Work and Pensions
Cleaning Services
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy to require all cleaning contracts held by his Department to stipulate that the cleaning products used and their ingredients should not have been tested on animals. [125021]
Mr Hoban: The Department has a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract with Telereal Trillium for the provision of fully serviced accommodation, including the provision of cleaning. The cleaning contractor used by Telereal Trillium is Mitie Group plc. This company does not use cleaning products or ingredients in cleaning products that have been tested on animals and has confirmed that it is their policy not to do so.
Council Housing
Mr MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects local councils to begin reducing benefits to council home tenants who have spare bedrooms. [125944]
Steve Webb: The measure introducing a reduction from housing benefit for working age social sector tenants who under occupy their home comes into force from 1 April 2013, both for those already receiving benefit and those making a new claim.
Disability Living Allowance
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what records his Department keeps of mortality rates amongst persons taken off disability living allowance. [125035]
Esther McVey: The information requested is not collated or held by the Department.
Housing Benefit
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many housing benefit claimants under the age of 25 living in (a) the social rented sector and (b) the private rented sector are (i) single and without children, (ii) single with children, (iii) in a couple and without children and (iv) in a couple with children. [125500]
Steve Webb: The requested information is in the following table.
| Housing benefit recipients under the age of 25 and living in the social rented sector and the private rented sector by family type, May 2012 | ||||||
| Age | All | Single, no child dependant | Single with child dependant(s) | Couple, no child dependant | Couple with child dependant | |
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| Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month. 4. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data are available monthly from November 2008 and May 2012 is the latest available. 5. Age groups are based on the age on the count date (second Thursday of the month), of either: (a) the recipient if they are single, or (b) the elder of the recipient or partner if claiming as a couple. 6. Components may not sum to total due to (i) independent rounding, (ii) exclusion of claimants with unknown age. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) | ||||||
Housing Benefit: Cumbria
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Barrow and Furness constituency and (b) Cumbria were in receipt of the rent element of housing benefit in the 2011-12 tax year. [125424]
Steve Webb: Statistics for the number of people receiving housing benefit in the social rented and private rented sector in Cumbria are published on the Department's website at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/hb_ctb/hbctb_release_apr11.xls
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/hb_ctb/hbctb_release_jun12.xls
Figures are shown under the heading “Tenancy Type” and give a breakdown by each local authority in Cumbria.
Jobcentre Plus: Liverpool
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which Minister in his Department approved the decision to close the Old Swan Jobcentre Plus office in Liverpool. [126206]
Mr Hoban: My predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), after considering all the facts, approved the decision not to re-open Old Swan Jobcentre. The office was closed following an arson attack earlier this year.
Social Security Benefits: Cumbria
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Barrow and Furness constituency and (b) Cumbria were in receipt of (i) funeral payments, (ii) Sure Start maternity grants and (iii) cold weather payments in the 2011-12 tax year. [125422]
Steve Webb: Table 1 provides the number of funeral payments and Sure Start maternity grants paid out in the Chorlton BDC social fund budget area in 2011-12. Barrow and Furness parliamentary constituency and Cumbria are contained within this budget area.
| Table 1: Total number of funeral payments and Sure Start maternity grants paid out to residents in the Chorlton BDC social fund budget area in 2011-12 | |
| Award type | Number of awards |
| Source: Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System | |
Cold weather payments are paid based on the temperatures recorded at certain weather stations around the country. Residents in Cumbria are covered by a number of weather stations. Table 2 shows the number of eligible recipients paid at least one cold weather payment with respect to each of these weather stations during 2011-12. Barrow and Furness parliamentary constituency was covered by Walney Island weather station.
| Table 2: Estimated number of eligible recipients who received a cold weather payment in 2011-12 | |
| Area | Eligible recipients |
| Notes: 1. The funeral payment and Sure Start maternity grant figures relate to awards, not people. Individuals can apply for and receive more than one of these payments in any given year. The number of unique individuals who received these awards is not recorded. 2. Data on funeral payments and Sure Start maternity grants are not held by parliamentary constituency or county but by Jobcentre Plus social fund budget area. The figures for the Chorlton BDC social fund budget area cover both the Barrow and Furness constituency and Cumbria, but will also include awards made to residents in other areas. 3. The information provided is management information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have management information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National statistics and there are some issues with the data; for example, they will not include awards which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the social fund computer system. 4. Cold weather payments are paid out to eligible recipients if an average temperature of 0° C is recorded or forecast for seven consecutive days at the weather station linked to the recipient's postcode. 5. Cold weather payments are made to benefit units rather than to households or individuals. A benefit unit can be a single person or a couple and can include children. The number of individual recipients is not available. 6. The cold weather payment figures have been estimated based on eligibility on 31 October 2011. The exact number of payments made in 2011-12 is not recorded. 7. The estimated number of benefit units which have received cold weather payments relates to the entire area that the weather station covers, not just to that in the listed parliamentary constituencies and counties. 8. Weather station boundaries are determined by postcode and are not directly linked to parliamentary constituency or county boundaries. In particular, Walney Island weather station also covers areas outside the Barrow and Furness constituency and the full list of weather stations given in Table 2 together cover Cumbria but also contain residents in other areas. It is not possible to break the data down further. 9. All given figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. Source: Department for Work and Pensions records of the triggers to weather stations in the period 1 November 2011 to 31 March 2012 and estimated numbers of potential qualifiers by weather station. | |
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Universal Credit
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the potential monetary value of savings made from the removal of the housing benefit disregard of child care costs for housing benefit claimants under the introduction of universal credit. [126207]
Steve Webb: The Government are not making any overall savings from the removal of the disregard of child care costs for housing benefit and council tax benefit claimants under the introduction of universal credit. In fact, the Government will invest an extra £300 million into child care support.
