Assets
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what (a) assets and (b) liabilities are held by (i) his Department and (ii) its non-departmental public bodies with a value of (A) between £100,000 and £1 million, (B) between £1 million and £10 million, (C) between £10 million and £100 million and (D) over £100 million; what the value is of each item; and what assets are scheduled for disposal. [153629]
Gregory Barker: Details of the assets and liabilities of the Department and its non-departmental public bodies are published in their respective annual reports and accounts, in the statement of financial position and associated notes. No significant assets are currently scheduled for disposal.
For 2011-12, the annual reports and accounts are available online at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-report-and-accounts-2011-to-2012--2
Civil Nuclear Police Authority
http://www.cnpa.police.uk/publications
http://coal.decc.gov.uk/en/coal/cms/publications/annual_report/annual_report.aspx
http://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/annual-report-and-accounts-2011-2012/
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
http://www.nda.gov.uk/documents/upload/Annual-Report-and-Accounts-2011-2012.pdf
For 2012-13, it is expected that annual reports and accounts will be laid before Parliament before the summer recess.
Cost Effectiveness
Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will place in the Library (a) his Department's response to HM Treasury's requests for information on the value of departmental spending in terms of cost-effectiveness per unit cost in advance
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1059W
of the 2010 comprehensive spending review and
(b)
the data disclosed to HM Treasury on net present value per pound for resource spending. [153610]
Gregory Barker: Information on the Department of Energy and Climate Change's departmental expenditure for the current spending review period has previously been published as part of the Department's Business Plan and is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/47961/decc-business-plan-2011-2015.pdf
Copies of this business plan have also been placed in the Library. The plan includes links to DECC datasets and impact indicators, as well as details regarding the cost-effectiveness of the Department's policies and the value for money that this represents to the public. More detailed information on the value for money of individual policies and programmes is available through published impact assessments.
Energy Company Obligation
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which companies have secured contracts through the Energy Company Obligation to date; and what the value is of each contract. [152214]
Michael Fallon [holding answer 22 April 2013]: How energy companies deliver their obligations under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is, within the rules of the scheme, a matter for them. The companies are not required to provide information on who they contract with or the value of any such contracts—this is commercially confidential—and therefore DECC does not hold this information.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of the average dual fuel bill that will go towards the cost of the Energy Company Obligation. [152217]
Michael Fallon [holding answer 22 April 2013]: On 27 March 2013, DECC published an updated assessment of the average impact of energy and climate change policies on household and business energy bills, which is available online at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/estimated-impacts-of-energy-and-climate-change-policies-on-energy-prices-and-bills
Annex D shows that the estimated cost of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) accounts for 4% (or £47) of the dual fuel bill in 2013(1). This figure does not include the potential bill savings to households from the installation of energy efficiency measures as a result of ECO.
(1 )This includes the administration cost of the Green Deal.
Energy: Meters
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress has been made on the use of mobile and wireless communication for smart meter transmissions; and what consideration he has given to the provision of such a service in rural areas. [151648]
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1060W
Michael Fallon: The Government will finalise the procurement of the communications service providers for the smart metering roll-out later this year. That process will determine which communications technologies will be used. The prospective providers are proposing multiple technologies to provide connectivity to smart meters, and these technologies are being specifically evaluated on their ability to provide coverage across all areas of Great Britain, including rural locations. Regardless of the technology, the providers will be asked to commit to eventual coverage levels of at least 97.5% of properties, and the Government's ambition remains for all electricity and gas consumers to have smart meters capable of operating in smart mode.
Energy: Prices
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the wholesale price uplift caused by the carbon floor price benefiting renewables has been included in his Department's recent Estimated Impacts of Energy and Climate Change Policies on Energy Prices and Bills (2013). [153220]
Michael Fallon: The impact of the Carbon Price Floor (CPF) is included in DECC's analysis on the Estimated Impacts of Energy and Climate Change Policies on Energy Prices and Bills and set out in Annexes D to F of the report. For example, in 2013 the CPF is estimated to add around £1 per megawatt hour to electricity prices (in real 2012 prices).
Hinkley Point C Power Station
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the Contract for Difference being negotiated for the strike price with EDF for its proposed Hinkley Point C nuclear plant will include provisions to cover (a) a requirement on EDF to provide back-up alternative power sources in the event of the Hinkley plant having to close down for an extensive period due to safety concerns and (b) construction cost overruns. [153579]
Michael Fallon: The negotiations are ongoing and being conducted on a commercially confidential basis with the aim of reaching a fair, affordable and value for money agreement. I am unable to comment on specific terms under discussion whilst the negotiations are still ongoing. The terms of an investment contract, if agreed, will be published and laid before Parliament.
Non-Fossil Fuel Purchasing Agency
Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the effect on electricity supply market plurality following the closure of the Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency by 2018. [153390]
Michael Fallon:
The Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency (NFPA) is an arm’s length company set up by industry to meet the obligations set out under the non-fossil fuel orders (NFFOs). The last of the contracts under these obligations will end in 2018. The NFPA runs auctions for the power under these contracts and many smaller suppliers participate in these auctions. The NFPA could
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1061W
continue to operate if there is sufficient demand for the service they offer—this will be a commercial decision for the NFPA. Suppliers have a number of alternative routes to market and Ofgem has brought forward proposals to improve wholesale market liquidity, which are expected to enhance trading opportunities and competition.
The Government are proposing to take powers in the Energy Bill to enable the Government to take action to improve the liquidity of the electricity market (a key barrier to entry for small suppliers), should it prove necessary.
Official Hospitality
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible claimed reimbursements for working lunches and official entertainment in each of the last five years; and what the total cost was in each such year. [152667]
Gregory Barker: The Department's ability to identify expenditure on working lunches depends on individuals providing an accurate description of the expense. From our search we have identified the following expenditure on working lunches. Further expenditure may have been incurred but it would incur disproportionate costs to locate and scrutinise documentation to support all of the transactions recorded under related expenditure areas. It has not been possible to provide the requested information from all of DECC's non-departmental public bodies (the Committee on Climate Change, Civil Nuclear Police Authority, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the Coal Authority) without incurring disproportionate costs.
We interpret “entertainment” to relate to the provision of food, drink or amusement outside of the work environment (which includes conferences and away days). Any such expenditure must be justifiable in terms of a direct Government interest in promoting the Department. It must also be appropriate and at a reasonable level of expenditure. We are unable to specifically identify such expenditure from among wider catering costs for meetings and events without incurring disproportionate costs.
