Bovine Tuberculosis
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the statement of 23 October 2012, Official Report, columns 835-6, on bovine tuberculosis and badger control, and the Statement of 27 February 2013, Official Report, column 28WS, on bovine tuberculosis, for what reasons the badger population estimates in the two pilot cull areas published on 23 October 2012 are higher than the estimates published on 27 February 2013. [148091]
Mr Heath: Both sets of estimates, each of which is expressed as a range, were calculated by estimating the number of active badger setts in the area and multiplying this by the estimated average number of badgers per active sett.
For the purpose of the October 2012 badger population estimates, the average number of badgers per active sett was estimated from the results of two studies conducted over several years in the Gloucestershire area. This was the best information available at the time.
The availability of new data has allowed new badger population estimates to be calculated. The new data included information on the estimated number of badgers per active sett collected in each of the pilot areas using DNA analysis.
The February 2013 badger population estimates are the best information currently available on badger population size in the pilot areas and should be used in preference to the October 2012 estimates.
Dangerous Dogs
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 6 February 2013, Official Report, on tackling irresponsible dog ownership, if he will publish all the responses to his 2012 consultation on responsible dog ownership. [144902]
Mr Heath: As is normal procedure, the individual responses to the consultation are lodged with DEFRA's main library at the Information Resource Centre (IRC) at Ergon House, c/o 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR (telephone 020 7238 6575), which will supply, on request, copies of responses to personal callers or telephone inquirers. A summary of responses to this consultation can currently be accessed via the following link:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/files/dogs-summary-responses-130206.pdf
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Horse Passports
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the efficacy of the UK horse passport regime and its contribution to preventing veterinary medicine entering the human food chain; and what plans he has for the future of the regime. [145333]
Mr Heath: Passports may be endorsed to exclude a horse from slaughter. This must be done by veterinary surgeons when certain veterinary medicines, including Phenylbutazone, are administered. The declaration is irreversible. The Chief Veterinary Officer and the Chief Executive of the Food Standards Agency wrote to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons on 4 February 2013 seeking their assistance in reminding vets of their legal obligations under the Horse Passports Regulations 2009.
The Government remain committed to exploring ways to improve the horse passport system within the framework of European legislation. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and my noble Friend Lord de Mauley met representatives of various equine sectors on 21 February to discuss such issues.
Marine Conservation Zones
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects the designation of the 19 proposed marine conservation zones in the Irish Sea to be completed. [148074]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA is currently consulting on proposals for four sites in the Irish sea area to be designated in 2013. The remaining 11 sites will be considered for future designation.
Packaging: Recycling
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to review the statutory packaging recycling targets for 2013 to 2017. [148377]
Richard Benyon: DEFRA will monitor progress towards meeting the packaging recycling targets for 2013 to 2017 as established by the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) (Amendment) Regulations, and will take appropriate action if needed. I will seek an opportunity to update the House on progress in 2015.
Schmallenberg Virus
Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ogmore of 27 November 2012, Official Report, column 307W, on the Schmallenberg virus, for what reasons his Department has classified Schmallenberg virus as a low impact disease. [147580]
Mr Heath:
Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is classified as low impact by the EU. This is as a result of reports produced by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
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based on data collected from all affected member states (MSs). Their report of November 2012 stated that the maximum proportion of confirmed sheep herds per region in affected MSs is 6.6% and 4% for cattle herds. At the EFSA's most recent meeting in February 2013, impact assessments from other affected member states continue to conclude an overall low impact and the Commission stressed again that they consider SBV to be a low impact disease.
This concurs with our own consideration of the impact of Schmallenberg in the UK. The online sheep survey on SBV run by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) after lambing in 2012 has shown SBV did have an impact on the losses during the lambing season of 2011-12 on the participating farms, but not a large impact when compared to normal losses on the majority of infected farms. Losses during lambing happen on most farms whether or not SBV was present or suspected. A few SBV confirmed farms (3%) or farms with malformed lambs (12%) were badly affected with large losses of lambs and ewes. However, 3% of farms without any lamb malformations and 3% of SBV negative farms also reported high losses. Likewise both SBV confirmed farms and SBV negative farms had low losses. 494 farms took part in the study, of which 76 had had SBV confirmed by testing as the cause of malformed off spring and 140 suspected due to clinical signs, that they had had SBV infection. While some farms with certain specific management practices lambing early in the season have seen much greater impacts, this is linked to them having a large proportion of their flock all at the crucial susceptible stage of pregnancy at the same time when virus has arrived in their flock. A similar effect has been seen in the Netherlands and France, which have flocks synchronising their mating periods. The vast majority of our sheep flocks are not synchronised so there is no evidence to believe that they will see similar high impacts. This is anecdotally being borne out in recent reports from AHVLA vets in the field and the contact they have with veterinary practitioners.
Cattle herds have a much more staggered mating period and calves are born all year round, thus reducing the number of cows at the critical stage of pregnancy at the same time and lessening the impact in the herd. Data from other affected member states support this.
There have been anecdotal reports of more barren ewes and cows at scanning following the last breeding period. There are many reasons for animals not to hold at mating, including the poor weather resulting in poor nutrient content in fodder, and liver fluke, both of which have been issues late in 2012. Our scanning surveillance has not detected that SBV has been the cause of this.
Following infection, animals develop immunity which is protective against further SBV infection in the subsequent year. Research into the level and duration of immunity is one of the areas of research DEFRA is funding.
I recently met with cattle and sheep industry stakeholders to discuss the current SBV situation. They concurred with the description of the impact of SBV in the UK as described here. Subsequent to the meeting, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has issued an update on the progress of a SBV vaccine submission for provisional marketing authorisation.