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of (a) the number of people affected by and (b) the (i) average and (ii) maximum cash loss to families arising from the removal of the housing benefit disregard of child care costs for housing benefit claimants under the introduction of universal credit. [126208]
Steve Webb: The information is as follows:
(a) The Department estimates that approximately 100,000 families currently receive support for child care costs from both the child care element of working tax credit and one or both of the disregards for child care costs available through housing benefit and council tax benefit. (Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 100,000.)
(b) The information requested is not available. Universal credit is a single payment; it is not possible to disaggregate an award into amounts that correspond to individual elements once the disregard and taper have been applied.
Where families would receive less support under universal credit, a package of transitional protection will ensure that they do not lose out in cash terms as a result of the move to universal credit and where circumstances have not otherwise changed.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2012, Official Report, columns 473-4W, on universal credit, what recent estimate he has made of expenditure on the universal credit programme in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15. [126221]
Mr Hoban: The 2010 spending review settlement included funding of £2 billion for the period 2011-12 to 2014-15. This is intended to meet all the costs of introducing universal credit including any increases in benefit expenditure, additional benefit administration costs in the transition period, the costs of IT development and implementation, communications, staff training and programme management.
The Department spent £103 million in 2011-12 and is estimating on current plans to spend a total of £345 million in 2012-13, £495 million in 2013-14 and £1,030 million in 2014-15.
Work Capability Assessment
Stephen Timms:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2012, Official Report, column 739W, on the work capability assessment, if he will amend the application form for
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employment and support allowance in order to invite applicants to submit evidence from medical specialists with their form in circumstances where such evidence is relevant to determining their application. [126219]
Mr Hoban: We are not planning any changes to the employment and support allowance application form (ESA1) to invite applicants to submit medical evidence however, the majority of people who make a claim for employment and support allowance will be asked to complete an ESA50 form. This form gives all claimants the opportunity to submit evidence from health care professionals in support of their claim.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2012, Official Report, column 739W, on the work capability assessment, what discussions he has had with Atos to encourage it to take account of written evidence from medical specialists in work capability assessments; and if he will make a statement. [126220]
Mr Hoban: Processes are already in place to ensure that medical evidence can be requested as necessary to help provide advice on benefit entitlement. This is taken into account by Atos Healthcare's healthcare professionals when carrying out assessments.
All decisions on benefit entitlement are made by DWP decision makers, based on advice from an Atos Healthcare healthcare professional and any evidence provided by a customer's GP or consultant. We recognise the importance of written evidence and this is fully considered where provided.
Work Programme
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 23 October 2012, Official Report, column 839W, on social security benefit, of those whose benefit will be reduced through application of the benefit cap in 2013, which benefit recipients who might be capped will be offered early access to the Work Programme. [126222]
Mr Hoban: Claimants who are in receipt of employment and support allowance, incapacity benefit, income support and jobseeker's allowance (JSA) are able to gain early access to the Work Programme.
JSA claimants in the 18 to 24 and 25+ groups would normally access the Work Programme at nine or 12 months. However, since June 2012 the Department has made early access to the Work Programme available to those JSA claimants likely to be affected by the benefit cap. They are able to volunteer for early access to the Work Programme after three months of pre-Work Programme support from Jobcentre Plus.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Billing
Mike Freer:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the average cost to his Department was of processing the payment of an invoice in the latest period for which figures are
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available; and what proportion of invoices settled in that period his Department paid
(a)
electronically and
(b)
by cheque. [125725]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) paid 62.5% of global invoices electronically and 27.9% of global invoices by cheque in September 2012. The residual balance is made up of small cash payments made by its overseas offices. The FCO's global operation means that payment of invoices is devolved to its overseas offices and therefore the average cost of processing the payment of an invoice on a global basis is not held centrally and could only be supplied at disproportionate cost.
Information is available for invoices paid by our UK Corporate Service Centre (CSC) where, for September 2012, the average cost of processing the payment of an invoice was £2.54. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), on 20 October 2012, Official Report, column 614W, where the previous cost was £2.94. The reduction can be explained by a continued drive in the CSC to increase its productivity and efficiency throughout 2011-12. The same resource achieved absorbed 13% more volume in September 2012 as in September 2011.
Burma
Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the People's Republic of China in regard to its forced repatriation of Kachin refugees from Burma. [125779]
Mr Swire: I raised the issue of the reported forced repatriation of Kachin refugees with the Chinese ambassador to London on 1 November 2012. In August 2012, in the wake of the recent Human Rights Watch report on Kachin refugees, officials from the British embassy in Beijing raised the issue with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs while at the same time Foreign and Commonwealth Officials in London brought it to the attention of the Chinese embassy in London.
Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to urge the Government of Burma to cease attacks on Kachin civilians and seek a peace process with the Kachin Independence Organisation. [125780]
Mr Swire: We continue to highlight the importance of finding a long-term solution to Burma’s ethnic conflicts, including that in Kachin State, in all our discussions with the Burmese Government. We welcome the Burmese Government’s attempts to build trust with and between ethnic groups including signing cease-fire agreements with 10 ethnic groups. We are now urging the Government to take the next steps towards a process of national political dialogue.
