Local Government Finance: Sefton
John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what balances and reserves of each category have been registered with his Department by Sefton Council in the last three years for which data are available. [137889]
Brandon Lewis [holding answer 18 January 2013]: The following table shows the level of local authority financial reserves held at the start of each financial year (as at 1 April) and end of each financial year (as at 31 March) for Sefton local authority.
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 201-12 | ||||
| Start year (1 April 2009) | End year (31 March 2010) | Start year (1 April 2010) | End year (31 March 2011) | Start year (1 April 2011) | End year (31 March 2012) | |
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The figures (requested in £ thousand) are from Revenue Outturn forms submitted to DCLG by local authorities each year.
Pay
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many employees of his Department are not paid the living wage; and how many full-time equivalent posts this represents. [140059]
Brandon Lewis: My Department has no employees paid less than the relevant living wage either in London or outside London.
Planning
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total number is of designated neighbourhood areas. [139445]
Nick Boles: This information is not collected centrally. However, our informal monitoring of local planning authority websites tells us that as of 23 January there are at least 169 areas designated by 53 local authorities. These figures are increasing as more communities take up the opportunity to use the new powers in the Localism Act.
Planning Obligations
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the speech made by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Planning to Policy Exchange on 10 January 2013, what estimate he has made of the proportion of the 246,000 units with planning permission on sites where no building had started are delayed as a result of unaffordable section 106 agreements. [137983]
Nick Boles: We do not hold such estimates.
Notwithstanding, as outlined to the right hon. Member in the answer to him of 17 October 2012, Official Report, column 304W, we do hold estimates (from Glenigan) on the number of housing units stalled due to sites being commercially unviable.
Planning Permission
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people have made Freedom of Information requests to see the responses to the draft National Planning Policy Framework Consultation to date. [139057]
Nick Boles: To date, we have received four freedom of information requests to see the responses to the draft National Planning Policy Framework Consultation.
A summary of the responses is available at:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/11792/2172233.pdf
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many of the respondents to the draft National Planning Policy Framework Consultation asked not to be named. [139058]
Nick Boles: We do not hold a central database setting out those people who asked for their details to be kept confidential. We deal with requests for consultation responses on a case-by-case basis. The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to page 1 of the Summary of Responses to the draft National Planning Policy Framework Consultation, (1) how many respondents expressed support for significant simplification and consolidation of planning policy; [139059]
(2) how many respondents called for stronger and more positive text on the role planning could play in unlocking investment and promoting economic growth. [139060]
Nick Boles: The Summary of Responses to the draft National Planning Policy Framework Consultation is structured around the questions asked in the consultation document and the additional question on traveller site policy. Many respondents made more general points such as expressing support for significant simplification and consolidation of planning policy. These were given full consideration but we did not collate the statistics on these points. The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Planning Permission: Appeals
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance is available for communities to provide them with assistance with the planning appeals process. [138909]
Nick Boles: There is detailed guidance available to assist communities with the planning appeal process on the Planning Portal website. The guidance is prepared by the Planning Inspectorate which handles planning appeals in England and Wales, and includes advice on both how to make an appeal, and advice for those that wish to comment on an appeal made by others.
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On 21 December 2012 the Government welcomed the report of the review of planning practice guidance led by Lord Taylor of Goss Moor, which made recommendations as to the scope and form of practice guidance that should be provided in future by Government to support effective planning, including planning appeals. The Government have launched a consultation to seek views on the recommendations of the review group, which runs until 15 February 2013. The Government will take these responses into account, as they consider how to respond to the recommendations.
The Government also recently consulted on a set of proposals to make the planning appeals process faster and more transparent, and improve consistency and certainty in decision-taking timescales. The consultation, which ended on 13 December 2012, included a question on whether respondents agreed with the proposal to issue a single, streamlined, clear procedural note on appeals. The consultation clarified that this work will be aligned with the review led by Lord Taylor.
Written Questions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of questions for written answer on a named day by his Department (a) received a substantive answer after the named day and (b) have not received a substantive answer in this Session. [139287]
Brandon Lewis: 114 (27%) of the 429 named day questions tabled to the Department between the start of the current Session and 31 December 2012 were initially answered with a holding reply. Seven (1.6%) of these have not yet had a substantive answer.
The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the Session. Statistics relating to Government Department's performance for the 2010-12 Parliamentary Session are available on the Parliament website at:
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/procedure/P35_Memorandum_Leader_of_the_House_ Monitoring_PQs.pdf
Northern Ireland
Senior Civil Servants
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what proportion of officials of the three most senior grades in her Department have (a) resigned, (b) taken voluntary early retirement, (c) left the Department for alternative employment, (d) been dismissed, (e) taken long-term sick leave and (f) taken administrative leave since May 2010. [139223]
Mike Penning: Since May 2010, no official in the three most senior grades in my Department left under any of the circumstances specified in this question.
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Tobacco: Smuggling
Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions her Department has had with the Irish Government on the issue of tobacco smuggling between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. [139858]
Mrs Villiers: I meet regularly with the Irish Government to discuss a wide range of issues. Matters relating to revenue and customs fall primarily to HMRC, which works closely with the Department of Justice for Northern Ireland and their counterparts in the Republic of Ireland. My hon. Friend the Economic Secretary is the Minister responsible for the Government's response to excise fraud matters.
Written Questions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many and what proportion of questions for written answer on a named day by her Department (a) received a substantive answer after the named day and (b) have not received a substantive answer in this Session; [139317]
(2) how many and what proportion of questions tabled for ordinary written answer by her Department (a) were answered after 30 days and (b) have not been answered in this Session. [139318]
Mike Penning: For the period 10 May 2012 to 21 January 2013, the Northern Ireland Office received 77 named day parliamentary questions, of which four (5%) received a substantive answer after the day named. All have been answered substantively in this session.
For the same period, my Department received 163 ordinary written questions. All were answered within 30 days.
The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the session. Statistics relating to Government Department's performance for the 2010-12 parliamentary session were previously provided to the Committee and are available on the Parliament website.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Beef: Horse Meat
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what checks are undertaken at point of entry for meat imports into the UK; who performs such checks; whether such checks have taken place over the last five years; and at which stage contamination occurred by which horse meat and traces of pig meat have been found in beef burgers and other meat products. [138974]
Mr Heath:
Meat imports coming to the UK from outside the EU must enter at designated border inspection posts, where they are subject to veterinary checks by local and port health authority staff to ensure import conditions have been met. All consignments are subject
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to documentary and identity checks and a prescribed percentage of consignments are subject to physical checks. These checks have applied for longer than the last five years.
Meat and other products of animal origin produced in the EU (like the beef burgers under investigation in Ireland) are traded freely within the EU and the responsibility for animal and public health and food hygiene lies with the exporting member state. Checks may be carried out at the border if there are grounds to suspect the consignment does not comply with the EU conditions. These arrangements have been in place for longer than five years.
