Badgers
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussion she has had with the chief constables of (a) Avon and Somerset and (b) Gloucestershire on the cost and operational capability of policing the proposed badger cull in those police authority areas. [123971]
Damian Green: The Home Office is in regular discussions with Avon and Somerset Constabulary as well as Gloucestershire Constabulary about any policing implications in relation to the badger cull and associated costs.
Borders: Personal Records
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the e-Borders programme to cover all international travellers using all UK ports; if she will publish a business plan; and if she will make a statement. [123308]
Mr Harper: The e-Borders programme is an operational system and each day helps to protect the UK against terrorist attack, serious crime and abuses of the immigration system.
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The UK Border Agency reached the milestone of 100% information on routes from outside the EU in April 2012 and receives a substantial amount of information on EU routes. This is achieved through discussions with other Governments and the carriers themselves.
The Home Office business plan was issued in May 2012 and can be found at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/corporate-publications/business-plan/business-plan-2012-15/
Burglary
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded incidents of domestic burglary there were in each year since 1994. [123017]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The available information relates to offences of burglary in a dwelling recorded by the police in England and Wales and is given in the following table.
| Number of offences of burglary in a dwelling recorded by the police in England and Wales | |
| Burglary in a dwelling | |
| (1) Changes to Home Office Counting Rules from 1 April 1998 mean that numbers of offences before and after this date are not directly comparable. (2) The introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002 means that figures before and after this date are not directly comparable. Source: Police Recorded Crime HO/ONS | |
Burglary: Self-defence
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many homeowners have been charged after defending their property against burglars in each year since 1994; and in respect of what offences such charges were brought in each year; [123014]
(2) how many homeowners were arrested when defending their property against burglars in each year since 1994; and for what offences such arrests were made in each year. [123015]
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Mr Jeremy Browne: The information requested on arrests is not collected centrally.
The arrests collection held by the Home Office relates to notifiable offences, aggregated to offence group level only, for example violence against the person and burglary. Information on the individual circumstances of arrests is not reported to the Home Office.
It is not possible to match the arrests data to any subsequent outcomes.
Chernobyl: Children
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of the gratis visa scheme for the Chernobyl children was in each of the last 10 years. [124241]
Mr Harper: Prior to April 2011 the UK Border Agency had no “gratis reason” code on its database specifically for Chernobyl visa applications. To provide the information requested would require the examination of individual records, and incur disproportionate costs.
The cost of the gratis visa scheme for the Chernobyl children in the financial year 2011-12 was £130,000.
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Childbirth: Foreign Nationals
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) number and (b) proportion of births was where (i) one and (ii) both parents were foreign-born in (A) London and (B) each London borough within Greater London in the most recent year for which figures are available. [123519]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson dated October 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on what the (a) number and (b) proportion of births was where (i) one or (ii) both parents were foreign-born in (A) London and (B) each London Borough within Greater London in the most recent year for which figures are available. (123519)
Figures for live births where one or both parents are non-UK born have been compiled from birth registration data. The table shows the number and proportion of live births in 2011 in the areas requested, according to registration data. Information on country of birth of parents is provided by the informant at registration.
| Number and proportion of births in London, where one or both parents are non-UK born, 2011 | ||||
| Area of usual residence of mother | Number of births where only one parent is foreign born | Percentage of births where only one parent is foreign born | Number of births where both parents are foreign born | Percentage of births where both parents are foreign born |
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| Notes: 1. For more information on parent's country of birth please see: www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/parents--country-of-birth--england-and-wales/index.html 2. The number of live births to one non-UK born parent includes sole registered live births (births registered by the mother alone, where information on the father was not recorded) where the mother is non-UK born. Some births sole registered by UK born mothers may have non-UK born fathers but it is not possible to quantify the number as no information is available on the father. Source: Office for National Statistics | ||||
Domestic Violence
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research her Department is undertaking into domestic violence among (a) migrant families and (b) families where one spouse is a migrant. [122245]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Home Office is not undertaking any research into domestic violence among (a) migrant families and (b) families where one spouse is a migrant.
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research her Department has undertaken into domestic violence in South Asian communities in the UK; and what the findings were. [122246]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Home Office has not conducted specific research on domestic violence in South Asian communities in the UK.
Domestic Violence: Greater London
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to reduce levels of domestic violence in (a) north-west London and (b) Greater London. [122254]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Government's Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls Action Plan sets out our steps to tackle all forms of violence against women, including measures to reduce domestic violence, such as establishing domestic homicide reviews on a statutory basis and ring-fencing funding of nearly £40 million until 2015 to provide specialist domestic and sexual violence services. This includes funding independent domestic violence advisers and multi-agency risk assessment conference coordinator posts across London.
Drugs: Misuse
Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people arrested for (a) possession with intent to supply a controlled drug, (b) supplying a controlled drug, (c) being concerned in a supply of a controlled drug, (d) offering to supply a controlled drug, (e) being concerned in an offer to supply a controlled drug, (f) production of a controlled drug and (g) being concerned in the production of a controlled drug were subsequently (i) charged with the offence and (ii) not charged with the offence in (A) 2009, (B) 2010 and (C) 2011; [123023]
(2) how many people arrested for possession with intent to supply a controlled drug were subsequently charged with possession of a controlled drug in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [123024]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The information requested on arrests is not collected centrally.
The arrests collection held by the Home Office relates to notifiable offences, aggregated to offence group level only, for example violence against the person and drug offences. As such, it is not possible to separately identify arrests for the possession or supply of specific drugs.
It is not possible to match the aggregate data to any subsequent outcomes.
Entry Clearances
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Tier 2 (General) work visas were issued for occupations in (a) accommodation and food service activities and (b) human health and social work activities in the year ended in June (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012. [123670]
Mr Harper: The information available, from different IT systems, relates to total grants of Tier 2 (General) visas, and to the number of certificates of sponsorship used as part of visa applications.
There were a total of 7,746 Tier 2 (General) visas granted (for all industry sectors) in the year ending June 2011; and the corresponding figure for the year ending June 2012 was 8,927.
There were 1,718 certificates of sponsorship for the industry sector “Accommodation and Food Service Activities” used in Tier 2 visa applications in the year ending June 2011; and the corresponding figure for the year ending June 2012 was 438.
There were 1,957 certificates of sponsorship for the industry sector “Human Health and Social Work Activities” used in Tier 2 visa applications in the year ending June 2011; and the corresponding figure for the year ending June 2012 was 1,635.
Data relating to grants of visas by Tier, and relating to certificates of sponsorship used in visa applications are published in tables be.04q and cs.02q respectively of the quarterly Home Office statistical release Immigration Statistics, available from the Home Office's Science, Research and Statistics website at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/
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Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for Tier 1 visas made before the closure of that route in April 2012 are still being processed. [124034]
Mr Harper [holding answer 19 October 2012]: The data requested are not held in a format compatible with National Statistics protocols, or produced as part of the UK Border Agency's standard reports. However the UK Border Agency publishes immigration statistics on a quarterly and annual basis, a copy of which can be found in the Library of the House.
