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Nurses: Job Satisfaction
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve morale amongst members of the nursing profession. [136026]
Dr Poulter: The Government recognise the important contribution of nurses, not just in the new roles they have taken on but also in the fundamental aspects of care. Modern nursing is shaped by the needs of patients and clients and encompasses a wide range of new and advanced roles.
There has been much investment in the nursing workforce over the last decade. New roles and nurse-led services have been introduced alongside better career opportunities, improvements in pay through Agenda for Change and greater professional freedom to practise, for example by extending prescribing.
It is imperative that strong clinical leadership paves the way in empowering nurses to be able to spend more time on providing high quality care. The NHS Mandate makes it clear that quality of care is as important as quality of treatment. Nursing leaders must ensure that their teams are focused on delivering person-centred, intelligent and compassionate care where the patient's fundamental requirements for daily living have the priority they deserve. Nurses are absolutely at the centre of leading the delivery of high-quality care and their leadership role is going to become increasingly important in the national health service of the future.
As recently announced by the Prime Minister, the Government continue their commitment to improve the quality of nursing care and support initiatives, such as the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement's 'Time to Care', which will remove the workload generated by some non-essential and unnecessary activities, so that nurses can be released and motivated to focus on providing the care patients and relatives expected.
Finally, recognising the changing landscape of the health care sector, a new vision and strategy has been published that articulates the nursing profession's role in delivering health care and improved health outcomes today and tomorrow. Produced by Jane Cummings, Chief Nursing Officer for England, and Viv Bennett, Department's Director of Nursing, the vision is based around six core values (Care, Compassion, Competence, Communication, Courage, Commitment). Acting on these will enable the nursing profession to focus on quality and help to identify the nursing, midwifery and care givers' contribution to health outcomes, build public confidence and promote these opportunities as highly valued careers.
Parasitic Diseases
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of toxocariasis have been identified in England and Wales in the last 30 years. [135347]
Anna Soubry:
Routine laboratory data submitted to the Health Protection Agency indicate that between 1980 and 2009, 641 toxocara infections were identified. A further 184 cases were identified from enhanced laboratory data from the Parasitology Reference Laboratory for the period 2000-09. It is possible that a small number
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of cases may be double counted. Regional data are available for 635 of the 641 cases of the 30 year routine laboratory dataset. 270/635 (42.5%) cases were in Wales. No one English region had more than 11% of the English cases.
Plastic Surgery
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2012, Official Report, column 852-3W, on plastic surgery, what assessment he has made of the increase in the number of cosmetic surgery operations between 2003 and 2011. [135905]
Dr Poulter: The data provided in the answer of 19 December 2012, Official Report, columns 852-53W, showed a 300% increase in the total number of cosmetic surgery procedures carried out by members of the British Association for Aesthetic and Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) between 2003 and 2011, from 10,738 to 43,069 respectively. Not all cosmetic surgery that takes place in the United Kingdom is carried out by BAAPS members.
The former Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), asked Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS medical director, to review the regulation of cosmetic interventions. The review is expected to report by the end of March 2013.
Radiotherapy
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the potential cost of extending access to radiotherapy treatment to ensure that all cancer patients would be within 45 minutes travel from such treatment as advised by the National Radiotherapy Advisory Group. [136252]
Anna Soubry: We have made no estimate of the potential cost of extending access to radiotherapy treatment to ensure that all cancer patients would be within 45 minutes travel from such treatment as advised by the National Radiotherapy Advisory Group (NRAG).
The NRAG report “Radiotherapy: developing a world class service for England”, published in 2007, provided clear guidance to support commissioners in the provision of radiotherapy services. It recommended that, where possible, patients should not travel more than 45 minutes for radiotherapy treatment. The report recognised that the majority of patients were already able to access radiotherapy within the 45 minute travel time. It also said that the location of new centres should be a matter for local determination, which would depend on a number of factors, including that there be a sufficient workload to make them viable to run.
Streptococcus
Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what comparative assessment he has made of the outcomes of routine and ad hoc detection of group B streptococcus in pregnant women; [135864]
(2) what information his Department holds on rates and trends in cases of group B streptococcus in newborn babies in the UK compared with (a) the US, (b) Argentina, (c) France, (d) Kenya and (e) Slovenia since the introduction of the risk-based prevention strategy in 2003; [135865]
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(3) what estimate was made of the (a) likely numbers of cases and (b) potential benefits of the risk-based strategy for screening pregnant women for group B streptococcus at the time of that strategy's introduction; and if he will make a statement; [135866]
(4) how many newborn babies suffered death or disability due to group B streptococcus in the last year for which figures are available; [135867]
(5) what evidence the National Screening Committee used to support its decision not to introduce routine screening for group B streptococcus carriage in pregnant women; [135868]
(6) what assessment he has made of the reasons for the continued rise in reported cases of group B streptococcus infection in newborn babies; [135869]
(7) what target his Department has set for reducing group B streptococcus infection in newborn babies; [135870]
(8) what steps he plans to take to reduce group B streptococcus infection in newborn babies; [135871]
(9) what were the three most common causes of life-threatening infection in newborn babies in each of the last five years; [135872]
(10) what analysis has been conducted of the comparative (a) cost and (b) effects of (i) providing routine intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis to all women without screening, (ii) the current risk-based strategy and (iii) screening of all pregnant women as strategies for reducing cases of group B streptococcus in newborn babies. [135873]
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what evidential basis was used by the UK National Screening Council when deciding to reject routine screening for the carriage of group B streptococcus in pregnant women; [135704]
(2) what recent assessment his Department has made of the reasons for the rise in reported cases of group B streptococcus infection in newborn babies; [135705]
(3) what target his Department has set for the reduction of group B streptococcus infection in newborn babies; [135706]
(4) what steps his Department is taking to reduce incidences of group B streptococcus infection in newborn babies. [135707]
Dr Poulter: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the national health service in all four United Kingdom countries about all aspects of screening policy, including screening policy for group B streptococcus (GBS) carriage in pregnancy. On 13 November 2012 the UK NSC recommended that a national screening programme to test for GBS carriage in pregnancy using the enriched culture medium test should not be offered. This is because there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the benefits to be gained from screening all pregnant women and treating those carrying the organism with intravenous antibiotics during labour would outweigh the harms. A copy of the UK NSC's review, “Screening for Group B Streptococcal infection in pregnancy” has been placed in the Library. A copy of the evidence assessed by the UK NSC is referenced in the screening review.