Working lunch (£000) | |
Plutonium
Paul Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to his Department's written ministerial statement of 23 April
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1062W
2013 on the management of overseas owned plutonium in the UK, what estimate he has made of the additional cost of storing 750 kgs of formerly German-owned plutonium, 350 kgs formerly owned by a Dutch utility and 1850 kgs of plutonium formerly allocated to France; for what extra period he envisages this plutonium will now be stored under the new arrangement; what the cost was of securing this plutonium from the three respective countries; and if he will
(a)
place in the Library and
(b)
publish on his departmental website the correspondence between interested parties that took place to secure the swapping arrangement referred to in the statement. [153585]
Michael Fallon: The financial aspects of these swaps and transfers and the correspondence between the NDA and its customers are commercially confidential. We will only take ownership of plutonium belonging to an overseas customer if it can be shown through assurance measures that there is an overall benefit to the UK in doing so. In this case the cost of managing the plutonium in the UK was a factor reflected in that process.
This additional plutonium will be stored in the UK along with the UK's existing plutonium until a final decision has been made about its future management. In respect of this decision, the UK Government have concluded that for nuclear security reasons the preferred policy for managing the vast majority of UK civil separated plutonium is reuse and it should therefore be converted to a form of nuclear fuel, called MOX, for use in civil nuclear reactors. While the UK Government believe that they have sufficient information to set out this policy direction, it is not yet sufficient to make a specific decision whether to proceed with procuring a new MOX fabrication plant. The UK Government are currently undertaking work, including the publication shortly of our response to the consultation on the proposed justification process for the reuse of plutonium, which will provide the information necessary to make such a decision.
Procurement
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will publish details of all (a) his Department’s and (b) its non-departmental public bodies’ existing contractual commitments with a value of (i) between £100,000 and £1 million, (ii) between £1 million and £10 million, (iii) between £10 million and £100 million and (iv) over £100 million; what the (A) duration, (B) value including annual costs to the public purse, (C) expiry date and (D) purpose of each such contract is; and whether each such contract contains (1) renewal clauses and (2) early release clauses. [153648]
Gregory Barker: The information requested is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Contracts of the Department are published on the Cabinet Office website which is available at:
www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk
The Department would be able to provide further contract information by narrowing the scope, if specific procurement projects were identified.
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1063W
Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012
Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department has taken to implement the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. [153194]
Gregory Barker: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), has taken the following steps to implement the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. The Cabinet Office has circulated across Government a procurement policy note which has been circulated to all procurement staff to make them aware of the Act. The Department takes part in cross-Government discussions with the Procurement Knowledge Network spreading awareness and discussion of implementation of the Act with staff. The Department’s procurement and legal team have discussed the Act and implications for policy teams.
Radioactive Waste
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which local authorities other than Cumbria county council, Allerdale district council and Copeland district council have expressed an interest in offering potential sites for a geological disposal facility for radioactive waste under the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme. [153669]
Michael Fallon: No other local authorities have made a formal expression of interest in participating in the site selection process for a geological disposal facility. Since Cumbria county council's decision in January to end west Cumbria's involvement in the process, the Government have been reflecting on the experience of the process there and the lessons learned. Government remain committed to the policy of geological disposal; no changes to the current approach to site selection will be introduced without further consultation.
The invitation remains open for communities to express an interest, without commitment, in the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme.
Renewable Energy
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average waiting time is for a response to complaints regarding the Microrenewables Certification Scheme. [153473]
Gregory Barker: Under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) complaints will be related to product performance, installation or mis-selling. In general the MCS complaints process requires complaints to be acknowledged within seven working days of receipt or 24 hours where consumers do not have an operational heating system.
For the period 1 August 2012 to 12 April 2013 the MCS Licensee received 211 complaints relating to technical issues and the REAL Consumer Code received 1,224 complaints in 2012 relating to mis-selling. Some complaints go to both REAL and MCS and in some cases complaints are handled by Certification Bodies. On average it takes 10 weeks to resolve a complaint.
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1064W
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much financial support his Department provided to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme in each financial year since 2008. [153474]
Gregory Barker: The MCS has operated on a self-financing basis without Government funding since October 2008. The Building Research Establishment (BRE) was awarded a contract in September 2006 to develop the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), after a competitive tendering process. The BRE contract value was £243,800 and it ran to September 2008. To support development of the microgeneration industry and the MCS scheme, the Government also paid £900 towards the first year certification costs for each installation company.
Renewables Obligation
Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the removal of the renewables obligation and its effect on access-to-market issues for independent low carbon generators; and if he will make a statement. [153391]
Michael Fallon: The Government have been engaging with independent developers to understand any access- to-market issues they face. Some developers are concerned that the market has shifted in recent years and that generators are finding it harder to secure long-term power purchase agreements on terms as beneficial as they used to be. Others have expressed concern about the removal of the renewables obligation.
The new support mechanism for low-carbon generation, Contracts for Difference, will improve conditions in the market for power purchase agreements by removing price risk. The end of the renewables obligation will further simplify procedure for renewable developers, as they will no longer need to market their certificates.
In addition, the Government have set up a process to ensure that independent renewable generators are prepared for the introduction of the Contract for Difference mechanism. This involves working with developers to create sample power purchase agreements compatible with the new regulations and a voluntary code of practice which will help guide the market. Ofgem has also brought forward proposals to improve liquidity in the market. Government are considering whether further steps may be necessary—this includes consideration of the proposal for a Green Power Auction Market.
Wind Power
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department keeps central records of complaints about (a) audible and (b) sub-sonic low frequency noise from onshore wind turbines in the UK. [153080]
Michael Fallon: DECC does not keep a record of noise complaints about onshore wind turbines. Noise disturbance is a matter for local authorities.
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department assesses the energy output performance of onshore wind turbines in the UK. [153083]
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1065W
Michael Fallon: The energy output performance of onshore wind turbines can be measured in terms of annual generation and load factors. Aggregated information for the onshore wind sector can be found in tables 6.4 and 6.5 of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics. This is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewable-sources-of-energy-chapter-6-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has assessed the average lifespan of onshore wind turbines in the UK. [153084]
Michael Fallon: DECC engages in rigorous evidence-gathering exercises, supported by National Grid and economics consultancies, to acquire data on the costs and revenue of onshore wind and other renewable technologies. Where appropriate, this includes data on the life expectancy of wind turbines.
Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information he holds on recent trends in the price of wind turbines. [R] [153218]
Michael Fallon: We do not gather specific data on the costs of wind turbines. DECC undertakes a range of activities to maintain an up-to-date evidence base on the costs of renewable energy technologies. For example, the Renewables Obligations Banding Review and Onshore Wind Call for Evidence have both gathered information on the costs of onshore wind, including the capital costs.
