Submarines and Warships
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimate he has made of the current value of (a) HMS Tyne, (b) HMS Severn and (c) HMS Mersey; [131197]
(2) what estimate he has made of the current value of each (a) Vanguard and (b) Trafalgar class submarine; [131198]
(3) what estimate he has made of the current value of HMS Astute. [131199]
Mr Dunne: The current values of the Royal Navy vessels are shown in the following tables. The values quoted reflect the net book value (NBV) of the asset, which is calculated by deducting depreciation from the original capital cost, together with the cost of any major upgrades, of the asset.
Depreciation is a measure of the decrease in value of an asset over time. The NBV of each vessel reflects the effects of depreciation based on the age of the vessel, its time left in service, and any value added as a result of major refits and overhauls.
| River class offshore patrol vessels | |
| Name | NBV (£ million) |
17 Jan 2013 : Column 894W
| Vanguard class submarines | |
| Name | NBV (£ million) |
The total procurement cost of the Vanguard class included £278 million of costs which are shared across the whole class. These costs have not been attributed to the individual vessels and are not included in the NBVs quoted in the table.
| Trafalgar class submarines | |
| Name | NBV (£ million) |
The NBV for HMS Tireless is significantly lower than the other in-service vessels because the boat has limited remaining service.
The total procurement cost of the Trafalgar class included £687 million of costs which are shared across the whole class. These costs have not been attributed to the individual vessels and are not included in the NBVs quoted in the table.
| Astute class submarines | |
| Name | NBV (£ million) |
The total procurement cost of the Astute class currently includes £949 million of costs which will be attributed to the planned class of seven submarines. These costs have not been attributed to HMS Astute.
Trident Submarines
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on the UK's continuous at sea deterrence of the recent damage to HMS Vigilant. [137421]
Mr Dunne: It is our policy not to discuss submarine operations.
USA
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) value and (b) start and finish date was of contracts for foreign military sales procured by the British defence staff in the US in each of the last five years. [131575]
Mr Dunne: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) is the process for foreign Governments and international organisations to purchase military articles and services from the US Government. A summary of the value of all FMS cases submitted to US Department of Defence for the years 2007-11 and 2012 to 30 November is as follows:
| All figures in US$ million | |||||||
| Case amendments | Total cost | New cases | Total cost | Requirement modifications | Total cost | Total cost | |
17 Jan 2013 : Column 895W
17 Jan 2013 : Column 896W
This table also separates out the three main areas of case activity, which are:
New cases—new cases submitted for the first time.
Case amendments—amendments to existing cases which are required by UK.
Requirement modifications—a US unilateral change to an existing case.
Culture, Media and Sport
Arts
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what consideration was given to including the measures on the creative industries in the pledges made by the Government in the coalition mid-term review. [137785]
Mr Vaizey: The creative industries are a key part of the UK economy, generating a total of £36.3 billion gross value added, 2.89% of the economy, according to the latest figures. The mid-term review document sets out the Government's aim to maintain a business environment that can support all parts of the economy and further improve on the creation of over 1 million private sector jobs. The document also sets out that we have encouraged innovative industries through the tax system by creating a patent box and by legislating for creative sector tax relief.
Aviation
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many air miles were accumulated by each Minister in her Department in 2012; how such air miles were used; and whether such air miles were donated to charity. [137089]
Hugh Robertson: Any air miles accrued by the Department in respect of Ministers' and officials' travel are used by the Department towards the cost of official travel.
Gambling
Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Gambling Commission and (b) betting shop operators on the effectiveness of self-exclusion policies in assisting customers who gamble more than they want to. [137570]
Hugh Robertson: I have met with the Gambling Commission and betting shop operators on a number of occasions to discuss a range of matters relating to the gambling industry.
Government Procurement Card
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) staff and (b) special advisers in her Department have use of a Government Procurement Card. [137272]
Hugh Robertson: As of December 2012 there were 40 Government Procurement Card holders in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. No special advisers have use of a Government Procurement Card at DCMS.
Internet
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2013, Official Report, column 213W, on internet, if she will estimate the number of (a) pensioners and (b) people on low incomes that do not currently use the internet in (i) Glasgow North West, (ii) Glasgow, (iii) Scotland and (iv) the UK. [137538]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson, dated January 2013:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to estimate the number of (a) pensioners and (b) people on low incomes that do not currently use the internet in (i) Glasgow North West, (ii) Glasgow, (iii) Scotland and (iv) the UK. [137538]
Estimates of Internet use by adults aged 16 years and over are published quarterly by the Office for National Statistics and are available on our website. These estimates are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and have United Kingdom (UK) coverage. The latest available estimate, from 2012 Q3, of the number of pensioners who have never used the Internet in Glasgow is 68,000. The estimate for Scotland is 486,000 while the estimate for the UK is 5,630,000. Estimates at parliamentary constituency level are not available.
In the same period, the number people on low incomes (defined as receiving gross weekly pay of less than £200) that do not currently use the Internet in Scotland is 37,000. The estimate for the UK is 358,000. Estimates at parliamentary constituency and city level are not available.
Press: Subscriptions
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department spent on newspapers and periodicals in 2011-12. [137276]
Hugh Robertson: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport spent £11,348.21 on newspapers and periodicals in 2011-12.
17 Jan 2013 : Column 897W
Social Enterprises
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Minister for the Cabinet Office on plans to introduce social enterprise zones; and if she will make a statement. [137428]
Hugh Robertson [holding answer 15 January 2013]:Ministers within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regularly meet colleagues from other Departments to discuss a range of matters.
Taxis
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department spent on taxis in 2011-12. [137301]
Hugh Robertson: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport spent £24,324.62 on taxis in the year 2011-12 (principal use was the Olympics).
Tour de France
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what ministerial meetings have taken place to provide support for the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in 2014. [137711]
Hugh Robertson: I had a meeting with my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton and Ripon (Julian Smith) on 15 January 2013, as well as with a number of other Members with an interest, during which the event was discussed. We are delighted that Yorkshire is hosting this important sporting occasion. UK Sport is working with the organisers to assess what advice and support it can provide to ensure it is a great success.
Tourism
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what consideration she has given to the potential contribution of the Tour de France to the tourism economy of England in 2014. [137794]
Hugh Robertson: Government have not made any specific assessment of the impact of the 2014 Tour de France in Yorkshire. Yorkshire submitted its bid independently and as part of that developed its own economic impact study. UK Sport is working with Yorkshire to assess what support it can give to the event, and I expect that Yorkshire will provide an economic impact assessment as part of this process.
International Development
Aviation
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many air miles were accumulated by each Minister in her Department in 2012; how such air miles were used; and whether such air miles were donated to charity. [137098]
17 Jan 2013 : Column 898W
Justine Greening: As part of long-standing practice under the ministerial code, any air miles accrued personally by Ministers from departmental travel are not redeemed and are removed from accounts after a short period of time. Any air miles accrued by the Department in respect of Ministers or officials are used towards the cost of official travel.