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No assessment has been made by the Department of trends in early onset disease rates although the latest figures show a drop in disease rates between 2010 and 2011. Laboratories across England, Wales and Northern Ireland submit data to the Health Protection Agency on GBS infection. Submission of data is voluntary, therefore completeness of reporting has varied over time and across different parts of the country.
The Department does not hold data on GBS infection in other countries and therefore no comparison has been made with the United States of America, Argentina, France, Kenya or Slovenia.
No target has been set by the Department on GBS infection in newborn babies but we are clear about the importance of taking the right steps to prevent GBS infection at the start of life.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) published its updated guidelines on prevention of GBS on incidence of GBS infection in neonates in July 2012. The updated guideline took into account new evidence on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease. It is important that services undertake local clinical audits to ensure the effective use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis recommended by the guideline.
In 2012 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published two clinical audit tools which include clinical audit standards, a data collection form and an action plan template for use by services that care for women in labour or for babies at risk of, or being treated for, early on-set neonatal infection.
The Department aims to work together with the NHS, the RCOG, the Royal College of Midwives, the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment and the pharmaceutical industry on a number of areas:
the topic of a “point of care” test so that high-risk women can be tested at the start of labour is currently in the Health Technology Assessment prioritisation process and will be worked up for discussion in terms of relative importance, feasibility and noting any other existing and on going research;
development of an implementation tool for use locally to audit current practice and improve implementation of the revised RCOG guideline on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease;
including GBS as a topic within education and continuing professional development programmes for clinicians and midwives; and
monitoring developments on vaccines against GBS infection.
The Department has not made a comparative assessment on outcomes of routine and ad hoc detection of GBS in pregnant women.
Data on how many newborn babies suffered death or disability due to GBS infection in the last year and data on the three most common causes of life-threatening infection in newborn babies in each of the last five years are not routinely available.
A National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment study: “Kaambwa B, Bryan S, Gray 3, Milner P, Daniels J, Khan K, Roberts T. Cost-effectiveness of rapid tests and other existing strategies for screening and management of early-onset group B streptococcus during labour. BJOG. 2010;117:1616-1627” which has already been placed in the Library, concluded that the most cost-effective strategy was shown to be the provision of routine intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis
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to all women without prior screening, but, given broader concerns relating to antibiotic use, this was unlikely to be acceptable. The study concluded that screening at 35 to 37 weeks was more cost effective than the 2003 risk factor approach as long as all women delivering prematurely were treated with antibiotics in labour and the cost of the test did not rise by a small amount above the estimate used in the study's model. The 2003 risk factor approach became the more cost effective approach if either of these two provisos were not met.
Cabinet Office
Civil Servants: Job Satisfaction
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to improve morale amongst civil servants. [136024]
Mr Maude: Civil servants are often frustrated by a culture that can seem slow-moving and hierarchical. That is why we are reforming the civil service to do things faster, be smaller and provide more services online. We are ensuring that civil servants have the right skills for tomorrow's world and are focusing on performance management, so the best civil servants have proper recognition and under-performers are identified and helped to improve. We are also improving workplaces and IT to make it easier for civil servants to do their job. By making the civil service more open and less bureaucratic and trusting civil servants to get on and get things done, we will ensure that the civil service is a better place to work.
Civil Service: Apprentices
Mr Marsden: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office with reference to the announcement by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 7 January 2013 on a Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme for the Civil Service, what the qualification level will be of the apprenticeship places created; how many apprenticeships will be available in each Government Department; what the apprenticeship framework of the planned placements will be; and whether any of the planned apprenticeships will be delivered in Government locations other than central Departments. [136334]
Mr Maude: The Government have launched the Fast Track Apprenticeship Scheme for the Civil Service, a two-year long development programme targeted at talented school leavers who are looking for an alternative to higher education. Recruitment to the programme will begin in April 2013 with the first cohort starting in September 2013. Our aim is to increase the total places available across Government to 500 a year over the medium term.
Deloitte
John Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much his Department paid to Deloitte for consultancy services in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [135991]
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Mr Maude: Annual expenditure by the Cabinet Office on consultancy has fallen dramatically since the 2010 general election to around a third of 2009-10 spending. Cabinet Office payments to Deloitte for consultancy services were £1,741,450 in 2009-10 and £729,322 in 2010-11. There are no records of payments in 2011-12 or in 2012-13 to date.
As part of my Department's transparency programme, details of any contract for consultancy where the estimated value of the contract exceeds £20,000 must obtain my ministerial approval. Details of these expenditure approvals for consultancy controls are published on the departmental website and on data.gov.uk.