The Onshore Wind Call for Evidence will report in the summer. The Banding Review documents are all available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/supporting-large-scale-renewable-electricity-generation
Wind Power: Seas and Oceans
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the proportion of renewable energy to be made up by offshore wind turbines over the next 10 years. [152416]
Michael Fallon: The deployment of offshore wind over the next 10 years will depend upon which projects are taken forward by developers. The costs of offshore wind and the strike prices are set under the electricity market reform.
The Department will publish a number of scenarios in July 2013, as part of the Delivery Plan for Contracts for Difference.
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the (a) level of carbon emissions resulting from the construction of each offshore wind turbine, (b) total amount of energy produced by such turbines annually and (c) total amount of energy produced over their predicted lifetimes. [152417]
Michael Fallon: No estimate has been made of the levels of carbon emissions from the construction of an individual offshore wind turbine.
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1066W
The total generation for all renewables developments is published annually in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES):
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/65850/5956-dukes-2012-chapter-6-renewable.pdf
For the five year period 2007 to 2011 the electricity generated from all offshore wind developments was:
GMh | |
We do not calculate the energy produced by individual wind turbines as lifetime energy produced will depend on a number of factors including the MW capacity of the turbine and the specific wind speed within the wind farm.
Transport
UN Decade of Action for Road Safety
12. Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to support the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety. [153164]
Stephen Hammond: The Government’s contribution to the UN Decade of Action is set out in our Strategic Framework for Road Safety. We are tackling road safety by improving enforcement of drug driving and careless driving; launching a new motorcycle safety campaign; and bringing forward proposals for improved young driver safety.
As part of the UN’s Road Safety Week in May, the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin) is speaking at a PACTS event on pedestrian safety.
Station Accessibility
13. Mr Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made on improving station accessibility for disabled and infirm people. [153165]
Norman Baker: Under the Access for All programme 99 stations have received an accessible route since 2006 out of 155 projects due to be completed by 31 March 2015. More than 1,000 stations have also received more minor access improvements under the programme. A further £100 million has been made available to extend the programme until 2019.
This is in addition to access improvements being delivered by other major projects or by train operators and local authorities.
East Coast Main Line: Premium Payments
14. Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much in premium payments has been paid to the Government by National Express and Directly Operated Rail as a result of operating East Coast main line rail services since 2007. [153167]
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1067W
Mr McLoughlin: The premium payments are as follows:
National Express East Coast | |
£ million | |
Directly Operated Railways | |
£ million | |
Assets
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) assets and (b) liabilities are held by (i) his Department and (ii) its non-departmental public bodies with a value of (A) between £100,000 and £1 million, (B) between £1 million and £10 million, (C) between £10 million and £100 million and (D) over £100 million; what the value is of each item; and what assets are scheduled for disposal. [153637]
Norman Baker: Information about assets and liabilities is available in the published Departmental Accounts 2011-12 (see link below). The Consolidated Statement of Financial Position provides the details of the assets by Core Department and the Agencies.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-transport-annual-report-and-accounts
Aviation
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with (a) airport operators and (b) airline carriers on the holding of the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland in June 2013. [153676]
Mr Simon Burns: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin) has not been involved in discussions with airport operators or airline carriers over the planning for the forthcoming G8 summit. Planning for the summit has been led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who have engaged with Belfast International airport, Enniskillen airport and other interested stakeholders.
Cost Effectiveness
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will place in the Library (a) his Department's response to HM Treasury's requests for information on the value of departmental spending in terms of cost-effectiveness per unit cost in advance of the 2010 comprehensive spending review and (b) the data disclosed to HM Treasury on net present value per pound for resource spending; [153619]
Procurement
(2) if he will publish details of all (a) his Department's and (b) its non-departmental public bodies' existing contractual commitments with a value
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1068W
of (i) between £100,000 and £1 million, (ii) between £1 million and £10 million, (iii) between £10 million and £100 million and (iv) over £100 million; what the (A) duration, (B) value including annual costs to the public purse, (C) expiry date and (D) purpose of each such contract is; and whether each such contract contains (1) renewal clauses and (2) early release clauses. [153656]
Norman Baker: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.
Motor Vehicles: Insurance
Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings Ministers and officials in his Department had where matters relating to credit hire and high insurance premiums were discussed prior to the initiation on 28 November 2012 of the investigation by the Competition Commission of its investigation of the motor insurance market; and what the name is of each individual from (a) insurance companies and their representative bodies and (b) other insurance companies and representative bodies who were present at each such meeting. [153313]
Stephen Hammond: Ministers have held three meetings to discuss credit hire and insurance premiums prior to 28 November 2012. The Prime Minister and former Secretary of State for Transport met with representatives from major motor insurers on 14 February 2012 to discuss the cost of insurance. A follow up meeting chaired by the former Secretary of State took place on 2 May 2012. The list of attendees was the same for both meetings:
ABI—Otto Thoresen and Nick Starling
Admiral—David Stevens, CEO
Aviva UK and Ireland—David McMillan, CEO
Axa UK and Ireland—Paul Evans, CEO
Co-operative Insurance—David Neave, Director of General Insurance
RBS Insurance—Tom Woolgove, MD
RSA—Adrian Brown, UK Chief Executive
Zurich UK—Stephen Lewis, CEO
Sabre and MIB—Keith Morris, Managing Director of Sabre and Chair of MIB
British Insurance Brokers' Association—Graeme Trudgill
Uswitch—Ann Robinson
Which—Peter Vicary-Smith, Chief Executive
Ministers also met with Tom Woolgove, MD of RBS Insurance in March 2012, and Otto Thoresen and Nick Starling from the ABI in November 2012. Insurance premiums were discussed at both meetings.
Officials have met David Neave of Co-operative Insurance once concerning insurance premiums.
Motorcycles
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to incorporate motorcycling fully into general transport policy. [152398]
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1069W
Stephen Hammond: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Steve Baker) on 22 April 2013, Official Report, column 593W.
Motorcycles: Driving Tests
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that the requirement for motorcycle riders to take more than one full motorcycle test to pass through rider licensing stages be replaced by a training requirement for licensing progression through each stage after an initial full motorcycle test; and if he will make a statement. [153229]
Stephen Hammond: The relative merits of the training and testing options for upgrading motorcycle riding entitlements were carefully considered during the consultation on the implementation of the third Directive on Driver Licensing (Directive 2006/126/EC). In order to ensure adequate service provision, the Driving Standards Agency needed to offer the testing option. The costs associated with the introduction of a parallel training option would have made it unattractive to motorcycle trainers and their potential customers.
Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012
Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to implement the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. [153193]
Norman Baker: Advice for commissioners and procurers on the Act has been issued to staff, and guidance on procurement and business cases has been updated to reflect the precepts of the Act.
Railways: Franchises
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail franchises require the provision of wi-fi. [153161]
Mr Simon Burns: Wi-fi was not specified when letting existing rail franchises, with the exception of the current Inter City West Coast contract. However, a number of train operators contract to do so, primarily those operating long distance train services.
Government franchising policy, endorsed by Richard Brown in his recent review, published earlier this year, is to encourage franchise operators to provide
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1070W
services appropriate to the markets that they serve and not follow a prescriptive, Government specification.
Railways: Industrial Disputes
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2013, Official Report, column 457W, on railways: industrial disputes, which train operating companies have applied to his Department for compensation payments for loss of revenue during industrial disputes in each year since 2006-07; and on what date each such request was received. [152715]
Norman Baker: In the event of an industrial dispute in a franchised train operating company, the Department would expect to discuss the financial and other implications with the operator. Information on any such discussions is not centrally recorded and would in any case be commercially confidential, since it could prejudice the position of the Department or train operators in relation to the relevant or future industrial disputes. However, I am not aware of any specific applications having been made by operators since 2006-07 for compensation for lost revenue.
Railways: Kettering
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that when bridges over the mainline railway in Kettering are raised to accommodate electrification disruption to local residents and commerce is minimised. [153286]
Mr Simon Burns: The delivery of the Government's electrification programme is led by Network Rail. I have asked them to work closely with the Highways Agency and local authorities to ensure that this vital work is planned and programmed so that disruption to passengers and local residents is minimised.
Redundancy Pay
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) each of the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible received payments under a voluntary exit scheme in each of the last five years; and at what total cost in each such year. [152657]
Norman Baker: The number of staff who have left the Department for Transport under a voluntary exit in each of the last five years, together with associated costs, are set out in the following table. Where numbers are five or less, we have withheld the precise number on grounds of confidentiality.
2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | ||||||
Organisation | Number | Costs (£) | Number | Costs (£) | Number | Costs (£) | Number | Costs (£) | Number | Costs (£) |
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1071W
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1072W
It is not possible to distinguish between voluntary and compulsory terms for the exits in the Highways Agency in 2008-09. The number of exits and costs for 2012-13 for the DVLA will be published in their annual report and accounts.
The reform to the compensation scheme in 2010 has led to voluntary exit costs falling within the year of departure, whereas prior to 2010, costs could be incurred for up to 10 years.
The Department’s non-departmental bodies who have had staff leave under a voluntary exit and associated costs, are set out in the following table.
2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | ||||||
Organisation | Number | Costs (£) | Number | Costs (£) | Number | Costs (£) | Number | Costs (£) | Number | Costs (£) |
Scotland
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work his Department is doing as part of the Scotland Analysis programme. [153406]
Norman Baker: Work on the Scotland analysis programme is being carried out across Government by policy experts in relevant areas. The Department is contributing to this. There is a small team in the Treasury co-ordinating the programme. The cost of carrying out the work is being funded from existing departmental budgets in the normal way.
Transport: Livestock
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Ports and Harbours Act 1847 to permit port authorities to use their discretion when permitting the export of live animals through their ports. [153097]
Stephen Hammond: The Government have no plans to revisit the Ports and Harbours Act 1847 with a view to amending it. The legislation enshrines the principle of the free movement of trade and the rights of importers/exporters to engage in legal trade activity without prejudice or hindrance. In common with all other EU member states, the UK is also bound by much more recently enacted EU directives which entrench this principle across the entire European Union. This was confirmed by two European Court of Justice cases as well as a number of High Court cases in the 1990s.
Official Travel
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many officials in his (a) Department and (b) non-departmental public bodies travelled on (i) domestic and (ii) international flights in each of the last five years; in which class categories; at what total cost; and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest airfare charges in each such year; [152542]
(2) how many officials in his (a) Department and (b) non-departmental public bodies stayed in hotels in (i) the UK and (ii) every other country during the last five years; at what total cost; and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest such hotel expenses in each such year. [152566]
Norman Baker: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, between 2009-10 and 2012-13, total expenditure on travel and subsistence for the central Department has fallen by 16%.
Prime Minister
Scotland
Pete Wishart: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what (a) external organisations and (b) individuals No. 10 Downing Street engaged with as part of the Scotland Analysis programme; and what was discussed at each such consultation; [153384]
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1073W
(2) how many members of No. 10 Downing Street staff have been allocated to work on the Scotland Analysis programme; and if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of this work; [153469]
(3) what meetings (a) he and (b) officials in No. 10 Downing Street have had with the right hon. Member for Edinburgh South West as part of the Scotland Analysis programme; and what was discussed at each such meeting; [153470]
(4) what work No. 10 Downing Street has commissioned by external consultants in relation to work on the Scotland Analysis programme; which consultants were used; and how much any such consultancy has cost. [153471]
The Prime Minister: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Work and Pensions
Official Travel
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials in his (a) Department and (b) non-departmental public bodies travelled on (i) domestic and (ii) international flights in each of the last five years; in which class categories; at what total cost; and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest airfare charges in each such year. [152545]
Mr Hoban: In line with the Government's austerity agenda, the Department for Work and Pensions has taken vigorous actions to enhance its business travel policy. The DWP's business travel policy actively discourages travel, unless the alternatives have been examined and exhausted and where travel is deemed appropriate, requires the use of the most cost effective modes of transport.
The spend on air travel for DWP in the last five years is as follows:
£ million | ||
UK | International | |
The total spend for Health and Safety Executive, Independent Living Funds, National Employment Savings Trust, The Pensions Regulator, Pensions Ombudsman, Remploy is shown as follows:
£ million | |
The above NDPBs were unable to split the spend between UK and overseas without incurring disproportionate costs. The remaining departmental NDPBs were unable to provide the required data without incurring disproportionate costs.
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1074W
Business travel policy is designed to provide staff with the means to make informed decisions regarding the most appropriate form of travel based on factors such as cost and sustainability, rather than having a blanket policy.
Also, in order to support the Government’s sustainability and carbon reduction agenda, DWP discourages the use of air travel. DWP policy states that staff must always consider travelling by rail rather than air.
To facilitate further reductions in air travel, policy now restricts air travel for flights within the British Mainland to journeys of over 300 miles. Journeys under this limit require the use of an alternative mode of travel, to limit the Department’s carbon emissions.
This information should also be viewed in the context of a Department employing around 100,000 staff.
Providing the number of officials who travelled on domestic and international flights in each of the last five years as well as the monetary value of the 20 highest airfare charges in each such year could be done only at disproportionate cost.