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Deputy Prime Minister
Constituencies
Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2013, Official
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column 439W on constituencies, when each previous boundary review in the last 30 years was. [148430]
Miss Chloe Smith: The date of publication of the final report in the 3(rd), 4(th) and 5(th) Periodical Reviews of parliamentary constituencies conducted by each Boundary Commission is set out in the following table:
| Boundary Commission | 3(rd) Periodical Review | 4(th) Periodical Review | 5(th) Periodical Review |
Electoral Register
Dr Offord: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether homeowners have a right of appeal against a decision by a local authority not to include that person on the register of electors. [147552]
Miss Chloe Smith: Yes, electors have a right of appeal against a decision to reject an application to register. Where an application for electoral registration is rejected summarily (i.e. without a hearing), the individual concerned has three working days from the date of the decision within which to require the electoral registration officer (ERO) to reconsider the decision at a hearing.
If following the hearing, the ERO does not take a different view, the individual then has 14 calendar days to notify the ERO that he or she wishes to appeal the disputed decision, specifying the grounds for the appeal; the ERO must then forward the appeal to the county court, or to the sheriff in Scotland.
If the relevant deadlines have elapsed, or if a person does not wish to make a formal appeal, there is of course nothing to prevent them from contacting their ERO to discuss their situation.
Electoral Register: Clwyd
Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many electors were registered to vote in each ward of Vale of Clwyd constituency following the revision of the electoral register in 2011. [148105]
Miss Chloe Smith: The number of parliamentary electors who were registered to vote in each ward of Vale of Clwyd constituency at 1 December 2011 is set out in the following table:
| Vale of Clwyd | |
| Name of ward | Number of parliamentary electors registered to vote |
Northern Ireland
Job Creation
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills regarding the need to sustain and create new jobs in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement. [146690]
Mrs Villiers: I have regularly discussed the need to create new private sector jobs and boost the Northern Ireland economy with a range of ministerial colleagues, including my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. I will be having further discussions with them as part of the Government's work with the devolved Administration to rebalance the Northern Ireland economy.
Annual Leave
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials in (a) her Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies qualify for privilege days; and what the total cost to the public purse was of the number of privilege days utilised each year by such officials. [147746]
Mike Penning:
All home civil servants working in my Department are contractually entitled to a day off for the Queen's birthday in June, and one privilege day at
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the time of the Christmas break. In addition, they are entitled to 1.5 privilege days leave per annum.
Any staff on secondment to my Department from the Northern Ireland civil service (NICS) are entitled to privilege days in line with NICS terms and conditions. No cost analysis of privilege days has been undertaken.
My Department has two non-departmental public bodies—the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
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and the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland—and one advisory non-departmental public body—the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. As such bodies are independent of Government, my hon. Friend may wish to write to the Commissions direct on these matters.
| ALB | Status | Contact details |
Pay
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was paid to officials in (a) her Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies in bonuses and other payments in addition to salary in each of the last five years; how many officials received such payments; and what the monetary value was of the 20 largest payments made in each year. [148031]
Mike Penning: Comparable figures for my Department as it is now configured are not available following the completion of the devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010.
During 2010-11, my Department paid a total of £35,830 to 47 officials; the value of the 20 largest were: £7,500 x 2, £1,200 x 6, £750 x 4 and £500 x 8;
In 2011-12, my Department paid £33,175 to 75 officials: the value of the 20 largest were: £1,300 x 8, £1,200 x 5 and £500 x 7;
In 2012-13 to date, £21,400 has been paid to 70 officials; the value of the 20 largest were £500 each.
My Department has two non-departmental public bodies—the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland; and one advisory non-departmental public body—the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. As such bodies are independent of Government, my hon. Friend may wish to write to the Commissions directly on these matters.
| ALB | Status | Contact details |
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what allowances and subsidies in addition to salary were available to officials in (a) her Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years; and what the monetary value was of such payments and allowances in each such year. [148050]
Mike Penning: Comparable figures for my Department as it is now configured are not available following the completion of the devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010.
Until November 2012, staff on secondment to my Department from the Department of Justice (NI) were paid £287 per annum by way of a Revised Environmental Allowance (REA). Following a review by the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS), it was agreed that REA would be reduced from £287 per annum to £150 with effect from 1 November 2012 and then removed completely with effect from 1 August 2013. It is not possible within the PQ cost limits to provide the total amount of REA paid for the last three financial years following devolution.
A small number of staff who are in posts which require them to undertake 'on-call' duties may make a claim for an 'on-call' allowance of £20 per weekday and £35 per weekend day.
My Department has two non-departmental public bodies—the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland; and one advisory non-departmental public body—the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. As such bodies are independent of Government, my hon. Friend may wish to write to the Commissions direct on these matters.
| ALB | Status | Contact details |
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Recruitment
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials were recruited to (a) her Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years. [147974]
Mike Penning: Comparable figures for my Department as it is now configured are not available following the completion of the devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010.
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My Department did not recruit any staff during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 financial years; during the 2012-13 financial year to date we have recruited eight members of staff.
My Department has two non-departmental public bodies—the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland—and one advisory non-departmental public body—the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. As such bodies are independent of Government, my hon. Friend may wish to write to the Commissions direct on these matters.
| ALB | Status | Contact details |
Sickness Absence
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many days (a) her Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies has lost to staff sickness in each of the last five years; and what estimate she has made of the cost of such absence in each year. [147993]
Mike Penning: Comparable figures for my Department as it is now configured are not available following the completion of devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010.
The number of working days lost due to absence for the last two 12 month rolling periods are as follows:
1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011: 437
1 October 2011 to 30 September 2012: 647.
No estimate of the cost of this absence has been made. Robust procedures are in place to manage absence, and in particular long-term absence, which has made up a significant proportion of the days lost.
