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Welfare to Work: Medway
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were employed by companies based in Medway under the welfare to work programme in the last year. [128246]
Mr Hoban: Official statistics on Work programme job outcomes will be released on 27 November. It will not be possible to separately identify jobs with employers based in the Medway area. However job outcomes will be broken down by local authority, parliamentary constituency and Jobcentre Plus district. These geographical areas are based on the claimant's address at the time of referral, not the address of the employer.
Work Programme
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research his Department has undertaken on the sectors of the economy that are engaging with work programme providers. [128380]
Mr Hoban: An independent evaluation has been commissioned to explore delivery, experience and outcomes from the Work programme. There will be no direct focus on employer engagement but the evaluation will measure the proportions of jobs secured in different employment sectors. The evaluation will begin reporting in November 2012, with a final report due in 2014-15.
Education
Children in Care: Missing Persons
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress has been made by his Department's Task and Finish group set up as a result of the all-party parliamentary group inquiry into children missing from care; and when he expects the group to report. [127233]
Mr Timpson: The Out of Area Placements Task and Finish Group has been focusing on how to improve arrangements, and the quality of care and support, for looked after children placed ‘out of area' by their local authorities. This is part of the wider work announced by Ministers in July to reform children's residential care. The group has comprised senior expert representation from children's services, local authorities, providers, Ofsted and others. It has met frequently over the summer and concluded its work at the end of September. We will consider its proposals and announce the actions we intend to take in due course.
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress has been made by his Department's Expert Data group set up as a result of the all-party parliamentary group inquiry into children missing from care; and when he expects the group to report. [127234]
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Mr Timpson: The Expert Data Group has been chaired by the Department and includes representatives from the Association of Directors of Children's Services, police organisations, The Children's Society and Ofsted. It has met frequently since July to consider how to safeguard looked after children who go missing, or are at risk of going missing, by developing improved local and national data collection arrangements, and strengthening practice among carers, children's homes, local authorities and the police. We will consider its proposals and announce the action we intend to take in due course.
Children: Internet
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) when he expects to announce the results of the consultation on the Opt-in Approach to harmful content on the internet; [127590]
(2) when he expects to inform members of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety about the future of the Government's plans for extending active choice in the light of the consultation in respect of Opt-in. [127591]
Mr Timpson [holding answers 8 November 2012]:The consultation on parental internet controls was held between 28 June and 6 September 2012. The primary responsibility for helping children stay safe online, as offline, lies with parents. The consultation, therefore, considered how best Government, the internet industry and others can assist parents in that task. It sought views on three approaches to keeping children safe online: the default filtering of age-restricted and potentially harmful internet content which could be accessed by adult internet users who asked their internet service provider to remove the filters; requiring parents to make an active, unavoidable choice on setting controls for their children's access to the internet; and a combination of the first two approaches.
Over 3,500 responses were received, reflecting a very wide range of views, including from parents, members of the public, businesses, charities and academics. We are now considering all these responses before deciding our course of action, and we expect to inform members of the UK Council for Child Internet Safety as soon as our decision is made.
GCSE
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils (a) eligible and (b) not eligible for free school meals sat GCSEs in each subject in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will place a copy of the data in the Library. [125508]
Elizabeth Truss: The information requested is shown in the following table.
| GCSE attempts(1,2) by pupils at the end of key stage 4 by subject and free school meal (FSM) eligibility, year: 2010/11 (final). Coverage: England, state-funded schools(3) | ||||||
| Pupils eligible for FSM | All other pupils(4) | All pupils | ||||
| Number | Percentage(5) | Number | Percentage(5) | Number | Percentage(5) | |
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| (1) For each subject group only one attempt is counted. Where subjects have been combined into a group (e.g. Other Modern Languages) and a pupil has an entry in two or more of those subjects, the entry with the best result is counted. (2) Includes attempts and achievements by these pupils in previous academic years. (3) Includes maintained schools, CTCs and academies. (4) Includes pupils for whom free school meal eligibility could not be determined. (5) The number of GCSE attempts divided by the number of pupils. (6) Includes Double Award Science and Applied Science. (7) Includes all other combined syllabus of which Design and Technology is the major part. (8) Also includes Computer Studies, Information Systems and any combined syllabus of which Information Technology is the major part. Source: National Pupil Database | ||||||
Social Workers
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to ensure the two chief social workers will work together to provide a strong voice for social work. [127352]
Mr Timpson: The two post holders will be appointed in a single process and will work collaboratively to share out those elements of the role relevant to both children and adult social work and lead a single “Office of the Chief Social Worker”.
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Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the cost per head of funding new social worker recruits through the frontline organisation. [126781]
Mr Timpson [holding answer 5 November 2012]: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), met representatives of the Frontline organisation on 22 October to discuss their proposals. He asked them to prepare a business case for setting up and running a programme to recruit and train high-calibre social workers as they propose.