European Police College
Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many conferences, courses and seminars hosted by the European Police College civil servants from her Department have attended since 2001; and at what cost to the public purse. [122588]
Damian Green: This information is not held centrally.
Firearms: Hampshire
Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearm and shotgun certificate holders in the Hampshire police force area have not been able to renew such certificates before their expiry date in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012. [122815]
Damian Green: Figures from the National Firearms Licensing Management System shows that, in 2011 in Hampshire, 1,041 persons held firearm certificates and 4,803 persons held shotgun certificates that were renewed after the expiry date.
In 2012 (up to 15 October), there were 289 persons who held firearm certificates and 2,145 persons who held shotgun certificates that were renewed after the expiry date.
Human Trafficking
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the value of funds confiscated from prosecuted traffickers was in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such funds was awarded to victims as compensation. [122784]
Mr Jeremy Browne [holding answer 17 October 2012]: The value of confiscation orders enforced against those convicted for human trafficking offences in England and Wales in each of the last three years, as recorded on the Joint Asset Recovery Database, is as follows:
| £ | |
It should be noted, however, that a human trafficker may also be charged and prosecuted for a different offence, such as prostitution or money laundering, which could incur a confiscation order.
The proportion of such funds awarded to victims as compensation is not recorded centrally.
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Immigration
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-UK EU nationals have entered the UK to seek employment with dependants who are (a) EU nationals, (b) UK nationals and (c) non-EU nationals in each of the last five years. [123460]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson, dated October 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many non-UK EU nationals have entered the UK to seek employment with dependants who are a) EU Nationals, b) UK nationals and c) non-EU nationals in each of the last five years (123460).
The Office for National Statistics produces estimates of Long Term International Migration (LTIM), primarily based on the International Passenger Survey (IPS). The IPS is a continuous voluntary sample survey conducted by the Office for National Statistics.
The IPS does not collect any specific information on dependants of migrants from respondents.
Police: Lambeth
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many Metropolitan police officers there were serving in Lambeth in May (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002, (d) 2003, (e) 2004, (f) 2005, (g) 2006, (h) 2007, (i) 2008, (j) 2009, (k) 2010, (l) 2011 and (m) 2012; [123618]
(2) how many police positions in Lambeth remained vacant in May (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002, (d) 2003, (e) 2004, (f) 2005, (g) 2006, (h) 2007, (i) 2008, (j) 2009, (k) 2010, (l) 2011 and (m) 2012. [123619]
Damian Green: Figures are collected by the Home Office for the number of police officers within Lambeth (full-time equivalent) as at 31 March 2003 to 31 March 2011 and are given in the following table. Figures prior to 2002-03 were not collected centrally by the Home Office. Figures at London borough level ceased to be collected from 2011-12.
| Number of police officers in Lambeth, as at 31 March 2003 to 31 March 2011(1,2.3,4) | |
| March each year: | Number |
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| (1) These figures are based on full-time equivalents that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. (2) Figures include those officers on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (3) Figures prior to 2002-03 for the number of police officers by basic command unit were not collected centrally by the Home Office. (4) Figures at London borough level ceased to be collected from 2011-12. | |
Figures on the number of police positions in Lambeth which remained vacant in May 2000 to 2012 are not collected centrally by the Home Office.
Police: Overtime
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the total cost to the public purse of police overtime in England and Wales was in each of the last five years; [123320]
(2) what the average number of overtime hours worked by police officers was in England and Wales in each of the last five years; [123321]
(3) how much on average was paid per police officer for overtime hours in each of the last five years. [123322]
Damian Green: Figures on the number of overtime hours worked by police officers and the total cost to the public for police overtime in England and Wales are not collected by the Home Office. The amount paid to police forces for overtime hours is available on the website of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountants:
www.cipfastats.net
Police: Powers
Mark Reckless: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to release the results of her Department's consultation on police powers to promote and maintain public order. [124082]
Damian Green: The Government are carefully considering the responses to the consultation “Police Powers to Promote and Maintain Public Order”. The Government will publish their response to the consultation in due course.
Sexual Offences
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the minimum number of years a person convicted of a sexual offence must wait before reapplying for a review of an indeterminate notification requirement following an unsuccessful initial application. [123333]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Offenders are eligible to seek a first review of their indefinite notification requirements 15 years from the point of first notification following release from prison. If an offender's initial review is refused, they will be eligible to seek a further review of their indefinite notification requirements following the expiry of a minimum period of eight years. If considered necessary by the police, this period can be extended to a period up to, but not exceeding, 15 years.
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Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons convicted of a sexual offence have been (a) fined or (b) recalled to prison for a breach of their notification requirement in each probation service area in each of the last seven years; [123351]
(2) how many persons convicted of sexual offences and subject to notification requirements in each probation service area failed to notify police forces of a change to (a) an address, (b) any other names used and (c) the address of any other premises in the UK at which, at the time of notification, the individual regularly resided or stayed in each of the last seven years; [123349]
(3) how many applications to (a) vary, (b) renew or (c) discharge a sexual offences prevention order have been made to courts in each county in England in each of the last seven years; [123357]
(4) what the average cost to the Exchequer of the issue of a notification order as set out in sections 97 to 108 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 was in the latest period for which figures are available. [123353]
Mr Jeremy Browne: These data are not held centrally in the format requested.
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the provisions of sections 104 to 113 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in protecting members of the public from serious sexual harm; and if she will make a statement. [123355]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Sexual offences prevention orders (SOPOs) provide a valuable tool to the police to protect the public from various sexual harm by restricting offenders' behaviours and movements. The Government continually work with the police and other agencies to review the effectiveness of SOPOs.