Developing Countries: Health Services
Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2012, Official Report, column 556W, on developing countries: health services, in which countries her Department (a) is supporting and (b) has supported in each of the last 12 months programmes that make abortions safe and accessible; and what independent evidence her Department has used to verify that such services (i) are safe and (ii) save women's lives. [137351]
Lynne Featherstone: As part of our overall commitment to reduce maternal mortality and improve reproductive health, the UK Government are working to reduce recourse to unsafe abortion. Our vision is a developing world where all women are able to exercise choice over the size and timing of their families, where no woman dies giving birth and where all newborns survive and thrive.
The Department for International Development's (DFID) support for Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health (RMNH) programmes through Government and non-Government partners extends to 26 of our 28 priority countries—the only exceptions being the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Tajikistan. Our efforts prioritise expanding access to voluntary family planning and include support for comprehensive abortion care where countries' national legislation permits.
Unsafe abortion is estimated to account for 13% of maternal deaths. Research that shows that access to safe abortion, in addition to voluntary family planning, saves maternal lives, reduces maternal ill-health, does not increase overall abortion rates and reduces recourse to unsafe abortion. In developing its policy position and in programming decisions DFID draws on published evidence and guidelines from a range of sources including from the World Health Organisation, the Guttmacher Institute, the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and The Lancet. DFID is also commissioning independent evaluations of its RMNH programmes.
India
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is providing to India for programmes to tackle violence against women; and whether such support will cease with the general aid programme in 2015. [137454]
Mr Duncan: In India the Department for International Development is supporting the Government of Bihar to implement India's 2005 Domestic Violence Act and conduct new research on violence prevention; supporting the Government of Madhya Pradesh to implement a new ‘safe city’ approach in four cities; and funds Oxfam to implement anti-violence campaigns and provide victim support services, including women's centres in police stations. UK support for these programmes will finish by 2015.
17 Jan 2013 : Column 899W
From now on, the UK will provide no new financial grants to India. Plans for technical assistance programmes beyond 2015 will be finalised closer to the time.
Mali
Mr Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of whether the deployment to Mali will contribute to poverty alleviation; and whether the marginal costs of the deployment would be a reasonable charge to her departmental budget. [137697]
Lynne Featherstone: The UK is working closely with the French Government, regional Governments, the United Nations and other international actors to achieve a short-term resolution to the crisis, and the longer term conditions for security and economic development in Mali. Stabilisation of the situation and the return to a more secure environment in Mali will help the Malian Government in tackling their development challenges.
The cost of UK military assets in a military deployment would not be chargeable to the development budget or reportable as Official Development Assistance (ODA). My Department is able to meet the marginal cost when UK military assets are used to directly support an international humanitarian response, but not in support of a military operation such as is seen presently in Mali.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in Mali; [137699]
(2) what humanitarian priorities she has set for responding to the escalation of hostilities in Mali; [137700]
(3) what assistance her Department is providing to internally displaced people and refugees fleeing conflict in Mali; [137701]
(4) what steps her Department is taking to protect women and support victims of gender-based violence in Mali; [137702]
(5) what steps her Department is taking to provide safe humanitarian access to all parts of Mali. [137703]
Lynne Featherstone: The UK Government remain closely focused on the humanitarian implications of the escalating conflict in Mali.
Latest UN and aid agency assessments report that up to 30,000 additional people have been internally displaced in Mali and over 1,000 people have sought refuge in neighbouring countries as a direct result of the recent upsurge in conflict. In total, over 370,000 Malians have been displaced from their homes since March 2012.
In December 2012, I announced an additional £15 million package of emergency aid for the Sahel to support over 500,000 people across Mali, Niger, Chad, Mauritania and Burkina Faso. This brings the total UK bilateral and multilateral humanitarian support aid to the Sahel over the last 12 months to £73 million. Our latest humanitarian aid to those directly affected by the Mali crisis includes:
Food for 92,000 people, including internally displaced people (IDPs) and host families;
Therapeutic food to treat 15,000 severely malnourished children;
17 Jan 2013 : Column 900W
A comprehensive package of support (food, health care and protection) for 148,000 Malian refugees in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mauritania;
Emergency health care—including support to those injured in the conflict and women suffering from psychological trauma as result of sexual violence; clean water and livestock support to over 100,000 people, including IDPs.
The UK will continue to monitor the regional humanitarian situation closely to ensure that needs are being met effectively and efficiently. We are liaising closely with the United Nations, key non-governmental organisations and others to ensure that a comprehensive response is made to ensure the protection of civilians, including the restoration of safe humanitarian access and full respect for international humanitarian law.
Press: Subscriptions
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) how much her Department spent on newspapers and periodicals in 2011-12; [137279]
(2) pursuant to her answer of 31 October 2012, Official Report, column 320W, on press subscriptions, how much her Department has spent on subscriptions since May 2010. [137293]
Mr Duncan: The financial records of DFID show the following costs for the printed press subscriptions since 1 May 2010 until 31 December 2012:
| Period | £ |
All of the publications by DFID have either carried pieces of interest to DFID or have written articles relating to DFID's work.
Publications
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how often her Department produces a staff magazine. [137319]
Mr Duncan: DFID does not produce a magazine for staff.
Syria
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in Syria. [137455]
Mr Duncan: The humanitarian situation in Syria and across the region is extremely concerning. 4 million people in Syria are now in need, 2 million of whom have been displaced. There are a further 620,000 refugees in neighbouring countries. In addition, the region has just experienced the worst winter storms in 10 years, leaving people who have had to flee their homes even more vulnerable. The security situation is continually deteriorating, making it increasingly difficult to get aid to those who need it.
17 Jan 2013 : Column 901W
The UK continues to be a leading donor in the humanitarian response. Our total funding to date is £68.5 million. This funding has already provided over 400,000 food packages, clean drinking water for over 11,000 people each month, and over 40,000 medical consultations. The UN appeals remain severely underfunded however, and humanitarian needs are increasing. We need other countries to step up their support too. We will be using the high-level pledging conference co-hosted by the UN and Kuwait on 30 January to call on the international community for more, and better co-ordinated, funding.
Taxis
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department spent on taxis in 2011-12. [137304]
Mr Duncan: The total DFID spent on taxis within the UK and abroad for year 2011-12 is £228,000. All expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
Education
Education Maintenance Allowance
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many young people lost funding as a result of the abolition of the education maintenance allowance; and what the average loss was per person. [137075]
Mr Laws [holding answer 16 January 2013]: In 2009/10, the last full academic year of the education maintenance allowance (EMA), 645,415 students received average annual payments of £726.
New claims for EMA ended in January 2011 and the £180 million 16-19 Bursary Fund was introduced in September 2011. From that point, the most vulnerable students previously receiving EMA became eligible for an annual bursary of £1,200. This is more than they would have received under EMA. We estimate that approximately 19,000 vulnerable bursaries were awarded in the 2011/12 academic year.
