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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 22 November 2012
Transport
Aviation: India
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the contribution to the UK economy of direct flights between the UK and the cities of Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Chennai. [129537]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government do not make assessments of the value to the UK of specific air routes. The overall objective for the UK's air services negotiations is to seek to put in place liberal arrangements so that airlines have the freedom to operate services based on their own commercial decisions and assessment of market demand.
There are no restrictions on the routes that may be operated between the UK and India but passenger services on UK-Delhi and UK-Mumbai are limited to 56 services per week by the airlines of each side, services on UK-Chennai and UK-Bangalore are limited to 14 services per week by the airlines of each side and services between any other city pair are limited to seven services per week by the airlines of each side.
Biofuels
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward his review of the double certificate scheme and support provided under the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation for sustainable biofuels made from waste cooking oil. [129224]
Norman Baker: We have committed to undertake a review in 2013 of the double certificate scheme and support provided under the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO). In 2013 we will have completed the first full obligation year under an amended RTFO. This is the right time for the review as we will have the data necessary to help us consider what the effect of double certification has been. I have asked for the review to be progressed as soon as data are available. It is too soon to determine the longer term trend of certificate prices which are influenced by a range of factors.
Bus Services
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Office of Fair Trading, (b) local transport authorities and (c) bus companies regarding partnership working on local bus services. [129398]
Norman Baker:
I regularly meet with representatives of local transport authorities and bus companies and impress upon them the importance of working together
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in partnership to improve bus services for passengers. This includes the bi-annual Bus Partnership Forum I chair. The Department for Transport is working with the Office of Fair Trading in providing a forum for local transport authorities and bus companies to consider the competition implications of partnership working.
Bus Services: EU Action
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he intends to take to ensure that EU Regulation 181/2011 is enforced with respect to the provision of travel information to bus and coach passengers throughout their journeys; and if he will make a statement. [129883]
Norman Baker: Article 28 of the EU regulation requires that each member state shall designate a new or existing body or bodies responsible for the enforcement of the regulation and that this enforcement body shall take the measures necessary to ensure compliance with the regulation.
Given their existing role in regulating the system of bus operator licensing, we are proposing that independently appointed Traffic Commissioners will be designated as the national enforcement body in respect of bus/coach operators and terminal managing bodies and therefore responsible for the enforcement of all relevant provisions of the EU regulation, including article 24 on the right to travel information.
This approach was outlined in our recent public consultation exercise on the application of EU Regulation 181/2011 which closed on 11 October 2012.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Post Offices
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received in favour of ensuring the availability of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority services at post offices. [129365]
Stephen Hammond: The Department has received two parliamentary questions and 495 letters from hon. Members and Members of the devolved Administrations in favour of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency maintaining services at the post offices. In addition, 62 letters from members of the public and nearly 2,000 campaign postcards have been received.
Electric Vehicles: Safety
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps his Department is taking to protect road users from the risk of collision with quiet electric and hybrid cars; and if he will make a statement; [129576]
(2) what representations he has received on legislative proposals for the mandatory installation of acoustic vehicle alert systems on electric and hybrid cars; and if he will make a statement. [129577]
Norman Baker:
The Department for Transport is working with international bodies to develop recommendations on adding artificial sound to quiet vehicles. These recommendations are expected to specify the characteristic of the sound and the vehicle speed up to which the
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sound should be generated, so that levels from electric and conventional vehicles are similar. The Department recently published a research report on the audibility of electric vehicles which can be found at the following link:
http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/assessing-the-perceived-safety-risk-from-quiet-electric-and-hybrid-vehicles/PPR525-assessing-the-perceived-safety-risk-from-quiet-electric-and-hybrid-vehicles.pdf
I have met with Guide Dogs and RNIB to discuss adding artificial sound to electric and hybrid electric vehicles. The Department has also received correspondence requesting the mandatory fitment of added sound devices, most recently from Guide Dogs. However, if such systems were mandatory, we will need to ensure that fitment is cost-effective, and that while assisting the visually impaired road users does not add to general sound pollution that is damaging to health.
Heathrow Airport
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on the proportion of passengers arriving at Heathrow who transfer to (a) short-haul and (b) long-haul routes. [129212]
Mr Simon Burns: Information on the characteristics and routes of passengers using Heathrow airport is available from the Civil Aviation Authority Passenger Survey. Based on the 2011 survey, it is estimated that approximately 15% of passengers arriving at Heathrow in 2011 transferred onto a short-haul flight and 18% transferred onto a long-haul flight.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) business and (b) tourist passengers arrived at London Heathrow Airport in the last year for which figures are available. [129386]
Mr Simon Burns: Based on data from the Civil Aviation Authority Passenger Survey, it is estimated that approximately 11 million business passengers arrived at Heathrow in 2011 and 24 million passengers who were travelling for leisure purposes, including visiting friends and relatives.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) terminating and (b) transfer passengers arrived at London Heathrow Airport on night quota period flights in the last year for which figures are available. [129387]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department uses data from the Civil Aviation Authority Passenger Survey to understand the characteristics and routes of passengers at Heathrow airport. The number of passengers surveyed during the night quota period is very small and would not provide a reliable estimate of the total number of passengers who are terminating or transferring at that time.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) UK resident and (b) non-UK resident passengers arrived at London Heathrow Airport on night quota period flights in the last year for which figures are available. [129388]
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Mr Simon Burns: The Department uses data from the Civil Aviation Authority Passenger Survey to understand the characteristics and routes of passengers at Heathrow airport. The number of passengers surveyed during the night quota period is very small and would not provide a reliable estimate of the total number of passengers who are UK resident or non-UK resident travelling at that time.
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the speech given by the Prime Minister to the CBI on 19 November 2012, whether he intends to (a) reduce and (b) cancel planned consultations by his Department or HS2 Ltd in the next two years. [129485]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government remains committed to its decision to proceed with HS2, the most significant transport infrastructure project in the UK since the building of the motorways. We also understand the significant impacts that will come with its construction and want to ensure that the views of those affected are fully considered in the development of our proposals and subsequent decisions.
As such, the forthcoming consultations on HS2 are being planned in line with the Government's new Consultation Principles and will include the interim compensation arrangements for property owners affected by Phase 2, a draft Environmental Statement for Phase 1 and the preferred route for Phase 2.