On 16 January, the Prime Minister asked the Food Standards Agency to urgently investigate how a number of beef products on sale in the UK and Republic of Ireland came to contain some traces of horse and pig DNA. The FSA set out a four-point plan for this investigation, which is being implemented in conjunction with other Government Departments, local authorities and the food industry. The scope of the plan is set out in the FSA's web story on 16 January:
http://www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2013/jan/horse-update
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when (a) his Department, (b) Ministers and (c) the Food Standards Agency first heard of the recent cases of contaminated meat and meat products. [138978]
Anna Soubry: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department of Health.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) was notified by Food Safety Authority Ireland on 14 January that they were proposing to publish a report on the analysis carried out into a number of meat products, including beef burgers, which revealed that some contained horse and pig DNA.
On 15 January FSA notified the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) of these results. DEFRA Ministers were also informed on this date.
FSA has launched an urgent investigation into this issue and are working closely with DEFRA on this. A four point plan has been published on the FSA website at:
www.food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2013/jan/horse-update
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when Ministers in his Department were informed that horse meat had been detected in burgers being sold in the UK; [139034]
(2) when the Food Standards Agency of Ireland informed his Department that horse meat had been found in burgers sold in the UK. [139035]
Mr Heath: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) was notified by the Food Safety Authority Ireland on 14 January that they were proposing to publish a report on the analysis carried out into a number of meat products, including beef burgers, which revealed that some contained horse and pig DNA.
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On 15 January the FSA notified DEFRA of these results. DEFRA Ministers were also informed on this date.
The FSA has launched an urgent investigation into this issue and is working closely with DEFRA on this. A four point plan has been published on the FSA website at:
www.food.gov.uk
Bees: Insecticides
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research he has commissioned into the risks posed to bee colonies in this country from the use of neonicotinoid insecticides. [138960]
Richard Benyon: We take this issue very seriously and have funded a range of work to address gaps in knowledge. We continue to fund a number of research projects on the potential impacts of pesticides on bees and other pollinators which will enable us to develop the way these risks are assessed and regulated. Most recently, projects have been commissioned to follow up academic studies on potential impacts on bumblebees. In addition DEFRA contributes to the Insect Pollinators Initiative, which supports research into the main threats to insect pollinators.
Campaign to Protect Rural England
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what meetings Ministers in his Department have had with the Campaign to Protect Rural England and other environmental organisations to discuss the effect of Clause 8 of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill before the bill was published. [139554]
Richard Benyon: Following publication of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has exchanged written correspondence with the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
As part of ongoing discussions regarding implementation of the Bill, Ministers across Government have played an active role engaging with a range of environmental organisations, including the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
Dangerous Dogs
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to make an announcement on the issue of irresponsible dog ownership and dangerous dogs; and what issues will be included in the announcement. [139451]
Mr Heath: The Government will be making an announcement on a way forward on this issue, following proposals made in last year's consultation, shortly.
Dredging
Mary Creagh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Environment Agency spent on dredging in (a) 2007-08,
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(b)
2008-09,
(c)
2009-10,
(d)
2010-11 and
(e)
2011-12; and how much he anticipates being spent in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15. [139006]
Richard Benyon: It is estimated that dredging activities cost approximately £20 million each year. The Environment Agency does not specifically record the amounts spent on dredging per year because dredging work forms part of the wider budget for maintenance of watercourses.
Watercourse maintenance work includes maintaining flood barriers and pumping stations; clearing grills and removing obstructions from rivers; controlling aquatic weed within rivers; dredging and de-silting of rivers; managing grass, trees and bushes on our flood embankments; inspection and repair of flood defence structures.
Environmental Stewardship Scheme
Sir James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the amount of land taken out of production by farmers entering entry level stewardship following the reduction in points allocated for hedgerows and the need for compensating points from other measures. [139555]
Mr Heath: Changes were made to a number of environmental stewardship options from 1 January this year as part of the Making Environmental Stewardship More Effective project. The project was set up in response to a number of high profile reports that concluded that the scheme was capable of delivering more and better environmental outcomes. It involved Natural England and stakeholders including the NFU, the Country Land & Business Association, the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers, the RSPB and the Tenant Farmers Association.
Changes were made to a number of options and payment rates. Among those were changes to certain hedgerow options to improve the environmental benefit of good hedgerow management such as providing winter berries for birds.
As the changes have only been available for agreements beginning from 1 January 2013 it is too early to gauge accurately their impact. However, 279 new environmental stewardship agreements started on 1 January, which included 814 km of hedgerow options.
Floods: Elmbridge
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2013, Official Report, column 83W, on flood control, what proportion of the additional £120 million of funding allocated for flood defences will be spent on protecting Elmbridge in each of the next three financial years. [139627]
Richard Benyon: Allocations for flood and coastal erosion risk management in 2013-14 have not yet been announced.
Food Composition and Labelling
Mary Creagh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many
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officials in his Department are working on food composition and labelling policy. [138995]
Mr Heath: As at 22 January 2013, there are 12 officials within DEFRA's Food and Sustainable Economy Directorate whose duties are concerned exclusively with the policy areas referred to by the hon. Member, including three who deliver a food authenticity research programme that funds the development of methods to detect food mis-labelling and food fraud. Food composition and labelling policy also comprise part of the work load of the managerial team members of that directorate.
In addition, a number of other posts in DEFRA’s Teams for Sustainable and Competitive Farming Strategy and for Crops and Horticulture Policy Delivery include, as part of their responsibilities, development of policy on standards and compositional requirements for dairy products, eggs, wine, olive oil and certain other commodities, as well as certain aspects of policy on food labelling.
Food: Labelling
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the annual budget allocated within his Department for food labelling was in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13. [139010]
Mr Heath: Food labelling is part of the annual budget allocated to food policy. The food policy budget is set out in the following table;
| £ | |||
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |
| (1 )Indicates brace. | |||
These figures exclude the Gangmasters Licensing Authority figures which are not comparable across the years.
The Food Authenticity Programme budget is approximately £450,000 per year.
Horse Meat: Exports
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much horsemeat was exported in each of the last four years. [139525]
Mr Heath: The amount of meat and offal of horses, asses, mules and hinnies exported since 2008 from the UK is reported in the following table:
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| Volume (tonnes) | |||||
| Type | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | Jan-Nov 2012 |
| Source: HM Revenue and Customs | |||||
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the value was of exported horsemeat in each of the last four years. [139528]
Mr Heath: The value of meat and offal of horses, asses, mules and hinnies exported from the UK since 2008 is set out in the following table:
| Value (£000) | |||||
| Type | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | Jan-Nov 2012 |
| Source: HM Revenue and Customs | |||||
Land Drainage
Sir James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the non-eligibility of land drainage for capital allowances. [139556]
Richard Benyon: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has regular meetings with the Chancellor to discuss a range of DEFRA interests including taxation, agriculture and flood risk management. No recent representations have been made on this topic.
Until 2008, capital allowances for certain agricultural buildings and structures were available through the Agricultural Buildings Allowance (ABA), introduced in 1945 to rebuild agricultural capacities after the second world war.
This allowance was phased out by the previous Government from 2008. There are currently no plans for its re-introduction.
