Public Bodies: Staff
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2012, Official Report, column 808W, on public bodies, how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by each public body he has abolished in the last full year of its operation. [119035]
Elizabeth Truss: The information requested is as follows:
| Last full year of operation | Organisation | Average FTE | FTE as at 31st March |
|
British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA) | |||
As a result of the arm’s length bodies programme, since May 2010 the total staff numbers across the Department and it's arm’s length bodies excluding it's non-ministerial departments Ofqual and Ofsted have reduced by around 26% or 1,902 FTEs (from 7,350 to 5,448 in July 2012).
Schools: Sports
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to provide support for long-term sports funding in schools in York following the London 2012 Olympics. [118666]
Mr Timpson: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has provided the following additional funding for school sport in 20012-13:
PE teacher release: £32,500,000
Disability sport: £300,000
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Volunteer leaders and coaches: £1,000,000
Young Ambassadors: £250,000
Total: £34,050,000
This funding covers state schools in England. Schools in York are able to benefit from this investment.
Schools: Uniforms
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many complaints his Department has received about the cost of school uniforms in (a) academies, (b) free schools and (c) maintained schools in the latest period for which figures are available; [120020]
(2) what guidance he has issued to schools on ensuring that uniform policies are affordable for all parents; [120021]
(3) if he will make it his policy that all schools ensure that their school uniform is available from multiple sources; [120022]
(4) what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the Office of Fair Trading's report, entitled Supply of School Uniforms, published in August 2012; [120023]
(5) what estimate he has made of the number of schools converting to academies and free schools which have changed school uniform as a result of their conversion; [120024]
(6) what recent estimate he has made of the average cost of school uniforms in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools; [120025]
(7) what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) value of grants paid out by each local education authority to help parents with the cost of purchasing school uniforms in each of the last five financial years. [120026]
Elizabeth Truss: The Department has received 123 pieces of correspondence relating to school uniform since 1 September 2011. Correspondence data are not recorded in such a way that it is possible to identify how many of these were complaints about the cost of uniform.
Responsibility for school uniform policy rests with the governing body or the academy trust, including how the uniform should be sourced. The governing body should be able to demonstrate to parents how best value has been achieved and keep the cost of uniform under review. The Department has published non-statutory school uniform guidance on its website at:
www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/schoolethos/b0014144/schooluniform
That guidance clearly states that when considering their school uniform policy, governing bodies should give ‘high priority’ to cost considerations, and no school uniform should be so expensive as to leave pupils or their families feeling socially excluded. The Department does not collect information about whether schools which have adopted a new uniform on conversion to academy status, about the costs of school uniform, or about the number and value of grants paid by local authorities to help parents with the cost of school uniform.
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University Technical Colleges
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) when the next application process for university technical colleges will open; [119454]
(2) whether applicants to establish a university technical college who are rejected are permitted to bid again; and what time limits apply; [119455]
(3) how many applications to establish university technical colleges his Department has rejected. [119456]
Elizabeth Truss: The new application round for University Technical Colleges is open, and the deadline for applications is Friday 16 November.
Applicants who have previously been unsuccessful are welcome to apply again. About half of the 15 applications which were successful in the most recent round were from groups which had applied previously. Timings are the same as for groups which have not previously applied.
In the round which concluded in May 2012, 12 applications were hot successful. In the round which concluded in October 2011, 24 applications were not successful.
Young People: Business
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many state schools are involved in the Young Enterprise scheme nationally; [112508]
(2) how many schoolchildren are involved in Young Enterprise scheme (a) nationally and (b) in North Swindon constituency. [112509]
Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education does not collect this information.
The Government's commitment to schools is to remove prescription and provide greater freedom and autonomy so that teaching can be creative and innovative. Schools can use a range of providers to help them do this, including, among others, Young Enterprise.
Communities and Local Government
Aerials: Planning Permission
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to simplify and speed up the process for planning applications for mobile telephone masts. [119277]
Nick Boles [holding answer 11 September 2012]: The National Planning Policy Framework is a major step forward in simplifying the planning process and we are already seeing evidence of more positive decision-taking.
The Government want to cut back on unnecessary information and is consulting on 'Streamlining information requirements for planning applications', consultation closed 11 September 2012.
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On 6 September 2012, the Government announced a series of additional measures to remove unnecessary bureaucracy. This includes working with mobile operators, local government and other interested parties to consider ways that the planning process might be streamlined to speed up the deployment of mobile infrastructure.
Affordable Housing: Haringey
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes for (a) social rent and (b) intermediate or low-cost home ownership were built in the London Borough of Haringey in each year since 2001. [120601]
Mr Prisk: Statistics on the provision of affordable housing supply by local authority are published in the Department's live tables 1006, 1007 and 1008, which are available at the following link.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/affordablehousingsupply/livetables/
These statistics show additional affordable housing provided for social rent, intermediate affordable housing and all affordable housing but include both new build and acquisition or refurbishment of existing dwellings. Affordable housing statistics that focus solely on the new-build component are not published at the local authority level but the following table shows how many affordable homes for social rent and intermediate or low-cost home ownership were built in the London borough of Haringey in each year since 2001.
| New build affordable homes for social rent, intermediate rent and low-cost home ownership for the London borough of Haringey | ||||
| new build | ||||
| Social rent | Intermediate rent | Low cost home ownership | All affordable | |
| Notes: 1. Figures compiled from the Homes and Communities Agency's administrative data and local authority returns (the Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix, the P2 return and the P1B return). 2. Estimates for 2010-11 revised in January 2012 to reflect data changes made as a result of local authority representations on the provisional allocations for the New Homes Bonus. Final 2010-11 Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix data (as published 30 November 2011) were also incorporated. 3. Includes homes where the cost is met by a private developer (e.g. Section 106 agreements). 4. New dwellings are shown by the local authority in which they are located which occasionally differs from the sponsoring authority. 5. Figures shown represent our best estimate and may be subject to revisions. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 and therefore totals may not sum due to rounding. | ||||
From 1 April 2012, the Mayor of London has had oversight of strategic housing, regeneration and economic development in London. The Mayor's housing strategy proposes to provide 55,000 new affordable homes in
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London over the current spending review period, as part of the national programme of delivering 170,000 new affordable homes across England.