Special Educational Needs
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what resource his Department has committed to the development of the local offer element of the Children and Families Bill; and if he will make a statement. [127540]
Mr Timpson: The Children Schools and Families Act 2010 makes no provision in relation to the development of a local offer.
Special Educational Needs: Sunderland
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children in Sunderland Central constituency received Special Education Needs statements in 2011. [127791]
Mr Timpson: Information on the number of children for whom statements were made for the first time during the calendar year 2011 is shown in the first table. Information is collected at local authority level and records those children for whom the authority is responsible; the Department is therefore unable to provide parliamentary constituency information.
Information on the total number of pupils with statements of special educational needs (SEN) is also provided. This information is collected at pupil level, therefore data have been provided for England, Sunderland local authority area and Sunderland Central parliamentary constituency. It is based on school location.
The latest special educational needs information is published in the ‘Special Educational Needs in England, January 2012’ Statistical First Release at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001075/index.shtml
| Children with a statement maintained by the local authority: Sunderland local authority and England | ||
| Total children for whom the authority maintains a statement of SEN | Children for whom statements were made for the first time during the calendar year 2011 | |
| Note: The numbers of children have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: SEN2 Survey 2012 | ||
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| All schools(1): Pupils with statements of special educational needs (SEN)(2), January 2012, England, Sunderland local authority and Sunderland Central constituency | |||
| Pupils on roll | Pupils with a statement of special educational needs | Percentage of pupils with a statement of special educational needs(3) | |
| (1) Includes maintained and direct grant nursery schools, maintained primary, maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges, non-maintained special schools, maintained special schools, general hospital schools, pupil referral units, independent schools and all primary, secondary and special academes, including free schools. (2) Includes pupils who are sole or dual main registrations. In pupil referral units includes pupils registered with other providers and in further education colleges. (3) The number of pupils with statements expressed as a percentage of the total number of pupils in all schools. Note: National totals have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: School Census | |||
Teenage Pregnancy
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) teenage and (b) non-teenage pregnancies that resulted in (i) live births, (ii) still births and (iii) legal abortions there were in each local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available. [128101]
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 November 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on how many (a) teenage and (b) non-teenage pregnancies that resulted in (i) live births, (ii) still births and (iii) legal abortions there were in each local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available. (128101)
The latest year for which figures on conceptions are available is 2010. Conceptions in England and Wales, 2010 is available on the ONS website and provides:
the number of under 18 conceptions in 2010 by Regions, Counties, Unitary Authorities, London Boroughs, Metropolitan Counties, Metropolitan Districts and Non-Metropolitan Districts in 2010 (Table 6)
the number of conceptions to women of all ages in 2010 by Regions, Counties, Unitary Authorities, London Boroughs, Metropolitan Counties, Metropolitan Districts (Table 5)
Both tables show the percentage of conceptions leading to abortion. Conceptions data is only available broken down by the number of women giving birth (maternities) and the number of abortions. Information on stillbirths is not available by date of conception and local authority.
Conceptions in England and Wales, 2010 is available at:
www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-250695
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The number of perinatal deaths (stillbirths and deaths under 1 week) for each local authority is published by date of the registration of the stillbirth or death and is available in Mortality Statistics: Deaths Registered in England and Wales by Area of Usual Residence, 2010 (Table 1a):
www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-226619
Data has been compiled in the attached spreadsheet for ease of use.
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many teenage pregnancies there have been and what the rate of teenage pregnancy has been in each (a) local authority area and (b) ward in each of the last five years. [128103]
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 November 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent question on how many teenage pregnancies there have been and what the rate of teenage pregnancy has been in each (a) local authority area and (b) ward in each of the last five years. (128103)
The latest year for which figures on teenage conceptions are available is 2010. Conceptions in England and Wales 2010, on the ONS website, provides numbers and rates of under 18 conceptions in each local authority in England and Wales for the years 1998-2010. See table 6 at:
www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-250695
Ward level under-18 conceptions data are not publicly available, to protect the privacy of individuals. ONS does produce a file showing the total number of conceptions to all women, and women under 18, during the last three years by census ward. Since these are sensitive data they are not published but can be made available to authorised users. The Teenage Pregnancy Unit at the Department for Education sends ONS a list of people working in local areas requiring access to this data under licence. Alternatively researchers may apply to ONS to become an approved researcher in order to access the data.
UK Youth Parliament
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the continuance and level of funding of the UK Youth Parliament either (a) through a third-party host or (b) directly for the duration of the present Parliament. [127028]
Mr Timpson [holding answer 6 November 2012]: We will be making an announcement shortly.
Written Questions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many written parliamentary questions to his Department received a substantive answer (a) within five working days, (b) between six and 10 working days and (c) after more than 10 working days in the last 12 months for which figures are available; [127255]
(2) how many and what proportion of written parliamentary questions to his Department received holding responses in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [127256]
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Elizabeth Truss: The Department aims to answer named day questions on the date specified by the Member and ordinary questions within five sitting days. Where it is not possible to provide a full answer within these time scales the Department issues a holding reply in accordance with parliamentary guidance.
