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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 4 February 2013
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
India
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart on strengthening safety measures for women and girls in India following the recent gang rape and death of a 23 year old student in New Delhi. [140566]
Mr Swire: The UK Government regularly discuss human rights issues with the Indian Government, including the protection of women, both bilaterally and through the EU/India human rights dialogue. I welcome the fact that the Indian Government continue to take steps to promote the rights of women and urge them to continue their efforts in this regard.
Iraq
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the condition of residents of Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty; and what representations he has made to the Iraqi Government on that matter. [140622]
Alistair Burt: The UN visits Camp Liberty, where the majority of former residents of Camp Ashraf now live, several times a week, and reports that facilities at the camp meet international humanitarian standards. For example, residents have access to electricity 24 hours a day and over 200 litres of water per person per day. This compares well to the situation for many Iraqis. I raised the situation at Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty with the Iraqi Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Human Rights in July 2012. We continue to monitor the situation at Camps Ashraf and Liberty through our embassy in Baghdad, and to raise issues with the UN and the Government of Iraq where appropriate.
Israel
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel on its failure to adhere to the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; and if he will make a statement. [141571]
Alistair Burt: We regularly raise the treatment of children in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) with the Israeli authorities. While we have not discussed the rights of children under the specific auspices of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, we have discussed in detail issues affecting children, including themes relating to the convention.
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As part of our ongoing dialogue with Israel on this issue, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office funded an independent report on Palestinian children in Israeli detention which was launched on 26 June. The report was written by a team of respected British lawyers, led by the right hon. Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC and Sir Stephen Sedley. We continue to press for implementation of the recommendations.
Jordan
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) financial and (b) other assistance his Department has given to Jordan to deal with refugees from Syria; when any such aid was given; and to what uses any aid has been put. [140492]
Alistair Burt: During her visit to Jordan on 26 January, the Secretary of State for International Development announced £21 million for Syrian refugees, of which £10 million was specifically to assist the refugee response in Jordan.
At the Kuwait conference on 30 January, the Secretary of State for International Development pledged a further £50 million in response to rapidly escalating humanitarian needs in Syria and the neighbouring countries. This means that in the past few days the UK has now more than doubled its funding for the humanitarian crisis, with a total of £139.5 million provided to date.
In Jordan our aid is already providing food for 12,000 people each month, clean drinking water for 5,000 people and has enabled over 10,000 medical consultations.
Private Military and Security Companies
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many private military companies are based in the UK. [141290]
Mark Simmonds: There is no definitive official register of British companies offering private security services. The British Government maintain a regular dialogue with the British industry through the Security in Complex Environments Group and other appropriate forums.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the role of private military companies in helping British businesses establish themselves in hostile environments. [141299]
Mark Simmonds: Private security companies play a key role for commercial operators, including British businesses, by providing essential protective services in complex and hostile environments, enabling them to safely carry out important humanitarian and development work, as well as wider business and economic activity. This important role applies equally in support of the work of Governments and non-governmental organisations. This is one of the reasons why the Government has been at the forefront of efforts to raise UK and global standards in the private security service industry as outlined in my statement of 17 December 2012, Official Report, columns 72-3WS.
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Shaker Aamer
Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure the release of Shaker Aamer. [140723]
Alistair Burt: Mr Aamer's case remains a high priority for the UK Government and we continue to make clear to the US that we want him released and returned to the UK as a matter of urgency. As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs stated to Parliament in October, he and the Secretary of State for Defence made representations to US Defense Secretary Panetta in June.
Previous legislation passed by the US Congress, namely the 2011 National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA), all but precluded transfers out of Guantanamo Bay. This legislation was renewed by the US Government for 2012, allowing for the US Secretary of Defense to exercise a waiver should stringent conditions be met. Despite the British Government's best endeavours Mr Aamer was not released in 2012.
The NDAA has now been renewed for 2013. We continue to work with US counterparts to consider the implications of the NDAA 2013 for Mr Aamer's case. Ultimately, any decision regarding Mr Aamer's release remains in the hands of the United States Government.
Sudan
Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what benchmarks he will use to assess whether progress has been made in meeting Government conditions necessary to cancel Sudan's debts; [141092]
(2) what process he will use to measure whether Sudan is making any progress towards meetings the conditions necessary before the Government cancel Sudan's debts. [141093]
Greg Clark: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.
Sudan qualifies for debt relief under the internationally agreed heavily indebted poor country initiative (HIPC). Any future debt relief for Sudan will take place in the context of a wider reform programme that may be prepared by the IMF, and subject to decisions of the boards of the IMF, World Bank and Paris Club on which the UK Government are represented.
More information on the HIPC initiative can be found at:
http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/facts/hipc.htm
Northern Ireland
Conditions of Employment
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of staff in her Department currently work (a) part-time, (b) in a job-share and (c) in another flexible working arrangement. [140615]
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Mike Penning: 17 members of staff (11%) work part-time in my Department. There are no staff in job-share or other flexible working arrangements.
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed on zero-hour contracts in her Department. [140683]
Mike Penning: No staff in my Department are employed on zero-hour contracts.
Legislation
Dr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent consideration her Department has given to ending the practice of dual mandates at Stormont and Westminster. [137880]
Mrs Villiers: The Government are committed to bringing to an end the practice of elected representatives holding dual mandates in both the Northern Ireland Assembly and the House of Commons. A pledge to end dual mandates was made by the Conservative party at the 2010 general election and consideration of this issue was included in a recent consultation on measures to improve the operation of the Northern Ireland Assembly. I intend to outline the way forward in coming weeks.
Police Service of Northern Ireland
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on which occasions the Police Service of Northern Ireland has requested support from the Ministry of Defence in each year since 2010 by (a) type and (b) date of support. [140515]
Mr Robathan: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
Under the long established arrangements for providing military support to the police in Northern Ireland, some forms of support, such as explosive ordinance disposal and enhanced search capabilities, are preauthorised in circumstances where life and property are at risk. As such they are not the subject of a formal request.
The numbers of formal requests from the Police Service in Northern Ireland (PSNI) for support from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) under Military Aid to the Civil Power arrangements since 2010 are as follows:
| Number of requests that the PSNI made to the MOD for support | |
I am withholding a breakdown of the type of support provided or the date the support was provided to the PSNI as the disclosure of this information would prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces.
