. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office works closely with Whitehall colleagues, including the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the Ministry of Defence, to minimize the spread of the narcotics trade in West Africa which we believe will contribute towards stability in Guinea-Bissau and neighbouring countries. HMS Dauntless participated in an international counter-narcotics exercise, Saharan Express, in April and carried out joint counter-narcotics exercises with the Cape Verdean authorities in May.
Israel
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his Israeli counterpart on steps to end the practice of placing Palestinian children in solitary confinement. [118389]
Alistair Burt: I share your concerns about the treatment of Palestinian children detained in Israeli prisons. We welcomed Israel's decision last year to raise the age of legal majority for Palestinian children in the Israeli military justice system, a step we had advocated. I have raised the implementation of this decision with the Israeli ambassador. We continue to call for further improvements, including an end to shackling, an end to night-time arrests of children, and the introduction of audio-visual recording of interrogations. Our ambassador in Tel Aviv discussed these issues with the Israeli Attorney-General on 6 July.
In addition we have funded and facilitated research into this issue by leading British lawyers. We welcome their independent report entitled “Children in military custody” and share many of the concerns contained in it. We have passed the report to the Israeli authorities and will be urging them to take forward the recommendations.
Libya
George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Libyan Government on their decision to ban the security company G4S from the country, where it was due to guard EU officials. [118244]
Alistair Burt: Following a request from G4S, the British ambassador to Libya made inquiries of the Libyan Government in order to clarify the position of private security companies (PSCs) in Libya. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation confirmed that a licence is required for PSCs to operate in Libya and stated that G4S would not be granted one. The Libyan authorities have since issued an edict (Ministerial Council Decision 248) which appears to prohibit foreign security companies from operating in Libya. We are clarifying the intent and consequences of this decision with the Libyan authorities.
Mali
Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the situation in Mali; and what steps his Department is taking to protect UK interests in the region. [117601]
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Mr Bellingham: The British Government are concerned about the current situation in Mali, particularly in the north, where Islamist groups, including al-Qaeda have consolidated their position. We have long-standing counter-terrorism relationships with countries across North and West Africa as well as with key international partners working to counter the threat from al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and ideologically aligned groups.
We are also concerned about the impact of fighting in Mali on the regional humanitarian crisis. The deterioration in the political and security situation in Mali has directly affected over 442,000 people and exacerbated the chronic food shortages. In response, Britain has now provided £25.4 million in humanitarian aid in total to the Sahel region, including Mali.
There have been some positive developments in southern Mali. The return of interim President Dioncounda Traore from Paris has enabled the formation of a Government of National Unity, officially announced on 20 August, which incorporates representatives from all sectors of society. Britain, with the international community, is committed to helping the Government of National Unity return Mali to democratic rule, and hold elections, as soon as possible.
We support the principle of a regional solution to the crisis in Mali. We have assisted the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the past and hope to be able to do so again. We are encouraging ECOWAS to provide further detail of their plans, as requested by the UN Security Council (UNSC), before the UNSC can formally endorse ECOWAS action in Mali.
Although British interests in the Sahel are modest, our ambassador in Bamako—who also covers Niger—is in regular contact with the small expatriate community in Mali, and with the small number of British businesses there, to update them on the changing situation and to advise on any safety precautions that they should take. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also provides regular, detailed updates to our travel advice.
Mauritius
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the authorities in Mauritius on the trial of those accused of killing Michaela McAreavey. [118325]
Mr Bellingham: Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff are in contact with the Mauritian authorities about this case and we understand that they are taking further steps to bring those responsible to justice, including carrying out a further police investigation by a different Team. We await the results of this investigation. We have reiterated our offer of full support to the Irish Government in Dublin and the Irish ambassador, who are rightly taking the lead in providing consular support to the McAreavey family. We stand ready to respond to any further requests for assistance.
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the trial in Mauritius of those accused of killing Michaela McAreavey. [118326]
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Mr Bellingham: Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff are in contact with the Mauritian authorities about this case and we understand that they are taking further steps to bring those responsible to justice, including carrying out a further police investigation by a different team. We await the results of this investigation. We have reiterated our offer of full support to the Irish Government in Dublin and the Irish ambassador, who are providing consular support to the McAreavey family. We stand ready to respond to any further requests for assistance.
Mexico
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to his Department's Strategy for the Prevention of Torture, what steps he has taken to ensure accountability for the routine use of torture in Mexico is established. [118383]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Our embassy in Mexico City pays close attention to the question of accountability for the use of torture. It is aware of the findings of the Human Rights Watch report of November 2011—Neither Rights, Nor Security—which identified serious concerns about the use of torture and extrajudicial executions in five Mexican states. The embassy met the report's authors shortly after its publication report, and has raised our concerns with the relevant authorities, including directly in a number of Mexican states cited in the report. The embassy is actively working with both state and federal authorities to encourage better compliance with international norms against torture.
The Government of Mexico last year introduced new reforms that will lead to all cases in which torture by members of the military is alleged being tried in civilian courts, rather than under the military system as at present. This is in line with the recommendations of the Inter American Court of Human Rights. Our embassy has urged the Mexican Government to make faster progress on implementation of this reform. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)'s Director for Human Rights and Democracy, who visited Mexico in May 2012, also encouraged Mexico to move ahead with implementing the recommendations made in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Universal Periodic Review of Mexico in 2009, a number of which related to torture. Once these are implemented they will significantly reduce impunity and increase accountability for torture.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to prevent torture and monitor places of detention in Mexico. [118384]
Mr Jeremy Browne:
Our embassy in Mexico City works actively with the relevant Mexican authorities to encourage better compliance with international norms against torture to which Mexico is party, such as the UN Convention Against Torture and its optional protocol, Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT), which establishes an international inspection system for places of detention. The embassy has met the Federal Prosecutor's human rights office to discuss Mexico's requirements under the Istanbul Protocol, a set of international guidelines for documentation of
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torture and its consequences. The embassy also works with the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights in relation to their torture prevention strategy.