My Department has two non-departmental public bodies—the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland—and one advisory non-departmental public body—the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. As such bodies are independent of Government, my hon. Friend may wish to write to the Commissions direct on these matters.
| ALB | Status | Contact details |
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials in (a) her Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies have had (i) fewer than five days, (ii) five to 10 days, (iii) 10 to 15 days, (iv) 15 to 20 days, (v) 20 to 25 days, (vi) 25 to 50 days, (vii) 50 to 75 days, (viii) 75 to 100 days, (ix) 100 to 150 days, (x) 150 to 200 days, (xi) more than 200 days, (xii) more than three months, (xiii) more than six months and (xiv) more than one year on paid sick leave (A) consecutively and (B) in total in each of the last five years. [148012]
Mike Penning: Comparable figures for my Department as it is now configured are not available following the completion of the devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010.
While my Department does not hold figures in the form requested, information is held in relation to long and short term sick leave, where long term absence is classed as an absence of over 20 working days. The figures for the previous two 12 month rolling periods are as follows:
1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011—330 days long term, 107 short term
1 October 2011 to 30 September 2012—386 days long term, 261 short term
My Department has two non-departmental public bodies—the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland; and one advisory non-departmental public body—the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. As such bodies are independent of Government, my hon. Friend may wish to write to the Commissions direct on these matters.
| ALB | Status | Contact details |
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Telephone Services
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) 0800, (b) 0808, (c) 0844, (d) 0845 and (e) 0870 telephone numbers for the public are in use by her Department. [147824]
Mike Penning: My Department does not have any 0800, 0808, 0844, 0845 or 0870 telephone numbers for public use.
Termination of Employment
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials in (a) her Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies have left that body due to (i) resignation, (ii) retirement, (iii) redundancy, (iv) transferral to another public sector post and (v) another reason in each of the last five years. [147955]
Mike Penning: Comparable figures for my Department as it is now configured are not available following the completion of the devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010.
In relation to my Department, the information requested is as follows:
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Financial year April 2010 to March 2011:
(i) Resignation—0
(ii) Retirement—2
(iii) Redundancy— 0
(iv) Transferral to another public sector post—0
(v) Another reason—2.
Financial year April 2011 to March 2012:
(i) Resignation—4
(ii) Retirement—2
(iii) Redundancy—0
(iv) Transferral to another public sector post—4
(v) Another reason—0.
Financial year April 2012 to date:
(i) Resignation—5
(ii) Retirement—3
(iii) Redundancy—0
(vi) Transferral to another public sector post—2
(vii) Another reason—0.
My Department has two non-departmental public bodies—the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland—and one advisory non-departmental public body—the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. As such bodies are independent of Government, my hon. Friend may wish to write to the Commissions direct on these matters.
| ALB | Status | Contact details |
Terrorism
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment she has made of activities of (a) loyalist and (b) republican paramilitary groups. [145373]
Mike Penning: I would refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, made on 28 February 2013, Official Report, column 35WS.
Scotland
Annual Leave
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials in his Department qualify for privilege days; and what the total cost to the public purse was of the number of privilege days utilised each year by such officials. [147747]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly and has no direct costs in respect of privilege days. All staff that join the Office do so on an assignment, secondment or loan agreement from other Government bodies but principally from the Scottish Government or the Ministry of Justice. Public and privilege holidays are a matter for the parent bodies.
Pay
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was paid to officials in his Department in bonuses and other payments in addition to salary in each of the last five years; how many officials received such payments; and what the monetary value was of the 20 largest payments made in each year. [148032]
David Mundell: All staff in the Scotland Office are on assignment, loan or secondment from other Government bodies, mainly the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Justice and therefore may be eligible for bonuses, allowances and other payments additional to basic salary in different ways through their parent bodies' pay arrangements.
The Scotland Office is not responsible for payments made through end of year performance payments or allowances under staffs' parent bodies' pay arrangements and does not hold information centrally on these matters.
The Office is however able to directly authorise non-consolidated and non-pensionable bonus payments (including small and instantaneous awards, eg vouchers) in recognition of special effort, achievement and commitment. The following table shows the cost of such payments in each of the last five years and the monetary value of the 20 largest payments made in each year:
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| Financial year | Total cost (£) | Number of officials receiving payments |
| (1) Figure relates to the monetary value of the 20 largest bonus payments. | ||
The only other category of payment made to officials in addition to basic salary was overtime/travel time payments totalling: £48,946.82 in 2011-12, £46,228.63 in 2010-11, £73.649.76 in 2009-10, £86,513.97 in 2008-09, and £39,778.09 in 2007-08. The monetary value of the 20 largest overtime/travel time payments made was £24,211.63 in 2011-12, £27,207.77 in 2010-11, £29,093.90 in 2009-10. For the years 2008-09 and 2007-08, this information was not retained.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what allowances and subsidies in addition to salary were available to officials in his Department in each of the last five years; and what the monetary value was of such payments and allowances in each such year. [148051]
David Mundell: All staff in the Scotland Office are on an assignment, secondment or loan from other Government bodies; in the majority of cases, the Scottish Government or the Ministry of Justice. The Office is not responsible for the setting or payment of allowances and subsidies set through the parent bodies' pay arrangements.
Plants
Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on indoor and outdoor plants and trees in each year between 2005 and 2010. [147425]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not set aside a specific budget for indoor and outdoor plants and trees, and the costs are not separately identifiable between 2005 and 2010. All expenditure incurred is in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money.
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Recruitment
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials were recruited to his Department in each of the last five years. [147975]
David Mundell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 13 February 2013, Official Report, column 744W.
