11 Dec 2012 : Column 233W
Exports: Iraq
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which exports from the construction and equipment sector account for Iraq's sovereign debt to UK Export Finance. [132241]
Michael Fallon: UK Export Finance, formally the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD), has published information, available in the House Library, about sovereign debts payable to ECGD, including details of sovereign debts related to Iraq that arose as a result of its default on the payment of exports supplied in the 1970s and 1980s. The information shows that 69% of the value of debt related to exports from the construction and equipment sectors. It is not possible to provide details of individual export transactions, where such information exists, as this would incur disproportionate cost.
Fireworks: Safety
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps have been taken to educate people about the dangers of fireworks. [132409]
Jo Swinson: The Department has taken no recent proactive steps to educate people about the dangers of fireworks. However, information about fireworks safety is readily available on the BIS website:
www.bis.gov.uk/policies/consumer-issues/product-safety/firework-regulations
The range of materials held there is accessible to the public and is used by local fire and rescue services, police forces, schools and local authority enforcers to promote firework safety messages. Included in the literature are school information packs, posters aimed at children and teenagers, and a guide and posters for retailers.
Detailed guides on “Giving your own firework display” and “working together on firework displays: A guide to safety for firework display organisers and Operators” are available on the Health and Safety Executive website at:
www.hse.gov.uk
Higher Education: Admissions
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) funded, (b) off quota and (c) private student places for (i) full-time students and (ii) part-time students there were in (A) 2010-11 and (B) 2011-12; how many such places he expects there to be in each remaining year of the comprehensive spending review period; and if he will make a statement. [132069]
Mr Willetts: Information on the number of Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) fundable full-time and part-time students are shown in the following table. The Department does not set targets or limits for the number of off quota or private student places.
| Number of HEFCE fundable students split by mode of attendance | ||
| Thousand | ||
| 2010/11 | 2011/12 | |
11 Dec 2012 : Column 234W
| Source: HESES and HEIFES | ||
The Department sets a limit on the number of students starting full-time undergraduate and PGCE study through the Student Number Control for English Higher Education Institutions. It does not set limits for the stock of full-time and part-time students. 2012/13 data will become available when institutions make their HESES returns to HEFCE in mid-December.
ICT: Theft
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other pieces of IT equipment were lost or stolen from his Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [132181]
Jo Swinson: During the financial year period 2010-11 and 2011-12, the number of items considered lost or stolen is listed as follows. It is not possible to differentiate between lost or stolen items. All IT items issued by the Department are encrypted and once reported as stolen or lost are disabled to ensure no data are compromised.
| Type | Lost/stolen | |
Local Economic Partnerships: Greater London
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of jobs the London local economic partnership has created (a) in total, (b) in North West London, (c) in South West London, (d) in North East London and (e) in South East London in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; how many such jobs will be created in 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [132147]
11 Dec 2012 : Column 235W
Michael Fallon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has made no estimate of the number of jobs that the London enterprise panel created in 2010 to 2012, nor has any estimate been made of how many jobs will be created by the London enterprise panel in 2012-13.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his evaluation of the London local economic partnership is; and if he will make a statement. [132148]
Michael Fallon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has made no evaluation of the London enterprise panel. As partnerships of business and civic leaders, local enterprise partnerships are first and foremost accountable to their local community and local businesses. In the case of London, the London enterprise panel is an advisory panel to the Mayor of London.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding his Department has allocated to London for its local economic partnership in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [132257]
Michael Fallon:
In order to help local enterprise partnerships understand the issues facing businesses in their areas and to allow them to develop and prioritise action plans, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has made available a £4 million Capacity Fund (£1 million per year over four years). The
11 Dec 2012 : Column 236W
London enterprise panel declined an award from the first round of the Capacity Fund and has been allocated £76,800 for the period 2012-15 from the second round of funding.
Marketing
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department and the public bodies for which it is responsible spent on marketing and advertising in 2011-12 by (a) programme, (b) policy and (c) scheme; and what estimate he has made of such spending in each such category in 2012-13. [126275]
Jo Swinson [holding answer 1 November 2012]: Our 2011-12 annual report and accounts shows that total expenditure on advertising and publicity by BIS and its partner organisations (but excluding UK Trade & Investment) amounted to £19 million in 2011-12 (£18 million in 2010-11).
In 2011-12 the BIS family (excluding UKTI) had £20.8 million of expenditure on advertising and marketing approved within ERG spending control processes. Within this total ail spend over £100,000 was approved by the ERG in accordance with the Government-wide spending controls. Expenditure under £100,000 was approved by BIS and its partner bodies in line with guidelines issued by ERG.
The £20.8 million 2011-12 expenditure is broken down in the following table
| Policy group area | Expenditure (£ million) | Additional information where total includes new spend over £0.5 million |
|
£2.4 million on communicating the reforms to student finance | ||
In 2012-13 we are currently forecasting expenditure of c.£26 million—all of which will be subject to the Government's spending controls processes, including approval by ERG where expenditure is over £100,000 and approved by BIS and its partner organisations in line with guidelines issued by ERG where expenditure is under £100,000.
The ERG process seeks to ensure the highest standards of value for money are maintained. We have identified a number of priority communications activities connected with promoting growth for the financial year 2012-13 including:
Supporting policies designed to boost enterprise and manufacturing;
Continuing to inspire public and business confidence in science and increased study of STEM subjects;
Promoting skills and training;
Supporting the construction of a positive environment for business, employees and consumers.
Details of expenditure by policy group for 2011-12 and forecasts for 2012-13 are provided based on the data we hold with respect to the Efficiency and Reform Group (ERG) spending control processes. There are small discrepancies between these figures and those shown in our accounts, for example, because the ERG approves budgets and the accounts show actual spend. There are also some definitional differences. Information at the level of detail covering individual schemes is not held centrally and could not be provided except at disproportionate cost.
National Trading Standards Board
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding the National Trading Standards Board received for (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) each future year of the comprehensive spending review period; and if he will make a statement. [132074]
11 Dec 2012 : Column 237W
Jo Swinson: The National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) began operating on 1 April 2012. The Department has allocated the NTSB £9,679,000 in grant funding for 2012-13. The NTSB have been given an indicative budget of £11,049,000 for 2013-14. We have not yet agreed budgets for subsequent years.