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Wales
Conditions of Employment
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of staff in his Department work (a) part-time, (b) in a job-share or (c) in another flexible working arrangement. [140614]
Stephen Crabb: As at 31 January 2013, there were 48 staff in post; (a) two work part-time, (b) none job-share, and (c) six have access to another flexible working arrangement.
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are employed on zero-hour contracts in his Department. [141547]
Travel and Subsistence Payments
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many senior officials in his Department (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices. [141156]
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many senior officials in his Department's arm's-length bodies (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm's-length body; [141170]
(2) how many chairs in his Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body; [141184]
(3) how many senior officials of his Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body. [141198]
Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office does not have any arm’s length bodies.
Scotland
Broadband
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of Fife is covered by superfast broadband. [141105]
David Mundell: Ofcom's 2012 Communications Infrastructure Report estimated that superfast broadband availability in Fife was 49.9% compared with 45% for Scotland as a whole.
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The UK Government have allocated a £100 million investment for rural broadband projects in Scotland. It is the responsibility of the Scottish Government to deliver on this.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Ash Dieback Disease
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcome has been of the work of the task force set-up to deal with tree disease and Chalara fraxinea; and what action has been taken by the task force to date. [138234]
Mr Heath: The taskforce published its interim report on 30 November 2012. The report contained the following key recommendations for DEFRA:
Develop a prioritised UK Risk Register for tree health and plant biosecurity.
Strengthen biosecurity to reduce risks at the border and within the UK.
Appoint a Chief Plant Health Officer to own the UK Risk Register and provide strategic and tactical leadership for managing those risks.
Review, simplify and strengthen governance and legislation.
Maximise the use of epidemiological intelligence from EU/other regions and work to improve the EU regulations concerned with tree and plant biosecurity.
Develop and implement procedures for preparedness and contingency planning to predict, monitor and control the spread of disease.
Develop a modern, user-friendly, expert system to provide quick and intelligent access to data about tree health and plant biosecurity.
Identify and address key skills shortages.
The taskforce continues to work with a broad range of stakeholders and Government officials and will develop this advice further to:
review the national and international risks and the evidential basis for the effectiveness of response options;
provide an independent perspective on costs and benefits to inform setting priorities and resource allocation;
review best international practice in tree health and plant biosecurity management; and
produce a strategic evidence assessment and make recommendations for next steps including resolving crucial knowledge gaps.
A final report on the task force's strategic view of the evidence will be produced in spring this year.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Government on Chalara fraxinea. [141040]
Mr Heath: Scottish Government officials participated in the Chalara Policy Group meeting on 31 January 2013. They also participate on a weekly basis in the Chalara Outbreak Management Team.
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Biomass
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2013, Official Report, column 323W, on biomass, if he will undertake an assessment of the potential social effects of the 11.36 kilotonnes of fine particles that he estimates will be emitted in 2020. [140448]
Richard Benyon [holding answer 31 January 2013]: We have not, as yet, carried out a full analysis of the potential social effects of fine particle emissions estimated to arise from the combustion of biomass in 2020.
However, the health impacts in 2020 of the associated fine particle emissions (PM2.5) has been estimated in monetary terms at £215 million in 2010 prices, using our published air quality damage costs. This is a small fraction (1.4%) of the total health impact estimated from the exposure of the UK population to fine particles in 2008, the most recent year for which an estimate of the total impact of fine particulate pollution is available. This assessment does not take into consideration the monetisation of the benefits of reduced greenhouse gas emissions arising from this use of renewable fuels.
Bovine Tuberculosis
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what financial support his Department has provided for research and development of vaccines against tuberculosis in (a) badgers and (b) cattle in each of the last five financial years; [140612]
(2) what financial support his Department plans to provide towards research and development of vaccines against tuberculosis in (a) badgers and (b) cattle in each of the next four financial years. [140613]
Mr Heath: The spend and anticipated minimum spend (based on research commissioned to date) on the development of badger and cattle TB vaccines over the last five financial years and next four financial years is shown in the following table. The anticipated minimum spend for the next four financial years is based on spend committed to date and we may commission more.
| £ | |
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Livestock: Exports
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to ensure the enforcement of existing regulations on the exportation of livestock. [140598]
Mr Heath: The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) is responsible for implementation of the EU rules on the protection of animals during transport (Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005). It carries out non-discriminatory inspections of animals, means of transport and accompanying documentation, as required by this legislation.
Livestock: Transport
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2013, Official Report, column 303W, on livestock: transport, for what reasons action was taken; and what actions were taken in each of the cases where regulatory action was taken against transporters based in the UK since 2010. [138253]
Mr Heath: Since 2010, regulatory action involving a suspension of an authorisation has been taken on four occasions on transporters issued with an authorisation by AHVLA.
In 2010 such action was taken on two occasions for the following reasons with the following action:
(1) The transporter had multiple breaches of their transporter authorisation resulting in their authorisation being revoked;
(2) The transporter was convicted of offences related to animal welfare and was prohibited from having custody of any kind of animal for life resulting in their authorisation being revoked.
In 2011 regulatory action was taken on one occasion. A transporter had multiple non-compliances of the Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 resulting in its authorisation being suspended temporarily.
In 2012 action was taken on one occasion. A transporter was convicted of offences contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 resulting in its transporter authorisation being suspended for the duration of its validity.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to his contribution of 13 December 2012, Official Report, column 529, on live animal exports, whether his zero tolerance policy on live animals transport will result in any infringement which includes the serving of statutory notices on live animal transporters and in the use of EU Regulation 1/2005 Article 1.3. [139176]
Mr Heath:
The Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency will continue to take proportionate regulatory action against any infringements of the welfare in transport legislation, which will include the serving of statutory
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notices where appropriate. The Government have no plans to introduce any stricter national measures, as permitted under Article 1.3 of Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005.
Energy and Climate Change
Biofuels
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent representations he has received on the sustainability of bioliquid fuels. [140591]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has had no meetings in the last three months on the sustainability of bioliquids. DECC has received regular correspondence on bioliquids sustainability over the last three months, including one petition.
Energy
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the proportion of renewable and non-renewable energy sources in the UK's energy mix in 2030. [140109]
Mr Hayes: The Carbon Plan (December 2011) sets out four plausible pathways which are consistent with its target to cut green house gas emissions by 80% by 2050. This is the Government's latest assessment of feasible long term scenarios for meeting emissions reductions targets, taking account of the potential direction of future policy interventions, beyond those that are currently firm and funded.