Additionally, all new contracts over the value of £10,000 and payments of over £25,000 are published on Contracts Finder:
https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder
Unemployment
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many and what proportion of people of working age have experienced a period of unemployment (a) once, (b) twice, (c) three times and (d) more than three times in the last five years. [136263]
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 January 2013:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking, how many and what proportion of people of working age have experienced a period of unemployment (a) once, (b) twice, (c) three times and (d) more than three times in the last five years. (136263)
ONS compiles unemployment statistics following International Labour Organisation definitions from the Labour Force Survey. However, information on the number of periods of unemployment is not collected.
As an alternative the table shows the number people who have claimed Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) in the UK between November 2007 and November 2012 for one, two, three or four or more separate periods of claim. These estimates are compiled from ONS' JSA cohort which is a 5% sample of all claimants of JSA over time.
| Number and percentage of people aged 16 to 64 who claimed jobseeker's allowance between November 2007 and November 2012 by number of separate periods of claim | ||
| United Kingdom | ||
| Number of claims | Number | Percentage(1) |
| (1) Number of claimants divided by ONS' mid-year 2010 population estimate of people aged from 16 to 64. Source: Jobseeker's Allowance 5% cohort | ||
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing: East Sussex
Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much affordable housing has been built in (a) Hastings and Rye constituency and (b) East Sussex in each of the last five years. [135061]
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Mr Prisk: Information about affordable housing by constituency is not held centrally. Statistics on additional affordable housing provided in each local authority area are published in the Department's live tables 1006, 1007 and 1008, which are available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply
These figures include both newly built housing, which accounts for around 85% of additional affordable housing over the last five years, and acquisitions from the private sector.
Catering
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what costs his Department incurred in respect of staff canteens since May 2010. [135396]
Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government has a staff canteen at its headquarters, Eland House. The facility is a non-subsidised, directly-operated outlet by the Department's facilities management supplier.
DCLG has held a “Nil subsidy” policy for the Eland House staff canteen since May 2010 and the facility has been run at no cost to the Department.
Civic Dignitaries
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the employment status of (a) councillors and (b) elected mayors. [136149]
Brandon Lewis: Neither councillors nor elected mayors are employees, rather they hold elected office.
As I indicated in my written statement of 19 December 2012, Official Report, column 105WS, the broad policy of this Government is different from the last Administration, which introduced pensions for councillors.
We believe that councillors should not become employees of the council dependent on the municipal payroll. Robust local scrutiny and local democracy are assisted by councillors being substantively independent of means and of thought from the body they are overseeing.
The best thing we can do to encourage more people to take part in municipal public life is to decentralise more power to local communities so being a councillor is an even more meaningful and rewarding role.
Councillors: Pensions
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration he has given to the consequences of the decision of O'Brien v. Ministry of Justice in the Supreme Court on his plans to deny councillors access to the Local Government Pension Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [136150]
Brandon Lewis: O'Brien v. Ministry of Justice concerned the employment of part-time judges and has no bearing on councillors.
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Drinking Water
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what costs his Department has incurred in providing bottled water and water coolers since May 2010. [135260]
Brandon Lewis: The Department does not purchase mineral water or external water cooler bottles for meetings.
We provide tap water, utilising re-usable bottles at no direct cost, which protects both the environment and taxpayers' money.
Housing: Crime Prevention
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the continued support for the secure by design standards. [135849]
Mr Foster: The Government have recently launched a fundamental review of housing standards to establish how the current over-complex regime of national and local standards can be simplified to support growth. Domestic security standards are within scope of the review. Further information is available from my Department's website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/independent-panel-to-help-government-cut-housebuilding-red-tape-and-boost-growth
Housing: Fire Extinguishers
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what proportion of new sheltered accommodation built by registered social landlords and local authorities were designed with fire sprinklers in the latest period for which figures are available; [135911]
(2) if he will estimate the proportion of new homes built by registered social landlords and local authorities that included fire sprinklers in the latest period for which figures are available. [135912]
Mr Foster: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Land Use
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Government spent on making contaminated land fit for development for (a) housing and (b) all other purposes in each of the last six years. [135848]
Nick Boles: The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Homes and Communities Agency has informed us it does not hold separate records of funding for the remediation of contaminated land used for housing. All projects relating to land/housing would need to be checked to identify whether there was any remediation required and whether that related to supporting housing as an end use and then relevant costs relating to remediation identified (including associated planning, legal, design, etc. costs).
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Local Government Finance
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department contributed to his Department's sensible savings ideas referred to in point 50 of his Department's publication “50 Ways to Save: Examples of Sensible Savings in Local Government”. [135274]
Brandon Lewis: Yes; the publication was discussed with and approved by Ministers. My Department has also previously invited staff to come up with ideas on savings, many of which have been implemented to help reduce our running costs and save taxpayers' money.
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what costs were incurred by his Department in producing and publishing his Department's “50 Ways to Save: Examples of Sensible Savings in Local Government”. [135284]
Brandon Lewis: The Department's “50 Ways to Save: Examples of sensible savings in Local Government” publication was produced in-house and published online as part of the standard order of business. No additional costs were incurred.