Separately the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)'s Director for Human Rights and Democracy visited Mexico in May 2012 and encouraged the Mexican Government to implement its agreed human rights reforms. This included encouraging Mexico to complete its implementation of the recommendations made under the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Universal Periodic Review of Mexico in 2009, a number of which related to torture.
Our embassy also undertakes human rights monitoring activity within Mexico in conjunction with EU partners. Our embassy is the lead among EU missions on human rights in a number of Mexican states including Veracruz and Tabasco. Our officials have visited Veracruz four times this year and held discussions with army, navy and state police commanders to raise awareness of the relevant protocols and standards of treatment. In 2011 embassy staff visited the state of Tabasco as part of a delegation that raised concerns about torture.
Middle East and North Africa
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to consult women's organisations in the Middle East and North Africa on the actions relating to the region in the UK's National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325; and if he will make a statement. [117270]
Mr Bellingham: We regularly consult women individually and as part of our wider dialogue with civil society on the UK’s National Action Plan, and are in contact with a range of organisations on the ground, including women's organisations. We also meet with women's groups and activists from the region when they visit London. Future work will include initiating a North Africa consultation process. In the UK, we will look to take expert advice on this from Gender Action for Peace and Security, an umbrella grouping dedicated to women, peace and security issues, made up of peace and development non government organisations, academics and grassroots peace builders.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what formal mechanisms his Department has established to ensure that information gathered through consultation with women's organisations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are included in the development of the UK's MENA National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325; and if he will make a statement. [117271]
Mr Bellingham: Development of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regional plan is evolving and will be based on consultation and information gathering in the MENA region and in the UK.
In the region, information will be gathered by embassies through existing formal and informal contact with women's organisations and networks. One of the responsibilities of our Regional Conflict Advisers, officials shortly to be appointed and deployed to key diplomatic posts in
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the MENA region, will be to develop effective consultation mechanisms with women's organisations in the region in order to underpin our engagement on women's peace and security issues.
In the UK, we will take expert advice from Gender Action for Peace and Security, an umbrella grouping dedicated to women, peace and security issues, made up of peace and development non government organisation, academics and grassroots peace builders. In collaboration with them, we intend to initiate a North African regional consultation.
Mozambique
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received recent representations (a) from and (b) on behalf of General Jacinto Veloso about a dispute involving British registered and owned companies in Mozambique. [118010]
Mr Bellingham: We have received representations on behalf of General Jacinto Veloso in relation to a dispute involving Pathfinder Minerals, a firm listed on the Alternative Investment Market. We have not received any direct representations from General Veloso.
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he met General Jacinto Veloso, a former Government Minister of Mozambique, when the President of Mozambique visited London in May 2012. [118011]
Mr Bellingham: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) did not meet General Jacinto Veloso during the visit of President Guebuza in May. General Veloso was not present at any meetings involving British Ministers.
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who the members were of the official delegation of the President of Mozambique when he visited London in May 2012. [118012]
Mr Bellingham: The 47 members of the official delegation were
1. Armando Emilio Guebuza, President of the Republic of Mozambique.
2. Oldemiro Julio Marques Baloi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
3. Filipe Nyusi, Minister of National Defence.
4. Esperanca Bias, Minister for Mineral Resources.
5. Armando Inroga, Minister of Industry and Trade.
6. Major-General Jorge David Gune, Head of the Military House at the President's Office.
7. Carlos Dos Santos, High Commissioner of the Republic of Mozambique in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
8. Renato Matusse, Adviser to the President of the Republic of Mozambique for Political Affairs.
9. Carlos Pessane, Adviser to the President of the Republic of Mozambique for General Matters.
10. Maria Ines Moiane Dove, Secretary to the President of the Republic of Mozambique.
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11. Marlene Magaia, Press Attache to the President of the Republic of Mozambique.
12. Francisco Elias Paulo Cigarro, Chief of the State Protocol.
13. Berta Cossa, Director of the Directorate for Europe and America (DEA), in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