London Airports
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intends to bring forward proposals to amend or repeal grandfather rights of airport slots at slot co-ordinated airports serving London. [129447]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government do not have any plans to amend or repeal the so called grandfather rights principle in relation to the allocation of airport slots at slot co-ordinated airports serving London. The allocation of slots at slot co-ordinated airports in UK is governed by EU law.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much he estimates will be spent on the development event being organised for staff of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in December 2012. [129316]
Stephen Hammond: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency estimates the cost of its development event will be around £56,000. That is the equivalent of around £103 per delegate per day and includes all meals and accommodation costs. The development event will provide delegates with leadership skills training and coaching in line with the principles set out in the Civil Service Reform Plan.
Official Cars
Chris Huhne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) make, (b) model, (c) year of manufacture and (d) carbon emissions in grammes per kilometre is
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of each vehicle provided by the Government Car Service to each Government department. [129563]
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Stephen Hammond: The following table lists the main departmental pool cars provided to each Department through service level agreements.
| Department | Make | Model | Year of manufacture | CO2 g/km |
Pay
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many employees in his Department are paid more than (a) £80,000 and (b) £100,000. [129346]
Norman Baker: The number of employees in the Department for Transport paid more than (a) £80,000 and (b) £100,000 since May 2010 is shown in the following table:
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
Railways: Franchises
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what costs have been incurred by his Department and its agencies in the franchising and tendering of passenger rail services since 1994. [129409]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has not been able to capture precise historic costs by franchise and tendering of rail services.
In the past, when a rail service has been tendered, permanent staff members have been seconded to work on this project for its duration and return to other duties following its completion. These members of staff came from many parts of the Department (e.g. Procurement, Rail Commercial, Franchise Specification, Legal, and Finance) and their costs were captured within their substantive areas of work and have not been separated by project.
Over the last few weeks the Department has captured its internal and external costs incurred on the InterCity West Coast procurement competition. These are expected to be published by the NAO in their report on the termination of this procurement competition in due course.
Roads: Shrewsbury
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on roads in Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011. [129534]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport provides funding to local authorities, which can be used for roads, through the highways maintenance and integrated transport block grants. This funding is not ring-fenced and allows authorities, including Shropshire County Council, who are responsible for the local road network within the Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency, the freedom to develop and implement solutions which best suit their priorities.
The following table highlights the funding the Department for Transport has allocated in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011 to Shropshire County Council, as local highway authority and also shows how much the Highways Agency, who are responsible for the motorway and strategic road network, has spent within the constituency on highways maintenance schemes.
| Funding Stream | 2010/11 £m | 2011/12 £m |
|
Local Highways Maintenance Block (Shropshire County Council) | ||
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|
Highways Agency Maintenance expenditure (within Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency) |
Roads: Snow and Ice
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his latest assessment is of the potential resilience of the UK to adverse weather in terms of reserves of road salt over the winter period. [129562]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has worked with local and national partners to improve winter resilience, ensuring that that this country entered the winter season well prepared.
Following a survey conducted by the Department at the end of October 2012, the total level of road salt stock being held in Great Britain is estimated to be 2.7 million tonnes, including national strategic road salt stockpiles. This is a good level of resilience but we are not complacent. That is why we continue to work closely with highway authorities to monitor road salt stocks and recently reminded authorities about guidance to enable them to make the best use of their salt supplies.
Shrewsbury Station
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funds from the public purse have been spent on Shrewsbury railway station in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011. [129533]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has not directly funded any work from the public purse at Shrewsbury railway station in either 2010 or 2011. However, Network Rail and Arriva Trains Wales spent a total of £1.06m on repairs and renewals at the station during the financial years 2009/10 to 2011/12.
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As part of the National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP), a new waiting room and customer help desk on the island platform will be delivered during 2013 at an estimated cost of £0.25m.
World War II: Anniversaries
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic in 2013. [128614]
Stephen Hammond: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Minister of State for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois), on 21 November 2012, Official Report, column 498W.
Cabinet Office
Crime
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) car thefts, (b) burglaries and (c) violent crimes were reported in (i) Suffolk and (ii) England and Wales in each of the last five years. [129242]
Mr Hurd: 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 Parliamentary Question.
The two main sources of crime statistics are police recorded crime and the Crime Survey for England and Wales. The preferred source of crime data at police force area is police recorded crime.
Police recorded crime figures are provided for these crime types for the last five financial years (April to March) for Suffolk police force area and for England and Wales.
These figures have been published by ONS and the latest year's data are available in tables accompanying the quarterly crime statistics published in July 2012. This statistical bulletin is available on the ONS website here:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/period-ending-march-2012/index.html
| Recorded crime for selected offences in Suffolk and England and Wales, 2007-08 to 2011-12 | ||||||
| Number of recorded incidents | ||||||
| Violence against the person offences | Total burglary | Burglary in a dwelling | Burglary in a building other than a dwelling | Theft of a motor vehicle | ||
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Crime: North East
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many incidents of violence against a person there have been for each type of offence in (a) Houghton and Sunderland South constituency and (b) Northumbria in each of the last five years; how many drug offences there were in (i) Houghton and Sunderland South constituency and (ii) Northumbria in each of the last five year by the nature of the offence; and how many instances of criminal damage there were in (A) Houghton and Sunderland South constituency and (B) Northumbria in each of the last five years. [129255]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
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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 Parliamentary Question asking for the number of incidents of violence against the person, criminal damage and drug offences in (a) Houghton and Sunderland South constituency and (b) Northumbria in each of the last five years. (129255)
Police recorded crime figures are provided for the last five financial years (April to March) for Northumbria police force area and Sunderland local authority area. Crime data are not available at parliamentary constituency level so figures for Sunderland local authority area are given in place of Houghton and Sunderland South constituency.
The two main sources of crime statistics are police recorded crime and the Crime Survey for England and Wales. The preferred source of crime data at local authority and police force area is police recorded crime.
| Sunderland local authority | |||||
| 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
| Northumbria police force area | |||||
| 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
These data have been published by ONS and are available from the ‘Recorded crime data at local authority level from 2002/03’ and ‘Recorded crime data at police force area level from 2002/03’ tables available here:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-274949
Fraud: Credit Cards
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many recorded offences of credit card fraud there were in each of the last three years; what the estimated cost was of those offences; and what proportion of those offences resulted in a conviction. [129248]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many recorded offences of credit card fraud there were in each of the last three years; what the estimated cost was of those offences; and what proportion of those offences resulted in a conviction. (129248)
In the police recorded crime series for England and Wales, credit card fraud is not separately identifiable as such crimes will be recorded within the broader offence group of “Fraud by false representation: cheque, plastic card and online bank accounts”. The number of these offences recorded by the police for the last three financial years can be found in the table below.