In 2011-12, a grant of £70,000 was made available to put in place arrangements for the transition of BIS-funded consumer enforcement projects to the NTSB, in preparation for operation on 1 April 2012.
Parking
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what contracts for providing car park management services to his Department are held by private companies; [132555]
(2) what the total value is of any contracts between his Department and private companies for car park management services in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) South Lanarkshire local authority area. [132556]
Jo Swinson: The total value for providing car park management services is nil.
There are no specific contracts held with private companies for providing car park management services to the Department. The Department has a total facilities management contract with a commercial company to manage the BIS properties which includes the management of staff car parks for BIS staff.
Post Offices: Closures
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many post offices in (a) Essex, (b) Greater London and (c) England and Wales closed in each year between 1997 and 2010. [131058]
Jo Swinson: The information requested is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the chief executive officer of Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
However, the hon. Member will be interested to note the Government have made a number of commitments that maintain and modernise the Post Office network, including a specific promise that there will be no programme of branch closures. In 2011/12 there was a net national reduction of just two branches in a network of more than 11,800, meaning the Post Office network is at its most stable for over a quarter of a century.
Senior Civil Servants
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of senior civil servants have left (a) his Department and (b) each of the public bodies for which he is responsible since May 2010; what the rate of turnover of senior civil servants has been in (i) his Department and (ii) each such body since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [132161]
Jo Swinson:
Since May 2010, 90 senior civil servants have left core BIS. Their reasons for leaving were recorded
11 Dec 2012 : Column 238W
as retirement, resignation, end of fixed-term contract or transfer to other Government Departments. The turnover of senior civil service level staff in core BIS since May 2010 has been 43%.
The Department does not hold records on non-departmental public bodies.
Students: Finance
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many full-time equivalent students were on (a) taught postgraduate and (b) research degree programmes funded by the Higher Education Funding Council in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [132075]
Mr Willetts: Information on the estimated number of Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) fundable postgraduate taught (PGT) full-time equivalent students is shown in table 1. Research degree programmes are not included in table 1 as they are reported as non-fundable on the Higher Education Students Early Statistics (HESES) survey. This is because they are funded through quality-related (QR) research funding rather than the teaching funding method. 2012/13 data are not currently available; they will become available when institutions make their HESES returns to HEFCE in mid-December. Different sources have been used to provide information on the number of postgraduate research full-time equivalents, as shown in table 2.
| Table 1: Estimated number of taught postgraduate full-time equivalent students | ||
| 2010/11 | 2011/12 | |
| Note: The number of full-time equivalents (FTEs) has been estimated using FTE ratios from columns 4 and 4a in HESES. Source: HESES and HEIFES | ||
| Table 2: Number of postgraduate research (PGR) FTEs (English Institutions) | |
| Number | |
| Source: Eligible PGR students in years 1 to 3 of full-time study (and part-time equivalent) taken from the 2009 and 2010 HEFCE Research Activity Surveys and 2010/11 HESA record | |
Staff Surveys
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of his Department's most recent staff survey; which organisation carried out the survey; and what the cost of the survey was. [132104]
Jo Swinson:
BIS participates in the annual Civil Service People Survey co-ordinated by the Cabinet Office, which measures the attitudes and motivations of our staff. The 2012 Civil Service People Survey ran from 1 October 2012 to 31 October 2012. The Department 2012 results will be made available online by 31 January 2013. There
11 Dec 2012 : Column 239W
are currently no plans to place a copy of the results in the Library. The cost of the 2012 survey for BIS is estimated to be £12,361.
UK Membership of EU
Sir Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the potential cost to the UK and UK business of the UK not being part of the EU single market. [132090]
Michael Fallon: The Government maintain the view that membership of the EU (and hence the single market) is in the best interest of the UK. Access to the single market provides UK-based businesses with tariff-free access to a market of around 500 million customers and worth approximately £11 trillion in 2011.
Being part of the single market enables the UK to influence the rules that govern it, instead of being subject to decisions that would otherwise be out of the UK's control. Between 1992 and 2008, the single market is estimated to have raised EU GDP by 2.13% and created 2.77 million new jobs, and it is estimated that these benefits could be doubled with the removal of the remaining trade barriers.
European markets count for under half of UK exports of goods and services (47% in 2011). In order to meet the Chancellor of the Exchequer's target of doubling exports to £1 trillion by 2020, the UK will need to increase exports to the EU as well as to other developed and emerging global markets.
Sir Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the value of trade arising from the UK's membership of the EU single market. [132091]
Michael Fallon: Membership of the EU single market provides UK-based businesses with tariff-free access to a market of around 500 million customers and worth approximately £11 trillion in 2011.
European markets count for under half (47% in 2011) of UK exports of goods and services, worth approximately £234 billion in 2011. The 2004 and 2007 enlargements of the EU have had a positive effect on the UK's trade with new member states (doubling exports to the EU12 since 2004 to £16.6 billion). The UK has recorded a trade surplus in services with the EU since 2004. In 2011, the UK recorded a net surplus of £15.9 billion.
Unfair Practices
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many prosecutions there were under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [132072]
Jo Swinson: The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) received reports from local authority trading standards officers of 308 prosecutions under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 in the period March to April 2010/11 and 342 in the period March to April 2011/12.
11 Dec 2012 : Column 240W
In addition the OFT receives notification of investigations by trading standards officers of offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 using civil enforcement powers in the Enterprise Act 2002. In the period March to April 2010/11 there were 278 such investigations and 170 in the period March to April 2011/12.
Union of Jewish Students
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received from the Union of Jewish Students; what response his Department gave to such representations; and if he will make a statement. [R] [131232]
Mr Willetts: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 10 December 2012, Official Report, column 30-31W.
Cabinet Office
Carers
John Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will estimate how many carers are (a) in and (b) not in the labour market in (i) Glasgow North West constituency, (ii) Glasgow, (iii) Scotland and (iv) the UK. [133282]
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 December 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question.
ONS compiles Labour Market Statistics following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions for areas smaller than the UK from the Annual Population Survey (APS).
Unfortunately, the APS does not collect data on the number of carers.
Charities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much funding his Department allocated to (a) Centrepoint, (b) Crisis, (c) Skill Force and (d) Shelter in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [132463]
Mr Hurd: The Cabinet Office has not directly funded any of these groups in the years specified.