Under these four scenarios, 2030 renewables are estimated to account for 25-28% of primary energy, supply (before conversion and distribution losses and own use). The renewables accounted for here include solar, wind, tidal, wave, geothermal, hydro, biomatter (including waste, agriculture and imports) and environmental heat. The figures were estimated using the Department's 2050 Calculator model (version 3.4.6):
https://www.gov.uk/2050-pathways-analysis
The plausible pathways are sensitive to a number of input assumptions. The development of the 2050 Calculator's methodology was open to the public, and scrutinised by experts across the energy field. However, given the long timeframe involved, there are still considerable uncertainties around the assumptions that feed into these estimates.
It should be noted that these estimates are not consistent with definitions used in estimating the proportion of renewable energy in line with Directive 2009/28/EC, which sets out the methodology against which the target to deliver 15% of the UK's energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020 will be assessed:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri =Oj:L:2009:140:0016:0062:en:PDF
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Energy: Expenditure
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much (a) research and development funding, (b) capital grants and (c) other state support for nuclear fusion and solar PV energy technologies, excluding the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation and the Renewables Obligation, was made available in each year since 2005, broken down by (i) technology, (ii) Government Department and (iii) each support scheme. [140523]
Mr Hayes: A full breakdown of state support for nuclear fusion and PV technologies is not readily available/held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) sponsors the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) which is responsible for funding the UK's research and development in fusion and solar PV technologies. In addition, Government ran a Major PV Development Programme providing grants to support solar PV installations which ended in 2006-07.
| Figures on specific programme spend on fusion and solar PV 2005-06 to 2011-12 | |||
| EPSRC Research Councils | DTI (BIS/DECC) | ||
| Funding level | Nuclear Fusion (£ million) | Solar PV (£ million) | Major PV programme |
Government have funded a number of non-technology specific programmes to develop fusion and solar PV technologies—these have included:
The European programme EURATOM which funds fusion research in the UK through the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. The UK contributes indirectly to the EURATOM fusion research programme through its payments to the EU budget.
£155 million in feed-in-tariff incentives were allocated in 2010-11 and 2011-12 of which over 90% related to Solar PV technologies.
Government's former Low Carbon Buildings Programme (2006 to 2011) provided grants worth £105.9 million to support the deployment of micro generation technologies. Of this total, £45 million was spent on solar PV technologies.
Technology Strategy Board's Smart programme, formerly managed by the Regional Development Agencies as grant for research and development, has funded a broad range of technology projects.
Venture capital programmes such as the BIS UK Innovation Investment Fund have made funding available for a broad range of innovative low carbon companies.
Energy: Meters
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what support his Department provides to microbusinesses and small and medium-sized enterprises that wish to install smart meters. [141277]
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Mr Hayes: The Government are requiring energy suppliers to arrange for micro-businesses and other smaller non-domestic sites to have smart or advanced metering by December 2019. In addition, the Government are placing requirements on energy suppliers to engage with micro-businesses with a view to maximising take-up of smart metering and the realisation of benefits. It is also setting rules designed to ensure a good standard of service during the installation process. This month, the Government intend to publish information to help business customers and their representatives understand what to expect from the smart meter roll-out, and how it can help them.
Fracking
Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration his Department has given to (a) the decommissioning of fracking sites and (b) the legal obligations on companies who carry out fracking to repair any environmental damage caused a result of fracking. [141086]
Mr Hayes: Arrangements and financing for decommissioning of operational sites is the responsibility of the industry. Planning guidance advises planning authorities to place appropriate conditions on any planning permission for oil and gas operations, both to ensure clearance of equipment and for proper restoration of the site once operations have ceased.
Specific requirements to ensure proper decommissioning of wells are enforced by the HSE and DECC. In addition, DECC is giving consideration to appropriate subsequent monitoring of decommissioned wells which should be agreed and put in place to ensure effective monitoring and management of decommissioned wells.
We expect all shale gas sites will require environmental permits covering a range of environmental risks, including radioactive and mining wastes and groundwater (if there is a groundwater risk). Operators will need to consider decommissioning as part of the standard conditions placed on them as part of their environmental permits. Permit surrender is not possible until sites have been returned to satisfactory conditions.
Natural Gas: Reserves
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the long-term future of the UK's shale gas reserves. [141291]
Mr Hayes: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 16 January 2013, Official Report, column 768W, to the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (Jonathan Edwards).
Natural Gas: Storage
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and (b) Health and Safety Executive on Stublach underground gas storage facility. [141337]
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Mr Hayes: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has had no discussions with either the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions or the Health and Safety Executive about the proposed Stublach underground gas storage facility.
Nuclear Power Stations
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 15 October 2012, Official Report, column 134W, on infrastructure, when he will bring forward proposals for a community benefit package for sites that host nuclear power stations. [141346]
Mr Hayes: The Government are currently considering the proposals for a community benefits package for sites that host new nuclear power stations. Details of the package will be issued shortly.
Radioactive Waste
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate he has made of the cost of establishing a geological disposal facility for highly radioactive nuclear waste; who he intends will pay any such costs; and whether he intends that operators of nuclear power stations will meet the full cost of such a facility. [140735]
Mr Hayes: The latest estimate of costs of a geological disposal facility (GDF) published in the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's Annual Report and Accounts dated 2011-12 is £3.84 billion (discounted) which is the equivalent to £12 billion (undiscounted) of costs over the lifetime of the facility. Such costs will be met by the Government to discharge its existing liabilities relating to nuclear waste. This estimate does not include the costs of the disposal of any wastes that might be produced by new nuclear power stations. The Government's policy is that operators of new nuclear power stations should meet their full share of the costs of managing and disposing of the waste they will produce. The price that operators will be charged for the disposal of their waste will include a proportionate contribution to the fixed costs of constructing a GDF.
Renewables Obligation
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what criteria are used in determining subsidies for renewable energy in the renewables obligation certificate banding review. [140590]
Mr Hayes: Before making any changes to the levels of support available under the renewables obligation, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change is legally required to have regard to a number of statutory factors. These are set out in primary legislation—section 32D(4) of the Electricity Act 1989 (as amended by the Energy Act 2008)—and are outlined as follows:
(a) the costs (including capital costs) associated with generating electricity from each of the renewable sources or with transmitting or distributing electricity so generated (and including costs associated with the production or supply of heat: section 32D(5));
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(b) the income of operators of generating stations in respect of electricity generated from each of those sources or associated with the generation of such electricity (including that connected with the acquisition of the renewable source, the supply of heat and the disposal of any generation by-product: section 32D(6));
(c) the effect of paragraph 19 of schedule 6 to the Finance Act 2000 (supplies of electricity from renewable sources exempted from climate change levy) in relation to electricity generated from each of those sources;
(d) the desirability of securing the long term growth, and economic viability, of the industries associated with the generation of electricity from renewable sources;
(e) the likely effect of the proposed banding provision on the number of renewables obligation certificates issued by the authority, and the impact this will have on the market for such certificates and on consumers;
(f) the potential contribution of electricity generated from each renewable source to the attainment of any target which relates to the generation of electricity or the production of energy and is imposed by, or results from or arises out of, a community obligation.