| Number of offences of fraud by false representation: cheque, plastic card and online bank accounts recorded by the police in England and Wales | |
| Financial year | Number of offences |
| Source: Police Recorded Crime, Home Office. | |
These data have previously been published by the ONS in Appendix Table A4 released alongside the quarterly release of National Statistics on crime. The link to the appendix tables can be found on the ONS website here:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/period-ending-march-2012/stb-crime-stats-end-march-2012.html
The ONS have not estimated the cost of these offences but do publish information for plastic card fraud losses from the UK Cards Association in the quarterly crime statistics publications to give a fuller picture of crime:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/period-ending-june-2012/stb-crime-in-england-and-wales--year-ending-june-2012.html#tab-Fraud
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Police recorded crime figures for Scotland are published at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice and data for Northern Ireland are published at:
http://www.psni.police.uk/index/updates/updates_statistics/update_crime_statistics.htm
Fraud offences are known to be under reported to the police, so the ONS have recently started publishing new data sources on fraud in the quarterly crime statistics publications. Data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau are included in ONS crime statistics publications, and provide an estimate of the number of banking and payment related frauds involving cheque, plastic card and online bank accounts in the UK, including offences not reported to the police. This dataset is sourced from Action Fraud and industry sources and is still under development. It is published in Appendix Table A5, available from the following link:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/period-ending-march-2012/stb-crime-stats-end-march-2012.html
Information is not held centrally on the proportion of credit card fraud offences resulting in conviction. The Ministry of Justice are responsible for data on convictions and have published a table showing the number of convictions for the broader offence group of Fraud and Forgery in England and Wales over the last ten years. This is available from the conviction tables at the link below:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/criminal-justice/criminal-justice-statistics
Government Departments: Computer Networks
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the potential for wider use of the Government secure intranet; and what plans he has for future procurement in that area. [128576]
Mr Hurd: Government Secure Intranet (GSi) is a legacy infrastructure which is being phased out.
We are, through the Government's ICT Strategy, introducing a 'Public Sector Network' (PSN) to bring together the multiple, separate existing networks into one, standards-based network for the whole UK public sector.
Government Departments: Procurement
Michael Connarty: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will review Government procurement policies in order to exclude any supplier which employs an unlawful travel and subsistence scheme. [129528]
Miss Chloe Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne North (Catherine McKinnell) on 19 November 2012, Official Report, column 253W.
Knives: Crime
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were (a) injured and (b) killed as a result of knife crime offences in (i) Suffolk, (ii) Bedfordshire, (iii) Cambridgeshire, (iv) Essex, (v) Hertfordshire and (vi) Norfolk in each of the last three years. [129251]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
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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 Parliamentary Question asking how many people were (a) injured and (b) killed as a result of knife crime offences in (i) Suffolk, (ii) Bedfordshire, (iii) Cambridgeshire, (iv) Essex, (v) Hertfordshire and (vi) Norfolk in each of the last three years. (129251)
The Office for National Statistics publishes data on the number of offences recorded by the police involving a knife or sharp instrument, for selected violent and sexual offence types. Knives or sharp instruments are taken to be involved in an incident if they are used to stab or cut, or as a threat, and thus this dataset covers more than just injury. These data are provided for the last three financial years (April to March) for the police forces areas in question in table 1.
| Table 1: Knife and sharp instrument offences recorded by the police for selected violent and sexual offences(1), 2009/10 to 2011/12, for selected police force areas | |||
| Police force area | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 |
| (1) Includes offences of attempted murder, threats to kill, ABH and GBH, robbery, rape and sexual assaults (including indecent assault on a male/female and sexual assault on a male/female). Source: Police recorded crime, Home Office | |||
The number of homicide offences recorded by the police involving a knife or sharp instrument is provided the police force areas in question in table 2. The latest published data on homicides cover the period up to 2010/11. Data for 2011/12 are due to be published by ONS in February 2013.
| Table 2: Homicides recorded by the police involving a knife or sharp instrument, 2009/10-2010/11, for selected police force areas | ||
| Police force area | 2009/10 | 2010/11 |
| Note: Figures represent the number of homicides recorded by the police as at 13 June 2012; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and the courts, or as further information becomes available. Source: Homicide Index, Home Office | ||
Data for 2011/12 on selected offences involving a knife and sharp instrument (as presented in table 1) have been published by ONS in the data tables accompanying the quarterly crime statistics released in July 2012. This statistical bulletin is available on the ONS website here:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/period-ending-march-2012/index.html
Due to the small number of offences recorded, data on homicides involving a knife and sharp instrument are not routinely published at police force area level.
Low Pay
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people in (a) the UK and (b) North East England are paid less than the living wage. [129366]
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Mr Hurd: 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 Parliamentary Question asking how many people in (a) the UK and (b) North East England are paid less than the living wage. (129366)
On 22 November, the latest earnings information from the 2012 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings will become available, and the question will be answered using this latest information. The honourable member will be contacted directly with the answer, as soon as it is available, and a copy of the fetter placed in the Library of the House of Commons.
Public Sector: Procurement
Mr Hanson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2012, Official Report, column 324W, on public sector procurement, what steps he is taking to ensure that public funds spent on Government construction contracts are paid by contractors to subcontractors that are owed them; and if he will make a statement. [128688]
Miss Chloe Smith: After May 2010 this Government introduced extensive reforms of public procurement to streamline the process and to create a more level playing field where SMEs can more easily compete for and win business. As part of this work we have instructed Departments to monitor prime contractors' performance against the 30 day commitment to pay sub-contractors as part of the contract management process. We have also introduced a 'Mystery Shopper' service which allows us to investigate instances of late payment and we publish these cases on our website.
I am pleased to say that on 13 November, the National Specialist Contractors Council paid tribute to the work done by the Government in ensuring prompt payment in construction by naming the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), as one of its Fair Payment Champions.
This recognises the effectiveness of the steps we are taking to ensure sub-contractors are paid on time, such as using Project Bank Accounts to make direct payments to firms down to tier 3 of its supply chains. Where Project Bank Accounts are not used, we specify in contract terms that contractors should pay their sub-contractors within 30 days, in line with the Government's Prompt Payment Code.
Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2012, Official Report, column 690W, on public sector: procurement, what steps he has taken to tackle late payment practices as a consequence of the Mystery Shopper scheme; and if he will make a statement. [129360]
Miss Chloe Smith: This Government introduced the Mystery Shopper scheme to help deal with the poor procurement practice which we inherited in May 2010.
Mystery Shopper cases are addressed on an individual basis. Completed investigations have so far resulted in outstanding invoices being paid, amended payment terms, and processes being streamlined.