Arson
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the change was in the annual number of incidences of deliberate fires in each fire authority area in England and Wales in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12. [119253]
Brandon Lewis [holding answer 5 September 2012]:The changes in the number of deliberate fire incidents attended by fire and rescue authority area are shown in the table for: (a) 2009-10 to 2010-11 and (b) 2010-11 to 2011-12. While the Department's responsibility is for England, figures for Wales are also shown as requested.
| Change in deliberate fires | ||
| Fire and rescue authority area | 2009-10 to 2010-11 | 2010-11 to 2011-12 |
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| Source: Fire Statistics Monitor, Department for Communities and Local Government | ||
There were 116,000 deliberate fires attended by the fire and rescue authorities in England in 2011-12. This is 1% lower than in 2010-11 and 60% lower than 10 years ago.
There were 27,200 incidents of arson reported to the police in England in 2011-12. This is 7% lower than in 2010-11 and 55% lower than 10 years ago.
Bellwin Scheme
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) which local authorities have received funding under the Bellwin scheme for flood and recovery efforts following the summer flooding events in 2012; and how much funding each such local authority received; [120989]
(2) how much has been paid to local authorities under the Bellwin scheme for clean-up and recovery work following the summer flooding events in 2012. [120990]
Brandon Lewis: To date the Department has not received any formal local authority claims under the Bellwin scheme set up in response to the summer flooding events in 2012. This is not unexpected as the period for eligible spending for the July floods scheme only ended on 12 September 2012. The deadline for local authorities to submit claims for this scheme is 12 October 2012.
Broadband: Planning Permission
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what arrangements he plans to put in place following proposed changes to broadband cabinet planning requirements to hear objections to the construction of broadband cabinets; [121434]
(2) when the change in requirements for planning permission for broadband cabinets will come into effect; [121435]
(3) what requirements broadband providers will have to take account of the local environment and community under proposed new planning requirements for broadband cabinets. [121436]
Nick Boles: We will be consulting shortly on the proposed changes to broadband infrastructure planning requirements. Any legislative changes needed, will be brought in as soon as possible.
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Child Protection
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the troubled families unit plans to develop good practice guidance in relation to families where there are serious concerns about neglect. [121057]
Brandon Lewis: The troubled families unit is looking at what works most effectively to address the problems troubled families face and we are working with the Department for Education to strengthen work with troubled families where there are child protection issues, including concerns about child neglect.
Professional training materials on child neglect, commissioned by the Department for Education have been available on their website since June. The Department for Education are in the process of revising statutory guidance in this area to give local areas more freedom to organise their services in a way that meets local need, and to enable practitioners to focus on the individual needs of each child. The troubled families team will continue to work closely with the Department for Education in this area.
Complementary Medicine
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has made an assessment of trends in the number of Chinese medicine shops in the last five years. [120925]
Brandon Lewis: No such assessment has been made by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Electric Cables
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of electrical fires caused by counterfeit or falsely marked electrical cabling in each of the last five years. [121600]
Brandon Lewis: The information on causes of fire provided by fire and rescue authorities to the Department does not include whether cabling was counterfeit or falsely marked.
Fire Services
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) whether his Department has made an assessment of the recommendation by the Association of Metropolitan Fire and Rescue Authorities for a flat-rate reduction to all fire services; [121561]
(2) if he will consider implementing the recommendations by the Association of Metropolitan Fire and Rescue Authorities for a flat-rate reduction to all fire services; [121562]
(3) what plans the Government have to ensure fairness in its planned reductions to regional fire services. [121563]
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Brandon Lewis: On 17 July the Government published the Technical Consultation on Business Rates Retention detailing proposals for local authority funding from 2013-14. Responses are welcomed from all fire and rescue authorities by the closing date of 24 September. All representations, including those from the Association of Metropolitan Fire and Rescue Authorities, will be considered before final decisions are made.
Floods: Finance
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate his Department has made of the clean-up and recovery costs to local authorities arising from summer flooding events in 2012. [120991]
Brandon Lewis: Local authorities that apply for emergency financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme provide information on the costs associated with the immediate response to a flood to protect lives and properties in their area. However, we do not routinely collect information on the wider costs of clean up and recovery for local authorities following a flood.
Green Belt
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what his policy is on the extent to which local authorities may relax existing green belt boundary rules in order to support new housing; [121419]
(2) whether he has any plans to bring forward legislative proposals in respect of green belt land. [121541]
Nick Boles: The green belt is an important protection against urban sprawl, providing a ‘green lung’ around towns and cities. The National Planning Policy Framework delivers the coalition agreement to safeguard green belt. The framework makes clear that openness and permanence are essential characteristics of the green belt, and boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances. Any changes to green belt boundaries must be made through the local plan process, which involves consultation with local people and formal examination in public. The Government have no plans to bring forward legislative proposals in respect of green belt land.
Local Government Finance
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effect on jobs and services of the ending of transitional funding for local authorities. [121242]
Brandon Lewis: Issues such as transitional funding will be considered as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2013-14, and we are happy to receive representations from local authorities on this matter.
Our reforms to local government finance are fundamentally about encouraging local authorities to promote local economic growth.
By contrast, the local government finance system has previously encouraged a sense of dependency; councils
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have competed with themselves in a race to the bottom—to present themselves as more deprived than their neighbours in order to get more handouts from Whitehall.
Our reforms on local business rate retention could deliver an estimated £10 billion boost to the wider economy over the next seven years. This will help create and support local jobs, and provide more revenues to support front-line services across the whole country.
The economic assessment on which this estimate is based can be found at:
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/businessrateseconomic
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what population data will be used to calculate local government finance, council tax and business rates from 2013 onwards. [121307]
Brandon Lewis [holding answer 17 September 2012]: We are currently consulting on the technical detail of the new business rate retention scheme to be introduced from 2013-14, including on which population data to use. The consultation can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/businessratestechnical
Local Government: Referendums
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he is required to give his approval before a local referendum can be held by a district council. [121289]
Brandon Lewis: District councils do not need the Secretary of State’s approval to hold local referendums, which either they can hold at their discretion or in certain circumstances they are required to do so by statute.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many properties have been bought under the NewBuy Guarantee scheme; and what estimate he has made of the number of properties which will be bought in each of the next 10 years. [121554]
Mr Prisk: Statistics, including the total number of properties sold under the NewBuy Guarantee scheme as at 30 June 2012, will be made publicly available on Thursday 27 September and will be published on the DCLG website in the form of an official statistical release.
The scheme is run by the Home Builders Federation and is demand led. It is not possible to accurately estimate future annual sales.