14. Lourenco Sambo, Director of Investment Promotion Centre.
15. Jose Amade, Deputy Director of Administration at President's Office.
16. Sergio Mate, Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
17. Ilda Trigo Raivoso: Second Secretary at the High Commission of the Republic of Mozambique from UK in London.
18. Afonso Pinto, Head of Department in the Office of the State Protocol.
19. Laura Guambe, State Protocol Officer.
20. Eldred Kwame Namitete, State Protocol Officer.
21. Pedro Massimaculo, Communication and Media Officer at the President's Office.
22. Filipe Matusse, Physician of the President of the Republic of Mozambique.
23. Lieutenant Colonel Jorge Samuel Sithole, ADC of the President of the Republic of Mozambique.
24. Renaldo Mabunda, Technician at the Office of the President.
25. Bashir Adam Car1m, Technician at the Office of the President.
26. Ana Maria Vieira, Technician at the State House.
27. Agostinho Chirindza, Technician at the State House.
28. Alberto Fernando Tila, Technician at the State House.
29. Colonel Manuel Lourenco Faranguana, Security Officer/Head of Activities.
30. Major Joaquim Maponda Chiambiro, Security Officer/Chief of Services.
31. Captain Raimundo Xadreque Matavele, Security Officer.
32. Captain Francisco Lambo, Security Officer.
33. Captain Alige Satepa Mafuca, Security Officer.
34. Lieutenant Mario Sebastiao Maluane, Security Officer.
35. Elidio Tembe, Official Photographer of the President's Office.
36. Eulalio Lucas Monteiro, Official Cameraman of the President's Office.
37. Joao De Brito Langa, Reporter of the Radio Mozambique (RM).
38. Emilia Jubeleu Moiane; Reporter of the Television of Mozambique (TVM).
39. Juca Vicente Gobene, Cameraman of the Television of Mozambique (TVM).
40. Fatima Mimbiri, Reporter of the Mozambique Information Agency (AIM).
41. Alirio Joel Arone Chiziane, Cameraman of SAVANA News Paper.
42. Herminio Jose, Reporter of the MIRAMAR Television.
43. Mateus Balate, Cameraman of the Miramar Television.
44. Jaime Cuambe, Reporter of the NOTICIAS News Paper.
45. Angelo Munguambe, Reporter of the ZAMBEZE News Paper.
46. Rui De Carvalho, Reporter of the PUBLICO News Paper.
47. Acamo Maquinasse, Cameraman of the Photographic Training Centre.
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The 35 members of the accompanying business delegation were:
Nazim Ahmad
Diogo Cavaco
Justino Chemane
Patricio Chemane
Clesio Eusebio Chivulele
Celso Ismael Correia
Carlos Costa
Jaime Cruz
Stefanie Dreyer
Hugo Gomes
Azmina Goulamaly
Ismail Harun
Ibraimo Ibraimo
Francisco Jothamo
Aly Junior
Salimo Jussub
Junaide Lalgy
Egidio Leite
Samuel Jay Levy
Rufino Felisberto Licuco
Adriano Maleiane
Alcides Boavida Manjate
Roderigo Manuel
Joao Martins
Pedro Massinga
Celia Menezes
Inaete Merali
Noor Momade
Sheila Samuel
Werner Shofmann
Rui Tembe
Afonso Julio Tembisse
Curratal Aine Usta
Jacinto Veloso
Adriano Weng
Palestinians
Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has commissioned any independent research into the content of Palestinian Authority TV programming. [118285]
Alistair Burt: We have not commissioned any independent research into the content of Palestinian Authority TV programming.
The British Government oppose the advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence in all circumstances. In response to allegations of anti-Israeli incitement on Palestinian state television, officials from the British consulate general in Jerusalem have raised concerns with the head of the News Department at Palestine TV who stressed that they have strict instructions from the highest Palestinian authorities to prevent the broadcasting of any material that promotes incitement or hatred.
Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Palestinian Authority on incitement. [118286]
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Alistair Burt: We deplore incitement on both sides of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The allegations of Palestinian incitement are largely raised in the context of the Palestinian education system and media. Where specific instances of incitement have occurred, we have raised our concerns about these cases with the Palestinian Authority, including President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad, and state media. Most recently our consul general in Jerusalem discussed these issues with PM Fayyad on 27 July.
Paraguay
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the Mercosur decision to suspend Paraguay following the impeachment of President Fernando Lugo. [118366]
Mr Jeremy Browne: On 29 June 2012, a Mercosur Summit formalised Paraguay's political (although not economic) suspension from Mercosur. Paraguay cannot participate, vote or veto any measures of the bloc until it is re-admitted. We expect the suspension to continue until the next presidential elections in April 2013.
The UK has carefully followed the situation in Paraguay and continues to keep it under close review. We are taking account of ongoing work and discussions in the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the European Union to ensure Paraguay respects its international commitments to human rights and to uphold democracy and the rule of law. We welcome the recent decision by the OAS to send a mission to observe the next general elections on 21 April 2013.
We are committed to strengthening our relationship with Paraguay. We plan to re-open an embassy in Asuncion in mid 2013. This new embassy will further strengthen British diplomatic engagement in the Latin American region. It will help to unlock commercial opportunities for British companies in this significant market. And it will allow us to work closely with Paraguay on regional issues such as counter-narcotics and organised crime. We will also be looking at ways of supporting democracy, the rule of law and human rights in Paraguay.
Publications
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2012, Official Report, columns 242-3W, on publications, how much his Department has spent on (a) circulars, (b) publications and (c) consultation documents since May 2010. [117912]
Mr Lidington: Many of our diplomatic posts overseas publish documents that are relevant to their work. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold information about the cost of these documents centrally and it could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Recruitment
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on (a) recruitment services and (b) executive search agencies in each month since January 2012. [117637]
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Mr Bellingham: The following table shows the amount spent by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on (a) recruitment services and (b) executive search in every month since January 2012.
The FCO uses recruitment agencies to attract a wide range of applicants to permanent or fixed-term roles to ensure its work force is as diverse and highly skilled as possible. For specialist recruitment campaigns, agencies are better placed to target applicants with the most relevant skills within that sector. A competitive tendering process is run to select an agency for external recruitment campaigns. This has proven to be more cost-effective than in-house recruitment.
The figures cover recruitment for UK-based members of staff only—figures for recruitment undertaken by overseas posts advertising for local staff positions are not held centrally. All of the positions were approved for external recruitment as either business-critical or a frontline service, in accordance with the terms of the Government-wide recruitment freeze.
| Month 2012 | Recruitment services (£) | Executive search (£) |
| Note: Figures for January and February have increased since the table published in my answer to the hon. Member for Harrow West (Mr Thomas) of 8 February 2012, Official Report, column 307W, due to further invoices being paid. | ||
Russia
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the outcome of discussions at the UK-Russia Bilateral Human Rights Dialogue on (a) the imprisonment of members of Pussy Riot and (b) other matters. [117995]
Mr Lidington: Human rights form an important part of the UK-Russia relationship, and the UK-Russia Human Rights Dialogues provide a valuable platform to share experience, discuss concerns and offer cooperation, both in the domestic sphere and internationally. This year senior officials had a detailed exchange with Russian counterparts on a wide range of issues, including legislation on non-governmental organisations, the North Caucasus, freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, the protection of human rights defenders and journalists, and the Magnitsky case.
The Pussy Riot case was also raised. The UK delegation underlined its concerns about the negative impact of the band members' detention on the development of civil society in Russia. More recently, the Prime Minister raised human rights issues, including concerns around the Pussy Riot case and its impact on the development of democracy in Russia, with President Putin during their meeting on 2 August. On 17 August, the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), made clear our concerns
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about the verdict of the trial, which calls into question Russia's commitment to protect fundamental rights and freedoms.
South Sudan
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the political situation in South Sudan. [117354]
Mr Bellingham: We remain concerned by the political situation in South Sudan, which has been affected by disputes with Sudan as well as inter-communal violence within South Sudan. It is encouraging that negotiations between South Sudan and Sudan on 2 August have led to some agreements, including a provisional deal on oil. This will in time boost South Sudan's struggling economy, and assist the growing numbers of South Sudanese who arc dependent on humanitarian assistance from international donors. We urge the Government of South Sudan, as well as that of Sudan, to resolve their remaining differences at the next round of talks in Addis Ababa beginning on 3 September, which will allow the people of both countries the security and prosperity they deserve. The UK will continue to provide political, development and humanitarian support to South Sudan.