Livestock: Transport
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to his contribution to the debate of 13 December 2012, Official Report, column 429, on Animal Welfare (exports) and the answer of 8 January 2013, Official Report, column 208W, on livestock: transport, what changes he has made to the operations manual to reflect a zero tolerance approach. [138252]
Mr Heath: Animal Health Veterinary Laboratory Agency (AHVLA) undertakes its inspections in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) 882/2004 on ‘official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with food and feed law, animal health and welfare’. Article 3 of this Regulation requires member states to ensure that official controls are carried out regularly, on a risk basis and with appropriate frequency. The AHVLA Operations Manual gives instruction to staff on how to apply the requirements of the regulation.
The AHVLA Operations Manual contains a risk matrix for use in relation to inspections for live animal exports and the risk matrix has always allowed for increased incidence of inspections if the current risk is assessed as high. This risk matrix has not changed. However AHVLA have specified in instructions that:
“Due to the increased profile of livestock departing Great Britain (GB) on the vessel mv Joline from Ramsgate Port, 100% of consignments of slaughter/production livestock sailing on the mv Joline must undergo a supervised loading inspection”.
Information has also been added to the instructions regarding the export certification carried out an Official Veterinarian (OV). Animals which the OV has rejected at the point of certification must be located at the supervised loading inspection to ensure that they are not loaded onto the vehicle.
National Wildlife Crime Unit
Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date he plans to decide on future funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit. [138781]
Richard Benyon: On 23 January I announced that DEFRA will provide funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit for a further year. The Home Office has announced that it too will provide funding for another year. This demonstrates our commitment to the Unit and our recognition of the important role it plays.
This funding for another year will mean the Unit can continue to bring criminals to justice and tackle the illegal wildlife trade both at home and abroad.
Pate de Foie Gras: Imports
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he has any plans to ban the import of foie gras. [139005]
Mr Heath:
Many people would like to see the importation and sale of foie gras in the UK banned but the free movement of goods is a well established principle in European Union law and is enshrined in the treaty on the functioning of the European Union (TFEU). While
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animal welfare concerns over the production of foie gras have been considered by the EU, trade in foie gras is not currently restricted under EU law. Consequently, a unilateral ban by the UK on the import or sale of foie gras would probably contravene the provisions of the TFEU. The UK would likely be referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union for this breach of EU law and would certainly face multiple damages claims from importers, exporters and other traders in foie gras.
Ultimately, the most effective action that can be taken is for individuals not to buy foie gras if they feel strongly against the way in which it is produced.
Thames Tideway Tunnel
Mr Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the benefits and costs to residents of Reading East constituency of the Thames Tideway Tunnel project; and if he will make a statement. [139812]
Richard Benyon: The cost-benefit analysis for the Thames tideway tunnel was published in November 2011 and it does not address individual parliamentary constituencies. Since water industry privatisation in 1989, it has been standard practice for the costs of capital investment by licensed undertakers to be spread across all their customers as the fairest way to apportion costs. The large number of customers of Thames Water's sewerage services in London has enabled the customer bill impact of investments in sewerage infrastructure outside London to be kept down to the benefit of customers outside London, particularly those in rural and smaller urban areas. This has helped to ensure that Thames Water sewerage bills are currently the cheapest in England. For example, Reading residents have benefitted from this approach as the £80 million new Reading sewage treatment works has been paid for by all Thames Water customers, including those in London who derive no benefit from it.
Written Questions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what proportion of questions for written answer on a named day by his Department (a) received a substantive answer after the named day and (b) have not received a substantive answer in this Session. [139299]
Richard Benyon: 143 named day questions, due for answer during this Session on or before 18 January 2013, received a substantive answer after the named day. This represents 43% of the 332 questions asked in this period. In addition, four questions are yet to receive a substantive answer.
The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the committee at the end of the session. Statistics relating to Government Departments' performance for the 2010 to 2012 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the committee and are available on the Parliament website.
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Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what proportion of questions tabled for ordinary written answer by his Department (a) were answered after 30 days and (b) have not been answered in this Session. [139300]
Richard Benyon: The Department's parliamentary question database cannot provide this information in the form requested. It can however provide the number of questions answered more than 10 working days late. Of 967 ordinary written questions due for answer before the Christmas recess, 100, or just over 10% of questions were answered more than 10 working days late.
The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the session. Statistics relating to Government Departments' performance for the 2010-12 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the Committee and are available on the Parliament website.
Leader of the House
Written Questions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Leader of the House (1) how many and what proportion of questions for written answer on a named day by his office (a) received a substantive answer after the named day and (b) have not received a substantive answer in this Session; [139315]
(2) how many and what proportion of questions tabled for ordinary written answer by his office (a) were answered after 30 days and (b) have not been answered in this Session. [139316]
Mr Lansley: My Department has answered all nine named-day written parliamentary questions on the named day and all 11 ordinary questions within five days of being tabled. There are no questions for answer currently outstanding.
The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the Session. Statistics relating to Government Department's performance for the 2010-12 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the Committee and are available on the Parliament website.
Deputy Prime Minister
Lobbying
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had on lobbying with lobbying organisations in the last 12 months. [139920]
Miss Chloe Smith: As part of this Government's transparency programme, details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on the Cabinet Office website at:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/content/ministers-transparency-publications
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Written Questions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many and what proportion of questions for written answer on a named day by his office (a) received a substantive answer after the named day and (b) have not received a substantive answer in this Session; [139293]
(2) how many and what proportion of questions tabled for ordinary written answer by his office (a) were answered after 30 days and (b) have not been answered in this Session. [139294]
The Deputy Prime Minister: As at 31 December 2012, no questions for written answer tabled to my office during the current Session had not been answered.
The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the current Session. Statistics relating to Government Department's performance for the 2010 to 2012 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the Committee and are available on the Parliament website.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Business: Loans
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 16 October 2012, Official Report, column 245W, on business: loans, what estimate he has made of the number of small and medium-sized businesses in each region of the UK that have had (a) an overdraft and (b) a business loan application rejected by a bank in each quarter of each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [139806]
Michael Fallon: The Government and banks do not collect or disseminate lending data on a regional basis. The information the hon. Member seeks is collected as part of BDRC Continental's SME Finance Monitor, which is made publicly available at:
http://www.sme-finance-monitor.co.uk
The reports published quarterly do not contain a regional breakdown on account of the small sample sizes available—although 5,000 SMEs are surveyed each quarter, only a small minority apply for finance in any one year, and as a result the numbers of SMEs applying in a given region during a given quarter are too small to infer statistically significant trends. However, BDRC Continental does publish annually a report with regional breakdowns over each year. The raw survey data can also be obtained free of charge via the UK Data Archive:
http://data-archive.ac.uk/
Clothing: Fire Prevention
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of trading regulations relating to fire retardant clothing for children; and if he will make a statement. [139534]
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Jo Swinson: The UK's Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1985 provide the most stringent flammability requirements for children's nightwear in the EU (only Ireland has similar regulations). As part of the Red Tape Challenge, the Government looked at these regulations in 2012, along with other consumer product safety provisions. The Government decided that these regulations should be retained as a necessary safety measure protecting UK children.