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of construction jobs created by the NewBuy Guarantee scheme since its introduction. [121555]
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Mr Prisk: The Government are committed to reviewing the NewBuy Guarantee scheme in 2014. This review will include an assessment of the number of additional homes built and jobs supported by the scheme.
The Home Builders Federation has estimated that at least 25,000 additional new homes will be built in total as a direct result of NewBuy. This number of new homes would support up to 50,000 additional jobs.
Child Care
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many child care places his Department provides on its estate; what the cost is of providing such places; how many such places his Department provided in 2010; what the cost was of providing such places in 2010; what plans he has for changes in the provision of such childcare places; and what the number of places will be once any such changes have been implemented. [121263]
Brandon Lewis: The Department does not provide any child care places to its staff on its estate. DCLG assists its staff with child care costs by providing a child care vouchers scheme and enabling staff to join a child care salary sacrifice scheme.
Olympic Games 2012
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department used the Olympic Route Network for travel for official purposes during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. [121004]
Brandon Lewis: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will publish details of Government use of tickets and hospitality in the autumn. This will include use of transport services which operated on the Olympic or Paralympic route networks.
Pensioners: Council Tax Benefits
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account he takes of local pensioner numbers in West Sussex in the way he allocates council tax benefit support grant. [121396]
Brandon Lewis: The localisation of council tax support is an important welfare reform that will help tackle the budget deficit that we have inherited from the last Administration, and provide stronger incentives to get people back to work and promote local economic growth.
We have protected pensioners from any change as they have fixed incomes and cannot reasonably be expected to go back to work. Pensioners who have saved and worked hard all their lives deserve dignity and security in retirement.
The proposed distribution of funding for council tax support is based on shares of previous expenditure on council tax benefit, including shares of expenditure on pension age claimants. The recent consultation, ‘Localising Support for Council Tax—Funding Arrangements Consultation’, sets out how the Government intends to distribute funding to support local schemes and seeks
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views on possible adjustments to allocations to avoid potential budgetary pressures in a few authorities. The consultation closed on 12 July, and the Government response will be published in the autumn.
Planning Permission
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had with the Local Government Association on planning reforms; and if he will make a statement. [121400]
Nick Boles: Details of Ministers' meetings with external organisations can be found online at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/transparencyingovernment/ministerialdata/
Public Houses
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to assist community pubs; and if he will make a statement. [119669]
Brandon Lewis: My Department is taking the following steps to assist community pubs:
The Assets of Community Value Regulations implementing the Community Right to Bid provisions of the Localism Act 2011 will, later in the year, subject to parliamentary approval give communities a fairer chance to bid to take over local assets of community value, including pubs;
We have launched a £19 million support programme to help eligible community organisations to take on the community ownership and management of assets that are important to them, including pubs;
The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that to deliver the social, recreational and cultural facilities that communities need, planning policies and decisions should provide for the use of such facilities, including pubs, and guard against their unnecessary loss;
We are assisting firms with business rates: the Localism Act helps make small business rate relief automatic; we have doubled small business rate relief scheme from October 2010 to March 2013; and we have given councils powers to levy discretionary business rate discounts—which could, for example, be used to support local community pubs; and
In addition, the Government has scrapped the last Administration's plans for a 10% rise in cider duties (the so-called cider tax).
Pubs have benefited from the greater flexibility on weights and measures announced in January 2011, allowing beer and wine to be sold in different sizes than was previously allowed by regulations.
In November 2011, the Government announced a package of measures to strengthen the Industry Code to improve the relationship between pub companies and their licensees; these reforms will increase transparency, improve dispute resolution and provide more legal certainty for licensees.
The Live Music Act 2012 will shortly make it easier for pubs to play live music.
We are seeking to introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol. This will tackle unfair competition and loss-leading by some shops, without adversely affecting the price of a pint in a pub.
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As part of the ‘focus on enforcement of regulation’ initiative launched in July 2012, we have been consulting on how we can reduce over-zealous regulation of pubs.
Pubs are among the businesses which will benefit from the proposed exemption in unnecessary health and safety inspections announced on 10 September 2012.
Travellers: Caravan Sites
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on the evidence required for an individual to be treated as a Traveller for the purposes of planning law. [121565]
Brandon Lewis: It is for each local authority to determine what evidence they require to satisfy themselves that a person is a Traveller. My Department does not prescribe on such matters. Requirements for evidence made by a local authority should, however, correspond with the definition of Gypsies and Travellers set out in annex 1 of planning policy for traveller sites, published in March 2012.
International Development
Overseas Aid
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 11 September 2012, Official Report, column 217W, on overseas aid, how many applications to the Aid Match scheme from charities in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland were (i) received, (ii) successful and (iii) appealed against. [121391]
Lynne Featherstone: 24 applications were received from charities in England. Of these, 15 were successful and three remain under consideration.
One application was received from a charity in Northern Ireland, which was successful.
No applications were received from charities in Wales or Scotland.
Feedback is provided to unsuccessful applicants, but all decisions are final. There is no appeals process.
Culture, Media and Sport
Broadband
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether all local broadband plans have been approved. [120679]
Mr Vaizey: All local broadband plans that have been submitted to Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) have been approved, but three project areas have to date not submitted a local broadband plan; these are North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sandwell.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what stage each local authority has reached in delivering its broadband plans. [120680]
Mr Vaizey: The following table provides the breakdown of the local broadband projects progress.
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Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether any local broadband plans approved by her Department forecast an underspend compared with the funding allocations announced for each local authority in August 2011. [120681]
Mr Vaizey: To date, no local broadband teams have forecast an underspend in their local broadband plans or for their projects.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much she has allocated to each local authority and each of the devolved administrations to incentivise the roll-out of superfast broadband. [120682]
Mr Vaizey: The funding allocations were published by the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) in August 2011 and can be found on the DCMS website at the following link:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/telecommunications_and_online/7763.aspx
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the name is of each contractor with which Broadband Delivery UK has agreed contracts; and what the value is of each contract. [120683]
Mr Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has entered into framework agreements for broadband delivery with suppliers British Tele- communications plc and Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe Ltd. Local authorities in the UK are able to call off contracts for their broadband projects from the framework agreements, and these are estimated to have a total value of between £750 million and £2 billion.