Consultants
Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many full-time equivalent staff were employed on consultancy contracts in his Department on the latest date for which figures are available; how many such staff were employed on the same date 12 months ago; and if he will make a statement. [132201]
Miss Chloe Smith: In 2011-12 alone, through the work of Efficiency and Reform Group, Government Departments reduced their spend on consultancy by 85%, saving £1.035 billion compared to 2009-10. This is in addition to £870 million saved on consultancy in 2010-11.
11 Dec 2012 : Column 241W
Consultancy is recorded through contracts rather than the number of FTE staff.
Any contract for consultancy where the estimated value of the contract exceeds £20,000 must obtain the approval of the Minister for the Cabinet Office. As part of this Government's transparency programme, details of these expenditure approvals are published on:
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
www.data.gov.uk
Additionally, all new contracts over the value of £10,000 and payments of over £25,000 are published on Contracts Finder:
www.gov.uk/contracts-finder
Immigration: Commonwealth
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how levels of immigration from Commonwealth categories have changed in each of the last five years; [131987]
(2) how many seasonal workers have entered the UK from (a) inside and (b) outside the EU for work over the Christmas period in each of the last five years. [131990]
11 Dec 2012 : Column 242W
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 December 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to respond to your recent Parliamentary Questions 1) how levels of immigration from Commonwealth categories have changed in each of the last five years. [131987], and 2) how many seasonal workers have entered the UK from (a) inside and (b) outside the EU for work over the Christmas period in each of the last five years. [131990]
The Office for National Statistics {ONS) produces estimates of long-term international migration (LTIM). ONS uses the UN definition of a long-term migrant in that a person who changes their country of usual residence for a period of 12 months or more. LTIM data is primarily based on the International Passenger Survey (IPS).
Long Term International Migration (LTIM) estimates are available on the ONS website:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-280889
Table 1 provides a summary of immigration from the Commonwealth countries in each of the last five years. This has been taken from Table 2.02 "LTIM Country of Last or Next Residence, 1991-2011", which provides estimates of immigration by country groupings.
ONS does not collect any information specifically on seasonal workers entering the UK for work over the Christmas period.
Table 2.02, Series MN
| Long-Term International Migration, time series 1991 to 2011, country of last or next residence | |||||||||||
| Thousand | |||||||||||
| Commonwealth | |||||||||||
| Old Commonwealth | New Commonwealth | ||||||||||
| All | All | All | Australia | Canada | New Zealand | South Africa | All | Other African | Indian Subcontinent | Other | |
| Notes: 1. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Please note: From 2004 onwards, All, New and Other Commonwealth exclude Malta and Cyprus. Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Home Office, Central Statistics Office (CSO) Ireland, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) | |||||||||||
ICT: Expenditure
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much has been spent on (a) strategy and planning, (b) design and build, (c) hosting and infrastructure, (d) content provision and (e) testing and evaluation for his Department's websites in each of the last two years; and how much has been allocated for each such category of expenditure in 2012-13. [132128]
Mr Hurd: The information requested is published at:
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/resources/websitemetrics2011-12.pdf
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/websitemetrics2010-11
The introduction of GOV.UK is expected to save an estimated £36 million a year, and eventually when all departmental sites are converged into GOV.UK, we expect annual savings of between £50 and £70 million.
11 Dec 2012 : Column 243W
Senior Civil Servants
Mr Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of senior civil servants have left (a) his Department and (b) each of the public bodies for which he is responsible since May 2010; what the rate of turnover of senior civil servants has been in (i) his Department and (ii) each such body since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [132179]
Mr Maude: The following table sets out the number of senior civil servants (SCS) who left the Cabinet Office and turnover of senior civil servants in the year to the dates shown. It is worth noting that the proportion of SCS turnover since 2010 is considerably less than it was in 2007-08 and in line with the average turnover from 2005 to 2010.
The nature of much of the work in the Cabinet Office means that there is a high requirement for expertise to be brought in from Government Departments, other parts of the public sector, and in some cases the private sector, to work on changing priorities. Of those senior civil servants that left the Department since 2010, 47% moved elsewhere within Government.
| SCS leavers | SCS turnover (percentage) | |
The UK Statistics Authority employs three senior civil servants who have remained in post since May 2010.
Staff Surveys
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will place in the Library a copy of the results of his Department's most recent staff survey; which organisation carried out the survey; and what the cost of the survey was. [132103]
Mr Maude: The Cabinet Office in common with other Departments will be publishing survey results on its departmental website. The Cabinet Office results together with the results of its agency, the Government Procurement Service, will be published by 31 December 2012 at:
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
The Cabinet Office survey was administered by ORC international and approximately 60% less was spent on surveys than in 2008-09. The cost for my Department's survey in 2012 is estimated at £28,337 excluding vat.
Defence
Air Force
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many flying days were lost as a result of (a) adverse weather conditions and (b) other factors at each RAF station since 1 January 2011. [132419]
Mr Robathan:
The information requested is not held centrally or in the same format by all RAF stations and
11 Dec 2012 : Column 244W
could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Available information for entire days of flying lost in the period requested is shown in the following table.
| Flying days lost by each RAF station | ||||
| 2011 | 2012(1) | |||
| Weather | Other | Weather | Other | |
| (1) To date (2 )Closed June 2011 | ||||
Weather-related reasons which can preclude routine flying in peace-time include low cloud base and high wind, snow, ice and freezing fog. Certain stations with a key operational role have an enhanced level of snow and ice-clearing equipment enabling them to return to flying operations more quickly. Other reasons for lost flying days can include spilt fuel or debris on runways, bird activity, power outage, designated flight safety days.
Devonport Dockyard
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many nuclear-powered submarines can be berthed simultaneously at HM Naval Base Devonport. [131580]
Mr Dunne: Up to eight operational submarines can be accommodated at the wharves and jetties at Her Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Devonport. A further four operational submarines can be accommodated at mooring buoys and anchorages, which are used for temporary berthing in the Naval Base waters. Additional operational submarines can be accommodated at Babcock Marine's co-located dockyard.
There is also capacity at HMNB Devonport for further nuclear-powered submarines that have left service and are in afloat storage.
European Fighter Aircraft
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it remains his policy that any Typhoon aircraft to be based at RAF Lossiemouth will not require a new air defence training area. [132414]
Mr Robathan: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the previous Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Worcestershire (Peter Luff), on 15 September 2011, Official Report, column 1302W.