All other students who had successfully applied for EMA in 2009/10 continued to receive payments at the level set out in their EMA guarantee until the end of the 2011/12 academic year. 80,146 students fell into this category and none of these students experienced a loss in funding as a result of the abolition of EMA.
All students who successfully applied for the maximum weekly EMA payment of £30 in 2010/11 received £20 a week until the end of the 2011/12 academic year. 181,103 students fell into this category.
Those students who had successfully applied for weekly EMA payments of £10 or £20 in 2010/11 did not receive any EMA payments in 2011/12. 50,960 students fell into this category.
All students in further education and training in 2011/12, including those whose EMA payments were reduced or came to an end, were eligible to apply for
17 Jan 2013 : Column 902W
discretionary support from the 16-19 Bursary Fund. It is not possible therefore to give the overall annual loss for students who had their EMA support reduced or withdrawn, as we do not know if they received bursaries.
Physical Education: Teachers
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will extend funding for secondary school physical education teachers to be released for one day a week to work with primary schools beyond July 2013; [125567]
(2) what plans he has to support the delivery of physical education and school sport in primary schools following the removal of secondary school physical education teacher release funding; and if he will make a statement. [125568]
Mr Timpson [holding answer 6 November 2012]: In November 2010, the Secretary of State for Education announced that he was making funding available to secondary schools to enable the release of a physical education teacher from timetable for one day a week to work with local primary schools to increase opportunities for competitive sport and to encourage them to sign up for the School Games. At the time, the Secretary of State made it clear that the funding was for the two academic years 2011/12 and 2012/13 only. Beyond then, he expects that schools should have embedded this work into their core provision.
The final payment of PE teacher release funding will be made to eligible secondary schools after April next year. This will cover the summer term 2013.
The Secretary of State is considering a range of measures to improve school sport provision from September 2013 and beyond. He will make an announcement in due course.
School Leaving
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what estimate he has made of the number of additional students in (a) schools, (b) further education colleges, (c) sixth form colleges, (d) apprenticeships, (e) other employment with training and (f) other forms of education and training as a result of the raised participation age; [136706]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of additional students in (a) schools, (b) colleges, (c) apprenticeships, (d) other employment with training and (e) other education in each local authority area as a result of the raised participation age in 2013-14 and in 2014-15; [136707]
(3) what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing the raised participation age by the end of academic year 2014-15 (a) nationally and (b) in each local authority area; [136726]
(4) what additional funding he will make available to further education colleges in relation to the introduction of the raised participation age; [136727]
(5) what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing the raised participation age in 2013-14. [136767]
Mr Laws:
As part of the current spending review settlement, the Department for Education secured sufficient funding to provide a place in education or training for
17 Jan 2013 : Column 903W
all 16-year-olds able to participate from the academic year 2013/14 and to be on an appropriate trajectory to fund a place for every 17-year-old able to participate from the academic year 2015/16. This underpins our commitment to raise the age of compulsory participation in education and training.
The precise number of places to be funded and the funding needed for 2013/14 and 2014/15 will be determined as part of the annual allocation process. This process determines the funding to be received by each school, college and other provider. The vast majority of funding for places is determined on the basis of recruitment in the previous academic year (known as lagged numbers) and these numbers and the funding associated with them are not confirmed until the start of the following calendar year. The allocation process for 2013/14 will inform providers of their allocation by March 2013. The process for 2014/15 will inform providers by March 2014.
For individual schools and colleges, the Education Funding Agency will publish these allocations on the Department's website after they are made. We plan to announce a national aggregation of the allocation of places for 2013/14 and funding for 2013-14 in the Funding Statement in March 2013.
Schools: Finance
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effect on funding for education in each year between 2011-12 and 2016-17 of the projected growth in the school age population. [136623]
Mr Laws: The projected growth in the school age population impacts on the schools budget for both revenue and capital.
For 2011-15 these budgets were allocated in the 2010 spending review on the basis of projected increases in pupil numbers to the end of the spending review period. At the 2012 autumn statement, a spending review to cover only 2015-16 was announced, for which the Department will use projected pupil numbers.
The Government have committed to maintaining schools revenue funding on a flat cash per pupil basis, which means that this element of education funding increases each year in line with the projected increase in pupil numbers. Significant extra funding is also being provided for disadvantaged children through the pupil premium which in 2013-14 will amount to £900 per eligible pupil. Total funding through the premium will be £2.5 billion in 2014-15.
Youth Services
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 6 December 2012, Official Report, column 869W, on youth services, (1) whether lists of visits were drawn up by Ministers' private offices in preparation for answering the question; and for what reason a list of visits was not published; [134270]
(2) whether he received advice not to publish lists of youth projects visited; and who advised him; [134271]
(3) what advice was provided by special advisers on answering the question. [134272]
17 Jan 2013 : Column 904W
Mr Timpson [holding answer 18 December 2012]: It was not possible to put together a comprehensive list of visits without incurring disproportionate cost. An initial list was created, but routine checks by advisers and Private Secretaries picked up concerns about the accuracy and coverage of the list, and so a shorter answer was provided.
The incomplete list of ministerial visits to youth projects between May 2010 and October 2012 is as follows:
None.
Ashwell Pupil Referral Unit, Bransholme, Hull
Joint Youth Music and Federation of Music Event.
None.
None.
Fairbridge Kennington Centre.
None.
The Salmon Centre, London
Young Carers Festival, Southampton
Prince’s Trust Wimbledon
Young Disciples Bristol
Make Space Youth Health, West Sussex
Kids Company, London
Parent Intervention Sheffield
The Soul Project, London
Hove YMCA
Activenture, East Sussex
The Station, Bristol
A Way Out, Stockton
Catch 22, Herne Bay
Horizons Centre, London
Preston Myplace
Carlisle NCS Pilot
Carlisle Myplace
Dorking NCS Pilot
Brighton NCS Pilot
Sheffield Futures
Youth Zone Nelson
Hackney Myplace
Leicester YMCA
Youthnet Leicester
Cooperative/Truth About Youth Drama Project, London
Media Trust Youth Radio Station, London
LEAP London
Philip Lawrence Awards Young Citizens, Lewisham
The Orchard Programme, London
Groundwork UK's Communities Project, London
CRI's Lewisham Young People's Substance Misuse Service
Prince's Trust XI Club London
Brigg Youth Centre North Lincolnshire
Cedars Youth and Community Centre, Harrow
Harold Hill Youth Centre Romford
17 Jan 2013 : Column 905W
Open Youth Trust Myplace Project, Norwich
Catch 22 NCS Pilot Devizes.
Children and Youth Board Awards Presentation London
Young People's Learning Agency Board, London.
British Youth Council.
None.