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Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) how much new fibre has been laid as part of the Super-Connected Cities programme; [120684]
(2) what progress has been made on phase 1 of the super-connected cities programme; [120685]
(3) how much was awarded to each of the super- connected cities as part of phase 1 of that programme; [120686]
(4) how many households she expects will receive ultra-fast broadband by 2015 as a result of the super-connected cities programme. [120687]
Mr Vaizey: Following the Chancellor of the Exchequer's announcement of £100 million for Phase 1 of the Super-Connected Cities programme in the autumn statement, 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-819, the 14 eligible cities submitted outline proposals in February 2012. These were assessed and ranges of allocations were announced for the four capitals and six other winning cities in the Budget 2012. The detailed plans of the 10 cities chosen were submitted in August 2012 and are being assessed. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller), will announce shortly the final funding to be awarded to each of the Phase 1 cities.
Successful procurement and delivery of all the projects to be supported under Phase 1 of the Super-Connected Cities programme, up until March 2015, will provide access to new ultrafast and wireless broadband connectivity to a significant number of residential premises and businesses. Detailed information on the additional connectivity to be provided by cities under the programme will not be finalised until decisions on the funding awarded to the successful cities has been agreed.
Furthermore, additional ultrafast and wireless broadband connectivity will result from city plans under Phase 2 of the programme (with a further £50 million funding aimed at smaller cities) details of which will be available once the Phase 2 cities have submitted their plans later this month. A decision on the funding to be awarded to the successful Phase 2 cities will be announced later in the autumn.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to expedite the rollout of 4G mobile spectrum. [121319]
Mr Vaizey: These issues are a matter for Ofcom, the independent regulator. My officials have contacted Ofcom who have supplied the following information.
On 21 August 2012 Ofcom announced that it had approved an application by the mobile phone operator Everything Everywhere (EE) to use its existing 1,800 MHz spectrum to deliver 4G services (LTE and WiMAX). In parallel with this decision, Ofcom issued varied licences to EE which authorise 4G services from 11 September 2012. This means that EE can launch 4G 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.
On 24 July Ofcom published its statement on the auction of 4G spectrum licences in the 800 MHz and 2,600 MHz bands. Ofcom remain on schedule for the
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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.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2012, Official Report, column 1089W, on radio frequencies, what steps she is taking to minimise the interference Freeview viewers are expected to notice after the rollout of 4G services. [121320]
Mr Vaizey: On 10 July I wrote to Ed Richards, chief executive of Ofcom, setting out the assistance that 800MHz licensees should be required to provide TV viewers who suffer interference from 4G mobile services. Ofcom included these requirements in the statement and Information Memorandum which they published on 24 July:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/award-800mhz/statement/IM.pdf
Mobile Phones
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when she expects contracts for the Mobile Infrastructure Project to be put out to tender. [120688]
Mr Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has made good progress with the Mobile Infrastructure Project procurement process, launched in April 2012. DCMS has five shortlisted potential providers and expects to issue them with the invitation to tender in the next few weeks.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when her Department expects to receive state aid clearance for the Mobile Infrastructure Project. [120689]
Mr Vaizey: The Government are discussing the Mobile Infrastructure Project with the European Commission and hope to receive state aid clearance to its procurement timetable.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many mobile network operators have informed her Department that they do not wish to participate in the Mobile Infrastructure Project. [120690]
Mr Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport continues to engage fully with all of the mobile network operators. To date one of those operators, Hutchison 3G, has indicated that they are not yet in a position to commit to the Mobile Infrastructure Project.
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport to how many households she expects the Mobile Infrastructure Project to extend coverage. [120691]
Mr Vaizey:
In the Budget, the Government announced that the Department would extend mobile coverage to 60,000 rural premises and along at least 10 key roads by
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2015. The final roll-out will take account of two important factors, the value for money of the interventions and the number of people who will benefit. Due to the complex nature of the process for building mobile phone infrastructure these factors will be determined together with the Mobile Infrastructure Project Supplier.
Sheffield
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which (a) hon. Members and (b) police officers the then Minister for Sport, Colin Moynihan, met in Sheffield on 15 April 1989; and which officials accompanied the Minister. [121493]
Hugh Robertson: Documents relevant to Hillsborough, held by the Department, have been made available to the Hillsborough Independent Panel and published on their website at:
http://hillsborough.independent.gov.uk
Documents available at this website, such as the witness statement of Chief Supt. Brian Mole:
http://hillsborough.independent.gov.uk/repository/docs/HOM000001670001.pdf
show that Lord Moynihan travelled to Sheffield on 15 April 1989. Chief Supt. Brian Mole states that Lord Moynihan was accompanied by Chief Supt. Duckenfield. He was then shown the scene by the chief constable, other officers and himself. There are no documents which name any officials who travelled with him, or any hon. Members, or complete lists of police officers he met.
http://hillsborough.independent.gov.uk/repository/docs/COO000001060001.pdf
shows that the planned attendees for meetings on 16 April 1989 were (a) the Prime Minister and Home Secretary and (b) Det. Supt. Butler, Det. Chief Inspector Dwyer and Chief Constable Peter Wright, in case this is of interest. In addition, a photograph on page 185 of the Panel's report
http://hillsborough.independent.gov.uk/repository/report/HIP_report.pdf
shows further attendees, with Lord Moynihan present, though obscured in the image.
Defence
Aircraft Carriers
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the expected in-service date is for the aircraft carrier HMS (a) Queen Elizabeth and (b) Prince of Wales. [121345]
Mr Dunne
[holding answer 17 September 2012]: Following the decision to revert to a STOVL design, announced by the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), on 10 May 2012, Official Report, column 140, we are currently reviewing the QEC programme to develop revised programme estimates which will be subject to re-approval by the Ministry of Defence in due course. In the Strategic Defence and
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Security Review the Government committed to delivering Britain's future Carrier Strike capability from around 2020, based around the new Queen Elizabeth Class carrier and the new Joint Strike Fighter. We remain fully committed to achieving that.
Armed Forces: Sexual Offences
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what support is made available to members of the armed forces who have reported (a) rape and (b) sexual assault; and if he will make a statement; [118989]
(2) what support and counselling services are available to members of the armed forces who report (a) rape and (b) sexual assault; and if he will make a statement. [119117]
Mr Francois: Members of the armed forces who report a rape or sexual assault incident have access to the same services (or equivalent services if serving overseas) that are available to those in a civilian environment. In addition, there is an extensive network of single service support available (for example, welfare officers, local support officers, the individual's commanding officer) and that includes support through partner agencies where required.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) civilian staff and (b) armed force personnel have been discharged from each of the three services and reserve forces following conviction in a civilian court for (i) rape and (ii) sexual assault in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [119118]
Mr Francois: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Miriam Maes
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers in his Department have met Miriam Maes on official business since May 2010. [121338]
Mr Francois: We have no records of Ministers or special advisers having met Miriam Maes on official business since May 2010.