11 Dec 2012 : Column 245W
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what items of mission-specific Typhoon infrastructure have been installed at RAF Leuchars since 12 September 2011; and how much each such item cost. [132415]
Mr Robathan: The project costs of mission-specific Typhoon infrastructure where funding has either been committed or installed at RAF Leuchars since 12 September 2011 are shown in the following table.
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the value for money per training flying hour of Typhoon aircraft (a) currently based at RAF Leuchars and (b) to be based at RAF Lossiemouth. [132416]
Mr Robathan: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer my predecessor, the hon. Member for North Devon (Sir Nick Harvey), gave on 5 September 2011, Official Report, column 76W.
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 18 October 2011, Official Report, column 883W, on RAF Lossiemouth, whether a decision has been made on the date of transfer for Northern Quick Reaction Alert duties between RAF Leuchars and RAF Lossiemouth. [132417]
Mr Robathan: I have nothing further to add to the answer given by my predecessor, the hon. Member for North Devon (Sir Nick Harvey), on 18 October 2011, Official Report, column 883W.
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 5 September 2011, Official Report, column 84W, on the European Fighter Aircraft, whether (a) the estimate of the cost to the public purse of transferring the Typhoon force from RAF Leuchars to RAF Lossiemouth and (b) the estimate of the cost to the public purse of operating the Typhoon force from (i) RAF Lossiemouth and (ii) RAF Leuchars over a 25-year period have been refined further during detailed planning for the implementation of the basing review; and if he will make a statement. [132418]
Mr Robathan: Planning for the transfer of the Typhoon force from RAF Leuchars is ongoing. An assessment study is under way to identify and refine the infrastructure costs of operating the Typhoon force from RAF Lossiemouth.
11 Dec 2012 : Column 246W
There are no plans to update the comparative costs of operating the Typhoon from the respective sites over 25 years.
Germany
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with other Government Departments on the withdrawal of British military bases from Germany. [131902]
Mr Robathan: Ministers and Ministry of Defence officials continue to have regular dialogue with their colleagues in other Government Departments on a range of issues including basing.
Gibraltar
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reports have been made of illegal incursions of Spanish vessels in the territorial waters of Gibraltar in each of the last two years. [132356]
Mr Robathan: There were 67 recorded instances of unlawful incursions by Spanish state vessels in British Gibraltar territorial waters during 2010 and 23 in 2011. There have been 197 between 1 January and 30 November this year.
One of the Ministry of Defence's roles in Gibraltar is to help maintain the United Kingdom's sovereignty over British Gibraltar territorial waters. In support of this, the Royal Navy challenges unlawful maritime incursions. These challenges are subsequently pursued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office through formal diplomatic protests to the Spanish Government.
Guided Weapons
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Navy plans to purchase Future Air-to-Surface Guided Weapons (a) heavy and (b) light; and if he will make a statement. [131360]
Mr Dunne: Main investment decisions are planned for both missiles in 2013.
Military Bases: Scotland
Mr Darling: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a decision on the future of Dreghorn and Redford Barracks in Edinburgh and on the development at Kirknewton; and if he will make a statement. [132146]
Mr Robathan: The Chancellor's autumn statement of 5 December 2012, Official Report, columns 871-82, has introduced some additional factors that will need to be taken into account—such as new arrangements for accessing private finance, which could be used to support the basing strategy. The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has therefore taken the decision to postpone the planned announcement until next year.
11 Dec 2012 : Column 247W
Military Exercises
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the Bowline 13 Exercise will take place; what the purpose of the exercise is; and if he will estimate the (a) number of personnel that will be involved and (b) cost to the public purse. [131570]
Mr Dunne: Exercise Bowline 13 will be held at the Royal Naval Armament Depot at Coulport. It is a Level 1 Nuclear Emergency Response Exercise and is conducted on a three-yearly cycle under the Radiation Emergency Preparedness and Public Information Regulations legislation.
The exercise will involve approximately 600 personnel for varying lengths of time, most for a short period.
There will be no additional cost to the public purse resulting from this exercise as it will be conducted during normal working hours.
Military Intelligence
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made on the replacement for full-spectrum signals intelligence. [129665]
Mr Dunne: The Ministry of Defence has a range of current and planned signals intelligence capabilities across the maritime, land and air domains. I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Nuclear Weapons: Testing
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on publication of information on levels of (a) gamma, (b) beta, (c) other radiation and (d) radiation recorded on film badges at British nuclear test sites; who within his Department takes the decisions on which such information should be published; and according to what criteria any such decisions are taken. [130774]
Mr Dunne [holding answer 29 November 2012]: Documents relating to British nuclear tests have been, and continue to be, opened to the public through the National Archives in accordance with the Public Records Act 1958. Individual requests for information are handled in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations and the Data Protection Act 1998, as appropriate.
In addition to what is set out in legislation, there is internal Ministry of Defence guidance on recognising and handling the release of information which triggers Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights. This right covers the release of information that relates to concerns an individual may have about the impact on their health or exposure to a potentially hazardous situation.
Decisions on the release of such information are made by the officials handling individual requests, with approval through their line management chain, and are made in accordance with the relevant legislation. Information on radiation levels and radiation dose levels at the British nuclear tests is routinely released where those records are held, as there are no pressing national security reasons for withholding such information.
11 Dec 2012 : Column 248W
RAF Leuchars
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2011, Official Report, column 868W, on RAF Leuchars, whether work to determine what alterations are required to RAF Leuchars to transform it to an operational Army base and the cost of such alterations has been completed; and if he will make a statement. [132150]
Mr Robathan: The Chancellor's autumn statement 5 December 2012, Official Report, columns 871-882, introduced some additional factors that will need to be taken into account in the future basing strategy for Defence, such as the new arrangements for accessing Private Finance. The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has therefore taken the decision to postpone the planned announcement on basing until next year.
It is therefore too early to confirm what specific alterations would be required at a site or what the associated costs would be as these are dependent upon the types of Army units which will occupy the site.