Given the hon. Member has a keen interest in my Department's printing and publishing costs, I would add that we have cut departmental spending on printing and publishing from £4.6 million in 2008-09 and £4.2 million in 2009-10 to £282,839 in 2011-12. This is an example of sensible saving.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the sum which each local authority could save by implementing each item of guidance in his Department's December 2012 publication “50 Ways to Save”; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each document relevant to that estimate. [136297]
Brandon Lewis: As we explained in the document, the potential savings will vary by local authority depending on local circumstances; however, the guide does show there is significant scope for savings and innovation across local government. The sources are footnoted in the document. I have placed a copy of the document in the Library of the House.
Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) name, (b) role and (c) salary has been of each of his Department's special advisers since May 2010. [135399]
Brandon Lewis: Details of the Department's special advisers, and salary costs, are published at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special-adviser-data-releases
The roles and responsibilities of special advisers are set out in the Special Advisers Code of Conduct and Model Contract, published at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/special-advisers-guidance
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Plants
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on potted plants and flowers since May 2010; and what the nature of such expenditure was. [135273]
Brandon Lewis: Unlike the last Government, we do not spend taxpayers' money on pot plants or the display of cut flowers.
The incoming Administration terminated the contract for internal departmental plants in September 2010. This contract had been signed under the last Administration by the (then) Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and was costing taxpayers almost £7,000 a year.
I also refer the hon. Member to the answer of 28 June 2011, Official Report, column 731W, on the Audit Commission's £6,500 flower display bill under the last Administration; this was also terminated in September 2010.
Temporary Employment
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many temporary staff have been recruited in his Department in each month from July to December 2012. [135221]
Brandon Lewis: In the period 1 July 2012 to 31 December 2012, the Department has recruited 12 temporary agency staff. In answering this question, we have used the Cabinet Office definition for contingent labour (temporary staff) which includes admin and clerical agency staff, interim managers and specialist contractors. The numbers of these by month are as follows:
| Number | |
Six of the above 12 have already left the Department.
The recruitment of temporary staff is tightly controlled and signed off by Directors General and the Secretary of State only where there is a business critical need for resource. Such agency staff as above are predominantly used for short-term, time-limited projects.
Additionally, in the interests of transparency the Department is now publishing internal workforce management information for the Department, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies. This includes a breakdown of payroll and non-payroll staffing, as recorded at the end of each calendar month:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-communities-and-local-government/series/workforce-management
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Translation Services
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on translating documents into English since May 2010; and if he will publish a description of each type of cost. [135269]
Brandon Lewis: My Department does not translate publications into English.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Dogs
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received from organisations which provide microchipping for dogs and maintain databases of such information. [134782]
Mr Heath: We received responses from companies that maintain databases of microchipped dogs during our recent consultation on our package of proposals to tackle irresponsible dog ownership. We have also received representations from such companies offering assistance with the associated technical issues.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the interoperability of dog microchipping technology and databases in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [134784]
Mr Heath: DEFRA officials have met with various interested parties to discuss the technical issues associated with the microchipping of dogs and the keeping of records on different databases.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what meetings he has had with representatives of (a) Petlog, (b) Anibase, (c) Avid and (d) Pet Protect on the creation of a central database to store the details of microchipped dogs. [134786]
Mr Heath: I have had no specific meetings with representatives of these organisations but my officials have met microchip database providers to discuss technical issues associated with the microchipping of dogs.
EU Law
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which regulations his Department introduced as a result of EU legislation in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012 to date; which regulations his Department expects to implement as a result of EU legislation in (i) 2013 and (ii) the next two years; and what estimate he has made of the cost of each such regulation to the (A) public purse and (B) private sector. [133702]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA introduced the following regulations in 2011 as a result of EU legislation:
Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2011
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Energy Information Regulations 2011
The Seed Marketing (Amendment) Regulations 2011
The Marketing of Fresh Horticultural Produce (Amendment) Regulations 2011(1)
The Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011(1)
The Environmental Protection (Controls on Ozone-Depleting Substances) Regulations 2011
The Reporting of Prices of Milk Products (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011(1)
The Wine Regulations 2011(1)
The Pollution Prevention and Control (Designation of Directives) (England and Wales) Order 2011(1)
The Animal By-Products (Enforcement) and Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011(1)
The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products (Amendment) Regulations 2011(1)
The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2011
The Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) (Amendment) Regulations 2011
The Fruit Juices and Fruit Nectars (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011
The Incidental Flooding and Coastal Erosion (England) Order 2011
The Agricultural Holdings (Units of Production) (England) Order 2011(1)
The Bovine Semen (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011(1)
The Poultrymeat (England) Regulations 2011
The Alien and Locally Absent Species in Aquaculture (England and Wales) Regulations 2011
The Non-Commercial Movements of Pet Animals Order 2011
The Rural Development Programme (Transfer and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2011(1)
The Plant Protection Products Regulations 2011
The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2011
The Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2011(1)
The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011
The Plant Protection Products (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2011
The Poultry Health Scheme (Fees) Regulations 2011(1)
The Charges for Residues Surveillance (Amendment) Regulations 2011
The Eels (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2011(1)
The Landfill (Maximum Landfill Amount) Regulations 2011(1)
The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2011(1)
The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) Regulations 2011
The Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2011
The Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) Order 2011