Green Investment Bank
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 18 January 2013, Official Report, columns 989-90W, on investment, if any underspend of the £775 million allocated for green infrastructure investment in the period April 2012 to March 2013 will be allowed to be carried forward to the 2013-14 financial year. [139811]
Michael Fallon: The UK Green Investment Bank has full flexibility to carry forward capital underspends within this spending review period.
Metropolitan Police
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding his Department allocated to the Metropolitan police in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; how much he plans to allocate in future years; and if he will make a statement. [139419]
Jo Swinson: The Department has not paid or allocated any funding to the Metropolitan police in any of the years mentioned above. Currently, departmental financial systems show that no allocations have been made for future years but any requests for funding or confirmed allocations would need to be considered in line with the Department's aims of stimulating economic growth, improving skills and innovation, boosting international trade, protecting the consumer and reducing red tape.
Science
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2012, Official Report, column 400W, on science: finance, how much funding has been provided by his Department to (a) The Royal Society, (b) The British Academy, (c) The Royal Academy of Engineering, (d) The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network, (e) The British Science Association, (f) Engineering UK and (g) The UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology in 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [139805]
Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has made payments to the organisations listed during 2012-13 (1 April to 31 December 2012) as follows:
(a) The Royal Society: £32,462,975
(b) The British Academy: £20,148,401
(c) Royal Academy of Engineering, RAE: £5,819,838
(d) STEMNET (The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network):£3,423,664
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(e) British Science Association (The British Association for the Advancement of Science): £971,419
(f) Engineering UK: £0
(g) UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology £0.
Shipping: Foreign Workers
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of non-UK seafarer ratings and officers employed on UK-registered vessels in 2011 were entitled to the national minimum wage. [139161]
Jo Swinson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 January 2013, Official Report, column 461W.
Training
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many away days his Department has held since 2010; and what the cost was of each such event. [139955]
Jo Swinson: We are able to provide details of away days from May 2010 to December 2012. Our response covers all team away days, including planning events which took place within our own premises. The total amount spent on 112 events during that period was £259,651.
Training, planning and performance improvement are essential for the long-term success of the Department. A change of environment helps teams focus on the objectives of the day, to ensure successful business outcomes. Officials at all levels of the Department seek to ensure all such spending is value for money for the taxpayer.
Written Questions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of questions for written answer on a named day by his Department (a) received a substantive answer after the named day and (b) have not received a substantive answer in this Session. [139281]
Jo Swinson: Up to the end of 22 January 2013:
(a) 205 questions for written answer on a named day received a substantive answer after the named day. This is 27% of all questions for written answer on a named day for this session. Of the 205 questions, 47% received a substantive reply one sitting day after the date stipulated by the hon. Member and 85% within five sitting days.
(b) None.
The Government have committed to providing the Procedure Committee with information relating to written parliamentary question performance on a sessional basis and will provide full information to the Committee at the end of the Session.
Statistics relating to the Department's performance for the 2010-12 parliamentary Session were previously provided to the Committee and are available on the Parliament website.
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Energy and Climate Change
Affordable Warmth Programme
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the budget for the Affordable Warmth scheme is in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15. [139492]
Gregory Barker: The Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) Affordable Warmth target is not set in terms of expenditure, but in terms of reduction in notional lifetime heating costs. It is expected that the £4.2 billion Affordable Warmth target for March 2015 will generate investment in heating systems and insulation in low-income and vulnerable households equivalent to around £350 million per year.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households his Department expects to receive assistance under the Affordable Warmth scheme in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15. [139493]
Gregory Barker: Exactly how many households receive support through Affordable Warmth will depend on the delivery models adopted by participating energy suppliers. If suppliers deliver what we anticipate to be most cost-effective packages of measures at a consistent rate, we estimate that around 130,000 low-income and vulnerable households could be supported each year through Affordable Warmth.
Climate Change Convention
Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which countries he expects to be (a) compliant and (b) non-compliant with the Kyoto Protocol. [139378]
Gregory Barker: At present, I have seen no indications that any party with obligations under the Kyoto Protocol will fail to comply with its obligations.
I note that the United States, Canada, Afghanistan, Andorra, Holy See, and South Sudan are not parties to the Kyoto Protocol, as well as a number of Overseas Territories of the UK, Netherlands, and Denmark.
Electricity
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has given consideration to contingency plans in the event that (a) the assumption that there would be no short-term impact on investment following a major change of electricity market arrangements and (b) any other assumptions underpinning the scenarios modelled in its consultation on electricity market reform prove to be invalid. [139027]
Mr Hayes:
I am confident that the Department's reforms will deliver the investment that the UK needs. Industry has expressed widespread confidence in our proposals, reflecting our thorough engagement with stakeholders throughout the policy development process. We have robust transitional arrangements in place to ensure investment continues throughout the shift to the
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EMR regime: the renewables obligation (RO) will remain open until 31 March 2017, and we are working with relevant developers to enable early investment decisions where appropriate.
While no modelling can perfectly anticipate all factors, electricity market reform is a flexible toolkit—CfD strike prices will be set every five years, and the EMR delivery plan will be reviewed annually, giving Government the flexibility to react to changes in the market.
The analysis and assumptions relating to electricity market reform have undergone extensive consultation, and I am therefore confident that they are credible and robust. Impact assessments were published for scrutiny in December 2010, July 2011, May 2012 and November 2012. We continually look at our data to make sure they are robust and credible. Most recently, we published an updated impact assessment on electricity market reform on 14 January:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/66037/7468-contracts-for-difference-energy-bill-2012.pdf
Energy Companies Obligation
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) households and (b) fuel poor households his Department expects to receive assistance under (i) the Energy Company Obligation and (ii) the Affordable Warmth scheme in each of the next three years. [139490]
Gregory Barker: We estimate that around 1 million households will receive assistance under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) overall by March 2015, with around 230,000 low-income households each year receiving assistance through the Affordable Warmth and Carbon Saving Communities targets.
Under the Affordable Warmth target specifically, we estimate that around 130,000 low-income and vulnerable households will receive assistance each year to March 2015.
It is not possible to develop accurate estimates of the number of fuel poor households receiving assistance under the ECO overall, as specific households in fuel poverty change year on year. There is however a strong correlation between fuel poverty and low income, and we therefore expect many of the 230,000 low-income households assisted each year through the ECO to be in fuel poverty.