We are actively supporting the reconciliation process between Burma’s ethnic groups. The Prime Minister announced the allocation of an additional £5 million for immediate peace-building activities during Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit to the UK in June. Our embassy in Rangoon also hosted a visit of UK experts in July with
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experience of trust-building and peace-building between communities in Northern Ireland. We intend to continue to draw on UK expertise in this area in order to support the reconciliation process.
Mr Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of Burma on the conflict in Kachin State. [125781]
Mr Swire: We continue to press the Burmese Government for unrestricted humanitarian access to internally displaced persons across Burma, and to urge the Government to put in place a long-term solution to end ethnic conflict in Burma, particularly in Kachin State.
Officials from our embassy in Rangoon are also in regular contact with representatives of the Kachin for updates on the peace talks and the humanitarian situation there.
On 15 July our ambassador met senior figures in the Burmese Government, including the Vice President, to raise the importance of bringing the conflict in Kachin State to an end. The meetings were organised as part of a visit by UK experts focusing on inter-communal trust-building and peace processes.
Cayman Islands
George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests he has received for technical support from the Cayman Islands Government in respect of the Cayman Turtle Farm. [125875]
Mark Simmonds: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not received any requests for technical support from the Cayman Islands Government in respect of the Cayman Turtle Farm.
We are aware that the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has conducted an investigation into the turtle farm, and that it has recently made its findings public. The British Government place great importance on conserving the biodiversity of the Overseas Territories and take seriously reports of animal cruelty throughout the world. We therefore welcome the work that non-governmental organisations such as WSPA undertake in support of international animal welfare issues.
We understand the farm has carried out a review of its operations and found no basis for WSPA's allegations. The farm itself has ordered that an independent assessment take place in December. We encourage WSPA, the management of the farm and the Cayman Islands Government to continue to engage constructively.
Central Africa
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what diplomatic visits have been made by officials from British diplomatic posts in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the border region of those countries; and what concerns they have reported on human rights abuses or military activity. [125998]
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Mark Simmonds: We remain very concerned about the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Diplomatic staff from the British embassy in Kinshasa visit Goma regularly as well as other accessible areas in eastern DRC. Diplomatic staff from the British high commission in Kigali have made frequent visits to the borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Staff from Kampala have also visited the border between Uganda and DRC. We expect our staff to continue making such visits provided that their safety is not put at risk.
We receive regular reports about the current military situation and human rights in eastern DRC from these visits and from other sources including the UN, the DRC authorities, non-governmental organisations and civil society groups. A fragile lull in fighting remains in place, though we are aware of reports of continuing clashes, that M23 is extending its territory and that Rwandan support for M23 continues. We are also aware of reports that M23 and others are committing human rights abuses. We will continue to make it clear that human rights abuses wherever and whenever they occur are unacceptable.
Indonesia
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Indonesian Government on the use of personnel trained by the UK and Australian Governments in military action against civilians in Papua and West Papua. [125798]
Mr Swire: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has had no discussions with the Indonesian Government about this issue. Our ambassador to Indonesia met senior military and police officials in Papua in September 2012 and emphasised the need to respect human rights and ensure full and transparent investigations into violent incidents. All of the training delivered by the UK to Indonesian personnel is consistent with the importance we attach to upholding human rights. The UK remains committed to urging all levels of the Indonesian Government to work with the Papuans towards solving regional governance disputes peacefully.
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Indonesian Government on human rights violations and prisoners of conscience in (a) Indonesia, (b) Papua and (c) West Papua. [125809]
Mr Swire: We regularly discuss the situation in the provinces of Papua and West Papua with the Indonesian Government. The UK takes seriously all reports of human rights violations and we will continue to raise our concerns with the Indonesian authorities.
Our ambassador discussed Papua with the co-ordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs on 26 September, and with Bambang Darmono, the Head of the Unit for Accelerated Development in Papua and West Papua on 9 October. The ambassador visited Papua in September this year and met with the head of the military and the Police Head of Operations where
1 Nov 2012 : Column 382W
he emphasised the need to respect human rights and ensure full and transparent investigations into any violent incidents.
Middle East
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the Israeli military's treatment of activists on board the ship Estelle. [125862]
Alistair Burt: We have not received any reports on the treatment of activists on board the Estelle. We have been informed by our officials in Israel that the Israeli authorities provided assistance to the Nordic nationals involved. We are not aware of any British nationals who were on board the Estelle.
Palestinians
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to promote adherence to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. [125979]
Alistair Burt: We regularly raise the treatment of children in the OPTs with the Israeli authorities. While we have not discussed the rights of children under the specific auspices of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, we have discussed in detail issues affecting children, including themes relating to the convention. Issues discussed include ensuring development and increasing the standard of living for children in the OPTs, the legal rights of children in detention, ensuring protection for Gazan children from war, conflict and violence and ensuring that Gazan children have access to education.
Press: Subscriptions
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which magazines, journals and newspapers his Department subscribes. [125345]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)'s approach to subscriptions to publications is currently under review, whereby each subscription will be tested rigorously against a business case.
Under this Government FCO expenditure on publications has already fallen by 14%.