Sickness Absence
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many days his Department has lost to staff sickness in each of the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such absence in each year. [147994]
David Mundell: All Scotland Office staff are on secondment from other Government bodies, principally the Scottish Government or the Ministry of Justice, which have their own absence management policies and recording procedures that apply to those of their staff working in this Office. Since 2010, the Scotland Office has local records that confirm staff incurred 142.5 days absence in 2010, 112.5 days in 2011 and 85.5 days in 2012. The Office's senior management keeps sick absence under review and has noted that the rate of absence is low compared to other bodies and that it has declined since 2010.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials in his Department have had (a) fewer than five days, (b) five to 10 days, (c) 10 to 15 days, (d) 15 to 20 days, (e) 20 to 25 days, (f) 25 to 50 days, (g) 50 to 75 days, (h) 75 to 100 days, (i) 100 to 150 days, (j) 150 to 200 days, (k) more than 200 days, (l) more than three months, (m) more than six months and (n) more than one year on paid sick leave (i) consecutively and (ii) in total in each of the last five years. [148013]
David Mundell: All Scotland Office staff are on assignment, loan or secondment from other Government bodies, principally the Scottish Government and the Ministry of Justice, which have their own absence management policies and recording processes, that apply to those of their staff working in this Office. Since 2010, the Scotland Office has kept local records of sick absences.
The information requested is supplied in the following table for the years 2010 to 2012, and shows the number of occurrences of sick leave rather the number of officials.
| Number of occurrences where officials have had consecutive days sick leave in 2010 | Number of occurrences where officials have had consecutive days sick leave in 2011 | Number of occurrences where officials have had consecutive days sick leave in 2012 | |
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Sovereignty
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Scottish Government regarding (a) passports and (b) dual citizenship with the UK in the event of an independent Scotland. [148514]
David Mundell: The Secretary of State for Scotland has received no representations from the Scottish Government regarding passports or dual citizenship with the UK in the event of an independent Scotland.
Telephone Services
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) 0800, (b) 0808, (c) 0844, (d) 0845 and (e) 0870 telephone numbers for the public are in use by his Department. [147825]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not use any (a) 0800, (b) 0808, (c) 0845 or (d) 0870 telephone numbers for the public.
Termination of Employment
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials in his Department have left that body due to (i) resignation, (ii) retirement, (iii) redundancy, (iv) transferral to another public sector post and (v) another reason in each of the last five years. [147956]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. All staff that join the Office do so on an assignment, secondment or loan agreement from other Government bodies but principally from the Scottish Government or the Ministry of Justice. Employment matters specific to (i) resignation, (ii) retirement, (iii) redundancy, (iv) transferral to another public sector post or (v) for other reasons, are for these parent bodies.
Wales
Budget March 2013
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the likely effect on Wales of measures planned to be announced in Budget 2013. [147918]
Stephen Crabb: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer outlining Welsh priorities for Budget 2013 including proposals from the Wales Office Business Advisory Group.
Commission on Devolution in Wales
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the Government plans to respond to the recommendations of the first report of the Commission on Devolution in Wales. [147909]
Stephen Crabb: As the Government announced in the autumn statement, we will respond formally to the first report of the Commission on Devolution in Wales in the spring.
Domestic Visits
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many official engagements have been undertaken in Wales by each of the Under-Secretaries of State for Wales since taking up their posts. [148808]
Stephen Crabb: Since our appointments, my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Wales, Baroness Randerson, has undertaken 43 official engagements in Wales, and I have undertaken 24. We both of course also undertake numerous engagements in London to press the interests of Wales.
Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent meetings he has had with bodies representing housing associations and tenants in Wales to discuss the effect of the under-occupation penalty. [148807]
Stephen Crabb: Details of ministerial meetings with all external organisations are published as part of the Wales Office quarterly transparency returns.
Annual Leave
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials in his Department qualify for privilege days; and what the total cost to the public purse was of the number of privilege days utilised each year by such officials. [147750]
Stephen Crabb: All civil servants (both permanent and temporary) in the Wales Office qualify for privilege days in addition to their holiday entitlements. Ministry of Justice officials receive 2.5 privilege days per annum, and Welsh Government officials receive two privilege days per annum, as part of their terms and conditions of service. This includes a privilege day relating to the Queen's birthday. The total cost could be estimated only at disproportionate cost.
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National Assembly for Wales
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals relating to the proposals included in the Green Paper on future electoral arrangements of the National Assembly for Wales. [147912]
Stephen Crabb: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales announced on 12 March 2013, Official Report, columns 8-9WS, that the Government will take forward three proposals included in the Green Paper on future electoral arrangements tor the National Assembly for Wales. The Government will bring forward legislation to effect these changes at the earliest opportunity.
Pay
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was paid to officials in his Department in bonuses and other payments in addition to salary in each of the last five years; how many officials received such payments; and what the monetary value was of the 20 largest payments made in each year. [148035]
Stephen Crabb: The following table details the bonuses paid to Wales Office staff in each if the last five financial years:
| Financial year | Number of officials paid bonuses | Monetary value of each bonus (£) |
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what allowances and subsidies in addition to salary were available to officials in his Department in each of the last five years; and what the monetary value was of such payments and allowances in each such year. [148054]
Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office is not an employer in its own right. Our permanent staff are employees of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), with others on loan from other Government Departments and the Welsh Government. Allowances and subsidies for MOJ staff working in the Wales Office, and those on loan to the Wales Office who are paid via the MOJ payroll, will be included in the answer to this question given by the Ministry of Justice.
Recruitment
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials were recruited to his Department in each of the last five years. [147978]
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Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office is not an employer in its own right and therefore has had no locus to recruit externally in the last five years.
Severn River Crossing
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the operation of the Severn bridges when the concession ends; and what level of tolling is appropriate at that stage. [148809]
Stephen Crabb: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on transport matters which affect Wales. No decisions have yet been made on the future of the two crossings after the forecast end of the current concession with Severn River Crossings plc in 2018. However, the Government have been clear that it will need to continue to toll after the current concession ends in order to recover costs incurred by UK taxpayers in relation to the crossings.
Sickness Absence
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many days his Department has lost to staff sickness in each of the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such absence in each year. [147997]
Stephen Crabb: Prior to 1 April 2011, the Wales Office was part of the Ministry of Justice. Therefore, our figures for the periods prior to 1 October 2010 will form part of the Ministry of Justice figures.