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he plans to make an announcement on the future use of RAF Leuchars by his Department; [132420]
(2) what his plans are for the future of the units currently based at RAF Leuchars; and if he will make a statement; [132421]
(3) whether he has taken a decision on whether to retain an operational runway at Leuchars in the event of the transformation of the base into an Army base. [132426]
Mr Robathan: The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne) autumn statement on 5 December 2012 has introduced some additional factors that will need to be taken into account—such as new arrangements for accessing private finance, which could be used to support the basing strategy. The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has therefore taken the decision to postpone the planned announcement until next year. It is therefore too early at this time to confirm the future of any specific site or unit.
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 19 October 2011, Official Report, column 993W, on RAF Leuchars, what (a) sustainability and (b) other environmental studies have been carried out as part of the ongoing re-basing process. [132422]
Mr Robathan: Sustainability appraisals and associated action plans are being developed for all sites affected by basing changes, including RAF Leuchars. It is too early at this time to comment on specific details.
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether an Air Traffic Control radar service will be retained at RAF Leuchars. [132424]
11 Dec 2012 : Column 249W
Mr Robathan: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer given by my predecessor, the hon. Member for North Devon (Sir Nick Harvey), on 11 June 2012, Official Report, column 110W.
RAF Lossiemouth and Leuchars
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on how many occasions aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth were (a) scrambled and (b) launched during the period of time in which RAF Lossiemouth undertook the Quick Reaction Alert North role when resurfacing work was undertaken at RAF Leuchars; [132423]
(2) on how many occasions RAF fighters were (a) scrambled and (b) launched from (i) RAF Leuchars and (ii) RAF Coningsby to intercept aircraft in each of the last five years. [132425]
Mr Robathan: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer given on 12 December 2011, Official Report, columns 473-74). RAF Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) aircraft have been launched from all QRA bases on 25 occasions in 2012 as at 6 December 2012.
Type 22 Frigates
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of any capability gaps in maritime surveillance following the withdrawal of the Type 22 frigates; and what steps his Department is taking to address any such gaps. [129664]
Mr Dunne: The Type 22 frigates were fitted with equipment that provided maritime surveillance capabilities in a number of areas. Maritime surveillance is delivered from a range of platforms in a layered approach: capabilities in these areas can be provided by other Defence assets.
Education
Charities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding his Department allocated to (a) Centrepoint, (b) Crisis, (c) Skill Force and (d) Shelter in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [132460]
Mr Laws: The Department has not made funding available to Centrepoint, Crisis or Shelter in these financial years.
The Department made the following funding available to Skill Force Development:
| Financial year | Amount (£) |
Early Intervention Foundation
Mr Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to announce his decision on the outcome of the Early Intervention Foundation tender; and if he will make a statement. [125902]
Elizabeth Truss: [holding answer 30 October 2012]: Shortly.
11 Dec 2012 : Column 250W
GCE A-level: Females
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of female A-level students likely to be drawn into prostitution. [131697]
Mr Timpson [holding answer 5 December 2012]: The Department for Education has made no such assessment. We do not, however, recognise prostitution as an appropriate term to use in relation to girls who are still legally children and who are being sexually exploited. Child sexual exploitation is child abuse and is a very serious crime which the Government are committed to tackling.
Schools: Admissions
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent discussions his Department has had with head teachers in (a) English cities and (b) other areas where there are recent high levels of pupil turnover on the potential effect of such turnover on teaching and learning in schools. [132096]
Mr Laws: The Department for Education has not recently held discussions with head teachers about levels of pupil turnover and their potential effect on teaching and learning in schools.
We believe that every pupil, including those who are mobile, should be stretched and challenged in order to reach their true potential, and the Government's approach is to give head teachers greater power and control to drive improvement in their schools. Schools are best placed to know what works for them, and are accountable for the progress that children make.
We are introducing, in response to recommendations made by Lord Bew in June 2011, new indicators to the 2012 performance tables which will show the attainment and progress of “non-mobile” pupils who have been in the school throughout the previous two academic years. These can be compared with results for the whole cohort, including mobile pupils.
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential effect of pupil turnover on schools results and Ofsted ratings. [132098]
Mr Laws: The Department has not made any recent assessment of the effect of pupil turnover on school results or Ofsted ratings. However, the Department has estimated the effect of moving schools on pupil results. Our most recent analysis estimates that a pupil moving school after the start of year 6 will get a tenth of a key stage 2 national curriculum level lower, when controlling for other factors.
It is estimated that a pupil moving school after September of year 10 will have a reduction of at least one grade in each qualification taken at the end of key stage 4, when controlling for other factors.
We recognise these effects and, in response to recommendations made by Lord Bew in June 2011, additional indicators in the 2012 performance tables will separately show attainment and progress of pupils who have been in the school for at least two academic years.
11 Dec 2012 : Column 251W
In addition, Her Majesty's Inspectors are given a stability index that provides an indication of pupil turnover compared with the average of schools nationally.
Secondary Education: Work Experience
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what support his Department provides to work placement training programmes in secondary schools dealing with non-conventional work-experience placements. [131460]
Matthew Hancock: From September 2013 funding reforms will make it easier for schools to offer students work experience. The introduction of 16-19 study programmes will also set clearer expectations on schools to arrange work experience or other work-related learning such as student enterprise projects. Studio Schools and University Technical Colleges are already pioneering work with employers to develop students' specialist skills. BIS and DFE also encourage links between employers and schools through their work with Local Enterprise Partnerships and employer organisations.
Teachers: Retirement
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to introducing a winding-down scheme for teachers approaching retirement age. [132156]
Mr Laws: The Teachers' Pension scheme (TPS) is a defined benefit occupational pension scheme for teachers and lecturers in England and Wales which provides a range of benefits for members and their families. The scheme in Scotland (the Scottish Teaches' Superannuation scheme) is administered by the Scottish Public Pensions Agency on behalf of Scottish Ministers.
The TPS has a range of provisions available to employers and individuals approaching retirement. In addition to normal age retirement these options include phased retirement, where a teacher can draw some of their pension whilst continuing to work; actuarially adjusted benefits, where the teacher can leave teaching and draw all their benefits with an adjustment for early payment; and premature retirement, which allows the employer to offer early retirement with or without enhancement. In addition employers and teachers can purchase additional pension, to assist those who are retiring early. These provisions will continue as part of the reformed TPS to be introduced in 2015.
Energy and Climate Change
Energy
Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that the exemption of energy-intensive industries from new long-term contracts for difference will not fall disproportionately on low-income fuel consumers. [132828]
Mr Hayes: DECC is committed to helping those households who are in fuel poverty and recognise the need to help more of the most vulnerable to keep their homes warm at an affordable cost.