The majority of decisions on subscriptions to journals, magazines and newspapers are made by the UK's 261 embassies and diplomatic posts from within their budgets, or by individual departments within the FCO on the same basis. As a result comprehensive information on individual publications is not centrally recorded and collating this information would incur disproportionate cost. The following is a list of the known newspapers and other publications received in different parts of the FCO network of which we are aware as of October 2012, all of which are currently subject to the review of subscriptions. In some instances only a single copy of the publication is received:
Adelphi Papers
Africa Confidential
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Africa Research Bulletin
Al Hayat
Al Quds
Al Sharq Al Awsat
American Journal of International Law
Asia Confidential
Cambridge Law Journal
Cambridge Review of International Affairs
Caterer and Hotel Keeper
China Quarterly
Civil Wars
Common Market Law Review
Commonwealth Law Bulletin
Comparative Strategy
Conflict Management and Peace Science
Conflict Security and Development
Contemporary Security Policy
Cooperation and Conflict
Country Life
Critical Studies on Terrorism
Current Legal Problems
Daily Express
The Daily Jang
Daily Mail
Daily Mirror
Daily Telegraph
Decanter
Defense and Security Analysis
Delicious
Diamond Intelligence Briefs
Eastern Eye
Economic and Political Weekly
Economist
El Pais
Eurasian Geography and Economics
European Human Rights Law Review
European Journal of International Law
European Law Review
European Voice
Financial Times
Fishing News International
Foreign Affairs
Frame
Global Crime
Global Governance
Good Housekeeping
Grocer
The Guardian
Harvard International Law Journal
Human Rights Quarterly
I newspaper
ICSID Review Foreign Investment Law
Independent
Independent on Sunday
Intelligence and National Security
Interights Bulletin
International Affairs
International Community Law Review
International Comparative Law Quarterly
1 Nov 2012 : Column 384W
International Herald Tribune
International Journal of Human Rights
International Journal of Intelligence and Counter Intelligence
International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law
International Journal of Middle East Studies
International Journal of Refugee Law
International Peacekeeping
Jewish Chronicle
Journal of Common Market Studies
Journal of International Criminal Justice
Journal of International Humanitarian Legal Studies
Journal of Intervention and State Building
Journal of Private International Law,
Journal of Strategic Studies
Law and Practice of International Courts and Tribunals
Law Quarterly Review
Le Monde
Legal Issues of Economic Integration
Leiden Journal of International Law
Mail on Sunday
Middle East Economic Digest
Middle East Journal
Middle East Policy
Military Balance
Modern Law Review
Muslim Weekly
Netherlands International Law Review
New Scientist
New Statesman,
OAG Flight Guide
Observer
Ocean Development and International Law
Penguin News
Phileleftheros
Post Soviet Affairs
Private Eye
Project Manager Today
Prospect
Public Law
Restaurant
Review of European Community and International Environmental Law (RECIEL)
Review of International Studies
RUSI Journal
Small Wars and Insurgencies
Spectator
Strategic Comments
Strategic Survey
Sun
The Sun on Sunday
Sunday Express
Sunday Mirror
Sunday People
Sunday Telegraph
Sunday Times
Survival
Terrorism and Political Violence
Times
Turkish Studies
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Vogue
Washington Quarterly
Whitehall Papers
World Economics
Yale Journal of International Law
Rwanda
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given to the recent Amnesty International report on military detention in Rwanda; and whether he has raised the findings of that report with the Government of Rwanda. [125995]
Mark Simmonds:
The UK continues to have serious concerns about human rights abuses in Rwanda, and we regularly raise these concerns with senior Rwandan interlocutors. Our high commissioner in Kigali has raised the issue of illegal detention with the Rwandan Government on a number of occasions, and has discussed the key concerns in the Amnesty International report with them. He has regularly requested access to detention centres and in September was granted access to the
1 Nov 2012 : Column 386W
Gikondo transit centre facility, one of those mentioned in the Amnesty International report. The high commission hosted a roundtable discussion between Amnesty International and other diplomatic missions in Rwanda before the report's publication to raise wider awareness of the issues it addresses. An update to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights Report, published on 18 October, described the high commission in Kigali's efforts to seek access to the military and civilian facilities referred to in Amnesty International's and other reports about illegal detention.
Sickness Absence
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many days on average staff of his Department in each pay grade were absent from work as a result of ill health in each of the last 12 months. [125726]
Alistair Burt: The average number of days an officer was absent from work as a result of ill health for Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) UK-based officers in each of the last 12 months is as follows:
| Grade | Oct 2011 | Nov 2011 | Dec 2011 | Jan 2012 | Feb 2012 | Mar 2012 | Apr 2012 | May 2012 | Jun 2012 | Jul 2012 | Aug 2012 | Sep 2012 |
The above figures represent only FCO UK-based staff (around 4,500) who work either in the UK or in one of our missions abroad. They do not include locally engaged or FCO Services staff.
Staff
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on (a) recruitment agency fees, (b) outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and (c) staff training in each of the last 12 months. [125728]
Alistair Burt: The following tables show the amount spent by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on (a) recruitment agency fees in each of the last 12 months and (c) staff training per quarter (monthly total not available). In response to (b), the FCO has not spent money on outplacement agency fees for those displaced or made redundant.
| Monthly | Recruitment agency fees (£) |
| Quarter | Staff training (£) |
| (1 )Figures not yet available | |
The FCO uses recruitment agencies to attract a wide range of applicants to ensure its work force is as diverse and highly skilled as possible. For specialist recruitment campaigns, agencies are better placed to target applicants with the most relevant skills within that sector. A competitive tendering process is run to select an agency for external recruitment campaigns. This has proven to be more cost-effective than in-house recruitment.