Between 1 October 2011 and 30 September 2012, the Department received 1,653 Commons ordinary written parliamentary questions for answer, of which: (a) 526 received a response within five working days; (b) 546 were responded to between six and 10 working days; and (c) 581 were answered after 10 working days.
In the same period, 718 named day parliamentary questions were due to be answered of which 579 (81%) received a holding response.
The Government has committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the current session. Statistics relating to performance for the 2010-12 parliamentary session are available on the Parliament website as follows:
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/procedure/P35_Memorandum_Leader_of_the_House_ Monitoring_PQs.pdf
Written Questions: Government Responses
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to answer Question 126359, on free schools, tabled by the hon. Member for Gedling on 30 October 2012 for answer on 2 November 2012. [128044]
Elizabeth Truss [holding answer 12 November 2012]: Response was issued to the hon. Member's question on 9 November 2012, Official Report, column 764W.
Defence
Afghanistan
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been (a) treated for post-traumatic stress disorder and (b) discharged for psychological reasons after returning from Afghanistan since 2001. [126681]
Mr Francois: Between 1 January 2007 up to 30 June 2012, latest available mental health data there have been 679 UK service personnel who have been identified as previously deployed to Afghanistan and have subsequently been seen at a Ministry of Defence Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) or mental health in-patient provider for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA) verified data prior to 2007 is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, further information on mental health statistics, including annual and quarterly reports, is available at the DASA website:
www.dasa.mod.uk
The following table shows the number of regular service personnel who have been identified as previously deployed to Afghanistan and have been medically discharged with a principal cause or contributory cause
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of mental and behaviour disorders between 7 October 2001, the start of operations in Afghanistan and 31 March 2012, the latest data available:
| Medically discharged with a principal cause of mental and behaviour disorders | Medically discharged with a contributory cause of mental and behaviour disorders | |
| (1) Includes Royal Navy and Royal Marines (2) Fewer than 5 | ||
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on how many members of the Afghan National Army have deserted in each of the last three years. [126728]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 6 November 2012]: The Ministry of Defence does not hold information on Afghan National Army desertion rates, but information on attrition rates is available. Desertion is likely to account for some of this figure, but it will also include for instance personnel who are killed in action, permanently disabled, captured, and those whose deaths are classed as non-combat deaths. The average monthly attrition rate from October 2011 to September 2012 was around 4,500. This was from an ANA strength that varied during that period between 173,150 to 194,466 personnel.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment has been donated to the Afghan National Army; and if he will estimate the value of such equipment. [126980]
Mr Robathan: Since June 2011, 26 elevated sangars (fortified watch-towers) associated with check points which the Afghan National Security Forces were taking over, and a small amount of stores, has been gifted to the Afghan National Security Forces, including the Afghan National Army. The total value is estimated to be £735,000. Information is not held centrally prior to this date.
Aircraft Carriers
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his plans are for the operational role of HMS Prince of Wales; whether recent decisions on the procurement of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter have caused those plans to be modified; and if he will make a statement. [126887]
Mr Robathan: The Queen Elizabeth Class carriers and F-35B short take off vertical landing variant of the joint strike fighter will deliver the UK's carrier strike capability, as well as providing support to amphibious operations and broader Government interests worldwide. The decision to revert to the F-35B joint strike fighter has given us the option to use both carriers to provide continuous carrier availability should we decide to do so. A final decision on the use of the second carrier will be taken as part of the strategic defence and security review in 2015.
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Armed Forces: Conditions of Service
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish the new employment model for service personnel. [126622]
Mr Francois: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the then Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Leicester (Mr Robathan), on 23 March 2011, Official Report, column 1126W. The New Employment Model (NEM) programme aims to examine how we might strike a better balance between the requirements of service and the demands placed on service personnel and their families, adjusting where necessary to promote greater stability in service life while continuing to recognise the impact of mobility.
The New Employment Model signifies the Government's commitment to deliver a modernised terms and conditions of service 'offer' to service personnel. It is a long-term change programme looking out beyond 2020 and will need to be implemented incrementally with the first elements delivered no later than 2015. Announcements on its further development will be made in due course.
Armed Forces: Credit
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department provides to military personnel who are experiencing difficulties obtaining credit owing to the regular changes of address arising from their service duties. [125495]
Mr Francois: This Government is committed to combating disadvantage faced by all members of the armed forces. This includes assisting personnel who are facing difficulties obtaining credit owing to the mobility arising from their service. As part of its commitment, the Ministry of Defence is working with several organisations to improve the ability of armed forces personnel to gain access to a wider range of financial services. Working with these bodies from the financial sector they have produced a series of ‘Top Tips’ offering practical help for serving personnel in applying for secured and unsecured loans.
In order to alleviate the added disadvantage faced by those serving overseas, British Forces Post Office addresses may now be used, which improves access to a range of online services including buying goods online and making it easier to access Government online services. This will assist credit reference agencies with their assessments and armed forces personnel serving overseas with maintaining a UK credit history recognised by financial service providers and should thus improve access to financial products.
