Prisons: Alcoholic Drinks
Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of the access of prisoners to alcohol. [141383]
Jeremy Wright: NOMS has in place a strategy to reduce supply and demand for alcohol with a comprehensive range of security measures and searching techniques to detect items of contraband including alcohol and prevent smuggling into prisons. In addition we use specially trained dogs to detect illicit alcohol.
Prisons: Television
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners have access to a television in their cells. [141359]
Jeremy Wright: Prisoners' eligibility for access to in-cell television in England and Wales is dependent on their status under the Prison Service's Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) scheme. Prison Service Instruction 11/2011 refers, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library. The IEP scheme must consist of at least three tiers (basic, standard and enhanced). Access to in-cell television is restricted to those at standard and enhanced levels and is a forfeitable privilege, and prisoners are charged for use.
7 Feb 2013 : Column 423W
Information relating to the number of prisoners who have access to television within their cells is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by manual checking with individual establishments.
Probation
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to ensure that professional standards are maintained following the outsourcing of probation work. [141355]
Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice has recently published the consultation paper “Transforming Rehabilitation—a revolution in the way we manage offenders”, which sets out our plans for reforming the way in which offenders are rehabilitated in the community.
Under our proposals, we expect that probation professionals will work in the public, private and voluntary sectors, protecting the public and delivering rehabilitation services using their considerable skills and experience in working with offenders. We are clear that we will maintain this expertise and a strong probation profession.
Some responses to the earlier consultation paper “Punishment and Reform: effective probation services” suggested the establishment of a professional body or institute to help practitioners maintain high standards of practice. We will look at the most appropriate way of ensuring professional standards are maintained and “Transforming Rehabilitation” asks a specific question in this regard.
The consultation closes on 22 February 2013 and we will announce further details of our proposals once we have considered responses.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to his plans to have supervision of offenders carried out by the private or voluntary sector, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government regarding the supervision of offenders who move between England and Scotland. [141707]
Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice has recently published the consultation paper “Transforming Rehabilitation—a revolution in the way we manage offenders”, which sets out our plans for reforming the way in which offenders are rehabilitated in the community.
As part of the consultation process we have engaged with other Government Departments and the devolved Administrations in Wales and Scotland and will continue to do so.
The consultation closes on 22 February 2013 and we will announce further details of our proposals once we have considered responses.
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to ensure that private and independent sector contractors meet their targets for crime reduction as part of his plans for the outsourcing of probation tasks; and what sanctions he can use if those targets are not met. [141737]
Jeremy Wright:
The Ministry of Justice has recently published the consultation paper “Transforming Rehabilitation—a revolution in the way we manage
7 Feb 2013 : Column 424W
offenders” which sets out proposals for driving down reoffending by extending rehabilitative provision, opening up service delivery and paying by results.
We intend to apply payment by results, only paying providers in full if they achieve a sufficient reduction in reoffending. The consultation closes on 22 February 2013 and we will set out further details of how we will reform the way we manage offenders once we have considered responses.
Travel and Subsistence Payments
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 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. [141193]
Jeremy Wright: The Department's travel and subsistence policies set out the circumstances in which officials may reclaim travel and subsistence expenses. They also set out the circumstances in which the Department will bear the cost of the individual member of staffs own liability to tax.
It would be a significant exercise to identify the number of senior officials who have made travel and subsistence claims that exempted them from being personally liable for any tax. It would require each individual expenses form to be collated and reviewed, incurring a disproportionate cost.
Transport
A1: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his oral statement of 28 January 2013, Official Report, columns 671-85, on High Speed Rail, what investment his Department has allocated for the dualling of the A1 up to Newcastle. [141735]
Stephen Hammond: The Chancellor announced investment of £378 million to upgrade key sections of the A1 (Lobley Hill and Leeming to Barton) in the north east as part of the autumn statement of 5 December 2012, Official Report, columns 871-882.
Aircraft: Air Conditioning
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will conduct a review into the quality of air in aeroplane cabins and the consequent effect on pilots. [141612]
Mr Simon Burns: Four independent research studies commissioned by the Department into cabin air have already been completed. The main study was published by Cranfield University in May 2011. These studies have now been concluded and the published reports have been sent to the independent Committee on Toxicity (COT) for their consideration and views.