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The figures cover recruitment for UK-based members of staff only—figures for recruitment undertaken by overseas posts advertising for local staff positions are not held centrally. All of the positions were approved for external recruitment as either business-critical or a front-line service, in accordance with the terms of the Government-wide recruitment freeze. The totals for August and September include expenditure on campaigns to recruit to a role within senior management, and to recruit 41 interns, the latter being exempt from the recruitment freeze.
FCO expenditure on training reflects our commitment to staff development and what the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), described in July as
“a programme of Diplomatic Excellence to build up the Foreign Office for the long term”.
In 2011, the FCO agreed an overall strategy on Learning and Development. This maintains our investment in high standards of management and leadership, as well as specialist training for specific roles (eg consular) or cross-cutting skills (eg IT, finance). It also gave higher priority to core diplomatic skills including languages, regional expertise, policy skills, economic skills, commercial diplomacy, impact and influencing and negotiating. We continue to emphasise value for money in training provision, including full use of central Civil Service Learning resources.
Iran
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his US counterparts on the use of UK military facilities to support military action against Iran. [125997]
Alistair Burt: The UK undertakes prudent contingency planning on a wide range of issues. This often involves discussions with our partners, including the US. The detail of our contingency planning is by its very nature confidential.
The UK believes the twin track approach of pressure through sanctions, which are having an impact, and engagement with Iran is the best way to resolve the nuclear issue.
Vacancies
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's vacancy rate was in 2011-12; and what vacancy rate has been assumed for 2012-13. [125729]
Alistair Burt: It is not possible to provide an overall figure for vacancy rates. External vacancies arise only when roles are not filled either internally or from across Whitehall and it is difficult to predict these in advance.
In 2011-12, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) filled 22 Fast Stream programme and 19 other vacancies for UK-based staff through external recruitment campaigns.
In 2012-13, the FCO expects to take on 40 fast streamers. The Fast Stream recruitment programme is exempt from the Government-wide recruitment freeze.
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Treasury
Air Passenger Duty: Northern Ireland
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Exchequer received in air passenger duty from passengers using airports in Northern Ireland in the last financial year for which figures are available. [126245]
Sajid Javid: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 October 2012, Official Report, column 802W.
Billing
Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average cost to his Department was of processing the payment of an invoice in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of invoices settled in that period his Department paid (a) electronically and (b) by cheque. [125755]
Sajid Javid: The average cost of processing an invoice for Treasury Group in 2011-12 was £6.28. Of the 8,595 invoices processed in this period 99.8% were paid electronically with the remaining 0.02% paid by cheque.
Child Benefit: Northern Ireland
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households in each constituency in Northern Ireland were in receipt of child benefit in January 2012. [126229]
Mr Gauke: The latest available data are for August 2011. This information is published in the HMRC publication “Child Benefit Statistics; Geographical analysis at County, Region, Local Authority and Parliamentary Constituency levels” and can be accessed here:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_benefit/chb-geog-aug11.xls
Table 5 gives a breakdown by local authority, and Table 6 gives a breakdown by Westminster parliamentary constituency.
Corporation Tax
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the monetary value of research and development relief for corporation tax for large companies was in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10, (d) 2010-11 and (e) 2011-12; [126216]
(2) what the monetary value of research and development relief for corporation tax for small or medium-sized businesses was in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10, (d) 2010-11 and (e) 2011-12. [126217]
Mr Gauke: The costs of research and development tax credits for financial years up to 2010-11 are published on the HM Revenue and Customs website at
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/corporate_tax/randdtcmenu.htm
Figures for 2011-12 are to be published in August 2013.
1 Nov 2012 : Column 389W
Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many policyholders resident in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland have been paid from the Equitable Life payment scheme to date. [126180]
Sajid Javid: The scheme will be publishing a further progress report in early 2013 which will provide further detail on the volume and value of payments made to policyholders. A copy of previous reports can be found at:
http://equitablelifepaymentscheme.independent.gov.uk/
Income Tax: Northern Ireland
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people paying income tax at the (a) basic and (b) higher rate there were in each constituency in Northern Ireland in the most recent financial year for which figures are available. [126228]
Mr Gauke: The information requested is shown in the following table.
| Thousand | ||
| Parliamentary constituency | Basic rate taxpayers | Higher rate taxpayers |
| (1) Sample size too small to produce a reliable estimate. | ||
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These estimates are based on the 2009-10 Survey of Personal Incomes data, the latest outturn survey available. Reliable estimates for later years, based on the projected SPI data, are not available due to greater uncertainties in projections for small geographical areas.
Motor Vehicles: Insurance
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what his policy is on the practice of car insurance companies charging unemployed customers far in excess of the premiums offered to customers in employment; and whether any such practice is discriminatory on the basis of employment status; [125969]
(2) if he will encourage car insurance companies to reduce the disparity in premiums offered to employed and unemployed customers. [125970]
Sajid Javid: As a rule, insurers use their claims experience and other industry-wide statistics to assess the risks posed by an individual and set the terms and price at which they will offer insurance cover. This can mean that where insurers think it relevant, people who are unemployed are offered more expensive cover or different terms.
However, people who are unemployed should still be able to find insurance in the current market. For those who have difficulty, the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) is able to advise on how best to look across the insurance market for appropriate cover and may be able to provide names of specialist brokers who can advise on the availability of appropriate insurance and trawl the market for the best available deals.