Communities and Local Government
Community Infrastructure Levy
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make it his policy to ensure that all new houses built in a council's administrative area attract the Community Infrastructure Levy; and if he will make a statement. [137605]
Nick Boles: Local planning authorities can choose to adopt the Community Infrastructure Levy. When they adopt the levy they must determine the appropriate rate or rates. Charging authorities can set differential rates for different geographical zones and by reference to different intended uses of development. This is a local decision based on evidence of economic viability and infrastructure need.
The guidance we have issued makes clear there is no requirement for councils to adopt a levy: they may set a zero rate if they wish.
Hostels: Young People
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what statistics and information are collected at (a) national, (b) regional and (c) local level on (i) the number of young people who are turned away from hostel accommodation, (ii) the reasons for any increase in demand in hostel accommodation and (iii) where and how soon young people turned away from hostels find accommodation. [136954]
Mr Prisk: The Department does not collect the information referred to in the question at any geographical level. The most relevant information that it collects from local authorities on the quarterly Homelessness (PIE) return is the number of 16 or 17-year-old applicant households accommodated in hostels at the end of each quarter.
Housing
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the purpose of the New Homes Bonus has been amended to include the funding of council care services; and if he will make a statement. [137638]
Mr Prisk: New Homes Bonus funding has always been paid as an un-ringfenced grant, meaning that local authorities are free to spend it as they see fit. There has therefore been no change to the purposes to which New Homes Bonus funding may be put. As with all funding, we expect local authorities to consult local communities on how the bonus is spent.
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Housing: Construction
Mr Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new planning permissions for housing were approved by each local authority in England in each quarter from 2005 to the latest quarter for which figures are available. [R] [134464]
Nick Boles [holding answer 20 December 2012]:A table showing the number of planning decisions and permissions for each local authority in England from 2005-06 to 2011-12 has been placed in the Library of the House.
It has not been possible to provide this information for every quarter as requested in the time available.
The number of granted residential planning applications in 2011-12 is higher than the rate this Government inherited in 2009-10.
Historic figures on the number of minor residential applications are affected by changes in permitted development rights.
There is scope for removing more uncontentious, small-scale minor residential planning applications from the system and we have been consulting on this matter.
Housing: Finance
Mr Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 20 December 2012, Official Report, column 880W, on Housing: Finance, how much expenditure is committed to be paid to each housing authority in England over the next six years as a consequence of allocations of New Homes Bonus made to date. [136301]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 10 January 2013]:A table setting out this information, which is based on provisional data and is subject to consultation, has been placed in the Library of the House.
A total of £3.3 billion is committed to local authorities in New Homes Bonus grant over the next six years (from 2013-14 to 2018-19), to reward councils for homes that have already been built. This includes £228 million in affordable homes premium.
Mortgages
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration his Department has given to extending the mortgage indemnity guarantee to banks offering mortgages to first-time buyers of right to buy properties. [137450]
Mr Prisk: The NewBuy Guarantee scheme has brought 95% loan to value mortgages for new build properties back to the market. NewBuy is for both first time buyers and existing home owners.
We are committed to helping tenants fulfil their home-ownership aspirations and we have increased the maximum discount available for the right to buy to £75,000. This Government are exploring ways to further support those wishing to exercise the right to buy.
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Part-Time Employment
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of staff in his Department work part-time. [137025]
Brandon Lewis: The proportion of staff working part-time in my Department as of 31 December 2012 was 11%.
Railways: Freight
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his letter of 19 September 2012 to interested parties, for what reasons he decided not to hold a conjoined inquiry into the Radlett and Colnbrook rail freight proposals. [137642]
Nick Boles: I refer my hon. Friend to the letter of 14 December 2012 which stated that, having given very careful consideration to the comments submitted, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), was satisfied that he could determine the Radlett proposal on the basis of the evidence before him.
Railways: Radlett
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if any factors in his decision of 20 December 2012 to approve the Radlett rail freight proposal were brought to his attention after 19 September 2012. [137641]
Nick Boles: The letter of 20 December 2012 sets out the reasons for the decision. It lists the representations taken into account including those received after 19 September 2012. I cannot add to that letter.
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what meetings have taken place between Ministers in his Department and outside bodies on the Radlett rail freight proposal since 19 September 2012; [137643]
(2) what meetings (a) Ministers in his Department, (b) special advisers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have held with representatives of the rail freight industry since 19 September 2012. [137645]
Nick Boles: As part of the Department's transparency programme, details of departmental meetings between Ministers and outside bodies are routinely published on our website.
Information about meetings between outside bodies and officials/special advisers is not centrally held and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
All representatives of the Department act in accordance with Guidance on Planning Propriety Issues, which is published at:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-propriety-issues-guidance
I also refer my hon. Friend to my answer given to him today on Radlett representations PQ 137644.
17 Jan 2013 : Column 908W
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received concerning the Radlett rail freight proposal since 19 September 2012 other than those previously disclosed as responses to the Government's consultation. [137644]
Nick Boles: Details of all representations received were included in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government’s Minded To Allow letter of 20 December 2012. When the final decision letter is issued that will include any further representations received.
Social Enterprises
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has to introduce social enterprise zones; and if he will make a statement. [137395]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 15 January 2013]: Local areas are best placed to decide their economic ambitions, so we are pleased to see that local enterprise partnerships like the Black Country are intending to launch social enterprise zones as a way of supporting growth. Social enterprises have a key role in boosting local economies, encouraging entrepreneurialism and creating jobs, and can support partnerships to deliver their economic priorities. This Government are working to promote social enterprise and the social investment market through:
a £20 million Social Outcomes Fund to attract investment to complex social problems;
the launch of Big Society Capital—the first social investment institution of its kind; and
the £10 million Investment and Contract Readiness Fund for social ventures not yet sufficiently developed to access Big Society Capital.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Aviation
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many air miles were accumulated by each Minister in his Department in 2012; how such air miles were used; and whether such air miles were donated to charity. [137100]
Mr Lidington: No figures are held for the number of air miles accrued by Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers on official travel. Not all Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers are registered for air miles schemes. Where a Minister has been registered, any air miles accrued will be used for official purposes, forgone or donated to charity, in line with the Ministerial Code.
