Probation
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) on how many occasions a probation trust submitted moderation proposals in respect of the Probation Trust Rating System during 2011-12; [128282]
(2) how many probation trusts received an annual appraisal rating of (a) Band 1 - Serious Concern about Performance, (b) Band 2 - Requiring Development, (c) Band 3 - Showing Good Performance and (d) Band 4 - Exceptional Performance in 2011-12; [128283]
(3) what indicators are contained in the Probation Trust Rating System; [128284]
(4) what the average performance outcomes are for performance trusts in England and Wales for each of the 12 indicators in the Probation Trust Rating System in 2011-12. [128285]
Jeremy Wright: Moderation proposals were submitted by two probation trusts in 2011-12, namely South Yorkshire Probation Trust and Northumbria Probation Trust.
The annual Probation Trust Ratings for 2011-12 were published on the Justice website on 24 July 2012:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/statistics/prison-probation/prison-probation-performance-stats/probation-annual-performance-ratings-2011-12.pdf
They are reproduced in the following table:
| Table 1: Annual probation trust performance ratings 2011-12 | |
| Probation Trust | Performance Rating Band |
20 Nov 2012 : Column 432W
| (1) Level 4 awarded following moderation. | |
The 12 measures which are included in the Probation Trust Rating System are set out in the following table alongside the average performance outcome for each measure where applicable.
Performance outcomes by trust for each of the indicators contributing to the ratings are available on the Justice website, along with background guidance on the rating system, data sources and indicator definitions:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/prisons-and-probation/prison-probation-performance-info
Sentencing: Females
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the contribution by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice of 16 October 2012, Official Report, columns 50-1WH, which of the statistics used by the hon. Member for Shipley in his Westminster Hall debate on sentencing of female offenders on 16 October 2012 he (a) accepts as accurate and (b) believes are inaccurate. [126128]
Mrs Grant: The Ministry of Justice's Analytical Services Directorate provides statistics, research and analysis to underpin evidence based policy and delivery across the Department.
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The Ministry of Justice is required to ensure that all statistics produced by the Department are produced according to the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Its statistical publications are independently assessed by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure they meet the standards expected for official statistics. This helps maintain public confidence in the robustness, quality, integrity and impartiality of statistical publications.
All research undertaken by the Department adheres to the Government Social Research code. This ensures it is generated, handled and released in a way which maintains public trust in its robustness, integrity and impartiality. Maintenance of high standards is ensured through rigorous quality assurance processes, including internal and external peer review. Research outputs are published on the Ministry of Justice website.
The statistics and research published by the Ministry of Justice are accurate to the best of our knowledge.
Treasury
Banks: Loans
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to ensure that banks and building societies pass on cheap finance from his Funding for Lending scheme to (a) mortgage prisoners, (b) first-time buyers with limited deposits and (c) other consumers who most need assistance. [127867]
Greg Clark: The Funding for Lending scheme is designed to boost the incentives for banks to increase lending in aggregate. The resulting support is not targeted at particular sectors of the economy.
Child Benefit
Nick Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he plans to raise public awareness of the changes to child benefit entitlement from 7 January 2013, including the claw-back of child benefit paid via tax returns. [128153]
Mr Gauke: HMRC are writing to around 1 million taxpayers who may be affected by the high income child benefit change. In addition, HMRC will be using wider communication channels and media advertising so that everyone affected by the change knows about it.
Mr Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were in receipt of child benefit in (a) St Helens South and Whiston constituency, (b) the North West, (c) England and (d) the UK in each of the last five years; and how many people received such benefits for each number of children. [129069]
Mr Gauke: This information is published in the yearly HMRC publication “Child Benefit Statistics Geographical Analysis”. The publication for the years 2003-11 can be found here:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_benefit/geographical.htm
Data for 2012 is not currently available.
20 Nov 2012 : Column 434W
For convenience the data for the previous two years has been re-produced as follows.
| Number of families in receipt of child benefit in 2011 by number of children | ||||
| St Helens South and Whiston | The North West | England | UK | |
| Number of families in receipt of child benefit in 2010, by number of children | ||||
| St Helens South and Whiston | The North West | England | UK | |
Numbers were only provided for four or more children before 2010.
Customs: EU Action
Chris Bryant: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions HM Revenue and Customs worked with the customs services of another EU member state as provided for in the Naples II Convention on mutual assistance and co-operation between customs administrations in (a) 2012 to date, (b) 2011, (c) 2010 and (d) 2009. [128709]
Mr Gauke: The totals for Naples II Convention customs co-operation requests specific to HMRC were:
| Total | |
Debts: Argentina
Steve Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the recent decision of the higher court of New York, what discussions he had with his G20 counterparts on Argentina's international debt obligations; and if he will make a statement. [128030]
Greg Clark: Treasury Ministers have discussions on a wide variety of topics with G20 counterparts as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As has been the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.
Economic and Monetary Union
Mr Cash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps he plans to take to follow through in the European Court of Justice the legal reserve in relation to the fiscal compact; [127532]
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(2) what steps he plans to take in respect of the unlawfulness of the fiscal compact. [127533]
Greg Clark [holding answer 8 November 2012]: The position remains as set out in the letter from the Government's Permanent Representative to the EU to the Secretary General of the Council of the European Union, dated 22 February.
Mr Cash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to issue a legal reserve in relation to the unlawfulness of EU Regulation 13683/12. [127534]
Greg Clark [holding answer 8 November 2012]: The Government's position is as set out on the Floor of the House during the debate on banking union on 6 November.
Employment Agencies
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the use of offshore employment companies in the supply of public sector workers in his Department and its associated public bodies. [128728]
Sajid Javid: Her Majesty's Treasury is implementing the recommendations of the Government's review into the tax arrangements of senior public sector appointees.
When awarding contracts to employment companies, the Treasury complies with the European Public Procurement rules, implemented in the UK by the Public Contracts Regulations, 2006, which open up the public sector markets to competition within Europe.
EU Budget
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on the level of the EU Budget in the next seven years; and if he will make a statement. [126907]
Greg Clark: The Chancellor meets regularly with his European counterparts on a variety of issues, including the EU budget.
HM Treasury will continue to update Parliament via ministerial statements, on the outcome of Council meetings.
Excise Duties: Beer
George Freeman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the revenue raised from beer duty was from (a) rural and (b) urban areas in each of the last five years. [128423]
Sajid Javid: The information is not available. Data on revenue from beer duty is not broken down to the level required to identify the amount of beer duty raised from (a) rural and (b) urban areas. This is due to the duty being payable once the beer is cleared for consumption onto the UK market, rather than at the point of sale.