7 Feb 2013 : Column 425W
Driving: Blood Alcohol Levels
Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken in respect of the proposals contained in the 10-Minute Rule Bill on permitted blood alcohol levels for drivers introduced by the hon. Member for Colchester on 22 November 2011. [142137]
Stephen Hammond: The Department has no plans in respect of lowering permitted blood alcohol levels for drivers.
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the effect of the HS2 extension to Leeds on road commuters using the A5 as a result of the redevelopment of junction 10 of the M42; [141600]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the effect of the HS2 extension to Leeds on businesses in Relay Park as a result of the redevelopment of junction 10 of the M42; [141601]
(3) what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the effect of the HS2 extension to Leeds on homes and properties in Hockley and Overwoods Road. [141602]
Mr Simon Burns: The initial preferred scheme has emerged from several hundred options as the one considered overall to best meet objectives for passenger demand, cost, ease-of-build, journey time and sustainability. Considerations of sustainability have been integral to scheme design since commencing work on Phase Two in autumn 2010. During this time, the sustainability team has worked closely with the engineers to develop route and station proposals that fit as far as possible with the environment and communities they pass.
However, we are at an early stage in the development of the scheme: more work will be undertaken by HS2 Ltd to refine the alignment and include mitigation such as landscaping and noise barriers, and a number of the impacts will reduce as the designs are progressed.
HS2 Ltd will consult with local authorities, the Highway's Agency and other relevant bodies to ensure that traffic disruption to the A5 will be kept to a minimum in the event of any redevelopment of junction 10 of the M42.
Mr Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the proposed limits of deviation for High Speed 2 cover land subject to private enactments or secondary legislation. [141675]
Mr Simon Burns: Limits of deviation have not yet been proposed for High Speed 2. This will be done as part of the hybrid Bill submission. As part of this, land included within the limits of deviation will be checked to determine whether they are subject to any private legislation.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much capital towards the building of HS2 he expects to raise from local authorities whose areas will benefit from the new line; and if he will make a statement; [142075]
7 Feb 2013 : Column 426W
(2) how he will determine which local authorities benefit from the building of HS2 enough to determine that they should contribute to its capital costs; [142077]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government intend to offer local authorities, and their public and private sector partners, opportunities to contribute to the HS2 programme so that they may secure valuable benefits for local people and local businesses. The nature of those opportunities, and the contributions made, may take a wide range of forms reflecting varied local circumstances. We do not intend to prejudice the outcome of future discussions and negotiations.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of households in Warrington North constituency which would be adversely affected by the proposed route for High Speed 2. [142109]
Mr Simon Burns: If the line is built along the initial preferred route, then in the Warrington North constituency area 21 properties would be demolished, of which four are residential. A further three properties would be at risk of demolition. We have no estimate of the number of properties which may be affected in other ways.
Network Rail
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress Network Rail has made in developing a voluntary transparency code in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [142307]
Mr Simon Burns: In June 2012, Network Rail recognised the demand for more of its data and information by launching a voluntary publication scheme, enhancing its transparency and accountability.
The data and information, which are updated on its website and added to on a quarterly basis, include:
information about risk at Network Rail's level crossings
budget and cost of large infrastructure projects
a breakdown of staff salaries, by £25,000 bracket, for those earning above £100,000
agendas and minutes of NR Board meetings.
There is also an online form allowing members of the public to make suggestions for further disclosure.
Rail Franchising Programme Review
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to respond to the report of the Brown Review of the Rail Franchising Programme. [142127]
Mr Simon Burns: On 31 January 2013 the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), made a statement outlining the Government's decisions about the three paused franchises, which took into account the recommendations made by Mr Brown for those franchises.
We will set out a full timetable for the future rail franchising programme in the spring, alongside a statement of franchising policy in light of both Mr Brown's recommendations and the Transport Select Committee's “Rail 2020” report.
7 Feb 2013 : Column 427W
Railway Stations: Wales
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2013, Official Report, column 808W, on railway stations, what plans he has to hold discussions with the Welsh Government on the new station fund. [141729]
Mr Simon Burns: During the design of the New Stations Fund officials held discussions with the Welsh Government and incorporated a number of their comments into the principles of the Fund. Network Rail (as administrators of the Fund) has also had discussions with the Welsh Government over station proposals. As the bids for funding are developed officials will continue to hold discussions with the Welsh Government and other bidders. The Welsh Government have been invited to attend the Panel that will make recommendations on the bids for funding.
