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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 5 March 2013
Attorney-General
Asil Nadir
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what recent estimate the Serious Fraud Office has made of assets hidden from prosecutors by Asil Nadir. [146284]
The Solicitor-General: Following the collapse of Polly Peck International plc in 1990, Asil Nadir was made bankrupt in 1991. Since that time the trustee in bankruptcy identified some assets and it is believed that some monies were paid to creditors. A court order prevented the trustee in bankruptcy from providing much information to the Serious Fraud Office.
After Asil Nadir's conviction, the SFO applied for compensation to the administrators of Polly Peck International plc. The sum applied for represented the monies he had been convicted of stealing i.e. £28,891,911 plus compound interest. The judge ordered Asil Nadir to set out details of his assets and those of his family in a Financial Circumstances Order. In response, the defendant claimed he had no assets and that he was dependent on the generosity of friends and family. The SFO provided evidence to the court that Asil Nadir had access to wealth since his return to the UK in 2010, as he had apparently spent more than £3.8 million.
After hearing evidence, the judge concluded on 2 November 2012 that the defendant had financial resources acquired after the appointment of the trustee in bankruptcy but which he had not disclosed to the trustee in bankruptcy or to the Court. However, the judge was unable to put a value on these resources as there was no evidence available in that regard.
He ordered the defendant to pay £5 million in compensation. If the sum were not paid within two years, the judge ordered that up to a maximum of six additional years in prison should be served in default. The money was subsequently paid.
Social Networking: Prosecutions
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Attorney-General whether he plans to respond to the Director of Public Prosecution's interim guidelines on prosecuting cases involving communications sent via social media. [146397]
The Solicitor-General: Neither I nor the Attorney-General have any plans to respond formally to the Director of Public Prosecution's (DPP) consultation on interim guidelines on prosecuting cases involving communications sent via social media. The DPP has kept me informed during the development of the interim guidelines and consultation, and I will ensure that matters raised with me on the subject, including those that have been raised by the hon. Gentleman, are communicated to the DPP.
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Scotland
Scottish Employability Forum
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2013, Official Report, column 367W, on manufacturing industries, if he will publish the dates of future meetings of the Scottish Employability Forum. [146394]
David Mundell: The next meeting of the Scottish Employability Forum is scheduled for 5 September 2013 and the Forum will be scheduled thereafter on a six monthly basis. The minutes of the first meeting are available on the Scotland Office website.
Written Questions
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the procedure and sign-off process for responding to parliamentary questions in his Department includes review by special advisers. [146090]
David Mundell: Ministers are responsible and accountable for all answers to parliamentary questions. Special Advisers may provide advice to Ministers, as outlined in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
Transport
Cycling: Accidents
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the rise in cyclist casualties in the third quarter of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011; and what plans he has to address that issue. [146245]
Norman Baker: We take cycle safety very seriously and we are working hard to reduce the number of cyclist casualties. The rise in the number of cyclists seriously injured may be, at least in part, due to the increase in cycling we have seen in recent years and we will continue to progress initiatives to improve cycle safety.
We have announced £107 million additional investment in cycling infrastructure over the last year including £35 million to tackle dangerous junctions for cyclists across the country. We launched a THINK! Cycle safety campaign last September and have also made it simpler for councils to put in place 20 mph zones and limits and install Trixi mirrors to improve the visibility of cyclists at junctions.
Motor Vehicles
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on the number of private hire wedding or funeral vehicle providers nationally. [145508]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not hold information on the number of wedding and funeral vehicle providers.
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Railways: Fares
Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the reasons for the recent increase in rail fares in West Yorkshire by three per cent above inflation. [145547]
Norman Baker: For most train operators, the Government is restricting the permitted average increase on regulated rail fares for January 2013 and 2014 to 1 per cent above inflation, applying the same formula that was inherited from the previous administration.
Within the Northern franchise agreement, West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (WYPTE) fares have a cap of RPI +3% from 2007 until 2013. WYPTE introduced this fares formula to fund additional capacity on local West Yorkshire rail services which it sponsors.
Road Traffic Control: South East
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to alleviate congestion on trunk roads in (a) the South East and (b) Brighton, Kemptown constituency. [145487]
Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport is investing £3.3 billion on major road schemes during this Parliament and tackling pinch points through a dedicated £317 million fund. For the South East, the programme of major improvements includes upgrading junctions 5-7 and junctions 23-27 of the M25 to managed motorways. Managed motorways help relieve congestion by using technology to vary speed limits and allow the hard shoulder to be used as a running lane to create additional capacity. The agency is currently progressing plans to implement ‘free-flow’ charging on the M25 at the Dartford river crossing to reduce congestion.
Also, the South East will benefit from a major scheme to upgrade 2.5 miles of the A23 trunk road just south of Gatwick airport on the main route between London and Brighton. This will be completed next year and will reduce congestion, improve journey time reliability and improve road safety. Improvements to the A21 trunk road are being planned between Tonbridge and Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent, with work potentially starting in 2015.
The national pinch point programme will deliver more than 65 new schemes by 2015. Nine of these are planned for the South East and include improvements to the network on the A34, A27, A3 and A404 trunk roads.
Alongside network improvements, the Highways Agency's programmes for maintenance, traffic management, incident response and travel information all address congestion problems across the strategic road network.
Roads: Standards
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to improve the quality of residential roads. [145488]
Norman Baker:
The Department for Transport expects local highway authorities to provide high-quality, attractive and inclusive streets that work for everyone. Accessible public transport and a barrier-free pedestrian environment
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are fundamental to delivering that commitment and we encourage local authorities to reflect good practice in street design, and reduce street clutter.