The renewables obligation banding review consultation document, published in October 2011, describes the methodology used to review the support levels and sets out how all of the factors listed above were considered for each technology. A copy of the consultation document is available at
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/66175/Renewables_Obligation_ consultation.pdf
Travel and Subsistence Payments
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many senior officials in his Department (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices. [141144]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) does not have any senior officials who (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13, terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they were entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices.
DECC defines senior officials as members of senior civil service and 2012-13 as the period 1 April 2012-31 March 2013.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many senior officials in his Department's arm's-length bodies (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm's-length body. [141158]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has four arm's length bodies for which it is responsible and defines senior officials as members of the senior civil service or equivalent grades.
The Coal Authority, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Committee on Climate Change do not have any senior officials who (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that
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their main place of employment is their home address and that they were entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices.
The Civil Nuclear Police Authority Terms and Conditions do not recognise a specific place of employment.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many chairs in his Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body. [141172]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has four arm’s length bodies for which it is responsible.
The Civil Nuclear Police Authority and Nuclear Decommissioning Authority have no chairs that are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at their offices.
There are two chairs in the Committee on Climate Change and one in the Coal Authority that are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at their offices under the terms of the Authorities PAYE Settlement Agreement (PSA) covering Tax and National Insurance liability as agreed with HMRC.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many senior officials of his Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body. [141186]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has four arm's length bodies for which it is responsible and defines senior officials as members of the senior civil service or equivalent grades.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Committee on Climate Change and Civil Nuclear Police Authority do not have any senior officials that are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices.
The Coal Authority has four senior officials that are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices under the Authorities PAYE Settlement Agreement (PSA) for Tax and National Insurance liability as agreed with HMRC.
Wind Power: Republic of Ireland
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent discussions the Secretary of State has had with (a) his Irish counterpart and (b) interested parties in the UK on the use of wind farms in the Republic of Ireland to generate energy for the UK and on the potential effect of such use on the UK energy budget. [141294]
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Mr Hayes: Ministers have had a number of discussions with Irish counterparts on a range of energy issues, including the potential for trading renewable electricity. The most recent of these was during the signing of a memorandum of understanding on 24 January of this year. Further details on that event are available from the gov.uk website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/energy-trading-creates-opportunities-for-ireland-uk-davey-rabbitte
I can confirm that I also meet regularly with UK-based stakeholders to discuss this and other issues.
Treasury
Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks
Sir Peter Bottomley:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the volume
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sold in both retail outlets and informally of
(a)
counterfeit alcohol,
(b)
alcoholic drinks on which duty has been evaded and
(c)
alcoholic drinks imported free of duty in each year since 2001; and what the cost to the Exchequer was of (i) duty and (ii) VAT lost on such alcohol in each year. [140431]
Sajid Javid: HMRC estimates the losses from all forms of spirits and beer duty evasion and fraud. These estimates were published in “Measuring Tax Gaps-2012” in October 2012.
Estimates for wine and cider are not available.
The tax gaps for alcohol are published as a total and further breakdowns are not available. Furthermore the current calculation for the beer tax gap only dates back to 2007-08. The volume, revenue lost for both spirits and beers is presented as follows:
| Beer | Spirits | |||||
| VAT (£ million) | Duty (£ million) | Volume (million litres) | VAT (£ million) | Duty (£ million) | Volume (million litres) | |
HM Revenue and Customs introduced a renewed strategy to tackle alcohol fraud in 2010-11, increasing the impact of its enforcement by over 50% on the previous year and delivering over £430 million worth of revenue benefits. The Government announced additional funding for HM Revenue and Customs to tackle fraud through SR10, and launched a formal consultation on further legislative measures at Budget 12. The findings of that consultation are expected in the coming months.
Financial Services
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to address the high rate of compensation claims for mis-sold payment protection insurance that are rejected by banks but subsequently upheld by the Financial Ombudsman Service. [141354]
Sajid Javid: This is a matter for the Financial Services Authority (FSA). This question has been passed on to the FSA. The FSA will reply to the hon. Member directly by letter. A copy of the response will be placed in the Library of the House.
Food Banks
Mark Hendrick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has for allowing gifts of food to food banks to be gift aided; [141087]
(2) what financial incentives he plans to introduce for businesses to donate food, toiletries and other materials to food banks. [141091]
Sajid Javid: Gift Aid is a tax relief and applies only to gifts of money. If Gift Aid were to apply to gifts of goods then donors and charities would need to keep evidence of every donation including a description and the value of the goods. This would be administratively burdensome for everyone. There would also be a significant extra cost to the Exchequer.
While all taxes and tax reliefs remain under review, the Government have no plans at this time to allow gifts of food to food banks to be made under the Gift Aid scheme.
Businesses that donate trading stock to charities are already eligible to tax relief on the cost of the stock. Similarly, businesses that donate plant and machinery to charities are eligible to tax relief.
There are no plans to introduce new financial incentives for businesses to donate food, toiletries and other materials to food banks.
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Mr Cash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he expects the private sector to contribute towards (a) High Speed 2 and (b) Phase 2 of the High Speed 2 Birmingham to Manchester route. [140950]
4 Feb 2013 : Column 17W
Danny Alexander: UK Infrastructure is attractive to potential investors, and therefore it is to be expected that the Government will consider opportunities for third party funding and financing. The Government have made clear that it will explore the scope for third party funding and financing in relation to High Speed 2, but it is not currently at a stage in the process where it is possible to take forward detailed discussions with potential investors.
Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to quantify the economic benefit to West Cumbria of High Speed 2. [141017]
Danny Alexander: The Government's analysis of the economic case for High Speed 2 is being led by the Department for Transport.