Railways: Franchises
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to ensure Ministers will be more closely involved in the creation and implementation of franchise policy. [141693]
Mr Simon Burns: We have taken immediate steps to restructure the Department following the findings of the Laidlaw inquiry and Brown review, including the appointment of a director of rail franchising and director general of rail.
This strengthened governance will help provide more assurance to Ministers, who will continue to remain closely involved in decision making on rail franchising policy.
Laidlaw and Brown's detailed recommendations deserve, and are getting, careful consideration by the Department, including its Ministers, and the Secretary of State for Transport will be making a statement on the future franchising programme and policy in the spring.
Road Traffic Control
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has concluded his assessment of his Department's consultation on Traffic Orders: Simplifying the Process in respect of the requirement for Traffic Regulation Orders to be advertised in local newspapers. [142126]
Norman Baker: Yes. We received a large number of representations on this matter, with a clear majority of responses from local government being in favour of the proposed change, and a clear majority of responses from MPs and local newspapers being against any change. I have therefore decided to not change the present arrangements at this point, but, with colleagues across Government, to keep the matter under review.
Transport
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the British Chambers of Commerce Transport Priorities Map, published on 26 November 2012. [135711]
7 Feb 2013 : Column 428W
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport is firmly committed to delivering the infrastructure that the UK needs to ensure it is an effective place to do business. That is why the Autumn Statement put transport at the centre of the Coalition Government's plan to boost growth and drive the UK's economic recovery by committing over £1 billion for crucial schemes. It outlined a bold package of measures which will overhaul key parts of the country's transport system, tackling congestion bottlenecks and building new roads to allow quicker and more efficient journeys. As well as announcing four new major road schemes, £95 million was committed to accelerating existing schemes.
We are also engaged in the biggest rail investment programme since the 19(th) century.
Alongside the Autumn Statement, HM Treasury also published the 2012 National Infrastructure Plan Delivery Update, which sets out recent progress for all our major infrastructure projects.
West Coast Railway Line: Franchises
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) who is conducting the investigation into the collapse of the West Coast Mainline franchise deal; [141694]
(2) what his Department is doing to ensure the investigation into the collapse of the West Coast Mainline franchise deal has every resource afforded to it; [141695]
(3) when the investigation into the collapse of the West Coast Mainline franchise deal will be concluded. [141696]
Mr Simon Burns: The inquiry into what went wrong with the cancelled West Coast Mainline franchising competition was carried out by Sam Laidlaw. His full report was published on 6 December 2012 and is available on the Department for Transport's website.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what disciplinary actions are being taken against those civil servants who misinformed Ministers during the West Coast Mainline franchise deal. [141723]
Mr Simon Burns: A very detailed investigation has been undertaken by Bill Stow, who is an experienced former senior civil servant, into the conduct of individuals.
It is on the basis of his detailed report that the permanent secretary made the decision to initiate disciplinary action against a number of individuals in the Department. This is a confidential staff matter and those processes are still ongoing.
Cabinet Office
Electoral Register
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the number of electors registered in each constituency is following the latest electoral register update. [142059]
7 Feb 2013 : Column 429W
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 February 2013:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking what the number of electors registered in each constituency is following the latest electoral register update (142059).
The Office for National Statistics produces electoral statistics using data collected each year for the published annual register. Electoral statistics based on the published annual register for 2012 are currently being produced and will be published on 28 February 2013.
The latest available statistics are for 2011 and these are published on the ONS website at:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/pop-estimate/electoral-statistics-for-uk/2011/index.html
Part-time Employment: Self-Employed
Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the change in the level of part-time self-employment was in (a) December 2009 to June 2011 and (b) June 2011 to December 2012. [142015]
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 February 2013:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the change in the level of part-time self-employment was in (a) December 2009 to June 2011 and (b) June 2011 to December 2012. 142015
Estimates of employment are derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The change in the level of part-time self-employment between the three month periods October to December 2009 and April to June 2011 was estimated to be 104,000. Between April to June 2011 and September to November 2012 (the latest period available) it was estimated to be 95,000. Estimates are seasonally adjusted.
An individual's part-time status is self-classified on the LFS.