The Department for Transport also endorses guidance to local highway authorities through channels such as Well-Maintained Highways, the Code of Practice for highways maintenance produced by the UK Roads Liaison Group. The Code advises local authorities to establish an inspection regime for their highways and recommends inspection intervals for the various categories of highways. The Code provides guidance on safety inspections and recommends that those defects that are likely to create danger or serious inconvenience should receive urgent attention. It can be viewed online via:
http://www.ukroadsliaisongroup.org/en/UKRLG-and-boards/uk-roads-board/wellmaintained-highways.cfm
The Department for Transport is providing £3 billion to local authorities for highways maintenance from 2011 to 2015. In addition and in recognition of highway damage caused by the severe winter weather of 2010/11, in March 2011 the Department allocated an additional £200 million to local authorities. The Department for Transport also announced in December 2012, a further £215 million for highways maintenance to be allocated over the next two financial years to 2014/15.
This Coalition Government recognises the need for more effective and efficient highways maintenance over the longer-term. In April 2011 Ministers announced that the Department is providing £6 million for a sector led Highways Maintenance Efficiency Programme to look at longer-term maintenance strategies. This Programme is providing practical and adaptable efficiency solutions, so local authorities can make more informed local investment decisions to support their local community and economy.
Shipping: Registration
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of recent progress made by Category 1 members of the Red Ensign Group in ratifying the Maritime Labour Convention 2006. [145556]
Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport is monitoring progress by the Category 1 members of the Red Ensign Group, and working with those intending to ratify the convention to ensure that their legislation is in line with the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 and with United Kingdom policy.
Bermuda—draft legislation has been reviewed by the United Kingdom and the Bermuda administration is considering comments.
British Virgin Islands-intends to adopt United Kingdom implementing legislation through an Enactment Order.
Cayman Islands—legislation is under development.
Gibraltar—draft legislation submitted for consideration by UK.
Isle of Man—legislation being prepared for submission, via the Attorney-General's Office, to the United Kingdom for review.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether Category 2 members of the Red Ensign Group are required to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 in full. [145557]
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Stephen Hammond: No. It is a decision for each administration whether they implement the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC). When the United Kingdom is ready to ratify the MLC, ratification will be extended to those REG administrations of either Category 1 or Category 2 which the UK is satisfied are compliant with the convention.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has provided advice to (a) Category 1 and (b) Category 2 members of the Red Ensign Group on the ratification process for the Maritime Labour Convention 2006. [145558]
Stephen Hammond: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has hosted a number of discussions on the implementation and ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC) at the Red Ensign Group conference and intervening technical forums since 2008.
A representative of the Red Ensign Group (REG) attends the MCA's tripartite working group which advises on implementation of the MLC, and papers are circulated to all members for information, as are all consultation documents on the United Kingdom's implementing legislation.
The MCA has provided training to REG surveyors on MLC flag state and port state inspections.
In addition, the MCA has corresponded with individual administrations on specific issues as the need arises, and is reviewing draft implementing legislation produced by REG administrations in order to advise on compliance.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many ships are currently registered under each (a) Category 1 and (b) Category 2 member of the Red Ensign Group. [145559]
Stephen Hammond: Based on the statistics provided by individual Red Ensign Group (REG) registers, the total combined Red Ensign fleet stands at 10,761 vessels and a gross tonnage (GT) of 50,092,295. The following table provides the breakdown of the British commercial fleet between the different REG registers:
| REG Member | Number of Vessels | Total GT |
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Transport: Schools
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the provision of school transport from summer 2013 following the raising of the education leaving age; and if he will make a statement. [146314]
Norman Baker: In September 2011 I met the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tim Loughton), formerly the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families, to discuss travel to school. I attended the Department for Education round table meetings about school transport in March, May and June 2012. In December 2012 I met the Minister of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Yeovil (Mr Laws), to discuss home to school transport.
The Government is increasing the age to which all young people in England must continue in education or training, requiring them to continue until the end of the academic year in which they turn 17 from 2013 and until their 18th( )birthday from 2015.
The responsibility for post-16 transport support is with local authorities. The authorities have a legal duty to set out in a transport statement the arrangements they consider necessary to enable young people to attend post-16 education. The Government recognises that some students find it difficult to pay for education-related costs, and this is one of the reasons why it introduced the 16-19 Bursary Fund. Local authorities and providers are encouraged to work together to ensure that post-16 transport support, and the 16-19 Bursary Fund are used effectively together to help meet transport costs.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to answer question 144633, tabled by the hon. Member for Blaydon on 14 February 2013 for answer on 25 February. [146185]
Stephen Hammond: This question was answered on 28 February 2013, Official Report, column 586W.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
US-EU Free Trade Agreement
16. Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on President Obama’s proposals for a US-EU free trade agreement; and if he will make a statement. [145889]
Mr Hague: I welcome President Obama’s endorsement of a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. The Prime Minister raised this with President Obama before the announcement. An EU-US trade agreement would be worth over £50 billion to the economies of EU member states.
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Syria
17. Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with senior representatives of the Syrian National Council. [145890]
Mr Hague: I met Sheikh Moaz al-Khatib, leader of the Syrian National Coalition, at the Friends of Syria meeting in Rome on 28 February. We are determined to increase our assistance to the National Coalition to help save more lives in Syria. I will make a statement on this tomorrow (6 March).
North Korea
18. Mel Stride: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking in response to North Korea’s recent nuclear test. [145892]
Mr Swire: We are currently working with partners in the UN Security Council to agree a robust response to North Korea's nuclear test; just as we secured following North Korea's recent ‘satellite’ launch. I also summoned the North Korean ambassador to the FCO last month to express the UK's strong condemnation of the test. We are working with EU partners on strengthening the EU's sanctions regime on the DPRK.