Armed Forces: Foreign Nationals
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with Veterans Aid regarding the citizenship rights of foreign soldiers. [126559]
Mr Francois: The Ministry of Defence has regular meetings with Veterans Aid and other voluntary sector organisations about many veterans issues, including citizenship.
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Armed Forces: Redundancy
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance his Department provides to former military personnel who have been or will be made redundant. [125494]
Mr Francois: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) will provide assistance to all those former military personnel who have been or will be made redundant. Individuals selected for redundancy are entitled to the same resettlement package which they would have received had they completed the whole of their service commitment.
The majority of resettlement provision is contracted out to the Career Transition Partnership. This is a partnering arrangement between the MOD and Right Management Ltd, a leading outplacement company. The Career Transition Partnership assists eligible Service leavers in making a successful transition to civilian life by providing career transition workshops; employment and future career advice; assistance with CV writing and job preparation; vocational training; and a job-finding recruitment facility. This assistance is provided for two years after leaving the MOD.
Furthermore, service leavers are entitled to lifetime job finding support through either the Officers Association or the Regular Forces Employment Association.
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) B2 engineering managers, (b) C1 senior engineers and (c) experienced engineers have (i) accepted voluntary redundancy and (ii) been made compulsorily redundant in each of the last three years. [127091]
Mr Francois [holding answer 6 November 2012]:The information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Armed Forces: Sexual Offences
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether serving members of the armed forces who report rape are automatically entitled to lifelong anonymity; and if he will make a statement. [127982]
Mr Francois: The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992 provides for lifelong anonymity for all victims or alleged victims of rape, whether military or civilian.
Armed Forces: Summary Trial
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what legal advice service personnel are entitled to on whether to opt for summary trials or court martial; and what arrangements are in place to ensure they are aware of their legal advice entitlements. [126672]
Mr Francois: Regardless of the way in which a case is heard, the accused will be given a booklet entitled “Your Rights If You Are Accused of An Offence Under The Service Justice System”. This booklet explains a person's rights and options, and details of whom the person may wish to contact and how.
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A copy of the booklet is incorporated in the Manual of Service Law (MSL), Chapter 6, Annex G, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. The MSL provides policy guidance and reference material on the Armed Forces Act 2006 to all those responsible for operating and administering the service justice system. This includes commanding officers, the service police forces, lawyers and court administrators. The MSL is available to all service personnel, and to the general public via the Ministry Of Defence Internet site:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/LegalPublications/ManualOfServiceLaw/
In addition, Joint Service Publication 838: The Armed Forces Legal Aid scheme provides guidance on all aspects of legal aid for service and relevant civilian personnel, for proceedings in the court martial, service civilian court and the summary Appeal Court; including matters referred to the Director of Service Prosecutions for a decision on prosecution. This can be found at:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/LegalPublications/Jsp838TheArmedForcesLegalAidScheme.htm
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 25 October 2012, Official Report, columns 972-3W, on armed forces: disciplinary proceedings, what proportion of summary trials involved service personnel not born in the UK; and how many such trials resulted in convictions. [126697]
Mr Francois: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost, as it would require a cross-check between each summary trial record and the individual's personnel record.
Armed Forces: Training
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the joint combat operations virtual environment being developed by the Royal School of Artillery in preparing troops for combat operations. [126577]
Mr Francois: Virtual training environments are being developed across the armed forces using the latest technology and common software. This software is used to provide realistic training to armed forces personnel in weapons and other skills in a safe environment, prior to undertaking other training activities.
The Royal School of Artillery has been instrumental in developing and delivering the virtual environment for the Army to support individual training requirements. This type of training allows an individual's ability and competences to be assessed prior to participation in live firing practices and helps to prepare them for mission specific and collective training.
Consultants
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people currently contracted as consultants to his Department or its agencies were previously employed directly by his Department or its agencies within the last two years. [126636]
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Mr Francois [holding answer 5 November 2012]: The information is not held in the format requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Cyprus
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding his Department has provided to tackle illegal bird trapping in the Cyprus Sovereign Base areas in 2012; and what steps he is taking to reduce the level of trapping. [126459]
Mr Francois: The Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) Administration are not allocated specific funding to tackle illegal bird trapping in the Cyprus Sovereign Base Areas, but in the last financial year the SBA police carried out some 350 patrols and 100 operations specifically to combat such activities. In the current financial year the SBA police have already conducted some 260 patrols and 40 operations resulting in 20 arrests and the seizure of a large quantity of trapping paraphernalia.
Combating illegal trapping is a key priority for the SBA police and dedicated patrols are run daily throughout the known trapping season. The SBA are a member of the Bern convention, which commits the Administration to conserving the bird population by working in co-operation with all interested parties to find solutions to this problem. The SBA administration, Republic of Cyprus Authorities and non-government organisations meet regularly to co-ordinate action on this issue and this approach has led to more joint operations and a greater sharing of intelligence about known offenders.