Income Tax: Bournemouth
Conor Burns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Bournemouth West constituency have been taken out of income tax due to recent increases in the personal allowance. [128903]
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Mr Gauke: By April 2013, the cumulative effect of the Government's increases in the under 65s personal allowance since 2010-11 will lift 2 million people out of the income tax system.
These estimates are based on the 2009-10 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected to 2013-14 using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2012 economic and fiscal outlook.
Reliable estimates are not available at parliamentary constituency level due to greater uncertainties in making projections for small geographical areas.
Infrastructure
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the use of covered bonds to finance infrastructure development; and if he will make a statement. [128707]
Danny Alexander: The Government are committed to supporting the development of a strong covered bond market in the UK. The Government conducted a review of the UK's covered bond framework in April 2011 and made a number of changes to the UK regime to make it more transparent and comparable with other European frameworks. These changes come into force on 1 January 2013 and will help banks and building societies make best use of covered bond funding to support lending to the real economy, including financing infrastructure development.
Macquarie Group
Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times staff of his Department have met representatives of the Macquarie Group in the latest period for which figures are available. [127381]
Greg Clark: Treasury Ministers and officials meet with, and receive representations from, a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the usual policymaking process. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Treasury's practice to provide details of all such representations.
Pay
Mr Raab: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees in his Department are paid in excess of (a) £80,000 and (b) £100,000. [128561]
Sajid Javid: 55 current Treasury employees are paid an annual salary in excess of £80,000. Of those, 26 are paid over £100,000 Information on HM Treasury salaries is published in the HM Treasury organogram which can be found at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about_hmtgroup_organogram.htm
Public Finance
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the International Monetary Fund's recent report commenting on the UK's structural deficit. [126566]
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Greg Clark: The Government notes that the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in their recent World Economic Outlook publication, have revised their estimates of the UK's structural deficit upwards for the last decade compared to their previous publication back in April 2012. The IMF now believe that the pre-crisis structural deficit left by the previous Government in 2007 was larger at 5.2% of GDP, the largest in the G7.
Revenue and Customs: Washington (Tyne and Wear)
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations his Department received on the closure of Weardale House in the last 12 months; [128966]
(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the feasibility study considered by Ministers in respect of the decision to close Weardale House; [128967]
(3) if he will place in the Library a copy of the Equality Impact Assessment conducted to inform the decision to close Weardale House; [128968]
(4) what assessment he has made of the ability of nearby offices to accommodate house staff working in Weardale House after it has closed; [128969]
(5) what estimate he has made of the economic effect on the surrounding area of the closure of Weardale House. [128970]
Mr Gauke: In the past 12 months the following MPs have all written to lend their support to a PCS Union campaign against the closure of HMRC offices in Sunderland and Washington, some more than once: Graham Morris (Easington), Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South), Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow), Ian Mearns (Gateshead), David Miliband (South Shields), Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham), Phil Wilson (Sedgefield), Dave Anderson (Blaydon) and Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Sunderland West).
There are no plans to publish or release the findings of HMRC's feasibility work into the closure of Weardale House in the form of either a study or a report. HMRC will be publishing some information from its feasibility findings on the Department's intranet site.
There are no plans to place a copy of the equality impact assessment conducted to inform the decision to close Weardale House in the Library. HMRC does plan to publish the equality impact assessment on its internet site in the near future.
Before taking the decision to close Weardale House in Washington HMRC carried out a full assessment which took account of current and future business plans for its north east estate. This included an analysis of how HMRC will use its office accommodation efficiently to deliver its full operational commitments. HMRC constantly reviews its office requirement as its business activities alter so that it can continue to accommodate the right number of people in the right locations.
In HMRC's assessment any economic effect on the surrounding area arising from the closure of Weardale House is likely to be minimal and temporary, lasting until such time as the building receives a new tenant.
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Sick Leave
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2012, Official Report, column 656W, on sick leave, what assessment he has made for the disparity between Grade B absences and SCS; and what assessment has been made of the use of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing the number of absences. [128496]
Sajid Javid: HM Treasury is firmly committed to the wellbeing of its staff. The Department regularly monitors sick absences across the organisation and the reasons for them particularly if a clear pattern emerges. Interventions will be considered on a case by case basis and this includes an assessment of all the core data.
Although we do not currently use any mindfulness-based interventions in dealing with sick absence cases, there is guidance on wellbeing available for staff, for example on managing stress in the workplace, and support available through an Occupational Health service and an Employee Assistance Programme.
Universal Credit
Mr McCann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the qualifying conditions for each passported benefit for which he is responsible will change under universal credit. [128332]
Mr Gauke: The administration of passported benefits is the responsibility of a number of Government Departments and the devolved Administrations. We are currently working across Government to ensure that we introduce universal credit in a way that works smoothly with all passported benefits while ensuring that these benefits continue to be available to the families that need them most.
We will announce our eligibility criteria in due course.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Adult Education: Hampshire
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students in (a) Southampton and (b) Hampshire aged (i) between 18 and 24 and (ii) over 25 years olds (A) began and (B) completed Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in (1) the latest period for which figures are available and (2) each of the last five years. [128644]
Matthew Hancock: I am placing in the Libraries of the House data to show government-funded further education and skills participation and achievements by age and level in Hampshire and Southampton local education authorities. Final data are shown for the 2006/07 to 2010/11 academic years and provisional data are shown for the 2011/12 academic year. Figures are not produced for the number of learners who began these qualifications each year broken down in this way.
Provisional data for the 2011/12 academic year provide an early view of performance and will change as further data returns are received from further education colleges and providers. They should not be directly compared with final year data from previous years. Figures for 2011/12 will be finalised in January 2013.
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Information on further education and skills participation and achievements by age, level and geography is published in a supplementary table of a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 11 October 2012:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_supplementary_tables/further_education_skills/
Foreign Investment in UK
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how his Department plans to assess the long-term effect of the London 2012 Olympic Games in promoting foreign investment to the UK. [128634]
Michael Fallon: The Games were a unique opportunity to promote Britain as a place to do business, and we expect the benefits of this opportunity to be delivered both this year and in the years to come including attracting new and retaining current foreign direct investment and infrastructure investment.
UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is targeted with attracting £6 billion of foreign direct investment and infrastructure investment stimulated by the 17 British Business Embassy Global Business Summits, held at Lancaster House, and that attracted over 4,000 business leaders, global figures and international decision makers.
UKTI has established strategic relationship management in order to establish an excellent, whole-government relationship with major wealth creators to raise investment and exports, thereby increasing growth and jobs. UKTI are undertaking a follow up exercise with all potential and current investors that attended the British Business Embassy to ensure that every opportunity is followed through to successful conclusion.