Afghanistan
19. Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Afghan authorities on the protection of British civilian and military personnel after 2014. [145893]
Alistair Burt: The safety and security of British personnel in Afghanistan is our top priority. We regularly engage with the Afghan Government on this issue. Although we have not determined the extent of our post 2014 presence, we will ensure that all British personnel are suitably protected.
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, during his recent discussions with Afghanistan Defence Minister Mohammadi, he raised the issue of respect for women's rights and protection of women's security by the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF); and whether the UK provides funding or support for training on the Elimination of Violence Against Women Law to ANSF personnel. [146433]
Alistair Burt: The full participation of women in all aspects of Afghan society is fundamental to securing a stable and prosperous future Afghanistan, and the UK has been forthright in its promotion. We therefore regularly raise respect for women's rights and protection of women's security with the Afghan Government. In December last year the Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), raised the issue with President Karzai.
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Implementation of the Afghan Elimination of Violence Against Women Law (EVAW) was specifically included in the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework, the partnership between the Afghan Government and the international community.
The UK, along with our international partners, continues to look at how best we might support the Afghan Government as they seek to implement the EVAW Law. Our £7.1 million assistance to the Ministry of the Interior goes in part towards helping to improve the Afghan National Police's role in protecting and upholding women's rights. It also supports the development of Afghan policy on promoting human rights and protecting women from violence. UK training to the Afghan National Security Forces is delivered as part of the NATO training mission. Respect for human rights is always a component in this training and a consideration when UK military and police personnel are mentoring their Afghan colleagues. UK police officers working in the European Union Police Mission Afghanistan (EUPOL) developed and support the delivery of a Prevention of Violence Against Women course.
Chagos Islands
22. Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to enable Chagossians to return to the Chagos Islands. [145896]
Mark Simmonds: The European Court of Human Rights decision in December gives us the chance to take stock of our policy on the British Indian Ocean Territory. We will be as positive as possible in our engagement with Chagossian groups and all interested parties, but we should be clear there are fundamental difficulties with resettlement.
Cyprus
23. Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the prospects for a just and fair solution to the Cyprus problem. [145897]
Mr Lidington: The UK is committed to a settlement by Cypriots for Cypriots which will deliver a stable, prosperous and united Cyprus.
British Overseas Territories
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs over how many financial years the Overseas Territories Jubilee Programme is expected to last. [146385]
Mark Simmonds: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Jubilee Programme was created in FY 2012-13 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen. Its purpose is to support public servants from the Territories to get training and work experience in the UK, and for specialists from the UK to work in the Territories. The FCO will continue the programme in FY 2013-14. The future of FCO expenditure on strategic programmes will be considered carefully in the next spending round.
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Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding was allocated to the Overseas Territories Jubilee Programme in each year for which figures are available. [146386]
Mark Simmonds: The Jubilee Programme was launched to coincide with the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen. It received £571,000 during FY 2012-13, its first year. This funding was in addition to and separate from the small discretionary programme budgets allocated to governors each financial year.
Before and during their deployment governors can draw on the wide range of FCO learning and development resources available both in London and from regional learning and development teams overseas; and on the opportunities offered by the cross-Whitehall provider, Civil Service Learning.
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what level of funding has been allocated to projects aiming to build capacity in civil society in the UK Overseas Territories in the years 2010-2015. [146387]
Mark Simmonds: The governor of each of the populated Overseas Territories has a small project budget that is used to support Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) objectives, including projects to build capacity in civil society.
The sums allocated totalled the following:
| FY | £ |
Structural changes to the Overseas Territories Strategic Programme Fund from 2011 onwards saw increased sums being devolved to governors giving them greater flexibility to approve these types of projects.
Funding allocations for FYs 2014-15 and 2015-16 have yet to be determined. Additionally the FCO's environmental programme has provided some funds that build capacity.
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific training is provided to UK Overseas Territories' governors (a) before they are deployed and (b) during their deployment. [146388]
Mark Simmonds: Governors are offered a comprehensive range of support and training for their postings. Each pre-posting programme will be based on individual needs. However, in general, the pre-posting programme will include calls with territory experts and key contacts both inside and outside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO); briefings on core responsibilities; and a three-day course that focuses on leading and developing people and teams overseas. We offer additional training on resilience for those going to very small posts and other challenging environments. Governors are also offered learning opportunities on overseas territory specific issues—including disaster management, financial services and criminal justice.
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Before and during their deployment governors can draw on the wide range of FCO learning and development resources available both in London and from regional learning and development teams overseas; and on the opportunities offered by the cross-Whitehall provider, Civil Service Learning.
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many full-time equivalent civil servants in his Department are working on matters related to the UK Overseas Territories. [146389]
Mark Simmonds: There are approximately 65 full- time equivalent civil servants working for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on overseas territories matters. This figure includes British, UK-based civil servants only—it does not include locally hired staff in the Overseas Territories some of whom are employed directly by the Government of the territory.
Republic of Ireland
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the priorities of the Irish presidency. [146358]
Mr Lidington: Both the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and I regularly discuss current EU business with counterparts during the course of our normal diplomatic relations, and are fully supportive of the Irish presidency programme.
Sudan
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department's website pages for Sudan (a) were last and (b) will be updated. [R] [146427]
Mark Simmonds: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) maintains a travel advice webpage for Sudan, which was last updated on 7 February 2013. This advice is reviewed and updated or republished as required by changing circumstances. Our embassy in Khartoum also has a 'UK in Sudan' page giving information about UK policy and activities in Sudan, which is updated regularly.