Syria
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Chippenham of 11 June 2012, Official Report, column 45, on Syria, what progress has been made by HM Ambassador to the United Nations in securing sufficient diplomatic support to take a resolution to the UN Security Council referring the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court; and if he will make a statement. [118365]
Alistair Burt: Referral to the International Criminal Court requires a UN Security Council resolution and so far Russia and China have not supported any UN Security Council resolution on Syria. They vetoed the latest resolution on 19 August. However, we continue to work on accountability issues. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised the issue with other Security Council members while in New York for the UN Security Council Ministerial meeting on 30 August.
We are clear that all those responsible for atrocities in Syria should be held to account. The Commission of Inquiry has made clear that the abuses committed by anti-government armed groups did not reach the gravity, frequency and scale of the violations committed by Government forces and the Shabbiha.
Taxis
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on taxis for its staff in each of the last two years. [117636]
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Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) currently uses two contracts in the UK with private hire companies: Addison Lee, covering the London area, and Raffles Taxis, covering the Milton Keynes area.
The following spend for each of these two suppliers for FCO and FCO Services, is as follows:
| £ | ||
| Addison Lee | Raffles | |
Procurement activity overseas is devolved to our network of over 260 posts across 170 countries. Information on taxi use by FCO staff overseas is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Like all Government Departments, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) ensures we use taxpayers' money very carefully to help reduce the overall costs of Government. Staff therefore are only allowed to use taxis in exceptional circumstances, when public transport is not available, or when their line manager agrees that taking a taxi will help keep a staff member safe during unsocial hours. As well as approver checks, expense claims will be subject to retrospective audit checks.
FCO Services is a Trading Fund which operates commercially and competes with private sector suppliers for the provision of secure logistics, project and ICT services. It does not receive any direct public funding from the FCO or HMG, relying solely on revenue from its customers. It operates the same policy, processes and restrictions as the FCO in relation to the use of taxis.
Western Sahara
Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms exist for alleged human rights abuses in the non-self governing territory of Western Sahara to be (a) investigated and (b) reported to the UN Security Council. [117640]
Alistair Burt: The UK regards the political status of the territory of Western Sahara as undetermined. The UK supports the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General's special envoy for Western Sahara, ambassador Christopher Ross, to encourage the parties to reach a mutually-acceptable political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
Following UNSCR 1979, the Moroccan National Human Rights Council opened regional offices in Laayoune and Dakhla in Western Sahara. Its mandate includes the investigation of allegations of human rights abuses.
Recent UN Security Council Resolutions on Western Sahara have welcomed Morocco's commitment to ensure unqualified and unimpeded access for the special procedures of the UN Human Rights Council to Western Sahara. In September 2011 the UN Special Rapporteur for Cultural Rights visited the territory and we hope that
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Morocco will similarly cooperate with any requests for visits by other Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. The UN Secretary-General's annual report to the Security Council on the situation in Western Sahara contains a section on human rights.
The British Government continue to believe that transparency in the field of human rights is vital to building confidence between the parties. We regularly raise the importance of full respect for human rights with both parties.
Work and Pensions
Access to Work Programme: Wales
Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Welsh Assembly Government about the steps he is taking to increase take-up of the Access to Work scheme in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [117572]
Maria Miller: On 4 July I wrote to all members of the Welsh Assembly Government to update them on our plans to expand and modernise Access to Work so that it can support more disabled people into work.
As part of our targeted marketing campaign we are focusing on regions where Access to Work has potential to expand, such as in Wales. We have already appointed a new Disabled People's User-Led Organisation ambassador for Wales to increase awareness of the benefits of Access to Work. We are also working with key stakeholders and charities in Wales to expand take up to increase the number of disabled people supported in Wales.
We will continue to keep colleagues in the Welsh Assembly Government informed as we embark on the most radical review of Access to Work in the programme's history.
Assets
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assets his Department has sold and leased back over the last 12 months; what the sale price was of each asset so sold; and what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of leasing back each such asset over the period of the lease. [116786]
Chris Grayling: The Department has not sold and leased back any assets over the past 12 months.
Asthma
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions his Department has had with medical practitioners on occupational asthma. [117137]
Chris Grayling: With regard to the Industrial Injuries scheme, the Department receives advice from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council on the full range of occupationally related prescribed diseases, which include occupational asthma.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on occupational asthma. [117138]
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Chris Grayling: The information requested is as follows:
(a) The Department for Work and Pensions has not commissioned any research on occupational asthma.
(b) Evaluation of the evidence base on occupational asthma is regularly carried out by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC). The IIAC is a scientific advisory body whose statutory duty is confined to giving independent advice to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the Industrial Injuries scheme. It reported on respiratory health, including asthma in fire fighters in 2010. It recommended occupational asthma due to exposure to latex in health care workers be added to the list of prescribed diseases in 2003. The last full review of prescribed disease D7 (occupational asthma) was carried out in 1990; several sensitising substances were added to the list of prescribed diseases along with a new 'open' category for any other sensitising agent. The evidence is detailed and reviewed in the IIAC'S reports: 'Occupational Health in Fire fighters', 'Conditions due to Biological Agents' Cm 5997 and 'Occupational Asthma' Cm 1244. IIAC regularly monitors emerging research.
Atos Healthcare
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to his answer to the hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West of 21 March 2012, Official Report, column 705W, on Atos Healthcare, in what proportion of occasions a Jobcentre Plus decision-maker did not follow the advice of an Atos-approved healthcare professional when making a decision on eligibility for employment and support allowance in each month since May 2010. [117136]
Chris Grayling: The information provided in the answer of 21 March 2012 is consistent with the January 2012 Official Statistics release. Table 2a in this publication provides the total number of initial assessments and their final outcomes by month. By comparing the totals for each month with those figures originally provided in the previous answer, it is possible to calculate the proportion of all outcomes where the Atos recommendation differs from the decision maker's decision.