An Annual Investment Report covering the period 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013 will collate all foreign direct investment and infrastructure investment into the UK. Annual Investment Reports will also be produced in forthcoming years.
Additionally, UKTI is developing with No.10 the GREAT campaigns that will continue to promote the UK in overseas markets.
Green Deal Scheme
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what investments (a) UK Green Investments and (b) the Green Investment Bank have made to support the Green Deal. [128670]
Michael Fallon: UK Green Investments and, since it became fully operational on 29 October 2012, the UK Green Investment Bank have been exploring in detail proposals to support the financing of the Green Deal, including with the Green Deal Finance Company. The Department of Energy and Climate Change is currently seeking state aid approval for the financing of the Green Deal. Any investment by the Green Investment Bank to support the Green Deal would need to be consistent with the terms of that approval.
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New Businesses: South Yorkshire
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what support he is providing to entrepreneurs in (a) Barnsley Central constituency and (b) South Yorkshire who want to start their own business. [128711]
Michael Fallon: We want to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business, and for the next decade to be the most entrepreneurial and dynamic in Britain's history. The Government's vision is for many more people in the UK to have the opportunity, aspiration and motivation to use their talent and initiative to be enterprising.
Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) took place last week (12-18 November 2012) and given the current economic conditions, we believe that it continues to be crucial to take steps to create a more entrepreneurial UK. The 2012 campaign has been built around the message: “Pass it on!”—passing on the practical help and support needed by early start-ups and individuals.
In January, the Prime Minister launched “Business in You”, a major campaign to inspire people to realise their business ambitions. We have changed the way that we help entrepreneurs access the information, guidance and advice they need to start and grow a business. We have put in place a range of services including:
The new home for Government services and information online:
www.gov.uk
has been built to make it simpler and faster for people to find what they need from Government. To help those that cannot use internet services, we will continue to offer support through the Business Link helpline (on 0845 6009006).
A mentoring portal:
www.mentorsme.co.uk
providing an easy route to find experienced business mentors.
A new three year Growth Accelerator programme which will provide high quality coaching support for up to 26,000 small businesses with high growth potential.
The Government are also ensuring entrepreneurs can access the finance they need by:
In September, we announced a new Government-backed business bank, including new Government funding of £1 billion. It will aim to attract private sector funding so that, when fully operational, it could support up to £10 billion of new and additional business lending. More detail on the design of the bank and the types of interventions it will support will be provided later in the autumn.
In July, the Government and Bank of England launched the Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS), which allows banks and building societies to borrow at cheaper rates from the Bank of England for periods of up to four years. The FLS creates strong incentives for banks to increase lending to UK households and businesses by lowering interest rates and increasing access to credit.
In May we launched a new £10 million Start-Up Loan Scheme aimed at 18 to 24-year-olds.
We have increased the funds available to invest through the Business Finance Partnership (BFP) to £1.2 billion. Government will allocate £100 million of the BFP to invest through non-traditional lending channels that can reach smaller businesses.
The Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) scheme will continue until 2014/15, providing, subject to demand, over £2 billion of additional lending.
We have established a £50 million Business Angel Co-Investment Fund to encourage Business Angel investment.
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We are increasing our commitment to our Enterprise Capital Funds programme by £200 million, providing for more than £300 million of venture capital investment to address the equity gap for early stage innovative SMEs.
The Government has also worked with Local Enterprise Partners (LEPs) to ensure they understand the availability of Government's support to business. Many LEPs have the promotion of enterprise, access to finance and business growth as key strategic priorities. The Leeds and North Yorkshire LEP, for example, runs a mentoring programme via the Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.
Overseas Trade: Fiji
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the value was of UK (a) imports from and (b) exports to Fiji in each of the last five years. [128408]
Michael Fallon: The value of UK exports and imports of goods, to and from Fiji, in the last five years is given in the following table. The data are sourced from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Overseas Trade Statistics database and are publicly available on the UK Trade Info website:
www.uktradeinfo.com
| £ million | ||
| UK imports of goods from Fiji | UK exports of goods to Fiji | |
| Source: HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics | ||
Public Houses
Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether as part of the review into the self-regulation of the pub industry the following organisations have been contacted (a) CAMRA, (b) Fair Pint, (c) UNITE the Union, (d) the Independent Pub Confederation, (e) the GMB union, (f) the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, (g) the Guild of Master Victuallers, (h) the Society of Independent Brewers, (i) the Forum of Private Business and (j) the All Party Save the Pub Group. [128495]
Jo Swinson:
In the first instance, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has contacted a number of the organisations to ascertain the facts of how the self-regulatory approach is working. These organisations are the members of the Pubs Independent Rent Review Scheme (PIRRS) Board that oversees the Pubs Independent Conciliation and Arbitration Service— which includes the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers and the Guild of Master Victuallers—and the Independent Pubs Confederation, of which most of the other organisations named above are members. We are happy to receive evidence from the organisations
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named above as to the facts of how the self-regulatory approach is working, and any further comments they wish to submit.
The Chair of the All Party Save the Pub Group has been informed of the review.
Regional Growth Fund
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 29 October 2012, Official Report, column 115W, on Regional Growth Fund, how many (a) face to face meetings and (b) telephone conversations he and his officials have had with the 30 projects that withdrew from the Regional Growth Fund prior to their decision to withdraw. [128752]
Michael Fallon [holding answer 19 November 2012]:Information on the exact number of meetings and telephone conversations held with Regional Growth Fund applicants prior to their decision to withdraw is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost in terms of staff hours spent checking case records. However we can confirm that very extensive discussions are held with each and every bidder during the contracting phase and every effort is taken to rescue a troubled project before a withdrawal occurs.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2012, Official Report, column 697W, on Regional Growth Fund, how many Regional Growth Fund (a) round one and (b) round two bids were withdrawn due to (i) withdrawal of support from the parent company, (ii) inability to secure matched funding, (iii) failure to get planning permission, (iv) change in market conditions and (v) other reasons. [128757]
Michael Fallon: In my answer to the hon. Member of 8 November 2012, Official Report, column 697W, I gave these categories as examples of reasons why bidders have withdrawn from the Regional Growth Fund. These companies withdrew without prejudice. To be more specific about reasons for withdrawal would not be appropriate or fair to the bidders concerned as it could undermine future commercial interests. I am, therefore, not able to expand upon my answer of 8 November 2012.