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many relevant offenders as defined by the Sexual Offences Act 2003 failed to provide police with initial information within three days of the relevant date in each probation service area in each of the last seven years; [123590]
(2) how many travel notification requirements each police force received from persons convicted of a sexual offence in (a) August and (b) September 2012; [123350]
(3) how many sex offenders with notification requirements have submitted details of their bank accounts or credit cards to a police force; [123348]
(4) how many persons in each probation area are subject to notification requirements in respect of a conviction for a sexual offence listed in schedule 3 to the Sexual Offences Act 2003; [123347]
(5) how many risk of sexual harm orders were issued in each police authority for an individual who has (a) engaged in sexual activity involving a child or in the presence of a child, (b) caused or incited a child to watch a person engaging in sexual activity or to look at a moving or still image that is sexual, (c) given a child anything that relates to sexual activity or contains
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reference to such activity and
(d)
communicated with a child where any part of the communication is sexual in each of the last seven years; [123418]
(6) how many individuals in each probation service area in England are subject to a risk of sexual harm order provided for in sections 123 to 129 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003; and how many such individuals (a) had and (b) had not received a conviction for a sexual offence prior to the imposition of the order; [123358]
(7) how many offenders in each probation service area convicted of (a) sexual offences listed in Schedule 3 and (b) violent offences listed in Schedule 5 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (i) are subject to sexual offences prevention orders and (ii) were so subject in each of the last seven years; [123354]
(8) how many sexual offences prevention orders have been granted by magistrates courts on the application of the chief constable of each police force since the inception of such orders; [123356]
(9) how many individuals have breached the terms of a sexual offences prevention order in each probation service area in each of the last seven years; [123334]
(10) how many British and foreign nationals convicted of sexual offences similar to those identified in the Sexual Offences Act 2003 are subject to a notification order; [123352]
(11) how many persons convicted of sexual offences have had an indeterminate notification requirement changed on review since July 2012. [123346]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Home Office IT systems will need to be interrogated to ascertain whether the relevant data are held in the format requested. Where they are available, it will take a considerable period of time to extract the relevant data. As such, I will write to the hon. Member by 7 November 2012 with responses to these questions. I will place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.
Smuggling
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many compensatory payments were made to individuals who had their excise goods and vehicles seized by UKBA and who successfully appealed against the seizure in each of the last five years; what the total value of such payments was in each of the last five years; and what the 10 highest compensatory payments made in each of those years were. [122400]
Mr Harper: The UK Border Agency legal team was formed in December 2009, and as such does not hold any data prior to this date. The UK Border Agency is able to provide the following data:
| Condemnation orders refused | |
Data on the value of payments are not held in the format requested, and would incur disproportionate costs to collate. The National Post Seizure Unit (NPSU) does not hold the data centrally in the format requested.
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To collate this information would necessitate electronic and physical examination of over 400 case files.
An FOI response was provided to my hon. Friend dated 19 April 2012 to that effect.
UK Border Agency
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there are UK Border Agency staff members who are caseworkers for individual universities involved in sponsor compliance. [123516]
Mr Harper: The UK Border Agency does not assign caseworkers to individual universities but it does assign a named account manager who assists with the university's interactions with the UK Border Agency.
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK Border Agency staff are involved in monitoring sponsor compliance for education institutions. [123517]
Mr Harper: There are approximately 140 staff directly involved in monitoring sponsor compliance.
Compliance officers monitor all sponsors for tiers 2, 4 and 5 of the points based system; as such the UK Border Agency cannot give a figure for education institution monitoring only.
Education
Care to Learn Scheme
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to make any changes to Care to Learn funding arrangements in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15. [122791]
Mr Laws [holding answer 17 October 2012]:The Government are committed to providing child care support to teenage parents so they can take part in education or training. There are no plans to make changes to the Care to Learn funding arrangements in the financial years 2013-14 and 2014-15.
Education: West Midlands
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) colleges have been built in (i) Birmingham and (b) the West Midlands in each financial year since 2006. [122748]
Mr Laws [holding answer 17 October 2012]:The Department for Education, via the Education Funding Agency, allocates the majority of available capital resources directly to local authority areas. This enables them to establish their priorities for investment and to provide resources to those schools most in need. For this reason, complete information on the numbers of schools built is not held centrally and the relevant local authorities in Birmingham and the West Midlands would be best placed to answer the hon. Member's question.
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English Baccalaureate
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) whether he proposes that (a) art, (b) drama, (c) music and (d) ICT will be included within the English baccalaureate certificate; [121907]
(2) how he plans to assess (a) art, (b) drama, (c) music and (d) ICT in the proposed English baccalaureate certificate system. [121901]
Elizabeth Truss [holding answers 17 and 15 October 2012]: The English Baccalaureate is a core set of academic subjects—English, maths, science, history, geography and languages—that give students the broadest possible opportunities to progress towards future study and rewarding employment. The announcement by the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), on 17 September on the introduction of English Baccalaureate Certificates (EBCs) from 2015 relates to qualifications in these subjects. We recognise the importance of creative subjects such as art, drama, music, and ICT as part of a broad curriculum and for the additional skills and enrichment they contribute to pupils' education. We are currently considering how to ensure that high quality qualifications are available in these subjects.
Free School Meals
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to help identify children who are entitled to free school meals. [123170]
Mr Laws: The Government are committed to increasing the take-up of free school meals for all pupils who are entitled to them. We want disadvantaged children to benefit from a nutritious meal, and for their schools to receive extra funding through the pupil premium in order to help them to raise the attainment of these pupils.
Identifying which children are entitled to free school meals can be difficult, and something we are seeking to address as part of our reforms to eligibility for free school meals from 2013. A child is only eligible for free school meals if his or her parent is in receipt of an eligible benefit and an application to receive a free school meal has been made. It is not possible to identify those pupils who are entitled to free school meals who have not made an application. We have therefore taken a number of steps to encourage parents to apply for free school meals.
Our funding for the School Food Trust enables it to carry out work to improve the take-up of healthy, school lunches, and specifically to increase take-up of free school meals. The School Food Trust's “Free School Meals Matter Toolkit” provides schools with information and advice to help them to encourage all eligible pupils to register for, and take, their free school meal.
We have streamlined the application process by developing an online eligibility checking service (ECS), which allows local authorities to check data held by the Department for Work and Pensions, HM Revenue and Customs, and the Home Office to establish a family's free school meal eligibility quickly. We are encouraging local authorities to increase their use of this resource,
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which, as well as reducing bureaucracy and cost at a local level, encourages more parents to sign up their children for a free school lunch. For those authorities that choose to use it, the ECS allows parents to check their own eligibility and to apply online for free school meals.
In November 2011, we further encouraged take-up by sending registration messages to parents, schools and local authorities. The school census figures published on 21 June 2012 show that registration for free school meals increased by 0.1% in both primary and secondary schools nationally.
The Department will shortly be publishing a Research Report “Pupils not claiming Free School Meals”, showing estimates of the numbers of pupils who are entitled to free school meals, but are not claiming them, living in each local authority.
Primary Education: English Language
Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to support primary schools in (a) Hertfordshire and (b) England to assist in the teaching of children from other EU member states who do not speak English. [122859]
Mr Laws: The Government's priority for children learning English as an Additional Language (EAL) is to promote rapid language acquisition and include them in mainstream education as quickly as possible. Schools are best placed to know how to achieve this for their pupils.
Local authorities have a legal duty to ensure that education is available for all children of compulsory school age that is appropriate to their age, ability, aptitudes and any special educational needs they may have. This duty applies irrespective of a child's immigration status, country of origin or rights of residence in a particular area. Our reforms of the school funding system from 2013-14 will enable local authorities to continue to allocate funding to pupils with English as an Additional Language for the first three years from the point at which those pupils enter the school system.