With respect to those receiving measures under Affordable Warmth, it was estimated in the Green Deal and ECO Final Impact Assessment, that in 2009—the latest year at the time for which data were available—around 53% of households eligible for Affordable Warmth assistance were in fuel poverty:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/42984/5533-final-stage-impact-assessment-for-the-green-deal-a.pdf (p.199)
Fuel Poverty
Caroline Flint:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to his contribution of 16 January 2013, Official Report, column 953, on fuel
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poverty and energy efficiency, what the evidential basis is for the statement that 75 per cent of consumers are on their supplier's standard variable tariff. [139488]
Gregory Barker: In March 2010, DECC published an article in its "Energy Trends" publication, detailing the number of customers on different tariff types. This article suggested that 72% of gas customers and 78% of electricity customers were on their supplier's standard variable rate tariff. An average of these was then taken to give an overall proportion of 75% of customers on their supplier's standard variable rate tariff. This article can be found in full here:
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130109092117/http://decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/statistics/publications/trends/articles_issue/1_20100324125048_e_@@_variationtarifftypes.pdf
In this article, a standard tariff was defined as:
“The basic energy deal from a supplier if a customer does not sign up to any other specific tariff.”
This definition means that standard variable rate tariffs are available to customers paying by all payment methods: direct debit, standard credit or pre-payment meter. However, fixed, online, social and green tariffs are excluded.
As discussed in the article, DECC receives data from all of the major energy suppliers detailing the number of customers on each tariff. From this, we have attempted to identify tariff types based on the name of the tariff, along with the information available on these tariffs from the suppliers (including their websites). As mentioned, because not all features of a tariff may be identified by its name, these numbers should be treated as estimates.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to his contribution of 16 January 2013, Official Report, column 954, on fuel poverty and energy efficiency, what the evidential basis is for the statement that by 2020 the average household energy bill will be 7 per cent lower than if the Government were not pursuing their policies on energy and climate change. [139489]
Gregory Barker: In November 2011, DECC published an assessment of the average impact of energy and climate change policies on household energy bills, which is available online at:
https://www.gov.uk/policy-impacts-on-prices-and-bills
The headline message for the household sector was that household energy bills in 2020 were estimated to be, on average, around 7% lower than they would have been in the same year if energy and climate change policies were never introduced. This is because the effects of Government policies that help households to save energy will more than offset the necessary cost of investing in new capacity and greater efficiency. The actual impact of policies on an individual household's energy bill will depend on the type of household and whether or not they take up an energy efficiency or renewable energy measure, or receive a rebate through the Warm Home discount.
The report details the main assumptions and methodology used to carry out the analysis Annex B details the policies which were used in the assessment and includes links to the relevant impact assessments which set out the evidence base which informed the
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policy costs and savings used, while section 4.4 details how the overall impact of policies is expected to vary across the household distribution.
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of households in fuel poverty in (a) Pendle constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) the north-west. [140219]
Gregory Barker: In 2010, the most recent year for which data are available, the number of households estimated to be in fuel poverty was:
8,900 in Pendle constituency;
126,900 in Lancashire;
601,000 in the north-west.
Fuels
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to ensure that all motorists have a ready and secure supply of fuel. [139015]
Mr Hayes: The resilience of the road fuel retail market is extremely important, given the dependency of businesses and individuals on their vehicles to get around. Our priority is to ensure that risks to supply disruptions are minimised and that supplies remain as close to normal as possible. We do this through a range of measures including close engagement with the sector, and putting in place robust contingency measures for both Government and industry.
DECC published a report from Deloitte LLP in December 2012, which considers long-term changes to the retail market for road fuels in the UK, and the implications of these changes to our energy resilience. This market has changed significantly over the last decade, however considering Deloitte's findings in relation to access to petrol stations, and the capacity within the network, DECC remains of the view that this does not present significant evidence of reduced resilience as a result of petrol station closures.
DECC plans to work with industry and the trade associations to discuss the findings from the report.
Green Deal Scheme
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether Green Deal customers will be charged for making a complaint to the Green Deal ombudsman. [139910]
Gregory Barker: Customers will not be charged for making a complaint to the Green Deal ombudsman.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much money his Department has given to The Green Deal Finance Company; and for what purpose such funding has been used. [139911]
Gregory Barker:
DECC has committed to lend The Green Deal Finance Company (TGDFC) up to £12 million, at a commercial rate of interest, not all of which has been drawn down. This loan is solely to cover the
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development phase of the company. It has been used to develop, procure and begin to mobilise operations; and to develop the capital structure and attract investment. This includes normal running costs, including staff, professional advice and rent.
DECC's support to TGDFC has enabled a private sector solution enabling Green Deal providers to offer consumers, many of whom would not be able to find similar unsecured finance elsewhere, competitive finance for the Green Deal, thereby helping more homes to be more energy efficient.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many companies submitted tender applications for the Green Deal marketing contract; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the criteria by which applicants were judged. [139912]
Gregory Barker: Ten bidders submitted proposals for the Green Deal consumer engagement public relations brief via the Government Procurement Service framework public relations RM1712 Lot 1. Of these, three were selected to move to the next stage. The evaluation criteria used to assess each of the bids were contained in the Invitation to Tender (ITT). The criteria covered the following areas:
Evidence of tackling similar challenges.
Ability to demonstrate they have combined different sorts of activities in launch of a new service.
Resources and personnel within organisation.
Past experience and past ability to show that you could meet this requirement
Experience and team working of pitch team.
Understanding of the brief.
Clarity and insight of approach.
Quality of ideas.
Demonstrating ability to deliver the required services.
Costs.
The weighting available against each criterion was made known in advance through the ITT. The contract including evaluation criteria will be made available on the Contracts Finder website.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions his Department has had with housing associations on the Green Deal. [139915]
Gregory Barker: The Department holds regular discussions with the National Housing Federation, which represents affordable housing providers in England, and with individual housing associations on all aspects of the Green Deal. We have also worked closely with a number of housing associations, including the Gentoo Group, to trial key elements of the Green Deal in the social housing sector.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions his Department has had with the insulation industry on the Green Deal. [139916]
Gregory Barker:
Departmental officials, ministerial colleagues and I meet regularly with representatives of the insulation industry. In addition, the Green Deal
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Oversight and Registration Body has established a Green Deal Installer Forum to help ensure the effective delivery of the Green Deal. Both departmental officials and representatives from the insulation industry are members of this group.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the £2.9 million allocated to the Green Deal marketing campaign has been spent on. [139917]
Gregory Barker: The £2.9 million campaign starts from 28 January 2013 and will build awareness and understanding of the Green Deal through public relations, press and digital advertising and media partnerships over the period to May 2013.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether complaints have been received by the Green Deal ombudsmen since October 2012. [139918]
Gregory Barker: No complaints have been received by the Green Deal ombudsman since October 2012.
Insulation
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many times he has met representatives of the Insulation Industry Forum in the last (a) six and (b) 12 months. [140243]
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
Natural Gas: Wales
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the proportion of unconventional gas resources in Wales that are economical to recover. [138260]
Mr Hayes: Exploration for shale gas is at a very early stage in the UK, and no estimate can yet be made of the size of any economic reserve which may exist.
Pembroke Power Station
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the environmental effects of the RWE Pembroke Power Station arising from (a) temperature increases and (b) biocides on biodiversity in the estuary on which the power station sits. [139647]
Gregory Barker: The environmental effects of the RWE Pembroke Power Station arising from (a) temperature increases and (b) biocides on biodiversity in the estuary on which the power station sits were assessed during the consenting process for that power station. The consenting process included both the consent granted by DECC under s.36 of the Electricity Act 1989 and the environmental permitting process carried out by the Environment Agency.