Estimates of part-time self-employment are published monthly in Table 3 of the Labour Market Statistical Bulletin, available here:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl=Labour+Market
As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
Population
Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the number of adults aged over 18-years-old is in each constituency, based on information received from the 2011 Census. [142060]
7 Feb 2013 : Column 430W
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 February 2013:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the number of adults aged over 18 years old is in each constituency, based on information received from the 2011 Census. (142060)
Attached is a file containing 2011 Census Table QS103EW which provides the information you have requested for Westminster Parliamentary Constituencies in England and Wales. This table will be placed in the Library of the House.
This information is also available for download from the NOMIS website
www.nomisweb.co.uk
Unemployment
Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the rate of (a) unemployment, (b) unemployment of more than 12 months in duration and (c) unemployment of more than two years in duration is among (i) white respondents aged from 18 to 24, (ii) white respondents aged over 25, (iii) members of all other ethnic groups aged from 18 to 24 and (iv) members of all other ethnic groups aged over 25. [142016]
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 February 2013:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the rate of (a) unemployment, (b) unemployment of more than 12 months in duration and (c) unemployment of more than two years in duration is among (i) white respondents aged from 18 to 24, (ii) white respondents aged over 25, (iii) members of all other ethnic groups aged from 18 to 24 and (iv) members of all other ethnic groups aged over 25. 142016
The table provides unemployment levels and rates by ethnic group and by age for the period October 2011 to September 2012. In addition to the rates requested, the table includes the level of unemployment in each of the requested categories and, also, the level expressed as a proportion of the total unemployed in each category. This is consistent with the preferred presentation of statistics of unemployment by duration as used in the monthly Labour Market Statistical Bulletin.
The estimates are derived from the Annual Population Survey (APS). Similar estimates can be derived from the Labour Force Survey but the sample size is too small for sufficiently reliable statistics at this level of detail. Consequently the APS is preferred in this case.
As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty, as indicated by the guide to quality in the table.
| Unemployment by age, duration and ethnic groups: Averages over the 12-month period October 2011 to September 2012, United Kingdom | ||||||||||||
| White ethnic group(1) | All other ethnic groups(2) | |||||||||||
| 18 to 24 | 25 and over | 18 to 24 | 25 and over | |||||||||
| Level (‘000) | As % of total | Rate(3) (%) | Level (‘000) | As % of total | Rate(3) (%) | Level (‘000) | As % of total | Rate(3) (%) | Level (‘000) | As % of total | Rate(3) (%) | |
7 Feb 2013 : Column 431W
7 Feb 2013 : Column 432W
| (1) White includes respondents in England, Wales and Scotland identifying themselves as ‘White-Gypsy or Irish Traveller’ and respondents in Scotland identifying themselves as ‘White-Polish’. (2) Includes respondents in Northern Ireland identifying themselves as ‘Irish Traveller’ and respondents in all UK countries identifying themselves as ‘Arab’, mixed/multiple ethnic groups, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese, black/African/Caribbean/black British and other ethnic groups. (3) The unemployment rate is the number of unemployed people divided by the number of economically active people; 'economically active’ comprises all those who are either employed or unemployed. Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV - for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key: * 0 ≤ CV< 5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 ≤ CV < 10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 ≤ CV < 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ≥ 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes Source: Annual Population Survey (APS) | ||||||||||||
Voluntary Work
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps his Department is taking to build a legacy of volunteering from the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. [141676]
Mr Hurd: The Prime Minister set out that volunteering is one of the three key priorities for the London 2012 legacy, recognising the importance of capitalising on the success of the games makers and the other London 2012 volunteers. The Cabinet Office is working with the Greater London Authority to deliver the volunteering legacy. The main strands of this fall into five themes which draw on both new and existing initiatives to encourage people to make a difference to their communities:
Providing opportunities to volunteer, including initiatives such as Join in, Dementia Friends and Capital Clean-Up;
Making it easier to volunteer by supporting work to match volunteers and opportunities and cutting red tape;
Inspiring a generation by engaging young people, including National Citizen Service;
Using volunteers for major events, including the Commonwealth games;
Reward and recognition for volunteers, including though the honours system.
Treasury
Capital Gains Tax
Mr Rob Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has made an assessment of the likely effect on (a) economic growth and (b) the public finances of (i) cutting and (ii) abolishing capital gains tax; and if he will make a statement. [142000]
Mr Gauke: Capital gains tax contributed £4.3 billion in Exchequer receipts in 2011-12. The Government believe that the current capital gains tax regime represents a good balance between raising revenue, reducing the incentives to substitute income for a capital gain and retaining incentives to save and invest.