Research
Chris Kelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what external policy research his Department has commissioned in each of the last six years; which organisation was commissioned to provide each such piece of research; and what the cost of each such piece of research was. [122362]
Mr Laws: The information requested has been placed in House Libraries.
Transport
Aviation
Zac Goldsmith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) for what reason the summer of 2015 has been set as the time by which the Independent Commission on Aviation chaired by Sir Howard Davies will publish its final report; what other options for a reporting date
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were considered; and what consideration he has given to the economic effect of setting summer 2015 as the latest date for publication of the Commission's final report; [123318]
(2) to what extent the timeframe for the Independent Commission on Aviation chaired by Sir Howard Davies' work is (a) flexible and (b) capable of being accelerated. [123319]
Mr Simon Burns: The timetable for the Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, has been set to enable it to assess the scale and nature of the requirement for additional capacity to maintain the UK's position as Europe's most important aviation hub and to carry out a thorough analysis of potential options for meeting that requirement. In order to enable early action where appropriate, the Commission has been tasked with delivering an interim report by the end of 2013 covering its assessment of the evidence in relation to maintaining the UK's global hub status and of immediate actions to improve the use of existing runway capacity in the next five years. Its final report, covering longer term options, and setting out its recommendations for the optimum approach, will be published in the summer of 2015.
Blue Badge Scheme
Mr Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) written representations and (b) complaints he has received following the refusal of a blue badge renewal application, by a local authority, since the introduction of the Blue Badge Improvement Service. [123444]
Norman Baker: Local authorities are responsible for issuing blue badges and for taking decisions about an applicant's eligibility. There is no right of appeal to the Secretary of State with respect to a local authority refusing to issue a badge. Complaints about whether or not a local authority has acted correctly are normally sent to the Local Government Ombudsman.
The Department has not received any complaints about the operation of the Blue Badge Improvement Service which continues to work well. Over 800,000 badges have been issued through the service since it began in January 2012. I occasionally receive letters from members of the House about particular cases, for example, when an application made by one of their constituents is refused. It is a matter, however, for the relevant local authority to decide whether or not a person is eligible for a badge under the terms of the regulations. An applicant must re-apply for a badge every three years, in most cases. They will be assessed at the time they apply and there should be no assumption on their part that they will be issued with a badge simply because they have had one before. They must meet the eligibility criteria at the time of application.
Crossrail Line
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage UK manufacture of trains to be ordered for the Crossrail line. [123379]
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Stephen Hammond: Four bidders have received the Invitation to Negotiate for the Crossrail Rolling Stock and Depot contract and we look forward to highly competitive bids when these are received, later this month.
The Invitation to Negotiate includes requirements for 'responsible procurement'. This means that bidders are required to set out how they will engage with the wider supply chain and provide opportunities for training, apprenticeships, and small and medium size businesses within their procurement strategy. Bidders are also required to establish an appropriate local presence to manage the delivery of the contract.
This procurement process is being undertaken by Crossrail Ltd which is responsible for delivering the Crossrail project. My Department has been working in partnership with Crossrail Ltd to improve dialogue with suppliers and increase the long-term visibility of forthcoming contracts in order to strengthen the capability of the UK supply chain.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the merits of recent research on the extension of Crossrail to Stansted airport. [123671]
Stephen Hammond: The Department is aware of recent suggestions regarding extending Crossrail services to Stansted airport. This raises a number of practical difficulties that would need to be addressed if such a proposal were to be developed further. We have not carried out any assessment of the proposal. Transport for London are reviewing options around Crossrail 2 which includes the potential for connections to existing rail corridors in the north-east and south-west of London. This review is due to be completed next year.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the establishment of a Crossrail link between Stansted and Heathrow airports. [123673]
Stephen Hammond: The Government remain committed to the delivery of the current Crossrail project which will provide fast and frequent Crossrail services from Maidenhead and Heathrow airport in the west through central London and beyond to Abbey Wood and Shenfield in the east.
The Government do not currently have any plans to introduce direct rail links between Stansted and Heathrow airports.
Cycling: Helmets
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage children to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle. [123679]
Stephen Hammond: We recommend all cyclists—especially children—wear helmets to protect them should they have a collision. The Highway Code, under rule 59, also recommends the wearing of helmets for cyclists of all ages. However, we believe people and parents should be free to choose whether to follow this advice and we have no plans to legislate to introduce mandatory enforcement of cycle helmet wearing.
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The Think! campaigns for children include advice on the use of cycle helmets, as part of wider campaigns. These include ‘Tales of the Road’ for children aged six to 11:
http://talesoftheroad.direct.gov.uk/cycling-safety.php
Cycle safety advice for parents of children aged five to seven:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/think/education/early-years-and-primary/parents/5-to-7s/cycle-safety/
Cycle safety advice for parents of children aged seven to 11:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/think/education/early-years-and-primary/parents/7-to-11s/cycle-safety/
Cycle safety advice for parents of children aged 12+:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/think/education/secondary/parents/cycle-safety/
We have also recently launched a THINK CYCLIST campaign which offers advice to drivers and cyclists on how to stay safe on the road. One of the messages to cyclists is to wear a correctly fitted cycle helmet, which is securely fastened and conforms to current regulations:
http://think.direct.gov.uk/cycling.html
Electric Vehicles
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of persons who were (a) killed, (b) seriously injured and (c) slightly injured by plug-in electric and hybrid electric vehicles when operating in electric mode in each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [124191]
Stephen Hammond: The number of casualties in reported personal injury road accidents known to involve electric and hybrid electric vehicles for the years 2010 and 2011 were as follows:
Two deaths, 10 serious injuries, and 59 slight injuries in 2010; and one death, 10 serious injuries and 56 slight injuries in 2011.
Ten deaths, 72 serious injuries and 576 slight injuries in 2010; and five deaths, 61 serious injuries and 761 slight injuries in 2011.
In both years the number of casualties known to involve electric or hybrid electric vehicles accounted for less than 0.5% of the total number of casualties in reported road accidents in Britain.
The Department refers to DVLA records to determine whether a vehicle involved in an accident has electric or hybrid electric propulsion. This is only possible for British-registered vehicles where a full and accurate vehicle registration mark (VRM) is contained in the police record. This information exists for around three-quarters of vehicles involved in personal injury accidents. There may therefore have been additional accidents involving electric or hybrid electric vehicles that are registered outside Britain, or where the reported VRM was invalid or missing.
The Department does not hold information on whether a vehicle was operating in electric mode at the time of the accident, nor whether the vehicle is of the ‘plug-in’ type.