The relevant figures can be found in Table 2a in the spreadsheet at the following link:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/esa_wca/esa_wca_24012012_tables.xls
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 29 February 2012, Official Report, columns 390-1W, on Atos Healthcare: Scotland, how many Atos assessment centres there are; and in which of these assessment centres mental health champions are based. [117632]
Chris Grayling: There are currently 30 locations in Scotland used to conduct medical assessments by Atos. However, many are hired on a casual basis and used only when required. Mental Function Champions are based in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 29 February 2012, Official Report, columns 390-1W, on Atos Healthcare: Scotland, how many training sessions the mental health champions based in Edinburgh and Glasgow have conducted for staff in Atos assessment centres without champions based with them. [117633]
3 Sep 2012 : Column 154W
Chris Grayling: All health care professionals working for Atos receive ongoing training through the DWP- agreed continuing medical education programme. The role of the Mental Function Champion is to provide relevant advice and support to health care professionals about the assessment of people with mental health conditions. Mental Function Champions based in Glasgow and Edinburgh regularly attend other main centres and provide advice to health care professionals in other Scottish centres. Records are not held to confirm the actual number of visits or advice calls.
Bakeries
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training is given to health and safety inspectors on conducting workplace inspections in bakeries. [117139]
Chris Grayling: Training for HSE inspectors to carry out inspections in a wide range of workplaces including bakeries is an integral part of HSE's early years training programme. This modular programme involves practical experience of field work and classroom-based learning leading to a Post Graduate Diploma in Regulatory Health and Safety.
Operational guidance material providing further information on the application of the law, and industry standards, is available to HSE inspectors. There is specific and publicly available guidance applicable to bakeries and this is used by inspectors to underpin their regulatory decision making and ensures that inspectors regulate health and safety at work effectively and consistently.
Child Benefit
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children for whom child benefit is paid live abroad for more than three months each year. [117704]
Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.
The information requested is not available.
The main purpose of child benefit is to support families in the UK. Consequently, the child benefit rules generally do not provide for it to be paid in respect of children who live abroad other than in limited circumstances (for example, in the case of the children of UK Crown Servants posted overseas) or to meet the UK's obligations under European Community (EC) law. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 6 September 2011, Official Report, columns 400-01W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mr Jackson).
Child Maintenance
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households are subject to a Child Support Agency Inhibition Order; and how many such households are (a) fully and (b) partially owned by a person other than the non-resident parent from whom maintenance arrears are being sought. [117165]
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Maria Miller: Bills of Inhibition in Scotland do not attach directly to the non-resident parent's property, but are personal prohibitions preventing heritable property being transferred, alienated or disposed of by the non-resident parent. A Bill of Inhibition is counted as applied for when an instruction for inhibition is sent to the solicitors.
Information on the number of households which have a Bill of Inhibition and which are fully or partially owned by a person other than the non-resident parent is not available. However, the number of inhibitions issued, and the number which were successful, in the year to February 2012 were 370 and 345 respectively.
Previously published information is available in the Child Support Agency Quarterly Statistics. This can be found at the following link on page 28:
http://www.childmaintenance.org/en/pdf/qss/QSS-mar_2012.pdf
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total amount of maintenance payments owed by non-resident parents as determined by the Child Support Agency is; and what proportion of this amount was paid in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [117166]
Maria Miller: The following table shows the total amount of maintenance and scheduled arrears owed by non-resident parents and the amount actually received in the last five years to March 2012. Recorded information for the total amount of maintenance and scheduled arrears owed the year to March 2008 does not include clerical information as this would involve extracting significant amounts of clerical information.
| Year ending March: | Total amount of maintenance owed (£ million) | Total amount of maintenance received (£ million) | Proportion (%) |
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consultation his Department has had with the Law Society of Scotland on Regulations 18 and 20 of the Child Support Variations Regulations 2000. [117223]
Maria Miller: The Government has consulted a number of times in respect of the Child Support Variations Regulations 2000, and the grounds contained in regulation 18 (Assets) and regulation 20 (Lifestyle inconsistent with income).
Although the proposal of an exceptions regime was first put forward in the 1998 Green Paper “Children First: A new approach to child support”, specific proposals for the types of grounds on which it would be possible for a parent with care to apply to the Child Support Agency to increase the maintenance calculation, were detailed in chapter six of the 1999 White Paper “A new contract for welfare: Children's rights and parents' responsibilities”.
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Further to this, the Government consulted between 1 December 2011 and 23 February 2012, on the proposals for how we would take forward the Variations regime in the new scheme of child maintenance to be introduced later this year. These proposals were contained in the consultation paper, “The Child Support Maintenance Calculation Regulations 2012, a technical consultation on the draft regulations”. In paragraph 89 of this paper, the Government proposed that the ‘Assets’ and ‘Lifestyle inconsistent with income’ grounds for variations should be removed owing to the new link with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and the ability to obtain reliable income information.
For each of these public consultations any representations made within each of the consultation periods were considered before any regulations were finalised.
Officials from the Commission have also recently corresponded with the Law Society of Scotland and met with a member of its ‘Family Justice Sub-Committee’ specifically on the proposals to remove ‘Assets’ and ‘Lifestyle inconsistent with income’ grounds for variations.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to amend the 12-month rule relating to the use of minutes of agreement in relation to child support. [117224]
Maria Miller: We are investigating the impact of the 12-month rule as a result of concerns raised about its effects. With regards to the interaction of the child maintenance system with maintenance arrangements in Scotland, regulated by minutes of agreement, we have received representations recently and we are working with the legal community, the Scottish Government, and the Ministry of Justice to explore this issue further.
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether (a) working tax credits, (b) child tax credits and (c) the childcare element of working tax credits will be included in the calculation of gross weekly income for purposes of child maintenance calculations under the Child Maintenance Calculations Regulations 2012. [118036]
Maria Miller: None of the existing tax credits will be included in the calculation of gross weekly income.
Child Poverty
Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children in (a) St Helens South and Whiston constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) England were (i) living in poverty and (ii) living in a household where no adult worked in each of the last five years. [117751]
Maria Miller: Estimates of the number and proportion of children living in households with relative low income, combined low income and material deprivation and absolute low income are published in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. HBAI uses household income adjusted (or ‘equivalised’) for household size and composition, to provide a proxy for standard of living.