Sickness Absence
Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many days on average staff of his Department in each pay grade were absent from work as a result of ill health in each of the last 12 months. [125756]
Sajid Javid: HM Treasury does not keep information on a monthly basis and to supply these data would incur a disproportionate cost. We do however collate data on an annual rolling average and these have been provided in the following table:
| HM Treasury | July 2011 to June 2012 | April 2011 to March 2012 | January 2011 to December 2011 | October 2010 to September 2011 |
| Grade | AWDL | AWDL | AWDL | AWDL |
Taxation
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the annual cost of administering the tax system. [125773]
Mr Gauke: In 2011-12, HMRC's Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) expenditure totalled £3.7 billion. This figure includes expenditure on administering the payment of child benefit and tax credits which cost approximately £450 million in 2011-12.
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Sammy Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent steps his Department has taken to simplify the tax system. [125775]
Mr Gauke: The Government are taking action to modernise and simplify the tax system. A modern tax system should be efficient, predictable, simple, and fair. The Government have made a number of improvements to the way in which they make tax policy, with consultation on policy design and scrutiny of draft legislative proposals as the cornerstones. Further details may be found online at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/tax_policy_making_new_approach.htm
The Government established the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) on 20 July 2010 to provide independent advice on simplifying the UK tax system and have acted on a range of its recommendations.
The Government abolished 43 tax reliefs and, from April 2013, will introduce a new cash basis for calculating tax, benefiting up to 3 million small self-employed businesses.
HMRC is improving tax administration for small businesses as set out in its publication "Making tax easier, quicker and simpler for small business". This document can be found online at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2012/sme-4756.pdf
Taxation: Business
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has any plans to allow businesses who offer discounts to military personnel to allow them to be tax deductible. [125762]
Mr Gauke: A business pays tax on its profits, broadly sales less costs incurred. The business will calculate its sales based on the amounts that customers pay in return for providing them with goods or services. Discounts given by a business to its customers will not be taxed as they will not be included in the computation of sales.
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to the oral answer from the Prime Minister to the right hon. Member for Barking of 24 October 2012, Official Report, column 920, what steps he is taking to ensure that companies pay tax in an appropriate way; [126270]
(2) what his policy is on measures to limit the use of offshore financial centres by companies shifting profit to reduce UK tax liabilities. [126271]
Mr Gauke: The UK system of taxing multinational businesses is based on internationally agreed principles that determine how much profit each country should tax. The Government are alert to the risk that some companies may try to structure their affairs so that profits from UK-based economic activity are not taxed here. The UK works closely with other jurisdictions to share information and ensure a more effective approach to cross-border tax avoidance. The UK has specific tax rules to combat tax avoidance by international companies and supports international action on base erosion and profit-shifting, which has been endorsed by the G20.
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Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on country-by-country tax reporting; and whether he has considered proposals to introduce such measures in the UK. [126272]
Mr Gauke: The issue of country-by-country reporting has been extensively discussed with representatives from both civil society and industry in the context of the proposed EU Accounting Directive.
The Government believe the best way to make progress in this area is to support the EU proposals to improve transparency in the extractives (gas, oil and mining) and forestry sectors.
Taxation: Energy
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the administrative process involved in taking up the Mineralogical Processes Exemption in the Taxation of Energy Products and Electricity Directive 2003/96/EC; [125863]
(2) what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of taking up the Mineralogical Processes Exemption in the Taxation of Energy Products and Electricity Directive 2003/96/EC; [125864]
(3) what plans he has to take up the Mineralogical Processes Exemption in the Taxation of Energy Products and Electricity Directive 2003/96/EC. [125865]
Sajid Javid: Council Directive 2003/96/EC (the Energy Taxation Directive) lays down mandatory requirements for member states to tax energy products and electricity. Under article 2.4 of the directive, taxation of certain processes is not mandatory, including some in the mineralogical sector. Ministers have committed to review the UK's taxation of these processes.
This review will consider how other member states tax these processes and, if a further relief is appropriate, how it should be structured (for example, which processes should be covered). The cost and administrative processes involved with any exemption would therefore depend on its scope and coverage.
Vacancies
Mike Freer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's vacancy rate was in 2011-12; and what vacancy rate has been assumed for 2012-13. [125759]
Sajid Javid: The vacancy rate for HM Treasury at 31 March 2012 was 6.6%. HM Treasury does not have an assumed rate for 2012-13.
Welfare Tax Credits
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2012, Official Report, column 623W, on welfare tax credits, how many of the awards with overpayments of £1,000 or more for each of the last five years remain outstanding. [125810]
Mr Gauke: The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost.
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Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the average amount overpaid in tax credits in each region of the UK in 2011-12. [126230]
Mr Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the response given on 29 October 2012, Official Report, column 106W.
Energy and Climate Change
Energy-saving Devices
15. Mark Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to ensure that energy-saving devices offered to consumers are effective and safe. [126053]
Gregory Barker: This Government are committed to the highest standards of consumer protection. We have ensured through legislation that energy-saving devices installed under programmes such as the green deal and smart metering comply with standards of the highest level, with robust consumer redress if they do not.
Energy Strategy
17. Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to ensure that demand reduction plays a larger part in the UK energy strategy in the future. [126058]
Mr Davey: The Government have a number of policies aimed at reducing energy demand including green deal, the CRC energy efficiency scheme and product standards. We will soon be publishing an energy efficiency strategy setting out how we may make the most of the UK's energy efficiency opportunity as well as a consultation on policies to unlock potential for permanently reducing electricity demand.