Nevertheless, the Government keep all areas of the tax system under review at all times. Any changes to the tax system are considered and announced by the Chancellor as part of the normal Budget process.
Carbon Monoxide: Alarms
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to making the installation of a carbon monoxide detector a condition of sale for home insurance. [142104]
Sajid Javid: The Government do not prescribe the terms or conditions that insurance companies may set when offering insurance. Insurers use their claims experience and other industry-wide statistics to assess the risks posed by an individual and set the terms on which they will offer insurance cover. The terms of insurance may include requirements that the policyholder must take preventative measures to mitigate or minimise the risk of an insured event occurring.
Corporation Tax
Mr Rob Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has made an assessment of the likely effect on (a) economic growth and (b) the public finances of cutting corporation tax to (i) 20 per cent and (ii) 12.5 per cent; and if he will make a statement. [141999]
Mr Gauke: The main rate of corporation tax has been reduced from 28% in 2010 to 24% in April 2012, and will then fall to 23% in April 2013 and 21% in April 2014. No further reductions have been announced.
Announcements regarding the main rate of corporation tax are made at the Budget or autumn statement. When tax announcements are made, Tax Information and Impact Notes summarising the impact of new policies are published on the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) website. The OBR makes independent judgments about the economic effects of policies after each fiscal event.
In total the corporate tax rate is set to fall by 7 percentage points from its 2010 rate of 28%, reducing the burden on business by around £6 billion per year by 2016. This
7 Feb 2013 : Column 433W
will reduce the cost of new investment and therefore incentivise activity across the economy, supporting economic growth.
Debts: Advisory Services
Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made by the Money Advice Service in finalising contracts for the provision of debt advice. [141948]
Sajid Javid: The Money Advice Service is an independent body and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) is responsible for approving its business plan and budget.
I have asked the Money Advice Service to respond to the question that you have raised in writing. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Individual Savings Accounts
James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his announcement in the autumn statement that the Government will consult on expanding the list of qualifying investments for stocks and shares ISAs to include shares traded on small and medium enterprises equity markets, when the consultation will be published; and how long it will last. [142057]
Sajid Javid: The Government understand the need to encourage investment in growing businesses, and will shortly publish a written consultation on expanding the list of qualifying investments for stocks and shares ISAs to include shares traded on SME equity markets. Officials have already held a series of meetings with stakeholders since the autumn statement as part of the Government's consultation on this change.
The Government have published a Tax Consultation Framework which sets out how consultations on tax policy will be carried out. This can be found at
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/consultations/tax-consultation-framework.pdf
Minimum Wage
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average (a) fine and (b) compensation is in cases where employees have successfully claimed for not having been paid the minimum wage (i) nationally and (ii) in the Vale of Clwyd. [141764]
Mr Gauke: HMRC does not keep statistics by district. The average penalty charge for an employer found to have underpaid its workers for the current financial year is £1,072. For the same period, the average amount that workers have been compensated for loss of earnings is £307.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of employers paying below the minimum wage have been successfully prosecuted; and how many and what proportion of those have paid (a) full back-pay and (b) compensation. [141766]
Mr Gauke:
The first prosecution for an offence under the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 took place in 2007. Since then, there have been a further seven
7 Feb 2013 : Column 434W
prosecutions for minimum wage offences. This represents less than 1% of the total number of employers who have been found to be paying less than the national minimum wage.
Three of the prosecutions included offences under Section 31 (1) of the NMW Act 1998, where the employer refuses or wilfully neglects to pay NMW. In all of these cases, the workers received full payment of the arrears. The workers involved did not receive compensation for loss of earnings because the prosecutions took place before compensation arrangements were introduced from April 2009.
The remaining prosecutions were for obstruction or record-keeping offences. In one of those cases, the company went into liquidation with no assets and in the remaining case, no underpayment of wages was identified.
Minimum Wage: Scotland
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employers in (a) Scotland and (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency received a warning for non-payment of the minimum wage in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [141912]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 6 February 2013]: HMRC does not keep statistics at constituency level. The number of employers identified by the two compliance teams in Scotland as not paying the minimum wage for the period from 1 February 2012 to 31 January 2013 was 81.