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In 2010 we reiterated our policy in central Government to pay undisputed invoices within five days and to pass 30 day payment terms down supply chains. We expect our suppliers to follow our example on prompt payment and pay their sub-contractors within the 30 day limit.
In July 2011 MCO announced three specific actions our suppliers, Departments and SMEs themselves can take to help us achieve this goal.
First, our Crown Representative team is encouraging prime contractors to pay more quickly than the 30 days commitment on a voluntary basis.
Second, Departments are monitoring prime contractors' performance against the 30 day commitment to pay sub contractors as part of the contract management process.
Third, although our policy is mandated best practice rather than a legislative requirement, we are encouraging SMEs to use the 'Mystery Shopper' service to report to Government instances where this is not happening; and we regularly publish investigated cases on the Cabinet Office website.
The most recent report goes to May 2012, so cases investigated since then have not yet been published.
Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2012, Official Report, column 542W, on public sector: billing, which Departments require their contractors to have signed up to the Prompt Payment Code before they are hired; and if he will make a statement. [129361]
Miss Chloe Smith: Central Government Departments' contract terms require contractors to pay their subcontractors within 30 days in line with the Government's prompt payment code. Information is not held centrally on which Departments require suppliers to have signed up to the code itself before they are appointed.
Unemployment
John Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of unemployed people in (a) Glasgow North West constituency, (b) Glasgow, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK according to the Labour Force Survey definition of unemployment in each month of 2012 to date. [129390]
Mr Hurd: 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 Parliamentary Question asking for the number of unemployed people in (a) Glasgow North West constituency, (b) Glasgow, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK according the Labour Force Survey definition of unemployment in each month of 2012 to date (129390).
The ONS compiles Labour Market Statistics for small areas following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions using the Annual Population Survey (APS). Unfortunately, due to small sample sizes this data does not support analyses of unemployment for Glasgow North West constituency.
The ONS compiles unemployment statistics for local authorities following ILO definitions using model based estimates derived from the APS and information from the Claimant Count.
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Table 1 contains model based unemployment estimates for Glasgow based on individuals who were unemployed in the week prior to interview during:
the latest 12 month period ending June 2012
the 12 month period ending March 2012.
It also contains estimates for Scotland and the UK for the same periods based on the APS.
The estimates for Scotland and the UK in table 1 differ from those published in the Labour Market Statistics bulletin, which are produced from the Labour Force Survey (LFS).
As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates accompanies the estimates for the latest period.
These figures along with a wide range of other labour market data for parliamentary constituencies and local authorities are also published on the Office for National Statistics' Nomis website:
www.nomisweb.co.uk
| Table 1: Number of people unemployed(1) | ||
| Thousand | ||
| 12 months ending: | ||
| March 2012 | June 2012(2) | |
| (1) Reported as unemployed during the week prior to interview. Interviews are conducted throughout the relevant periods. (2) Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below. (3) Model based estimates (4) Annual Population Survey Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key: * 0 ≤ CV<5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes Source: Model Based Estimates; Annual Population Survey | ||
Voluntary Work: Olympic Games 2012
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he has taken to make contact with Olympic and Paralympic volunteers; what plans he has to engage their continuing commitment; and if he will make a statement. [129083]
Mr Hurd: The Government is keen to use the momentum created by the London 2012 Games to encourage even more people to continue volunteering. We have worked with the Join In Trust and with LOCOG to build links with the Olympic and Paralympic Volunteers and are in discussions with LOCOG, who currently own the database for the majority of volunteers, about accessing the database to best keep them engaged ensuring that the volunteering and social action legacy of the games is maintained and enhanced.
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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Cattle: Animal Welfare
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research commissioned by his Department into the health and welfare implications of permanent housing of dairy cattle is (a) currently under way and (b) planned. [129457]
Mr Heath: DEFRA has funded a project entitled ‘AW1026: A study to investigate the management and welfare of continuously housed dairy cows’. The final report has been submitted and it is anticipated that it will be published early in the new year. DEFRA has not published any calls for further research on the health and welfare implications of permanent housing of dairy cattle.
Compost
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what factors the Environment Agency takes into consideration before issuing a permit for the siting of a windrow composting site. [129558]
Richard Benyon: The siting of new windrow composting sites is a matter for relevant planning authorities when they determine planning applications and is not determined by the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency is a statutory consultee for such applications and cannot issue permits for this type of waste operation unless the sites have the necessary planning permission.
In determining applications for permits for composting facilities, the site’s location will have a bearing on whether the Environment Agency is likely to grant a permit, the type of permit that might be issued, the type of infrastructure and controls and safeguards required by the permit conditions.
The main locational factors that the Environment Agency will take into account with respect to the points above are likely to be the proximity of the proposed site to sensitive receptors such as dwellings and workplaces, groundwater source protection zones, watercourses, and designated habitats sites such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated research into any relationship between the use of windrow composting sites and the incidence of respiratory illnesses in populations located within (i) 500 metres, (ii) 1,000 metres and (iii) 1,500 metres of those sites; and if he will make a statement. [129559]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA has not commissioned research into the relationship between the use of windrow composting sites and the incidence of respiratory illnesses in populations located within these distances. Findings from the DEFRA bioaerosol project expected in spring 2013 will help to shape our policy around this issue and to provide evidence on bioaerosol production, dispersion and potential exposures on humans from windrow composting sites.
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Under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010, the Environment Agency is required to assess any emissions from windrow composting sites and monitor the impact on the environment and human health and act accordingly where there are breaches of the environment permit.
We are working with WRAP and the Environment Agency to produce a matrix of recently completed and ongoing Government sponsored research in AD and composting from the AD and Composting Research Network (ADCORN), co-ordinated by DEFRA. This is available at:
http://www.biogas-info.co.uk/images/PDFs/research.pdf
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has conducted into the presence of harmful pathogens and spores originating from windrow sites. [129561]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA is funding a project to provide evidence on bioaerosol production, dispersion and potential exposures on humans from windrow composting sites. This project is undertaking a comprehensive set of standard and novel bioaerosol measurements at representative composting sites, to assess comparability and measure spatial and temporal variations. It will also measure trace components of the odour emissions and compare these with bioaerosol emissions to see if odour is a marker of significant bioaerosol exposure. The final report is likely to be published next year.
The Waste and Resources Action Programme has completed a quantitative risk assessment exercise on compost derived from waste materials, which has included reviewing and assessing data on a range of pathogenic organisms. This work is currently being considered by the Food Standards Agency through its Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food. We expect this review process to be finalised next year.