Defence Infrastructure Organisation
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation Transformation Programme; and if he will make a statement. [126578]
Mr Francois: The Defence Infrastructure Transformation Programme comprises three key sub-programmes; the development of an Enhanced Operating Model (EOM) for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation; the introduction of improved Information Systems (IS) and the appointment of a Strategic Business Partner (SBP).
Trade union consultation on the new EOM organisational design is under way and the IS contract has now been awarded. The procurement of the SBP commenced in May 2012. Three bidders have been down selected in August 2012 and the invitation to negotiate will be issued shortly.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the outcome of his Department's search for a private sector partner for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation. [126579]
Mr Francois: The Ministry of Defence intends to announce the outcome of its search for a private sector partner for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation in summer 2013.
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Lobbying
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the remit is of his Department's investigation into allegations of lobbying by former senior military personnel; [126667]
(2) when he expects to conclude and publish the outcome of his Department's investigation into allegations of lobbying by former senior military personnel; [126668]
(3) how many staff are working full-time on his Department's investigation into allegations of lobbying by former senior military personnel. [126669]
Mr Philip Hammond: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 October 2012, Official Report, column 877W, to the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones).
Mercian Regiment
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has made a decision on retaining the name of the 3rd Battalion the Mercian Regiment (Staffords) in respect of the new battalions from autumn 2014. [128304]
Mr Robathan: The retention of the name of the 3rd Battalion the Mercian Regiment (Staffords) is a matter for the Mercian Regiment who are currently looking carefully at how to keep the history and traditions alive for future generations.
Military Aircraft: Helicopters
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with the Puma upgrade programme; when he expects the programme to be completed and whether there has been any delay; what the cost of the programme will be; and if he will make a statement. [125991]
Mr Dunne [holding answer 31 October 2012]: The Puma Mk1 helicopter fleet is being modified and upgraded under the Life Extension Programme (LEP) to improve significantly the aircraft's safety and performance. The modified aircraft will be known as the Puma Mk2. A number of important milestones have been achieved on the project including: the maiden flight of the upgraded aircraft in June 2011, since when over 100 hours of flight tests have been conducted; the first qualification of the Puma Mk2, which was achieved in July 2012, enabling it to be delivered to the UK to conclude its test and evaluation; and, in September 2012, the first production standard aircraft undertook its maiden flight. To date, 21 of the 24 aircraft due for conversion to Mk 2 have been inducted into the programme.
There have been some delays to aspects of the project and work is being undertaken to understand whether this will impact on fielding plans. We currently expect to field the initial aircraft for training by mid-2013 and incrementally expand the capacity and capability of the Puma Mk2 force over the subsequent two years.
The cost of the LEP is forecast to be within its approved level of £339 million.
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Parachute Regiment
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers from the Parachute Regiment have left the Army within three years of commanding their battalions since 2005. [127046]
Mr Francois: The number of officers from the Parachute Regiment that have left the Army within three years of commanding their battalions since 2005 is less than five.
Press: Subscriptions
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to which magazines, journals and newspapers his Department subscribes. [125342]
Mr Francois:
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) accesses a pan-government framework contract administered by Department for Work and Pensions for the provision of newspapers, journals and periodicals on subscription.
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Funding is decentralised to MOD units with valid business reasons to purchase such publications. As units collectively subscribe to around 1,000 titles, details of the publications taken by them will be placed in the Library.
Where subscription to newspapers is impractical for business reasons, units can make ad-hoc purchases using local arrangements. Information on such purchases is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Public Expenditure
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much and what proportion of his Department's budget was spent on (a) pay, (b) pensions and (c) equipment in each year since 2007. [126182]
Mr Francois: The proportions of defence expenditure on pay, pensions and equipment, expressed as a percentage of resources consumed in each financial year are shown in the following table:
| Financial year | Pay (£ billion) | Percentage | Pensions (£ billion) | Percentage | Equipment (£ billion)(1) | Percentage |
| (1 )The figure quoted comprises capital expenditure on equipment, equipment support and research and development costs. Source: Departmental Resource Accounts and UK Defence Statistics Table 1.4. | ||||||
In addition, payments made under the separately funded armed forces pensions scheme were £3.2 billion in 2007-08 and £3.5 billion in each of the years 2008-09, 2009-10, and 2010-11.
Figures for 2011-12 have not yet been finalised.
Reserve Forces
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average length of service of reservists for the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Army is; and if he will make a statement. [122506]
Mr Francois: To establish the average length of service of reservists would require extensive access to the records of personnel who have left service, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The following table shows the average length of service to date, for Volunteer Reserve personnel who were on the strength of the Reserve Forces on 1 September 2012. These figures cannot be taken as indicative of how long personnel will serve, nor of the length of volunteer reservists' careers. They should also be considered approximate as the relevant data is not complete for all current personnel.
| Reserve force | Average length of service (years) |
Scotland
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sites his Department has in Scotland. [127958]
Mr Francois [holding answer 12 November 2012]: Updated information on all Ministry of Defence establishments by parliamentary constituency is available in the Library of the House.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed in Scotland in jobs linked (a) indirectly and (b) directly to UK cyber-security operations. [128184]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is responsible for the cyber security of its own systems and networks. At a national level the Cabinet Office, via the Office for Cyber Security and Information Assurance, co-ordinate the National effort on cyber security.