The scope of the exemption for energy-intensive industries from the costs of contracts for difference will
11 Dec 2012 : Column 252W
determine its impact on consumers. We intend to consult on the scope of the exemption, including who will be eligible, in spring 2013. The redistribution of costs and how this affects domestic consumers will be a key consideration.
Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assistance he plans to provide to energy-intensive industries after 2015 when the Electricity Market Reform spending envelope for compensation expires. [132833]
Gregory Barker: The Government announced their intention to exempt energy-intensive industries (EIIs) from the costs of contracts for difference (introduced through Electricity Market Reform) on 29 November 2012. This is intended to be an exemption from costs, not a compensation package. Subject to state aid clearance, the exemption would come into force when contracts for difference are introduced.
Separately, the package to compensate EIIs for the indirect costs of the Carbon Price Floor and EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), and the additional Climate Change Levy rebate is worth around £250 million over this spending review period. This is not part of Electricity Market Reform.
The funding for all Government schemes is dependent on the outcome of spending reviews by HM Treasury. The current review runs to financial year 2014-15. Any spending beyond this will be the subject of negotiation with HM Treasury.
Energy: Prices
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the price differential between (a) dead tariffs and (b) live tariffs for domestic energy supply. [132674]
Gregory Barker: The Department does not hold this information, but Ofgem has carried out extensive analysis of the domestic retail energy market during its Retail Market Review and discovered there are over 650 dead evergreen tariffs, of which one third are more costly than the current standard variable rate tariff offered by the supplier.
This analysis was based on information provided by suppliers at a particular point in time. Differentials vary between suppliers and will also vary over time.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the number of households on dead tariffs for their energy supply. [132675]
Gregory Barker: The Department does not hold these data.
Energy: Wholesale Trade
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the oral statement of 29 November 2012, Official Report, column 392, on energy policy, what steps his Department is taking to increase (a) liquidity and (b) transparency in the wholesale energy market. [132683]
11 Dec 2012 : Column 253W
Mr Hayes: Industry has already taken some steps to address the problem of low levels of power market liquidity and transparency, leading to better conditions in the day-ahead market. However, forward market liquidity remains a particular concern.
Ofgem is leading reforms in this area and is currently consulting on measures aimed at locking in recent progress and promoting further improvements to improve both liquidity and transparency across the wholesale market.
Given the significance of liquidity and transparency in promoting competition and supporting independent market participants the Government will be seeking powers in the Energy Bill to act should Ofgem and industry be unable to secure the progress that is necessary.
Fossil Fuels: Prices
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the oral statement of 29 November 2012, Official Report, column 388, on energy policy, what the evidential basis is for the statement that Government policies stand to reduce the UK's sensitivity to fossil fuel price strikes by approximately 30% by 2020 and by around 60% by 2016. [132678]
Mr Hayes: Assuming the question refers to the statement that “Government policies stand to reduce the UK's sensitivity to fossil fuel price spikes by approximately 30% by 2020, and by around 60% by 2050”, the evidence base is the DECC-commissioned 2011 Oxford Economics report, “Fuel Price Shocks and a Low Carbon Economy”. This can be accessed at the following web address:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/tackling-climate-change/international-climate-change/5276-fossil-fuel-price-shocks-and-a-low-carbon-economy-.pdf
The key findings of this study are that the impact of a 50% increase in oil and gas prices (resulting from a supply shock) reduces UK GDP by around 1% in 2010; and, under the low carbon scenario of reduced energy demand, by around 0.7% in 2020 and less than 0.4% 2050. This indicates the impact on UK output from oil and gas price shocks could be reduced by around 30% in 2020 and 60% in 2050, compared to a 2010 baseline.
ICT: Expenditure
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much has been spent on (a) strategy and planning, (b) design and build, (c) hosting and infrastructure, (d) content provision and (e) testing and evaluation for his Department's websites in each of the last two years; and how much has been allocated for each such category of expenditure in 2012-13. [132118]
11 Dec 2012 : Column 254W
Gregory Barker: The breakdown of spend for the last two years for the Department's websites is published on the Cabinet Office website:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/websitemetrics2010-11
The Department has allocated the following amounts for 2012-13:
Strategy and Planning: £41,500
Design and Build: £328,000
Hosting and Infrastructure: £169,200
Content Provision: £48,000
Testing and Evaluation: £41,000.
Natural Gas: Kettering
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of off-gas grid households in the borough of Kettering. [133001]
Mr Hayes: The exact number of households who are off the gas grid is not held centrally.
Estimates have been produced based on information held from two administrative sources; these are the Gemserv database on the location of electricity meters, and data from Xoserve and independent gas transporters on the location of gas meters. Subtracting the number of gas meters from the number of electricity meters produces a broad estimate of the number of off-grid properties. However some households can have more than one electricity meter associated with their property (for instance, a supply for communal facilities such as stairwell lighting or a lift). Additionally, the standard gas industry definition of domestic use uses a consumption threshold, with any consumer using less than 73,200 kWh of gas per year being classed as a domestic user; it is estimated that—Great Britain-wide—this definition allocates around 2 million small business users as domestic. Furthermore a small number of meters (less than one third of 1%) do not have sufficient information associated with them to be able to allocate them to a specific area. The underlying data on the number of gas and electricity meters in each local authority are available on the Department’s website at:
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/regional/electricity/electricity.aspx
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/energy_stats/regional/gas/gas.aspx
The following table shows, for 2010, the number of domestic electricity meter points, the number of gas meter points where consumption was less than 73,200 kWh, and the difference between the two figures. This indicates around 3,700 households in the borough of Kettering are off the gas grid.
| Number of estimated off-grid households in Kettering, 2010 | ||||
| Local administrative unit code | Local authority area | Domestic electricity meters (thousand) | Gas meters recording less than 73,200 kWh (thousand) | Difference (thousand) |
Natural Gas: Prices
Caroline Flint:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the oral statement of 29 November 2012, Official Report, column 388, on energy policy, what the evidential basis is for the statement that global gas prices were 50%
11 Dec 2012 : Column 255W
higher between 2006 and 2011 than between 2001 and 2006. [132677]
Mr Hayes: The statement should have referred to UK wholesale gas prices rather than global gas prices. A revision to clarify this is being issued by the Department to the Annual Energy Statement page 8, paragraph 1.10, which reads:
“Energy costs are a big factor in most households' expenses, and rising global gas prices, which were 50% higher in the five years from 2007 to 2011 than in the previous five years”.