The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (Commencement No.5, Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Order 2011(1)
The Pigs (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 2011
The Waste and Emissions Trading Act 2003 (Amendment) Regulations 2011
DEFRA introduced the following regulations in 2012 as a result of EU legislation:
The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information (Amendment) Regulations 2012(1)
The Agriculture, Animals, Environment and Food etc. (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012(1)
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The INSPIRE (Amendment) Regulations 2012(1)
The Veterinary Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2012(1)
The Common Agricultural Policy Single Payment and Support Schemes (Amendment) Regulations 2012(1)
The Uplands Transitional Payment Regulations 2012(1)
The Zootechnical Standards (England) Regulations 2012
The Bluetongue (Amendment) Regulations 2012(1)
The Plant Health (Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) Regulations 2012(1)
The Seed Marketing (Amendment) Regulations 2012(1)
The Volatile Organic Compounds in Paints, Varnishes and Vehicle Refinishing Products Regulations 2012
The Smoke Control Areas (Authorised Fuels) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2012(1)
The Plant Health (Fees) (England) Regulations 2012
The Quality Standards for Green Bananas (England and Wales) Regulations 2012(1)
The Agricultural Holdings (Units of Production) (England) Regulations 2012(1)
The Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012(1)
The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (Transitional Provisions) 2012(1)
The Fishing Boats (Satellite-Tracking Devices and Electronic Reporting) (England) Scheme 2012(1)
The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2012
The Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Regulations 2012
The Controlled Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2012
The Scallop Fishing (England) Order 2012
The Plant Protection Products (Sustainable Use) Regulations 2012
The Plant Health (Forestry) (Amendment) Order 2012(1)
The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations 2012
The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2012
The Contaminated Land (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012
The Plant Health (England) (Amendment) Order 2012(1)
The Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2012
The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) Regulations 2012
DEFRA does not capture estimated costs to the public purse of new regulations but does capture estimated costs to business. These are set out in individual impact assessments which can be found on the Better Regulation Executive's Impact Assessment Library:
http://www.ialibrary.bis.gov.uk/links/
Details of forthcoming Government regulations on business are published every six months in Statements of New Regulation. The most recent statement was published on 17 December and details new regulations expected over the period 1 January to 30 June 2013, including those to be introduced as a result of EU legislation. This Fifth Statement can be found on GOV.UK at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bis-fifth-statement-of-new-regulation-regulations-covering-january-to-june-2013
(1) There are no associated impact assessments for this legislation because the legislation was not expected to have an impact on business or civil society.
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Flood and Water Management Act 2010
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to bring the full provisions of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 into force. [132746]
Richard Benyon: The majority of measures are now in force. Plans for implementation of remaining measures by December 2014, in line with DEFRA's Business Plan commitment, are on track subject to parliamentary and cross-Government approval.
Section 33/Schedule 4—Reservoirs
It is intended that these provisions will be implemented in April 2013, subject to the outcome of consultation exercises held by DEFRA and Welsh Government on the policy and a consultation exercise by the Environment Agency on the definition of a high risk reservoir.
Section 34 and Schedule 5—Special Administration
Implementation of these provisions is now expected in the summer of 2013.
Section 42 (Agreements on new drainage systems)
DEFRA officials are working with stakeholders to address the issues that arose from the consultation exercise with a view to implementing in the second half of 2013.
Section 45 (Water and sewerage charges non-owner occupiers)
The Government are continuing to work with all parties to support the development of the existing voluntary approach, while weighing the costs and benefits associated with regulation for all parties. The consultation completed for these provisions resulted in a divided response.
Section 32 and Schedule 3 (Sustainable Drainage Systems)
These provisions are on track for implementation in April 2014. DEFRA officials are working with stakeholders to address the issues that arose from the consultation earlier this year on sustainable drainage systems in new and re-developments. Many respondents called for adequate time to prepare for the implementation.
The Government have concluded that it is not necessary at this time to commence section 15, which gives the Environment Agency and lead local flood authorities the power to issue enforcement and penalty notices in the event of non-compliance with a request for information made under section 14 of the Act. Recent experience indicates that those approached are prepared to share requested information voluntarily with the Environment Agency and local flood authorities. DEFRA will keep this under review.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to answer the letter sent to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr M. Gutteridge. [133052]
Mr Heath: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), replied to the right hon. Member's letter on 15 December 2012.
Sickness Absence
Chris Ruane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2012, Official Report,
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column 454W, on sick leave, if he will make an assessment of the contribution mindfulness-based practice can make to reducing workplace stress and staff absences in his Department. [136198]
Richard Benyon: There are no specific plans in core DEFRA to make an assessment of the contribution mindfulness-based practice can make to reducing workplace stress and staff absences.
Core DEFRA has various policies and procedures in place, under a wider Wellbeing agenda, to promote health and wellbeing and provide assistance to staff in the prevention, recognition and rehabilitation from workplace stress or other work-related absence. Occupational health and employee assistance and support programmes are available to all employees.
Waste Management
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will publish the outcome of the review of the Site Waste Management Plans Regulations 2008 referred to on page 39 of the Government Review of Waste Policy in England 2011. [133232]
Richard Benyon: The review of the Site Waste Management Plans (SWMP) Regulations (2008) referred to in the 2011 Review of Waste Policy in England was superseded by the Government's Red Tape Challenge, which ensured that all current legislation was reviewed. The outcome of the Red Tape Challenge was to propose the repeal of the SWMP legislation, which DEFRA is taking forward. Although SWMPs have made a contribution to encouraging waste prevention and recycling in the construction industry, the Government believe that they should be a flexible tool, used where contractors or clients feel they are most appropriate. The landfill tax escalator will continue to reduce waste to landfill.
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage reduction of construction and demolition waste by 2020 he aims to achieve; and by what means such a reduction will be achieved. [133233]
Richard Benyon: There is currently no specific target for the reduction of construction and demolition waste by 2020. However, the United Kingdom has committed to achieving recovery rates of at least 70% of construction and demolition waste by 2020.