British Indian Ocean Territory
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal expenses have been incurred by his Department in cases relating to British Indian Ocean Territory since 1983; and what proportion of that total was incurred in relation to the recent case determined by the European Court of Human Rights. [137441]
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Mark Simmonds: Since 1990, from when records are available, the total cost incurred by the Foreign and Commonwealth office in cases relating to British Indian Ocean Territory is £2,404,808.72. The cost of the European Court of Human Rights case represents 1.57% of this total.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the US authorities on access by Chagossians to the Chagos archipelago and resettlement by them of that archipelago. [137442]
Mark Simmonds: I have had no recent discussions with the US authorities on access by Chagossians to the Chagos archipelago or resettlement by Chagossians. Officials notify the US authorities in advance of any Chagossians visiting the British Indian Ocean territory as part of our programme of heritage and science visits.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received on the effects of climate change and sea levels on British Indian Ocean Territory since 2011. [137443]
Mark Simmonds: The British Indian Ocean Territory Administration has received information on climate change and sea level since 2011 from a number of scientific and academic sources. The issue of rising sea levels, and of coastal erosion, in the British Indian Ocean Territory is clearly one of concern to the British Government and we will continue to keep it under close review.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with (a) Chagos islanders and (b) other interested parties since the declaration of the marine protection area around British Indian Ocean Territory; and what subjects were raised at those discussions. [137444]
Mark Simmonds: Officials have met with Chagossian leaders, and held telephone conferences with those based in Seychelles and Mauritius, on a number of occasions since the declaration of the Marine Protected Area. Most of these meetings have mainly focused on the organisation of visits to the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) by Chagossians and involvement of Chagossians in environmental projects. Some Chagossian leaders have refused to participate in discussions on the latter. Officials have also had frequent informal discussions with a wide variety of Chagossians during visits, at conferences and during outreach events. The high commissioner in Port Louis has regular meetings with Chagossian leaders in Mauritius and Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Home Office Ministers have met Chagossian leaders, sometimes with members of the All Party Parliamentary Group.
Officials continue to meet with a wide range of interested parties on BIOT. The largest of these groups are scientists interested in research and conservation on the territory.
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Imports: Israel
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to prohibit the importation of products produced by Israeli settlers in Occupied Palestinian Territories into the UK. [137630]
Alistair Burt: There is no specific UK legislation prohibiting the purchase of settlement produce. The UK Government understand that people have different points of view on the issue and that some may not wish to purchase goods exported from the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories which are illegal under international law. It was in order to enable consumers to make a more fully informed decision concerning the products they buy that, in December 2009, the UK introduced voluntary guidelines to retailers and supermarkets to enable produce from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories to be specifically labelled as such.
The issue of settlement produce is a subject of discussion with our EU partners. EU Foreign Ministers, at the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 10 December, reiterated the commitment made in 14 May to ensure continued, full and effective implementation of existing EU legislation and bilateral arrangements applicable to settlement products.
This ongoing work includes measures to ensure that settlement produce does not enter the EU duty-free, under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and that settlement products are not incorrectly labelled as Israeli produce, in violation of EU consumer protection regulations. There are, however, currently no plans for EU or domestic legislation on this issue.
Kashmir
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the armed contact between India and Pakistan in Kashmir on 6 January 2013. [137345]
Mr Swire: We are concerned about the recent incidents on both sides of the Line of Control in Kashmir. There were two incidents on 6 and 8 January involving cross-border incursions on both sides of the Line of Control in Kashmir and another cross-firing incident on 10 January. These have resulted in the loss of life of two soldiers on each side. Officials in New Delhi and Islamabad are in touch with Governments in both capitals. We welcome the call for dialogue from both sides in response to these incidents and highlighted the need not to derail the recent positive developments in bilateral relations.
Mongolia
Sir Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has to mark the UK's recognition of Mongolia as a sovereign de jure state 50 years ago. [137162]
Mr Swire: There are a number of events planned throughout 2013 to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between the UK and Mongolia. We are working closely with our embassy in Ulaanbaatar and with the Mongolian Government to make these events a success, and to ensure they further strengthen the relationship.
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The celebrations will be opened by a Foreign and Commonwealth Office reception on 23 January, involving Government officials from both countries, leading businesses and other key stakeholders.
There will also be a number of high level visits in both directions throughout the year to mark the anniversary, beginning with a visit by the Mongolian Minister of Education in January.
Occupied Territories
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to prohibit UK-based financial institutions from financing (a) the building of Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territories and (b) businesses owned by Israeli settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. [137628]
Alistair Burt: Our position on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is clear: they are illegal under international law, an obstacle to peace and make a two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, harder to achieve. The UK condemns decisions taken to build settlement units, and calls for these decisions to be reversed, and for Israel to cease all settlement activity.
International law does not impose obligations on corporations and for a UK company to operate in the Israeli settlements or to provide financial assistance to companies in settlements, is not, per se, contrary to UK law. No UK public funds have gone in direct support of settlements. The issue of settlement financing is under active consideration in London and Brussels. However, there are no current plans for the Government to issue advice to UK-based companies and financial institutions on this matter, or for EU or domestic legislation on this issue.
Palestinians
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Palestinian Authority with a view to encouraging greater trade between the UK and Palestine. [137632]
Alistair Burt: UK Trade and Investment officials in Jerusalem have held a series of road shows in the main cities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) to showcase the services the UK presence offers.
The British Consul-General to Jerusalem also hosted a reception on 12 December 2012 to celebrate the opening of the Jerusalem Business Forum, attended by 200 senior local and international contacts.
In addition, we continue to lobby the Israeli Government to ease restrictions on movement and access, one of the major barriers to trade and economic development in the OPTs.
Sea of Japan
Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent conversations his Department has had with the (a) Government of Japan and (b) Government of the Republic of Korea on the disputed Dokdo Islands in the Sea of Japan. [136870]
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Mr Swire: South Korea and Japan are two of our closest allies in the region. We therefore regularly meet representatives from both of their Governments to discuss a wide range of issues and I returned from Tokyo on 16 January.
Both Governments have raised this issue with us at official level since former President Lee of South Korea visited the islands in August.
The UK does not take a position on either country's claim. We would like to see a peaceful resolution in line with international law. We see co-operation between the two countries as essential to stability in the Asia Pacific Region. Given the recent elections in both countries, we hope that the new Governments in South Korea and Japan will take this opportunity to work closely together. Consequently, we welcome the recent visit of the Japanese Special Envoy Fukushiro Nukaga to meet South Korean President-elect Park.
Sri Lanka
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with (a) the UN, (b) his EU counterparts and (c) his Commonwealth counterparts on improving human rights in Sri Lanka. [137717]
Alistair Burt: The British Government regularly urge the Sri Lankan Government to improve the human rights situation, and to investigate infringements of human rights and prosecute those responsible. Officials are frequently in contact with their counterparts in the UN, EU and Commonwealth.
At the UN, we raised human rights concerns during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Sri Lanka at the Human Rights Council in November. We look forward with interest to the Report of the Working Group from Sri Lanka's UPR; which we expect to be formally adopted in March 2013.
The UK, in conjunction with the European Union Heads of Mission, also released a statement on 5 December, expressing our concern about recent developments in Sri Lanka surrounding the rule of law and individual freedoms. We welcome the statements from the Commonwealth Secretary-General on the same issue of 12 December and 13 January.
We will continue to use every opportunity to raise concerns with the Sri Lankan Government, including my visit in the coming weeks.
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. [137733]
Alistair Burt: The British Government continue to have concerns about human rights in Sri Lanka. Our latest update can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Human Rights report at:
http://fcohrdreport.readandcomment.com/human-rights-in-countries-of-concern/sri-lanka/quarterly-updates-sri-lanka/
We seek to promote progress through direct lobbying, working with international partners, and funding human rights projects. We also regularly urge the Sri Lankan Government to improve the human rights situation,
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and to investigate infringements of human rights and prosecute those responsible.