The National Balancing Point (NBP) is the virtual point on the UK's gas transmission system where wholesale gas is traded. The average NBP spot price in the five years from 2007-11 was 43.5 pence per therm. The equivalent figure for the preceding five years from 2002-06 was 28.5 pence per therm implying a period-on-period increase of 52.7%.
Wind Power
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will discuss with his European counterparts the de-rating of wind turbines. [133284]
Gregory Barker: I have no plans to discuss de-rating of wind turbines with my European counterparts.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Animal Welfare: Circuses
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to publish a draft Bill on banning wild animals in circuses. [131215]
Mr Heath: As set out in the written ministerial statement by my predecessor, the right hon. Member for South East Cambridgeshire (Sir James Paice), on 12 July 2012, Official Report, columns 43-44WS, it is our intention to publish a draft Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny this Session.
Common Fisheries Policy
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent progress he has made on securing agreement in the European Parliament on a discard ban under the Common Fisheries Policy; [129220]
(2) what recent progress he has made on securing agreement in the European Parliament on UK control over its 12 nautical mile territorial waters under the Common Fisheries Policy. [129228]
Richard Benyon: Since the agreement of the general approach on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) by Fisheries Ministers at June Council I have been working to influence the European Parliament's negotiations on the dossier. Discussions on this in the European Parliament are currently at the committee stage and we do not expect to receive a clear view from the Parliament on the reform package until early next year.
With regard to access in the 12 nautical mile zone, the derogation in the current CFP that restricts access to this zone was due to expire on 31 December 2012. I have
11 Dec 2012 : Column 256W
pressed for the current derogation to be maintained, and both Council and Parliament have agreed this should be done. I expect a necessary amendment to the legislation to be finalised later this month.
Consultants
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many full-time equivalent staff were employed on consultancy contracts in his Department on the latest date for which figures are available; how many such staff were employed on the same date 12 months ago; and if he will make a statement. [132207]
Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA employed two people on consultancy contracts as at 31 October 2012, compared with six people on 31 October 2011. This excludes the number employed as interims or as specialist contractors.
Dogs
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to publish his response to the tackling irresponsible dog ownership consultation. [132295]
Mr Heath: We will be publishing our response to the consultation, together with the way forward, shortly. The Government are serious about tackling irresponsible ownership and we want to make sure that any proposals will deal with the problem effectively.
Eggs: Labelling
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of food industry bodies and the UK egg industry on the implementation of a production method labelling scheme for foods with egg as an ingredient to identify (a) food products manufactured from eggs produced in non-compliant systems in the EU and (b) egg products manufactured from eggs produced by conventional cage production systems outside the EU. [132980]
Mr Heath: The ability for consumers to make informed choices about the food products they buy is important to the Government. This has to be balanced against the realities of production cost and consumer support.
The Government support accurate voluntary labelling. The significant swing in recent years to free range egg and chicken production is a good example of how the voluntary approach can be successful. There is no legal requirement for broiler or laying hens to be reared as “free range”, yet producers recognise the added value to be gained from doing so and being able to label their products accordingly.
The Government will continue to work with animal welfare organisations, the food industry and consumer groups to ensure the right balance between demand for additional labelling, and additional costs to producers.
11 Dec 2012 : Column 257W
Flood Control
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what the cost to the public purse has been of the provision of sandbags to high-risk flood areas in 2012 to date; [131993]
(2) how many sandbags the Government have provided for use against flooding (a) nationally and (b) in Greater London in 2012 to date. [131994]
Richard Benyon: Decisions to deploy sandbags are made at local level and we do not hold this information centrally.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on flood defences in each of the last 30 years; by what proportion such funding changed in each of the last two years; and by what proportion he expects such funding to change in each of the next five years. [132249]
Richard Benyon: The following table sets out spending by DEFRA and its predecessors on flood and coastal erosion risk management in England from 1996-97 to 2011-12, and current budget forecasts for 2012-13 to 2014-15.
Records prior to 1996-97 are not held centrally as allocations were administered at a regional level.
| Central Government spending (£ million) | |
From 2004-05, block grant from DEFRA to the Environment Agency largely replaced the previous system of central Government grants to individual local authorities. This accounts for the large increase in spending between 2003-04 and 2004-05.
In 2011-12, an additional £22.3 million funding was spent on flood risk management following reprioritisation of DEFRA budgets.
In 2012-13, an additional £5 million is being spent on flood risk management following reprioritisation of DEFRA budgets in year.
11 Dec 2012 : Column 258W
The autumn statement announced an extra £120 million for flood defences in England during this spending period which is within the allocations for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 financial years.
Funding levels have been set to 2014-15. We do not anticipate changes to these figures. Spending beyond 2014-15 will be the subject of future Government spending reviews.
Central Government expenditure includes DEFRA's own direct expenditure, DEFRA grants to the Environment Agency, plus capital grants to individual local authorities and internal drainage boards.
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much partnership funding for flood defences was spent in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12. [132346]
Richard Benyon: During the three years before Partnership Funding was introduced (2008-09 to 2010-11) a total of £13 million of external contributions were received towards flood and coastal risk management projects in England, In 2011-12 the Environment Agency received £5.4 million of external contributions. The Flood and Coastal Resilience Partnership Funding policy was introduced in May 2011 in order to increase levels of external investment from 2012-13 onwards. In its first year of operation the new policy brought forward up to £72 million in external contributions, with this sum expected to increase further as part of this second year of operation.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated ratio is of the amount spent on flood defences to the amount saved in avoiding future damage. [132665]
Richard Benyon: The capital investment programme for flood and coastal erosion risk management across England in the three year period up to March 2010 avoided on average £8 in future flood damages for each £1 invested. The Environment Agency currently forecast a similar average benefit-to-cost ratio in terms of flood alleviation that will be achieved over the current spending review period.
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of capital expenditure on flooding infrastructure from each funding source in each year from 2012 to 2017. [132733]
Richard Benyon: The following table provides yearly totals of the planned expenditure on capital flood risk management needs in £ million up to 2014-15. Spending beyond 2014-15 will be the subject of future Government spending reviews. Central Government expenditure includes DEFRA's own direct expenditure, DEFRA grants to the Environment Agency, plus capital grants to individual local authorities and internal drainage boards.