28 Jan 2013 : Column 606W
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with RWE regarding formal notice of infringement for the RWE Pembroke Power Station issued by the European Commission. [139648]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), has had no recent discussions with RWE regarding formal notice of infringement for the RWE Pembroke Power Station issued by the European Commission.
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has instructed his Department to carry out an investigation at the RWE Pembroke Power Station following the issuing of a formal notice of infringement by the European Commission. [139649]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey) has not instructed his Department to carry out an investigation at the RWE Pembroke Power Station following the issuing of the formal notice of infringement by the European Commission.
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government regarding formal notice of infringement from the European Commission for the RWE Pembroke Power Station. [139650]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey) has had no recent discussions with the Welsh Government regarding formal notice of infringement from the European Commission for the RWE Pembroke Power Station although there is regular engagement at official level. The Welsh Government have contributed to the UK Government's formal response to the notice of infringement.
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he has taken since his Department received formal notice of infringement from the European Commission for the RWE Pembroke Power Station; and if he will make a statement. [139651]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey) agreed the formal response to the notice of infringement from the European Commission for the RWE Pembroke Power Station. The response was sent to the Commission on 21 December 2012.
Research
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the amount spent on research contracts by his Department which were not subject to a tendering process in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [138660]
Gregory Barker:
The Department of Energy and Climate Change does not record the information centrally. Records show that, from April to December 2012,
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£31,000 was spent on two research contracts that were not subject to a tendering process. These records may not be a complete record of all research contracts let that were not subject to a tendering process.
Senior Civil Servants
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many and what proportion of officials of the three most senior grades in his Department have (a) resigned, (b) taken voluntary early retirement, (c) left the Department for alternative employment, (d) been dismissed, (e) taken long-term sick leave and (f) taken administrative leave since May 2010. [139215]
Gregory Barker: The information requested is shown in the following table.
In the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) the three most senior grades are Permanent Secretary, SCS Pay Band 3 and SCS Pay Band 2.
| Type | Number of individuals | Proportion of officials in the highest 3 grades (%) |
In order to determine the proportion of officials, we have used the number of staff in post as of 31 December 2012.
We are not able to provide information on the number of staff leaving DECC to take up alternative employment as we do not hold information on where individuals go once they leave DECC.
Long-term sick leave has been categorised as a period of sickness lasting 21 or more days.
We are not able to provide information with regards to administrative leave as we do not recognise this term.
Training
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many away days his Department has held since 2010; and what the cost was of each such event. [139958]
Gregory Barker: The Department has held the following away days:
32 events in 2010-11 at total cost of £63,000 (events costing between £200 and £7,000);
25 events in 2011-12 at total cost of £28,000 (events costing between £200 and £5,000);
17 events in 2012-13 at total cost of £15,000 (events costing between £200 and £5,000).
Warm Front Scheme
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department spent on publicity for the Warm Front scheme in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2010-11, (d) 2009-10, (e) 2008-09, (f) 2007-08, (g) 2006-07 and (h) 2005-06. [139453]
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Gregory Barker: Marketing and publicity forms an integral part of the Department's contract with the Warm Front scheme manager, Carillion Energy Services (CES). It is therefore not possible to provide specific figures on expenditure purely associated with publicity for the scheme.
During the scheme's operation, both the Department and CES regularly publicised it, either directly or working in partnership with stakeholders and wider delivery partners.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the Warm Front scheme on the number of households in fuel poverty. [139459]
Gregory Barker: The Warm Front scheme has been a key policy in tackling fuel poverty among private sector households in England through the installation of a range of heating, insulation and other energy efficiency measures. The scheme was introduced in 2000 and has helped around 2.3 million households vulnerable to fuel poverty. The specific targeting of Warm Front assistance has changed during the lifetime of the scheme, however assistance was generally targeted at low-income households.
As specific households in fuel poverty change year on year, it is not possible to accurately estimate the number of households removed from fuel poverty as a direct result of the assistance provided by the Warm Front scheme overall since 2000. There is however a strong correlation between fuel poverty and low income, and we therefore expect many of the 2.3 million low-income households assisted by Warm Front to have been lifted out of fuel poverty, or have the extent of their fuel poverty reduced, as a result.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on the eligibility criteria for (a) the Affordable Warmth scheme and (b) Warm Front; and if he will make a statement. [139460]
Gregory Barker: ECO Affordable Warmth is targeted at those in receipt of certain means-tested benefits living in private tenure properties. This obligation supports low-income consumers who are vulnerable to the impact of living in cold homes, including the elderly, disabled and families. Full eligibility criteria are set out in the Electricity and Gas (Energy Companies Obligation) Order 2012 at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/3018/contents/made
Warm Front is now closed to new applications. Since 2011-12, the eligibility criteria for the scheme have been focused on low-income households in private tenure with a thermally inefficient home. At the time of the scheme's closure, eligible households were those in receipt of certain means-tested benefits (precisely the same benefits as those now used for Affordable Warmth) living in private tenure with a SAP rating of 63 or below.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to his Department's press notice 2012/128 of 19 October 2012, on local energy bills, for what reason his Department did not state that funding for the local authority competition was drawn from funding allocated to the Warm Front budget. [139462]
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Gregory Barker: We did not mention the source of funding in the press notice announcing the outcomes of DECC local authority fuel poverty competition, along with a whole range of other issues and factor, because this was not needed.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the contribution by the Secretary of State of 16 January 2013, Official Report, column 952, on fuel poverty and energy efficiency, for what reasons the underspend in the Warm Front budget in 2011-12 was not transferred to other fuel poverty or energy efficiency programmes. [139494]
Gregory Barker: The original budget for Warm Front and associated fuel poverty expenditure for 2011-12 was £110 million. During 2011-12 total expenditure was almost £108.6 million leaving an underspend of only £1.4 million (equivalent to a little over 1%). Expenditure was reduced to £94.4 million following receipt of agreed rebates from Carillion Energy Services worth nearly £14 million. A further £35 million was also made available to the Department's fuel poverty capital budget. By the close of the financial year, £50.6 million of the total fuel poverty capital budget had not been spent. However, it was not possible given the timing of budget receipts and requirements for internal budget allocations to reallocate this sum to other schemes within the same financial year.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the contribution by the Secretary of State of 16 January 2013, Official Report, column 952, on fuel poverty and energy efficiency, whether his Department (a) sought and (b) received approval from HM Treasury to transfer the underspend from the budget allocated to the Warm Front schemes to the fuel poverty fund. [139495]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey) is responsible for decisions about the use of the fuel poverty capital budget. HM Treasury is supportive of the local authority fuel poverty fund that has been established and, as required under the Local Government Act 2003, has given express approval to the use of section 31(6) for making the relevant grants to local authorities.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the contribution by the Secretary of State of 16 January 2013, Official Report, column 951, on fuel poverty and energy efficiency, what the evidential basis is for the statement that the Government expect to spend £70 million on the Warm Front scheme in 2012-13. [139497]
Gregory Barker: Although there is inherent uncertainty, the Department closely monitors spend and activity under the Warm Front scheme using information from the scheme manager (Carillion Energy Services) on the level of demand for the scheme and the delivery times experienced.