At a departmental level, cyber security is the responsibility of all personnel within the MOD, and we are taking action to incorporate it into the way we conduct operations and business. In doing so, we draw on a wide range of specialist personnel; however details of their numbers, ranks or positions, are being withheld for the purpose of safeguarding national security.
It is not Government policy to compile statistics relating to the location or number of defence industry jobs in any particular region of the UK.
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Senior Civil Servants
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which civilian posts in his Department at grade 5 level or above have been abolished without direct replacement since May 2010. [126637]
Mr Francois [holding answer 5 November 2012]: The number of posts in the senior civil service (SCS) has been reduced by 41 since May 2010. This frequently involves reorganisation of functions, with other posts being created or modified in the context of a smaller, more effective organisation. It is therefore not possible to provide a meaningful list of those positions abolished without direct replacement.
Senior Civil Servants: Retirement
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many senior civil servants have retired from his Department since May 2010; what their names are; and whether each former civil servant has had any meetings with (a) Ministers and (b) senior civil servant since their retirement. [123930]
Mr Philip Hammond: In the period from 1 January 2010 to 1 October 2012, 107 senior civil servants (SCS) ceased to be employed by the Ministry of Defence, seven of them before the start of May 2010. Of the 107 SCS departures, 13 involved moves to other Government Departments.
Details of the remaining 94 departures are given in the following table. Since the information held by my Department does not always specify whether an individual who is leaving plans to retire, I have provided a complete list.
Given the large number of individuals involved, information on whether they have held meetings with Ministers or senior civil servants since their last day of employment could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
| Senior civil servants leaving the Ministry of Defence since 1 January 2010 | ||
| Name | Substantive grade | Effective date |
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Sir Tim Laurence
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times each Minister in his Department had meetings with Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence since May 2012; and how many such meetings were held in his Department's headquarters. [126446]
Mr Francois [holding answer 2 November 2012]: No Ministry of Defence Ministers have had meetings with Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence since May 2012.
United Arab Emirates
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what issues were covered by the defence industrial partnership agreed during the Prime Minister's visit to the United Arab Emirates; what is the nature of the partnership; and if he will make a statement. [127878]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 12 November 2012]: The core aim of the Prime Minister's visit was to further our long standing friendship with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). We are partners across a broad range of areas and are committed to maintaining tolerant, open and outward-looking societies. Both countries have created environments in which investments thrive and have invested significantly in each other's economies.
During the visit, we agreed to develop our partnership by deepening our defence ties by: continuing to develop joint plans for the security of the UAE and wider Gulf region; establishing a defence industrial partnership centred on Typhoon and involving close collaboration between leading British and Emirate industrial companies and by growing UAE investment in the UK and UK investment in the UAE in a wide range of sectors including aerospace, communications and service ventures.
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Unmanned Air Vehicles
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) where MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicles will be based in the UK after the end of operations in Afghanistan; [126981]
(2) if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of creating the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle command centre at RAF Waddington for the MR-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle; [126982]
(3) what Unmanned Aerial Vehicles will be able to be commanded from RAF Waddington. [126983]
Mr Robathan: XIII Squadron stood up on 26 October 2012 at RAF Waddington as a Reaper remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) squadron that will utilise ground control stations to fly reaper RPAS deployed to Afghanistan. Reaper is a deployed capability and no decisions have yet been taken on whether to retain the capability once combat operations end in Afghanistan.
For the total cost of the current Reaper programme, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr Dunne), on 31 October 2012, Official Report, column 297W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham and Rainham (Rehman Chishti). I am withholding costs specific to the Reaper operational facility at RAF Waddington as their disclosure would prejudice commercial interests and international relations.
Vacancies
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's vacancy rate was in 2011-12; and what vacancy rate has been assumed for 2012-13. [125735]
Mr Francois: Data for vacancy rates within the Ministry of Defence is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Veterans
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to ensure that employers in the private sector are aware of the skills and experience that former military personnel have to offer. [125496]
Mr Francois: The Ministry of Defence (MOD), through the Career Transition Partnership (CTP), routinely and proactively approaches employers across the UK in all sectors of the economy private, public, voluntary and community, and relationships have been forged, by the network of specialist regional employment and training managers who belong to the CTP. The CTP is a partnering arrangement between MOD and Right Management Limited that delivers resettlement provision to service leavers from 11 regional centres across the UK and one in Germany.