South East
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many awards have been made from the regional growth fund since it was launched in the South East. [128475]
Michael Fallon:
The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) supports the Government's ambitions to make the UK the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business as well as encouraging investment and exports: the fund's objective are to help rebalance the economy by supporting those areas and communities dependant on the public sector. 11 awards in Rounds 1 and 2 have been made to projects and programmes in the South East since the launch of the RGF (to a value of
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£80.9 million); two have withdrawn (to a value of £13 million). Furthermore, six projects or programmes have been selected to go forward in Round 3.
UK Trade and Investment
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether there are minimum revenue or profit requirements before UK Trade and Investment will help small businesses seeking to grow. [128919]
Michael Fallon [holding answer 19 November 2012]: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) does not insist on minimum revenue or profit requirements before helping small businesses to grow. There is a range of information and support available to every business. The majority of companies supported by UKTIs regional network are small companies with less than 10 employees.
However for certain programmes, UKTI will seek to satisfy itself on a case by case basis that any individual company has the management and financial capability to undertake trade development activity given the challenges and resources required to win business in overseas markets.
Education
Children in Care
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to publish the recommendations of the task and finish group on out of borough placements. [126806]
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.
The Task and Finish Group has been working in parallel with two other expert groups established to take forward work on the reform of children's residential care: a group focusing on improving data about looked after children who go missing from care, and a further group with a broad remit to consider how to improve the overall quality of children's residential provision.
We are considering the Task and Finish Group's proposals alongside those made by the other expert groups, and will announce the action we intend to take in due course.
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and which (a) primary and (b) secondary schools had more than five per cent of pupils in care in each local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available. [128097]
Mr Timpson: In 2011 (the latest year for which data is available), there were 25 state-funded mainstream primary schools with more than 5% of pupils looked after. Of these schools, 23 are small primary schools. These schools have a small number on roll and, as such, even one or two looked after pupils will result in the school having more than 5% of pupils looked after.
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To protect the confidentiality and identity of these vulnerable pupils we have not named the schools in this response.
The following table shows the local authorities where these schools are located. There were no state-funded mainstream secondary schools with more than 5% of pupils looked after.
| Number of primary schools where more than 5% of pupils are looked after children(1 )by local authority - 2011 | |
| Number | |
| (1) Based on children looked after continuously for six months at 31 March 2011 matched to their School Census return for January 2011. | |
Children in Care: Missing Persons
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to publish the recommendations of his Department's Expert Data Group in respect of children missing from care. [126805]
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 amongst carers, children's homes, local authorities and the police.
The Expert Data Group is working alongside two other expert groups established to take forward work on the reform of children's residential care: a group 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; and a further group with a broad remit to consider how to improve the overall quality of children's residential provision.
We are considering the Expert Data Group's proposals, alongside those made by the other expert groups, and will announce the action we intend to take in due course.
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Children: Abuse
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the incidence of sexual abuse of children in England in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement. [127984]
Mr Timpson: The Department does not hold information on all incidences of child sexual abuse in England. However, the Department does have information available on the number of children who became the subject of child protection plans each year where the initial category of abuse was ‘Sexual Abuse’. These numbers are shown in the table.
| Child protection plans beginning with a recorded initial category of abuse of ‘Sexual Abuse’(1), in England, 2000-12(2) | |
| Year ending 31 March: | Number |
| (1) Where a child has become the subject of a plan more than once in a year then each instance will be counted. (2 )Figures for the year ending 31 March 2000 to 31 March 2009 are taken from the CPR3 return, figures for the years ending 31 March 2010 onwards are from the Children in Need census. (3) From 2002, only the main category of abuse was recorded. Where multiple categories were present, the category of abuse was recorded as “multiple”. It is not possible to tell incidence of sexual abuse from the multiple category. Prior to 2002, all categories of abuse were recorded, so in these years, sexual abuse is included as the main or additional category of abuse hence the apparent higher numbers in these years. Source: Child Protection and Referrals 3 (CPR3) and Children in Need (CIN) census | |
The latest figures on children who were the subject of a child protection plan were published in Statistical First Release (SFR) 27/2012 ‘Characteristics of Children in Need, in England, 2011-12’, available at the following link:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001095/index.shtml
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what statutory requirements there are for local authorities to report instances of child sexual exploitation. [128989]
Mr Timpson: While there are no statutory requirements for local authorities to report instances of child sexual exploitation in particular, it is the responsibility of all public bodies and organisations working with children to have a clear child protection policy and know how to raise concerns with the relevant bodies, including the police.
Guidance was also issued to local authorities on 19 April 2007 in Local Authority Circular 2007(25) giving details of the arrangements for local authorities
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to provide Ofsted and the Department for Education (from 1 October 2010) with statutory notifications of incidents affecting children; this can include incidents of child sexual exploitation.
Children: Human Trafficking
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent discussions he has had with the Children's Improvement Board on creating a programme of work to support local authorities to meet the needs of trafficked children through child protection frameworks. [127942]
Mr Timpson: The Department has had discussions with the Children's Improvement Board about support for local authorities to meet the needs of trafficked children, particularly in relation to child sexual exploitation, as part of wider discussions with the CIB about its annual programme of work.
GCSE: Children in Care
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 24 September 2012, Official Report,House of Lords, column 1428, on children: looked-after children, how many and what proportion of children in care who attended schools classified as (a) inadequate, (b) satisfactory, (c) good and (d) outstanding achieved (i) five GCSEs at grade A* to C, including English and mathematics but excluding equivalents, (ii) grade A* to C in English GCSE, (iii) grade A* to C in mathematics GCSE, (iv) a grade A* to C in both English and mathematics GCSE and (v) grade A* to C in English, mathematics, two sciences, a foreign language and history or geography GCSE in each local authority area in the most recent school year for which figures are available. [128109]
Mr Timpson: Tables have been placed in the House Libraries showing the number of looked-after children eligible for key stage 4 who attended a school classified as inadequate, satisfactory, good or outstanding according to Ofsted inspections in each local authority in England, and the number and percentage of these children who achieved GCSEs. The figures relate to children who have been looked after continuously for 12 months up to 31 March 2011 and their GCSE achievement in 2011. Ofsted inspection data relate to the latest inspection in the period before March 2011.
Offences against Children: Kirklees
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to publish the full serious case review first produced by Kirklees Safeguarding Children Board relating to the case of child SM from February 2008. [127589]
Mr Timpson [holding answer 8 November 2012]: The Department has been working with Kirklees Local Safeguarding Children Board on the publication of the Family M serious case review. This is currently subject to legal proceedings relating to publication of the report on which the Department is unable to comment further at this stage.
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The Government is fully committed to the publication of serious case review reports. We are determined to foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement in all organisations responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and the publication of serious case review reports plays an important part in this.
