3 Sep 2012 : Column 199W

3 Sep 2012 : Column 200W

All cases decided in 2010-11
 Quarter 1Quarter 2
 Percentage of applications decided within service standardNumber of applications decided within service standardTotal number of applications decidedPercentage of applications decided within service standardNumber of applications decided within service standardTotal number of applications decided

Family and visiting the UK

66

15,832

24,157

59

14,060

23,675

Employment

87

19,220

21,980

86

20,297

23,472

Study

73

21,564

29,484

83

23,498

28,254

Permanent residence

91

30,880

34,075

87

31,431

36,083

European casework, ECAA and Bulgaria and Romania casework

93

15,934

17,089

79

27,132

34,139

Accession

99

66,352

66,767

98

77,292

78,787

British citizenship

99

51,765

52,429

99

55,998

56,658

Sponsor licensing

82

2,823

3,447

58

1,819

3,135

Non-settlement visas

92

668,296

724,092

96

719,577

752,223

Settlement visas

89

16,395

18,493

88

17,258

19,667

Overall total

92

909,061

992,013

94

988,362

1,056,093

Deferred cases

All cases decided in 2010-11
 Quarter 3Quarter 4
 Percentage of applications decided within service standardNumber of applications decided within service standardTotal number of applications decidedPercentage of applications decided within service standardNumber of applications decided within service standardTotal number of applications decided

Family and visiting the UK

57

15,313

27,080

58

16,551

28,592

Employment

56

11,729

21,062

76

27,064

35,686

Study

79

40,003

50,805

86

34,743

40,631

Permanent residence

78

26,821

34,255

89

32,962

37,038

European casework, ECAA and Bulgaria and Romania casework

98

28,734

29,424

97

38,812

40,068

Accession

98

72,684

74,402

98

56,013

56,866

British citizenship

99

44,493

44,983

99

50,905

51,615

Sponsor licensing

74

2,153

2,892

81

2,142

2,653

Non-settlement visas

97

465,744

481,373

96

486,117

507,064

Settlement visas

94

20,748

22,183

93

21,196

22,798

Overall total

92

728,422

788,459

93

766,505

823,011

Deferred cases

All cases decided in 2010-11
 Full year
 Percentage of applications decided within service standardNumber of applications decided within service standardTotal number of applications decided

Family and visiting the UK

60

61,756

103,504

Employment

77

78,310

102,200

Study

80

119,808

149,174

Permanent residence

86

122,094

141,451

European casework, ECAA and Bulgaria and Romania casework

92

110,612

120,720

Accession

98

272,341

276,822

British citizenship

99

203,161

205,685

Sponsor licensing

74

8,937

12,127

Non-settlement visas

95

2,339,734

2,464,752

Settlement visas

91

75,597

83,141

Overall total

93

3,392,350

3,659,576

Deferred cases

All cases decided in 2011-12
 Quarter 1 2011-12Quarter 2 2011-12
 Percentage of applications decided within service standardNumber of applications decided within service standardTotal number of applications decidedPercentage of applications decided within service standardNumber of applications decided within service standardTotal number of applications decided

Family and visiting the UK

72

10,511

14,640

70

10,836

15,488

3 Sep 2012 : Column 201W

3 Sep 2012 : Column 202W

Employment

72

15,958

22,139

81

19,663

24,239

Study

91

22,763

25,011

78

15,803

20,194

Permanent residence

90

27,595

30,503

92

29,387

31,905

European casework, ECAA and Bulgaria and Romania casework

98

32,486

33,204

98

34,071

34,627

Accession

      

British citizenship

98

41,629

42,385

98

49,105

49,931

Sponsor licensing

74

1,584

2,133

79

1,889

2,392

Non-settlement visas

89

703,469

790,053

90

670,153

745,536

Settlement visas

91

13,445

14,694

89

18,626

21,032

Overall total

89

869,404

974,775

90

849,565

945,348

Deferred cases

13

258

2,013

All cases decided in 2011-12
 Quarter 3 2011-12Quarter 4 2011-12
 Percentage of applications decided within service standardNumber of applications decided within service standardTotal number of applications decidedPercentage of applications decided within service standardNumber of applications decided within service standardTotal number of applications decided

Family and visiting the UK

69

10,469

15,083

61

8,162

13,309

Employment

83

20,506

24,670

86

25,481

29,790

Study

77

33,784

43,808

67

17,046

25,323

Permanent residence

91

26,736

29,396

91

24,657

27,154

European casework, ECAA and Bulgaria and Romania casework

99

35,121

35,509

98

31,247

32,026

Accession

      

British citizenship

98

42,396

43,142

97

47,439

48,718

Sponsor licensing

84

1,835

2,182

80

1,209

1,518

Non-settlement visas

94

403,407

427,845

97

467,696

483,374

Settlement visas

89

13,847

15,530

92

14,348

15,600

Overall total

92

587,945

637,015

94

637,285

676,812

Deferred cases

2

18

776

0

1

1,011

All cases decided in 2011-12
 Full year 2011-12
 Percentage of applications decided within service standardNumber of applications decided within service standardTotal number of applications decided

Family and visiting the UK

68

39,978

58,520

Employment

81

81,608

100,838

Study

78

89,396

114,336

Permanent residence

91

108,375

118,958

European casework, ECAA and Bulgaria and Romania casework

98

132,925

135,366

Accession

   

British citizenship

98

180,569

184,176

Sponsor licensing

79

6,517

8,225

Non-settlement visas

92

2,244,725

2,446,808

Settlement visas

90

60,266

66,856

Overall total

91

2,944,359

3,234,083

Deferred cases

7

277

3,800

Service standards
 Percentage in weeks/months

In-country applications—postal service standards

 

Family and visiting the UK

(1)65% in 4 weeks

Employment

(1)75% in 4 weeks

Study

(1)75% in 4 weeks

Permanent residence

(1)95% in 6 months

European casework, ECAA and Bulgaria and Romania casework

(1)95% in 6 months

Accession

95% in 4 weeks

British citizenship

95% in 6 months

3 Sep 2012 : Column 203W

Sponsor licensing

65% in 4 weeks

  

Overseas service standards

 

Non-settlement visas

90% in 3 weeks

Settlement visas

95% in 12 weeks

(1) Premium service standard is 95% on same day Notes: 1. In-country figures include postal and premium applications. 2. All figures quoted are management information which have been subject to internal quality assurance checks. However, the numbers may differ from figures published as National Statistics in the Home Office Control of Immigration statistical publications as they are drawn from different snapshots of the UK Border Agency databases.