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Sudanese Government in relation to British humanitarian aid workers being expelled from Sudan. [146431]
Mark Simmonds:
We are not aware of any foreign humanitarian aid workers who have recently been expelled from Sudan. We are, however, aware of a number of recent closures of humanitarian programmes run by international non-governmental organisations in Eastern Sudan in 2012, which was a worrying step by the Government. Sudan has a history of expelling foreign aid workers. With the UN and other partners we consistently raise our concerns with the Government of Sudan, pressing them to fulfil their international commitments
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to allow full humanitarian access. When the Under-Secretary of State for International Development, the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone), visited Sudan in January she conveyed these messages to the Government of Sudan.
Treasury
Air Passenger Duty
Mr Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment he has made of the potential effect on tourism of abolishing air passenger duty; [146033]
(2) what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the aviation industry of abolishing air passenger duty. [146034]
Sajid Javid: The Chancellor keeps all taxes under review and considers them in the round. Budget 2012 set out air passenger duty rates from 1 April 2013, which will rise in line with inflation.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the increasing cost of air passenger duty on all diaspora communities in the UK such as those from African and Caribbean communities; and what plans he has to address this. [146259]
Sajid Javid: The Government have limited the rise in air passenger duty (APD) to inflation over the period 2010-11 to 2012-13. Budget 2012 set out rates from April 2013, which will also only rise in line with inflation, ensuring that level of APD will again remain constant in real terms. The Government have also taken other action to help reduce the cost of living, including announcing successive increases in the personal allowance. As a result, over 2.2 million individuals with low incomes will be taken out of income tax altogether.
Corporation Tax
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the lowering of the rate of corporation tax on the UK's inward investment. [146229]
Mr Gauke: The Government aim to create the most competitive tax regime in the G20, to encourage inward investment and support growth. The main rate of corporate tax has been reduced from 28% in 2010 to 24% in April last year, and will then fall to 23% this April and 21% in April 2014, when the UK will have the lowest corporation tax rate in the G7 and the fourth lowest in the G20.
Reforms to the corporate tax regime have made the UK more competitive, stemming the flow of businesses leaving and encouraging companies to come back, such as WPP, or to move here for the first time, such as Lancashire (insurance company) and Rowan.
Local Government: Liverpool
John Pugh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how City Deal funding will be spent in the Liverpool City region; and how much of that money has been (a) committed and (b) spent in the Merseyside region. [144725]
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Greg Clark: I am answering this as Minister responsible for City Deals. City Deals were not designed to be about new resources but about devolving existing powers and budgets from the national to the local level to unlock economic growth. Many of the proposals in the deal focus on this.
As part of the City Deal process the Government, through the Department for Communities and Local Government, have agreed to contribute £75 million to support economic development in the city. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has also agreed to contribute £5 million to the Liverpool International Festival of Business. There will be a future revenue cost associated with the enterprise zone which is currently being finalised.
This Government are clear and united in our ambition to decentralise and disperse power in our society. Therefore, wherever possible we have not prescribed to cities how and where to spend the money.
John Pugh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been (a) committed and (b) spent in the Merseyside region as a result of the awarding of the Liverpool City region as part of the City Deal initiative. [144728]
Greg Clark: I am answering this as Minister responsible for City Deals. City Deals are not designed to be about new resources but about devolving existing powers and budgets from the national to the local level to unlock economic growth. Much of the proposals in the deal focus on this.
As part of the City Deal process the Government, through the Department for Communities and Local Government, have agreed to contribute £75 million to support economic development in the city. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has also agreed to contribute £5 million to the Liverpool International Festival of Business.
This Government are clear and united in our ambition to decentralise and disperse power in our society. Therefore, wherever possible we have not prescribed to cities how and where to spend the money.
Monetary Policy
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on quantitative easing in each year for which data are available; and who the biggest beneficiaries were from quantitative easing. [146365]
Greg Clark: The independent Monetary Policy Committee's (MPC) policy tools, including bank rate and quantitative easing (QE), are macroeconomic policy tools designed to affect the economy as a whole, in order to meet the 2% inflation target over the medium term.
Under quantitative easing the Bank of England purchases assets financed by the issuance of central bank reserves. These have primarily been £375 billion worth of gilts, largely from non-bank financial institutions, including insurance companies and pension funds, which use the money received to purchase other assets such as
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corporate bonds and equities. The Bank has also purchased a small amount of private sector assets, mainly corporate bonds.
More information on the completed purchases can be found on the Bank of England website at the following web link:
http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/markets/apf/results.htm
Copyright
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects his Department to consent to the laying of the draft Implementation of the Online Infringement of Copyright (Initial Obligations) (Sharing of Costs) Order 2012. [145433]
Sajid Javid: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has responsibility for the draft Implementation of the Online Infringement of Copyright (Initial Obligations) (Sharing of Costs) Order. The order will therefore be laid at a time determined appropriate by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, following cross-Government clearance. The original scheme commencement date of 1 March 2014 has not changed.
PAYE
Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individual PAYE records from the Real Time Information pilot have been (a) hash matched and (b) not hash matched in each month since the pilot started. [146407]
Mr Gauke: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 17 December 2012, Official Report, column 563W.
HMRC are currently collating the data for subsequent months and these data are therefore not available at this time.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the significant classes of error occurring in the PAYE Real Time Information pilot so far and indicate (a) the proportion of PAYE records affected, (b) the likely source or sources of the errors, (c) whether the error will make the record unusable, or unusable for certain purposes, (d) whether his Department will seek to correct the error and (e) how any transactions affected by the record will be handled in the interim. [146408]
Mr Gauke: The RTI pilot will run until 5 April 2012. HMRC plans to complete its evaluation of the RTI pilot in summer 2013 and intends to publish a summary of the outcomes.