Information about officials is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Olympic Games 2012
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department used the Olympic route network for travel for official purposes during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. [121008]
Mr Francois: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will publish details of Government use of tickets and hospitality in the autumn. This will include use of transport services which operated on the Olympic or Paralympic route networks.
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Shipbuilding
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the decision to be made on whether to build two new offshore patrol vessels in Portsmouth. [120583]
Mr Dunne: The purchase of new offshore patrol vessels is not currently in the core programme.
Trident
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effect he expects the replacement of the nuclear deterrent to have on jobs and business. [119863]
Mr Dunne: The Main Gate decision for the Successor programme is not due until 2016. It is therefore too early to assess fully the effect the replacement of the nuclear deterrent will have on jobs and business. Should the Successor programme achieve Main Gate approval, and proceed to production, it will sustain thousands of jobs across the UK submarine industry, including businesses at all levels of the submarine supply chain.
Type 26 Frigates
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the decision to be made on whether to build the new Type 26 frigates in Portsmouth. [120580]
Mr Dunne: The Type 26 Global Combat Ship programme is currently in its assessment phase, with the results of this phase due by the middle of this decade, following which the main investment decision is expected to be made. The build location of the vessels will be confirmed after the main investment decision point.
Visits Abroad
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign visits he and Ministers in his Department have made since April 2012; and in each case which countries were visited and what the (a) purpose, (b) method of travel and (c) cost to the public purse was of the visit. [121230]
Mr Francois [holding answer 17 September 2012]: Details of Ministers’ and the most senior officials’ overseas travel are published on a quarterly basis and can be accessed on the MOD website at:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/FinancialReports/Expenses
The information for April-June 2012 will be published shortly.
Justice
Burglary
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will review sentencing guidelines for burglars; and if he will make a statement. [121401]
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Jeremy Wright: Sentencing guidelines are a matter for the independent Sentencing Council. In 2011, the council consulted on revised guidelines for burglary offences. The revised guidelines came into effect on 16 January 2012 and apply to all cases sentenced on or after that date. The guidelines place a renewed emphasis on the impact of burglaries on victims, ensuring that they are of primary concern in the sentencing process. The guidelines reinforce current sentencing practice, which means that offenders committing domestic burglaries can expect a custodial sentence.
Civil Disorder: Greater London
Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department has taken to identify the causes of the public disorder of August 2011 in London to prevent any recurrence of such disorder. [119061]
Brandon Lewis: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Immediately after the August 2011 disturbances, the Government established the Riots, Victims and Communities Panel to investigate the causes of the riots and to consider what could be done to build greater social and economic resilience in communities.
The Panel published its final report on 28 May 2012 and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), made a written ministerial statement to Parliament on 13 July 2012, Official Report, columns 74-78WS, in response. That statement set out the measures the Government and other agencies have put in place to rebuild communities following the riots. It also set out the actions that the Government is taking forward to address some of the more entrenched issues highlighted in the Panel's report.
Community Orders: Vale of Clwyd
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many community payback schemes have taken place in Vale of Clwyd constituency in each of the last five years. [121228]
Jeremy Wright: The community payback scheme is currently delivered by 35 probation trusts covering England and Wales. The number of community payback work projects undertaken by each probation trust is not recorded by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). Wales Probation Trust has been able to provide data for the period from April 2009 to March 2012.
During this period 822 community payback work projects were undertaken in the county of Denbighshire, with in excess of 80% of these undertaken in the Vale of Clwyd constituency. In the year 2011-12, 192 offenders resident in Denbighshire were sentenced to community payback. During the same period, 29,373 community payback hours were worked in the county, the majority of which would have taken place in the Vale of Clwyd constituency. A snapshot survey of community payback undertaken by NOMS during March 2011 showed that approaching 5,000 individual community payback work projects are operated each month across England and Wales.
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Domestic Violence
Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average waiting time was between charge and first court appearance for offences related to domestic violence in the last year for which figures are available; and what the average (a) length of time overall for the prosecution of offences relating to domestic violence and (b) number of adjournments granted for cases related to domestic violence was (i) in London and (ii) nationally in each of the last five years. [121548]
Mrs Grant: Data held centrally on the Ministry of Justice administrative data systems do not include information about all the circumstances behind each case other than which may be identified from a statute. Therefore, it is not possible to specifically identify offences related to domestic violence from other offences of violence against the person.
Peterborough Prison
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to facilitate the timely removal of foreign prisoners from HMP Peterborough; and if he will make a statement. [121494]
Jeremy Wright: MoJ is working hard to reduce the foreign national offender (FNO) population in the UK. We are working towards compulsory prisoner transfer agreements with a number of countries and are improving administrative processes and communication with FNOs who are eligible for voluntary return to increase removals this way. We are also developing a more strategic approach to how Government funding is used to improve standards in prisons in our high volume FNO countries, to help facilitate returns to these countries.
Reducing the FNO population in the UK is a key priority for the Government. The UK has PTAs with over 100 countries and territories, most of which are voluntary and require the prisoner's consent to transfer. However, as part of our strategy to reduce the FNO population, we are seeking to negotiate more compulsory PTAs, which will not require the consent of the prisoner to transfer, with our high volume FNO countries.
In addition to this we are working to reduce the flow of FNOs into the criminal justice system through the use of conditional cautions; and reduce the number of FNOs already serving prison sentences through the Early Removal Scheme (ERS) and Tariff Expired Removal Scheme (TERS).
FNOs in HMP Peterborough are not subject to any special consideration when facilitating removals beyond that of any other foreign national in our prisons. All FNOs are referred to UKBA for consideration for deportation.
Sentencing
Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to ensure the safety of the public through sentencing policy. [121197]
Jeremy Wright:
Our sentencing framework provides courts with the powers to punish offenders appropriately. Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the courts.
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But we are clear that, in order to protect the public, violent and dangerous offenders must expect long prison sentences.
Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department is taking to ensure that sentences handed down for crimes involving the sale of illicit alcohol and tobacco provide an effective deterrent. [121200]
Jeremy Wright: I am satisfied that the maximum penalties available for the relevant offences give the courts sufficient powers to deal with the cases which come before them. Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the courts, and they will follow sentencing guidelines.
Metal Theft
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what advice or guidance has been given to judges and magistrates on the aggravation in sentencing where the offence involves the theft of metal which either causes disruption to services or results in a significant sentimental loss to a community. [121549]
Jeremy Wright: Sentencing guidelines are a matter for the independent Sentencing Council. Both the council's overarching guideline on aggravating and mitigating factors and its guideline on theft states that courts should consider both the financial and sentimental impact of offences when considering the harm caused. Guidelines provide non-exhaustive lists of common aggravating and mitigating factors, and courts retain wide discretion to treat particular circumstances of individual cases as aggravating factors. Crown Prosecution Service guidance to prosecutors requires them to highlight the full facts of a case, actively obtaining information on the impact and effect of such thefts which may go far wider than the direct loss or damage caused, allowing the courts to sentence appropriately.
Youth Offending Teams
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff posts have been abolished in youth offending teams in the last 12 months. [121187]
Jeremy Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Glenrothes (Lindsay Roy).
Treasury
Air Passenger Duty
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total revenue collected from air passenger duty was in each year since 1 April 1995; and if he will make a statement. [121495]
Sajid Javid: The total revenues from air passenger duty (APD) for each financial year from 1995-96 to 2011-12 are set out as follows.
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| Financial year | Total receipts (£ million) |
HMRC publishes data on APD passenger numbers and revenues online, at:
https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/TaxAndDutyBulletins.aspx
Minimum Wage
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many national minimum wage enforcement actions have been taken against employers in each region of the country since the introduction of the national minimum wage. [121226]
Mr Gauke: HMRC does not record the outcome of its minimum wage investigations by government region. The following tables provide these figures nationally.
For the period from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2009, formal Enforcement Notices were only issued in cases where an employer did not pay arrears on a written request from HMRC. Since 2009, a formal Notice of Underpayment is issued in the majority of cases.
| Enforcement notices issued | |
| Number | |
| Notice of underpayments issued | |
| Number | |
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Olympic Games 2012
Maria Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department used the Olympic Route Network for travel for official purposes during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. [121003]
Sajid Javid: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will publish details of Government use of tickets and hospitality in the autumn, this will include use of transport services which operated on the Olympic or Paralympic Route Networks.
Public Expenditure
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2012, Official Report, column 522W, on public expenditure, when he will publish the full details of plans and outturn for all Departments for 2011-12. [121326]
Danny Alexander: Each Government Department publishes details of their out-turn compared with plans for 2011-12 in their annual report and accounts. Each departmental annual report is laid in Parliament and published on the relevant departmental website.
Railways: Fares
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered using the revenue budget underspend in the financial year 2012-13 in the Department for Transport estimates to offset the rise in rail fares in January 2013; and if he will make a statement. [121159]
Danny Alexander: This Government recognise the concern about the rising cost of living and has taken action to support households—we cut Fuel Duty last year and it will have been frozen for 21 months. We have also helped those in work by raising the Personal Allowance by £1,100 in April 2013—the largest tax cut for the median earner in over a decade. This comes on top of council tax freezes and a reduction in rail fare caps in 2012.
The Government monitors the cost of living closely and keeps all policy options under review.
Taxation
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will meet representatives of the No to Retro Tax campaign to discuss the retrospective application of section 58 of the Finance Act 2008; [120993]
(2) what representations he has received from those affected by the retrospective application of section 58 of the Finance Act 2008. [120994]
Mr Gauke: Representations have been received from users of the wholly artificial tax avoidance scheme affected by section 58 seeking repeal either of section 58 of the Finance Act 2008, or of its retrospective elements.
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There are no plans for Treasury Ministers to meet with representatives of the No to Retro Tax campaign.
Taxation: Rates and Rating
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the exchequer of reducing the 45% income tax band to (a) 40% and (b) 38%. [121160]
Mr Gauke: The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced at Budget 2012 that the additional rate of tax on income over £150,0.00 will be 45% from April 2013.
(a) The cost of reducing the additional rate from 45% to 40% is estimated to be around £600 million per year.
(b) The theoretical cost of reducing the additional rate from 45% to 38% is estimated to be around £1,100 million per year.
A 38% rate would result in an additional rate lower than the 40% higher rate of income tax. This would result in marginal tax rates falling when income is over £150,000.
HMRC’s Report "The Exchequer effect of the 50% additional rate of income tax" presents the evidence and expected Exchequer impact of changing the additional rate.
Third Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to implement the recommendations of the National Audit Office report, Central Government's implementation of the national compact. [120626]
Sajid Javid [holding answer 13 September 2012]: Although HM Treasury is not a delivery Department, and the focus of its role is ensuring that Departments deliver on the Government's objectives and provide value for money in the delivery of services, we do engage with the sector, including in the areas of social finance and, working with HMRC, charity tax.
As with all Government Departments HM Treasury is signed up and committed to the principles of the civil society compact, as stated in our most recently published business plan. Steps have included: the appointment of a senior responsible officer within the department to help provide strategic oversight and to improve awareness of compact principles in respect to consultations, and; the strengthening of complaint handling procedures for dealing with compact related concerns.
VAT
George Eustice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what systems are in place to identify companies that are not VAT-registered and have turnovers over the threshold which requires registration. [121026]
Mr Gauke: The issue of businesses operating over the VAT threshold without registering is one that HMRC takes very seriously. HMRC makes use of a range of initiatives to identify and address this problem including:
An annual data analysis exercise to identify all businesses that are supplying a tax return declaring turnovers which exceed the VAT threshold but are not registered for VAT
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Extensive research to identify businesses operating within the Hidden Economy i.e. not being registered with HMRC in any capacity
Information discovered by compliance staff in their day to day activities
Intelligence from the general public provided via the HMRC Tax Evasion Hotline
A national campaign launched on 5th July 2011 and titled the “VAT Initiative” gave those trading above the VAT threshold without registration the opportunity to voluntarily put their tax affairs in order and become compliant.