The figures for the period from 1 October 2010 are shown in the following table.
| Reporting period | Number of working days lost due to sickness |
No estimate of the cost of this absence has been made. Robust procedures are in place to manage absence, and in particular long term absence, which has made up a significant proportion of the days lost.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials in his Department have had (a) fewer than five days, (b) five to 10 days, (c) 10 to 15 days, (d) 15 to 20 days, (e) 20 to 25 days, (f) 25 to 50 days, (g) 50 to 75 days, (h) 75 to 100 days, (i) 100 to 150 days, (j) 150 to 200 days, (k) more than 200 days, (l) more than three months, (m) more than six months and (n) more than one year on paid sick leave (i) consecutively and (ii) in total in each of the last five years. [148016]
Stephen Crabb: It would not be possible to provide the data requested without incurring a disproportionate cost.
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Social Security Benefits: Disability
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment his Department has undertaken of the effect of welfare changes on disabled people in Wales. [148772]
Stephen Crabb: The effect of welfare changes on disabled people has been assessed by the Department for Work and Pensions in their equality impact assessments. The Welfare Reform Act 2012 impact assessments and equality impact assessments are available on their website.
Telephone Services
Richard Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) 0800, (b) 0808, (c) 0844, (d)
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0845 and
(e)
0870 telephone numbers for the public are in use by his Department. [147828]
Termination of Employment
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials in his Department have left that body due to (i) resignation, (ii) retirement, (iii) redundancy, (iv) transferral to another public sector post and (v) another reason in each of the last five years. [147959]
Stephen Crabb: The numbers of officials who have left the Wales Office by the reasons requested are in the following table.
| Financial year | |||||
| Reasons for leaving | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 (to date) |
The Wales Office is not an employer in its own right, and many Wales Office staff are on time-limited loan from other Government Departments and the Welsh Government. Staff returning to their home Departments at the end of their loan periods are counted as transfers to other public sector posts. Staff who left on redundancy all took voluntary exits.
Trade Unions
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent meetings he has had with trades unions in Wales. [148768]
Stephen Crabb: Details of ministerial meetings with all external organisations are published as part of the Wales Office quarterly transparency returns.
Universal Credit
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the outcome of the demonstration project for universal credit carried out in Torfaen. [147913]
Stephen Crabb: The direct payment demonstration projects are providing the Government with information about how to design the direct payment aspect of universal credit so that it has the least impact on both tenants and landlords. The Government is testing a variety of approaches with a mix of tenants during the projects to understand what interventions best help tenants who fall into arrears. With this information, the Department for Work and Pensions is aware of the issues and how best to tackle them.
Prime Minister
Climate Change
Mr Wallace: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make climate change one of the main priorities of the upcoming G8 summit in Northern Ireland. [148526]
The Prime Minister: The UK's presidency of the G8 this year is an opportunity to make progress on delivering practical action on the vital global issues of trade, tax and transparency. The G8 will also be an opportunity to make progress on other global issues, including climate change which will be part of the discussions at the first formal G8 Foreign Ministers' meeting on 10 and 11 April 2013.
Food Banks
Mr Watts: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 6 March 2013, Official Report, column 953, how many people were using food banks in (a) 2000, (b) 2005, (c) 2010 and (d) the last period for which figures are available. [147805]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the Trussell Trust website where the figures on food banks have been published. I have placed a copy of the document in both Libraries of the House.
India
Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister how many times he has visited India in an official capacity since 2010. [147810]
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The Prime Minister: Details of ministerial overseas travel are published quarterly on the Cabinet Office website. I have placed copies of my published overseas visits since 2010 in both Libraries of the House.
Iraq Committee of Inquiry
Mr Amess: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what recent discussions he has had with the (a) chairman and (b) secretary of the Chilcot Inquiry on the publication of its report; and if he will make a statement; [147933]
(2) whether he plans to publish the report of the Iraq Inquiry in full; and if he will make a statement. [147934]
Guto Bebb: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2013, Official Report, column 408W, on Iraq: Chilcot Inquiry, how long he expects the Maxwellisation process to take before the publication of the final report. [148258]
The Prime Minister: Sir John Chilcot wrote to me on 13 July 2012, updating me on the inquiry's progress. I replied to Sir John on 17 July. Both letters have been published on the inquiry's website and I have placed copies in the Libraries of both Houses.
The inquiry's report will be published in Parliament, subject to any redactions agreed under the protocol. The Maxwellisation process is a matter for the inquiry, which is independent of Government.
Office of the Quartet Representative
Mr Amess: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what discussions he has had with Tony Blair in his role as the Quartet Special Representative in the last 12 months; what was discussed at each such meeting; on what date each meeting took place; and if he will make a statement; [147931]
(2) what assessment he has made of the progress made by Tony Blair in his role as the Quartet Special Representative; what recent discussions he has had with Tony Blair on this issue; and if he will make a statement; [147932]
(3) what recent reports he has received on the work of Mr Tony Blair in his role as Middle East Peace Envoy; what recent discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in the Government have had with Mr Blair on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [148406]
The Prime Minister: The Quartet has an important role to play in bringing Israelis and Palestinians together as we urgently seek to move the peace process forward. I have met Tony Blair in his role as the Quartet's Special Representative on a number of occasions, most recently on 6 February 2013 and 13 September 2012. During these meetings we have discussed the prospects for the Middle East Peace Process and the vital role the US has in leading an effort to revive this, supported by European, Arab and other nations. We have also discussed how to support US efforts in this regard.
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Home Department
Alcoholic Drinks: Prices
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has sought legal advice on the legality of the UK adopting a minimum unit price for alcohol. [R] [148537]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The advice which the Government has received on this issue is subject to legal privilege. We do not, therefore, believe it appropriate to disclose this advice (or any summary of it).