Revenue and Customs
Steve McCabe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs employees worked on preventing the importation of (a) controlled drugs, (b) illegal firearms, (c) illicit alcohol and (d) illicit tobacco in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13 to date; and if he will make a statement. [144853]
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Sajid Javid: All of the information requested is not available.
Since 1 April 2009 operational responsibility for detecting controlled drugs, illegal firearms, illicit alcohol and tobacco at UK frontiers has rested with the UK Border Agency/Force.
Around 206 HMRC officers are engaged in the gathering of intelligence on alcohol and tobacco movements, in order to facilitate the seizure of illicit consignments being imported to the UK.
Both activities are elements of the UK's holistic response to tackling tobacco and alcohol fraud, detailed in the joint HMRC and UKBA tackling tobacco smuggling strategy and HMRC's “Tackling Alcohol Fraud” strategy.
Staff
Diana Johnson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff his Department employed in each of the past five years; how many such staff were employed in London; how many such staff were employed in other regions of England; how many posts moved from London to these regions; and what steps he is taking to move his staff to regional offices. [145697]
Sajid Javid: The number of staff employed by HM Treasury in London and its other offices in each of the past five years (listed as full-time equivalent (FTE) staff) is set out in the following table:
| As at the 31(st) each month | London | Norwich | Scotland |
Fewer than five posts have moved from London to our regional offices in the last five years. Although HM Treasury does not have any current plans to move posts from London to the regions, staff continue to be employed in those offices. Staffing requirements in these offices are kept under review in the light of business requirements with a view to offering the best policy advice and value for money for the Department.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department are working on the growth review. [146493]
Sajid Javid: The information is not held centrally. A range of officials in the Treasury and across Whitehall support Ministers in the formulation and implementation of growth policy, including in relation to the growth review.
Welfare Tax Credits
Paul Goggins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much was lost by HM Revenue and Customs through error and fraud in the administration of tax credits in each of the last five years; [145993]
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(2) what steps he is taking to reduce error and fraud in the administration of tax credits. [145992]
Sajid Javid [holding answer 4 March 2013]: I would draw the right hon. Gentleman's attention to the Comptroller and Auditor General's report ‘Tackling tax credits error and fraud’ (HC891) published on 14 February 2013 and available at:
http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/1213/tax_credits_error_and_fraud.aspx
The latest available estimate of error and fraud is for 2010-11. This is shown in the following table along with values for the preceding four years. Although the value of error and fraud increased in 2010-11, the general trend since HMRC introduced its Tax Credits Error and Fraud Strategy in April 2009 has been downwards. When looked at as the proportion of total tax credits entitlement paid out incorrectly, error and fraud has fallen from 8.9% in 2008-09, prior to the strategy, to 8.1 % in 2010-11.
| Value of claimant favour error and fraud in tax credits, 2006-07 to 2010-11 | |
| Value of claimant favour error and fraud (£ million) | |
| Source: Child and Working Tax Credits Error and Fraud Statistics publications from 2006-07 to 2010-11. 2010-11 is available on the HMRC website at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/fin-error-stats.htm | |
Written Questions
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the procedure and sign-off process for responding to parliamentary questions in his Department includes review by special advisers. [146092]
Sajid Javid: Ministers are responsible and accountable for all answers to parliamentary questions. Special Advisers may provide advice to Ministers, as outlined in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers
Defence
Armed Forces
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) which Ministers have attended meetings of the Cabinet sub-Committee on Armed Forces and Veterans since May 2010; [146419]
(2) how often and on what dates the Cabinet sub- Committee on Armed Forces and Veterans has met since February 2012. [146420]
Mr Robathan:
The Home Affairs Armed Forces Covenant sub-Committee has met five times since it was established in February 2012. However, it is established practice not to disclose the attendance or dates of the meetings or the agendas of Cabinet and Cabinet
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Committees, in order to allow frank discussions between Ministers and to protect the principle of collective agreement.
The membership, and terms of reference, of the Home Affairs Armed Forces Covenant sub-Committee is available from the Cabinet Office website:
https://update.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Cabinet_Committee_Membership_Lists_Sept_2012.pdf
Armed Forces: Maintenance
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to increase the use of deduction orders in 2012-13. [145618]
Mr Robathan: Deduction from earnings orders are instigated by the Child Support Agency (CSA), not the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and I am therefore not in a position to increase their use.
The MOD has a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the CSA to facilitate the direct deduction of child maintenance payments from pay of non-resident parents who are service personnel.
Where a parent asks the CSA to help to obtain appropriate child support from a non-resident parent who is a service person, the MOD will assist the CSA in engaging with that service person. Legislation prevents the CSA from making an order against the pay of a service person, but under the MOU, the MOD will seek to implement any deduction from earnings request submitted by the CSA.
Under the terms of the MOU, if a service person is committed to operations the commanding officer may delay any engagement with the CSA until such time as the non-resident parent is in a position to consider any papers that the CSA may send them and respond appropriately.
Armed Forces: Recruitment
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to increase the number of armed forces' visits to schools and colleges in Scotland following the closure of armed forces recruitment offices in Scotland. [145624]
Mr Robathan: There are no plans to increase the number of armed forces' visits to schools and colleges in Scotland. Visits to schools and colleges are carried out only at the invitation of the establishment, with the aim of supporting the school curriculum and improving awareness of the range of available career opportunities in the armed forces.
Depleted Uranium
Sir Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2013, Official Report, column 234W, on depleted uranium, whether the life extension programme for the CHARM-3 propellant charge is a one-off process or whether regular testing of the charge will be required in the future. [146136]
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Mr Dunne: Regular testing of the CHARM 3 propellant charge will continue to be undertaken while the ammunition remains in service.