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses registered for VAT in each of the last three years. [121397]
Mr Gauke: Information on new VAT registrations is available in the VAT Bulletin and Factsheet:
https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/TaxAndDutybulletins.aspx
The number of new VAT registrations in the last three financial years is:
| Financial year | New registrations |
Deputy Prime Minister
Alternative Vote
Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister against what criteria the decision to propose to Parliament in 2010 that there should be a referendum on the voting system for elections to the House of Commons was judged; and if he will make a statement. [120881]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Coalition programme for Government stated the Government's view. It set out the need for:
“fundamental political reform, including a referendum on electoral reform, much greater co-operation across party lines, and changes to our political system to make it far more transparent and accountable.”
Cabinet Office
Military Medals Review
Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the second stage of the Military Medals Review, led by Sir John Holmes, will report; and if he will make a statement. [120882]
Mr Maude: Sir John Holmes has started work on the next stage of the Military Medals Review and is expected to complete this phase of the work sometime during the autumn.
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Ministers: Security
Maria Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance his Department has given to Ministers on the security implications of (a) transporting ministerial boxes and (b) making official telephone calls whilst using taxis or private hire vehicles. [120944]
Mr Maude: As was the case under previous Administrations Ministers are given guidance about security in Government business at the time of their appointment.
Newspaper Licensing Agency
Ian Murray: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the cost to the public purse was of the Newspaper Licensing Agency licences for scanned content for each Department in each year since 2010. [121497]
Miss Chloe Smith: This information is not collated centrally. Departments and agencies are responsible for ensuring that they hold the appropriate Newspaper Licensing Agency licence.
Voluntary Work: Young People
Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many places on National Citizen Service schemes were not taken up in 2012; and if he will make a statement. [121543]
Mr Hurd: National Citizen Service's autumn programmes are due to take place shortly. Updates on attendance of NCS for 2012, will be given when all programmes are complete.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Adult Education: Liverpool
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department and its predecessors spent in Liverpool, Walton constituency on adult (a) literacy and (b) numeracy in each year since 1997; and how much he expects his Department to spend in each of the next three years. [120696]
Matthew Hancock [holding answer 13 September 2012]: The following table shows the Government's measure of FE and skills funding on literacy and numeracy courses for learners aged 19 and above in Liverpool, Walton constituency, from 2005/06 to 2010/11. Data for 2005/06 are the earliest year for which comparable sub-national data are available. Due to the length of the time series, data is not available on a consistent basis so figures may not be directly comparable.
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| Table 1: Further education and skills estimated funding on literacy and numeracy courses by learners aged 19+ in Liverpool Walton parliamentary constituency, 2005/06 to 2010/11 | ||||||
| £ | ||||||
| 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | |
| Notes: 1. Data for 2005/06 includes data for the learner responsive funding stream only. 2. Data for 2006/07 includes data for the learner responsive and apprenticeship funding streams only. 3. Data for 2007/08 and 2008/09 includes data for the learner responsive, apprenticeship and train to gain funding streams only. 4. Data for 2009/10 and 2010/11 includes data for the learner responsive, apprenticeship, train to gain and workplace learning funding streams only. All data excludes community learning. 5. Figures for estimated funding come from the ILR. They should not be treated as actual spend, and are only used to give an indicative view on the proportion of monies spent at each level. 6. Figures relate to learners aged 19 and over and include a small number of learners with an unknown age. Source: Individualised Learner Record | ||||||
Apprentices
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Holt Review; and what timetable and benchmarks he has set for this process. [121322]
Matthew Hancock: The Government's response to the Holt review was published on 29 August 2012. A copy was placed in the Libraries of the House and is also available on the BIS website
http://news.bis.gov.uk/Content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=425769&NewsAreaID=2
I met Mr Holt on 13 September 2012 to discuss his review, and BIS officials are in the process of developing an implementation plan. Mr Holt will remain involved via membership of a new board being created to oversee implementation.
Actions for the Government and National Apprenticeships Service resulting from the review include working with the people that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) look to for advice, including lawyers and accountants, to promote apprenticeships to their SME customers; providing SMEs with better information on training provision availability; and investigating how to give SMEs greater say in developing the training they need. In addition, we have already improved the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers by making it simpler and more accessible to more employers.
Bankruptcy
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what evidence his Department used to estimate the time currently spent by judges and court staff in dealing with bankruptcy petitions as referred to in the Reform of the Process to Apply for Bankruptcy and Compulsory Winding Up consultation. [120364]
Jo Swinson:
The estimates of time currently spent by judges and court staff in dealing with bankruptcy petitions in the Reform of the Process to Apply for Bankruptcy
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and Compulsory Winding Up consultation were based upon information provided by HM Courts and Tribunal Service.
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the proposed changes to creditor petitions for bankruptcy on vulnerable individuals who only begin to deal with their debt problems when faced with a court appearance. [120365]
Jo Swinson: The consultation document and its associated impact assessment considered the possible impact on all the groups who might be affected by the proposals. The issue of vulnerable debtors has been raised in some of the responses to the consultation. These are being carefully considered. I expect to make an announcement shortly.
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how he plans to ensure that the role of the adjudicator as proposed by his Reform of the Process to Apply for Bankruptcy and Compulsory Winding Up consultation remains impartial and independent. [120973]
Jo Swinson: The consultation on Reform of the Process to Apply for Bankruptcy and Compulsory Winding proposed that the adjudicator should be located within the Insolvency Service but be separate operationally from the office of the official receiver.
Responses to the consultation are being carefully considered and I expect to make an announcement shortly.
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his Reform of the Process to Apply for Bankruptcy and Compulsory Winding Up consultation, how creditor petitions for bankruptcy requiring judicial input which would have to be referred back to the Court after the initial administrative process were taken into account when calculating any cost savings. [120974]
Jo Swinson: Estimates were provided within the impact assessment that was published with the consultation document as to the proportion of applications in which judicial input would be required. The additional cost in those cases was factored in when coming to an estimate of the cost savings that would result from the new administrative process that was proposed.
Responses to the consultation are being carefully considered and I expect to make an announcement shortly.
Consumers: Protection
Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's consumer protection unit. [120094]
Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) does not operate a consumer protection unit. However, consumer policy is developed within the BIS Consumer and Competition Policy Directorate and is enforced by Trading Standards Departments and the Office of Fair Trading.
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Trading Standards play a critical role in protecting consumers and businesses in their local authority areas, in particular from rogue traders. As part of the consumer landscape reforms, we established the National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) which brings together representatives of Trading Standards from England and Wales to prioritise, fund and coordinate national and cross-boundary enforcement cases.