Three-year averages are used to report statistics by region and country as single-year estimates are subject to volatility. The figures for relative and absolute low income for England and for the north-west region covering
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the last five years can be found in the latest HBAI publication, available at this link:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/hbai/hbai2011/index.php?page=contents
(ISBN 978-1-78153-046-7).
Relevant figures can be found in Table 4.17ts (on page 136) for relative low income and Table 4.23ts (on page 142) for absolute low income. Information for St Helens South and Whiston constituency or Merseyside is not available as the sample size of this survey is not sufficient to provide robust estimates.
Estimates for the number of children in workless households by parliamentary constituency are not published by ONS, but the Household Annual Population Survey can be used to produce these figures, shown in the following table:
| Number of children living in workless households (thousand) and proportion of children living in workless households (percentage), Household Annual Population Survey | ||
| January to December each year | St Helens South and Whiston | St Helens South |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand. 2. Sample sizes at a parliamentary constituency level are small, so results should be treated with caution. Due to boundary changes it is not possible to directly compare figures for pre-2010 and 2010 onwards. 3. Households are those including at least one member aged 16-64. 4. Workless households are those where no-one aged 16 or over is in employment. 5. Children refers to all those aged under 16. | ||
Estimates for the number of children living in a household where no adult works at Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics 2 (NUTS2) level were published by the Office for National Statistics in September 2011, using the Household Annual Population Survey. Figures for Merseyside for each of the last five years can be found at:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lmac/workless-households-for-regions-across-the-uk/2010/rft-table-c-children-areas.xls
Figures for England can also be found in the same publication, although more timely data for regions and countries of the UK are published by the Office for National
Statistics as part of the Working and Workless Households series, using Household Labour Force Survey data. The most recent estimates can be found at:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lmac/working-and-workless-households/4th-quarter-2004-to-2011/table-m.xls
Crisis Loans
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals against Social Fund crisis loan decisions were (a) upheld and (b) rejected in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [116838]
Steve Webb: Decisions made on crisis loans do not carry a right of appeal as they are part of the discretionary Social Fund. Applicants can however request that the decision is reviewed.
In the financial year 2011/12, 2,586,000 crisis loan applications were received. Of these the Department for Work and Pensions reviewed 57,000 decisions and revised
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18,300. Of the remaining 38,700 applications, only 9,620 requested a second tier review by the Independent Review Service of which a further 2,620 decisions were revised.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for a (a) second, (b) third and (c) fourth or more crisis loan were (i) granted and (ii) declined in the last 12-month period for which figures are available. [116839]
Steve Webb: The following table identifies the number of applications, awards, and refusals by application number. The data cover the 12-month period April 2011 to March 2012
| Number of applications, awards and refusals for crisis loans by application number (April 2011 to March 2012) | |||
| Number of awards per person | Number of applicants who received an award | Number of refusals | Total number of applicants |
| Notes: 1. The information provided is taken from a scan of the Social Fund Computer System at the end of March 2012. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have scan data available. They are not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, these figures do not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System. 2. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. Source: March 2012 scan of the Social Fund Computer System, Great Britain | |||
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time was to repay a Social Fund crisis loan in the most recent period for which figures are available. [116840]
Steve Webb: The average time taken to repay a crisis loan varies according to the method of repayment. The largest recovery source is from jobseekers allowance and the average repayment time in 2011-12 was eight weeks.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals making a third application for a Social Fund crisis loan within a 12-month period were required to attend a face-to-face interview at a job centre in the latest period for which figures are available. [116841]
Steve Webb: The total number of individuals required to attend a face-to-face interview when applying for third social fund crisis loan within a 12-month period is outlined in the following table.
This requirement was suspended with effect from 16 January 2012, and abolished from 8 May 2012.
| Total number of individuals required to attend a face-to-face interview for a third application for a social fund crisis loan (July 2011-January 2012) | |
| Interviews required | |
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| Source: Labour Market System | |
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many defaults there were in repayment of Social Fund crisis loans in each of the last 12 months; [116842]
(2) how many defaults on Social Fund crisis loans there have been in the last 12 months. [116844]
Steve Webb: The number of crisis loan write-offs in the 2011-12 financial year was as follows:
| Number of write-offs | |
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Data have been included for the financial year 2011-12, the latest year for which the audited Social Fund Account is available. Information on write-offs was previously based on the number of customers. Within the Social Fund Account for 2011-12 the numbers of write-offs disclosed now relates to individual loans. Customers may have more than one loan.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Social Fund crisis loans were paid to recipients in each region in the last 12 months. [116843]
Steve Webb: The following table provides figures on the total number of crisis loans paid to recipients in each region. The data cover the last 12 months (July 2011 to June 2012) and relate to Great Britain.
| Number of crisis loans awarded by region between July 2011 and June 2012 | |
| Government office region | Crisis loan awards |
| Notes: 1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National Statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, they do not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System. 2. If an applicant receives an initial award and this award is increased on first review in the same month as the initial award was made, then the Policy, Budget and Management Information System (PBMIS) does not count the initial award and the review award separately, but counts one award on the one application. However, if a first review award is made in a later month than the initial award, then PBMIS counts two awards on the one application. Similarly, if an initial or first review award is increased by the Independent Review Service, then all awards made in the same month on one application count as one award. However, if an initial award or any review award(s) on one application are made in different months, then PBMIS will count one award for each month in which an initial or review award was made. Because of this counting method, only the numbers of initial awards have been given. 3. Regions are Government office regions. Data by region are available only from April 2004. Awards are recorded in the region where they are administered. Until January 2005, a small area of the east of England region was administered for Social Fund purposes from a district within the London region. Until March 2005, a small area of the east Midlands region was administered for Social Fund purposes from a district within the north-west region. Source: PBMIS | |
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Social Fund crisis loans were made to (a) individuals registered as disabled, (b) individuals over the pension age and (c) lone parent households in the last 12 months. [116845]
Steve Webb: Table 1 as follows provides the figures on the total number of social fund crisis loan initial awards for the disabled, pensioner and lone parent client groups, along with total crisis loan awards for all groups. The data cover the last 12 months (July 2011 to June 2012) and relate to Great Britain.