Gambia
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of progress by the British Military Advisory Training Team in the Gambia; [145506]
(2) how many of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment training troops in the Gambia are (a) Army personnel and (b) Territorial Army personnel. [145507]
Mr Robathan: We do not have a British Military Advisory Training Team (BMATT) in the Gambia. However, since 2006 the Royal Gibraltar Regiment has provided twice yearly short-term training teams (STTT) to help the Gambian Armed Forces (GAF) prepare for deployment to the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).
The nature of the training that the Gibraltar Regiment provides has changed over the past 18 months from directly training the Gambian contingent to the delivery of support to the Gambian training school and train-the-trainer activity with the Gambian instructors. A team consisting of four regular Gibraltar Regiment personnel and a Royal Navy doctor will conduct the next iteration of training in March 2013, delivering train-the-trainer activity and concurrently helping the Gambian staff to prepare the next company for deployment to Darfur. This will be the final iteration of training which has delivered a core of instructors at the Gambian training school capable of preparing the GAF for deployment on basic peace support operations.
Military Bases: Bye Laws
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many prosecutions have been brought following breaches of the military land byelaws on the US bases at (a) Menwith Hill, (b) Lakenheath, (c) Molesworth and (e) RAF Fylingdales since 2011; and how many such prosecutions have been successful. [145566]
Mr Robathan: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois), on 12 February 2013, Official Report, column 633W.
Military Exercises
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assets and how many service personnel are taking part in Operation Western Zephyr; [145090]
(2) what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of Operation Western Zephyr. [145091]
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Mr Robathan: Exercise Western Zephyr was a squadron level bi-lateral training exercise between the RAF and the US Air Force.
Nine Typhoon aircraft and around 180 personnel participated in Exercise Western Zephyr. The cost is estimated to be approximately £550,000.
NATO
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2013, Official Report, column 443, on NATO, whether NATO makes recommendations in relation to the location of Quick Reaction Alert I assets within the UK. [145825]
RAF Menwith Hill
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the two space-based infra-red system radomes at the American base at NSA Menwith Hill became operational. [145565]
Mr Robathan: The space-based infra-red system at RAF Menwith Hill achieved operational status during 2011.
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was to Ministry of Defence police of patrolling the American base at NSA Menwith Hill between 2000 and 2012. [145647]
Mr Robathan: I am withholding the cost of the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) deployed at RAF Menwith Hill for the purpose of safeguarding national security, since it would indicate the strength of the MDP presence and prejudice national security.
Staff
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff his Department employed in each of the past five years; how many such staff were employed in London; how many such staff were employed in other regions of England; how many posts moved from London to these regions; and what steps he is taking to move his staff to regional offices. [145691]
Mr Robathan: The figures requested are shown in the following table:
| MOD civilian strength at 1 April each year | |||||
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 20U | 2012 | |
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| Notes: 1.( )Global number includes core MOD trading funds personnel, locally employed civilians and Royal Feet Auxiliary personnel. Regional breakdown figures exclude locally employed civilians and Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel. Civilian figures are reported in full-time equivalent terms. 2. Figures are rounded where appropriate. | |||||
With regard to posts moving from London to the regions, this information is not held in the format requested.
Under Lord Levene's Defence Reform recommendations to create a smaller, more strategic head office and delegate more authority to empowered service commands we are transferring more than 100, predominantly military, posts from Main Building in Whitehall to the Fleet, Land, and Air Headquarters in Portsmouth, Andover, and High Wycombe and to the new Joint Force Command Headquarters in Northwood in north London. This is part of the wider reduction in the size of the Head Office from around 2,400 people in 2011-12 to fewer than 1,600 in 2015-16.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which units civilian personnel have left his Department since May 2010. [146421]
Mr Robathan: The information is not held in the format requested. The following table shows the number of civilian leavers, by each of the Department's top level budget (TLB) areas and trading funds since April 2010. This information is available from the quarterly civilian personnel report, outflow on the DASA website:
www.dasa.mod.uk
| 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 | 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012 | 1 April 2012 to 31 January 2013 | |
| Notes: 1. MOD total leavers include all permanent, casual and trading funds civilian personnel, but excludes all Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) and locally engaged civilian (LEC) personnel. 2. Head Office and Corporate Services (HO&CS) and Joint Forces Command (JFC) were established as at 1 April 2012, the Central TLB (CTLB) and Chief of Joint Operations (CJO) were disestablished as at 1 April 2012. Although established as at 1 April 2012, HO&CS and JFC were not the CTLB and CJO renamed. The composition of the two new TLBs is such that it is not possible for any meaningful comparisons to be made with the CTLB and CJO. 3. Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) was established on 1 April 2011 and replaced the Defence Estates organisation. DIO includes TLB property and facilities management functions previously situated within other TLBs, DIO title structure has been applied retrospectively across data period for consistency of reporting. 4. The Science Innovation and Technology TLB (SIT) ceased to be a TLB as at 31 March 2010. Approx 90% of the personnel transferred to the Central TLB with the remainder transferring evenly to DE&S and Dstl. 5. Responsibility for the Meteorological Office was transferred to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) in October 2011. 6. Where rounding has been used, totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not equal the sums of their rounded parts. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in “5” have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. “—” denotes “0” or less than “6”. | |||
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Veterans: Mental Health Services
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department met the Secretary of State for Health or his Ministers to discuss (i) mental health provision for veterans and (ii) dementia among serving and former members of the armed forces in the last 12 months. [146399]
Mr Robathan: Ministers in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) hold a wide range of meeting with colleagues from other Departments, both formal and informal. It is not therefore possible to state when meetings on a specific issue took place.