The CTP works with hundreds of major employers including Siemens, Tesco, British Gas, Transport for London, BT Openreach, Jaguar-Land Rover, Bank of
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America, Merrill Lynch and Google making industry aware of the skills and experience which former military personnel have to offer and, crucially, successfully assisting with their recruitment needs. The CTP hosts a number of events including employment fairs, industry awareness days and select company briefings, all of which bring together national and regional employers searching for high calibre employees. This awareness is backed by regular advertising and media engagement.
Efforts in this area continue to expand. The UK wide Talent Retention Scheme (TRS) has been set up by the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector to connect suitably qualified service leavers with growing businesses across the UK. TRS is sponsored by leading companies such as Nissan, Airbus, Rolls- Royce, Siemens, EDF and BAE Systems and supported by Government, trade unions and trade associations.
Lord Ashcroft has recently been appointed as a Veterans Transition Special Representative. In this role he will provide the MOD with valuable advice on how we can further support those leaving the armed forces.
Written Questions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many written parliamentary questions to his Department received a substantive answer (a) within five working days, (b) between six and 10 working days and (c) after more than 10 working days in the last 12 months for which figures are available; [127263]
(2) how many and what proportion of written parliamentary questions to his Department received holding responses in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [127264]
Mr Francois: Between 1 November 2011 and 31 October 2012, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) substantially answered 991, or 50%, written parliamentary questions within five working days. Between six and 10 working days 725 or 36% received a substantive answer. There were 231 or 12% answered after more than 10 working days.
All named day questions not answered on the day named receive a holding reply.
There were 21 or 1% of ordinary written questions within this period which received an 'I will write response'.
The MOD strives hard to answer all written parliamentary questions on time. Where this is not possible, we aim to provide a substantive reply at the earliest opportunity.
The Government has committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary questions performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the current Session. Statistics relating to performance for the 2010-12 parliamentary Session are available on the parliamentary website which can be found at:
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/procedure/P35_Memorandum_Leader_of_the_House_ Monitoring_PQs.pdf
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Treasury
Capital Gains Tax
Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish (a) the calculations used to reach the figure of £0.6 billion for gains accrued but unrealised at death for capital gains tax in the tax expenditures and the structural relief statistics for 2011-12 and (b) the analysis of the effects of charging capital gains tax on accrued gains that are currently unrealised at death, including an impact assessment on groups as defined by (i) different income levels and (ii) different levels of asset-based wealth. [127573]
Mr Gauke: The information is as follows.
(a) The estimated cost of the capital gains tax exemptions for gains accrued but unrealised at death is based on a database of inheritance tax data which shows the assets held by estates at death. The published Capital Gains National Statistics tables are used to estimate the gains as a proportion of the asset values, which are then applied to the assets held by the estates. Assumptions on the main capital gains tax reliefs are then applied to the data before estimating the tax due.
(b) (i) An assessment of the impact on different income groups is not available.
(ii) Broad estimates of the number of estates that would have a capital gains tax liability on accrued gains unrealised at death by net estate size are given in the following table.
| Net estate size | Number of estates |
Child Benefit
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff his Department has recruited to work on the child benefit income tax charge. [124899]
Mr Gauke: No new staff have been recruited to work on the high income child benefit charge.
Credit Unions
Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to announce a decision on changes to the interest rate cap on credit union loans. [128306]
Sajid Javid: The Department for Work and Pensions carried out a feasibility study to examine options for the modernisation and expansion of credit unions earlier this year. The study showed that at present credit unions struggle to meet the operating costs of making small loans to people on lower incomes. It suggested that an increase in the APR credit unions are allowed to charge, from 2% to 3% per calendar month, would make a positive contribution towards credit unions achieving self sufficiency. Any increase to the interest rate that credit unions charge will be subject to consultation which the Government will publish shortly.
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Diesel Fuel
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the loss of revenue associated with the use of red diesel in the haulage industry. [127788]
Sajid Javid: The revenue loss associated with the use of red diesel in the haulage industry is not available. The loss of revenue from diesel is estimated and published every year by the HMRC in 'Measuring Tax Gaps'. For 2010-11 the loss was estimated to be £150 million for Great Britain.
The loss of revenue from diesel covers all illicit activity, including laundered red diesel used in road transport, and covers all types of road transport. Therefore the loss of revenue from haulage industry is only a proportion of the estimated £150 million.
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to notify traffic commissioners of the unlawful use of red diesel in the haulage industry. [127789]
Sajid Javid: An Information Sharing Protocol was set up between HMRC, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and the Traffic Commissioners in March 2011. This sets out the arrangements for the disclosure of information by HMRC about certain road hauliers who have evaded excise duty (including the illegal use of red diesel).
HMRC has recently been reviewing the Protocol, and considering how the flow of information could be improved, while respecting HMRC's legal obligations. HMRC aims to be in a position to announce changes shortly.
Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in paying compensation to Equitable Life policyholders; and if he will make a statement. [128043]
Sajid Javid: The Scheme intends to publish a progress report in January 2013 on the volumes and values of payments made.