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High Speed 2 Railway Line
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the cost of High Speed 2 will be funded by (a) public and (b) private sources. [123869]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government are proceeding with HS2 on the basis that the costs of the project will be met in large part from the public purse. While my Department has made clear that we will explore opportunities for third party funding and financing as the project develops, we are not at a stage in the process where we can say what proportion of project costs might be met this way.
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the increased capacity created by the electrification of the Midland Main Line was factored in to the calculation of the latest economic case for the Y-route of High Speed 2. [124391]
Mr Simon Burns: The increase in capacity to be created by the electrification of the Midland Main Line was not included in the latest update of the economic case for the Y-route of High Speed 2. The modelling for this update, which builds on the analysis published in January, was based on the latest economic forecasts and the best information that could be incorporated given the lead-time for the analysis. The economic case has always included some assumptions about future investment in the existing rail network and the greater detail now available will be taken into account as part of the next substantive update of the HS2 business case.
Large Goods Vehicles: Licensing
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider (a) allowing exemptions from the Certificate of Professional Competence programme to be granted to HGV drivers with a large amount of experience and (b) introducing a form of re-certification test to allow HGV drivers to prove their knowledge without having to undergo classroom tuition. [124131]
Stephen Hammond: The intent of Directive 2003/59/EC is to encourage lorry, bus and coach drivers to recognise the value of continuing professional development and to undertake training that recognises and builds upon their existing levels of experience, knowledge and expertise.
The recital to the directive states
“the obligation to ... undergo periodic training is intended to improve road safety and the safety of the driver”.
The directive does not provide an exemption from periodic training based upon the driving experience of individual drivers neither does it permit the introduction of 're-certification tests'. Both of these would run counter to the basic purpose of the directive.
Liverpool Port
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there are any plans to build a permanent passenger and baggage handling facility at Liverpool International Cruise Terminal. [124230]
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Stephen Hammond: That is a matter for Liverpool city council, as operator of the terminal, to decide.
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on Liverpool City Council allowing City of Liverpool Cruise Terminal to accept turnaround calls prior to securing EU state aid clearance. [124232]
Stephen Hammond: This Department's concerns about fair competition have been satisfied by the Council's repayment of £8.8 million grant. The matter of State Aids is currently under discussion with the European Commission. Liverpool City Council understands that it is at risk of being required to make further repayments of grant in the event of an adverse ruling.
Motor Vehicles
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many registered (a) cars, (b) vans and (c) heavy goods vehicles there were in the UK in the latest period for which figures are available. [123390]
Stephen Hammond: The numbers of registered cars, light goods and heavy goods vehicles in Great Britain as at 30 June 2012 are shown in the following table. Statistics for the UK are not compiled centrally by the Department for Transport as the registration of cars in Northern Ireland is administered separately by the Northern Ireland Driver and Vehicle Agency.
| Number (million) | |||
| Cars | Light goods vehicles | Heavy goods vehicles | |
| Source: Vehicle Licensing Statistics, Great Britain: Quarter 2 2012 (DFT). These statistics are derived from the DVLA vehicle register, an operational database used to handle the licensing of vehicles registered in Great Britain. | |||
Motor Vehicles: Insurance
George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent steps the Government has taken to combat motor insurance fraud; and if he will make a statement. [122711]
Stephen Hammond: The information is as follows:
(a) We are working with the insurance industry to allow them access to DVLA driver details on penalty points and disqualifications to reduce fraud.
(b) We are tackling uninsured driving by the continuous insurance scheme (CIE) introduced last year which enables enforcement action to be taken against those who keep a vehicle without insurance. CIE supplements police powers introduced in 2005 to seize uninsured vehicles being driven on the road.
(c) The Ministry of Justice is to consult soon on ways to reduce the number and costs of whiplash claims. The consultation will focus on two main areas: the introduction of independent panels; and whether to amend the small claims threshold for damages for personal injury claims. This will reduce costs of defending such claims and encourage insurers to challenge exaggerated or fraudulent claims through the courts.
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Additionally, there will be an opportunity for respondents to suggest other ideas on alternative ways forward. It will be a full 12-week consultation and we will be holding stakeholder sessions during the consultation period.
In addition the insurance industry has agreed to fund (initially for three years) a specialist insurance fraud police unit, which went live in January 2012. The City of London's Police National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) will work with the industry's Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB). The unit will focus on enforcement and prevention strategies to tackle current fraud issues. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) is setting up a National Insurance Fraud Register, a database enabling insurers to share information on known cheats. The scheme is now operational.
Motor Vehicles: Registration
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many non-commercial vehicles registered overseas entered the UK in the latest period for which figures are available; and what consideration he has given to introducing charges for such vehicles to use the road network. [123505]
Stephen Hammond: In 2011, 0.4% of traffic on British roads was estimated to be foreign registered. For car journeys in the UK, only 0.3% of traffic is foreign registered. For this reason, the Government's current plans are to charge only heavy goods vehicles and not to charge non-commercial vehicles.
Public Transport: Disabled People
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are required for eligibility for a disabled person's pass to use (a) rail and (b) bus services; and if he will make a statement. [123593]
Norman Baker: People who are eligible for a Disabled Person's Railcard are those who are registered as deaf or using a hearing aid, or who have a visual impairment, people who have repeated attacks of epilepsy despite continuing drug treatment or are currently prohibited from driving because of epilepsy and those in receipt of certain mobility-based benefits.
In addition passengers who are blind or visually-impaired and are travelling with a companion or passengers who stay in their own wheelchair for a rail journey are eligible for discounted travel without the need for a railcard. The terms of this railcard are protected by the Department for Transport through its Franchise Agreements with the train operating companies.
Eligibility for concessionary bus travel in England (outside London) is set out in section 146 of the Transport Act 2000. Currently, eligible disabled people are those whose condition comes under one of the seven categories of disability listed in the Act.
Railways: Fares
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has a role in defining peak and off-peak times in relation to the calculation of rail fares. [124284]
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Norman Baker: The Department for Transport places limits on the maximum restrictions that can be placed on the long distance off-peak return fare where it is regulated and on off-peak Pay As You Go fares in London. Within this framework, train operators set restrictions so as to best match demand to capacity and provide a coherent fares structure across the national network.
The Department is presently undertaking a Fares and Ticketing Review.
Railways: Franchises
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect the current pause in the rail franchising process will have on (a) consideration and consultation of the optimal franchise configuration to succeed the current Northern and TransPennine Express franchises and (b) the timescale for the awarding of successor franchises. [123977]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department is currently assessing the impact of the current suspension of the programme for all rail franchises, including Northern and TransPennine Express, and the implications for the time scales for awarding of contracts. This will ensure continuity of services while establishing the right approach in terms of affordability and value for money. Once this has been finalised and agreed we will provide an update to the House. The delivery of the previously announced investment in the north will continue.