The MOD and Department of Health have an excellent working relationship where armed forces personnel are concerned. During a debate on 6 December 2012, Minister of State for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans (Min(DPWV)), my right hon. Friend the Member for Rayleigh and Wickford (Mr Francois), outlined a number of areas in which work is being done to address the mental health needs of serving and former service personnel. These include structured mental health assessments, the national veteran's mental health network, and continued funding of research into post traumatic stress disorder at King's College by Professor Sir Simon Wesseley—with whom both I and Min(DPWV) have had several meetings.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices: Brigg and Goole
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many employers in Brigg and Goole constituency have received payment to take on their first young apprentice under the Government's incentive scheme since the inception of that scheme. [146248]
Matthew Hancock: The Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE 16-24) provides payments of £1,500 to support smaller employers taking on new young apprentices aged 16 to 24.
Provisional data show that between 1 February and 31 October 2012, 10(1) employer workplaces in Brigg and Goole parliamentary constituency received payment to take on their first apprentice under the AGE 16-24 scheme.
(1) Figure rounded to the nearest 10.
Business: Advisory Services
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many business mentors in each region are currently available through the Government's national network of mentors. [146325]
Michael Fallon: The national network of 27,000 mentors, which includes the 15,000 mentor volunteers recruited through the Government-funded Get Mentoring project, is accessible via mentorsme.co.uk—the national portal owned and operated by the British Bankers' Association (BBA).
Data on the 15,000 Get Mentoring volunteers by Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) area are:
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| Geographical spread of trained Get Mentoring volunteer mentors | |
| England (grouped by LEP) | Number of mentors |
Business: Loans
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many successful applicants for funds under the Business Finance Partnership—Small Business Tranche are yet to agree legal and commercial terms. [146324]
Michael Fallon: For commercial reasons we are unable to provide this information. A further announcement on the Business Finance Partnership—Small Business Tranche will be made shortly.
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Construction: Vetting
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what support his Department makes available to workers who were blacklisted by the Consulting Association in seeking financial compensation for loss of earnings. [146398]
Jo Swinson: Blacklisting is an abhorrent practice. That is why, in response to the findings of the investigation by the Information Commissioner's Office into the Consulting Association, the Government legislated in 2010 to prohibit the use of blacklists. Under the Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010, individuals who believe they are being excluded from employment because of a blacklist should seek redress in the county courts in England and Wales, or Court of Session in Scotland. Other rights under these regulations and other legislation, such as the right not to be refused employment because of trade union membership, can be enforced in employment tribunals.
For individuals who were blacklisted prior to 2010, their remedies lie under the Trade Union and Labour Relations Consolidation Act 1992. We understand that some complaints by workers listed by the Consulting Association have already been made to employment tribunals. Actions were also taken using protections under the Data Protection Act 1998, although these have now, to all intents and purposes, been exhausted with regard to the Consulting Association. Individuals who have been blacklisted by the Consulting Association may also seek redress in the courts: there is for example an ongoing class action against a number of construction employers.
Copyright Research Expert Advisory Group
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what evidence the Intellectual Property Office sought of members of the Copyright Research Expert Advisory Group of their ability to fulfil the following membership criteria (a) ability and willingness to work constructively with those of an opposing viewpoint and (b) expertise and breadth of knowledge of subject area; and what mechanisms are in place to ensure that members of the expert group continue to fit this criteria. [146404]
Jo Swinson: All those invited to join the Copyright Research Expert Advisory Group (CREAG) had previously demonstrated an ability and willingness to work constructively with those of an opposing viewpoint, as well as professional expertise and experience in developing and commenting on research methodologies and data. The IPO regularly reviews CREAG and its membership for its effectiveness and the contribution that individual members make in providing the IPO with independent, constructive and robust challenge to the existing and developing research work programme.
Energy: Industry
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 13 February 2013, Official Report, column 725W, on energy: industry, when he anticipates that sector strategies for the (a) automotive, (b) aerospace, (c) nuclear and (d) oil and gas and offshore wind industries will be published. [146395]
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Michael Fallon: The industrial strategy sector strategies are being developed in collaboration with business. We expect that all 11 will be published by the end of summer 2013.
Glass: Bottles
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of the economic recession on the glass bottling industry. [146252]
Michael Fallon: We have made no specific assessment. Working with business, we are taking steps to strengthen UK manufacturing, including the glass bottling industry, ensuring a better business environment that will address barriers to growth, encourage innovation and technology commercialisation, exports, business investment and improve skills, as well as build UK supply chains. We are also working to promote the image of manufacturing.
Minimum Wage
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many employers in (a) Brigg and Goole constituency, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) the UK have received a warning for non-payment of the minimum wage in the last fiscal year. [146250]
Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.
HMRC does not keep statistics by reference to town, county or constituency. Nationally, 665 employers have received a Notice of Underpayment of the minimum wage for the period from 1 April 2012 to 28 February 2013.
Motor Sports: Brecon Beacons National Park
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had on the development of an international motor sport circuit near to the Brecon Beacons National Park; and what information his Department has received on such plans. [146246]
Michael Fallon: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has not held discussions about the proposed development of an international motorsport circuit in Wales. The Secretary of State did receive correspondence about a plan for a motor racing circuit at Ebbw Vale back in November 2011. I understand, from a recent conversation I held with the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and European Programmes, that the Blaenau Gwent county borough council will consider a planning application for a motor circuit shortly.
New Businesses
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to his answer of 21 November 2012, Official Report, column 482W, on new businesses, by what date he expects the Entrepreneurs and Education Programme to have (a) engaged with 10,500 staff and (b) engaged with 80 per cent of student enterprise societies. [146508]
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Michael Fallon: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 21 November 2012, Official Report, column 482W.