Biofuels
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with Centrica on future biomass generation capacity in the UK. [125924]
Gregory Barker: Details of the Secretary of State’s meetings are published quarterly on the DECC website. Centrica have announced their decision not to pursue plans to build new biomass stations at Roosecote and Brigg. Public consultation on support for new dedicated biomass plant under the renewables obligation has just closed and we expect to publish the Government response before the end of the year. We are determined to strike the right balance between encouraging investment in renewable electricity and ensuring value for money for consumers. That is why our proposals recognise its relatively high cost of carbon saving compared to other renewables such as wind power and coal to biomass conversion, where we are pleased to see new investment coming forward this week.
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Energy: Prices
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to help people lower their energy bills. [126057]
Mr Davey: We have three ways to help people lower their energy bills. First, to help people save energy with carbon emissions reduction target, Warm Front, green deal and energy company obligation.
Second, to help people switch to get better deals—we will do everything we can, including through the energy bill, to get people on the lowest tariffs. Third, to help low income and vulnerable households with direct help towards their energy bills, with the Warm Home discount.
Forests
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the preparation of a response to the Independent Panel on Forestry's report on the future of forestry in England. [126461]
Gregory Barker: DECC and DEFRA Ministers meet regularly to discuss climate and energy issues.
The Independent Panel on Forestry's final report aspires to see local wood fuel much more widely used in rural communities, with rural public buildings and schools, and many more rural homes and businesses using wood-fuelled heating systems.
DECC's Renewable Heat Incentive is an important driver for delivering this ambition. We introduced the Renewable Heat Incentive for non-domestic installations last year, and we are currently consulting on proposals for the introduction of a domestic scheme.
Fuels: Prices
Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the retail fuel sector on the cost of petrol and diesel. [126055]
Mr Hayes: I recently spoke on this matter during a Backbench Business Committee debate on 13 September on “Effects of the Oil Market on the Price of Petrol and Diesel”. As a result I have asked officials to consider the implications of “fuel deserts” as part of the UK petroleum retail market study and to revisit the crude price pass through analysis.
I also await with interest the Office of Fair Trading's findings on a set of related issues, due in January 2013.
Green Deal Scheme
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the name is of each company to which his Department has made payments to train green deal apprentices; and how much each such company has been paid. [126203]
Gregory Barker:
The Department made £3 million available in funding for the training of green deal advisers and installers. This was delegated to Asset Skills and
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Construction Skills respectively to allocate on our behalf. Details of the activity for advisers is available on the Asset Skills website:
www.assetskills.org
and for installers on the Green Skills Alliance website:
www.cutcarbon.info
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many green deal apprentices have (a) begun and (b) completed their training. [126204]
Gregory Barker: The Department made £3 million available in funding for the training of green deal advisers and installers. This was delegated to Asset Skills and Construction Skills respectively to allocate on our behalf. Over 1,000 learners have begun the adviser training and 23 had completed by the end of September. We expect another 500 to have done so by the end of January 2013. To date there are 304 individuals being assessed for their installer qualification with an expectation that they should complete this within four months. A further 260 individuals are registered and are currently being profiled to identify their training needs. There are also other green deal training courses being taken forward in addition to the DECC initiatives.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much of the funding pledged to train green deal apprentices has been distributed to date. [126205]
Gregory Barker: The Department has made £1 million available in funding for the training of green deal advisors and £2 million for green deal installers. This has been distributed in full to Asset Skills and Construction Skills respectively. Details of the activity for advisors is available on the Asset Skills website
www.assetskills.org
and for installers on the Green Skills Alliance website
www.cutcarbon.info
Nuclear Power
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the global nuclear energy market. [126095]
Mr Hayes: The Department has not made a recent assessment of the global nuclear energy market.
The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills has published reports on the value of low carbon environmental goods and services sectors which provide estimates of the global value of the nuclear sector.
The International Energy Agency’s annual “World Energy Outlook” report presents insights into trends in energy markets, including scenarios on the deployment of nuclear power.
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with EDF Energy regarding the new nuclear programme. [126096]
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Mr Hayes: Ministers and officials meet EDF Energy regularly to discuss the future of new nuclear in the UK.
The Department has also entered into dialogue with NNB Generation Company Ltd, a joint venture comprising EDF Energy and Centrica plc, regarding potential transitional arrangements for NNB's proposed new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C on the basis set out in the Technical Update on electricity market reform published in December 2011. These discussions are at an early stage, and no offers of comfort have been made by the Department.
In all such discussions Ministers and officials avoid any consideration of the merits of EDF's application for development consent to build a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point, on which the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), will make the final decision when he has received a recommendation from the Planning Commission.
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress he has made on agreeing a strike price for future nuclear energy provision. [126213]
Mr Hayes: The Department is in the process of assessing the terms and strike price of contracts for difference that might be offered to nuclear projects as part of the EMR programme.
Our focus is on delivering a fair and affordable deal for consumers that provides clear value for money, and is consistent with the Government's policy on no public subsidy for new nuclear.
Press: Subscriptions
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to which magazines, journals and newspapers his Department subscribes. [125339]
Gregory Barker: Magazines, journals and newspapers are not subscribed to by the Department centrally. Gathering of this information would incur a disproportionate cost to DECC.