The most recent assessment of the economic case for High Speed 2 can be found in the ‘Updated Economic Case for HS2’, published on the HS2 Ltd website in August 2012:
http://www.hs2.org.uk/sites/default/files/inserts/Updated% 20economic%20case%20for%20HS2.pdf
Income Tax
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how many people who paid the 10p rate of tax in the financial year 2007-08 were in receipt of (a) child tax credit, (b) working tax credit and (c) both child and working tax credits and were worse off as a result of the abolition of the 10p tax rate. [140487]
Sajid Javid: This information is available only at disproportionate cost.
The 2012 autumn statement builds on the Government's commitment to ensure that it pays to work; to support pensioners and those most in need; and to deliver a progressive tax and welfare system that is affordable, fair and encourages growth. The Government are providing support for those on low and middle incomes by increasing the personal allowance by a further £235 in April 2013, meaning 2.2 million people will have been taken out of tax by the Government's increases in the personal allowance.
Individual Savings Accounts
Annette Brooke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he plans to make changes to the structures of ISAs to allow savers to put their whole allowance into a cash ISA; [141445]
(2) what assessment he has made of the current structure of ISA allowances and whether this allowance can be split between a cash ISA and a stocks and shares ISA. [141446]
Sajid Javid: The current limit for individual savings accounts (ISAs) is £11,280, half of which can be invested in cash. Different ISA subscription limits have applied for cash and stocks and shares investments since ISAs were introduced, and this reflects decisions made by the previous Government about the design and structure of the account. The Government keep all aspects of tax policy, including ISAs, under review.
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Minimum Wage
Chris Bryant: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints for non-compliance by employers to pay the national minimum wage were made in (a) 2012, (b) 2011, (c) 2010 and (d) 2009. [141578]
Mr Gauke: The number of complaints about non-payment of minimum wage for the period requested is in the following table:
| Financial year | Number of complaints received |
National Insurance Contributions
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many taxpayers in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) each region of England made upper earnings limit employee national insurance contributions in the latest period for which figures are available; [140694]
(2) if he will estimate the annual receipts to accrue to the Exchequer from the establishment of a flat rate of 12% for calculating employee national insurance contributions on wages above the lower earnings limit. [140703]
Mr Gauke: Estimates of the annual receipts accruing from simple changes to national insurance rates and limits can be approximated from Table 1.6 “Direct effects of illustrative tax changes”, available on the HMRC website at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/expenditures/table1-6.pdf
However, accurate costings of changes of this scale require detailed analysis of complex behavioural effects. These estimates are not available.
The illustrative changes referenced in Table 1.6 are consistent with 3.75 million UK individuals with annual earnings above the (annualised) upper earnings limit in 2013-14. Regional breakdowns consistent with table 1.6 are not available.
Pay
Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials in his Department and its agencies have been paid in excess of £100,000 per annum in each of the last three years. [140340]
Sajid Javid: The number of officials in HM Treasury and its agencies paid in excess of £100,000 per annum in each of the last three years is set out in the following table:
| End financial year | Number paid over £100,000 |
4 Feb 2013 : Column 19W
Figures include core HM Treasury, Debt Management Office, Asset Protection Agency, and Infrastructure UK. Numbers increased in 2010 following the transfer of Partnerships UK staff into the newly formed Infrastructure UK team.
Information on HM Treasury salaries is also published in the HM Treasury organogram which can be found at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about_hmtgroup_organogram.htm
Payments Council
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he plans to make changes to the governance of the Payments Council; and if he will make a statement; [141389]
(2) how many responses his Department received to the consultation on Setting the Strategy for UK Payments. [141390]
Sajid Javid: HM Treasury received 52 replies to its consultation on Setting the Strategy for UK payments.
On 4 February 2013 the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the Government will bring forward detailed proposals to introduce a new regulatory regime for payment systems. It will make sure payment systems serve the needs of consumers, not the needs of the established banks; and it will ensure that new players in the market can access these systems in a fair and transparent way.
HM Treasury will publish a consultation in the spring on the way forward.
Personal Income: Birmingham
Jack Dromey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of single-earner families in (a) Birmingham, Erdington constituency and (b) Birmingham will suffer a reduction in income as a result of measures in the autumn statement 2012; and what the average loss in income will be in each case. [140919]
Sajid Javid: The model which HM Treasury uses to assess the impact of policy decisions relies on survey data which does not contain sufficient information to provide a breakdown of impacts by town or parliamentary constituency. Therefore, this question cannot be answered with the information currently available.
Revenue and Customs
Mr Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proportion of staff in HM Revenue and Customs' large business service are over the age of 55; [139691]
(2) what proportion of HM Revenue and Customs staff are aged (a) 16 to 25, (b) 26 to 35, (c) 36 to 45, (d) 46 to 55 and (e) over 56 years old. [139796]
Mr Gauke: In the Large Business Service area 26.72% of employees are over the age of 55. The Large Business Service is responsible for over 790 of the largest businesses that pay a significant proportion of the total business taxes and duties that HMRC collects.
The grouped proportions for HMRC staff as a whole are as follows:
4 Feb 2013 : Column 20W
| Percentage | |
It has come to my attention that the figure for HMRC staff as a whole over the age of 55 provided in my answer to my hon. Friend on 29 January 2012, Official Report, column 736W, was incorrect. The correct figure is that supplied above.
Training
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many away days his Department has held since 2010; and what the cost was of each such event. [139963]
Sajid Javid: The Department does not hold a central record of individual away days and the information could not be provided within the disproportionate costs threshold.
The total departmental spend on away days between April 2010 and December 2012 was £47,070.
The breakdown of costs of away days since 1 April 2008 is:
| Financial year | Total spend (£) |
Travel and Subsistence Payments
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many senior officials in his Department (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices; [141155]
(2) how many senior officials in his Department's arm's-length bodies (a) have and (b) have had during 2012-13 terms of employment that specify that their main place of employment is their home address and that they are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting the offices of the arm's-length body; [141169]
(3) how many chairs in his Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body; [141183]
(4) how many senior officials of his Department's arm's-length bodies are paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's-length body. [141197]
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Sajid Javid: There are no senior officials at HM Treasury or its arm's length bodies including agencies and non-departmental public bodies who have or have had during 2012-13, terms of employment that specified their home address as their main place of employment and who are also entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses for visiting departmental offices. In addition no one is paid on the basis that they are exempt from personally meeting any tax liability in respect of travel and subsistence payments for attending meetings at the offices of the arm's length body. If any employee receives a payment to cover expenses which are taxable, this would always be paid through payroll with the employee paying the appropriate rate of tax on the payment.