Attorney-General
Procurement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Attorney-General what the monetary value was of contracts awarded by the Law Officers' Departments to (a) management consultancies and (b) IT companies in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [135151]
The Solicitor-General: Information on the value of contracts awarded by the Law Officers' Departments during the last two financial years is contained in the following table:
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| £ | ||||
| Management consultancy | IT companies | |||
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
| (1 )The SFO data cover total spending rather than value of contracts. (2 )TSol data include costs for the Attorney-General's Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate. Awards where the estimated value of the contract was below £10,000 are not included. | ||||
Redundancy
Mr Weir: To ask the Attorney-General (1) how many civil service posts have been made redundant by the Law Officers' Departments in each year since 1999; and what has been the cost of redundancies in each such year; [135509]
(2) how many posts have been declared redundant in the Law Officers' Departments' executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies by each such body in each year since 1999; and what has been the cost of those redundancies. [135510]
The Solicitor-General: During the period 1999 to 2012 there were five redundancies declared and made in Attorney-General's Office, Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, and the Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol), at a total cost of £185,788.90. No breakdown by year is given so as to preserve confidentiality.
In addition the Government Property Lawyers office in Taunton was closed in 1999 and a number of people would have been transferred elsewhere, accepted voluntary exits or made redundant. TSol does not hold information on numbers of staff declared and subsequently made redundant or the costs of such an exercise.
The following table shows the number and cost of paid early exits from the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in each year since April 2005, including redundancy and early retirements. Data prior to that date are no longer held and details about cost are not held prior to 2008. The cost of exits is not given where the number of exits is fewer than five, in order to protect the personal data of the individuals concerned.
Under the old Civil Service Compensation Scheme, which was replaced in 2011, most individuals under 50 received what were known as early severance terms, while those over 50 took early retirement.
| Number of early exits | Cost (£ million) | |
| (1 )Not held. (2 )Fewer than five exits. | ||
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The following table shows the year in which exits took place and payments were made rather than where any accruals have been made. Therefore the information is not directly comparable with what is published in the SFO's annual accounts. It does however include the provision in the accounts to meet ongoing liabilities generated by the agreements. Under the old Civil Service Compensation Scheme, individuals taking early retirement had their pensions paid by their employer until they reached the normal retirement age. This could include a pension made up of up to six and two thirds years for staff over 50. Details of these associated costs are published in the SFO's annual accounts.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has not made any posts redundant since 1999. The CPS has reduced staff headcount from 8,940 at 31 December 2009 to 7,442 at 31 December 2012 through applying robust recruitment controls for vacancies that arise through normal attrition, and in utilising the civil service provision for voluntary early release (VER). The following table shows the number of staff released under VER during this period and the cost.
| Number of early exits | Cost (£ million) | |
| (1 )2012-13 numbers and cost as of 2 January 2013 are provisional. | ||
Temporary Employment
Mr Thomas: To ask the Attorney-General what amount his Department spent on interim staff as defined by the National Audit Office in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [135152]
The Solicitor-General: The information requested is contained in the following table:
| £ | ||
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
| (1) Total spending on all agency staff. | ||
Home Department
Antisocial Behaviour Orders
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued in the (a) north-east and (b) UK in each year since 2007. [135960]
Mr Jeremy Browne:
The number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued at all courts in the north-east and in England and Wales, in each year between 2007
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and 2011 (the latest year for which data are currently available), can be viewed in the following table. ASBOs issued in Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive respectively.
| Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued(1) at all courts in the north-east region and England and Wales, as reported to the Ministry of Justice(2) by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2011 | |||||
| ASBOs | |||||
| Area | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| (1) Includes ASBOs issued on application by magistrates' courts acting in their civil capacity and county courts, which were introduced under section 1 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and ASBOs made following conviction for a relevant criminal offence at the Crown court and at magistrates courts (acting in their criminal capacity), which were introduced under the Police Reform Act 2002. (2) Prior to the creation of the Ministry of Justice on 9 May 2007, numbers of ASBOs issued were reported to Home Office by the Court Service. (3) The north-east region is comprised of the Cleveland, Durham and Northumbria Criminal Justice System (CJS) areas. Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. | |||||
Asylum
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of support for asylum seekers in meeting the living needs of children and families. [136014]
Mr Harper: I am satisfied that the support available is sufficient to meet the essential living needs of asylum seekers and their children. The package of support includes free accommodation and a weekly cash allowance, the level of which is kept under review.
Communications Data Bill (Draft)
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to paragraph 216 of the Joint Committee on the Draft Communications Data Bill, HC479, what proposals she has to rationalise the structure of commissioners responsible for differing areas of surveillance oversight. [135515]
James Brokenshire: The current arrangements for surveillance oversight reflect the distinct roles that each commissioner must perform.
We considered whether the existing structure should be rationalised and consulted on our proposals in the Justice and Security Green Paper in 2011. In the responses to consultation, there was very little support for the suggested changes.
We will, as proposed by the Joint Committee, continue to keep this issue under review and are willing to consider alternative models of oversight if likely to improve the system and increase public reassurance.
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Cybercrime
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost to the economy of cybercrime in the UK in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if she will make a statement. [136332]
James Brokenshire: The Detica "Cost of Cyber Crime" report, published in February 2011 in partnership with the Office of Cyber Security and Information Assurance in the Cabinet Office, estimated the cost of cyber crime to the UK to be as much as £27 billion per annum.
What is clear is that the costs are high and rising.