Compensation Recovery Unit
Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the potential sums formerly recoverable which the Compensation Recovery Unit will no longer be able to recover as a consequence of implementation of legislative changes contemplated in (a) the provisions of clause 61 and (b) other provisions of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill. [153314]
Mr Hoban: In answer to part (a) of the question, because the number of cases affected is anticipated to be small and many claims are low in value, the impact on the amount of benefits that can be recovered is also expected to be limited. However, it is not possible to disaggregate the amount because the benefits paid that would be subject to recovery upon a compensation payment being made will depend upon the individual circumstances of the injured person.
As regards (b) we do not anticipate there will be other impacts from the Bill on the potential sums recoverable by the Compensation Recovery Unit.
Cost Effectiveness
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library (a) his Department's response to HM Treasury's requests for information on the value of departmental spending in terms of cost-effectiveness per unit cost in advance of the 2010 comprehensive spending review and (b) the data disclosed to HM Treasury on net present value per pound for resource spending. [153621]
Mr Hoban: The requested information is not available. As an alternative, the following information on productivity may be of interest:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-business-plan-transparency-measures/dwp-business-plan-transparency-measures#dwp-productivity"
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1075W
Electronic Government
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Universal Jobmatch website cost his Department to establish; and what the expected annual continual administration and maintenance costs are of the website. [151781]
Mr Hoban: Universal Jobmatch website cost £14.89m to establish. This includes indicative decommissioning costs so this figure is subject to change.
The expected annual continual administration and maintenance cost is commercially sensitive.
Employment Schemes: Scotland
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Scotland were involved in the work trials benefit scheme in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what the average number of working days worked was. [151797]
Mr Hoban: The number of starts on work trials in Scotland for the last five complete DWP operational years are:
Reporting year | Starts |
Changes to guidance to clarify the circumstances in which a work trial is appropriate, alongside the introduction of measures such as Great Britain Working, the Youth Contract or the Work programme, has had an impact in the number of work trials starts from 2011.
DWP does not measure and report on the average duration of work trials.
Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill
Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the net effect on the number of jobs in the care sector arising from the application to the commissioning of care services of the legislative provisions contemplated in clause 61 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill. [153315]
Mr Hoban: No assessment has been made of the potential impact the implementation of clause 61 will have on jobs in the care sector. However, a small reduction in the number of claims is anticipated therefore the impact on jobs in the care sector, if any, is likely to be of a similar magnitude.
Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the potential monetary benefit to businesses from reductions in insurance premiums consequent on implementation of the legislative changes contemplated in the provisions of clause 61 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill. [153316]
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1076W
Mr Hoban: The purpose of the amendment to the Health and Safety at Work Act enacted by this clause is not to reduce employer's liability insurance premiums but rather to provide a consistent approach to civil litigation across all health and safety legislation which will be simple for both employers and employees to understand. Employer's liability insurance is often sold as part of a package of insurances required by business and a wide range of factors influence the level of premiums charged, including the amount of activity undertaken by the business and the insurer's experience of the industry sector. Therefore it is not possible to quantify what, if any, impact this amendment will have on premium levels.
Future Jobs Fund: Scotland
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2013, Official Report, columns 232-3W, on Future Jobs Fund: Airdrie, how many people who would have been eligible under the criteria for the Future Jobs Fund are currently unemployed in (a) Scotland, (b) each local authority area in Scotland and (c) Airdrie and Shotts constituency. [153197]
Mr Hoban: The Future Jobs Fund created temporary opportunities, mainly in the public and voluntary sectors. Information on how many people who would have been entitled to apply to FJF are currently unemployed is not available. In part this is because eligibility involved an element of adviser discretion. In addition, individuals who would have been eligible for FJF will in many cases be able to take advantage of alternative support that has been put in place to help people find sustainable jobs in the private sector.
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2013, Official Report, columns 232-3W, on Future Jobs Fund: Airdrie, what the equivalent information is for (a) Scotland, (b) each local authority area in Scotland and (c) each parliamentary constituency in Scotland. [153207]
Mr Hoban: The information is as follows:
(a) The numbers of starts on placements funded by the Future Jobs Fund in Scotland in each calendar year are as follows:
Calendar year | Starts |
Notes: 1. Due to Data Protection protocols, figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. There may be a few people who experienced more than one start on a placement funded by the Future Jobs Fund, so the number of people starting on a placement may not exactly equal the number of starts. Source: DWP LMS opportunities evaluation database August 2011. |
There were no starts after 2011.
(b) The information is not available in the format requested.
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1077W
(c) The numbers of starts on placements funded by the Future Jobs Fund in each parliamentary constituency in Scotland in each calendar year will be placed in the Library.
Homelessness
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) for what reasons the social sector size criteria are applied to statutorily homeless families placed in local authority-owned temporary accommodation; [153241]
(2) what advice he has given to local authorities who use their own stock for temporary accommodation following the introduction of the social sector size criteria; [153247]
(3) what support his Department is providing to statutorily homeless households placed in local authority-owned temporary accommodation to meet rent shortfalls arising from the social sector size criteria. [153242]
Steve Webb: The majority of people placed in temporary accommodation will not be affected by the removal of the spare room subsidy.
The size criteria test is applied to all housing benefit claimants living in social sector tenancies, including those temporally housed in local authority properties. The only exceptions to this are those living in supported exempt accommodation and co-owned properties. This ensures fairness and consistency of treatment for claimants.
Where a local authority places a claimant in accommodation that is larger than needed, the spare room subsidy will be removed. This provides an incentive for local authorities to house people in appropriately sized accommodation regardless of their circumstances. Guidance relating to this was issued last July.
Claimants who are affected by this measure may apply to the local authority for a Discretionary Housing Payment, but this will be subject to assessment of need. Additionally, local authorities are able to re-designate the property and adjust the rent accordingly if they know that placing someone in a property will mean that they are under-occupying.
Official Travel
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials in his (a) Department and (b) non-departmental public bodies stayed in hotels in (i) the UK and (ii) every other country during the last five years; at what total cost; and what the monetary value was of the 20 highest such hotel expenses in each such year. [152569]
Mr Hoban: In line with the Government's austerity agenda, the Department for Work and Pensions has taken vigorous actions to enhance its business travel policy. The DWP's business travel policy actively discourages travel, unless the alternatives have been examined and exhausted and where travel is deemed appropriate, requires the use of the most cost effective modes of transport.