Working Tax Credit: Reserve Forces
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many members of the reserve forces in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland are claimants of working tax credits. [141703]
Sajid Javid: This information is not available.
Home Department
Asylum
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking with her European counterparts to encourage asylum seekers to claim asylum in the first EU member state they arrive in. [140594]
Mr Harper: The Government have opted in to the amended Dublin Regulation which was given political agreement by the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 6 to 7 December 2012. The Government believe that it is in the UK's interests to continue our participation in the Dublin System which encourages asylum seekers to claim asylum in the first safe country and ensures that we can tackle ‘asylum shopping’ across the EU. Since 2004 the Dublin system has enabled the UK to remove over 10,000 asylum applicants.
It is also firmly in the UK's interests that other EU member states have well functioning border and asylum systems. We believe that this is best achieved through practical assistance to help member states build capacity; improve the quality of their asylum systems and by sharing best practice. The Government support the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) which is leading this work, focusing in particular on assistance to Greece and the development of an 'early warning' system to prevent future migration crises.
Asylum: Sexuality
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum cases were granted on the grounds of persecution because of sexuality in each month from July 2010 until December 2012. [139383]
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Mr Harper [holding answer 25 January 2013]: The UK Border Agency publishes immigration statistics annually and quarterly.
These are available from the Home Office Research and Statistics website. They can be found here:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-tabs-q3-2012
Published statistics are not disaggregated according to the basis of the asylum claim. Consequently the requested information is not available through published statistics. The reasons for asylum being granted cannot be determined without undertaking a manual search of records. Nor is it possible to identify all cases in which asylum was granted on the basis of sexual orientation without manually checking records. In both cases to do so would incur disproportionate costs.
Coral: Smuggling
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions coral has been confiscated at the UK border following attempts to bring it into the country illegally in the last 10 years. [138224]
Mr Harper: The following table sets out the number of times coral has been confiscated at the UK Border since 2006.
| Financial year | Number of seizures |
Court Orders: Greater London
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many production orders have been issued by courts in London in each year since 2002. [139379]
Mrs Grant: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
Production orders are not recorded on HMCTS' central database. Paper applications are retained at each court but procedures vary from court to court and to calculate how many have been issued would involve manual identification and counting and would involve disproportionate costs.
Deportation: Syria
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if she will support Syrian students at universities in the UK who are facing deportation as a result of being unable to access funds due to the conflict in Syria; [140661]
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(2) how many Syrian students studying at UK universities potentially face deportation as a result of being unable to access funds because of the conflict in Syria; [140664]
(3) what recent representations she has received on reports that hundreds of Syrian students studying at UK universities face deportation to Syria where they will be at risk of detention and torture. [140665]
Mr Harper: Officials from the Department of Business, Innovation arid Skills are aware of a number of students and universities affected by the situation in Syria and are working with Universities UK to identify ways to enable students from Syria to continue their studies in the UK. We are not aware that any students have been removed from their courses as a direct result of the political situation in Syria and the impact this has had on their ability to access funding.
We appreciate the potential challenges faced by students living in the UK who wish to receive money from countries that are subject to financial sanctions and look favourably on licence applications to the Treasury to enable the financing of education.
As a result of the exceptional situation the UK Border Agency has allowed Syrian students in the UK to extend the period of their visas or switch visa route where the immigration rules would have otherwise prevented them from doing so.
Detention Centres: Internet
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which websites detainees at immigration detention centres are blocked from accessing. [140095]
Mr Harper [holding answer 29 January 2013]: The details of individual blocked websites are not held centrally and could be obtained only by examination of information held at each immigration removal centre (IRC) at disproportionate cost.
Internet access is not standardised across all IRCs, although a review of access is being undertaken to address this.
Most suppliers operating IRCs on behalf of the UK Border Agency use specialised software which screens out prohibited categories of sites or sites whose addresses contain prohibited key words rather than blocking individual website addresses. Prohibited categories are based on safety and security concerns.
Entry Clearances
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken was to make a decision on an application for a sponsorship licence in the latest period for which figures are available. [140159]
Mr Harper: The average length of time taken to process a sponsorship application in the latest period 1 July 2012 to 30 September 2012 was 41 calendar days.
Fiona Mactaggart:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what target her Department has adopted for the time between promulgation of an entry
4 Feb 2013 : Column 24W
clearance appeal determination when the appellant is successful and the issuing of entry clearance to that appellant. [140518]
Mr Harper: Entry clearance appeals are considered on the basis of the facts at the time of the original application not at the date of the appeal hearing. An allowed appeal means that the immigration judge has ruled that the entry clearance officer (ECO) was wrong to refuse entry clearance not that the applicant is entitled to entry clearance.
If the applicant still wants to travel, the ECO should normally issue entry clearance within eight weeks of receiving the determination unless:
there has been a significant and material change in circumstances since the refusal decision of which the HM Courts and Tribunal Service would be unaware; or
there has been a material deception which has come to light of which the immigration judge would not have been aware; or
the results of checks that were instigated prior to refusing the application came back after the appeal was heard.
If the above circumstances apply, Visa Sections abroad should first consider challenging the determination.
The target is 90% within eight weeks.
The UK Border Agency is currently meeting this target.
Entry Clearances: Overseas Students
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many student visa checks have been waiting for more than the guideline time for a response. [140388]
Mr Harper [holding answer 30 January 2013]: The UK Border Agency carries out various checks prior to making a decision on any visa application, including Tier 4 applications.
For non-settlement visas the UK Border Agency aims to complete 90% of applications within three weeks, 98% within six weeks and 100% within 12 weeks.
In 2012 the UK Border Agency completed 94% of Tier 4 visa applications within three weeks, 99%within six weeks and 100% within 12 weeks.
The latest Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance visas applications and visa grants are published in the release Immigration Statistics, which is available at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/
A copy of the latest release, ‘Immigration Statistics July to September 2012’ has been placed in the House Library.
Entry Clearances: Yemen
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with her counterpart in Yemen on the resumption of visa services in Sana'a. [140387]
Mr Harper
[holding answer 30 January 2013]: Home Office Ministers have meetings with a wide variety of partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of
4 Feb 2013 : Column 25W
policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Human Trafficking: Children
Mr Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures the UK Border Agency has put in place to identify possible child trafficking victims. [141512]
Mr Harper: The UK Border Agency and Border Force play vital roles in disrupting trafficking attempts abroad and detecting trafficking both at the border and within the UK. All front-line staff are trained in child safeguarding and to spot indicators of human trafficking; multi-agency child safeguarding and investigation teams are in place at the UK's major ports; and a system of alerts and other intelligence tools are used to give officers the information they need to intervene in cases of suspected trafficking.