The British Government are deeply concerned by recent developments surrounding rule of law and individual freedoms. On 11 January, the FCO issued a statement on the recent impeachment of the Chief Justice, which can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-deeply-concerned-by-move-to-impeach-sri-lankan-chief-justice
Wales
Government Procurement Card
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) staff and (b) special advisers in his Department have use of a Government Procurement Card. [137254]
Stephen Crabb: There are (a) five members of staff and (b) no special advisers at the Wales Office who have use of a Government Procurement Card.
Human Transplantation (Wales) Bill
Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters he has received (a) supporting and (b) opposing the introduction of the Human Transplantation (Wales) Bill; what response his Department gave to such letters; if he will place that response in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [137353]
Mr David Jones: I have received no letters from members of the public regarding the Human Transplantation (Wales) Bill.
Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with (a) black and minority ethnic, (b) Muslim and (c) Jewish communities in Wales on the introduction of presumed consent in to the organ donation system. [137354]
Mr David Jones: I have discussed the introduction of presumed consent to the organ donation system with the UK and Welsh Governments.
The Welsh Government completed an equality impact assessment which is contained in the explanatory memorandum to the Bill.
Press: Subscriptions
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on newspapers and periodicals in 2011-12. [137274]
Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office spent £7,214 on newspapers and periodicals in the last financial year.
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 29 October 2012, Official Report, column 1W, on subscriptions, how much his Department has spent on subscriptions since May 2010. [137291]
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Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office has spent £150 on subscriptions since May 2010.
Publications
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how often his Department produces a staff magazine. [137324]
Mr David Jones: The Wales Office does not produce a staff magazine.
Northern Ireland
Government Procurement Card
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) staff and (b) special advisers in her Department have use of a Government Procurement Card. [137256]
Mrs Villiers: 12 staff in my Department have use of a Government Procurement Card, 11 of which are used solely for the purposes of purchasing stationery from previously agreed suppliers and one is used solely for travel bookings. No special advisers in my Department have use of a Government Procurement Card.
Press: Subscriptions
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much her Department spent on newspapers and periodicals in 2011-12. [137277]
Mrs Villiers: During the financial year 2011-12, my Department spent a total of £18,079 on newspapers and periodicals.
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2012, Official Report, column 213W, on press subscriptions, how much her Department has spent on subscriptions since May 2010. [137288]
Mrs Villiers: My Department has not incurred any spend on press subscriptions since May 2010.
Publications
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how often her Department produces a staff magazine. [137322]
Mike Penning: My Department produces an electronic staff magazine on a quarterly basis.
Taxis
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much her Department spent on taxis in 2011-12. [137300]
Mrs Villiers: During the financial year 2011-12, my Department spent a total of £26,811 on taxis.
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Transplant Surgery
Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Department and (c) officials in her Department have had with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive on (i) the use of organs for transplants in Northern Ireland and (ii) the introduction of presumed consent for organ transplants in Wales; and if she will make a statement. [137352]
Mrs Villiers: These are transferred matters for which my Department has no responsibility. Northern Ireland Executive Ministers have not raised these matters with me nor have there been any discussions on them between my officials and their counterparts in the devolved Northern Ireland Departments.
Energy and Climate Change
Aviation
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many air miles were accumulated by each Minister in his Department in 2012; how such air miles were used; and whether such air miles were donated to charity. [137086]
Gregory Barker: Travel arrangements made by the Department of Energy and Climate Change for Ministers are made in accordance with the ministerial code, including those elements of the code specifically relating to air miles. These set out the appropriate uses that include departmental travel and donation to charity. The Department does not keep a record of the past allocation of any air miles accrued to those different purposes.
Energy: Meters
Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to prevent energy companies using smart meter data to increase energy prices at peak times. [137594]
Mr Hayes: We do not regulate prices in the retail market. The UK has a competitive energy market, with the lowest gas prices and fourth lowest electricity prices in the EU15. Once smart meters are available, we expect some consumers to benefit from tariffs that include differential prices at different times, depending on their patterns of consumption, and to have a choice as to whether to move to such a tariff.
Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take so that the cost of the mandatory installation of smart meters is not passed on to consumers. [137595]
Mr Hayes: The Government have put in place licence conditions on suppliers so that consumers are not subject to one-off up-front charges for the installation of a standard smart meter and home display. Under current arrangements consumers pay for their meters, and their maintenance, through their energy bills and this will continue for smart meters.
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Meetings
Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) how many meetings he and officials of his Department had with Google in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [138070]
(2) how many meetings he and officials of his Department had with Amazon in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [138078]
(3) how many meetings he and officials of his Department had with Oracle in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [138086]
(4) how many meetings he and officials of his Department had with Xerox in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [138094]
(5) how many meetings he and officials of his Department had with Dell CSC in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [138102]
(6) how many meetings he and officials of his Department had with Symantec in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [138110]
Gregory Barker: All meetings between external organisations and DECC Ministers are published on a quarterly basis on the DECC website and are available for download at this link:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/registers/registers.aspx
Nuclear Power Stations: Decommissioning
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change who is to meet the waste disposal costs not paid by operators in the Funded Decommissioning Plans to be approved by the Secretary of State under the Energy Act 2008. [137770]
Mr Hayes: The terms on which the Government will take title to and liability for the higher activity radioactive waste from a new nuclear power station for disposal in the planned Geological Disposal Facility will be set out in a Waste Contract, that will be agreed alongside the operator's Funded Decommissioning programme. The price that Government will charge the operator for this service, the Waste Transfer Price, will be determined in accordance with the Government's published Waste Transfer Pricing Methodology:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/waste_trans/waste_trans.aspx
The Waste Transfer Price will be set at a level consistent with the Government's policy that operators of new nuclear power stations should meet their full share of waste management costs. Hence it is not expected that there will be any costs incurred in the disposal of higher activity waste from a new nuclear power station that are not covered by the Waste Transfer Price.
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what method is to be used to calculate the share of waste disposal costs to be met by operators in the Funded Decommissioning Plans provided for by the Energy Act 2008. [137772]
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Mr Hayes: The Government's policy is that they expect higher activity waste from new nuclear power stations to be disposed of in the Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) that is to be built for the disposal of legacy waste. The terms on which the Government will take title to and liability for the waste from a new nuclear power station for disposal in the GDF will be set out in a Waste Contract, that will be agreed alongside the operator's Funded Decommissioning programme. The Department has published a Waste Transfer Pricing methodology which sets out how the price charged to operators of the new nuclear sites is to be determined:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/waste_trans/waste_trans.aspx
Petroleum Act 1998
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2013, Official Report, column 426W, on Petroleum Act 1998, to whom the 17 notices have been served. [137636]
Mr Hayes: The information requested is commercially sensitive and as such it is not appropriate to publish it.