The spend on hotels for DWP in the last five years is as follows:
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1078W
£ million | ||
UK | International | |
The total spend for Health and Safety Executive, Independent Living Funds, National Employment Savings Trust, The Pensions Regulator, Pensions Ombudsman, Remploy is shown as follows:
£ million | |
The above NDPBs were unable to split the spend between UK and overseas without incurring disproportionate costs. The remaining departmental NDPBs were unable to provide the required data without incurring disproportionate costs.
Business travel policy is designed to provide staff with the means to make informed decisions regarding the most appropriate form of travel based on factors such as cost and sustainability, rather than having a blanket policy.
This information should also be viewed in the context of a Department employing around 100,000 staff.
Providing the number of officials who stayed in hotels in the UK and every country during the last five years as well as the monetary value of the 20 highest hotel expenses in each such year could be done only at disproportionate cost.
Housing Benefit
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many recipients of housing benefit were also in receipt of severe disablement allowance in each of the last five years; [153407]
(2) how many recipients of housing benefit were also in receipt of disability living allowance in each of the last five years; [153408]
(3) how many recipients of housing benefit were also in receipt of carer's allowance in each of the last five years; [153411]
(4) how many recipients of housing benefit were also in receipt of attendance allowance in each of the last five years; [153412]
(5) how many recipients of housing benefit were also in receipt of incapacity benefit in each of the last five years. [153672]
Steve Webb: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Housing Benefit: Greater London
Rushanara Ali:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1079W
made of the availability of affordable one-bedroom homes for single-person households to downsize into in (
a
) Bethnal Green and Bow constituency and (
b
) the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. [153486]
Steve Webb: This information is not available
Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing
Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants of housing benefit who are disabled are liable for the under-occupancy penalty. [153410]
Steve Webb: Please see the link to the Equality Impact Assessment, which provides estimated figures:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/social-sector-housing-under-occupation-wr2011-ia.pdf
As yet the Department is unable to say how many disabled housing benefit claimants will be affected by the removal of the spare room subsidy.
Jobcentre Plus
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps is he taking to consult users about future options for publishing Jobcentre Plus vacancy statistics. [153258]
Mr Hoban: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) requested users' views between 14 August 2012 and 14 November 2012 on the changes to the Jobcentre Plus vacancy series. This consultation has now closed. A note summarising user views and the next steps being undertaken can be found at:
http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/jsa/vacancies/user_views.pdf
All points raised in the consultation have been considered as part of phased planned improvements to the Universal Jobmatch Ml Tool. Details of the new Tool can be found at:
http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/jsa/vacancies/index.php?page=jsa_vacancy
Jobcentre Plus: Scotland
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2013, Official Report, column 237W, on Jobcentre Plus: Airdrie, what the equivalent figures were at 25 March 2013 for (a) Scotland, (b) each local authority area in Scotland and (c) each parliamentary constituency in Scotland. [153206]
Mr Hoban: The following figures have been sourced from the Universal Jobmatch system and relate to active full-time and part-time jobs as at 25 March 2013 for Scotland.
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1080W
Country | Number of active jobs | Job status |
The data relating to each local authority area in Scotland will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
Data by each parliamentary constituency in Scotland are not available in the format requested.
Jobcentre Plus: Training
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Jobcentre Plus advisers have received training on identifying and supporting customers (a) at risk of suicide and (b) with mental health problems in each of the last five years; what the content of such training was; and if he will make a statement. [153513]
Mr Hoban: Jobcentre Plus advisers have a comprehensive learning route that covers identifying and supporting customers who may have a mental health condition. It also includes significant guidance and best practice on the risk of suicide. In addition to the generic adviser skills courses and customer service type learning, a number of learning products have been specifically developed to support all staff who work in jobcentres in dealing with claimants with a mental health condition. Available data show the number of jobcentre advisers who attended two key training events specific to this particular field were 2,886 in 2011-12 and 2,314 in 2012-13.
Additionally, there is further 80 hours of learning for the DWP disability employment advisers covering many general aspects of dealing with individual customers with a health condition or disability. It includes skills practice and discussions designed to make advisers better able to help people with particular complex support needs such as mental health issues.
Jobseeker’s Allowance
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants of jobseeker's allowance in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK have (i) received a sanction and (ii) received a sanction and disputed it in each of the last five years. [153044]
Mr Hoban: Statistics on how many claimants of jobseeker's allowance in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) Great Britain have (i) received a sanction and (ii) received a sanction and disputed it in each of the last five years are given in the following tables:
Number(1) of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants with a sanction applied by area and year(2):1 January 2008 to 31 May 2012 | ||||||
Year(2) | ||||||
Area | Action(3) | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1081W
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1082W
Number(1) of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) sanctioned claimants who asked for a reconsideration or appealed the original decision by Area and Year(2):1 January 2008 to 31 May 2012 | ||||||
Year(2) | ||||||
Area | Action(3) | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
.”—” Denotes nil or negligible. (1) Figures are rounded to the nearest ten and will include individuals who have had more than one referral decision or the same decision in more than one year e.g. if an individual has a sanction applied and has also appealed a sanction then they will appear twice. (2) Year of Decision: The year in which the decision on the sanction referral, reconsideration or appeal was made. The year 2012 only includes data up to and including the 31 of May, which this is the latest data available for all geographical areas. (3) Action: The number of sanctions applied is the number of Varied(7), Fixed Length(8) and Entitlement Decision(9) sanction referrals where the decision was found against the claimant. The decision to apply a sanction can be overturned following reconsideration or appeal by the Sector Decision Maker. This shows the number of reconsiderations and appeals made. (4) Jobcentre Plus Group: Formerly known as Jobcentre Plus Regions. Jobcentre Plus Groups were updated to reflect changes to the hierarchical structure of Jobcentre Plus implemented on 5 April 2011 from 11 regions to seven groups. (5) Local Authority: On 1 April 2009 structural changes to the local authorities of England took effect. Changes are reflected from April 2009 in this table. (6) Parliamentary Constituency: Parliamentary Constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory. Boundaries are as at the reference date. More information and a map can be found at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/geography/beginner-s-guide/maps/index.html (7) Varied Length sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for leaving employment voluntarily without just cause, refusing employment without good cause, or losing employment through misconduct. The actual period in each case is at the discretion of the Adjudication Officer who makes the decision. (8) Fixed Length sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for refusal, without good cause, to attend an employment programme or carry out a Jobseeker's Direction. Payment of benefit continues in full pending the Adjudication Officer's decision on a sanction question. (9) Entitlement Decisions: These are questions on which entitlement to JSA depends. For example, if there is doubt around whether the Jobseeker's agreement (JSAg) is suitable, whether they are actively looking for work or making themselves available for work. In most cases payment of JSA will be suspended by benefit processing until the doubt is resolved. Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: JSA Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database |
New Enterprise Allowance
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his target was for the number of individuals signed up to the new enterprise allowance in 2012-13; and how many individuals had signed up to the new enterprise allowance by 31 March 2013. [153266]
Mr Hoban: We have made a commitment to create up to 40,000 new businesses by the end of 2013.