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on newspapers, periodicals and trade publications in the last 12 months. [125688]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change spent £24,000 on its electronic press cuttings service during the 12-month period ending September 2012. The equivalent expenditure for the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 was £80,000.
The Department does not record expenditure on newspapers, periodicals and trade profession magazines separately from overall expenditure on publications which includes the cost of the Department's own publications as well as purchased publications of all types. It would incur disproportionate costs to scrutinise all publication transactions to identify relevant amounts.
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Justice
Billing
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average time taken by his Department to settle invoices to external suppliers or contractors was in each of the last three financial years. [125306]
Jeremy Wright: The following table shows the overall Department figures for the total number of invoices paid in the last three financial years. It also shows the percentage of those that were paid within the five-day departmental target.
| Financial year | Total number of invoices paid | Number of invoices paid within five days | Percentage of total invoices received paid within the five-day departmental target |
| (1) YTD figure 1 April 2012 to 30 September 2012. | |||
Cleaning Services
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make it his policy to require all cleaning contracts held by his Department to stipulate that the cleaning products used and their ingredients should not have been tested on animals. [125019]
Jeremy Wright: The Department does not have a policy to require cleaning contracts to stipulate that the cleaning products used and their ingredients should not have been tested on animals. There are currently no plans to introduce this policy. Contract requirements are considered on a case-by-case basis having regard to a number of factors including but not limited to cost, operational considerations, the practicality of implementing them, and social and environmental impact.
Community Orders
Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders were imprisoned due to a breach of community orders in each of the last three years. [124958]
Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. This database holds information on offences provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought but not all the specific circumstances of each case. Statistics are not collated centrally on sentencing outcomes for breaches of community orders.
Criminal Injuries Compensation
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed changes to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme on people who rely upon such compensation to cover the cost of living after they have been the victim of a violent crime; and if he will make a statement. [126009]
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Mrs Grant: Our proposals for reforming the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme were published in the consultation document “Getting it right for victims and witnesses” on 30 January and interested parties had a 12-week period in which to submit comments. Many were received and all were carefully considered.
A draft scheme was laid before Parliament on 2 July and was approved by the House of Lords later that month. On 10 September, at the Delegated Legislation Committee in the House of Commons, several hon. Members made points abut the impact of our changes to the scheme. We agreed to take away and consider those points. We have now done so.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent representations he has received on the decision to disallow loss of earning claims for those with a broken work record in the last three years under the draft Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012. [126010]
Mrs Grant: The only recent representations on this element of the draft Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 were made in debates in the House of Commons on 7 September (one hon. Member) and 10 September (two hon. Members) and in the House of Lords on 25 July (two noble Baronesses).
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will consider bringing forward proposals to amend the requirement for immediacy of reporting to the police under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to reflect the fact that some victims may be subject to intimidation. [126011]
Mrs Grant: We believe it is reasonable to expect victims seeking compensation from the state to fully co-operate with the criminal justice process. However, in the draft Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 we have made provision, for the first time, for claims officers at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority to take particular account of the effect of the incident on the applicant when considering when it was reasonably practicable to have reported the offence. This consideration would include assessing the circumstances of the case and whether the delay in reporting is the direct result of the trauma caused by the incident.
Criminal Proceedings: EU Law
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he has taken to transpose Framework Decision 2009/829/JHA on the principle of mutual recognition to decisions on supervision measures as an alternative to provisional detention into national law. [126032]
Jeremy Wright:
None: the EU Council Framework decision 2009/829/JHA on the application between member states of the European Union of the principle of mutual recognition to decisions on supervision measures as an alternative to provisional detention, known as the European Supervision Order, is not due to be implemented until 1 December 2012 and as the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), announced to this House
1 Nov 2012 : Column 399W
on 15 October 2012,
Official Report,
column 35, the UK's future participation in those measures within the scope of the 2014 decision, which includes this measure, is still being considered.
Prisoners
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the total prison population is in England and Wales; and what proportion of the prison population is serving sentences of (a) four years or less, (b) one year of less and (c) six months or less. [126031]
Jeremy Wright: The prison population for England and Wales as of 30 September 2012 was 86,457, of which (a) 33% (28,254) are serving sentences of four years or less; (b) 9% (7,670) are serving sentences of less than 12 months and (c) 6% (5,238) are serving sentences of six months or less.
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
Metal Theft
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of people charged with an offence involving stolen metal were recorded as being scrap metal dealers in each of the last three years. [125884]
Mr Jeremy Browne: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Home Department.
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Information on the number of persons charged is not collected centrally. The police recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office have data on the number of offences that were detected by means of a charge or summons but do not hold any information regarding the alleged offender.
Vacancies
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his Department's vacancy rate was in 2011-12; and what vacancy rate has been assumed for 2012-13. [125663]
Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice does not collate vacancy rates centrally. However the National Offender Management Service does collate a profile of vacancies.
For NOMS, the vacancy rate at 31 March 2012 was around 2%. This will fluctuate throughout the year as vacancies are filled or as more vacancies are created.
The data are not available for the wider Department. However the number of vacancies that were advertised during the period 1 June 2011 to 31 March 2012 is available. During this period, around 2,060 vacancies were advertised. It is not possible to give full-year figures for 2011-12 because the Ministry of Justice's recruitment system was subject to an IT change.
The Department's central budgetary calculations for 2012-13 do not involve assumptions about vacancy rates. Recruitment depends upon the need to balance redeployment of displaced surplus staff, turnover rates and operational need.