This is why the Government have committed £650 million to the National Cyber Security Programme to support economic prosperity, protect national security and safeguard the public's way of life by building a more trusted and resilient digital environment.
Drugs: Iran
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral counter-narcotics assistance the UK (i) is providing and (ii) plans to provide to Iran in the next financial year; and what the (A) nature and (B) monetary value of this assistance is; [136282]
(2) what support the UK has provided to the Iranian anti-narcotics police in each financial year since 2000; and what the (a) nature and (b) monetary value of such support has been; [136283]
(3) what steps the Government have taken in providing financial support to the Iranian anti-narcotics police to ensure that such support does not contribute to efforts by the authorities in that country to impose capital punishment on those arrested for drugs offences. [136284]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The UK provides counter narcotics assistance and support to a range of international partners. The UK does not, however, currently provide counter narcotics assistance to Iran and has no plans to do so. The Government last funded multilateral work in Iran in 2007 and bilateral work in 2009. Where support has been provided, it is our policy not to disclose details where it relates to national security and protection of operational information, as to do so may reduce the effectiveness of our work.
The Government strongly oppose the use of capital punishment in all circumstances, including for drugs offences, and regularly criticise Iran for its use of the death penalty. The Government published Overseas Security and Justice Assistance Guidance in 2011, which provides clear guidance to officials and law enforcement officers to help them identify human rights risks. This ensures that any assistance we provide supports our values and is consistent with our international obligations.
Equality
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of staff in her Department have received training in equality and diversity and the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 in the last three years. [135350]
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James Brokenshire: According to Home Office staff records, approximately 90% of Home Office staff have received equality and diversity training in the past three years.
Intelligence Services
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK shares intelligence on high-value targets and drug-trafficking organisations with Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran via the QUAD forum. [136285]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The UK does not share intelligence on high-value targets and drug-trafficking organisations with Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran via the QUAD forum.
Olympic Games 2012
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which events at the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics were attended by each Minister in her Department using tickets or passes for which they did not pay personally; and what the cost was of attending each such event for members of the public who used comparable seats or had comparable access. [135641]
James Brokenshire: The Government pledged to publish these details following the Olympic and Paralympic Games and will do so shortly.
Police: Capital Investment
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much capital was invested in policing in (a) Northumbria Police Authority, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the north-east and (d) the UK in each of the last five years. [135952]
Damian Green: The following table sets out the capital allocations to police authorities/police and crime commissioners from 2010-11 to 2013-14. Central Government funding is not the only source of funding for the police. Approximately a quarter of total funding comes from the police element of council tax (precept).
| Capital allocation 2010-11 to 2013-14 | ||||
| £ million | ||||
| Police authority/PCC | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 |
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| (1 )Indicative Notes: 1. Excludes funding for Air Support and any Special Grant capital. 2. 2010-11 figures are final and include the in-year reductions to police capital allocations. 3. 2011-12 includes £15 million additional allocation of capital to police authorities of at the end of financial year. | ||||
Procurement
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many procurement officers are currently employed by her Department; [135684]
(2) how many procurement officers in her Department have relevant procurement qualifications. [135686]
James Brokenshire: The Home Office and its agencies currently employ 15 people under the role “procurement officer” or “procurement and contract officer”, 14 of these people hold relevant procurement qualifications.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants in her Department regularly deal with procurement services. [135685]
James Brokenshire: As of 19 October 2012, the Home Office and its agencies employed 226 people that regularly deal with procurement services.
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Scottish Minimum Unit Pricing Bill (Draft)
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what her policy is on the detailed Opinion submitted by the European Commission on the draft Scottish Minimum Unit Pricing Bill; [135023]
(2) when she plans to respond to the European Commission and other Member States which have objected to the draft Scottish Minimum Unit Pricing Bill. [135022]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The UK Government are working closely with the Scottish Government to respond to the questions and issues raised by the European Commission and a number of member states who gave opinions. A response has been sent by the UK Government, in relation to the Scottish Government's proposals.
Sickness Absence
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2012, Official Report, column 442W, on sick leave, if she will make an assessment of the contribution mindfulness-based practice can make to reducing workplace stress and staff absences in her Department. [136206]
James Brokenshire: Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) supplier provides information and guidance on a range of wellbeing topics including mindfulness techniques via their website. However it is not possible to isolate the specific contribution that using mindfulness techniques can make to reducing levels of sickness absence or reducing workplace stress.
Telecommunications: Databases
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of legal obligations under UK law on overseas communications service providers to provide communications data to UK public authorities. [135514]
James Brokenshire: We have relationships with overseas providers covering a range of issues. In giving evidence to the Joint Committee on the draft Communications Data Bill on 6 September, a number of providers made clear that they had a healthy relationship with UK law enforcement. We assess that most major overseas communication service providers provide relatively good levels of co-operation and will be ready to discuss our additional requirements under the proposed legislation.
UK Border Agency
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost to the public purse was of bonuses paid to UK Border Agency staff in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011 and (e) 2012 to date. [135418]
James Brokenshire: The total cost of performance related payments paid to UK Border Agency staff in the financial years from 2008 to 2012-13 is as follows:
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| £ | |
These performance payments are one-off payments which are non-consolidated and therefore non-pensionable.
Energy and Climate Change
Deloitte
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department paid to Deloitte for consultancy services in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [135986]
Gregory Barker: The expenditure incurred by the Department of Energy and Climate Change with Deloitte for consultancy services is:
(a) 2010: £163,000;
(b) 2011: £665,000;
(c) 2012: £936,000.