Physical Education: Curriculum
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether it is his policy to maintain a compulsory minimum amount of two hours each week to be spent on physical education in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools as part of the National Curriculum. [128288]
Mr Timpson: The previous Government's targets for physical education were wholly aspirational and not compulsory. Indeed, the law specifically prevents the Secretary of State from telling schools how much time they should devote to PE, or to any other National Curriculum subject. That is for schools to decide.
PE will remain a compulsory subject at all four Key Stages following the review of the National Curriculum. The draft National Programme of Study for PE will be sent out for consultation in the new year. It will place a greater emphasis on competitive sport than previous versions and will retain the requirements relating to swimming in primary schools.
Primary Education: Speech and Language Disorders
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and which primary schools had more than five per cent of pupils in (a) reception, (b) year 1 and (c) year 2 with speech, language and communications difficulties in each local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available. [128018]
Mr Timpson: In January 2012, there were:
2,815 state-funded primary schools where more than 5% of pupils in reception had speech, language and communications difficulties.
3,421 state-funded primary schools where more than 5% of pupils in year 1 had such difficulties.
3,058 state-funded primary schools where more than 5% of pupils in year 2 had such difficulties.
Lists of these schools and their local authority area have been placed in the House Libraries. Schools can appear in more than one list.
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
Schools: Sports
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the cost was of the annual PE and Sport Survey in each year from 2003-04 to 2009-10. [128286]
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Mr Timpson: Information for 2003/04 is unavailable. The contracted costs of the PE and Sport Survey from 2004 to 2010 were as follows:
| £ | |
In addition to these costs, completing the survey each year placed a considerable burden on schools.
Social Work
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the new Chief Social Worker for Children's Services will be recruited by his Department or the Department of Health. [127973]
Mr Timpson: The Chief Social Workers for both Children and Families and Adult Social Work will be recruited in a joint exercise by the Department for Education and the Department of Health.
Special Educational Needs
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children in each local authority area (a) are on school action, (b) are on school action plus and (c) have a statement of special educational needs. [128175]
Mr Timpson: The requested information has been placed in the House Libraries.
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
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of children currently in receipt of a statement of special educational need who will be eligible for an education, health and care plan; and if he will make a statement. [127538]
Mr Timpson: As at January 2012 there were 230,155 children with statements of special educational need (SEN) maintained by local authorities. In September 2012, the Government published draft provisions on reforming support for special educational needs, for pre-legislative scrutiny. Under the draft provisions, any child or young person who would be eligible for a statement of SEN currently would be eligible for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in future. The Government is considering possible arrangements for transition of those with statements of SEN to EHCPs in future, learning from the SEND pathfinders.
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children currently placed on the School Action programme (a) will and (b) will not be eligible for the new education, health and care plan; and if he will make a statement. [127539]
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Mr Timpson: Under our Green Paper proposals for Special Educational Needs, reflected in the draft legislation currently subject to pre-legislative scrutiny, any child or young person who would be eligible for a statement of SEN currently would be eligible for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in future.
School Action is not a centrally stipulated programme and the classification is used by different schools and local authorities in different ways. It is not formally a precursor to a statement, and many pupils with SEN will have their needs met while supported under School Action or School Action Plus without needing a statement. However, the majority of children with statements will have originally been on the School Action or School Action Plus as, in line with the SEN Code of Practice, local authority guidance to schools usually specifies that in most cases support under School Action or School Action Plus should have been tried before requesting a statement.
This is expected to continue under our new arrangements, and we are also looking at how to bring together the School Action and School Action Plus categories to help secure better teaching and support for those that do not have an EHCP. Any child that would have gone on to have a statement after being supported under School Action would in the future go on to have an EHCP.
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to his draft Children and Families Bill, whether he proposes to transfer funding from the Education Funding Agency to local authorities to administer the education of young people aged 16 to 25 years old with a disability or learning difficulty. [127728]
Mr Timpson: From April 2013 the Department will be transferring funds from the Education Funding Agency to local authorities' Dedicated Schools Grant allocations to enable them to pay for the additional education support costs of those students, aged 16 to 25-years-old, with high level learning difficulties or disabilities. The Department has consulted on regulations which will continue to allow local authorities to use this grant for costs and overheads associated with the administration of funds in support of these young people. These regulations are planned to take effect from next April. Local authorities will continue to be funded directly to cover the costs of assessing children and young people where necessary and developing an EHCP under the new arrangements.
Cabinet Office
Big Lottery Fund
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applications for Big Lottery funding were received from (i) Gillingham and Rainham constituency, (ii) Medway and (iii) the UK in each of the last five years. [128629]
Mr Hurd: This information is owned by Big Lottery Fund. The following tables provide the number of awards made and the number of unsuccessful applications received from the Gillingham and Rainham constituency, Medway, and the UK in each of the last five years. The figures refer only to full applications and include applications that were withdrawn by the applicant.
20 Nov 2012 : Column 450W
| Gillingham and Rainham | ||
| Financial year | Number of awards | Number of unsuccessful applications |
| Medway | ||
| Financial year | Number of awards | Number of unsuccessful applications |
| UK-wide | ||
| Financial year | Number of awards | Number of unsuccessful applications |
Military Medals Review
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will publish the names and qualifications of the members of the Independent Military Medals Review panel. [128160]
Mr Hurd: Sir John Holmes GCVO KBE CMG is leading the review supported by Brigadier (Retd) Brian A. H. Parritt CBE. Sir John Holmes' qualifications are detailed in Annex J of his Military Medals Interim review at:
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Medals-Interim-Report-July-12.pdf
Brigadier Parritt served for 37 years in the British Army, culminating in five years as Director of the Intelligence Corps. Throughout Brigadier Parritt's service he held a variety of senior Intelligence and Security appointments all over the world, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Malta, Libya and Cyprus. He is a graduate of Hong Kong University in Chinese (Mandarin) and the Staff College, Camberley; he is a Freeman of the City of London and from 1981 to 1985, was an Aide de Camp to Her Majesty the Queen. In 1986 he was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Intelligence Corps Volunteers and in 2001 was appointed to be the first Deputy Colonel Commandant of the Intelligence Corps. He was Chairman of the Intelligence Corps Museum Board of Trustees for 20 years and remains a Trustee. In 2008 he was presented with the “Annual Award for Distinguished Service to the Intelligence Corps”.
Procurement
Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the staffing to spend ratio for procuring services is in his Department. [128254]
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Mr Hurd: The Cabinet Office has a small core team of procurement officials to run and manage procurement for the Department. The Cabinet Office also uses the Government Procurement Service's Spot Buying Team to procure goods and services.