From January 2011 up to and including November 2012 there have been 31,540 New Enterprise Allowance mentor starts and 15,210 weekly allowance starts. Values have been rounded to the nearest 10.
These figures are based upon official Get Britain Working measures available via the DWP website. They can be found here:
http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/pwp/pwp_gbw_feb13.pdf
Official Hospitality
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible claimed reimbursements for working lunches and official entertainment in each of the last five years; and what the total cost was in each such year. [152679]
Mr Hoban: The Department does not collate details of the number of officials who claim reimbursement for working lunches or official entertainment and to provide it would incur in disproportionate cost.
The Department does routinely collect information on overall expenditure on working lunches and hospitality and this is shown in the table below for the last five years of audited accounts.
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1083W
Department only | |||||
£ | |||||
2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
In addition, non departmental public bodies (NDPBs) expenditure for working lunches and hospitality is shown in the following table.
NDPBs | ||||
£ | ||||
2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
The Department's total costs in the year 2007-08 include the Child Support Agency (CSA) as this was part of the core Department at that time. From 2008-09 the CSA became the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Committee (CMEC), a non-departmental public body (NDPB), and therefore from 2008-09 CMEC figures are reflected in the second NDPB table. The NDPB table also includes expenditure for The Pensions Advisory Service, The Pensions Regulator, The Pensions Ombudsman and the Independent Living Fund from 2010-11 onwards.
The Health and Safety Executive is a non departmental public body, but this body operates an accounting system which does not collect specific information on working lunches and compatible information on hospitality.
The overall reduction in expenditure over the period reflects the Department’s ongoing commitment to reduce discretionary expenditure.
Operating Costs
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to reduce administration costs in his Department. [153483]
Mr Hoban: The Department is forecast to achieve a one third reduction in cash terms in its administration costs by the end of 2014-15, to £1 billion, compared with the baseline position in 2010-11, £1.5 billion.
The Department for Work and Pensions has reduced its corporate centre estate, including moving to one head office site in London and reduced the numbers of staff employed in the corporate centre. Divesting from the Adelphi building in London saved DWP around £12 million per annum. Further corporate estate closures are planned in Sheffield by 2015. Consultancy and contingent labour expenditure has been reduced by 75% since 2009-10 from £92 million to £23 million in 2012-13.
The Department has undertaken a major organisational review, reducing the number of Executive Agencies and non-departmental bodies that form the departmental group, and redesigning its corporate functions. We are on course to deliver planned reductions and have reduced core staffing levels by almost 5,000 in corporate areas.
Additionally, the Department is bearing down on discretionary expenditure in areas like staff travel.
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1084W
Outdoor Recreation: Licensing
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on future plans for licensing for adventure activity providers in England. [153283]
Mr Hoban: Discussions are taking place with colleagues across Government about future arrangements for licensing of adventure activity providers. An announcement on the outcome of these discussions will be made in due course.
Piper Alpha Platform
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department plans to mark the 25th anniversary in July 2013 of the Piper Alpha disaster. [153240]
Mr Hoban: As the 25th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster approaches, the Government extends their sympathy to those for whom the day is particularly poignant, including the families of the 167 workers who lost their lives in the offshore oil rig explosion.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is marking the anniversary in a number of ways, including participation in the offshore industry's major three day Piper 25 conference to be held in Aberdeen from 18 to 20 June, which is the key event reflecting on the tragedy and reinforcing industry's commitment to continuous improvement. The HSE Chair, Judith Hackett, will give the opening keynote address.
Poisons
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what restrictions he plans to apply to the rodenticide difenacoum. [153056]
Mr Hoban: Restrictions are already applied to rodenticides containing difenacoum as conditions of authorisation to control the risks to people and non-target animals.
The restrictions include instructions for use, for example, prevent access to bait by children, birds and non-target animals such as dogs, cats, pigs and poultry; remove baits and bait trays after treatment; and search for and remove dead rodents frequently during treatment. They also specify the maximum concentration of difenacoum in the product, and the inclusion of aversive agents to strongly discourage human ingestion, together with restrictions on areas of use such as in sewers or in and around buildings.
The restrictions relating to areas of use are presently under review. In a recent constructive meeting on 23 April with a wide range of interested parties, there was broad agreement to consider some changes leading to less prescription in specifying areas of use coupled with more active product stewardship by suppliers, users and other interested parties to promote safe and sustainable use. The Health and Safety Executive will take this forward in consultation with interested parties.
Assets
Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) assets and (b) liabilities are held by (i) his Department and (ii) its non-departmental
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1085W
public bodies with a value of (A) between £100,000 and £1 million, (B) between £1 million and £10 million, (C) between £10 million and £100 million and (D) over £100 million; what the value is of each item; and what assets are scheduled for disposal. [153640]
Mr Hoban: Details of assets and liabilities held by the Department and its non-departmental public bodies are published in the Department's Annual Report and Accounts via the Statement of Financial Position. The latest audited accounts relate to the financial year 2011-12 and are available at the following link:
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1086W
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-work-and-pensions-annual-report-and-accounts-2011-to-2012
Detailed information regarding assets and liabilities could be collated only by undertaking an exercise to look at each asset/liability individually. Such an exercise could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.
Notes 18 and 19 of the 11/12 Annual Report and Accounts disclose disposals made during the year by category.
Additional details for non-departmental public bodies can be obtained via their individually published Annual Reports and Accounts. Links are provided in the table for convenience:
Procurement
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish details of all (a) his Department's and (b) its non-departmental public bodies' existing contractual commitments with a value of (i) between £100,000 and £1 million, (ii) between £1 million and £10 million, (iii) between £10 million and £100 million and (iv) over £100 million; what the (A) duration, (B) value including annual costs to the public purse, (C) expiry date and (D) purpose of each such contract is; and whether each such contract contains (1) renewal clauses and (2) early release clauses. [153659]
Mr Hoban: In line with the Government's transparency policies the Department has published contracts valued at over £10,000 on Contracts Finder since February 2011. The standard terms and conditions used for all departmental contracts contain renewal and early release (break) clauses.