Immigration Controls

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is provided to staff operating passport and security desks at sea and airports on customer friendly attitudes; by what means the effectiveness of such training is monitored; and at what frequency refresher training sessions are undertaken. [117896]

Damian Green: Border Force constantly strives to provide a high standard of customer service at the border. Border Force officers are provided with a range of customer service training. The effectiveness of this training is monitored by Border Force managers at ports, who observe frontline staff on a daily basis to ensure that they are polite and professional in their dealings with the public.

Border Force staff performance is regularly monitored by the number and nature of the complaints received from the public. Complaints alleging unprofessional conduct are always investigated and action is taken to retrain the officer where appropriate. A summary report of all complaints is prepared and disseminated to staff.

As part of the Olympics legacy, the 'First Impressions Count' training which was rolled out to all staff will be incorporated into future training packages.

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often UK Border Force staff are given updated training on forgery detection skills. [118086]

Damian Green: All officers who staff the Primary Checkpoint (PCP) receive forgery training designed by the UK Border Agency Operational intelligence Directorate, National Document Fraud Unit (NDFU). This is then supplemented by regular local refresher training delivered by local forgery teams on trends and specific documents encountered at ports and intelligence and alerts disseminated locally and by the NDFU. The regularity of supplementary training will depend on local issues. The NDFU also conducts a national programme for forgery training and invites bids for training once a year.

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the methodology used by the UK Border Force to measure queue levels. [118087]

3 Sep 2012 : Column 204W

Damian Green: In order to assess the queue measurement methodology used by Border Force, a team of analysts and the Home Office's scientific adviser were deployed to Heathrow, last May as part of continuing quality assurance work. This on-the-ground assessment highlighted how measurement methodology could be improved. Border Force and BAA are now working closely together to create an agreed methodology.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the reintroduction of exit checks to be completed; and if she will make a statement. [118138]

Damian Green: The Government has committed to the reintroduction of exit checks by March 2015.

Immigration Controls: Heathrow Airport

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) EU and (b) non-EU immigration desks were open at Heathrow Airport Terminal 4 at 7.20 am on 9 July 2012. [116950]

Damian Green: There are no published statistics for 9 July 2012 at that time.

Local management records show that more than 80% of desks were opened to deal with the morning peak on 9 July.

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many additional managerial staff are being recruited by the UK Border Force at Heathrow airport; at what pay grade; and at what cost to the public purse. [118082]

Damian Green: Border Force appointed eight managerial staff at Heathrow airport in June/July this year to help improve management control across all Heathrow terminals.

These posts are at Senior Border Force Officer level which attract a pay scale of between £33,953 and £39,537.

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether additional UK Border Force managerial staff at Heathrow airport will be trained to staff the primary control points at the airport. [118083]

Damian Green: UK Border Force will seek to train all its staff at all grades at Heathrow airport to man the primary control points.

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of UK Border Force funds allocated for the re-opening of Heathrow Terminal 2 in 2014 has been re-allocated to fund an increase in UK Border Force staff; and if she will assess the potential effects of that reallocation on the resources available when Terminal 2 reopens. [118084]

Damian Green: The funds allocated for the reopening of Heathrow Terminal 2 remain in place and have not been re-allocated.

3 Sep 2012 : Column 205W

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions there have been multiple breaches of queue targets on single days at London Heathrow Airport for (a) non-European Economic Area passengers and (b) European Economic Area passengers since January 2012. [118088]

Damian Green: There is no published data on the number of occasions that multiple breaches of queue targets occurred at London Heathrow airport.

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons queue targets have not been achieved at London Heathrow Airport following changes to UK Border Force rostering systems. [118089]

Damian Green: A number of factors—including rostering—can affect achievement of queue targets. BAA published data (available at BAA.com) have shown that all Heathrow terminals saw a significant improvement in waiting time performance from April to May and that this was sustained in June despite increased passenger volumes.

A new rostering system was introduced on 3 June.

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many secondary detection area staff at London Heathrow Airport are being trained to work at non-European economic area desks (a) for business as usual and (b) prior to the London 2012 Olympics. [118095]

Damian Green: There are a number of secondary detection staff at Heathrow who are trained to work at the primary check point. We are unable to provide statistics for the number of staff trained to work at the non-EEA desks for business as usual and prior to the London 2012 Olympics as these are not published by the Home Office for border security reasons.

Immigration Controls: Ports

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to ensure that forgery detection equipment is used consistently by UK Border Force officers at primary control points across UK ports. [118085]

Damian Green: Minimum standards for forgery equipment used throughout Border Force and the UK Border Agency are set by the UKBA Operational Intelligence Directorate National Document Fraud Unit (NDFU).

All Border Force officers are required to use visual forgery detection techniques when examining travel documents. All UK ports also have access to forgery officers who have received specialist training in forgery techniques and equipment.

Immigration Controls: St Pancras Station

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what entry checks are conducted on (a) EEA and (b) non-EEA Eurostar passengers on arrival at St Pancras International; and whether checks are conducted on all such passengers. [117708]

3 Sep 2012 : Column 206W

Damian Green: Border Force staff at St Pancras undertake secondary customs examination as required on all services and perform additional ticket checks on EEA and non-EEA passengers from Brussels.

Full Passport checks are also carried out on all EEA and non-EEA Eurostar passengers on trains arriving from Marne-la-Vallee (Disneyland) and seasonal trains from Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Avignon by staff at St Pancras.