Communications Data Bill (Draft)
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has taken to consult (a) the Scottish Government, (b) Scottish local authorities, (c) the Police Service of Scotland and (d) the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency on the revised draft Communications Data Bill. [148407]
James Brokenshire: Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a variety of organisations and individuals, as part of the process of developing the revised Communications Data Bill. Although communications data is a reserved matter, this has included meetings with key groups in Scotland that will be affected by the Bill. Details of ministerial consultation are published on the Cabinet Office website on a quarterly basis.
Crime Prevention: Wales
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which organisations in the South Wales police area received funds from the Drug Intervention Programme Main Grant in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2011-12; and how much each such organisation received in each such year; [148306]
(2) which organisations in the South Wales police force area received funds from the Drug Testing Grant in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2011-12; and how much each such organisation received in each such year; [148307]
(3) which organisations in the South Wales police force area received funds from the Community Safety Partnership funding programme in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2011-12; and how much each such organisation received in each such year; [148308]
(4) which organisations in the South Wales police force area received funds from the Youth Crime and Substance Misuse Prevention Activities funding in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2011-12; and how much each such organisation received in each such year; [148309]
(5) which organisations in the South Wales police force area received funds from the Positive Futures programme in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2011-12; and how much each such organisation received in each such year; [148311]
(6) which organisations in the South Wales police force area received funds from the Communities against guns, gangs and knives programme in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2011-12; and how much each such organisation received in each such year; [148312]
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(7) which organisations in the South Wales police force area received funds from the Ending Gang and Youth Violence programme in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2011-12; and how much each such organisation received in each such year; [148313]
(8) which organisations in the South Wales police force area received funds from the Communities Against Crime Innovation fund in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2011-12; and how much each such organisation received in each such year; [148314]
(9) which organisations in the South Wales police force area received funds from the Safer Future Communities programme in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2011-12; and how much each such organisation received in each such year; [148315]
(10) which organisations in the South Wales police force area received funds from any funding stream from
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her Department, relating to drugs, crime or community safety which are ending in March 2013 but which were not specifically listed on her Department's website as ending to make way for the introduction of the new Community Safety Fund in
(a)
2012-13 and
(b)
2011-12. [148316]
Damian Green: The following table provides figures for funding provided by the Home Office to organisations and agencies within the South Wales police force area in 2011-12 and 2012-13. Detailed breakdowns are provided where funding was allocated directly by the Department to organisations in the area.
Other than the funding streams listed on the Home Office website, there were no other relevant funds awarded in the South Wales area from drugs, crime and community safety funding streams that are ending in March 2013.
| Allocation of Home Office funding to organisations within the South Wales police area | |||
| £ | |||
| Funding stream | Recipient | 2011-12 | 2012-13 |
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18 Mar 2013 : Column 416W
| (1) This is a different ‘Community Safety Fund' from that allocated to PCCs. (2) This grant is one amount given for all of Wales. It is allocated by the Wales Government. (3) The amounts for 2012-13 are the combined totals of direct grant to South Wales police authority and contributions to the Youth Justice Grant (managed by the Youth Justice Board), which went directly to Youth Offending Teams. Note: Amounts given are to the nearest £. | |||
Customs
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to reduce the entry by sea into the UK of banned substances. [148354]
Mr Harper: Border Force is committed to preventing banned substances from crossing the Border into the UK. Border Force Maritime and Aviation Operations is the single provider of maritime enforcement, surveillance and interception capability for Border Force. Its fleet of five offshore patrol vessels, known as cutters, operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, detecting prohibited and restricted goods and preventing tax fraud by searching all types of vessels.
The fleet provide an essential surveillance and enforcement capability in UK waters. Cutters regularly work closely and train with other Government Departments such as the police and military to disrupt and deter any sea-borne criminal threat. Through co-ordinated intelligence and marine assets, this specialised law enforcement capability allows the agency to make an important contribution in protecting the border.
Their role in preventing banned substances from crossing the border varies between strategic patrols, tactical response work or intelligence-led interceptions to control general maritime traffic in UK waters and around the more remote areas, visited less often by land-based teams.
Moreover Border Force use targeting techniques in order to combat potential threats from canalised maritime traffic. Targeting is a means of selecting a person or a consignment for examination at the border, based on trade and carrier data received pre-arrival or pre-departure. Targeting is used to inform deployment in order to maximise the effectiveness of limited resources by deploying to the highest risk. Targeting relies on intelligence and profiles that are up-to-date being laid over the data received from the trade in order to identify those movements worthy of further attention.
Customs: Drugs
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much illegal medicine has been confiscated at UK borders in each of the last five years. [148231]
Mr Harper: Border Force does not specifically record seizures of illegal medication. These will be included within other class A/B/C seizures as published within the Home Office Statistical Bulletin “Seizures of Drugs in England and Wales” and the Border Force publication for drugs seizures within the UK. The Home Office bulletin is a yearly publication which covers the last 10 years and the Border Force figures, which are published on a quarterly basis, cover 2011-12 onwards.
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/drug-seizures/
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/police-research/hosb1212/hosb1212?view=Binary
European Convention On Human Rights
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether work is being undertaken and resources devoted by her Department to plans for the UK to withdraw from the European convention on human rights; and whether an impact assessment has been made in respect of the consequences of such a withdrawal. [148128]
James Brokenshire: The Department keeps the implications of the European convention on human rights for Home Office business under review.
Human Trafficking
Dame Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to ensure that frontline public services staff are fully trained to recognise the signs of human trafficking. [148223]
Mr Harper: Mandatory training on human trafficking is already provided for frontline staff in the police, the UK Border Agency and the Border Force.
Working with partners, the Home Office has funded training and awareness-raising activities for front-line staff within the health care, social work and criminal justice sectors.