Details of spend on goods and services are published on the Cabinet Office website at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/business-plan-quarterly-data-summary
Prime Minister
Cabinet: Bristol
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what criteria were used to determine the venue for the Cabinet meeting which took place in Bristol on 12 November 2012; [128694]
(2) from which budgets expenses for travel for (a) himself and (b) each other member of Cabinet to attend the Cabinet meeting in Bristol on 12 November 2012 were drawn; [128695]
(3) whether he (a) sought and (b) received advice from the Cabinet Secretary on the appropriateness of the venue and timing of the Cabinet meeting held in Bristol on 12 November 2012; [128696]
(4) on what date it was agreed to hold the meeting of the Cabinet which took place in Bristol on 12 November 2012; [128697]
(5) what the cost to the public purse was of the Cabinet meeting held in Bristol on 12 November 2012. [128698]
The Prime Minister: Regional Cabinets and associated visits allow Ministers to hear at first hand the views of people in different areas of the country. The region, timing and venue of the Cabinet meeting were decided in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary.
There was no cost for using the venue. Departments and agencies will have incurred costs in terms of travel, staff time and other support. The cost of any security provided by the police is a matter for the relevant police force.
Energy and Climate Change
Green Deal Scheme
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what criteria he used to assess which cities should receive part of the £12 million green deal pilot funding announced by his Department on 21 September 2012. [128651]
Gregory Barker: The cities awarded funding were those that had been identified as part of the Cabinet Office's City Deal's programme. Funding to support Green Deal related work was allocated based on the cities' Green Deal bids and the populations these covered.
The Department remains in discussion with Liverpool regarding funding its plans to test key elements of the Green Deal.
Luciana Berger:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the oral answer of 1 November 2012, Official Report,
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column 357, on Green Deal, how many telephone calls have been received by the energy saving advice service helpline since its launch. [128652]
Gregory Barker: The Energy Saving Advice Service (ESAS) helpline has answered 79,029 calls since the service started on 2 April 2012 until the end of October 2012.
The average calls ESAS answered per week in April were 2,807 whereas in October they were 4,484.
Local Government
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2012, Official Report, column 635W, on Local Government, for what reasons his Department has not yet facilitated meetings between the Local Government Association and other Government Departments. [128653]
Gregory Barker: The Local Government Association meets regularly with other Government Departments, and it has not been necessary for DECC to facilitate them.
Natural Gas
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what (a) information his Department has received from OFGEM and (b) discussions he has had with OFGEM on steps taken by OFGEM since 2005 in relation to reports of misconduct in the UK gas market. [129008]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 19 November 2012]: Ofgem and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) are currently analysing information received in relation to allegations of price manipulation in the gas market. It is important not to pre-empt the work of the enforcement agencies whilst they assess the detail.
I am not aware of any conversations that the Department has had with Ofgem in relation to reports of misconduct in the UK gas market since 2005.
Pay
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many employees in his Department are paid in excess of (a) £80,000 and (b) £100,000. [128558]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has (a) 21 employees who are paid in excess of £80,000 and (b) 13 employees who are paid in excess of £100,000.
This information is accurate as of 30 September 2012.
Work and Pensions
Dyslexia
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support his Department provides to help people with dyslexia find employment. [128934]
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Esther McVey: DWP Jobcentre Plus advisers focus on providing a personalised, flexible service. This approach recognises that individuals may have conditions or circumstances that require different levels of support. They will discuss with the claimant how significantly they are affected by their disability, in relation to employment. They will also help the individual to agree job goals and the best way forward into employment, which may include whichever ‘Get Britain Working’ measures are offered locally, or referral to contracted programmes, such as the Work programme or other non contracted provision, if appropriate.
Anyone who requires more specialist help, because of their disability, will be able to see a disability employment adviser, who can identify suitable job opportunities, support the completion of job application forms, while acting as an advocate for the individual, in approaches made to potential employers. They will also aim to identify work solutions, overcoming or minimising any difficulties, relating to a claimant's disability. If they are having difficulty in identifying work solutions, they will seek help from a DWP work psychologist. They will be aware of appropriate local support organisations, where they are available.
DWP also chairs the Hidden Impairments National Group which is working to help overcome barriers to employment, including Dyslexia.
Disability employment advisers are also able to refer claimants to the Work programme. However, the Work programme may not be the best option for all disabled customers. Work choice and residential training sits alongside the Work programme, helping disabled people who face the most complex barriers, to finding and staying in employment.
When the individual finds a job, the disability employment adviser can signpost them to access to work, a specialist disability service, which is delivered by Jobcentre Plus, providing practical advice and support to disabled people and their employers, helping them overcome work-related obstacles, resulting from disability.
Employment and Support Allowance
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were receiving incapacity benefit but, following a medical, were no longer entitled to employment and support allowance in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12. [128205]
Mr Hoban: On 6 November 2012 the Department for Work and Pensions published official statistics on the reassessment of incapacity benefits claimants for employment and support allowance (ESA). The report and its supplementary tables can be found at:
http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_ibr
Personal Independence Payment
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consideration was given to Atos' record in respect of the work capability assessment before awarding it the contract for the personal independence payment assessment. [128587]
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Esther McVey: Atos were successful in Lots 1 and 3 following an open and fair competition and were assessed against established and published selection criteria. The full criteria, scoring methodology and specification were published on Business Link's Contract Finder website.
http://www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria his Department used to award the contract for the personal independence payment assessment in south England. [128646]
Esther McVey: The providers in each lot were successful following a robust, open and fair competition and were assessed against established and published selection criteria. The criteria for each of the lots were the same. The full criteria, scoring methodology and specification were published on Business Link's Contract Finder website.
http://www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department plans to undertake a public consultation on any guidance to be issued to assessment providers for personal independence payments; and when he expects to publish any such guidance. [128713]
Esther McVey: The guidance on carrying out personal independence payment will be subject to ongoing update and refinement. While we do not intend to run a formal public consultation on the guidance, we will publish it and will consider any comments received from interested parties. We also expect assessment providers to work with organisations of and for disabled people as they develop their own, more detailed guidance and training products.
Social Security Benefits: Disability
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of The Tipping Point report produced by the Hardest Hit campaign; and if he will make a statement. [128647]
Esther McVey: No formal assessment of the “Tipping Point” report has been undertaken but the Government welcomes any views from disabled people or their representatives regarding the changes we are introducing.
Our welfare reforms will ensure the billions we spend, better reflect today's understanding of disability and offer the targeted support disabled people need to live independent lives.