Regional Growth Fund
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value is of recycled funds from (a) the 45 Regional Growth Fund bids which have been withdrawn to date under rounds one, two and three and (b) projects or programmes from rounds one, two and three which have reduced in scope. [146178]
Michael Fallon [holding answer 4 March 2013]: The total value of the bids which have been withdrawn under all rounds of the Regional Growth Fund is £211 million. These funds have been recycled into the RGF pot.
A further net amount of £27.5 million has also been recycled into the fund for projects and programmes where the final award has been reduced from the amount originally allocated by Ministers for a variety of reasons, including where projects and programmes have been reduced in scope.
This funding will be recycled back into the RGF, including as part of the £350 million available to bidders in round 4.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) process and (b) safeguards he will put in place for judging whether awards under the Exceptional Regional Growth Fund align with the principles of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF); and whether this decision will be made by Government Ministers or the RGF Independent Advisory Panel. [146326]
Michael Fallon: Prospective applicants for exceptional Regional Growth Fund (eRGF) support need to demonstrate strong alignment with the RGF objectives to create private sector jobs and growth, particularly in those areas with a high dependency on public sector employment.
The strength of alignment of each bid with the objectives of the fund will be evaluated through an economic appraisal of the information submitted in the application.
My noble Friends Lord Heseltine and Lord Shipley will scrutinise all applications for eRGF support on behalf of the Independent Advisory Panel and make recommendations to Ministers. This will include advising Ministers on the alignment with the objectives of the RGF.
Ministers will make all final decisions on eRGF support.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) process and (b) safeguards he will put in place for judging whether there is no routine chance to bid under the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) for firms securing awards under the exceptional Regional Growth Fund; and whether this decision will be made by Government Ministers or the RGF Independent Advisory Panel. [146327]
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Michael Fallon: All prospective applicants for exceptional Regional Growth Fund (eRGF) support are strongly encouraged to apply to an open round of RGF.
Where this is not practicable or possible, applicants will need to demonstrate the basis on which their application is time-limited.
My noble Friends Lord Heseltine and Lord Shipley will scrutinise all applications for eRGF support on behalf of the Independent Advisory Panel and make recommendations to Ministers on the case for support. This will include consideration of the urgency of the application and whether a referral to an open round would be more appropriate.
Ministers will make all final decisions on eRGF support.
Secondment
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2012, Official Report, column 739W, on secondment, from which other Government Departments members of staff were seconded in 2012-13. [146323]
Jo Swinson: The following table shows which Government Department members of staff were seconded into BIS from in 2012-13. These data include UK Trade and Investment.
| Number | |
Students: Loans
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many student loans have been taken out by (a) UK students and (b) EU students in each year since the inception of student loans for tuition fees; how many students have made any repayments on the loans taken out in each such year; what the value was of such repayments; and if he will provide a breakdown of the number of EU students taking out loans, by nationality. [145514]
Mr Willetts: The information is as follows:
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Tuition fee loans became available to students in academic year 2006/07. Tuition fee loans are paid directly to higher education institutions (HEI) on behalf of students by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The following table provides details of the tuition fee loans paid to HEIs on behalf of students domiciled in England to study at HEIs in the UK, and EU domiciled students studying in England.
| Table 1: Tuition fee loans paid by domicile of applicant academic years 2006/07 to 2011/12 | ||||
| Number of tuition fee loans paid (thousand) | Amount paid (£ million) | |||
| Academic year | English domiciled students | EU (Outside UK) domiciled students | English domiciled students | EU (Outside UK) domiciled students |
The statistics are published each year by the Student Loans Company (SLC) in the publication “Student Support for Higher Education in England”. The latest publication is available via the following link and the relevant table is table 4B:
http://www.slc.co.uk/media/525907/slcsfr052012.pdf
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Information on the nationality of applicants is not included in Table 1 as it is not held alongside payments information. As an alternative, Table 2 gives the number of EU-domiciled student support applicants who were awarded tuition fee loans according to the nationality they provided during the application process. The award of a loan will not always result in a payment so the totals in Table 2 are larger than in Table 1.
The number of students taking out tuition fee loans and who are domiciled in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for the devolved Administrations.
Information on repayments of income contingent repayment (ICR) loans is published on an annual basis in the Official Statistics Release “Income Contingent repayments by Repayment cohort and tax year 2001/01 to 2010/11 SLC OSP February 2012” at:
http://www.slc.co.uk/media/333186/slcosp022012.pdf
This provides information based on the date borrowers became liable to repay, and cannot be directly compared with the table above. Repayments data include English-domiciled borrowers who are repaying maintenance loans as well as tuition fee loans. Students from the EU can usually apply for tuition fee loans only. Only those EU nationals who have been resident in the UK and islands for three years, and also EEA students assessed as migrant workers, may be eligible to apply for living cost support.
| Table 2: Number of EU domiciled(1) full-time student support applicants studying in England awarded tuition fee loan support by nationality(2)academic years 2006/07 to 2011/12 | ||||||
| Number of EU domiciled applicants | ||||||
| Nationality of applicant | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 |
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| (1) Applicants are ‘EU domiciled’ if they were ordinarily resident in the EU, EU overseas territories, elsewhere in the EEA or Switzerland for the three years immediately before the first day of the first academic year of your course. (2) Nationality is based on information collected during the application process for student support. (3) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 applicants; numbers less than 15 but not zero. (4) Nationality is collected from all student support applicants though some have still to be classified in the management information database and so are “not available”. Note: Figures refer to the position on 31 August at end of each year academic year. Source: Student Loans Company Management Information | ||||||