Future franchise competitions will incorporate the findings of the Brown Review which will report by the end of December. The terms of reference for the Review have been laid in the Library of the House.
Rescue Services: Helicopters
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken in the invitation to tender for the search and rescue contract to prioritise manufacture of the helicopters in the UK. [123377]
Stephen Hammond: While complying with EU procurement law, the Department has asked bidders, through its tender documentation, to demonstrate the whole-life cost approach to minimising the environmental impacts of designing, manufacturing/constructing, operating and maintaining helicopters. Their response to this area will be considered as part of the evaluation process.
Bidders have also been informed of the Government's intention to enhance the ability of SMEs to access government contracts. Bidders, through the tender process, should demonstrate how they intend to support this policy with an explanation of how opportunities and training (which may include apprenticeships or equivalent) for long-term job seekers will be developed and implemented.
Tender documentation has been published on the Department's website and is available for public access.
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Tolls
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the cost of setting up a national road charging system including the cost of fitting units into the existing vehicle fleet. [123392]
Stephen Hammond: No assessment has been made.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what response his Department has made to the European Commission's stakeholder consultation on the charging of the use of road infrastructure; [123475]
(2) what assessment he has made of the legal competence of the EU to introduce road pricing arrangements affecting the UK. [123476]
Stephen Hammond: The Department is currently considering its response to the stakeholder consultation.
The Government has been clear that it remains committed to upholding fiscal sovereignty and ensuring that member states retain control of their own tax policy. At the same time we are not considering road pricing or tolling of existing routes. This will be a fundamental principle underpinning our response to any EU proposals.
West Coast Railway Line: Franchises
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to issue an addendum to the Great Western franchise invitation to tender document following representations made by the West of England Partnership. [123326]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government are aware of the West of England Partnership's views. However, we are unable to comment on the detail of the ITT pending the outcome of the independent review of the rail franchising programme by Richard Brown CBE. The review was announced by the Secretary of State on 3 October 2012 and is expected to report back at the end of December.
Mr Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect that the recent problems with the franchise of the West Coast Mainline will have on the granting of new rail franchises in the West Country. [123445]
Mr Simon Burns: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Transport, on 15 October 2012, Official Report, columns 46-47 and the terms of reference for the Brown Review which has been laid in the Library of the House and which will provide the basis upon which the Secretary of State assesses the future requirements for franchises across England and Wales.
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the expected cost of the independent review into the error by Laidlaw and Smith; and what (a) Laidlaw and Smith and (b) PwC will be paid. [123797]
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Mr Simon Burns: The Department has not prescribed a budget or forecast costs for the Laidlaw inquiry. Sam Laidlaw will have access to the resources necessary to conclude his inquiry.
Once the inquiry has concluded, the Secretary of State for Transport will make public the costs incurred.
Sam Laidlaw and Ed Smith are both non-executive directors of the Department. They are not receiving any additional reimbursement other than that which is already made public in the Department's Accounts.
PwC are not working on the Laidlaw inquiry.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what checks were carried out by (a) officials involved in the Inter-City West Coast (ICWC) franchising competition, (b) consultants advising officials and Ministers in his Department in respect of the franchising competition, (c) senior officials supervising the ICWC franchising team, (d) board members supervising the ICWC franchising competition and (e) Ministers in his Department to ensure that all was proceeding according to plan with the franchise competition; and at what stage. [124224]
Mr Simon Burns: This information is not currently available in the form requested. In order to look into the checks and processes surrounding the InterCity West Coast franchise competition, the Secretary of State for Transport has set up the Laidlaw inquiry. The terms of reference for the inquiry have been laid in the Library of the House. It will provide its initial findings to the Secretary of State by 26 October and its final report will be published no later than the end of November.
Energy and Climate Change
British Energy
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the statement on page 24 of his Department's business plan 2011-15 that £233 million was allocated to British Energy in its 2011-12 budget, for what purpose this financial support was provided; and whether, in view of that support, British Energy constitutes any form of public subsidiary. [123965]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 19 October 2012]: The payments in respect of British Energy (BE) relate to contractual historic spent fuel liabilities under the Historic Fuel Liabilities Agreement. As part of the restructuring of BE in January 2005, the Government undertook a contractual obligation to assist the company in meeting these liabilities.
The payments relate to the storage and reprocessing of irradiated oxide fuel and related services under historic contracts with British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.
British Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of EDF S.A. It is not classified by the Office for National Statistics as a public sector body and does not constitute any form of public subsidiary.
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Carbon Trust: Grants
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much the Carbon Trust has paid out in grants to businesses in each financial year from 2005-06 to date; how many businesses received such grants in each such year; and what estimate he has made of the likely level of such grants in each financial year to 2015-16. [123121]
Gregory Barker: The Carbon Trust advises that between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2012 the value of grants made by it to businesses was as set out in the following table. These grants were delivered through funding provided by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), Invest Northern Ireland, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Department of Transport.
| Total value of grants (£) | Number of grant recipients | |
Where known, the forecast levels of grant funding between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2015 would be provided by the following Departments:
DECC for 2012-15;
Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Invest Northern Ireland for 2012-13.
These are shown in the following table. It should be noted that DECC no longer provides core grant funding to Carbon Trust and its support now relates to long-term research projects.
| Total value of grants (£) | |
Coal
Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what role he sees for coal in meeting the UK's future energy requirements. [124004]
Mr Hayes: The role of coal is set to decline over the coming decade as stations close in order to comply with the requirements of European Union air quality directives that place limits on emissions of oxides of sulphur and nitrogen.
Eight gigawatts (GW) of coal capacity has opted-out of the large combustion plant directive (LCPD), 5 GW of which has notified its closure by the end of March 2013, with the remainder required to close by the end of 2015 at the latest,
The industrial emissions directive (IED) replaces the LCPD and sets more stringent limits from 2016.
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It is uncertain what proportion of the remaining coal capacity will make the investment needed to meet the IED limits, or otherwise be required to close by 2023 at the latest.
In the longer term, coal with carbon capture and storage (CCS) could play an important role as part of a low carbon energy mix. The Carbon Plan, published by DECC in December 2011, identified a significant contribution for fossil fuels with CCS by 2030, depending on its ability to compete with other low carbon technologies and if costs are reduced quickly as a result of Government and industry actions.