Livestock: Exports
Gordon Birtwistle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had regarding the export of live animals. [128619]
Mr Heath: In addition to internal meetings, I have had two recent discussions with the hon. Member for South Thanet (Laura Sandys) on exports from the port of Ramsgate.
I also recently met with Compassion in World Farming in order to discuss a range of animal welfare issues, including the export of live animals.
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of live animals exported for slaughter according to methods which would be illegal in the UK in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [129356]
Mr Heath: For the period of 1 November 2011 to 31 October 2012 8,414 sheep and 148 cattle were exported from Great Britain live to EU member states.
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As we have no information on the method of slaughter used in the country of destination it is not possible to provide information on the number of live animals exported for slaughter according to methods which would be illegal in the UK. Member states have to meet European Union legislation requirements when slaughtering animals.
Pay
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many employees in his Department are paid in excess of (a) £80,000 and (b) £100,000. [128562]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 20 November 2012]: As at 30 June 2012, the number of core DEFRA employees paid an annual salary in excess of £80,000 was 38. Of these, 13 were paid in excess of £100,000.
Plastics: Packaging
Mark Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration he gave to representations from the plastics manufacturing industry when formulating the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2012. [129049]
Richard Benyon: All representations and evidence received as part of the consultation process were considered carefully when developing the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2012.
Energy and Climate Change
Electricity
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he intends to publish his Department's consultation on potential policy approaches for electricity demand reduction. [129227]
Mr Hayes: Following the publication in July of the assessment promised in the EMR White Paper to determine whether DECC should take further steps to improve the support and incentives for the efficient use of electricity we committed to consult on measures later this year and we intend to do so shortly.
Energy: Housing
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment his Department has made of the uptake of energy efficiency measures by Service Family Accommodation properties. [129211]
Gregory Barker: The Department has made no dedicated assessment of the uptake of energy efficiency measures by Service Family Accommodation properties. Such properties are, however, included within the scope of the English Housing Survey produced by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), which my Department has used to help inform the Green Deal Household Model.
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Forests
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his priorities are for the negotiations on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation at the UN Climate Change Conference in Doha in November 2012. [129218]
Gregory Barker: Our priorities for the Doha negotiations on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) are to make progress on the technical work programme set out in Cancun (2010) and Durban (2011), to build the architecture needed to scale up REDD+, with the aim to complete the work programme in 2013. Our expectations are to agree the elements relating to measurement, reporting and verification and national forest monitoring systems, and as part of the EU, we will urge for clarification of the process for agreeing technical assessment of reference levels and the operationalisation of the social and environmental safeguards for REDD+.
We will also prioritise reaching agreement on the modalities and procedures for financing results-based actions for REDD+ that is consistent with our overall finance goals for Doha of at least maintaining Fast Start levels of finance; that does not exclude any source; and that outlines elements needed to enable the scale up finance for REDD+.
We also want to use the Doha session to press the important role REDD+ can play in closing the 2020 mitigation gap to 2 degrees Celsius as highlighted in the recent UNEP report. Doha is also an opportunity to highlight public finance available to tackle deforestation and forest degradation beyond the Fast Start period (2010-12).
Grants
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what grant-giving programmes are operated by (a) his Department and (b) the bodies for which he is responsible; and which such programmes award grants in Scotland. [129154]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change's grant funded programmes are listed as follows. Where the grant is awarded in Scotland this is indicated:
Warm Front
Renewable Heat Premium Payment (awards in Scotland)
Energy Efficiency Loan Schemes
Green Deal Incentive Scheme
Core Cities Grants
Pioneer Places Grants
Low Carbon Pioneer Cities
Marine Energy Array Demonstrator Scheme (awards in Scotland)
Carbon Capture and Storage Innovation Programme (awards in Scotland)
Offshore Wind Component Technologies and Demonstration Scheme (awards in Scotland)
Energy Entrepreneurs Fund Scheme (awards in Scotland)
Energy Storage Component Research and Feasibility Study Scheme (awards in Scotland)
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Bio-energy Demonstrators of the European Industry Bio-energy Initiative (awards in Scotland)
Offshore Wind Accelerator (operated by Carbon Trust) (awards in Scotland)
Polymer Fuel Cells (operated by Carbon Trust) (awards in Scotland)
Entrepreneurs Fast Track (operated by Carbon Trust) (awards in Scotland)
Low Carbon Network Fund (operated by Ofgem) (awards in Scotland)
UK Global Threat Reduction Programme
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP)
Nuclear Decommissioning Agency:
Beyond Chapelcross Workforce Transition Project (CWTP) (awards in Scotland)
Caithness and North Sunderland Fund (CNSF)
Green Deal Scheme
Mr Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration he has given to the provision of a subsidy scheme to bridge the gap between the ending of the current Carbon Emissions Reduction Target and Community Energy Saving Programme obligations and the Green Deal Finance Company becoming fully operational. [129286]
Gregory Barker: The existing Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) schemes will come to an end on 31 December 2012. Ofgem set out their approach to CERT/CESP compliance in an open letter of 21 September 2012. In this they set out how they will treat work completed after the end of 2012. Such work may be considered as a mitigating factor when considering enforcement action and what form any such action should take.
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) will come into force on 1 January 2013, ensuring there is no hiatus between ECO and CERT/CESP. Additionally, any ECO activity delivered from 1 October 2012 can also be counted towards an energy supplier's eventual ECO target.
Government has further announced a £125 million ‘cash back' offer, designed to incentivise consumers to take up the Green Deal. It will be available to all consumers in England and Wales who make a financial contribution to the installation costs of energy efficiency measures under Green Deal, whether or not they take out Green Deal Finance. We announced it would launch in 28 January 2013, however the Department is looking at whether it will be possible to open the scheme for applications earlier in January.
Housing: Insulation
Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration he has given to measures to increase insulation uptake in housing stock which has yet to instal cavity and loft insulation. [129424]
Gregory Barker:
Since this Government put in place the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) extension in April 2011 around 700,000 cavity walls and 1.6 million
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lofts have been insulated under the CERT programme. Subsidised, or often free, offers of insulation continue to remain available under CERT this year.
Going forward, a number of policies will support insulation uptake. Under the Green Deal householders will be able to install a range of energy efficiency measures (including loft and cavity insulation) without having to pay all of the costs upfront, with the Energy Company Obligation focussed on the poorest and most vulnerable, and on harder to treat homes, such as those with hard to treat cavities. The Government has also announced a £125 million cash back scheme to encourage early uptake of measures under the Green Deal from January 2013. The first householders to take action under this scheme will be able to claim back £350 for installing loft and cavity insulation.