Caroline Flint:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to his contribution of 16 January 2013, Official Report, column 957, on
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fuel poverty and energy efficiency, how many households his Department expects to receive assistance under the Warm Front scheme in 2013. [139498]
Gregory Barker: Warm Front is expected to provide assistance for at least 35,000 households in 2012-13.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the answer of 18 April 2012, Official Report, column 366W, on the Warm Front scheme, what his Department's accounting procedures are for budget underspends. [139499]
Gregory Barker: Where underspends are forecast, DECC may use internal processes for re-allocating budget to other priority areas. Where underspends cannot be re-allocated, the Government's stated policy is that Departments can use the Budget Exchange mechanism to transfer forecast underspends from one year to the next, up to certain limits. Details on Budget Exchange can be found in the consolidated budgeting guidance for 2012-13, which can be found at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/consolidated_budgeting_guidance_201213.pdf
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the written answer of 18 April 2012, Official Report, column 366W and pursuant to the contribution of the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change of 16 January 2013, Official Report, column 951, on the Warm Front scheme, whether the Government's policy on any underspend in the budget allocated to the Warm Front scheme has changed since April 2012. [140094]
Gregory Barker: Accounting procedures have not changed. It remains the case that an underspend in a given financial year cannot simply be carried forward into the next. That is why we have taken steps in year to maximise the use of the capital budget for fuel poverty for 2012-13. We have also adjusted budgets internally so that there is funding available in 2013-14 for Warm Front installations relating to applications received in 2012-13. This is necessary because we continued to accept Warm Front applications up to 19 January 2013 in order for there to be a smooth transition between Warm Front and the Energy Company Obligation (Affordable Warmth).
Wind Power
Mr Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to disqualify wind turbines which have been down-rated below their potential capacity from eligibility for the higher feed-in tariff. [139801]
Gregory Barker: Payments under the feed-in tariffs scheme are calculated on the basis of electricity generated.
Decisions about the height, appearance and location of wind turbines are a matter for local planning authorities, and the turbine selection for any individual installation is a commercial matter for the operator.
Any significant changes to the FITs scheme would be the subject of public consultation.
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Mr Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the cost to consumers where wind turbines have been deliberately down-rated to a capacity of 500 kilowatts or less in order to obtain the higher feed-in tariff. [139802]
Gregory Barker: Payments under the feed-in tariffs are made on the basis of electricity generated. The tariffs vary depending on the size of the installation but two turbines of the same size will incur identical cost to consumers.
Wind farms must be well-designed and well-sited to be approved. As part of the planning process, consideration is given to the impact a wind turbine of the proposed size will have on its environment.
Mr Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many wind turbines rated (a) at 500 kilowatts and (b) between 500 kilowatts and 1500 kilowatts were installed and accredited (i) between 1 April and 31 December 2012 and (ii) in the preceding 12 months. [139803]
Gregory Barker: The following link shows the number of wind installations in each period. These figures were published on 24 January 2013 in the ‘Monthly Central Feed-in Tariff Statistics’ table on the DECC website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-energy-climate-change/series/feed-in-tariff-statistics
Women and Equalities
Equal Pay
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps she is taking to ensure employers in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England implement equal pay for women. [138932]
Jo Swinson [holding answer 23 January 2013]: The Government are taking a range of steps, aimed at employers and employees, to ensure pay equality and tackle sex discrimination.
We have launched a voluntary initiative to promote transparency on gender equality. Think, Act, Report asks private and voluntary sector employers to tackle barriers for women at work by taking a step-by-step approach to greater transparency on pay and other workplace issues. On 14 November 2012, the Government published a progress report which showed that over a million employees are working in organisations signed up to this initiative.
Through the Employment and Regulatory Reform Bill we are introducing a power for Ministers to make regulations at a later date to require employment tribunals to order equal pay audits where an employer has been found to have breached equal pay laws.
Finally, we are making it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro businesses to get good quality advice and support on equality and employment related matters through a series of regional events. Short guides are also available on the Government Equalities Office website which explain the law for businesses and employees clearly.
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Culture, Media and Sport
Arts
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's projected expenditure on the arts is for (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15, (c) 2015-16 and (d) 2016-17. [140043]
Mr Vaizey: DCMS projected expenditure on the arts for 2013-14 is £349 million and for 2014-15 is £344 million. The Department does not have projected expenditure figures beyond 2014-15.
2013-14 = 348,000 (ACE) + 1,011 (GAC and central DCMS exp) = £349 million
2014-15 = 343,000 (ACE) + 1,040 (GAC and central DCMS exp) = £344 million
Arts Council England
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of Government spending is allocated to the Arts Council England. [140041]
Mr Vaizey: In 2011-12 the proportion of Government spending allocated to the Arts Council was 0.001%, the same level as in 2009-10.
Ace GiA including Art Co funding for 2009-10 = £452.7 million
Total public sector expenditure on services 2009-10 = £642,700 million
Percentage = 0.0007%
ACE GiA including Art Co funding for 2011-12 = £393.602
Total public sector expenditure on services 2011-12 = £665,100 million
Percentage = 0.0006%
Broadband
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the constitution is of her Department's broadband portfolio board. [139704]
Mr Vaizey: The broadband portfolio board is made up of senior representatives from DCMS and other Government Departments including Cabinet Office, HM Treasury, DEFRA, DCLG, BIS and the three territorial offices. There are also members from the BBC Trust, Go On UK, local partnerships (representing the Local Government Association) and Ofcom.
Dell
Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many meetings she and officials of her Department had with Dell CSC in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [138100]
Hugh Robertson: There have been no meetings between Dell CSC and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller), or officials of her Department.
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Football: Sports Grounds
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which Premier League football stadia have not had real time, real people safety evacuation tests before receiving their ground safety certificate. [139438]
Hugh Robertson: We do not hold records about which Premier League football grounds may not have conducted a “live” safety evacuation test prior to being first issued with a safety certificate. The Sports Grounds Safety Authority has produced guidance to assist clubs to develop contingency plans, which include provisions for emergency evacuations, and how those plans may be tested by a range of exercises. It is recommended that such exercises are undertaken at least once a year in consultation with the relevant authorities and emergency services. The Sports Grounds Safety Authority guidance on conducting exercises is contained in its publication “Safety Management”:
http://www.safetyatsportsgrounds.org.uk/pubs/sgsa/safeman.php
Internet: Access
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what recent discussions she has had with charities on help for pensioners and people from low-income backgrounds to get online; [139032]
(2) what research her Department has conducted into how to get (a) pensioners and (b) people from low-income backgrounds online. [139033]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 7 January 2013, Official Report, column 25W, and on 21 January 2013, Official Report, column 48W. I have regular meetings with charities, some of which include discussions on digital capability and support. The Government Digital Service (GDS) is working closely with Go On UK, an independent charity, and other Government Departments to make sure that no one is excluded from access to digital services.