11 Dec 2012 : Column 259W
| Financial year | Grant in aid capital allocation (£ million) | Funding announced in the 2012 autumn statement (£ million) |
The grant in aid allocation to the Environment Agency for this year has increased from £259 million to £266 million following internal reprioritisation of DEFRA capital budgets.
The autumn statement announced an extra £120 million for flood defences in England during this spending period which is allocated for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 financial years.
In addition to the capital expenditure set out above, regional flood and coastal committees raise a levy for additional capital and revenue works within their regions. Internal drainage boards (IDBs) also raise a levy to support additional works within their districts. In its first year of operation, partnership funding brought forward up to £72 million in local contributions for the 2012-13 to 2014-15 period. The second annual investment cycle under partnership funding is currently under way, with early indications suggesting the. level of external contributions for the current period has grown further.
Floods
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the number and scale of flooding incidents in the UK in the latest period for which figures are available; and whether he has assessed the potential link between the number of incidents and global warming. [132480]
Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency estimates that 1,885 properties in England and Wales were affected by flooding in November, making a total of 7,318 for 2012 so far.
It is too soon to make any assessment of the potential link between the number of recent flooding incidents and global warming. Although it is possible to assess the statistical likelihood of climate change influencing specific extreme events, this analysis takes several months. More frequent extreme rainfall events, with increasing flood risk, are one of the likely effects of climate change. Government-funded research at the Met Office Hadley Centre suggests that human influence is having a marked impact on some types of extreme weather, including floods such as those which occurred in autumn 2000. DEFRA will keep such evidence under review.
DEFRA has made an assessment of anticipated changes in river flows and sea levels based on UK Climate Projections 2009. Guidance has been provided on how these changes should be taken into account by flood risk management authorities when apprising flood defence schemes.
The Government laid the Climate Change Risk Assessment before Parliament in January 2012. This is an independent research project that analyses the key risks and opportunities that changes to the climate bring to the UK across 11 key sectors.
11 Dec 2012 : Column 260W
Floods: Insurance
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on discussions with the Association of British Insurers on affordable insurance cover for people who have been affected by flooding and those living in areas with a high flood risk. [132248]
Richard Benyon: We remain committed to ongoing discussions with the Association of British Insurers, on behalf of their members, and others about what replaces the Statement of Principles agreement. However, it is not our policy to conduct negotiations in public. A range of options are on the table; we need a lasting solution that ensures affordable insurance bills for those at flood risk but does not place unsustainable costs on wider policyholders and the taxpayer.
Floods: South West
Mr Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to tackle flooding in Devon and Cornwall. [132483]
Richard Benyon: Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by the flooding episodes of this summer. Currently 99% of Environment Agency assets (defences, sluices, weirs or pumps) in the South West are at target condition in high consequence systems, where the Environment Agency's assets protect many properties from flooding,
Following the flood events of summer 2012, the Environment Agency has inspected its flood defences in the South West for any damage, and repairs have been undertaken where necessary.
This year (2012-13), Risk Management Authorities (the Environment Agency, local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards) are investing £20.4 million in flood and coastal erosion risk management projects in the South West, with a target of reducing flood risk to a further 1,668 properties. Over the previous three years, £125 million of Flood Defence Grant in Aid has been used in the South West to manage and reduce flood risk.
Floods: Wales
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if his Department will take steps to assist the residents and businesses of St Asaph and Rhuddlan who have experienced flooding. [132479]
Richard Benyon: I would like to take this opportunity to express my sympathy to all those who suffered in the recent flooding events.
Flooding is a devolved matter and this issue would best be raised with the Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development in the Welsh Assembly Government.
ICT: Theft
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other pieces of IT equipment were lost or stolen from his Department in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [132193]
11 Dec 2012 : Column 261W
Richard Benyon: Property lost or stolen is recorded as “losses” for core DEFRA. The following table shows unrecovered losses of items for the financial years 2010-11 and 2011-12.
| Description | 2010-11 | 2011-12 |
Insects
Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of trends in the number of wild insect pollinators in the UK in the last decade. [132834]
Richard Benyon: In 2011, DEFRA and a range of other funders published the UK National Ecosystem Assessment. This reviewed the available evidence on pollinator declines and concluded that since 1980 wild bee diversity had declined in most landscapes. Over the same period, some hoverfly and butterfly species had increased in abundance, but many of those with more specialised feeding or habitat requirements had declined. The drivers of the observed declines included disease, habitat loss and the use of some pesticides.
Natural England has recently initiated a review of the status of groups of invertebrates in England, including bees, moths, butterflies, beetles and mayflies to identify priorities for conservation action.
The Status and Trends of European Pollinators (STEPS) project, funded by the European Commission, has published a number of papers on the status of pollinators in Europe and the UK. These are available on the project website at
www.step-project.net
ICT: Expenditure
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on (a) strategy and planning, (b) design and build, (c) hosting and infrastructure, (d) content provision and (e) testing and evaluation for his Department's websites in each of the last two years; and how much has been allocated for each such category of expenditure in 2012-13. [132124]
Richard Benyon: Information on website expenditure is collated by the Cabinet Office and has been published at
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/websitemetrics2010-11
The relevant figures for core DEFRA for the last two years are:
| £ | ||
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
11 Dec 2012 : Column 262W
Core DEFRA has not apportioned expenditure in 2012-13 against these categories, and will continue to allocate resources flexibly as requirements dictate. Core DEFRA's total web costs in 2012-13 are expected to be in line with the 2011-12 figure. How this is allocated may, in particular, be subject to the needs of transitioning core DEFRA's corporate web publishing to the new GOV.UK website over the remainder of this financial year.
Parking
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what contracts for providing car park management services to his Department are held by private companies; [132563]
(2) what the total value is of any contracts between his Department and private companies for car park management services in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) South Lanarkshire local authority area. [132564]
Richard Benyon: Car parking for core DEFRA sites is managed via core DEFRA's Facilities Management Contract with Interserve (FM) Ltd. To provide costs within this contract associated specifically with car parking management would incur disproportionate cost.
Core DEFRA does not have any Contract Car Park Management Services covering Scotland or South Lanarkshire local authority area.