Full passport checks are carried out on all EEA and non-EEA passengers travelling to the UK at the Eurostar stations in Brussels, Paris and Lille by Border Force officers.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the target is for (a) European Economic Area and (b) non-European Economic Area Eurostar passengers to clear immigration checks at St Pancras International. [117948]

Damian Green: As St Pancras is not the primary immigration check point for the majority of Eurostar passengers, there is no formal service level agreement to clear passengers.

Full passport checks are carried out on all EEA and non-EEA Eurostar passengers on trains arriving from Marne-la-Vallee (Disneyland) and seasonal trains from Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Avignon by staff at St Pancras.

Staff at St Pancras adhere to the national queue clearance targets of 25 minutes for EEA and 45 minutes for non-EEA passengers.

Full passport checks are carried out on all EEA and non-EEA passengers travelling to the UK at the Eurostar stations in Brussels, Paris and Lille by Border Force officers.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average immigration waiting time was for (a) non-European economic area and (b) European economic area customers arriving at St Pancras International in each of the last 12 months. [117949]

Damian Green: Passengers arriving at St Pancras are not segregated into EEA and non-EEA queues and so Border Force records the average time it takes to clear an entire train rather than individual passengers.

Border Force does not hold monthly figures in the format requested but those held show that those services that are subject to full immigration controls on arrival (Marne-la-Vallée, Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Avignon) take an average of 35 minutes to clear.

Passengers on services that have passed through a UK Juxtaposed Control (Paris and Lille) are not subject to any form of immigration control on arrival at St Pancras and the time taken to clear these trains is not recorded by Border Force.

Passengers on services from Brussels are subject to a ticket and document check on arrival at St Pancras if they arrived on a service with open sale of tickets between Brussels and Lille, or a ticket check only if arriving on a restricted ticket sale service. This is in order to counter any threat posed by illegal immigration via the 'Lille Loophole' and passengers on these services take an average of 21 minutes to clear.

3 Sep 2012 : Column 207W

Immigration: France

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with her French counterpart on measures to deal with refugees from North Africa moving into France from Italy. [118216]

Damian Green: The movement of North African migrants from Italy into France following the events of the Arab Spring in 2011 was the subject of considerable discussion within the EU, including by the Justice and Home Affairs Council, usually attended by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) and her French counterpart.

The Home Secretary discussed migratory pressures from North Africa with the French Interior Minister, Claude Gueant, on 6 June 2011 during a joint visit to Calais, including possible practical cooperation with the countries of the Southern Mediterranean on the management of migration.

Following the change of administration in France, the Home Secretary met with her new counterpart, Manuel Vails, on 21 June 2012, and they discussed mostly security matters. On the same date I also met M. Vails; during our meeting I reiterated the UK's interest in strong Schengen borders and the work of FRONTEX (the agency that promotes, coordinates and develops the EU's management of its borders).

Immigration: Vietnam

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK Border Agency has met with the Government of Vietnam and non-government organisations in Vietnam about the return of Vietnamese children; and if she will make a statement. [118430]

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency, together with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, undertook a fact finding mission to Vietnam between 15 and 25 May. The primary aim of the mission was to explore if a new family tracing mechanism could be established for Vietnamese unaccompanied minors.

The UK delegation met with a range of governmental and non-governmental stakeholders who have responsibility in Vietnam for the full spectrum of care-related services for vulnerable young adults/victims of trafficking.

The observations of the fact finding mission are currently being analysed, and subject to the outcome of those observations, wider discussions will take place as appropriate with governmental and voluntary sector partners.

Knives: Crime

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had on steps to reduce the level of knife crime. [117773]

Lynne Featherstone: The Government's programme to tackle gang-related and youth violence, including knife crime, is set out in the Ending Gang and Youth.

3 Sep 2012 : Column 208W

Violence Report published as a Command Paper (Cm8211) in November 2011, and available via the Vote Office. As part of this programme the Home Office has re-prioritised £10 million of funding in 2012-13 to provide targeted support to the 29 areas most affected by serious youth violence. The Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) chairs an Inter-Ministerial Group, which meets quarterly and oversees the delivery of commitments in the report.

The last meeting was on 18 June 2012.

Legal Costs

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on legal fees in each of the last three years. [106832]

Damian Green: The Home Office including its executive agencies spent the following amounts on fees for legal work in each of the last three financial years:

 £

2009-10

20,383,351

2010-11

38,294,545

2011-12

54,530,628

The increase in spend on legal fees in the last two financial years is for legal advice and support which is associated with an increase in the number of judicial reviews of UKBA immigration decisions and OSCT advice and representation. That is why the Government is changing the immigration rules to prevent the abuse of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Government Equalities Office (GEO) joined the Home Office under machinery of government changes in April 2011. GEO spend on fees for legal work in 2009-10 was £1,045,000 and in 2010-11 was £975,000.

Members: Correspondence

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to answer the letter sent to the Minister for Immigration by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Dr G Fletcher. [118260]

Damian Green: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 19 July 2012.

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to answer the letter sent to the Minister for Immigration by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton of 11 June 2012 with regard to Miss M I Adedapo. [118261]

Damian Green: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 17 July 2012.

National Crime Agency

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy that the National Crime Agency should be subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [118030]

3 Sep 2012 : Column 209W

Nick Herbert: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 21 May 2012, Official Report, column 824. The Government remains firmly of the view that the National Crime Agency (NCA), like the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), should be exempt from Freedom of Information legislation, as provided for by the Crime and Courts Bill. To apply the Freedom of Information Act to the NCA would jeopardise its operational effectiveness and ultimately result in lower levels of protection for the public, as Lord Henley, the Minister of State for Crime Prevention and Anti-Social Behaviour Reduction, explained in the Other Place on 18 June 2012, Official Report, column 1641.

I remain equally firmly committed to ensuring that the NCA is as open and transparent as possible. In support of that aim the Bill sets out that the NCA's Director General must publish an Annual Plan and Annual Report, and provides a new statutory duty that he or she must publish information about the Agency's functions and other matters relating to the Agency. The information that must be published under the duty will be set out in the NCA Framework Document, which will itself be published and laid before Parliament.