Electricity Generation
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many investigations have been initiated by Ofgem into the failure of energy distribution companies to deliver on output efficiency in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011 and (e) 2012 to date. [123789]
Mr Hayes: Enforcement of compliance with the relevant legislations, which apply to energy distribution companies, is a matter for the independent regulator Ofgem. Based on formal investigations and according to dates for when the investigation was formally opened:
EDF Energy Networks (EPN) plc, EDF Energy Networks (LPN) plc and EDF Energy Networks (SPN) plc—SLC4D and SLC12;
National Grid Gas plc - SSCE2B, E6 and E20, SSCD9 and A40
Central Networks East plc and Central Networks West plc—SLC4D, SLC12 and SLC30;
Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc—SLC4D, SLC12 and SLC30;
Electricity North West Ltd—SLC4D and SLC12;
Wales and West Utilities Ltd—SSCA40, D9 and SCE2B, E20;
Northern Gas Networks Ltd—SSCD10 2(g);
National Grid Gas plc—SSCD10 2(g);
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on how many occasions an energy distribution company has been fined by Ofgem for its failure to deliver on output efficiency in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011 and (e) 2012 to date; and what the total value of the fine imposed was in each such case. [123790]
Mr Hayes:
Enforcement of compliance with the relevant legislations, which apply to energy distribution companies,
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is a matter for the independent regulator Ofgem. According to dates for final penalty notices:
Northern Gas Networks Ltd— SSLC D10: £25,000;
EDF Energy Networks (EPN) plc, EDF Energy Networks (LPN) plc and EDF Energy Networks (SPN) plc—SLC4D and SLC12: £2 million;
Electricity North West Ltd—SLC4D and SLC12: £100,000;
Central Networks East plc and Central Networks West plc—SLC4D and SLC30: £400,000;
Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc—SLC4D, SLC12 and SLC30: £500,000;
National Grid Gas plc—SPE2B, E6 and E20, SSCD9 and A40: £8 million
Northern Gas Networks Ltd—SSCD10 2(g): £900,000;
National Grid Gas plc—SSCD10 2(g): £4.3 million;
Wales and West Utilities Ltd—SSCA40, D9 and SCE2B, E20: £375,000.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on how many occasions a decision by Ofgem to fine an energy distribution company for its failure to deliver on output efficiency has been overturned on appeal in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011 and (e) 2012 to date. [123791]
Mr Hayes: Enforcement of compliance with the relevant legislations, which apply to energy distribution companies, is a matter for the independent regulator Ofgem. None of their decisions to fine an energy distribution company for its failure to deliver or output efficiency have been overturned on appeal.
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the (a) current and all future total system costs and (b) current and future levelised costs of electricity generation per MWh by (i) nuclear, (ii) onshore wind, (iii) offshore wind, (iv) solar PV, (v) tidal, (vi) biomass, (vii) coal fired, (viii) open cycle gas turbine and (x) combined cycle gas turbine systems. [124274]
Mr Hayes: DECC has published levelised costs estimates(1) of various generation technologies on the DECC website. The most recent information, at the time of writing, can be found in a combination of three reports(2).
For ease of reference, the following table replicates central levelised cost estimates from the report for projects starting in 2011 and 2017. A simplified assumption of 10% discount rate across technologies is used to aid high level comparison between technologies.
| Central levelised cost estimates for selected electricity generation technologies | |||
| Source | Projects starting in 2011 (£/MWh) | Projects starting in 2017, (£/MWh) | |
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| (1) It should be noted that levelised cost estimates for different types of electricity generation are highly sensitive to the assumptions used for capital costs, fuel and EU ETS allowance prices, operating costs, load factor, discount rate and other drivers and this means that there is significant uncertainty around these estimates. It is perhaps more appropriate to consider a range of cost estimates as pipeline projects show a large range around these central values. Total power sector system costs are largely driven by the capacity and generation mix of energy technologies (including renewable energy technologies) as well as methods of energy sector balancing (i.e. back-up plant, storage, interconnection, demand-side response, etc). DECC does not allocate total system costs to individual technologies. (2) A report by Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) (2011) which focuses on non-renewables technologies can be found at: www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/about-us/economics-social-research/2127-electricity-generation-cost-model-2011.pdf A report by Arup/Ernst and Young (2011) which focuses on renewable technologies, which has been updated in line with evidence received as part of the Government Response to the Banding review and can to be found at: http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/ro-banding/5936-renewables-obligation-consultation-the-government.pdf DECC have updated estimates for the underlying costs of solar PV as part of the government response to Phase 2A comprehensive review of feed in tariffs, which can be found at: http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/meeting-energy-demand/renewable-energy/5381-solar-pv-cost-update.pdf (3) Indicates brace. (4) Solar PV estimates are for projects starting in 2012. Note: All estimates for ‘Nth of a Kind’ (NOAK) projects, except nuclear and coal—IGCC where the first estimate for projects starting in 2011 is based on a ‘First of a Kind’ (FOAK) estimate and the estimate for projects starting in 2017 is based on a NOAK estimate. Please note figures for onshore wind use an average England and Wales load factor. | |||
DECC has not published comparable levelised cost estimates for OCGT, Tidal and Wave.
Energy Distribution
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the annual cost to consumers of energy lost during the distribution phase. [122272]
Gregory Barker: The 2011 annual cost to consumers of energy lost during the distribution phase of electricity supply is estimated to be £l billion. When including gas leakages, electricity losses from the transmission network, electricity theft and meter fraud the energy lost in 2011 increases to £1.5 billion.
This estimate is based on the volumes of electricity losses and gas leakages (published in the Digest of United Kingdom energy statistics(1)) multiplied by the average wholesale prices in 2011.(2)
(1:) http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/stats/publications/dukes/5955-dukes-20I2-chapter-5-electricity.pdf
(2)(:) Electricity price—estimated from half hourly wholesale prices published by Elexon:https://www.elexonportal.co.uk/category/view/179?cachebust=6ekcj0gy3l
Prices are weighted by demand data published by National Grid demand data:
http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Electricity/Data/Demand+Data/
Gas price—2011 average taken from monthly data from I P E Natural Gas Index
Energy: Private Rented Housing
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he has taken to investigate whether commercial landlords operate transparently when re-charging tenants for energy supplies. [123864]
Gregory Barker: Ofgem is responsible for regulating gas and electricity markets in the non-domestic sector, including whether further regulatory protection is required. Gas and electricity resold and consumed for non-domestic purposes is a contractual matter between the landlord and tenant. The maximum resale price (MPR) provisions that govern the reselling of gas and electricity by landlords and resellers for domestic purposes do not apply. Any dispute about terms and conditions of a contract should be pursued through the courts.
Gas and Electricity Markets Authority
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will publish (a) the membership of Ofgem's Consumer Challenge Group and (b) a note of each meeting of the Group since May 2010. [123788]
Gregory Barker: The information requested is a matter for Ofgem. The chief executive of Ofgem will write to the hon. Member directly, and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Ministerial Policy Advisers
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has published guidance on the rules governing departmental advisers working concurrently for private consultancies. [122831]
Gregory Barker: Rules on special advisers are covered in the Special Advisers' Code of Conduct and the model contract published by Cabinet Office and available on their website.