In addition, the Energy Act 2011 enables Government to regulate to help ensure the take up of cost effective energy efficiency improvements in the private rented sector. From April 2016, domestic private landlords should not be able to unreasonably refuse requests from their tenants for consent to energy efficiency improvements, where financial support is available, such as the Green Deal and/or the ECO. Further, the Energy Act contains provisions for a minimum standard for private rented housing and commercial rented property from 2018, likely to be set at EPC band 'E'. The Government has committed to working with the sector in advance of any regulations to encourage uptake of energy efficiency measures through the Green Deal and has confirmed that any use of these regulation-making powers is conditional on there being no upfront or overall costs to landlords.
Hydroelectric Power
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will consider allowing small hydro-schemes to be installed under permitted development as part of a strategy of increasing the supply of hydro-electricity. [129500]
Gregory Barker: Small scale hydropower can make a small, but useful contribution to delivering low carbon electricity and the coalition Government is keen to maximise its potential. There are a range of measures in place to encourage the development of appropriately sited hydropower installations.
In most cases hydropower stations require planning permission because they involve physical development of land. In April 2012 the Government introduced secondary legislation that confirmed that hydro turbines meeting defined criteria influencing the size and location of the turbine on farms and forestry units can be installed as permitted development. In these cases planning permission from the local authority is not needed.
Severn Estuary: Tidal Power
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the case for freestream tidal devices in the Severn estuary. [129222]
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Gregory Barker: The Government is committed to the deployment of tidal stream technology in the UK, as demonstrated by active engagement with the marine industry and through financial initiatives to support the development of tidal stream devices.
We are open to considering well-developed, robust proposals for tidal stream devices for harnessing the energy from the Severn estuary.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of households who will receive the warm homes discount in each local authority area in winter 2012-13. [129442]
Gregory Barker: Around 2 million low income and vulnerable households will benefit each year as a result of the Warm Home Discount scheme. This is expected to include over 1 million of the poorest pensioners who will receive an automatic £130 discount on their electricity bills in winter 2012-13. Regional or local authority breakdowns for these data are not available.
Treasury
Air Passenger Duty
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 15 October 2012, Official Report, column 76W, on air passenger duty, what the timetable is for HM Revenue and Custom's commissioned research on the effect that differential prices at UK airports could have on the overall demand for aviation and on passengers' choice of airport. [129225]
Sajid Javid: This research has been published on HM Revenue and Custom's website and it is available as “No. 188: Modelling the Effects of Price Differentials at UK Airports” at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/reports.htm
Business: Barnsley
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an assessment of the potential effects of the funding for lending scheme on businesses in Barnsley Central constituency. [129326]
Greg Clark: The Funding for Lending Scheme is helping to make loans cheaper and more easily available across the UK. It is designed to incentivise banks and building societies to boost their lending to households and non-financial companies in aggregate. Participating banks have introduced a number of discounted loan products for small and medium sized enterprises and manufacturers.
Child Benefit
Mark Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of processing the additional self-assessed tax returns arising from the Government's plan to means-test child benefit. [127229]
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Mr Gauke: Child benefit is not being means-tested before payment. Instead the high income child benefit charge applies a new income tax charge on individuals with an income above £50,000 where they or their partner is in receipt of child benefit.
Information about processing the additional self assessment returns is not available and would be so only at disproportionate cost.
The estimated total operational costs relating to the introduction of the high income child benefit charge were published in the Tax Information and Impact Note at Budget 2012:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2012/tiin-0620.pdf
Nick Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how people whose entitlement to child benefit will vary during the tax year will be affected by the changes to child benefit from 7 January 2013. [128152]
Mr Gauke: The high income child benefit charge is based on the total amount of child benefit someone is entitled to receive over the course of a tax year (or from 7 January to 5 April for the tax year 2012-13). If someone becomes ineligible for child benefit part way through a tax year, or a new claim is made part way through a tax year, the charge will only apply to the amount actually paid. They will then have to show this amount on their self assessment tax return.
An individual's entitlement to child benefit is not affected by the introduction of the high income child benefit charge. Entitlement to child benefit will remain if an individual decides to opt out of receiving child benefit as a result of the charge.
Grants
Margaret Curran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what grant-giving programmes are operated by (a) his Department and (b) the bodies for which he is responsible; and which such programmes award grants in Scotland. [129152]
Sajid Javid: No grant giving programmes are operated within the Treasury Group.
Insurance: Floods
Chris Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of the withdrawal of flood insurance on the (a) availability of mortgages and (b) housing market. [129504]
Sajid Javid: Government is considering a range of options to ensure that insurance for homes at risk of flooding remains widely available. As part of this we have held discussions with insurers and lenders to help understand the impact on the availability of mortgages and the housing market. The conclusions of this work will be taken into account during policy development.
National Insurance Contributions: Entertainers
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what impact assessment his Department has undertaken on the implementation of class 1 national insurance contributions for entertainers. [129330]
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Mr Gauke: No formal regulatory impact assessment has been undertaken regarding the implementation of class 1 national insurance contributions for entertainers. However, prior to entertainers being included in the Social Security (Categorisation of Earners) Regulations 1978 in 1998, and a subsequent amendment in 2003, the Government liaised extensively with entertainment industry stakeholders to fully understand the impact of the legislative changes on entertainers.
Natural Gas
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) information his Department has received from the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and (b) discussions he has had with the FSA on steps taken by the FSA since 2005 in relation to reports of misconduct in the UK gas market. [129009]
Sajid Javid [holding answer 19 November 2012]: 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 Government's practice to provide details of all such representations.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Lord Browne of Madingley has (a) conducted a review of and (b) provided any advice to his Department on gas policy; if he will publish the content of any such review and advice; and if he will make a statement. [129425]
Sajid Javid: 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 Government's practice to provide details of all such representations.
Retail Prices Index
Annette Brooke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an assessment of the potential effects of any planned changes to the retail prices index to bring it more in line with the consumer prices index on (a) savers, (b) pensioners and (c) the public finances. [129557]
Sajid Javid: The National Statistician launched a Consultation on four options for the calculation of the retail prices index (RPI) on 8 October 2012. The consultation closes on 30 November 2012. It is anticipated that any recommendation for change will be announced by the National Statistician in January 2013.
There is no role for Ministers in this process unless under very specific circumstances and only then at the very end of the process. Only if the Bank of England considers a proposed change to the RPI to be fundamental and materially detrimental to the interests of holders of relevant index-linked gilts, would the agreement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer be required before the change could be made.