The information provided is for calendar years (January to December) and covers consultancy services as defined by the Government Procurement Service.
Eaga
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will meet the chief executive of Eaga to discuss improving service for its customers in terms of the original work undertaken and any required follow-up work. [136299]
Gregory Barker: My officials and I are in regular contact with Carillion Energy Services (previously Eaga) to discuss issues relating to delivery of the Warm Front scheme.
Mr Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to improve the performance of Eaga in answering telephone complaints about its service. [136300]
Gregory Barker: My officials have regular meetings with Carillion Energy Services (previously Eaga) to discuss all aspects of their performance including the handling of complaints received and to work with the scheme manager to implement improvements where necessary.
Energy
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of demand for energy in the UK in each year between 2012 and 2022. [136006]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 9 January 2013]:DECC's latest published estimates for energy demand were released on 15 October 2012. The central projections for end user energy demand 2012 to 2022 are shown as follows.
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| Energy demand (Ktoe) | |
These projections are sensitive to modelling and input assumptions such as economic growth. Further details and projections under alternative economic growth and fossil fuel price scenarios are given in Annex C of DECC's Updated energy and emissions projections:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/about/ec_social_res/analytic_projs/en_emis_projs/en_emis_projs.aspx
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many consumers are supplied by each of the top 10 most commonly used energy companies operating in the UK; and how much each such company received under the renewables obligation in each of the last five years. [136041]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 9 January 2013]:DECC does not hold the information requested.
Ofgem published data on market share of the six largest energy supply companies in their retail market review in October 2012. These six suppliers account for more than 98% of the domestic supply market. The report containing these findings can be found here:
http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Markets/RetMkts/rmr/Documents1/The%20Retail%20Market%20Review%20-%20Updated%20domestic%20proposals.pdf
The obligation placed on each supplier to provide renewable obligation certificates (ROCs) is based on the supplier's market share. The renewables obligation annual reports, published by Ofgem, give the obligation on each supplier in ROCs. The re-distribution of the buy-out/late payment fund figures are also included in the RO annual reports. Further details can be found here:
http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/Environment/RenewablObl/Pages/RenewablObl.aspx
Energy: Conservation
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure that funding for energy efficiency schemes is available between the end of Carbon Emissions Reduction Target funding and the commencement of the Green Deal scheme. [135935]
Gregory Barker:
The Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) schemes both ended on 31 December 2012. The new Energy Company Obligation (ECO) formally came into effect on 1 January 2013, however, obligated companies have been able to offer measures under ECO since 1 October 2012. It is estimated that
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the costs to energy companies of delivering ECO will be broadly equivalent to the costs of delivering CERT and CESP.
Households will be able to take out Green Deal plans from 28 January 2013.
Fossil Fuels: Imports
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average price of each tonne of (a) oil and (b) gas, imported from (i) Russia, (ii) Norway, (iii) the middle east and (iv) Latin America was in each of the last 10 years. [136007]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 9 January 2013]:DECC publishes the average price per tonne of imported crude oil in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES), table G4. Prices for 2002-11 are shown as follows.
| Average price per tonne(1) of imported crude oil | ||||
| £ | ||||
| Russia | Norway | Middle east | Latin America(2) | |
| (1) c.i.f (Cost, Insurance and Freight) basis (2) Venezuela Source: HMRC | ||||
In 2011, 67% of crude oil imported to the UK came from Norway, 8% from Russia, 2% from the middle east, and 1% from Latin America.
For gas, data for the specified countries are not available, as gas imports piped from the Continent via interconnector are a mix of gas from various sources. DECC does not publish any value or price data for gas imports by country of origin.
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much (a) oil and (b) gas was imported into the UK from (i) Russia, (ii) Norway, (iii) the middle east and (iv) Latin America in each of the last 10 years. [136008]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 9 January 2013]:The following tables show the volumes of crude oil and natural gas imported from (i) Russia, (ii) Norway, (iii) the middle east and (iv) Latin America in each of the last 10 years.
| (a) Crude oil | ||||
| Million tonnes | ||||
| (i) Russia | (ii) Norway | (iii) Middle east | (iv) Latin America | |
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| (b) Natural gas | ||||
| TWh | ||||
| (i) Russia | (ii) Norway | (iii) Middle east | (iv) Latin America | |
Hinkley Point C Power Station
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change where the waste from the proposed nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C will be disposed of. [135936]
Mr Hayes: The Government expect that spent nuclear fuel and intermediate level waste from Hinkley Point C would be disposed of in a planned geological disposal facility.
The Government expect that low level waste would be disposed of in the low level waste repository or a successor facility.
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which organisation will pay for above-ground storage and the later disposal of nuclear waste from the proposed nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C. [135937]
Mr Hayes: The Energy Act 2008 requires prospective operators of new nuclear power stations to have a Funded Decommissioning Plan (FDP) approved by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. The FDP must set out the operator’s plans for disposal of waste together with secure financial provision to meet these costs. The Government also require operators to meet their full share of waste disposal costs.
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will announce arrangements for disposal of waste at the site before granting a development consent order for the proposed nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C. [135938]
Mr Hayes: The Nuclear National Policy Statement published by my Department in 2011 sets out the Government's approach to radioactive waste management in the context of planning decisions. A copy of the National Policy Statement was placed in the Library of the House at the time of publication:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/consents_planning/nps_en_infra/nps_en_infra.aspx
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Therefore any planning consent will take account of the policy as set out in the National Policy Statement.