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what guidance his Department has issued to Atos and Capita on the active gathering of written evidence about the disability of a claimant with (a) autism and (b) any other life-long condition before arranging a face-to-face assessment; [128708]
(2) what guidance his Department plans to issue to providers of the personal independence payment assessment process on (a) the role of the provider in collecting written evidence relating to the claimant's disability and (b) the determination of claimants to be invited for a face-to-face consultation. [128712]
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Esther McVey: As part of the personal independence payment assessment we intend to make greater use of appropriate evidence to support claims. Evidence may be sent in with the claim form or requested by the provider where appropriate.
Further evidence will not be requested in all cases. Health professionals should seek additional evidence, where they believe that it would help inform their advice. The decision to request further evidence should consider the circumstances of the individual case and whether further evidence is likely to add value to the assessment process.
Health professionals will carry out assessments on the basis of paper evidence in cases where they believe there is sufficient and robust evidence to provide advice on how the assessment criteria relate to the claimant.
If there is insufficient evidence for a paper-based assessment, a face-to-face consultation will be to be necessary to accurately assess the claimant.
While face-to-face consultations will be an important part of the assessment for many individuals, allowing an in-depth look at their circumstances, they will not be appropriate in every case. For example, we will not be requiring people claiming under the terminal illness provisions to attend face-to-face consultations.
We will give providers guidance on carrying out personal independence payment assessments, including carrying out paper-based assessments, inviting claimants to face-to-face consultations and on the collection of evidence.
The guidance will not advise on whether further evidence should be sought or when a face-to-face consultation will be appropriate in relation to specific health conditions or impairments. Health conditions and/or disabilities can affect people in very different ways and all decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis.
Universal Credit
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will discuss the implementation of universal credit with the Business Application Software Developers Association. [128588]
Mr Hoban: We remain committed to keeping Parliament updated on universal credit implementation and will, of course, listen to any representations from organisations such as the association mentioned.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of employees who earn less than the lower earnings limit and do not fall within the PAYE scheme; and how such employees will establish their entitlement to universal credit. [128589]
Mr Hoban: It is estimated that there will be approximately 600,000 working individuals on universal credit once it is fully implemented earning less than the lower earnings limit and we only expect a small proportion of these to not be in PAYE schemes.
Claimants whose earnings are not made available through the RTI system, including those that are below the lower earnings limit, will establish entitlement by self-reporting their earnings.
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Work Capability Assessment
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals have been made by claimants deemed fit to work as a result of the work capability assessments for employment and support allowance in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many such appeals have resulted in the claimant being placed in the (a) work-related activity group and (b) support group. [128611]
Mr Hoban: The Department regularly publishes official statistics on employment and support allowance (ESA) and the work capability assessment (WCA). The latest report was published in October 2012 and can be found at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_wca
Comparing table 1a against table 4 in the supplementary tables of the publication mentioned above shows how many appeals have resulted in the claimant being placed in the work-related activity group and support group.
Transport
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many properties situated (a) 100 metres or less and (b) over 100 metres from the route of the proposed HS2 line have been accepted onto the Exceptional Hardship Scheme. [128703]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department does not publish information relating to the distance from the line of route of successful applications to the HS2 Exceptional Hardship Scheme. There is no set distance within which properties qualify and the distance criterion is only one of five criteria assessed as part of an application. We do not believe it would be in the public interest to release this information as it risks providing misleading information to potential applicants that would undermine the effective working of the scheme.
West Coast Railway Line: Franchises
Mr Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2012, Official Report, column 897W, on West Coast Railway Line: franchises, what costs were incurred by his Department for consultancy services relating to the cancelled InterCity West Coast franchise competition. [128176]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department paid WS Atkins £471,080 (excluding VAT) for technical advisory services relating to the InterCity West Coast franchise competition.
The Department paid Eversheds LLP £340,859 (including non-recoverable VAT) for legal advisory services relating to the InterCity West Coast franchise competition.
Deputy Prime Minister
Elected Office: Disabled People
6. Amber Rudd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress he has made on his proposals for additional support for disabled people to achieve elected office. [128853]
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Miss Chloe Smith: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to her by the Deputy Prime Minister at topical questions earlier today.
Voting Reform
9. Dan Jarvis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to reform voting methods for general elections. [128856]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Government has no further plans for changing voting methods for general elections but keeps all matters relating to the conduct of elections under review.
The Government has brought forward provisions in the Electoral Registration and Administration Bill to extend the timetable for UK parliamentary elections from 17 to 25 days. This will improve the service that is provided to voters, particularly overseas and service voters based abroad.
Individual Electoral Registration
10. Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on individual electoral registration; and if he will make a statement. [128857]
Miss Chloe Smith: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to questions 3 and 4 at oral questions earlier today.
Devolution: England
11. Iain Stewart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent progress the Government have made on devolution in England; and if he will make a statement. [128858]
The Deputy Prime Minister: The coalition agreement set out the Government’s commitment to devolving power to the most appropriate level and there are many ways we are delivering this. We have created Local Enterprise Partnerships to drive growth; we are putting greater financial powers in the hands of local authorities through local government finance reforms; we have given local authorities a general power of competence; we have agreed one wave of city deals to hand over real powers and resources; and in October, the Government invited a second wave of cities to take part in a City Deal. We are also now considering the review from Lord Heseltine, who has brought forward many innovative recommendations to devolve powers to localities.
Parliamentary Boundaries
12. Kevin Brennan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the Boundary Commission on parliamentary boundaries. [128859]
Mr Betts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent progress has been made on the review of parliamentary boundaries. [128855]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Boundary Commissions are continuing with the boundary review in accordance with the legislation which requires them to report before October 2013.
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Flexible Parenting Leave
13. Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what role he envisages for flexible parenting arrangements as part of the social mobility strategy. [128860]
The Deputy Prime Minister: Good parenting has a crucial influence on child development, ensuring that children gain the cognitive and social skills they need to do well.
The Social Mobility Strategy set out our intention to help parents better balance work and home life. Last week I announced a range of new family-friendly policies, including flexible parental leave, which will do just that: replacing the outdated and inflexible system of maternity, paternity and adoption leave with a system which gives families the rights they need to choose what works best for them.
Trade Unions: Political Party Funding
14. Mr David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received on the role of trade unions in the funding of political parties. [128861]
Miss Chloe Smith: Cross-party talks on the reform of party political funding are ongoing. Reform is best achieved as far as possible by consensus, and the Government hopes agreement will be reached swiftly.