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Social Security Benefits
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse was of tax credits and other benefits to working households with children in 2011-12; and what estimate he has made of such costs in 2012-13. [128957]
Mr Gauke: The latest available estimate for tax credit expenditure is for 2010-11; figures for 2011-12 will be published in May 2013. The 2010-11 HMRC publication “Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics 2010-11” can be accessed here:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/child-wtc-may12.pdf
Based on figures in Table 1.1 of this publication, the total amount of tax credits paid to working households with children was £19.6 billion in 2010-11.
Child benefit is paid to any household irrelevant of their employment status, therefore and we cannot estimate the amount paid to working households.
Housing benefit and council tax benefit are also paid to working households with children. The following figures represent the expenditure on these households in 2011-12.
| Housing benefit and council tax benefit expenditure on working households with children | |
| Expenditure(£ million) | |
Taxation: Aviation
Chris Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent steps his Department has taken to address international legal barriers to the introduction of a per-plane aviation duty. [129502]
Sajid Javid: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 16 July 2012, Official Report, column 519W.
Taxation: Self-employed
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many members of staff at HM Revenue and Customs were assigned to tackling fraudulent claims of self-employment in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12. [129490]
Mr Gauke: This Government is determined to tackle tax evasion of all kinds and ensure that the tax system operates fairly and efficiently for all.
A breakdown of numbers of staff assigned to tackling fraudulent claims of self-employment is not available except at a disproportionate cost. HM Revenue and Customs compliance activity covers all aspects of non-compliant behaviour from simple error through to avoidance, evasion and organised criminal attack. Within HMRC compliance work is primarily carried out by staff in the Enforcement and Compliance line of business. HMRC take a risk based approach to compliance. Fraudulent claims of self-employment may be tackled by compliance officers and investigators across a range of activity.
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As part of the 2010 spending review settlement we announced that over £900 million would be made available to HMRC to step up their activity in tackling tax loss. This includes putting extra resource into tackling both avoidance and evasion. This reinvestment is funding a range of measures which will enable HMRC to bring in around £7 billion each year by 2014-15 in additional revenues.
Universal Credit
Mr Byrne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of employees who will be working for firms enrolled on real time information for universal credit in (a) April 2013, (b) October 2013, (c) January 2014, (d) April 2014 and (e) January 2015. [129476]
Mr Gauke: HMRC does not hold information on the number of employers who will have employees claiming universal credit. Where an employer has employees claiming universal credit, PAYE RTI for those individuals will be shared with the Department for Work and Pensions.
Education
Children: Abuse
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department has spent on measures to ensure the protection of children from abuse resulting from witchcraft branding or accusations of possession by evil spirits since 2011; and how much it plans to spend on such measures in each of the next five years. [128671]
Mr Timpson [holding answer 19 November 2012]: The organisations participating in the National Working Group on Child Abuse Linked to Faith or Belief, including the Department, have responsibility for the work in the action plan published by the Group in August. The Group is making excellent progress in implementing the plan for little financial cost. Beyond the time spent by policy officials on this work, since 2011 the Department has spent £12,500 on a literature review, published on 24 October, to inform the discussions of the Group. Future activity, and the Department's contribution to such activity, will be considered at regular meetings of the Working Group. The Department currently has no specific plans for further expenditure on this issue, though officials will continue to spend time taking forward this important work with Group members.
Royal National College for the Blind
Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the level of funding for the Royal National College for the Blind; and what plans he has for future funding for the body. [127118]
Matthew Hancock:
The Department through the Education Funding Agency currently funds approximately 70 placements for young people aged 16-25 with learning difficulties and/or disabilities at the Royal National
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College for the Blind in Hereford. The total placement funding for these 70 young people in relation to 2012/13 academic year is £2.9 million. These placements have been commissioned by local authorities to meet the education, training and support needs for the young people as outlined within their learning difficulty assessment.
The Education Funding Agency undertakes annual moderation of institution accounts to monitor their financial health. The Royal National College for the Blind is assessed as low risk with no concerns about the college's financial health. My assessment is that the college is adequately funded by the Department for the challenging work it does with those young people who require its specialist services.
From 2013/14 new funding arrangements are being implemented for the college and similar specialist institutions. These arrangements will support the Government's plans to introduce a more integrated approach to assessment and planning for young people with special educational needs from birth to age 25. The Department is attaching two important conditions to these arrangements. The first is that local authorities are required to continue with existing placements when the new arrangements come into effect, and the second is that local authorities will be required to look at placements in all institutions including the Royal National College for the Blind on a fair and equivalent basis, so local authorities will continue to commission placements at the college for local young people following assessment, and will in future also provide the majority of the college's funding for each student.
Schools: Sports
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to promote sport participation in schools, including disability sport. [126466]
Mr Timpson: Physical Education (PE) will remain compulsory at all four key stages following the current review of the National Curriculum. The revised programme of study for PE will be slimmed down and will place a greater emphasis on competitive sport. It will be introduced into schools from September 2014.
The School Games are already helping to increase the amount of competitive school sport. The School Games have four levels: competition within schools; competition between schools; county or district level competition; and an annual, national, multisport competition for our elite performers. Disability sport is included in the School Games at all four levels.
The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), is considering a range of other measures to improve school sport for young people, including those with disabilities, and will make an announcement later this year.
Special Educational Needs
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) when he plans to publish the final evaluation report of the pathfinder programme to test out the proposals in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Green Paper; [128612]
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(2) whether he plans to publish the interim evaluation report of the pathfinder programme to test out the proposals in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Green Paper; [128613]
(3) what assessment he has made of progress on the pathfinders chosen to test the proposals in his Department's Green Paper on special educational needs and disabilities; and what assessment has been made of the state of such pathfinders which (a) are in the recruiting phase and (b) have not yet launched; [128786]
(4) what steps he plans to take to ensure the findings from the evaluation of the pathfinder programme to test out the proposals in the special educational needs and disabilities Green Paper contribute to the legislative proposals contained in the Children and Families Bill; [128787]
(5) by what date he anticipates the pathfinder programme to test the proposals in his Department's special educational needs and disabilities Green Paper will be completed. [128788]
Mr Timpson: In line with commitments made in the Special Educational Needs and Disability Green Paper, 20 pathfinders were set up in September 2011, representing 31 local authorities and their health partners. All pathfinders have launched and are recruiting families to test new approaches.
An independent interim evaluation report of the pathfinder programme was published on 18 October 2012 and is available from the Department for Education's research website at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/researchandstatistics/research/researchpublications
Under existing contractual arrangements, the final evaluation report is due to be published in summer 2013.