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2012 to the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, Official Report, column 824, on police (administrative burden), what further discussions she has had on the accountability and transparency of the National Crime Agency; and what the outcome was of those discussions. [118031]

Nick Herbert: The Government have set out clear arrangements in the Crime and Courts Bill to ensure that the NCA will be fully accountable, open and transparent to Government, Parliament and the public. The Bill sets out that the NCA's Director General must publish an Annual Plan and Annual Report, and provides a new statutory duty that he or she must publish information about the Agency's functions and other matters relating to the Agency. The sorts of information that must be published under the duty will be set out in the NCA Framework Document, which will itself be published and laid before Parliament. I would refer my hon. Friend to the statements made on this issue in the Other Place by my noble Friend Lord Henley, Minister of State for crime prevention and antisocial behaviour reduction, on 18 June 2012, Official Report, column 1640. The Framework Document will also set out in more detail the respective roles and responsibilities of the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) and Director General, including the arrangements for the NCA's performance reporting and financial accounting.

National Wildlife Crime Unit

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to publish the future funding plans for the National Wildlife Crime Unit. [118223]

3 Sep 2012 : Column 210W

Lynne Featherstone: Decisions on Home Office funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) beyond 2012-13 will be taken by Ministers later this year, in light of wider crime and policing priorities.

Olympic Games 2012: Security

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to ensure that troops deployed to provide security to the London 2012 Olympic Games are not suffering from mental health problems following their return from deployment that could be exacerbated by duty at the Games. [117838]

Mr Robathan: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Dedicated military medical facilities have been deployed to provide medical and dental care for armed forces personnel deployed in support of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games, and qualified medical staff will provide any necessary treatment and referral.

Throughout their careers, service personnel are provided with advice on recognising and managing mental health problems, and on the importance of seeking help if they need it. All personnel returning from deployment overseas are provided with a stress brief which aims to highlight normal reactions to traumatic events, gives some helpful strategies to aid readjustment and details other sources of help. Other briefs which deal with risk-taking behaviours and the ‘homecoming' experience are also given.

Any member of the armed forces who is identified as having a mental health problem will be given whatever treatment they need, and if necessary restrictions may be placed on the type of work they can do. No member of the armed forces will be employed on any duties unless they are fit to do so, and personnel who develop a mental health problem following overseas deployment are aware of the steps they should take to obtain treatment. This is available wherever they happen to be working at the time, including assisting with security for the Olympic games.

Organised Crime

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the (a) level and (b) costs of each type of serious organised criminal activity in each (i) nation and (ii) region of the UK in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement. [118348]

James Brokenshire: Home Office estimates of the costs and levels of organised crime are discussed in the 2011 organised crime strategy, 'Local to Global', and the most recent estimates published by the Home Office suggest that organised crime costs the UK between £20 billion and £40 billion a year. Separate estimates are not available for nations or regions of the UK, or for each of the last 10 years. See:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk

A copy of the strategy is available in the Library of the House.

For further information; the Home Office has produced estimates of the scale (UK) and costs

3 Sep 2012 : Column 211W

(England and Wales) of drug markets, which are the result of organised crime. These were published in 2006 for the year 2003-04 and are available at:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk

The Home Office publishes information on the size of the organised crime problem (the number of known organised crime groups and individuals identified by law enforcement) as part of the Home Office business plan impact indicators at:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Work is ongoing to produce information on scale and costs of organised crime, and this will be published as part of the indicator when available.

Police: Recruitment

Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the implications of the Winsor Report for diversity in the police service, with reference to the recommendations to (a) increase the pass mark for the recruits selection test and (b) to increase the fitness standard for recruits and serving officers. [118204]

Nick Herbert: The recommendations on raising the pass mark for SEARCH assessment test and fitness testing are included in the Policy Equality Statement in Tom Winsor's Independent Review of Police Officer and Staff Remuneration and Conditions—Final Report, which was published on 15 March. In the report, Tom Winsor states that the effect that raising the pass mark has on protected groups should be monitored by the appropriate body. For fitness testing, he says, in his view, the test is justifiable because it is job related and does not have a disproportionately detrimental effect on people on the grounds of age or sex.

These recommendations have been referred to the police negotiating machinery for consideration.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), will consider carefully the potential equality impact of raising the pass mark for SEARCH and recommendations on annual fitness tests for officers in line with her legal responsibilities under the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010.

Publications

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2012, Official Report, column 87W, on publications, how much her Department has spent on (a) circulars, (b) publications and (c) consultation documents since May 2010. [117823]

Damian Green: Costs associated with producing circulars and consultation documents in the Home Office and its agencies are not centrally recorded.

Further to our answer of 11 June, the cost of (b) printed publications produced during April 2010 to March 2011 was £188,680 and from April 2011 to May 2012 was £102,241.

Before becoming part of the Home Office, spend by the Government Equalities Office on all consultation documents and publications in the financial year 2010-11 was £104,000.

3 Sep 2012 : Column 212W

Riot Control Weapons

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many plastic bullets are available to English and Welsh police forces; and what advice her Department has issued to police forces on their use. [118386]

Nick Herbert: The deployment of plastic bullets, more accurately called Attenuating Energy Projectiles, is the responsibility of individual chief officers. The Home Office has not provided advice to police forces on their use or storage.

Scientific Procedures Inspectorate

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the Animals in Science Regulation Unit, Annual Report 2011, for what reason there was a reduction in the number of inspectors in the Animals Scientific Procedures Inspectorate between 2009 and 2011. [118245]

Lynne Featherstone: The number of designated establishments fell from 258 in 2000, to 181 at the end of 2011, a decrease of 30%. The 15% reduction in the number of inspectors between 2009 and 2011 in part reflects this decrease in workload. I am confident the Inspectorate is adequately staffed to meet current and predicted future needs.

The risk-based approach to inspection, as set out in Appendix 2 of the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Annual Report 2011, explains how the expected workload for inspectors relates to a number of risk factors. These include the volume of anticipated research work, the severity of procedures being performed, the species being used (particularly the specially protected species: cats, dogs, primates and equines) and other risks associated with the use of animals in scientific research.