The Department of Health will be launching a human trafficking toolkit for health care professionals in April 2013.
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Immigration Controls
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations she has received from hon. Members on the raising of restrictions on Romanian and Bulgarian migrants in 2014. [145854]
Mr Harper [holding answer 4 March 2013]: Since 1 January 2013, the Home Office has received 10 parliamentary questions from hon. Members on the lifting of transitional controls on Romanian and Bulgarian migrants.
Since the same date, the Home Office has received 91 pieces of correspondence from MPs on the exercise of free movement rights. We do not hold more specific information on correspondence received regarding the lifting of transitional controls on Romanian and Bulgarian migrants.
Organised Crime: Females
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps she is taking to protect girls under the age of 16 from becoming involved in gang-related crime; [148277]
(2) what assessment she has made of the relationship between gang-related crime and violent assaults on girls below the age of 16. [148278]
Damian Green: The Government report, “Ending Gang and Youth Violence” (November 2011) recognised the importance of tackling gang-related violence on girls, and refers to research by Race on the Agenda (2010:11) which exposed the significant harm that girls associated with gangs can experience. Further research has been undertaken by the Office of the Children's Commissioner (2012) and Bedfordshire University (2012).
Steps taken to protect girls from becoming involved in gang-related crime are set out in the “Ending Gang and Youth Violence Report: One Year On” document (November 2012). This includes dedicated funding of £1.2 million over three years (April 2012 to March 2015) to improve services for girls under 18 at risk of, or victims of, sexual violence and exploitation by gangs.
The reports are available on the Home Office website.
Racially Aggravated Offences
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers on issuing guidance to chief constables in respect of dealing with racist incidents. [148512]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Government are committed to tackling all forms of hate crime and work closely with the Association of Chief Police Officers and other partners. The Association of Chief Police Officers issued guidance for dealing with hate crimes to police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2005. The guidance is currently being updated and new guidance will be sent out to all police forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland shortly.
18 Mar 2013 : Column 418W
Staff
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of staffing levels at the (a) UK Border Agency, (b) UK Border Force and (c) Identity and Passport Service in (i) 2013, (ii) 2014 and (iii) 2015. [146925]
Mr Harper [holding answer 11 March 2013]: The latest Home Office business plan, published in May 2012 and updated annually, contains planned numbers of paid full-time equivalent staff in its business areas for the end of March 2013. It is available on the Home Office website.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/corporate-publications/business-plan/business-plan-2012-15/business-plan-doc
The Home Office keeps its workforce plans under regular review.
Sussex Police
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what level of complaints against Sussex Police have been received in each of the last five years; and what comparative assessment she has made between other constabularies. [148509]
Damian Green: This information is not collected by the Home Office. It is collated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission and is available on their website at:
www.ipcc.gov.uk
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with Sussex police on improving crime detection rates. [148510]
Mr Jeremy Browne: This Government have scrapped all national policing targets in order that police forces can focus on cutting crime and achieving the best outcomes for victims and the wider community. For this reason, the Secretary of State for the Home Department has had no recent discussions with Sussex police on the issue of improving the crime detection rates.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to answer named-day written parliamentary questions 146432 and 146422 for answer on 5 March 2013; and for what reasons both questions were not answered on the day named. [148360]
James Brokenshire: I answered parliamentary question 146422 on 13 March 2013, Official Report, column 232W, and 146432 on 14 March 2013, Official Report, columns 304-05W. I am very sorry for not answering these questions on the day named.
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Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Committee
Staff
Helen Jones: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how many (a) permanent and (b) temporary staff are employed by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority; and how many such staff were employed in May (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012. [147607]
Mr Charles Walker [holding answer 12 March 2013]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
Letter from Andrew McDonald, dated 15 March 2013:
As Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking for staffing figures.
Figures for staffing for May in each of the years requested are not readily available and cannot be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost. For the first year of IPSA's operation, staffing figures are available as at July 2010. For subsequent years, staffing figures have been reported at the end of each financial year as in IPSA's ‘Annual Report and Accounts’.
These are as follows:
| July 2010 | March 2011 | March 2012 | |
Staffing figures as at 12 March 2013 are as follows:
| March 2013 | |
Treasury
Air Passenger Duty: Caribbean
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the effect of UK air passenger duty on the number of arrivals from the UK to destinations in the Caribbean. [148379]
Sajid Javid: Air passenger duty rates are based on distance by band, not by distance to specific regions or countries. Therefore, HM Revenue and Customs collects information on the amount of air passenger duty revenues declared by rate and destination band. It does not collect information on the contribution to air passenger duty revenues made from flights to or from specific airports or countries.
Banks: Loans
Mr Khalid Mahmood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many small and medium-sized businesses will fail as a result of the mis-selling of complex structured loans by banks and the time taken for redress by those banks and regulators. [148731]
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Greg Clark: On 31 January 2013, the Financial Services Authority published the findings of the pilot review into interest rate swap mis-selling. The full review of 40,000 cases is now under way, and the FSA says it should be completed within six months.
The banks have agreed to prioritise the cases of those businesses facing financial difficulty and to stop the payments on these products for such businesses.
The chief executive officer of each of the banks participating in the review have personally committed that, except in exceptional circumstances such as, for example, where this is necessary to preserve value in the customer's business, they will not foreclose on or adversely vary existing lending facilities, without obtaining the customer's prior consent.
Pamela Nash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many smaller lenders based in Scotland (a) have applied and (b) were approved to take part in the Funding for Lending Scheme since its creation. [148792]
Greg Clark: The list of banks and building societies that are currently participating in the Funding for Lending Scheme is available on the Bank of England website:
http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/markets/Pages/FLS/data.aspx
Pamela Nash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications to the Funding for Lending Scheme were (a) made and (b) approved for businesses based in (i) Scotland, (ii) England, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland since its creation. [148793]
Greg Clark: The Funding for Lending Scheme is designed to incentivise banks and building societies to boost their lending to UK households and non-financial companies. The Scheme offers funding to banks and building societies for an extended period and encourages them to supply more credit by making more and cheaper funding available if they lend more. There is no mechanical link between FLS funds and particular loans made by a participant; hence it is not possible to identify specific loans as funded by the FLS.