Excise Duties: Fuels
Mrs Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what recent assessment he has made on whether the level of duty levied on methanol fuel is preventing its introduction into the UK; [127735]
(2) what assessment he has made of the potential effect of introducing a duty reduction on the introduction of new viable green fuels; [127736]
(3) if he will consider removing the requirement that liquid fuels used in place of petrol and diesel in a road vehicle attract the same level of excise duty on a volume basis. [127737]
Sajid Javid:
Government support for green fuels, such as biofuels, is provided through the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, which has a sharp sustainability focus. Introducing new duty differentials could be costly. In addition, any reduced rate of duty for methanol
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would require the UK to apply for a derogation from the EU Energy Products Directive, with no guarantee of success.
The Chancellor keeps all taxes under review and takes into account all relevant fiscal and economic impacts when taking decisions.
Individual Savings Accounts
Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make it his policy to increase the limit of individual savings accounts held in cash; [127694]
(2) if he will consider extending the uses to which individual savings accounts may be used so as to provide for care in later life. [127695]
Sajid Javid: This Government have increased the limits for individual savings accounts (ISAs) annually since in 2010. The ISA limits that will apply for 2013-14 will be confirmed in due course.
ISAs are flexible savings vehicles and the Government does not impose any restrictions on how money invested in an ISA can be spent. It is therefore already possible for savers to use an ISA to plan for care in later life, should they choose to do so.
Pay
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 15 October 2012, Official Report, column 83W, on pay, what the annual salary is of the (a) Head of Assurance of Infrastructure UK and (b) Chief Executive of the Debt Management Office. [127688]
Sajid Javid: For the 2011-12 financial year, the salary of the Head of Assurance at IUK was in the range of £185,000 to £189,999.
For the 2011-12 financial year, the salary of the Chief Executive of the Debt Management Office's salary was in the range £140,000 to £145,000.
Details of both are published in the HM Treasury organogram which can be found at:
http://data.gov.uk/dataset/staff-organograms-and-pay-hm-treasury-group
Pensioners: Northern Ireland
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners there were in each income quintile in Northern Ireland in the latest period for which figures are available. [128117]
Danny Alexander [holding answer 12 November 2012]: These are devolved matters which are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Minister for Social Development.
Public Bodies
Michael Connarty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on pricing risk for Government departments, executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies undertaking commercial activities. [127704]
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Danny Alexander: The treatment of risk is set out in the Green Book Pages 28 to 34 in the main body of the guidance and Annex 4 pages 79 to 88 are also relevant. The Green Book is available on HM Treasury's website.
Michael Connarty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on Government Departments, executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies having insurance in place to cover the commercial activities and services they undertake. [127705]
Danny Alexander: It is long standing practice that central Government organisations should not normally buy commercial insurance to protect against risk. “Managing Public Money” explains this in annex 4.5. In rare circumstances it can make sense to purchase commercial insurance. Any decision to take this approach should rest on an assessment of value for money.
Public Expenditure
Margaret Curran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Barnett consequentials have been received by the Scottish Government since 2007; and for what reason those funds were transferred. [128121]
Danny Alexander: Information relating to changes to the Scottish budget since the 2007 spending review can be found via the following links:
HM Treasury website—Scotland DEL since the comprehensive spending review2007
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/scotland_del_changes.xls
Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General Annual for Scotland: Annual Report 2011, Annex 2
http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/scotlandoffice/files/SO%20Annual%20Report%202011.pdf
Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General Annual for Scotland: Report and Accounts 2011-12, Table 2
http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/scotlandoffice/files/ScotlandOfficeAnnualReport2011-12.pdf
Science: Finance
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the oral answer of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury of 6 November 2012, Official Report, column 719, on affordable housing, to which science projects the £600 million funding will be allocated. [127905]
Danny Alexander [holding answer 12 November 2012]: BIS were allocated an entitlement of up to £600 million from the proceeds of the 4G spectrum auction to spend on science and innovation. The auction is due to take place in early 2013.
Taxation: Energy
Mr Cash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of whether the UK is eligible to take up the mineralogical processes exemption under the Taxation of Energy Products and Electricity Directive (2003/96/EC); and whether that exemption would apply to (a) the ceramics, cement, lime, glass and metallurgical sectors and (b) any other sectors; [128197]
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(2) what information his Department holds on whether other EU countries have taken up the mineralogical processes exemption under the Taxation of Energy Products and Electricity Directive (2003/96/EC); and to what extent, and in respect of which sectors, they have done so in each case; [128198]
(3) if the Government will as a matter of urgency accelerate its implementation of any take up by the UK of the mineralogical processes exemption under the Taxation of Energy Products and Electricity Directive (2003/96/EC); [128199]
(4) with reference to the Climate Change Levy, if he will ensure that full tax relief will be extend to all fuels used for mineralogical transformation. [128200]
Sajid Javid: Council Directive 96/2003/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. These considerations will need to be supported by solid data which we expect will take time to acquire. In the current economic climate, any proposals for tax reliefs will, of course, have to be considered very carefully. The Government will continue to work closely with industry to develop this analysis and build an evidence base.