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspectors are employed in the Animals Scientific Procedures Inspectorate. [118246]

Lynne Featherstone: There are 22 inspectors currently employed in the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Inspectorate.

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to increase the number of inspectors employed in the Animals Scientific Procedures Inspectorate to the number in post as of May 2010. [118247]

Lynne Featherstone: I have no current plans to increase the number of inspectors employed in the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Inspectorate.

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 18 March 2011, Official Report, columns 678-9W, on animal experiments: inspections, for what reason there is a difference between the number of inspectors employed by the Animals Scientific Procedures

3 Sep 2012 : Column 213W

Inspectorate in

(a)

2008,

(b)

2009 and

(c)

2010 reported in the answer and the number reported for these years in the Animals in Science Regulation Unit Annual Report 2011. [118248]

Lynne Featherstone: The Animals in Science Regulation Unit Annual Report 2011 shows the number of inspectors in post as at 31 December of each year. The numbers in my answer of 18 March 2011 are those for inspectors employed at any point in that year.

Sexual Offences

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which agency is responsible for meeting sex offenders at UK airports following their conviction abroad and deportation to the UK. [118427]

Lynne Featherstone: The management of registered sex offenders is an operational matter for the police.

Where a sex offender who has committed a crime abroad returns to the UK the police are able to make

3 Sep 2012 : Column 214W

an application to the court for a Notification Order, which will bring that offender within UK management.

Sexual Offences: Foreign Travel Orders

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many foreign travel orders of each duration have been issued to sex offenders convicted of sexual offences against children (a) in the UK and (b) abroad in each year since the Sexual Offences Act 2003 came into force; [118428]

(2) how many foreign travel orders have been issued to sex offenders convicted of sexual offences against children (a) in the UK and (b) abroad in each year since the Sexual Offences Act 2003 came into force. [118429]

Lynne Featherstone: Total number of foreign travel orders issued per year (and by duration) can be found in the following table.

The Violent Sexual Offenders Register (ViSOR) database is a management tool and not designed as a statistical data tool. As such it has not been possible to differentiate between offences committed in the UK and those committed overseas.

Foreign travel orders issued by year and length/duration
Number
 Calendar year
Duration20052006200720082009201020112012(1)

2 weeks

1

1

2 months

2

1

3 months

1

1

4 months

1

2

6 months

1

3

1

8

4

10 months

1

1 year

1

1

2 years

1

2 years, 6 months

1

3 years

1

1

1

5 years

4

6

4

6 years, 6 months

1

Total

1

3

0

3

12

15

11

5

(1) 2012 figures are for the four months from January to April.

Stun Guns

Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 12 July 2012, Official Report, columns 50-1WS, on firearms (England and Wales 2010-11), on how many occasions tasers were used as a proportion of (a) firearms operations and (b) operations involving Armed Response Vehicles by police forces since 2004; and if she will make a statement. [118243]

Nick Herbert: This information is not collected centrally.

UK Border Agency

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures for success have been set for the contract with Serco to work on the UK Border Agency's Migration Refusal Pool. [117267]

Damian Green: Since January 2012, the UK Border Agency has worked with Serco who provided a service in the London and south east area to ascertain the cost and effectiveness of a new approach to identify and as necessary remove those refused extensions of leave.

Serco was given 7,600 cases as a proof of concept ahead of a competitive tender and was not paid for this work.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the tender was released for the hiring of a contractor to work on the UK Border Agency's Migration Refusal Pool. [117268]

Damian Green: An advert was published in 'Contracts Finder' on 30 March 2012 to procure contact management and caseworking services. The request for quote was issued on 20 April 2012.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many bidders there were for the contract to work on the UK Border Agency's Migration Refusal Pool. [117269]

3 Sep 2012 : Column 215W

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency is not able to provide specific details as this information is commercially sensitive.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date Serco was appointed as the contractor to work on the UK Border Agency's Migration Refusal Pool. [117357]

Damian Green: Since January 2012, Serco has provided a free of charge service in the London and south east area to ascertain the cost and effectiveness of a new approach to the Migration Refusals Pool. The contract for providing this service on a permanent basis is still out to tender and an announcement will be made on this in due course.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost is of the contract with Serco to work on the UK Border Agency's Migration Refusal Pool. [117358]

Damian Green: Serco has provided its services on the proof of concept exercise free of charge.

UK Border Agency: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK Border Agency staff of each rank were employed at each location in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years. [117411]

Damian Green: For border security reasons the UK Border Agency can not provide a breakdown of staff numbers by location. Staff are deployed flexibly according to demand and may move between locations and across regions. However, I can confirm that total full-time equivalent permanent UK Border Agency (including Border Force) staffing numbers in Northern Ireland at the end of each of the last three financial years are as follows:

 201020112012

Senior Civil Service

(1)0

(1)0

(1)0

Grade 6

(1)0

(1)0

(1)0

Grade 7

2

2

2

HM Inspector's of Immigration (equivalent to SEO)

2

1

2

Senior Executive Officers (SEO)

2

2

1

Chief Immigration Officers (HEO)

6

9

9

Higher Executive Officers (HEO)

6

8

8

Executive Officers (EO)

5

4

6

Immigration Officers (EO)

25.05

38.76

52.76

Assistant Immigration Officers (AO)

7

8

7.61

Administrative Officers (AO)

2

24

18

Other

UK Border Agency total

57.05

96.76

106.37

(1) Covered by Glasgow for UKBA and from Manchester for Border Force. Note: Part-time staff are reflected in decimal numbers.

3 Sep 2012 : Column 216W

UK Border Force

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when new UK Border Force uniforms will be issued to officers. [118076]

Damian Green: The new uniform design is currently undergoing staff consultation in both Border Force and the UK Border Agency before a final design is agreed. Any subsequent design will not be issued to staff until 2013.