Child Benefit Office
Richard Burden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will establish for the Child Benefit Office a contact telephone number that is a UK landline number beginning 01, 02 or 03. [148365]
Mr Gauke: On 28 January 2013, HMRC advised Public Accounts Committee that it plans to start moving its remaining 0845 numbers to 03 prefix numbers. This work will start in April 2013, with its child benefit helpline.
Child Trust Fund
John Woodcock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what discussions he has had on measures to permit holders of child trust funds who are still under the age of 18 to transfer the monetary value of their fund to a junior ISA; [148073]
18 Mar 2013 : Column 421W
(2) what information his Department holds on the number of investment companies which have introduced or increased annual fees for small investments since May 2010; and if he will assess the likely effect of such charges on holders of child trust funds. [148077]
Sajid Javid: The Treasury regularly meets a range of stakeholders to discuss tax-advantaged children's savings.
The Government do not hold information on the number of investment companies which have introduced or increased annual fees for small investments since May 2010. Since the Child Trust Fund started, it has been possible for account providers to make charges for the management of accounts, providing the details are made clear in account terms and conditions. Around three quarters of all Child Trust Funds are stakeholder accounts, and charges on these accounts must not exceed 1.5% of the fund value.
Economic and Monetary Union
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of instability in the eurozone on the UK economy. [148351]
Greg Clark: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for producing independent economic and fiscal forecasts that would include their assessment of the effect of instability in the eurozone. They will publish their next forecast on 20 March 2013. In their October 2012 forecast evaluation report, the OBR argued that net trade accounted for roughly a third of the unexpected weakness in UK growth compared to their forecast at June 2010. UK export growth to European Union countries has been markedly weaker than that to other countries, reflecting effects of instability in the eurozone.
Foreign Companies
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information his Department holds on the number of overseas-based companies who have received more than £200 million in central Government contracts in the last two years; and how much corporation tax those corporations have paid to the UK Exchequer. [148222]
Mr Gauke: HM Treasury does not hold a central record of the contracts that have been let by central Government Departments. Information about the amount of corporation tax paid by individual companies is held by HM Revenue and Customs, and is not disclosed due to taxpayer confidentiality.
PAYE
Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many PAYE schemes were participating in the real time information pilot on (a) 1 November 2012, (b) 1 December 2012 and (c) 1 January 2013; and what are his projections for the numbers on (i) 1 February 2013, (ii) 1 March 2013, (iii) 1 April 2013 and (iv) 21 May 2013. [137694]
Mr Gauke
[holding answer 17 January 2013]: HMRC's strategy for the latter months of the RTI pilot has been to focus on bringing on the largest PAYE schemes (by
18 Mar 2013 : Column 422W
number of employments). They have also encouraged new PAYE schemes to start operating RTI as soon as they start paying employees.
HMRC do not hold data for the specific dates requested. The following table shows the number of PAYE schemes participating in the pilot at the end of tax months.
| Month | Schemes participating in RTI pilot |
HMRC now project that, by the end of March 2013, the RTI pilot will cover around 6 million individual employments. Most employers and pension providers, who have not participated in the pilot, are expected to start submitting RTI from their first payday after 6 April 2013. This means that employers or pension providers who pay quarterly or annually, or only employ staff on a seasonal basis, may not join RTI until later in 2013-14.
Sickness Absence
Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many days (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies has lost to staff sickness in each of the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such absence in each year; [147996]
(2) how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies have had (i) fewer than five days, (ii) five to 10 days, (iii) 10 to 15 days, (iv) 15 to 20 days, (v) 20 to 25 days, (vi) 25 to 50 days, (vii) 50 to 75 days, (viii) 75 to 100 days, (ix) 100 to 150 days, (x) 150 to 200 days, (xi) more than 200 days, (xii) more than three months, (xiii) more than six months and (xiv) more than one year on paid sick leave (A) consecutively and (B) in total in each of the last five years. [148015]
Sajid Javid: The number of days lost to sickness absence in each of the last five years is as follows:
| HM Treasury | |
| As at 1 April to 31 March each year | Working days lost |
| Debt Management Office | |
| As at 1 April to 31 March each year | Working days lost |
We do not currently make an estimate of the cost of sick absence to the Department.
18 Mar 2013 : Column 423W
The hon. Member also asked for a breakdown of sick absence into 14 different categories. However the information requested is not held centrally in this form and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
HM Treasury is firmly committed to the well-being of its staff and we keep under review various techniques and practices which support this commitment. Employees have access to a range of well-being services, which are provided on site at full cost to the employee. In addition, guidance is available for staff, for example on managing stress in the workplace, and support is available through an Occupational Health service and an Employee Assistance Programme.
Tax Allowances
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made on bringing forward transferable tax allowances. [147626]
Mr Gauke: Introducing a recognition of marriage in the tax and benefit system is one of a wide range of measures that we are considering to support families and to demonstrate that we value commitment.
Cabinet Office
Emergencies
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office who holds (a) regional and (b) national responsibility for civil contingency. [148721]
Miss Chloe Smith: The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 sets out a single framework for civil protection in the UK. Part 1 of the Act defines the local arrangements for civil protection and establishes a clear set of roles and responsibilities for organisations at the core of the response to most emergencies.
The Civil Contingencies Secretariat within Cabinet Office is responsible for co-ordinating work across Government to improve the UK's ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies as set out within the Act. The Resilience and Emergencies Division within the Department for Communities and Local Government is responsible for co-ordinating resilience at the sub-national level.