Lobbying
Jon Trickett: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how much money his Department has spent on the lobbying reform agenda since January 2012; [128255]
(2) how many civil servants have been working on the lobbying reform agenda since January 2012; [128256]
(3) what external advice he has received on the lobbying agenda; how much such advice cost; and from which organisations such advice was sought. [128257]
Miss Chloe Smith: A variety of officials within the Cabinet Office dealt with lobbying reform as part of their duties. It is not possible to distinguish between the time they spent on lobbying reform and other issues. Other costs, from January to October 2012, were principally for the publication of the consultation document and totalled £1,391. Ministers paid for no external advice on the lobbying agenda, although a range of views have been received as part of the usual consultation process.
Defence
Canada
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Challenger tanks, (b) small armoured vehicles, (c) lorries and (d) Land Rovers were repaired at BATUS in Canada in each of the last five years; and what the total annual cost of these repairs was. [128442]
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Mr Dunne: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made on replacing the Gazelle helicopter at BATUS in Canada. [128448]
Mr Dunne: The British Army's Gazelle fleet, which is currently operated in the United Kingdom and at British Army training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in Canada, is due to be withdrawn from service in 2018. Options to provide the capability currently provided by the Gazelle Fleet beyond 2018 are being considered and a decision will be taken in due course.
Defence Information Infrastructure
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the findings of Project Embrace. [126657]
Mr Dunne: The document has been placed in the Library of the House.
Libya
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for which enduring tasks the Royal Navy was required to withdraw assets during the Libyan operations. [128706]
Dr Murrison: During the operations in Libya the Royal Navy reprioritised a number of its assets, some of which were nominally allocated to standing or contingent enduring tasks. A range of mitigation measures were put in place to manage any resultant impact on operations.
Marchwood Military Port
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) current and (b) planned future duty roster is for protecting the Sea Mounting Centre at Marchwood on (i) weekdays and (ii) weekends of the (A) Defence Fire Service and (B) Hampshire Fire and Rescue; and if he will make a statement. [124617]
Mr Dunne [holding answer 24 October 2012]:The current arrangements at the Sea Mounting Centre Marchwood provide for a 24 hours seven days a week operational Fire and Rescue Service, consisting of one fire appliance and a minimum crew of 5 fire-fighters provided by the Defence Fire Risk Management Organisation (DFRMO).
The planned future arrangements will provide for an operational Fire and Rescue Service provided by DFRMO consisting of one fire appliance and a minimum crew of five fire-fighters during normal site operating hours only, primarily Monday to Friday working days; exact timings are yet to be agreed. In the event that higher risk activities are undertaken outside of normal site operating hours DFRMO will provide additional fire cover for the duration of the activity. Higher risk activities may include the loading and unloading of munitions or other hazardous cargo.
This decision follows a DFRMO risk assessment which identified areas where reductions in onsite fire and rescue services would not compromise Defence assets, public safety or prevent high risk activities from being undertaken.
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The onsite fire cover arrangements identified are in addition to the normal Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service predetermined response to the site, which is considered to provide suitable response in line with the level of risk identified.
Military Aircraft
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the ability of the RC135 Airseeker aircraft to meet the Military Aviation Authority's certification and release to source processes as required by the European Aviation Safety Agency Part 21 regulations; and if he will make a statement. [127981]
Mr Dunne: Ministry of Defence specialists are working closely with their counterparts in the US Air Force to ensure that the RC-135W aircraft will meet UK certification criteria and gain a Release to Service before it enters service in late 2014.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Algeria
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when refugee camps in Tindouf province in Algeria were last visited by officials of his Department. [128276]
Alistair Burt: Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office took part in the last annual World Food Programme/United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees donor mission to the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, in the second quarter of 2011. The 2012 visit has not yet taken place.
Eritrea
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning human rights in Eritrea; what representations he has made to the Government of Eritrea; and what sanctions are in place. [128925]
Mark Simmonds: Eritrea's human rights record remains deeply concerning and this is reflected in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Human Rights Report. We closely monitor the human rights situation in Eritrea and our ambassador reports regularly on specific areas of concern. We also receive reports from other sources including the Diaspora and non-governmental organisations such as Reporters Without Borders and Human Rights Watch.
We regularly raise human rights issues with the Eritrean Government. Most recently, our ambassador raised human rights with President Isaias on 22 October. I also raised human rights with the Eritrean Presidential Advisor on 25 September. In July the UK supported the UN Human Rights Council Resolution which strongly condemned human rights abuses in Eritrea and called for the appointment of a Special Rapporteur.
In July, the UK supported UN Security Council Resolution 2060 which extended the mandate for the UN sanctions regime. We believe the sanctions, which include an arms embargo, are appropriate, proportionate and carefully targeted to prevent any negative humanitarian impact.
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Iran
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the next meeting of the E3+3 and Iran to be held. [128522]
Alistair Burt: The E3+3 have not yet set a date for their next meeting with Iran. E3+3 Political Directors will meet on 21 November to consider next steps. Iran needs to engage seriously if negotiations are to progress.
South Korea
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the Republic of Korea conducting whaling for scientific purposes; what his policy is on such activities; and what representations (a) he and (b) other Ministers have made on that subject. [128269]
Mr Swire: On 4 July 2012 at the Annual International Whaling Commission Meeting, the Republic of Korea announced it was considering plans to undertake whaling for scientific research in the future.
The UK believes lethal research on whales is unnecessary and undermines the International Whaling Commission's moratorium on commercial whaling.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has not had any discussions with the Republic of Korea on conducting whaling for scientific purposes.
However, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment, Water and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Richard Benyon), made the UK's opposition to ‘scientific’ whaling clear at the International Whaling Commission meeting. On 17 July, he also wrote to his counterparts in the Republic of Korea, Mr Oh Jung-kyu, Vice Minister for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery, and Mr Bark Tae-ho. Minister for Trade, urging them to reconsider their plans.
The UK Government will continue to make our opposition to commercial and scientific whaling known at every appropriate opportunity.
Attorney-General
Hillsborough
Stephen Pound: To ask the Attorney-General what progress he has made on preparing an application to the High Court for a new inquest into the Hillsborough disaster. [128880]
The Attorney-General: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the oral question from my hon. Friend the Member for Weaver Vale (Graham Evans) today.
Mr Anderson: To ask the Attorney-General if he will expedite the inquest into the death of Kevin Williams who died in the Hillsborough disaster. [128456]
The Attorney-General:
My role in relation to an inquest into the death of Kevin Williams is restricted to the powers given to me by section 13 of the Coroners
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Act 1988 which is to apply to the High Court to quash the original inquest and order a new inquest to be held. The Court will do so if it is satisfied that the evidence before it makes a new inquest necessary or desirable in the interests of justice. I am in the process of preparing such an application for all the inquests into the deaths of all the victims of the Hillsborough disaster and expect to do so in December. If new inquests are ordered, the timing of the inquests will be a matter for the coronial process.