Contractors are covered by the Department's standard terms and conditions of contract for either services or suppliers. These are published on the Department's intranet.
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Miriam Maes
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) how many candidates for the post of Delivery Adviser to his Department on Energy Efficiency (a) applied for the position and (b) were given interviews; [121464]
(2) what advice his Department's Permanent Secretary has provided to (a) him and (b) other Ministers on his links with Miriam Maes; [121465]
(3) what steps his Department has taken to record and publish declarations of interests by its contractors; [121466]
(4) what guidance on conduct his Department issues to consultants that it has engaged. [121467]
Mr Davey: Miriam Maes was contracted by DECC for the period September 2010 to May 2011, following a competitive tender process. The competition was run by inviting four candidates considered to be energy efficiency experts to submit tenders. Miriam Maes and one other candidate were interviewed by civil servants. The names of the unsuccessful candidates are confidential. Civil servants made a recommendation to the Minister for Climate Change that the Department appoint Miriam Maes, which the Minister agreed. This contract was extended once on the recommendation of civil servants, with the approval of the Permanent Secretary. It is not normal procedure to ask Ministers to approve an extension of this size. Miriam Maes was provided with business cards. Business cards are used to help identify DECC members of staff and, where appropriate, contractors to the Department, and record contact details.
Ms Maes was subsequently contracted, following a competitively tendered process for the period July 2011 to March 2012. This competition was advertised on Contracts Finder in June 2011:
www.contractsfinder.co.uk
Civil Servants conducted the interview process, no Minister was asked to sign off the appointment. Miriam Maes has been paid £49,000 (+VAT) and has claimed £338.40 in expenses under the above contracts. Miriam attended some meetings at DECC outside of her contracted periods.
Consultants are expected to comply with their contractual terms. A copy of Ms Maes' contract has been placed in the Library, redacted as necessary. Ms Maes notified the Department of her clients at Foresee and it is not departmental policy to publish such declarations for reasons of confidentiality.
Miriam Maes had a departmental pass that was valid between 23 September 2010 and 31 May 2011, but was not provided with a departmental email account. The Department does not hold a central record of the occasions on which Miriam Maes was contacted by email. The Department did not contribute to the cost of Miriam Maes' mobile telephone, nor her attendance at the Conservative party conference in 2010.
Ministers from time to time will meet external stakeholders for informal discussions. Officials did not attend the meeting on 15 February. Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published on the DECC website at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/registers/ministermtgs/ministermtgs.aspx
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A record of all departmental spend above £500 is available on the DECC website at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/expenditure/expenditure.aspx
The Department has released a number of emails between Miriam Maes and the Department, and these are available on the Department's website. The Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change was informed of progress in responding to the freedom of information request and shown the material for release pre-publication. He did not make the decision in relation to this request. Some further information in this area has been requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and my Department is considering the request in accordance with the requirements of that Act. Information relating to internal discussions and advice, including that from the Permanent Secretary to Ministers on matters such as this, is not normally disclosed.
Nuclear Power Stations
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what work his Department has undertaken to assess the feasibility of options for plutonium re-use including (a) a new mox plant, (b) a PRISM fast reactor and (c) Enhanced Candu 6 reactors. [123388]
Mr Hayes: The Government response to the consultation on the long-term management of civil plutonium, published in December 2011, set out the Government's preferred policy for dealing with the stockpile. This is re-use as Mixed Oxide fuel which is the most technically mature solution. It also stated that “Government remains open to any alternative proposals that offer better value to the taxpayer”.
In line with this, in February 2012 NDA sought proposals on potential credible alternative approaches for managing the UK's plutonium stocks. NDA received proposals from both GE Hitachi and CANDU. NDA is currently working with them on these proposals while also providing support to the Government as it progresses its preferred policy of converting the material into Mixed Oxide fuel (MOX) for reactors.
Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012
Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department have taken to prepare for the introduction of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. [122262]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has ensured that all staff within the procurement function are aware of the content and potential impact on public procurement of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. This has been done through departmental procurement knowledge networks and procurement professional development days. The Department awaits guidance from Cabinet Office on how the act should be implemented across Government.
22 Oct 2012 : Column 669W
Research
Chris Kelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what external policy research his Department has commissioned in each of the last six years; which organisation was commissioned to provide each such piece of research; and what the cost of each such piece of research was. [122361]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has devolved purchasing. The information requested is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Department would be able to provide further contract information by narrowing the scope, if specific research projects were identified. Further information on the projects run by the Department can be found on the Department's website at:
www.decc.gov.uk
Cabinet Office
Behavioural Insight
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what estimate he has made of the time that will be spent per civil servant working on the partnership with the New South Wales government on behavioural insight; and what the salary of each civil servant working on this project is; [122676]
(2) how many civil servants have been recruited or seconded to work on the partnership with the New South Wales government on behavioural insight; and from which departments such staff have been so seconded; [122677]
(3) how many civil servants will be working on the partnership with the New South Wales government on behavioural insight. [122675]
Mr Letwin: One civil servant at band A level will be working on secondment on a full time basis for the New South Wales government on a salary of £44,300-£59,885 for a period of one year. The secondment includes additional access to and support from members of the behavioural insights team up to a total of 35 man days as follows:
Director (up to 4 man days) (£115,000 to £125,000 pa)
Deputy Director (up to 8 man days) (£58,200 to £117,800 pa)
Band A (up to 8 man days) (£44,300 to £59,885 pa)
Band B2 (Up to 15 man days) (£29,819 to £38,103 pa)
No civil servants have been specifically recruited by or seconded to the Cabinet Office to work on the partnership. The full cost to the UK Government of entering into the partnership will be recovered from the New South Wales government.
Freedom of Information Act 2000: e-mail
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office for what reasons the Cabinet Office guidance on the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to private e-mails was delayed. [123972]
Mr Hurd: Guidance will be published shortly.
22 Oct 2012 : Column 670W
Lobbying
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 17 September 2012, Official Report, column 523W, on public consultation, for what reason his Department did not include around 1,300 submissions from individuals generated by Unlock Democracy in its document, A Summary of Responses to the Cabinet Office's Consultation Document, Introducing a Statutory Register of Lobbyists. [123311]
Miss Chloe Smith: It is usual practice to summarise overarching themes rather than identify each respondent, particularly in cases where responses are received as part of, or affiliated to, a large campaign. We consider that the vast majority of respondents that replied through Unlock Democracy would recognise that their views have been represented in the Government's summary of responses, even if they have not been personally attributed to them.
Miriam Maes
Caroline Flint: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers in his Department have met Miriam Maes on official business since May 2010. [121339]
Mr Maude: Under my Department's transparency programme, lists of meetings with external organisations and individuals are published on the Cabinet Office website:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
In line with previous Administrations, the Government do not normally disclose details of internal meetings.