NHS: Private Sector
Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much (a) corporation tax, (b) VAT and (c) other specific taxes was received by the Exchequer from private companies providing health services accessed within the NHS for each year between 2007 and 2012. [141992]
Mr Gauke: The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. This is because HMRC does not categorise in the tax system private companies providing health services within the NHS from other companies.
Overtime
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) his Department and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date. [141487]
Sajid Javid: The total cost of overtime payments for HM Treasury and each of its arm’s length bodies are shown in the following table along with the average cost per member of staff, for the following financial years; 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13. Also included in the table are the comparable figures for financial years 2008-09 and 2009-10:
7 Feb 2013 : Column 435W
7 Feb 2013 : Column 436W
| £ | |||||
| 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 (to December ) | |
Social Security Benefits: Immigrants
Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many migrants residing in the UK claim benefits on behalf of children living abroad; in which countries such children reside; and at which job centres each such claim was lodged. [140858]
Sajid Javid [holding answer 1 February 2013]: The main purpose of child benefit and the child tax credit is to support families in the UK. Consequently, the rules for these benefits generally do not provide for them to be paid in respect of children who live abroad.
Nevertheless, both child benefit and the child tax credit are family benefits under EC Regulation 883/2004. This regulation protects the social security rights of nationals of all member states of the European economic area (EEA), including the UK, and Switzerland when they exercise their rights of free movement under EU law.
The EC regulations have detailed rules to decide which national social security scheme a worker should pay into and which member state has responsibility for the payment of benefits, including family benefits. The EC regulations generally provide that workers should pay contributions into the social security scheme of the member state where they work and, in turn, that state is responsible for the payment of family benefits.
Consequently, nationals of other EEA member states who are working in the UK and paying compulsory UK national insurance contributions are entitled to claim UK family benefits in respect of children living in another member state.
I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to him on 28 January 2013, Official Report, columns 619-20W, for details about the number of claims for family benefits paid under the EC regulations for children resident in another member state and which member states such children reside.
Claims for family benefits are made to HM Revenue and Customs and not through Job Centres which are administered by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Taxation: Fraud
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of revenue lost to the Exchequer as a result of tax fraud in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) South Lanarkshire in each of the last five years. [142017]
Mr Gauke: Estimates of the revenue lost to tax fraud are only produced at UK level. Estimates for the UK are available for 2007-08, 2009-10 and 2010-11, which include a breakdown of the three behaviours which are defined as fraud: criminal attacks, evasion and the hidden economy.
However, the behaviour breakdown is based on management assumptions and judgment and therefore it is not possible to draw robust conclusions on the change in the level of tax fraud from year to year.
http://irscot.inrev.gov.uk/budget10/pbr/00notices/docs/5450_other.pdf
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/tax-gaps/mtg-2011.pdf
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/tax-gaps/mtg-2012.pdf
Welfare Tax Credits: Birmingham
Jack Dromey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many (a) people, (b) people in work and (c) households in (i) Birmingham, Erdington constituency and (ii) Birmingham are in receipt of tax credits; and what the average weekly payment is in each case; [140917]
(2) how many people in (a) Birmingham, Erdington constituency and (b) Birmingham are in (i) full-time work, (ii) part-time work and (iii) not in paid employment and in receipt of child tax credits. [140918]
Sajid Javid: The figures presented here relate to the position as at 1 December 2012. All the figures presented exclude those out-of-work cases where support equivalent to tax credits is provided by DWP through out of work benefits.
Table 1 shows the number of adults, working adults and households in the two respective regions. A working adult is defined as someone who works at least 16 hours and is within a family eligible for working tax credit, in line with working tax credit rules.
| Table 1: Number of adults, working adults and households in Birmingham and Birmingham | ||
| Thousand | ||
| Birmingham, Erdington constituency | Birmingham: local authority | |
7 Feb 2013 : Column 437W
Tax credits are paid at a household level. Average weekly entitlement can therefore only be provided for households. The average weekly payment for the two respective regions is:
Birmingham, Erdington: £125
Birmingham LA: £135
Table 2 shows the number of adults in full-time work and part-time work, as well as the number of adults not in work.
7 Feb 2013 : Column 438W
There is no standard definition of full-time and part-time work. These have been defined to be consistent with tax credits hour's thresholds.