The UK Border Agency and Border Force are also two of the key agencies involved in the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the UK's framework for identifying and supporting trafficking victims. Together with other front line agencies such as the police, local authorities and voluntary sector organisations, the NRM shares information and expertise that can be used to confirm victim status and ensure appropriate care is provided.
Immigration
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she will publish the report estimating the number of Romanian and Bulgarian nationals expected to enter the UK in 2014. [138986]
Mr Harper: The Home Office is not aware of any report which estimates such numbers, and has not commissioned estimates of this sort. The Government accept the view of the independent Migration Advisory Committee that to produce such estimates "would not be sensible, or helpful to policymakers". Rather than produce speculative forecasts, the Government's priority is to cut out abuse of free movement and address pull factors such as access to benefits and public services. The Home Office is working closely with other Government Departments on these issues.
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many non-EEA nationals who applied to enter the UK between 9 July and 31 December 2012 as the partner of a British citizen or permanent resident stated in their application that they had one or more children in the UK; [139688]
(2) how many non-EEA nationals who applied to enter the UK between 9 July and 31 December 2012 as the partner of a British citizen or permanent resident applied to bring one or more child dependents with them. [139689]
Mr Harper: To provide an accurate answer to the questions tabled would require the examination of individual records which would incur disproportionate costs.
4 Feb 2013 : Column 26W
The latest Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance visa applications and visa grants are published in the release Immigration Statistics, which is available at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/
A copy of the latest release, 'Immigration Statistics July-September 2012' has been placed in the House Library.
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for indefinite leave to remain were made at UK Border Agency posts overseas in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; and how many such applications were granted. [140187]
Mr Harper: Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) is a status granted in the UK, not overseas, so no applications for indefinite leave to remain were made at UK Border Agency posts overseas.
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the number of Romanians and Bulgarians who may seek work in the UK after immigration restrictions are lifted in 2014. [140741]
Mr Harper [holding answer 1 February 2013]: The Home Office regularly monitors and analyses overall migration data to help inform policy decisions. However, we have not prepared forecasts of likely inflows from Romania and Bulgaria once restrictions are lifted. The Government accept the view of the independent Migration Advisory Committee that to produce such estimates “would not be sensible, or helpful to policymakers”. Rather than produce speculative forecasts, the Government's priority is to cut out abuse of free movement and address pull factors such as access to benefits and public services.
The Home Office is working closely with other Government Departments on these issues.
Immigration
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for indefinite leave to remain were made at UK Border Agency posts overseas on the grounds of family or partners residing in the UK (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [140188]
Mr Harper: Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) is a status granted in the UK, not overseas, so no applications for indefinite leave to remain were made at UK Border Agency posts overseas.
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for leave to enter were considered at (a) overseas posts and (b) the UK Visa Section in Croydon in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012. [140189]
Mr Harper: Information on the total number of entry clearance visa applications and entry clearance visas resolved (total decisions) is currently published annually.
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Corresponding information for 2012 on a quarterly basis is planned to be published on 28 February 2013, as part of the Home Office's quarterly Immigration Statistics release.
The figures for visas, provided in response to this question and appearing in the following table provide the latest available published statistics (2010 and 2011) for entry clearance visa applications issued only (see following table).
| Entry clearance visas: applications, resolved(1), issued and refused, 2010 and 2011 | |||||
| of which | |||||
| 2010 | Applications received | Issued | Refused | Withdrawn or lapsed | |
Immigration Controls: Data Protection
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the retention of case notes and documentation by UK Border Agency entry clearance officers and caseworkers in the UK and abroad. [140190]
Mr Harper: Entry Clearance Officers record case notes electronically and are required to retain documents (or copies) that are directly relevant to the decision. If it is not possible to retain such documents they are clearly referenced in case notes. The UK Border Agency has a programme of continuous improvement which is designed to drive up decision quality and to ensure compliance with existing policy.
The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration also monitors compliance with document retention and case notes policy and two of his most recent overseas inspections in Accra and Madrid point to the success of the continuous improvement programme.
Regarding caseworkers in the UK and abroad, we have introduced a data capture tool to help casework teams considering applications to record information relevant to their decisions. In future it is planned that documents will be scanned and stored in a secure location until we reach a decision on an application, reducing the movement of physical documents around the UK Border Agency.
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has taken to improve the (a) production of notes and (b) retention of copies of documents in UK Border Agency casework. [140191]
Mr Harper:
As part of the UK Border Agency's transformation, we are ensuring all relevant information is captured digitally and in a structured way which can then be used intelligently to improve customer service and increase operational effectiveness. In addition, and as part of an agency-wide drive to improve paper record keeping, a comprehensive review of caseworkers' guidance is being undertaken to provide clarity on what documents need to be retained and for how long, in line with both the Public Records Act 1958 and Data Protection Act 1998. In future, documents will be scanned and stored
4 Feb 2013 : Column 28W
in a secure location until a decision is reached on an application, reducing the movement of physical documents around the UK Border Agency.
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to ensure that best practice is shared between UK Border Agency officers in the UK and their counterparts abroad. [140192]
Mr Harper: As part of the UK Border Agency's transformation plan, the organisation is looking at ways of more closely aligning operational structures and caseworking processes throughout the agency. Part of this work is ensuring that it identifies and applies best practice consistently throughout all of its operations both in the UK and abroad and learns from international partners.
Incitement
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many instances of material that incited hatred and is illegal have been reported using the Association of Chief Police Officers True Vision website in each of the last five years; [134339]
(2) how many cases reported to the Association of Chief Police Officers True Vision website have led to criminal proceedings in each of the last five years. [134340]
Mrs Grant: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
This information is not recorded by Her Majesty's Government. Actionable True Vision reports are sent directly to police forces and any crimes are recorded locally. The Association of Chief Police Officers established the current True Vision facility in February 2011 and has informed the Government Hate Crime Programme that there have been 3,620 reports to the end of November 2012, although it is not known centrally how many of these resulted in ‘recordable crimes’.