Work Permits: Shipping

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether work permits are required in respect of the seafarers working onboard the Maltese-registered tug Herakles, contracted as an emergency towing vessel for the Western Isles. [117996]

Damian Green: Current border force instructions state that, under EU Regulation 3577/92, reviewed in 2003, work permit requirements are not to be applied in respect of the manning of a vessel that provides services of cabotage and is flagged elsewhere in the EU. This policy has been applied to vessels such as the Maltese registered tug Herakles and is kept under constant review.

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has taken steps to use its powers under European Council Regulation 3577/92/EC to require all non-EEA seafarers working on vessels engaged in island cabotage exclusively within British waters to have work permits. [117997]

Damian Green: The UK Border Agency's operational instructions relating to the administration of controls in respect of non-EEA seamen are currently being reviewed. The revised instructions will specify that the work permit requirement applies to the non-EEA crew of EEA-flagged vessels engaged in island cabotage.

Yvonne Fletcher

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with the Metropolitan Police on progress in Libya to identify the killer of PC Yvonne Fletcher. [118106]

Nick Herbert: The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has recently updated Home Office Ministers about the ongoing investigation into the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher. The Government are pleased that the MPS is having discussions with the Libyan authorities about future co-operation in relation to this investigation. Helping the police to take forward this investigation remains a top priority for the Government in their relations with Libya and we will continue to offer the MPS whatever support we can.

Culture, Media and Sport

Broadband: Rural Areas

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what progress he has made on EU State Aid approval for BDUK spending on rural broadband schemes. [118306]

3 Sep 2012 : Column 217W

Mr Vaizey: The Government have had extensive discussions with the European Commission regarding the request for approval of an umbrella state aid notification for broadband projects including at senior level. The Department has provided the Commission with all the information that it has requested and it is considering its decision. The Secretary of State believes that recent discussions have resolved outstanding issues and he is optimistic about a positive outcome.

Charities

Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport to which registered charities his Department has made payments in the last three years; and what sums over what period have been paid in each case. [118154]

Mr Vaizey: The following table sets out the registered charities to which the Department has paid over £100,000 in any one year during the requested period:

£000
Charity name2009-102010-112011-12

Registered charities

   

Arts Council England

452,164

437,523

392,877

Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust

300

291

278

Churches Conservation Trust

3,162

3,066

2,926

Design Museum

425

437

328

Geffrye Museum .

1,791

1,773

1,674

Greenwich Foundation for the Old Royal Naval College

1,500

1,455

1,388

Horniman Museum

4,566

4,518

4,385

Legacy Trust UK

10

725

Media Trust

333

319

Museum of Science and Industry Manchester

4,987

4,882

3,998

Museum Libraries and Archives Council

4,022

15,218

12,229

National Children's Bureau

131

475

National Film and Television' School

2,848

2,881

2,791

National Football Museum

105

105

National Foundation for Youth Music

333

325

Sir John Soane's Museum

1,181

1,169

1,130

South Bank Centre

166

The Jerwood Charity

350

250

York Museums and Galleries Trust

345

The Princes Trust

298

British Film Institute

3,589

The Jewish Museum

100

Cutty Sark Trust

1,500

1,500

1,388

Bletchley Park Trust

250

We will probably also have made smaller payments to charities through Grant-in-Aid, specific grants and procuring services, but we do not record the status of every body we procure from and so the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

G4S

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what (a) meetings and (b) communications he has had with G4S since 1 January 2012. [118378]

3 Sep 2012 : Column 218W

Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State visited the Venues Security Training Centre run by G4S at the Old Rokeby School in Stratford on 26 June 2012, to see for himself how the training operation at that centre was being undertaken. While there he spoke to senior G4S and London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) officials, training staff and those being trained for their London 2012 roles. He has had no other communications with G4S.

Maritime Heritage Foundation

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many times he has met the Chairman of the Maritime Heritage Foundation; whether he discussed the HMS Victory 1744 site at any such meeting; and if he will publish the minutes of each such meeting since January 2010. [117713]

John Penrose [holding answer 17 July 2012]: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport met with Lord Lingfield in July 2010 in his constituency surgery in his capacity as MP for South West Surrey. The HMS Victory 1744 was discussed; no commitments, formal or informal, were made.

I have not met with the Chairman of the Maritime Heritage Foundation, but held one phone call with him on this issue in July 2011 in which, again, no commitments, formal or informal, were made.

Mobile Phones

Mr Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) when he expects the roll out of 4G technology to commence; [117651]

(2) if he will estimate the cost to the economy of a delay in rolling out 4G technology. [117652]

Mr Vaizey: Ofcom remain on schedule for the auction process for the spectrum at 800 MHz and 2600 MHz to start by the end of 2012. This is compatible with the spectrum becoming available to allow successful bidders to start rolling out 4G services in these bands. 4G services could also be rolled out in 1800 MHz subject to the result of Everything Everywhere's application to liberalise its 1800 MHz licence.

I have made no estimate of any cost associated with a delay in deploying 4G. Any consideration of the benefits to consumers of the introduction of 4G/Long Term Evolution services, including liberalisation of 1800 MHz or the impact of any delay to that introduction, would normally fall to Ofcom. The benefits to consumers and the effect of a delay to liberalisation were considered in Ofcom's March consultation on liberalising the 1800 MHz spectrum.

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what the per unit cost will be of the filters needed to mitigate interference of digital terrestrial television signals by 4G services; [117976]

(2) what steps he plans to take to ensure that those who have their digital terrestrial television signals interfered with by 4G services are aware of the support that the Government is offering them; [117977]

3 Sep 2012 : Column 219W

(3) if his Department will publish the methodology that led it to establish that 900,000 homes will have their digital terrestrial television signals directly affected by 4G services. [117978]

Mr Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has written to Ofcom setting out the Government's position with regard to the mitigation of interference into the digital television service at 800 MHz and the support that will be offered to consumers. The text of the letter is available on our website at the following link:

http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/news_stories/9193.aspx

Ofcom estimate that a standard household filter will cost around £10.