The interim evaluation report noted that good progress had been made across the pathfinder programme by June 2012. Most of the pathfinders had successfully set up representative governance structures and project delivery teams; there was a high level of positive engagement with parents; good progress had been made in mapping out the single assessment and plan pathway; and in most areas testing with families and young people was well under way. The report also identified that activities in some areas of testing were less well developed than others, and that pathfinders have some way to go to reach full implementation. The Department's contracted pathfinder support team is working with groups of pathfinders to accelerate testing in those areas where slower progress has been made.
The pathfinder programme was set up specifically to test out the proposals in the special educational needs and disabilities Green Paper and the experiences of children, families and professionals in the pathfinder sites have already informed draft provisions, published in September 2012. Looking ahead, evidence from the pathfinder programme will be vital in informing parliamentary scrutiny of proposed SEN legislation; the development of regulations; revisions to the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice; and plans for national implementation.
On 6 November, I was pleased to be able to announce to the Education Select Committee an 18-month extension of the pathfinder programme, to September 2014. The
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independent evaluation will be extended by up to 24 months, subject to contract negotiations, and we will continue to offer ongoing support to pathfinders, with a focus on sector-led approaches to improvement, enabling us to gather further information about the full range of pathfinder approaches, building on what we have already learned. It will allow more time for the most effective pathfinder approaches to be fully documented and shared, particularly with non-pathfinder areas and support the implementation of the Green Paper reform programme including, subject to parliamentary approval, the legislative changes.
Deputy Prime Minister
Trident
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2012, Official Report, column 296W, on Trident, what the overall cost to date of the Trident Alternatives Review is by category of expenditure. [129307]
Danny Alexander: I have been asked to reply as the Minister responsible for the Trident Alternatives Review.
Pursuant to my answer of 31 October 2012, Official Report, column 296W, the costs of the review are met from within existing departmental budgets, and are limited to the time spent by experts in providing advice and to any incidental travel costs associated with attending meetings. These costs are not centrally recorded and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Home Department
Crime Prevention: Nottinghamshire
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the level of crime reduction grant from her Department to (a) Nottinghamshire County Council and (b) Gedling Borough Council was in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011-12 and (iv) 2012-13; what estimate she has made of the level of crime reduction grant from her Department to (a) Nottinghamshire County Council and (b) Gedling Borough Council in 2013-14. [126360]
Mr Jeremy Browne [holding answer 2 November 2012]: The following table shows the level of unringfenced community safety grant (known as partnership funding) paid to Nottinghamshire county council. Funding is not allocated to Gedling borough council by the Home Office.
This specific grant stream ends after 2012-13. In 2013-14 Police and Crime Commissioners will receive some funding from a Community Safety Fund, which they can use to invest in drugs, crime, and community safety activities. They will be able to allocate this to all types of organisations in their police force area.
| Community safety grant: Nottinghamshire county council | |
| £ | |
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Crime: Plymouth
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hate crimes have been reported in Plymouth in the last 12 months. [129553]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Data on the number of recorded hate crimes is collected centrally by police force area, and is not broken down by town or city.
Figures for hate crimes recorded by police forces in England and Wales in 2011-12 were published by the Home Office in September. Data for 2011-12 is available on the Home Office website.
Emergency Calls: Hoaxes and False Alarms
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hoax 999 calls were received by the police in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012 to date in (i) Coventry, (ii) West Midlands and (iii) England; and what estimate she has made of the financial costs associated with responding to such calls in each of the last three years. [129489]
Damian Green: The requested information is not collected by the Home Office.
Entry Clearances
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the visa applications rejected in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011 were made by graduates or skilled workers. [126710]
Mr Harper [holding answer 5 November 2012]:Under Tier 2 (skilled worker) and pre-Points Based System equivalents, there were 2,995 refusals (main applicants) in 2010 and correspondingly 1,462 refusals in 2011. This information relates to refusals of entry clearance visas for the skilled workers route (Tier 2 of the Points Based System and pre-PBS equivalents). Some of the refusals may have been for individuals who did not meet the required skill criteria.
Information on whether visa refusals relate to applications by graduates is not available.
Data relating to grants and refusals of visas by Tier, are published in table 'be.01' of the quarterly Home Office statistical release 'Immigration Statistics', available from the Home Office's Science, Research and Statistics website at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/
Female Genital Mutilation
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the number of female genital mutilation operations carried out in the UK in each of the last three years. [129395]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the UK is difficult to estimate because of the hidden nature of the crime and the Home Office has not made an estimate of the number of FGM operations in the last three years.
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A study based on 2001 census data suggested that over 20,000 girls under 15 could be at high risk of FGM in England and Wales.
Fixed Penalties
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of each category of fixed penalty notice have been (a) issued and (b) paid in each police force area in each month since their introduction; and what the aggregate value was of the resultant fines imposed in each category. [129241]
Mr Jeremy Browne: Data provided to the Home Office on the number of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for motoring offences cannot be broken down to show the month of issue/payment or payment rates by individual offence category.
Calendar year data for the period 2007 to 2010, broken down by year, are published in the Home Office annual statistical release, “Police Powers and Procedures, England and Wales, 2010/11”, which is available online at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/police-research/police-powers-procedures-201011/
The number of non-endorsable (usually £30) and endorsable (£60) fixed penalty notices issued, broken down by offence category are shown in Table FPN.03, while the number paid are in table FPN.04. Data for 2011 are scheduled to be published in spring 2013.
Data from earlier years are published in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin “Offences relating to motor vehicles” (1980 to 2006), and in a command paper from 1977 to 1979; copies are available in the Library of the House. Data for the years previous were published annually as a return to the House of Commons.
Immigration
Damian Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she gave consideration to allowing the constituents of the hon. Member for Folkestone and Hythe, Mr and Mrs Biscocho Viray, Home Office reference V1091633, permission to work whilst their application for leave to remain is considered; and if she will make a statement. [128128]
Mr Harper [holding answer 12 November 2012]:The UK Border Agency south-east area director wrote to my hon. Friend about this case on 5 November 2012.
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her estimate is of immigration from Bulgaria and Romania in the period after 2014. [129022]
Mr Harper [holding answer 21 November 2012]:The Government do not routinely produce forecasts or estimates of future levels of migration from individual countries. The difficulty in producing a reliable forecast of likely levels of migration, which would need to take account of a variety of factors, is in this instance accentuated by the fact that the United Kingdom is not the only member state that will be required to lift existing labour market restrictions on Bulgarian and Romanian nationals on 31 December 2013.
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The Government has made clear it will always apply transitional controls on new EU member states. We are also working to tackle abuse of free movement with other member states.