The details requested for DWP contracts awarded before February 2011, except the annual cost for each contract for each year, are available and will be published in the Library. The annual cost of each contract for each year could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Details for my Department's non-departmental public bodies will be collated and placed in the Libraries of both Houses as soon as possible. However, as Remploy Ltd is currently undertaking a set of commercial processes for the sale of their factory businesses and are actively considering, alongside Government, commercial options for the exit of Employment Services from Government control, in both these instances it would not be appropriate to release commercially sensitive information relating to assets and liabilities of those businesses at this time. For the Health and Safety Executive, details could be provided only at disproportionate cost as some of the costs of the contractual obligations are recovered from industry and therefore the cost to the public purse is not easily identifiable.
Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012
Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to implement the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. [153122]
Mr Hoban: DWP policy has been developed and implemented which incorporates the principles of the new Act. This includes embedding sustainability by supporting the SME and Diversity and Equality agendas which are at the heart of the Social Value Act, at the initial and very high-level stages of a proposal, which require Ministerial and key stakeholder support. A policy evaluation tool supports this and provides evidence as required.
Further embedding sustainability at project stage is achieved by undertaking deeper analysis, as more detail becomes available, via a sustainability evaluation tool which includes greenhouse gas analysis.
Further steps, where relevant and appropriate, include contractual specifications and contract performance conditions that suppliers to the Department are required to meet. These relate to environmental issues, diversity and equality issues and use of apprenticeships in supply chains and are included in specific contract clauses and schedules that are subject to ongoing review with suppliers.
Redundancy Pay
Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials in (a) his Department and (b) each of the non-departmental public bodies for
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1087W
which he is responsible received payments under a voluntary exit scheme in each of the last five years; and at what total cost in each such year. [152660]
Mr Hoban: I have provided the information requested below which includes compensation paid through the use of voluntary exit and voluntary redundancy schemes.
The Civil Service Compensation Scheme was reformed in 2010. Under the previous terms there could be costs extending for up to 10 years from a departure, while under the reformed scheme all of the costs fall within the year of departure.
The reformed scheme allows for greater distinction between voluntary and compulsory exits and is designed to encourage voluntary rather than compulsory departures.
NAO has estimated that under the reformed scheme, exits cost around 40-50% less than the previous compensation scheme in place before the General Election.
Figures for 2012/13 will be published as part of the Annual Report and Accounts due for publication in June 2013.
Scotland
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what (a) external organisations and (b) individuals his Department engaged with as part of the Scotland Analysis programme; and what was discussed at such meetings; [153307]
(2) what meetings he or his officials have had with the right hon. Member for Edinburgh South West as part of the Scotland Analysis programme; and what was discussed at such meetings. [153309]
Mr Hoban: DWP Ministers and officials engage with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Meetings held or attended by Ministers and senior officials are routinely published as part of the Department's quarterly transparency returns and can be found on the DWP website
http://www.gov.uk/dwp
Further consideration will be given to engagement as our analysis develops.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many members of his Department's staff have been allocated to work on the Scotland Analysis programme; and at what cost to the public purse. [153308]
Mr Hoban: Work on the Scotland Analysis programme is being carried out across Government by policy experts in relevant areas. There is a small team in the Treasury coordinating the programme. The cost of carrying out the work is being funded from existing departmental budgets in the normal way.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what work his Department has commissioned by external consultants in relation to work on the Scotland Analysis programme; which consultants were used; and at what cost to the public purse [153310]
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1088W
Mr Hoban: No external consultants have been commissioned by DWP in relation to work on the Scotland Analysis programme.
Skills Training UK
Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of participants in programmes operated by Skills Training UK were in full-time employment six months after completion of their course in 2012-13. [153114]
Mr Hoban: Skills Training UK deliver European Social Fund (ESF) funded provision to help families with multiple problems overcome barriers to employment. The Department is working to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure that published statistics meet the required high quality standards at the earliest opportunity. The first official statistics on the ESF are planned for publication from late Summer 2013, so job outcome information is not yet available.
Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost to the public purse of Skills Training UK was in 2012-13. [153121]
Mr Hoban: The total cost paid to Skills Training UK Ltd by DWP for the year 2012/13 amounted to £206,940.
Social Security Benefits
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what target his Department has adopted to respond to the change in circumstances leading to disapplication of the benefit cap. [151882]
Mr Hoban: DWP has not introduced any new targets specifically relating to dealing with changes of circumstances in benefit cap cases.
There are an existing set of changes of circumstance Average Actual Clearance Time (AACT) targets for benefits that affect the cap and these are:
Days | |
It should also be noted that there is a separate team dealing with benefit cap cases and therefore, where changes are identified which require urgent resolution leading to uncapping, processes are in place for that to happen urgently.
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions his Department had with (a) the Department for Communities and Local Government and (b) local authorities about the potential effect on local authorities of his Department's decision not to externally advertise the availability of short-term benefit advances to claimants. [153333]
Steve Webb:
My Department has had numerous discussions with the Department for Communities and
25 Apr 2013 : Column 1089W
Local Government and local authorities about the reforms to the Social Fund which were introduced on 1 April 2013.
Short-term benefit advances are not a specific benefit or separate scheme like the Social Fund and the process reflects this. They are an advance of the claimant's benefit. Where the claimant tells us they are in financial need (either at the start of their claim or those who have had a change of circumstances resulting in a significant increase in their benefit) then DWP staff will consider a short-term benefit advance where appropriate. This will most commonly happen at the new claims stage when staff are discussing with the claimant what will happen next. DWP endeavours to pay any benefit due where possible and in many cases this is happening.
In response to DWP's own monitoring of the new arrangements and issues raised with us by local authorities, we have already issued our own staff with additional guidance and provided local authorities with further information (including more detail on the short-term benefit advance “rules” and processes).
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what steps his Department is taking to reduce (a) the number of duplicate benefits notifications and (b) expenditure on sending out duplicate benefits notifications; [153359]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to (a) communicate to people in receipt of benefits clear and concise information about their entitlement and (b) ensure that such people do not receive duplicate notifications. [153485]
Mr Hoban: The DWP continues to produce and maintain a wide range of notifications about social security benefits subject to resource considerations where, for example, changes to a notification would require IT changes. Communication guidelines are made available to DWP staff which include advice about writing style and how to keep content clear, simple, concise, and relevant. The guidelines also include advice about the standards for making information more accessible, for example, when providing versions in large print or Braille. Alternative methods of notification such as short text messages may also be used in some situations.
In some cases reminder notifications are issued to claimants to improve the processing of benefit claims and potentially reduce DWP expenditure. Where the duplication of a notification is found to be unnecessary the DWP has a range of possible options. These include reviewing the wording of notifications, the system and clerical processes, operational performance and removing the cause of the duplication where possible, subject to resource considerations.