The methodology by which Ofcom estimated the number of affected households is laid out in their recent consultation, “Second consultation on coexistence of new services in the 800 MHz band with digital terrestrial television”, which is available from the Ofcom website

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/second-coexistence-consultation/

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will give consideration to directing Ofcom to grant spectrum liberalisation and bring forward the spectrum auction. [118213]

Mr Vaizey: On 24 July, Ofcom published its statement on the auction of 4G spectrum licences. This is available from its website at:

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/award-800mhz-2.6ghz/statement/?utm_source=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=4g-auction-statement>

Ofcom remain on schedule for the auction process for the spectrum at 800 MHz and 2,600 MHz, to start by the end of 2012. This is compatible with the spectrum becoming available to allow successful bidders to start rolling out 4G services in these bands.

On 21 August, Ofcom announced that it has approved an application by the mobile phone operator Everything Everywhere (EE) to use its existing 1,800 MHz spectrum to deliver 4G services. In parallel with this decision, Ofcom has now issued varied licences to EE which authorise LTE services from 11 September 2012. This means that EE can launch LTE services using its 1,800 MHz spectrum at any point from that date, although the precise timing of any launch is a commercial decision for Everything Everywhere.

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the model used by Ofcom to determine interference levels caused by 4G to freeview services; and what consideration he has given to publishing the data. [118328]

Mr Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport has made no formal assessment of the model used by Ofcom to determine the interference potential of the new mobile telecommunications services in 800 MHz. Ofcom's analysis was included with their second consultation on co-existence of new services in the 800 MHz band with digital terrestrial television. This is still available to view on their website.

3 Sep 2012 : Column 220W

Olympic Games 2012

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which companies and other organisations have been suppliers and contractors to the London 2012 Olympics site by region and product. [117591]

Hugh Robertson: The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has awarded more than £6.9 billion worth of Tier 1 contracts to 1,605 suppliers. 98% of these contracts were awarded to suppliers based in the UK, generating thousands more sub-contracts throughout the supply chain. The London games organisers (LOCOG) are a private sector organisation and have not published their suppliers list.

ODA Tier 1 contracts split by region are listed in the following table, as of 3 July 2012. Please note, ODA data reflects the address to which remittances are paid.

RegionTotal contracts (£)Number of suppliers

West midlands

463,506,357

64

East of England

915,654,643

145

East midlands

274,667,022

44

London

3,836,279,773

799

Northern Ireland

20,896,676

5

North-east

20,001,500

25

North-west

117,660,093

64

Scotland

33,067,704

30

South-east

1,066,524,980

258

South-west

18,268,531

69

Wales

4,555,736

(1)18

Yorkshire and Humber

89,769,652

47

Overseas

57,786,966

37

Total

6,918,639,634

1,605

(1 )The figure for Wales is boosted due to several large contracts with Government Departments who have carried out work on the ODA's behalf, and who process payments through service centres in Wales.

A number of contractors have supplied a significant number and range of products or services from multiple sites which the ODA are unable to list without looking into each individual contract. A full list of ODA Tier 1 contractors will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses, with the exception of suppliers who are individuals and cannot be named. The ODA does not hold comprehensive information on Tier 2 and lower-level contractors, since these companies do not have a direct relationship with the ODA.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) how much was given by each (a) worldwide Olympic partner, (b) London 2012 Olympic partner and (c) London 2012 provider and supplier towards the cost of organising the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; and if he will make a statement; [118008]

(2) how much was given by (a) Coca Cola, (b) Acer, (c) Atos, (d) Dow, (e) GE, (f) McDonald's, (g) Omega, (h) Panasonic, (i) P&G, (j) Samsung and (k) Visa towards the cost of organising the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics; and if he will make a statement; [118043]

3 Sep 2012 : Column 221W

(3) how much was given by (a) Adidas, (b) BMW, (c) BP, (d) British Airways, (e) BT, (f) EDF and (g) Lloyds TSB towards the cost of organising the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics; and if he will make a statement; [118044]

(4) how much funding was provided by (a) Aggreko, (b) Airwave, (c) Atkins, (d) The Boston, (e) Consulting Group, (f) CBS Outdoor, (g) Crystal CG, (h) Eurostar, (i) Freshfields, (j) Ruckhaus Deringer LLP, (k) G4S, (l) GlaxoSmithKline, (m) Gymnova, (n) Heathrow Airport, (o) Heineken UK, (p) Holiday Inn, (q) John Lewis, (r) McCann Worldgroup, (s) Mondo, (t) Nature Valley, (u) Next, (v) Nielsen and (w) Populous towards the cost of organising the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; and if he will make a statement. [118045]

Hugh Robertson: Raising sponsorship to contribute towards the costs of staging the games is a matter for the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), a private company operating independently of Government. LOCOG must raise its revenues through sponsorship, ticketing, media rights and merchandise. Together with contributions from the International Olympic Committee's global sponsors, over £1 billion of private sector sponsorship has been raised and will fund around half of LOCOG's total budget.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what guidance his Department has issued on the promotion of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to (a) worldwide olympic partners, (b) London 2012 Olympic partners and (c) London 2012 providers and suppliers; if he will place in the Library copies of any such guidance; whether he has received reports of complaints about alleged misuse of any such guidance since June 2012; and if he will make a statement. [118009]

Hugh Robertson: The Department does not issue marketing and promotional guidance to major sporting or cultural events, although some marketing activities may come within the codes of practice overseen by the Advertising Standards Agency. The promotional activities undertaken by Olympic and Paralympic games partners, providers and suppliers is a matter for the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), a private company operating independently of Government.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on what date each (a) worldwide Olympic partner, (b) London 2012 Olympic partner and (c) London 2012 provider and supplier was appointed; how many applied to be appointed in each group; how many were shortlisted; how each was appraised; who made the final decision about the appointment of each; and if he will make a statement. [118039]

Hugh Robertson: Domestic sponsorship is a matter for the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), a private company operating independently of Government. Since the launch of their commercial programme in 2006, LOCOG has generated more than £700 million in domestic sponsorship revenues.