Lost Property
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will list the items of equipment owned by the UK Border Agency that were (a) lost, (b) stolen, (c) written off and (d) recovered between 1 January 2011 and the most recent date for which figures are available. [140673]
Mr Harper: Records held by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) indicate that the following items of equipment have been lost, stolen, written off and/or recovered since January 2011:
One theft of a mobile phone
One loss of a mobile phone
One theft of a laptop
No items have been recovered
Laptops used by UKBA staff are protected by a variety of security measures in the event that they are lost or stolen.
4 Feb 2013 : Column 29W
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will list the items of departmental equipment (a) lost, (b) stolen, (c) written off and (d) recovered between 1 January 2011 and the most recent date for which figures are available. [140674]
James Brokenshire: Information relating to departmental equipment lost, stolen, written off and recovered can be found on the following link to the Home Office webpage:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/transparency/lost-mobiles-laptops-media/
and is provided in the table below for ease of reference.
Information on items lost and stolen for 2012 will be published shortly.
| 2011 | |
| Device/Incident | Number |
| Note: The above information has been taken from the Home Office webpage. (For the purposes of reporting, “Home Office Group” includes, core Home Office, UK Border Agency, Identity and Passport Service (IPS), Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and excludes, non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and other arm's length bodies (ALBs)). | |
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 17 December 2012 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Dr M Kiche. [140344]
Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 29 January 2013.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 18 December 2012 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr I C Kallon. [140345]
Mr Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 29 January 2013.
Offenders: Passports
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many criminals or suspects whose passports are held by the police have successfully applied for a new passport in (a) their own and (b) another name in the latest period for which figures are available. [138016]
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Mr Harper [holding answer 18 January 2013]: Information is not held centrally in the format requested. All passport requests are considered on an individual basis and are subject to relevant security checks, including where appropriate, reference to the police or other law enforcement agencies.
Prisoners: Foreign Nationals
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2013, Official Report, column 245W, on prisoners: foreign nationals, (1) how many foreign national offenders were detained beyond the end of their custodial sentences and (a) subsequently deported and (b) remain in the UK; [137373]
(2) how many foreign national offenders were detained beyond the end of their custodial sentences throughout (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [137374]
Mr Harper [holding answer 15 January 2013]:The following table shows a further breakdown of the number of foreign national offenders detained by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) at the end of their custodial sentence as at April 2010, April 2011 and April 2012. It shows the number of foreign national offenders subsequently removed or deported and those that currently remain in the UK.
| As at April each year: | Total FNOs detained beyond the end of their sentence | Of which: (a) Total FNOs subsequently removed or deported | Of which: (b) Total FNOs that remain in the UK (ie not removed or deported |
The following table shows the total number of foreign national offenders who were detained beyond their custodial sentences throughout (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. We are able to provide figures from our electronic records for financial year only and not calendar year. The figures provided for financial year 2012-13 are provided up to September 2012.
| Financial year | Total FNOs detained beyond their sentence |
The UK Border Agency makes every effort to ensure that a person's removal by deportation coincides, as far as possible, with his/her release from prison on completion of sentence. Where a detainee refuses to co-operate with the removal or deportation process, detention may be prolonged.
The financial year figure refers to the total number of cases that have been detained by UKBA. This figure is high because it refers to all cases that have finished their sentence throughout the year. It includes those that were non-detained previously and were then detained in order to effect their removal. The cases will flow through detention and either be removed, be released or remain detained. Some cases will remain in detention for short
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periods while others will remain for longer periods depending on the risk of harm to the public, of absconding or removability.
Slavery
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what information is used to map the location of victims of slavery in England and Wales; [R] [140493]
(2) if she will record the local authority areas where victims of slavery were found prior to their referral to the National Referral Mechanism; [R] [140494]
(3) whether her Department collects data on which local authority areas victims of slavery have been found in England and Wales prior to their referral to the National Referral Mechanism; and if she will make a statement. [R] [140628]
Mr Harper: Intelligence and organised crime group mapping techniques are used to identify areas of the UK where exploitation occurs.
Data on the local authority area where victims of human trafficking have been found are not currently routinely recorded.
As set out in the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group report on human trafficking, published on 18 October 2012, the Government is focusing on improving its collection of data on human trafficking victims to strengthen the UK's response to this crime.
Theft: Denton
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many cases of theft from the person there were in Denton and Redditch constituency in each of the last five years; and what the nature was of each item stolen; [141531]
(2) how many thefts of motor vehicles there were in (a) Denton and Redditch constituency and (b) the North West in each of the last five years. [141532]
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 February 2013:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking for (a) the number of cases of theft from the person in Denton and Redditch constituency in each of the last five years, (b) what the nature was of each item stolen and (c) the number of cases of theft of a motor vehicle there were in the Denton and Redditch constituency and the North West region in each of the last five years. (141531 and 141532)
Police recorded crime figures are provided for the last five financial years (April to March) for Stockport and Tameside local authority areas combined and for the North West region. Crime data are not available at parliamentary constituency level; in this instance Denton and Redditch constituency spans two local authority areas. A combined figure for these two local authority areas is given as follows.
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| 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
Details of the items stolen in theft from the person offences are not available at local authority level.
Travellers: Animal Welfare
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information and guidance is made available to local authorities, charities and enforcement agencies on dealing with animal welfare issues within the Traveller community. [139861]
Mr Heath: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
No specific advice is given to local authorities, charities and enforcement agencies on dealing with animal welfare issues within the traveller community. However, guidance notes on animal welfare legislation are available to such organisations. DEFRA will also provide assistance for local authorities, charities and enforcement agencies on how best to communicate with the Traveller community on animal welfare issues.
UK Border Agency
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mandatory and voluntary training she has put in place for UK Border Agency employees responsible for (a) casework decisions and (b) writing reports; and what proportion of employees have undergone that training. [140035]
Mr Harper [holding answer 28 January 2013]: All UK Border Agency staff receive mandatory e-learning in Information Management and Information Assurance, Keeping Children Safe, Human Trafficking, Health and Safety Awareness, Introduction to Diversity and Equality, Counter Fraud, and Bribery and Corruption.
There are a number of different case-working functions in the UK Border Agency. Each has a specific mandatory training programme which all caseworkers undertake prior to making casework decisions. Caseworkers also receive counter terrorism training and Casework Information Database training. Caseworkers who interview applicants attend a mandatory two-day Personal Safety Training course. This is followed by an annual one-day refresher course.
Additional training is provided as caseworkers develop and progress in their role. Report writing training is provided by Civil Service Learning and is mandatory for those engaged in providing reports for court or for intelligence reports.
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All officers engaged in these activities have completed this training.