Olympic Games 2012: Tickets
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who authorised any further expenditure on free Olympic and Paralympic Games tickets in addition to the initial spend on tickets in November 2011. [140104]
Hugh Robertson: Further expenditure was authorised by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller).
Recruitment
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department has spent on advertising job vacancies since May 2010. [139969]
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Hugh Robertson: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has spent £6,490.96 on advertising job vacancies since May 2010. This compares to a total of just under £24,926.34 which was spent in 2009-10.
Sports: Public Participation
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what estimate she has made of the number of people who were new participants (a) in each sport listed in the recent Active People survey and (b) other sports not listed in that survey; and if she will make a statement; [138755]
(2) what estimate she has made of the number of people who had become active since the last Active People survey and were participating in activities other than the sports funded by Sport England; and if she will make a statement. [138756]
Hugh Robertson: The Active People survey does not identify whether participants are new to a particular sport as different people are questioned each time. Overall, the data show sports participation is increasing, with 15.5 million people aged 16 and over playing sport at least once a week, 750,000 more than a year ago.
This includes those taking part in health and fitness and gym-related activities, where 14.9% of the adult population, or 6.42 million adults, take part at least once a week.
Sports: West Midlands
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to ensure that local authorities in (a) the West Midlands and (b) Dudley maintain adequate sports facilities. [139002]
Hugh Robertson: Sport England's local team offers support to all local authorities, giving advice improving the efficiency of their facilities management, rationalising provision, and providing funding for capital development.
(a) The following table shows the funding Sport England has invested in projects in the West Midlands region through its Places People Play legacy programme.
| West Midlands | |
| £ | |
(b) Sport England and Dudley council are developing a facilities strategy, including a playing pitch strategy, to ensure appropriate provision in the area. Sport England is also funding the council to undertake efficiency modelling of its facilities through the National Benchmarking Service.
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Treasury
Business: Loans
Chris Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made on his redress scheme for businesses that may have been mis-sold interest rate swap products by banks; and if he will make a statement. [139544]
Greg Clark: The redress scheme for businesses that may have been mis-sold an interest rate swap product is being run by the Financial Services Authority. The Financial Services Authority is currently reviewing each bank's pilot scheme and will announce the start of the full review process shortly.
Child Benefit
Ian Murray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in (a) Scotland and (b) each local authority area opted out of receiving child benefit by the deadline on 6 January 2013. [136993]
Mr Gauke: This information is not available.
An estimate of the number of letters issued to taxpayers in respect of the higher income child benefit charge by the end of November by constituency was published in response to parliamentary question number 131585 on 4 December 2012, Official Report, column 691W:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121204/text/121204w0001.htm
Chris Bryant: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the cost was to the public purse in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012 of child benefit paid to people residing outside the UK; [139929]
(2) what level of supplementary child benefit was paid to a family consisting of one parent working in the UK and the other (a) employed and (b) unemployed parent and dependent child living together in another EEA/EU member state in the latest period for which figures are available. [140050]
Sajid Javid: The main purpose of child benefit is to support families in the UK. Consequently, the child benefit rules generally do not provide for it to be paid to persons residing outside the UK.
However, child benefit is a family benefit under EC Regulation 883/2004 which protects the social security rights of nationals of all EEA member states when they exercise their rights of free movement under EU law. HM Revenue & Customs maintains a database showing the number of ongoing UK family benefit awards (child benefit and child tax credit) made under EC Regulation 883/2004 which provides information about the aggregate number of awards and the aggregate number of children involved per member state of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Witham (Priti Patel) on 22 October 2012, Official Report, columns 619-20W.
Information about the value of such awards is only available at disproportionate costs because under the priority rules in that regulation not all awards of UK family benefit are made at the full UK rates.
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Mr Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many non-UK EEA nationals have dependants eligible to receive child benefit under EC Regulation 883/2004 where the dependant is outside the UK; and what estimate he has made of how this number might change by 2016 as a result of the ending of transitional immigration controls on Romania and Bulgaria on 1 January 2014. [140030]
Sajid Javid: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Witham (Priti Patel) on 22 October 2012, Official Report, columns 619-20W, regarding the number of ongoing awards of UK child benefit under EC Regulation 883/2004 where the dependant is resident in another member state of the EEA.
There is no estimate currently available of how the number of such awards might change by 2016 as a result of the ending of transitional labour market controls on nationals of Bulgaria and Romania. At this stage, any such forecasts are likely to be unreliable.
Conditions of Employment
Julie Elliott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are employed on zero-hour contracts in his Department. [139711]
Sajid Javid: HM Treasury does not employ any staff on zero-hour contracts.
Contracts and Meetings
Jim Sheridan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Oracle in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [138024]
(2) how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Xerox in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [138032]
(3) how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Dell CSC in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [138040]
(4) how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Symantec in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [138048]
(5) how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Amazon in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [138056]
(6) how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Google in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [138064]
(7) how many meetings he and officials of his Department had with Google in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [138072]
(8) how many meetings he and officials of his Department had with Amazon in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [138080]
(9) how many meetings he and officials of his Department had with Oracle in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [138088]
(10) how many meetings he and officials of his Department had with Xerox in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [138096]
(11) how many meetings he and officials of his Department had with Dell CSC in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; [138104]
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(12) how many meetings he and officials of his Department had with Symantec in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [138112]
Sajid Javid: In line with the Government's “Transparency” agenda, since January 2011 HM Treasury has published details of all new contracts it has awarded with an expected value of over £10,000 (excluding VAT) on Contracts Finder. Details of these contracts awarded since January 2011, are available here:
https://online.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/
Treasury Ministers and officials engage with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. The Treasury publishes a list of ministerial meetings with external organisations. This is available online at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm
Debts
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of individual household debt in each of the last 30 years. [139265]
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, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what estimate the Chancellor of the Exchequer has made of the level of individual household debt in each of the last 30 years. (139265)
In the UK National Accounts the most appropriate measure of household debt is the total financial liabilities of the Household and Non Profit Institutions Serving Households (NPISH) combined sector. Although the sectors are not split, NPISH (which includes for example, charities, trade unions and churches) makes up less than 5 per cent of the total financial liabilities.
Data for the total financial liabilities of the Household and NPISH sector exists at the UK national level and has a time series going back to 1987, as shown in Table 1.
Households in the national accounts are defined as being individuals or groups of people sharing living accommodation and possibly other aspects of daily life such as meals.
Data used here can be found as part of United Kingdom Economic Accounts, Quarter 3 2012:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/naa1-rd/united-kingdom-economic-accounts/q3-2012/index.html
Table A64 shows, in more detail, the aggregated liabilities.
| Table 1: Total financial liabilities of the Household and NPISH sector | |
| Total financial liabilities (£ billion) | |
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| Note: These data are in current prices and therefore reflect the impact of inflation. | |
| Table 2: Total financial liabilities are calculated by summing the following aggregate liabilities: | |
| Liability | 2011 (rounded to the nearest £ billion) |