3 Sep 2012 : Column 222W

Through its ‘The Olympic Partner’ (TOP) programme, the International Olympic Committee appoints global sponsors for a period of time that normally includes a number of future games.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on what date Ticketmaster was appointed as a provider and supplier to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; what process was followed in its appointment; where this was advertised; how many companies applied; how many companies were shortlisted; how each was appraised; and if he will make a statement. [118040]

Hugh Robertson: Procurement of its Ticketing Services Provider is a matter for the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG); a private company operating independently of Government. LOCOG appointed Ticketmaster in July 2009 after an open tender.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what reports he has received of the amount paid for tickets for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by (a) worldwide Olympic partners, (b) London 2012 Olympic partners and (c) London 2012 providers and suppliers; and if he will make a statement. [118058]

Hugh Robertson: Ticketing is a matter for the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), a private company operating independently of Government. LOCOG must raise its revenues to stage the games through sponsorship, ticketing, media rights and merchandise. A total of 11 million Olympic and Paralympic tickets are being made available, for London's games, of which 75% are for purchase by the UK public, and 12% for purchase by National Olympic and Paralympic Committees, primarily for international sports fans. The remainder are for purchase by sponsors, stakeholders, International Sports Federations, Prestige Hospitality Providers and Thomas Cook.

Sponsors have the right to purchase a small number of tickets, across a range of prices and sports, at face value. Many sponsors have distributed their tickets in promotions to the UK public, their staff, customers and community groups.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) on the role played by each London 2012 partner; what response was received by LOCOG; what recent representations he has received about the role played by each company; if he will place in the Library a copy of his response in each case; and if he will make a statement. [118059]

Hugh Robertson: Regular and frequent discussions have been held between the London Organising Committee (LOCOG) and this Department, in order to ensure the successful delivery of the games. This has included discussions with key LOCOG suppliers in relation to the completion of actions and milestones critical to the delivery of the games. The wider relationships between LOCOG and its sponsors, is a matter for LOCOG, which is a private company operating independently of Government.

3 Sep 2012 : Column 223W

Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will discuss with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games for what reasons The Voice newspaper was not given accreditation for the Olympic Park Media Centre; and if he will make a statement. [118116]

Hugh Robertson: National Olympic Committees are responsible for allocating accreditation to Olympic venues for media based in their countries. The British Olympic Association (BOA) is responsible for allocating Olympic accreditation to UK media, not the London Organising Committee of the Olympic games and Paralympic games. The Secretary of State has no plans to discuss accreditation for specific newspapers with the BOA.

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will encourage the British Olympic Association to ensure that an official photograph is taken of the entire (a) Olympic and (b) Paralympic Team GB teams at the London 2012 Olympic Games. [118124]

Hugh Robertson: The British Olympic Association (BOA) and British Paralympic Association (BPA) are independent of Government. However, we are aware that both the BOA and BPA intend to produce an official photograph of the Olympic and Paralympic teams selected for London 2012.

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department plans to spend on hospitality during the London 2012 Olympic Games. [118379]

Hugh Robertson: This Department will publish details including a list of all those in receipt of Government's tickets and hospitality in the autumn.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what recent discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with the London 2012 Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games on (i) the role played by and (ii) the number of tickets allocated to (A) Aggreko, (B) Airwave, (C) Atkins, (D) the Boston Consulting Group, (E) CBS Outdoor, (F) Crystal CG, (G) Eurostar, (H) Freshfields, (I) Ruckhaus Deringer LLP, (J) G4S, (K) GlaxoSmithKline, (L) Gymnova, (M) Heathrow Airport, (N) Heineken UK, (O) Holiday Inn, (P) John Lewis, (Q) McCann Worldgroup, (R) Mondo, (S) Nature Valley, (T) Next, (U) Nielsen and (V) Populous; and if he will make a statement; [118340]

(2) what recent discussions he has had with (a) Aggreko, (b) Airwave, (c) Atkins, (d) The Boston Consulting Group, (e) CBS Outdoor, (f) Crystal CG, (g) Eurostar, (h) Freshfields, (i) Ruckhaus Deringer LLP, (j) G4S, (k) GlaxoSmithKline, (l) Gymnova, (m) Heathrow Airport, (n) Heineken UK, (o) Holiday Inn, (p) John Lewis, (q) McCann Worldgroup, (r) Mondo, (s) Nature Valley, (t) Next, (u) Nielsen and (v) Populous on the London 2012 Olympic Games; and if he will make a statement. [118403]

3 Sep 2012 : Column 224W

Hugh Robertson: Ticketing is a matter for the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), a private company operating independently of Government. LOCOG must raise its revenues to stage the games through sponsorship, ticketing, media rights and merchandise. A total of 11 million Olympic and Paralympic tickets are being made available for London's Games, of which 75% are for purchase by the UK public, and 12% for purchase by National Olympic and Paralympic Committees, primarily for international sports fans. The remainder are for purchase by sponsors, stakeholders, international Sports Federations, Prestige Hospitality Providers and Thomas Cook. Sponsors have the right to purchase a small number of tickets, across a range of prices and sports, at face value. Many sponsors have distributed their tickets in promotions to the UK public, their staff, customers and community groups.

Regular and frequent discussions have been held between LOCOG and this Department in order to ensure the successful delivery of the games. This has included discussions regarding key LOCOG suppliers in relation to the completion of actions and milestones critical to the delivery of the games. The wider relationships between LOCOG and its sponsors is a matter for LOCOG.

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what information the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games has provided to his Department on ticketing arrangements for the London 2012 Olympics for (a) Worldwide Olympic partners, (b) London 2012 Olympic partners and (c) London 2012 providers and suppliers; and if he will make a statement; [118341]

(2) what information his Department holds on the number of tickets allocated to sponsors of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games that have been passed by the sponsors to (a) amateur sports clubs and (b) charities; and if he will make a statement. [118342]

Hugh Robertson: Ticketing is a matter for the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), a private company operating independently of Government. A total of 11 million Olympic and Paralympic tickets were available for London's games. Regular discussions have been held between LOCOG and this Department, where LOCOG has kept us informed throughout the development and implementation of their plans on ticketing.

LOCOG has promised to provide a comprehensive break-down of ticket distribution after sales have been completed. This Department does not hold information on the number of tickets passed by sponsors to other groups.