Taxis
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on taxis in 2011-12. [137306]
Gregory Barker: The Department spent £51,000 on taxis in the period April 2011 to March 2012.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the monetary value was of the Warm Homes Discount distributed (a) nationally, (b) in Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) in Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency in 2011-12. [137782]
Gregory Barker: In 2011-12, the Warm Home Discount scheme provided support valued at £237.5 million across the UK to persons in or at risk of fuel poverty in the form of a £120 rebate on their energy bills. Regional or constituency breakdowns for these data are not available.
Further details about the 2011-12 scheme year are in the Ofgem Annual Report for the Warm Home Discount, which is available here:
http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/Environment/WHDS/Documents1/WHD_AR_08_Oct_2012.pdf
Scotland
Carers
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met carers groups in Scotland to discuss the effects of the Government's welfare reform policies. [136983]
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David Mundell: Scotland Office Ministers have met with a range of individuals and organisations to discuss the Government's programme of welfare reform and work closely with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure people from all backgrounds are supported to move into work where they are able to do so or, if appropriate, have access to the support and care necessary for them to lead full, active and independent lives.
Disability
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met groups representing people with disabilities to discuss the effects of the Government's welfare reform programme. [136984]
David Mundell: Scotland Office Ministers have met with a range of individuals and organisations to discuss the Government's programme for reform of the welfare system and work closely with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure people from all backgrounds are supported to move into work where they are able to do so or, if appropriate, have access to the support necessary for them to lead full, active and independent lives.
Food Banks
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has visited a food bank since October 2012. [137746]
David Mundell: The Secretary of State for Scotland is visiting a food bank next month.
Government Procurement Card
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) staff and (b) special advisers in his Department have use of a Government Procurement Card. [137255]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office has seven Government Procurement Cards, six of which have been issued to staff and one to the special adviser.
Press: Subscriptions
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on newspapers and periodicals in 2011-12. [137275]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office spent £5,430 on newspapers and periodicals in 2011-12.
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to his answer of 30 October 2012, Official Report, column 142W, on press subscriptions, how much his Department has spent on subscriptions since May 2010. [137290]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office spend on magazine, journal and newspaper subscriptions since May 2010 is as follows:
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| £ | |
Publications
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how often his Department produces a staff magazine. [137323]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not produce a staff magazine.
Taxis
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on taxis in 2011-12. [137299]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office spent £19,967 on taxis in 2011-12.
Treasury
Business: Charitable Donations
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to encourage small and medium-sized businesses to undertake charitable donations and charitable support. [137483]
Sajid Javid: Companies can claim tax relief on donations of money made to charity by simply deducting the amount of the donation from their profit for corporation tax purposes.
Companies can also benefit from corporation tax relief on gifts of land, property or qualifying shares to charity. Companies and unincorporated businesses are also eligible for tax relief on a number of other types of gifts to charities, for example on gifts of trading stock and plant and machinery, and on the secondment of employees to charity.
Guidance on giving to charities by businesses is available on the HM Revenue and Customs website at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/businesses/giving/index.htm
Child Benefit
Chris Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of households affected by the changes to higher income child benefit had applied to stop receiving child benefit payments by 1 January 2013, (a) in total, (b) by using the online form, (c) by using the child benefit hotline or (d) by writing to the child benefit office. [135995]
Mr Gauke: The proportion of households affected by the introduction of the high income child benefit charge and who had elected to stop receiving child benefit payments up to and including 1 January 2013 was as follows:
(a) in total—approximately 16%;
17 Jan 2013 : Column 920W
(b) by using the online form—approximately 12%;
(c) by making their election over the telephone—approximately 4%; and
(d) in writing to HMRC—approximately 0.03%.
HMRC's initial estimate of the proportion of households who would elect to stop receiving child benefit was 10%.
Chris Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the range of potential penalties or fines is for those taxpayers who did not meet his 7 January 2013 deadline to register an opt-out under the higher income child benefit charge and who did not declare the continuing receipt of child benefit in a 2012-13 tax return. [136247]
Mr Gauke: The high income child benefit charge took effect on 7 January 2013. It was not a deadline for claimants to stop payments of child benefit. Claimants can elect to stop such payments at any time and the opt- out process does not attract any penalties or fines.
Where a claimant chooses to keep some or all of their child benefit payments, however, affected taxpayers will need to notify HM Revenue and Customs of any tax liability through the Self-Assessment process. The deadline for notifying this liability in relation to the tax year 2012-13 is 5 October 2013. The self-assessment return will be due by 31 January 2014. Those who do not notify HMRC by 5 October 2013 or submit their Self- Assessment return late will be subject to the usual penalty regime. More information is available on the HMRC website:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/compliance/cc-fs11.pdf
www.hmrc.gov.uk/sa/deadlines-penalties.htm#3
Mr Raab: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a housewife whose husband earns over £360,000 a year will continue to receive national insurance credits towards her state pension if the couple cancel their child benefit, or whether the couple need to continue to claim the child benefit and allow it to be paid back via the husband's tax bill in order for her to continue to receive those credits. [137331]
Mr Gauke: The importance of claiming child benefit is made very clear in all HMRC's child benefit literature (such as for example, the child benefit claim form, and the claim notes). It is also covered extensively on the HMRC website, where the full guidance about the charge can be found at:
www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefitcharge/
Parents and carers where either they or their partner have an income of £50,000 or above will have two options to safeguard their state pension:
they can claim child benefit, receive the payments and, if liable, they or their partner can pay the new tax charge; or
they can elect not to receive payments of child benefit. However, they will continue to be treated as claiming child benefit for the purposes of establishing entitlement to the national insurance credits.
a claimant can qualify for national insurance credits that can protect entitlement to state pension;
can help protect entitlement to other benefits such as guardian's allowance;
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ensures the child is automatically issued with a national insurance number before their 16th birthday.
Child Benefit: Scotland
Ian Murray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people in Scotland who will be affected by the planned changes to child benefit. [136994]
Mr Gauke: In 2013-14, HMRC estimates that approximately 85,000 families (rounded to the nearest 5,000) in Scotland will be affected by the high income child benefit charge.
This charge is being introduced so that those on lower incomes do not continue to subsidise the better off. 85% of claimants will be unaffected by this charge.
Fuels: Wales
Guto Bebb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend the rural fuel discount scheme to remote mainland communities including rural areas within Aberconwy constituency. [137231]
Sajid Javid: Motorists on the Scottish islands and the Isles of Scilly are benefitting from the 5p per litre discount on pump prices since the Government introduced the rural fuel rebate pilot scheme last year.
The Government will consider whether to seek EU approval for an extension of the scheme to other remote parts of the UK that are likely to display similar cost characteristics to the islands.
Government Procurement Card
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) staff and (b) special advisers in his Department have use of a Government Procurement Card. [137271]
Sajid Javid: At present there are 78 Government Procurement Cards held by staff within the Department. No GP cards are held by special advisers.