| Table 1: Total number of crisis loan initial awards for the disabled, pensioner and lone parent client groups, July 2011 to June 2012 | ||||
| Number | ||||
| Client group | ||||
| Disabled | Pensioners | Lone parents | Total awards | |
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| Notes: 1. The information provided is management information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have management information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, these amounts do not include expenditure on applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the social fund computer system. 2. All of the figures relate to awards, not people. Individuals can apply for and receive more than one social fund loan in any given year. 3. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. 4. Pensioners includes awards where the: applicant or partner aged 60 or over, and in receipt of pension credit; or applicant or partner aged 60 or over, and in receipt of state retirement pension. 5. The pensioners client group also includes awards where applicant is under 60 and partner is: 60 or over with income support (IS) pensioner premium; 80 or over with IS higher pensioner premium; or 60 to 79, disabled with IS higher pensioner premium. 6. The disabled client group includes awards where the applicant is: in receipt of employment and support allowance; the applicant or partner aged under 60 with IS disability premium; lone parent with IS disability premium; family with IS disability premium; others with IS disability premium; or in receipt of other benefit for incapacity or disablement. 7. The lone parents client group includes awards where the applicant has no partner and is receiving income support because they are responsible for a child. Source: Budget and Management Information System (PBMIS, Initial Awards for Great Britain). | ||||
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken to repay a Social Fund crisis loan was in the latest period for which figures are available. [116846]
Steve Webb: The average value of a crisis loan in 2011-12 was £64. The average time taken to repay a crisis loan varies according to the method of repayment. The largest recovery source is from jobseekers allowance and the average repayment time in 2011-12 was eight weeks.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for Social Fund crisis loans were received (a) by telephone, (b) in writing and (c) in person in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [116847]
Steve Webb: 2,586,000 crisis loan applications were received in 2011-12. Data are not available to distinguish the method by which those applications were made.
Source:
SoS Annual Report on the Social Fund 2011-12
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent pursuing the recovery of Social Fund crisis loans on which individuals had defaulted in the last five years. [116863]
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Steve Webb: Up to the point any loan becomes a write-off the Department would pursue the debt according to standard debt management procedures. The cost of administering these loans, up to the point of write-off, is not separately recorded and is, therefore, not available.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for a social fund crisis loan were made by people (a) under 18, (b) between 18 and 29, (c) between 30 and 49, (d) between 50 and 65 and (e) over 65 years old in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [116864]
Steve Webb: Table 1 as follows provides figures for applications made for a social fund crisis loan, by people (a) under 18, (b) between 18 and 29, (c) between 30 and 49, (d) between 50 and 65 and (e) over 65 years old in the last 12 months for which figures are available.
| Table 1: Crisis loan applications by age band between April 2010 and March 2011 | |
| Number | |
| Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. 2. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National Statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, it does not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System. Source: Social Fund scans. | |
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for a social fund crisis loan were made by (a) women and (b) men in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [116865]
Steve Webb: The following table sets out the number of crisis loan applications made by men and women between April 2010 and March 2011.
| Table One: Number of men and women who applied for a crisis loan between April 2010 and March 2011 | |
| Crisis loan applications | |
| Notes: 1. The information provided is management information. 2. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using official/national statistics but in this case we only have management information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as official/national statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, it does not include applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System. 3. Figures are for applications received, not for the number of people who made an application. Source: Social Fund Scan | |
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average social fund crisis loan was in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [116866]
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Steve Webb: In the reporting year 2011-12, the average award for a Crisis Loan was £64.
Source:
Annual Report by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the Social Fund 2011-12.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the social fund crisis loan scheme cost to operate in each of the last three years. [116867]
Steve Webb: The direct staff costs for operating the Social Fund crisis loan scheme in 2011-12 was £62.1 million. Comparable analysis is not available for previous years as a revised costing methodology has been implemented during 2011-12.
Employment and Support Allowance
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of the number of individuals in receipt of income-related employment and support allowance which includes a work-related activity or support component with parental responsibility for a child under the age of five who ordinarily resides with that individual or is in receipt of a qualifying component; [116705]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of individuals in receipt of income-based jobseeker's allowance and with parental responsibility for a child under the age of five who ordinarily resides with that individual or is in receipt of a qualifying component. [116706]
Chris Grayling: The information as requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints his Department has received about employment and support allowance in each month of the last two years. [117404]
Chris Grayling: The monthly number of level 1 and 2 complaints received by the Department relating to employment and support allowance in the last two years is detailed as follows. Please note these are national figures only.
| Number | |
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| Note: Due to differing methods of recording customer complaints, Scotland (Work Services Directorate) is not included in these figures from July 2010. Benefit Centre Directorate sites are not included after November 2010. | |
The data in the table include the following categories:
Level 1—feedback received at first point of contact
Level 2—feedback received direct by the district manager, delegated customer contact from Ministers and other Government Departments, or feedback not resolved at level 1.
Data are collected with level 1 and 2 combined.
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the job outcomes for (a) all people and (b) people with mental health problems declared Fit for Work by the employment and support allowance application process. [117538]
Chris Grayling: It is difficult to determine subsequent destinations of employment support allowance (ESA) claimants from administrative data. Claimants leaving ESA are not required to inform the Department of their destinations and hence the information that is collected on destinations, or reasons for leaving, is incomplete and not robust enough for publication.
However, the Department published research on a sample of ESA customers who reported that they had left ESA (whether because they were found fit for work, had their claim closed by Jobcentre Plus, or withdrew their claim before receiving a decision) and asked about the main thing they did, immediately after their claim ended. The report can be found at the following link:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2011-2012/rrep745.pdf
Section 4 shows that of all those who left ESA having been found fit for work 28% said they had moved into work (48% claimed another benefit and another 25% had other destinations; totals may not add due to rounding).
For a subset of ESA leavers, the research did look into whether they were claiming JSA or not at the second wave of the journey by the main health condition. The majority of ESA leavers with mental health conditions (88 out of 100 ESA leavers that were included in the subset) did not claim JSA (see section 4.5 of the research report mentioned above). This research, however, does not cover other destinations.