In Scotland, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has set up a Scottish Consumer Protection National Enforcement Team (SCPNET), which will reduce consumer detriment by putting in place processes to prioritise national and regional enforcement in Scotland. The OFT produces an annual analysis of the benefits to consumers from all of its work, with this year's report showing that over the last three years the OFT achieved an estimated benefit to consumers of at least eight times its cost to the taxpayer.
See page 5 of the OFT annual report and accounts 2011-12 at
http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/annual_report/2012/OFT_Annual_Report_and_Resou1.pdf
It estimates that for the period 2009-12, its consumer protection enforcement work resulted in savings to consumers of an average of £35 million per year, not including wider deterrent effects or other consumer protection work such as education and awareness campaigns.
Cosmetics
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the prevalence of illegal skin-lightening creams. [119319]
Jo Swinson: Skin-lightening products are regulated on a European wide basis under Commission Directive 76/768/EC concerning cosmetic products, transposed in the UK by The Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 2008. Under these Regulations mercury, potent steroids and hydroquinone have been prohibited for more than 10 years. Local Authority Trading Standards Services are responsible for enforcing consumer product safety legislation and where they uncover evidence of the supply of unlawful skin-lightening products they have removed them from sale. However, such products tend not to be distributed through formal supply channels and are therefore difficult to intercept at ports and airports. We are aware that at least 20 skin whitening products have been reported on the European Rapid Exchange of information about unsafe products (Rapex) in 2012 and Trading Standards will use this information to undertake market surveillance against these products.
This Department has conducted no campaigns on the issue, but the Department of Health has a web page of information on skin lightening:
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/skin/Pages/Skinlightening.aspx
and the CTPA (Cosmetics, Toiletry and Perfumery Association) also carry an accurate information page.
http://www.thefactsabout.co.uk/content.asp?menuid= 32&submenuid=136&pageid=136&menuname=Skin+lightening+ products&menu=sub
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Effect of UK Equity Markets On the Competitiveness of UK Business Review
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Kay Review; and what timetable and benchmarks he has set for this process. [121323]
Jo Swinson: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable) has welcomed the Kay Review's final report, calling it an important and timely contribution to the discussion of how we achieve equity markets that play a vital part in ensuring we have well run companies providing sustainable returns for investors.
The Government is currently considering all of Professor Kay's recommendations in depth and looks forward to responding in detail later this year.
Farepak
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department has spent on legal costs in respect of the former directors of Farepak. [117256]
Jo Swinson: The Insolvency Service's costs of bringing disqualification proceedings in Farepak and European Home Retail were £909,586.99 since January 2011. These costs were met out of The Service's budget.
In 2011/2012 1,151 directors were disqualified. Of these 231 disqualification orders were obtained at court and a further 292 undertakings were volunteered and accepted after proceedings were issued at court. In 2010/2011 1,437 directors were disqualified. Of these 287 disqualification orders were obtained at court and a further 343 undertakings were volunteered and accepted after proceedings were issued at court. The Insolvency Service spent £4,968,740 during 2011/2012 on disqualification litigation and legal advice.
Galileo System
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much the UK has contributed to the Galileo project to date; how much the UK contributed in the last calendar year; what the estimated completion date is of the project; and what his most recent estimate is of the total cost of the project. [120536]
Mr Willetts: The development phase of the European Union's Galileo satellite navigation programme took place between 2000 and 2007 and was funded through contributions to the European Space Agency (ESA). The UK provided €240.3 million to Galileo through its contributions to ESA. Funding to ESA is provided on a juste retour basis, meaning that contracts equivalent to a member state's contribution, less administration costs, are awarded to companies from within that member state.
The subsequent work on the Galileo system is funded from the core European Union budget to which all member states contribute. The UK contributes to the EU budget as a whole, not to individual programmes
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within it. The level of UK contribution to the EU budget depends on a number of factors, and varies from year to year. As a rough indication, the UK's pre-abatement contribution to the 2012 budget is currently estimated at 14.6%. The budget agreed by the European Commission and the member states for the period 2007-13 for the completion of the programme was €3.4 billion.
The UK has not made any additional contribution to the EU budget in respect of the Galileo programme.
The European Commission states that initial Galileo services, based on a partial constellation of satellites, will be declared operational in 2014 with the full services declared in 2019/20.
The European Commission is unable to complete the Galileo system by 2013 for the €3.4 billion budget set in 2007 and has estimated that an additional €1.9 billion is required. This is included in the Commission's proposal for the Galileo programme for the period 2014-20 (€7.9 billion at 2013 prices), which is under negotiation as part of the discussions on the multi-annual financial framework.
Taking into account the different funding phases, the additional amount to complete the system and early research contributions from the EU budget, it is estimated that the first complete generation of the Galileo system will cost around €7 billion.
Growth Accelerator Service
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses have used the Growth Accelerator service since its launch; how many of these received (a) coaching, (b) comprehensive and (c) other support under the scheme; and how many firms made initial inquiries to the service but did not go on to use it. [121485]
Michael Fallon: Growth Accelerator was formally launched on 23 May 2012. As of 7 September 2012, 715 businesses are on the programme. All of these businesses will receive coaching as well as a mix of master classes, leadership and management training and access to external support according to their needs (e.g. export advice, angel investment, access to incubators etc.). So far over 2,603 eligible businesses have expressed an interest in the programme (eligibility is based on company size, location and ownership). Of these, 339 were not found to be suitable and 1,549 are still in the process of being assessed for the programme.
Higher Education: Admissions
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of future trends in (a) the number of students attending commercial for-profit universities and (b) the number of students attending commercial for-profit universities taking a loan from the Student Loans Company; and if he will make a statement. [121279]
Mr Willetts: The Department does not hold data on the total number of students that attend commercial for-profit universities.
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The Department does not distinguish between those universities that operate on a commercial for-profit basis, and those that do not, in assessing students' eligibility for student loans. It does not, therefore, collect data on those accessing student support and who are attending a commercial for-profit university.
I have, however, previously placed a list in the Libraries of the House showing the number of students that took out student loans in respect of studies with all types of non-publicly funded providers in each year since 2006. This was in response to the answer I gave on 17 April 2012, Official Report, column 334W, to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Shabana Mahmood).
This shows an upward trend in the numbers of students, courses, and institutions. This in line with the Government's policy that new providers and new forms of higher education provision will help to stimulate and strengthen market competition, promote student choice, and ensure value for money.