Income Tax
Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish (a) any impact assessments and (b) any other internal documents produced by his Department relating to the 2008 decision to abolish the 10 pence rate of income tax. [137360]
Mr Gauke: In line with established practice, it would not be appropriate for Ministers to see or comment on any work undertaken by a previous Administration.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to assist the provision of mortgage products for (a) first time buyers and (b) those buyers participating in shared equity schemes; and if he will make a statement. [137742]
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Sajid Javid: Decisions concerning the pricing and availability of mortgages, including shared equity mortgages, remain commercial decisions for individual lenders, and the Government do not seek to intervene in these decisions.
However, the Government have taken a number of steps to support creditworthy borrowers with a limited deposit to get on to the housing ladder with their FirstBuy and NewBuy schemes.
Shared equity can play an important role in helping people buy a home by reducing the size of the mortgage required. The Government's FirstBuy shared equity scheme is targeted at first-time buyers with an income below £60,000 per annum. The autumn statement provided an additional £280 million for the FirstBuy scheme, building on the £180 million allocated to the scheme in Budget 2011. Taken together, this investment will support 27,000 deposit-constrained first-time buyers in England by March 2014.
The Government-backed NewBuy scheme provides up to 95% loan to value mortgages for new build properties in England. It is open to UK citizens or those with a right to remain indefinitely in the country, and there is no limit on income for borrowers. This measure looks to ensure that creditworthy borrowers with limited deposits, for example first-time buyers who are looking to buy or move into a new home, have access to mortgages.
In addition, in July last year the Government and the Bank of England also announced the Funding for Lending Scheme. The FLS is designed to provide strong incentives for banks to increase lending by linking both the amount of funds available to banks, and the price of these funds, to the amount of lending that banks make, thus lowering interest rates and increasing access to credit, including for first-time buyers.
Occupied Territories
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that products produced by Israeli settlers in Occupied Palestinian Territories do not benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. [137629]
Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is aware of the risk of misdeclaration of the origin of goods to secure preferential tariff treatment under the EU-Association Agreement. HMRC controls this risk in two ways:
1. Border Force, at the request of HMRC, undertakes targeted pre clearance physical examination of consignments of goods imported under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
2. HMRC undertakes post clearance audits which provide assurance on business compliance.
This control regime uses intelligence received from a variety of sources including irregularities previously identified through compliance checks.
Press: Subscriptions
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on newspapers and periodicals in 2011-12. [137286]
Sajid Javid: The Department has steadily decreased spending on newspapers and periodicals as shown in the following table.
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| Spending (£) | |
Regional Growth Fund
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider increasing the amount of funds allocated to the regional growth fund. [137485]
Danny Alexander: The regional growth fund operates across England and supports projects and programmes that lever private sector investment to create economic growth and sustainable employment.
Autumn statement 2012 announced that the Government would provide a further £350 million towards the regional growth fund, taking the total for the fund as a whole to £2.6 billion. More details on the next bidding round will be available shortly.
Revenue and Customs
Mr Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evaluation HM Revenue and Customs plans to assess its programme to develop its operational delivery profession. [137032]
Mr Gauke: HMRC has developed an evaluation strategy for its operational delivery profession to measure whether objectives have been met, and whether activities meet business need and provide the best value for money.
Catherine McKinnell:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the £77 million funding for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) announced in the 2012 autumn statement will be allocated to each area of
17 Jan 2013 : Column 924W
HMRC activity; and how many additional staff will be recruited to HMRC as a result of this funding. [137796]
Mr Gauke: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 December 2012, Official Report, column 293W.
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the new centre of excellence for tax fraud and evasion announced in the 2012 autumn statement to be operational; and how much funding it will be allocated in each year to 2015. [137797]
Mr Gauke: The autumn statement, 5 December 2012, Official Report, columns 871-82, announcement of a further £77 million to expand HMRC's tax avoidance and evasion activity, included £6 million split equally over two years to fund the work of the offshore evasion centre of excellence.
HMRC already has a significant programme of work under way to tackle offshore evasion. The new team will build on the established approach to develop a comprehensive strategy for tackling offshore evasion due to be published in spring 2013. There is already a small core team in place to do this. However, the full team, including secondees and external recruitments to work alongside HMRC experts, will become operational only once the funding is in place in April 2013.
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff were employed in each area of HM Revenue and Customs' activity in each of the last five years. [137798]
Mr Gauke: The number of staff employed in each area of HM Revenue and Customs' activity in each of the last five years is shown in the following table. For the current financial year we have shown headcount to the end of December 2012.
| HMRC headcount by line of business | 31 March 2009 | 31 March 2010 | 31 March 2011 | 31 March 2012 | 31 December 2012 |
In 2009-10, approximately 4,500 Enforcement and Compliance staff transferred out of the Department to UKBA.
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the £900 million to be spent on HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) announced in September 2010 has been allocated to each area of HMRC activity. [137799]
Mr Gauke: As part of the 2010 spending review, the Government decided to reinvest £917 million into HMRC for additional compliance activities to bring in £7 billion more revenues in 2014-15, on top of the Department's target of £13 billion.
Around 65% of the £917 million investment funding is being focussed on the mass market and tax evasion.
Around 5% is being focused on large businesses and wealthy individuals.
Around 10% of the investment funding is being focused on tackling organised crime.
The remaining funding is being spent on a range of interventions designed to collect more debt.
Revenue and Customs: Aviation
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much HM Revenue and Customs spent on flights within England in 2011-12. [137342]
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Mr Gauke: HMRC spent £263,090 on flights within England in 2011-12 via its contracted travel management company. Where HMRC staff purchased their own tickets and claimed back the cost incurred via an expense claim, the information is not available. The data on HMRC systems are not held in a way as to disaggregate flights within England from other UK flights.
Spend on flights via HMRC's travel management company shows a significant reduction in the last three years:
| £ | |
HMRC is committed to reducing travel costs and the impact of its business on the environment. Staff are encouraged to consider alternatives to travel such as voice and video conferencing.
Where travel is necessary, staff are asked to consider the full cost of their journey and to use public transport. However, it is recognised that there are occasions where some routes with budget airlines are often cheaper when compared to rail tickets purchased at short notice.
Taxis
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on taxis in 2011-12. [137308]
Sajid Javid: The total spent on taxis in 2011-12 was £76,640.24. This figure is exclusive of VAT. The comparable figures for 2010-11 and 2009-10 were £97,875.40 and £211,207.09 respectively.
Taxi hire is for use by all HM Treasury Group staff for business use only.
The use of a taxi should generally be made where it will save official time or where a disabled member of staff is travelling to attend an official meeting. However, it may be justifiable to use a taxi if an official is carrying classified documents, heavy or bulky luggage or when in an unknown locality as a result of official business. Taxis may also be used when travelling home or to work late at night (after 10.00 pm) or early morning (before 6.30 am) when an alternative method of transport is not available.
Taxis are defined as a car available with a driver for hire, including a minicab.