Sheila Gilmore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of mental function
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champions on the assessment process for the work capability assessment; and what plans he has for future evaluation of their effect. [117539]
Chris Grayling: There has been no formal evaluation of the introduction of mental function champions but routine monitoring of quality and customer satisfaction takes place as part of the contractual arrangements between DWP and Atos Healthcare. In addition, Professor Harrington's second review noted that the role is being well-utilised and that health care professionals have welcomed the advice and support. DWP is continuing to work with Atos Healthcare to build on the mental function champion role and is looking at how their knowledge and expertise can be shared with decision makers to further improve the quality of decisions on cases involving mental, intellectual and cognitive conditions.
Employment Schemes
Mr Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent progress has been made with the mandatory work activity and voluntary work experience schemes in (a) England, (b) the South East region and (c) Reading East constituency. [114614]
Chris Grayling: The latest Mandatory Work Activity official statistics were released on 12 June 2012 by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) under the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.
The latest official statistics in relation to the work experience strand of the Get Britain Working measures were released on 16 May 2012. The information can be viewed by following the link:
http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/pwp/index.php?page=pwp
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by what means his Department arrived at its forecast of the indicative claimant volumes for the 18 to 24 jobseeker's allowance group on the Work programme. [118127]
Chris Grayling: The Office for Budget Responsibility produces an independent aggregate claimant count projection that is the basis of the Department's forecasting of jobseeker's allowance. The Department produces inflow and off-flow projections consistent with this overall projection, including splits into over and under 25 age groups, using assumptions based on trends in historical data.
Indicative claimant volumes attaching to the Work programme from the jobseeker's allowance (JSA) 18 to 24 group are profiled by applying an assumption about the rate of attachment of eligible claimants to the Department's forecast volumes of JSA 18 to 24-year-olds that reach the nine-month threshold stage of their claims.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the value is of each Work Choice contract in each area. [118151]
Maria Miller: The information is in the following table:
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Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 24 April 2012, Official Report, column 789W, on employment schemes, when he plans to conduct the next one-off exercise to determine the proportion of Work programme attachments which are referred to tier one and tier two voluntary sector organisations. [118189]
Chris Grayling: The Department plans to repeat this exercise in the autumn.
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The second release of Work programme Official Statistics on referrals and attachments were released on 9 May 2012 and can be viewed at the following website:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=wp
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of each Fit For Work pilot to date. [118375]
Chris Grayling: Report RR 792 ‘Evaluation of the Fit For Work Service pilots: first year report’ was published on the Department's website on 1 March 2012. It is available at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rrs-index.asp
Ex-gratia Payments
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the monetary value of ex-gratia payments made through schemes administered by his Department over the last two years. [116787]
Chris Grayling: The value of ex-gratia(1) payments made by the Department in the last two years is contained within the summary of losses and special payments in note 36 of the annual report and accounts 2011-12, page 172, which provides details of payments to staff and members of the public. The report can be found at:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dwp-annual-report-and-accounts-2011-2012.pdf
The specific amounts within the disclosure note relating to ex-gratia payments are set out as follows.
| Ex-gratia payments (£000) | |
(1) Ex-gratia payments are payments that go beyond statutory cover, legal liability or administrative rules, including:
Payments made to meet hardship caused by official failure or delay;
Out of court settlements;
Payments to contractors outside a binding contract, e.g. on grounds of hardship.
Housing Benefit
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether his proposals for secondary legislation relating to universal credit will apply to people who reside in supported housing arrangements; and if he will make a statement; [116641]
(2) what recent progress he has made on reform of housing benefit for people who reside in supported housing arrangements; [116642]
(3) when the Government plans to respond to the consultation on Housing Benefit Reform—Supported Housing, which closed in 2011. [116691]
Steve Webb: We are still considering options for housing benefit reform for those who live in supported 'exempt' accommodation as defined in the consultation document. We are looking at the feasibility of each of the options set out in that document and will make an announcement in due course.
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Housing Benefit: Young People
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total annual expenditure was on housing benefit for persons under the age of 25 in each (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority area in (i) England, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Wales in each of the last four financial years; and how much of that in each case was in respect of (A) socially and (B) privately rented properties. [115266]
Steve Webb: A breakdown by parliamentary constituency is not available. The information for local authorities has been placed in the library.
Industrial Health and Safety
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the value is of outstanding fines imposed by the Health and Safety Executive on businesses which have remained unpaid for more than (a) six and (b) 12 months. [117710]
Mr Djanogly: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service systems do not identify the outstanding balance of fines imposed by specific prosecutors or for specific offences and therefore this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost as it would require a manual search of all fine accounts.
Jobcentre Plus
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department issues to Jobcentre Plus offices on their (a) stock, (b) display and (c) use of public information leaflets. [117162]
Chris Grayling: DWP has maintained comprehensive guidelines on stock, display and use of public information leaflets in Jobcentre Plus (JCP) offices since 2006. Compliance with the guidance is the responsibility of JCP managers on site, supported by the District External Relations team, and is ratified as part of JCP management checks.
The aims of the guidance are to:
support staff ensuring the standards are put into practice;
ensure customer information is accurate;
ensure our customers and staff find our jobcentres clean, modern, informative, professional and helpful; and
support consistency of approach in promoting the brand and corporate identity.
The guidance is available to JCP staff via DWP online intranet systems in offices and covers:
1. A list of DWP customer information leaflets, posters and contact materials that JCP offices are required to have in stock and displayed at all times. This list is kept under review to ensure that we maintain a small, focused suite of products that give customers the right information at the right time.
2. A list of other DWP leaflets that JCP offices are required to have in stock, but not displayed. This includes some titles for The Pension Service and the Disability and Carers Service. On occasions JCP may agree to stock other leaflets centrally.
3. Recommended stock levels. JCP offices should hold a maximum of six weeks’ stock to ensure information is always up to date and minimise wastage costs.
JCP staff are also able to order specific leaflets for customers directly from DWP fulfilment suppliers.